TheseSunday—morninghair—cuttingswereperformedbyFairway；
thevictimsittingonachopping—blockinfrontofthehouse，withoutacoat，andtheneighboursgossipingaround，idlyobservingthelocksofhairastheyroseuponthewindafterthesnip，andflewawayoutofsighttothefourquartersoftheheavens。Summerandwinterthescenewasthesame，unlessthewindweremorethanusuallyblusterous，whenthestoolwasshiftedafewfeetroundthecorner。
Tocomplainofcoldinsittingoutofdoors，hatlessandcoatless，whileFairwaytoldtruestoriesbetweenthecutsofthescissors，wouldhavebeentopronounceyourselfnomanatonce。Toflinch，exclaim，ormoveamuscleofthefaceatthesmallstabsundertheearreceivedfromthoseinstruments，oratscarificationsoftheneckbythecomb，wouldhavebeenthoughtagrossbreachofgoodmanners，consideringthatFairwaydiditallfornothing。AbleedingaboutthepollonSundayafternoonswasamplyaccountedforbytheexplanation。
\"Ihavehadmyhaircut，youknow。\"
TheconversationonYeobrighthadbeenstartedbyadistantviewoftheyoungmanramblingleisurelyacrosstheheathbeforethem。
\"Amanwhoisdoingwellelsewherewouldn’tbideheretwoorthreeweeksfornothing，\"saidFairway。
\"He’sgotsomeprojectin’shead——dependuponthat。\"
\"Well，’acan’tkeepadimentshophere，\"saidSam。
\"Idon’tseewhyheshouldhavehadthemtwoheavyboxeshomeifhehadnotbeengoingtobide；andwhatthereisforhimtodoheretheLordinheavenknows。\"
BeforemanymoresurmisescouldbeindulgedinYeobrighthadcomenear；andseeingthehair—cuttinggroupheturnedasidetojointhem。Marchingup，andlookingcriticallyattheirfacesforamoment，hesaid，withoutintroduction，\"Now，folks，letmeguesswhatyouhavebeentalkingabout。\"
\"Ay，sure，ifyouwill，\"saidSam。
\"Aboutme。\"
\"Now，itisathingIshouldn’thavedreamedofdoing，otherwise，\"saidFairwayinatoneofintegrity；\"butsinceyouhavenamedit，MasterYeobright，I’llownthatwewastalkingabout’ee。Wewerewonderingwhatcouldkeepyouhomeheremollyhorningaboutwhenyouhavemadesuchaworld—widenameforyourselfinthenick—nacktrade——now，that’sthetrutho’t。\"
\"I’lltellyou，\"saidYeobright。withunexpectedearnestness。
\"Iamnotsorrytohavetheopportunity。I’vecomehomebecause，allthingsconsidered，Icanbeatriflelessuselessherethananywhereelse。ButIhaveonlylatelyfoundthisout。WhenIfirstgotawayfromhomeIthoughtthisplacewasnotworthtroublingabout。Ithoughtourlifeherewascontemptible。Tooilyourbootsinsteadofblackingthem，todustyourcoatwithaswitchinsteadofabrush——wasthereeveranythingmoreridiculous？Isaid。\"
\"So’tis；so’tis！\"
\"No，no——youarewrong；itisn’t。\"
\"Begyourpardon，wethoughtthatwasyourmaning？\"
\"Well，asmyviewschangedmycoursebecameverydepressing。
IfoundthatIwastryingtobelikepeoplewhohadhardlyanythingincommonwithmyself。Iwasendeavouringtoputoffonesortoflifeforanothersortoflife，whichwasnotbetterthanthelifeIhadknownbefore。
Itwassimplydifferent。\"
\"True；asightdifferent，\"saidFairway。
\"Yes，Parismustbeatakingplace，\"saidHumphrey。
\"Grandshop—winders，trumpets，anddrums；andherebeweoutofdoorsinallwindsandweathers——\"
\"Butyoumistakeme，\"pleadedClym。\"Allthiswasverydepressing。ButnotsodepressingassomethingI
nextperceived——thatmybusinesswastheidlest，vainest，mosteffeminatebusinessthateveramancouldbeputto。
Thatdecidedme——IwouldgiveitupandtrytofollowsomerationaloccupationamongthepeopleIknewbest，andtowhomIcouldbeofmostuse。Ihavecomehome；
