\"Yes，youshouldtrymore，\"echoedtheGrandferwithinsistence，asifhehadbeenthefirsttomakethesuggestion。\"Incommonconscienceeverymanoughteithertomarryorgoforasoldier。’Tisascandaltothenationtodoneitheronenort’other。Ididboth，thankGod！Neithertoraisemennortolay’emlow——
thatshowsapoordo—nothingspiritindeed。\"
\"Ineverhadthenervetostandfire，\"falteredChristian。
\"Butastomarrying，IownI’veaskedhereandthere，thoughwithoutmuchfruitfromit。Yes，there’ssomehouseorotherthatmighthavehadamanforamaster——suchasheis——that’snowruledbyawomanalone。StillitmighthavebeenawkwardifIhadfoundher；for，d’yesee，neighbours，there’dhavebeennobodyleftathometokeepdownFather’sspiritstothedecentpitchthatbecomesaoldman。\"
\"Andyou’veyourworkcutouttodothat，myson，\"
saidGrandferCantlesmartly。\"Iwishthatthedreadofinfirmitieswasnotsostronginme！——I’dstarttheveryfirstthingtomorrowtoseetheworldoveragain！
Butseventy—one，thoughnothingathome，isahighfigureforarover……Ay，seventy—one，lastCandlemasday。
Gad，I’dsoonerhaveitinguineasthaninyears！\"
Andtheoldmansighed。
\"Don’tyoubemournful，Grandfer，\"saidFairway。\"Emptsomemorefeathersintothebed—tick，andkeepupyerheart。
Thoughratherleaninthestalksyoubeagreen—leavedoldmanstill。There’stimeenoughlefttoyeyettofillwholechronicles。\"
\"Begad，I’llgoto’em，Timothy——tothemarriedpair！\"
saidGranferCantleinanencouragedvoice，andstartingroundbriskly。\"I’llgoto’emtonightandsingaweddingsong，hey？’Tislikemetodoso，youknow；
andthey’dseeitassuch。My’DowninCupid’sGardens’
waswelllikedinfour；still，I’vegotothersasgood，andevenbetter。WhatdoyousaytomyShecal’—ledto’herlove’
Fromthelat’—ticea—bove，’Ocomein’fromthefog—gyfog’—gydew’。’
’Twouldplease’emwellatsuchatime！Really，nowIcometothinkofit，Ihaven’tturnedmytongueinmyheadtotheshapeofarealgoodsongsinceOldMidsummernight，whenwehadthe’BarleyMow’attheWoman；
and’tisapitytoneglectyourstrongpointwherethere’sfewthathavethecompassforsuchthings！\"
\"So’tis，so’tis，\"saidFairway。\"Nowgiethebedashakedown。We’veputinseventypoundsofbestfeathers，andIthinkthat’sasmanyasthetickwillfairlyhold。
Abitandadrapwouldn’tbeamissnow，Ireckon。
Christian，mauldownthevictualsfromcorner—cupboardifcanstreach，man，andI’lldrawadrapo’sommattowetitwith。\"
Theysatdowntoalunchinthemidstoftheirwork，feathersaround，above，andbelowthem；theoriginalownersofwhichoccasionallycametotheopendoorandcackledbegrudginglyatsightofsuchaquantityoftheiroldclothes。
\"UponmysoulIshallbechokt，\"saidFairwaywhen，havingextractedafeatherfromhismouth，hefoundseveralothersfloatingonthemugasitwashandedround。
\"I’veswalleredseveral；andonehadatolerablequill，\"
saidSamplacidlyfromthecorner。
\"Hullo——what’sthat——wheelsIhearcoming？\"GrandferCantleexclaimed，jumpingupandhasteningtothedoor。\"Why，’tistheybackagain——Ididn’texpect’emyetthishalf—hour。
Tobesure，howquickmarryingcanbedonewhenyouareinthemindfor’t！\"
\"Oyes，itcansoonbeDONE，\"saidFairway，asifsomethingshouldbeaddedtomakethestatementcomplete。
HearoseandfollowedtheGrandfer，andtherestalsowenttothedoor。Inamomentanopenflywasdrivenpast，inwhichsatVennandMrs。Venn，Yeobright，andagrandrelativeofVenn’swhohadcomefromBudmouthfortheoccasion。Theflyhadbeenhiredatthenearesttown，regardlessofdistanceandcost，therebeingnothingonEgdonHeath，inVenn’sopinion，dignifiedenoughforsuchaneventwhensuchawomanasThomasinwasthebride；
andthechurchwastooremoteforawalkingbridal—party。
Astheflypassedthegroupwhichhadrunoutfromthehomesteadtheyshouted\"Hurrah！\"andwavedtheirhands；
