第9章

NB。——FURNITURE，COALS，POTATOES，LIVEANDDEADSTOCK，REMOVEDTOANY

DISTANCEONTHESHORTESTNOTICE。

Mr。Mayboldleantovertheparapetofthebridgeandlookedintotheriver。Hesaw——withoutheeding——howthewatercamerapidlyfrombeneaththearches，glideddownalittlesteep，thenspreaditselfoverapoolinwhichdace，trout，andminnowssportedateaseamongthelonggreenlocksofweedthatlayheavingandsinkingwiththeirrootstowardsthecurrent。Attheendoftenminutesspentleaningthus，hedrewfromhispocketthelettertohisfriend，toreitdeliberatelyintosuchminutefragmentsthatscarcelytwosyllablesremainedinjuxtaposition，andsentthewholehandfulofshredsflutteringintothewater。Herehewatchedthemeddy，dart，andturn，astheywerecarrieddownwardstowardstheoceanandgraduallydisappearedfromhisview。Finallyhemovedoff，andpursuedhiswayatarapidpacebackagaintoMellstockVicarage。

Nervinghimselfbyalongandintenseeffort，hesatdowninhisstudyandwroteasfollows：

"DEARMISSDAY，——Themeaningofyourwords，’thetemptationistoostrong，’ofyoursadnessandyourtears，hasbeenbroughthometomebyanaccident。Iknowto—daywhatIdidnotknowyesterday——thatyouarenotafreewoman。

"Whydidyounottellme——whydidn’tyou？DidyousupposeIknew？

No。HadIknown，myconductincomingtoyouasIdidwouldhavebeenreprehensible。

"ButIdon’tchideyou！Perhapsnoblameattachestoyou——Ican’ttell。Fancy，thoughmyopinionofyouisassailedanddisturbedinawaywhichcannotbeexpressed，Iloveyoustill，andmywordtoyouholdsgoodyet。Butwillyou，injusticetoanhonestmanwhoreliesuponyourwordtohim，considerwhether，underthecircumstances，youcanhonourablyforsakehim？——Yourseversincerely，"ARTHURMAYBOLD。"

Herangthebell。"TellCharlestotakethesecopybooksandthisnotetotheschoolatonce。"

Themaidtooktheparcelandtheletter，andinafewminutesaboywasseentoleavethevicaragegate，withtheoneunderhisarm，andtheotherinhishand。Thevicarsatwithhishandtohisbrow，watchingtheladashedescendedChurchLaneandenteredthewatersidepathwhichintervenedbetweenthatspotandtheschool。

Herehewasmetbyanotherboy，andafterafreesalutationandpugilisticfriskhadpassedbetweenthetwo，thesecondboycameonhiswaytothevicarage，andtheothervanishedoutofsight。

Theboycametothedoor，andanoteforMr。Mayboldwasbroughtin。

Heknewthewriting。Openingtheenvelopewithanunsteadyhand，hereadthesubjoinedwords：

"DEARMR。MAYBOLD，——Ihavebeenthinkingseriouslyandsadlythroughthewholeofthenightofthequestionyouputtomelasteveningandofmyanswer。Thatanswer，asanhonestwoman，Ihadnorighttogive。

"Itismynature——perhapsallwomen’s——toloverefinementofmindandmanners;butevenmorethanthis，tobeeverfascinatedwiththeideaofsurroundingsmoreelegantandpleasingthanthosewhichhavebeencustomary。Andyoupraisedme，andpraiseislifetome。Itwasalonemysensationsatthesethingswhichpromptedmyreply。

Ambitionandvanitytheywouldbecalled;perhapstheyareso。

"AfterthisexplanationIhopeyouwillgenerouslyallowmetowithdrawtheanswerItoohastilygave。

"Andonemorerequest。Tokeepthemeetingoflastnight，andallthatpassedbetweenusthere，foreverasecret。Wereittobecomeknown，itwouldutterlyblightthehappinessofatrustingandgenerousman，whomIlovestill，andshalllovealways。——Yourssincerely，"FANCYDAY。

ThelastwrittencommunicationthateverpassedfromthevicartoFancy，wasanotecontainingthesewordsonly：

"Tellhimeverything;itisbest。Hewillforgiveyou。"

PARTTHEFIFTH：CONCLUSION

CHAPTERI：’THEKNOTTHERE’SNOUNTYING’

Thelastdayofthestoryisdatedjustsubsequenttothatpointinthedevelopmentoftheseasonswhencountrypeoplegotobedamongnearlynakedtrees，arelulledtosleepbyafallofrain，andawakenextmorningamonggreenones;whenthelandscapeappearsembarrassedwiththesuddenweightandbrilliancyofitsleaves;

whenthenight—jarcomesandstrikesupforthesummerhistuneofonenote;whentheapple—treeshavebloomed，andtheroadsandorchard—grassbecomespottedwithfallenpetals;whenthefacesofthedelicateflowersaredarkened，andtheirheadsweigheddown，bythethrongofhoney—bees，whichincreasetheirhummingtillhummingistoomildatermfortheall—pervadingsound;andwhencuckoos，blackbirds，andsparrows，thathavehithertobeenmerryandrespectfulneighbours，becomenoisyandpersistentintimates。

