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was a yeoman in the prime of life； cleanly shaven like an actor； his
face being toned to that bluish…vermilion hue which so often graces
a thriving farmer's features when returning home after successful
dealings in the town。 Beside him sat a woman； many years his
junioralmost； indeed； a girl。 Her face too was fresh in colour；
but it was of a totally different qualitysoft and evanescent； like
the light under a heap of rose…petals。
Few people travelled this way； for it was not a main road； and the
long white riband of gravel that stretched before them was empty；
save of one small scarce…moving speck； which presently resolved
itself into the figure of boy； who was creeping on at a snail's
pace； and continually looking behind himthe heavy bundle he
carried being some excuse for； if not the reason of； his
dilatoriness。 When the bouncing gig…party slowed at the bottom of
the incline above mentioned； the pedestrian was only a few yards in
front。 Supporting the large bundle by putting one hand on his hip；
he turned and looked straight at the farmer's wife as though he
would read her through and through； pacing along abreast of the
horse。
The low sun was full in her face； rendering every feature； shade；
and contour distinct； from the curve of her little nostril to the
colour of her eyes。 The farmer； though he seemed annoyed at the
boy's persistent presence； did not order him to get out of the way；
and thus the lad preceded them； his hard gaze never leaving her；
till they reached the top of the ascent； when the farmer trotted on
with relief in his lineamentshaving taken no outward notice of the
boy whatever。
'How that poor lad stared at me！' said the young wife。
'Yes； dear； I saw that he did。'
'He is one of the village； I suppose？'
'One of the neighbourhood。 I think he lives with his mother a mile
or two off。'
'He knows who we are； no doubt？'
'O yes。 You must expect to be stared at just at first； my pretty
Gertrude。'
'I do；though I think the poor boy may have looked at us in the
hope we might relieve him of his heavy load； rather than from
curiosity。'
'O no；' said her husband off…handedly。 'These country lads will
carry a hundredweight once they get it on their backs； besides his
pack had more size than weight in it。 Now； then； another mile and I
shall be able to show you our house in the distanceif it is not
too dark before we get there。' The wheels spun round； and particles
flew from their periphery as before； till a white house of ample
dimensions revealed itself； with farm…buildings and ricks at the
back。
Meanwhile the boy had quickened his pace； and turning up a by…lane
some mile and half short of the white farmstead； ascended towards
the leaner pastures； and so on to the cottage of his mother。
She had reached home after her day's milking at the outlying dairy；
and was washing cabbage at the doorway in the declining light。
'Hold up the net a moment；' she said； without preface； as the boy
came up。
He flung down his bundle； held the edge of the cabbage…net； and as
she filled its meshes with the dripping leaves she went on； 'Well；
did you see her？'
'Yes； quite plain。'
'Is she ladylike？'
'Yes； and more。 A lady complete。'
'Is she young？'
'Well； she's growed up； and her ways be quite a woman's。'
'Of course。 What colour is her hair and face？'
'Her hair is lightish； and her face as comely as a live doll's。'
'Her eyes； then； are not dark like mine？'
'Noof a bluish turn； and her mouth is very nice and red； and when
she smiles； her teeth show white。'
'Is she tall？' said the woman sharply。
'I couldn't see。 She was sitting down。'
'Then do you go to Holmstoke church to…morrow morning： she's sure
to be there。 Go early and notice her walking in； and come home and
tell me if she's taller than I。'
'Very well； mother。 But why don't you go and see for yourself？'
'_I_ go to see her！ I wouldn't look up at her if she were to pass
my window this instant。 She was with Mr。 Lodge； of course。 What
did he say or do？'
'Just the same as usual。'
'Took no notice of you？'
'None。'
Next day the mother put a clean shirt on the boy； and started him
off for Holmstoke church。 He reached the ancient little pile when
the door was just being opened； and he was the first to enter。
Taking his seat by the font； he watched all the parishioners file
in。 The well…to…do Farmer Lodge came nearly last； and his young
wife； who accompanied him； walked up the aisle with the shyness
natural to a modest woman who had appeared thus for the first time。
