\"Hesaidatthetimethathetookthemdowntoclean。
HehasnowownedthathetookthembecausehesawEustacialookingcuriouslyatthem；andsheafterwardsownedtohimthatshewasthinkingoftakingherlife，butboundhimtosecrecy，andpromisednevertothinkofsuchathingagain。
Ihardlysupposeshewilleverhavebravadoenoughtouseoneofthem；butitshowswhathasbeenlurkinginhermind；
andpeoplewhothinkofthatsortofthingoncethinkofitagain。\"
\"Wherearethepistols？\"
\"Safelylockedup。Ono，shewon’ttouchthemagain。
Buttherearemorewaysoflettingoutlifethanthroughabullet—hole。Whatdidyouquarrelaboutsobitterlywithhertodrivehertoallthis？Youmusthavetreatedherbadlyindeed。Well，Iwasalwaysagainstthemarriage，andIwasright。\"
\"Areyougoingwithme？\"saidYeobright，payingnoattentiontothecaptain’slatterremark。\"IfsoIcantellyouwhatwequarrelledaboutaswewalkalong。\"
\"Whereto？\"
\"ToWildeve’s——thatwasherdestination，dependuponit。\"
Thomasinherebrokein，stillweeping：\"Hesaidhewasonlygoingonasuddenshortjourney；butifsowhydidhewantsomuchmoney？O，Clym，whatdoyouthinkwillhappen？Iamafraidthatyou，mypoorbaby，willsoonhavenofatherlefttoyou！\"
\"Iamoffnow，\"saidYeobright，steppingintotheporch。
\"Iwouldfaingowith’ee，\"saidtheoldmandoubtfully。
\"ButIbegintobeafraidthatmylegswillhardlycarrymetheresuchanightasthis。IamnotsoyoungasIwas。
Iftheyareinterruptedintheirflightshewillbesuretocomebacktome，andIoughttobeatthehousetoreceiveher。
Butbeitas’twillIcan’twalktotheQuietWoman，andthat’sanendon’t。I’llgostraighthome。\"
\"Itwillperhapsbebest，\"saidClym。\"Thomasin，dryyourself，andbeascomfortableasyoucan。\"
Withthisheclosedthedooruponher，andleftthehouseincompanywithCaptainVye，whopartedfromhimoutsidethegate，takingthemiddlepath，whichledtoMistover。
Clymcrossedbytheright—handtracktowardstheinn。
Thomasin，beingleftalone，tookoffsomeofherwetgarments，carriedthebabyupstairstoClym’sbed，andthencamedowntothesitting—roomagain，whereshemadealargerfire，andbegandryingherself。
Thefiresoonflaredupthechimney，givingtheroomanappearanceofcomfortthatwasdoubledbycontrastwiththedrummingofthestormwithout，whichsnappedatthewindowpanesandbreathedintothechimneystrangelowutterancesthatseemedtobetheprologuetosometragedy。
ButtheleastpartofThomasinwasinthehouse，forherheartbeingateaseaboutthelittlegirlupstairsshewasmentallyfollowingClymonhisjourney。
Havingindulgedinthisimaginaryperegrinationforsomeconsiderableinterval，shebecameimpressedwithasenseoftheintolerableslownessoftime。Butshesaton。
Themomentthencamewhenshecouldscarcelysitlonger，anditwaslikeasatireonherpatiencetorememberthatClymcouldhardlyhavereachedtheinnasyet。
Atlastshewenttothebaby’sbedside。Thechildwassleepingsoundly；butherimaginationofpossiblydisastrouseventsatherhome，thepredominancewithinheroftheunseenovertheseen，agitatedherbeyondendurance。
Shecouldnotrefrainfromgoingdownandopeningthedoor。
Therainstillcontinued，thecandlelightfallinguponthenearestdropsandmakingglisteningdartsofthemastheydescendedacrossthethrongofinvisibleonesbehind。
