"LepointdujourCauseparfois，causedouleurextreme；
Quel’espacedesnuitsestcourtPourlebergerbrulantd’amour，Forcedequittercequ’ilaimeAupointdujour！"
ItwasbitterlyplaintoEustaciathathedidnotcaremuchaboutsocialfailure；andtheproudfairwomanbowedherheadandweptinsickdespairatthoughtoftheblastingeffectuponherownlifeofthatmoodandconditioninhim。
Thenshecameforward。
"Iwouldstarveratherthandoit！"sheexclaimedvehemently。
"Andyoucansing！Iwillgoandlivewithmygrandfatheragain！"
"Eustacia！Ididnotseeyou，thoughInoticedsomethingmoving，"hesaidgently。Hecameforward，pulledoffhishugeleatherglove，andtookherhand。
"Whydoyouspeakinsuchastrangeway？ItisonlyalittleoldsongwhichstruckmyfancywhenIwasinParis，andnowjustappliestomylifewithyou。Hasyourloveformealldied，then，becausemyappearanceisnolongerthatofafinegentleman？"
"Dearest，youmustnotquestionmeunpleasantly，oritmaymakemenotloveyou。"
"DoyoubelieveitpossiblethatIwouldruntheriskofdoingthat？"
"Well，youfollowoutyourownideas，andwon’tgiveintominewhenIwishyoutoleaveoffthisshamefullabour。Isthereanythingyoudislikeinmethatyouactsocontrarilytomywishes？Iamyourwife，andwhywillyounotlisten？Yes，Iamyourwifeindeed！"
"Iknowwhatthattonemeans。"
"Whattone？"
"Thetoneinwhichyousaid，’Yourwifeindeed。’Itmeant，’Yourwife，worseluck。’"
"Itishardinyoutoprobemewiththatremark。
Awomanmayhavereason，thoughsheisnotwithoutheart，andifIfelt’worseluck，’itwasnoignoblefeeling——
itwasonlytoonatural。There，youseethatatanyrateIdonotattemptuntruths。Doyourememberhow，beforeweweremarried，IwarnedyouthatIhadnotgoodwifelyqualities？"
"Youmockmetosaythatnow。Onthatpointatleasttheonlynoblecoursewouldbetoholdyourtongue，foryouarestillqueenofme，Eustacia，thoughImaynolongerbekingofyou。"
"Youaremyhusband。Doesnotthatcontentyou？"
"Notunlessyouaremywifewithoutregret。"
"Icannotansweryou。IremembersayingthatIshouldbeaseriousmatteronyourhands。"
"Yes，Isawthat。"
"Thenyouweretooquicktosee！Notrueloverwouldhaveseenanysuchthing；youaretoosevereuponme，Clym——Iwon’tlikeyourspeakingsoatall。"
"Well，Imarriedyouinspiteofit，anddon’tregretdoingso。Howcoldyouseemthisafternoon！andyetI
usedtothinkthereneverwasawarmerheartthanyours。"
"Yes，Ifearwearecooling——Iseeitaswellasyou，"
shesighedmournfully。"Andhowmadlywelovedtwomonthsago！Youwerenevertiredofcontemplatingme，norI
ofcontemplatingyou。Whocouldhavethoughtthenthatbythistimemyeyeswouldnotseemsoverybrighttoyours，noryourlipssoverysweettomine？Twomonths——isitpossible？Yes，’tistootrue！"
"Yousigh，dear，asifyouweresorryforit；andthat’sahopefulsign。"
"No。Idon’tsighforthat。Thereareotherthingsformetosighfor，oranyotherwomaninmyplace。"
"Thatyourchancesinlifeareruinedbymarryinginhasteanunfortunateman？"
"Whywillyouforceme，Clym，tosaybitterthings？I
deservepityasmuchasyou。Asmuch？——IthinkIdeserveitmore。Foryoucansing！Itwouldbeastrangehourwhichshouldcatchmesingingundersuchacloudasthis！
Believeme，sweet，Icouldweeptoadegreethatwouldastonishandconfoundsuchanelasticmindasyours。
Evenhadyoufeltcarelessaboutyourownaffliction，youmighthaverefrainedfromsingingoutofsheerpityformine。God！ifIwereamaninsuchapositionIwouldcurseratherthansing。"
Yeobrightplacedhishanduponherarm。"Now，don’tyousuppose，myinexperiencedgirl，thatIcannotrebel，inhighPrometheanfashion，againstthegodsandfateaswellasyou。Ihavefeltmoresteamandsmokeofthatsortthanyouhaveeverheardof。ButthemoreI
