In brief, a fortnight slipped by without a sign, and it looked suspiciously as if Mrs.Charmond were not going further in the direction of "taking up" Grace at present.
Her father reasoned thereon.

Immediately after his daughter's two indubitable successes with Mrs.Charmond--the interview in the wood and a visit to the House--she had attended Winterborne's party.

No doubt the out-and-out joviality of that gathering had made it a topic in the neighborhood, and that every one present as guests had been widely spoken of--Grace, with her exceptional qualities, above all.

What, then, so natural as that Mrs.Charmond should have heard the village news, and become quite disappointed in her expectations of Grace at finding she kept such company?
Full of this post hoc argument, Mr.Melbury overlooked the infinite throng of other possible reasons and unreasons for a woman changing her mind.

For instance, while knowing that his Grace was attractive, he quite forgot that Mrs.Charmond had also great pretensions to beauty.
In his simple estimate, an attractive woman attracted all around.
So it was settled in his mind that her sudden mingling with the villagers at the unlucky Winterborne's was the cause of her most grievous loss, as he deemed it, in the direction of Hintock House.
"'Tis a thousand pities!" he would repeat to himself.