Toplungeintothatmediumwastoplungeintowaterslightlydilutedwithair。Butthedifficultyofreturningtoherhouseatthismomentmadeherallthemoredesirousofdoingso——anythingwasbetterthansuspense。
\"Ihavecomeherewellenough，\"shesaid，\"andwhyshouldn’tIgobackagain？Itisamistakeformetobeaway。\"
Shehastilyfetchedtheinfant，wrappeditup，cloakedherselfasbefore，andshovelingtheashesoverthefire，topreventaccidents，wentintotheopenair。Pausingfirsttoputthedoorkeyinitsoldplacebehindtheshutter，sheresolutelyturnedherfacetotheconfrontingpileoffirmamentaldarknessbeyondthepalings，andsteppedintoitsmidst。ButThomasin’simaginationbeingsoactivelyengagedelsewhere，thenightandtheweatherhadforhernoterrorbeyondthatoftheiractualdiscomfortanddifficulty。
ShewassoonascendingBlooms—Endvalleyandtraversingtheundulationsonthesideofthehill。Thenoiseofthewindovertheheathwasshrill，andasifitwhistledforjoyatfindinganightsocongenialasthis。
Sometimesthepathledhertohollowsbetweenthicketsoftallanddrippingbracken，dead，thoughnotyetprostrate，whichenclosedherlikeapool。Whentheyweremorethanusuallytallsheliftedthebabytothetopofherhead，thatitmightbeoutofthereachoftheirdrenchingfronds。
Onhigherground，wherethewindwasbriskandsustained，therainflewinalevelflightwithoutsensibledescent，sothatitwasbeyondallpowertoimaginetheremotenessofthepointatwhichitleftthebosomsoftheclouds。
Hereself—defencewasimpossible，andindividualdropsstuckintoherlikethearrowsintoSaintSebastian。
Shewasenabledtoavoidpuddlesbythenebulouspalenesswhichsignifiedtheirpresence，thoughbesideanythinglessdarkthantheheaththeythemselveswouldhaveappearedasblackness。
YetinspiteofallthisThomasinwasnotsorrythatshehadstarted。Tohertherewerenot，astoEustacia，demonsintheair，andmaliceineverybushandbough。
Thedropswhichlashedherfacewerenotscorpions，butprosyrain；Egdoninthemasswasnomonsterwhatever，butimpersonalopenground。Herfearsoftheplacewererational，herdislikesofitsworstmoodsreasonable。
Atthistimeitwasinherviewawindy，wetplace，inwhichapersonmightexperiencemuchdiscomfort，losethepathwithoutcare，andpossiblycatchcold。
Ifthepathiswellknownthedifficultyatsuchtimesofkeepingthereinisnotaltogethergreat，fromitsfamiliarfeeltothefeet；butoncelostitisirrecoverable。Owingtoherbaby，whosomewhatimpededThomasin’sviewforwardanddistractedhermind，shedidatlastlosethetrack。Thismishapoccurredwhenshewasdescendinganopenslopeabouttwo—thirdshome。
Insteadofattempting，bywanderinghitherandthither，thehopelesstaskoffindingsuchamerethread，shewentstraighton，trustingforguidancetohergeneralknowledgeofthecontours，whichwasscarcelysurpassedbyClym’sorbythatoftheheath—croppersthemselves。
AtlengthThomasinreachedahollowandbegantodiscernthroughtherainafaintblottedradiance，whichpresentlyassumedtheoblongformofanopendoor。
Sheknewthatnohousestoodhereabouts，andwassoonawareofthenatureofthedoorbyitsheightabovetheground。
\"Why，itisDiggoryVenn’svan，surely！\"shesaid。
AcertainsecludedspotnearRainbarrowwas，sheknew，oftenVenn’schosencentrewhenstayinginthisneighbourhood；
andsheguessedatoncethatshehadstumbleduponthismysteriousretreat。Thequestionaroseinhermindwhetherornotsheshouldaskhimtoguideherintothepath。
