Onethingatleastwasobvious：shewasnotmadetobelookedatthus。Thereddlemanhadappearedconsciousofasmuch，and，whileMrs。Yeobrightlookedinuponher，hecasthiseyesasidewithadelicacywhichwellbecamehim。

Thesleeperapparentlythoughtsotoo，forthenextmomentsheopenedherown。

Thelipsthenpartedwithsomethingofanticipation，somethingmoreofdoubt；andherseveralthoughtsandfractionsofthoughts，assignalledbythechangesonherface，wereexhibitedbythelighttotheutmostnicety。

Aningenuous，transparentlifewasdisclosed，asiftheflowofherexistencecouldbeseenpassingwithinher。

Sheunderstoodthesceneinamoment。

"Oyes，itisI，Aunt，"shecried。"Iknowhowfrightenedyouare，andhowyoucannotbelieveit；butallthesame，itisIwhohavecomehomelikethis！"

"Tamsin，Tamsin！"saidMrs。Yeobright，stoopingovertheyoungwomanandkissingher。"Omydeargirl！"

Thomasinwasnowonthevergeofasob，butbyanunexpectedself—commandsheutterednosound。Withagentlepantingbreathshesatupright。

"Ididnotexpecttoseeyouinthisstate，anymorethanyoume，"shewentonquickly。"WhereamI，Aunt？"

"Nearlyhome，mydear。InEgdonBottom。Whatdreadfulthingisit？"

"I’lltellyouinamoment。Sonear，arewe？ThenI

willgetoutandwalk。Iwanttogohomebythepath。"

"Butthiskindmanwhohasdonesomuchwill，Iamsure，takeyourightontomyhouse？"saidtheaunt，turningtothereddleman，whohadwithdrawnfromthefrontofthevanontheawakeningofthegirl，andstoodintheroad。

"Whyshouldyouthinkitnecessarytoaskme？Iwill，ofcourse，"saidhe。

"Heisindeedkind，"murmuredThomasin。"Iwasonceacquaintedwithhim，Aunt，andwhenIsawhimtodayIthoughtIshouldpreferhisvantoanyconveyanceofastranger。

ButI’llwalknow。Reddleman，stopthehorses，please。"

Themanregardedherwithtenderreluctance，butstoppedthemAuntandniecethendescendedfromthevan，Mrs。Yeobrightsayingtoitsowner，"Iquiterecognizeyounow。

Whatmadeyouchangefromthenicebusinessyourfatherleftyou？"

"Well，Idid，"hesaid，andlookedatThomasin，whoblushedalittle。"Thenyou’llnotbewantingmeanymoretonight，ma’am？"

Mrs。Yeobrightglancedaroundatthedarksky，atthehills，attheperishingbonfires，andatthelightedwindowoftheinntheyhadneared。"Ithinknot，"shesaid，"sinceThomasinwishestowalk。Wecansoonrunupthepathandreachhome——weknowitwell。"

Andafterafewfurtherwordstheyparted，thereddlemanmovingonwardswithhisvan，andthetwowomenremainingstandingintheroad。Assoonasthevehicleanditsdriverhadwithdrawnsofarastobebeyondallpossiblereachofhervoice，Mrs。Yeobrightturnedtoherniece。

"Now，Thomasin，"shesaidsternly，"what’sthemeaningofthisdisgracefulperformance？"

5—PerplexityamongHonestPeopleThomasinlookedasifquiteovercomebyheraunt’schangeofmanner。"Itmeansjustwhatitseemstomean：I

am——notmarried，"sherepliedfaintly。"Excuseme——forhumiliatingyou，Aunt，bythismishap——Iamsorryforit。

ButIcannothelpit。"

"Me？Thinkofyourselffirst。"

"Itwasnobody’sfault。Whenwegottheretheparsonwouldn’tmarryusbecauseofsometriflingirregularityinthelicense。"

"Whatirregularity？"

"Idon’tknow。Mr。Wildevecanexplain。IdidnotthinkwhenIwentawaythismorningthatIshouldcomebacklikethis。"Itbeingdark，Thomasinallowedheremotiontoescapeherbythesilentwayoftears，whichcouldrolldownhercheekunseen。

