¡¡then¡¡came¡¡on¡¡again¡£¡¡
¡°Eustacia£¿¡±¡¡said¡¡Wildeve¡£¡¡
The¡¡person¡¡came¡¡forward£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡light¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡Clym£»¡¡glistening¡¡with¡¡wet£»¡¡whom¡¡Wildeve¡¡immediately¡¡recognized£»¡¡but¡¡Wildeve£»¡¡who¡¡stood¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡lamp£»¡¡was¡¡not¡¡at¡¡once¡¡recognized¡¡by¡¡Yeobright¡£
He¡¡stopped¡¡as¡¡if¡¡in¡¡doubt¡¡whether¡¡this¡¡waiting¡¡vehicle¡¡could¡¡have¡¡anything¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡the¡¡flight¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡or¡¡not¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡Yeobright¡¡at¡¡once¡¡banished¡¡Wildeve¡¯s¡¡sober¡¡feelings£»¡¡who¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡again¡¡as¡¡the¡¡deadly¡¡rival¡¡from¡¡whom¡¡Eustacia¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡kept¡¡at¡¡all¡¡hazards¡£¡¡¡¡Hence¡¡Wildeve¡¡did¡¡not¡¡speak£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡Clym¡¡would¡¡pass¡¡by¡¡without¡¡particular¡¡inquiry¡£¡¡
While¡¡they¡¡both¡¡hung¡¡thus¡¡in¡¡hesitation¡¡a¡¡dull¡¡sound¡¡became¡¡audible¡¡above¡¡the¡¡storm¡¡and¡¡wind¡£¡¡¡¡Its¡¡origin¡¡was¡¡unmistakable¡ªit¡¡was¡¡the¡¡fall¡¡of¡¡a¡¡body¡¡into¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡in¡¡the¡¡adjoining¡¡mead£»¡¡apparently¡¡at¡¡a¡¡point¡¡near¡¡the¡¡weir¡£¡¡
Both¡¡started¡£¡¡¡¡¡°Good¡¡God£¡¡¡can¡¡it¡¡be¡¡she£¿¡±¡¡said¡¡Clym¡£¡¡
¡°Why¡¡should¡¡it¡¡be¡¡she£¿¡±¡¡said¡¡Wildeve£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡alarm¡¡forgetting¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡hitherto¡¡screened¡¡himself¡£¡¡
¡°Ah£¡that¡¯s¡¡you£»¡¡you¡¡traitor£»¡¡is¡¡it£¿¡±¡¡cried¡¡Yeobright¡£¡¡¡¡¡°Why¡¡should¡¡it¡¡be¡¡she£¿¡¡¡¡Because¡¡last¡¡week¡¡she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡put¡¡an¡¡end¡¡to¡¡her¡¡life¡¡if¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡able¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡watched£¡¡¡Take¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lamps¡¡and¡¡e¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡±
Yeobright¡¡seized¡¡the¡¡one¡¡on¡¡his¡¡side¡¡and¡¡hastened¡¡on£»
Wildeve¡¡did¡¡not¡¡wait¡¡to¡¡unfasten¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡but¡¡followed¡¡at¡¡once¡¡along¡¡the¡¡meadow¡¡track¡¡to¡¡the¡¡weir£»¡¡a¡¡little¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rear¡¡of¡¡Clym¡£¡¡
Shadwater¡¡Weir¡¡had¡¡at¡¡its¡¡foot¡¡a¡¡large¡¡circular¡¡pool£»¡¡fifty¡¡feet¡¡in¡¡diameter£»¡¡into¡¡which¡¡the¡¡water¡¡flowed¡¡through¡¡ten¡¡huge¡¡hatches£»¡¡raised¡¡and¡¡lowered¡¡by¡¡a¡¡winch¡¡and¡¡cogs¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ordinary¡¡manner¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pool¡¡were¡¡of¡¡masonry£»¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡water¡¡from¡¡washing¡¡away¡¡the¡¡bank£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡force¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡in¡¡winter¡¡was¡¡sometimes¡¡such¡¡as¡¡to¡¡undermine¡¡the¡¡retaining¡¡wall¡¡and¡¡precipitate¡¡it¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hole¡£¡¡¡¡Clym¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡hatches£»¡¡the¡¡framework¡¡of¡¡which¡¡was¡¡shaken¡¡to¡¡its¡¡foundations¡¡by¡¡the¡¡velocity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡current¡£¡¡¡¡Nothing¡¡but¡¡the¡¡froth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡waves¡¡could¡¡be¡¡discerned¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pool¡¡below¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡got¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡plank¡¡bridge¡¡over¡¡the¡¡race£»¡¡and¡¡holding¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rail£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡might¡¡not¡¡blow¡¡him¡¡off£»¡¡crossed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡he¡¡leant¡¡over¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡and¡¡lowered¡¡the¡¡lamp£»¡¡only¡¡to¡¡behold¡¡the¡¡vortex¡¡formed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡curl¡¡of¡¡the¡¡returning¡¡current¡£¡¡
