THE
MAYOR
OF
CASTERBRIDGE
by
Thomas
Hardy
1.
One
evening
of
late
summer
,
before
the
nineteenth
century
had
reached
one-third
of
its
span
,
a
young
man
and
woman
,
the
latter
carrying
a
child
,
were
approaching
the
large
village
of
Weydon-Priors
,
in
Upper
Wessex
,
on
foot
.
They
were
plainly
but
not
ill
clad
,
though
the
thick
hoar
of
dust
which
had
accumulated
on
their
shoes
and
garments
from
an
obviously
long
journey
lent
a
disadvantageous
shabbiness
to
their
appearance
just
now
.
The
man
was
of
fine
figure
,
swarthy
,
and
stern
in
aspect
;
and
he
showed
in
profile
a
facial
angle
so
slightly
inclined
as
to
be
almost
perpendicular
.
He
wore
a
short
jacket
of
brown
corduroy
,
newer
than
the
remainder
of
his
suit
,
which
was
a
fustian
waistcoat
with
white
horn
buttons
,
breeches
of
the
same
,
tanned
leggings
,
and
a
straw
hat
overlaid
with
black
glazed
canvas
.
At
his
back
he
carried
by
a
looped
strap
a
rush
basket
,
from
which
protruded
at
one
end
the
crutch
of
a
hay-knife
,
a
wimble
for
hay-bonds
being
also
visible
in
the
aperture
.
His
measured
,
springless
walk
was
the
walk
of
the
skilled
countryman
as
distinct
from
the
desultory
shamble
of
the
general
labourer
;
while
in
the
turn
and
plant
of
each
foot
there
was
,
further
,
a
dogged
and
cynical
indifference
personal
to
himself
,
showing
its
presence
even
in
the
regularly
interchanging
fustian
folds
,
now
in
the
left
leg
,
now
in
the
right
,
as
he
paced
along
.
What
was
really
peculiar
,
however
,
in
this
couple
's
progress
,
and
would
have
attracted
the
attention
of
any
casual
observer
otherwise
disposed
to
overlook
them
,
was
the
perfect
silence
they
preserved
.
They
walked
side
by
side
in
such
a
way
as
to
suggest
afar
off
the
low
,
easy
,
confidential
chat
of
people
full
of
reciprocity
;
but
on
closer
view
it
could
be
discerned
that
the
man
was
reading
,
or
pretending
to
read
,
a
ballad
sheet
which
he
kept
before
his
eyes
with
some
difficulty
by
the
hand
that
was
passed
through
the
basket
strap
.
Whether
this
apparent
cause
were
the
real
cause
,
or
whether
it
were
an
assumed
one
to
escape
an
intercourse
that
would
have
been
irksome
to
him
,
nobody
but
himself
could
have
said
precisely
;
but
his
taciturnity
was
unbroken
,
and
the
woman
enjoyed
no
society
whatever
from
his
presence
.
Virtually
she
walked
the
highway
alone
,
save
for
the
child
she
bore
.
Sometimes
the
man
's
bent
elbow
almost
touched
her
shoulder
,
for
she
kept
as
close
to
his
side
as
was
possible
without
actual
contact
,
but
she
seemed
to
have
no
idea
of
taking
his
arm
,
nor
he
of
offering
it
;
and
far
from
exhibiting
surprise
at
his
ignoring
silence
she
appeared
to
receive
it
as
a
natural
thing
.
If
any
word
at
all
were
uttered
by
the
little
group
,
it
was
an
occasional
whisper
of
the
woman
to
the
child
—
a
tiny
girl
in
short
clothes
and
blue
boots
of
knitted
yarn
—
and
the
murmured
babble
of
the
child
in
reply
.
The
chief
—
almost
the
only
—
attraction
of
the
young
woman
's
face
was
its
mobility
.
When
she
looked
down
sideways
to
the
girl
she
became
pretty
,
and
even
handsome
,
particularly
that
in
the
action
her
features
caught
slantwise
the
rays
of
the
strongly
coloured
sun
,
which
made
transparencies
of
her
eyelids
and
nostrils
and
set
fire
on
her
lips
.
When
she
plodded
on
in
the
shade
of
the
hedge
,
silently
thinking
,
she
had
the
hard
,
half-apathetic
expression
of
one
who
deems
anything
possible
at
the
hands
of
Time
and
Chance
except
,
perhaps
,
fair
play
.
The
first
phase
was
the
work
of
Nature
,
the
second
probably
of
civilization
.
That
the
man
and
woman
were
husband
and
wife
,
and
the
parents
of
the
girl
in
arms
there
could
be
little
doubt
.
No
other
than
such
relationship
would
have
accounted
for
the
atmosphere
of
stale
familiarity
which
the
trio
carried
along
with
them
like
a
nimbus
as
they
moved
down
the
road
.
The
wife
mostly
kept
her
eyes
fixed
ahead
,
though
with
little
interest
—
the
scene
for
that
matter
being
one
that
might
have
been
matched
at
almost
any
spot
in
any
county
in
England
at
this
time
of
the
year
;
a
road
neither
straight
nor
crooked
,
neither
level
nor
hilly
,
bordered
by
hedges
,
trees
,
and
other
vegetation
,
which
had
entered
the
blackened-green
stage
of
colour
that
the
doomed
leaves
pass
through
on
their
way
to
dingy
,
and
yellow
,
and
red
.
The
grassy
margin
of
the
bank
,
and
the
nearest
hedgerow
boughs
,
were
powdered
by
the
dust
that
had
been
stirred
over
them
by
hasty
vehicles
,
the
same
dust
as
it
lay
on
the
road
deadening
their
footfalls
like
a
carpet
;
and
this
,
with
the
aforesaid
total
absence
of
conversation
,
allowed
every
extraneous
sound
to
be
heard
.
For
a
long
time
there
was
none
,
beyond
the
voice
of
a
weak
bird
singing
a
trite
old
evening
song
that
might
doubtless
have
been
heard
on
the
hill
at
the
same
hour
,
and
with
the
self-same
trills
,
quavers
,
and
breves
,
at
any
sunset
of
that
season
for
centuries
untold
.
But
as
they
approached
the
village
sundry
distant
shouts
and
rattles
reached
their
ears
from
some
elevated
spot
in
that
direction
,
as
yet
screened
from
view
by
foliage
.
When
the
outlying
houses
of
Weydon-Priors
could
just
be
described
,
the
family
group
was
met
by
a
turnip-hoer
with
his
hoe
on
his
shoulder
,
and
his
dinner-bag
suspended
from
it
.
The
reader
promptly
glanced
up
.
“
Any
trade
doing
here
?
”
he
asked
phlegmatically
,
designating
the
village
in
his
van
by
a
wave
of
the
broadsheet
.
And
thinking
the
labourer
did
not
understand
him
,
he
added
,
“
Anything
in
the
hay-trussing
line
?
”
The
turnip-hoer
had
already
begun
shaking
his
head
.
“
Why
,
save
the
man
,
what
wisdom
's
in
him
that
'
a
should
come
to
Weydon
for
a
job
of
that
sort
this
time
o
'
year
?
”
“
Then
is
there
any
house
to
let
—
a
little
small
new
cottage
just
a
builded
,
or
such
like
?
”
asked
the
other
.
The
pessimist
still
maintained
a
negative
.
“
Pulling
down
is
more
the
nater
of
Weydon
.
There
were
five
houses
cleared
away
last
year
,
and
three
this
;
and
the
volk
nowhere
to
go
—
no
,
not
so
much
as
a
thatched
hurdle
;
that
's
the
way
o
'
Weydon-Priors
.
”
The
hay-trusser
,
which
he
obviously
was
,
nodded
with
some
superciliousness
.
Looking
towards
the
village
,
he
continued
,
“
There
is
something
going
on
here
,
however
,
is
there
not
?
