"Please，Cap’nVye，willyouletus————"

Eustaciaaroseandwenttothedoor。"Icannotallowyoutocomeinsoboldly。Youshouldhavewaited。"

"Thecap’nsaidImightcomeinwithoutanyfuss，"

wasansweredinalad’spleasantvoice。

"Oh，didhe？"saidEustaciamoregently。"Whatdoyouwant，Charley？"

"Pleasewillyourgrandfatherlendushisfuelhousetotryoverourpartsin，tonightatseveno’clock？"

"What，areyouoneoftheEgdonmummersforthisyear？"

"Yes，miss。Thecap’nusedtolettheoldmummerspractisehere。"

"Iknowit。Yes，youmayusethefuelhouseifyoulike，"

saidEustacialanguidly。

ThechoiceofCaptainVye’sfuelhouseasthesceneofrehearsalwasdictatedbythefactthathisdwellingwasnearlyinthecentreoftheheath。Thefuelhousewasasroomyasabarn，andwasamostdesirableplaceforsuchapurpose。Theladswhoformedthecompanyofplayerslivedatdifferentscatteredpointsaround，andbymeetinginthisspotthedistancestobetraversedbyallthecomerswouldbeaboutequallyproportioned。

FormummersandmummingEustaciahadthegreatestcontempt。

Themummersthemselveswerenotafflictedwithanysuchfeelingfortheirart，thoughatthesametimetheywerenotenthusiastic。Atraditionalpastimeistobedistinguishedfromamererevivalinnomorestrikingfeaturethaninthis，thatwhileintherevivalallisexcitementandfervour，thesurvivaliscarriedonwithastolidityandabsenceofstirwhichsetsonewonderingwhyathingthatisdonesoperfunctorilyshouldbekeptupatall。LikeBalaamandotherunwillingprophets，theagentsseemmovedbyaninnercompulsiontosayanddotheirallottedpartswhethertheywillorno。

Thisunweetingmannerofperformanceisthetrueringbywhich，inthisrefurbishingage，afossilizedsurvivalmaybeknownfromaspuriousreproduction。

Thepiecewasthewell—knownplayofSaintGeorge，andallwhowerebehindthescenesassistedinthepreparations，includingthewomenofeachhousehold。Withouttheco—operationofsistersandsweetheartsthedresseswerelikelytobeafailure；butontheotherhand，thisclassofassistancewasnotwithoutitsdrawbacks。

Thegirlscouldneverbebroughttorespecttraditionindesigninganddecoratingthearmour；theyinsistedonattachingloopsandbowsofsilkandvelvetinanysituationpleasingtotheirtaste。Gorget，gusset，basinet，cuirass，gauntlet，sleeve，allalikeintheviewofthesefeminineeyeswerepracticablespaceswhereontosewscrapsofflutteringcolour。

ItmightbethatJoe，whofoughtonthesideofChristendom，hadasweetheart，andthatJim，whofoughtonthesideoftheMoslem，hadonelikewise。DuringthemakingofthecostumesitwouldcometotheknowledgeofJoe’ssweetheartthatJim’swasputtingbrilliantsilkscallopsatthebottomofherlover’ssurcoat，inadditiontotheribbonsofthevisor，thebarsofwhich，beinginvariablyformedofcolouredstripsabouthalfaninchwidehangingbeforetheface，weremostlyofthatmaterial。

Joe’ssweetheartstraight—wayplacedbrilliantsilkonthescallopsoftheheminquestion，and，goingalittlefurther，addedribbontuftstotheshoulderpieces。Jim’s，nottobeoutdone，wouldaffixbowsandrosetteseverywhere。

TheresultwasthatintheendtheValiantSoldier，oftheChristianarmy，wasdistinguishedbynopeculiarityofaccoutrementfromtheTurkishKnight；andwhatwasworse，onacasualviewSaintGeorgehimselfmightbemistakenforhisdeadlyenemy，theSaracen。Theguisersthemselves，thoughinwardlyregrettingthisconfusionofpersons，couldnotaffordtooffendthosebywhoseassistancetheysolargelyprofited，andtheinnovationswereallowedtostand。

Therewas，itistrue，alimittothistendencytouniformity。

TheLeechorDoctorpreservedhischaracterintact——hisdarkerhabiliments，peculiarhat，andthebottleofphysicslungunderhisarm，couldneverbemistaken。