Wildeve¡¡meanwhile¡¡had¡¡arrived¡¡on¡¡the¡¡former¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡light¡¡from¡¡Yeobright¡¯s¡¡lamp¡¡shed¡¡a¡¡flecked¡¡and¡¡agitated¡¡radiance¡¡across¡¡the¡¡weir¡¡pool£»¡¡revealing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ex¡engineer¡¡the¡¡tumbling¡¡courses¡¡of¡¡the¡¡currents¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hatches¡¡above¡£¡¡¡¡Across¡¡this¡¡gashed¡¡and¡¡puckered¡¡mirror¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡body¡¡was¡¡slowly¡¡borne¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡backward¡¡currents¡£¡¡
¡°O£»¡¡my¡¡darling£¡¡±¡¡exclaimed¡¡Wildeve¡¡in¡¡an¡¡agonized¡¡voice£»¡¡and£»¡¡without¡¡showing¡¡sufficient¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡mind¡¡even¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡off¡¡his¡¡greatcoat£»¡¡he¡¡leaped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡boiling¡¡caldron¡£¡¡
Yeobright¡¡could¡¡now¡¡also¡¡discern¡¡the¡¡floating¡¡body£»¡¡though¡¡but¡¡indistinctly£»¡¡and¡¡imagining¡¡from¡¡Wildeve¡¯s¡¡plunge¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡life¡¡to¡¡be¡¡saved¡¡he¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡leap¡¡after¡£¡¡¡¡Bethinking¡¡himself¡¡of¡¡a¡¡wiser¡¡plan£»¡¡he¡¡placed¡¡the¡¡lamp¡¡against¡¡a¡¡post¡¡to¡¡make¡¡it¡¡stand¡¡upright£»¡¡and¡¡running¡¡round¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pool£»¡¡where¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡wall£»¡¡he¡¡sprang¡¡in¡¡and¡¡boldly¡¡waded¡¡upwards¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡deeper¡¡portion¡£¡¡¡¡Here¡¡he¡¡was¡¡taken¡¡off¡¡his¡¡legs£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡swimming¡¡was¡¡carried¡¡round¡¡into¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡basin£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡perceived¡¡Wildeve¡¡struggling¡£¡¡
While¡¡these¡¡hasty¡¡actions¡¡were¡¡in¡¡progress¡¡here£»¡¡Venn¡¡and¡¡Thomasin¡¡had¡¡been¡¡toiling¡¡through¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heath¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡light¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡near¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡the¡¡river¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡plunge£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡removal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡carriage¡¡lamp£»¡¡and¡¡watched¡¡its¡¡motion¡¡into¡¡the¡¡mead¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡car¡¡and¡¡horse¡¡Venn¡¡guessed¡¡that¡¡something¡¡new¡¡was¡¡amiss£»¡¡and¡¡hastened¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡the¡¡moving¡¡light¡£¡¡¡¡Venn¡¡walked¡¡faster¡¡than¡¡Thomasin£»¡¡and¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡weir¡¡alone¡£¡¡
The¡¡lamp¡¡placed¡¡against¡¡the¡¡post¡¡by¡¡Clym¡¡still¡¡shone¡¡across¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡reddleman¡¡observed¡¡something¡¡floating¡¡motionless¡£¡¡¡¡Being¡¡encumbered¡¡with¡¡the¡¡infant£»¡¡he¡¡ran¡¡back¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡Thomasin¡£
¡°Take¡¡the¡¡baby£»¡¡please£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Wildeve£»¡±¡¡he¡¡said¡¡hastily¡£¡¡¡¡¡°Run¡¡home¡¡with¡¡her£»¡¡call¡¡the¡¡stable¡¡lad£»¡¡and¡¡make¡¡him¡¡send¡¡down¡¡to¡¡me¡¡any¡¡men¡¡who¡¡may¡¡be¡¡living¡¡near¡£¡¡¡¡Somebody¡¡has¡¡fallen¡¡into¡¡the¡¡weir¡£¡±
Thomasin¡¡took¡¡the¡¡child¡¡and¡¡ran¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡she¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡covered¡¡car¡¡the¡¡horse£»¡¡though¡¡fresh¡¡from¡¡the¡¡stable£»¡¡was¡¡standing¡¡perfectly¡¡still£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡misfortune¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡saw¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡whose¡¡it¡¡was¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡nearly¡¡fainted£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡proceed¡¡another¡¡step¡¡but¡¡that¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡of¡¡preserving¡¡the¡¡little¡¡girl¡¡from¡¡harm¡¡nerved¡¡her¡¡to¡¡an¡¡amazing¡¡self¡control¡£¡¡In¡¡this¡¡agony¡¡of¡¡suspense¡¡she¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡put¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡in¡¡a¡¡place¡¡of¡¡safety£»¡¡woke¡¡the¡¡lad¡¡and¡¡the¡¡female¡¡domestic£»¡¡and¡¡ran¡¡out¡¡to¡¡give¡¡the¡¡alarm¡¡at¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡cottage¡£¡¡
