Shelookedanotherway，disconcerted，andwonderedhowlongthispurgatorywastolast。Afterlingeringafewsecondshepassedonagain。

Tocourttheirowndiscomfiturebyloveisacommoninstinctwithcertainperfervidwomen。Conflictingsensationsoflove，fear，andshamereducedEustaciatoastateoftheutmostuneasiness。Toescapewashergreatandimmediatedesire。Theothermummersappearedtobeinnohurrytoleave；andmurmuringtotheladwhosatnexttoherthatshepreferredwaitingforthemoutsidethehouse，shemovedtothedoorasimperceptiblyaspossible，openedit，andslippedout。

Thecalm，lonescenereassuredher。Shewentforwardtothepalingsandleantoverthem，lookingatthemoon。

Shehadstoodthusbutalittletimewhenthedooragainopened。

ExpectingtoseetheremainderofthebandEustaciaturned；

butno——ClymYeobrightcameoutassoftlyasshehaddone，andclosedthedoorbehindhim。

Headvancedandstoodbesideher。"Ihaveanoddopinion，"

hesaid，"andshouldliketoaskyouaquestion。Areyouawoman——oramIwrong？"

"Iamawoman。"

Hiseyeslingeredonherwithgreatinterest。"Dogirlsoftenplayasmummersnow？Theyneverusedto。"

"Theydon’tnow。"

"Whydidyou？"

"Togetexcitementandshakeoffdepression，"shesaidinlowtones。

"Whatdepressedyou？"

"Life。"

"That’sacauseofdepressionagoodmanyhavetoputupwith。"

"Yes。"

Alongsilence。"Anddoyoufindexcitement？"askedClymatlast。

"Atthismoment，perhaps。"

"Thenyouarevexedatbeingdiscovered？"

"Yes；thoughIthoughtImightbe。"

"IwouldgladlyhaveaskedyoutoourpartyhadIknownyouwishedtocome。HaveIeverbeenacquaintedwithyouinmyyouth？"

"Never。"

"Won’tyoucomeinagain，andstayaslongasyoulike？"

"No。Iwishnottobefurtherrecognized。"

"Well，youaresafewithme。"Afterremaininginthoughtaminuteheaddedgently，"Iwillnotintrudeuponyoulonger。

Itisastrangewayofmeeting，andIwillnotaskwhyIfindacultivatedwomanplayingsuchapartasthis。"

Shedidnotvolunteerthereasonwhichheseemedtohopefor，andhewishedhergoodnight，goingthenceroundtothebackofthehouse，wherehewalkedupanddownbyhimselfforsometimebeforere—entering。

Eustacia，warmedwithaninnerfire，couldnotwaitforhercompanionsafterthis。Sheflungbacktheribbonsfromherface，openedthegate，andatoncestruckintotheheath。Shedidnothastenalong。Hergrandfatherwasinbedatthishour，forshesofrequentlywalkeduponthehillsonmoonlightnightsthathetooknonoticeofhercomingsandgoings，and，enjoyinghimselfinhisownway，lefthertodolikewise。Amoreimportantsubjectthanthatofgettingindoorsnowengrossedher。

Yeobright，ifhehadtheleastcuriosity，wouldinfalliblydiscoverhername。Whatthen？Shefirstfeltasortofexultationatthewayinwhichtheadventurehadterminated，eventhoughatmomentsbetweenherexultationsshewasabashedandblushful。Thenthisconsiderationrecurredtochillher：Whatwastheuseofherexploit？ShewasatpresentatotalstrangertotheYeobrightfamily。

Theunreasonablenimbusofromancewithwhichshehadencircledthatmanmightbehermisery。Howcouldsheallowherselftobecomesoinfatuatedwithastranger？AndtofillthecupofhersorrowtherewouldbeThomasin，livingdayafterdayininflammableproximitytohim；

forshehadjustlearntthat，contrarytoherfirstbelief，hewasgoingtostayathomesomeconsiderabletime。

ShereachedthewicketatMistoverKnap，butbeforeopeningitsheturnedandfacedtheheathoncemore。

TheformofRainbarrowstoodabovethehills，andthemoonstoodaboveRainbarrow。Theairwaschargedwithsilenceandfrost。ThesceneremindedEustaciaofacircumstancewhichtillthatmomentshehadtotallyforgotten。

