"Youareunnatural，Clym，andIdidnotexpectit。"

"Verylikely，"saidhecheerlessly。"Youdidnotknowthemeasureyouweregoingtometeme，andthereforedidnotknowthemeasurethatwouldbereturnedtoyouagain。"

"Youanswerme；youthinkonlyofher。Yousticktoherinallthings。"

"Thatproveshertobeworthy。Ihaveneveryetsupportedwhatisbad。AndIdonotcareonlyforher。Icareforyouandformyself，andforanythingthatisgood。

Whenawomanoncedislikesanothersheismerciless！"

"OClym！pleasedon’tgosettingdownasmyfaultwhatisyourobstinatewrongheadedness。Ifyouwishedtoconnectyourselfwithanunworthypersonwhydidyoucomehomeheretodoit？Whydidn’tyoudoitinParis？——itismorethefashionthere。Youhavecomeonlytodistressme，alonelywoman，andshortenmydays！Iwishthatyouwouldbestowyourpresencewhereyoubestowyourlove！"

Clymsaidhuskily，"Youaremymother。Iwillsaynomore——beyondthis，thatIbegyourpardonforhavingthoughtthismyhome。Iwillnolongerinflictmyselfuponyou；

I’llgo。"Andhewentoutwithtearsinhiseyes。

Itwasasunnyafternoonatthebeginningofsummer，andthemoisthollowsoftheheathhadpassedfromtheirbrowntotheirgreenstage。YeobrightwalkedtotheedgeofthebasinwhichextendeddownfromMistoverandRainbarrow。

Bythistimehewascalm，andhelookedoverthelandscape。

Intheminorvalleys，betweenthehillockswhichdiversifiedthecontourofthevale，thefreshyoungfernswereluxuriantlygrowingup，ultimatelytoreachaheightoffiveorsixfeet。Hedescendedalittleway，flunghimselfdowninaspotwhereapathemergedfromoneofthesmallhollows，andwaited。HitheritwasthathehadpromisedEustaciatobringhismotherthisafternoon，thattheymightmeetandbefriends。Hisattempthadutterlyfailed。

Hewasinanestofvividgreen。Thefernyvegetationroundhim，thoughsoabundant，wasquiteuniform——itwasagroveofmachine—madefoliage，aworldofgreentriangleswithsaw—edges，andnotasingleflower。

Theairwaswarmwithavaporouswarmth，andthestillnesswasunbroken。Lizards，grasshoppers，andantsweretheonlylivingthingstobebeheld。Thesceneseemedtobelongtotheancientworldofthecarboniferousperiod，whentheformsofplantswerefew，andofthefernkind；

whentherewasneitherbudnorblossom，nothingbutamonotonousextentofleafage，amidwhichnobirdsang。

Whenhehadreclinedforsomeconsiderabletime，gloomilypondering，hediscernedabovethefernsadrawnbonnetofwhitesilkapproachingfromtheleft，andYeobrightknewdirectlythatitcoveredtheheadofherheloved。Hisheartawokefromitsapathytoawarmexcitement，and，jumpingtohisfeet，hesaidaloud，"Iknewshewassuretocome。"

Shevanishedinahollowforafewmoments，andthenherwholeformunfoldeditselffromthebrake。

"Onlyyouhere？"sheexclaimed，withadisappointedair，whosehollownesswasprovedbyherrisingrednessandherhalf—guiltylowlaugh。"WhereisMrs。Yeobright？"

"Shehasnotcome，"herepliedinasubduedtone。

"IwishIhadknownthatyouwouldbeherealone，"

shesaidseriously，"andthatweweregoingtohavesuchanidle，pleasanttimeasthis。Pleasurenotknownbeforehandishalfwasted；toanticipateitistodoubleit。

Ihavenotthoughtoncetodayofhavingyoualltomyselfthisafternoon，andtheactualmomentofathingissosoongone。"

"Itisindeed。"

"PoorClym！"shecontinued，lookingtenderlyintohisface。

"Youaresad。Somethinghashappenedatyourhome。

Nevermindwhatis——letusonlylookatwhatseems。"

"But，darling，whatshallwedo？"saidhe。

"Stillgoonaswedonow——justliveonfrommeetingtomeeting，nevermindingaboutanotherday。You，Iknow，arealwaysthinkingofthat——Icanseeyouare。Butyoumustnot——willyou，dearClym？"

