Averystrangeone。"
　　"No——don’ttalkaboutitif’tisagreeableofyenotto！
　　’TwillmakemyskincrawlwhenIthinkofitinbedalone。
　　Butyouwill——ah，youwill，Iknow，Timothy；andIshalldreamallnighto’t！Averystrangeone？Whatsortofaspiritdidyemeanwhenyesaid，averystrangeone，Timothy？——no，no——don’ttellme。"
　　"Idon’thalfbelieveinspiritsmyself。ButIthinkitghostlyenough——whatIwastold。’Twasalittleboythatzidit。"
　　"Whatwasitlike？——no，don’t——"
　　"Aredone。Yes，mostghostsbewhite；butthisisasifithadbeendippedinblood。"
　　Christiandrewadeepbreathwithoutlettingitexpandhisbody，andHumphreysaid，"Wherehasitbeenseen？"
　　"Notexactlyhere；butinthissameheth。But’tisn’tathingtotalkabout。Whatdoyesay，"continuedFairwayinbriskertones，andturninguponthemasiftheideahadnotbeenGrandferCantle’s——"whatdoyousaytogivingthenewmanandwifeabitofasongtonightaforewegotobed——beingtheirwedding—day？Whenfolksarejustmarried’tisaswelltolookglado’t，sincelookingsorrywon’tunjoin’em。Iamnodrinker，asweknow，butwhenthewomenfolkandyoungstershavegonehomewecandropdownacrosstotheQuietWoman，andstrikeupaballetinfrontofthemarriedfolks’door。’Twillpleasetheyoungwife，andthat’swhatIshouldliketodo，formany’stheskinfulI’vehadatherhandswhenshelivedwithherauntatBlooms—End。"
　　"Hey？Andsowewill！"saidGrandferCantle，turningsobrisklythathiscoppersealsswungextravagantly。
　　"I’masdryasakexwithbidinguphereinthewind，andIhaven’tseenthecolourofdrinksincenammet—
　　timetoday。’TissaidthatthelastbrewattheWomanisveryprettydrinking。And，neighbours，ifweshouldbealittlelateinthefinishing，why，tomorrow’sSunday，andwecansleepitoff？"
　　"GrandferCantle！youtakethingsverycarelessforanoldman，"saidthewidewoman。
　　"Itakethingscareless；Ido——toocarelesstopleasethewomen！Klk！I’llsingthe’JovialCrew，’oranyothersong，whenaweakoldmanwouldcryhiseyesout。Jownit；
　　Iamupforanything。
　　"Theking’look’do’—verhisleft’shoul—der’，Andagrim’looklook’—edhee’，EarlMar’—shal，hesaid’，butfor’myoath’
　　Orhang’—edthou’shouldstbee’。"
　　"Well，that’swhatwe’lldo，"saidFairway。"We’llgive’emasong，an’itpleasetheLord。What’sthegoodofThomasin’scousinClyma—cominghomeafterthedeed’sdone？
　　Heshouldhavecomeafore，ifsobehewantedtostopit，andmarryherhimself。"
　　"Perhapshe’scomingtobidewithhismotheralittletime，asshemustfeellonelynowthemaid’sgone。"
　　"Now，’tisveryodd，butIneverfeellonely——no，notatall，"
　　saidGrandferCantle。"Iamasbraveinthenighttimeasa’admiral！"
　　Thebonfirewasbythistimebeginningtosinklow，forthefuelhadnotbeenofthatsubstantialsortwhichcansupportablazelong。Mostoftheotherfireswithinthewidehorizonwerealsodwindlingweak。Attentiveobservationoftheirbrightness，colour，andlengthofexistencewouldhaverevealedthequalityofthematerialburnt，andthroughthat，tosomeextentthenaturalproduceofthedistrictinwhicheachbonfirewassituate。
　　Theclear，kinglyeffulgencethathadcharacterizedthemajorityexpressedaheathandfurzecountryliketheirown，whichinonedirectionextendedanunlimitednumberofmiles；
　　therapidflaresandextinctionsatotherpointsofthecompassshowedthelightestoffuel——straw，beanstalks，andtheusualwastefromarableland。Themostenduringofall——steadyunalteringeyeslikePlanets——signifiedwood，suchashazel—branches，thorn—faggots，andstoutbillets。
　　Firesofthelast—mentionedmaterialswererare，andthoughcomparativelysmallinmagnitudebesidethetransientblazes，nowbegantogetthebestofthembymerelongcontinuance。
