such pretty women as you。 I used to send dozens for skin
complaints。 But that was in former times。 The last I sent was in
'13near twenty years ago。'
He had no more to tell her； and； when he had put her into a straight
track homeward； turned and left her； refusing all money as at first。
CHAPTER VIIA RIDE
The communication sank deep into Gertrude's mind。 Her nature was
rather a timid one； and probably of all remedies that the white
wizard could have suggested there was not one which would have
filled her with so much aversion as this； not to speak of the
immense obstacles in the way of its adoption。
Casterbridge； the county…town； was a dozen or fifteen miles off； and
though in those days； when men were executed for horse…stealing；
arson； and burglary； an assize seldom passed without a hanging； it
was not likely that she could get access to the body of the criminal
unaided。 And the fear of her husband's anger made her reluctant to
breathe a word of Trendle's suggestion to him or to anybody about
him。
She did nothing for months； and patiently bore her disfigurement as
before。 But her woman's nature； craving for renewed love； through
the medium of renewed beauty （she was but twenty…five）； was ever
stimulating her to try what； at any rate； could hardly do her any
harm。 'What came by a spell will go by a spell surely；' she would
say。 Whenever her imagination pictured the act she shrank in terror
from the possibility of it： then the words of the conjuror； 'It
will turn your blood；' were seen to be capable of a scientific no
less than a ghastly interpretation； the mastering desire returned；
and urged her on again。
There was at this time but one county paper； and that her husband
only occasionally borrowed。 But old…fashioned days had old…
fashioned means； and news was extensively conveyed by word of mouth
from market to market； or from fair to fair； so that； whenever such
an event as an execution was about to take place； few within a
radius of twenty miles were ignorant of the coming sight； and； so
far as Holmstoke was concerned； some enthusiasts had been known to
walk all the way to Casterbridge and back in one day； solely to
witness the spectacle。 The next assizes were in March； and when
Gertrude Lodge heard that they had been held； she inquired
stealthily at the inn as to the result； as soon as she could find
opportunity。
She was； however； too late。 The time at which the sentences were to
be carried out had arrived； and to make the journey and obtain
admission at such short notice required at least her husband's
assistance。 She dared not tell him； for she had found by delicate
experiment that these smouldering village beliefs made him furious
if mentioned； partly because he half entertained them himself。 It
was therefore necessary to wait for another opportunity。
Her determination received a fillip from learning that two epileptic
children had attended from this very village of Holmstoke many years
before with beneficial results； though the experiment had been
strongly condemned by the neighbouring clergy。 April； May； June；
passed； and it is no overstatement to say that by the end of the
last…named month Gertrude well…nigh longed for the death of a
fellow…creature。 Instead of her formal prayers each night； her
unconscious prayer was； 'O Lord； hang some guilty or innocent person
soon！'
This time she made earlier inquiries； and was altogether more
systematic in her proceedings。 Moreover； the season was summer；
between the haymaking and the harvest； and in the leisure thus
afforded him her husband had been holiday…taking away from home。
The assizes were in July； and she went to the inn as before。 There
was to be one executiononly onefor arson。
Her greatest problem was not how to get to Casterbridge； but what
means she should adopt for obtaining admission to the jail。 Though
access for such purposes had formerly never been denied； the custom
had fallen into desuetude； and in contemplating her possible
difficulties； she was again almost driven to fall back upon her
husband。 But； on sounding him about the assizes； he was so
uncommunicative； so more than usually cold； that she did not
proceed； and decided that whatever she did she would do alone。
Fortune； obdurate hitherto； showed her unexpected favour。 On the
Thursday before the Saturday fixed for the execution； Lodge remarked
to her that he was going away from home for another day or two on
business at a fair； and that he was sorry he could not take her with
him。
She exhibited on this occasion so much readiness to stay at home
that he looked at her in surprise。 Time had been when she would
have shown deep disappointment at the loss of such a jaunt。
However； he lapsed into his usual taciturnity； and on the day named
left Holmstoke。
It was now her turn。 She at first had thought of driving； but on
reflection held that driving would not do； since it would
necessitate her keeping to the turnpike…road； and so increase by
tenfold the risk of her ghastly errand being found out。 She decided
