Thedateatwhichthefollowingeventsareassumedtohaveoccurredmaybesetdownasbetween1840and1850，whentheoldwateringplacehereincalled"Budmouth"stillretainedsufficientafterglowfromitsGeorgiangaietyandprestigetolenditanabsorbingattractivenesstotheromanticandimaginativesoulofalonelydwellerinland。

Underthegeneralnameof"EgdonHeath，"whichhasbeengiventothesombresceneofthestory，areunitedortypifiedheathsofvariousrealnames，tothenumberofatleastadozen；thesebeingvirtuallyoneincharacterandaspect，thoughtheiroriginalunity，orpartialunity，isnowsomewhatdisguisedbyintrusivestripsandslicesbroughtundertheploughwithvaryingdegreesofsuccess，orplantedtowoodland。

Itispleasanttodreamthatsomespotintheextensivetractwhosesouthwesternquarterisheredescribed，maybetheheathofthattraditionaryKingofWessex——Lear。

July，1895。

"TosorrowIbadegoodmorrow，Andthoughttoleaveherfarawaybehind；

Butcheerly，cheerly，Shelovesmedearly；

Sheissoconstanttome，andsokind。

Iwoulddeceiveher，Andsoleaveher，Butah！sheissoconstantandsokind。"

bookoneTHETHREEWOMEN

1—AFaceonWhichTimeMakesbutLittleImpressionASaturdayafternooninNovemberwasapproachingthetimeoftwilight，andthevasttractofunenclosedwildknownasEgdonHeathembrowneditselfmomentbymoment。

Overheadthehollowstretchofwhitishcloudshuttingouttheskywasasatentwhichhadthewholeheathforitsfloor。

Theheavenbeingspreadwiththispallidscreenandtheearthwiththedarkestvegetation，theirmeeting—lineatthehorizonwasclearlymarked。Insuchcontrasttheheathworetheappearanceofaninstalmentofnightwhichhadtakenupitsplacebeforeitsastronomicalhourwascome：darknesshadtoagreatextentarrivedhereon，whiledaystooddistinctinthesky。Lookingupwards，afurze—cutterwouldhavebeeninclinedtocontinuework；

lookingdown，hewouldhavedecidedtofinishhisfaggotandgohome。Thedistantrimsoftheworldandofthefirmamentseemedtobeadivisionintimenolessthanadivisioninmatter。Thefaceoftheheathbyitsmerecomplexionaddedhalfanhourtoevening；

itcouldinlikemannerretardthedawn，saddennoon，anticipatethefrowningofstormsscarcelygenerated，andintensifytheopacityofamoonlessmidnighttoacauseofshakinganddread。

Infact，preciselyatthistransitionalpointofitsnightlyrollintodarknessthegreatandparticulargloryoftheEgdonwastebegan，andnobodycouldbesaidtounderstandtheheathwhohadnotbeenthereatsuchatime。

Itcouldbestbefeltwhenitcouldnotclearlybeseen，itscompleteeffectandexplanationlyinginthisandthesucceedinghoursbeforethenextdawn；then，andonlythen，didittellitstruetale。Thespotwas，indeed，anearrelationofnight，andwhennightshoweditselfanapparenttendencytogravitatetogethercouldbeperceivedinitsshadesandthescene。Thesombrestretchofroundsandhollowsseemedtoriseandmeettheeveninggloominpuresympathy，theheathexhalingdarknessasrapidlyastheheavensprecipitatedit。Andsotheobscurityintheairandtheobscurityinthelandclosedtogetherinablackfraternizationtowardswhicheachadvancedhalfway。

Theplacebecamefullofawatchfulintentnessnow；

forwhenotherthingssankbloodingtosleeptheheathappearedslowlytoawakeandlisten。EverynightitsTitanicformseemedtoawaitsomething；butithadwaitedthus，unmoved，duringsomanycenturies，throughthecrisesofsomanythings，thatitcouldonlybeimaginedtoawaitonelastcrisis——thefinaloverthrow。

Itwasaspotwhichreturneduponthememoryofthosewholoveditwithanaspectofpeculiarandkindlycongruity。