AndthesamemightbesaidoftheconventionalfigureofFatherChristmas，withhisgiganticclub，anolderman，whoaccompaniedthebandasgeneralprotectorinlongnightjourneysfromparishtoparish，andwasbearerofthepurse。

Seveno’clock，thehouroftherehearsal，cameround，andinashorttimeEustaciacouldhearvoicesinthefuelhouse。

Todissipateinsometriflingmeasureherabidingsenseofthemurkinessofhumanlifeshewenttothe"linhay"

orlean—toshed，whichformedtheroot—storeoftheirdwellingandabuttedonthefuelhouse。Herewasasmallroughholeinthemudwall，originallymadeforpigeons，throughwhichtheinteriorofthenextshedcouldbeviewed。

Alightcamefromitnow；andEustaciasteppeduponastooltolookinuponthescene。

Onaledgeinthefuelhousestoodthreetallrushlightsandbythelightofthemsevenoreightladsweremarchingabout，haranguing，andconfusingeachother，inendeavourstoperfectthemselvesintheplay。

HumphreyandSam，thefurze—andturf—cutters，weretherelookingon，soalsowasTimothyFairway，wholeantagainstthewallandpromptedtheboysfrommemory，interspersingamongthesetwordsremarksandanecdotesofthesuperiordayswhenheandothersweretheEgdonmummers—electthattheseladswerenow。

"Well，yebeaswelluptoitaseveryewillbe，"hesaid。

"Notthatsuchmummingwouldhavepassedinourtime。

HarryastheSaracenshouldstrutabitmore，andJohnneedn’thollerhisinsideout。Beyondthatperhapsyou’lldo。

Haveyougotallyourclothesready？"

"WeshallbyMonday。"

"YourfirstoutingwillbeMondaynight，Isuppose？"

"Yes。AtMrs。Yeobright’s。"

"Oh，Mrs。Yeobright’s。Whatmakesherwanttoseeye？I

shouldthinkamiddle—agedwomanwastiredofmumming。"

"She’sgotupabitofaparty，because’tisthefirstChristmasthathersonClymhasbeenhomeforalongtime。"

"Tobesure，tobesure——herparty！Iamgoingmyself。

Ialmostforgotit，uponmylife。"

Eustacia’sfaceflagged。TherewastobeapartyattheYeobrights’；she，naturally，hadnothingtodowithit。

Shewasastrangertoallsuchlocalgatherings，andhadalwaysheldthemasscarcelyappertainingtohersphere。

Buthadshebeengoing，whatanopportunitywouldhavebeenaffordedherofseeingthemanwhoseinfluencewaspenetratingherlikesummersun！Toincreasethatinfluencewascovetedexcitement；tocastitoffmightbetoregainserenity；toleaveitasitstoodwastantalizing。

Theladsandmenpreparedtoleavethepremises，andEustaciareturnedtoherfireside。Shewasimmersedinthought，butnotforlong。InafewminutestheladCharley，whohadcometoaskpermissiontousetheplace，returnedwiththekeytothekitchen。Eustaciaheardhim，andopeningthedoorintothepassagesaid，"Charley，comehere。"

Theladwassurprised。Heenteredthefrontroomnotwithoutblushing；forhe，likemany，hadfeltthepowerofthisgirl’sfaceandform。

Shepointedtoaseatbythefire，andenteredtheothersideofthechimney—cornerherself。

Itcouldbeseeninherfacethatwhatevermotiveshemighthavehadinaskingtheyouthindoorswouldsoonappear。

"Whichpartdoyouplay，Charley——theTurkishKnight，doyounot？"inquiredthebeauty，lookingacrossthesmokeofthefiretohimontheotherside。

"Yes，miss，theTurkishKnight，"hereplieddiffidently。

"Isyoursalongpart？"

"Ninespeeches，about。"

"Canyourepeatthemtome？IfsoIshouldliketohearthem。"

Theladsmiledintotheglowingturfandbegan——

"HerecomeI，aTurkishKnight，WholearntinTurkishlandtofight，"

continuingthediscoursethroughoutthescenestotheconcludingcatastropheofhisfallbythehandofSaintGeorge。

