"Idon’tlikeyourgoingoutafterdarkalone，Tamsin，"
　　saidherauntquietly，withoutlookingupfromherwork。
　　"Ihaveonlybeenjustoutsidethedoor。"
　　"Well？"inquiredMrs。Yeobright，struckbyachangeinthetoneofThomasin’svoice，andobservingher。
　　Thomasin’scheekwasflushedtoapitchfarbeyondthatwhichithadreachedbeforehertroubles，andhereyesglittered。
　　"ItwasHEwhoknocked，"shesaid。
　　"Ithoughtasmuch。"
　　"Hewishesthemarriagetobeatonce。"
　　"Indeed！What——isheanxious？"Mrs。Yeobrightdirectedasearchinglookuponherniece。"WhydidnotMr。Wildevecomein？"
　　"Hedidnotwishto。Youarenotfriendswithhim，hesays。
　　Hewouldliketheweddingtobethedayaftertomorrow，quiteprivately；atthechurchofhisparish——notatours。"
　　"Oh！Andwhatdidyousay？"
　　"Iagreedtoit，"Thomasinansweredfirmly。"Iamapracticalwomannow。Idon’tbelieveinheartsatall。
　　Iwouldmarryhimunderanycircumstancessince——sinceClym’sletter。"
　　AletterwaslyingonMrs。Yeobright’swork—basket，andatThomasin’swordsherauntreopenedit，andsilentlyreadforthetenthtimethatday：——
　　WhatisthemeaningofthissillystorythatpeoplearecirculatingaboutThomasinandMr。Wildeve？Ishouldcallsuchascandalhumiliatingiftherewastheleastchanceofitsbeingtrue。Howcouldsuchagrossfalsehoodhavearisen？Itissaidthatoneshouldgoabroadtohearnewsofhome，andIappeartohavedoneit。
　　OfcourseIcontradictthetaleeverywhere；butitisveryvexing，andIwonderhowitcouldhaveoriginated。
　　ItistooridiculousthatsuchagirlasThomasincouldsomortifyusastogetjiltedontheweddingday。
　　Whathasshedone？
　　"Yes，"Mrs。Yeobrightsaidsadly，puttingdowntheletter。
　　"Ifyouthinkyoucanmarryhim，doso。AndsinceMr。Wildevewishesittobeunceremonious，letitbethattoo。
　　Icandonothing。Itisallinyourownhandsnow。
　　MypoweroveryourwelfarecametoanendwhenyouleftthishousetogowithhimtoAnglebury。"Shecontinued，halfinbitterness，"Imayalmostask，whydoyouconsultmeinthematteratall？Ifyouhadgoneandmarriedhimwithoutsayingawordtome，Icouldhardlyhavebeenangry——simplybecause，poorgirl，youcan’tdoabetterthing。"
　　"Don’tsaythatanddisheartenme。"
　　"Youareright——Iwillnot。"
　　"Idonotpleadforhim，Aunt。Humannatureisweak，andIamnotablindwomantoinsistthatheisperfect。
　　Ididthinkso，butIdon’tnow。ButIknowmycourse，andyouknowthatIknowit。Ihopeforthebest。"
　　"AndsodoI，andwewillbothcontinueto，"saidMrs。Yeobright，risingandkissingher。"Thenthewedding，ifitcomesoff，willbeonthemorningoftheverydayClymcomeshome？"
　　"Yes。Idecidedthatitoughttobeoverbeforehecame。
　　Afterthatyoucanlookhimintheface，andsocanI。Ourconcealmentswillmatternothing。"
　　Mrs。Yeobrightmovedherheadinthoughtfulassent，andpresentlysaid，"Doyouwishmetogiveyouaway？
　　Iamwillingtoundertakethat，youknow，ifyouwish，asIwaslasttime。AfteronceforbiddingthebannsI
　　thinkIcandonoless。"
　　"Idon’tthinkIwillaskyoutocome，"saidThomasinreluctantly，butwithdecision。"Itwouldbeunpleasant，Iamalmostsure。Betterlettherebeonlystrangerspresent，andnoneofmyrelationsatall。Iwouldratherhaveitso。
　　Idonotwishtodoanythingwhichmaytouchyourcredit，andIfeelthatIshouldbeuncomfortableifyouwerethere，afterwhathaspassed。Iamonlyyourniece，andthereisnonecessitywhyyoushouldconcernyourselfmoreaboutme。"
　　"Well，hehasbeatenus，"herauntsaid。"ItreallyseemsasifhehadbeenplayingwithyouinthiswayinrevengeformyhumblinghimasIdidbystandingupagainsthimatfirst。"
　　"Ono，Aunt，"murmuredThomasin。