seeoflifethemoredoIperceivethatthereisnothingparticularlygreatinitsgreatestwalks，andthereforenothingparticularlysmallinmineoffurze—cutting。
IfIfeelthatthegreatestblessingsvouchsafedtousarenotveryvaluable，howcanIfeelittobeanygreathardshipwhentheyaretakenaway？SoIsingtopassthetime。Haveyouindeedlostalltendernessforme，thatyoubegrudgemeafewcheerfulmoments？"
"Ihavestillsometendernessleftforyou。"
"Yourwordshavenolongertheiroldflavour。Andsolovedieswithgoodfortune！"
"Icannotlistentothis，Clym——itwillendbitterly，"
shesaidinabrokenvoice。"Iwillgohome。"
3—SheGoesOuttoBattleagainstDepressionAfewdayslater，beforethemonthofAugusthasexpired，EustaciaandYeobrightsattogetherattheirearlydinner。
Eustacia’smannerhadbecomeoflatealmostapathetic。
Therewasaforlornlookaboutherbeautifuleyeswhich，whethershedeserveditornot，wouldhaveexcitedpityinthebreastofanyonewhohadknownherduringthefullflushofherloveforClym。Thefeelingsofhusbandandwifevaried，insomemeasure，inverselywiththeirpositions。Clym，theafflictedman，wascheerful；
andheeventriedtocomforther，whohadneverfeltamomentofphysicalsufferinginherwholelife。
"Come，brightenup，dearest；weshallbeallrightagain。
SomedayperhapsIshallseeaswellasever。
AndIsolemnlypromisethatI’llleaveoffcuttingfurzeassoonasIhavethepowertodoanythingbetter。
Youcannotseriouslywishmetostayidlingathomeallday？"
"Butitissodreadful——afurze—cutter！andyouamanwhohavelivedabouttheworld，andspeakFrench，andGerman，andwhoarefitforwhatissomuchbetterthanthis。"
"IsupposewhenyoufirstsawmeandheardaboutmeI
waswrappedinasortofgoldenhalotoyoureyes——amanwhoknewgloriousthings，andhadmixedinbrilliantscenes——inshort，anadorable，delightful，distractinghero？"
"Yes，"shesaid，sobbing。
"AndnowIamapoorfellowinbrownleather。"
"Don’ttauntme。Butenoughofthis。Iwillnotbedepressedanymore。Iamgoingfromhomethisafternoon，unlessyougreatlyobject。Thereistobeavillagepicnic——agipsying，theycallit——atEastEgdon，andI
shallgo。"
"Todance？"
"Whynot？Youcansing。"
"Well，well，asyouwill。MustIcometofetchyou？"
"Ifyoureturnsoonenoughfromyourwork。Butdonotinconvenienceyourselfaboutit。Iknowthewayhome，andtheheathhasnoterrorforme。"
"Andcanyouclingtogaietysoeagerlyastowalkallthewaytoavillagefestivalinsearchofit？"
"Now，youdon’tlikemygoingalone！Clym，youarenotjealous？"
"No。ButIwouldcomewithyouifitcouldgiveyouanypleasure；though，asthingsstand，perhapsyouhavetoomuchofmealready。Still，Isomehowwishthatyoudidnotwanttogo。Yes，perhapsIamjealous；
andwhocouldbejealouswithmorereasonthanI，ahalf—blindman，oversuchawomanasyou？"
"Don’tthinklikeit。Letmego，anddon’ttakeallmyspiritsaway！"
"Iwouldratherloseallmyown，mysweetwife。Goanddowhateveryoulike。Whocanforbidyourindulgenceinanywhim？Youhaveallmyheartyet，Ibelieve；
andbecauseyoubearwithme，whoamintruthadraguponyou，Ioweyouthanks。Yes，goaloneandshine。
Asforme，Iwillsticktomydoom。Atthatkindofmeetingpeoplewouldshunme。MyhookandglovesareliketheSt。Lazarusrattleoftheleper，warningtheworldtogetoutofthewayofasightthatwouldsaddenthem。"
Hekissedher，putonhisleggings，andwentout。
Whenhewasgonesherestedherheaduponherhandsandsaidtoherself，"Twowastedlives——hisandmine。
AndIamcometothis！Willitdrivemeoutofmymind？"
