Thisdidnotoriginateininherentshamelessness，butinherlivingtoofarfromtheworldtofeeltheimpactofpublicopinion。ZenobiainthedesertcouldhardlyhavecaredwhatwassaidaboutheratRome。AsfarassocialethicswereconcernedEustaciaapproachedthesavagestate，thoughinemotionshewasallthewhileanepicure。
　　Shehadadvancedtothesecretrecessesofsensuousness，yethadhardlycrossedthethresholdofconventionality。
　　11—TheDishonestyofanHonestWomanThereddlemanhadleftEustacia’spresencewithdespondingviewsonThomasin’sfuturehappiness；buthewasawakenedtothefactthatoneotherchannelremaineduntriedbyseeing，ashefollowedthewaytohisvan，theformofMrs。YeobrightslowlywalkingtowardstheQuietWoman。
　　Hewentacrosstoher；andcouldalmostperceiveinheranxiousfacethatthisjourneyofherstoWildevewasundertakenwiththesameobjectashisowntoEustacia。
　　Shedidnotconcealthefact。"Then，"saidthereddleman，"youmayaswellleaveitalone，Mrs。Yeobright。"
　　"Ihalfthinksomyself，"shesaid。"Butnothingelseremainstobedonebesidespressingthequestionuponhim。"
　　"Ishouldliketosayawordfirst，"saidVennfirmly。
　　"Mr。WildeveisnottheonlymanwhohasaskedThomasintomarryhim；andwhyshouldnotanotherhaveachance？
　　Mrs。Yeobright，Ishouldbegladtomarryyourniece。
　　andwouldhavedoneitanytimetheselasttwoyears。
　　There，nowitisout，andIhavenevertoldanybodybeforebutherself。"
　　Mrs。Yeobrightwasnotdemonstrative，buthereyesinvoluntarilyglancedtowardshissingularthoughshapelyfigure。
　　"Looksarenoteverything，"saidthereddleman，noticingtheglance。"There’smanyacallingthatdon’tbringinsomuchasmine，ifitcomestomoney；andperhapsIamnotsomuchworseoffthanWildeve。Thereisnobodysopoorastheseprofessionalfellowswhohavefailed；
　　andifyoushouldn’tlikemyredness——well，Iamnotredbybirth，youknow；Ionlytooktothisbusinessforafreak；
　　andImightturnmyhandtosomethingelseingoodtime。"
　　"Iammuchobligedtoyouforyourinterestinmyniece；
　　butIfeartherewouldbeobjections。Morethanthat，sheisdevotedtothisman。"
　　"True；orIshouldn’thavedonewhatIhavethismorning。"
　　"Otherwisetherewouldbenopaininthecase，andyouwouldnotseemegoingtohishousenow。WhatwasThomasin’sanswerwhenyoutoldherofyourfeelings？"
　　"Shewrotethatyouwouldobjecttome；andotherthings。"
　　"Shewasinameasureright。Youmustnottakethisunkindly——Imerelystateitasatruth。Youhavebeengoodtoher，andwedonotforgetit。Butasshewasunwillingonherownaccounttobeyourwife，thatsettlesthepointwithoutmywishesbeingconcerned。"
　　"Yes。Butthereisadifferencebetweenthenandnow，ma’am。Sheisdistressednow，andIhavethoughtthatifyouweretotalktoheraboutme，andthinkfavourablyofmeyourself，theremightbeachanceofwinningherround，andgettingherquiteindependentofthisWildeve’sbackwardandforwardplay，andhisnotknowingwhetherhe’llhaveherorno。"
　　Mrs。Yeobrightshookherhead。"Thomasinthinks，andI
　　thinkwithher，thatsheoughttobeWildeve’swife，ifshemeanstoappearbeforetheworldwithoutasluruponhername。Iftheymarrysoon，everybodywillbelievethatanaccidentdidreallypreventthewedding。Ifnot，itmaycastashadeuponhercharacter——atanyratemakeherridiculous。Inshort，ifitisanyhowpossibletheymustmarrynow。"
　　"Ithoughtthattillhalfanhourago。But，afterall，whyshouldhergoingoffwithhimtoAngleburyforafewhoursdoheranyharm？Anybodywhoknowshowpuresheiswillfeelanysuchthoughttobequiteunjust。
