"Butyoumustnotsacrificeyourselftoherfromanysenseofjustice，"repliedEustaciaquickly。
"Ifyoudonotloveheritisthemostmercifulthinginthelongruntoleaveherassheis。That’salwaysthebestway。There，nowIhavebeenunwomanly，Isuppose。
WhenyouhaveleftmeIamalwaysangrywithmyselfforthingsthatIhavesaidtoyou。"
Wildevewalkedapaceortwoamongtheheatherwithoutreplying。
Thepausewasfilledupbytheintonationofapollardthornalittlewaytowindward，thebreezesfilteringthroughitsunyieldingtwigsasthroughastrainer。
Itwasasifthenightsangdirgeswithclenchedteeth。
Shecontinued，halfsorrowfully，"Sincemeetingyoulast，ithasoccurredtomeonceortwicethatperhapsitwasnotforloveofmeyoudidnotmarryher。Tellme，Damon——I’lltrytobearit。HadInothingwhatevertodowiththematter？"
"Doyoupressmetotell？"
"Yes，Imustknow。IseeIhavebeentooreadytobelieveinmyownpower。"
"Well，theimmediatereasonwasthatthelicensewouldnotdofortheplace，andbeforeIcouldgetanothersheranaway。Uptothatpointyouhadnothingtodowithit。
SincethenheraunthasspokentomeinatonewhichI
don’tatalllike。"
"Yes，yes！Iamnothinginit——Iamnothinginit。
Youonlytriflewithme。Heaven，whatcanI，EustaciaVye，bemadeoftothinksomuchofyou！"
"Nonsense；donotbesopassionate……Eustacia，howwerovedamongthesebusheslastyear，whenthehotdayshadgotcool，andtheshadesofthehillskeptusalmostinvisibleinthehollows！"
Sheremainedinmoodysilencetillshesaid，"Yes；andhowIusedtolaughatyoufordaringtolookuptome！
Butyouhavewellmademesufferforthatsince。"
"Yes，youservedmecruellyenoughuntilIthoughtIhadfoundsomeonefairerthanyou。Ablessedfindforme，Eustacia。"
"Doyoustillthinkyoufoundsomebodyfairer？"
"SometimesIdo，sometimesIdon’t。Thescalesarebalancedsonicelythatafeatherwouldturnthem。"
"Butdon’tyoureallycarewhetherImeetyouorwhetherIdon’t？"shesaidslowly。
"Icarealittle，butnotenoughtobreakmyrest，"
repliedtheyoungmanlanguidly。"No，allthat’spast。
IfindtherearetwoflowerswhereIthoughttherewasonlyone。Perhapstherearethree，orfour，oranynumberasgoodasthefirst……Mineisacuriousfate。
Whowouldhavethoughtthatallthiscouldhappentome？"
Sheinterruptedwithasuppressedfireofwhicheitherloveorangerseemedanequallypossibleissue，"Doyoulovemenow？"
"Whocansay？"
"Tellme；Iwillknowit！"
"Ido，andIdonot，"saidhemischievously。"Thatis，Ihavemytimesandmyseasons。Onemomentyouaretootall，anothermomentyouaretoodo—nothing，anothertoomelancholy，anothertoodark，anotherIdon’tknowwhat，except——thatyouarenotthewholeworldtomethatyouusedtobe，mydear。
Butyouareapleasantladytoknowandnicetomeet，andIdaresayassweetasever——almost。"
Eustaciawassilent，andsheturnedfromhim，tillshesaid，inavoiceofsuspendedmightiness，"Iamforawalk，andthisismyway。"
"Well，Icandoworsethanfollowyou。"
"Youknowyoucan’tdootherwise，forallyourmoodsandchanges！"sheanswereddefiantly。"Saywhatyouwill；
tryasyoumay；keepawayfrommeallthatyoucan——youwillneverforgetme。Youwilllovemeallyourlifelong。
Youwouldjumptomarryme！"
"SoIwould！"saidWildeve。"SuchstrangethoughtsasI’vehadfromtimetotime，Eustacia；andtheycometomethismoment。Youhatetheheathasmuchasever；
thatIknow。"
"Ido，"shemurmureddeeply。"’Tismycross，myshame，andwillbemydeath！"
"Iabhorittoo，"saidhe。"Howmournfullythewindblowsroundusnow！"
Shedidnotanswer。Itstonewasindeedsolemnandpervasive。
