"Youmighthaveaskedhimtocomein，Ithink，Tamsie。
Hehasbeenverykindtoyoufirstandlast。"
"Iwillnow，"shesaid；and，actingontheimpulse，wentthroughthewickettowhereVennstoodundertheMaypole。
"ItisMr。Venn，Ithink？"sheinquired。
Vennstartedasifhehadnotseenher——artfulmanthathewas——andsaid，"Yes。"
"Willyoucomein？"
"IamafraidthatI——"
"Ihaveseenyoudancingthisevening，andyouhadtheverybestofthegirlsforyourpartners。Isitthatyouwon’tcomeinbecauseyouwishtostandhere，andthinkoverthepasthoursofenjoyment？"
"Well，that’spartlyit，"saidMr。Venn，withostentatioussentiment。"ButthemainreasonwhyIambidingherelikethisisthatIwanttowaittillthemoonrises。"
"ToseehowprettytheMaypolelooksinthemoonlight？"
"No。Tolookforaglovethatwasdroppedbyoneofthemaidens。"
Thomasinwasspeechlesswithsurprise。Thatamanwhohadtowalksomefourorfivemilestohishomeshouldwaithereforsuchareasonpointedtoonlyoneconclusion——themanmustbeamazinglyinterestedinthatglove’sowner。
"Wereyoudancingwithher，Diggory？"sheasked，inavoicewhichrevealedthathehadmadehimselfconsiderablymoreinterestingtoherbythisdisclosure。
"No，"hesighed。
"Andyouwillnotcomein，then？"
"Nottonight，thankyou，ma’am。"
"ShallIlendyoualanterntolookfortheyoungperson’sglove，Mr。Venn？"
"Ono；itisnotnecessary，Mrs。Wildeve，thankyou。
Themoonwillriseinafewminutes。"
Thomasinwentbacktotheporch。"Ishecomingin？"
saidClym，whohadbeenwaitingwhereshehadlefthim。
"Hewouldrathernottonight，"shesaid，andthenpassedbyhimintothehouse；whereuponClymtooretiredtohisownrooms。
WhenClymwasgoneThomasincreptupstairsinthedark，and，justlisteningbythecot，toassureherselfthatthechildwasasleep，shewenttothewindow，gentlyliftedthecornerofthewhitecurtain，andlookedout。Vennwasstillthere。
Shewatchedthegrowthofthefaintradianceappearingintheskybytheeasternhill，tillpresentlytheedgeofthemoonburstupwardsandfloodedthevalleywithlight。
Diggory’sformwasnowdistinctonthegreen；hewasmovingaboutinabowedattitude，evidentlyscanningthegrassforthepreciousmissingarticle，walkinginzigzagsrightandlefttillheshouldhavepassedovereveryfootoftheground。
"Howveryridiculous！"Thomasinmurmuredtoherself，inatonewhichwasintendedtobesatirical。"Tothinkthatamanshouldbesosillyastogomooningaboutlikethatforagirl’sglove！Arespectabledairyman，too，andamanofmoneyasheisnow。Whatapity！"
AtlastVennappearedtofindit；whereuponhestoodupandraisedittohislips。Thenplacingitinhisbreastpocket——thenearestreceptacletoaman’sheartpermittedbymodernraiment——heascendedthevalleyinamathematicallydirectlinetowardshisdistanthomeinthemeadows。
2—ThomasinWalksinaGreenPlacebytheRomanRoadClymsawlittleofThomasinforseveraldaysafterthis；
andwhentheymetshewasmoresilentthanusual。Atlengthheaskedherwhatshewasthinkingofsointently。
"Iamthoroughlyperplexed，"shesaidcandidly。
"IcannotformylifethinkwhoitisthatDiggoryVennissomuchinlovewith。NoneofthegirlsattheMaypoleweregoodenoughforhim，andyetshemusthavebeenthere。"
ClymtriedtoimagineVenn’schoiceforamoment；
butceasingtobeinterestedinthequestionhewentonagainwithhisgardening。
Noclearingupofthemysterywasgrantedherforsometime。
ButoneafternoonThomasinwasupstairsgettingreadyforawalk，whenshehadoccasiontocometothelandingandcall"Rachel。"Rachelwasagirlaboutthirteen，whocarriedthebabyoutforairings；andshecameupstairsatthecall。