　　Thegreatoneshadperished，buttheseremained。
　　Theyoccupiedtheremotestvisiblepositions——sky—backedsummitsrisingoutofrichcoppiceandplantationdistrictstothenorth，wherethesoilwasdifferent，andheathforeignandstrange。
　　Saveone；andthiswasthenearestofany，themoonofthewholeshiningthrong。Itlayinadirectionpreciselyoppositetothatofthelittlewindowinthevalebelow。
　　Itsnearnesswassuchthat，notwithstandingitsactualsmallness，itsglowinfinitelytranscendedtheirs。
　　Thisquieteyehadattractedattentionfromtimetotime；
　　andwhentheirownfirehadbecomesunkenanddimitattractedmore；someevenofthewoodfiresmorerecentlylightedhadreachedtheirdecline，butnochangewasperceptiblehere。
　　"Tobesure，hownearthatfireis！"saidFairway。
　　"Seemingly。Icanseeafellowofsomesortwalkingroundit。
　　Littleandgoodmustbesaidofthatfire，surely。"
　　"Icanthrowastonethere，"saidtheboy。
　　"AndsocanI！"saidGrandferCantle。
　　"No，no，youcan’t，mysonnies。Thatfireisnotmuchlessthanamileoff，forallthat’aseemssonear。"
　　"’Tisintheheath，butnofurze，"saidtheturf—cutter。
　　"’Tiscleft—wood，that’swhat’tis，"saidTimothyFairway。
　　"Nothingwouldburnlikethatexceptcleantimber。And’tisontheknapaforetheoldcaptain’shouseatMistover。
　　Suchaqueermortalasthatmanis！Tohavealittlefireinsideyourownbankandditch，thatnobodyelsemayenjoyitorcomeanighit！Andwhatazanyanoldchapmustbe，tolightabonfirewhenthere’snoyoungsterstoplease。"
　　"Cap’nVyehasbeenforalongwalktoday，andisquitetiredout，"saidGrandferCantle，"so’tisn’tlikelytobehe。"
　　"Andhewouldhardlyaffordgoodfuellikethat，"
　　saidthewidewoman。
　　"Thenitmustbehisgranddaughter，"saidFairway。
　　"Notthatabodyofheragecanwantafiremuch。"
　　"Sheisverystrangeinherways，livinguptherebyherself，andsuchthingspleaseher，"saidSusan。
　　"She’sawell—favouredmaidenough，"saidHumphreythefurze—cutter，"especiallywhenshe’sgotoneofherdandygownson。"
　　"That’strue，"saidFairway。"Well，letherbonfireburnan’twill。Oursiswell—nighoutbythelooko’t。"
　　"Howdark’tisnowthefire’sgonedown！"saidChristianCantle，lookingbehindhimwithhishareeyes。"Don’tyethinkwe’dbettergethome—along，neighbours？Thehethisn’thaunted，Iknow；butwe’dbettergethome……Ah，whatwasthat？"
　　"Onlythewind，"saidtheturf—cutter。
　　"Idon’tthinkFifth—of—Novembersoughttobekeptupbynightexceptintowns。Itshouldbebydayinoutstep，ill—accountedplaceslikethis！"
　　"Nonsense，Christian。Liftupyourspiritslikeaman！Susy，dear，youandIwillhaveajig——hey，myhoney？——before’tisquitetoodarktoseehowwell—favouredyoubestill，thoughsomanysummershavepassedsinceyourhusband，asonofawitch，snappedyouupfromme。"
　　ThiswasaddressedtoSusanNunsuch；andthenextcircumstanceofwhichthebeholderswereconsciouswasavisionofthematron’sbroadformwhiskingofftowardsthespacewhereonthefirehadbeenkindled。
　　ShewasliftedbodilybyMr。Fairway’sarm，whichhadbeenflungroundherwaistbeforeshehadbecomeawareofhisintention。Thesiteofthefirewasnowmerelyacircleofashesfleckedwithredembersandsparks，thefurzehavingburntcompletelyaway。Oncewithinthecirclehewhirledherroundandroundinadance。
　　Shewasawomannoisilyconstructed；inadditiontoherenclosingframeworkofwhaleboneandlath，sheworepattenssummerandwinter，inwetweatherandindry，topreserveherbootsfromwear；andwhenFairwaybegantojumpaboutwithher，theclickingofthepattens，thecreakingofthestays，andherscreamsofsurprise，formedaveryaudibleconcert。
