wessex tales-第12章

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Rhoda's　eyes　became　riveted　on　the　discolorations；　she　fancied　that
she　discerned　in　them　the　shape　of　her　own　four　fingers。

'How　did　it　happen？'　she　said　mechanically。

'I　cannot　tell；'　replied　Mrs。　Lodge；　shaking　her　head。　　'One　night
when　I　was　sound　asleep；　dreaming　I　was　away　in　some　strange　place；
a　pain　suddenly　shot　into　my　arm　there；　and　was　so　keen　as　to　awaken
me。　　I　must　have　struck　it　in　the　daytime；　I　suppose；　though　I　don't
remember　doing　so。'　　She　added；　laughing；　'I　tell　my　dear　husband
that　it　looks　just　as　if　he　had　flown　into　a　rage　and　struck　me
there。　　O；　I　daresay　it　will　soon　disappear。'

'Ha；　ha！　　Yes　。　。　。　On　what　night　did　it　come？'

Mrs。　Lodge　considered；　and　said　it　would　be　a　fortnight　ago　on　the
morrow。　　'When　I　awoke　I　could　not　remember　where　I　was；'　she　added；
'till　the　clock　striking　two　reminded　me。'

She　had　named　the　night　and　the　hour　of　Rhoda's　spectral　encounter；
and　Brook　felt　like　a　guilty　thing。　　The　artless　disclosure　startled
her；　she　did　not　reason　on　the　freaks　of　coincidence；　and　all　the
scenery　of　that　ghastly　night　returned　with　double　vividness　to　her
mind。

'O；　can　it　be；'　she　said　to　herself；　when　her　visitor　had　departed；
'that　I　exercise　a　malignant　power　over　people　against　my　own　will？'
She　knew　that　she　had　been　slily　called　a　witch　since　her　fall；　but
never　having　understood　why　that　particular　stigma　had　been　attached
to　her；　it　had　passed　disregarded。　　Could　this　be　the　explanation；
and　had　such　things　as　this　ever　happened　before？



CHAPTER　IVA　SUGGESTION



The　summer　drew　on；　and　Rhoda　Brook　almost　dreaded　to　meet　Mrs。
Lodge　again；　notwithstanding　that　her　feeling　for　the　young　wife
amounted　well…nigh　to　affection。　　Something　in　her　own　individuality
seemed　to　convict　Rhoda　of　crime。　　Yet　a　fatality　sometimes　would
direct　the　steps　of　the　latter　to　the　outskirts　of　Holmstoke
whenever　she　left　her　house　for　any　other　purpose　than　her　daily
work；　and　hence　it　happened　that　their　next　encounter　was　out　of
doors。　　Rhoda　could　not　avoid　the　subject　which　had　so　mystified
her；　and　after　the　first　few　words　she　stammered；　'I　hope　yourarm
is　well　again；　ma'am？'　　She　had　perceived　with　consternation　that
Gertrude　Lodge　carried　her　left　arm　stiffly。

'No；　it　is　not　quite　well。　　Indeed　it　is　no　better　at　all；　it　is
rather　worse。　　It　pains　me　dreadfully　sometimes。'

'Perhaps　you　had　better　go　to　a　doctor；　ma'am。'

She　replied　that　she　had　already　seen　a　doctor。　　Her　husband　had
insisted　upon　her　going　to　one。　　But　the　surgeon　had　not　seemed　to
understand　the　afflicted　limb　at　all；　he　had　told　her　to　bathe　it　in
hot　water；　and　she　had　bathed　it；　but　the　treatment　had　done　no
good。

'Will　you　let　me　see　it？'　said　the　milkwoman。

Mrs。　Lodge　pushed　up　her　sleeve　and　disclosed　the　place；　which　was　a
few　inches　above　the　wrist。　　As　soon　as　Rhoda　Brook　saw　it；　she
could　hardly　preserve　her　composure。　　There　was　nothing　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　fancied　that　they　were　imprinted　in
precisely　the　relative　position　of　her　clutch　upon　the　arm　in　the
trance；　the　first　finger　towards　Gertrude's　wrist；　and　the　fourth
towards　her　elbow。

What　the　impress　resembled　seemed　to　have　struck　Gertrude　herself
since　their　last　meeting。　　'It　looks　almost　like　finger…marks；'　she
said；　adding　with　a　faint　laugh；　'my　husband　says　it　is　as　if　some
witch；　or　the　devil　himself；　had　taken　hold　of　me　there；　and　blasted
the　flesh。'