Inheranxietytoreachhomeshedecidedthatshewouldappealtohim，notwithstandingthestrangenessofappearingbeforehiseyesatthisplaceandseason。Butwhen，inpursuanceofthisresolve，Thomasinreachedthevanandlookedinshefoundittobeuntenanted；thoughtherewasnodoubtthatitwasthereddleman’s。Thefirewasburninginthestove，thelanternhungfromthenail。
Roundthedoorwaythefloorwasmerelysprinkledwithrain，andnotsaturated，whichtoldherthatthedoorhadnotlongbeenopened。
WhileshestooduncertainlylookinginThomasinheardafootstepadvancingfromthedarknessbehindher，andturning，beheldthewell—knownformincorduroy，luridfromheadtofoot，thelanternbeamsfallinguponhimthroughaninterveninggauzeofraindrops。
\"Ithoughtyouwentdowntheslope，\"hesaid，withoutnoticingherface。\"Howdoyoucomebackhereagain？\"
\"Diggory？\"saidThomasinfaintly。
\"Whoareyou？\"saidVenn，stillunperceiving。\"Andwhywereyoucryingsojustnow？\"
\"O，Diggory！don’tyouknowme？\"saidshe。\"Butofcourseyoudon’t，wrappeduplikethis。Whatdoyoumean？I
havenotbeencryinghere，andIhavenotbeenherebefore。\"
Vennthencamenearertillhecouldseetheilluminatedsideofherform。
\"Mrs。Wildeve！\"heexclaimed，starting。\"Whatatimeforustomeet！Andthebabytoo！Whatdreadfulthingcanhavebroughtyououtonsuchanightasthis？\"
Shecouldnotimmediatelyanswer；andwithoutaskingherpermissionhehoppedintohisvan，tookherbythearm，anddrewherupafterhim。
\"Whatisit？\"hecontinuedwhentheystoodwithin。
\"IhavelostmywaycomingfromBlooms—End，andIaminagreathurrytogethome。Pleaseshowmeasquicklyasyoucan！ItissosillyofmenottoknowEgdonbetter，andIcannotthinkhowIcametolosethepath。
Showmequickly，Diggory，please。\"
\"Yes，ofcourse。Iwillgowith’ee。Butyoucametomebeforethis，Mrs。Wildeve？\"
\"Ionlycamethisminute。\"
\"That’sstrange。Iwaslyingdownhereasleepaboutfiveminutesago，withthedoorshuttokeepouttheweather，whenthebrushingofawoman’sclothesovertheheath—bushesjustoutsidewokemeup，forIdon’tsleepheavy，andatthesametimeIheardasobbingorcryingfromthesamewoman。Iopenedmydoorandheldoutmylantern，andjustasfarasthelightwouldreachIsawawoman；
sheturnedherheadwhenthelightsheenedonher，andthenhurriedondownhill。Ihungupthelantern，andwascuriousenoughtopullonmythingsanddogherafewsteps，butIcouldseenothingofheranymore。
ThatwaswhereIhadbeenwhenyoucameup；andwhenIsawyouIthoughtyouwerethesameone。\"
\"Perhapsitwasoneoftheheathfolkgoinghome？\"
\"No，itcouldn’tbe。’Tistoolate。Thenoiseofhergownoverthehe’thwasofawhistlingsortthatnothingbutsilkwillmake。\"
\"Itwasn’tI，then。Mydressisnotsilk，yousee……AreweanywhereinalinebetweenMistoverandtheinn？\"
\"Well，yes；notfarout。\"
\"Ah，Iwonderifitwasshe！Diggory，Imustgoatonce！\"
Shejumpeddownfromthevanbeforehewasaware，whenVennunhookedthelanternandleapeddownafterher。
\"I’lltakethebaby，ma’am，\"hesaid。\"Youmustbetiredoutbytheweight。\"
Thomasinhesitatedamoment，andthendeliveredthebabyintoVenn’shands。\"Don’tsqueezeher，Diggory，\"shesaid，\"orhurtherlittlearm；andkeepthecloakcloseoverherlikethis，sothattherainmaynotdropinherface。\"
\"Iwill，\"saidVennearnestly。\"AsifIcouldhurtanythingbelongingtoyou！\"
