Hiswalkwasrapidashecamedown，andhewentwithaspringytrend。Beforeenteringuponhismother’spremiseshestoppedandbreathed。Thelightwhichshoneforthonhimfromthewindowrevealedthathisfacewasflushedandhiseyebright。Whatitdidnotshowwassomethingwhichlingereduponhislipslikeasealsetthere。
Theabidingpresenceofthisimpresswassorealthathehardlydaredtoenterthehouse，foritseemedasifhismothermightsay，\"Whatredspotisthatglowinguponyourmouthsovividly？\"
Butheenteredsoonafter。Theteawasready，andhesatdownoppositehismother。Shedidnotspeakmanywords；
andasforhim，somethinghadbeenjustdoneandsomewordshadbeenjustsaidonthehillwhichpreventedhimfrombeginningadesultorychat。Hismother’staciturnitywasnotwithoutominousness，butheappearednottocare。
Heknewwhyshesaidsolittle，buthecouldnotremovethecauseofherbearingtowardshim。Thesehalf—silentsittingswerefarfromuncommonwiththemnow。AtlastYeobrightmadeabeginningofwhatwasintendedtostrikeatthewholerootofthematter。
\"Fivedayshavewesatlikethisatmealswithscarcelyaword。What’stheuseofit，Mother？\"
\"None，\"saidshe，inaheart—swollentone。\"Butthereisonlytoogoodareason。\"
\"Notwhenyouknowall。Ihavebeenwantingtospeakaboutthis，andIamgladthesubjectisbegun。Thereason，ofcourse，isEustaciaVye。Well，IconfessIhaveseenherlately，andhaveseenheragoodmanytimes。\"
\"Yes，yes；andIknowwhatthatamountsto。Ittroublesme，Clym。Youarewastingyourlifehere；anditissolelyonaccountofher。Ifithadnotbeenforthatwomanyouwouldneverhaveentertainedthisteachingschemeatall。\"
Clymlookedhardathismother。\"Youknowthatisnotit，\"
hesaid。
\"Well，Iknowyouhaddecidedtoattemptitbeforeyousawher；butthatwouldhaveendedinintentions。Itwasverywelltotalkof，butridiculoustoputinpractice。
Ifullyexpectedthatinthecourseofamonthortwoyouwouldhaveseenthefollyofsuchself—sacrifice，andwouldhavebeenbythistimebackagaintoParisinsomebusinessorother。Icanunderstandobjectionstothediamondtrade——Ireallywasthinkingthatitmightbeinadequatetothelifeofamanlikeyoueventhoughitmighthavemadeyouamillionaire。
ButnowIseehowmistakenyouareaboutthisgirlIdoubtifyoucouldbecorrectaboutotherthings。\"
\"HowamImistakeninher？\"
\"Sheislazyanddissatisfied。Butthatisnotallofit。
Supposinghertobeasgoodawomanasanyyoucanfind，whichshecertainlyisnot，whydoyouwishtoconnectyourselfwithanybodyatpresent？\"
\"Well，therearepracticalreasons，\"Clymbegan，andthenalmostbrokeoffunderanoverpoweringsenseoftheweightofargumentwhichcouldbebroughtagainsthisstatement。
\"IfItakeaschoolaneducatedwomanwouldbeinvaluableasahelptome。\"
\"What！youreallymeantomarryher？\"
\"Itwouldbeprematuretostatethatplainly。Butconsiderwhatobviousadvantagestherewouldbeindoingit。She————\"
\"Don’tsupposeshehasanymoney。Shehasn’tafarthing。\"
\"Sheisexcellentlyeducated，andwouldmakeagoodmatroninaboarding—school。IcandidlyownthatI
havemodifiedmyviewsalittle，indeferencetoyou；
