coachor
road-waggon
wants
to
come
along
,
tell
'
em
they
must
go
round
by
the
back
street
,
and
be
hanged
to
'
em
...
.Any
case
tomorrow
up
in
Hall
?
”
“
Yes
,
sir
.
One
in
number
,
sir
.
”
“
Oh
,
what
's
that
?
”
“
An
old
flagrant
female
,
sir
,
swearing
and
committing
a
nuisance
in
a
horrible
profane
manner
against
the
church
wall
,
sir
,
as
if
'
twere
no
more
than
a
pot-house
!
That
's
all
,
sir
.
”
“
Oh
.
The
Mayor
's
out
o
'
town
,
is
n't
he
?
”
“
He
is
,
sir
.
”
“
Very
well
,
then
I
'll
be
there
.
Do
n't
forget
to
keep
an
eye
on
that
hay
.
Good
night
t
'
'
ee
.
”
During
those
moments
Henchard
had
determined
to
follow
up
Lucetta
notwithstanding
her
elusiveness
,
and
he
knocked
for
admission
.
The
answer
he
received
was
an
expression
of
Miss
Templeman
's
sorrow
at
being
unable
to
see
him
again
that
evening
because
she
had
an
engagement
to
go
out
.
Henchard
walked
away
from
the
door
to
the
opposite
side
of
the
street
,
and
stood
by
his
hay
in
a
lonely
reverie
,
the
constable
having
strolled
elsewhere
,
and
the
horses
being
removed
.
Though
the
moon
was
not
bright
as
yet
there
were
no
lamps
lighted
,
and
he
entered
the
shadow
of
one
of
the
projecting
jambs
which
formed
the
thoroughfare
to
Bull
Stake
;
here
he
watched
Lucetta
's
door
.
Candle-lights
were
flitting
in
and
out
of
her
bedroom
,
and
it
was
obvious
that
she
was
dressing
for
the
appointment
,
whatever
the
nature
of
that
might
be
at
such
an
hour
.
The
lights
disappeared
,
the
clock
struck
nine
,
and
almost
at
the
moment
Farfrae
came
round
the
opposite
corner
and
knocked
.
That
she
had
been
waiting
just
inside
for
him
was
certain
,
for
she
instantly
opened
the
door
herself
.
They
went
together
by
the
way
of
a
back
lane
westward
,
avoiding
the
front
street
;
guessing
where
they
were
going
he
determined
to
follow
.
The
harvest
had
been
so
delayed
by
the
capricious
weather
that
whenever
a
fine
day
occurred
all
sinews
were
strained
to
save
what
could
be
saved
of
the
damaged
crops
.
On
account
of
the
rapid
shortening
of
the
days
the
harvesters
worked
by
moonlight
.
Hence
to-night
the
wheat-fields
abutting
on
the
two
sides
of
the
square
formed
by
Casterbridge
town
were
animated
by
the
gathering
hands
.
Their
shouts
and
laughter
had
reached
Henchard
at
the
Market
House
,
while
he
stood
there
waiting
,
and
he
had
little
doubt
from
the
turn
which
Farfrae
and
Lucetta
had
taken
that
they
were
bound
for
the
spot
.
Nearly
the
whole
town
had
gone
into
the
fields
.
The
Casterbridge
populace
still
retained
the
primitive
habit
of
helping
one
another
in
time
of
need
;
and
thus
,
though
the
corn
belonged
to
the
farming
section
of
the
little
community
—
that
inhabiting
the
Durnover
quarter
—
the
remainder
was
no
less
interested
in
the
labour
of
getting
it
home
.
Reaching
the
top
of
the
lane
Henchard
crossed
the
shaded
avenue
on
the
walls
,
slid
down
the
green
rampart
,
and
stood
amongst
the
stubble
.
The
“
stitches
”
or
shocks
rose
like
tents
about
the
yellow
expanse
,
those
in
the
distance
becoming
lost
in
the
moonlit
hazes
.
He
had
entered
at
a
point
removed
from
the
scene
of
immediate
operations
;
but
two
others
had
entered
at
that
place
,
and
he
could
see
them
winding
among
the
shocks
.
They
were
paying
no
regard
to
the
direction
of
their
walk
,
whose
vague
serpentining
soon
began
to
bear
down
towards
Henchard
.
A
meeting
promised
to
be
awkward
,
and
he
therefore
stepped
into
the
hollow
of
the
nearest
shock
,
and
sat
down
.
“
You
have
my
leave
,
”
Lucetta
was
saying
gaily
.
“
Speak
what
you
like
.
”
“
Well
,
then
,
”
replied
Farfrae
,
with
the
unmistakable
inflection
of
the
lover
pure
,
which
Henchard
had
never
heard
in
full
resonance
of
his
lips
before
,
“
you
are
sure
to
be
much
sought
after
for
your
position
,
wealth
,
talents
,
and
beauty
.
But
will
ye
resist
the
temptation
to
be
one
of
those
ladies
with
lots
of
admirers
—
ay
—
and
be
content
to
have
only
a
homely
one
?
”
“
And
he
the
speaker
?
”
said
she
,
laughing
.
“
Very
well
,
sir
,
what
next
?
”
“
Ah
!
I
'm
afraid
that
what
I
feel
will
make
me
forget
my
manners
!
”
“
Then
I
hope
you
'll
never
have
any
,
if
you
lack
them
only
for
that
cause
.
”
After
some
broken
words
which
Henchard
lost
she
added
,
“
Are
you
sure
you
wo
n't
be
jealous
?
”
Farfrae
seemed
to
assure
her
that
he
would
not
,
by
taking
her
hand
.
“
You
are
convinced
,
Donald
,
that
I
love
nobody
else
,
”
she
presently
said
.
“
But
I
should
wish
to
have
my
own
way
in
some
things
.
”
“
In
everything
!
What
special
thing
did
you
mean
?
”
“
If
I
wished
not
to
live
always
in
Casterbridge
,
for
instance
,
upon
finding
that
I
should
not
be
happy
here
?
”
Henchard
did
not
hear
the
reply
;
he
might
have
done
so
and
much
more
,
but
he
did
not
care
to
play
the
eavesdropper
.
They
went
on
towards
the
scene
of
activity
,
where
the
sheaves
were
being
handed
,
a
dozen
a
minute
,
upon
the
carts
and
waggons
which
carried
them
away
.
Lucetta
insisted
on
parting
from
Farfrae
when
they
drew
near
the
workpeople
.
He
had
some
business
with
them
,
and
,
though
he
entreated
her
to
wait
a
few
minutes
,
she
was
inexorable
,
and
tripped
off
homeward
alone
.
Henchard
thereupon
left
the
field
and
followed
her
.
His
state
of
mind
was
such
that
on
reaching
Lucetta
's
door
he
did
not
knock
but
opened
it
,
and
walked
straight
up
to
her
sitting-room
,
expecting
to
find
her
there
.
But
the
room
was
empty
,
and
he
perceived
that
in
his
haste
he
had
somehow
passed
her
on
the
way
hither
.
He
had
not
to
wait
many
minutes
,
however
,
for
he
soon
heard
her
dress
rustling
in
the
hall
,
followed
by
a
soft
closing
of
the
door
.
In
a
moment
she
appeared
.
The
light
was
so
low
that
she
did
not
notice
Henchard
at
first
.
As
soon
as
she
saw
him
she
uttered
a
little
cry
,
almost
of
terror
.
“
How
can
you
frighten
me
so
?
”
she
exclaimed
,
with
a
flushed
face
.
“
It
is
past
ten
o'clock
,
and
you
have
no
right
to
surprise
me
here
at
such
a
time
.
”
“
I
do
n't
know
that
I
've
not
the
right
.
At
any
rate
I
have
the
excuse
.
