upon yourself. All that an honest man can promise you I
promise now, which is that from me you shall never suffer
anything on this score again. After all the vows we have
made, Eustacia, I think we had better pass the remainder of
our lives in trying to keep them. Come to me, then, even
if you reproach me. I have thought of your sufferings
that morning on which I parted from you; I know they were
genuine, and they are as much as you ought to bear. Our
love must still continue. Such hearts as ours would never
have been given us but to be concerned with each other. I
could not ask you back at first, Eustacia, for I was unable
to persuade myself that he who was with you was not there
as a lover. But if you will come and explain distracting
appearances I do not question that you can show your
honesty to me. Why have you not come before? Do you think
I will not listen to you? Surely not, when you remember the
kisses and vows we exchanged under the summer moon. Return
then, and you shall be warmly welcomed. I can no longer
think of you to your prejudice--I am but too much absorbed
in justifying you.--Your husband as ever,

CLYM.

"There," he said, as he laid it in his desk, "that's a good thing
done. If she does not come before tomorrow night I will send it to
her."

Meanwhile, at the house he had just left Thomasin sat sighing
uneasily. Fidelity to her husband had that evening induced her to
conceal all suspicion that Wildeve's interest in Eustacia had not
ended with his marriage. But she knew nothing positive; and though
Clym was her well-beloved cousin there was one nearer to her still.

When, a little later, Wildeve returned from his walk to Mistover,
Thomasin said, "Damon, where have you been? I was getting quite
frightened, and thought you had fallen into the river. I dislike
being in the house by myself."

"Frightened?" he said, touching her cheek as if she were some domestic
animal. "Why, I thought nothing could frighten you. It is that you
are getting proud, I am sure, and don't like living here since we have
risen above our business. Well, it is a tedious matter, this getting
a new house; but I couldn't have set about it sooner, unless our
ten thousand pounds had been a hundred thousand, when we could have
afforded to despise caution."

"No--I don't mind waiting--I would rather stay here twelve months
longer than run any risk with baby. But I do