Onlyunusualsightsandsoundsfrightenedtheboy。
　　Theshrivelledvoiceoftheheathdidnotalarmhim，forthatwasfamiliar。Thethornbusheswhicharoseinhispathfromtimetotimewerelesssatisfactory，fortheywhistledgloomily，andhadaghastlyhabitafterdarkofputtingontheshapesofjumpingmadmen，sprawlinggiants，andhideouscripples。Lightswerenotuncommonthisevening，butthenatureofallofthemwasdifferentfromthis。Discretionratherthanterrorpromptedtheboytoturnbackinsteadofpassingthelight，withaviewofaskingMissEustaciaVyetoletherservantaccompanyhimhome。
　　Whentheboyhadreascendedtothetopofthevalleyhefoundthefiretobestillburningonthebank，thoughlowerthanbefore。Besideit，insteadofEustacia’ssolitaryform，hesawtwopersons，thesecondbeingaman。
　　TheboycreptalongunderthebanktoascertainfromthenatureoftheproceedingsifitwouldbeprudenttointerruptsosplendidacreatureasMissEustaciaonhispoortrivialaccount。
　　Afterlisteningunderthebankforsomeminutestothetalkheturnedinaperplexedanddoubtingmannerandbegantowithdrawassilentlyashehadcome。Thathedidnot，uponthewhole，thinkitadvisabletointerruptherconversationwithWildeve，withoutbeingpreparedtobearthewholeweightofherdispleasure，wasobvious。
　　HerewasaScyllaeo—Charybdeanpositionforapoorboy。
　　Pausingwhenagainsafefromdiscovery，hefinallydecidedtofacethepitphenomenonasthelesserevil。
　　Withaheavysighheretracedtheslope，andfollowedthepathhehadfollowedbefore。
　　Thelighthadgone，therisingdusthaddisappeared——hehopedforever。Hemarchedresolutelyalong，andfoundnothingtoalarmhimtill，comingwithinafewyardsofthesandpit，heheardaslightnoiseinfront，whichledhimtohalt。
　　Thehaltwasbutmomentary，forthenoiseresolveditselfintothesteadybitesoftwoanimalsgrazing。
　　"Twohe’th—croppersdownhere，"hesaidaloud。
　　"Ihaveneverknown’emcomedownsofarafore。"
　　Theanimalswereinthedirectlineofhispath，butthatthechildthoughtlittleof；hehadplayedroundthefetlocksofhorsesfromhisinfancy。
　　Oncomingnearer，however，theboywassomewhatsurprisedtofindthatthelittlecreaturesdidnotrunoff，andthateachworeaclog，topreventhisgoingastray；
　　thissignifiedthattheyhadbeenbrokenin。Hecouldnowseetheinteriorofthepit，which，beinginthesideofthehill，hadalevelentrance。Intheinnermostcornerthesquareoutlineofavanappeared，withitsbacktowardshim。Alightcamefromtheinterior，andthrewamovingshadowupontheverticalfaceofgravelatthefurthersideofthepitintowhichthevehiclefaced。
　　Thechildassumedthatthiswasthecartofagipsy，andhisdreadofthosewanderersreachedbuttothatmildpitchwhichtitillatesratherthanpains。
　　Onlyafewinchesofmudwallkepthimandhisfamilyfrombeinggipsiesthemselves。Heskirtedthegravelpitatarespectfuldistance，ascendedtheslope，andcameforwarduponthebrow，inordertolookintotheopendoorofthevanandseetheoriginaloftheshadow。
　　Thepicturealarmedtheboy。Byalittlestoveinsidethevansatafigureredfromheadtoheels——themanwhohadbeenThomasin’sfriend。Hewasdarningastocking，whichwasredliketherestofhim。Moreover，ashedarnedhesmokedapipe，thestemandbowlofwhichwereredalso。
　　Atthismomentoneoftheheath—croppersfeedingintheoutershadowswasaudiblyshakingofftheclogattachedtoitsfoot。Arousedbythesound，thereddlemanlaiddownhisstocking，litalanternwhichhungbesidehim，andcameoutfromthevan。Instickingupthecandleheliftedthelanterntohisface，andthelightshoneintothewhitesofhiseyesanduponhisivoryteeth，which，incontrastwiththeredsurrounding，lenthimastartlingaspectenoughtothegazeofajuvenile。
