"LepointdujourCauseparfois，causedouleurextreme；
　　Quel’espacedesnuitsestcourtPourlebergerbrulantd’amour，Forcedequittercequ’ilaimeAupointdujour！"
　　ItwasbitterlyplaintoEustaciathathedidnotcaremuchaboutsocialfailure；andtheproudfairwomanbowedherheadandweptinsickdespairatthoughtoftheblastingeffectuponherownlifeofthatmoodandconditioninhim。
　　Thenshecameforward。
　　"Iwouldstarveratherthandoit！"sheexclaimedvehemently。
　　"Andyoucansing！Iwillgoandlivewithmygrandfatheragain！"
　　"Eustacia！Ididnotseeyou，thoughInoticedsomethingmoving，"hesaidgently。Hecameforward，pulledoffhishugeleatherglove，andtookherhand。
　　"Whydoyouspeakinsuchastrangeway？ItisonlyalittleoldsongwhichstruckmyfancywhenIwasinParis，andnowjustappliestomylifewithyou。Hasyourloveformealldied，then，becausemyappearanceisnolongerthatofafinegentleman？"
　　"Dearest，youmustnotquestionmeunpleasantly，oritmaymakemenotloveyou。"
　　"DoyoubelieveitpossiblethatIwouldruntheriskofdoingthat？"
　　"Well，youfollowoutyourownideas，andwon’tgiveintominewhenIwishyoutoleaveoffthisshamefullabour。Isthereanythingyoudislikeinmethatyouactsocontrarilytomywishes？Iamyourwife，andwhywillyounotlisten？Yes，Iamyourwifeindeed！"
　　"Iknowwhatthattonemeans。"
　　"Whattone？"
　　"Thetoneinwhichyousaid，’Yourwifeindeed。’Itmeant，’Yourwife，worseluck。’"
　　"Itishardinyoutoprobemewiththatremark。
　　Awomanmayhavereason，thoughsheisnotwithoutheart，andifIfelt’worseluck，’itwasnoignoblefeeling——
　　itwasonlytoonatural。There，youseethatatanyrateIdonotattemptuntruths。Doyourememberhow，beforeweweremarried，IwarnedyouthatIhadnotgoodwifelyqualities？"
　　"Youmockmetosaythatnow。Onthatpointatleasttheonlynoblecoursewouldbetoholdyourtongue，foryouarestillqueenofme，Eustacia，thoughImaynolongerbekingofyou。"
　　"Youaremyhusband。Doesnotthatcontentyou？"
　　"Notunlessyouaremywifewithoutregret。"
　　"Icannotansweryou。IremembersayingthatIshouldbeaseriousmatteronyourhands。"
　　"Yes，Isawthat。"
　　"Thenyouweretooquicktosee！Notrueloverwouldhaveseenanysuchthing；youaretoosevereuponme，Clym——Iwon’tlikeyourspeakingsoatall。"
　　"Well，Imarriedyouinspiteofit，anddon’tregretdoingso。Howcoldyouseemthisafternoon！andyetI
　　usedtothinkthereneverwasawarmerheartthanyours。"
　　"Yes，Ifearwearecooling——Iseeitaswellasyou，"
　　shesighedmournfully。"Andhowmadlywelovedtwomonthsago！Youwerenevertiredofcontemplatingme，norI
　　ofcontemplatingyou。Whocouldhavethoughtthenthatbythistimemyeyeswouldnotseemsoverybrighttoyours，noryourlipssoverysweettomine？Twomonths——isitpossible？Yes，’tistootrue！"
　　"Yousigh，dear，asifyouweresorryforit；andthat’sahopefulsign。"
　　"No。Idon’tsighforthat。Thereareotherthingsformetosighfor，oranyotherwomaninmyplace。"
　　"Thatyourchancesinlifeareruinedbymarryinginhasteanunfortunateman？"
　　"Whywillyouforceme，Clym，tosaybitterthings？I
　　deservepityasmuchasyou。Asmuch？——IthinkIdeserveitmore。Foryoucansing！Itwouldbeastrangehourwhichshouldcatchmesingingundersuchacloudasthis！
　　Believeme，sweet，Icouldweeptoadegreethatwouldastonishandconfoundsuchanelasticmindasyours。
　　Evenhadyoufeltcarelessaboutyourownaffliction，youmighthaverefrainedfromsingingoutofsheerpityformine。God！ifIwereamaninsuchapositionIwouldcurseratherthansing。"
