Venn¡¡started¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡seen¡¡her¡ªartful¡¡man¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡ªand¡¡said£»¡¡¡°Yes¡£¡±
¡°Will¡¡you¡¡e¡¡in£¿¡±
¡°I¡¡am¡¡afraid¡¡that¡¡I¡ª¡°
¡°I¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡you¡¡dancing¡¡this¡¡evening£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡had¡¡the¡¡very¡¡best¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girls¡¡for¡¡your¡¡partners¡£¡¡¡¡Is¡¡it¡¡that¡¡you¡¡won¡¯t¡¡e¡¡in¡¡because¡¡you¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡think¡¡over¡¡the¡¡past¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡enjoyment£¿¡±
¡°Well£»¡¡that¡¯s¡¡partly¡¡it£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Venn£»¡¡with¡¡ostentatious¡¡sentiment¡£¡¡¡¡¡°But¡¡the¡¡main¡¡reason¡¡why¡¡I¡¡am¡¡biding¡¡here¡¡like¡¡this¡¡is¡¡that¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡till¡¡the¡¡moon¡¡rises¡£¡±
¡°To¡¡see¡¡how¡¡pretty¡¡the¡¡Maypole¡¡looks¡¡in¡¡the¡¡moonlight£¿¡±
¡°No¡£¡¡To¡¡look¡¡for¡¡a¡¡glove¡¡that¡¡was¡¡dropped¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡maidens¡£¡±
Thomasin¡¡was¡¡speechless¡¡with¡¡surprise¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡some¡¡four¡¡or¡¡five¡¡miles¡¡to¡¡his¡¡home¡¡should¡¡wait¡¡here¡¡for¡¡such¡¡a¡¡reason¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡only¡¡one¡¡conclusion¡ªthe¡¡man¡¡must¡¡be¡¡amazingly¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡that¡¡glove¡¯s¡¡owner¡£¡¡
¡°Were¡¡you¡¡dancing¡¡with¡¡her£»¡¡Diggory£¿¡±¡¡she¡¡asked£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡which¡¡revealed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡made¡¡himself¡¡considerably¡¡more¡¡interesting¡¡to¡¡her¡¡by¡¡this¡¡disclosure¡£¡¡
¡°No£»¡±¡¡he¡¡sighed¡£¡¡
¡°And¡¡you¡¡will¡¡not¡¡e¡¡in£»¡¡then£¿¡±
¡°Not¡¡tonight£»¡¡thank¡¡you£»¡¡ma¡¯am¡£¡±
¡°Shall¡¡I¡¡lend¡¡you¡¡a¡¡lantern¡¡to¡¡look¡¡for¡¡the¡¡young¡¡person¡¯s¡¡glove£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Venn£¿¡±
¡°O¡¡no£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡necessary£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Wildeve£»¡¡thank¡¡you¡£¡¡
The¡¡moon¡¡will¡¡rise¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡£¡±
Thomasin¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡porch¡£¡¡¡¡¡°Is¡¡he¡¡ing¡¡in£¿¡±¡¡said¡¡Clym£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡waiting¡¡where¡¡she¡¡had¡¡left¡¡him¡£¡¡
¡°He¡¡would¡¡rather¡¡not¡¡tonight£»¡±¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡passed¡¡by¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡whereupon¡¡Clym¡¡too¡¡retired¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡rooms¡£¡¡
When¡¡Clym¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡Thomasin¡¡crept¡¡upstairs¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark£»¡¡and£»¡¡just¡¡listening¡¡by¡¡the¡¡cot£»¡¡to¡¡assure¡¡herself¡¡that¡¡the¡¡child¡¡was¡¡asleep£»¡¡she¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡gently¡¡lifted¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡white¡¡curtain£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡Venn¡¡was¡¡still¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡growth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡faint¡¡radiance¡¡appearing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡by¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡hill£»¡¡till¡