“No，no，theaircoolsmyhead。Ishallnotstaylong。”Hewassilentawhile；thenhetoldher，asnearlyasMartycouldgather，thathisfirstwife，hisdaughterGrace’smother，wasfirstthesweetheartofWinterborne’sfather，wholovedhertenderly，tillhe，thespeaker，wonherawayfromhimbyatrick，becausehewantedtomarryherhimself。Hesadlywentontosaythattheotherman’shappinesswasruinedbyit；thatthoughhemarriedWinterborne’smother，itwasbutahalf-heartedbusinesswithhim。
Melburyaddedthathewasafterwardsverymiserableatwhathehaddone；butthatastimewenton，andthechildrengrewup，andseemedtobeattachedtoeachother，hedeterminedtodoallhecouldtorightthewrongbylettinghisdaughtermarrythelad；
notonlythat，buttogiveherthebesteducationhecouldafford，soastomakethegiftasvaluableaoneasitlayinhispowertobestow。“Istillmeantodoit。”saidMelbury。
“Thendo。”saidshe。
“Butallthesethingstroubleme。”saidhe；“forIfeelIamsacrificingherformyownsin；andIthinkofher，andoftencomedownhereandlookatthis。”