　　Yeobrightplacedhishanduponherarm。"Now，don’tyousuppose，myinexperiencedgirl，thatIcannotrebel，inhighPrometheanfashion，againstthegodsandfateaswellasyou。Ihavefeltmoresteamandsmokeofthatsortthanyouhaveeverheardof。ButthemoreI
　　seeoflifethemoredoIperceivethatthereisnothingparticularlygreatinitsgreatestwalks，andthereforenothingparticularlysmallinmineoffurze—cutting。
　　IfIfeelthatthegreatestblessingsvouchsafedtousarenotveryvaluable，howcanIfeelittobeanygreathardshipwhentheyaretakenaway？SoIsingtopassthetime。Haveyouindeedlostalltendernessforme，thatyoubegrudgemeafewcheerfulmoments？"
　　"Ihavestillsometendernessleftforyou。"
　　"Yourwordshavenolongertheiroldflavour。Andsolovedieswithgoodfortune！"
　　"Icannotlistentothis，Clym——itwillendbitterly，"
　　shesaidinabrokenvoice。"Iwillgohome。"
　　3—SheGoesOuttoBattleagainstDepressionAfewdayslater，beforethemonthofAugusthasexpired，EustaciaandYeobrightsattogetherattheirearlydinner。
　　Eustacia’smannerhadbecomeoflatealmostapathetic。
　　Therewasaforlornlookaboutherbeautifuleyeswhich，whethershedeserveditornot，wouldhaveexcitedpityinthebreastofanyonewhohadknownherduringthefullflushofherloveforClym。Thefeelingsofhusbandandwifevaried，insomemeasure，inverselywiththeirpositions。Clym，theafflictedman，wascheerful；
　　andheeventriedtocomforther，whohadneverfeltamomentofphysicalsufferinginherwholelife。
　　"Come，brightenup，dearest；weshallbeallrightagain。
　　SomedayperhapsIshallseeaswellasever。
　　AndIsolemnlypromisethatI’llleaveoffcuttingfurzeassoonasIhavethepowertodoanythingbetter。
　　Youcannotseriouslywishmetostayidlingathomeallday？"
　　"Butitissodreadful——afurze—cutter！andyouamanwhohavelivedabouttheworld，andspeakFrench，andGerman，andwhoarefitforwhatissomuchbetterthanthis。"
　　"IsupposewhenyoufirstsawmeandheardaboutmeI
　　waswrappedinasortofgoldenhalotoyoureyes——amanwhoknewgloriousthings，andhadmixedinbrilliantscenes——inshort，anadorable，delightful，distractinghero？"
　　"Yes，"shesaid，sobbing。
　　"AndnowIamapoorfellowinbrownleather。"
　　"Don’ttauntme。Butenoughofthis。Iwillnotbedepressedanymore。Iamgoingfromhomethisafternoon，unlessyougreatlyobject。Thereistobeavillagepicnic——agipsying，theycallit——atEastEgdon，andI
　　shallgo。"
　　"Todance？"
　　"Whynot？Youcansing。"
　　"Well，well，asyouwill。MustIcometofetchyou？"
　　"Ifyoureturnsoonenoughfromyourwork。Butdonotinconvenienceyourselfaboutit。Iknowthewayhome，andtheheathhasnoterrorforme。"
　　"Andcanyouclingtogaietysoeagerlyastowalkallthewaytoavillagefestivalinsearchofit？"
　　"Now，youdon’tlikemygoingalone！Clym，youarenotjealous？"
　　"No。ButIwouldcomewithyouifitcouldgiveyouanypleasure；though，asthingsstand，perhapsyouhavetoomuchofmealready。Still，Isomehowwishthatyoudidnotwanttogo。Yes，perhapsIamjealous；
　　andwhocouldbejealouswithmorereasonthanI，ahalf—blindman，oversuchawomanasyou？"
　　"Don’tthinklikeit。Letmego，anddon’ttakeallmyspiritsaway！"
　　"Iwouldratherloseallmyown，mysweetwife。Goanddowhateveryoulike。Whocanforbidyourindulgenceinanywhim？Youhaveallmyheartyet，Ibelieve；
　　andbecauseyoubearwithme，whoamintruthadraguponyou，Ioweyouthanks。Yes，goaloneandshine。
　　Asforme，Iwillsticktomydoom。Atthatkindofmeetingpeoplewouldshunme。MyhookandglovesareliketheSt。Lazarusrattleoftheleper，warningtheworldtogetoutofthewayofasightthatwouldsaddenthem。"
　　Hekissedher，putonhisleggings，andwentout。
　　Whenhewasgonesherestedherheaduponherhandsandsaidtoherself，"Twowastedlives——hisandmine。
