butreasonhavingnowsomewhatrecovereditselfhesankintotaciturnity。
　　Oneeveningwhenhewasthusstandinginthegarden，abstractedlyspuddingupaweedwithhisstick，abonyfigureturnedthecornerofthehouseandcameuptohim。
　　"Christian，isn’tit？"saidClym。"Iamgladyouhavefoundmeout。IshallsoonwantyoutogotoBlooms—
　　Endandassistmeinputtingthehouseinorder。
　　IsupposeitisalllockedupasIleftit？"
　　"Yes，MisterClym。"
　　"Haveyoudugupthepotatoesandotherroots？"
　　"Yes，withoutadropo’rain，thankGod。ButIwascomingtotell’eeofsomethingelsewhichisquitedifferentfromwhatwehavelatelyhadinthefamily。
　　IamsentbytherichgentlemanattheWoman，thatweusedtocallthelandlord，totell’eethatMrs。Wildeveisdoingwellofagirl，whichwasbornpunctuallyatoneo’clockatnoon，orafewminutesmoreorless；
　　and’tissaidthatexpectingofthisincreaseiswhathavekept’emtheresincetheycameintotheirmoney。"
　　"Andsheisgettingonwell，yousay？"
　　"Yes，sir。OnlyMr。Wildeveistwankybecause’tisn’taboy——that’swhattheysayinthekitchen，butIwasnotsupposedtonoticethat。"
　　"Christian，nowlistentome。"
　　"Yes，sure，Mr。Yeobright。"
　　"Didyouseemymotherthedaybeforeshedied？"
　　"No，Ididnot。"
　　Yeobright’sfaceexpresseddisappointment。
　　"ButIzeedherthemorningofthesamedayshedied。"
　　Clym’slooklightedup。"That’snearerstilltomymeaning，"
　　hesaid。
　　"Yes，Iknow’twasthesameday；forshesaid，’Ibegoingtoseehim，Christian；soIshallnotwantanyvegetablesbroughtinfordinner。’"
　　"Seewhom？"
　　"Seeyou。Shewasgoingtoyourhouse，youunderstand。"
　　YeobrightregardedChristianwithintensesurprise。
　　"Whydidyounevermentionthis？"hesaid。"Areyousureitwasmyhouseshewascomingto？"
　　"Oyes。Ididn’tmentionitbecauseI’veneverzeedyoulately。Andasshedidn’tgetthereitwasallnought，andnothingtotell。"
　　"AndIhavebeenwonderingwhysheshouldhavewalkedintheheathonthathotday！Well，didshesaywhatshewascomingfor？Itisathing，Christian，Iamveryanxioustoknow。"
　　"Yes，MisterClym。Shedidn’tsayittome，thoughI
　　thinkshedidtoonehereandthere。"
　　"Doyouknowonepersontowhomshespokeofit？"
　　"Thereisoneman，please，sir，butIhopeyouwon’tmentionmynametohim，asIhaveseenhiminstrangeplaces，particularindreams。OnenightlastsummerheglaredatmelikeFamineandSword，anditmademefeelsolowthatIdidn’tcomboutmyfewhairsfortwodays。
　　Hewasstanding，asitmightbe，MisterYeobright，inthemiddleofthepathtoMistover，andyourmothercameup，lookingaspale——"
　　"Yes，whenwasthat？"
　　"Lastsummer，inmydream。"
　　"Pooh！Who’stheman？"
　　"Diggory，thereddleman。Hecalleduponherandsatwithhertheeveningbeforeshesetouttoseeyou。
　　Ihadn’tgonehomefromworkwhenhecameuptothegate。"
　　"ImustseeVenn——IwishIhadknownitbefore，"
　　saidClymanxiously。"Iwonderwhyhehasnotcometotellme？"
　　"HewentoutofEgdonHeaththenextday，sowouldnotbelikelytoknowyouwantedhim。"
　　"Christian，"saidClym，"youmustgoandfindVenn。
　　Iamotherwiseengaged，orIwouldgomyself。Findhimatonce，andtellhimIwanttospeaktohim。"
　　"Iamagoodhandathuntingupfolkbyday，"saidChristian，lookingdubiouslyroundatthedeclininglight；
　　"butastonight—time，neverissuchabadhandasI，MisterYeobright。"
　　"Searchtheheathwhenyouwill，sothatyoubringhimsoon。
　　Bringhimtomorrow，ifyoucan。"
　　Christianthendeparted。Themorrowcame，butnoVenn。
