Hesoonbreatheddistinctly，andagainandagaindidsheattempttoreviveherhusbandbythesamemeans；
　　butWildevegavenosign。TherewastoomuchreasontothinkthatheandEustaciabothwereforeverbeyondthereachofstimulatingperfumes。Theirexertionsdidnotrelaxtillthedoctorarrived，whenonebyone，thesenselessthreeweretakenupstairsandputintowarmbeds。
　　Vennsoonfelthimselfrelievedfromfurtherattendance，andwenttothedoor，scarcelyableyettorealizethestrangecatastrophethathadbefallenthefamilyinwhichhetooksogreataninterest。Thomasinsurelywouldbebrokendownbythesuddenandoverwhelmingnatureofthisevent。
　　NofirmandsensibleMrs。Yeobrightlivednowtosupportthegentlegirlthroughtheordeal；and，whateveranunimpassionedspectatormightthinkofherlossofsuchahusbandasWildeve，therecouldbenodoubtthatforthemomentshewasdistractedandhorrifiedbytheblow。Asforhimself，notbeingprivilegedtogotoherandcomforther，hesawnoreasonforwaitinglongerinahousewhereheremainedonlyasastranger。
　　Hereturnedacrosstheheathtohisvan。Thefirewasnotyetout，andeverythingremainedashehadleftit。
　　Vennnowbethoughthimselfofhisclothes，whichweresaturatedwithwatertotheweightoflead。Hechangedthem，spreadthembeforethefire，andlaydowntosleep。
　　Butitwasmorethanhecoulddotorestherewhileexcitedbyavividimaginationoftheturmoiltheywereinatthehousehehadquitted，and，blaminghimselfforcomingaway，hedressedinanothersuit，lockedupthedoor，andagainhastenedacrosstotheinn。Rainwasstillfallingheavilywhenheenteredthekitchen。Abrightfirewasshiningfromthehearth，andtwowomenwerebustlingabout，oneofwhomwasOllyDowden。
　　"Well，howisitgoingonnow？"saidVenninawhisper。
　　"Mr。Yeobrightisbetter；butMrs。YeobrightandMr。Wildevearedeadandcold。Thedoctorsaystheywerequitegonebeforetheywereoutofthewater。"
　　"Ah！IthoughtasmuchwhenIhauled’emup。AndMrs。Wildeve？"
　　"Sheisaswellascanbeexpected。Thedoctorhadherputbetweenblankets，forshewasalmostaswetastheythathadbeenintheriver，pooryoungthing。
　　Youdon’tseemverydry，reddleman。"
　　"Oh，’tisnotmuch。Ihavechangedmythings。ThisisonlyalittledampnessI’vegotcomingthroughtherainagain。"
　　"Standbythefire。Mis’esssaysyoubetohavewhateveryouwant，andshewassorrywhenshewastoldthatyou’dgoneaway。"
　　Venndrewneartothefireplace，andlookedintotheflamesinanabsentmood。Thesteamcamefromhisleggingsandascendedthechimneywiththesmoke，whilehethoughtofthosewhowereupstairs。Twowerecorpses，onehadbarelyescapedthejawsofdeath，anotherwassickandawidow。
　　Thelastoccasiononwhichhehadlingeredbythatfireplacewaswhentherafflewasinprogress；whenWildevewasaliveandwell；Thomasinactiveandsmilinginthenextroom；
　　YeobrightandEustaciajustmadehusbandandwife，andMrs。YeobrightlivingatBlooms—End。Ithadseemedatthattimethatthethenpositionofaffairswasgoodforatleasttwentyyearstocome。Yet，ofallthecircle，hehimselfwastheonlyonewhosesituationhadnotmateriallychanged。
　　Whileheruminatedafootstepdescendedthestairs。
