\"Tellheryouhaveseenabroken—heartedwomancastoffbyherson。\"
Beforequiteleavingherhethrewuponherfaceawistfulglance，asifhehadmisgivingsonthegenerosityofforsakingherthus。Hegazedintoherfaceinavague，wonderingmanner，likethatofoneexaminingsomestrangeoldmanuscriptthekeytowhosecharactersisundiscoverable。
Hewasnotsoyoungastobeabsolutelywithoutasensethatsympathywasdemanded，hewasnotoldenoughtobefreefromtheterrorfeltinchildhoodatbeholdingmiseryinadultquartershither—todeemedimpregnable；andwhethershewereinapositiontocausetroubleortosufferfromit，whethersheandherafflictionweresomethingtopityorsomethingtofear，itwasbeyondhimtodecide。
Heloweredhiseyesandwentonwithoutanotherword。
Beforehehadgonehalfamilehehadforgottenallabouther，exceptthatshewasawomanwhohadsatdowntorest。
Mrs。Yeobright’sexertions，physicalandemotional，hadwell—nighprostratedher；butshecontinuedtocreepalonginshortstageswithlongbreaksbetween。Thesunhadnowgotfartothewestofsouthandstooddirectlyinherface，likesomemercilessincendiary，brandinhand，waitingtoconsumeher。Withthedepartureoftheboyallvisibleanimationdisappearedfromthelandscape，thoughtheintermittenthuskynotesofthemalegrasshoppersfromeverytuftoffurzewereenoughtoshowthatamidtheprostrationofthelargeranimalspeciesanunseeninsectworldwasbusyinallthefullnessoflife。
Intwohoursshereachedaslopeaboutthree—fourthsthewholedistancefromAlderworthtoherownhome，wherealittlepatchofshepherd’s—thymeintrudeduponthepath；
andshesatdownupontheperfumedmatitformedthere。
Infrontofheracolonyofantshadestablishedathoroughfareacrosstheway，wheretheytoiledanever—endingandheavy—ladenthrong。Tolookdownuponthemwaslikeobservingacitystreetfromthetopofatower。
Sherememberedthatthisbustleofantshadbeeninprogressforyearsatthesamespot——doubtlessthoseoftheoldtimesweretheancestorsofthesewhichwalkedtherenow。Sheleantbacktoobtainmorethoroughrest，andthesofteasternportionoftheskywasasgreatarelieftohereyesasthethymewastoherhead。
Whileshelookedaheronaroseonthatsideoftheskyandflewonwithhisfacetowardsthesun。Hehadcomedrippingwetfromsomepoolinthevalleys，andasheflewtheedgesandliningofhiswings，histhighsandhisbreastweresocaughtbythebrightsunbeamsthatheappearedasifformedofburnishedsilver。
Upinthezenithwherehewasseemedafreeandhappyplace，awayfromallcontactwiththeearthlyballtowhichshewaspinioned；andshewishedthatshecouldariseuncrushedfromitssurfaceandflyasheflewthen。
But，beingamother，itwasinevitablethatsheshouldsoonceasetoruminateuponherowncondition。Hadthetrackofhernextthoughtbeenmarkedbyastreakintheair，likethepathofameteor，itwouldhaveshownadirectioncontrarytotheheron’s，andhavedescendedtotheeastwardupontheroofofClym’shouse。
7—TheTragicMeetingofTwoOldFriendsHeinthemeantimehadarousedhimselffromsleep，satup，andlookedaround。Eustaciawassittinginachairhardbyhim，andthoughsheheldabookinherhandshehadnotlookedintoitforsometime。
\"Well，indeed！\"saidClym，brushinghiseyeswithhishands。
\"HowsoundlyIhaveslept！Ihavehadsuchatremendousdream，too——oneIshallneverforget。\"
\"Ithoughtyouhadbeendreaming，\"saidshe。
