to mention to his wife a
single particular of the midnight scene in the heath. Christian's
terror, in like manner, had tied his tongue on the share he took in
that proceeding; and hoping that by some means or other the money had
gone to its proper destination, he simply asserted as much, without
giving details.

Therefore, when a week or two had passed away, Mrs. Yeobright began
to wonder why she never heard from her son of the receipt of the
present; and to add gloom to her perplexity came the possibility
that resentment might be the cause of his silence. She could hardly
believe as much, but why did he not write? She questioned Christian,
and the confusion in his answers would at once have led her to
believe that something was wrong, had not one-half of his story been
corroborated by Thomasin's note.

Mrs. Yeobright was in this state of uncertainty when she was informed
one morning that her son's wife was visiting her grandfather at
Mistover. She determined to walk up the hill, see Eustacia, and
ascertain from her daughter-in-law's lips whether the family guineas,
which were to Mrs. Yeobright what family jewels are to wealthier
dowagers, had miscarried or not.

When Christian learnt where she was going his concern reached its
height. At the moment of her departure he could prevaricate no
longer, and, confessing to the gambling, told her the truth as far
as he knew it--that the guineas had been won by Wildeve.

"What, is he going to keep them?" Mrs. Yeobright cried.

"I hope and trust not!" moaned Christian. "He's a good man, and
perhaps will do right things. He said you ought to have gied Mr.
Clym's share to Eustacia, and that's perhaps what he'll do himself."

To Mrs. Yeobright, as soon as she could calmly reflect, there was much
likelihood in this, for she could hardly believe that Wildeve would
really appropriate money belonging to her son. The intermediate
course of giving it to Eustacia was the sort of thing to please
Wildeve's fancy. But it filled the mother with anger none the less.
That Wildeve should have got command of the guineas after all, and
should rearrange the disposal of them, placing Clym's share in Clym's
wife's hands, because she had been his own sweetheart, and might be so
still, was as irritating a pain as any that Mrs. Yeobright had ever
borne.

She instantly dismissed the wretched Christian from her employ for his
conduct in the affair; but, feeling quite helpless and unable to do
wi