 Chapter 32 of Far From the Madden Crowd. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, all to volunteer. Please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Tracey Norman. Far From the Madden Crowd by Thomas Hardy. Chapter 32. Night. Horses Tramping. The village of Weatherbury was quiet as the graveyard in its midst, and the living were lying well nigh as still as the dead. The church clocks struck eleven. The air was so empty of other sounds that the whir of the clockwork immediately before the strokes was distinct, and so was also the click of the same at their close. The notes flew forth with the usual blind obtuseness of inanimate things, flapping and rebounding among walls, undulating against the scattered clouds, spreading through their interstices into unexplored miles of space. Bathsheba's crannied and mouldy halls were tonight occupied only by Marianne, Liddy being as was stated with her sister, whom Bathsheba had set out to visit. A few minutes after eleven had struck, Marianne turned in her bed with a sense of being disturbed. She was totally unconscious of the nature of the interruption to her sleep. It led to a dream and the dream to an awakening with an uneasy sensation that something had happened. She left her bed and looked out of the window. The paddock abutted on this end of the building, and in the paddock she could just discern by the uncertain grey a moving figure approaching the horse that was feeding there. The figure seized the horse by the forelock and led it to the corner of the field. Here she could see some object which circumstances proved to be a vehicle, for after a few minutes spent apparently in harnessing. She heard the trot of the horse down the road, mingled with the sound of light wheels. Two varieties only of humanity could have entered the paddock with the ghost-like glide of that mysterious figure. They were a woman and a gypsy man. A woman was out of the question in such an occupation at this hour, and the comer could be no less than a thief who might probably have known the weakness of the household on this particular night and have chosen it on that account for his daring attempt. Moreover, to raise suspicion to conviction itself there were gypsies in Weatherbury Bottom. Marianne, who had been afraid to shout in the robber's presence, having seen him depart, had no fear. She hastily slipped on her clothes, stumped down the disjointed staircase with its hundred creaks, ran to Coggins, the nearest house, and raised an alarm. Coggins called Gabriel, who now again lodged in this house as at first, and together they went to the paddock. Beyond all doubt the horse was gone. Hark! said Gabriel. They listened. Distinct upon the stagnant air came the sounds of a trotting horse passing up Longpuddle Lane, just beyond the gypsy's encampment in Weatherbury Bottom. That sour dainty ass sweared her a step, said Jan. Mighty me! Won't Mrs Storman call us stupid when she comes back? moaned Marianne. How I wish it had happened when she was at home, and none of us had been answerable. We must ride after, said Gabriel decisively. I'll be responsible to Miss Everdeen for what we do. Yes, we'll follow. Faith, I don't see how, said Coggins. All our horses are too heavy for that trick except little Poppet. What's she between two of us? If only we had that pair over the edge we might do something. Which pair? Mr Baldwood's tidy and mole. Then wait here till I come hither again, said Gabriel. He ran down the hill towards Farmer Baldwood's. Farmer Baldwood is not at home, said Marianne. All the better, said Coggins. I know what he's gone for. Less than five minutes brought up Oak again, running at the same pace, with two halters dangling from his hand. Where did you find him, said Coggins, turning round and leaping upon the hedge without waiting for an answer. Under the eaves I knew where they were kept, said Gabriel, following him. Coggins, you can ride barebacked. There's no time to look for saddles. Like a hero, said Jan. Marianne, you go to bed. Gabriel shouted to her from the top of the hedge. Springing down into Baldwood's pastures, each pocketed his halter to hide it from the horses, who, seeing the men empty-handed, docilely allowed themselves to be seized by the Maine when the horses were dexterously slipped on. Having neither bit nor bridle, Oak and Coggins extemporised the former by passing the rope based through the animal's mouth and looping it on the other side. Oak vaulted astride, and Coggins clambered up by aid of the bank when they ascended to the gate and galloped off in the direction taken by Bathsheba's horse and the robber. Whose vehicle the horse had been harnessed to was a matter of some uncertainty. Weatherbury Bottom was reached in three or four minutes. They scanned the shady green patch by the roadside. The gypsies were gone. The villains, said Gabriel. Which way have they gone, I wonder? Straight on ashore as God made little apples, said Jan. Very well. We are better mounted and must overtake them, said Oak. Now on at full speed. No sound of the rider in their van could now be discovered. The road-metal grew softer and more clayy as Weatherbury was left behind, and the late rain had whetted its surface to a somewhat plastic but not muddy state. They came to crossroads. Coggins suddenly pulled up moll and slipped off. What's the matter? said Gabriel. We must try to track him since we can't hear him, said Jan, fumbling in his pockets. He struck a light and held a match to the ground. The rain had been heavier here, and all foot-and-horse tracks made previous to the storm had been abraded and blurred by the drops, and there were now so many little scoops of water that reflected the flame of the match-like eyes. One set of tracks was fresh and had no water in them. One pair of ruts was also empty and not small canals like the others. The footprints forming this recent impression were full of information as to pace. They were in equidistant pairs, three or four feet apart, the right and left foot of each pair being exactly opposite one another. Straight on, Jan exclaimed. Just like that mean a stiff gallop. No wonder we don't hear him. And the orus' harness, look at the ruts. Aye, that's our mare, sure enough. How do you know? Old Jimmy Harris only shoot her last week and I swear to his make among ten thousand. The rest of the gypsies must have gone on earlier or some other way, said Oak. You saw there were no other tracks? True. They rode along silently for a long, weary time. They carried an old pinch-beck repeater which he had inherited from some genius in his family and it now struck one. He lighted another match and examined the ground again. "'Tis a canter now,' he said, throwing away the light. A twisty rickety pace for a gig. The fact is they overdrove her at starting. We shall catch them yet.' Again they hastened on and entered Blackmore Vale. Coggan's watch struck one. When they looked again, the hoof marks were so spaced as to form a sort of zigzag if united like the lamps along the street. "'That's a trot, I know,' said Gabriel. "'Only a trot now,' said Coggan cheerfully. "'We shall overtake him in time.' They pushed rapidly on for yet two or three miles. "'Ah, a moment,' said Jan. "'Let's see how she was driven up this hill,' twirled Albus. A light was promptly struck upon his gaiters as before and the examination made. "'Hurrah!' said Coggan. "'She walked up here, and well she might. We shall get them in two miles for a crown.' They rode three and listened. No sound was to be heard. Save a millpond trickling hoarsely through a hatch and suggesting gloomy possibilities of drowning by jumping in. Gabriel dismounted when they came to a turning. The tracks were absolutely the only guide as to the direction that they now had. And great caution was necessary to avoid confusing them with some others which had made their appearance lately. "'What does this mean?' "'Though I guess,' said Gabriel, looking up at Coggan as he moved the match over the ground about the turning. Coggan, who no less than the panting horses had laterally shown signs of weariness, again scrutinised the mystic characters. This time only three were of the regular horseshoe shape. Every fourth was a dot. He screwed up his face and emitted along. Phew! Lame, said Oak. "'Yes, Dainty is lame'd. The near foot of four,' said Coggan slowly, staring still at the footprints. "'We'll push on,' said Gabriel, remounting his humid steed. Although the road along its greater part had been as good as any turnpike road in the country, it was nominally only a byway. The last turning had brought them to the high road leading to Bath. Coggan recollected himself. "'Oh, we shall have him now,' he exclaimed. "'Where?' "'Short and turnpike. The keeper of that gate is the sleepiest man between here and London. Dan Randall, that's his name. Known for years when he was a castabridge gate. Between the lameness and the gate is a done job. They now advance with extreme caution.' Nothing was said until, against a shady background of foliage, five white bars were visible, crossing their route a little way ahead. "'Hush, we're almost close,' said Gabriel. "'Ambul on upon the grass,' said Coggan. The white bars were blotted out in the midst by dark shape in front of them. The silence at this lonely time was pierced by an exclamation from that quarter. "'Hoy, ahoy, gate!' It appeared that there had been a previous call which they had not noticed. For on their close approach the door of the turnpike house opened and the keeper came out half-dressed with a candle in his hand. The rays illumined the whole group. "'Keep the gate closed,' shouted Gabriel. "'He has stolen the horse.' "'Oh,' said the turnpike man. Gabriel looked at the driver of the gig and saw a woman. Bathsheba, his mistress. On hearing his voice, she had turned her face away from the light. Coggan had, however, caught sight of her in the meanwhile. "'Right, his mistress, I'll take my oath,' he said, amazed. Bathsheba it certainly was, and she had by this time done the trick she could do so well in Chrissy's knot of love, namely mask as a prize by coolness of manner. "'Well, Gabriel,' she inquired quietly. "'Where are you going?' "'We thought,' began Gabriel. "'I am driving to Bath,' she said, taking for her own use the assurance that Gabriel lacked. "'An important matter made it necessary for me to give up my visit to Liddy and go off at once. "'What then were you following me?' "'We thought the horse was stole.' "'Well, what a thing! "'How very foolish of you not to know that I had taken the trap and horse. "'I could neither wake Mary Anne nor get into the house, "'though I hammered for ten minutes against her window sill. "'Fortunately, I could get the key of the coach house, "'so I troubled no one further. "'Didn't you think it might be me?' "'Oh, why should we miss?' "'Perhaps not.' "'Why?' "'Those are never farmer boldwoods' horses. "'Goodness, Mercy, what have you been doing? "'Bringing trouble upon me in this way. "'What, mustn't a lady move an inch from her door "'without that being dogged like a thief? "'But how was we to know if you left no account "'of your doings?' expostulated Coggin. "'And ladies don't drive at these hours, "'Miss, as a general rule of society.' "'I did leave an account, "'and you would have seen it in the morning. "'I wrote in chalk on the coach house doors "'that I had come back for the horse and gig "'and driven off, that I could arouse nobody "'and should return soon. "'But you'll consider, Mum, "'that we couldn't see that till it got daylight. "'True,' she said. "'And though vexed at first, "'she had too much sense to blame them long or seriously "'for a devotion to her that was as valuable as it was rare.' "'She added, with a very pretty grace, "'Well, I really thank you heartily "'for taking all this trouble. "'But I wish you would borrowed anybody's horses "'but Mr. Boldwoods. "'Dainty is lame, Miss,' said Coggin. "'Can you go on?' "'If it was only a stone in her shoe, "'I got down and pulled it out a hundred yards back. "'I can manage very well, thank you. "'I shall be in bath by daylight. "'Will you now return, please?' "'She turned her head, "'the Gatesman's candle shimmering "'upon her quick clear eyes as she did so, "'passed through the gate "'and was soon wrapped in the "'embouring shades of mysterious summer