Onlyunusualsightsandsoundsfrightenedtheboy。

Theshrivelledvoiceoftheheathdidnotalarmhim，forthatwasfamiliar。Thethornbusheswhicharoseinhispathfromtimetotimewerelesssatisfactory，fortheywhistledgloomily，andhadaghastlyhabitafterdarkofputtingontheshapesofjumpingmadmen，sprawlinggiants，andhideouscripples。Lightswerenotuncommonthisevening，butthenatureofallofthemwasdifferentfromthis。Discretionratherthanterrorpromptedtheboytoturnbackinsteadofpassingthelight，withaviewofaskingMissEustaciaVyetoletherservantaccompanyhimhome。

Whentheboyhadreascendedtothetopofthevalleyhefoundthefiretobestillburningonthebank，thoughlowerthanbefore。Besideit，insteadofEustacia’ssolitaryform，hesawtwopersons，thesecondbeingaman。

TheboycreptalongunderthebanktoascertainfromthenatureoftheproceedingsifitwouldbeprudenttointerruptsosplendidacreatureasMissEustaciaonhispoortrivialaccount。

Afterlisteningunderthebankforsomeminutestothetalkheturnedinaperplexedanddoubtingmannerandbegantowithdrawassilentlyashehadcome。Thathedidnot，uponthewhole，thinkitadvisabletointerruptherconversationwithWildeve，withoutbeingpreparedtobearthewholeweightofherdispleasure，wasobvious。

HerewasaScyllaeo—Charybdeanpositionforapoorboy。

Pausingwhenagainsafefromdiscovery，hefinallydecidedtofacethepitphenomenonasthelesserevil。

Withaheavysighheretracedtheslope，andfollowedthepathhehadfollowedbefore。

Thelighthadgone，therisingdusthaddisappeared——hehopedforever。Hemarchedresolutelyalong，andfoundnothingtoalarmhimtill，comingwithinafewyardsofthesandpit，heheardaslightnoiseinfront，whichledhimtohalt。

Thehaltwasbutmomentary，forthenoiseresolveditselfintothesteadybitesoftwoanimalsgrazing。

"Twohe’th—croppersdownhere，"hesaidaloud。

"Ihaveneverknown’emcomedownsofarafore。"

Theanimalswereinthedirectlineofhispath，butthatthechildthoughtlittleof；hehadplayedroundthefetlocksofhorsesfromhisinfancy。

Oncomingnearer，however，theboywassomewhatsurprisedtofindthatthelittlecreaturesdidnotrunoff，andthateachworeaclog，topreventhisgoingastray；

thissignifiedthattheyhadbeenbrokenin。Hecouldnowseetheinteriorofthepit，which，beinginthesideofthehill，hadalevelentrance。Intheinnermostcornerthesquareoutlineofavanappeared，withitsbacktowardshim。Alightcamefromtheinterior，andthrewamovingshadowupontheverticalfaceofgravelatthefurthersideofthepitintowhichthevehiclefaced。

Thechildassumedthatthiswasthecartofagipsy，andhisdreadofthosewanderersreachedbuttothatmildpitchwhichtitillatesratherthanpains。

Onlyafewinchesofmudwallkepthimandhisfamilyfrombeinggipsiesthemselves。Heskirtedthegravelpitatarespectfuldistance，ascendedtheslope，andcameforwarduponthebrow，inordertolookintotheopendoorofthevanandseetheoriginaloftheshadow。

Thepicturealarmedtheboy。Byalittlestoveinsidethevansatafigureredfromheadtoheels——themanwhohadbeenThomasin’sfriend。Hewasdarningastocking，whichwasredliketherestofhim。Moreover，ashedarnedhesmokedapipe，thestemandbowlofwhichwereredalso。

Atthismomentoneoftheheath—croppersfeedingintheoutershadowswasaudiblyshakingofftheclogattachedtoitsfoot。Arousedbythesound，thereddlemanlaiddownhisstocking，litalanternwhichhungbesidehim，andcameoutfromthevan。Instickingupthecandleheliftedthelanterntohisface，andthelightshoneintothewhitesofhiseyesanduponhisivoryteeth，which，incontrastwiththeredsurrounding，lenthimastartlingaspectenoughtothegazeofajuvenile。

