Thedateatwhichthefollowingeventsareassumedtohaveoccurredmaybesetdownasbetween1840and1850，whentheoldwateringplacehereincalled"Budmouth"stillretainedsufficientafterglowfromitsGeorgiangaietyandprestigetolenditanabsorbingattractivenesstotheromanticandimaginativesoulofalonelydwellerinland。
Underthegeneralnameof"EgdonHeath，"whichhasbeengiventothesombresceneofthestory，areunitedortypifiedheathsofvariousrealnames，tothenumberofatleastadozen；thesebeingvirtuallyoneincharacterandaspect，thoughtheiroriginalunity，orpartialunity，isnowsomewhatdisguisedbyintrusivestripsandslicesbroughtundertheploughwithvaryingdegreesofsuccess，orplantedtowoodland。
Itispleasanttodreamthatsomespotintheextensivetractwhosesouthwesternquarterisheredescribed，maybetheheathofthattraditionaryKingofWessex——Lear。
July，1895。
"TosorrowIbadegoodmorrow，Andthoughttoleaveherfarawaybehind；
Butcheerly，cheerly，Shelovesmedearly；
Sheissoconstanttome，andsokind。
Iwoulddeceiveher，Andsoleaveher，Butah！sheissoconstantandsokind。"
bookoneTHETHREEWOMEN
1—AFaceonWhichTimeMakesbutLittleImpressionASaturdayafternooninNovemberwasapproachingthetimeoftwilight，andthevasttractofunenclosedwildknownasEgdonHeathembrowneditselfmomentbymoment。
Overheadthehollowstretchofwhitishcloudshuttingouttheskywasasatentwhichhadthewholeheathforitsfloor。
Theheavenbeingspreadwiththispallidscreenandtheearthwiththedarkestvegetation，theirmeeting—lineatthehorizonwasclearlymarked。Insuchcontrasttheheathworetheappearanceofaninstalmentofnightwhichhadtakenupitsplacebeforeitsastronomicalhourwascome：darknesshadtoagreatextentarrivedhereon，whiledaystooddistinctinthesky。Lookingupwards，afurze—cutterwouldhavebeeninclinedtocontinuework；
lookingdown，hewouldhavedecidedtofinishhisfaggotandgohome。Thedistantrimsoftheworldandofthefirmamentseemedtobeadivisionintimenolessthanadivisioninmatter。Thefaceoftheheathbyitsmerecomplexionaddedhalfanhourtoevening；
itcouldinlikemannerretardthedawn，saddennoon，anticipatethefrowningofstormsscarcelygenerated，andintensifytheopacityofamoonlessmidnighttoacauseofshakinganddread。
Infact，preciselyatthistransitionalpointofitsnightlyrollintodarknessthegreatandparticulargloryoftheEgdonwastebegan，andnobodycouldbesaidtounderstandtheheathwhohadnotbeenthereatsuchatime。
Itcouldbestbefeltwhenitcouldnotclearlybeseen，itscompleteeffectandexplanationlyinginthisandthesucceedinghoursbeforethenextdawn；then，andonlythen，didittellitstruetale。Thespotwas，indeed，anearrelationofnight，andwhennightshoweditselfanapparenttendencytogravitatetogethercouldbeperceivedinitsshadesandthescene。Thesombrestretchofroundsandhollowsseemedtoriseandmeettheeveninggloominpuresympathy，theheathexhalingdarknessasrapidlyastheheavensprecipitatedit。Andsotheobscurityintheairandtheobscurityinthelandclosedtogetherinablackfraternizationtowardswhicheachadvancedhalfway。
Theplacebecamefullofawatchfulintentnessnow；
forwhenotherthingssankbloodingtosleeptheheathappearedslowlytoawakeandlisten。EverynightitsTitanicformseemedtoawaitsomething；butithadwaitedthus，unmoved，duringsomanycenturies，throughthecrisesofsomanythings，thatitcouldonlybeimaginedtoawaitonelastcrisis——thefinaloverthrow。
Itwasaspotwhichreturneduponthememoryofthosewholoveditwithanaspectofpeculiarandkindlycongruity。
