"Tellheryouhaveseenabroken—heartedwomancastoffbyherson。"
Beforequiteleavingherhethrewuponherfaceawistfulglance，asifhehadmisgivingsonthegenerosityofforsakingherthus。Hegazedintoherfaceinavague，wonderingmanner，likethatofoneexaminingsomestrangeoldmanuscriptthekeytowhosecharactersisundiscoverable。
Hewasnotsoyoungastobeabsolutelywithoutasensethatsympathywasdemanded，hewasnotoldenoughtobefreefromtheterrorfeltinchildhoodatbeholdingmiseryinadultquartershither—todeemedimpregnable；andwhethershewereinapositiontocausetroubleortosufferfromit，whethersheandherafflictionweresomethingtopityorsomethingtofear，itwasbeyondhimtodecide。
Heloweredhiseyesandwentonwithoutanotherword。
Beforehehadgonehalfamilehehadforgottenallabouther，exceptthatshewasawomanwhohadsatdowntorest。
Mrs。Yeobright’sexertions，physicalandemotional，hadwell—nighprostratedher；butshecontinuedtocreepalonginshortstageswithlongbreaksbetween。Thesunhadnowgotfartothewestofsouthandstooddirectlyinherface，likesomemercilessincendiary，brandinhand，waitingtoconsumeher。Withthedepartureoftheboyallvisibleanimationdisappearedfromthelandscape，thoughtheintermittenthuskynotesofthemalegrasshoppersfromeverytuftoffurzewereenoughtoshowthatamidtheprostrationofthelargeranimalspeciesanunseeninsectworldwasbusyinallthefullnessoflife。
Intwohoursshereachedaslopeaboutthree—fourthsthewholedistancefromAlderworthtoherownhome，wherealittlepatchofshepherd’s—thymeintrudeduponthepath；
andshesatdownupontheperfumedmatitformedthere。
Infrontofheracolonyofantshadestablishedathoroughfareacrosstheway，wheretheytoiledanever—endingandheavy—ladenthrong。Tolookdownuponthemwaslikeobservingacitystreetfromthetopofatower。
Sherememberedthatthisbustleofantshadbeeninprogressforyearsatthesamespot——doubtlessthoseoftheoldtimesweretheancestorsofthesewhichwalkedtherenow。Sheleantbacktoobtainmorethoroughrest，andthesofteasternportionoftheskywasasgreatarelieftohereyesasthethymewastoherhead。
Whileshelookedaheronaroseonthatsideoftheskyandflewonwithhisfacetowardsthesun。Hehadcomedrippingwetfromsomepoolinthevalleys，andasheflewtheedgesandliningofhiswings，histhighsandhisbreastweresocaughtbythebrightsunbeamsthatheappearedasifformedofburnishedsilver。
Upinthezenithwherehewasseemedafreeandhappyplace，awayfromallcontactwiththeearthlyballtowhichshewaspinioned；andshewishedthatshecouldariseuncrushedfromitssurfaceandflyasheflewthen。
But，beingamother，itwasinevitablethatsheshouldsoonceasetoruminateuponherowncondition。Hadthetrackofhernextthoughtbeenmarkedbyastreakintheair，likethepathofameteor，itwouldhaveshownadirectioncontrarytotheheron’s，andhavedescendedtotheeastwardupontheroofofClym’shouse。
7—TheTragicMeetingofTwoOldFriendsHeinthemeantimehadarousedhimselffromsleep，satup，andlookedaround。Eustaciawassittinginachairhardbyhim，andthoughsheheldabookinherhandshehadnotlookedintoitforsometime。
"Well，indeed！"saidClym，brushinghiseyeswithhishands。
"HowsoundlyIhaveslept！Ihavehadsuchatremendousdream，too——oneIshallneverforget。"