anditshouldsatisfyyou。Inolongeradheretomyintentionofgivingwithmyownmouthrudimentaryeducationtothelowestclass。Icandobetter。Icanestablishagoodprivateschoolforfarmers’sons，andwithoutstoppingtheschoolIcanmanagetopassexaminations。
Bythismeans，andbytheassistanceofawifelikeher————\"
\"Oh，Clym！\"
\"Ishallultimately，Ihope，beattheheadofoneofthebestschoolsinthecounty。\"
Yeobrighthadenunciatedtheword\"her\"withafervourwhich，inconversationwithamother，wasabsurdlyindiscreet。
Hardlyamaternalheartwithinthefourseascouldinsuchcircumstances，havehelpedbeingirritatedatthatill—timedbetrayaloffeelingforanewwoman。
\"Youareblinded，Clym，\"shesaidwarmly。\"Itwasabaddayforyouwhenyoufirstseteyesonher。
Andyourschemeismerelyacastleintheairbuiltonpurposetojustifythisfollywhichhasseizedyou，andtosalveyourconscienceontheirrationalsituationyouarein。\"
\"Mother，that’snottrue，\"hefirmlyanswered。
\"CanyoumaintainthatIsitandtelluntruths，whenallIwishtodoistosaveyoufromsorrow？Forshame，Clym！Butitisallthroughthatwoman——ahussy！\"
Clymreddenedlikefireandrose。Heplacedhishanduponhismother’sshoulderandsaid，inatonewhichhungstrangelybetweenentreatyandcommand，\"Iwon’thearit。
Imaybeledtoansweryouinawaywhichweshallbothregret。\"
Hismotherpartedherlipstobeginsomeothervehementtruth，butonlookingathimshesawthatinhisfacewhichledhertoleavethewordsunsaid。Yeobrightwalkedonceortwiceacrosstheroom，andthensuddenlywentoutofthehouse。
Itwaseleveno’clockwhenhecamein，thoughhehadnotbeenfurtherthantheprecinctsofthegarden。
Hismotherwasgonetobed。Alightwasleftburningonthetable，andsupperwasspread。Withoutstoppingforanyfoodhesecuredthedoorsandwentupstairs。
4—AnHourofBlissandManyHoursofSadnessThenextdaywasgloomyenoughatBlooms—End。Yeobrightremainedinhisstudy，sittingovertheopenbooks；
buttheworkofthosehourswasmiserablyscant。
Determinedthatthereshouldbenothinginhisconducttowardshismotherresemblingsullenness，hehadoccasionallyspokentoheronpassingmatters，andwouldtakenonoticeofthebrevityofherreplies。Withthesameresolvetokeepupashowofconversationhesaid，aboutseveno’clockintheevening，\"There’saneclipseofthemoontonight。
Iamgoingouttoseeit。\"And，puttingonhisovercoat，helefther。
Thelowmoonwasnotasyetvisiblefromthefrontofthehouse，andYeobrightclimbedoutofthevalleyuntilhestoodinthefullfloodofherlight。Butevennowhewalkedon，andhisstepswereinthedirectionofRainbarrow。
Inhalfanhourhestoodatthetop。Theskywasclearfromvergetoverge，andthemoonflungherraysoverthewholeheath，butwithoutsensiblylightingit，exceptwherepathsandwater—courseshadlaidbarethewhiteflintsandglisteningquartzsand，whichmadestreaksuponthegeneralshade。
Afterstandingawhilehestoopedandfelttheheather。
Itwasdry，andheflunghimselfdownuponthebarrow，hisfacetowardsthemoon，whichdepictedasmallimageofherselfineachofhiseyes。
Hehadoftencomeupherewithoutstatinghispurposetohismother；butthiswasthefirsttimethathehadbeenostensiblyfrankastohispurposewhilereallyconcealingit。
