ItwashewhohadcalledMelburybyname。“Youlookverydown，Mr。Melbury——very，ifImaysayasmuch。”heobserved，whenthetimber-merchantturned。“ButIknow——Iknow。Averysadcase——
very。Iwasbredtothelaw，asyouknow，andamprofessionallynostrangertosuchmatters。Well，Mrs。Fitzpiershasherremedy。”
“How——what——aremedy？”saidMelbury。
“Underthenewlaw，sir。Anewcourtwasestablishedlastyear，andunderthenewstatute，twentyandtwenty-oneVic。，cap。
eighty-five，unmarryingisaseasyasmarrying。NomoreActsofParliamentnecessary；nolongeronelawfortherichandanotherforthepoor。Butcomeinside——Iwasjustgoingtohaveanibleykinofrumhot——I’llexplainitalltoyou。”
TheintelligenceamazedMelbury，whosawlittleofnewspapers。
Andthoughhewasaseverelycorrectmaninhishabits，andhadnotasteforenteringatavernwithFredBeaucock——nay，wouldhavebeenquiteuninfluencedbysuchacharacteronanyothermatterintheworld——suchfascinationlayintheideaofdeliveringhispoorgirlfrombondage，thatitdeprivedhimofthecriticalfaculty。
Hecouldnotresisttheex-lawyer’sclerk，andenteredtheinn。
Heretheysatdowntotherum，whichMelburypaidforasamatterofcourse，Beaucockleaningbackinthesettlewithalegalgravitywhichwouldhardlyallowhimtobeconsciousofthespiritsbeforehim，thoughtheyneverthelessdisappearedwithmysteriousquickness。
HowmuchoftheexaggeratedinformationonthethennewdivorcelawswhichBeaucockimpartedtohislistenerwastheresultofignorance，andhowmuchofdupery，wasneverascertained。ButherelatedsuchaplausiblestoryoftheeasewithwhichGracecouldbecomeafreewomanthatherfatherwasirradiatedwiththeproject；andthoughhescarcelywettedhislips，Melburyneverknewhowhecameoutoftheinn，orwhenorwherehemountedhisgigtopursuehiswayhomeward。Buthomehefoundhimself，hisbrainhavingallthewayseemedtoringsonorouslyasagongintheintensityofitsstir。BeforehehadseenGrace，hewasaccidentallymetbyWinterborne，whofoundhisfaceshiningasifhehad，liketheLaw-giver，conversedwithanangel。
Herelinquishedhishorse，andtookWinterbornebythearmtoaheapofrendlewood——asbarkedoakwasherecalled——whichlayunderaprivet-hedge。
“Giles。”hesaid，whentheyhadsatdownuponthelogs，“there’sanewlawintheland！Gracecanbefreequiteeasily。Ionlyknewitbythemerestaccident。Imightnothavefounditoutforthenexttenyears。Shecangetridofhim——d’yehear？——getridofhim。Thinkofthat，myfriendGiles！”
Herelatedwhathehadlearnedofthenewlegalremedy。AsubduedtremulousnessaboutthemouthwasalltheresponsethatWinterbornemade；andMelburyadded，“Myboy，youshallhaveheryet——ifyouwanther。”Hisfeelingshadgatheredvolumeashesaidthis，andthearticulatesoundoftheoldideadrownedhissightinmist。
“Areyousure——aboutthisnewlaw？”askedWinterborne，sodisquietedbyagiganticexultationwhichloomedalternatelywithfearfuldoubtthatheevadedthefullacceptanceofMelbury’slaststatement。
Melburysaidthathehadnomannerofdoubt，forsincehistalkwithBeaucockithadcomeintohismindthathehadseensometimeagointheweeklypaperanallusiontosuchalegalchange；but，havingnointerestinthosedesperateremediesatthemoment，hehadpasseditover。“ButI’mnotgoingtoletthematterrestdoubtfulforasingleday。”hecontinued。“IamgoingtoLondon。
Beaucockwillgowithme，andweshallgetthebestadviceassoonaswepossiblycan。Beaucockisathoroughlawyer——nothingthematterwithhimbutafierypalate。IknewhimasthestayandrefugeofShertoninknotsoflawatonetime。”
Winterborne’sreplieswereofthevaguest。Thenewpossibilitywasalmostunthinkablebyhimatthemoment。HewaswhatwascalledatHintock“asolid-goingfellow；“hemaintainedhisabeyantmood，notfromwantofreciprocity，butfromataciturnhesitancy，taughtbylifeasheknewit。
“But。”continuedthetimber-merchant，atemporarycreaseortwoofanxietysupplementingthosealreadyestablishedinhisforeheadbytimeandcare，“Graceisnotatallwell。Nothingconstitutional，youknow；butshehasbeeninalow，nervousstateeversincethatnightoffright。Idon’tdoubtbutthatshewillbeallrightsoon。Iwonderhowsheisthisevening？”Herosewiththewords，asifhehadtoolongforgottenherpersonalityintheexcitementofherprevisionedcareer。
