Aweekhadpassed，andMrs。CharmondhadleftHintockHouse。
MiddletonAbbey，theplaceofhersojourn，wasabouttwentymilesdistantbyroad，eighteenbybridle-pathsandfootways。
Graceobserved，forthefirsttime，thatherhusbandwasrestless，thatatmomentsheevenwasdisposedtoavoidher。Thescrupulouscivilityofmereacquaintanceshipcreptintohismanner；yet，whensittingatmeals，heseemedhardlytohearherremarks。Herlittledoingsinterestedhimnolonger，whiletowardsherfatherhisbearingwasnotfarfromsupercilious。Itwasplainthathismindwasentirelyoutsideherlife，whereaboutsoutsideitshecouldnottell；insomeregionofscience，possibly，orofpsychologicalliterature。ButherhopethathewasagainimmersinghimselfinthoselucubrationswhichbeforehermarriagehadmadehislightalandmarkinHintock，wasfoundedsimplyontheslenderfactthatheoftensatuplate。
OneeveningshediscoveredhimleaningoveragateonRub-DownHill，thegateatwhichWinterbornehadoncebeenstanding，andwhichopenedonthebrinkofasteep，slantingdowndirectlyintoBlackmoorVale，ortheValeoftheWhiteHart，extendingbeneaththeeyeatthispointtoadistanceofmanymiles。Hisattentionwasfixedonthelandscapefaraway，andGrace’sapproachwassonoiselessthathedidnothearher。Whenshecamecloseshecouldseehislipsmovingunconsciously，astosomeimpassionedvisionarytheme。
Shespoke，andFitzpiersstarted。“Whatareyoulookingat？”sheasked。
“Oh！IwascontemplatingouroldplaceofBuckbury，inmyidleway。”hesaid。
Ithadseemedtoherthathewaslookingmuchtotherightofthatcradleandtombofhisancestraldignity；butshemadenofurtherobservation，andtakinghisarmwalkedhomebesidehimalmostinsilence。ShedidnotknowthatMiddletonAbbeylayinthedirectionofhisgaze。“AreyougoingtohaveoutDarlingthisafternoon？”sheasked，presently。Darlingbeingthelight-graymarewhichWinterbornehadboughtforGrace，andwhichFitzpiersnowconstantlyused，theanimalhavingturnedoutawonderfulbargain，incombiningaperfectdocilitywithanalmosthumanintelligence；moreover，shewasnottooyoung。Fitzpierswasunfamiliarwithhorses，andhevaluedthesequalities。
“Yes。”hereplied，“butnottodrive。Iamridingher。I
practisecrossingahorseasoftenasIcannow，forIfindthatI
cantakemuchshortercutsonhorseback。”
Hehad，infact，takentheseridingexercisesforaboutaweek，onlysinceMrs。Charmond’sabsence，hisuniversalpracticehithertohavingbeentodrive。
Somefewdayslater，FitzpiersstartedonthebackofthishorsetoseeapatientintheaforesaidVale。Itwasaboutfiveo’clockintheeveningwhenhewentaway，andatbedtimehehadnotreachedhome。Therewasnothingverysingularinthis，thoughshewasnotawarethathehadanypatientmorethanfiveorsixmilesdistantinthatdirection。TheclockhadstruckonebeforeFitzpiersenteredthehouse，andhecametohisroomsoftly，asifanxiousnottodisturbher。
Thenextmorningshewasstirringconsiderablyearlierthanhe。
Intheyardtherewasaconversationgoingonaboutthemare；themanwhoattendedtothehorses，Darlingincluded，insistedthatthelatterwas“hag-rid；“forwhenhehadarrivedatthestablethatmorningshewasinsuchastateasnohorsecouldbeinbyhonestriding。Itwastruethatthedoctorhadstabledherhimselfwhenhegothome，sothatshewasnotlookedafterasshewouldhavebeenifhehadgroomedandfedher；butthatdidnotaccountfortheappearanceshepresented，ifMr。Fitzpiers’sjourneyhadbeenonlywherehehadstated。ThephenomenalexhaustionofDarling，asthusrelated，wassufficienttodevelopawholeseriesoftalesaboutridingwitchesanddemons，thenarrationofwhichoccupiedaconsiderabletime。
