Theonlylivingthingthatenterednowwasasparrow；
andseeingnomovementstocausealarm，hehoppedboldlyroundtheroom，endeavouredtogooutbythewindow，andflutteredamongthepot—flowers。Thisrousedthelonelysitter，whogotup，releasedthebird，andwenttothedoor。
ShewasexpectingThomasin，whohadwrittenthenightbeforetostatethatthetimehadcomewhenshewouldwishtohavethemoneyandthatshewouldifpossiblecallthisday。
YetThomasinoccupiedMrs。Yeobright’sthoughtsbutslightlyasshelookedupthevalleyoftheheath，alivewithbutterflies，andwithgrasshopperswhosehuskynoisesoneverysideformedawhisperedchorus。
Adomesticdrama，forwhichthepreparationswerenowbeingmadeamileortwooff，wasbutlittlelessvividlypresenttohereyesthanifenactedbeforeher。Shetriedtodismissthevision，andwalkedaboutthegardenplot；
buthereyeseverandanonsoughtoutthedirectionoftheparishchurchtowhichMistoverbelonged，andherexcitedfancyclovethehillswhichdividedthebuildingfromhereyes。
Themorningworeaway。Eleveno’clockstruck——coulditbethattheweddingwastheninprogress？Itmustbeso。Shewentonimaginingthesceneatthechurch，whichhehadbythistimeapproachedwithhisbride。
Shepicturedthelittlegroupofchildrenbythegateastheponycarriagedroveupinwhich，asThomasinhadlearnt，theyweregoingtoperformtheshortjourney。
Thenshesawthementerandproceedtothechancelandkneel；
andtheserviceseemedtogoon。
Shecoveredherfacewithherhands。\"O，itisamistake！\"
shegroaned。\"Andhewillrueitsomeday，andthinkofme！\"
Whilesheremainedthus，overcomebyherforebodings，theoldclockindoorswhizzedforthtwelvestrokes。
Soonafter，faintsoundsfloatedtoherearfromafaroverthehills。Thebreezecamefromthatquarter，andithadbroughtwithitthenotesofdistantbells，gailystartingoffinapeal：one，two，three，four，five。
TheringersatEastEgdonwereannouncingthenuptialsofEustaciaandherson。
\"Thenitisover，\"shemurmured。\"Well，well！andlifetoowillbeoversoon。AndwhyshouldIgoonscaldingmyfacelikethis？Cryaboutonethinginlife，cryaboutall；
onethreadrunsthroughthewholepiece。Andyetwesay，’atimetolaugh！’\"
TowardseveningWildevecame。SinceThomasin’smarriageMrs。Yeobrighthadshownhimthatgrimfriendlinesswhichatlastarisesinallsuchcasesofundesiredaffinity。
Thevisionofwhatoughttohavebeenisthrownasideinsheerweariness，andbrowbeatenhumanendeavourlistlesslymakesthebestofthefactthatis。Wildeve，todohimjustice，hadbehavedverycourteouslytohiswife’saunt；
anditwaswithnosurprisethatshesawhimenternow。
\"Thomasinhasnotbeenabletocome，asshepromisedtodo，\"
herepliedtoherinquiry，whichhadbeenanxious，forsheknewthatherniecewasbadlyinwantofmoney。
\"Thecaptaincamedownlastnightandpersonallypressedhertojointhemtoday。So，nottobeunpleasant，shedeterminedtogo。Theyfetchedherinthepony—chaise，andaregoingtobringherback。\"
\"Thenitisdone，\"saidMrs。Yeobright。\"Havetheygonetotheirnewhome？\"
\"Idon’tknow。IhavehadnonewsfromMistoversinceThomasinlefttogo。\"
\"Youdidnotgowithher？\"saidshe，asiftheremightbegoodreasonswhy。
\"Icouldnot，\"saidWildeve，reddeningslightly。
\"Wecouldnotbothleavethehouse；itwasratherabusymorning，onaccountofAngleburyGreatMarket。
