\"LepointdujourCauseparfois，causedouleurextreme；
Quel’espacedesnuitsestcourtPourlebergerbrulantd’amour，Forcedequittercequ’ilaimeAupointdujour！\"
ItwasbitterlyplaintoEustaciathathedidnotcaremuchaboutsocialfailure；andtheproudfairwomanbowedherheadandweptinsickdespairatthoughtoftheblastingeffectuponherownlifeofthatmoodandconditioninhim。
Thenshecameforward。
\"Iwouldstarveratherthandoit！\"sheexclaimedvehemently。
\"Andyoucansing！Iwillgoandlivewithmygrandfatheragain！\"
\"Eustacia！Ididnotseeyou，thoughInoticedsomethingmoving，\"hesaidgently。Hecameforward，pulledoffhishugeleatherglove，andtookherhand。
\"Whydoyouspeakinsuchastrangeway？ItisonlyalittleoldsongwhichstruckmyfancywhenIwasinParis，andnowjustappliestomylifewithyou。Hasyourloveformealldied，then，becausemyappearanceisnolongerthatofafinegentleman？\"
\"Dearest，youmustnotquestionmeunpleasantly，oritmaymakemenotloveyou。\"
\"DoyoubelieveitpossiblethatIwouldruntheriskofdoingthat？\"
\"Well，youfollowoutyourownideas，andwon’tgiveintominewhenIwishyoutoleaveoffthisshamefullabour。Isthereanythingyoudislikeinmethatyouactsocontrarilytomywishes？Iamyourwife，andwhywillyounotlisten？Yes，Iamyourwifeindeed！\"
\"Iknowwhatthattonemeans。\"
\"Whattone？\"
\"Thetoneinwhichyousaid，’Yourwifeindeed。’Itmeant，’Yourwife，worseluck。’\"
\"Itishardinyoutoprobemewiththatremark。
Awomanmayhavereason，thoughsheisnotwithoutheart，andifIfelt’worseluck，’itwasnoignoblefeeling——
itwasonlytoonatural。There，youseethatatanyrateIdonotattemptuntruths。Doyourememberhow，beforeweweremarried，IwarnedyouthatIhadnotgoodwifelyqualities？\"
\"Youmockmetosaythatnow。Onthatpointatleasttheonlynoblecoursewouldbetoholdyourtongue，foryouarestillqueenofme，Eustacia，thoughImaynolongerbekingofyou。\"
\"Youaremyhusband。Doesnotthatcontentyou？\"
\"Notunlessyouaremywifewithoutregret。\"
\"Icannotansweryou。IremembersayingthatIshouldbeaseriousmatteronyourhands。\"
\"Yes，Isawthat。\"
\"Thenyouweretooquicktosee！Notrueloverwouldhaveseenanysuchthing；youaretoosevereuponme，Clym——Iwon’tlikeyourspeakingsoatall。\"
\"Well，Imarriedyouinspiteofit，anddon’tregretdoingso。Howcoldyouseemthisafternoon！andyetI
usedtothinkthereneverwasawarmerheartthanyours。\"
\"Yes，Ifearwearecooling——Iseeitaswellasyou，\"
shesighedmournfully。\"Andhowmadlywelovedtwomonthsago！Youwerenevertiredofcontemplatingme，norI
ofcontemplatingyou。Whocouldhavethoughtthenthatbythistimemyeyeswouldnotseemsoverybrighttoyours，noryourlipssoverysweettomine？Twomonths——isitpossible？Yes，’tistootrue！\"
\"Yousigh，dear，asifyouweresorryforit；andthat’sahopefulsign。\"
\"No。Idon’tsighforthat。Thereareotherthingsformetosighfor，oranyotherwomaninmyplace。\"
\"Thatyourchancesinlifeareruinedbymarryinginhasteanunfortunateman？\"
\"Whywillyouforceme，Clym，tosaybitterthings？I
deservepityasmuchasyou。Asmuch？——IthinkIdeserveitmore。Foryoucansing！Itwouldbeastrangehourwhichshouldcatchmesingingundersuchacloudasthis！
Believeme，sweet，Icouldweeptoadegreethatwouldastonishandconfoundsuchanelasticmindasyours。
Evenhadyoufeltcarelessaboutyourownaffliction，youmighthaverefrainedfromsingingoutofsheerpityformine。God！ifIwereamaninsuchapositionIwouldcurseratherthansing。\"