Smilingchampaignsofflowersandfruithardlydothis，fortheyarepermanentlyharmoniousonlywithanexistenceofbetterreputationastoitsissuesthanthepresent。

TwilightcombinedwiththesceneryofEgdonHeathtoevolveathingmajesticwithoutseverity，impressivewithoutshowiness，emphaticinitsadmonitions，grandinitssimplicity。Thequalificationswhichfrequentlyinvestthefacadeofaprisonwithfarmoredignitythanisfoundinthefacadeofapalacedoubleitssizelenttothisheathasublimityinwhichspotsrenownedforbeautyoftheacceptedkindareutterlywanting。

Fairprospectswedhappilywithfairtimes；butalas，iftimesbenotfair！Menhaveoftenersufferedfrom，themockeryofaplacetoosmilingfortheirreasonthanfromtheoppressionofsurroundingsoversadlytinged。

HaggardEgdonappealedtoasubtlerandscarcerinstinct，toamorerecentlylearntemotion，thanthatwhichrespondstothesortofbeautycalledcharmingandfair。

Indeed，itisaquestioniftheexclusivereignofthisorthodoxbeautyisnotapproachingitslastquarter。

ThenewValeofTempemaybeagauntwasteinThule；

humansoulsmayfindthemselvesincloserandcloserharmonywithexternalthingswearingasombrenessdistastefultoourracewhenitwasyoung。Thetimeseemsnear，ifithasnotactuallyarrived，whenthechastenedsublimityofamoor，asea，oramountainwillbeallofnaturethatisabsolutelyinkeepingwiththemoodsofthemorethinkingamongmankind。Andultimately，tothecommonesttourist，spotslikeIcelandmaybecomewhatthevineyardsandmyrtlegardensofSouthEuropearetohimnow；andHeidelbergandBadenbepassedunheededashehastensfromtheAlpstothesanddunesofScheveningen。

ThemostthoroughgoingasceticcouldfeelthathehadanaturalrighttowanderonEgdon——hewaskeepingwithinthelineoflegitimateindulgencewhenhelaidhimselfopentoinfluencessuchasthese。Coloursandbeautiessofarsubduedwere，atleast，thebirthrightofall。

Onlyinsummerdaysofhighestfeatherdiditsmoodtouchthelevelofgaiety。Intensitywasmoreusuallyreachedbywayofthesolemnthanbywayofthebrilliant，andsuchasortofintensitywasoftenarrivedatduringwinterdarkness，tempests，andmists。ThenEgdonwasarousedtoreciprocity；forthestormwasitslover，andthewinditsfriend。Thenitbecamethehomeofstrangephantoms；

anditwasfoundtobethehithertounrecognizedoriginalofthosewildregionsofobscuritywhicharevaguelyfelttobecompassingusaboutinmidnightdreamsofflightanddisaster，andareneverthoughtofafterthedreamtillrevivedbysceneslikethis。

Itwasatpresentaplaceperfectlyaccordantwithman’snature——neitherghastly，hateful，norugly；

neithercommonplace，unmeaning，nortame；but，likeman，slightedandenduring；andwithalsingularlycolossalandmysteriousinitsswarthymonotony。Aswithsomepersonswhohavelonglivedapart，solitudeseemedtolookoutofitscountenance。Ithadalonelyface，suggestingtragicalpossibilities。

Thisobscure，obsolete，supersededcountryfiguresinDomesday。

Itsconditionisrecordedthereinasthatofheathy，furzy，briarywilderness——"Bruaria。"Thenfollowsthelengthandbreadthinleagues；and，thoughsomeuncertaintyexistsastotheexactextentofthisancientlinealmeasure，itappearsfromthefiguresthattheareaofEgdondowntothepresentdayhasbutlittlediminished。

"TurbariaBruaria"——therightofcuttingheath—turf——occursinchartersrelatingtothedistrict。"Overgrownwithhethandmosse，"saysLelandofthesamedarksweepofcountry。

Hereatleastwereintelligiblefactsregardinglandscape——far—reachingproofsproductiveofgenuinesatisfaction。Theuntameable，IshmaelitishthingthatEgdonnowwasitalwayshadbeen。Civilizationwasitsenemy；

andeversincethebeginningofvegetationitssoilhadwornthesameantiquebrowndress，thenaturalandinvariablegarmentoftheparticularformation。

