Atthetimber-merchant’s，inthemeantime，theconversationflowed；and，asGilesWinterbornehadrightlyenoughdeemed，onsubjectsinwhichhehadnoshare。Amongtheexcludingmatterstherewas，forone，theeffectuponMr。Melburyofthewomanlymienandmannersofhisdaughter，whichtookhimsomuchunawaresthat，thoughitdidnotmakehimabsolutelyforgettheexistenceofherconductorhomeward，thrustGiles’simagebackintoquitetheobscurestcellarageofhisbrain。AnotherwashisinterviewwithMrs。Charmond’sagentthatmorning，atwhichtheladyherselfhadbeenpresentforafewminutes。Melburyhadpurchasedsomestandingtimberfromheralongtimebefore，andnowthatthedatehadcomeforfellingithewaslefttopursuealmosthisowncourse。ThiswaswhatthehouseholdwereactuallytalkingofduringGiles’scogitationwithout；andMelbury’ssatisfactionwiththeclearatmospherethathadarisenbetweenhimselfandthedeityofthegroveswhichenclosedhisresidencewasthecauseofacounterbalancingmistinessonthesidetowardsWinterborne。
“Sothoroughlydoesshetrustme。”saidMelbury，“thatImightfell，top，orlop，onmyownjudgment，anysticko’timberwhateverinherwood，andfixthepriceo’t，andsettlethematter。But，nameitall！Iwouldn’tdosuchathing。However，itmaybeusefultohavethisgoodunderstandingwithher。I
wishshetookmoreinterestintheplace，andstayedherealltheyearround。”
“Iamafraid’tisnotherregardforyou，butherdislikeofHintock，thatmakeshersoeasyaboutthetrees。”saidMrs。
Melbury。