by Thomas Hardy
The next evening Eustacia stood punctually at the fuel-house door,waiting for the dusk which was to bring Charley with the trappings.Her grandfather was at home tonight, and she would be unable to askher confederate indoors.
He appeared on the dark ridge of heathland, like a fly on a negro,bearing the articles with him, and came up breathless with his walk.
"Here are the things," he whispered, placing them upon the threshold."And now, Miss Eustacia--"
"The payment. It is quite ready. I am as good as my word."
She leant against the door-post, and gave him her hand. Charley tookit in both his own with a tenderness beyond description, unless it waslike that of a child holding a captured sparrow.
"Why, there's a glove on it!" he said in a deprecating way.
"I have been walking," she observed.
"But, miss!"
"Well--it is hardly fair." She pulled off the glove, and gave him herbare hand.
They stood together minute after minute, without further speech, eachlooking at the blackening scene, and each thinking his and her ownthoughts.
"I think I won't use it all up tonight," said Charley devotedly, whensix or eight minutes had been passed by him caressing her hand. "MayI have the other few minutes another time?"
"As you like," said she without the least emotion. "But it must beover in a week. Now, there is only one thing I want you to do: to waitwhile I put on the dress, and then to see if I do my part properly.But let me look first indoors."
She vanished for a minute or two, and went in. Her grandfather wassafely asleep in his chair. "Now, then," she said, on returning,"walk down the garden a little way, and when I am ready I'll callyou."
Charley walked and waited, and presently heard a soft whistle. Hereturned to the fuel-house door.
"Did you whistle, Miss Vye?"
"Yes; come in," reached him in Eustacia's voice from a back quarter."I must not strike a light till the door is shut, or it may be seenshining. Push your hat into the hole through to the wash-house, ifyou can feel your way across."
Charley did as commanded, and she struck the light, revealing herselfto be changed in sex, brilliant in colours, and armed from top totoe. Perhaps she quailed a little under Charley's vigorous gaze, butwhether any shyness at her male attire appeared upon her countenancecould not be seen by reason of the strips of ribbon which used tocover the face in mumming costumes, representing the barred visor ofthe mediaeval helmet.
"It fits pretty well," she said, looking down at the white overalls,"except that the tunic, or whatever you call it, is long in thesleeve. The bottom of the overalls I can turn up inside. Now payattention."
Eustacia then proceeded in her delivery, striking the sword againstthe staff or lance at the minatory phrases, in the orthodox mummingmanner, and strutting up and down. Charley seasoned his admirationwith criticism of the gentlest kind, for the touch of Eustacia's handyet remained with him.
"And now for your excuse to the others," she said. "Where do you meetbefore you go to Mrs. Yeobright's?"
"We thought of meeting here, miss, if you have nothing to say againstit. At eight o'clock, so as to get there by nine."
"Yes. Well, you of course must not appear. I will march in about fiveminutes late, ready-dressed, and tell them that you can't come. Ihave decided that the best plan will be for you to be sent somewhereby me, to make a real thing of the excuse. Our two heath-croppers arein the habit of straying into the meads, and tomorrow evening you cango and see if they are gone there. I'll manage the rest. Now you mayleave me."
"Yes, miss. But I think I'll have one minute more of what I am owed,if you don't mind."
Eustacia gave him her hand as before.
"One minute," she said, and counted on till she reached seven or eightminutes. Hand and person she then withdrew to a distance of severalfeet, and recovered some of her old dignity. The contract completed,she raised between them a barrier impenetrable as a wall.
"There, 'tis all gone; and I didn't mean quite all," he said, with asigh.
"You had good measure," said she, turning away.
"Yes, miss. Well, 'tis over, and now I'll get home-along."