”
“
Ay
.
'
Tis
Fair
Day
.
Though
what
you
hear
now
is
little
more
than
the
clatter
and
scurry
of
getting
away
the
money
o
'
children
and
fools
,
for
the
real
business
is
done
earlier
than
this
.
I
've
been
working
within
sound
o't
all
day
,
but
I
did
n't
go
up
—
not
I
.
'
Twas
no
business
of
mine
.
”
The
trusser
and
his
family
proceeded
on
their
way
,
and
soon
entered
the
Fair-field
,
which
showed
standing-places
and
pens
where
many
hundreds
of
horses
and
sheep
had
been
exhibited
and
sold
in
the
forenoon
,
but
were
now
in
great
part
taken
away
.
At
present
,
as
their
informant
had
observed
,
but
little
real
business
remained
on
hand
,
the
chief
being
the
sale
by
auction
of
a
few
inferior
animals
,
that
could
not
otherwise
be
disposed
of
,
and
had
been
absolutely
refused
by
the
better
class
of
traders
,
who
came
and
went
early
.
Yet
the
crowd
was
denser
now
than
during
the
morning
hours
,
the
frivolous
contingent
of
visitors
,
including
journeymen
out
for
a
holiday
,
a
stray
soldier
or
two
come
on
furlough
,
village
shopkeepers
,
and
the
like
,
having
latterly
flocked
in
;
persons
whose
activities
found
a
congenial
field
among
the
peep-shows
,
toy-stands
,
waxworks
,
inspired
monsters
,
disinterested
medical
men
who
travelled
for
the
public
good
,
thimble-riggers
,
nick-nack
vendors
,
and
readers
of
Fate
.
Neither
of
our
pedestrians
had
much
heart
for
these
things
,
and
they
looked
around
for
a
refreshment
tent
among
the
many
which
dotted
the
down
.
Two
,
which
stood
nearest
to
them
in
the
ochreous
haze
of
expiring
sunlight
,
seemed
almost
equally
inviting
.
One
was
formed
of
new
,
milk-hued
canvas
,
and
bore
red
flags
on
its
summit
;
it
announced
“
Good
Home-brewed
Beer
,
Ale
,
and
Cyder
.
”
The
other
was
less
new
;
a
little
iron
stove-pipe
came
out
of
it
at
the
back
and
in
front
appeared
the
placard
,
“
Good
Furmity
Sold
Hear
.
”
The
man
mentally
weighed
the
two
inscriptions
and
inclined
to
the
former
tent
.
“
No
—
no
—
the
other
one
,
”
said
the
woman
.
“
I
always
like
furmity
;
and
so
does
Elizabeth-Jane
;
and
so
will
you
.
It
is
nourishing
after
a
long
hard
day
.
”
“
I
've
never
tasted
it
,
”
said
the
man
.
However
,
he
gave
way
to
her
representations
,
and
they
entered
the
furmity
booth
forthwith
.
A
rather
numerous
company
appeared
within
,
seated
at
the
long
narrow
tables
that
ran
down
the
tent
on
each
side
.
At
the
upper
end
stood
a
stove
,
containing
a
charcoal
fire
,
over
which
hung
a
large
three-legged
crock
,
sufficiently
polished
round
the
rim
to
show
that
it
was
made
of
bell-metal
.
A
haggish
creature
of
about
fifty
presided
,
in
a
white
apron
,
which
as
it
threw
an
air
of
respectability
over
her
as
far
as
it
extended
,
was
made
so
wide
as
to
reach
nearly
round
her
waist
.
She
slowly
stirred
the
contents
of
the
pot
.
The
dull
scrape
of
her
large
spoon
was
audible
throughout
the
tent
as
she
thus
kept
from
burning
the
mixture
of
corn
in
the
grain
,
flour
,
milk
,
raisins
,
currants
,
and
what
not
,
that
composed
the
antiquated
slop
in
which
she
dealt
.
Vessels
holding
the
separate
ingredients
stood
on
a
white-clothed
table
of
boards
and
trestles
close
by
.
The
young
man
and
woman
ordered
a
basin
each
of
the
mixture
,
steaming
hot
,
and
sat
down
to
consume
it
at
leisure
.
This
was
very
well
so
far
,
for
furmity
,
as
the
woman
had
said
,
was
nourishing
,
and
as
proper
a
food
as
could
be
obtained
within
the
four
seas
;
though
,
to
those
not
accustomed
to
it
,
the
grains
of
wheat
swollen
as
large
as
lemon-pips
,
which
floated
on
its
surface
,
might
have
a
deterrent
effect
at
first
.
But
there
was
more
in
that
tent
than
met
the
cursory
glance
;
and
the
man
,
with
the
instinct
of
a
perverse
character
,
scented
it
quickly
.
After
a
mincing
attack
on
his
bowl
,
he
watched
the
hag
's
proceedings
from
the
corner
of
his
eye
,
and
saw
the
game
she
played
.
He
winked
to
her
,
and
passed
up
his
basin
in
reply
to
her
nod
;
when
she
took
a
bottle
from
under
the
table
,
slily
measured
out
a
quantity
of
its
contents
,
and
tipped
the
same
into
the
man
's
furmity
.
The
liquor
poured
in
was
rum
.
The
man
as
slily
sent
back
money
in
payment
.
He
found
the
concoction
,
thus
strongly
laced
,
much
more
to
his
satisfaction
than
it
had
been
in
its
natural
state
.
His
wife
had
observed
the
proceeding
with
much
uneasiness
;
but
he
persuaded
her
to
have
hers
laced
also
,
and
she
agreed
to
a
milder
allowance
after
some
misgiving
.
The
man
finished
his
basin
,
and
called
for
another
,
the
rum
being
signalled
for
in
yet
stronger
proportion
.
The
effect
of
it
was
soon
apparent
in
his
manner
,
and
his
wife
but
too
sadly
perceived
that
in
strenuously
steering
off
the
rocks
of
the
licensed
liquor-tent
she
had
only
got
into
maelstrom
depths
here
amongst
the
smugglers
.
The
child
began
to
prattle
impatiently
,
and
the
wife
more
than
once
said
to
her
husband
,
“
Michael
,
how
about
our
lodging
?
You
know
we
may
have
trouble
in
getting
it
if
we
do
n't
go
soon
.
”
But
he
turned
a
deaf
ear
to
those
bird-like
chirpings
.
He
talked
loud
to
the
company
.
The
child
's
black
eyes
,
after
slow
,
round
,
ruminating
gazes
at
the
candles
when
they
were
lighted
,
fell
together
;
then
they
opened
,
then
shut
again
,
and
she
slept
.
At
the
end
of
the
first
basin
the
man
had
risen
to
serenity
;
at
the
second
he
was
jovial
;
at
the
third
,
argumentative
,
at
the
fourth
,
the
qualities
signified
by
the
shape
of
his
face
,
the
occasional
clench
of
his
mouth
,
and
the
fiery
spark
of
his
dark
eye
,
began
to
tell
in
his
conduct
;
he
was
overbearing
—
even
brilliantly
quarrelsome
.
The
conversation
took
a
high
turn
,
as
it
often
does
on
such
occasions
.
The
ruin
of
good
men
by
bad
wives
,
and
,
more
particularly
,
the
frustration
of
many
a
promising
youth
's
high
aims
and
hopes
and
the
extinction
of
his
energies
by
an
early
imprudent
marriage
,
was
the
theme
.
“
I
did
for
myself
that
way
thoroughly
,
”
said
the
trusser
with
a
contemplative
bitterness
that
was
well-night
resentful
.
“
I
married
at
eighteen
,
like
the
fool
that
I
was
;
and
this
is
the
consequence
o't
.
”
He
pointed
at
himself
and
family
with
a
wave
of
the
hand
intended
to
bring
out
the
penuriousness
of
the
exhibition
.