"Icouldalmostsaythatitservesyouright——ifIdidnotfeelthatyoudon’tdeserveit，"continuedMrs。Yeobright，who，possessingtwodistinctmoodsinclosecontiguity，agentlemoodandanangry，flewfromonetotheotherwithouttheleastwarning。"Remember，Thomasin，thisbusinesswasnoneofmyseeking；fromtheveryfirst，whenyoubegantofeelfoolishaboutthatman，Iwarnedyouhewouldnotmakeyouhappy。IfeltitsostronglythatIdidwhatIwouldneverhavebelievedmyselfcapableofdoing——stoodupinthechurch，andmademyselfthepublictalkforweeks。Buthavingonceconsented，Idon’tsubmittothesefancieswithoutgoodreason。

Marryhimyoumustafterthis。"

"DoyouthinkIwishtodootherwiseforonemoment？"

saidThomasin，withaheavysigh。"Iknowhowwrongitwasofmetolovehim，butdon’tpainmebytalkinglikethat，Aunt！Youwouldnothavehadmestaytherewithhim，wouldyou？——andyourhouseistheonlyhomeI

havetoreturnto。Hesayswecanbemarriedinadayortwo。"

"Iwishhehadneverseenyou。"

"Verywell；thenIwillbethemiserablestwomanintheworld，andnotlethimseemeagain。No，Iwon’thavehim！"

"Itistoolatetospeakso。Comewithme。Iamgoingtotheinntoseeifhehasreturned。OfcourseIshallgettothebottomofthisstoryatonce。

Mr。Wildevemustnotsupposehecanplaytricksuponme，oranybelongingtome。"

"Itwasnotthat。Thelicensewaswrong，andhecouldn’tgetanotherthesameday。Hewilltellyouinamomenthowitwas，ifhecomes。"

"Whydidn’thebringyouback？"

"Thatwasme！"againsobbedThomasin。"WhenIfoundwecouldnotbemarriedIdidn’tliketocomebackwithhim，andIwasveryill。ThenIsawDiggoryVenn，andwasgladtogethimtotakemehome。Icannotexplainitanybetter，andyoumustbeangrywithmeifyouwill。"

"Ishallseeaboutthat，"saidMrs。Yeobright；andtheyturnedtowardstheinn，knownintheneighbourhoodastheQuietWoman，thesignofwhichrepresentedthefigureofamatroncarryingherheadunderherarm，beneathwhichgruesomedesignwaswrittenthecoupletsowellknowntofrequentersoftheinn：——

SINCETHEWOMAN’SQUIET

LETNOMANBREEDARIOT。[1]

[1]Theinnwhichreallyborethissignandlegendstoodsomemilestothenorthwestofthepresentscene，whereinthehousemoreimmediatelyreferredtoisnownolongeraninn；andthesurroundingsaremuchchanged。

Butanotherinn，someofwhosefeaturesarealsoembodiedinthisdescription，theREDLIONatWinfrith，stillremainsasahavenforthewayfarer（1912）。

ThefrontofthehousewastowardstheheathandRainbarrow，whosedarkshapeseemedtothreatenitfromthesky。

Uponthedoorwasaneglectedbrassplate，bearingtheunexpectedinscription，"Mr。Wildeve，Engineer"——auselessyetcherishedrelicfromthetimewhenhehadbeenstartedinthatprofessioninanofficeatBudmouthbythosewhohadhopedmuchfromhim，andhadbeendisappointed。

Thegardenwasattheback，andbehindthisranastilldeepstream，formingthemarginoftheheathinthatdirection，meadow—landappearingbeyondthestream。

Butthethickobscuritypermittedonlyskylinestobevisibleofanysceneatpresent。Thewateratthebackofthehousecouldbeheard，idlyspinningwhirpoolsinitscreepbetweentherowsofdryfeather—headedreedswhichformedastockadealongeachbank。Theirpresencewasdenotedbysoundsasofacongregationprayinghumbly，producedbytheirrubbingagainsteachotherintheslowwind。

Thewindow，whencethecandlelighthadshoneupthevaletotheeyesofthebonfiregroup，wasuncurtained，butthesilllaytoohighforapedestrianontheoutsidetolookoveritintotheroom。Avastshadow，inwhichcouldbedimlytracedportionsofamasculinecontour，blottedhalftheceiling。

