HisprogresswhenactuallywalkingwasmorerapidthanMrs。Yeobright’s；butshewasenabledtokeepatanequabledistancefromhimbyhishabitofstoppingwheneverhecametoabrakeofbrambles，wherehepausedawhile。
Oncominginherturntoeachofthesespotsshefoundhalfadozenlonglimpbrambleswhichhehadcutfromthebushduringhishaltandlaidoutstraightbesidethepath。
Theywereevidentlyintendedforfurze—faggotbondswhichhemeanttocollectonhisreturn。
Thesilentbeingwhothusoccupiedhimselfseemedtobeofnomoreaccountinlifethananinsect。
Heappearedasamereparasiteoftheheath，frettingitssurfaceinhisdailylabourasamothfretsagarment，entirelyengrossedwithitsproducts，havingnoknowledgeofanythingintheworldbutfern，furze，heath，lichens，andmoss。
Thefurze—cutterwassoabsorbedinthebusinessofhisjourneythatheneverturnedhishead；andhisleather—
leggedandgauntletedformatlengthbecametoherasnothingmorethanamovinghandposttoshowhertheway。
Suddenlyshewasattractedtohisindividualitybyobservingpeculiaritiesinhiswalk。Itwasagaitshehadseensomewherebefore；andthegaitrevealedthemantoher，asthegaitofAhimaazinthedistantplainmadehimknowntothewatchmanoftheking。\"Hiswalkisexactlyasmyhusband’susedtobe，\"shesaid；andthenthethoughtburstuponherthatthefurze—cutterwasherson。
Shewasscarcelyabletofamiliarizeherselfwiththisstrangereality。ShehadbeentoldthatClymwasinthehabitofcuttingfurze，butshehadsupposedthatheoccupiedhimselfwiththelabouronlyatoddtimes，bywayofusefulpastime；yetshenowbeheldhimasafurze—cutterandnothingmore——wearingtheregulationdressofthecraft，andthinkingtheregulationthoughts，tojudgebyhismotions。PlanningadozenhastyschemesforatoncepreservinghimandEustaciafromthismodeoflife，shethrobbinglyfollowedtheway，andsawhimenterhisowndoor。
AtonesideofClym’shousewasaknoll，andonthetopoftheknollaclumpoffirtreessohighlythrustupintotheskythattheirfoliagefromadistanceappearedasablackspotintheairabovethecrownofthehill。OnreachingthisplaceMrs。Yeobrightfeltdistressinglyagitated，weary，andunwell。Sheascended，andsatdownundertheirshadetorecoverherself，andtoconsiderhowbesttobreakthegroundwithEustacia，soasnottoirritateawomanunderneathwhoseapparentindolencelurkedpassionsevenstrongerandmoreactivethanherown。
Thetreesbeneathwhichshesatweresingularlybattered，rude，andwild，andforafewminutesMrs。Yeobrightdismissedthoughtsofherownstorm—brokenandexhaustedstatetocontemplatetheirs。Notaboughintheninetreeswhichcomposedthegroupbutwassplintered，lopped，anddistortedbythefierceweatherthatthereheldthematitsmercywheneveritprevailed。Somewereblastedandsplitasifbylightning，blackstainsasfromfiremarkingtheirsides，whilethegroundattheirfeetwasstrewnwithdeadfir—needlesandheapsofconesblowndowninthegalesofpastyears。TheplacewascalledtheDevil’sBellows，anditwasonlynecessarytocomethereonaMarchorNovembernighttodiscovertheforciblereasonsforthatname。Onthepresentheatedafternoon，whennoperceptiblewindwasblowing，thetreeskeptupaperpetualmoanwhichonecouldhardlybelievetobecausedbytheair。
Hereshesatfortwentyminutesormoreereshecouldsummonresolutiontogodowntothedoor，hercouragebeingloweredtozerobyherphysicallassitude。
Toanyotherpersonthanamotheritmighthaveseemedalittlehumiliatingthatshe，theelderofthetwowomen，shouldbethefirsttomakeadvances。ButMrs。Yeobrighthadwellconsideredallthat，andsheonlythoughthowbesttomakehervisitappeartoEustacianotabjectbutwise。