　　Theysaidnomoreonthesubjectthen。DiggoryVenn’sknockcamesoonafter；andMrs。Yeobright，onreturningfromherinterviewwithhimintheporch，carelesslyobserved，"Anotherloverhascometoaskforyou。"
　　"No？"
　　"Yes，thatqueeryoungmanVenn。"
　　"Askstopayhisaddressestome？"
　　"Yes；andItoldhimhewastoolate。"
　　Thomasinlookedsilentlyintothecandle—flame。"PoorDiggory！"
　　shesaid，andthenarousedherselftootherthings。
　　Thenextdaywaspassedinmeremechanicaldeedsofpreparation，boththewomenbeinganxioustoimmersethemselvesinthesetoescapetheemotionalaspectofthesituation。
　　SomewearingapparelandotherarticleswerecollectedanewforThomasin，andremarksondomesticdetailswerefrequentlymade，soastoobscureanyinnermisgivingsaboutherfutureasWildeve’swife。
　　Theappointedmorningcame。ThearrangementwithWildevewasthatheshouldmeetheratthechurchtoguardagainstanyunpleasantcuriositywhichmighthaveaffectedthemhadtheybeenseenwalkingofftogetherintheusualcountryway。
　　Auntandniecestoodtogetherinthebedroomwherethebridewasdressing。Thesun，whereitcouldcatchit，madeamirrorofThomasin’shair，whichshealwaysworebraided。
　　Itwasbraidedaccordingtoacalendarsystem——themoreimportantthedaythemorenumerousthestrandsinthebraid。
　　Onordinaryworking—daysshebraideditinthrees；
　　onordinarySundaysinfours；atMaypolings，gipsyings，andthelike，shebraideditinfives。Yearsagoshehadsaidthatwhenshemarriedshewouldbraiditinsevens。
　　Shehadbraideditinsevenstoday。
　　"IhavebeenthinkingthatIwillwearmybluesilkafterall，"
　　shesaid。"Itismyweddingday，eventhoughtheremaybesomethingsadaboutthetime。Imean，"sheadded，anxioustocorrectanywrongimpression，"notsadinitself，butinitshavinghadgreatdisappointmentandtroublebeforeit。"
　　Mrs。Yeobrightbreathedinawaywhichmighthavebeencalledasigh。"IalmostwishClymhadbeenathome，"shesaid。
　　"Ofcourseyouchosethetimebecauseofhisabsence。"
　　"Partly。IhavefeltthatIactedunfairlytohiminnottellinghimall；but，asitwasdonenottogrievehim，IthoughtIwouldcarryouttheplantoitsend，andtellthewholestorywhentheskywasclear。"
　　"Youareapracticallittlewoman，"saidMrs。Yeobright，smiling。
　　"Iwishyouandhe——no，Idon’twishanything。There，itisnineo’clock，"sheinterrupted，hearingawhizzandadingingdownstairs。
　　"ItoldDamonIwouldleaveatnine，"saidThomasin，hasteningoutoftheroom。
　　Herauntfollowed。WhenThomasinwasgoingupthelittlewalkfromthedoortothewicket—gate，Mrs。Yeobrightlookedreluctantlyather，andsaid，"Itisashametoletyougoalone。"
　　"Itisnecessary，"saidThomasin。
　　"Atanyrate，"addedherauntwithforcedcheerfulness，"Ishallcalluponyouthisafternoon，andbringthecakewithme。
　　IfClymhasreturnedbythattimehewillperhapscometoo。
　　IwishtoshowMr。WildevethatIbearhimnoill—will。
　　Letthepastbeforgotten。Well，Godblessyou！There，Idon’tbelieveinoldsuperstitions，butI’lldoit。"
　　Shethrewaslipperattheretreatingfigureofthegirl，whoturned，smiled，andwentonagain。
　　Afewstepsfurther，andshelookedback。"Didyoucallme，Aunt？"shetremulouslyinquired。"Good—bye！"
　　MovedbyanuncontrollablefeelingasshelookeduponMrs。Yeobright’sworn，wetface，sheranback，whenherauntcameforward，andtheymetagain。"O——Tamsie，"saidtheelder，weeping，"Idon’tliketoletyougo。"
　　"I——Iam——"Thomasinbegan，givingwaylikewise。
　　But，quellinghergrief，shesaid"Good—bye！"againandwenton。
