Hesoonbreatheddistinctly，andagainandagaindidsheattempttoreviveherhusbandbythesamemeans；
butWildevegavenosign。TherewastoomuchreasontothinkthatheandEustaciabothwereforeverbeyondthereachofstimulatingperfumes。Theirexertionsdidnotrelaxtillthedoctorarrived，whenonebyone，thesenselessthreeweretakenupstairsandputintowarmbeds。
Vennsoonfelthimselfrelievedfromfurtherattendance，andwenttothedoor，scarcelyableyettorealizethestrangecatastrophethathadbefallenthefamilyinwhichhetooksogreataninterest。Thomasinsurelywouldbebrokendownbythesuddenandoverwhelmingnatureofthisevent。
NofirmandsensibleMrs。Yeobrightlivednowtosupportthegentlegirlthroughtheordeal；and，whateveranunimpassionedspectatormightthinkofherlossofsuchahusbandasWildeve，therecouldbenodoubtthatforthemomentshewasdistractedandhorrifiedbytheblow。Asforhimself，notbeingprivilegedtogotoherandcomforther，hesawnoreasonforwaitinglongerinahousewhereheremainedonlyasastranger。
Hereturnedacrosstheheathtohisvan。Thefirewasnotyetout，andeverythingremainedashehadleftit。
Vennnowbethoughthimselfofhisclothes，whichweresaturatedwithwatertotheweightoflead。Hechangedthem，spreadthembeforethefire，andlaydowntosleep。
Butitwasmorethanhecoulddotorestherewhileexcitedbyavividimaginationoftheturmoiltheywereinatthehousehehadquitted，and，blaminghimselfforcomingaway，hedressedinanothersuit，lockedupthedoor，andagainhastenedacrosstotheinn。Rainwasstillfallingheavilywhenheenteredthekitchen。Abrightfirewasshiningfromthehearth，andtwowomenwerebustlingabout，oneofwhomwasOllyDowden。
\"Well，howisitgoingonnow？\"saidVenninawhisper。
\"Mr。Yeobrightisbetter；butMrs。YeobrightandMr。Wildevearedeadandcold。Thedoctorsaystheywerequitegonebeforetheywereoutofthewater。\"
\"Ah！IthoughtasmuchwhenIhauled’emup。AndMrs。Wildeve？\"
\"Sheisaswellascanbeexpected。Thedoctorhadherputbetweenblankets，forshewasalmostaswetastheythathadbeenintheriver，pooryoungthing。
Youdon’tseemverydry，reddleman。\"
\"Oh，’tisnotmuch。Ihavechangedmythings。ThisisonlyalittledampnessI’vegotcomingthroughtherainagain。\"
\"Standbythefire。Mis’esssaysyoubetohavewhateveryouwant，andshewassorrywhenshewastoldthatyou’dgoneaway。\"
Venndrewneartothefireplace，andlookedintotheflamesinanabsentmood。Thesteamcamefromhisleggingsandascendedthechimneywiththesmoke，whilehethoughtofthosewhowereupstairs。Twowerecorpses，onehadbarelyescapedthejawsofdeath，anotherwassickandawidow。
Thelastoccasiononwhichhehadlingeredbythatfireplacewaswhentherafflewasinprogress；whenWildevewasaliveandwell；Thomasinactiveandsmilinginthenextroom；
YeobrightandEustaciajustmadehusbandandwife，andMrs。YeobrightlivingatBlooms—End。Ithadseemedatthattimethatthethenpositionofaffairswasgoodforatleasttwentyyearstocome。Yet，ofallthecircle，hehimselfwastheonlyonewhosesituationhadnotmateriallychanged。
Whileheruminatedafootstepdescendedthestairs。
Itwasthenurse，whobroughtinherhandarolledmassofwetpaper。ThewomanwassoengrossedwithheroccupationthatshehardlysawVenn。Shetookfromacupboardsomepiecesoftwine，whichshestrainedacrossthefireplace，tyingtheendofeachpiecetothefiredog，previouslypulledforwardforthepurpose，and，unrollingthewetpapers，shebeganpinningthemonebyonetothestringsinamannerofclothesonaline。
\"Whatbethey？\"saidVenn。
\"Poormaster’sbanknotes，\"sheanswered。\"Theywerefoundinhispocketwhentheyundressedhim。\"
\"Thenhewasnotcomingbackagainforsometime？\"
saidVenn。
\"Thatweshallneverknow，\"saidshe。
