\"Youareunnatural,Clym,andIdidnotexpectit。\"
\"Verylikely,\"saidhecheerlessly。\"Youdidnotknowthemeasureyouweregoingtometeme,andthereforedidnotknowthemeasurethatwouldbereturnedtoyouagain。\"
\"Youanswerme;youthinkonlyofher。Yousticktoherinallthings。\"
\"Thatproveshertobeworthy。Ihaveneveryetsupportedwhatisbad。AndIdonotcareonlyforher。Icareforyouandformyself,andforanythingthatisgood。
Whenawomanoncedislikesanothersheismerciless!\"
\"OClym!pleasedon’tgosettingdownasmyfaultwhatisyourobstinatewrongheadedness。Ifyouwishedtoconnectyourselfwithanunworthypersonwhydidyoucomehomeheretodoit?Whydidn’tyoudoitinParis?——itismorethefashionthere。Youhavecomeonlytodistressme,alonelywoman,andshortenmydays!Iwishthatyouwouldbestowyourpresencewhereyoubestowyourlove!\"
Clymsaidhuskily,\"Youaremymother。Iwillsaynomore——beyondthis,thatIbegyourpardonforhavingthoughtthismyhome。Iwillnolongerinflictmyselfuponyou;
I’llgo。\"Andhewentoutwithtearsinhiseyes。
Itwasasunnyafternoonatthebeginningofsummer,andthemoisthollowsoftheheathhadpassedfromtheirbrowntotheirgreenstage。YeobrightwalkedtotheedgeofthebasinwhichextendeddownfromMistoverandRainbarrow。
Bythistimehewascalm,andhelookedoverthelandscape。
Intheminorvalleys,betweenthehillockswhichdiversifiedthecontourofthevale,thefreshyoungfernswereluxuriantlygrowingup,ultimatelytoreachaheightoffiveorsixfeet。Hedescendedalittleway,flunghimselfdowninaspotwhereapathemergedfromoneofthesmallhollows,andwaited。HitheritwasthathehadpromisedEustaciatobringhismotherthisafternoon,thattheymightmeetandbefriends。Hisattempthadutterlyfailed。
Hewasinanestofvividgreen。Thefernyvegetationroundhim,thoughsoabundant,wasquiteuniform——itwasagroveofmachine—madefoliage,aworldofgreentriangleswithsaw—edges,andnotasingleflower。
Theairwaswarmwithavaporouswarmth,andthestillnesswasunbroken。Lizards,grasshoppers,andantsweretheonlylivingthingstobebeheld。Thesceneseemedtobelongtotheancientworldofthecarboniferousperiod,whentheformsofplantswerefew,andofthefernkind;
whentherewasneitherbudnorblossom,nothingbutamonotonousextentofleafage,amidwhichnobirdsang。
Whenhehadreclinedforsomeconsiderabletime,gloomilypondering,hediscernedabovethefernsadrawnbonnetofwhitesilkapproachingfromtheleft,andYeobrightknewdirectlythatitcoveredtheheadofherheloved。Hisheartawokefromitsapathytoawarmexcitement,and,jumpingtohisfeet,hesaidaloud,\"Iknewshewassuretocome。\"
Shevanishedinahollowforafewmoments,andthenherwholeformunfoldeditselffromthebrake。
\"Onlyyouhere?\"sheexclaimed,withadisappointedair,whosehollownesswasprovedbyherrisingrednessandherhalf—guiltylowlaugh。\"WhereisMrs。Yeobright?\"
\"Shehasnotcome,\"herepliedinasubduedtone。
\"IwishIhadknownthatyouwouldbeherealone,\"
shesaidseriously,\"andthatweweregoingtohavesuchanidle,pleasanttimeasthis。Pleasurenotknownbeforehandishalfwasted;toanticipateitistodoubleit。
Ihavenotthoughtoncetodayofhavingyoualltomyselfthisafternoon,andtheactualmomentofathingissosoongone。\"
\"Itisindeed。\"
\"PoorClym!\"shecontinued,lookingtenderlyintohisface。
\"Youaresad。Somethinghashappenedatyourhome。
Nevermindwhatis——letusonlylookatwhatseems。\"
\"But,darling,whatshallwedo?\"saidhe。
\"Stillgoonaswedonow——justliveonfrommeetingtomeeting,nevermindingaboutanotherday。You,Iknow,arealwaysthinkingofthat——Icanseeyouare。Butyoumustnot——willyou,dearClym?\"
\"Youarejustlikeallwomen。Theyareevercontenttobuildtheirlivesonanyincidentalpositionthatoffersitself;
