"Please，Cap’nVye，willyouletus————"
Eustaciaaroseandwenttothedoor。"Icannotallowyoutocomeinsoboldly。Youshouldhavewaited。"
"Thecap’nsaidImightcomeinwithoutanyfuss，"
wasansweredinalad’spleasantvoice。
"Oh，didhe？"saidEustaciamoregently。"Whatdoyouwant，Charley？"
"Pleasewillyourgrandfatherlendushisfuelhousetotryoverourpartsin，tonightatseveno’clock？"
"What，areyouoneoftheEgdonmummersforthisyear？"
"Yes，miss。Thecap’nusedtolettheoldmummerspractisehere。"
"Iknowit。Yes，youmayusethefuelhouseifyoulike，"
saidEustacialanguidly。
ThechoiceofCaptainVye’sfuelhouseasthesceneofrehearsalwasdictatedbythefactthathisdwellingwasnearlyinthecentreoftheheath。Thefuelhousewasasroomyasabarn，andwasamostdesirableplaceforsuchapurpose。Theladswhoformedthecompanyofplayerslivedatdifferentscatteredpointsaround，andbymeetinginthisspotthedistancestobetraversedbyallthecomerswouldbeaboutequallyproportioned。
FormummersandmummingEustaciahadthegreatestcontempt。
Themummersthemselveswerenotafflictedwithanysuchfeelingfortheirart，thoughatthesametimetheywerenotenthusiastic。Atraditionalpastimeistobedistinguishedfromamererevivalinnomorestrikingfeaturethaninthis，thatwhileintherevivalallisexcitementandfervour，thesurvivaliscarriedonwithastolidityandabsenceofstirwhichsetsonewonderingwhyathingthatisdonesoperfunctorilyshouldbekeptupatall。LikeBalaamandotherunwillingprophets，theagentsseemmovedbyaninnercompulsiontosayanddotheirallottedpartswhethertheywillorno。
Thisunweetingmannerofperformanceisthetrueringbywhich，inthisrefurbishingage，afossilizedsurvivalmaybeknownfromaspuriousreproduction。
Thepiecewasthewell—knownplayofSaintGeorge，andallwhowerebehindthescenesassistedinthepreparations，includingthewomenofeachhousehold。Withouttheco—operationofsistersandsweetheartsthedresseswerelikelytobeafailure；butontheotherhand，thisclassofassistancewasnotwithoutitsdrawbacks。
Thegirlscouldneverbebroughttorespecttraditionindesigninganddecoratingthearmour；theyinsistedonattachingloopsandbowsofsilkandvelvetinanysituationpleasingtotheirtaste。Gorget，gusset，basinet，cuirass，gauntlet，sleeve，allalikeintheviewofthesefeminineeyeswerepracticablespaceswhereontosewscrapsofflutteringcolour。
ItmightbethatJoe，whofoughtonthesideofChristendom，hadasweetheart，andthatJim，whofoughtonthesideoftheMoslem，hadonelikewise。DuringthemakingofthecostumesitwouldcometotheknowledgeofJoe’ssweetheartthatJim’swasputtingbrilliantsilkscallopsatthebottomofherlover’ssurcoat，inadditiontotheribbonsofthevisor，thebarsofwhich，beinginvariablyformedofcolouredstripsabouthalfaninchwidehangingbeforetheface，weremostlyofthatmaterial。
Joe’ssweetheartstraight—wayplacedbrilliantsilkonthescallopsoftheheminquestion，and，goingalittlefurther，addedribbontuftstotheshoulderpieces。Jim’s，nottobeoutdone，wouldaffixbowsandrosetteseverywhere。
TheresultwasthatintheendtheValiantSoldier，oftheChristianarmy，wasdistinguishedbynopeculiarityofaccoutrementfromtheTurkishKnight；andwhatwasworse，onacasualviewSaintGeorgehimselfmightbemistakenforhisdeadlyenemy，theSaracen。Theguisersthemselves，thoughinwardlyregrettingthisconfusionofpersons，couldnotaffordtooffendthosebywhoseassistancetheysolargelyprofited，andtheinnovationswereallowedtostand。
Therewas，itistrue，alimittothistendencytouniformity。
