aswind
.
He
did
not
arrive
in
time
.
As
he
was
often
second
hand
at
the
hay-weighing
,
or
at
the
crane
which
lifted
the
sacks
,
or
was
one
of
those
who
had
to
accompany
the
waggons
into
the
country
to
fetch
away
stacks
that
had
been
purchased
,
this
affliction
of
Abel
's
was
productive
of
much
inconvenience
.
For
two
mornings
in
the
present
week
he
had
kept
the
others
waiting
nearly
an
hour
;
hence
Henchard
's
threat
.
It
now
remained
to
be
seen
what
would
happen
to-morrow
.
Six
o'clock
struck
,
and
there
was
no
Whittle
.
At
half-past
six
Henchard
entered
the
yard
;
the
waggon
was
horsed
that
Abel
was
to
accompany
;
and
the
other
man
had
been
waiting
twenty
minutes
.
Then
Henchard
swore
,
and
Whittle
coming
up
breathless
at
that
instant
,
the
corn-factor
turned
on
him
,
and
declared
with
an
oath
that
this
was
the
last
time
;
that
if
he
were
behind
once
more
,
by
God
,
he
would
come
and
drag
him
out
o
'
bed
.
“
There
is
sommit
wrong
in
my
make
,
your
worshipful
!
”
said
Abel
,
“
especially
in
the
inside
,
whereas
my
poor
dumb
brain
gets
as
dead
as
a
clot
afore
I
've
said
my
few
scrags
of
prayers
.
Yes
—
it
came
on
as
a
stripling
,
just
afore
I
'd
got
man
's
wages
,
whereas
I
never
enjoy
my
bed
at
all
,
for
no
sooner
do
I
lie
down
than
I
be
asleep
,
and
afore
I
be
awake
I
be
up
.
I
've
fretted
my
gizzard
green
about
it
,
maister
,
but
what
can
I
do
?
Now
last
night
,
afore
I
went
to
bed
,
I
only
had
a
scantling
o
'
cheese
and
—
”
“
I
do
n't
want
to
hear
it
!
”
roared
Henchard
.
“
To-morrow
the
waggons
must
start
at
four
,
and
if
you
're
not
here
,
stand
clear
.
I
'll
mortify
thy
flesh
for
thee
!
”
“
But
let
me
clear
up
my
points
,
your
worshipful
—
—
”
Henchard
turned
away
.
“
He
asked
me
and
he
questioned
me
,
and
then
'
a
would
n't
hear
my
points
!
”
said
Abel
,
to
the
yard
in
general
.
“
Now
,
I
shall
twitch
like
a
moment-hand
all
night
to-night
for
fear
o
'
him
!
”
The
journey
to
be
taken
by
the
waggons
next
day
was
a
long
one
into
Blackmoor
Vale
,
and
at
four
o'clock
lanterns
were
moving
about
the
yard
.
But
Abel
was
missing
.
Before
either
of
the
other
men
could
run
to
Abel
's
and
warn
him
Henchard
appeared
in
the
garden
doorway
.
“
Where
's
Abel
Whittle
?
Not
come
after
all
I
've
said
?
Now
I
'll
carry
out
my
word
,
by
my
blessed
fathers
—
nothing
else
will
do
him
any
good
!
I
'm
going
up
that
way
.
”
Henchard
went
off
,
entered
Abel
's
house
,
a
little
cottage
in
Back
Street
,
the
door
of
which
was
never
locked
because
the
inmates
had
nothing
to
lose
.
Reaching
Whittle
's
bedside
the
corn-factor
shouted
a
bass
note
so
vigorously
that
Abel
started
up
instantly
,
and
beholding
Henchard
standing
over
him
,
was
galvanized
into
spasmodic
movements
which
had
not
much
relation
to
getting
on
his
clothes
.
“
Out
of
bed
,
sir
,
and
off
to
the
granary
,
or
you
leave
my
employ
to-day
!
'
Tis
to
teach
ye
a
lesson
.
March
on
;
never
mind
your
breeches
!
”
The
unhappy
Whittle
threw
on
his
sleeve
waistcoat
,
and
managed
to
get
into
his
boots
at
the
bottom
of
the
stairs
,
while
Henchard
thrust
his
hat
over
his
head
.
Whittle
then
trotted
on
down
Back
Street
,
Henchard
walking
sternly
behind
.
Just
at
this
time
Farfrae
,
who
had
been
to
Henchard
's
house
to
look
for
him
,
came
out
of
the
back
gate
,
and
saw
something
white
fluttering
in
the
morning
gloom
,
which
he
soon
perceived
to
be
part
of
Abel
's
shirt
that
showed
below
his
waistcoat
.
“
For
maircy
's
sake
,
what
object
's
this
?
”
said
Farfrae
,
following
Abel
into
the
yard
,
Henchard
being
some
way
in
the
rear
by
this
time
.
“
Ye
see
,
Mr.
Farfrae
,
”
gibbered
Abel
with
a
resigned
smile
of
terror
,
“
he
said
he
'd
mortify
my
flesh
if
so
be
I
did
n't
get
up
sooner
,
and
now
he
's
a-doing
o
n't
!
Ye
see
it
ca
n't
be
helped
,
Mr.
Farfrae
;
things
do
happen
queer
sometimes
!
Yes
—
I
'll
go
to
Blackmoor
Vale
half
naked
as
I
be
,
since
he
do
command
;
but
I
shall
kill
myself
afterwards
;
I
ca
n't
outlive
the
disgrace
,
for
the
women-folk
will
be
looking
out
of
their
winders
at
my
mortification
all
the
way
along
,
and
laughing
me
to
scorn
as
a
man
'
ithout
breeches
!
You
know
how
I
feel
such
things
,
Maister
Farfrae
,
and
how
forlorn
thoughts
get
hold
upon
me
.
Yes
—
I
shall
do
myself
harm
—
I
feel
it
coming
on
!
”
“
Get
back
home
,
and
slip
on
your
breeches
,
and
come
to
wark
like
a
man
!
If
ye
go
not
,
you
'll
ha'e
your
death
standing
there
!
”
“
I
'm
afeard
I
must
n't
!
Mr.
Henchard
said
—
—
”
“
I
do
n't
care
what
Mr.
Henchard
said
,
nor
anybody
else
!
'
Tis
simple
foolishness
to
do
this
.
Go
and
dress
yourself
instantly
Whittle
.
”
“
Hullo
,
hullo
!
”
said
Henchard
,
coming
up
behind
.
“
Who
's
sending
him
back
?
”
All
the
men
looked
towards
Farfrae
.
“
I
am
,
”
said
Donald
.
“
I
say
this
joke
has
been
carried
far
enough
.
”
“
And
I
say
it
has
n't
!
Get
up
in
the
waggon
,
Whittle
.
”
“
Not
if
I
am
manager
,
”
said
Farfrae
.
“
He
either
goes
home
,
or
I
march
out
of
this
yard
for
good
.
”
Henchard
looked
at
him
with
a
face
stern
and
red
.
But
he
paused
for
a
moment
,
and
their
eyes
met
.
Donald
went
up
to
him
,
for
he
saw
in
Henchard
's
look
that
he
began
to
regret
this
.
“
Come
,
”
said
Donald
quietly
,
“
a
man
o
'
your
position
should
ken
better
,
sir
!
It
is
tyrannical
and
no
worthy
of
you
.
”
“
'
Tis
not
tyrannical
!
”
murmured
Henchard
,
like
a
sullen
boy
.
“
It
is
to
make
him
remember
!
”
He
presently
added
,
in
a
tone
of
one
bitterly
hurt
:
“
Why
did
you
speak
to
me
before
them
like
that
,
Farfrae
?
You
might
have
stopped
till
we
were
alone
.
Ah
—
I
know
why
!
I
've
told
ye
the
secret
o
'
my
life
—
fool
that
I
was
to
do't
—
and
you
take
advantage
of
me
!