"Haveyouseenoneofmylastnewglovesaboutthehouse，Rachel？"inquiredThomasin。"Itisthefellowtothisone。"
Racheldidnotreply。
"Whydon’tyouanswer？"saidhermistress。
"Ithinkitislost，ma’am。"
"Lost？Wholostit？Ihaveneverwornthembutonce。"
Rachelappearedasonedreadfullytroubled，andatlastbegantocry。"Please，ma’am，onthedayoftheMaypoleIhadnonetowear，andIseedyoursonthetable，andIthoughtIwouldborrow’em。Ididnotmeantohurt’ematall，butoneofthemgotlost。
Somebodygavemesomemoneytobuyanotherpairforyou，butIhavenotbeenabletogoanywheretoget’em。"
"Who’ssomebody？"
"Mr。Venn。"
"Didheknowitwasmyglove？"
"Yes。Itoldhim。"
Thomasinwassosurprisedbytheexplanationthatshequiteforgottolecturethegirl，whoglidedsilentlyaway。
Thomasindidnotmovefurtherthantoturnhereyesuponthegrass—platwheretheMaypolehadstood。
Sheremainedthinking，thensaidtoherselfthatshewouldnotgooutthatafternoon，butwouldworkhardatthebaby’sunfinishedlovelyplaidfrock，cutonthecrossinthenewestfashion。Howshemanagedtoworkhard，andyetdonomorethanshehaddoneattheendoftwohours，wouldhavebeenamysterytoanyonenotawarethattherecentincidentwasofakindlikelytodivertherindustryfromamanualtoamentalchannel。
Nextdayshewentherwaysasusual，andcontinuedhercustomofwalkingintheheathwithnoothercompanionthanlittleEustacia，nowoftheagewhenitisamatterofdoubtwithsuchcharacterswhethertheyareintendedtowalkthroughtheworldontheirhandsorontheirfeet；
sothattheygetintopainfulcomplicationsbytryingboth。
ItwasverypleasanttoThomasin，whenshehadcarriedthechildtosomelonelyplace，togiveheralittleprivatepracticeonthegreenturfandshepherd’s—thyme，whichformedasoftmattofallheadlonguponthemwhenequilibriumwaslost。
Once，whenengagedinthissystemoftraining，andstoopingtoremovebitsofstick，fern—stalks，andothersuchfragmentsfromthechild’spath，thatthejourneymightnotbebroughttoanuntimelyendbysomeinsuperablebarrieraquarterofaninchhigh，shewasalarmedbydiscoveringthatamanonhorsebackwasalmostclosebesideher，thesoftnaturalcarpethavingmuffledthehorse’stread。
Therider，whowasVenn，wavedhishatintheairandbowedgallantly。
"Diggory，givememyglove，"saidThomasin，whosemanneritwasunderanycircumstancestoplungeintothemidstofasubjectwhichengrossedher。
Vennimmediatelydismounted，puthishandinhisbreastpocket，andhandedtheglove。
"Thankyou。Itwasverygoodofyoutotakecareofit。"
"Itisverygoodofyoutosayso。"
"Ono。Iwasquitegladtofindyouhadit。EverybodygetssoindifferentthatIwassurprisedtoknowyouthoughtofme。"
"IfyouhadrememberedwhatIwasonceyouwouldn’thavebeensurprised。"
"Ah，no，"shesaidquickly。"Butmenofyourcharacteraremostlysoindependent。"
"Whatismycharacter？"heasked。
"Idon’texactlyknow，"saidThomasinsimply，"exceptitistocoverupyourfeelingsunderapracticalmanner，andonlytoshowthemwhenyouarealone。"
"Ah，howdoyouknowthat？"saidVennstrategically。
"Because，"saidshe，stoppingtoputthelittlegirl，whohadmanagedtogetherselfupsidedown，rightendupagain，"becauseIdo。"
"Youmustn’tjudgebyfolksingeneral，"saidVenn。
"StillIdon’tknowmuchwhatfeelingsarenowadays。
Ihavegotsomixedupwithbusinessofonesortandt’otherthatmysoftsentimentsaregoneoffinvapourlike。
Yes，Iamgivenupbodyandsoultothemakingofmoney。
Moneyisallmydream。"
"ODiggory，howwicked！"saidThomasinreproachfully，andlookingathiminexactbalancebetweentakinghiswordsseriouslyandjudgingthemassaidtoteaseher。