TheLeechorDoctorpreservedhischaracterintact——hisdarkerhabiliments，peculiarhat，andthebottleofphysicslungunderhisarm，couldneverbemistaken。
AndthesamemightbesaidoftheconventionalfigureofFatherChristmas，withhisgiganticclub，anolderman，whoaccompaniedthebandasgeneralprotectorinlongnightjourneysfromparishtoparish，andwasbearerofthepurse。
Seveno’clock，thehouroftherehearsal，cameround，andinashorttimeEustaciacouldhearvoicesinthefuelhouse。
Todissipateinsometriflingmeasureherabidingsenseofthemurkinessofhumanlifeshewenttothe"linhay"
orlean—toshed，whichformedtheroot—storeoftheirdwellingandabuttedonthefuelhouse。Herewasasmallroughholeinthemudwall，originallymadeforpigeons，throughwhichtheinteriorofthenextshedcouldbeviewed。
Alightcamefromitnow；andEustaciasteppeduponastooltolookinuponthescene。
Onaledgeinthefuelhousestoodthreetallrushlightsandbythelightofthemsevenoreightladsweremarchingabout，haranguing，andconfusingeachother，inendeavourstoperfectthemselvesintheplay。
HumphreyandSam，thefurze—andturf—cutters，weretherelookingon，soalsowasTimothyFairway，wholeantagainstthewallandpromptedtheboysfrommemory，interspersingamongthesetwordsremarksandanecdotesofthesuperiordayswhenheandothersweretheEgdonmummers—electthattheseladswerenow。
"Well，yebeaswelluptoitaseveryewillbe，"hesaid。
"Notthatsuchmummingwouldhavepassedinourtime。
HarryastheSaracenshouldstrutabitmore，andJohnneedn’thollerhisinsideout。Beyondthatperhapsyou’lldo。
Haveyougotallyourclothesready？"
"WeshallbyMonday。"
"YourfirstoutingwillbeMondaynight，Isuppose？"
"Yes。AtMrs。Yeobright’s。"
"Oh，Mrs。Yeobright’s。Whatmakesherwanttoseeye？I
shouldthinkamiddle—agedwomanwastiredofmumming。"
"She’sgotupabitofaparty，because’tisthefirstChristmasthathersonClymhasbeenhomeforalongtime。"
"Tobesure，tobesure——herparty！Iamgoingmyself。
Ialmostforgotit，uponmylife。"
Eustacia’sfaceflagged。TherewastobeapartyattheYeobrights’；she，naturally，hadnothingtodowithit。
Shewasastrangertoallsuchlocalgatherings，andhadalwaysheldthemasscarcelyappertainingtohersphere。
Buthadshebeengoing，whatanopportunitywouldhavebeenaffordedherofseeingthemanwhoseinfluencewaspenetratingherlikesummersun！Toincreasethatinfluencewascovetedexcitement；tocastitoffmightbetoregainserenity；toleaveitasitstoodwastantalizing。
Theladsandmenpreparedtoleavethepremises，andEustaciareturnedtoherfireside。Shewasimmersedinthought，butnotforlong。InafewminutestheladCharley，whohadcometoaskpermissiontousetheplace，returnedwiththekeytothekitchen。Eustaciaheardhim，andopeningthedoorintothepassagesaid，"Charley，comehere。"
Theladwassurprised。Heenteredthefrontroomnotwithoutblushing；forhe，likemany，hadfeltthepowerofthisgirl’sfaceandform。
Shepointedtoaseatbythefire，andenteredtheothersideofthechimney—cornerherself。
Itcouldbeseeninherfacethatwhatevermotiveshemighthavehadinaskingtheyouthindoorswouldsoonappear。
"Whichpartdoyouplay，Charley——theTurkishKnight，doyounot？"inquiredthebeauty，lookingacrossthesmokeofthefiretohimontheotherside。
"Yes，miss，theTurkishKnight，"hereplieddiffidently。
"Isyoursalongpart？"
"Ninespeeches，about。"
"Canyourepeatthemtome？IfsoIshouldliketohearthem。"
Theladsmiledintotheglowingturfandbegan——
"HerecomeI，aTurkishKnight，WholearntinTurkishlandtofight，"