”
“
I
had
forgot
it
,
”
said
Farfrae
simply
.
Henchard
looked
on
the
ground
,
said
nothing
more
,
and
turned
away
.
During
the
day
Farfrae
learnt
from
the
men
that
Henchard
had
kept
Abel
's
old
mother
in
coals
and
snuff
all
the
previous
winter
,
which
made
him
less
antagonistic
to
the
corn-factor
.
But
Henchard
continued
moody
and
silent
,
and
when
one
of
the
men
inquired
of
him
if
some
oats
should
be
hoisted
to
an
upper
floor
or
not
,
he
said
shortly
,
“
Ask
Mr.
Farfrae
.
He
's
master
here
!
”
Morally
he
was
;
there
could
be
no
doubt
of
it
.
Henchard
,
who
had
hitherto
been
the
most
admired
man
in
his
circle
,
was
the
most
admired
no
longer
.
One
day
the
daughters
of
a
deceased
farmer
in
Durnover
wanted
an
opinion
of
the
value
of
their
haystack
,
and
sent
a
messenger
to
ask
Mr.
Farfrae
to
oblige
them
with
one
.
The
messenger
,
who
was
a
child
,
met
in
the
yard
not
Farfrae
,
but
Henchard
.
“
Very
well
,
”
he
said
.
“
I
'll
come
.
”
“
But
please
will
Mr.
Farfrae
come
?
”
said
the
child
.
“
I
am
going
that
way
...
.Why
Mr.
Farfrae
?
”
said
Henchard
,
with
the
fixed
look
of
thought
.
“
Why
do
people
always
want
Mr.
Farfrae
?
”
“
I
suppose
because
they
like
him
so
—
that
's
what
they
say
.
”
“
Oh
—
I
see
—
that
's
what
they
say
—
hey
?
They
like
him
because
he
's
cleverer
than
Mr.
Henchard
,
and
because
he
knows
more
;
and
,
in
short
,
Mr.
Henchard
ca
n't
hold
a
candle
to
him
—
hey
?
”
“
Yes
—
that
's
just
it
,
sir
—
some
of
it
.
”
“
Oh
,
there
's
more
?
Of
course
there
's
more
!
What
besides
?
Come
,
here
's
a
sixpence
for
a
fairing
.
”
“
'
And
he
's
better
tempered
,
and
Henchard
's
a
fool
to
him
,
'
they
say
.
And
when
some
of
the
women
were
a-walking
home
they
said
,
'
He
's
a
diment
—
he
's
a
chap
o
'
wax
—
he
's
the
best
—
he
's
the
horse
for
my
money
,
'
says
they
.
And
they
said
,
'
He
's
the
most
understanding
man
o
'
them
two
by
long
chalks
.
I
wish
he
was
the
master
instead
of
Henchard
,
'
they
said
.
”
“
They
'll
talk
any
nonsense
,
”
Henchard
replied
with
covered
gloom
.
“
Well
,
you
can
go
now
.
And
I
am
coming
to
value
the
hay
,
d'ye
hear
?
—
I
.
”
The
boy
departed
,
and
Henchard
murmured
,
“
Wish
he
were
master
here
,
do
they
?
”
He
went
towards
Durnover
.
On
his
way
he
overtook
Farfrae
.
They
walked
on
together
,
Henchard
looking
mostly
on
the
ground
.
“
You
're
no
yoursel
'
the
day
?
”
Donald
inquired
.
“
Yes
,
I
am
very
well
,
”
said
Henchard
.
“
But
ye
are
a
bit
down
—
surely
ye
are
down
?
Why
,
there
's
nothing
to
be
angry
about
!
'
Tis
splendid
stuff
that
we
've
got
from
Blackmoor
Vale
.
By
the
by
,
the
people
in
Durnover
want
their
hay
valued
.
”
“
Yes
.
I
am
going
there
.
”
“
I
'll
go
with
ye
.
”
As
Henchard
did
not
reply
Donald
practised
a
piece
of
music
sotto
voce
,
till
,
getting
near
the
bereaved
people
's
door
,
he
stopped
himself
with
—
“
Ah
,
as
their
father
is
dead
I
wo
n't
go
on
with
such
as
that
.
How
could
I
forget
?
”
“
Do
you
care
so
very
much
about
hurting
folks
'
feelings
?
”
observed
Henchard
with
a
half
sneer
.
“
You
do
,
I
know
—
especially
mine
!
”
“
I
am
sorry
if
I
have
hurt
yours
,
sir
,
”
replied
Donald
,
standing
still
,
with
a
second
expression
of
the
same
sentiment
in
the
regretfulness
of
his
face
.
“
Why
should
you
say
it
—
think
it
?
”
The
cloud
lifted
from
Henchard
's
brow
,
and
as
Donald
finished
the
corn-merchant
turned
to
him
,
regarding
his
breast
rather
than
his
face
.
“
I
have
been
hearing
things
that
vexed
me
,
”
he
said
.
“
'
Twas
that
made
me
short
in
my
manner
—
made
me
overlook
what
you
really
are
.
Now
,
I
do
n't
want
to
go
in
here
about
this
hay
—
Farfrae
,
you
can
do
it
better
than
I
.
They
sent
for
'
ee
,
too
.
I
have
to
attend
a
meeting
of
the
Town
Council
at
eleven
,
and
'
tis
drawing
on
for't
.
”
They
parted
thus
in
renewed
friendship
,
Donald
forbearing
to
ask
Henchard
for
meanings
that
were
not
very
plain
to
him
.
On
Henchard
's
part
there
was
now
again
repose
;
and
yet
,
whenever
he
thought
of
Farfrae
,
it
was
with
a
dim
dread
;
and
he
often
regretted
that
he
had
told
the
young
man
his
whole
heart
,
and
confided
to
him
the
secrets
of
his
life
.
16.
On
this
account
Henchard
's
manner
towards
Farfrae
insensibly
became
more
reserved
.
He
was
courteous
—
too
courteous
—
and
Farfrae
was
quite
surprised
at
the
good
breeding
which
now
for
the
first
time
showed
itself
among
the
qualities
of
a
man
he
had
hitherto
thought
undisciplined
,
if
warm
and
sincere
.
The
corn-factor
seldom
or
never
again
put
his
arm
upon
the
young
man
's
shoulder
so
as
to
nearly
weigh
him
down
with
the
pressure
of
mechanized
friendship
.
He
left
off
coming
to
Donald
's
lodgings
and
shouting
into
the
passage
.
“
Hoy
,
Farfrae
,
boy
,
come
and
have
some
dinner
with
us
!
Do
n't
sit
here
in
solitary
confinement
!
”
But
in
the
daily
routine
of
their
business
there
was
little
change
.
Thus
their
lives
rolled
on
till
a
day
of
public
rejoicing
was
suggested
to
the
country
at
large
in
celebration
of
a
national
event
that
had
recently
taken
place
.
For
some
time
Casterbridge
,
by
nature
slow
,
made
no
response
.
Then
one
day
Donald
Farfrae
broached
the
subject
to
Henchard
by
asking
if
he
would
have
any
objection
to
lend
some
rick-cloths
to
himself
and
a
few
others
,
who
contemplated
getting
up
an
entertainment
of
some
sort
on
the
day
named
,
and
required
a
shelter
for
the
same
,
to
which
they
might
charge
admission
at
the
rate
of
so
much
a
head
.
“
Have
as
many
cloths
as
you
like
,
”
Henchard
replied
.
When
his
manager
had
gone
about
the
business
Henchard
was
fired
with
emulation
.
It
certainly
had
been
very
remiss
of
him
,
as
Mayor
,
he
thought
,
to
call
no
meeting
ere
this
,
to
discuss
what
should
be
done
on
this
holiday
.
But
Farfrae
had
been
so
cursed
quick
in
his
movements
as
to
give
old-fashioned
people
in
authority
no
chance
of
the
initiative
.