andthisishowImeantocarryoutmyplan。IshallkeepaschoolasneartoEgdonaspossible，soastobeabletowalkoverhereandhaveanight—schoolinmymother’shouse。ButImuststudyalittleatfirst，togetproperlyqualified。Now，neighbours，Imustgo。\"
AndClymresumedhiswalkacrosstheheath。
\"He’llnevercarryitoutintheworld，\"saidFairway。
\"Inafewweekshe’lllearntoseethingsotherwise。\"
\"’Tisgood—heartedoftheyoungman，\"saidanother。
\"But，formypart，Ithinkhehadbettermindhisbusiness。\"
2—TheNewCourseCausesDisappointmentYeobrightlovedhiskind。Hehadaconvictionthatthewantofmostmenwasknowledgeofasortwhichbringswisdomratherthanaffluence。Hewishedtoraisetheclassattheexpenseofindividualsratherthanindividualsattheexpenseoftheclass。Whatwasmore，hewasreadyatoncetobethefirstunitsacrificed。
Inpassingfromthebucolictotheintellectuallifetheintermediatestagesareusuallytwoatleast，frequentlymanymore；andoneofthosestagesisalmostsuretobeworldlyadvanced。Wecanhardlyimaginebucolicplacidityquickeningtointellectualaimswithoutimaginingsocialaimsasthetransitionalphase。
Yeobright’slocalpeculiaritywasthatinstrivingathighthinkinghestillcleavedtoplainliving——nay，wildandmeagrelivinginmanyrespects，andbrotherlinesswithclowns。
HewasaJohntheBaptistwhotookennoblementratherthanrepentanceforhistext。Mentallyhewasinaprovincialfuture，thatis，hewasinmanypointsabreastwiththecentraltownthinkersofhisdate。MuchofthisdevelopmenthemayhaveowedtohisstudiouslifeinParis，wherehehadbecomeacquaintedwithethicalsystemspopularatthetime。
Inconsequenceofthisrelativelyadvancedposition，Yeobrightmighthavebeencalledunfortunate。
Theruralworldwasnotripeforhim。Amanshouldbeonlypartiallybeforehistime——tobecompletelytothevanwardinaspirationsisfataltofame。
HadPhilip’swarlikesonbeenintellectuallysofaraheadastohaveattemptedcivilizationwithoutbloodshed，hewouldhavebeentwicethegodlikeherothatheseemed，butnobodywouldhaveheardofanAlexander。
Intheinterestsofrenowntheforwardnessshouldliechieflyinthecapacitytohandlethings。Successfulpropagandistshavesucceededbecausethedoctrinetheybringintoformisthatwhichtheirlistenershaveforsometimefeltwithoutbeingabletoshape。Amanwhoadvocatesaestheticeffortanddeprecatessocialeffortisonlylikelytobeunderstoodbyaclasstowhichsocialefforthasbecomeastalematter。Toargueuponthepossibilityofculturebeforeluxurytothebucolicworldmaybetoarguetruly，butitisanattempttodisturbasequencetowhichhumanityhasbeenlongaccustomed。YeobrightpreachingtotheEgdoneremitesthattheymightrisetoaserenecomprehensivenesswithoutgoingthroughtheprocessofenrichingthemselveswasnotunlikearguingtoancientChaldeansthatinascendingfromearthtothepureempyreanitwasnotnecessarytopassfirstintotheinterveningheavenofether。
WasYeobright’smindwell—proportioned？No。Awellproportionedmindisonewhichshowsnoparticularbias；
oneofwhichwemaysafelysaythatitwillnevercauseitsownertobeconfinedasamadman，torturedasaheretic，orcrucifiedasablasphemer。Also，ontheotherhand，thatitwillnevercausehimtobeapplaudedasaprophet，reveredasapriest，orexaltedasaking。
Itsusualblessingsarehappinessandmediocrity。
ItproducesthepoetryofRogers，thepaintingsofWest，thestatecraftofNorth，thespiritualguidanceofTomline；