continuingthediscoursethroughoutthescenestotheconcludingcatastropheofhisfallbythehandofSaintGeorge。
Eustaciahadoccasionallyheardthepartrecitedbefore。
Whentheladendedshebegan，preciselyinthesamewords，andrantedonwithouthitchordivergencetillshetooreachedtheend。Itwasthesamething，yethowdifferent。
Likeinform，ithadtheaddedsoftnessandfinishofaRaffaelleafterPerugino，which，whilefaithfullyreproducingtheoriginalsubject，entirelydistancestheoriginalart。
Charley’seyesroundedwithsurprise。"Well，youbeacleverlady！"hesaid，inadmiration。"I’vebeenthreeweekslearningmine。"
"Ihavehearditbefore，"shequietlyobserved。
"Now，wouldyoudoanythingtopleaseme，Charley？"
"I’ddoagooddeal，miss。"
"Wouldyouletmeplayyourpartforonenight？"
"Oh，miss！Butyourwoman’sgown——youcouldn’t。"
"Icangetboy’sclothes——atleastallthatwouldbewantedbesidesthemummingdress。WhatshouldIhavetogiveyoutolendmeyourthings，toletmetakeyourplaceforanhourortwoonMondaynight，andonnoaccounttosayawordaboutwhoorwhatIam？Youwould，ofcourse，havetoexcuseyourselffromplayingthatnight，andtosaythatsomebody——acousinofMissVye’s——wouldactforyou。
Theothermummershaveneverspokentomeintheirlivessothatitwouldbesafeenough；andifitwerenot，Ishouldnotmind。Now，whatmustIgiveyoutoagreetothis？Halfacrown？"
Theyouthshookhishead"Fiveshillings？"
Heshookhisheadagain。"Moneywon’tdoit，"hesaid，brushingtheironheadofthefiredogwiththehollowofhishand。
"Whatwill，then，Charley？"saidEustaciainadisappointedtone。
"YouknowwhatyouforbademeattheMaypoling，miss，"
murmuredthelad，withoutlookingather，andstillstrokingthefiredog’shead。
"Yes，"saidEustacia，withalittlemorehauteur。
"Youwantedtojoinhandswithmeinthering，ifIrecollect？"
"Halfanhourofthat，andI’llagree，miss。"
Eustaciaregardedtheyouthsteadfastly。Hewasthreeyearsyoungerthanherself，butapparentlynotbackwardforhisage。
"Halfanhourofwhat？"shesaid，thoughsheguessedwhat。
"Holdingyourhandinmine。"
Shewassilent。"Makeitaquarterofanhour，"shesaid"Yes，MissEustacia——Iwill，ifImaykissittoo。
Aquarterofanhour。AndI’llsweartodothebestI
cantoletyoutakemyplacewithoutanybodyknowing。
Don’tyouthinksomebodymightknowyourtongue，miss？"
"Itispossible。ButIwillputapebbleinmymouthtomakeislesslikely。Verywell；youshallbeallowedtohavemyhandassoonasyoubringthedressandyourswordandstaff。Idon’twantyouanylongernow。"
Charleydeparted，andEustaciafeltmoreandmoreinterestinlife。Herewassomethingtodo：herewassomeonetosee，andacharminglyadventurouswaytoseehim。
"Ah，"shesaidtoherself，"wantofanobjecttolivefor——that’sallisthematterwithme！"
Eustacia’smannerwasasaruleofaslumberoussort，herpassionsbeingofthemassiveratherthanthevivaciouskind。
Butwhenarousedshewouldmakeadashwhich，justforthetime，wasnotunlikethemoveofanaturallylivelyperson。
Onthequestionofrecognitionshewassomewhatindifferent。
Bytheactingladsthemselvesshewasnotlikelytobeknown。
Withtheguestswhomightbeassembledshewashardlysosecure。
Yetdetection，afterall，wouldbenosuchdreadfulthing。
Thefactonlycouldbedetected，hertruemotivenever。
Itwouldbeinstantlysetdownasthepassingfreakofagirlwhosewayswerealreadyconsideredsingular。
Thatshewasdoingforanearnestreasonwhatwouldmostnaturallybedoneinjestwasatanyrateasafesecret。
ThenexteveningEustaciastoodpunctuallyatthefuelhousedoor，waitingfortheduskwhichwastobringCharleywiththetrappings。Hergrandfatherwasathometonight，andshewouldbeunabletoaskherconfederateindoors。