Compoundutterancesaddressedthemselvestotheirsenses，anditwaspossibletoviewbyearthefeaturesoftheneighbourhood。
Acousticpictureswerereturnedfromthedarkenedscenery；
theycouldhearwherethetractsofheatherbeganandended；
wherethefurzewasgrowingstalkyandtall；whereithadbeenrecentlycut；inwhatdirectionthefir—clumplay，andhownearwasthepitinwhichtheholliesgrew；
forthesedifferingfeatureshadtheirvoicesnolessthantheirshapesandcolours。
"God，howlonelyitis！"resumedWildeve。"Whatarepicturesqueravinesandmiststouswhoseenothingelse？"
Whyshouldwestayhere？WillyougowithmetoAmerica？
IhavekindredinWisconsin。"
"Thatwantsconsideration。"
"Itseemsimpossibletodowellhere，unlessonewereawildbirdoralandscape—painter。Well？"
"Givemetime，"shesoftlysaid，takinghishand。
"Americaissofaraway。Areyougoingtowalkwithmealittleway？"
AsEustaciautteredthelatterwordssheretiredfromthebaseofthebarrow，andWildevefollowedher，sothatthereddlemancouldhearnomore。
Heliftedtheturvesandarose。Theirblackfiguressankanddisappearedfromagainstthesky。Theywereastwohornswhichthesluggishheathhadputforthfromitscrown，likeamollusc，andhadnowagaindrawnin。
Thereddleman’swalkacrossthevale，andoverintothenextwherehiscartlay，wasnotsprightlyforaslimyoungfellowoftwenty—four。Hisspiritwasperturbedtoaching。
Thebreezesthatblewaroundhismouthinthatwalkcarriedoffuponthemtheaccentsofacommination。
Heenteredthevan，wheretherewasafireinastove。
Withoutlightinghiscandlehesatdownatonceonthethree—leggedstool，andponderedonwhathehadseenandheardtouchingthatstill—lovedoneofhis。
Heutteredasoundwhichwasneithersighnorsob，butwasevenmoreindicativethaneitherofatroubledmind。
"MyTamsie，"hewhisperedheavily。"Whatcanbedone？Yes，IwillseethatEustaciaVye。"
10—ADesperateAttemptatPersuasionThenextmorning，atthetimewhentheheightofthesunappearedveryinsignificantfromanypartoftheheathascomparedwiththealtitudeofRainbarrow，andwhenallthelittlehillsinthelowerlevelswerelikeanarchipelagoinafog—formedAegean，thereddlemancamefromthebramblednookwhichhehadadoptedashisquartersandascendedtheslopesofMistoverKnap。
Thoughtheseshaggyhillswereapparentlysosolitary，severalkeenroundeyeswerealwaysreadyonsuchawintrymorningasthistoconvergeuponapasser—by。
Featheredspeciessojournedhereinhidingwhichwouldhavecreatedwonderiffoundelsewhere。Abustardhauntedthespot，andnotmanyyearsbeforethisfiveandtwentymighthavebeenseeninEgdonatonetime。
Marsh—harrierslookedupfromthevalleybyWildeve’s。
Acream—colouredcourserhadusedtovisitthishill，abirdsorarethatnotmorethanadozenhaveeverbeenseeninEngland；butabarbarianrestedneithernightnordaytillhehadshottheAfricantruant，andafterthateventcream—colouredcoursersthoughtfittoenterEgdonnomore。
AtravellerwhoshouldwalkandobserveanyofthesevisitantsasVennobservedthemnowcouldfeelhimselftobeindirectcommunicationwithregionsunknowntoman。
Hereinfrontofhimwasawildmallard——justarrivedfromthehomeofthenorthwind。ThecreaturebroughtwithinhimanamplitudeofNorthernknowledge。Glacialcatastrophes，snowstormepisodes，glitteringauroraleffects，Polarisinthezenith，Franklinunderfoot——thecategoryofhiscommonplaceswaswonderful。Butthebird，likemanyotherphilosophers，seemedashelookedatthereddlemantothinkthatapresentmomentofcomfortablerealitywasworthadecadeofmemories。
