, and plunged across the fern and
furze, Eustacia slowly walking on. In two or three minutes she met
her husband and his companion.

"My journey ends here for tonight, reddleman," said Yeobright as soon
as he perceived her. "I turn back with this lady. Good night."

"Good night, Mr. Yeobright," said Venn. "I hope to see you better
soon."

The moonlight shone directly upon Venn's face as he spoke, and
revealed all its lines to Eustacia. He was looking suspiciously at
her. That Venn's keen eye had discerned what Yeobright's feeble
vision had not--a man in the act of withdrawing from Eustacia's
side--was within the limits of the probable.

If Eustacia had been able to follow the reddleman she would soon have
found striking confirmation of her thought. No sooner had Clym given
her his arm and led her off the scene than the reddleman turned
back from the beaten track towards East Egdon, whither he had been
strolling merely to accompany Clym in his walk, Diggory's van being
again in the neighbourhood. Stretching out his long legs, he crossed
the pathless portion of the heath somewhat in the direction which
Wildeve had taken. Only a man accustomed to nocturnal rambles could
at this hour have descended those shaggy slopes with Venn's velocity
without falling headlong into a pit, or snapping off his leg by
jamming his foot into some rabbit burrow. But Venn went on without
much inconvenience to himself, and the course of his scamper was
towards the Quiet Woman Inn. This place he reached in about half an
hour, and he was well aware that no person who had been near Throope
Corner when he started could have got down here before him.

The lonely inn was not yet closed, though scarcely an individual was
there, the business done being chiefly with travellers who passed the
inn on long journeys, and these had now gone on their way. Venn went
to the public room, called for a mug of ale, and inquired of the maid
in an indifferent tone if Mr. Wildeve was at home.

Thomasin sat in an inner room and heard Venn's voice. When customers
were present she seldom showed herself, owing to her inherent dislike
for the business; but perceiving that no one else was there tonight
she came out.

"He is not at home yet, Diggory," she said pleasantly. "But I
expected him sooner. He has been to East Egdon to buy a horse."

"Did he wear a light wideawake?"

"Yes."

"Then I saw him at Throope Corner, leading one home," said Venn drily.
"A beaut