“I am going there； too； to fetch Mrs。 Wildeve。 We can walk together。”
Wildeve became lost in thought； and a look of inward illumination came into his eyes。 It was money for his wife that Mrs。 Yeobright could not trust him with。 “Yet she could trust this fellow；” he said to himself。 “Why doesn’t that which belongs to the wife belong to the husband too？”
He called to the pot…boy to bring him his hat； and said； “Now； Christian； I am ready。”
“Mr。 Wildeve；” said Christian timidly； as he turned to leave the room； “would you mind lending me them wonderful little things that carry my luck inside ‘em； that I might practise a bit by myself； you know？” He looked wistfully at the dice and box lying on the mantlepiece。
“Certainly；” said Wildeve carelessly。 “They were only cut out by some lad with his knife； and are worth nothing。” And Christian went back and privately pocketed them。
Wildeve opened the door and looked out。 The night was warm and cloudy。 “By Gad！ ‘tis dark；” he continued。 “But I suppose we shall find our way。”
“If we should lose the path it might be awkward；” said Christian。 “A lantern is the only shield that will make it safe for us。”
“Let’s have a lantern by all means。” The stable lantern was fetched and lighted。 Christian took up his gownpiece； and the two set out to ascend the hill。
Within the room the men fell into chat till their attention was for a moment drawn to the chimney…corner。 This was large； and； in addition to its proper recess； contained within its jambs； like many on Egdon； a receding seat； so that a person might sit there absolutely unobserved； provided there was no fire to light him up； as was the case now and throughout the summer。 From the niche a single object protruded into the light from the candles on the table。 It was a clay pipe； and its colour was reddish。 The men had been attracted to this object by a voice behind the pipe asking for a light。
“Upon my life； it fairly startled me when the man spoke！” said Fairway； handing a candle。 “Oh—‘tis the reddleman！ You’ve kept a quiet tongue； young man。”
“Yes； I had nothing to say；” observed Venn。 In a few minutes he arose and wished the pany good night。
Meanwhile Wildeve and Christian had plunged into the heath。
It was a stagnant； warm； and misty night； full of all the heavy perfumes of new vegetation not yet dried by hot sun； and among these particularly the scent of the fern。 The lantern； dangling from Christian’s hand； brushed the feathery fronds in passing by； disturbing moths and other winged insects； which flew out and alighted upon its horny panes。
“So you have money to carry to Mrs。 Wildeve？” said Christian’s panion； after a silence。 “Don’t you think it very odd that it shouldn’t be given to me？”
“As man and wife be one flesh； ‘twould have been all the same； I should think；” said Christian。 “But my strict documents was； to give the money into Mrs。 Wildeve’s hand—and ‘tis well to do things right。”
“No doubt；” said Wildeve。 Any person who had known the circumstances might have perceived that Wildeve was mortified by the discovery that the matter in transit was money； and not； as he had supposed when at Blooms…End； some fancy nick…nack which only interested the two women themselves。 Mrs。 Yeobright’s refusal implied that his honour was not considered to be of sufficiently good quality to make him a safer bearer of his wife’s property。
“How very warm it is tonight； Christian！” he said； panting； when they were nearly under Rainbarrow。 “Let us sit down for a few minutes； for Heaven’s sake。”
Wildeve flung himself down on the soft ferns； and Christian； placing the lantern and parcel on the ground； perched himself in a cramped position hard by； his knees almost touching his chin。 He presently thrust one hand into his coat…pocket and began shaking it about。
“What are you rattling in there？” said Wildeve。
“Only the dice； sir；” said Christian； quickly withdrawing his hand。 “What magical machines these little things be； Mr。 Wildeve！ ‘Tis a game I should never get tired of。 Would you mind my taking ‘em out and looking at ‘em for a minute； to see how they are made？ I didn’t like to look close before the other men； for fear they should think it bad manners in me。” Christian took them out and examined them in the hollow of his hand by the lantern light。 “That these little things should carry such luck； and such charm； and such a spell； and such power in ‘em； passes all I ever heard or zeed；” he went on； with a fascinated gaze at the dice； which； as is frequently the case in country places； were made of wood； the points being burnt upon each face with the end of a wire。
“They are a great deal in a small pass； You think？”
“Yes。 Do ye suppose they really be the devil’s playthings； Mr。 Wildeve？ If so； ‘tis no good sign that I be such a lucky man。”
“You ought to win some money； now that you’ve got them。 Any woman would marry you then。 Now is your time； Christian； and I would remend you not to let it slip。 Some men are born to luck； some are not。 I belong to the latter class。”
“Did you ever know anybody who was born to it besides myself？”
“O yes。 I once heard of an Italian； who sat down at a gaming table with only a louis； （that’s a foreign sovereign）； in his pocket。 He played on for twenty…four hours； and won ten thousand pounds； stripping the bank he had played against。 Then there was another man who had lost a thousand pounds； and went to the broker’s next day to sell stock； that he might pay the debt。 The man to whom he owed the money went with him in a hackney…coach； and to pass the time they tossed who should pay the fare。 The ruined man won； and the other was tempted to continue the game； and they played all the way。 When the coachman stopped he was told to drive home again： the whole thousand pounds had been won back by the man who was going to sell。”
“Ha—ha—splendid！” exclaimed Christian。 “Go on—go on！”
“Then there was a man of London； who was only a waiter at White’s clubhouse。 He began playing first half…crown stakes； and then higher and higher； till he became very rich； got an appointment in India； and rose to be Governor of Madras。 His daughter married a member of Parliament； and the Bishop of Carlisle stood godfather to one of the children。”
“Wonderfull wonderfull”
“And once there was a young man in America who gambled till he had lost his last dollar。 He staked his watch and chain； and lost as before； staked his umbrella； lost again； staked his hat； lost again； staked his coat and stood in his shirt…sleeves； lost again。 Began taking off his breeches； and then a looker…on gave him a trifle for his pluck。 With this he won。 Won back his coat； won back his hat； won back his umbrella； his watch； his money； and went out of the door a rich man。”
“Oh； ‘tis too good—it takes away my breath！ Mr。 Wildeve； I think I will try another shilling with you； as I am one of that sort； no danger can e o’t； and you can afford to lose。”
“Very well；” said Wildeve； rising。 Searching about with the lantern； he found a large flat stone； which he placed between himself and Christian； and s