Andnomorewassaid,ThomasinbeinggladenoughofareasonfornotmentioningClym’svisittoherthatevening,andhisstory。
7—TheNightoftheSixthofNovemberHavingresolvedonflightEustaciaattimesseemedanxiousthatsomethingshouldhappentothwartherownintention。TheonlyeventthatcouldreallychangeherpositionwastheappearanceofClym。Theglorywhichhadencircledhimasherloverwasdepartednow;
yetsomegoodsimplequalityofhiswouldoccasionallyreturntohermemoryandstiramomentarythrobofhopethathewouldagainpresenthimselfbeforeher。Butcalmlyconsidereditwasnotlikelythatsuchaseveranceasnowexistedwouldevercloseup——shewouldhavetoliveonasapainfulobject,isolated,andoutofplace。
Shehadusedtothinkoftheheathaloneasanuncongenialspottobein;shefeltitnowofthewholeworld。
Towardseveningonthesixthherdeterminationtogoawayagainrevived。Aboutfouro’clockshepackedupanewthefewsmallarticlesshehadbroughtinherflightfromAlderworth,andalsosomebelongingtoherwhichhadbeenlefthere;thewholeformedabundlenottoolargetobecarriedinherhandforadistanceofamileortwo。
Thescenewithoutgrewdarker;mud—colouredcloudsbellieddownwardsfromtheskylikevasthammocksslungacrossit,andwiththeincreaseofnightastormywindarose;
butasyettherewasnorain。
Eustaciacouldnotrestindoors,havingnothingmoretodo,andshewanderedtoandfroonthehill,notfarfromthehouseshewassoontoleave。InthesedesultoryramblingsshepassedthecottageofSusanNunsuch,alittlelowerdownthanhergrandfather’s。Thedoorwasajar,andaribandofbrightfirelightfelloverthegroundwithout。
AsEustaciacrossedthefirebeamssheappearedforaninstantasdistinctasafigureinaphantasmagoria——acreatureoflightsurroundedbyanareaofdarkness;
themomentpassed,andshewasabsorbedinnightagain。
Awomanwhowassittinginsidethecottagehadseenandrecognizedherinthatmomentaryirradiation。ThiswasSusanherself,occupiedinpreparingapossetforherlittleboy,who,oftenailing,wasnowseriouslyunwell。
Susandroppedthespoon,shookherfistatthevanishedfigure,andthenproceededwithherworkinamusing,absentway。
Ateighto’clock,thehouratwhichEustaciahadpromisedtosignalWildeveifevershesignalledatall,shelookedaroundthepremisestolearnifthecoastwasclear,wenttothefurze—rick,andpulledthencealong—stemmedboughofthatfuel。Thisshecarriedtothecornerofthebank,and,glancingbehindtoseeiftheshutterswereallclosed,shestruckalight,andkindledthefurze。
WhenitwasthoroughlyablazeEustaciatookitbythestemandwaveditintheairaboveherheadtillithadburneditselfout。
Shewasgratified,ifgratificationwerepossibletosuchamood,byseeingasimilarlightinthevicinityofWildeve’sresidenceaminuteortwolater。
Havingagreedtokeepwatchatthishoureverynight,incasesheshouldrequireassistance,thispromptnessprovedhowstrictlyhehadheldtohisword。
Fourhoursafterthepresenttime,thatis,atmidnight,hewastobereadytodrivehertoBudmouth,asprearranged。
Eustaciareturnedtothehouse。Supperhavingbeengotoversheretiredearly,andsatinherbedroomwaitingforthetimetogoby。Thenightbeingdarkandthreatening,CaptainVyehadnotstrolledouttogossipinanycottageortocallattheinn,aswassometimeshiscustomontheselongautumnnights;andhesatsippinggrogalonedownstairs。
Aboutteno’clocktherewasaknockatthedoor。
WhentheservantopenedittheraysofthecandlefellupontheformofFairway。
\"Iwasa—forcedtogotoLowerMistovertonight,\"
hesaid,\"andMr。Yeobrightaskedmetoleavethishereonmyway;but,faith,Iputitintheliningofmyhat,andthoughtnomoreaboutittillIgotbackandwashaspingmygatebeforegoingtobed。SoIhaverunbackwithitatonce。\"
