第133章 AFTERCOURSES(8)

He arose and followed the Grandfer, and the rest also went to the door.In a moment an open fly was driven past, in which sat Venn and Mrs.Venn, Yeobright, and a grand relative of Venn's who had come from Budmouth for the occasion.The fly had been hired at the nearest town, regardless of distance and cost, there being nothing on Egdon Heath, in Venn's opinion, dignified enough for such an event when such a woman as Thomasin was the bride;and the church was too remote for a walking bridal-party.

As the fly passed the group which had run out from the homestead they shouted "Hurrah!" and waved their hands;feathers and down floating from their hair, their sleeves, and the folds of their garments at every motion, and Grandfer Cantle's seals dancing merrily in the sunlight as he twirled himself about.The driver of the fly turned a supercilious gaze upon them; he even treated the wedded pair themselves with something like condescension;for in what other state than heathen could people, rich or poor, exist who were doomed to abide in such a world's end as Egdon? Thomasin showed no such superiority to the group at the door, fluttering her hand as quickly as a bird's wing towards them, and asking Diggory, with tears in her eyes, if they ought not to alight and speak to these kind neighbours.Venn, however, suggested that, as they were all coming to the house in the evening, this was hardly necessary.

After this excitement the saluting party returned to their occupation, and the stuffing and sewing were soon afterwards finished, when Fairway harnessed a horse, wrapped up the cumbrous present, and drove off with it in the cart to Venn's house at Stickleford.

Yeobright, having filled the office at the wedding service which naturally fell to his hands, and afterwards returned to the house with the husband and wife, was indisposed to take part in the feasting and dancing that wound up the evening.Thomasin was disappointed.

"I wish I could be there without dashing your spirits,"he said."But I might be too much like the skull at the banquet.""No, no."

"Well, dear, apart from that, if you would excuse me, I should be glad.I know it seems unkind; but, dear Thomasin, I fear I should not be happy in the company--there, that's the truth of it.I shall always be coming to see you at your new home, you know, so that my absence now will not matter.""Then I give in.Do whatever will be most comfortable to yourself."Clym retired to his lodging at the housetop much relieved, and occupied himself during the afternoon in noting down the heads of a sermon, with which he intended to initiate all that really seemed practicable of the scheme that had originally brought him hither, and that he had so long kept in view under various modifications, and through evil and good report.He had tested and weighed his convictions again and again, and saw no reason to alter them, though he had considerably lessened his plan.

His eyesight, by long humouring in his native air, had grown stronger, but not sufficiently strong to warrant his attempting his extensive educational project.

Yet he did not repine--there was still more than enough of an unambitious sort to tax all his energies and occupy all his hours.

Evening drew on, and sounds of life and movement in the lower part of the domicile became more pronounced, the gate in the palings clicking incessantly.The party was to be an early one, and all the guests were assembled long before it was dark.Yeobright went down the back staircase and into the heath by another path than that in front, intending to walk in the open air till the party was over, when he would return to wish Thomasin and her husband good-bye as they departed.His steps were insensibly bent towards Mistover by the path that he had followed on that terrible morning when he learnt the strange news from Susan's boy.

He did not turn aside to the cottage, but pushed on to an eminence, whence he could see over the whole quarter that had once been Eustacia's home.While he stood observing the darkening scene somebody came up.Clym, seeing him but dimly, would have let him pass silently, had not the pedestrian, who was Charley, recognized the young man and spoken to him.

"Charley, I have not seen you for a length of time,"said Yeobright."Do you often walk this way?""No," the lad replied."I don't often come outside the bank.""You were not at the Maypole."

"No," said Charley, in the same listless tone."I don't care for that sort of thing now.""You rather liked Miss Eustacia, didn't you?"Yeobright gently asked.Eustacia had frequently told him of Charley's romantic attachment.

"Yes, very much.Ah, I wish--"

"Yes?"

"I wish, Mr.Yeobright, you could give me something to keep that once belonged to her--if you don't mind.""I shall be very happy to.It will give me very great pleasure, Charley.Let me think what I have of hers that you would like.But come with me to the house, and I'll see."They walked towards Blooms-End together.When they reached the front it was dark, and the shutters were closed, so that nothing of the interior could be seen.

"Come round this way," said Clym."My entrance is at the back for the present."The two went round and ascended the crooked stair in darkness till Clym's sitting-room on the upper floor was reached, where he lit a candle, Charley entering gently behind.

Yeobright searched his desk, and taking out a sheet of tissue-paper unfolded from it two or three undulating locks of raven hair, which fell over the paper like black streams.From these he selected one, wrapped it up, and gave it to the lad, whose eyes had filled with tears.

He kissed the packet, put it in his pocket, and said in a voice of emotion, "O, Mr.Clym, how good you are to me!""I will go a little way with you," said Clym.And amid the noise of merriment from below they descended.

Their path to the front led them close to a little side window, whence the rays of candles streamed across the shrubs.