　　IhavebeentryingthismorningtohelponthismarriagewithWildeve——yes，I，ma’am——inthebeliefthatIoughttodoit，becauseshewassowrappedupinhim。ButImuchquestionifIwasright，afterall。However，nothingcameofit。
　　AndnowIoffermyself。"
　　Mrs。Yeobrightappeareddisinclinedtoenterfurtherintothequestion。"IfearImustgoon，"shesaid。
　　"Idonotseethatanythingelsecanbedone。"
　　Andshewenton。ButthoughthisconversationdidnotdivertThomasin’sauntfromherpurposedinterviewwithWildeve，itmadeaconsiderabledifferenceinhermodeofconductingthatinterview。ShethankedGodfortheweaponwhichthereddlemanhadputintoherhands。
　　Wildevewasathomewhenshereachedtheinn。Heshowedhersilentlyintotheparlour，andclosedthedoor。
　　Mrs。Yeobrightbegan——
　　"Ihavethoughtitmydutytocalltoday。Anewproposalhasbeenmadetome，whichhasratherastonishedme。
　　ItwillaffectThomasingreatly；andIhavedecidedthatitshouldatleastbementionedtoyou。"
　　"Yes？Whatisit？"hesaidcivilly。
　　"Itis，ofcourse，inreferencetoherfuture。YoumaynotbeawarethatanothermanhasshownhimselfanxioustomarryThomasin。Now，thoughIhavenotencouragedhimyet，Icannotconscientiouslyrefusehimachanceanylonger。
　　Idon’twishtobeshortwithyou；butImustbefairtohimandtoher。"
　　"Whoistheman？"saidWildevewithsurprise。
　　"Onewhohasbeeninlovewithherlongerthanshehaswithyou。Heproposedtohertwoyearsago。
　　Atthattimesherefusedhim。"
　　"Well？"
　　"Hehasseenherlately，andhasaskedmeforpermissiontopayhisaddressestoher。Shemaynotrefusehimtwice。"
　　"Whatishisname？"
　　Mrs。Yeobrightdeclinedtosay。"HeisamanThomasinlikes，"
　　sheadded，"andonewhoseconstancysherespectsatleast。
　　Itseemstomethatwhatsherefusedthenshewouldbegladtogetnow。Sheismuchannoyedatherawkwardposition。"
　　"Sheneveroncetoldmeofthisoldlover。"
　　"ThegentlestwomenarenotsuchfoolsastoshowEVERYcard。"
　　"Well，ifshewantshimIsupposeshemusthavehim。"
　　"Itiseasyenoughtosaythat；butyoudon’tseethedifficulty。Hewantshermuchmorethanshewantshim；
　　andbeforeIcanencourageanythingofthesortImusthaveaclearunderstandingfromyouthatyouwillnotinterferetoinjureanarrangementwhichIpromoteinthebeliefthatitisforthebest。Suppose，whentheyareengaged，andeverythingissmoothlyarrangedfortheirmarriage，thatyoushouldstepbetweenthemandrenewyoursuit？Youmightnotwinherback，butyoumightcausemuchunhappiness。"
　　"OfcourseIshoulddonosuchthing，"saidWildeve"Buttheyarenotengagedyet。HowdoyouknowthatThomasinwouldaccepthim？"
　　"That’saquestionIhavecarefullyputtomyself；
　　anduponthewholetheprobabilitiesareinfavourofheracceptinghimintime。IflattermyselfthatI
　　havesomeinfluenceoverher。Sheispliable，andI
　　canbestronginmyrecommendationsofhim。"
　　"Andinyourdisparagementofmeatthesametime。"
　　"Well，youmaydependuponmynotpraisingyou，"
　　shesaiddrily。"Andifthisseemslikemanoeuvring，youmustrememberthatherpositionispeculiar，andthatshehasbeenhardlyused。Ishallalsobehelpedinmakingthematchbyherowndesiretoescapefromthehumiliationofherpresentstate；andawoman’sprideinthesecaseswillleadheraverygreatway。
　　Alittlemanagingmayberequiredtobringherround；
　　butIamequaltothat，providedthatyouagreetotheonethingindispensable；thatis，tomakeadistinctdeclarationthatsheistothinknomoreofyouasapossiblehusband。