　　ThenMrs。Yeobrightsawalittlefigurewendingitswaybetweenthescratchingfurze—bushes，anddiminishingfarupthevalley——apale—bluespotinavastfieldofneutralbrown，solitaryandundefendedexceptbythepowerofherownhope。
　　Buttheworstfeatureinthecasewasonewhichdidnotappearinthelandscape；itwastheman。
　　ThehourchosenfortheceremonybyThomasinandWildevehadbeensotimedastoenablehertoescapetheawkwardnessofmeetinghercousinClym，whowasreturningthesamemorning。
　　Toowntothepartialtruthofwhathehadheardwouldbedistressingaslongasthehumiliatingpositionresultingfromtheeventwasunimproved。Itwasonlyafterasecondandsuccessfuljourneytothealtarthatshecouldliftupherheadandprovethefailureofthefirstattemptapureaccident。
　　ShehadnotbeengonefromBlooms—EndmorethanhalfanhourwhenYeobrightcamebythemeadsfromtheotherdirectionandenteredthehouse。
　　"Ihadanearlybreakfast，"hesaidtohismotheraftergreetingher。"NowIcouldeatalittlemore。"
　　Theysatdowntotherepeatedmeal，andhewentoninalow，anxiousvoice，apparentlyimaginingthatThomasinhadnotyetcomedownstairs，"What’sthisIhaveheardaboutThomasinandMr。Wildeve？"
　　"Itistrueinmanypoints，"saidMrs。Yeobrightquietly；
　　"butitisallrightnow，Ihope。"Shelookedattheclock。
　　"True？"
　　"Thomasinisgonetohimtoday。"
　　Clympushedawayhisbreakfast。"Thenthereisascandalofsomesort，andthat’swhat’sthematterwithThomasin。
　　Wasitthisthatmadeherill？"
　　"Yes。Notascandal——amisfortune。Iwilltellyouallaboutit，Clym。Youmustnotbeangry，butyoumustlisten，andyou’llfindthatwhatwehavedonehasbeendoneforthebest。"
　　Shethentoldhimthecircumstances。AllthathehadknownoftheaffairbeforehereturnedfromPariswasthattherehadexistedanattachmentbetweenThomasinandWildeve，whichhismotherhadatfirstdiscountenanced，buthadsince，owingtotheargumentsofThomasin，lookeduponinalittlemorefavourablelight。Whenshe，therefore，proceededtoexplainallhewasgreatlysurprisedandtroubled。
　　"Andshedeterminedthattheweddingshouldbeoverbeforeyoucameback，"saidMrs。Yeobright，"thattheremightbenochanceofhermeetingyou，andhavingaverypainfultimeofit。That’swhyshehasgonetohim；
　　theyhavearrangedtobemarriedthismorning。"
　　"ButIcan’tunderstandit，"saidYeobright，rising。
　　"’Tissounlikeher。Icanseewhyyoudidnotwritetomeafterherunfortunatereturnhome。Butwhydidn’tyouletmeknowwhentheweddingwasgoingtobe——thefirsttime？"
　　"Well，Ifeltvexedwithherjustthen。Sheseemedtometobeobstinate；andwhenIfoundthatyouwerenothinginhermindIvowedthatsheshouldbenothinginyours。
　　Ifeltthatshewasonlymynieceafterall；Itoldhershemightmarry，butthatIshouldtakenointerestinit，andshouldnotbotheryouaboutiteither。"
　　"Itwouldn’thavebeenbotheringme。Mother，youdidwrong。"
　　"Ithoughtitmightdisturbyouinyourbusiness，andthatyoumightthrowupyoursituation，orinjureyourprospectsinsomewaybecauseofit，soIsaidnothing。Ofcourse，iftheyhadmarriedatthattimeinapropermanner，Ishouldhavetoldyouatonce。"
　　"Tamsinactuallybeingmarriedwhilewearesittinghere！"
　　"Yes。Unlesssomeaccidenthappensagain，asitdidthefirsttime。Itmay，consideringhe’sthesameman。"
　　"Yes，andIbelieveitwill。Wasitrighttolethergo？
　　SupposeWildeveisreallyabadfellow？"
　　"Thenhewon’tcome，andshe’llcomehomeagain。"
　　"Youshouldhavelookedmoreintoit。"
　　"Itisuselesstosaythat，"hismotheransweredwithanimpatientlookofsorrow。"Youdon’tknowhowbadithasbeenherewithusalltheseweeks，Clym。Youdon’tknowwhatamortificationanythingofthatsortistoawoman。