Rhoda　shivered。　　'That's　fancy；'　she　said　hurriedly。　　'I　wouldn't
mind　it；　if　I　were　you。'

'I　shouldn't　so　much　mind　it；'　said　the　younger；　with　hesitation；
'ifif　I　hadn't　a　notion　that　it　makes　my　husbanddislike　meno；
love　me　less。　　Men　think　so　much　of　personal　appearance。'

'Some　dohe　for　one。'

'Yes；　and　he　was　very　proud　of　mine；　at　first。'

'Keep　your　arm　covered　from　his　sight。'

'Ahhe　knows　the　disfigurement　is　there！'　　She　tried　to　hide　the
tears　that　filled　her　eyes。

'Well；　ma'am；　I　earnestly　hope　it　will　go　away　soon。'

And　so　the　milkwoman's　mind　was　chained　anew　to　the　subject　by　a
horrid　sort　of　spell　as　she　returned　home。　　The　sense　of　having　been
guilty　of　an　act　of　malignity　increased；　affect　as　she　might　to
ridicule　her　superstition。　　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　this　pretty　young　woman　had
rendered　impossible　any　reparation　which　Lodge　might　have　made　Rhoda
for　his　past　conduct；　everything　like　resentment　at　the　unconscious
usurpation　had　quite　passed　away　from　the　elder's　mind。

If　the　sweet　and　kindly　Gertrude　Lodge　only　knew　of　the　scene　in　the
bed…chamber；　what　would　she　think？　　Not　to　inform　her　of　it　seemed
treachery　in　the　presence　of　her　friendliness；　but　tell　she　could
not　of　her　own　accordneither　could　she　devise　a　remedy。

She　mused　upon　the　matter　the　greater　part　of　the　night；　and　the
next　day；　after　the　morning　milking；　set　out　to　obtain　another
glimpse　of　Gertrude　Lodge　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　farmer's　wife　in　a　ride
she　was　taking　aloneprobably　to　join　her　husband　in　some　distant
field。　　Mrs。　Lodge　perceived　her；　and　cantered　in　her　direction。

'Good　morning；　Rhoda！'　Gertrude　said；　when　she　had　come　up。　　'I　was
going　to　call。'

Rhoda　noticed　that　Mrs。　Lodge　held　the　reins　with　some　difficulty。

'I　hopethe　bad　arm；'　said　Rhoda。

'They　tell　me　there　is　possibly　one　way　by　which　I　might　be　able　to
find　out　the　cause；　and　so　perhaps　the　cure；　of　it；'　replied　the
other　anxiously。　　'It　is　by　going　to　some　clever　man　over　in　Egdon
Heath。　　They　did　not　know　if　he　was　still　aliveand　I　cannot
remember　his　name　at　this　moment；　but　they　said　that　you　knew　more
of　his　movements　than　anybody　else　hereabout；　and　could　tell　me　if
he　were　still　to　be　consulted。　　Dear　mewhat　was　his　name？　　But　you
know。'

'Not　Conjuror　Trendle？'　said　her　thin　companion；　turning　pale。

'Trendleyes。　　Is　he　alive？'

'I　believe　so；'　said　Rhoda；　with　reluctance。

'Why　do　you　call　him　conjuror？'

'Wellthey　saythey　used　to　say　he　was　ahe　had　powers　other
folks　have　not。'

'O；　how　could　my　people　be　so　superstitious　as　to　recommend　a　man　of
that　sort！　　I　thought　they　meant　some　medical　man。　　I　shall　think　no
more　of　him。'

Rhoda　looked　relieved；　and　Mrs。　Lodge　rode　on。　　The　milkwoman　had
inwardly　seen；　from　the　moment　she　heard　of　her　having　been
mentioned　as　a　reference　for　this　man；　that　there　must　exist　a
sarcastic　feeling　among　the　work…folk　that　a　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　seized　with　sudden　dread　that　this　Conjuror　Trendle
might　name　her　as　the　malignant　influence　which　was　blasting　the
fair　person　of　Gertrude；　and　so　lead　her　friend　to　hate　her　for
ever；　and　to　treat　her　as　some　fiend　in　human　shape。

But　all　was　not　over。　　Two　days　after；　a　shadow　intruded　into　the
window…pattern　thrown　on　Rhoda　Brook's　floor　by　the　afternoon　sun。
The　woman　opened　the　door　at　once；　almost　breathlessly。

