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of a dark； rayless tract of country under an atmosphere charged from its zenith to its extremities with whitest light。 To an eye above them their two faces would have appeared amid the expanse like two pearls on a table of ebony。
On this account the irregularities of the path were not visible； and Wildeve occasionally stumbled； whilst Eustacia found it necessary to perform some graceful feats of balancing whenever a small tuft of heather or root of furze protruded itself through the grass of the narrow track and entangled her feet。 At these junctures in her progress a hand was invariably stretched forward to steady her； holding her firmly until smooth ground was again reached； when the hand was again withdrawn to a respectful distance。
They performed the journey for the most part in silence； and drew near to Throope Corner； a few hundred yards from which a short path branched away to Eustacia’s house。 By degrees they discerned ing towards them a pair of human figures； apparently of the male sex。
When they came a little nearer Eustacia broke the silence by saying； “One of those men is my husband。 He promised to e to meet me。”
“And the other is my greatest enemy；” said Wildeve。
“It looks like Diggory Venn。”
“That is the man。”
“It is an awkward meeting；” said she； “but such is my fortune。 He knows too much about me； unless he could know more； and so prove to himself that what he now knows counts for nothing。 Well； let it be—you must deliver me up to them。”
“You will think twice before you direct me to do that。 Here is a man who has not forgotten an item in our meetings at Rainbarrow—he is in pany with your husband。 Which of them； seeing us together here； will believe that our meeting and dancing at the gipsy party was by chance？”
“Very well；” she whispered gloomily。 “Leave me before they e up。”
Wildeve bade her a tender farewell； and plunged across the fern and furze； Eustacia slowly walking on。 In two or three minutes she met her husband and his panion。
“My journey ends here for tonight； reddleman；” said Yeobright as soon as he perceived her。 “I turn back with this lady。 Good night。”
“Good night； Mr。 Yeobright；” said Venn。 “I hope to see you better soon。”
The moonlight shone directly upon Venn’s face as he spoke； and revealed all its lines to Eustacia。 He was looking suspiciously at her。 That Venn’s keen eye had discerned what Yeobright’s feeble vision had not—a man in the act of withdrawing from Eustacia’s side—was within the limits of the probable。
If Eustacia had been able to follow the reddleman she would soon have found striking confirmation of her thought。 No sooner had Clym given her his arm and led her off the scene than the reddleman turned back from the beaten track towards East Egdon； whither he had been strolling merely to acpany Clym in his walk； Diggory’s van being again in the neighbourhood。 Stretching out his long legs； he crossed the pathless portion of the heath somewhat in the direction which Wildeve had taken。 Only a man accustomed to nocturnal rambles could at this hour have descended those shaggy slopes with Venn’s velocity without falling headlong into a pit； or snapping off his leg by jamming his foot into some rabbit burrow。 But Venn went on without much inconvenience to himself； and the course of his scamper was towards the Quiet Woman Inn。 This place he reached in about half an hour； and he was well aware that no person who had been near Throope Corner when he started could have got down here before him。
The lonely inn was not yet closed； though scarcely an individual was there； the business done being chiefly with travellers who passed the inn on long journeys； and these had now gone on their way。 Venn went to the public room； called for a mug of ale； and inquired of the maid in an indifferent tone if Mr。 Wildeve was at home。
Thomasin sat in an inner room and heard Venn’s voice。 When customers were present she seldom showed herself； owing to her inherent dislike for the business； but perceiving that no one else was there tonight she came out。
“He is not at home yet； Diggory；” she said pleasantly。 “But I expected him sooner。 He has been to East Egdon to buy a horse。”
“Did he wear a light wideawake？”
“Yes。”
“Then I saw him at Throope Corner； leading one home；” said Venn drily。 “A beauty； with a white face and a mane as black as night。 He will soon be here； no doubt。” Rising and looking for a moment at the pure； sweet face of Thomasin； over which a shadow of sadness had passed since the time when he had last seen her； he ventured to add； “Mr。 Wildeve seems to be often away at this time。”
