sighthad
most
to
do
with
that
abandonment
)
—
her
method
of
reconciling
to
her
conscience
a
marriage
with
the
second
when
she
was
in
a
measure
committed
to
the
first
:
to
what
extent
she
spoke
of
these
things
remained
Farfrae
's
secret
alone
.
Besides
the
watchman
who
called
the
hours
and
weather
in
Casterbridge
that
night
there
walked
a
figure
up
and
down
Corn
Street
hardly
less
frequently
.
It
was
Henchard
's
,
whose
retiring
to
rest
had
proved
itself
a
futility
as
soon
as
attempted
;
and
he
gave
it
up
to
go
hither
and
thither
,
and
make
inquiries
about
the
patient
every
now
and
then
.
He
called
as
much
on
Farfrae
's
account
as
on
Lucetta
's
,
and
on
Elizabeth-Jane
's
even
more
than
on
either
's
.
Shorn
one
by
one
of
all
other
interests
,
his
life
seemed
centring
on
the
personality
of
the
stepdaughter
whose
presence
but
recently
he
could
not
endure
.
To
see
her
on
each
occasion
of
his
inquiry
at
Lucetta
's
was
a
comfort
to
him
.
The
last
of
his
calls
was
made
about
four
o'clock
in
the
morning
,
in
the
steely
light
of
dawn
.
Lucifer
was
fading
into
day
across
Durnover
Moor
,
the
sparrows
were
just
alighting
into
the
street
,
and
the
hens
had
begun
to
cackle
from
the
outhouses
.
When
within
a
few
yards
of
Farfrae
's
he
saw
the
door
gently
opened
,
and
a
servant
raise
her
hand
to
the
knocker
,
to
untie
the
piece
of
cloth
which
had
muffled
it
.
He
went
across
,
the
sparrows
in
his
way
scarcely
flying
up
from
the
road-litter
,
so
little
did
they
believe
in
human
aggression
at
so
early
a
time
.
“
Why
do
you
take
off
that
?
”
said
Henchard
.
She
turned
in
some
surprise
at
his
presence
,
and
did
not
answer
for
an
instant
or
two
.
Recognizing
him
,
she
said
,
“
Because
they
may
knock
as
loud
as
they
will
;
she
will
never
hear
it
any
more
.
”
41.
Henchard
went
home
.
The
morning
having
now
fully
broke
he
lit
his
fire
,
and
sat
abstractedly
beside
it
.
He
had
not
sat
there
long
when
a
gentle
footstep
approached
the
house
and
entered
the
passage
,
a
finger
tapping
lightly
at
the
door
.
Henchard
's
face
brightened
,
for
he
knew
the
motions
to
be
Elizabeth
's
.
She
came
into
his
room
,
looking
wan
and
sad
.
“
Have
you
heard
?
”
she
asked
.
“
Mrs.
Farfrae
!
She
is
—
dead
!
Yes
,
indeed
—
about
an
hour
ago
!
”
“
I
know
it
,
”
said
Henchard
.
“
I
have
but
lately
come
in
from
there
.
It
is
so
very
good
of
'
ee
,
Elizabeth
,
to
come
and
tell
me
.
You
must
be
so
tired
out
,
too
,
with
sitting
up
.
Now
do
you
bide
here
with
me
this
morning
.
You
can
go
and
rest
in
the
other
room
;
and
I
will
call
'
ee
when
breakfast
is
ready
.
”
To
please
him
,
and
herself
—
for
his
recent
kindliness
was
winning
a
surprised
gratitude
from
the
lonely
girl
—
she
did
as
he
bade
her
,
and
lay
down
on
a
sort
of
couch
which
Henchard
had
rigged
up
out
of
a
settle
in
the
adjoining
room
.
She
could
hear
him
moving
about
in
his
preparations
;
but
her
mind
ran
most
strongly
on
Lucetta
,
whose
death
in
such
fulness
of
life
and
amid
such
cheerful
hopes
of
maternity
was
appallingly
unexpected
.
Presently
she
fell
asleep
.
Meanwhile
her
stepfather
in
the
outer
room
had
set
the
breakfast
in
readiness
;
but
finding
that
she
dozed
he
would
not
call
her
;
he
waited
on
,
looking
into
the
fire
and
keeping
the
kettle
boiling
with
house-wifely
care
,
as
if
it
were
an
honour
to
have
her
in
his
house
.
In
truth
,
a
great
change
had
come
over
him
with
regard
to
her
,
and
he
was
developing
the
dream
of
a
future
lit
by
her
filial
presence
,
as
though
that
way
alone
could
happiness
lie
.
He
was
disturbed
by
another
knock
at
the
door
,
and
rose
to
open
it
,
rather
deprecating
a
call
from
anybody
just
then
.
A
stoutly
built
man
stood
on
the
doorstep
,
with
an
alien
,
unfamiliar
air
about
his
figure
and
bearing
—
an
air
which
might
have
been
called
colonial
by
people
of
cosmopolitan
experience
.
It
was
the
man
who
had
asked
the
way
at
Peter
's
finger
.
Henchard
nodded
,
and
looked
inquiry
.
“
Good
morning
,
good
morning
,
”
said
the
stranger
with
profuse
heartiness
.
“
Is
it
Mr.
Henchard
I
am
talking
to
?
”
“
My
name
is
Henchard
.
”
“
Then
I
've
caught
'
ee
at
home
—
that
's
right
.
Morning
's
the
time
for
business
,
says
I
.
Can
I
have
a
few
words
with
you
?
”
“
By
all
means
,
”
Henchard
answered
,
showing
the
way
in
.
“
You
may
remember
me
?
”
said
his
visitor
,
seating
himself
.
Henchard
observed
him
indifferently
,
and
shook
his
head
.
“
Well
—
perhaps
you
may
not
.
My
name
is
Newson
.
”
Henchard
's
face
and
eyes
seemed
to
die
.
The
other
did
not
notice
it
.
“
I
know
the
name
well
,
”
Henchard
said
at
last
,
looking
on
the
floor
.
“
I
make
no
doubt
of
that
.
Well
,
the
fact
is
,
I
've
been
looking
for
'
ee
this
fortnight
past
.
I
landed
at
Havenpool
and
went
through
Casterbridge
on
my
way
to
Falmouth
,
and
when
I
got
there
,
they
told
me
you
had
some
years
before
been
living
at
Casterbridge
.
Back
came
I
again
,
and
by
long
and
by
late
I
got
here
by
coach
,
ten
minutes
ago
.
'
He
lives
down
by
the
mill
,
'
says
they
.
So
here
I
am
.
Now
—
that
transaction
between
us
some
twenty
years
agone
—
'
tis
that
I
've
called
about
.
'
Twas
a
curious
business
.
I
was
younger
then
than
I
am
now
,
and
perhaps
the
less
said
about
it
,
in
one
sense
,
the
better
.
”
“
Curious
business
!
'
Twas
worse
than
curious
.
I
cannot
even
allow
that
I
'm
the
man
you
met
then
.
I
was
not
in
my
senses
,
and
a
man
's
senses
are
himself
.
”
“
We
were
young
and
thoughtless
,
”
said
Newson
.
“
However
,
I
've
come
to
mend
matters
rather
than
open
arguments
.
Poor
Susan
—
hers
was
a
strange
experience
.
”
“
She
was
a
warm-hearted
,
home-spun
woman
.
She
was
not
what
they
call
shrewd
or
sharp
at
all
—
better
she
had
been
.
”
“
She
was
not
.
”
“
As
you
in
all
likelihood
know
,
she
was
simple-minded
enough
to
think
that
the
sale
was
in
a
way
binding
.
She
was
as
guiltless
o
'
wrong-doing
in
that
particular
as
a
saint
in
the
clouds
.
”
“
I
know
it
,
I
know
it
.