Vennpassedonthroughthesetowardsthehouseoftheisolatedbeautywholivedupamongthemanddespisedthem。
ThedaywasSunday；butasgoingtochurch，excepttobemarriedorburied，wasexceptionalatEgdon，thismadelittledifference。HehaddeterminedupontheboldstrokeofaskingforaninterviewwithMissVye——toattackherpositionasThomasin’srivaleitherbyartorbystorm，showingtherein，somewhattooconspicuously，thewantofgallantrycharacteristicofacertainastutesortofmen，fromclownstokings。ThegreatFrederickmakingwaronthebeautifulArchduchess，NapoleonrefusingtermstothebeautifulQueenofPrussia，werenotmoredeadtodifferenceofsexthanthereddlemanwas，inhispeculiarway，inplanningthedisplacementofEustacia。
Tocallatthecaptain’scottagewasalwaysmoreorlessanundertakingfortheinferiorinhabitants。
Thoughoccasionallychatty，hismoodswereerratic，andnobodycouldbecertainhowhewouldbehaveatanyparticularmoment。Eustaciawasreserved，andlivedverymuchtoherself。Exceptthedaughterofoneofthecotters，whowastheirservant，andaladwhoworkedinthegardenandstable，scarcelyanyonebutthemselveseverenteredthehouse。TheyweretheonlygenteelpeopleofthedistrictexcepttheYeobrights，andthoughfarfromrich，theydidnotfeelthatnecessityforpreservingafriendlyfacetowardseveryman，bird，andbeastwhichinfluencedtheirpoorerneighbours。
Whenthereddlemanenteredthegardentheoldmanwaslookingthroughhisglassatthestainofblueseainthedistantlandscape，thelittleanchorsonhisbuttonstwinklinginthesun。HerecognizedVennashiscompaniononthehighway，butmadenoremarkonthatcircumstance，merelysaying，"Ah，reddleman——youhere？Haveaglassofgrog？"
Venndeclined，onthepleaofitbeingtooearly，andstatedthathisbusinesswaswithMissVye。Thecaptainsurveyedhimfromcaptowaistcoatandfromwaistcoattoleggingsforafewmoments，andfinallyaskedhimtogoindoors。
MissVyewasnottobeseenbyanybodyjustthen；
andthereddlemanwaitedinthewindow—benchofthekitchen，hishandshangingacrosshisdivergentknees，andhiscaphangingfromhishands。
"Isupposetheyoungladyisnotupyet？"hepresentlysaidtotheservant。
"Notquiteyet。Folksnevercalluponladiesatthistimeofday。"
"ThenI’llstepoutside，"saidVenn。"Ifsheiswillingtoseeme，willshepleasesendoutword，andI’llcomein。"
Thereddlemanleftthehouseandloiteredonthehilladjoining。Aconsiderabletimeelapsed，andnorequestforhispresencewasbrought。Hewasbeginningtothinkthathisschemehadfailed，whenhebeheldtheformofEustaciaherselfcomingleisurelytowardshim。
Asenseofnoveltyingivingaudiencetothatsingularfigurehadbeensufficienttodrawherforth。
Sheseemedtofeel，afterabarelookatDiggoryVenn，thatthemanhadcomeonastrangeerrand，andthathewasnotsomeanasshehadthoughthim；forhercloseapproachdidnotcausehimtowritheuneasily，orshifthisfeet，orshowanyofthoselittlesignswhichescapeaningenuousrusticattheadventoftheuncommoninwomankind。
Onhisinquiringifhemighthaveaconversationwithhershereplied，"Yes，walkbesideme，"andcontinuedtomoveon。
Beforetheyhadgonefaritoccurredtotheperspicaciousreddlemanthathewouldhaveactedmorewiselybyappearinglessunimpressionable，andheresolvedtocorrecttheerrorassoonashecouldfindopportunity。
"Ihavemadesobold，miss，astostepacrossandtellyousomestrangenewswhichhascometomyearsaboutthatman。"
"Ah！whatman？"
Hejerkedhiselbowtothesoutheast——thedirectionoftheQuietWoman。