　　Youdon’tknowthesleeplessnightswe’vehadinthishouse，andthealmostbitterwordsthathavepassedbetweenussincethatFifthofNovember。Ihopenevertopasssevensuchweeksagain。Tamsinhasnotgoneoutsidethedoor，andIhavebeenashamedtolookanybodyintheface；
　　andnowyoublamemeforlettingherdotheonlythingthatcanbedonetosetthattroublestraight。"
　　"No，"hesaidslowly。"UponthewholeIdon’tblameyou。
　　Butjustconsiderhowsuddenitseemstome。HerewasI，knowingnothing；andthenIamtoldallatoncethatTamsieisgonetobemarried。Well，Isupposetherewasnothingbettertodo。Doyouknow，Mother，"hecontinuedafteramomentortwo，lookingsuddenlyinterestedinhisownpasthistory，"IoncethoughtofTamsinasasweetheart？Yes，Idid。Howoddboysare！AndwhenIcamehomeandsawherthistimesheseemedsomuchmoreaffectionatethanusual，thatIwasquiteremindedofthosedays，particularlyonthenightoftheparty，whenshewasunwell。
　　Wehadthepartyjustthesame——wasnotthatrathercrueltoher？"
　　"Itmadenodifference。Ihadarrangedtogiveone，anditwasnotworthwhiletomakemoregloomthannecessary。
　　TobeginbyshuttingourselvesupandtellingyouofTamsin’smisfortuneswouldhavebeenapoorsortofwelcome。"
　　Clymremainedthinking。"Ialmostwishyouhadnothadthatparty，"hesaid；"andforotherreasons。ButIwilltellyouinadayortwo。WemustthinkofTamsinnow。"
　　Theylapsedintosilence。"I’lltellyouwhat，"
　　saidYeobrightagain，inatonewhichshowedsomeslumberingfeelingstill。"Idon’tthinkitkindtoTamsintoletherbemarriedlikethis，andneitherofustheretokeepupherspiritsorcareabitabouther。Shehasn’tdisgracedherself，ordoneanythingtodeservethat。
　　Itisbadenoughthattheweddingshouldbesohurriedandunceremonious，withoutourkeepingawayfromitinaddition。Uponmysoul，’tisalmostashame。
　　I’llgo。"
　　"Itisoverbythistime，"saidhismotherwithasigh；
　　"unlesstheywerelate，orhe——"
　　"ThenIshallbesoonenoughtoseethemcomeout。
　　Idon’tquitelikeyourkeepingmeinignorance，Mother，afterall。Really，Ihalfhopehehasfailedtomeether！"
　　"Andruinedhercharacter？"
　　"Nonsense——thatwouldn’truinThomasin。"
　　Hetookuphishatandhastilyleftthehouse。
　　Mrs。Yeobrightlookedratherunhappy，andsatstill，deepinthought。Butshewasnotlongleftalone。
　　AfewminuteslaterClymcamebackagain，andinhiscompanycameDiggoryVenn。
　　"Ifindthereisn’ttimeformetogetthere，"saidClym。
　　"Isshemarried？"Mrs。Yeobrightinquired，turningtothereddlemanafaceinwhichastrangestrifeofwishes，forandagainst，wasapparent。
　　Vennbowed。"Sheis，ma’am。"
　　"Howstrangeitsounds，"murmuredClym。
　　"Andhedidn’tdisappointherthistime？"saidMrs。Yeobright。
　　"Hedidnot。Andthereisnownoslightonhername。
　　Iwashasteningath’arttotellyouatonce，asIsawyouwerenotthere。"
　　"Howcameyoutobethere？Howdidyouknowit？"
　　sheasked。
　　"Ihavebeeninthatneighbourhoodforsometime，andI
　　sawthemgoin，"saidthereddleman。"Wildevecameuptothedoor，punctualastheclock。Ididn’texpectitofhim。"Hedidnotadd，ashemighthaveadded，thathowhecametobeinthatneighbourhoodwasnotbyaccident；that，sinceWildeve’sresumptionofhisrighttoThomasin，Venn，withthethoroughnesswhichwaspartofhischaracter，haddeterminedtoseetheendoftheepisode。
　　"Whowasthere？"saidMrs。Yeobright。
　　"Nobodyhardly。Istoodrightoutoftheway，andshedidnotseeme。"Thereddlemanspokehuskily，andlookedintothegarden。
　　"Whogaveheraway？"
　　"MissVye。"
　　"Howveryremarkable！MissVye！Itistobeconsideredanhonour，Isuppose？"
　　"Who’sMissVye？"saidClym。
