Grace, too, had a very uncomfortable night, and her solicitous
embarrassment was not lessened the next morning when another letter
from her father was put into her hands. Its tenor was an intenser
strain of the one that had preceded it. After stating how extremely
glad he was to hear that she was better, and able to get out-of-doors,
he went on: "This is a wearisome business, the solicitor we have come to see being
out of town. I do not know when I shall get home. My great anxiety in
this delay is still lest you should lose Giles Winterborne. I cannot
rest at night for thinking that while our business is hanging fire he
may become estranged, or go away from the neighborhood. I have set my
heart upon seeing him your husband, if you ever have another. Do,
then, Grace, give him some temporary encouragement, even though it is
over-early. For when I consider the past I do think God will forgive
me and you for being a little forward. I have another reason for this,
my dear. I feel myself going rapidly downhill, and late affairs have
still further helped me that way. And until this thing is done I
cannot rest in peace."

He added a postscript: "I have just heard that the solicitor is to be seen to-morrow.
Possibly, therefore, I shall return in the evening after you get this."