Shecastaboutforanypossiblecoursewhichofferedtheleastimprovementontheexistingstateofthings，andcouldfindnone。SheimaginedhowallthoseBudmouthoneswhoshouldlearnwhathadbecomeofherwouldsay，"Lookatthegirlforwhomnobodywasgoodenough！"
ToEustaciathesituationseemedsuchamockeryofherhopesthatdeathappearedtheonlydoorofreliefifthesatireofHeavenshouldgomuchfurther。
Suddenlyshearousedherselfandexclaimed，"ButI’llshakeitoff。Yes，IWILLshakeitoff！Nooneshallknowmysuffering。I’llbebitterlymerry，andironicallygay，andI’lllaughinderision。AndI’llbeginbygoingtothisdanceonthegreen。"
Sheascendedtoherbedroomanddressedherselfwithscrupulouscare。Toanonlookerherbeautywouldhavemadeherfeelingsalmostseemreasonable。ThegloomycornerintowhichaccidentasmuchasindiscretionhadbroughtthiswomanmighthaveledevenamoderatepartisantofeelthatshehadcogentreasonsforaskingtheSupremePowerbywhatrightabeingofsuchexquisitefinishhadbeenplacedincircumstancescalculatedtomakeofhercharmsacurseratherthanablessing。
Itwasfiveintheafternoonwhenshecameoutfromthehousereadyforherwalk。Therewasmaterialenoughinthepicturefortwentynewconquests。Therebellioussadnessthatwasrathertooapparentwhenshesatindoorswithoutabonnetwascloakedandsoftenedbyheroutdoorattire，whichalwayshadasortofnebulousnessaboutit，devoidofharshedgesanywhere；sothatherfacelookedfromitsenvironmentasfromacloud，withnonoticeablelinesofdemarcationbetweenfleshandclothes。Theheatofthedayhadscarcelydeclinedasyet，andshewentalongthesunnyhillsataleisurelypace，therebeingampletimeforheridleexpedition。Tallfernsburiedherintheirleafagewheneverherpathlaythroughthem，whichnowformedminiatureforests，thoughnotonestemofthemwouldremaintobudthenextyear。
Thesitechosenforthevillagefestivitywasoneofthelawnlikeoaseswhichwereoccasionally，yetnotoften，metwithontheplateauxoftheheathdistrict。Thebrakesoffurzeandfernterminatedabruptlyroundthemargin，andthegrasswasunbroken。Agreencattletrackskirtedthespot，without，however，emergingfromthescreenoffern，andthispathEustaciafollowed，inordertoreconnoitrethegroupbeforejoiningit。ThelustynotesoftheEastEgdonbandhaddirectedherunerringly，andshenowbeheldthemusiciansthemselves，sittinginabluewagonwithredwheelsscrubbedasbrightasnew，andarchedwithsticks，towhichboughsandflowersweretied。
Infrontofthiswasthegrandcentraldanceoffifteenortwentycouples，flankedbyminordancesofinferiorindividualswhosegyrationswerenotalwaysinstrictkeepingwiththetune。
Theyoungmenworeblueandwhiterosettes，andwithaflushontheirfacesfootedittothegirls，who，withtheexcitementandtheexercise，blusheddeeperthanthepinkoftheirnumerousribbons。Faironeswithlongcurls，faironeswithshortcurls，faironeswithlovelocks，faironeswithbraids，flewroundandround；andabeholdermightwellhavewonderedhowsuchaprepossessingsetofyoungwomenoflikesize，age，anddisposition，couldhavebeencollectedtogetherwheretherewereonlyoneortwovillagestochoosefrom。Inthebackgroundwasonehappymandancingbyhimself，withclosedeyes，totallyobliviousofalltherest。Afirewasburningunderapollardthornafewpacesoff，overwhichthreekettleshunginarow。Hardbywasatablewhereelderlydamespreparedtea，butEustacialookedamongtheminvainforthecattle—dealer’swifewhohadsuggestedthatsheshouldcome，andhadpromisedtoobtainacourteouswelcomeforher。
