HisprogresswhenactuallywalkingwasmorerapidthanMrs。Yeobright’s；butshewasenabledtokeepatanequabledistancefromhimbyhishabitofstoppingwheneverhecametoabrakeofbrambles，wherehepausedawhile。
Oncominginherturntoeachofthesespotsshefoundhalfadozenlonglimpbrambleswhichhehadcutfromthebushduringhishaltandlaidoutstraightbesidethepath。
Theywereevidentlyintendedforfurze—faggotbondswhichhemeanttocollectonhisreturn。
Thesilentbeingwhothusoccupiedhimselfseemedtobeofnomoreaccountinlifethananinsect。
Heappearedasamereparasiteoftheheath，frettingitssurfaceinhisdailylabourasamothfretsagarment，entirelyengrossedwithitsproducts，havingnoknowledgeofanythingintheworldbutfern，furze，heath，lichens，andmoss。
Thefurze—cutterwassoabsorbedinthebusinessofhisjourneythatheneverturnedhishead；andhisleather—
leggedandgauntletedformatlengthbecametoherasnothingmorethanamovinghandposttoshowhertheway。
Suddenlyshewasattractedtohisindividualitybyobservingpeculiaritiesinhiswalk。Itwasagaitshehadseensomewherebefore；andthegaitrevealedthemantoher，asthegaitofAhimaazinthedistantplainmadehimknowntothewatchmanoftheking。"Hiswalkisexactlyasmyhusband’susedtobe，"shesaid；andthenthethoughtburstuponherthatthefurze—cutterwasherson。
Shewasscarcelyabletofamiliarizeherselfwiththisstrangereality。ShehadbeentoldthatClymwasinthehabitofcuttingfurze，butshehadsupposedthatheoccupiedhimselfwiththelabouronlyatoddtimes，bywayofusefulpastime；yetshenowbeheldhimasafurze—cutterandnothingmore——wearingtheregulationdressofthecraft，andthinkingtheregulationthoughts，tojudgebyhismotions。PlanningadozenhastyschemesforatoncepreservinghimandEustaciafromthismodeoflife，shethrobbinglyfollowedtheway，andsawhimenterhisowndoor。
AtonesideofClym’shousewasaknoll，andonthetopoftheknollaclumpoffirtreessohighlythrustupintotheskythattheirfoliagefromadistanceappearedasablackspotintheairabovethecrownofthehill。OnreachingthisplaceMrs。Yeobrightfeltdistressinglyagitated，weary，andunwell。Sheascended，andsatdownundertheirshadetorecoverherself，andtoconsiderhowbesttobreakthegroundwithEustacia，soasnottoirritateawomanunderneathwhoseapparentindolencelurkedpassionsevenstrongerandmoreactivethanherown。
Thetreesbeneathwhichshesatweresingularlybattered，rude，andwild，andforafewminutesMrs。Yeobrightdismissedthoughtsofherownstorm—brokenandexhaustedstatetocontemplatetheirs。Notaboughintheninetreeswhichcomposedthegroupbutwassplintered，lopped，anddistortedbythefierceweatherthatthereheldthematitsmercywheneveritprevailed。Somewereblastedandsplitasifbylightning，blackstainsasfromfiremarkingtheirsides，whilethegroundattheirfeetwasstrewnwithdeadfir—needlesandheapsofconesblowndowninthegalesofpastyears。TheplacewascalledtheDevil’sBellows，anditwasonlynecessarytocomethereonaMarchorNovembernighttodiscovertheforciblereasonsforthatname。Onthepresentheatedafternoon，whennoperceptiblewindwasblowing，thetreeskeptupaperpetualmoanwhichonecouldhardlybelievetobecausedbytheair。
Hereshesatfortwentyminutesormoreereshecouldsummonresolutiontogodowntothedoor，hercouragebeingloweredtozerobyherphysicallassitude。