TheexteriorofGeoffreyDay’shouseinYalburyWoodappearedexactlyaswasusualatthatseason，butafranticbarkingofthedogsatthebacktoldofunwontedmovementssomewherewithin。

Insidethedoortheeyesbeheldagathering，whichwasararityindeedforthedwellingofthesolitarywood—stewardandkeeper。

Abouttheroomweresittingandstanding，invariousgnarledattitudes，ouroldacquaintance，grandfathersJamesandWilliam，thetranter，Mr。Penny，twoorthreechildren，includingJimmyandCharley，besidesthreeorfourcountryladiesandgentlemenfromagreaterdistancewhodonotrequireanydistinctionbyname。

Geoffreywasseenandheardstampingabouttheouthouseandamongthebushesofthegarden，attendingtodetailsofdailyroutinebeforethepropertimearrivedfortheirperformance，inorderthattheymightbeoffhishandsfortheday。Heappearedwithhisshirt—sleevesrolledup;hisbestnewnethergarments，inwhichhehadarrayedhimselfthatmorning，beingtemporarilydisguisedunderaweekdayapronwhilsttheseproceedingswereinoperation。Heoccasionallyglancedatthehivesinpassing，toseeifhiswife’sbeeswereswarming，ultimatelyrollingdownhisshirt—sleevesandgoingindoors，talkingtotranterDewywhilstbuttoningthewristbands，tosavetime;nextgoingupstairsforhisbestwaistcoat，andcomingdownagaintomakeanotherremarkwhilstbuttoningthat，duringthetimelookingfixedlyinthetranter’sfaceasifhewerealooking—glass。

Thefurniturehadundergoneattenuationtoanalarmingextent，everyduplicatepiecehavingbeenremoved，includingtheclockbyThomasWood;EzekielSaundersbeingatlastleftsolerefereeinmattersoftime。

Fancywasstationaryupstairs，receivingherlayersofclothesandadornments，andansweringbyshortfragmentsoflaughterwhichhadmorefidgetinessthanmirthinthem，remarksthatweremadefromtimetotimebyMrs。DewyandMrs。Penny，whowereassistingheratthetoilet，Mrs。Dayhavingpleadedaqueernessinherheadasareasonforshuttingherselfupinaninnerbedroomforthewholemorning。Mrs。Pennyappearedwithninecorkscrewcurlsoneachsideofhertemples，andabackcombstuckuponhercrownlikeacastleonasteep。

Theconversationjustnowgoingonwasconcerningthebanns，thelastpublicationofwhichhadbeenontheSundayprevious。

"Andhowdidtheysound？"Fancysubtlyinquired。

"Verybeautifulindeed，"saidMrs。Penny。"Ineverheardanysoundbetter。"

"ButHOW？"

"O，SOnaturalandelegant，didn’tthey，Reuben！"shecried，throughthechinksoftheunceiledfloor，tothetranterdownstairs。

"What’sthat？"saidthetranter，lookingupinquiringlyatthefloorabovehimforananswer。

"Didn’tDickandFancysoundwellwhentheywerecalledhomeinchurchlastSunday？"camedownwardsagaininMrs。Penny’svoice。

"Ay，thattheydid，mysonnies！——especiallythefirsttime。Therewasaterriblewhisperingpieceofworkinthecongregation，wasn’tthere，neighbourPenny？"saidthetranter，takingupthethreadofconversationonhisownaccountand，inordertobeheardintheroomabove，speakingveryloudtoMr。Penny，whosatatthedistanceofthreefeetfromhim，orratherless。

"Inevercanmindseeingsuchawhisperingastherewas，"saidMr。

Penny，alsoloudly，totheroomabove。"Andsuchsorrowfulenvyonthemaidens’faces;really，Ineverdidseesuchenvyastherewas！"

Fancy’slineamentsvariedininnumerablelittleflushes，andherheartpalpitatedinnumerablelittletremorsofpleasure。"Butperhaps，"shesaid，withassumedindifference，"itwasonlybecausenoreligionwasgoingonjustthen？"

"O，no;nothingtodowiththat。’Twasbecauseofyourhighstandingintheparish。ItwasjustasiftheyhadoneandallcaughtDickkissingandcolingyetodeath，wasn’tit，Mrs。Dewy？"

"Ay;that’twas。"

"Howpeoplewilltalkaboutone’sdoings！"Fancyexclaimed。

"Well，ifyoumakesongsaboutyourself，mydear，youcan’tblameotherpeopleforsinging’em。"

"Mercyme！howshallIgothroughit？"saidtheyoungladyagain，butmerelytothoseinthebedroom，withabreathingofakindbetweenasighandapant，roundshiningeyes，andwarmface。