Vennwaslothtodepart，forallonearththatinterestedhimlayunderthisroof。Asnobodyinthehousehadanymoresleepthatnight，exceptthetwowhosleptforever，therewasnoreasonwhyheshouldnotremain。Soheretiredintothenicheofthefireplacewherehehadusedtosit，andtherehecontinued，watchingthesteamfromthedoublerowofbanknotesastheywavedbackwardsandforwardsinthedraughtofthechimneytilltheirflacciditywaschangedtodrycrispnessthroughout。Thenthewomancameandunpinnedthem，and，foldingthemtogether，carriedthehandfulupstairs。Presentlythedoctorappearedfromabovewiththelookofamanwhocoulddonomore，and，pullingonhisgloves，wentoutofthehouse，thetrottingofhishorsesoondyingawayupontheroad。
Atfouro’clocktherewasagentleknockatthedoor。
ItwasfromCharley，whohadbeensentbyCaptainVyetoinquireifanythinghadbeenheardofEustacia。
Thegirlwhoadmittedhimlookedinhisfaceasifshedidnotknowwhatanswertoreturn，andshowedhimintowhereVennwasseated，sayingtothereddleman，\"Willyoutellhim，please？\"
Venntold。Charley’sonlyutterancewasafeeble，indistinctsound。Hestoodquitestill；thenheburstoutspasmodically，\"Ishallseeheroncemore？\"
\"Idaresayyoumayseeher，\"saidDiggorygravely。
\"Buthadn’tyoubetterrunandtellCaptainVye？\"
\"Yes，yes。OnlyIdohopeIshallseeherjustonceagain。\"
\"Youshall，\"saidalowvoicebehind；andstartingroundtheybeheldbythedimlight，athin，pallid，almostspectralform，wrappedinablanket，andlookinglikeLazaruscomingfromthetomb。
ItwasYeobright。NeitherVennnorCharleyspoke，andClymcontinued，\"Youshallseeher。Therewillbetimeenoughtotellthecaptainwhenitgetsdaylight。
Youwouldliketoseehertoo——wouldyounot，Diggory？Shelooksverybeautifulnow。\"
Vennassentedbyrisingtohisfeet，andwithCharleyhefollowedClymtothefootofthestaircase，wherehetookoffhisboots；Charleydidthesame。
TheyfollowedYeobrightupstairstothelanding，wheretherewasacandleburning，whichYeobrighttookinhishand，andwithitledthewayintoanadjoiningroom。
Herehewenttothebedsideandfoldedbackthesheet。
TheystoodsilentlylookinguponEustacia，who，asshelaytherestillindeath，eclipsedallherlivingphases。
Pallordidnotincludeallthequalityofhercomplexion，whichseemedmorethanwhiteness；itwasalmostlight。
Theexpressionofherfinelycarvedmouthwaspleasant，asifasenseofdignityhadjustcompelledhertoleaveoffspeaking。Eternalrigidityhadseizeduponitinamomentarytransitionbetweenfervourandresignation。
Herblackhairwasloosernowthaneitherofthemhadeverseenitbefore，andsurroundedherbrowlikeaforest。
Thestatelinessoflookwhichhadbeenalmosttoomarkedforadwellerinacountrydomicilehadatlastfoundanartisticallyhappybackground。
Nobodyspoke，tillatlengthClymcoveredherandturnedaside。\"Nowcomehere，\"hesaid。
Theywenttoarecessinthesameroom，andthere，onasmallerbed，layanotherfigure——Wildeve。LessreposewasvisibleinhisfacethaninEustacia’s，butthesameluminousyouthfulnessoverspreadit，andtheleastsympatheticobserverwouldhavefeltatsightofhimnowthathewasbornforahigherdestinythanthis。
Theonlysignuponhimofhisrecentstruggleforlifewasinhisfingertips，whichwerewornandsacrificedinhisdyingendeavourstoobtainaholdonthefaceoftheweir—wall。
Yeobright’smannerhadbeensoquiet，hehadutteredsofewsyllablessincehisreappearance，thatVennimaginedhimresigned。Itwasonlywhentheyhadlefttheroomandstooduponthelandingthatthetruestateofhismindwasapparent。Herehesaid，withawildsmile，inclininghisheadtowardsthechamberinwhichEustacialay，\"SheisthesecondwomanIhavekilledthisyear。
Iwasagreatcauseofmymother’sdeath，andIamthechiefcauseofhers。\"
\"How？\"saidVenn。
\"Ispokecruelwordstoher，andsheleftmyhouse。