　　Thatwillpiqueherintoacceptinghim。"
　　"Icanhardlysaythatjustnow，Mrs。Yeobright。
　　Itissosudden。"
　　"Andsomywholeplanisinterferedwith！Itisveryinconvenientthatyourefusetohelpmyfamilyeventothesmallextentofsayingdistinctlyyouwillhavenothingtodowithus。"
　　Wildevereflecteduncomfortably。"IconfessIwasnotpreparedforthis，"hesaid。"OfcourseI’llgiveherupifyouwish，ifitisnecessary。ButIthoughtImightbeherhusband。"
　　"Wehaveheardthatbefore。"
　　"Now，Mrs。Yeobright，don’tletusdisagree。Givemeafairtime。Idon’twanttostandinthewayofanybetterchanceshemayhave；onlyIwishyouhadletmeknowearlier。Iwillwritetoyouorcallinadayortwo。
　　Willthatsuffice？"
　　"Yes，"shereplied，"providedyoupromisenottocommunicatewithThomasinwithoutmyknowledge。"
　　"Ipromisethat，"hesaid。Andtheinterviewthenterminated，Mrs。Yeobrightreturninghomewardasshehadcome。
　　Byfarthegreatesteffectofhersimplestrategyonthatdaywas，asoftenhappens，inaquarterquiteoutsideherviewwhenarrangingit。Inthefirstplace，hervisitsentWildevethesameeveningafterdarktoEustacia’shouseatMistover。
　　Atthishourthelonelydwellingwascloselyblindedandshutteredfromthechillanddarknesswithout。
　　Wildeve’sclandestineplanwithherwastotakealittlegravelinhishandandholdittothecreviceatthetopofthewindowshutter，whichwasontheoutside，sothatitshouldfallwithagentlerustle，resemblingthatofamouse，betweenshutterandglass。
　　Thisprecautioninattractingherattentionwastoavoidarousingthesuspicionsofhergrandfather。
　　Thesoftwords，"Ihear；waitforme，"inEustacia’svoicefromwithintoldhimthatshewasalone。
　　Hewaitedinhiscustomarymannerbywalkingroundtheenclosureandidlingbythepool，forWildevewasneveraskedintothehousebyhisproudthoughcondescendingmistress。
　　Sheshowednosignofcomingoutinahurry。Thetimeworeon，andhebegantogrowimpatient。Inthecourseoftwentyminutessheappearedfromroundthecorner，andadvancedasifmerelytakinganairing。
　　"YouwouldnothavekeptmesolonghadyouknownwhatI
　　comeabout，"hesaidwithbitterness。"Still，youareworthwaitingfor。"
　　"Whathashappened？"saidEustacia。"Ididnotknowyouwereintrouble。Itooamgloomyenough。"
　　"Iamnotintrouble，"saidhe。"Itismerelythataffairshavecometoahead，andImusttakeaclearcourse。"
　　"Whatcourseisthat？"sheaskedwithattentiveinterest。
　　"AndcanyouforgetsosoonwhatIproposedtoyoutheothernight？Why，takeyoufromthisplace，andcarryyouawaywithmeabroad。"
　　"Ihavenotforgotten。Butwhyhaveyoucomesounexpectedlytorepeatthequestion，whenyouonlypromisedtocomenextSaturday？IthoughtIwastohaveplentyoftimetoconsider。"
　　"Yes，butthesituationisdifferentnow。"
　　"Explaintome。"
　　"Idon’twanttoexplain，forImaypainyou。"
　　"ButImustknowthereasonofthishurry。"
　　"Itissimplymyardour，dearEustacia。Everythingissmoothnow。"
　　"Thenwhyareyousoruffled？"
　　"Iamnotawareofit。Allisasitshouldbe。
　　Mrs。Yeobright——butsheisnothingtous。"
　　"Ah，Iknewshehadsomethingtodowithit！Come，Idon’tlikereserve。"
　　"No——shehasnothing。SheonlysaysshewishesmetogiveupThomasinbecauseanothermanisanxioustomarryher。
　　Thewoman，nowshenolongerneedsme，actuallyshowsoff！"
　　Wildeve’svexationhasescapedhiminspiteofhimself。
　　Eustaciawassilentalongwhile。"Youareintheawkwardpositionofanofficialwhoisnolongerwanted，"
　　shesaidinachangedtone。
　　"Itseemsso。ButIhavenotyetseenThomasin。"