Eustaciaturnedquicklytohim。"DoyoumeanMr。Wildeve？"
"Yes，thereistroubleinahouseholdonaccountofhim，andIhavecometoletyouknowofit，becauseIbelieveyoumighthavepowertodriveitaway。"
"I？Whatisthetrouble？"
"Itisquiteasecret。ItisthathemayrefusetomarryThomasinYeobrightafterall。"
Eustacia，thoughsetinwardlypulsingbyhiswords，wasequaltoherpartinsuchadramaasthis。
Sherepliedcoldly，"Idonotwishtolistentothis，andyoumustnotexpectmetointerfere。"
"But，miss，youwillhearoneword？"
"Icannot。Iamnotinterestedinthemarriage，andevenifIwereIcouldnotcompelMr。Wildevetodomybidding。"
"AstheonlyladyontheheathIthinkyoumight，"saidVennwithsubtleindirectness。"Thisishowthecasestands。
Mr。WildevewouldmarryThomasinatonce，andmakeallmatterssmooth，ifsobetherewerenotanotherwomaninthecase。Thisotherwomanissomepersonhehaspickedupwith，andmeetsontheheathoccasionally，Ibelieve。Hewillnevermarryher，andyetthroughherhemaynevermarrythewomanwholoveshimdearly。
Now，ifyou，miss，whohavesomuchswayoverusmenfolk，weretoinsistthatheshouldtreatyouryoungneighbourTamsinwithhonourablekindnessandgiveuptheotherwoman，hewouldperhapsdoit，andsaveheragooddealofmisery。"
"Ah，mylife！"saidEustacia，withalaughwhichunclosedherlipssothatthesunshoneintohermouthasintoatulip，andlentitasimilarscarletfire。"Youthinktoomuchofmyinfluenceovermenfolkindeed，reddleman。
IfIhadsuchapowerasyouimagineIwouldgostraightanduseitforthegoodofanybodywhohasbeenkindtome——whichThomasinYeobrighthasnotparticularly，tomyknowledge。"
"Canitbethatyoureallydon’tknowofit——howmuchshehadalwaysthoughtofyou？"
"Ihaveneverheardawordofit。AlthoughweliveonlytwomilesapartIhaveneverbeeninsideheraunt’shouseinmylife。"
ThesuperciliousnessthatlurkedinhermannertoldVennthatthusfarhehadutterlyfailed。Heinwardlysighedandfeltitnecessarytounmaskhissecondargument。
"Well，leavingthatoutofthequestion，’tisinyourpower，Iassureyou，MissVye，todoagreatdealofgoodtoanotherwoman。"
Sheshookherhead。
"YourcomelinessislawwithMr。Wildeve。Itislawwithallmenwhosee’ee。Theysay，’Thiswell—
favouredladycoming——what’shername？Howhandsome！’
HandsomerthanThomasinYeobright，"thereddlemanpersisted，sayingtohimself，"Godforgivearascalforlying！"Andshewashandsomer，butthereddlemanwasfarfromthinkingso。
TherewasacertainobscurityinEustacia’sbeauty，andVenn’seyewasnottrained。Inherwinterdress，asnow，shewaslikethetiger—beetle，which，whenobservedindullsituations，seemstobeofthequietestneutralcolour，butunderafullilluminationblazeswithdazzlingsplendour。
Eustaciacouldnothelpreplying，thoughconsciousthatsheendangeredherdignitythereby。"ManywomenarelovelierthanThomasin，"shesaid，"sonotmuchattachestothat。"
Thereddlemansufferedthewoundandwenton："Heisamanwhonoticesthelooksofwomen，andyoucouldtwisthimtoyourwilllikewithywind，ifyouonlyhadthemind。"
"SurelywhatshecannotdowhohasbeensomuchwithhimIcannotdolivinguphereawayfromhim。"
Thereddlemanwheeledandlookedherintheface。
"MissVye！"hesaid。
"Whydoyousaythat——asifyoudoubtedme？"Shespokefaintly，andherbreathingwasquick。"Theideaofyourspeakinginthattonetome！"sheadded，withaforcedsmileofhauteur。
"Whatcouldhavebeeninyourmindtoleadyoutospeaklikethat？"
"MissVye，whyshouldyoumakebelievethatyoudon’tknowthisman？——Iknowwhy，certainly。Heisbeneathyou，andyouareashamed。"