Itwasamoralsituationwhich，threemonthsearlier，hecouldhardlyhavecreditedofhimself。Inreturningtolabourinthissequesteredspothehadanticipatedanescapefromthechafingofsocialnecessities；
yetbeholdtheywereherealso。Morethaneverhelongedtobeinsomeworldwherepersonalambitionwasnottheonlyrecognizedformofprogress——such，perhaps，asmighthavebeenthecaseatsometimeorotherinthesilveryglobethenshininguponhim。Hiseyetravelledoverthelengthandbreadthofthatdistantcountry——overtheBayofRainbows，thesombreSeaofCrises，theOceanofStorms，theLakeofDreams，thevastWalledPlains，andthewondrousRingMountains——tillhealmostfelthimselftobevoyagingbodilythroughitswildscenes，standingonitshollowhills，traversingitsdeserts，descendingitsvalesandoldseabottoms，ormountingtotheedgesofitscraters。
Whilehewatchedthefar—removedlandscapeatawnystaingrewintobeingonthelowerverge——theeclipsehadbegun。
Thismarkedapreconcertedmoment——fortheremotecelestialphenomenonhadbeenpressedintosublunaryserviceasalover’ssignal。Yeobright’smindflewbacktoearthatthesight；hearose，shookhimselfandlistened。
Minuteafterminutepassedby，perhapstenminutespassed，andtheshadowonthemoonperceptiblywidened。
Heheardarustlingonhislefthand，acloakedfigurewithanupturnedfaceappearedatthebaseoftheBarrow，andClymdescended。Inamomentthefigurewasinhisarms，andhislipsuponhers。
\"MyEustacia！\"
\"Clym，dearest！\"
Suchasituationhadlessthanthreemonthsbroughtforth。
Theyremainedlongwithoutasingleutterance，fornolanguagecouldreachtheleveloftheircondition——wordswereastherustyimplementsofaby—gonebarbarousepoch，andonlytobeoccasionallytolerated。
\"Ibegantowonderwhyyoudidnotcome，\"saidYeobright，whenshehadwithdrawnalittlefromhisembrace。
\"Yousaidtenminutesafterthefirstmarkofshadeontheedgeofthemoon，andthat’swhatitisnow。\"
\"Well，letusonlythinkthathereweare。\"
Then，holdingeachother’shand，theywereagainsilent，andtheshadowonthemoon’sdiscgrewalittlelarger。
\"Hasitseemedlongsinceyoulastsawme？\"sheasked。
\"Ithasseemedsad。\"
\"Andnotlong？That’sbecauseyouoccupyyourself，andsoblindyourselftomyabsence。Tome，whocandonothing，ithasbeenlikelivingunderstagnantwater。\"
\"Iwouldratherbeartediousness，dear，thanhavetimemadeshortbysuchmeansashaveshortenedmine。\"
\"Inwhatwayisthat？Youhavebeenthinkingyouwishedyoudidnotloveme。\"
\"Howcanamanwishthat，andyetloveon？No，Eustacia。\"
\"Mencan，womencannot。\"
\"Well，whateverImayhavethought，onethingiscertain——I
doloveyou——pastallcompassanddescription。Iloveyoutooppressiveness——I，whohaveneverbeforefeltmorethanapleasantpassingfancyforanywomanIhaveeverseen。
Letmelookrightintoyourmoonlitfaceanddwelloneverylineandcurveinit！OnlyafewhairbreadthsmakethedifferencebetweenthisfaceandfacesIhaveseenmanytimesbeforeIknewyou；yetwhatadifference——thedifferencebetweeneverythingandnothingatall。
Onetouchonthatmouthagain！there，andthere，andthere。
Youreyesseemheavy，Eustacia。\"
\"No，itismygeneralwayoflooking。IthinkitarisesfrommyfeelingsometimesanagonizingpityformyselfthatIeverwasborn。\"
