Thisdidnotoriginateininherentshamelessness，butinherlivingtoofarfromtheworldtofeeltheimpactofpublicopinion。ZenobiainthedesertcouldhardlyhavecaredwhatwassaidaboutheratRome。AsfarassocialethicswereconcernedEustaciaapproachedthesavagestate，thoughinemotionshewasallthewhileanepicure。
Shehadadvancedtothesecretrecessesofsensuousness，yethadhardlycrossedthethresholdofconventionality。
11—TheDishonestyofanHonestWomanThereddlemanhadleftEustacia’spresencewithdespondingviewsonThomasin’sfuturehappiness；buthewasawakenedtothefactthatoneotherchannelremaineduntriedbyseeing，ashefollowedthewaytohisvan，theformofMrs。YeobrightslowlywalkingtowardstheQuietWoman。
Hewentacrosstoher；andcouldalmostperceiveinheranxiousfacethatthisjourneyofherstoWildevewasundertakenwiththesameobjectashisowntoEustacia。
Shedidnotconcealthefact。\"Then，\"saidthereddleman，\"youmayaswellleaveitalone，Mrs。Yeobright。\"
\"Ihalfthinksomyself，\"shesaid。\"Butnothingelseremainstobedonebesidespressingthequestionuponhim。\"
\"Ishouldliketosayawordfirst，\"saidVennfirmly。
\"Mr。WildeveisnottheonlymanwhohasaskedThomasintomarryhim；andwhyshouldnotanotherhaveachance？
Mrs。Yeobright，Ishouldbegladtomarryyourniece。
andwouldhavedoneitanytimetheselasttwoyears。
There，nowitisout，andIhavenevertoldanybodybeforebutherself。\"
Mrs。Yeobrightwasnotdemonstrative，buthereyesinvoluntarilyglancedtowardshissingularthoughshapelyfigure。
\"Looksarenoteverything，\"saidthereddleman，noticingtheglance。\"There’smanyacallingthatdon’tbringinsomuchasmine，ifitcomestomoney；andperhapsIamnotsomuchworseoffthanWildeve。Thereisnobodysopoorastheseprofessionalfellowswhohavefailed；
andifyoushouldn’tlikemyredness——well，Iamnotredbybirth，youknow；Ionlytooktothisbusinessforafreak；
andImightturnmyhandtosomethingelseingoodtime。\"
\"Iammuchobligedtoyouforyourinterestinmyniece；
butIfeartherewouldbeobjections。Morethanthat，sheisdevotedtothisman。\"
\"True；orIshouldn’thavedonewhatIhavethismorning。\"
\"Otherwisetherewouldbenopaininthecase，andyouwouldnotseemegoingtohishousenow。WhatwasThomasin’sanswerwhenyoutoldherofyourfeelings？\"
\"Shewrotethatyouwouldobjecttome；andotherthings。\"
\"Shewasinameasureright。Youmustnottakethisunkindly——Imerelystateitasatruth。Youhavebeengoodtoher，andwedonotforgetit。Butasshewasunwillingonherownaccounttobeyourwife，thatsettlesthepointwithoutmywishesbeingconcerned。\"
\"Yes。Butthereisadifferencebetweenthenandnow，ma’am。Sheisdistressednow，andIhavethoughtthatifyouweretotalktoheraboutme，andthinkfavourablyofmeyourself，theremightbeachanceofwinningherround，andgettingherquiteindependentofthisWildeve’sbackwardandforwardplay，andhisnotknowingwhetherhe’llhaveherorno。\"
Mrs。Yeobrightshookherhead。\"Thomasinthinks，andI
thinkwithher，thatsheoughttobeWildeve’swife，ifshemeanstoappearbeforetheworldwithoutasluruponhername。Iftheymarrysoon，everybodywillbelievethatanaccidentdidreallypreventthewedding。Ifnot，itmaycastashadeuponhercharacter——atanyratemakeherridiculous。Inshort，ifitisanyhowpossibletheymustmarrynow。\"
\"Ithoughtthattillhalfanhourago。But，afterall，whyshouldhergoingoffwithhimtoAngleburyforafewhoursdoheranyharm？Anybodywhoknowshowpuresheiswillfeelanysuchthoughttobequiteunjust。