　　Itwasthenurse，whobroughtinherhandarolledmassofwetpaper。ThewomanwassoengrossedwithheroccupationthatshehardlysawVenn。Shetookfromacupboardsomepiecesoftwine，whichshestrainedacrossthefireplace，tyingtheendofeachpiecetothefiredog，previouslypulledforwardforthepurpose，and，unrollingthewetpapers，shebeganpinningthemonebyonetothestringsinamannerofclothesonaline。
　　"Whatbethey？"saidVenn。
　　"Poormaster’sbanknotes，"sheanswered。"Theywerefoundinhispocketwhentheyundressedhim。"
　　"Thenhewasnotcomingbackagainforsometime？"
　　saidVenn。
　　"Thatweshallneverknow，"saidshe。
　　Vennwaslothtodepart，forallonearththatinterestedhimlayunderthisroof。Asnobodyinthehousehadanymoresleepthatnight，exceptthetwowhosleptforever，therewasnoreasonwhyheshouldnotremain。Soheretiredintothenicheofthefireplacewherehehadusedtosit，andtherehecontinued，watchingthesteamfromthedoublerowofbanknotesastheywavedbackwardsandforwardsinthedraughtofthechimneytilltheirflacciditywaschangedtodrycrispnessthroughout。Thenthewomancameandunpinnedthem，and，foldingthemtogether，carriedthehandfulupstairs。Presentlythedoctorappearedfromabovewiththelookofamanwhocoulddonomore，and，pullingonhisgloves，wentoutofthehouse，thetrottingofhishorsesoondyingawayupontheroad。
　　Atfouro’clocktherewasagentleknockatthedoor。
　　ItwasfromCharley，whohadbeensentbyCaptainVyetoinquireifanythinghadbeenheardofEustacia。
　　Thegirlwhoadmittedhimlookedinhisfaceasifshedidnotknowwhatanswertoreturn，andshowedhimintowhereVennwasseated，sayingtothereddleman，"Willyoutellhim，please？"
　　Venntold。Charley’sonlyutterancewasafeeble，indistinctsound。Hestoodquitestill；thenheburstoutspasmodically，"Ishallseeheroncemore？"
　　"Idaresayyoumayseeher，"saidDiggorygravely。
　　"Buthadn’tyoubetterrunandtellCaptainVye？"
　　"Yes，yes。OnlyIdohopeIshallseeherjustonceagain。"
　　"Youshall，"saidalowvoicebehind；andstartingroundtheybeheldbythedimlight，athin，pallid，almostspectralform，wrappedinablanket，andlookinglikeLazaruscomingfromthetomb。
　　ItwasYeobright。NeitherVennnorCharleyspoke，andClymcontinued，"Youshallseeher。Therewillbetimeenoughtotellthecaptainwhenitgetsdaylight。
　　Youwouldliketoseehertoo——wouldyounot，Diggory？Shelooksverybeautifulnow。"
　　Vennassentedbyrisingtohisfeet，andwithCharleyhefollowedClymtothefootofthestaircase，wherehetookoffhisboots；Charleydidthesame。
　　TheyfollowedYeobrightupstairstothelanding，wheretherewasacandleburning，whichYeobrighttookinhishand，andwithitledthewayintoanadjoiningroom。
　　Herehewenttothebedsideandfoldedbackthesheet。
　　TheystoodsilentlylookinguponEustacia，who，asshelaytherestillindeath，eclipsedallherlivingphases。
　　Pallordidnotincludeallthequalityofhercomplexion，whichseemedmorethanwhiteness；itwasalmostlight。
　　Theexpressionofherfinelycarvedmouthwaspleasant，asifasenseofdignityhadjustcompelledhertoleaveoffspeaking。Eternalrigidityhadseizeduponitinamomentarytransitionbetweenfervourandresignation。
　　Herblackhairwasloosernowthaneitherofthemhadeverseenitbefore，andsurroundedherbrowlikeaforest。
　　Thestatelinessoflookwhichhadbeenalmosttoomarkedforadwellerinacountrydomicilehadatlastfoundanartisticallyhappybackground。
