"Idon’tlikeyourgoingoutafterdarkalone，Tamsin，"
saidherauntquietly，withoutlookingupfromherwork。
"Ihaveonlybeenjustoutsidethedoor。"
"Well？"inquiredMrs。Yeobright，struckbyachangeinthetoneofThomasin’svoice，andobservingher。
Thomasin’scheekwasflushedtoapitchfarbeyondthatwhichithadreachedbeforehertroubles，andhereyesglittered。
"ItwasHEwhoknocked，"shesaid。
"Ithoughtasmuch。"
"Hewishesthemarriagetobeatonce。"
"Indeed！What——isheanxious？"Mrs。Yeobrightdirectedasearchinglookuponherniece。"WhydidnotMr。Wildevecomein？"
"Hedidnotwishto。Youarenotfriendswithhim，hesays。
Hewouldliketheweddingtobethedayaftertomorrow，quiteprivately；atthechurchofhisparish——notatours。"
"Oh！Andwhatdidyousay？"
"Iagreedtoit，"Thomasinansweredfirmly。"Iamapracticalwomannow。Idon’tbelieveinheartsatall。
Iwouldmarryhimunderanycircumstancessince——sinceClym’sletter。"
AletterwaslyingonMrs。Yeobright’swork—basket，andatThomasin’swordsherauntreopenedit，andsilentlyreadforthetenthtimethatday：——
WhatisthemeaningofthissillystorythatpeoplearecirculatingaboutThomasinandMr。Wildeve？Ishouldcallsuchascandalhumiliatingiftherewastheleastchanceofitsbeingtrue。Howcouldsuchagrossfalsehoodhavearisen？Itissaidthatoneshouldgoabroadtohearnewsofhome，andIappeartohavedoneit。
OfcourseIcontradictthetaleeverywhere；butitisveryvexing，andIwonderhowitcouldhaveoriginated。
ItistooridiculousthatsuchagirlasThomasincouldsomortifyusastogetjiltedontheweddingday。
Whathasshedone？
"Yes，"Mrs。Yeobrightsaidsadly，puttingdowntheletter。
"Ifyouthinkyoucanmarryhim，doso。AndsinceMr。Wildevewishesittobeunceremonious，letitbethattoo。
Icandonothing。Itisallinyourownhandsnow。
MypoweroveryourwelfarecametoanendwhenyouleftthishousetogowithhimtoAnglebury。"Shecontinued，halfinbitterness，"Imayalmostask，whydoyouconsultmeinthematteratall？Ifyouhadgoneandmarriedhimwithoutsayingawordtome，Icouldhardlyhavebeenangry——simplybecause，poorgirl，youcan’tdoabetterthing。"
"Don’tsaythatanddisheartenme。"
"Youareright——Iwillnot。"
"Idonotpleadforhim，Aunt。Humannatureisweak，andIamnotablindwomantoinsistthatheisperfect。
Ididthinkso，butIdon’tnow。ButIknowmycourse，andyouknowthatIknowit。Ihopeforthebest。"
"AndsodoI，andwewillbothcontinueto，"saidMrs。Yeobright，risingandkissingher。"Thenthewedding，ifitcomesoff，willbeonthemorningoftheverydayClymcomeshome？"
"Yes。Idecidedthatitoughttobeoverbeforehecame。
Afterthatyoucanlookhimintheface，andsocanI。Ourconcealmentswillmatternothing。"
Mrs。Yeobrightmovedherheadinthoughtfulassent，andpresentlysaid，"Doyouwishmetogiveyouaway？
Iamwillingtoundertakethat，youknow，ifyouwish，asIwaslasttime。AfteronceforbiddingthebannsI
thinkIcandonoless。"
"Idon’tthinkIwillaskyoutocome，"saidThomasinreluctantly，butwithdecision。"Itwouldbeunpleasant，Iamalmostsure。Betterlettherebeonlystrangerspresent，andnoneofmyrelationsatall。Iwouldratherhaveitso。
Idonotwishtodoanythingwhichmaytouchyourcredit，andIfeelthatIshouldbeuncomfortableifyouwerethere，afterwhathaspassed。Iamonlyyourniece，andthereisnonecessitywhyyoushouldconcernyourselfmoreaboutme。"
"Well，hehasbeatenus，"herauntsaid。"ItreallyseemsasifhehadbeenplayingwithyouinthiswayinrevengeformyhumblinghimasIdidbystandingupagainsthimatfirst。"
"Ono，Aunt，"murmuredThomasin。
