PoorMr。Yeobrightwastookbaddirectlyhereachedthefairground，andwasforcedtogohomeagain。’Thatwasthelasttimeheeverwentoutoftheparish。\"
\"’Afalteredonfromonedaytoanother，andthenweheardhewasgone。\"
\"D’yethinkhehadgreatpainwhen’adied？\"saidChristian。
\"Ono——quitedifferent。Noranypainofmind。
HewasluckyenoughtobeGodA’mighty’sownman。\"
\"Andotherfolk——d’yethink’twillbemuchpainto’em，MisterFairway？\"
\"Thatdependsonwhethertheybeafeard。\"
\"Ibain’tafeardatall，IthankGod！\"saidChristianstrenuously。
\"I’mgladIbain’t，forthen’twon’tpainme……I
don’tthinkIbeafeard——orifIbeIcan’thelpit，andIdon’tdeservetosuffer。IwishIwasnotafeardatall！\"
Therewasasolemnsilence，andlookingfromthewindow，whichwasunshutteredandunblinded，Timothysaid，\"Well，whatafesslittlebonfirethatoneis，outbyCap’nVye’s！’Tisburningjustthesamenowasever，uponmylife。\"
Allglanceswentthroughthewindow，andnobodynoticedthatWildevedisguisedabrief，telltalelook。
Farawayupthesombrevalleyofheath，andtotherightofRainbarrow，couldindeedbeseenthelight，small，butsteadyandpersistentasbefore。
\"Itwaslightedbeforeourswas，\"Fairwaycontinued；
\"andyeteveryoneinthecountryroundisoutafore’n。\"
\"Perhapsthere’smeaninginit！\"murmuredChristian。
\"Howmeaning？\"saidWildevesharply。
Christianwastooscatteredtoreply，andTimothyhelpedhim。
\"Hemeans，sir，thatthelonesomedark—eyedcreatureuptherethatsomesayisawitch——everIshouldcallafineyoungwomansuchaname——isalwaysuptosomeoddconceitorother；andsoperhaps’tisshe。\"
\"I’dbeverygladtoaskherinwedlock，ifshe’dhaemeandtaketheriskofherwilddarkeyesill—wishingme，\"
saidGrandferCantlestaunchly。
\"Don’tyesayit，Father！\"imploredChristian。
\"Well，bedazedifhewhodomarrythemaidwon’thaeanuncommonpictureforhisbestparlour，\"saidFairwayinaliquidtone，placingdownthecupofmeadattheendofagoodpull。
\"AndapartnerasdeepastheNorthStar，\"saidSam，takingupthecupandfinishingthelittlethatremained。
\"Well，really，nowIthinkwemustbemoving，\"saidHumphrey，observingtheemptinessofthevessel。
\"Butwe’llgie’emanothersong？\"saidGrandferCantle。
\"I’masfullofnotesasabird！\"
\"Thankyou，Grandfer，\"saidWildeve。\"Butwewillnottroubleyounow。Someotherdaymustdoforthat——whenIhaveaparty。\"
\"Bejown’difIdon’tlearntennewsongsfor’t，orI
won’tlearnaline！\"saidGrandferCantle。\"AndyoumaybesureIwon’tdisappointyebybidingaway，Mr。Wildeve。\"
\"Iquitebelieveyou，\"saidthatgentleman。
Allthentooktheirleave，wishingtheirentertainerlonglifeandhappinessasamarriedman，withrecapitulationswhichoccupiedsometime。Wildeveattendedthemtothedoor，beyondwhichthedeep—dyedupwardstretchofheathstoodawaitingthem，anamplitudeofdarknessreigningfromtheirfeetalmosttothezenith，whereadefiniteformfirstbecamevisibleintheloweringforeheadofRainbarrow。
DivingintothedenseobscurityinalineheadedbySamtheturf—cutter，theypursuedtheirtracklesswayhome。
Whenthescratchingofthefurzeagainsttheirleggingshadfaintedupontheear，WildevereturnedtotheroomwherehehadleftThomasinandheraunt。Thewomenweregone。
Theycouldonlyhaveleftthehouseinoneway，bythebackwindow；andthiswasopen。
Wildevelaughedtohimself，remainedamomentthinking，andidlyreturnedtothefrontroom。Herehisglancefelluponabottleofwinewhichstoodonthemantelpiece。
\"Ah——oldDowden！\"hemurmured；andgoingtothekitchendoorshouted，\"IsanybodyherewhocantakesomethingtooldDowden？\"