The
young
woman
his
wife
,
who
seemed
accustomed
to
such
remarks
,
acted
as
if
she
did
not
hear
them
,
and
continued
her
intermittent
private
words
of
tender
trifles
to
the
sleeping
and
waking
child
,
who
was
just
big
enough
to
be
placed
for
a
moment
on
the
bench
beside
her
when
she
wished
to
ease
her
arms
.
The
man
continued
—
“
I
have
n't
more
than
fifteen
shillings
in
the
world
,
and
yet
I
am
a
good
experienced
hand
in
my
line
.
I
'd
challenge
England
to
beat
me
in
the
fodder
business
;
and
if
I
were
a
free
man
again
I
'd
be
worth
a
thousand
pound
before
I
'd
done
o't
.
But
a
fellow
never
knows
these
little
things
till
all
chance
of
acting
upon
'
em
is
past
.
”
The
auctioneer
selling
the
old
horses
in
the
field
outside
could
be
heard
saying
,
“
Now
this
is
the
last
lot
—
now
who
'll
take
the
last
lot
for
a
song
?
Shall
I
say
forty
shillings
?
'
Tis
a
very
promising
broodmare
,
a
trifle
over
five
years
old
,
and
nothing
the
matter
with
the
hoss
at
all
,
except
that
she
's
a
little
holler
in
the
back
and
had
her
left
eye
knocked
out
by
the
kick
of
another
,
her
own
sister
,
coming
along
the
road
.
”
“
For
my
part
I
do
n't
see
why
men
who
have
got
wives
and
do
n't
want
'
em
,
should
n't
get
rid
of
'
em
as
these
gipsy
fellows
do
their
old
horses
,
”
said
the
man
in
the
tent
.
“
Why
should
n't
they
put
'
em
up
and
sell
'
em
by
auction
to
men
who
are
in
need
of
such
articles
?
Hey
?
Why
,
begad
,
I
'd
sell
mine
this
minute
if
anybody
would
buy
her
!
”
“
There
's
them
that
would
do
that
,
”
some
of
the
guests
replied
,
looking
at
the
woman
,
who
was
by
no
means
ill-favoured
.
“
True
,
”
said
a
smoking
gentleman
,
whose
coat
had
the
fine
polish
about
the
collar
,
elbows
,
seams
,
and
shoulder-blades
that
long-continued
friction
with
grimy
surfaces
will
produce
,
and
which
is
usually
more
desired
on
furniture
than
on
clothes
.
From
his
appearance
he
had
possibly
been
in
former
time
groom
or
coachman
to
some
neighbouring
county
family
.
“
I
've
had
my
breedings
in
as
good
circles
,
I
may
say
,
as
any
man
,
”
he
added
,
“
and
I
know
true
cultivation
,
or
nobody
do
;
and
I
can
declare
she
's
got
it
—
in
the
bone
,
mind
ye
,
I
say
—
as
much
as
any
female
in
the
fair
—
though
it
may
want
a
little
bringing
out
.
”
Then
,
crossing
his
legs
,
he
resumed
his
pipe
with
a
nicely-adjusted
gaze
at
a
point
in
the
air
.
The
fuddled
young
husband
stared
for
a
few
seconds
at
this
unexpected
praise
of
his
wife
,
half
in
doubt
of
the
wisdom
of
his
own
attitude
towards
the
possessor
of
such
qualities
.
But
he
speedily
lapsed
into
his
former
conviction
,
and
said
harshly
—
“
Well
,
then
,
now
is
your
chance
;
I
am
open
to
an
offer
for
this
gem
o
'
creation
.
”
She
turned
to
her
husband
and
murmured
,
“
Michael
,
you
have
talked
this
nonsense
in
public
places
before
.
A
joke
is
a
joke
,
but
you
may
make
it
once
too
often
,
mind
!
”
“
I
know
I
've
said
it
before
;
I
meant
it
.
All
I
want
is
a
buyer
.
”
At
the
moment
a
swallow
,
one
among
the
last
of
the
season
,
which
had
by
chance
found
its
way
through
an
opening
into
the
upper
part
of
the
tent
,
flew
to
and
from
quick
curves
above
their
heads
,
causing
all
eyes
to
follow
it
absently
.
In
watching
the
bird
till
it
made
its
escape
the
assembled
company
neglected
to
respond
to
the
workman
's
offer
,
and
the
subject
dropped
.
But
a
quarter
of
an
hour
later
the
man
,
who
had
gone
on
lacing
his
furmity
more
and
more
heavily
,
though
he
was
either
so
strong-minded
or
such
an
intrepid
toper
that
he
still
appeared
fairly
sober
,
recurred
to
the
old
strain
,
as
in
a
musical
fantasy
the
instrument
fetches
up
the
original
theme
.
“
Here
—
I
am
waiting
to
know
about
this
offer
of
mine
.
The
woman
is
no
good
to
me
.
Who
'll
have
her
?
”
The
company
had
by
this
time
decidedly
degenerated
,
and
the
renewed
inquiry
was
received
with
a
laugh
of
appreciation
.
The
woman
whispered
;
she
was
imploring
and
anxious
:
“
Come
,
come
,
it
is
getting
dark
,
and
this
nonsense
wo
n't
do
.
If
you
do
n't
come
along
,
I
shall
go
without
you
.
Come
!
”
She
waited
and
waited
;
yet
he
did
not
move
.
In
ten
minutes
the
man
broke
in
upon
the
desultory
conversation
of
the
furmity
drinkers
with
.
“
I
asked
this
question
,
and
nobody
answered
to
'
t
.
Will
any
Jack
Rag
or
Tom
Straw
among
ye
buy
my
goods
?
”
The
woman
's
manner
changed
,
and
her
face
assumed
the
grim
shape
and
colour
of
which
mention
has
been
made
.
“
Mike
,
Mike
,
”
she
said
;
“
this
is
getting
serious
.
O
!
—
too
serious
!
”
“
Will
anybody
buy
her
?
”
said
the
man
.
“
I
wish
somebody
would
,
”
said
she
firmly
.
“
Her
present
owner
is
not
at
all
to
her
liking
!
”
“
Nor
you
to
mine
,
”
said
he
.
“
So
we
are
agreed
about
that
.
Gentlemen
,
you
hear
?
It
's
an
agreement
to
part
.
She
shall
take
the
girl
if
she
wants
to
,
and
go
her
ways
.
I
'll
take
my
tools
,
and
go
my
ways
.
'
Tis
simple
as
Scripture
history
.
Now
then
,
stand
up
,
Susan
,
and
show
yourself
.
”
“
Do
n't
,
my
chiel
,
”
whispered
a
buxom
staylace
dealer
in
voluminous
petticoats
,
who
sat
near
the
woman
;
“
yer
good
man
do
n't
know
what
he
's
saying
.
”
The
woman
,
however
,
did
stand
up
.
“
Now
,
who
's
auctioneer
?
”
cried
the
hay-trusser
.
“
I
be
,
”
promptly
answered
a
short
man
,
with
a
nose
resembling
a
copper
knob
,
a
damp
voice
,
and
eyes
like
button-holes
.
“
Who
'll
make
an
offer
for
this
lady
?
”
The
woman
looked
on
the
ground
,
as
if
she
maintained
her
position
by
a
supreme
effort
of
will
.
“
Five
shillings
,
”
said
someone
,
at
which
there
was
a
laugh
.
“
No
insults
,
”
said
the
husband
.
“
Who
'll
say
a
guinea
?
”
Nobody
answered
;
and
the
female
dealer
in
staylaces
interposed
.
“
Behave
yerself
moral
,
good
man
,
for
Heaven
's
love
!
Ah
,
what
a
cruelty
is
the
poor
soul
married
to
!
Bed
and
board
is
dear
at
some
figures
'
pon
my
'
vation
'
tis
!