Initsvenerableonecoatlayacertainveinofsatireonhumanvanityinclothes。Apersononaheathinraimentofmoderncutandcolourshasmoreorlessananomalouslook。Weseemtowanttheoldestandsimplesthumanclothingwheretheclothingoftheearthissoprimitive。

ToreclineonastumpofthorninthecentralvalleyofEgdon，betweenafternoonandnight，asnow，wheretheeyecouldreachnothingoftheworldoutsidethesummitsandshouldersofheathlandwhichfilledthewholecircumferenceofitsglance，andtoknowthateverythingaroundandunderneathhadbeenfromprehistorictimesasunalteredasthestarsoverhead，gaveballasttothemindadriftonchange，andharassedbytheirrepressibleNew。

Thegreatinviolateplacehadanancientpermanencewhichtheseacannotclaim。Whocansayofaparticularseathatitisold？Distilledbythesun，kneadedbythemoon，itisrenewedinayear，inaday，orinanhour。

Theseachanged，thefieldschanged，therivers，thevillages，andthepeoplechanged，yetEgdonremained。

Thosesurfaceswereneithersosteepastobedestructiblebyweather，norsoflatastobethevictimsoffloodsanddeposits。Withtheexceptionofanagedhighway，andastillmoreagedbarrowpresentlytobereferredto——themselvesalmostcrystallizedtonaturalproductsbylongcontinuance——eventhetriflingirregularitieswerenotcausedbypickaxe，plough，orspade，butremainedastheveryfinger—touchesofthelastgeologicalchange。

Theabove—mentionedhighwaytraversedthelowerlevelsoftheheath，fromonehorizontoanother。Inmanyportionsofitscourseitoverlaidanoldvicinalway，whichbranchedfromthegreatWesternroadoftheRomans，theViaIceniana，orIkenildStreet，hardby。

Ontheeveningunderconsiderationitwouldhavebeennoticedthat，thoughthegloomhadincreasedsufficientlytoconfusetheminorfeaturesoftheheath，thewhitesurfaceoftheroadremainedalmostasclearasever。

2—HumanityAppearsupontheScene，HandinHandwithTroubleAlongtheroadwalkedanoldman。Hewaswhite—headedasamountain，bowedintheshoulders，andfadedingeneralaspect。Heworeaglazedhat，anancientboat—cloak，andshoes；hisbrassbuttonsbearingananchorupontheirface。Inhishandwasasilver—headedwalkingstick，whichheusedasaveritablethirdleg，perseveringlydottingthegroundwithitspointateveryfewinches’interval。Onewouldhavesaidthathehadbeen，inhisday，anavalofficerofsomesortorother。

Beforehimstretchedthelong，laboriousroad，dry，empty，andwhite。Itwasquiteopentotheheathoneachside，andbisectedthatvastdarksurfaceliketheparting—lineonaheadofblackhair，diminishingandbendingawayonthefurthesthorizon。

Theoldmanfrequentlystretchedhiseyesaheadtogazeoverthetractthathehadyettotraverse。Atlengthhediscerned，alongdistanceinfrontofhim，amovingspot，whichappearedtobeavehicle，anditprovedtobegoingthesamewayasthatinwhichhehimselfwasjourneying。

Itwasthesingleatomoflifethatthescenecontained，anditonlyservedtorenderthegenerallonelinessmoreevident。Itsrateofadvancewasslow，andtheoldmangaineduponitsensibly。

Whenhedrewnearerheperceivedittobeaspringvan，ordinaryinshape，butsingularincolour，thisbeingaluridred。Thedriverwalkedbesideit；and，likehisvan，hewascompletelyred。Onedyeofthattincturecoveredhisclothes，thecapuponhishead，hisboots，hisface，andhishands。Hewasnottemporarilyoverlaidwiththecolour；itpermeatedhim。

Theoldmanknewthemeaningofthis。Thetravellerwiththecartwasareddleman——apersonwhosevocationitwastosupplyfarmerswithreddingfortheirsheep。

