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'Just the same as usual。'
'Took no notice of you？'
'None。'
Next day the mother put a clean shirt on the boy； and started him
off for Holmstoke church。 He reached the ancient little pile when
the door was just being opened； and he was the first to enter。
Taking his seat by the font； he watched all the parishioners file
in。 The well…to…do Farmer Lodge came nearly last； and his young
wife； who accompanied him； walked up the aisle with the shyness
natural to a modest woman who had appeared thus for the first time。
As all other eyes were fixed upon her； the youth's stare was not
noticed now。
When he reached home his mother said； 'Well？' before he had entered
the room。
'She is not tall。 She is rather short；' he replied。
'Ah！' said his mother； with satisfaction。
'But she's very prettyvery。 In fact； she's lovely。'
The youthful freshness of the yeoman's wife had evidently made an
impression even on the somewhat hard nature of the boy。
'That's all I want to hear；' said his mother quickly。 'Now； spread
the table…cloth。 The hare you caught is very tender； but mind that
nobody catches you。You've never told me what sort of hands she
had。'
'I have never seen 'em。 She never took off her gloves。'
'What did she wear this morning？'
'A white bonnet and a silver…coloured gownd。 It whewed and whistled
so loud when it rubbed against the pews that the lady coloured up
more than ever for very shame at the noise； and pulled it in to keep
it from touching； but when she pushed into her seat； it whewed more
than ever。 Mr。 Lodge； he seemed pleased； and his waistcoat stuck
out； and his great golden seals hung like a lord's； but she seemed
to wish her noisy gownd anywhere but on her。'
'Not she！ However； that will do now。'
These descriptions of the newly…married couple were continued from
time to time by the boy at his mother's request； after any chance
encounter he had had with them。 But Rhoda Brook； though she might
easily have seen young Mrs。 Lodge for herself by walking a couple of
miles； would never attempt an excursion towards the quarter where
the farmhouse lay。 Neither did she； at the daily milking in the
dairyman's yard on Lodge's outlying second farm； ever speak on the
subject of the recent marriage。 The dairyman； who rented the cows
of Lodge； and knew perfectly the tall milkmaid's history； with manly
kindliness always kept the gossip in the cow…barton from annoying
Rhoda。 But the atmosphere thereabout was full of the subject during
the first days of Mrs。 Lodge's arrival； and from her boy's
description and the casual words of the other milkers； Rhoda Brook
could raise a mental image of the unconscious Mrs Lodge that was
realistic as a photograph。
CHAPTER IIIA VISION
One night； two or three weeks after the bridal return； when the boy
was gone to bed； Rhoda sat a long time over the turf ashes that she
had raked out in front of her to extinguish them。 She contemplated
so intently the new wife； as presented to her in her mind's eye over
the embers； that she forgot the lapse of time。 At last； wearied
with her day's work； she too retired。
But the figure which had occupied her so much during this and the
previous days was not to be banished at night。 For the first time
Gertrude Lodge visited the supplanted woman in her dreams。 Rhoda
Brook dreamedsince her assertion that she really saw； before
falling asleep； was not to be believedthat the young wife； in the
pale silk dress and white bonnet； but with features shockingly
distorted； and wrinkled as by age； was sitting upon her chest as she
lay。 The pressure of Mrs。 Lodge's person grew heavier； the blue
eyes peered cruelly into her face； and then the figure thrust
forward its left hand mockingly； so as to make the wedding…ring it
wore glitter in Rhoda's eyes。 Maddened mentally； and nearly
suffocated by pressure； the sleeper struggled； the incubus； still
regarding her； withdrew to the foot of the bed； only； however； to
come forward by degrees； resume her seat； and flash her left hand as
before。
Gasping for breath； Rhoda； in a last desperate effort； swung out her
right hand； seized the confronting spectre by its obtrusive left
arm； and whirled it backward to the floor； starting up herself as
she did so with a low cry。
'O； merciful heaven！' she cried； sitting on the edge of the bed in a
cold sweat； 'that was not a dreamshe was here！'
She could feel her antagonist's arm within her grasp even nowthe
very flesh and bone of it； as it seemed。 She looked on the floor
whither she had whirled the spectre； but there was nothing to be
seen。
Rhoda Brook slept no more that night； and when she went milking at
the next dawn they noticed how pale and haggard she looked。 The
milk that she drew quivered into the pail； her hand had not calmed
even yet； and still retained the feel of the arm。 She came home to
breakfast as wearily as if it had been suppertime。
'What was that noise in your chimmer； mother； last night？' said her
son。 'You fell off the bed； surely？'
'Did you hear anything fall？ At what time？'
'Just when the clock struck two。'
She could not explain； and when the meal was done went silently
about her household work； the boy assisting her； for he hated going
afield on the farms； and she indulged his reluctance。 Between
eleven and twelve the garden…gate clicked； and she lifted her eyes
to the window。 At the bottom of the garden； within the gate； stood
the woman of her vision。 Rhoda seemed transfixed。
'Ah； she said she would come！' exclaimed the boy； also observing
her。
'Said sowhen？ How does she know us？'
'I have seen and spoken to her。 I talked to her yesterday。'
'I told you；' said the mother； flushing indignantly； 'never to speak
to anybody in that house； or go near the place。'
'I did not speak to her till she spoke to me。 And I did not go near
the place。 I met her in the road。'
'What did you tell her？'
'Nothing。 She said； 〃Are you the poor boy who had to bring the
heavy load from market？〃 And she looked at my boots； and said they
would not keep my feet dry if it came on wet； because they were so
cracked。 I told her I lived with my mother； and we had enough to do
to keep ourselves； and that's how it was； and she said then； 〃I'll
come and bring you some better boots； and see your mother。〃 She
gives away things to other folks in the meads besides us。'
Mrs。 Lodge was by this time close to the doornot in her silk； as
Rhoda had seen her in the bed…chamber； but in a morning hat； and
gown of common light material； which became her better than silk。
On her arm she carried a basket。
The impression remaining from the night's experience was still
strong。 Brook had almost expected to see the wrinkles； the scorn；
and the cruelty on her visitor's face。
She would have escaped an interview； had escape been possible。
There was； however； no backdoor to the cottage； and in an instant
the boy had lifted the latch to Mrs。 Lodge's gentle knock。
'I see I have come to the right house；' said she； glancing at the
lad； and smiling。 'But I was not sure till you opened the door。'
The figure and action were those of the phantom； but her voice was
so indescribably sweet； her glance so winning； her smile so tender；
so unlike that of Rhoda's midnight visitant； that the latter could
hardly believe the evidence of her senses。 She was truly glad that
she had not hidden away in sheer aversion； as she had been inclined
to do。 In her basket Mrs。 Lodge brought the pair of boots that she
had promised to the boy； and other useful articles。
At these proofs of a kindly feeling towards her and hers Rhoda's
heart reproached her bitterly。 This innocent young thing should
have her blessing and not her curse。 When she left them a light
seemed gone from the dwelling。 Two days later she came again to
know if the boots fitted； and less than a fortnight after that paid
Rhoda another call。 On this occasion the boy was absent。
'I walk a good deal；' said Mrs。 Lodge； 'and your house is the
nearest outside our own parish。 I hope you are well。 You don't
look quite well。'
Rhoda said she was well enough； and； indeed； t