TheseSunday—morninghair—cuttingswereperformedbyFairway；

thevictimsittingonachopping—blockinfrontofthehouse，withoutacoat，andtheneighboursgossipingaround，idlyobservingthelocksofhairastheyroseuponthewindafterthesnip，andflewawayoutofsighttothefourquartersoftheheavens。Summerandwinterthescenewasthesame，unlessthewindweremorethanusuallyblusterous，whenthestoolwasshiftedafewfeetroundthecorner。

Tocomplainofcoldinsittingoutofdoors，hatlessandcoatless，whileFairwaytoldtruestoriesbetweenthecutsofthescissors，wouldhavebeentopronounceyourselfnomanatonce。Toflinch，exclaim，ormoveamuscleofthefaceatthesmallstabsundertheearreceivedfromthoseinstruments，oratscarificationsoftheneckbythecomb，wouldhavebeenthoughtagrossbreachofgoodmanners，consideringthatFairwaydiditallfornothing。AbleedingaboutthepollonSundayafternoonswasamplyaccountedforbytheexplanation。

"Ihavehadmyhaircut，youknow。"

TheconversationonYeobrighthadbeenstartedbyadistantviewoftheyoungmanramblingleisurelyacrosstheheathbeforethem。

"Amanwhoisdoingwellelsewherewouldn’tbideheretwoorthreeweeksfornothing，"saidFairway。

"He’sgotsomeprojectin’shead——dependuponthat。"

"Well，’acan’tkeepadimentshophere，"saidSam。

"Idon’tseewhyheshouldhavehadthemtwoheavyboxeshomeifhehadnotbeengoingtobide；andwhatthereisforhimtodoheretheLordinheavenknows。"

BeforemanymoresurmisescouldbeindulgedinYeobrighthadcomenear；andseeingthehair—cuttinggroupheturnedasidetojointhem。Marchingup，andlookingcriticallyattheirfacesforamoment，hesaid，withoutintroduction，"Now，folks，letmeguesswhatyouhavebeentalkingabout。"

"Ay，sure，ifyouwill，"saidSam。

"Aboutme。"

"Now，itisathingIshouldn’thavedreamedofdoing，otherwise，"saidFairwayinatoneofintegrity；"butsinceyouhavenamedit，MasterYeobright，I’llownthatwewastalkingabout’ee。Wewerewonderingwhatcouldkeepyouhomeheremollyhorningaboutwhenyouhavemadesuchaworld—widenameforyourselfinthenick—nacktrade——now，that’sthetrutho’t。"

"I’lltellyou，"saidYeobright。withunexpectedearnestness。

"Iamnotsorrytohavetheopportunity。I’vecomehomebecause，allthingsconsidered，Icanbeatriflelessuselessherethananywhereelse。ButIhaveonlylatelyfoundthisout。WhenIfirstgotawayfromhomeIthoughtthisplacewasnotworthtroublingabout。Ithoughtourlifeherewascontemptible。Tooilyourbootsinsteadofblackingthem，todustyourcoatwithaswitchinsteadofabrush——wasthereeveranythingmoreridiculous？Isaid。"

"So’tis；so’tis！"

"No，no——youarewrong；itisn’t。"

"Begyourpardon，wethoughtthatwasyourmaning？"

"Well，asmyviewschangedmycoursebecameverydepressing。

IfoundthatIwastryingtobelikepeoplewhohadhardlyanythingincommonwithmyself。Iwasendeavouringtoputoffonesortoflifeforanothersortoflife，whichwasnotbetterthanthelifeIhadknownbefore。

Itwassimplydifferent。"

"True；asightdifferent，"saidFairway。

"Yes，Parismustbeatakingplace，"saidHumphrey。

"Grandshop—winders，trumpets，anddrums；andherebeweoutofdoorsinallwindsandweathers——"

"Butyoumistakeme，"pleadedClym。"Allthiswasverydepressing。ButnotsodepressingassomethingI

nextperceived——thatmybusinesswastheidlest，vainest，mosteffeminatebusinessthateveramancouldbeputto。