\"Yes。Itwasaboutmymother。IdreamtthatItookyoutoherhousetomakeupdifferences，andwhenwegottherewecouldn’tgetin，thoughshekeptoncryingtousforhelp。
However，dreamsaredreams。Whato’clockisit，Eustacia？\"
\"Half—pasttwo。\"
\"Solate，isit？Ididn’tmeantostaysolong。BythetimeIhavehadsomethingtoeatitwillbeafterthree。\"
\"Annisnotcomebackfromthevillage，andIthoughtI
wouldletyousleepontillshereturned。\"
Clymwenttothewindowandlookedout。Presentlyhesaid，musingly，\"Weekafterweekpasses，andyetMotherdoesnotcome。
IthoughtIshouldhaveheardsomethingfromherlongbeforethis。\"
Misgiving，regret，fear，resolution，rantheirswiftcourseofexpressioninEustacia’sdarkeyes。
Shewasfacetofacewithamonstrousdifficulty，andsheresolvedtogetfreeofitbypostponement。
\"ImustcertainlygotoBlooms—Endsoon，\"hecontinued，\"andIthinkIhadbettergoalone。\"Hepickeduphisleggingsandgloves，threwthemdownagain，andadded，\"AsdinnerwillbesolatetodayIwillnotgobacktotheheath，butworkinthegardentilltheevening，andthen，whenitwillbecooler，IwillwalktoBlooms—End。
IamquitesurethatifImakealittleadvanceMotherwillbewillingtoforgetall。ItwillberatherlatebeforeIcangethome，asIshallnotbeabletodothedistanceeitherwayinlessthananhourandahalf。
Butyouwillnotmindforoneevening，dear？Whatareyouthinkingoftomakeyoulooksoabstracted？\"
\"Icannottellyou，\"shesaidheavily。\"Iwishwedidn’tlivehere，Clym。Theworldseemsallwronginthisplace。\"
\"Well——ifwemakeitso。IwonderifThomasinhasbeentoBlooms—Endlately。Ihopeso。Butprobablynot，assheis，Ibelieve，expectingtobeconfinedinamonthorso。
IwishIhadthoughtofthatbefore。PoorMothermustindeedbeverylonely。\"
\"Idon’tlikeyougoingtonight。\"
\"Whynottonight？\"
\"Somethingmaybesaidwhichwillterriblyinjureme。\"
\"Mymotherisnotvindictive，\"saidClym，hiscolourfaintlyrising。
\"ButIwishyouwouldnotgo，\"Eustaciarepeatedinalowtone。\"IfyouagreenottogotonightIpromisetogobymyselftoherhousetomorrow，andmakeitupwithher，andwaittillyoufetchme。\"
\"Whydoyouwanttodothatatthisparticulartime，whenateveryprevioustimethatIhaveproposedityouhaverefused？\"
\"IcannotexplainfurtherthanthatIshouldliketoseeheralonebeforeyougo，\"sheanswered，withanimpatientmoveofherhead，andlookingathimwithananxietymorefrequentlyseenuponthoseofasanguinetemperamentthanuponsuchasherself。
\"Well，itisveryoddthatjustwhenIhaddecidedtogomyselfyoushouldwanttodowhatIproposedlongago。
IfIwaitforyoutogotomorrowanotherdaywillbelost；
andIknowIshallbeunabletorestanothernightwithouthavingbeen。Iwanttogetthissettled，andwill。
Youmustvisitherafterwards——itwillbeallthesame。\"
\"Icouldevengowithyounow？\"
\"YoucouldscarcelywalkthereandbackwithoutalongerrestthanIshalltake。No，nottonight，Eustacia。\"
\"Letitbeasyousay，then，\"sherepliedinthequietwayofonewho，thoughwillingtowardoffevilconsequencesbyamildeffort，wouldleteventsfalloutastheymightsoonerthanwrestlehardtodirectthem。
Clymthenwentintothegarden；andathoughtfullanguorstoleoverEustaciafortheremainderoftheafternoon，whichherhusbandattributedtotheheatoftheweather。