Yeobrightplacedhishanduponherarm。\"Now，don’tyousuppose，myinexperiencedgirl，thatIcannotrebel，inhighPrometheanfashion，againstthegodsandfateaswellasyou。Ihavefeltmoresteamandsmokeofthatsortthanyouhaveeverheardof。ButthemoreI
seeoflifethemoredoIperceivethatthereisnothingparticularlygreatinitsgreatestwalks，andthereforenothingparticularlysmallinmineoffurze—cutting。
IfIfeelthatthegreatestblessingsvouchsafedtousarenotveryvaluable，howcanIfeelittobeanygreathardshipwhentheyaretakenaway？SoIsingtopassthetime。Haveyouindeedlostalltendernessforme，thatyoubegrudgemeafewcheerfulmoments？\"
\"Ihavestillsometendernessleftforyou。\"
\"Yourwordshavenolongertheiroldflavour。Andsolovedieswithgoodfortune！\"
\"Icannotlistentothis，Clym——itwillendbitterly，\"
shesaidinabrokenvoice。\"Iwillgohome。\"
3—SheGoesOuttoBattleagainstDepressionAfewdayslater，beforethemonthofAugusthasexpired，EustaciaandYeobrightsattogetherattheirearlydinner。
Eustacia’smannerhadbecomeoflatealmostapathetic。
Therewasaforlornlookaboutherbeautifuleyeswhich，whethershedeserveditornot，wouldhaveexcitedpityinthebreastofanyonewhohadknownherduringthefullflushofherloveforClym。Thefeelingsofhusbandandwifevaried，insomemeasure，inverselywiththeirpositions。Clym，theafflictedman，wascheerful；
andheeventriedtocomforther，whohadneverfeltamomentofphysicalsufferinginherwholelife。
\"Come，brightenup，dearest；weshallbeallrightagain。
SomedayperhapsIshallseeaswellasever。
AndIsolemnlypromisethatI’llleaveoffcuttingfurzeassoonasIhavethepowertodoanythingbetter。
Youcannotseriouslywishmetostayidlingathomeallday？\"
\"Butitissodreadful——afurze—cutter！andyouamanwhohavelivedabouttheworld，andspeakFrench，andGerman，andwhoarefitforwhatissomuchbetterthanthis。\"
\"IsupposewhenyoufirstsawmeandheardaboutmeI
waswrappedinasortofgoldenhalotoyoureyes——amanwhoknewgloriousthings，andhadmixedinbrilliantscenes——inshort，anadorable，delightful，distractinghero？\"
\"Yes，\"shesaid，sobbing。
\"AndnowIamapoorfellowinbrownleather。\"
\"Don’ttauntme。Butenoughofthis。Iwillnotbedepressedanymore。Iamgoingfromhomethisafternoon，unlessyougreatlyobject。Thereistobeavillagepicnic——agipsying，theycallit——atEastEgdon，andI
shallgo。\"
\"Todance？\"
\"Whynot？Youcansing。\"
\"Well，well，asyouwill。MustIcometofetchyou？\"
\"Ifyoureturnsoonenoughfromyourwork。Butdonotinconvenienceyourselfaboutit。Iknowthewayhome，andtheheathhasnoterrorforme。\"
\"Andcanyouclingtogaietysoeagerlyastowalkallthewaytoavillagefestivalinsearchofit？\"
\"Now，youdon’tlikemygoingalone！Clym，youarenotjealous？\"
\"No。ButIwouldcomewithyouifitcouldgiveyouanypleasure；though，asthingsstand，perhapsyouhavetoomuchofmealready。Still，Isomehowwishthatyoudidnotwanttogo。Yes，perhapsIamjealous；
andwhocouldbejealouswithmorereasonthanI，ahalf—blindman，oversuchawomanasyou？\"
\"Don’tthinklikeit。Letmego，anddon’ttakeallmyspiritsaway！\"
\"Iwouldratherloseallmyown，mysweetwife。Goanddowhateveryoulike。Whocanforbidyourindulgenceinanywhim？Youhaveallmyheartyet，Ibelieve；
andbecauseyoubearwithme，whoamintruthadraguponyou，Ioweyouthanks。Yes，goaloneandshine。
Asforme，Iwillsticktomydoom。Atthatkindofmeetingpeoplewouldshunme。MyhookandglovesareliketheSt。Lazarusrattleoftheleper，warningtheworldtogetoutofthewayofasightthatwouldsaddenthem。\"
Hekissedher，putonhisleggings，andwentout。
Whenhewasgonesherestedherheaduponherhandsandsaidtoherself，\"Twowastedlives——hisandmine。