Thatdecidedme——IwouldgiveitupandtrytofollowsomerationaloccupationamongthepeopleIknewbest，andtowhomIcouldbeofmostuse。Ihavecomehome；

andthisishowImeantocarryoutmyplan。IshallkeepaschoolasneartoEgdonaspossible，soastobeabletowalkoverhereandhaveanight—schoolinmymother’shouse。ButImuststudyalittleatfirst，togetproperlyqualified。Now，neighbours，Imustgo。"

AndClymresumedhiswalkacrosstheheath。

"He’llnevercarryitoutintheworld，"saidFairway。

"Inafewweekshe’lllearntoseethingsotherwise。"

"’Tisgood—heartedoftheyoungman，"saidanother。

"But，formypart，Ithinkhehadbettermindhisbusiness。"

2—TheNewCourseCausesDisappointmentYeobrightlovedhiskind。Hehadaconvictionthatthewantofmostmenwasknowledgeofasortwhichbringswisdomratherthanaffluence。Hewishedtoraisetheclassattheexpenseofindividualsratherthanindividualsattheexpenseoftheclass。Whatwasmore，hewasreadyatoncetobethefirstunitsacrificed。

Inpassingfromthebucolictotheintellectuallifetheintermediatestagesareusuallytwoatleast，frequentlymanymore；andoneofthosestagesisalmostsuretobeworldlyadvanced。Wecanhardlyimaginebucolicplacidityquickeningtointellectualaimswithoutimaginingsocialaimsasthetransitionalphase。

Yeobright’slocalpeculiaritywasthatinstrivingathighthinkinghestillcleavedtoplainliving——nay，wildandmeagrelivinginmanyrespects，andbrotherlinesswithclowns。

HewasaJohntheBaptistwhotookennoblementratherthanrepentanceforhistext。Mentallyhewasinaprovincialfuture，thatis，hewasinmanypointsabreastwiththecentraltownthinkersofhisdate。MuchofthisdevelopmenthemayhaveowedtohisstudiouslifeinParis，wherehehadbecomeacquaintedwithethicalsystemspopularatthetime。

Inconsequenceofthisrelativelyadvancedposition，Yeobrightmighthavebeencalledunfortunate。

Theruralworldwasnotripeforhim。Amanshouldbeonlypartiallybeforehistime——tobecompletelytothevanwardinaspirationsisfataltofame。

HadPhilip’swarlikesonbeenintellectuallysofaraheadastohaveattemptedcivilizationwithoutbloodshed，hewouldhavebeentwicethegodlikeherothatheseemed，butnobodywouldhaveheardofanAlexander。

Intheinterestsofrenowntheforwardnessshouldliechieflyinthecapacitytohandlethings。Successfulpropagandistshavesucceededbecausethedoctrinetheybringintoformisthatwhichtheirlistenershaveforsometimefeltwithoutbeingabletoshape。Amanwhoadvocatesaestheticeffortanddeprecatessocialeffortisonlylikelytobeunderstoodbyaclasstowhichsocialefforthasbecomeastalematter。Toargueuponthepossibilityofculturebeforeluxurytothebucolicworldmaybetoarguetruly，butitisanattempttodisturbasequencetowhichhumanityhasbeenlongaccustomed。YeobrightpreachingtotheEgdoneremitesthattheymightrisetoaserenecomprehensivenesswithoutgoingthroughtheprocessofenrichingthemselveswasnotunlikearguingtoancientChaldeansthatinascendingfromearthtothepureempyreanitwasnotnecessarytopassfirstintotheinterveningheavenofether。

WasYeobright’smindwell—proportioned？No。Awellproportionedmindisonewhichshowsnoparticularbias；

oneofwhichwemaysafelysaythatitwillnevercauseitsownertobeconfinedasamadman，torturedasaheretic，orcrucifiedasablasphemer。Also，ontheotherhand，thatitwillnevercausehimtobeapplaudedasaprophet，reveredasapriest，orexaltedasaking。

Itsusualblessingsarehappinessandmediocrity。

ItproducesthepoetryofRogers，thepaintingsofWest，thestatecraftofNorth，thespiritualguidanceofTomline；

enablingitspossessorstofindtheirwaytowealth，towindupwell，tostepwithdignityoffthestage，todiecomfortablyintheirbeds，andtogetthedecentmonumentwhich，inmanycases，theydeserve。ItneverwouldhaveallowedYeobrighttodosucharidiculousthingasthrowuphisbusinesstobenefithisfellow—creatures。