Heappearedonthedarkridgeofheathland，likeaflyonaNegro，bearingthearticleswithhim，andcameupbreathlesswithhiswalk。
"Herearethethings，"hewhispered，placingthemuponthethreshold。"Andnow，MissEustacia——"
"Thepayment。Itisquiteready。Iamasgoodasmyword。"
Sheleantagainstthedoor—post，andgavehimherhand。
Charleytookitinbothhisownwithatendernessbeyonddescription，unlessitwaslikethatofachildholdingacapturedsparrow。
"Why，there’sagloveonit！"hesaidinadeprecatingway。
"Ihavebeenwalking，"sheobserved。
"But，miss！"
"Well——itishardlyfair。"Shepulledofftheglove，andgavehimherbarehand。
Theystoodtogetherminuteafterminute，withoutfurtherspeech，eachlookingattheblackeningscene，andeachthinkinghisandherownthoughts。
"IthinkIwon’tuseitalluptonight，"saidCharleydevotedly，whensixoreightminuteshadbeenpassedbyhimcaressingherhand。"MayIhavetheotherfewminutesanothertime？"
"Asyoulike，"saidshewithouttheleastemotion。
"Butitmustbeoverinaweek。Now，thereisonlyonethingIwantyoutodo——towaitwhileIputonthedress，andthentoseeifIdomypartproperly。Butletmelookfirstindoors。"
Shevanishedforaminuteortwo，andwentin。
Hergrandfatherwassafelyasleepinhischair。"Now，then，"
shesaid，onreturning，"walkdownthegardenalittleway，andwhenIamreadyI’llcallyou。"
Charleywalkedandwaited，andpresentlyheardasoftwhistle。
Hereturnedtothefuelhousedoor。
"Didyouwhistle，MissVye？"
"Yes；comein，"reachedhiminEustacia’svoicefromabackquarter。"Imustnotstrikealighttillthedoorisshut，oritmaybeseenshining。Pushyourhatintotheholethroughtothewash—house，ifyoucanfeelyourwayacross。"
Charleydidascommanded，andshestruckthelightrevealingherselftobechangedinsex，brilliantincolours，andarmedfromtoptotoe。PerhapsshequailedalittleunderCharley’svigorousgaze，butwhetheranyshynessathermaleattireappeareduponhercountenancecouldnotbeseenbyreasonofthestripsofribbonwhichusedtocoverthefaceinmummingcostumes，representingthebarredvisorofthemediaevalhelmet。
"Itfitsprettywell，"shesaid，lookingdownatthewhiteoveralls，"exceptthatthetunic，orwhateveryoucallit，islonginthesleeve。ThebottomoftheoverallsIcanturnupinside。Nowpayattention。"
Eustaciathenproceededinherdelivery，strikingtheswordagainstthestafforlanceattheminatoryphrases，intheorthodoxmummingmanner，andstruttingupanddown。
Charleyseasonedhisadmirationwithcriticismofthegentlestkind，forthetouchofEustacia’shandyetremainedwithhim。
"Andnowforyourexcusetotheothers，"shesaid。
"WheredoyoumeetbeforeyougotoMrs。Yeobright’s？"
"Wethoughtofmeetinghere，miss，ifyouhavenothingtosayagainstit。Ateighto’clock，soastogettherebynine。"
"Yes。Well，youofcoursemustnotappear。Iwillmarchinaboutfiveminuteslate，ready—dressed，andtellthemthatyoucan’tcome。Ihavedecidedthatthebestplanwillbeforyoutobesentsomewherebyme，tomakearealthingoftheexcuse。Ourtwoheath—croppersareinthehabitofstrayingintothemeads，andtomorroweveningyoucangoandseeiftheyaregonethere。
I’llmanagetherest。Nowyoumayleaveme。"
"Yes，miss。ButIthinkI’llhaveoneminutemoreofwhatIamowed，ifyoudon’tmind。"
Eustaciagavehimherhandasbefore。
"Oneminute，"shesaid，andcountedontillshereachedsevenoreightminutes。Handandpersonshethenwithdrewtoadistanceofseveralfeet，andrecoveredsomeofherolddignity。Thecontractcompleted，sheraisedbetweenthemabarrierimpenetrableasawall。
"There，’tisallgone；andIdidn’tmeanquiteall，"