　　"Andthatirritatesyou。Don’tdenyit，Damon。Youareactuallynettledbythisslightfromanunexpectedquarter。"
　　"Well？"
　　"Andyoucometogetmebecauseyoucannotgether。
　　Thisiscertainlyanewpositionaltogether。Iamtobeastop—gap。"
　　"PleaserememberthatIproposedthesamethingtheotherday。"
　　Eustaciaagainremainedinasortofstupefiedsilence。
　　Whatcuriousfeelingwasthiscomingoverher？WasitreallypossiblethatherinterestinWildevehadbeensoentirelytheresultofantagonismthatthegloryandthedreamdepartedfromthemanwiththefirstsoundthathewasnolongercovetedbyherrival？Shewas，then，secureofhimatlast。Thomasinnolongerrequiredhim。
　　Whatahumiliatingvictory！Helovedherbest，shethought；
　　andyet——daredshetomurmursuchtreacherouscriticismeversosoftly？——whatwasthemanworthwhomawomaninferiortoherselfdidnotvalue？Thesentimentwhichlurksmoreorlessinallanimatenature——thatofnotdesiringtheundesiredofothers——waslivelyasapassioninthesupersubtle，epicureanheartofEustacia。Hersocialsuperiorityoverhim，whichhithertohadscarcelyeverimpressedher，becameunpleasantlyinsistent，andforthefirsttimeshefeltthatshehadstoopedinlovinghim。
　　"Well，darling，youagree？"saidWildeve。
　　"IfitcouldbeLondon，orevenBudmouth，insteadofAmerica，"
　　shemurmuredlanguidly。"Well，Iwillthink。
　　Itistoogreatathingformetodecideoffhand。
　　IwishIhatedtheheathless——orlovedyoumore。"
　　"Youcanbepainfullyfrank。Youlovedmeamonthagowarmlyenoughtogoanywherewithme。"
　　"AndyoulovedThomasin。"
　　"Yes，perhapsthatwaswherethereasonlay，"hereturned，withalmostasneer。"Idon’thatehernow。"
　　"Exactly。Theonlythingisthatyoucannolongergether。"
　　"Come——notaunts，Eustacia，orweshallquarrel。
　　Ifyoudon’tagreetogowithme，andagreeshortly，Ishallgobymyself。"
　　"OrtryThomasinagain。Damon，howstrangeitseemsthatyoucouldhavemarriedherormeindifferently，andonlyhavecometomebecauseIam——cheapest！Yes，yes——itistrue。TherewasatimewhenIshouldhaveexclaimedagainstamanofthatsort，andbeenquitewild；
　　butitisallpastnow。"
　　"Willyougo，dearest？ComesecretlywithmetoBristol，marryme，andturnourbacksuponthisdog—holeofEnglandforever？SayYes。"
　　"Iwanttogetawayfromhereatalmostanycost，"
　　shesaidwithweariness，"butIdon’tliketogowithyou。
　　Givememoretimetodecide。"
　　"Ihavealready，"saidWildeve。"Well，Igiveyouonemoreweek。"
　　"Alittlelonger，sothatImaytellyoudecisively。
　　Ihavetoconsidersomanythings。FancyThomasinbeinganxioustogetridofyou！Icannotforgetit。"
　　"Nevermindthat。SayMondayweek。Iwillbeherepreciselyatthistime。"
　　"LetitbeatRainbarrow，"saidshe。"Thisistoonearhome；
　　mygrandfathermaybewalkingout。"
　　"Thankyou，dear。OnMondayweekatthistimeIwillbeattheBarrow。Tillthengood—bye。"
　　"Good—bye。No，no，youmustnottouchmenow。
　　ShakinghandsisenoughtillIhavemadeupmymind。"
　　Eustaciawatchedhisshadowyformtillithaddisappeared。
　　Sheplacedherhandtoherforeheadandbreathedheavily；
　　andthenherrich，romanticlipspartedunderthathomelyimpulse——ayawn。Shewasimmediatelyangryathavingbetrayedeventoherselfthepossibleevanescenceofherpassionforhim。ShecouldnotadmitatoncethatshemighthaveoverestimatedWildeve，fortoperceivehismediocritynowwastoadmitherowngreatfollyheretofore。
　　Andthediscoverythatshewastheownerofadispositionsopurelythatofthedoginthemangerhadsomethinginitwhichatfirstmadeherashamed。