HewasoneofaclassrapidlybecomingextinctinWessex，fillingatpresentintheruralworldtheplacewhich，duringthelastcentury，thedodooccupiedintheworldofanimals。Heisacurious，interesting，andnearlyperishedlinkbetweenobsoleteformsoflifeandthosewhichgenerallyprevail。

Thedecayedofficer，bydegrees，cameupalongsidehisfellow—wayfarer，andwishedhimgoodevening。Thereddlemanturnedhishead，andrepliedinsadandoccupiedtones。

Hewasyoung，andhisface，ifnotexactlyhandsome，approachedsoneartohandsomethatnobodywouldhavecontradictedanassertionthatitreallywassoinitsnaturalcolour。Hiseye，whichglaredsostrangelythroughhisstain，wasinitselfattractive——keenasthatofabirdofprey，andblueasautumnmist。

Hehadneitherwhiskernormoustache，whichallowedthesoftcurvesofthelowerpartofhisfacetobeapparent。

Hislipswerethin，andthough，asitseemed，compressedbythought，therewasapleasanttwitchattheircornersnowandthen。Hewasclothedthroughoutinatight—fittingsuitofcorduroy，excellentinquality，notmuchworn，andwell—chosenforitspurpose，butdeprivedofitsoriginalcolourbyhistrade。Itshowedtoadvantagethegoodshapeofhisfigure。Acertainwell—to—doairaboutthemansuggestedthathewasnotpoorforhisdegree。

Thenaturalqueryofanobserverwouldhavebeen，Whyshouldsuchapromisingbeingasthishavehiddenhisprepossessingexteriorbyadoptingthatsingularoccupation？

Afterreplyingtotheoldman’sgreetingheshowednoinclinationtocontinueintalk，althoughtheystillwalkedsidebyside，fortheeldertravellerseemedtodesirecompany。Therewerenosoundsbutthatoftheboomingwinduponthestretchoftawnyherbagearoundthem，thecracklingwheels，thetreadofthemen，andthefootstepsofthetwoshaggyponieswhichdrewthevan。

Theyweresmall，hardyanimals，ofabreedbetweenGallowayandExmoor，andwereknownas"heath—croppers"here。

Now，astheythuspursuedtheirway，thereddlemanoccasionallylefthiscompanion’sside，and，steppingbehindthevan，lookedintoitsinteriorthroughasmallwindow。Thelookwasalwaysanxious。Hewouldthenreturntotheoldman，whomadeanotherremarkaboutthestateofthecountryandsoon，towhichthereddlemanagainabstractedlyreplied，andthenagaintheywouldlapseintosilence。

Thesilenceconveyedtoneitheranysenseofawkwardness；

intheselonelyplaceswayfarers，afterafirstgreeting，frequentlyplodonformileswithoutspeech；contiguityamountstoatacitconversationwhere，otherwisethanincities，suchcontiguitycanbeputanendtoonthemerestinclination，andwherenottoputanendtoitisintercourseinitself。

Possiblythesetwomightnothavespokenagaintilltheirparting，haditnotbeenforthereddleman’svisitstohisvan。

Whenhereturnedfromhisfifthtimeoflookingintheoldmansaid，"Youhavesomethinginsidetherebesidesyourload？"

"Yes。"

"Somebodywhowantslookingafter？"

"Yes。"

Notlongafterthisafaintcrysoundedfromtheinterior。

Thereddlemanhastenedtotheback，lookedin，andcameawayagain。

"Youhaveachildthere，myman？"

"No，sir，Ihaveawoman。"

"Thedeuceyouhave！Whydidshecryout？"

"Oh，shehasfallenasleep，andnotbeingusedtotraveling，she’suneasy，andkeepsdreaming。"

"Ayoungwoman？"

"Yes，ayoungwoman。"

"Thatwouldhaveinterestedmefortyyearsago。

Perhapsshe’syourwife？"

"Mywife！"saidtheotherbitterly。"She’sabovematingwithsuchasI。Butthere’snoreasonwhyIshouldtellyouaboutthat。"

"That’strue。Andthere’snoreasonwhyyoushouldnot。

WhatharmcanIdotoyouortoher？"