　　Theboyknewtoowellforhispeaceofminduponwhoselairhehadlighted。UglierpersonsthangipsieswereknowntocrossEgdonattimes，andareddlemanwasoneofthem。
　　"HowIwish’twasonlyagipsy！"hemurmured。
　　Themanwasbythistimecomingbackfromthehorses。
　　Inhisfearofbeingseentheboyrendereddetectioncertainbynervousmotion。Theheatherandpeatstratumoverhungthebrowofthepitinmats，hidingtheactualverge。
　　Theboyhadsteppedbeyondthesolidground；theheathernowgaveway，anddownherolledoverthescarpofgreysandtotheveryfootoftheman。
　　Theredmanopenedthelanternandturnedituponthefigureoftheprostrateboy。
　　"Whobeye？"hesaid。
　　"JohnnyNunsuch，master！"
　　"Whatwereyoudoingupthere？"
　　"Idon’tknow。"
　　"Watchingme，Isuppose？"
　　"Yes，master。"
　　"Whatdidyouwatchmefor？"
　　"BecauseIwascominghomefromMissVye’sbonfire。"
　　"Beesthurt？"
　　"No。"
　　"Why，yes，yoube——yourhandisbleeding。Comeundermytiltandletmetieitup。"
　　"Pleaseletmelookformysixpence。"
　　"Howdidyoucomebythat？"
　　"MissVyegiedittomeforkeepingupherbonfire。"
　　Thesixpencewasfound，andthemanwenttothevan，theboybehind，almostholdinghisbreath。
　　Themantookapieceofragfromasatchelcontainingsewingmaterials，toreoffastrip，which，likeeverythingelse，wastingedred，andproceededtobindupthewound。
　　"Myeyeshavegotfoggy—like——pleasemayIsitdown，master？"saidtheboy。
　　"Tobesure，poorchap。’Tisenoughtomakeyoufeelfainty。
　　Sitonthatbundle。"
　　Themanfinishedtyingupthegash，andtheboysaid，"IthinkI’llgohomenow，master。"
　　"Youareratherafraidofme。DoyouknowwhatIbe？"
　　Thechildsurveyedhisvermilionfigureupanddownwithmuchmisgivingandfinallysaid，"Yes。"
　　"Well，what？"
　　"Thereddleman！"hefaltered。
　　"Yes，that’swhatIbe。Thoughthere’smorethanone。
　　Youlittlechildrenthinkthere’sonlyonecuckoo，onefox，onegiant，onedevil，andonereddleman，whenthere’slotsofusall。"
　　"Isthere？Youwon’tcarrymeoffinyourbags，willye，master？’Tissaidthatthereddlemanwillsometimes。"
　　"Nonsense。Allthatreddlemendoissellreddle。
　　Youseeallthesebagsatthebackofmycart？Theyarenotfulloflittleboys——onlyfullofredstuff。"
　　"Wasyoubornareddleman？"
　　"No，Itooktoit。IshouldbeaswhiteasyouifI
　　weretogiveupthetrade——thatis，Ishouldbewhiteintime——perhapssixmonths；notatfirst，because’tisgrow’dintomyskinandwon’twashout。Now，you’llneverbeafraidofareddlemanagain，willye？"
　　"No，never。WillyOrchardsaidheseedaredghostheret’otherday——perhapsthatwasyou？"
　　"Iwasheret’otherday。"
　　"WereyoumakingthatdustylightIsawbynow？"
　　"Ohyes，Iwasbeatingoutsomebags。Andhaveyouhadagoodbonfireupthere？Isawthelight。WhydidMissVyewantabonfiresobadthatsheshouldgiveyousixpencetokeepitup？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Iwastired，butshemademebideandkeepupthefirejustthesame，whileshekeptgoingupacrossRainbarrowway。"
　　"Andhowlongdidthatlast？"
　　"Untilahopfrogjumpedintothepond。"
　　Thereddlemansuddenlyceasedtotalkidly。"Ahopfrog？"
　　heinquired。"Hopfrogsdon’tjumpintopondsthistimeofyear。"
　　"Theydo，forIheardone。"
　　"Certain—sure？"
　　"Yes。ShetoldmeaforethatIshouldhear’n；andsoIdid。
　　Theysayshe’scleveranddeep，andperhapsshecharmed’entocome。"
　　"Andwhatthen？"
