"Hesaidatthetimethathetookthemdowntoclean。
　　HehasnowownedthathetookthembecausehesawEustacialookingcuriouslyatthem；andsheafterwardsownedtohimthatshewasthinkingoftakingherlife，butboundhimtosecrecy，andpromisednevertothinkofsuchathingagain。
　　Ihardlysupposeshewilleverhavebravadoenoughtouseoneofthem；butitshowswhathasbeenlurkinginhermind；
　　andpeoplewhothinkofthatsortofthingoncethinkofitagain。"
　　"Wherearethepistols？"
　　"Safelylockedup。Ono，shewon’ttouchthemagain。
　　Buttherearemorewaysoflettingoutlifethanthroughabullet—hole。Whatdidyouquarrelaboutsobitterlywithhertodrivehertoallthis？Youmusthavetreatedherbadlyindeed。Well，Iwasalwaysagainstthemarriage，andIwasright。"
　　"Areyougoingwithme？"saidYeobright，payingnoattentiontothecaptain’slatterremark。"IfsoIcantellyouwhatwequarrelledaboutaswewalkalong。"
　　"Whereto？"
　　"ToWildeve’s——thatwasherdestination，dependuponit。"
　　Thomasinherebrokein，stillweeping："Hesaidhewasonlygoingonasuddenshortjourney；butifsowhydidhewantsomuchmoney？O，Clym，whatdoyouthinkwillhappen？Iamafraidthatyou，mypoorbaby，willsoonhavenofatherlefttoyou！"
　　"Iamoffnow，"saidYeobright，steppingintotheporch。
　　"Iwouldfaingowith’ee，"saidtheoldmandoubtfully。
　　"ButIbegintobeafraidthatmylegswillhardlycarrymetheresuchanightasthis。IamnotsoyoungasIwas。
　　Iftheyareinterruptedintheirflightshewillbesuretocomebacktome，andIoughttobeatthehousetoreceiveher。
　　Butbeitas’twillIcan’twalktotheQuietWoman，andthat’sanendon’t。I’llgostraighthome。"
　　"Itwillperhapsbebest，"saidClym。"Thomasin，dryyourself，andbeascomfortableasyoucan。"
　　Withthisheclosedthedooruponher，andleftthehouseincompanywithCaptainVye，whopartedfromhimoutsidethegate，takingthemiddlepath，whichledtoMistover。
　　Clymcrossedbytheright—handtracktowardstheinn。
　　Thomasin，beingleftalone，tookoffsomeofherwetgarments，carriedthebabyupstairstoClym’sbed，andthencamedowntothesitting—roomagain，whereshemadealargerfire，andbegandryingherself。
　　Thefiresoonflaredupthechimney，givingtheroomanappearanceofcomfortthatwasdoubledbycontrastwiththedrummingofthestormwithout，whichsnappedatthewindowpanesandbreathedintothechimneystrangelowutterancesthatseemedtobetheprologuetosometragedy。
　　ButtheleastpartofThomasinwasinthehouse，forherheartbeingateaseaboutthelittlegirlupstairsshewasmentallyfollowingClymonhisjourney。
　　Havingindulgedinthisimaginaryperegrinationforsomeconsiderableinterval，shebecameimpressedwithasenseoftheintolerableslownessoftime。Butshesaton。
　　Themomentthencamewhenshecouldscarcelysitlonger，anditwaslikeasatireonherpatiencetorememberthatClymcouldhardlyhavereachedtheinnasyet。
　　Atlastshewenttothebaby’sbedside。Thechildwassleepingsoundly；butherimaginationofpossiblydisastrouseventsatherhome，thepredominancewithinheroftheunseenovertheseen，agitatedherbeyondendurance。
　　Shecouldnotrefrainfromgoingdownandopeningthedoor。
　　Therainstillcontinued，thecandlelightfallinguponthenearestdropsandmakingglisteningdartsofthemastheydescendedacrossthethrongofinvisibleonesbehind。
