Butmenaredrawnfromtheirintentionseveninthecourseofcarryingthemout，anditwasextremelydoubtful，bythetimethetwentiethguineahadbeenreached，whetherWildevewasconsciousofanyotherintentionthanthatofwinningforhisownpersonalbenefit。
Moreover，hewasnownolongergamblingforhiswife’smoney，butforYeobright’s；thoughofthisfactChristian，inhisapprehensiveness，didnotinformhimtillafterwards。
Itwasnearlyeleveno’clock，when，withalmostashriek，ChristianplacedYeobright’slastgleamingguineauponthestone。Inthirtysecondsithadgonethewayofitscompanions。
Christianturnedandflunghimselfonthefernsinaconvulsionofremorse，\"O，whatshallIdowithmywretchedself？\"hegroaned。\"WhatshallIdo？WillanygoodHeavenhaemercyuponmywickedsoul？\"
\"Do？Liveonjustthesame。\"
\"Iwon’tliveonjustthesame！I’lldie！Isayyouarea——a————\"
\"Amansharperthanmyneighbour。\"
\"Yes，amansharperthanmyneighbour；aregularsharper！\"
\"Poorchips—in—porridge，youareveryunmannerly。\"
\"Idon’tknowaboutthat！AndIsayyoubeunmannerly！
You’vegotmoneythatisn’tyourown。HalftheguineasarepoorMr。Clym’s。\"
\"How’sthat？\"
\"BecauseIhadtogiefiftyof’emtohim。Mrs。Yeobrightsaidso。\"
\"Oh？……Well，’twouldhavebeenmoregracefulofhertohavegiventhemtohiswifeEustacia。Buttheyareinmyhandsnow。\"
Christianpulledonhisboots，andwithheavybreathings，whichcouldbeheardtosomedistance，draggedhislimbstogether，arose，andtotteredawayoutofsight。
Wildevesetaboutshuttingthelanterntoreturntothehouse，forhedeemedittoolatetogotoMistovertomeethiswife，whowastobedrivenhomeinthecaptain’sfour—wheel。
Whilehewasclosingthelittlehorndoorafigurerosefrombehindaneighbouringbushandcameforwardintothelanternlight。Itwasthereddlemanapproaching。
8—ANewForceDisturbstheCurrentWildevestared。VennlookedcoollytowardsWildeve，and，withoutawordbeingspoken，hedeliberatelysathimselfdownwhereChristianhadbeenseated，thrusthishandintohispocket，drewoutasovereign，andlaiditonthestone。
\"Youhavebeenwatchingusfrombehindthatbush？\"
saidWildeve。
Thereddlemannodded。\"Downwithyourstake，\"hesaid。
\"Orhaven’tyoupluckenoughtogoon？\"
Now，gamblingisaspeciesofamusementwhichismuchmoreeasilybegunwithfullpocketsthanleftoffwiththesame；
andthoughWildeveinacoolertempermighthaveprudentlydeclinedthisinvitation，theexcitementofhisrecentsuccesscarriedhimcompletelyaway。Heplacedoneoftheguineasonaslabbesidethereddleman’ssovereign。
\"Mineisaguinea，\"hesaid。
\"Aguineathat’snotyourown，\"saidVennsarcastically。
\"Itismyown，\"answeredWildevehaughtily。\"Itismywife’s，andwhatishersismine。\"
\"Verywell；let’smakeabeginning。\"Heshookthebox，andthreweight，ten，andnine；thethreecastsamountedtotwenty—seven。
ThisencouragedWildeve。Hetookthebox；andhisthreecastsamountedtoforty—five。
Downwentanotherofthereddleman’ssovereignsagainsthisfirstonewhichWildevelaid。ThistimeWildevethrewfifty—onepoints，butnopair。Thereddlemanlookedgrim，threwaraffleofaces，andpocketedthestakes。
\"Hereyouareagain，\"saidWildevecontemptuously。
\"Doublethestakes。\"HelaidtwoofThomasin’sguineas，andthereddlemanhistwopounds。Vennwonagain。
Newstakeswerelaidonthestone，andthegamblersproceededasbefore。
Wildevewasanervousandexcitableman，andthegamewasbeginningtotelluponhistemper。Hewrithed，fumed，shiftedhisseat，andthebeatingofhisheartwasalmostaudible。Vennsatwithlipsimpassivelyclosedandeyesreducedtoapairofunimportanttwinkles；
hescarcelyappearedtobreathe。HemighthavebeenanArab，oranautomaton；hewouldhavebeenlikearedsandstonestatuebutforthemotionofhisarmwiththedice—box。