Intheeveninghesetoutonthejourney。Althoughtheheatofsummerwasyetintensethedayshadconsiderablyshortened，andbeforehehadadvancedamileonhiswayalltheheathpurples，browns，andgreenshadmergedinauniformdresswithoutairinessorgraduation，andbrokenonlybytouchesofwhitewherethelittleheapsofcleanquartzsandshowedtheentrancetoarabbitburrow，orwherethewhiteflintsofafootpathlaylikeathreadovertheslopes。
Inalmosteveryoneoftheisolatedandstuntedthornswhichgrewhereandthereanighthawkrevealedhispresencebywhirringliketheclackofamillaslongashecouldholdhisbreath，thenstopping，flappinghiswings，wheelingroundthebush，alighting，andafterasilentintervaloflisteningbeginningtowhirragain。AteachbrushingofClym’sfeetwhitemillermothsflewintotheairjusthighenoughtocatchupontheirdustywingsthemellowedlightfromthewest，whichnowshoneacrossthedepressionsandlevelsofthegroundwithoutfallingthereontolightthemup。
Yeobrightwalkedonamidthisquietscenewithahopethatallwouldsoonbewell。Threemilesonhecametoaspotwhereasoftperfumewaswaftedacrosshispath，andhestoodstillforamomenttoinhalethefamiliarscent。
Itwastheplaceatwhich，fourhoursearlier，hismotherhadsatdownexhaustedontheknollcoveredwithshepherd’s—thyme。Whilehestoodasoundbetweenabreathingandamoansuddenlyreachedhisears。
Helookedtowherethesoundcamefrom；butnothingappearedtheresavethevergeofthehillockstretchingagainsttheskyinanunbrokenline。Hemovedafewstepsinthatdirection，andnowheperceivedarecumbentfigurealmostclosetohisfeet。
Amongthedifferentpossibilitiesastotheperson’sindividualitytheredidnotforamomentoccurtoYeobrightthatitmightbeoneofhisownfamily。
Sometimesfurze—cuttershadbeenknowntosleepoutofdoorsatthesetimes，tosavealongjourneyhomewardandbackagain；butClymrememberedthemoanandlookedcloser，andsawthattheformwasfeminine；
andadistresscameoverhimlikecoldairfromacave。
Buthewasnotabsolutelycertainthatthewomanwashismothertillhestoopedandbeheldherface，pallid，andwithclosedeyes。
Hisbreathwent，asitwere，outofhisbodyandthecryofanguishwhichwouldhaveescapedhimdieduponhislips。
Duringthemomentaryintervalthatelapsedbeforehebecameconsciousthatsomethingmustbedoneallsenseoftimeandplacelefthim，anditseemedasifheandhismotherwereaswhenhewasachildwithhermanyyearsagoonthisheathathourssimilartothepresent。
Thenheawoketoactivity；andbendingyetlowerhefoundthatshestillbreathed，andthatherbreaththoughfeeblewasregular，exceptwhendisturbedbyanoccasionalgasp。
\"O，whatisit！Mother，areyouveryill——youarenotdying？\"
hecried，pressinghislipstoherface。\"IamyourClym。
Howdidyoucomehere？Whatdoesitallmean？\"
AtthatmomentthechasmintheirliveswhichhisloveforEustaciahadcausedwasnotrememberedbyYeobright，andtohimthepresentjoinedcontinuouslywiththatfriendlypastthathadbeentheirexperiencebeforethedivision。
Shemovedherlips，appearedtoknowhim，butcouldnotspeak；
andthenClymstrovetoconsiderhowbesttomoveher，asitwouldbenecessarytogetherawayfromthespotbeforethedewswereintense。Hewasable—bodied，andhismotherwasthin。Heclaspedhisarmsroundher，liftedheralittle，andsaid，\"Doesthathurtyou？\"
Sheshookherhead，andheliftedherup；then，ataslowpace，wentonwardwithhisload。Theairwasnowcompletelycool；
