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difficulties； she was again almost driven to fall back upon her
husband。 But； on sounding him about the assizes； he was so
uncommunicative； so more than usually cold； that she did not
proceed； and decided that whatever she did she would do alone。
Fortune； obdurate hitherto； showed her unexpected favour。 On the
Thursday before the Saturday fixed for the execution； Lodge remarked
to her that he was going away from home for another day or two on
business at a fair； and that he was sorry he could not take her with
him。
She exhibited on this occasion so much readiness to stay at home
that he looked at her in surprise。 Time had been when she would
have shown deep disappointment at the loss of such a jaunt。
However； he lapsed into his usual taciturnity； and on the day named
left Holmstoke。
It was now her turn。 She at first had thought of driving； but on
reflection held that driving would not do； since it would
necessitate her keeping to the turnpike…road； and so increase by
tenfold the risk of her ghastly errand being found out。 She decided
to ride； and avoid the beaten track； notwithstanding that in her
husband's stables there was no animal just at present which by any
stretch of imagination could be considered a lady's mount； in spite
of his promise before marriage to always keep a mare for her。 He
had； however； many cart…horses； fine ones of their kind； and among
the rest was a serviceable creature； an equine Amazon； with a back
as broad as a sofa； on which Gertrude had occasionally taken an
airing when unwell。 This horse she chose。
On Friday afternoon one of the men brought it round。 She was
dressed； and before going down looked at her shrivelled arm。 'Ah！'
she said to it； 'if it had not been for you this terrible ordeal
would have been saved me！'
When strapping up the bundle in which she carried a few articles of
clothing； she took occasion to say to the servant； 'I take these in
case I should not get back to…night from the person I am going to
visit。 Don't be alarmed if I am not in by ten； and close up the
house as usual。 I shall be at home to…morrow for certain。' She
meant then to privately tell her husband： the deed accomplished was
not like the deed projected。 He would almost certainly forgive her。
And then the pretty palpitating Gertrude Lodge went from her
husband's homestead； but though her goal was Casterbridge she did
not take the direct route thither through Stickleford。 Her cunning
course at first was in precisely the opposite direction。 As soon as
she was out of sight； however； she turned to the left； by a road
which led into Egdon； and on entering the heath wheeled round； and
set out in the true course； due westerly。 A more private way down
the county could not be imagined； and as to direction； she had
merely to keep her horse's head to a point a little to the right of
the sun。 She knew that she would light upon a furze…cutter or
cottager of some sort from time to time； from whom she might correct
her bearing。
Though the date was comparatively recent； Egdon was much less
fragmentary in character than now。 The attemptssuccessful and
otherwiseat cultivation on the lower slopes； which intrude and
break up the original heath into small detached heaths； had not been
carried far； Enclosure Acts had not taken effect； and the banks and
fences which now exclude the cattle of those villagers who formerly
enjoyed rights of commonage thereon； and the carts of those who had
turbary privileges which kept them in firing all the year round；
were not erected。 Gertrude； therefore； rode along with no other
obstacles than the prickly furze bushes； the mats of heather； the
white water…courses； and the natural steeps and declivities of the
ground。
Her horse was sure； if heavy…footed and slow； and though a draught
animal； was easy…paced； had it been otherwise； she was not a woman
who could have ventured to ride over such a bit of country with a
half…dead arm。 It was therefore nearly eight o'clock when she drew
rein to breathe the mare on the last outlying high point of heath…
land towards Casterbridge； previous to leaving Egdon for the
cultivated valleys。
She halted before a pool called Rushy…pond； flanked by the ends of
two hedges； a railing ran through the centre of the pond； dividing
it in half。 Over the railing she saw the low green country； over
the green trees the roofs of the town； over the roofs a white flat
facade； denoting the entrance to the county jail。 On the roof of
this front specks were moving about； they seemed to be workmen
erecting something。 Her flesh crept。 She descended slowly； and was
soon amid corn…fields and pastures。 In another half…hour； when it
was almost dusk； Gertrude reached the White Hart； the first inn of
the town on that side。
Little surprise was excited by her arrival； farmers' wives rode on
horseback then more than they do now； though； for that matter； Mrs。
Lodge was not imagined to be a wife at all； the innkeeper supposed
her some harum…skarum young woman who had come to attend 'hang…fair'
next day。 Neither her husband nor herself ever dealt in
Casterbridge market； so that she was unknown。 While dismounting she
beheld a crowd of boys standing at the door of a harness…maker's
shop just above the inn； looking inside it with deep interest。
'What is going on there？' she asked of the ostler。
'Making the rope for to…morrow。'
She throbbed responsively； and contracted her arm。
''Tis sold by the inch afterwards；' the man continued。 'I could get
you a bit； miss； for nothing； if you'd like？'
She hastily repudiated any such wish； all the more from a curious
creeping feeling that the condemned wretch's destiny was becoming
interwoven with her own； and having engaged a room for the night；
sat down to think。
Up to this time she had formed but the vaguest notions about her
means of obtaining access to the prison。 The words of the cunning…
man returned to her mind。 He had implied that she should use her
beauty； impaired though it was； as a pass…key。 In her inexperience
she knew little about jail functionaries； she had heard of a high…
sheriff and an under…sheriff； but dimly only。 She knew； however；
that there must be a hangman； and to the hangman she determined to
apply。
CHAPTER VIIIA WATER…SIDE HERMIT
At this date； and for several years after； there was a hangman to
almost every jail。 Gertrude found； on inquiry； that the
Casterbridge official dwelt in a lonely cottage by a deep slow river
flowing under the cliff on which the prison buildings were situate
the stream being the self…same one； though she did not know it；
which watered the Stickleford and Holmstoke meads lower down in its
course。
Having changed her dress； and before she had eaten or drunkfor she
could not take her ease till she had ascertained some particulars
Gertrude pursued her way by a path along the water…side to the
cottage indicated。 Passing thus the outskirts of the jail； she
discerned on the level roof over the gateway three rectangular lines
against the sky； where the specks had been moving in her distant
view； she recognized what the erection was； and passed quickly on。
Another hundred yards brought her to the executioner's house； which
a boy pointed out It stood close to the same stream； and was hard by
a weir； the waters of which emitted a steady roar。
While she stood hesitating the door opened； and an old man came
forth shading a candle with one hand。 Locking the door on the
outside； he turned to a flight of wooden steps fixed against the end
of the cottage； and began to ascend them； this being evidently the
staircase to his bedroom。 Gertrude hastened forward； but by the
time she reached the foot of the ladder he was at the top。 She
called to him loudly enough to be heard above the roar of the weir；
he looked down and said； 'What d'ye want here？'
'To speak to you a minute。'
The candle…light； such as it was； fell upon her imploring； pale；
upturned face； and Davies （as the hangman was called） backed down
the ladder。 'I was just going to bed；' he said； '〃Early to bed and
early to rise；〃 but I don't mind stopping a minute for such a o