However
,
it
was
not
too
late
;
and
on
second
thoughts
he
determined
to
take
upon
his
own
shoulders
the
responsibility
of
organizing
some
amusements
,
if
the
other
Councilmen
would
leave
the
matter
in
his
hands
.
To
this
they
quite
readily
agreed
,
the
majority
being
fine
old
crusted
characters
who
had
a
decided
taste
for
living
without
worry
.
So
Henchard
set
about
his
preparations
for
a
really
brilliant
thing
—
such
as
should
be
worthy
of
the
venerable
town
.
As
for
Farfrae
's
little
affair
,
Henchard
nearly
forgot
it
;
except
once
now
and
then
when
,
on
it
coming
into
his
mind
,
he
said
to
himself
,
“
Charge
admission
at
so
much
a
head
—
just
like
a
Scotchman
!
—
who
is
going
to
pay
anything
a
head
?
”
The
diversions
which
the
Mayor
intended
to
provide
were
to
be
entirely
free
.
He
had
grown
so
dependent
upon
Donald
that
he
could
scarcely
resist
calling
him
in
to
consult
.
But
by
sheer
self-coercion
he
refrained
.
No
,
he
thought
,
Farfrae
would
be
suggesting
such
improvements
in
his
damned
luminous
way
that
in
spite
of
himself
he
,
Henchard
,
would
sink
to
the
position
of
second
fiddle
,
and
only
scrape
harmonies
to
his
manager
's
talents
.
Everybody
applauded
the
Mayor
's
proposed
entertainment
,
especially
when
it
became
known
that
he
meant
to
pay
for
it
all
himself
.
Close
to
the
town
was
an
elevated
green
spot
surrounded
by
an
ancient
square
earthwork
—
earthworks
square
and
not
square
,
were
as
common
as
blackberries
hereabout
—
a
spot
whereon
the
Casterbridge
people
usually
held
any
kind
of
merry-making
,
meeting
,
or
sheep-fair
that
required
more
space
than
the
streets
would
afford
.
On
one
side
it
sloped
to
the
river
Froom
,
and
from
any
point
a
view
was
obtained
of
the
country
round
for
many
miles
.
This
pleasant
upland
was
to
be
the
scene
of
Henchard
's
exploit
.
He
advertised
about
the
town
,
in
long
posters
of
a
pink
colour
,
that
games
of
all
sorts
would
take
place
here
;
and
set
to
work
a
little
battalion
of
men
under
his
own
eye
.
They
erected
greasy-poles
for
climbing
,
with
smoked
hams
and
local
cheeses
at
the
top
.
They
placed
hurdles
in
rows
for
jumping
over
;
across
the
river
they
laid
a
slippery
pole
,
with
a
live
pig
of
the
neighbourhood
tied
at
the
other
end
,
to
become
the
property
of
the
man
who
could
walk
over
and
get
it
.
There
were
also
provided
wheelbarrows
for
racing
,
donkeys
for
the
same
,
a
stage
for
boxing
,
wrestling
,
and
drawing
blood
generally
;
sacks
for
jumping
in
.
Moreover
,
not
forgetting
his
principles
,
Henchard
provided
a
mammoth
tea
,
of
which
everybody
who
lived
in
the
borough
was
invited
to
partake
without
payment
.
The
tables
were
laid
parallel
with
the
inner
slope
of
the
rampart
,
and
awnings
were
stretched
overhead
.
Passing
to
and
fro
the
Mayor
beheld
the
unattractive
exterior
of
Farfrae
's
erection
in
the
West
Walk
,
rick-cloths
of
different
sizes
and
colours
being
hung
up
to
the
arching
trees
without
any
regard
to
appearance
.
He
was
easy
in
his
mind
now
,
for
his
own
preparations
far
transcended
these
.
The
morning
came
.
The
sky
,
which
had
been
remarkably
clear
down
to
within
a
day
or
two
,
was
overcast
,
and
the
weather
threatening
,
the
wind
having
an
unmistakable
hint
of
water
in
it
.
Henchard
wished
he
had
not
been
quite
so
sure
about
the
continuance
of
a
fair
season
.
But
it
was
too
late
to
modify
or
postpone
,
and
the
proceedings
went
on
.
At
twelve
o'clock
the
rain
began
to
fall
,
small
and
steady
,
commencing
and
increasing
so
insensibly
that
it
was
difficult
to
state
exactly
when
dry
weather
ended
or
wet
established
itself
.
In
an
hour
the
slight
moisture
resolved
itself
into
a
monotonous
smiting
of
earth
by
heaven
,
in
torrents
to
which
no
end
could
be
prognosticated
.
A
number
of
people
had
heroically
gathered
in
the
field
but
by
three
o'clock
Henchard
discerned
that
his
project
was
doomed
to
end
in
failure
.
The
hams
at
the
top
of
the
poles
dripped
watered
smoke
in
the
form
of
a
brown
liquor
,
the
pig
shivered
in
the
wind
,
the
grain
of
the
deal
tables
showed
through
the
sticking
tablecloths
,
for
the
awning
allowed
the
rain
to
drift
under
at
its
will
,
and
to
enclose
the
sides
at
this
hour
seemed
a
useless
undertaking
.
The
landscape
over
the
river
disappeared
;
the
wind
played
on
the
tent-cords
in
aeolian
improvisations
,
and
at
length
rose
to
such
a
pitch
that
the
whole
erection
slanted
to
the
ground
those
who
had
taken
shelter
within
it
having
to
crawl
out
on
their
hands
and
knees
.
But
towards
six
the
storm
abated
,
and
a
drier
breeze
shook
the
moisture
from
the
grass
bents
.
It
seemed
possible
to
carry
out
the
programme
after
all
.
The
awning
was
set
up
again
;
the
band
was
called
out
from
its
shelter
,
and
ordered
to
begin
,
and
where
the
tables
had
stood
a
place
was
cleared
for
dancing
.
“
But
where
are
the
folk
?
”
said
Henchard
,
after
the
lapse
of
half-an-hour
,
during
which
time
only
two
men
and
a
woman
had
stood
up
to
dance
.
“
The
shops
are
all
shut
.
Why
do
n't
they
come
?
”
“
They
are
at
Farfrae
's
affair
in
the
West
Walk
,
”
answered
a
Councilman
who
stood
in
the
field
with
the
Mayor
.
“
A
few
,
I
suppose
.
But
where
are
the
body
o
'
em
?
”
“
All
out
of
doors
are
there
.
”
“
Then
the
more
fools
they
!
”
Henchard
walked
away
moodily
.
One
or
two
young
fellows
gallantly
came
to
climb
the
poles
,
to
save
the
hams
from
being
wasted
;
but
as
there
were
no
spectators
,
and
the
whole
scene
presented
the
most
melancholy
appearance
Henchard
gave
orders
that
the
proceedings
were
to
be
suspended
,
and
the
entertainment
closed
,
the
food
to
be
distributed
among
the
poor
people
of
the
town
.
In
a
short
time
nothing
was
left
in
the
field
but
a
few
hurdles
,
the
tents
,
and
the
poles
.
Henchard
returned
to
his
house
,
had
tea
with
his
wife
and
daughter
,
and
then
walked
out
.
It
was
now
dusk
.
He
soon
saw
that
the
tendency
of
all
promenaders
was
towards
a
particular
spot
in
the
Walks
,
and
eventually
proceeded
thither
himself
.
The
notes
of
a
stringed
band
came
from
the
enclosure
that
Farfrae
had
erected
—
the
pavilion
as
he
called
it
—
and
when
the
Mayor
reached
it
he
perceived
that
a
gigantic
tent
had
been
ingeniously
constructed
without
poles
or
ropes
.
The
densest
point
of
the
avenue
of
sycamores
had
been
selected
,
where
the
boughs
made
a
closely
interlaced
vault
overhead
;
to
these
boughs
the
canvas
had
been
hung
,
and
a
barrel
roof
was
the
result
.