"Heseemstobeathome，"saidMrs。Yeobright。

"MustIcomein，too，Aunt？"askedThomasinfaintly。

"Isupposenot；itwouldbewrong。"

"Youmustcome，certainly——toconfronthim，sothathemaymakenofalserepresentationstome。Weshallnotbefiveminutesinthehouse，andthenwe’llwalkhome。"

Enteringtheopenpassage，shetappedatthedooroftheprivateparlour，unfastenedit，andlookedin。

ThebackandshouldersofamancamebetweenMrs。Yeobright’seyesandthefire。Wildeve，whoseformitwas，immediatelyturned，arose，andadvancedtomeethisvisitors。

Hewasquiteayoungman，andofthetwoproperties，formandmotion，thelatterfirstattractedtheeyeinhim。Thegraceofhismovementwassingular——itwasthepantomimicexpressionofalady—killingcareer。

Nextcameintonoticethemorematerialqualities，amongwhichwasaprofusecropofhairimpendingoverthetopofhisface，lendingtohisforeheadthehigh—corneredoutlineofanearlyGothicshield；

andaneckwhichwassmoothandroundasacylinder。

Thelowerhalfofhisfigurewasoflightbuild。

Altogetherhewasoneinwhomnomanwouldhaveseenanythingtoadmire，andinwhomnowomanwouldhaveseenanythingtodislike。

Hediscernedtheyounggirl’sforminthepassage，andsaid，"Thomasin，then，hasreachedhome。

Howcouldyouleavemeinthatway，darling？"AndturningtoMrs。Yeobright——"Itwasuselesstoarguewithher。

Shewouldgo，andgoalone。"

"Butwhat’sthemeaningofitall？"demandedMrs。Yeobrighthaughtily。

"Takeaseat，"saidWildeve，placingchairsforthetwowomen。

"Well，itwasaverystupidmistake，butsuchmistakeswillhappen。ThelicensewasuselessatAnglebury。

ItwasmadeoutforBudmouth，butasIdidn’treaditI

wasn’tawareofthat。"

"ButyouhadbeenstayingatAnglebury？"

"No。IhadbeenatBudmouth——tilltwodaysago——andthatwaswhereIhadintendedtotakeher；butwhenIcametofetchherwedecideduponAnglebury，forgettingthatanewlicensewouldbenecessary。

TherewasnottimetogettoBudmouthafterwards。"

"Ithinkyouareverymuchtoblame，"saidMrs。Yeobright。

"ItwasquitemyfaultwechoseAnglebury，"Thomasinpleaded。

"IproposeditbecauseIwasnotknownthere。"

"IknowsowellthatIamtoblamethatyouneednotremindmeofit，"repliedWildeveshortly。

"Suchthingsdon’thappenfornothing，"saidtheaunt。

"Itisagreatslighttomeandmyfamily；andwhenitgetsknowntherewillbeaveryunpleasanttimeforus。

Howcanshelookherfriendsinthefacetomorrow？Itisaverygreatinjury，andoneIcannoteasilyforgive。

Itmayevenreflectonhercharacter。"

"Nonsense，"saidWildeve。

Thomasin’slargeeyeshadflownfromthefaceofonetothefaceoftheotherduringthisdiscussion，andshenowsaidanxiously，"Willyouallowme，Aunt，totalkitoveralonewithDamonforfiveminutes？Willyou，Damon？"

"Certainly，dear，"saidWildeve，"ifyourauntwillexcuseus。"

Heledherintoanadjoiningroom，leavingMrs。Yeobrightbythefire。

Assoonastheywerealone，andthedoorclosed，Thomasinsaid，turningupherpale，tearfulfacetohim，"Itiskillingme，this，Damon！IdidnotmeantopartfromyouinangeratAngleburythismorning；

butIwasfrightenedandhardlyknewwhatIsaid。

I’venotletAuntknowhowmuchIsufferedtoday；anditissohardtocommandmyfaceandvoice，andtosmileasifitwereaslightthingtome；butItrytodoso，thatshemaynotbestillmoreindignantwithyou。

Iknowyoucouldnothelpit，dear，whateverAuntmaythink。"

"Sheisveryunpleasant。"

"Yes，"Thomasinmurmured，"andIsupposeIseemsonow……Damon，whatdoyoumeantodoaboutme？"

"Doaboutyou？"