Smilingchampaignsofflowersandfruithardlydothis，fortheyarepermanentlyharmoniousonlywithanexistenceofbetterreputationastoitsissuesthanthepresent。
TwilightcombinedwiththesceneryofEgdonHeathtoevolveathingmajesticwithoutseverity，impressivewithoutshowiness，emphaticinitsadmonitions，grandinitssimplicity。Thequalificationswhichfrequentlyinvestthefacadeofaprisonwithfarmoredignitythanisfoundinthefacadeofapalacedoubleitssizelenttothisheathasublimityinwhichspotsrenownedforbeautyoftheacceptedkindareutterlywanting。
Fairprospectswedhappilywithfairtimes；butalas，iftimesbenotfair！Menhaveoftenersufferedfrom，themockeryofaplacetoosmilingfortheirreasonthanfromtheoppressionofsurroundingsoversadlytinged。
HaggardEgdonappealedtoasubtlerandscarcerinstinct，toamorerecentlylearntemotion，thanthatwhichrespondstothesortofbeautycalledcharmingandfair。
Indeed，itisaquestioniftheexclusivereignofthisorthodoxbeautyisnotapproachingitslastquarter。
ThenewValeofTempemaybeagauntwasteinThule；
humansoulsmayfindthemselvesincloserandcloserharmonywithexternalthingswearingasombrenessdistastefultoourracewhenitwasyoung。Thetimeseemsnear，ifithasnotactuallyarrived，whenthechastenedsublimityofamoor，asea，oramountainwillbeallofnaturethatisabsolutelyinkeepingwiththemoodsofthemorethinkingamongmankind。Andultimately，tothecommonesttourist，spotslikeIcelandmaybecomewhatthevineyardsandmyrtlegardensofSouthEuropearetohimnow；andHeidelbergandBadenbepassedunheededashehastensfromtheAlpstothesanddunesofScheveningen。
ThemostthoroughgoingasceticcouldfeelthathehadanaturalrighttowanderonEgdon——hewaskeepingwithinthelineoflegitimateindulgencewhenhelaidhimselfopentoinfluencessuchasthese。Coloursandbeautiessofarsubduedwere，atleast，thebirthrightofall。
Onlyinsummerdaysofhighestfeatherdiditsmoodtouchthelevelofgaiety。Intensitywasmoreusuallyreachedbywayofthesolemnthanbywayofthebrilliant，andsuchasortofintensitywasoftenarrivedatduringwinterdarkness，tempests，andmists。ThenEgdonwasarousedtoreciprocity；forthestormwasitslover，andthewinditsfriend。Thenitbecamethehomeofstrangephantoms；
anditwasfoundtobethehithertounrecognizedoriginalofthosewildregionsofobscuritywhicharevaguelyfelttobecompassingusaboutinmidnightdreamsofflightanddisaster，andareneverthoughtofafterthedreamtillrevivedbysceneslikethis。
Itwasatpresentaplaceperfectlyaccordantwithman’snature——neitherghastly，hateful，norugly；
neithercommonplace，unmeaning，nortame；but，likeman，slightedandenduring；andwithalsingularlycolossalandmysteriousinitsswarthymonotony。Aswithsomepersonswhohavelonglivedapart，solitudeseemedtolookoutofitscountenance。Ithadalonelyface，suggestingtragicalpossibilities。
Thisobscure，obsolete，supersededcountryfiguresinDomesday。
Itsconditionisrecordedthereinasthatofheathy，furzy，briarywilderness——"Bruaria。"Thenfollowsthelengthandbreadthinleagues；and，thoughsomeuncertaintyexistsastotheexactextentofthisancientlinealmeasure，itappearsfromthefiguresthattheareaofEgdondowntothepresentdayhasbutlittlediminished。
"TurbariaBruaria"——therightofcuttingheath—turf——occursinchartersrelatingtothedistrict。"Overgrownwithhethandmosse，"saysLelandofthesamedarksweepofcountry。
Hereatleastwereintelligiblefactsregardinglandscape——far—reachingproofsproductiveofgenuinesatisfaction。Theuntameable，IshmaelitishthingthatEgdonnowwasitalwayshadbeen。Civilizationwasitsenemy；
