Chapter 20 Chapter 8 A Weak Heart Appears Firm

That night, although the house in Hualuo Village was warm and comfortable, it seemed very dull.Clem.Yeobright was not at home.After the Christmas party he was visiting a friend who lived ten miles away and was staying at his house for a few days. The figure Wayne saw leaving Wildef on the porch and retreating quickly into the house was Thomasy.On entering the room she tore off a cloak which she had carelessly wrapped about her, and walked towards the light by which Mrs Yeobright was seated at the work-table, A table was drawn up to the settee, so that part of the table protruded into the hearth warmer.

I don't like you going out alone after dark, Thomasy said her aunt calmly, without looking up. I just went out the door. Yeah?Mrs. Yeobright, startled by the change in Thomasy's tone, looked up at her.Thomasy's face was rosier than it had been before this trouble, and her eyes sparkled. It was he who knocked.she says. I thought it was him too. He wants the wedding to take place immediately. real!Why is he in a hurry?Mrs. Yeobright looked at her niece with a searching look.Why doesn't Mr. Wildford come in? He doesn't want to come in.He said, you look down on him.He wants to have the wedding the day after tomorrow, quietly, without disturbing anyone; in his parish church not in our parish.

oh!what do you say I agree, Thomasy replied firmly.Now I am an actual woman.I don't believe in love at all.I'm going to marry him no matter what, since Clem wrote that letter. There was a letter in Mrs Yeobright's basket, and Thomasy had hardly finished speaking when her aunt opened the letter and read it silently, for the second time that day she read it. letter sent: What on earth was the story of that folly about Thomasy and Wildeff that people were talking about everywhere?If there's any truth to that, I'd say it's a shame.How did such a messy rumor come out?It is said that family affairs can only be heard abroad, and I seem to be like this now.Of course, I went all over the place to deny such rumors, but it was so disturbing that I couldn't understand how it happened.It's ridiculous that a girl like Thomasy should be dumped on her wedding day, and we should be humiliated.What did she do?

Yes, said Mrs Yeobright sadly, and put the letter down.If you think you can marry him, do so.Since Wildoff wanted the marriage to be done quietly, so be it.I can't help it either.Now it's up to you to decide.After you left this house last time to go with him to Hornburg, there is nothing I can do to take care of you.She continued half sadly, I almost wanted to ask, why did you come to ask for my opinion on this matter?If you go away and marry him without my saying hello, I wouldn't be at all offended, it's only because, poor girl, you couldn't have done anything better. Don't say that, it will dishearten me.

You are right, I will stop talking. I don't want to defend him either, Auntie.Human nature is cowardly, and I'm not a woman who can't distinguish between black and white, insisting on calling him perfect.I used to think so, but not now.But I know how to go my own way, you know what I know, and I hope for the best. Me too, and we'll both go on doing it, Mrs Yeobright rose and kissed her.If the wedding could take place, it would be the morning Clem arrived home? Yes, I decided the wedding should be over when he returned.That way you can look him in the face, and so can I.It doesn't matter that we kept it from him before.

Mrs. Yeobright tilted her head and thought, and then said, do you want me to marry you and hand you over to him?If you want, I hope to do that, like last time.Since I objected to the wedding announcement, I think I can do it. I don't want to invite you, Tomasi said reluctantly, but made up her mind.That would make this a boring affair, I'm almost sure of that.It would be better if there were only strangers there, and none of my relatives would go there.I'd rather do that with my marriage.I don't want to do anything that would affect you and if you were at the wedding I don't think I would be comfortable because of what has happened.I'm just your niece, you don't need to worry about me so much.

Well, he beat us all, said her aunt, really, it all looks as if he's been playing tricks on you this way.Just to avenge the humiliation I caused him by standing up and declaring against him. Oh, don't say that, Aunt.Thomasy murmured. They didn't say anything more about it after that.Presently came Digory.Wayne's knock on the door; Mrs. Yeobright came back after talking with him at the door, and said casually, another person who loves you has come to propose to you. No way? It was true; it was that eccentric young man named Wayne. He's going to propose to me? Yes; I told him he was late.

Tomasi stared silently at the candle.Poor Digory!she said, and got up to do other things. The next day passed in a very mechanical preparatory work, which both women were anxious to avoid the sad situation before them.Some clothes and other items were packed together again for Thomasy, and she often mentioned how to take care of some household chores, so as to alleviate her sentimentality for the future after becoming the wife of the Wilders . The certain morning came.It was Wildeve's arrangement that he wait at the church, so as not to embarrass them by eliciting any unpleasant curiosity, which, if they were seen walking together so ordinaryly, might arouse the suspicion of their neighbors. This kind of curiosity.

The aunt and niece stood together in the bedroom, where the bride was dressed.Thomasy's hair shone brightly wherever the sun touched it, and she always braided hers.The hair is braided in a calendar pattern: the more important the day, the more strands the braid will have.She braided three on normal work days; four on normal Sundays; and five on May Day, Gypsy Day, and such days.Years ago, she had said that when she got married, she would braid her hair into seven braids.Today she braided her hair into seven braids. I kept thinking I'd have to put on my blue silk dress, and she said it was my wedding day, even though it was a bit sad.I mean, she added hastily, eager to correct any signs of inappropriateness, not that the day itself was bad, but that there had been so much annoyance and disappointment before it.