hesaid，withasigh。
"Youhadgoodmeasure，"saidshe，turningaway。
"Yes，miss。Well，’tisover，andnowI’llgethome—along。"
5—ThroughtheMoonlightThenexteveningthemummerswereassembledinthesamespot，awaitingtheentranceoftheTurkishKnight。
"TwentyminutesaftereightbytheQuietWoman，andCharleynotcome。"
"TenminutespastbyBlooms—End。"
"Itwantstenminutesto，byGrandferCantle’swatch。"
"And’tisfiveminutespastbythecaptain’sclock。"
OnEgdontherewasnoabsolutehouroftheday。Thetimeatanymomentwasanumberofvaryingdoctrinesprofessedbythedifferenthamlets，someofthemhavingoriginallygrownupfromacommonroot，andthenbecomedividedbysecession，somehavingbeenalienfromthebeginning。
WestEgdonbelievedinBlooms—Endtime，EastEgdoninthetimeoftheQuietWomanInn。GrandferCantle’swatchhadnumberedmanyfollowersinyearsgoneby，butsincehehadgrownolderfaithswereshaken。
Thus，themummershavinggatheredhitherfromscatteredpointseachcamewithhisowntenetsonearlyandlate；
andtheywaitedalittlelongerasacompromise。
Eustaciahadwatchedtheassemblagethroughthehole；
andseeingthatnowwasthepropermomenttoenter，shewentfromthe"linhay"andboldlypulledthebobbinofthefuelhousedoor。HergrandfatherwassafeattheQuietWoman。
"Here’sCharleyatlast！Howlateyoube，Charley。"
"’TisnotCharley，"saidtheTurkishKnightfromwithinhisvisor。"’TisacousinofMissVye’s，cometotakeCharley’splacefromcuriosity。Hewasobligedtogoandlookfortheheath—croppersthathavegotintothemeads，andIagreedtotakehisplace，asheknewhecouldn’tcomebackhereagaintonight。Iknowthepartaswellashe。"
Hergracefulgait，elegantfigure，anddignifiedmanneringeneralwonthemummerstotheopinionthattheyhadgainedbytheexchange，ifthenewcomerwereperfectinhispart。
"Itdon’tmatter——ifyoubenottooyoung，"saidSaintGeorge。
Eustacia’svoicehadsoundedsomewhatmorejuvenileandflutythanCharley’s。
"Iknoweverywordofit，Itellyou，"saidEustaciadecisively。
Dashbeingallthatwasrequiredtocarryhertriumphantlythrough，sheadoptedasmuchaswasnecessary。"Goahead，lads，withthetry—over。I’llchallengeanyofyoutofindamistakeinme。"
Theplaywashastilyrehearsed，whereupontheothermummersweredelightedwiththenewknight。Theyextinguishedthecandlesathalf—pasteight，andsetoutupontheheathinthedirectionofMrs。Yeobright’shouseatBloom’s—End。
Therewasaslighthoarfrostthatnight，andthemoon，thoughnotmorethanhalffull，threwaspiritedandenticingbrightnessuponthefantasticfiguresofthemummingband，whoseplumesandribbonsrustledintheirwalklikeautumnleaves。TheirpathwasnotoverRainbarrownow，butdownavalleywhichleftthatancientelevationalittletotheeast。Thebottomofthevalewasgreentoawidthoftenyardsorthereabouts，andtheshiningfacetsoffrostuponthebladesofgrassseemedtomoveonwiththeshadowsofthosetheysurrounded。Themassesoffurzeandheathtotherightandleftweredarkasever；
amerehalf—moonwaspowerlesstosilversuchsablefeaturesastheirs。
Half—an—hourofwalkingandtalkingbroughtthemtothespotinthevalleywherethegrassribandwidenedandleddowntothefrontofthehouse。AtsightoftheplaceEustaciawhohadfeltafewpassingdoubtsduringherwalkwiththeyouths，againwasgladthattheadventurehadbeenundertaken。
Shehadcomeouttoseeamanwhomightpossiblyhavethepowertodeliverhersoulfromamostdeadlyoppression。
WhatwasWildeve？Interesting，butinadequate。
Perhapsshewouldseeasufficientherotonight。
