"Yes，youshouldtrymore，"echoedtheGrandferwithinsistence，asifhehadbeenthefirsttomakethesuggestion。"Incommonconscienceeverymanoughteithertomarryorgoforasoldier。’Tisascandaltothenationtodoneitheronenort’other。Ididboth，thankGod！Neithertoraisemennortolay’emlow——
　　thatshowsapoordo—nothingspiritindeed。"
　　"Ineverhadthenervetostandfire，"falteredChristian。
　　"Butastomarrying，IownI’veaskedhereandthere，thoughwithoutmuchfruitfromit。Yes，there’ssomehouseorotherthatmighthavehadamanforamaster——suchasheis——that’snowruledbyawomanalone。StillitmighthavebeenawkwardifIhadfoundher；for，d’yesee，neighbours，there’dhavebeennobodyleftathometokeepdownFather’sspiritstothedecentpitchthatbecomesaoldman。"
　　"Andyou’veyourworkcutouttodothat，myson，"
　　saidGrandferCantlesmartly。"Iwishthatthedreadofinfirmitieswasnotsostronginme！——I’dstarttheveryfirstthingtomorrowtoseetheworldoveragain！
　　Butseventy—one，thoughnothingathome，isahighfigureforarover……Ay，seventy—one，lastCandlemasday。
　　Gad，I’dsoonerhaveitinguineasthaninyears！"
　　Andtheoldmansighed。
　　"Don’tyoubemournful，Grandfer，"saidFairway。"Emptsomemorefeathersintothebed—tick，andkeepupyerheart。
　　Thoughratherleaninthestalksyoubeagreen—leavedoldmanstill。There’stimeenoughlefttoyeyettofillwholechronicles。"
　　"Begad，I’llgoto’em，Timothy——tothemarriedpair！"
　　saidGranferCantleinanencouragedvoice，andstartingroundbriskly。"I’llgoto’emtonightandsingaweddingsong，hey？’Tislikemetodoso，youknow；
　　andthey’dseeitassuch。My’DowninCupid’sGardens’
　　waswelllikedinfour；still，I’vegotothersasgood，andevenbetter。WhatdoyousaytomyShecal’—ledto’herlove’
　　Fromthelat’—ticea—bove，’Ocomein’fromthefog—gyfog’—gydew’。’
　　’Twouldplease’emwellatsuchatime！Really，nowIcometothinkofit，Ihaven’tturnedmytongueinmyheadtotheshapeofarealgoodsongsinceOldMidsummernight，whenwehadthe’BarleyMow’attheWoman；
　　and’tisapitytoneglectyourstrongpointwherethere’sfewthathavethecompassforsuchthings！"
　　"So’tis，so’tis，"saidFairway。"Nowgiethebedashakedown。We’veputinseventypoundsofbestfeathers，andIthinkthat’sasmanyasthetickwillfairlyhold。
　　Abitandadrapwouldn’tbeamissnow，Ireckon。
　　Christian，mauldownthevictualsfromcorner—cupboardifcanstreach，man，andI’lldrawadrapo’sommattowetitwith。"
　　Theysatdowntoalunchinthemidstoftheirwork，feathersaround，above，andbelowthem；theoriginalownersofwhichoccasionallycametotheopendoorandcackledbegrudginglyatsightofsuchaquantityoftheiroldclothes。
　　"UponmysoulIshallbechokt，"saidFairwaywhen，havingextractedafeatherfromhismouth，hefoundseveralothersfloatingonthemugasitwashandedround。
　　"I’veswalleredseveral；andonehadatolerablequill，"
　　saidSamplacidlyfromthecorner。
　　"Hullo——what’sthat——wheelsIhearcoming？"GrandferCantleexclaimed，jumpingupandhasteningtothedoor。"Why，’tistheybackagain——Ididn’texpect’emyetthishalf—hour。
　　Tobesure，howquickmarryingcanbedonewhenyouareinthemindfor’t！"
　　"Oyes，itcansoonbeDONE，"saidFairway，asifsomethingshouldbeaddedtomakethestatementcomplete。
　　HearoseandfollowedtheGrandfer，andtherestalsowenttothedoor。Inamomentanopenflywasdrivenpast，inwhichsatVennandMrs。Venn，Yeobright，andagrandrelativeofVenn’swhohadcomefromBudmouthfortheoccasion。Theflyhadbeenhiredatthenearesttown，regardlessofdistanceandcost，therebeingnothingonEgdonHeath，inVenn’sopinion，dignifiedenoughforsuchaneventwhensuchawomanasThomasinwasthebride；
　　andthechurchwastooremoteforawalkingbridal—party。
　　Astheflypassedthegroupwhichhadrunoutfromthehomesteadtheyshouted"Hurrah！"andwavedtheirhands；