"Youaremistaken。Whatdoyoumean？"
Thereddlemanhaddecidedtoplaythecardoftruth。
"IwasatthemeetingbyRainbarrowlastnightandheardeveryword，"hesaid。"ThewomanthatstandsbetweenWildeveandThomasinisyourself。"
Itwasadisconcertingliftofthecurtain，andthemortificationofCandaules’wifeglowedinher。
Themomenthadarrivedwhenherlipwouldtrembleinspiteofherself，andwhenthegaspcouldnolongerbekeptdown。
"Iamunwell，"shesaidhurriedly。"No——itisnotthat——I
amnotinahumourtohearyoufurther。Leaveme，please。"
"Imustspeak，MissVye，inspiteofpainingyou。
WhatIwouldputbeforeyouisthis。Howeveritmaycomeabout——whethersheistoblame，oryou——hercaseiswithoutdoubtworsethanyours。YourgivingupMr。Wildevewillbearealadvantagetoyou，forhowcouldyoumarryhim？
Nowshecannotgetoffsoeasily——everybodywillblameherifsheloseshim。ThenIaskyou——notbecauseherrightisbest，butbecausehersituationisworst——togivehimuptoher。"
"No——Iwon’t，Iwon’t！"shesaidimpetuously，quiteforgetfulofherpreviousmannertowardsthereddlemanasanunderling。
"Nobodyhaseverbeenservedso！Itwasgoingonwell——I
willnotbebeatendown——byaninferiorwomanlikeher。
Itisverywellforyoutocomeandpleadforher，butisshenotherselfthecauseofallherowntrouble？
AmInottoshowfavourtoanypersonImaychoosewithoutaskingpermissionofaparcelofcottagers？Shehascomebetweenmeandmyinclination，andnowthatshefindsherselfrightlypunishedshegetsyoutopleadforher！"
"Indeed，"saidVennearnestly，"sheknowsnothingwhateveraboutit。ItisonlyIwhoaskyoutogivehimup。
Itwillbebetterforherandyouboth。Peoplewillsaybadthingsiftheyfindoutthataladysecretlymeetsamanwhohasill—usedanotherwoman。"
"IhaveNOTinjuredher——hewasminebeforehewashers！Hecameback——because——becausehelikedmebest！"
shesaidwildly。"ButIloseallself—respectintalkingtoyou。WhatamIgivingwayto！"
"Icankeepsecrets，"saidVenngently。"Youneednotfear。
Iamtheonlymanwhoknowsofyourmeetingswithhim。
Thereisbutonethingmoretospeakof，andthenIwillbegone。Iheardyousaytohimthatyouhatedlivinghere——thatEgdonHeathwasajailtoyou。"
"Ididsayso。Thereisasortofbeautyinthescenery，Iknow；butitisajailtome。Themanyoumentiondoesnotsavemefromthatfeeling，thoughheliveshere。
Ishouldhavecarednothingforhimhadtherebeenabetterpersonnear。"
Thereddlemanlookedhopeful；afterthesewordsfromherhisthirdattemptseemedpromising。"Aswehavenowopenedourmindsabit，miss，"hesaid，"I’lltellyouwhatIhavegottopropose。SinceIhavetakentothereddletradeItravelagooddeal，asyouknow。"
Sheinclinedherhead，andsweptroundsothathereyesrestedinthemistyvalebeneaththem。
"AndinmytravelsIgonearBudmouth。NowBudmouthisawonderfulplace——wonderful——agreatsaltsheeningseabendingintothelandlikeabow——thousandsofgentlepeoplewalkingupanddown——bandsofmusicplaying——officersbyseaandofficersbylandwalkingamongtherest——outofeverytenfolksyoumeetnineof’eminlove。"
"Iknowit，"shesaiddisdainfully。"IknowBudmouthbetterthanyou。Iwasbornthere。Myfathercametobeamilitarymusiciantherefromabroad。Ah，mysoul，Budmouth！IwishIwastherenow。"
Thereddlemanwassurprisedtoseehowaslowfirecouldblazeonoccasion。"Ifyouwere，miss，"hereplied，"inaweek’stimeyouwouldthinknomoreofWildevethanofoneofthosehe’th—croppersthatweseeyond。
Now，Icouldgetyouthere。"
"How？"saidEustacia，withintensecuriosityinherheavyeyes。
