Thefirsthundredyardsoftheircourselayundermotionlesstrees，whoseupperfoliagebegantohisswithfallingdropsofrain。Bythetimethattheyemergeduponagladeitrainedheavily。
“Thisisawkward。”saidGrace，withanefforttohideherconcern。
Winterbornestopped。“Grace。”hesaid，preservingastrictlybusinessmannerwhichbeliedhim，“youcannotgotoShertonto-
night。”
“ButImust！”
“Why？Itisninemilesfromhere。Itisalmostanimpossibilityinthisrain。”
“True——WHY？”shereplied，mournfully，attheendofasilence。
“Whatisreputationtome？”
“Nowhearken。”saidGiles。“Youwon’t——gobacktoyour——“
“No，no，no！Don’tmakeme！”shecried，piteously。
“Thenletusturn。”Theyslowlyretracedtheirsteps，andagainstoodbeforehisdoor。“Now，thishousefromthismomentisyours，andnotmine。”hesaid，deliberately。“IhaveaplacenearbywhereIcanstayverywell。”
Herfacehaddrooped。“Oh！”shemurmured，asshesawthedilemma。
“WhathaveIdone！”
Therewasasmellofsomethingburningwithin，andhelookedthroughthewindow。Therabbitthathehadbeencookingtocoaxaweakappetitewasbeginningtochar。“Pleasegoinandattendtoit。”hesaid。“Dowhatyoulike。NowIleave。Youwillfindeverythingaboutthehutthatisnecessary。”
“But，Giles——yoursupper。”sheexclaimed。“Anout-housewoulddoforme——anything——tillto-morrowatday-break！”
Hesignifiedanegative。“Itellyoutogoin——youmaycatchaguesouthereinyourdelicatestate。Youcangivememysupperthroughthewindow，ifyoufeelwellenough。I’llwaitawhile。”
Hegentlyurgedhertopassthedoor-way，andwasrelievedwhenhesawherwithintheroomsittingdown。Withoutsomuchascrossingthethresholdhimself，heclosedthedooruponher，andturnedthekeyinthelock。Tappingatthewindow，hesignifiedthatsheshouldopenthecasement，andwhenshehaddonethishehandedinthekeytoher。
“Youarelockedin。”hesaid；“andyourownmistress。”
Eveninhertroubleshecouldnotrefrainfromafaintsmileathisscrupulousness，asshetookthedoor-key。
“Doyoufeelbetter？”hewenton。“Ifso，andyouwishtogivemesomeofyoursupper，pleasedo。Ifnot，itisofnoimportance。
Icangetsomeelsewhere。”
Thegratefulsenseofhiskindnessstirredhertoaction，thoughsheonlyknewhalfwhatthatkindnessreallywas。Attheendofsometenminutessheagaincametothewindow，pusheditopen，andsaidinawhisper，“Giles！”Heatonceemergedfromtheshade，andsawthatshewaspreparingtohandhimhisshareofthemealuponaplate。
“Idon’tliketotreatyousohardly。”shemurmured，withdeepregretinherwordsassheheardtherainpatteringontheleaves。
“But——Isupposeitisbesttoarrangelikethis？”
“Ohyes。”hesaid，quickly。
“IfeelthatIcouldneverhavereachedSherton。”
“Itwasimpossible。”
“Areyousureyouhaveasnugplaceoutthere？”(Withrenewedmisgiving。)
“Quite。Haveyoufoundeverythingyouwant？Iamafraiditisratherroughaccommodation。”
“CanInoticedefects？Ihavelongpassedthatstage，andyouknowit，Giles，oryououghtto。”
Hiseyessadlycontemplatedherfaceasitspaleresponsivenessmodulatedthroughacrowdofexpressionsthatshowedonlytooclearlytowhatapitchshewasstrung。IfeverWinterborne’sheartfrettedhisbosomitwasatthissightofaperfectlydefencelesscreatureconditionedbysuchcircumstances。Heforgothisownagonyinthesatisfactionofhavingatleastfoundherashelter。Hetookhisplateandcupfromherhands，saying，“NowI’llpushtheshutterto，andyouwillfindanironpinontheinside，whichyoumustfixintothebolt。DonotstirinthemorningtillIcomeandcallyou。”
Sheexpressedanalarmedhopethathewouldnotgoveryfaraway。
“Ohno——Ishallbequitewithinhail。”saidWinterborne。
Sheboltedthewindowasdirected，andheretreated。Hissnugplaceprovedtobeawretchedlittleshelteroftheroughestkind，formedoffourhurdlesthatchedwithbrake-fern。Underneathweredrysticks，hay，andotherlitterofthesort，uponwhichhesatdown；andthereinthedarktriedtoeathismeal。Buthisappetitewasquitegone。Hepushedtheplateaside，andshookupthehayandsacks，soastoformarudecouch，onwhichheflunghimselfdowntosleep，foritwasgettinglate。