ShehadpromisedtomeetWildevebytheBarrowthisverynightateight，togiveafinalanswertohispleadingforanelopement。

Sheherselfhadfixedtheeveningandthehour。

Hehadprobablycometothespot，waitedthereinthecold，andbeengreatlydisappointed。

"Well，somuchthebetter——itdidnothurthim，"

shesaidserenely。Wildevehadatpresenttheraylessoutlineofthesunthroughsmokedglass，andshecouldsaysuchthingsasthatwiththegreatestfacility。

Sheremaineddeeplypondering；andThomasin’swinningmannertowardshercousinaroseagainuponEustacia’smind。

"OthatshehadbeenmarriedtoDamonbeforethis！"

shesaid。"Andshewouldifithadn’tbeenforme！IfI

hadonlyknown——ifIhadonlyknown！"

Eustaciaoncemoreliftedherdeepstormyeyestothemoonlight，and，sighingthattragicsighofherswhichwassomuchlikeashudder，enteredtheshadowoftheroof。Shethrewoffhertrappingsintheouthouse，rolledthemup，andwentindoorstoherchamber。

7—ACoalitionbetweenBeautyandOddnessTheoldcaptain’sprevailingindifferencetohisgranddaughter’smovementsleftherfreeasabirdtofollowherowncourses；butitsohappenedthathedidtakeuponhimselfthenextmorningtoaskherwhyshehadwalkedoutsolate。

"Onlyinsearchofevents，Grandfather，"shesaid，lookingoutofthewindowwiththatdrowsylatencyofmannerwhichdiscoveredsomuchforcebehinditwheneverthetriggerwaspressed。

"Searchofevents——onewouldthinkyouwereoneofthebucksIknewatone—and—twenty。"

"Itislonelyhere。"

"Somuchthebetter。IfIwerelivinginatownmywholetimewouldbetakenupinlookingafteryou。

IfullyexpectedyouwouldhavebeenhomewhenIreturnedfromtheWoman。"

"Iwon’tconcealwhatIdid。Iwantedanadventure，andIwentwiththemummers。IplayedthepartoftheTurkishKnight。"

"No，never？Ha，ha！Goodgad！Ididn’texpectitofyou，Eustacia。"

"Itwasmyfirstperformance，anditcertainlywillbemylast。NowIhavetoldyou——andrememberitisasecret。"

"Ofcourse。But，Eustacia，youneverdid——ha！ha！Dammy，how’twouldhavepleasedmefortyyearsago！Butremember，nomoreofit，mygirl。Youmaywalkontheheathnightorday，asyouchoose，sothatyoudon’tbotherme；

butnofiguringinbreechesagain。"

"Youneedhavenofearforme，Grandpapa。"

Heretheconversationceased，Eustacia’smoraltrainingneverexceedinginseverityadialogueofthissort，which，ifiteverbecameprofitabletogoodworks，wouldbearesultnotdearattheprice。Butherthoughtssoonstrayedfarfromherownpersonality；and，fullofapassionateandindescribablesolicitudeforonetowhomshewasnotevenaname，shewentforthintotheamplitudeoftannedwildaroundher，restlessasAhasuerustheJew。

Shewasabouthalfamilefromherresidencewhenshebeheldasinisterrednessarisingfromaravinealittlewayinadvance——dullandluridlikeaflameinsunlightandsheguessedittosignifyDiggoryVenn。

WhenthefarmerswhohadwishedtobuyinanewstockofreddleduringthelastmonthhadinquiredwhereVennwastobefound，peoplereplied，"OnEgdonHeath。"

Dayafterdaytheanswerwasthesame。Now，sinceEgdonwaspopulatedwithheath—croppersandfurze—cuttersratherthanwithsheepandshepherds，andthedownswheremostofthelatterweretobefoundlaysometothenorth，sometothewestofEgdon，hisreasonforcampingabouttherelikeIsraelinZinwasnotapparent。

Thepositionwascentralandoccasionallydesirable。

ButthesaleofreddlewasnotDiggory’sprimaryobjectinremainingontheheath，particularlyatsolateaperiodoftheyear，whenmosttravellersofhisclasshadgoneintowinterquarters。