Is
it
so
necessary
that
I
should
stop
to
think
of
manners
and
customs
?
”
“
It
is
too
late
for
propriety
,
and
might
injure
me
.
”
“
I
called
an
hour
ago
,
and
you
would
not
see
me
,
and
I
thought
you
were
in
when
I
called
now
.
It
is
you
,
Lucetta
,
who
are
doing
wrong
.
It
is
not
proper
in
'
ee
to
throw
me
over
like
this
.
I
have
a
little
matter
to
remind
you
of
,
which
you
seem
to
forget
.
”
She
sank
into
a
chair
,
and
turned
pale
.
“
I
do
n't
want
to
hear
it
—
I
do
n't
want
to
hear
it
!
”
she
said
through
her
hands
,
as
he
,
standing
close
to
the
edge
of
her
gown
,
began
to
allude
to
the
Jersey
days
.
“
But
you
ought
to
hear
it
,
”
said
he
.
“
It
came
to
nothing
;
and
through
you
.
Then
why
not
leave
me
the
freedom
that
I
gained
with
such
sorrow
!
Had
I
found
that
you
proposed
to
marry
me
for
pure
love
I
might
have
felt
bound
now
.
But
I
soon
learnt
that
you
had
planned
it
out
of
mere
charity
—
almost
as
an
unpleasant
duty
—
because
I
had
nursed
you
,
and
compromised
myself
,
and
you
thought
you
must
repay
me
.
After
that
I
did
not
care
for
you
so
deeply
as
before
.
”
“
Why
did
you
come
here
to
find
me
,
then
?
”
“
I
thought
I
ought
to
marry
you
for
conscience
'
sake
,
since
you
were
free
,
even
though
I
—
did
not
like
you
so
well
.
”
“
And
why
then
do
n't
you
think
so
now
?
”
She
was
silent
.
It
was
only
too
obvious
that
conscience
had
ruled
well
enough
till
new
love
had
intervened
and
usurped
that
rule
.
In
feeling
this
she
herself
forgot
for
the
moment
her
partially
justifying
argument
—
that
having
discovered
Henchard
's
infirmities
of
temper
,
she
had
some
excuse
for
not
risking
her
happiness
in
his
hands
after
once
escaping
them
.
The
only
thing
she
could
say
was
,
“
I
was
a
poor
girl
then
;
and
now
my
circumstances
have
altered
,
so
I
am
hardly
the
same
person
.
”
“
That
's
true
.
And
it
makes
the
case
awkward
for
me
.
But
I
do
n't
want
to
touch
your
money
.
I
am
quite
willing
that
every
penny
of
your
property
shall
remain
to
your
personal
use
.
Besides
,
that
argument
has
nothing
in
it
.
The
man
you
are
thinking
of
is
no
better
than
I
.
”
“
If
you
were
as
good
as
he
you
would
leave
me
!
”
she
cried
passionately
.
This
unluckily
aroused
Henchard
.
“
You
cannot
in
honour
refuse
me
,
”
he
said
.
“
And
unless
you
give
me
your
promise
this
very
night
to
be
my
wife
,
before
a
witness
,
I
'll
reveal
our
intimacy
—
in
common
fairness
to
other
men
!
”
A
look
of
resignation
settled
upon
her
.
Henchard
saw
its
bitterness
;
and
had
Lucetta
's
heart
been
given
to
any
other
man
in
the
world
than
Farfrae
he
would
probably
have
had
pity
upon
her
at
that
moment
.
But
the
supplanter
was
the
upstart
(
as
Henchard
called
him
)
who
had
mounted
into
prominence
upon
his
shoulders
,
and
he
could
bring
himself
to
show
no
mercy
.
Without
another
word
she
rang
the
bell
,
and
directed
that
Elizabeth-Jane
should
be
fetched
from
her
room
.
The
latter
appeared
,
surprised
in
the
midst
of
her
lucubrations
.
As
soon
as
she
saw
Henchard
she
went
across
to
him
dutifully
.
“
Elizabeth-Jane
,
”
he
said
,
taking
her
hand
,
“
I
want
you
to
hear
this
.
”
And
turning
to
Lucetta
:
“
Will
you
,
or
will
you
not
,
marry
me
?
“
If
you
—
wish
it
,
I
must
agree
!
”
“
You
say
yes
?
”
“
I
do
.
”
No
sooner
had
she
given
the
promise
than
she
fell
back
in
a
fainting
state
.
“
What
dreadful
thing
drives
her
to
say
this
,
father
,
when
it
is
such
a
pain
to
her
?
”
asked
Elizabeth
,
kneeling
down
by
Lucetta
.
“
Do
n't
compel
her
to
do
anything
against
her
will
!
I
have
lived
with
her
,
and
know
that
she
cannot
bear
much
.
”
“
Do
n't
be
a
no'thern
simpleton
!
”
said
Henchard
drily
.
“
This
promise
will
leave
him
free
for
you
,
if
you
want
him
,
wo
n't
it
?
”
At
this
Lucetta
seemed
to
wake
from
her
swoon
with
a
start
.
“
Him
?
Who
are
you
talking
about
?
”
she
said
wildly
.
“
Nobody
,
as
far
as
I
am
concerned
,
”
said
Elizabeth
firmly
.
“
Oh
—
well
.
Then
it
is
my
mistake
,
”
said
Henchard
.
“
But
the
business
is
between
me
and
Miss
Templeman
.
She
agrees
to
be
my
wife
.
”
“
But
do
n't
dwell
on
it
just
now
,
”
entreated
Elizabeth
,
holding
Lucetta
's
hand
.
“
I
do
n't
wish
to
,
if
she
promises
,
”
said
Henchard
.
“
I
have
,
I
have
,
”
groaned
Lucetta
,
her
limbs
hanging
like
fluid
,
from
very
misery
and
faintness
.
“
Michael
,
please
do
n't
argue
it
any
more
!
”
“
I
will
not
,
”
he
said
.
And
taking
up
his
hat
he
went
away
.
Elizabeth-Jane
continued
to
kneel
by
Lucetta
.
“
What
is
this
?
”
she
said
.
“
You
called
my
father
'
Michael
'
as
if
you
knew
him
well
?
And
how
is
it
he
has
got
this
power
over
you
,
that
you
promise
to
marry
him
against
your
will
?
Ah
—
you
have
many
many
secrets
from
me
!
”
“
Perhaps
you
have
some
from
me
,
”
Lucetta
murmured
with
closed
eyes
,
little
thinking
,
however
,
so
unsuspicious
was
she
,
that
the
secret
of
Elizabeth
's
heart
concerned
the
young
man
who
had
caused
this
damage
to
her
own
.
“
I
would
not
—
do
anything
against
you
at
all
!
”
stammered
Elizabeth
,
keeping
in
all
signs
of
emotion
till
she
was
ready
to
burst
.
“
I
cannot
understand
how
my
father
can
command
you
so
;
I
do
n't
sympathize
with
him
in
it
at
all
.
I
'll
go
to
him
and
ask
him
to
release
you
.
”
“
No
,
no
,
”
said
Lucetta
.
“
Let
it
all
be
.
”
28.
The
next
morning
Henchard
went
to
the
Town
Hall
below
Lucetta
's
house
,
to
attend
Petty
Sessions
,
being
still
a
magistrate
for
the
year
by
virtue
of
his
late
position
as
Mayor
.
In
passing
he
looked
up
at
her
windows
,
but
nothing
of
her
was
to
be
seen
.
Henchard
as
a
Justice
of
the
Peace
may
at
first
seem
to
be
an
even
greater
incongruity
than
Shallow
and
Silence
themselves
.
But
his
rough
and
ready
perceptions
,
his
sledge-hammer
directness
,
had
often
served
him
better
than
nice
legal
knowledge
in
despatching
such
simple
business
as
fell
to
his
hands
in
this
Court
.
