Shelookedanotherway，disconcerted，andwonderedhowlongthispurgatorywastolast。Afterlingeringafewsecondshepassedonagain。
Tocourttheirowndiscomfiturebyloveisacommoninstinctwithcertainperfervidwomen。Conflictingsensationsoflove，fear，andshamereducedEustaciatoastateoftheutmostuneasiness。Toescapewashergreatandimmediatedesire。Theothermummersappearedtobeinnohurrytoleave；andmurmuringtotheladwhosatnexttoherthatshepreferredwaitingforthemoutsidethehouse，shemovedtothedoorasimperceptiblyaspossible，openedit，andslippedout。
Thecalm，lonescenereassuredher。Shewentforwardtothepalingsandleantoverthem，lookingatthemoon。
Shehadstoodthusbutalittletimewhenthedooragainopened。
ExpectingtoseetheremainderofthebandEustaciaturned；
butno——ClymYeobrightcameoutassoftlyasshehaddone，andclosedthedoorbehindhim。
Headvancedandstoodbesideher。\"Ihaveanoddopinion，\"
hesaid，\"andshouldliketoaskyouaquestion。Areyouawoman——oramIwrong？\"
\"Iamawoman。\"
Hiseyeslingeredonherwithgreatinterest。\"Dogirlsoftenplayasmummersnow？Theyneverusedto。\"
\"Theydon’tnow。\"
\"Whydidyou？\"
\"Togetexcitementandshakeoffdepression，\"shesaidinlowtones。
\"Whatdepressedyou？\"
\"Life。\"
\"That’sacauseofdepressionagoodmanyhavetoputupwith。\"
\"Yes。\"
Alongsilence。\"Anddoyoufindexcitement？\"askedClymatlast。
\"Atthismoment，perhaps。\"
\"Thenyouarevexedatbeingdiscovered？\"
\"Yes；thoughIthoughtImightbe。\"
\"IwouldgladlyhaveaskedyoutoourpartyhadIknownyouwishedtocome。HaveIeverbeenacquaintedwithyouinmyyouth？\"
\"Never。\"
\"Won’tyoucomeinagain，andstayaslongasyoulike？\"
\"No。Iwishnottobefurtherrecognized。\"
\"Well，youaresafewithme。\"Afterremaininginthoughtaminuteheaddedgently，\"Iwillnotintrudeuponyoulonger。
Itisastrangewayofmeeting，andIwillnotaskwhyIfindacultivatedwomanplayingsuchapartasthis。\"
Shedidnotvolunteerthereasonwhichheseemedtohopefor，andhewishedhergoodnight，goingthenceroundtothebackofthehouse，wherehewalkedupanddownbyhimselfforsometimebeforere—entering。
Eustacia，warmedwithaninnerfire，couldnotwaitforhercompanionsafterthis。Sheflungbacktheribbonsfromherface，openedthegate，andatoncestruckintotheheath。Shedidnothastenalong。Hergrandfatherwasinbedatthishour，forshesofrequentlywalkeduponthehillsonmoonlightnightsthathetooknonoticeofhercomingsandgoings，and，enjoyinghimselfinhisownway，lefthertodolikewise。Amoreimportantsubjectthanthatofgettingindoorsnowengrossedher。
Yeobright，ifhehadtheleastcuriosity，wouldinfalliblydiscoverhername。Whatthen？Shefirstfeltasortofexultationatthewayinwhichtheadventurehadterminated，eventhoughatmomentsbetweenherexultationsshewasabashedandblushful。Thenthisconsiderationrecurredtochillher：Whatwastheuseofherexploit？ShewasatpresentatotalstrangertotheYeobrightfamily。
Theunreasonablenimbusofromancewithwhichshehadencircledthatmanmightbehermisery。Howcouldsheallowherselftobecomesoinfatuatedwithastranger？AndtofillthecupofhersorrowtherewouldbeThomasin，livingdayafterdayininflammableproximitytohim；
forshehadjustlearntthat，contrarytoherfirstbelief，hewasgoingtostayathomesomeconsiderabletime。
ShereachedthewicketatMistoverKnap，butbeforeopeningitsheturnedandfacedtheheathoncemore。