　　"ThenIcamedownhere，andIwasafeard，andIwentback；
　　butIdidn’tliketospeaktoher，becauseofthegentleman，andIcameonhereagain。"
　　"Agentleman——ah！Whatdidshesaytohim，myman？"
　　"Toldhimshesupposedhehadnotmarriedtheotherwomanbecausehelikedhisoldsweetheartbest；andthingslikethat。"
　　"Whatdidthegentlemansaytoher，mysonny？"
　　"Heonlysaidhedidlikeherbest，andhowhewascomingtoseeheragainunderRainbarrowo’nights。"
　　"Ha！"criedthereddleman，slappinghishandagainstthesideofhisvansothatthewholefabricshookundertheblow。
　　"That’sthesecreto’t！"
　　Thelittleboyjumpedcleanfromthestool。
　　"Myman，don’tyoubeafraid，"saidthedealerinred，suddenlybecominggentle。"Iforgotyouwerehere。
　　That’sonlyacuriouswayreddlemenhaveofgoingmadforamoment；buttheydon’thurtanybody。Andwhatdidtheladysaythen？"
　　"Ican’tmind。Please，MasterReddleman，mayIgohome—alongnow？"
　　"Ay，tobesureyoumay。I’llgoabitofwayswithyou。"
　　Heconductedtheboyoutofthegravelpitandintothepathleadingtohismother’scottage。Whenthelittlefigurehadvanishedinthedarknessthereddlemanreturned，resumedhisseatbythefire，andproceededtodarnagain。
　　9—LoveLeadsaShrewdManintoStrategyReddlemenoftheoldschoolarenowbutseldomseen。
　　SincetheintroductionofrailwaysWessexfarmershavemanagedtodowithouttheseMephistophelianvisitants，andthebrightpigmentsolargelyusedbyshepherdsinpreparingsheepforthefairisobtainedbyotherroutes。
　　Eventhosewhoyetsurvivearelosingthepoetryofexistencewhichcharacterizedthemwhenthepursuitofthetrademeantperiodicaljourneystothepitwhencethematerialwasdug，aregularcampingoutfrommonthtomonth，exceptinthedepthofwinter，aperegrinationamongfarmswhichcouldbecountedbythehundred，andinspiteofthisArabexistencethepreservationofthatrespectabilitywhichisinsuredbythenever—failingproductionofawell—linedpurse。
　　Reddlespreadsitslivelyhuesovereverythingitlightson，andstampsunmistakably，aswiththemarkofCain，anypersonwhohashandledithalfanhour。
　　Achild’sfirstsightofareddlemanwasanepochinhislife。Thatblood—colouredfigurewasasublimationofallthehorriddreamswhichhadafflictedthejuvenilespiritsinceimaginationbegan。"Thereddlemaniscomingforyou！"hadbeentheformulatedthreatofWessexmothersformanygenerations。Hewassuccessfullysupplantedforawhile，atthebeginningofthepresentcentury，byBuonaparte；butasprocessoftimerenderedthelatterpersonagestaleandineffectivetheolderphraseresumeditsearlyprominence。AndnowthereddlemanhasinhisturnfollowedBuonapartetothelandofworn—outbogeys，andhisplaceisfilledbymoderninventions。
　　Thereddlemanlivedlikeagipsy；butgipsieshescorned。
　　Hewasaboutasthrivingastravellingbasketandmatmakers；
　　buthehadnothingtodowiththem。Hewasmoredecentlybornandbroughtupthanthecattledroverswhopassedandrepassedhiminhiswanderings；buttheymerelynoddedtohim。Hisstockwasmorevaluablethanthatofpedlars；
　　buttheydidnotthinkso，andpassedhiscartwitheyesstraightahead。Hewassuchanunnaturalcolourtolookatthatthemenofroundaboutsandwaxworkshowsseemedgentlemenbesidehim；butheconsideredthemlowcompany，andremainedaloof。Amongallthesesquattersandfolksoftheroadthereddlemancontinuallyfoundhimself；yethewasnotofthem。Hisoccupationtendedtoisolatehim，andisolatedhewasmostlyseentobe。