IhavebeentryingthismorningtohelponthismarriagewithWildeve——yes，I，ma’am——inthebeliefthatIoughttodoit，becauseshewassowrappedupinhim。ButImuchquestionifIwasright，afterall。However，nothingcameofit。
AndnowIoffermyself。\"
Mrs。Yeobrightappeareddisinclinedtoenterfurtherintothequestion。\"IfearImustgoon，\"shesaid。
\"Idonotseethatanythingelsecanbedone。\"
Andshewenton。ButthoughthisconversationdidnotdivertThomasin’sauntfromherpurposedinterviewwithWildeve，itmadeaconsiderabledifferenceinhermodeofconductingthatinterview。ShethankedGodfortheweaponwhichthereddlemanhadputintoherhands。
Wildevewasathomewhenshereachedtheinn。Heshowedhersilentlyintotheparlour，andclosedthedoor。
Mrs。Yeobrightbegan——
\"Ihavethoughtitmydutytocalltoday。Anewproposalhasbeenmadetome，whichhasratherastonishedme。
ItwillaffectThomasingreatly；andIhavedecidedthatitshouldatleastbementionedtoyou。\"
\"Yes？Whatisit？\"hesaidcivilly。
\"Itis，ofcourse，inreferencetoherfuture。YoumaynotbeawarethatanothermanhasshownhimselfanxioustomarryThomasin。Now，thoughIhavenotencouragedhimyet，Icannotconscientiouslyrefusehimachanceanylonger。
Idon’twishtobeshortwithyou；butImustbefairtohimandtoher。\"
\"Whoistheman？\"saidWildevewithsurprise。
\"Onewhohasbeeninlovewithherlongerthanshehaswithyou。Heproposedtohertwoyearsago。
Atthattimesherefusedhim。\"
\"Well？\"
\"Hehasseenherlately，andhasaskedmeforpermissiontopayhisaddressestoher。Shemaynotrefusehimtwice。\"
\"Whatishisname？\"
Mrs。Yeobrightdeclinedtosay。\"HeisamanThomasinlikes，\"
sheadded，\"andonewhoseconstancysherespectsatleast。
Itseemstomethatwhatsherefusedthenshewouldbegladtogetnow。Sheismuchannoyedatherawkwardposition。\"
\"Sheneveroncetoldmeofthisoldlover。\"
\"ThegentlestwomenarenotsuchfoolsastoshowEVERYcard。\"
\"Well，ifshewantshimIsupposeshemusthavehim。\"
\"Itiseasyenoughtosaythat；butyoudon’tseethedifficulty。Hewantshermuchmorethanshewantshim；
andbeforeIcanencourageanythingofthesortImusthaveaclearunderstandingfromyouthatyouwillnotinterferetoinjureanarrangementwhichIpromoteinthebeliefthatitisforthebest。Suppose，whentheyareengaged，andeverythingissmoothlyarrangedfortheirmarriage，thatyoushouldstepbetweenthemandrenewyoursuit？Youmightnotwinherback，butyoumightcausemuchunhappiness。\"
\"OfcourseIshoulddonosuchthing，\"saidWildeve\"Buttheyarenotengagedyet。HowdoyouknowthatThomasinwouldaccepthim？\"
\"That’saquestionIhavecarefullyputtomyself；
anduponthewholetheprobabilitiesareinfavourofheracceptinghimintime。IflattermyselfthatI
havesomeinfluenceoverher。Sheispliable，andI
canbestronginmyrecommendationsofhim。\"
\"Andinyourdisparagementofmeatthesametime。\"
\"Well，youmaydependuponmynotpraisingyou，\"
shesaiddrily。\"Andifthisseemslikemanoeuvring，youmustrememberthatherpositionispeculiar，andthatshehasbeenhardlyused。Ishallalsobehelpedinmakingthematchbyherowndesiretoescapefromthehumiliationofherpresentstate；andawoman’sprideinthesecaseswillleadheraverygreatway。
Alittlemanagingmayberequiredtobringherround；
butIamequaltothat，providedthatyouagreetotheonethingindispensable；thatis，tomakeadistinctdeclarationthatsheistothinknomoreofyouasapossiblehusband。