Hehandedinaletterandwenthisway。Thegirlbroughtittothecaptain,whofoundthatitwasdirectedtoEustacia。Heturneditoverandover,andfanciedthatthewritingwasherhusband’s,thoughhecouldnotbesure。However,hedecidedtoletherhaveitatonceifpossible,andtookitupstairsforthatpurpose;
butonreachingthedoorofherroomandlookinginatthekeyholehefoundtherewasnolightwithin,thefactbeingthatEustacia,withoutundressing,hadflungherselfuponthebed,torestandgatheralittlestrengthforhercomingjourney。Hergrandfatherconcludedfromwhathesawthatheoughtnottodisturbher;
anddescendingagaintotheparlourheplacedtheletteronthemantelpiecetogiveittoherinthemorning。
Ateleveno’clockhewenttobedhimself,smokedforsometimeinhisbedroom,putouthislightathalf—
pasteleven,andthen,aswashisinvariablecustom,pulleduptheblindbeforegettingintobed,thathemightseewhichwaythewindblewonopeninghiseyesinthemorning,hisbedroomwindowcommandingaviewoftheflagstaffandvane。Justashehadlaindownhewassurprisedtoobservethewhitepoleofthestaffflashintoexistencelikeastreakofphosphorusdrawndownwardsacrosstheshadeofnightwithout。Onlyoneexplanationmetthis——alighthadbeensuddenlythrownuponthepolefromthedirectionofthehouse。Aseverybodyhadretiredtoresttheoldmanfeltitnecessarytogetoutofbed,openthewindowsoftly,andlooktotherightandleft。
Eustacia’sbedroomwaslightedup,anditwastheshinefromherwindowwhichhadlightedthepole。Wonderingwhathadarousedher,heremainedundecidedatthewindow,andwasthinkingoffetchingthelettertoslipitunderherdoor,whenheheardaslightbrushingofgarmentsonthepartitiondividinghisroomfromthepassage。
ThecaptainconcludedthatEustacia,feelingwakeful,hadgoneforabook,andwouldhavedismissedthematterasunimportantifhehadnotalsoheardherdistinctlyweepingasshepassed。
\"Sheisthinkingofthathusbandofhers,\"hesaidtohimself。
\"Ah,thesillygoose!shehadnobusinesstomarryhim。
Iwonderifthatletterisreallyhis?\"
Hearose,threwhisboat—cloakroundhim,openedthedoor,andsaid,\"Eustacia!\"Therewasnoanswer。\"Eustacia!\"herepeatedlouder,\"thereisaletteronthemantelpieceforyou。\"
Butnoresponsewasmadetothisstatementsaveanimaginaryonefromthewind,whichseemedtognawatthecornersofthehouse,andthestrokeofafewdropsofrainuponthewindows。
Hewentontothelanding,andstoodwaitingnearlyfiveminutes。Stillshedidnotreturn。Hewentbackforalight,andpreparedtofollowher;butfirsthelookedintoherbedroom。There,ontheoutsideofthequilt,wastheimpressionofherform,showingthatthebedhadnotbeenopened;and,whatwasmoresignificant,shehadnottakenhercandlestickdownstairs。
Hewasnowthoroughlyalarmed;andhastilyputtingonhisclotheshedescendedtothefrontdoor,whichhehimselfhadboltedandlocked。Itwasnowunfastened。
TherewasnolongeranydoubtthatEustaciahadleftthehouseatthismidnighthour;andwhithercouldshehavegone?Tofollowherwasalmostimpossible。
Hadthedwellingstoodinanordinaryroad,twopersonssettingout,oneineachdirection,mighthavemadesureofovertakingher;butitwasahopelesstasktoseekforanybodyonaheathinthedark,thepracticabledirectionsforflightacrossitfromanypointbeingasnumerousasthemeridiansradiatingfromthepole。
Perplexedwhattodo,helookedintotheparlour,andwasvexedtofindthattheletterstilllaythereuntouched。
Athalf—pasteleven,findingthatthehousewassilent,Eustaciahadlightedhercandle,putonsomewarmouterwrappings,takenherbaginherhand,and,extinguishingthelightagain,descendedthestaircase。
Whenshegotintotheouterairshefoundthatithadbeguntorain,andasshestoodpausingatthedooritincreased,threateningtocomeonheavily。Buthavingcommittedherselftothislineofactiontherewasnoretreatingforbadweather。EventhereceiptofClym’sletterwouldnothavestoppedhernow。Thegloomofthenightwasfunereal;allnatureseemedclothedincrape。