enablingitspossessorstofindtheirwaytowealth，towindupwell，tostepwithdignityoffthestage，todiecomfortablyintheirbeds，andtogetthedecentmonumentwhich，inmanycases，theydeserve。ItneverwouldhaveallowedYeobrighttodosucharidiculousthingasthrowuphisbusinesstobenefithisfellow—creatures。
Hewalkedalongtowardshomewithoutattendingtopaths。
IfanyoneknewtheheathwellitwasClym。Hewaspermeatedwithitsscenes，withitssubstance，andwithitsodours。
Hemightbesaidtobeitsproduct。Hiseyeshadfirstopenedthereon；withitsappearanceallthefirstimages，ofhismemoryweremingled，hisestimateoflifehadbeencolouredbyit：histoyshadbeentheflintknivesandarrow—headswhichhefoundthere，wonderingwhystonesshould\"grow\"tosuchoddshapes；hisflowers，thepurplebellsandyellowfurze：hisanimalkingdom，thesnakesandcroppers；hissociety，itshumanhaunters。
TakeallthevaryinghatesfeltbyEustaciaVyetowardstheheath，andtranslatethemintoloves，andyouhavetheheartofClym。Hegazeduponthewideprospectashewalked，andwasglad。
TomanypersonsthisEgdonwasaplacewhichhadslippedoutofitscenturygenerationsago，tointrudeasanuncouthobjectintothis。Itwasanobsoletething，andfewcaredtostudyit。Howcouldthisbeotherwiseinthedaysofsquarefields，plashedhedges，andmeadowswateredonaplansorectangularthatonafinedaytheylookedlikesilvergridirons？Thefarmer，inhisride，whocouldsmileatartificialgrasses，lookwithsolicitudeatthecomingcorn，andsighwithsadnessatthefly—eatenturnips，bestoweduponthedistantuplandofheathnothingbetterthanafrown。
ButasforYeobright，whenhelookedfromtheheightsonhiswayhecouldnothelpindulginginabarbaroussatisfactionatobservingthat，insomeoftheattemptsatreclamationfromthewaste，tillage，afterholdingonforayearortwo，hadrecededagainindespair，thefernsandfurze—tuftsstubbornlyreassertingthemselves。
Hedescendedintothevalley，andsoonreachedhishomeatBlooms—End。Hismotherwassnippingdeadleavesfromthewindow—plants。Shelookedupathimasifshedidnotunderstandthemeaningofhislongstaywithher；
herfacehadwornthatlookforseveraldays。Hecouldperceivethatthecuriositywhichhadbeenshownbythehair—cuttinggroupamountedinhismothertoconcern。
Butshehadaskednoquestionwithherlips，evenwhenthearrivalofhistrunksuggestedthathewasnotgoingtoleavehersoon。Hersilencebesoughtanexplanationofhimmoreloudlythanwords。
\"IamnotgoingbacktoParisagain，Mother，\"hesaid。
\"Atleast，inmyoldcapacity。Ihavegivenupthebusiness。\"
Mrs。Yeobrightturnedinpainedsurprise。\"Ithoughtsomethingwasamiss，becauseoftheboxes。Iwonderyoudidnottellmesooner。\"
\"Ioughttohavedoneit。ButIhavebeenindoubtwhetheryouwouldbepleasedwithmyplan。Iwasnotquiteclearonafewpointsmyself。Iamgoingtotakeanentirelynewcourse。\"
\"Iamastonished，Clym。Howcanyouwanttodobetterthanyou’vebeendoing？\"
\"Veryeasily。ButIshallnotdobetterinthewayyoumean；Isupposeitwillbecalleddoingworse。
ButIhatethatbusinessofmine，andIwanttodosomeworthythingbeforeIdie。AsaschoolmasterIthinktodoit——aschool—mastertothepoorandignorant，toteachthemwhatnobodyelsewill。\"
\"Afterallthetroublethathasbeentakentogiveyouastart，andwhenthereisnothingtodobuttokeepstraightontowardsaffluence，yousayyouwillbeapoorman’sschoolmaster。Yourfancieswillbeyourruin，Clym。\"