\"Ionlymeantaccidentally，\"saidThomasin。
\"Thebabyisdryenough，butyouareprettywet，\"
saidthereddlemanwhen，inclosingthedoorofhiscarttopadlockit，henoticedontheflooraringofwaterdropswherehercloakhadhungfromher。
Thomasinfollowedhimashewoundrightandlefttoavoidthelargerbushes，stoppingoccasionallyandcoveringthelantern，whilehelookedoverhisshouldertogainsomeideaofthepositionofRainbarrowabovethem，whichitwasnecessarytokeepdirectlybehindtheirbackstopreserveapropercourse。
\"Youaresuretheraindoesnotfalluponbaby？\"
\"Quitesure。MayIaskhowoldheis，ma’am？\"
\"He！\"saidThomasinreproachfully。\"Anybodycanseebetterthanthatinamoment。Sheisnearlytwomonthsold。
Howfarisitnowtotheinn？\"
\"Alittleoveraquarterofamile。\"
\"Willyouwalkalittlefaster？\"
\"Iwasafraidyoucouldnotkeepup。\"
\"Iamveryanxioustogetthere。Ah，thereisalightfromthewindow！\"
\"’Tisnotfromthewindow。That’sagig—lamp，tothebestofmybelief。\"
\"O！\"saidThomasinindespair。\"IwishIhadbeentheresooner——givemethebaby，Diggory——youcangobacknow。\"
\"Imustgoalltheway，\"saidVenn。\"Thereisaquagbetweenusandthatlight，andyouwillwalkintoituptoyourneckunlessItakeyouround。\"
\"Butthelightisattheinn，andthereisnoquaginfrontofthat。\"
\"No，thelightisbelowtheinnsometwoorthreehundredyards。\"
\"Nevermind，\"saidThomasinhurriedly。\"Gotowardsthelight，andnottowardstheinn。\"
\"Yes，\"answeredVenn，swervingroundinobedience；and，afterapause，\"Iwishyouwouldtellmewhatthisgreattroubleis。IthinkyouhaveprovedthatIcanbetrusted。\"
\"Therearesomethingsthatcannotbe——cannotbetoldto——\"
Andthenherheartroseintoherthroat，andshecouldsaynomore。
9—SightsandSoundsDrawtheWanderersTogetherHavingseenEustacia’ssignalfromthehillateighto’clock，Wildeveimmediatelypreparedtoassistherinherflight，and，ashehoped，accompanyher。Hewassomewhatperturbed，andhismannerofinformingThomasinthathewasgoingonajourneywasinitselfsufficienttorousehersuspicions。Whenshehadgonetobedhecollectedthefewarticleshewouldrequire，andwentupstairstothemoney—chest，whencehetookatolerablybountifulsuminnotes，whichhadbeenadvancedtohimonthepropertyhewassosoontohaveinpossession，todefrayexpensesincidentaltotheremoval。
Hethenwenttothestableandcoach—housetoassurehimselfthatthehorse，gig，andharnesswereinafitconditionforalongdrive。Nearlyhalfanhourwasspentthus，andonreturningtothehouseWildevehadnothoughtofThomasinbeinganywherebutinbed。
Hehadtoldthestableladnottostayup，leadingtheboytounderstandthathisdeparturewouldbeatthreeorfourinthemorning；forthis，thoughanexceptionalhour，waslessstrangethanmidnight，thetimeactuallyagreedon，thepacketfromBudmouthsailingbetweenoneandtwo。
Atlastallwasquiet，andhehadnothingtodobuttowait。
BynoeffortcouldheshakeofftheoppressionofspiritswhichhehadexperiencedeversincehislastmeetingwithEustacia，buthehopedtherewasthatinhissituationwhichmoneycouldcure。Hehadpersuadedhimselfthattoactnotungenerouslytowardshisgentlewifebysettlingonherthehalfofhisproperty，andwithchivalrousdevotiontowardsanotherandgreaterwomanbysharingherfate，waspossible。AndthoughhemeanttoadheretoEustacia’sinstructionstotheletter，todepositherwhereshewishedandtoleaveher，shouldthatbeherwill，thespellthatshehadcastoverhimintensified，andhisheartwasbeatingfastintheanticipatedfutilityofsuchcommandsinthefaceofamutualwishthattheyshouldthrowintheirlottogether。
