’Whatwasthatnoiseinyourchimmer，mother，lastnight？’saidherson。’Youfelloffthebed，surely？’
’Didyouhearanythingfall？Atwhattime？’
’Justwhentheclockstrucktwo。’
Shecouldnotexplain，andwhenthemealwasdonewentsilentlyaboutherhouseholdwork，theboyassistingher，forhehatedgoingafieldonthefarms，andsheindulgedhisreluctance。Betweenelevenandtwelvethegarden-gateclicked，andsheliftedhereyestothewindow。Atthebottomofthegarden，withinthegate，stoodthewomanofhervision。Rhodaseemedtransfixed。
’Ah，shesaidshewouldcome！’exclaimedtheboy，alsoobservingher。
’Saidso——when？Howdoessheknowus？’
’Ihaveseenandspokentoher。Italkedtoheryesterday。’
’Itoldyou，’saidthemother，flushingindignantly，’nevertospeaktoanybodyinthathouse，orgoneartheplace。’
’Ididnotspeaktohertillshespoketome。AndIdidnotgoneartheplace。Imetherintheroad。’
’Whatdidyoutellher？’
’Nothing。Shesaid，“Areyouthepoorboywhohadtobringtheheavyloadfrommarket？“Andshelookedatmyboots，andsaidtheywouldnotkeepmyfeetdryifitcameonwet，becausetheyweresocracked。ItoldherIlivedwithmymother，andwehadenoughtodotokeepourselves，andthat’showitwas；andshesaidthen，“I’llcomeandbringyousomebetterboots，andseeyourmother。“Shegivesawaythingstootherfolksinthemeadsbesidesus。’
Mrs。Lodgewasbythistimeclosetothedoor——notinhersilk，asRhodahadseenherinthebed-chamber，butinamorninghat，andgownofcommonlightmaterial，whichbecameherbetterthansilk。
Onherarmshecarriedabasket。
Theimpressionremainingfromthenight’sexperiencewasstillstrong。Brookhadalmostexpectedtoseethewrinkles，thescorn，andthecrueltyonhervisitor’sface。
Shewouldhaveescapedaninterview，hadescapebeenpossible。
Therewas，however，nobackdoortothecottage，andinaninstanttheboyhadliftedthelatchtoMrs。Lodge’sgentleknock。
’IseeIhavecometotherighthouse，’saidshe，glancingatthelad，andsmiling。’ButIwasnotsuretillyouopenedthedoor。’
Thefigureandactionwerethoseofthephantom；buthervoicewassoindescribablysweet，herglancesowinning，hersmilesotender，sounlikethatofRhoda’smidnightvisitant，thatthelattercouldhardlybelievetheevidenceofhersenses。Shewastrulygladthatshehadnothiddenawayinsheeraversion，asshehadbeeninclinedtodo。InherbasketMrs。Lodgebroughtthepairofbootsthatshehadpromisedtotheboy，andotherusefularticles。
AttheseproofsofakindlyfeelingtowardsherandhersRhoda’sheartreproachedherbitterly。Thisinnocentyoungthingshouldhaveherblessingandnothercurse。Whensheleftthemalightseemedgonefromthedwelling。Twodayslatershecameagaintoknowifthebootsfitted；andlessthanafortnightafterthatpaidRhodaanothercall。Onthisoccasiontheboywasabsent。
’Iwalkagooddeal，’saidMrs。Lodge，’andyourhouseisthenearestoutsideourownparish。Ihopeyouarewell。Youdon’tlookquitewell。’
Rhodasaidshewaswellenough；and，indeed，thoughthepalerofthetwo，therewasmoreofthestrengththatenduresinherwell-definedfeaturesandlargeframe，thaninthesoft-cheekedyoungwomanbeforeher。Theconversationbecamequiteconfidentialasregardedtheirpowersandweaknesses；andwhenMrs。Lodgewasleaving，Rhodasaid，’Ihopeyouwillfindthisairagreewithyou，ma’am，andnotsufferfromthedampofthewater-meads。’
Theyoungeronerepliedthattherewasnotmuchdoubtofit，hergeneralhealthbeingusuallygood。’Though，nowyouremindme，’sheadded，’Ihaveonelittleailmentwhichpuzzlesme。Itisnothingserious，butIcannotmakeitout。’