　　AndIamcometothis！Willitdrivemeoutofmymind？"
　　Shecastaboutforanypossiblecoursewhichofferedtheleastimprovementontheexistingstateofthings，andcouldfindnone。SheimaginedhowallthoseBudmouthoneswhoshouldlearnwhathadbecomeofherwouldsay，"Lookatthegirlforwhomnobodywasgoodenough！"
　　ToEustaciathesituationseemedsuchamockeryofherhopesthatdeathappearedtheonlydoorofreliefifthesatireofHeavenshouldgomuchfurther。
　　Suddenlyshearousedherselfandexclaimed，"ButI’llshakeitoff。Yes，IWILLshakeitoff！Nooneshallknowmysuffering。I’llbebitterlymerry，andironicallygay，andI’lllaughinderision。AndI’llbeginbygoingtothisdanceonthegreen。"
　　Sheascendedtoherbedroomanddressedherselfwithscrupulouscare。Toanonlookerherbeautywouldhavemadeherfeelingsalmostseemreasonable。ThegloomycornerintowhichaccidentasmuchasindiscretionhadbroughtthiswomanmighthaveledevenamoderatepartisantofeelthatshehadcogentreasonsforaskingtheSupremePowerbywhatrightabeingofsuchexquisitefinishhadbeenplacedincircumstancescalculatedtomakeofhercharmsacurseratherthanablessing。
　　Itwasfiveintheafternoonwhenshecameoutfromthehousereadyforherwalk。Therewasmaterialenoughinthepicturefortwentynewconquests。Therebellioussadnessthatwasrathertooapparentwhenshesatindoorswithoutabonnetwascloakedandsoftenedbyheroutdoorattire，whichalwayshadasortofnebulousnessaboutit，devoidofharshedgesanywhere；sothatherfacelookedfromitsenvironmentasfromacloud，withnonoticeablelinesofdemarcationbetweenfleshandclothes。Theheatofthedayhadscarcelydeclinedasyet，andshewentalongthesunnyhillsataleisurelypace，therebeingampletimeforheridleexpedition。Tallfernsburiedherintheirleafagewheneverherpathlaythroughthem，whichnowformedminiatureforests，thoughnotonestemofthemwouldremaintobudthenextyear。
　　Thesitechosenforthevillagefestivitywasoneofthelawnlikeoaseswhichwereoccasionally，yetnotoften，metwithontheplateauxoftheheathdistrict。Thebrakesoffurzeandfernterminatedabruptlyroundthemargin，andthegrasswasunbroken。Agreencattletrackskirtedthespot，without，however，emergingfromthescreenoffern，andthispathEustaciafollowed，inordertoreconnoitrethegroupbeforejoiningit。ThelustynotesoftheEastEgdonbandhaddirectedherunerringly，andshenowbeheldthemusiciansthemselves，sittinginabluewagonwithredwheelsscrubbedasbrightasnew，andarchedwithsticks，towhichboughsandflowersweretied。
　　Infrontofthiswasthegrandcentraldanceoffifteenortwentycouples，flankedbyminordancesofinferiorindividualswhosegyrationswerenotalwaysinstrictkeepingwiththetune。
　　Theyoungmenworeblueandwhiterosettes，andwithaflushontheirfacesfootedittothegirls，who，withtheexcitementandtheexercise，blusheddeeperthanthepinkoftheirnumerousribbons。Faironeswithlongcurls，faironeswithshortcurls，faironeswithlovelocks，faironeswithbraids，flewroundandround；andabeholdermightwellhavewonderedhowsuchaprepossessingsetofyoungwomenoflikesize，age，anddisposition，couldhavebeencollectedtogetherwheretherewereonlyoneortwovillagestochoosefrom。Inthebackgroundwasonehappymandancingbyhimself，withclosedeyes，totallyobliviousofalltherest。Afirewasburningunderapollardthornafewpacesoff，overwhichthreekettleshunginarow。Hardbywasatablewhereelderlydamespreparedtea，butEustacialookedamongtheminvainforthecattle—dealer’swifewhohadsuggestedthatsheshouldcome，andhadpromisedtoobtainacourteouswelcomeforher。