To-day
Dr.
Chalkfield
,
the
Mayor
for
the
year
,
being
absent
,
the
corn-merchant
took
the
big
chair
,
his
eyes
still
abstractedly
stretching
out
of
the
window
to
the
ashlar
front
of
High-Place
Hall
.
There
was
one
case
only
,
and
the
offender
stood
before
him
.
She
was
an
old
woman
of
mottled
countenance
,
attired
in
a
shawl
of
that
nameless
tertiary
hue
which
comes
,
but
cannot
be
made
—
a
hue
neither
tawny
,
russet
,
hazel
,
nor
ash
;
a
sticky
black
bonnet
that
seemed
to
have
been
worn
in
the
country
of
the
Psalmist
where
the
clouds
drop
fatness
;
and
an
apron
that
had
been
white
in
time
so
comparatively
recent
as
still
to
contrast
visibly
with
the
rest
of
her
clothes
.
The
steeped
aspect
of
the
woman
as
a
whole
showed
her
to
be
no
native
of
the
country-side
or
even
of
a
country-town
.
She
looked
cursorily
at
Henchard
and
the
second
magistrate
,
and
Henchard
looked
at
her
,
with
a
momentary
pause
,
as
if
she
had
reminded
him
indistinctly
of
somebody
or
something
which
passed
from
his
mind
as
quickly
as
it
had
come
.
“
Well
,
and
what
has
she
been
doing
?
”
he
said
,
looking
down
at
the
charge
sheet
.
“
She
is
charged
,
sir
,
with
the
offence
of
disorderly
female
and
nuisance
,
”
whispered
Stubberd
.
“
Where
did
she
do
that
?
”
said
the
other
magistrate
.
“
By
the
church
,
sir
,
of
all
the
horrible
places
in
the
world
!
—
I
caught
her
in
the
act
,
your
worship
.
”
“
Stand
back
then
,
”
said
Henchard
,
“
and
let
's
hear
what
you
've
got
to
say
.
”
Stubberd
was
sworn
in
,
the
magistrate
's
clerk
dipped
his
pen
,
Henchard
being
no
note-taker
himself
,
and
the
constable
began
—
“
Hearing
a
'
illegal
noise
I
went
down
the
street
at
twenty-five
minutes
past
eleven
P.M.
on
the
night
of
the
fifth
instinct
,
Hannah
Dominy
.
When
I
had
—
“
Do
n't
go
so
fast
,
Stubberd
,
”
said
the
clerk
.
The
constable
waited
,
with
his
eyes
on
the
clerk
's
pen
,
till
the
latter
stopped
scratching
and
said
,
“
yes
.
”
Stubberd
continued
:
“
When
I
had
proceeded
to
the
spot
I
saw
defendant
at
another
spot
,
namely
,
the
gutter
.
”
He
paused
,
watching
the
point
of
the
clerk
's
pen
again
.
“
Gutter
,
yes
,
Stubberd
.
”
“
Spot
measuring
twelve
feet
nine
inches
or
thereabouts
from
where
I
—
”
Still
careful
not
to
outrun
the
clerk
's
penmanship
Stubberd
pulled
up
again
;
for
having
got
his
evidence
by
heart
it
was
immaterial
to
him
whereabouts
he
broke
off
.
“
I
object
to
that
,
”
spoke
up
the
old
woman
,
“
'
spot
measuring
twelve
feet
nine
or
thereabouts
from
where
I
,
'
is
not
sound
testimony
!
”
The
magistrates
consulted
,
and
the
second
one
said
that
the
bench
was
of
opinion
that
twelve
feet
nine
inches
from
a
man
on
his
oath
was
admissible
.
Stubberd
,
with
a
suppressed
gaze
of
victorious
rectitude
at
the
old
woman
,
continued
:
“
Was
standing
myself
.
She
was
wambling
about
quite
dangerous
to
the
thoroughfare
and
when
I
approached
to
draw
near
she
committed
the
nuisance
,
and
insulted
me
.
”
“
'
Insulted
me
.
'
...
Yes
,
what
did
she
say
?
”
“
She
said
,
'
Put
away
that
dee
lantern
,
'
she
says
.
”
“
Yes
.
”
“
Says
she
,
'
Dost
hear
,
old
turmit-head
?
Put
away
that
dee
lantern
.
I
have
floored
fellows
a
dee
sight
finer-looking
than
a
dee
fool
like
thee
,
you
son
of
a
bee
,
dee
me
if
I
haint
,
'
she
says
.
“
I
object
to
that
conversation
!
”
interposed
the
old
woman
.
“
I
was
not
capable
enough
to
hear
what
I
said
,
and
what
is
said
out
of
my
hearing
is
not
evidence
.
”
There
was
another
stoppage
for
consultation
,
a
book
was
referred
to
,
and
finally
Stubberd
was
allowed
to
go
on
again
.
The
truth
was
that
the
old
woman
had
appeared
in
court
so
many
more
times
than
the
magistrates
themselves
,
that
they
were
obliged
to
keep
a
sharp
look-out
upon
their
procedure
.
However
,
when
Stubberd
had
rambled
on
a
little
further
Henchard
broke
out
impatiently
,
“
Come
—
we
do
n't
want
to
hear
any
more
of
them
cust
dees
and
bees
!
Say
the
words
out
like
a
man
,
and
do
n't
be
so
modest
,
Stubberd
;
or
else
leave
it
alone
!
”
Turning
to
the
woman
,
“
Now
then
,
have
you
any
questions
to
ask
him
,
or
anything
to
say
?
”
“
Yes
,
”
she
replied
with
a
twinkle
in
her
eye
;
and
the
clerk
dipped
his
pen
.
“
Twenty
years
ago
or
thereabout
I
was
selling
of
furmity
in
a
tent
at
Weydon
Fair
—
—
”
“
'
Twenty
years
ago
'
—
well
,
that
's
beginning
at
the
beginning
;
suppose
you
go
back
to
the
Creation
!
”
said
the
clerk
,
not
without
satire
.
But
Henchard
stared
,
and
quite
forgot
what
was
evidence
and
what
was
not
.
“
A
man
and
a
woman
with
a
little
child
came
into
my
tent
,
”
the
woman
continued
.
“
They
sat
down
and
had
a
basin
apiece
.
Ah
,
Lord
's
my
life
!
I
was
of
a
more
respectable
station
in
the
world
then
than
I
am
now
,
being
a
land
smuggler
in
a
large
way
of
business
;
and
I
used
to
season
my
furmity
with
rum
for
them
who
asked
for't
.
I
did
it
for
the
man
;
and
then
he
had
more
and
more
;
till
at
last
he
quarrelled
with
his
wife
,
and
offered
to
sell
her
to
the
highest
bidder
.
A
sailor
came
in
and
bid
five
guineas
,
and
paid
the
money
,
and
led
her
away
.
And
the
man
who
sold
his
wife
in
that
fashion
is
the
man
sitting
there
in
the
great
big
chair
.
”
The
speaker
concluded
by
nodding
her
head
at
Henchard
and
folding
her
arms
.
Everybody
looked
at
Henchard
.
His
face
seemed
strange
,
and
in
tint
as
if
it
had
been
powdered
over
with
ashes
.
“
We
do
n't
want
to
hear
your
life
and
adventures
,
”
said
the
second
magistrate
sharply
,
filling
the
pause
which
followed
.
“
You
've
been
asked
if
you
've
anything
to
say
bearing
on
the
case
.
”
“
That
bears
on
the
case
.
It
proves
that
he
's
no
better
than
I
,
and
has
no
right
to
sit
there
in
judgment
upon
me
.
”
“
'
Tis
a
concocted
story
,
”
said
the
clerk
.
“
So
hold
your
tongue
!
”
“
No
—
'
tis
true
.