ThisunexpectedabsenceoftheonlylocalresidentwhomEustaciaknewconsiderablydamagedherschemeforanafternoonofrecklessgaiety。Joininginbecameamatterofdifficulty，notwithstandingthat，wereshetoadvance，cheerfuldameswouldcomeforwardwithcupsofteaandmakemuchofherasastrangerofsuperiorgraceandknowledgetothemselves。Havingwatchedthecompanythroughthefiguresoftwodances，shedecidedtowalkalittlefurther，toacottagewhereshemightgetsomerefreshment，andthenreturnhomewardintheshadytimeofevening。
Thisshedid，andbythetimethatsheretracedherstepstowardsthesceneofthegipsying，whichitwasnecessarytorepassonherwaytoAlderworth，thesunwasgoingdown。
Theairwasnowsostillthatshecouldhearthebandafaroff，anditseemedtobeplayingwithmorespirit，ifthatwerepossible，thanwhenshehadcomeaway。
Onreachingthehillthesunhadquitedisappeared；
butthismadelittledifferenceeithertoEustaciaortotherevellers，foraroundyellowmoonwasrisingbeforeher，thoughitsrayshadnotyetoutmasteredthosefromthewest。Thedancewasgoingonjustthesame，butstrangershadarrivedandformedaringaroundthefigure，sothatEustaciacouldstandamongthesewithoutachanceofbeingrecognized。
Awholevillage—fullofsensuousemotion，scatteredabroadalltheyearlong，surgedhereinafocusforanhour。
Thefortyheartsofthosewavingcoupleswerebeatingastheyhadnotdonesince，twelvemonthsbefore，theyhadcometogetherinsimilarjollity。Forthetimepaganismwasrevivedintheirhearts，theprideoflifewasallinall，andtheyadorednoneotherthanthemselves。
Howmanyofthoseimpassionedbuttemporaryembracesweredestinedtobecomeperpetualwaspossiblythewonderofsomeofthosewhoindulgedinthem，aswellasofEustaciawholookedon。Shebegantoenvythosepirouetters，tohungerforthehopeandhappinesswhichthefascinationofthedanceseemedtoengenderwithinthem。
Desperatelyfondofdancingherself，oneofEustacia’sexpectationsofParishadbeentheopportunityitmightaffordherofindulgenceinthisfavouritepastime。
Unhappily，thatexpectationwasnowextinctwithinherforever。
Whilstsheabstractedlywatchedthemspinningandfluctuatingintheincreasingmoonlightshesuddenlyheardhernamewhisperedbyavoiceoverhershoulder。
Turninginsurprise，shebeheldatherelbowonewhosepresenceinstantlycausedhertoflushtothetemples。
ItwasWildeve。Tillthismomenthehadnotmethereyesincethemorningofhismarriage，whenshehadbeenloiteringinthechurch，andhadstartledhimbyliftingherveilandcomingforwardtosigntheregisteraswitness。
Yetwhythesightofhimshouldhaveinstigatedthatsuddenrushofbloodshecouldnottell。
Beforeshecouldspeakhewhispered，"Doyoulikedancingasmuchasever？"
"IthinkIdo，"sherepliedinalowvoice。
"Willyoudancewithme？"
"Itwouldbeagreatchangeforme；butwillitnotseemstrange？"
"Whatstrangenesscantherebeinrelationsdancingtogether？"
"Ah——yes，relations。Perhapsnone。"
"Still，ifyoudon’tliketobeseen，pulldownyourveil；
thoughthereisnotmuchriskofbeingknownbythislight。
Lotsofstrangersarehere。"
Shedidashesuggested；andtheactwasatacitacknowledgmentthatsheacceptedhisoffer。
Wildevegaveherhisarmandtookherdownontheoutsideoftheringtothebottomofthedance，whichtheyentered。
Intwominutesmoretheywereinvolvedinthefigureandbeganworkingtheirwayupwardstothetop。
TilltheyhadadvancedhalfwaythitherEustaciawishedmorethanoncethatshehadnotyieldedtohisrequest；