Therewasnoreply。Theroomwasempty，theladwhoactedashisfactotumhavinggonetobed。Wildevecamebackputonhishat，tookthebottle，andleftthehouse，turningthekeyinthedoor，fortherewasnoguestattheinntonight。AssoonashewasontheroadthelittlebonfireonMistoverKnapagainmethiseye。
\"Stillwaiting，areyou，mylady？\"hemurmured。
However，hedidnotproceedthatwayjustthen；
butleavingthehilltotheleftofhim，hestumbledoveraruttedroadthatbroughthimtoacottagewhich，likeallotherhabitationsontheheathatthishour，wasonlysavedfrombeingvisiblebyafaintshinefromitsbedroomwindow。ThishousewasthehomeofOllyDowden，thebesom—maker，andheentered。
Thelowerroomwasindarkness；butbyfeelinghiswayhefoundatable，whereonheplacedthebottle，andaminutelateremergedagainupontheheath。Hestoodandlookednortheastattheundyinglittlefire——highupabovehim，thoughnotsohighasRainbarrow。
Wehavebeentoldwhathappenswhenawomandeliberates；
andtheepigramisnotalwaysterminablewithwoman，providedthatonebeinthecase，andthatafairone。
Wildevestood，andstoodlonger，andbreathedperplexedly，andthensaidtohimselfwithresignation，\"Yes——byHeaven，Imustgotoher，Isuppose！\"
InsteadofturninginthedirectionofhomehepressedonrapidlybyapathunderRainbarrowtowardswhatwasevidentlyasignallight。
6—TheFigureagainsttheSkyWhenthewholeEgdonconcoursehadleftthesiteofthebonfiretoitsaccustomedloneliness，acloselywrappedfemalefigureapproachedthebarrowfromthatquarteroftheheathinwhichthelittlefirelay。
Hadthereddlemanbeenwatchinghemighthaverecognizedherasthewomanwhohadfirststoodtheresosingularly，andvanishedattheapproachofstrangers。Sheascendedtoheroldpositionatthetop，wheretheredcoalsoftheperishingfiregreetedherlikelivingeyesinthecorpseofday。Thereshestoodstillaroundherstretchingthevastnightatmosphere，whoseincompletedarknessincomparisonwiththetotaldarknessoftheheathbelowitmighthaverepresentedavenialbesideamortalsin。
Thatshewastallandstraightinbuild，thatshewaslady—likeinhermovements，wasallthatcouldbelearntofherjustnow，herformbeingwrappedinashawlfoldedintheoldcornerwisefashion，andherheadinalargekerchief，aprotectionnotsuperfluousatthishourandplace。
Herbackwastowardsthewind，whichblewfromthenorthwest；
butwhethershehadavoidedthataspectbecauseofthechillygustswhichplayedaboutherexceptionalposition，orbecauseherinterestlayinthesoutheast，didnotatfirstappear。
Herreasonforstandingsodeadstillasthepivotofthiscircleofheath—countrywasjustasobscure。
Herextraordinaryfixity，herconspicuousloneliness，herheedlessnessofnight，betokenedamongotherthingsanutterabsenceoffear。AtractofcountryunalteredfromthatsinisterconditionwhichmadeCaesaranxiouseveryyeartogetclearofitsgloomsbeforetheautumnalequinox，akindoflandscapeandweatherwhichleadstravellersfromtheSouthtodescribeourislandasHomer’sCimmerianland，wasnot，onthefaceofit，friendlytowomen。
Itmightreasonablyhavebeensupposedthatshewaslisteningtothewind，whichrosesomewhatasthenightadvanced，andlaidholdoftheattention。Thewind，indeed，seemedmadeforthescene，asthesceneseemedmadeforthehour。
Partofitstonewasquitespecial；whatwasheardtherecouldbeheardnowhereelse。Gustsininnumerableseriesfollowedeachotherfromthenorthwest，andwheneachoneofthemracedpastthesoundofitsprogressresolvedintothree。Treble，tenor，andbassnotesweretobefoundtherein。Thegeneralricochetofthewholeoverpitsandprominenceshadthegravestpitchofthechime。
Nexttherecouldbeheardthebaritonebuzzofahollytree。
