to this
question at present, but you compel 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 complaining any more. I am
ready to welcome 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 becomes 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 complain. 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