Eustaciahadoccasionallyheardthepartrecitedbefore。

Whentheladendedshebegan，preciselyinthesamewords，andrantedonwithouthitchordivergencetillshetooreachedtheend。Itwasthesamething，yethowdifferent。

Likeinform，ithadtheaddedsoftnessandfinishofaRaffaelleafterPerugino，which，whilefaithfullyreproducingtheoriginalsubject，entirelydistancestheoriginalart。

Charley’seyesroundedwithsurprise。"Well，youbeacleverlady！"hesaid，inadmiration。"I’vebeenthreeweekslearningmine。"

"Ihavehearditbefore，"shequietlyobserved。

"Now，wouldyoudoanythingtopleaseme，Charley？"

"I’ddoagooddeal，miss。"

"Wouldyouletmeplayyourpartforonenight？"

"Oh，miss！Butyourwoman’sgown——youcouldn’t。"

"Icangetboy’sclothes——atleastallthatwouldbewantedbesidesthemummingdress。WhatshouldIhavetogiveyoutolendmeyourthings，toletmetakeyourplaceforanhourortwoonMondaynight，andonnoaccounttosayawordaboutwhoorwhatIam？Youwould，ofcourse，havetoexcuseyourselffromplayingthatnight，andtosaythatsomebody——acousinofMissVye’s——wouldactforyou。

Theothermummershaveneverspokentomeintheirlivessothatitwouldbesafeenough；andifitwerenot，Ishouldnotmind。Now，whatmustIgiveyoutoagreetothis？Halfacrown？"

Theyouthshookhishead"Fiveshillings？"

Heshookhisheadagain。"Moneywon’tdoit，"hesaid，brushingtheironheadofthefiredogwiththehollowofhishand。

"Whatwill，then，Charley？"saidEustaciainadisappointedtone。

"YouknowwhatyouforbademeattheMaypoling，miss，"

murmuredthelad，withoutlookingather，andstillstrokingthefiredog’shead。

"Yes，"saidEustacia，withalittlemorehauteur。

"Youwantedtojoinhandswithmeinthering，ifIrecollect？"

"Halfanhourofthat，andI’llagree，miss。"

Eustaciaregardedtheyouthsteadfastly。Hewasthreeyearsyoungerthanherself，butapparentlynotbackwardforhisage。

"Halfanhourofwhat？"shesaid，thoughsheguessedwhat。

"Holdingyourhandinmine。"

Shewassilent。"Makeitaquarterofanhour，"shesaid"Yes，MissEustacia——Iwill，ifImaykissittoo。

Aquarterofanhour。AndI’llsweartodothebestI

cantoletyoutakemyplacewithoutanybodyknowing。

Don’tyouthinksomebodymightknowyourtongue，miss？"

"Itispossible。ButIwillputapebbleinmymouthtomakeislesslikely。Verywell；youshallbeallowedtohavemyhandassoonasyoubringthedressandyourswordandstaff。Idon’twantyouanylongernow。"

Charleydeparted，andEustaciafeltmoreandmoreinterestinlife。Herewassomethingtodo：herewassomeonetosee，andacharminglyadventurouswaytoseehim。

"Ah，"shesaidtoherself，"wantofanobjecttolivefor——that’sallisthematterwithme！"

Eustacia’smannerwasasaruleofaslumberoussort，herpassionsbeingofthemassiveratherthanthevivaciouskind。

Butwhenarousedshewouldmakeadashwhich，justforthetime，wasnotunlikethemoveofanaturallylivelyperson。

Onthequestionofrecognitionshewassomewhatindifferent。

Bytheactingladsthemselvesshewasnotlikelytobeknown。

Withtheguestswhomightbeassembledshewashardlysosecure。

Yetdetection，afterall，wouldbenosuchdreadfulthing。

Thefactonlycouldbedetected，hertruemotivenever。

Itwouldbeinstantlysetdownasthepassingfreakofagirlwhosewayswerealreadyconsideredsingular。

Thatshewasdoingforanearnestreasonwhatwouldmostnaturallybedoneinjestwasatanyrateasafesecret。

ThenexteveningEustaciastoodpunctuallyatthefuelhousedoor，waitingfortheduskwhichwastobringCharleywiththetrappings。Hergrandfatherwasathometonight，andshewouldbeunabletoaskherconfederateindoors。