"O，you’llgetthroughitwellenough，child，"saidMrs。Dewyplacidly。"Theedgeoftheperformanceistookoffatthecallinghome;andwhenonceyougetuptothechancelendo’thechurch，youfeelassaucyasyouplease。I’msureIfeltasbraveasasodgerallthroughthedeed——thoughofcourseIdroppedmyfaceandlookedmodest，aswasbecomingtoamaid。Mindyoudothat，Fancy。"

"AndIwalkedintothechurchasquietasalamb，I’msure，"

subjoinedMrs。Penny。"There，youseePennyissuchalittlesmallman，Butcertainly，Iwasflurriedintheinsideo’me。Well，thinksI，’tistobe，andheregoes！Anddoyoudothesame：say，’’Tistobe，andheregoes！’"

"Istheresuchwonderfulvirtuein’’Tistobe，andheregoes！’"

inquiredFancy。

"Wonderful！’Twillcarryabodythroughitallfromweddingtochurching，ifyouonlyletitoutwithspiritenough。"

"Verywell，then，"saidFancy，blushing。"’Tistobe，andheregoes！"

"That’sagirlforahusband！"saidMrs。Dewy。

"Idohopehe’llcomeintime！"continuedthebride—elect，inventinganewcauseofaffright，nowthattheotherwasdemolished。

"’Twouldbeathousandpitiesifhedidn’tcome，nowyouhesobrave，"saidMrs。Penny。

GrandfatherJames，havingoverheardsomeoftheseremarks，saiddownstairswithmischievousloudness——"I’veknownsomewould—beweddingswhenthemendidn’tcome。"

"They’vehappenednottocome，beforenow，certainly，"saidMr。

Penny，cleaningoneoftheglassesofhisspectacles。

"O，dohearwhattheyaresayingdownstairs，"whisperedFancy。

"Hush，hush！"

Shelistened。

"Theyhave，haven’tthey，Geoffrey？"continuedgrandfatherJames，asGeoffreyentered。

"Havewhat？"saidGeoffrey。

"Themenhavebeenknownnottocome。"

"Thattheyhave，"saidthekeeper。

"Ay;I’veknowedtimeswhentheweddinghadtobeputoffthroughhisnotappearing，beingtiredofthewoman。AndanothercaseI

knowedwaswhenthemanwascatchedinaman—trapcrossingOaker’sWood，andthethreemonthshadrunoutbeforehegotwell，andthebannshadtobepublishedoveragain。"

"Howhorrible！"saidFancy。

"Theyonlysayitonpurposetotease’ee，mydear，"saidMrs。Dewy。

"’Tisquitesadtothinkwhatwretchedshiftspoormaidshavebeenputto，"cameagainfromdownstairs。"YeshouldhearClerkWilkins，mybrother—law，tellhisexperiencesinmarryingcouplestheselastthirtyyear：sometimesonething，sometimesanother——’tisquiteheart—rending——enoughtomakeyourhairstandonend。"

"Thosethingsdon’thappenveryoften，Iknow，"saidFancy，withsmoulderinguneasiness。

"Well，really’tistimeDickwashere，"saidthetranter。

"Don’tkeeponatmeso，grandfatherJamesandMr。Dewy，andallyoudownthere！"Fancybrokeout，unabletoendureanylonger。"IamsureIshalldie，ordosomething，ifyoudo！"

"Neveryouhearkentotheseoldchaps，MissDay！"criedNatCallcome，thebestman，whohadjustentered，andthrewhisvoiceupwardthroughthechinksofthefloorastheothershaddone。

"’Tisallright;Dick’scomingonlikeawildfeller;he’llbehereinaminute。Thehiveo’beeshismothergie’denforhisnewgardenswarmedjistashewasstarting，andhesaid，"Ican’taffordtoloseastocko’bees;no，thatIcan’t，thoughIfainwould;andFancywouldn’twishitonanyaccount。"Sohejiststoppedtotingto’emandshake’em。"

"Agenuinewiseman，"saidGeoffrey。

"Tobesure，whataday’sworkwehadyesterday！"Mr。Callcomecontinued，loweringhisvoiceasifitwerenotnecessaryanylongertoincludethoseintheroomaboveamonghisaudience，andselectingaremotecornerofhisbestcleanhandkerchiefforwipinghisface。

"Tobesure！"

"Thingssoheavy，Isuppose，"saidGeoffrey，asifreadingthroughthechimney—windowfromthefarendofthevista。

"Ay，"saidNat，lookingroundtheroomatpointsfromwhichfurniturehadbeenremoved。"Andsoawkwardtocarry，too。’Twasath’artandacrossDick’sgarden;inandoutDick’sdoor;upanddownDick’sstairs;roundandroundDick’schammerstilllegswereworntostumps：andDickissoparticular，too。Andthestoresofvictualsanddrinkthatladhaslaidin：why，’tisenoughforNoah’sark！I’msureIneverwishtoseeachoicerhalf—dozenofhamsthanhe’sgotthereinhischimley;andtheciderItastedwasaveryprettydrop，indeed;——nonecoulddesireaprettiercider。"