Theysaidnomoreonthesubjectthen。DiggoryVenn’sknockcamesoonafter；andMrs。Yeobright，onreturningfromherinterviewwithhimintheporch，carelesslyobserved，"Anotherloverhascometoaskforyou。"
"No？"
"Yes，thatqueeryoungmanVenn。"
"Askstopayhisaddressestome？"
"Yes；andItoldhimhewastoolate。"
Thomasinlookedsilentlyintothecandle—flame。"PoorDiggory！"
shesaid，andthenarousedherselftootherthings。
Thenextdaywaspassedinmeremechanicaldeedsofpreparation，boththewomenbeinganxioustoimmersethemselvesinthesetoescapetheemotionalaspectofthesituation。
SomewearingapparelandotherarticleswerecollectedanewforThomasin，andremarksondomesticdetailswerefrequentlymade，soastoobscureanyinnermisgivingsaboutherfutureasWildeve’swife。
Theappointedmorningcame。ThearrangementwithWildevewasthatheshouldmeetheratthechurchtoguardagainstanyunpleasantcuriositywhichmighthaveaffectedthemhadtheybeenseenwalkingofftogetherintheusualcountryway。
Auntandniecestoodtogetherinthebedroomwherethebridewasdressing。Thesun，whereitcouldcatchit，madeamirrorofThomasin’shair，whichshealwaysworebraided。
Itwasbraidedaccordingtoacalendarsystem——themoreimportantthedaythemorenumerousthestrandsinthebraid。
Onordinaryworking—daysshebraideditinthrees；
onordinarySundaysinfours；atMaypolings，gipsyings，andthelike，shebraideditinfives。Yearsagoshehadsaidthatwhenshemarriedshewouldbraiditinsevens。
Shehadbraideditinsevenstoday。
"IhavebeenthinkingthatIwillwearmybluesilkafterall，"
shesaid。"Itismyweddingday，eventhoughtheremaybesomethingsadaboutthetime。Imean，"sheadded，anxioustocorrectanywrongimpression，"notsadinitself，butinitshavinghadgreatdisappointmentandtroublebeforeit。"
Mrs。Yeobrightbreathedinawaywhichmighthavebeencalledasigh。"IalmostwishClymhadbeenathome，"shesaid。
"Ofcourseyouchosethetimebecauseofhisabsence。"
"Partly。IhavefeltthatIactedunfairlytohiminnottellinghimall；but，asitwasdonenottogrievehim，IthoughtIwouldcarryouttheplantoitsend，andtellthewholestorywhentheskywasclear。"
"Youareapracticallittlewoman，"saidMrs。Yeobright，smiling。
"Iwishyouandhe——no，Idon’twishanything。There，itisnineo’clock，"sheinterrupted，hearingawhizzandadingingdownstairs。
"ItoldDamonIwouldleaveatnine，"saidThomasin，hasteningoutoftheroom。
Herauntfollowed。WhenThomasinwasgoingupthelittlewalkfromthedoortothewicket—gate，Mrs。Yeobrightlookedreluctantlyather，andsaid，"Itisashametoletyougoalone。"
"Itisnecessary，"saidThomasin。
"Atanyrate，"addedherauntwithforcedcheerfulness，"Ishallcalluponyouthisafternoon，andbringthecakewithme。
IfClymhasreturnedbythattimehewillperhapscometoo。
IwishtoshowMr。WildevethatIbearhimnoill—will。
Letthepastbeforgotten。Well，Godblessyou！There，Idon’tbelieveinoldsuperstitions，butI’lldoit。"
Shethrewaslipperattheretreatingfigureofthegirl，whoturned，smiled，andwentonagain。
Afewstepsfurther，andshelookedback。"Didyoucallme，Aunt？"shetremulouslyinquired。"Good—bye！"
MovedbyanuncontrollablefeelingasshelookeduponMrs。Yeobright’sworn，wetface，sheranback，whenherauntcameforward，andtheymetagain。"O——Tamsie，"saidtheelder，weeping，"Idon’tliketoletyougo。"
"I——Iam——"Thomasinbegan，givingwaylikewise。
But，quellinghergrief，shesaid"Good—bye！"againandwenton。
