第13章

’Whatwasthatnoiseinyourchimmer，mother，lastnight？’saidherson。’Youfelloffthebed，surely？’

’Didyouhearanythingfall？Atwhattime？’

’Justwhentheclockstrucktwo。’

Shecouldnotexplain，andwhenthemealwasdonewentsilentlyaboutherhouseholdwork，theboyassistingher，forhehatedgoingafieldonthefarms，andsheindulgedhisreluctance。Betweenelevenandtwelvethegarden-gateclicked，andsheliftedhereyestothewindow。Atthebottomofthegarden，withinthegate，stoodthewomanofhervision。Rhodaseemedtransfixed。

’Ah，shesaidshewouldcome！’exclaimedtheboy，alsoobservingher。

’Saidso——when？Howdoessheknowus？’

’Ihaveseenandspokentoher。Italkedtoheryesterday。’

’Itoldyou，’saidthemother，flushingindignantly，’nevertospeaktoanybodyinthathouse，orgoneartheplace。’

’Ididnotspeaktohertillshespoketome。AndIdidnotgoneartheplace。Imetherintheroad。’

’Whatdidyoutellher？’

’Nothing。Shesaid，“Areyouthepoorboywhohadtobringtheheavyloadfrommarket？“Andshelookedatmyboots，andsaidtheywouldnotkeepmyfeetdryifitcameonwet，becausetheyweresocracked。ItoldherIlivedwithmymother，andwehadenoughtodotokeepourselves，andthat’showitwas；andshesaidthen，“I’llcomeandbringyousomebetterboots，andseeyourmother。“Shegivesawaythingstootherfolksinthemeadsbesidesus。’

Mrs。Lodgewasbythistimeclosetothedoor——notinhersilk，asRhodahadseenherinthebed-chamber，butinamorninghat，andgownofcommonlightmaterial，whichbecameherbetterthansilk。

Onherarmshecarriedabasket。

Theimpressionremainingfromthenight’sexperiencewasstillstrong。Brookhadalmostexpectedtoseethewrinkles，thescorn，andthecrueltyonhervisitor’sface。

Shewouldhaveescapedaninterview，hadescapebeenpossible。

Therewas，however，nobackdoortothecottage，andinaninstanttheboyhadliftedthelatchtoMrs。Lodge’sgentleknock。

’IseeIhavecometotherighthouse，’saidshe，glancingatthelad，andsmiling。’ButIwasnotsuretillyouopenedthedoor。’

Thefigureandactionwerethoseofthephantom；buthervoicewassoindescribablysweet，herglancesowinning，hersmilesotender，sounlikethatofRhoda’smidnightvisitant，thatthelattercouldhardlybelievetheevidenceofhersenses。Shewastrulygladthatshehadnothiddenawayinsheeraversion，asshehadbeeninclinedtodo。InherbasketMrs。Lodgebroughtthepairofbootsthatshehadpromisedtotheboy，andotherusefularticles。

AttheseproofsofakindlyfeelingtowardsherandhersRhoda’sheartreproachedherbitterly。Thisinnocentyoungthingshouldhaveherblessingandnothercurse。Whensheleftthemalightseemedgonefromthedwelling。Twodayslatershecameagaintoknowifthebootsfitted；andlessthanafortnightafterthatpaidRhodaanothercall。Onthisoccasiontheboywasabsent。

’Iwalkagooddeal，’saidMrs。Lodge，’andyourhouseisthenearestoutsideourownparish。Ihopeyouarewell。Youdon’tlookquitewell。’

Rhodasaidshewaswellenough；and，indeed，thoughthepalerofthetwo，therewasmoreofthestrengththatenduresinherwell-definedfeaturesandlargeframe，thaninthesoft-cheekedyoungwomanbeforeher。Theconversationbecamequiteconfidentialasregardedtheirpowersandweaknesses；andwhenMrs。Lodgewasleaving，Rhodasaid，’Ihopeyouwillfindthisairagreewithyou，ma’am，andnotsufferfromthedampofthewater-meads。’

Theyoungeronerepliedthattherewasnotmuchdoubtofit，hergeneralhealthbeingusuallygood。’Though，nowyouremindme，’sheadded，’Ihaveonelittleailmentwhichpuzzlesme。Itisnothingserious，butIcannotmakeitout。’

