III. She Goes Out to Battle against Depression

           Afewdayslater,beforethemonthofAugusthasexpired,EustaciaandYeobrightsattogetherattheirearlydinner.

           Eustacia’smannerhadbecomeoflatealmostapathetic.Therewasaforlornlookaboutherbeautifuleyeswhich,whethershedeserveditornot,wouldhaveexcitedpityinthebreastofanyonewhohadknownherduringthefullflushofherloveforClym.Thefeelingsofhusbandandwifevaried,insomemeasure,inverselywiththeirpositions.Clym,theafflictedman,wascheerful;andheeventriedtocomforther,whohadneverfeltamomentofphysicalsufferinginherwholelife.

           “Come,brightenup,dearest;weshallbeallrightagain.SomedayperhapsIshallseeaswellasever.AndIsolemnlypromisethatI’llleaveoffcuttingfurzeassoonasIhavethepowertodoanythingbetter.Youcannotseriouslywishmetostayidlingathomeallday?”

           “Butitissodreadful—afurze-cutter!andyouamanwhohavelivedabouttheworld,andspeakFrench,andGerman,andwhoarefitforwhatissomuchbetterthanthis.”

           “IsupposewhenyoufirstsawmeandheardaboutmeIwaswrappedinasortofgoldenhalotoyoureyes—amanwhoknewgloriousthings,andhadmixedinbrilliantscenes—inshort,anadorable,delightful,distractinghero?”

           “Yes,”shesaid,sobbing.

           “AndnowIamapoorfellowinbrownleather.”

           “Don’ttauntme.Butenoughofthis.Iwillnotbedepressedanymore.Iamgoingfromhomethisafternoon,unlessyougreatlyobject.Thereistobeavillagepicnic—agipsying,theycallit—atEastEgdon,andIshallgo.”

           “Todance?”

           “Whynot?Youcansing.