"Youareunnatural，Clym，andIdidnotexpectit。"
　　"Verylikely，"saidhecheerlessly。"Youdidnotknowthemeasureyouweregoingtometeme，andthereforedidnotknowthemeasurethatwouldbereturnedtoyouagain。"
　　"Youanswerme；youthinkonlyofher。Yousticktoherinallthings。"
　　"Thatproveshertobeworthy。Ihaveneveryetsupportedwhatisbad。AndIdonotcareonlyforher。Icareforyouandformyself，andforanythingthatisgood。
　　Whenawomanoncedislikesanothersheismerciless！"
　　"OClym！pleasedon’tgosettingdownasmyfaultwhatisyourobstinatewrongheadedness。Ifyouwishedtoconnectyourselfwithanunworthypersonwhydidyoucomehomeheretodoit？Whydidn’tyoudoitinParis？——itismorethefashionthere。Youhavecomeonlytodistressme，alonelywoman，andshortenmydays！Iwishthatyouwouldbestowyourpresencewhereyoubestowyourlove！"
　　Clymsaidhuskily，"Youaremymother。Iwillsaynomore——beyondthis，thatIbegyourpardonforhavingthoughtthismyhome。Iwillnolongerinflictmyselfuponyou；
　　I’llgo。"Andhewentoutwithtearsinhiseyes。
　　Itwasasunnyafternoonatthebeginningofsummer，andthemoisthollowsoftheheathhadpassedfromtheirbrowntotheirgreenstage。YeobrightwalkedtotheedgeofthebasinwhichextendeddownfromMistoverandRainbarrow。
　　Bythistimehewascalm，andhelookedoverthelandscape。
　　Intheminorvalleys，betweenthehillockswhichdiversifiedthecontourofthevale，thefreshyoungfernswereluxuriantlygrowingup，ultimatelytoreachaheightoffiveorsixfeet。Hedescendedalittleway，flunghimselfdowninaspotwhereapathemergedfromoneofthesmallhollows，andwaited。HitheritwasthathehadpromisedEustaciatobringhismotherthisafternoon，thattheymightmeetandbefriends。Hisattempthadutterlyfailed。
　　Hewasinanestofvividgreen。Thefernyvegetationroundhim，thoughsoabundant，wasquiteuniform——itwasagroveofmachine—madefoliage，aworldofgreentriangleswithsaw—edges，andnotasingleflower。
　　Theairwaswarmwithavaporouswarmth，andthestillnesswasunbroken。Lizards，grasshoppers，andantsweretheonlylivingthingstobebeheld。Thesceneseemedtobelongtotheancientworldofthecarboniferousperiod，whentheformsofplantswerefew，andofthefernkind；
　　whentherewasneitherbudnorblossom，nothingbutamonotonousextentofleafage，amidwhichnobirdsang。
　　Whenhehadreclinedforsomeconsiderabletime，gloomilypondering，hediscernedabovethefernsadrawnbonnetofwhitesilkapproachingfromtheleft，andYeobrightknewdirectlythatitcoveredtheheadofherheloved。Hisheartawokefromitsapathytoawarmexcitement，and，jumpingtohisfeet，hesaidaloud，"Iknewshewassuretocome。"
　　Shevanishedinahollowforafewmoments，andthenherwholeformunfoldeditselffromthebrake。
　　"Onlyyouhere？"sheexclaimed，withadisappointedair，whosehollownesswasprovedbyherrisingrednessandherhalf—guiltylowlaugh。"WhereisMrs。Yeobright？"
　　"Shehasnotcome，"herepliedinasubduedtone。
　　"IwishIhadknownthatyouwouldbeherealone，"
　　shesaidseriously，"andthatweweregoingtohavesuchanidle，pleasanttimeasthis。Pleasurenotknownbeforehandishalfwasted；toanticipateitistodoubleit。
　　Ihavenotthoughtoncetodayofhavingyoualltomyselfthisafternoon，andtheactualmomentofathingissosoongone。"