　　Toplungeintothatmediumwastoplungeintowaterslightlydilutedwithair。Butthedifficultyofreturningtoherhouseatthismomentmadeherallthemoredesirousofdoingso——anythingwasbetterthansuspense。
　　"Ihavecomeherewellenough，"shesaid，"andwhyshouldn’tIgobackagain？Itisamistakeformetobeaway。"
　　Shehastilyfetchedtheinfant，wrappeditup，cloakedherselfasbefore，andshovelingtheashesoverthefire，topreventaccidents，wentintotheopenair。Pausingfirsttoputthedoorkeyinitsoldplacebehindtheshutter，sheresolutelyturnedherfacetotheconfrontingpileoffirmamentaldarknessbeyondthepalings，andsteppedintoitsmidst。ButThomasin’simaginationbeingsoactivelyengagedelsewhere，thenightandtheweatherhadforhernoterrorbeyondthatoftheiractualdiscomfortanddifficulty。
　　ShewassoonascendingBlooms—Endvalleyandtraversingtheundulationsonthesideofthehill。Thenoiseofthewindovertheheathwasshrill，andasifitwhistledforjoyatfindinganightsocongenialasthis。
　　Sometimesthepathledhertohollowsbetweenthicketsoftallanddrippingbracken，dead，thoughnotyetprostrate，whichenclosedherlikeapool。Whentheyweremorethanusuallytallsheliftedthebabytothetopofherhead，thatitmightbeoutofthereachoftheirdrenchingfronds。
　　Onhigherground，wherethewindwasbriskandsustained，therainflewinalevelflightwithoutsensibledescent，sothatitwasbeyondallpowertoimaginetheremotenessofthepointatwhichitleftthebosomsoftheclouds。
　　Hereself—defencewasimpossible，andindividualdropsstuckintoherlikethearrowsintoSaintSebastian。
　　Shewasenabledtoavoidpuddlesbythenebulouspalenesswhichsignifiedtheirpresence，thoughbesideanythinglessdarkthantheheaththeythemselveswouldhaveappearedasblackness。
　　YetinspiteofallthisThomasinwasnotsorrythatshehadstarted。Tohertherewerenot，astoEustacia，demonsintheair，andmaliceineverybushandbough。
　　Thedropswhichlashedherfacewerenotscorpions，butprosyrain；Egdoninthemasswasnomonsterwhatever，butimpersonalopenground。Herfearsoftheplacewererational，herdislikesofitsworstmoodsreasonable。
　　Atthistimeitwasinherviewawindy，wetplace，inwhichapersonmightexperiencemuchdiscomfort，losethepathwithoutcare，andpossiblycatchcold。
　　Ifthepathiswellknownthedifficultyatsuchtimesofkeepingthereinisnotaltogethergreat，fromitsfamiliarfeeltothefeet；butoncelostitisirrecoverable。Owingtoherbaby，whosomewhatimpededThomasin’sviewforwardanddistractedhermind，shedidatlastlosethetrack。Thismishapoccurredwhenshewasdescendinganopenslopeabouttwo—thirdshome。
　　Insteadofattempting，bywanderinghitherandthither，thehopelesstaskoffindingsuchamerethread，shewentstraighton，trustingforguidancetohergeneralknowledgeofthecontours，whichwasscarcelysurpassedbyClym’sorbythatoftheheath—croppersthemselves。
　　AtlengthThomasinreachedahollowandbegantodiscernthroughtherainafaintblottedradiance，whichpresentlyassumedtheoblongformofanopendoor。
　　Sheknewthatnohousestoodhereabouts，andwassoonawareofthenatureofthedoorbyitsheightabovetheground。
　　"Why，itisDiggoryVenn’svan，surely！"shesaid。
　　AcertainsecludedspotnearRainbarrowwas，sheknew，oftenVenn’schosencentrewhenstayinginthisneighbourhood；
　　andsheguessedatoncethatshehadstumbleduponthismysteriousretreat。Thequestionaroseinhermindwhetherornotsheshouldaskhimtoguideherintothepath。
