The Woodlanders

elt pride in the discernment of a somewhat rare power in him — that of keeping not only judgment but emotion suspended in difficult cases. But he noted it not. Neither did he observe what w

eant to walk, he saw before him the trim figure of a young woman in pattens, journeying with that steadfast concentration which means purpose

om being overtaken by him thus; but as it was inevitable, she had braced herself up for his inspection by clos

? The turnpike is clean enough,

ave my

—’twill twist your feet off.

had so arranged her bonnet with a full border and trimmings that her lack of long hair did not much injure her appearance; though Giles, of cours

now it. In Marty’s basket was a brown paper packet, and in the packet the chestnut locks, which

e hesitation, how her

ork in a day or two; he would be quite well bu

o often as I might, I suppose?” sai

ink I

of the

no

bout him. Marty, I do feel anxious about the houses, since half my income depends upon them; but I do likewise car

eath they will be

ll be

keep company with m

That’s the right of another woman,” she said, with playful malice, as she put on her pattens

tinctness of architectural drawings, as if the original dream and vision of the conceiving master-mason, some mediaeval Vilars or other unknown to fame, were for a few minutes

en obliged to seek the shelter of small houses in that ancient town, of the local clergy, and so on, for some of whom he had made wigs, while others among them had compensated for neglecting him in

e from the back street, and in that yard was a pole, and under the pole a shop of quite another description than the ornamental one in the front street. Here on Saturday

ket to him silently. “Thank you,” said the barber, quite joy

tear welled up and stood i

ispered, there being others in the

ng, as he always did at this season of the year, with his specimen apple-tree in the midst, the boughs rose above the heads of the crowd, and brought a delightful suggestion of orchards among the crowded buildings there. When her eye fell upon him for the last time he was standing somewhat apart, hold

xible young creature in whom she perceived the features of her she had known as Miss Grace Melbury, but now looking glorified and refined above her former level. Winterborne, being fixed to the spot by his

Indeed, her father had named five o’clock as her probable time, for which reason that hour had been looming out all the day in his f

er an apple-tree ten feet high in the middle of the market-place. Having had occasion to take off the new gloves she had bought to come home in, she held out to him a hand graduating from

at Little Hintock, that external phenomena — such as the lowness or height or color of a hat, the fold of a coat, the make of a boot, or the chance attitude or occupation of a limb at the instant of view — may have a great influence upon feminine opinion of a man’s worth — so frequently founde

the inn at which he had put up. Marty made as if to step forward for the pleasure of being recognized by Miss Melbury; but abruptly check

universe — how impossible! But, apart from transcendentalism, there never probably lived a person who was in herself more completely a reductio ad absurdum of attempts to appraise a woman, e

before uttering her own; possibly also to wait for others’ deeds before her own doing. In her small, delicate mouth, which had perhaps hardly settled down to its matured curves, there was a gen

iking, it would have meant just as little. For there can be hardly anything less connected with a woman’s personality than drapery which she has neither designed, manufactured, cut, se

l creature who had little to do with the outlines presented to Sherton eyes; a shape in the gloom, whose true description could only be approximated by puttin

sking her to ride. She walked fast, and one-third of the journey was done, and the evening rapidly darkening, before she perceived any sign of them behind her. Then, while ascending a hill, she dimly saw their vehicle drawi

on, with lighted lamps. When it overtook her — which was not soon, on account of her pace — the scene

ly, as the carriage drew abreast of her in climbing the long ascent, she walked close to the wheels, the rays of the nearest lamp penetrating her very pores. She had only just dropped behind when the carria

ot all day. She mounted beside the coachman, wondering why this good-fortune had happened to

ho has been so kind

replied her sta

connected with her last night’s experien

she’s

he hill under the blaze of the lamp; recognized, probably, her stubbly poll (since she h

eries, beneath them there beat a heart capable of quick extempore warmth — a heart which could, indeed, be passionately and imprudently warm on certain occasions. At present, after r

al coachman, presently. “I have never known her do it before, f

ioners. But she could discern nothing of the lady. She also looked for Miss Melbury and Winterborne. The nose of their horse sometimes came quite near the back of Mrs. Charmond’s carriage. But they never attempted to p

hat?” she

ss yaw

ould sh

rfully good life, and finds it dull here.

wn!” the girl murmured. “Then things do

her, and as the carriage rolled on, a soft voi

woman who began so greatly to interest her — the second person of her