Eustacialookedatthelonelyman。WildevehadtoldherattheirlastmeetingthatVennhadbeenthrustforwardbyMrs。YeobrightasonereadyandanxioustotakehisplaceasThomasin’sbetrothed。Hisfigurewasperfect，hisfaceyoungandwelloutlined，hiseyebright，hisintelligencekeen，andhispositiononewhichhecouldreadilybetterifhechose。ButinspiteofpossibilitiesitwasnotlikelythatThomasinwouldacceptthisIshmaelitishcreaturewhileshehadacousinlikeYeobrightatherelbow，andWildeveatthesametimenotabsolutelyindifferent。

EustaciawasnotlonginguessingthatpoorMrs。Yeobright，inheranxietyforherniece’sfuture，hadmentionedthislovertostimulatethezealoftheother。

EustaciawasonthesideoftheYeobrightsnow，andenteredintothespiritoftheaunt’sdesire。

"Goodmorning，miss，"saidthereddleman，takingoffhiscapofhareskin，andapparentlybearinghernoill—

willfromrecollectionoftheirlastmeeting。

"Goodmorning，reddleman，"shesaid，hardlytroublingtoliftherheavilyshadedeyestohis。"Ididnotknowyouweresonear。Isyourvanheretoo？"

Vennmovedhiselbowtowardsahollowinwhichadensebrakeofpurple—stemmedbrambleshadgrowntosuchvastdimensionsasalmosttoformadell。Brambles，thoughchurlishwhenhandled，arekindlyshelterinearlywinter，beingthelatestofthedeciduousbushestolosetheirleaves。

TheroofandchimneyofVenn’scaravanshowedbehindthetraceryandtanglesofthebrake。

"Youremainnearthispart？"sheaskedwithmoreinterest。

"Yes，Ihavebusinesshere。"

"Notaltogetherthesellingofreddle？"

"Ithasnothingtodowiththat。"

"IthastodowithMissYeobright？"

Herfaceseemedtoaskforanarmedpeace，andhethereforesaidfrankly，"Yes，miss；itisonaccountofher。"

"Onaccountofyourapproachingmarriagewithher？"

Vennflushedthroughhisstain。"Don’tmakesportofme，MissVye，"hesaid。

"Itisn’ttrue？"

"Certainlynot。"

ShewasthusconvincedthatthereddlemanwasamerepisallerinMrs。Yeobright’smind；one，moreover，whohadnotevenbeeninformedofhispromotiontothatlowlystanding。"Itwasamerenotionofmine，"

shesaidquietly；andwasabouttopassbywithoutfurtherspeech，when，lookingroundtotheright，shesawapainfullywell—knownfigureserpentiningupwardsbyoneofthelittlepathswhichledtothetopwhereshestood。

Owingtothenecessarywindingsofhiscoursehisbackwasatpresenttowardsthem。Sheglancedquicklyround；

toescapethatmantherewasonlyoneway。TurningtoVenn，shesaid，"Wouldyouallowmetorestafewminutesinyourvan？Thebanksaredampforsittingon。"

"Certainly，miss；I’llmakeaplaceforyou。"

ShefollowedhimbehindthedellofbramblestohiswheeleddwellingintowhichVennmounted，placingthethree—leggedstooljustwithinthedoor。

"ThatisthebestIcandoforyou，"hesaid，steppingdownandretiringtothepath，whereheresumedthesmokingofhispipeashewalkedupanddown。

Eustaciaboundedintothevehicleandsatonthestool，ensconcedfromviewonthesidetowardsthetrackway。

Soonsheheardthebrushingofotherfeetthanthereddleman’s，anotveryfriendly"Goodday"utteredbytwomeninpassingeachother，andthenthedwindlingofthefoot—fallofoneoftheminadirectiononwards。

Eustaciastretchedherneckforwardtillshecaughtaglimpseofarecedingbackandshoulders；andshefeltawretchedtwingeofmisery，sheknewnotwhy。

Itwasthesickeningfeelingwhich，ifthechangedhearthasanygenerosityatallinitscomposition，accompaniesthesuddensightofaonce—lovedonewhoisbelovednomore。