Thatwillpiqueherintoacceptinghim。\"
\"Icanhardlysaythatjustnow，Mrs。Yeobright。
Itissosudden。\"
\"Andsomywholeplanisinterferedwith！Itisveryinconvenientthatyourefusetohelpmyfamilyeventothesmallextentofsayingdistinctlyyouwillhavenothingtodowithus。\"
Wildevereflecteduncomfortably。\"IconfessIwasnotpreparedforthis，\"hesaid。\"OfcourseI’llgiveherupifyouwish，ifitisnecessary。ButIthoughtImightbeherhusband。\"
\"Wehaveheardthatbefore。\"
\"Now，Mrs。Yeobright，don’tletusdisagree。Givemeafairtime。Idon’twanttostandinthewayofanybetterchanceshemayhave；onlyIwishyouhadletmeknowearlier。Iwillwritetoyouorcallinadayortwo。
Willthatsuffice？\"
\"Yes，\"shereplied，\"providedyoupromisenottocommunicatewithThomasinwithoutmyknowledge。\"
\"Ipromisethat，\"hesaid。Andtheinterviewthenterminated，Mrs。Yeobrightreturninghomewardasshehadcome。
Byfarthegreatesteffectofhersimplestrategyonthatdaywas，asoftenhappens，inaquarterquiteoutsideherviewwhenarrangingit。Inthefirstplace，hervisitsentWildevethesameeveningafterdarktoEustacia’shouseatMistover。
Atthishourthelonelydwellingwascloselyblindedandshutteredfromthechillanddarknesswithout。
Wildeve’sclandestineplanwithherwastotakealittlegravelinhishandandholdittothecreviceatthetopofthewindowshutter，whichwasontheoutside，sothatitshouldfallwithagentlerustle，resemblingthatofamouse，betweenshutterandglass。
Thisprecautioninattractingherattentionwastoavoidarousingthesuspicionsofhergrandfather。
Thesoftwords，\"Ihear；waitforme，\"inEustacia’svoicefromwithintoldhimthatshewasalone。
Hewaitedinhiscustomarymannerbywalkingroundtheenclosureandidlingbythepool，forWildevewasneveraskedintothehousebyhisproudthoughcondescendingmistress。
Sheshowednosignofcomingoutinahurry。Thetimeworeon，andhebegantogrowimpatient。Inthecourseoftwentyminutessheappearedfromroundthecorner，andadvancedasifmerelytakinganairing。
\"YouwouldnothavekeptmesolonghadyouknownwhatI
comeabout，\"hesaidwithbitterness。\"Still，youareworthwaitingfor。\"
\"Whathashappened？\"saidEustacia。\"Ididnotknowyouwereintrouble。Itooamgloomyenough。\"
\"Iamnotintrouble，\"saidhe。\"Itismerelythataffairshavecometoahead，andImusttakeaclearcourse。\"
\"Whatcourseisthat？\"sheaskedwithattentiveinterest。
\"AndcanyouforgetsosoonwhatIproposedtoyoutheothernight？Why，takeyoufromthisplace，andcarryyouawaywithmeabroad。\"
\"Ihavenotforgotten。Butwhyhaveyoucomesounexpectedlytorepeatthequestion，whenyouonlypromisedtocomenextSaturday？IthoughtIwastohaveplentyoftimetoconsider。\"
\"Yes，butthesituationisdifferentnow。\"
\"Explaintome。\"
\"Idon’twanttoexplain，forImaypainyou。\"
\"ButImustknowthereasonofthishurry。\"
\"Itissimplymyardour，dearEustacia。Everythingissmoothnow。\"
\"Thenwhyareyousoruffled？\"
\"Iamnotawareofit。Allisasitshouldbe。
Mrs。Yeobright——butsheisnothingtous。\"
\"Ah，Iknewshehadsomethingtodowithit！Come，Idon’tlikereserve。\"
\"No——shehasnothing。SheonlysaysshewishesmetogiveupThomasinbecauseanothermanisanxioustomarryher。
Thewoman，nowshenolongerneedsme，actuallyshowsoff！\"
Wildeve’svexationhasescapedhiminspiteofhimself。
Eustaciawassilentalongwhile。\"Youareintheawkwardpositionofanofficialwhoisnolongerwanted，\"
shesaidinachangedtone。
\"Itseemsso。ButIhavenotyetseenThomasin。\"