　　Inheranxietytoreachhomeshedecidedthatshewouldappealtohim，notwithstandingthestrangenessofappearingbeforehiseyesatthisplaceandseason。Butwhen，inpursuanceofthisresolve，Thomasinreachedthevanandlookedinshefoundittobeuntenanted；thoughtherewasnodoubtthatitwasthereddleman’s。Thefirewasburninginthestove，thelanternhungfromthenail。
　　Roundthedoorwaythefloorwasmerelysprinkledwithrain，andnotsaturated，whichtoldherthatthedoorhadnotlongbeenopened。
　　WhileshestooduncertainlylookinginThomasinheardafootstepadvancingfromthedarknessbehindher，andturning，beheldthewell—knownformincorduroy，luridfromheadtofoot，thelanternbeamsfallinguponhimthroughaninterveninggauzeofraindrops。
　　"Ithoughtyouwentdowntheslope，"hesaid，withoutnoticingherface。"Howdoyoucomebackhereagain？"
　　"Diggory？"saidThomasinfaintly。
　　"Whoareyou？"saidVenn，stillunperceiving。"Andwhywereyoucryingsojustnow？"
　　"O，Diggory！don’tyouknowme？"saidshe。"Butofcourseyoudon’t，wrappeduplikethis。Whatdoyoumean？I
　　havenotbeencryinghere，andIhavenotbeenherebefore。"
　　Vennthencamenearertillhecouldseetheilluminatedsideofherform。
　　"Mrs。Wildeve！"heexclaimed，starting。"Whatatimeforustomeet！Andthebabytoo！Whatdreadfulthingcanhavebroughtyououtonsuchanightasthis？"
　　Shecouldnotimmediatelyanswer；andwithoutaskingherpermissionhehoppedintohisvan，tookherbythearm，anddrewherupafterhim。
　　"Whatisit？"hecontinuedwhentheystoodwithin。
　　"IhavelostmywaycomingfromBlooms—End，andIaminagreathurrytogethome。Pleaseshowmeasquicklyasyoucan！ItissosillyofmenottoknowEgdonbetter，andIcannotthinkhowIcametolosethepath。
　　Showmequickly，Diggory，please。"
　　"Yes，ofcourse。Iwillgowith’ee。Butyoucametomebeforethis，Mrs。Wildeve？"
　　"Ionlycamethisminute。"
　　"That’sstrange。Iwaslyingdownhereasleepaboutfiveminutesago，withthedoorshuttokeepouttheweather，whenthebrushingofawoman’sclothesovertheheath—bushesjustoutsidewokemeup，forIdon’tsleepheavy，andatthesametimeIheardasobbingorcryingfromthesamewoman。Iopenedmydoorandheldoutmylantern，andjustasfarasthelightwouldreachIsawawoman；
　　sheturnedherheadwhenthelightsheenedonher，andthenhurriedondownhill。Ihungupthelantern，andwascuriousenoughtopullonmythingsanddogherafewsteps，butIcouldseenothingofheranymore。
　　ThatwaswhereIhadbeenwhenyoucameup；andwhenIsawyouIthoughtyouwerethesameone。"
　　"Perhapsitwasoneoftheheathfolkgoinghome？"
　　"No，itcouldn’tbe。’Tistoolate。Thenoiseofhergownoverthehe’thwasofawhistlingsortthatnothingbutsilkwillmake。"
　　"Itwasn’tI，then。Mydressisnotsilk，yousee……AreweanywhereinalinebetweenMistoverandtheinn？"
　　"Well，yes；notfarout。"
　　"Ah，Iwonderifitwasshe！Diggory，Imustgoatonce！"
　　Shejumpeddownfromthevanbeforehewasaware，whenVennunhookedthelanternandleapeddownafterher。
　　"I’lltakethebaby，ma’am，"hesaid。"Youmustbetiredoutbytheweight。"
　　Thomasinhesitatedamoment，andthendeliveredthebabyintoVenn’shands。"Don’tsqueezeher，Diggory，"shesaid，"orhurtherlittlearm；andkeepthecloakcloseoverherlikethis，sothattherainmaynotdropinherface。"
　　"Iwill，"saidVennearnestly。"AsifIcouldhurtanythingbelongingtoyou！"
