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thin； fading woman of thirty milked somewhat apart from the rest。
'Years younger than he； they say；' continued the second； with also a
glance of reflectiveness in the same direction。
'How old do you call him； then？'
'Thirty or so。'
'More like forty；' broke in an old milkman near； in a long white
pinafore or 'wropper；' and with the brim of his hat tied down； so
that he looked like a woman。 ''A was born before our Great Weir was
builded； and I hadn't man's wages when I laved water there。'
The discussion waxed so warm that the purr of the milk…streams
became jerky； till a voice from another cow's belly cried with
authority； 'Now then； what the Turk do it matter to us about Farmer
Lodge's age； or Farmer Lodge's new mis'ess？ I shall have to pay him
nine pound a year for the rent of every one of these milchers；
whatever his age or hers。 Get on with your work； or 'twill be dark
afore we have done。 The evening is pinking in a'ready。' This
speaker was the dairyman himself； by whom the milkmaids and men were
employed。
Nothing more was said publicly about Farmer Lodge's wedding； but the
first woman murmured under her cow to her next neighbour； ''Tis hard
for SHE；' signifying the thin worn milkmaid aforesaid。
'O no；' said the second。 'He ha'n't spoke to Rhoda Brook for
years。'
When the milking was done they washed their pails and hung them on a
many…forked stand made of the peeled limb of an oak…tree； set
upright in the earth； and resembling a colossal antlered horn。 The
majority then dispersed in various directions homeward。 The thin
woman who had not spoken was joined by a boy of twelve or
thereabout； and the twain went away up the field also。
Their course lay apart from that of the others； to a lonely spot
high above the water…meads； and not far from the border of Egdon
Heath； whose dark countenance was visible in the distance as they
drew nigh to their home。
'They've just been saying down in barton that your father brings his
young wife home from Anglebury to…morrow；' the woman observed。 'I
shall want to send you for a few things to market； and you'll be
pretty sure to meet 'em。'
'Yes； mother；' said the boy。 'Is father married then？'
'Yes 。 。 。 You can give her a look； and tell me what's she's like；
if you do see her。'
'Yes； mother。'
'If she's dark or fair； and if she's tallas tall as I。 And if she
seems like a woman who has ever worked for a living； or one that has
been always well off； and has never done anything； and shows marks
of the lady on her； as I expect she do。'
'Yes。'
They crept up the hill in the twilight； and entered the cottage。 It
was built of mud…walls； the surface of which had been washed by many
rains into channels and depressions that left none of the original
flat face visible； while here and there in the thatch above a rafter
showed like a bone protruding through the skin。
She was kneeling down in the chimney…corner； before two pieces of
turf laid together with the heather inwards； blowing at the red…hot
ashes with her breath till the turves flamed。 The radiance lit her
pale cheek； and made her dark eyes； that had once been handsome；
seem handsome anew。 'Yes；' she resumed； 'see if she is dark or
fair； and if you can； notice if her hands be white； if not； see if
they look as though she had ever done housework； or are milker's
hands like mine。'
The boy again promised； inattentively this time； his mother not
observing that he was cutting a notch with his pocket…knife in the
beech…backed chair。
CHAPTER IITHE YOUNG WIFE
The road from Anglebury to Holmstoke is in general level； but there
is one place where a sharp ascent breaks its monotony。 Farmers
homeward…bound from the former market…town； who trot all the rest of
the way； walk their horses up this short incline。
The next evening； while the sun was yet bright； a handsome new gig；
with a lemon…coloured body and red wheels； was spinning westward
along the level highway at the heels of a powerful mare。 The driver
was a yeoman in the prime of life； cleanly shaven like an actor； his
face being toned to that bluish…vermilion hue which so often graces
a thriving farmer's features when returning home after successful
dealings in the town。 Beside him sat a woman； many years his
junioralmost； indeed； a girl。 Her face too was fresh in colour；
but it was of a totally different qualitysoft and evanescent； like
the light under a heap of rose…petals。
Few people travelled this way； for it was not a main road； and the
long white riband of gravel that stretched before them was empty；
save of one small scarce…moving speck； which presently resolved
itself into the figure of boy； who was creeping on at a snail's
pace； and continually looking behind himthe heavy bundle he
carried being some excuse for； if not the reason of； his
dilatoriness。 When the bouncing gig…party slowed at the bottom of
the incline above mentioned； the pedestrian was only a few yards in
front。 Supporting the large bundle by putting one hand on his hip；
he turned and looked straight at the farmer's wife as though he
would read her through and through； pacing along abreast of the
horse。
The low sun was full in her face； rendering every feature； shade；
and contour distinct； from the curve of her little nostril to the
colour of her eyes。 The farmer； though he seemed annoyed at the
boy's persistent presence； did not order him to get out of the way；
and thus the lad preceded them； his hard gaze never leaving her；
till they reached the top of the ascent； when the farmer trotted on
with relief in his lineamentshaving taken no outward notice of the
boy whatever。
'How that poor lad stared at me！' said the young wife。
'Yes； dear； I saw that he did。'
'He is one of the village； I suppose？'
'One of the neighbourhood。 I think he lives with his mother a mile
or two off。'
'He knows who we are； no doubt？'
'O yes。 You must expect to be stared at just at first； my pretty
Gertrude。'
'I do；though I think the poor boy may have looked at us in the
hope we might relieve him of his heavy load； rather than from
curiosity。'
'O no；' said her husband off…handedly。 'These country lads will
carry a hundredweight once they get it on their backs； besides his
pack had more size than weight in it。 Now； then； another mile and I
shall be able to show you our house in the distanceif it is not
too dark before we get there。' The wheels spun round； and particles
flew from their periphery as before； till a white house of ample
dimensions revealed itself； with farm…buildings and ricks at the
back。
Meanwhile the boy had quickened his pace； and turning up a by…lane
some mile and half short of the white farmstead； ascended towards
the leaner pastures； and so on to the cottage of his mother。
She had reached home after her day's milking at the outlying dairy；
and was washing cabbage at the doorway in the declining light。
'Hold up the net a moment；' she said； without preface； as the boy
came up。
He flung down his bundle； held the edge of the cabbage…net； and as
she filled its meshes with the dripping leaves she went on； 'Well；
did you see her？'
'Yes； quite plain。'
'Is she ladylike？'
'Yes； and more。 A lady complete。'
'Is she young？'
'Well； she's growed up； and her ways be quite a woman's。'
'Of course。 What colour is her hair and face？'
'Her hair is lightish； and her face as comely as a live doll's。'
'Her eyes； then； are not dark like mine？'
'Noof a bluish turn； and her mouth is very nice and red； and when
she smiles； her teeth show white。'
'Is she tall？' said the woman sharply。
'I couldn't see。 She was sitting down。'
'Then do you go to Holmstoke church to…morrow morning： she's sure
to be there。 Go early and notice her walking in； and come home and
tell me if she's taller than I。'
'Very well； mother。 But why don't you go and see for yourself？'
'_I_ go to see her！ I wouldn't look up at her if she were to pass
my window this instant。 She was with Mr。 Lodge； of course。 What
did he say or do？'
'Just the same as usual。'
'Took no notice of you？'
'None。'
Next day the mother put a clean shirt