ThenMrs。Yeobrightsawalittlefigurewendingitswaybetweenthescratchingfurze—bushes，anddiminishingfarupthevalley——apale—bluespotinavastfieldofneutralbrown，solitaryandundefendedexceptbythepowerofherownhope。
Buttheworstfeatureinthecasewasonewhichdidnotappearinthelandscape；itwastheman。
ThehourchosenfortheceremonybyThomasinandWildevehadbeensotimedastoenablehertoescapetheawkwardnessofmeetinghercousinClym，whowasreturningthesamemorning。
Toowntothepartialtruthofwhathehadheardwouldbedistressingaslongasthehumiliatingpositionresultingfromtheeventwasunimproved。Itwasonlyafterasecondandsuccessfuljourneytothealtarthatshecouldliftupherheadandprovethefailureofthefirstattemptapureaccident。
ShehadnotbeengonefromBlooms—EndmorethanhalfanhourwhenYeobrightcamebythemeadsfromtheotherdirectionandenteredthehouse。
"Ihadanearlybreakfast，"hesaidtohismotheraftergreetingher。"NowIcouldeatalittlemore。"
Theysatdowntotherepeatedmeal，andhewentoninalow，anxiousvoice，apparentlyimaginingthatThomasinhadnotyetcomedownstairs，"What’sthisIhaveheardaboutThomasinandMr。Wildeve？"
"Itistrueinmanypoints，"saidMrs。Yeobrightquietly；
"butitisallrightnow，Ihope。"Shelookedattheclock。
"True？"
"Thomasinisgonetohimtoday。"
Clympushedawayhisbreakfast。"Thenthereisascandalofsomesort，andthat’swhat’sthematterwithThomasin。
Wasitthisthatmadeherill？"
"Yes。Notascandal——amisfortune。Iwilltellyouallaboutit，Clym。Youmustnotbeangry，butyoumustlisten，andyou’llfindthatwhatwehavedonehasbeendoneforthebest。"
Shethentoldhimthecircumstances。AllthathehadknownoftheaffairbeforehereturnedfromPariswasthattherehadexistedanattachmentbetweenThomasinandWildeve，whichhismotherhadatfirstdiscountenanced，buthadsince，owingtotheargumentsofThomasin，lookeduponinalittlemorefavourablelight。Whenshe，therefore，proceededtoexplainallhewasgreatlysurprisedandtroubled。
"Andshedeterminedthattheweddingshouldbeoverbeforeyoucameback，"saidMrs。Yeobright，"thattheremightbenochanceofhermeetingyou，andhavingaverypainfultimeofit。That’swhyshehasgonetohim；
theyhavearrangedtobemarriedthismorning。"
"ButIcan’tunderstandit，"saidYeobright，rising。
"’Tissounlikeher。Icanseewhyyoudidnotwritetomeafterherunfortunatereturnhome。Butwhydidn’tyouletmeknowwhentheweddingwasgoingtobe——thefirsttime？"
"Well，Ifeltvexedwithherjustthen。Sheseemedtometobeobstinate；andwhenIfoundthatyouwerenothinginhermindIvowedthatsheshouldbenothinginyours。
Ifeltthatshewasonlymynieceafterall；Itoldhershemightmarry，butthatIshouldtakenointerestinit，andshouldnotbotheryouaboutiteither。"
"Itwouldn’thavebeenbotheringme。Mother，youdidwrong。"
"Ithoughtitmightdisturbyouinyourbusiness，andthatyoumightthrowupyoursituation，orinjureyourprospectsinsomewaybecauseofit，soIsaidnothing。Ofcourse，iftheyhadmarriedatthattimeinapropermanner，Ishouldhavetoldyouatonce。"
"Tamsinactuallybeingmarriedwhilewearesittinghere！"
"Yes。Unlesssomeaccidenthappensagain，asitdidthefirsttime。Itmay，consideringhe’sthesameman。"
"Yes，andIbelieveitwill。Wasitrighttolethergo？
SupposeWildeveisreallyabadfellow？"
"Thenhewon’tcome，andshe’llcomehomeagain。"
"Youshouldhavelookedmoreintoit。"
"Itisuselesstosaythat，"hismotheransweredwithanimpatientlookofsorrow。"Youdon’tknowhowbadithasbeenherewithusalltheseweeks，Clym。Youdon’tknowwhatamortificationanythingofthatsortistoawoman。