"Youarejustlikeallwomen。Theyareevercontenttobuildtheirlivesonanyincidentalpositionthatoffersitself；

whilstmenwouldfainmakeaglobetosuitthem。

Listentothis，Eustacia。ThereisasubjectIhavedeterminedtoputoffnolonger。YoursentimentonthewisdomofCarpediemdoesnotimpressmetoday。

Ourpresentmodeoflifemustshortlybebroughttoanend。"

"Itisyourmother！"

"Itis。Iloveyounonethelessintellingyou；

itisonlyrightyoushouldknow。"

"Ihavefearedmybliss，"shesaid，withthemerestmotionofherlips。"Ithasbeentoointenseandconsuming。"

"Thereishopeyet。Therearefortyyearsofworkinmeyet，andwhyshouldyoudespair？Iamonlyatanawkwardturning。

Iwishpeoplewouldn’tbesoreadytothinkthatthereisnoprogresswithoutuniformity。"

"Ah——yourmindrunsofftothephilosophicalsideofit。

Well，thesesadandhopelessobstaclesarewelcomeinonesense，fortheyenableustolookwithindifferenceuponthecruelsatiresthatFatelovestoindulgein。

Ihaveheardofpeople，who，uponcomingsuddenlyintohappiness，havediedfromanxietylesttheyshouldnotlivetoenjoyit。Ifeltmyselfinthatwhimsicalstateofuneasinesslately；butIshallbespareditnow。

Letuswalkon。"

Clymtookthehandwhichwasalreadybaredforhim——itwasafavouritewaywiththemtowalkbarehandinbarehand——andledherthroughtheferns。Theyformedaverycomelypictureofloveatfullflush，astheywalkedalongthevalleythatlateafternoon，thesunslopingdownontheirright，andthrowingtheirthinspectralshadows，tallaspoplartrees，faroutacrossthefurzeandfern。

Eustaciawentwithherheadthrownbackfancifully，acertaingladandvoluptuousairoftriumphpervadinghereyesathavingwonbyherownunaidedselfamanwhowasherperfectcomplementinattainment，appearance，andage。

Ontheyoungman’spart，thepalenessoffacewhichhehadbroughtwithhimfromParis，andtheincipientmarksoftimeandthought，werelessperceptiblethanwhenhereturned，thehealthfulandenergeticsturdinesswhichwashisbynaturehavingpartiallyrecovereditsoriginalproportions。

Theywanderedonwardtilltheyreachedthenethermarginoftheheath，whereitbecamemarshyandmergedinmoorland。

"Imustpartfromyouhere，Clym，"saidEustacia。

Theystoodstillandpreparedtobideachotherfarewell。

Everythingbeforethemwasonaperfectlevel。

Thesun，restingonthehorizonline，streamedacrossthegroundfrombetweencopper—colouredandlilacclouds，stretchedoutinflatsbeneathaskyofpalesoftgreen。

Alldarkobjectsontheearththatlaytowardsthesunwereoverspreadbyapurplehaze，againstwhichgroupsofwailinggnatsshoneout，risingupwardsanddancingaboutlikesparksoffire。

"O！thisleavingyouistoohardtobear！"

exclaimedEustaciainasuddenwhisperofanguish。

"Yourmotherwillinfluenceyoutoomuch；Ishallnotbejudgedfairly，itwillgetafloatthatIamnotagoodgirl，andthewitchstorywillbeaddedtomakemeblacker！"

"Theycannot。Nobodydarestospeakdisrespectfullyofyouorofme。"

"OhhowIwishIwassureofneverlosingyou——thatyoucouldnotbeabletodesertmeanyhow！"

Clymstoodsilentamoment。Hisfeelingswerehigh，themomentwaspassionate，andhecuttheknot。

"Youshallbesureofme，darling，"hesaid，foldingherinhisarms。"Wewillbemarriedatonce。"

"OClym！"

"Doyouagreetoit？"

"If——ifwecan。"

"Wecertainlycan，bothbeingoffullage。AndIhavenotfollowedmyoccupationalltheseyearswithouthavingaccumulatedmoney；andifyouwillagreetoliveinatinycottagesomewhereontheheath，untilItakeahouseinBudmouthfortheschool，wecandoitataverylittleexpense。"

"Howlongshallwehavetoliveinthetinycottage，Clym？"

