ThatfiveminutesofoverhearingfurnishedEustaciawithvisionsenoughtofillthewholeblankafternoon。
　　Suchsuddenalternationsfrommentalvacuitydosometimesoccurthusquietly。Shecouldneverhavebelievedinthemorningthathercolourlessinnerworldwouldbeforenightbecomeasanimatedaswaterunderamicroscope，andthatwithoutthearrivalofasinglevisitor。
　　ThewordsofSamandHumphreyontheharmonybetweentheunknownandherselfhadonhermindtheeffectoftheinvadingBard’spreludeintheCastleofIndolence，atwhichmyriadsofimprisonedshapesarosewherehadpreviouslyappearedthestillnessofavoid。
　　Involvedintheseimaginingssheknewnothingoftime。
　　Whenshebecameconsciousofexternalsitwasdusk。
　　Thefurze—rickwasfinished；themenhadgonehome。
　　Eustaciawentupstairs，thinkingthatshewouldtakeawalkatthisherusualtime；andshedeterminedthatherwalkshouldbeinthedirectionofBlooms—End，thebirthplaceofyoungYeobrightandthepresenthomeofhismother。Shehadnoreasonforwalkingelsewhere，andwhyshouldshenotgothatway？Thesceneofthedaydreamissufficientforapilgrimageatnineteen。
　　TolookatthepalingsbeforetheYeobrights’
　　househadthedignityofanecessaryperformance。
　　Strangethatsuchapieceofidlingshouldhaveseemedanimportanterrand。
　　Sheputonherbonnet，and，leavingthehouse，descendedthehillonthesidetowardsBlooms—End，whereshewalkedslowlyalongthevalleyforadistanceofamileandahalf。
　　Thisbroughthertoaspotinwhichthegreenbottomofthedalebegantowiden，thefurzebushestorecedeyetfurtherfromthepathoneachside，tilltheywerediminishedtoanisolatedonehereandtherebytheincreasingfertilityofthesoil。Beyondtheirregularcarpetofgrasswasarowofwhitepalings，whichmarkedthevergeoftheheathinthislatitude。Theyshowedupontheduskyscenethattheyborderedasdistinctlyaswhitelaceonvelvet。Behindthewhitepalingswasalittlegarden；
　　behindthegardenanold，irregular，thatchedhouse，facingtheheath，andcommandingafullviewofthevalley。
　　Thiswastheobscure，removedspottowhichwasabouttoreturnamanwhoselatterlifehadbeenpassedintheFrenchcapital——thecentreandvortexofthefashionableworld。
　　2—ThePeopleatBlooms—EndMakeReadyAllthatafternoontheexpectedarrivalofthesubjectofEustacia’sruminationscreatedabustleofpreparationatBlooms—End。Thomasinhadbeenpersuadedbyheraunt，andbyaninstinctiveimpulseofloyaltytowardshercousinClym，tobestirherselfonhisaccountwithanalacrityunusualinherduringthesemostsorrowfuldaysofherlife。
　　AtthetimethatEustaciawaslisteningtotherick—makers’
　　conversationonClym’sreturn，Thomasinwasclimbingintoaloftoverheraunt’sfuelhouse，wherethestore—appleswerekept，tosearchoutthebestandlargestofthemforthecomingholiday—time。
　　Theloftwaslightedbyasemicircularhole，throughwhichthepigeonscrepttotheirlodgingsinthesamehighquartersofthepremises；andfromthisholethesunshoneinabrightyellowpatchuponthefigureofthemaidenasshekneltandplungedhernakedarmsintothesoftbrownfern，which，fromitsabundance，wasusedonEgdoninpackingawaystoresofallkinds。
　　Thepigeonswereflyingaboutherheadwiththegreatestunconcern，andthefaceofherauntwasjustvisibleabovetheflooroftheloft，litbyafewstraymotesoflight，asshestoodhalfwayuptheladder，lookingataspotintowhichshewasnotclimberenoughtoventure。
　　"Nowafewrussets，Tamsin。Heusedtolikethemalmostaswellasribstones。"
　　Thomasinturnedandrolledasidethefernfromanothernook，wheremoremellowfruitgreetedherwithitsripesmell。
　　Beforepickingthemoutshestoppedamoment。
