还乡The Return Of The Native-第58部分

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　over　her　lips；　her　eyes；　and　the　lines　of　her　face；　she　had　mused　and　mused　on　the　subject；　even　while　in　the　act　of　returning　his　gaze；　and　now　the　sight　of　the　books；　indicating　a　future　which　was　antagonistic　to　her　dream；　struck　her　with　a　positively　painful　jar。　　She　was　hoping　for　the　time　when；　as　the　mistress　of　some　pretty　establishment；　however　small；　near　a　Parisian　Boulevard；　she　would　be　passing　her　days　on　the　skirts　at　least　of　the　gay　world；　and　catching　stray　wafts　from　those　town　pleasures　she　was　so　well　fitted　to　enjoy。　　Yet　Yeobright　was　as　firm　in　the　contrary　intention　as　if　the　tendency　of　marriage　were　rather　to　develop　the　fantasies　of　young　philanthropy　than　to　sweep　them　away。　
Her　anxiety　reached　a　high　pitch；　but　there　was　something　in　Clym’s　undeviating　manner　which　made　her　hesitate　before　sounding　him　on　the　subject。　　At　this　point　in　their　experience；　however；　an　incident　helped　her。　　It　occurred　one　evening　about　six　weeks　after　their　union；　and　arose　entirely　out　of　the　unconscious　misapplication　of　Venn　of　the　fifty　guineas　intended　for　Yeobright。　
A　day　or　two　after　the　receipt　of　the　money　Thomasin　had　sent　a　note　to　her　aunt　to　thank　her。　　She　had　been　surprised　at　the　largeness　of　the　amount；　but　as　no　sum　had　ever　been　mentioned　she　set　that　down　to　her　late　uncle’s　generosity。　　She　had　been　strictly　charged　by　her　aunt　to　say　nothing　to　her　husband　of　this　gift；　and　Wildeve；　as　was　natural　enough；　had　not　brought　himself　to　mention　to　his　wife　a　single　particular　of　the　midnight　scene　in　the　heath。　　Christian’s　terror；　in　like　manner；　had　tied　his　tongue　on　the　share　he　took　in　that　proceeding；　and　hoping　that　by　some　means　or　other　the　money　had　gone　to　its　proper　destination；　he　simply　asserted　as　much；　without　giving　details。　
Therefore；　when　a　week　or　two　had　passed　away；　Mrs。　Yeobright　began　to　wonder　why　she　never　heard　from　her　son　of　the　receipt　of　the　present；　and　to　add　gloom　to　her　perplexity　came　the　possibility　that　resentment　might　be　the　cause　of　his　silence。　　She　could　hardly　believe　as　much；　but　why　did　he　not　write？　　She　questioned　Christian；　and　the　confusion　in　his　answers　would　at　once　have　led　her　to　believe　that　something　was　wrong；　had　not　one…half　of　his　story　been　corroborated　by　Thomasin’s　note。　
Mrs。　Yeobright　was　in　this　state　of　uncertainty　when　she　was　informed　one　morning　that　her　son’s　wife　was　visiting　her　grandfather　at　Mistover。　　She　determined　to　walk　up　the　hill；　see　Eustacia；　and　ascertain　from　her　daughter…in…law’s　lips　whether　the　family　guineas；　which　were　to　Mrs。　Yeobright　what　family　jewels　are　to　wealthier　dowagers；　had　miscarried　or　not。　
When　Christian　learnt　where　she　was　going　his　concern　reached　its　height。　　At　the　moment　of　her　departure　he　could　prevaricate　no　longer；　and；　confessing　to　the　gambling；　told　her　the　truth　as　far　as　he　knew　it—that　the　guineas　had　been　won　by　Wildeve。　
“What；　is　he　going　to　keep　them？”　Mrs。　Yeobright　cried。　
“I　hope　and　trust　not！”　moaned　Christian。　　“He’s　a　good　man；　and　perhaps　will　do　right　things。　　He　said　you　ought　to　have　gied　Mr。　Clym’s　share　to　Eustacia；　and　that’s　perhaps　what　he’ll　do　himself。”
To　Mrs。　Yeobright；　as　soon　as　she　could　calmly　reflect；　there　was　much　likelihood　in　this；　for　she　could　hardly　believe　that　Wildeve　would　really　appropriate　money　belonging　to　her　son。　　The　intermediate　course　of　giving　it　to　Eustacia　was　the　sort　of　thing　to　please　Wildeve’s　fancy。　　But　it　filled　the　mother　with　anger　none　the　less。　　That　Wildeve　should　have　got　mand　of　the　guineas　after　all；　and　should　rearrange　the　disposal　of　them；　placing　Clym’s　share　in　Clym’s　wife’s　hands；　because　she　had　been　his　own　sweetheart；　and　might　be　so　still；　was　as　irritating　a　pain　as　any　that　Mrs。　Yeobright　had　ever　borne。　
