VI. Yeobright Goes, and the Breach Is Complete

           AllthateveningsmartsoundsdenotinganactivepackingupcamefromYeobright’sroomtotheearsofhismotherdownstairs.

           Nextmorninghedepartedfromthehouseandagainproceededacrosstheheath.Alongday’smarchwasbeforehim,hisobjectbeingtosecureadwellingtowhichhemighttakeEustaciawhenshebecamehiswife.Suchahouse,small,secluded,andwithitswindowsboardedup,hehadcasuallyobservedamonthearlier,abouttwomilesbeyondthevillageofEastEgdon,andsixmilesdistantaltogether;andthitherhedirectedhisstepstoday.

           Theweatherwasfardifferentfromthatoftheeveningbefore.TheyellowandvapourysunsetwhichhadwrappedupEustaciafromhispartinggazehadpresagedchange.ItwasoneofthosenotinfrequentdaysofanEnglishJunewhichareaswetandboisterousasNovember.Thecoldcloudshastenedoninabody,asifpaintedonamovingslide.Vapoursfromothercontinentsarriveduponthewind,whichcurledandpartedroundhimashewalkedon.

           AtlengthClymreachedthemarginofafirandbeechplantationthathadbeenenclosedfromheathlandintheyearofhisbirth.Herethetrees,ladenheavilywiththeirnewandhumidleaves,werenowsufferingmoredamagethanduringthehighestwindsofwinter,whentheboughsareespeciallydisencumberedtodobattlewiththestorm.Thewetyoungbeecheswereundergoingamputations,bruises,cripplings,andharshlacerations,fromwhichthewastingsapwouldbleedformanyadaytocome,andwhichwouldleavescarsvisibletillthedayoftheirburning.