boughs. "'Coggin and Gabriel put about their horses "'and fanned by the velvety air of this July night, "'retraced the road by which they had come. "'Strange vagary this of hers, isn't it, Oak?' "'said Coggin curiously. "'Yes,' said Gabriel shortly. "'She won't be in bath by no daylight. "'Coggin, suppose we keep this night's work as quiet as we can. "'I am of one in the same mind. "'Very well. "'We shall be home by three o'clock or so "'and can creep into the parish like lambs. "'The sheavers perturbed meditations by the roadside "'had ultimately evolved a conclusion "'that there were only two remedies "'for the present desperate state of affairs. "'The first was merely to keep Troy away from Wetherbury "'till Bouldwood's indignation had called "'the second to listen to Oaks and Treaties "'and Bouldwood's denunciations "'and give up Troy altogether. "'Alas, could she give up this new love? "'Induce him to renounce her by saying she did not like him? "'Could no more speak to him "'and beg him for her good to end his furlough in Bath "'and see her and Wetherbury no more? "'It was a picture full of misery. "'But for a while she contemplated it firmly, "'allowing herself nevertheless, as girls will, "'to dwell upon the happy life she would have enjoyed "'had Troy been Bouldwood "'and the path of love, the path of duty, "'inflicting upon herself gratuitous tortures "'by imagining him the lover of another woman "'after forgetting her. "'For she penetrated Troy's nature so far "'as to estimate his tendencies pretty accurately. "'But unfortunately loved him no less "'in thinking that he might soon cease to love her. "'Indeed considerably more. "'She jumped to her feet. "'She would see him at once. "'Yes, she would implore him by word of mouth "'to assist her in this dilemma. "'A letter to keep him away could not reach him in time, "'even if he should be disposed to listen to it. "'Was Bathsheba altogether blind to the obvious fact "'that the support of a lover's arms "'is not of a kind best calculated "'to assist a resolve to renounce him? "'Or was she sophisticly sensible, "'with a thrill of pleasure, "'that by adopting this course for getting rid of him "'she was ensuring a meeting with him at any rate once more? "'It was now dark, "'and the hour must have been nearly ten. "'The only way to accomplish her purpose "'was to give up her idea of visiting Lydia at Yalbury, "'return to Weatherbury Farm, "'put the horse into the gig, "'and drive at once to Bath. "'The scheme seemed at first impossible. "'The journey was a fearfully heavy one, "'even for a strong horse at her own estimate. "'And she much underrated the distance. "'It was most venturesome for a woman at night and alone. "'But could she go on to Lydia's "'and leave things to take their course? "'No, no, anything but that. "'Bathsheba was full of a stimulating turbulence, "'beside which caution vainly prayed for a hearing. "'She turned back towards the village. "'Her walk was slow, "'for she wished not to enter Weatherbury "'till the cottages were in bed, "'and particularly till Bouldwood was secure. "'Her plan was now to drive to Bath during the night, "'see Sergeant Troy in the morning "'before he set out to come to her, "'bid him farewell and dismiss him. "'Then to rest the horse thoroughly, "'herself to weep the while,' she thought, "'starting early the next morning on her return journey. "'By this arrangement "'she could trot Dainty gently all the day, "'reach Lydia at Yalbury in the evening, "'and come home to Weatherbury with her whenever they chose, "'so nobody would know she had been to Bath at all. "'Such was Bathsheba's scheme. "'But in her topographical ignorance "'as a late comer to the place, "'she misrecon the distance of her journey "'is not much more than half what it really was. "'This idea she proceeded to carry out, "'with what initial success we have already seen. "'End of Chapter 32. "'Recording by Tracey Norman, "'North Torton, Devon, United Kingdom, "'www.claudikiz.co.uk.'" Chapter 33 Of Far From the Matting Crowd This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Far From the Matting Crowd by Thomas Hardy Chapter 33 In the Sun a Harbinger A week passed, and there were no tidings of Bathsheba, nor was there any explanation of her gilpin's rig. Then a note came from Marianne, stating that the business which had called her mistress to Bath still detained her there, but that she hoped to return in the course of another week. Another week passed, the oat harvest began, and all the men were afield under a monochromatic lamus sky amid the trembling air and short shadows of noon. Indoors nothing was to be heard save the droning of blue-bottle flies out of doors the wedding of sighs and the hiss of tressy oatears rubbing together as their perpendicular stalks of amber-yellow fell heavily to each swath. Every drop of moisture not in the men's bottles and flagons in the form of cider was raining as perspiration from their foreheads and cheeks. Drought was everywhere else. They were about to withdraw for a while into the charitable shade of a tree in the fence when Kogan saw a figure in a blue-coat and brass buttons running to them across the field. I wonder who that is, he said. I hope nothing is wrong about Mistress, said Marianne, who with some other women was tying the bundles, oats always being sheafed on this farm. But an unlucky token came to me indoors this morning. I went to unlock the door and drop the key and it fell upon the stone floor and broke into two pieces. Breaking a key is a dreadful boatman. I wish Mrs. was home. To his cane ball, said Gabriel, pausing from wetting his re-pook. Oak was not bound by his agreement to assist in the cornfield, but the harvest month is an anxious time for a farmer. And the corn was Bathsheba's, so he lent a hand. He's dressed up in his best clothes, said Matthew Moon. He have been away from home for a few days, since he's had that felon upon his finger, for I said, since I can't work I'll have a holler-day. A good time for a one, an excellent time, said Joseph Porgrass, straightening his back, for he, like some of the others, had a way of resting a while from his labour on such hot days for reasons pretty naturally small, of which cane balls advent on a weekday in his Sunday clothes was one of the first magnitude. It was a bad leg allowed me to read the pilgrim's progress, and Mark Clark learned all fours in a whitlow. I and my father put his arm out of joint to have time to go courting, said Jan Cogan, in an eclipsing tone, wiping his face with his shirt-sleeve and thrusting back his hat upon the nape of his neck. By this time, Cane was nearing the group of harvesters, and was perceived to be carrying a large slice of bread and ham in one hand, from which he took mouthfuls as he ran, the other being wrapped in a bandage. When he came close, his mouth assumed the bell shape, and he began to cough violently. Now, Cane, said Gabriel sternly, how many more times must I tell you for running so fast when you be eaten? You'll choke yourself some day, that's what you'll do, Cane ball?" Cough, cough, cough, replied Cane. A crumb on my vixels went the wrong way. Cough, cough, that's what is, Mr. Oak, and I've been visiting to Bath because I had a felon on my thumb, yes, and I've seen Cough, Cough, Cough. Directly, Cane mentioned Bath, they all threw down their hooks and forks and drew round him. Unfortunately, the erratic crumb did not improve his narrative powers, and a supplementary hindrance was that of a sneeze, jerking from his pocket his rather large watch, which dangled in front of the young man, pendulum-wise. Yes, he continued, directing his thoughts to Bath and letting his eyes follow, I've seen the world at last, yes, and I've seen our Mrs. Cough, Cough, Cough. Father the boy, said Gabriel, something is always going the wrong way down your throat, so that you can't tell what's necessary to be told. There, please, Mr. Oak, a gnat must have fled into my stomach and brought that cough on. Yes, that's it, your mouth is always open, you young rascal. It is terrible bad to have a gnat fly down your throat, poor boy, said Matthew Moon. Well, at Bath you saw, prompted Gabriel, I saw our Mistress, continued the junior shepherd, and a soldier walking along, and by me by they got closer and closer, and then they went arm in crook, like Cork and complete, like Cork and complete, Cork and complete. Losing the thread of his narrative at this point, simultaneously with the loss of his breath, their informant looked up and down the field, apparently, for some clue to it. Well, I see our Mrs. and a soldier, damn the boy, said Gabriel. It is only my manner, Mr. Oak, if you'll excuse it, said Cain Ball, looking reproachfully at Oak, with eyes drenched in their own dew. Here is some cider for him, that'll cure his throat, said Jan Cogan, lifting a flagon of cider, pulling out the cork, and applying the hole to Cainy's mouth. Joseph progressed in the meantime, beginning to think apprehensively of the serious consequences that would follow Cainy Ball's strangulation in his cough, and the history of his bath adventures dying with him. For my poor self, I always say, please God, before I do anything, said Joseph in an unbossful voice, and so should you, Cain Ball, tis a great safeguard, and might perhaps save you from being choked to death some day. Mr. Cogan poured the liquor with unstinted liberality at the suffering Cain's circular mouth, half of it running down the side of the flagon, and half of what reached his mouth running down outside his throat, and half of what ran in going the wrong way, and being coughed and sneezed around the persons of the gathered reaper in the form of a cider-fog, which for a moment hung in the sunny air like a small exhalation. That's a clumsy sneeze. Why can't you have better manners, you young dog? said Cogan, withdrawing the flagon. The cider went on my nose, cried Cain as soon as he could speak, and now tis gone down my neck and into my poor dumb felon, and over my shiny buttons and all my best clothes. The poor lad's cough is terrible and fortunate, said Matthew Moon, and a great history on hand, too. Bump his back, shepherd. Tis my nature, mourned Cain. Mother says I was always so excitable when my feelings were worked up to a point. Through, through, said Joseph Porgras, an excitable family. I knowed the boy's grandfather, a truly nervous and modest man, even to gentile refinery. Twas blush, blush with him, almost as much as tis with me. Not but that tis a fault in me. Not at all, Master Porgras, said Cogan, tis a very noble quality in ye. Well, I wish too noise nothing abroad. Nothing at all, murmured Porgras, definitively. But we be born to things, that's true. Yet I would rather my trifle were hid, though. And at my birth all things were possible to my maker, and he may have begrudged no gifts. But under your bushel, Joseph, under your bushel with ye, a strange desire, neighbors, this desire to hide, and no praise do. Yet there's a sermon on the mount with a calendar of the blessed at the head, and certain meek men may be named therein. Cain's grandfather was a very clever man, said Matthew Moon, invented an apple tree out of his own head, which is called by his name to this day the early ball. You know him, Jan? A quarrandon grafted on a tomb-foot, and a wrath-rape upon top of that again. Tis true, I used to bite about in a public house, with a oemen in a way that he had no business to buy rights. But there, I were a clever man in the sense of the term. Now then, said Gabriel impatiently, what did you see, Cain? I see it are in misus, going into a sort of a park-place where there are seats, and shrubs, and flowers, arm and crook with a soldier, continued Cain firmly, and with a dim sense that his words were very effective as regarded Gabriel's emotions. And I think the soldier was Sergeant Troy, and they sat there together for more than half an hour, talking moving things, and she once was crying almost to death, and when they came out her eyes were shining, and she was as white as a lily, and they looked into one another's faces as far gone friendly as a man and woman can be. Gabriel's features seem to get thinner. Well, what did you see besides? Oh, all sorts! White as a lily, you are sure it was she? Yes. Well, what besides? Great glass windows to the shops, and great