　　feathersanddownfloatingfromtheirhair，theirsleeves，andthefoldsoftheirgarmentsateverymotion，andGrandferCantle’ssealsdancingmerrilyinthesunlightashetwirledhimselfabout。Thedriveroftheflyturnedasuperciliousgazeuponthem；heeventreatedtheweddedpairthemselveswithsomethinglikecondescension；
　　forinwhatotherstatethanheathencouldpeople，richorpoor，existwhoweredoomedtoabideinsuchaworld’sendasEgdon？Thomasinshowednosuchsuperioritytothegroupatthedoor，flutteringherhandasquicklyasabird’swingtowardsthem，andaskingDiggory，withtearsinhereyes，iftheyoughtnottoalightandspeaktothesekindneighbours。Venn，however，suggestedthat，astheywereallcomingtothehouseintheevening，thiswashardlynecessary。
　　Afterthisexcitementthesalutingpartyreturnedtotheiroccupation，andthestuffingandsewingweresoonafterwardsfinished，whenFairwayharnessedahorse，wrappedupthecumbrouspresent，anddroveoffwithitinthecarttoVenn’shouseatStickleford。
　　Yeobright，havingfilledtheofficeattheweddingservicewhichnaturallyfelltohishands，andafterwardsreturnedtothehousewiththehusbandandwife，wasindisposedtotakepartinthefeastinganddancingthatwounduptheevening。Thomasinwasdisappointed。
　　"IwishIcouldbetherewithoutdashingyourspirits，"
　　hesaid。"ButImightbetoomuchliketheskullatthebanquet。"
　　"No，no。"
　　"Well，dear，apartfromthat，ifyouwouldexcuseme，Ishouldbeglad。Iknowitseemsunkind；but，dearThomasin，IfearIshouldnotbehappyinthecompany——there，that’sthetruthofit。Ishallalwaysbecomingtoseeyouatyournewhome，youknow，sothatmyabsencenowwillnotmatter。"
　　"ThenIgivein。Dowhateverwillbemostcomfortabletoyourself。"
　　Clymretiredtohislodgingatthehousetopmuchrelieved，andoccupiedhimselfduringtheafternooninnotingdowntheheadsofasermon，withwhichheintendedtoinitiateallthatreallyseemedpracticableoftheschemethathadoriginallybroughthimhither，andthathehadsolongkeptinviewundervariousmodifications，andthroughevilandgoodreport。Hehadtestedandweighedhisconvictionsagainandagain，andsawnoreasontoalterthem，thoughhehadconsiderablylessenedhisplan。
　　Hiseyesight，bylonghumouringinhisnativeair，hadgrownstronger，butnotsufficientlystrongtowarranthisattemptinghisextensiveeducationalproject。
　　Yethedidnotrepine——therewasstillmorethanenoughofanunambitioussorttotaxallhisenergiesandoccupyallhishours。
　　Eveningdrewon，andsoundsoflifeandmovementinthelowerpartofthedomicilebecamemorepronounced，thegateinthepalingsclickingincessantly。Thepartywastobeanearlyone，andalltheguestswereassembledlongbeforeitwasdark。Yeobrightwentdownthebackstaircaseandintotheheathbyanotherpaththanthatinfront，intendingtowalkintheopenairtillthepartywasover，whenhewouldreturntowishThomasinandherhusbandgood—byeastheydeparted。HisstepswereinsensiblybenttowardsMistoverbythepaththathehadfollowedonthatterriblemorningwhenhelearntthestrangenewsfromSusan’sboy。
　　Hedidnotturnasidetothecottage，butpushedontoaneminence，whencehecouldseeoverthewholequarterthathadoncebeenEustacia’shome。Whilehestoodobservingthedarkeningscenesomebodycameup。Clym，seeinghimbutdimly，wouldhavelethimpasssilently，hadnotthepedestrian，whowasCharley，recognizedtheyoungmanandspokentohim。
　　"Charley，Ihavenotseenyouforalengthoftime，"
　　saidYeobright。"Doyouoftenwalkthisway？"
　　"No，"theladreplied。"Idon’toftencomeoutsidethebank。"
　　"YouwerenotattheMaypole。"
　　"No，"saidCharley，inthesamelistlesstone。"Idon’tcareforthatsortofthingnow。"
　　"YouratherlikedMissEustacia，didn’tyou？"
　　Yeobrightgentlyasked。EustaciahadfrequentlytoldhimofCharley’sromanticattachment。
　　"Yes，verymuch。Ah，Iwish——"
　　"Yes？"
　　"Iwish，Mr。Yeobright，youcouldgivemesomethingtokeepthatoncebelongedtoher——ifyoudon’tmind。"
　　"Ishallbeveryhappyto。Itwillgivemeverygreatpleasure，Charley。LetmethinkwhatIhaveofhersthatyouwouldlike。Butcomewithmetothehouse，andI’llsee。"
