"No, no! Don't beg my pardon. But since you wear a veil to hide
your good looks, why don't you keep it down?"
She pulled down the veil, saying hastily, "It was mostly to keep off
the wind."
"It may seem harsh of me to dictate like this," he went on; "but
it is better that I should not look too often on you. It might be
dangerous."
"Ssh!" said Tess.
"Well, women's faces have had too much power over me already for me
not to fear them! An evangelist has nothing to do with such as they;
and it reminds me of the old times that I would forget!"
After this their conversation dwindled to a casual remark now and
then as they rambled onward, Tess inwardly wondering how far he was
going with her, and not liking to send him back by positive mandate.
Frequently when they came to a gate or stile they found painted
thereon in red or blue letters some text of Scripture, and she
asked him if he knew who had been at the pains to blazon these
announcements. He told her that the man was employed by himself and
others who were working with him in that district, to paint these
reminders that no means might be left untried which might move the
hearts of a wicked generation.
At length the road touched the spot called "Cross-in-Hand.
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