"Yes，’tisratherarumcourse，"saidVenn，intheblandtoneofonecomfortablyresignedtosinshecouldnolongerovercome。
"You，whousedtobesonice！"
"Well，that’sanargumentIratherlike，becausewhatamanhasoncebeenhemaybeagain。"Thomasinblushed。
"Exceptthatitisratherhardernow，"Venncontinued。
"Why？"sheasked。
"Becauseyoubericherthanyouwereatthattime。"
"Ono——notmuch。Ihavemadeitnearlyallovertothebaby，asitwasmydutytodo，exceptjustenoughtoliveon。"
"Iamrathergladofthat，"saidVennsoftly，andregardingherfromthecornerofhiseye，"foritmakesiteasierforustobefriendly。"
Thomasinblushedagain，and，whenafewmorewordshadbeensaidofanotunpleasingkind，Vennmountedhishorseandrodeon。
ThisconversationhadpassedinahollowoftheheathneartheoldRomanroad，aplacemuchfrequentedbyThomasin。
AnditmighthavebeenobservedthatshedidnotinfuturewalkthatwaylessoftenfromhavingmetVenntherenow。
WhetherornotVennabstainedfromridingthitherbecausehehadmetThomasininthesameplacemighteasilyhavebeenguessedfromherproceedingsabouttwomonthslaterinthesameyear。
3—TheSeriousDiscourseofClymwithHisCousinThroughoutthisperiodYeobrighthadmoreorlessponderedonhisdutytohiscousinThomasin。Hecouldnothelpfeelingthatitwouldbeapitifulwasteofsweetmaterialifthetender—naturedthingshouldbedoomedfromthisearlystageofherlifeonwardstodribbleawayherwinsomequalitiesonlonelygorseandfern。
Buthefeltthisasaneconomistmerely，andnotasalover。
HispassionforEustaciahadbeenasortofconserveofhiswholelife，andhehadnothingmoreofthatsupremequalitylefttobestow。SofartheobviousthingwasnottoentertainanyideaofmarriagewithThomasin，eventoobligeher。
Butthiswasnotall。Yearsagotherehadbeeninhismother’smindagreatfancyaboutThomasinandhimself。
Ithadnotpositivelyamountedtoadesire，butithadalwaysbeenafavouritedream。Thattheyshouldbemanandwifeingoodtime，ifthehappinessofneitherwereendangeredthereby，wasthefancyinquestion。
Sothatwhatcoursesaveonewastherenowleftforanysonwhoreverencedhismother’smemoryasYeobrightdid？Itisanunfortunatefactthatanyparticularwhimofparents，whichmighthavebeendispersedbyhalfanhour’sconversationduringtheirlives，becomessublimatedbytheirdeathsintoafiatthemostabsolute，withsuchresultstoconscientiouschildrenasthoseparents，hadtheylived，wouldhavebeenthefirsttodecry。
HadonlyYeobright’sownfuturebeeninvolvedhewouldhaveproposedtoThomasinwithareadyheart。Hehadnothingtolosebycarryingoutadeadmother’shope。
ButhedreadedtocontemplateThomasinweddedtothemerecorpseofaloverthathenowfelthimselftobe。
Hehadbutthreeactivitiesaliveinhim。Onewashisalmostdailywalktothelittlegraveyardwhereinhismotherlay，another，hisjustasfrequentvisitsbynighttothemoredistantenclosurewhichnumberedhisEustaciaamongitsdead；thethirdwasself—preparationforavocationwhichaloneseemedlikelytosatisfyhiscravings——thatofanitinerantpreacheroftheeleventhcommandment。
ItwasdifficulttobelievethatThomasinwouldbecheeredbyahusbandwithsuchtendenciesasthese。
Yetheresolvedtoaskher，andletherdecideforherself。
Itwasevenwithapleasantsenseofdoinghisdutythathewentdownstairstoheroneeveningforthispurpose，whenthesunwasprintingonthevalleythesamelongshadowofthehousetopthathehadseenlyingtheretimesoutofnumberwhilehismotherlived。
