PoorMr。Yeobrightwastookbaddirectlyhereachedthefairground，andwasforcedtogohomeagain。’Thatwasthelasttimeheeverwentoutoftheparish。"

"’Afalteredonfromonedaytoanother，andthenweheardhewasgone。"

"D’yethinkhehadgreatpainwhen’adied？"saidChristian。

"Ono——quitedifferent。Noranypainofmind。

HewasluckyenoughtobeGodA’mighty’sownman。"

"Andotherfolk——d’yethink’twillbemuchpainto’em，MisterFairway？"

"Thatdependsonwhethertheybeafeard。"

"Ibain’tafeardatall，IthankGod！"saidChristianstrenuously。

"I’mgladIbain’t，forthen’twon’tpainme……I

don’tthinkIbeafeard——orifIbeIcan’thelpit，andIdon’tdeservetosuffer。IwishIwasnotafeardatall！"

Therewasasolemnsilence，andlookingfromthewindow，whichwasunshutteredandunblinded，Timothysaid，"Well，whatafesslittlebonfirethatoneis，outbyCap’nVye’s！’Tisburningjustthesamenowasever，uponmylife。"

Allglanceswentthroughthewindow，andnobodynoticedthatWildevedisguisedabrief，telltalelook。

Farawayupthesombrevalleyofheath，andtotherightofRainbarrow，couldindeedbeseenthelight，small，butsteadyandpersistentasbefore。

"Itwaslightedbeforeourswas，"Fairwaycontinued；

"andyeteveryoneinthecountryroundisoutafore’n。"

"Perhapsthere’smeaninginit！"murmuredChristian。

"Howmeaning？"saidWildevesharply。

Christianwastooscatteredtoreply，andTimothyhelpedhim。

"Hemeans，sir，thatthelonesomedark—eyedcreatureuptherethatsomesayisawitch——everIshouldcallafineyoungwomansuchaname——isalwaysuptosomeoddconceitorother；andsoperhaps’tisshe。"

"I’dbeverygladtoaskherinwedlock，ifshe’dhaemeandtaketheriskofherwilddarkeyesill—wishingme，"

saidGrandferCantlestaunchly。

"Don’tyesayit，Father！"imploredChristian。

"Well，bedazedifhewhodomarrythemaidwon’thaeanuncommonpictureforhisbestparlour，"saidFairwayinaliquidtone，placingdownthecupofmeadattheendofagoodpull。

"AndapartnerasdeepastheNorthStar，"saidSam，takingupthecupandfinishingthelittlethatremained。

"Well，really，nowIthinkwemustbemoving，"saidHumphrey，observingtheemptinessofthevessel。

"Butwe’llgie’emanothersong？"saidGrandferCantle。

"I’masfullofnotesasabird！"

"Thankyou，Grandfer，"saidWildeve。"Butwewillnottroubleyounow。Someotherdaymustdoforthat——whenIhaveaparty。"

"Bejown’difIdon’tlearntennewsongsfor’t，orI

won’tlearnaline！"saidGrandferCantle。"AndyoumaybesureIwon’tdisappointyebybidingaway，Mr。Wildeve。"

"Iquitebelieveyou，"saidthatgentleman。

Allthentooktheirleave，wishingtheirentertainerlonglifeandhappinessasamarriedman，withrecapitulationswhichoccupiedsometime。Wildeveattendedthemtothedoor，beyondwhichthedeep—dyedupwardstretchofheathstoodawaitingthem，anamplitudeofdarknessreigningfromtheirfeetalmosttothezenith，whereadefiniteformfirstbecamevisibleintheloweringforeheadofRainbarrow。

DivingintothedenseobscurityinalineheadedbySamtheturf—cutter，theypursuedtheirtracklesswayhome。

Whenthescratchingofthefurzeagainsttheirleggingshadfaintedupontheear，WildevereturnedtotheroomwherehehadleftThomasinandheraunt。Thewomenweregone。

Theycouldonlyhaveleftthehouseinoneway，bythebackwindow；andthiswasopen。

Wildevelaughedtohimself，remainedamomentthinking，andidlyreturnedtothefrontroom。Herehisglancefelluponabottleofwinewhichstoodonthemantelpiece。

