第7章

"Why，thatbluefrockyouworelastweek。"

"Doesn’tsetwellroundtheneck。Icouldn’twearthat。"

"ButIshan’tcare。"

"No，youwon’tmind。"

"Well，thenit’sallright。Becauseyouonlycarehowyoulooktome，doyou，dear？Ionlydressforyou，that’scertain。"

"Yes，butyouseeIcouldn’tappearinitagainverywell。"

"Anystrangegentlemanyoumidmeetinyourjourneymightnoticethesetofit，Isuppose。Fancy，meninlovedon’tthinksomuchabouthowtheylooktootherwomen。"Itisdifficulttosaywhetheratoneofplayfulbanterorofgentlereproachprevailedinthespeech。

"Wellthen，Dick，"shesaid，withgood—humouredfrankness，"I’llownit。Ishouldn’tlikeastrangertoseemedressedbadly，eventhoughIaminlove。’Tisournature，Isuppose。"

"Youperfectwoman！"

"Yes;ifyoulaythestresson’woman，’"shemurmured，lookingatagroupofhollyhocksinflower，roundwhichacrowdofbutterflieshadgatheredlikefemaleidlersroundabonnet—shop。

"Butaboutthedress。Whynotweartheoneyouworeatourparty？"

"Thatsetswell，butagirlofthenameofBetTallor，wholivesnearourhouse，hashadonemadealmostlikeit（onlyinpattern，thoughofmiserablycheapstuff），andIcouldn’twearitonthataccount。Dearme，IamafraidIcan’tgonow。"

"Oyes，youmust;Iknowyouwill！"saidDick，withdismay。"Whynotwearwhatyou’vegoton？"

"What！thisoldone！Afterall，IthinkthatbywearingmygrayoneSaturday，IcanmaketheblueonedoforSunday。Yes，Iwill。A

hatorabonnet，whichshallitbe？WhichdoIlookbestin？"

"Well，Ithinkthebonnetisnicest，morequietandmatronly。"

"What’stheobjectiontothehat？Doesitmakemelookold？"

"Ono;thehatiswellenough;butitmakesyoulookrathertoo——youwon’tmindmesayingit，dear？"

"Notatall，forIshallwearthebonnet。"

"——Rathertoocoquettishandflirtyforanengagedyoungwoman。"

Shereflectedaminute。"Yes;yes。Still，afterall，thehatwoulddobest;hatsAREbest，yousee。Yes，Imustwearthehat，dearDicky，becauseIoughttowearahat，youknow。"

PARTTHEFORTH——AUTUMN

CHAPTERI：GOINGNUTTING

Dick，dressedinhis’second—best’suit，burstintoFancy’ssitting—

roomwithaglowofpleasureonhisface。

Itwastwoo’clockonFriday，thedaybeforehercontemplatedvisittoherfather，andforsomereasonconnectedwithcleaningtheschoolthechildrenhadbeengiventhisFridayafternoonforpastime，inadditiontotheusualSaturday。

"Fancy！ithappensjustrightthatitisaleisurehalfdaywithyou。Smartislameinhisnear—foot—afore，andso，asIcan’tdoanything，I’vemadeaholidayafternoonofit，andamcomeforyoutogonuttingwithme！"

Shewassittingbytheparlourwindow，withabluefrocklyingacrossherlapandscissorsinherhand。

"Gonutting！Yes。ButI’mafraidIcan’tgoforanhourorso。"

"Whynot？’Tistheonlyspareafternoonwemaybothhavetogetherforweeks。"

"Thisdressofmine，thatIamgoingtowearonSundayatYalbury;——

IfinditfitssobadlythatImustalteritalittle，afterall。I

toldthedressmakertomakeitbyapatternIgaveheratthetime;

insteadofthat，shediditherownway，andmademelookaperfectfright。"

"Howlongwillyoube？"heinquired，lookingratherdisappointed。

"Notlong。Dowaitandtalktome;come，do，dear。"

Dicksatdown。Thetalkingprogressedveryfavourably，amidthesnippingandsewing，tillabouthalf—pasttwo，atwhichtimehisconversationbegantobevariedbyaslighttappinguponhistoewithawalking—stickhehadcutfromthehedgeashecamealong。

Fancytalkedandansweredhim，butsometimestheanswersweresonegligentlygiven，thatitwasevidentherthoughtslayforthegreaterpartinherlapwiththebluedress。

Theclockstruckthree。Dickarosefromhisseat，walkedroundtheroomwithhishandsbehindhim，examinedallthefurniture，thensoundedafewnotesontheharmonium，thenlookedinsideallthebookshecouldfind，thensmoothedFancy’sheadwithhishand。