Thomasinwasnotinherroom，andhefoundherinthefrontgarden。"Ihavelongbeenwanting，Thomasin，"
hebegan，"tosaysomethingaboutamatterthatconcernsbothourfutures。"
"Andyouaregoingtosayitnow？"sheremarkedquickly，colouringasshemethisgaze。"Dostopaminute，Clym，andletmespeakfirst，foroddlyenough，Ihavebeenwantingtosaysomethingtoyou。"
"Byallmeanssayon，Tamsie。"
"Isupposenobodycanoverhearus？"shewenton，castinghereyesaroundandloweringhervoice。"Well，firstyouwillpromisemethis——thatyouwon’tbeangryandcallmeanythingharshifyoudisagreewithwhatIpropose？"
Yeobrightpromised，andshecontinued："WhatIwantisyouradvice，foryouaremyrelation——Imean，asortofguardiantome——aren’tyou，Clym？"
"Well，yes，IsupposeIam；asortofguardian。Infact，Iam，ofcourse，"hesaid，altogetherperplexedastoherdrift。
"Iamthinkingofmarrying，"shethenobservedblandly。
"ButIshallnotmarryunlessyouassuremethatyouapproveofsuchastep。Whydon’tyouspeak？"
"Iwastakenratherbysurprise。But，nevertheless，Iamverygladtohearsuchnews。Ishallapprove，ofcourse，dearTamsie。Whocanitbe？Iamquiteatalosstoguess。
NoIamnot——’tistheolddoctor！——notthatImeantocallhimold，forheisnotveryoldafterall。Ah——Inoticedwhenheattendedyoulasttime！"
"No，no，"shesaidhastily。"’TisMr。Venn。"
Clym’sfacesuddenlybecamegrave。
"There，now，youdon’tlikehim，andIwishIhadn’tmentionedhim！"sheexclaimedalmostpetulantly。
"AndIshouldn’thavedoneit，either，onlyhekeepsonbotheringmesotillIdon’tknowwhattodo！"
Clymlookedattheheath。"IlikeVennwellenough，"
heansweredatlast。"Heisaveryhonestandatthesametimeastuteman。Heisclevertoo，asisprovedbyhishavinggotyoutofavourhim。Butreally，Thomasin，heisnotquite——"
"Gentlemanenoughforme？ThatisjustwhatIfeel。
IamsorrynowthatIaskedyou，andIwon’tthinkanymoreofhim。AtthesametimeImustmarryhimifImarryanybody——thatIWILLsay！"
"Idon’tseethat，"saidClym，carefullyconcealingeverycluetohisowninterruptedintention，whichsheplainlyhadnotguessed。"Youmightmarryaprofessionalman，orsomebodyofthatsort，bygoingintothetowntoliveandformingacquaintancesthere。"
"Iamnotfitfortownlife——soveryruralandsillyasIalwayshavebeen。Donotyouyourselfnoticemycountrifiedways？"
"Well，whenIcamehomefromParisIdid，alittle；
butIdon’tnow。"
"That’sbecauseyouhavegotcountrifiedtoo。O，Icouldn’tliveinastreetfortheworld！Egdonisaridiculousoldplace；butIhavegotusedtoit，andIcouldn’tbehappyanywhereelseatall。"
"NeithercouldI，"saidClym。
"ThenhowcouldyousaythatIshouldmarrysometownman？
Iamsure，saywhatyouwill，thatImustmarryDiggory，ifImarryatall。Hehasbeenkindertomethananybodyelse，andhashelpedmeinmanywaysthatIdon’tknowof！"
Thomasinalmostpoutednow。
"Yes，hehas，"saidClyminaneutraltone。"Well，I
wishwithallmyheartthatIcouldsay，marryhim。
ButIcannotforgetwhatmymotherthoughtonthatmatter，anditgoesratheragainstmenottorespectheropinion。
Thereistoomuchreasonwhyweshoulddothelittlewecantorespectitnow。"
"Verywell，then，"sighedThomasin。"Iwillsaynomore。"
"Butyouarenotboundtoobeymywishes。ImerelysaywhatIthink。"
"Ono——Idon’twanttoberebelliousinthatway，"
shesaidsadly。"Ihadnobusinesstothinkofhim——I
oughttohavethoughtofmyfamily。Whatdreadfullybadimpulsesthereareinme！"Herlipstrembled，andsheturnedawaytohideatear。
Clym，thoughvexedatwhatseemedherunaccountabletaste，wasinameasurerelievedtofindthatatanyratethemarriagequestioninrelationtohimselfwasshelved。