Hewouldnotallowhimselftodwelllongupontheseconjectures，maxims，andhopes，andattwentyminutestotwelveheagainwentsoftlytothestable，harnessedthehorse，andlitthelamps；whence，takingthehorsebythehead，heledhimwiththecoveredcaroutoftheyardtoaspotbytheroadsidesomequarterofamilebelowtheinn。
HereWildevewaited，slightlyshelteredfromthedrivingrainbyahighbankthathadbeencastupatthisplace。
Alongthesurfaceoftheroadwherelitbythelampstheloosenedgravelandsmallstonesscuddedandclickedtogetherbeforethewind，which，leavingtheminheaps，plungedintotheheathandboomedacrossthebushesintodarkness。Onlyonesoundroseabovethisdinofweather，andthatwastheroaringofaten—hatchweirtothesouthward，fromariverinthemeadswhichformedtheboundaryoftheheathinthisdirection。
Helingeredoninperfectstillnesstillhebegantofancythatthemidnighthourmusthavestruck。AverystrongdoubthadariseninhismindifEustaciawouldventuredownthehillinsuchweather；yetknowinghernaturehefeltthatshemight。\"Poorthing！’tislikeherill—luck，\"
hemurmured。
Atlengthheturnedtothelampandlookedathiswatch。
Tohissurpriseitwasnearlyaquarterpastmidnight。
HenowwishedthathehaddrivenupthecircuitousroadtoMistover，aplannotadoptedbecauseoftheenormouslengthoftherouteinproportiontothatofthepedestrian’spathdowntheopenhillside，andtheconsequentincreaseoflabourforthehorse。
Atthismomentafootstepapproached；butthelightofthelampsbeinginadifferentdirectionthecomerwasnotvisible。Thesteppaused，thencameonagain。
\"Eustacia？\"saidWildeve。
Thepersoncameforward，andthelightfellupontheformofClym，glisteningwithwet，whomWildeveimmediatelyrecognized；butWildeve，whostoodbehindthelamp，wasnotatoncerecognizedbyYeobright。
Hestoppedasifindoubtwhetherthiswaitingvehiclecouldhaveanythingtodowiththeflightofhiswifeornot。
ThesightofYeobrightatoncebanishedWildeve’ssoberfeelings，whosawhimagainasthedeadlyrivalfromwhomEustaciawastobekeptatallhazards。
HenceWildevedidnotspeak，inthehopethatClymwouldpassbywithoutparticularinquiry。
Whiletheybothhungthusinhesitationadullsoundbecameaudibleabovethestormandwind。Itsoriginwasunmistakable——itwasthefallofabodyintothestreamintheadjoiningmead，apparentlyatapointneartheweir。
Bothstarted。\"GoodGod！canitbeshe？\"saidClym。
\"Whyshoulditbeshe？\"saidWildeve，inhisalarmforgettingthathehadhithertoscreenedhimself。
\"Ah！——that’syou，youtraitor，isit？\"criedYeobright。
\"Whyshoulditbeshe？Becauselastweekshewouldhaveputanendtoherlifeifshehadbeenable。Sheoughttohavebeenwatched！Takeoneofthelampsandcomewithme。\"
Yeobrightseizedtheoneonhissideandhastenedon；
Wildevedidnotwaittounfastentheother，butfollowedatoncealongthemeadowtracktotheweir，alittleintherearofClym。
