第6章
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  Eustaciasteppeduponthebank。

  \"Yes?\"shesaid,andheldherbreath。

  Thereuponthecontourofamanbecamedimlyvisibleagainstthelow—reachingskyoverthevalley,beyondtheoutermarginofthepool。Hecamerounditandleaptuponthebankbesideher。Alowlaughescapedher——thethirdutterancewhichthegirlhadindulgedintonight。Thefirst,whenshestooduponRainbarrow,hadexpressedanxiety;

  thesecond,ontheridge,hadexpressedimpatience;

  thepresentwasoneoftriumphantpleasure。Sheletherjoyouseyesrestuponhimwithoutspeaking,asuponsomewondrousthingshehadcreatedoutofchaos。

  \"Ihavecome,\"saidtheman,whowasWildeve。

  \"Yougivemenopeace。Whydoyounotleavemealone?

  Ihaveseenyourbonfirealltheevening。\"Thewordswerenotwithoutemotion,andretainedtheirleveltoneasifbyacarefulequipoisebetweenimminentextremes。

  Atthisunexpectedlyrepressingmannerinherloverthegirlseemedtorepressherselfalso。\"Ofcourseyouhaveseenmyfire,\"sheansweredwithlanguidcalmness,artificiallymaintained。\"Whyshouldn’tIhaveabonfireontheFifthofNovember,likeotherdenizensoftheheath?\"

  \"Iknewitwasmeantforme。\"

  \"Howdidyouknowit?Ihavehadnowordwithyousinceyou——youchoseher,andwalkedaboutwithher,anddesertedmeentirely,asifIhadneverbeenyourslifeandsoulsoirretrievably!\"

  \"Eustacia!couldIforgetthatlastautumnatthissamedayofthemonthandatthissameplaceyoulightedexactlysuchafireasasignalformetocomeandseeyou?WhyshouldtherehavebeenabonfireagainbyCaptainVye’shouseifnotforthesamepurpose?\"

  \"Yes,yes——Iownit,\"shecriedunderherbreath,withadrowsyfervourofmannerandtonewhichwasquitepeculiartoher。

  \"Don’tbeginspeakingtomeasyoudid,Damon;youwilldrivemetosaywordsIwouldnotwishtosaytoyou。

  Ihadgivenyouup,andresolvednottothinkofyouanymore;

  andthenIheardthenews,andIcameoutandgotthefirereadybecauseIthoughtthatyouhadbeenfaithfultome。\"

  \"Whathaveyouheardtomakeyouthinkthat?\"

  saidWildeve,astonished。

  \"Thatyoudidnotmarryher!\"shemurmuredexultingly。

  \"AndIknewitwasbecauseyoulovedmebest,andcouldn’tdoit……Damon,youhavebeencrueltometogoaway,andIhavesaidIwouldneverforgiveyou。IdonotthinkIcanforgiveyouentirely,evennow——itistoomuchforawomanofanyspirittoquiteoverlook。\"

  \"IfIhadknownyouwishedtocallmeuphereonlytoreproachme,Iwouldn’thavecome。\"

  \"ButIdon’tmindit,andIdoforgiveyounowthatyouhavenotmarriedher,andhavecomebacktome!\"

  \"WhotoldyouthatIhadnotmarriedher?\"

  \"Mygrandfather。Hetookalongwalktoday,andashewascominghomeheovertooksomepersonwhotoldhimofabroken—offwedding——hethoughtitmightbeyours,andIknewitwas。\"

  \"Doesanybodyelseknow?\"

  \"Isupposenot。NowDamon,doyouseewhyIlitmysignalfire?YoudidnotthinkIwouldhavelititifIhadimaginedyoutohavebecomethehusbandofthiswoman。

  Itisinsultingmypridetosupposethat。\"

  Wildevewassilent;itwasevidentthathehadsupposedasmuch。

  \"DidyouindeedthinkIbelievedyouweremarried?\"

  sheagaindemandedearnestly。\"Thenyouwrongedme;

  anduponmylifeandheartIcanhardlybeartorecognizethatyouhavesuchillthoughtsofme!Damon,youarenotworthyofme——Iseeit,andyetIloveyou。Nevermind,letitgo——ImustbearyourmeanopinionasbestImay……Itistrue,isitnot,\"sheaddedwithill—concealedanxiety,onhismakingnodemonstration,\"thatyoucouldnotbringyourselftogivemeup,andarestillgoingtolovemebestofall?\"

