From 2225f774d8f17f45e93a37f627c5ed450401d06d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Steinar H. Gunderson" Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2017 15:05:19 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Embed ryg_rans (from https://github.com/rygorous/ryg_rans). --- ryg_rans/Makefile | 15 + ryg_rans/README | 128 + ryg_rans/book1 | 16622 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ryg_rans/exam | Bin 0 -> 23936 bytes ryg_rans/exam64 | Bin 0 -> 24464 bytes ryg_rans/exam_alias | Bin 0 -> 18296 bytes ryg_rans/exam_simd_sse41 | Bin 0 -> 23832 bytes ryg_rans/main.cpp | 297 + ryg_rans/main64.cpp | 299 + ryg_rans/main_alias.cpp | 422 + ryg_rans/main_simd.cpp | 349 + ryg_rans/perf.data | Bin 0 -> 238292 bytes ryg_rans/perf.data.old | Bin 0 -> 238572 bytes ryg_rans/platform.h | 64 + ryg_rans/rans64.h | 318 + ryg_rans/rans_byte.h | 320 + ryg_rans/rans_word_sse41.h | 232 + 17 files changed, 19066 insertions(+) create mode 100644 ryg_rans/Makefile create mode 100644 ryg_rans/README create mode 100644 ryg_rans/book1 create mode 100755 ryg_rans/exam create mode 100755 ryg_rans/exam64 create mode 100755 ryg_rans/exam_alias create mode 100755 ryg_rans/exam_simd_sse41 create mode 100644 ryg_rans/main.cpp create mode 100644 ryg_rans/main64.cpp create mode 100644 ryg_rans/main_alias.cpp create mode 100644 ryg_rans/main_simd.cpp create mode 100644 ryg_rans/perf.data create mode 100644 ryg_rans/perf.data.old create mode 100644 ryg_rans/platform.h create mode 100644 ryg_rans/rans64.h create mode 100644 ryg_rans/rans_byte.h create mode 100644 ryg_rans/rans_word_sse41.h diff --git a/ryg_rans/Makefile b/ryg_rans/Makefile new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e8123d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/ryg_rans/Makefile @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +LIBS=-lm -lrt + +all: exam exam64 exam_simd_sse41 exam_alias + +exam: main.cpp platform.h rans_byte.h + g++ -o $@ $< -O3 $(LIBS) + +exam64: main64.cpp platform.h rans64.h + g++ -o $@ $< -O3 $(LIBS) + +exam_simd_sse41: main_simd.cpp platform.h rans_word_sse41.h + g++ -o $@ $< -O3 -msse4.1 $(LIBS) + +exam_alias: main_alias.cpp platform.h rans_byte.h + g++ -o $@ $< -O3 $(LIBS) diff --git a/ryg_rans/README b/ryg_rans/README new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5e249e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/ryg_rans/README @@ -0,0 +1,128 @@ +This is a public-domain implementation of several rANS variants. rANS is an +entropy coder from the ANS family, as described in Jarek Duda's paper +"Asymmetric numeral systems" (http://arxiv.org/abs/1311.2540). + +- "rans_byte.h" has a byte-aligned rANS encoder/decoder and some comments on + how to use it. This implementation should work on all 32-bit architectures. + "main.cpp" is an example program that shows how to use it. +- "rans64.h" is a 64-bit version that emits entire 32-bit words at a time. It + is (usually) a good deal faster than rans_byte on 64-bit architectures, and + also makes for a very precise arithmetic coder (i.e. it gets quite close + to entropy). The trade-off is that this version will be slower on 32-bit + machines, and the output bitstream is not endian-neutral. "main64.cpp" is + the corresponding example. +- "rans_word_sse41.h" has a SIMD decoder (SSE 4.1 to be precise) that does IO + in units of 16-bit words. It has less precision than either rans_byte or + rans64 (meaning that it doesn't get as close to entropy) and requires + at least 4 independent streams of data to be useful; however, it is also a + good deal faster. "main_simd.cpp" shows how to use it. + +See my blog http://fgiesen.wordpress.com/ for some notes on the design. + +I've also written a paper on interleaving output streams from multiple entropy +coders: + + http://arxiv.org/abs/1402.3392 + +this documents the underlying design for "rans_word_sse41", and also shows how +the same approach generalizes to e.g. GPU implementations, provided there are +enough independent contexts coded at the same time to fill up a warp/wavefront +or whatever your favorite GPU's terminology for its native SIMD width is. + +Finally, there's also "main_alias.cpp", which shows how to combine rANS with +the alias method to get O(1) symbol lookup with table size proportional to the +number of symbols. I presented an overview of the underlying idea here: + + http://fgiesen.wordpress.com/2014/02/18/rans-with-static-probability-distributions/ + +Results on my machine (Sandy Bridge i7-2600K) with rans_byte in 64-bit mode: + +---- + +rANS encode: +12896496 clocks, 16.8 clocks/symbol (192.8MiB/s) +12486912 clocks, 16.2 clocks/symbol (199.2MiB/s) +12511975 clocks, 16.3 clocks/symbol (198.8MiB/s) +12660765 clocks, 16.5 clocks/symbol (196.4MiB/s) +12550285 clocks, 16.3 clocks/symbol (198.2MiB/s) +rANS: 435113 bytes +17023550 clocks, 22.1 clocks/symbol (146.1MiB/s) +18081509 clocks, 23.5 clocks/symbol (137.5MiB/s) +16901632 clocks, 22.0 clocks/symbol (147.1MiB/s) +17166188 clocks, 22.3 clocks/symbol (144.9MiB/s) +17235859 clocks, 22.4 clocks/symbol (144.3MiB/s) +decode ok! + +interleaved rANS encode: +9618004 clocks, 12.5 clocks/symbol (258.6MiB/s) +9488277 clocks, 12.3 clocks/symbol (262.1MiB/s) +9460194 clocks, 12.3 clocks/symbol (262.9MiB/s) +9582025 clocks, 12.5 clocks/symbol (259.5MiB/s) +9332017 clocks, 12.1 clocks/symbol (266.5MiB/s) +interleaved rANS: 435117 bytes +10687601 clocks, 13.9 clocks/symbol (232.7MB/s) +10637918 clocks, 13.8 clocks/symbol (233.8MB/s) +10909652 clocks, 14.2 clocks/symbol (227.9MB/s) +10947637 clocks, 14.2 clocks/symbol (227.2MB/s) +10529464 clocks, 13.7 clocks/symbol (236.2MB/s) +decode ok! + +---- + +And here's rans64 in 64-bit mode: + +---- + +rANS encode: +10256075 clocks, 13.3 clocks/symbol (242.3MiB/s) +10620132 clocks, 13.8 clocks/symbol (234.1MiB/s) +10043080 clocks, 13.1 clocks/symbol (247.6MiB/s) +9878205 clocks, 12.8 clocks/symbol (251.8MiB/s) +10122645 clocks, 13.2 clocks/symbol (245.7MiB/s) +rANS: 435116 bytes +14244155 clocks, 18.5 clocks/symbol (174.6MiB/s) +15072524 clocks, 19.6 clocks/symbol (165.0MiB/s) +14787604 clocks, 19.2 clocks/symbol (168.2MiB/s) +14736556 clocks, 19.2 clocks/symbol (168.8MiB/s) +14686129 clocks, 19.1 clocks/symbol (169.3MiB/s) +decode ok! + +interleaved rANS encode: +7691159 clocks, 10.0 clocks/symbol (323.3MiB/s) +7182692 clocks, 9.3 clocks/symbol (346.2MiB/s) +7060804 clocks, 9.2 clocks/symbol (352.2MiB/s) +6949201 clocks, 9.0 clocks/symbol (357.9MiB/s) +6876415 clocks, 8.9 clocks/symbol (361.6MiB/s) +interleaved rANS: 435120 bytes +8133574 clocks, 10.6 clocks/symbol (305.7MB/s) +8631618 clocks, 11.2 clocks/symbol (288.1MB/s) +8643790 clocks, 11.2 clocks/symbol (287.7MB/s) +8449364 clocks, 11.0 clocks/symbol (294.3MB/s) +8331444 clocks, 10.8 clocks/symbol (298.5MB/s) +decode ok! + +---- + +Finally, here's the rans_word_sse41 decoder on an 8-way interleaved stream: + +---- + +SIMD rANS: 435626 bytes +4597641 clocks, 6.0 clocks/symbol (540.8MB/s) +4514356 clocks, 5.9 clocks/symbol (550.8MB/s) +4780918 clocks, 6.2 clocks/symbol (520.1MB/s) +4532913 clocks, 5.9 clocks/symbol (548.5MB/s) +4554527 clocks, 5.9 clocks/symbol (545.9MB/s) +decode ok! + +---- + +There's also an experimental 16-way interleaved AVX2 version that hits +faster rates still, developed by my colleague Won Chun; I will post it +soon. + +Note that this is running "book1" which is a relatively short test, and +the measurement setup is not great, so take the results with a grain +of salt. + +-Fabian "ryg" Giesen, Feb 2014. diff --git a/ryg_rans/book1 b/ryg_rans/book1 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f3b64ba --- /dev/null +++ b/ryg_rans/book1 @@ -0,0 +1,16622 @@ + + + + +