whilstmenwouldfainmakeaglobetosuitthem。
Listentothis,Eustacia。ThereisasubjectIhavedeterminedtoputoffnolonger。YoursentimentonthewisdomofCarpediemdoesnotimpressmetoday。
Ourpresentmodeoflifemustshortlybebroughttoanend。\"
\"Itisyourmother!\"
\"Itis。Iloveyounonethelessintellingyou;
itisonlyrightyoushouldknow。\"
\"Ihavefearedmybliss,\"shesaid,withthemerestmotionofherlips。\"Ithasbeentoointenseandconsuming。\"
\"Thereishopeyet。Therearefortyyearsofworkinmeyet,andwhyshouldyoudespair?Iamonlyatanawkwardturning。
Iwishpeoplewouldn’tbesoreadytothinkthatthereisnoprogresswithoutuniformity。\"
\"Ah——yourmindrunsofftothephilosophicalsideofit。
Well,thesesadandhopelessobstaclesarewelcomeinonesense,fortheyenableustolookwithindifferenceuponthecruelsatiresthatFatelovestoindulgein。
Ihaveheardofpeople,who,uponcomingsuddenlyintohappiness,havediedfromanxietylesttheyshouldnotlivetoenjoyit。Ifeltmyselfinthatwhimsicalstateofuneasinesslately;butIshallbespareditnow。
Letuswalkon。\"
Clymtookthehandwhichwasalreadybaredforhim——itwasafavouritewaywiththemtowalkbarehandinbarehand——andledherthroughtheferns。Theyformedaverycomelypictureofloveatfullflush,astheywalkedalongthevalleythatlateafternoon,thesunslopingdownontheirright,andthrowingtheirthinspectralshadows,tallaspoplartrees,faroutacrossthefurzeandfern。
Eustaciawentwithherheadthrownbackfancifully,acertaingladandvoluptuousairoftriumphpervadinghereyesathavingwonbyherownunaidedselfamanwhowasherperfectcomplementinattainment,appearance,andage。
Ontheyoungman’spart,thepalenessoffacewhichhehadbroughtwithhimfromParis,andtheincipientmarksoftimeandthought,werelessperceptiblethanwhenhereturned,thehealthfulandenergeticsturdinesswhichwashisbynaturehavingpartiallyrecovereditsoriginalproportions。
Theywanderedonwardtilltheyreachedthenethermarginoftheheath,whereitbecamemarshyandmergedinmoorland。
\"Imustpartfromyouhere,Clym,\"saidEustacia。
Theystoodstillandpreparedtobideachotherfarewell。
Everythingbeforethemwasonaperfectlevel。
Thesun,restingonthehorizonline,streamedacrossthegroundfrombetweencopper—colouredandlilacclouds,stretchedoutinflatsbeneathaskyofpalesoftgreen。
Alldarkobjectsontheearththatlaytowardsthesunwereoverspreadbyapurplehaze,againstwhichgroupsofwailinggnatsshoneout,risingupwardsanddancingaboutlikesparksoffire。
\"O!thisleavingyouistoohardtobear!\"
exclaimedEustaciainasuddenwhisperofanguish。
\"Yourmotherwillinfluenceyoutoomuch;Ishallnotbejudgedfairly,itwillgetafloatthatIamnotagoodgirl,andthewitchstorywillbeaddedtomakemeblacker!\"
\"Theycannot。Nobodydarestospeakdisrespectfullyofyouorofme。\"
\"OhhowIwishIwassureofneverlosingyou——thatyoucouldnotbeabletodesertmeanyhow!\"
Clymstoodsilentamoment。Hisfeelingswerehigh,themomentwaspassionate,andhecuttheknot。
\"Youshallbesureofme,darling,\"hesaid,foldingherinhisarms。\"Wewillbemarriedatonce。\"
\"OClym!\"
\"Doyouagreetoit?\"
\"If——ifwecan。\"
\"Wecertainlycan,bothbeingoffullage。AndIhavenotfollowedmyoccupationalltheseyearswithouthavingaccumulatedmoney;andifyouwillagreetoliveinatinycottagesomewhereontheheath,untilItakeahouseinBudmouthfortheschool,wecandoitataverylittleexpense。\"
\"Howlongshallwehavetoliveinthetinycottage,Clym?\"
\"Aboutsixmonths。AttheendofthattimeIshallhavefinishedmyreading——yes,wewilldoit,andthisheart—achingwillbeover。Weshall,ofcourse,liveinabsoluteseclusion,andourmarriedlifewillonlybegintooutwardviewwhenwetakethehouseinBudmouth,whereIhavealreadyaddressedaletteronthematter。