  \"Yes;orwhyshouldIhavecome?\"hesaidtouchily。

  \"Notthatfidelitywillbeanygreatmeritinmeafteryourkindspeechaboutmyunworthiness,whichshouldhavebeensaidbymyselfifbyanybody,andcomeswithanillgracefromyou。However,thecurseofinflammabilityisuponme,andImustliveunderit,andtakeanysnubfromawoman。

  Ithasbroughtmedownfromengineeringtoinnkeeping——whatlowerstageithasinstoreformeIhaveyettolearn。\"

  Hecontinuedtolookuponhergloomily。

  Sheseizedthemoment,andthrowingbacktheshawlsothatthefirelightshonefulluponherfaceandthroat,saidwithasmile,\"Haveyouseenanythingbetterthanthatinyourtravels?\"

  Eustaciawasnotonetocommitherselftosuchapositionwithoutgoodground。Hesaidquietly,\"No。\"

  \"NotevenontheshouldersofThomasin?\"

  \"Thomasinisapleasingandinnocentwoman。\"

  \"That’snothingtodowithit,\"shecriedwithquickpassionateness。\"Wewillleaveherout;

  thereareonlyyouandmenowtothinkof。\"Afteralonglookathimsheresumedwiththeoldquiescentwarmth,\"MustIgoonweaklyconfessingtoyouthingsawomanoughttoconceal;andownthatnowordscanexpresshowgloomyIhavebeenbecauseofthatdreadfulbeliefIheldtilltwohoursago——thatyouhadquitedesertedme?\"

  \"IamsorryIcausedyouthatpain。\"

  \"ButperhapsitisnotwhollybecauseofyouthatIgetgloomy,\"

  shearchlyadded。\"Itisinmynaturetofeellikethat。

  Itwasborninmyblood,Isuppose。\"

  \"Hypochondriasis。\"

  \"Orelseitwascomingintothiswildheath。IwashappyenoughatBudmouth。Othetimes,OthedaysatBudmouth!

  ButEgdonwillbebrighteragainnow。\"

  \"Ihopeitwill,\"saidWildevemoodily。\"Doyouknowtheconsequenceofthisrecalltome,myolddarling?I

  shallcometoseeyouagainasbefore,atRainbarrow。\"

  \"Ofcourseyouwill。\"

  \"AndyetIdeclarethatuntilIgotheretonightIintended,afterthisonegood—bye,nevertomeetyouagain。\"

  \"Idon’tthankyouforthat,\"shesaid,turningaway,whileindignationspreadthroughherlikesubterraneanheat。

  \"YoumaycomeagaintoRainbarrowifyoulike,butyouwon’tseeme;andyoumaycall,butIshallnotlisten;

  andyoumaytemptme,butIwon’tgivemyselftoyouanymore。\"

  \"Youhavesaidasmuchbefore,sweet;butsuchnaturesasyoursdon’tsoeasilyadheretotheirwords。

  Neither,forthematterofthat,dosuchnaturesasmine。\"

  \"ThisisthepleasureIhavewonbymytrouble,\"

  shewhisperedbitterly。\"WhydidItrytorecallyou?Damon,astrangewarringtakesplaceinmymindoccasionally。

  IthinkwhenIbecomecalmafteryouwoundings,’DoIembraceacloudofcommonfogafterall?’Youareachameleon,andnowyouareatyourworstcolour。Gohome,orIshallhateyou!\"

  HelookedabsentlytowardsRainbarrowwhileonemighthavecountedtwenty,andsaid,asifhedidnotmuchmindallthis,\"Yes,Iwillgohome。Doyoumeantoseemeagain?\"

  \"Ifyouowntomethattheweddingisbrokenoffbecauseyoulovemebest。\"

  \"Idon’tthinkitwouldbegoodpolicy,\"saidWildeve,smiling。

  \"Youwouldgettoknowtheextentofyourpowertooclearly。\"

  \"Buttellme!\"

  \"Youknow。\"

  \"Whereisshenow?\"

  \"Idon’tknow。Iprefernottospeakofhertoyou。

  Ihavenotyetmarriedher;Ihavecomeinobediencetoyourcall。Thatisenough。\"

  \"ImerelylitthatfirebecauseIwasdull,andthoughtIwouldgetalittleexcitementbycallingyouupandtriumphingoveryouastheWitchofEndorcalledupSamuel。

  Ideterminedyoushouldcome;andyouhavecome!Ihaveshownmypower。Amileandhalfhither,andamileandhalfbackagaintoyourhome——threemilesinthedarkforme。