”
The
words
came
from
Henchard
.
“
'
Tis
as
true
as
the
light
,
”
he
said
slowly
.
“
And
upon
my
soul
it
does
prove
that
I
'm
no
better
than
she
!
And
to
keep
out
of
any
temptation
to
treat
her
hard
for
her
revenge
,
I
'll
leave
her
to
you
.
”
The
sensation
in
the
court
was
indescribably
great
.
Henchard
left
the
chair
,
and
came
out
,
passing
through
a
group
of
people
on
the
steps
and
outside
that
was
much
larger
than
usual
;
for
it
seemed
that
the
old
furmity
dealer
had
mysteriously
hinted
to
the
denizens
of
the
lane
in
which
she
had
been
lodging
since
her
arrival
,
that
she
knew
a
queer
thing
or
two
about
their
great
local
man
Mr.
Henchard
,
if
she
chose
to
tell
it
.
This
had
brought
them
hither
.
“
Why
are
there
so
many
idlers
round
the
Town
Hall
to-day
?
”
said
Lucetta
to
her
servant
when
the
case
was
over
.
She
had
risen
late
,
and
had
just
looked
out
of
the
window
.
“
Oh
,
please
,
ma'am
,
'
tis
this
larry
about
Mr.
Henchard
.
A
woman
has
proved
that
before
he
became
a
gentleman
he
sold
his
wife
for
five
guineas
in
a
booth
at
a
fair
.
”
In
all
the
accounts
which
Henchard
had
given
her
of
the
separation
from
his
wife
Susan
for
so
many
years
,
of
his
belief
in
her
death
,
and
so
on
,
he
had
never
clearly
explained
the
actual
and
immediate
cause
of
that
separation
.
The
story
she
now
heard
for
the
first
time
.
A
gradual
misery
overspread
Lucetta
's
face
as
she
dwelt
upon
the
promise
wrung
from
her
the
night
before
.
At
bottom
,
then
,
Henchard
was
this
.
How
terrible
a
contingency
for
a
woman
who
should
commit
herself
to
his
care
.
During
the
day
she
went
out
to
the
Ring
and
to
other
places
,
not
coming
in
till
nearly
dusk
.
As
soon
as
she
saw
Elizabeth-Jane
after
her
return
indoors
she
told
her
that
she
had
resolved
to
go
away
from
home
to
the
seaside
for
a
few
days
—
to
Port-Bredy
;
Casterbridge
was
so
gloomy
.
Elizabeth
,
seeing
that
she
looked
wan
and
disturbed
,
encouraged
her
in
the
idea
,
thinking
a
change
would
afford
her
relief
.
She
could
not
help
suspecting
that
the
gloom
which
seemed
to
have
come
over
Casterbridge
in
Lucetta
's
eyes
might
be
partially
owing
to
the
fact
that
Farfrae
was
away
from
home
.
Elizabeth
saw
her
friend
depart
for
Port-Bredy
,
and
took
charge
of
High-Place
Hall
till
her
return
.
After
two
or
three
days
of
solitude
and
incessant
rain
Henchard
called
at
the
house
.
He
seemed
disappointed
to
hear
of
Lucetta
's
absence
and
though
he
nodded
with
outward
indifference
he
went
away
handling
his
beard
with
a
nettled
mien
.
The
next
day
he
called
again
.
“
Is
she
come
now
?
”
he
asked
.
“
Yes
.
She
returned
this
morning
,
”
replied
his
stepdaughter
.
“
But
she
is
not
indoors
.
She
has
gone
for
a
walk
along
the
turnpike-road
to
Port-Bredy
.
She
will
be
home
by
dusk
.
”
After
a
few
words
,
which
only
served
to
reveal
his
restless
impatience
,
he
left
the
house
again
.
29.
At
this
hour
Lucetta
was
bounding
along
the
road
to
Port-Bredy
just
as
Elizabeth
had
announced
.
That
she
had
chosen
for
her
afternoon
walk
the
road
along
which
she
had
returned
to
Casterbridge
three
hours
earlier
in
a
carriage
was
curious
—
if
anything
should
be
called
curious
in
concatenations
of
phenomena
wherein
each
is
known
to
have
its
accounting
cause
.
It
was
the
day
of
the
chief
market
—
Saturday
—
and
Farfrae
for
once
had
been
missed
from
his
corn-stand
in
the
dealers
'
room
.
Nevertheless
,
it
was
known
that
he
would
be
home
that
night
—
“
for
Sunday
,
”
as
Casterbridge
expressed
it
.
Lucetta
,
in
continuing
her
walk
,
had
at
length
reached
the
end
of
the
ranked
trees
which
bordered
the
highway
in
this
and
other
directions
out
of
the
town
.
This
end
marked
a
mile
;
and
here
she
stopped
.
The
spot
was
a
vale
between
two
gentle
acclivities
,
and
the
road
,
still
adhering
to
its
Roman
foundation
,
stretched
onward
straight
as
a
surveyor
's
line
till
lost
to
sight
on
the
most
distant
ridge
.
There
was
neither
hedge
nor
tree
in
the
prospect
now
,
the
road
clinging
to
the
stubby
expanse
of
corn-land
like
a
strip
to
an
undulating
garment
.
Near
her
was
a
barn
—
the
single
building
of
any
kind
within
her
horizon
.
She
strained
her
eyes
up
the
lessening
road
,
but
nothing
appeared
thereon
—
not
so
much
as
a
speck
.
She
sighed
one
word
—
“
Donald
!
”
and
turned
her
face
to
the
town
for
retreat
.
Here
the
case
was
different
.
A
single
figure
was
approaching
her
—
Elizabeth-Jane
's
.
Lucetta
,
in
spite
of
her
loneliness
,
seemed
a
little
vexed
.
Elizabeth
's
face
,
as
soon
as
she
recognized
her
friend
,
shaped
itself
into
affectionate
lines
while
yet
beyond
speaking
distance
.
“
I
suddenly
thought
I
would
come
and
meet
you
,
”
she
said
,
smiling
.
Lucetta
's
reply
was
taken
from
her
lips
by
an
unexpected
diversion
.
A
by-road
on
her
right
hand
descended
from
the
fields
into
the
highway
at
the
point
where
she
stood
,
and
down
the
track
a
bull
was
rambling
uncertainly
towards
her
and
Elizabeth
,
who
,
facing
the
other
way
,
did
not
observe
him
.
In
the
latter
quarter
of
each
year
cattle
were
at
once
the
mainstay
and
the
terror
of
families
about
Casterbridge
and
its
neighbourhood
,
where
breeding
was
carried
on
with
Abrahamic
success
.
The
head
of
stock
driven
into
and
out
of
the
town
at
this
season
to
be
sold
by
the
local
auctioneer
was
very
large
;
and
all
these
horned
beasts
,
in
travelling
to
and
fro
,
sent
women
and
children
to
shelter
as
nothing
else
could
do
.
In
the
main
the
animals
would
have
walked
along
quietly
enough
;
but
the
Casterbridge
tradition
was
that
to
drive
stock
it
was
indispensable
that
hideous
cries
,
coupled
with
Yahoo
antics
and
gestures
,
should
be
used
,
large
sticks
flourished
,
stray
dogs
called
in
,
and
in
general
everything
done
that
was
likely
to
infuriate
the
viciously
disposed
and
terrify
the
mild
.
Nothing
was
commoner
than
for
a
house-holder
on
going
out
of
his
parlour
to
find
his
hall
or
passage
full
of
little
children
,
nursemaids
,
aged
women
,
or
a
ladies
'
school
,
who
apologized
for
their
presence
by
saying
,
“
A
bull
passing
down
street
from
the
sale
.
”
Lucetta
and
Elizabeth
regarded
the
animal
in
doubt
,
he
meanwhile
drawing
vaguely
towards
them
.