Wouldyourgrandfatherallowyou?\"
\"Ithinkhewould——ontheunderstandingthatitshouldnotlastlongerthansixmonths。\"
\"Iwillguaranteethat,ifnomisfortunehappens。\"
\"Ifnomisfortunehappens,\"sherepeatedslowly。
\"Whichisnotlikely。Dearest,fixtheexactday。\"
Andthentheyconsultedonthequestion,andthedaywaschosen。Itwastobeafortnightfromthattime。
Thiswastheendoftheirtalk,andEustacialefthim。
Clymwatchedherassheretiredtowardsthesun。
Theluminousrayswrappedherupwithherincreasingdistance,andtherustleofherdressoverthesproutingsedgeandgrassdiedaway。Ashewatched,thedeadflatofthesceneryoverpoweredhim,thoughhewasfullyalivetothebeautyofthatuntarnishedearlysummergreenwhichwaswornforthenoncebythepoorestblade。
Therewassomethinginitsoppressivehorizontalitywhichtoomuchremindedhimofthearenaoflife;itgavehimasenseofbareequalitywith,andnosuperiorityto,asinglelivingthingunderthesun。
Eustaciawasnownolongerthegoddessbutthewomantohim,abeingtofightfor,support,help,bemalignedfor。
Nowthathehadreachedacoolermomenthewouldhavepreferredalesshastymarriage;butthecardwaslaid,andhedeterminedtoabidebythegame。WhetherEustaciawastoaddoneothertothelistofthosewholovetoohotlytolovelongandwell,theforthcomingeventwascertainlyareadywayofproving。
6—YeobrightGoes,andtheBreachIsCompleteAllthateveningsmartsoundsdenotinganactivepackingupcamefromYeobright’sroomtotheearsofhismotherdownstairs。
Nextmorninghedepartedfromthehouseandagainproceededacrosstheheath。Alongday’smarchwasbeforehim,hisobjectbeingtosecureadwellingtowhichhemighttakeEustaciawhenshebecamehiswife。Suchahouse,small,secluded,andwithitswindowsboardedup,hehadcasuallyobservedamonthearlier,abouttwomilesbeyondthevillageofEastEgdon,andsixmilesdistantaltogether;
andthitherhedirectedhisstepstoday。
Theweatherwasfardifferentfromthatoftheeveningbefore。
TheyellowandvapourysunsetwhichhadwrappedupEustaciafromhispartinggazehadpresagedchange。
ItwasoneofthosenotinfrequentdaysofanEnglishJunewhichareaswetandboisterousasNovember。Thecoldcloudshastenedoninabody,asifpaintedonamovingslide。
Vapoursfromothercontinentsarriveduponthewind,whichcurledandpartedroundhimashewalkedon。
AtlengthClymreachedthemarginofafirandbeechplantationthathadbeenenclosedfromheathlandintheyearofhisbirth。Herethetrees,ladenheavilywiththeirnewandhumidleaves,werenowsufferingmoredamagethanduringthehighestwindsofwinter,whentheboughsareespeciallydisencumberedtodobattlewiththestorm。Thewetyoungbeecheswereundergoingamputations,bruises,cripplings,andharshlacerations,fromwhichthewastingsapwouldbleedformanyadaytocome,andwhichwouldleavescarsvisibletillthedayoftheirburning。Eachstemwaswrenchedattheroot,whereitmovedlikeaboneinitssocket,andateveryonsetofthegaleconvulsivesoundscamefromthebranches,asifpainwerefelt。Inaneighbouringbrakeafinchwastryingtosing;butthewindblewunderhisfeatherstilltheystoodonend,twistedroundhislittletail,andmadehimgiveuphissong。
YetafewyardstoYeobright’sleft,ontheopenheath,howineffectivelygnashedthestorm!Thosegustswhichtorethetreesmerelywavedthefurzeandheatherinalightcaress。Egdonwasmadeforsuchtimesasthese。
Yeobrightreachedtheemptyhouseaboutmidday。
ItwasalmostaslonelyasthatofEustacia’sgrandfather,butthefactthatitstoodnearaheathwasdisguisedbyabeltoffirswhichalmostenclosedthepremises。
