It was Grace at last, on her way back from the interview with Mrs.Charmond.

He threw down the tree he was planting, and was about to break through the belt of holly when he suddenly became aware of the presence of another man, who was looking over the hedge on the opposite side of the way upon the figure of the unconscious Grace.

He appeared as a handsome and gentlemanly personage of six or eight and twenty, and was quizzing her through an eye-glass.

Seeing that Winterborne was noticing him, he let his glass drop with a click upon the rail which protected the hedge, and walked away in the opposite direction.

Giles knew in a moment that this must be Mr.Fitzpiers.