　　ThisunexpectedabsenceoftheonlylocalresidentwhomEustaciaknewconsiderablydamagedherschemeforanafternoonofrecklessgaiety。Joininginbecameamatterofdifficulty，notwithstandingthat，wereshetoadvance，cheerfuldameswouldcomeforwardwithcupsofteaandmakemuchofherasastrangerofsuperiorgraceandknowledgetothemselves。Havingwatchedthecompanythroughthefiguresoftwodances，shedecidedtowalkalittlefurther，toacottagewhereshemightgetsomerefreshment，andthenreturnhomewardintheshadytimeofevening。
　　Thisshedid，andbythetimethatsheretracedherstepstowardsthesceneofthegipsying，whichitwasnecessarytorepassonherwaytoAlderworth，thesunwasgoingdown。
　　Theairwasnowsostillthatshecouldhearthebandafaroff，anditseemedtobeplayingwithmorespirit，ifthatwerepossible，thanwhenshehadcomeaway。
　　Onreachingthehillthesunhadquitedisappeared；
　　butthismadelittledifferenceeithertoEustaciaortotherevellers，foraroundyellowmoonwasrisingbeforeher，thoughitsrayshadnotyetoutmasteredthosefromthewest。Thedancewasgoingonjustthesame，butstrangershadarrivedandformedaringaroundthefigure，sothatEustaciacouldstandamongthesewithoutachanceofbeingrecognized。
　　Awholevillage—fullofsensuousemotion，scatteredabroadalltheyearlong，surgedhereinafocusforanhour。
　　Thefortyheartsofthosewavingcoupleswerebeatingastheyhadnotdonesince，twelvemonthsbefore，theyhadcometogetherinsimilarjollity。Forthetimepaganismwasrevivedintheirhearts，theprideoflifewasallinall，andtheyadorednoneotherthanthemselves。
　　Howmanyofthoseimpassionedbuttemporaryembracesweredestinedtobecomeperpetualwaspossiblythewonderofsomeofthosewhoindulgedinthem，aswellasofEustaciawholookedon。Shebegantoenvythosepirouetters，tohungerforthehopeandhappinesswhichthefascinationofthedanceseemedtoengenderwithinthem。
　　Desperatelyfondofdancingherself，oneofEustacia’sexpectationsofParishadbeentheopportunityitmightaffordherofindulgenceinthisfavouritepastime。
　　Unhappily，thatexpectationwasnowextinctwithinherforever。
　　Whilstsheabstractedlywatchedthemspinningandfluctuatingintheincreasingmoonlightshesuddenlyheardhernamewhisperedbyavoiceoverhershoulder。
　　Turninginsurprise，shebeheldatherelbowonewhosepresenceinstantlycausedhertoflushtothetemples。
　　ItwasWildeve。Tillthismomenthehadnotmethereyesincethemorningofhismarriage，whenshehadbeenloiteringinthechurch，andhadstartledhimbyliftingherveilandcomingforwardtosigntheregisteraswitness。
　　Yetwhythesightofhimshouldhaveinstigatedthatsuddenrushofbloodshecouldnottell。
　　Beforeshecouldspeakhewhispered，"Doyoulikedancingasmuchasever？"
　　"IthinkIdo，"sherepliedinalowvoice。
　　"Willyoudancewithme？"
　　"Itwouldbeagreatchangeforme；butwillitnotseemstrange？"
　　"Whatstrangenesscantherebeinrelationsdancingtogether？"
　　"Ah——yes，relations。Perhapsnone。"
　　"Still，ifyoudon’tliketobeseen，pulldownyourveil；
　　thoughthereisnotmuchriskofbeingknownbythislight。
　　Lotsofstrangersarehere。"
　　Shedidashesuggested；andtheactwasatacitacknowledgmentthatsheacceptedhisoffer。
　　Wildevegaveherhisarmandtookherdownontheoutsideoftheringtothebottomofthedance，whichtheyentered。
　　Intwominutesmoretheywereinvolvedinthefigureandbeganworkingtheirwayupwardstothetop。
　　TilltheyhadadvancedhalfwaythitherEustaciawishedmorethanoncethatshehadnotyieldedtohisrequest；