Throughseveralsucceedingdayshesawheratdifferenttimesfromthewindowofhisroommopingdisconsolatelyaboutthegarden。HewashalfangrywithherforchoosingVenn；thenhewasgrievedathavingputhimselfinthewayofVenn’shappiness，whowas，afterall，ashonestandperseveringayoungfellowasanyonEgdon，sincehehadturnedoveranewleaf。Inshort，Clymdidnotknowwhattodo。
Whennexttheymetshesaidabruptly，"Heismuchmorerespectablenowthanhewasthen！"
"Who？Oyes——DiggoryVenn。"
"Auntonlyobjectedbecausehewasareddleman。"
"Well，Thomasin，perhapsIdon’tknowalltheparticularsofmymother’swish。Soyouhadbetteruseyourowndiscretion。"
"YouwillalwaysfeelthatIslightedyourmother’smemory。"
"No，Iwillnot。Ishallthinkyouareconvincedthat，hadsheseenDiggoryinhispresentposition，shewouldhaveconsideredhimafittinghusbandforyou。
Now，that’smyrealfeeling。Don’tconsultmeanymore，butdoasyoulike，Thomasin。Ishallbecontent。"
ItistobesupposedthatThomasinwasconvinced；
forafewdaysafterthis，whenClymstrayedintoapartoftheheaththathehadnotlatelyvisited，Humphrey，whowasatworkthere，saidtohim，"IamgladtoseethatMrs。WildeveandVennhavemadeitupagain，seemingly。"
"Havethey？"saidClymabstractedly。
"Yes；andhedocontrivetostumbleuponherwhenevershewalksoutonfinedayswiththechiel。But，Mr。Yeobright，Ican’thelpfeelingthatyourcousinoughttohavemarriedyou。’Tisapitytomaketwochimleycornerswherethereneedbeonlyone。Youcouldgetherawayfromhimnow，’tismybelief，ifyouwereonlytosetaboutit。"
"HowcanIhavetheconsciencetomarryafterhavingdriventwowomentotheirdeaths？Don’tthinksuchathing，Humphrey。AftermyexperienceIshouldconsiderittoomuchofaburlesquetogotochurchandtakeawife。
InthewordsofJob，’Ihavemadeacovenantwithmineeyes；
whenthenshouldIthinkuponamaid？’"
"No，Mr。Clym，don’tfancythataboutdrivingtwowomentotheirdeaths。Youshouldn’tsayit。"
"Well，we’llleavethatout，"saidYeobright。"ButanyhowGodhassetamarkuponmewhichwouldn’tlookwellinalove—makingscene。Ihavetwoideasinmyhead，andnoothers。Iamgoingtokeepanight—school；
andIamgoingtoturnpreacher。Whathaveyougottosaytothat，Humphrey？"
"I’llcomeandhear’eewithallmyheart。"
"Thanks。’TisallIwish。"
AsClymdescendedintothevalleyThomasincamedownbytheotherpath，andmethimatthegate。
"WhatdoyouthinkIhavetotellyou，Clym？"shesaid，lookingarchlyoverhershoulderathim。
"Icanguess，"hereplied。
Shescrutinizedhisface。"Yes，youguessright。
Itisgoingtobeafterall。HethinksImayaswellmakeupmymind，andIhavegottothinksotoo。
Itistobeonthetwenty—fifthofnextmonth，ifyoudon’tobject。"
"Dowhatyouthinkright，dear。Iamonlytoogladthatyouseeyourwaycleartohappinessagain。Mysexowesyoueveryamendsforthetreatmentyoureceivedindaysgoneby。"*
*ThewritermaystateherethattheoriginalconceptionofthestorydidnotdesignamarriagebetweenThomasinandVenn。Hewastohaveretainedhisisolatedandweirdcharactertothelast，andtohavedisappearedmysteriouslyfromtheheath，nobodyknowingwhither——Thomasinremainingawidow。Butcertaincircumstancesofserialpublicationledtoachangeofintent。
Readerscanthereforechoosebetweentheendings，andthosewithanaustereartisticcodecanassumethemoreconsistentconclusiontobethetrueone。
