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the turnpike road； when the form of a woman emerged from the porch
of the building。
She was wrapped in a grey waterproof cloak； the hood of which was
drawn over her head and closely round her faceso closely that her
eyes were the sole features uncovered。
With this one exception of her appearance there； the most perfect
stillness and silence pervaded the steward's residence from basement
to chimney。 Not a shutter was open； not a twine of smoke came
forth。
Underneath the ivy…covered gateway she stood still and listened for
two； or possibly three minutes； till she became conscious of others
in the park。 Seeing the pair she stepped back； with the apparent
intention of letting them pass out of sight； and evidently wishing
to avoid observation。 But looking at her watch； and returning it
rapidly to her pocket； as if surprised at the lateness of the hour；
she hurried out again； and across the park by a still more oblique
line than that traced by Owen and his sister。
These in the meantime had got into the road； and were walking along
it as the woman came up on the other side of the boundary hedge；
looking for a gate or stile； by which she； too； might get off the
grass upon the hard ground。
Their conversation； of which every word was clear and distinct； in
the still air of the dawn； to the distance of a quarter of a mile；
reached her ears； and withdrew her attention from all other matters
and sights whatsoever。 Thus arrested she stood for an instant as
precisely in the attitude of Imogen by the cave of Belarius； as if
she had studied the position from the play。 When they had advanced
a few steps； she followed them in some doubt； still screened by the
hedge。
'Do you believe in such odd coincidences？' said Cytherea。
'How do you mean； believe in them？ They occur sometimes。'
'Yes； one will occur often enoughthat is； two disconnected events
will fall strangely together by chance； and people scarcely notice
the fact beyond saying； 〃Oddly enough it happened that so and so
were the same；〃 and so on。 But when three such events coincide
without any apparent reason for the coincidence； it seems as if
there must be invisible means at work。 You see； three things
falling together in that manner are ten times as singular as two
cases of coincidence which are distinct。'
'Well； of course： what a mathematical head you have； Cytherea！ But
I don't see so much to marvel at in our case。 That the man who kept
the public…house in which Miss Aldclyffe fainted； and who found out
her name and position； lives in this neighbourhood； is accounted for
by the fact that she got him the berth to stop his tongue。 That you
came here was simply owing to Springrove。'
'Ah； but look at this。 Miss Aldclyffe is the woman our father first
loved； and I have come to Miss Aldclyffe's； you can't get over
that。'
From these premises； she proceeded to argue like an elderly divine
on the designs of Providence which were apparent in such
conjunctures； and went into a variety of details connected with Miss
Aldclyffe's history。
'Had I better tell Miss Aldclyffe that I know all this？' she
inquired at last。
'What's the use？' he said。 'Your possessing the knowledge does no
harm； you are at any rate comfortable here； and a confession to Miss
Aldclyffe might only irritate her。 No； hold your tongue； Cytherea。'
'I fancy I should have been tempted to tell her too；' Cytherea went
on； 'had I not found out that there exists a very odd； almost
imperceptible； and yet real connection of some kind between her and
Mr。 Manston； which is more than that of a mutual interest in the
estate。'
'She is in love with him！' exclaimed Owen； 'fancy that！'
'Ahthat's what everybody says who has been keen enough to notice
anything。 I said so at first。 And yet now I cannot persuade myself
that she is in love with him at all。'
'Why can't you？'
'She doesn't act as if she were。 She isn'tyou will know I don't
say it from any vanity； Owenshe isn't the least jealous of me。'
'Perhaps she is in some way in his power。'
'Noshe is not。 He was openly advertised for； and chosen from
forty or fifty who answered the advertisement； without knowing whose
it was。 And since he has been here； she has certainly done nothing
to compromise herself in any way。 Besides； why should she have
brought an enemy here at all？'
'Then she must have fallen in love with him。 You know as well as I
do； Cyth； that with women there's nothing between the two poles of
emotion towards an interesting male acquaintance。 'Tis either love
or aversion。'
They walked for a few minutes in silence； when Cytherea's eyes
accidentally fell upon her brother's feet。
'Owen；' she said； 'do you know that there is something unusual in
your manner of walking？'
'What is it like？' he asked。
'I can't quite say； except that you don't walk so regularly as you
used to。'
The woman behind the hedge； who had still continued to dog their
footsteps； made an impatient movement at this change in their
conversation； and looked at her watch again。 Yet she seemed
reluctant to give over listening to them。
'Yes；' Owen returned with assumed carelessness； 'I do know it。 I
think the cause of it is that mysterious pain which comes just above
my ankle sometimes。 You remember the first time I had it？ That day
we went by steam…packet to Lulstead Cove； when it hindered me from
coming back to you； and compelled me to sleep with the gateman we
have been talking about。'
'But is it anything serious； dear Owen？' Cytherea exclaimed； with
some alarm。
'O； nothing at all。 It is sure to go off again。 I never find a
sign of it when I sit in the office。'
Again their unperceived companion made a gesture of vexation； and
looked at her watch as if time were precious。 But the dialogue
still flowed on upon this new subject； and showed no sign of
returning to its old channel。
Gathering up her skirt decisively she renounced all further hope；
and hurried along the ditch till she had dropped into a valley； and
came to a gate which was beyond the view of those coming behind。
This she softly opened； and came out upon the road； following it in
the direction of the railway station。
Presently she heard Owen Graye's footsteps in her rear； his
quickened pace implying that he had parted from his sister。 The
woman thereupon increased her rapid walk to a run； and in a few
minutes safely distanced her fellow…traveller。
The railway at Carriford Road consisted only of a single line of
rails； and the short local down…train by which Owen was going to
Budmouth was shunted on to a siding whilst the first up…train
passed。 Graye entered the waiting…room； and the door being open he
listlessly observed the movements of a woman wearing a long grey
cloak； and closely hooded； who had asked for a ticket for London。
He followed her with his eyes on to the platform； saw her waiting
there and afterwards stepping into the train： his recollection of
her ceasing with the perception。
4。 EIGHT TO TEN O'CLOCK A。M。
Mrs。 Crickett； twice a widow； and now the parish clerk's wife； a
fine…framed； scandal…loving woman； with a peculiar corner to he