butwheneverhepassedoverasandypatchofgrounduncarpetedwithvegetationtherewasreflectedfromitssurfaceintohisfacetheheatwhichithadimbibedduringtheday。AtthebeginningofhisundertakinghehadthoughtbutlittleofthedistancewhichyetwouldhavetobetraversedbeforeBlooms—Endcouldbereached；
butthoughhehadsleptthatafternoonhesoonbegantofeeltheweightofhisburden。Thusheproceeded，likeAeneaswithhisfather；thebatscirclingroundhishead，nightjarsflappingtheirwingswithinayardofhisface，andnotahumanbeingwithincall。
Whilehewasyetnearlyamilefromthehousehismotherexhibitedsignsofrestlessnessundertheconstraintofbeingbornealong，asifhisarmswereirksometoher。
Heloweredheruponhiskneesandlookedaround。
Thepointtheyhadnowreached，thoughfarfromanyroad，wasnotmorethanamilefromtheBlooms—EndcottagesoccupiedbyFairway，Sam，Humphrey，andtheCantles。
Moreover，fiftyyardsoffstoodahut，builtofclodsandcoveredwiththinturves，butnowentirelydisused。
Thesimpleoutlineofthelonelyshedwasvisible，andthitherhedeterminedtodirecthissteps。Assoonashearrivedhelaidherdowncarefullybytheentrance，andthenranandcutwithhispocketknifeanarmfulofthedryestfern。Spreadingthiswithintheshed，whichwasentirelyopenononeside，heplacedhismotherthereon；
thenheranwithallhismighttowardsthedwellingofFairway。
Nearlyaquarterofanhourhadpassed，disturbedonlybythebrokenbreathingofthesufferer，whenmovingfiguresbegantoanimatethelinebetweenheathandsky。InafewmomentsClymarrivedwithFairway，Humphrey，andSusanNunsuch；
OllyDowden，whohadchancedtobeatFairway’s，ChristianandGrandferCantlefollowinghelter—skelterbehind。
Theyhadbroughtalanternandmatches，water，apillow，andafewotherarticleswhichhadoccurredtotheirmindsinthehurryofthemoment。Samhadbeendespatchedbackagainforbrandy，andaboybroughtFairway’spony，uponwhichherodeofftothenearestmedicalman，withdirectionstocallatWildeve’sonhisway，andinformThomasinthatherauntwasunwell。
Samandthebrandysoonarrived，anditwasadministeredbythelightofthelantern；afterwhichshebecamesufficientlyconscioustosignifybysignsthatsomethingwaswrongwithherfoot。OllyDowdenatlengthunderstoodhermeaning，andexaminedthefootindicated。
Itwasswollenandred。Evenastheywatchedtheredbegantoassumeamorelividcolour，inthemidstofwhichappearedascarletspeck，smallerthanapea，anditwasfoundtoconsistofadropofblood，whichroseabovethesmoothfleshofherankleinahemisphere。
\"Iknowwhatitis，\"criedSam。\"Shehasbeenstungbyanadder！\"
\"Yes，\"saidClyminstantly。\"IrememberwhenIwasachildseeingjustsuchabite。O，mypoormother！\"
\"Itwasmyfatherwhowasbit，\"saidSam。\"Andthere’sonlyonewaytocureit。Youmustrubtheplacewiththefatofotheradders，andtheonlywaytogetthatisbyfryingthem。That’swhattheydidforhim。\"
\"’Tisanoldremedy，\"saidClymdistrustfully，\"andI
havedoubtsaboutit。Butwecandonothingelsetillthedoctorcomes。\"
\"’Tisasurecure，\"saidOllyDowden，withemphasis。
\"I’veuseditwhenIusedtogooutnursing。\"
\"Thenwemustprayfordaylight，tocatchthem，\"
saidClymgloomily。
\"IwillseewhatIcando，\"saidSam。