　　"Ionlymeantaccidentally，"saidThomasin。
　　"Thebabyisdryenough，butyouareprettywet，"
　　saidthereddlemanwhen，inclosingthedoorofhiscarttopadlockit，henoticedontheflooraringofwaterdropswherehercloakhadhungfromher。
　　Thomasinfollowedhimashewoundrightandlefttoavoidthelargerbushes，stoppingoccasionallyandcoveringthelantern，whilehelookedoverhisshouldertogainsomeideaofthepositionofRainbarrowabovethem，whichitwasnecessarytokeepdirectlybehindtheirbackstopreserveapropercourse。
　　"Youaresuretheraindoesnotfalluponbaby？"
　　"Quitesure。MayIaskhowoldheis，ma’am？"
　　"He！"saidThomasinreproachfully。"Anybodycanseebetterthanthatinamoment。Sheisnearlytwomonthsold。
　　Howfarisitnowtotheinn？"
　　"Alittleoveraquarterofamile。"
　　"Willyouwalkalittlefaster？"
　　"Iwasafraidyoucouldnotkeepup。"
　　"Iamveryanxioustogetthere。Ah，thereisalightfromthewindow！"
　　"’Tisnotfromthewindow。That’sagig—lamp，tothebestofmybelief。"
　　"O！"saidThomasinindespair。"IwishIhadbeentheresooner——givemethebaby，Diggory——youcangobacknow。"
　　"Imustgoalltheway，"saidVenn。"Thereisaquagbetweenusandthatlight，andyouwillwalkintoituptoyourneckunlessItakeyouround。"
　　"Butthelightisattheinn，andthereisnoquaginfrontofthat。"
　　"No，thelightisbelowtheinnsometwoorthreehundredyards。"
　　"Nevermind，"saidThomasinhurriedly。"Gotowardsthelight，andnottowardstheinn。"
　　"Yes，"answeredVenn，swervingroundinobedience；and，afterapause，"Iwishyouwouldtellmewhatthisgreattroubleis。IthinkyouhaveprovedthatIcanbetrusted。"
　　"Therearesomethingsthatcannotbe——cannotbetoldto——"
　　Andthenherheartroseintoherthroat，andshecouldsaynomore。
　　9—SightsandSoundsDrawtheWanderersTogetherHavingseenEustacia’ssignalfromthehillateighto’clock，Wildeveimmediatelypreparedtoassistherinherflight，and，ashehoped，accompanyher。Hewassomewhatperturbed，andhismannerofinformingThomasinthathewasgoingonajourneywasinitselfsufficienttorousehersuspicions。Whenshehadgonetobedhecollectedthefewarticleshewouldrequire，andwentupstairstothemoney—chest，whencehetookatolerablybountifulsuminnotes，whichhadbeenadvancedtohimonthepropertyhewassosoontohaveinpossession，todefrayexpensesincidentaltotheremoval。
　　Hethenwenttothestableandcoach—housetoassurehimselfthatthehorse，gig，andharnesswereinafitconditionforalongdrive。Nearlyhalfanhourwasspentthus，andonreturningtothehouseWildevehadnothoughtofThomasinbeinganywherebutinbed。
　　Hehadtoldthestableladnottostayup，leadingtheboytounderstandthathisdeparturewouldbeatthreeorfourinthemorning；forthis，thoughanexceptionalhour，waslessstrangethanmidnight，thetimeactuallyagreedon，thepacketfromBudmouthsailingbetweenoneandtwo。
　　Atlastallwasquiet，andhehadnothingtodobuttowait。
　　BynoeffortcouldheshakeofftheoppressionofspiritswhichhehadexperiencedeversincehislastmeetingwithEustacia，buthehopedtherewasthatinhissituationwhichmoneycouldcure。Hehadpersuadedhimselfthattoactnotungenerouslytowardshisgentlewifebysettlingonherthehalfofhisproperty，andwithchivalrousdevotiontowardsanotherandgreaterwomanbysharingherfate，waspossible。AndthoughhemeanttoadheretoEustacia’sinstructionstotheletter，todepositherwhereshewishedandtoleaveher，shouldthatbeherwill，thespellthatshehadcastoverhimintensified，andhisheartwasbeatingfastintheanticipatedfutilityofsuchcommandsinthefaceofamutualwishthattheyshouldthrowintheirlottogether。