　　"CaptainVye’sgranddaughter，ofMistoverKnap。"
　　"AproudgirlfromBudmouth，"saidMrs。Yeobright。
　　"Onenotmuchtomyliking。Peoplesayshe’sawitch，butofcoursethat’sabsurd。"
　　Thereddlemankepttohimselfhisacquaintancewiththatfairpersonage，andalsothatEustaciawastherebecausehewenttofetchher，inaccordancewithapromisehehadgivenassoonashelearntthatthemarriagewastotakeplace。
　　Hemerelysaid，incontinuationofthestory————
　　"Iwassittingonthechurchyardwallwhentheycameup，onefromoneway，theotherfromtheother；andMissVyewaswalkingthereabouts，lookingattheheadstones。
　　AssoonastheyhadgoneinIwenttothedoor，feelingI
　　shouldliketoseeit，asIknewhersowell。Ipulledoffmybootsbecausetheyweresonoisy，andwentupintothegallery。Isawthenthattheparsonandclerkwerealreadythere。"
　　"HowcameMissVyetohaveanythingtodowithit，ifshewasonlyonawalkthatway？"
　　"Becausetherewasnobodyelse。Shehadgoneintothechurchjustbeforeme，notintothegallery。Theparsonlookedroundbeforebeginning，andasshewastheonlyonenearhebeckonedtoher，andshewentuptotherails。Afterthat，whenitcametosigningthebook，shepushedupherveilandsigned；andTamsinseemedtothankherforherkindness。"
　　ThereddlemantoldthetalethoughtfullyfortherelingereduponhisvisionthechangingcolourofWildeve，whenEustacialiftedthethickveilwhichhadconcealedherfromrecognitionandlookedcalmlyintohisface。
　　"Andthen，"saidDiggorysadly，"Icameaway，forherhistoryasTamsinYeobrightwasover。"
　　"Iofferedtogo，"saidMrs。Yeobrightregretfully。
　　"Butshesaiditwasnotnecessary。"
　　"Well，itisnomatter，"saidthereddleman。"Thethingisdoneatlastasitwasmeanttobeatfirst，andGodsendherhappiness。NowI’llwishyougoodmorning。"
　　Heplacedhiscaponhisheadandwentout。
　　FromthatinstantofleavingMrs。Yeobright’sdoor，thereddlemanwasseennomoreinoraboutEgdonHeathforaspaceofmanymonths。Hevanishedentirely。
　　Thenookamongthebrambleswherehisvanhadbeenstandingwasasvacantaseverthenextmorning，andscarcelyasignremainedtoshowthathehadbeenthere，exceptingafewstraws，andalittlerednessontheturf，whichwaswashedawaybythenextstormofrain。
　　ThereportthatDiggoryhadbroughtofthewedding，correctasfarasitwent，wasdeficientinonesignificantparticular，whichhadescapedhimthroughhisbeingatsomedistancebackinthechurch。WhenThomasinwastremblinglyengagedinsigninghernameWildevehadflungtowardsEustaciaaglancethatsaidplainly，"Ihavepunishedyounow。"Shehadrepliedinalowtone——andhelittlethoughthowtruly——"Youmistake；
　　itgivesmesincerestpleasuretoseeheryourwifetoday。"
　　bookfourTHECLOSEDDOOR
　　1—TheRencounterbythePoolTheJulysunshoneoverEgdonandfireditscrimsonheathertoscarlet。Itwastheoneseasonoftheyear，andtheoneweatheroftheseason，inwhichtheheathwasgorgeous。Thisfloweringperiodrepresentedthesecondornoontidedivisioninthecycleofthosesuperficialchangeswhichalonewerepossiblehere；itfollowedthegreenoryoung—fernperiod，representingthemorn，andprecededthebrownperiod，whentheheathbellsandfernswouldweartherussettingesofevening；tobeinturndisplacedbythedarkhueofthewinterperiod，representingnight。
　　ClymandEustacia，intheirlittlehouseatAlderworth，beyondEastEgdon，werelivingonwithamonotonywhichwasdelightfultothem。Theheathandchangesofweatherwerequiteblottedoutfromtheireyesforthepresent。
　　Theywereenclosedinasortofluminousmist，whichhidfromthemsurroundingsofanyinharmoniouscolour，andgavetoallthingsthecharacteroflight。Whenitrainedtheywerecharmed，becausetheycouldremainindoorstogetheralldaywithsuchashowofreason；