Mrs。Yeobrightspokecalmly，buttheforceoffeelingbehindthewordswasbuttooapparenttoonewhoknewheraswellashersondid。Hedidnotanswer。
Therewasinhisfacethathopelessnessofbeingunderstoodwhichcomeswhentheobjectorisconstitutionallybeyondthereachofalogicthat，evenunderfavouringconditions，isalmosttoocoarseavehicleforthesubtletyoftheargument。
Nomorewassaidonthesubjecttilltheendofdinner。
Hismotherthenbegan，asiftherehadbeennointervalsincethemorning。\"Itdisturbsme，Clym，tofindthatyouhavecomehomewithsuchthoughtsasthose。
Ihadn’ttheleastideathatyoumeanttogobackwardintheworldbyyourownfreechoice。Ofcourse，Ihavealwayssupposedyouweregoingtopushstraighton，asothermendo——allwhodeservethename——whentheyhavebeenputinagoodwayofdoingwell。\"
\"Icannothelpit，\"saidClym，inatroubledtone。
\"Mother，Ihatetheflashybusiness。Talkaboutmenwhodeservethename，cananymandeservingthenamewastehistimeinthateffeminateway，whenheseeshalftheworldgoingtoruinforwantofsomebodytobuckletoandteachthemhowtobreastthemiserytheyarebornto？Igetupeverymorningandseethewholecreationgroaningandtravailinginpain，asSt。Paulsays，andyetthereamI，traffickinginglitteringsplendourswithwealthywomenandtitledlibertines，andpanderingtothemeanestvanities——I，whohavehealthandstrengthenoughforanything。Ihavebeentroubledinmymindaboutitalltheyear，andtheendisthatIcannotdoitanymore。\"
\"Whycan’tyoudoitaswellasothers？\"
\"Idon’tknow，exceptthattherearemanythingsotherpeoplecareforwhichIdon’t；andthat’spartlywhyI
thinkIoughttodothis。Foronething，mybodydoesnotrequiremuchofme。Icannotenjoydelicacies；
goodthingsarewasteduponme。Well，Ioughttoturnthatdefecttoadvantage，andbybeingabletodowithoutwhatotherpeoplerequireIcanspendwhatsuchthingscostuponanybodyelse。\"
Now，Yeobright，havinginheritedsomeoftheseveryinstinctsfromthewomanbeforehim，couldnotfailtoawakenareciprocityinherthroughherfeelings，ifnotbyarguments，disguiseitasshemightforhisgood。
Shespokewithlessassurance。\"Andyetyoumighthavebeenawealthymanifyouhadonlypersevered。
Managertothatlargediamondestablishment——whatbettercanamanwishfor？Whatapostoftrustandrespect！
Isupposeyouwillbelikeyourfather；likehim，youaregettingwearyofdoingwell。\"
\"No，\"saidherson，\"Iamnotwearyofthat，thoughIamwearyofwhatyoumeanbyit。Mother，whatisdoingwell？\"
Mrs。Yeobrightwasfartoothoughtfulawomantobecontentwithreadydefinitions，and，likethe\"Whatiswisdom？\"ofPlato’sSocrates，andthe\"Whatistruth？\"
ofPontiusPilate，Yeobright’sburningquestionreceivednoanswer。
Thesilencewasbrokenbytheclashofthegardengate，atapatthedoor，anditsopening。ChristianCantleappearedintheroominhisSundayclothes。
ItwasthecustomonEgdontobegintheprefacetoastorybeforeabsolutelyenteringthehouse，soastobewellinforthebodyofthenarrativebythetimevisitorandvisitedstoodfacetoface。Christianhadbeensayingtothemwhilethedoorwasleavingitslatch，\"TothinkthatI，whogofromhomebutonceinawhile，andhardlythen，shouldhavebeentherethismorning！\"
\"’Tisnewsyouhavebroughtus，then，Christian？\"
saidMrs。Yeobright。
\"Ay，sure，aboutawitch，andyemustoverlookmytimeo’
day；for，saysI，’Imustgoandtell’em，thoughtheywon’thavehalfdonedinner。’Iassureyeitmademeshakelikeadrivenleaf。Doyethinkanyharmwillcomeo’t？\"
\"Well——what？\"