Thegamefluctuated，nowinfavourofone，nowinfavouroftheother，withoutanygreatadvantageonthesideofeither。Nearlytwentyminuteswerepassedthus。
Thelightofthecandlehadbythistimeattractedheath—flies，moths，andotherwingedcreaturesofnight，whichfloatedroundthelantern，flewintotheflame，orbeataboutthefacesofthetwoplayers。
Butneitherofthemenpaidmuchattentiontothesethings，theireyesbeingconcentrateduponthelittleflatstone，whichtothemwasanarenavastandimportantasabattlefield。
Bythistimeachangehadcomeoverthegame；thereddlemanwoncontinually。Atlengthsixtyguineas——Thomasin’sfifty，andtenofClym’s——hadpassedintohishands。
Wildevewasreckless，frantic，exasperated。
\"’Wonbackhiscoat，’\"saidVennslily。
Anotherthrow，andthemoneywentthesameway。
\"’Wonbackhishat，’\"continuedVenn。
\"Oh，oh！\"saidWildeve。
\"’Wonbackhiswatch，wonbackhismoney，andwentoutofthedoorarichman，’\"addedVennsentencebysentence，asstakeafterstakepassedovertohim。
\"Fivemore！\"shoutedWildeve，dashingdownthemoney。
\"Andthreecastsbehanged——oneshalldecide。\"
Theredautomatonoppositelapsedintosilence，nodded，andfollowedhisexample。Wildeverattledthebox，andthrewapairofsixesandfivepoints。Heclappedhishands；\"Ihavedoneitthistime——hurrah！\"
\"Therearetwoplaying，andonlyonehasthrown，\"
saidthereddleman，quietlybringingdownthebox。
Theeyesofeachwerethensointentlyconvergeduponthestonethatonecouldfancytheirbeamswerevisible，likeraysinafog。
Vennliftedthebox，andbeholdatripletofsixeswasdisclosed。
Wildevewasfulloffury。WhilethereddlemanwasgraspingthestakesWildeveseizedthediceandhurledthem，boxandall，intothedarkness，utteringafearfulimprecation。
Thenhearoseandbeganstampingupanddownlikeamadman。
\"Itisallover，then？\"saidVenn。
\"No，no！\"criedWildeve。\"Imeantohaveanotherchanceyet。
Imust！\"
\"But，mygoodman，whathaveyoudonewiththedice？\"
\"Ithrewthemaway——itwasamomentaryirritation。
WhatafoolIam！Here——comeandhelpmetolookforthem——wemustfindthemagain。\"
Wildevesnatchedupthelanternandbegananxiouslyprowlingamongthefurzeandfern。
\"Youarenotlikelytofindthemthere，\"
saidVenn，following。\"Whatdidyoudosuchacrazythingasthatfor？Here’sthebox。Thedicecan’tbefaroff。\"
WildeveturnedthelighteagerlyuponthespotwhereVennhadfoundthebox，andmauledtheherbagerightandleft。
Inthecourseofafewminutesoneofthedicewasfound。
Theysearchedonforsometime，butnootherwastobeseen。
\"Nevermind，\"saidWildeve；\"let’splaywithone。\"
\"Agreed，\"saidVenn。
Downtheysatagain，andrecommencedwithsingleguineastakes；
andtheplaywentonsmartly。ButFortunehadunmistakablyfalleninlovewiththereddlemantonight。Hewonsteadily，tillhewastheowneroffourteenmoreofthegoldpieces。
Seventy—nineofthehundredguineaswerehis，Wildevepossessingonlytwenty—one。Theaspectofthetwoopponentswasnowsingular。Apartfrommotions，acompletedioramaofthefluctuationsofthegamewentonintheireyes。
Adiminutivecandle—flamewasmirroredineachpupil，anditwouldhavebeenpossibletodistinguishthereinbetweenthemoodsofhopeandthemoodsofabandonment，evenasregardsthereddleman，thoughhisfacialmusclesbetrayednothingatall。Wildeveplayedonwiththerecklessnessofdespair。
\"What’sthat？\"hesuddenlyexclaimed，hearingarustle；
andtheybothlookedup。
Theyweresurroundedbyduskyformsbetweenfourandfivefeethigh，standingafewpacesbeyondtheraysofthelantern。Amoment’sinspectionrevealedthattheencirclingfigureswereheath—croppers，theirheadsbeingalltowardstheplayers，atwhomtheygazedintently。
