VII. The Night of the Sixth of November

           HavingresolvedonflightEustaciaattimesseemedanxiousthatsomethingshouldhappentothwartherownintention.TheonlyeventthatcouldreallychangeherpositionwastheappearanceofClym.Theglorywhichhadencircledhimasherloverwasdepartednow;yetsomegoodsimplequalityofhiswouldoccasionallyreturntohermemoryandstiramomentarythrobofhopethathewouldagainpresenthimselfbeforeher.Butcalmlyconsidereditwasnotlikelythatsuchaseveranceasnowexistedwouldevercloseup—shewouldhavetoliveonasapainfulobject,isolated,andoutofplace.Shehadusedtothinkoftheheathaloneasanuncongenialspottobein;shefeltitnowofthewholeworld.

           Towardseveningonthesixthherdeterminationtogoawayagainrevived.Aboutfouro’clockshepackedupanewthefewsmallarticlesshehadbroughtinherflightfromAlderworth,andalsosomebelongingtoherwhichhadbeenlefthere;thewholeformedabundlenottoolargetobecarriedinherhandforadistanceofamileortwo.Thescenewithoutgrewdarker;mud-colouredcloudsbellieddownwardsfromtheskylikevasthammocksslungacrossit,andwiththeincreaseofnightastormywindarose;butasyettherewasnorain.

           Eustaciacouldnotrestindoors,havingnothingmoretodo,andshewanderedtoandfroonthehill,notfarfromthehouseshewassoontoleave.InthesedesultoryramblingsshepassedthecottageofSusanNunsuch,alittlelowerdownthanhergrandfather’s.Thedoorwasajar,andaribandofbrightfirelightfelloverthegroundwithout.