I
found
it
out
directly
,
”
said
Henchard
,
still
with
averted
eyes
.
“
There
lay
the
sting
o't
to
me
.
If
she
had
seen
it
as
what
it
was
she
would
never
have
left
me
.
Never
!
But
how
should
she
be
expected
to
know
?
What
advantages
had
she
?
None
.
She
could
write
her
own
name
,
and
no
more
.
”
“
Well
,
it
was
not
in
my
heart
to
undeceive
her
when
the
deed
was
done
,
”
said
the
sailor
of
former
days
.
“
I
thought
,
and
there
was
not
much
vanity
in
thinking
it
,
that
she
would
be
happier
with
me
.
She
was
fairly
happy
,
and
I
never
would
have
undeceived
her
till
the
day
of
her
death
.
Your
child
died
;
she
had
another
,
and
all
went
well
.
But
a
time
came
—
mind
me
,
a
time
always
does
come
.
A
time
came
—
it
was
some
while
after
she
and
I
and
the
child
returned
from
America
—
when
somebody
she
had
confided
her
history
to
,
told
her
my
claim
to
her
was
a
mockery
,
and
made
a
jest
of
her
belief
in
my
right
.
After
that
she
was
never
happy
with
me
.
She
pined
and
pined
,
and
socked
and
sighed
.
She
said
she
must
leave
me
,
and
then
came
the
question
of
our
child
.
Then
a
man
advised
me
how
to
act
,
and
I
did
it
,
for
I
thought
it
was
best
.
I
left
her
at
Falmouth
,
and
went
off
to
sea
.
When
I
got
to
the
other
side
of
the
Atlantic
there
was
a
storm
,
and
it
was
supposed
that
a
lot
of
us
,
including
myself
,
had
been
washed
overboard
.
I
got
ashore
at
Newfoundland
,
and
then
I
asked
myself
what
I
should
do
.
“
'
Since
I
'm
here
,
here
I
'll
bide
,
'
I
thought
to
myself
;
'
'
twill
be
most
kindness
to
her
,
now
she
's
taken
against
me
,
to
let
her
believe
me
lost
,
for
,
'
I
thought
,
'
while
she
supposes
us
both
alive
she
'll
be
miserable
;
but
if
she
thinks
me
dead
she
'll
go
back
to
him
,
and
the
child
will
have
a
home
.
'
I
've
never
returned
to
this
country
till
a
month
ago
,
and
I
found
that
,
as
I
supposed
,
she
went
to
you
,
and
my
daughter
with
her
.
They
told
me
in
Falmouth
that
Susan
was
dead
.
But
my
Elizabeth-Jane
—
where
is
she
?
”
“
Dead
likewise
,
”
said
Henchard
doggedly
.
“
Surely
you
learnt
that
too
?
”
The
sailor
started
up
,
and
took
an
enervated
pace
or
two
down
the
room
.
“
Dead
!
”
he
said
,
in
a
low
voice
.
“
Then
what
's
the
use
of
my
money
to
me
?
”
Henchard
,
without
answering
,
shook
his
head
as
if
that
were
rather
a
question
for
Newson
himself
than
for
him
.
“
Where
is
she
buried
?
”
the
traveller
inquired
.
“
Beside
her
mother
,
”
said
Henchard
,
in
the
same
stolid
tones
.
“
When
did
she
die
?
”
“
A
year
ago
and
more
,
”
replied
the
other
without
hesitation
.
The
sailor
continued
standing
.
Henchard
never
looked
up
from
the
floor
.
At
last
Newson
said
:
“
My
journey
hither
has
been
for
nothing
!
I
may
as
well
go
as
I
came
!
It
has
served
me
right
.
I
'll
trouble
you
no
longer
.
”
Henchard
heard
the
retreating
footsteps
of
Newson
upon
the
sanded
floor
,
the
mechanical
lifting
of
the
latch
,
the
slow
opening
and
closing
of
the
door
that
was
natural
to
a
baulked
or
dejected
man
;
but
he
did
not
turn
his
head
.
Newson
's
shadow
passed
the
window
.
He
was
gone
.
Then
Henchard
,
scarcely
believing
the
evidence
of
his
senses
,
rose
from
his
seat
amazed
at
what
he
had
done
.
It
had
been
the
impulse
of
a
moment
.
The
regard
he
had
lately
acquired
for
Elizabeth
,
the
new-sprung
hope
of
his
loneliness
that
she
would
be
to
him
a
daughter
of
whom
he
could
feel
as
proud
as
of
the
actual
daughter
she
still
believed
herself
to
be
,
had
been
stimulated
by
the
unexpected
coming
of
Newson
to
a
greedy
exclusiveness
in
relation
to
her
;
so
that
the
sudden
prospect
of
her
loss
had
caused
him
to
speak
mad
lies
like
a
child
,
in
pure
mockery
of
consequences
.
He
had
expected
questions
to
close
in
round
him
,
and
unmask
his
fabrication
in
five
minutes
;
yet
such
questioning
had
not
come
.
But
surely
they
would
come
;
Newson
's
departure
could
be
but
momentary
;
he
would
learn
all
by
inquiries
in
the
town
;
and
return
to
curse
him
,
and
carry
his
last
treasure
away
!
He
hastily
put
on
his
hat
,
and
went
out
in
the
direction
that
Newson
had
taken
.
Newson
's
back
was
soon
visible
up
the
road
,
crossing
Bull-stake
.
Henchard
followed
,
and
saw
his
visitor
stop
at
the
King
's
Arms
,
where
the
morning
coach
which
had
brought
him
waited
half-an-hour
for
another
coach
which
crossed
there
.
The
coach
Newson
had
come
by
was
now
about
to
move
again
.
Newson
mounted
,
his
luggage
was
put
in
,
and
in
a
few
minutes
the
vehicle
disappeared
with
him
.
He
had
not
so
much
as
turned
his
head
.
It
was
an
act
of
simple
faith
in
Henchard
's
words
—
faith
so
simple
as
to
be
almost
sublime
.
The
young
sailor
who
had
taken
Susan
Henchard
on
the
spur
of
the
moment
and
on
the
faith
of
a
glance
at
her
face
,
more
than
twenty
years
before
,
was
still
living
and
acting
under
the
form
of
the
grizzled
traveller
who
had
taken
Henchard
's
words
on
trust
so
absolute
as
to
shame
him
as
he
stood
.
Was
Elizabeth-Jane
to
remain
his
by
virtue
of
this
hardy
invention
of
a
moment
?
“
Perhaps
not
for
long
,
”
said
he
.
Newson
might
converse
with
his
fellow-travellers
,
some
of
whom
might
be
Casterbridge
people
;
and
the
trick
would
be
discovered
.
This
probability
threw
Henchard
into
a
defensive
attitude
,
and
instead
of
considering
how
best
to
right
the
wrong
,
and
acquaint
Elizabeth
's
father
with
the
truth
at
once
,
he
bethought
himself
of
ways
to
keep
the
position
he
had
accidentally
won
.
Towards
the
young
woman
herself
his
affection
grew
more
jealously
strong
with
each
new
hazard
to
which
his
claim
to
her
was
exposed
.
He
watched
the
distant
highway
expecting
to
see
Newson
return
on
foot
,
enlightened
and
indignant
,
to
claim
his
child
.
But
no
figure
appeared
.
Possibly
he
had
spoken
to
nobody
on
the
coach
,
but
buried
his
grief
in
his
own
heart
.
His
grief
!
—
what
was
it
,
after
all
,
to
that
which
he
,
Henchard
,
would
feel
at
the
loss
of
her
?
Newson
's
affection
cooled
by
years
,
could
not
equal
his
who
had
been
constantly
in
her
presence
.
And
thus
his
jealous
soul
speciously
argued
to
excuse
the
separation
of
father
and
child
.
He
returned
to
the
house
half
expecting
that
she
would
have
vanished
.