  HaveInotshownmypower?\"

  Heshookhisheadather。\"Iknowyoutoowell,myEustacia;

  Iknowyoutoowell。Thereisn’tanoteinyouwhichI

  don’tknow;andthathotlittlebosomcouldn’tplaysuchacold—bloodedtricktosaveitslife。IsawawomanonRainbarrowatdusklookingdowntowardsmyhouse。

  IthinkIdrewoutyoubeforeyoudrewoutme。\"

  TherevivedembersofanoldpassionglowedclearlyinWildevenow;andheleantforwardasifabouttoputhisfacetowardshercheek。

  \"Ono,\"shesaid,intractablymovingtotheothersideofthedecayedfire。\"Whatdidyoumeanbythat?\"

  \"PerhapsImaykissyourhand?\"

  \"No,youmaynot。\"

  \"ThenImayshakeyourhand?\"

  \"No。\"

  \"ThenIwishyougoodnightwithoutcaringforeither。

  Good—bye,good—bye。\"

  Shereturnednoanswer,andwiththebowofadancing—

  masterhevanishedontheothersideofthepoolashehadcome。

  Eustaciasighed——itwasnofragilemaidensigh,butasighwhichshookherlikeashiver。Wheneveraflashofreasondartedlikeanelectriclightuponherlover—

  —asitsometimeswould——andshowedhisimperfections,sheshiveredthus。Butitwasoverinasecond,andshelovedon。Sheknewthathetrifledwithher;

  butshelovedon。Shescatteredthehalf—burntbrands,wentindoorsimmediately,anduptoherbedroomwithoutalight。Amidtherustleswhichdenotedhertobeundressinginthedarknessotherheavybreathsfrequentlycame;

  andthesamekindofshudderoccasionallymovedthroughherwhen,tenminuteslater,shelayonherbedasleep。

  7—QueenofNightEustaciaVyewastherawmaterialofadivinity。OnOlympusshewouldhavedonewellwithalittlepreparation。

  Shehadthepassionsandinstinctswhichmakeamodelgoddess,thatis,thosewhichmakenotquiteamodelwoman。

  Haditbeenpossiblefortheearthandmankindtobeentirelyinhergraspforawhile,shehadhandledthedistaff,thespindle,andtheshearsatherownfreewill,fewintheworldwouldhavenoticedthechangeofgovernment。

  Therewouldhavebeenthesameinequalityoflot,thesameheapingupoffavourshere,ofcontumelythere,thesamegenerositybeforejustice,thesameperpetualdilemmas,thesamecaptiousalterationofcaressesandblowsthatweendurenow。

  Shewasinpersonfull—limbedandsomewhatheavy;

  withoutruddiness,aswithoutpallor;andsofttothetouchasacloud。Toseeherhairwastofancythatawholewinterdidnotcontaindarknessenoughtoformitsshadow——itclosedoverherforeheadlikenightfallextinguishingthewesternglow。

  Hernervesextendedintothosetresses,andhertempercouldalwaysbesoftenedbystrokingthemdown。WhenherhairwasbrushedshewouldinstantlysinkintostillnessandlookliketheSphinx。If,inpassingunderoneoftheEgdonbanks,anyofitsthickskeinswerecaught,astheysometimeswere,byapricklytuftofthelargeUlexEuropoeus——whichwillactasasortofhairbrush——shewouldgobackafewsteps,andpassagainstitasecondtime。

  Shehadpaganeyes,fullofnocturnalmysteries,andtheirlight,asitcameandwent,andcameagain,waspartiallyhamperedbytheiroppressivelidsandlashes;

  andofthesetheunderlidwasmuchfullerthanitusuallyiswithEnglishwomen。Thisenabledhertoindulgeinreveriewithoutseemingtodoso——shemighthavebeenbelievedcapableofsleepingwithoutclosingthemup。

  Assumingthatthesoulsofmenandwomenwerevisibleessences,youcouldfancythecolourofEustacia’ssoultobeflamelike。

  Thesparksfromitthatroseintoherdarkpupilsgavethesameimpression。

  Themouthseemedformedlesstospeakthantoquiver,lesstoquiverthantokiss。Somemighthaveadded,lesstokissthantocurl。Viewedsideways,theclosing—lineofherlipsformed,withalmostgeometricprecision,thecurvesowellknownintheartsofdesignasthecima—recta,orogee。ThesightofsuchaflexiblebendasthatongrimEgdonwasquiteanapparition。