　　whenitwasfinetheywerecharmed，becausetheycouldsittogetheronthehills。Theywerelikethosedoublestarswhichrevolveroundandroundeachother，andfromadistanceappeartobeone。Theabsolutesolitudeinwhichtheylivedintensifiedtheirreciprocalthoughts；
　　yetsomemighthavesaidthatithadthedisadvantageofconsumingtheirmutualaffectionsatafearfullyprodigalrate。Yeobrightdidnotfearforhisownpart；
　　butrecollectionofEustacia’soldspeechabouttheevanescenceoflove，nowapparentlyforgottenbyher，sometimescausedhimtoaskhimselfaquestion；andherecoiledatthethoughtthatthequalityoffinitenesswasnotforeigntoEden。
　　Whenthreeorfourweekshadbeenpassedthus，Yeobrightresumedhisreadinginearnest。Tomakeupforlosttimehestudiedindefatigably，forhewishedtoenterhisnewprofessionwiththeleastpossibledelay。
　　Now，Eustacia’sdreamhadalwaysbeenthat，oncemarriedtoClym，shewouldhavethepowerofinducinghimtoreturntoParis。Hehadcarefullywithheldallpromisetodoso；
　　butwouldhebeproofagainsthercoaxingandargument？
　　ShehadcalculatedtosuchadegreeontheprobabilityofsuccessthatshehadrepresentedParis，andnotBudmouth，tohergrandfatherasinalllikelihoodtheirfuturehome。
　　Herhopeswereboundupinthisdream。Inthequietdayssincetheirmarriage，whenYeobrighthadbeenporingoverherlips，hereyes，andthelinesofherface，shehadmusedandmusedonthesubject，evenwhileintheactofreturninghisgaze；andnowthesightofthebooks，indicatingafuturewhichwasantagonistictoherdream，struckherwithapositivelypainfuljar。Shewashopingforthetimewhen，asthemistressofsomeprettyestablishment，howeversmall，nearaParisianBoulevard，shewouldbepassingherdaysontheskirtsatleastofthegayworld，andcatchingstraywaftsfromthosetownpleasuresshewassowellfittedtoenjoy。YetYeobrightwasasfirminthecontraryintentionasifthetendencyofmarriagewererathertodevelopthefantasiesofyoungphilanthropythantosweepthemaway。
　　Heranxietyreachedahighpitch；buttherewassomethinginClym’sundeviatingmannerwhichmadeherhesitatebeforesoundinghimonthesubject。Atthispointintheirexperience，however，anincidenthelpedher。
　　Itoccurredoneeveningaboutsixweeksaftertheirunion，andaroseentirelyoutoftheunconsciousmisapplicationofVennofthefiftyguineasintendedforYeobright。
　　AdayortwoafterthereceiptofthemoneyThomasinhadsentanotetoheraunttothankher。Shehadbeensurprisedatthelargenessoftheamount；butasnosumhadeverbeenmentionedshesetthatdowntoherlateuncle’sgenerosity。Shehadbeenstrictlychargedbyheraunttosaynothingtoherhusbandofthisgift；
　　andWildeve，aswasnaturalenough，hadnotbroughthimselftomentiontohiswifeasingleparticularofthemidnightsceneintheheath。Christian’sterror，inlikemanner，hadtiedhistongueonthesharehetookinthatproceeding；
　　andhopingthatbysomemeansorotherthemoneyhadgonetoitsproperdestination，hesimplyassertedasmuch，withoutgivingdetails。
　　Therefore，whenaweekortwohadpassedaway，Mrs。Yeobrightbegantowonderwhysheneverheardfromhersonofthereceiptofthepresent；andtoaddgloomtoherperplexitycamethepossibilitythatresentmentmightbethecauseofhissilence。Shecouldhardlybelieveasmuch，butwhydidhenotwrite？ShequestionedChristian，andtheconfusioninhisanswerswouldatoncehaveledhertobelievethatsomethingwaswrong，hadnotone—halfofhisstorybeencorroboratedbyThomasin’snote。