 me? You had no right to speak
against me to him when I have never wronged you.«
    »I only did what was fair under the circumstances,« said Mrs. Yeobright more
softly. »I would rather not have gone into this question at present, but you
compel me. I am not ashamed to tell you the honest truth. I was firmly convinced
that he ought not to marry you - therefore I tried to dissuade him by all the
means in my power. But it is done now, and I have no idea of complaining any
more. I am ready to welcome you.«
    »Ah, yes, it is very well to see things in that business point of view,«
murmured Eustacia with a smothered fire of feeling. »But why should you think
there is anything between me and Mr. Wildeve? I have a spirit as well as you. I
am indignant; and so would any woman be. It was a condescension in me to be
Clym's wife, and not a manoeuvre, let me remind you; and therefore I will not be
treated as a schemer whom it becomes necessary to bear with because she has
crept into the family.«
    »Oh!« said Mrs. Yeobright, vainly endeavouring to control her anger. »I have
never heard anything to show that my son's lineage is not as good as the Vyes' -
perhaps better. It is amusing to hear you talk of condescension.«
    »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.«
    »
