VI. Thomasin Argues with Her Cousin, and He Writes a Letter

           YeobrightwasatthistimeatBlooms-End,hopingthatEustaciawouldreturntohim.Theremovaloffurniturehadbeenaccomplishedonlythatday,thoughClymhadlivedintheoldhouseformorethanaweek.Hehadspentthetimeinworkingaboutthepremises,sweepingleavesfromthegardenpaths,cuttingdeadstalksfromtheflowerbeds,andnailingupcreeperswhichhadbeendisplacedbytheautumnwinds.Hetooknoparticularpleasureinthesedeeds,buttheyformedascreenbetweenhimselfanddespair.Moreover,ithadbecomeareligionwithhimtopreserveingoodconditionallthathadlapsedfromhismother’shandstohisown.

           DuringtheseoperationshewasconstantlyonthewatchforEustacia.ThatthereshouldbenomistakeaboutherknowingwheretofindhimhehadorderedanoticeboardtobeaffixedtothegardengateatAlderworth,signifyinginwhiteletterswhitherhehadremoved.Whenaleaffloatedtotheearthheturnedhishead,thinkingitmightbeherfoot-fall.Abirdsearchingforwormsinthemouldoftheflower-bedssoundedlikeherhandonthelatchofthegate;andatdusk,whensoft,strangeventriloquismscamefromholesintheground,hollowstalks,curleddeadleaves,andothercrannieswhereinbreezes,worms,andinsectscanworktheirwill,hefanciedthattheywereEustacia,standingwithoutandbreathingwishesofreconciliation.

           Uptothishourhehadperseveredinhisresolvenottoinviteherback.Atthesametimetheseveritywithwhichhehadtreatedherlulledthesharpnessofhisregretforhismother,andawokesomeofhisoldsolicitudeforhismother’ssupplanter.