Theboyknewtoowellforhispeaceofminduponwhoselairhehadlighted。UglierpersonsthangipsieswereknowntocrossEgdonattimes，andareddlemanwasoneofthem。

"HowIwish’twasonlyagipsy！"hemurmured。

Themanwasbythistimecomingbackfromthehorses。

Inhisfearofbeingseentheboyrendereddetectioncertainbynervousmotion。Theheatherandpeatstratumoverhungthebrowofthepitinmats，hidingtheactualverge。

Theboyhadsteppedbeyondthesolidground；theheathernowgaveway，anddownherolledoverthescarpofgreysandtotheveryfootoftheman。

Theredmanopenedthelanternandturnedituponthefigureoftheprostrateboy。

"Whobeye？"hesaid。

"JohnnyNunsuch，master！"

"Whatwereyoudoingupthere？"

"Idon’tknow。"

"Watchingme，Isuppose？"

"Yes，master。"

"Whatdidyouwatchmefor？"

"BecauseIwascominghomefromMissVye’sbonfire。"

"Beesthurt？"

"No。"

"Why，yes，yoube——yourhandisbleeding。Comeundermytiltandletmetieitup。"

"Pleaseletmelookformysixpence。"

"Howdidyoucomebythat？"

"MissVyegiedittomeforkeepingupherbonfire。"

Thesixpencewasfound，andthemanwenttothevan，theboybehind，almostholdinghisbreath。

Themantookapieceofragfromasatchelcontainingsewingmaterials，toreoffastrip，which，likeeverythingelse，wastingedred，andproceededtobindupthewound。

"Myeyeshavegotfoggy—like——pleasemayIsitdown，master？"saidtheboy。

"Tobesure，poorchap。’Tisenoughtomakeyoufeelfainty。

Sitonthatbundle。"

Themanfinishedtyingupthegash，andtheboysaid，"IthinkI’llgohomenow，master。"

"Youareratherafraidofme。DoyouknowwhatIbe？"

Thechildsurveyedhisvermilionfigureupanddownwithmuchmisgivingandfinallysaid，"Yes。"

"Well，what？"

"Thereddleman！"hefaltered。

"Yes，that’swhatIbe。Thoughthere’smorethanone。

Youlittlechildrenthinkthere’sonlyonecuckoo，onefox，onegiant，onedevil，andonereddleman，whenthere’slotsofusall。"

"Isthere？Youwon’tcarrymeoffinyourbags，willye，master？’Tissaidthatthereddlemanwillsometimes。"

"Nonsense。Allthatreddlemendoissellreddle。

Youseeallthesebagsatthebackofmycart？Theyarenotfulloflittleboys——onlyfullofredstuff。"

"Wasyoubornareddleman？"

"No，Itooktoit。IshouldbeaswhiteasyouifI

weretogiveupthetrade——thatis，Ishouldbewhiteintime——perhapssixmonths；notatfirst，because’tisgrow’dintomyskinandwon’twashout。Now，you’llneverbeafraidofareddlemanagain，willye？"

"No，never。WillyOrchardsaidheseedaredghostheret’otherday——perhapsthatwasyou？"

"Iwasheret’otherday。"

"WereyoumakingthatdustylightIsawbynow？"

"Ohyes，Iwasbeatingoutsomebags。Andhaveyouhadagoodbonfireupthere？Isawthelight。WhydidMissVyewantabonfiresobadthatsheshouldgiveyousixpencetokeepitup？"

"Idon’tknow。Iwastired，butshemademebideandkeepupthefirejustthesame，whileshekeptgoingupacrossRainbarrowway。"

"Andhowlongdidthatlast？"

"Untilahopfrogjumpedintothepond。"

Thereddlemansuddenlyceasedtotalkidly。"Ahopfrog？"

heinquired。"Hopfrogsdon’tjumpintopondsthistimeofyear。"

"Theydo，forIheardone。"

"Certain—sure？"

"Yes。ShetoldmeaforethatIshouldhear’n；andsoIdid。

Theysayshe’scleveranddeep，andperhapsshecharmed’entocome。"