Stillthesnippingandsewingwenton。

Theclockstruckfour。Dickfidgetedabout，yawnedprivately;

countedtheknotsinthetable，yawnedpublicly;countedthefliesontheceiling，yawnedhorribly;wentintothekitchenandscullery，andsothoroughlystudiedtheprincipleuponwhichthepumpwasconstructedthathecouldhavedeliveredalectureonthesubject。

SteppingbacktoFancy，andfindingstillthatshehadnotdone，hewentintohergardenandlookedathercabbagesandpotatoes，andremindedhimselfthattheyseemedtohimtowearadecidedlyfeminineaspect;thenpulledupseveralweeds，andcameinagain。

Theclockstruckfive，andstillthesnippingandsewingwenton。

Dickattemptedtokillafly，peeledalltherindoffhiswalking—

stick，thenthrewthestickintothescullerybecauseitwasspoilt，producedhideousdiscordsfromtheharmonium，andaccidentallyoverturnedavaseofflowers，thewaterfromwhichraninarillacrossthetableanddribbledtothefloor，whereitformedalake，theshapeofwhich，afterthelapseofafewminutes，hebegantomodifyconsiderablywithhisfoot，tillitwaslikeamapofEnglandandWales。

"Well，Dick，youneedn’thavemadequitesuchamess。"

"Well，Ineedn’t，Isuppose。"Hewalkeduptothebluedress，andlookedatitwitharigidgaze。Thenanideaseemedtocrosshisbrain。

"Fancy。"

"Yes。"

"Ithoughtyousaidyouweregoingtowearyourgraygownalldayto—morrowonyourtriptoYalbury，andintheeveningtoo，whenI

shallbewithyou，andaskyourfatherforyou？"

"SoIam。"

"AndtheblueoneonlyonSunday？"

"AndtheblueoneSunday。"

"Well，dear，Isha’n’tbeatYalburySundaytoseeit。"

"No，butIshallwalktoLongpuddlechurchintheafternoonwithfather，andsuchlotsofpeoplewillbelookingatmethere，youknow;anditdidsetsobadlyroundtheneck。"

"Inevernoticedit，and’tislikenobodyelsewould。"

"Theymight。"

"ThenwhynotwearthegrayoneonSundayaswell？’Tisasprettyastheblueone。"

"Imightmakethegrayonedo，certainly。Butitisn’tsogood;itdidn’tcosthalfsomuchasthisone，andbesides，itwouldbethesameIworeSaturday。"

"Thenwearthestripedone，dear。"

"Imight。"

"Orthedarkone。"

"Yes，Imight;butIwanttowearafreshonetheyhaven’tseen。"

"Isee，Isee，"saidDick，inavoiceinwhichthetonesofloveweredecidedlyinconveniencedbyaconsiderableemphasis，histhoughtsmeanwhilerunningasfollows："I，themanshelovesbestintheworld，asshesays，amtounderstandthatmypoorhalf—

holidayistobelost，becauseshewantstowearonSundayagownthereisnottheslightestnecessityforwearing，simply，infact，toappearmorestrikingthanusualintheeyesofLongpuddleyoungmen;andInotthere，either。"

"Thentherearethreedressesgoodenoughformyeyes，butneitherisgoodenoughfortheyouthsofLongpuddle，"hesaid。

"No，notthatexactly，Dick。Still，yousee，Idowant——tolookprettytothem——there，that’shonest！ButIsha’n’tbemuchlonger。"

"Howmuch？"

"Aquarterofanhour。"

"Verywell;I’llcomeininaquarterofanhour。"

"Whygoaway？"

"Imidaswell。"

Hewentout，walkeddowntheroad，andsatuponagate。Herehemeditatedandmeditated，andthemorehemeditatedthemoredecidedlydidhebegintofume，andthemorepositivewashethathistimehadbeenscandalouslytrifledwithbyMissFancyDay——that，sofarfrombeingthesimplegirlwhohadneverhadasweetheartbefore，asshehadsolemnlyassuredhimtimeaftertime，shewas，ifnotaflirt，awomanwhohadhadnoendofadmirers;agirlmostcertainlytooanxiousaboutherfrocks;agirl，whosefeelings，thoughwarm，werenotdeep;agirlwhocaredagreatdealtoomuchhowsheappearedintheeyesofothermen。"Whatshelovesbestintheworld，"hethought，withanincipientspiceofhisfather’sgrimness，"isherhairandcomplexion。Whatshelovesnextbest，hergownsandhats;whatshelovesnextbest，myself，perhaps！"