Toanyotherpersonthanamotheritmighthaveseemedalittlehumiliatingthatshe，theelderofthetwowomen，shouldbethefirsttomakeadvances。ButMrs。Yeobrighthadwellconsideredallthat，andsheonlythoughthowbesttomakehervisitappeartoEustacianotabjectbutwise。
Fromherelevatedpositiontheexhaustedwomancouldperceivetheroofofthehousebelow，andthegardenandthewholeenclosureofthelittledomicile。Andnow，atthemomentofrising，shesawasecondmanapproachingthegate。Hismannerwaspeculiar，hesitating，andnotthatofapersoncomeonbusinessorbyinvitation。
Hesurveyedthehousewithinterest，andthenwalkedroundandscannedtheouterboundaryofthegarden，asonemighthavedonehaditbeenthebirthplaceofShakespeare，theprisonofMaryStuart，ortheChateauofHougomont。
Afterpassingroundandagainreachingthegatehewentin。
Mrs。Yeobrightwasvexedatthis，havingreckonedonfindinghersonandhiswifebythemselves；butamoment’sthoughtshowedherthatthepresenceofanacquaintancewouldtakeofftheawkwardnessofherfirstappearanceinthehouse，byconfiningthetalktogeneralmattersuntilshehadbeguntofeelcomfortablewiththem。
Shecamedownthehilltothegate，andlookedintothehotgarden。
Therelaythecatasleeponthebaregravelofthepath，asifbeds，rugs，andcarpetswereunendurable。Theleavesofthehollyhockshunglikehalf—closedumbrellas，thesapalmostsimmeredinthestems，andfoliagewithasmoothsurfaceglaredlikemetallicmirrors。Asmallappletree，ofthesortcalledRatheripe，grewjustinsidethegate，theonlyonewhichthroveinthegarden，byreasonofthelightnessofthesoil；andamongthefallenapplesonthegroundbeneathwerewaspsrollingdrunkwiththejuice，orcreepingaboutthelittlecavesineachfruitwhichtheyhadeatenoutbeforestupefiedbyitssweetness。
BythedoorlayClym’sfurze—hookandthelasthandfuloffaggot—bondsshehadseenhimgather；theyhadplainlybeenthrowndownthereasheenteredthehouse。
6—AConjuncture，andItsResultuponthePedestrianWildeve，ashasbeenstated，wasdeterminedtovisitEustaciaboldly，byday，andontheeasytermsofarelation，sincethereddlemanhadspiedoutandspoilthiswalkstoherbynight。Thespellthatshehadthrownoverhiminthemoonlightdancemadeitimpossibleforamanhavingnostrongpuritanicforcewithinhimtokeepawayaltogether。Hemerelycalculatedonmeetingherandherhusbandinanordinarymanner，chattingalittlewhile，andleavingagain。Everyoutwardsignwastobeconventional；
buttheonegreatfactwouldbetheretosatisfyhim——hewouldseeher。HedidnotevendesireClym’sabsence，sinceitwasjustpossiblethatEustaciamightresentanysituationwhichcouldcompromiseherdignityasawife，whateverthestateofherhearttowardshim。Womenwereoftenso。
Hewentaccordingly；andithappenedthatthetimeofhisarrivalcoincidedwiththatofMrs。Yeobright’spauseonthehillnearthehouse。Whenhehadlookedroundthepremisesinthemannershehadnoticedhewentandknockedatthedoor。
Therewasafewminutes’interval，andthenthekeyturnedinthelock，thedooropened，andEustaciaherselfconfrontedhim。
Nobodycouldhaveimaginedfromherbearingnowthatherestoodthewomanwhohadjoinedwithhimintheimpassioneddanceoftheweekbefore，unlessindeedhecouldhavepenetratedbelowthesurfaceandgaugedtherealdepthofthatstillstream。
"Ihopeyoureachedhomesafely？"saidWildeve。
"Oyes，"shecarelesslyreturned。
"Andwereyounottiredthenextday？Ifearedyoumightbe。"
"Iwasrather。Youneednotspeaklow——nobodywillover—hearus。Mysmallservantisgoneonanerrandtothevillage。"
"ThenClymisnotathome？"
