ust not strike a light till the door is shut, or it may be seen
shining. Push your hat into the hole through to the wash-house, if
you can feel your way across."

Charley did as commanded, and she struck the light, revealing herself
to be changed in sex, brilliant in colours, and armed from top to
toe. Perhaps she quailed a little under Charley's vigorous gaze, but
whether any shyness at her male attire appeared upon her countenance
could not be seen by reason of the strips of ribbon which used to
cover the face in mumming costumes, representing the barred visor of
the mediaeval helmet.

"It fits pretty well," she said, looking down at the white overalls,
"except that the tunic, or whatever you call it, is long in the
sleeve. The bottom of the overalls I can turn up inside. Now pay
attention."

Eustacia then proceeded in her delivery, striking the sword against
the staff or lance at the minatory phrases, in the orthodox mumming
manner, and strutting up and down. Charley seasoned his admiration
with criticism of the gentlest kind, for the touch of Eustacia's hand
yet remained with him.

"And now for your excuse to the others," she said. "Where do you meet
before you go to Mrs. Yeobright's?"

"We thought of meeting here, miss, if you have nothing to say against
it. At eight o'clock, so as to get there by nine."

"Yes. Well, you of course must not appear. I will march in about five
minutes late, ready-dressed, and tell them that you can't come. I
have decided that the best plan will be for you to be sent somewhere
by me, to make a real thing of the excuse. Our two heath-croppers are
in the habit of straying into the meads, and tomorrow evening you can
go and see if they are gone there. I'll manage the rest. Now you may
leave me."

"Yes, miss. But I think I'll have one minute more of what I am owed,
if you don't mind."

Eustacia gave him her hand as before.

"One minute," she said, and counted on till she reached seven or eight
minutes. Hand and person she then withdrew to a distance of several
feet, and recovered some of her old dignity. The contract completed,
she raised between them a barrier impenetrable as a wall.

"There, 'tis all gone; and I didn't mean quite all," he said, with a
sigh.

"You had good measure," said she, turning away.

"Yes, miss. Well, 'tis over, and now I'll get home-along."

V

Through the Moonlight

The next evening the mummers were assembled in the same spot, awaitin