IbelieveyouhavesomethingtogivetoThomasin？Ifyoulike，Iwilltakeit。\"
Mrs。Yeobrighthesitated，andwonderedifWildeveknewwhatthesomethingwas。\"Didshetellyouofthis？\"
sheinquired。
\"Notparticularly。Shecasuallydroppedaremarkabouthavingarrangedtofetchsomearticleorother。\"
\"Itishardlynecessarytosendit。Shecanhaveitwhenevershechoosestocome。\"
\"Thatwon’tbeyet。Inthepresentstateofherhealthshemustnotgoonwalkingsomuchasshehasdone。\"
Headded，withafainttwangofsarcasm，\"WhatwonderfulthingisitthatIcannotbetrustedtotake？\"
\"Nothingworthtroublingyouwith。\"
\"Onewouldthinkyoudoubtedmyhonesty，\"hesaid，withalaugh，thoughhiscolourroseinaquickresentfulnessfrequentwithhim。
\"Youneedthinknosuchthing，\"saidshedrily。
\"ItissimplythatI，incommonwiththerestoftheworld，feelthattherearecertainthingswhichhadbetterbedonebycertainpeoplethanbyothers。\"
\"Asyoulike，asyoulike，\"saidWildevelaconically。
\"Itisnotwortharguingabout。Well，IthinkImustturnhomewardagain，astheinnmustnotbeleftlonginchargeoftheladandthemaidonly。\"
Hewenthisway，hisfarewellbeingscarcelysocourteousashisgreeting。ButMrs。Yeobrightknewhimthoroughlybythistime，andtooklittlenoticeofhismanner，goodorbad。
WhenWildevewasgoneMrs。Yeobrightstoodandconsideredwhatwouldbethebestcoursetoadoptwithregardtotheguineas，whichshehadnotlikedtoentrusttoWildeve。
ItwashardlycrediblethatThomasinhadtoldhimtoaskforthem，whenthenecessityforthemhadarisenfromthedifficultyofobtainingmoneyathishands。
AtthesametimeThomasinreallywantedthem，andmightbeunabletocometoBlooms—Endforanotherweekatleast。
Totakeorsendthemoneytoherattheinnwouldbeimpolite，sinceWildevewouldprettysurelybepresent，orwoulddiscoverthetransaction；andif，asherauntsuspected，hetreatedherlesskindlythanshedeservedtobetreated，hemightthengetthewholesumoutofhergentlehands。
ButonthisparticulareveningThomasinwasatMistover，andanythingmightbeconveyedtohertherewithouttheknowledgeofherhusband。Uponthewholetheopportunitywasworthtakingadvantageof。
Herson，too，wasthere，andwasnowmarried。
Therecouldbenomorepropermomenttorenderhimhisshareofthemoneythanthepresent。Andthechancethatwouldbeaffordedher，bysendinghimthisgift，ofshowinghowfarshewasfrombearinghimill—will，cheeredthesadmother’sheart。
Shewentupstairsandtookfromalockeddraweralittlebox，outofwhichshepouredahoardofbroadunwornguineasthathadlaintheremanyayear。Therewereahundredinall，andshedividedthemintotwoheaps，fiftyineach。
Tyinguptheseinsmallcanvasbags，shewentdowntothegardenandcalledtoChristianCantle，whowasloiteringaboutinhopeofasupperwhichwasnotreallyowedhim。
Mrs。Yeobrightgavehimthemoneybags，chargedhimtogotoMistover，andonnoaccounttodeliverthemintoanyone’shandssaveherson’sandThomasin’s。OnfurtherthoughtshedeemeditadvisabletotellChristianpreciselywhatthetwobagscontained，thathemightbefullyimpressedwiththeirimportance。Christianpocketedthemoneybags，promisedthegreatestcarefulness，andsetoutonhisway。
