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“Please remember that I proposed the same thing the other day。”
Eustacia again remained in a sort of stupefied silence。 What curious feeling was this ing over her？ Was it really possible that her interest in Wildeve had been so entirely the result of antagonism that the glory and the dream departed from the man with the first sound that he was no longer coveted by her rival？ She was； then； secure of him at last。 Thomasin no longer required him。 What a humiliating victory！ He loved her best； she thought； and yet—dared she to murmur such treacherous criticism ever so softly？what was the man worth whom a woman inferior to herself did not value？ The sentiment which lurks more or less in all animate nature—that of not desiring the undesired of others—was lively as a passion in the supersubtle； epicurean heart of Eustacia。 Her social superiority over him； which hitherto had scarcely ever impressed her； became unpleasantly insistent； and for the first time she felt that she had stooped in loving him。
“Well； darling； you agree？” said Wildeve。
“If it could be London； or even Budmouth； instead of America；” she murmured languidly。 “Well； I will think。 It is too great a thing for me to decide offhand。
I wish I hated the heath less—or loved you more。”
“You can be painfully frank。 You loved me a month ago warmly enough to go anywhere with me。”
“And you loved Thomasin。”
“Yes； perhaps that was where the reason lay；” he returned； with almost a sneer。 “I don’t hate her now。”
“Exactly。 The only thing is that you can no longer get her。”
“e—no taunts； Eustacia； or we shall quarrel。 If you don’t agree to go with me； and agree shortly； I shall go by myself。”
“Or try Thomasin again。 Damon； how strange it seems that you could have married her or me indifferently； and only have e to me because I am—cheapest！ Yes； yes—it is true。 There was a time when I should have exclaimed against a man of that sort； and been quite wild； but it is all past now。”
“Will you go； dearest？ e secretly with me to Bristol； marry me； and turn our backs upon this dog…hole of England for ever？ Say Yes。”
“I want to get away from here at almost any cost；” she said with weariness； “but I don’t like to go with you。 Give me more time to decide。”
“I have already；” said Wildeve。 “Well； I give you one more week。”
“A little longer； so that I may tell you decisively。 I have to consider so many things。 Fancy Thomasin being anxious to get rid of you！ I cannot forget it。”
“Never mind that。 Say Monday week。 I will be here precisely at this time。”
“Let it be at Rainbarrow；” said she。 “This is too near home； my grandfather may be walking out。”
“Thank you； dear。 On Monday week at this time I will be at the Barrow。 Till then good…bye。”
“Good…bye。 No； no； you must not touch me now。
Shaking hands is enough till I have made up my mind。”
Eustacia watched his shadowy form till it had disappeared。 She placed her hand to her forehead and breathed heavily； and then her rich； romantic lips parted under that homely impulse—a yawn。 She was immediately angry at having betrayed even to herself the possible evanescence of her passion for him。 She could not admit at once that she might have overestimated Wildeve； for to perceive his mediocrity now was to admit her own great folly heretofore。 And the discovery that she was the owner of a disposition so purely that of the dog in the manger had something in it which at first made her ashamed。
The fruit of Mrs。 Yeobright’s diplomacy was indeed remarkable； though not as yet of the kind she had anticipated。 It had appreciably influenced Wildeve； but it was influencing Eustacia far more。 Her lover was no longer to her an exciting man whom many women strove for； and herself could only retain by striving with them。 He was a superfluity。
She went indoors in that peculiar state of misery which is not exactly grief； and which especially attends the dawnings of reason in the latter days of an ill…judged； transient love。 To be conscious that the end of the dream is approaching； and yet has not absolutely e； is one of the most wearisome as well as the most curious stages along the course between the beginning of a passion and its end。
Her grandfather had returned； and was busily engaged in pouring some gallons of newly arrived rum into the square bottles of his square cellaret。 Whenever these home supplies were exhausted he would go to the Quiet Woman； and； standing with his back to the fire； grog in hand； tell remarkable stories of how he had lived seven years under the waterline of his ship； and other naval wonders； to the natives； who hoped too earnestly for a treat of ale from the teller to exhibit any doubts of his truth。
He had been there this evening。 “I suppose you have heard the Egdon news； Eustacia？” he said； without looking up from the bottles。 “The men have been talking about it at the Woman as if it were of national importance。”
“I have heard none；” she said。
“Young Clym Yeobright； as they call him； is ing home next week to spend Christmas with his mother。 He is a fine fellow by this time； it seems。 I suppose you remember him？”
“I never saw him in my life。”
“Ah； true； he left before you came here。 I well remember him as a promising boy。”
“Where has he been living all these years？”
“In that rookery of pomp and vanity； Paris； I believe。”
book two
THE ARRIVAL
1 … Tidings of the er
On the fine days at this time of the year； and earlier； certain ephemeral operations were apt to disturb； in their trifling way； the majestic calm of Egdon Heath。 They were activities which； beside those of a town； a village； or even a farm； would have appeared as the ferment of stagnation merely； a creeping of the flesh of somnolence。 But here； away from parisons； shut in by the stable hills； among which mere walking had the novelty of pageantry； and where any man could imagine himself to be Adam without the least difficulty； they attracted the attention of every bird within eyeshot； every reptile not yet asleep； and set the surrounding rabbits curiously watching from hillocks at a safe distance。
The performance was that of bringing together and building into a stack the furze faggots which Humphrey had been cutting for the captain’s use during the foregoing fine days。 The stack was at the end of the dwelling； and the men engaged in building it were Humphrey and Sam； the old man looking on。