”
“
Set
it
higher
,
auctioneer
,
”
said
the
trusser
.
“
Two
guineas
!
”
said
the
auctioneer
;
and
no
one
replied
.
“
If
they
do
n't
take
her
for
that
,
in
ten
seconds
they
'll
have
to
give
more
,
”
said
the
husband
.
“
Very
well
.
Now
auctioneer
,
add
another
.
”
“
Three
guineas
—
going
for
three
guineas
!
”
said
the
rheumy
man
.
“
No
bid
?
”
said
the
husband
.
“
Good
Lord
,
why
she
's
cost
me
fifty
times
the
money
,
if
a
penny
.
Go
on
.
”
“
Four
guineas
!
”
cried
the
auctioneer
.
“
I
'll
tell
ye
what
—
I
wo
n't
sell
her
for
less
than
five
,
”
said
the
husband
,
bringing
down
his
fist
so
that
the
basins
danced
.
“
I
'll
sell
her
for
five
guineas
to
any
man
that
will
pay
me
the
money
,
and
treat
her
well
;
and
he
shall
have
her
for
ever
,
and
never
hear
aught
o
'
me
.
But
she
sha
n't
go
for
less
.
Now
then
—
five
guineas
—
and
she
's
yours
.
Susan
,
you
agree
?
”
She
bowed
her
head
with
absolute
indifference
.
“
Five
guineas
,
”
said
the
auctioneer
,
“
or
she
'll
be
withdrawn
.
Do
anybody
give
it
?
The
last
time
.
Yes
or
no
?
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
a
loud
voice
from
the
doorway
.
All
eyes
were
turned
.
Standing
in
the
triangular
opening
which
formed
the
door
of
the
tent
was
a
sailor
,
who
,
unobserved
by
the
rest
,
had
arrived
there
within
the
last
two
or
three
minutes
.
A
dead
silence
followed
his
affirmation
.
“
You
say
you
do
?
”
asked
the
husband
,
staring
at
him
.
“
I
say
so
,
”
replied
the
sailor
.
“
Saying
is
one
thing
,
and
paying
is
another
.
Where
's
the
money
?
”
The
sailor
hesitated
a
moment
,
looked
anew
at
the
woman
,
came
in
,
unfolded
five
crisp
pieces
of
paper
,
and
threw
them
down
upon
the
tablecloth
.
They
were
Bank-of-England
notes
for
five
pounds
.
Upon
the
face
of
this
he
clinked
down
the
shillings
severally
—
one
,
two
,
three
,
four
,
five
.
The
sight
of
real
money
in
full
amount
,
in
answer
to
a
challenge
for
the
same
till
then
deemed
slightly
hypothetical
had
a
great
effect
upon
the
spectators
.
Their
eyes
became
riveted
upon
the
faces
of
the
chief
actors
,
and
then
upon
the
notes
as
they
lay
,
weighted
by
the
shillings
,
on
the
table
.
Up
to
this
moment
it
could
not
positively
have
been
asserted
that
the
man
,
in
spite
of
his
tantalizing
declaration
,
was
really
in
earnest
.
The
spectators
had
indeed
taken
the
proceedings
throughout
as
a
piece
of
mirthful
irony
carried
to
extremes
;
and
had
assumed
that
,
being
out
of
work
,
he
was
,
as
a
consequence
,
out
of
temper
with
the
world
,
and
society
,
and
his
nearest
kin
.
But
with
the
demand
and
response
of
real
cash
the
jovial
frivolity
of
the
scene
departed
.
A
lurid
colour
seemed
to
fill
the
tent
,
and
change
the
aspect
of
all
therein
.
The
mirth-wrinkles
left
the
listeners
'
faces
,
and
they
waited
with
parting
lips
.
“
Now
,
”
said
the
woman
,
breaking
the
silence
,
so
that
her
low
dry
voice
sounded
quite
loud
,
“
before
you
go
further
,
Michael
,
listen
to
me
.
If
you
touch
that
money
,
I
and
this
girl
go
with
the
man
.
Mind
,
it
is
a
joke
no
longer
.
”
“
A
joke
?
Of
course
it
is
not
a
joke
!
”
shouted
her
husband
,
his
resentment
rising
at
her
suggestion
.
“
I
take
the
money
;
the
sailor
takes
you
.
That
's
plain
enough
.
It
has
been
done
elsewhere
—
and
why
not
here
?
”
“
'
Tis
quite
on
the
understanding
that
the
young
woman
is
willing
,
”
said
the
sailor
blandly
.
“
I
would
n't
hurt
her
feelings
for
the
world
.
”
“
Faith
,
nor
I
,
”
said
her
husband
.
“
But
she
is
willing
,
provided
she
can
have
the
child
.
She
said
so
only
the
other
day
when
I
talked
o't
!
”
“
That
you
swear
?
”
said
the
sailor
to
her
.
“
I
do
,
”
said
she
,
after
glancing
at
her
husband
's
face
and
seeing
no
repentance
there
.
“
Very
well
,
she
shall
have
the
child
,
and
the
bargain
's
complete
,
”
said
the
trusser
.
He
took
the
sailor
's
notes
and
deliberately
folded
them
,
and
put
them
with
the
shillings
in
a
high
remote
pocket
,
with
an
air
of
finality
.
The
sailor
looked
at
the
woman
and
smiled
.
“
Come
along
!
”
he
said
kindly
.
“
The
little
one
too
—
the
more
the
merrier
!
”
She
paused
for
an
instant
,
with
a
close
glance
at
him
.
Then
dropping
her
eyes
again
,
and
saying
nothing
,
she
took
up
the
child
and
followed
him
as
he
made
towards
the
door
.
On
reaching
it
,
she
turned
,
and
pulling
off
her
wedding-ring
,
flung
it
across
the
booth
in
the
hay-trusser
's
face
.
“
Mike
,
”
she
said
,
“
I
've
lived
with
thee
a
couple
of
years
,
and
had
nothing
but
temper
!
Now
I
'm
no
more
to
'
ee
;
I
'll
try
my
luck
elsewhere
.
'
Twill
be
better
for
me
and
Elizabeth-Jane
,
both
.
So
good-bye
!
”
Seizing
the
sailor
's
arm
with
her
right
hand
,
and
mounting
the
little
girl
on
her
left
,
she
went
out
of
the
tent
sobbing
bitterly
.
A
stolid
look
of
concern
filled
the
husband
's
face
,
as
if
,
after
all
,
he
had
not
quite
anticipated
this
ending
;
and
some
of
the
guests
laughed
.
“
Is
she
gone
?
”
he
said
.
“
Faith
,
ay
!
she
's
gone
clane
enough
,
”
said
some
rustics
near
the
door
.
He
rose
and
walked
to
the
entrance
with
the
careful
tread
of
one
conscious
of
his
alcoholic
load
.
Some
others
followed
,
and
they
stood
looking
into
the
twilight
.
The
difference
between
the
peacefulness
of
inferior
nature
and
the
wilful
hostilities
of
mankind
was
very
apparent
at
this
place
.
In
contrast
with
the
harshness
of
the
act
just
ended
within
the
tent
was
the
sight
of
several
horses
crossing
their
necks
and
rubbing
each
other
lovingly
as
they
waited
in
patience
to
be
harnessed
for
the
homeward
journey
.
Outside
the
fair
,
in
the
valleys
and
woods
,
all
was
quiet
.
The
sun
had
recently
set
,
and
the
west
heaven
was
hung
with
rosy
cloud
,
which
seemed
permanent
,
yet
slowly
changed
.
To
watch
it
was
like
looking
at
some
grand
feat
of
stagery
from
a
darkened
auditorium
.