　　"I’llcrackthynumskullforthee，youmandychap！"
　　saidMrs。Nunsuch，asshehelplesslydancedroundwithhim，herfeetplayinglikedrumsticksamongthesparks。
　　"Myankleswereallinafeverbefore，fromwalkingthroughthatpricklyfurze，andnowyoumustmake’emworsewiththesevlankers！"
　　ThevagaryofTimothyFairwaywasinfectious。Theturf—cutterseizedoldOllyDowden，and，somewhatmoregently，poussettedwithherlikewise。Theyoungmenwerenotslowtoimitatetheexampleoftheirelders，andseizedthemaids；
　　GrandferCantleandhisstickjiggedintheformofathree—leggedobjectamongtherest；andinhalfaminuteallthatcouldbeseenonRainbarrowwasawhirlingofdarkshapesamidaboilingconfusionofsparks，whichleaptaroundthedancersashighastheirwaists。
　　Thechiefnoiseswerewomen’sshrillcries，men’slaughter，Susan’sstaysandpattens，OllyDowden’s"heu—heu—heu！"
　　andthestrummingofthewinduponthefurze—bushes，whichformedakindoftunetothedemoniacmeasuretheytrod。
　　Christianalonestoodaloof，uneasilyrockinghimselfashemurmured，"Theyoughtnottodoit——howthevlankersdofly！’tistemptingtheWickedone，’tis。"
　　"Whatwasthat？"saidoneofthelads，stopping。
　　"Ah——where？"saidChristian，hastilyclosinguptotherest。
　　Thedancersalllessenedtheirspeed。
　　"’Twasbehindyou，Christian，thatIheardit——downhere。"
　　"Yes——’tisbehindme！"Christiansaid。"Matthew，Mark，Luke，andJohn，blessthebedthatIlieon；fourangelsguard——"
　　"Holdyourtongue。Whatisit？"saidFairway。
　　"Hoi—i—i—i！"criedavoicefromthedarkness。
　　"Halloo—o—o—o！"saidFairway。
　　"IsthereanycarttrackupacrossheretoMis’essYeobright’s，ofBlooms—End？"cametotheminthesamevoice，asalong，slimindistinctfigureapproachedthebarrow。
　　"Oughtwenottorunhomeashardaswecan，neighbours，as’tisgettinglate？"saidChristian。"Notrunawayfromoneanother，youknow；runclosetogether，Imean。"
　　"Scrapeupafewstraylocksoffurze，andmakeablaze，sothatwecanseewhothemanis，"saidFairway。
　　Whentheflamearoseitrevealedayoungmanintightraiment，andredfromtoptotoe。"IsthereatrackacrossheretoMis’essYeobright’shouse？"herepeated。
　　"Ay——keepalongthepathdownthere。"
　　"Imeanawaytwohorsesandavancantravelover？"
　　"Well，yes；youcangetupthevalebelowherewithtime。
　　Thetrackisrough，butifyou’vegotalightyourhorsesmaypickalongwi’care。Haveyebroughtyourcartfarup，neighbourreddleman？"
　　"I’veleftitinthebottom，abouthalfamileback，Isteppedoninfronttomakesureoftheway，as’tisnight—time，andIhan’tbeenhereforsolong。"
　　"Oh，wellyoucangetup，"saidFairway。"WhataturnitdidgivemewhenIsawhim！"headdedtothewholegroup，thereddlemanincluded。"Lord’ssake，Ithought，whateverfierymommetisthiscometotroubleus？Noslighttoyourlooks，reddleman，foryebain’tbad—lookinginthegroundwork，thoughthefinishisqueer。MymeaningisjusttosayhowcuriousIfelt。Ihalfthoughtit’twasthedevilortheredghosttheboytoldof。"
　　"Itgiedmeaturnlikewise，"saidSusanNunsuch，"forI
　　hadadreamlastnightofadeath’shead。"
　　"Don’tyetalko’tnomore，"saidChristian。"Ifhehadahandkerchiefoverhisheadhe’dlookforalltheworldliketheDevilinthepictureoftheTemptation。"
　　"Well，thankyoufortellingme，"saidtheyoungreddleman，smilingfaintly。"Andgoodnightt’yeall。"
　　Hewithdrewfromtheirsightdownthebarrow。
　　"IfancyI’veseenthatyoungman’sfacebefore，"
　　saidHumphrey。"Butwhere，orhow，orwhathisnameis，Idon’tknow。"