"Andwhatthen？"

"ThenIcamedownhere，andIwasafeard，andIwentback；

butIdidn’tliketospeaktoher，becauseofthegentleman，andIcameonhereagain。"

"Agentleman——ah！Whatdidshesaytohim，myman？"

"Toldhimshesupposedhehadnotmarriedtheotherwomanbecausehelikedhisoldsweetheartbest；andthingslikethat。"

"Whatdidthegentlemansaytoher，mysonny？"

"Heonlysaidhedidlikeherbest，andhowhewascomingtoseeheragainunderRainbarrowo’nights。"

"Ha！"criedthereddleman，slappinghishandagainstthesideofhisvansothatthewholefabricshookundertheblow。

"That’sthesecreto’t！"

Thelittleboyjumpedcleanfromthestool。

"Myman，don’tyoubeafraid，"saidthedealerinred，suddenlybecominggentle。"Iforgotyouwerehere。

That’sonlyacuriouswayreddlemenhaveofgoingmadforamoment；buttheydon’thurtanybody。Andwhatdidtheladysaythen？"

"Ican’tmind。Please，MasterReddleman，mayIgohome—alongnow？"

"Ay，tobesureyoumay。I’llgoabitofwayswithyou。"

Heconductedtheboyoutofthegravelpitandintothepathleadingtohismother’scottage。Whenthelittlefigurehadvanishedinthedarknessthereddlemanreturned，resumedhisseatbythefire，andproceededtodarnagain。

9—LoveLeadsaShrewdManintoStrategyReddlemenoftheoldschoolarenowbutseldomseen。

SincetheintroductionofrailwaysWessexfarmershavemanagedtodowithouttheseMephistophelianvisitants，andthebrightpigmentsolargelyusedbyshepherdsinpreparingsheepforthefairisobtainedbyotherroutes。

Eventhosewhoyetsurvivearelosingthepoetryofexistencewhichcharacterizedthemwhenthepursuitofthetrademeantperiodicaljourneystothepitwhencethematerialwasdug，aregularcampingoutfrommonthtomonth，exceptinthedepthofwinter，aperegrinationamongfarmswhichcouldbecountedbythehundred，andinspiteofthisArabexistencethepreservationofthatrespectabilitywhichisinsuredbythenever—failingproductionofawell—linedpurse。

Reddlespreadsitslivelyhuesovereverythingitlightson，andstampsunmistakably，aswiththemarkofCain，anypersonwhohashandledithalfanhour。

Achild’sfirstsightofareddlemanwasanepochinhislife。Thatblood—colouredfigurewasasublimationofallthehorriddreamswhichhadafflictedthejuvenilespiritsinceimaginationbegan。"Thereddlemaniscomingforyou！"hadbeentheformulatedthreatofWessexmothersformanygenerations。Hewassuccessfullysupplantedforawhile，atthebeginningofthepresentcentury，byBuonaparte；butasprocessoftimerenderedthelatterpersonagestaleandineffectivetheolderphraseresumeditsearlyprominence。AndnowthereddlemanhasinhisturnfollowedBuonapartetothelandofworn—outbogeys，andhisplaceisfilledbymoderninventions。

Thereddlemanlivedlikeagipsy；butgipsieshescorned。

Hewasaboutasthrivingastravellingbasketandmatmakers；

buthehadnothingtodowiththem。Hewasmoredecentlybornandbroughtupthanthecattledroverswhopassedandrepassedhiminhiswanderings；buttheymerelynoddedtohim。Hisstockwasmorevaluablethanthatofpedlars；

buttheydidnotthinkso，andpassedhiscartwitheyesstraightahead。Hewassuchanunnaturalcolourtolookatthatthemenofroundaboutsandwaxworkshowsseemedgentlemenbesidehim；butheconsideredthemlowcompany，andremainedaloof。Amongallthesesquattersandfolksoftheroadthereddlemancontinuallyfoundhimself；yethewasnotofthem。Hisoccupationtendedtoisolatehim，andisolatedhewasmostlyseentobe。