"Ithoughtyouhadbeendreaming，"saidshe。
"Yes。Itwasaboutmymother。IdreamtthatItookyoutoherhousetomakeupdifferences，andwhenwegottherewecouldn’tgetin，thoughshekeptoncryingtousforhelp。
However，dreamsaredreams。Whato’clockisit，Eustacia？"
"Half—pasttwo。"
"Solate，isit？Ididn’tmeantostaysolong。BythetimeIhavehadsomethingtoeatitwillbeafterthree。"
"Annisnotcomebackfromthevillage，andIthoughtI
wouldletyousleepontillshereturned。"
Clymwenttothewindowandlookedout。Presentlyhesaid，musingly，"Weekafterweekpasses，andyetMotherdoesnotcome。
IthoughtIshouldhaveheardsomethingfromherlongbeforethis。"
Misgiving，regret，fear，resolution，rantheirswiftcourseofexpressioninEustacia’sdarkeyes。
Shewasfacetofacewithamonstrousdifficulty，andsheresolvedtogetfreeofitbypostponement。
"ImustcertainlygotoBlooms—Endsoon，"hecontinued，"andIthinkIhadbettergoalone。"Hepickeduphisleggingsandgloves，threwthemdownagain，andadded，"AsdinnerwillbesolatetodayIwillnotgobacktotheheath，butworkinthegardentilltheevening，andthen，whenitwillbecooler，IwillwalktoBlooms—End。
IamquitesurethatifImakealittleadvanceMotherwillbewillingtoforgetall。ItwillberatherlatebeforeIcangethome，asIshallnotbeabletodothedistanceeitherwayinlessthananhourandahalf。
Butyouwillnotmindforoneevening，dear？Whatareyouthinkingoftomakeyoulooksoabstracted？"
"Icannottellyou，"shesaidheavily。"Iwishwedidn’tlivehere，Clym。Theworldseemsallwronginthisplace。"
"Well——ifwemakeitso。IwonderifThomasinhasbeentoBlooms—Endlately。Ihopeso。Butprobablynot，assheis，Ibelieve，expectingtobeconfinedinamonthorso。
IwishIhadthoughtofthatbefore。PoorMothermustindeedbeverylonely。"
"Idon’tlikeyougoingtonight。"
"Whynottonight？"
"Somethingmaybesaidwhichwillterriblyinjureme。"
"Mymotherisnotvindictive，"saidClym，hiscolourfaintlyrising。
"ButIwishyouwouldnotgo，"Eustaciarepeatedinalowtone。"IfyouagreenottogotonightIpromisetogobymyselftoherhousetomorrow，andmakeitupwithher，andwaittillyoufetchme。"
"Whydoyouwanttodothatatthisparticulartime，whenateveryprevioustimethatIhaveproposedityouhaverefused？"
"IcannotexplainfurtherthanthatIshouldliketoseeheralonebeforeyougo，"sheanswered，withanimpatientmoveofherhead，andlookingathimwithananxietymorefrequentlyseenuponthoseofasanguinetemperamentthanuponsuchasherself。
"Well，itisveryoddthatjustwhenIhaddecidedtogomyselfyoushouldwanttodowhatIproposedlongago。
IfIwaitforyoutogotomorrowanotherdaywillbelost；
andIknowIshallbeunabletorestanothernightwithouthavingbeen。Iwanttogetthissettled，andwill。
Youmustvisitherafterwards——itwillbeallthesame。"
"Icouldevengowithyounow？"
"YoucouldscarcelywalkthereandbackwithoutalongerrestthanIshalltake。No，nottonight，Eustacia。"
"Letitbeasyousay，then，"sherepliedinthequietwayofonewho，thoughwillingtowardoffevilconsequencesbyamildeffort，wouldleteventsfalloutastheymightsoonerthanwrestlehardtodirectthem。
Clymthenwentintothegarden；andathoughtfullanguorstoleoverEustaciafortheremainderoftheafternoon，whichherhusbandattributedtotheheatoftheweather。