Belowtheseinforce，abovetheminpitch，adwindledvoicestrovehardatahuskytune，whichwasthepeculiarlocalsoundalludedto。Thinnerandlessimmediatelytraceablethantheothertwo，itwasfarmoreimpressivethaneither。
Initlaywhatmaybecalledthelinguisticpeculiarityoftheheath；andbeingaudiblenowhereonearthoffaheath，itaffordedashadowofreasonforthewoman’stenseness，whichcontinuedasunbrokenasever。
ThroughouttheblowingoftheseplaintiveNovemberwindsthatnoteboreagreatresemblancetotheruinsofhumansongwhichremaintothethroatoffourscoreandten。
Itwasawornwhisper，dryandpapery，anditbrushedsodistinctlyacrosstheearthat，bytheaccustomed，thematerialminutiaeinwhichitoriginatedcouldberealizedasbytouch。Itwastheunitedproductsofinfinitesimalvegetablecauses，andthesewereneitherstems，leaves，fruit，blades，prickles，lichen，normoss。
Theywerethemummiedheathbellsofthepastsummer，originallytenderandpurple，nowwashedcolourlessbyMichaelmasrains，anddriedtodeadskinsbyOctobersuns。
Solowwasanindividualsoundfromthesethatacombinationofhundredsonlyjustemergedfromsilence，andthemyriadsofthewholedeclivityreachedthewoman’searbutasashrivelledandintermittentrecitative。
Yetscarcelyasingleaccentamongthemanyafloattonightcouldhavesuchpowertoimpressalistenerwiththoughtsofitsorigin。Oneinwardlysawtheinfinityofthosecombinedmultitudes；andperceivedthateachofthetinytrumpetswasseizedonentered，scouredandemergedfrombythewindasthoroughlyasifitwereasvastasacrater。
\"Thespiritmovedthem。\"Ameaningofthephraseforceditselfupontheattention；andanemotionallistener’sfetichisticmoodmighthaveendedinoneofmoreadvancedquality。
Itwasnot，afterall，thattheleft—handexpanseofoldbloomsspoke，ortheright—hand，orthoseoftheslopeinfront；butitwasthesinglepersonofsomethingelsespeakingthrougheachatonce。
Suddenly，onthebarrow，theremingledwithallthiswildrhetoricofnightasoundwhichmodulatedsonaturallyintotherestthatitsbeginningandendingwerehardlytobedistinguished。Thebluffs，andthebushes，andtheheather—bellshadbrokensilence；atlast，sodidthewoman；andherarticulationwasbutasanotherphraseofthesamediscourseastheirs。Thrownoutonthewindsitbecametwinedinwiththem，andwiththemitflewaway。
Whatsheutteredwasalengthenedsighing，apparentlyatsomethinginhermindwhichhadledtoherpresencehere。
Therewasaspasmodicabandonmentaboutitasif，inallowingherselftoutterthesound。thewoman’sbrainhadauthorizedwhatitcouldnotregulate。
Onepointwasevidentinthis；thatshehadbeenexistinginasuppressedstate，andnotinoneoflanguor，orstagnation。
Farawaydownthevalleythefaintshinefromthewindowoftheinnstilllastedon；andafewadditionalmomentsprovedthatthewindow，orwhatwaswithinit，hadmoretodowiththewoman’ssighthanhadeitherherownactionsorthesceneimmediatelyaround。
Sheliftedherlefthand，whichheldaclosedtelescope。
Thissherapidlyextended，asifshewerewellaccustomedtotheoperation，andraisingittohereyedirectedittowardsthelightbeamingfromtheinn。
Thehandkerchiefwhichhadhoodedherheadwasnowalittlethrownback，herfacebeingsomewhatelevated。
Aprofilewasvisibleagainstthedullmonochromeofcloudaroundher；anditwasasthoughsideshadowsfromthefeaturesofSapphoandMrs。Siddonshadconvergedupwardsfromthetombtoformanimagelikeneitherbutsuggestingboth。This，however，wasmeresuperficiality。
Inrespectofcharacterafacemaymakecertainadmissionsbyitsoutline；butitfullyconfessesonlyinitschanges。