Sufferinggreatanguishatthisdisloyaltyinhimselfandharshnesstohisdarling，yetdisposedtopersevereinit，ahorriblycruelthoughtcrossedhismind。Hewouldnotcallforher，ashehadpromised，attheendofaquarterofanhour！Yes，itwouldbeapunishmentshewelldeserved。Althoughthebestpartoftheafternoonhadbeenwastedhewouldgonuttingashehadintended，andgobyhimself。

Heleapedoverthegate，andpushedupthelanefornearlytwomiles，tillawindingpathcalledSnail—Creepslopedupahillandenteredahazelcopsebyaholehikearabbit’sburrow。Inheplunged，vanishedamongthebushes，andinashorttimetherewasnosignofhisexistenceuponearth，saveanoccasionalrustlingofboughsandsnappingoftwigsindiverspointsofGrey’sWood。

NevermannuttedasDicknuttedthatafternoon。Heworkedlikeagalleyslave。Half—hourafterhalf—hourpassedaway，andstillhegatheredwithoutceasing。Atlast，whenthesunhadset，andbunchesofnutscouldnotbedistinguishedfromtheleaveswhichnourishedthem，heshoulderedhisbag，containingquitetwopecksofthefinestproduceofthewood，aboutasmuchusetohimastwopecksofstonesfromtheroad，strolleddownthewoodlandtrack，crossedthehighwayandenteredthehomewardlane，whistlingasbewent。

Probably，MissFancyDayneverbeforeorafterstoodsolowinMr。

Dewy’sopinionasonthatafternoon。Infact，itisjustpossiblethatafewmorebluedressesontheLongpuddleyoungmen’saccountwouldhaveclarifiedDick’sbrainentirely，andmadehimoncemoreafreeman。

ButVenushadplannedotherdevelopments，atanyrateforthepresent。Cuckoo—Lane，thewayhepursued，passedoveraridgewhichrosekeenlyagainsttheskyaboutfiftyyardsinhisvan。Here，uponthebrightafter—glowaboutthehorizon，wasnowvisibleanirregularshape，whichatfirstheconceivedtobeaboughstandingalittlebeyondthelineofitsneighbours。Thenitseemedtomove，and，asheadvancedstillfurther，therewasnodoubtthatitwasalivingbeingsittinginthebank，headbowedonhand。Thegrassymarginentirelypreventedhisfootstepsfrombeingheard，anditwasnottillhewasclosethatthefigurerecognizedhim。Upitsprang，andhewasfacetofacewithFancy。

"Dick，Dick！O，isityou，Dick！"

"Yes，Fancy，"saidDick，inaratherrepentanttone，andloweringhisnuts。

Sheranuptohim，flungherparasolonthegrass，putherlittleheadagainsthisbreast，andthentherebegananarrative，disjointedbysuchahystericalweepingaswasneversurpassedforintensityinthewholehistoryoflove。

"ODick，"shesobbedout，"wherehaveyoubeenawayfromme？O，I

havesufferedagony，andthoughtyouwouldnevercomeanymore！

’Tiscruel，Dick;no’tisn’t，itisjustice！I’vebeenwalkingmilesandmilesupanddownGrey’sWood，tryingtofindyou，tillI

wasweariedandwornout，andIcouldwalknofurther，andhadcomebackthisfar！ODick，directlyyouweregone，IthoughtIhadoffendedyouandIputdownthedress;’tisn’tfinishednow，andI

neverwillfinish，it，andI’llwearanoldoneSunday！Yes，Dick，Iwill，becauseIdon’tcarewhatIwearwhenyouarenotbymyside——ha，youthinkIdo，butIdon’t！——andIranafteryou，andI

sawyougoupSnail—Creepandnotlookbackonce，andthenyouplungedin，andIafteryou;butIwastoofarbehind。O，Ididwishthehorridbusheshadbeencutdown，sothatIcouldseeyourdearshapeagain！AndthenIcalledouttoyou，andnobodyanswered，andIwasafraidtocallveryloud，lestanybodyelseshouldhearme。ThenIkeptwanderingandwanderingabout，anditwasdreadfulmisery，Dick。AndthenIshutmyeyesandfelltopicturingyoulookingatsomeotherwoman，veryprettyandnice，butwithnoaffectionortruthinheratall，andthenimaginedyousayingtoyourself，"Ah，she’sasgoodasFancy，forFancytoldmeastory，andwasaflirt，andcaredforherselfmorethanme，sonowI’llhavethisoneformysweetheart。"O，youwon’t，willyou，Dick，forIdoloveyouso！"