The
end
towards
the
wind
was
enclosed
,
the
other
end
was
open
.
Henchard
went
round
and
saw
the
interior
.
In
form
it
was
like
the
nave
of
a
cathedral
with
one
gable
removed
,
but
the
scene
within
was
anything
but
devotional
.
A
reel
or
fling
of
some
sort
was
in
progress
;
and
the
usually
sedate
Farfrae
was
in
the
midst
of
the
other
dancers
in
the
costume
of
a
wild
Highlander
,
flinging
himself
about
and
spinning
to
the
tune
.
For
a
moment
Henchard
could
not
help
laughing
.
Then
he
perceived
the
immense
admiration
for
the
Scotchman
that
revealed
itself
in
the
women
's
faces
;
and
when
this
exhibition
was
over
,
and
a
new
dance
proposed
,
and
Donald
had
disappeared
for
a
time
to
return
in
his
natural
garments
,
he
had
an
unlimited
choice
of
partners
,
every
girl
being
in
a
coming-on
disposition
towards
one
who
so
thoroughly
understood
the
poetry
of
motion
as
he
.
All
the
town
crowded
to
the
Walk
,
such
a
delightful
idea
of
a
ballroom
never
having
occurred
to
the
inhabitants
before
.
Among
the
rest
of
the
onlookers
were
Elizabeth
and
her
mother
—
the
former
thoughtful
yet
much
interested
,
her
eyes
beaming
with
a
longing
lingering
light
,
as
if
Nature
had
been
advised
by
Correggio
in
their
creation
.
The
dancing
progressed
with
unabated
spirit
,
and
Henchard
walked
and
waited
till
his
wife
should
be
disposed
to
go
home
.
He
did
not
care
to
keep
in
the
light
,
and
when
he
went
into
the
dark
it
was
worse
,
for
there
he
heard
remarks
of
a
kind
which
were
becoming
too
frequent
:
“
Mr.
Henchard
's
rejoicings
could
n't
say
good
morning
to
this
,
”
said
one
.
“
A
man
must
be
a
headstrong
stunpoll
to
think
folk
would
go
up
to
that
bleak
place
to-day
.
”
The
other
answered
that
people
said
it
was
not
only
in
such
things
as
those
that
the
Mayor
was
wanting
.
“
Where
would
his
business
be
if
it
were
not
for
this
young
fellow
?
'
Twas
verily
Fortune
sent
him
to
Henchard
.
His
accounts
were
like
a
bramblewood
when
Mr.
Farfrae
came
.
He
used
to
reckon
his
sacks
by
chalk
strokes
all
in
a
row
like
garden-palings
,
measure
his
ricks
by
stretching
with
his
arms
,
weigh
his
trusses
by
a
lift
,
judge
his
hay
by
a
chaw
,
and
settle
the
price
with
a
curse
.
But
now
this
accomplished
young
man
does
it
all
by
ciphering
and
mensuration
.
Then
the
wheat
—
that
sometimes
used
to
taste
so
strong
o
'
mice
when
made
into
bread
that
people
could
fairly
tell
the
breed
—
Farfrae
has
a
plan
for
purifying
,
so
that
nobody
would
dream
the
smallest
four-legged
beast
had
walked
over
it
once
.
O
yes
,
everybody
is
full
of
him
,
and
the
care
Mr.
Henchard
has
to
keep
him
,
to
be
sure
!
”
concluded
this
gentleman
.
“
But
he
wo
n't
do
it
for
long
,
good-now
,
”
said
the
other
.
“
No
!
”
said
Henchard
to
himself
behind
the
tree
.
“
Or
if
he
do
,
he
'll
be
honeycombed
clean
out
of
all
the
character
and
standing
that
he
's
built
up
in
these
eighteen
year
!
”
He
went
back
to
the
dancing
pavilion
.
Farfrae
was
footing
a
quaint
little
dance
with
Elizabeth-Jane
—
an
old
country
thing
,
the
only
one
she
knew
,
and
though
he
considerately
toned
down
his
movements
to
suit
her
demurer
gait
,
the
pattern
of
the
shining
little
nails
in
the
soles
of
his
boots
became
familiar
to
the
eyes
of
every
bystander
.
The
tune
had
enticed
her
into
it
;
being
a
tune
of
a
busy
,
vaulting
,
leaping
sort
—
some
low
notes
on
the
silver
string
of
each
fiddle
,
then
a
skipping
on
the
small
,
like
running
up
and
down
ladders
—
“
Miss
M'Leod
of
Ayr
”
was
its
name
,
so
Mr.
Farfrae
had
said
,
and
that
it
was
very
popular
in
his
own
country
.
It
was
soon
over
,
and
the
girl
looked
at
Henchard
for
approval
;
but
he
did
not
give
it
.
He
seemed
not
to
see
her
.
“
Look
here
,
Farfrae
,
”
he
said
,
like
one
whose
mind
was
elsewhere
,
“
I
'll
go
to
Port-Bredy
Great
Market
to-morrow
myself
.
You
can
stay
and
put
things
right
in
your
clothes-box
,
and
recover
strength
to
your
knees
after
your
vagaries
.
”
He
planted
on
Donald
an
antagonistic
glare
that
had
begun
as
a
smile
.
Some
other
townsmen
came
up
,
and
Donald
drew
aside
.
“
What
's
this
,
Henchard
,
”
said
Alderman
Tubber
,
applying
his
thumb
to
the
corn-factor
like
a
cheese-taster
.
“
An
opposition
randy
to
yours
,
eh
?
Jack
's
as
good
as
his
master
,
eh
?
Cut
ye
out
quite
,
has
n't
he
?
”
“
You
see
,
Mr.
Henchard
,
”
said
the
lawyer
,
another
goodnatured
friend
,
“
where
you
made
the
mistake
was
in
going
so
far
afield
.
You
should
have
taken
a
leaf
out
of
his
book
,
and
have
had
your
sports
in
a
sheltered
place
like
this
.
But
you
did
n't
think
of
it
,
you
see
;
and
he
did
,
and
that
's
where
he
's
beat
you
.
”
“
He
'll
be
top-sawyer
soon
of
you
two
,
and
carry
all
afore
him
,
”
added
jocular
Mr.
Tubber
.
“
No
,
”
said
Henchard
gloomily
.
“
He
wo
n't
be
that
,
because
he
's
shortly
going
to
leave
me
.
”
He
looked
towards
Donald
,
who
had
come
near
.
“
Mr.
Farfrae
's
time
as
my
manager
is
drawing
to
a
close
—
is
n't
it
,
Farfrae
?
”
The
young
man
,
who
could
now
read
the
lines
and
folds
of
Henchard
's
strongly-traced
face
as
if
they
were
clear
verbal
inscriptions
,
quietly
assented
;
and
when
people
deplored
the
fact
,
and
asked
why
it
was
,
he
simply
replied
that
Mr.
Henchard
no
longer
required
his
help
.
Henchard
went
home
,
apparently
satisfied
.
But
in
the
morning
,
when
his
jealous
temper
had
passed
away
,
his
heart
sank
within
him
at
what
he
had
said
and
done
.
He
was
the
more
disturbed
when
he
found
that
this
time
Farfrae
was
determined
to
take
him
at
his
word
.
17.
Elizabeth-Jane
had
perceived
from
Henchard
's
manner
that
in
assenting
to
dance
she
had
made
a
mistake
of
some
kind
.
In
her
simplicity
she
did
not
know
what
it
was
till
a
hint
from
a
nodding
acquaintance
enlightened
her
.
As
the
Mayor
's
step-daughter
,
she
learnt
,
she
had
not
been
quite
in
her
place
in
treading
a
measure
amid
such
a
mixed
throng
as
filled
the
dancing
pavilion
.
Thereupon
her
ears
,
cheeks
,
and
chin
glowed
like
live
coals
at
the
dawning
of
the
idea
that
her
tastes
were
not
good
enough
for
her
position
,
and
would
bring
her
into
disgrace
.
