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。