还乡The Return Of The Native-第43章

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“How　can　you　imply　that　he　required　guarding　against　me？”　cried　Eustacia；　passionate　tears　in　her　eyes。　　“I　have　not　injured　him　by　marrying　him！　What　sin　have　I　done　that　you　should　think　so　ill　of　me？　　You　had　no　right　to　speak　against　me　to　him　when　I　have　never　wronged　you。”
“I　only　did　what　was　fair　under　the　circumstances；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright　more　softly。　　“I　would　rather　not　have　gone　into　this　question　at　present；　but　you　pel　me。　　I　am　not　ashamed　to　tell　you　the　honest　truth。　　I　was　firmly　convinced　that　he　ought　not　to　marry　you—therefore　I　tried　to　dissuade　him　by　all　the　means　in　my　power。　　But　it　is　done　now；　and　I　have　no　idea　of　plaining　any　more。　　I　am　ready　to　wele　you。”
“Ah；　yes；　it　is　very　well　to　see　things　in　that　business　point　of　view；”　murmured　Eustacia　with　a　smothered　fire　of　feeling。　　“But　why　should　you　think　there　is　anything　between　me　and　Mr。　Wildeve？　　I　have　a　spirit　as　well　as　you。　　I　am　indignant；　and　so　would　any　woman　be。　　It　was　a　condescension　in　me　to　be　Clym’s　wife；　and　not　a　manoeuvre；　let　me　remind　you；　and　therefore　I　will　not　be　treated　as　a　schemer　whom　it　bees　necessary　to　bear　with　because　she　has　crept　into　the　family。”
“Oh！”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright；　vainly　endeavouring　to　control　her　anger。　　“I　have　never　heard　anything　to　show　that　my　son’s　lineage　is　not　as　good　as　the　Vyes’—perhaps　better。　　It　is　amusing　to　hear　you　talk　of　condescension。”
“It　was　condescension；　nevertheless；”　said　Eustacia　vehemently。　　“And　if　I　had　known　then　what　I　know　now；　that　I　should　be　living　in　this　wild　heath　a　month　after　my　marriage；　I—I　should　have　thought　twice　before　agreeing。”
“It　would　be　better　not　to　say　that；　it　might　not　sound　truthful。　　I　am　not　aware　that　any　deception　was　used　on　his　part—I　know　there　was　not—whatever　might　have　been　the　case　on　the　other　side。”
“This　is　too　exasperating！”　answered　the　younger　woman　huskily；　her　face　crimsoning；　and　her　eyes　darting　light。　　“How　can　you　dare　to　speak　to　me　like　that？　　I　insist　upon　repeating　to　you　that　had　I　known　that　my　life　would　from　my　marriage　up　to　this　time　have　been　as　it　is；　I　should　have　said　NO。　I　don’t　plain。　　I　have　never　uttered　a　sound　of　such　a　thing　to　him；　but　it　is　true。　　I　hope　therefore　that　in　the　future　you　will　be　silent　on　my　eagerness。　　If　you　injure　me　now　you　injure　yourself。”
“Injure　you？　　Do　you　think　I　am　an　evil…disposed　person？”
“You　injured　me　before　my　marriage；　and　you　have　now　suspected　me　of　secretly　favouring　another　man　for　money！”
“I　could　not　help　what　I　thought。　　But　I　have　never　spoken　of　you　outside　my　house。”
“You　spoke　of　me　within　it；　to　Clym；　and　you　could　not　do　worse。”
“I　did　my　duty。”
“And　I’ll　do　mine。”
“A　part　of　which　will　possibly　be　to　set　him　against　his　mother。　　It　is　always　so。　　But　why　should　I　not　bear　it　as　others　have　borne　it　before　me！”
“I　understand　you；”　said　Eustacia；　breathless　with　emotion。　　“You　think　me　capable　of　every　bad　thing。　　Who　can　be　worse　than　a　wife　who　encourages　a　lover；　and　poisons　her　husband’s　mind　against　his　relative？　　Yet　that　is　now　the　character　given　to　me。　　Will　you　not　e　and　drag　him　out　of　my　hands？”
Mrs。　Yeobright　gave　back　heat　for　heat。　
“Don’t　rage　at　me；　madam！　It　ill　bees　your　beauty；　and　I　am　not　worth　the　injury　you　may　do　it　on　my　account；　I　assure　you。　　I　am　only　a　poor　old　woman　who　has　lost　a　son。”
“If　you　had　treated　me　honourably　you　would　have　had　him　still。”　　Eustacia　said；　while　scalding　tears　trickled　from　her　eyes。　　“You　have　brought　yourself　to　folly；　you　have　caused　a　division　which　can　never　be　healed！”