WhenEustaciadescendedtoproceedonherwaythereddlemancamenear。"ThatwasMr。Wildevewhopassed，miss，"hesaidslowly，andexpressedbyhisfacethatheexpectedhertofeelvexedathavingbeensittingunseen。

"Yes，Isawhimcomingupthehill，"repliedEustacia。

"Whyshouldyoutellmethat？"Itwasaboldquestion，consideringthereddleman’sknowledgeofherpastlove；

butherundemonstrativemannerhadpowertorepresstheopinionsofthoseshetreatedasremotefromher。

"Iamgladtohearthatyoucanaskit，"saidthereddlemanbluntly。"And，nowIthinkofit，itagreeswithwhatIsawlastnight。"

"Ah——whatwasthat？"Eustaciawishedtoleavehim，butwishedtoknow。

"Mr。WildevestayedatRainbarrowalongtimewaitingforaladywhodidn’tcome。"

"Youwaitedtoo，itseems？"

"Yes，Ialwaysdo。Iwasgladtoseehimdisappointed。

Hewillbethereagaintonight。"

"Tobeagaindisappointed。Thetruthis，reddleman，thatthatlady，sofarfromwishingtostandinthewayofThomasin’smarriagewithMr。Wildeve，wouldbeverygladtopromoteit。"

Vennfeltmuchastonishmentatthisavowal，thoughhedidnotshowitclearly；thatexhibitionmaygreetremarkswhichareoneremovefromexpectation，butitisusuallywithheldincomplicatedcasesoftworemovesandupwards。

"Indeed，miss，"hereplied。

"HowdoyouknowthatMr。WildevewillcometoRainbarrowagaintonight？"sheasked。

"Iheardhimsaytohimselfthathewould。He’sinaregulartemper。"

Eustacialookedforamomentwhatshefelt，andshemurmured，liftingherdeepdarkeyesanxiouslytohis，"IwishI

knewwhattodo。Idon’twanttobeunciviltohim；

butIdon’twishtoseehimagain；andIhavesomefewlittlethingstoreturntohim。"

"Ifyouchoosetosend’embyme，miss，andanotetotellhimthatyouwishtosaynomoretohim，I’lltakeitforyouquiteprivately。Thatwouldbethemoststraightforwardwayoflettinghimknowyourmind。"

"Verywell，"saidEustacia。"Cometowardsmyhouse，andIwillbringitouttoyou。"

Shewenton，andasthepathwasaninfinitelysmallpartingintheshaggylocksoftheheath，thereddlemanfollowedexactlyinhertrail。Shesawfromadistancethatthecaptainwasonthebanksweepingthehorizonwithhistelescope；andbiddingVenntowaitwherehestoodsheenteredthehousealone。

Intenminutesshereturnedwithaparcelandanote，andsaid，inplacingtheminhishand，"Whyareyousoreadytotaketheseforme？"

"Canyouaskthat？"

"IsupposeyouthinktoserveThomasininsomewaybyit。

Areyouasanxiousasevertohelponhermarriage？"

Vennwasalittlemoved。"Iwouldsoonerhavemarriedhermyself，"hesaidinalowvoice。"ButwhatIfeelisthatifshecannotbehappywithouthimIwilldomydutyinhelpinghertogethim，asamanought。"

Eustacialookedcuriouslyatthesingularmanwhospokethus。

Whatastrangesortoflove，tobeentirelyfreefromthatqualityofselfishnesswhichisfrequentlythechiefconstituentofthepassion，andsometimesitsonlyone！Thereddleman’sdisinterestednesswassowelldeservingofrespectthatitovershotrespectbybeingbarelycomprehended；andshealmostthoughtitabsurd。

"Thenwearebothofonemindatlast，"shesaid。

"Yes，"repliedVenngloomily。"Butifyouwouldtellme，miss，whyyoutakesuchaninterestinher，Ishouldbeeasier。Itissosuddenandstrange。"

Eustaciaappearedataloss。"Icannottellyouthat，reddleman，"shesaidcoldly。

Vennsaidnomore。Hepocketedtheletter，and，bowingtoEustacia，wentaway。

RainbarrowhadagainbecomeblendedwithnightwhenWildeveascendedthelongacclivityatitsbase。