Thespikypointsofthefirtreesbehindthehouseroseintotheskyliketheturretsandpinnaclesofanabbey。
NothingbelowthehorizonwasvisiblesavealightwhichwasstillburninginthecottageofSusanNunsuch。
Eustaciaopenedherumbrellaandwentoutfromtheenclosurebythestepsoverthebank,afterwhichshewasbeyondalldangerofbeingperceived。Skirtingthepool,shefollowedthepathtowardsRainbarrow,occasionallystumblingovertwistedfurzeroots,tuftsofrushes,oroozinglumpsoffleshyfungi,whichatthisseasonlayscatteredabouttheheathliketherottenliverandlungsofsomecolossalanimal。Themoonandstarswereclosedupbycloudandraintothedegreeofextinction。
Itwasanightwhichledthetraveller’sthoughtsinstinctivelytodwellonnocturnalscenesofdisasterinthechroniclesoftheworld,onallthatisterribleanddarkinhistoryandlegend——thelastplagueofEgypt,thedestructionofSennacherib’shost,theagonyinGethsemane。
EustaciaatlengthreachedRainbarrow,andstoodstilltheretothink。Neverwasharmonymoreperfectthanthatbetweenthechaosofhermindandthechaosoftheworldwithout。
Asuddenrecollectionhadflashedonherthismoment——shehadnotmoneyenoughforundertakingalongjourney。
Amidthefluctuatingsentimentsofthedayherunpracticalmindhadnotdweltonthenecessityofbeingwell—provided,andnowthatshethoroughlyrealizedtheconditionsshesighedbitterlyandceasedtostanderect,graduallycrouchingdownundertheumbrellaasifsheweredrawnintotheBarrowbyahandfrombeneath。
Coulditbethatshewastoremainacaptivestill?
Money——shehadneverfeltitsvaluebefore。Eventoeffaceherselffromthecountrymeanswererequired。
ToaskWildeveforpecuniaryaidwithoutallowinghimtoaccompanyherwasimpossibletoawomanwithashadowofprideleftinher;toflyashismistress——andsheknewthathelovedher——wasofthenatureofhumiliation。
Anyonewhohadstoodbynowwouldhavepitiedher,notsomuchonaccountofherexposuretoweather,andisolationfromallofhumanityexceptthemoulderedremainsinsidethetumulus;butforthatotherformofmiserywhichwasdenotedbytheslightlyrockingmovementthatherfeelingsimpartedtoherperson。
Extremeunhappinessweighedvisiblyuponher。Betweenthedrippingsoftherainfromherumbrellatohermantle,fromhermantletotheheather,fromtheheathertotheearth,verysimilarsoundscouldbeheardcomingfromherlips;
andthetearfulnessoftheouterscenewasrepeateduponherface。Thewingsofhersoulwerebrokenbythecruelobstructivenessofallabouther;andevenhadsheseenherselfinapromisingwayofgettingtoBudmouth,enteringasteamer,andsailingtosomeoppositeport,shewouldhavebeenbutlittlemorebuoyant,sofearfullymalignantwereotherthings。Sheutteredwordsaloud。
Whenawomaninsuchasituation,neitherold,deaf,crazed,norwhimsical,takesuponherselftosobandsoliloquizealoudthereissomethinggrievousthematter。
\"CanIgo,canIgo?\"shemoaned。\"He’snotGREAT
enoughformetogivemyselfto——hedoesnotsufficeformydesire!……IfhehadbeenaSauloraBonaparte——
ah!Buttobreakmymarriagevowforhim——itistoopooraluxury!……AndIhavenomoneytogoalone!AndifIcould,whatcomforttome?Imustdragonnextyear,asIhavedraggedonthisyear,andtheyearafterthatasbefore。
HowIhavetriedandtriedtobeasplendidwoman,andhowdestinyhasbeenagainstme!……Idonotdeservemylot!\"shecriedinafrenzyofbitterrevolt。
\"O,thecrueltyofputtingmeintothisill—conceivedworld!Iwascapableofmuch;butIhavebeeninjuredandblightedandcrushedbythingsbeyondmycontrol!O,howharditisofHeaventodevisesuchtorturesforme,whohavedonenoharmtoHeavenatall!\"