Hejourneyedonaboutamilefurthertothevillageinwhichtheownerlived,and,returningwithhimtothehouse,arrangementswerecompleted,andthemanundertookthatoneroomatleastshouldbereadyforoccupationthenextday。
Clym’sintentionwastolivetherealoneuntilEustaciashouldjoinhimontheirwedding—day。
Thenheturnedtopursuehiswayhomewardthroughthedrizzlethathadsogreatlytransformedthescene。
Theferns,amongwhichhehadlainincomfortyesterday,weredrippingmoisturefromeveryfrond,wettinghislegsthroughashebrushedpast;andthefuroftherabbitsleapingbeforehimwasclottedintodarklocksbythesamewaterysurrounding。
Hereachedhomedampandwearyenoughafterhisten—
milewalk。Ithadhardlybeenapropitiousbeginning,buthehadchosenhiscourse,andwouldshownoswerving。
Theeveningandthefollowingmorningwerespentinconcludingarrangementsforhisdeparture。Tostayathomeaminutelongerthannecessaryafterhavingoncecometohisdeterminationwouldbe,hefelt,onlytogivenewpaintohismotherbysomeword,look,ordeed。
Hehadhiredaconveyanceandsentoffhisgoodsbytwoo’clockthatday。Thenextstepwastogetsomefurniture,which,afterservingfortemporaryuseinthecottage,wouldbeavailableforthehouseatBudmouthwhenincreasedbygoodsofabetterdescription。
AmartextensiveenoughforthepurposeexistedatAnglebury,somemilesbeyondthespotchosenforhisresidence,andthereheresolvedtopassthecomingnight。
Itnowonlyremainedtowishhismothergood—bye。Shewassittingbythewindowasusualwhenhecamedownstairs。
\"Mother,Iamgoingtoleaveyou,\"hesaid,holdingouthishand。
\"Ithoughtyouwere,byyourpacking,\"repliedMrs。Yeobrightinavoicefromwhicheveryparticleofemotionwaspainfullyexcluded。
\"Andyouwillpartfriendswithme?\"
\"Certainly,Clym。\"
\"Iamgoingtobemarriedonthetwenty—fifth。\"
\"Ithoughtyouweregoingtobemarried。\"
\"Andthen——andthenyoumustcomeandseeus。Youwillunderstandmebetterafterthat,andoursituationwillnotbesowretchedasitisnow。\"
\"IdonotthinkitlikelyIshallcometoseeyou。\"
\"ThenitwillnotbemyfaultorEustacia’s,Mother。
Good—bye!\"
Hekissedhercheek,anddepartedingreatmisery,whichwasseveralhoursinlesseningitselftoacontrollablelevel。
Thepositionhadbeensuchthatnothingmorecouldbesaidwithout,inthefirstplace,breakingdownabarrier;
andthatwasnottobedone。
NosoonerhadYeobrightgonefromhismother’shousethanherfacechangeditsrigidaspectforoneofblankdespair。
Afterawhileshewept,andhertearsbroughtsomerelief。
Duringtherestofthedayshedidnothingbutwalkupanddownthegardenpathinastateborderingonstupefaction。
Nightcame,andwithitbutlittlerest。Thenextday,withaninstincttodosomethingwhichshouldreduceprostrationtomournfulness,shewenttoherson’sroom,andwithherownhandsarrangeditinorder,foranimaginarytimewhenheshouldreturnagain。Shegavesomeattentiontoherflowers,butitwasperfunctorilybestowed,fortheynolongercharmedher。
Itwasagreatreliefwhen,earlyintheafternoon,Thomasinpaidheranunexpectedvisit。ThiswasnotthefirstmeetingbetweentherelativessinceThomasin’smarriage;
andpastblundershavingbeeninaroughwayrectified,theycouldalwaysgreeteachotherwithpleasureandease。
Theobliquebandofsunlightwhichfollowedherthroughthedoorbecametheyoungwifewell。Itilluminatedherasherpresenceilluminatedtheheath。Inhermovements,inhergaze,sheremindedthebeholderofthefeatheredcreatureswholivedaroundherhome。Allsimilesandallegoriesconcerningherbeganandendedwithbirds。
Therewasasmuchvarietyinhermotionsasintheirflight。
Whenshewasmusingshewasakestrel,whichhangsintheairbyaninvisiblemotionofitswings。