Hewalkedalongtowardshomewithoutattendingtopaths。

IfanyoneknewtheheathwellitwasClym。Hewaspermeatedwithitsscenes，withitssubstance，andwithitsodours。

Hemightbesaidtobeitsproduct。Hiseyeshadfirstopenedthereon；withitsappearanceallthefirstimages，ofhismemoryweremingled，hisestimateoflifehadbeencolouredbyit：histoyshadbeentheflintknivesandarrow—headswhichhefoundthere，wonderingwhystonesshould"grow"tosuchoddshapes；hisflowers，thepurplebellsandyellowfurze：hisanimalkingdom，thesnakesandcroppers；hissociety，itshumanhaunters。

TakeallthevaryinghatesfeltbyEustaciaVyetowardstheheath，andtranslatethemintoloves，andyouhavetheheartofClym。Hegazeduponthewideprospectashewalked，andwasglad。

TomanypersonsthisEgdonwasaplacewhichhadslippedoutofitscenturygenerationsago，tointrudeasanuncouthobjectintothis。Itwasanobsoletething，andfewcaredtostudyit。Howcouldthisbeotherwiseinthedaysofsquarefields，plashedhedges，andmeadowswateredonaplansorectangularthatonafinedaytheylookedlikesilvergridirons？Thefarmer，inhisride，whocouldsmileatartificialgrasses，lookwithsolicitudeatthecomingcorn，andsighwithsadnessatthefly—eatenturnips，bestoweduponthedistantuplandofheathnothingbetterthanafrown。

ButasforYeobright，whenhelookedfromtheheightsonhiswayhecouldnothelpindulginginabarbaroussatisfactionatobservingthat，insomeoftheattemptsatreclamationfromthewaste，tillage，afterholdingonforayearortwo，hadrecededagainindespair，thefernsandfurze—tuftsstubbornlyreassertingthemselves。

Hedescendedintothevalley，andsoonreachedhishomeatBlooms—End。Hismotherwassnippingdeadleavesfromthewindow—plants。Shelookedupathimasifshedidnotunderstandthemeaningofhislongstaywithher；

herfacehadwornthatlookforseveraldays。Hecouldperceivethatthecuriositywhichhadbeenshownbythehair—cuttinggroupamountedinhismothertoconcern。

Butshehadaskednoquestionwithherlips，evenwhenthearrivalofhistrunksuggestedthathewasnotgoingtoleavehersoon。Hersilencebesoughtanexplanationofhimmoreloudlythanwords。

"IamnotgoingbacktoParisagain，Mother，"hesaid。

"Atleast，inmyoldcapacity。Ihavegivenupthebusiness。"

Mrs。Yeobrightturnedinpainedsurprise。"Ithoughtsomethingwasamiss，becauseoftheboxes。Iwonderyoudidnottellmesooner。"

"Ioughttohavedoneit。ButIhavebeenindoubtwhetheryouwouldbepleasedwithmyplan。Iwasnotquiteclearonafewpointsmyself。Iamgoingtotakeanentirelynewcourse。"

"Iamastonished，Clym。Howcanyouwanttodobetterthanyou’vebeendoing？"

"Veryeasily。ButIshallnotdobetterinthewayyoumean；Isupposeitwillbecalleddoingworse。

ButIhatethatbusinessofmine，andIwanttodosomeworthythingbeforeIdie。AsaschoolmasterIthinktodoit——aschool—mastertothepoorandignorant，toteachthemwhatnobodyelsewill。"

"Afterallthetroublethathasbeentakentogiveyouastart，andwhenthereisnothingtodobuttokeepstraightontowardsaffluence，yousayyouwillbeapoorman’sschoolmaster。Yourfancieswillbeyourruin，Clym。"

Mrs。Yeobrightspokecalmly，buttheforceoffeelingbehindthewordswasbuttooapparenttoonewhoknewheraswellashersondid。Hedidnotanswer。

