Theonlylivingthingthatenterednowwasasparrow；

andseeingnomovementstocausealarm，hehoppedboldlyroundtheroom，endeavouredtogooutbythewindow，andflutteredamongthepot—flowers。Thisrousedthelonelysitter，whogotup，releasedthebird，andwenttothedoor。

ShewasexpectingThomasin，whohadwrittenthenightbeforetostatethatthetimehadcomewhenshewouldwishtohavethemoneyandthatshewouldifpossiblecallthisday。

YetThomasinoccupiedMrs。Yeobright’sthoughtsbutslightlyasshelookedupthevalleyoftheheath，alivewithbutterflies，andwithgrasshopperswhosehuskynoisesoneverysideformedawhisperedchorus。

Adomesticdrama，forwhichthepreparationswerenowbeingmadeamileortwooff，wasbutlittlelessvividlypresenttohereyesthanifenactedbeforeher。Shetriedtodismissthevision，andwalkedaboutthegardenplot；

buthereyeseverandanonsoughtoutthedirectionoftheparishchurchtowhichMistoverbelonged，andherexcitedfancyclovethehillswhichdividedthebuildingfromhereyes。

Themorningworeaway。Eleveno’clockstruck——coulditbethattheweddingwastheninprogress？Itmustbeso。Shewentonimaginingthesceneatthechurch，whichhehadbythistimeapproachedwithhisbride。

Shepicturedthelittlegroupofchildrenbythegateastheponycarriagedroveupinwhich，asThomasinhadlearnt，theyweregoingtoperformtheshortjourney。

Thenshesawthementerandproceedtothechancelandkneel；

andtheserviceseemedtogoon。

Shecoveredherfacewithherhands。"O，itisamistake！"

shegroaned。"Andhewillrueitsomeday，andthinkofme！"

Whilesheremainedthus，overcomebyherforebodings，theoldclockindoorswhizzedforthtwelvestrokes。

Soonafter，faintsoundsfloatedtoherearfromafaroverthehills。Thebreezecamefromthatquarter，andithadbroughtwithitthenotesofdistantbells，gailystartingoffinapeal：one，two，three，four，five。

TheringersatEastEgdonwereannouncingthenuptialsofEustaciaandherson。

"Thenitisover，"shemurmured。"Well，well！andlifetoowillbeoversoon。AndwhyshouldIgoonscaldingmyfacelikethis？Cryaboutonethinginlife，cryaboutall；

onethreadrunsthroughthewholepiece。Andyetwesay，’atimetolaugh！’"

TowardseveningWildevecame。SinceThomasin’smarriageMrs。Yeobrighthadshownhimthatgrimfriendlinesswhichatlastarisesinallsuchcasesofundesiredaffinity。

Thevisionofwhatoughttohavebeenisthrownasideinsheerweariness，andbrowbeatenhumanendeavourlistlesslymakesthebestofthefactthatis。Wildeve，todohimjustice，hadbehavedverycourteouslytohiswife’saunt；

anditwaswithnosurprisethatshesawhimenternow。

"Thomasinhasnotbeenabletocome，asshepromisedtodo，"

herepliedtoherinquiry，whichhadbeenanxious，forsheknewthatherniecewasbadlyinwantofmoney。

"Thecaptaincamedownlastnightandpersonallypressedhertojointhemtoday。So，nottobeunpleasant，shedeterminedtogo。Theyfetchedherinthepony—chaise，andaregoingtobringherback。"

"Thenitisdone，"saidMrs。Yeobright。"Havetheygonetotheirnewhome？"

"Idon’tknow。IhavehadnonewsfromMistoversinceThomasinlefttogo。"

"Youdidnotgowithher？"saidshe，asiftheremightbegoodreasonswhy。

"Icouldnot，"saidWildeve，reddeningslightly。

"Wecouldnotbothleavethehouse；itwasratherabusymorning，onaccountofAngleburyGreatMarket。

IbelieveyouhavesomethingtogivetoThomasin？Ifyoulike，Iwilltakeit。"

Mrs。Yeobrighthesitated，andwonderedifWildeveknewwhatthesomethingwas。"Didshetellyouofthis？"

sheinquired。

"Notparticularly。Shecasuallydroppedaremarkabouthavingarrangedtofetchsomearticleorother。"

"Itishardlynecessarytosendit。Shecanhaveitwhenevershechoosestocome。"

"Thatwon’tbeyet。Inthepresentstateofherhealthshemustnotgoonwalkingsomuchasshehasdone。"