+DESCRIPTION OF FARMER OAK -- AN INCIDENT +When Farmer Oak smiled, the corners of his mouth +spread till they were within an unimportant distance of +his ears, his eyes were reduced to chinks, and diverging +wrinkles appeared round them, extending upon his +countenance like the rays in a rudimentary sketch of +the rising sun. +His Christian name was Gabriel, and on working +days he was a young man of sound judgment, easy +motions, proper dress, and general good character. On +Sundays he was a man of misty views, rather given to +postponing, and hampered by his best clothes and +umbrella : upon the whole, one who felt himself to +occupy morally that vast middle space of Laodicean +neutrality which lay between the Communion people +of the parish and the drunken section, -- that is, he went +to church, but yawned privately by the time the con+ +gegation reached the Nicene creed,- and thought of +what there would be for dinner when he meant to be +listening to the sermon. Or, to state his character as +it stood in the scale of public opinion, when his friends +and critics were in tantrums, he was considered rather a +bad man ; when they were pleased, he was rather a good +man ; when they were neither, he was a man whose +moral colour was a kind of pepper-and-salt mixture. +Since he lived six times as many working-days as +Sundays, Oak's appearance in his old clothes was most +peculiarly his own -- the mental picture formed by his +neighbours in imagining him being always dressed in +that way. He wore a low-crowned felt hat, spread out +at the base by tight jamming upon the head for security +in high winds, and a coat like Dr. Johnson's ; his lower +extremities being encased in ordinary leather leggings +and boots emphatically large, affording to each foot a +roomy apartment so constructed that any wearer might +stand in a river all day long and know nothing of +

+damp -- their maker being a conscientious man who +endeavoured to compensate for any weakness in his cut +by unstinted dimension and solidity. +Mr. Oak 'carried 'about him, by way of watch,+ +what may be called a small silver clock; in other +words, it was a watch as to shape and intention, and +a small clock as to size. This instrument being several +years older than Oak's grandfather, had the peculiarity +of going either too fast or not at all. The smaller +of its hands, too, occasionally slipped round on the +pivot, and thus, though the minutes were told with +precision, nobody could be quite certain of the hour +they belonged to. The stopping peculiarity of his +watch Oak remedied by thumps and shakes, and he +escaped any evil consequences from the other two +defects by constant comparisons with and observations +of the sun and stars, and by pressing his face close +to the glass of his neighbours' windows, till he could +discern the hour marked by the green-faced timekeepers +within. It may be mentioned that Oak's fob being +difficult of access, by reason of its somewhat high +situation in the waistband of his trousers (which also +lay at a remote height under his waistcoat), the watch +was as a necessity pulled out by throwing the body to +one-side, compressing the- mouth and face to a mere +mass of- ruddy flesh- on account -of the exertion, and +drawing up the watch by its chain, like a bucket from a +well. +But some thoughtfull persons, who had seen him +walking across one of his fields on a certain December +morning -- sunny and exceedingly mild -- might have +regarded Gabriel Oak in other aspects than these. In +his face one might notice that many of the hues and +curves of youth had tarried on to manhood: there even +remained in his remoter crannies some relics of the boy. +His height and breadth would have been sufficient to +make his presence imposing, had they been exhibited +with due consideration. But there is a way some men +have, rural and urban alike, for which the mind is more +responsible than flesh and sinew : it is a way of curtail+ +ing their dimensions by their manner of showing them. +And from a quiet modesty that would have become a +vestal which seemed continually to impress upon him +

+that he had no great claim on the world's room, Oak +walked unassumingly and with a faintly perceptible +bend, yet distinct from a bowing of the shoulders. +This may be said to be a defect in an individual if he +depends for his valuation more upon his appearance +than upon his capacity to wear well, which Oak did not. +He had just reached the time of life at which " young' +is ceasing to be the prefix of "man ' in speaking of one. +He was at the brightest period of masculine growth, +for his intellect and his emotions were clearly separated : +he had passed the time during which the influence of +youth indiscriminately mingles them in the character +of impulse, and he had not yet arrived at the stage +wherein they become united again, in the character of +prejudice, by the influence of a wife and family. In +short, he was twenty-eight, and a bachelor. +The field he was in this morning sloped to a +ridge called Norcombe Hill. Through a spur of this +hill ran the highway between Emminster and Chalk+ +Newton. Casually glancing over the hedge, Oak saw +coming down the incline before him an ornamental +spring waggon, painted yellow and gaily marked, +drawn by two horses, a waggoner walking alongside +bearing a whip perpendicularly. The waggon was +laden with household goods and window plants, and +on the apex of the whole sat a woman, 'young-'and +attractive. Gabriel had not beheld the sight for more +than half a minute, when the vehicle was brought to a +standstill just beneath his eyes. +" The tailboard of the waggon is gone, Miss,' said the +waggoner. +"Then I heard it fall,' said the girl, in a soft, though +not particularly low voice. "I heard a noise I could +not account for when we were coming up the hill.' +"I'll run back.' + +" Do,' she answered. + +The sensible horses stood -- perfectly still, and the +waggoner's steps sank fainter and fainter in the distance. +The girl on the summit of the load sat motionless, +surrounded by tables and chairs with their legs upwards, +backed by an oak settle, and ornamented in front by +pots of geraniums, myrtles, and cactuses, together with +