Intheeveninghesetoutonthejourney。Althoughtheheatofsummerwasyetintensethedayshadconsiderablyshortened，andbeforehehadadvancedamileonhiswayalltheheathpurples，browns，andgreenshadmergedinauniformdresswithoutairinessorgraduation，andbrokenonlybytouchesofwhitewherethelittleheapsofcleanquartzsandshowedtheentrancetoarabbitburrow，orwherethewhiteflintsofafootpathlaylikeathreadovertheslopes。
Inalmosteveryoneoftheisolatedandstuntedthornswhichgrewhereandthereanighthawkrevealedhispresencebywhirringliketheclackofamillaslongashecouldholdhisbreath，thenstopping，flappinghiswings，wheelingroundthebush，alighting，andafterasilentintervaloflisteningbeginningtowhirragain。AteachbrushingofClym’sfeetwhitemillermothsflewintotheairjusthighenoughtocatchupontheirdustywingsthemellowedlightfromthewest，whichnowshoneacrossthedepressionsandlevelsofthegroundwithoutfallingthereontolightthemup。
Yeobrightwalkedonamidthisquietscenewithahopethatallwouldsoonbewell。Threemilesonhecametoaspotwhereasoftperfumewaswaftedacrosshispath，andhestoodstillforamomenttoinhalethefamiliarscent。
Itwastheplaceatwhich，fourhoursearlier，hismotherhadsatdownexhaustedontheknollcoveredwithshepherd’s—thyme。Whilehestoodasoundbetweenabreathingandamoansuddenlyreachedhisears。
Helookedtowherethesoundcamefrom；butnothingappearedtheresavethevergeofthehillockstretchingagainsttheskyinanunbrokenline。Hemovedafewstepsinthatdirection，andnowheperceivedarecumbentfigurealmostclosetohisfeet。
Amongthedifferentpossibilitiesastotheperson’sindividualitytheredidnotforamomentoccurtoYeobrightthatitmightbeoneofhisownfamily。
Sometimesfurze—cuttershadbeenknowntosleepoutofdoorsatthesetimes，tosavealongjourneyhomewardandbackagain；butClymrememberedthemoanandlookedcloser，andsawthattheformwasfeminine；
andadistresscameoverhimlikecoldairfromacave。
Buthewasnotabsolutelycertainthatthewomanwashismothertillhestoopedandbeheldherface，pallid，andwithclosedeyes。
Hisbreathwent，asitwere，outofhisbodyandthecryofanguishwhichwouldhaveescapedhimdieduponhislips。
Duringthemomentaryintervalthatelapsedbeforehebecameconsciousthatsomethingmustbedoneallsenseoftimeandplacelefthim，anditseemedasifheandhismotherwereaswhenhewasachildwithhermanyyearsagoonthisheathathourssimilartothepresent。
Thenheawoketoactivity；andbendingyetlowerhefoundthatshestillbreathed，andthatherbreaththoughfeeblewasregular，exceptwhendisturbedbyanoccasionalgasp。
"O，whatisit！Mother，areyouveryill——youarenotdying？"
hecried，pressinghislipstoherface。"IamyourClym。
Howdidyoucomehere？Whatdoesitallmean？"
AtthatmomentthechasmintheirliveswhichhisloveforEustaciahadcausedwasnotrememberedbyYeobright，andtohimthepresentjoinedcontinuouslywiththatfriendlypastthathadbeentheirexperiencebeforethedivision。
Shemovedherlips，appearedtoknowhim，butcouldnotspeak；
andthenClymstrovetoconsiderhowbesttomoveher，asitwouldbenecessarytogetherawayfromthespotbeforethedewswereintense。Hewasable—bodied，andhismotherwasthin。Heclaspedhisarmsroundher，liftedheralittle，andsaid，"Doesthathurtyou？"