AndIamcometothis！Willitdrivemeoutofmymind？\"
Shecastaboutforanypossiblecoursewhichofferedtheleastimprovementontheexistingstateofthings，andcouldfindnone。SheimaginedhowallthoseBudmouthoneswhoshouldlearnwhathadbecomeofherwouldsay，\"Lookatthegirlforwhomnobodywasgoodenough！\"
ToEustaciathesituationseemedsuchamockeryofherhopesthatdeathappearedtheonlydoorofreliefifthesatireofHeavenshouldgomuchfurther。
Suddenlyshearousedherselfandexclaimed，\"ButI’llshakeitoff。Yes，IWILLshakeitoff！Nooneshallknowmysuffering。I’llbebitterlymerry，andironicallygay，andI’lllaughinderision。AndI’llbeginbygoingtothisdanceonthegreen。\"
Sheascendedtoherbedroomanddressedherselfwithscrupulouscare。Toanonlookerherbeautywouldhavemadeherfeelingsalmostseemreasonable。ThegloomycornerintowhichaccidentasmuchasindiscretionhadbroughtthiswomanmighthaveledevenamoderatepartisantofeelthatshehadcogentreasonsforaskingtheSupremePowerbywhatrightabeingofsuchexquisitefinishhadbeenplacedincircumstancescalculatedtomakeofhercharmsacurseratherthanablessing。
Itwasfiveintheafternoonwhenshecameoutfromthehousereadyforherwalk。Therewasmaterialenoughinthepicturefortwentynewconquests。Therebellioussadnessthatwasrathertooapparentwhenshesatindoorswithoutabonnetwascloakedandsoftenedbyheroutdoorattire，whichalwayshadasortofnebulousnessaboutit，devoidofharshedgesanywhere；sothatherfacelookedfromitsenvironmentasfromacloud，withnonoticeablelinesofdemarcationbetweenfleshandclothes。Theheatofthedayhadscarcelydeclinedasyet，andshewentalongthesunnyhillsataleisurelypace，therebeingampletimeforheridleexpedition。Tallfernsburiedherintheirleafagewheneverherpathlaythroughthem，whichnowformedminiatureforests，thoughnotonestemofthemwouldremaintobudthenextyear。
Thesitechosenforthevillagefestivitywasoneofthelawnlikeoaseswhichwereoccasionally，yetnotoften，metwithontheplateauxoftheheathdistrict。Thebrakesoffurzeandfernterminatedabruptlyroundthemargin，andthegrasswasunbroken。Agreencattletrackskirtedthespot，without，however，emergingfromthescreenoffern，andthispathEustaciafollowed，inordertoreconnoitrethegroupbeforejoiningit。ThelustynotesoftheEastEgdonbandhaddirectedherunerringly，andshenowbeheldthemusiciansthemselves，sittinginabluewagonwithredwheelsscrubbedasbrightasnew，andarchedwithsticks，towhichboughsandflowersweretied。
Infrontofthiswasthegrandcentraldanceoffifteenortwentycouples，flankedbyminordancesofinferiorindividualswhosegyrationswerenotalwaysinstrictkeepingwiththetune。
Theyoungmenworeblueandwhiterosettes，andwithaflushontheirfacesfootedittothegirls，who，withtheexcitementandtheexercise，blusheddeeperthanthepinkoftheirnumerousribbons。Faironeswithlongcurls，faironeswithshortcurls，faironeswithlovelocks，faironeswithbraids，flewroundandround；andabeholdermightwellhavewonderedhowsuchaprepossessingsetofyoungwomenoflikesize，age，anddisposition，couldhavebeencollectedtogetherwheretherewereonlyoneortwovillagestochoosefrom。Inthebackgroundwasonehappymandancingbyhimself，withclosedeyes，totallyobliviousofalltherest。Afirewasburningunderapollardthornafewpacesoff，overwhichthreekettleshunginarow。Hardbywasatablewhereelderlydamespreparedtea，butEustacialookedamongtheminvainforthecattle—dealer’swifewhohadsuggestedthatsheshouldcome，andhadpromisedtoobtainacourteouswelcomeforher。