"Ah——oldDowden！"hemurmured；andgoingtothekitchendoorshouted，"IsanybodyherewhocantakesomethingtooldDowden？"

Therewasnoreply。Theroomwasempty，theladwhoactedashisfactotumhavinggonetobed。Wildevecamebackputonhishat，tookthebottle，andleftthehouse，turningthekeyinthedoor，fortherewasnoguestattheinntonight。AssoonashewasontheroadthelittlebonfireonMistoverKnapagainmethiseye。

"Stillwaiting，areyou，mylady？"hemurmured。

However，hedidnotproceedthatwayjustthen；

butleavingthehilltotheleftofhim，hestumbledoveraruttedroadthatbroughthimtoacottagewhich，likeallotherhabitationsontheheathatthishour，wasonlysavedfrombeingvisiblebyafaintshinefromitsbedroomwindow。ThishousewasthehomeofOllyDowden，thebesom—maker，andheentered。

Thelowerroomwasindarkness；butbyfeelinghiswayhefoundatable，whereonheplacedthebottle，andaminutelateremergedagainupontheheath。Hestoodandlookednortheastattheundyinglittlefire——highupabovehim，thoughnotsohighasRainbarrow。

Wehavebeentoldwhathappenswhenawomandeliberates；

andtheepigramisnotalwaysterminablewithwoman，providedthatonebeinthecase，andthatafairone。

Wildevestood，andstoodlonger，andbreathedperplexedly，andthensaidtohimselfwithresignation，"Yes——byHeaven，Imustgotoher，Isuppose！"

InsteadofturninginthedirectionofhomehepressedonrapidlybyapathunderRainbarrowtowardswhatwasevidentlyasignallight。

6—TheFigureagainsttheSkyWhenthewholeEgdonconcoursehadleftthesiteofthebonfiretoitsaccustomedloneliness，acloselywrappedfemalefigureapproachedthebarrowfromthatquarteroftheheathinwhichthelittlefirelay。

Hadthereddlemanbeenwatchinghemighthaverecognizedherasthewomanwhohadfirststoodtheresosingularly，andvanishedattheapproachofstrangers。Sheascendedtoheroldpositionatthetop，wheretheredcoalsoftheperishingfiregreetedherlikelivingeyesinthecorpseofday。Thereshestoodstillaroundherstretchingthevastnightatmosphere，whoseincompletedarknessincomparisonwiththetotaldarknessoftheheathbelowitmighthaverepresentedavenialbesideamortalsin。

Thatshewastallandstraightinbuild，thatshewaslady—likeinhermovements，wasallthatcouldbelearntofherjustnow，herformbeingwrappedinashawlfoldedintheoldcornerwisefashion，andherheadinalargekerchief，aprotectionnotsuperfluousatthishourandplace。

Herbackwastowardsthewind，whichblewfromthenorthwest；

butwhethershehadavoidedthataspectbecauseofthechillygustswhichplayedaboutherexceptionalposition，orbecauseherinterestlayinthesoutheast，didnotatfirstappear。

Herreasonforstandingsodeadstillasthepivotofthiscircleofheath—countrywasjustasobscure。

Herextraordinaryfixity，herconspicuousloneliness，herheedlessnessofnight，betokenedamongotherthingsanutterabsenceoffear。AtractofcountryunalteredfromthatsinisterconditionwhichmadeCaesaranxiouseveryyeartogetclearofitsgloomsbeforetheautumnalequinox，akindoflandscapeandweatherwhichleadstravellersfromtheSouthtodescribeourislandasHomer’sCimmerianland，wasnot，onthefaceofit，friendlytowomen。

Itmightreasonablyhavebeensupposedthatshewaslisteningtothewind，whichrosesomewhatasthenightadvanced，andlaidholdoftheattention。Thewind，indeed，seemedmadeforthescene，asthesceneseemedmadeforthehour。

Partofitstonewasquitespecial；whatwasheardtherecouldbeheardnowhereelse。Gustsininnumerableseriesfollowedeachotherfromthenorthwest，andwheneachoneofthemracedpastthesoundofitsprogressresolvedintothree。Treble，tenor，andbassnotesweretobefoundtherein。Thegeneralricochetofthewholeoverpitsandprominenceshadthegravestpitchofthechime。