In
presence
of
this
scene
after
the
other
there
was
a
natural
instinct
to
abjure
man
as
the
blot
on
an
otherwise
kindly
universe
;
till
it
was
remembered
that
all
terrestrial
conditions
were
intermittent
,
and
that
mankind
might
some
night
be
innocently
sleeping
when
these
quiet
objects
were
raging
loud
.
“
Where
do
the
sailor
live
?
”
asked
a
spectator
,
when
they
had
vainly
gazed
around
.
“
God
knows
that
,
”
replied
the
man
who
had
seen
high
life
.
“
He
's
without
doubt
a
stranger
here
.
”
“
He
came
in
about
five
minutes
ago
,
”
said
the
furmity
woman
,
joining
the
rest
with
her
hands
on
her
hips
.
“
And
then
'
a
stepped
back
,
and
then
'
a
looked
in
again
.
I
'm
not
a
penny
the
better
for
him
.
”
“
Serves
the
husband
well
be-right
,
”
said
the
staylace
vendor
.
“
A
comely
respectable
body
like
her
—
what
can
a
man
want
more
?
I
glory
in
the
woman
's
sperrit
.
I
'd
ha
'
done
it
myself
—
od
send
if
I
would
n't
,
if
a
husband
had
behaved
so
to
me
!
I
'd
go
,
and
'
a
might
call
,
and
call
,
till
his
keacorn
was
raw
;
but
I
'd
never
come
back
—
no
,
not
till
the
great
trumpet
,
would
I
!
”
“
Well
,
the
woman
will
be
better
off
,
”
said
another
of
a
more
deliberative
turn
.
“
For
seafaring
natures
be
very
good
shelter
for
shorn
lambs
,
and
the
man
do
seem
to
have
plenty
of
money
,
which
is
what
she
's
not
been
used
to
lately
,
by
all
showings
.
”
“
Mark
me
—
I
'll
not
go
after
her
!
”
said
the
trusser
,
returning
doggedly
to
his
seat
.
“
Let
her
go
!
If
she
's
up
to
such
vagaries
she
must
suffer
for
'
em
.
She
'd
no
business
to
take
the
maid
—
'
tis
my
maid
;
and
if
it
were
the
doing
again
she
should
n't
have
her
!
”
Perhaps
from
some
little
sense
of
having
countenanced
an
indefensible
proceeding
,
perhaps
because
it
was
late
,
the
customers
thinned
away
from
the
tent
shortly
after
this
episode
.
The
man
stretched
his
elbows
forward
on
the
table
leant
his
face
upon
his
arms
,
and
soon
began
to
snore
.
The
furmity
seller
decided
to
close
for
the
night
,
and
after
seeing
the
rum-bottles
,
milk
,
corn
,
raisins
,
etc.
,
that
remained
on
hand
,
loaded
into
the
cart
,
came
to
where
the
man
reclined
.
She
shook
him
,
but
could
not
wake
him
.
As
the
tent
was
not
to
be
struck
that
night
,
the
fair
continuing
for
two
or
three
days
,
she
decided
to
let
the
sleeper
,
who
was
obviously
no
tramp
,
stay
where
he
was
,
and
his
basket
with
him
.
Extinguishing
the
last
candle
,
and
lowering
the
flap
of
the
tent
,
she
left
it
,
and
drove
away
.
2.
The
morning
sun
was
streaming
through
the
crevices
of
the
canvas
when
the
man
awoke
.
A
warm
glow
pervaded
the
whole
atmosphere
of
the
marquee
,
and
a
single
big
blue
fly
buzzed
musically
round
and
round
it
.
Besides
the
buzz
of
the
fly
there
was
not
a
sound
.
He
looked
about
—
at
the
benches
—
at
the
table
supported
by
trestles
—
at
his
basket
of
tools
—
at
the
stove
where
the
furmity
had
been
boiled
—
at
the
empty
basins
—
at
some
shed
grains
of
wheat
—
at
the
corks
which
dotted
the
grassy
floor
.
Among
the
odds
and
ends
he
discerned
a
little
shining
object
,
and
picked
it
up
.
It
was
his
wife
's
ring
.
A
confused
picture
of
the
events
of
the
previous
evening
seemed
to
come
back
to
him
,
and
he
thrust
his
hand
into
his
breast-pocket
.
A
rustling
revealed
the
sailor
's
bank-notes
thrust
carelessly
in
.
This
second
verification
of
his
dim
memories
was
enough
;
he
knew
now
they
were
not
dreams
.
He
remained
seated
,
looking
on
the
ground
for
some
time
.
“
I
must
get
out
of
this
as
soon
as
I
can
,
”
he
said
deliberately
at
last
,
with
the
air
of
one
who
could
not
catch
his
thoughts
without
pronouncing
them
.
“
She
's
gone
—
to
be
sure
she
is
—
gone
with
that
sailor
who
bought
her
,
and
little
Elizabeth-Jane
.
We
walked
here
,
and
I
had
the
furmity
,
and
rum
in
it
—
and
sold
her
.
Yes
,
that
's
what
's
happened
and
here
am
I
.
Now
,
what
am
I
to
do
—
am
I
sober
enough
to
walk
,
I
wonder
?
”
He
stood
up
,
found
that
he
was
in
fairly
good
condition
for
progress
,
unencumbered
.
Next
he
shouldered
his
tool
basket
,
and
found
he
could
carry
it
.
Then
lifting
the
tent
door
he
emerged
into
the
open
air
.
Here
the
man
looked
around
with
gloomy
curiosity
.
The
freshness
of
the
September
morning
inspired
and
braced
him
as
he
stood
.
He
and
his
family
had
been
weary
when
they
arrived
the
night
before
,
and
they
had
observed
but
little
of
the
place
;
so
that
he
now
beheld
it
as
a
new
thing
.
It
exhibited
itself
as
the
top
of
an
open
down
,
bounded
on
one
extreme
by
a
plantation
,
and
approached
by
a
winding
road
.
At
the
bottom
stood
the
village
which
lent
its
name
to
the
upland
and
the
annual
fair
that
was
held
thereon
.
The
spot
stretched
downward
into
valleys
,
and
onward
to
other
uplands
,
dotted
with
barrows
,
and
trenched
with
the
remains
of
prehistoric
forts
.
The
whole
scene
lay
under
the
rays
of
a
newly
risen
sun
,
which
had
not
as
yet
dried
a
single
blade
of
the
heavily
dewed
grass
,
whereon
the
shadows
of
the
yellow
and
red
vans
were
projected
far
away
,
those
thrown
by
the
felloe
of
each
wheel
being
elongated
in
shape
to
the
orbit
of
a
comet
.
All
the
gipsies
and
showmen
who
had
remained
on
the
ground
lay
snug
within
their
carts
and
tents
or
wrapped
in
horse-cloths
under
them
,
and
were
silent
and
still
as
death
,
with
the
exception
of
an
occasional
snore
that
revealed
their
presence
.
But
the
Seven
Sleepers
had
a
dog
;
and
dogs
of
the
mysterious
breeds
that
vagrants
own
,
that
are
as
much
like
cats
as
dogs
and
as
much
like
foxes
as
cats
also
lay
about
here
.
A
little
one
started
up
under
one
of
the
carts
,
barked
as
a
matter
of
principle
,
and
quickly
lay
down
again
.
He
was
the
only
positive
spectator
of
the
hay-trusser
's
exit
from
the
Weydon
Fair-field
.
This
seemed
to
accord
with
his
desire
.
He
went
on
in
silent
thought
,
unheeding
the
yellowhammers
which
flitted
about
the
hedges
with
straws
in
their
bills
,
the
crowns
of
the
mushrooms
,
and
the
tinkling
of
local
sheep-bells
,
whose
wearer
had
had
the
good
fortune
not
to
be
included
in
the
fair
.
When
he
reached
a
lane
,
a
good
mile
from
the
scene
of
the
previous
evening
,
the
man
pitched
his
basket
and
leant
upon
a
gate
.
