ItwassomewhatsingularthatGilesinhissemi-consciousstateacquiescedunresistinglyinallthatshedid。Butheneverforamomentrecognizedher——continuinghisrapidconversationtohimself，andseemingtolookuponherassomeangel，orothersupernaturalcreatureofthevisionaryworldinwhichhewasmentallyliving。Theundertakingoccupiedhermorethantenminutes；butbythattime，tohergreatthankfulness，hewasintheinnerroom，lyingonthebed，hisdampouterclothingremoved。
　　ThentheunhappyGraceregardedhimbythelightofthecandle。
　　Therewassomethinginhislookwhichagonizedher，intherushofhisthoughts，acceleratingtheirspeedfromminutetominute。Heseemedtobepassingthroughtheuniverseofideaslikeacomet——
　　erratic，inapprehensible，untraceable。
　　Grace’sdistractionwasalmostasgreatashis。Inafewmomentsshefirmlybelievedhewasdying。Unabletowithstandherimpulse，shekneltdownbesidehim，kissedhishandsandhisfaceandhishair，exclaiming，inalowvoice，“HowcouldI？HowcouldI？”
　　Hertimidmoralityhad，indeed，underratedhischivalrytillnow，thoughsheknewhimsowell。Thepurityofhisnature，hisfreedomfromthegrosserpassions，hisscrupulousdelicacy，hadneverbeenfullyunderstoodbyGracetillthisstrangeself-
　　sacrificeinlonelyjuxtapositiontoherownpersonwasrevealed。
　　Theperceptionofitaddedsomethingthatwaslittleshortofreverencetothedeepaffectionforhimofawomanwho，herself，hadmoreofArtemisthanofAphroditeinherconstitution。
　　Allthatatendernursecoulddo，Gracedid；andthepowertoexpresshersolicitudeinaction，unconsciousthoughthesuffererwas，broughthermournfulsatisfaction。Shebathedhishothead，wipedhisperspiringhands，moistenedhislips，cooledhisfieryeyelids，spongedhisheatedskin，andadministeredwhatevershecouldfindinthehousethattheimaginationcouldconceiveaslikelytobeinanywayalleviating。Thatshemighthavebeenthecause，orpartiallythecause，ofallthis，interfusedmiserywithhersorrow。
　　Sixmonthsbeforethisdateascene，almostsimilarinitsmechanicalparts，hadbeenenactedatHintockHouse。Itwasbetweenapairofpersonsmostintimatelyconnectedintheirliveswiththese。Outwardlylikeasithadbeen，itwasyetinfiniteinspiritualdifference，thoughawoman’sdevotionhadbeencommontoboth。
　　Gracerosefromherattitudeofaffection，and，bracingherenergies，sawthatsomethingpracticalmustimmediatelybedone。
　　Muchasshewouldhaveliked，intheemotionofthemoment，tokeephimentirelytoherself，medicalassistancewasnecessarywhilethereremainedapossibilityofpreservinghimalive。Suchassistancewasfataltoherownconcealment；butevenhadthechanceofbenefitinghimbeenlessthanitwas，shewouldhaverunthehazardforhissake。Thequestionwas，whereshouldshegetamedicalman，competentandnear？
　　Therewasonesuchman，andonlyone，withinaccessibledistance；
　　amanwho，ifitwerepossibletosaveWinterborne’slife，hadthebrainmostlikelytodoit。Ifhumanpressurecouldbringhim，thatmanoughttobebroughttothesickGiles’sside。Theattemptshouldbemade。
　　Yetshedreadedtoleaveherpatient，andtheminutesracedpast，andyetshepostponedherdeparture。Atlast，whenitwasaftereleveno’clock，Winterbornefellintoafitfulsleep，anditseemedtoaffordheranopportunity。
　　Shehastilymadehimascomfortableasshecould，putonherthings，cutanewcandlefromthebunchhanginginthecupboard，andhavingsetitup，andplaceditsothatthelightdidnotfalluponhiseyes，sheclosedthedoorandstarted。
　　ThespiritofWinterborneseemedtokeephercompanyandbanishallsenseofdarknessfromhermind。Therainshadimpartedaphosphorescencetothepiecesoftouchwoodandrottingleavesthatlayaboutherpath，which，asscatteredbyherfeet，spreadabroadlikespiltmilk。Shewouldnotrunthehazardoflosingherwaybyplungingintoanyshort，unfrequentedtrackthroughthedenserpartsofthewoodland，butfollowedamoreopencourse，whicheventuallybroughthertothehighway。Oncehere，sheranalongwithgreatspeed，animatedbyadevotedpurposewhichhadmuchaboutitthatwasstoical；anditwaswithscarcelyanyfalteringofspiritthat，afteranhour’sprogress，shepassedoverRubdownHill，andonwardtowardsthatsameHintock，andthatsamehouse，outofwhichshehadfledafewdaysbeforeinirresistiblealarm。