\"Thismorningatchurchwewasallstandingup，andthepa’sonsaid，’Letuspray。’’Well，’thinksI，’onemayaswellkneelasstand’；sodownIwent；and，morethanthat，alltherestwereaswillingtoobligethemanasI。Wehadn’tbeenhardatitformorethanaminutewhenamostterriblescreechsoundedthroughchurch，asifsomebodyhadjustgieduptheirheart’sblood。
AllthefolkjumpedupandthenwefoundthatSusanNunsuchhadprickedMissVyewithalongstocking—needle，asshehadthreatenedtodoassoonasevershecouldgettheyoungladytochurch，whereshedon’tcomeveryoften。She’vewaitedforthischanceforweeks，soastodrawherbloodandputanendtothebewitchingofSusan’schildrenthathasbeencarriedonsolong。
Suefollowedherintochurch，satnexttoher，andassoonasshecouldfindachanceinwentthestocking—needleintomylady’sarm。\"
\"Goodheaven，howhorrid！\"saidMrs。Yeobright。
\"Sueprickedherthatdeepthatthemaidfaintedaway；
andasIwasafeardtheremightbesometumultamongus，Igotbehindthebassviolanddidn’tseenomore。
Buttheycarriedheroutintotheair，’tissaid；
butwhentheylookedroundforSueshewasgone。
Whatascreamthatgirlgied，poorthing！Therewerethepa’soninhissurpliceholdinguphishandandsaying，’Sitdown，mygoodpeople，sitdown！’Butthedeuceabitwouldtheysitdown。O，andwhatd’yethinkIfoundout，Mrs。Yeobright？Thepa’sonwearsasuitofclothesunderhissurplice！——Icouldseehisblacksleeveswhenhehelduphisarm。\"
\"’Tisacruelthing，\"saidYeobright。
\"Yes，\"saidhismother。
\"Thenationoughttolookintoit，\"saidChristian。
\"Here’sHumphreycoming，Ithink。\"
IncameHumphrey。\"Well，haveyeheardthenews？
ButIseeyouhave。’TisaverystrangethingthatwheneveroneofEgdonfolkgoestochurchsomerumjoborotherissuretobedoing。ThelasttimeoneofuswastherewaswhenneighbourFairwaywentinthefall；
andthatwasthedayyouforbadthebanns，Mrs。Yeobright。\"
\"Hasthiscruellytreatedgirlbeenabletowalkhome？\"
saidClym。
\"Theysayshegotbetter，andwenthomeverywell。
AndnowI’vetolditImustbemovinghomewardmyself。\"
\"AndI，\"saidHumphrey。\"Trulynowweshallseeifthere’sanythinginwhatfolkssayabouther。\"
WhentheyweregoneintotheheathagainYeobrightsaidquietlytohismother，\"DoyouthinkIhaveturnedteachertoosoon？\"
\"Itisrightthatthereshouldbeschoolmasters，andmissionaries，andallsuchmen，\"shereplied。
\"Butitisright，too，thatIshouldtrytoliftyououtofthislifeintosomethingricher，andthatyoushouldnotcomebackagain，andbeasifIhadnottriedatall。\"
LaterinthedaySam，theturf—cutter，entered。
\"I’vecomea—borrowing，Mrs。Yeobright。Isupposeyouhaveheardwhat’sbeenhappeningtothebeautyonthehill？\"
\"Yes，Sam：halfadozenhavebeentellingus。\"
\"Beauty？\"saidClym。
\"Yes，tolerablywell—favoured，\"Samreplied。\"Lord！allthecountryownsthat’tisoneofthestrangestthingsintheworldthatsuchawomanshouldhavecometoliveupthere。\"
\"Darkorfair？\"
\"Now，thoughI’veseenhertwentytimes，that’sathingIcannotcalltomind。\"
\"DarkerthanTamsin，\"murmuredMrs。Yeobright。
\"Awomanwhoseemstocarefornothingatall，asyoumaysay。\"
\"Sheismelancholy，then？\"inquiredClym。
\"Shemopesaboutbyherself，anddon’tmixinwiththepeople。\"
\"Issheayoungladyinclinedforadventures？\"
\"Nottomyknowledge。\"
\"Doesn’tjoininwiththeladsintheirgames，togetsomesortofexcitementinthislonelyplace？\"
\"No。\"
\"Mumming，forinstance？\"
\"No。Hernotionsbedifferent。Ishouldrathersayherthoughtswerefarawayfromhere，withlordsandladiesshe’llneverknow，andmansionsshe’llneverseeagain。\"