　　"Itisindeed。"
　　"PoorClym！"shecontinued，lookingtenderlyintohisface。
　　"Youaresad。Somethinghashappenedatyourhome。
　　Nevermindwhatis——letusonlylookatwhatseems。"
　　"But，darling，whatshallwedo？"saidhe。
　　"Stillgoonaswedonow——justliveonfrommeetingtomeeting，nevermindingaboutanotherday。You，Iknow，arealwaysthinkingofthat——Icanseeyouare。Butyoumustnot——willyou，dearClym？"
　　"Youarejustlikeallwomen。Theyareevercontenttobuildtheirlivesonanyincidentalpositionthatoffersitself；
　　whilstmenwouldfainmakeaglobetosuitthem。
　　Listentothis，Eustacia。ThereisasubjectIhavedeterminedtoputoffnolonger。YoursentimentonthewisdomofCarpediemdoesnotimpressmetoday。
　　Ourpresentmodeoflifemustshortlybebroughttoanend。"
　　"Itisyourmother！"
　　"Itis。Iloveyounonethelessintellingyou；
　　itisonlyrightyoushouldknow。"
　　"Ihavefearedmybliss，"shesaid，withthemerestmotionofherlips。"Ithasbeentoointenseandconsuming。"
　　"Thereishopeyet。Therearefortyyearsofworkinmeyet，andwhyshouldyoudespair？Iamonlyatanawkwardturning。
　　Iwishpeoplewouldn’tbesoreadytothinkthatthereisnoprogresswithoutuniformity。"
　　"Ah——yourmindrunsofftothephilosophicalsideofit。
　　Well，thesesadandhopelessobstaclesarewelcomeinonesense，fortheyenableustolookwithindifferenceuponthecruelsatiresthatFatelovestoindulgein。
　　Ihaveheardofpeople，who，uponcomingsuddenlyintohappiness，havediedfromanxietylesttheyshouldnotlivetoenjoyit。Ifeltmyselfinthatwhimsicalstateofuneasinesslately；butIshallbespareditnow。
　　Letuswalkon。"
　　Clymtookthehandwhichwasalreadybaredforhim——itwasafavouritewaywiththemtowalkbarehandinbarehand——andledherthroughtheferns。Theyformedaverycomelypictureofloveatfullflush，astheywalkedalongthevalleythatlateafternoon，thesunslopingdownontheirright，andthrowingtheirthinspectralshadows，tallaspoplartrees，faroutacrossthefurzeandfern。
　　Eustaciawentwithherheadthrownbackfancifully，acertaingladandvoluptuousairoftriumphpervadinghereyesathavingwonbyherownunaidedselfamanwhowasherperfectcomplementinattainment，appearance，andage。
　　Ontheyoungman’spart，thepalenessoffacewhichhehadbroughtwithhimfromParis，andtheincipientmarksoftimeandthought，werelessperceptiblethanwhenhereturned，thehealthfulandenergeticsturdinesswhichwashisbynaturehavingpartiallyrecovereditsoriginalproportions。
　　Theywanderedonwardtilltheyreachedthenethermarginoftheheath，whereitbecamemarshyandmergedinmoorland。
　　"Imustpartfromyouhere，Clym，"saidEustacia。
　　Theystoodstillandpreparedtobideachotherfarewell。
　　Everythingbeforethemwasonaperfectlevel。
　　Thesun，restingonthehorizonline，streamedacrossthegroundfrombetweencopper—colouredandlilacclouds，stretchedoutinflatsbeneathaskyofpalesoftgreen。
　　Alldarkobjectsontheearththatlaytowardsthesunwereoverspreadbyapurplehaze，againstwhichgroupsofwailinggnatsshoneout，risingupwardsanddancingaboutlikesparksoffire。
　　"O！thisleavingyouistoohardtobear！"
　　exclaimedEustaciainasuddenwhisperofanguish。