She　instantly　dismissed　the　wretched　Christian　from　her　employ　for　his　conduct　in　the　affair；　but；　feeling　quite　helpless　and　unable　to　do　without　him；　told　him　afterwards　that　he　might　stay　a　little　longer　if　he　chose。　　Then　she　hastened　off　to　Eustacia；　moved　by　a　much　less　promising　emotion　towards　her　daughter…in…law　than　she　had　felt　half　an　hour　earlier；　when　planning　her　journey。　　At　that　time　it　was　to　inquire　in　a　friendly　spirit　if　there　had　been　any　accidental　loss；　now　it　was　to　ask　plainly　if　Wildeve　had　privately　given　her　money　which　had　been　intended　as　a　sacred　gift　to　Clym。　
She　started　at　two　o’clock；　and　her　meeting　with　Eustacia　was　hastened　by　the　appearance　of　the　young　lady　beside　the　pool　and　bank　which　bordered　her　grandfather’s　premises；　where　she　stood　surveying　the　scene；　and　perhaps　thinking　of　the　romantic　enactments　it　had　witnessed　in　past　days。　　When　Mrs。　Yeobright　approached；　Eustacia　surveyed　her　with　the　calm　stare　of　a　stranger。　
The　mother…in…law　was　the　first　to　speak。　　“I　was　ing　to　see　you；”　she　said。
“Indeed！”　said　Eustacia　with　surprise；　for　Mrs。　Yeobright；　much　to　the　girl’s　mortification；　had　refused　to　be　present　at　the　wedding。　　“I　did　not　at　all　expect　you。”
“I　was　ing　on　business　only；”　said　the　visitor；　more　coldly　than　at　first。　　“Will　you　excuse　my　asking　this—Have　you　received　a　gift　from　Thomasin’s　husband？”
“A　gift？”
“I　mean　money！”
“What—I　myself？”
“Well；　I　meant　yourself；　privately—though　I　was　not　going　to　put　it　in　that　way。”
“Money　from　Mr。　Wildeve？　　No—never！　Madam；　what　do　you　mean　by　that？”　Eustacia　fired　up　all　too　quickly；　for　her　own　consciousness　of　the　old　attachment　between　herself　and　Wildeve　led　her　to　jump　to　the　conclusion　that　Mrs。　Yeobright　also　knew　of　it；　and　might　have　e　to　accuse　her　of　receiving　dishonourable　presents　from　him　now。
“I　simply　ask　the　question；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright。　
“I　have　been“
“You　ought　to　have　better　opinions　of　me—I　feared　you
were　against　me　from　the　first！”　exclaimed　Eustacia
“No。　I　was　simply　for　Clym；”　replied　Mrs。　Yeobright；　with　too　much　emphasis　in　her　earnestness。　　“It　is　the　instinct　of　everyone　to　look　after　their　own。”
“How　can　you　imply　that　he　required　guarding　against　me？”　cried　Eustacia；　passionate　tears　in　her　eyes。　　“I　have　not　injured　him　by　marrying　him！　What　sin　have　I　done　that　you　should　think　so　ill　of　me？　　You　had　no　right　to　speak　against　me　to　him　when　I　have　never　wronged　you。”
“I　only　did　what　was　fair　under　the　circumstances；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright　more　softly。　　“I　would　rather　not　have　gone　into　this　question　at　present；　but　you　pel　me。　　I　am　not　ashamed　to　tell　you　the　honest　truth。　　I　was　firmly　convinced　that　he　ought　not　to　marry　you—therefore　I　tried　to　dissuade　him　by　all　the　means　in　my　power。　　But　it　is　done　now；　and　I　have　no　idea　of　plaining　any　more。　　I　am　ready　to　wele　you。”
“Ah；　yes；　it　is　very　well　to　see　things　in　that　business　point　of　view；”　murmured　Eustacia　with　a　smothered　fire　of　feeling。　　“But　why　should　you　think　there　is　anything　between　me　and　Mr。　Wildeve？　　I　have　a　spirit　as　well　as　you。　　I　am　indignant；　and　so　would　any　woman　be。　　It　was　a　condescension　in　me　to　be　Clym’s　wife；　and　not　a　manoeuvre；　let　me　remind　you；　and　therefore　I　will　not　be　treated　as　a　schemer　whom　it　bees　necessary　to　bear　with　because　she　has　crept　into　the　family。”
“Oh！”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright；　vainly　endeavouring　to　control　her　anger。　　“I　have　never　heard　anything　to　show　that　my　son’s　lineage　is　not　as　good　as　the　Vyes’—perhaps　better。　　It　is　amusing　to　hear　you　talk　of　condescension。”
“It　was　condescension；　nevertheless；”　said　Eustacia　vehemently。　　“And　if　I　had　known　then　what　I　know　now；　that　I　should　be　living　in　this　wild　heath　a　month　after　my　marriage；　I—I　should　have　thought　twice　before　agreeing。”
“It　would　be　better　not　to　say　that；　it　might　not　sound　truthful。　　I　am　not　aware　that　any　deception　was　used　on　his　part—I　know　there　was　not—whatever　might　have　been　the　case　on　the　other　side。”
“This　is　too　exasperating！”　answered　the　younger　woman　huskily；　her　face　crimsoning；　and　her　eyes　darting　light。　　“How　can　you　dare　to　speak　to　me　like　that？　　I　insist　upon　repeating　to　you　that　had　I　known　that　my　life　would　from　my　marriage　up　to　this　time　have　been　as　it　is；　I　should　have　said　NO。　I　don’t　plain。　　I　have　never　uttered　a　sound　of　such　a　thin