　　ThefruitofMrs。Yeobright’sdiplomacywasindeedremarkable，thoughnotasyetofthekindshehadanticipated。
　　IthadappreciablyinfluencedWildeve，butitwasinfluencingEustaciafarmore。Herloverwasnolongertoheranexcitingmanwhommanywomenstrovefor，andherselfcouldonlyretainbystrivingwiththem。
　　Hewasasuperfluity。
　　Shewentindoorsinthatpeculiarstateofmiserywhichisnotexactlygrief，andwhichespeciallyattendsthedawningsofreasoninthelatterdaysofanill—judged，transientlove。Tobeconsciousthattheendofthedreamisapproaching，andyethasnotabsolutelycome，isoneofthemostwearisomeaswellasthemostcuriousstagesalongthecoursebetweenthebeginningofapassionanditsend。
　　Hergrandfatherhadreturned，andwasbusilyengagedinpouringsomegallonsofnewlyarrivedrumintothesquarebottlesofhissquarecellaret。WheneverthesehomesupplieswereexhaustedhewouldgototheQuietWoman，and，standingwithhisbacktothefire，groginhand，tellremarkablestoriesofhowhehadlivedsevenyearsunderthewaterlineofhisship，andothernavalwonders，tothenatives，whohopedtooearnestlyforatreatofalefromthetellertoexhibitanydoubtsofhistruth。
　　Hehadbeentherethisevening。"IsupposeyouhaveheardtheEgdonnews，Eustacia？"hesaid，withoutlookingupfromthebottles。"ThemenhavebeentalkingaboutitattheWomanasifitwereofnationalimportance。"
　　"Ihaveheardnone，"shesaid。
　　"YoungClymYeobright，astheycallhim，iscominghomenextweektospendChristmaswithhismother。
　　Heisafinefellowbythistime，itseems。Isupposeyourememberhim？"
　　"Ineversawhiminmylife。"
　　"Ah，true；heleftbeforeyoucamehere。Iwellrememberhimasapromisingboy。"
　　"Wherehashebeenlivingalltheseyears？"
　　"Inthatrookeryofpompandvanity，Paris，Ibelieve。"
　　bookthreeTHEFASCINATION
　　1—"MyMindtoMeaKingdomIs"
　　InClymYeobright’sfacecouldbedimlyseenthetypicalcountenanceofthefuture。Shouldtherebeaclassicperiodtoarthereafter，itsPheidiasmayproducesuchfaces。
　　Theviewoflifeasathingtobeputupwith，replacingthatzestforexistencewhichwassointenseinearlycivilizations，mustultimatelyentersothoroughlyintotheconstitutionoftheadvancedracesthatitsfacialexpressionwillbecomeacceptedasanewartisticdeparture。Peoplealreadyfeelthatamanwholiveswithoutdisturbingacurveoffeature，orsettingamarkofmentalconcernanywhereuponhimself，istoofarremovedfrommodernperceptivenesstobeamoderntype。Physicallybeautifulmen——thegloryoftheracewhenitwasyoung——arealmostananachronismnow；
　　andwemaywonderwhether，atsometimeorother，physicallybeautifulwomenmaynotbeananachronismlikewise。
　　ThetruthseemstobethatalonglineofdisillusivecenturieshaspermanentlydisplacedtheHellenicideaoflife，orwhateveritmaybecalled。WhattheGreeksonlysuspectedweknowwell；whattheirAeschylusimaginedournurserychildrenfeel。Thatold—fashionedrevellinginthegeneralsituationgrowslessandlesspossibleasweuncoverthedefectsofnaturallaws，andseethequandarythatmanisinbytheiroperation。
　　ThelineamentswhichwillgetembodiedinidealsbaseduponthisnewrecognitionwillprobablybeakintothoseofYeobright。Theobserver’seyewasarrested，notbyhisfaceasapicture，butbyhisfaceasapage；
　　notbywhatitwas，butbywhatitrecorded。Hisfeatureswereattractiveinthelightofsymbols，assoundsintrinsicallycommonbecomeattractiveinlanguage，andasshapesintrinsicallysimplebecomeinterestinginwriting。