Therewasinhisfacethathopelessnessofbeingunderstoodwhichcomeswhentheobjectorisconstitutionallybeyondthereachofalogicthat，evenunderfavouringconditions，isalmosttoocoarseavehicleforthesubtletyoftheargument。

Nomorewassaidonthesubjecttilltheendofdinner。

Hismotherthenbegan，asiftherehadbeennointervalsincethemorning。"Itdisturbsme，Clym，tofindthatyouhavecomehomewithsuchthoughtsasthose。

Ihadn’ttheleastideathatyoumeanttogobackwardintheworldbyyourownfreechoice。Ofcourse，Ihavealwayssupposedyouweregoingtopushstraighton，asothermendo——allwhodeservethename——whentheyhavebeenputinagoodwayofdoingwell。"

"Icannothelpit，"saidClym，inatroubledtone。

"Mother，Ihatetheflashybusiness。Talkaboutmenwhodeservethename，cananymandeservingthenamewastehistimeinthateffeminateway，whenheseeshalftheworldgoingtoruinforwantofsomebodytobuckletoandteachthemhowtobreastthemiserytheyarebornto？Igetupeverymorningandseethewholecreationgroaningandtravailinginpain，asSt。Paulsays，andyetthereamI，traffickinginglitteringsplendourswithwealthywomenandtitledlibertines，andpanderingtothemeanestvanities——I，whohavehealthandstrengthenoughforanything。Ihavebeentroubledinmymindaboutitalltheyear，andtheendisthatIcannotdoitanymore。"

"Whycan’tyoudoitaswellasothers？"

"Idon’tknow，exceptthattherearemanythingsotherpeoplecareforwhichIdon’t；andthat’spartlywhyI

thinkIoughttodothis。Foronething，mybodydoesnotrequiremuchofme。Icannotenjoydelicacies；

goodthingsarewasteduponme。Well，Ioughttoturnthatdefecttoadvantage，andbybeingabletodowithoutwhatotherpeoplerequireIcanspendwhatsuchthingscostuponanybodyelse。"

Now，Yeobright，havinginheritedsomeoftheseveryinstinctsfromthewomanbeforehim，couldnotfailtoawakenareciprocityinherthroughherfeelings，ifnotbyarguments，disguiseitasshemightforhisgood。

Shespokewithlessassurance。"Andyetyoumighthavebeenawealthymanifyouhadonlypersevered。

Managertothatlargediamondestablishment——whatbettercanamanwishfor？Whatapostoftrustandrespect！

Isupposeyouwillbelikeyourfather；likehim，youaregettingwearyofdoingwell。"

"No，"saidherson，"Iamnotwearyofthat，thoughIamwearyofwhatyoumeanbyit。Mother，whatisdoingwell？"

Mrs。Yeobrightwasfartoothoughtfulawomantobecontentwithreadydefinitions，and，likethe"Whatiswisdom？"ofPlato’sSocrates，andthe"Whatistruth？"

ofPontiusPilate，Yeobright’sburningquestionreceivednoanswer。

Thesilencewasbrokenbytheclashofthegardengate，atapatthedoor，anditsopening。ChristianCantleappearedintheroominhisSundayclothes。

ItwasthecustomonEgdontobegintheprefacetoastorybeforeabsolutelyenteringthehouse，soastobewellinforthebodyofthenarrativebythetimevisitorandvisitedstoodfacetoface。Christianhadbeensayingtothemwhilethedoorwasleavingitslatch，"TothinkthatI，whogofromhomebutonceinawhile，andhardlythen，shouldhavebeentherethismorning！"

"’Tisnewsyouhavebroughtus，then，Christian？"

saidMrs。Yeobright。

"Ay，sure，aboutawitch，andyemustoverlookmytimeo’

day；for，saysI，’Imustgoandtell’em，thoughtheywon’thavehalfdonedinner。’Iassureyeitmademeshakelikeadrivenleaf。Doyethinkanyharmwillcomeo’t？"

"Well——what？"

"Thismorningatchurchwewasallstandingup，andthepa’sonsaid，’Letuspray。’’Well，’thinksI，’onemayaswellkneelasstand’；sodownIwent；and，morethanthat，alltherestwereaswillingtoobligethemanasI。Wehadn’tbeenhardatitformorethanaminutewhenamostterriblescreechsoundedthroughchurch，asifsomebodyhadjustgieduptheirheart’sblood。