\"Andthatirritatesyou。Don’tdenyit，Damon。Youareactuallynettledbythisslightfromanunexpectedquarter。\"
\"Well？\"
\"Andyoucometogetmebecauseyoucannotgether。
Thisiscertainlyanewpositionaltogether。Iamtobeastop—gap。\"
\"PleaserememberthatIproposedthesamethingtheotherday。\"
Eustaciaagainremainedinasortofstupefiedsilence。
Whatcuriousfeelingwasthiscomingoverher？WasitreallypossiblethatherinterestinWildevehadbeensoentirelytheresultofantagonismthatthegloryandthedreamdepartedfromthemanwiththefirstsoundthathewasnolongercovetedbyherrival？Shewas，then，secureofhimatlast。Thomasinnolongerrequiredhim。
Whatahumiliatingvictory！Helovedherbest，shethought；
andyet——daredshetomurmursuchtreacherouscriticismeversosoftly？——whatwasthemanworthwhomawomaninferiortoherselfdidnotvalue？Thesentimentwhichlurksmoreorlessinallanimatenature——thatofnotdesiringtheundesiredofothers——waslivelyasapassioninthesupersubtle，epicureanheartofEustacia。Hersocialsuperiorityoverhim，whichhithertohadscarcelyeverimpressedher，becameunpleasantlyinsistent，andforthefirsttimeshefeltthatshehadstoopedinlovinghim。
\"Well，darling，youagree？\"saidWildeve。
\"IfitcouldbeLondon，orevenBudmouth，insteadofAmerica，\"
shemurmuredlanguidly。\"Well，Iwillthink。
Itistoogreatathingformetodecideoffhand。
IwishIhatedtheheathless——orlovedyoumore。\"
\"Youcanbepainfullyfrank。Youlovedmeamonthagowarmlyenoughtogoanywherewithme。\"
\"AndyoulovedThomasin。\"
\"Yes，perhapsthatwaswherethereasonlay，\"hereturned，withalmostasneer。\"Idon’thatehernow。\"
\"Exactly。Theonlythingisthatyoucannolongergether。\"
\"Come——notaunts，Eustacia，orweshallquarrel。
Ifyoudon’tagreetogowithme，andagreeshortly，Ishallgobymyself。\"
\"OrtryThomasinagain。Damon，howstrangeitseemsthatyoucouldhavemarriedherormeindifferently，andonlyhavecometomebecauseIam——cheapest！Yes，yes——itistrue。TherewasatimewhenIshouldhaveexclaimedagainstamanofthatsort，andbeenquitewild；
butitisallpastnow。\"
\"Willyougo，dearest？ComesecretlywithmetoBristol，marryme，andturnourbacksuponthisdog—holeofEnglandforever？SayYes。\"
\"Iwanttogetawayfromhereatalmostanycost，\"
shesaidwithweariness，\"butIdon’tliketogowithyou。
Givememoretimetodecide。\"
\"Ihavealready，\"saidWildeve。\"Well，Igiveyouonemoreweek。\"
\"Alittlelonger，sothatImaytellyoudecisively。
Ihavetoconsidersomanythings。FancyThomasinbeinganxioustogetridofyou！Icannotforgetit。\"
\"Nevermindthat。SayMondayweek。Iwillbeherepreciselyatthistime。\"
\"LetitbeatRainbarrow，\"saidshe。\"Thisistoonearhome；
mygrandfathermaybewalkingout。\"
\"Thankyou，dear。OnMondayweekatthistimeIwillbeattheBarrow。Tillthengood—bye。\"
\"Good—bye。No，no，youmustnottouchmenow。
ShakinghandsisenoughtillIhavemadeupmymind。\"
Eustaciawatchedhisshadowyformtillithaddisappeared。
Sheplacedherhandtoherforeheadandbreathedheavily；
andthenherrich，romanticlipspartedunderthathomelyimpulse——ayawn。Shewasimmediatelyangryathavingbetrayedeventoherselfthepossibleevanescenceofherpassionforhim。ShecouldnotadmitatoncethatshemighthaveoverestimatedWildeve，fortoperceivehismediocritynowwastoadmitherowngreatfollyheretofore。
Andthediscoverythatshewastheownerofadispositionsopurelythatofthedoginthemangerhadsomethinginitwhichatfirstmadeherashamed。
