Wessex Tales

nd Rhoda Brook almost

steps of the latter to the outskirts of Holmstokewhenever she left her house for any other purpose than her dailywork; and hence it happened that their next encounter was out ofdoors. Rhoda could not avoid

t is no better at all; it israther wo

ad better go to

to one. But the surgeon had not seemed tounderstand the afflicted limb at all; he had t

me see it?' sa

othing of thenature of a wound, but the arm at that point had a shrivelled look,and the outline of the four fingers appeared more distinct than atthe former time. Moreover, she fan

'It looks almost like finger-marks,' shesaid; adding with a faint laugh, 'my husband says i

cy,' she said hurriedly. 'I w

ion,'if--if I hadn't a notion that it makes my husband--dislike

do--he f

as very proud of

arm covered f

nt is there!' She tried to hide

earnestly hope it

stition. In her secret heart Rhoda did notaltogether object to a slight diminution of her successor's beauty,by whatever means it had come about; but she did not wish to inflictupon her physical pain. For though th

at would she think? Not to inform her of it seemedtreachery in the presence of her fr

odge if she could, being held to her by agruesome fascination. By watching the house from a distance themilkmaid was presently able to discern the fa

rtrude said, when she had c

rs. Lodge held the rei

he bad arm,'

is by going to some clever man over in EgdonHeath. They did not know if he was still alive--and I cannotremember his name at this moment; but they said th

le?' said her thin co

--yes. Is

,' said Rhoda,

ou call him

d to say he was a--he had p

to recommend a man ofthat sort! I thought they me

sorceress would knowthe whereabouts of the exorcist. They suspected her, then. A shorttime ago this would have given no concern to a woman of her common-sense. But she had a haunting reason to be superstitious now; andshe had been

adow intruded into thewindow-pattern thrown

the door at once, a

. She seemed to be no less haras

,' sai

otbe an incurable wound. I have again been thinking of what they saidabout Conjuror Trendle. I don't really believe in such men

aid Rhoda backwardly.

ould not you go with me to show m

the milkwoman murmured,

actin the dream might be revealed, and her character in the eyes

iously stand in the way of a possible remedy for herpatron's strange affliction. It was agreed that, to escapesuspicion of their myst