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him more for the opposition than she would have otherwise dreamt of
doingwhich was a happiness of a certain kind。 Yet； though love is
thus an end in itself； it must be believed to be the means to
another end if it is to assume the rosy hues of an unalloyed
pleasure。 And such a belief Fancy and Dick were emphatically denied
just now。
Elizabeth Endorfield had a repute among women which was in its
nature something between distinction and notoriety。 It was founded
on the following items of character。 She was shrewd and
penetrating； her house stood in a lonely place； she never went to
church； she wore a red cloak； she always retained her bonnet indoors
and she had a pointed chin。 Thus far her attributes were distinctly
Satanic； and those who looked no further called her； in plain terms
a witch。 But she was not gaunt； nor ugly in the upper part of her
face； nor particularly strange in manner； so that； when her more
intimate acquaintances spoke of her the term was softened； and she
became simply a Deep Body； who was as long…headed as she was high。
It may be stated that Elizabeth； belonged to a class of suspects who
were gradually losing their mysterious characteristics under the
administration of the young vicar； though； during the long reign of
Mr。 Grinham； the parish of Mellstock had proved extremely favourable
to the growth of witches。
While Fancy was revolving all this in her mind； and putting it to
herself whether it was worth while to tell her troubles to
Elizabeth； and ask her advice in getting out of them； the witch
spoke。
〃You be downproper down；〃 she said suddenly； dropping another
potato into the bucket。
Fancy took no notice。
〃About your young man。〃
Fancy reddened。 Elizabeth seemed to be watching her thoughts。
Really； one would almost think she must have the powers people
ascribed to her。
〃Father not in the humour for't； hey？〃 Another potato was finished
and flung in。 〃Ah； I know about it。 Little birds tell me things
that people don't dream of my knowing。〃
Fancy was desperate about Dick； and here was a chanceO； such a
wicked chanceof getting help； and what was goodness beside love！
〃I wish you'd tell me how to put him in the humour for it？〃 she
said。
〃That I could soon do；〃 said the witch quietly。
〃Really？ O； do； anyhowI don't careso that it is done！ How
could I do it； Mrs。 Endorfield？〃
〃Nothing so mighty wonderful in it。〃
〃Well； but how？〃
〃By witchery； of course！〃 said Elizabeth。
〃No！〃 said Fancy。
〃'Tis； I assure ye。 Didn't you ever hear I was a witch？〃
〃Well；〃 hesitated Fancy； 〃I have heard you called so。〃
〃And you believed it？〃
〃I can't say that I did exactly believe it； for 'tis very horrible
and wicked； but； O； how I do wish it was possible for you to be
one！〃
〃So I am。 And I'll tell you how to bewitch your father to let you
marry Dick Dewy。〃
〃Will it hurt him； poor thing？〃
〃Hurt who？〃
〃Father。〃
〃No； the charm is worked by common sense； and the spell can only be
broke by your acting stupidly。〃
Fancy looked rather perplexed； and Elizabeth went on：
〃This fear of Lizzwhatever 'tis …
By great and small；
She makes pretence to common sense；
And that's all。
〃You must do it like this。〃 The witch laid down her knife and
potato； and then poured into Fancy's ear a long and detailed list of
directions； glancing up from the corner of her eye into Fancy's face
with an expression of sinister humour。 Fancy's face brightened；
clouded； rose and sank； as the narrative proceeded。 〃There；〃 said
Elizabeth at length； stooping for the knife and another potato； 〃do
that； and you'll have him by…long and by…late； my dear。〃
〃And do it I will！〃 said Fancy。
She then turned her attention to the external world once more。 The
rain continued as usual； but the wind had abated considerably during
the discourse。 Judging that it was now possible to keep an umbrella
erect； she pulled her hood again over her bonnet； bade the witch
good…bye； and went her way。
CHAPTER IV： THE SPELL
Mrs。 Endorfield's advice was duly followed。
〃I be proper sorry that your daughter isn't so well as she might
be；〃 said a Mellstock man to Geoffrey one morning。
〃But is there anything in it？〃 said Geoffrey uneasily； as he shifted
his hat to the right。 〃I can't understand the report。 She didn't
complain to me a bit when I saw her。〃
〃No appetite at all； they say。〃
Geoffrey crossed to Mellstock and called at the school that
afternoon。 Fancy welcomed him as usual； and asked him to stay and
take tea with her。
〃I be'n't much for tea； this time o' day；〃 he said； but stayed。
During the meal he watched her narrowly。 And to his great
consternation discovered the following unprecedented change in the
healthy girlthat she cut herself only a diaphanous slice of bread…
and…butter； and； laying it on her plate； passed the meal…time in
breaking it into pieces； but eating no more than about one…tenth of
the slice。 Geoffrey hoped she would say something about Dick； and
finish up by weeping； as she had done after the decision against him
a few days subsequent to the interview in the garden。 But nothing
was said； and in due time Geoffrey departed again for Yalbury Wood。
〃'Tis to be hoped poor Miss Fancy will be able to keep on her
school；〃 said Geoffrey's man Enoch to Geoffrey the following week；
as they were shovelling up ant…hills in the wood。
Geoffrey stuck in the shovel； swept seven or eight ants from his
sleeve； and killed another that was prowling round his ear； then
looked perpendicularly into the earth as usual； waiting for Enoch to
say more。 〃Well； why shouldn't she？〃 said the keeper at last。
〃The baker told me yesterday；〃 continued Enoch； shaking out another
emmet that had run merrily up his thigh； 〃that the bread he've left
at that there school…house this last month would starve any mouse in
the three creations； that 'twould so！ And afterwards I had a pint
o' small down at Morrs's； and there I heard more。〃
〃What might that ha' been？〃
〃That she used to have a pound o' the best rolled butter a week；
regular as clockwork； from Dairyman Viney's for herself； as well as
just so much salted for the helping girl； and the 'ooman she calls
in； but now the same quantity d'last her three weeks； and then 'tis
thoughted she throws it away sour。〃
〃Finish doing the emmets； and carry the bag home…along。〃 The keeper
resumed his gun； tucked it under his arm； and went on without
whistling to the dogs； who however followed； with a bearing meant to
imply that they did not expect any such attentions when their master
was reflecting。
On Saturday morning a note came from Fancy。 He was not to trouble
about sending her the couple of rabbits； as was intended； because
she feared she should not want them。 Later in the day Geoffrey