"Yes，heis。"
"O！Ithoughtthatperhapsyouhadlockedthedoorbecauseyouwerealoneandwereafraidoftramps。"
"No——hereismyhusband。"
Theyhadbeenstandingintheentry。Closingthefrontdoorandturningthekey，asbefore，shethrewopenthedooroftheadjoiningroomandaskedhimtowalkin。
Wildeveentered，theroomappearingtobeempty；
butassoonashehadadvancedafewstepshestarted。
OnthehearthruglayClymasleep。Besidehimweretheleggings，thickboots，leathergloves，andsleeve—
waistcoatinwhichheworked。
"Youmaygoin；youwillnotdisturbhim，"shesaid，followingbehind。"Myreasonforfasteningthedooristhathemaynotbeintrudeduponbyanychancecomerwhilelyinghere，ifIshouldbeinthegardenorupstairs。"
"Whyishesleepingthere？"saidWildeveinlowtones。
"Heisveryweary。Hewentoutathalf—pastfourthismorning，andhasbeenworkingeversince。Hecutsfurzebecauseitistheonlythinghecandothatdoesnotputanystrainuponhispooreyes。"Thecontrastbetweenthesleeper’sappearanceandWildeve’satthismomentwaspainfullyapparenttoEustacia，Wildevebeingelegantlydressedinanewsummersuitandlighthat；
andshecontinued："Ah！youdon’tknowhowdifferentlyheappearedwhenIfirstmethim，thoughitissuchalittlewhileago。Hishandswereaswhiteandsoftasmine；
andlookatthemnow，howroughandbrowntheyare！
Hiscomplexionisbynaturefair，andthatrustylookhehasnow，allofacolourwithhisleatherclothes，iscausedbytheburningofthesun。"
"Whydoeshegooutatall！"Wildevewhispered。
"Becausehehatestobeidle；thoughwhatheearnsdoesn’taddmuchtoourexchequer。However，hesaysthatwhenpeoplearelivingupontheircapitaltheymustkeepdowncurrentexpensesbyturningapennywheretheycan。"
"Thefateshavenotbeenkindtoyou，EustaciaYeobright。"
"Ihavenothingtothankthemfor。"
"Norhashe——exceptfortheironegreatgifttohim。"
"What’sthat？"
Wildevelookedherintheeyes。
Eustaciablushedforthefirsttimethatday。
"Well，Iamaquestionablegift，"shesaidquietly。
"Ithoughtyoumeantthegiftofcontent——whichhehas，andIhavenot。"
"Icanunderstandcontentinsuchacase——thoughhowtheoutwardsituationcanattracthimpuzzlesme。"
"That’sbecauseyoudon’tknowhim。He’sanenthusiastaboutideas，andcarelessaboutoutwardthings。
HeoftenremindsmeoftheApostlePaul。"
"Iamgladtohearthathe’ssograndincharacterasthat。"
"Yes；buttheworstofitisthatthoughPaulwasexcellentasamanintheBiblehewouldhardlyhavedoneinreallife。"
Theirvoiceshadinstinctivelydroppedlower，thoughatfirsttheyhadtakennoparticularcaretoavoidawakeningClym。
"Well，ifthatmeansthatyourmarriageisamisfortunetoyou，youknowwhoistoblame，"saidWildeve。
"Themarriageisnomisfortuneinitself，"sheretortedwithsomelittlepetulance。"Itissimplytheaccidentwhichhashappenedsincethathasbeenthecauseofmyruin。
Ihavecertainlygotthistlesforfigsinaworldlysense，buthowcouldItellwhattimewouldbringforth？"
"Sometimes，Eustacia，Ithinkitisajudgmentuponyou。
Yourightlybelongedtome，youknow；andIhadnoideaoflosingyou。"
"No，itwasnotmyfault！Twocouldnotbelongtoyou；
andrememberthat，beforeIwasaware，youturnedasidetoanotherwoman。Itwascruellevityinyoutodothat。
Ineverdreamtofplayingsuchagameonmysidetillyoubeganitonyours。"
"Imeantnothingbyit，"repliedWildeve。"Itwasamereinterlude。Menaregiventothetrickofhavingapassingfancyforsomebodyelseinthemidstofapermanentlove，whichreassertsitselfafterwardsjustasbefore。