Mrs. Yeobright breathed a sigh, indeed.I wish Clem was home, she said, of course you picked this day because he wasn't there. There is a reason for this.I already felt it was too unfair to him to tell him the whole thing; Tell him everything. What a practical little woman you are, said Mrs Yeobright, smiling.I want you to let it go with him, I hope nothing.Yo, it's nine o'clock.She stopped, listening to the jingle from downstairs. I told Damon I'd be leaving at nine.Tomasi said, and hurried out of the room. Her aunt followed behind.When Thomasy left the house door and walked up the path that led to the yard gate, Mrs Yeobright looked at her reluctantly, and said, It's a shame to have you go that way alone.

It is necessary to do so.Thomasy said. In any case, said her aunt, with forced cheer, I'll see you this afternoon, and I'll bring the cake.If Clem had come home then, maybe he would have gone too.I wished to make it clear to Wildoff that I meant no malice to him.Forget about the past.Well, God bless you!Well, I don't believe in those old superstitions, but I have to do this!She threw a slipper behind the girl who was going out, and the girl turned her head, laughed, and turned away again. After walking a few steps, she turned around.Did you call me, aunt?she asked tremblingly.goodbye! As she gazed at Mrs. Yeobright's withered, tearful face, a surge of irrepressible emotion welled up in her heart, and she ran back, only to be met by her aunt, and they met again.Oh Tansy, cried the elder, I don't want you to go. I, Thomasy, started crying too.But she suppressed her grief, said good-bye again, and went away. Then Mrs. Yeobright saw a small figure winding its way among the thorny brambles, and gradually disappearing in the far distance of the valley, a pale blue spot on a vast wasteland of dusky yellow. A small dot of color, looking so lonely and helpless, supported only by her own hope. But the most miserable person in this scene is not here, he is the man. Thomasy and Wildeff chose this hour for their wedding so that Thomasy would not have to meet her cousin Clem, who was returning that same morning.As long as the humiliating situation created by the incident remained unchanged, it would still be embarrassing to admit to him that some of the rumors he had heard were true.Only after she had successfully completed her second walk to the altar could she look up and prove that the failure of the first wedding was purely accidental. Less than half an hour after she left Hualuo Village, Yeobright came back from the other direction through the grass and entered the house. I had an early breakfast, and after saying hello to my mother, I can have some more now, he said.They sat down to breakfast, he asked in a low, anxious voice, obviously he thought Tomasy hadn't come downstairs yet, what the hell was all that I'd heard about Tomasy and Wildeff? In many ways it is true, said Mrs Yeobright calmly, but I hope it is all right now.She looked up at the clock. real? Thomasy went to him today.Clem pushed away his breakfast.So it's kind of a scandal, and that's what made Tomasy look like this.Is that why she is not feeling well? Yes.It wasn't a scandal, though: just a mishap.I'll tell you everything, Clem.You mustn't get angry, you have to listen, and then you'll see that all we've been doing is trying to get the best out of this. So she told him everything in detail.All he knew before his return from Paris was that there was an affection between Thomasy and Wilderf which his mother disapproved of at first, but which, thanks to Thomasy's strenuous apology, came to an end. A favorable turning point was made.So when she explained everything, he was very surprised and very uncomfortable. Meanwhile she decided to have the wedding before you come back, said Mrs Yeobright, so that she would not meet you, and not make everyone feel bad about it.That was why she had gone to him; they had arranged for a wedding this morning. But I really don't understand, said Yeobright, standing up.This is so different from her usual personality.I understand why you did not write to me after her unfortunate return.But why didn't you tell me when the wedding was coming?Is that the first wedding? Oh, I was so annoyed by her business at the time.She seems very stubborn to me; and when I see you have no place in her heart, I swear she has nothing to do with you.I think she's just my niece; I'll just tell her she can get married, and I won't have any interest in that, and I won't let it bother you. It doesn't bother me at all.Mom, that's not right for you. I thought it might affect your business, that you might lose your position, or hinder your career in some way, so I didn't tell you anything.Of course, if they had been married in good standing, I would have told you right away. In fact, Tansy is married as we sit here. good.Unless something unexpected happened again, it would be the same as the first time.Considering he is still such a person, this is not impossible. Yes, I believe it is possible.Should she go there?What if Wildef was really a bad guy? Then he would not go, and she would have to come home again. You should think more carefully about this. It's no use any more, said his mother, with a look of impatient sadness.You have no idea how bad we're having it here these days, Clem.You have no idea how embarrassing it is for a woman if it happens even a little bit.You don't know the sleepless nights we've spent in this room, and the almost ugly things we've said between us since the fifth of November.I hope I never have to live another seven weeks like this.Tansy hasn't been out of the house, and I'm too embarrassed to look up; the only way to get rid of all this trouble is to do what I'm doing now, and you're blaming me. No, he said slowly, I don't blame you in general.But just think how sudden this happened to