Headded，withafainttwangofsarcasm，"WhatwonderfulthingisitthatIcannotbetrustedtotake？"

"Nothingworthtroublingyouwith。"

"Onewouldthinkyoudoubtedmyhonesty，"hesaid，withalaugh，thoughhiscolourroseinaquickresentfulnessfrequentwithhim。

"Youneedthinknosuchthing，"saidshedrily。

"ItissimplythatI，incommonwiththerestoftheworld，feelthattherearecertainthingswhichhadbetterbedonebycertainpeoplethanbyothers。"

"Asyoulike，asyoulike，"saidWildevelaconically。

"Itisnotwortharguingabout。Well，IthinkImustturnhomewardagain，astheinnmustnotbeleftlonginchargeoftheladandthemaidonly。"

Hewenthisway，hisfarewellbeingscarcelysocourteousashisgreeting。ButMrs。Yeobrightknewhimthoroughlybythistime，andtooklittlenoticeofhismanner，goodorbad。

WhenWildevewasgoneMrs。Yeobrightstoodandconsideredwhatwouldbethebestcoursetoadoptwithregardtotheguineas，whichshehadnotlikedtoentrusttoWildeve。

ItwashardlycrediblethatThomasinhadtoldhimtoaskforthem，whenthenecessityforthemhadarisenfromthedifficultyofobtainingmoneyathishands。

AtthesametimeThomasinreallywantedthem，andmightbeunabletocometoBlooms—Endforanotherweekatleast。

Totakeorsendthemoneytoherattheinnwouldbeimpolite，sinceWildevewouldprettysurelybepresent，orwoulddiscoverthetransaction；andif，asherauntsuspected，hetreatedherlesskindlythanshedeservedtobetreated，hemightthengetthewholesumoutofhergentlehands。

ButonthisparticulareveningThomasinwasatMistover，andanythingmightbeconveyedtohertherewithouttheknowledgeofherhusband。Uponthewholetheopportunitywasworthtakingadvantageof。

Herson，too，wasthere，andwasnowmarried。

Therecouldbenomorepropermomenttorenderhimhisshareofthemoneythanthepresent。Andthechancethatwouldbeaffordedher，bysendinghimthisgift，ofshowinghowfarshewasfrombearinghimill—will，cheeredthesadmother’sheart。

Shewentupstairsandtookfromalockeddraweralittlebox，outofwhichshepouredahoardofbroadunwornguineasthathadlaintheremanyayear。Therewereahundredinall，andshedividedthemintotwoheaps，fiftyineach。

Tyinguptheseinsmallcanvasbags，shewentdowntothegardenandcalledtoChristianCantle，whowasloiteringaboutinhopeofasupperwhichwasnotreallyowedhim。

Mrs。Yeobrightgavehimthemoneybags，chargedhimtogotoMistover，andonnoaccounttodeliverthemintoanyone’shandssaveherson’sandThomasin’s。OnfurtherthoughtshedeemeditadvisabletotellChristianpreciselywhatthetwobagscontained，thathemightbefullyimpressedwiththeirimportance。Christianpocketedthemoneybags，promisedthegreatestcarefulness，andsetoutonhisway。

"Youneednothurry，"saidMrs。Yeobright。"Itwillbebetternottogettheretillafterdusk，andthennobodywillnoticeyou。Comebackheretosupper，ifitisnottoolate。"

Itwasnearlynineo’clockwhenhebegantoascendthevaletowardsMistover；butthelongdaysofsummerbeingattheirclimax，thefirstobscurityofeveninghadonlyjustbeguntotanthelandscape。AtthispointofhisjourneyChristianheardvoices，andfoundthattheyproceededfromacompanyofmenandwomenwhoweretraversingahollowaheadofhim，thetopsonlyoftheirheadsbeingvisible。

Hepausedandthoughtofthemoneyhecarried。ItwasalmosttooearlyevenforChristianseriouslytofearrobbery；

neverthelesshetookaprecautionwhicheversincehisboyhoodhehadadoptedwheneverhecarriedmorethantwoorthreeshillingsuponhisperson——aprecautionsomewhatlikethatoftheownerofthePittDiamondwhenfilledwithsimilarmisgivings。Hetookoffhisboots，untiedtheguineas，andemptiedthecontentsofonelittlebagintotherightboot，andoftheotherintotheleft，spreadingthemasflatlyaspossibleoverthebottomofeach，whichwasreallyaspaciouscofferbynomeanslimitedtothesizeofthefoot。Pullingthemonagainandlacingthemtotheverytop，heproceededonhisway，moreeasyinhisheadthanunderhissoles。