TheformofRainbarrowstoodabovethehills，andthemoonstoodaboveRainbarrow。Theairwaschargedwithsilenceandfrost。ThesceneremindedEustaciaofacircumstancewhichtillthatmomentshehadtotallyforgotten。
ShehadpromisedtomeetWildevebytheBarrowthisverynightateight，togiveafinalanswertohispleadingforanelopement。
Sheherselfhadfixedtheeveningandthehour。
Hehadprobablycometothespot，waitedthereinthecold，andbeengreatlydisappointed。
\"Well，somuchthebetter——itdidnothurthim，\"
shesaidserenely。Wildevehadatpresenttheraylessoutlineofthesunthroughsmokedglass，andshecouldsaysuchthingsasthatwiththegreatestfacility。
Sheremaineddeeplypondering；andThomasin’swinningmannertowardshercousinaroseagainuponEustacia’smind。
\"OthatshehadbeenmarriedtoDamonbeforethis！\"
shesaid。\"Andshewouldifithadn’tbeenforme！IfI
hadonlyknown——ifIhadonlyknown！\"
Eustaciaoncemoreliftedherdeepstormyeyestothemoonlight，and，sighingthattragicsighofherswhichwassomuchlikeashudder，enteredtheshadowoftheroof。Shethrewoffhertrappingsintheouthouse，rolledthemup，andwentindoorstoherchamber。
7—ACoalitionbetweenBeautyandOddnessTheoldcaptain’sprevailingindifferencetohisgranddaughter’smovementsleftherfreeasabirdtofollowherowncourses；butitsohappenedthathedidtakeuponhimselfthenextmorningtoaskherwhyshehadwalkedoutsolate。
\"Onlyinsearchofevents，Grandfather，\"shesaid，lookingoutofthewindowwiththatdrowsylatencyofmannerwhichdiscoveredsomuchforcebehinditwheneverthetriggerwaspressed。
\"Searchofevents——onewouldthinkyouwereoneofthebucksIknewatone—and—twenty。\"
\"Itislonelyhere。\"
\"Somuchthebetter。IfIwerelivinginatownmywholetimewouldbetakenupinlookingafteryou。
IfullyexpectedyouwouldhavebeenhomewhenIreturnedfromtheWoman。\"
\"Iwon’tconcealwhatIdid。Iwantedanadventure，andIwentwiththemummers。IplayedthepartoftheTurkishKnight。\"
\"No，never？Ha，ha！Goodgad！Ididn’texpectitofyou，Eustacia。\"
\"Itwasmyfirstperformance，anditcertainlywillbemylast。NowIhavetoldyou——andrememberitisasecret。\"
\"Ofcourse。But，Eustacia，youneverdid——ha！ha！Dammy，how’twouldhavepleasedmefortyyearsago！Butremember，nomoreofit，mygirl。Youmaywalkontheheathnightorday，asyouchoose，sothatyoudon’tbotherme；
butnofiguringinbreechesagain。\"
\"Youneedhavenofearforme，Grandpapa。\"
Heretheconversationceased，Eustacia’smoraltrainingneverexceedinginseverityadialogueofthissort，which，ifiteverbecameprofitabletogoodworks，wouldbearesultnotdearattheprice。Butherthoughtssoonstrayedfarfromherownpersonality；and，fullofapassionateandindescribablesolicitudeforonetowhomshewasnotevenaname，shewentforthintotheamplitudeoftannedwildaroundher，restlessasAhasuerustheJew。
Shewasabouthalfamilefromherresidencewhenshebeheldasinisterrednessarisingfromaravinealittlewayinadvance——dullandluridlikeaflameinsunlightandsheguessedittosignifyDiggoryVenn。
WhenthefarmerswhohadwishedtobuyinanewstockofreddleduringthelastmonthhadinquiredwhereVennwastobefound，peoplereplied，\"OnEgdonHeath。\"
Dayafterdaytheanswerwasthesame。Now，sinceEgdonwaspopulatedwithheath—croppersandfurze—cuttersratherthanwithsheepandshepherds，andthedownswheremostofthelatterweretobefoundlaysometothenorth，sometothewestofEgdon，hisreasonforcampingabouttherelikeIsraelinZinwasnotapparent。
Thepositionwascentralandoccasionallydesirable。
