There was agitation to-day in the lives of all whom these matters concerned.

It was not till the Hintock dinner-time--one o'clock--that Grace discovered her father's absence from the house after a departure in the morning under somewhat unusual conditions.

By a little reasoning and inquiry she was able to come to a conclusion on his destination, and to divine his errand.
Her husband was absent, and her father did not return.

He had, in truth, gone on to Sherton after the interview, but this Grace did not know.

In an indefinite dread that something serious would arise out of Melbury's visit by reason of the inequalities of temper and nervous irritation to which he was subject, something possibly that would bring her much more misery than accompanied her present negative state of mind, she left the house about three o'clock, and took a loitering walk in the woodland track by which she imagined he would come home.