+a caged canary -- all probably from the windows of the +house just vacated. There was also a cat in a willow +basket, from the partly-opened lid of which she gazed +with half-closed eyes, and affectionately-surveyed the +small birds around. +The handsome girl waited for some time idly in her +place, and the only sound heard in the stillness-was -the +hopping of the canary up-and down the perches of its +prison. Then she looked attentively downwards. It +was not at the bird, nor at the cat; it was at an oblong +package tied in paper, and lying between them. She +turned her head to learn if the waggoner were coming. +He was not yet in sight; and her-eyes crept back to +the package, her thoughts seeming to run 'upon what +was inside it. At length she drew the article into her +lap, and untied the paper covering; a small swing +looking-glass was disclosed, in which she proceeded to +survey herself attentively. She parted her lips and +smiled. +It was a fine morning, and the sun lighted up to a +scarlet glow the crimson jacket she wore, and painted +a soft lustre upon her bright face and dark hair. The +myrtles, geraniums, and cactuses packed around her +were fresh and green, and at such a leafless season they +invested the whole concern of horses, waggon, furniture, +and girl with a peculiar vernal charm. What possessed +her to indulge in such a performance in the sight of the +sparrows, blackbirds, and unperceived farmer who were +alone its spectators, -- whether the smile began as a +factitious one, to test her capacity in that art, -- nobody +knows ; it ended certainly in a real smile. She blushed +at herself, and seeing her reflection blush, blushed the +more. +The change from the customary spot and necessary +occasion of such an act -- from the dressing hour in a +bedroom to a time of travelling out of doors -- lent to +the idle deed a novelty it did not intrinsically possess. +The picture was a delicate one. Woman's prescriptive +infirmity had stalked into the sunlight, which had +clothed it in the freshness of an originality. A +cynical inference was irresistitle by Gabriel Oak as he +regarded the scene, generous though he fain would have +been. There was no necessity whatever for her looking +in the glass. She did not adjust her hat, or pat her +

+hair, or press a dimple into shape, or do one thing to +signify that any such intention had been her motive in +taking up the glass. She simply observed herself as a +fair product of Nature in the feminine kind, her thoughts +seeming to glide into far-off though likely dramas in +which men would play a part -- vistas of probable +triumphs -- the smiles being of a phase suggesting that +hearts were imagined as lost and won. Still, this was +but conjecture, and the whole series of actions was so +idly put forth as to make it rash to assert that intention +had any part in them at all. +The waggoner's steps were heard returning. She +put the glass in the paper, and the whole again into its +place. +When the waggon had passed on, Gabriel withdrew +from his point of espial, and descending into the road, +followed the vehicle to the turnpike-gate some way +beyond the bottom of the hill, where the object of his +contemplation now halted for the payment of toll. About +twenty steps still remained between him and the gate, +when he heard a dispute. lt was a difference con+ +cerning twopence between the persons with the waggon +and the man at the toll-bar. +" Mis'ess's niece is upon the top of the things, and +she says that's enough that I've offered ye, you great +miser, and she won't pay any more.' These were the +waggoner's words. +"Very well ; then mis'ess's niece can't pass,' said the +turnpike-keeper, closing the gate. +Oak looked from one to the other of the disputants, +and fell into a reverie. There was something in the +tone of twopence remarkably insignificant. Threepence +had a definite value as money -- it was an appreciable +infringement on a day's wages, and, as such, a higgling +matter ; but twopence -- -- " Here,' he said, stepping +forward and handing twopence to the gatekeeper ; "let +the young woman pass.' He looked up at her then; +she heard his words, and looked down. +Gabriel's features adhered throughout their form so +exactly to the middle line between the beauty of St. +John and the ugliness of Judas Iscariot, as represented +in a window of the church he attended, that not a single +lineament could be selected and called worthy either of +distinction or notoriety. The redjacketed and dark+ +

+haired maiden seemed to think so too, for she carelessly +glanced over him, and told her man to drive on. She +might have looked her thanks to Gabriel on a minute +scale, but she did not speak them; more probably she +felt none, for in gaining her a passage he had lost her +her point, and we know how women take a favour of +that kind. +The gatekeeper surveyed the retreating vehicle. +" That's a handsome maid ' he said to Oak +" But she has her faults,' said Gabriel. +" True, farmer. ' +"And the greatest of them is -- well, what it is +always.' +" Beating people down ? ay, 'tis so.' +"O no.' +" What, then ? ' +Gabriel, perhaps a little piqued by the comely +traveller's indifference, glanced back to where he had +witnessed her performance over the hedge, and said, +" Vanity.' + +

+NIGHT -- THE FLOCK -- AN INIERIOR -- ANOTHER INTERIOR +IT was nearly midnight on the eve of St. Thomas"s, the +shortest day in the year. A desolating wind wandered +from the north over the hill whereon Oak had watched +the yellow waggon and its occupant in the sunshine of +a few days earlier. + Norcombe Hill -- not far from lonely Toller-Down + -- was one of the spots which suggest to a passer-by +that he is in the presence of a shape approaching the +indestructible as nearly as any to be found on earth. +It was a featureless convexity of chalk and soil -- an +ordinary specimen of those smoothly-outlined protuber+ +ances of the globe which may remain undisturbed on +some great day of confusion, when far grander heights +and dizzy granite precipices topple down. +The hill was covered on its northern side by an +ancient and decaying plantation of beeches, whose +upper verge formed a line over the crest, fringing its +arched curve against the sky, like a mane. To-night +these trees sheltered the southern slope from the keenest +blasts, which smote the wood and floundered through +it with a sound as of grumbling, or gushed over its +crowning boughs in a weakened moan. The dry leaves +in the ditch simmered and boiled in the same breezes, +a tongue of air occasionally ferreting out a few, and +sending them spinning across the grass. A group or +two of the latest in date amongst the dead multitude +had remained till this very mid-winter time on the twigs +which bore them and in falling rattled against the trunks +with smart taps: +Betwenne this half-wooded, half naked hill, and the +vague still horizon that its summit indistinctly com+ +manded, was a mysterious sheet of fathomless shade + -- the sounds from which suggested that what it con+ +cealed bore some reduced resemblance to features here. +

+The thin grasses, more or less coating the hill, were +touched by the wind in breezes of differing powers, and +almost of differing natures -- one rubbing the blades +heavily, another raking them piercingly, another brushing +them like a soft broom. The instinctive act of human+ +kind was to stand and listen, and learn how the trees +to each other in the regular antiphonies of a cathedral +choir; how hedges and other shapes to leeward them +caught the note, lowering it to the tenderest sob; and +how the hurrying gust then plunged into the south, to +be heard no more. +The sky was clear -- remarkably clear -- and the +twinkling of all the stars seemed to be but throbs of +one body, timed by a common pulse. The North Star +was directly in the wind's eye, and since evening the +Bear had swung round it outwardly to the east, till he +was now at a right angle with the meridian. A +difference of colour in the stars -- oftener read of than +seen in England-was really perceptible here. The +sovereign brilliancy of Sirius pierced the eye with a steely +glitter, the star called Capella was yellow, Aldebaran and +Betelgueux shone with a fiery red. +To persons standing alone on a hill during a clear +midnight such as this, the roll of the world eastward is +almost a palpable movement. The sensation may be +caused by the panoramic glide of the stars past earthly +objects, which is perceptible in a few minutes of still+ +ness, or by the better outlook upon space that a hill +affords, or by the wind, or by the solitude ; but whatever +be its origin, the impression of riding along is vivid and +abiding. The poetry of motion is a phrase much in +use, and to enjoy the epic form of that gratification it +is necessary to stand on a hill at a small hour of the +night, and, having first expanded with a sense of differ+ +ence from the mass of civilised mankind, who are +dreamwrapt and disregardful of all such proceedings at +this time, long and quietly watch your stately progress +through the stars. After such a nocturnal reconnoitre +it is hard to get back to earth, and to believe that the +consciousness of such majestic speeding is derived from +a tiny human frame. +Suddenly an unexpected series of sounds began to +