ButthesaleofreddlewasnotDiggory’sprimaryobjectinremainingontheheath，particularlyatsolateaperiodoftheyear，whenmosttravellersofhisclasshadgoneintowinterquarters。
Eustacialookedatthelonelyman。WildevehadtoldherattheirlastmeetingthatVennhadbeenthrustforwardbyMrs。YeobrightasonereadyandanxioustotakehisplaceasThomasin’sbetrothed。Hisfigurewasperfect，hisfaceyoungandwelloutlined，hiseyebright，hisintelligencekeen，andhispositiononewhichhecouldreadilybetterifhechose。ButinspiteofpossibilitiesitwasnotlikelythatThomasinwouldacceptthisIshmaelitishcreaturewhileshehadacousinlikeYeobrightatherelbow，andWildeveatthesametimenotabsolutelyindifferent。
EustaciawasnotlonginguessingthatpoorMrs。Yeobright，inheranxietyforherniece’sfuture，hadmentionedthislovertostimulatethezealoftheother。
EustaciawasonthesideoftheYeobrightsnow，andenteredintothespiritoftheaunt’sdesire。
\"Goodmorning，miss，\"saidthereddleman，takingoffhiscapofhareskin，andapparentlybearinghernoill—
willfromrecollectionoftheirlastmeeting。
\"Goodmorning，reddleman，\"shesaid，hardlytroublingtoliftherheavilyshadedeyestohis。\"Ididnotknowyouweresonear。Isyourvanheretoo？\"
Vennmovedhiselbowtowardsahollowinwhichadensebrakeofpurple—stemmedbrambleshadgrowntosuchvastdimensionsasalmosttoformadell。Brambles，thoughchurlishwhenhandled，arekindlyshelterinearlywinter，beingthelatestofthedeciduousbushestolosetheirleaves。
TheroofandchimneyofVenn’scaravanshowedbehindthetraceryandtanglesofthebrake。
\"Youremainnearthispart？\"sheaskedwithmoreinterest。
\"Yes，Ihavebusinesshere。\"
\"Notaltogetherthesellingofreddle？\"
\"Ithasnothingtodowiththat。\"
\"IthastodowithMissYeobright？\"
Herfaceseemedtoaskforanarmedpeace，andhethereforesaidfrankly，\"Yes，miss；itisonaccountofher。\"
\"Onaccountofyourapproachingmarriagewithher？\"
Vennflushedthroughhisstain。\"Don’tmakesportofme，MissVye，\"hesaid。
\"Itisn’ttrue？\"
\"Certainlynot。\"
ShewasthusconvincedthatthereddlemanwasamerepisallerinMrs。Yeobright’smind；one，moreover，whohadnotevenbeeninformedofhispromotiontothatlowlystanding。\"Itwasamerenotionofmine，\"
shesaidquietly；andwasabouttopassbywithoutfurtherspeech，when，lookingroundtotheright，shesawapainfullywell—knownfigureserpentiningupwardsbyoneofthelittlepathswhichledtothetopwhereshestood。
Owingtothenecessarywindingsofhiscoursehisbackwasatpresenttowardsthem。Sheglancedquicklyround；
toescapethatmantherewasonlyoneway。TurningtoVenn，shesaid，\"Wouldyouallowmetorestafewminutesinyourvan？Thebanksaredampforsittingon。\"
\"Certainly，miss；I’llmakeaplaceforyou。\"
ShefollowedhimbehindthedellofbramblestohiswheeleddwellingintowhichVennmounted，placingthethree—leggedstooljustwithinthedoor。
\"ThatisthebestIcandoforyou，\"hesaid，steppingdownandretiringtothepath，whereheresumedthesmokingofhispipeashewalkedupanddown。
Eustaciaboundedintothevehicleandsatonthestool，ensconcedfromviewonthesidetowardsthetrackway。
Soonsheheardthebrushingofotherfeetthanthereddleman’s，anotveryfriendly\"Goodday\"utteredbytwomeninpassingeachother，andthenthedwindlingofthefoot—fallofoneoftheminadirectiononwards。
Eustaciastretchedherneckforwardtillshecaughtaglimpseofarecedingbackandshoulders；andshefeltawretchedtwingeofmisery，sheknewnotwhy。