No
;
there
she
was
—
just
coming
out
from
the
inner
room
,
the
marks
of
sleep
upon
her
eyelids
,
and
exhibiting
a
generally
refreshed
air
.
“
O
father
!
”
she
said
smiling
.
“
I
had
no
sooner
lain
down
than
I
napped
,
though
I
did
not
mean
to
.
I
wonder
I
did
not
dream
about
poor
Mrs.
Farfrae
,
after
thinking
of
her
so
;
but
I
did
not
.
How
strange
it
is
that
we
do
not
often
dream
of
latest
events
,
absorbing
as
they
may
be
.
”
“
I
am
glad
you
have
been
able
to
sleep
,
”
he
said
,
taking
her
hand
with
anxious
proprietorship
—
an
act
which
gave
her
a
pleasant
surprise
.
They
sat
down
to
breakfast
,
and
Elizabeth-Jane
's
thoughts
reverted
to
Lucetta
.
Their
sadness
added
charm
to
a
countenance
whose
beauty
had
ever
lain
in
its
meditative
soberness
.
“
Father
,
”
she
said
,
as
soon
as
she
recalled
herself
to
the
outspread
meal
,
“
it
is
so
kind
of
you
to
get
this
nice
breakfast
with
your
own
hands
,
and
I
idly
asleep
the
while
.
”
“
I
do
it
every
day
,
”
he
replied
.
“
You
have
left
me
;
everybody
has
left
me
;
how
should
I
live
but
by
my
own
hands
.
”
“
You
are
very
lonely
,
are
you
not
?
”
“
Ay
,
child
—
to
a
degree
that
you
know
nothing
of
!
It
is
my
own
fault
.
You
are
the
only
one
who
has
been
near
me
for
weeks
.
And
you
will
come
no
more
.
”
“
Why
do
you
say
that
?
Indeed
I
will
,
if
you
would
like
to
see
me
.
”
Henchard
signified
dubiousness
.
Though
he
had
so
lately
hoped
that
Elizabeth-Jane
might
again
live
in
his
house
as
daughter
,
he
would
not
ask
her
to
do
so
now
.
Newson
might
return
at
any
moment
,
and
what
Elizabeth
would
think
of
him
for
his
deception
it
were
best
to
bear
apart
from
her
.
When
they
had
breakfasted
his
stepdaughter
still
lingered
,
till
the
moment
arrived
at
which
Henchard
was
accustomed
to
go
to
his
daily
work
.
Then
she
arose
,
and
with
assurance
of
coming
again
soon
went
up
the
hill
in
the
morning
sunlight
.
“
At
this
moment
her
heart
is
as
warm
towards
me
as
mine
is
towards
her
,
she
would
live
with
me
here
in
this
humble
cottage
for
the
asking
!
Yet
before
the
evening
probably
he
will
have
come
,
and
then
she
will
scorn
me
!
”
This
reflection
,
constantly
repeated
by
Henchard
to
himself
,
accompanied
him
everywhere
through
the
day
.
His
mood
was
no
longer
that
of
the
rebellious
,
ironical
,
reckless
misadventurer
;
but
the
leaden
gloom
of
one
who
has
lost
all
that
can
make
life
interesting
,
or
even
tolerable
.
There
would
remain
nobody
for
him
to
be
proud
of
,
nobody
to
fortify
him
;
for
Elizabeth-Jane
would
soon
be
but
as
a
stranger
,
and
worse
.
Susan
,
Farfrae
,
Lucetta
,
Elizabeth
—
all
had
gone
from
him
,
one
after
one
,
either
by
his
fault
or
by
his
misfortune
.
In
place
of
them
he
had
no
interest
,
hobby
,
or
desire
.
If
he
could
have
summoned
music
to
his
aid
his
existence
might
even
now
have
been
borne
;
for
with
Henchard
music
was
of
regal
power
.
The
merest
trumpet
or
organ
tone
was
enough
to
move
him
,
and
high
harmonies
transubstantiated
him
.
But
hard
fate
had
ordained
that
he
should
be
unable
to
call
up
this
Divine
spirit
in
his
need
.
The
whole
land
ahead
of
him
was
as
darkness
itself
;
there
was
nothing
to
come
,
nothing
to
wait
for
.
Yet
in
the
natural
course
of
life
he
might
possibly
have
to
linger
on
earth
another
thirty
or
forty
years
—
scoffed
at
;
at
best
pitied
.
The
thought
of
it
was
unendurable
.
To
the
east
of
Casterbridge
lay
moors
and
meadows
through
which
much
water
flowed
.
The
wanderer
in
this
direction
who
should
stand
still
for
a
few
moments
on
a
quiet
night
,
might
hear
singular
symphonies
from
these
waters
,
as
from
a
lampless
orchestra
,
all
playing
in
their
sundry
tones
from
near
and
far
parts
of
the
moor
.
At
a
hole
in
a
rotten
weir
they
executed
a
recitative
;
where
a
tributary
brook
fell
over
a
stone
breastwork
they
trilled
cheerily
;
under
an
arch
they
performed
a
metallic
cymballing
,
and
at
Durnover
Hole
they
hissed
.
The
spot
at
which
their
instrumentation
rose
loudest
was
a
place
called
Ten
Hatches
,
whence
during
high
springs
there
proceeded
a
very
fugue
of
sounds
.
The
river
here
was
deep
and
strong
at
all
times
,
and
the
hatches
on
this
account
were
raised
and
lowered
by
cogs
and
a
winch
.
A
patch
led
from
the
second
bridge
over
the
highway
(
so
often
mentioned
)
to
these
Hatches
,
crossing
the
stream
at
their
head
by
a
narrow
plank-bridge
.
But
after
night-fall
human
beings
were
seldom
found
going
that
way
,
the
path
leading
only
to
a
deep
reach
of
the
stream
called
Blackwater
,
and
the
passage
being
dangerous
.
Henchard
,
however
,
leaving
the
town
by
the
east
road
,
proceeded
to
the
second
,
or
stone
bridge
,
and
thence
struck
into
this
path
of
solitude
,
following
its
course
beside
the
stream
till
the
dark
shapes
of
the
Ten
Hatches
cut
the
sheen
thrown
upon
the
river
by
the
weak
lustre
that
still
lingered
in
the
west
.
In
a
second
or
two
he
stood
beside
the
weir-hole
where
the
water
was
at
its
deepest
.
He
looked
backwards
and
forwards
,
and
no
creature
appeared
in
view
.
He
then
took
off
his
coat
and
hat
,
and
stood
on
the
brink
of
the
stream
with
his
hands
clasped
in
front
of
him
.
While
his
eyes
were
bent
on
the
water
beneath
there
slowly
became
visible
a
something
floating
in
the
circular
pool
formed
by
the
wash
of
centuries
;
the
pool
he
was
intending
to
make
his
death-bed
.
At
first
it
was
indistinct
by
reason
of
the
shadow
from
the
bank
;
but
it
emerged
thence
and
took
shape
,
which
was
that
of
a
human
body
,
lying
stiff
and
stark
upon
the
surface
of
the
stream
.
In
the
circular
current
imparted
by
the
central
flow
the
form
was
brought
forward
,
till
it
passed
under
his
eyes
;
and
then
he
perceived
with
a
sense
of
horror
that
it
was
HIMSELF
.
Not
a
man
somewhat
resembling
him
,
but
one
in
all
respects
his
counterpart
,
his
actual
double
,
was
floating
as
if
dead
in
Ten
Hatches
Hole
.
The
sense
of
the
supernatural
was
strong
in
this
unhappy
man
,
and
he
turned
away
as
one
might
have
done
in
the
actual
presence
of
an
appalling
miracle
.
He
covered
his
eyes
and
bowed
his
head
.
Without
looking
again
into
the
stream
he
took
his
coat
and
hat
,
and
went
slowly
away
.