　　Hehadbeenaladofwhomsomethingwasexpected。
　　Beyondthisallhadbeenchaos。Thathewouldbesuccessfulinanoriginalway，orthathewouldgotothedogsinanoriginalway，seemedequallyprobable。
　　Theonlyabsolutecertaintyabouthimwasthathewouldnotstandstillinthecircumstancesamidwhichhewasborn。
　　Hence，whenhisnamewascasuallymentionedbyneighbouringyeomen，thelistenersaid，"Ah，ClymYeobright——whatishedoingnow？"Whentheinstinctivequestionaboutapersonis，Whatishedoing？itisfeltthathewillbefoundtobe，likemostofus，doingnothinginparticular。Thereisanindefinitesensethathemustbeinvadingsomeregionofsingularity，goodorbad。Thedevouthopeisthatheisdoingwell。Thesecretfaithisthatheismakingamessofit。Halfadozencomfortablemarket—men，whowerehabitualcallersattheQuietWomanastheypassedbyintheircarts，werepartialtothetopic。Infact，thoughtheywerenotEgdonmen，theycouldhardlyavoiditwhiletheysuckedtheirlongclaytubesandregardedtheheaththroughthewindow。Clymhadbeensoinwovenwiththeheathinhisboyhoodthathardlyanybodycouldlookuponitwithoutthinkingofhim。Sothesubjectrecurred：ifheweremakingafortuneandaname，somuchthebetterforhim；ifheweremakingatragicalfigureintheworld，somuchthebetterforanarrative。
　　ThefactwasthatYeobright’sfamehadspreadtoanawkwardextentbeforehelefthome。"Itisbadwhenyourfameoutrunsyourmeans，"saidtheSpanishJesuitGracian。
　　AttheageofsixhehadaskedaScriptureriddle："Whowasthefirstmanknowntowearbreeches？"andapplausehadresoundedfromtheveryvergeoftheheath。AtsevenhepaintedtheBattleofWaterloowithtiger—lilypollenandblack—currantjuice，intheabsenceofwater—colours。Bythetimehereachedtwelvehehadinthismannerbeenheardofasartistandscholarforatleasttwomilesround。
　　Anindividualwhosefamespreadsthreeorfourthousandyardsinthetimetakenbythefameofotherssimilarlysituatedtotravelsixoreighthundred，mustofnecessityhavesomethinginhim。PossiblyClym’sfame，likeHomer’s，owedsomethingtotheaccidentsofhissituation；
　　neverthelessfamoushewas。
　　Hegrewupandwashelpedoutinlife。ThatwaggeryoffatewhichstartedCliveasawritingclerk，Gayasalinen—draper，Keatsasasurgeon，andathousandothersinathousandotheroddways，banishedthewildandasceticheathladtoatradewhosesoleconcernwaswiththeespecialsymbolsofself—indulgenceandvainglory。
　　Thedetailsofthischoiceofabusinessforhimitisnotnecessarytogive。Atthedeathofhisfatheraneighbouringgentlemanhadkindlyundertakentogivetheboyastart，andthisassumedtheformofsendinghimtoBudmouth。
　　Yeobrightdidnotwishtogothere，butitwastheonlyfeasibleopening。ThencehewenttoLondon；andthence，shortlyafter，toParis，wherehehadremainedtillnow。
　　Somethingbeingexpectedofhim，hehadnotbeenathomemanydaysbeforeagreatcuriosityastowhyhestayedonsolongbegantoariseintheheath。Thenaturaltermofaholidayhadpassed，yethestillremained。
　　OntheSundaymorningfollowingtheweekofThomasin’smarriageadiscussiononthissubjectwasinprogressatahair—cuttingbeforeFairway’shouse。Herethelocalbarberingwasalwaysdoneatthishouronthisday，tobefollowedbythegreatSundaywashoftheinhabitantsatnoon，whichinitsturnwasfollowedbythegreatSundaydressinganhourlater。OnEgdonHeathSundayproperdidnotbegintilldinner—time，andeventhenitwasasomewhatbatteredspecimenoftheday。