　　Thereddlemanhadnotbeengonemorethanafewminuteswhenanotherpersonapproachedthepartiallyrevivedbonfire。Itprovedtobeawell—knownandrespectedwidowoftheneighbourhood，ofastandingwhichcanonlybeexpressedbythewordgenteel。Herface，encompassedbytheblacknessoftherecedingheath，showedwhitely，andwith—outhalf—lights，likeacameo。
　　Shewasawomanofmiddle—age，withwell—formedfeaturesofthetypeusuallyfoundwhereperspicacityisthechiefqualityenthronedwithin。AtmomentssheseemedtoberegardingissuesfromaNebodeniedtoothersaround。
　　Shehadsomethingofanestrangedmien；thesolitudeexhaledfromtheheathwasconcentratedinthisfacethathadrisenfromit。Theairwithwhichshelookedattheheathmenbetokenedacertainunconcernattheirpresence，oratwhatmightbetheiropinionsofherforwalkinginthatlonelyspotatsuchanhour，thusindirectlyimplyingthatinsomerespectorothertheywerenotuptoherlevel。
　　Theexplanationlayinthefactthatthoughherhusbandhadbeenasmallfarmersheherselfwasacurate’sdaughter，whohadoncedreamtofdoingbetterthings。
　　Personswithanyweightofcharactercarry，likeplanets，theiratmospheresalongwiththemintheirorbits；
　　andthematronwhoenterednowuponthescenecould，andusuallydid，bringherowntoneintoacompany。
　　Hernormalmanneramongtheheathfolkhadthatreticencewhichresultsfromtheconsciousnessofsuperiorcommunicativepower。Buttheeffectofcomingintosocietyandlightafterlonelywanderingindarknessisasociabilityinthecomeraboveitsusualpitch，expressedinthefeaturesevenmorethaninwords。
　　"Why，’tisMis’essYeobright，"saidFairway。"Mis’essYeobright，nottenminutesagoamanwashereaskingforyou——areddleman。"
　　"Whatdidhewant？"saidshe。
　　"Hedidn’ttellus。"
　　"Somethingtosell，Isuppose；whatitcanbeIamatalosstounderstand。"
　　"IamgladtohearthatyoursonMr。ClymiscominghomeatChristmas，ma’am，"saidSam，theturf—cutter。"Whatadogheusedtobeforbonfires！"
　　"Yes。Ibelieveheiscoming，"shesaid。
　　"Hemustbeafinefellowbythistime，"saidFairway。
　　"Heisamannow，"sherepliedquietly。
　　"’Tisverylonesomefor’eeinthehethtonight，mis’ess，"saidChristian，comingfromtheseclusionhehadhithertomaintained。"Mindyoudon’tgetlost。
　　EgdonHethisabadplacetogetlostin，andthewindsdohufflequeerertonightthaneverIheard’emafore。
　　ThemthatknowEgdonbesthavebeenpixy—ledhereattimes。"
　　"Isthatyou，Christian？"saidMrs。Yeobright。
　　"Whatmadeyouhideawayfromme？"
　　"’TwasthatIdidn’tknowyouinthislight，mis’ess；
　　andbeingamanofthemournfullestmake，Iwasscaredalittle，that’sall。OftentimesifyoucouldseehowterribledownIgetinmymind，’twouldmake’eequitenervousforfearIshoulddiebymyhand。"
　　"Youdon’ttakeafteryourfather，"saidMrs。Yeobright，lookingtowardsthefire，whereGrandferCantle，withsomewantoforiginality，wasdancingbyhimselfamongthesparks，astheothershaddonebefore。
　　"Now，Grandfer，"saidTimothyFairway，"weareashamedofye。Areverentoldpatriarchmanasyoube——seventyifaday——togohornpipinglikethatbyyourself！"
　　"Aharrowingoldman，Mis’essYeobright，"
　　saidChristiandespondingly。"Iwouldn’tlivewithhimaweek，soplaywardasheis，ifIcouldgetaway。"
　　"’TwouldbemoreseemlyinyetostandstillandwelcomeMis’essYeobright，andyouthevenerablesthere，GrandferCantle，"saidthebesom—woman。
　　"Faith，andsoitwould，"saidtherevellercheckinghimselfrepentantly。"I’vesuchabadmemory，Mis’essYeobright，thatIforgethowI’mlookeduptobytherestof’em。Myspiritsmustbewonderfulgood，you’llsay？Butnotalways。’Tisaweightuponamantobelookeduptoascommander，andIoftenfeelit。"