　　IntheeveningChristianarrived，lookingveryweary。
　　Hehadbeensearchingallday，andhadheardnothingofthereddleman。
　　"Inquireasmuchasyoucantomorrowwithoutneglectingyourwork，"saidYeobright。"Don’tcomeagaintillyouhavefoundhim。"
　　ThenextdayYeobrightsetoutfortheoldhouseatBlooms—End，which，withthegarden，wasnowhisown。
　　Hissevereillnesshadhinderedallpreparationsforhisremovalthither；butithadbecomenecessarythatheshouldgoandoverlookitscontents，asadministratortohismother’slittleproperty；forwhichpurposehedecidedtopassthenextnightonthepremises。
　　Hejourneyedonward，notquicklyordecisively，butintheslowwalkofonewhohasbeenawakenedfromastupefyingsleep。
　　Itwasearlyafternoonwhenhereachedthevalley。
　　Theexpressionoftheplace，thetoneofthehour，werepreciselythoseofmanysuchoccasionsindaysgoneby；
　　andtheseantecedentsimilaritiesfosteredtheillusionthatshe，whowastherenolonger，wouldcomeouttowelcomehim。
　　Thegardengatewaslockedandtheshutterswereclosed，justashehimselfhadleftthemontheeveningafterthefuneral。Heunlockedthegate，andfoundthataspiderhadalreadyconstructedalargeweb，tyingthedoortothelintel，onthesuppositionthatitwasnevertobeopenedagain。Whenhehadenteredthehouseandflungbacktheshuttershesetabouthistaskofoverhaulingthecupboardsandclosets，burningpapers，andconsideringhowbesttoarrangetheplaceforEustacia’sreception，untilsuchtimeashemightbeinapositiontocarryouthislong—delayedscheme，shouldthattimeeverarrive。
　　Ashesurveyedtheroomshefeltstronglydisinclinedforthealterationswhichwouldhavetobemadeinthetime—honouredfurnishingofhisparentsandgrandparents，tosuitEustacia’smodernideas。Thegauntoak—casedclock，withthepictureoftheAscensiononthedoorpanelandtheMiraculousDraughtofFishesonthebase；
　　hisgrandmother’scornercupboardwiththeglassdoor，throughwhichthespottedchinawasvisible；thedumb—waiter；
　　thewoodenteatrays；thehangingfountainwiththebrasstap——whitherwouldthesevenerablearticleshavetobebanished？
　　Henoticedthattheflowersinthewindowhaddiedforwantofwater，andheplacedthemoutupontheledge，thattheymightbetakenaway。Whilethusengagedheheardfootstepsonthegravelwithout，andsomebodyknockedatthedoor。
　　Yeobrightopenedit，andVennwasstandingbeforehim。
　　"Goodmorning，"saidthereddleman。"IsMrs。Yeobrightathome？"
　　Yeobrightlookedupontheground。"ThenyouhavenotseenChristianoranyoftheEgdonfolks？"hesaid。
　　"No。Ihaveonlyjustreturnedafteralongstayaway。
　　IcalledherethedaybeforeIleft。"
　　"Andyouhaveheardnothing？"
　　"Nothing。"
　　"Mymotheris——dead。"
　　"Dead！"saidVennmechanically。
　　"HerhomenowiswhereIshouldn’tmindhavingmine。"
　　Vennregardedhim，andthensaid，"IfIdidn’tseeyourfaceIcouldneverbelieveyourwords。Haveyoubeenill？"
　　"Ihadanillness。"
　　"Well，thechange！WhenIpartedfromheramonthagoeverythingseemedtosaythatshewasgoingtobeginanewlife。"
　　"Andwhatseemedcametrue。"
　　"Yousayright，nodoubt。Troublehastaughtyouadeeperveinoftalkthanmine。AllImeantwasregardingherlifehere。Shehasdiedtoosoon。"
　　"Perhapsthroughmylivingtoolong。Ihavehadabitterexperienceonthatscorethislastmonth，Diggory。
　　Butcomein；Ihavebeenwantingtoseeyou。"