me.I came and knew nothing of the matter; and told me at once that Tansy was gone and married.Well, I don't think there's a better way to do it.After a moment's pause, when he thought of his past, and with sudden interest, he went on, "Did you know, Mother, that I imagined Tancy as my lover?"Yes, I think so.The lads are always very eccentric!When I got home and saw that she seemed softer and kinder than usual this time, I was completely reminded of those days, especially on the night of the Christmas dinner when she was very uncomfortable.And isn't it cruel to her that we hold a banquet anyway? Still not the same.I had already arranged to have a party, and it wasn't worth the fuss.It would be even worse to welcome you as soon as you come back, when we keep ourselves out of touch and tell you about Tansy's misfortune. Climb was still thinking.I wish you hadn't had that party, he said, for some other reason.I'll tell you in a day or two.Now we have to think about Tansy. They both fell silent.I'll tell you, Yeobright spoke again, with a trancelike tone in his voice.I don't think it's fair for Tancey to just get married like that, with none of us there to cheer her up or think about her.She had done nothing to humiliate herself, or to be humiliated.It was too bad that the wedding should have been so hasty, and we didn't do anything to prevent it from happening.On my soul, it's such a disgrace, I've got to go. The wedding is over by now, said his mother, with a sigh: unless they are late, or he Then I can watch them leave the church in time.Anyway, mother, I really don't like that you want me to stand by like this.Really, I kind of wish he didn't come to wait for her this time! Let her character be completely ruined?Nonsense; it wouldn't ruin Tomasy that way. He grabbed his hat and hurried out of the house.Mrs. Yeobright looked very unhappy, and sat very still, lost in thought.But she did not stay alone for long, and within a few minutes Clem returned, accompanied by Digory.Wayne. I found I was too late to get there, said Clem. is she marriedasked Mrs. Yeobright, her face turned to the red clay dealer, with a distinct expression of hope for success and failure. Wayne bowed.It's over, ma'am. How strange this sounded.Climb murmured. He didn't disappoint her this time?asked Mrs Yeobright. No.Now her reputation is not affected at all.As soon as I saw that you were not present, I hastened to write you a letter. how did you get thereHow did you know?she asked. I was around there some time, and saw them go into the church, said the red clay-monger, and Wildeve was at the church door just in time.I didn't expect him to be so punctual.Though he could have said more, it gave no further indication that he was not passing by by chance; Mood, it was a part of his character determined to see how it would turn out. who is thereasked Mrs Yeobright. Hardly anyone.I was standing on the side of the road and she didn't see me.replied the red clay peddler hoarsely, looking towards the garden. Who delivered her to the groom? Miss Vey. What a surprise!Miss Vey!I think this will be considered a kind of honor, right? Who is Miss Vey?Clem asked. Granddaughter of Captain Misty Gunveil. A proud girl from Bud, said Mrs Yeobright.A girl I don't really like.People say she's a bad woman, but of course, that's nonsense. The red-clay-monger did not reveal his acquaintance with the fair man, or that he had come to fetch Eustacia, which he had promised to do as soon as he heard that the marriage was about to take place. thing.He just went on to tell the story of the day: I was sitting on the wall of the churchyard as they came up, one from one side, and the other from the other; Miss Veil was close by, looking at the tombstone.As soon as they entered the church, I came to the door, eager to find out, because I knew her so well.I took off my boots, for they made a great noise when I walked, and entered the balcony, where I saw the priest and deacon already there. How did Miss Veil have anything to do with it if she was just passing there? Because there is no one else around.She entered the church just before me, she did not enter the balcony, and the priest looked around before the service began, and since she was alone, he beckoned her to come, and she went to the fence.When it was time to sign the register, she lifted her veil and signed; Thomasy seemed grateful for her help.The red-monger related the matter thoughtfully, for, while Eustacia raised her heavy veil and gazed calmly into Wildoff's face, Wildeve's face paled, and the scene remained in the red clay dealer's mind.After this, said Digory sadly, I went away, because she was Tansy.Yeobright's history is over. I offered to go, said Mrs Yeobright ruefully, but she said there was no point. Well, it's all right, said the red-monger, it's done at last, and it's just as it was meant to be done.God has brought her happiness.Well, I wish you a good morning. He put on his hat and went out. From the moment I left Mrs Yeobright's house, there was not a red clay dealer to be seen in the area of ​​Eden Moor for many months.He completely disappeared.The next morning, the blackberry bush-covered recess where he had parked his wagon was as empty as ever, with little sign of his having lived there, save for a few straws and a little red earth on the sod, just Even this bit of red earth was washed away by the ensuing storm. Digory's account of the progress of the wedding was, of course, correct, but one very important fact was omitted, which was that he had not been able to see it from his position at a distance behind the church.As Thomasy signed the book with trembling hands, Wildoff glanced at Eustacia with a clear meaning: now I have punished you.She murmured back that he couldn't have imagined how true you got it wrong; it makes me so happy to see her as your wife today.