"Yes。Thosewhodon’tlikeyouwhisperthingswhichatmomentsmakemedoubtyou。Wemeantomarry，Isuppose，don’twe？"

"Ofcoursewedo。WehaveonlytogotoBudmouthonMonday，andwemarryatonce。"

"Thendoletusgo！——ODamon，whatyoumakemesay！"

Shehidherfaceinherhandkerchief。"HereamIaskingyoutomarryme，whenbyrightsyououghttobeonyourkneesimploringme，yourcruelmistress，nottorefuseyou，andsayingitwouldbreakyourheartifIdid。

Iusedtothinkitwouldbeprettyandsweetlikethat；

buthowdifferent！"

"Yes，reallifeisneveratalllikethat。"

"ButIdon’tcarepersonallyifitnevertakesplace，"

sheaddedwithalittledignity；"no，Icanlivewithoutyou。

ItisAuntIthinkof。Sheissoproud，andthinkssomuchofherfamilyrespectability，thatshewillbecutdownwithmortificationifthisstoryshouldgetabroadbefore——itisdone。MycousinClym，too，willbemuchwounded。"

"Thenhewillbeveryunreasonable。Infact，youareallratherunreasonable。"

Thomasincolouredalittle，andnotwithlove。Butwhateverthemomentaryfeelingwhichcausedthatflushinher，itwentasitcame，andshehumblysaid，"Inevermeantobe，ifIcanhelpit。Imerelyfeelthatyouhavemyaunttosomeextentinyourpoweratlast。"

"Asamatterofjusticeitisalmostduetome，"saidWildeve。

"ThinkwhatIhavegonethroughtowinherconsent；

theinsultthatitistoanymantohavethebannsforbidden——thedoubleinsulttoamanunluckyenoughtobecursedwithsensitiveness，andbluedemons，andHeavenknowswhat，asIam。Icanneverforgetthosebanns。

AharshermanwouldrejoicenowinthepowerIhaveofturninguponyourauntbygoingnofurtherinthebusiness。"

Shelookedwistfullyathimwithhersorrowfuleyesashesaidthosewords，andheraspectshowedthatmorethanonepersonintheroomcoulddeplorethepossessionofsensitiveness。

Seeingthatshewasreallysufferingheseemeddisturbedandadded，"Thisismerelyareflectionyouknow。

Ihavenottheleastintentiontorefusetocompletethemarriage，Tamsiemine——Icouldnotbearit。"

"Youcouldnot，Iknow！"saidthefairgirl，brightening。

"You，whocannotbearthesightofpaininevenaninsect，oranydisagreeablesound，orunpleasantsmelleven，willnotlongcausepaintomeandmine。"

"Iwillnot，ifIcanhelpit。"

"Yourhanduponit，Damon。"

Hecarelesslygaveherhishand。

"Ah，bymycrown，what’sthat？"hesaidsuddenly。

Therefellupontheirearsthesoundofnumerousvoicessinginginfrontofthehouse。Amongthese，twomadethemselvesprominentbytheirpeculiarity：onewasaverystrongbass，theotherawheezythinpiping。

ThomasinrecognizedthemasbelongingtoTimothyFairwayandGrandferCantlerespectively。

"Whatdoesitmean——itisnotskimmity—riding，Ihope？"

shesaid，withafrightenedgazeatWildeve。

"Ofcoursenot；no，itisthattheheath—folkhavecometosingtousawelcome。Thisisintolerable！"Hebeganpacingabout，themenoutsidesingingcheerily——

"Hetold’herthatshe’wasthejoy’ofhislife’，Andif’

she’dcon—sent’hewouldmakeherhiswife’；Shecould’

notrefuse’him；tochurch’sotheywent’，YoungWillwasforgot’，andyoungSue’wascontent’；Andthen’

wasshekiss’d’andsetdown’onhisknee’，Noman’

intheworld’wassolov’—ingashe’！"

Mrs。Yeobrightburstinfromtheouterroom。

"Thomasin，Thomasin！"shesaid，lookingindignantlyatWildeve；

"here’saprettyexposure！Letusescapeatonce。Come！"

Itwas，however，toolatetogetawaybythepassage。

Aruggedknockinghadbegunuponthedoorofthefrontroom。

Wildeve，whohadgonetothewindow，cameback。

"Stop！"hesaidimperiously，puttinghishanduponMrs。Yeobright’sarm。"Weareregularlybesieged。

