Wessex Tales

f all remedies that the whitewizard could have suggested there was not one which would havefilled

arson, and burglary, an assize seldom passed without a hanging, itwas not likely that she could get access to the body of the criminal

ating her to try what, at any rate, could hardly do her anyharm. 'What came by a spell will go by a spell surely,' she wouldsay. Whenever her imagination pictured the act she shrank in terrorfrom the poss

so that, whenever suchan event as an execution was about to take place, few within aradius of twenty miles were ignorant of the coming sight; and, sofar as Holmstoke was concerned, some enthusiasts had been known towalk all the way to Cas

short notice required at least her husband'sassistance. She dared not tell him, for she had found by delicateexperiment that these smouldering vill

h the experiment had beenstrongly condemned by the neighbouring clergy. April, May, June,passed; and it is no overstatement to say that by the end of thelast-named month Gertr

ceedings. Moreover, the season was summer,between the haymaking and the harvest, and

ent to the inn as before. Therewas to

rly never been denied, the customhad fallen into desuetude; and in contemplating her possibledifficulties, she was again almost driven to fall back upon herhusband. Bu

rday fixed for the execution, Lodge remarkedto her that he was going away from home for an

homethat he looked at her in surprise. Time had been when she

s usual taciturnity, and on

idedto ride, and avoid the beaten track, notwithstanding that in herhusband's stables there was no animal just at present which by anystretch of imagination could be considered a lady's mount, in spiteof his promise before marriage to always keep a m

ht it round. She wasdressed, and before go

ot been for you this terrible

get back to-night from the person I am going tovisit. Don't be alarmed if I am not in by ten, and close up thehouse as usual. I shall be at home to-morr

rection. As soon asshe was out of sight, however, she turned to the left, by a roadwhich led into Egdon, and on entering the heath wheeled round, andset out in the true course, due westerly. A more private way downthe county could not be ima

ths, had not beencarried far; Enclosure Acts had not taken effect, and the banks andfences which now exclude the cattle of those villagers who formerlyenjoyed rights of commonage thereon, and the carts of those who hadturbary privileges whic

o could have ventured to ride over such a bit of country with ahalf-dead arm. It was therefore nearly eight o'clock when she drewrein to

reen trees the roofs of the town; over the roofs a white flatfacade, denoting the entrance to the county jail. On the roof ofthis front specks were moving about; they seemed to be workmenerecting somethi

farmers' wives rode onhorseback then more th

the innkeeper supposedher some harum-skarum

at she was unknown. While dismounting shebeheld a crowd of boys standing at the doo

on there?' she as

he rope for

sponsively, and c

the man continued. 'I could getyou a b

ping feeling that the condemned wretch's destiny was becominginterwoven

nd. He had implied that she should use herbeauty, impaired though it was, as a pass-key. In her inexperienceshe knew little about jail functionaries; she