"Aboutsixmonths。AttheendofthattimeIshallhavefinishedmyreading——yes，wewilldoit，andthisheart—achingwillbeover。Weshall，ofcourse，liveinabsoluteseclusion，andourmarriedlifewillonlybegintooutwardviewwhenwetakethehouseinBudmouth，whereIhavealreadyaddressedaletteronthematter。

Wouldyourgrandfatherallowyou？"

"Ithinkhewould——ontheunderstandingthatitshouldnotlastlongerthansixmonths。"

"Iwillguaranteethat，ifnomisfortunehappens。"

"Ifnomisfortunehappens，"sherepeatedslowly。

"Whichisnotlikely。Dearest，fixtheexactday。"

Andthentheyconsultedonthequestion，andthedaywaschosen。Itwastobeafortnightfromthattime。

Thiswastheendoftheirtalk，andEustacialefthim。

Clymwatchedherassheretiredtowardsthesun。

Theluminousrayswrappedherupwithherincreasingdistance，andtherustleofherdressoverthesproutingsedgeandgrassdiedaway。Ashewatched，thedeadflatofthesceneryoverpoweredhim，thoughhewasfullyalivetothebeautyofthatuntarnishedearlysummergreenwhichwaswornforthenoncebythepoorestblade。

Therewassomethinginitsoppressivehorizontalitywhichtoomuchremindedhimofthearenaoflife；itgavehimasenseofbareequalitywith，andnosuperiorityto，asinglelivingthingunderthesun。

Eustaciawasnownolongerthegoddessbutthewomantohim，abeingtofightfor，support，help，bemalignedfor。

Nowthathehadreachedacoolermomenthewouldhavepreferredalesshastymarriage；butthecardwaslaid，andhedeterminedtoabidebythegame。WhetherEustaciawastoaddoneothertothelistofthosewholovetoohotlytolovelongandwell，theforthcomingeventwascertainlyareadywayofproving。

6—YeobrightGoes，andtheBreachIsCompleteAllthateveningsmartsoundsdenotinganactivepackingupcamefromYeobright’sroomtotheearsofhismotherdownstairs。

Nextmorninghedepartedfromthehouseandagainproceededacrosstheheath。Alongday’smarchwasbeforehim，hisobjectbeingtosecureadwellingtowhichhemighttakeEustaciawhenshebecamehiswife。Suchahouse，small，secluded，andwithitswindowsboardedup，hehadcasuallyobservedamonthearlier，abouttwomilesbeyondthevillageofEastEgdon，andsixmilesdistantaltogether；

andthitherhedirectedhisstepstoday。

Theweatherwasfardifferentfromthatoftheeveningbefore。

TheyellowandvapourysunsetwhichhadwrappedupEustaciafromhispartinggazehadpresagedchange。

ItwasoneofthosenotinfrequentdaysofanEnglishJunewhichareaswetandboisterousasNovember。Thecoldcloudshastenedoninabody，asifpaintedonamovingslide。

Vapoursfromothercontinentsarriveduponthewind，whichcurledandpartedroundhimashewalkedon。

AtlengthClymreachedthemarginofafirandbeechplantationthathadbeenenclosedfromheathlandintheyearofhisbirth。Herethetrees，ladenheavilywiththeirnewandhumidleaves，werenowsufferingmoredamagethanduringthehighestwindsofwinter，whentheboughsareespeciallydisencumberedtodobattlewiththestorm。Thewetyoungbeecheswereundergoingamputations，bruises，cripplings，andharshlacerations，fromwhichthewastingsapwouldbleedformanyadaytocome，andwhichwouldleavescarsvisibletillthedayoftheirburning。Eachstemwaswrenchedattheroot，whereitmovedlikeaboneinitssocket，andateveryonsetofthegaleconvulsivesoundscamefromthebranches，asifpainwerefelt。Inaneighbouringbrakeafinchwastryingtosing；butthewindblewunderhisfeatherstilltheystoodonend，twistedroundhislittletail，andmadehimgiveuphissong。

YetafewyardstoYeobright’sleft，ontheopenheath，howineffectivelygnashedthestorm！Thosegustswhichtorethetreesmerelywavedthefurzeandheatherinalightcaress。Egdonwasmadeforsuchtimesasthese。

Yeobrightreachedtheemptyhouseaboutmidday。

ItwasalmostaslonelyasthatofEustacia’sgrandfather，butthefactthatitstoodnearaheathwasdisguisedbyabeltoffirswhichalmostenclosedthepremises。