ItisscarcelynecessarytoaddthatDickrenouncedhisfreedomthereandthen，andkissedhertentimesover，andpromisedthatnoprettywomanofthekindalludedtoshouldeverengrosshisthoughts;inshort，thatthoughhehadbeenvexedwithher，allsuchvexationwaspast，andthathenceforthandforeveritwassimplyFancyordeathforhim。Andthentheysetaboutproceedinghomewards，veryslowlyonaccountofFancy’sweariness，sheleaninguponhisshoulder，andinadditionreceivingsupportfromhisarmroundherwaist;thoughshehadsufficientlyrecoveredfromherdesperateconditiontosingtohim，"Whyareyouwanderinghere，I

pray？"duringthelatterpartoftheirwalk。Norisitnecessarytodescribeindetailhowthebagofnutswasquiteforgottenuntilthreedayslater，whenitwasfoundamongthebramblesandrestoredemptytoMrs。Dewy，herinitialsbeingmarkedthereoninredcotton;

andhowshepuzzledherselftillherheadacheduponthequestionofhowonearthhermeal—bagcouldhavegotintoCuckoo—Lane。

CHAPTERII：HONEY—TAKING，ANDAFTERWARDS

SaturdayeveningsawDickDewyjourneyingonfoottoYalburyWood，accordingtothearrangementwithFancy。

Thelandscapebeingconcave，atthegoingdownofthesuneverythingsuddenlyassumedauniformrobeofshade。TheeveningadvancedfromsunsettodusklongbeforeDick’sarrival，andhisprogressduringthelatterportionofhiswalkthroughthetreeswasindicatedbytheflutterofterrifiedbirdsthathadbeenroostingoverthepath。

Andincrossingtheglades，massesofhotdryair，thathadbeenformedonthehillsduringtheday，greetedhischeeksalternatelywithcloudsofdampnightairfromthevalleys。Hereachedthekeeper—steward’shouse，wherethegrass—plotandthegardeninfrontappearedlightandpaleagainsttheunbrokendarknessofthegrovefromwhichhehademerged，andpausedatthegardengate。

Hehadscarcelybeenthereaminutewhenhebeheldasortofprocessionadvancingfromthedoorinhisfront。ItconsistedfirstofEnochthetrapper，carryingaspadeonhisshoulderandalanterndanglinginhishand;thencameMrs。Day，thelightofthelanternrevealingthatsheboreinherarmscuriousobjectsaboutafootlong，intheformofLatincrosses（madeoflathandbrownpaperdippedinbrimstone——calledmatchesbybee—masters）;nextcameMissDay，withashawlthrownoverherhead;andbehindall，inthegloom，Mr。FredericShiner。

Dick，inhisconsternationatfindingShinerpresent，wasatalosshowtoproceed，andretiredunderatreetocollecthisthoughts。

"HereIbe，Enoch，"saidavoice;andtheprocessionadvancingfarther，thelantern’sraysilluminatedthefigureofGeoffrey，awaitingtheirarrivalbesidearowofbee—hives，infrontofthepath。TakingthespadefromEnoch，heproceededtodigtwoholesintheearthbesidethehives，theothersstandingroundinacircle，exceptMrs。Day，whodepositedhermatchesintheforkofanapple—

treeandreturnedtothehouse。Thepartyremainingwerenowlitupinfrontbythelanternintheirmidst，theirshadowsradiatingeachwayuponthegarden—plotlikethespokesofawheel。AnapparentembarrassmentofFancyatthepresenceofShinercausedasilenceintheassembly，duringwhichthepreliminariesofexecutionwerearranged，thematchesfixed，thestakekindled，thetwohivesplacedoverthetwoholes，andtheearthstoppedroundtheedges。Geoffreythenstooderect，andrathermore，tostraightenhisbackboneafterthedigging。

"Theywereapeculiarfamily，"saidMr。Shiner，regardingthehivesreflectively。

Geoffreynodded。

"Thoseholeswillbethegraveofthousands！"saidFancy。"Ithink’tisratheracruelthingtodo。"

Herfathershookhishead。"No，"hesaid，tappingthehivestoshakethedeadbeesfromtheircells，"ifyousuffocate’emthisway，theyonlydieonce：ifyoufumigate’eminthenewway，theycometolifeagain，anddieo’starvation;sothepangso’deathbetwiceupon’em。"

"IinclinetoFancy’snotion，"saidMr。Shiner，laughinglightly。

"Theproperwaytotakehoney，sothatthebeesbeneitherstarvednormurdered，isapuzzlingmatter，"saidthekeepersteadily。

"Ishouldlikenevertotakeitfromthem，"saidFancy。

"But’tisthemoney，"saidEnochmusingly。"Forwithoutmoneymanisashadder！"

Thelantern—lighthaddisturbedmanybeesthathadescapedfromhivesdestroyedsomedaysearlier，and，demoralizedbyaffliction，werenowgettingalivingasmaraudersaboutthedoorsofotherhives。SeveralflewroundtheheadandneckofGeoffrey;thendarteduponhimwithanirritatedbizz。