  ItwasfeltatoncethatthemouthdidnotcomeoverfromSleswigwithabandofSaxonpirateswhoselipsmetlikethetwohalvesofamuffin。Onehadfanciedthatsuchlip—curvesweremostlylurkingundergroundintheSouthasfragmentsofforgottenmarbles。Sofinewerethelinesofherlipsthat,thoughfull,eachcornerofhermouthwasasclearlycutasthepointofaspear。

  Thiskeennessofcornerwasonlybluntedwhenshewasgivenovertosuddenfitsofgloom,oneofthephasesofthenight—sideofsentimentwhichsheknewtoowellforheryears。

  HerpresencebroughtmemoriesofsuchthingsasBourbonroses,rubies,andtropicalmidnight;hermoodsrecalledlotus—eatersandthemarchinAthalie;hermotions,theebbandflowofthesea;hervoice,theviola。

  Inadimlight,andwithaslightrearrangementofherhair,hergeneralfiguremighthavestoodforthatofeitherofthehigherfemaledeities。Thenewmoonbehindherhead,anoldhelmetuponit,adiademofaccidentaldewdropsroundherbrow,wouldhavebeenadjunctssufficienttostrikethenoteofArtemis,Athena,orHerarespectively,withascloseanapproximationtotheantiqueasthatwhichpassesmusteronmanyrespectedcanvases。

  Butcelestialimperiousness,love,wrath,andfervourhadprovedtobesomewhatthrownawayonnetherwardEgdon。

  Herpowerwaslimited,andtheconsciousnessofthislimitationhadbiassedherdevelopment。EgdonwasherHades,andsincecomingthereshehadimbibedmuchofwhatwasdarkinitstone,thoughinwardlyandeternallyunreconciledthereto。Herappearanceaccordedwellwiththissmoulderingrebelliousness,andtheshadysplendourofherbeautywastherealsurfaceofthesadandstifledwarmthwithinher。AtrueTartareandignitysatuponherbrow,andnotfactitiouslyorwithmarksofconstraint,forithadgrowninherwithyears。

  Acrosstheupperpartofherheadsheworeathinfilletofblackvelvet,restrainingtheluxurianceofhershadyhair,inawaywhichaddedmuchtothisclassofmajestybyirregularlycloudingherforehead。

  \"Nothingcanembellishabeautifulfacemorethananarrowbanddrawnoverthebrow,\"saysRichter。

  Someoftheneighbouringgirlsworecolouredribbonforthesamepurpose,andsportedmetallicornamentselsewhere;

  butifanyonesuggestedcolouredribbonandmetallicornamentstoEustaciaVyeshelaughedandwenton。

  WhydidawomanofthissortliveonEgdonHeath?Budmouthwashernativeplace,afashionableseasideresortatthatdate。Shewasthedaughterofthebandmasterofaregimentwhichhadbeenquarteredthere——aCorfiotebybirth,andafinemusician——whomethisfuturewifeduringhertripthitherwithherfatherthecaptain,amanofgoodfamily。Themarriagewasscarcelyinaccordwiththeoldman’swishes,forthebandmaster’spocketswereaslightashisoccupation。Butthemusiciandidhisbest;adoptedhiswife’sname,madeEnglandpermanentlyhishome,tookgreattroublewithhischild’seducation,theexpensesofwhichweredefrayedbythegrandfather,andthroveasthechieflocalmusiciantillhermother’sdeath,whenheleftoffthriving,drank,anddiedalso。

  Thegirlwaslefttothecareofhergrandfather,who,sincethreeofhisribsbecamebrokeninashipwreck,hadlivedinthisairyperchonEgdon,aspotwhichhadtakenhisfancybecausethehousewastobehadfornexttonothing,andbecausearemotebluetingeonthehorizonbetweenthehills,visiblefromthecottagedoor,wastraditionallybelievedtobetheEnglishChannel。

  Shehatedthechange;shefeltlikeonebanished;

  buthereshewasforcedtoabide。

  ThusithappenedthatinEustacia’sbrainwerejuxtaposedthestrangestassortmentofideas,fromoldtimeandfromnew。

  Therewasnomiddledistanceinherperspective——romanticrecollectionsofsunnyafternoonsonanesplanade,withmilitarybands,officers,andgallantsaround,stoodlikegildedlettersuponthedarktabletofsurroundingEgdon。