ThisunexpectedabsenceoftheonlylocalresidentwhomEustaciaknewconsiderablydamagedherschemeforanafternoonofrecklessgaiety。Joininginbecameamatterofdifficulty，notwithstandingthat，wereshetoadvance，cheerfuldameswouldcomeforwardwithcupsofteaandmakemuchofherasastrangerofsuperiorgraceandknowledgetothemselves。Havingwatchedthecompanythroughthefiguresoftwodances，shedecidedtowalkalittlefurther，toacottagewhereshemightgetsomerefreshment，andthenreturnhomewardintheshadytimeofevening。
Thisshedid，andbythetimethatsheretracedherstepstowardsthesceneofthegipsying，whichitwasnecessarytorepassonherwaytoAlderworth，thesunwasgoingdown。
Theairwasnowsostillthatshecouldhearthebandafaroff，anditseemedtobeplayingwithmorespirit，ifthatwerepossible，thanwhenshehadcomeaway。
Onreachingthehillthesunhadquitedisappeared；
butthismadelittledifferenceeithertoEustaciaortotherevellers，foraroundyellowmoonwasrisingbeforeher，thoughitsrayshadnotyetoutmasteredthosefromthewest。Thedancewasgoingonjustthesame，butstrangershadarrivedandformedaringaroundthefigure，sothatEustaciacouldstandamongthesewithoutachanceofbeingrecognized。
Awholevillage—fullofsensuousemotion，scatteredabroadalltheyearlong，surgedhereinafocusforanhour。
Thefortyheartsofthosewavingcoupleswerebeatingastheyhadnotdonesince，twelvemonthsbefore，theyhadcometogetherinsimilarjollity。Forthetimepaganismwasrevivedintheirhearts，theprideoflifewasallinall，andtheyadorednoneotherthanthemselves。
Howmanyofthoseimpassionedbuttemporaryembracesweredestinedtobecomeperpetualwaspossiblythewonderofsomeofthosewhoindulgedinthem，aswellasofEustaciawholookedon。Shebegantoenvythosepirouetters，tohungerforthehopeandhappinesswhichthefascinationofthedanceseemedtoengenderwithinthem。
Desperatelyfondofdancingherself，oneofEustacia’sexpectationsofParishadbeentheopportunityitmightaffordherofindulgenceinthisfavouritepastime。
Unhappily，thatexpectationwasnowextinctwithinherforever。
Whilstsheabstractedlywatchedthemspinningandfluctuatingintheincreasingmoonlightshesuddenlyheardhernamewhisperedbyavoiceoverhershoulder。
Turninginsurprise，shebeheldatherelbowonewhosepresenceinstantlycausedhertoflushtothetemples。
ItwasWildeve。Tillthismomenthehadnotmethereyesincethemorningofhismarriage，whenshehadbeenloiteringinthechurch，andhadstartledhimbyliftingherveilandcomingforwardtosigntheregisteraswitness。
Yetwhythesightofhimshouldhaveinstigatedthatsuddenrushofbloodshecouldnottell。
Beforeshecouldspeakhewhispered，\"Doyoulikedancingasmuchasever？\"
\"IthinkIdo，\"sherepliedinalowvoice。
\"Willyoudancewithme？\"
\"Itwouldbeagreatchangeforme；butwillitnotseemstrange？\"
\"Whatstrangenesscantherebeinrelationsdancingtogether？\"
\"Ah——yes，relations。Perhapsnone。\"
\"Still，ifyoudon’tliketobeseen，pulldownyourveil；
thoughthereisnotmuchriskofbeingknownbythislight。
Lotsofstrangersarehere。\"
Shedidashesuggested；andtheactwasatacitacknowledgmentthatsheacceptedhisoffer。
Wildevegaveherhisarmandtookherdownontheoutsideoftheringtothebottomofthedance，whichtheyentered。
Intwominutesmoretheywereinvolvedinthefigureandbeganworkingtheirwayupwardstothetop。
TilltheyhadadvancedhalfwaythitherEustaciawishedmorethanoncethatshehadnotyieldedtohisrequest；