Thereddlemanlookedintheoldman’sface。"Well，sir，"

hesaidatlast，"Iknewherbeforetoday，thoughperhapsitwouldhavebeenbetterifIhadnot。Butshe’snothingtome，andIamnothingtoher；andshewouldn’thavebeeninmyvanifanybettercarriagehadbeentheretotakeher。"

"Where，mayIask？"

"AtAnglebury。"

"Iknowthetownwell。Whatwasshedoingthere？"

"Oh，notmuch——togossipabout。However，she’stiredtodeathnow，andnotatallwell，andthat’swhatmakeshersorestless。

Shedroppedoffintoanapaboutanhourago，and’twilldohergood。"

"Anice—lookinggirl，nodoubt？"

"Youwouldsayso。"

Theothertravellerturnedhiseyeswithinteresttowardsthevanwindow，and，withoutwithdrawingthem，said，"IpresumeImightlookinuponher？"

"No，"saidthereddlemanabruptly。"Itisgettingtoodarkforyoutoseemuchofher；and，morethanthat，Ihavenorighttoallowyou。ThankGodshesleepssowell，Ihopeshewon’twaketillshe’shome。"

"Whoisshe？Oneoftheneighbourhood？"

"’Tisnomatterwho，excuseme。"

"ItisnotthatgirlofBlooms—End，whohasbeentalkedaboutmoreorlesslately？Ifso，Iknowher；andIcanguesswhathashappened。"

"’Tisnomatter……Now，sir，Iamsorrytosaythatweshallsoonhavetopartcompany。Myponiesaretired，andIhavefurthertogo，andIamgoingtorestthemunderthisbankforanhour。"

Theeldertravellernoddedhisheadindifferently，andthereddlemanturnedhishorsesandvaninupontheturf，saying，"Goodnight。"Theoldmanreplied，andproceededonhiswayasbefore。

Thereddlemanwatchedhisformasitdiminishedtoaspeckontheroadandbecameabsorbedinthethickeningfilmsofnight。Hethentooksomehayfromatrusswhichwasslungupunderthevan，and，throwingaportionofitinfrontofthehorses，madeapadoftherest，whichhelaidonthegroundbesidehisvehicle。

Uponthishesatdown，leaninghisbackagainstthewheel。

Fromtheinterioralowsoftbreathingcametohisear。

Itappearedtosatisfyhim，andhemusinglysurveyedthescene，asifconsideringthenextstepthatheshouldtake。

Todothingsmusingly，andbysmalldegrees，seemed，indeed，tobeadutyintheEgdonvalleysatthistransitionalhour，fortherewasthatintheconditionoftheheathitselfwhichresembledprotractedandhaltingdubiousness。

Itwasthequalityofthereposeappertainingtothescene。

Thiswasnotthereposeofactualstagnation，buttheapparentreposeofincredibleslowness。Aconditionofhealthylifesonearlyresemblingthetorporofdeathisanoticeablethingofitssort；toexhibittheinertnessofthedesert，andatthesametimetobeexercisingpowersakintothoseofthemeadow，andevenoftheforest，awakenedinthosewhothoughtofittheattentivenessusuallyengenderedbyunderstatementandreserve。

Thescenebeforethereddleman’seyeswasagradualseriesofascentsfromtheleveloftheroadbackwardintotheheartoftheheath。Itembracedhillocks，pits，ridges，acclivities，onebehindtheother，tillallwasfinishedbyahighhillcuttingagainstthestilllightsky。

Thetraveller’seyehoveredaboutthesethingsforatime，andfinallysettledupononenoteworthyobjectupthere。

Itwasabarrow。Thisbossyprojectionofearthaboveitsnaturalleveloccupiedtheloftiestgroundoftheloneliestheightthattheheathcontained。AlthoughfromthevaleitappearedbutasawartonanAtlanteanbrow，itsactualbulkwasgreat。Itformedthepoleandaxisofthisheatheryworld。

Astherestingmanlookedatthebarrowhebecameawarethatitssummit，hithertothehighestobjectinthewholeprospectround，wassurmountedbysomethinghigher。Itrosefromthesemiglobularmoundlikeaspikefromahelmet。