　　Itwassometimessuggestedthatreddlemenwerecriminalsforwhosemisdeedsothermenwrongfullysuffered——thatinescapingthelawtheyhadnotescapedtheirownconsciences，andhadtakentothetradeasalifelongpenance。
　　Elsewhyshouldtheyhavechosenit？Inthepresentcasesuchaquestionwouldhavebeenparticularlyapposite。
　　ThereddlemanwhohadenteredEgdonthatafternoonwasaninstanceofthepleasingbeingwastedtoformtheground—workofthesingular，whenanuglyfoundationwouldhavedonejustaswellforthatpurpose。Theonepointthatwasforbiddingaboutthisreddlemanwashiscolour。
　　Freedfromthathewouldhavebeenasagreeableaspecimenofrusticmanhoodasonewouldoftensee。Akeenobservermighthavebeeninclinedtothink——whichwas，indeed，partlythetruth——thathehadrelinquishedhisproperstationinlifeforwantofinterestinit。Moreover，afterlookingathimonewouldhavehazardedtheguessthatgoodnature，andanacutenessasextremeasitcouldbewithoutvergingoncraft，formedtheframeworkofhischaracter。
　　Whilehedarnedthestockinghisfacebecamerigidwiththought。Softerexpressionsfollowedthis，andthenagainrecurredthetendersadnesswhichhadsatuponhimduringhisdrivealongthehighwaythatafternoon。
　　Presentlyhisneedlestopped。Helaiddownthestocking，arosefromhisseat，andtookaleathernpouchfromahookinthecornerofthevan。Thiscontainedamongotherarticlesabrown—paperpacket，which，tojudgefromthehinge—likecharacterofitswornfolds，seemedtohavebeencarefullyopenedandclosedagoodmanytimes。
　　Hesatdownonathree—leggedmilkingstoolthatformedtheonlyseatinthevan，and，examininghispacketbythelightofacandle，tookthenceanoldletterandspreaditopen。Thewritinghadoriginallybeentracedonwhitepaper，buttheletterhadnowassumedapaleredtingefromtheaccidentofitssituation；
　　andtheblackstrokesofwritingthereonlookedlikethetwigsofawinterhedgeagainstavermilionsunset。
　　Theletterboreadatesometwoyearsprevioustothattime，andwassigned"ThomasinYeobright。"Itranasfollows：——
　　DEARDIGGORYVENN，——ThequestionyouputwhenyouovertookmecominghomefromPond—closegavemesuchasurprisethatIamafraidIdidnotmakeyouexactlyunderstandwhatImeant。Ofcourse，ifmyaunthadnotmetmeIcouldhaveexplainedallthenatonce，butasitwastherewasnochance。Ihavebeenquiteuneasysince，asyouknowIdonotwishtopainyou，yetIfearIshallbedoingsonowincontradictingwhatIseemedtosaythen。Icannot，Diggory，marryyou，orthinkoflettingyoucallmeyoursweetheart。
　　Icouldnot，indeed，Diggory。Ihopeyouwillnotmuchmindmysayingthis，andfeelinagreatpain。
　　ItmakesmeverysadwhenIthinkitmay，forIlikeyouverymuch，andIalwaysputyounexttomycousinClyminmymind。TherearesomanyreasonswhywecannotbemarriedthatIcanhardlynamethemallinaletter。
　　Ididnotintheleastexpectthatyouweregoingtospeakonsuchathingwhenyoufollowedme，becauseI
　　hadneverthoughtofyouinthesenseofaloveratall。
　　Youmustnotbecallmeforlaughingwhenyouspoke；
　　youmistookwhenyouthoughtIlaughedatyouasafoolishman。Ilaughedbecausetheideawassoodd，andnotatyouatall。Thegreatreasonwithmyownpersonalselffornotlettingyoucourtmeis，thatI
　　donotfeelthethingsawomanoughttofeelwhoconsentstowalkwithyouwiththemeaningofbeingyourwife。
　　Itisnotasyouthink，thatIhaveanotherinmymind，forIdonotencourageanybody，andneverhaveinmylife。