4—CheerfulnessAgainAssertsItselfatBlooms—End，andClymFindsHisVocationAnybodywhohadpassedthroughBlooms—Endabouteleveno’clockonthemorningfixedfortheweddingwouldhavefoundthat，whileYeobright’shousewascomparativelyquiet，soundsdenotinggreatactivitycamefromthedwellingofhisnearestneighbour，TimothyFairway。Itwaschieflyanoiseoffeet，brisklycrunchinghitherandthitheroverthesandedfloorwithin。Onemanonlywasvisibleoutside，andheseemedtobelateratanappointmentthanhehadintendedtobe，forhehasteneduptothedoor，liftedthelatch，andwalkedinwithoutceremony。
Thescenewithinwasnotquitethecustomaryone。
StandingabouttheroomwasthelittleknotofmenwhoformedthechiefpartoftheEgdoncoterie，therebeingpresentFairwayhimself，GrandferCantle，Humphrey，Christian，andoneortwoturf—cutters。Itwasawarmday，andthemenwereasamatterofcourseintheirshirtsleeves，exceptChristian，whohadalwaysanervousfearofpartingwithascrapofhisclothingwheninanybody’shousebuthisown。
Acrossthestoutoaktableinthemiddleoftheroomwasthrownamassofstripedlinen，whichGrandferCantlehelddownononeside，andHumphreyontheother，whileFairwayrubbeditssurfacewithayellowlump，hisfacebeingdampandcreasedwiththeeffortofthelabour。
"Waxingabed—tick，souls？"saidthenewcomer。
"Yes，Sam，"saidGrandferCantle，asamantoobusytowastewords。"ShallIstretchthiscornerashadetighter，Timothy？"
Fairwayreplied，andthewaxingwentonwithunabatedvigour。
"’Tisgoingtobeagoodbed，bythelooko’t，"continuedSam，afteranintervalofsilence。"Whomayitbefor？"
"’Tisapresentforthenewfolksthat’sgoingtosetuphousekeeping，"saidChristian，whostoodhelplessandovercomebythemajestyoftheproceedings。
"Ah，tobesure；andavaluableone，’ab’lieve。"
"Bedsbedeartofokesthatdon’tkeepgeese，bain’tthey，MisterFairway？"saidChristian，astoanomniscientbeing。
"Yes，"saidthefurze—dealer，standingup，givinghisforeheadathoroughmopping，andhandingthebeeswaxtoHumphrey，whosucceededattherubbingforthwith。
"Notthatthiscouplebeinwantofone，but’twaswelltoshow’emabitoffriendlinessatthisgreatracketingvagaryoftheirlives。Isetupbothmyowndaughtersinonewhentheywasmarried，andtherehavebeenfeathersenoughforanotherinthehousethelasttwelvemonths。
Nowthen，neighbours，Ithinkwehavelaidonenoughwax。
GrandferCantle，youturntheticktherightwayoutwards，andthenI’llbegintoshakeinthefeathers。"
WhenthebedwasinpropertrimFairwayandChristianbroughtforwardvastpaperbags，stuffedtothefull，butlightasballoons，andbegantoturnthecontentsofeachintothereceptaclejustprepared。Asbagafterbagwasemptied，airytuftsofdownandfeathersfloatedabouttheroominincreasingquantitytill，throughamishapofChristian’s，whoshookthecontentsofonebagoutsidethetick，theatmosphereoftheroombecamedensewithgiganticflakes，whichdescendedupontheworkerslikeawindlesssnowstorm。
"Ineversawsuchaclumsychapasyou，Christian，"
saidGrandferCantleseverely。"Youmighthavebeenthesonofamanthat’sneverbeenoutsideBlooms—Endinhislifeforallthewityouhave。Reallyallthesoldieringandsmartnessintheworldinthefatherseemstocountfornothinginformingthenateroftheson。
AsfarasthatchiefChristianisconcernedImightaswellhavestayedathomeandseednothing，likealltherestofyehere。Though，asfarasmyselfisconcerned，adashingspirithascountedforsommat，tobesure！"
"Don’tyeletmedownso，Father；Ifeelnobiggerthananinepinafterit。I’vemadebutabrucklehit，I’mafeard。"
"Come，come。Neverpitchyerselfinsuchalowkeyasthat，Christian；youshouldtrymore，"saidFairway。