Whenshewasinahighwindherlightbodywasblownagainsttreesandbankslikeaheron’s。Whenshewasfrightenedshedartednoiselesslylikeakingfisher。
Whenshewasserenesheskimmedlikeaswallow,andthatishowshewasmovingnow。
\"Youarelookingveryblithe,uponmyword,Tamsie,\"
saidMrs。Yeobright,withasadsmile。\"HowisDamon?\"
\"Heisverywell。\"
\"Ishekindtoyou,Thomasin?\"AndMrs。Yeobrightobservedhernarrowly。
\"Prettyfairly。\"
\"Isthathonestlysaid?\"
\"Yes,Aunt。Iwouldtellyouifhewereunkind。\"
Sheadded,blushing,andwithhesitation,\"He——Idon’tknowifIoughttocomplaintoyouaboutthis,butIamnotquitesurewhattodo。Iwantsomemoney,youknow,Aunt——sometobuylittlethingsformyself——andhedoesn’tgivemeany。Idon’tliketoaskhim;andyet,perhaps,hedoesn’tgiveitmebecausehedoesn’tknow。
OughtItomentionittohim,Aunt?\"
\"Ofcourseyouought。Haveyouneversaidawordonthematter?\"
\"Yousee,Ihadsomeofmyown,\"saidThomasinevasively,\"andIhavenotwantedanyofhisuntillately。Ididjustsaysomethingaboutitlastweek;butheseems——nottoremember。\"
\"Hemustbemadetoremember。YouareawarethatIhavealittleboxfullofspade—guineas,whichyouruncleputintomyhandstodividebetweenyourselfandClymwheneverIchose。Perhapsthetimehascomewhenitshouldbedone。
Theycanbeturnedintosovereignsatanymoment。\"
\"IthinkIshouldliketohavemyshare——thatis,ifyoudon’tmind。\"
\"Youshall,ifnecessary。Butitisonlyproperthatyoushouldfirsttellyourhusbanddistinctlythatyouarewithoutany,andseewhathewilldo。\"
\"Verywell,Iwill……Aunt,IhaveheardaboutClym。
Iknowyouareintroubleabouthim,andthat’swhyI
havecome。\"
Mrs。Yeobrightturnedaway,andherfeaturesworkedinherattempttoconcealherfeelings。Thensheceasedtomakeanyattempt,andsaid,weeping,\"OThomasin,doyouthinkhehatesme?Howcanhebeartogrievemeso,whenIhavelivedonlyforhimthroughalltheseyears?\"
\"Hateyou——no,\"saidThomasinsoothingly。\"Itisonlythatheloveshertoowell。Lookatitquietly——do。
Itisnotsoverybadofhim。Doyouknow,Ithoughtitnottheworstmatchhecouldhavemade。MissVye’sfamilyisagoodoneonhermother’sside;andherfatherwasaromanticwanderer——asortofGreekUlysses。\"
\"Itisnouse,Thomasin;itisnouse。Yourintentionisgood;butIwillnottroubleyoutoargue。Ihavegonethroughthewholethatcanbesaidoneithersidetimes,andmanytimes。ClymandIhavenotpartedinanger;
wehavepartedinaworseway。Itisnotapassionatequarrelthatwouldhavebrokenmyheart;itisthesteadyoppositionandpersistenceingoingwrongthathehasshown。
OThomasin,hewassogoodasalittleboy——sotenderandkind!\"
\"Hewas,Iknow。\"
\"IdidnotthinkonewhomIcalledminewouldgrowuptotreatmelikethis。HespoketomeasifIopposedhimtoinjurehim。AsthoughIcouldwishhimill!\"
\"ThereareworsewomenintheworldthanEustaciaVye。\"
\"Therearetoomanybetterthat’stheagonyofit。
Itwasshe,Thomasin,andsheonly,wholedyourhusbandtoactashedid——Iwouldswearit!\"
\"No,\"saidThomasineagerly。\"Itwasbeforeheknewmethathethoughtofher,anditwasnothingbutamereflirtation。\"
\"Verywell;wewillletitbeso。Thereislittleuseinunravellingthatnow。Sonsmustbeblindiftheywill。
Whyisitthatawomancanseefromadistancewhatamancannotseeclose?Clymmustdoashewill——heisnothingmoretome。Andthisismaternity——togiveone’sbestyearsandbestlovetoensurethefateofbeingdespised!\"
\"Youaretoounyielding。Thinkhowmanymotherstherearewhosesonshavebroughtthemtopublicshamebyrealcrimesbeforeyoufeelsodeeplyacaselikethis。\"
\"Thomasin,don’tlectureme——Ican’thaveit。Itistheexcessabovewhatweexpectthatmakestheforceoftheblow,andthatmaynotbegreaterintheircasethaninmine——theymayhaveforeseentheworst……Iamwronglymade,Thomasin,\"sheadded,withamournfulsmile。