clouds in the sky full of rain, and old wooden trees in the country round. You stun-pull, what will you say next? said Cogan. Let him alone, interposed Joseph Porgras, the boy's meaning is that the sky and the earth in the kingdom of Bath is not altogether different from ours here. It is what are good to gain knowledge of strange cities, and as such his word should be suffered, so to speak it. And the people of Bath, continued Cain, never need to light their fires except as a luxury, for the water springs up out of the earth ready-boiled for use. Teased through with the light, testified Matthew Moon, I've heard other navigators say the same thing. They drink nothing else there, said Cain, and seem to enjoy it to see how they swallow it down. Well, it seems a barbarity in practice enough to us, but I daresay the natives think nothing of it, said Matthew. And don't Victual spring up as well as drink? said Cogan, twirling his eye. No, I own to a blot there in Bath a true blot. God didn't provide him with Victuals as well as drink, and towards a drawback I couldn't get over at all. Well, it is a curious place to say the least, observed Moon, and it must be a curious people that live therein. Miss Everdeen and the soldier were walking about together, you say, said Gabriel, returning to the group. I, and she wore a beautiful gold-coloured silk gown trimmed with black lace that would have stood alone without legs inside if required, towards a very winsome sight, and her hair was brushed splendid, and when the sun shone upon the bright gown and his red coat, my how handsome they looked, you could see him all the length of the street. And what then, murmured Gabriel, and then I went to Griffin's to hay my boots hobbed, and then I went to Riggs' batty-cake shop and asked him for a penith of the cheapest and nicest stales that were all but blue-multi, but not quite, and whilst I was chowing him down I walked on to see the clock with a face as big as a bacon-trendle. But that's nothing to do with the mistress. I'm coming to that if you leave me alone, Mr. Oak, remonstrated Caney. If you excites me, perhaps you'll bring on my cough and then I shan't be able to tell you nothing. Yes, let him tell it his own way, said Cogan. Gabriel settled into a despairing attitude of patience, and Caney went on. And there were great large houses and more people all the week long than at Weatherbury Club Walken on White Tuesdays, and went to grand churches and chapels and how the parson would pray. Yes, he would kneel down and put up his hands together and make the holy gold rings on his fingers gleam and twinkle in your eyes that he'd earned by praying so excellent well. Ah, yes, I wish I lived there. Our poor parson, Thirdly, can't get no money to buy such rings, said Matthew Moon thoughtfully, and as good a man as ever walked. I don't believe poor Thirdly have a single one, even of humblest tin or copper. Such a great ornament as they beat to him on a dull afternoon when he's up in the pulpit lighted by the wax candles. But he's impossible, poor man. Ah, to think how unequal things be. Perhaps he's made of different stuff than to wear them, said Gabriel grimly. Well, that's enough of this. Go on, Caney, quick. Oh, and the new style of parson's where mustaches and long beards continued the illustrious traveler and looked like Moses and Aaron complete and make wee folks in the congregation feel all over like the children of Israel. A very right feeling very, said Joseph Porgrass. And there's two religions going on in the nation now. High Church and High Chapel and things I all play fair, so I went to High Church in the morning and High Chapel in the afternoon. A right and proper boy, said Joseph Porgrass. Well, at High Church they pray singin' and worship all the colors of the rainbow and at High Chapel they pray preachin' and worship drab and whitewash only. And then I didn't see no more of Mrs. Everdeen at all. Why didn't you say so afore, then? exclaimed Oak, with much disappointment. Ah! said Matthew Moon. She'll wish her cake dough if so be she's over-intimate with that man. She's not over-intimate with him, said Gabriel indignantly. She would know better, said Cogan. Our Mrs. has too much sense under they not so black hair to do such a mad thing. You see, he's not a coarse ignorant man for he was well brought up, said Matthew dubiously, to his only wildness that made him a soldier and maids rather like your man of sin. Now, Cainball, said Gabriel restlessly, can you swear in that awful form that the woman you saw was Mrs. Everdeen? Cainball, you'll be no longer a babe and sucklin', said Joseph in the seprical tone the circumstances demanded, and you know what takin' an oath is. It is a horrible testament, mind ye, which you say and seal with your bloodstone, and the prophet Matthew tells us that on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind him to powder. Now, before all the workful here assembled, can you swear to your words, as the shepherd asked she? Please, no, Mr. Oak, said Cainey, looking from one to the other with great uneasiness at the spiritual magnitude of the position. I don't mind saying it is true, but I don't like to say it is damn true if that's what you mean. Cain, Cain, how can you? asked Joseph sternly. You be asked to swear in a holy manner and you swear like a wicked shimei, the son of Jira, who cursed as he came, young man, fight. No, I don't. Tis you want to squander a poor boy's soul, Joseph Porgrass, that's what tis, said Cain, beginning to cry. All I mean is that in common truth, twas Miss Everdeen and Sergeant Troy, but in the horrible so help me truth that you want to make of it, perhaps, twas somebody else. There's no gettin' at the rites of it, said Gabriel, turning to his work. Cain ball, you'll come to a bit of bread, groaned Joseph Porgrass. Then the reapers hooks were flourished again and the old sounds went on. Gabriel, without making any pretense of being lively, did nothing to show that he was particularly dull. However, Kogan knew pretty nearly how the land lay, and when they were in a nook together he said, Don't take on about her, Gabriel. What difference does it make, whose sweet heart she is, since she can't be yours? That's the very thing I say to myself, said Gabriel. End of Chapter 33 Chapter 34 of Far From the Matting Crowd This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Leanne Howlett Far From the Matting Crowd by Thomas Hardy Chapter 34 Home Again A Trickster That same evening at dusk Gabriel was leaning over Kogan's garden gate, taking an up-and-down survey before retiring to rest. A vehicle of some kind was softly creeping along the grassy margin of the lane. From it spread the tones of two women talking. The tones were natural and not at all suppressed. Oak instantly knew the voices to be those of Bathsheba and Liddy. The carriage came opposite and passed by. It was Miss Everdeen's gig, Liddy and her mistress were the only occupants of the seat. Liddy was asking questions about the city of Bath and her companion was answering them listlessly and unconcernedly. Both Bathsheba and the horse seemed weary. The exquisite relief of finding that she was here again safe and sound overpowered all reflection and Oak could only luxuriate in the sense of it. All grave reports were forgotten. He lingered and lingered on till there was no difference between western and western expanses of sky and the timid hairs began to limp courageously around the dim hillocks. Gabriel might have been there an additional half hour when a dark form walked slowly by. Good night, Gabriel, the pastor said. It was Boldwood. Good night, sir, said Gabriel. Boldwood likewise vanished up the road and Oak shortly afterwards turned indoors to bed. Farmer Boldwood turned on towards Miss Everdeen's house. He reached the front and approaching the entrance saw light in the parlor. The blind was not drawn down and inside the room was Bathsheba looking over some papers or letters. Her back was towards Boldwood. He went to the door, knocked and waited with tense muscles and an aching brow. Boldwood had not been outside his garden since his meeting with Bathsheba in the road to Yalbury. Silent and alone he had remained moody meditation on women's ways deeming as essentials of the whole sex the accidents of the single one of their number he had ever closely beheld. By degrees a more charitable temper had pervaded him and this was the reason of his sally tonight. He had come to apologize and beg forgiveness of Bathsheba with something like a sense of shame at his violence having but just now learned that she had returned only from a visit to Liddy as he supposed the bath escapade being quite unknown to him. He inquired for Miss Everdeen. Liddy's manner was odd but he did not notice it. She went in leaving him standing there and in her absence the blind of the room containing Bathsheba was pulled down. Boldwood augured ill from that sign. Liddy came out. My mistress cannot see you sir she said. The farmer instantly went out by the gate. He was unforgiven. That was the issue of it all. He had seen her who was to him simultaneously a delight and a torture sitting in the room he had shared with her as a peculiarly privileged guest only a little earlier in the summer and she had denied him an entrance there now. Boldwood did not hurry homeward. It was ten o'clock at least when walking deliberately through the lower part of Weatherbury he heard the carrier's spring van entering the village. The van ran to and from a town in a northern direction and it was owned and driven by a Weatherbury man at the door of whose house it now pulled up. The lamp fixed to the head of the hood illuminated a scarlet and gilded form who was the first to alight. Ah said Boldwood to himself come to see her again. Troy entered the carrier's house which had been the place of his lodging on his last visit to his native place. Boldwood was moved by a sudden determination. He hastened home and ten minutes he was back again and made as if he were going to call upon Troy at the carriers but as he approached someone and opened the door and came out he heard this person say good night to the inmates and the voice was Troy's. This was strange coming so immediately after his arrival. Boldwood however hastened up to him. Troy had what appeared to be a carpet bag in his hand, the same that he had brought with him. It seemed as if he were going to leave again this very night. Troy turned up the hill and quickened his pace. Boldwood stepped forward. Sergeant Troy Yes, I'm Sergeant Troy just arrived up from the country I think just arrived from Bath I am William Boldwood. Indeed the tone in which this word was uttered was all that had been wanted to bring Boldwood to the point. I wish to speak a word with you he said. What about about her who lives just ahead there and about a woman you have wronged? I wonder at your impertinence said Troy moving on. Now look here said Boldwood standing in front of him wonder or not you are going to hold a conversation with me. Troy heard the dull determination in Boldwood's voice. Looked at his stalwart frame then at the thick cudgel he carried in his hand he remembered it was past ten o'clock it seemed worthwhile to be civil to Boldwood. Very well I'll listen with pleasure said Troy placing his bag on the ground only speak low for somebody or other may overhear us in the farmhouse there. Well then I know a good deal concerning your Fanny Robbins attachment to you. I may say too that I believe I am the only person in the village except in Gabriel Oak who does know it you ought to marry her. I suppose I ought indeed I wish to but I cannot. Why? Troy was about to utter something hastily he then checked himself and said I am too poor. His voice was changed previously it had had a devil may care tone it was the voice of a trickster now. Boldwood's present mood was not critical enough to notice tones he continued I may as well speak plainly and understand I don't wish to enter into the questions of right or wrong woman's honor and shame or to express any opinion on your conduct I intend a business transaction with you. I see said Troy. Suppose we sit down here. An old tree trunk lay under the hedge immediately opposite and they sat down I was engaged to be married to Miss Everdeen said Boldwood but you came and not engaged