Hispathconvergedtowardsthatofthenoisycompany，andoncomingnearerhefoundtohisreliefthattheywereseveralEgdonpeoplewhomheknewverywell，whilewiththemwalkedFairway，ofBlooms—End。

"What！Christiangoingtoo？"saidFairwayassoonasherecognizedthenewcomer。"You’vegotnoyoungwomannorwifetoyournametogieagown—pieceto，I’msure。"

"Whatd’yemean？"saidChristian。

"Why，theraffle。Theonewegotoeveryyear。

Goingtotheraffleaswellasourselves？"

"Neverknewawordo’t。Isitlikecudgelplayingorothersportfulformsofbloodshed？Idon’twanttogo，thankyou，MisterFairway，andnooffence。"

"Christiandon’tknowthefuno’t，and’twouldbeafinesightforhim，"saidabuxomwoman。"There’snodangeratall，Christian。Everymanputsinashillingapiece，andonewinsagown—pieceforhiswifeorsweetheartifhe’sgotone。"

"Well，asthat’snotmyfortunethere’snomeaninginittome。ButIshouldliketoseethefun，ifthere’snothingoftheblackartinit，andifamanmaylookonwithoutcostorgettingintoanydangerouswrangle？"

"Therewillbenouproaratall，"saidTimothy。

"Sure，Christian，ifyou’dliketocomewe’llseethere’snoharmdone。"

"Andnoba’dygaieties，Isuppose？Yousee，neighbours，ifso，itwouldbesettingfatherabadexample，asheissolightmoral’d。Butagown—pieceforashilling，andnoblackart——’tisworthlookingintosee，anditwouldn’thindermehalfanhour。Yes，I’llcome，ifyou’llstepalittlewaytowardsMistoverwithmeafterwards，supposingnightshouldhaveclosedin，andnobodyelseisgoingthatway？"

Oneortwopromised；andChristian，divergingfromhisdirectpath，turnedroundtotherightwithhiscompanionstowardstheQuietWoman。

Whentheyenteredthelargecommonroomoftheinntheyfoundassembledthereabouttenmenfromamongtheneighbouringpopulation，andthegroupwasincreasedbythenewcontingenttodoublethatnumber。

Mostofthemweresittingroundtheroominseatsdividedbywoodenelbowslikethoseofcrudecathedralstalls，whichwerecarvedwiththeinitialsofmanyanillustriousdrunkardofformertimeswhohadpassedhisdaysandhisnightsbetweenthem，andnowlayasanalcoholiccinderinthenearestchurchyard。Amongthecupsonthelongtablebeforethesitterslayanopenparceloflightdrapery——thegown—piece，asitwascalled——whichwastoberaffledfor。Wildevewasstandingwithhisbacktothefireplacesmokingacigar；andthepromoteroftheraffle，apackmanfromadistanttown，wasexpatiatinguponthevalueofthefabricasmaterialforasummerdress。

"Now，gentlemen，"hecontinued，asthenewcomersdrewuptothetable，"there’sfivehaveentered，andwewantfourmoretomakeupthenumber。Ithink，bythefacesofthosegentlemenwhohavejustcomein，thattheyareshrewdenoughtotakeadvantageofthisrareopportunityofbeautifyingtheirladiesataverytriflingexpense。"

Fairway，Sam，andanotherplacedtheirshillingsonthetable，andthemanturnedtoChristian。

"No，sir，"saidChristian，drawingback，withaquickgazeofmisgiving。"Iamonlyapoorchapcometolookon，anitpleaseye，sir。Idon’tsomuchasknowhowyoudoit。IfsobeIwassureofgettingitIwouldputdowntheshilling；butIcouldn’totherwise。"

"Ithinkyoumightalmostbesure，"saidthepedlar。

"Infact，nowIlookintoyourface，evenifIcan’tsayyouaresuretowin，IcansaythatIneversawanythinglookmorelikewinninginmylife。"

"You’llanyhowhavethesamechanceastherestofus，"

saidSam。

"Andtheextraluckofbeingthelastcomer，"saidanother。

"AndIwasbornwi’acaul，andperhapscanbenomoreruinedthandrowned？"Christianadded，beginningtogiveway。

UltimatelyChristianlaiddownhisshilling，therafflebegan，andthedicewentround。WhenitcametoChristian’sturnhetooktheboxwithatremblinghand，shookitfearfully，andthrewapair—royal。Threeoftheothershadthrowncommonlowpairs，andalltherestmerepoints。