Diggory£»¡¡having¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡brink¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pool£»¡¡observed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡small¡¡upper¡¡hatches¡¡or¡¡floats¡¡were¡¡withdrawn¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡found¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these¡¡lying¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡grass£»¡¡and¡¡taking¡¡it¡¡under¡¡one¡¡arm£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡his¡¡lantern¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand£»¡¡entered¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pool¡¡as¡¡Clym¡¡had¡¡done¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡began¡¡to¡¡be¡¡in¡¡deep¡¡water¡¡he¡¡flung¡¡himself¡¡across¡¡the¡¡hatch£»¡¡thus¡¡supported¡¡he¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡afloat¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡he¡¡chose£»¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡lantern¡¡aloft¡¡with¡¡his¡¡disengaged¡¡hand¡£¡¡¡¡Propelled¡¡by¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡he¡¡steered¡¡round¡¡and¡¡round¡¡the¡¡pool£»¡¡ascending¡¡each¡¡time¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡back¡¡streams¡¡and¡¡descending¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡current¡£¡¡
At¡¡first¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see¡¡nothing¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡amidst¡¡the¡¡glistening¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whirlpools¡¡and¡¡the¡¡white¡¡clots¡¡of¡¡foam¡¡he¡¡distinguished¡¡a¡¡woman¡¯s¡¡bonnet¡¡floating¡¡alone¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡search¡¡was¡¡now¡¡under¡¡the¡¡left¡¡wall£»¡¡when¡¡something¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡almost¡¡close¡¡beside¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡expected£»¡¡a¡¡woman£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡reddleman¡¡put¡¡the¡¡ring¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lantern¡¡between¡¡his¡¡teeth£»¡¡seized¡¡the¡¡floating¡¡man¡¡by¡¡the¡¡collar£»¡¡and£»¡¡holding¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hatch¡¡with¡¡his¡¡remaining¡¡arm£»¡¡struck¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡strongest¡¡race£»¡¡by¡¡which¡¡the¡¡unconscious¡¡man£»¡¡the¡¡hatch£»¡¡and¡¡himself¡¡were¡¡carried¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stream¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡Venn¡¡found¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡dragging¡¡over¡¡the¡¡pebbles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shallower¡¡part¡¡below¡¡he¡¡secured¡¡his¡¡footing¡¡and¡¡waded¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡brink¡£¡¡¡¡There£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡water¡¡stood¡¡at¡¡about¡¡the¡¡height¡¡of¡¡his¡¡waist£»¡¡he¡¡flung¡¡away¡¡the¡¡hatch£»¡¡and¡¡attempted¡¡to¡¡drag¡¡forth¡¡the¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡great¡¡difficulty£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡found¡¡as¡¡the¡¡reason¡¡that¡¡the¡¡legs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡unfortunate¡¡stranger¡¡were¡¡tightly¡¡embraced¡¡by¡¡the¡¡arms¡¡of¡¡another¡¡man£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡hitherto¡¡been¡¡entirely¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡surface¡£¡¡
At¡¡this¡¡moment¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡bounded¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡footsteps¡¡running¡¡towards¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡two¡¡men£»¡¡roused¡¡by¡¡Thomasin£»¡¡appeared¡¡at¡¡the¡¡brink¡¡above¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡ran¡¡to¡¡where¡¡Venn¡¡was£»¡¡and¡¡helped¡¡him¡¡in¡¡lifting¡¡out¡¡the¡¡apparently¡¡drowned¡¡persons£»¡¡separating¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡laying¡¡them¡¡out¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡grass¡£¡¡¡¡Venn¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡light¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡faces¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡one¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡uppermost¡¡was¡¡Yeobright£»¡¡he¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡pletely¡¡submerged¡¡was¡¡Wildeve¡£¡¡