“O yes；” cried Thomasin in what was intended to be a tone of gaiety。 “Husbands will play the truant； you know。 I wish you could tell me of some secret plan that would help me to keep him home at my will in the evenings。”
“I will consider if I know of one；” replied Venn in that same light tone which meant no lightness。 And then he bowed in a manner of his own invention and moved to go。 Thomasin offered him her hand； and without a sigh； though with food for many； the reddleman went out。
When Wildeve returned； a quarter of an hour later Thomasin said simply； and in the abashed manner usual with her now； “Where is the horse； Damon？”
“O； I have not bought it； after all。 The man asks too much。”
“But somebody saw you at Throope Corner leading it home—a beauty； with a white face and a mane as black as night。”
“Ah！” said Wildeve； fixing his eyes upon her； “who told you that？”
“Venn the reddleman。”
The expression of Wildeve’s face became curiously condensed。 “That is a mistake—it must have been someone else；” he said slowly and testily； for he perceived that Venn’s countermoves had begun again。
4 … Rough Coercion Is Employed
Those words of Thomasin； which seemed so little； but meant so much； remained in the ears of Diggory Venn： “Help me to keep him home in the evenings。”
On this occasion Venn had arrived on Egdon Heath only to cross to the other side—he had no further connection with the interests of the Yeobright family； and he had a business of his own to attend to。 Yet he suddenly began to feel himself drifting into the old track of manoeuvring on Thomasin’s account。
He sat in his van and considered。 From Thomasin’s words and manner he had plainly gathered that Wildeve neglected her。 For whom could he neglect her if not for Eustacia？ Yet it was scarcely credible that things had e to such a head as to indicate that Eustacia systematically encouraged him。 Venn resolved to reconnoitre somewhat carefully the lonely road which led along the vale from Wildeve’s dwelling to Clym’s house at Alderworth。
At this time； as has been seen； Wildeve was quite innocent of any predetermined act of intrigue； and except at the dance on the green he had not once met Eustacia since her marriage。 But that the spirit of intrigue was in him had been shown by a recent romantic habit of his—a habit of going out after dark and strolling towards Alderworth； there looking at the moon and stars； looking at Eustacia’s house； and walking back at leisure。
Accordingly； when watching on the night after the festival； the reddleman saw him ascend by the little path； lean over the front gate of Clym’s garden； sigh； and turn to go back again。 It was plain that Wildeve’s intrigue was rather ideal than real。 Venn retreated before him down the hill to a place where the path was merely a deep groove between the heather； here he mysteriously bent over the ground for a few minutes； and retired。 When Wildeve came on to that spot his ankle was caught by something； and he fell headlong。
As soon as he had recovered the power of respiration he sat up and listened。 There was not a sound in the gloom beyond the spiritless stir of the summer wind。 Feeling about for the obstacle which had flung him down； he discovered that two tufts of heath had been tied together across the path； forming a loop； which to a traveller was certain overthrow。 Wildeve pulled off the string that bound them； and went on with tolerable quickness。 On reaching home he found the cord to be of a reddish colour。
It was just what he had expected。
Although his weaknesses were not specially those akin to physical fear； this species of coup…de…Jarnac from one he knew too well troubled the mind of Wildeve。 But his movements were unaltered thereby。 A night or two later he again went along the vale to Alderworth； taking the precaution of keeping out of any path。 The sense that he was watched； that craft was employed to circumvent his errant tastes； added piquancy to a journey so entirely sentimental； so long as the danger was of no fearful sort。 He imagined that Venn and Mrs。 Yeobright were in league； and felt that there was a certain legitimacy in bating such a coalition。
The heath tonight appeared to be totally deserted； and Wildeve； after looking over Eustacia’s garden gate for some little time； with a cigar in his mouth； was tempted by the fascination that emotional smuggling had for his nature to advance towards the window； which was not quite closed； the blind being only partly drawn down。 He could see into the room； and Eus