　　Nobodyspoke，tillatlengthClymcoveredherandturnedaside。"Nowcomehere，"hesaid。
　　Theywenttoarecessinthesameroom，andthere，onasmallerbed，layanotherfigure——Wildeve。LessreposewasvisibleinhisfacethaninEustacia’s，butthesameluminousyouthfulnessoverspreadit，andtheleastsympatheticobserverwouldhavefeltatsightofhimnowthathewasbornforahigherdestinythanthis。
　　Theonlysignuponhimofhisrecentstruggleforlifewasinhisfingertips，whichwerewornandsacrificedinhisdyingendeavourstoobtainaholdonthefaceoftheweir—wall。
　　Yeobright’smannerhadbeensoquiet，hehadutteredsofewsyllablessincehisreappearance，thatVennimaginedhimresigned。Itwasonlywhentheyhadlefttheroomandstooduponthelandingthatthetruestateofhismindwasapparent。Herehesaid，withawildsmile，inclininghisheadtowardsthechamberinwhichEustacialay，"SheisthesecondwomanIhavekilledthisyear。
　　Iwasagreatcauseofmymother’sdeath，andIamthechiefcauseofhers。"
　　"How？"saidVenn。
　　"Ispokecruelwordstoher，andsheleftmyhouse。
　　Ididnotinviteherbacktillitwastoolate。ItisIwhooughttohavedrownedmyself。Itwouldhavebeenacharitytothelivinghadtheriveroverwhelmedmeandborneherup。
　　ButIcannotdie。Thosewhooughttohavelivedliedead；
　　andhereamIalive！"
　　"Butyoucan’tchargeyourselfwithcrimesinthatway，"
　　saidVenn。"Youmayaswellsaythattheparentsbethecauseofamurderbythechild，forwithouttheparentsthechildwouldneverhavebeenbegot。"
　　"Yes，Venn，thatisverytrue；butyoudon’tknowallthecircumstances。IfithadpleasedGodtoputanendtomeitwouldhavebeenagoodthingforall。
　　ButIamgettingusedtothehorrorofmyexistence。
　　Theysaythatatimecomeswhenmenlaughatmiserythroughlongacquaintancewithit。Surelythattimewillsooncometome！"
　　"Youraimhasalwaysbeengood，"saidVenn。"Whyshouldyousaysuchdesperatethings？"
　　"No，theyarenotdesperate。Theyareonlyhopeless；
　　andmygreatregretisthatforwhatIhavedonenomanorlawcanpunishme！"
　　booksixAFTERCOURSES
　　1—TheInevitableMovementOnwardThestoryofthedeathsofEustaciaandWildevewastoldthroughoutEgdon，andfarbeyond，formanyweeksandmonths。
　　Alltheknownincidentsoftheirlovewereenlarged，distorted，touchedup，andmodified，tilltheoriginalrealityborebutaslightresemblancetothecounterfeitpresentationbysurroundingtongues。Yet，uponthewhole，neitherthemannorthewomanlostdignitybysuddendeath。
　　Misfortunehadstruckthemgracefully，cuttingofftheirerratichistorieswithacatastrophicdash，insteadof，aswithmany，attenuatingeachlifetoanuninterestingmeagreness，throughlongyearsofwrinkles，neglect，anddecay。
　　Onthosemostnearlyconcernedtheeffectwassomewhatdifferent。
　　Strangerswhohadheardofmanysuchcasesnowmerelyheardofonemore；butimmediatelywhereablowfallsnopreviousimaginingsamounttoappreciablepreparationforit。Theverysuddennessofherbereavementdulled，tosomeextent，Thomasin’sfeelings；yetirrationallyenough，aconsciousnessthatthehusbandshehadlostoughttohavebeenabettermandidnotlessenhermourningatall。Onthecontrary，thisfactseemedatfirsttosetoffthedeadhusbandinhisyoungwife’seyes，andtobethenecessarycloudtotherainbow。