"Theybefortheloveandthestalledoxboth，Ah，thegreedymartels！"saidgrandfatherJames。

"Well，may—betheybe。Surely，"saysI，"thatcouplebetween’emhaveheapedupsomuchfurnitureandvictuals，thatanybodywouldthinktheyweregoingtotakeholdthebigendofmarriedlifefirst，andbeginwi’agrown—upfamily。Ah，whatabathofheatwetwochapswerein，tobesure，a—gettingthatfurnitureinorder！"

"Idosowishtheroombelowwasceiled，"saidFancy，asthedressingwenton;"wecanhearalltheysayanddodownthere。"

"Hark！Who’sthat？"exclaimedasmallpupil—teacher，whoalsoassistedthismorning，tohergreatdelight。Sheranhalf—waydownthestairs，andpeepedroundthebanister。"O，youshould，youshould，youshould！"sheexclaimed，scramblinguptotheroomagain。

"What？"saidFancy。

"Seethebridesmaids！They’vejustacome！’Tiswonderful，really！

’tiswonderfulhowmuslincanbebroughttoit。There，theydon’tlookabitlikethemselves，butlikesomeveryrichsisterso’

theirsthatnobodyknewtheyhad！"

"Make’emcomeuptome，make’emcomeup！"criedFancyecstatically;andthefourdamselsappointed，namely，MissSusanDewy，MissBessieDewy，MissVashtiSniff，andMissMercyOnmey，surgedupstairs，andfloatedalongthepassage。

"IwishDickwouldcome！"wasagaintheburdenofFancy。

Thesameinstantasmalltwigandflowerfromthecreeperoutsidethedoorflewinattheopenwindow，andamasculinevoicesaid，"Ready，Fancydearest？"

"Thereheis，heis！"criedFancy，titteringspasmodically，andbreathingasitwereforthefirsttimethatmorning。

Thebridesmaidscrowdedtothewindowandturnedtheirheadsinthedirectionpointedout，atwhichmotioneightearringsallswungasone：——notlookingatDickbecausetheyparticularlywantedtoseehim，butwithanimportantsenseoftheirdutyasobedientministersofthewillofthatapotheosisedbeing——theBride。

"Helooksverytaking！"saidMissVashtiSniff，ayoungladywhoblushedcream—colourandworeyellowbonnetribbons。

Dickwasadvancingtothedoorinapainfullynewcoatofshiningcloth，primrose—colouredwaistcoat，hatofthesamepainfulstyleofnewness，andwithanextraquantityofwhiskersshavedoffhisface，andhaircuttoanunwontedshortnessinhonouroftheoccasion。

"Now，I’llrundown，"saidFancy，lookingatherselfoverhershoulderintheglass，andflittingoff。

"ODick！"sheexclaimed，"Iamsogladyouarecome！Iknewyouwould，ofcourse，butIthought，Ohifyoushouldn’t！"

"Notcome，Fancy！Hetorwet，bloworsnow，herecomeIto—day！

Why，what’spossessingyourlittlesoul？Youneverusedtomindsuchthingsabit。"

"Ah，Mr。Dick，Ihadn’thoistedmycoloursandcommittedmyselfthen！"saidFancy。

"’TisapityIcan’tmarrythewholefiveofye！"saidDick，surveyingthemallround。

"Heh—heh—heh！"laughedthefourbridesmaids，andFancyprivatelytouchedDickandsmoothedhimdownbehindhisshoulder，asiftoassureherselfthathewasthereinfleshandbloodasherownproperty。

"Well，whoeverwouldhavethoughtsuchathing？"saidDick，takingoffhishat，sinkingintoachair，andturningtotheeldermembersofthecompany。

Thelatterarrangedtheireyesandlipstosignifythatintheiropinionnobodycouldhavethoughtsuchathing，whateveritwas。

"Thatmybeesshouldha’swarmedjustthen，ofalltimesandseasons！"continuedDick，throwingacomprehensiveglancelikeanetoverthewholeauditory。"And’tisafineswarm，too：Ihaven’tseensuchafineswarmforthesetenyears。"

"A’excellentsign，"saidMrs。Penny，fromthedepthsofexperience。

"A’excellentsign。"

"Iamgladeverythingseemssoright，"saidFancywithabreathofrelief。

"AndsoamI，"saidthefourbridesmaidswithmuchsympathy。

"Well，beescan’tbeputoff，"observedtheinharmoniousgrandfatherJames。"Marryingawomanisathingyoucandoatanymoment;butaswarmo’beeswon’tcomefortheasking。"

Dickfannedhimselfwithhishat。"Ican’tthink，"hesaidthoughtfully，"whatever’twasIdidtooffendMr。Maybold，amanI

likesomuchtoo。Herathertooktomewhenhecamefirst，andusedtosayheshouldliketoseememarried，andthathe’dmarryme，whethertheyoungwomanIchoselivedinhisparishorno。IjusthintedtohimofitwhenIputinthebanns，buthedidn’tseemtotakekindlytothenotionnow，andsoIsaidnomore。Iwonderhowitwas。"

"Iwonder！"saidFancy，lookingintovacancywiththosebeautifuleyesofhers——toorefinedandbeautifulforatranter’swife;but，perhaps，nottoogood。