feathersanddownfloatingfromtheirhair，theirsleeves，andthefoldsoftheirgarmentsateverymotion，andGrandferCantle’ssealsdancingmerrilyinthesunlightashetwirledhimselfabout。Thedriveroftheflyturnedasuperciliousgazeuponthem；heeventreatedtheweddedpairthemselveswithsomethinglikecondescension；
forinwhatotherstatethanheathencouldpeople，richorpoor，existwhoweredoomedtoabideinsuchaworld’sendasEgdon？Thomasinshowednosuchsuperioritytothegroupatthedoor，flutteringherhandasquicklyasabird’swingtowardsthem，andaskingDiggory，withtearsinhereyes，iftheyoughtnottoalightandspeaktothesekindneighbours。Venn，however，suggestedthat，astheywereallcomingtothehouseintheevening，thiswashardlynecessary。
Afterthisexcitementthesalutingpartyreturnedtotheiroccupation，andthestuffingandsewingweresoonafterwardsfinished，whenFairwayharnessedahorse，wrappedupthecumbrouspresent，anddroveoffwithitinthecarttoVenn’shouseatStickleford。
Yeobright，havingfilledtheofficeattheweddingservicewhichnaturallyfelltohishands，andafterwardsreturnedtothehousewiththehusbandandwife，wasindisposedtotakepartinthefeastinganddancingthatwounduptheevening。Thomasinwasdisappointed。
\"IwishIcouldbetherewithoutdashingyourspirits，\"
hesaid。\"ButImightbetoomuchliketheskullatthebanquet。\"
\"No，no。\"
\"Well，dear，apartfromthat，ifyouwouldexcuseme，Ishouldbeglad。Iknowitseemsunkind；but，dearThomasin，IfearIshouldnotbehappyinthecompany——there，that’sthetruthofit。Ishallalwaysbecomingtoseeyouatyournewhome，youknow，sothatmyabsencenowwillnotmatter。\"
\"ThenIgivein。Dowhateverwillbemostcomfortabletoyourself。\"
Clymretiredtohislodgingatthehousetopmuchrelieved，andoccupiedhimselfduringtheafternooninnotingdowntheheadsofasermon，withwhichheintendedtoinitiateallthatreallyseemedpracticableoftheschemethathadoriginallybroughthimhither，andthathehadsolongkeptinviewundervariousmodifications，andthroughevilandgoodreport。Hehadtestedandweighedhisconvictionsagainandagain，andsawnoreasontoalterthem，thoughhehadconsiderablylessenedhisplan。
Hiseyesight，bylonghumouringinhisnativeair，hadgrownstronger，butnotsufficientlystrongtowarranthisattemptinghisextensiveeducationalproject。
Yethedidnotrepine——therewasstillmorethanenoughofanunambitioussorttotaxallhisenergiesandoccupyallhishours。
Eveningdrewon，andsoundsoflifeandmovementinthelowerpartofthedomicilebecamemorepronounced，thegateinthepalingsclickingincessantly。Thepartywastobeanearlyone，andalltheguestswereassembledlongbeforeitwasdark。Yeobrightwentdownthebackstaircaseandintotheheathbyanotherpaththanthatinfront，intendingtowalkintheopenairtillthepartywasover，whenhewouldreturntowishThomasinandherhusbandgood—byeastheydeparted。HisstepswereinsensiblybenttowardsMistoverbythepaththathehadfollowedonthatterriblemorningwhenhelearntthestrangenewsfromSusan’sboy。
Hedidnotturnasidetothecottage，butpushedontoaneminence，whencehecouldseeoverthewholequarterthathadoncebeenEustacia’shome。Whilehestoodobservingthedarkeningscenesomebodycameup。Clym，seeinghimbutdimly，wouldhavelethimpasssilently，hadnotthepedestrian，whowasCharley，recognizedtheyoungmanandspokentohim。
\"Charley，Ihavenotseenyouforalengthoftime，\"
saidYeobright。\"Doyouoftenwalkthisway？\"
\"No，\"theladreplied。\"Idon’toftencomeoutsidethebank。\"
\"YouwerenotattheMaypole。\"
\"No，\"saidCharley，inthesamelistlesstone。\"Idon’tcareforthatsortofthingnow。\"
\"YouratherlikedMissEustacia，didn’tyou？\"
Yeobrightgentlyasked。EustaciahadfrequentlytoldhimofCharley’sromanticattachment。
\"Yes，verymuch。Ah，Iwish——\"
\"Yes？\"
\"Iwish，Mr。Yeobright，youcouldgivemesomethingtokeepthatoncebelongedtoher——ifyoudon’tmind。\"
\"Ishallbeveryhappyto。Itwillgivemeverygreatpleasure，Charley。LetmethinkwhatIhaveofhersthatyouwouldlike。Butcomewithmetothehouse，andI’llsee。\"
