't have it. It is the excess above
what we expect that makes the force of the blow, and that may not
be greater in their case than in mine: they may have foreseen the
worst... I am wrongly made, Thomasin," she added, with a mournful
smile. "Some widows can guard against the wounds their children give
them by turning their hearts to another husband and beginning life
again. But I always was a poor, weak, one-idea'd creature--I had not
the compass of heart nor the enterprise for that. Just as forlorn and
stupefied as I was when my husband's spirit flew away I have sat ever
since--never attempting to mend matters at all. I was comparatively a
young woman then, and I might have had another family by this time,
and have been comforted by them for the failure of this one son."

"It is more noble in you that you did not."

"The more noble, the less wise."

"Forget it, and be soothed, dear aunt. And I shall not leave you
alone for long. I shall come and see you every day."

And for one week Thomasin literally fulfilled her word. She
endeavoured to make light of the wedding; and brought news of the
preparations, and that she was invited to be present. The next week
she was rather unwell, and did not appear. Nothing had as yet been
done about the guineas, for Thomasin feared to address her husband
again on the subject, and Mrs. Yeobright had insisted upon this.

One day just before this time Wildeve was standing at the door of
the Quiet Woman. In addition to the upward path through the heath to
Rainbarrow and Mistover, there was a road which branched from the
highway a short distance below the inn, and ascended to Mistover by a
circuitous and easy incline. This was the only route on that side for
vehicles to the captain's retreat. A light cart from the nearest town
descended the road, and the lad who was driving pulled up in front of
the inn for something to drink.

"You come from Mistover?" said Wildeve.

"Yes. They are taking in good things up there. Going to be a
wedding." And the driver buried his face in his mug.

Wildeve had not received an inkling of the fact before, and a sudden
expression of pain overspread his face. He turned for a moment into
the passage to hide it. Then he came back again.

"Do you mean Miss Vye?" he said. "How is it--that she can be married
so soon?"

"By the will of God and a ready young man, I suppose."

"You don't mean Mr. Yeobright?"

"Yes. He has been creeping about with her a