Enochthrewdownthelantern，andranoffandpushedhisheadintoacurrantbush;Fancyscuddedupthepath;andMr。Shinerflounderedawayhelter—skelteramongthecabbages。Geoffreystoodhisground，unmovedandfirmasarock。Fancywasthefirsttoreturn，followedbyEnochpickingupthelantern。Mr。Shinerstillremainedinvisible。

"Havethecratersstungye？"saidEnochtoGeoffrey。

"No，notmuch——on’yalittlehereandthere，"hesaidwithleisurelysolemnity，shakingonebeeoutofhisshirtsleeve，pullinganotherfromamonghishair，andtwoorthreemorefromhisneck。Therestlookedonduringthisproceedingwithacomplacentsenseofbeingoutofit，——muchasaEuropeannationinastateofinternalcommotioniswatchedbyitsneighbours。

"Arethoseallofthem，father？"saidFancy，whenGeoffreyhadpulledawayfive。

"Almostall，——thoughIfeeloneortwomorestickingintomyshoulderandside。Ah！there’sanotherjustbegunagainuponmybackbone。Youlivelyyoungmortals，howdidyougetinsidethere？

However，theycan’tstingmemanytimesmore，poorthings，fortheymustbegettingweak。Theymidaswellstayinmetillbedtimenow，Isuppose。"

Ashehimselfwastheonlypersonaffectedbythisarrangement，itseemedsatisfactoryenough;andafteranoiseoffeetkickingagainstcabbagesinablunderingprogressamongthem，thevoiceofMr。Shinerwasheardfromthedarknessinthatdirection。

"Isallquitesafeagain？"

Noanswerbeingreturnedtothisquery，heapparentlyassumedthathemightventureforth，andgraduallydrewnearthelanternagain。

Thehiveswerenowremovedfromtheirpositionovertheholes，onebeinghandedtoEnochtocarryindoors，andonebeingtakenbyGeoffreyhimself。

"Bringhitherthelantern，Fancy：thespadecanbide。"

GeoffreyandEnochthenwenttowardsthehouse，leavingShinerandFancystandingsidebysideonthegarden—plot。

"Allowme，"saidShiner，stoopingforthelanternandseizingitatthesametimewithFancy。

"Icancarryit，"saidFancy，religiouslyrepressingallinclinationtotrifle。Shehadthoroughlyconsideredthatsubjectafterthetearfulexplanationofthebird—catchingadventuretoDick，andhaddecidedthatitwouldbedishonestinher，asanengagedyoungwoman，totriflewithmen’seyesandhandsanymore。FindingthatShinerstillretainedhisholdofthelantern，sherelinquishedit，andhe，havingfoundherretainingit，alsoletgo。Thelanternfell，andwasextinguished。Fancymovedon。

"Whereisthepath？"saidMr。Shiner。

"Here，"saidFancy。"Youreyeswillgetusedtothedarkinaminuteortwo。"

"Tillthattimewillyelendmeyourhand？"Fancygavehimtheextremetipsofherfingers，andtheysteppedfromtheplotintothepath。

"Youdon’tacceptattentionsveryfreely。"

"Itdependsuponwhooffersthem。"

"Afellowlikeme，forinstance。"Adeadsilence。

"Well，whatdoyousay，Missie？"

"Itthendependsuponhowtheyareoffered。"

"Notwildly，andyetnotcareless—like;notpurposely，andyetnotbychance;nottooquicknoryettooslow。"

"Howthen？"saidFancy。

"Coollyandpractically，"hesaid。"Howwouldthatkindoflovebetaken？"

"Notanxiously，andyetnotindifferently;neitherblushingnorpale;norreligiouslynoryetquitewickedly。"

"Notatall。"

GeoffreyDay’sstorehouseatthebackofhisdwellingwashungwithbunchesofdriedhorehound，mint，andsage;brown—paperbagsofthymeandlavender;andlongropesofcleanonions。Onshelveswerespreadlargeredandyellowapples，andchoiceselectionsofearlypotatoesforseednextyear;——vulgarcrowdsofcommonerkindlyingbeneathinheaps。Afewemptybeehiveswereclusteredaroundanailinonecorner，underwhichstoodtwoorthreebarrelsofnewciderofthefirstcrop，eachbubblingandsquirtingforthfromtheyetopenbunghole。