¡presently¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡moon¡¡burst¡¡upwards¡¡and¡¡flooded¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡with¡¡light¡£¡¡¡¡Diggory¡¯s¡¡form¡¡was¡¡now¡¡distinct¡¡on¡¡the¡¡green£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡moving¡¡about¡¡in¡¡a¡¡bowed¡¡attitude£»¡¡evidently¡¡scanning¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡for¡¡the¡¡precious¡¡missing¡¡article£»¡¡walking¡¡in¡¡zigzags¡¡right¡¡and¡¡left¡¡till¡¡he¡¡should¡¡have¡¡passed¡¡over¡¡every¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ground¡£
¡°How¡¡very¡¡ridiculous£¡¡±¡¡Thomasin¡¡murmured¡¡to¡¡herself£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡tone¡¡which¡¡was¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡be¡¡satirical¡£¡¡¡¡¡°To¡¡think¡¡that¡¡a¡¡man¡¡should¡¡be¡¡so¡¡silly¡¡as¡¡to¡¡go¡¡mooning¡¡about¡¡like¡¡that¡¡for¡¡a¡¡girl¡¯s¡¡glove£¡¡¡A¡¡respectable¡¡dairyman£»¡¡too£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡money¡¡as¡¡he¡¡is¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡a¡¡pity£¡¡±
At¡¡last¡¡Venn¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡find¡¡it£»¡¡whereupon¡¡he¡¡stood¡¡up¡¡and¡¡raised¡¡it¡¡to¡¡his¡¡lips¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡placing¡¡it¡¡in¡¡his¡¡breastpocket¡ªthe¡¡nearest¡¡receptacle¡¡to¡¡a¡¡man¡¯s¡¡heart¡¡permitted¡¡by¡¡modern¡¡raiment¡ªhe¡¡ascended¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡in¡¡a¡¡mathematically¡¡direct¡¡line¡¡towards¡¡his¡¡distant¡¡home¡¡in¡¡the¡¡meadows¡£¡¡
2¡¡¡ Thomasin¡¡Walks¡¡in¡¡a¡¡Green¡¡Place¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Roman¡¡Road
Clym¡¡saw¡¡little¡¡of¡¡Thomasin¡¡for¡¡several¡¡days¡¡after¡¡this£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡they¡¡met¡¡she¡¡was¡¡more¡¡silent¡¡than¡¡usual¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡length¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡her¡¡what¡¡she¡¡was¡¡thinking¡¡of¡¡so¡¡intently¡£¡¡
¡°I¡¡am¡¡thoroughly¡¡perplexed£»¡±¡¡she¡¡said¡¡candidly¡£¡¡¡¡¡°I¡¡cannot¡¡for¡¡my¡¡life¡¡think¡¡who¡¡it¡¡is¡¡that¡¡Diggory¡¡Venn¡¡is¡¡so¡¡much¡¡in¡¡love¡¡with¡£¡¡¡¡None¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girls¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Maypole¡¡were¡¡good¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡she¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡there¡£¡±
Clym¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡imagine¡¡Venn¡¯s¡¡choice¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡but¡¡ceasing¡¡to¡¡be¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡the¡¡question¡¡he¡¡went¡¡on¡¡again¡¡with¡¡his¡¡gardening¡£¡¡
No¡¡clearing¡¡up¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mystery¡¡was¡¡granted¡¡her¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡one¡¡afternoon¡¡Thomasin¡¡was¡¡upstairs¡¡getting¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡a¡¡walk£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡had¡¡occasion¡¡to¡¡e¡¡to¡¡the¡¡landing¡¡and¡¡call¡¡¡°Rachel¡£¡±¡¡¡¡Rachel¡¡was¡¡a¡¡girl¡¡about¡¡thirteen£»¡¡who¡¡carried¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡out¡¡for¡¡airings£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡came¡¡upstairs¡¡at¡¡the¡¡call¡£¡¡
¡°Have¡¡you¡¡seen¡¡one¡¡of¡¡my¡¡last¡¡new¡¡gloves¡¡about¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡Rachel£¿¡±¡¡inquired¡¡Thomasin¡£¡¡¡¡¡°It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡fellow¡¡to¡¡this¡¡one¡£¡±