said Troy as good as engaged if I had not turned up she might have become engaged to you. Hang might would then if you had not come I should certainly yes certainly have been accepted by this time if you had not seen her you might have been married to Fanny well there's too much difference between Miss Everdeen's station and your own for this flirtation with her ever to benefit you by ending in marriage so all I ask is don't molester her anymore marry Fanny I'll make it worth your while how will you I'll pay you well now I'll settle a sum of money upon her and I'll see that you don't suffer from poverty in the future I'll put it clearly Bathsheba is only playing with you you are too poor for her as I said so give up wasting your time about a great match you'll never make for a moderate and rightful match you may make tomorrow take up your carpet bag turn about leave Wetherbury now this night and she'll take 50 pounds with you Fanny she'll have 50 to enable her to prepare for the wedding when you have told me where she is living and she shall have 500 paid down on her wedding day in making this statement Boldwood's voice revealed only too clearly a consciousness of the weakness of his position, his aims and his method his manner had lapsed quite from that of the firm indignified Boldwood of former times and such a scheme as he had now engaged in he would have condemned his childishly imbecile only a few months ago we discern a grand force in the lover which he lacks whilst a free man but there is a breadth of vision in the free man which in the lover we vainly seek where there is much bias there must be some kindness and love though added emotion is subtracted capacity Boldwood exemplified this to an abnormal degree he knew nothing of Fanny Robbins circumstances or whereabouts he knew nothing of Troy's possibilities yet that was what he said I like Fanny best said Troy and if as you say Miss Everdeen is out of my reach why I have all to gain by accepting your money and marrying fan but she's only a servant never mind do you agree to my arrangement I do ah said Boldwood in a more elastic voice oh Troy if you like her best why then did you step in here and injure my happiness I love Fanny best now said Troy but Baths Miss Everdeen inflamed me and displaced Fanny for a time it is over now why should it be over so soon and why then did you come here again there are weighty reasons fifty pounds was it once you said I did said Boldwood and here they are fifty sovereigns he handed Troy a small packet you have everything ready it seems that you calculated on my accepting them said the sergeant taking the packet I thought you might accept them said Boldwood you've only my word that the program shall be adhered to whilst I at any rate have fifty pounds I had thought of that and I have considered that if I can't appeal to your honor I can trust your well shrewdness we'll call it not to lose five hundred pounds in prospect and also make a bitter enemy of a man who is willing to be an extremely useful friend stop listen said Troy in a whisper a light pit pat was audible upon the road just above them by George to she he continued I must go on and meet her she who Bathsheba Bathsheba out alone out alone at this time of night said Boldwood in amazement and starting up why must you meet her she was expecting me tonight and I must now speak to her and wish her goodbye according to your wish I don't see the necessity of speaking it can do no harm and she'll be wondering about looking for me if I don't she'll hear all I say to her it will help you in your lovemaking when I am gone your tone is mocking oh no and remember this if she does not know what has become of me she will think more about me than if I tell her flatly I have come to give her up well you can find your words to that one point shall I hear every word you say every word now sit still there and hold my carpet bag for me and mark what you hear the light footstep came closer halting occasionally as if the walker listened for a sound Troy whistled a double note in a soft fluty tone come to that is it murmured boldwood uneasily you promised silence said Troy I promise again Troy stepped forward Frank dearest is that you the tones were Bathshevas oh god said boldwood yes said Troy to her how late you are she continued tenderly did you come by the carrier I listened and heard his wheels entering the village but it was some time ago and I had almost given you up Frank I was sure to come said Frank you know I should did you not well I thought you would she said playfully and Frank it is so lucky there's not a soul in my house but me tonight I've packed them all off so nobody on earth will know of your visit to your ladies bower Liddy wanted to go to her grandfathers to tell them about her holiday and I said she might stay with them till tomorrow when you'll be gone again capital said Troy but dear me I better go back for my bag because my slippers and brush and comb are in it you run home whilst I fetch it and I'll promise to be in your parlor in ten minutes yes she turned and tripped up the hill again during the progress of this dialogue there was a nervous twitching of boldwoods tightly closed lips and his face became bathed in a clammy dew he now started forward towards Troy Troy turned to him and took up the bag shall I tell her I have come to give her up I cannot marry her said the soldier mockingly no no wait a minute I want to say more to you more to you said boldwood and a horse whisper now said Troy you see my dilemma perhaps I am a bad man the victim of my impulses led away to do what I ought to leave undone I can't however marry them both and I have two reasons for choosing Fanny first I like her best upon the whole and second you make it worth my while at the same instant boldwoods sprang upon him and held him by the neck Troy felt boldwoods grasp slowly tightening the move was absolutely unexpected a moment he gasped you're injuring her you love well what do you mean said the farmer give me breath said Troy boldwood loosened his hand saying by heaven I have a mind to kill you and ruin her save her oh how can she be saved now unless I marry her boldwood groaned he reluctantly released the soldier and flung him back against the hedge devil do you torture me said he Troy rebounded like a ball was about to make a dash at the farmer but he checked himself saying lightly it is not worthwhile to measure my strength with you indeed is a barbarous way of settling a quarrel I shall shortly leave the army because of the same conviction now after that revelation of how the land lies with Bathsheba it would be a mistake to kill me would it not it would be a mistake to kill you repeated boldwood mechanically with a bowed head better kill yourself far better I'm glad you see it Troy make her your wife and don't act upon what I arranged just now the alternative is dreadful but take Bathsheba I give her up she must love you indeed to sell soul to you so utterly as she has done wretched woman deluded woman you are Bathsheba what about Fanny Bathsheba is a woman well to do continued boldwood in nervous anxiety and Troy she will make a good wife and indeed she is worth your hastening on your marriage with her but she has a will not to say a temper and I shall be a mere slave to her I could do anything with poor Fanny Robin Troy said boldwood flooringly I'll do anything for you only don't desert her pray don't desert her Troy which poor Fanny no Bathsheba Everdeen love her best love her tenderly how shall I get you to see how advantageous it will be to you to secure her at once I don't wish to secure her in any new way boldwood's arm moves spasmodically towards Troy's person again he repressed the instinct and his form with pain Troy went on I shall soon purchase my discharge and then but I wish you to hasten on this marriage it will be better for you both you love each other and you must let me help you to do it how why by settling the 500 on Bathsheba instead of Fanny to enable you to marry at once no she wouldn't have it of me I'll pay it down to you on the wedding day Troy paused his secret amazement at boldwood's wild infatuation he carelessly said and am I to have anything now yes if you wish to but I have not much additional money with me I did not expect this but all I have is yours boldwood more like a synambulist than a wakeful man pulled out the large canvas bag he carried by way of a purse and searched it I have 21 pounds more with me he said two notes in a sovereign but before I leave you I must have a paper signed pay me the money and we'll go straight to her parlor and make any arrangement you please to secure my compliance with your wishes but she must know nothing of this cash business nothing nothing said boldwood hastily here is the sum and if you'll come to my house we'll write out the agreement for the remainder and the terms also first we'll call upon her but why come with me tonight and go with me tomorrow to the surrogates but she must be consulted at any rate informed very well go on they went up the hill to Bathsheba's house when they stood at the entrance Troy said wait here a moment opening the door he glided inside leaving the door ajar boldwood waited in two minutes a light appeared in the passage boldwood then saw that the chain had been fastened across the door Troy appeared inside carrying a bedroom candlestick what did you think I should break in said boldwood contemptuously oh no it is merely my humor to secure things will you read this a moment I'll hold the light Troy handed a folded newspaper through the slit between door and door post and put the candle close that's the paragraph he said placing his finger on a line boldwood looked and read marriages on the 17th instituted at St. Ambrose's church Bath by the Reverend G. Menzing B.A. Francis Troy only son of the late Edward Troy S. Squire M.D. of Weatherbury and sergeant with Dragoon guards to Bathsheba only surviving daughter of the late Mr. John Everdeen of Castorbridge this may be called Fort Meeting Feeble a boldwood said Troy a low gurgle of derisive laughter followed the words the paper fell from boldwood's hands Troy continued 50 pounds to marry Fanny good 21 pounds not to marry Fanny but Bathsheba good finale already Bathsheba's husband now boldwood yours is the ridiculous fate which always attends interference between a man and his wife and another word bad as I am I am not such a villainess to make the marriage or misery of any woman a matter of huckster and sale Fanny has long ago left me where she is I have searched everywhere another word yet you say you love Bathsheba yet on the mirrors to parent evidence you instantly believe in her dishonor a fig for such love now that I've taught you a lesson take your money back again I will not I will not said boldwood in a hiss anyhow I won't have it said Troy contemptuously he wrapped the packet of gold in the notes and threw the hole into the road this clenched fist at him you juggler of Satan you black hound but I'll punish you yet mark me I'll punish you yet another peel of laughter Troy then closed the door and locked himself in throughout the whole of that night boldwood's dark form might have been seen walking about the hills and downs of weatherbury like an unhappy shade in the mournful fields by Atcheron end of chapter 34 recording by Leanne Howlett chapter 35 chapter 35 of Far From the Matting Crowd this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Leanne Howlett Far From the Matting Crowd by Thomas Hardy chapter 35 at an upper window it was very early the next morning a time of sun and dew the confused beginnings of many bird's songs spread into the healthy air and the wand blue of the heaven was here and there coated with thin webs of incorporeal cloud which were of no effect an obscuring day all the lights in the scene were yellow as to color and all the shadows were attenuated as to form the creeping plants about the old manor house were bowed with rows of heavy water drops upon objects behind them the effect of minute lenses of high magnifying power just before the clock struck five Gabriel Oak and Coggan passed the village cross and went on together to the fields they were yet barely in view of their mistress's house when Oak fancied he saw the opening of a casement in one of the upper windows the two men were at this moment