　　HeconductedthereddlemanintothelargeroomwherethedancinghadtakenplacethepreviousChristmas，andtheysatdowninthesettletogether。"There’sthecoldfireplace，yousee，"saidClym。"Whenthathalf—
　　burntlogandthosecinderswerealightshewasalive！
　　Littlehasbeenchangedhereyet。Icandonothing。
　　Mylifecreepslikeasnail。"
　　"Howcameshetodie？"saidVenn。
　　Yeobrightgavehimsomeparticularsofherillnessanddeath，andcontinued："Afterthisnokindofpainwilleverseemmorethananindispositiontome。
　　IbegansayingthatIwantedtoaskyousomething，butI
　　strayfromsubjectslikeadrunkenman。Iamanxioustoknowwhatmymothersaidtoyouwhenshelastsawyou。
　　Youtalkedwithheralongtime，Ithink？"
　　"Italkedwithhermorethanhalfanhour。"
　　"Aboutme？"
　　"Yes。Anditmusthavebeenonaccountofwhatwesaidthatshewasontheheath。Withoutquestionshewascomingtoseeyou。"
　　"Butwhyshouldshecometoseemeifshefeltsobitterlyagainstme？There’sthemystery。"
　　"YetIknowshequiteforgave’ee。"
　　"But，Diggory——wouldawoman，whohadquiteforgivenherson，say，whenshefeltherselfillonthewaytohishouse，thatshewasbroken—heartedbecauseofhisill—usage？Never！"
　　"WhatIknowisthatshedidn’tblameyouatall。
　　Sheblamedherselfforwhathadhappened，andonlyherself。
　　Ihaditfromherownlips。"
　　"YouhaditfromherlipsthatIhadNOTill—treatedher；
　　andatthesametimeanotherhaditfromherlipsthatI
　　HADill—treatedher？Mymotherwasnoimpulsivewomanwhochangedheropinioneveryhourwithoutreason。
　　Howcanitbe，Venn，thatsheshouldhavetoldsuchdifferentstoriesinclosesuccession？"
　　"Icannotsay。Itiscertainlyodd，whenshehadforgivenyou，andhadforgivenyourwife，andwasgoingtoseeyeonpurposetomakefriends。"
　　"Iftherewasonethingwantingtobewildermeitwasthisincomprehensiblething！……Diggory，ifwe，whoremainalive，wereonlyallowedtoholdconversationwiththedead——justonce，abareminute，eventhroughascreenofironbars，aswithpersonsinprison——whatwemightlearn！Howmanywhonowridesmilingwouldhidetheirheads！Andthismystery——Ishouldthenbeatthebottomofitatonce。
　　Butthegravehasforevershutherin；andhowshallitbefoundoutnow？"
　　Noreplywasreturnedbyhiscompanion，sincenonecouldbegiven；andwhenVennleft，afewminuteslater，Clymhadpassedfromthedullnessofsorrowtothefluctuationofcarkingincertitude。
　　Hecontinuedinthesamestatealltheafternoon。
　　Abedwasmadeupforhiminthesamehousebyaneighbour，thathemightnothavetoreturnagainthenextday；
　　andwhenheretiredtorestinthedesertedplaceitwasonlytoremainawakehourafterhourthinkingthesamethoughts。Howtodiscoverasolutiontothisriddleofdeathseemedaqueryofmoreimportancethanhighestproblemsoftheliving。TherewashousedinhismemoryavividpictureofthefaceofalittleboyasheenteredthehovelwhereClym’smotherlay。Theroundeyes，eagergaze，thepipingvoicewhichenunciatedthewords，hadoperatedlikestilettosonhisbrain。
　　Avisittotheboysuggesteditselfasameansofgleaningnewparticulars；thoughitmightbequiteunproductive。
　　Toprobeachild’smindafterthelapseofsixweeks，notforfactswhichthechildhadseenandunderstood，buttogetatthosewhichwereintheirnaturebeyondhim，didnotpromisemuch；yetwheneveryobviouschannelisblockedwegropetowardsthesmallandobscure。
　　Therewasnothingelselefttodo；afterthathewouldallowtheenigmatodropintotheabyssofundiscoverablethings。