Hejourneyedonaboutamilefurthertothevillageinwhichtheownerlived，and，returningwithhimtothehouse，arrangementswerecompleted，andthemanundertookthatoneroomatleastshouldbereadyforoccupationthenextday。

Clym’sintentionwastolivetherealoneuntilEustaciashouldjoinhimontheirwedding—day。

Thenheturnedtopursuehiswayhomewardthroughthedrizzlethathadsogreatlytransformedthescene。

Theferns，amongwhichhehadlainincomfortyesterday，weredrippingmoisturefromeveryfrond，wettinghislegsthroughashebrushedpast；andthefuroftherabbitsleapingbeforehimwasclottedintodarklocksbythesamewaterysurrounding。

Hereachedhomedampandwearyenoughafterhisten—

milewalk。Ithadhardlybeenapropitiousbeginning，buthehadchosenhiscourse，andwouldshownoswerving。

Theeveningandthefollowingmorningwerespentinconcludingarrangementsforhisdeparture。Tostayathomeaminutelongerthannecessaryafterhavingoncecometohisdeterminationwouldbe，hefelt，onlytogivenewpaintohismotherbysomeword，look，ordeed。

Hehadhiredaconveyanceandsentoffhisgoodsbytwoo’clockthatday。Thenextstepwastogetsomefurniture，which，afterservingfortemporaryuseinthecottage，wouldbeavailableforthehouseatBudmouthwhenincreasedbygoodsofabetterdescription。

AmartextensiveenoughforthepurposeexistedatAnglebury，somemilesbeyondthespotchosenforhisresidence，andthereheresolvedtopassthecomingnight。

Itnowonlyremainedtowishhismothergood—bye。Shewassittingbythewindowasusualwhenhecamedownstairs。

"Mother，Iamgoingtoleaveyou，"hesaid，holdingouthishand。

"Ithoughtyouwere，byyourpacking，"repliedMrs。Yeobrightinavoicefromwhicheveryparticleofemotionwaspainfullyexcluded。

"Andyouwillpartfriendswithme？"

"Certainly，Clym。"

"Iamgoingtobemarriedonthetwenty—fifth。"

"Ithoughtyouweregoingtobemarried。"

"Andthen——andthenyoumustcomeandseeus。Youwillunderstandmebetterafterthat，andoursituationwillnotbesowretchedasitisnow。"

"IdonotthinkitlikelyIshallcometoseeyou。"

"ThenitwillnotbemyfaultorEustacia’s，Mother。

Good—bye！"

Hekissedhercheek，anddepartedingreatmisery，whichwasseveralhoursinlesseningitselftoacontrollablelevel。

Thepositionhadbeensuchthatnothingmorecouldbesaidwithout，inthefirstplace，breakingdownabarrier；

andthatwasnottobedone。

NosoonerhadYeobrightgonefromhismother’shousethanherfacechangeditsrigidaspectforoneofblankdespair。

Afterawhileshewept，andhertearsbroughtsomerelief。

Duringtherestofthedayshedidnothingbutwalkupanddownthegardenpathinastateborderingonstupefaction。

Nightcame，andwithitbutlittlerest。Thenextday，withaninstincttodosomethingwhichshouldreduceprostrationtomournfulness，shewenttoherson’sroom，andwithherownhandsarrangeditinorder，foranimaginarytimewhenheshouldreturnagain。Shegavesomeattentiontoherflowers，butitwasperfunctorilybestowed，fortheynolongercharmedher。

Itwasagreatreliefwhen，earlyintheafternoon，Thomasinpaidheranunexpectedvisit。ThiswasnotthefirstmeetingbetweentherelativessinceThomasin’smarriage；

andpastblundershavingbeeninaroughwayrectified，theycouldalwaysgreeteachotherwithpleasureandease。

Theobliquebandofsunlightwhichfollowedherthroughthedoorbecametheyoungwifewell。Itilluminatedherasherpresenceilluminatedtheheath。Inhermovements，inhergaze，sheremindedthebeholderofthefeatheredcreatureswholivedaroundherhome。Allsimilesandallegoriesconcerningherbeganandendedwithbirds。

Therewasasmuchvarietyinhermotionsasintheirflight。

Whenshewasmusingshewasakestrel，whichhangsintheairbyaninvisiblemotionofitswings。

Whenshewasinahighwindherlightbodywasblownagainsttreesandbankslikeaheron’s。Whenshewasfrightenedshedartednoiselesslylikeakingfisher。