Hetookagreenhazelwhichhehadusedasawalkingstick，splititattheend，insertedasmallpebble，andwiththelanterninhishandwentoutintotheheath。
Clymhadbythistimelitasmallfire，anddespatchedSusanNunsuchforafryingpan。BeforeshehadreturnedSamcameinwiththreeadders，onebrisklycoilinganduncoilinginthecleftofthestick，andtheothertwohangingdeadacrossit。
\"Ihaveonlybeenabletogetonealiveandfreshasheoughttobe，\"saidSam。\"TheselimponesaretwoI
killedtodayatwork；butastheydon’tdietillthesungoesdowntheycan’tbeverystalemeat。\"
Theliveadderregardedtheassembledgroupwithasinisterlookinitssmallblackeye，andthebeautifulbrownandjetpatternonitsbackseemedtointensifywithindignation。
Mrs。Yeobrightsawthecreature，andthecreaturesawher——shequiveredthroughout，andavertedhereyes。
\"Lookatthat，\"murmuredChristianCantle。\"Neighbours，howdoweknowbutthatsomethingoftheoldserpentinGod’sgarden，thatgiedtheappletotheyoungwomanwithnoclothes，livesoninaddersandsnakesstill？
Lookathiseye——foralltheworldlikeavillainoussortofblackcurrant。’Tistobehopedhecan’till—wishus！
There’sfolksinheathwho’vebeenoverlookedalready。
IwillneverkillanotheradderaslongasIlive。\"
\"Well，’tisrighttobeafeardofthings，iffolkscan’thelpit，\"saidGrandferCantle。\"’Twouldhavesavedmemanyabravedangerinmytime。\"
\"IfancyIheardsomethingoutsidetheshed，\"saidChristian。
\"Iwishtroubleswouldcomeinthedaytime，forthenamancouldshowhiscourage，andhardlybegformercyofthemostbroomstickoldwomanheshouldsee，ifhewasabraveman，andabletorunoutofhersight！\"
\"EvensuchanignorantfellowasIshouldknowbetterthandothat，\"saidSam。
\"Well，there’scalamitieswhereweleastexpectit，whetherorno。Neighbours，ifMrs。Yeobrightweretodie，d’yethinkweshouldbetookupandtriedforthemanslaughterofawoman？\"
\"No，theycouldn’tbringitinasthat，\"saidSam，\"unlesstheycouldprovewehadbeenpoachersatsometimeofourlives。Butshe’llfetchround。\"
\"Now，ifIhadbeenstungbytenaddersIshouldhardlyhavelostaday’sworkfor’t，\"saidGrandferCantle。
\"SuchismyspiritwhenIamonmymettle。Butperhaps’tisnaturalinamantrainedforwar。Yes，I’vegonethroughagooddeal；butnothingevercameamisstomeafterIjoinedtheLocalsinfour。\"Heshookhisheadandsmiledatamentalpictureofhimselfinuniform。
\"Iwasalwaysfirstinthemostgalliantestscrapesinmyyoungerdays！\"
\"Isupposethatwasbecausetheyalwaysusedtoputthebiggestfoolafore，\"saidFairwayfromthefire，besidewhichheknelt，blowingitwithhisbreath。
\"D’yethinkso，Timothy？\"saidGrandferCantle，comingforwardtoFairway’ssidewithsuddendepressioninhisface。
\"Thenamanmayfeelforyearsthatheisgoodsolidcompany，andbewrongabouthimselfafterall？\"
\"Nevermindthatquestion，Grandfer。Stiryourstumpsandgetsomemoresticks。’Tisverynonsenseofanoldmantoprattlesowhenlifeanddeath’sinmangling。\"
\"Yes，yes，\"saidGrandferCantle，withmelancholyconviction。
\"Well，thisisabadnightaltogetherforthemthathavedonewellintheirtime；andifIwereeversuchadabatthehautboyortenorviol，Ishouldn’thavethehearttoplaytunesupon’emnow。\"
Susannowarrivedwiththefryingpan，whentheliveadderwaskilledandtheheadsofthethreetakenoff。