　　Anotherreasonismyaunt。Shewouldnot，Iknow，agreetoit，evenifIwishedtohaveyou。Shelikesyouverywell，butshewillwantmetolookalittlehigherthanasmalldairy—farmer，andmarryaprofessionalman。Ihopeyouwillnotsetyourheartagainstmeforwritingplainly，butIfeltyoumighttrytoseemeagain，anditisbetterthatweshouldnotmeet。Ishallalwaysthinkofyouasagoodman，andbeanxiousforyourwell—doing。IsendthisbyJaneOrchard’slittlemaid，——AndremainDiggory，yourfaithfulfriend，THOMASINYEOBRIGHT。
　　ToMR。VENN，Dairy—farmer。
　　Sincethearrivalofthatletter，onacertainautumnmorninglongago，thereddlemanandThomasinhadnotmettilltoday。Duringtheintervalhehadshiftedhispositionevenfurtherfromhersthanithadoriginallybeen，byadoptingthereddletrade；thoughhewasreallyinverygoodcircumstancesstill。Indeed，seeingthathisexpenditurewasonlyone—fourthofhisincome，hemighthavebeencalledaprosperousman。
　　Rejectedsuitorstaketoroamingasnaturallyasunhivedbees；
　　andthebusinesstowhichhehadcynicallydevotedhimselfwasinmanywayscongenialtoVenn。Buthiswanderings，bymerestressofoldemotions，hadfrequentlytakenanEgdondirection，thoughheneverintrudeduponherwhoattractedhimthither。TobeinThomasin’sheath，andnearher，yetunseen，wastheoneewe—lambofpleasurelefttohim。
　　Thencametheincidentofthatday，andthereddleman，stilllovingherwell，wasexcitedbythisaccidentalservicetoheratacriticaljuncturetovowanactivedevotiontohercause，insteadof，ashitherto，sighingandholdingaloof。AfterwhathadhappeneditwasimpossiblethatheshouldnotdoubtthehonestyofWildeve’sintentions。
　　Butherhopewasapparentlycentreduponhim；anddismissinghisregretsVenndeterminedtoaidhertobehappyinherownchosenway。Thatthiswaywas，ofallothers，themostdistressingtohimself，wasawkwardenough；
　　butthereddleman’slovewasgenerous。
　　HisfirstactivestepinwatchingoverThomasin’sinterestswastakenaboutseveno’clockthenexteveningandwasdictatedbythenewswhichhehadlearntfromthesadboy。
　　ThatEustaciawassomehowthecauseofWildeve’scarelessnessinrelationtothemarriagehadatoncebeenVenn’sconclusiononhearingofthesecretmeetingbetweenthem。
　　ItdidnotoccurtohismindthatEustacia’slovesignaltoWildevewasthetendereffectuponthedesertedbeautyoftheintelligencewhichhergrandfatherhadbroughthome。
　　HisinstinctwastoregardherasaconspiratoragainstratherthanasanantecedentobstacletoThomasin’shappiness。
　　DuringthedayhehadbeenexceedinglyanxioustolearntheconditionofThomasin，buthedidnotventuretointrudeuponathresholdtowhichhewasastranger，particularlyatsuchanunpleasantmomentasthis。
　　Hehadoccupiedhistimeinmovingwithhisponiesandloadtoanewpointintheheath，eastwardtohispreviousstation；andhereheselectedanookwithacarefuleyetoshelterfromwindandrain，whichseemedtomeanthathisstaytherewastobeacomparativelyextendedone。Afterthishereturnedonfootsomepartofthewaythathehadcome；and，itbeingnowdark，hedivergedtothelefttillhestoodbehindahollybushontheedgeofapitnottwentyyardsfromRainbarrow。
　　Hewatchedforameetingthere，buthewatchedinvain。
　　Nobodyexcepthimselfcamenearthespotthatnight。
　　Butthelossofhislabourproducedlittleeffectuponthereddleman。HehadstoodintheshoesofTantalus，andseemedtolookuponacertainmassofdisappointmentasthenaturalprefacetoallrealizations，withoutwhichprefacetheywouldgivecauseforalarm。
　　Thesamehourthenexteveningfoundhimagainatthesameplace；butEustaciaandWildeve，theexpectedtrysters，didnotappear。