Rachel¡¡did¡¡not¡¡reply¡£¡¡
¡°Why¡¡don¡¯t¡¡you¡¡answer£¿¡±¡¡said¡¡her¡¡mistress¡£¡¡
¡°I¡¡think¡¡it¡¡is¡¡lost£»¡¡ma¡¯am¡£¡±
¡°Lost£¿¡¡¡¡Who¡¡lost¡¡it£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡worn¡¡them¡¡but¡¡once¡£¡±
Rachel¡¡appeared¡¡as¡¡one¡¡dreadfully¡¡troubled£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡last¡¡began¡¡to¡¡cry¡£¡¡¡¡¡°Please£»¡¡ma¡¯am£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡day¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Maypole¡¡I¡¡had¡¡none¡¡to¡¡wear£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡seed¡¡yours¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡would¡¡borrow¡¡¡®em¡£¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡hurt¡¡¡®em¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡but¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡got¡¡lost¡£¡¡¡¡Somebody¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡some¡¡money¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡another¡¡pair¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡go¡¡anywhere¡¡to¡¡get¡¡¡®em¡£¡±
¡°Who¡¯s¡¡somebody£¿¡±
¡°Mr¡£¡¡Venn¡£¡±
¡°Did¡¡he¡¡know¡¡it¡¡was¡¡my¡¡glove£¿¡±
¡°Yes¡£¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡£¡±
Thomasin¡¡was¡¡so¡¡surprised¡¡by¡¡the¡¡explanation¡¡that¡¡she¡¡quite¡¡forgot¡¡to¡¡lecture¡¡the¡¡girl£»¡¡who¡¡glided¡¡silently¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡Thomasin¡¡did¡¡not¡¡move¡¡further¡¡than¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡grass¡plat¡¡where¡¡the¡¡Maypole¡¡had¡¡stood¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡remained¡¡thinking£»¡¡then¡¡said¡¡to¡¡herself¡¡that¡¡she¡¡would¡¡not¡¡go¡¡out¡¡that¡¡afternoon£»¡¡but¡¡would¡¡work¡¡hard¡¡at¡¡the¡¡baby¡¯s¡¡unfinished¡¡lovely¡¡plaid¡¡frock£»¡¡cut¡¡on¡¡the¡¡cross¡¡in¡¡the¡¡newest¡¡fashion¡£¡¡¡¡How¡¡she¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡work¡¡hard£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡do¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡she¡¡had¡¡done¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡two¡¡hours£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡mystery¡¡to¡¡anyone¡¡not¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡the¡¡recent¡¡incident¡¡was¡¡of¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡divert¡¡her¡¡industry¡¡from¡¡a¡¡manual¡¡to¡¡a¡¡mental¡¡channel¡£¡¡
Next¡¡day¡¡she¡¡went¡¡her¡¡ways¡¡as¡¡usual£»¡¡and¡¡continued¡¡her¡¡custom¡¡of¡¡walking¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heath¡¡with¡¡no¡¡other¡¡panion¡¡than¡¡little¡¡Eustacia£»¡¡now¡¡of¡¡the¡¡age¡¡when¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡doubt¡¡with¡¡such¡¡characters¡¡whether¡¡they¡¡are¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡through¡¡the¡¡world¡¡on¡¡their¡¡hands¡¡or¡¡on¡¡their¡¡feet£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡they¡¡get¡¡into¡¡painful¡¡plications¡¡by¡¡trying¡¡both¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡very¡¡pleasant¡¡to¡¡Thomasin£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡had¡¡carried¡¡the¡¡child¡¡to¡¡some¡¡lonely¡¡place£»¡¡to¡¡give¡¡her¡¡a¡¡little¡¡private¡¡practice¡¡on¡¡the¡¡green¡¡turf¡¡and¡¡shepherd¡¯s¡thyme£»¡¡which¡¡formed¡¡a¡¡soft¡¡mat¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡headlong¡¡upon¡¡them¡¡when¡¡equilibrium¡¡was¡¡lost¡£