Fancywasnowkneelingbesidethetwoinvertedhives，oneofwhichrestedagainstherlap，forconvenienceinoperatinguponthecontents。Shethrusthersleevesaboveherelbows，andinsertedhersmallpinkhandedgewisebetweeneachwhitelobeofhoneycomb，performingtheactsoadroitlyandgentlyasnottounsealasinglecell。Thencrackingthepieceoffatthecrownofthehivebyaslightbackwardandforwardmovement，sheliftedeachportionasitwasloosenedintoalargeblueplatter，placedonabenchatherside。

"Bothertheselittlemortals！"saidGeoffrey，whowasholdingthelighttoher，andgivinghisbackanuneasytwist。"IreallythinkImayaswellgoindoorsandtake’emout，poorthings！fortheywon’tletmealone。There’stwoastingingwi’alltheirmightnow。

I’msureIwondertheirstrengthcanlastsolong。"

"Allright，friend;I’llholdthecandlewhilstyouaregone，"saidMr。Shiner，leisurelytakingthelight，andallowingGeoffreytodepart，whichhedidwithhisusuallongpaces。

Hecouldhardlyhavegoneroundtothehouse—doorwhenotherfootstepswereheardapproachingtheoutbuilding;thetipofafingerappearedintheholethroughwhichthewoodlatchwaslifted，andDickDewycamein，havingbeenallthistimewalkingupanddownthewood，vainlywaitingforShiner’sdeparture。

Fancylookedupandwelcomedhimratherconfusedly。Shinergraspedthecandlestickmorefirmly，and，lestdoingthisinsilenceshouldnotimplytoDickwithsufficientforcethathewasquiteathomeandcool，hesanginvincibly—

"’KingArthurhehadthreesons。’"

"Fatherhere？"saidDick。

"Indoors，Ithink，"saidFancy，lookingpleasantlyathim。

Dicksurveyedthescene，anddidnotseeminclinedtohurryoffjustatthatmoment。Shinerwentonsinging"’Themillerwasdrown’dinhispond，Theweaverwashunginhisyarn，Andthed—ranawaywiththelittletail—or，Withthebroadclothunderhisarm。’"

"That’saterriblecrippledrhyme，ifthat’syourrhyme！"saidDick，withagrainofsuperciliousnessinhistone。

"It’snouseyourcomplainingtomeabouttherhyme！"saidMr。

Shiner。"Youmustgotothemanthatmadeit。"

Fancybythistimehadacquiredconfidence。

"Tasteabit，Mr。Dewy，"shesaid，holdinguptohimasmallcircularpieceofhoneycombthathadbeenthelastintherowoflayers，remainingstillonherkneesandflingingbackherheadtolookinhisface;"andthenI’lltasteabittoo。"

"AndI，ifyouplease，"saidMr。Shiner。Neverthelessthefarmerlookedsuperior，asifhecouldevennowhardlyjointhetriflingfromveryimportanceofstation;andafterreceivingthehoneycombfromFancy，heturneditoverinhishandtillthecellsbegantobecrushed，andtheliquidhoneyrandownfromhisfingersinathinstring。

SuddenlyafaintcryfromFancycausedthemtogazeather。

"What’sthematter，dear？"saidDick。

"Itisnothing，butO—o！abeehasstungtheinsideofmylip！HewasinoneofthecellsIwaseating！"

"Wemustkeepdowntheswelling，oritmaybeserious！"saidShiner，steppingupandkneelingbesideher。"Letmeseeit。"

"No，no！"

"JustletMEseeit，"saidDick，kneelingontheotherside：andaftersomehesitationshepresseddownherlipwithonefingertoshowtheplace。"O，Ihope’twillsoonhebetter！Idon’tmindastinginordinaryplaces，hutitissobaduponyourlip，"sheaddedwithtearsinhereyes，andwrithingalittlefromthepain。

ShinerheldthelightabovehisheadandpushedhisfaceclosetoFancy’s，asiftheliphadbeenshownexclusivelytohimself，uponwhichDickpushedcloser，asifShinerwerenotthereatall。

"Itisswelling，"saidDicktoherrightaspect。

"Itisn’tswelling，"saidShinertoherleftaspect。

"Isitdangerousonthelip？"criedFancy。"Iknowitisdangerousonthetongue。"

"Ono，notdangerous！"answeredDick。

"Ratherdangerous，"hadansweredShinersimultaneously。

"Imusttrytobearit！"saidFancy，turningagaintothehives。

"Hartshorn—and—oilisagoodthingtoputtoit，MissDay，"saidShinerwithgreatconcern。

"Sweet—oil—and—hartshornI’vefoundtobeagoodthingtocurestings，MissDay，"saidDickwithgreaterconcern。