fromthemiddletothetopshefeltthat，sinceshehadcomeouttoseekpleasure，shewasonlydoinganaturalthingtoobtainit。Fairlylaunchedintotheceaselessglidesandwhirlswhichtheirnewpositionastopcoupleopeneduptothem，Eustacia’spulsesbegantomovetooquicklyforlongruminationofanykind。
Throughthelengthoffive—and—twentycouplestheythreadedtheirgiddyway，andanewvitalityenteredherform。
Thepalerayofeveninglentafascinationtotheexperience。
Thereisacertaindegreeandtoneoflightwhichtendstodisturbtheequilibriumofthesenses，andtopromotedangerouslythetenderermoods；addedtomovement，itdrivestheemotionstorankness，thereasonbecomingsleepyandunperceivingininverseproportion；andthislightfellnowuponthesetwofromthediscofthemoon。
Allthedancinggirlsfeltthesymptoms，butEustaciamostofall。Thegrassundertheirfeetbecametroddenaway，andthehard，beatensurfaceofthesod，whenviewedaslanttowardsthemoonlight，shonelikeapolishedtable。
Theairbecamequitestill，theflagabovethewagonwhichheldthemusiciansclungtothepole，andtheplayersappearedonlyinoutlineagainstthesky；exceptwhenthecircularmouthsofthetrombone，ophicleide，andFrenchhorngleamedoutlikehugeeyesfromtheshadeoftheirfigures。
Theprettydressesofthemaidslosttheirsubtlerdaycoloursandshowedmoreorlessofamistywhite。
EustaciafloatedroundandroundonWildeve’sarm，herfaceraptandstatuesque；hersoulhadpassedawayfromandforgottenherfeatures，whichwereleftemptyandquiescent，astheyalwaysarewhenfeelinggoesbeyondtheirregister。
HownearshewastoWildeve！itwasterribletothinkof。
Shecouldfeelhisbreathing，andhe，ofcourse，couldfeelhers。Howbadlyshehadtreatedhim！yet，heretheyweretreadingonemeasure。Theenchantmentofthedancesurprisedher。Aclearlineofdifferencedividedlikeatangiblefenceherexperiencewithinthismazeofmotionfromherexperiencewithoutit。
Herbeginningtodancehadbeenlikeachangeofatmosphere；
outside，shehadbeensteepedinarcticfrigiditybycomparisonwiththetropicalsensationshere。
Shehadenteredthedancefromthetroubledhoursofherlatelifeasonemightenterabrilliantchamberafteranightwalkinawood。Wildevebyhimselfwouldhavebeenmerelyanagitation；Wildeveaddedtothedance，andthemoonlight，andthesecrecy，begantobeadelight。
Whetherhispersonalitysuppliedthegreaterpartofthissweetlycompoundedfeeling，orwhetherthedanceandthesceneweighedthemoretherein，wasanicepointuponwhichEustaciaherselfwasentirelyinacloud。
Peoplebegantosay\"Whoarethey？\"butnoinvidiousinquiriesweremade。HadEustaciamingledwiththeothergirlsintheirordinarydailywalksthecasewouldhavebeendifferent：hereshewasnotinconveniencedbyexcessiveinspection，forallwerewroughttotheirbrightestgracebytheoccasion。LiketheplanetMercurysurroundedbythelustreofsunset，herpermanentbrilliancypassedwithoutmuchnoticeinthetemporarygloryofthesituation。
AsforWildeve，hisfeelingsareeasytoguess。
Obstacleswerearipeningsuntohislove，andhewasatthismomentinadeliriumofexquisitemisery。
Toclaspashisforfiveminuteswhatwasanotherman’sthroughalltherestoftheyearwasakindofthingheofallmencouldappreciate。HehadlongsincebeguntosighagainforEustacia；indeed，itmaybeassertedthatsigningthemarriageregisterwithThomasinwasthenaturalsignaltohishearttoreturntoitsfirstquarters，andthattheextracomplicationofEustacia’smarriagewastheoneadditionrequiredtomakethatreturncompulsory。
Thus，fordifferentreasons，whatwastotherestanexhilaratingmovementwastothesetwoaridinguponthewhirlwind。
