第13章

类别:其他 作者:Thomas Hardy字数:9926更新时间:19/01/07 14:37:59
\"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。