　　fromthemiddletothetopshefeltthat，sinceshehadcomeouttoseekpleasure，shewasonlydoinganaturalthingtoobtainit。Fairlylaunchedintotheceaselessglidesandwhirlswhichtheirnewpositionastopcoupleopeneduptothem，Eustacia’spulsesbegantomovetooquicklyforlongruminationofanykind。
　　Throughthelengthoffive—and—twentycouplestheythreadedtheirgiddyway，andanewvitalityenteredherform。
　　Thepalerayofeveninglentafascinationtotheexperience。
　　Thereisacertaindegreeandtoneoflightwhichtendstodisturbtheequilibriumofthesenses，andtopromotedangerouslythetenderermoods；addedtomovement，itdrivestheemotionstorankness，thereasonbecomingsleepyandunperceivingininverseproportion；andthislightfellnowuponthesetwofromthediscofthemoon。
　　Allthedancinggirlsfeltthesymptoms，butEustaciamostofall。Thegrassundertheirfeetbecametroddenaway，andthehard，beatensurfaceofthesod，whenviewedaslanttowardsthemoonlight，shonelikeapolishedtable。
　　Theairbecamequitestill，theflagabovethewagonwhichheldthemusiciansclungtothepole，andtheplayersappearedonlyinoutlineagainstthesky；exceptwhenthecircularmouthsofthetrombone，ophicleide，andFrenchhorngleamedoutlikehugeeyesfromtheshadeoftheirfigures。
　　Theprettydressesofthemaidslosttheirsubtlerdaycoloursandshowedmoreorlessofamistywhite。
　　EustaciafloatedroundandroundonWildeve’sarm，herfaceraptandstatuesque；hersoulhadpassedawayfromandforgottenherfeatures，whichwereleftemptyandquiescent，astheyalwaysarewhenfeelinggoesbeyondtheirregister。
　　HownearshewastoWildeve！itwasterribletothinkof。
　　Shecouldfeelhisbreathing，andhe，ofcourse，couldfeelhers。Howbadlyshehadtreatedhim！yet，heretheyweretreadingonemeasure。Theenchantmentofthedancesurprisedher。Aclearlineofdifferencedividedlikeatangiblefenceherexperiencewithinthismazeofmotionfromherexperiencewithoutit。
　　Herbeginningtodancehadbeenlikeachangeofatmosphere；
　　outside，shehadbeensteepedinarcticfrigiditybycomparisonwiththetropicalsensationshere。
　　Shehadenteredthedancefromthetroubledhoursofherlatelifeasonemightenterabrilliantchamberafteranightwalkinawood。Wildevebyhimselfwouldhavebeenmerelyanagitation；Wildeveaddedtothedance，andthemoonlight，andthesecrecy，begantobeadelight。
　　Whetherhispersonalitysuppliedthegreaterpartofthissweetlycompoundedfeeling，orwhetherthedanceandthesceneweighedthemoretherein，wasanicepointuponwhichEustaciaherselfwasentirelyinacloud。
　　Peoplebegantosay"Whoarethey？"butnoinvidiousinquiriesweremade。HadEustaciamingledwiththeothergirlsintheirordinarydailywalksthecasewouldhavebeendifferent：hereshewasnotinconveniencedbyexcessiveinspection，forallwerewroughttotheirbrightestgracebytheoccasion。LiketheplanetMercurysurroundedbythelustreofsunset，herpermanentbrilliancypassedwithoutmuchnoticeinthetemporarygloryofthesituation。
　　AsforWildeve，hisfeelingsareeasytoguess。
　　Obstacleswerearipeningsuntohislove，andhewasatthismomentinadeliriumofexquisitemisery。
　　Toclaspashisforfiveminuteswhatwasanotherman’sthroughalltherestoftheyearwasakindofthingheofallmencouldappreciate。HehadlongsincebeguntosighagainforEustacia；indeed，itmaybeassertedthatsigningthemarriageregisterwithThomasinwasthenaturalsignaltohishearttoreturntoitsfirstquarters，andthattheextracomplicationofEustacia’smarriagewastheoneadditionrequiredtomakethatreturncompulsory。
　　Thus，fordifferentreasons，whatwastotherestanexhilaratingmovementwastothesetwoaridinguponthewhirlwind。
