’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。