It was a fine and quiet afternoon； about three o’clock； but the winter solstice having stealthily e on； the lowness of the sun caused the hour to seem later than it actually was； there being little here to remind an inhabitant that he must unlearn his summer experience of the sky as a dial。 In the course of many days and weeks sunrise had advanced its quarters from northeast to southeast； sunset had receded from northwest to southwest； but Egdon had hardly heeded the change。
Eustacia was indoors in the dining…room； which was really more like a kitchen； having a stone floor and a gaping chimney…corner。 The air was still； and while she lingered a moment here alone sounds of voices in conversation came to her ears directly down the chimney。 She entered the recess； and； listening； looked up the old irregular shaft； with its cavernous hollows； where the smoke blundered about on its way to the square bit of sky at the top； from which the daylight struck down with a pallid glare upon the tatters of soot draping the flue as seaweed drapes a rocky fissure。
She remembered： the furze…stack was not far from the chimney； and the voices were those of the workers。
Her grandfather joined in the conversation。 “That lad ought never to have left home。 His father’s occupation would have suited him best； and the boy should have followed on。 I don’t believe in these new moves in families。 My father was a sailor； so was I； and so should my son have been if I had had one。”
“The place he’s been living at is Paris；” said Humphrey； “and they tell me ‘tis where the king’s head was cut off years ago。 My poor mother used to tell me about that business。
‘Hummy；’ she used to say； ‘I was a young maid then；
and as I was at home ironing Mother’s caps one afternoon
the parson came in and said； “They’ve cut the king’s
head off； Jane； and what ‘twill be next God knows。”’”
“A good many of us knew as well as He before long；” said the captain； chuckling。 “I lived seven years under water on account of it in my boyhood—in that damned surgery of the Triumph； seeing men brought down to the cockpit with their legs and arms blown to Jericho。。。。And so the young man has settled in Paris。 Manager to a diamond merchant； or some such thing； is he not？”
“Yes； sir； that’s it。 ‘Tis a blazing great business that he belongs to； so I’ve heard his mother say—like a king’s palace； as far as diments go。”
“I can well mind when he left home；” said Sam。
“’Tis a good thing for the feller；” said Humphrey。 “A sight of times better to be selling diments than nobbling about here。”
“It must cost a good few shillings to deal at such a place。”
“A good few indeed； my man；” replied the captain。 “Yes； you may make away with a deal of money and be neither drunkard nor glutton。”
“They say； too； that Clym Yeobright is bee a real perusing man； with the strangest notions about things。 There； that’s because he went to school early； such as the school was。”
“Strange notions； has he？” said the old man。 “Ah； there’s too much of that sending to school in these days！ It only does harm。 Every gatepost and barn’s door you e to is sure to have some bad word or other chalked upon it by the young rascals—a woman can hardly pass for shame sometimes。 If they’d never been taught how to write they wouldn’t have been able to scribble such villainy。 Their fathers couldn’t do it； and the country was all the better for it。”
“Now； I should think； Cap’n； that Miss Eustacia had about as much in her head that es from books as anybody about here？”
“Perhaps if Miss Eustacia； too； had less romantic nonsense in her head it would be better for her；” said the captain shortly； after which he walked away。
“I say； Sam；” observed Humphrey when the old man was gone； “she and Clym Yeobright would make a very pretty pigeon…pair—hey？ If they wouldn’t I’ll be dazed！ Both of one mind about niceties for certain； and learned in print； and always thinking about high doctrine—there couldn’t be a better couple if they were made o’ purpose。 Clym’s family is as good as hers。 His father was a farmer； that’s true； but his mother was a sort of lady； as we know。 Nothing would please me better than to see them two man and wife。”
“They’d look very natty； arm…in…crook together； and their best clothes on； whether or no； if he’s at all the well…favoured fellow he used to be。”
“They would； Humphrey。 Well； I should like to see the chap terrible much after so many years。 If I knew for certain when he was ing I’d stroll out three or four miles to meet him and help carry anything for’n； though I suppose he’s altered from the boy he was。 They say he can talk French as fast as a maid can eat blackberries； and if so； depend upon it we who have stayed at home shall seem no more than scroff in his eyes。”
“ing across the water to Budmouth by steamer； isn’t he？”
“Yes； but how he’s ing from Budmouth I don’t know。”
“That’s a bad trouble about his cousin Thomasin。 I wonder such a nice…notioned fellow as Clym likes to e home into it。 What a nunnywatch we were in； to be sure； when we heard they weren’t married at all； after singing to ‘em as man and wife that night！ Be dazed if I should like a relation of mine to have been made such a fool of by a man。 It makes the family look small。”
“Yes。 Poor maid； her heart has ached enough about it。 Her health is suffering from it； I hear； for she will bide entirely indoors。 We never see her out now； scampering over the furze with a face as red as a rose； as she used to do。”
“I’ve heard she wouldn’t have Wildeve now if he asked her。”
“You have？ ‘Tis news to me。”
While the furze…gatherers had desultorily conversed thus Eustacia’s face gradually bent to the hearth in a profound reverie； her toe unconsciously tapping the dry turf which lay burning at her feet。
The subject of their discourse had been keenly interesting to her。 A young and clever man was ing into that lonely heath from； of all contrasting places in the world； Paris。 It was like a man ing from heaven。 More singular still； the heathmen had instinctively coupled her and this man together in their minds as a pair born for each other。
That five minutes of overhearing furnished Eustacia with visions enough to fill the whole blank afternoon。 Such sudden alternations from mental vacuity do sometimes occur thus quietly。 She could never have believed in the morning that her colourless inner world would before night bee as animated as water under a microscope； and that without the arrival of a single visitor。 The words of Sam and Humphrey on the harmony between the unknown and herself had on her mind the effect of the invading Bard’s prelude in the Castle of Indolence； at which myriads of imprisoned shapes arose where had previously appeared the