ShadwaterWeirhadatitsfootalargecircularpool，fiftyfeetindiameter，intowhichthewaterflowedthroughtenhugehatches，raisedandloweredbyawinchandcogsintheordinarymanner。Thesidesofthepoolwereofmasonry，topreventthewaterfromwashingawaythebank；buttheforceofthestreaminwinterwassometimessuchastounderminetheretainingwallandprecipitateitintothehole。Clymreachedthehatches，theframeworkofwhichwasshakentoitsfoundationsbythevelocityofthecurrent。Nothingbutthefrothofthewavescouldbediscernedinthepoolbelow。
Hegotupontheplankbridgeovertherace，andholdingtotherail，thatthewindmightnotblowhimoff，crossedtotheothersideoftheriver。Thereheleantoverthewallandloweredthelamp，onlytobeholdthevortexformedatthecurlofthereturningcurrent。
Wildevemeanwhilehadarrivedontheformerside，andthelightfromYeobright’slampshedafleckedandagitatedradianceacrosstheweirpool，revealingtotheex—engineerthetumblingcoursesofthecurrentsfromthehatchesabove。
Acrossthisgashedandpuckeredmirroradarkbodywasslowlybornebyoneofthebackwardcurrents。
\"O，mydarling！\"exclaimedWildeveinanagonizedvoice；
and，withoutshowingsufficientpresenceofmindeventothrowoffhisgreatcoat，heleapedintotheboilingcaldron。
Yeobrightcouldnowalsodiscernthefloatingbody，thoughbutindistinctly；andimaginingfromWildeve’splungethattherewaslifetobesavedhewasabouttoleapafter。Bethinkinghimselfofawiserplan，heplacedthelampagainstaposttomakeitstandupright，andrunningroundtothelowerpartofthepool，wheretherewasnowall，hespranginandboldlywadedupwardstowardsthedeeperportion。Herehewastakenoffhislegs，andinswimmingwascarriedroundintothecentreofthebasin，whereheperceivedWildevestruggling。
Whilethesehastyactionswereinprogresshere，VennandThomasinhadbeentoilingthroughthelowercorneroftheheathinthedirectionofthelight。
Theyhadnotbeennearenoughtotherivertoheartheplunge，buttheysawtheremovalofthecarriagelamp，andwatcheditsmotionintothemead。AssoonastheyreachedthecarandhorseVennguessedthatsomethingnewwasamiss，andhastenedtofollowinthecourseofthemovinglight。VennwalkedfasterthanThomasin，andcametotheweiralone。
ThelampplacedagainstthepostbyClymstillshoneacrossthewater，andthereddlemanobservedsomethingfloatingmotionless。Beingencumberedwiththeinfant，heranbacktomeetThomasin。
\"Takethebaby，please，Mrs。Wildeve，\"hesaidhastily。
\"Runhomewithher，callthestablelad，andmakehimsenddowntomeanymenwhomaybelivingnear。Somebodyhasfallenintotheweir。\"
Thomasintookthechildandran。Whenshecametothecoveredcarthehorse，thoughfreshfromthestable，wasstandingperfectlystill，asifconsciousofmisfortune。
Shesawforthefirsttimewhoseitwas。Shenearlyfainted，andwouldhavebeenunabletoproceedanotherstepbutthatthenecessityofpreservingthelittlegirlfromharmnervedhertoanamazingself—control。Inthisagonyofsuspensesheenteredthehouse，putthebabyinaplaceofsafety，woketheladandthefemaledomestic，andranouttogivethealarmatthenearestcottage。
Diggory，havingreturnedtothebrinkofthepool，observedthatthesmallupperhatchesorfloatswerewithdrawn。
Hefoundoneoftheselyinguponthegrass，andtakingitunderonearm，andwithhislanterninhishand，enteredatthebottomofthepoolasClymhaddone。