fromthemiddletothetopshefeltthat，sinceshehadcomeouttoseekpleasure，shewasonlydoinganaturalthingtoobtainit。Fairlylaunchedintotheceaselessglidesandwhirlswhichtheirnewpositionastopcoupleopeneduptothem，Eustacia’spulsesbegantomovetooquicklyforlongruminationofanykind。
Throughthelengthoffive—and—twentycouplestheythreadedtheirgiddyway，andanewvitalityenteredherform。
Thepalerayofeveninglentafascinationtotheexperience。
Thereisacertaindegreeandtoneoflightwhichtendstodisturbtheequilibriumofthesenses，andtopromotedangerouslythetenderermoods；addedtomovement，itdrivestheemotionstorankness，thereasonbecomingsleepyandunperceivingininverseproportion；andthislightfellnowuponthesetwofromthediscofthemoon。
Allthedancinggirlsfeltthesymptoms，butEustaciamostofall。Thegrassundertheirfeetbecametroddenaway，andthehard，beatensurfaceofthesod，whenviewedaslanttowardsthemoonlight，shonelikeapolishedtable。
Theairbecamequitestill，theflagabovethewagonwhichheldthemusiciansclungtothepole，andtheplayersappearedonlyinoutlineagainstthesky；exceptwhenthecircularmouthsofthetrombone，ophicleide，andFrenchhorngleamedoutlikehugeeyesfromtheshadeoftheirfigures。
Theprettydressesofthemaidslosttheirsubtlerdaycoloursandshowedmoreorlessofamistywhite。
EustaciafloatedroundandroundonWildeve’sarm，herfaceraptandstatuesque；hersoulhadpassedawayfromandforgottenherfeatures，whichwereleftemptyandquiescent，astheyalwaysarewhenfeelinggoesbeyondtheirregister。
HownearshewastoWildeve！itwasterribletothinkof。
Shecouldfeelhisbreathing，andhe，ofcourse，couldfeelhers。Howbadlyshehadtreatedhim！yet，heretheyweretreadingonemeasure。Theenchantmentofthedancesurprisedher。Aclearlineofdifferencedividedlikeatangiblefenceherexperiencewithinthismazeofmotionfromherexperiencewithoutit。
Herbeginningtodancehadbeenlikeachangeofatmosphere；
outside，shehadbeensteepedinarcticfrigiditybycomparisonwiththetropicalsensationshere。
Shehadenteredthedancefromthetroubledhoursofherlatelifeasonemightenterabrilliantchamberafteranightwalkinawood。Wildevebyhimselfwouldhavebeenmerelyanagitation；Wildeveaddedtothedance，andthemoonlight，andthesecrecy，begantobeadelight。
Whetherhispersonalitysuppliedthegreaterpartofthissweetlycompoundedfeeling，orwhetherthedanceandthesceneweighedthemoretherein，wasanicepointuponwhichEustaciaherselfwasentirelyinacloud。
Peoplebegantosay"Whoarethey？"butnoinvidiousinquiriesweremade。HadEustaciamingledwiththeothergirlsintheirordinarydailywalksthecasewouldhavebeendifferent：hereshewasnotinconveniencedbyexcessiveinspection，forallwerewroughttotheirbrightestgracebytheoccasion。LiketheplanetMercurysurroundedbythelustreofsunset，herpermanentbrilliancypassedwithoutmuchnoticeinthetemporarygloryofthesituation。
AsforWildeve，hisfeelingsareeasytoguess。
Obstacleswerearipeningsuntohislove，andhewasatthismomentinadeliriumofexquisitemisery。
Toclaspashisforfiveminuteswhatwasanotherman’sthroughalltherestoftheyearwasakindofthingheofallmencouldappreciate。HehadlongsincebeguntosighagainforEustacia；indeed，itmaybeassertedthatsigningthemarriageregisterwithThomasinwasthenaturalsignaltohishearttoreturntoitsfirstquarters，andthattheextracomplicationofEustacia’smarriagewastheoneadditionrequiredtomakethatreturncompulsory。
Thus，fordifferentreasons，whatwastotherestanexhilaratingmovementwastothesetwoaridinguponthewhirlwind。