ThedistantlightwhichEustaciahadcursorilyobservedinleavingthehousecame,asshehaddivined,fromthecottagewindowofSusanNunsuch。WhatEustaciadidnotdivinewastheoccupationofthewomanwithinatthatmoment。
Susan’ssightofherpassingfigureearlierintheevening,notfiveminutesafterthesickboy’sexclamation,\"Mother,Idofeelsobad!\"persuadedthematronthatanevilinfluencewascertainlyexercisedbyEustacia’spropinquity。
OnthisaccountSusandidnotgotobedassoonastheevening’sworkwasover,asshewouldhavedoneatordinarytimes。TocounteractthemalignspellwhichsheimaginedpoorEustaciatobeworking,theboy’smotherbusiedherselfwithaghastlyinventionofsuperstition,calculatedtobringpowerlessness,atrophy,andannihilationonanyhumanbeingagainstwhomitwasdirected。
ItwasapracticewellknownonEgdonatthatdate,andonethatisnotquiteextinctatthepresentday。
Shepassedwithhercandleintoaninnerroom,where,amongotherutensils,weretwolargebrownpans,containingtogetherperhapsahundredweightofliquidhoney,theproduceofthebeesduringtheforegoingsummer。
Onashelfoverthepanswasasmoothandsolidyellowmassofahemisphericalform,consistingofbeeswaxfromthesametakeofhoney。Susantookdownthelump,andcuttingoffseveralthinslices,heapedtheminanironladle,withwhichshereturnedtotheliving—room,andplacedthevesselinthehotashesofthefireplace。
Assoonasthewaxhadsoftenedtotheplasticityofdoughshekneadedthepiecestogether。Andnowherfacebecamemoreintent。Shebeganmouldingthewax;
anditwasevidentfromhermannerofmanipulationthatshewasendeavouringtogiveitsomepreconceivedform。
Theformwashuman。
Bywarmingandkneading,cuttingandtwisting,dismemberingandre—joiningtheincipientimageshehadinaboutaquarterofanhourproducedashapewhichtolerablywellresembledawoman,andwasaboutsixincheshigh。
Shelaiditonthetabletogetcoldandhard。Meanwhileshetookthecandleandwentupstairstowherethelittleboywaslying。
\"Didyounotice,mydear,whatMrs。Eustaciaworethisafternoonbesidesthedarkdress?\"
\"Aredribbonroundherneck。\"
\"Anythingelse?\"
\"No——exceptsandal—shoes。\"
\"Aredribbonandsandal—shoes,\"shesaidtoherself。
Mrs。Nunsuchwentandsearchedtillshefoundafragmentofthenarrowestredribbon,whichshetookdownstairsandtiedroundtheneckoftheimage。Thenfetchinginkandaquiltfromthericketybureaubythewindow,sheblackenedthefeetoftheimagetotheextentpresumablycoveredbyshoes;andontheinstepofeachfootmarkedcross—linesintheshapetakenbythesandalstringsofthosedays。Finallyshetiedabitofblackthreadroundtheupperpartofthehead,infaintresemblancetoasnoodwornforconfiningthehair。
Susanheldtheobjectatarm’slengthandcontemplateditwithasatisfactioninwhichtherewasnosmile。
ToanybodyacquaintedwiththeinhabitantsofEgdonHeaththeimagewouldhavesuggestedEustaciaYeobright。
Fromherworkbasketinthewindow—seatthewomantookapaperofpins,oftheoldlongandyellowsort,whoseheadsweredisposedtocomeoffattheirfirstusage。
Theseshebegantothrustintotheimageinalldirections,withapparentlyexcruciatingenergy。Probablyasmanyasfiftywerethusinserted,someintotheheadofthewaxmodel,someintotheshoulders,someintothetrunk,someupwardsthroughthesolesofthefeet,tillthefigurewascompletelypermeatedwithpins。
Sheturnedtothefire。Ithadbeenofturf;andthoughthehighheapofasheswhichturffiresproducewassomewhatdarkanddeadontheoutside,uponrakingitabroadwiththeshoveltheinsideofthemassshowedaglowofredheat。Shetookafewpiecesoffreshturffromthechimney—cornerandbuiltthemtogetherovertheglow,uponwhichthefirebrightened。SeizingwiththetongstheimagethatshehadmadeofEustacia,shehelditintheheat,andwatcheditasitbegantowasteslowlyaway。