+be heard +in this place up against the sky. They had a +clearness which was to be found nowhere in the wind, +and a sequence which was to be found nowhere in +nature. They were the notes of Farmer Oak's flute. +The tune was not floating unhindered into the open +air : it seemed muffled in some way, and was altogether +too curtailed in power to spread high or wide. It came +from the direction of a small dark object under the +plantation hedge -- a shepherd's hut -- now presenting +an outline to which an uninitiated person might have +been puzzled to attach either meaning or use. +The image as a whole was that of a small Noah's +Ark on a small Ararat, allowing the traditionary outlines +and general form of the Ark which are followed by toy+ +makers -- and by these means are established in men's +imaginations among their firmest, because earliest im+ +pressions -- to pass as an approximate pattern. The +hut stood on little wheels, which raised its floor about a +foot from the ground. Such shepherds' huts are dragged +into the fields when the lambing season comes on, to +shelter the shepherd in his- enforced nightly attendance. +It was only latterly that people had begun to call +Gabriel !Farmer' Oak. During the twelvemonth pre+ +ceding this time he had been enabled by sustained +efforts of industry and chronic good spirits to lease the +small shepp farm of which Norcombe Hill was a portion, +and stock it with two hundred sheep. Previously he +had been a bailiff for a short time, and earlier still a +shepherd only, having from his childhood assisted his +father in tending the floeks of large proprietors, till old +Gabriel sank to rest. +This venture, unaided and alone, into the paths of +farming as master and not as man, with an advance of +sheep not yet paid for, was a critical juncture with +Gabriel Oak, and he recognised his position clearly. +The first movement in his new progress was the lambing +of his ewes, and sheep having been his speciality from +his "youth, he wisely refrained from deputing -- the task +of tending them at this season to a hireling or a novice. +The wind continued to beat-about the corners of the +hut, but the flute-playing ceased. A rectangular space +of light +

+appeared in the side of the hut, and in the +opening the outline of Farmer Oak's figure. He carried +a lantern in his hand, and closing the door behind him, +came forward and busied himself about this nook of the +field for nearly twenty minutes, the lantern light appear+ +ing and disappearing here and there, and brightening +him or darkening him as he stood before or behind it. +Oak's motions, though they had a quiet-energy, were +slow, and their deliberateness accorded well with his +occupation. Fitness being the basis of beauty, nobody +could-have denied that his steady swings and turns" +in and- about the flock had elements of grace, Yet, +although if occasion demanded he could do or think a +thing with as mercurial a dash as can the men of towns +who are more to the manner born, his special power, +morally, physically, and mentally, was static, owing +little or nothing to momentum as a rule. +A close examination of the ground hereabout, even +by the wan starlight only, revealed how a portion of +what would have been casually called a wild slope had +been appropriated by Farmer Oak for his great purpose +this winter. Detached hurdles thatched with straw +were stuck into the ground at various scattered points, +amid and under which the whitish forms of his meek +ewes moved and rustled. The ring of the sheep-bell, +which had been silent during his absence, recommenced, +in tones that had more mellowness than clearness, owing +to an increasing growth of surrounding wool. This +continued till Oak withdrew again from the flock. He + -- returned to the hut, bringing in his arms a new-born +lamb, consisting of four legs large enough for a full+ +grown sheep, united by a seemingly inconsiderable mem+ +brane about half the substance of the legs collectively, +which constituted the animal's entire body just at present. +The little speck of life he placed on a wisp of hay +before the small stove, where a can of milk was simmer+ +ing. Oak extinguished the lantern by blowing into it +and then pinching the snuff, the cot being lighted +by a candle suspended by a twisted wire. A rather +hard couch, formed of a few corn sacks thrown carelessly +down, covered half the floor of this little +

+habitation, and +here the young man stretched himself along, loosened +his woollen cravat, and closed his eyes. In about the +time a person unaccustomed to bodily labour would have +decided upon which side to lie, Farmer Oak was asleep. +The inside of the hut, as it now presented itself, was +cosy and alluring, and the scarlet handful of fire in +addition to the candle, reflecting its own genial colour +upon whatever it could reach, flung associations of +enjoyment even over utensils and tools. In the corner +stood the sheep-crook, and along a shelf at one side +were ranged bottles and canisters of the simple prepara+ +tions pertaining to ovine surgery and physic; spirits of +wine, turpentine, tar, magnesia, ginger, and castor-oil +being the chief. On a triangular shelf across the corner +stood bread, bacon, cheese, and a cup for ale or cider, +which was supplied from a flagon beneath. Beside the +provisions lay the flute whose notes had lately been +called forth by the lonely watcher to beguile a tedious +hour. The house was ventilated by two round holes, +like the lights of a ship's cabin, with wood slides+ +The lamb, revived by the warmth' began to bleat' +instant meaning, as expected sounds will. Passing +from the profoundest sleep to the most alert wakefulness +with the same ease that had accompanied the reverse +operation, he looked at his watch, found that the hour+ +hand had shifted again, put on his hat, took the lamb +in his arms, and carried it into the darkness. After +placing the little creature with its mother, he stood and +carefully examined the sky, to ascertain the time of +night from the altitudes of the stars. +The Dog-star and Aldebaran, pointing to the restless +Pleiades, were half-way up the Southern sky, and between +them hung Orion, which gorgeous constellation never +burnt more vividly than now, as it soared forth above +the rim of the landscape. Castor and Pollux will +the north-west; far away through the plantation Vega +and Cassiopeia's chair stood daintily poised on the +uppermost boughs. +

+"One o'clock,' said Gabriel. +Being a man not without a frequent consciousness +that there was some charm in this life he led, he stood +still after looking at the sky as a useful instrument, and +regarded it in an appreciative spirit, as a work of art +superlatively beautiful. For a moment he seemed +impressed with the speaking loneliness of the scene, or +rather with the complete abstraction from all its compass +of the sights and sounds of man. Human shapes,interferences, +troubles, and joys were all as if they were not, and there +seemed to be on the shaded hemisphere of the globe no sentient being +save himself; he could fancy them all gone round to the sunny side. + Occupied this, with eyes stretched afar, Oak gradually per+ +ceived that what he had previously taken to be a star low +down behind the outskirts of the plantation was in reality no +such thing. It was an artificial light, almost close at hand. + To find themselves utterly alone at night where company +is desirable and expected makes some people fearful; but a +case more trying by far to the nerves is to discover some +mysterious companionship when intuition, sensation, memory, +analogy, testimony, probability, induction -- every kind of +evidence in the logician's list -- have united to persuade con+ +sciousness that it is quite in isolation. + Farmer Oak went towards the plantation and pushed +through its lower boughs to the windy side. A dim mass under +the slope reminded him that a shed occupied a place here, +the site being a cutting into the slope of the hill, so that at +its back part the roof was almost level with the ground. In +front it was formed of board nailed to posts and covered with +tar as apreservative. Through crevices in the roof and side +spread streaks and spots of light, a combination of which made +the radiance that had attracted him. Oak stepped up behind, +where,leaning down upon the roof and putting his eye close +to a hole, he could see into the interior clearly. + The place contained two women and two cows. By the side +of the latter a steaming bran-mash stood in a bucket. One +of the women was past middle age. Her companion was ap+ +parently young and graceful; he could form no decided opinion +