Itwassometimessuggestedthatreddlemenwerecriminalsforwhosemisdeedsothermenwrongfullysuffered——thatinescapingthelawtheyhadnotescapedtheirownconsciences，andhadtakentothetradeasalifelongpenance。

Elsewhyshouldtheyhavechosenit？Inthepresentcasesuchaquestionwouldhavebeenparticularlyapposite。

ThereddlemanwhohadenteredEgdonthatafternoonwasaninstanceofthepleasingbeingwastedtoformtheground—workofthesingular，whenanuglyfoundationwouldhavedonejustaswellforthatpurpose。Theonepointthatwasforbiddingaboutthisreddlemanwashiscolour。

Freedfromthathewouldhavebeenasagreeableaspecimenofrusticmanhoodasonewouldoftensee。Akeenobservermighthavebeeninclinedtothink——whichwas，indeed，partlythetruth——thathehadrelinquishedhisproperstationinlifeforwantofinterestinit。Moreover，afterlookingathimonewouldhavehazardedtheguessthatgoodnature，andanacutenessasextremeasitcouldbewithoutvergingoncraft，formedtheframeworkofhischaracter。

Whilehedarnedthestockinghisfacebecamerigidwiththought。Softerexpressionsfollowedthis，andthenagainrecurredthetendersadnesswhichhadsatuponhimduringhisdrivealongthehighwaythatafternoon。

Presentlyhisneedlestopped。Helaiddownthestocking，arosefromhisseat，andtookaleathernpouchfromahookinthecornerofthevan。Thiscontainedamongotherarticlesabrown—paperpacket，which，tojudgefromthehinge—likecharacterofitswornfolds，seemedtohavebeencarefullyopenedandclosedagoodmanytimes。

Hesatdownonathree—leggedmilkingstoolthatformedtheonlyseatinthevan，and，examininghispacketbythelightofacandle，tookthenceanoldletterandspreaditopen。Thewritinghadoriginallybeentracedonwhitepaper，buttheletterhadnowassumedapaleredtingefromtheaccidentofitssituation；

andtheblackstrokesofwritingthereonlookedlikethetwigsofawinterhedgeagainstavermilionsunset。

Theletterboreadatesometwoyearsprevioustothattime，andwassigned"ThomasinYeobright。"Itranasfollows：——

DEARDIGGORYVENN，——ThequestionyouputwhenyouovertookmecominghomefromPond—closegavemesuchasurprisethatIamafraidIdidnotmakeyouexactlyunderstandwhatImeant。Ofcourse，ifmyaunthadnotmetmeIcouldhaveexplainedallthenatonce，butasitwastherewasnochance。Ihavebeenquiteuneasysince，asyouknowIdonotwishtopainyou，yetIfearIshallbedoingsonowincontradictingwhatIseemedtosaythen。Icannot，Diggory，marryyou，orthinkoflettingyoucallmeyoursweetheart。

Icouldnot，indeed，Diggory。Ihopeyouwillnotmuchmindmysayingthis，andfeelinagreatpain。

ItmakesmeverysadwhenIthinkitmay，forIlikeyouverymuch，andIalwaysputyounexttomycousinClyminmymind。TherearesomanyreasonswhywecannotbemarriedthatIcanhardlynamethemallinaletter。

Ididnotintheleastexpectthatyouweregoingtospeakonsuchathingwhenyoufollowedme，becauseI

hadneverthoughtofyouinthesenseofaloveratall。

Youmustnotbecallmeforlaughingwhenyouspoke；

youmistookwhenyouthoughtIlaughedatyouasafoolishman。Ilaughedbecausetheideawassoodd，andnotatyouatall。Thegreatreasonwithmyownpersonalselffornotlettingyoucourtmeis，thatI

donotfeelthethingsawomanoughttofeelwhoconsentstowalkwithyouwiththemeaningofbeingyourwife。

Itisnotasyouthink，thatIhaveanotherinmymind，forIdonotencourageanybody，andneverhaveinmylife。