Presently
he
found
himself
by
the
door
of
his
own
dwelling
.
To
his
surprise
Elizabeth-Jane
was
standing
there
.
She
came
forward
,
spoke
,
called
him
“
father
”
just
as
before
.
Newson
,
then
,
had
not
even
yet
returned
.
“
I
thought
you
seemed
very
sad
this
morning
,
”
she
said
,
“
so
I
have
come
again
to
see
you
.
Not
that
I
am
anything
but
sad
myself
.
But
everybody
and
everything
seem
against
you
so
,
and
I
know
you
must
be
suffering
.
”
How
this
woman
divined
things
!
Yet
she
had
not
divined
their
whole
extremity
.
He
said
to
her
,
“
Are
miracles
still
worked
,
do
ye
think
,
Elizabeth
?
I
am
not
a
read
man
.
I
do
n't
know
so
much
as
I
could
wish
.
I
have
tried
to
peruse
and
learn
all
my
life
;
but
the
more
I
try
to
know
the
more
ignorant
I
seem
.
”
“
I
do
n't
quite
think
there
are
any
miracles
nowadays
,
”
she
said
.
“
No
interference
in
the
case
of
desperate
intentions
,
for
instance
?
Well
,
perhaps
not
,
in
a
direct
way
.
Perhaps
not
.
But
will
you
come
and
walk
with
me
,
and
I
will
show
'
ee
what
I
mean
.
”
She
agreed
willingly
,
and
he
took
her
over
the
highway
,
and
by
the
lonely
path
to
Ten
Hatches
.
He
walked
restlessly
,
as
if
some
haunting
shade
,
unseen
of
her
,
hovered
round
him
and
troubled
his
glance
.
She
would
gladly
have
talked
of
Lucetta
,
but
feared
to
disturb
him
.
When
they
got
near
the
weir
he
stood
still
,
and
asked
her
to
go
forward
and
look
into
the
pool
,
and
tell
him
what
she
saw
.
She
went
,
and
soon
returned
to
him
.
“
Nothing
,
”
she
said
.
“
Go
again
,
”
said
Henchard
,
“
and
look
narrowly
.
”
She
proceeded
to
the
river
brink
a
second
time
.
On
her
return
,
after
some
delay
,
she
told
him
that
she
saw
something
floating
round
and
round
there
;
but
what
it
was
she
could
not
discern
.
It
seemed
to
be
a
bundle
of
old
clothes
.
“
Are
they
like
mine
?
”
asked
Henchard
.
“
Well
—
they
are
.
Dear
me
—
I
wonder
if
—
Father
,
let
us
go
away
!
”
“
Go
and
look
once
more
;
and
then
we
will
get
home
.
”
She
went
back
,
and
he
could
see
her
stoop
till
her
head
was
close
to
the
margin
of
the
pool
.
She
started
up
,
and
hastened
back
to
his
side
.
“
Well
,
”
said
Henchard
;
“
what
do
you
say
now
?
”
“
Let
us
go
home
.
”
“
But
tell
me
—
do
—
what
is
it
floating
there
?
”
“
The
effigy
,
”
she
answered
hastily
.
“
They
must
have
thrown
it
into
the
river
higher
up
amongst
the
willows
at
Blackwater
,
to
get
rid
of
it
in
their
alarm
at
discovery
by
the
magistrates
,
and
it
must
have
floated
down
here
.
”
“
Ah
—
to
be
sure
—
the
image
o
'
me
!
But
where
is
the
other
?
Why
that
one
only
?
...
That
performance
of
theirs
killed
her
,
but
kept
me
alive
!
”
Elizabeth-Jane
thought
and
thought
of
these
words
“
kept
me
alive
,
”
as
they
slowly
retraced
their
way
to
the
town
,
and
at
length
guessed
their
meaning
.
“
Father
!
—
I
will
not
leave
you
alone
like
this
!
”
she
cried
.
“
May
I
live
with
you
,
and
tend
upon
you
as
I
used
to
do
?
I
do
not
mind
your
being
poor
.
I
would
have
agreed
to
come
this
morning
,
but
you
did
not
ask
me
.
”
“
May
you
come
to
me
?
”
he
cried
bitterly
.
“
Elizabeth
,
do
n't
mock
me
!
If
you
only
would
come
!
”
“
I
will
,
”
said
she
.
“
How
will
you
forgive
all
my
roughness
in
former
days
?
You
cannot
!
”
“
I
have
forgotten
it
.
Talk
of
that
no
more
.
”
Thus
she
assured
him
,
and
arranged
their
plans
for
reunion
;
and
at
length
each
went
home
.
Then
Henchard
shaved
for
the
first
time
during
many
days
,
and
put
on
clean
linen
,
and
combed
his
hair
;
and
was
as
a
man
resuscitated
thenceforward
.
The
next
morning
the
fact
turned
out
to
be
as
Elizabeth-Jane
had
stated
;
the
effigy
was
discovered
by
a
cowherd
,
and
that
of
Lucetta
a
little
higher
up
in
the
same
stream
.
But
as
little
as
possible
was
said
of
the
matter
,
and
the
figures
were
privately
destroyed
.
Despite
this
natural
solution
of
the
mystery
Henchard
no
less
regarded
it
as
an
intervention
that
the
figure
should
have
been
floating
there
.
Elizabeth-Jane
heard
him
say
,
“
Who
is
such
a
reprobate
as
I
!
And
yet
it
seems
that
even
I
be
in
Somebody
's
hand
!
”
42.
But
the
emotional
conviction
that
he
was
in
Somebody
's
hand
began
to
die
out
of
Henchard
's
breast
as
time
slowly
removed
into
distance
the
event
which
had
given
that
feeling
birth
.
The
apparition
of
Newson
haunted
him
.
He
would
surely
return
.
Yet
Newson
did
not
arrive
.
Lucetta
had
been
borne
along
the
churchyard
path
;
Casterbridge
had
for
the
last
time
turned
its
regard
upon
her
,
before
proceeding
to
its
work
as
if
she
had
never
lived
.
But
Elizabeth
remained
undisturbed
in
the
belief
of
her
relationship
to
Henchard
,
and
now
shared
his
home
.
Perhaps
,
after
all
,
Newson
was
gone
for
ever
.
In
due
time
the
bereaved
Farfrae
had
learnt
the
,
at
least
,
proximate
cause
of
Lucetta
's
illness
and
death
,
and
his
first
impulse
was
naturally
enough
to
wreak
vengeance
in
the
name
of
the
law
upon
the
perpetrators
of
the
mischief
.
He
resolved
to
wait
till
the
funeral
was
over
ere
he
moved
in
the
matter
.
The
time
having
come
he
reflected
.
Disastrous
as
the
result
had
been
,
it
was
obviously
in
no
way
foreseen
or
intended
by
the
thoughtless
crew
who
arranged
the
motley
procession
.
The
tempting
prospect
of
putting
to
the
blush
people
who
stand
at
the
head
of
affairs
—
that
supreme
and
piquant
enjoyment
of
those
who
writhe
under
the
heel
of
the
same
—
had
alone
animated
them
,
so
far
as
he
could
see
;
for
he
knew
nothing
of
Jopp
's
incitements
.
Other
considerations
were
also
involved
.
Lucetta
had
confessed
everything
to
him
before
her
death
,
and
it
was
not
altogether
desirable
to
make
much
ado
about
her
history
,
alike
for
her
sake
,
for
Henchard
's
,
and
for
his
own
.
To
regard
the
event
as
an
untoward
accident
seemed
,
to
Farfrae
,
truest
consideration
for
the
dead
one
's
memory
,
as
well
as
best
philosophy
.
Henchard
and
himself
mutually
forbore
to
meet
.