　　"DearClym，Iwonderhowyourfacelooksnow？"shesaid，gazingabstractedlyatthepigeon—hole。whichadmittedthesunlightsodirectlyuponherbrownhairandtransparenttissuesthatitalmostseemedtoshinethroughher。
　　"Ifhecouldhavebeendeartoyouinanotherway，"
　　saidMrs。Yeobrightfromtheladder，"thismighthavebeenahappymeeting。"
　　"Isthereanyuseinsayingwhatcandonogood，Aunt？"
　　"Yes，"saidheraunt，withsomewarmth。"Tothoroughlyfilltheairwiththepastmisfortune，sothatothergirlsmaytakewarningandkeepclearofit。"
　　Thomasinloweredherfacetotheapplesagain。
　　"Iamawarningtoothers，justasthievesanddrunkardsandgamblersare，"shesaidinalowvoice。"Whataclasstobelongto！DoIreallybelongtothem？’Tisabsurd！Yetwhy，Aunt，doeseverybodykeeponmakingmethinkthatIdo，bythewaytheybehavetowardsme？Whydon’tpeoplejudgemebymyacts？Now，lookatmeasI
　　kneelhere，pickinguptheseapples——doIlooklikealostwoman？……IwishallgoodwomenwereasgoodasI！"
　　sheaddedvehemently。
　　"Strangersdon’tseeyouasIdo，"saidMrs。Yeobright；
　　"theyjudgefromfalsereport。Well，itisasillyjob，andIampartlytoblame。"
　　"Howquicklyarashthingcanbedone！"repliedthegirl。
　　Herlipswerequivering，andtearssocrowdedthemselvesintohereyesthatshecouldhardlydistinguishapplesfromfernasshecontinuedindustriouslysearchingtohideherweakness。
　　"Assoonasyouhavefinishedgettingtheapples，"
　　herauntsaid，descendingtheladder，"comedown，andwe’llgofortheholly。Thereisnobodyontheheaththisafternoon，andyouneednotfearbeingstaredat。
　　Wemustgetsomeberries，orClymwillneverbelieveinourpreparations。"
　　Thomasincamedownwhentheappleswerecollected，andtogethertheywentthroughthewhitepalingstotheheathbeyond。Theopenhillswereairyandclear，andtheremoteatmosphereappeared，asitoftenappearsonafinewinterday，indistinctplanesofilluminationindependentlytoned，therayswhichlitthenearertractsoflandscapestreamingvisiblyacrossthosefurtheroff；
　　astratumofensaffronedlightwasimposedonastratumofdeepblue，andbehindtheselaystillremotersceneswrappedinfrigidgrey。
　　Theyreachedtheplacewheretheholliesgrew，whichwasinaconicalpit，sothatthetopsofthetreeswerenotmuchabovethegeneralleveloftheground。
　　Thomasinsteppedupintoaforkofoneofthebushes，asshehaddoneunderhappiercircumstancesonmanysimilaroccasions，andwithasmallchopperthattheyhadbroughtshebegantolopofftheheavilyberriedboughs。
　　"Don’tscratchyourface，"saidheraunt，whostoodattheedgeofthepit，regardingthegirlassheheldonamidtheglisteninggreenandscarletmassesofthetree。
　　"Willyouwalkwithmetomeethimthisevening？"
　　"Ishouldliketo。ElseitwouldseemasifIhadforgottenhim，"saidThomasin，tossingoutabough。
　　"Notthatthatwouldmattermuch；Ibelongtooneman；
　　nothingcanalterthat。AndthatmanImustmarry，formypride’ssake。"
　　"Iamafraid——"beganMrs。Yeobright。
　　"Ah，youthink，’Thatweakgirl——howisshegoingtogetamantomarryherwhenshechooses？’Butletmetellyouonething，Aunt：Mr。Wildeveisnotaprofligateman，anymorethanIamanimproperwoman。Hehasanunfortunatemanner，anddoesn’ttrytomakepeoplelikehimiftheydon’twishtodoitoftheirownaccord。"
　　"Thomasin，"saidMrs。Yeobrightquietly，fixinghereyeuponherniece，"doyouthinkyoudeceivemeinyourdefenceofMr。Wildeve？"
　　"Howdoyoumean？"
　　"Ihavelonghadasuspicionthatyourloveforhimhaschangeditscoloursinceyouhavefoundhimnottobethesaintyouthoughthim，andthatyouactaparttome。"
　　"Hewishedtomarryme，andIwishtomarryhim。"
　　"Now，Iputittoyou：wouldyouatthispresentmomentagreetobehiswifeifthathadnothappenedtoentangleyouwithhim？"