Sheshookherhead，andheliftedherup；then，ataslowpace，wentonwardwithhisload。Theairwasnowcompletelycool；
butwheneverhepassedoverasandypatchofgrounduncarpetedwithvegetationtherewasreflectedfromitssurfaceintohisfacetheheatwhichithadimbibedduringtheday。AtthebeginningofhisundertakinghehadthoughtbutlittleofthedistancewhichyetwouldhavetobetraversedbeforeBlooms—Endcouldbereached；
butthoughhehadsleptthatafternoonhesoonbegantofeeltheweightofhisburden。Thusheproceeded，likeAeneaswithhisfather；thebatscirclingroundhishead，nightjarsflappingtheirwingswithinayardofhisface，andnotahumanbeingwithincall。
Whilehewasyetnearlyamilefromthehousehismotherexhibitedsignsofrestlessnessundertheconstraintofbeingbornealong，asifhisarmswereirksometoher。
Heloweredheruponhiskneesandlookedaround。
Thepointtheyhadnowreached，thoughfarfromanyroad，wasnotmorethanamilefromtheBlooms—EndcottagesoccupiedbyFairway，Sam，Humphrey，andtheCantles。
Moreover，fiftyyardsoffstoodahut，builtofclodsandcoveredwiththinturves，butnowentirelydisused。
Thesimpleoutlineofthelonelyshedwasvisible，andthitherhedeterminedtodirecthissteps。Assoonashearrivedhelaidherdowncarefullybytheentrance，andthenranandcutwithhispocketknifeanarmfulofthedryestfern。Spreadingthiswithintheshed，whichwasentirelyopenononeside，heplacedhismotherthereon；
thenheranwithallhismighttowardsthedwellingofFairway。
Nearlyaquarterofanhourhadpassed，disturbedonlybythebrokenbreathingofthesufferer，whenmovingfiguresbegantoanimatethelinebetweenheathandsky。InafewmomentsClymarrivedwithFairway，Humphrey，andSusanNunsuch；
OllyDowden，whohadchancedtobeatFairway’s，ChristianandGrandferCantlefollowinghelter—skelterbehind。
Theyhadbroughtalanternandmatches，water，apillow，andafewotherarticleswhichhadoccurredtotheirmindsinthehurryofthemoment。Samhadbeendespatchedbackagainforbrandy，andaboybroughtFairway’spony，uponwhichherodeofftothenearestmedicalman，withdirectionstocallatWildeve’sonhisway，andinformThomasinthatherauntwasunwell。
Samandthebrandysoonarrived，anditwasadministeredbythelightofthelantern；afterwhichshebecamesufficientlyconscioustosignifybysignsthatsomethingwaswrongwithherfoot。OllyDowdenatlengthunderstoodhermeaning，andexaminedthefootindicated。
Itwasswollenandred。Evenastheywatchedtheredbegantoassumeamorelividcolour，inthemidstofwhichappearedascarletspeck，smallerthanapea，anditwasfoundtoconsistofadropofblood，whichroseabovethesmoothfleshofherankleinahemisphere。
"Iknowwhatitis，"criedSam。"Shehasbeenstungbyanadder！"
"Yes，"saidClyminstantly。"IrememberwhenIwasachildseeingjustsuchabite。O，mypoormother！"
"Itwasmyfatherwhowasbit，"saidSam。"Andthere’sonlyonewaytocureit。Youmustrubtheplacewiththefatofotheradders，andtheonlywaytogetthatisbyfryingthem。That’swhattheydidforhim。"
"’Tisanoldremedy，"saidClymdistrustfully，"andI
havedoubtsaboutit。Butwecandonothingelsetillthedoctorcomes。"
"’Tisasurecure，"saidOllyDowden，withemphasis。
"I’veuseditwhenIusedtogooutnursing。"
"Thenwemustprayfordaylight，tocatchthem，"
saidClymgloomily。
"IwillseewhatIcando，"saidSam。