For
Elizabeth
's
sake
the
former
had
fettered
his
pride
sufficiently
to
accept
the
small
seed
and
root
business
which
some
of
the
Town
Council
,
headed
by
Farfrae
,
had
purchased
to
afford
him
a
new
opening
.
Had
he
been
only
personally
concerned
Henchard
,
without
doubt
,
would
have
declined
assistance
even
remotely
brought
about
by
the
man
whom
he
had
so
fiercely
assailed
.
But
the
sympathy
of
the
girl
seemed
necessary
to
his
very
existence
;
and
on
her
account
pride
itself
wore
the
garments
of
humility
.
Here
they
settled
themselves
;
and
on
each
day
of
their
lives
Henchard
anticipated
her
every
wish
with
a
watchfulness
in
which
paternal
regard
was
heightened
by
a
burning
jealous
dread
of
rivalry
.
Yet
that
Newson
would
ever
now
return
to
Casterbridge
to
claim
her
as
a
daughter
there
was
little
reason
to
suppose
.
He
was
a
wanderer
and
a
stranger
,
almost
an
alien
;
he
had
not
seen
his
daughter
for
several
years
;
his
affection
for
her
could
not
in
the
nature
of
things
be
keen
;
other
interests
would
probably
soon
obscure
his
recollections
of
her
,
and
prevent
any
such
renewal
of
inquiry
into
the
past
as
would
lead
to
a
discovery
that
she
was
still
a
creature
of
the
present
.
To
satisfy
his
conscience
somewhat
Henchard
repeated
to
himself
that
the
lie
which
had
retained
for
him
the
coveted
treasure
had
not
been
deliberately
told
to
that
end
,
but
had
come
from
him
as
the
last
defiant
word
of
a
despair
which
took
no
thought
of
consequences
.
Furthermore
he
pleaded
within
himself
that
no
Newson
could
love
her
as
he
loved
her
,
or
would
tend
her
to
his
life
's
extremity
as
he
was
prepared
to
do
cheerfully
.
Thus
they
lived
on
in
the
shop
overlooking
the
churchyard
,
and
nothing
occurred
to
mark
their
days
during
the
remainder
of
the
year
.
Going
out
but
seldom
,
and
never
on
a
marketday
,
they
saw
Donald
Farfrae
only
at
rarest
intervals
,
and
then
mostly
as
a
transitory
object
in
the
distance
of
the
street
.
Yet
he
was
pursuing
his
ordinary
avocations
,
smiling
mechanically
to
fellow-tradesmen
,
and
arguing
with
bargainers
—
as
bereaved
men
do
after
a
while
.
Time
,
“
in
his
own
grey
style
,
”
taught
Farfrae
how
to
estimate
his
experience
of
Lucetta
—
all
that
it
was
,
and
all
that
it
was
not
.
There
are
men
whose
hearts
insist
upon
a
dogged
fidelity
to
some
image
or
cause
thrown
by
chance
into
their
keeping
,
long
after
their
judgment
has
pronounced
it
no
rarity
—
even
the
reverse
,
indeed
,
and
without
them
the
band
of
the
worthy
is
incomplete
.
But
Farfrae
was
not
of
those
.
It
was
inevitable
that
the
insight
,
briskness
,
and
rapidity
of
his
nature
should
take
him
out
of
the
dead
blank
which
his
loss
threw
about
him
.
He
could
not
but
perceive
that
by
the
death
of
Lucetta
he
had
exchanged
a
looming
misery
for
a
simple
sorrow
.
After
that
revelation
of
her
history
,
which
must
have
come
sooner
or
later
in
any
circumstances
,
it
was
hard
to
believe
that
life
with
her
would
have
been
productive
of
further
happiness
.
But
as
a
memory
,
nothwithstanding
such
conditions
,
Lucetta
's
image
still
lived
on
with
him
,
her
weaknesses
provoking
only
the
gentlest
criticism
,
and
her
sufferings
attenuating
wrath
at
her
concealments
to
a
momentary
spark
now
and
then
.
By
the
end
of
a
year
Henchard
's
little
retail
seed
and
grain
shop
,
not
much
larger
than
a
cupboard
,
had
developed
its
trade
considerably
,
and
the
stepfather
and
daughter
enjoyed
much
serenity
in
the
pleasant
,
sunny
corner
in
which
it
stood
.
The
quiet
bearing
of
one
who
brimmed
with
an
inner
activity
characterized
Elizabeth-Jane
at
this
period
.
She
took
long
walks
into
the
country
two
or
three
times
a
week
,
mostly
in
the
direction
of
Budmouth
.
Sometimes
it
occurred
to
him
that
when
she
sat
with
him
in
the
evening
after
those
invigorating
walks
she
was
civil
rather
than
affectionate
;
and
he
was
troubled
;
one
more
bitter
regret
being
added
to
those
he
had
already
experienced
at
having
,
by
his
severe
censorship
,
frozen
up
her
precious
affection
when
originally
offered
.
She
had
her
own
way
in
everything
now
.
In
going
and
coming
,
in
buying
and
selling
,
her
word
was
law
.
“
You
have
got
a
new
muff
,
Elizabeth
,
”
he
said
to
her
one
day
quite
humbly
.
“
Yes
;
I
bought
it
,
”
she
said
.
He
looked
at
it
again
as
it
lay
on
an
adjoining
table
.
The
fur
was
of
a
glossy
brown
,
and
,
though
he
was
no
judge
of
such
articles
,
he
thought
it
seemed
an
unusually
good
one
for
her
to
possess
.
“
Rather
costly
,
I
suppose
,
my
dear
,
was
it
not
?
”
he
hazarded
.
“
It
was
rather
above
my
figure
,
”
she
said
quietly
.
“
But
it
is
not
showy
.
”
“
O
no
,
”
said
the
netted
lion
,
anxious
not
to
pique
her
in
the
least
.
Some
little
time
after
,
when
the
year
had
advanced
into
another
spring
,
he
paused
opposite
her
empty
bedroom
in
passing
it
.
He
thought
of
the
time
when
she
had
cleared
out
of
his
then
large
and
handsome
house
in
Corn
Street
,
in
consequence
of
his
dislike
and
harshness
,
and
he
had
looked
into
her
chamber
in
just
the
same
way
.
The
present
room
was
much
humbler
,
but
what
struck
him
about
it
was
the
abundance
of
books
lying
everywhere
.
Their
number
and
quality
made
the
meagre
furniture
that
supported
them
seem
absurdly
disproportionate
.
Some
,
indeed
many
,
must
have
been
recently
purchased
;
and
though
he
encouraged
her
to
buy
in
reason
,
he
had
no
notion
that
she
indulged
her
innate
passion
so
extensively
in
proportion
to
the
narrowness
of
their
income
.
For
the
first
time
he
felt
a
little
hurt
by
what
he
thought
her
extravagance
,
and
resolved
to
say
a
word
to
her
about
it
.
But
,
before
he
had
found
the
courage
to
speak
an
event
happened
which
set
his
thoughts
flying
in
quite
another
direction
.
The
busy
time
of
the
seed
trade
was
over
,
and
the
quiet
weeks
that
preceded
the
hay-season
had
come
—
setting
their
special
stamp
upon
Casterbridge
by
thronging
the
market
with
wood
rakes
,
new
waggons
in
yellow
,
green
,
and
red
,
formidable
scythes
,
and
pitchforks
of
prong
sufficient
to
skewer
up
a
small
family
.
Henchard
,
contrary
to
his
wont
,
went
out
one
Saturday
afternoon
towards
the
market-place
from
a
curious
feeling
that
he
would
like
to
pass
a
few
minutes
on
the
spot
of
his
former
triumphs
.
Farfrae
,
to
whom
he
was
still
a
comparative
stranger
,
stood
a
few
steps
below
the
Corn
Exchange
door
—
a
usual
position
with
him
at
this
hour
—
and
he
appeared
lost
in
thought
about
something
he
was
looking
at
a
little
way
off
.