Youdon’tknowthesleeplessnightswe’vehadinthishouse，andthealmostbitterwordsthathavepassedbetweenussincethatFifthofNovember。Ihopenevertopasssevensuchweeksagain。Tamsinhasnotgoneoutsidethedoor，andIhavebeenashamedtolookanybodyintheface；
andnowyoublamemeforlettingherdotheonlythingthatcanbedonetosetthattroublestraight。"
"No，"hesaidslowly。"UponthewholeIdon’tblameyou。
Butjustconsiderhowsuddenitseemstome。HerewasI，knowingnothing；andthenIamtoldallatoncethatTamsieisgonetobemarried。Well，Isupposetherewasnothingbettertodo。Doyouknow，Mother，"hecontinuedafteramomentortwo，lookingsuddenlyinterestedinhisownpasthistory，"IoncethoughtofTamsinasasweetheart？Yes，Idid。Howoddboysare！AndwhenIcamehomeandsawherthistimesheseemedsomuchmoreaffectionatethanusual，thatIwasquiteremindedofthosedays，particularlyonthenightoftheparty，whenshewasunwell。
Wehadthepartyjustthesame——wasnotthatrathercrueltoher？"
"Itmadenodifference。Ihadarrangedtogiveone，anditwasnotworthwhiletomakemoregloomthannecessary。
TobeginbyshuttingourselvesupandtellingyouofTamsin’smisfortuneswouldhavebeenapoorsortofwelcome。"
Clymremainedthinking。"Ialmostwishyouhadnothadthatparty，"hesaid；"andforotherreasons。ButIwilltellyouinadayortwo。WemustthinkofTamsinnow。"
Theylapsedintosilence。"I’lltellyouwhat，"
saidYeobrightagain，inatonewhichshowedsomeslumberingfeelingstill。"Idon’tthinkitkindtoTamsintoletherbemarriedlikethis，andneitherofustheretokeepupherspiritsorcareabitabouther。Shehasn’tdisgracedherself，ordoneanythingtodeservethat。
Itisbadenoughthattheweddingshouldbesohurriedandunceremonious，withoutourkeepingawayfromitinaddition。Uponmysoul，’tisalmostashame。
I’llgo。"
"Itisoverbythistime，"saidhismotherwithasigh；
"unlesstheywerelate，orhe——"
"ThenIshallbesoonenoughtoseethemcomeout。
Idon’tquitelikeyourkeepingmeinignorance，Mother，afterall。Really，Ihalfhopehehasfailedtomeether！"
"Andruinedhercharacter？"
"Nonsense——thatwouldn’truinThomasin。"
Hetookuphishatandhastilyleftthehouse。
Mrs。Yeobrightlookedratherunhappy，andsatstill，deepinthought。Butshewasnotlongleftalone。
AfewminuteslaterClymcamebackagain，andinhiscompanycameDiggoryVenn。
"Ifindthereisn’ttimeformetogetthere，"saidClym。
"Isshemarried？"Mrs。Yeobrightinquired，turningtothereddlemanafaceinwhichastrangestrifeofwishes，forandagainst，wasapparent。
Vennbowed。"Sheis，ma’am。"
"Howstrangeitsounds，"murmuredClym。
"Andhedidn’tdisappointherthistime？"saidMrs。Yeobright。
"Hedidnot。Andthereisnownoslightonhername。
Iwashasteningath’arttotellyouatonce，asIsawyouwerenotthere。"
"Howcameyoutobethere？Howdidyouknowit？"
sheasked。
"Ihavebeeninthatneighbourhoodforsometime，andI
sawthemgoin，"saidthereddleman。"Wildevecameuptothedoor，punctualastheclock。Ididn’texpectitofhim。"Hedidnotadd，ashemighthaveadded，thathowhecametobeinthatneighbourhoodwasnotbyaccident；that，sinceWildeve’sresumptionofhisrighttoThomasin，Venn，withthethoroughnesswhichwaspartofhischaracter，haddeterminedtoseetheendoftheepisode。
"Whowasthere？"saidMrs。Yeobright。
"Nobodyhardly。Istoodrightoutoftheway，andshedidnotseeme。"Thereddlemanspokehuskily，andlookedintothegarden。
"Whogaveheraway？"
"MissVye。"
"Howveryremarkable！MissVye！Itistobeconsideredanhonour，Isuppose？"
"Who’sMissVye？"saidClym。
"CaptainVye’sgranddaughter，ofMistoverKnap。"