Heappearedonthedarkridgeofheathland，likeaflyonaNegro，bearingthearticleswithhim，andcameupbreathlesswithhiswalk。

"Herearethethings，"hewhispered，placingthemuponthethreshold。"Andnow，MissEustacia——"

"Thepayment。Itisquiteready。Iamasgoodasmyword。"

Sheleantagainstthedoor—post，andgavehimherhand。

Charleytookitinbothhisownwithatendernessbeyonddescription，unlessitwaslikethatofachildholdingacapturedsparrow。

"Why，there’sagloveonit！"hesaidinadeprecatingway。

"Ihavebeenwalking，"sheobserved。

"But，miss！"

"Well——itishardlyfair。"Shepulledofftheglove，andgavehimherbarehand。

Theystoodtogetherminuteafterminute，withoutfurtherspeech，eachlookingattheblackeningscene，andeachthinkinghisandherownthoughts。

"IthinkIwon’tuseitalluptonight，"saidCharleydevotedly，whensixoreightminuteshadbeenpassedbyhimcaressingherhand。"MayIhavetheotherfewminutesanothertime？"

"Asyoulike，"saidshewithouttheleastemotion。

"Butitmustbeoverinaweek。Now，thereisonlyonethingIwantyoutodo——towaitwhileIputonthedress，andthentoseeifIdomypartproperly。Butletmelookfirstindoors。"

Shevanishedforaminuteortwo，andwentin。

Hergrandfatherwassafelyasleepinhischair。"Now，then，"

shesaid，onreturning，"walkdownthegardenalittleway，andwhenIamreadyI’llcallyou。"

Charleywalkedandwaited，andpresentlyheardasoftwhistle。

Hereturnedtothefuelhousedoor。

"Didyouwhistle，MissVye？"

"Yes；comein，"reachedhiminEustacia’svoicefromabackquarter。"Imustnotstrikealighttillthedoorisshut，oritmaybeseenshining。Pushyourhatintotheholethroughtothewash—house，ifyoucanfeelyourwayacross。"

Charleydidascommanded，andshestruckthelightrevealingherselftobechangedinsex，brilliantincolours，andarmedfromtoptotoe。PerhapsshequailedalittleunderCharley’svigorousgaze，butwhetheranyshynessathermaleattireappeareduponhercountenancecouldnotbeseenbyreasonofthestripsofribbonwhichusedtocoverthefaceinmummingcostumes，representingthebarredvisorofthemediaevalhelmet。

"Itfitsprettywell，"shesaid，lookingdownatthewhiteoveralls，"exceptthatthetunic，orwhateveryoucallit，islonginthesleeve。ThebottomoftheoverallsIcanturnupinside。Nowpayattention。"

Eustaciathenproceededinherdelivery，strikingtheswordagainstthestafforlanceattheminatoryphrases，intheorthodoxmummingmanner，andstruttingupanddown。

Charleyseasonedhisadmirationwithcriticismofthegentlestkind，forthetouchofEustacia’shandyetremainedwithhim。

"Andnowforyourexcusetotheothers，"shesaid。

"WheredoyoumeetbeforeyougotoMrs。Yeobright’s？"

"Wethoughtofmeetinghere，miss，ifyouhavenothingtosayagainstit。Ateighto’clock，soastogettherebynine。"

"Yes。Well，youofcoursemustnotappear。Iwillmarchinaboutfiveminuteslate，ready—dressed，andtellthemthatyoucan’tcome。Ihavedecidedthatthebestplanwillbeforyoutobesentsomewherebyme，tomakearealthingoftheexcuse。Ourtwoheath—croppersareinthehabitofstrayingintothemeads，andtomorroweveningyoucangoandseeiftheyaregonethere。

I’llmanagetherest。Nowyoumayleaveme。"

"Yes，miss。ButIthinkI’llhaveoneminutemoreofwhatIamowed，ifyoudon’tmind。"

Eustaciagavehimherhandasbefore。

"Oneminute，"shesaid，andcountedontillshereachedsevenoreightminutes。Handandpersonshethenwithdrewtoadistanceofseveralfeet，andrecoveredsomeofherolddignity。Thecontractcompleted，sheraisedbetweenthemabarrierimpenetrableasawall。