Henchard
's
eyes
followed
Farfrae
's
,
and
he
saw
that
the
object
of
his
gaze
was
no
sample-showing
farmer
,
but
his
own
stepdaughter
,
who
had
just
come
out
of
a
shop
over
the
way
.
She
,
on
her
part
,
was
quite
unconscious
of
his
attention
,
and
in
this
was
less
fortunate
than
those
young
women
whose
very
plumes
,
like
those
of
Juno
's
bird
,
are
set
with
Argus
eyes
whenever
possible
admirers
are
within
ken
.
Henchard
went
away
,
thinking
that
perhaps
there
was
nothing
significant
after
all
in
Farfrae
's
look
at
Elizabeth-Jane
at
that
juncture
.
Yet
he
could
not
forget
that
the
Scotchman
had
once
shown
a
tender
interest
in
her
,
of
a
fleeting
kind
.
Thereupon
promptly
came
to
the
surface
that
idiosyncrasy
of
Henchard
's
which
had
ruled
his
courses
from
the
beginning
and
had
mainly
made
him
what
he
was
.
Instead
of
thinking
that
a
union
between
his
cherished
step-daughter
and
the
energetic
thriving
Donald
was
a
thing
to
be
desired
for
her
good
and
his
own
,
he
hated
the
very
possibility
.
Time
had
been
when
such
instinctive
opposition
would
have
taken
shape
in
action
.
But
he
was
not
now
the
Henchard
of
former
days
.
He
schooled
himself
to
accept
her
will
,
in
this
as
in
other
matters
,
as
absolute
and
unquestionable
.
He
dreaded
lest
an
antagonistic
word
should
lose
for
him
such
regard
as
he
had
regained
from
her
by
his
devotion
,
feeling
that
to
retain
this
under
separation
was
better
than
to
incur
her
dislike
by
keeping
her
near
.
But
the
mere
thought
of
such
separation
fevered
his
spirit
much
,
and
in
the
evening
he
said
,
with
the
stillness
of
suspense
:
“
Have
you
seen
Mr.
Farfrae
to-day
,
Elizabeth
?
”
Elizabeth-Jane
started
at
the
question
;
and
it
was
with
some
confusion
that
she
replied
“
No.
”
“
Oh
—
that
's
right
—
that
's
right
...
.It
was
only
that
I
saw
him
in
the
street
when
we
both
were
there
.
”
He
was
wondering
if
her
embarrassment
justified
him
in
a
new
suspicion
—
that
the
long
walks
which
she
had
latterly
been
taking
,
that
the
new
books
which
had
so
surprised
him
,
had
anything
to
do
with
the
young
man
.
She
did
not
enlighten
him
,
and
lest
silence
should
allow
her
to
shape
thoughts
unfavourable
to
their
present
friendly
relations
,
he
diverted
the
discourse
into
another
channel
.
Henchard
was
,
by
original
make
,
the
last
man
to
act
stealthily
,
for
good
or
for
evil
.
But
the
solicitus
timor
of
his
love
—
the
dependence
upon
Elizabeth
's
regard
into
which
he
had
declined
(
or
,
in
another
sense
,
to
which
he
had
advanced
)
—
denaturalized
him
.
He
would
often
weigh
and
consider
for
hours
together
the
meaning
of
such
and
such
a
deed
or
phrase
of
hers
,
when
a
blunt
settling
question
would
formerly
have
been
his
first
instinct
.
And
now
,
uneasy
at
the
thought
of
a
passion
for
Farfrae
which
should
entirely
displace
her
mild
filial
sympathy
with
himself
,
he
observed
her
going
and
coming
more
narrowly
.
There
was
nothing
secret
in
Elizabeth-Jane
's
movements
beyond
what
habitual
reserve
induced
,
and
it
may
at
once
be
owned
on
her
account
that
she
was
guilty
of
occasional
conversations
with
Donald
when
they
chanced
to
meet
.
Whatever
the
origin
of
her
walks
on
the
Budmouth
Road
,
her
return
from
those
walks
was
often
coincident
with
Farfrae
's
emergence
from
Corn
Street
for
a
twenty
minutes
'
blow
on
that
rather
windy
highway
—
just
to
winnow
the
seeds
and
chaff
out
of
him
before
sitting
down
to
tea
,
as
he
said
.
Henchard
became
aware
of
this
by
going
to
the
Ring
,
and
,
screened
by
its
enclosure
,
keeping
his
eye
upon
the
road
till
he
saw
them
meet
.
His
face
assumed
an
expression
of
extreme
anguish
.
“
Of
her
,
too
,
he
means
to
rob
me
!
”
he
whispered
.
“
But
he
has
the
right
.
I
do
not
wish
to
interfere
.
”
The
meeting
,
in
truth
,
was
of
a
very
innocent
kind
,
and
matters
were
by
no
means
so
far
advanced
between
the
young
people
as
Henchard
's
jealous
grief
inferred
.
Could
he
have
heard
such
conversation
as
passed
he
would
have
been
enlightened
thus
much
:
—
HE
.
—
“
You
like
walking
this
way
,
Miss
Henchard
—
and
is
it
not
so
?
”
(
uttered
in
his
undulatory
accents
,
and
with
an
appraising
,
pondering
gaze
at
her
)
.
SHE
.
—
“
O
yes
.
I
have
chosen
this
road
latterly
.
I
have
no
great
reason
for
it
.
”
HE
.
—
“
But
that
may
make
a
reason
for
others
.
”
SHE
(
reddening
)
.
—
“
I
do
n't
know
that
.
My
reason
,
however
,
such
as
it
is
,
is
that
I
wish
to
get
a
glimpse
of
the
sea
every
day
.
”
HE
.
—
“
Is
it
a
secret
why
?
”
SHE
(
reluctantly
)
.
—
“
Yes
.
”
HE
(
with
the
pathos
of
one
of
his
native
ballads
)
.
—
“
Ah
,
I
doubt
there
will
be
any
good
in
secrets
!
A
secret
cast
a
deep
shadow
over
my
life
.
And
well
you
know
what
it
was
.
”
Elizabeth
admitted
that
she
did
,
but
she
refrained
from
confessing
why
the
sea
attracted
her
.
She
could
not
herself
account
for
it
fully
,
not
knowing
the
secret
possibly
to
be
that
,
in
addition
to
early
marine
associations
,
her
blood
was
a
sailor
's
.
“
Thank
you
for
those
new
books
,
Mr.
Farfrae
,
”
she
added
shyly
.
“
I
wonder
if
I
ought
to
accept
so
many
!
”
“
Ay
!
why
not
?
It
gives
me
more
pleasure
to
get
them
for
you
,
than
you
to
have
them
!
”
“
It
cannot
.
”
They
proceeded
along
the
road
together
till
they
reached
the
town
,
and
their
paths
diverged
.
Henchard
vowed
that
he
would
leave
them
to
their
own
devices
,
put
nothing
in
the
way
of
their
courses
,
whatever
they
might
mean
.
If
he
were
doomed
to
be
bereft
of
her
,
so
it
must
be
.
In
the
situation
which
their
marriage
would
create
he
could
see
no
locus
standi
for
himself
at
all
.
Farfrae
would
never
recognize
him
more
than
superciliously
;
his
poverty
ensured
that
,
no
less
than
his
past
conduct
.
And
so
Elizabeth
would
grow
to
be
a
stranger
to
him
,
and
the
end
of
his
life
would
be
friendless
solitude
.
With
such
a
possibility
impending
he
could
not
help
watchfulness
.
Indeed
,
within
certain
lines
,
he
had
the
right
to
keep
an
eye
upon
her
as
his
charge
.
The
meetings
seemed
to
become
matters
of
course
with
them
on
special
days
of
the
week
.
At
last
full
proof
was
given
him
.