+upon her looks, her position being almost beneath his eye, so +that he saw her in a bird's-eye view, as Milton's Satan first saw +Paradise. She wore no bonnet or het, but had enveloped her+ +self in a large cloak, which was carelessly flung over her head +as a covering. + "There, now we'll go home," said the elder of the two, resting + her knuckles upon her hips, and looking at their goings-on as +a whole. "I do hope Daisy will fetch round again now. I have +never been more frightened in my life, but I don't mind break+ +ing my rest if she recovers." + The young woman, whose eyelids were apparently inclined +to fall together on the smallest provocation of silence,yawned +in sympathy. + "I wish we were rich enough to pay a man to do these +things," she said. + "As we are not, we must do them ourselves," said the other; +"for you must help me if you stay." +"Well, my hat is gone, however," continued the younger. "It +went over the hedge, I think. The idea of such a slight wind +catching it." + The cow standing erect was of the Devon breed, and was +encased in a tight warm hide of rich Indian red, as absolutely +uniform from eyes to tail as if the animal had been dipped in +a dye of that colour, her long back being mathematically level. +The other was spotted,grey and white. Beside her Oak now +noticed a little calf about a day old, looking idiotically at +the two women, which showed that it had not long been +accustomed to the phenomenon of eyesight, and often turn+ +ing to the lantern, which it apparently mistook for the moon. +inherited instinct having as yet had little time for correction +by experience. Between the sheep and the cows Lucina had +been busy on Norcombe hill lately. + "I think we had better send for some oatmeal," said the +"Yes, aunt; and I'll ride over for it as soon as it is +light. ' +" But there's no side-saddle.' +

+"I can ride on the other : trust me.' +Oak, upon hearing these remarks, became more +curious to observe her features, but this prospect being +denied him by the hooding efect of the cloak, and by his +aerial position, he felt himself drawing upon his fancy +for their details. In making even horizontal and clear +inspections we colour and mould according to the warts +within us whatever our eyes bring in. Had Gabriel +been able from the first to get a distinct view of her + +countenance, his estimate of it as very handsome or +slightly so would have been as his soul required a +divinity at the moment or was ready supplied with one. +Having for some time known the want of a satisfactory +form to fill an increasing void within him, his position +moreover affording the widest scope for his fancy, he +painted her a beauty. +By one of those whimsical coincidences in which +Nature, like a busy mother, seems to spare a moment +from her unremitting labours to turn and make her +children smile, the girl now dropped the cloak, and +forth tumbled ropes of black hair over a red jacket. +Oak knew her instantly as the heroine of the yellow +waggon, myrtles, and looking-glass : prosily, as the +woman who owed him twopence. +They placed the calf beside its mother again, took +up the lantern, and went out, the light sinking down +the hill till it was no more than a nebula. Gabriel +Oak returned to his flock. + +

+A GIRL ON HORSEBACK -- CONVERSATION +THE sluggish day began to break. Even its position +terrestrially is one of the elements of a new interest, +and for no particular reason save that the incident of +the night had occurred there, Oak went again into +the plantation. Lingering and musing here, he heard +the steps of a horse at the foot of the hill, and soon +there appeared in view an auburn pony with a girl on +its back, ascending by the path leading past the cattle+ +shed. She was the young woman of the night before. +Gabriel instantly thought of the hat she had mentioned +as having lost in the wind; possibly she had come to +look for it. He hastily scanned the ditch and after +walking about ten yards along it, found the hat among the +leaves. Gabriel took it in his hand and returned to his +hut. Here he ensconced himself, and peeped through +the loophole in the direction of the riders approach. +She came up and looked around -- then on the other +side of the hedge. Gabriel was about to advance and +restore the missing article when an unexpected per+ +formance induced him to suspend the action for the +present. The path, after passing the cowshed, bisected +the plantation. It was not a bridle-path -- merely a +pedestrian's track, and the boughs spread horizontally +at a height not greater than seven feet above the ground, +which made it impossible to ride erect beneath them. +The girl, who wore no riding-habit, looked around for +a moment, as if to assure herself that all humanity was +out of view, then dexterously dropped backwards flat +upon the pony's back, her head over its tail, her feet +against its shoulders, and her eyes to the sky. The +rapidity of her glide into this position was that of a +kingfisher -- its noiselessness that of a hawk. Gabriel's +eyes had scarcely been able to follow her. The tall lank +pony seemed used to such doings, and ambled +

+along unconcerned. Thus she passed under the level boughs. +The performer seemed quite at home anywhere +between a horse's head and its tail, and the necessity +for this abnormal attitude having ceased with the +passage of the plantation, she began to adopt another, +even more obviously convenient than the first. She had +no side-saddle, and it was very apparent that a firm +seat upon the smooth leather beneath her was un+ +attainable sideways. Springing to her accustomed +perpendicular like a bowed sapling, and satisfying her, +self that nobody was in sight, she seated herself in the +manner demanded by the saddle, though hardly expected +of the woman, and trotted off in the direction of Tewnell +Mill. +Oak was amused, perhaps a little astonished, and +hanging up the hat in his hut, went again among his +ewes. An hour passed, the girl returned, properly +seated now, with a bag of bran in front of her. On +nearing the cattle-shed she was met by a boy bringing +a milking-pail, who held the reins of the pony whilst +she slid off. The boy led away the horse, leaving the +pail with the young woman. +Soon soft spirts alternating with loud spirts came +in regular succession from within the shed, the obvious +sounds of a person milking a cow. Gabriel took the +lost hat in his hand, and waited beside the path she +would follow in leaving the hill. +She came, the pail in one hand, hanging against her +knee. The left arm was extended as a balance, enough +of it being shown bare to make Oak wish that the event +ha happened in the summer, when the whole would +have been revealed. There was a bright air and manner +about her now, by which she seemed to imply that the +desirability of her existence could not be questioned; +and this rather saucy assumption failed in being offensive, +because a beholder felt it to be, upon the whole, true. +Like exceptional emphasis in the tone of a genius, that +which would have made mediocrity ridiculous was an +addition to recognised power. It was with some +surprise that she saw Gabriel's face rising like the +moon behind the hedge. +The adjustment of the farmer's hazy conceptions of +her +