Theremainders，beingcutintolengthsandsplitopen，weretossedintothepan，whichbeganhissingandcracklingoverthefire。Soonarillofclearoiltrickledfromthecarcases，whereuponClymdippedthecornerofhishandkerchiefintotheliquidandanointedthewound。
8—EustaciaHearsofGoodFortune，andBeholdsEvilInthemeantimeEustacia，leftaloneinhercottageatAlderworth，hadbecomeconsiderablydepressedbythepostureofaffairs。TheconsequenceswhichmightresultfromClym’sdiscoverythathismotherhadbeenturnedfromhisdoorthatdaywerelikelytobedisagreeable，andthiswasaqualityineventswhichshehatedasmuchasthedreadful。
Tobelefttopasstheeveningbyherselfwasirksometoheratanytime，andthiseveningitwasmoreirksomethanusualbyreasonoftheexcitementsofthepasthours。
Thetwovisitshadstirredherintorestlessness。
ShewasnotwroughttoanygreatpitchofuneasinessbytheprobabilityofappearinginanilllightinthediscussionbetweenClymandhismother，butshewaswroughttovexation，andherslumberingactivitieswerequickenedtotheextentofwishingthatshehadopenedthedoor。
ShehadcertainlybelievedthatClymwasawake，andtheexcusewouldbeanhonestoneasfarasitwent；
butnothingcouldsaveherfromcensureinrefusingtoansweratthefirstknock。Yet，insteadofblamingherselffortheissueshelaidthefaultupontheshouldersofsomeindistinct，colossalPrinceoftheWorld，whohadframedhersituationandruledherlot。
Atthistimeoftheyearitwaspleasantertowalkbynightthanbyday，andwhenClymhadbeenabsentaboutanhourshesuddenlyresolvedtogooutinthedirectionofBlooms—End，onthechanceofmeetinghimonhisreturn。
Whenshereachedthegardengatesheheardwheelsapproaching，andlookingroundbeheldhergrandfathercomingupinhiscar。
\"Ican’tstayaminute，thankye，\"heansweredtohergreeting。\"IamdrivingtoEastEgdon；
butIcameroundherejusttotellyouthenews。
Perhapsyouhaveheard——aboutMr。Wildeve’sfortune？\"
\"No，\"saidEustaciablankly。
\"Well，hehascomeintoafortuneofeleventhousandpounds——unclediedinCanada，justafterhearingthatallhisfamily，whomhewassendinghome，hadgonetothebottomintheCassiopeia；soWildevehascomeintoeverything，withoutintheleastexpectingit。\"
Eustaciastoodmotionlessawhile。\"Howlonghasheknownofthis？\"sheasked。
\"Well，itwasknowntohimthismorningearly，forIknewitatteno’clock，whenCharleycameback。Now，heiswhatIcallaluckyman。Whatafoolyouwere，Eustacia！\"
\"Inwhatway？\"shesaid，liftinghereyesinapparentcalmness。
\"Why，innotstickingtohimwhenyouhadhim。\"
\"Hadhim，indeed！\"
\"Ididnotknowtherehadeverbeenanythingbetweenyoutilllately；and，faith，IshouldhavebeenhotandstrongagainstitifIhadknown；butsinceitseemsthattherewassomesniffingbetweenye，whythedeucedidn’tyousticktohim？\"
Eustaciamadenoreply，butshelookedasifshecouldsayasmuchuponthatsubjectasheifshechose。
\"Andhowisyourpoorpurblindhusband？\"continuedtheoldman。\"Notabadfelloweither，asfarashegoes。\"
\"Heisquitewell。\"
\"Itisagoodthingforhiscousinwhat—d’ye—call—her？
ByGeorge，yououghttohavebeeninthatgalley，mygirl！NowImustdriveon。Doyouwantanyassistance？
What’smineisyours，youknow。\"
\"Thankyou，Grandfather，wearenotinwantatpresent，\"
shesaidcoldly。\"Clymcutsfurze，buthedoesitmostlyasausefulpastime，becausehecandonothingelse。\"
