IV. Eustacia Is Led on to an Adventure

           Intheeveningofthislastdayofexpectation,whichwasthetwenty-thirdofDecember,Eustaciawasathomealone.Shehadpassedtherecenthourinlamentingoverarumournewlycometoherears—thatYeobright’svisittohismotherwastobeofshortduration,andwouldendsometimethenextweek.“Naturally,”shesaidtoherself.AmaninthefullswingofhisactivitiesinagaycitycouldnotaffordtolingerlongonEgdonHeath.Thatshewouldbeholdfacetofacetheowneroftheawakeningvoicewithinthelimitsofsuchaholidaywasmostunlikely,unlesssheweretohaunttheenvironsofhismother’shouselikearobin,todowhichwasdifficultandunseemly.

           Thecustomaryexpedientofprovincialgirlsandmeninsuchcircumstancesischurchgoing.Inanordinaryvillageorcountrytownonecansafelycalculatethat,eitheronChristmasdayortheSundaycontiguous,anynativehomefortheholidays,whohasnotthroughageorennuilosttheappetiteforseeingandbeingseen,willturnupinsomepeworother,shiningwithhope,self-consciousness,andnewclothes.ThusthecongregationonChristmasmorningismostlyaTussaudcollectionofcelebritieswhohavebeenbornintheneighbourhood.Hitherthemistress,leftneglectedathomealltheyear,canstealandobservethedevelopmentofthereturnedloverwhohasforgottenher,andthinkasshewatcheshimoverherprayerbookthathemaythrobwitharenewedfidelitywhennoveltieshavelosttheircharm.