This
made
her
very
miserable
,
and
she
looked
about
for
her
mother
;
but
Mrs.
Henchard
,
who
had
less
idea
of
conventionality
than
Elizabeth
herself
,
had
gone
away
,
leaving
her
daughter
to
return
at
her
own
pleasure
.
The
latter
moved
on
into
the
dark
dense
old
avenues
,
or
rather
vaults
of
living
woodwork
,
which
ran
along
the
town
boundary
,
and
stood
reflecting
.
A
man
followed
in
a
few
minutes
,
and
her
face
being
to-wards
the
shine
from
the
tent
he
recognized
her
.
It
was
Farfrae
—
just
come
from
the
dialogue
with
Henchard
which
had
signified
his
dismissal
.
“
And
it
's
you
,
Miss
Newson
?
—
and
I
've
been
looking
for
ye
everywhere
!
”
he
said
,
overcoming
a
sadness
imparted
by
the
estrangement
with
the
corn-merchant
.
“
May
I
walk
on
with
you
as
far
as
your
street-corner
?
”
She
thought
there
might
be
something
wrong
in
this
,
but
did
not
utter
any
objection
.
So
together
they
went
on
,
first
down
the
West
Walk
,
and
then
into
the
Bowling
Walk
,
till
Farfrae
said
,
“
It
's
like
that
I
'm
going
to
leave
you
soon
.
”
She
faltered
,
“
Why
?
”
“
Oh
—
as
a
mere
matter
of
business
—
nothing
more
.
But
we
'll
not
concern
ourselves
about
it
—
it
is
for
the
best
.
I
hoped
to
have
another
dance
with
you
.
”
She
said
she
could
not
dance
—
in
any
proper
way
.
“
Nay
,
but
you
do
!
It
's
the
feeling
for
it
rather
than
the
learning
of
steps
that
makes
pleasant
dancers
...
.I
fear
I
offended
your
father
by
getting
up
this
!
And
now
,
perhaps
,
I
'll
have
to
go
to
another
part
o
'
the
warrld
altogether
!
”
This
seemed
such
a
melancholy
prospect
that
Elizabeth-Jane
breathed
a
sigh
—
letting
it
off
in
fragments
that
he
might
not
hear
her
.
But
darkness
makes
people
truthful
,
and
the
Scotchman
went
on
impulsively
—
perhaps
he
had
heard
her
after
all
:
“
I
wish
I
was
richer
,
Miss
Newson
;
and
your
stepfather
had
not
been
offended
,
I
would
ask
you
something
in
a
short
time
—
yes
,
I
would
ask
you
to-night
.
But
that
's
not
for
me
!
”
What
he
would
have
asked
her
he
did
not
say
,
and
instead
of
encouraging
him
she
remained
incompetently
silent
.
Thus
afraid
one
of
another
they
continued
their
promenade
along
the
walls
till
they
got
near
the
bottom
of
the
Bowling
Walk
;
twenty
steps
further
and
the
trees
would
end
,
and
the
street-corner
and
lamps
appear
.
In
consciousness
of
this
they
stopped
.
“
I
never
found
out
who
it
was
that
sent
us
to
Durnover
granary
on
a
fool
's
errand
that
day
,
”
said
Donald
,
in
his
undulating
tones
.
“
Did
ye
ever
know
yourself
,
Miss
Newson
?
”
“
Never
,
”
said
she
.
“
I
wonder
why
they
did
it
!
”
“
For
fun
,
perhaps
.
”
“
Perhaps
it
was
not
for
fun
.
It
might
have
been
that
they
thought
they
would
like
us
to
stay
waiting
there
,
talking
to
one
another
?
Ay
,
well
!
I
hope
you
Casterbridge
folk
will
not
forget
me
if
I
go
.
”
“
That
I
'm
sure
we
wo
n't
!
”
she
said
earnestly
.
“
I
—
wish
you
would
n't
go
at
all
.
”
They
had
got
into
the
lamplight
.
“
Now
,
I
'll
think
over
that
,
”
said
Donald
Farfrae
.
“
And
I
'll
not
come
up
to
your
door
;
but
part
from
you
here
;
lest
it
make
your
father
more
angry
still
.
”
They
parted
,
Farfrae
returning
into
the
dark
Bowling
Walk
,
and
Elizabeth-Jane
going
up
the
street
.
Without
any
consciousness
of
what
she
was
doing
she
started
running
with
all
her
might
till
she
reached
her
father
's
door
.
“
O
dear
me
—
what
am
I
at
?
”
she
thought
,
as
she
pulled
up
breathless
.
Indoors
she
fell
to
conjecturing
the
meaning
of
Farfrae
's
enigmatic
words
about
not
daring
to
ask
her
what
he
fain
would
.
Elizabeth
,
that
silent
observing
woman
,
had
long
noted
how
he
was
rising
in
favour
among
the
townspeople
;
and
knowing
Henchard
's
nature
now
she
had
feared
that
Farfrae
's
days
as
manager
were
numbered
,
so
that
the
announcement
gave
her
little
surprise
.
Would
Mr.
Farfrae
stay
in
Casterbridge
despite
his
words
and
her
father
's
dismissal
?
His
occult
breathings
to
her
might
be
solvable
by
his
course
in
that
respect
.
The
next
day
was
windy
—
so
windy
that
walking
in
the
garden
she
picked
up
a
portion
of
the
draft
of
a
letter
on
business
in
Donald
Farfrae
's
writing
,
which
had
flown
over
the
wall
from
the
office
.
The
useless
scrap
she
took
indoors
,
and
began
to
copy
the
calligraphy
,
which
she
much
admired
.
The
letter
began
“
Dear
Sir
,
”
and
presently
writing
on
a
loose
slip
“
Elizabeth-Jane
,
”
she
laid
the
latter
over
“
Sir
,
”
making
the
phrase
“
Dear
Elizabeth-Jane
.
”
When
she
saw
the
effect
a
quick
red
ran
up
her
face
and
warmed
her
through
,
though
nobody
was
there
to
see
what
she
had
done
.
She
quickly
tore
up
the
slip
,
and
threw
it
away
.
After
this
she
grew
cool
and
laughed
at
herself
,
walked
about
the
room
,
and
laughed
again
;
not
joyfully
,
but
distressfully
rather
.
It
was
quickly
known
in
Casterbridge
that
Farfrae
and
Henchard
had
decided
to
dispense
with
each
other
.
Elizabeth-Jane
's
anxiety
to
know
if
Farfrae
were
going
away
from
the
town
reached
a
pitch
that
disturbed
her
,
for
she
could
no
longer
conceal
from
herself
the
cause
.
At
length
the
news
reached
her
that
he
was
not
going
to
leave
the
place
.
A
man
following
the
same
trade
as
Henchard
,
but
on
a
very
small
scale
,
had
sold
his
business
to
Farfrae
,
who
was
forthwith
about
to
start
as
corn
and
hay
merchant
on
his
own
account
.
Her
heart
fluttered
when
she
heard
of
this
step
of
Donald
's
,
proving
that
he
meant
to
remain
;
and
yet
,
would
a
man
who
cared
one
little
bit
for
her
have
endangered
his
suit
by
setting
up
a
business
in
opposition
to
Mr.
Henchard
's
?
Surely
not
;
and
it
must
have
been
a
passing
impulse
only
which
had
led
him
to
address
her
so
softly
.
To
solve
the
problem
whether
her
appearance
on
the
evening
of
the
dance
were
such
as
to
inspire
a
fleeting
love
at
first
sight
,
she
dressed
herself
up
exactly
as
she
had
dressed
then
—
the
muslin
,
the
spencer
,
the
sandals
,
the
para-sol
—
and
looked
in
the
mirror
The
picture
glassed
back
was
in
her
opinion
,
precisely
of
such
a
kind
as
to
inspire
that
fleeting
regard
,
and
no
more
—
“
just
enough
to
make
him
silly
,
and
not
enough
to
keep
him
so
,
”
she
said
luminously
;
and
Elizabeth
thought
,
in
a
much
lower
key
,
that
by
this
time
he
had
discovered
how
plain
and
homely
was
the
informing
spirit
of
that
pretty
outside
.