ThefruitofMrs。Yeobright’sdiplomacywasindeedremarkable，thoughnotasyetofthekindshehadanticipated。
IthadappreciablyinfluencedWildeve，butitwasinfluencingEustaciafarmore。Herloverwasnolongertoheranexcitingmanwhommanywomenstrovefor，andherselfcouldonlyretainbystrivingwiththem。
Hewasasuperfluity。
Shewentindoorsinthatpeculiarstateofmiserywhichisnotexactlygrief，andwhichespeciallyattendsthedawningsofreasoninthelatterdaysofanill—judged，transientlove。Tobeconsciousthattheendofthedreamisapproaching，andyethasnotabsolutelycome，isoneofthemostwearisomeaswellasthemostcuriousstagesalongthecoursebetweenthebeginningofapassionanditsend。
Hergrandfatherhadreturned，andwasbusilyengagedinpouringsomegallonsofnewlyarrivedrumintothesquarebottlesofhissquarecellaret。WheneverthesehomesupplieswereexhaustedhewouldgototheQuietWoman，and，standingwithhisbacktothefire，groginhand，tellremarkablestoriesofhowhehadlivedsevenyearsunderthewaterlineofhisship，andothernavalwonders，tothenatives，whohopedtooearnestlyforatreatofalefromthetellertoexhibitanydoubtsofhistruth。
Hehadbeentherethisevening。\"IsupposeyouhaveheardtheEgdonnews，Eustacia？\"hesaid，withoutlookingupfromthebottles。\"ThemenhavebeentalkingaboutitattheWomanasifitwereofnationalimportance。\"
\"Ihaveheardnone，\"shesaid。
\"YoungClymYeobright，astheycallhim，iscominghomenextweektospendChristmaswithhismother。
Heisafinefellowbythistime，itseems。Isupposeyourememberhim？\"
\"Ineversawhiminmylife。\"
\"Ah，true；heleftbeforeyoucamehere。Iwellrememberhimasapromisingboy。\"
\"Wherehashebeenlivingalltheseyears？\"
\"Inthatrookeryofpompandvanity，Paris，Ibelieve。\"
bookthreeTHEFASCINATION
1—\"MyMindtoMeaKingdomIs\"
InClymYeobright’sfacecouldbedimlyseenthetypicalcountenanceofthefuture。Shouldtherebeaclassicperiodtoarthereafter，itsPheidiasmayproducesuchfaces。
Theviewoflifeasathingtobeputupwith，replacingthatzestforexistencewhichwassointenseinearlycivilizations，mustultimatelyentersothoroughlyintotheconstitutionoftheadvancedracesthatitsfacialexpressionwillbecomeacceptedasanewartisticdeparture。Peoplealreadyfeelthatamanwholiveswithoutdisturbingacurveoffeature，orsettingamarkofmentalconcernanywhereuponhimself，istoofarremovedfrommodernperceptivenesstobeamoderntype。Physicallybeautifulmen——thegloryoftheracewhenitwasyoung——arealmostananachronismnow；
andwemaywonderwhether，atsometimeorother，physicallybeautifulwomenmaynotbeananachronismlikewise。
ThetruthseemstobethatalonglineofdisillusivecenturieshaspermanentlydisplacedtheHellenicideaoflife，orwhateveritmaybecalled。WhattheGreeksonlysuspectedweknowwell；whattheirAeschylusimaginedournurserychildrenfeel。Thatold—fashionedrevellinginthegeneralsituationgrowslessandlesspossibleasweuncoverthedefectsofnaturallaws，andseethequandarythatmanisinbytheiroperation。
ThelineamentswhichwillgetembodiedinidealsbaseduponthisnewrecognitionwillprobablybeakintothoseofYeobright。Theobserver’seyewasarrested，notbyhisfaceasapicture，butbyhisfaceasapage；
notbywhatitwas，butbywhatitrecorded。Hisfeatureswereattractiveinthelightofsymbols，assoundsintrinsicallycommonbecomeattractiveinlanguage，andasshapesintrinsicallysimplebecomeinterestinginwriting。