\"Youneednothurry，\"saidMrs。Yeobright。\"Itwillbebetternottogettheretillafterdusk，andthennobodywillnoticeyou。Comebackheretosupper，ifitisnottoolate。\"
Itwasnearlynineo’clockwhenhebegantoascendthevaletowardsMistover；butthelongdaysofsummerbeingattheirclimax，thefirstobscurityofeveninghadonlyjustbeguntotanthelandscape。AtthispointofhisjourneyChristianheardvoices，andfoundthattheyproceededfromacompanyofmenandwomenwhoweretraversingahollowaheadofhim，thetopsonlyoftheirheadsbeingvisible。
Hepausedandthoughtofthemoneyhecarried。ItwasalmosttooearlyevenforChristianseriouslytofearrobbery；
neverthelesshetookaprecautionwhicheversincehisboyhoodhehadadoptedwheneverhecarriedmorethantwoorthreeshillingsuponhisperson——aprecautionsomewhatlikethatoftheownerofthePittDiamondwhenfilledwithsimilarmisgivings。Hetookoffhisboots，untiedtheguineas，andemptiedthecontentsofonelittlebagintotherightboot，andoftheotherintotheleft，spreadingthemasflatlyaspossibleoverthebottomofeach，whichwasreallyaspaciouscofferbynomeanslimitedtothesizeofthefoot。Pullingthemonagainandlacingthemtotheverytop，heproceededonhisway，moreeasyinhisheadthanunderhissoles。
Hispathconvergedtowardsthatofthenoisycompany，andoncomingnearerhefoundtohisreliefthattheywereseveralEgdonpeoplewhomheknewverywell，whilewiththemwalkedFairway，ofBlooms—End。
\"What！Christiangoingtoo？\"saidFairwayassoonasherecognizedthenewcomer。\"You’vegotnoyoungwomannorwifetoyournametogieagown—pieceto，I’msure。\"
\"Whatd’yemean？\"saidChristian。
\"Why，theraffle。Theonewegotoeveryyear。
Goingtotheraffleaswellasourselves？\"
\"Neverknewawordo’t。Isitlikecudgelplayingorothersportfulformsofbloodshed？Idon’twanttogo，thankyou，MisterFairway，andnooffence。\"
\"Christiandon’tknowthefuno’t，and’twouldbeafinesightforhim，\"saidabuxomwoman。\"There’snodangeratall，Christian。Everymanputsinashillingapiece，andonewinsagown—pieceforhiswifeorsweetheartifhe’sgotone。\"
\"Well，asthat’snotmyfortunethere’snomeaninginittome。ButIshouldliketoseethefun，ifthere’snothingoftheblackartinit，andifamanmaylookonwithoutcostorgettingintoanydangerouswrangle？\"
\"Therewillbenouproaratall，\"saidTimothy。
\"Sure，Christian，ifyou’dliketocomewe’llseethere’snoharmdone。\"
\"Andnoba’dygaieties，Isuppose？Yousee，neighbours，ifso，itwouldbesettingfatherabadexample，asheissolightmoral’d。Butagown—pieceforashilling，andnoblackart——’tisworthlookingintosee，anditwouldn’thindermehalfanhour。Yes，I’llcome，ifyou’llstepalittlewaytowardsMistoverwithmeafterwards，supposingnightshouldhaveclosedin，andnobodyelseisgoingthatway？\"
Oneortwopromised；andChristian，divergingfromhisdirectpath，turnedroundtotherightwithhiscompanionstowardstheQuietWoman。
Whentheyenteredthelargecommonroomoftheinntheyfoundassembledthereabouttenmenfromamongtheneighbouringpopulation，andthegroupwasincreasedbythenewcontingenttodoublethatnumber。