+charms to the portrait of herself she now presented +him with was less a diminuition than a difference. The +starting-point selected by the judgment was. her height +She seemed tall, but the pail was a small one, and the +hedge diminutive; hence, making allowance for error +by comparison with these, she could have been not +above the height to be chosen by women as best. All +features of consequence were severe and regular. It +may have been observed by persons who go about the +shires with eyes for beauty, that in Englishwoman a +classically-formed face is seldom found to be united +with a figure of the same pattern, the highly-finished +features being generally too large for the remainder of +the frame ; that a graceful and proportionate figure of +eight heads usually goes off into random facial curves. +Without throwing a Nymphean tissue over a milkmaid, +let it be said that here criticism checked itself as out +of place, and looked at her proportions with a long +consciousness of pleasure. From the contours of her +figure in its upper part, she must have had a beautiful +neek and shoulders ; but since her infancy nobody had +ever seen them. Had she been put into a low dress +she would have run and thrust her head into a bush. +Yet she was not a shy girl by any means; it was merely +her instinct to draw the line dividing the seen from the +unseen higher than they do it in towns. +That the girl's thoughts hovered about her face +and form as soon as she caught Oak's eyes conning the +same page was natural, and almost certain. The self+ +consciousness shown would have been vanity if a little +more pronounced, dignity if a little less. Rays of male +vision seem to have a tickling effect upon virgin faces +in rural districts ; she brushed hers with her hand, as if +Gabriel had been irritating its pink surface by actual +touch, and the free air of her previous movements was +reduced at the same time to a chastened phase of +itself. Yet it was the man who blushed, the maid not +at all. +" I found a hat,' said Oak. +" It is mine,' said she, and, from a sense of proportion, +kept down to a small smile an inclination to laugh dis+ +tinctly : "it flew away last night.' +" One o'clock this morning ? ' +

+" Well -- it was.' She was surprised. " How did you +know ? ' she said. +" I was here.' +" You are Farmer Oak, are you not ? ' +" That or thereabouts. I'm lately come to this place.' +" A large farm ? ' she inquired, casting her eyes round, +and swinging back her hair, which was black in the +shaded hollows of its mass; but it being now an hour +past sunrise, the rays touched its prominent curves with +a colour of their own. +" No ; not large. About a hundred.' (In speaking +of farms the word "acres ' is omitted by the natives, by +analogy to such old expressions as "a stag of ten.') +' "I wanted my hat this morning,' she went on. +had to ride to Tewnell Mill.' +"Yes you had.' +"How do you know?' +"I saw you! +"Where?' she inquired, a misgiving bringing every +muscle of her lineaments and frame to a standstill. +"Here-going through the plantation, and all down +the hill,' said Farmer Oak, with an aspect excessively +knowing with regard to some matter in his mind, as he +gazed at a remote point in the direction named, and then +turned back to meet his colloquist's eyes. +A perception caused him to withdraw his own eyes +from hers as suddenly as if he had been caught in a +theft. Recollection of the strange antics she had +indulged in when passing through the trees, was suc+ +ceeded in the girl by a nettled palpitation, and that' by +a hot face. It was a time to see a woman redden who +was not given to reddening s a rule; not a point in +the milkmaid but was of the deepest rose-colour. From +the Maiden's Blush, through all varieties of the Provence +down to the Crimson Tuscany, the countenance of Oak's +acquaintance quickly graduated ; whereupon he, in con+ +siderateness, turned away his head. +The sympathetic man still looked the other way, and +wondered when she would recover coolness sufficient to +justify him in facing her again. He heard what seemed +to be the flitting of a +

+dead leaf upon the breeze, and +looked. She had gone away. +With an air between that of Tragedy and Comedy ! +Gabriel returned to his work. +Five mornings and evenings passed. The young +woman came regularly to milk the healthy cow or to +attend to the sick one, but never allowed her vision to +stray in the direction of Oak's person. His want of +tact had deeply offended her -- not by seeing what he +could not help, but by letting her know that he had +seen it. For, as without law there is no sin, without +eyes there is no indecorum; and she appeared to feel +that Gabriel's espial had made her an indecorous woman +without her own connivance. It was food for great regret +with him; it was also a contretemps which touched into +life a latent heat he had experienced in that direction. +The acquaintanceship might, however, have ended in +a slow forgetting, but for an incident which occurred at +the end of the same week. One afternoon it began to +freeze, and the frost increased with evening, which drew +on like a stealthy tightening of bonds. It was a time +when in cottages the breath of the sleepers freezes to +the sheets; when round the drawing-room fire of a +thick-walled mansion the sitters' backs are cold, even +whilst their faces are all aglow. Many a small bird went +to bed supperless that night among the bare boughs. +As the milking-hour drew near, Oak kept his usual +watch upon the cowshed. At last he felt cold, and +shaking an extra quantity of bedding round the yeaning +ewes he entered the hut and heaped more fuel upon +the stove. The wind came in at the bottom of the door, +and to prevent it Oak laid a sack there and wheeled the +cot round a little more to the south. Then the wind +spouted in at a ventilating hole -- of which there was one +on each side of the hut. +Gabriel had always known that when the fire was +lighted and the door closed one of these must be kept +open -- that chosen being always on the side away from +the wind. Closing the slide to windward, he turned to +open the other; on second -- -thoughts the farmer con+ +sidered that he would first sit down leaving both +closed for a minute or two, till the temperature of the +hut was a little raised. He sat down. +

+His head began to ache in an unwonted manner, and, +fancying himself weary by reason of the broken rests of +the preceding nights, Oak decided to get up, open the +slide, and then allow himself to fall asleep. He fell +asleep, however, without having performed the necessary +preliminary. +How long he remained unconseious Gabriel never +knew. During the first stages of his return to percep+ +tion peculiar deeds seemed to be in course of enactment. +His dog was howling, his head was aching fearfully -- +somebody was pulling him about, hands were loosening +his neckerchief. +On opening his eyes he found that evening had sunk +to dusk in a strange manner of unexpectedness. The +young girl with the remarkably pleasant lips and white +teeth was beside him. More than this -- astonishingly +more -- his head was upon her lap, his face and neck +were disagreeably wet, and her fingers were unbuttoning +his collar. +"Whatever is the matter?' said Oak, vacantly. +She seemed to experience mirth, but of too insignifi+ +cant a kind to start enjoyment. +"Nothing now', she answered, "since you are not +dead It is a wonder you were not,suffocated in this +hut of yours.' +"Ah, the hut ! ' murmured Gabriel. "I gave ten +pounds for that hut. But I'll sell it, and sit under +thatched hurdles as they did in old times, curl up +to sleep in a lock of straw! It played me nearly the +same trick the other day .! ' Gabriel, by way of emphasis, +brought down his fist upon the floor. +"It was not exactly the fault of the hut,' she ob+ +served in a tone which showed her to be that novelty +among women -- one who finished a thought before +beginning the sentence which was to convey it. " You +should I think, have considered, and not have been so +foolish as to leave the slides closed.' +"Yes I suppose I should,' said Oak, absently. He +was endeavouring to catch and appreciate the sensation +of being thus with her, his head upon her dress, before +the event passed on into the heap of bygone things. +He wished she knew his impressions ; but he would as +soon have thought of carrying an odour in a net as of +attempting to convey the intangibilities +