　　Hewouldnotallowhimselftodwelllongupontheseconjectures，maxims，andhopes，andattwentyminutestotwelveheagainwentsoftlytothestable，harnessedthehorse，andlitthelamps；whence，takingthehorsebythehead，heledhimwiththecoveredcaroutoftheyardtoaspotbytheroadsidesomequarterofamilebelowtheinn。
　　HereWildevewaited，slightlyshelteredfromthedrivingrainbyahighbankthathadbeencastupatthisplace。
　　Alongthesurfaceoftheroadwherelitbythelampstheloosenedgravelandsmallstonesscuddedandclickedtogetherbeforethewind，which，leavingtheminheaps，plungedintotheheathandboomedacrossthebushesintodarkness。Onlyonesoundroseabovethisdinofweather，andthatwastheroaringofaten—hatchweirtothesouthward，fromariverinthemeadswhichformedtheboundaryoftheheathinthisdirection。
　　Helingeredoninperfectstillnesstillhebegantofancythatthemidnighthourmusthavestruck。AverystrongdoubthadariseninhismindifEustaciawouldventuredownthehillinsuchweather；yetknowinghernaturehefeltthatshemight。"Poorthing！’tislikeherill—luck，"
　　hemurmured。
　　Atlengthheturnedtothelampandlookedathiswatch。
　　Tohissurpriseitwasnearlyaquarterpastmidnight。
　　HenowwishedthathehaddrivenupthecircuitousroadtoMistover，aplannotadoptedbecauseoftheenormouslengthoftherouteinproportiontothatofthepedestrian’spathdowntheopenhillside，andtheconsequentincreaseoflabourforthehorse。
　　Atthismomentafootstepapproached；butthelightofthelampsbeinginadifferentdirectionthecomerwasnotvisible。Thesteppaused，thencameonagain。
　　"Eustacia？"saidWildeve。
　　Thepersoncameforward，andthelightfellupontheformofClym，glisteningwithwet，whomWildeveimmediatelyrecognized；butWildeve，whostoodbehindthelamp，wasnotatoncerecognizedbyYeobright。
　　Hestoppedasifindoubtwhetherthiswaitingvehiclecouldhaveanythingtodowiththeflightofhiswifeornot。
　　ThesightofYeobrightatoncebanishedWildeve’ssoberfeelings，whosawhimagainasthedeadlyrivalfromwhomEustaciawastobekeptatallhazards。
　　HenceWildevedidnotspeak，inthehopethatClymwouldpassbywithoutparticularinquiry。
　　Whiletheybothhungthusinhesitationadullsoundbecameaudibleabovethestormandwind。Itsoriginwasunmistakable——itwasthefallofabodyintothestreamintheadjoiningmead，apparentlyatapointneartheweir。
　　Bothstarted。"GoodGod！canitbeshe？"saidClym。
　　"Whyshoulditbeshe？"saidWildeve，inhisalarmforgettingthathehadhithertoscreenedhimself。
　　"Ah！——that’syou，youtraitor，isit？"criedYeobright。
　　"Whyshoulditbeshe？Becauselastweekshewouldhaveputanendtoherlifeifshehadbeenable。Sheoughttohavebeenwatched！Takeoneofthelampsandcomewithme。"
　　Yeobrightseizedtheoneonhissideandhastenedon；
　　Wildevedidnotwaittounfastentheother，butfollowedatoncealongthemeadowtracktotheweir，alittleintherearofClym。
