And　after　a　few　further　words　they　parted；　the　reddleman　moving　onwards　with　his　van；　and　the　two　women　remaining　standing　in　the　road。　　As　soon　as　the　vehicle　and　its　driver　had　withdrawn　so　far　as　to　be　beyond　all　possible　reach　of　her　voice；　Mrs。　Yeobright　turned　to　her　niece。
  “Now；　Thomasin；”　she　said　sternly；　“what’s　the　meaning　of　this　disgraceful　performance？”
  5　… Perplexity　among　Honest　People
  Thomasin　looked　as　if　quite　overe　by　her　aunt’s　change　of　manner。　　“It　means　just　what　it　seems　to　mean：　I　am—not　married；”　she　replied　faintly。　　“Excuse　me—for　humiliating　you；　Aunt；　by　this　mishap—I　am　sorry　for　it。　　But　I　cannot　help　it。”
  “Me？　　Think　of　yourself　first。”
  “It　was　nobody’s　fault。　　When　we　got　there　the　parson　wouldn’t　marry　us　because　of　some　trifling　irregularity　in　the　license。”
  “What　irregularity？”
  “I　don’t　know。　　Mr。　Wildeve　can　explain。　　I　did　not　think　when　I　went　away　this　morning　that　I　should　e　back　like　this。”　　It　being　dark；　Thomasin　allowed　her　emotion　to　escape　her　by　the　silent　way　of　tears；　which　could　roll　down　her　cheek　unseen。
  “I　could　almost　say　that　it　serves　you　right—if　I　did　not　feel　that　you　don’t　deserve　it；”　continued　Mrs。　Yeobright；　who；　possessing　two　distinct　moods　in　close　contiguity；　a　gentle　mood　and　an　angry；　flew　from　one　to　the　other　without　the　least　warning。　　“Remember；　Thomasin；　this　business　was　none　of　my　seeking；　from　the　very　first；　when　you　began　to　feel　foolish　about　that　man；　I　warned　you　he　would　not　make　you　happy。　　I　felt　it　so　strongly　that　I　did　what　I　would　never　have　believed　myself　capable　of　doing—stood　up　in　the　church；　and　made　myself　the　public　talk　for　weeks。　　But　having　once　consented；　I　don’t　submit　to　these　fancies　without　good　reason。　　Marry　him　you　must　after　this。”
  “Do　you　think　I　wish　to　do　otherwise　for　one　moment？”　said　Thomasin；　with　a　heavy　sigh。　　“I　know　how　wrong　it　was　of　me　to　love　him；　but　don’t　pain　me　by　talking　like　that；　Aunt！　You　would　not　have　had　me　stay　there　with　him；　would　you？and　your　house　is　the　only　home　I　have　to　return　to。　　He　says　we　can　be　married　in　a　day　or　two。”
  “I　wish　he　had　never　seen　you。”
  “Very　well；　then　I　will　be　the　miserablest　woman　in　the　world；　and　not　let　him　see　me　again。　　No；　I　won’t　have　him！”
  “It　is　too　late　to　speak　so。　　e　with　me。　　I　am　going　to　the　inn　to　see　if　he　has　returned。　　Of　course　I　shall　get　to　the　bottom　of　this　story　at　once。　　Mr。　Wildeve　must　not　suppose　he　can　play　tricks　upon　me；　or　any　belonging　to　me。”
  “It　was　not　that。　　The　license　was　wrong；　and　he　couldn’t　get　another　the　same　day。　　He　will　tell　you　in　a　moment　how　it　was；　if　he　es。”
  “Why　didn’t　he　bring　you　back？”
  “That　was　me！”　again　sobbed　Thomasin。　　“When　I　found　we　could　not　be　married　I　didn’t　like　to　e　back　with　him；　and　I　was　very　ill。　　Then　I　saw　Diggory　Venn；　and　was　glad　to　get　him　to　take　me　home。　　I　cannot　explain　it　any　better；　and　you　must　be　angry　with　me　if　you　will。”