Andwhileshestoodthusengagedtherecamefrombetweenherlipsamurmurofwords。
Itwasastrangejargon——theLord’sPrayerrepeatedbackwards——theincantationusualinproceedingsforobtainingunhallowedassistanceagainstanenemy。Susanutteredthelugubriousdiscoursethreetimesslowly,andwhenitwascompletedtheimagehadconsiderablydiminished。
Asthewaxdroppedintothefirealongflamearosefromthespot,andcurlingitstongueroundthefigureatestillfurtherintoitssubstance。Apinoccasionallydroppedwiththewax,andtheembersheateditredasitlay。
8—Rain,Darkness,andAnxiousWanderersWhiletheeffigyofEustaciawasmeltingtonothing,andthefairwomanherselfwasstandingonRainbarrow,hersoulinanabyssofdesolationseldomplumbedbyonesoyoung,YeobrightsatlonelyatBlooms—End。HehadfulfilledhiswordtoThomasinbysendingoffFairwaywiththelettertohiswife,andnowwaitedwithincreasedimpatienceforsomesoundorsignalofherreturn。
WereEustaciastillatMistovertheveryleastheexpectedwasthatshewouldsendhimbackareplytonightbythesamehand;though,toleavealltoherinclination,hehadcautionedFairwaynottoaskforananswer。
Ifonewerehandedtohimhewastobringitimmediately;
ifnot,hewastogostraighthomewithouttroublingtocomeroundtoBlooms—Endagainthatnight。
ButsecretlyClymhadamorepleasinghope。Eustaciamightpossiblydeclinetouseherpen——itwasratherherwaytoworksilently——andsurprisehimbyappearingathisdoor。
Howfullyhermindwasmadeuptodootherwisehedidnotknow。
ToClym’sregretitbegantorainandblowhardastheeveningadvanced。Thewindraspedandscrapedatthecornersofthehouse,andfillipedtheeavesdroppingslikepeasagainstthepanes。Hewalkedrestlesslyabouttheuntenantedrooms,stoppingstrangenoisesinwindowsanddoorsbyjammingsplintersofwoodintothecasementsandcrevices,andpressingtogethertheleadworkofthequarrieswhereithadbecomeloosenedfromtheglass。
Itwasoneofthosenightswhencracksinthewallsofoldchurcheswiden,whenancientstainsontheceilingsofdecayedmanorhousesarerenewedandenlargedfromthesizeofaman’shandtoanareaofmanyfeet。
Thelittlegateinthepalingsbeforehisdwellingcontinuallyopenedandclickedtogetheragain,butwhenhelookedouteagerlynobodywasthere;itwasasifinvisibleshapesofthedeadwerepassinginontheirwaytovisithim。
Betweentenandeleveno’clock,findingthatneitherFairwaynoranybodyelsecametohim,heretiredtorest,anddespitehisanxietiessoonfellasleep。
Hissleep,however,wasnotverysound,byreasonoftheexpectancyhehadgivenwayto,andhewaseasilyawakenedbyaknockingwhichbeganatthedooraboutanhourafter。Clymaroseandlookedoutofthewindow。
Rainwasstillfallingheavily,thewholeexpanseofheathbeforehimemittingasubduedhissunderthedownpour。
Itwastoodarktoseeanythingatall。
\"Who’sthere?\"hecried。
Lightfootstepsshiftedtheirpositionintheporch,andhecouldjustdistinguishinaplaintivefemalevoicethewords,\"OClym,comedownandletmein!\"
Heflushedhotwithagitation。\"SurelyitisEustacia!\"
hemurmured。Ifso,shehadindeedcometohimunawares。
Hehastilygotalight,dressedhimself,andwentdown。
Onhisflingingopenthedoortheraysofthecandlefelluponawomancloselywrappedup,whoatoncecameforward。
\"Thomasin!\"heexclaimedinanindescribabletoneofdisappointment。\"ItisThomasin,andonsuchanightasthis!O,whereisEustacia?\"
Thomasinitwas,wet,frightened,andpanting。
\"Eustacia?Idon’tknow,Clym;butIcanthink,\"shesaidwithmuchperturbation。\"Letmecomeinandrest——I
willexplainthis。Thereisagreattroublebrewing——myhusbandandEustacia!\"
\"What,what?\"
\"Ithinkmyhusbandisgoingtoleavemeordosomethingdreadful——Idon’tknowwhat——Clym,willyougoandsee?