Thedancehadcomelikeanirresistibleattackuponwhateversenseofsocialordertherewasintheirminds，todrivethembackintooldpathswhichwerenowdoublyirregular。
Throughthreedancesinsuccessiontheyspuntheirway；
andthen，fatiguedwiththeincessantmotion，Eustaciaturnedtoquitthecircleinwhichshehadalreadyremainedtoolong。
Wildeveledhertoagrassymoundafewyardsdistant，whereshesatdown，herpartnerstandingbesideher。
Fromthetimethatheaddressedheratthebeginningofthedancetillnowtheyhadnotexchangedaword。
\"Thedanceandthewalkinghavetiredyou？\"hesaidtenderly。
\"No；notgreatly。\"
\"Itisstrangethatweshouldhavemethereofallplaces，aftermissingeachothersolong。\"
\"Wehavemissedbecausewetriedtomiss，Isuppose。\"
\"Yes。Butyoubeganthatproceeding——bybreakingapromise。\"
\"Itisscarcelyworthwhiletotalkofthatnow。
Wehaveformedothertiessincethen——younolessthanI。\"
\"Iamsorrytohearthatyourhusbandisill。\"
\"Heisnotill——onlyincapacitated。\"
\"Yes——thatiswhatImean。Isincerelysympathizewithyouinyourtrouble。Fatehastreatedyoucruelly。\"
Shewassilentawhile。\"Haveyouheardthathehaschosentoworkasafurze—cutter？\"shesaidinalow，mournfulvoice。
\"Ithasbeenmentionedtome，\"answeredWildevehesitatingly。
\"ButIhardlybelievedit。\"
\"Itistrue。Whatdoyouthinkofmeasafurze—
cutter’swife？\"
\"Ithinkthesameaseverofyou，Eustacia。Nothingofthatsortcandegradeyou——youennobletheoccupationofyourhusband。\"
\"IwishIcouldfeelit。\"
\"IsthereanychanceofMr。Yeobrightgettingbetter？\"
\"Hethinksso。Idoubtit。\"
\"Iwasquitesurprisedtohearthathehadtakenacottage。
Ithought，incommonwithotherpeople，thathewouldhavetakenyouofftoahomeinParisimmediatelyafteryouhadmarriedhim。’Whatagay，brightfutureshehasbeforeher！’
Ithought。Hewill，Isuppose，returntherewithyou，ifhissightgetsstrongagain？\"
Observingthatshedidnotreplyheregardedhermoreclosely。Shewasalmostweeping。Imagesofafuturenevertobeenjoyed，therevivedsenseofherbitterdisappointment，thepictureoftheneighbour’ssuspendedridiculewhichwasraisedbyWildeve’swords，hadbeentoomuchforproudEustacia’sequanimity。
Wildevecouldhardlycontrolhisowntooforwardfeelingswhenhesawhersilentperturbation。Butheaffectednottonoticethis，andshesoonrecoveredhercalmness。
\"Youdonotintendtowalkhomebyyourself？\"heasked。
\"Oyes，\"saidEustacia。\"Whatcouldhurtmeonthisheath，whohavenothing？\"
\"BydivergingalittleIcanmakemywayhomethesameasyours。IshallbegladtokeepyoucompanyasfarasThroopeCorner。\"SeeingthatEustaciasatoninhesitationheadded，\"Perhapsyouthinkitunwisetobeseeninthesameroadwithmeaftertheeventsoflastsummer？\"
\"IndeedIthinknosuchthing，\"shesaidhaughtily。
\"IshallacceptwhosecompanyIchoose，forallthatmaybesaidbythemiserableinhabitantsofEgdon。\"
\"Thenletuswalkon——ifyouareready。Ournearestwayistowardsthathollybushwiththedarkshadowthatyouseedownthere。\"
Eustaciaarose，andwalkedbesidehiminthedirectionsignified，brushingherwayoverthedampingheathandfern，andfollowedbythestrainsofthemerrymakers，whostillkeptupthedance。Themoonhadnowwaxedbrightandsilvery，buttheheathwasproofagainstsuchillumination，andtherewastobeobservedthestrikingsceneofadark，raylesstractofcountryunderanatmospherechargedfromitszenithtoitsextremitieswithwhitestlight。
Toaneyeabovethemtheirtwofaceswouldhaveappearedamidtheexpanseliketwopearlsonatableofebony。