Gracereturnedin-doors。Inpassingthroughtheouterroomshepickedupherhusband’sovercoatwhichhehadcarelesslyflungdownacrossachair。Aturnpiketicketfelloutofthebreast-
pocket，andshesawthatithadbeenissuedatMiddletonGate。HehadthereforevisitedMiddletonthepreviousnight，adistanceofatleastfive-and-thirtymilesonhorseback，thereandback。
Duringthedayshemadesomeinquiries，andlearnedforthefirsttimethatMrs。CharmondwasstayingatMiddletonAbbey。Shecouldnotresistaninference——strangeasthatinferencewas。
Afewdayslaterhepreparedtostartagain，atthesametimeandinthesamedirection。Sheknewthatthestateofthecottagerwholivedthatwaywasamerepretext；shewasquitesurehewasgoingtoMrs。Charmond。Gracewasamazedatthemildnessofthepassionwhichthesuspicionengenderedinher。Shewasbutlittleexcited，andherjealousywaslanguideventodeath。Ittoldtalesofthenatureofheraffectionforhim。Intruth，herantenuptialregardforFitzpiershadbeenratherofthequalityofawetowardsasuperiorbeingthanoftendersolicitudeforalover。Ithadbeenbaseduponmysteryandstrangeness——themysteryofhispast，ofhisknowledge，ofhisprofessionalskill，ofhisbeliefs。Whenthisstructureofidealswasdemolishedbytheintimacyofcommonlife，andshefoundhimasmerelyhumanastheHintockpeoplethemselves，anewfoundationwasindemandforanenduringandstanchaffection——asympatheticinterdependence，whereinmutualweaknessesweremadethegroundsofadefensivealliance。Fitzpiershadfurnishednoneofthatsingle-mindedconfidenceandtruthoutofwhichalonesuchasecondunioncouldspring；henceitwaswithacontrollableemotionthatshenowwatchedthemarebroughtround。
“I’llwalkwithyoutothehillifyouarenotinagreathurry。”
shesaid，ratherloath，afterall，tolethimgo。
“Do；there’splentyoftime。”repliedherhusband。Accordinglyheledalongthehorse，andwalkedbesideher，impatientenoughnevertheless。Thustheyproceededtotheturnpikeroad，andascendedRub-DownHilltothegatehehadbeenleaningoverwhenshesurprisedhimtendaysbefore。Thiswastheendofherexcursion。Fitzpiersbadeheradieuwithaffection，evenwithtenderness，andsheobservedthathelookedweary-eyed。
“Whydoyougoto-night？”shesaid。“Youhavebeencalleduptwonightsinsuccessionalready。”
“Imustgo。”heanswered，almostgloomily。“Don’twaitupforme。”Withthesewordshemountedhishorse，passedthroughthegatewhichGraceheldopenforhim，andambleddownthesteepbridle-tracktothevalley。
Sheclosedthegateandwatchedhisdescent，andthenhisjourneyonward。Hiswaywaseast，theeveningsunwhichstoodbehindherbackbeamingfulluponhimassoonashegotoutfromtheshadeofthehill。Notwithstandingthisuntowardproceedingshewasdeterminedtobeloyalifheprovedtrue；andthedeterminationtoloveone’sbestwillcarryaheartalongwaytowardsmakingthatbestanever-growingthing。Theconspicuouscoatoftheactivethoughblanchingmaremadehorseandridereasyobjectsforthevision。ThoughDarlinghadbeenchosenwithsuchpainsbyWinterborneforGrace，shehadneverriddenthesleekcreature；