Fromherelevatedpositiontheexhaustedwomancouldperceivetheroofofthehousebelow，andthegardenandthewholeenclosureofthelittledomicile。Andnow，atthemomentofrising，shesawasecondmanapproachingthegate。Hismannerwaspeculiar，hesitating，andnotthatofapersoncomeonbusinessorbyinvitation。
Hesurveyedthehousewithinterest，andthenwalkedroundandscannedtheouterboundaryofthegarden，asonemighthavedonehaditbeenthebirthplaceofShakespeare，theprisonofMaryStuart，ortheChateauofHougomont。
Afterpassingroundandagainreachingthegatehewentin。
Mrs。Yeobrightwasvexedatthis，havingreckonedonfindinghersonandhiswifebythemselves；butamoment’sthoughtshowedherthatthepresenceofanacquaintancewouldtakeofftheawkwardnessofherfirstappearanceinthehouse，byconfiningthetalktogeneralmattersuntilshehadbeguntofeelcomfortablewiththem。
Shecamedownthehilltothegate，andlookedintothehotgarden。
Therelaythecatasleeponthebaregravelofthepath，asifbeds，rugs，andcarpetswereunendurable。Theleavesofthehollyhockshunglikehalf—closedumbrellas，thesapalmostsimmeredinthestems，andfoliagewithasmoothsurfaceglaredlikemetallicmirrors。Asmallappletree，ofthesortcalledRatheripe，grewjustinsidethegate，theonlyonewhichthroveinthegarden，byreasonofthelightnessofthesoil；andamongthefallenapplesonthegroundbeneathwerewaspsrollingdrunkwiththejuice，orcreepingaboutthelittlecavesineachfruitwhichtheyhadeatenoutbeforestupefiedbyitssweetness。
BythedoorlayClym’sfurze—hookandthelasthandfuloffaggot—bondsshehadseenhimgather；theyhadplainlybeenthrowndownthereasheenteredthehouse。
6—AConjuncture，andItsResultuponthePedestrianWildeve，ashasbeenstated，wasdeterminedtovisitEustaciaboldly，byday，andontheeasytermsofarelation，sincethereddlemanhadspiedoutandspoilthiswalkstoherbynight。Thespellthatshehadthrownoverhiminthemoonlightdancemadeitimpossibleforamanhavingnostrongpuritanicforcewithinhimtokeepawayaltogether。Hemerelycalculatedonmeetingherandherhusbandinanordinarymanner，chattingalittlewhile，andleavingagain。Everyoutwardsignwastobeconventional；
buttheonegreatfactwouldbetheretosatisfyhim——hewouldseeher。HedidnotevendesireClym’sabsence，sinceitwasjustpossiblethatEustaciamightresentanysituationwhichcouldcompromiseherdignityasawife，whateverthestateofherhearttowardshim。Womenwereoftenso。
Hewentaccordingly；andithappenedthatthetimeofhisarrivalcoincidedwiththatofMrs。Yeobright’spauseonthehillnearthehouse。Whenhehadlookedroundthepremisesinthemannershehadnoticedhewentandknockedatthedoor。
Therewasafewminutes’interval，andthenthekeyturnedinthelock，thedooropened，andEustaciaherselfconfrontedhim。
Nobodycouldhaveimaginedfromherbearingnowthatherestoodthewomanwhohadjoinedwithhimintheimpassioneddanceoftheweekbefore，unlessindeedhecouldhavepenetratedbelowthesurfaceandgaugedtherealdepthofthatstillstream。
\"Ihopeyoureachedhomesafely？\"saidWildeve。
\"Oyes，\"shecarelesslyreturned。
\"Andwereyounottiredthenextday？Ifearedyoumightbe。\"
\"Iwasrather。Youneednotspeaklow——nobodywillover—hearus。Mysmallservantisgoneonanerrandtothevillage。\"
\"ThenClymisnotathome？\"
\"Yes，heis。\"