"Alteredhismind，asfolkswill，Isuppose，"saidthetranter。

"Well，mysonnies，there’llheagoodstrongpartylookingatusto—

dayaswegoalong。"

"Andthebodyofthechurch，"saidGeoffrey，"willbelinedwithfemales，andarowofyoungfellers’heads，asfardownastheeyes，willbenoticedjustabovethesillsofthechancel—winders。"

"Ay，you’vebeenthroughittwice，"saidReuben，"andwellmidknow。"

"Icanputupwithitforonce，"saidDick，"ortwiceeither，oradozentimes。"

"ODick！"saidFancyreproachfully。

"Why，dear，that’snothing，——onlyjustabitofaflourish。Youbeasnervousasacatto—day。"

"Andthen，ofcourse，when’tisallover，"continuedthetranter，"weshallmarchtwoandtworoundtheparish。"

"Yes，sure，"saidMr。Penny："twoandtwo：everymanhitcheduptohiswoman，’ab’lieve。"

"Inevercanmakeashowofmyselfinthatway！"saidFancy，lookingatDicktoascertainifhecould。

"I’magreedtoanythingyouandthecompanylike，mydear！"saidMr。

RichardDewyheartily。

"Why，wedidwhenweweremarried，didn’twe，Ann？"saidthetranter;"andsodoeverybody，mysonnies。"

"Andsodidwe，"saidFancy’sfather。

"AndsodidPennyandI，"saidMrs。Penny："IworemybestBathclogs，Iremember，andPennywascrossbecauseitmademelooksotall。"

"Andsodidfatherandmother，"saidMissMercyOnmey。

"AndImeanto，comenextChristmas！"saidNatthegroomsmanvigorously，andlookingtowardsthepersonofMissVashtiSniff。

"Respectablepeopledon’tnowadays，"saidFancy。"Still，sincepoormotherdid，Iwill。"

"Ay，"resumedthetranter，"’twasonaWhiteTuesdaywhenI

committedit。MellstockClubwalkedthesameday，andwenew—

marriedfolkwenta—gayingroundtheparishbehind’em。EverybodyusedtowearsomethingwhiteatWhitsuntideinthemdays。Mysonnies，I’vegottheverywhitetrousersthatIwore，athomeinboxnow，Ha’n’tI，Ann？"

"YouhadtillIcut’emupforJimmy，"saidMrs。Dewy。

"Andweought，byrights，afterdoingthisparish，togoroundHigherandLowerMellstock，andcallatViney’s，andsoworkourwayhitheragainacrossHe’th，"saidMr。Penny，recoveringscentofthematterinhand。"DairymanVineyisaveryrespectableman，andsoisFarmerKex，andweoughttoshowourselvestothem。"

"True，"saidthetranter，"weoughttogoroundMellstocktodothethingwell。Weshallformaverystrikingobjectwalkingalonginrotation，good—now，neighbours？"

"Thatweshall：aproperprettysightforthenation，"saidMrs。

Penny。

"Hullo！"saidthetranter，suddenlycatchingsightofasingularhumanfigurestandinginthedoorway，andwearingalongsmock—frockofpillow—casecutandofsnowywhiteness。"Why，Leaf！whateverdostthoudohere？"

"I’vecometoknowifsobeIcancometothewedding——hee—hee！"

saidLeafinavoiceoftimidity。

"Now，Leaf，"saidthetranterreproachfully，"youknowwedon’twant’eehereto—day：we’vegotnoroomforye，Leaf。"

"ThomasLeaf，ThomasLeaf，fieuponyeforprying！"saidoldWilliam。

"IknowI’vegotnohead，butIthought，ifIwashedandputonaclaneshirtandsmock—frock，Imightjustcall，"saidLeaf;turningawaydisappointedandtrembling。

"Poorfeller！"saidthetranter，turningtoGeoffrey。"Supposewemustletencome？Hislooksareratheragainsten，andheisterriblesilly;but’ahaveneverbeeninjail，and’awon’tdonoharm。"

Leaflookedwithgratitudeatthetranterforthesepraises，andthenanxiouslyatGeoffrey，toseewhateffecttheywouldhaveinhelpinghiscause。

"Ay，letencome，"saidGeoffreydecisively。"Leaf，th’rtwelcome，’stknow;"andLeafaccordinglyremained。

Theywerenowallreadyforleavingthehouse，andbegantoformaprocessioninthefollowingorder：Fancyandherfather，DickandSusanDewy，NatCallcomeandVashtiSniff，TedWaywoodandMercyOnmey，andJimmyandBessieDewy。Theseformedtheexecutive，andallappearedinstrictweddingattire。ThencamethetranterandMrs。Dewy，andlastofallMr。andMrs。Penny;——thetranterconspicuousbyhisenormousgloves，sizeelevenandthree—quarters，whichappearedatadistancelikeboxingglovesbleached，andsatratherawkwardlyuponhisbrownhands;thishall—markofrespectabilityhavingbeensetuponhimselfto—day（byFancy’sspecialrequest）forthefirsttimeinhislife。