Once£»¡¡when¡¡engaged¡¡in¡¡this¡¡system¡¡of¡¡training£»¡¡and¡¡stooping¡¡to¡¡remove¡¡bits¡¡of¡¡stick£»¡¡fern¡stalks£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡such¡¡fragments¡¡from¡¡the¡¡child¡¯s¡¡path£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡journey¡¡might¡¡not¡¡be¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡an¡¡untimely¡¡end¡¡by¡¡some¡¡insuperable¡¡barrier¡¡a¡¡quarter¡¡of¡¡an¡¡inch¡¡high£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡alarmed¡¡by¡¡discovering¡¡that¡¡a¡¡man¡¡on¡¡horseback¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡close¡¡beside¡¡her£»¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡natural¡¡carpet¡¡having¡¡muffled¡¡the¡¡horse¡¯s¡¡tread¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡rider£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡Venn£»¡¡waved¡¡his¡¡hat¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air¡¡and¡¡bowed¡¡gallantly¡£¡¡
¡°Diggory£»¡¡give¡¡me¡¡my¡¡glove£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Thomasin£»¡¡whose¡¡manner¡¡it¡¡was¡¡under¡¡any¡¡circumstances¡¡to¡¡plunge¡¡into¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡a¡¡subject¡¡which¡¡engrossed¡¡her¡£
Venn¡¡immediately¡¡dismounted£»¡¡put¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡his¡¡breastpocket£»¡¡and¡¡handed¡¡the¡¡glove¡£¡¡
¡°Thank¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡very¡¡good¡¡of¡¡you¡¡to¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡±
¡°It¡¡is¡¡very¡¡good¡¡of¡¡you¡¡to¡¡say¡¡so¡£¡±
¡°O¡¡no¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡find¡¡you¡¡had¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Everybody¡¡gets¡¡so¡¡indifferent¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡know¡¡you¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡me¡£¡±
¡°If¡¡you¡¡had¡¡remembered¡¡what¡¡I¡¡was¡¡once¡¡you¡¡wouldn¡¯t¡¡have¡¡been¡¡surprised¡£¡±
¡°Ah£»¡¡no£»¡±¡¡she¡¡said¡¡quickly¡£¡¡¡¡¡°But¡¡men¡¡of¡¡your¡¡character¡¡are¡¡mostly¡¡so¡¡independent¡£¡±
¡°What¡¡is¡¡my¡¡character£¿¡±¡¡he¡¡asked¡£¡¡
¡°I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡exactly¡¡know£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Thomasin¡¡simply£»¡¡¡°except¡¡it¡¡is¡¡to¡¡cover¡¡up¡¡your¡¡feelings¡¡under¡¡a¡¡practical¡¡manner£»¡¡and¡¡only¡¡to¡¡show¡¡them¡¡when¡¡you¡¡are¡¡alone¡£¡±
¡°Ah£»¡¡how¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡that£¿¡±¡¡said¡¡Venn¡¡strategically¡£¡¡
¡°Because£»¡±¡¡said¡¡she£»¡¡stopping¡¡to¡¡put¡¡the¡¡little¡¡girl£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡get¡¡herself¡¡upside¡¡down£»¡¡right¡¡end¡¡up¡¡again£»¡¡¡°because¡¡I¡¡do¡£¡±
¡°You¡¡mustn¡¯t¡¡judge¡¡by¡¡folks¡¡in¡¡general£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Venn¡£¡¡
¡°Still¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡much¡¡what¡¡feelings¡¡are¡¡nowadays¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡got¡¡so¡¡mixed¡¡up¡¡with¡¡business¡¡of¡¡one¡¡sort¡¡and¡¡t¡¯other¡¡that¡¡my¡¡soft¡¡sentiments¡¡are¡¡gone¡¡off¡¡in¡¡vapour¡¡like¡£¡¡¡¡Yes£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡given¡¡up¡¡body¡¡and¡¡soul¡¡to¡¡the¡¡making¡¡of¡¡money¡£¡¡
Money¡¡is¡¡all¡¡my¡¡dream¡£¡±
¡°O¡¡Diggory£»¡¡how¡¡wicked£¡¡±¡¡said¡¡Thomasin¡¡reproachfully£»¡¡and¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡him¡¡in¡¡exact¡¡balance¡¡between¡¡taking¡¡his¡¡words¡¡seriously¡¡and¡¡judging¡¡them¡¡as¡¡said¡¡to¡¡tease¡¡her¡£¡¡