　　Thomasinlookedintothetreeandappearedmuchdisturbed。
　　"Aunt，"shesaidpresently，"Ihave，Ithink，arighttorefusetoanswerthatquestion。"
　　"Yes，youhave。"
　　"Youmaythinkwhatyouchoose。IhaveneverimpliedtoyoubywordordeedthatIhavegrowntothinkotherwiseofhim，andIneverwill。AndIshallmarryhim。"
　　"Well，waittillherepeatshisoffer。Ithinkhemaydoit，nowthatheknows——somethingItoldhim。
　　Idon’tforamomentdisputethatitisthemostproperthingforyoutomarryhim。MuchasIhaveobjectedtohiminbygonedays，Iagreewithyounow，youmaybesure。
　　Itistheonlywayoutofafalseposition，andaverygallingone。"
　　"Whatdidyoutellhim？"
　　"Thathewasstandinginthewayofanotherloverofyours。"
　　"Aunt，"saidThomasin，withroundeyes，"whatDOyoumean？"
　　"Don’tbealarmed；itwasmyduty。Icansaynomoreaboutitnow，butwhenitisoverIwilltellyouexactlywhatIsaid，andwhyIsaidit。"
　　Thomasinwasperforcecontent。
　　"Andyouwillkeepthesecretofmywould—bemarriagefromClymforthepresent？"shenextasked。
　　"Ihavegivenmywordto。Butwhatistheuseofit？
　　Hemustsoonknowwhathashappened。Amerelookatyourfacewillshowhimthatsomethingiswrong。"
　　Thomasinturnedandregardedherauntfromthetree。
　　"Now，hearkentome，"shesaid，herdelicatevoiceexpandingintofirmnessbyaforcewhichwasotherthanphysical。
　　"Tellhimnothing。IfhefindsoutthatIamnotworthytobehiscousin，lethim。But，sincehelovedmeonce，wewillnotpainhimbytellinghimmytroubletoosoon。
　　Theairisfullofthestory，Iknow；butgossipswillnotdaretospeakofittohimforthefirstfewdays。
　　Hisclosenesstomeistheverythingthatwillhinderthetalefromreachinghimearly。IfIamnotmadesafefromsneersinaweekortwoIwilltellhimmyself。"
　　TheearnestnesswithwhichThomasinspokepreventedfurtherobjections。Herauntsimplysaid，"Verywell。
　　Heshouldbyrightshavebeentoldatthetimethattheweddingwasgoingtobe。Hewillneverforgiveyouforyoursecrecy。"
　　"Yes，hewill，whenheknowsitwasbecauseIwishedtosparehim，andthatIdidnotexpecthimhomesosoon。
　　AndyoumustnotletmestandinthewayofyourChristmasparty。Puttingitoffwouldonlymakemattersworse。"
　　"OfcourseIshallnot。IdonotwishtoshowmyselfbeatenbeforeallEgdon，andthesportofamanlikeWildeve。
　　Wehaveenoughberriesnow，Ithink，andwehadbettertakethemhome。Bythetimewehavedeckedthehousewiththisandhungupthemistletoe，wemustthinkofstartingtomeethim。"
　　Thomasincameoutofthetree，shookfromherhairanddressthelooseberrieswhichhadfallenthereon，andwentdownthehillwithheraunt，eachwomanbearinghalfthegatheredboughs。Itwasnownearlyfouro’clock，andthesunlightwasleavingthevales。
　　Whenthewestgrewredthetworelativescameagainfromthehouseandplungedintotheheathinadifferentdirectionfromthefirst，towardsapointinthedistanthighwayalongwhichtheexpectedmanwastoreturn。
　　3—HowaLittleSoundProducedaGreatDreamEustaciastoodjustwithintheheath，straininghereyesinthedirectionofMrs。Yeobright’shouseandpremises。
　　Nolight，sound，ormovementwasperceptiblethere。
　　Theeveningwaschilly；thespotwasdarkandlonely。
　　Sheinferredthattheguesthadnotyetcome；andafterlingeringtenorfifteenminutessheturnedagaintowardshome。
　　Shehadnotfarretracedherstepswhensoundsinfrontofherbetokenedtheapproachofpersonsinconversationalongthesamepath。Soontheirheadsbecamevisibleagainstthesky。Theywerewalkingslowly；andthoughitwastoodarkformuchdiscoveryofcharacterfromaspect，thegaitofthemshowedthattheywerenotworkersontheheath。Eustaciasteppedalittleoutofthefoot—tracktoletthempass。Theyweretwowomenandaman；