　　Itwasaboutdaybreakwhenhehadreachedthisdecision，andheatoncearose。Helockedupthehouseandwentoutintothegreenpatchwhichmergedinheatherfurtheron。
　　Infrontofthewhitegarden—palingsthepathbranchedintothreelikeabroadarrow。TheroadtotherightledtotheQuietWomananditsneighbourhood；themiddletrackledtoMistoverKnap；theleft—handtrackledoverthehilltoanotherpartofMistover，wherethechildlived。
　　OnincliningintothelatterpathYeobrightfeltacreepingchilliness，familiarenoughtomostpeople，andprobablycausedbytheunsunnedmorningair。Inafterdayshethoughtofitasathingofsingularsignificance。
　　WhenYeobrightreachedthecottageofSusanNunsuch，themotheroftheboyhesought，hefoundthattheinmateswerenotyetastir。Butinuplandhamletsthetransitionfroma—bedtoabroadissurprisinglyswiftandeasy。
　　Therenodensepartitionofyawnsandtoiletsdivideshumanitybynightfromhumanitybyday。Yeobrighttappedattheupperwindowsill，whichhecouldreachwithhiswalkingstick；andinthreeorfourminutesthewomancamedown。
　　ItwasnottillthismomentthatClymrecollectedhertobethepersonwhohadbehavedsobarbarouslytoEustacia。
　　Itpartlyexplainedtheinsuavitywithwhichthewomangreetedhim。Moreover，theboyhadbeenailingagain；
　　andSusannow，aseversincethenightwhenhehadbeenpressedintoEustacia’sserviceatthebonfire，attributedhisindispositionstoEustacia’sinfluenceasawitch。Itwasoneofthosesentimentswhichlurklikemolesunderneaththevisiblesurfaceofmanners，andmayhavebeenkeptalivebyEustacia’sentreatytothecaptain，atthetimethathehadintendedtoprosecuteSusanfortheprickinginchurch，toletthematterdrop；
　　whichheaccordinglyhaddone。
　　Yeobrightovercamehisrepugnance，forSusanhadatleastbornehismothernoill—will。Heaskedkindlyfortheboy；
　　buthermannerdidnotimprove。
　　"Iwishtoseehim，"continuedYeobright，withsomehesitation，"toaskhimifheremembersanythingmoreofhiswalkwithmymotherthanwhathehaspreviouslytold。"
　　Sheregardedhiminapeculiarandcriticizingmanner。
　　Toanybodybutahalf—blindmanitwouldhavesaid，"Youwantanotheroftheknockswhichhavealreadylaidyousolow。"
　　Shecalledtheboydownstairs，askedClymtositdownonastool，andcontinued，"Now，Johnny，tellMr。Yeobrightanythingyoucancalltomind。"
　　"Youhavenotforgottenhowyouwalkedwiththepoorladyonthathotday？"saidClym。
　　"No，"saidtheboy。
　　"Andwhatshesaidtoyou？"
　　Theboyrepeatedtheexactwordshehadusedonenteringthehut。
　　Yeobrightrestedhiselbowonthetableandshadedhisfacewithhishand；andthemotherlookedasifshewonderedhowamancouldwantmoreofwhathadstunghimsodeeply。
　　"ShewasgoingtoAlderworthwhenyoufirstmether？"
　　"No；shewascomingaway。"
　　"Thatcan’tbe。"
　　"Yes；shewalkedalongwithme。Iwascomingaway，too。"
　　"Thenwheredidyoufirstseeher？"
　　"Atyourhouse。"
　　"Attend，andspeakthetruth！"saidClymsternly。
　　"Yes，sir；atyourhousewaswhereIseedherfirst。"
　　Clymstartedup，andSusansmiledinanexpectantwaywhichdidnotembellishherface；itseemedtomean，"Somethingsinisteriscoming！"
　　"Whatdidshedoatmyhouse？"
　　"ShewentandsatunderthetreesattheDevil’sBellows。"
　　"GoodGod！thisisallnewstome！"
　　"Younevertoldmethisbefore？"saidSusan。
　　"No，Mother；becauseIdidn’tliketotell’eeIhadbeensofar。Iwaspickingblackhearts，andwentfurtherthanImeant。"
　　"Whatdidshedothen？"saidYeobright。
