“Well； darling； you agree？” said Wildeve。
“If it could be London； or even Budmouth； instead of America；” she murmured languidly。 “Well； I will think。 It is too great a thing for me to decide offhand。
I wish I hated the heath less—or loved you more。”
“You can be painfully frank。 You loved me a month ago warmly enough to go anywhere with me。”
“And you loved Thomasin。”
“Yes； perhaps that was where the reason lay；” he returned； with almost a sneer。 “I don’t hate her now。”
“Exactly。 The only thing is that you can no longer get her。”
“e—no taunts； Eustacia； or we shall quarrel。 If you don’t agree to go with me； and agree shortly； I shall go by myself。”
“Or try Thomasin again。 Damon； how strange it seems that you could have married her or me indifferently； and only have e to me because I am—cheapest！ Yes； yes—it is true。 There was a time when I should have exclaimed against a man of that sort； and been quite wild； but it is all past now。”
“Will you go； dearest？ e secretly with me to Bristol； marry me； and turn our backs upon this dog…hole of England for ever？ Say Yes。”
“I want to get away from here at almost any cost；” she said with weariness； “but I don’t like to go with you。 Give me more time to decide。”
“I have already；” said Wildeve。 “Well； I give you one more week。”
“A little longer； so that I may tell you decisively。 I have to consider so many things。 Fancy Thomasin being anxious to get rid of you！ I cannot forget it。”
“Never mind that。 Say Monday week。 I will be here precisely at this time。”
“Let it be at Rainbarrow；” said she。 “This is too near home； my grandfather may be walking out。”
“Thank you； dear。 On Monday week at this time I will be at the Barrow。 Till then good…bye。”
“Good…bye。 No； no； you must not touch me now。
Shaking hands is enough till I have made up my mind。”
Eustacia watched his shadowy form till it had disappeared。 She placed her hand to her forehead and breathed heavily； and then her rich； romantic lips parted under that homely impulse—a yawn。 She was immediately angry at having betrayed even to herself the possible evanescence of her passion for him。 She could not admit at once that she might have overestimated Wildeve； for to perceive his mediocrity now was to admit her own great folly heretofore。 And the discovery that she was the owner of a disposition so purely that of the dog in the manger had something in it which at first made her ashamed。
The fruit of Mrs。 Yeobright’s diplomacy was indeed remarkable； though not as yet of the kind she had anticipated。 It had appreciably influenced Wildeve； but it was influencing Eustacia far more。 Her lover was no longer to her an exciting man whom many women strove for； and herself could only retain by striving with them。 He was a superfluity。
She went indoors in that peculiar state of misery which is not exactly grief； and which especially attends the dawnings of reason in the latter days of an ill…judged； transient love。 To be conscious that the end of the dream is approaching； and yet has not absolutely e； is one of the most wearisome as well as the most curious stages along the course between the beginning of a passion and its end。
Her grandfather had returned； and was busily engaged in pouring some gallons of newly arrived rum into the square bottles of his square cellaret。 Whenever these home supplies were exhausted he would go to the Quiet Woman； and； standing with his back to the fire； grog in hand； tell remarkable stories of how he had lived seven years under the waterline of his ship； and other naval wonders； to the natives； who hoped too earnestly for a treat of ale from the teller to exhibit any doubts of his truth。
He had been there this evening。 “I suppose you have heard the Egdon news； Eustacia？” he said； without looking up from the bottles。 “The men have been talking about it at the Woman as if it were of national importance。”
“I have heard none；” she said。
“Young Clym Yeobright； as they call him； is ing home next week to spend Christmas with his mother。 He is a fine fellow by this time； it seems。 I suppose you remember him？”
“I never saw him in my life。”
“Ah； true； he left before you came here。 I well remember him as a promising boy。”
“Where has he been living all these years？”
“In that rookery of pomp and vanity； Paris； I believe。”
book two
THE ARRIVAL
1 … Tidings of the er
On the fine days at this time of the year； and earlier； certain ephemeral operations were apt to disturb； in their trifling way； the majestic calm of Egdon Heath。 They were activities which； beside those of a town； a village； or even a farm； would have appeared as the ferment of stagnation merely； a creeping of the flesh of somnolence。 But here； away from parisons； shut in by the stable hills； among which mere walking had the novelty of pageantry； and where any man could imagine himself to be Adam without the least difficulty； they attracted the attention of every bird within eyeshot； every reptile not yet asleep； and set the surrounding rabbits curiously watching from hillocks at a safe distance。
The performance was that of bringing together and building into a stack the furze faggots which Humphrey had been cutting for the captain’s use during the foregoing fine days。 The stack was at the end of the dwelling； and the men engaged in building it were Humphrey and Sam； the old man looking on。
It was a fine and quiet afternoon； about three o’clock； but the winter solstice having stealthily e on； the lowness of the sun caused the hour to seem later than it actually was； there being little here to remind an inhabitant that he must unlearn his summer experience of the sky as a dial。 In the course of many days and weeks sunrise had advanced its quarters from northeast to southeast； sunset had receded from northwest to southwest； but Egdon had hardly heeded the change。
Eustacia was indoors in the dining…room； which was really more like a kitchen； having a stone floor and a gaping chimney…corner。 The air was still； and while she lingered a moment here alone sounds of voices in conversation came to her ears directly down the chimney。 She entered the recess； and； listening； looked up the old irregular shaft； with its cavernous hollows； where the smoke blundered about on its way to the square bit of sky at the top； from which the daylight struck down with a pallid glare upon the tatters of soot draping the flue as seaweed drapes a rocky fissure。
She remembered： the furze…stack was not far from the chimney； and the voices were those of the workers。
Her grandfather joined in the conversation。 “That lad ought never to have left home。 His father’s occupation would have suited him best； and the boy should have followed on。 I don’t believe in these new moves in families。 My father was a sailor； so was I； and so should my son have been if I had had one。”
“The place he’s been living at is Paris；” said Humphrey； “and they tell me ‘tis where the king’s head was cut off years ago。 My poor mother used to tell me about that business。
‘Hummy；’ she used to say； ‘I was a young maid then；
and as I was at home ironing Mother’s