Anotherreasonismyaunt。Shewouldnot，Iknow，agreetoit，evenifIwishedtohaveyou。Shelikesyouverywell，butshewillwantmetolookalittlehigherthanasmalldairy—farmer，andmarryaprofessionalman。Ihopeyouwillnotsetyourheartagainstmeforwritingplainly，butIfeltyoumighttrytoseemeagain，anditisbetterthatweshouldnotmeet。Ishallalwaysthinkofyouasagoodman，andbeanxiousforyourwell—doing。IsendthisbyJaneOrchard’slittlemaid，——AndremainDiggory，yourfaithfulfriend，THOMASINYEOBRIGHT。

ToMR。VENN，Dairy—farmer。

Sincethearrivalofthatletter，onacertainautumnmorninglongago，thereddlemanandThomasinhadnotmettilltoday。Duringtheintervalhehadshiftedhispositionevenfurtherfromhersthanithadoriginallybeen，byadoptingthereddletrade；thoughhewasreallyinverygoodcircumstancesstill。Indeed，seeingthathisexpenditurewasonlyone—fourthofhisincome，hemighthavebeencalledaprosperousman。

Rejectedsuitorstaketoroamingasnaturallyasunhivedbees；

andthebusinesstowhichhehadcynicallydevotedhimselfwasinmanywayscongenialtoVenn。Buthiswanderings，bymerestressofoldemotions，hadfrequentlytakenanEgdondirection，thoughheneverintrudeduponherwhoattractedhimthither。TobeinThomasin’sheath，andnearher，yetunseen，wastheoneewe—lambofpleasurelefttohim。

Thencametheincidentofthatday，andthereddleman，stilllovingherwell，wasexcitedbythisaccidentalservicetoheratacriticaljuncturetovowanactivedevotiontohercause，insteadof，ashitherto，sighingandholdingaloof。AfterwhathadhappeneditwasimpossiblethatheshouldnotdoubtthehonestyofWildeve’sintentions。

Butherhopewasapparentlycentreduponhim；anddismissinghisregretsVenndeterminedtoaidhertobehappyinherownchosenway。Thatthiswaywas，ofallothers，themostdistressingtohimself，wasawkwardenough；

butthereddleman’slovewasgenerous。

HisfirstactivestepinwatchingoverThomasin’sinterestswastakenaboutseveno’clockthenexteveningandwasdictatedbythenewswhichhehadlearntfromthesadboy。

ThatEustaciawassomehowthecauseofWildeve’scarelessnessinrelationtothemarriagehadatoncebeenVenn’sconclusiononhearingofthesecretmeetingbetweenthem。

ItdidnotoccurtohismindthatEustacia’slovesignaltoWildevewasthetendereffectuponthedesertedbeautyoftheintelligencewhichhergrandfatherhadbroughthome。

HisinstinctwastoregardherasaconspiratoragainstratherthanasanantecedentobstacletoThomasin’shappiness。

DuringthedayhehadbeenexceedinglyanxioustolearntheconditionofThomasin，buthedidnotventuretointrudeuponathresholdtowhichhewasastranger，particularlyatsuchanunpleasantmomentasthis。

Hehadoccupiedhistimeinmovingwithhisponiesandloadtoanewpointintheheath，eastwardtohispreviousstation；andhereheselectedanookwithacarefuleyetoshelterfromwindandrain，whichseemedtomeanthathisstaytherewastobeacomparativelyextendedone。Afterthishereturnedonfootsomepartofthewaythathehadcome；and，itbeingnowdark，hedivergedtothelefttillhestoodbehindahollybushontheedgeofapitnottwentyyardsfromRainbarrow。

Hewatchedforameetingthere，buthewatchedinvain。

Nobodyexcepthimselfcamenearthespotthatnight。

Butthelossofhislabourproducedlittleeffectuponthereddleman。HehadstoodintheshoesofTantalus，andseemedtolookuponacertainmassofdisappointmentasthenaturalprefacetoallrealizations，withoutwhichprefacetheywouldgivecauseforalarm。

Thesamehourthenexteveningfoundhimagainatthesameplace；butEustaciaandWildeve，theexpectedtrysters，didnotappear。

Hepursuedpreciselythesamecourseyetfournightslonger，andwithoutsuccess。Butonthenext，beingtheday—weekoftheirpreviousmeeting，hesawafemaleshapefloatingalongtheridgeandtheoutlineofayoungmanascendingfromthevalley。Theymetinthelittleditchencirclingthetumulus——theoriginalexcavationfromwhichithadbeenthrownupbytheancientBritishpeople。