A
difficult
problem
or
two
occupied
his
mind
.
“
Did
I
tell
my
name
to
anybody
last
night
,
or
did
n't
I
tell
my
name
?
”
he
said
to
himself
;
and
at
last
concluded
that
he
did
not
.
His
general
demeanour
was
enough
to
show
how
he
was
surprised
and
nettled
that
his
wife
had
taken
him
so
literally
—
as
much
could
be
seen
in
his
face
,
and
in
the
way
he
nibbled
a
straw
which
he
pulled
from
the
hedge
.
He
knew
that
she
must
have
been
somewhat
excited
to
do
this
;
moreover
,
she
must
have
believed
that
there
was
some
sort
of
binding
force
in
the
transaction
.
On
this
latter
point
he
felt
almost
certain
,
knowing
her
freedom
from
levity
of
character
,
and
the
extreme
simplicity
of
her
intellect
.
There
may
,
too
,
have
been
enough
recklessness
and
resentment
beneath
her
ordinary
placidity
to
make
her
stifle
any
momentary
doubts
.
On
a
previous
occasion
when
he
had
declared
during
a
fuddle
that
he
would
dispose
of
her
as
he
had
done
,
she
had
replied
that
she
would
not
hear
him
say
that
many
times
more
before
it
happened
,
in
the
resigned
tones
of
a
fatalist
...
.
“
Yet
she
knows
I
am
not
in
my
senses
when
I
do
that
!
”
he
exclaimed
.
“
Well
,
I
must
walk
about
till
I
find
her
...
.Seize
her
,
why
did
n't
she
know
better
than
bring
me
into
this
disgrace
!
”
he
roared
out
.
“
She
was
n't
queer
if
I
was
.
'
Tis
like
Susan
to
show
such
idiotic
simplicity
.
Meek
—
that
meekness
has
done
me
more
harm
than
the
bitterest
temper
!
”
When
he
was
calmer
he
turned
to
his
original
conviction
that
he
must
somehow
find
her
and
his
little
Elizabeth-Jane
,
and
put
up
with
the
shame
as
best
he
could
.
It
was
of
his
own
making
,
and
he
ought
to
bear
it
.
But
first
he
resolved
to
register
an
oath
,
a
greater
oath
than
he
had
ever
sworn
before
:
and
to
do
it
properly
he
required
a
fit
place
and
imagery
;
for
there
was
something
fetichistic
in
this
man
's
beliefs
.
He
shouldered
his
basket
and
moved
on
,
casting
his
eyes
inquisitively
round
upon
the
landscape
as
he
walked
,
and
at
the
distance
of
three
or
four
miles
perceived
the
roofs
of
a
village
and
the
tower
of
a
church
.
He
instantly
made
towards
the
latter
object
.
The
village
was
quite
still
,
it
being
that
motionless
hour
of
rustic
daily
life
which
fills
the
interval
between
the
departure
of
the
field-labourers
to
their
work
,
and
the
rising
of
their
wives
and
daughters
to
prepare
the
breakfast
for
their
return
.
Hence
he
reached
the
church
without
observation
,
and
the
door
being
only
latched
he
entered
.
The
hay-trusser
deposited
his
basket
by
the
font
,
went
up
the
nave
till
he
reached
the
altar-rails
,
and
opening
the
gate
entered
the
sacrarium
,
where
he
seemed
to
feel
a
sense
of
the
strangeness
for
a
moment
;
then
he
knelt
upon
the
footpace
.
Dropping
his
head
upon
the
clamped
book
which
lay
on
the
Communion-table
,
he
said
aloud
—
“
I
,
Michael
Henchard
,
on
this
morning
of
the
sixteenth
of
September
,
do
take
an
oath
before
God
here
in
this
solemn
place
that
I
will
avoid
all
strong
liquors
for
the
space
of
twenty-one
years
to
come
,
being
a
year
for
every
year
that
I
have
lived
.
And
this
I
swear
upon
the
book
before
me
;
and
may
I
be
strook
dumb
,
blind
,
and
helpless
,
if
I
break
this
my
oath
!
”
When
he
had
said
it
and
kissed
the
big
book
,
the
hay-trusser
arose
,
and
seemed
relieved
at
having
made
a
start
in
a
new
direction
.
While
standing
in
the
porch
a
moment
he
saw
a
thick
jet
of
wood
smoke
suddenly
start
up
from
the
red
chimney
of
a
cottage
near
,
and
knew
that
the
occupant
had
just
lit
her
fire
.
He
went
round
to
the
door
,
and
the
housewife
agreed
to
prepare
him
some
breakfast
for
a
trifling
payment
,
which
was
done
.
Then
he
started
on
the
search
for
his
wife
and
child
.
The
perplexing
nature
of
the
undertaking
became
apparent
soon
enough
.
Though
he
examined
and
inquired
,
and
walked
hither
and
thither
day
after
day
,
no
such
characters
as
those
he
described
had
anywhere
been
seen
since
the
evening
of
the
fair
.
To
add
to
the
difficulty
he
could
gain
no
sound
of
the
sailor
's
name
.
As
money
was
short
with
him
he
decided
,
after
some
hesitation
,
to
spend
the
sailor
's
money
in
the
prosecution
of
this
search
;
but
it
was
equally
in
vain
.
The
truth
was
that
a
certain
shyness
of
revealing
his
conduct
prevented
Michael
Henchard
from
following
up
the
investigation
with
the
loud
hue-and-cry
such
a
pursuit
demanded
to
render
it
effectual
;
and
it
was
probably
for
this
reason
that
he
obtained
no
clue
,
though
everything
was
done
by
him
that
did
not
involve
an
explanation
of
the
circumstances
under
which
he
had
lost
her
.
Weeks
counted
up
to
months
,
and
still
he
searched
on
,
maintaining
himself
by
small
jobs
of
work
in
the
intervals
.
By
this
time
he
had
arrived
at
a
seaport
,
and
there
he
derived
intelligence
that
persons
answering
somewhat
to
his
description
had
emigrated
a
little
time
before
.
Then
he
said
he
would
search
no
longer
,
and
that
he
would
go
and
settle
in
the
district
which
he
had
had
for
some
time
in
his
mind
.
Next
day
he
started
,
journeying
south-westward
,
and
did
not
pause
,
except
for
nights
'
lodgings
,
till
he
reached
the
town
of
Casterbridge
,
in
a
far
distant
part
of
Wessex
.
3.
The
highroad
into
the
village
of
Weydon-Priors
was
again
carpeted
with
dust
.
The
trees
had
put
on
as
of
yore
their
aspect
of
dingy
green
,
and
where
the
Henchard
family
of
three
had
once
walked
along
,
two
persons
not
unconnected
with
the
family
walked
now
.
The
scene
in
its
broad
aspect
had
so
much
of
its
previous
character
,
even
to
the
voices
and
rattle
from
the
neighbouring
village
down
,
that
it
might
for
that
matter
have
been
the
afternoon
following
the
previously
recorded
episode
.
Change
was
only
to
be
observed
in
details
;
but
here
it
was
obvious
that
a
long
procession
of
years
had
passed
by
.
One
of
the
two
who
walked
the
road
was
she
who
had
figured
as
the
young
wife
of
Henchard
on
the
previous
occasion
;
now
her
face
had
lost
much
of
its
rotundity
;
her
skin
had
undergone
a
textural
change
;
and
though
her
hair
had
not
lost
colour
it
was
considerably
thinner
than
heretofore
.
She
was
dressed
in
the
mourning
clothes
of
a
widow
.
Her
companion
,
also
in
black
,
appeared
as
a
well-formed
young
woman
about
eighteen
,
completely
possessed
of
that
ephemeral
precious
essence
youth
,
which
is
itself
beauty
,
irrespective
of
complexion
or
contour
.