Nexttherecouldbeheardthebaritonebuzzofahollytree。

Belowtheseinforce，abovetheminpitch，adwindledvoicestrovehardatahuskytune，whichwasthepeculiarlocalsoundalludedto。Thinnerandlessimmediatelytraceablethantheothertwo，itwasfarmoreimpressivethaneither。

Initlaywhatmaybecalledthelinguisticpeculiarityoftheheath；andbeingaudiblenowhereonearthoffaheath，itaffordedashadowofreasonforthewoman’stenseness，whichcontinuedasunbrokenasever。

ThroughouttheblowingoftheseplaintiveNovemberwindsthatnoteboreagreatresemblancetotheruinsofhumansongwhichremaintothethroatoffourscoreandten。

Itwasawornwhisper，dryandpapery，anditbrushedsodistinctlyacrosstheearthat，bytheaccustomed，thematerialminutiaeinwhichitoriginatedcouldberealizedasbytouch。Itwastheunitedproductsofinfinitesimalvegetablecauses，andthesewereneitherstems，leaves，fruit，blades，prickles，lichen，normoss。

Theywerethemummiedheathbellsofthepastsummer，originallytenderandpurple，nowwashedcolourlessbyMichaelmasrains，anddriedtodeadskinsbyOctobersuns。

Solowwasanindividualsoundfromthesethatacombinationofhundredsonlyjustemergedfromsilence，andthemyriadsofthewholedeclivityreachedthewoman’searbutasashrivelledandintermittentrecitative。

Yetscarcelyasingleaccentamongthemanyafloattonightcouldhavesuchpowertoimpressalistenerwiththoughtsofitsorigin。Oneinwardlysawtheinfinityofthosecombinedmultitudes；andperceivedthateachofthetinytrumpetswasseizedonentered，scouredandemergedfrombythewindasthoroughlyasifitwereasvastasacrater。

"Thespiritmovedthem。"Ameaningofthephraseforceditselfupontheattention；andanemotionallistener’sfetichisticmoodmighthaveendedinoneofmoreadvancedquality。

Itwasnot，afterall，thattheleft—handexpanseofoldbloomsspoke，ortheright—hand，orthoseoftheslopeinfront；butitwasthesinglepersonofsomethingelsespeakingthrougheachatonce。

Suddenly，onthebarrow，theremingledwithallthiswildrhetoricofnightasoundwhichmodulatedsonaturallyintotherestthatitsbeginningandendingwerehardlytobedistinguished。Thebluffs，andthebushes，andtheheather—bellshadbrokensilence；atlast，sodidthewoman；andherarticulationwasbutasanotherphraseofthesamediscourseastheirs。Thrownoutonthewindsitbecametwinedinwiththem，andwiththemitflewaway。

Whatsheutteredwasalengthenedsighing，apparentlyatsomethinginhermindwhichhadledtoherpresencehere。

Therewasaspasmodicabandonmentaboutitasif，inallowingherselftoutterthesound。thewoman’sbrainhadauthorizedwhatitcouldnotregulate。

Onepointwasevidentinthis；thatshehadbeenexistinginasuppressedstate，andnotinoneoflanguor，orstagnation。

Farawaydownthevalleythefaintshinefromthewindowoftheinnstilllastedon；andafewadditionalmomentsprovedthatthewindow，orwhatwaswithinit，hadmoretodowiththewoman’ssighthanhadeitherherownactionsorthesceneimmediatelyaround。

Sheliftedherlefthand，whichheldaclosedtelescope。

Thissherapidlyextended，asifshewerewellaccustomedtotheoperation，andraisingittohereyedirectedittowardsthelightbeamingfromtheinn。

Thehandkerchiefwhichhadhoodedherheadwasnowalittlethrownback，herfacebeingsomewhatelevated。

Aprofilewasvisibleagainstthedullmonochromeofcloudaroundher；anditwasasthoughsideshadowsfromthefeaturesofSapphoandMrs。Siddonshadconvergedupwardsfromthetombtoformanimagelikeneitherbutsuggestingboth。This，however，wasmeresuperficiality。

Inrespectofcharacterafacemaymakecertainadmissionsbyitsoutline；butitfullyconfessesonlyinitschanges。

