He quietly asked his landlady, who was also in the garden, what these girls were intending, and she informed him that it being Old Midsummer Eve, they were about to attempt some spell or enchantment which would afford them a glimpse of their future partners for life.

She declared it to be an ungodly performance, and one which she for her part would never countenance; saying which, she entered her house and retired to bed.
The young man lit a cigar and followed the bevy of maidens slowly up the road.

They had turned into the wood at an opening between Melbury's and Marty South's; but Fitzpiers could easily track them by their voices, low as they endeavored to keep their tones.
In the mean time other inhabitants of Little Hintock had become aware of the nocturnal experiment about to be tried, and were also sauntering stealthily after the frisky maidens.

Miss Melbury had been informed by Marty South during the day of the proposed peep into futurity, and, being only a girl like the rest, she was sufficiently interested to wish to see the issue.

The moon was so bright and the night so calm that she had no difficulty in persuading Mrs.Melbury to accompany her; and thus, joined by Marty, these went onward in the same direction.
Passing Winterborne's house, they heard a noise of hammering.