A
glance
was
sufficient
to
inform
the
eye
that
this
was
Susan
Henchard
's
grown-up
daughter
.
While
life
's
middle
summer
had
set
its
hardening
mark
on
the
mother
's
face
,
her
former
spring-like
specialities
were
transferred
so
dexterously
by
Time
to
the
second
figure
,
her
child
,
that
the
absence
of
certain
facts
within
her
mother
's
knowledge
from
the
girl
's
mind
would
have
seemed
for
the
moment
,
to
one
reflecting
on
those
facts
,
to
be
a
curious
imperfection
in
Nature
's
powers
of
continuity
.
They
walked
with
joined
hands
,
and
it
could
be
perceived
that
this
was
the
act
of
simple
affection
.
The
daughter
carried
in
her
outer
hand
a
withy
basket
of
old-fashioned
make
;
the
mother
a
blue
bundle
,
which
contrasted
oddly
with
her
black
stuff
gown
.
Reaching
the
outskirts
of
the
village
they
pursued
the
same
track
as
formerly
,
and
ascended
to
the
fair
.
Here
,
too
it
was
evident
that
the
years
had
told
.
Certain
mechanical
improvements
might
have
been
noticed
in
the
roundabouts
and
high-fliers
,
machines
for
testing
rustic
strength
and
weight
,
and
in
the
erections
devoted
to
shooting
for
nuts
.
But
the
real
business
of
the
fair
had
considerably
dwindled
.
The
new
periodical
great
markets
of
neighbouring
towns
were
beginning
to
interfere
seriously
with
the
trade
carried
on
here
for
centuries
.
The
pens
for
sheep
,
the
tie-ropes
for
horses
,
were
about
half
as
long
as
they
had
been
.
The
stalls
of
tailors
,
hosiers
,
coopers
,
linen-drapers
,
and
other
such
trades
had
almost
disappeared
,
and
the
vehicles
were
far
less
numerous
.
The
mother
and
daughter
threaded
the
crowd
for
some
little
distance
,
and
then
stood
still
.
“
Why
did
we
hinder
our
time
by
coming
in
here
?
I
thought
you
wished
to
get
onward
?
”
said
the
maiden
.
“
Yes
,
my
dear
Elizabeth-Jane
,
”
explained
the
other
.
“
But
I
had
a
fancy
for
looking
up
here
.
”
“
Why
?
”
“
It
was
here
I
first
met
with
Newson
—
on
such
a
day
as
this
.
”
“
First
met
with
father
here
?
Yes
,
you
have
told
me
so
before
.
And
now
he
's
drowned
and
gone
from
us
!
”
As
she
spoke
the
girl
drew
a
card
from
her
pocket
and
looked
at
it
with
a
sigh
.
It
was
edged
with
black
,
and
inscribed
within
a
design
resembling
a
mural
tablet
were
the
words
,
“
In
affectionate
memory
of
Richard
Newson
,
mariner
,
who
was
unfortunately
lost
at
sea
,
in
the
month
of
November
184
—
,
aged
forty-one
years
.
”
“
And
it
was
here
,
”
continued
her
mother
,
with
more
hesitation
,
“
that
I
last
saw
the
relation
we
are
going
to
look
for
—
Mr.
Michael
Henchard
.
”
“
What
is
his
exact
kin
to
us
,
mother
?
I
have
never
clearly
had
it
told
me
.
”
“
He
is
,
or
was
—
for
he
may
be
dead
—
a
connection
by
marriage
,
”
said
her
mother
deliberately
.
“
That
's
exactly
what
you
have
said
a
score
of
times
before
!
”
replied
the
young
woman
,
looking
about
her
inattentively
.
“
He
's
not
a
near
relation
,
I
suppose
?
”
“
Not
by
any
means
.
”
“
He
was
a
hay-trusser
,
was
n't
he
,
when
you
last
heard
of
him
?
“
He
was
.
”
“
I
suppose
he
never
knew
me
?
”
the
girl
innocently
continued
.
Mrs.
Henchard
paused
for
a
moment
,
and
answered
un-easily
,
“
Of
course
not
,
Elizabeth-Jane
.
But
come
this
way
.
”
She
moved
on
to
another
part
of
the
field
.
“
It
is
not
much
use
inquiring
here
for
anybody
,
I
should
think
,
”
the
daughter
observed
,
as
she
gazed
round
about
.
“
People
at
fairs
change
like
the
leaves
of
trees
;
and
I
daresay
you
are
the
only
one
here
to-day
who
was
here
all
those
years
ago
.
”
“
I
am
not
so
sure
of
that
,
”
said
Mrs.
Newson
,
as
she
now
called
herself
,
keenly
eyeing
something
under
a
green
bank
a
little
way
off
.
“
See
there
.
”
The
daughter
looked
in
the
direction
signified
.
The
object
pointed
out
was
a
tripod
of
sticks
stuck
into
the
earth
,
from
which
hung
a
three-legged
crock
,
kept
hot
by
a
smouldering
wood
fire
beneath
.
Over
the
pot
stooped
an
old
woman
haggard
,
wrinkled
,
and
almost
in
rags
.
She
stirred
the
contents
of
the
pot
with
a
large
spoon
,
and
occasionally
croaked
in
a
broken
voice
,
“
Good
furmity
sold
here
!
”
It
was
indeed
the
former
mistress
of
the
furmity
tent
—
once
thriving
,
cleanly
,
white-aproned
,
and
chinking
with
money
—
now
tentless
,
dirty
,
owning
no
tables
or
benches
,
and
having
scarce
any
customers
except
two
small
whity-brown
boys
,
who
came
up
and
asked
for
“
A
ha'p'orth
,
please
—
good
measure
,
”
which
she
served
in
a
couple
of
chipped
yellow
basins
of
commonest
clay
.
“
She
was
here
at
that
time
,
”
resumed
Mrs.
Newson
,
making
a
step
as
if
to
draw
nearer
.
“
Do
n't
speak
to
her
—
it
is
n't
respectable
!
”
urged
the
other
.
“
I
will
just
say
a
word
—
you
,
Elizabeth-Jane
,
can
stay
here
.
”
The
girl
was
not
loth
,
and
turned
to
some
stalls
of
coloured
prints
while
her
mother
went
forward
.
The
old
woman
begged
for
the
latter
's
custom
as
soon
as
she
saw
her
,
and
responded
to
Mrs.
Henchard-Newson
's
request
for
a
pennyworth
with
more
alacrity
than
she
had
shown
in
selling
six-pennyworths
in
her
younger
days
.
When
the
soi-disant
widow
had
taken
the
basin
of
thin
poor
slop
that
stood
for
the
rich
concoction
of
the
former
time
,
the
hag
opened
a
little
basket
behind
the
fire
,
and
looking
up
slily
,
whispered
,
“
Just
a
thought
o
'
rum
in
it
?
—
smuggled
,
you
know
—
say
two
penn'orth
—
'
twill
make
it
slip
down
like
cordial
!
”
Her
customer
smiled
bitterly
at
this
survival
of
the
old
trick
,
and
shook
her
head
with
a
meaning
the
old
woman
was
far
from
translating
.
She
pretended
to
eat
a
little
of
the
furmity
with
the
leaden
spoon
offered
,
and
as
she
did
so
said
blandly
to
the
hag
,
“
You
've
seen
better
days
?
”
“
Ah
,
ma'am
—
well
ye
may
say
it
!
”
responded
the
old
woman
,
opening
the
sluices
of
her
heart
forthwith
.
“
I
've
stood
in
this
fair-ground
,
maid
,
wife
,
and
widow
,
these
nine-and-thirty
years
,
and
in
that
time
have
known
what
it
was
to
do
business
with
the
richest
stomachs
in
the
land
!
Ma'am
you
'd
hardly
believe
that
I
was
once
the
owner
of
a
great
pavilion-tent
that
was
the
attraction
of
the
fair
.