　　Butthathadhappenedwhich，aboveallotherthingsofchanceandchange，couldmakeherdeliberatelyfrustrateherplanofflightandsinkallregardofpersonalconsequences。
　　OnespecialityofFitzpiers’swasrespectedbyGraceasmuchasever——hisprofessionalskill。Inthisshewasright。Hadhispersistenceequalledhisinsight，insteadofbeingthespasmodicandfitfulthingitwas，fameandfortuneneedneverhaveremainedawishwithhim。Hisfreedomfromconventionalerrorsandcrustedprejudiceshad，indeed，beensuchastoretardratherthanacceleratehisadvanceinHintockanditsneighborhood，wherepeoplecouldnotbelievethatnatureherselfeffectedcures，andthatthedoctor’sbusinesswasonlytosmooththeway。
　　ItwaspastmidnightwhenGracearrivedoppositeherfather’shouse，nowagaintemporarilyoccupiedbyherhusband，unlesshehadalreadygoneaway。EversinceheremergencefromthedenserplantationsaboutWinterborne’sresidenceapervasivelightnesshadhunginthedampautumnsky，inspiteofthevaultofcloud，signifyingthatamoonofsomeagewasshiningaboveitsarch。
　　Thetwowhitegatesweredistinct，andthewhiteballsonthepillars，andthepuddlesanddamprutsleftbytherecentrain，hadacold，corpse-eyedluminousness。Sheenteredbythelowergate，andcrossedthequadrangletothewingwhereintheapartmentsthathadbeenherssincehermarriageweresituate，tillshestoodunderawindowwhich，ifherhusbandwereinthehouse，gavelighttohisbedchamber。
　　Shefaltered，andpausedwithherhandonherheart，inspiteofherself。Couldshecalltoherpresencetheverycauseofallherforegoingtroubles？Alas！——oldJoneswassevenmilesoff；Gileswaspossiblydying——whatelsecouldshedo？
　　Itwasinaperspiration，wroughtevenmorebyconsciousnessthanbyexercise，thatshepickedupsomegravel，threwitatthepanes，andwaitedtoseetheresult。Thenight-bellwhichhadbeenfixedwhenFitzpiersfirsttookuphisresidencetherestillremained；butasithadfallenintodisusewiththecollapseofhispractice，andhiselopement，shedidnotventuretopullitnow。
　　Whoeversleptintheroomhadheardhersignal，slightasitwas。
　　Inhalfaminutethewindowwasopened，andavoicesaid“Yes？”
　　inquiringly。Gracerecognizedherhusbandinthespeakeratonce。
　　Hereffortwasnowtodisguiseherownaccents。
　　“Doctor。”shesaid，inasunusualatoneasshecouldcommand，“amanisdangerouslyillinOne-chimneyHut，outtowardsDelborough，andyoumustgotohimatonce——inallmercy！”
　　“Iwill，readily。”
　　Thealacrity，surprise，andpleasureexpressedinhisreplyamazedherforamoment。But，intruth，theydenotedthesuddenreliefofamanwho，havinggotbackinamoodofcontrition，fromerraticabandonmenttofearfuljoys，foundthesoothingroutineofprofessionalpracticeunexpectedlyopeninganewtohim。Thehighestdesireofhissouljustnowwasforarespectablelifeofpainstaking。Ifthis，hisfirstsummonssincehisreturn，hadbeentoattenduponacatordog，hewouldscarcelyhaverefuseditinthecircumstances。
　　“Doyouknowtheway？”sheasked。
　　“Yes。”saidhe。
　　“One-chimneyHut。”sherepeated。“And——immediately！”
　　“Yes，yes。”saidFitzpiers。
　　Graceremainednolonger。Shepassedoutofthewhitegatewithoutslammingit，andhastenedonherwayback。Herhusband，then，hadre-enteredherfather’shouse。Howhehadbeenabletoeffectareconciliationwiththeoldman，whatwerethetermsofthetreatybetweenthem，shecouldnotsomuchasconjecture。
　　Somesortoftrucemusthavebeenenteredinto，thatwasallshecouldsay。Butcloseasthequestionlaytoherownlife，therewasamoreurgentonewhichbanishedit；andshetracedherstepsquicklyalongthemeanderingtrack-ways。
　　Meanwhile，Fitzpierswaspreparingtoleavethehouse。Thestateofhismind，overandabovehisprofessionalzeal，waspeculiar。
　　AtGrace’sfirstremarkhehadnotrecognizedorsuspectedherpresence；butasshewenton，hewasawakenedtothegreatresemblanceofthespeaker’svoicetohiswife’s。Hehadtakeninsuchgoodfaiththestatementofthehouseholdonhisarrival，thatshehadgoneonavisitforatimebecauseshecouldnotatoncebringhermindtobereconciledtohim，thathecouldnotquiteactuallybelievethiscomertobeshe。ItwasoneofthefeaturesofFitzpiers’srepentanthumoratthisdatethat，onreceivingtheexplanationofherabsence，hehadmadenoattempttooutrageherfeelingsbyfollowingher；thoughnobodyhadinformedhimhowveryshortlyherdeparturehadprecededhisentry，andofallthatmighthavebeeninferredfromherprecipitancy。