OnaccountofyourrebelliousmannertomeIwastemptedtogofurtherthanIshouldhavedone；andwhenyoustillwouldkeepplayingthesametantalizingpartIwentfurtherstill，andmarriedher。"TurningandlookingagainattheunconsciousformofClym，hemurmured，"Iamafraidthatyoudon’tvalueyourprize，Clym……HeoughttobehappierthanIinonethingatleast。
Hemayknowwhatitistocomedownintheworld，andtobeafflictedwithagreatpersonalcalamity；
butheprobablydoesn’tknowwhatitistolosethewomanheloved。"
"Heisnotungratefulforwinningher，"whisperedEustacia，"andinthatrespectheisagoodman。Manywomenwouldgofarforsuchahusband。ButdoIdesireunreasonablymuchinwantingwhatiscalledlife——
music，poetry，passion，war，andallthebeatingandpulsingthataregoingoninthegreatarteriesoftheworld？Thatwastheshapeofmyyouthfuldream；
butIdidnotgetit。YetIthoughtIsawthewaytoitinmyClym。"
"Andyouonlymarriedhimonthataccount？"
"Thereyoumistakeme。ImarriedhimbecauseIlovedhim，butIwon’tsaythatIdidn’tlovehimpartlybecauseI
thoughtIsawapromiseofthatlifeinhim。"
"Youhavedroppedintoyouroldmournfulkey。"
"ButIamnotgoingtobedepressed，"shecriedperversely。
"Ibegananewsystembygoingtothatdance，andImeantosticktoit。Clymcansingmerrily；whyshouldnotI？"
Wildevelookedthoughtfullyather。"Itiseasiertosayyouwillsingthantodoit；thoughifIcouldI
wouldencourageyouinyourattempt。Butaslifemeansnothingtome，withoutonethingwhichisnowimpossible，youwillforgivemefornotbeingabletoencourageyou。"
"Damon，whatisthematterwithyou，thatyouspeaklikethat？"sheasked，raisingherdeepshadyeyestohis。
"That’sathingIshallnevertellplainly；andperhapsifI
trytotellyouinriddlesyouwillnotcaretoguessthem。"
Eustaciaremainedsilentforaminute，andshesaid，"Weareinastrangerelationshiptoday。Youmincematterstoanuncommonnicety。Youmean，Damon，thatyoustillloveme。Well，thatgivesmesorrow，forIamnotmadesoentirelyhappybymymarriagethatIamwillingtospurnyoufortheinformation，asIoughttodo。
Butwehavesaidtoomuchaboutthis。Doyoumeantowaituntilmyhusbandisawake？"
"Ithoughttospeaktohim；butitisunnecessary，Eustacia，ifIoffendyoubynotforgettingyou，youarerighttomentionit；butdonottalkofspurning。"
Shedidnotreply，andtheystoodlookingmusinglyatClymashesleptoninthatprofoundsleepwhichistheresultofphysicallabourcarriedonincircumstancesthatwakenonervousfear。
"God，howIenvyhimthatsweetsleep！"saidWildeve。
"IhavenotsleptlikethatsinceIwasaboy——yearsandyearsago。"
Whiletheythuswatchedhimaclickatthegatewasaudible，andaknockcametothedoor。Eustaciawenttoawindowandlookedout。
Hercountenancechanged。Firstshebecamecrimson，andthentheredsubsidedtillitevenpartiallyleftherlips。
"ShallIgoaway？"saidWildeve，standingup。
"Ihardlyknow。"
"Whoisit？"
"Mrs。Yeobright。O，whatshesaidtomethatday！I
cannotunderstandthisvisit——whatdoesshemean？Andshesuspectsthatpasttimeofours。"
"Iaminyourhands。IfyouthinkshehadbetternotseemehereI’llgointothenextroom。"
"Well，yes——go。"
Wildeveatoncewithdrew；butbeforehehadbeenhalfaminuteintheadjoiningapartmentEustaciacameafterhim。
"No，"shesaid，"wewon’thaveanyofthis。Ifshecomesinshemustseeyou——andthinkifshelikesthere’ssomethingwrong！ButhowcanIopenthedoortoher，whenshedislikesme——wishestoseenotme，butherson？
Iwon’topenthedoor！"
