The Woodlanders

Her light cotton dress was visible to Tim lounging in the arbor of the

opposite corner, though he was hidden from her. He saw her stealthily

climb into the hedge, and so ensconce herself there that nobody could

have the least doubt her purpose was to watch unseen for a passer-by.

He went across to the spot and stood behind her. Suke started, having

in her blundering way forgotten that he might be near. She at once

descended from the hedge.

"So he's coming to-night," said Tim, laconically. "And we be always

anxious to see our dears."

"He IS coming to-night," she replied, with defiance. "And we BE

anxious for our dears."

"Then will you step in-doors, where your dear will soon jine 'ee? We've

to mouster by half-past three to-morrow, and if we don't get to bed by

eight at latest our faces will be as long as clock-cases all day."

She hesitated for a minute, but ultimately obeyed, going slowly down

the garden to the house, where he heard the door-latch click behind her.

Tim was incensed beyond measure. His marriage had so far been a total

failure, a source of bitter regret; and the only course for improving

his case, that of leaving the country, was a sorry, and possibly might

not be a very effectual one. Do what he would, his domestic sky was

likely to be overcast to the end of the day. Thus he brooded, and his

resentment gathered force. He craved a means of striking one blow back

at the cause of his cheerless plight, while he was still on the scene

of his discomfiture. For some minutes no method suggested itself, and

then he had an idea.

Coming to a sudden resolution, he hastened along the garden, and

entered the one attached to the next cottage, which had formerly been

the dwelling of a game-keeper. Tim descended the path to the back of

the house, where only an old woman lived at present, and reaching the

wall he stopped. Owing to the slope of the ground the roof-eaves of

the linhay were here within touch, and he thrust his arm up under them,

feeling about in the space on the top of the wall-plate.

"Ah, I thought my memory didn't deceive me!" he lipped silently.

With some exertion he drew down a cobwebbed object curiously framed in

iron, which clanked as he moved it. It was about three feet in length

and half as wide. Tim contemplated it as well as he could in the dying

light of day, and raked off the cobwebs with his hand.