e else, except his daughter. Had Winterborne been going on in the
old fashion, Grace's father could have alluded to his disapproval of
the alliance every day with the greatest frankness; but to speak any
further on the subject he could not find it in his heart to do now. He
hoped that Giles would of his own accord make some final announcement
that he entirely withdrew his pretensions to Grace, and so get the
thing past and done with. For though Giles had in a measure acquiesced
in the wish of her family, he could make matters unpleasant if he chose
to work upon Grace; and hence, when Melbury saw the young man
approaching along the road one day, he kept friendliness and frigidity
exactly balanced in his eye till he could see whether Giles's manner
was presumptive or not.

His manner was that of a man who abandoned all claims. "I am glad to
meet ye, Mr. Melbury," he said, in a low voice, whose quality he
endeavored to make as practical as possible. "I am afraid I shall not
be able to keep that mare I bought, and as I don't care to sell her, I
should like--if you don't object--to give her to Miss Melbury. The
horse is very quiet, and would be quite safe for her."

Mr. Melbury was rather affected at this. "You sha'n't hurt your pocket
like that on our account, Giles. Grace shall have the horse, but I'll
pay you what you gave for her, and any expense you may have been put to
for her keep."

He would not hear of any other terms, and thus it was arranged. They
were now opposite Melbury's house, and the timber-merchant pressed
Winterborne to enter, Grace being out of the way.

"Pull round the settle, Giles," said the timber-merchant, as soon as
they were within. "I should like to have a serious talk with you."

Thereupon he put the case to Winterborne frankly, and in quite a
friendly way. He declared that he did not like to be hard on a man
when he was in difficulty; but he really did not see how Winterborne
could marry his daughter now, without even a house to take her to.

Giles quite acquiesced in the awkwardness of his situation. But from a
momentary feeling that he would like to know Grace's mind from her own
lips, he did not speak out positively there and then. He accordingly
departed somewhat abruptly, and went home to consider whether he would
seek to bring about a meeting with her.

In the evening, while he sat quietly pondering, he fancied that he
heard a scraping on the wall outside his house. The b