Sheuncoveredherlefthandandarm；andtheiroutlineconfrontedRhoda’sgazeastheexactoriginalofthelimbshehadbeheldandseizedinherdream。Uponthepinkroundsurfaceofthearmwerefaintmarksofanunhealthycolour，asifproducedbyaroughgrasp。
Rhoda’seyesbecamerivetedonthediscolorations；shefanciedthatshediscernedinthemtheshapeofherownfourfingers。
’Howdidithappen？’shesaidmechanically。
’Icannottell，’repliedMrs。Lodge，shakingherhead。’OnenightwhenIwassoundasleep，dreamingIwasawayinsomestrangeplace，apainsuddenlyshotintomyarmthere，andwassokeenastoawakenme。Imusthavestruckitinthedaytime，Isuppose，thoughIdon’trememberdoingso。’Sheadded，laughing，’Itellmydearhusbandthatitlooksjustasifhehadflownintoarageandstruckmethere。O，Idaresayitwillsoondisappear。’
’Ha，ha！Yes……Onwhatnightdiditcome？’
Mrs。Lodgeconsidered，andsaiditwouldbeafortnightagoonthemorrow。’WhenIawokeIcouldnotrememberwhereIwas，’sheadded，’tilltheclockstrikingtworemindedme。’
ShehadnamedthenightandthehourofRhoda’sspectralencounter，andBrookfeltlikeaguiltything。Theartlessdisclosurestartledher；shedidnotreasononthefreaksofcoincidence；andallthesceneryofthatghastlynightreturnedwithdoublevividnesstohermind。
’O，canitbe，’shesaidtoherself，whenhervisitorhaddeparted，’thatIexerciseamalignantpoweroverpeopleagainstmyownwill？’
Sheknewthatshehadbeenslilycalledawitchsinceherfall；butneverhavingunderstoodwhythatparticularstigmahadbeenattachedtoher，ithadpasseddisregarded。Couldthisbetheexplanation，andhadsuchthingsasthiseverhappenedbefore？
Thesummerdrewon，andRhodaBrookalmostdreadedtomeetMrs。
Lodgeagain，notwithstandingthatherfeelingfortheyoungwifeamountedwell-nightoaffection。SomethinginherownindividualityseemedtoconvictRhodaofcrime。YetafatalitysometimeswoulddirectthestepsofthelattertotheoutskirtsofHolmstokewheneversheleftherhouseforanyotherpurposethanherdailywork；andhenceithappenedthattheirnextencounterwasoutofdoors。Rhodacouldnotavoidthesubjectwhichhadsomystifiedher，andafterthefirstfewwordsshestammered，’Ihopeyour——armiswellagain，ma’am？’ShehadperceivedwithconsternationthatGertrudeLodgecarriedherleftarmstiffly。
’No；itisnotquitewell。Indeeditisnobetteratall；itisratherworse。Itpainsmedreadfullysometimes。’
’Perhapsyouhadbettergotoadoctor，ma’am。’
Sherepliedthatshehadalreadyseenadoctor。Herhusbandhadinsisteduponhergoingtoone。Butthesurgeonhadnotseemedtounderstandtheafflictedlimbatall；hehadtoldhertobatheitinhotwater，andshehadbathedit，butthetreatmenthaddonenogood。
’Willyouletmeseeit？’saidthemilkwoman。
Mrs。Lodgepusheduphersleeveanddisclosedtheplace，whichwasafewinchesabovethewrist。AssoonasRhodaBrooksawit，shecouldhardlypreservehercomposure。Therewasnothingofthenatureofawound，butthearmatthatpointhadashrivelledlook，andtheoutlineofthefourfingersappearedmoredistinctthanattheformertime。Moreover，shefanciedthattheywereimprintedinpreciselytherelativepositionofherclutchuponthearminthetrance；thefirstfingertowardsGertrude’swrist，andthefourthtowardsherelbow。
WhattheimpressresembledseemedtohavestruckGertrudeherselfsincetheirlastmeeting。’Itlooksalmostlikefinger-marks，’shesaid；addingwithafaintlaugh，’myhusbandsaysitisasifsomewitch，orthedevilhimself，hadtakenholdofmethere，andblastedtheflesh。’
Rhodashivered。’That’sfancy，’shesaidhurriedly。’Iwouldn’tmindit，ifIwereyou。’