\"Youdon’tfeelitnow？\"
\"No。YetIknowthatweshallnotlovelikethisalways。
Nothingcanensurethecontinuanceoflove。Itwillevaporatelikeaspirit，andsoIfeelfulloffears。\"
\"Youneednot。\"
\"Ah，youdon’tknow。YouhaveseenmorethanI，andhavebeenintocitiesandamongpeoplethatIhaveonlyheardof，andhavelivedmoreyearsthanI；butyetIamolderatthisthanyou。Ilovedanothermanonce，andnowIloveyou。\"
\"InGod’smercydon’ttalkso，Eustacia！\"
\"ButIdonotthinkIshallbetheonewhoweariesfirst。
Itwill，Ifear，endinthisway：yourmotherwillfindoutthatyoumeetme，andshewillinfluenceyouagainstme！\"
\"Thatcanneverbe。Sheknowsofthesemeetingsalready。\"
\"Andshespeaksagainstme？\"
\"Iwillnotsay。\"
\"There，goaway！Obeyher。Ishallruinyou。Itisfoolishofyoutomeetmelikethis。Kissme，andgoawayforever。
Forever——doyouhear？——forever！\"
\"NotI。\"
\"Itisyouronlychance。Manyaman’slovehasbeenacursetohim。\"
\"Youaredesperate，fulloffancies，andwilful；
andyoumisunderstand。Ihaveanadditionalreasonforseeingyoutonightbesidesloveofyou。Forthough，unlikeyou，Ifeelouraffectionmaybeeternal。
Ifeelwithyouinthis，thatourpresentmodeofexistencecannotlast。\"
\"Oh！’tisyourmother。Yes，that’sit！Iknewit。\"
\"Nevermindwhatitis。Believethis，Icannotletmyselfloseyou。Imusthaveyoualwayswithme。
ThisveryeveningIdonotliketoletyougo。
Thereisonlyonecureforthisanxiety，dearest——youmustbemywife。\"
Shestarted——thenendeavouredtosaycalmly，\"Cynicssaythatcurestheanxietybycuringthelove。\"
\"Butyoumustanswerme。ShallIclaimyousomeday——I
don’tmeanatonce？\"
\"Imustthink，\"Eustaciamurmured。\"AtpresentspeakofParistome。Isthereanyplacelikeitonearth？\"
\"Itisverybeautiful。Butwillyoubemine？\"
\"Iwillbenobodyelse’sintheworld——doesthatsatisfyyou？\"
\"Yes，forthepresent。\"
\"NowtellmeoftheTuileries，andtheLouvre，\"
shecontinuedevasively。
\"IhatetalkingofParis！Well，IrememberonesunnyroomintheLouvrewhichwouldmakeafittingplaceforyoutolivein——theGaleried’Apollon。Itswindowsaremainlyeast；
andintheearlymorning，whenthesunisbright，thewholeapartmentisinaperfectblazeofsplendour。
Theraysbristleanddartfromtheencrustationsofgildingtothemagnificentinlaidcoffers，fromthecofferstothegoldandsilverplate，fromtheplatetothejewelsandpreciousstones，fromthesetotheenamels，tillthereisaperfectnetworkoflightwhichquitedazzlestheeye。
Butnow，aboutourmarriage————\"
\"AndVersailles——theKing’sGalleryissomesuchgorgeousroom，isitnot？\"
\"Yes。Butwhat’stheuseoftalkingofgorgeousrooms？
Bytheway，theLittleTrianonwouldsuitusbeautifullytolivein，andyoumightwalkinthegardensinthemoonlightandthinkyouwereinsomeEnglishshrubbery；
ItislaidoutinEnglishfashion。\"
\"Ishouldhatetothinkthat！\"
\"ThenyoucouldkeeptothelawninfrontoftheGrandPalace。
Allaboutthereyouwoulddoubtlessfeelinaworldofhistoricalromance。\"
Hewenton，sinceitwasallnewtoher，anddescribedFontainebleau，St。Cloud，theBois，andmanyotherfamiliarhauntsoftheParisians；tillshesaid——
\"Whenusedyoutogototheseplaces？\"
\"OnSundays。\"