"AproudgirlfromBudmouth，"saidMrs。Yeobright。
"Onenotmuchtomyliking。Peoplesayshe’sawitch，butofcoursethat’sabsurd。"
Thereddlemankepttohimselfhisacquaintancewiththatfairpersonage，andalsothatEustaciawastherebecausehewenttofetchher，inaccordancewithapromisehehadgivenassoonashelearntthatthemarriagewastotakeplace。
Hemerelysaid，incontinuationofthestory————
"Iwassittingonthechurchyardwallwhentheycameup，onefromoneway，theotherfromtheother；andMissVyewaswalkingthereabouts，lookingattheheadstones。
AssoonastheyhadgoneinIwenttothedoor，feelingI
shouldliketoseeit，asIknewhersowell。Ipulledoffmybootsbecausetheyweresonoisy，andwentupintothegallery。Isawthenthattheparsonandclerkwerealreadythere。"
"HowcameMissVyetohaveanythingtodowithit，ifshewasonlyonawalkthatway？"
"Becausetherewasnobodyelse。Shehadgoneintothechurchjustbeforeme，notintothegallery。Theparsonlookedroundbeforebeginning，andasshewastheonlyonenearhebeckonedtoher，andshewentuptotherails。Afterthat，whenitcametosigningthebook，shepushedupherveilandsigned；andTamsinseemedtothankherforherkindness。"
ThereddlemantoldthetalethoughtfullyfortherelingereduponhisvisionthechangingcolourofWildeve，whenEustacialiftedthethickveilwhichhadconcealedherfromrecognitionandlookedcalmlyintohisface。
"Andthen，"saidDiggorysadly，"Icameaway，forherhistoryasTamsinYeobrightwasover。"
"Iofferedtogo，"saidMrs。Yeobrightregretfully。
"Butshesaiditwasnotnecessary。"
"Well，itisnomatter，"saidthereddleman。"Thethingisdoneatlastasitwasmeanttobeatfirst，andGodsendherhappiness。NowI’llwishyougoodmorning。"
Heplacedhiscaponhisheadandwentout。
FromthatinstantofleavingMrs。Yeobright’sdoor，thereddlemanwasseennomoreinoraboutEgdonHeathforaspaceofmanymonths。Hevanishedentirely。
Thenookamongthebrambleswherehisvanhadbeenstandingwasasvacantaseverthenextmorning，andscarcelyasignremainedtoshowthathehadbeenthere，exceptingafewstraws，andalittlerednessontheturf，whichwaswashedawaybythenextstormofrain。
ThereportthatDiggoryhadbroughtofthewedding，correctasfarasitwent，wasdeficientinonesignificantparticular，whichhadescapedhimthroughhisbeingatsomedistancebackinthechurch。WhenThomasinwastremblinglyengagedinsigninghernameWildevehadflungtowardsEustaciaaglancethatsaidplainly，"Ihavepunishedyounow。"Shehadrepliedinalowtone——andhelittlethoughthowtruly——"Youmistake；
itgivesmesincerestpleasuretoseeheryourwifetoday。"
bookfourTHECLOSEDDOOR
1—TheRencounterbythePoolTheJulysunshoneoverEgdonandfireditscrimsonheathertoscarlet。Itwastheoneseasonoftheyear，andtheoneweatheroftheseason，inwhichtheheathwasgorgeous。Thisfloweringperiodrepresentedthesecondornoontidedivisioninthecycleofthosesuperficialchangeswhichalonewerepossiblehere；itfollowedthegreenoryoung—fernperiod，representingthemorn，andprecededthebrownperiod，whentheheathbellsandfernswouldweartherussettingesofevening；tobeinturndisplacedbythedarkhueofthewinterperiod，representingnight。
ClymandEustacia，intheirlittlehouseatAlderworth，beyondEastEgdon，werelivingonwithamonotonywhichwasdelightfultothem。Theheathandchangesofweatherwerequiteblottedoutfromtheireyesforthepresent。
Theywereenclosedinasortofluminousmist，whichhidfromthemsurroundingsofanyinharmoniouscolour，andgavetoallthingsthecharacteroflight。Whenitrainedtheywerecharmed，becausetheycouldremainindoorstogetheralldaywithsuchashowofreason；