Thereddleman，stungwithsuspicionofwrongtoThomasin，wasarousedtostrategyinamoment。Heinstantlyleftthebushandcreptforwardonhishandsandknees。

Whenhehadgotascloseashemightsafelyventurewithoutdiscoveryhefoundthat，owingtoacross—wind，theconversationofthetrystingpaircouldnotbeoverheard。

Nearhim，asindiversplacesabouttheheath，wereareasstrewnwithlargeturves，whichlayedgewaysandupsidedownawaitingremovalbyTimothyFairway，previoustothewinterweather。Hetooktwooftheseashelay，anddraggedthemoverhimtillonecoveredhisheadandshoulders，theotherhisbackandlegs。Thereddlemanwouldnowhavebeenquiteinvisible，evenbydaylight；

theturves，standinguponhimwiththeheatherupwards，lookedpreciselyasiftheyweregrowing。Hecreptalongagain，andtheturvesuponhisbackcreptwithhim。

Hadheapproachedwithoutanycoveringthechancesarethathewouldnothavebeenperceivedinthedusk；

approachingthus，itwasasthoughheburrowedunderground。

Inthismannerhecamequiteclosetowherethetwowerestanding。

"Wishtoconsultmeonthematter？"reachedhisearsintherich，impetuousaccentsofEustaciaVye。

"Consultme？Itisanindignitytometotalkso——Iwon’tbearitanylonger！"Shebeganweeping。"Ihavelovedyou，andhaveshownyouthatIlovedyou，muchtomyregret；

andyetyoucancomeandsayinthatfrigidwaythatyouwishtoconsultwithmewhetheritwouldnotbebettertomarryThomasin。Better——ofcourseitwouldbe。

Marryher——sheisnearertoyourownpositioninlifethanIam！"

"Yes，yes；that’sverywell，"saidWildeveperemptorily。

"Butwemustlookatthingsastheyare。Whateverblamemayattachtomeforhavingbroughtitabout，Thomasin’spositionisatpresentmuchworsethanyours。

IsimplytellyouthatIaminastrait。"

"Butyoushallnottellme！Youmustseethatitisonlyharassingme。Damon，youhavenotactedwell；youhavesunkinmyopinion。Youhavenotvaluedmycourtesy——thecourtesyofaladyinlovingyou——whousedtothinkoffarmoreambitiousthings。ButitwasThomasin’sfault。

Shewonyouawayfromme，andshedeservestosufferforit。

Whereisshestayingnow？NotthatIcare，norwhereI

ammyself。Ah，ifIweredeadandgonehowgladshewouldbe！Whereisshe，Iask？"

"Thomasinisnowstayingatheraunt’sshutupinabedroom，andkeepingoutofeverybody’ssight，"hesaidindifferently。

"Idon’tthinkyoucaremuchaboutherevennow，"

saidEustaciawithsuddenjoyousness，"forifyoudidyouwouldn’ttalksocoollyabouther。Doyoutalksocoollytoheraboutme？Ah，Iexpectyoudo！Whydidyouoriginallygoawayfromme？Idon’tthinkIcaneverforgiveyou，exceptononecondition，thatwheneveryoudesertme，youcomebackagain，sorrythatyouservedmeso。"

"Ineverwishtodesertyou。"

"Idonotthankyouforthat。Ishouldhateittobeallsmooth。Indeed，IthinkIlikeyoutodesertmealittleoncenowandthen。Loveisthedismallestthingwheretheloverisquitehonest。O，itisashametosayso；butitistrue！"Sheindulgedinalittlelaugh。

"Mylowspiritsbeginattheveryidea。Don’tyouoffermetamelove，orawayyougo！"

"IwishTamsiewerenotsuchaconfoundedlygoodlittlewoman，"

saidWildeve，"sothatIcouldbefaithfultoyouwithoutinjuringaworthyperson。ItisIwhoamthesinnerafterall；Iamnotworththelittlefingerofeitherofyou。"