第81章 THE CLOSED DOOR(2)

That Wildeve should have got command of the guineas after all, and should rearrange the disposal of them, placing Clym's share in Clym's wife's hands, because she had been his own sweetheart, and might be so still, was as irritating a pain as any that Mrs.Yeobright had ever borne.

She instantly dismissed the wretched Christian from her employ for his conduct in the affair; but, feeling quite helpless and unable to do without him, told him afterwards that he might stay a little longer if he chose.

Then she hastened off to Eustacia, moved by a much less promising emotion towards her daughter-in-law than she had felt half an hour earlier, when planning her journey.

At that time it was to inquire in a friendly spirit if there had been any accidental loss; now it was to ask plainly if Wildeve had privately given her money which had been intended as a sacred gift to Clym.

She started at two o'clock, and her meeting with Eustacia was hastened by the appearance of the young lady beside the pool and bank which bordered her grandfather's premises, where she stood surveying the scene, and perhaps thinking of the romantic enactments it had witnessed in past days.

When Mrs.Yeobright approached, Eustacia surveyed her with the calm stare of a stranger.

The mother-in-law was the first to speak."I was coming to see you," she said.

"Indeed!" said Eustacia with surprise, for Mrs.Yeobright, much to the girl's mortification, had refused to be present at the wedding."I did not at all expect you.""I was coming on business only," said the visitor, more coldly than at first."Will you excuse my asking this--Have you received a gift from Thomasin's husband?""A gift?"

"I mean money!"

"What--I myself?"

"Well, I meant yourself, privately--though I was not going to put it in that way.""Money from Mr.Wildeve? No--never! Madam, what do you mean by that?" Eustacia fired up all too quickly, for her own consciousness of the old attachment between herself and Wildeve led her to jump to the conclusion that Mrs.Yeobright also knew of it, and might have come to accuse her of receiving dishonourable presents from him now.

"I simply ask the question," said Mrs.Yeobright.

"I have been----"

"You ought to have better opinions of me--I feared you were against me from the first!" exclaimed Eustacia"No.I was simply for Clym," replied Mrs.Yeobright, with too much emphasis in her earnestness."It is the instinct of everyone to look after their own.""How can you imply that he required guarding against me?"cried Eustacia, passionate tears in her eyes."I have not injured him by marrying him! What sin have I done that you should think so ill of me? You had no right to speak against me to him when I have never wronged you.""I only did what was fair under the circumstances,"said Mrs.Yeobright more softly."I would rather not have gone into 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 Itried 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 before me!""I understand you," said Eustacia, breathless with emotion.

"You think me capable of every bad thing.Who can be worse than a wife who encourages a lover, and poisons her husband's mind against his relative? Yet that is now the character given to me.Will you not come and drag him out of my hands?"Mrs.Yeobright gave back heat for heat.