TheywalkedtowardsBlooms—Endtogether。Whentheyreachedthefrontitwasdark，andtheshutterswereclosed，sothatnothingoftheinteriorcouldbeseen。
\"Comeroundthisway，\"saidClym。\"Myentranceisatthebackforthepresent。\"
ThetwowentroundandascendedthecrookedstairindarknesstillClym’ssitting—roomontheupperfloorwasreached，wherehelitacandle，Charleyenteringgentlybehind。
Yeobrightsearchedhisdesk，andtakingoutasheetoftissue—paperunfoldedfromittwoorthreeundulatinglocksofravenhair，whichfelloverthepaperlikeblackstreams。Fromtheseheselectedone，wrappeditup，andgaveittothelad，whoseeyeshadfilledwithtears。
Hekissedthepacket，putitinhispocket，andsaidinavoiceofemotion，\"O，Mr。Clym，howgoodyouaretome！\"
\"Iwillgoalittlewaywithyou，\"saidClym。Andamidthenoiseofmerrimentfrombelowtheydescended。
Theirpathtothefrontledthemclosetoalittlesidewindow，whencetheraysofcandlesstreamedacrosstheshrubs。
Thewindow，beingscreenedfromgeneralobservationbythebushes，hadbeenleftunblinded，sothatapersoninthisprivatenookcouldseeallthatwasgoingonwithintheroomwhichcontainedtheweddingguests，exceptinsofarasvisionwashinderedbythegreenantiquityofthepanes。
\"Charley，whataretheydoing？\"saidClym。\"Mysightisweakeragaintonight，andtheglassofthiswindowisnotgood。\"
Charleywipedhisowneyes，whichwereratherblurredwithmoisture，andsteppedclosertothecasement。
\"Mr。VennisaskingChristianCantletosing，\"hereplied，\"andChristianismovingaboutinhischairasifheweremuchfrightenedatthequestion，andhisfatherhasstruckupastaveinsteadofhim。\"
\"Yes，Icanheartheoldman’svoice，\"saidClym。
\"Sothere’stobenodancing，Isuppose。AndisThomasinintheroom？Iseesomethingmovinginfrontofthecandlesthatresembleshershape，Ithink。\"
\"Yes。Shedoseemhappy。Sheisredintheface，andlaughingatsomethingFairwayhassaidtoher。
Omy！\"
\"Whatnoisewasthat？\"saidClym。
\"Mr。Vennissotallthatheknockedhisheadagainstthebeamingieingaskipashepassedunder。Mrs。Vennhasrunupquitefrightenedandnowshe’sputherhandtohisheadtofeelifthere’salump。Andnowtheybealllaughingagainasifnothinghadhappened。\"
\"Doanyofthemseemtocareaboutmynotbeingthere？\"
Clymasked。
\"No，notabitintheworld。Nowtheyareallholdinguptheirglassesanddrinkingsomebody’shealth。\"
\"Iwonderifitismine？\"
\"No，’tisMr。andMrs。Venn’s，becauseheismakingaheartysortofspeech。There——nowMrs。Vennhasgotup，andisgoingawaytoputonherthings，Ithink。\"
\"Well，theyhaven’tconcernedthemselvesaboutme，anditisquiterighttheyshouldnot。Itisallasitshouldbe，andThomasinatleastishappy。Wewillnotstayanylongernow，astheywillsoonbecomingouttogohome。\"
Heaccompaniedtheladintotheheathonhiswayhome，and，returningalonetothehouseaquarterofanhourlater，foundVennandThomasinreadytostart，alltheguestshavingdepartedinhisabsence。
Theweddedpairtooktheirseatsinthefour—wheeleddogcartwhichVenn’sheadmilkerandhandymanhaddrivenfromSticklefordtofetchthemin；littleEustaciaandthenursewerepackedsecurelyupontheopenflapbehind；
andthemilker，onanancientoversteppingpony，whoseshoesclashedlikecymbalsateverytread，rodeintherear，inthemannerofabody—servantofthelastcentury。
\"Nowweleaveyouinabsolutepossessionofyourownhouseagain，\"saidThomasinasshebentdowntowishhercousingoodnight。\"Itwillberatherlonelyforyou，Clym，afterthehubbubwehavebeenmaking。\"
\"O，that’snoinconvenience，\"saidClym，smilingrathersadly。
Andthenthepartydroveoffandvanishedinthenightshades，andYeobrightenteredthehouse。Thetickingoftheclockwastheonlysoundthatgreetedhim，fornotasoulremained；Christian，whoactedascook，valet，andgardenertoClym，sleepingathisfather’shouse。