　　"Lookedatamanwhocameupandwentintoyourhouse。"
　　"Thatwasmyself——afurze—cutter，withbramblesinhishand。"
　　"No；’twasnotyou。’Twasagentleman。Youhadgoneinafore。"
　　"Whowashe？"
　　"Idon’tknow。"
　　"Nowtellmewhathappenednext。"
　　"Thepoorladywentandknockedatyourdoor，andtheladywithblackhairlookedoutofthesidewindowather。"
　　Theboy’smotherturnedtoClymandsaid，"Thisissomethingyoudidn’texpect？"
　　Yeobrighttooknomorenoticeofherthanifhehadbeenofstone。"Goon，goon，"hesaidhoarselytotheboy。
　　"Andwhenshesawtheyoungladylookoutofthewindowtheoldladyknockedagain；andwhennobodycameshetookupthefurze—hookandlookedatit，andputitdownagain，andthenshelookedatthefaggot—bonds；andthenshewentaway，andwalkedacrosstome，andblowedherbreathveryhard，likethis。Wewalkedontogether，sheandI，andItalkedtoherandshetalkedtomeabit，butnotmuch，becauseshecouldn’tblowherbreath。"
　　"O！"murmuredClym，inalowtone，andbowedhishead。
　　"Let’shavemore，"hesaid。
　　"Shecouldn’ttalkmuch，andshecouldn’twalk；andherfacewas，Osoqueer！"
　　"Howwasherface？"
　　"Likeyoursisnow。"
　　ThewomanlookedatYeobright，andbeheldhimcolourless，inacoldsweat。"Isn’ttheremeaninginit？"
　　shesaidstealthily。"Whatdoyouthinkofhernow？"
　　"Silence！"saidClymfiercely。And，turningtotheboy，"Andthenyoulefthertodie？"
　　"No，"saidthewoman，quicklyandangrily。"Hedidnotleavehertodie！Shesenthimaway。Whoeversaysheforsookhersayswhat’snottrue。"
　　"Troublenomoreaboutthat，"answeredClym，withaquiveringmouth。"Whathedidisatrifleincomparisonwithwhathesaw。Doorkeptshut，didyousay？Keptshut，shelookingoutofwindow？GoodheartofGod！——whatdoesitmean？"
　　Thechildshrankawayfromthegazeofhisquestioner。
　　"Hesaidso，"answeredthemother，"andJohnny’saGod—
　　fearingboyandtellsnolies。"
　　"’Castoffbymyson！’No，bymybestlife，dearmother，itisnotso！Butbyyourson’s，yourson’s——Mayallmurderessesgetthetormenttheydeserve！"
　　WiththesewordsYeobrightwentforthfromthelittledwelling。
　　Thepupilsofhiseyes，fixedsteadfastlyonblankness，werevaguelylitwithanicyshine；hismouthhadpassedintothephasemoreorlessimaginativelyrenderedinstudiesofOedipus。Thestrangestdeedswerepossibletohismood。
　　Buttheywerenotpossibletohissituation。InsteadoftherebeingbeforehimthepalefaceofEustacia，andamasculineshapeunknown，therewasonlytheimperturbablecountenanceoftheheath，which，havingdefiedthecataclysmalonsetsofcenturies，reducedtoinsignificancebyitsseamedandantiquefeaturesthewildestturmoilofasingleman。
　　3—EustaciaDressesHerselfonaBlackMorningAconsciousnessofavastimpassivityinallwhichlayaroundhimtookpossessionevenofYeobrightinhiswildwalktowardsAlderworth。Hehadoncebeforefeltinhisownpersonthisoverpoweringofthefervidbytheinanimate；
　　butthenithadtendedtoenervateapassionfarsweeterthanthatwhichatpresentpervadedhim。ItwasoncewhenhestoodpartingfromEustaciainthemoiststilllevelsbeyondthehills。
　　Butdismissingallthishewentonwardhome，andcametothefrontofhishouse。TheblindsofEustacia’sbedroomwerestillcloselydrawn，forshewasnoearlyriser。
　　Allthelifevisiblewasintheshapeofasolitarythrushcrackingasmallsnailuponthedoor—stoneforhisbreakfast，andhistappingseemedaloudnoiseinthegeneralsilencewhichprevailed；butongoingtothedoorClymfounditunfastened，theyounggirlwhoattendeduponEustaciabeingastirinthebackpartofthepremises。