Itwasthesickeningfeelingwhich，ifthechangedhearthasanygenerosityatallinitscomposition，accompaniesthesuddensightofaonce—lovedonewhoisbelovednomore。
WhenEustaciadescendedtoproceedonherwaythereddlemancamenear。\"ThatwasMr。Wildevewhopassed，miss，\"hesaidslowly，andexpressedbyhisfacethatheexpectedhertofeelvexedathavingbeensittingunseen。
\"Yes，Isawhimcomingupthehill，\"repliedEustacia。
\"Whyshouldyoutellmethat？\"Itwasaboldquestion，consideringthereddleman’sknowledgeofherpastlove；
butherundemonstrativemannerhadpowertorepresstheopinionsofthoseshetreatedasremotefromher。
\"Iamgladtohearthatyoucanaskit，\"saidthereddlemanbluntly。\"And，nowIthinkofit，itagreeswithwhatIsawlastnight。\"
\"Ah——whatwasthat？\"Eustaciawishedtoleavehim，butwishedtoknow。
\"Mr。WildevestayedatRainbarrowalongtimewaitingforaladywhodidn’tcome。\"
\"Youwaitedtoo，itseems？\"
\"Yes，Ialwaysdo。Iwasgladtoseehimdisappointed。
Hewillbethereagaintonight。\"
\"Tobeagaindisappointed。Thetruthis，reddleman，thatthatlady，sofarfromwishingtostandinthewayofThomasin’smarriagewithMr。Wildeve，wouldbeverygladtopromoteit。\"
Vennfeltmuchastonishmentatthisavowal，thoughhedidnotshowitclearly；thatexhibitionmaygreetremarkswhichareoneremovefromexpectation，butitisusuallywithheldincomplicatedcasesoftworemovesandupwards。
\"Indeed，miss，\"hereplied。
\"HowdoyouknowthatMr。WildevewillcometoRainbarrowagaintonight？\"sheasked。
\"Iheardhimsaytohimselfthathewould。He’sinaregulartemper。\"
Eustacialookedforamomentwhatshefelt，andshemurmured，liftingherdeepdarkeyesanxiouslytohis，\"IwishI
knewwhattodo。Idon’twanttobeunciviltohim；
butIdon’twishtoseehimagain；andIhavesomefewlittlethingstoreturntohim。\"
\"Ifyouchoosetosend’embyme，miss，andanotetotellhimthatyouwishtosaynomoretohim，I’lltakeitforyouquiteprivately。Thatwouldbethemoststraightforwardwayoflettinghimknowyourmind。\"
\"Verywell，\"saidEustacia。\"Cometowardsmyhouse，andIwillbringitouttoyou。\"
Shewenton，andasthepathwasaninfinitelysmallpartingintheshaggylocksoftheheath，thereddlemanfollowedexactlyinhertrail。Shesawfromadistancethatthecaptainwasonthebanksweepingthehorizonwithhistelescope；andbiddingVenntowaitwherehestoodsheenteredthehousealone。
Intenminutesshereturnedwithaparcelandanote，andsaid，inplacingtheminhishand，\"Whyareyousoreadytotaketheseforme？\"
\"Canyouaskthat？\"
\"IsupposeyouthinktoserveThomasininsomewaybyit。
Areyouasanxiousasevertohelponhermarriage？\"
Vennwasalittlemoved。\"Iwouldsoonerhavemarriedhermyself，\"hesaidinalowvoice。\"ButwhatIfeelisthatifshecannotbehappywithouthimIwilldomydutyinhelpinghertogethim，asamanought。\"
Eustacialookedcuriouslyatthesingularmanwhospokethus。
Whatastrangesortoflove，tobeentirelyfreefromthatqualityofselfishnesswhichisfrequentlythechiefconstituentofthepassion，andsometimesitsonlyone！Thereddleman’sdisinterestednesswassowelldeservingofrespectthatitovershotrespectbybeingbarelycomprehended；andshealmostthoughtitabsurd。
\"Thenwearebothofonemindatlast，\"shesaid。
\"Yes，\"repliedVenngloomily。\"Butifyouwouldtellme，miss，whyyoutakesuchaninterestinher，Ishouldbeeasier。Itissosuddenandstrange。\"
Eustaciaappearedataloss。\"Icannottellyouthat，reddleman，\"shesaidcoldly。
Vennsaidnomore。Hepocketedtheletter，and，bowingtoEustacia，wentaway。