  Everybizarreeffectthatcouldresultfromtherandomintertwiningofwatering—placeglitterwiththegrandsolemnityofaheath,wastobefoundinher。Seeingnothingofhumanlifenow,sheimaginedallthemoreofwhatshehadseen。

  Wheredidherdignitycomefrom?ByalatentveinfromAlcinous’line,herfatherhailingfromPhaeacia’sisle?——orfromFitzalanandDeVere,hermaternalgrandfatherhavinghadacousininthepeerage?PerhapsitwasthegiftofHeaven——ahappyconvergenceofnaturallaws。

  Amongotherthingsopportunityhadoflateyearsbeendeniedheroflearningtobeundignified,forshelivedlonely。

  Isolationonaheathrendersvulgaritywell—nighimpossible。

  Itwouldhavebeenaseasyfortheheath—ponies,bats,andsnakestobevulgarasforher。AnarrowlifeinBudmouthmighthavecompletelydemeanedher。

  Theonlywaytolookqueenlywithoutrealmsorheartstoqueenitoveristolookasifyouhadlostthem;

  andEustaciadidthattoatriumph。Inthecaptain’scottageshecouldsuggestmansionsshehadneverseen。

  Perhapsthatwasbecauseshefrequentedavastermansionthananyofthem,theopenhills。Likethesummerconditionoftheplacearoundher,shewasanembodimentofthephrase\"apopuloussolitude\"——apparentlysolistless,void,andquiet,shewasreallybusyandfull。

  Tobelovedtomadness——suchwashergreatdesire。

  Lovewastohertheonecordialwhichcoulddriveawaytheeatinglonelinessofherdays。Andsheseemedtolongfortheabstractioncalledpassionatelovemorethanforanyparticularlover。

  Shecouldshowamostreproachfullookattimes,butitwasdirectedlessagainsthumanbeingsthanagainstcertaincreaturesofhermind,thechiefofthesebeingDestiny,throughwhoseinterferenceshedimlyfancieditarosethatlovealightedonlyonglidingyouth——thatanyloveshemightwinwouldsinksimultaneouslywiththesandintheglass。Shethoughtofitwithanever—growingconsciousnessofcruelty,whichtendedtobreedactionsofrecklessunconventionality,framedtosnatchayear’s,aweek’s,evenanhour’spassionfromanywherewhileitcouldbewon。Throughwantofitshehadsungwithoutbeingmerry,possessedwithoutenjoying,outshonewithouttriumphing。Herlonelinessdeepenedherdesire。

  OnEgdon,coldestandmeanestkisseswereatfamineprices,andwherewasamouthmatchingherstobefound?

  Fidelityinloveforfidelity’ssakehadlessattractionforherthanformostwomen;fidelitybecauseoflove’sgriphadmuch。Ablazeoflove,andextinction,wasbetterthanalanternglimmerofthesamewhichshouldlastlongyears。

  Onthisheadsheknewbyprevisionwhatmostwomenlearnonlybyexperience——shehadmentallywalkedroundlove,toldthetowersthereof,considereditspalaces,andconcludedthatlovewasbutadolefuljoy。Yetshedesiredit,asoneinadesertwouldbethankfulforbrackishwater。

  Sheoftenrepeatedherprayers;notatparticulartimes,but,liketheunaffectedlydevout,whenshedesiredtopray。

  Herprayerwasalwaysspontaneous,andoftenranthus,\"Odelivermyheartfromthisfearfulgloomandloneliness;

  sendmegreatlovefromsomewhere,elseIshalldie。\"

  HerhighgodswereWilliamtheConqueror,Strafford,andNapoleonBuonaparte,astheyhadappearedintheLady’sHistoryusedattheestablishmentinwhichshewaseducated。

  HadshebeenamothershewouldhavechristenedherboyssuchnamesasSaulorSiserainpreferencetoJacoborDavid,neitherofwhomsheadmired。AtschoolshehadusedtosidewiththePhilistinesinseveralbattles,andhadwonderedifPontiusPilatewereashandsomeashewasfrankandfair。

  Thusshewasagirlofsomeforwardnessofmind,indeed,weighedinrelationtohersituationamongtheveryrearwardofthinkers,veryoriginal。Herinstinctstowardssocialnon—comformitywereattherootofthis。

  Inthematterofholidays,hermoodwasthatofhorseswho,whenturnedouttograss,enjoylookingupontheirkindatworkonthehighway。Sheonlyvaluedresttoherselfwhenitcameinthemidstofotherpeople’slabour。