andeversincethebeginningofvegetationitssoilhadwornthesameantiquebrowndress，thenaturalandinvariablegarmentoftheparticularformation。
Initsvenerableonecoatlayacertainveinofsatireonhumanvanityinclothes。Apersononaheathinraimentofmoderncutandcolourshasmoreorlessananomalouslook。Weseemtowanttheoldestandsimplesthumanclothingwheretheclothingoftheearthissoprimitive。
ToreclineonastumpofthorninthecentralvalleyofEgdon，betweenafternoonandnight，asnow，wheretheeyecouldreachnothingoftheworldoutsidethesummitsandshouldersofheathlandwhichfilledthewholecircumferenceofitsglance，andtoknowthateverythingaroundandunderneathhadbeenfromprehistorictimesasunalteredasthestarsoverhead，gaveballasttothemindadriftonchange，andharassedbytheirrepressibleNew。
Thegreatinviolateplacehadanancientpermanencewhichtheseacannotclaim。Whocansayofaparticularseathatitisold？Distilledbythesun，kneadedbythemoon，itisrenewedinayear，inaday，orinanhour。
Theseachanged，thefieldschanged，therivers，thevillages，andthepeoplechanged，yetEgdonremained。
Thosesurfaceswereneithersosteepastobedestructiblebyweather，norsoflatastobethevictimsoffloodsanddeposits。Withtheexceptionofanagedhighway，andastillmoreagedbarrowpresentlytobereferredto——themselvesalmostcrystallizedtonaturalproductsbylongcontinuance——eventhetriflingirregularitieswerenotcausedbypickaxe，plough，orspade，butremainedastheveryfinger—touchesofthelastgeologicalchange。
Theabove—mentionedhighwaytraversedthelowerlevelsoftheheath，fromonehorizontoanother。Inmanyportionsofitscourseitoverlaidanoldvicinalway，whichbranchedfromthegreatWesternroadoftheRomans，theViaIceniana，orIkenildStreet，hardby。
Ontheeveningunderconsiderationitwouldhavebeennoticedthat，thoughthegloomhadincreasedsufficientlytoconfusetheminorfeaturesoftheheath，thewhitesurfaceoftheroadremainedalmostasclearasever。
2—HumanityAppearsupontheScene，HandinHandwithTroubleAlongtheroadwalkedanoldman。Hewaswhite—headedasamountain，bowedintheshoulders，andfadedingeneralaspect。Heworeaglazedhat，anancientboat—cloak，andshoes；hisbrassbuttonsbearingananchorupontheirface。Inhishandwasasilver—headedwalkingstick，whichheusedasaveritablethirdleg，perseveringlydottingthegroundwithitspointateveryfewinches’interval。Onewouldhavesaidthathehadbeen，inhisday，anavalofficerofsomesortorother。
Beforehimstretchedthelong，laboriousroad，dry，empty，andwhite。Itwasquiteopentotheheathoneachside，andbisectedthatvastdarksurfaceliketheparting—lineonaheadofblackhair，diminishingandbendingawayonthefurthesthorizon。
Theoldmanfrequentlystretchedhiseyesaheadtogazeoverthetractthathehadyettotraverse。Atlengthhediscerned，alongdistanceinfrontofhim，amovingspot，whichappearedtobeavehicle，anditprovedtobegoingthesamewayasthatinwhichhehimselfwasjourneying。
Itwasthesingleatomoflifethatthescenecontained，anditonlyservedtorenderthegenerallonelinessmoreevident。Itsrateofadvancewasslow，andtheoldmangaineduponitsensibly。
Whenhedrewnearerheperceivedittobeaspringvan，ordinaryinshape，butsingularincolour，thisbeingaluridred。Thedriverwalkedbesideit；and，likehisvan，hewascompletelyred。Onedyeofthattincturecoveredhisclothes，thecapuponhishead，hisboots，hisface，andhishands。Hewasnottemporarilyoverlaidwiththecolour；itpermeatedhim。