Somuchisthisthecasethatwhatiscalledtheplayofthefeaturesoftenhelpsmoreinunderstandingamanorwomanthantheearnestlaboursofalltheothermemberstogether。
Thusthenightrevealedlittleofherwhoseformitwasembracing，forthemobilepartsofhercountenancecouldnotbeseen。
Atlastshegaveupherspyingattitude，closedthetelescope，andturnedtothedecayingembers。Fromthesenoappreciablebeamsnowradiated，exceptwhenamorethanusuallysmartgustbrushedovertheirfacesandraisedafitfulglowwhichcameandwentliketheblushofagirl。
Shestoopedoverthesilentcircle，andselectingfromthebrandsapieceofstickwhichborethelargestlivecoalatitsend，broughtittowhereshehadbeenstandingbefore。
Sheheldthebrandtotheground，blowingtheredcoalwithhermouthatthesametime；tillitfaintlyilluminatedthesod，andrevealedasmallobject，whichturnedouttobeanhourglass，thoughsheworeawatch。Sheblewlongenoughtoshowthatthesandhadallslippedthrough。
\"Ah！\"shesaid，asifsurprised。
Thelightraisedbyherbreathhadbeenveryfitful，andamomentaryirradiationoffleshwasallthatithaddisclosedofherface。Thatconsistedoftwomatchlesslipsandacheekonly，herheadbeingstillenveloped。
Shethrewawaythestick，tooktheglassinherhand，thetelescopeunderherarm，andmovedon。
Alongtheridgeranafaintfoot—track，whichtheladyfollowed。Thosewhoknewitwellcalleditapath；
and，whileamerevisitorwouldhavepasseditunnoticedevenbyday，theregularhauntersoftheheathwereatnolossforitatmidnight。Thewholesecretoffollowingtheseincipientpaths，whentherewasnotlightenoughintheatmospheretoshowaturnpikeroad，layinthedevelopmentofthesenseoftouchinthefeet，whichcomeswithyearsofnight—ramblinginlittle—troddenspots。
Toawalkerpractisedinsuchplacesadifferencebetweenimpactonmaidenherbage，andonthecrippledstalksofaslightfootway，isperceptiblethroughthethickestbootorshoe。
Thesolitaryfigurewhowalkedthisbeattooknonoticeofthewindytunestillplayedonthedeadheathbells。
Shedidnotturnherheadtolookatagroupofdarkcreaturesfurtheron，whofledfromherpresenceassheskirtedaravinewheretheyfed。Theywereaboutascoreofthesmallwildponiesknownasheath—croppers。TheyroamedatlargeontheundulationsofEgdon，butinnumberstoofewtodetractmuchfromthesolitude。
Thepedestriannoticednothingjustnow，andacluetoherabstractionwasaffordedbyatrivialincident。
Abramblecaughtholdofherskirt，andcheckedherprogress。
Insteadofputtingitoffandhasteningalong，sheyieldedherselfuptothepull，andstoodpassivelystill。
Whenshebegantoextricateherselfitwasbyturningroundandround，andsounwindingthepricklyswitch。
Shewasinadespondingreverie。
HercoursewasinthedirectionofthesmallundyingfirewhichhaddrawntheattentionofthemenonRainbarrowandofWildeveinthevalleybelow。Afaintilluminationfromitsraysbegantoglowuponherface，andthefiresoonrevealeditselftobelit，notonthelevelground，butonasalientcornerorredanofearth，atthejunctionoftwoconvergingbankfences。Outsidewasaditch，dryexceptimmediatelyunderthefire，wheretherewasalargepool，beardedallroundbyheatherandrushes。
Inthesmoothwaterofthepoolthefireappearedupsidedown。
Thebanksmeetingbehindwerebareofahedge，savesuchaswasformedbydisconnectedtuftsoffurze，standinguponstemsalongthetop，likeimpaledheadsaboveacitywall。Awhitemast，fittedupwithsparsandothernauticaltackle，couldbeseenrisingagainstthedarkcloudswhenevertheflamesplayedbrightlyenoughtoreachit。Altogetherthescenehadmuchtheappearanceofafortificationuponwhichhadbeenkindledabeaconfire。
Nobodywasvisible；buteverandanonawhitishsomethingmovedabovethebankfrombehind，andvanishedagain。