　　"Yourmotherwillinfluenceyoutoomuch；Ishallnotbejudgedfairly，itwillgetafloatthatIamnotagoodgirl，andthewitchstorywillbeaddedtomakemeblacker！"
　　"Theycannot。Nobodydarestospeakdisrespectfullyofyouorofme。"
　　"OhhowIwishIwassureofneverlosingyou——thatyoucouldnotbeabletodesertmeanyhow！"
　　Clymstoodsilentamoment。Hisfeelingswerehigh，themomentwaspassionate，andhecuttheknot。
　　"Youshallbesureofme，darling，"hesaid，foldingherinhisarms。"Wewillbemarriedatonce。"
　　"OClym！"
　　"Doyouagreetoit？"
　　"If——ifwecan。"
　　"Wecertainlycan，bothbeingoffullage。AndIhavenotfollowedmyoccupationalltheseyearswithouthavingaccumulatedmoney；andifyouwillagreetoliveinatinycottagesomewhereontheheath，untilItakeahouseinBudmouthfortheschool，wecandoitataverylittleexpense。"
　　"Howlongshallwehavetoliveinthetinycottage，Clym？"
　　"Aboutsixmonths。AttheendofthattimeIshallhavefinishedmyreading——yes，wewilldoit，andthisheart—achingwillbeover。Weshall，ofcourse，liveinabsoluteseclusion，andourmarriedlifewillonlybegintooutwardviewwhenwetakethehouseinBudmouth，whereIhavealreadyaddressedaletteronthematter。
　　Wouldyourgrandfatherallowyou？"
　　"Ithinkhewould——ontheunderstandingthatitshouldnotlastlongerthansixmonths。"
　　"Iwillguaranteethat，ifnomisfortunehappens。"
　　"Ifnomisfortunehappens，"sherepeatedslowly。
　　"Whichisnotlikely。Dearest，fixtheexactday。"
　　Andthentheyconsultedonthequestion，andthedaywaschosen。Itwastobeafortnightfromthattime。
　　Thiswastheendoftheirtalk，andEustacialefthim。
　　Clymwatchedherassheretiredtowardsthesun。
　　Theluminousrayswrappedherupwithherincreasingdistance，andtherustleofherdressoverthesproutingsedgeandgrassdiedaway。Ashewatched，thedeadflatofthesceneryoverpoweredhim，thoughhewasfullyalivetothebeautyofthatuntarnishedearlysummergreenwhichwaswornforthenoncebythepoorestblade。
　　Therewassomethinginitsoppressivehorizontalitywhichtoomuchremindedhimofthearenaoflife；itgavehimasenseofbareequalitywith，andnosuperiorityto，asinglelivingthingunderthesun。
　　Eustaciawasnownolongerthegoddessbutthewomantohim，abeingtofightfor，support，help，bemalignedfor。
　　Nowthathehadreachedacoolermomenthewouldhavepreferredalesshastymarriage；butthecardwaslaid，andhedeterminedtoabidebythegame。WhetherEustaciawastoaddoneothertothelistofthosewholovetoohotlytolovelongandwell，theforthcomingeventwascertainlyareadywayofproving。
　　6—YeobrightGoes，andtheBreachIsCompleteAllthateveningsmartsoundsdenotinganactivepackingupcamefromYeobright’sroomtotheearsofhismotherdownstairs。
　　Nextmorninghedepartedfromthehouseandagainproceededacrosstheheath。Alongday’smarchwasbeforehim，hisobjectbeingtosecureadwellingtowhichhemighttakeEustaciawhenshebecamehiswife。Suchahouse，small，secluded，andwithitswindowsboardedup，hehadcasuallyobservedamonthearlier，abouttwomilesbeyondthevillageofEastEgdon，andsixmilesdistantaltogether；
　　andthitherhedirectedhisstepstoday。
　　Theweatherwasfardifferentfromthatoftheeveningbefore。