He
was
standing
behind
a
wall
close
to
the
place
at
which
Farfrae
encountered
her
.
He
heard
the
young
man
address
her
as
“
Dearest
Elizabeth-Jane
,
”
and
then
kiss
her
,
the
girl
looking
quickly
round
to
assure
herself
that
nobody
was
near
.
When
they
were
gone
their
way
Henchard
came
out
from
the
wall
,
and
mournfully
followed
them
to
Casterbridge
.
The
chief
looming
trouble
in
this
engagement
had
not
decreased
.
Both
Farfrae
and
Elizabeth-Jane
,
unlike
the
rest
of
the
people
,
must
suppose
Elizabeth
to
be
his
actual
daughter
,
from
his
own
assertion
while
he
himself
had
the
same
belief
;
and
though
Farfrae
must
have
so
far
forgiven
him
as
to
have
no
objection
to
own
him
as
a
father-in-law
,
intimate
they
could
never
be
.
Thus
would
the
girl
,
who
was
his
only
friend
,
be
withdrawn
from
him
by
degrees
through
her
husband
's
influence
,
and
learn
to
despise
him
.
Had
she
lost
her
heart
to
any
other
man
in
the
world
than
the
one
he
had
rivalled
,
cursed
,
wrestled
with
for
life
in
days
before
his
spirit
was
broken
,
Henchard
would
have
said
,
“
I
am
content
.
”
But
content
with
the
prospect
as
now
depicted
was
hard
to
acquire
.
There
is
an
outer
chamber
of
the
brain
in
which
thoughts
unowned
,
unsolicited
,
and
of
noxious
kind
,
are
sometimes
allowed
to
wander
for
a
moment
prior
to
being
sent
off
whence
they
came
.
One
of
these
thoughts
sailed
into
Henchard
's
ken
now
.
Suppose
he
were
to
communicate
to
Farfrae
the
fact
that
his
betrothed
was
not
the
child
of
Michael
Henchard
at
all
—
legally
,
nobody
's
child
;
how
would
that
correct
and
leading
townsman
receive
the
information
?
He
might
possibly
forsake
Elizabeth-Jane
,
and
then
she
would
be
her
step-sire
's
own
again
.
Henchard
shuddered
,
and
exclaimed
,
“
God
forbid
such
a
thing
!
Why
should
I
still
be
subject
to
these
visitations
of
the
devil
,
when
I
try
so
hard
to
keep
him
away
?
”
43.
What
Henchard
saw
thus
early
was
,
naturally
enough
,
seen
at
a
little
later
date
by
other
people
.
That
Mr.
Farfrae
“
walked
with
that
bankrupt
Henchard
's
step-daughter
,
of
all
women
,
”
became
a
common
topic
in
the
town
,
the
simple
perambulating
term
being
used
hereabout
to
signify
a
wooing
;
and
the
nineteen
superior
young
ladies
of
Casterbridge
,
who
had
each
looked
upon
herself
as
the
only
woman
capable
of
making
the
merchant
Councilman
happy
,
indignantly
left
off
going
to
the
church
Farfrae
attended
,
left
off
conscious
mannerisms
,
left
off
putting
him
in
their
prayers
at
night
amongst
their
blood
relations
;
in
short
,
reverted
to
their
normal
courses
.
Perhaps
the
only
inhabitants
of
the
town
to
whom
this
looming
choice
of
the
Scotchman
's
gave
unmixed
satisfaction
were
the
members
of
the
philosophic
party
,
which
included
Longways
,
Christopher
Coney
,
Billy
Wills
,
Mr.
Buzzford
,
and
the
like
.
The
Three
Mariners
having
been
,
years
before
,
the
house
in
which
they
had
witnessed
the
young
man
and
woman
's
first
and
humble
appearance
on
the
Casterbridge
stage
,
they
took
a
kindly
interest
in
their
career
,
not
unconnected
,
perhaps
,
with
visions
of
festive
treatment
at
their
hands
hereafter
.
Mrs.
Stannidge
,
having
rolled
into
the
large
parlour
one
evening
and
said
that
it
was
a
wonder
such
a
man
as
Mr.
Farfrae
,
“
a
pillow
of
the
town
,
”
who
might
have
chosen
one
of
the
daughters
of
the
professional
men
or
private
residents
,
should
stoop
so
low
,
Coney
ventured
to
disagree
with
her
.
“
No
,
ma'am
,
no
wonder
at
all
.
'
Tis
she
that
's
a
stooping
to
he
—
that
's
my
opinion
.
A
widow
man
—
whose
first
wife
was
no
credit
to
him
—
what
is
it
for
a
young
perusing
woman
that
's
her
own
mistress
and
well
liked
?
But
as
a
neat
patching
up
of
things
I
see
much
good
in
it
.
When
a
man
have
put
up
a
tomb
of
best
marble-stone
to
the
other
one
,
as
he
've
done
,
and
weeped
his
fill
,
and
thought
it
all
over
,
and
said
to
hisself
,
'
T'other
took
me
in
,
I
knowed
this
one
first
;
she
's
a
sensible
piece
for
a
partner
,
and
there
's
no
faithful
woman
in
high
life
now
'
;
—
well
,
he
may
do
worse
than
not
to
take
her
,
if
she
's
tender-inclined
.
”
Thus
they
talked
at
the
Mariners
.
But
we
must
guard
against
a
too
liberal
use
of
the
conventional
declaration
that
a
great
sensation
was
caused
by
the
prospective
event
,
that
all
the
gossips
'
tongues
were
set
wagging
thereby
,
and
so-on
,
even
though
such
a
declaration
might
lend
some
eclat
to
the
career
of
our
poor
only
heroine
.
When
all
has
been
said
about
busy
rumourers
,
a
superficial
and
temporary
thing
is
the
interest
of
anybody
in
affairs
which
do
not
directly
touch
them
.
It
would
be
a
truer
representation
to
say
that
Casterbridge
(
ever
excepting
the
nineteen
young
ladies
)
looked
up
for
a
moment
at
the
news
,
and
withdrawing
its
attention
,
went
on
labouring
and
victualling
,
bringing
up
its
children
,
and
burying
its
dead
,
without
caring
a
tittle
for
Farfrae
's
domestic
plans
.
Not
a
hint
of
the
matter
was
thrown
out
to
her
stepfather
by
Elizabeth
herself
or
by
Farfrae
either
.
Reasoning
on
the
cause
of
their
reticence
he
concluded
that
,
estimating
him
by
his
past
,
the
throbbing
pair
were
afraid
to
broach
the
subject
,
and
looked
upon
him
as
an
irksome
obstacle
whom
they
would
be
heartily
glad
to
get
out
of
the
way
.
Embittered
as
he
was
against
society
,
this
moody
view
of
himself
took
deeper
and
deeper
hold
of
Henchard
,
till
the
daily
necessity
of
facing
mankind
,
and
of
them
particularly
Elizabeth-Jane
,
became
well-nigh
more
than
he
could
endure
.
His
health
declined
;
he
became
morbidly
sensitive
.
He
wished
he
could
escape
those
who
did
not
want
him
,
and
hide
his
head
for
ever
.
But
what
if
he
were
mistaken
in
his
views
,
and
there
were
no
necessity
that
his
own
absolute
separation
from
her
should
be
involved
in
the
incident
of
her
marriage
?
He
proceeded
to
draw
a
picture
of
the
alternative
—
himself
living
like
a
fangless
lion
about
the
back
rooms
of
a
house
in
which
his
stepdaughter
was
mistress
,
an
inoffensive
old
man
,
tenderly
smiled
on
by
Elizabeth
,
and
good-naturedly
tolerated
by
her
husband
.
It
was
terrible
to
his
pride
to
think
of
descending
so
low
;
and
yet
,
for
the
girl
's
sake
he
might
put
up
with
anything
;
even
from
Farfrae
;
even
snubbings
and
masterful
tongue-scourgings
.