Theoldmanknewthemeaningofthis。Thetravellerwiththecartwasareddleman——apersonwhosevocationitwastosupplyfarmerswithreddingfortheirsheep。
HewasoneofaclassrapidlybecomingextinctinWessex，fillingatpresentintheruralworldtheplacewhich，duringthelastcentury，thedodooccupiedintheworldofanimals。Heisacurious，interesting，andnearlyperishedlinkbetweenobsoleteformsoflifeandthosewhichgenerallyprevail。
Thedecayedofficer，bydegrees，cameupalongsidehisfellow—wayfarer，andwishedhimgoodevening。Thereddlemanturnedhishead，andrepliedinsadandoccupiedtones。
Hewasyoung，andhisface，ifnotexactlyhandsome，approachedsoneartohandsomethatnobodywouldhavecontradictedanassertionthatitreallywassoinitsnaturalcolour。Hiseye，whichglaredsostrangelythroughhisstain，wasinitselfattractive——keenasthatofabirdofprey，andblueasautumnmist。
Hehadneitherwhiskernormoustache，whichallowedthesoftcurvesofthelowerpartofhisfacetobeapparent。
Hislipswerethin，andthough，asitseemed，compressedbythought，therewasapleasanttwitchattheircornersnowandthen。Hewasclothedthroughoutinatight—fittingsuitofcorduroy，excellentinquality，notmuchworn，andwell—chosenforitspurpose，butdeprivedofitsoriginalcolourbyhistrade。Itshowedtoadvantagethegoodshapeofhisfigure。Acertainwell—to—doairaboutthemansuggestedthathewasnotpoorforhisdegree。
Thenaturalqueryofanobserverwouldhavebeen，Whyshouldsuchapromisingbeingasthishavehiddenhisprepossessingexteriorbyadoptingthatsingularoccupation？
Afterreplyingtotheoldman’sgreetingheshowednoinclinationtocontinueintalk，althoughtheystillwalkedsidebyside，fortheeldertravellerseemedtodesirecompany。Therewerenosoundsbutthatoftheboomingwinduponthestretchoftawnyherbagearoundthem，thecracklingwheels，thetreadofthemen，andthefootstepsofthetwoshaggyponieswhichdrewthevan。
Theyweresmall，hardyanimals，ofabreedbetweenGallowayandExmoor，andwereknownas"heath—croppers"here。
Now，astheythuspursuedtheirway，thereddlemanoccasionallylefthiscompanion’sside，and，steppingbehindthevan，lookedintoitsinteriorthroughasmallwindow。Thelookwasalwaysanxious。Hewouldthenreturntotheoldman，whomadeanotherremarkaboutthestateofthecountryandsoon，towhichthereddlemanagainabstractedlyreplied，andthenagaintheywouldlapseintosilence。
Thesilenceconveyedtoneitheranysenseofawkwardness；
intheselonelyplaceswayfarers，afterafirstgreeting，frequentlyplodonformileswithoutspeech；contiguityamountstoatacitconversationwhere，otherwisethanincities，suchcontiguitycanbeputanendtoonthemerestinclination，andwherenottoputanendtoitisintercourseinitself。
Possiblythesetwomightnothavespokenagaintilltheirparting，haditnotbeenforthereddleman’svisitstohisvan。
Whenhereturnedfromhisfifthtimeoflookingintheoldmansaid，"Youhavesomethinginsidetherebesidesyourload？"
"Yes。"
"Somebodywhowantslookingafter？"
"Yes。"
Notlongafterthisafaintcrysoundedfromtheinterior。
Thereddlemanhastenedtotheback，lookedin，andcameawayagain。
"Youhaveachildthere，myman？"
"No，sir，Ihaveawoman。"
"Thedeuceyouhave！Whydidshecryout？"
"Oh，shehasfallenasleep，andnotbeingusedtotraveling，she’suneasy，andkeepsdreaming。"
"Ayoungwoman？"
"Yes，ayoungwoman。"
"Thatwouldhaveinterestedmefortyyearsago。
Perhapsshe’syourwife？"
"Mywife！"saidtheotherbitterly。"She’sabovematingwithsuchasI。Butthere’snoreasonwhyIshouldtellyouaboutthat。"
"That’strue。Andthere’snoreasonwhyyoushouldnot。
WhatharmcanIdotoyouortoher？"