butherhusbandhadfoundtheanimalexceedinglyconvenient，particularlynowthathehadtakentothesaddle，plentyofstayingpowerbeingleftinDarlingyet。Fitzpiers，likeothersofhischaracter，whiledespisingMelburyandhisstation，didnotatalldisdaintospendMelbury’smoney，orappropriatetohisownusethehorsewhichbelongedtoMelbury’sdaughter。
AndsotheinfatuatedyoungsurgeonwentalongthroughthegorgeousautumnlandscapeofWhiteHartVale，surroundedbyorchardslustrouswiththeredsofapple-crops，berries，andfoliage，thewholeintensifiedbythegildingofthedecliningsun。Theearththisyearhadbeenprodigallybountiful，andnowwasthesuprememomentofherbounty。Inthepoorestspotsthehedgeswerebowedwithhawsandblackberries；acornscrackedunderfoot，andthebursthusksofchestnutslayexposingtheirauburncontentsasifarrangedbyanxioussellersinafruit-
market。Inallthisproudshowsomekernelswereunsoundasherownsituation，andshewonderediftherewereoneworldintheuniversewherethefruithadnoworm，andmarriagenosorrow。
HerrTannhauserstillmovedon，hisploddingsteedrenderinghimdistinctlyvisibleyet。CouldshehaveheardFitzpiers’svoiceatthatmomentshewouldhavefoundhimmurmuring——
“。TowardstheloadstarofmyonedesireIflitted，evenasadizzymothintheowletlight。”
Buthewasasilentspectacletohernow。Soonheroseoutofthevalley，andskirtedahighplateauofthechalkformationonhisright，whichrestedabruptlyuponthefruitydistrictofloamyclay，thecharacterandherbageofthetwoformationsbeingsodistinctthatthecalcareousuplandappearedbutasadepositofafewyears’antiquityuponthelevelvale。Hekeptalongtheedgeofthishigh，unenclosedcountry，andtheskybehindhimbeingdeepviolet，shecouldstillseewhiteDarlinginreliefuponit——
amerespecknow——aWouvermanseccentricityreducedtomicroscopicdimensions。Uponthishighgroundhegraduallydisappeared。
Thusshehadbeheldthepetanimalpurchasedforherownuse，inpureloveofher，byonewhohadalwaysbeentrue，impressedtoconveyherhusbandawayfromhertothesideofanew-foundidol。
Whileshewasmusingonthevicissitudesofhorsesandwives，shediscernedshapesmovingupthevalleytowardsher，quitenearathand，thoughtillnowhiddenbythehedges。SurelytheywereGilesWinterborne，withhistwohorsesandcider-apparatus，conductedbyRobertCreedle。Up，upwardtheycrept，astraybeamofthesunalightingeverynowandthenlikeastaronthebladesofthepomace-shovels，whichhadbeenconvertedtosteelmirrorsbytheactionofthemalicacid。Sheopenedthegatewhenhecameclose，andthepantinghorsesrestedastheyachievedtheascent。
“Howdoyoudo，Giles？”saidshe，underasuddenimpulsetobefamiliarwithhim。
Herepliedwithmuchmorereserve。“Youaregoingforawalk，Mrs。Fitzpiers？”headded。“Itispleasantjustnow。”
“No，Iamreturning。”saidshe。
Thevehiclespassedthrough，thegateslammed，andWinterbornewalkedbyhersideintherearoftheapple-mill。
HelookedandsmeltlikeAutumn’sverybrother，hisfacebeingsunburnttowheat-color，hiseyesblueascorn-flowers，hisbootsandleggingsdyedwithfruit-stains，hishandsclammywiththesweetjuiceofapples，hishatsprinkledwithpips，andeverywhereabouthimthatatmosphereofciderwhichatitsfirstreturneachseasonhassuchanindescribablefascinationforthosewhohavebeenbornandbredamongtheorchards。Herheartrosefromitslatesadnesslikeareleasedspring；hersensesrevelledinthesuddenlapsebacktonatureunadorned。Theconsciousnessofhavingtobegenteelbecauseofherhusband’sprofession，theveneerofartificialitywhichshehadacquiredatthefashionableschools，werethrownoff，andshebecamethecrude，countrygirlofherlatent，earliestinstincts。