　　andthevoicesofthewomenwerethoseofMrs。YeobrightandThomasin。
　　Theywentbyher，andatthemomentofpassingappearedtodiscernherduskyform。Therecametoherearsinamasculinevoice，"Goodnight！"
　　Shemurmuredareply，glidedbythem，andturnedround。
　　Shecouldnot，foramoment，believethatchance，unrequested，hadbroughtintoherpresencethesoulofthehouseshehadgonetoinspect，themanwithoutwhomherinspectionwouldnothavebeenthoughtof。
　　Shestrainedhereyestoseethem，butwasunable。
　　Suchwasherintentness，however，thatitseemedasifherearswereperformingthefunctionsofseeingaswellashearing。Thisextensionofpowercanalmostbebelievedinatsuchmoments。ThedeafDr。Kittowasprobablyundertheinfluenceofaparallelfancywhenhedescribedhisbodyashavingbecome，bylongendeavour，sosensitivetovibrationsthathehadgainedthepowerofperceivingbyitasbyears。
　　Shecouldfolloweverywordthattheramblersuttered。
　　Theyweretalkingnosecrets。Theyweremerelyindulgingintheordinaryvivaciouschatofrelativeswhohavelongbeenpartedinpersonthoughnotinsoul。ButitwasnottothewordsthatEustacialistened；shecouldnotevenhaverecalled，afewminuteslater，whatthewordswere。
　　Itwastothealternatingvoicethatgaveoutaboutone—tenthofthem——thevoicethathadwishedhergoodnight。
　　SometimesthisthroatutteredYes，sometimesitutteredNo；
　　sometimesitmadeinquiriesaboutatimeworndenizenoftheplace。Onceitsurprisedhernotionsbyremarkinguponthefriendlinessandgenialitywritteninthefacesofthehillsaround。
　　Thethreevoicespassedon，anddecayedanddiedoutuponherear。
　　Thusmuchhadbeengrantedher；andallbesideswithheld。
　　Noeventcouldhavebeenmoreexciting。DuringthegreaterpartoftheafternoonshehadbeenentrancingherselfbyimaginingthefascinationwhichmustattendamancomedirectfrombeautifulParis——ladenwithitsatmosphere，familiarwithitscharms。Andthismanhadgreetedher。
　　Withthedepartureofthefigurestheprofusearticulationsofthewomenwastedawayfromhermemory；buttheaccentsoftheotherstayedon。WasthereanythinginthevoiceofMrs。Yeobright’sson——forClymitwas——startlingasasound？No；itwassimplycomprehensive。Allemotionalthingswerepossibletothespeakerofthat"goodnight。"
　　Eustacia’simaginationsuppliedtherest——exceptthesolutiontooneriddle。WhatCOULDthetastesofthatmanbewhosawfriendlinessandgenialityintheseshaggyhills？
　　Onsuchoccasionsasthisathousandideaspassthroughahighlychargedwoman’shead；andtheyindicatethemselvesonherface；butthechanges，thoughactual，areminute。
　　Eustacia’sfeatureswentthrougharhythmicalsuccessionofthem。Sheglowed；rememberingthemendacityoftheimagination，sheflagged；thenshefreshened；
　　thenshefired；thenshecooledagain。Itwasacycleofaspects，producedbyacycleofvisions。
　　Eustaciaenteredherownhouse；shewasexcited。
　　Hergrandfatherwasenjoyinghimselfoverthefire，rakingabouttheashesandexposingthered—hotsurfaceoftheturves，sothattheirluridglareirradiatedthechimney—cornerwiththehuesofafurnace。
　　"WhyisitthatweareneverfriendlywiththeYeobrights？"
　　shesaid，comingforwardandstretchinghersofthandsoverthewarmth。"Iwishwewere。Theyseemtobeverynicepeople。"
　　"BehangedifIknowwhy，"saidthecaptain。"Ilikedtheoldmanwellenough，thoughhewasasroughasahedge。
　　Butyouwouldneverhavecaredtogothere，evenifyoumighthave，Iamwellsure。"
　　"Whyshouldn’tI？"
　　"Yourtowntasteswouldfindthemfartoocountrified。
　　Theysitinthekitchen，drinkmeadandelder—wine，andsandthefloortokeepitclean。Asensiblewayoflife；
　　buthowwouldyoulikeit？"