¡°Yes£»¡¡¡®tis¡¡rather¡¡a¡¡rum¡¡course£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Venn£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bland¡¡tone¡¡of¡¡one¡¡fortably¡¡resigned¡¡to¡¡sins¡¡he¡¡could¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡overe¡£¡¡
¡°You£»¡¡who¡¡used¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡nice£¡¡±
¡°Well£»¡¡that¡¯s¡¡an¡¡argument¡¡I¡¡rather¡¡like£»¡¡because¡¡what¡¡a¡¡man¡¡has¡¡once¡¡been¡¡he¡¡may¡¡be¡¡again¡£¡±¡¡¡¡Thomasin¡¡blushed¡£¡¡¡¡¡°Except¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡rather¡¡harder¡¡now£»¡±¡¡Venn¡¡continued¡£¡¡
¡°Why£¿¡±¡¡she¡¡asked¡£¡¡
¡°Because¡¡you¡¡be¡¡richer¡¡than¡¡you¡¡were¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡£¡±
¡°O¡¡no¡ªnot¡¡much¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡made¡¡it¡¡nearly¡¡all¡¡over¡¡to¡¡the¡¡baby£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡my¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡except¡¡just¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡live¡¡on¡£¡±
¡°I¡¡am¡¡rather¡¡glad¡¡of¡¡that£»¡±¡¡said¡¡Venn¡¡softly£»¡¡and¡¡regarding¡¡her¡¡from¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡his¡¡eye£»¡¡¡°for¡¡it¡¡makes¡¡it¡¡easier¡¡for¡¡us¡¡to¡¡be¡¡friendly¡£¡±
Thomasin¡¡blushed¡¡again£»¡¡and£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡few¡¡more¡¡words¡¡had¡¡been¡¡said¡¡of¡¡a¡¡not¡¡unpleasing¡¡kind£»¡¡Venn¡¡mounted¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡rode¡¡on¡£¡¡
This¡¡conversation¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hollow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heath¡¡near¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Roman¡¡road£»¡¡a¡¡place¡¡much¡¡frequented¡¡by¡¡Thomasin¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡it¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡observed¡¡that¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡in¡¡future¡¡walk¡¡that¡¡way¡¡less¡¡often¡¡from¡¡having¡¡met¡¡Venn¡¡there¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡Whether¡¡or¡¡not¡¡Venn¡¡abstained¡¡from¡¡riding¡¡thither¡¡because¡¡he¡¡had¡¡met¡¡Thomasin¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡place¡¡might¡¡easily¡¡have¡¡been¡¡guessed¡¡from¡¡her¡¡proceedings¡¡about¡¡two¡¡months¡¡later¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡year¡£¡¡
3¡¡¡ The¡¡Serious¡¡Discourse¡¡of¡¡Clym¡¡with¡¡His¡¡Cousin
Throughout¡¡this¡¡period¡¡Yeobright¡¡had¡¡more¡¡or¡¡less¡¡pondered¡¡on¡¡his¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡his¡¡cousin¡¡Thomasin¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡feeling¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡pitiful¡¡waste¡¡of¡¡sweet¡¡material¡¡if¡¡the¡¡tender¡natured¡¡thing¡¡should¡¡be¡¡doomed¡¡from¡¡this¡¡early¡¡stage¡¡of¡¡her¡¡life¡¡onwards¡¡to¡¡dribble¡¡away¡¡her¡¡winsome¡¡qualities¡¡on¡¡lonely¡¡gorse¡¡and¡¡fern¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡this¡¡as¡¡an¡¡economist¡¡merely£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡as¡¡a¡¡lover¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡passion¡¡for¡¡Eustacia¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡conserve¡¡of¡¡his¡¡whole¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡of¡¡that¡¡supreme¡¡quality¡¡left¡¡to¡¡bestow¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡far¡¡the¡¡obvious¡¡thing¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡entertain¡¡any¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡marriage¡¡with¡¡Thomasin£»¡¡even¡¡to¡¡oblige¡¡her¡£¡¡