Therearefiftyofthemoutthereifthere’sone。

YoustayinthisroomwithThomasin；I’llgooutandfacethem。Youmuststaynow，formysake，tilltheyaregone，sothatitmayseemasifallwasright。

Come，Tamsiedear，don’tgomakingascene——wemustmarryafterthis；thatyoucanseeaswellasI。Sitstill，that’sall——anddon’tspeakmuch。I’llmanagethem。

Blunderingfools！"

Hepressedtheagitatedgirlintoaseat，returnedtotheouterroomandopenedthedoor。Immediatelyoutside，inthepassage，appearedGrandferCantlesinginginconcertwiththosestillstandinginfrontofthehouse。

HecameintotheroomandnoddedabstractedlytoWildeve，hislipsstillparted，andhisfeaturesexcruciatinglystrainedintheemissionofthechorus。Thisbeingended，hesaidheartily，"Here’swelcometothenew—madecouple，andGodbless’em！"

"Thankyou，"saidWildeve，withdryresentment，hisfaceasgloomyasathunderstorm。

AttheGrandfer’sheelsnowcametherestofthegroup，whichincludedFairway，Christian，Samtheturf—cutter，Humphrey，andadozenothers。AllsmileduponWildeve，anduponhistablesandchairslikewise，fromageneralsenseoffriendlinesstowardsthearticlesaswellastowardstheirowner。

"WebenothereaforeMrs。Yeobrightafterall，"

saidFairway，recognizingthematron’sbonnetthroughtheglasspartitionwhichdividedthepublicapartmenttheyhadenteredfromtheroomwherethewomensat。

"Westruckdownacross，d’yesee，Mr。Wildeve，andshewentroundbythepath。"

"AndIseetheyoungbride’slittlehead！"saidGrandfer，peepinginthesamedirection，anddiscerningThomasin，whowaswaitingbesideherauntinamiserableandawkwardway。

"Notquitesettledinyet——well，well，there’splentyoftime。"

Wildevemadenoreply；andprobablyfeelingthatthesoonerhetreatedthemthesoonertheywouldgo，heproducedastonejar，whichthrewawarmhaloovermattersatonce。

"That’sadropoftherightsort，Icansee，"

saidGrandferCantle，withtheairofamantoowell—

manneredtoshowanyhurrytotasteit。

"Yes，"saidWildeve，"’tissomeoldmead。Ihopeyouwilllikeit。"

"Oay！"repliedtheguests，intheheartytonesnaturalwhenthewordsdemandedbypolitenesscoincidewiththoseofdeepestfeeling。"Thereisn’taprettierdrinkunderthesun。"

"I’lltakemyoaththereisn’t，"addedGrandferCantle。

"Allthatcanbesaidagainstmeadisthat’tisratherheady，andapttolieaboutamanagoodwhile。

Buttomorrow’sSunday，thankGod。"

"Ifeel’dforalltheworldlikesomeboldsoldierafterIhadhadsomeonce，"saidChristian。

"Youshallfeelsoagain，"saidWildeve，withcondescension，"Cupsorglasses，gentlemen？"

"Well，ifyoudon’tmind，we’llhavethebeaker，andpass’enround；’tisbetterthanhelingitoutindribbles。"

"Jowntheslipperyglasses，"saidGrandferCantle。

"What’sthegoodofathingthatyoucan’tputdownintheashestowarm，hey，neighbours；that’swhatIask？"

"Right，Grandfer，"saidSam；andthemeadthencirculated。

"Well，"saidTimothyFairway，feelingdemandsuponhispraiseinsomeformorother，"’tisaworthythingtobemarried，Mr。Wildeve；andthewomanyou’vegotisadimant，sosaysI。Yes，"hecontinued，toGrandferCantle，raisinghisvoicesoastobeheardthroughthepartition，"herfather（inclininghisheadtowardstheinnerroom）

wasasgoodafelleraseverlived。Healwayshadhisgreatindignationreadyagainstanythingunderhand。"

