VII. The Morning and the Evening of a Day

           Theweddingmorningcame.NobodywouldhaveimaginedfromappearancesthatBlooms-EndhadanyinterestinMistoverthatday.AsolemnstillnessprevailedaroundthehouseofClym’smother,andtherewasnomoreanimationindoors.Mrs.Yeobright,whohaddeclinedtoattendtheceremony,satbythebreakfasttableintheoldroomwhichcommunicatedimmediatelywiththeporch,hereyeslistlesslydirectedtowardstheopendoor.Itwastheroominwhich,sixmonthsearlier,themerryChristmaspartyhadmet,towhichEustaciacamesecretlyandasastranger.Theonlylivingthingthatenterednowwasasparrow;andseeingnomovementstocausealarm,hehoppedboldlyroundtheroom,endeavouredtogooutbythewindow,andflutteredamongthepot-flowers.Thisrousedthelonelysitter,whogotup,releasedthebird,andwenttothedoor.ShewasexpectingThomasin,whohadwrittenthenightbeforetostatethatthetimehadcomewhenshewouldwishtohavethemoneyandthatshewouldifpossiblecallthisday.

           YetThomasinoccupiedMrs.Yeobright’sthoughtsbutslightlyasshelookedupthevalleyoftheheath,alivewithbutterflies,andwithgrasshopperswhosehuskynoisesoneverysideformedawhisperedchorus.Adomesticdrama,forwhichthepreparationswerenowbeingmadeamileortwooff,wasbutlittlelessvividlypresenttohereyesthanifenactedbeforeher.Shetriedtodismissthevision,andwalkedaboutthegardenplot;buthereyeseverandanonsoughtoutthedirectionoftheparishchurchtowhichMistoverbelonged,andherexcitedfancyclovethehillswhichdividedthebuildingfromhereyes.