\"O！Ithoughtthatperhapsyouhadlockedthedoorbecauseyouwerealoneandwereafraidoftramps。\"
\"No——hereismyhusband。\"
Theyhadbeenstandingintheentry。Closingthefrontdoorandturningthekey，asbefore，shethrewopenthedooroftheadjoiningroomandaskedhimtowalkin。
Wildeveentered，theroomappearingtobeempty；
butassoonashehadadvancedafewstepshestarted。
OnthehearthruglayClymasleep。Besidehimweretheleggings，thickboots，leathergloves，andsleeve—
waistcoatinwhichheworked。
\"Youmaygoin；youwillnotdisturbhim，\"shesaid，followingbehind。\"Myreasonforfasteningthedooristhathemaynotbeintrudeduponbyanychancecomerwhilelyinghere，ifIshouldbeinthegardenorupstairs。\"
\"Whyishesleepingthere？\"saidWildeveinlowtones。
\"Heisveryweary。Hewentoutathalf—pastfourthismorning，andhasbeenworkingeversince。Hecutsfurzebecauseitistheonlythinghecandothatdoesnotputanystrainuponhispooreyes。\"Thecontrastbetweenthesleeper’sappearanceandWildeve’satthismomentwaspainfullyapparenttoEustacia，Wildevebeingelegantlydressedinanewsummersuitandlighthat；
andshecontinued：\"Ah！youdon’tknowhowdifferentlyheappearedwhenIfirstmethim，thoughitissuchalittlewhileago。Hishandswereaswhiteandsoftasmine；
andlookatthemnow，howroughandbrowntheyare！
Hiscomplexionisbynaturefair，andthatrustylookhehasnow，allofacolourwithhisleatherclothes，iscausedbytheburningofthesun。\"
\"Whydoeshegooutatall！\"Wildevewhispered。
\"Becausehehatestobeidle；thoughwhatheearnsdoesn’taddmuchtoourexchequer。However，hesaysthatwhenpeoplearelivingupontheircapitaltheymustkeepdowncurrentexpensesbyturningapennywheretheycan。\"
\"Thefateshavenotbeenkindtoyou，EustaciaYeobright。\"
\"Ihavenothingtothankthemfor。\"
\"Norhashe——exceptfortheironegreatgifttohim。\"
\"What’sthat？\"
Wildevelookedherintheeyes。
Eustaciablushedforthefirsttimethatday。
\"Well，Iamaquestionablegift，\"shesaidquietly。
\"Ithoughtyoumeantthegiftofcontent——whichhehas，andIhavenot。\"
\"Icanunderstandcontentinsuchacase——thoughhowtheoutwardsituationcanattracthimpuzzlesme。\"
\"That’sbecauseyoudon’tknowhim。He’sanenthusiastaboutideas，andcarelessaboutoutwardthings。
HeoftenremindsmeoftheApostlePaul。\"
\"Iamgladtohearthathe’ssograndincharacterasthat。\"
\"Yes；buttheworstofitisthatthoughPaulwasexcellentasamanintheBiblehewouldhardlyhavedoneinreallife。\"
Theirvoiceshadinstinctivelydroppedlower，thoughatfirsttheyhadtakennoparticularcaretoavoidawakeningClym。
\"Well，ifthatmeansthatyourmarriageisamisfortunetoyou，youknowwhoistoblame，\"saidWildeve。
\"Themarriageisnomisfortuneinitself，\"sheretortedwithsomelittlepetulance。\"Itissimplytheaccidentwhichhashappenedsincethathasbeenthecauseofmyruin。
Ihavecertainlygotthistlesforfigsinaworldlysense，buthowcouldItellwhattimewouldbringforth？\"
\"Sometimes，Eustacia，Ithinkitisajudgmentuponyou。
Yourightlybelongedtome，youknow；andIhadnoideaoflosingyou。\"
\"No，itwasnotmyfault！Twocouldnotbelongtoyou；
andrememberthat，beforeIwasaware，youturnedasidetoanotherwoman。Itwascruellevityinyoutodothat。
Ineverdreamtofplayingsuchagameonmysidetillyoubeganitonyours。\"
\"Imeantnothingbyit，\"repliedWildeve。\"Itwasamereinterlude。Menaregiventothetrickofhavingapassingfancyforsomebodyelseinthemidstofapermanentlove，whichreassertsitselfafterwardsjustasbefore。