\"Hoosh！\"saidWildeve，andthewholefortyorfiftyanimalsatonceturnedandgallopedaway。Playwasagainresumed。
Tenminutespassedaway。Thenalargedeath’sheadmothadvancedfromtheobscureouterair，wheeledtwiceroundthelantern，flewstraightatthecandle，andextinguisheditbytheforceoftheblow。Wildevehadjustthrown，buthadnotliftedtheboxtoseewhathehadcast；
andnowitwasimpossible。
\"Whattheinfernal！\"heshrieked。\"Now，whatshallwedo？PerhapsIhavethrownsix——haveyouanymatches？\"
\"None，\"saidVenn。
\"Christianhadsome——Iwonderwhereheis。Christian！\"
ButtherewasnoreplytoWildeve’sshout，saveamournfulwhiningfromtheheronswhichwerenestinglowerdownthevale。Bothmenlookedblanklyroundwithoutrising。
Astheireyesgrewaccustomedtothedarknesstheyperceivedfaintgreenishpointsoflightamongthegrassandfern。Theselightsdottedthehillsidelikestarsofalowmagnitude。
\"Ah——glowworms，\"saidWildeve。\"Waitaminute。
Wecancontinuethegame。\"
Vennsatstill，andhiscompanionwenthitherandthithertillhehadgatheredthirteenglowworms——asmanyashecouldfindinaspaceoffourorfiveminutes——uponafox—gloveleafwhichhepulledforthepurpose。Thereddlemanventedalowhumorouslaughwhenhesawhisadversaryreturnwiththese。\"Determinedtogoon，then？\"hesaiddrily。
\"Ialwaysam！\"saidWildeveangrily。Andshakingtheglowwormsfromtheleafherangedthemwithatremblinghandinacircleonthestone，leavingaspaceinthemiddleforthedescentofthedice—box，overwhichthethirteentinylampsthrewapalephosphoricshine。Thegamewasagainrenewed。Ithappenedtobethatseasonoftheyearatwhichglowwormsputforththeirgreatestbrilliancy，andthelighttheyyieldedwasmorethanampleforthepurpose，sinceitispossibleonsuchnightstoreadthehandwritingofaletterbythelightoftwoorthree。
Theincongruitybetweenthemen’sdeedsandtheirenvironmentwasgreat。Amidthesoftjuicyvegetationofthehollowinwhichtheysat，themotionlessandtheuninhabitedsolitude，intrudedthechinkofguineas，therattleofdice，theexclamationsoftherecklessplayers。
Wildevehadliftedtheboxassoonasthelightswereobtained，andthesolitarydieproclaimedthatthegamewasstillagainsthim。
\"Iwon’tplayanymore——you’vebeentamperingwiththedice，\"
heshouted。
\"How——whentheywereyourown？\"saidthereddleman。
\"We’llchangethegame：thelowestpointshallwinthestake——itmaycutoffmyillluck。Doyourefuse？\"
\"No——goon，\"saidVenn。
\"O，theretheyareagain——damnthem！\"criedWildeve，lookingup。Theheath—croppershadreturnednoiselessly，andwerelookingonwitherectheadsjustasbefore，theirtimideyesfixeduponthescene，asiftheywerewonderingwhatmankindandcandlelightcouldhavetodointhesehauntsatthisuntowardhour。
\"Whataplaguethosecreaturesare——staringatmeso！\"
hesaid，andflungastone，whichscatteredthem；
whenthegamewascontinuedasbefore。
Wildevehadnowtenguineasleft；andeachlaidfive。
Wildevethrewthreepoints；Venntwo，andrakedinthecoins。
Theotherseizedthedie，andclenchedhisteethuponitinsheerrage，asifhewouldbiteitinpieces。
\"Nevergivein——herearemylastfive！\"hecried，throwingthemdown。
\"Hangtheglowworms——theyaregoingout。Whydon’tyouburn，youlittlefools？Stirthemupwithathorn。\"
Heprobedtheglowwormswithabitofstick，androlledthemover，tillthebrightsideoftheirtailswasupwards。
\"There’slightenough。Throwon，\"saidVenn。
Wildevebroughtdowntheboxwithintheshiningcircleandlookedeagerly。Hehadthrownace。\"Welldone！——I
saiditwouldturn，andithasturned。\"Vennsaidnothing；
buthishandshookslightly。
Hethrewacealso。