It
was
a
large
specimen
of
the
breed
,
in
colour
rich
dun
,
though
disfigured
at
present
by
splotches
of
mud
about
his
seamy
sides
.
His
horns
were
thick
and
tipped
with
brass
;
his
two
nostrils
like
the
Thames
Tunnel
as
seen
in
the
perspective
toys
of
yore
.
Between
them
,
through
the
gristle
of
his
nose
,
was
a
stout
copper
ring
,
welded
on
,
and
irremovable
as
Gurth
's
collar
of
brass
.
To
the
ring
was
attached
an
ash
staff
about
a
yard
long
,
which
the
bull
with
the
motions
of
his
head
flung
about
like
a
flail
.
It
was
not
till
they
observed
this
dangling
stick
that
the
young
women
were
really
alarmed
;
for
it
revealed
to
them
that
the
bull
was
an
old
one
,
too
savage
to
be
driven
,
which
had
in
some
way
escaped
,
the
staff
being
the
means
by
which
the
drover
controlled
him
and
kept
his
horns
at
arms
'
length
.
They
looked
round
for
some
shelter
or
hiding-place
,
and
thought
of
the
barn
hard
by
.
As
long
as
they
had
kept
their
eyes
on
the
bull
he
had
shown
some
deference
in
his
manner
of
approach
;
but
no
sooner
did
they
turn
their
backs
to
seek
the
barn
than
he
tossed
his
head
and
decided
to
thoroughly
terrify
them
.
This
caused
the
two
helpless
girls
to
run
wildly
,
whereupon
the
bull
advanced
in
a
deliberate
charge
.
The
barn
stood
behind
a
green
slimy
pond
,
and
it
was
closed
save
as
to
one
of
the
usual
pair
of
doors
facing
them
,
which
had
been
propped
open
by
a
hurdle-stick
,
and
for
this
opening
they
made
.
The
interior
had
been
cleared
by
a
recent
bout
of
threshing
except
at
one
end
,
where
there
was
a
stack
of
dry
clover
.
Elizabeth-Jane
took
in
the
situation
.
“
We
must
climb
up
there
,
”
she
said
.
But
before
they
had
even
approached
it
they
heard
the
bull
scampering
through
the
pond
without
,
and
in
a
second
he
dashed
into
the
barn
,
knocking
down
the
hurdle-stake
in
passing
;
the
heavy
door
slammed
behind
him
;
and
all
three
were
imprisoned
in
the
barn
together
.
The
mistaken
creature
saw
them
,
and
stalked
towards
the
end
of
the
barn
into
which
they
had
fled
.
The
girls
doubled
so
adroitly
that
their
pursuer
was
against
the
wall
when
the
fugitives
were
already
half
way
to
the
other
end
.
By
the
time
that
his
length
would
allow
him
to
turn
and
follow
them
thither
they
had
crossed
over
;
thus
the
pursuit
went
on
,
the
hot
air
from
his
nostrils
blowing
over
them
like
a
sirocco
,
and
not
a
moment
being
attainable
by
Elizabeth
or
Lucetta
in
which
to
open
the
door
.
What
might
have
happened
had
their
situation
continued
cannot
be
said
;
but
in
a
few
moments
a
rattling
of
the
door
distracted
their
adversary
's
attention
,
and
a
man
appeared
.
He
ran
forward
towards
the
leading-staff
,
seized
it
,
and
wrenched
the
animal
's
head
as
if
he
would
snap
it
off
.
The
wrench
was
in
reality
so
violent
that
the
thick
neck
seemed
to
have
lost
its
stiffness
and
to
become
half-paralyzed
,
whilst
the
nose
dropped
blood
.
The
premeditated
human
contrivance
of
the
nose-ring
was
too
cunning
for
impulsive
brute
force
,
and
the
creature
flinched
.
The
man
was
seen
in
the
partial
gloom
to
be
large-framed
and
unhesitating
.
He
led
the
bull
to
the
door
,
and
the
light
revealed
Henchard
.
He
made
the
bull
fast
without
,
and
re-entered
to
the
succour
of
Lucetta
;
for
he
had
not
perceived
Elizabeth
,
who
had
climbed
on
to
the
clover-heap
.
Lucetta
was
hysterical
,
and
Henchard
took
her
in
his
arms
and
carried
her
to
the
door
.
“
You
—
have
saved
me
!
”
she
cried
,
as
soon
as
she
could
speak
.
“
I
have
returned
your
kindness
,
”
he
responded
tenderly
.
“
You
once
saved
me
.
”
“
How
—
comes
it
to
be
you
—
you
?
”
she
asked
,
not
heeding
his
reply
.
“
I
came
out
here
to
look
for
you
.
I
have
been
wanting
to
tell
you
something
these
two
or
three
days
;
but
you
have
been
away
,
and
I
could
not
.
Perhaps
you
cannot
talk
now
?
”
“
Oh
—
no
!
Where
is
Elizabeth
?
”
“
Here
am
I
!
”
cried
the
missing
one
cheerfully
;
and
without
waiting
for
the
ladder
to
be
placed
she
slid
down
the
face
of
the
clover-stack
to
the
floor
.
Henchard
supporting
Lucetta
on
one
side
,
and
Elizabeth-Jane
on
the
other
,
they
went
slowly
along
the
rising
road
.
They
had
reached
the
top
and
were
descending
again
when
Lucetta
,
now
much
recovered
,
recollected
that
she
had
dropped
her
muff
in
the
barn
.
“
I
'll
run
back
,
”
said
Elizabeth-Jane
.
“
I
do
n't
mind
it
at
all
,
as
I
am
not
tired
as
you
are
.
”
She
thereupon
hastened
down
again
to
the
barn
,
the
others
pursuing
their
way
.
Elizabeth
soon
found
the
muff
,
such
an
article
being
by
no
means
small
at
that
time
.
Coming
out
she
paused
to
look
for
a
moment
at
the
bull
,
now
rather
to
be
pitied
with
his
bleeding
nose
,
having
perhaps
rather
intended
a
practical
joke
than
a
murder
.
Henchard
had
secured
him
by
jamming
the
staff
into
the
hinge
of
the
barn-door
,
and
wedging
it
there
with
a
stake
.
At
length
she
turned
to
hasten
onward
after
her
contemplation
,
when
she
saw
a
green-and-black
gig
approaching
from
the
contrary
direction
,
the
vehicle
being
driven
by
Farfrae
.
His
presence
here
seemed
to
explain
Lucetta
's
walk
that
way
.
Donald
saw
her
,
drew
up
,
and
was
hastily
made
acquainted
with
what
had
occurred
.
At
Elizabeth-Jane
mentioning
how
greatly
Lucetta
had
been
jeopardized
,
he
exhibited
an
agitation
different
in
kind
no
less
than
in
intensity
from
any
she
had
seen
in
him
before
.
He
became
so
absorbed
in
the
circumstance
that
he
scarcely
had
sufficient
knowledge
of
what
he
was
doing
to
think
of
helping
her
up
beside
him
.
“
She
has
gone
on
with
Mr.
Henchard
,
you
say
?
”
he
inquired
at
last
.
“
Yes
.
He
is
taking
her
home
.
They
are
almost
there
by
this
time
.
”
“
And
you
are
sure
she
can
get
home
?
”
Elizabeth-Jane
was
quite
sure
.
“
Your
stepfather
saved
her
?
”
“
Entirely
.
”
Farfrae
checked
his
horse
's
pace
;
she
guessed
why
.
He
was
thinking
that
it
would
be
best
not
to
intrude
on
the
other
two
just
now
.
Henchard
had
saved
Lucetta
,
and
to
provoke
a
possible
exhibition
of
her
deeper
affection
for
himself
was
as
ungenerous
as
it
was
unwise
.