Hetookagreenhazelwhichhehadusedasawalkingstick，splititattheend，insertedasmallpebble，andwiththelanterninhishandwentoutintotheheath。
Clymhadbythistimelitasmallfire，anddespatchedSusanNunsuchforafryingpan。BeforeshehadreturnedSamcameinwiththreeadders，onebrisklycoilinganduncoilinginthecleftofthestick，andtheothertwohangingdeadacrossit。
"Ihaveonlybeenabletogetonealiveandfreshasheoughttobe，"saidSam。"TheselimponesaretwoI
killedtodayatwork；butastheydon’tdietillthesungoesdowntheycan’tbeverystalemeat。"
Theliveadderregardedtheassembledgroupwithasinisterlookinitssmallblackeye，andthebeautifulbrownandjetpatternonitsbackseemedtointensifywithindignation。
Mrs。Yeobrightsawthecreature，andthecreaturesawher——shequiveredthroughout，andavertedhereyes。
"Lookatthat，"murmuredChristianCantle。"Neighbours，howdoweknowbutthatsomethingoftheoldserpentinGod’sgarden，thatgiedtheappletotheyoungwomanwithnoclothes，livesoninaddersandsnakesstill？
Lookathiseye——foralltheworldlikeavillainoussortofblackcurrant。’Tistobehopedhecan’till—wishus！
There’sfolksinheathwho’vebeenoverlookedalready。
IwillneverkillanotheradderaslongasIlive。"
"Well，’tisrighttobeafeardofthings，iffolkscan’thelpit，"saidGrandferCantle。"’Twouldhavesavedmemanyabravedangerinmytime。"
"IfancyIheardsomethingoutsidetheshed，"saidChristian。
"Iwishtroubleswouldcomeinthedaytime，forthenamancouldshowhiscourage，andhardlybegformercyofthemostbroomstickoldwomanheshouldsee，ifhewasabraveman，andabletorunoutofhersight！"
"EvensuchanignorantfellowasIshouldknowbetterthandothat，"saidSam。
"Well，there’scalamitieswhereweleastexpectit，whetherorno。Neighbours，ifMrs。Yeobrightweretodie，d’yethinkweshouldbetookupandtriedforthemanslaughterofawoman？"
"No，theycouldn’tbringitinasthat，"saidSam，"unlesstheycouldprovewehadbeenpoachersatsometimeofourlives。Butshe’llfetchround。"
"Now，ifIhadbeenstungbytenaddersIshouldhardlyhavelostaday’sworkfor’t，"saidGrandferCantle。
"SuchismyspiritwhenIamonmymettle。Butperhaps’tisnaturalinamantrainedforwar。Yes，I’vegonethroughagooddeal；butnothingevercameamisstomeafterIjoinedtheLocalsinfour。"Heshookhisheadandsmiledatamentalpictureofhimselfinuniform。
"Iwasalwaysfirstinthemostgalliantestscrapesinmyyoungerdays！"
"Isupposethatwasbecausetheyalwaysusedtoputthebiggestfoolafore，"saidFairwayfromthefire，besidewhichheknelt，blowingitwithhisbreath。
"D’yethinkso，Timothy？"saidGrandferCantle，comingforwardtoFairway’ssidewithsuddendepressioninhisface。
"Thenamanmayfeelforyearsthatheisgoodsolidcompany，andbewrongabouthimselfafterall？"
"Nevermindthatquestion，Grandfer。Stiryourstumpsandgetsomemoresticks。’Tisverynonsenseofanoldmantoprattlesowhenlifeanddeath’sinmangling。"
"Yes，yes，"saidGrandferCantle，withmelancholyconviction。
"Well，thisisabadnightaltogetherforthemthathavedonewellintheirtime；andifIwereeversuchadabatthehautboyortenorviol，Ishouldn’thavethehearttoplaytunesupon’emnow。"
Susannowarrivedwiththefryingpan，whentheliveadderwaskilledandtheheadsofthethreetakenoff。