“I　have　done　nothing。　　This　audacity　from　a　young　woman　is　more　than　I　can　bear。”
“It　was　asked　for；　you　have　suspected　me；　and　you　have　made　me　speak　of　my　husband　in　a　way　I　would　not　have　done。　　You　will　let　him　know　that　I　have　spoken　thus；　and　it　will　cause　misery　between　us。　　Will　you　go　away　from　me？　　You　are　no　friend！”
“I　will　go　when　I　have　spoken　a　word。　　If　anyone　says　I　have　e　here　to　question　you　without　good　grounds　for　it；　that　person　speaks　untruly。　　If　anyone　says　that　I　attempted　to　stop　your　marriage　by　any　but　honest　means；　that　person；　too；　does　not　speak　the　truth。　　I　have　fallen　on　an　evil　time；　God　has　been　unjust　to　me　in　letting　you　insult　me！　Probably　my　son’s　happiness　does　not　lie　on　this　side　of　the　grave；　for　he　is　a　foolish　man　who　neglects　the　advice　of　his　parent。　　You；　Eustacia；　stand　on　the　edge　of　a　precipice　without　knowing　it。　　Only　show　my　son　one…half　the　temper　you　have　shown　me　today—and　you　may　before　long—and　you　will　find　that　though　he　is　as　gentle　as　a　child　with　you　now；　he　can　be　as　hard　as　steel！”
The　excited　mother　then　withdrew；　and　Eustacia；　panting；　stood　looking　into　the　pool。　


2　… He　Is　Set　upon　by　Adversities　but　He　Sings　a　Song


The　result　of　that　unpropitious　interview　was　that　Eustacia；　instead　of　passing　the　afternoon　with　her　grandfather；　hastily　returned　home　to　Clym；　where　she　arrived　three　hours　earlier　than　she　had　been　expected。　
She　came　indoors　with　her　face　flushed；　and　her　eyes　still　showing　traces　of　her　recent　excitement。　　Yeobright　looked　up　astonished；　he　had　never　seen　her　in　any　way　approaching　to　that　state　before。　　She　passed　him　by；　and　would　have　gone　upstairs　unnoticed；　but　Clym　was　so　concerned　that　he　immediately　followed　her。　
“What　is　the　matter；　Eustacia？”　he　said。　　She　was　standing　on　the　hearthrug　in　the　bedroom；　looking　upon　the　floor；　her　hands　clasped　in　front　of　her；　her　bonnet　yet　unremoved。　　For　a　moment　she　did　not　answer；　and　then　she　replied　in　a　low　voice—
“I　have　seen　your　mother；　and　I　will　never　see　her　again！”　A　weight　fell　like　a　stone　upon　Clym。　　That　same　morning；　when　Eustacia　had　arranged　to　go　and　see　her　grandfather；　Clym　had　expressed　a　wish　that　she　would　drive　down　to　Blooms…End　and　inquire　for　her　mother…in…law；　or　adopt　any　other　means　she　might　think　fit　to　bring　about　a　reconciliation。　　She　had　set　out　gaily；　and　he　had　hoped　for　much。　
“Why　is　this？”　he　asked。　
“I　cannot　tell—I　cannot　remember。　　I　met　your　mother。　
And　I　will　never　meet　her　again。”
“Why？”
“What　do　I　know　about　Mr。　Wildeve　now？　　I　won’t　have　wicked　opinions　passed　on　me　by　anybody。　　O！　it　was　too　humiliating　to　be　asked　if　I　had　received　any　money　from　him；　or　encouraged　him；　or　something　of　the　sort—
I　don’t　exactly　know　what！”
“How　could　she　have　asked　you　that？”
“She　did。”
“Then　there　must　have　been　some　meaning　in　it。　　What　did　my　mother　say　besides？”
“I　don’t　know　what　she　said；　except　in　so　far　as　this；　that　we　both　said　words　which　can　never　be　forgiven！”
“Oh；　there　must　be　some　misapprehension。　　Whose　fault　was　it　that　her　meaning　was　not　made　clear？”
“I　would　rather　not　say。　　It　may　have　been　the　fault　of　the　circumstances；　which　were　awkward　at　the　very　least。　　O　Clym—I　cannot　help　expressing　it—this　is　an　unpleasant　position　that　you　have　placed　me　in。　　But　you　must　improve　it—yes；　say　you　will—for　I　hate　it　all　now！　Yes；　take　me　to　Paris；　and　go　on　with　your　old　occupation；　Clym！　I　don’t　mind　how　humbly　we　live　there　at　first；　if　it　can　only　be　Paris；　and　not　Egdon　Heath。”
“But　I　have　quite　given　up　that　idea；”　said　Yeobright；　with　surprise。　　“Surely　I　never　led　you　to　expect　such　a　thing？”
“I　own　it。　　Yet　there　are　thoughts　which　cannot　be　kept　out　of　mind；　and　that　one　was　mine。　　Must　I　not　have　a　voice　in　the　matter；　now　I　am　your　wife　and　the　sharer　of　your　doom？”