　　TheywalkedtowardsBlooms—Endtogether。Whentheyreachedthefrontitwasdark，andtheshutterswereclosed，sothatnothingoftheinteriorcouldbeseen。
　　"Comeroundthisway，"saidClym。"Myentranceisatthebackforthepresent。"
　　ThetwowentroundandascendedthecrookedstairindarknesstillClym’ssitting—roomontheupperfloorwasreached，wherehelitacandle，Charleyenteringgentlybehind。
　　Yeobrightsearchedhisdesk，andtakingoutasheetoftissue—paperunfoldedfromittwoorthreeundulatinglocksofravenhair，whichfelloverthepaperlikeblackstreams。Fromtheseheselectedone，wrappeditup，andgaveittothelad，whoseeyeshadfilledwithtears。
　　Hekissedthepacket，putitinhispocket，andsaidinavoiceofemotion，"O，Mr。Clym，howgoodyouaretome！"
　　"Iwillgoalittlewaywithyou，"saidClym。Andamidthenoiseofmerrimentfrombelowtheydescended。
　　Theirpathtothefrontledthemclosetoalittlesidewindow，whencetheraysofcandlesstreamedacrosstheshrubs。
　　Thewindow，beingscreenedfromgeneralobservationbythebushes，hadbeenleftunblinded，sothatapersoninthisprivatenookcouldseeallthatwasgoingonwithintheroomwhichcontainedtheweddingguests，exceptinsofarasvisionwashinderedbythegreenantiquityofthepanes。
　　"Charley，whataretheydoing？"saidClym。"Mysightisweakeragaintonight，andtheglassofthiswindowisnotgood。"
　　Charleywipedhisowneyes，whichwereratherblurredwithmoisture，andsteppedclosertothecasement。
　　"Mr。VennisaskingChristianCantletosing，"hereplied，"andChristianismovingaboutinhischairasifheweremuchfrightenedatthequestion，andhisfatherhasstruckupastaveinsteadofhim。"
　　"Yes，Icanheartheoldman’svoice，"saidClym。
　　"Sothere’stobenodancing，Isuppose。AndisThomasinintheroom？Iseesomethingmovinginfrontofthecandlesthatresembleshershape，Ithink。"
　　"Yes。Shedoseemhappy。Sheisredintheface，andlaughingatsomethingFairwayhassaidtoher。
　　Omy！"
　　"Whatnoisewasthat？"saidClym。
　　"Mr。Vennissotallthatheknockedhisheadagainstthebeamingieingaskipashepassedunder。Mrs。Vennhasrunupquitefrightenedandnowshe’sputherhandtohisheadtofeelifthere’salump。Andnowtheybealllaughingagainasifnothinghadhappened。"
　　"Doanyofthemseemtocareaboutmynotbeingthere？"
　　Clymasked。
　　"No，notabitintheworld。Nowtheyareallholdinguptheirglassesanddrinkingsomebody’shealth。"
　　"Iwonderifitismine？"
　　"No，’tisMr。andMrs。Venn’s，becauseheismakingaheartysortofspeech。There——nowMrs。Vennhasgotup，andisgoingawaytoputonherthings，Ithink。"
　　"Well，theyhaven’tconcernedthemselvesaboutme，anditisquiterighttheyshouldnot。Itisallasitshouldbe，andThomasinatleastishappy。Wewillnotstayanylongernow，astheywillsoonbecomingouttogohome。"
　　Heaccompaniedtheladintotheheathonhiswayhome，and，returningalonetothehouseaquarterofanhourlater，foundVennandThomasinreadytostart，alltheguestshavingdepartedinhisabsence。
　　Theweddedpairtooktheirseatsinthefour—wheeleddogcartwhichVenn’sheadmilkerandhandymanhaddrivenfromSticklefordtofetchthemin；littleEustaciaandthenursewerepackedsecurelyupontheopenflapbehind；
　　andthemilker，onanancientoversteppingpony，whoseshoesclashedlikecymbalsateverytread，rodeintherear，inthemannerofabody—servantofthelastcentury。
　　"Nowweleaveyouinabsolutepossessionofyourownhouseagain，"saidThomasinasshebentdowntowishhercousingoodnight。"Itwillberatherlonelyforyou，Clym，afterthehubbubwehavebeenmaking。"
　　"O，that’snoinconvenience，"saidClym，smilingrathersadly。
　　Andthenthepartydroveoffandvanishedinthenightshades，andYeobrightenteredthehouse。Thetickingoftheclockwastheonlysoundthatgreetedhim，fornotasoulremained；Christian，whoactedascook，valet，andgardenertoClym，sleepingathisfather’shouse。