Theremainders，beingcutintolengthsandsplitopen，weretossedintothepan，whichbeganhissingandcracklingoverthefire。Soonarillofclearoiltrickledfromthecarcases，whereuponClymdippedthecornerofhishandkerchiefintotheliquidandanointedthewound。
8—EustaciaHearsofGoodFortune，andBeholdsEvilInthemeantimeEustacia，leftaloneinhercottageatAlderworth，hadbecomeconsiderablydepressedbythepostureofaffairs。TheconsequenceswhichmightresultfromClym’sdiscoverythathismotherhadbeenturnedfromhisdoorthatdaywerelikelytobedisagreeable，andthiswasaqualityineventswhichshehatedasmuchasthedreadful。
Tobelefttopasstheeveningbyherselfwasirksometoheratanytime，andthiseveningitwasmoreirksomethanusualbyreasonoftheexcitementsofthepasthours。
Thetwovisitshadstirredherintorestlessness。
ShewasnotwroughttoanygreatpitchofuneasinessbytheprobabilityofappearinginanilllightinthediscussionbetweenClymandhismother，butshewaswroughttovexation，andherslumberingactivitieswerequickenedtotheextentofwishingthatshehadopenedthedoor。
ShehadcertainlybelievedthatClymwasawake，andtheexcusewouldbeanhonestoneasfarasitwent；
butnothingcouldsaveherfromcensureinrefusingtoansweratthefirstknock。Yet，insteadofblamingherselffortheissueshelaidthefaultupontheshouldersofsomeindistinct，colossalPrinceoftheWorld，whohadframedhersituationandruledherlot。
Atthistimeoftheyearitwaspleasantertowalkbynightthanbyday，andwhenClymhadbeenabsentaboutanhourshesuddenlyresolvedtogooutinthedirectionofBlooms—End，onthechanceofmeetinghimonhisreturn。
Whenshereachedthegardengatesheheardwheelsapproaching，andlookingroundbeheldhergrandfathercomingupinhiscar。
"Ican’tstayaminute，thankye，"heansweredtohergreeting。"IamdrivingtoEastEgdon；
butIcameroundherejusttotellyouthenews。
Perhapsyouhaveheard——aboutMr。Wildeve’sfortune？"
"No，"saidEustaciablankly。
"Well，hehascomeintoafortuneofeleventhousandpounds——unclediedinCanada，justafterhearingthatallhisfamily，whomhewassendinghome，hadgonetothebottomintheCassiopeia；soWildevehascomeintoeverything，withoutintheleastexpectingit。"
Eustaciastoodmotionlessawhile。"Howlonghasheknownofthis？"sheasked。
"Well，itwasknowntohimthismorningearly，forIknewitatteno’clock，whenCharleycameback。Now，heiswhatIcallaluckyman。Whatafoolyouwere，Eustacia！"
"Inwhatway？"shesaid，liftinghereyesinapparentcalmness。
"Why，innotstickingtohimwhenyouhadhim。"
"Hadhim，indeed！"
"Ididnotknowtherehadeverbeenanythingbetweenyoutilllately；and，faith，IshouldhavebeenhotandstrongagainstitifIhadknown；butsinceitseemsthattherewassomesniffingbetweenye，whythedeucedidn’tyousticktohim？"
Eustaciamadenoreply，butshelookedasifshecouldsayasmuchuponthatsubjectasheifshechose。
"Andhowisyourpoorpurblindhusband？"continuedtheoldman。"Notabadfelloweither，asfarashegoes。"
"Heisquitewell。"
"Itisagoodthingforhiscousinwhat—d’ye—call—her？
ByGeorge，yououghttohavebeeninthatgalley，mygirl！NowImustdriveon。Doyouwantanyassistance？
What’smineisyours，youknow。"
"Thankyou，Grandfather，wearenotinwantatpresent，"
shesaidcoldly。"Clymcutsfurze，buthedoesitmostlyasausefulpastime，becausehecandonothingelse。"
