"I won't conceal what I did. I wanted an adventure, and I went with
the mummers. I played the part of the Turkish Knight."

"No, never? Ha, ha! Good gad! I didn't expect it of you, Eustacia."

"It was my first performance, and it certainly will be my last. Now I
have told you--and remember it is a secret."

"Of course. But, Eustacia, you never did--ha! ha! Dammy, how 'twould
have pleased me forty years ago! But remember, no more of it, my girl.
You may walk on the heath night or day, as you choose, so that you
don't bother me; but no figuring in breeches again."

"You need have no fear for me, grandpapa."

Here the conversation ceased, Eustacia's moral training never
exceeding in severity a dialogue of this sort, which, if it ever
became profitable to good works, would be a result not dear at the
price. But her thoughts soon strayed far from her own personality;
and, full of a passionate and indescribable solicitude for one to whom
she was not even a name, she went forth into the amplitude of tanned
wild around her, restless as Ahasuerus the Jew. She was about half a
mile from her residence when she beheld a sinister redness arising
from a ravine a little way in advance--dull and lurid like a flame in
sunlight and she guessed it to signify Diggory Venn.

When the farmers who had wished to buy in a new stock of reddle
during the last month had inquired where Venn was to be found, people
replied, "On Egdon Heath." Day after day the answer was the same.
Now, since Egdon was populated with heath-croppers and furze-cutters
rather than with sheep and shepherds, and the downs where most of the
latter were to be found lay some to the north, some to the west of
Egdon, his reason for camping about there like Israel in Zin was not
apparent. The position was central and occasionally desirable. But
the sale of reddle was not Diggory's primary object in remaining on
the heath, particularly at so late a period of the year, when most
travellers of his class had gone into winter quarters.

Eustacia looked at the lonely man. Wildeve had told her at their last
meeting that Venn had been thrust forward by Mrs. Yeobright as one
ready and anxious to take his place as Thomasin's betrothed. His
figure was perfect, his face young and well outlined, his eyes bright,
his intelligence keen, and his position one which he could readily
better if he chose. But in spite of possibilities it was not likely
that Thomasin would accept this Ishm