"Thegentlemanlookedlikewinning，asIsaid，"observedthechapmanblandly。"Takeit，sir；thearticleisyours。"

"Haw—haw—haw！"saidFairway。"I’mdamnedifthisisn’tthequareststartthateverIknowed！"

"Mine？"askedChristian，withavacantstarefromhistargeteyes。"I——Ihaven’tgotneithermaid，wife，norwidderbelongingtomeatall，andI’mafearditwillmakemelaughedattoha’eit，MasterTraveller。

WhatwithbeingcurioustojoininIneverthoughtofthat！

WhatshallIdowi’awoman’sclothesinMYbedroom，andnotlosemydecency！"

"Keep’em，tobesure，"saidFairway，"ifitisonlyforluck。Perhaps’twilltemptsomewomanthatthypoorcarcasehadnopoweroverwhenstandingempty—handed。"

"Keepit，certainly，"saidWildeve，whohadidlywatchedthescenefromadistance。

Thetablewasthenclearedofthearticles，andthemenbegantodrink。

"Well，tobesure！"saidChristian，halftohimself。

"TothinkIshouldhavebeenbornsoluckyasthis，andnothavefounditoutuntilnow！Whatcuriouscreaturesthesedicebe——powerfulrulersofusall，andyetatmycommand！IamsureIneverneedbeafearedofanythingafterthis。"Hehandledthedicefondlyonebyone。

"Why，sir，"hesaidinaconfidentialwhispertoWildeve，whowasnearhislefthand，"ifIcouldonlyusethispowerthat’sinmeofmultiplyingmoneyImightdosomegoodtoanearrelationofyours，seeingwhatI’vegotaboutmeofhers——eh？"Hetappedoneofhismoney—ladenbootsuponthefloor。

"Whatdoyoumean？"saidWildeve。

"That’sasecret。Well，Imustbegoingnow。"HelookedanxiouslytowardsFairway。

"Whereareyougoing？"Wildeveasked。

"ToMistoverKnap。IhavetoseeMrs。Thomasinthere——

that’sall。"

"Iamgoingthere，too，tofetchMrs。Wildeve。Wecanwalktogether。"

Wildevebecamelostinthought，andalookofinwardilluminationcameintohiseyes。ItwasmoneyforhiswifethatMrs。Yeobrightcouldnottrusthimwith。

"Yetshecouldtrustthisfellow，"hesaidtohimself。

"Whydoesn’tthatwhichbelongstothewifebelongtothehusbandtoo？"

Hecalledtothepot—boytobringhimhishat，andsaid，"Now，Christian，Iamready。"

"Mr。Wildeve，"saidChristiantimidly，asheturnedtoleavetheroom，"wouldyoumindlendingmethemwonderfullittlethingsthatcarrymyluckinside’em，thatI

mightpractiseabitbymyself，youknow？"Helookedwistfullyatthediceandboxlyingonthemantlepiece。

"Certainly，"saidWildevecarelessly。"Theywereonlycutoutbysomeladwithhisknife，andareworthnothing。"

AndChristianwentbackandprivatelypocketedthem。

Wildeveopenedthedoorandlookedout。Thenightwaswarmandcloudy。"ByGad！’tisdark，"hecontinued。

"ButIsupposeweshallfindourway。"

"Ifweshouldlosethepathitmightbeawkward，"

saidChristian。"Alanternistheonlyshieldthatwillmakeitsafeforus。"

"Let’shavealanternbyallmeans。"Thestablelanternwasfetchedandlighted。Christiantookuphisgownpiece，andthetwosetouttoascendthehill。

Withintheroomthemenfellintochattilltheirattentionwasforamomentdrawntothechimney—corner。

Thiswaslarge，and，inadditiontoitsproperrecess，containedwithinitsjambs，likemanyonEgdon，arecedingseat，sothatapersonmightsitthereabsolutelyunobserved，providedtherewasnofiretolighthimup，aswasthecasenowandthroughoutthesummer。

Fromthenicheasingleobjectprotrudedintothelightfromthecandlesonthetable。Itwasaclaypipe，anditscolourwasreddish。Themenhadbeenattractedtothisobjectbyavoicebehindthepipeaskingforalight。

"Uponmylife，itfairlystartledmewhenthemanspoke！"

saidFairway，handingacandle。"Oh——’tisthereddleman！

You’vekeptaquiettongue，youngman。"

