Wessex Tales

fection. Something in her own individuality seemed to convict Rhoda of crime. Yet a fatality sometimes would direct the steps of the latter to the outski

irst few words she stammered, 'I hope your-arm is well again, ma'am?' She had

is no better at all; it is rather wor

d better go to

o one. But the surgeon had not seemed to understand the afflicted limb at all; he had tol

e see it?' said

hing of the nature of a wound, but the arm at that point had a shrivelled look, and the outline of the four fingers appeared more distinct than at the former time. Moreover, she fanc

It looks almost like finger-marks,' she said; adding with a faint laugh, 'my husband says it

,' she said hurriedly. 'I wou

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

o-he fo

s very proud of

m covered fro

is there!' She tried to hide

arnestly hope it

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

t would she think? Not to inform her of it seemed treachery in the presence of her fr

dge if she could, being held to her by a gruesome fascination. By watching the house from a distance the milkmaid was presently able to discern the fa

rude said, when she had com

. Lodge held the reins

bad arm,'

s by going to some clever man over in Egdon Heath. They did not know if he was still alive-and I cannot remember his name at this moment; but they said tha

e?' said her thin co

yes. Is h

' said Rhoda,

u call him

to say he was a-he had po

recommend a man of that sort! I thought they mea

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

he window-pattern thrown on Rhoda Brook's floor by the afterno

She seemed to be no less harasse

said

be an incurable wound. I have again been thinking of what they said about Conjuror Trendle. I don't really believe in such men,

d Rhoda backwardly. '

ld not you go with me to show me

ed her that something to do with her fierce act in the dream might be revealed, and her

ously stand in the way of a possible remedy for her patron's strange affliction. It was agreed that, to escape suspicion of their myst