Onhisreachingthetopashapegrewupfromtheearthimmediatelybehindhim。ItwasthatofEustacia’semissary。

HeslappedWildeveontheshoulder。Thefeverishyounginn—keeperandex—engineerstartedlikeSatanatthetouchofIthuriel’sspear。

"Themeetingisalwaysateighto’clock，atthisplace，"

saidVenn，"andhereweare——wethree。"

"Wethree？"saidWildeve，lookingquicklyround。

"Yes；you，andI，andshe。Thisisshe。"Hehelduptheletterandparcel。

Wildevetookthemwonderingly。"Idon’tquiteseewhatthismeans，"hesaid。"Howdoyoucomehere？

Theremustbesomemistake。"

"Itwillbeclearedfromyourmindwhenyouhavereadtheletter。Lanternsforone。"Thereddlemanstruckalight，kindledaninchoftallow—candlewhichhehadbrought，andsheltereditwithhiscap。

"Whoareyou？"saidWildeve，discerningbythecandle—

lightanobscurerubicundityofpersoninhiscompanion。

"YouarethereddlemanIsawonthehillthismorning——why，youarethemanwho————"

"Pleasereadtheletter。"

"IfyouhadcomefromtheotheroneIshouldn’thavebeensurprised，"murmuredWildeveasheopenedtheletterandread。Hisfacegrewserious。

TOMR。WILDEVE。

AftersomethoughtIhavedecidedonceandforallthatwemustholdnofurthercommunication。ThemoreIconsiderthematterthemoreIamconvincedthattheremustbeanendtoouracquaintance。Hadyoubeenuniformlyfaithfultomethroughoutthesetwoyearsyoumightnowhavesomegroundforaccusingmeofheartlessness；

butifyoucalmlyconsiderwhatIboreduringtheperiodofyourdesertion，andhowIpassivelyputupwithyourcourtshipofanotherwithoutonceinterfering，youwill，Ithink，ownthatIhavearighttoconsultmyownfeelingswhenyoucomebacktomeagain。Thatthesearenotwhattheyweretowardsyoumay，perhaps，beafaultinme，butitisonewhichyoucanscarcelyreproachmeforwhenyourememberhowyouleftmeforThomasin。

Thelittlearticlesyougavemeintheearlypartofourfriendshiparereturnedbythebearerofthisletter。

TheyshouldrightlyhavebeensentbackwhenIfirstheardofyourengagementtoher。

EUSTACIA。

BythetimethatWildevereachedhernametheblanknesswithwhichhehadreadthefirsthalfoftheletterintensifiedtomortification。"Iammadeagreatfoolof，onewayandanother，"hesaidpettishly。"Doyouknowwhatisinthisletter？"

Thereddlemanhummedatune。

"Can’tyouanswerme？"askedWildevewarmly。

"Ru—um—tum—tum，"sangthereddleman。

WildevestoodlookingonthegroundbesideVenn’sfeet，tillheallowedhiseyestotravelupwardsoverDiggory’sform，asilluminatedbythecandle，tohisheadandface。

"Ha—ha！Well，IsupposeIdeserveit，consideringhowIhaveplayedwiththemboth，"hesaidatlast，asmuchtohimselfastoVenn。"ButofalltheoddthingsthateverIknew，theoddestisthatyoushouldsoruncountertoyourowninterestsastobringthistome。"

"Myinterests？"

"Certainly。’TwasyourinterestnottodoanythingwhichwouldsendmecourtingThomasinagain，nowshehasacceptedyou——orsomethinglikeit。Mrs。Yeobrightsaysyouaretomarryher。’Tisn’ttrue，then？"

"GoodLord！Iheardofthisbefore，butdidn’tbelieveit。

Whendidshesayso？"

Wildevebeganhummingasthereddlemanhaddone。

"Idon’tbelieveitnow，"criedVenn。

"Ru—um—tum—tum，"sangWildeve。

"OLord——howwecanimitate！"saidVenncontemptuously。

"I’llhavethisout。I’llgostraighttoher。"

