up the story, ‘Well, whatever clothes I’ve won, white or figured, for eyes to see or for eyes not to see’ (’a could do a pretty stroke of modesty in those days), ‘I’d sooner have lost it than have seen what I have. Poor Mr. Yeobright was took bad directly he reached the fair ground, and was forced to go home again.’ That was the last time he ever went out of the parish.” 

 “’A faltered on from one day to another, and then we heard he was gone.” 

 “D’ye think he had great pain when ’a died?” said Christian. 

 “O no—quite different. Nor any pain of mind. He was lucky enough to be God A’mighty’s own man.” 

 “And other folk—d’ye think ’twill be much pain to ’em, Mister Fairway?” 

 “That depends on whether they be afeard.” 

 “I bain’t afeard at all, I thank God!” said Christian strenuously. “I’m glad I bain’t, for then ’twon’t pain me.... I don’t think I be afeard—or if I be I can’t help it, and I don’t deserve to suffer. I wish I was not afeard at all!” 

 There was a solemn silence, and looking from the window, which was unshuttered and unblinded, Timothy said, “Well, what a fess little bonfire that one is, out by Cap’n Vye’s! ’Tis burning just the same now as ever, upon my life.” 

 All glances went through the window, and nobody noticed that Wildeve disguised a brief, telltale look. Far away up the sombre valley of heath, and to the right of Rainbarrow, could indeed be seen the light, small, but steady and persistent as before. 

 “It was lighted before ours was,” Fairway continued; “and yet every one in the country round is out afore ’n.” 

 “Perhaps there’s meaning in it!” murmured Christian. 

 “How meaning?” said Wildeve sharply. 

 Christian was too scattered to reply, and Timothy helped him. 

 “He means, sir, that the lonesome dark-eyed creature up there that some say is a witch—ever I should call a fine young woman such a name—is always up to some odd conceit or other; and so perhaps ’tis she.” 

 “I’d be very glad to ask her in wedlock, if she’d hae me and take the risk of her wild dark eyes ill-wishing me,” said Grandfer Cantle staunchly. 

 

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