Whenshewasserenesheskimmedlikeaswallow，andthatishowshewasmovingnow。

"Youarelookingveryblithe，uponmyword，Tamsie，"

saidMrs。Yeobright，withasadsmile。"HowisDamon？"

"Heisverywell。"

"Ishekindtoyou，Thomasin？"AndMrs。Yeobrightobservedhernarrowly。

"Prettyfairly。"

"Isthathonestlysaid？"

"Yes，Aunt。Iwouldtellyouifhewereunkind。"

Sheadded，blushing，andwithhesitation，"He——Idon’tknowifIoughttocomplaintoyouaboutthis，butIamnotquitesurewhattodo。Iwantsomemoney，youknow，Aunt——sometobuylittlethingsformyself——andhedoesn’tgivemeany。Idon’tliketoaskhim；andyet，perhaps，hedoesn’tgiveitmebecausehedoesn’tknow。

OughtItomentionittohim，Aunt？"

"Ofcourseyouought。Haveyouneversaidawordonthematter？"

"Yousee，Ihadsomeofmyown，"saidThomasinevasively，"andIhavenotwantedanyofhisuntillately。Ididjustsaysomethingaboutitlastweek；butheseems——nottoremember。"

"Hemustbemadetoremember。YouareawarethatIhavealittleboxfullofspade—guineas，whichyouruncleputintomyhandstodividebetweenyourselfandClymwheneverIchose。Perhapsthetimehascomewhenitshouldbedone。

Theycanbeturnedintosovereignsatanymoment。"

"IthinkIshouldliketohavemyshare——thatis，ifyoudon’tmind。"

"Youshall，ifnecessary。Butitisonlyproperthatyoushouldfirsttellyourhusbanddistinctlythatyouarewithoutany，andseewhathewilldo。"

"Verywell，Iwill……Aunt，IhaveheardaboutClym。

Iknowyouareintroubleabouthim，andthat’swhyI

havecome。"

Mrs。Yeobrightturnedaway，andherfeaturesworkedinherattempttoconcealherfeelings。Thensheceasedtomakeanyattempt，andsaid，weeping，"OThomasin，doyouthinkhehatesme？Howcanhebeartogrievemeso，whenIhavelivedonlyforhimthroughalltheseyears？"

"Hateyou——no，"saidThomasinsoothingly。"Itisonlythatheloveshertoowell。Lookatitquietly——do。

Itisnotsoverybadofhim。Doyouknow，Ithoughtitnottheworstmatchhecouldhavemade。MissVye’sfamilyisagoodoneonhermother’sside；andherfatherwasaromanticwanderer——asortofGreekUlysses。"

"Itisnouse，Thomasin；itisnouse。Yourintentionisgood；butIwillnottroubleyoutoargue。Ihavegonethroughthewholethatcanbesaidoneithersidetimes，andmanytimes。ClymandIhavenotpartedinanger；

wehavepartedinaworseway。Itisnotapassionatequarrelthatwouldhavebrokenmyheart；itisthesteadyoppositionandpersistenceingoingwrongthathehasshown。

OThomasin，hewassogoodasalittleboy——sotenderandkind！"

"Hewas，Iknow。"

"IdidnotthinkonewhomIcalledminewouldgrowuptotreatmelikethis。HespoketomeasifIopposedhimtoinjurehim。AsthoughIcouldwishhimill！"

"ThereareworsewomenintheworldthanEustaciaVye。"

"Therearetoomanybetterthat’stheagonyofit。

Itwasshe，Thomasin，andsheonly，wholedyourhusbandtoactashedid——Iwouldswearit！"

"No，"saidThomasineagerly。"Itwasbeforeheknewmethathethoughtofher，anditwasnothingbutamereflirtation。"

"Verywell；wewillletitbeso。Thereislittleuseinunravellingthatnow。Sonsmustbeblindiftheywill。

Whyisitthatawomancanseefromadistancewhatamancannotseeclose？Clymmustdoashewill——heisnothingmoretome。Andthisismaternity——togiveone’sbestyearsandbestlovetoensurethefateofbeingdespised！"

"Youaretoounyielding。Thinkhowmanymotherstherearewhosesonshavebroughtthemtopublicshamebyrealcrimesbeforeyoufeelsodeeplyacaselikethis。"

"Thomasin，don’tlectureme——Ican’thaveit。Itistheexcessabovewhatweexpectthatmakestheforceoftheblow，andthatmaynotbegreaterintheircasethaninmine——theymayhaveforeseentheworst……Iamwronglymade，Thomasin，"sheadded，withamournfulsmile。