  “I　shall　see　about　that；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright；　and　they　turned　towards　the　inn；　known　in　the　neighbourhood　as　the　Quiet　Woman；　the　sign　of　which　represented　the　figure　of　a　matron　carrying　her　head　under　her　arm；　beneath　which　gruesome　design　was　written　the　couplet　so　well　known　to　frequenters　of　the　inn：
  SINCE　THE　WOMAN’S　QUIET　LET　NO　MAN　BREED　A　RIOT。＇1＇
  ＇1＇　The　inn　which　really　bore　this　sign　and　legend　stood　some　miles　to　the　northwest　of　the　present　scene；　wherein　the　house　more　immediately　referred　to　is　now　no　longer　an　inn；　and　the　surroundings　are　much　changed。　　But　another　inn；　some　of　whose　features　are　also　embodied　in　this　description；　the　RED　LION　at　Winfrith；　still　remains　as　a　haven　for　the　wayfarer　（1912）。
  The　front　of　the　house　was　towards　the　heath　and　Rainbarrow；　whose　dark　shape　seemed　to　threaten　it　from　the　sky。　　Upon　the　door　was　a　neglected　brass　plate；　bearing　the　unexpected　inscription；　“Mr。　Wildeve；　Engineer”—a　useless　yet　cherished　relic　from　the　time　when　he　had　been　started　in　that　profession　in　an　office　at　Budmouth　by　those　who　had　hoped　much　from　him；　and　had　been　disappointed。　　The　garden　was　at　the　back；　and　behind　this　ran　a　still　deep　stream；　forming　the　margin　of　the　heath　in　that　direction；　meadow…land　appearing　beyond　the　stream。
  But　the　thick　obscurity　permitted　only　skylines　to　be　visible　of　any　scene　at　present。　　The　water　at　the　back　of　the　house　could　be　heard；　idly　spinning　whirpools　in　its　creep　between　the　rows　of　dry　feather…headed　reeds　which　formed　a　stockade　along　each　bank。　　Their　presence　was　denoted　by　sounds　as　of　a　congregation　praying　humbly；　produced　by　their　rubbing　against　each　other　in　the　slow　wind。
  The　window；　whence　the　candlelight　had　shone　up　the　vale　to　the　eyes　of　the　bonfire　group；　was　uncurtained；　but　the　sill　lay　too　high　for　a　pedestrian　on　the　outside　to　look　over　it　into　the　room。　　A　vast　shadow；　in　which　could　be　dimly　traced　portions　of　a　masculine　contour；　blotted　half　the　ceiling。
  “He　seems　to　be　at　home；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright。
  “Must　I　e　in；　too；　Aunt？”　asked　Thomasin　faintly。
  “I　suppose　not；　it　would　be　wrong。”
  “You　must　e；　certainly—to　confront　him；　so　that　he　may　make　no　false　representations　to　me。　　We　shall　not　be　five　minutes　in　the　house；　and　then　we’ll　walk　home。”
  Entering　the　open　passage；　she　tapped　at　the　door　of　the　private　parlour；　unfastened　it；　and　looked　in。
  The　back　and　shoulders　of　a　man　came　between　Mrs。　Yeobright’s　eyes　and　the　fire。　　Wildeve；　whose　form　it　was；　immediately　turned；　arose；　and　advanced　to　meet　his　visitors。
  He　was　quite　a　young　man；　and　of　the　two　properties；　form　and　motion；　the　latter　first　attracted　the　eye　in　him。　　The　grace　of　his　movement　was　singular—it　was　the　pantomimic　expression　of　a　lady…killing　career。　　Next　came　into　notice　the　more　material　qualities；　among　which　was　a　profuse　crop　of　hair　impending　over　the　top　of　his　face；　lending　to　his　forehead　the　high…cornered　outline　of　an　early　Gothic　shield；　and　a　neck　which　was　smooth　and　round　as　a　cylinder。　　The　lower　half　of　his　figure　was　of　light　build。　　Altogether　he　was　one　in　whom　no　man　would　have　seen　anything　to　admire；　and　in　whom　no　woman　would　have　seen　anything　to　dislike。