Theyhadsattilltheeveningwasbeginningtodyethegardenbrown，andnowwenttowardsMelbury’shouse，Gilesafewstepsintherearofhisoldfriend，whowasstimulatedbytheenthusiasmofthemomenttooutsteptheordinarywalkingofWinterborne。HefeltshyofenteringGrace’spresenceasherreconstitutedlover——
whichwashowherfather’smannerwouldbesuretopresenthim——
beforedefiniteinformationastoherfuturestatewasforthcoming；itseemedtoonearlyliketheactofthosewhorushinwhereangelsfeartotread。
Achilltocounterbalancealltheglowingpromiseofthedaywaspromptenoughincoming。Nosoonerhadhefollowedthetimber-
merchantinatthedoorthanheheardGrammerinformhimthatMrs。
Fitzpierswasstillmoreunwellthanshehadbeeninthemorning。
OldDr。Jonesbeingintheneighborhoodtheyhadcalledhimin，andhehadinstantlydirectedthemtogethertobed。Theywerenot，however，toconsiderherillnessserious——afeverish，nervousattacktheresultofrecentevents，waswhatshewassufferingfrom，andshewoulddoubtlessbewellinafewdays。
Winterborne，therefore，didnotremain，andhishopeofseeingherthateveningwasdisappointed。EventhisaggravationofhermorningconditiondidnotgreatlydepressMelbury。Heknew，hesaid，thathisdaughter’sconstitutionwassoundenough。Itwasonlythesedomestictroublesthatwerepullingherdown。Oncefreeshewouldbebloomingagain。Melburydiagnosedrightly，asparentsusuallydo。
HesetoutforLondonthenextmorning，Joneshavingpaidanothervisitandassuredhimthathemightleavehomewithoutuneasiness，especiallyonanerrandofthatsort，whichwouldthesoonerputanendtohersuspense。
Thetimber-merchanthadbeenawayonlyadayortwowhenitwastoldinHintockthatMr。Fitzpiers’shathadbeenfoundinthewood。LateronintheafternoonthehatwasbroughttoMelbury，and，byapieceofill-fortune，intoGrace’spresence。Ithaddoubtlesslaininthewoodeversincehisfallfromthehorse，butitlookedsocleananduninjured——thesummerweatherandleafyshelterhavingmuchfavoreditspreservation——thatGracecouldnotbelieveithadremainedsolongconcealed。Averylittleoffactwasenoughtosetherfeveredfancyatworkatthisjuncture；shethoughthimstillintheneighborhood；shefearedhissuddenappearance；andhernervousmaladydevelopedconsequencessogravethatDr。Jonesbegantolookserious，andthehouseholdwasalarmed。
ItwasthebeginningofJune，andthecuckooatthistimeofthesummerscarcelyceasedhiscryformorethantwoorthreehoursduringthenight。Thebird’snote，sofamiliartoherearsfrominfancy，wasnowabsolutetorturetothepoorgirl。OntheFridayfollowingtheWednesdayofMelbury’sdeparture，andthedayafterthediscoveryofFitzpiers’shat，thecuckoobeganattwoo’clockinthemorningwithasuddencryfromoneofMelbury’sapple-
trees，notthreeyardsfromthewindowofGrace’sroom。
“Oh，heiscoming！”shecried，andinherterrorsprangcleanfromthebedoutuponthefloor。
Thesestartsandfrightscontinuedtillnoon；andwhenthedoctorhadarrivedandhadseenher，andhadtalkedwithMrs。Melbury，hesatdownandmeditated。Thatever-presentterroritwasindispensabletoremovefromhermindatallhazards；andhethoughthowthismightbedone。
Withoutsayingawordtoanybodyinthehouse，ortothedisquietedWinterbornewaitinginthelanebelow，Dr。JoneswenthomeandwrotetoMr。MelburyattheLondonaddresshehadobtainedfromhiswife。ThegistofhiscommunicationwasthatMrs。Fitzpiersshouldbeassuredassoonaspossiblethatstepswerebeingtakentoseverthebondwhichwasbecomingatorturetoher；thatshewouldsoonbefree，andwaseventhenvirtuallyso。
“IfyoucansayitATONCEitmaybethemeansofavertingmuchharm。”hesaid。“Writetoherself；nottome。”
OnSaturdayhedroveovertoHintock，andassuredherwithmysteriouspacificationsthatinadayortwoshemightexpecttoreceivesomeassuringnews。Soitturnedout。WhenSundaymorningcametherewasaletterforGracefromherfather。Itarrivedatseveno’clock，theusualtimeatwhichthetoddlingpostmanpassedbyHintock；ateightGraceawoke，havingsleptanhourortwoforawonder，andMrs。Melburybroughtuptheletter。
“Canyouopenityourself？”saidshe。