  HenceshehatedSundayswhenallwasatrest,andoftensaidtheywouldbethedeathofher。ToseetheheathmenintheirSundaycondition,thatis,withtheirhandsintheirpockets,theirbootsnewlyoiled,andnotlacedup(aparticularlySundaysign),walkingleisurelyamongtheturvesandfurze—faggotstheyhadcutduringtheweek,andkickingthemcriticallyasiftheirusewereunknown,wasafearfulheavinesstoher。Torelievethetediumofthisuntimelydayshewouldoverhaulthecupboardscontaininghergrandfather’soldchartsandotherrubbish,hummingSaturday—nightballadsofthecountrypeoplethewhile。

  ButonSaturdaynightsshewouldfrequentlysingapsalm,anditwasalwaysonaweekdaythatshereadtheBible,thatshemightbeunoppressedwithasenseofdoingherduty。

  Suchviewsoflifeweretosomeextentthenaturalbegettingsofhersituationuponhernature。Todwellonaheathwithoutstudyingitsmeaningswaslikeweddingaforeignerwithoutlearninghistongue。ThesubtlebeautiesoftheheathwerelosttoEustacia;sheonlycaughtitsvapours。Anenvironmentwhichwouldhavemadeacontentedwomanapoet,asufferingwomanadevotee,apiouswomanapsalmist,evenagiddywomanthoughtful,madearebelliouswomansaturnine。

  Eustaciahadgotbeyondthevisionofsomemarriageofinexpressibleglory;yet,thoughheremotionswereinfullvigour,shecaredfornomeanerunion。Thusweseeherinastrangestateofisolation。Tohavelostthegodlikeconceitthatwemaydowhatwewill,andnottohaveacquiredahomelyzestfordoingwhatwecan,showsagrandeuroftemperwhichcannotbeobjectedtointheabstract,foritdenotesamindthat,thoughdisappointed,forswearscompromise。But,ifcongenialtophilosophy,itisapttobedangeroustothecommonwealth。Inaworldwheredoingmeansmarrying,andthecommonwealthisoneofheartsandhands,thesameperilattendsthecondition。

  AndsoweseeourEustacia——forattimesshewasnotaltogetherunlovable——arrivingatthatstageofenlightenmentwhichfeelsthatnothingisworthwhile,andfillingupthesparehoursofherexistencebyidealizingWildeveforwantofabetterobject。Thiswasthesolereasonofhisascendency:sheknewitherself。Atmomentsherpriderebelledagainstherpassionforhim,andsheevenhadlongedtobefree。Buttherewasonlyonecircumstancewhichcoulddislodgehim,andthatwastheadventofagreaterman。

  Fortherest,shesufferedmuchfromdepressionofspirits,andtookslowwalkstorecoverthem,inwhichshecarriedhergrandfather’stelescopeandhergrandmother’shourglass——thelatterbecauseofapeculiarpleasureshederivedfromwatchingamaterialrepresentationoftime’sgradualglideaway。Sheseldomschemed,butwhenshedidscheme,herplansshowedratherthecomprehensivestrategyofageneralthanthesmallartscalledwomanish,thoughshecouldutteroraclesofDelphianambiguitywhenshedidnotchoosetobedirect。InheavenshewillprobablysitbetweentheHeloisesandtheCleopatras。

  8—ThoseWhoAreFoundWhereThereIsSaidtoBeNobodyAssoonasthesadlittleboyhadwithdrawnfromthefireheclaspedthemoneytightinthepalmofhishand,asiftherebytofortifyhiscourage,andbegantorun。

  TherewasreallylittledangerinallowingachildtogohomealoneonthispartofEgdonHeath。Thedistancetotheboy’shousewasnotmorethanthree—eighthsofamile,hisfather’scottage,andoneotherafewyardsfurtheron,formingpartofthesmallhamletofMistoverKnap:thethirdandonlyremaininghousewasthatofCaptainVyeandEustacia,whichstoodquiteawayfromthesmallcottages。

  andwastheloneliestoflonelyhousesonthesethinlypopulatedslopes。

  Heranuntilhewasoutofbreath,andthen,becomingmorecourageous,walkedleisurelyalong,singinginanoldvoicealittlesongaboutasailor—boyandafairone,andbrightgoldinstore。Inthemiddleofthisthechildstopped——fromapitunderthehillaheadofhimshonealight,whenceproceededacloudoffloatingdustandasmackingnoise。

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