　　Hepursuedpreciselythesamecourseyetfournightslonger，andwithoutsuccess。Butonthenext，beingtheday—weekoftheirpreviousmeeting，hesawafemaleshapefloatingalongtheridgeandtheoutlineofayoungmanascendingfromthevalley。Theymetinthelittleditchencirclingthetumulus——theoriginalexcavationfromwhichithadbeenthrownupbytheancientBritishpeople。
　　Thereddleman，stungwithsuspicionofwrongtoThomasin，wasarousedtostrategyinamoment。Heinstantlyleftthebushandcreptforwardonhishandsandknees。
　　Whenhehadgotascloseashemightsafelyventurewithoutdiscoveryhefoundthat，owingtoacross—wind，theconversationofthetrystingpaircouldnotbeoverheard。
　　Nearhim，asindiversplacesabouttheheath，wereareasstrewnwithlargeturves，whichlayedgewaysandupsidedownawaitingremovalbyTimothyFairway，previoustothewinterweather。Hetooktwooftheseashelay，anddraggedthemoverhimtillonecoveredhisheadandshoulders，theotherhisbackandlegs。Thereddlemanwouldnowhavebeenquiteinvisible，evenbydaylight；
　　theturves，standinguponhimwiththeheatherupwards，lookedpreciselyasiftheyweregrowing。Hecreptalongagain，andtheturvesuponhisbackcreptwithhim。
　　Hadheapproachedwithoutanycoveringthechancesarethathewouldnothavebeenperceivedinthedusk；
　　approachingthus，itwasasthoughheburrowedunderground。
　　Inthismannerhecamequiteclosetowherethetwowerestanding。
　　"Wishtoconsultmeonthematter？"reachedhisearsintherich，impetuousaccentsofEustaciaVye。
　　"Consultme？Itisanindignitytometotalkso——Iwon’tbearitanylonger！"Shebeganweeping。"Ihavelovedyou，andhaveshownyouthatIlovedyou，muchtomyregret；
　　andyetyoucancomeandsayinthatfrigidwaythatyouwishtoconsultwithmewhetheritwouldnotbebettertomarryThomasin。Better——ofcourseitwouldbe。
　　Marryher——sheisnearertoyourownpositioninlifethanIam！"
　　"Yes，yes；that’sverywell，"saidWildeveperemptorily。
　　"Butwemustlookatthingsastheyare。Whateverblamemayattachtomeforhavingbroughtitabout，Thomasin’spositionisatpresentmuchworsethanyours。
　　IsimplytellyouthatIaminastrait。"
　　"Butyoushallnottellme！Youmustseethatitisonlyharassingme。Damon，youhavenotactedwell；youhavesunkinmyopinion。Youhavenotvaluedmycourtesy——thecourtesyofaladyinlovingyou——whousedtothinkoffarmoreambitiousthings。ButitwasThomasin’sfault。
　　Shewonyouawayfromme，andshedeservestosufferforit。
　　Whereisshestayingnow？NotthatIcare，norwhereI
　　ammyself。Ah，ifIweredeadandgonehowgladshewouldbe！Whereisshe，Iask？"
　　"Thomasinisnowstayingatheraunt’sshutupinabedroom，andkeepingoutofeverybody’ssight，"hesaidindifferently。
　　"Idon’tthinkyoucaremuchaboutherevennow，"
　　saidEustaciawithsuddenjoyousness，"forifyoudidyouwouldn’ttalksocoollyabouther。Doyoutalksocoollytoheraboutme？Ah，Iexpectyoudo！Whydidyouoriginallygoawayfromme？Idon’tthinkIcaneverforgiveyou，exceptononecondition，thatwheneveryoudesertme，youcomebackagain，sorrythatyouservedmeso。"
　　"Ineverwishtodesertyou。"
　　"Idonotthankyouforthat。Ishouldhateittobeallsmooth。Indeed，IthinkIlikeyoutodesertmealittleoncenowandthen。Loveisthedismallestthingwheretheloverisquitehonest。O，itisashametosayso；butitistrue！"Sheindulgedinalittlelaugh。
　　"Mylowspiritsbeginattheveryidea。Don’tyouoffermetamelove，orawayyougo！"
　　"IwishTamsiewerenotsuchaconfoundedlygoodlittlewoman，"
　　saidWildeve，"sothatIcouldbefaithfultoyouwithoutinjuringaworthyperson。ItisIwhoamthesinnerafterall；Iamnotworththelittlefingerofeitherofyou。"