ThefirstinstinctofanimaginativestrangermighthavebeentosupposeitthepersonofoneoftheCeltswhobuiltthebarrow，sofarhadallofmoderndatewithdrawnfromthescene。Itseemedasortoflastmanamongthem，musingforamomentbeforedroppingintoeternalnightwiththerestofhisrace。

Theretheformstood，motionlessasthehillbeneath。

Abovetheplainrosethehill，abovethehillrosethebarrow，andabovethebarrowrosethefigure。

Abovethefigurewasnothingthatcouldbemappedelsewherethanonacelestialglobe。

Suchaperfect，delicate，andnecessaryfinishdidthefiguregivetothedarkpileofhillsthatitseemedtobetheonlyobviousjustificationoftheiroutline。

Withoutit，therewasthedomewithoutthelantern；withitthearchitecturaldemandsofthemassweresatisfied。

Thescenewasstrangelyhomogeneous，inthatthevale，theupland，thebarrow，andthefigureaboveitamountedonlytounity。Lookingatthisorthatmemberofthegroupwasnotobservingacompletething，butafractionofathing。

Theformwassomuchlikeanorganicpartoftheentiremotionlessstructurethattoseeitmovewouldhaveimpressedthemindasastrangephenomenon。

Immobilitybeingthechiefcharacteristicofthatwholewhichthepersonformedportionof，thediscontinuanceofimmobilityinanyquartersuggestedconfusion。

Yetthatiswhathappened。Thefigureperceptiblygaveupitsfixity，shiftedasteportwo，andturnedround。

Asifalarmed，itdescendedontherightsideofthebarrow，withtheglideofawater—dropdownabud，andthenvanished。

Themovementhadbeensufficienttoshowmoreclearlythecharacteristicsofthefigure，andthatitwasawoman’s。

Thereasonofhersuddendisplacementnowappeared。

Withherdroppingoutofsightontherightside，anewcomer，bearingaburden，protrudedintotheskyontheleftside，ascendedthetumulus，anddepositedtheburdenonthetop。

Asecondfollowed，thenathird，afourth，afifth，andultimatelythewholebarrowwaspeopledwithburdenedfigures。

Theonlyintelligiblemeaninginthissky—backedpantomimeofsilhouetteswasthatthewomanhadnorelationtotheformswhohadtakenherplace，wassedulouslyavoidingthese，andhadcomethitherforanotherobjectthantheirs。

Theimaginationoftheobserverclungbypreferencetothatvanished，solitaryfigure，astosomethingmoreinteresting，moreimportant，morelikelytohaveahistoryworthknowingthanthesenewcomers，andunconsciouslyregardedthemasintruders。Buttheyremained，andestablishedthemselves；andthelonelypersonwhohithertohadbeenqueenofthesolitudedidnotatpresentseemlikelytoreturn。

3—TheCustomoftheCountryHadalooker—onbeenpostedintheimmediatevicinityofthebarrow，hewouldhavelearnedthatthesepersonswereboysandmenoftheneighbouringhamlets。

Each，asheascendedthebarrow，hadbeenheavilyladenwithfurzefaggots，carriedupontheshoulderbymeansofalongstakesharpenedateachendforimpalingthemeasily——twoinfrontandtwobehind。Theycamefromapartoftheheathaquarterofamiletotherear，wherefurzealmostexclusivelyprevailedasaproduct。

Everyindividualwassoinvolvedinfurzebyhismethodofcarryingthefaggotsthatheappearedlikeabushonlegstillhehadthrownthemdown。Thepartyhadmarchedintrail，likeatravellingflockofsheep；thatistosay，thestrongestfirst，theweakandyoungbehind。

Theloadswerealllaidtogether，andapyramidoffurzethirtyfeetincircumferencenowoccupiedthecrownofthetumulus，whichwasknownasRainbarrowformanymilesround。Somemadethemselvesbusywithmatches，andinselectingthedriesttuftsoffurze，othersinlooseningthebramblebondswhichheldthefaggotstogether。

Others，again，whilethiswasinprogress，liftedtheireyesandsweptthevastexpanseofcountrycommandedbytheirposition，nowlyingnearlyobliteratedbyshade。