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early to rise；〃 but I don't mind stopping a minute for such a one as
you。 Come into house。' He reopened the door； and preceded her to
the room within。
The implements of his daily work； which was that of a jobbing
gardener； stood in a corner； and seeing probably that she looked
rural； he said； 'If you want me to undertake country work I can't
come； for I never leave Casterbridge for gentle nor simplenot I。
My real calling is officer of justice；' he added formally。
'Yes； yes！ That's it。 To…morrow！'
'Ah！ I thought so。 Well； what's the matter about that？ 'Tis no
use to come here about the knotfolks do come continually； but I
tell 'em one knot is as merciful as another if ye keep it under the
ear。 Is the unfortunate man a relation； or； I should say； perhaps'
（looking at her dress） 'a person who's been in your employ？'
'No。 What time is the execution？'
'The same as usualtwelve o'clock； or as soon after as the London
mail…coach gets in。 We always wait for that； in case of a
reprieve。'
'Oa reprieveI hope not！' she said involuntarily；
'Well；hee； hee！as a matter of business； so do I！ But still； if
ever a young fellow deserved to be let off； this one does； only just
turned eighteen； and only present by chance when the rick was fired。
Howsomever； there's not much risk of it； as they are obliged to make
an example of him； there having been so much destruction of property
that way lately。'
'I mean；' she explained； 'that I want to touch him for a charm； a
cure of an affliction； by the advice of a man who has proved the
virtue of the remedy。'
'O yes； miss！ Now I understand。 I've had such people come in past
years。 But it didn't strike me that you looked of a sort to require
blood…turning。 What's the complaint？ The wrong kind for this； I'll
be bound。'
'My arm。' She reluctantly showed the withered skin。
'Ah'tis all a…scram！' said the hangman； examining it。
'Yes；' said she。
'Well；' he continued； with interest； 'that IS the class o' subject；
I'm bound to admit！ I like the look of the place； it is truly as
suitable for the cure as any I ever saw。 'Twas a knowing…man that
sent 'ee； whoever he was。'
'You can contrive for me all that's necessary？' she said
breathlessly。
'You should really have gone to the governor of the jail； and your
doctor with 'ee； and given your name and addressthat's how it used
to be done； if I recollect。 Still； perhaps； I can manage it for a
trifling fee。'
'O； thank you！ I would rather do it this way； as I should like it
kept private。'
'Lover not to know； eh？'
'Nohusband。'
'Aha！ Very well。 I'll get ee' a touch of the corpse。'
'Where is it now？' she said； shuddering。
'It？HE； you mean； he's living yet。 Just inside that little small
winder up there in the glum。' He signified the jail on the cliff
above。
She thought of her husband and her friends。 'Yes； of course；' she
said； 'and how am I to proceed？'
He took her to the door。 'Now； do you be waiting at the little
wicket in the wall； that you'll find up there in the lane； not later
than one o'clock。 I will open it from the inside； as I shan't come
home to dinner till he's cut down。 Good…night。 Be punctual； and if
you don't want anybody to know 'ee； wear a veil。 Ahonce I had
such a daughter as you！'
She went away； and climbed the path above； to assure herself that
she would be able to find the wicket next day。 Its outline was soon
visible to hera narrow opening in the outer wall of the prison
precincts。 The steep was so great that； having reached the wicket；
she stopped a moment to breathe； and； looking back upon the water…
side cot； saw the hangman again ascending his outdoor staircase。 He
entered the loft or chamber to which it led； and in a few minutes
extinguished his light。
The town clock struck ten； and she returned to the White Hart as she
had come。
CHAPTER IXA RENCOUNTER
It was one o'clock on Saturday。 Gertrude Lodge； having been
admitted to the jail as above described； was sitting in a waiting…
room within the second gate； which stood under a classic archway of
ashlar； then comparatively modern； and bearing the inscription；
'COVNTY JAIL： 1793。' This had been the facade she saw from the
heath the day before。 Near at hand was a passage to the roof on
which the gallows stood。
The town was thronged； and the market suspended； but Gertrude had
seen scarcely a soul。 Having kept her room till the hour of the
appointment； she had proceeded to the spot by a way which avoided
the open space below the cliff where the spectators had gathered；
but she could； even now； hear the multitudinous babble of their
voices； out of which rose at intervals the hoarse croak of a single
voice uttering the words； 'Last dying speech and confession！' There
had been no reprieve； and the execution was over； but the crowd
still waited to see the body taken down。
Soon the persistent girl heard a trampling overhead； then a hand
beckoned to her； and； following directions； she went out and crossed
the inner paved court beyond the gatehouse； her knees trembling so
that she could scarcely walk。 One of her arms was out of its
sleeve； and only covered by her shawl。
On the spot at which she had now arrived were two trestles； and
before she could think of their purpose she heard heavy feet
descending stairs somewhere at her back。 Turn her head she would
not； or could not； and； rigid in this position； she was conscious of
a rough coffin passing her shoulder； borne by four men。 It was
open； and in it lay the body of a young man； wearing the smockfrock
of a rustic； and fustian breeches。 The corpse had been thrown into
the coffin so hastily that the skirt of the smockfrock was hanging
over。 The burden was temporarily deposited on the trestles。
By this time the young woman's state was such that a gray mist
seemed to float before her eyes； on account of which； and the veil
she wore； she could scarcely discern anything： it was as though she
had nearly died； but was held up by a sort of galvanism。
'Now！' said a voice close at hand； and she was just conscious that
the word had been addressed to her。
By a last strenuous effort she advanced； at the same time hearing
persons approaching behind her。 She bared her poor curst arm； and
Davies； uncovering the face of the corpse； took Gertrude's hand； and
held it so that her arm lay across the dead man's neck； upon a line
the colour of an unripe blackberry； which surrounded it。
Gertrude shrieked： 'the turn o' the blood；' predicted by the
conjuror； had taken place。 But at that moment a second shriek rent
the air of the enclosure： it was not Gertrude's； and its effect
upon her was to make her start round。
Immediately behind her stood Rhoda Brook； her face drawn； and her
eyes red with weeping。 Behind Rhoda stood Gertrude's own husband；
his countenance lined； his eyes dim； but without a tear。
'D…n you！ what are you doing here？' he said hoarsely。
'Hussyto come between us and our child now！' cried Rhoda。 'This
is the meaning of what Satan showed me in the vision！ You are like
her at last！' And clutching the bare arm of the younger woman； she
pulled her unresistingly back against the wall。 Immediately Brook
had loosened her hold the fragile young Gertrude slid down against
the feet of her husband。 When he lifted her up she was unconscious。
The mere sight of the twain had been enough to suggest to her that
the dead young man was Rhoda's son。 At that time the relatives of
an executed convict had the privilege of claiming the body for
burial； if they chose to do so； and it was for this purpose that
Lodge was awaiting the inquest with Rhoda。 He had been summoned by
her as soon as the young man was taken in the crime； and at
different times since； and he had attended in court during the
trial。 This was the 'holiday' he had been indulging in of late。
The two wretched parents had wished to avoid exposure； and hence had
come themselves for the body； a waggon and sheet for its conveyance
and covering being in waiting outside。
Gertrude's case was so serious that it was deemed advisable to call
to her the surgeon who was at hand。