The
immediate
subject
of
their
talk
being
exhausted
she
felt
more
embarrassed
at
sitting
thus
beside
her
past
lover
;
but
soon
the
two
figures
of
the
others
were
visible
at
the
entrance
to
the
town
.
The
face
of
the
woman
was
frequently
turned
back
,
but
Farfrae
did
not
whip
on
the
horse
.
When
these
reached
the
town
walls
Henchard
and
his
companion
had
disappeared
down
the
street
;
Farfrae
set
down
Elizabeth-Jane
on
her
expressing
a
particular
wish
to
alight
there
,
and
drove
round
to
the
stables
at
the
back
of
his
lodgings
.
On
this
account
he
entered
the
house
through
his
garden
,
and
going
up
to
his
apartments
found
them
in
a
particularly
disturbed
state
,
his
boxes
being
hauled
out
upon
the
landing
,
and
his
bookcase
standing
in
three
pieces
.
These
phenomena
,
however
,
seemed
to
cause
him
not
the
least
surprise
.
“
When
will
everything
be
sent
up
?
”
he
said
to
the
mistress
of
the
house
,
who
was
superintending
.
“
I
am
afraid
not
before
eight
,
sir
,
”
said
she
.
“
You
see
we
was
n't
aware
till
this
morning
that
you
were
going
to
move
,
or
we
could
have
been
forwarder
.
”
“
A
—
well
,
never
mind
,
never
mind
!
”
said
Farfrae
cheerily
.
“
Eight
o'clock
will
do
well
enough
if
it
be
not
later
.
Now
,
do
n't
ye
be
standing
here
talking
,
or
it
will
be
twelve
,
I
doubt
.
”
Thus
speaking
he
went
out
by
the
front
door
and
up
the
street
.
During
this
interval
Henchard
and
Lucetta
had
had
experiences
of
a
different
kind
.
After
Elizabeth
's
departure
for
the
muff
the
corn-merchant
opened
himself
frankly
,
holding
her
hand
within
his
arm
,
though
she
would
fain
have
withdrawn
it
.
“
Dear
Lucetta
,
I
have
been
very
,
very
anxious
to
see
you
these
two
or
three
days
,
”
he
said
,
“
ever
since
I
saw
you
last
!
I
have
thought
over
the
way
I
got
your
promise
that
night
.
You
said
to
me
,
'
If
I
were
a
man
I
should
not
insist
.
'
That
cut
me
deep
.
I
felt
that
there
was
some
truth
in
it
.
I
do
n't
want
to
make
you
wretched
;
and
to
marry
me
just
now
would
do
that
as
nothing
else
could
—
it
is
but
too
plain
.
Therefore
I
agree
to
an
indefinite
engagement
—
to
put
off
all
thought
of
marriage
for
a
year
or
two
.
”
“
But
—
but
—
can
I
do
nothing
of
a
different
kind
?
”
said
Lucetta
.
“
I
am
full
of
gratitude
to
you
—
you
have
saved
my
life
.
And
your
care
of
me
is
like
coals
of
fire
on
my
head
!
I
am
a
monied
person
now
.
Surely
I
can
do
something
in
return
for
your
goodness
—
something
practical
?
”
Henchard
remained
in
thought
.
He
had
evidently
not
expected
this
.
“
There
is
one
thing
you
might
do
,
Lucetta
,
”
he
said
.
“
But
not
exactly
of
that
kind
.
”
“
Then
of
what
kind
is
it
?
”
she
asked
with
renewed
misgiving
.
“
I
must
tell
you
a
secret
to
ask
it
.
—
You
may
have
heard
that
I
have
been
unlucky
this
year
?
I
did
what
I
have
never
done
before
—
speculated
rashly
;
and
I
lost
.
That
's
just
put
me
in
a
strait
.
“
And
you
would
wish
me
to
advance
some
money
?
”
“
No
,
no
!
”
said
Henchard
,
almost
in
anger
.
“
I
'm
not
the
man
to
sponge
on
a
woman
,
even
though
she
may
be
so
nearly
my
own
as
you
.
No
,
Lucetta
;
what
you
can
do
is
this
and
it
would
save
me
.
My
great
creditor
is
Grower
,
and
it
is
at
his
hands
I
shall
suffer
if
at
anybody
's
;
while
a
fortnight
's
forbearance
on
his
part
would
be
enough
to
allow
me
to
pull
through
.
This
may
be
got
out
of
him
in
one
way
—
that
you
would
let
it
be
known
to
him
that
you
are
my
intended
—
that
we
are
to
be
quietly
married
in
the
next
fortnight
.
—
Now
stop
,
you
have
n't
heard
all
!
Let
him
have
this
story
,
without
,
of
course
,
any
prejudice
to
the
fact
that
the
actual
engagement
between
us
is
to
be
a
long
one
.
Nobody
else
need
know
:
you
could
go
with
me
to
Mr.
Grower
and
just
let
me
speak
to
'
ee
before
him
as
if
we
were
on
such
terms
.
We
'll
ask
him
to
keep
it
secret
.
He
will
willingly
wait
then
.
At
the
fortnight
's
end
I
shall
be
able
to
face
him
;
and
I
can
coolly
tell
him
all
is
postponed
between
us
for
a
year
or
two
.
Not
a
soul
in
the
town
need
know
how
you
've
helped
me
.
Since
you
wish
to
be
of
use
,
there
's
your
way
.
”
It
being
now
what
the
people
called
the
“
pinking
in
”
of
the
day
,
that
is
,
the
quarter-hour
just
before
dusk
,
he
did
not
at
first
observe
the
result
of
his
own
words
upon
her
.
“
If
it
were
anything
else
,
”
she
began
,
and
the
dryness
of
her
lips
was
represented
in
her
voice
.
“
But
it
is
such
a
little
thing
!
”
he
said
,
with
a
deep
reproach
.
“
Less
than
you
have
offered
—
just
the
beginning
of
what
you
have
so
lately
promised
!
I
could
have
told
him
as
much
myself
,
but
he
would
not
have
believed
me
.
”
“
It
is
not
because
I
wo
n't
—
it
is
because
I
absolutely
ca
n't
,
”
she
said
,
with
rising
distress
.
“
You
are
provoking
!
”
he
burst
out
.
“
It
is
enough
to
make
me
force
you
to
carry
out
at
once
what
you
have
promised
.
”
“
I
cannot
!
”
she
insisted
desperately
.
“
Why
?
When
I
have
only
within
these
few
minutes
released
you
from
your
promise
to
do
the
thing
offhand
.
”
“
Because
—
he
was
a
witness
!
”
“
Witness
?
Of
what
?
“
If
I
must
tell
you
—
—
.
Do
n't
,
do
n't
upbraid
me
!
”
“
Well
!
Let
's
hear
what
you
mean
?
”
“
Witness
of
my
marriage
—
Mr.
Grower
was
!
”
“
Marriage
?
”
“
Yes
.
With
Mr.
Farfrae
.
O
Michael
!
I
am
already
his
wife
.
We
were
married
this
week
at
Port-Bredy
.
There
were
reasons
against
our
doing
it
here
.
Mr.
Grower
was
a
witness
because
he
happened
to
be
at
Port-Bredy
at
the
time
.
”
Henchard
stood
as
if
idiotized
.
She
was
so
alarmed
at
his
silence
that
she
murmured
something
about
lending
him
sufficient
money
to
tide
over
the
perilous
fortnight
.
“
Married
him
?
”
said
Henchard
at
length
.
“
My
good
—
what
,
married
him
whilst
—
bound
to
marry
me
?
”
“
It
was
like
this
,
”
she
explained
,
with
tears
in
her
eyes
and
quavers
in
her
voice
;
“
do
n't
—
do
n't
be
cruel
!