　　Yeobrightenteredandwentstraighttohiswife’sroom。
　　Thenoiseofhisarrivalmusthavearousedher，forwhenheopenedthedoorshewasstandingbeforethelookingglassinhernightdress，theendsofherhairgatheredintoonehand，withwhichshewascoilingthewholemassroundherhead，previoustobeginningtoiletteoperations。
　　Shewasnotawomangiventospeakingfirstatameeting，andsheallowedClymtowalkacrossinsilence，withoutturningherhead。Hecamebehindher，andshesawhisfaceintheglass。Itwasashy，haggard，andterrible。
　　Insteadofstartingtowardshiminsorrowfulsurprise，asevenEustacia，undemonstrativewifeasshewas，wouldhavedoneindaysbeforesheburdenedherselfwithasecret，sheremainedmotionless，lookingathimintheglass。
　　Andwhileshelookedthecarmineflushwithwhichwarmthandsoundsleephadsuffusedhercheeksandneckdissolvedfromview，andthedeathlikepallorinhisfaceflewacrossintohers。Hewascloseenoughtoseethis，andthesightinstigatedhistongue。
　　"Youknowwhatisthematter，"hesaidhuskily。
　　"Iseeitinyourface。"
　　Herhandrelinquishedtheropeofhairanddroppedtoherside，andthepileoftresses，nolongersupported，fellfromthecrownofherheadabouthershouldersandoverthewhitenightgown。Shemadenoreply。
　　"Speaktome，"saidYeobrightperemptorily。
　　Theblanchingprocessdidnotceaseinher，andherlipsnowbecameaswhiteasherface。Sheturnedtohimandsaid，"Yes，Clym，I’llspeaktoyou。Whydoyoureturnsoearly？CanIdoanythingforyou？"
　　"Yes，youcanlistentome。Itseemsthatmywifeisnotverywell？"
　　"Why？"
　　"Yourface，mydear；yourface。Orperhapsitisthepalemorninglightwhichtakesyourcolouraway？
　　NowIamgoingtorevealasecrettoyou。Ha—ha！"
　　"O，thatisghastly！"
　　"What？"
　　"Yourlaugh。"
　　"There’sreasonforghastliness。Eustacia，youhaveheldmyhappinessinthehollowofyourhand，andlikeadevilyouhavedasheditdown！"
　　Shestartedbackfromthedressing—table，retreatedafewstepsfromhim，andlookedhimintheface。"Ah！youthinktofrightenme，"shesaid，withaslightlaugh。
　　"Isitworthwhile？Iamundefended，andalone。"
　　"Howextraordinary！"
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"AsthereisampletimeIwilltellyou，thoughyouknowwellenough。Imeanthatitisextraordinarythatyoushouldbealoneinmyabsence。Tellme，now，whereishewhowaswithyouontheafternoonofthethirty—
　　firstofAugust？Underthebed？Upthechimney？"
　　Ashudderovercameherandshookthelightfabricofhernightdressthroughout。"Idonotrememberdatessoexactly，"
　　shesaid。"Icannotrecollectthatanybodywaswithmebesidesyourself。"
　　"ThedayImean，"saidYeobright，hisvoicegrowinglouderandharsher，"wasthedayyoushutthedooragainstmymotherandkilledher。O，itistoomuch——toobad！"
　　Heleantoverthefootpieceofthebedsteadforafewmoments，withhisbacktowardsher；thenrisingagain——"Tellme，tellme！tellme——doyouhear？"hecried，rushinguptoherandseizingherbytheloosefoldsofhersleeve。
　　Thesuperstratumoftimiditywhichoftenoverliesthosewhoaredaringanddefiantathearthadbeenpassedthrough，andthemettlesomesubstanceofthewomanwasreached。
　　Theredbloodinundatedherface，previouslysopale。
　　"Whatareyougoingtodo？"shesaidinalowvoice，regardinghimwithaproudsmile。"Youwillnotalarmmebyholdingonso；butitwouldbeapitytotearmysleeve。"