AllthefolkjumpedupandthenwefoundthatSusanNunsuchhadprickedMissVyewithalongstocking—needle，asshehadthreatenedtodoassoonasevershecouldgettheyoungladytochurch，whereshedon’tcomeveryoften。She’vewaitedforthischanceforweeks，soastodrawherbloodandputanendtothebewitchingofSusan’schildrenthathasbeencarriedonsolong。

Suefollowedherintochurch，satnexttoher，andassoonasshecouldfindachanceinwentthestocking—needleintomylady’sarm。"

"Goodheaven，howhorrid！"saidMrs。Yeobright。

"Sueprickedherthatdeepthatthemaidfaintedaway；

andasIwasafeardtheremightbesometumultamongus，Igotbehindthebassviolanddidn’tseenomore。

Buttheycarriedheroutintotheair，’tissaid；

butwhentheylookedroundforSueshewasgone。

Whatascreamthatgirlgied，poorthing！Therewerethepa’soninhissurpliceholdinguphishandandsaying，’Sitdown，mygoodpeople，sitdown！’Butthedeuceabitwouldtheysitdown。O，andwhatd’yethinkIfoundout，Mrs。Yeobright？Thepa’sonwearsasuitofclothesunderhissurplice！——Icouldseehisblacksleeveswhenhehelduphisarm。"

"’Tisacruelthing，"saidYeobright。

"Yes，"saidhismother。

"Thenationoughttolookintoit，"saidChristian。

"Here’sHumphreycoming，Ithink。"

IncameHumphrey。"Well，haveyeheardthenews？

ButIseeyouhave。’TisaverystrangethingthatwheneveroneofEgdonfolkgoestochurchsomerumjoborotherissuretobedoing。ThelasttimeoneofuswastherewaswhenneighbourFairwaywentinthefall；

andthatwasthedayyouforbadthebanns，Mrs。Yeobright。"

"Hasthiscruellytreatedgirlbeenabletowalkhome？"

saidClym。

"Theysayshegotbetter，andwenthomeverywell。

AndnowI’vetolditImustbemovinghomewardmyself。"

"AndI，"saidHumphrey。"Trulynowweshallseeifthere’sanythinginwhatfolkssayabouther。"

WhentheyweregoneintotheheathagainYeobrightsaidquietlytohismother，"DoyouthinkIhaveturnedteachertoosoon？"

"Itisrightthatthereshouldbeschoolmasters，andmissionaries，andallsuchmen，"shereplied。

"Butitisright，too，thatIshouldtrytoliftyououtofthislifeintosomethingricher，andthatyoushouldnotcomebackagain，andbeasifIhadnottriedatall。"

LaterinthedaySam，theturf—cutter，entered。

"I’vecomea—borrowing，Mrs。Yeobright。Isupposeyouhaveheardwhat’sbeenhappeningtothebeautyonthehill？"

"Yes，Sam：halfadozenhavebeentellingus。"

"Beauty？"saidClym。

"Yes，tolerablywell—favoured，"Samreplied。"Lord！allthecountryownsthat’tisoneofthestrangestthingsintheworldthatsuchawomanshouldhavecometoliveupthere。"

"Darkorfair？"

"Now，thoughI’veseenhertwentytimes，that’sathingIcannotcalltomind。"

"DarkerthanTamsin，"murmuredMrs。Yeobright。

"Awomanwhoseemstocarefornothingatall，asyoumaysay。"

"Sheismelancholy，then？"inquiredClym。

"Shemopesaboutbyherself，anddon’tmixinwiththepeople。"

"Issheayoungladyinclinedforadventures？"

"Nottomyknowledge。"

"Doesn’tjoininwiththeladsintheirgames，togetsomesortofexcitementinthislonelyplace？"

"No。"

"Mumming，forinstance？"

"No。Hernotionsbedifferent。Ishouldrathersayherthoughtswerefarawayfromhere，withlordsandladiesshe’llneverknow，andmansionsshe’llneverseeagain。"