+of his feeling +in the coarse meshes of language. So he remained +silent. +She made him sit up, and then Oak began wiping +his face and shaking himself like a Samson. "How +can I thank 'ee ? ' he said at last, gratefully, some of the +natural rusty red having returned to his face. + " Oh, never mind that,' said the girl, smiling, and +allowing her smile to hold good for Gabriel's next +remark, whatever that might prove to be. +"How did you find me?" +"I heard your dog howling and scratching at the +door of the hut when I came to the milking (it was so +lucky, Daisy's milking is almost over for the season, and + I shall not come here after this week or the next). The +dog saw me, and jumped over to me, and laid hold of +my skirt. I came across and looked round the hut the +very first thing to see if the slides were closed. My +uncle has a hut like this one, and I have heard him tell +his shepherd not to go to sleep without leaving a slide +open. I opened the door, and there you were like +dead. I threw the milk over you, as there was no +water, forgetting it was warm, and no use.' +"I wonder if I should have died ? ' Gabriel said, in a +low voice, which was rather meant to travel back to +himself than to her. +"O no," the girl replied. She seemed to prefer a +less tragic probability ; to have saved a man from death +'involved talk that should harmonise with the dignity of +such a deed -- and she shunned it. +"I believe you saved my life, Miss -- -- I don!t know +your name. I know your aunt's, but not yours.' +" I would just as soon not tell it -- rather not. There +is no reason either why I should, as you probably will +never have much to do with me.' + " Still, I should like to know.' +" You can inquire at my aunt's -- she will tell you.' +'My name is Gabriel Oak.' +"And mine isn't. You seem fond of yours in +speaking it so decisively, Gabriel Oak.' +

+" You see, it is the only one I shall ever have, and I +must make the most of it.' +" I always think mine sounds odd and disagreeable.' +"I should think you might soon get a new one.' +"Mercy ! -- how many opinions you keep about you +concerning other people, Gabriel Oak. +"Well Miss-excuse the words-I thought you +would like them But I can't match you I know in +napping out my mind upon my tongue. I never was +very clever in my inside. But I thank you. Come +give me your hand!' +She hesitated, somewhat disconcerted at Oak's old+ +fashioned earnest conclusion. to a dialogue lightly +carried on."Very well,' she said, and gave him her +hand, compressing her lips to a demure impassivity. +He held it but an instant, and in his fear of being too +demonstrative, swerved to the opposite extreme, touching +her fingers with the lightness of a small-hearted person. +" I am sorry,' he said, the instant after. +" What for?' +"You may have it again if you like; there it is.' +She gave him her hand again. +Oak held it longer this time -- indeed, curiously long. +"How soft it is -- being winter time, too -- not chapped +or rough or anything!' he said. +"There -- that's long enough,' said she, though with+ +out pulling it away "But I suppose you are thinking +you would like to kiss it? You may if you want to.' +"I wasn't thinking of any such thing,' said Gabriel, +simply ; "but I will' +"That you won't!' She snatched back her hand. +Gabriel felt himself guilty of another want of tact. +"Now find out my name,' she said, teasingly; and +withdrew. + +

+GABRIEL'S RESOLVE -- THE VISIT -- THE MISTAKE +THE only superiority in women that is tolerable to the +rival sex is, as a rule, that of the unconscious kind ; but +a superiority which recognizes itself may sometimes +please by suggesting possibilities of capture to the +subordinated man. +This well-favoured and comely girl soon made appre+ +ciable inroads upon the emotional constitution of young +Farmer Oak. +Love, being an extremely exacting usurer (a sense of +exorbitant profit, spiritually, by an exchange of hearts, +being at the bottom of pure passions, as that of exorbi+ +tant profit, bodily or materially, is at the bottom of +those of lower atmosphere), every morning Oak's feelings +were as sensitive as the money-market in calculations +upon his chances. His dog waited for his meals in a +way so like that in which Oak waited for the girl's +presence, that the farmer was quite struck with the +resemblance, felt it lowering, and would not look at the +dog. However, he continued to watch through the +hedge for her regular coming, and thus his sentiments +towards her were ideepened without any corresponding +effect being produced upon herself. Oak had nothing +finished and ready to say as yet, and not being able +to frame love phrases which end where they begin ; +passionate tales -- + + -- -Full of sound and fury + -- -signifting nothing -- + +he said no word at all. +By making inquiries he found that the girl's name +was Bathsheba Everdene, and that the cow would go +dry in about seven days. He dreaded the eight day. +At last the eighth day came. The cow had ceased +to give milk for that year, and Bathsheba Everdene +came up the hill no more. Gabriel had reached a +pitch of existence he never +

+could have anticipated a +short time before. He liked saying 'Bathsheba' as a +private enjoyment instead of whistling; turned over his +taste to black hair, though he had sworn by brown ever +since he was a boy, isolated himself till the space he +filled in a possible strength in an actual weakness. Marriage +transforms a distraction into a support, the power of +which should be, and happily often is, in direct pro+ +portion to the degree of imbecility it supplants. Oak +began now to see light in this direction, and said to +himself, "I'll make her my wife, or upon my soul I shall +be good for nothing .! ' +All this while he was perplexing himself about an +errand on which he might consistently visit the cottage +of Bathsheba's aunt. +He found his opportunity in the death of a ewe, +mother of a living lamb. On a day which had a +summer face and a winter constitution-a fine January +morning, when there was just enough blue sky visible to +make cheerfully-disposed people wish for more, and an +occasional gleam of silvery sunshine, Oak put the lamb +into a respectable Sunday basket, and stalked across the +fields to the house of Mrs. Hurst, the aunt -- George, +the dog walking behind, with a countenance of great +concern at the serious turn pastoral affairs seemed to be +taking. +Gabriel had watched the blue wood-smoke curling +from the chimney with strange meditation. At evening +he had fancifully traced it down the chimney to the +spot of its origin -- seen the hearth and Bathsheba +beside it -- beside it in her out-door dress; for the +clothes she had worn on the hill were by association +equally with her person included in the compass of his +affection; they seemed at this early time of his love a +necessary ingredient of the sweet mixture called Bath+ +sheba Everdene. +He had made a toilet of a nicely-adjusted kind -- of a +nature between the carefully neat and the carelessly +ornate -- of a degree between fine-market-day and wet+ +Sunday selection. He thoroughly cleaned his silver +watch-chain with whiting, put new lacing straps to his +boots, looked to the brass eyelet-holes, +

+ went to the +inmost heart of the plantation for a new walking-stick, +and trimmed it vigorously on his way back; took a new +handkerchief from the bottom of his clothes-box, put +on the light waistcoat patterned all over with sprigs +of an elegant flower uniting the beauties of both rose +and lily without the defects of either, and used all the +hair-oil he possessed upon his usually dry, sandy, and +inextricably curly hair, till he had deepened it to a +splendidly novel colour, between that of guano and +Roman cement, making it stick to his head like mace +round a nutmeg, or wet seaweed round a boulder after +the ebb. +Nothing disturbed the stillness of the cottage save + the chatter of a knot of sparrows on the eaves; one +might fancy scandal and rumour to be no less the +staple topic of these little coteries on roofs than of +those under them. It seemed that the omen was an +unpropitious one, for, as the rather untoward commence+ +ment of Oak's overtures, just as he arrived by the garden +gate, he saw a cat inside, going into various arched shapes +and fiendish convulsions at the sight of his dog George. +The dog took no notice , for he had arrived at an age +at which all superfluous barking was cynically avoided +as a waste of breath -- -in fact he never barked even +at the sheep except to order, when it was done with +an absolutely neutral countenance, as a sort of Com+ +mination-service, which, though offensive, had to be +gone through once now and then to frighten the flock +for their own good. +A voice came from behind some laurel-bushes into +which the cat had run: +"Poor dear! Did a nasty brute of a dog want to +kill it; -- did he poor dear !' +"I beg your pardon,' said Oak to the voice, 'but +George was walking on behind me with a temper as +mild as milk.' +Almost before he had ceased speaking, Oak was +seized with a misgiving as to whose ear was the recipient +of his answer. Nobody appeared, and he heard the +person retreat among the bushes. +Gabriel meditated, and so deeply that he brought +small furrows into his forehead by sheer force of +reverie. Where the +