"There，’tisallgone；andIdidn’tmeanquiteall，"

hesaid，withasigh。

"Youhadgoodmeasure，"saidshe，turningaway。

"Yes，miss。Well，’tisover，andnowI’llgethome—along。"

5—ThroughtheMoonlightThenexteveningthemummerswereassembledinthesamespot，awaitingtheentranceoftheTurkishKnight。

"TwentyminutesaftereightbytheQuietWoman，andCharleynotcome。"

"TenminutespastbyBlooms—End。"

"Itwantstenminutesto，byGrandferCantle’swatch。"

"And’tisfiveminutespastbythecaptain’sclock。"

OnEgdontherewasnoabsolutehouroftheday。Thetimeatanymomentwasanumberofvaryingdoctrinesprofessedbythedifferenthamlets，someofthemhavingoriginallygrownupfromacommonroot，andthenbecomedividedbysecession，somehavingbeenalienfromthebeginning。

WestEgdonbelievedinBlooms—Endtime，EastEgdoninthetimeoftheQuietWomanInn。GrandferCantle’swatchhadnumberedmanyfollowersinyearsgoneby，butsincehehadgrownolderfaithswereshaken。

Thus，themummershavinggatheredhitherfromscatteredpointseachcamewithhisowntenetsonearlyandlate；

andtheywaitedalittlelongerasacompromise。

Eustaciahadwatchedtheassemblagethroughthehole；

andseeingthatnowwasthepropermomenttoenter，shewentfromthe"linhay"andboldlypulledthebobbinofthefuelhousedoor。HergrandfatherwassafeattheQuietWoman。

"Here’sCharleyatlast！Howlateyoube，Charley。"

"’TisnotCharley，"saidtheTurkishKnightfromwithinhisvisor。"’TisacousinofMissVye’s，cometotakeCharley’splacefromcuriosity。Hewasobligedtogoandlookfortheheath—croppersthathavegotintothemeads，andIagreedtotakehisplace，asheknewhecouldn’tcomebackhereagaintonight。Iknowthepartaswellashe。"

Hergracefulgait，elegantfigure，anddignifiedmanneringeneralwonthemummerstotheopinionthattheyhadgainedbytheexchange，ifthenewcomerwereperfectinhispart。

"Itdon’tmatter——ifyoubenottooyoung，"saidSaintGeorge。

Eustacia’svoicehadsoundedsomewhatmorejuvenileandflutythanCharley’s。

"Iknoweverywordofit，Itellyou，"saidEustaciadecisively。

Dashbeingallthatwasrequiredtocarryhertriumphantlythrough，sheadoptedasmuchaswasnecessary。"Goahead，lads，withthetry—over。I’llchallengeanyofyoutofindamistakeinme。"

Theplaywashastilyrehearsed，whereupontheothermummersweredelightedwiththenewknight。Theyextinguishedthecandlesathalf—pasteight，andsetoutupontheheathinthedirectionofMrs。Yeobright’shouseatBloom’s—End。

Therewasaslighthoarfrostthatnight，andthemoon，thoughnotmorethanhalffull，threwaspiritedandenticingbrightnessuponthefantasticfiguresofthemummingband，whoseplumesandribbonsrustledintheirwalklikeautumnleaves。TheirpathwasnotoverRainbarrownow，butdownavalleywhichleftthatancientelevationalittletotheeast。Thebottomofthevalewasgreentoawidthoftenyardsorthereabouts，andtheshiningfacetsoffrostuponthebladesofgrassseemedtomoveonwiththeshadowsofthosetheysurrounded。Themassesoffurzeandheathtotherightandleftweredarkasever；

amerehalf—moonwaspowerlesstosilversuchsablefeaturesastheirs。

Half—an—hourofwalkingandtalkingbroughtthemtothespotinthevalleywherethegrassribandwidenedandleddowntothefrontofthehouse。AtsightoftheplaceEustaciawhohadfeltafewpassingdoubtsduringherwalkwiththeyouths，againwasgladthattheadventurehadbeenundertaken。

Shehadcomeouttoseeamanwhomightpossiblyhavethepowertodeliverhersoulfromamostdeadlyoppression。