Thereddlemanlookedintheoldman’sface。"Well，sir，"
hesaidatlast，"Iknewherbeforetoday，thoughperhapsitwouldhavebeenbetterifIhadnot。Butshe’snothingtome，andIamnothingtoher；andshewouldn’thavebeeninmyvanifanybettercarriagehadbeentheretotakeher。"
"Where，mayIask？"
"AtAnglebury。"
"Iknowthetownwell。Whatwasshedoingthere？"
"Oh，notmuch——togossipabout。However，she’stiredtodeathnow，andnotatallwell，andthat’swhatmakeshersorestless。
Shedroppedoffintoanapaboutanhourago，and’twilldohergood。"
"Anice—lookinggirl，nodoubt？"
"Youwouldsayso。"
Theothertravellerturnedhiseyeswithinteresttowardsthevanwindow，and，withoutwithdrawingthem，said，"IpresumeImightlookinuponher？"
"No，"saidthereddlemanabruptly。"Itisgettingtoodarkforyoutoseemuchofher；and，morethanthat，Ihavenorighttoallowyou。ThankGodshesleepssowell，Ihopeshewon’twaketillshe’shome。"
"Whoisshe？Oneoftheneighbourhood？"
"’Tisnomatterwho，excuseme。"
"ItisnotthatgirlofBlooms—End，whohasbeentalkedaboutmoreorlesslately？Ifso，Iknowher；andIcanguesswhathashappened。"
"’Tisnomatter……Now，sir，Iamsorrytosaythatweshallsoonhavetopartcompany。Myponiesaretired，andIhavefurthertogo，andIamgoingtorestthemunderthisbankforanhour。"
Theeldertravellernoddedhisheadindifferently，andthereddlemanturnedhishorsesandvaninupontheturf，saying，"Goodnight。"Theoldmanreplied，andproceededonhiswayasbefore。
Thereddlemanwatchedhisformasitdiminishedtoaspeckontheroadandbecameabsorbedinthethickeningfilmsofnight。Hethentooksomehayfromatrusswhichwasslungupunderthevan，and，throwingaportionofitinfrontofthehorses，madeapadoftherest，whichhelaidonthegroundbesidehisvehicle。
Uponthishesatdown，leaninghisbackagainstthewheel。
Fromtheinterioralowsoftbreathingcametohisear。
Itappearedtosatisfyhim，andhemusinglysurveyedthescene，asifconsideringthenextstepthatheshouldtake。
Todothingsmusingly，andbysmalldegrees，seemed，indeed，tobeadutyintheEgdonvalleysatthistransitionalhour，fortherewasthatintheconditionoftheheathitselfwhichresembledprotractedandhaltingdubiousness。
Itwasthequalityofthereposeappertainingtothescene。
Thiswasnotthereposeofactualstagnation，buttheapparentreposeofincredibleslowness。Aconditionofhealthylifesonearlyresemblingthetorporofdeathisanoticeablethingofitssort；toexhibittheinertnessofthedesert，andatthesametimetobeexercisingpowersakintothoseofthemeadow，andevenoftheforest，awakenedinthosewhothoughtofittheattentivenessusuallyengenderedbyunderstatementandreserve。
Thescenebeforethereddleman’seyeswasagradualseriesofascentsfromtheleveloftheroadbackwardintotheheartoftheheath。Itembracedhillocks，pits，ridges，acclivities，onebehindtheother，tillallwasfinishedbyahighhillcuttingagainstthestilllightsky。
Thetraveller’seyehoveredaboutthesethingsforatime，andfinallysettledupononenoteworthyobjectupthere。
Itwasabarrow。Thisbossyprojectionofearthaboveitsnaturalleveloccupiedtheloftiestgroundoftheloneliestheightthattheheathcontained。AlthoughfromthevaleitappearedbutasawartonanAtlanteanbrow，itsactualbulkwasgreat。Itformedthepoleandaxisofthisheatheryworld。
Astherestingmanlookedatthebarrowhebecameawarethatitssummit，hithertothehighestobjectinthewholeprospectround，wassurmountedbysomethinghigher。Itrosefromthesemiglobularmoundlikeaspikefromahelmet。