\"Ah，yes。IdislikeEnglishSundays。HowIshouldchimeinwiththeirmannersoverthere！DearClym，you’llgobackagain？\"
Clymshookhishead，andlookedattheeclipse。
\"Ifyou’llgobackagainI’ll——besomething，\"
shesaidtenderly，puttingherheadnearhisbreast。
\"Ifyou’llagreeI’llgivemypromise，withoutmakingyouwaitaminutelonger。\"
\"Howextraordinarythatyouandmymothershouldbeofonemindaboutthis！\"saidYeobright。\"Ihavevowednottogoback，Eustacia。ItisnottheplaceIdislike；
itistheoccupation。\"
\"Butyoucangoinsomeothercapacity。\"
\"No。Besides，itwouldinterferewithmyscheme。
Don’tpressthat，Eustacia。Willyoumarryme？\"
\"Icannottell。\"
\"Now——nevermindParis；itisnobetterthanotherspots。
Promise，sweet！\"
\"Youwillneveradheretoyoureducationplan，Iamquitesure；andthenitwillbeallrightforme；
andsoIpromisetobeyoursforeverandever。\"
Clymbroughtherfacetowardshisbyagentlepressureofthehand，andkissedher。
\"Ah！butyoudon’tknowwhatyouhavegotinme，\"shesaid。
\"SometimesIthinkthereisnotthatinEustaciaVyewhichwillmakeagoodhomespunwife。Well，letitgo——seehowourtimeisslipping，slipping，slipping！\"Shepointedtowardsthehalf—eclipsedmoon。
\"Youaretoomournful。\"
\"No。OnlyIdreadtothinkofanythingbeyondthepresent。
Whatis，weknow。Wearetogethernow，anditisunknownhowlongweshallbeso；theunknownalwaysfillsmymindwithterriblepossibilities，evenwhenImayreasonablyexpectittobecheerful……Clym，theeclipsedmoonlightshinesuponyourfacewithastrangeforeigncolour，andshowsitsshapeasifitwerecutoutingold。
Thatmeansthatyoushouldbedoingbetterthingsthanthis。\"
\"Youareambitious，Eustacia——no，notexactlyambitious，luxurious。Ioughttobeofthesamevein，tomakeyouhappy，Isuppose。Andyet，farfromthat，Icouldliveanddieinahermitagehere，withproperworktodo。\"
Therewasthatinhistonewhichimplieddistrustofhispositionasasolicitouslover，adoubtifhewereactingfairlytowardsonewhosetastestouchedhisownonlyatrareandinfrequentpoints。Shesawhismeaning，andwhispered，inalow，fullaccentofeagerassurance\"Don’tmistakeme，Clym——thoughIshouldlikeParis，Iloveyouforyourselfalone。TobeyourwifeandliveinPariswouldbeheaventome；butIwouldratherlivewithyouinahermitageherethannotbeyoursatall。
Itisgaintomeeitherway，andverygreatgain。
There’smytoocandidconfession。\"
\"Spokenlikeawoman。AndnowImustsoonleaveyou。
I’llwalkwithyoutowardsyourhouse。\"
\"Butmustyougohomeyet？\"sheasked。\"Yes，thesandhasnearlyslippedaway，Isee，andtheeclipseiscreepingonmoreandmore。Don’tgoyet！Stoptillthehourhasrunitselfout；thenIwillnotpressyouanymore。
Youwillgohomeandsleepwell；Ikeepsighinginmysleep！Doyoueverdreamofme？\"
\"Icannotrecollectacleardreamofyou。\"
\"Iseeyourfaceineverysceneofmydreams，andhearyourvoiceineverysound。IwishIdidnot。ItistoomuchwhatIfeel。Theysaysuchloveneverlasts。
Butitmust！Andyetonce，Iremember，IsawanofficeroftheHussarsridedownthestreetatBudmouth，andthoughhewasatotalstrangerandneverspoketome，IlovedhimtillIthoughtIshouldreallydieoflove——
butIdidn’tdie，andatlastIleftoffcaringforhim。
