The Woodlanders - Page 218/314

"You hurt me a little, farmer--though I am much obliged to you for your

kindness. People don't appreciate me, I say. Between ourselves, I am

losing my practice here; and why? Because I see matchless attraction

where matchless attraction is, both in person and position. I mention

no names, so nobody will be the wiser. But I have lost her, in a

legitimate sense, that is. If I were a free man now, things have come

to such a pass that she could not refuse me; while with her fortune

(which I don't covet for itself) I should have a chance of satisfying

an honorable ambition--a chance I have never had yet, and now never,

never shall have, probably!"

Melbury, his heart throbbing against the other's backbone, and his

brain on fire with indignation, ventured to mutter huskily, "Why?"

The horse ambled on some steps before Fitzpiers replied, "Because I am

tied and bound to another by law, as tightly as I am to you by your

arm--not that I complain of your arm--I thank you for helping me.

Well, where are we? Not nearly home yet?...Home, say I. It is a home!

When I might have been at the other house over there." In a stupefied

way he flung his hand in the direction of the park. "I was just two

months too early in committing myself. Had I only seen the other

first--"

Here the old man's arm gave Fitzpiers a convulsive shake. "What are

you doing?" continued the latter. "Keep still, please, or put me down.

I was saying that I lost her by a mere little two months! There is no

chance for me now in this world, and it makes me reckless--reckless!

Unless, indeed, anything should happen to the other one. She is

amiable enough; but if anything should happen to her--and I hear she is

ill--well, if it should, I should be free--and my fame, my happiness,

would be insured."

These were the last words that Fitzpiers uttered in his seat in front

of the timber-merchant. Unable longer to master himself, Melbury, the

skin of his face compressed, whipped away his spare arm from

Fitzpiers's waist, and seized him by the collar.

"You heartless villain--after all that we have done for ye!" he cried,

with a quivering lip. "And the money of hers that you've had, and the

roof we've provided to shelter ye! It is to me, George Melbury, that

you dare to talk like that!" The exclamation was accompanied by a

powerful swing from the shoulder, which flung the young man head-long

into the road, Fitzpiers fell with a heavy thud upon the stumps of some

undergrowth which had been cut during the winter preceding. Darling

continued her walk for a few paces farther and stopped.