Sheuncoveredherlefthandandarm；andtheiroutlineconfrontedRhoda’sgazeastheexactoriginalofthelimbshehadbeheldandseizedinherdream。Uponthepinkroundsurfaceofthearmwerefaintmarksofanunhealthycolour，asifproducedbyaroughgrasp。

Rhoda’seyesbecamerivetedonthediscolorations；shefanciedthatshediscernedinthemtheshapeofherownfourfingers。

’Howdidithappen？’shesaidmechanically。

’Icannottell，’repliedMrs。Lodge，shakingherhead。’OnenightwhenIwassoundasleep，dreamingIwasawayinsomestrangeplace，apainsuddenlyshotintomyarmthere，andwassokeenastoawakenme。Imusthavestruckitinthedaytime，Isuppose，thoughIdon’trememberdoingso。’Sheadded，laughing，’Itellmydearhusbandthatitlooksjustasifhehadflownintoarageandstruckmethere。O，Idaresayitwillsoondisappear。’

’Ha，ha！Yes……Onwhatnightdiditcome？’

Mrs。Lodgeconsidered，andsaiditwouldbeafortnightagoonthemorrow。’WhenIawokeIcouldnotrememberwhereIwas，’sheadded，’tilltheclockstrikingtworemindedme。’

ShehadnamedthenightandthehourofRhoda’sspectralencounter，andBrookfeltlikeaguiltything。Theartlessdisclosurestartledher；shedidnotreasononthefreaksofcoincidence；andallthesceneryofthatghastlynightreturnedwithdoublevividnesstohermind。

’O，canitbe，’shesaidtoherself，whenhervisitorhaddeparted，’thatIexerciseamalignantpoweroverpeopleagainstmyownwill？’

Sheknewthatshehadbeenslilycalledawitchsinceherfall；butneverhavingunderstoodwhythatparticularstigmahadbeenattachedtoher，ithadpasseddisregarded。Couldthisbetheexplanation，andhadsuchthingsasthiseverhappenedbefore？

Thesummerdrewon，andRhodaBrookalmostdreadedtomeetMrs。

Lodgeagain，notwithstandingthatherfeelingfortheyoungwifeamountedwell-nightoaffection。SomethinginherownindividualityseemedtoconvictRhodaofcrime。YetafatalitysometimeswoulddirectthestepsofthelattertotheoutskirtsofHolmstokewheneversheleftherhouseforanyotherpurposethanherdailywork；andhenceithappenedthattheirnextencounterwasoutofdoors。Rhodacouldnotavoidthesubjectwhichhadsomystifiedher，andafterthefirstfewwordsshestammered，’Ihopeyour——armiswellagain，ma’am？’ShehadperceivedwithconsternationthatGertrudeLodgecarriedherleftarmstiffly。

’No；itisnotquitewell。Indeeditisnobetteratall；itisratherworse。Itpainsmedreadfullysometimes。’

’Perhapsyouhadbettergotoadoctor，ma’am。’

Sherepliedthatshehadalreadyseenadoctor。Herhusbandhadinsisteduponhergoingtoone。Butthesurgeonhadnotseemedtounderstandtheafflictedlimbatall；hehadtoldhertobatheitinhotwater，andshehadbathedit，butthetreatmenthaddonenogood。

’Willyouletmeseeit？’saidthemilkwoman。

Mrs。Lodgepusheduphersleeveanddisclosedtheplace，whichwasafewinchesabovethewrist。AssoonasRhodaBrooksawit，shecouldhardlypreservehercomposure。Therewasnothingofthenatureofawound，butthearmatthatpointhadashrivelledlook，andtheoutlineofthefourfingersappearedmoredistinctthanattheformertime。Moreover，shefanciedthattheywereimprintedinpreciselytherelativepositionofherclutchuponthearminthetrance；thefirstfingertowardsGertrude’swrist，andthefourthtowardsherelbow。

WhattheimpressresembledseemedtohavestruckGertrudeherselfsincetheirlastmeeting。’Itlooksalmostlikefinger-marks，’shesaid；addingwithafaintlaugh，’myhusbandsaysitisasifsomewitch，orthedevilhimself，hadtakenholdofmethere，andblastedtheflesh。’