’Ishouldn’tsomuchmindit，’saidtheyounger，withhesitation，’if——ifIhadn’tanotionthatitmakesmyhusband——dislikeme——no，lovemeless。Menthinksomuchofpersonalappearance。’
’Somedo——heforone。’
’Yes；andhewasveryproudofmine，atfirst。’
’Keepyourarmcoveredfromhissight。’
’Ah——heknowsthedisfigurementisthere！’Shetriedtohidethetearsthatfilledhereyes。
’Well，ma’am，Iearnestlyhopeitwillgoawaysoon。’
Andsothemilkwoman’smindwaschainedanewtothesubjectbyahorridsortofspellasshereturnedhome。Thesenseofhavingbeenguiltyofanactofmalignityincreased，affectasshemighttoridiculehersuperstition。InhersecretheartRhodadidnotaltogetherobjecttoaslightdiminutionofhersuccessor’sbeauty，bywhatevermeansithadcomeabout；butshedidnotwishtoinflictuponherphysicalpain。ForthoughthisprettyyoungwomanhadrenderedimpossibleanyreparationwhichLodgemighthavemadeRhodaforhispastconduct，everythinglikeresentmentattheunconscioususurpationhadquitepassedawayfromtheelder’smind。
IfthesweetandkindlyGertrudeLodgeonlyknewofthesceneinthebed-chamber，whatwouldshethink？Nottoinformherofitseemedtreacheryinthepresenceofherfriendliness；buttellshecouldnotofherownaccord——neithercouldshedevisearemedy。
Shemuseduponthematterthegreaterpartofthenight；andthenextday，afterthemorningmilking，setouttoobtainanotherglimpseofGertrudeLodgeifshecould，beingheldtoherbyagruesomefascination。Bywatchingthehousefromadistancethemilkmaidwaspresentlyabletodiscernthefarmer’swifeinarideshewastakingalone——probablytojoinherhusbandinsomedistantfield。Mrs。Lodgeperceivedher，andcanteredinherdirection。
’Goodmorning，Rhoda！’Gertrudesaid，whenshehadcomeup。’Iwasgoingtocall。’
RhodanoticedthatMrs。Lodgeheldthereinswithsomedifficulty。
’Ihope——thebadarm，’saidRhoda。
’TheytellmethereispossiblyonewaybywhichImightbeabletofindoutthecause，andsoperhapsthecure，ofit，’repliedtheotheranxiously。’ItisbygoingtosomeclevermanoverinEgdonHeath。Theydidnotknowifhewasstillalive——andIcannotrememberhisnameatthismoment；buttheysaidthatyouknewmoreofhismovementsthananybodyelsehereabout，andcouldtellmeifhewerestilltobeconsulted。Dearme——whatwashisname？Butyouknow。’
’NotConjurorTrendle？’saidherthincompanion，turningpale。
’Trendle——yes。Ishealive？’
’Ibelieveso，’saidRhoda，withreluctance。
’Whydoyoucallhimconjuror？’
’Well——theysay——theyusedtosayhewasa——hehadpowersotherfolkshavenot。’
’O，howcouldmypeoplebesosuperstitiousastorecommendamanofthatsort！Ithoughttheymeantsomemedicalman。Ishallthinknomoreofhim。’
Rhodalookedrelieved，andMrs。Lodgerodeon。Themilkwomanhadinwardlyseen，fromthemomentsheheardofherhavingbeenmentionedasareferenceforthisman，thattheremustexistasarcasticfeelingamongthework-folkthatasorceresswouldknowthewhereaboutsoftheexorcist。Theysuspectedher，then。Ashorttimeagothiswouldhavegivennoconcerntoawomanofhercommon-
sense。Butshehadahauntingreasontobesuperstitiousnow；andshehadbeenseizedwithsuddendreadthatthisConjurorTrendlemightnameherasthemalignantinfluencewhichwasblastingthefairpersonofGertrude，andsoleadherfriendtohateherforever，andtotreatherassomefiendinhumanshape。
Butallwasnotover。Twodaysafter，ashadowintrudedintothewindow-patternthrownonRhodaBrook’sfloorbytheafternoonsun。
Thewomanopenedthedooratonce，almostbreathlessly。