Assoonashebegantobeindeepwaterheflunghimselfacrossthehatch；thussupportedhewasabletokeepafloataslongashechose，holdingthelanternaloftwithhisdisengagedhand。Propelledbyhisfeet，hesteeredroundandroundthepool，ascendingeachtimebyoneofthebackstreamsanddescendinginthemiddleofthecurrent。
Atfirsthecouldseenothing。Thenamidsttheglisteningofthewhirlpoolsandthewhiteclotsoffoamhedistinguishedawoman’sbonnetfloatingalone。
Hissearchwasnowundertheleftwall，whensomethingcametothesurfacealmostclosebesidehim。Itwasnot，ashehadexpected，awoman，butaman。Thereddlemanputtheringofthelanternbetweenhisteeth，seizedthefloatingmanbythecollar，and，holdingontothehatchwithhisremainingarm，struckoutintothestrongestrace，bywhichtheunconsciousman，thehatch，andhimselfwerecarrieddownthestream。AssoonasVennfoundhisfeetdraggingoverthepebblesoftheshallowerpartbelowhesecuredhisfootingandwadedtowardsthebrink。
There，wherethewaterstoodatabouttheheightofhiswaist，heflungawaythehatch，andattemptedtodragforththeman。Thiswasamatterofgreatdifficulty，andhefoundasthereasonthatthelegsoftheunfortunatestrangerweretightlyembracedbythearmsofanotherman，whohadhithertobeenentirelybeneaththesurface。
Atthismomenthisheartboundedtohearfootstepsrunningtowardshim，andtwomen，rousedbyThomasin，appearedatthebrinkabove。TheyrantowhereVennwas，andhelpedhiminliftingouttheapparentlydrownedpersons，separatingthem，andlayingthemoutuponthegrass。
Vennturnedthelightupontheirfaces。TheonewhohadbeenuppermostwasYeobright；hewhohadbeencompletelysubmergedwasWildeve。
\"Nowwemustsearchtheholeagain，\"saidVenn。
\"Awomanisintheresomewhere。Getapole。\"
Oneofthemenwenttothefootbridgeandtoreoffthehandrail。
Thereddlemanandthetwoothersthenenteredthewatertogetherfrombelowasbefore，andwiththeirunitedforceprobedthepoolforwardstowhereitslopeddowntoitscentraldepth。Vennwasnotmistakeninsupposingthatanypersonwhohadsunkforthelasttimewouldbewasheddowntothispoint，forwhentheyhadexaminedtoabouthalfwayacrosssomethingimpededtheirthrust。
\"Pullitforward，\"saidVenn，andtheyrakeditinwiththepoletillitwasclosetotheirfeet。
Vennvanishedunderthestream，andcameupwithanarmfulofwetdraperyenclosingawoman’scoldform，whichwasallthatremainedofthedesperateEustacia。
WhentheyreachedthebanktherestoodThomasin，inastressofgrief，bendingoverthetwounconsciousoneswhoalreadylaythere。Thehorseandcartwerebroughttothenearestpointintheroad，anditwastheworkofafewminutesonlytoplacethethreeinthevehicle。
Vennledonthehorse，supportingThomasinuponhisarm，andthetwomenfollowed，tilltheyreachedtheinn。
ThewomanwhohadbeenshakenoutofhersleepbyThomasinhadhastilydressedherselfandlightedafire，theotherservantbeinglefttosnoreoninpeaceatthebackofthehouse。TheinsensibleformsofEustacia，Clym，andWildevewerethenbroughtinandlaidonthecarpet，withtheirfeettothefire，whensuchrestorativeprocessesascouldbethoughtofwereadoptedatonce，thestablemanbeinginthemeantimesentforadoctor。
Butthereseemedtobenotawhiffoflifeineitherofthebodies。ThenThomasin，whosestuporofgriefhadbeenthrustoffawhilebyfranticaction，appliedabottleofhartshorntoClym’snostrils，havingtrieditinvainupontheothertwo。Hesighed。
\"Clym’salive！\"sheexclaimed。