"Wehavesomemixedindoors;wouldyoukindlyrunandgetitforme？"shesaid。

Now，whetherbyinadvertence，orwhetherbymischievousintention，theindividualityoftheYOUwassocarelesslydenotedthatbothDickandShinersprangtotheirfeetliketwinacrobats，andmarchedabreasttothedoor;bothseizedthelatchandliftedit，andcontinuedmarchingon，shouldertoshoulder，inthesamemannertothedwelling—house。Notonlyso，butenteringtheroom，theymarchedasbeforestraightuptoMrs。Day’schair，lettingthedoorintheoakpartitionslamsoforcibly，thattherowsofpewteronthedresserranglikeabell。

"Mrs。Day，Fancyhasstungherlip，andwantsyoutogivemethehartshorn，please，"saidMr。Shiner，veryclosetoMrs。Day’sface。

"O，Mrs。Day，Fancyhasaskedmetobringoutthehartshorn，please，becauseshehasstungherlip！"saidDick，alittleclosertoMrs。

Day’sface。

"Well，menalive！that’snoreasonwhyyoushouldeatme，I

suppose！"saidMrs。Day，drawingback。

Shesearchedinthecorner—cupboard，producedthebottle，andbegantodustthecork，therim，andeveryotherpartverycarefully，Dick’shandandShiner’shandwaitingsidebyside。

"Whichisheadman？"saidMrs。Day。"Now，don’tcomemumbudgetingsocloseagain。Whichisheadman？"

Neitherspoke;andthebottlewasinclinedtowardsShiner。Shiner，asahigh—classman，wouldnotlookintheleasttriumphant，andturnedtogooffwithitasGeoffreycamedownstairsafterthesearchinhislinenforconcealedbees。

"O——thatyou，MasterDewy？"

Dickassuredthekeeperthatitwas;andtheyoungmanthendetermineduponaboldstrokefortheattainmentofhisend，forgettingthattheworstofboldstrokesisthedisastrousconsequencestheyinvolveiftheyfail。

"I’vecomeonpurposetospeaktoyouveryparticular，Mr。Day，"hesaid，withacrushingemphasisintendedfortheearsofMr。Shiner，whowasvanishingroundthedoor—postatthatmoment。

"Well，I’vebeenforcedtogoupstairsandunrindmyself，andshakesomebeesouto’me"saidGeoffrey，walkingslowlytowardstheopendoor，andstandingonthethreshold。"Theyoungrascalsgotintomyshirtandwouldn’tbequietnohow。"

Dickfollowedhimtothedoor。

"I’vecometospeakawordtoyou，"herepeated，lookingoutatthepalemistcreepingupfromthegloomofthevalley。"Youmayperhapsguesswhatitisabout。"

Thekeeperloweredhishandsintothedepthsofhispockets，twirledhiseyes，balancedhimselfonhistoes，lookedasperpendicularlydownwardasifhisglancewereaplumb—line，thenhorizontally，collectingtogetherthecracksthatlayabouthisfacetilltheywereallintheneighbourhoodofhiseyes。

"MaybeIdon’tknow，"hereplied。

Dicksaidnothing;andthestillnesswasdisturbedonlybysomesmallbirdthatwasbeingkilledbyanowlintheadjoiningwood，whosecrypassedintothesilencewithoutminglingwithit。

"I’veleftmyhatupinchammer，"saidGeoffrey;"waitwhileIstepupandgeten。"

"I’llbeinthegarden，"saidDick。

Hewentroundbyasidewicketintothegarden，andGeoffreywentupstairs。ItwasthecustominMellstockanditsvicinitytodiscussmattersofpleasureandordinarybusinessinsidethehouse，andtoreservethegardenforveryimportantaffairs：acustomwhich，asissupposed，originatedinthedesirabilityofgettingawayatsuchtimesfromtheothermembersofthefamilywhentherewasonlyoneroomforlivingin，thoughitwasnowquiteasfrequentlypractisedbythosewhosufferedfromnosuchlimitationtothesizeoftheirdomiciles。

Thehead—keeper’sformappearedintheduskygarden，andDickwalkedtowardshim。Theelderpausedandleantovertherailofapiggerythatstoodontheleftofthepath，uponwhichDickdidthesame;

andtheybothcontemplatedawhitishshadowyshapethatwasmovingaboutandgruntingamongthestrawoftheinterior。

"I’vecometoaskforFancy，"saidDick。

"I’dasliefyouhadn’t。"

"Whyshouldthatbe，Mr。Day？"

"Becauseitmakesmesaythatyou’vecometoaskwhatyebe’n’tlikelytohave。Haveyecomeforanythingelse？"

"Nothing。"

"ThenI’lljusttell’eeyou’vecomeonaveryfoolisherrand。D’yeknowwhathermotherwas？"

"No。"