partially screened by an elder bush now beginning to be enriched with black munches of fruit from its shade a handsome man leaned idly from the lattice he looked east and then west in the manner of one who makes a first morning survey the man was Sergeant Troy his red jacket was loosely thrown on but not buttoned and he had altogether the relaxed bearing of a soldier taking his ease Coggan spoke first looking quietly at the window she has married him he said Gabriel had previously beheld the sight and he now stood with his back turned making no reply I fancied we should know something today continued Coggan I heard wheels pass my door just after dark you were out somewhere he glanced around upon Gabriel good heavens above us Oak how white your face is you look like a corpse do I said Oak with a faint smile lean on the gate I'll wait a bit alright alright they stood by the gate a while Gabriel listlessly staring at the ground his mind sped into the future and saw there enacted in years of leisure the scenes of repentance that would ensue from this work of haste that they were married he had instantly decided why had it been so mysteriously managed it had become known that she had had a fearful journey to Bath owing to her miscalculating the distance that the horse had broken down and that she had been more than two days getting there it was not Bathsheba's way to do things furtively with all her faults she was candor itself could she have been entrapped the union was not only an unutterable grief to him it amazed him not withstanding that he had passed the preceding weakness suspicion that such might be the issue of Troy's meeting her away from home her quiet return with Liddy had to some extent dispersed the dread just as that imperceptible motion which appears like stillness is infantly divided in its properties from stillness itself so had his hope indistinguishable from despair differed from despair indeed in a few minutes they moved on again towards the house the sergeant still looked from the window morning comrades he shouted in a cheery voice when they came up Coggan replied to the greeting baint you going to answer the man he then said to Gabriel I'd say good morning you needn't spend a hay penny of meaning upon it and yet keep the man civil Gabriel soon decided too that since the deed was done to put the best face upon the matter would be the greatest kindness to her he loved good morning sergeant Troy he returned in a ghastly voice a rambling gloomy house this said Troy smiling why they may not be married suggested Coggan perhaps she's not there Gabriel shook his head the soldier turned a little towards the east and the sun kindled his scarlet coat although but it is a nice old house responded Gabriel yes I suppose so but I feel like new wine in an old bottle here my notion is that sash windows should be put throughout in these old wanes coated walls brightened up a bit or the oak cleared quite a way in the walls papered it would be a pity I think well no a philosopher once said in my hearing that the old builders who worked had no respect for the work of builders who went before them but pulled down and altered as they thought fit and why shouldn't we creation and preservation don't do well together says he and a million of antiquarians can't invent a style my mind exactly I am for making this place more modern that we may be cheerful whilst we can the military man turned and surveyed the interior of the room to assist his ideas of improvement in this direction oh Coggin said Troy as if inspired by recollection do you know if insanity has ever appeared in Mr. Boldwood's family Jan reflected for a moment I once heard that an uncle of his was queer in his head but I don't know the rights of it he said it is of no importance said Troy lightly well I shall be down in the fields with you sometime this week but I have a few matters to attend to first so good day to you we should of course keep on just his friendly terms as usual I'm not a proud man nobody's ever able to say that of Sergeant Troy however what is must be and there's half a crown to drink my health men Troy threw the coin dexterously across the front plot and over the fence towards Gabriel who shunned it in its fall his face turning to an angry red Coggin trolled his eye edged forward and caught the money in its ricochet upon the road very well you keep it Coggin said Gabriel with disdain and almost seriously asked for me I'll do without gifts from him don't show it too much said Coggin musingly for if he's married to her mark my words he'll buy his discharge and be our master here therefore it is well to say friend outwardly though you say trouble house within well perhaps it is best to be silent but I can't go further than that I can't flatter and if my place here is only to be kept by smoothing him down my place must be lost a horseman whom they had for some time seen in the distance now appeared close beside them there's Mr. Boldwood said oak I wonder what Troy meant by his question Coggin and oak nodded respectfully to the farmer just checked their paces to discover if they were wanted and finding they were not stood back to let him pass on the only signs of the terrible sorrow Boldwood had been combating through the night and was combating now were the want of color in his well-defined face the enlarged appearance of the veins in his forehead in temples and the sharper lines about his mouth the horse bore him away and the very step of the animal seemed significant of dogged despair Gabriel for a minute rose above his own grief in noticing Boldwood's he saw the square figure sitting erect upon the horse the head turned to neither side the oboe steady by the hips the rim of the hat level and undisturbed in its onward glide until the keen edges of Boldwood's shape sank by degrees over the hill to one who knew the man and his story there was something more striking in this immobility than in a collapse the clash of discord between mood and matter here was forced painfully home to the heart and as in laughter there are more dreadful phases than in tears so was there in the steadiness of this agonized man an expression deeper than a cry End of Chapter 35 Recording by Leanne Howlett Chapter 36 of Far From the Matting Crowd This is the LibriVox Recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Leanne Howlett Far From the Matting Crowd by Thomas Hardy Chapter 36 Wealth and Jeopardy The Rebel One night at the end of August when Bathsheba's experiences as a married woman were still new and when the weather was yet dry and sultry a man stood motionless in the stockyard of Weatherbury Upper Farm looking at the moon and sky The night had a sinister aspect a heated breeze from the south slowly fan the summits of lofty objects and in the sky dashes of buoyant cloud were sailing in a course at right angles to that of another stratum neither of them in the direction of the breeze below The moon as seen through these films had a lurid metallic look The fields were shallow with the impure light and all were tinged in monochrome as if beheld through stained glass The same evening the sheep had trailed homeward head to tail the behavior of the rooks had been confused and the horses had moved with timidity and caution The thunder was imminent and taking some secondary appearances into consideration it was likely to be followed by one of the lengthened rains which marked the close of dry weather for the season Before twelve hours had passed a harvest atmosphere would be a bygone thing Oak gazed with misgiving at eight naked and unprotected ricks massive and heavy with the rich produce of one half the farm for that year he went on to the barn this was the night which had been selected by sergeant Troy ruling now in the room of his wife for giving the harvest supper and dance as oak approached the building the sound of violins and a tambourine and the regular jigging of many feet grew more distinct he came close to the large doors one of which stood slightly ajar and looked in The central space together with the recess at one end was emptied of all encompasses this area covering about two-thirds of the hole was appropriated for the gathering the remaining end which was piled to the ceiling with oats being screened off with sail cloth Tufts and garlands of green foliage decorated the walls, beams and extemporized chandeliers and immediately opposite to oak a rostrum had been erected bearing a table and chairs here sat three fiddlers and beside them stood a frantic man with his hair on end screaming down his cheeks and a tambourine quivering in his hand the dance ended and on the black oak floor in the midst a new row of couples formed for another now man, and no offense I hope I ask what dance you would like next said the first violin really it makes no difference said the clear voice of Bathsheba who stood at the inner end of the building observing the scene from behind a table covered with cups and vions Troy was lulling beside her then said the fiddler I'll venture to name that the right and proper thing is the soldier's joy there being a gallant soldier married into the farm hey my sunnies and gentlemen all it shall be the soldier's joy exclaimed a chorus thanks for the compliment said the sergeant gaily taking Bathsheba by the hand and leading her to the top of the dance for though I have purchased my discharge from her most gracious magesies regiment of cavalry the 11th Dragoon guards to attend to the new duties awaiting me here I shall continue a soldier in spirit and feeling as long as I live so the dance began as to the merits of the soldier's joy there cannot be and never were two opinions it has been observed in the musical circles of weatherbury and its vicinity that this melody at the end of three quarters of an hour of thunderous footing still possesses more stimulative properties for the heel and toe than the majority of other dances at their first opening the soldier's joy has to an additional charm in being so admirably adapted to the tambourine of foresaid no mean instrument in the hands of a performer who understands the proper convulsions spasms, st. Vitus's dances and fearful frenzies necessary when exhibiting its tones in their highest perfection the immortal tune ended a fine DD rolling forth from the base vial with the sonorousness of a canon aide and Gabriel delayed his entry no longer he avoided Bathsheba and got as near as possible to the platform where sergeant Troy was now seated drinking brandy and water though the others drank without exception cider and ale Gabriel could not easily thrust himself within speaking distance of the sergeant and he sent a message asking him to come down for a moment the sergeant said he could not attend will you tell him then he stopped a thart to say that a heavy rain is sure to fall soon and that something should be done to protect the ricks Mr. Troy says it will not rain Richard and the messenger and he cannot stop to talk to you about such fidgets in juxtaposition with Troy Oak had a melancholy tendency to look for a candle beside gas and nill at ease he went out again thinking he would go home for under the circumstances he had no heart for the scene in the barn at the door he paused for a moment Troy was speaking friends it is not only the harvest home that we are celebrating tonight but this is also a wedding feast a short time ago I had the happiness to lead to the altar of this lady, your mistress and not until now have we been able to give any public flourish to the event and weatherbury that it may be thoroughly well done and that every man may go happy to bed I have ordered to be brought here some bottles of brandy and kettles of hot water a double strong goblet will be handed round to each guest Bathsheba put her hand upon his arm and with upturned pale face said imploringly no don't give it to them pray don't Frank it will only do them harm they have had enough of everything true we don't wish for no more thanky said one or two poo said the sergeant contemptuously and raised his voice as if lighted up by a new idea men's he said we'll send the women folk home it is time they were in bed then we cockbirds will have a jolly corrals to ourselves if any of the men show the white feather let them look elsewhere for a winner's work Bathsheba indignantly left the barn followed by all the women