HowterribleitwouldbeifatimeshouldcomewhenIcouldnotloveyou，myClym！\"
\"Pleasedon’tsaysuchrecklessthings。Whenweseesuchatimeathandwewillsay，’Ihaveoutlivedmyfaithandpurpose，’anddie。There，thehourhasexpired——nowletuswalkon。\"
HandinhandtheywentalongthepathtowardsMistover。
Whentheywerenearthehousehesaid，\"Itistoolateformetoseeyourgrandfathertonight。Doyouthinkhewillobjecttoit？\"
\"Iwillspeaktohim。Iamsoaccustomedtobemyownmistressthatitdidnotoccurtomethatweshouldhavetoaskhim。\"
Thentheylingeringlyseparated，andClymdescendedtowardsBlooms—End。
AndashewalkedfurtherandfurtherfromthecharmedatmosphereofhisOlympiangirlhisfacegrewsadwithanewsortofsadness。Aperceptionofthedilemmainwhichhislovehadplacedhimcamebackinfullforce。
InspiteofEustacia’sapparentwillingnesstowaitthroughtheperiodofanunpromisingengagement，tillheshouldbeestablishedinhisnewpursuit，hecouldnotbutperceiveatmomentsthatshelovedhimratherasavisitantfromagayworldtowhichsherightlybelongedthanasamanwithapurposeopposedtothatrecentpastofhiswhichsointerestedher。Itmeantthat，thoughshemadenoconditionsastohisreturntotheFrenchcapital，thiswaswhatshesecretlylongedforintheeventofmarriage；
anditrobbedhimofmanyanotherwisepleasanthour。
Alongwiththatcamethewideningbreachbetweenhimselfandhismother。Wheneveranylittleoccurrencehadbroughtintomoreprominencethanusualthedisappointmentthathewascausingherithadsenthimonloneandmoodywalks；
orhewaskeptawakeagreatpartofthenightbytheturmoilofspiritwhichsucharecognitioncreated。
IfMrs。YeobrightcouldonlyhavebeenledtoseewhatasoundandworthypurposethispurposeofhiswasandhowlittleitwasbeingaffectedbyhisdevotionstoEustacia，howdifferentlywouldsheregardhim！
Thusashissightgrewaccustomedtothefirstblindinghalokindledabouthimbyloveandbeauty，Yeobrightbegantoperceivewhatastraithewasin。
SometimeshewishedthathehadneverknownEustacia，immediatelytoretractthewishasbrutal。Threeantagonisticgrowthshadtobekeptalive：hismother’strustinhim，hisplanforbecomingateacher，andEustacia’shappiness。
Hisfervidnaturecouldnotaffordtorelinquishoneofthese，thoughtwoofthethreewereasmanyashecouldhopetopreserve。ThoughhislovewasaschasteasthatofPetrarchforhisLaura，ithadmadefettersofwhatpreviouslywasonlyadifficulty。Apositionwhichwasnottoosimplewhenhestoodwhole—heartedhadbecomeindescribablycomplicatedbytheadditionofEustacia。
Justwhenhismotherwasbeginningtotolerateoneschemehehadintroducedanotherstillbittererthanthefirst，andthecombinationwasmorethanshecouldbear。
5—SharpWordsAreSpoken，andaCrisisEnsuesWhenYeobrightwasnotwithEustaciahewassittingslavishlyoverhisbooks；whenhewasnotreadinghewasmeetingher。
Thesemeetingswerecarriedonwiththegreatestsecrecy。
OneafternoonhismothercamehomefromamorningvisittoThomasin。Hecouldseefromadisturbanceinthelinesofherfacethatsomethinghadhappened。
\"Ihavebeentoldanincomprehensiblething，\"
shesaidmournfully。\"ThecaptainhasletoutattheWomanthatyouandEustaciaVyeareengagedtobemarried。\"