Butsleephecouldnot，formanyreasons，ofwhichnottheleastwasthoughtofhischarge。Hesatup，andlookedtowardsthecotthroughthedampobscurity。Withallitsexternalfeaturesthesameasusual，hecouldscarcelybelievethatitcontainedthedearfriend——hewouldnotuseawarmername——whohadcometohimsounexpectedly，and，hecouldnothelpadmitting，sorashly。
Hehadnotventuredtoaskheranyparticulars；butthepositionwasprettyclearwithoutthem。ThoughsociallawhadnegativedforevertheiropeningparadiseofthepreviousJune，itwasnotwithoutstoicalpridethatheacceptedthepresenttryingconjuncture。Therewasonemanonearthinwhomshebelievedabsolutely，andhewasthatman。Thatthiscrisiscouldendinnothingbutsorrowwasaviewforamomenteffacedbythistriumphantthoughtofhertrustinhim；andthepurityoftheaffectionwithwhichherespondedtothattrustrenderedhimmorethanproofagainstanyfrailtythatbesiegedhiminrelationtoher。
Therain，whichhadneverceased，nowdrewhisattentionbybeginningtodropthroughthemeagrescreenthatcoveredhim。Herosetoattemptsomeremedyforthisdiscomfort，butthetremblingofhiskneesandthethrobbingofhispulsetoldhimthatinhisweaknesshewasunabletofenceagainstthestorm，andhelaydowntobearitasbesthemight。Hewasangrywithhimselfforhisfeebleness——hewhohadbeensostrong。Itwasimperativethatsheshouldknownothingofhispresentstate，andtodothatshemustnotseehisfacebydaylight，foritscolorwouldinevitablybetrayhim。
Thenextmorning，accordingly，whenitwashardlylight，heroseanddraggedhisstifflimbsabouttheprecincts，preparingforhereverythingshecouldrequireforgettingbreakfastwithin。Onthebenchoutsidethewindow-sillheplacedwater，wood，andothernecessaries，writingwithapieceofchalkbesidethem，“ItisbestthatIshouldnotseeyou。Putmybreakfastonthebench。”
Atseveno’clockhetappedatherwindow，ashehadpromised，retreatingatonce，thatshemightnotcatchsightofhim。Butfromhisshelterundertheboughshecouldseeherverywell，when，inresponsetohissignal，sheopenedthewindowandthelightfelluponherface。Thelanguidlargenessofhereyesshowedthathersleephadbeenlittlemorethanhisown，andthepinknessoftheirlids，thatherwakinghourshadnotbeenfreefromtears。
Shereadthewriting，seemed，hethought，disappointed，buttookupthematerialshehadprovided，evidentlythinkinghimsomewayoff。Gileswaitedon，assuredthatagirlwho，inspiteofherculture，knewwhatcountrylifewas，wouldfindnodifficultyinthesimplepreparationoftheirfood。
Withinthecotitwasallverymuchasheconjectured，thoughGracehadsleptmuchlongerthanhe。Afterthelonelinessofthenight，shewouldhavebeengladtoseehim；butappreciatinghisfeelingwhenshereadthewriting，shemadenoattempttorecallhim。Shefoundabundanceofprovisionslaidin，hisplanbeingtoreplenishhisbutteryweekly，andthisbeingthedayafterthevictuallingvanhadcalledfromSherton。Whenthemealwasready，sheputwhatherequiredoutside，asshehaddonewiththesupper；
and，notwithstandingherlongingtoseehim，withdrewfromthewindowpromptly，andlefthimtohimself。
Ithadbeenaleadendawn，andtherainnowsteadilyreneweditsfall。AssheheardnomoreofWinterborne，sheconcludedthathehadgoneawaytohisdailywork，andforgottenthathehadpromisedtoaccompanyhertoSherton；anerroneousconclusion，forheremainedallday，byforceofhiscondition，withinfiftyyardsofwhereshewas。Themorningworeon；andinherdoubtwhentostart，andhowtotravel，shelingeredyet，keepingthedoorcarefullybolted，lestanintrudershoulddiscoverher。Lockedinthisplace，shewascomparativelysafe，atanyrate，anddoubtedifshewouldbesafeelsewhere。
Thehumidgloomofanordinarywetdaywasdoubledbytheshadeanddripoftheleafage。Autumn，thisyear，wascominginwithrains。Gazing，inherenforcedidleness，fromtheonewindowoftheliving-room，shecouldseevarioussmallmembersoftheanimalcommunitythatlivedunmolestedthere——creaturesofhair，fluff，andscale，thetoothedkindandthebilledkind；undergroundcreatures，jointedandringed——circumambulatingthehut，undertheimpressionthat，Gileshavinggoneaway，nobodywasthere；andeyingitinquisitivelywithaviewtowinter-quarters。Watchingtheseneighbors，whoknewneitherlawnorsin，distractedheralittlefromhertrouble；andshemanagedtowhileawaysomeportionoftheafternoonbyputtingGiles’shomeinorderandmakinglittleimprovementswhichshedeemedthathewouldvaluewhenshewasgone。
