II. He Is Set upon by Adversities but He Sings a Song

           TheresultofthatunpropitiousinterviewwasthatEustacia,insteadofpassingtheafternoonwithhergrandfather,hastilyreturnedhometoClym,whereshearrivedthreehoursearlierthanshehadbeenexpected.

           Shecameindoorswithherfaceflushed,andhereyesstillshowingtracesofherrecentexcitement.Yeobrightlookedupastonished;hehadneverseenherinanywayapproachingtothatstatebefore.Shepassedhimby,andwouldhavegoneupstairsunnoticed,butClymwassoconcernedthatheimmediatelyfollowedher.

           “Whatisthematter,Eustacia?”hesaid.Shewasstandingonthehearthruginthebedroom,lookinguponthefloor,herhandsclaspedinfrontofher,herbonnetyetunremoved.Foramomentshedidnotanswer;andthensherepliedinalowvoice—

           “Ihaveseenyourmother;andIwillneverseeheragain!”

           AweightfelllikeastoneuponClym.Thatsamemorning,whenEustaciahadarrangedtogoandseehergrandfather,ClymhadexpressedawishthatshewoulddrivedowntoBlooms-Endandinquireforhermother-in-law,oradoptanyothermeansshemightthinkfittobringaboutareconciliation.Shehadsetoutgaily;andhehadhopedformuch.

           “Whyisthis?”heasked.

           “Icannottell—Icannotremember.Imetyourmother.AndIwillnevermeetheragain.”

           “Why?”

           “WhatdoIknowaboutMr.Wildevenow?Iwon’thavewickedopinionspassedonmebyanybody.O!itwastoohumiliatingtobeaskedifIhadreceivedanymoneyfromhim,orencouragedhim,orsomethingofthesort—Idon’texactlyknowwhat!”

           “Howcouldshehaveaskedyouthat?”

           “Shedid.