whenitwasfinetheywerecharmed，becausetheycouldsittogetheronthehills。Theywerelikethosedoublestarswhichrevolveroundandroundeachother，andfromadistanceappeartobeone。Theabsolutesolitudeinwhichtheylivedintensifiedtheirreciprocalthoughts；
yetsomemighthavesaidthatithadthedisadvantageofconsumingtheirmutualaffectionsatafearfullyprodigalrate。Yeobrightdidnotfearforhisownpart；
butrecollectionofEustacia’soldspeechabouttheevanescenceoflove，nowapparentlyforgottenbyher，sometimescausedhimtoaskhimselfaquestion；andherecoiledatthethoughtthatthequalityoffinitenesswasnotforeigntoEden。
Whenthreeorfourweekshadbeenpassedthus，Yeobrightresumedhisreadinginearnest。Tomakeupforlosttimehestudiedindefatigably，forhewishedtoenterhisnewprofessionwiththeleastpossibledelay。
Now，Eustacia’sdreamhadalwaysbeenthat，oncemarriedtoClym，shewouldhavethepowerofinducinghimtoreturntoParis。Hehadcarefullywithheldallpromisetodoso；
butwouldhebeproofagainsthercoaxingandargument？
ShehadcalculatedtosuchadegreeontheprobabilityofsuccessthatshehadrepresentedParis，andnotBudmouth，tohergrandfatherasinalllikelihoodtheirfuturehome。
Herhopeswereboundupinthisdream。Inthequietdayssincetheirmarriage，whenYeobrighthadbeenporingoverherlips，hereyes，andthelinesofherface，shehadmusedandmusedonthesubject，evenwhileintheactofreturninghisgaze；andnowthesightofthebooks，indicatingafuturewhichwasantagonistictoherdream，struckherwithapositivelypainfuljar。Shewashopingforthetimewhen，asthemistressofsomeprettyestablishment，howeversmall，nearaParisianBoulevard，shewouldbepassingherdaysontheskirtsatleastofthegayworld，andcatchingstraywaftsfromthosetownpleasuresshewassowellfittedtoenjoy。YetYeobrightwasasfirminthecontraryintentionasifthetendencyofmarriagewererathertodevelopthefantasiesofyoungphilanthropythantosweepthemaway。
Heranxietyreachedahighpitch；buttherewassomethinginClym’sundeviatingmannerwhichmadeherhesitatebeforesoundinghimonthesubject。Atthispointintheirexperience，however，anincidenthelpedher。
Itoccurredoneeveningaboutsixweeksaftertheirunion，andaroseentirelyoutoftheunconsciousmisapplicationofVennofthefiftyguineasintendedforYeobright。
AdayortwoafterthereceiptofthemoneyThomasinhadsentanotetoheraunttothankher。Shehadbeensurprisedatthelargenessoftheamount；butasnosumhadeverbeenmentionedshesetthatdowntoherlateuncle’sgenerosity。Shehadbeenstrictlychargedbyheraunttosaynothingtoherhusbandofthisgift；
andWildeve，aswasnaturalenough，hadnotbroughthimselftomentiontohiswifeasingleparticularofthemidnightsceneintheheath。Christian’sterror，inlikemanner，hadtiedhistongueonthesharehetookinthatproceeding；
andhopingthatbysomemeansorotherthemoneyhadgonetoitsproperdestination，hesimplyassertedasmuch，withoutgivingdetails。
Therefore，whenaweekortwohadpassedaway，Mrs。Yeobrightbegantowonderwhysheneverheardfromhersonofthereceiptofthepresent；andtoaddgloomtoherperplexitycamethepossibilitythatresentmentmightbethecauseofhissilence。Shecouldhardlybelieveasmuch，butwhydidhenotwrite？ShequestionedChristian，andtheconfusioninhisanswerswouldatoncehaveledhertobelievethatsomethingwaswrong，hadnotone—halfofhisstorybeencorroboratedbyThomasin’snote。