and children the musicians not looking upon themselves as company slipped quietly away to their sprig wagon and put in the horse thus Troy and the men on the farm were left sole occupants of the place oak not to appear unnecessarily disagreeable stayed a little while then he too arose and quietly took his departure followed by a friendly oath from the sergeant for not staying to a second round of grog Gabriel proceeded towards his home and approaching the door his toe kicked something which felt and sounded soft leathery and astended like a boxing glove it was a large toad humbly traveling across the path oak took it up thinking it might be better to kill the creature to save it from pain but finding it uninjured he placed it again among the grass he knew what this direct message from the great mother meant and soon came another when he struck a light indoors there appeared upon the table a thin glistening streak as if a brush of varnish had been lightly dragged across it oak's eyes followed the serpentine sheen to the other side where it led up to a huge brown garden slug which had come indoors tonight for reasons of its own it was nature's second way of hinting to him that he was to prepare for foul weather oak sat down meditating for nearly an hour during this time two black spiders of the kind common and thatched houses promenaded the ceiling ultimately dropping to the floor this reminded him that if there was one class of manifestation on this matter that he thoroughly understood it was the instincts of sheep he left the room ran across two or three fields towards the flock got upon a hedge and looked over among them they were crowded close together on the other side around some furs bushes and the first peculiarity observable was that on the sudden appearance of oak's head over the fence they did not stir or run away they had now a terror of something greater than their terror of man but this was not the most noteworthy feature they were all grouped in such a way that their tails without a single exception were towards that half of the horizon from which the storm threatened there was an inner circle closely huddled and outside these they radiated wider apart the pattern formed by the flock as a whole not being unlike a van dyked lace collar to which the clump of furs bushes stood in the position of a wearer's neck this was enough to re-establish him in his original opinion he knew now that he was right and that Troy was wrong every voice in nature was unanimous and bespeaking change but two distinct translations attached to these dumb expressions apparently there was to be a thunderstorm and afterwards a cold continuous rain the creeping thing seemed to know all about the later rain but little of the interpolated thunderstorm whilst the sheep knew all about the thunderstorm and nothing of the later rain this complication of weathers being uncommon was all the more to be feared oak returned to the stack yard all was silent here and the conical tips of the ricks jutted darkly into the sky there were five wheat ricks in this yard and three stacks of barley the wheat when threshed would average about 30 quarters to each stack the barley at least 40 that are valued to Bathsheba and indeed to anybody oak mentally estimated by the following simple calculation 5 times 30 equals 150 quarters equals 500 pounds 3 times 40 equals 120 quarters equals 250 pounds total 750 pounds 750 pounds and the divinest form that money can wear that of necessary food for man and beast should the risk be run of deteriorating this bulk of corn to less than half its value because of the instability of a woman never if I can prevent it said Gabriel such was the argument that oak set outwardly before him but man even to himself is a polympsest having an ostensible writing and another beneath the lines it is possible that there was this golden legend under the utilitarian one I will help to my last effort the woman I have loved so dearly he went back to the barn to endeavor to obtain assistance for covering the ricks that very night all was silent within and he would have passed on in the belief that the party had broken up had not a dim light yellow was saffron by contrast with the greenish whiteness outside streamed through a knot hole in the folding doors Gabriel looked in an unusual picture met his eye the candles suspended among the evergreens had burnt down to their sockets and in some cases the leaves tied about them were scorched the lights had quite gone out others smoked in stank grease dropping from them upon the floor here under the table and leaning against forms and chairs in every conceivable attitude except the perpendicular were the wretched persons of all the work folk the hair of their heads at such low levels being suggestive of mops and brooms in the midst of these shone red and distinct the figure of sergeant Troy leaning back in a chair Coggan was on his back Coggan housing fourth snores as were several others the united breathings of the horizontal assemblage forming a subdued roar like London from a distance Joseph Porgras was curled round in the fashion of a hedgehog apparently in attempts to present the least possible portion of his surface to the air and behind him was dimly visible an unimportant remnant of William Smallbury the glasses and cups still stood upon the table a water jug being overturned from which a small reel after tracing its course with marvelous precision down the center of the long table fell into the neck of the unconscious Mark Clark in a steady monotonous drip like the dripping of a stalactite in a cave Gabriel glanced hopelessly at the group which with one or two exceptions composed all the able-bodied men upon the farm he saw it once that if the ricks were to be saved that night or even the next morning he must save them with his own hands a faint ting-ting resounded from under Coggin's waistcoat it was Coggin's watch striking the hour of two Oak went to the recumbent form of Matthew Moon who usually undertook the rough thatching of the homestead and shook him the shaking was without effect Gabriel shouted in his ear where's your thatching beetle and rickstick and spars under the saddles said Moon mechanically with the unconscious promptness of a medium Gabriel let go his head and it dropped upon the floor like a bowl he then went to Susan Tall's husband where's the key of the granary no answer the question was repeated with the same result to be shouted to at night was evidently less of a novelty to Susan Tall's husband than to Matthew Moon Oak flung down Tall's head into the corner again and turned away to be just the men were not greatly to blame for this painful finalizing termination to the evening's entertainment Sergeant Troy had so strenuously insisted glass in hand that drinking should be the bond of their union that those who wish to refuse hardly like to be so unmanly under the circumstances having from their youth up been entirely unaccustomed to any liquor stronger than cider or mild ale it was no wonder that they had succumbed one and all with extraordinary uniformity after the lapse of about an hour Gabriel was greatly depressed this debauch voted ill for that willful and fascinating mistress whom the faithful man even now felt within him as the embodiment of all that was sweet and bright and hopeless he put out the expiring lights that the barn might not be endangered closed the door upon the men in their deep and oblivious sleep and went again into the long night a hot breeze as if breathed from the parted lips of some dragon about to swallow the globe from the south while directly opposite in the north was a grim misshapen body of cloud and the very teeth of the wind so unnaturally did it rise that one could fancy it to be lifted by machinery from below meanwhile the faint cloudlets had flown back into the southeast corner of the sky as if in terror of the large cloud like a young brood gazed in upon by some monster going on to the village oak flung a small stone against the window of labin tall's bedroom expecting susan to open it but nobody stirred he went round to the back door which had been left unfastened for labin's entry and passed into the foot of the staircase mrs. tall i've come for the key of the granary to get at the rick cloth said oak in a centurion voice is that you? said mrs. susan tall half awake yes said gabriel come along to bed do you draw latching rogue keep a body awake like this it isn't labin tis gabriel oak i want the key of the granary gabriel what in the name of fortune did you pretend to be labin for i didn't i thought you meant yes you did what you want here the key of the granary take it then tis on the nail people coming disturbing women at this time of night gabriel took the key without waiting to hear the conclusion of the tirade ten minutes later his lonely figure might have been seen dragging four large waterproof coverings across the yard and soon two of these heaps of treasure and grain were covered snug two cloths to each two hundred pounds were secured three wheat stacks remained open and there were no more cloths oak looked under the statels and found a fork he mounted the third pile of wealth and began operating the plan of sloping the upper sheaves one over the other and in addition filling the interstices with the material of some untied sheaves so far all was well by this hurried contrivance bathsheba's property and wheat was safe for at any rate a week or two provided always that there was not much wind next came the barley this it was only possible to protect by systematic thatching time went on and the moon vanished not to reappear it was a farewell of the ambassador previous to war the night had a haggard look like a sick thing and there came finally another expiration of air from the whole heaven in the form of a slow breeze which might have been likened to a death and now nothing was heard in the yard but the dull thuds of the beetle which drove in the spars and the rustle of thatch in the intervals end of chapter thirty-six recording by Leanne Howlett Chapter thirty-seven Chapter thirty-seven of Far from the Matting Crowd This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Leanne Howlett Far from the Matting Crowd by Thomas Hardy Chapter thirty-seven The Storm The Two Together A light flapped over the scene as if reflected from phosphorescent wings crossing the sky and a rumble filled the air It was the first move of the approaching storm The second peel was noisy with comparatively little visible lightning Gabriel saw a candle shining a bathsheba's bedroom and soon a shadow swept to and fro upon the blind Then there came a third flash Maneuvers of most extraordinary kind were going on in the vass from the mental hollows overhead The lightning now was the color of silver and gleamed in the heavens like a mailed army Rumbles became rattles Gabriel from his elevated position could see over the landscape at least half a dozen miles in front Every hedge, bush, and tree was distinct as in a line engraving Anapatic in the same direction was a herd of heifers and the forms of these were visible at this moment in the act of galloping about in the wildest and maddest confusion flinging their heels and tails high into the air their heads to earth A poplar in the immediate foreground was like an ink stroke on burnished tin Then the picture vanished leaving the darkness so intense that Gabriel worked entirely by feeling with his hands He had stuck his ricking rod or ponyard as it was indifferently called a long iron lance polished by handling into the stack used to support the sheaves instead of the support called a groom used on houses A blue light appeared in the zenith and in some indescribable manner flickered down near the top of the rod It was the fourth of the larger flashes A moment later and there was a smack smart, clear, and short Gabriel felt his position to be anything but a safe one and resolved to descend Not a drop of rain had fallen as yet He wiped his weary brow and looked again at the black forms of the unprotected stacks Was his life so valuable to him after all? What were his prospects that he could be so cherry of running risk when important and urgent labor could not be carried on without such risk? He resolved to stick to the stack However, he took a precaution Under the saddles was a long tethering