RainbarrowhadagainbecomeblendedwithnightwhenWildeveascendedthelongacclivityatitsbase。
Onhisreachingthetopashapegrewupfromtheearthimmediatelybehindhim。ItwasthatofEustacia’semissary。
HeslappedWildeveontheshoulder。Thefeverishyounginn—keeperandex—engineerstartedlikeSatanatthetouchofIthuriel’sspear。
\"Themeetingisalwaysateighto’clock，atthisplace，\"
saidVenn，\"andhereweare——wethree。\"
\"Wethree？\"saidWildeve，lookingquicklyround。
\"Yes；you，andI，andshe。Thisisshe。\"Hehelduptheletterandparcel。
Wildevetookthemwonderingly。\"Idon’tquiteseewhatthismeans，\"hesaid。\"Howdoyoucomehere？
Theremustbesomemistake。\"
\"Itwillbeclearedfromyourmindwhenyouhavereadtheletter。Lanternsforone。\"Thereddlemanstruckalight，kindledaninchoftallow—candlewhichhehadbrought，andsheltereditwithhiscap。
\"Whoareyou？\"saidWildeve，discerningbythecandle—
lightanobscurerubicundityofpersoninhiscompanion。
\"YouarethereddlemanIsawonthehillthismorning——why，youarethemanwho————\"
\"Pleasereadtheletter。\"
\"IfyouhadcomefromtheotheroneIshouldn’thavebeensurprised，\"murmuredWildeveasheopenedtheletterandread。Hisfacegrewserious。
TOMR。WILDEVE。
AftersomethoughtIhavedecidedonceandforallthatwemustholdnofurthercommunication。ThemoreIconsiderthematterthemoreIamconvincedthattheremustbeanendtoouracquaintance。Hadyoubeenuniformlyfaithfultomethroughoutthesetwoyearsyoumightnowhavesomegroundforaccusingmeofheartlessness；
butifyoucalmlyconsiderwhatIboreduringtheperiodofyourdesertion，andhowIpassivelyputupwithyourcourtshipofanotherwithoutonceinterfering，youwill，Ithink，ownthatIhavearighttoconsultmyownfeelingswhenyoucomebacktomeagain。Thatthesearenotwhattheyweretowardsyoumay，perhaps，beafaultinme，butitisonewhichyoucanscarcelyreproachmeforwhenyourememberhowyouleftmeforThomasin。
Thelittlearticlesyougavemeintheearlypartofourfriendshiparereturnedbythebearerofthisletter。
TheyshouldrightlyhavebeensentbackwhenIfirstheardofyourengagementtoher。
EUSTACIA。
BythetimethatWildevereachedhernametheblanknesswithwhichhehadreadthefirsthalfoftheletterintensifiedtomortification。\"Iammadeagreatfoolof，onewayandanother，\"hesaidpettishly。\"Doyouknowwhatisinthisletter？\"
Thereddlemanhummedatune。
\"Can’tyouanswerme？\"askedWildevewarmly。
\"Ru—um—tum—tum，\"sangthereddleman。
WildevestoodlookingonthegroundbesideVenn’sfeet，tillheallowedhiseyestotravelupwardsoverDiggory’sform，asilluminatedbythecandle，tohisheadandface。
\"Ha—ha！Well，IsupposeIdeserveit，consideringhowIhaveplayedwiththemboth，\"hesaidatlast，asmuchtohimselfastoVenn。\"ButofalltheoddthingsthateverIknew，theoddestisthatyoushouldsoruncountertoyourowninterestsastobringthistome。\"
\"Myinterests？\"
\"Certainly。’TwasyourinterestnottodoanythingwhichwouldsendmecourtingThomasinagain，nowshehasacceptedyou——orsomethinglikeit。Mrs。Yeobrightsaysyouaretomarryher。’Tisn’ttrue，then？\"
\"GoodLord！Iheardofthisbefore，butdidn’tbelieveit。
Whendidshesayso？\"
Wildevebeganhummingasthereddlemanhaddone。
\"Idon’tbelieveitnow，\"criedVenn。
\"Ru—um—tum—tum，\"sangWildeve。
\"OLord——howwecanimitate！\"saidVenncontemptuously。
\"I’llhavethisout。I’llgostraighttoher。\"
Diggorywithdrewwithanemphaticstep，Wildeve’seyepassingoverhisforminwitheringderision，asifhewerenomorethanaheath—cropper。Whenthereddleman’sfigurecouldnolongerbeseen，Wildevehimselfdescendedandplungedintotheraylesshollowofthevale。