'Are　you　alone？'　said　Gertrude。　　She　seemed　to　be　no　less　harassed
and　anxious　than　Brook　herself。

'Yes；'　said　Rhoda。

'The　place　on　my　arm　seems　worse；　and　troubles　me！'　the　young
farmer's　wife　went　on。　　'It　is　so　mysterious！　　I　do　hope　it　will　not
be　an　incurable　wound。　　I　have　again　been　thinking　of　what　they　said
about　Conjuror　Trendle。　　I　don't　really　believe　in　such　men；　but　I
should　not　mind　just　visiting　him；　from　curiositythough　on　no
account　must　my　husband　know。　　Is　it　far　to　where　he　lives？'

'Yesfive　miles；'　said　Rhoda　backwardly。　　'In　the　heart　of　Egdon。'

'Well；　I　should　have　to　walk。　　Could　not　you　go　with　me　to　show　me
the　waysay　to…morrow　afternoon？'

'O；　not　Ithat　is；'　the　milkwoman　murmured；　with　a　start　of　dismay。
Again　the　dread　seized　her　that　something　to　do　with　her　fierce　act
in　the　dream　might　be　revealed；　and　her　character　in　the　eyes　of　the
most　useful　friend　she　had　ever　had　be　ruined　irretrievably。

Mrs。　Lodge　urged；　and　Rhoda　finally　assented；　though　with　much
misgiving。　　Sad　as　the　journey　would　be　to　her；　she　could　not
conscientiously　stand　in　the　way　of　a　possible　remedy　for　her
patron's　strange　affliction。　　It　was　agreed　that；　to　escape
suspicion　of　their　mystic　intent；　they　should　meet　at　the　edge　of
the　heath　at　the　corner　of　a　plantation　which　was　visible　from　the
spot　where　they　now　stood。



CHAPTER　VCONJUROR　TRENDLE



By　the　next　afternoon　Rhoda　would　have　done　anything　to　escape　this
inquiry。　　But　she　had　promised　to　go。　　Moreover；　there　was　a　horrid
fascination　at　times　in　becoming　instrumental　in　throwing　such
possible　light　on　her　own　character　as　would　reveal　her　to　be
something　greater　in　the　occult　world　than　she　had　ever　herself
suspected。

She　started　just　before　the　time　of　day　mentioned　between　them；　and
half…an…hour's　brisk　walking　brought　her　to　the　south…eastern
extension　of　the　Egdon　tract　of　country；　where　the　fir　plantation
was。　　A　slight　figure；　cloaked　and　veiled；　was　already　there。　　Rhoda
recognized；　almost　with　a　shudder；　that　Mrs。　Lodge　bore　her　left　arm
in　a　sling。

They　hardly　spoke　to　each　other；　and　immediately　set　out　on　their
climb　into　the　interior　of　this　solemn　country；　which　stood　high
above　the　rich　alluvial　soil　they　had　left　half…an…hour　before。　　It
was　a　long　walk；　thick　clouds　made　the　atmosphere　dark；　though　it
was　as　yet　only　early　afternoon；　and　the　wind　howled　dismally　over
the　hills　of　the　heathnot　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　a　strange　dislike　to　walking　on
the　side　of　her　companion　where　hung　the　afflicted　arm；　moving　round
to　the　other　when　inadvertently　near　it。　　Much　heather　had　been
brushed　by　their　feet　when　they　descended　upon　a　cart…track；　beside
which　stood　the　house　of　the　man　they　sought。

He　did　not　profess　his　remedial　practices　openly；　or　care　anything
about　their　continuance；　his　direct　interests　being　those　of　a
dealer　in　furze；　turf；　'sharp　sand；'　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
disappearedwhich　it　must　be　owned　they　infallibly　didhe　would
say　lightly；　'O；　I　only　drink　a　glass　of　grog　upon　'emperhaps　it's
all　chance；'　and　immediately　turn　the　subject。

He　was　at　home　when　they　arrived；　having　in　fact　seen　them
descending　into　his　valley。　　He　was　a　gray…bearded　man；　with　a
reddish　face；　and　he　looked　singularly　at　Rhoda　the　first　moment　he
beheld　her。　　Mrs。　Lodge　told　him　her　errand；　and　then　with　words　of
self…disparagement　he　examined　her　arm