OnaccountofyourrebelliousmannertomeIwastemptedtogofurtherthanIshouldhavedone；andwhenyoustillwouldkeepplayingthesametantalizingpartIwentfurtherstill，andmarriedher。\"TurningandlookingagainattheunconsciousformofClym，hemurmured，\"Iamafraidthatyoudon’tvalueyourprize，Clym……HeoughttobehappierthanIinonethingatleast。
Hemayknowwhatitistocomedownintheworld，andtobeafflictedwithagreatpersonalcalamity；
butheprobablydoesn’tknowwhatitistolosethewomanheloved。\"
\"Heisnotungratefulforwinningher，\"whisperedEustacia，\"andinthatrespectheisagoodman。Manywomenwouldgofarforsuchahusband。ButdoIdesireunreasonablymuchinwantingwhatiscalledlife——
music，poetry，passion，war，andallthebeatingandpulsingthataregoingoninthegreatarteriesoftheworld？Thatwastheshapeofmyyouthfuldream；
butIdidnotgetit。YetIthoughtIsawthewaytoitinmyClym。\"
\"Andyouonlymarriedhimonthataccount？\"
\"Thereyoumistakeme。ImarriedhimbecauseIlovedhim，butIwon’tsaythatIdidn’tlovehimpartlybecauseI
thoughtIsawapromiseofthatlifeinhim。\"
\"Youhavedroppedintoyouroldmournfulkey。\"
\"ButIamnotgoingtobedepressed，\"shecriedperversely。
\"Ibegananewsystembygoingtothatdance，andImeantosticktoit。Clymcansingmerrily；whyshouldnotI？\"
Wildevelookedthoughtfullyather。\"Itiseasiertosayyouwillsingthantodoit；thoughifIcouldI
wouldencourageyouinyourattempt。Butaslifemeansnothingtome，withoutonethingwhichisnowimpossible，youwillforgivemefornotbeingabletoencourageyou。\"
\"Damon，whatisthematterwithyou，thatyouspeaklikethat？\"sheasked，raisingherdeepshadyeyestohis。
\"That’sathingIshallnevertellplainly；andperhapsifI
trytotellyouinriddlesyouwillnotcaretoguessthem。\"
Eustaciaremainedsilentforaminute，andshesaid，\"Weareinastrangerelationshiptoday。Youmincematterstoanuncommonnicety。Youmean，Damon，thatyoustillloveme。Well，thatgivesmesorrow，forIamnotmadesoentirelyhappybymymarriagethatIamwillingtospurnyoufortheinformation，asIoughttodo。
Butwehavesaidtoomuchaboutthis。Doyoumeantowaituntilmyhusbandisawake？\"
\"Ithoughttospeaktohim；butitisunnecessary，Eustacia，ifIoffendyoubynotforgettingyou，youarerighttomentionit；butdonottalkofspurning。\"
Shedidnotreply，andtheystoodlookingmusinglyatClymashesleptoninthatprofoundsleepwhichistheresultofphysicallabourcarriedonincircumstancesthatwakenonervousfear。
\"God，howIenvyhimthatsweetsleep！\"saidWildeve。
\"IhavenotsleptlikethatsinceIwasaboy——yearsandyearsago。\"
Whiletheythuswatchedhimaclickatthegatewasaudible，andaknockcametothedoor。Eustaciawenttoawindowandlookedout。
Hercountenancechanged。Firstshebecamecrimson，andthentheredsubsidedtillitevenpartiallyleftherlips。
\"ShallIgoaway？\"saidWildeve，standingup。
\"Ihardlyknow。\"
\"Whoisit？\"
\"Mrs。Yeobright。O，whatshesaidtomethatday！I
cannotunderstandthisvisit——whatdoesshemean？Andshesuspectsthatpasttimeofours。\"
\"Iaminyourhands。IfyouthinkshehadbetternotseemehereI’llgointothenextroom。\"
\"Well，yes——go。\"
Wildeveatoncewithdrew；butbeforehehadbeenhalfaminuteintheadjoiningapartmentEustaciacameafterhim。
\"No，\"shesaid，\"wewon’thaveanyofthis。Ifshecomesinshemustseeyou——andthinkifshelikesthere’ssomethingwrong！ButhowcanIopenthedoortoher，whenshedislikesme——wishestoseenotme，butherson？
Iwon’topenthedoor！\"
Mrs。Yeobrightknockedagainmoreloudly。