ObservingthatClymappearedsingularlyinterestedMrs。YeobrightsaidratheruneasilytoSam，\"Youseemoreinherthanmostofusdo。MissVyeistomymindtooidletobecharming。Ihaveneverheardthatsheisofanyusetoherselfortootherpeople。
Goodgirlsdon’tgettreatedaswitchesevenonEgdon。\"
\"Nonsense——thatprovesnothingeitherway，\"saidYeobright。
\"Well，ofcourseIdon’tunderstandsuchniceties，\"
saidSam，withdrawingfromapossiblyunpleasantargument；
\"andwhatsheiswemustwaitfortimetotellus。
ThebusinessthatIhavereallycalledaboutisthis，toborrowthelongestandstrongestropeyouhave。
Thecaptain’sbuckethasdroppedintothewell，andtheyareinwantofwater；andasallthechapsareathometodaywethinkwecangetitoutforhim。
Wehavethreecart—ropesalready，buttheywon’treachtothebottom。\"
Mrs。Yeobrighttoldhimthathemighthavewhateverropeshecouldfindintheouthouse，andSamwentouttosearch。
WhenhepassedbythedoorClymjoinedhim，andaccompaniedhimtothegate。
\"Isthisyoungwitch—ladygoingtostaylongatMistover？\"
heasked。
\"Ishouldsayso。\"
\"Whatacruelshametoill—useher，Shemusthavesufferedgreatly——moreinmindthaninbody。\"
\"’Twasagracelesstrick——suchahandsomegirl，too。
Yououghttoseeher，Mr。Yeobright，beingayoungmancomefromfar，andwithalittlemoretoshowforyouryearsthanmostofus。\"
\"Doyouthinkshewouldliketoteachchildren？\"
saidClym。
Samshookhishead。\"Quiteadifferentsortofbodyfromthat，Ireckon。\"
\"O，itwasmerelysomethingwhichoccurredtome。
Itwouldofcoursebenecessarytoseeherandtalkitover——notaneasything，bytheway，formyfamilyandhersarenotveryfriendly。\"
\"I’lltellyouhowyoumidseeher，Mr。Yeobright，\"
saidSam。\"Wearegoingtograppleforthebucketatsixo’clocktonightatherhouse，andyoucouldlendahand。
There’sfiveorsixcoming，butthewellisdeep，andanothermightbeuseful，ifyoudon’tmindappearinginthatshape。
She’ssuretobewalkinground。\"
\"I’llthinkofit，\"saidYeobright；andtheyparted。
Hethoughtofitagooddeal；butnothingmorewassaidaboutEustaciainsidethehouseatthattime。
Whetherthisromanticmartyrtosuperstitionandthemelancholymummerhehadconversedwithunderthefullmoonwereoneandthesamepersonremainedasyetaproblem。
3—TheFirstActinaTimewornDramaTheafternoonwasfine，andYeobrightwalkedontheheathforanhourwithhismother。WhentheyreachedtheloftyridgewhichdividedthevalleyofBlooms—Endfromtheadjoiningvalleytheystoodstillandlookedround。
TheQuietWomanInnwasvisibleonthelowmarginoftheheathinonedirection，andafarontheotherhandroseMistoverKnap。
\"YoumeantocallonThomasin？\"heinquired。
\"Yes。Butyouneednotcomethistime，\"saidhismother。
\"InthatcaseI’llbranchoffhere，Mother。IamgoingtoMistover。\"
Mrs。Yeobrightturnedtohiminquiringly。
\"Iamgoingtohelpthemgetthebucketoutofthecaptain’swell，\"hecontinued。\"AsitissoverydeepImaybeuseful。AndIshouldliketoseethisMissVye——notsomuchforhergoodlooksasforanotherreason。\"
\"Mustyougo？\"hismotherasked。
\"Ithoughtto。\"
Andtheyparted。\"Thereisnohelpforit，\"murmuredClym’smothergloomilyashewithdrew。\"Theyaresuretoseeeachother。IwishSamwouldcarryhisnewstootherhousesthanmine。\"
Clym’sretreatingfiguregotsmallerandsmallerasitroseandfelloverthehillocksonhisway。
\"Heistender—hearted，\"saidMrs。Yeobrighttoherselfwhileshewatchedhim；\"otherwiseitwouldmatterlittle。
Howhe’sgoingon！\"