　　Butthehorrorsoftheunknownhadpassed。Vaguemisgivingsaboutherfutureasadesertedwifewereatanend。
　　Theworsthadoncebeenmatteroftremblingconjecture；
　　itwasnowmatterofreasononly，alimitedbadness。
　　Herchiefinterest，thelittleEustacia，stillremained。
　　Therewashumilityinhergrief，nodefianceinherattitude；
　　andwhenthisisthecaseashakenspiritisapttobestilled。
　　CouldThomasin’smournfulnessnowandEustacia’sserenityduringlifehavebeenreducedtocommonmeasure，theywouldhavetouchedthesamemarknearly。ButThomasin’sformerbrightnessmadeshadowofthatwhichinasombreatmospherewaslightitself。
　　Thespringcameandcalmedher；thesummercameandsoothedher；
　　theautumnarrived，andshebegantobecomforted，forherlittlegirlwasstrongandhappy，growinginsizeandknowledgeeveryday。OutwardeventsflatteredThomasinnotalittle。Wildevehaddiedintestate，andsheandthechildwerehisonlyrelatives。Whenadministrationhadbeengranted，allthedebtspaid，andtheresidueofherhusband’suncle’spropertyhadcomeintoherhands，itwasfoundthatthesumwaitingtobeinvestedforherownandthechild’sbenefitwaslittlelessthantenthousandpounds。
　　Whereshouldshelive？TheobviousplacewasBlooms—End。
　　Theoldrooms，itistrue，werenotmuchhigherthanthebetween—decksofafrigate，necessitatingasinkinginthefloorunderthenewclock—caseshebroughtfromtheinn，andtheremovalofthehandsomebrassknobsonitshead，beforetherewasheightforittostand；but，suchastheroomswere，therewereplentyofthem，andtheplacewasendearedtoherbyeveryearlyrecollection。
　　Clymverygladlyadmittedherasatenant，confininghisownexistencetotworoomsatthetopofthebackstaircase，wherehelivedonquietly，shutofffromThomasinandthethreeservantsshehadthoughtfittoindulgeinnowthatshewasamistressofmoney，goinghisownways，andthinkinghisownthoughts。
　　Hissorrowshadmadesomechangeinhisoutwardappearance；
　　andyetthealterationwaschieflywithin。Itmighthavebeensaidthathehadawrinkledmind。Hehadnoenemies，andhecouldgetnobodytoreproachhim，whichwaswhyhesobitterlyreproachedhimself。
　　Hedidsometimesthinkhehadbeenill—usedbyfortune，sofarastosaythattobebornisapalpabledilemma，andthatinsteadofmenaimingtoadvanceinlifewithglorytheyshouldcalculatehowtoretreatoutofitwithoutshame。Butthatheandhishadbeensarcasticallyandpitilesslyhandledinhavingsuchironsthrustintotheirsoulshedidnotmaintainlong。
　　Itisusuallyso，exceptwiththesternestofmen。
　　Humanbeings，intheirgenerousendeavourtoconstructahypothesisthatshallnotdegradeaFirstCause，havealwayshesitatedtoconceiveadominantpoweroflowermoralqualitythantheirown；and，evenwhiletheysitdownandweepbythewatersofBabylon，inventexcusesfortheoppressionwhichpromptstheirtears。
　　Thus，thoughwordsofsolacewerevainlyutteredinhispresence，hefoundreliefinadirectionofhisownchoosingwhenlefttohimself。Foramanofhishabitsthehouseandthehundredandtwentypoundsayearwhichhehadinheritedfromhismotherwereenoughtosupplyallworldlyneeds。Resourcesdonotdependupongrossamounts，butupontheproportionofspendingstotakings。
