ered, the room appearing to
be empty; but as soon as he had advanced a few steps he started. On
the hearth rug lay Clym asleep. Beside him were the leggings, thick
boots, leather gloves, and sleeve-waistcoat in which he worked.

"You may go in; you will not disturb him," she said, following behind.
"My reason for fastening the door is that he may not be intruded upon
by any chance comer while lying here, if I should be in the garden or
upstairs."

"Why is he sleeping there?" said Wildeve in low tones.

"He is very weary. He went out at half-past four this morning, and
has been working ever since. He cuts furze because it is the only
thing he can do that does not put any strain upon his poor eyes." The
contrast between the sleeper's appearance and Wildeve's at this moment
was painfully apparent to Eustacia, Wildeve being elegantly dressed
in a new summer suit and light hat; and she continued: "Ah! you don't
know how differently he appeared when I first met him, though it is
such a little while ago. His hands were as white and soft as mine;
and look at them now, how rough and brown they are! His complexion is
by nature fair, and that rusty look he has now, all of a colour with
his leather clothes, is caused by the burning of the sun."

"Why does he go out at all?" Wildeve whispered.

"Because he hates to be idle; though what he earns doesn't add much
to our exchequer. However, he says that when people are living upon
their capital they must keep down current expenses by turning a penny
where they can."

"The fates have not been kind to you, Eustacia Yeobright."

"I have nothing to thank them for."

"Nor has he--except for their one great gift to him."

"What's that?"

Wildeve looked her in the eyes.

Eustacia blushed for the first time that day. "Well, I am a
questionable gift," she said quietly. "I thought you meant the gift
of content--which he has, and I have not."

"I can understand content in such a case--though how the outward
situation can attract him puzzles me."

"That's because you don't know him. He's an enthusiast about ideas,
and careless about outward things. He often reminds me of the Apostle
Paul."

"I am glad to hear that he's so grand in character as that."

"Yes; but the worst of it is that though Paul was excellent as a man
in the Bible he would hardly have done in real life."

Their voices had instinctively dropped lower, though at first they
had taken no particular care to avoid