And events had borne out the accuracy of her judgment, and proved the devotedness of her care.He should have heeded her for Eustacia's sake even more than for his own.
"It was all my fault," he whispered."O, my mother, my mother! would to God that I could live my life again, and endure for you what you endured for me!"On the Sunday after this wedding an unusual sight was to be seen on Rainbarrow.From a distance there simply appeared to be a motionless figure standing on the top of the tumulus, just as Eustacia had stood on that lonely summit some two years and a half before.But now it was fine warm weather, with only a summer breeze blowing, and early afternoon instead of dull twilight.
Those who ascended to the immediate neighbourhood of the Barrow perceived that the erect form in the centre, piercing the sky, was not really alone.Round him upon the slopes of the Barrow a number of heathmen and women were reclining or sitting at their ease.They listened to the words of the man in their midst, who was preaching, while they abstractedly pulled heather, stripped ferns, or tossed pebbles down the slope.This was the first of a series of moral lectures or Sermons on the Mount, which were to be delivered from the same place every Sunday afternoon as long as the fine weather lasted.
The commanding elevation of Rainbarrow had been chosen for two reasons: first, that it occupied a central position among the remote cottages around; secondly, that the preacher thereon could be seen from all adjacent points as soon as he arrived at his post, the view of him being thus a convenient signal to those stragglers who wished to draw near.The speaker was bareheaded, and the breeze at each waft gently lifted and lowered his hair, somewhat too thin for a man of his years, these still numbering less than thirty-three.
He wore a shade over his eyes, and his face was pensive and lined; but, though these bodily features were marked with decay there was no defect in the tones of his voice, which were rich, musical, and stirring.He stated that his discourses to people were to be sometimes secular, and sometimes religious, but never dogmatic; and that his texts would be taken from all kinds of books.
This afternoon the words were as follows:--"'And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.
Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee;I pray thee say me not nay.And the king said unto her, Ask, on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.'"Yeobright had, in fact, found his vocation in the career of an itinerant open-air preacher and lecturer on morally unimpeachable subjects; and from this day he laboured incessantly in that office, speaking not only in simple language on Rainbarrow and in the hamlets round, but in a more cultivated strain elsewhere--from the steps and porticoes of town halls, from market-crosses, from conduits, on esplanades and on wharves, from the parapets of bridges, in barns and outhouses, and all other such places in the neighbouring Wessex towns and villages.He left alone creeds and systems of philosophy, finding enough and more than enough to occupy his tongue in the opinions and actions common to all good men.Some believed him, and some believed not; some said that his words were commonplace, others complained of his want of theological doctrine;while others again remarked that it was well enough for a man to take to preaching who could not see to do anything else.But everywhere he was kindly received, for the story of his life had become generally known.
End