"Theproperwayisforthebridesmaidstowalktogether，"suggestedFancy。

"What？’Twasalwaysyoungmanandyoungwoman，armincrook，inmytime！"saidGeoffrey，astounded。

"Andinmine！"saidthetranter。

"Andinours！"saidMr。andMrs。Penny。

"Neverheardo’suchathingaswomanandwoman！"saidoldWilliam;

who，withgrandfatherJamesandMrs。Day，wastostayathome。

"Whicheverwayyouandthecompanylike，mydear！"saidDick，who，beingonthepointofsecuringhisrighttoFancy，seemedwillingtorenounceallotherrightsintheworldwiththegreatestpleasureThedecisionwaslefttoFancy。

"Well，IthinkI’dratherhaveitthewaymotherhadit，"shesaid，andthecouplesmovedalongunderthetrees，everymantohismaid。

"Ah！"saidgrandfatherJamestograndfatherWilliamastheyretired，"Iwonderwhichshethinksmostabout，Dickorherweddingraiment！"

"Well，’tistheirnature，"saidgrandfatherWilliam。"RememberthewordsoftheprophetJeremiah：’Canamaidforgetherornaments，orabrideherattire？’"

Nowamongdarkperpendicularfirs，liketheshaftedcolumnsofacathedral;nowthroughahazelcopse，mattedwithprimrosesandwildhyacinths;nowunderbroadbeechesinbrightyoungleavestheythreadedtheirwayintothehighroadoverYalburyHill，whichdippedatthatpointdirectlyintothevillageofGeoffreyDay’sparish;andinthespaceofaquarterofanhourFancyfoundherselftobeMrs。RichardDewy，though，muchtohersurprise，feelingnootherthanFancyDaystill。

Onthecircuitousreturnwalkthroughthelanesandfields，amidmuchchatteringandlaughter，especiallywhentheycametostiles，Dickdiscernedabrownspotfarupaturnipfield。

"Why，’tisEnoch！"hesaidtoFancy。"IthoughtImissedhimatthehousethismorning。Howisithe’sleftyou？"

"Hedranktoomuchcider，anditgotintohishead，andtheyputhiminWeatherburystocksforit。Fatherwasobligedtogetsomebodyelseforadayortwo，andEnochhasn’thadanythingtodowiththewoodssince。"

"Wemightaskhimtocalldownto—night。Stocksarenothingforonce，considering’tisourweddingday。"Thebridalpartywasorderedtohalt。

"Eno—o—o—o—ch！"criedDickatthetopofhisvoice。

"Y—a—a—a—a—a—as！"saidEnochfromthedistance。

"D’yeknowwhoIbe—e—e—e—e—e？"

"No—o—o—o—o—o—o！"

"DickDew—w—w—w—wy！"

"O—h—h—h—h—h！"

"Justa—ma—a—a—a—a—arried！"

"O—h—h—h—h—h！"

"Thisismywife，Fa—a—a—a—a—ancy！"（holdingheruptoEnoch’sviewasifshehadbeenanosegay。）

"O—h—h—h—h—h！"

"Willyecomeacrosstothepartyto—ni—i—i—i—i—i—ight！"

"Ca—a—a—a—a—an’t！"

"Whyn—o—o—o—o—ot？"

"Don’tworkforthefamilyno—o—o—o—ow！"

"NotniceofMasterEnoch，"saidDick，astheyresumedtheirwalk。

"Youmustn’tblameen，"saidGeoffrey;"theman’snothisselfnow;

he’sinhismorningframeofmind。Whenhe’shadagallono’ciderorale，orapintortwoofmead，theman’swellenough，andhismannersbeasgoodasanybody’sinthekingdom。"

CHAPTERII：UNDERTHEGREENWOODTREE

ThepointinYalburyWoodwhichabuttedontheendofGeoffreyDay’spremiseswasclosedwithanancienttree，horizontallyofenormousextent，thoughhavingnogreatpretensionstoheight。Manyhundredsofbirdshadbeenbornamidsttheboughsofthissingletree;tribesofrabbitsandhareshadnibbledatitsbarkfromyeartoyear;

quainttuftsoffungihadsprungfromthecavitiesofitsforks;andcountlessfamiliesofmolesandearthwormshadcreptaboutitsroots。Beneathandbeyonditsshadespreadacarefully—tendedgrass—plot，itspurposebeingtosupplyahealthyexercise—groundforyoungchickensandpheasants;thehens，theirmothers，beingenclosedincoopsplaceduponthesamegreenflooring。

Alltheseencumbranceswerenowremoved，andastheafternoonadvanced，theguestsgatheredonthespot，wheremusic，dancing，andthesingingofsongswentforwardwithgreatspiritthroughouttheevening。TheproprietyofeveryonewasintensebyreasonoftheinfluenceofFancy，who，asanadditionalprecautioninthisdirection，hadstrictlychargedherfatherandthetrantertocarefullyavoidsaying’thee’and’thou’intheirconversation，onthepleathatthoseancientwordssoundedsoveryhumiliatingtopersonsofnewertaste;alsothattheywerenevertobeseendrawingthebackofthehandacrossthemouthafterdrinking——alocalEnglishcustomofextraordinaryantiquity，butstatedbyFancytobedecidedlydyingoutamongthebetterclassesofsociety。