“Well；　there　are　things　which　are　placed　beyond　the　pale　of　discussion；　and　I　thought　this　was　specially　so；　and　by　mutual　agreement。”
“Clym；　I　am　unhappy　at　what　I　hear；”　she　said　in　a　low　voice；　and　her　eyes　drooped；　and　she　turned　away。　
This　indication　of　an　unexpected　mine　of　hope　in　Eustacia’s　bosom　disconcerted　her　husband。　　It　was　the　first　time　that　he　had　confronted　the　fact　of　the　indirectness　of　a　woman’s　movement　towards　her　desire。　　But　his　intention　was　unshaken；　though　he　loved　Eustacia　well。　　All　the　effect　that　her　remark　had　upon　him　was　a　resolve　to　chain　himself　more　closely　than　ever　to　his　books；　so　as　to　be　the　sooner　enabled　to　appeal　to　substantial　results　from　another　course　in　arguing　against　her　whim。　
Next　day　the　mystery　of　the　guineas　was　explained。　　Thomasin　paid　them　a　hurried　visit；　and　Clym’s　share　was　delivered　up　to　him　by　her　own　hands。　　Eustacia　was　not　present　at　the　time。　
“Then　this　is　what　my　mother　meant；”　exclaimed　Clym。　
“Thomasin；　do　you　know　that　they　have　had　a　bitter　quarrel？”
There　was　a　little　more　reticence　now　than　formerly　in　Thomasin’s　manner　towards　her　cousin。　　It　is　the　effect　of　marriage　to　engender　in　several　directions　some　of　the　reserve　it　annihilates　in　one。　　“Your　mother　told　me；”　she　said　quietly。　　“She　came　back　to　my　house　after　seeing　Eustacia。”
“The　worst　thing　I　dreaded　has　e　to　pass。　　Was　Mother　much　disturbed　when　she　came　to　you；　Thomasin？”
“Yes。”
“Very　much　indeed？”
“Yes。”
Clym　leant　his　elbow　upon　the　post　of　the　garden　gate；　and　covered　his　eyes　with　his　hand。　
“Don’t　trouble　about　it；　Clym。　　They　may　get　to　be　friends。”
He　shook　his　head。　　“Not　two　people　with　inflammable　natures　like　theirs。　　Well；　what　must　be　will　be。”
“One　thing　is　cheerful　in　it—the　guineas　are　not　lost。”
“I　would　rather　have　lost　them　twice　over　than　have　had　this　happen。”

Amid　these　jarring　events　Yeobright　felt　one　thing　to　be　indispensable—that　he　should　speedily　make　some　show　of　progress　in　his　scholastic　plans。　　With　this　view　he　read　far　into　the　small　hours　during　many　nights。　
One　morning；　after　a　severer　strain　than　usual；　he　awoke　with　a　strange　sensation　in　his　eyes。　　The　sun　was　shining　directly　upon　the　window…blind；　and　at　his　first　glance　thitherward　a　sharp　pain　obliged　him　to　close　his　eyelids　quickly。　　At　every　new　attempt　to　look　about　him　the　same　morbid　sensibility　to　light　was　manifested；　and　excoriating　tears　ran　down　his　cheeks。　　He　was　obliged　to　tie　a　bandage　over　his　brow　while　dressing；　and　during　the　day　it　could　not　be　abandoned。　　Eustacia　was　thoroughly　alarmed。　　On　finding　that　the　case　was　no　better　the　next　morning　they　decided　to　send　to　Anglebury　for　a　surgeon。　
Towards　evening　he　arrived；　and　pronounced　the　disease　to　be　acute　inflammation　induced　by　Clym’s　night　studies；　continued　in　spite　of　a　cold　previously　caught；　which　had　weakened　his　eyes　for　the　time。　
Fretting　with　impatience　at　this　interruption　to　a　task　he　was　so　anxious　to　hasten；　Clym　was　transformed　into　an　invalid。　　He　was　shut　up　in　a　room　from　which　all　light　was　excluded；　and　his　condition　would　have　been　one　of　absolute　misery　had　not　Eustacia　read　to　him　by　the　glimmer　of　a　shaded　lamp。　　He　hoped　that　the　worst　would　soon　be　over；　but　at　the　surgeon’s　third　visit　he　learnt　to　his　dismay　that　although　he　might　venture　out　of　doors　with　shaded　eyes　in　the　course　of　a　month；　all　thought　of　pursuing　his　work；　or　of　reading　print　of　any　description；　would　have　to　be　given　up　for　a　long　time　to　e。　
One　week　and　another　week　wore　on；　and　nothing　seemed　to　lighten　the　gloom　of　the　young　couple。　　Dreadful　imaginings　occurred　to　Eustacia；　but　she　carefully　refrained　from　uttering　them　to　her　husband。　　Suppose　he　sh