When Melbury heard what had happened he seemed much moved, and walked thoughtfully about the premises.

On South's own account he was genuinely sorry; and on Winterborne's he was the more grieved in that this catastrophe had so closely followed the somewhat harsh dismissal of Giles as the betrothed of his daughter.
He was quite angry with circumstances for so heedlessly inflicting on Giles a second trouble when the needful one inflicted by himself was all that the proper order of events demanded.

"I told Giles's father when he came into those houses not to spend too much money on lifehold property held neither for his own life nor his son's," he exclaimed.
"But he wouldn't listen to me.

And now Giles has to suffer for it." "Poor Giles!" murmured Grace.
"Now, Grace, between us two, it is very, very remarkable.

It is almost as if I had foreseen this; and I am thankful for your escape, though I am sincerely sorry for Giles.