\"Herknockingwill，inalllikelihood，awakenhim，\"
continuedEustacia，\"andthenhewillletherinhimself。
Ah——listen。\"
TheycouldhearClymmovingintheotherroom，asifdisturbedbytheknocking，andheutteredtheword\"Mother。\"
\"Yes——heisawake——hewillgotothedoor，\"
shesaid，withabreathofrelief。\"Comethisway。
Ihaveabadnamewithher，andyoumustnotbeseen。
ThusIamobligedtoactbystealth，notbecauseIdoill，butbecauseothersarepleasedtosayso。\"
Bythistimeshehadtakenhimtothebackdoor，whichwasopen，disclosingapathleadingdownthegarden。
\"Now，oneword，Damon，\"sheremarkedashesteppedforth。
\"Thisisyourfirstvisithere；letitbeyourlast。
Wehavebeenhotloversinourtime，butitwon’tdonow。
Good—bye。\"
\"Good—bye，\"saidWildeve。\"IhavehadallIcamefor，andIamsatisfied。\"
\"Whatwasit？\"
\"Asightofyou。UponmyeternalhonourIcamefornomore。\"
Wildevekissedhishandtothebeautifulgirlheaddressed，andpassedintothegarden，whereshewatchedhimdownthepath，overthestileattheend，andintothefernsoutside，whichbrushedhishipsashewentalongtillhebecamelostintheirthickets。Whenhehadquitegonesheslowlyturned，anddirectedherattentiontotheinteriorofthehouse。
ButitwaspossiblethatherpresencemightnotbedesiredbyClymandhismotheratthismomentoftheirfirstmeeting，orthatitwouldbesuperfluous。
Atallevents，shewasinnohurrytomeetMrs。Yeobright。
SheresolvedtowaittillClymcametolookforher，andglidedbackintothegarden。Heresheidlyoccupiedherselfforafewminutes，tillfindingnonoticewastakenofhersheretracedherstepsthroughthehousetothefront，whereshelistenedforvoicesintheparlour。
Buthearingnonesheopenedthedoorandwentin。
ToherastonishmentClymlaypreciselyasWildeveandherselfhadlefthim，hissleepapparentlyunbroken。Hehadbeendisturbedandmadetodreamandmurmurbytheknocking，buthehadnotawakened。Eustaciahastenedtothedoor，andinspiteofherreluctancetoopenittoawomanwhohadspokenofhersobitterly，sheunfasteneditandlookedout。
Nobodywastobeseen。There，bythescraper，layClym’shookandthehandfuloffaggot—bondshehadbroughthome；
infrontofherweretheemptypath，thegardengatestandingslightlyajar；and，beyond，thegreatvalleyofpurpleheaththrillingsilentlyinthesun。Mrs。Yeobrightwasgone。
Clym’smotherwasatthistimefollowingapathwhichlayhiddenfromEustaciabyashoulderofthehill。Herwalkthitherfromthegardengatehadbeenhastyanddetermined，asofawomanwhowasnownolessanxioustoescapefromthescenethanshehadpreviouslybeentoenterit。
Hereyeswerefixedontheground；withinhertwosightsweregraven——thatofClym’shookandbramblesatthedoor，andthatofawoman’sfaceatawindow。Herlipstrembled，becomingunnaturallythinasshemurmured，\"’Tistoomuch——Clym，howcanhebeartodoit！Heisathome；
andyetheletshershutthedooragainstme！\"
Inheranxietytogetoutofthedirectviewofthehouseshehaddivergedfromthestraightestpathhomeward，andwhilelookingabouttoregainitshecameuponalittleboygatheringwhortleberriesinahollow。
TheboywasJohnnyNunsuch，whohadbeenEustacia’sstokeratthebonfire，and，withthetendencyofaminutebodytogravitatetowardsagreater，hebeganhoveringroundMrs。Yeobrightassoonassheappeared，andtrottedonbesideherwithoutperceptibleconsciousnessofhisact。
Mrs。Yeobrightspoketohimasoneinamesmericsleep。
\"’Tisalongwayhome，mychild，andweshallnotgettheretillevening。\"