Thiswasasmallhumanhand，intheactofliftingpiecesoffuelintothefire，butforallthatcouldbeseenthehand，likethatwhichtroubledBelshazzar，wastherealone。
Occasionallyanemberrolledoffthebank，anddroppedwithahissintothepool。
Atonesideofthepoolroughstepsbuiltofclodsenabledeveryonewhowishedtodosotomountthebank；whichthewomandid。Withinwasapaddockinanuncultivatedstate，thoughbearingevidenceofhavingoncebeentilled；
buttheheathandfernhadinsidiouslycreptin，andwerereassertingtheiroldsupremacy。Furtheraheadweredimlyvisibleanirregulardwelling—house，garden，andoutbuildings，backedbyaclumpoffirs。
Theyounglady——foryouthhadrevealeditspresenceinherbuoyantboundupthebank——walkedalongthetopinsteadofdescendinginside，andcametothecornerwherethefirewasburning。Onereasonforthepermanenceoftheblazewasnowmanifest：thefuelconsistedofhardpiecesofwood，cleftandsawn——theknottybolesofoldthorntreeswhichgrewintwosandthreesaboutthehillsides。
Ayetunconsumedpileoftheselayintheinnerangleofthebank；andfromthiscornertheupturnedfaceofalittleboygreetedhereves。Hewasdilatorilythrowingupapieceofwoodintothefireeverynowandthen，abusinesswhichseemedtohaveengagedhimaconsiderablepartoftheevening，forhisfacewassomewhatweary。
\"Iamgladyouhavecome，MissEustacia，\"hesaid，withasighofrelief。\"Idon’tlikebidingbymyself。\"
\"Nonsense。Ihaveonlybeenalittlewayforawalk。
Ihavebeengoneonlytwentyminutes。\"
\"Itseemedlong，\"murmuredthesadboy。\"Andyouhavebeensomanytimes。\"
\"Why，Ithoughtyouwouldbepleasedtohaveabonfire。
Areyounotmuchobligedtomeformakingyouone？\"
\"Yes；butthere’snobodyheretoplaywi’me。\"
\"IsupposenobodyhascomewhileI’vebeenaway？\"
\"Nobodyexceptyourgrandfather——helookedoutofdoorsoncefor’ee。Itoldhimyouwerewalkingrounduponthehilltolookattheotherbonfires。\"
\"Agoodboy。\"
\"IthinkIhearhimcomingagain，miss。\"
Anoldmancameintotheremoterlightofthefirefromthedirectionofthehomestead。Hewasthesamewhohadovertakenthereddlemanontheroadthatafternoon。
Helookedwistfullytothetopofthebankatthewomanwhostoodthere，andhisteeth，whichwerequiteunimpaired，showedlikeparianfromhispartedlips。
\"Whenareyoucomingindoors，Eustacia？\"heasked。
\"’Tisalmostbedtime。I’vebeenhomethesetwohours，andamtiredout。Surely’tissomewhatchildishofyoutostayoutplayingatbonfiressolong，andwastingsuchfuel。
Mypreciousthornroots，therarestofallfiring，thatIlaidbyonpurposeforChristmas——youhaveburnt’emnearlyall！\"
\"IpromisedJohnnyabonfire，anditpleaseshimnottoletitgooutjustyet，\"saidEustacia，inawaywhichtoldatoncethatshewasabsolutequeenhere。
\"Grandfather，yougointobed。Ishallfollowyousoon。
Youlikethefire，don’tyou，Johnny？\"
Theboylookedupdoubtfullyatherandmurmured，\"Idon’tthinkIwantitanylonger。\"
Hergrandfatherhadturnedbackagain，anddidnotheartheboy’sreply。Assoonasthewhite—hairedmanhadvanishedshesaidinatoneofpiquetothechild，\"Ungratefullittleboy，howcanyoucontradictme？
Nevershallyouhaveabonfireagainunlessyoukeepitupnow。Come，tellmeyouliketodothingsforme，anddon’tdenyit。\"
Therepressedchildsaid，\"Yes，Ido，miss，\"andcontinuedtostirthefireperfunctorily。
\"StayalittlelongerandIwillgiveyouacrookedsix—pence，\"
saidEustacia，moregently。\"Putinonepieceofwoodeverytwoorthreeminutes，butnottoomuchatonce。
Iamgoingtowalkalongtheridgealittlelonger，butIshallkeeponcomingtoyou。Andifyouhearafrogjumpintothepondwithaflouncelikeastonethrownin，besureyourunandtellme，becauseitisasignofrain。\"