The
privilege
of
being
in
the
house
she
occupied
would
almost
outweigh
the
personal
humiliation
.
Whether
this
were
a
dim
possibility
or
the
reverse
,
the
courtship
—
which
it
evidently
now
was
—
had
an
absorbing
interest
for
him
.
Elizabeth
,
as
has
been
said
,
often
took
her
walks
on
the
Budmouth
Road
,
and
Farfrae
as
often
made
it
convenient
to
create
an
accidental
meeting
with
her
there
.
Two
miles
out
,
a
quarter
of
a
mile
from
the
highway
,
was
the
prehistoric
fort
called
Mai
Dun
,
of
huge
dimensions
and
many
ramparts
,
within
or
upon
whose
enclosures
a
human
being
as
seen
from
the
road
,
was
but
an
insignificant
speck
.
Hitherward
Henchard
often
resorted
,
glass
in
hand
,
and
scanned
the
hedgeless
Via
—
for
it
was
the
original
track
laid
out
by
the
legions
of
the
Empire
—
to
a
distance
of
two
or
three
miles
,
his
object
being
to
read
the
progress
of
affairs
between
Farfrae
and
his
charmer
.
One
day
Henchard
was
at
this
spot
when
a
masculine
figure
came
along
the
road
from
Budmouth
,
and
lingered
.
Applying
his
telescope
to
his
eye
Henchard
expected
that
Farfrae
's
features
would
be
disclosed
as
usual
.
But
the
lenses
revealed
that
today
the
man
was
not
Elizabeth-Jane
's
lover
.
It
was
one
clothed
as
a
merchant
captain
,
and
as
he
turned
in
the
scrutiny
of
the
road
he
revealed
his
face
.
Henchard
lived
a
lifetime
the
moment
he
saw
it
.
The
face
was
Newson
's
.
Henchard
dropped
the
glass
,
and
for
some
seconds
made
no
other
movement
.
Newson
waited
,
and
Henchard
waited
—
if
that
could
be
called
a
waiting
which
was
a
transfixture
.
But
Elizabeth-Jane
did
not
come
.
Something
or
other
had
caused
her
to
neglect
her
customary
walk
that
day
.
Perhaps
Farfrae
and
she
had
chosen
another
road
for
variety
's
sake
.
But
what
did
that
amount
to
?
She
might
be
here
to-morrow
,
and
in
any
case
Newson
,
if
bent
on
a
private
meeting
and
a
revelation
of
the
truth
to
her
,
would
soon
make
his
opportunity
.
Then
he
would
tell
her
not
only
of
his
paternity
,
but
of
the
ruse
by
which
he
had
been
once
sent
away
.
Elizabeth
's
strict
nature
would
cause
her
for
the
first
time
to
despise
her
stepfather
,
would
root
out
his
image
as
that
of
an
arch-deceiver
,
and
Newson
would
reign
in
her
heart
in
his
stead
.
But
Newson
did
not
see
anything
of
her
that
morning
.
Having
stood
still
awhile
he
at
last
retraced
his
steps
,
and
Henchard
felt
like
a
condemned
man
who
has
a
few
hours
'
respite
.
When
he
reached
his
own
house
he
found
her
there
.
“
O
father
!
”
she
said
innocently
.
“
I
have
had
a
letter
—
a
strange
one
—
not
signed
.
Somebody
has
asked
me
to
meet
him
,
either
on
the
Budmouth
Road
at
noon
today
,
or
in
the
evening
at
Mr.
Farfrae
's
.
He
says
he
came
to
see
me
some
time
ago
,
but
a
trick
was
played
him
,
so
that
he
did
not
see
me
.
I
do
n't
understand
it
;
but
between
you
and
me
I
think
Donald
is
at
the
bottom
of
the
mystery
,
and
that
it
is
a
relation
of
his
who
wants
to
pass
an
opinion
on
his
choice
.
But
I
did
not
like
to
go
till
I
had
seen
you
.
Shall
I
go
?
”
Henchard
replied
heavily
,
“
Yes
;
go
.
”
The
question
of
his
remaining
in
Casterbridge
was
for
ever
disposed
of
by
this
closing
in
of
Newson
on
the
scene
.
Henchard
was
not
the
man
to
stand
the
certainty
of
condemnation
on
a
matter
so
near
his
heart
.
And
being
an
old
hand
at
bearing
anguish
in
silence
,
and
haughty
withal
,
he
resolved
to
make
as
light
as
he
could
of
his
intentions
,
while
immediately
taking
his
measures
.
He
surprised
the
young
woman
whom
he
had
looked
upon
as
his
all
in
this
world
by
saying
to
her
,
as
if
he
did
not
care
about
her
more
:
“
I
am
going
to
leave
Casterbridge
,
Elizabeth-Jane
.
”
“
Leave
Casterbridge
!
”
she
cried
,
“
and
leave
—
me
?
”
“
Yes
,
this
little
shop
can
be
managed
by
you
alone
as
well
as
by
us
both
;
I
do
n't
care
about
shops
and
streets
and
folk
—
I
would
rather
get
into
the
country
by
myself
,
out
of
sight
,
and
follow
my
own
ways
,
and
leave
you
to
yours
.
”
She
looked
down
and
her
tears
fell
silently
.
It
seemed
to
her
that
this
resolve
of
his
had
come
on
account
of
her
attachment
and
its
probable
result
.
She
showed
her
devotion
to
Farfrae
,
however
,
by
mastering
her
emotion
and
speaking
out
.
“
I
am
sorry
you
have
decided
on
this
,
”
she
said
with
difficult
firmness
.
“
For
I
thought
it
probable
—
possible
—
that
I
might
marry
Mr.
Farfrae
some
little
time
hence
,
and
I
did
not
know
that
you
disapproved
of
the
step
!
”
“
I
approve
of
anything
you
desire
to
do
,
Izzy
,
”
said
Henchard
huskily
.
“
If
I
did
not
approve
it
would
be
no
matter
!
I
wish
to
go
away
.
My
presence
might
make
things
awkward
in
the
future
,
and
,
in
short
,
it
is
best
that
I
go
.
”
Nothing
that
her
affection
could
urge
would
induce
him
to
reconsider
his
determination
;
for
she
could
not
urge
what
she
did
not
know
—
that
when
she
should
learn
he
was
not
related
to
her
other
than
as
a
step-parent
she
would
refrain
from
despising
him
,
and
that
when
she
knew
what
he
had
done
to
keep
her
in
ignorance
she
would
refrain
from
hating
him
.
It
was
his
conviction
that
she
would
not
so
refrain
;
and
there
existed
as
yet
neither
word
nor
event
which
could
argue
it
away
.
“
Then
,
”
she
said
at
last
,
“
you
will
not
be
able
to
come
to
my
wedding
;
and
that
is
not
as
it
ought
to
be
.
”
“
I
do
n't
want
to
see
it
—
I
do
n't
want
to
see
it
!
”
he
exclaimed
;
adding
more
softly
,
“
but
think
of
me
sometimes
in
your
future
life
—
you
'll
do
that
,
Izzy
?
—
think
of
me
when
you
are
living
as
the
wife
of
the
richest
,
the
foremost
man
in
the
town
,
and
do
n't
let
my
sins
,
WHEN
YOU
KNOW
THEM
ALL
,
cause
'
ee
to
quite
forget
that
though
I
loved
'
ee
late
I
loved
'
ee
well
.
”
“
It
is
because
of
Donald
!
”
she
sobbed
.
“
I
do
n't
forbid
you
to
marry
him
,
”
said
Henchard
.
“
Promise
not
to
quite
forget
me
when
—
—
”
He
meant
when
Newson
should
come
.
She
promised
mechanically
,
in
her
agitation
;
and
the
same
evening
at
dusk
Henchard
left
the