　　Thedancehadcomelikeanirresistibleattackuponwhateversenseofsocialordertherewasintheirminds，todrivethembackintooldpathswhichwerenowdoublyirregular。
　　Throughthreedancesinsuccessiontheyspuntheirway；
　　andthen，fatiguedwiththeincessantmotion，Eustaciaturnedtoquitthecircleinwhichshehadalreadyremainedtoolong。
　　Wildeveledhertoagrassymoundafewyardsdistant，whereshesatdown，herpartnerstandingbesideher。
　　Fromthetimethatheaddressedheratthebeginningofthedancetillnowtheyhadnotexchangedaword。
　　"Thedanceandthewalkinghavetiredyou？"hesaidtenderly。
　　"No；notgreatly。"
　　"Itisstrangethatweshouldhavemethereofallplaces，aftermissingeachothersolong。"
　　"Wehavemissedbecausewetriedtomiss，Isuppose。"
　　"Yes。Butyoubeganthatproceeding——bybreakingapromise。"
　　"Itisscarcelyworthwhiletotalkofthatnow。
　　Wehaveformedothertiessincethen——younolessthanI。"
　　"Iamsorrytohearthatyourhusbandisill。"
　　"Heisnotill——onlyincapacitated。"
　　"Yes——thatiswhatImean。Isincerelysympathizewithyouinyourtrouble。Fatehastreatedyoucruelly。"
　　Shewassilentawhile。"Haveyouheardthathehaschosentoworkasafurze—cutter？"shesaidinalow，mournfulvoice。
　　"Ithasbeenmentionedtome，"answeredWildevehesitatingly。
　　"ButIhardlybelievedit。"
　　"Itistrue。Whatdoyouthinkofmeasafurze—
　　cutter’swife？"
　　"Ithinkthesameaseverofyou，Eustacia。Nothingofthatsortcandegradeyou——youennobletheoccupationofyourhusband。"
　　"IwishIcouldfeelit。"
　　"IsthereanychanceofMr。Yeobrightgettingbetter？"
　　"Hethinksso。Idoubtit。"
　　"Iwasquitesurprisedtohearthathehadtakenacottage。
　　Ithought，incommonwithotherpeople，thathewouldhavetakenyouofftoahomeinParisimmediatelyafteryouhadmarriedhim。’Whatagay，brightfutureshehasbeforeher！’
　　Ithought。Hewill，Isuppose，returntherewithyou，ifhissightgetsstrongagain？"
　　Observingthatshedidnotreplyheregardedhermoreclosely。Shewasalmostweeping。Imagesofafuturenevertobeenjoyed，therevivedsenseofherbitterdisappointment，thepictureoftheneighbour’ssuspendedridiculewhichwasraisedbyWildeve’swords，hadbeentoomuchforproudEustacia’sequanimity。
　　Wildevecouldhardlycontrolhisowntooforwardfeelingswhenhesawhersilentperturbation。Butheaffectednottonoticethis，andshesoonrecoveredhercalmness。
　　"Youdonotintendtowalkhomebyyourself？"heasked。
　　"Oyes，"saidEustacia。"Whatcouldhurtmeonthisheath，whohavenothing？"
　　"BydivergingalittleIcanmakemywayhomethesameasyours。IshallbegladtokeepyoucompanyasfarasThroopeCorner。"SeeingthatEustaciasatoninhesitationheadded，"Perhapsyouthinkitunwisetobeseeninthesameroadwithmeaftertheeventsoflastsummer？"
　　"IndeedIthinknosuchthing，"shesaidhaughtily。
　　"IshallacceptwhosecompanyIchoose，forallthatmaybesaidbythemiserableinhabitantsofEgdon。"
　　"Thenletuswalkon——ifyouareready。Ournearestwayistowardsthathollybushwiththedarkshadowthatyouseedownthere。"
　　Eustaciaarose，andwalkedbesidehiminthedirectionsignified，brushingherwayoverthedampingheathandfern，andfollowedbythestrainsofthemerrymakers，whostillkeptupthedance。Themoonhadnowwaxedbrightandsilvery，buttheheathwasproofagainstsuchillumination，andtherewastobeobservedthestrikingsceneofadark，raylesstractofcountryunderanatmospherechargedfromitszenithtoitsextremitieswithwhitestlight。
　　Toaneyeabovethemtheirtwofaceswouldhaveappearedamidtheexpanseliketwopearlsonatableofebony。