Somuchisthisthecasethatwhatiscalledtheplayofthefeaturesoftenhelpsmoreinunderstandingamanorwomanthantheearnestlaboursofalltheothermemberstogether。

Thusthenightrevealedlittleofherwhoseformitwasembracing，forthemobilepartsofhercountenancecouldnotbeseen。

Atlastshegaveupherspyingattitude，closedthetelescope，andturnedtothedecayingembers。Fromthesenoappreciablebeamsnowradiated，exceptwhenamorethanusuallysmartgustbrushedovertheirfacesandraisedafitfulglowwhichcameandwentliketheblushofagirl。

Shestoopedoverthesilentcircle，andselectingfromthebrandsapieceofstickwhichborethelargestlivecoalatitsend，broughtittowhereshehadbeenstandingbefore。

Sheheldthebrandtotheground，blowingtheredcoalwithhermouthatthesametime；tillitfaintlyilluminatedthesod，andrevealedasmallobject，whichturnedouttobeanhourglass，thoughsheworeawatch。Sheblewlongenoughtoshowthatthesandhadallslippedthrough。

"Ah！"shesaid，asifsurprised。

Thelightraisedbyherbreathhadbeenveryfitful，andamomentaryirradiationoffleshwasallthatithaddisclosedofherface。Thatconsistedoftwomatchlesslipsandacheekonly，herheadbeingstillenveloped。

Shethrewawaythestick，tooktheglassinherhand，thetelescopeunderherarm，andmovedon。

Alongtheridgeranafaintfoot—track，whichtheladyfollowed。Thosewhoknewitwellcalleditapath；

and，whileamerevisitorwouldhavepasseditunnoticedevenbyday，theregularhauntersoftheheathwereatnolossforitatmidnight。Thewholesecretoffollowingtheseincipientpaths，whentherewasnotlightenoughintheatmospheretoshowaturnpikeroad，layinthedevelopmentofthesenseoftouchinthefeet，whichcomeswithyearsofnight—ramblinginlittle—troddenspots。

Toawalkerpractisedinsuchplacesadifferencebetweenimpactonmaidenherbage，andonthecrippledstalksofaslightfootway，isperceptiblethroughthethickestbootorshoe。

Thesolitaryfigurewhowalkedthisbeattooknonoticeofthewindytunestillplayedonthedeadheathbells。

Shedidnotturnherheadtolookatagroupofdarkcreaturesfurtheron，whofledfromherpresenceassheskirtedaravinewheretheyfed。Theywereaboutascoreofthesmallwildponiesknownasheath—croppers。TheyroamedatlargeontheundulationsofEgdon，butinnumberstoofewtodetractmuchfromthesolitude。

Thepedestriannoticednothingjustnow，andacluetoherabstractionwasaffordedbyatrivialincident。

Abramblecaughtholdofherskirt，andcheckedherprogress。

Insteadofputtingitoffandhasteningalong，sheyieldedherselfuptothepull，andstoodpassivelystill。

Whenshebegantoextricateherselfitwasbyturningroundandround，andsounwindingthepricklyswitch。

Shewasinadespondingreverie。

HercoursewasinthedirectionofthesmallundyingfirewhichhaddrawntheattentionofthemenonRainbarrowandofWildeveinthevalleybelow。Afaintilluminationfromitsraysbegantoglowuponherface，andthefiresoonrevealeditselftobelit，notonthelevelground，butonasalientcornerorredanofearth，atthejunctionoftwoconvergingbankfences。Outsidewasaditch，dryexceptimmediatelyunderthefire，wheretherewasalargepool，beardedallroundbyheatherandrushes。

Inthesmoothwaterofthepoolthefireappearedupsidedown。

Thebanksmeetingbehindwerebareofahedge，savesuchaswasformedbydisconnectedtuftsoffurze，standinguponstemsalongthetop，likeimpaledheadsaboveacitywall。Awhitemast，fittedupwithsparsandothernauticaltackle，couldbeseenrisingagainstthedarkcloudswhenevertheflamesplayedbrightlyenoughtoreachit。Altogetherthescenehadmuchtheappearanceofafortificationuponwhichhadbeenkindledabeaconfire。

Nobodywasvisible；buteverandanonawhitishsomethingmovedabovethebankfrombehind，andvanishedagain。