\"Heispaidforhispastime，isn’the？Threeshillingsahundred，Iheard。\"
\"Clymhasmoney，\"shesaid，colouring，\"buthelikestoearnalittle。\"
\"Verywell；goodnight。\"Andthecaptaindroveon。
WhenhergrandfatherwasgoneEustaciawentonherwaymechanically；butherthoughtswerenolongerconcerninghermother—in—lawandClym。Wildeve，notwithstandinghiscomplaintsagainsthisfate，hadbeenseizeduponbydestinyandplacedinthesunshineoncemore。Eleventhousandpounds！FromeveryEgdonpointofviewhewasarichman。
InEustacia’seyes，too，itwasanamplesum——onesufficienttosupplythosewantsofherswhichhadbeenstigmatizedbyClyminhismoreausteremoodsasvainandluxurious。
Thoughshewasnoloverofmoneyshelovedwhatmoneycouldbring；andthenewaccessoriessheimaginedaroundhimclothedWildevewithagreatdealofinterest。
Sherecollectednowhowquietlywell—dressedhehadbeenthatmorning——hehadprobablyputonhisnewestsuit，regardlessofdamagebybriarsandthorns。Andthenshethoughtofhismannertowardsherself。
\"OIseeit，Iseeit，\"shesaid。\"Howmuchhewisheshehadmenow，thathemightgivemeallIdesire！\"
Inrecallingthedetailsofhisglancesandwords——atthetimescarcelyregarded——itbecameplaintoherhowgreatlytheyhadbeendictatedbyhisknowledgeofthisnewevent。\"Hadhebeenamantobearajiltill—willhewouldhavetoldmeofhisgoodfortuneincrowingtones；
insteadofdoingthathementionednotaword，indeferencetomymisfortunes，andmerelyimpliedthathelovedmestill，asonesuperiortohim。\"
Wildeve’ssilencethatdayonwhathadhappenedtohimwasjustthekindofbehaviourcalculatedtomakeanimpressiononsuchawoman。Thosedelicatetouchesofgoodtastewere，infact，oneofthestrongpointsinhisdemeanourtowardstheothersex。ThepeculiarityofWildevewasthat，whileatonetimepassionate，upbraiding，andresentfultowardsawoman，atanotherhewouldtreatherwithsuchunparalleledgraceastomakepreviousneglectappearasnodiscourtesy，injuryasnoinsult，interferenceasadelicateattention，andtheruinofherhonourasexcessofchivalry。Thisman，whoseadmirationtodayEustaciahaddisregarded，whosegoodwishesshehadscarcelytakenthetroubletoaccept，whomshehadshownoutofthehousebythebackdoor，wasthepossessorofeleventhousandpounds——amanoffairprofessionaleducation，andonewhohadservedhisarticleswithacivilengineer。
SointentwasEustaciauponWildeve’sfortunesthatsheforgothowmuchclosertoherowncoursewerethoseofClym；
andinsteadofwalkingontomeethimatonceshesatdownuponastone。Shewasdisturbedinherreveriebyavoicebehind，andturningherheadbeheldtheoldloverandfortunateinheritorofwealthimmediatelybesideher。
Sheremainedsitting，thoughthefluctuationinherlookmighthavetoldanymanwhoknewhersowellasWildevethatshewasthinkingofhim。
\"Howdidyoucomehere？\"shesaidinherclearlowtone。
\"Ithoughtyouwereathome。\"
\"Iwentontothevillageafterleavingyourgarden；
andnowIhavecomebackagain——that’sall。Whichwayareyouwalking，mayIask？\"
ShewavedherhandinthedirectionofBlooms—End。\"I
amgoingtomeetmyhusband。IthinkImaypossiblyhavegotintotroublewhilstyouwerewithmetoday。\"
\"Howcouldthatbe？\"
\"BynotlettinginMrs。Yeobright。\"
\"Ihopethatvisitofminedidyounoharm。\"
\"None。Itwasnotyourfault，\"shesaidquietly。