　　"IthoughtMrs。Yeobrightwasaladylikewoman？
　　Acurate’sdaughter，wasshenot？"
　　"Yes；butshewasobligedtoliveasherhusbanddid；
　　andIsupposeshehastakenkindlytoitbythistime。
　　Ah，IrecollectthatIonceaccidentallyoffendedher，andIhaveneverseenhersince。"
　　ThatnightwasaneventfulonetoEustacia’sbrain，andonewhichshehardlyeverforgot。Shedreamtadream；
　　andfewhumanbeings，fromNebuchadnezzartotheSwaffhamtinker，everdreamtamoreremarkableone。
　　Suchanelaboratelydeveloped，perplexing，excitingdreamwascertainlyneverdreamedbyagirlinEustacia’ssituationbefore。IthadasmanyramificationsastheCretanlabyrinth，asmanyfluctuationsasthenorthernlights，asmuchcolourasaparterreinJune，andwasascrowdedwithfiguresasacoronation。
　　ToQueenScheherazadethedreammighthaveseemednotfarremovedfromcommonplace；andtoagirljustreturnedfromallthecourtsofEuropeitmighthaveseemednotmorethaninteresting。ButamidthecircumstancesofEustacia’slifeitwasaswonderfulasadreamcouldbe。
　　Therewas，however，graduallyevolvedfromitstransformationscenesalessextravagantepisode，inwhichtheheathdimlyappearedbehindthegeneralbrilliancyoftheaction。
　　Shewasdancingtowondrousmusic，andherpartnerwasthemaninsilverarmourwhohadaccompaniedherthroughthepreviousfantasticchanges，thevisorofhishelmetbeingclosed。Themazesofthedancewereecstatic。
　　Softwhisperingcameintoherearfromundertheradianthelmet，andshefeltlikeawomaninParadise。
　　Suddenlythesetwowheeledoutfromthemassofdancers，divedintooneofthepoolsoftheheath，andcameoutsomewhereintoaniridescenthollow，archedwithrainbows。
　　"Itmustbehere，"saidthevoicebyherside，andblushinglylookingupshesawhimremovinghiscasquetokissher。
　　Atthatmomenttherewasacrackingnoise，andhisfigurefellintofragmentslikeapackofcards。
　　Shecriedaloud。"OthatIhadseenhisface！"
　　Eustaciaawoke。Thecrackinghadbeenthatofthewindowshutterdownstairs，whichthemaid—servantwasopeningtoletintheday，nowslowlyincreasingtoNature’smeagreallowanceatthissicklytimeoftheyear。
　　"OthatIhadseenhisface！"shesaidagain。"’TwasmeantforMr。Yeobright！"
　　Whenshebecamecoolersheperceivedthatmanyofthephasesofthedreamhadnaturallyarisenoutoftheimagesandfanciesofthedaybefore。Butthisdetractedlittlefromitsinterest，whichlayintheexcellentfuelitprovidedfornewlykindledfervour。Shewasatthemodulatingpointbetweenindifferenceandlove，atthestagecalled"havingafancyfor。"Itoccursonceinthehistoryofthemostgiganticpassions，anditisaperiodwhentheyareinthehandsoftheweakestwill。
　　Theperfervidwomanwasbythistimehalfinlovewithavision。Thefantasticnatureofherpassion，whichloweredherasanintellect，raisedherasasoul。
　　Ifshehadhadalittlemoreself—controlshewouldhaveattenuatedtheemotiontonothingbysheerreasoning，andsohavekilleditoff。IfshehadhadalittlelessprideshemighthavegoneandcircumambulatedtheYeobrights’
　　premisesatBlooms—Endatanymaidenlysacrificeuntilshehadseenhim。ButEustaciadidneitherofthesethings。
　　Sheactedasthemostexemplarymighthaveacted，beingsoinfluenced；shetookanairingtwiceorthriceadayupontheEgdonhills，andkepthereyesemployed。
　　Thefirstoccasionpassed，andhedidnotcomethatway。
　　Shepromenadedasecondtime，andwasagainthesolewandererthere。
　　Thethirdtimetherewasadensefog；shelookedaround，butwithoutmuchhope。Evenifhehadbeenwalkingwithintwentyyardsofhershecouldnothaveseenhim。
　　Atthefourthattempttoencounterhimitbegantorainintorrents，andsheturnedback。