\"O！\"saidWildeve。\"Curseme！\"
Thediesmackedthestoneasecondtime。Itwasaceagain。
Vennlookedgloomy，threw——thediewasseentobelyingintwopieces，thecleftsidesuppermost。
\"I’vethrownnothingatall，\"hesaid。
\"Servesmeright——Isplitthediewithmyteeth。
Here——takeyourmoney。Blankislessthanone。\"
\"Idon’twishit。\"
\"Takeit，Isay——you’vewonit！\"AndWildevethrewthestakesagainstthereddleman’schest。Venngatheredthemup，arose，andwithdrewfromthehollow，Wildevesittingstupefied。
Whenhehadcometohimselfhealsoarose，and，withtheextinguishedlanterninhishand，wenttowardsthehighroad。
Onreachingithestoodstill。Thesilenceofnightpervadedthewholeheathexceptinonedirection；andthatwastowardsMistover。Therehecouldhearthenoiseoflightwheels，andpresentlysawtwocarriagelampsdescendingthehill。Wildevescreenedhimselfunderabushandwaited。
Thevehiclecameonandpassedbeforehim。Itwasahiredcarriage，andbehindthecoachmanweretwopersonswhomheknewwell。TheresatEustaciaandYeobright，thearmofthelatterbeingroundherwaist。
TheyturnedthesharpcorneratthebottomtowardsthetemporaryhomewhichClymhadhiredandfurnished，aboutfivemilestotheeastward。
Wildeveforgotthelossofthemoneyatthesightofhislostlove，whosepreciousnessinhiseyeswasincreasingingeometricalprogressionwitheachnewincidentthatremindedhimoftheirhopelessdivision。
Brimmingwiththesubtilizedmiserythathewascapableoffeeling，hefollowedtheoppositewaytowardstheinn。
AboutthesamemomentthatWildevesteppedintothehighwayVennalsohadreacheditatapointahundredyardsfurtheron；andhe，hearingthesamewheels，likewisewaitedtillthecarriageshouldcomeup。
Whenhesawwhosatthereinheseemedtobedisappointed。
Reflectingaminuteortwo，duringwhichintervalthecarriagerolledon，hecrossedtheroad，andtookashortcutthroughthefurzeandheathtoapointwheretheturnpikeroadbentroundinascendingahill。Hewasnowagaininfrontofthecarriage，whichpresentlycameupatawalkingpace。Vennsteppedforwardandshowedhimself。
Eustaciastartedwhenthelampshoneuponhim，andClym’sarmwasinvoluntarilywithdrawnfromherwaist。Hesaid，\"What，Diggory？Youarehavingalonelywalk。\"
\"Yes——Ibegyourpardonforstoppingyou，\"saidVenn。
\"ButIamwaitingaboutforMrs。Wildeve：IhavesomethingtogiveherfromMrs。Yeobright。Canyoutellmeifshe’sgonehomefromthepartyyet？\"
\"No。Butshewillbeleavingsoon。Youmaypossiblymeetheratthecorner。\"
Vennmadeafarewellobeisance，andwalkedbacktohisformerposition，wherethebyroadfromMistoverjoinedthehighway。Hereheremainedfixedfornearlyhalfanhour，andthenanotherpairoflightscamedownthehill。
Itwastheold—fashionedwheelednondescriptbelongingtothecaptain，andThomasinsatinitalone，drivenbyCharley。
Thereddlemancameupastheyslowlyturnedthecorner。
\"Ibegpardonforstoppingyou，Mrs。Wildeve，\"hesaid。
\"ButIhavesomethingtogiveyouprivatelyfromMrs。Yeobright。\"
Hehandedasmallparcel；itconsistedofthehundredguineashehadjustwon，roughlytwistedupinapieceofpaper。
Thomasinrecoveredfromhersurprise，andtookthepacket。
\"That’sall，ma’am——Iwishyougoodnight，\"hesaid，andvanishedfromherview。
ThusVenn，inhisanxietytorectifymatters，hadplacedinThomasin’shandsnotonlythefiftyguineaswhichrightlybelongedtoher，butalsothefiftyintendedforhercousinClym。HismistakehadbeenbaseduponWildeve’swordsattheopeningofthegame，whenheindignantlydeniedthattheguineawasnothisown。
Ithadnotbeencomprehendedbythereddlemanthatathalfwaythroughtheperformancethegamewascontinuedwiththemoneyofanotherperson；anditwasanerrorwhichafterwardshelpedtocausemoremisfortunethantreblethelossinmoneyvaluecouldhavedone。