Astheydrewnearertothefrontofthehousethemummersbecameawarethatmusicanddancingwerebrisklyflourishingwithin。
Everynowandthenalonglownotefromtheserpent，whichwasthechiefwindinstrumentplayedatthesetimes，advancedfurtherintotheheaththanthethintreblepart，andreachedtheirearsalone；andnextamorethanusualloudtreadfromadancerwouldcomethesameway。
Withnearerapproachthesefragmentarysoundsbecamepiecedtogether，andwerefoundtobethesalientpointsofthetunecalled"Nancy’sFancy。"
Hewasthere，ofcourse。Whowasshethathedancedwith？
Perhapssomeunknownwoman，farbeneathherselfinculture，wasbythemostsubtleofluressealinghisfatethisveryinstant。Todancewithamanistoconcentrateatwelvemonth’sregulationfireuponhiminthefragmentofanhour。Topasstocourtshipwithoutacquaintance，topasstomarriagewithoutcourtship，isaskippingoftermsreservedforthosealonewhotreadthisroyalroad。
Shewouldseehowhisheartlaybykeenobservationofthemall。
Theenterprisingladyfollowedthemummingcompanythroughthegateinthewhitepaling，andstoodbeforetheopenporch。
Thehousewasencrustedwithheavythatchings，whichdroppedbetweentheupperwindows；thefront，uponwhichthemoonbeamsdirectlyplayed，hadoriginallybeenwhite；
butahugepyracanthnowdarkenedthegreaterportion。
Itbecameatonceevidentthatthedancewasproceedingimmediatelywithinthesurfaceofthedoor，noapartmentintervening。
Thebrushingofskirtsandelbows，sometimesthebumpingofshoulders，couldbeheardagainsttheverypanels。
Eustacia，thoughlivingwithintwomilesoftheplace，hadneverseentheinteriorofthisquaintoldhabitation。
BetweenCaptainVyeandtheYeobrightstherehadneverexistedmuchacquaintance，theformerhavingcomeasastrangerandpurchasedthelong—emptyhouseatMistoverKnapnotlongbeforethedeathofMrs。Yeobright’shusband；
andwiththateventandthedepartureofhersonsuchfriendshipashadgrownupbecamequitebrokenoff。
"Istherenopassageinsidethedoor，then？"askedEustaciaastheystoodwithintheporch。
"No，"saidtheladwhoplayedtheSaracen。"Thedooropensrightuponthefrontsitting—room，wherethespree’sgoingon。"
"Sothatwecannotopenthedoorwithoutstoppingthedance。"
"That’sit。Herewemustbidetilltheyhavedone，fortheyalwaysboltthebackdoorafterdark。"
"Theywon’tbemuchlonger，"saidFatherChristmas。
Thisassertion，however，washardlyborneoutbytheevent。
Againtheinstrumentsendedthetune；againtheyrecommencedwithasmuchfireandpathosasifitwerethefirststrain。Theairwasnowthatonewithoutanyparticularbeginning，middle，orend，whichperhaps，amongallthedanceswhichthronganinspiredfiddler’sfancy，bestconveystheideaoftheinterminable——thecelebrated"Devil’sDream。"Thefuryofpersonalmovementthatwaskindledbythefuryofthenotescouldbeapproximatelyimaginedbytheseoutsidersunderthemoon，fromtheoccasionalkicksoftoesandheelsagainstthedoor，wheneverthewhirlroundhadbeenofmorethancustomaryvelocity。
Thefirstfiveminutesoflisteningwasinterestingenoughtothemummers。Thefiveminutesextendedtotenminutes，andthesetoaquarterofanhour；butnosignsofceasingwereaudibleinthelively"Dream。"Thebumpingagainstthedoor，thelaughter，thestamping，wereallasvigorousasever，andthepleasureinbeingoutsidelessenedconsiderably。
"WhydoesMrs。Yeobrightgivepartiesofthissort？"
Eustaciaasked，alittlesurprisedtohearmerrimentsopronounced。
"Itisnotoneofherbettermostparlour—parties。She’saskedtheplainneighboursandworkpeoplewithoutdrawinganylines，justtogive’emagoodsupperandsuchlike。