  He　discerned　the　young　girl’s　form　in　the　passage；　and　said；　“Thomasin；　then；　has　reached　home。　　How　could　you　leave　me　in　that　way；　darling？”　And　turning　to　Mrs。　Yeobright—“It　was　useless　to　argue　with　her。　　She　would　go；　and　go　alone。”
  “But　what’s　the　meaning　of　it　all？”　demanded　Mrs。　Yeobright　haughtily。
  “Take　a　seat；”　said　Wildeve；　placing　chairs　for　the　two　women。　　“Well；　it　was　a　very　stupid　mistake；　but　such　mistakes　will　happen。　　The　license　was　useless　at　Anglebury。　　It　was　made　out　for　Budmouth；　but　as　I　didn’t　read　it　I　wasn’t　aware　of　that。”
  “But　you　had　been　staying　at　Anglebury？”
  “No。　I　had　been　at　Budmouth—till　two　days　ago—and　that　was　where　I　had　intended　to　take　her；　but　when　I　came　to　fetch　her　we　decided　upon　Anglebury；　forgetting　that　a　new　license　would　be　necessary。　　There　was　not　time　to　get　to　Budmouth　afterwards。”
  “I　think　you　are　very　much　to　blame；”　said　Mrs。　Yeobright。
  “It　was　quite　my　fault　we　chose　Anglebury；”　Thomasin　pleaded。
  “I　proposed　it　because　I　was　not　known　there。”
  “I　know　so　well　that　I　am　to　blame　that　you　need　not　remind　me　of　it；”　replied　Wildeve　shortly。
  “Such　things　don’t　happen　for　nothing；”　said　the　aunt。　　“It　is　a　great　slight　to　me　and　my　family；　and　when　it　gets　known　there　will　be　a　very　unpleasant　time　for　us。　　How　can　she　look　her　friends　in　the　face　tomorrow？　　It　is　a　very　great　injury；　and　one　I　cannot　easily　forgive。　　It　may　even　reflect　on　her　character。”
  “Nonsense；”　said　Wildeve。
  Thomasin’s　large　eyes　had　flown　from　the　face　of　one　to　the　face　of　the　other　during　this　discussion；　and　she　now　said　anxiously；　“Will　you　allow　me；　Aunt；　to　talk　it　over　alone　with　Damon　for　five　minutes？　　Will　you；　Damon？”
  “Certainly；　dear；”　said　Wildeve；　“if　your　aunt　will　excuse　us。”　He　led　her　into　an　adjoining　room；　leaving　Mrs。　Yeobright　by　the　fire。
  As　soon　as　they　were　alone；　and　the　door　closed；　Thomasin　said；　turning　up　her　pale；　tearful　face　to　him；　“It　is　killing　me；　this；　Damon！　I　did　not　mean　to　part　from　you　in　anger　at　Anglebury　this　morning；　but　I　was　frightened　and　hardly　knew　what　I　said。　　I’ve　not　let　Aunt　know　how　much　I　suffered　today；　and　it　is　so　hard　to　mand　my　face　and　voice；　and　to　smile　as　if　it　were　a　slight　thing　to　me；　but　I　try　to　do　so；　that　she　may　not　be　still　more　indignant　with　you。　　I　know　you　could　not　help　it；　dear；　whatever　Aunt　may　think。”
  “She　is　very　unpleasant。”
  “Yes；”　Thomasin　murmured；　“and　I　suppose　I　seem　so　now。。。。Damon；　what　do　you　mean　to　do　about　me？”
  “Do　about　you？”
  “Yes。　Those　who　don’t　like　you　whisper　things　which　at　moments　make　me　doubt　you。　　We　mean　to　marry；　I　suppose；　don’t　we？”
  “Of　course　we　do。　　We　have　only　to　go　to　Budmouth　on　Monday；　and　we　marry　at　once。”
  “Then　do　let　us　go！O　Damon；　what　you　make　me　say！”　She　hid　her　face　in　her　handkerchief。　　“Here　am　I　asking　you　to　marry　me；　when　by　rights　you　ought　to　be　on　your　knees　imploring　me；　your　cruel　mistress；　not　to　refuse　you；　and　saying　it　would　break