Mrs。Yeobrightknockedagainmoreloudly。
"Herknockingwill，inalllikelihood，awakenhim，"
continuedEustacia，"andthenhewillletherinhimself。
Ah——listen。"
TheycouldhearClymmovingintheotherroom，asifdisturbedbytheknocking，andheutteredtheword"Mother。"
"Yes——heisawake——hewillgotothedoor，"
shesaid，withabreathofrelief。"Comethisway。
Ihaveabadnamewithher，andyoumustnotbeseen。
ThusIamobligedtoactbystealth，notbecauseIdoill，butbecauseothersarepleasedtosayso。"
Bythistimeshehadtakenhimtothebackdoor，whichwasopen，disclosingapathleadingdownthegarden。
"Now，oneword，Damon，"sheremarkedashesteppedforth。
"Thisisyourfirstvisithere；letitbeyourlast。
Wehavebeenhotloversinourtime，butitwon’tdonow。
Good—bye。"
"Good—bye，"saidWildeve。"IhavehadallIcamefor，andIamsatisfied。"
"Whatwasit？"
"Asightofyou。UponmyeternalhonourIcamefornomore。"
Wildevekissedhishandtothebeautifulgirlheaddressed，andpassedintothegarden，whereshewatchedhimdownthepath，overthestileattheend，andintothefernsoutside，whichbrushedhishipsashewentalongtillhebecamelostintheirthickets。Whenhehadquitegonesheslowlyturned，anddirectedherattentiontotheinteriorofthehouse。
ButitwaspossiblethatherpresencemightnotbedesiredbyClymandhismotheratthismomentoftheirfirstmeeting，orthatitwouldbesuperfluous。
Atallevents，shewasinnohurrytomeetMrs。Yeobright。
SheresolvedtowaittillClymcametolookforher，andglidedbackintothegarden。Heresheidlyoccupiedherselfforafewminutes，tillfindingnonoticewastakenofhersheretracedherstepsthroughthehousetothefront，whereshelistenedforvoicesintheparlour。
Buthearingnonesheopenedthedoorandwentin。
ToherastonishmentClymlaypreciselyasWildeveandherselfhadlefthim，hissleepapparentlyunbroken。Hehadbeendisturbedandmadetodreamandmurmurbytheknocking，buthehadnotawakened。Eustaciahastenedtothedoor，andinspiteofherreluctancetoopenittoawomanwhohadspokenofhersobitterly，sheunfasteneditandlookedout。
Nobodywastobeseen。There，bythescraper，layClym’shookandthehandfuloffaggot—bondshehadbroughthome；
infrontofherweretheemptypath，thegardengatestandingslightlyajar；and，beyond，thegreatvalleyofpurpleheaththrillingsilentlyinthesun。Mrs。Yeobrightwasgone。
Clym’smotherwasatthistimefollowingapathwhichlayhiddenfromEustaciabyashoulderofthehill。Herwalkthitherfromthegardengatehadbeenhastyanddetermined，asofawomanwhowasnownolessanxioustoescapefromthescenethanshehadpreviouslybeentoenterit。
Hereyeswerefixedontheground；withinhertwosightsweregraven——thatofClym’shookandbramblesatthedoor，andthatofawoman’sfaceatawindow。Herlipstrembled，becomingunnaturallythinasshemurmured，"’Tistoomuch——Clym，howcanhebeartodoit！Heisathome；
andyetheletshershutthedooragainstme！"
Inheranxietytogetoutofthedirectviewofthehouseshehaddivergedfromthestraightestpathhomeward，andwhilelookingabouttoregainitshecameuponalittleboygatheringwhortleberriesinahollow。
TheboywasJohnnyNunsuch，whohadbeenEustacia’sstokeratthebonfire，and，withthetendencyofaminutebodytogravitatetowardsagreater，hebeganhoveringroundMrs。Yeobrightassoonassheappeared，andtrottedonbesideherwithoutperceptibleconsciousnessofhisact。
Mrs。Yeobrightspoketohimasoneinamesmericsleep。
"’Tisalongwayhome，mychild，andweshallnotgettheretillevening。"