Yeobrightsatdowninoneofthevacantchairs，andremainedinthoughtalongtime。Hismother’soldchairwasopposite；ithadbeensatinthateveningbythosewhohadscarcelyrememberedthatiteverwashers。
ButtoClymshewasalmostapresencethere，nowasalways。
Whatevershewasinotherpeople’smemories，inhisshewasthesublimesaintwhoseradianceevenhistendernessforEustaciacouldnotobscure。Buthisheartwasheavy，thatMotherhadNOTcrownedhiminthedayofhisespousalsandinthedayofthegladnessofhisheart。
Andeventshadborneouttheaccuracyofherjudgment，andprovedthedevotednessofhercare。HeshouldhaveheededherforEustacia’ssakeevenmorethanforhisown。
\"Itwasallmyfault，\"hewhispered。\"O，mymother，mymother！wouldtoGodthatIcouldlivemylifeagain，andendureforyouwhatyouenduredforme！\"
OntheSundayafterthisweddinganunusualsightwastobeseenonRainbarrow。Fromadistancetheresimplyappearedtobeamotionlessfigurestandingonthetopofthetumulus，justasEustaciahadstoodonthatlonelysummitsometwoyearsandahalfbefore。Butnowitwasfinewarmweather，withonlyasummerbreezeblowing，andearlyafternooninsteadofdulltwilight。
ThosewhoascendedtotheimmediateneighbourhoodoftheBarrowperceivedthattheerectforminthecentre，piercingthesky，wasnotreallyalone。RoundhimupontheslopesoftheBarrowanumberofheathmenandwomenwererecliningorsittingattheirease。Theylistenedtothewordsofthemanintheirmidst，whowaspreaching，whiletheyabstractedlypulledheather，strippedferns，ortossedpebblesdowntheslope。ThiswasthefirstofaseriesofmorallecturesorSermonsontheMount，whichweretobedeliveredfromthesameplaceeverySundayafternoonaslongasthefineweatherlasted。
ThecommandingelevationofRainbarrowhadbeenchosenfortworeasons：first，thatitoccupiedacentralpositionamongtheremotecottagesaround；secondly，thatthepreacherthereoncouldbeseenfromalladjacentpointsassoonashearrivedathispost，theviewofhimbeingthusaconvenientsignaltothosestragglerswhowishedtodrawnear。Thespeakerwasbareheaded，andthebreezeateachwaftgentlyliftedandloweredhishair，somewhattoothinforamanofhisyears，thesestillnumberinglessthanthirty—three。
Heworeashadeoverhiseyes，andhisfacewaspensiveandlined；but，thoughthesebodilyfeaturesweremarkedwithdecaytherewasnodefectinthetonesofhisvoice，whichwererich，musical，andstirring。Hestatedthathisdiscoursestopeopleweretobesometimessecular，andsometimesreligious，butneverdogmatic；andthathistextswouldbetakenfromallkindsofbooks。
Thisafternoonthewordswereasfollows：——
\"’Andthekingroseuptomeether，andbowedhimselfuntoher，andsatdownonhisthrone，andcausedaseattobesetfortheking’smother；andshesatonhisrighthand。
Thenshesaid，Idesireonesmallpetitionofthee；
Ipraytheesaymenotnay。Andthekingsaiduntoher，Ask，on，mymother：forIwillnotsaytheenay。’\"
Yeobrighthad，infact，foundhisvocationinthecareerofanitinerantopen—airpreacherandlectureronmorallyunimpeachablesubjects；andfromthisdayhelabouredincessantlyinthatoffice，speakingnotonlyinsimplelanguageonRainbarrowandinthehamletsround，butinamorecultivatedstrainelsewhere——fromthestepsandporticoesoftownhalls，frommarket—crosses，fromconduits，onesplanadesandonwharves，fromtheparapetsofbridges，inbarnsandouthouses，andallothersuchplacesintheneighbouringWessextownsandvillages。Heleftalonecreedsandsystemsofphilosophy，findingenoughandmorethanenoughtooccupyhistongueintheopinionsandactionscommontoallgoodmen。Somebelievedhim，andsomebelievednot；somesaidthathiswordswerecommonplace，otherscomplainedofhiswantoftheologicaldoctrine；
whileothersagainremarkedthatitwaswellenoughforamantotaketopreachingwhocouldnotseetodoanythingelse。Buteverywherehewaskindlyreceived，forthestoryofhislifehadbecomegenerallyknown。
End