　　Thefifthsallywasintheafternoon；itwasfine，andsheremainedoutlong，walkingtotheverytopofthevalleyinwhichBlooms—Endlay。Shesawthewhitepalingabouthalfamileoff；buthedidnotappear。
　　Itwasalmostwithheart—sicknessthatshecamehomeandwithasenseofshameatherweakness。SheresolvedtolookforthemanfromParisnomore。
　　ButProvidenceisnothingifnotcoquettish；andnosoonerhadEustaciaformedthisresolvethantheopportunitycamewhich，whilesought，hadbeenentirelywithholden。
　　4—EustaciaIsLedontoanAdventureIntheeveningofthislastdayofexpectation，whichwasthetwenty—thirdofDecember，Eustaciawasathomealone。
　　Shehadpassedtherecenthourinlamentingoverarumournewlycometoherears——thatYeobright’svisittohismotherwastobeofshortduration，andwouldendsometimethenextweek。"Naturally，"shesaidtoherself。
　　AmaninthefullswingofhisactivitiesinagaycitycouldnotaffordtolingerlongonEgdonHeath。Thatshewouldbeholdfacetofacetheowneroftheawakeningvoicewithinthelimitsofsuchaholidaywasmostunlikely，unlesssheweretohaunttheenvironsofhismother’shouselikearobin，todowhichwasdifficultandunseemly。
　　Thecustomaryexpedientofprovincialgirlsandmeninsuchcircumstancesischurchgoing。Inanordinaryvillageorcountrytownonecansafelycalculatethat，eitheronChristmasdayortheSundaycontiguous，anynativehomefortheholidays，whohasnotthroughageorennuilosttheappetiteforseeingandbeingseen，willturnupinsomepeworother，shiningwithhope，self—consciousness，andnewclothes。ThusthecongregationonChristmasmorningismostlyaTussaudcollectionofcelebritieswhohavebeenbornintheneighbourhood。
　　Hitherthemistress，leftneglectedathomealltheyear，canstealandobservethedevelopmentofthereturnedloverwhohasforgottenher，andthinkasshewatcheshimoverherprayerbookthathemaythrobwitharenewedfidelitywhennoveltieshavelosttheircharm。
　　AndhitheracomparativelyrecentsettlerlikeEustaciamaybetakeherselftoscrutinizethepersonofanativesonwholefthomebeforeheradventuponthescene，andconsiderifthefriendshipofhisparentsbeworthcultivatingduringhisnextabsenceinordertosecureaknowledgeofhimonhisnextreturn。
　　ButthesetenderschemeswerenotfeasibleamongthescatteredinhabitantsofEgdonHeath。Innametheywereparishioners，butvirtuallytheybelongedtonoparishatall。
　　PeoplewhocametothesefewisolatedhousestokeepChristmaswiththeirfriendsremainedintheirfriends’
　　chimney—cornersdrinkingmeadandothercomfortingliquorstilltheyleftagainforgoodandall。Rain，snow，ice，mudeverywherearound，theydidnotcaretotrudgetwoorthreemilestositwet—footedandsplashedtothenapeoftheirnecksamongthosewho，thoughinsomemeasureneighbours，livedclosetothechurch，andentereditcleananddry。
　　EustaciaknewitwastentoonethatClymYeobrightwouldgotonochurchatallduringhisfewdaysofleave，andthatitwouldbeawasteoflabourforhertogodrivingtheponyandgigoverabadroadinhopetoseehimthere。
　　Itwasdusk，andshewassittingbythefireinthedining—roomorhall，whichtheyoccupiedatthistimeoftheyearinpreferencetotheparlour，becauseofitslargehearth，constructedforturf—fires，afuelthecaptainwaspartialtointhewinterseason。Theonlyvisiblearticlesintheroomwerethoseonthewindow—sill，whichshowedtheirshapesagainstthelowsky，themiddlearticlebeingtheoldhourglass，andtheothertwoapairofancientBritishurnswhichhadbeendugfromabarrownear，andwereusedasflowerpotsfortworazor—leavedcactuses。
　　Somebodyknockedatthedoor。Theservantwasout；
　　sowashergrandfather。Theperson，afterwaitingaminute，cameinandtappedatthedooroftheroom。
　　"Who’sthere？"saidEustacia。