Inadditiontothelocalmusicianspresent，amanwhohadathoroughknowledgeofthetambourinewasinvitedfromthevillageofTantrumClangley，——aplacelongcelebratedfortheskillofitsinhabitantsasperformersoninstrumentsofpercussion。Theseimportantmembersoftheassemblywererelegatedtoaheightoftwoorthreefeetfromtheground，uponatemporaryerectionofplankssupportedbybarrels。Whilstthedancingprogressedtheolderpersonssatinagroupunderthetrunkofthetree，——thespacebeingallottedtothemsomewhatgrudginglybytheyoungones，whoweregreedyofpirouettingroom，——andfortifiedbyatableagainsttheheelsofthedancers。Herethegaffersandgammers，whosedancingdayswereover，toldstoriesofgreatimpressiveness，andatintervalssurveyedtheadvancingandretiringcouplesfromthesameretreat，aspeopleonshoremightbesupposedtosurveyanavalengagementinthebaybeyond;returningagaintotheirtaleswhenthepausewasover。Thoseofthewhirlingthrong，who，duringtherestsbetweeneachfigure，turnedtheireyesinthedirectionoftheseseatedones，wereonlyabletodiscover，onaccountofthemusicandbustle，thataverystrikingcircumstancewasincourseofnarration——denotedbyanemphaticsweepofthehand，snappingofthefingers，closeofthelips，andfixedlookintothecentreofthelistener’seyeforthespaceofaquarterofaminute，whichraisedinthatlistenersuchareciprocatingworkingoffaceastosometimesmakethedistantdancershalfwishtoknowwhatsuchaninterestingtalecouldreferto。

Fancycausedherlookstowearasmuchmatronlyexpressionaswasobtainableoutofsixhours’experienceasawife，inorderthatthecontrastbetweenherownstateoflifeandthatoftheunmarriedyoungwomenpresentmightbedulyimpresseduponthecompany：

occasionallystealingglancesofadmirationatherlefthand，butthisquiteprivately;forherostensiblebearingconcerningthematterwasintendedtoshowthat，thoughsheundoubtedlyoccupiedthemostwondrouspositionintheeyesoftheworldthathadeverbeenattained，shewasalmostunconsciousofthecircumstance，andthatthesomewhatprominentpositioninwhichthatwonderfully—

emblazonedlefthandwascontinuallyfoundtobeplaced，whenhandingcupsandsaucers，knives，forks，andglasses，wasquitetheresultofaccident。Astowishingtoexciteenvyinthebosomsofhermaidencompanions，bytheexhibitionoftheshiningring，everyonewastoknowitwasquiteforeigntothedignityofsuchanexperiencedmarriedwoman。Dick’simaginationinthemeantimewasfarlesscapableofdrawingsomuchwontednessfromhisnewcondition。Hehadbeenfortwoorthreehourstryingtofeelhimselfmerelyanewly—marriedman，buthadbeenabletogetnofurtherintheattemptthantorealizethathewasDickDewy，thetranter’sson，atapartygivenbyLordWessex’sheadman—in—charge，ontheoutlyingYalburyestate，dancingandchattingwithFancyDay。

Fivecountrydances，including’HastetotheWedding，’tworeels，andthreefragmentsofhorn—pipes，broughtthemtothetimeforsupper，which，onaccountofthedampnessofthegrassfromtheimmaturityofthesummerseason，wasspreadindoors。AttheconclusionofthemealDickwentouttoputthehorsein;andFancy，withtheelderhalfofthefourbridesmaids，retiredupstairstodressforthejourneytoDick’snewcottagenearMellstock。

"Howlongwillyoubeputtingonyourbonnet，Fancy？"Dickinquiredatthefootofthestaircase。Beingnowamanofbusinessandmarried，hewasstrongontheimportanceoftime，anddoubledtheemphasisofhiswordsinconversing，andaddedvigourtohisnods。

"Onlyaminute。"

"Howlongisthat？"

"Well，dear，five。"

"Ah，sonnies！"saidthetranter，asDickretired，"’tisatalentofthefemaleracethatlownumbersshouldstandforhigh，moreespeciallyinmattersofwaiting，mattersofage，andmattersofmoney。"

"True，true，uponmybody，"saidGeoffrey。

"Yespakwithfeeling，Geoffrey，seemingly。"

"Anybodythatd’knowmyexperiencemightguessthat。"

"What’sshedoingnow，Geoffrey？"

"Claningoutalltheupstairsdrawersandcupboards，anddustingthesecond—bestchainey——athingthat’sonlydoneonceayear。’Ifthere’sworktobedoneImustdoit，’saysshe，’weddingorno。’"

"’Tismybeliefshe’saverygoodwomanatbottom。"

"She’sterribledeep，then。"