"Ishall，"saidhersmallcompanion。"Iamgoingtoplaymarnelsaforesupper，andwegotosupperatsixo’clock，becauseFathercomeshome。Doesyourfathercomehomeatsixtoo？"
"No，henevercomes；normysoneither，noranybody。"
"Whathavemadeyousodown？Haveyouseenaooser？"
"Ihaveseenwhat’sworse——awoman’sfacelookingatmethroughawindowpane。"
"Isthatabadsight？"
"Yes。Itisalwaysabadsighttoseeawomanlookingoutatawearywayfarerandnotlettingherin。"
"OncewhenIwenttoThroopeGreatPondtocatcheffetsIseedmyselflookingupatmyself，andIwasfrightenedandjumpedbacklikeanything。"……"Iftheyhadonlyshownsignsofmeetingmyadvanceshalfwayhowwellitmighthavebeendone！Butthereisnochance。Shutout！Shemusthavesethimagainstme。
Cantherebebeautifulbodieswithoutheartsinside？I
thinkso。Iwouldnothavedoneitagainstaneighbour’scatonsuchafierydayasthis！"
"Whatisityousay？"
"Neveragain——never！Noteveniftheysendforme！"
"Youmustbeaverycuriouswomantotalklikethat。"
"Ono，notatall，"shesaid，returningtotheboy’sprattle。
"MostpeoplewhogrowupandhavechildrentalkasIdo。
WhenyougrowupyourmotherwilltalkasIdotoo。"
"Ihopeshewon’t；because’tisverybadtotalknonsense。"
"Yes，child；itisnonsense，Isuppose。Areyounotnearlyspentwiththeheat？"
"Yes。Butnotsomuchasyoube。"
"Howdoyouknow？"
"Yourfaceiswhiteandwet，andyourheadishanging—down—like。"
"Ah，Iamexhaustedfrominside。"
"Whydoyou，everytimeyoutakeastep，golikethis？"
Thechildinspeakinggavetohismotionthejerkandlimpofaninvalid。
"BecauseIhaveaburdenwhichismorethanIcanbear。"
Thelittleboyremainedsilentlypondering，andtheytotteredonsidebysideuntilmorethanaquarterofanhourhadelapsed，whenMrs。Yeobright，whoseweaknessplainlyincreased，saidtohim，"Imustsitdownheretorest。"
Whenshehadseatedherselfhelookedlonginherfaceandsaid，"Howfunnyyoudrawyourbreath——likealambwhenyoudrivehimtillhe’snearlydonefor。
Doyoualwaysdrawyourbreathlikethat？"
"Notalways。"Hervoicewasnowsolowastobescarcelyaboveawhisper。
"Youwillgotosleepthere，Isuppose，won’tyou？Youhaveshutyoureyesalready。"
"No。Ishallnotsleepmuchtill——anotherday，andthenIhopetohavealong，longone——verylong。NowcanyoutellmeifRimsmoorPondisdrythissummer？"
"RimsmoorPondis，butOker’sPoolisn’t，becauseheisdeep，andisneverdry——’tisjustoverthere。"
"Isthewaterclear？"
"Yes，middling——exceptwheretheheath—cropperswalkintoit。"
"Then，takethis，andgoasfastasyoucan，anddipmeuptheclearestyoucanfind。Iamveryfaint。"
Shedrewfromthesmallwillowreticulethatshecarriedinherhandanold—fashionedchinateacupwithoutahandle；itwasoneofhalfadozenofthesamesortlyinginthereticule，whichshehadpreservedeversinceherchildhood，andhadbroughtwithhertodayasasmallpresentforClymandEustacia。
Theboystartedonhiserrand，andsooncamebackwiththewater，suchasitwas。Mrs。Yeobrightattemptedtodrink，butitwassowarmastogivehernausea，andshethrewitaway。Afterwardsshestillremainedsitting，withhereyesclosed。
Theboywaited，playednearher，caughtseveralofthelittlebrownbutterflieswhichabounded，andthensaidashewaitedagain，"Ilikegoingonbetterthanbidingstill。
Willyousoonstartagain？"
"Idon’tknow。"
"IwishImightgoonbymyself，"heresumed，fearing，apparently，thathewastobepressedintosomeunpleasantservice。"Doyouwantmeanymore，please？"
Mrs。Yeobrightmadenoreply。
"WhatshallItellMother？"theboycontinued。