Nobody
could
come
,
nobody
could
go
,
without
having
a
dish
of
Mrs.
Goodenough
's
furmity
.
I
knew
the
clergy
's
taste
,
the
dandy
gent
's
taste
;
I
knew
the
town
's
taste
,
the
country
's
taste
.
I
even
knowed
the
taste
of
the
coarse
shameless
females
.
But
Lord
's
my
life
—
the
world
's
no
memory
;
straightforward
dealings
do
n't
bring
profit
—
'
tis
the
sly
and
the
underhand
that
get
on
in
these
times
!
”
Mrs.
Newson
glanced
round
—
her
daughter
was
still
bending
over
the
distant
stalls
.
“
Can
you
call
to
mind
,
”
she
said
cautiously
to
the
old
woman
,
“
the
sale
of
a
wife
by
her
husband
in
your
tent
eighteen
years
ago
to-day
?
”
The
hag
reflected
,
and
half
shook
her
head
.
“
If
it
had
been
a
big
thing
I
should
have
minded
it
in
a
moment
,
”
she
said
.
“
I
can
mind
every
serious
fight
o
'
married
parties
,
every
murder
,
every
manslaughter
,
even
every
pocket-picking
—
leastwise
large
ones
—
that
'
t
has
been
my
lot
to
witness
.
But
a
selling
?
Was
it
done
quiet-like
?
”
“
Well
,
yes
.
I
think
so
.
”
The
furmity
woman
half
shook
her
head
again
.
“
And
yet
,
”
she
said
,
“
I
do
.
At
any
rate
,
I
can
mind
a
man
doing
something
o
'
the
sort
—
a
man
in
a
cord
jacket
,
with
a
basket
of
tools
;
but
,
Lord
bless
ye
,
we
do
n't
gi'e
it
head-room
,
we
do
n't
,
such
as
that
.
The
only
reason
why
I
can
mind
the
man
is
that
he
came
back
here
to
the
next
year
's
fair
,
and
told
me
quite
private-like
that
if
a
woman
ever
asked
for
him
I
was
to
say
he
had
gone
to
—
where
?
—
Casterbridge
—
yes
—
to
Casterbridge
,
said
he
.
But
,
Lord
's
my
life
,
I
should
n't
ha
'
thought
of
it
again
!
”
Mrs.
Newson
would
have
rewarded
the
old
woman
as
far
as
her
small
means
afforded
had
she
not
discreetly
borne
in
mind
that
it
was
by
that
unscrupulous
person
's
liquor
her
husband
had
been
degraded
.
She
briefly
thanked
her
informant
,
and
rejoined
Elizabeth
,
who
greeted
her
with
,
“
Mother
,
do
let
's
get
on
—
it
was
hardly
respectable
for
you
to
buy
refreshments
there
.
I
see
none
but
the
lowest
do
.
”
“
I
have
learned
what
I
wanted
,
however
,
”
said
her
mother
quietly
.
“
The
last
time
our
relative
visited
this
fair
he
said
he
was
living
at
Casterbridge
.
It
is
a
long
,
long
way
from
here
,
and
it
was
many
years
ago
that
he
said
it
,
but
there
I
think
we
'll
go
.
”
With
this
they
descended
out
of
the
fair
,
and
went
onward
to
the
village
,
where
they
obtained
a
night
's
lodging
.
4.
Henchard
's
wife
acted
for
the
best
,
but
she
had
involved
herself
in
difficulties
.
A
hundred
times
she
had
been
upon
the
point
of
telling
her
daughter
Elizabeth-Jane
the
true
story
of
her
life
,
the
tragical
crisis
of
which
had
been
the
transaction
at
Weydon
Fair
,
when
she
was
not
much
older
than
the
girl
now
beside
her
.
But
she
had
refrained
.
An
innocent
maiden
had
thus
grown
up
in
the
belief
that
the
relations
between
the
genial
sailor
and
her
mother
were
the
ordinary
ones
that
they
had
always
appeared
to
be
.
The
risk
of
endangering
a
child
's
strong
affection
by
disturbing
ideas
which
had
grown
with
her
growth
was
to
Mrs.
Henchard
too
fearful
a
thing
to
contemplate
.
It
had
seemed
,
indeed
folly
to
think
of
making
Elizabeth-Jane
wise
.
But
Susan
Henchard
's
fear
of
losing
her
dearly
loved
daughter
's
heart
by
a
revelation
had
little
to
do
with
any
sense
of
wrong-doing
on
her
own
part
.
Her
simplicity
—
the
original
ground
of
Henchard
's
contempt
for
her
—
had
allowed
her
to
live
on
in
the
conviction
that
Newson
had
acquired
a
morally
real
and
justifiable
right
to
her
by
his
purchase
—
though
the
exact
bearings
and
legal
limits
of
that
right
were
vague
.
It
may
seem
strange
to
sophisticated
minds
that
a
sane
young
matron
could
believe
in
the
seriousness
of
such
a
transfer
;
and
were
there
not
numerous
other
instances
of
the
same
belief
the
thing
might
scarcely
be
credited
.
But
she
was
by
no
means
the
first
or
last
peasant
woman
who
had
religiously
adhered
to
her
purchaser
,
as
too
many
rural
records
show
.
The
history
of
Susan
Henchard
's
adventures
in
the
interim
can
be
told
in
two
or
three
sentences
.
Absolutely
helpless
she
had
been
taken
off
to
Canada
where
they
had
lived
several
years
without
any
great
worldly
success
,
though
she
worked
as
hard
as
any
woman
could
to
keep
their
cottage
cheerful
and
well-provided
.
When
Elizabeth-Jane
was
about
twelve
years
old
the
three
returned
to
England
,
and
settled
at
Falmouth
,
where
Newson
made
a
living
for
a
few
years
as
boatman
and
general
handy
shoreman
.
He
then
engaged
in
the
Newfoundland
trade
,
and
it
was
during
this
period
that
Susan
had
an
awakening
.
A
friend
to
whom
she
confided
her
history
ridiculed
her
grave
acceptance
of
her
position
;
and
all
was
over
with
her
peace
of
mind
.
When
Newson
came
home
at
the
end
of
one
winter
he
saw
that
the
delusion
he
had
so
carefully
sustained
had
vanished
for
ever
.
There
was
then
a
time
of
sadness
,
in
which
she
told
him
her
doubts
if
she
could
live
with
him
longer
.
Newson
left
home
again
on
the
Newfoundland
trade
when
the
season
came
round
.
The
vague
news
of
his
loss
at
sea
a
little
later
on
solved
a
problem
which
had
become
torture
to
her
meek
conscience
.
She
saw
him
no
more
.
Of
Henchard
they
heard
nothing
.
To
the
liege
subjects
of
Labour
,
the
England
of
those
days
was
a
continent
,
and
a
mile
a
geographical
degree
.
Elizabeth-Jane
developed
early
into
womanliness
.
One
day
a
month
or
so
after
receiving
intelligence
of
Newson
's
death
off
the
Bank
of
Newfoundland
,
when
the
girl
was
about
eighteen
,
she
was
sitting
on
a
willow
chair
in
the
cottage
they
still
occupied
,
working
twine
nets
for
the
fishermen
.
Her
mother
was
in
a
back
corner
of
the
same
room
engaged
in
the
same
labour
,
and
dropping
the
heavy
wood
needle
she
was
filling
she
surveyed
her
daughter
thoughtfully
.
The
sun
shone
in
at
the
door
upon
the
young
woman
's
head
and
hair
,
which
was
worn
loose
,
so
that
the
rays
streamed
into
its
depths
as
into
a
hazel
copse
.
Her
face
,
though
somewhat
wan
and
incomplete
,
possessed
the
raw
materials
of
beauty
in
a
promising
degree
.
There
was
an
under-handsomeness
in
it
,
struggling
to