ObservingthatClymappearedsingularlyinterestedMrs。YeobrightsaidratheruneasilytoSam，"Youseemoreinherthanmostofusdo。MissVyeistomymindtooidletobecharming。Ihaveneverheardthatsheisofanyusetoherselfortootherpeople。

Goodgirlsdon’tgettreatedaswitchesevenonEgdon。"

"Nonsense——thatprovesnothingeitherway，"saidYeobright。

"Well，ofcourseIdon’tunderstandsuchniceties，"

saidSam，withdrawingfromapossiblyunpleasantargument；

"andwhatsheiswemustwaitfortimetotellus。

ThebusinessthatIhavereallycalledaboutisthis，toborrowthelongestandstrongestropeyouhave。

Thecaptain’sbuckethasdroppedintothewell，andtheyareinwantofwater；andasallthechapsareathometodaywethinkwecangetitoutforhim。

Wehavethreecart—ropesalready，buttheywon’treachtothebottom。"

Mrs。Yeobrighttoldhimthathemighthavewhateverropeshecouldfindintheouthouse，andSamwentouttosearch。

WhenhepassedbythedoorClymjoinedhim，andaccompaniedhimtothegate。

"Isthisyoungwitch—ladygoingtostaylongatMistover？"

heasked。

"Ishouldsayso。"

"Whatacruelshametoill—useher，Shemusthavesufferedgreatly——moreinmindthaninbody。"

"’Twasagracelesstrick——suchahandsomegirl，too。

Yououghttoseeher，Mr。Yeobright，beingayoungmancomefromfar，andwithalittlemoretoshowforyouryearsthanmostofus。"

"Doyouthinkshewouldliketoteachchildren？"

saidClym。

Samshookhishead。"Quiteadifferentsortofbodyfromthat，Ireckon。"

"O，itwasmerelysomethingwhichoccurredtome。

Itwouldofcoursebenecessarytoseeherandtalkitover——notaneasything，bytheway，formyfamilyandhersarenotveryfriendly。"

"I’lltellyouhowyoumidseeher，Mr。Yeobright，"

saidSam。"Wearegoingtograppleforthebucketatsixo’clocktonightatherhouse，andyoucouldlendahand。

There’sfiveorsixcoming，butthewellisdeep，andanothermightbeuseful，ifyoudon’tmindappearinginthatshape。

She’ssuretobewalkinground。"

"I’llthinkofit，"saidYeobright；andtheyparted。

Hethoughtofitagooddeal；butnothingmorewassaidaboutEustaciainsidethehouseatthattime。

Whetherthisromanticmartyrtosuperstitionandthemelancholymummerhehadconversedwithunderthefullmoonwereoneandthesamepersonremainedasyetaproblem。

3—TheFirstActinaTimewornDramaTheafternoonwasfine，andYeobrightwalkedontheheathforanhourwithhismother。WhentheyreachedtheloftyridgewhichdividedthevalleyofBlooms—Endfromtheadjoiningvalleytheystoodstillandlookedround。

TheQuietWomanInnwasvisibleonthelowmarginoftheheathinonedirection，andafarontheotherhandroseMistoverKnap。

"YoumeantocallonThomasin？"heinquired。

"Yes。Butyouneednotcomethistime，"saidhismother。

"InthatcaseI’llbranchoffhere，Mother。IamgoingtoMistover。"

Mrs。Yeobrightturnedtohiminquiringly。

"Iamgoingtohelpthemgetthebucketoutofthecaptain’swell，"hecontinued。"AsitissoverydeepImaybeuseful。AndIshouldliketoseethisMissVye——notsomuchforhergoodlooksasforanotherreason。"

"Mustyougo？"hismotherasked。

"Ithoughtto。"

Andtheyparted。"Thereisnohelpforit，"murmuredClym’smothergloomilyashewithdrew。"Theyaresuretoseeeachother。IwishSamwouldcarryhisnewstootherhousesthanmine。"

Clym’sretreatingfiguregotsmallerandsmallerasitroseandfelloverthehillocksonhisway。

"Heistender—hearted，"saidMrs。Yeobrighttoherselfwhileshewatchedhim；"otherwiseitwouldmatterlittle。

Howhe’sgoingon！"