　　TheyellowandvapourysunsetwhichhadwrappedupEustaciafromhispartinggazehadpresagedchange。
　　ItwasoneofthosenotinfrequentdaysofanEnglishJunewhichareaswetandboisterousasNovember。Thecoldcloudshastenedoninabody，asifpaintedonamovingslide。
　　Vapoursfromothercontinentsarriveduponthewind，whichcurledandpartedroundhimashewalkedon。
　　AtlengthClymreachedthemarginofafirandbeechplantationthathadbeenenclosedfromheathlandintheyearofhisbirth。Herethetrees，ladenheavilywiththeirnewandhumidleaves，werenowsufferingmoredamagethanduringthehighestwindsofwinter，whentheboughsareespeciallydisencumberedtodobattlewiththestorm。Thewetyoungbeecheswereundergoingamputations，bruises，cripplings，andharshlacerations，fromwhichthewastingsapwouldbleedformanyadaytocome，andwhichwouldleavescarsvisibletillthedayoftheirburning。Eachstemwaswrenchedattheroot，whereitmovedlikeaboneinitssocket，andateveryonsetofthegaleconvulsivesoundscamefromthebranches，asifpainwerefelt。Inaneighbouringbrakeafinchwastryingtosing；butthewindblewunderhisfeatherstilltheystoodonend，twistedroundhislittletail，andmadehimgiveuphissong。
　　YetafewyardstoYeobright’sleft，ontheopenheath，howineffectivelygnashedthestorm！Thosegustswhichtorethetreesmerelywavedthefurzeandheatherinalightcaress。Egdonwasmadeforsuchtimesasthese。
　　Yeobrightreachedtheemptyhouseaboutmidday。
　　ItwasalmostaslonelyasthatofEustacia’sgrandfather，butthefactthatitstoodnearaheathwasdisguisedbyabeltoffirswhichalmostenclosedthepremises。
　　Hejourneyedonaboutamilefurthertothevillageinwhichtheownerlived，and，returningwithhimtothehouse，arrangementswerecompleted，andthemanundertookthatoneroomatleastshouldbereadyforoccupationthenextday。
　　Clym’sintentionwastolivetherealoneuntilEustaciashouldjoinhimontheirwedding—day。
　　Thenheturnedtopursuehiswayhomewardthroughthedrizzlethathadsogreatlytransformedthescene。
　　Theferns，amongwhichhehadlainincomfortyesterday，weredrippingmoisturefromeveryfrond，wettinghislegsthroughashebrushedpast；andthefuroftherabbitsleapingbeforehimwasclottedintodarklocksbythesamewaterysurrounding。
　　Hereachedhomedampandwearyenoughafterhisten—
　　milewalk。Ithadhardlybeenapropitiousbeginning，buthehadchosenhiscourse，andwouldshownoswerving。
　　Theeveningandthefollowingmorningwerespentinconcludingarrangementsforhisdeparture。Tostayathomeaminutelongerthannecessaryafterhavingoncecometohisdeterminationwouldbe，hefelt，onlytogivenewpaintohismotherbysomeword，look，ordeed。
　　Hehadhiredaconveyanceandsentoffhisgoodsbytwoo’clockthatday。Thenextstepwastogetsomefurniture，which，afterservingfortemporaryuseinthecottage，wouldbeavailableforthehouseatBudmouthwhenincreasedbygoodsofabetterdescription。
　　AmartextensiveenoughforthepurposeexistedatAnglebury，somemilesbeyondthespotchosenforhisresidence，andthereheresolvedtopassthecomingnight。
　　Itnowonlyremainedtowishhismothergood—bye。Shewassittingbythewindowasusualwhenhecamedownstairs。
　　"Mother，Iamgoingtoleaveyou，"hesaid，holdingouthishand。