Thenightwasnowsomewhatadvanced；andVennplungeddeeperintotheheath，tillhecametoaravinewherehisvanwasstanding——aspotnotmorethantwohundredyardsfromthesiteofthegamblingbout。Heenteredthismovablehomeofhis，lithislantern，and，beforeclosinghisdoorforthenight，stoodreflectingonthecircumstancesoftheprecedinghours。
Whilehestoodthedawngrewvisibleinthenortheastquarteroftheheavens，which，thecloudshavingclearedoff，wasbrightwithasoftsheenatthismidsummertime，thoughitwasonlybetweenoneandtwoo’clock。Venn，thoroughlyweary，thenshuthisdoorandflunghimselfdowntosleep。
booktwoTHEARRIVAL
1—TidingsoftheComerOnthefinedaysatthistimeoftheyear，andearlier，certainephemeraloperationswereapttodisturb，intheirtriflingway，themajesticcalmofEgdonHeath。
Theywereactivitieswhich，besidethoseofatown，avillage，orevenafarm，wouldhaveappearedasthefermentofstagnationmerely，acreepingofthefleshofsomnolence。
Buthere，awayfromcomparisons，shutinbythestablehills，amongwhichmerewalkinghadthenoveltyofpageantry，andwhereanymancouldimaginehimselftobeAdamwithouttheleastdifficulty，theyattractedtheattentionofeverybirdwithineyeshot，everyreptilenotyetasleep，andsetthesurroundingrabbitscuriouslywatchingfromhillocksatasafedistance。
TheperformancewasthatofbringingtogetherandbuildingintoastackthefurzefaggotswhichHumphreyhadbeencuttingforthecaptain’suseduringtheforegoingfinedays。Thestackwasattheendofthedwelling，andthemenengagedinbuildingitwereHumphreyandSam，theoldmanlookingon。
Itwasafineandquietafternoon，aboutthreeo’clock；
butthewintersolsticehavingstealthilycomeon，thelownessofthesuncausedthehourtoseemlaterthanitactuallywas，therebeinglittleheretoremindaninhabitantthathemustunlearnhissummerexperienceoftheskyasadial。Inthecourseofmanydaysandweekssunrisehadadvanceditsquartersfromnortheasttosoutheast，sunsethadrecededfromnorthwesttosouthwest；
butEgdonhadhardlyheededthechange。
Eustaciawasindoorsinthedining—room，whichwasreallymorelikeakitchen，havingastonefloorandagapingchimney—corner。Theairwasstill，andwhileshelingeredamomentherealonesoundsofvoicesinconversationcametoherearsdirectlydownthechimney。Sheenteredtherecess，and，listening，lookeduptheoldirregularshaft，withitscavernoushollows，wherethesmokeblunderedaboutonitswaytothesquarebitofskyatthetop，fromwhichthedaylightstruckdownwithapallidglareuponthetattersofsootdrapingtheflueasseaweeddrapesarockyfissure。
Sheremembered：thefurze—stackwasnotfarfromthechimney，andthevoiceswerethoseoftheworkers。
Hergrandfatherjoinedintheconversation。\"Thatladoughtnevertohavelefthome。Hisfather’soccupationwouldhavesuitedhimbest，andtheboyshouldhavefollowedon。
Idon’tbelieveinthesenewmovesinfamilies。
Myfatherwasasailor，sowasI，andsoshouldmysonhavebeenifIhadhadone。\"
\"Theplacehe’sbeenlivingatisParis，\"saidHumphrey，\"andtheytellme’tiswheretheking’sheadwascutoffyearsago。Mypoormotherusedtotellmeaboutthatbusiness。
’Hummy，’sheusedtosay，’Iwasayoungmaidthen，andasIwasathomeironingMother’scapsoneafternoontheparsoncameinandsaid，\"They’vecuttheking’sheadoff，Jane；andwhat’twillbenextGodknows。\"’\"
\"AgoodmanyofusknewaswellasHebeforelong，\"
saidthecaptain，chuckling。\"Ilivedsevenyearsunderwateronaccountofitinmyboyhood——inthatdamnedsurgeryoftheTriumph，seeingmenbroughtdowntothecockpitwiththeirlegsandarmsblowntoJericho……AndsotheyoungmanhassettledinParis。