Ididnotinviteherbacktillitwastoolate。ItisIwhooughttohavedrownedmyself。Itwouldhavebeenacharitytothelivinghadtheriveroverwhelmedmeandborneherup。
ButIcannotdie。Thosewhooughttohavelivedliedead；
andhereamIalive！\"
\"Butyoucan’tchargeyourselfwithcrimesinthatway，\"
saidVenn。\"Youmayaswellsaythattheparentsbethecauseofamurderbythechild，forwithouttheparentsthechildwouldneverhavebeenbegot。\"
\"Yes，Venn，thatisverytrue；butyoudon’tknowallthecircumstances。IfithadpleasedGodtoputanendtomeitwouldhavebeenagoodthingforall。
ButIamgettingusedtothehorrorofmyexistence。
Theysaythatatimecomeswhenmenlaughatmiserythroughlongacquaintancewithit。Surelythattimewillsooncometome！\"
\"Youraimhasalwaysbeengood，\"saidVenn。\"Whyshouldyousaysuchdesperatethings？\"
\"No，theyarenotdesperate。Theyareonlyhopeless；
andmygreatregretisthatforwhatIhavedonenomanorlawcanpunishme！\"
booksixAFTERCOURSES
1—TheInevitableMovementOnwardThestoryofthedeathsofEustaciaandWildevewastoldthroughoutEgdon，andfarbeyond，formanyweeksandmonths。
Alltheknownincidentsoftheirlovewereenlarged，distorted，touchedup，andmodified，tilltheoriginalrealityborebutaslightresemblancetothecounterfeitpresentationbysurroundingtongues。Yet，uponthewhole，neitherthemannorthewomanlostdignitybysuddendeath。
Misfortunehadstruckthemgracefully，cuttingofftheirerratichistorieswithacatastrophicdash，insteadof，aswithmany，attenuatingeachlifetoanuninterestingmeagreness，throughlongyearsofwrinkles，neglect，anddecay。
Onthosemostnearlyconcernedtheeffectwassomewhatdifferent。
Strangerswhohadheardofmanysuchcasesnowmerelyheardofonemore；butimmediatelywhereablowfallsnopreviousimaginingsamounttoappreciablepreparationforit。Theverysuddennessofherbereavementdulled，tosomeextent，Thomasin’sfeelings；yetirrationallyenough，aconsciousnessthatthehusbandshehadlostoughttohavebeenabettermandidnotlessenhermourningatall。Onthecontrary，thisfactseemedatfirsttosetoffthedeadhusbandinhisyoungwife’seyes，andtobethenecessarycloudtotherainbow。
Butthehorrorsoftheunknownhadpassed。Vaguemisgivingsaboutherfutureasadesertedwifewereatanend。
Theworsthadoncebeenmatteroftremblingconjecture；
itwasnowmatterofreasononly，alimitedbadness。
Herchiefinterest，thelittleEustacia，stillremained。
Therewashumilityinhergrief，nodefianceinherattitude；
andwhenthisisthecaseashakenspiritisapttobestilled。
CouldThomasin’smournfulnessnowandEustacia’sserenityduringlifehavebeenreducedtocommonmeasure，theywouldhavetouchedthesamemarknearly。ButThomasin’sformerbrightnessmadeshadowofthatwhichinasombreatmospherewaslightitself。
Thespringcameandcalmedher；thesummercameandsoothedher；
theautumnarrived，andshebegantobecomforted，forherlittlegirlwasstrongandhappy，growinginsizeandknowledgeeveryday。OutwardeventsflatteredThomasinnotalittle。Wildevehaddiedintestate，andsheandthechildwerehisonlyrelatives。Whenadministrationhadbeengranted，allthedebtspaid，andtheresidueofherhusband’suncle’spropertyhadcomeintoherhands，itwasfoundthatthesumwaitingtobeinvestedforherownandthechild’sbenefitwaslittlelessthantenthousandpounds。
Whereshouldshelive？TheobviousplacewasBlooms—End。
Theoldrooms，itistrue，werenotmuchhigherthanthebetween—decksofafrigate，necessitatingasinkinginthefloorunderthenewclock—caseshebroughtfromtheinn，andtheremovalofthehandsomebrassknobsonitshead，beforetherewasheightforittostand；but，suchastheroomswere，therewereplentyofthem，andtheplacewasendearedtoherbyeveryearlyrecollection。