　　"Iamsorrytostopthetalk，"saidMrs。Yeobright。"ButImustbeleavingyounow。IwaspassingdowntheAngleburyRoad，towardsmyniece’snewhome，whoisreturningtonightwithherhusband；andseeingthebonfireandhearingOlly’svoiceamongtherestIcameupheretolearnwhatwasgoingon。
　　Ishouldlikehertowalkwithme，asherwayismine。"
　　"Ay，sure，ma’am，I’mjustthinkingofmoving，"saidOlly。
　　"Why，you’llbesafetomeetthereddlemanthatItoldyeof，"
　　saidFairway。"He’sonlygonebacktogethisvan。
　　Weheardthatyournieceandherhusbandwerecomingstraighthomeassoonastheyweremarried，andwearegoingdownthereshortly，togive’emasongo’welcome。"
　　"Thankyouindeed，"saidMrs。Yeobright。
　　"Butweshalltakeashortercutthroughthefurzethanyoucangowithlongclothes；sowewon’ttroubleyoutowait。"
　　"Verywell——areyouready，Olly？"
　　"Yes，ma’am。Andthere’salightshiningfromyourniece’swindow，see。Itwillhelptokeepusinthepath。"
　　SheindicatedthefaintlightatthebottomofthevalleywhichFairwayhadpointedout；andthetwowomendescendedthetumulus。
　　4—TheHaltontheTurnpikeRoadDown，downwardtheywent，andyetfurtherdown——theirdescentateachstepseemingtooutmeasuretheiradvance。
　　Theirskirtswerescratchednoisilybythefurze，theirshouldersbrushedbytheferns，which，thoughdeadanddry，stooderectaswhenalive，nosufficientwinterweatherhavingasyetarrivedtobeatthemdown。
　　TheirTartareansituationmightbysomehavebeencalledanimprudentonefortwounattendedwomen。ButtheseshaggyrecesseswereatallseasonsafamiliarsurroundingtoOllyandMrs。Yeobright；andtheadditionofdarknesslendsnofrightfulnesstothefaceofafriend。
　　"AndsoTamsinhasmarriedhimatlast，"saidOlly，whentheinclinehadbecomesomuchlesssteepthattheirfoot—stepsnolongerrequiredundividedattention。
　　Mrs。Yeobrightansweredslowly，"Yes；atlast。"
　　"Howyouwillmissher——livingwith’eeasadaughter，asshealwayshave。"
　　"Idomissher。"
　　Olly，thoughwithoutthetacttoperceivewhenremarkswereuntimely，wassavedbyherverysimplicityfromrenderingthemoffensive。Questionsthatwouldhavebeenresentedinothersshecouldaskwithimpunity。
　　ThisaccountedforMrs。Yeobright’sacquiescenceintherevivalofanevidentlysoresubject。
　　"Iwasquitestrooktohearyou’dagreedtoit，ma’am，thatIwas，"continuedthebesom—maker。
　　"YouwerenotmorestruckbyitthanIshouldhavebeenlastyearthistime，Olly。Thereareagoodmanysidestothatwedding。Icouldnottellyouallofthem，evenifItried。"
　　"Ifeltmyselfthathewashardlysolid—goingenoughtomatewithyourfamily。Keepinganinn——whatisit？
　　But’a’sclever，that’strue，andtheysayhewasanengineeringgentlemanonce，buthascomedownbybeingtoooutwardlygiven。"
　　"Isawthat，uponthewhole，itwouldbebettersheshouldmarrywhereshewished。"
　　"Poorlittlething，herfeelingsgotthebetterofher，nodoubt。’Tisnature。Well，theymaycallhimwhattheywill——he’veseveralacresofheth—groundbrokeuphere，besidesthepublichouse，andtheheth—croppers，andhismannersbequitelikeagentleman’s。Andwhat’sdonecannotbeundone。"
　　"Itcannot，"saidMrs。Yeobright。"See，here’sthewagon—trackatlast。Nowweshallgetalongbetter。"
　　Theweddingsubjectwasnofurtherdweltupon；
　　andsoonafaintdivergingpathwasreached，wheretheypartedcompany，OllyfirstbegginghercompaniontoremindMr。Wildevethathehadnotsenthersickhusbandthebottleofwinepromisedontheoccasionofhismarriage。
　　Thebesom—makerturnedtothelefttowardsherownhouse，behindaspurofthehill，andMrs。Yeobrightfollowedthestraighttrack，whichfurtheronjoinedthehighwaybytheQuietWomanInn，whithershesupposedherniecetohavereturnedwithWildevefromtheirweddingatAngleburythatday。
