But to see Mrs. Manston’s eyes from where he sat was impossible, and he could do nothing in the shape of a direct examination at present.  Miss Aldclyffe had possibly recognized him, but Manston had not, and feeling that it was indispensable to keep the purport of his visit a secret from the steward, he thought it would be as well, too, to keep his presence in the village a secret from him; at any rate, till the day was over.

At the first opening of the doors, Graye left the church and wandered away into the fields to ponder on another scheme.  He could not call on Farmer Springrove, as he had intended, until this matter was set at rest.  Two hours intervened between the morning and afternoon services.

This time had nearly expired before Owen had struck out any method of proceeding, or could decide to run the risk of calling at the Old House and asking to see Mrs. Manston point-blank.  But he had drawn near the place, and was standing still in the public path, from which a partial view of the front of the building could be obtained, when the bells began chiming for afternoon service.  Whilst Graye paused, two persons came from the front door of the half-hidden dwelling whom he presently saw to be Manston and his wife.  Manston was wearing his old garden-hat, and carried one of the monthly magazines under his arm.  Immediately they had passed the gateway he branched off and went over the hill in a direction away from the church, evidently intending to ramble along, and read as the humour moved him.  The lady meanwhile turned in the other direction, and went into the church path.

Owen resolved to make something of this opportunity.  He hurried along towards the church, doubled round a sharp angle, and came back upon the other path, by which Mrs. Manston must arrive.

In about three minutes she appeared in sight without a veil.  He discovered, as she drew nearer, a difficulty which had not struck him at first—­that it is not an easy matter to particularize the colour of a stranger’s eyes in a merely casual encounter on a path out of doors.  That Mrs. Manston must be brought close to him, and not only so, but to look closely at him, if his purpose were to be accomplished.

He shaped a plan.  It might by chance be effectual; if otherwise, it would not reveal his intention to her.  When Mrs. Manston was within speaking distance, he went up to her and said—­

‘Will you kindly tell me which turning will take me to Casterbridge?’

‘The second on the right,’ said Mrs. Manston.

Owen put on a blank look:  he held his hand to his ear—­conveying to the lady the idea that he was deaf.

She came closer and said more distinctly—­

‘The second turning on the right.’

Owen flushed a little.  He fancied he had beheld the revelation he was in search of.  But had his eyes deceived him?

Once more he used the ruse, still drawing nearer and intimating by a glance that the trouble he gave her was very distressing to him.