"Isthatverydangerous？"saidChristian。

"Andtherewerefewinthesepartsthatwereupsideswithhim，"

saidSam。"Wheneveraclubwalkedhe’dplaytheclarinetinthebandthatmarchedbefore’emasifhe’dnevertouchedanythingbutaclarinetallhislife。Andthen，whentheygottochurchdoorhe’dthrowdowntheclarinet，mountthegallery，snatchupthebassviol，androzumawayasifhe’dneverplayedanythingbutabassviol。

Folkwouldsay——folkthatknowedwhatatruestavewas——’Surely，surelythat’sneverthesamemanthatIsawhandlingtheclarinetsomasterlybynow！"

"Icanmindit，"saidthefurze—cutter。"’Twasawonderfulthingthatonebodycouldholditallandnevermixthefingering。"

"TherewasKingsberechurchlikewise，"Fairwayrecommenced，asoneopeninganewveinofthesamemineofinterest。

Wildevebreathedthebreathofoneintolerablybored，andglancedthroughthepartitionattheprisoners。

"HeusedtowalkoverthereofaSundayafternoontovisithisoldacquaintanceAndrewBrown，thefirstclarinetthere；

agoodmanenough，butratherscreechyinhismusic，ifyoucanmind？"

"’Awas。"

"AndneighbourYeobrightwouldtakeAndrey’splaceforsomepartoftheservice，toletAndreyhaveabitofanap，asanyfriendwouldnaturallydo。"

"Asanyfriendwould，"saidGrandferCantle，theotherlistenersexpressingthesameaccordbytheshorterwayofnoddingtheirheads。

"NosoonerwasAndreyasleepandthefirstwhiffofneighbourYeobright’swindhadgotinsideAndrey’sclarinetthaneveryoneinchurchfeeledinamomenttherewasagreatsoulamong’em。Allheadswouldturn，andthey’dsay，’Ah，Ithought’twashe！’OneSundayI

canwellmind——abassvioldaythattime，andYeobrighthadbroughthisown。’TwastheHundred—and—thirty—thirdto’Lydia’；andwhenthey’dcometo’Randownhisbeardando’erhisrobesitscostlymoistureshed，’

neighbourYeobright，whohadjustwarmedtohiswork，drovehisbowintothemstringsthatgloriousgrandthathee’ena’mostsawedthebassviolintotwopieces。

Everywinderinchurchrattledasif’twereathunderstorm。

OldPa’sonWilliamsliftedhishandsinhisgreatholysurpliceasnaturalasifhe’dbeenincommonclothes，andseemedtosayhisself，’Oforsuchamaninourparish！’

ButnotasoulinKingsberecouldholdacandletoYeobright。"

"Wasitquitesafewhenthewindershook？"Christianinquired。

Hereceivednoanswer，allforthemomentsittingraptinadmirationoftheperformancedescribed。

AswithFarinelli’ssingingbeforetheprincesses，Sheridan’srenownedBegumSpeech，andothersuchexamples，thefortunateconditionofitsbeingforeverlosttotheworldinvestedthedeceasedMr。Yeobright’stourdeforceonthatmemorableafternoonwithacumulativeglorywhichcomparativecriticism，hadthatbeenpossible，mightconsiderablyhaveshorndown。

"Hewasthelastyou’dhaveexpectedtodropoffintheprimeoflife，"saidHumphrey。

"Ah，well；hewaslookingfortheearthsomemonthsaforehewent。Atthattimewomenusedtorunforsmocksandgown—piecesatGreenhillFair，andmywifethatisnow，beingalong—leggedslitteringmaid，hardlyhusband—high，wentwiththerestofthemaidens，for’awasagood，runneraforeshegotsoheavy。

WhenshecamehomeIsaid——wewerethenjustbeginningtowalktogether——’Whathaveyegot，myhoney？’

’I’vewon——well，I’vewon——agown—piece，’saysshe，hercolourscomingupinamoment。’Tisasmockforacrown，Ithought；andsoitturnedout。Ay，whenIthinkwhatshe’llsaytomenowwithoutamosselofredinherface，itdoseemstrangethat’awouldn’tsaysuchalittlethingthen……However，thenshewenton，andthat’swhatmademebringupthestory。Well，whateverclothesI’vewon，whiteorfigured，foreyestoseeorforeyesnottosee’

（’acoulddoaprettystrokeofmodestyinthosedays），’I’dsoonerhavelostitthanhaveseenwhatIhave。