　　"Ithoughtyouwere，byyourpacking，"repliedMrs。Yeobrightinavoicefromwhicheveryparticleofemotionwaspainfullyexcluded。
　　"Andyouwillpartfriendswithme？"
　　"Certainly，Clym。"
　　"Iamgoingtobemarriedonthetwenty—fifth。"
　　"Ithoughtyouweregoingtobemarried。"
　　"Andthen——andthenyoumustcomeandseeus。Youwillunderstandmebetterafterthat，andoursituationwillnotbesowretchedasitisnow。"
　　"IdonotthinkitlikelyIshallcometoseeyou。"
　　"ThenitwillnotbemyfaultorEustacia’s，Mother。
　　Good—bye！"
　　Hekissedhercheek，anddepartedingreatmisery，whichwasseveralhoursinlesseningitselftoacontrollablelevel。
　　Thepositionhadbeensuchthatnothingmorecouldbesaidwithout，inthefirstplace，breakingdownabarrier；
　　andthatwasnottobedone。
　　NosoonerhadYeobrightgonefromhismother’shousethanherfacechangeditsrigidaspectforoneofblankdespair。
　　Afterawhileshewept，andhertearsbroughtsomerelief。
　　Duringtherestofthedayshedidnothingbutwalkupanddownthegardenpathinastateborderingonstupefaction。
　　Nightcame，andwithitbutlittlerest。Thenextday，withaninstincttodosomethingwhichshouldreduceprostrationtomournfulness，shewenttoherson’sroom，andwithherownhandsarrangeditinorder，foranimaginarytimewhenheshouldreturnagain。Shegavesomeattentiontoherflowers，butitwasperfunctorilybestowed，fortheynolongercharmedher。
　　Itwasagreatreliefwhen，earlyintheafternoon，Thomasinpaidheranunexpectedvisit。ThiswasnotthefirstmeetingbetweentherelativessinceThomasin’smarriage；
　　andpastblundershavingbeeninaroughwayrectified，theycouldalwaysgreeteachotherwithpleasureandease。
　　Theobliquebandofsunlightwhichfollowedherthroughthedoorbecametheyoungwifewell。Itilluminatedherasherpresenceilluminatedtheheath。Inhermovements，inhergaze，sheremindedthebeholderofthefeatheredcreatureswholivedaroundherhome。Allsimilesandallegoriesconcerningherbeganandendedwithbirds。
　　Therewasasmuchvarietyinhermotionsasintheirflight。
　　Whenshewasmusingshewasakestrel，whichhangsintheairbyaninvisiblemotionofitswings。
　　Whenshewasinahighwindherlightbodywasblownagainsttreesandbankslikeaheron’s。Whenshewasfrightenedshedartednoiselesslylikeakingfisher。
　　Whenshewasserenesheskimmedlikeaswallow，andthatishowshewasmovingnow。
　　"Youarelookingveryblithe，uponmyword，Tamsie，"
　　saidMrs。Yeobright，withasadsmile。"HowisDamon？"
　　"Heisverywell。"
　　"Ishekindtoyou，Thomasin？"AndMrs。Yeobrightobservedhernarrowly。
　　"Prettyfairly。"
　　"Isthathonestlysaid？"
　　"Yes，Aunt。Iwouldtellyouifhewereunkind。"
　　Sheadded，blushing，andwithhesitation，"He——Idon’tknowifIoughttocomplaintoyouaboutthis，butIamnotquitesurewhattodo。Iwantsomemoney，youknow，Aunt——sometobuylittlethingsformyself——andhedoesn’tgivemeany。Idon’tliketoaskhim；andyet，perhaps，hedoesn’tgiveitmebecausehedoesn’tknow。
　　OughtItomentionittohim，Aunt？"
　　"Ofcourseyouought。Haveyouneversaidawordonthematter？"
　　"Yousee，Ihadsomeofmyown，"saidThomasinevasively，"andIhavenotwantedanyofhisuntillately。Ididjustsaysomethingaboutitlastweek；butheseems——nottoremember。"