　　Yeobrightsatdowninoneofthevacantchairs，andremainedinthoughtalongtime。Hismother’soldchairwasopposite；ithadbeensatinthateveningbythosewhohadscarcelyrememberedthatiteverwashers。
　　ButtoClymshewasalmostapresencethere，nowasalways。
　　Whatevershewasinotherpeople’smemories，inhisshewasthesublimesaintwhoseradianceevenhistendernessforEustaciacouldnotobscure。Buthisheartwasheavy，thatMotherhadNOTcrownedhiminthedayofhisespousalsandinthedayofthegladnessofhisheart。
　　Andeventshadborneouttheaccuracyofherjudgment，andprovedthedevotednessofhercare。HeshouldhaveheededherforEustacia’ssakeevenmorethanforhisown。
　　"Itwasallmyfault，"hewhispered。"O，mymother，mymother！wouldtoGodthatIcouldlivemylifeagain，andendureforyouwhatyouenduredforme！"
　　OntheSundayafterthisweddinganunusualsightwastobeseenonRainbarrow。Fromadistancetheresimplyappearedtobeamotionlessfigurestandingonthetopofthetumulus，justasEustaciahadstoodonthatlonelysummitsometwoyearsandahalfbefore。Butnowitwasfinewarmweather，withonlyasummerbreezeblowing，andearlyafternooninsteadofdulltwilight。
　　ThosewhoascendedtotheimmediateneighbourhoodoftheBarrowperceivedthattheerectforminthecentre，piercingthesky，wasnotreallyalone。RoundhimupontheslopesoftheBarrowanumberofheathmenandwomenwererecliningorsittingattheirease。Theylistenedtothewordsofthemanintheirmidst，whowaspreaching，whiletheyabstractedlypulledheather，strippedferns，ortossedpebblesdowntheslope。ThiswasthefirstofaseriesofmorallecturesorSermonsontheMount，whichweretobedeliveredfromthesameplaceeverySundayafternoonaslongasthefineweatherlasted。
　　ThecommandingelevationofRainbarrowhadbeenchosenfortworeasons：first，thatitoccupiedacentralpositionamongtheremotecottagesaround；secondly，thatthepreacherthereoncouldbeseenfromalladjacentpointsassoonashearrivedathispost，theviewofhimbeingthusaconvenientsignaltothosestragglerswhowishedtodrawnear。Thespeakerwasbareheaded，andthebreezeateachwaftgentlyliftedandloweredhishair，somewhattoothinforamanofhisyears，thesestillnumberinglessthanthirty—three。
　　Heworeashadeoverhiseyes，andhisfacewaspensiveandlined；but，thoughthesebodilyfeaturesweremarkedwithdecaytherewasnodefectinthetonesofhisvoice，whichwererich，musical，andstirring。Hestatedthathisdiscoursestopeopleweretobesometimessecular，andsometimesreligious，butneverdogmatic；andthathistextswouldbetakenfromallkindsofbooks。
　　Thisafternoonthewordswereasfollows：——
　　"’Andthekingroseuptomeether，andbowedhimselfuntoher，andsatdownonhisthrone，andcausedaseattobesetfortheking’smother；andshesatonhisrighthand。
　　Thenshesaid，Idesireonesmallpetitionofthee；
　　Ipraytheesaymenotnay。Andthekingsaiduntoher，Ask，on，mymother：forIwillnotsaytheenay。’"
　　Yeobrighthad，infact，foundhisvocationinthecareerofanitinerantopen—airpreacherandlectureronmorallyunimpeachablesubjects；andfromthisdayhelabouredincessantlyinthatoffice，speakingnotonlyinsimplelanguageonRainbarrowandinthehamletsround，butinamorecultivatedstrainelsewhere——fromthestepsandporticoesoftownhalls，frommarket—crosses，fromconduits，onesplanadesandonwharves，fromtheparapetsofbridges，inbarnsandouthouses，andallothersuchplacesintheneighbouringWessextownsandvillages。Heleftalonecreedsandsystemsofphilosophy，findingenoughandmorethanenoughtooccupyhistongueintheopinionsandactionscommontoallgoodmen。Somebelievedhim，andsomebelievednot；somesaidthathiswordswerecommonplace，otherscomplainedofhiswantoftheologicaldoctrine；
　　whileothersagainremarkedthatitwaswellenoughforamantotaketopreachingwhocouldnotseetodoanythingelse。Buteverywherehewaskindlyreceived，forthestoryofhislifehadbecomegenerallyknown。
　　End