按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
“Can it be that you really don’t know of it—how much she had always thought of you？”
“I have never heard a word of it。 Although we live only two miles apart I have never been inside her aunt’s house in my life。”
The superciliousness that lurked in her manner told Venn that thus far he had utterly failed。 He inwardly sighed and felt it necessary to unmask his second argument。
“Well； leaving that out of the question； ‘tis in your power； I assure you； Miss Vye； to do a great deal of good to another woman。”
She shook her head。
“Your eliness is law with Mr。 Wildeve。 It is law with all men who see ‘ee。 They say； ‘This well…favoured lady ing—what’s her name？ How handsome！’ Handsomer than Thomasin Yeobright；” the reddleman persisted； saying to himself； “God forgive a rascal for lying！” And she was handsomer； but the reddleman was far from thinking so。 There was a certain obscurity in Eustacia’s beauty； and Venn’s eye was not trained。 In her winter dress； as now； she was like the tiger…beetle； which； when observed in dull situations； seems to be of the quietest neutral colour； but under a full illumination blazes with dazzling splendour。
Eustacia could not help replying； though conscious that she endangered her dignity thereby。 “Many women are lovelier than Thomasin；” she said； “so not much attaches to that。”
The reddleman suffered the wound and went on： “He is a man who notices the looks of women； and you could twist him to your will like withywind； if you only had the mind。”
“Surely what she cannot do who has been so much with him I cannot do living up here away from him。”
The reddleman wheeled and looked her in the face。
“Miss Vye！” he said。
“Why do you say that—as if you doubted me？” She spoke faintly； and her breathing was quick。 “The idea of your speaking in that tone to me！” she added； with a forced smile of hauteur。 “What could have been in your mind to lead you to speak like that？”
“Miss Vye； why should you make believe that you don’t know this man？I know why； certainly。 He is beneath you； and you are ashamed。”
“You are mistaken。 What do you mean？”
The reddleman had decided to play the card of truth。 “I was at the meeting by Rainbarrow last night and heard every word；” he said。 “The woman that stands between Wildeve and Thomasin is yourself。”
It was a disconcerting lift of the curtain； and the mortification of Candaules’ wife glowed in her。 The moment had arrived when her lip would tremble in spite of herself； and when the gasp could no longer be kept down。
“I am unwell；” she said hurriedly。 “No—it is not that—I am not in a humour to hear you further。 Leave me； please。”
“I must speak； Miss Vye； in spite of paining you。 What I would put before you is this。 However it may e about—whether she is to blame； or you—her case is without doubt worse than yours。 Your giving up Mr。 Wildeve will be a real advantage to you； for how could you marry him？ Now she cannot get off so easily—everybody will blame her if she loses him。 Then I ask you—not because her right is best； but because her situation is worst—to give him up to her。”
“No—I won’t； I won’t！” she said impetuously； quite forgetful of her previous manner towards the reddleman as an underling。 “Nobody has ever been served so！ It was going on well—I will not be beaten down—by an inferior woman like her。 It is very well for you to e and plead for her； but is she not herself the cause of all her own trouble？ Am I not to show favour to any person I may choose without asking permission of a parcel of cottagers？ She has e between me and my inclination； and now that she finds herself rightly punished she gets you to plead for her！”
“Indeed；” said Venn earnestly； “she knows nothing whatever about it。 It is only I who ask you to give him up。 It will be better for her and you both。 People will say bad things if they find out that a lady secretly meets a man who has ill…used another woman。”
“I have NOT injured her—he was mine before he was hers！ He came back—because—because he liked me best！” she said wildly。 “But I lose all self…respect in talking to you。 What am I giving way to！”
“I can keep secrets；” said Venn gently。 “You need not fear。
I am the only man who knows of your meetings with him。 There is but one thing more to speak of； and then I will be gone。 I heard you say to him that you hated living here—that Egdon Heath was a jail to you。”
“I did say so。 There is a sort of beauty in the scenery； I know； but it is a jail to me。 The man you mention does not save me from that feeling； though he lives here。 I should have cared nothing for him had there been a better person near。”
The reddleman looked hopeful； after these words from her his third attempt seemed promising。 “As we have now opened our minds a bit； miss；” he said； “I’ll tell you what I have got to propose。 Since I have taken to the reddle trade I travel a good deal； as you know。”
She inclined her head； and swept round so that her eyes rested in the misty vale beneath them。
“And in my travels I go near Budmouth。 Now Budmouth is a wonderful place—wonderful—a great salt sheening sea bending into the land like a bow—thousands of gentlepeople walking up and down—bands of music playing—officers by sea and officers by land walking among the rest—out of every ten folks you meet nine of ‘em in love。”
“I know it；” she said disdainfully。 “I know Budmouth better than you。 I was born there。 My father came to be a military musician there from abroad。 Ah； my soul； Budmouth！ I wish I was there now。”
The reddleman was surprised to see how a slow fire could blaze on occasion。 “If you were； miss；” he replied； “in a week’s time you would think no more of Wildeve than of one of those he’th…croppers that we see yond。 Now； I could get you there。”
“How？” said Eustacia； with intense curiosity in her heavy eyes。
“My uncle has been for five and twenty years the trusty man of a rich widow…lady who has a beautiful house facing the sea。 This lady has bee old and lame； and she wants a young pany…keeper to read and sing to her； but can’t get one to her mind to save