Mostofthemweresittingroundtheroominseatsdividedbywoodenelbowslikethoseofcrudecathedralstalls，whichwerecarvedwiththeinitialsofmanyanillustriousdrunkardofformertimeswhohadpassedhisdaysandhisnightsbetweenthem，andnowlayasanalcoholiccinderinthenearestchurchyard。Amongthecupsonthelongtablebeforethesitterslayanopenparceloflightdrapery——thegown—piece，asitwascalled——whichwastoberaffledfor。Wildevewasstandingwithhisbacktothefireplacesmokingacigar；andthepromoteroftheraffle，apackmanfromadistanttown，wasexpatiatinguponthevalueofthefabricasmaterialforasummerdress。
\"Now，gentlemen，\"hecontinued，asthenewcomersdrewuptothetable，\"there’sfivehaveentered，andwewantfourmoretomakeupthenumber。Ithink，bythefacesofthosegentlemenwhohavejustcomein，thattheyareshrewdenoughtotakeadvantageofthisrareopportunityofbeautifyingtheirladiesataverytriflingexpense。\"
Fairway，Sam，andanotherplacedtheirshillingsonthetable，andthemanturnedtoChristian。
\"No，sir，\"saidChristian，drawingback，withaquickgazeofmisgiving。\"Iamonlyapoorchapcometolookon，anitpleaseye，sir。Idon’tsomuchasknowhowyoudoit。IfsobeIwassureofgettingitIwouldputdowntheshilling；butIcouldn’totherwise。\"
\"Ithinkyoumightalmostbesure，\"saidthepedlar。
\"Infact，nowIlookintoyourface，evenifIcan’tsayyouaresuretowin，IcansaythatIneversawanythinglookmorelikewinninginmylife。\"
\"You’llanyhowhavethesamechanceastherestofus，\"
saidSam。
\"Andtheextraluckofbeingthelastcomer，\"saidanother。
\"AndIwasbornwi’acaul，andperhapscanbenomoreruinedthandrowned？\"Christianadded，beginningtogiveway。
UltimatelyChristianlaiddownhisshilling，therafflebegan，andthedicewentround。WhenitcametoChristian’sturnhetooktheboxwithatremblinghand，shookitfearfully，andthrewapair—royal。Threeoftheothershadthrowncommonlowpairs，andalltherestmerepoints。
\"Thegentlemanlookedlikewinning，asIsaid，\"observedthechapmanblandly。\"Takeit，sir；thearticleisyours。\"
\"Haw—haw—haw！\"saidFairway。\"I’mdamnedifthisisn’tthequareststartthateverIknowed！\"
\"Mine？\"askedChristian，withavacantstarefromhistargeteyes。\"I——Ihaven’tgotneithermaid，wife，norwidderbelongingtomeatall，andI’mafearditwillmakemelaughedattoha’eit，MasterTraveller。
WhatwithbeingcurioustojoininIneverthoughtofthat！
WhatshallIdowi’awoman’sclothesinMYbedroom，andnotlosemydecency！\"
\"Keep’em，tobesure，\"saidFairway，\"ifitisonlyforluck。Perhaps’twilltemptsomewomanthatthypoorcarcasehadnopoweroverwhenstandingempty—handed。\"
\"Keepit，certainly，\"saidWildeve，whohadidlywatchedthescenefromadistance。
Thetablewasthenclearedofthearticles，andthemenbegantodrink。
\"Well，tobesure！\"saidChristian，halftohimself。
\"TothinkIshouldhavebeenbornsoluckyasthis，andnothavefounditoutuntilnow！Whatcuriouscreaturesthesedicebe——powerfulrulersofusall，andyetatmycommand！IamsureIneverneedbeafearedofanythingafterthis。\"Hehandledthedicefondlyonebyone。
\"Why，sir，\"hesaidinaconfidentialwhispertoWildeve，whowasnearhislefthand，\"ifIcouldonlyusethispowerthat’sinmeofmultiplyingmoneyImightdosomegoodtoanearrelationofyours，seeingwhatI’vegotaboutmeofhers——eh？\"Hetappedoneofhismoney—ladenbootsuponthefloor。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"saidWildeve。
