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。\"