ing, not to say a
chilling, effect on misdirected tenderness, and Wildeve was in no
mood to ramble again to Alderworth after nightfall in hope of a stray
glance from Eustacia.

Thus far the reddleman had been tolerably successful in his rude
contrivances for keeping down Wildeve's inclination to rove in the
evening. He had nipped in the bud the possible meeting between
Eustacia and her old lover this very night. But he had not
anticipated that the tendency of his action would be to divert
Wildeve's movement rather than to stop it. The gambling with the
guineas had not conduced to make him a welcome guest to Clym; but to
call upon his wife's relative was natural, and he was determined to
see Eustacia. It was necessary to choose some less untoward hour than
ten o'clock at night. "Since it is unsafe to go in the evening," he
said, "I'll go by day."

Meanwhile Venn had left the heath and gone to call upon Mrs.
Yeobright, with whom he had been on friendly terms since she had
learnt what a providential countermove he had made towards the
restitution of the family guineas. She wondered at the lateness of
his call, but had no objection to see him.

He gave her a full account of Clym's affliction, and of the state in
which he was living; then, referring to Thomasin, touched gently upon
the apparent sadness of her days. "Now, ma'am, depend upon it," he
said, "you couldn't do a better thing for either of 'em than to make
yourself at home in their houses, even if there should be a little
rebuff at first."

"Both she and my son disobeyed me in marrying; therefore I have
no interest in their households. Their troubles are of their own
making." Mrs. Yeobright tried to speak severely; but the account of
her son's state had moved her more than she cared to show.

"Your visits would make Wildeve walk straighter than he is inclined
to do, and might prevent unhappiness down the heath."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw something tonight out there which I didn't like at all. I wish
your son's house and Mr. Wildeve's were a hundred miles apart instead
of four or five."

"Then there WAS an understanding between him and Clym's wife when he
made a fool of Thomasin!"

"We'll hope there's no understanding now."

"And our hope will probably be very vain. O Clym! O Thomasin!"

"There's no harm done yet. In fact, I've persuaded Wildeve to mind
his own business."

"How?"

"O, not by talking--by a plan of mine called the silent system."