ThefirstinstinctofanimaginativestrangermighthavebeentosupposeitthepersonofoneoftheCeltswhobuiltthebarrow，sofarhadallofmoderndatewithdrawnfromthescene。Itseemedasortoflastmanamongthem，musingforamomentbeforedroppingintoeternalnightwiththerestofhisrace。
Theretheformstood，motionlessasthehillbeneath。
Abovetheplainrosethehill，abovethehillrosethebarrow，andabovethebarrowrosethefigure。
Abovethefigurewasnothingthatcouldbemappedelsewherethanonacelestialglobe。
Suchaperfect，delicate，andnecessaryfinishdidthefiguregivetothedarkpileofhillsthatitseemedtobetheonlyobviousjustificationoftheiroutline。
Withoutit，therewasthedomewithoutthelantern；withitthearchitecturaldemandsofthemassweresatisfied。
Thescenewasstrangelyhomogeneous，inthatthevale，theupland，thebarrow，andthefigureaboveitamountedonlytounity。Lookingatthisorthatmemberofthegroupwasnotobservingacompletething，butafractionofathing。
Theformwassomuchlikeanorganicpartoftheentiremotionlessstructurethattoseeitmovewouldhaveimpressedthemindasastrangephenomenon。
Immobilitybeingthechiefcharacteristicofthatwholewhichthepersonformedportionof，thediscontinuanceofimmobilityinanyquartersuggestedconfusion。
Yetthatiswhathappened。Thefigureperceptiblygaveupitsfixity，shiftedasteportwo，andturnedround。
Asifalarmed，itdescendedontherightsideofthebarrow，withtheglideofawater—dropdownabud，andthenvanished。
Themovementhadbeensufficienttoshowmoreclearlythecharacteristicsofthefigure，andthatitwasawoman’s。
Thereasonofhersuddendisplacementnowappeared。
Withherdroppingoutofsightontherightside，anewcomer，bearingaburden，protrudedintotheskyontheleftside，ascendedthetumulus，anddepositedtheburdenonthetop。
Asecondfollowed，thenathird，afourth，afifth，andultimatelythewholebarrowwaspeopledwithburdenedfigures。
Theonlyintelligiblemeaninginthissky—backedpantomimeofsilhouetteswasthatthewomanhadnorelationtotheformswhohadtakenherplace，wassedulouslyavoidingthese，andhadcomethitherforanotherobjectthantheirs。
Theimaginationoftheobserverclungbypreferencetothatvanished，solitaryfigure，astosomethingmoreinteresting，moreimportant，morelikelytohaveahistoryworthknowingthanthesenewcomers，andunconsciouslyregardedthemasintruders。Buttheyremained，andestablishedthemselves；andthelonelypersonwhohithertohadbeenqueenofthesolitudedidnotatpresentseemlikelytoreturn。
3—TheCustomoftheCountryHadalooker—onbeenpostedintheimmediatevicinityofthebarrow，hewouldhavelearnedthatthesepersonswereboysandmenoftheneighbouringhamlets。
Each，asheascendedthebarrow，hadbeenheavilyladenwithfurzefaggots，carriedupontheshoulderbymeansofalongstakesharpenedateachendforimpalingthemeasily——twoinfrontandtwobehind。Theycamefromapartoftheheathaquarterofamiletotherear，wherefurzealmostexclusivelyprevailedasaproduct。
Everyindividualwassoinvolvedinfurzebyhismethodofcarryingthefaggotsthatheappearedlikeabushonlegstillhehadthrownthemdown。Thepartyhadmarchedintrail，likeatravellingflockofsheep；thatistosay，thestrongestfirst，theweakandyoungbehind。
Theloadswerealllaidtogether，andapyramidoffurzethirtyfeetincircumferencenowoccupiedthecrownofthetumulus，whichwasknownasRainbarrowformanymilesround。Somemadethemselvesbusywithmatches，andinselectingthedriesttuftsoffurze，othersinlooseningthebramblebondswhichheldthefaggotstogether。
Others，again，whilethiswasinprogress，liftedtheireyesandsweptthevastexpanseofcountrycommandedbytheirposition，nowlyingnearlyobliteratedbyshade。