　　ShadwaterWeirhadatitsfootalargecircularpool，fiftyfeetindiameter，intowhichthewaterflowedthroughtenhugehatches，raisedandloweredbyawinchandcogsintheordinarymanner。Thesidesofthepoolwereofmasonry，topreventthewaterfromwashingawaythebank；buttheforceofthestreaminwinterwassometimessuchastounderminetheretainingwallandprecipitateitintothehole。Clymreachedthehatches，theframeworkofwhichwasshakentoitsfoundationsbythevelocityofthecurrent。Nothingbutthefrothofthewavescouldbediscernedinthepoolbelow。
　　Hegotupontheplankbridgeovertherace，andholdingtotherail，thatthewindmightnotblowhimoff，crossedtotheothersideoftheriver。Thereheleantoverthewallandloweredthelamp，onlytobeholdthevortexformedatthecurlofthereturningcurrent。
　　Wildevemeanwhilehadarrivedontheformerside，andthelightfromYeobright’slampshedafleckedandagitatedradianceacrosstheweirpool，revealingtotheex—engineerthetumblingcoursesofthecurrentsfromthehatchesabove。
　　Acrossthisgashedandpuckeredmirroradarkbodywasslowlybornebyoneofthebackwardcurrents。
　　"O，mydarling！"exclaimedWildeveinanagonizedvoice；
　　and，withoutshowingsufficientpresenceofmindeventothrowoffhisgreatcoat，heleapedintotheboilingcaldron。
　　Yeobrightcouldnowalsodiscernthefloatingbody，thoughbutindistinctly；andimaginingfromWildeve’splungethattherewaslifetobesavedhewasabouttoleapafter。Bethinkinghimselfofawiserplan，heplacedthelampagainstaposttomakeitstandupright，andrunningroundtothelowerpartofthepool，wheretherewasnowall，hespranginandboldlywadedupwardstowardsthedeeperportion。Herehewastakenoffhislegs，andinswimmingwascarriedroundintothecentreofthebasin，whereheperceivedWildevestruggling。
　　Whilethesehastyactionswereinprogresshere，VennandThomasinhadbeentoilingthroughthelowercorneroftheheathinthedirectionofthelight。
　　Theyhadnotbeennearenoughtotherivertoheartheplunge，buttheysawtheremovalofthecarriagelamp，andwatcheditsmotionintothemead。AssoonastheyreachedthecarandhorseVennguessedthatsomethingnewwasamiss，andhastenedtofollowinthecourseofthemovinglight。VennwalkedfasterthanThomasin，andcametotheweiralone。
　　ThelampplacedagainstthepostbyClymstillshoneacrossthewater，andthereddlemanobservedsomethingfloatingmotionless。Beingencumberedwiththeinfant，heranbacktomeetThomasin。
　　"Takethebaby，please，Mrs。Wildeve，"hesaidhastily。
　　"Runhomewithher，callthestablelad，andmakehimsenddowntomeanymenwhomaybelivingnear。Somebodyhasfallenintotheweir。"
　　Thomasintookthechildandran。Whenshecametothecoveredcarthehorse，thoughfreshfromthestable，wasstandingperfectlystill，asifconsciousofmisfortune。
　　Shesawforthefirsttimewhoseitwas。Shenearlyfainted，andwouldhavebeenunabletoproceedanotherstepbutthatthenecessityofpreservingthelittlegirlfromharmnervedhertoanamazingself—control。Inthisagonyofsuspensesheenteredthehouse，putthebabyinaplaceofsafety，woketheladandthefemaledomestic，andranouttogivethealarmatthenearestcottage。
　　Diggory，havingreturnedtothebrinkofthepool，observedthatthesmallupperhatchesorfloatswerewithdrawn。
　　Hefoundoneoftheselyinguponthegrass，andtakingitunderonearm，andwithhislanterninhishand，enteredatthebottomofthepoolasClymhaddone。
