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e it is not uncustomary to mit suicide at this stage； in England we do much better； or much worse； as the case may be。
The love between the young man and his mother was strangely invisible now。 Of love it may be said； the less earthly the less demonstrative。 In its absolutely indestructible form it reaches a profundity in which all exhibition of itself is painful。 It was so with these。 Had conversations between them been overheard； people would have said； “How cold they are to each other！”
His theory and his wishes about devoting his future to teaching had made an impression on Mrs。 Yeobright。 Indeed； how could it be otherwise when he was a part of her—when their discourses were as if carried on between the right and the left hands of the same body？ He had despaired of reaching her by argument； and it was almost as a discovery to him that he could reach her by a magnetism which was as superior to words as words are to yells。
Strangely enough he began to feel now that it would not be so hard to persuade her who was his best friend that parative poverty was essentially the higher course for him； as to reconcile to his feelings the act of persuading her。 From every provident point of view his mother was so undoubtedly right； that he was not without a sickness of heart in finding he could shake her。
She had a singular insight into life； considering that she had never mixed with it。 There are instances of persons who； without clear ideas of the things they criticize have yet had clear ideas of the relations of those things。 Blacklock； a poet blind from his birth； could describe visual objects with accuracy； Professor Sanderson； who was also blind； gave excellent lectures on colour； and taught others the theory of ideas which they had and he had not。 In the social sphere these gifted ones are mostly women； they can watch a world which they never saw； and estimate forces of which they have only heard。 We call it intuition。
What was the great world to Mrs。 Yeobright？ A multitude whose tendencies could be perceived； though not its essences。 munities were seen by her as from a distance； she saw them as we see the throngs which cover the canvases of Sallaert； Van Alsloot； and others of that school—vast masses of beings； jostling； zigzagging； and processioning in definite directions； but whose features are indistinguishable by the very prehensiveness of the view。
One could see that； as far as it had gone； her life was very plete on its reflective side。 The philosophy of her nature； and its limitation by circumstances； was almost written in her movements。 They had a majestic foundation； though they were far from being majestic； and they had a ground…work of assurance； but they were not assured。 As her once elastic walk had bee deadened by time； so had her natural pride of life been hindered in its blooming by her necessities。
The next slight touch in the shaping of Clym’s destiny occurred a few days after。 A barrow was opened on the heath； and Yeobright attended the operation； remaining away from his study during several hours。 In the afternoon Christian returned from a journey in the same direction； and Mrs。 Yeobright questioned him。
“They have dug a hole； and they have found things like flowerpots upside down； Mis’ess Yeobright； and inside these be real charnel bones。 They have carried ‘em off to men’s houses； but I shouldn’t like to sleep where they will bide。 Dead folks have been known to e and claim their own。 Mr。 Yeobright had got one pot of the bones； and was going to bring ‘em home—real skellington bones—but ‘twas ordered otherwise。 You’ll be relieved to hear that he gave away his pot and all； on second thoughts； and a blessed thing for ye； Mis’ess Yeobright； considering the wind o’ nights。”
“Gave it away？”
“Yes。 To Miss Vye。 She has a cannibal taste for such churchyard furniture seemingly。”
“Miss Vye was there too？”
“Ay； ‘a b’lieve she was。”
When Clym came home； which was shortly after； his mother said； in a curious tone； “The urn you had meant for me you gave away。”
Yeobright made no reply； the current of her feeling was too pronounced to admit it。
The early weeks of the year passed on。 Yeobright certainly studied at home； but he also walked much abroad； and the direction of his walk was always towards some point of a line between Mistover and Rainbarrow。
The month of March arrived； and the heath showed its first signs of awakening from winter trance。 The awakening was almost feline in its stealthiness。 The pool outside the bank by Eustacia’s dwelling； which seemed as dead and desolate as ever to an observer who moved and made noises in his observation； would gradually disclose a state of great animation when silently watched awhile。 A timid animal world had e to life for the season。 Little tadpoles and efts began to bubble up through the water； and to race along beneath it； toads made noises like very young ducks； and advanced to the margin in twos and threes； overhead； bumblebees flew hither and thither in the thickening light； their drone ing and going like the sound of a gong。
On an evening such as this Yeobright descended into the Blooms…End valley from beside that very pool； where he had been standing with another person quite silently and quite long enough to hear all this puny stir of resurrection in nature； yet he had not heard it。 His walk was rapid as he came down； and he went with a springy trend。 Before entering upon his mother’s premises he stopped and breathed。 The light which shone forth on him from the window revealed that his face was flushed and his eye bright。 What it did not show was something which lingered upon his lips like a seal set there。 The abiding presence of this impress was so real that he hardly dared to enter the house； for it seemed as if his mother might say； “What red spot is that glowing upon your mouth so vividly？”
But he entered soon after。 The tea was ready； and he sat down opposite his mother。 She did not speak many words； and as for him； something had been just done and some words had been just said on the hill which prevented him from beginning a desultory chat。 His mother’s taciturnity was not without ominousness； but he appeared not to care。 He knew why she said so little； but he could not remove the cause of her bearing towards him。 These half…silent sittings were far from unmon with them now。 At last Yeobright made a beginning of what was intended to strike at the whole root of the matter。
“Five days have we sat like this at meals with scarcely a word。 What’s the use of it； Mother？”
“None；” said she； in a heart…swollen tone。 “But there is only too good a reason。”
“Not when you know all。 I have been wanting to speak about this； and I am glad the subject is begun。 The reason； of course； is Eustacia Vye。 Well； I confess I have seen her lately； and have seen her a good many times。”
“Yes； yes； and I know what that amounts to。 It troubles me； Clym。 You are wasting your life here； and it is solely on account of her。 If it had not been for that woman you would never have entertained this teaching scheme at all。”
Clym looked hard at his mother。 “You know that is not it；” he said。
“Well； I know you had decided to attempt it before you saw her； but that would have ended in intentions。 It was very well to talk of； but ridiculous to put in practice。 I fully expected that in the course of a month or two you would have seen the folly of such self…sacrifice； and would have been by this time back again to Paris in some business or other。 I can understand objections to the diamond trade—I really was thinking that it might be inadequate to the life of a man like you even though it might have made you a millionaire。 But now I see how mistaken you are about this girl I doubt if you could be correct about other things。”
“How am I mistaken in her？”
“She is lazy and dissatisfied。 But that is not all of it。 Supposing her to be as good a woman as any you can find； which she certainly is not； why do you wish to connect yourself with anybody at present？”
“Well； there are practical reasons；” Clym began； and then almost broke off under an overpowering sense of the weight of argument which could be brought against his statement。
“If I take a school an educated woman would be invaluable as a help to me。”
“What！ you really mean to marry her？”
“It would be premature to state that plainly。 But consider
what obvious advantages there would be in doing it。 She“
“Don’t suppose she has any money。 She hasn’t a farthing。”
“She is excellently educated； and would make a good matron in a boarding…school。 I candidly own that I have modified my views a little； in deference to you； and it should satisfy you。 I no longer adhere to my intention of giving with my own mouth rudimentary education to the lowest class。 I can do better。 I can establish a good private school for farmers’ sons； and without stopping the school I can manage to pass examinations。
By this means； and by the assistance of a wife like her“
“Oh； Clym！”
“I shall ultimately； I hope； be at the head of one of the best schools in the county。”
Yeobright had enunciated the word “her” with a fervour w