"Heispaidforhispastime，isn’the？Threeshillingsahundred，Iheard。"
"Clymhasmoney，"shesaid，colouring，"buthelikestoearnalittle。"
"Verywell；goodnight。"Andthecaptaindroveon。
WhenhergrandfatherwasgoneEustaciawentonherwaymechanically；butherthoughtswerenolongerconcerninghermother—in—lawandClym。Wildeve，notwithstandinghiscomplaintsagainsthisfate，hadbeenseizeduponbydestinyandplacedinthesunshineoncemore。Eleventhousandpounds！FromeveryEgdonpointofviewhewasarichman。
InEustacia’seyes，too，itwasanamplesum——onesufficienttosupplythosewantsofherswhichhadbeenstigmatizedbyClyminhismoreausteremoodsasvainandluxurious。
Thoughshewasnoloverofmoneyshelovedwhatmoneycouldbring；andthenewaccessoriessheimaginedaroundhimclothedWildevewithagreatdealofinterest。
Sherecollectednowhowquietlywell—dressedhehadbeenthatmorning——hehadprobablyputonhisnewestsuit，regardlessofdamagebybriarsandthorns。Andthenshethoughtofhismannertowardsherself。
"OIseeit，Iseeit，"shesaid。"Howmuchhewisheshehadmenow，thathemightgivemeallIdesire！"
Inrecallingthedetailsofhisglancesandwords——atthetimescarcelyregarded——itbecameplaintoherhowgreatlytheyhadbeendictatedbyhisknowledgeofthisnewevent。"Hadhebeenamantobearajiltill—willhewouldhavetoldmeofhisgoodfortuneincrowingtones；
insteadofdoingthathementionednotaword，indeferencetomymisfortunes，andmerelyimpliedthathelovedmestill，asonesuperiortohim。"
Wildeve’ssilencethatdayonwhathadhappenedtohimwasjustthekindofbehaviourcalculatedtomakeanimpressiononsuchawoman。Thosedelicatetouchesofgoodtastewere，infact，oneofthestrongpointsinhisdemeanourtowardstheothersex。ThepeculiarityofWildevewasthat，whileatonetimepassionate，upbraiding，andresentfultowardsawoman，atanotherhewouldtreatherwithsuchunparalleledgraceastomakepreviousneglectappearasnodiscourtesy，injuryasnoinsult，interferenceasadelicateattention，andtheruinofherhonourasexcessofchivalry。Thisman，whoseadmirationtodayEustaciahaddisregarded，whosegoodwishesshehadscarcelytakenthetroubletoaccept，whomshehadshownoutofthehousebythebackdoor，wasthepossessorofeleventhousandpounds——amanoffairprofessionaleducation，andonewhohadservedhisarticleswithacivilengineer。
SointentwasEustaciauponWildeve’sfortunesthatsheforgothowmuchclosertoherowncoursewerethoseofClym；
andinsteadofwalkingontomeethimatonceshesatdownuponastone。Shewasdisturbedinherreveriebyavoicebehind，andturningherheadbeheldtheoldloverandfortunateinheritorofwealthimmediatelybesideher。
Sheremainedsitting，thoughthefluctuationinherlookmighthavetoldanymanwhoknewhersowellasWildevethatshewasthinkingofhim。
"Howdidyoucomehere？"shesaidinherclearlowtone。
"Ithoughtyouwereathome。"
"Iwentontothevillageafterleavingyourgarden；
andnowIhavecomebackagain——that’sall。Whichwayareyouwalking，mayIask？"
ShewavedherhandinthedirectionofBlooms—End。"I
amgoingtomeetmyhusband。IthinkImaypossiblyhavegotintotroublewhilstyouwerewithmetoday。"
"Howcouldthatbe？"
"BynotlettinginMrs。Yeobright。"
"Ihopethatvisitofminedidyounoharm。"
"None。Itwasnotyourfault，"shesaidquietly。