\"That’sasecret。Well，Imustbegoingnow。\"HelookedanxiouslytowardsFairway。
\"Whereareyougoing？\"Wildeveasked。
\"ToMistoverKnap。IhavetoseeMrs。Thomasinthere——
that’sall。\"
\"Iamgoingthere，too，tofetchMrs。Wildeve。Wecanwalktogether。\"
Wildevebecamelostinthought，andalookofinwardilluminationcameintohiseyes。ItwasmoneyforhiswifethatMrs。Yeobrightcouldnottrusthimwith。
\"Yetshecouldtrustthisfellow，\"hesaidtohimself。
\"Whydoesn’tthatwhichbelongstothewifebelongtothehusbandtoo？\"
Hecalledtothepot—boytobringhimhishat，andsaid，\"Now，Christian，Iamready。\"
\"Mr。Wildeve，\"saidChristiantimidly，asheturnedtoleavetheroom，\"wouldyoumindlendingmethemwonderfullittlethingsthatcarrymyluckinside’em，thatI
mightpractiseabitbymyself，youknow？\"Helookedwistfullyatthediceandboxlyingonthemantlepiece。
\"Certainly，\"saidWildevecarelessly。\"Theywereonlycutoutbysomeladwithhisknife，andareworthnothing。\"
AndChristianwentbackandprivatelypocketedthem。
Wildeveopenedthedoorandlookedout。Thenightwaswarmandcloudy。\"ByGad！’tisdark，\"hecontinued。
\"ButIsupposeweshallfindourway。\"
\"Ifweshouldlosethepathitmightbeawkward，\"
saidChristian。\"Alanternistheonlyshieldthatwillmakeitsafeforus。\"
\"Let’shavealanternbyallmeans。\"Thestablelanternwasfetchedandlighted。Christiantookuphisgownpiece，andthetwosetouttoascendthehill。
Withintheroomthemenfellintochattilltheirattentionwasforamomentdrawntothechimney—corner。
Thiswaslarge，and，inadditiontoitsproperrecess，containedwithinitsjambs，likemanyonEgdon，arecedingseat，sothatapersonmightsitthereabsolutelyunobserved，providedtherewasnofiretolighthimup，aswasthecasenowandthroughoutthesummer。
Fromthenicheasingleobjectprotrudedintothelightfromthecandlesonthetable。Itwasaclaypipe，anditscolourwasreddish。Themenhadbeenattractedtothisobjectbyavoicebehindthepipeaskingforalight。
\"Uponmylife，itfairlystartledmewhenthemanspoke！\"
saidFairway，handingacandle。\"Oh——’tisthereddleman！
You’vekeptaquiettongue，youngman。\"
\"Yes，Ihadnothingtosay，\"observedVenn。Inafewminuteshearoseandwishedthecompanygoodnight。
MeanwhileWildeveandChristianhadplungedintotheheath。
Itwasastagnant，warm，andmistynight，fullofalltheheavyperfumesofnewvegetationnotyetdriedbyhotsun，andamongtheseparticularlythescentofthefern。
Thelantern，danglingfromChristian’shand，brushedthefeatheryfrondsinpassingby，disturbingmothsandotherwingedinsects，whichflewoutandalighteduponitshornypanes。
\"SoyouhavemoneytocarrytoMrs。Wildeve？\"
saidChristian’scompanion，afterasilence。\"Don’tyouthinkitveryoddthatitshouldn’tbegiventome？\"
\"Asmanandwifebeoneflesh，’twouldhavebeenallthesame，Ishouldthink，\"saidChristian。\"Butmystrictdocumentswas，togivethemoneyintoMrs。Wildeve’shand——and’tiswelltodothingsright。\"
\"Nodoubt，\"saidWildeve。AnypersonwhohadknownthecircumstancesmighthaveperceivedthatWildevewasmortifiedbythediscoverythatthematterintransitwasmoney，andnot，ashehadsupposedwhenatBlooms—End，somefancynick—nackwhichonlyinterestedthetwowomenthemselves。
