III. How a Little Sound Produced a Great Dream

           Eustaciastoodjustwithintheheath,straininghereyesinthedirectionofMrs.Yeobright’shouseandpremises.Nolight,sound,ormovementwasperceptiblethere.Theeveningwaschilly;thespotwasdarkandlonely.Sheinferredthattheguesthadnotyetcome;andafterlingeringtenorfifteenminutessheturnedagaintowardshome.

           Shehadnotfarretracedherstepswhensoundsinfrontofherbetokenedtheapproachofpersonsinconversationalongthesamepath.Soontheirheadsbecamevisibleagainstthesky.Theywerewalkingslowly;andthoughitwastoodarkformuchdiscoveryofcharacterfromaspect,thegaitofthemshowedthattheywerenotworkersontheheath.Eustaciasteppedalittleoutofthefoot-tracktoletthempass.Theyweretwowomenandaman;andthevoicesofthewomenwerethoseofMrs.YeobrightandThomasin.

           Theywentbyher,andatthemomentofpassingappearedtodiscernherduskyform.Therecametoherearsinamasculinevoice,“Goodnight!”

           Shemurmuredareply,glidedbythem,andturnedround.Shecouldnot,foramoment,believethatchance,unrequested,hadbroughtintoherpresencethesoulofthehouseshehadgonetoinspect,themanwithoutwhomherinspectionwouldnothavebeenthoughtof.

           Shestrainedhereyestoseethem,butwasunable.Suchwasherintentness,however,thatitseemedasifherearswereperformingthefunctionsofseeingaswellashearing.Thisextensionofpowercanalmostbebelievedinatsuchmoments.ThedeafDr.