As all other eyes were fixed upon her； the youth's stare was not
noticed now。
When he reached home his mother said； 'Well？' before he had entered
the room。
'She is not tall。 She is rather short；' he replied。
'Ah！' said his mother； with satisfaction。
'But she's very prettyvery。 In fact； she's lovely。'
The youthful freshness of the yeoman's wife had evidently made an
impression even on the somewhat hard nature of the boy。
'That's all I want to hear；' said his mother quickly。 'Now； spread
the table…cloth。 The hare you caught is very tender； but mind that
nobody catches you。You've never told me what sort of hands she
had。'
'I have never seen 'em。 She never took off her gloves。'
'What did she wear this morning？'
'A white bonnet and a silver…coloured gownd。 It whewed and whistled
so loud when it rubbed against the pews that the lady coloured up
more than ever for very shame at the noise； and pulled it in to keep
it from touching； but when she pushed into her seat； it whewed more
than ever。 Mr。 Lodge； he seemed pleased； and his waistcoat stuck
out； and his great golden seals hung like a lord's； but she seemed
to wish her noisy gownd anywhere but on her。'
'Not she！ However； that will do now。'
These descriptions of the newly…married couple were continued from
time to time by the boy at his mother's request； after any chance
encounter he had had with them。 But Rhoda Brook； though she might
easily have seen young Mrs。 Lodge for herself by walking a couple of
miles； would never attempt an excursion towards the quarter where
the farmhouse lay。 Neither did she； at the daily milking in the
dairyman's yard on Lodge's outlying second farm； ever speak on the
subject of the recent marriage。 The dairyman； who rented the cows
of Lodge； and knew perfectly the tall milkmaid's history； with manly
kindliness always kept the gossip in the cow…barton from annoying
Rhoda。 But the atmosphere thereabout was full of the subject during
the first days of Mrs。 Lodge's arrival； and from her boy's
description and the casual words of the other milkers； Rhoda Brook
could raise a mental image of the unconscious Mrs Lodge that was
realistic as a photograph。
CHAPTER IIIA VISION
One night； two or three weeks after the bridal return； when the boy
was gone to bed； Rhoda sat a long time over the turf ashes that she
had raked out in front of her to extinguish them。 She contemplated
so intently the new wife； as presented to her in her mind's eye over
the embers； that she forgot the lapse of time。 At last； wearied
with her day's work； she too retired。
But the figure which had occupied her so much during this and the
previous days was not to be banished at night。 For the first time
Gertrude Lodge visited the supplanted woman in her dreams。 Rhoda
Brook dreamedsince her assertion that she really saw； before
falling asleep； was not to be believedthat the young wife； in the
pale silk dress and white bonnet； but with features shockingly
distorted； and wrinkled as by age； was sitting upon her chest as she
lay。 The pressure of Mrs。 Lodge's person grew heavier； the blue
eyes peered cruelly into her face； and then the figure thrust
forward its left hand mockingly； so as to make the wedding…ring it
wore glitter in Rhoda's eyes。 Maddened mentally； and nearly
suffocated by pressure； the sleeper struggled； the incubus； still
regarding her； withdrew to the foot of the bed； only； however； to
come forward by degrees； resume her seat； and flash her left hand as
before。
Gasping for breath； Rhoda； in a last desperate effort； swung out her
right hand； seized the confronting spectre by its obtrusive left
arm； and whirled it backward to the floor； starting up herself as
she did so with a low cry。
'O； merciful heaven！' she cried； sitting on the edge of the bed in a
cold sweat； 'that was not a dreamshe was here！'
She could feel her antagonist's arm within her grasp even nowthe
very flesh and bone of it； as it seemed。 She looked on the floor
whither she had whirled the spectre； but there was nothing to be
seen。
Rhoda Brook slept no more that night； and when she went milking at
the next dawn they noticed how pale and haggard she looked。 The
milk that she drew quivered into the pail； her hand had not calmed
even yet； and still retained the feel of the arm。 She came home to
breakfast as wearily as if it had been suppertime。
'What was that noise in your chimmer； mother； last night？' said her
son。 'You fell off the bed； surely？'
'Did you hear anything fall？ At what time？'
'Just when the clock struck two。'
She could