　　ShefirstreachedWildeve’sPatch，asitwascalled，aplotoflandredeemedfromtheheath，andafterlongandlaboriousyearsbroughtintocultivation。Themanwhohaddiscoveredthatitcouldbetilleddiedofthelabour；
　　themanwhosucceededhiminpossessionruinedhimselfinfertilizingit。WildevecamelikeAmerigoVespucci，andreceivedthehonoursduetothosewhohadgonebefore。
　　WhenMrs。Yeobrighthaddrawnneartotheinn，andwasabouttoenter，shesawahorseandvehiclesometwohundredyardsbeyondit，comingtowardsher，amanwalkingalongsidewithalanterninhishand。
　　Itwassoonevidentthatthiswasthereddlemanwhohadinquiredforher。Insteadofenteringtheinnatonce，shewalkedbyitandtowardsthevan。
　　Theconveyancecameclose，andthemanwasabouttopassherwithlittlenotice，whensheturnedtohimandsaid，"Ithinkyouhavebeeninquiringforme？IamMrs。YeobrightofBlooms—End。"
　　Thereddlemanstarted，andhelduphisfinger。
　　Hestoppedthehorses，andbeckonedtohertowithdrawwithhimafewyardsaside，whichshedid，wondering。
　　"Youdon’tknowme，ma’am，Isuppose？"hesaid。
　　"Idonot，"saidshe。"Why，yes，Ido！YouareyoungVenn——yourfatherwasadairymansomewherehere？"
　　"Yes；andIknewyourniece，MissTamsin，alittle。
　　Ihavesomethingbadtotellyou。"
　　"Abouther——no！Shehasjustcomehome，Ibelieve，withherhusband。Theyarrangedtoreturnthisafternoon——totheinnbeyondhere。"
　　"She’snotthere。"
　　"Howdoyouknow？"
　　"Becauseshe’shere。She’sinmyvan，"headdedslowly。
　　"Whatnewtroublehascome？"murmuredMrs。Yeobright，puttingherhandoverhereyes。
　　"Ican’texplainmuch，ma’am。AllIknowisthat，asI
　　wasgoingalongtheroadthismorning，aboutamileoutofAnglebury，Iheardsomethingtrottingaftermelikeadoe，andlookingroundthereshewas，whiteasdeathitself。
　　’Oh，DiggoryVenn！’shesaid，’Ithought’twasyou——willyouhelpme？Iamintrouble。’"
　　"HowdidsheknowyourChristianname？"saidMrs。Yeobrightdoubtingly。
　　"IhadmetherasaladbeforeIwentawayinthistrade。
　　Sheaskedthenifshemightride，andthendownshefellinafaint。Ipickedherupandputherin，andthereshehasbeeneversince。Shehascriedagooddeal，butshehashardlyspoke；allshehastoldmebeingthatshewastohavebeenmarriedthismorning。
　　Itriedtogethertoeatsomething，butshecouldn’t；
　　andatlastshefellasleep。"
　　"Letmeseeheratonce，"saidMrs。Yeobright，hasteningtowardsthevan。
　　Thereddlemanfollowedwiththelantern，and，steppingupfirst，assistedMrs。Yeobrighttomountbesidehim。
　　Onthedoorbeingopenedsheperceivedattheendofthevananextemporizedcouch，aroundwhichwashungapparentlyallthedraperythatthereddlemanpossessed，tokeeptheoccupantofthelittlecouchfromcontactwiththeredmaterialsofhistrade。Ayounggirllaythereon，coveredwithacloak。Shewasasleep，andthelightofthelanternfelluponherfeatures。
　　Afair，sweet，andhonestcountryfacewasrevealed，reposinginanestofwavychestnuthair。Itwasbetweenprettyandbeautiful。Thoughhereyeswereclosed，onecouldeasilyimaginethelightnecessarilyshininginthemastheculminationoftheluminousworkmanshiparound。
　　Thegroundworkofthefacewashopefulness；butoveritnowIaylikeaforeignsubstanceafilmofanxietyandgrief。Thegriefhadbeentheresoshortlyastohaveabstractednothingofthebloom，andhadasyetbutgivenadignitytowhatitmighteventuallyundermine。
　　Thescarletofherlipshadnothadtimetoabate，andjustnowitappearedstillmoreintensebytheabsenceoftheneighbouringandmoretransientcolourofhercheek。
　　Thelipsfrequentlyparted，withamurmurofwords。
　　Sheseemedtobelongrightlytoamadrigal——torequireviewingthroughrhymeandharmony。