Clymverygladlyadmittedherasatenant，confininghisownexistencetotworoomsatthetopofthebackstaircase，wherehelivedonquietly，shutofffromThomasinandthethreeservantsshehadthoughtfittoindulgeinnowthatshewasamistressofmoney，goinghisownways，andthinkinghisownthoughts。
Hissorrowshadmadesomechangeinhisoutwardappearance；
andyetthealterationwaschieflywithin。Itmighthavebeensaidthathehadawrinkledmind。Hehadnoenemies，andhecouldgetnobodytoreproachhim，whichwaswhyhesobitterlyreproachedhimself。
Hedidsometimesthinkhehadbeenill—usedbyfortune，sofarastosaythattobebornisapalpabledilemma，andthatinsteadofmenaimingtoadvanceinlifewithglorytheyshouldcalculatehowtoretreatoutofitwithoutshame。Butthatheandhishadbeensarcasticallyandpitilesslyhandledinhavingsuchironsthrustintotheirsoulshedidnotmaintainlong。
Itisusuallyso，exceptwiththesternestofmen。
Humanbeings，intheirgenerousendeavourtoconstructahypothesisthatshallnotdegradeaFirstCause，havealwayshesitatedtoconceiveadominantpoweroflowermoralqualitythantheirown；and，evenwhiletheysitdownandweepbythewatersofBabylon，inventexcusesfortheoppressionwhichpromptstheirtears。
Thus，thoughwordsofsolacewerevainlyutteredinhispresence，hefoundreliefinadirectionofhisownchoosingwhenlefttohimself。Foramanofhishabitsthehouseandthehundredandtwentypoundsayearwhichhehadinheritedfromhismotherwereenoughtosupplyallworldlyneeds。Resourcesdonotdependupongrossamounts，butupontheproportionofspendingstotakings。
Hefrequentlywalkedtheheathalone，whenthepastseizeduponhimwithitsshadowyhand，andheldhimtheretolistentoitstale。Hisimaginationwouldthenpeoplethespotwithitsancientinhabitants——forgottenCeltictribestrodtheirtracksabouthim，andhecouldalmostliveamongthem，lookintheirfaces，andseethemstandingbesidethebarrowswhichswelledaround，untouchedandperfectasatthetimeoftheirerection。
Thoseofthedyedbarbarianswhohadchosenthecultivabletractswere，incomparisonwiththosewhohadlefttheirmarkshere，aswritersonpaperbesidewritersonparchment。
Theirrecordshadperishedlongagobytheplough，whiletheworksoftheseremained。Yettheyallhadlivedanddiedunconsciousofthedifferentfatesawaitingtheirrelics。Itremindedhimthatunforeseenfactorsoperateintheevolutionofimmortality。
Winteragaincameround，withitswinds，frosts，tamerobins，andsparklingstarlight。TheyearpreviousThomasinhadhardlybeenconsciousoftheseason’sadvance；thisyearshelaidherheartopentoexternalinfluencesofeverykind。
Thelifeofthissweetcousin，herbaby，andherservants，cametoClym’ssensesonlyintheformofsoundsthroughawoodpartitionashesatoverbooksofexceptionallylargetype；buthisearbecameatlastsoaccustomedtotheseslightnoisesfromtheotherpartofthehousethathealmostcouldwitnessthescenestheysignified。
Afaintbeatofhalf—secondsconjuredupThomasinrockingthecradle，awaveringhummeantthatshewassingingthebabytosleep，acrunchingofsandasbetweenmillstonesraisedthepictureofHumphrey’s，Fairway’s，orSam’sheavyfeetcrossingthestonefloorofthekitchen；
alightboyishstep，andagaytuneinahighkey，betokenedavisitfromGrandferCantle；asuddenbreak—offintheGrandfer’sutterancesimpliedtheapplicationtohislipsofamugofsmallbeer，abustlingandslammingofdoorsmeantstartingtogotomarket；forThomasin，inspiteofheraddedscopeofgentility，ledaludicrouslynarrowlife，totheendthatshemightsaveeverypossiblepoundforherlittledaughter。
OnesummerdayClymwasinthegarden，immediatelyoutsidetheparlourwindow，whichwasasusualopen。Hewaslookingatthepot—flowersonthesill；theyhadbeenrevivedandrestoredbyThomasintothestateinwhichhismotherhadleftthem。HeheardaslightscreamfromThomasin，whowassittinginsidetheroom。