Hence
,
when
she
felt
her
heart
going
out
to
him
,
she
would
say
to
herself
with
a
mock
pleasantry
that
carried
an
ache
with
it
,
“
No
,
no
,
Elizabeth-Jane
—
such
dreams
are
not
for
you
!
”
She
tried
to
prevent
herself
from
seeing
him
,
and
thinking
of
him
;
succeeding
fairly
well
in
the
former
attempt
,
in
the
latter
not
so
completely
.
Henchard
,
who
had
been
hurt
at
finding
that
Farfrae
did
not
mean
to
put
up
with
his
temper
any
longer
,
was
incensed
beyond
measure
when
he
learnt
what
the
young
man
had
done
as
an
alternative
.
It
was
in
the
town-hall
,
after
a
council
meeting
,
that
he
first
became
aware
of
Farfrae
's
coup
for
establishing
himself
independently
in
the
town
;
and
his
voice
might
have
been
heard
as
far
as
the
town-pump
expressing
his
feelings
to
his
fellow
councilmen
.
These
tones
showed
that
,
though
under
a
long
reign
of
self-control
he
had
become
Mayor
and
churchwarden
and
what
not
,
there
was
still
the
same
unruly
volcanic
stuff
beneath
the
rind
of
Michael
Henchard
as
when
he
had
sold
his
wife
at
Weydon
Fair
.
“
Well
,
he
's
a
friend
of
mine
,
and
I
'm
a
friend
of
his
—
or
if
we
are
not
,
what
are
we
?
'
Od
send
,
if
I
've
not
been
his
friend
,
who
has
,
I
should
like
to
know
?
Did
n't
he
come
here
without
a
sound
shoe
to
his
voot
?
Did
n't
I
keep
him
here
—
help
him
to
a
living
?
Did
n't
I
help
him
to
money
,
or
whatever
he
wanted
?
I
stuck
out
for
no
terms
—
I
said
'
Name
your
own
price
.
'
I
'd
have
shared
my
last
crust
with
that
young
fellow
at
one
time
,
I
liked
him
so
well
.
And
now
he
's
defied
me
!
But
damn
him
,
I
'll
have
a
tussle
with
him
now
—
at
fair
buying
and
selling
,
mind
—
at
fair
buying
and
selling
!
And
if
I
ca
n't
overbid
such
a
stripling
as
he
,
then
I
'm
not
wo'th
a
varden
!
We
'll
show
that
we
know
our
business
as
well
as
one
here
and
there
!
”
His
friends
of
the
Corporation
did
not
specially
respond
.
Henchard
was
less
popular
now
than
he
had
been
when
nearly
two
years
before
,
they
had
voted
him
to
the
chief
magistracy
on
account
of
his
amazing
energy
.
While
they
had
collectively
profited
by
this
quality
of
the
corn-factor
's
they
had
been
made
to
wince
individually
on
more
than
one
occasion
.
So
he
went
out
of
the
hall
and
down
the
street
alone
.
Reaching
home
he
seemed
to
recollect
something
with
a
sour
satisfaction
.
He
called
Elizabeth-Jane
.
Seeing
how
he
looked
when
she
entered
she
appeared
alarmed
.
“
Nothing
to
find
fault
with
,
”
he
said
,
observing
her
concern
.
“
Only
I
want
to
caution
you
,
my
dear
.
That
man
,
Farfrae
—
it
is
about
him
.
I
've
seen
him
talking
to
you
two
or
three
times
—
he
danced
with
'
ee
at
the
rejoicings
,
and
came
home
with
'
ee
.
Now
,
now
,
no
blame
to
you
.
But
just
harken
:
Have
you
made
him
any
foolish
promise
?
Gone
the
least
bit
beyond
sniff
and
snaff
at
all
?
”
“
No.
I
have
promised
him
nothing
.
”
“
Good
.
All
's
well
that
ends
well
.
I
particularly
wish
you
not
to
see
him
again
.
”
“
Very
well
,
sir
.
”
“
You
promise
?
”
She
hesitated
for
a
moment
,
and
then
said
—
“
Yes
,
if
you
much
wish
it
.
”
“
I
do
.
He
's
an
enemy
to
our
house
!
”
When
she
had
gone
he
sat
down
,
and
wrote
in
a
heavy
hand
to
Farfrae
thus
:
—
SIR
,
—
I
make
request
that
henceforth
you
and
my
stepdaughter
be
as
strangers
to
each
other
.
She
on
her
part
has
promised
to
welcome
no
more
addresses
from
you
;
and
I
trust
,
therefore
,
you
will
not
attempt
to
force
them
upon
her
.
M
.
HENCHARD
.
One
would
almost
have
supposed
Henchard
to
have
had
policy
to
see
that
no
better
modus
vivendi
could
be
arrived
at
with
Farfrae
than
by
encouraging
him
to
become
his
son-in-law
.
But
such
a
scheme
for
buying
over
a
rival
had
nothing
to
recommend
it
to
the
Mayor
's
headstrong
faculties
.
With
all
domestic
finesse
of
that
kind
he
was
hopelessly
at
variance
.
Loving
a
man
or
hating
him
,
his
diplomacy
was
as
wrongheaded
as
a
buffalo
's
;
and
his
wife
had
not
ventured
to
suggest
the
course
which
she
,
for
many
reasons
,
would
have
welcomed
gladly
.
Meanwhile
Donald
Farfrae
had
opened
the
gates
of
commerce
on
his
own
account
at
a
spot
on
Durnover
Hill
—
as
far
as
possible
from
Henchard
's
stores
,
and
with
every
intention
of
keeping
clear
of
his
former
friend
and
employer
's
customers
.
There
was
,
it
seemed
to
the
younger
man
,
room
for
both
of
them
and
to
spare
.
The
town
was
small
,
but
the
corn
and
hay-trade
was
proportionately
large
,
and
with
his
native
sagacity
he
saw
opportunity
for
a
share
of
it
.
So
determined
was
he
to
do
nothing
which
should
seem
like
trade-antagonism
to
the
Mayor
that
he
refused
his
first
customer
—
a
large
farmer
of
good
repute
—
because
Henchard
and
this
man
had
dealt
together
within
the
preceding
three
months
.
“
He
was
once
my
friend
,
”
said
Farfrae
,
“
and
it
's
not
for
me
to
take
business
from
him
.
I
am
sorry
to
disappoint
you
,
but
I
cannot
hurt
the
trade
of
a
man
who
's
been
so
kind
to
me
.
”
In
spite
of
this
praiseworthy
course
the
Scotchman
's
trade
increased
.
Whether
it
were
that
his
northern
energy
was
an
overmastering
force
among
the
easy-going
Wessex
worthies
,
or
whether
it
was
sheer
luck
,
the
fact
remained
that
whatever
he
touched
he
prospered
in
.
Like
Jacob
in
Padan-Aram
,
he
would
no
sooner
humbly
limit
himself
to
the
ringstraked-and-spotted
exceptions
of
trade
than
the
ringstraked-and-spotted
would
multiply
and
prevail
.
But
most
probably
luck
had
little
to
do
with
it
.
Character
is
Fate
,
said
Novalis
,
and
Farfrae
's
character
was
just
the
reverse
of
Henchard
's
,
who
might
not
inaptly
be
described
as
Faust
has
been
described
—
as
a
vehement
gloomy
being
who
had
quitted
the
ways
of
vulgar
men
without
light
to
guide
him
on
a
better
way
.
Farfrae
duly
received
the
request
to
discontinue
attentions
to
Elizabeth-Jane
.
His
acts
of
that
kind
had
been
so
slight
that
the
request
was
almost
superfluous
.