\"Yes，Eustacia。\"
\"MissVye，sir。\"
\"MissVy——stacia。\"
\"Thatwilldo。Nowputinonestickmore。\"
Thelittleslavewentonfeedingthefireasbefore。
Heseemedamereautomaton，galvanizedintomovingandspeakingbythewaywardEustacia’swill。HemighthavebeenthebrassstatuewhichAlbertusMagnusissaidtohaveanimatedjustsofarastomakeitchatter，andmove，andbehisservant。
Beforegoingonherwalkagaintheyounggirlstoodstillonthebankforafewinstantsandlistened。
ItwastothefullaslonelyaplaceasRainbarrow，thoughatratheralowerlevel；anditwasmoreshelteredfromwindandweatheronaccountofthefewfirstothenorth。
Thebankwhichenclosedthehomestead，andprotecteditfromthelawlessstateoftheworldwithout，wasformedofthicksquareclods，dugfromtheditchontheoutside，andbuiltupwithaslightbatterorincline，whichformsnoslightdefensewherehedgeswillnotgrowbecauseofthewindandthewilderness，andwherewallmaterialsareunattainable。Otherwisethesituationwasquiteopen，commandingthewholelengthofthevalleywhichreachedtotheriverbehindWildeve’shouse。Highabovethistotheright，andmuchnearerthitherwardthantheQuietWomanInn，theblurredcontourofRainbarrowobstructedthesky。
AfterherattentivesurveyofthewildslopesandhollowravinesagestureofimpatienceescapedEustacia。
Sheventedpetulantwordseverynowandthen，butthereweresighsbetweenherwords，andsuddenlisteningsbetweenhersighs。DescendingfromherperchsheagainsaunteredofftowardsRainbarrow，thoughthistimeshedidnotgothewholeway。
Twiceshereappearedatintervalsofafewminutesandeachtimeshesaid——
\"Notanyflounceintothepondyet，littleman？\"
\"No，MissEustacia，\"thechildreplied。
\"Well，\"shesaidatlast，\"Ishallsoonbegoingin，andthenIwillgiveyouthecrookedsixpence，andletyougohome。\"
\"Thank’ee，MissEustacia，\"saidthetiredstoker，breathingmoreeasily。AndEustaciaagainstrolledawayfromthefire，butthistimenottowardsRainbarrow。
Sheskirtedthebankandwentroundtothewicketbeforethehouse，whereshestoodmotionless，lookingatthescene。
Fiftyyardsoffrosethecornerofthetwoconvergingbanks，withthefireuponit；withinthebank，liftinguptothefireonestickatatime，justasbefore，thefigureofthelittlechild。Sheidlywatchedhimasheoccasionallyclimbedupinthenookofthebankandstoodbesidethebrands。Thewindblewthesmoke，andthechild’shair，andthecornerofhispinafore，allinthesamedirection；
thebreezedied，andthepinaforeandhairlaystill，andthesmokewentupstraight。
WhileEustacialookedonfromthisdistancetheboy’sformvisiblystarted——hesliddownthebankandranacrosstowardsthewhitegate。
\"Well？\"saidEustacia。
\"Ahopfroghavejumpedintothepond。Yes，Iheard’en！\"
\"Thenitisgoingtorain，andyouhadbettergohome。
Youwillnotbeafraid？\"Shespokehurriedly，asifherhearthadleaptintoherthroatattheboy’swords。
\"No，becauseIshallhaethecrookedsixpence。\"
\"Yes。hereitis。Nowrunasfastasyoucan——notthatway——throughthegardenhere。Nootherboyintheheathhashadsuchabonfireasyours。\"
Theboy，whoclearlyhadhadtoomuchofagoodthing，marchedawayintotheshadowswithalacrity。WhenhewasgoneEustacia，leavinghertelescopeandhourglassbythegate，brushedforwardfromthewickettowardstheangleofthebank，underthefire。
Here，screenedbytheoutwork，shewaited。Inafewmomentsasplashwasaudiblefromthepondoutside。
Hadthechildbeentherehewouldhavesaidthatasecondfroghadjumpedin；butbymostpeoplethesoundwouldhavebeenlikenedtothefallofastoneintothewater。