Ihavenobodytohelpmebutyou;Eustaciahasnotyetcomehome?\"
\"No。\"
Shewentonbreathlessly:\"Thentheyaregoingtorunofftogether!Hecameindoorstonightabouteighto’clockandsaidinanoff—handway,’Tamsie,IhavejustfoundthatI
mustgoajourney。’’When?’Isaid。’Tonight,’hesaid。
’Where?’Iaskedhim。’Icannottellyouatpresent,’
hesaid;’Ishallbebackagaintomorrow。’Hethenwentandbusiedhimselfinlookinguphisthings,andtooknonoticeofmeatall。Iexpectedtoseehimstart,buthedidnot,andthenitcametobeteno’clock,whenhesaid,’Youhadbettergotobed。’Ididn’tknowwhattodo,andIwenttobed。IbelievehethoughtIfellasleep,forhalfanhourafterthathecameupandunlockedtheoakchestwekeepmoneyinwhenwehavemuchinthehouseandtookoutarollofsomethingwhichIbelievewasbanknotes,thoughIwasnotawarethathehad’emthere。Thesehemusthavegotfromthebankwhenhewenttheretheotherday。
Whatdoeshewantbanknotesfor,ifheisonlygoingoffforaday?WhenhehadgonedownIthoughtofEustacia,andhowhehadmetherthenightbefore——Iknowhedidmeether,Clym,forIfollowedhimpartoftheway;butI
didnotliketotellyouwhenyoucalled,andsomakeyouthinkillofhim,asIdidnotthinkitwassoserious。
ThenIcouldnotstayinbed;Igotupanddressedmyself,andwhenIheardhimoutinthestableIthoughtIwouldcomeandtellyou。SoIcamedownstairswithoutanynoiseandslippedout。\"
\"Thenhewasnotabsolutelygonewhenyouleft?\"
\"No。Willyou,dearCousinClym,goandtrytopersuadehimnottogo?HetakesnonoticeofwhatIsay,andputsmeoffwiththestoryofhisgoingonajourney,andwillbehometomorrow,andallthat;butIdon’tbelieveit。
Ithinkyoucouldinfluencehim。\"
\"I’llgo,\"saidClym。\"O,Eustacia!\"
Thomasincarriedinherarmsalargebundle;andhavingbythistimeseatedherselfshebegantounrollit,whenababyappearedasthekerneltothehusks——dry,warm,andunconsciousoftravelorroughweather。
Thomasinbrieflykissedthebaby,andthenfoundtimetobegincryingasshesaid,\"Ibroughtbaby,forIwasafraidwhatmighthappentoher。Isupposeitwillbeherdeath,butIcouldn’tleaveherwithRachel!\"
Clymhastilyputtogetherthelogsonthehearth,rakedabroadtheembers,whichwerescarcelyyetextinct,andblewupaflamewiththebellows。
\"Dryyourself,\"hesaid。\"I’llgoandgetsomemorewood。\"
\"No,no——don’tstayforthat。I’llmakeupthefire。
Willyougoatonce——pleasewillyou?\"
Yeobrightranupstairstofinishdressinghimself。
Whilehewasgoneanotherrappingcametothedoor。
ThistimetherewasnodelusionthatitmightbeEustacia’s——thefootstepsjustprecedingithadbeenheavyandslow。
YeobrightthinkingitmightpossiblybeFairwaywithanoteinanswer,descendedagainandopenedthedoor。
\"CaptainVye?\"hesaidtoadrippingfigure。
\"Ismygranddaughterhere?\"saidthecaptain。
\"No。\"
\"Thenwhereisshe?\"。
\"Idon’tknow。\"
\"Butyououghttoknow——youareherhusband。\"
\"Onlyinnameapparently,\"saidClymwithrisingexcitement。
\"IbelieveshemeanstoelopetonightwithWildeve。
Iamjustgoingtolooktoit。\"
\"Well,shehasleftmyhouse;sheleftabouthalfanhourago。
Who’ssittingthere?\"
\"MycousinThomasin。\"
Thecaptainbowedinapreoccupiedwaytoher。
\"Ionlyhopeitisnoworsethananelopement,\"hesaid。
\"Worse?What’sworsethantheworstawifecando?\"
\"Well,Ihavebeentoldastrangetale。BeforestartinginsearchofherIcalledupCharley,mystablelad。
Imissedmypistolstheotherday。\"
\"Pistols?\"