Thiswasasmallhumanhand，intheactofliftingpiecesoffuelintothefire，butforallthatcouldbeseenthehand，likethatwhichtroubledBelshazzar，wastherealone。

Occasionallyanemberrolledoffthebank，anddroppedwithahissintothepool。

Atonesideofthepoolroughstepsbuiltofclodsenabledeveryonewhowishedtodosotomountthebank；whichthewomandid。Withinwasapaddockinanuncultivatedstate，thoughbearingevidenceofhavingoncebeentilled；

buttheheathandfernhadinsidiouslycreptin，andwerereassertingtheiroldsupremacy。Furtheraheadweredimlyvisibleanirregulardwelling—house，garden，andoutbuildings，backedbyaclumpoffirs。

Theyounglady——foryouthhadrevealeditspresenceinherbuoyantboundupthebank——walkedalongthetopinsteadofdescendinginside，andcametothecornerwherethefirewasburning。Onereasonforthepermanenceoftheblazewasnowmanifest：thefuelconsistedofhardpiecesofwood，cleftandsawn——theknottybolesofoldthorntreeswhichgrewintwosandthreesaboutthehillsides。

Ayetunconsumedpileoftheselayintheinnerangleofthebank；andfromthiscornertheupturnedfaceofalittleboygreetedhereves。Hewasdilatorilythrowingupapieceofwoodintothefireeverynowandthen，abusinesswhichseemedtohaveengagedhimaconsiderablepartoftheevening，forhisfacewassomewhatweary。

"Iamgladyouhavecome，MissEustacia，"hesaid，withasighofrelief。"Idon’tlikebidingbymyself。"

"Nonsense。Ihaveonlybeenalittlewayforawalk。

Ihavebeengoneonlytwentyminutes。"

"Itseemedlong，"murmuredthesadboy。"Andyouhavebeensomanytimes。"

"Why，Ithoughtyouwouldbepleasedtohaveabonfire。

Areyounotmuchobligedtomeformakingyouone？"

"Yes；butthere’snobodyheretoplaywi’me。"

"IsupposenobodyhascomewhileI’vebeenaway？"

"Nobodyexceptyourgrandfather——helookedoutofdoorsoncefor’ee。Itoldhimyouwerewalkingrounduponthehilltolookattheotherbonfires。"

"Agoodboy。"

"IthinkIhearhimcomingagain，miss。"

Anoldmancameintotheremoterlightofthefirefromthedirectionofthehomestead。Hewasthesamewhohadovertakenthereddlemanontheroadthatafternoon。

Helookedwistfullytothetopofthebankatthewomanwhostoodthere，andhisteeth，whichwerequiteunimpaired，showedlikeparianfromhispartedlips。

"Whenareyoucomingindoors，Eustacia？"heasked。

"’Tisalmostbedtime。I’vebeenhomethesetwohours，andamtiredout。Surely’tissomewhatchildishofyoutostayoutplayingatbonfiressolong，andwastingsuchfuel。

Mypreciousthornroots，therarestofallfiring，thatIlaidbyonpurposeforChristmas——youhaveburnt’emnearlyall！"

"IpromisedJohnnyabonfire，anditpleaseshimnottoletitgooutjustyet，"saidEustacia，inawaywhichtoldatoncethatshewasabsolutequeenhere。

"Grandfather，yougointobed。Ishallfollowyousoon。

Youlikethefire，don’tyou，Johnny？"

Theboylookedupdoubtfullyatherandmurmured，"Idon’tthinkIwantitanylonger。"

Hergrandfatherhadturnedbackagain，anddidnotheartheboy’sreply。Assoonasthewhite—hairedmanhadvanishedshesaidinatoneofpiquetothechild，"Ungratefullittleboy，howcanyoucontradictme？

Nevershallyouhaveabonfireagainunlessyoukeepitupnow。Come，tellmeyouliketodothingsforme，anddon’tdenyit。"

Therepressedchildsaid，"Yes，Ido，miss，"andcontinuedtostirthefireperfunctorily。

"StayalittlelongerandIwillgiveyouacrookedsix—pence，"

saidEustacia，moregently。"Putinonepieceofwoodeverytwoorthreeminutes，butnottoomuchatonce。