"Ateacherinalandedfamily’snursery，whowasfoolishenoughtomarrythekeeperofthesameestablishment;forIwasonlyakeeperthen，thoughnowI’veadozenotherironsinthefireasstewardhereformylord，whatwiththetimbersalesandtheyearlyfellings，andthegravelandsandsalesandonethingand’tother。

However，d’yethinkFancypickeduphergoodmanners，thesmoothturnofhertongue，hermusicalnotes，andherknowledgeofbooks，inahomelyholelikethis？"

"No。"

"D’yeknowwhere？"

"No。"

"Well，whenIwenta—wanderingafterhermother’sdeath，shelivedwithheraunt，whokeptaboarding—school，tillherauntmarriedLawyerGreen——amanassharpasaneedle——andtheschoolwasbrokeup。Didyeknowthatthenshewenttothetraining—school，andthathernamestoodfirstamongtheQueen’sscholarsofheryear？"

"I’veheardso。"

"AndthatwhenshesatforhercertificateasGovernmentteacher，shehadthehighestofthefirstclass？"

"Yes。"

"Well，anddoyeknowwhatIliveinsuchamiserlywayforwhenI’vegotenoughtodowithoutit，andwhyImakeherworkasaschoolmistressinsteadoflivinghere？"

"No。"

"Thatifanygentleman，whoseeshertobehisequalinpolish，shouldwanttomarryher，andshewanttomarryhim，hesha’n’tbesuperiortoherinpocket。Nowdoyethinkafterthisthatyoubegoodenoughforher？"

"No。"

"Thengood—nightt’ee，MasterDewy。"

"Good—night，Mr。Day。"

ModestDick’sreplyhadfaltereduponhistongue，andheturnedawaywonderingathispresumptioninaskingforawomanwhomhehadseenfromthebeginningtobesosuperiortohim。

CHAPTERIII：FANCYINTHERAIN

Thenextsceneisatempestuousafternooninthefollowingmonth，andFancyDayisdiscoveredwalkingfromherfather’shometowardsMellstock。

Asinglevastgraycloudcoveredthecountry，fromwhichthesmallrainandmisthadjustbeguntoblowdowninwavysheets，alternatelythickandthin。Thetreesofthefieldsandplantationswrithedlikemiserablemenastheairwounditswayswiftlyamongthem：thelowestportionsoftheirtrunks，thathadhardlyeverbeenknowntomove，werevisiblyrockedbythefiercergusts，distressingthemindbyitspainfulunwontedness，aswhenastrongmanisseentoshedtears。Low—hangingboughswentupanddown;

highanderectboughswenttoandfro;theblastsbeingsoirregular，anddividedintosomanycross——currents，thatneighbouringbranchesofthesametreeswepttheskiesinindependentmotions，crossedeachother，orbecameentangled。

Acrosstheopenspacesflewflocksofgreenandyellowishleaves，which，aftertravellingalongdistancefromtheirparenttrees，reachedtheground，andlaytherewiththeirunder——sidesupward。

Astherainandwindincreased，andFancy’sbonnet——ribbonsleaptmoreandmoresnappishlyagainstherchin，shepausedonenteringMellstockLanetoconsiderherlatitude，andthedistancetoaplaceofshelter。ThenearesthousewasElizabethEndorfield’s，inHigherMellstock，whosecottageandgardenstoodnotfarfromthejunctionofthathamletwiththeroadshefollowed。Fancyhastenedonward，andinfiveminutesenteredagate，whichsheduponhertoesafloodofwater—dropsassheopenedit。

"Comein，chiel！"avoiceexclaimed，beforeFancyhadknocked：apromptnessthatwouldhavesurprisedherhadshenotknownthatMrs。

Endorfieldwasanexceedinglyandexceptionallysharpwomanintheuseofhereyesandears。

Fancywentinandsatdown。Elizabethwasparingpotatoesforherhusband’ssupper。

Scrape，scrape，scrape;thenatoss，andsplashwentapotatointoabucketofwater。

Now，asFancylistlesslynotedtheseproceedingsofthedame，shebegantoreconsideranoldsubjectthathayuppermostinherheart。

SincetheinterviewbetweenherfatherandDick，thedayshadbeenmelancholydaysforher。Geoffrey’sfirmoppositiontothenotionofDickasason—in—lawwasmorethanshehadexpected。Shehadfrequentlyseenherloversincethattime，itistrue，andhadlovedhimmorefortheoppositionthanshewouldhaveotherwisedreamtofdoing——whichwasahappinessofacertainkind。Yet，thoughloveisthusanendinitself，itmustbebelievedtobethemeanstoanotherendifitistoassumetherosyhuesofanunalloyedpleasure。AndsuchabeliefFancyandDickwereemphaticallydeniedjustnow。