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The customary expedient of provincial girls and men in such circumstances is churchgoing。 In an ordinary village or country town one can safely calculate that； either on Christmas day or the Sunday contiguous； any native home for the holidays； who has not through age or ennui lost the appetite for seeing and being seen； will turn up in some pew or other； shining with hope； self…consciousness； and new clothes。 Thus the congregation on Christmas morning is mostly a Tussaud collection of celebrities who have been born in the neighbourhood。 Hither the mistress； left neglected at home all the year； can steal and observe the development of the returned lover who has forgotten her； and think as she watches him over her prayer book that he may throb with a renewed fidelity when novelties have lost their charm。 And hither a paratively recent settler like Eustacia may betake herself to scrutinize the person of a native son who left home before her advent upon the scene； and consider if the friendship of his parents be worth cultivating during his next absence in order to secure a knowledge of him on his next return。
But these tender schemes were not feasible among the scattered inhabitants of Egdon Heath。 In name they were parishioners； but virtually they belonged to no parish at all。 People who came to these few isolated houses to keep Christmas with their friends remained in their friends’ chimney…corners drinking mead and other forting liquors till they left again for good and all。 Rain； snow； ice； mud everywhere around； they did not care to trudge two or three miles to sit wet…footed and splashed to the nape of their necks among those who； though in some measure neighbours； lived close to the church； and entered it clean and dry。 Eustacia knew it was ten to one that Clym Yeobright would go to no church at all during his few days of leave； and that it would be a waste of labour for her to go driving the pony and gig over a bad road in hope to see him there。
It was dusk； and she was sitting by the fire in the dining…room or hall； which they occupied at this time of the year in preference to the parlour； because of its large hearth； constructed for turf…fires； a fuel the captain was partial to in the winter season。 The only visible articles in the room were those on the window…sill； which showed their shapes against the low sky； the middle article being the old hourglass； and the other two a pair of ancient British urns which had been dug from a barrow near； and were used as flowerpots for two razor…leaved cactuses。 Somebody knocked at the door。 The servant was out； so was her grandfather。 The person； after waiting a minute； came in and tapped at the door of the room。
“Who’s there？” said Eustacia。
“Please； Cap’n Vye； will you let us“
Eustacia arose and went to the door。 “I cannot allow you to e in so boldly。 You should have waited。”
“The cap’n said I might e in without any fuss；” was answered in a lad’s pleasant voice。
“Oh； did he？” said Eustacia more gently。 “What do you want； Charley？”
“Please will your grandfather lend us his fuelhouse to try over our parts in； tonight at seven o’clock？”
“What； are you one of the Egdon mummers for this year？”
“Yes； miss。 The cap’n used to let the old mummers practise here。”
“I know it。 Yes； you may use the fuelhouse if you like；” said Eustacia languidly。
The choice of Captain Vye’s fuelhouse as the scene of rehearsal was dictated by the fact that his dwelling was nearly in the centre of the heath。 The fuelhouse was as roomy as a barn； and was a most desirable place for such a purpose。 The lads who formed the pany of players lived at different scattered points around； and by meeting in this spot the distances to be traversed by all the ers would be about equally proportioned。
For mummers and mumming Eustacia had the greatest contempt。 The mummers themselves were not afflicted with any such feeling for their art； though at the same time they were not enthusiastic。 A traditional pastime is to be distinguished from a mere revival in no more striking feature than in this； that while in the revival all is excitement and fervour； the survival is carried on with a stolidity and absence of stir which sets one wondering why a thing that is done so perfunctorily should be kept up at all。 Like Balaam and other unwilling prophets； the agents seem moved by an inner pulsion to say and do their allotted parts whether they will or no。 This unweeting manner of performance is the true ring by which； in this refurbishing age； a fossilized survival may be known from a spurious reproduction。
The piece was the well…known play of Saint George； and all who were behind the scenes assisted in the preparations； including the women of each household。 Without the co…operation of sisters and sweethearts the dresses were likely to be a failure； but on the other hand； this class of assistance was not without its drawbacks。 The girls could never be brought to respect tradition in designing and decorating the armour； they insisted on attaching loops and bows of silk and velvet in any situation pleasing to their taste。 Gorget； gusset； basinet； cuirass； gauntlet； sleeve； all alike in the view of these feminine eyes were practicable spaces whereon to sew scraps of fluttering colour。
It might be that Joe； who fought on the side of Christendom； had a sweetheart； and that Jim； who fought on the side of the Moslem； had one likewise。 During the making of the costumes it would e to the knowledge of Joe’s sweetheart that Jim’s was putting brilliant silk scallops at the bottom of her lover’s surcoat； in addition to the ribbons of the visor； the bars of which； being invariably formed of coloured strips about half an inch wide hanging before the face； were mostly of that material。 Joe’s sweetheart straight…way placed brilliant silk on the scallops of the hem in question； and； going a little further； added ribbon tufts to the shoulder pieces。 Jim’s； not to be outdone； would affix bows and rosettes everywhere。
The result was that in the end the Valiant Soldier； of the Christian army； was distinguished by no peculiarity of accoutrement from the Turkish Knight； and wh