"Myunclehasbeenforfiveandtwentyyearsthetrustymanofarichwidow—ladywhohasabeautifulhousefacingthesea。Thisladyhasbecomeoldandlame，andshewantsayoungcompany—keepertoreadandsingtoher，butcan’tgetonetohermindtosaveherlife，thoughshe’veadvertisedinthepapers，andtriedhalfadozen。Shewouldjumptogetyou，andUnclewouldmakeitalleasy。"
"Ishouldhavetowork，perhaps？"
"No，notrealwork——you’dhavealittletodo，suchasreadingandthat。YouwouldnotbewantedtillNewYear’sDay。"
"Iknewitmeantwork，"shesaid，droopingtolanguoragain。
"Iconfesstherewouldbeatrifletodointhewayofamusingher；butthoughidlepeoplemightcallitwork，workingpeoplewouldcallitplay。Thinkofthecompanyandthelifeyou’dlead，miss；thegaietyyou’dsee，andthegentlemanyou’dmarry。Myuncleistoinquireforatrustworthyyoungladyfromthecountry，asshedon’tliketowngirls。"
"Itistowearmyselfouttopleaseher！andIwon’tgo。
O，ifIcouldliveinagaytownasaladyshould，andgomyownways，anddomyowndoings，I’dgivethewrinkledhalfofmylife！Yes，reddleman，thatwouldI。"
"HelpmetogetThomasinhappy，miss，andthechanceshallbeyours，"urgedhercompanion。
"Chance——’tisnochance，"shesaidproudly。"Whatcanapoormanlikeyouofferme，indeed？——Iamgoingindoors。
Ihavenothingmoretosay。Don’tyourhorseswantfeeding，oryourreddlebagswantmending，ordon’tyouwanttofindbuyersforyourgoods，thatyoustayidlingherelikethis？"
Vennspokenotanotherword。Withhishandsbehindhimheturnedaway，thatshemightnotseethehopelessdisappointmentinhisface。Thementalclearnessandpowerhehadfoundinthislonelygirlhadindeedfilledhismannerwithmisgivingevenfromthefirstfewminutesofclosequarterswithher。Heryouthandsituationhadledhimtoexpectasimplicityquiteatthebeckofhismethod。
ButasystemofinducementwhichmighthavecarriedweakercountrylassesalongwithithadmerelyrepelledEustacia。
Asarule，thewordBudmouthmeantfascinationonEgdon。
ThatRoyalportandwateringplace，iftrulymirroredinthemindsoftheheathfolk，musthavecombined，inacharmingandindescribablemanneraCarthaginianbustleofbuildingwithTarentineluxuriousnessandBaianhealthandbeauty。
Eustaciafeltlittlelessextravagantlyabouttheplace；
butshewouldnotsinkherindependencetogetthere。
WhenDiggoryVennhadgonequiteaway，Eustaciawalkedtothebankandlookeddownthewildandpicturesquevaletowardsthesun，whichwasalsointhedirectionofWildeve’s。Themisthadnowsofarcollapsedthatthetipsofthetreesandbushesaroundhishousecouldjustbediscerned，asifboringupwardsthroughavastwhitecobwebwhichcloakedthemfromtheday。
Therewasnodoubtthathermindwasinclinedthitherward；
indefinitely，fancifully——twininganduntwiningabouthimasthesingleobjectwithinherhorizononwhichdreamsmightcrystallize。Themanwhohadbegunbybeingmerelyheramusement，andwouldneverhavebeenmorethanherhobbybutforhisskillindesertingherattherightmoments，wasnowagainherdesire。
Cessationinhislove—makinghadrevivifiedherlove。
SuchfeelingasEustaciahadidlygiventoWildevewasdammedintoafloodbyThomasin。ShehadusedtoteaseWildeve，butthatwasbeforeanotherhadfavouredhim。Oftenadropofironyintoanindifferentsituationrendersthewholepiquant。
"Iwillnevergivehimup——never！"shesaidimpetuously。
Thereddleman’shintthatrumourmightshowhertodisadvantagehadnopermanentterrorforEustacia。Shewasasunconcernedatthatcontingencyasagoddessatalackoflinen。