\"Weare，\"saidYeobright。\"Butitmaynotbeyetforaverylongtime。\"
\"IshouldhardlythinkitWOULDbeyetforaverylongtime！YouwilltakehertoParis，Isuppose？\"
Shespokewithwearyhopelessness。
\"IamnotgoingbacktoParis。\"
\"Whatwillyoudowithawife，then？\"
\"KeepaschoolinBudmouth，asIhavetoldyou。\"
\"That’sincredible！Theplaceisoverrunwithschoolmasters。
Youhavenospecialqualifications。Whatpossiblechanceisthereforsuchasyou？\"
\"Thereisnochanceofgettingrich。Butwithmysystemofeducation，whichisasnewasitistrue，Ishalldoagreatdealofgoodtomyfellow—creatures。\"
\"Dreams，dreams！Iftherehadbeenanysystemlefttobeinventedtheywouldhavefounditoutattheuniversitieslongbeforethistime。\"
\"Never，Mother。Theycannotfinditout，becausetheirteachersdon’tcomeincontactwiththeclasswhichdemandssuchasystem——thatis，thosewhohavehadnopreliminarytraining。Myplanisoneforinstillinghighknowledgeintoemptymindswithoutfirstcrammingthemwithwhathastobeuncrammedagainbeforetruestudybegins。\"
\"Imighthavebelievedyouifyouhadkeptyourselffreefromentanglements；butthiswoman——ifshehadbeenagoodgirlitwouldhavebeenbadenough；butbeing————\"
\"Sheisagoodgirl。\"
\"Soyouthink。ACorfubandmaster’sdaughter！Whathasherlifebeen？Hersurnameevenisnothertrueone。\"
\"SheisCaptainVye’sgranddaughter，andherfathermerelytookhermother’sname。Andsheisaladybyinstinct。\"
\"Theycallhim’captain，’butanybodyiscaptain。\"
\"HewasintheRoyalNavy！\"
\"Nodoubthehasbeentoseainsometuborother。
Whydoesn’thelookafterher？Noladywouldroveabouttheheathatallhoursofthedayandnightasshedoes。
Butthat’snotallofit。TherewassomethingqueerbetweenherandThomasin’shusbandatonetime——IamassureofitasthatIstandhere。\"
\"Eustaciahastoldme。Hedidpayheralittleattentionayearago；butthere’snoharminthat。
Ilikeherallthebetter。\"
\"Clym，\"saidhismotherwithfirmness，\"Ihavenoproofsagainsther，unfortunately。Butifshemakesyouagoodwife，therehasneverbeenabadone。\"
\"Believeme，youarealmostexasperating，\"
saidYeobrightvehemently。\"AndthisverydayIhadintendedtoarrangeameetingbetweenyou。Butyougivemenopeace；youtrytothwartmywishesineverything。\"
\"Ihatethethoughtofanysonofminemarryingbadly！I
wishIhadneverlivedtoseethis；itistoomuchforme——itismorethanIdreamt！\"Sheturnedtothewindow。
Herbreathwascomingquickly，andherlipswerepale，parted，andtrembling。
\"Mother，\"saidClym，\"whateveryoudo，youwillalwaysbedeartome——thatyouknow。ButonethingIhavearighttosay，whichis，thatatmyageIamoldenoughtoknowwhatisbestforme。\"
Mrs。Yeobrightremainedforsometimesilentandshaken，asifshecouldsaynomore。Thenshereplied，\"Best？Isitbestforyoutoinjureyourprospectsforsuchavoluptuous，idlewomanasthat？Don’tyouseethatbytheveryfactofyourchoosingheryouprovethatyoudonotknowwhatisbestforyou？Yougiveupyourwholethought——yousetyourwholesoul——topleaseawoman。\"
\"Ido。Andthatwomanisyou。\"
\"Howcanyoutreatmesoflippantly！\"saidhismother，turningagaintohimwithatearfullook。