WhatwasWildeve？Interesting，butinadequate。

Perhapsshewouldseeasufficientherotonight。

Astheydrewnearertothefrontofthehousethemummersbecameawarethatmusicanddancingwerebrisklyflourishingwithin。

Everynowandthenalonglownotefromtheserpent，whichwasthechiefwindinstrumentplayedatthesetimes，advancedfurtherintotheheaththanthethintreblepart，andreachedtheirearsalone；andnextamorethanusualloudtreadfromadancerwouldcomethesameway。

Withnearerapproachthesefragmentarysoundsbecamepiecedtogether，andwerefoundtobethesalientpointsofthetunecalled"Nancy’sFancy。"

Hewasthere，ofcourse。Whowasshethathedancedwith？

Perhapssomeunknownwoman，farbeneathherselfinculture，wasbythemostsubtleofluressealinghisfatethisveryinstant。Todancewithamanistoconcentrateatwelvemonth’sregulationfireuponhiminthefragmentofanhour。Topasstocourtshipwithoutacquaintance，topasstomarriagewithoutcourtship，isaskippingoftermsreservedforthosealonewhotreadthisroyalroad。

Shewouldseehowhisheartlaybykeenobservationofthemall。

Theenterprisingladyfollowedthemummingcompanythroughthegateinthewhitepaling，andstoodbeforetheopenporch。

Thehousewasencrustedwithheavythatchings，whichdroppedbetweentheupperwindows；thefront，uponwhichthemoonbeamsdirectlyplayed，hadoriginallybeenwhite；

butahugepyracanthnowdarkenedthegreaterportion。

Itbecameatonceevidentthatthedancewasproceedingimmediatelywithinthesurfaceofthedoor，noapartmentintervening。

Thebrushingofskirtsandelbows，sometimesthebumpingofshoulders，couldbeheardagainsttheverypanels。

Eustacia，thoughlivingwithintwomilesoftheplace，hadneverseentheinteriorofthisquaintoldhabitation。

BetweenCaptainVyeandtheYeobrightstherehadneverexistedmuchacquaintance，theformerhavingcomeasastrangerandpurchasedthelong—emptyhouseatMistoverKnapnotlongbeforethedeathofMrs。Yeobright’shusband；

andwiththateventandthedepartureofhersonsuchfriendshipashadgrownupbecamequitebrokenoff。

"Istherenopassageinsidethedoor，then？"askedEustaciaastheystoodwithintheporch。

"No，"saidtheladwhoplayedtheSaracen。"Thedooropensrightuponthefrontsitting—room，wherethespree’sgoingon。"

"Sothatwecannotopenthedoorwithoutstoppingthedance。"

"That’sit。Herewemustbidetilltheyhavedone，fortheyalwaysboltthebackdoorafterdark。"

"Theywon’tbemuchlonger，"saidFatherChristmas。

Thisassertion，however，washardlyborneoutbytheevent。

Againtheinstrumentsendedthetune；againtheyrecommencedwithasmuchfireandpathosasifitwerethefirststrain。Theairwasnowthatonewithoutanyparticularbeginning，middle，orend，whichperhaps，amongallthedanceswhichthronganinspiredfiddler’sfancy，bestconveystheideaoftheinterminable——thecelebrated"Devil’sDream。"Thefuryofpersonalmovementthatwaskindledbythefuryofthenotescouldbeapproximatelyimaginedbytheseoutsidersunderthemoon，fromtheoccasionalkicksoftoesandheelsagainstthedoor，wheneverthewhirlroundhadbeenofmorethancustomaryvelocity。

Thefirstfiveminutesoflisteningwasinterestingenoughtothemummers。Thefiveminutesextendedtotenminutes，andthesetoaquarterofanhour；butnosignsofceasingwereaudibleinthelively"Dream。"Thebumpingagainstthedoor，thelaughter，thestamping，wereallasvigorousasever，andthepleasureinbeingoutsidelessenedconsiderably。

"WhydoesMrs。Yeobrightgivepartiesofthissort？"

Eustaciaasked，alittlesurprisedtohearmerrimentsopronounced。

"Itisnotoneofherbettermostparlour—parties。She’saskedtheplainneighboursandworkpeoplewithoutdrawinganylines，justtogive’emagoodsupperandsuchlike。