I
loved
him
so
much
,
and
I
thought
you
might
tell
him
of
the
past
—
and
that
grieved
me
!
And
then
,
when
I
had
promised
you
,
I
learnt
of
the
rumour
that
you
had
—
sold
your
first
wife
at
a
fair
like
a
horse
or
cow
!
How
could
I
keep
my
promise
after
hearing
that
?
I
could
not
risk
myself
in
your
hands
;
it
would
have
been
letting
myself
down
to
take
your
name
after
such
a
scandal
.
But
I
knew
I
should
lose
Donald
if
I
did
not
secure
him
at
once
—
for
you
would
carry
out
your
threat
of
telling
him
of
our
former
acquaintance
,
as
long
as
there
was
a
chance
of
keeping
me
for
yourself
by
doing
so
.
But
you
will
not
do
so
now
,
will
you
,
Michael
?
for
it
is
too
late
to
separate
us
.
”
The
notes
of
St.
Peter
's
bells
in
full
peal
had
been
wafted
to
them
while
he
spoke
,
and
now
the
genial
thumping
of
the
town
band
,
renowned
for
its
unstinted
use
of
the
drum-stick
,
throbbed
down
the
street
.
“
Then
this
racket
they
are
making
is
on
account
of
it
,
I
suppose
?
”
said
he
.
“
Yes
—
I
think
he
has
told
them
,
or
else
Mr.
Grower
has
...
.May
I
leave
you
now
?
My
—
he
was
detained
at
Port-Bredy
to-day
,
and
sent
me
on
a
few
hours
before
him
.
”
“
Then
it
is
HIS
WIFE
'S
life
I
have
saved
this
afternoon
.
”
“
Yes
—
and
he
will
be
for
ever
grateful
to
you
.
”
“
I
am
much
obliged
to
him
...
.O
you
false
woman
!
”
burst
from
Henchard
.
“
You
promised
me
!
”
“
Yes
,
yes
!
But
it
was
under
compulsion
,
and
I
did
not
know
all
your
past
—
—
”
“
And
now
I
've
a
mind
to
punish
you
as
you
deserve
!
One
word
to
this
bran-new
husband
of
how
you
courted
me
,
and
your
precious
happiness
is
blown
to
atoms
!
”
“
Michael
—
pity
me
,
and
be
generous
!
”
“
You
do
n't
deserve
pity
!
You
did
;
but
you
do
n't
now
.
”
“
I
'll
help
you
to
pay
off
your
debt
.
”
“
A
pensioner
of
Farfrae
's
wife
—
not
I
!
Do
n't
stay
with
me
longer
—
I
shall
say
something
worse
.
Go
home
!
”
She
disappeared
under
the
trees
of
the
south
walk
as
the
band
came
round
the
corner
,
awaking
the
echoes
of
every
stock
and
stone
in
celebration
of
her
happiness
.
Lucetta
took
no
heed
,
but
ran
up
the
back
street
and
reached
her
own
home
unperceived
.
30.
Farfrae
's
words
to
his
landlady
had
referred
to
the
removal
of
his
boxes
and
other
effects
from
his
late
lodgings
to
Lucetta
's
house
.
The
work
was
not
heavy
,
but
it
had
been
much
hindered
on
account
of
the
frequent
pauses
necessitated
by
exclamations
of
surprise
at
the
event
,
of
which
the
good
woman
had
been
briefly
informed
by
letter
a
few
hours
earlier
.
At
the
last
moment
of
leaving
Port-Bredy
,
Farfrae
,
like
John
Gilpin
,
had
been
detained
by
important
customers
,
whom
,
even
in
the
exceptional
circumstances
,
he
was
not
the
man
to
neglect
.
Moreover
,
there
was
a
convenience
in
Lucetta
arriving
first
at
her
house
.
Nobody
there
as
yet
knew
what
had
happened
;
and
she
was
best
in
a
position
to
break
the
news
to
the
inmates
,
and
give
directions
for
her
husband
's
accommodation
.
He
had
,
therefore
,
sent
on
his
two-days
'
bride
in
a
hired
brougham
,
whilst
he
went
across
the
country
to
a
certain
group
of
wheat
and
barley
ricks
a
few
miles
off
,
telling
her
the
hour
at
which
he
might
be
expected
the
same
evening
.
This
accounted
for
her
trotting
out
to
meet
him
after
their
separation
of
four
hours
.
By
a
strenuous
effort
,
after
leaving
Henchard
she
calmed
herself
in
readiness
to
receive
Donald
at
High-Place
Hall
when
he
came
on
from
his
lodgings
.
One
supreme
fact
empowered
her
to
this
,
the
sense
that
,
come
what
would
,
she
had
secured
him
.
Half-an-hour
after
her
arrival
he
walked
in
,
and
she
met
him
with
a
relieved
gladness
,
which
a
month
's
perilous
absence
could
not
have
intensified
.
“
There
is
one
thing
I
have
not
done
;
and
yet
it
is
important
,
”
she
said
earnestly
,
when
she
had
finished
talking
about
the
adventure
with
the
bull
.
“
That
is
,
broken
the
news
of
our
marriage
to
my
dear
Elizabeth-Jane
.
”
“
Ah
,
and
you
have
not
?
”
he
said
thoughtfully
.
“
I
gave
her
a
lift
from
the
barn
homewards
;
but
I
did
not
tell
her
either
;
for
I
thought
she
might
have
heard
of
it
in
the
town
,
and
was
keeping
back
her
congratulations
from
shyness
,
and
all
that
.
”
“
She
can
hardly
have
heard
of
it
.
But
I
'll
find
out
;
I
'll
go
to
her
now
.
And
,
Donald
,
you
do
n't
mind
her
living
on
with
me
just
the
same
as
before
?
She
is
so
quiet
and
unassuming
.
”
“
O
no
,
indeed
I
do
n't
,
”
Farfrae
answered
with
,
perhaps
,
a
faint
awkwardness
.
“
But
I
wonder
if
she
would
care
to
?
”
“
O
yes
!
”
said
Lucetta
eagerly
.
“
I
am
sure
she
would
like
to
.
Besides
,
poor
thing
,
she
has
no
other
home
.
”
Farfrae
looked
at
her
and
saw
that
she
did
not
suspect
the
secret
of
her
more
reserved
friend
.
He
liked
her
all
the
better
for
the
blindness
.
“
Arrange
as
you
like
with
her
by
all
means
,
”
he
said
.
“
It
is
I
who
have
come
to
your
house
,
not
you
to
mine
.
”
“
I
'll
run
and
speak
to
her
,
”
said
Lucetta
.
When
she
got
upstairs
to
Elizabeth-Jane
's
room
the
latter
had
taken
off
her
out-door
things
,
and
was
resting
over
a
book
.
Lucetta
found
in
a
moment
that
she
had
not
yet
learnt
the
news
.
“
I
did
not
come
down
to
you
,
Miss
Templeman
,
”
she
said
simply
.
“
I
was
coming
to
ask
if
you
had
quite
recovered
from
your
fright
,
but
I
found
you
had
a
visitor
.
What
are
the
bells
ringing
for
,
I
wonder
?
And
the
band
,
too
,
is
playing
.
Somebody
must
be
married
;
or
else
they
are
practising
for
Christmas
.
”
Lucetta
uttered
a
vague
“
Yes
,
”
and
seating
herself
by
the
other
young
woman
looked
musingly
at
her
.
“
What
a
lonely
creature
you
are
,
”
she
presently
said
;
“
never
knowing
what
's
going
on
,
or
what
people
are
talking
about
everywhere
with
keen
interest
.
You
should
get
out
,
and
gossip
about
as
other
women
do
,
and
then
you
would
n't
be
obliged
to
ask
me
a
question
of
that
kind
.
Well
,
now
,
I
have
something
to
tell
you
.