But¡¡this¡¡was¡¡not¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡Years¡¡ago¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mother¡¯s¡¡mind¡¡a¡¡great¡¡fancy¡¡about¡¡Thomasin¡¡and¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡had¡¡not¡¡positively¡¡amounted¡¡to¡¡a¡¡desire£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡had¡¡always¡¡been¡¡a¡¡favourite¡¡dream¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡they¡¡should¡¡be¡¡man¡¡and¡¡wife¡¡in¡¡good¡¡time£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡happiness¡¡of¡¡neither¡¡were¡¡endangered¡¡thereby£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡fancy¡¡in¡¡question¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡that¡¡what¡¡course¡¡save¡¡one¡¡was¡¡there¡¡now¡¡left¡¡for¡¡any¡¡son¡¡who¡¡reverenced¡¡his¡¡mother¡¯s¡¡memory¡¡as¡¡Yeobright¡¡did£¿¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡an¡¡unfortunate¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡any¡¡particular¡¡whim¡¡of¡¡parents£»¡¡which¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡dispersed¡¡by¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¯s¡¡conversation¡¡during¡¡their¡¡lives£»¡¡bees¡¡sublimated¡¡by¡¡their¡¡deaths¡¡into¡¡a¡¡fiat¡¡the¡¡most¡¡absolute£»¡¡with¡¡such¡¡results¡¡to¡¡conscientious¡¡children¡¡as¡¡those¡¡parents£»¡¡had¡¡they¡¡lived£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to¡¡decry¡£¡¡
Had¡¡only¡¡Yeobright¡¯s¡¡own¡¡future¡¡been¡¡involved¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡proposed¡¡to¡¡Thomasin¡¡with¡¡a¡¡ready¡¡heart¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡lose¡¡by¡¡carrying¡¡out¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡mother¡¯s¡¡hope¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡dreaded¡¡to¡¡contemplate¡¡Thomasin¡¡wedded¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡corpse¡¡of¡¡a¡¡lover¡¡that¡¡he¡¡now¡¡felt¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡be¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡but¡¡three¡¡activities¡¡alive¡¡in¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡was¡¡his¡¡almost¡¡daily¡¡walk¡¡to¡¡the¡¡little¡¡graveyard¡¡wherein¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡lay£»¡¡another£»¡¡his¡¡just¡¡as¡¡frequent¡¡visits¡¡by¡¡night¡¡to¡¡the¡¡more¡¡distant¡¡enclosure¡¡which¡¡numbered¡¡his¡¡Eustacia¡¡among¡¡its¡¡dead£»¡¡the¡¡third¡¡was¡¡self¡preparation¡¡for¡¡a¡¡vocation¡¡which¡¡alone¡¡seemed¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡satisfy¡¡his¡¡cravings¡ªthat¡¡of¡¡an¡¡itinerant¡¡preacher¡¡of¡¡the¡¡eleventh¡¡mandment¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡Thomasin¡¡would¡¡be¡¡cheered¡¡by¡¡a¡¡husband¡¡with¡¡such¡¡tendencies¡¡as¡¡these¡£¡¡
Yet¡¡he¡¡resolved¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡let¡¡her¡¡decide¡¡for¡¡herself¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡even¡¡with¡¡a¡¡pleasant¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡doing¡¡his¡¡duty¡¡that¡¡he¡¡went¡¡downstairs¡¡to¡¡her¡¡one¡¡evening¡¡for¡¡this¡¡purpose£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡was¡¡printing¡¡on¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡the¡¡same¡¡long¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡housetop¡¡that¡¡h