her feelings almost seem reasonable。 The gloomy corner into which accident as much as indiscretion had brought this woman might have led even a moderate partisan to feel that she had cogent reasons for asking the Supreme Power by what right a being of such exquisite finish had been placed in circumstances calculated to make of her charms a curse rather than a blessing。
It was five in the afternoon when she came out from the house ready for her walk。 There was material enough in the picture for twenty new conquests。 The rebellious sadness that was rather too apparent when she sat indoors without a bonnet was cloaked and softened by her outdoor attire； which always had a sort of nebulousness about it； devoid of harsh edges anywhere； so that her face looked from its environment as from a cloud； with no noticeable lines of demarcation between flesh and clothes。 The heat of the day had scarcely declined as yet； and she went along the sunny hills at a leisurely pace； there being ample time for her idle expedition。 Tall ferns buried her in their leafage whenever her path lay through them； which now formed miniature forests； though not one stem of them would remain to bud the next year。
The site chosen for the village festivity was one of the lawnlike oases which were occasionally； yet not often； met with on the plateaux of the heath district。 The brakes of furze and fern terminated abruptly round the margin； and the grass was unbroken。 A green cattletrack skirted the spot； without； however； emerging from the screen of fern； and this path Eustacia followed； in order to reconnoitre the group before joining it。 The lusty notes of the East Egdon band had directed her unerringly； and she now beheld the musicians themselves； sitting in a blue wagon with red wheels scrubbed as bright as new； and arched with sticks； to which boughs and flowers were tied。 In front of this was the grand central dance of fifteen or twenty couples； flanked by minor dances of inferior individuals whose gyrations were not always in strict keeping with the tune。
The young men wore blue and white rosettes； and with a flush on their faces footed it to the girls； who； with the excitement and the exercise； blushed deeper than the pink of their numerous ribbons。 Fair ones with long curls； fair ones with short curls； fair ones with lovelocks； fair ones with braids； flew round and round； and a beholder might well have wondered how such a prepossessing set of young women of like size； age； and disposition； could have been collected together where there were only one or two villages to choose from。 In the background was one happy man dancing by himself； with closed eyes； totally oblivious of all the rest。 A fire was burning under a pollard thorn a few paces off； over which three kettles hung in a row。 Hard by was a table where elderly dames prepared tea； but Eustacia looked among them in vain for the cattle…dealer’s wife who had suggested that she should e； and had promised to obtain a courteous wele for her。
This unexpected absence of the only local resident whom Eustacia knew considerably damaged her scheme for an afternoon of reckless gaiety。 Joining in became a matter of difficulty； notwithstanding that； were she to advance； cheerful dames would e forward with cups of tea and make much of her as a stranger of superior grace and knowledge to themselves。 Having watched the pany through the figures of two dances； she decided to walk a little further； to a cottage where she might get some refreshment； and then return homeward in the shady time of evening。
This she did； and by the time that she retraced her steps towards the scene of the gipsying； which it was necessary to repass on her way to Alderworth； the sun was going down。 The air was now so still that she could hear the band afar off； and it seemed to be playing with more spirit； if that were possible； than when she had e away。 On reaching the hill the sun had quite disappeared； but this made little difference either to Eustacia or to the revellers； for a round yellow moon was rising before her； though its rays had not yet outmastered those from the west。 The dance was going on just the same； but strangers had arrived and formed a ring around the figure； so that Eustacia could stand among these without a chance of being recognized。
A whole village…full of sensuous emotion； scattered abroad all the year long； surged here in a focus for an hour。 The forty hearts of those waving couples were beating as they had not done since； twelve months before； they had e together in similar jollity。 For the time paganism was revived in their hearts； the pride of life was all in all； and they adored none other than themselves。
How many of those impassioned but temporary embraces were destined to bee perpetual was possibly the wonder of some of those who indulged in them； as well as of Eustacia who looked on。 She began to envy those pirouetters； to hunger for the hope and happiness which the fascination of the dance seemed to engender within them。 Desperately fond of dancing herself； one of Eustacia’s expectations of Paris had been the opportunity it might afford her of indulgence in this favourite pastime。 Unhappily； that expectation was now extinct within her for ever。
Whilst she abstractedly watched them spinning and fluctuating in the increasing moonlight she suddenly heard her name whispered by a voice over her shoulder。 Turning in surprise； she beheld at her elbow one whose presence instantly caused her to flush to the temples。
It was Wildeve。 Till this moment he had not met her eye since the morning of his marriage； when she had been loitering in the church； and had startled him by lifting her veil and ing forward to sign the register as witness。 Yet why the sight of him should have instigated that sudden rush of blood she could not tell。
Before she could speak he whispered； “Do you like dancing as much as ever？”
“I think I do；” she replied in a low voice。
“Will you dance with me？”
“It would be a great change for me； but will it not seem strange？”
“What strangeness can there be in relations dancing together？”
“Ah—yes； relations。 Perhaps none。”
“Still； if you don’t like to be seen； pull down your veil； though there is not much risk of being known by this light。 Lots of strangers are here。”
She did as he suggested； and the act was a tacit acknowledgment that she accepted his offer。
Wildeve gave her his arm and took her down on the outside of the ring to the bottom of the dance； which they entered。 In two minutes more they were involved in the figure and began working their way upwards to the top。 Till they had advanced halfway thither Eustacia wished more than once that she had not yielded to his request； from the middle to the top she felt that； since she had e out to seek pleasure； she was only doing a natural thing to obtain it。 Fairly launched into the ceaseless glides and whirls which their new position as top couple opened up to them； Eustacia’s pulses began to move too quickly for long rumination of any kind。
Through the length of five…and…twenty couples they threaded their giddy way； and a new vitality entered her form。 The pale ray of evening lent