"Somewidowscanguardagainstthewoundstheirchildrengivethembyturningtheirheartstoanotherhusbandandbeginninglifeagain。ButIalwayswasapoor，weak，one—idea’dcreature——Ihadnotthecompassofheartnortheenterpriseforthat。JustasforlornandstupefiedasIwaswhenmyhusband’sspiritflewawayIhavesateversince——neverattemptingtomendmattersatall。

Iwascomparativelyayoungwomanthen，andImighthavehadanotherfamilybythistime，andhavebeencomfortedbythemforthefailureofthisoneson。"

"Itismorenobleinyouthatyoudidnot。"

"Themorenoble，thelesswise。"

"Forgetit，andbesoothed，dearAunt。AndIshallnotleaveyoualoneforlong。Ishallcomeandseeyoueveryday。"

AndforoneweekThomasinliterallyfulfilledherword。

Sheendeavouredtomakelightofthewedding；andbroughtnewsofthepreparations，andthatshewasinvitedtobepresent。Thenextweekshewasratherunwell，anddidnotappear。Nothinghadasyetbeendoneabouttheguineas，forThomasinfearedtoaddressherhusbandagainonthesubject，andMrs。Yeobrighthadinsisteduponthis。

OnedayjustbeforethistimeWildevewasstandingatthedooroftheQuietWoman。InadditiontotheupwardpaththroughtheheathtoRainbarrowandMistover，therewasaroadwhichbranchedfromthehighwayashortdistancebelowtheinn，andascendedtoMistoverbyacircuitousandeasyincline。Thiswastheonlyrouteonthatsideforvehiclestothecaptain’sretreat。

Alightcartfromthenearesttowndescendedtheroad，andtheladwhowasdrivingpulledupinfrontoftheinnforsomethingtodrink。

"YoucomefromMistover？"saidWildeve。

"Yes。Theyaretakingingoodthingsupthere。Goingtobeawedding。"Andthedriverburiedhisfaceinhismug。

Wildevehadnotreceivedaninklingofthefactbefore，andasuddenexpressionofpainoverspreadhisface。

Heturnedforamomentintothepassagetohideit。

Thenhecamebackagain。

"DoyoumeanMissVye？"hesaid。"Howisit——thatshecanbemarriedsosoon？"

"BythewillofGodandareadyyoungman，Isuppose。"

"Youdon’tmeanMr。Yeobright？"

"Yes。Hehasbeencreepingaboutwithherallthespring。"

"Isuppose——shewasimmenselytakenwithhim？"

"Sheiscrazyabouthim，sotheirgeneralservantofallworktellsme。AndthatladCharleythatlooksafterthehorseisallinadazeaboutit。Thestun—

pollhasgotfond—likeofher。"

"Isshelively——issheglad？Goingtobemarriedsosoon——well！"

"Itisn’tsoverysoon。"

"No；notsoverysoon。"

Wildevewentindoorstotheemptyroom，acuriousheartachewithinhim。Herestedhiselbowuponthemantelpieceandhisfaceuponhishand。WhenThomasinenteredtheroomhedidnottellherofwhathehadheard。

TheoldlongingforEustaciahadreappearedinhissoul——anditwasmainlybecausehehaddiscoveredthatitwasanotherman’sintentiontopossessher。

Tobeyearningforthedifficult，tobewearyofthatoffered；

tocarefortheremote，todislikethenear；itwasWildeve’snaturealways。Thisisthetruemarkofthemanofsentiment。

ThoughWildeve’sfeveredfeelinghadnotbeenelaboratedtorealpoeticalcompass，itwasofthestandardsort。

HismighthavebeencalledtheRousseauofEgdon。

7—TheMorningandtheEveningofaDayTheweddingmorningcame。NobodywouldhaveimaginedfromappearancesthatBlooms—EndhadanyinterestinMistoverthatday。AsolemnstillnessprevailedaroundthehouseofClym’smother，andtherewasnomoreanimationindoors。

Mrs。Yeobright，whohaddeclinedtoattendtheceremony，satbythebreakfasttableintheoldroomwhichcommunicatedimmediatelywiththeporch，hereyeslistlesslydirectedtowardstheopendoor。Itwastheroominwhich，sixmonthsearlier，themerryChristmaspartyhadmet，towhichEustaciacamesecretlyandasastranger。