　　Assoonashebegantobeindeepwaterheflunghimselfacrossthehatch；thussupportedhewasabletokeepafloataslongashechose，holdingthelanternaloftwithhisdisengagedhand。Propelledbyhisfeet，hesteeredroundandroundthepool，ascendingeachtimebyoneofthebackstreamsanddescendinginthemiddleofthecurrent。
　　Atfirsthecouldseenothing。Thenamidsttheglisteningofthewhirlpoolsandthewhiteclotsoffoamhedistinguishedawoman’sbonnetfloatingalone。
　　Hissearchwasnowundertheleftwall，whensomethingcametothesurfacealmostclosebesidehim。Itwasnot，ashehadexpected，awoman，butaman。Thereddlemanputtheringofthelanternbetweenhisteeth，seizedthefloatingmanbythecollar，and，holdingontothehatchwithhisremainingarm，struckoutintothestrongestrace，bywhichtheunconsciousman，thehatch，andhimselfwerecarrieddownthestream。AssoonasVennfoundhisfeetdraggingoverthepebblesoftheshallowerpartbelowhesecuredhisfootingandwadedtowardsthebrink。
　　There，wherethewaterstoodatabouttheheightofhiswaist，heflungawaythehatch，andattemptedtodragforththeman。Thiswasamatterofgreatdifficulty，andhefoundasthereasonthatthelegsoftheunfortunatestrangerweretightlyembracedbythearmsofanotherman，whohadhithertobeenentirelybeneaththesurface。
　　Atthismomenthisheartboundedtohearfootstepsrunningtowardshim，andtwomen，rousedbyThomasin，appearedatthebrinkabove。TheyrantowhereVennwas，andhelpedhiminliftingouttheapparentlydrownedpersons，separatingthem，andlayingthemoutuponthegrass。
　　Vennturnedthelightupontheirfaces。TheonewhohadbeenuppermostwasYeobright；hewhohadbeencompletelysubmergedwasWildeve。
　　"Nowwemustsearchtheholeagain，"saidVenn。
　　"Awomanisintheresomewhere。Getapole。"
　　Oneofthemenwenttothefootbridgeandtoreoffthehandrail。
　　Thereddlemanandthetwoothersthenenteredthewatertogetherfrombelowasbefore，andwiththeirunitedforceprobedthepoolforwardstowhereitslopeddowntoitscentraldepth。Vennwasnotmistakeninsupposingthatanypersonwhohadsunkforthelasttimewouldbewasheddowntothispoint，forwhentheyhadexaminedtoabouthalfwayacrosssomethingimpededtheirthrust。
　　"Pullitforward，"saidVenn，andtheyrakeditinwiththepoletillitwasclosetotheirfeet。
　　Vennvanishedunderthestream，andcameupwithanarmfulofwetdraperyenclosingawoman’scoldform，whichwasallthatremainedofthedesperateEustacia。
　　WhentheyreachedthebanktherestoodThomasin，inastressofgrief，bendingoverthetwounconsciousoneswhoalreadylaythere。Thehorseandcartwerebroughttothenearestpointintheroad，anditwastheworkofafewminutesonlytoplacethethreeinthevehicle。
　　Vennledonthehorse，supportingThomasinuponhisarm，andthetwomenfollowed，tilltheyreachedtheinn。
　　ThewomanwhohadbeenshakenoutofhersleepbyThomasinhadhastilydressedherselfandlightedafire，theotherservantbeinglefttosnoreoninpeaceatthebackofthehouse。TheinsensibleformsofEustacia，Clym，andWildevewerethenbroughtinandlaidonthecarpet，withtheirfeettothefire，whensuchrestorativeprocessesascouldbethoughtofwereadoptedatonce，thestablemanbeinginthemeantimesentforadoctor。
　　Butthereseemedtobenotawhiffoflifeineitherofthebodies。ThenThomasin，whosestuporofgriefhadbeenthrustoffawhilebyfranticaction，appliedabottleofhartshorntoClym’snostrils，havingtrieditinvainupontheothertwo。Hesighed。
　　"Clym’salive！"sheexclaimed。