Rhodashivered。’That’sfancy，’shesaidhurriedly。’Iwouldn’tmindit，ifIwereyou。’

’Ishouldn’tsomuchmindit，’saidtheyounger，withhesitation，’if——ifIhadn’tanotionthatitmakesmyhusband——dislikeme——no，lovemeless。Menthinksomuchofpersonalappearance。’

’Somedo——heforone。’

’Yes；andhewasveryproudofmine，atfirst。’

’Keepyourarmcoveredfromhissight。’

’Ah——heknowsthedisfigurementisthere！’Shetriedtohidethetearsthatfilledhereyes。

’Well，ma’am，Iearnestlyhopeitwillgoawaysoon。’

Andsothemilkwoman’smindwaschainedanewtothesubjectbyahorridsortofspellasshereturnedhome。Thesenseofhavingbeenguiltyofanactofmalignityincreased，affectasshemighttoridiculehersuperstition。InhersecretheartRhodadidnotaltogetherobjecttoaslightdiminutionofhersuccessor’sbeauty，bywhatevermeansithadcomeabout；butshedidnotwishtoinflictuponherphysicalpain。ForthoughthisprettyyoungwomanhadrenderedimpossibleanyreparationwhichLodgemighthavemadeRhodaforhispastconduct，everythinglikeresentmentattheunconscioususurpationhadquitepassedawayfromtheelder’smind。

IfthesweetandkindlyGertrudeLodgeonlyknewofthesceneinthebed-chamber，whatwouldshethink？Nottoinformherofitseemedtreacheryinthepresenceofherfriendliness；buttellshecouldnotofherownaccord——neithercouldshedevisearemedy。

Shemuseduponthematterthegreaterpartofthenight；andthenextday，afterthemorningmilking，setouttoobtainanotherglimpseofGertrudeLodgeifshecould，beingheldtoherbyagruesomefascination。Bywatchingthehousefromadistancethemilkmaidwaspresentlyabletodiscernthefarmer’swifeinarideshewastakingalone——probablytojoinherhusbandinsomedistantfield。Mrs。Lodgeperceivedher，andcanteredinherdirection。

’Goodmorning，Rhoda！’Gertrudesaid，whenshehadcomeup。’Iwasgoingtocall。’

RhodanoticedthatMrs。Lodgeheldthereinswithsomedifficulty。

’Ihope——thebadarm，’saidRhoda。

’TheytellmethereispossiblyonewaybywhichImightbeabletofindoutthecause，andsoperhapsthecure，ofit，’repliedtheotheranxiously。’ItisbygoingtosomeclevermanoverinEgdonHeath。Theydidnotknowifhewasstillalive——andIcannotrememberhisnameatthismoment；buttheysaidthatyouknewmoreofhismovementsthananybodyelsehereabout，andcouldtellmeifhewerestilltobeconsulted。Dearme——whatwashisname？Butyouknow。’

’NotConjurorTrendle？’saidherthincompanion，turningpale。

’Trendle——yes。Ishealive？’

’Ibelieveso，’saidRhoda，withreluctance。

’Whydoyoucallhimconjuror？’

’Well——theysay——theyusedtosayhewasa——hehadpowersotherfolkshavenot。’

’O，howcouldmypeoplebesosuperstitiousastorecommendamanofthatsort！Ithoughttheymeantsomemedicalman。Ishallthinknomoreofhim。’

Rhodalookedrelieved，andMrs。Lodgerodeon。Themilkwomanhadinwardlyseen，fromthemomentsheheardofherhavingbeenmentionedasareferenceforthisman，thattheremustexistasarcasticfeelingamongthework-folkthatasorceresswouldknowthewhereaboutsoftheexorcist。Theysuspectedher，then。Ashorttimeagothiswouldhavegivennoconcerntoawomanofhercommon-

sense。Butshehadahauntingreasontobesuperstitiousnow；andshehadbeenseizedwithsuddendreadthatthisConjurorTrendlemightnameherasthemalignantinfluencewhichwasblastingthefairpersonofGertrude，andsoleadherfriendtohateherforever，andtotreatherassomefiendinhumanshape。

Butallwasnotover。Twodaysafter，ashadowintrudedintothewindow-patternthrownonRhodaBrook’sfloorbytheafternoonsun。

Thewomanopenedthedooratonce，almostbreathlessly。