　　Hefrequentlywalkedtheheathalone，whenthepastseizeduponhimwithitsshadowyhand，andheldhimtheretolistentoitstale。Hisimaginationwouldthenpeoplethespotwithitsancientinhabitants——forgottenCeltictribestrodtheirtracksabouthim，andhecouldalmostliveamongthem，lookintheirfaces，andseethemstandingbesidethebarrowswhichswelledaround，untouchedandperfectasatthetimeoftheirerection。
　　Thoseofthedyedbarbarianswhohadchosenthecultivabletractswere，incomparisonwiththosewhohadlefttheirmarkshere，aswritersonpaperbesidewritersonparchment。
　　Theirrecordshadperishedlongagobytheplough，whiletheworksoftheseremained。Yettheyallhadlivedanddiedunconsciousofthedifferentfatesawaitingtheirrelics。Itremindedhimthatunforeseenfactorsoperateintheevolutionofimmortality。
　　Winteragaincameround，withitswinds，frosts，tamerobins，andsparklingstarlight。TheyearpreviousThomasinhadhardlybeenconsciousoftheseason’sadvance；thisyearshelaidherheartopentoexternalinfluencesofeverykind。
　　Thelifeofthissweetcousin，herbaby，andherservants，cametoClym’ssensesonlyintheformofsoundsthroughawoodpartitionashesatoverbooksofexceptionallylargetype；buthisearbecameatlastsoaccustomedtotheseslightnoisesfromtheotherpartofthehousethathealmostcouldwitnessthescenestheysignified。
　　Afaintbeatofhalf—secondsconjuredupThomasinrockingthecradle，awaveringhummeantthatshewassingingthebabytosleep，acrunchingofsandasbetweenmillstonesraisedthepictureofHumphrey’s，Fairway’s，orSam’sheavyfeetcrossingthestonefloorofthekitchen；
　　alightboyishstep，andagaytuneinahighkey，betokenedavisitfromGrandferCantle；asuddenbreak—offintheGrandfer’sutterancesimpliedtheapplicationtohislipsofamugofsmallbeer，abustlingandslammingofdoorsmeantstartingtogotomarket；forThomasin，inspiteofheraddedscopeofgentility，ledaludicrouslynarrowlife，totheendthatshemightsaveeverypossiblepoundforherlittledaughter。
　　OnesummerdayClymwasinthegarden，immediatelyoutsidetheparlourwindow，whichwasasusualopen。Hewaslookingatthepot—flowersonthesill；theyhadbeenrevivedandrestoredbyThomasintothestateinwhichhismotherhadleftthem。HeheardaslightscreamfromThomasin，whowassittinginsidetheroom。
　　"O，howyoufrightenedme！"shesaidtosomeonewhohadentered。"Ithoughtyouweretheghostofyourself。"
　　Clymwascuriousenoughtoadvancealittlefurtherandlookinatthewindow。TohisastonishmenttherestoodwithintheroomDiggoryVenn，nolongerareddleman，butexhibitingthestrangelyalteredhuesofanordinaryChristiancountenance，whiteshirt—front，lightfloweredwaistcoat，blue—spottedneckerchief，andbottle—greencoat。Nothinginthisappearancewasatallsingularbutthefactofitsgreatdifferencefromwhathehadformerlybeen。Red，andallapproachtored，wascarefullyexcludedfromeveryarticleofclothesuponhim；
　　forwhatistherethatpersonsjustoutofharnessdreadsomuchasremindersofthetradewhichhasenrichedthem？
　　Yeobrightwentroundtothedoorandentered。
　　"Iwassoalarmed！"saidThomasin，smilingfromonetotheother。"Icouldn’tbelievethathehadgotwhiteofhisownaccord！Itseemedsupernatural。"
　　"IgaveupdealinginreddlelastChristmas，"saidVenn。