”
Elizabeth-Jane
said
she
was
so
glad
,
and
made
herself
receptive
.
“
I
must
go
rather
a
long
way
back
,
”
said
Lucetta
,
the
difficulty
of
explaining
herself
satisfactorily
to
the
pondering
one
beside
her
growing
more
apparent
at
each
syllable
.
“
You
remember
that
trying
case
of
conscience
I
told
you
of
some
time
ago
—
about
the
first
lover
and
the
second
lover
?
”
She
let
out
in
jerky
phrases
a
leading
word
or
two
of
the
story
she
had
told
.
“
O
yes
—
I
remember
the
story
of
YOUR
FRIEND
,
”
said
Elizabeth
drily
,
regarding
the
irises
of
Lucetta
's
eyes
as
though
to
catch
their
exact
shade
.
“
The
two
lovers
—
the
old
one
and
the
new
:
how
she
wanted
to
marry
the
second
,
but
felt
she
ought
to
marry
the
first
;
so
that
she
neglected
the
better
course
to
follow
the
evil
,
like
the
poet
Ovid
I
've
just
been
construing
:
'
Video
meliora
proboque
,
deteriora
sequor
.
'
”
“
O
no
;
she
did
n't
follow
evil
exactly
!
”
said
Lucetta
hastily
.
“
But
you
said
that
she
—
or
as
I
may
say
you
”
—
answered
Elizabeth
,
dropping
the
mask
,
“
were
in
honour
and
conscience
bound
to
marry
the
first
?
”
Lucetta
's
blush
at
being
seen
through
came
and
went
again
before
she
replied
anxiously
,
“
You
will
never
breathe
this
,
will
you
,
Elizabeth-Jane
?
”
“
Certainly
not
,
if
you
say
not
.
“
Then
I
will
tell
you
that
the
case
is
more
complicated
—
worse
,
in
fact
—
than
it
seemed
in
my
story
.
I
and
the
first
man
were
thrown
together
in
a
strange
way
,
and
felt
that
we
ought
to
be
united
,
as
the
world
had
talked
of
us
.
He
was
a
widower
,
as
he
supposed
.
He
had
not
heard
of
his
first
wife
for
many
years
.
But
the
wife
returned
,
and
we
parted
.
She
is
now
dead
,
and
the
husband
comes
paying
me
addresses
again
,
saying
,
'
Now
we
'll
complete
our
purposes
.
'
But
,
Elizabeth-Jane
,
all
this
amounts
to
a
new
courtship
of
me
by
him
;
I
was
absolved
from
all
vows
by
the
return
of
the
other
woman
.
”
“
Have
you
not
lately
renewed
your
promise
?
”
said
the
younger
with
quiet
surmise
.
She
had
divined
Man
Number
One
.
“
That
was
wrung
from
me
by
a
threat
.
”
“
Yes
,
it
was
.
But
I
think
when
any
one
gets
coupled
up
with
a
man
in
the
past
so
unfortunately
as
you
have
done
she
ought
to
become
his
wife
if
she
can
,
even
if
she
were
not
the
sinning
party
.
”
Lucetta
's
countenance
lost
its
sparkle
.
“
He
turned
out
to
be
a
man
I
should
be
afraid
to
marry
,
”
she
pleaded
.
“
Really
afraid
!
And
it
was
not
till
after
my
renewed
promise
that
I
knew
it
.
”
“
Then
there
is
only
one
course
left
to
honesty
.
You
must
remain
a
single
woman
.
”
“
But
think
again
!
Do
consider
—
—
”
“
I
am
certain
,
”
interrupted
her
companion
hardily
.
“
I
have
guessed
very
well
who
the
man
is
.
My
father
;
and
I
say
it
is
him
or
nobody
for
you
.
”
Any
suspicion
of
impropriety
was
to
Elizabeth-Jane
like
a
red
rag
to
a
bull
.
Her
craving
for
correctness
of
procedure
was
,
indeed
,
almost
vicious
.
Owing
to
her
early
troubles
with
regard
to
her
mother
a
semblance
of
irregularity
had
terrors
for
her
which
those
whose
names
are
safeguarded
from
suspicion
know
nothing
of
.
“
You
ought
to
marry
Mr.
Henchard
or
nobody
—
certainly
not
another
man
!
”
she
went
on
with
a
quivering
lip
in
whose
movement
two
passions
shared
.
“
I
do
n't
admit
that
!
”
said
Lucetta
passionately
.
“
Admit
it
or
not
,
it
is
true
!
”
Lucetta
covered
her
eyes
with
her
right
hand
,
as
if
she
could
plead
no
more
,
holding
out
her
left
to
Elizabeth-Jane
.
“
Why
,
you
HAVE
married
him
!
”
cried
the
latter
,
jumping
up
with
pleasure
after
a
glance
at
Lucetta
's
fingers
.
“
When
did
you
do
it
?
Why
did
you
not
tell
me
,
instead
of
teasing
me
like
this
?
How
very
honourable
of
you
!
He
did
treat
my
mother
badly
once
,
it
seems
,
in
a
moment
of
intoxication
.
And
it
is
true
that
he
is
stern
sometimes
.
But
you
will
rule
him
entirely
,
I
am
sure
,
with
your
beauty
and
wealth
and
accomplishments
.
You
are
the
woman
he
will
adore
,
and
we
shall
all
three
be
happy
together
now
!
”
“
O
,
my
Elizabeth-Jane
!
”
cried
Lucetta
distressfully
.
“
'
Tis
somebody
else
that
I
have
married
!
I
was
so
desperate
—
so
afraid
of
being
forced
to
anything
else
—
so
afraid
of
revelations
that
would
quench
his
love
for
me
,
that
I
resolved
to
do
it
offhand
,
come
what
might
,
and
purchase
a
week
of
happiness
at
any
cost
!
”
“
You
—
have
—
married
Mr.
Farfrae
!
”
cried
Elizabeth-Jane
,
in
Nathan
tones
Lucetta
bowed
.
She
had
recovered
herself
.
“
The
bells
are
ringing
on
that
account
,
”
she
said
.
“
My
husband
is
downstairs
.
He
will
live
here
till
a
more
suitable
house
is
ready
for
us
;
and
I
have
told
him
that
I
want
you
to
stay
with
me
just
as
before
.
”
“
Let
me
think
of
it
alone
,
”
the
girl
quickly
replied
,
corking
up
the
turmoil
of
her
feeling
with
grand
control
.
“
You
shall
.
I
am
sure
we
shall
be
happy
together
.
”
Lucetta
departed
to
join
Donald
below
,
a
vague
uneasiness
floating
over
her
joy
at
seeing
him
quite
at
home
there
.
Not
on
account
of
her
friend
Elizabeth
did
she
feel
it
:
for
of
the
bearings
of
Elizabeth-Jane
's
emotions
she
had
not
the
least
suspicion
;
but
on
Henchard
's
alone
.
Now
the
instant
decision
of
Susan
Henchard
's
daughter
was
to
dwell
in
that
house
no
more
.
Apart
from
her
estimate
of
the
propriety
of
Lucetta
's
conduct
,
Farfrae
had
been
so
nearly
her
avowed
lover
that
she
felt
she
could
not
abide
there
.
It
was
still
early
in
the
evening
when
she
hastily
put
on
her
things
and
went
out
.
In
a
few
minutes
,
knowing
the
ground
,
she
had
found
a
suitable
lodging
,
and
arranged
to
enter
it
that
night
.
Returning
and
entering
noiselessly
she
took
off
her
pretty
dress
and
arrayed
herself
in
a
plain
one
,
packing
up
the
other
to
keep
as
her
best
;
for
she
would
have
to
be
very
economical
now
.
She
wrote
a
note
to
leave
for
Lucetta
,
who
was
closely