Mrs。Pennyturnedround。"Well，’tishumpsandhollerswiththebestofus;butstillandforallthat，DickandFancystandasfairachanceofhavingabitofsunsheenasanymarriedpairintheland。"

"Ay，there’snogainsayingit。"

Mrs。Dewycameup，talkingtoonepersonandlookingatanother。

"Happy，yes，"shesaid。"’TisalwayssowhenacoupleissoexactlyintunewithoneanotherasDickandshe。"

"Whentheybe’n’ttoopoortohavetimetosing，"saidgrandfatherJames。

"Itellye，neighbours，whenthepinchcomes，"saidthetranter：

"whentheoldestdaughter’sbootsbeonlyasizelessthanhermother’s，andtheresto’theflockclosebehindher。Asharptimeforamanthat，mysonnies;averysharptime！Chanticleer’scombisa—cutthen，’abelieve。"

"That’sabouttheformo’t，"saidMr。Penny。"That’llputthestunsuponaman，whenyoumustmeasuremotheranddaughter’slaststotell’emapart。"

"You’venocausetocomplain，Reuben，ofsuchaclose—comingflock，"

saidMrs。Dewy;"forourswasastragglinglotenough，Godknows！"

"Id’knowit，Id’knowit，"saidthetranter。"Youbeawell—enoughwoman，Ann。"

Mrs。Dewyputhermouthintheformofasmile，andputitbackagainwithoutsmiling。

"Andiftheycometogether，theygotogether，"saidMrs。Penny，whosefamilyhadbeenthereverseofthetranter’s;"andalittlemoneywillmakeeitherfatetolerable。Andmoneycanbemadebyouryoungcouple，Iknow。"

"Yes，thatitcan！"saidtheimpulsivevoiceofLeaf，whohadhithertohumblyadmiredtheproceedingsfromacorner。"Itcanbedone——allthat’swantedisafewpoundstobeginwith。That’sall！

Iknowastoryaboutit！"

"Let’shearthystory，Leaf;"saidthetranter。"Ineverknewyouwerecleverenoughtotellastory。Silence，allofye！Mr。Leafwilltellastory。"

"Tellyourstory，ThomasLeaf，"saidgrandfatherWilliaminthetoneofaschoolmaster。

"Once，"saidthedelightedLeaf;inanuncertainvoice，"therewasamanwholivedinahouse！Well，thismanwentthinkingandthinkingnightandday。Atlast，hesaidtohimself;asImight，’IfIhadonlytenpound，I’dmakeafortune。’Atlastbyhookorbycrook，beholdhegotthetenpounds！"

"Onlythinkofthat！"saidNatCallcomesatirically。

"Silence！"saidthetranter。

"Well，nowcomestheinterestingpartofthestory！Inalittletimehemadethattenpoundstwenty。Thenalittletimeafterthathedoubledit，andmadeitforty。Well，hewenton，andagoodwhileafterthathemadeiteighty，andontoahundred。Well，by—

and—byhemadeittwohundred！Well，you’dneverbelieveit，but——

hewentonandmadeitfourhundred！Hewenton，andwhatdidhedo？Why，hemadeiteighthundred！Yes，hedid，"continuedLeaf;

inthehighestpitchofexcitement，bringingdownhisfistuponhiskneewithsuchforcethathequiveredwiththepain;"yes，andhewentonandmadeitATHOUSAND！"

"Hear，hear！"saidthetranter。"BetterthanthehistoryofEngland，mysonnies！"

"Thankyouforyourstory，ThomasLeaf，"saidgrandfatherWilliam;

andthenLeafgraduallysankintonothingnessagain。

Amidamedleyoflaughter，oldshoes，andelder—wine，Dickandhisbridetooktheirdeparture，sidebysideintheexcellentnewspring—cartwhichtheyoungtranternowpossessed。Themoonwasjustoverthefull，renderinganylightfromlampsortheirownbeautiesquiteunnecessarytothepair。TheydroveslowlyalongYalburyBottom，wheretheroadpassedbetweentwocopses。Dickwastalkingtohiscompanion。

"Fancy，"hesaid，"whywearesohappyisbecausethereissuchfullconfidencebetweenus。EversincethattimeyouconfessedtothatlittleflirtationwithShinerbytheriver（whichwasreallynoflirtationatall），Ihavethoughthowartlessandgoodyoumustbetotellmeo’suchatriflingthing，andtobesofrightenedaboutitasyouwere。Ithaswonmetotellyoumyeverydeedandwordsincethen。We’llhavenosecretsfromeachother，darling，willweever？——nosecretatall。"

"Nonefromto—day，"saidFancy。"Hark！what’sthat？"

Fromaneighbouringthicketwassuddenlyheardtoissueinaloud，musical，andliquidvoice—

"Tippiwit！swe—e—et！ki—ki—ki！Comehither，comehither，comehither！"

"O，’tisthenightingale，"murmuredshe，andthoughtofasecretshewouldnevertell。

Footnotes：

{1}This，alocalexpression，mustbeacorruptionofsomethinglessquestionable。