Yet
he
had
felt
a
considerable
interest
in
her
,
and
after
some
cogitation
he
decided
that
it
would
be
as
well
to
enact
no
Romeo
part
just
then
—
for
the
young
girl
's
sake
no
less
than
his
own
.
Thus
the
incipient
attachment
was
stifled
down
.
A
time
came
when
,
avoid
collision
with
his
former
friend
as
he
might
,
Farfrae
was
compelled
,
in
sheer
self-defence
,
to
close
with
Henchard
in
mortal
commercial
combat
.
He
could
no
longer
parry
the
fierce
attacks
of
the
latter
by
simple
avoidance
.
As
soon
as
their
war
of
prices
began
everybody
was
interested
,
and
some
few
guessed
the
end
.
It
was
,
in
some
degree
,
Northern
insight
matched
against
Southern
doggedness
—
the
dirk
against
the
cudgel
—
and
Henchard
's
weapon
was
one
which
,
if
it
did
not
deal
ruin
at
the
first
or
second
stroke
,
left
him
afterwards
well-nigh
at
his
antagonist
's
mercy
.
Almost
every
Saturday
they
encountered
each
other
amid
the
crowd
of
farmers
which
thronged
about
the
market-place
in
the
weekly
course
of
their
business
.
Donald
was
always
ready
,
and
even
anxious
,
to
say
a
few
friendly
words
,
but
the
Mayor
invariably
gazed
stormfully
past
him
,
like
one
who
had
endured
and
lost
on
his
account
,
and
could
in
no
sense
forgive
the
wrong
;
nor
did
Farfrae
's
snubbed
manner
of
perplexity
at
all
appease
him
.
The
large
farmers
,
corn-merchants
,
millers
,
auctioneers
,
and
others
had
each
an
official
stall
in
the
corn-market
room
,
with
their
names
painted
thereon
;
and
when
to
the
familiar
series
of
“
Henchard
,
”
“
Everdene
,
”
“
Shiner
,
”
“
Darton
,
”
and
so
on
,
was
added
one
inscribed
“
Farfrae
,
”
in
staring
new
letters
,
Henchard
was
stung
into
bitterness
;
like
Bellerophon
,
he
wandered
away
from
the
crowd
,
cankered
in
soul
.
From
that
day
Donald
Farfrae
's
name
was
seldom
mentioned
in
Henchard
's
house
.
If
at
breakfast
or
dinner
Elizabeth-Jane
's
mother
inadvertently
alluded
to
her
favourite
's
movements
,
the
girl
would
implore
her
by
a
look
to
be
silent
;
and
her
husband
would
say
,
“
What
—
are
you
,
too
,
my
enemy
?
”
18.
There
came
a
shock
which
had
been
foreseen
for
some
time
by
Elizabeth
,
as
the
box
passenger
foresees
the
approaching
jerk
from
some
channel
across
the
highway
.
Her
mother
was
ill
—
too
unwell
to
leave
her
room
.
Henchard
,
who
treated
her
kindly
,
except
in
moments
of
irritation
,
sent
at
once
for
the
richest
,
busiest
doctor
,
whom
he
supposed
to
be
the
best
.
Bedtime
came
,
and
they
burnt
a
light
all
night
.
In
a
day
or
two
she
rallied
.
Elizabeth
,
who
had
been
staying
up
,
did
not
appear
at
breakfast
on
the
second
morning
,
and
Henchard
sat
down
alone
.
He
was
startled
to
see
a
letter
for
him
from
Jersey
in
a
writing
he
knew
too
well
,
and
had
expected
least
to
behold
again
.
He
took
it
up
in
his
hands
and
looked
at
it
as
at
a
picture
,
a
vision
,
a
vista
of
past
enactments
;
and
then
he
read
it
as
an
unimportant
finale
to
conjecture
.
The
writer
said
that
she
at
length
perceived
how
impossible
it
would
be
for
any
further
communications
to
proceed
between
them
now
that
his
re-marriage
had
taken
place
.
That
such
reunion
had
been
the
only
straightforward
course
open
to
him
she
was
bound
to
admit
.
“
On
calm
reflection
,
therefore
,
”
she
went
on
,
“
I
quite
forgive
you
for
landing
me
in
such
a
dilemma
,
remembering
that
you
concealed
nothing
before
our
ill-advised
acquaintance
;
and
that
you
really
did
set
before
me
in
your
grim
way
the
fact
of
there
being
a
certain
risk
in
intimacy
with
you
,
slight
as
it
seemed
to
be
after
fifteen
or
sixteen
years
of
silence
on
your
wife
's
part
.
I
thus
look
upon
the
whole
as
a
misfortune
of
mine
,
and
not
a
fault
of
yours
.
“
So
that
,
Michael
,
I
must
ask
you
to
overlook
those
letters
with
which
I
pestered
you
day
after
day
in
the
heat
of
my
feelings
.
They
were
written
whilst
I
thought
your
conduct
to
me
cruel
;
but
now
I
know
more
particulars
of
the
position
you
were
in
I
see
how
inconsiderate
my
reproaches
were
.
“
Now
you
will
,
I
am
sure
,
perceive
that
the
one
condition
which
will
make
any
future
happiness
possible
for
me
is
that
the
past
connection
between
our
lives
be
kept
secret
outside
this
isle
.
Speak
of
it
I
know
you
will
not
;
and
I
can
trust
you
not
to
write
of
it
.
One
safe-guard
more
remains
to
be
mentioned
—
that
no
writings
of
mine
,
or
trifling
articles
belonging
to
me
,
should
be
left
in
your
possession
through
neglect
or
forgetfulness
.
To
this
end
may
I
request
you
to
return
to
me
any
such
you
may
have
,
particularly
the
letters
written
in
the
first
abandonment
of
feeling
.
“
For
the
handsome
sum
you
forwarded
to
me
as
a
plaster
to
the
wound
I
heartily
thank
you
.
“
I
am
now
on
my
way
to
Bristol
,
to
see
my
only
relative
.
She
is
rich
,
and
I
hope
will
do
something
for
me
.
I
shall
return
through
Casterbridge
and
Budmouth
,
where
I
shall
take
the
packet-boat
.
Can
you
meet
me
with
the
letters
and
other
trifles
?
I
shall
be
in
the
coach
which
changes
horses
at
the
Antelope
Hotel
at
half-past
five
Wednesday
evening
;
I
shall
be
wearing
a
Paisley
shawl
with
a
red
centre
,
and
thus
may
easily
be
found
.
I
should
prefer
this
plan
of
receiving
them
to
having
them
sent
.
—
I
remain
still
,
yours
;
ever
,
“
LUCETTA
”
Henchard
breathed
heavily
.
“
Poor
thing
—
better
you
had
not
known
me
!
Upon
my
heart
and
soul
,
if
ever
I
should
be
left
in
a
position
to
carry
out
that
marriage
with
thee
,
I
OUGHT
to
do
it
—
I
ought
to
do
it
,
indeed
!
”
The
contingency
that
he
had
in
his
mind
was
,
of
course
,
the
death
of
Mrs.
Henchard
.
As
requested
,
he
sealed
up
Lucetta
's
letters
,
and
put
the
parcel
aside
till
the
day
she
had
appointed
;
this
plan
of
returning
them
by
hand
being
apparently
a
little
ruse
of
the
young
lady
for
exchanging
a
word
or
two
with
him
on
past
times
.
He
would
have
preferred
not
to
see
her
;
but
deeming
that
there
could
be
no
great
harm
in
acquiescing
thus
far
,
he
went
at
dusk
and
stood
opposite
the
coach-office
.
The
evening
was
chilly
,
and
the
coach
was
late
.
Henchard
crossed
over
to
it
while
the
horses
were
being
changed
;
but
there
was
no
Lucetta
inside
or
out
.
Concluding
that
something
had
happened
to
modify
her
arrangements
he
gave
the
matter
up
and
went
home
,
not
without
a
sense
of
relief
.