Naturewasbountiful，shethought。NosoonerhadshebeenstarvedoffbyEdgarFitzpiersthananotherbeing，impersonatingbareandundilutedmanliness，hadarisenoutoftheearth，readytohand。
Thiswasanexcursionoftheimaginationwhichshedidnotencourage，andshesaidsuddenly，todisguisetheconfusedregardwhichhadfollowedherthoughts，“Didyoumeetmyhusband？”
Winterborne，withsomehesitation，“Yes。”
“Wheredidyoumeethim？”
“AtCalfhayCross。IcomefromMiddletonAbbey；Ihavebeenmakingthereforthelastweek。”
“Haven’ttheyamilloftheirown？”
“Yes，butit’soutofrepair。”
“Ithink——IheardthatMrs。Charmondhadgonetheretostay？”
“Yes。Ihaveseenheratthewindowsonceortwice。”
Gracewaitedanintervalbeforeshewenton：“DidMr。FitzpierstakethewaytoMiddleton？”
“Yes。ImethimonDarling。”Asshedidnotreply，headded，withagentlerinflection，“Youknowwhythemarewascalledthat？”
“Ohyes——ofcourse。”sheanswered，quickly。
Theyhadrisensofaroverthecrestofthehillthatthewholewestskywasrevealed。Betweenthebrokencloudstheycouldseefarintotherecessesofheaven，theeyejourneyingonunderaspeciesofgoldenarcades，andpastfieryobstructions，fanciedcairns，logan-stones，stalactitesandstalagmiteoftopaz。Deeperthanthistheirgazepassedthinflakesofincandescence，tillitplungedintoabottomlessmediumofsoftgreenfire。
Herabandonmenttotheluscioustimeafterhersenseofill-usage，herrevoltforthenonceagainstsociallaw，herpassionatedesireforprimitivelife，mayhaveshowedinherface。Winterbornewaslookingather，hiseyeslingeringonaflowerthatsheworeinherbosom。Almostwiththeabstractionofasomnambulisthestretchedouthishandandgentlycaressedtheflower。
Shedrewback。“Whatareyoudoing，GilesWinterborne！”sheexclaimed，withalookofseveresurprise。Theevidentabsenceofallpremeditationfromtheact，however，speedilyledhertothinkthatitwasnotnecessarytostanduponherdignityhereandnow。
“Youmustbearinmind，Giles。”shesaid，kindly，“thatwearenotaswewere；andsomepeoplemighthavesaidthatwhatyoudidwastakingaliberty。”
Itwasmorethansheneedhavetoldhim；hisactionofforgetfulnesshadmadehimsoangrywithhimselfthatheflushedthroughhistan。“Idon’tknowwhatIamcomingto！”heexclaimed，savagely。“Ah——Iwasnotoncelikethis！”Tearsofvexationwereinhiseyes。
“No，now——itwasnothing。Iwastooreproachful。”
“ItwouldnothaveoccurredtomeifIhadnotseensomethinglikeitdoneelsewhere——atMiddletonlately。”hesaid，thoughtfully，afterawhile。
“Bywhom？”
“Don’taskit。”
Shescannedhimnarrowly。“Iknowquitewellenough。”shereturned，indifferently。“Itwasbymyhusband，andthewomanwasMrs。Charmond。Associationofideasremindedyouwhenyousawme。Giles——tellmeallyouknowaboutthat——pleasedo，Giles！
Butno——Iwon’thearit。Letthesubjectcease。Andasyouaremyfriend，saynothingtomyfather。”
Theyreachedaplacewheretheirwaysdivided。Winterbornecontinuedalongthehighwaywhichkeptoutsidethecopse，andGraceopenedagatethatenteredit。