Tolosethetwowomen——hewhohadbeenthewell—belovedofboth——wastooironicalanissuetobeendured。
HecouldonlydecentlysavehimselfbyThomasin；
andoncehebecameherhusband，Eustacia’srepentance，hethought，wouldsetinforalongandbitterterm。
ItwasnowonderthatWildeve，ignorantofthenewmanatthebackofthescene，shouldhavesupposedEustaciatobeplayingapart。Tobelievethattheletterwasnottheresultofsomemomentarypique，toinferthatshereallygavehimuptoThomasin，wouldhaverequiredpreviousknowledgeofhertransfigurationbythatman’sinfluence。
Whowastoknowthatshehadgrowngenerousinthegreedinessofanewpassion，thatincovetingonecousinshewasdealingliberallywithanother，thatinhereagernesstoappropriateshegaveway？
Fullofthisresolvetomarryinhaste，andwringtheheartoftheproudgirl，Wildevewenthisway。
MeanwhileDiggoryVennhadreturnedtohisvan，wherehestoodlookingthoughtfullyintothestove。
Anewvistawasopeneduptohim。But，howeverpromisingMrs。Yeobright’sviewsofhimmightbeasacandidateforherniece’shand，oneconditionwasindispensabletothefavourofThomasinherself，andthatwasarenunciationofhispresentwildmodeoflife。Inthishesawlittledifficulty。
HecouldnotaffordtowaittillthenextdaybeforeseeingThomasinanddetailinghisplan。Hespeedilyplungedhimselfintotoiletoperations，pulledasuitofclothclothesfromabox，andinabouttwentyminutesstoodbeforethevan—lanternasareddlemaninnothingbuthisface，thevermilionshadesofwhichwerenottoberemovedinaday。Closingthedoorandfasteningitwithapadlock，VennsetofftowardsBlooms—End。
Hehadreachedthewhitepalingsandlaidhishanduponthegatewhenthedoorofthehouseopened，andquicklyclosedagain。Afemaleformhadglidedin。
Atthesametimeaman，whohadseeminglybeenstandingwiththewomanintheporch，cameforwardfromthehousetillhewasfacetofacewithVenn。ItwasWildeveagain。
\"Manalive，you’vebeenquickatit，\"saidDiggorysarcastically。
\"Andyouslow，asyouwillfind，\"saidWildeve。
\"And，\"loweringhisvoice，\"youmayaswellgobackagainnow。I’veclaimedher，andgother。
Goodnight，reddleman！\"ThereuponWildevewalkedaway。
Venn’sheartsankwithinhim，thoughithadnotrisenundulyhigh。Hestoodleaningoverthepalingsinanindecisivemoodfornearlyaquarterofanhour。
Thenhewentupthegardenpath，knocked，andaskedforMrs。Yeobright。
Insteadofrequestinghimtoentershecametotheporch。
Adiscoursewascarriedonbetweentheminlowmeasuredtonesforthespaceoftenminutesormore。AttheendofthetimeMrs。Yeobrightwentin，andVennsadlyretracedhisstepsintotheheath。Whenhehadagainregainedhisvanhelitthelantern，andwithanapatheticfaceatoncebegantopulloffhisbestclothes，tillinthecourseofafewminuteshereappearedastheconfirmedandirretrievablereddlemanthathehadseemedbefore。
8—FirmnessIsDiscoveredinaGentleHeartOnthateveningtheinteriorofBlooms—End，thoughcosyandcomfortable，hadbeenrathersilent。ClymYeobrightwasnotathome。SincetheChristmaspartyhehadgoneonafewdays’visittoafriendabouttenmilesoff。
TheshadowyformseenbyVenntopartfromWildeveintheporch，andquicklywithdrawintothehouse，wasThomasin’s。Onenteringshethrewdownacloakwhichhadbeencarelesslywrappedroundher，andcameforwardtothelight，whereMrs。Yeobrightsatatherwork—table，drawnupwithinthesettle，sothatpartofitprojectedintothechimney—corner。