　　"Hemustbemadetoremember。YouareawarethatIhavealittleboxfullofspade—guineas，whichyouruncleputintomyhandstodividebetweenyourselfandClymwheneverIchose。Perhapsthetimehascomewhenitshouldbedone。
　　Theycanbeturnedintosovereignsatanymoment。"
　　"IthinkIshouldliketohavemyshare——thatis，ifyoudon’tmind。"
　　"Youshall，ifnecessary。Butitisonlyproperthatyoushouldfirsttellyourhusbanddistinctlythatyouarewithoutany，andseewhathewilldo。"
　　"Verywell，Iwill……Aunt，IhaveheardaboutClym。
　　Iknowyouareintroubleabouthim，andthat’swhyI
　　havecome。"
　　Mrs。Yeobrightturnedaway，andherfeaturesworkedinherattempttoconcealherfeelings。Thensheceasedtomakeanyattempt，andsaid，weeping，"OThomasin，doyouthinkhehatesme？Howcanhebeartogrievemeso，whenIhavelivedonlyforhimthroughalltheseyears？"
　　"Hateyou——no，"saidThomasinsoothingly。"Itisonlythatheloveshertoowell。Lookatitquietly——do。
　　Itisnotsoverybadofhim。Doyouknow，Ithoughtitnottheworstmatchhecouldhavemade。MissVye’sfamilyisagoodoneonhermother’sside；andherfatherwasaromanticwanderer——asortofGreekUlysses。"
　　"Itisnouse，Thomasin；itisnouse。Yourintentionisgood；butIwillnottroubleyoutoargue。Ihavegonethroughthewholethatcanbesaidoneithersidetimes，andmanytimes。ClymandIhavenotpartedinanger；
　　wehavepartedinaworseway。Itisnotapassionatequarrelthatwouldhavebrokenmyheart；itisthesteadyoppositionandpersistenceingoingwrongthathehasshown。
　　OThomasin，hewassogoodasalittleboy——sotenderandkind！"
　　"Hewas，Iknow。"
　　"IdidnotthinkonewhomIcalledminewouldgrowuptotreatmelikethis。HespoketomeasifIopposedhimtoinjurehim。AsthoughIcouldwishhimill！"
　　"ThereareworsewomenintheworldthanEustaciaVye。"
　　"Therearetoomanybetterthat’stheagonyofit。
　　Itwasshe，Thomasin，andsheonly，wholedyourhusbandtoactashedid——Iwouldswearit！"
　　"No，"saidThomasineagerly。"Itwasbeforeheknewmethathethoughtofher，anditwasnothingbutamereflirtation。"
　　"Verywell；wewillletitbeso。Thereislittleuseinunravellingthatnow。Sonsmustbeblindiftheywill。
　　Whyisitthatawomancanseefromadistancewhatamancannotseeclose？Clymmustdoashewill——heisnothingmoretome。Andthisismaternity——togiveone’sbestyearsandbestlovetoensurethefateofbeingdespised！"
　　"Youaretoounyielding。Thinkhowmanymotherstherearewhosesonshavebroughtthemtopublicshamebyrealcrimesbeforeyoufeelsodeeplyacaselikethis。"
　　"Thomasin，don’tlectureme——Ican’thaveit。Itistheexcessabovewhatweexpectthatmakestheforceoftheblow，andthatmaynotbegreaterintheircasethaninmine——theymayhaveforeseentheworst……Iamwronglymade，Thomasin，"sheadded，withamournfulsmile。
　　"Somewidowscanguardagainstthewoundstheirchildrengivethembyturningtheirheartstoanotherhusbandandbeginninglifeagain。ButIalwayswasapoor，weak，one—idea’dcreature——Ihadnotthecompassofheartnortheenterpriseforthat。JustasforlornandstupefiedasIwaswhenmyhusband’sspiritflewawayIhavesateversince——neverattemptingtomendmattersatall。
　　Iwascomparativelyayoungwomanthen，andImighthavehadanotherfamilybythistime，andhavebeencomfortedbythemforthefailureofthisoneson。"
