ling and stirring the fire; and there flashed upon her
imagination some other form which that fire might call up.

She left the room, put on her garden-bonnet and cloak, and went
out. Reaching the bank, she looked over with a wild curiosity and
misgiving, when Charley said to her, with a pleased sense of himself,
"I made it o' purpose for you, ma'am."

"Thank you," she said hastily. "But I wish you to put it out now."

"It will soon burn down," said Charley, rather disappointed. "Is it
not a pity to knock it out?"

"I don't know," she musingly answered.

They stood in silence, broken only by the crackling of the flames,
till Charley, perceiving that she did not want to talk to him, moved
reluctantly away.

Eustacia remained within the bank looking at the fire, intending to
go indoors, yet lingering still. Had she not by her situation been
inclined to hold in indifference all things honoured of the gods
and of men she would probably have come away. But her state was so
hopeless that she could play with it. To have lost is less disturbing
than to wonder if we may possibly have won: and Eustacia could now,
like other people at such a stage, take a standing-point outside
herself, observe herself as a disinterested spectator, and think what
a sport for Heaven this woman Eustacia was.

While she stood she heard a sound. It was the splash of a stone in
the pond.

Had Eustacia received the stone full in the bosom her heart could not
have given a more decided thump. She had thought of the possibility
of such a signal in answer to that which had been unwittingly given by
Charley; but she had not expected it yet. How prompt Wildeve was! Yet
how could he think her capable of deliberately wishing to renew their
assignations now? An impulse to leave the spot, a desire to stay,
struggled within her; and the desire held its own. More than that it
did not do, for she refrained even from ascending the bank and looking
over. She remained motionless, not disturbing a muscle of her face or
raising her eyes; for were she to turn up her face the fire on the
bank would shine upon it, and Wildeve might be looking down.

There was a second splash into the pond.

Why did he stay so long without advancing and looking over? Curiosity
had its way: she ascended one or two of the earth-steps in the bank
and glanced out.

Wildeve was before her. He had come forward after throwing the last
pebble, and the fire now shone into each of their