\"Ishall，\"saidhersmallcompanion。\"Iamgoingtoplaymarnelsaforesupper，andwegotosupperatsixo’clock，becauseFathercomeshome。Doesyourfathercomehomeatsixtoo？\"
\"No，henevercomes；normysoneither，noranybody。\"
\"Whathavemadeyousodown？Haveyouseenaooser？\"
\"Ihaveseenwhat’sworse——awoman’sfacelookingatmethroughawindowpane。\"
\"Isthatabadsight？\"
\"Yes。Itisalwaysabadsighttoseeawomanlookingoutatawearywayfarerandnotlettingherin。\"
\"OncewhenIwenttoThroopeGreatPondtocatcheffetsIseedmyselflookingupatmyself，andIwasfrightenedandjumpedbacklikeanything。\"……\"Iftheyhadonlyshownsignsofmeetingmyadvanceshalfwayhowwellitmighthavebeendone！Butthereisnochance。Shutout！Shemusthavesethimagainstme。
Cantherebebeautifulbodieswithoutheartsinside？I
thinkso。Iwouldnothavedoneitagainstaneighbour’scatonsuchafierydayasthis！\"
\"Whatisityousay？\"
\"Neveragain——never！Noteveniftheysendforme！\"
\"Youmustbeaverycuriouswomantotalklikethat。\"
\"Ono，notatall，\"shesaid，returningtotheboy’sprattle。
\"MostpeoplewhogrowupandhavechildrentalkasIdo。
WhenyougrowupyourmotherwilltalkasIdotoo。\"
\"Ihopeshewon’t；because’tisverybadtotalknonsense。\"
\"Yes，child；itisnonsense，Isuppose。Areyounotnearlyspentwiththeheat？\"
\"Yes。Butnotsomuchasyoube。\"
\"Howdoyouknow？\"
\"Yourfaceiswhiteandwet，andyourheadishanging—down—like。\"
\"Ah，Iamexhaustedfrominside。\"
\"Whydoyou，everytimeyoutakeastep，golikethis？\"
Thechildinspeakinggavetohismotionthejerkandlimpofaninvalid。
\"BecauseIhaveaburdenwhichismorethanIcanbear。\"
Thelittleboyremainedsilentlypondering，andtheytotteredonsidebysideuntilmorethanaquarterofanhourhadelapsed，whenMrs。Yeobright，whoseweaknessplainlyincreased，saidtohim，\"Imustsitdownheretorest。\"
Whenshehadseatedherselfhelookedlonginherfaceandsaid，\"Howfunnyyoudrawyourbreath——likealambwhenyoudrivehimtillhe’snearlydonefor。
Doyoualwaysdrawyourbreathlikethat？\"
\"Notalways。\"Hervoicewasnowsolowastobescarcelyaboveawhisper。
\"Youwillgotosleepthere，Isuppose，won’tyou？Youhaveshutyoureyesalready。\"
\"No。Ishallnotsleepmuchtill——anotherday，andthenIhopetohavealong，longone——verylong。NowcanyoutellmeifRimsmoorPondisdrythissummer？\"
\"RimsmoorPondis，butOker’sPoolisn’t，becauseheisdeep，andisneverdry——’tisjustoverthere。\"
\"Isthewaterclear？\"
\"Yes，middling——exceptwheretheheath—cropperswalkintoit。\"
\"Then，takethis，andgoasfastasyoucan，anddipmeuptheclearestyoucanfind。Iamveryfaint。\"
Shedrewfromthesmallwillowreticulethatshecarriedinherhandanold—fashionedchinateacupwithoutahandle；itwasoneofhalfadozenofthesamesortlyinginthereticule，whichshehadpreservedeversinceherchildhood，andhadbroughtwithhertodayasasmallpresentforClymandEustacia。
Theboystartedonhiserrand，andsooncamebackwiththewater，suchasitwas。Mrs。Yeobrightattemptedtodrink，butitwassowarmastogivehernausea，andshethrewitaway。Afterwardsshestillremainedsitting，withhereyesclosed。
Theboywaited，playednearher，caughtseveralofthelittlebrownbutterflieswhichabounded，andthensaidashewaitedagain，\"Ilikegoingonbetterthanbidingstill。
Willyousoonstartagain？\"
\"Idon’tknow。\"
\"IwishImightgoonbymyself，\"heresumed，fearing，apparently，thathewastobepressedintosomeunpleasantservice。\"Doyouwantmeanymore，please？\"
Mrs。Yeobrightmadenoreply。
\"WhatshallItellMother？\"theboycontinued。