\"O，howyoufrightenedme！\"shesaidtosomeonewhohadentered。\"Ithoughtyouweretheghostofyourself。\"
Clymwascuriousenoughtoadvancealittlefurtherandlookinatthewindow。TohisastonishmenttherestoodwithintheroomDiggoryVenn，nolongerareddleman，butexhibitingthestrangelyalteredhuesofanordinaryChristiancountenance，whiteshirt—front，lightfloweredwaistcoat，blue—spottedneckerchief，andbottle—greencoat。Nothinginthisappearancewasatallsingularbutthefactofitsgreatdifferencefromwhathehadformerlybeen。Red，andallapproachtored，wascarefullyexcludedfromeveryarticleofclothesuponhim；
forwhatistherethatpersonsjustoutofharnessdreadsomuchasremindersofthetradewhichhasenrichedthem？
Yeobrightwentroundtothedoorandentered。
\"Iwassoalarmed！\"saidThomasin，smilingfromonetotheother。\"Icouldn’tbelievethathehadgotwhiteofhisownaccord！Itseemedsupernatural。\"
\"IgaveupdealinginreddlelastChristmas，\"saidVenn。
\"Itwasaprofitabletrade，andIfoundthatbythattimeIhadmadeenoughtotakethedairyoffiftycowsthatmyfatherhadinhislifetime。IalwaysthoughtofgettingtothatplaceagainifIchangedatall，andnowIamthere。\"
\"Howdidyoumanagetobecomewhite，Diggory？\"Thomasinasked。
\"Iturnedsobydegrees，ma’am。\"
\"Youlookmuchbetterthaneveryoudidbefore。\"
Vennappearedconfused；andThomasin，seeinghowinadvertentlyshehadspokentoamanwhomightpossiblyhavetenderfeelingsforherstill，blushedalittle。
Clymsawnothingofthis，andaddedgood—humouredly——
\"WhatshallwehavetofrightenThomasin’sbabywith，nowyouhavebecomeahumanbeingagain？\"
\"Sitdown，Diggory，\"saidThomasin，\"andstaytotea。\"
Vennmovedasifhewouldretiretothekitchen，whenThomasinsaidwithpleasantpertnessasshewentonwithsomesewing，\"Ofcourseyoumustsitdownhere。
Andwheredoesyourfifty—cowdairylie，Mr。Venn？\"
\"AtStickleford——abouttwomilestotherightofAlderworth，ma’am，wherethemeadsbegin。IhavethoughtthatifMr。Yeobrightwouldliketopaymeavisitsometimesheshouldn’tstayawayforwantofasking。I’llnotbidetoteathisafternoon，thank’ee，forI’vegotsomethingonhandthatmustbesettled。’TisMaypole—daytomorrow，andtheShadwaterfolkhaveclubbedwithafewofyourneighboursheretohaveapolejustoutsideyourpalingsintheheath，asitisanicegreenplace。\"Vennwavedhiselbowtowardsthepatchinfrontofthehouse。
\"IhavebeentalkingtoFairwayaboutit，\"hecontinued，\"andIsaidtohimthatbeforeweputupthepoleitwouldbeaswelltoaskMrs。Wildeve。\"
\"Icansaynothingagainstit，\"sheanswered。\"Ourpropertydoesnotreachaninchfurtherthanthewhitepalings。\"
\"Butyoumightnotliketoseealotoffolkgoingcrazyroundastick，underyourverynose？\"
\"Ishallhavenoobjectionatall。\"
Vennsoonafterwentaway，andintheeveningYeobrightstrolledasfarasFairway’scottage。ItwasalovelyMaysunset，andthebirchtreeswhichgrewonthismarginofthevastEgdonwildernesshadputontheirnewleaves，delicateasbutterflies’wings，anddiaphanousasamber。
BesideFairway’sdwellingwasanopenspacerecessedfromtheroad，andherewerenowcollectedalltheyoungpeoplefromwithinaradiusofacoupleofmiles。
Thepolelaywithoneendsupportedonatrestle，andwomenwereengagedinwreathingitfromthetopdownwardswithwild—flowers。TheinstinctsofmerryEnglandlingeredonherewithexceptionalvitality，andthesymboliccustomswhichtraditionhasattachedtoeachseasonoftheyearwereyetarealityonEgdon。Indeed，theimpulsesofallsuchoutlandishhamletsarepaganstill——inthesespotshomagetonature，self—adoration，franticgaieties，fragmentsofTeutonicritestodivinitieswhosenamesareforgotten，seeminsomewayorothertohavesurvivedmediaevaldoctrine。