　　"Itwasaprofitabletrade，andIfoundthatbythattimeIhadmadeenoughtotakethedairyoffiftycowsthatmyfatherhadinhislifetime。IalwaysthoughtofgettingtothatplaceagainifIchangedatall，andnowIamthere。"
　　"Howdidyoumanagetobecomewhite，Diggory？"Thomasinasked。
　　"Iturnedsobydegrees，ma’am。"
　　"Youlookmuchbetterthaneveryoudidbefore。"
　　Vennappearedconfused；andThomasin，seeinghowinadvertentlyshehadspokentoamanwhomightpossiblyhavetenderfeelingsforherstill，blushedalittle。
　　Clymsawnothingofthis，andaddedgood—humouredly——
　　"WhatshallwehavetofrightenThomasin’sbabywith，nowyouhavebecomeahumanbeingagain？"
　　"Sitdown，Diggory，"saidThomasin，"andstaytotea。"
　　Vennmovedasifhewouldretiretothekitchen，whenThomasinsaidwithpleasantpertnessasshewentonwithsomesewing，"Ofcourseyoumustsitdownhere。
　　Andwheredoesyourfifty—cowdairylie，Mr。Venn？"
　　"AtStickleford——abouttwomilestotherightofAlderworth，ma’am，wherethemeadsbegin。IhavethoughtthatifMr。Yeobrightwouldliketopaymeavisitsometimesheshouldn’tstayawayforwantofasking。I’llnotbidetoteathisafternoon，thank’ee，forI’vegotsomethingonhandthatmustbesettled。’TisMaypole—daytomorrow，andtheShadwaterfolkhaveclubbedwithafewofyourneighboursheretohaveapolejustoutsideyourpalingsintheheath，asitisanicegreenplace。"Vennwavedhiselbowtowardsthepatchinfrontofthehouse。
　　"IhavebeentalkingtoFairwayaboutit，"hecontinued，"andIsaidtohimthatbeforeweputupthepoleitwouldbeaswelltoaskMrs。Wildeve。"
　　"Icansaynothingagainstit，"sheanswered。"Ourpropertydoesnotreachaninchfurtherthanthewhitepalings。"
　　"Butyoumightnotliketoseealotoffolkgoingcrazyroundastick，underyourverynose？"
　　"Ishallhavenoobjectionatall。"
　　Vennsoonafterwentaway，andintheeveningYeobrightstrolledasfarasFairway’scottage。ItwasalovelyMaysunset，andthebirchtreeswhichgrewonthismarginofthevastEgdonwildernesshadputontheirnewleaves，delicateasbutterflies’wings，anddiaphanousasamber。
　　BesideFairway’sdwellingwasanopenspacerecessedfromtheroad，andherewerenowcollectedalltheyoungpeoplefromwithinaradiusofacoupleofmiles。
　　Thepolelaywithoneendsupportedonatrestle，andwomenwereengagedinwreathingitfromthetopdownwardswithwild—flowers。TheinstinctsofmerryEnglandlingeredonherewithexceptionalvitality，andthesymboliccustomswhichtraditionhasattachedtoeachseasonoftheyearwereyetarealityonEgdon。Indeed，theimpulsesofallsuchoutlandishhamletsarepaganstill——inthesespotshomagetonature，self—adoration，franticgaieties，fragmentsofTeutonicritestodivinitieswhosenamesareforgotten，seeminsomewayorothertohavesurvivedmediaevaldoctrine。
　　Yeobrightdidnotinterruptthepreparations，andwenthomeagain。Thenextmorning，whenThomasinwithdrewthecurtainsofherbedroomwindow，therestoodtheMaypoleinthemiddleofthegreen，itstopcuttingintothesky。
　　Ithadsprungupinthenight，orratherearlymorning，likeJack’sbean—stalk。Sheopenedthecasementtogetabetterviewofthegarlandsandposiesthatadornedit。
　　Thesweetperfumeoftheflowershadalreadyspreadintothesurroundingair，which，beingfreefromeverytaint，conductedtoherlipsafullmeasureofthefragrancereceivedfromthespireofblossominitsmidst。