Mrs。Yeobright’srefusalimpliedthathishonourwasnotconsideredtobeofsufficientlygoodqualitytomakehimasaferbearerofhiswife’sproperty。
\"Howverywarmitistonight，Christian！\"hesaid，panting，whentheywerenearlyunderRainbarrow。
\"Letussitdownforafewminutes，forHeaven’ssake。\"
Wildeveflunghimselfdownonthesoftferns；
andChristian，placingthelanternandparcelontheground，perchedhimselfinacrampedpositionhardby，hiskneesalmosttouchinghischin。Hepresentlythrustonehandintohiscoat—pocketandbeganshakingitabout。
\"Whatareyourattlinginthere？\"saidWildeve。
\"Onlythedice，sir，\"saidChristian，quicklywithdrawinghishand。\"Whatmagicalmachinestheselittlethingsbe，Mr。Wildeve！’TisagameIshouldnevergettiredof。
Wouldyoumindmytaking’emoutandlookingat’emforaminute，toseehowtheyaremade？Ididn’tliketolookclosebeforetheothermen，forfeartheyshouldthinkitbadmannersinme。\"Christiantookthemoutandexaminedtheminthehollowofhishandbythelanternlight。
\"Thattheselittlethingsshouldcarrysuchluck，andsuchcharm，andsuchaspell，andsuchpowerin’em，passesallIeverheardorzeed，\"hewenton，withafascinatedgazeatthedice，which，asisfrequentlythecaseincountryplaces，weremadeofwood，thepointsbeingburntuponeachfacewiththeendofawire。
\"Theyareagreatdealinasmallcompass，Youthink？\"
\"Yes。Doyesupposetheyreallybethedevil’splaythings，Mr。Wildeve？Ifso，’tisnogoodsignthatIbesuchaluckyman。\"
\"Yououghttowinsomemoney，nowthatyou’vegotthem。
Anywomanwouldmarryyouthen。Nowisyourtime，Christian，andIwouldrecommendyounottoletitslip。
Somemenareborntoluck，somearenot。Ibelongtothelatterclass。\"
\"Didyoueverknowanybodywhowasborntoitbesidesmyself？\"
\"Oyes。IonceheardofanItalian，whosatdownatagamingtablewithonlyalouis，（that’saforeignsovereign），inhispocket。Heplayedonfortwenty—fourhours，andwontenthousandpounds，strippingthebankhehadplayedagainst。Thentherewasanothermanwhohadlostathousandpounds，andwenttothebroker’snextdaytosellstock，thathemightpaythedebt。Themantowhomheowedthemoneywentwithhiminahackney—coach；
andtopassthetimetheytossedwhoshouldpaythefare。
Theruinedmanwon，andtheotherwastemptedtocontinuethegame，andtheyplayedalltheway。Whenthecoachmanstoppedhewastoldtodrivehomeagain：thewholethousandpoundshadbeenwonbackbythemanwhowasgoingtosell。\"
\"Ha——ha——splendid！\"exclaimedChristian。\"Goon——goon！\"
\"ThentherewasamanofLondon，whowasonlyawaiteratWhite’sclubhouse。Hebeganplayingfirsthalf—crownstakes，andthenhigherandhigher，tillhebecameveryrich，gotanappointmentinIndia，androsetobeGovernorofMadras。HisdaughtermarriedamemberofParliament，andtheBishopofCarlislestoodgodfathertooneofthechildren。\"
\"Wonderfullwonderfull\"
\"AndoncetherewasayoungmaninAmericawhogambledtillhehadlosthislastdollar。Hestakedhiswatchandchain，andlostasbefore；stakedhisumbrella，lostagain；
stakedhishat，lostagain；stakedhiscoatandstoodinhisshirt—sleeves，lostagain。Begantakingoffhisbreeches，andthenalooker—ongavehimatrifleforhispluck。
Withthishewon。Wonbackhiscoat，wonbackhishat，wonbackhisumbrella，hiswatch，hismoney，andwentoutofthedoorarichman。\"