to ride； and avoid the beaten track； notwithstanding that in her
husband's stables there was no animal just at present which by any
stretch of imagination could be considered a lady's mount； in spite
of his promise before marriage to always keep a mare for her。 He
had； however； many cart…horses； fine ones of their kind； and among
the rest was a serviceable creature； an equine Amazon； with a back
as broad as a sofa； on which Gertrude had occasionally taken an
airing when unwell。 This horse she chose。
On Friday afternoon one of the men brought it round。 She was
dressed； and before going down looked at her shrivelled arm。 'Ah！'
she said to it； 'if it had not been for you this terrible ordeal
would have been saved me！'
When strapping up the bundle in which she carried a few articles of
clothing； she took occasion to say to the servant； 'I take these in
case I should not get back to…night from the person I am going to
visit。 Don't be alarmed if I am not in by ten； and close up the
house as usual。 I shall be at home to…morrow for certain。' She
meant then to privately tell her husband： the deed accomplished was
not like the deed projected。 He would almost certainly forgive her。
And then the pretty palpitating Gertrude Lodge went from her
husband's homestead； but though her goal was Casterbridge she did
not take the direct route thither through Stickleford。 Her cunning
course at first was in precisely the opposite direction。 As soon as
she was out of sight； however； she turned to the left； by a road
which led into Egdon； and on entering the heath wheeled round； and
set out in the true course； due westerly。 A more private way down
the county could not be imagined； and as to direction； she had
merely to keep her horse's head to a point a little to the right of
the sun。 She knew that she would light upon a furze…cutter or
cottager of some sort from time to time； from whom she might correct
her bearing。
Though the date was comparatively recent； Egdon was much less
fragmentary in character than now。 The attemptssuccessful and
otherwiseat cultivation on the lower slopes； which intrude and
break up the original heath into small detached heaths； had not been
carried far； Enclosure Acts had not taken effect； and the banks and
fences which now exclude the cattle of those villagers who formerly
enjoyed rights of commonage thereon； and the carts of those who had
turbary privileges which kept them in firing all the year round；
were not erected。 Gertrude； therefore； rode along with no other
obstacles than the prickly furze bushes； the mats of heather； the
white water…courses； and the natural steeps and declivities of the
ground。
Her horse was sure； if heavy…footed and slow； and though a draught
animal； was easy…paced； had it been otherwise； she was not a woman
who could have ventured to ride over such a bit of country with a
half…dead arm。 It was therefore nearly eight o'clock when she drew
rein to breathe the mare on the last outlying high point of heath…
land towards Casterbridge； previous to leaving Egdon for the
cultivated valleys。
She halted before a pool called Rushy…pond； flanked by the ends of
two hedges； a railing ran through the centre of the pond； dividing
it in half。 Over the railing she saw the low green country； over
the green trees the roofs of the town； over the roofs a white flat
facade； denoting the entrance to the county jail。 On the roof of
this front specks were moving about； they seemed to be workmen
erecting something。 Her flesh crept。 She descended slowly； and was
soon amid corn…fields and pastures。 In another half…hour； when it
was almost dusk； Gertrude reached the White Hart； the first inn of
the town on that side。
Little surprise was excited by her arrival； farmers' wives rode on
horseback then more than they do now； though； for that matter； Mrs。
Lodge was not imagined to be a wife at all； the innkeeper supposed
her some harum…skarum young woman who had come to attend 'hang…fair'
next day。 Neither her husband nor herself ever dealt in
Casterbridge market； so that she was unknown。 While dismounting she
beheld a crowd of boys standing at the door of a harness…maker's
shop just above the inn； looking inside it with deep interest。
'What is going on there？' she asked of the ostler。
'Making the rope for to…morrow。'
She throbbed responsively； and contracted her arm。
''Tis sold by the inch afterwards；' the man continued。 'I could get
you a bit； miss； for nothing； if you'd like？'
She hastily repudiated any such wish； all the more from a curious
creeping feeling that the condemned wretch's destiny was becoming
interwoven with her own； and having engaged a room for the night；
sat down to think。
Up to this time she had formed but the vaguest notions about her
means of obtaining access to the prison。 The words of the cunning…
man returned to her mind。 He had implied that she should use her
beauty； impaired though it was； as a pass…key。 In her inexperience
she knew little about jail functionaries； she had heard of a high…
sheriff and an under…sheriff； but dimly