　　Atthetopofthepolewerecrossedhoopsdeckedwithsmallflowers；beneaththesecameamilk—whitezoneofMaybloom；thenazoneofbluebells，thenofcowslips，thenoflilacs，thenofragged—robins，daffodils，andsoon，tilltheloweststagewasreached。Thomasinnoticedallthese，andwasdelightedthattheMayrevelwastobesonear。
　　Whenafternooncamepeoplebegantogatheronthegreen，andYeobrightwasinterestedenoughtolookoutuponthemfromtheopenwindowofhisroom。SoonafterthisThomasinwalkedoutfromthedoorimmediatelybelowandturnedhereyesuptohercousin’sface。ShewasdressedmoregailythanYeobrighthadeverseenherdressedsincethetimeofWildeve’sdeath，eighteenmonthsbefore；
　　sincethedayofhermarriageevenshehadnotexhibitedherselftosuchadvantage。
　　"Howprettyyoulooktoday，Thomasin！"hesaid。
　　"IsitbecauseoftheMaypole？"
　　"Notaltogether。"Andthensheblushedanddroppedhereyes，whichhedidnotspeciallyobserve，thoughhermannerseemedtohimtoberatherpeculiar，consideringthatshewasonlyaddressinghimself。Coulditbepossiblethatshehadputonhersummerclothestopleasehim？
　　Herecalledherconducttowardshimthroughoutthelastfewweeks，whentheyhadoftenbeenworkingtogetherinthegarden，justastheyhadformerlydonewhentheywereboyandgirlunderhismother’seye。
　　Whatifherinterestinhimwerenotsoentirelythatofarelativeasithadformerlybeen？ToYeobrightanypossibilityofthissortwasaseriousmatter；andhealmostfelttroubledatthethoughtofit。EverypulseofloverlikefeelingwhichhadnotbeenstilledduringEustacia’slifetimehadgoneintothegravewithher。
　　Hispassionforherhadoccurredtoofaroninhismanhoodtoleavefuelenoughonhandforanotherfireofthatsort，asmayhappenwithmoreboyishloves。
　　Evensupposinghimcapableoflovingagain，thatlovewouldbeaplantofslowandlabouredgrowth，andintheendonlysmallandsickly，likeanautumn—hatchedbird。
　　Hewassodistressedbythisnewcomplexitythatwhentheenthusiasticbrassbandarrivedandstruckup，whichitdidaboutfiveo’clock，withapparentlywindenoughamongitsmemberstoblowdownhishouse，hewithdrewfromhisroomsbythebackdoor，wentdownthegarden，throughthegateinthehedge，andawayoutofsight。
　　Hecouldnotbeartoremaininthepresenceofenjoymenttoday，thoughhehadtriedhard。
　　Nothingwasseenofhimforfourhours。Whenhecamebackbythesamepathitwasdusk，andthedewswerecoatingeverygreenthing。Theboisterousmusichadceased；
　　but，enteringthepremisesashedidfrombehind，hecouldnotseeiftheMaypartyhadallgonetillhehadpassedthroughThomasin’sdivisionofthehousetothefrontdoor。
　　Thomasinwasstandingwithintheporchalone。
　　Shelookedathimreproachfully。"Youwentawayjustwhenitbegan，Clym，"shesaid。
　　"Yes。IfeltIcouldnotjoinin。Youwentoutwiththem，ofcourse？"
　　"No，Ididnot。"
　　"Youappearedtobedressedonpurpose。"
　　"Yes，butIcouldnotgooutalone；somanypeoplewerethere。Oneistherenow。"
　　Yeobrightstrainedhiseyesacrossthedark—greenpatchbeyondthepaling，andneartheblackformoftheMaypolehediscernedashadowyfigure，saunteringidlyupanddown。
　　"Whoisit？"hesaid。
　　"Mr。Venn，"saidThomasin。