Hehadbeenaladofwhomsomethingwasexpected。
Beyondthisallhadbeenchaos。Thathewouldbesuccessfulinanoriginalway，orthathewouldgotothedogsinanoriginalway，seemedequallyprobable。
Theonlyabsolutecertaintyabouthimwasthathewouldnotstandstillinthecircumstancesamidwhichhewasborn。
Hence，whenhisnamewascasuallymentionedbyneighbouringyeomen，thelistenersaid，\"Ah，ClymYeobright——whatishedoingnow？\"Whentheinstinctivequestionaboutapersonis，Whatishedoing？itisfeltthathewillbefoundtobe，likemostofus，doingnothinginparticular。Thereisanindefinitesensethathemustbeinvadingsomeregionofsingularity，goodorbad。Thedevouthopeisthatheisdoingwell。Thesecretfaithisthatheismakingamessofit。Halfadozencomfortablemarket—men，whowerehabitualcallersattheQuietWomanastheypassedbyintheircarts，werepartialtothetopic。Infact，thoughtheywerenotEgdonmen，theycouldhardlyavoiditwhiletheysuckedtheirlongclaytubesandregardedtheheaththroughthewindow。Clymhadbeensoinwovenwiththeheathinhisboyhoodthathardlyanybodycouldlookuponitwithoutthinkingofhim。Sothesubjectrecurred：ifheweremakingafortuneandaname，somuchthebetterforhim；ifheweremakingatragicalfigureintheworld，somuchthebetterforanarrative。
ThefactwasthatYeobright’sfamehadspreadtoanawkwardextentbeforehelefthome。\"Itisbadwhenyourfameoutrunsyourmeans，\"saidtheSpanishJesuitGracian。
AttheageofsixhehadaskedaScriptureriddle：\"Whowasthefirstmanknowntowearbreeches？\"andapplausehadresoundedfromtheveryvergeoftheheath。AtsevenhepaintedtheBattleofWaterloowithtiger—lilypollenandblack—currantjuice，intheabsenceofwater—colours。Bythetimehereachedtwelvehehadinthismannerbeenheardofasartistandscholarforatleasttwomilesround。
Anindividualwhosefamespreadsthreeorfourthousandyardsinthetimetakenbythefameofotherssimilarlysituatedtotravelsixoreighthundred，mustofnecessityhavesomethinginhim。PossiblyClym’sfame，likeHomer’s，owedsomethingtotheaccidentsofhissituation；
neverthelessfamoushewas。
Hegrewupandwashelpedoutinlife。ThatwaggeryoffatewhichstartedCliveasawritingclerk，Gayasalinen—draper，Keatsasasurgeon，andathousandothersinathousandotheroddways，banishedthewildandasceticheathladtoatradewhosesoleconcernwaswiththeespecialsymbolsofself—indulgenceandvainglory。
Thedetailsofthischoiceofabusinessforhimitisnotnecessarytogive。Atthedeathofhisfatheraneighbouringgentlemanhadkindlyundertakentogivetheboyastart，andthisassumedtheformofsendinghimtoBudmouth。
Yeobrightdidnotwishtogothere，butitwastheonlyfeasibleopening。ThencehewenttoLondon；andthence，shortlyafter，toParis，wherehehadremainedtillnow。
Somethingbeingexpectedofhim，hehadnotbeenathomemanydaysbeforeagreatcuriosityastowhyhestayedonsolongbegantoariseintheheath。Thenaturaltermofaholidayhadpassed，yethestillremained。
OntheSundaymorningfollowingtheweekofThomasin’smarriageadiscussiononthissubjectwasinprogressatahair—cuttingbeforeFairway’shouse。Herethelocalbarberingwasalwaysdoneatthishouronthisday，tobefollowedbythegreatSundaywashoftheinhabitantsatnoon，whichinitsturnwasfollowedbythegreatSundaydressinganhourlater。OnEgdonHeathSundayproperdidnotbegintilldinner—time，andeventhenitwasasomewhatbatteredspecimenoftheday。