Wessex Tales

er, there was a horrid fascination at times in becoming instrumental in throwing such possible light on her own

e south-eastern extension of the Egdon tract of country, where the fir plantation was. A slight figure, cloaked an

ly early afternoon; and the wind howled dismally over the hills of the heath-not improbably the same heath which had witnessed the agony of the Wessex King Ina, presented to after-ages as Lear. Gertrude Lodge talked most, Rhoda replying with monosyllabic preoccupation. She had

,' and other local products. Indeed, he affected not to believe largely in his own powers, and when warts that had been shown him for cure miraculously disappeared-

ay-bearded man, with a reddish face, and he looked singularly at Rhoda the first moment he beheld

' he said promptly. ''Ti

into herself,

at enemy?' as

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

mbler from the dresser, nearly filled it with water, and fetching an egg, prepared it in some private way; after which he broke it on the edge of the glass, so that the white went in and the yolk remained. As it was getting gloomy, he took the glass and its con

face or figure as you look?' deman

ible to Rhoda, and continued to gaze intently into t

s Rhoda's-against the sad dun shades of the upland's garniture. Trendle shut the door behind her, a

much?' she as

uld not take a farth

you see?' in

as remarkable; her face was so rigid as to wear an oldened a

re?' Mrs. Lodge suddenly inquired, after

a sense of triumph possessed her, and she did not altogether deplore that the young thing at h

nd that winter that Mrs. Lodge's gradual loss of the use of her left arm was owing to her being 'overlooked' by Rhoda Brook. The latter kept her own