“Ohyes，yes！”saidGrace，withfeebleimpatience。Shetoretheenvelope，unfoldedthesheet，andread；whenacreepingblushtincturedherwhiteneckandcheek。
Herfatherhadexercisedabolddiscretion。HeinformedherthatsheneedhavenofurtherconcernaboutFitzpiers’sreturn；thatshewouldshortlybeafreewoman；andtherefore，ifsheshoulddesiretowedheroldlover——whichhetrustedwasthecase，sinceitwashisowndeepwish——shewouldbeinapositiontodoso。InthisMelburyhadnotwrittenbeyondhisbelief。Butheverymuchstretchedthefactsinaddingthatthelegalformalitiesfordissolvingherunionwerepracticallysettled。Thetruthwasthatonthearrivalofthedoctor’sletterpoorMelburyhadbeenmuchagitated，andcouldwithdifficultybepreventedbyBeaucockfromreturningtoherbedside。WhatwastheuseofhisrushingbacktoHintock？Beaucockhadaskedhim。Theonlythingthatcoulddoheranygoodwasabreakingofthebond。Thoughhehadnotasyethadaninterviewwiththeeminentsolicitortheywereabouttoconsult，hewasonthepointofseeinghim；andthecasewasclearenough。ThusthesimpleMelbury，urgedbyhisparentalalarmatherdangerbytherepresentationsofhiscompanion，andbythedoctor’sletter，hadyielded，andsatdowntotellherroundlythatshewasvirtuallyfree。
“Andyou’dbetterwritealsotothegentleman。”suggestedBeaucock，who，scentingnotorietyandthegermofalargepracticeinthecase，wishedtocommitMelburytoitirretrievably；toeffectwhichheknewthatnothingwouldbesopotentasawakeningthepassionofGraceforWinterborne，sothatherfathermightnothavethehearttowithdrawfromhisattempttomakeherlovelegitimatewhenhediscoveredthatthereweredifficultiesintheway。
Thenervous，impatientMelburywasmuchpleasedwiththeideaof“startingthematonce。”ashecalledit。Toputhislong-delayedreparativeschemeintrainhadbecomeapassionwithhimnow。HeaddedtotheletteraddressedtohisdaughterapassagehintingthatsheoughttobegintoencourageWinterborne，lestsheshouldlosehimaltogether；andhewrotetoGilesthatthepathwasvirtuallyopenforhimatlast。Lifewasshort，hedeclared；
therewereslipsbetwixtthecupandthelip；herinterestinhimshouldbereawakenedatonce，thatallmightbereadywhenthegoodtimecameforunitingthem。
AtthesewarmwordsWinterbornewasnotlessdazedthanhewasmovedinheart。Thenoveltyoftheavowalrenderedwhatitcarriedwithitinapprehensiblebyhiminitsentirety。
Onlyafewshortmonthsagocompletelyestrangedfromthisfamily——
beholdingGracegoingtoandfrointhedistance，clothedwiththealienatingradianceofobvioussuperiority，thewifeofthethenpopularandfashionableFitzpiers，hopelesslyoutsidehissocialboundarydowntosorecentatimethatflowersthenfoldedwerehardlyfadedyet——hewasnowaskedbythatjealouslyguardingfatherofherstotakecourage——togethimselfreadyforthedaywhenheshouldbeabletoclaimher。
Theoldtimescamebacktohimindimprocession。Howhehadbeensnubbed；howMelburyhaddespisedhisChristmasparty；howthatsweet，coyGraceherselfhadlookeddownuponhimandhishouseholdarrangements，andpoorCreedle’scontrivances！
Well，hecouldnotbelieveit。Surelytheadamantinebarrierofmarriagewithanothercouldnotbepiercedlikethis！Itdidviolencetocustom。Yetanewlawmightdoanything。Butwasitatallwithintheboundsofprobabilitythatawomanwho，overandaboveherownattainments，hadbeenaccustomedtothoseofacultivatedprofessionalman，couldeverbethewifeofsuchashe？
Sincethedateofhisrejectionhehadalmostgrowntoseethereasonablenessofthattreatment。Hehadsaidtohimselfagainandagainthatherfatherwasright；thatthepoorceorl，GilesWinterborne，wouldneverhavebeenabletomakesuchadaintygirlhappy。Yet，nowthatshehadstoodinapositionfartherremovedfromhisownthanatfirst，hewasaskedtopreparetowooher。
Hewasfullofdoubt。
Nevertheless，itwasnotinhimtoshowbackwardness。ToactsopromptlyasMelburydesiredhimtoactseemed，indeed，scarcelywise，becauseoftheuncertaintyofevents。Gilesknewnothingoflegalprocedure，buthedidknowthatforhimtostepuptoGraceasaloverbeforethebondwhichboundherwasactuallydissolvedwassimplyanextravagantdreamofherfather’soverstrainedmind。