Diggorywithdrewwithanemphaticstep，Wildeve’seyepassingoverhisforminwitheringderision，asifhewerenomorethanaheath—cropper。Whenthereddleman’sfigurecouldnolongerbeseen，Wildevehimselfdescendedandplungedintotheraylesshollowofthevale。

Tolosethetwowomen——hewhohadbeenthewell—belovedofboth——wastooironicalanissuetobeendured。

HecouldonlydecentlysavehimselfbyThomasin；

andoncehebecameherhusband，Eustacia’srepentance，hethought，wouldsetinforalongandbitterterm。

ItwasnowonderthatWildeve，ignorantofthenewmanatthebackofthescene，shouldhavesupposedEustaciatobeplayingapart。Tobelievethattheletterwasnottheresultofsomemomentarypique，toinferthatshereallygavehimuptoThomasin，wouldhaverequiredpreviousknowledgeofhertransfigurationbythatman’sinfluence。

Whowastoknowthatshehadgrowngenerousinthegreedinessofanewpassion，thatincovetingonecousinshewasdealingliberallywithanother，thatinhereagernesstoappropriateshegaveway？

Fullofthisresolvetomarryinhaste，andwringtheheartoftheproudgirl，Wildevewenthisway。

MeanwhileDiggoryVennhadreturnedtohisvan，wherehestoodlookingthoughtfullyintothestove。

Anewvistawasopeneduptohim。But，howeverpromisingMrs。Yeobright’sviewsofhimmightbeasacandidateforherniece’shand，oneconditionwasindispensabletothefavourofThomasinherself，andthatwasarenunciationofhispresentwildmodeoflife。Inthishesawlittledifficulty。

HecouldnotaffordtowaittillthenextdaybeforeseeingThomasinanddetailinghisplan。Hespeedilyplungedhimselfintotoiletoperations，pulledasuitofclothclothesfromabox，andinabouttwentyminutesstoodbeforethevan—lanternasareddlemaninnothingbuthisface，thevermilionshadesofwhichwerenottoberemovedinaday。Closingthedoorandfasteningitwithapadlock，VennsetofftowardsBlooms—End。

Hehadreachedthewhitepalingsandlaidhishanduponthegatewhenthedoorofthehouseopened，andquicklyclosedagain。Afemaleformhadglidedin。

Atthesametimeaman，whohadseeminglybeenstandingwiththewomanintheporch，cameforwardfromthehousetillhewasfacetofacewithVenn。ItwasWildeveagain。

"Manalive，you’vebeenquickatit，"saidDiggorysarcastically。

"Andyouslow，asyouwillfind，"saidWildeve。

"And，"loweringhisvoice，"youmayaswellgobackagainnow。I’veclaimedher，andgother。

Goodnight，reddleman！"ThereuponWildevewalkedaway。

Venn’sheartsankwithinhim，thoughithadnotrisenundulyhigh。Hestoodleaningoverthepalingsinanindecisivemoodfornearlyaquarterofanhour。

Thenhewentupthegardenpath，knocked，andaskedforMrs。Yeobright。

Insteadofrequestinghimtoentershecametotheporch。

Adiscoursewascarriedonbetweentheminlowmeasuredtonesforthespaceoftenminutesormore。AttheendofthetimeMrs。Yeobrightwentin，andVennsadlyretracedhisstepsintotheheath。Whenhehadagainregainedhisvanhelitthelantern，andwithanapatheticfaceatoncebegantopulloffhisbestclothes，tillinthecourseofafewminuteshereappearedastheconfirmedandirretrievablereddlemanthathehadseemedbefore。

8—FirmnessIsDiscoveredinaGentleHeartOnthateveningtheinteriorofBlooms—End，thoughcosyandcomfortable，hadbeenrathersilent。ClymYeobrightwasnotathome。SincetheChristmaspartyhehadgoneonafewdays’visittoafriendabouttenmilesoff。

TheshadowyformseenbyVenntopartfromWildeveintheporch，andquicklywithdrawintothehouse，wasThomasin’s。Onenteringshethrewdownacloakwhichhadbeencarelesslywrappedroundher，andcameforwardtothelight，whereMrs。Yeobrightsatatherwork—table，drawnupwithinthesettle，sothatpartofitprojectedintothechimney—corner。