chain used to prevent the escape of errant horses This he carried up the ladder and sticking his rod through the clog at one end allowed the other end of the chain to trail upon the ground The spike attached to it he drove in Under the shadow of this extemporized lightning conductor he felt himself comparatively safe Before Oak had laid his hands upon his tools again out leapt the fifth flash with the spring of a serpent It was green as an emerald and the reverberation was stunning What was this the light revealed to him? In the open ground before him as he looked over the ridge of the rick was a dark and apparently female form Could it be that of the only venturesome woman in the parish, Bathsheba? The form moved on a step then he could see no more Is that you, ma'am? said Gabriel to the darkness Who is there? said the voice of Bathsheba Gabriel, I am on the rick Thatching Oh, Gabriel, and are you? I have come about them The weather awoke me and I thought of the corn I am so distressed about it Can we save it anyhow? I cannot find my husband Is he with you? He is not here Do you know where he is? A sleep in the barn He promised that the stacks should be seen to him and now they are all neglected Can I do anything to help? Liddy is afraid to come out Fancy finding you here at such an hour Surely I can do something? You can bring up some reed sheaths to me one by one, ma'am If you are not afraid to come up the ladder in the dark said Gabriel Every moment is precious now and that would save a good deal of time It is not very dark when the lightning has been gone a bit I will do anything I will do anything, she said resolutely She instantly took a sheath upon her shoulder clambered up close to his heels placed it behind the rod and descended for another At her third ascent the rick suddenly brightened with the brazen glare of shining myolica every knot and every straw was visible On the slope in front of him appeared two human shapes black as jet The rick lost its sheen the shapes vanished Gabriel turned his head It had been the sixth flash which had come from the east behind him and the two dark forms on the slope had been the shadows of himself and Bathsheba Then came the peel It hardly was credible that such a heavenly light could be the parent of such a diabolical sound How terrible she exclaimed and clutched him by the sleeve Gabriel turned and steadied her on her aerial perch by holding her arm At the same moment while he was still reversed in his attitude there was more light and he saw as it were a copy of the tall poplar tree on the hill drawn in black on the wall of the barn It was the shadow of that tree thrown across by a secondary flash in the west The next flare came Bathsheba was on the ground now shouldering another sheaf and she bore its dazzle without flinching, thunder and all and again ascended with the load There was then a silence everywhere for four or five minutes and the crunch of the spars as Gabriel hastily drove them in could again be distinctly heard He thought the crisis of the storm had passed but there came a burst of light Hold on, said Gabriel taking the sheaf from her shoulder and grasping her arm again Heaven opened then, indeed The flash was almost too novel for its inexpressibly dangerous nature to be at once realized and they could only comprehend the magnificence of its beauty It sprang from east, west, north south and was a perfect dance of death The forms of skeletons appeared in the air shaped with blue fire for bones Dancing, leaping, striding racing around and mingling altogether an unparalleled confusion With these were intertwined undulating snakes of green and behind these was a broad mass of lesser light Simultaneously came from every part of the tumbling sky what may be called a shout since though no shout ever came near it it was more of the nature of a shout than of anything else earthly In the meantime one of the grizzly forms had alighted upon the point of Gabriel's rod to run invisibly down it down the chain and into the earth Gabriel was almost blinded and he could feel Bathsheba's warm arm tremble in his hand a sensation, novel and thrilling enough but love, life, everything everything human seemed small and trifling in such close juxtaposition with an infuriated universe Oak had hardly time to gather up these impressions into a thought and to see how strangely the red feather of her hat shone in this light when the tall tree on the hill before mentioned seemed on fire to a white heat and a new one among these terrible voices mingled with the last crash of those preceding it was a stupefying blast harsh and pitiless and it fell upon their dead flat blow without that reverberation which lends the tones of a drum to more distant thunder by the luster reflected from every part of the earth and from the wide domical scoop above it, he saw that the tree was sliced down the whole length of its tall straight stem a huge reband of bark being apparently flung off the other portion remained erect and revealed the buried surface as a strip of white down the front the lightning had struck the tree this smell filled the air then all was silent and black as a cave in Hennem we had a narrow escape said Gabriel hurriedly you had better go down Bathsheba said nothing but he could distinctly hear her arrhythmical pants and the recurrent rustle of the sheaf beside her in response to her frightened pulsations she descended the ladder and on second thoughts he followed her the darkness was now impenetrable by the sharpest vision they both stood still at the bottom side by side Bathsheba appeared to think only of the weather Oak thought only of her just then at last he said the storm seems to have passed now at any rate I think so too said Bathsheba though there are multitudes of gleams look the sky was now filled with an incessant light frequent repetition melting into complete continuity as an unbroken sound results from the successive strokes on a gong nothing serious said he I cannot understand no rain falling but heaven be praised it is all the better for us I am now going up again Gabriel you are kinder than I deserve I will stay and help you yet oh why are not some of the others here they would have been here if they could said oak in a hesitating way oh I know it all all she said adding slowly they are all sleeping the barn in a drunken sleep and my husband among them that's it is it not don't think I am a timid woman and can't endure things I am not certain said Gabriel I will go and see he crossed to the barn leaving her there alone he looked through the chinks of the door all was in total darkness as he had left it and there still arose as at the former time the steady buzz of many snores he felt a zephyr curling about his cheek and turned it was Bathsheba's breath she had followed him and was looking into the same chink he endeavored to put off the immediate and painful subject of their thoughts by remarking gently if he'll come back again miss ma'am and hand up a few more it would save much time then oak went back again ascended to the top stepped off the ladder for greater expedition and went on thatching she followed but without a sheaf Gabriel she said in a strange and impressive voice oak looked up at her she had not spoken since he left the barn the soft and continual shimmer of the dying lightning showed a marble face high against the black sky of the opposite quarter Bathsheba was sitting almost on the apex of the stack her feet gathered up beneath her and resting on the top round of the ladder yes mistress he said I suppose you thought that when I galloped to wait at Bath that night it was on purpose to be married I did it last not at first he answered somewhat surprised at the abruptness with which this new subject was broached and others thought so too yes and you blamed me for it well a little I thought so now I care a little for your good opinion and I want to explain something I have longed to do it ever since I returned and you look so gravely at me for if I were to die and I may die soon it would be dreadful that you should always think mistakenly of me now listen Gabriel ceased his rustling I went to Bath that night in the full intention of breaking off my engagement to Mr. Troy it was owing to circumstances which occurred after I got there that we were married now do you see the matter in a new light I do somewhat I must I suppose say more now that I have begun and perhaps it's no harm for you are certain under no delusion that I ever loved you or that I can have any object in speaking more than that object I have mentioned while I was alone in a strange city and the horse was lame and at last I didn't know what to do I saw when it was too late that scandal might seize hold of me for meeting him alone in that way but I was coming away when he suddenly said he had that day seen a woman more beautiful than I and that his constancy could not be counted on unless I at once became his and I was grieved and troubled she cleared her voice and waited a moment as if to gather breath and then between jealousy and distraction I married him she whispered with desperate impetuosity Gabriel made no reply he was not to blame for it was perfectly true about about his seeing somebody else she quickly added and now I don't wish for a single remark from you upon the subject indeed I forbid it I only wanted you to know that misunderstood bit of my history before a time comes when you could never know it you want some more sheaves she went down the ladder and the work proceeded and perceived a langer in the movements of his mistress up and down and he said to her gently as a mother I think we'd better go indoors now you are tired I can finish the rest alone if the wind is not changed the rain is likely to keep off if I am useless I will go said Bathsheba and a flagging cadence but oh if your life should be lost you are not useless but I would rather not tire you longer you have done well and you better she said gratefully thank you for your devotion a thousand times Gabriel good night I know you are doing your very best for me she diminished in the gloom and vanished and he heard the latch of the gate fall as she passed through he worked in a reverie now musing upon her story and upon the contradictoryness of that feminine heart which had caused her to speak more warmly to him tonight than she ever had done whilst unmarried and free to speak as warmly as she chose he was disturbed in his meditation by a grating noise from the coach-house it was the vein on the roof turning round and this change in the wind was a signal for a disastrous rain End of Chapter 37 Recording by Leanne Howlett Chapter 38 of Far From the Matting Crowd This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This reading by Sarah Jennings Far From the Matting Crowd by Thomas Hardy Chapter 38 Rain It was now five o'clock and the dawn was promising to break in hues of drab and ash The air changed its temperature and stirred itself more vigorously Cool breezes coerced in transparent eddies round Oak's face The wind shifted yet a point or two and blew stronger In ten minutes every wind of heaven seemed to be roaming at large Some of the thatching on the wheat stacks now whirled fantastically aloft and had to be replaced and weighted with some rails that lay near at hand This done, Oak slaved away again at the barley A huge drop of rain smote his face The wind snarled round every corner The trees rocked to the bases of their trunks and the twigs clashed in strife Driving in spars at any point and on any system inch by inch he covered more and more safely from ruin this distracting impersonation of seven hundred pounds The rain came on in earnest and Oak soon felt the water to be tracking cold and clammy roots down his back Ultimately he was reduced well-nigh to a homogeneous sop and the dyes of his clothes trickled down in a pool at the foot of the ladder The rain stretched obliquely through the dull atmosphere in liquid spines and broken in continuity between their beginnings in the clouds and their points in him Oak suddenly remembered that eight months before this time he had been fighting against fire in the same spot as desperately as he was fighting against water now and for a futile love of the same woman As for her, but Oak was generous and true and dismissed his reflections It was about seven