“It was condescension, nevertheless,” said Eustacia vehemently.  “And if I had known then what I know now, that I should be living in this wild heath a month after my marriage, I—­I should have thought twice before agreeing.”

“It would be better not to say that; it might not sound truthful.  I am not aware that any deception was used on his part—­I know there was not—­whatever might have been the case on the other side.”

“This is too exasperating!” answered the younger woman huskily, her face crimsoning, and her eyes darting light.  “How can you dare to speak to me like that?  I insist upon repeating to you that had I known that my life would from my marriage up to this time have been as it is, I should have said no.  I don’t complain.  I have never uttered a sound of such a thing to him; but it is true.  I hope therefore that in the future you will be silent on my eagerness.  If you injure me now you injure yourself.”

“Injure you?  Do you think I am an evil-disposed person?”

“You injured me before my marriage, and you have now suspected me of secretly favouring another man for money!”

“I could not help what I thought.  But I have never spoken of you outside my house.”

“You spoke of me within it, to Clym, and you could not do worse.”

“I did my duty.”

“And I’ll do mine.”

“A part of which will possibly be to set him against his mother.  It is always so.  But why should I not bear it as others have borne it before me!”

“I understand you,” said Eustacia, breathless with emotion.  “You think me capable of every bad thing.  Who can be worse than a wife who encourages a lover, and poisons her husband’s mind against his relative?  Yet that is now the character given to me.  Will you not come and drag him out of my hands?”

Mrs. Yeobright gave back heat for heat.

“Don’t rage at me, madam!  It ill becomes your beauty, and I am not worth the injury you may do it on my account, I assure you.  I am only a poor old woman who has lost a son.”

“If you had treated me honourably you would have had him still.”  Eustacia said, while scalding tears trickled from her eyes.  “You have brought yourself to folly; you have caused a division which can never be healed!”

“I have done nothing.  This audacity from a young woman is more than I can bear.”

“It was asked for; you have suspected me, and you have made me speak of my husband in a way I would not have done.  You will let him know that I have spoken thus, and it will cause misery between us.  Will you go away from me?  You are no friend!”