VIII. Firmness Is Discovered in a Gentle Heart

           OnthateveningtheinteriorofBlooms-End,thoughcosyandcomfortable,hadbeenrathersilent.ClymYeobrightwasnotathome.SincetheChristmaspartyhehadgoneonafewdays’visittoafriendabouttenmilesoff.

           TheshadowyformseenbyVenntopartfromWildeveintheporch,andquicklywithdrawintothehouse,wasThomasin’s.Onenteringshethrewdownacloakwhichhadbeencarelesslywrappedroundher,andcameforwardtothelight,whereMrs.Yeobrightsatatherwork-table,drawnupwithinthesettle,sothatpartofitprojectedintothechimney-corner.

           “Idon’tlikeyourgoingoutafterdarkalone,Tamsin,”saidherauntquietly,withoutlookingupfromherwork.

           “Ihaveonlybeenjustoutsidethedoor.”

           “Well?”inquiredMrs.Yeobright,struckbyachangeinthetoneofThomasin’svoice,andobservingher.Thomasin’scheekwasflushedtoapitchfarbeyondthatwhichithadreachedbeforehertroubles,andhereyesglittered.

           “ItwasHEwhoknocked,”shesaid.

           “Ithoughtasmuch.”

           “Hewishesthemarriagetobeatonce.”

           “Indeed!What—isheanxious?”Mrs.Yeobrightdirectedasearchinglookuponherniece.“WhydidnotMr.Wildevecomein?”

           “Hedidnotwishto.Youarenotfriendswithhim,hesays.Hewouldliketheweddingtobethedayaftertomorrow,quiteprivately;atthechurchofhisparish—notatours.”

           “Oh!Andwhatdidyousay?”

           “Iagreedtoit,”Thomasinansweredfirmly.“Iamapracticalwomannow.Idon’tbelieveinheartsatall.Iwouldmarryhimunderanycircumstancessince—sinceClym’sletter.”

           AletterwaslyingonMrs.