¡°Now¡¡we¡¡must¡¡search¡¡the¡¡hole¡¡again£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Venn¡£¡¡
¡°A¡¡woman¡¡is¡¡in¡¡there¡¡somewhere¡£¡¡¡¡Get¡¡a¡¡pole¡£¡±
One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡footbridge¡¡and¡¡tore¡¡off¡¡the¡¡handrail¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡reddleman¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two¡¡others¡¡then¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡water¡¡together¡¡from¡¡below¡¡as¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡their¡¡united¡¡force¡¡probed¡¡the¡¡pool¡¡forwards¡¡to¡¡where¡¡it¡¡sloped¡¡down¡¡to¡¡its¡¡central¡¡depth¡£¡¡¡¡Venn¡¡was¡¡not¡¡mistaken¡¡in¡¡supposing¡¡that¡¡any¡¡person¡¡who¡¡had¡¡sunk¡¡for¡¡the¡¡last¡¡time¡¡would¡¡be¡¡washed¡¡down¡¡to¡¡this¡¡point£»¡¡for¡¡when¡¡they¡¡had¡¡examined¡¡to¡¡about¡¡halfway¡¡across¡¡something¡¡impeded¡¡their¡¡thrust¡£¡¡
¡°Pull¡¡it¡¡forward£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Venn£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡raked¡¡it¡¡in¡¡with¡¡the¡¡pole¡¡till¡¡it¡¡was¡¡close¡¡to¡¡their¡¡feet¡£¡¡
Venn¡¡vanished¡¡under¡¡the¡¡stream£»¡¡and¡¡came¡¡up¡¡with¡¡an¡¡armful¡¡of¡¡wet¡¡drapery¡¡enclosing¡¡a¡¡woman¡¯s¡¡cold¡¡form£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡all¡¡that¡¡remained¡¡of¡¡the¡¡desperate¡¡Eustacia¡£¡¡
When¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡there¡¡stood¡¡Thomasin£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡stress¡¡of¡¡grief£»¡¡bending¡¡over¡¡the¡¡two¡¡unconscious¡¡ones¡¡who¡¡already¡¡lay¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡cart¡¡were¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡point¡¡in¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡only¡¡to¡¡place¡¡the¡¡three¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vehicle¡£¡¡¡¡Venn¡¡led¡¡on¡¡the¡¡horse£»¡¡supporting¡¡Thomasin¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡arm£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡followed£»¡¡till¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡inn¡£
The¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡shaken¡¡out¡¡of¡¡her¡¡sleep¡¡by¡¡Thomasin¡¡had¡¡hastily¡¡dressed¡¡herself¡¡and¡¡lighted¡¡a¡¡fire£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡servant¡¡being¡¡left¡¡to¡¡snore¡¡on¡¡in¡¡peace¡¡at¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡insensible¡¡forms¡¡of¡¡Eustacia£»¡¡Clym£»¡¡and¡¡Wildeve¡¡were¡¡then¡¡brought¡¡in¡¡and¡¡laid¡¡on¡¡the¡¡carpet£»¡¡with¡¡their¡¡feet¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡when¡¡such¡¡restorative¡¡processes¡¡as¡¡could¡¡be¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡were¡¡adopted¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡the¡¡stableman¡¡being¡¡in¡¡the¡¡meantime¡¡sent¡¡for¡¡a¡¡doctor¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡there¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡not¡¡a¡¡whiff¡¡of¡¡life¡¡in¡¡either¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bodies¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡Thomasin£»¡¡whose¡¡stupor¡¡of¡¡grief¡¡had¡¡been¡¡thrust¡¡off¡¡awhile¡¡by¡¡frantic¡¡action£»¡¡applied¡¡a¡¡bottle¡¡of¡¡hartshorn¡¡to¡¡Clym¡¯s¡¡nostrils£»¡¡having¡¡tried¡¡it¡¡in¡¡vain¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡other¡¡two¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡sighed¡£¡¡
¡°Clym¡¯s¡¡alive£¡¡±¡¡she¡¡exclaimed¡£¡¡
He¡¡soon¡¡breathed¡¡distinctly£»¡¡and¡¡again¡¡and¡¡again¡¡did¡¡she¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡revive¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡by¡¡the¡¡same¡¡means£»¡¡but¡¡Wildeve¡¡gave¡¡no¡¡sign¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡too¡¡much¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡he¡¡and¡¡Eustacia¡¡both¡¡were¡¡for¡¡ever¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡reach¡¡of¡¡stimulating¡¡perfumes¡£¡¡¡¡Their¡¡exertions¡¡did¡¡not¡¡relax¡¡till¡¡the¡¡doctor¡¡arrived£»¡¡when¡¡one¡¡by¡¡one£»¡¡the¡¡senseless¡¡three¡¡were¡¡taken¡¡upstairs¡¡and¡¡put¡¡into¡¡warm¡¡beds¡£¡¡
