They marvelled at his temerity; for though most of the tongues which had been let loose attributed the chief blame-worthiness to Fitzpiers, these of her household preferred to regard their mistress as the deeper sinner.
Melbury sat with his hands resting on the familiar knobbed thorn walking-stick, whose growing he had seen before he enjoyed its use.
The scene to him was not the material environment of his person, but a tragic vision that travelled with him like an envelope.

Through this vision the incidents of the moment but gleamed confusedly here and there, as an outer landscape through the high-colored scenes of a stained window.

He waited thus an hour, an hour and a half, two hours.
He began to look pale and ill, whereupon the butler, who came in, asked him to have a glass of wine.

Melbury roused himself and said, "No, no.
Is she almost ready ?" "She is just finishing breakfast," said the butler.

"She will soon see you now.