o'clock in the dark leaden morning when Gabriel came down from the last stack and thankfully exclaimed It is done He was drenched weary and sad and yet not so sad as drenched and weary for he was cheered by a sense of success and a good cause Faint sounds came from the barn and he looked that way Figures stepped singly and in pairs through the doors all walking awkwardly and a bash to save the foremost who wore a red jacket and advanced with his hands in his pocket swissily The others shambled after with a conscience-stricken air The whole procession was not unlike Flaxman's group of the suitors tottering on towards the infernal regions under the conduct of Mercury The gnarled shapes passed into the village Troy, their leader, entering the farmhouse Not a single one of them had turned his face to the ricks or apparently bestowed one thought of the operation Soon Oak too went homeward by a different route from theirs In front of him against the wet glazed surface of the lane he saw a person walking yet more slowly than himself under an umbrella The man turned and plainly started He was Bouldwood How are you this morning sir said Oak Yes it is a wet day Oh I'm well, very well I thank you quite well Here it sir Bouldwood seemed to awake to the present by degrees You look tired and ill Oak He said then Dissultorily regarding his companion I am tired You look strangely altered sir I, not a bit of it I am well enough What put that into your head I thought you didn't look quite so topping as you used to that was all Indeed then you are mistaken said Bouldwood shortly Nothing hurts me, my constitution is an iron one I've been working hard to get our ricks covered and was barely in time Never had such a struggle in my life Yours of course are safe sir Oh yes Bouldwood added after an interval of silence What did you ask Oak Your ricks are all covered before this time No, at any rate the large ones upon the stone saddles they are not edge No, I forgot to tell the Thatcher to set about it Nor the little one by the style Nor the little one by the style I overlooked the ricks this year Then not a tenth of your form will come to measure sir Possibly not Overlooked them repeated Gabriel slowly to himself It is difficult to describe the intensely dramatic effect that announcement had upon Oak at such a moment All the night he had been feeling that the neglect he was laboring to repair was abnormal and isolated the only instance of the kind within the circuit of the county Yet at this very time within the same parish greater waste had been going on uncomplained of and disregarded A few months earlier Bouldwood's forgetting his husbandry would have been as preposterous an idea as a sailor forgetting he was in a ship Oak was just thinking that whatever he himself might have suffered from Bathsheba's marriage here was a man who had suffered more When Bouldwood spoke in a changed voice that of one who yearned to make a confidence and relieve his heart by an outpouring Oak you know as well as I that things have gone wrong with me lately I may as well own it I was going to get a little settled in life but in some way my plan has come to nothing I thought my mistress would have married you said Gabriel not knowing enough of the full depths of Bouldwood's love to keep his wife on the farmer's account and determined not to have a discipline by doing so on his own however it is so sometimes and nothing happens that we expect he added with the repose of a man who misfortune had inured rather than subdued I dare say I am a joke about the parish said Bouldwood as if the subject came irresistibly to his tongue and with a miserable lightness meant to express his indifference oh no I don't think that but the real truth of the matter is not as some fancy any jilting on her part no engagement ever existed between me and Miss Everdeen people say so but it is untrue she never promised me Bouldwood stood still now and turned his wild face to Oak oh Gabriel he continued I am weak and foolish and I don't know what and I can't fend off my miserable grief I had some faint belief in the mercy of God till I lost that woman yes he prepared a gourd to shade me and like the prophet I thanked him and was glad but the next day he prepared a worm to smite the gourd and wither it and I feel it is better to die than to live the silence followed Bouldwood aroused himself from the momentary mood of confidence into which he had drifted and walked on again resuming his usual reserve no Gabriel he resumed with a carelessness which was like the smile the silence of a skull it was made more of by other people than ever it was by us I do feel a little regret occasionally but no woman ever had power over me for any length of time well good morning I can trust you not to mention to others what has passed between us two here End of Chapter 38 Chapter 39 of Far From the Madding Crowd This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings in public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Leanne Howlett Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy Chapter 39 Coming Home A Cry On the Turnpike Road between Castro Bridge and Weatherbury and about three miles from the former place is Yalbury Hill which pervade the highways of this undulating part of South Wessex and returning from market it is usual for the farmers and other gig gentry to alight at the bottom and walk up One Saturday evening in the month of October Bathsheba's vehicle was duly creeping up this incline She was sitting listlessly in the second seat of the gig whilst walking beside her in a farmer's marketing suit of unusually fashionable cut was an erect well-made young man who held the reins and whip and occasionally aimed light cuts at the horse's ear with the end of the lash as a recreation This man was her husband formerly Sergeant Troy who having bought his discharge with Bathsheba's money was gradually transforming himself into a farmer of a spirited and very modern school People of unalterable ideas still insisted upon calling him Sergeant when they met him which was in some degree owing to his having still retained the well-shaped moustache of his military days and the soldierly bearing inseparable from his form and training Yes, if it hadn't been for that wretched reign I should have cleared two hundred as easy as looking, my love, he was saying Don't you see it altered all the chances to speak like a book I once read What weather is the narrative and fine days are the episodes of our country's history Now isn't that true? But the time of year has come for changeable weather Well, yes, the fact is these autumn races are the ruin of everybody Never did I see such a day as T'was It is a wild open place just out of Budmouth and a drab sea rolled in towards us like liquid misery Wind and rain, good Lord Dark? Why, T'was as black as my hat before the last race was run T'was five o'clock and you couldn't see the horses till they were almost in leave alone colors The ground was as heavy as lead and all judgment from a fellow's experience Horses, riders, people were all blown about like ships at sea Three booths were blown over and the wretched folk inside crawled out upon their hands and knees and in the next field were as many as a dozen hats at one time I, Pimpernail, regularly stuck fast went about sixty yards off and when I saw policy stepping on it did knock my heart against the lining of my ribs, I assure you my love And you mean Frank? said Bathsheba sadly was painfully lowered from the fullness and vivacity of the previous summer that you have lost more than a hundred pounds in a month by this dreadful horse racing Oh Frank, it is cruel it is foolish of you to take away my money so we shall have to leave the farm that will be the end of it Humbug about cruel now there tis again turn on the waterworks that's just like you But you'll promise me not to go to Budmouth's second meeting won't you? She implored Bathsheba was at the full depth for tears but she maintained a dry eye I don't see why I should in fact if it turns out to be a fine day I was thinking of taking you Never, never, I'll go a hundred miles the other way first, I hate the sound of the very word But the question of going to see the race or staying at home has very little to do with the matter, bets are all booked safely enough before the race begins you may depend, whether it is a bad race for me or a good one will have very little to do next Monday But you don't mean to say that you have risked anything on this one too she exclaimed with an agonized look there now don't you be a little fool wait till you are told, why Bathsheba you have lost all the pluck and sauciness you formerly had and upon my life if I had known what a chicken-hearted creature you were under all your boldness I'd never have, I know what a flash of indignation might have been seen in Bathsheba's dark eyes as she looked resolutely ahead after this reply they moved on without further speech some early withered leaves from the trees which hooded the road at this spot occasionally spinning downward across their path to the earth a woman appeared on the brow of the hill the ridge was in a cutting so that she was very near the husband or wife before she became visible Troy had turned towards the gig to remount whilst putting his foot on the step the woman passed behind him though the overshadowing trees and the approach of eventide to the gloom Bathsheba could see plainly enough to discern the extreme poverty of the woman's garb and the sadness of her face please sir do you know at what time Castor Bridge's union house closes at night the woman said these words to Troy over his shoulder Troy started visibly at the sound of the voice yet he seemed to recover presence of mind sufficient to prevent himself from giving way to his impulse to suddenly turn and face her he said slowly I don't know the woman on hearing him speak quickly looked up examine the side of his face and recognize a soldier under the yeoman's garb her face was drawn into an expression which had gladness and agony both among its elements she uttered an hysterical cry and fell down oh poor thing exclaimed Bathsheba instantly preparing to alight stay where you are and attend to the horse said Troy perimeterly throwing her the reins and the whip the horse to the top I'll see to the woman but I did you hear click pop it the horse gig in Bathsheba moved on how on earth did you come here I thought you were miles away or dead why didn't you write to me said Troy to the woman in a strangely gentle yet hurried voice as he lifted her up I feared to have you any money none good heaven I wish I had more to give you here's wretched the nearest trifle it is every far thing I have left I have none but what my wife gives me you know and I can't ask her now the woman made no answer I have only another moment continued Troy and now listen where are you going tonight castor bit jr yes I thought to go there you shan't go there yet wait yes perhaps for tonight I can do nothing better worse luck sleep there tonight and stay there tomorrow Monday is the first free day I have and on Monday morning at 10 exactly meet me on Grey's bridge just out of the town I'll bring all the money I can muster you shan't want I'll see that fanny then I'll get you a lodging somewhere goodbye till then I am a brute but goodbye after advancing the distance which completed the ascent of the hill Bathsheba turned her head the woman was upon her feet and Bathsheba saw her withdrawing from Troy and going feebly down the hill by the third milestone from Casterbridge Troy then came on towards his wife stepped into the gig took the reins from her hand and without making any observation whipped the horse into a trot he was rather agitated do you know who that woman was said Bathsheba looking searchingly into his face I do he said looking boldly back into hers I thought you did said she with angry hot tour and still regarding him who is she he suddenly seemed to think that frankness would benefit neither of the women nothing to either of us he said I know her by sight what is her name how should I know her name I think you do think if you will and be the sentence was completed by a smart cut of the whip round Poppitt's flank which caused the animal to start forward at a wild pace no more was said end of chapter 39 recording by Leanne Howlett