　　Melbury，aftermuchalarmandconsideration，haddecidednottofollowhereither。Hesympathizedwithherflight，muchashedeploredit；moreover，thetragiccoloroftheantecedenteventsthathehadbeenagreatmeansofcreatingcheckedhisinstincttointerfere。HeprayedandtrustedthatshehadgotintonodangeronherwayashesupposedtoSherton，andthencetoExbury，ifthatweretheplaceshehadgoneto，forbearingallinquirywhichthestrangenessofherdeparturewouldhavemadenatural。AfewmonthsbeforethistimeaperformancebyGraceofone-tenththemagnitudeofthiswouldhavearousedhimtounwontedinvestigation。
　　ItwasinthesamespiritthathehadtacitlyassentedtoFitzpiers’sdomicilationthere。Thetwomenhadnotmetfacetoface，butMrs。Melburyhadproposedherselfasanintermediary，whomadethesurgeon’sre-entrancecomparativelyeasytohim。
　　Everythingwasprovisional，andnobodyaskedquestions。Fitzpiershadcomeintheperformanceofaplanofpenitence，whichhadoriginatedincircumstanceshereaftertobeexplained；hisself-
　　humiliationtotheverybass-stringwasdeliberate；andassoonasacallreachedhimfromthebedsideofadyingmanhisdesirewastosettoworkanddoasmuchgoodashecouldwiththeleastpossiblefussorshow。Hethereforerefrainedfromcallingupastablemantogetreadyanyhorseorgig，andsetoutforOne-
　　chimneyHutonfoot，asGracehaddone。
　　Shere-enteredthehut，flungoffherbonnetandcloak，andapproachedthesufferer。Hehadbegunanewthoseterriblemutterings，andhishandswerecold。Assoonasshesawhimtherereturnedtoherthatagonyofmindwhichthestimulusofherjourneyhadthrownoffforatime。
　　Couldhereallybedying？Shebathedhim，kissedhim，forgotallthingsbutthefactthatlyingtherebeforeherwashewhohadlovedhermorethanthemereloverwouldhaveloved；hadmartyredhimselfforhercomfort，caredmoreforherself-respectthanshehadthoughtofcaring。Thismoodcontinuedtillsheheardquick，smartfootstepswithout；sheknewwhosefootstepstheywere。
　　Gracesatontheinsideofthebedagainstthewall，holdingGiles’shand，sothatwhenherhusbandenteredthepatientlaybetweenherselfandhim。Hestoodtransfixedatfirst，noticingGraceonly。Slowlyhedroppedhisglanceanddiscernedwhotheprostratemanwas。Strangelyenough，thoughGrace’sdistasteforherhusband’scompanyhadamountedalmosttodread，andculminatedinactualflight，atthismomentherlastandleastfeelingwaspersonal。Sensitivefemininitywaseclipsedbyself-effacingpurpose，andthatitwasahusbandwhostoodtherewasforgotten。
　　Thefirstlookthatpossessedherfacewasrelief；satisfactionatthepresenceofthephysicianobliteratedthoughtoftheman，whichonlyreturnedintheformofasub-consciousnessthatdidnotinterferewithherwords。
　　“Ishedying——isthereanyhope？”shecried。
　　“Grace！”saidFitzpiers，inanindescribablewhisper——morethaninvocating，ifnotquitedeprecatory。
　　Hewasarrestedbythespectacle，notsomuchinitsintrinsiccharacter——thoughthatwasstrikingenoughtoamanwhocalledhimselfthehusbandofthesufferer’sfriendandnurse——butinitscharacterasthecounterpartofonethathaditshourmanymonthsbefore，inwhichhehadfiguredasthepatient，andthewomanhadbeenFeliceCharmond。
　　“Isheingreatdanger——canyousavehim？”shecriedagain。
　　Fitzpiersarousedhimself，camealittlenearer，andexaminedWinterborneashestood。Hisinspectionwasconcludedinamereglance。Beforehespokehelookedathercontemplativelyastotheeffectofhiscomingwords。
　　“Heisdying。”hesaid，withdryprecision。
　　“What？”saidshe。
　　“Nothingcanbedone，bymeoranyotherman。Itwillsoonbeallover。Theextremitiesaredeadalready。”Hiseyesstillremainedfixedonher；theconclusiontowhichhehadcomeseemingtoendhisinterest，professionalandotherwise，inWinterborneforever。
　　“Butitcannotbe！Hewaswellthreedaysago。”
　　“Notwell，Isuspect。Thisseemslikeasecondaryattack，whichhasfollowedsomepreviousillness——possiblytyphoid——itmayhavebeenmonthsago，orrecently。”