Iamgoingtowalkalongtheridgealittlelonger，butIshallkeeponcomingtoyou。Andifyouhearafrogjumpintothepondwithaflouncelikeastonethrownin，besureyourunandtellme，becauseitisasignofrain。"

"Yes，Eustacia。"

"MissVye，sir。"

"MissVy——stacia。"

"Thatwilldo。Nowputinonestickmore。"

Thelittleslavewentonfeedingthefireasbefore。

Heseemedamereautomaton，galvanizedintomovingandspeakingbythewaywardEustacia’swill。HemighthavebeenthebrassstatuewhichAlbertusMagnusissaidtohaveanimatedjustsofarastomakeitchatter，andmove，andbehisservant。

Beforegoingonherwalkagaintheyounggirlstoodstillonthebankforafewinstantsandlistened。

ItwastothefullaslonelyaplaceasRainbarrow，thoughatratheralowerlevel；anditwasmoreshelteredfromwindandweatheronaccountofthefewfirstothenorth。

Thebankwhichenclosedthehomestead，andprotecteditfromthelawlessstateoftheworldwithout，wasformedofthicksquareclods，dugfromtheditchontheoutside，andbuiltupwithaslightbatterorincline，whichformsnoslightdefensewherehedgeswillnotgrowbecauseofthewindandthewilderness，andwherewallmaterialsareunattainable。Otherwisethesituationwasquiteopen，commandingthewholelengthofthevalleywhichreachedtotheriverbehindWildeve’shouse。Highabovethistotheright，andmuchnearerthitherwardthantheQuietWomanInn，theblurredcontourofRainbarrowobstructedthesky。

AfterherattentivesurveyofthewildslopesandhollowravinesagestureofimpatienceescapedEustacia。

Sheventedpetulantwordseverynowandthen，butthereweresighsbetweenherwords，andsuddenlisteningsbetweenhersighs。DescendingfromherperchsheagainsaunteredofftowardsRainbarrow，thoughthistimeshedidnotgothewholeway。

Twiceshereappearedatintervalsofafewminutesandeachtimeshesaid——

"Notanyflounceintothepondyet，littleman？"

"No，MissEustacia，"thechildreplied。

"Well，"shesaidatlast，"Ishallsoonbegoingin，andthenIwillgiveyouthecrookedsixpence，andletyougohome。"

"Thank’ee，MissEustacia，"saidthetiredstoker，breathingmoreeasily。AndEustaciaagainstrolledawayfromthefire，butthistimenottowardsRainbarrow。

Sheskirtedthebankandwentroundtothewicketbeforethehouse，whereshestoodmotionless，lookingatthescene。

Fiftyyardsoffrosethecornerofthetwoconvergingbanks，withthefireuponit；withinthebank，liftinguptothefireonestickatatime，justasbefore，thefigureofthelittlechild。Sheidlywatchedhimasheoccasionallyclimbedupinthenookofthebankandstoodbesidethebrands。Thewindblewthesmoke，andthechild’shair，andthecornerofhispinafore，allinthesamedirection；

thebreezedied，andthepinaforeandhairlaystill，andthesmokewentupstraight。

WhileEustacialookedonfromthisdistancetheboy’sformvisiblystarted——hesliddownthebankandranacrosstowardsthewhitegate。

"Well？"saidEustacia。

"Ahopfroghavejumpedintothepond。Yes，Iheard’en！"

"Thenitisgoingtorain，andyouhadbettergohome。

Youwillnotbeafraid？"Shespokehurriedly，asifherhearthadleaptintoherthroatattheboy’swords。

"No，becauseIshallhaethecrookedsixpence。"

"Yes。hereitis。Nowrunasfastasyoucan——notthatway——throughthegardenhere。Nootherboyintheheathhashadsuchabonfireasyours。"

Theboy，whoclearlyhadhadtoomuchofagoodthing，marchedawayintotheshadowswithalacrity。WhenhewasgoneEustacia，leavinghertelescopeandhourglassbythegate，brushedforwardfromthewickettowardstheangleofthebank，underthefire。

Here，screenedbytheoutwork，shewaited。Inafewmomentsasplashwasaudiblefromthepondoutside。

Hadthechildbeentherehewouldhavesaidthatasecondfroghadjumpedin；butbymostpeoplethesoundwouldhavebeenlikenedtothefallofastoneintothewater。