come about; but she did not wish to inflict upon her physical pain. For
though this pretty young woman had rendered impossible any reparation
which Lodge might have made Rhoda for his past conduct, everything like
resentment at the unconscious usurpation had quite passed away from the
elder's mind.

If the sweet and kindly Gertrude Lodge only knew of the scene in the bed-
chamber, what would she think? Not to inform her of it seemed treachery
in the presence of her friendliness; but tell she could not of her own
accord--neither could she devise a remedy.

She mused upon the matter the greater part of the night; and the next
day, after the morning milking, set out to obtain another glimpse of
Gertrude Lodge if she could, being held to her by a gruesome fascination.
By watching the house from a distance the milkmaid was presently able to
discern the farmer's wife in a ride she was taking alone--probably to
join her husband in some distant field. Mrs. Lodge perceived her, and
cantered in her direction.

'Good morning, Rhoda!' Gertrude said, when she had come up. 'I was going
to call.'

Rhoda noticed that Mrs. Lodge held the reins with some difficulty.

'I hope--the bad arm,' said Rhoda.

'They tell me there is possibly one way by which I might be able to find
out the cause, and so perhaps the cure, of it,' replied the other
anxiously. 'It is by going to some clever man over in Egdon Heath. They
did not know if he was still alive--and I cannot remember his name at