It was nearly nine o’clock when he began to ascend the vale towards Mistover； but the long days of summer being at their climax； the first obscurity of evening had only just begun to tan the landscape。 At this point of his journey Christian heard voices； and found that they proceeded from a pany of men and women who were traversing a hollow ahead of him； the tops only of their heads being visible。
He paused and thought of the money he carried。 It was almost too early even for Christian seriously to fear robbery； nevertheless he took a precaution which ever since his boyhood he had adopted whenever he carried more than two or three shillings upon his person—a precaution somewhat like that of the owner of the Pitt Diamond when filled with similar misgivings。 He took off his boots； untied the guineas； and emptied the contents of one little bag into the right boot； and of the other into the left； spreading them as flatly as possible over the bottom of each； which was really a spacious coffer by no means limited to the size of the foot。 Pulling them on again and lacing them to the very top； he proceeded on his way； more easy in his head than under his soles。
His path converged towards that of the noisy pany； and on ing nearer he found to his relief that they were several Egdon people whom he knew very well； while with them walked Fairway； of Blooms…End。
“What！ Christian going too？” said Fairway as soon as he recognized the newer。 “You’ve got no young woman nor wife to your name to gie a gown…piece to； I’m sure。”
“What d’ye mean？” said Christian。
“Why； the raffle。 The one we go to every year。
Going to the raffle as well as ourselves？”
“Never knew a word o’t。 Is it like cudgel playing or other sportful forms of bloodshed？ I don’t want to go； thank you； Mister Fairway； and no offence。”
“Christian don’t know the fun o’t； and ‘twould be a fine sight for him；” said a buxom woman。 “There’s no danger at all； Christian。 Every man puts in a shilling apiece； and one wins a gown…piece for his wife or sweetheart if he’s got one。”
“Well； as that’s not my fortune there’s no meaning in it to me。 But I should like to see the fun； if there’s nothing of the black art in it； and if a man may look on without cost or getting into any dangerous wrangle？”
“There will be no uproar at all；” said Timothy。 “Sure； Christian； if you’d like to e we’ll see there’s no harm done。”
“And no ba’dy gaieties； I suppose？ You see； neighbours； if so； it would be setting father a bad example； as he is so light moral’d。 But a gown…piece for a shilling； and no black art—‘tis worth looking in to see； and it wouldn’t hinder me half an hour。 Yes； I’ll e； if you’ll step a little way towards Mistover with me afterwards； supposing night should have closed in； and nobody else is going that way？”
One or two promised； and Christian； diverging from his direct path； turned round to the right with his panions towards the Quiet Woman。
When they entered the large mon room of the inn they found assembled there about ten men from among the neighbouring population； and the group was increased by the new contingent to double that number。 Most of them were sitting round the room in seats divided by wooden elbows like those of crude cathedral stalls； which were carved with the initials of many an illustrious drunkard of former times who had passed his days and his nights between them； and now lay as an alcoholic cinder in the nearest churchyard。 Among the cups on the long table before the sitters lay an open parcel of light drapery—the gown…piece； as it was called—which was to be raffled for。 Wildeve was standing with his back to the fireplace smoking a cigar； and the promoter of the raffle； a packman from a distant town； was expatiating upon the value of the fabric as material for a summer dress。
“Now； gentlemen；” he continued； as the newers drew up to the table； “there’s five have entered； and we want four more to make up the number。 I think； by the faces of those gentlemen who have just e in； that they are shrewd enough to take advantage of this rare opportunity of beautifying their ladies at a very trifling expense。”
Fairway； Sam； and another placed their shillings on the table； and the man turned to Christian。
“No； sir；” said Christian； drawing back； with a quick gaze of misgiving。 “I am only a poor chap e to look on； an it please ye； sir。 I don’t so much as know how you do it。 If so be I was sure of getting it I would put down the shilling； but I couldn’t otherwise。”
“I think you might almost be sure；” said the pedlar。 “In fact； now I look into your face； even if I can’t say you are sure to win； I can say that I never saw anything look more like winning in my life。”
“You’ll anyhow have the same chance as the rest of us；” said Sam。
“And the extra luck of being the last er；” said another。
“And I was born wi’ a caul； and perhaps can be no more ruined than drowned？” Christian added； beginning to give way。
Ultimately Christian laid down his shilling； the raffle began； and the dice went round。 When it came to Christian’s turn he took the box with a trembling hand； shook it fearfully； and threw a pair…royal。 Three of the others had thrown mon low pairs； and all the rest mere points。
“The gentleman looked like winning； as I said；” observed the chapman blandly。 “Take it； sir； the article is yours。”
“Haw…haw…haw！” said Fairway。 “I’m damned if this isn’t the quarest start that ever I knowed！”
“Mine？” asked Christian； with a vacant stare from his target eyes。 “I—I haven’t got neither maid； wife； nor widder belonging to me at all； and I’m afeard it will make me laughed at to ha’e it； Master Traveller。 What with being curious to join in I never thought of that！ What shall I do wi’ a woman’s clothes in MY bedroom； and not lose my decency！”
“Keep ‘em； to be sure；” said Fairway； “if it is only for luck。 Perhaps ‘twill tempt some woman that thy poor carcase had no power over when standing empty…handed。”
“Keep it； certainly；” said Wildeve； who had idly watched the scene from a distance。
The table was then cleared of the articles； and the men began to drink。
“Well； to be sure！” said Christian； half to himself。 “To think I should have been born so lucky as this； and not have found it out until now！ What curious creatures these dice be—powerful rulers of us all； and yet at my mand！ I am sure I never need be afeared of anything after this。” He handled the dice fondly one by one。 “Why； sir；” he said in a confidential whisper to Wildeve； who was near his left hand； “if I could only use this power that’s in me of multiplying money I might do some good to a near relation of yours； seeing what I’ve got about me of hers—eh？” He tapped one of his money…laden boots upon the floor。
“What do you mean？” said Wildeve。
“That’s a secret。 Well； I must be going now。” He looked anxiously towards Fairway。
“Where are you going？” Wildeve asked。
“To Mistover Knap。 I have to see Mrs。 Thomasin there— that’s all。”
“I am going there； too； to fetch Mrs。 Wildeve。 We can walk together。”
Wildeve became lost in thought； and a look of inwar