　　"Itismorenobleinyouthatyoudidnot。"
　　"Themorenoble，thelesswise。"
　　"Forgetit，andbesoothed，dearAunt。AndIshallnotleaveyoualoneforlong。Ishallcomeandseeyoueveryday。"
　　AndforoneweekThomasinliterallyfulfilledherword。
　　Sheendeavouredtomakelightofthewedding；andbroughtnewsofthepreparations，andthatshewasinvitedtobepresent。Thenextweekshewasratherunwell，anddidnotappear。Nothinghadasyetbeendoneabouttheguineas，forThomasinfearedtoaddressherhusbandagainonthesubject，andMrs。Yeobrighthadinsisteduponthis。
　　OnedayjustbeforethistimeWildevewasstandingatthedooroftheQuietWoman。InadditiontotheupwardpaththroughtheheathtoRainbarrowandMistover，therewasaroadwhichbranchedfromthehighwayashortdistancebelowtheinn，andascendedtoMistoverbyacircuitousandeasyincline。Thiswastheonlyrouteonthatsideforvehiclestothecaptain’sretreat。
　　Alightcartfromthenearesttowndescendedtheroad，andtheladwhowasdrivingpulledupinfrontoftheinnforsomethingtodrink。
　　"YoucomefromMistover？"saidWildeve。
　　"Yes。Theyaretakingingoodthingsupthere。Goingtobeawedding。"Andthedriverburiedhisfaceinhismug。
　　Wildevehadnotreceivedaninklingofthefactbefore，andasuddenexpressionofpainoverspreadhisface。
　　Heturnedforamomentintothepassagetohideit。
　　Thenhecamebackagain。
　　"DoyoumeanMissVye？"hesaid。"Howisit——thatshecanbemarriedsosoon？"
　　"BythewillofGodandareadyyoungman，Isuppose。"
　　"Youdon’tmeanMr。Yeobright？"
　　"Yes。Hehasbeencreepingaboutwithherallthespring。"
　　"Isuppose——shewasimmenselytakenwithhim？"
　　"Sheiscrazyabouthim，sotheirgeneralservantofallworktellsme。AndthatladCharleythatlooksafterthehorseisallinadazeaboutit。Thestun—
　　pollhasgotfond—likeofher。"
　　"Isshelively——issheglad？Goingtobemarriedsosoon——well！"
　　"Itisn’tsoverysoon。"
　　"No；notsoverysoon。"
　　Wildevewentindoorstotheemptyroom，acuriousheartachewithinhim。Herestedhiselbowuponthemantelpieceandhisfaceuponhishand。WhenThomasinenteredtheroomhedidnottellherofwhathehadheard。
　　TheoldlongingforEustaciahadreappearedinhissoul——anditwasmainlybecausehehaddiscoveredthatitwasanotherman’sintentiontopossessher。
　　Tobeyearningforthedifficult，tobewearyofthatoffered；
　　tocarefortheremote，todislikethenear；itwasWildeve’snaturealways。Thisisthetruemarkofthemanofsentiment。
　　ThoughWildeve’sfeveredfeelinghadnotbeenelaboratedtorealpoeticalcompass，itwasofthestandardsort。
　　HismighthavebeencalledtheRousseauofEgdon。
　　7—TheMorningandtheEveningofaDayTheweddingmorningcame。NobodywouldhaveimaginedfromappearancesthatBlooms—EndhadanyinterestinMistoverthatday。AsolemnstillnessprevailedaroundthehouseofClym’smother，andtherewasnomoreanimationindoors。
　　Mrs。Yeobright，whohaddeclinedtoattendtheceremony，satbythebreakfasttableintheoldroomwhichcommunicatedimmediatelywiththeporch，hereyeslistlesslydirectedtowardstheopendoor。Itwastheroominwhich，sixmonthsearlier，themerryChristmaspartyhadmet，towhichEustaciacamesecretlyandasastranger。