\"Somewidowscanguardagainstthewoundstheirchildrengivethembyturningtheirheartstoanotherhusbandandbeginninglifeagain。ButIalwayswasapoor,weak,one—idea’dcreature——Ihadnotthecompassofheartnortheenterpriseforthat。JustasforlornandstupefiedasIwaswhenmyhusband’sspiritflewawayIhavesateversince——neverattemptingtomendmattersatall。
Iwascomparativelyayoungwomanthen,andImighthavehadanotherfamilybythistime,andhavebeencomfortedbythemforthefailureofthisoneson。\"
\"Itismorenobleinyouthatyoudidnot。\"
\"Themorenoble,thelesswise。\"
\"Forgetit,andbesoothed,dearAunt。AndIshallnotleaveyoualoneforlong。Ishallcomeandseeyoueveryday。\"
AndforoneweekThomasinliterallyfulfilledherword。
Sheendeavouredtomakelightofthewedding;andbroughtnewsofthepreparations,andthatshewasinvitedtobepresent。Thenextweekshewasratherunwell,anddidnotappear。Nothinghadasyetbeendoneabouttheguineas,forThomasinfearedtoaddressherhusbandagainonthesubject,andMrs。Yeobrighthadinsisteduponthis。
OnedayjustbeforethistimeWildevewasstandingatthedooroftheQuietWoman。InadditiontotheupwardpaththroughtheheathtoRainbarrowandMistover,therewasaroadwhichbranchedfromthehighwayashortdistancebelowtheinn,andascendedtoMistoverbyacircuitousandeasyincline。Thiswastheonlyrouteonthatsideforvehiclestothecaptain’sretreat。
Alightcartfromthenearesttowndescendedtheroad,andtheladwhowasdrivingpulledupinfrontoftheinnforsomethingtodrink。
\"YoucomefromMistover?\"saidWildeve。
\"Yes。Theyaretakingingoodthingsupthere。Goingtobeawedding。\"Andthedriverburiedhisfaceinhismug。
Wildevehadnotreceivedaninklingofthefactbefore,andasuddenexpressionofpainoverspreadhisface。
Heturnedforamomentintothepassagetohideit。
Thenhecamebackagain。
\"DoyoumeanMissVye?\"hesaid。\"Howisit——thatshecanbemarriedsosoon?\"
\"BythewillofGodandareadyyoungman,Isuppose。\"
\"Youdon’tmeanMr。Yeobright?\"
\"Yes。Hehasbeencreepingaboutwithherallthespring。\"
\"Isuppose——shewasimmenselytakenwithhim?\"
\"Sheiscrazyabouthim,sotheirgeneralservantofallworktellsme。AndthatladCharleythatlooksafterthehorseisallinadazeaboutit。Thestun—
pollhasgotfond—likeofher。\"
\"Isshelively——issheglad?Goingtobemarriedsosoon——well!\"
\"Itisn’tsoverysoon。\"
\"No;notsoverysoon。\"
Wildevewentindoorstotheemptyroom,acuriousheartachewithinhim。Herestedhiselbowuponthemantelpieceandhisfaceuponhishand。WhenThomasinenteredtheroomhedidnottellherofwhathehadheard。
TheoldlongingforEustaciahadreappearedinhissoul——anditwasmainlybecausehehaddiscoveredthatitwasanotherman’sintentiontopossessher。
Tobeyearningforthedifficult,tobewearyofthatoffered;
tocarefortheremote,todislikethenear;itwasWildeve’snaturealways。Thisisthetruemarkofthemanofsentiment。
ThoughWildeve’sfeveredfeelinghadnotbeenelaboratedtorealpoeticalcompass,itwasofthestandardsort。
HismighthavebeencalledtheRousseauofEgdon。
7—TheMorningandtheEveningofaDayTheweddingmorningcame。NobodywouldhaveimaginedfromappearancesthatBlooms—EndhadanyinterestinMistoverthatday。AsolemnstillnessprevailedaroundthehouseofClym’smother,andtherewasnomoreanimationindoors。
Mrs。Yeobright,whohaddeclinedtoattendtheceremony,satbythebreakfasttableintheoldroomwhichcommunicatedimmediatelywiththeporch,hereyeslistlesslydirectedtowardstheopendoor。Itwastheroominwhich,sixmonthsearlier,themerryChristmaspartyhadmet,towhichEustaciacamesecretlyandasastranger。