Page 210 (1/2)

It was at the beginning of April, a few days after thebetween

Grace and Mrs Charmond in the wood, that Fitzpiers, just returned fro froe In his eye there was a doubtful light, and the lines of his

refined face showed a vague disquietude He appeared now like one of

those who i born

His position was in truth glooloomier than it was His practice had been slowly

dwindling of late, and now threatened to die out altogether, the

irrepressible old Dr Jones capturing patients up to Fitzpiers's very

door Fitzpiers knew only too well the latest and greatest cause of

his unpopularity; and yet, so illogical is rew out of a remedial measure proposed for the first--a

letter froain To

bring about their severance stillhis absence upon almost immediate departure for the

Continent

The time was that dull interval in a woodlander's life which coincides

with great activity in the life of the woodland itself--a period

following the close of the winter tree-cutting, and preceding the

barking season, when the saps are just beginning to heave with the

force of hydraulic lifts inside all the trunks of the forest

Winterborne's contract was completed, and the plantations were