CHAPTER I In the days when the spinning-wheels hummed busily in -- and even , had toy spinning-wheels of polished oak -- there might be seen in , or deep in the bosom of , .
's dog barked fiercely when appeared on , dark against the early winter sunset ; for what dog likes ?
-- and rarely stirred abroad without that mysterious burden .
, though had good reason to believe that the bag held nothing but flaxen thread , or else the long rolls of strong linen spun from that thread , was not quite sure that this trade of weaving , indispensable though it was , could be carried on entirely without the help of .
In that far-off time superstition clung easily round or thing that was at all unwonted , or even intermittent and occasional merely , like the visits of or .
knew where had or origin ; and how was to be explained unless at least knew ?
To , was : to untravelled thought a state of wandering was a conception as dim as the winter life of the swallows that came back with the spring ; and , if came from , hardly ever ceased to be viewed with a remnant of distrust , which would have prevented any surprise if a long course of inoffensive conduct on part had ended in the commission of a crime ; especially if had any reputation for knowledge , or showed any skill in handicraft .
All cleverness , whether in the rapid use of that difficult instrument the tongue , or in some other art unfamiliar to , was in itself suspicious : , were mostly not overwise or clever -- at least , not beyond such a matter as knowing the signs of the weather ; and the process by which rapidity and dexterity of any kind were acquired was so wholly hidden , that partook of the nature of conjuring .
In this way it came to pass that -- -- were to regarded as by , and usually contracted the eccentric habits which belong to a state of loneliness .
In the early years of this century , , named , worked at vocation in .
The questionable sound of 's loom , so unlike the natural cheerful trotting of the winnowing-machine , or the simpler rhythm of the flail , had a half-fearful fascination for .
But sometimes it happened that , pausing to adjust an irregularity in thread , became aware of , and , though chary of time , liked intrusion so ill that would descend from loom , and , opening the door , would fix on a gaze that was always enough to make take to legs in terror .
For how was it possible to believe that those large brown protuberant eyes in 's pale face really saw nothing very distinctly that was not close to , and not rather that dreadful stare could dart cramp , or rickets , or a wry mouth at ?
had , perhaps , heard and hint that could cure ' rheumatism if had a mind , and add , still more darkly , that if could only speak fair enough , might save the cost of .
Such strange lingering echoes of the old demon-worship might perhaps even now be caught by among ; for the rude mind with difficulty associates the ideas of power and benignity .
A shadowy conception of power that by much persuasion can be induced to refrain from inflicting harm , is the shape most easily taken by the sense of the Invisible in the minds of .
To pain and mishap present a far wider range of possibilities than gladness and enjoyment : imagination is almost barren of the images that feed desire and hope , but is all overgrown by recollections that are a perpetual pasture to fear .
" Is there anything can fancy that would like to eat ? "
once said to .
" No , " answered , " 've never been used to nothing but common victual , and ca n't eat that . "
Experience had bred no fancies in that could raise the phantasm of appetite .
And was .
Not that was : on the contrary , lay in , and held .
But was nestled in .
was : -- .
It was fifteen years since had first come to ; was then simply .
So had way of life : -- invited to step across door-sill , and never strolled into to drink a pint at , or to gossip at 's : sought or , save for the purposes of calling , or in order to supply with necessaries ; and it was soon clear to that would never urge one of to accept against will -- quite as if had heard declare that would never marry come to life again .
This view of 's personality was not without another ground than pale face and unexampled eyes ; for , , averred that one evening as was returning homeward , saw leaning against a stile with a heavy bag on back , instead of resting the bag on the stile as would have done ; and that , on coming up to , saw that 's eyes were set like 's , and spoke to , and shook , and limbs were stiff , and hands clutched the bag as if they 'd been made of iron ; but just as had made up mind that was dead , came all right again , like , as might say , in the winking of an eye , and said " Good-night " , and walked off .
All this swore had seen , more by token that it was the very day had been mole-catching on , down by .
said must have been in a " fit " , a word which seemed to explain things otherwise incredible ; but , , shook head , and asked if was ever known to go off in a fit and not fall down .
A fit was a stroke , was n't it ?
and it was in the nature of a stroke to partly take away the use of 's limbs and throw on , if 'd got to look to .
No , no ; it was no stroke that would let stand on legs , like a horse between the shafts , and then walk off as soon as can say " Gee ! "
But there might be such a thing as 's soul being loose from body , and going out and in , like a bird out of its nest and back ; and that was how got over-wise , for went to in this shell-less state to those who could teach more than could learn with five senses and .
And where did get knowledge of herbs from -- and charms too , if liked to give them away ?
's story was no more than what might have been expected by .
might cure more if would ; but was worth speaking fair , if it was only to keep from doing a mischief .