Wessex Tales

ver, there was a horridfascination at times in becoming instrumental in throwing suchpossible light on her ow

the south-easternextension of the Egdon tract of country, where the fir plantationwas. A slight figure, cloaked a

nly early afternoon; and the wind howled dismally overthe hills of the heath--not improbably the same heath which hadwitnessed the agony of the Wessex King Ina, presented to after-agesas Lear. Gertrude Lodge talked most, Rhoda replying withmonosyllabic preoccupation. She ha

hingabout their continuance, his direct interests being those of

m for cure miraculouslydisappeared--which it must be owned they infallibly did--he wouldsay lightly,

gray-bearded man, with areddish face, and he looked singularly at Rhoda the first moment hebeheld

t,' he said promptly. ''

into herself,

hat enemy?' as

Ifyou like, I can show the person to you, though I shall not mys

ouldsee the proceedings without taking part in them. He brought atumbler from the dresser, nearly filled it with water, and fetchingan egg, prepared it in some private way; after which he brok

theopaline hue of the egg-fluid changing form as it sank in the wa

ikeness of any face o

conjuror of t

udible to Rhoda,and continued to gaze intently into

as Rhoda's--against the sad dunshades of the upland's garniture. Trendle shut the door behind her,

e much?' she as

would not take a fart

id you see?'

r wasremarkable; her face was so rigid as to wear an oldened

ere?' Mrs. Lodge suddenlyinquired, after

e a sense of triumph possessed her, andshe did not altogether deplore that the young thing at

land that winter that Mrs. Lodge's gradual loss ofthe use of her left arm was owing to her being 'overlooked' by RhodaBrook. The latter kept her o