Managertoadiamondmerchant，orsomesuchthing，ishenot？\"
\"Yes，sir，that’sit。’Tisablazinggreatbusinessthathebelongsto，soI’veheardhismothersay——likeaking’spalace，asfarasdimentsgo。\"
\"Icanwellmindwhenhelefthome，\"saidSam。
\"’Tisagoodthingforthefeller，\"saidHumphrey。
\"Asightoftimesbettertobesellingdimentsthannobblingabouthere。\"
\"Itmustcostagoodfewshillingstodealatsuchaplace。\"
\"Agoodfewindeed，myman，\"repliedthecaptain。
\"Yes，youmaymakeawaywithadealofmoneyandbeneitherdrunkardnorglutton。\"
\"Theysay，too，thatClymYeobrightisbecomearealperusingman，withthestrangestnotionsaboutthings。
There，that’sbecausehewenttoschoolearly，suchastheschoolwas。\"
\"Strangenotions，hashe？\"saidtheoldman。\"Ah，there’stoomuchofthatsendingtoschoolinthesedays！Itonlydoesharm。Everygatepostandbarn’sdooryoucometoissuretohavesomebadwordorotherchalkeduponitbytheyoungrascals——awomancanhardlypassforshamesometimes。Ifthey’dneverbeentaughthowtowritetheywouldn’thavebeenabletoscribblesuchvillainy。
Theirfatherscouldn’tdoit，andthecountrywasallthebetterforit。\"
\"Now，Ishouldthink，Cap’n，thatMissEustaciahadaboutasmuchinherheadthatcomesfrombooksasanybodyabouthere？\"
\"PerhapsifMissEustacia，too，hadlessromanticnonsenseinherheaditwouldbebetterforher，\"
saidthecaptainshortly；afterwhichhewalkedaway。
\"Isay，Sam，\"observedHumphreywhentheoldmanwasgone，\"sheandClymYeobrightwouldmakeaveryprettypigeon—pair——hey？Iftheywouldn’tI’llbedazed！Bothofonemindaboutnicetiesforcertain，andlearnedinprint，andalwaysthinkingabouthighdoctrine——therecouldn’tbeabettercoupleiftheyweremadeo’purpose。
Clym’sfamilyisasgoodashers。Hisfatherwasafarmer，that’strue；buthismotherwasasortoflady，asweknow。
Nothingwouldpleasemebetterthantoseethemtwomanandwife。\"
\"They’dlookverynatty，arm—in—crooktogether，andtheirbestclotheson，whetherorno，ifhe’satallthewell—favouredfellowheusedtobe。\"
\"Theywould，Humphrey。Well，Ishouldliketoseethechapterriblemuchaftersomanyyears。IfIknewforcertainwhenhewascomingI’dstrolloutthreeorfourmilestomeethimandhelpcarryanythingfor’n；thoughI
supposehe’salteredfromtheboyhewas。TheysayhecantalkFrenchasfastasamaidcaneatblackberries；
andifso，dependuponitwewhohavestayedathomeshallseemnomorethanscroffinhiseyes。\"
\"ComingacrossthewatertoBudmouthbysteamer，isn’the？\"
\"Yes；buthowhe’scomingfromBudmouthIdon’tknow。\"
\"That’sabadtroubleabouthiscousinThomasin。
Iwondersuchanice—notionedfellowasClymlikestocomehomeintoit。Whatanunnywatchwewerein，tobesure，whenweheardtheyweren’tmarriedatall，aftersingingto’emasmanandwifethatnight！BedazedifIshouldlikearelationofminetohavebeenmadesuchafoolofbyaman。Itmakesthefamilylooksmall。\"
\"Yes。Poormaid，herhearthasachedenoughaboutit。
Herhealthissufferingfromit，Ihear，forshewillbideentirelyindoors。Weneverseeheroutnow，scamperingoverthefurzewithafaceasredasarose，assheusedtodo。\"
\"I’veheardshewouldn’thaveWildevenowifheaskedher。\"
\"Youhave？’Tisnewstome。\"
Whilethefurze—gatherershaddesultorilyconversedthusEustacia’sfacegraduallybenttothehearthinaprofoundreverie，hertoeunconsciouslytappingthedryturfwhichlayburningatherfeet。
Thesubjectoftheirdiscoursehadbeenkeenlyinterestingtoher。Ayoungandclevermanwascomingintothatlonelyheathfrom，ofallcontrastingplacesintheworld，Paris。
Itwaslikeamancomingfromheaven。Moresingularstill，theheathmenhadinstinctivelycoupledherandthismantogetherintheirmindsasapairbornforeachother。