Thedancehadcomelikeanirresistibleattackuponwhateversenseofsocialordertherewasintheirminds，todrivethembackintooldpathswhichwerenowdoublyirregular。
Throughthreedancesinsuccessiontheyspuntheirway；
andthen，fatiguedwiththeincessantmotion，Eustaciaturnedtoquitthecircleinwhichshehadalreadyremainedtoolong。
Wildeveledhertoagrassymoundafewyardsdistant，whereshesatdown，herpartnerstandingbesideher。
Fromthetimethatheaddressedheratthebeginningofthedancetillnowtheyhadnotexchangedaword。
"Thedanceandthewalkinghavetiredyou？"hesaidtenderly。
"No；notgreatly。"
"Itisstrangethatweshouldhavemethereofallplaces，aftermissingeachothersolong。"
"Wehavemissedbecausewetriedtomiss，Isuppose。"
"Yes。Butyoubeganthatproceeding——bybreakingapromise。"
"Itisscarcelyworthwhiletotalkofthatnow。
Wehaveformedothertiessincethen——younolessthanI。"
"Iamsorrytohearthatyourhusbandisill。"
"Heisnotill——onlyincapacitated。"
"Yes——thatiswhatImean。Isincerelysympathizewithyouinyourtrouble。Fatehastreatedyoucruelly。"
Shewassilentawhile。"Haveyouheardthathehaschosentoworkasafurze—cutter？"shesaidinalow，mournfulvoice。
"Ithasbeenmentionedtome，"answeredWildevehesitatingly。
"ButIhardlybelievedit。"
"Itistrue。Whatdoyouthinkofmeasafurze—
cutter’swife？"
"Ithinkthesameaseverofyou，Eustacia。Nothingofthatsortcandegradeyou——youennobletheoccupationofyourhusband。"
"IwishIcouldfeelit。"
"IsthereanychanceofMr。Yeobrightgettingbetter？"
"Hethinksso。Idoubtit。"
"Iwasquitesurprisedtohearthathehadtakenacottage。
Ithought，incommonwithotherpeople，thathewouldhavetakenyouofftoahomeinParisimmediatelyafteryouhadmarriedhim。’Whatagay，brightfutureshehasbeforeher！’
Ithought。Hewill，Isuppose，returntherewithyou，ifhissightgetsstrongagain？"
Observingthatshedidnotreplyheregardedhermoreclosely。Shewasalmostweeping。Imagesofafuturenevertobeenjoyed，therevivedsenseofherbitterdisappointment，thepictureoftheneighbour’ssuspendedridiculewhichwasraisedbyWildeve’swords，hadbeentoomuchforproudEustacia’sequanimity。
Wildevecouldhardlycontrolhisowntooforwardfeelingswhenhesawhersilentperturbation。Butheaffectednottonoticethis，andshesoonrecoveredhercalmness。
"Youdonotintendtowalkhomebyyourself？"heasked。
"Oyes，"saidEustacia。"Whatcouldhurtmeonthisheath，whohavenothing？"
"BydivergingalittleIcanmakemywayhomethesameasyours。IshallbegladtokeepyoucompanyasfarasThroopeCorner。"SeeingthatEustaciasatoninhesitationheadded，"Perhapsyouthinkitunwisetobeseeninthesameroadwithmeaftertheeventsoflastsummer？"
"IndeedIthinknosuchthing，"shesaidhaughtily。
"IshallacceptwhosecompanyIchoose，forallthatmaybesaidbythemiserableinhabitantsofEgdon。"
"Thenletuswalkon——ifyouareready。Ournearestwayistowardsthathollybushwiththedarkshadowthatyouseedownthere。"
Eustaciaarose，andwalkedbesidehiminthedirectionsignified，brushingherwayoverthedampingheathandfern，andfollowedbythestrainsofthemerrymakers，whostillkeptupthedance。Themoonhadnowwaxedbrightandsilvery，buttheheathwasproofagainstsuchillumination，andtherewastobeobservedthestrikingsceneofadark，raylesstractofcountryunderanatmospherechargedfromitszenithtoitsextremitieswithwhitestlight。
Toaneyeabovethemtheirtwofaceswouldhaveappearedamidtheexpanseliketwopearlsonatableofebony。