Onceortwiceshefanciedthatsheheardafaintnoiseamidthetrees，resemblingacough；butasitnevercameanynearersheconcludedthatitwasasquirrelorabird。
Atlastthedaylightlessened，andshemadeupalargerfirefortheeveningswerechilly。Assoonasitwastoodark——whichwascomparativelyearly——todiscernthehumancountenanceinthisplaceofshadows，therecametothewindowtohergreatdelight，atappingwhichsheknewfromitsmethodtobeGiles’s。
Sheopenedthecasementinstantly，andputoutherhandtohim，thoughshecouldonlyjustperceivehisoutline。Heclaspedherfingers，andshenoticedtheheatofhispalmanditsshakiness。
“Hehasbeenwalkingfast，inordertogetherequickly。”shethought。Howcouldsheknowthathehadjustcrawledoutfromthestrawoftheshelterhardby；andthattheheatofhishandwasfeverishness？
“Mydear，goodGiles！”sheburstout，impulsively。
“Anybodywouldhavedoneitforyou。”repliedWinterborne，withasmuchmatter-of-factashecouldsummon。
“AboutmygettingtoExbury？”shesaid。
“Ihavebeenthinking。”respondedGiles，withtenderdeference，“thatyouhadbetterstaywhereyouareforthepresent，ifyouwishnottobecaught。Ineednottellyouthattheplaceisyoursaslongasyoulike；andperhapsinadayortwo，findingyouabsent，hewillgoaway。Atanyrate，intwoorthreedaysI
coulddoanythingtoassist——suchasmakeinquiries，orgoagreatwaytowardsSherton-Abbaswithyou；fortheciderseasonwillsoonbecomingon，andIwanttorundowntotheValetoseehowthecropsare，andIshallgobytheShertonroad。ButforadayortwoIambusyhere。”Hewashopingthatbythetimementionedhewouldbestrongenoughtoengagehimselfactivelyonherbehalf。
“Ihopeyoudonotfeelover-muchmelancholyinbeingaprisoner？”
Shedeclaredthatshedidnotmindit；butshesighed。
Fromlongacquaintancetheycouldreadeachother’sheart-symptomslikebooksoflargetype。“Ifearyouaresorryyoucame。”saidGiles，“andthatyouthinkIshouldhaveadvisedyoumorefirmlythanIdidnottostay。”
“Ohno，dear，dearfriend。”answeredGrace，withaheavingbosom。
“Don’tthinkthatthatiswhatIregret。WhatIregretismyenforcedtreatmentofyou——dislodgingyou，excludingyoufromyourownhouse。WhyshouldInotspeakout？YouknowwhatIfeelforyou——whatIhavefeltfornootherlivingman，whatIshallneverfeelforamanagain！ButasIhavevowedmyselftosomebodyelsethanyou，andcannotbereleased，ImustbehaveasIdobehave，andkeepthatvow。Iamnotboundtohimbyanydivinelaw，afterwhathehasdone；butIhavepromised，andIwillpay。”
Therestoftheeveningwaspassedinhishandinghersuchthingsasshewouldrequirethenextday，andcasualremarksthereupon，anoccupationwhichdivertedhermindtosomedegreefrompatheticviewsofherattitudetowardshim，andofherlifeingeneral。
Theonlyinfringement——ifinfringementitcouldbecalled——ofhispredeterminedbearingtowardsherwasaninvoluntarypressingofherhandtohislipswhensheputitthroughthecasementtobidhimgood-night。Heknewshewasweeping，thoughhecouldnotseehertears。
Sheagainentreatedhisforgivenessforsoselfishlyappropriatingthecottage。Butitwouldonlybeforadayortwomore，shethought，sincegoshemust。
Hereplied，yearningly，“I——Idon’tlikeyoutogoaway。”
“Oh，Giles。”saidshe，“Iknow——Iknow！But——Iamawoman，andyouareaman。Icannotspeakmoreplainly。’Whatsoeverthingsarepure，whatsoeverthingsareofgoodreport’——youknowwhatisinmymind，becauseyouknowmesowell。”
“Yes，Grace，yes。Idonotatallmeanthatthequestionbetweenushasnotbeensettledbythefactofyourmarriageturningouthopelesslyunalterable。Imerelymeant——well，afeelingnomore。”
“Inaweek，attheoutside，IshouldbediscoveredifIstayedhere：andIthinkthatbylawhecouldcompelmetoreturntohim。”
“Yes；perhapsyouareright。Gowhenyouwish，dearGrace。”
Hislastwordsthateveningwereahopefulremarkthatallmightbewellwithheryet；thatMr。Fitzpierswouldnotintrudeuponherlife，ifhefoundthathispresencecosthersomuchpain。
Thenthewindowwasclosed，theshuttersfolded，andtherustleofhisfootstepsdiedaway。