Meanwhile
Mrs.
Henchard
was
weakening
visibly
.
She
could
not
go
out
of
doors
any
more
.
One
day
,
after
much
thinking
which
seemed
to
distress
her
,
she
said
she
wanted
to
write
something
.
A
desk
was
put
upon
her
bed
with
pen
and
paper
,
and
at
her
request
she
was
left
alone
.
She
remained
writing
for
a
short
time
,
folded
her
paper
carefully
,
called
Elizabeth-Jane
to
bring
a
taper
and
wax
,
and
then
,
still
refusing
assistance
,
sealed
up
the
sheet
,
directed
it
,
and
locked
it
in
her
desk
.
She
had
directed
it
in
these
words
:
—
“
MR.
MICHAEL
HENCHARD
.
NOT
TO
BE
OPENED
TILL
ELIZABETH-JANE
'S
WEDDING-DAY
.
”
The
latter
sat
up
with
her
mother
to
the
utmost
of
her
strength
night
after
night
.
To
learn
to
take
the
universe
seriously
there
is
no
quicker
way
than
to
watch
—
to
be
a
“
waker
,
”
as
the
country-people
call
it
.
Between
the
hours
at
which
the
last
toss-pot
went
by
and
the
first
sparrow
shook
himself
,
the
silence
in
Casterbridge
—
barring
the
rare
sound
of
the
watchman
—
was
broken
in
Elizabeth
's
ear
only
by
the
time-piece
in
the
bedroom
ticking
frantically
against
the
clock
on
the
stairs
;
ticking
harder
and
harder
till
it
seemed
to
clang
like
a
gong
;
and
all
this
while
the
subtle-souled
girl
asking
herself
why
she
was
born
,
why
sitting
in
a
room
,
and
blinking
at
the
candle
;
why
things
around
her
had
taken
the
shape
they
wore
in
preference
to
every
other
possible
shape
.
Why
they
stared
at
her
so
helplessly
,
as
if
waiting
for
the
touch
of
some
wand
that
should
release
them
from
terrestrial
constraint
;
what
that
chaos
called
consciousness
,
which
spun
in
her
at
this
moment
like
a
top
,
tended
to
,
and
began
in
.
Her
eyes
fell
together
;
she
was
awake
,
yet
she
was
asleep
.
A
word
from
her
mother
roused
her
.
Without
preface
,
and
as
the
continuation
of
a
scene
already
progressing
in
her
mind
,
Mrs.
Henchard
said
:
“
You
remember
the
note
sent
to
you
and
Mr.
Farfrae
—
asking
you
to
meet
some
one
in
Durnover
Barton
—
and
that
you
thought
it
was
a
trick
to
make
fools
of
you
?
”
“
Yes
.
”
“
It
was
not
to
make
fools
of
you
—
it
was
done
to
bring
you
together
.
'
Twas
I
did
it
.
”
“
Why
?
”
said
Elizabeth
,
with
a
start
.
“
I
—
wanted
you
to
marry
Mr.
Farfrae
.
”
“
O
mother
!
”
Elizabeth-Jane
bent
down
her
head
so
much
that
she
looked
quite
into
her
own
lap
.
But
as
her
mother
did
not
go
on
,
she
said
,
“
What
reason
?
”
“
Well
,
I
had
a
reason
.
'
Twill
out
one
day
.
I
wish
it
could
have
been
in
my
time
!
But
there
—
nothing
is
as
you
wish
it
!
Henchard
hates
him
.
”
“
Perhaps
they
'll
be
friends
again
,
”
murmured
the
girl
.
“
I
do
n't
know
—
I
do
n't
know
.
”
After
this
her
mother
was
silent
,
and
dozed
;
and
she
spoke
on
the
subject
no
more
.
Some
little
time
later
on
Farfrae
was
passing
Henchard
's
house
on
a
Sunday
morning
,
when
he
observed
that
the
blinds
were
all
down
.
He
rang
the
bell
so
softly
that
it
only
sounded
a
single
full
note
and
a
small
one
;
and
then
he
was
informed
that
Mrs.
Henchard
was
dead
—
just
dead
—
that
very
hour
.
At
the
town-pump
there
were
gathered
when
he
passed
a
few
old
inhabitants
,
who
came
there
for
water
whenever
they
had
,
as
at
present
,
spare
time
to
fetch
it
,
because
it
was
purer
from
that
original
fount
than
from
their
own
wells
.
Mrs.
Cuxsom
,
who
had
been
standing
there
for
an
indefinite
time
with
her
pitcher
,
was
describing
the
incidents
of
Mrs.
Henchard
's
death
,
as
she
had
learnt
them
from
the
nurse
.
“
And
she
was
white
as
marble-stone
,
”
said
Mrs.
Cuxsom
.
“
And
likewise
such
a
thoughtful
woman
,
too
—
ah
,
poor
soul
—
that
a
'
minded
every
little
thing
that
wanted
tending
.
'
Yes
,
'
says
she
,
'
when
I
'm
gone
,
and
my
last
breath
's
blowed
,
look
in
the
top
drawer
o
'
the
chest
in
the
back
room
by
the
window
,
and
you
'll
find
all
my
coffin
clothes
,
a
piece
of
flannel
—
that
's
to
put
under
me
,
and
the
little
piece
is
to
put
under
my
head
;
and
my
new
stockings
for
my
feet
—
they
are
folded
alongside
,
and
all
my
other
things
.
And
there
's
four
ounce
pennies
,
the
heaviest
I
could
find
,
a-tied
up
in
bits
of
linen
,
for
weights
—
two
for
my
right
eye
and
two
for
my
left
,
'
she
said
.
'
And
when
you
've
used
'
em
,
and
my
eyes
do
n't
open
no
more
,
bury
the
pennies
,
good
souls
and
do
n't
ye
go
spending
'
em
,
for
I
should
n't
like
it
.
And
open
the
windows
as
soon
as
I
am
carried
out
,
and
make
it
as
cheerful
as
you
can
for
Elizabeth-Jane
.
'
”
“
Ah
,
poor
heart
!
”
“
Well
,
and
Martha
did
it
,
and
buried
the
ounce
pennies
in
the
garden
.
But
if
ye
'll
believe
words
,
that
man
,
Christopher
Coney
,
went
and
dug
'
em
up
,
and
spent
'
em
at
the
Three
Mariners
.
'
Faith
,
'
he
said
,
'
why
should
death
rob
life
o
'
fourpence
?
Death
's
not
of
such
good
report
that
we
should
respect
'
en
to
that
extent
,
'
says
he
.
”
“
'
Twas
a
cannibal
deed
!
”
deprecated
her
listeners
.
“
Gad
,
then
I
wo
n't
quite
ha'e
it
,
”
said
Solomon
Longways
.
“
I
say
it
to-day
,
and
'
tis
a
Sunday
morning
,
and
I
would
n't
speak
wrongfully
for
a
zilver
zixpence
at
such
a
time
.
I
do
n't
see
noo
harm
in
it
.
To
respect
the
dead
is
sound
doxology
;
and
I
would
n't
sell
skellintons
—
leastwise
respectable
skellintons
—
to
be
varnished
for
'
natomies
,
except
I
were
out
o
'
work
.
But
money
is
scarce
,
and
throats
get
dry
.
Why
SHOULD
death
rob
life
o
'
fourpence
?
I
say
there
was
no
treason
in
it
.
”
“
Well
,
poor
soul
;
she
's
helpless
to
hinder
that
or
anything
now
,
”
answered
Mother
Cuxsom
.
“
And
all
her
shining
keys
will
be
took
from
her
,
and
her
cupboards
opened
;
and
little
things
a
'
did
n't
wish
seen
,
anybody
will
see
;
and
her
wishes
and
ways
will
all
be
as
nothing
!
”
19.
Henchard
and
Elizabeth
sat
conversing
by
the
fire
.
It
was
three
weeks
after