Yeobrightdidnotinterruptthepreparations，andwenthomeagain。Thenextmorning，whenThomasinwithdrewthecurtainsofherbedroomwindow，therestoodtheMaypoleinthemiddleofthegreen，itstopcuttingintothesky。
Ithadsprungupinthenight，orratherearlymorning，likeJack’sbean—stalk。Sheopenedthecasementtogetabetterviewofthegarlandsandposiesthatadornedit。
Thesweetperfumeoftheflowershadalreadyspreadintothesurroundingair，which，beingfreefromeverytaint，conductedtoherlipsafullmeasureofthefragrancereceivedfromthespireofblossominitsmidst。
Atthetopofthepolewerecrossedhoopsdeckedwithsmallflowers；beneaththesecameamilk—whitezoneofMaybloom；thenazoneofbluebells，thenofcowslips，thenoflilacs，thenofragged—robins，daffodils，andsoon，tilltheloweststagewasreached。Thomasinnoticedallthese，andwasdelightedthattheMayrevelwastobesonear。
Whenafternooncamepeoplebegantogatheronthegreen，andYeobrightwasinterestedenoughtolookoutuponthemfromtheopenwindowofhisroom。SoonafterthisThomasinwalkedoutfromthedoorimmediatelybelowandturnedhereyesuptohercousin’sface。ShewasdressedmoregailythanYeobrighthadeverseenherdressedsincethetimeofWildeve’sdeath，eighteenmonthsbefore；
sincethedayofhermarriageevenshehadnotexhibitedherselftosuchadvantage。
\"Howprettyyoulooktoday，Thomasin！\"hesaid。
\"IsitbecauseoftheMaypole？\"
\"Notaltogether。\"Andthensheblushedanddroppedhereyes，whichhedidnotspeciallyobserve，thoughhermannerseemedtohimtoberatherpeculiar，consideringthatshewasonlyaddressinghimself。Coulditbepossiblethatshehadputonhersummerclothestopleasehim？
Herecalledherconducttowardshimthroughoutthelastfewweeks，whentheyhadoftenbeenworkingtogetherinthegarden，justastheyhadformerlydonewhentheywereboyandgirlunderhismother’seye。
Whatifherinterestinhimwerenotsoentirelythatofarelativeasithadformerlybeen？ToYeobrightanypossibilityofthissortwasaseriousmatter；andhealmostfelttroubledatthethoughtofit。EverypulseofloverlikefeelingwhichhadnotbeenstilledduringEustacia’slifetimehadgoneintothegravewithher。
Hispassionforherhadoccurredtoofaroninhismanhoodtoleavefuelenoughonhandforanotherfireofthatsort，asmayhappenwithmoreboyishloves。
Evensupposinghimcapableoflovingagain，thatlovewouldbeaplantofslowandlabouredgrowth，andintheendonlysmallandsickly，likeanautumn—hatchedbird。
Hewassodistressedbythisnewcomplexitythatwhentheenthusiasticbrassbandarrivedandstruckup，whichitdidaboutfiveo’clock，withapparentlywindenoughamongitsmemberstoblowdownhishouse，hewithdrewfromhisroomsbythebackdoor，wentdownthegarden，throughthegateinthehedge，andawayoutofsight。
Hecouldnotbeartoremaininthepresenceofenjoymenttoday，thoughhehadtriedhard。
Nothingwasseenofhimforfourhours。Whenhecamebackbythesamepathitwasdusk，andthedewswerecoatingeverygreenthing。Theboisterousmusichadceased；
but，enteringthepremisesashedidfrombehind，hecouldnotseeiftheMaypartyhadallgonetillhehadpassedthroughThomasin’sdivisionofthehousetothefrontdoor。
Thomasinwasstandingwithintheporchalone。
Shelookedathimreproachfully。\"Youwentawayjustwhenitbegan，Clym，\"shesaid。
\"Yes。IfeltIcouldnotjoinin。Youwentoutwiththem，ofcourse？\"
\"No，Ididnot。\"
\"Youappearedtobedressedonpurpose。\"
\"Yes，butIcouldnotgooutalone；somanypeoplewerethere。Oneistherenow。\"
Yeobrightstrainedhiseyesacrossthedark—greenpatchbeyondthepaling，andneartheblackformoftheMaypolehediscernedashadowyfigure，saunteringidlyupanddown。
\"Whoisit？\"hesaid。
\"Mr。Venn，\"saidThomasin。