"Yes，Ihadnothingtosay，"observedVenn。Inafewminuteshearoseandwishedthecompanygoodnight。

MeanwhileWildeveandChristianhadplungedintotheheath。

Itwasastagnant，warm，andmistynight，fullofalltheheavyperfumesofnewvegetationnotyetdriedbyhotsun，andamongtheseparticularlythescentofthefern。

Thelantern，danglingfromChristian’shand，brushedthefeatheryfrondsinpassingby，disturbingmothsandotherwingedinsects，whichflewoutandalighteduponitshornypanes。

"SoyouhavemoneytocarrytoMrs。Wildeve？"

saidChristian’scompanion，afterasilence。"Don’tyouthinkitveryoddthatitshouldn’tbegiventome？"

"Asmanandwifebeoneflesh，’twouldhavebeenallthesame，Ishouldthink，"saidChristian。"Butmystrictdocumentswas，togivethemoneyintoMrs。Wildeve’shand——and’tiswelltodothingsright。"

"Nodoubt，"saidWildeve。AnypersonwhohadknownthecircumstancesmighthaveperceivedthatWildevewasmortifiedbythediscoverythatthematterintransitwasmoney，andnot，ashehadsupposedwhenatBlooms—End，somefancynick—nackwhichonlyinterestedthetwowomenthemselves。

Mrs。Yeobright’srefusalimpliedthathishonourwasnotconsideredtobeofsufficientlygoodqualitytomakehimasaferbearerofhiswife’sproperty。

"Howverywarmitistonight，Christian！"hesaid，panting，whentheywerenearlyunderRainbarrow。

"Letussitdownforafewminutes，forHeaven’ssake。"

Wildeveflunghimselfdownonthesoftferns；

andChristian，placingthelanternandparcelontheground，perchedhimselfinacrampedpositionhardby，hiskneesalmosttouchinghischin。Hepresentlythrustonehandintohiscoat—pocketandbeganshakingitabout。

"Whatareyourattlinginthere？"saidWildeve。

"Onlythedice，sir，"saidChristian，quicklywithdrawinghishand。"Whatmagicalmachinestheselittlethingsbe，Mr。Wildeve！’TisagameIshouldnevergettiredof。

Wouldyoumindmytaking’emoutandlookingat’emforaminute，toseehowtheyaremade？Ididn’tliketolookclosebeforetheothermen，forfeartheyshouldthinkitbadmannersinme。"Christiantookthemoutandexaminedtheminthehollowofhishandbythelanternlight。

"Thattheselittlethingsshouldcarrysuchluck，andsuchcharm，andsuchaspell，andsuchpowerin’em，passesallIeverheardorzeed，"hewenton，withafascinatedgazeatthedice，which，asisfrequentlythecaseincountryplaces，weremadeofwood，thepointsbeingburntuponeachfacewiththeendofawire。

"Theyareagreatdealinasmallcompass，Youthink？"

"Yes。Doyesupposetheyreallybethedevil’splaythings，Mr。Wildeve？Ifso，’tisnogoodsignthatIbesuchaluckyman。"

"Yououghttowinsomemoney，nowthatyou’vegotthem。

Anywomanwouldmarryyouthen。Nowisyourtime，Christian，andIwouldrecommendyounottoletitslip。

Somemenareborntoluck，somearenot。Ibelongtothelatterclass。"

"Didyoueverknowanybodywhowasborntoitbesidesmyself？"

"Oyes。IonceheardofanItalian，whosatdownatagamingtablewithonlyalouis，（that’saforeignsovereign），inhispocket。Heplayedonfortwenty—fourhours，andwontenthousandpounds，strippingthebankhehadplayedagainst。Thentherewasanothermanwhohadlostathousandpounds，andwenttothebroker’snextdaytosellstock，thathemightpaythedebt。Themantowhomheowedthemoneywentwithhiminahackney—coach；

andtopassthetimetheytossedwhoshouldpaythefare。

Theruinedmanwon，andtheotherwastemptedtocontinuethegame，andtheyplayedalltheway。Whenthecoachmanstoppedhewastoldtodrivehomeagain：thewholethousandpoundshadbeenwonbackbythemanwhowasgoingtosell。"

"Ha——ha——splendid！"exclaimedChristian。"Goon——goon！"

"ThentherewasamanofLondon，whowasonlyawaiteratWhite’sclubhouse。Hebeganplayingfirsthalf—crownstakes，andthenhigherandhigher，tillhebecameveryrich，gotanappointmentinIndia，androsetobeGovernorofMadras。HisdaughtermarriedamemberofParliament，andtheBishopofCarlislestoodgodfathertooneofthechildren。"