\"Oh，’tistoogood——ittakesawaymybreath！Mr。Wildeve，IthinkIwilltryanothershillingwithyou，asIamoneofthatsort；nodangercancomeo’t，andyoucanaffordtolose。\"
\"Verywell，\"saidWildeve，rising。Searchingaboutwiththelantern，hefoundalargeflatstone，whichheplacedbetweenhimselfandChristian，andsatdownagain。
Thelanternwasopenedtogivemorelight，andit’sraysdirecteduponthestone。Christianputdownashilling，Wildeveanother，andeachthrew。Christianwon。
Theyplayedfortwo，Christianwonagain。
\"Letustryfour，\"saidWildeve。Theyplayedforfour。
ThistimethestakeswerewonbyWildeve。
\"Ah，thoselittleaccidentswill，ofcourse，sometimeshappen，totheluckiestman，\"heobserved。
\"AndnowIhavenomoremoney！\"explainedChristianexcitedly。
\"Andyet，ifIcouldgoon，Ishouldgetitbackagain，andmore。Iwishthiswasmine。\"Hestruckhisbootupontheground，sothattheguineaschinkedwithin。
\"What！youhavenotputMrs。Wildeve’smoneythere？\"
\"Yes。’Tisforsafety。Isitanyharmtorafflewithamarriedlady’smoneywhen，ifIwin，Ishallonlykeepmywinnings，andgiveherherownallthesame；andift’othermanwins，hermoneywillgotothelawfulowner？\"
\"Noneatall。\"
Wildevehadbeenbroodingeversincetheystartedonthemeanestimationinwhichhewasheldbyhiswife’sfriends；
anditcuthisheartseverely。Astheminutespassedhehadgraduallydriftedintoarevengefulintentionwithoutknowingtheprecisemomentofformingit。ThiswastoteachMrs。Yeobrightalesson，asheconsideredittobe；
inotherwords，toshowherifhecouldthatherniece’shusbandwastheproperguardianofherniece’smoney。
\"Well，heregoes！\"saidChristian，beginningtounlaceoneboot。\"Ishalldreamofitnightsandnights，Isuppose；butIshallalwaysswearmyfleshdon’tcrawlwhenIthinko’t！\"
HethrusthishandintothebootandwithdrewoneofpoorThomasin’spreciousguineas，pipinghot。
Wildevehadalreadyplacedasovereignonthestone。
Thegamewasthenresumed。Wildevewonfirst，andChristianventuredanother，winninghimselfthistime。
Thegamefluctuated，buttheaveragewasinWildeve’sfavour。
Bothmenbecamesoabsorbedinthegamethattheytooknoheedofanythingbutthepigmyobjectsimmediatelybeneaththeireyes，theflatstone，theopenlantern，thedice，andthefewilluminatedfern—leaveswhichlayunderthelight，werethewholeworldtothem。
AtlengthChristianlostrapidly；andpresently，tohishorror，thewholefiftyguineasbelongingtoThomasinhadbeenhandedovertohisadversary。
\"Idon’tcare——Idon’tcare！\"hemoaned，anddesperatelysetaboutuntyinghisleftboottogetattheotherfifty。
\"Thedevilwilltossmeintotheflamesonhisthree—prongedforkforthisnight’swork，Iknow！ButperhapsIshallwinyet，andthenI’llgetawifetositupwithmeo’
nightsandIwon’tbeafeard，Iwon’t！Here’sanotherfor’ee，myman！\"Heslappedanotherguineadownuponthestone，andthedice—boxwasrattledagain。
Timepassedon。WildevebegantobeasexcitedasChristianhimself。WhencommencingthegamehisintentionhadbeennothingfurtherthanabitterpracticaljokeonMrs。Yeobright。Towinthemoney，fairlyorotherwise，andtohanditcontemptuouslytoThomasininheraunt’spresence，hadbeenthedimoutlineofhispurpose。