Venn¡¡soon¡¡felt¡¡himself¡¡relieved¡¡from¡¡further¡¡attendance£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡scarcely¡¡able¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡realize¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡catastrophe¡¡that¡¡had¡¡befallen¡¡the¡¡family¡¡in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡took¡¡so¡¡great¡¡an¡¡interest¡£¡¡¡¡Thomasin¡¡surely¡¡would¡¡be¡¡broken¡¡down¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sudden¡¡and¡¡overwhelming¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡this¡¡event¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡firm¡¡and¡¡sensible¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Yeobright¡¡lived¡¡now¡¡to¡¡support¡¡the¡¡gentle¡¡girl¡¡through¡¡the¡¡ordeal£»¡¡and£»¡¡whatever¡¡an¡¡unimpassioned¡¡spectator¡¡might¡¡think¡¡of¡¡her¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡husband¡¡as¡¡Wildeve£»¡¡there¡¡could¡¡be¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡for¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡she¡¡was¡¡distracted¡¡and¡¡horrified¡¡by¡¡the¡¡blow¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡for¡¡himself£»¡¡not¡¡being¡¡privileged¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡her¡¡and¡¡fort¡¡her£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡no¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡waiting¡¡longer¡¡in¡¡a¡¡house¡¡where¡¡he¡¡remained¡¡only¡¡as¡¡a¡¡stranger¡£¡¡
He¡¡returned¡¡across¡¡the¡¡heath¡¡to¡¡his¡¡van¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡fire¡¡was¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡everything¡¡remained¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡left¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Venn¡¡now¡¡bethought¡¡himself¡¡of¡¡his¡¡clothes£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡saturated¡¡with¡¡water¡¡to¡¡the¡¡weight¡¡of¡¡lead¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡changed¡¡them£»¡¡spread¡¡them¡¡before¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡and¡¡lay¡¡down¡¡to¡¡sleep¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡more¡¡than¡¡he¡¡could¡¡do¡¡to¡¡rest¡¡here¡¡while¡¡excited¡¡by¡¡a¡¡vivid¡¡imagination¡¡of¡¡the¡¡turmoil¡¡they¡¡were¡¡in¡¡at¡¡the¡¡house¡¡he¡¡had¡¡quitted£»¡¡and£»¡¡blaming¡¡himself¡¡for¡¡ing¡¡away£»¡¡he¡¡dressed¡¡in¡¡another¡¡suit£»¡¡locked¡¡up¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡again¡¡hastened¡¡across¡¡to¡¡the¡¡inn¡£¡¡¡¡Rain¡¡was¡¡still¡¡falling¡¡heavily¡¡when¡¡he¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡bright¡¡fire¡¡was¡¡shining¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hearth£»¡¡and¡¡two¡¡women¡¡were¡¡bustling¡¡about£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡was¡¡Olly¡¡Dowden¡£¡¡
¡°Well£»¡¡how¡¡is¡¡it¡¡going¡¡on¡¡now£¿¡±¡¡said¡¡Venn¡¡in¡¡a¡¡whisper¡£¡¡
¡°Mr¡£¡¡Yeobright¡¡is¡¡better£»¡¡but¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Yeobright¡¡and¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Wildeve¡¡are¡¡dead¡¡and¡¡cold¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡doctor¡¡says¡¡they¡¡were¡¡quite¡¡gone¡¡before¡¡they¡¡were¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡water¡£¡±
¡°Ah£¡¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡as¡¡much¡¡when¡¡I¡¡hauled¡¡¡®em¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Wildeve£¿¡±
¡°She¡¡is¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡can¡¡be¡¡expected¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡doctor¡¡had¡¡her¡¡put¡¡between¡¡blankets£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡wet¡¡as¡¡they¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡poor¡¡young¡¡thing¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡don¡¯t¡¡seem¡¡very¡¡dry£»¡¡reddleman¡£¡±
¡°Oh£»¡¡¡®tis¡¡not¡¡much¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡changed¡¡my¡¡things¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡only¡¡a¡¡little¡¡dampness¡¡I¡¯ve¡¡got¡¡ing¡¡through¡¡the¡¡rain¡¡again¡£¡±
¡°Stand¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fire¡£¡¡¡¡Mis¡¯ess¡¡says¡¡yo