"Wonderfullwonderfull"

"AndoncetherewasayoungmaninAmericawhogambledtillhehadlosthislastdollar。Hestakedhiswatchandchain，andlostasbefore；stakedhisumbrella，lostagain；

stakedhishat，lostagain；stakedhiscoatandstoodinhisshirt—sleeves，lostagain。Begantakingoffhisbreeches，andthenalooker—ongavehimatrifleforhispluck。

Withthishewon。Wonbackhiscoat，wonbackhishat，wonbackhisumbrella，hiswatch，hismoney，andwentoutofthedoorarichman。"

"Oh，’tistoogood——ittakesawaymybreath！Mr。Wildeve，IthinkIwilltryanothershillingwithyou，asIamoneofthatsort；nodangercancomeo’t，andyoucanaffordtolose。"

"Verywell，"saidWildeve，rising。Searchingaboutwiththelantern，hefoundalargeflatstone，whichheplacedbetweenhimselfandChristian，andsatdownagain。

Thelanternwasopenedtogivemorelight，andit’sraysdirecteduponthestone。Christianputdownashilling，Wildeveanother，andeachthrew。Christianwon。

Theyplayedfortwo，Christianwonagain。

"Letustryfour，"saidWildeve。Theyplayedforfour。

ThistimethestakeswerewonbyWildeve。

"Ah，thoselittleaccidentswill，ofcourse，sometimeshappen，totheluckiestman，"heobserved。

"AndnowIhavenomoremoney！"explainedChristianexcitedly。

"Andyet，ifIcouldgoon，Ishouldgetitbackagain，andmore。Iwishthiswasmine。"Hestruckhisbootupontheground，sothattheguineaschinkedwithin。

"What！youhavenotputMrs。Wildeve’smoneythere？"

"Yes。’Tisforsafety。Isitanyharmtorafflewithamarriedlady’smoneywhen，ifIwin，Ishallonlykeepmywinnings，andgiveherherownallthesame；andift’othermanwins，hermoneywillgotothelawfulowner？"

"Noneatall。"

Wildevehadbeenbroodingeversincetheystartedonthemeanestimationinwhichhewasheldbyhiswife’sfriends；

anditcuthisheartseverely。Astheminutespassedhehadgraduallydriftedintoarevengefulintentionwithoutknowingtheprecisemomentofformingit。ThiswastoteachMrs。Yeobrightalesson，asheconsideredittobe；

inotherwords，toshowherifhecouldthatherniece’shusbandwastheproperguardianofherniece’smoney。

"Well，heregoes！"saidChristian，beginningtounlaceoneboot。"Ishalldreamofitnightsandnights，Isuppose；butIshallalwaysswearmyfleshdon’tcrawlwhenIthinko’t！"

HethrusthishandintothebootandwithdrewoneofpoorThomasin’spreciousguineas，pipinghot。

Wildevehadalreadyplacedasovereignonthestone。

Thegamewasthenresumed。Wildevewonfirst，andChristianventuredanother，winninghimselfthistime。

Thegamefluctuated，buttheaveragewasinWildeve’sfavour。

Bothmenbecamesoabsorbedinthegamethattheytooknoheedofanythingbutthepigmyobjectsimmediatelybeneaththeireyes，theflatstone，theopenlantern，thedice，andthefewilluminatedfern—leaveswhichlayunderthelight，werethewholeworldtothem。

AtlengthChristianlostrapidly；andpresently，tohishorror，thewholefiftyguineasbelongingtoThomasinhadbeenhandedovertohisadversary。

"Idon’tcare——Idon’tcare！"hemoaned，anddesperatelysetaboutuntyinghisleftboottogetattheotherfifty。

"Thedevilwilltossmeintotheflamesonhisthree—prongedforkforthisnight’swork，Iknow！ButperhapsIshallwinyet，andthenI’llgetawifetositupwithmeo’

nightsandIwon’tbeafeard，Iwon’t！Here’sanotherfor’ee，myman！"Heslappedanotherguineadownuponthestone，andthedice—boxwasrattledagain。

Timepassedon。WildevebegantobeasexcitedasChristianhimself。WhencommencingthegamehisintentionhadbeennothingfurtherthanabitterpracticaljokeonMrs。Yeobright。Towinthemoney，fairlyorotherwise，andtohanditcontemptuouslytoThomasininheraunt’spresence，hadbeenthedimoutlineofhispurpose。