+issue of an interview is as likely +to be a vast change for the worse as for the better, +any initial difference from expectation causes nipping +sensations of failure. Oak went up to the door a little +abashed : his mental rehearsal and the reality had had +no common grounds of opening. +Bathsheba's aunt was indoors. " Will you tell Miss +Everdene that somebody would be glad to speak to +her ?'said Mr. Oak. (Calling one's self merely Some+ +body, without giving a name, is not to be taken as +an example of the ill-breeding of the rural world: it +springs from a refined modesty, of which townspeople, +with their cards and announcements, have no notion +whatever.) +Bathsheba was out. The voice had evidently been +hers. +" Will you come in, Mr. Oak ? ' +"Oh, thank 'ee, said Gabriel, following her to the +fireplace. "I've brought a lamb for Miss Everdene. +I thought she might like one to rear; girls do.' +" She might,' said Mrs. Hurst, musingly ; " though +she's only a visitor here. If you will wait a minute, +Bathsheba will be in.' +" Yes, I will wait,' said Gabriel, sitting down. " The +lamb isn't really the business I came about, Mrs. Hurst. +In short, I was going to ask her if she'd like to be +married.' +"And were you indeed ?' +" Yes. Because if she would, I should be very glad +to marry her. D'ye know if she's got any other young +man hanging about her at all ?' +"Let me think," said Mrs. Hurst, poking the fire +superfluously.... " Yes -- bless you, ever so many young +men. You see, Farmer Oak, she's so good-looking, and +an excellent scholar besides -- she was going to be a +governess once, you know, only she was too wild. Not +that her young men ever come here -- but, Lord, in the +nature of women, she must have a dozen ! ' +" That's unfortunate,' said Farmer Oak, contemplating +a crack in the stone floor with sorrow. "I'm only an +every-day sort of man, and my only chance was in being +the first comer... , Well, there's no use in my waiting, +for that was all I came about: so I'll take myself off +home-along, Mrs. Hurst.' +When Gabriel had gone about two hundred yards +along the +

+down, he heard a "hoi-hoi .! " uttered behind +him, in a piping note of more treble quality than that +in which the exclamation usually embodies itself when +shouted across a field. He looked round, and saw a girl +racing after him, waving a white handkerchief. +Oak stood still -- and the runner drew nearer. It was +Bathsheba Everdene. Gabriel's colour deepened: hers +was already deep, not, as it appeared, from emotion, +but from running. +"Farmer Oak -- I -- ' she said, pausing for want of +breath pulling up in front of him with a slanted face +and putting her hand to her side. +"I have just called to see you ' said Gabriel, pending +her further speech. +"Yes-I know that,! she said panting like a robin, +her face red and moist from her exertions, like a peony +petal before the sun dries off the dew. "I didn't know +you had come to ask to have me, or I should have come +in from the garden instantly. I ran after you to say -- +that my aunt made a mistake in sending you away from +courting me -- -- -- ' +Gabriel expanded."I'm sorry to have made you +run so fast, my dear,' he said, with a grateful sense of +favours to come. "Wait a bit till you've found your +breath.' +" -- It was quite a mistake-aunt's telling you I had +a young man "already,'- Bathsheba went on. " I haven't +a sweetheart at all -- and I never had one, and I thought +that, as times go with women, it was such a pity to send +you away thinking that I had several.' +"Really and truly I am glad to hear that.!' said .= +Farmer Oak, smiling one of his long special smiles, and +blushing with gladness. He held out his hand to take +hers, which, when she had eased her side by pressing +it there, was prettily extended upon her bosom to still +her loud-beating heart. Directly he seized it she put +it behind her, so that it slipped through his fingers like +an eel. " +"I have a nice snug little farm,' said Gabriel, with +half a degree less assurance than when he had seized +her hand. +"Yes ; you have.' +"A man has advanced me money to begin with, but +still, it +

+will soon be paid off and though I am only an +every-day sort of man, I have got on a little since I was +a boy.' Gabriel uttered "a little' in a tone to-show +her that it was the complacent form of "a great deal.' +He continued : " When we be married, I am quite sure +I can work twice as hard as I do now.' + He went forward and stretched out his arm again. +Bathsheba had overtaken him at a point beside which +stood a low stunted holly bush, now laden with red +berries. Seeing his advance take the form of an attitude +threatening a possible enclosure, if not compression, of +her person, she edged off round the bush. +" Why, Farmer Oak,' she said, over the top, looking +at him with rounded eyes, "I never said I was going to +marry you.' +" Well -- that is a tale .! ' said Oak, with dismay. " To +run after anybody like this, and then say you don"t +want him ! ' +"What I meant to tell you was only this,' she said +eagerly, and yet half conscious of the absurdity of the +position she had made for herself -- "that nobody has +got me yet as a sweetheart, instead of my having a +dozen, as my aunt said; I hate to be thought men's +property in that way, though possibly I shall be had +some day. Why, if I'd wanted you I shouldn't have +run after you like this ; 'twould have'been the forwardest +thing ! But there was no harm in 'hurrying to correct +a piece of false news that had been told you.' +"Oh, no -- no harm at all." But there is such a thing +as being too generous in expressing a judgment impuls+ +ively, and Oak added with a more appreciative sense +of all the circumstances -- ' Well, I am not quite certain +it was no harm.' +"Indeed, I hadn't time to think before starting +whether I wanted to marry or not, for you'd have been +gone over the hill.' +" Come,' said Gabriel, freshening again ; "think a +minute or two. I'll wait a while, Miss Everdene. Will +you marry me? Do, Bathsheba. I love you far more +than common!' +"I'll try to think,' she observed, rather more timor+ +ously ; "if I can think out of doors; my mind spreads +away so.' +"But you can give a guess.' +

+"Then give me time.' Bathsheba looked thought+ +fully into the distance, away from the direction in which +Gabriel stood. +"I can make you happy,' said he to the back of her +head, across the bush. "You shallo have as piano in a +year or two -- -farmers' wives are getting to have pianos +now -- and I'll practise up the flute right well to play +with you in the evenings.' +" Yes ; I should like that.' +"And have one of those little ten-pound" gigs for +market -- and nice flowers, and birds -- cocks and hens +I mean, because they be useful,' continued Gabriel, +feeling balanced between poetry and practicality. +"I should like it very much.' +"And a frame for cucumbers -- like a gentlman and +lady.' +"Yes.' +"And when the wedding was over, we'd have it put +in the newspaper list of marriages.' +" Dearly I should like that ! ' +"And the babies in the births -- every man jack of +'em! And at home by the fire, whenever you look up, +there I shall be -- and whenever I look up' there will +be you.' +"Wait wait and don't be improper .!' +Her countenance fell, and she was silent awhile. +He regarded the red berries between them over and +over again, to such an extent, that holly seemed in +his after life to be a cypher signifying a proposal of +marriage. Bathsheba decisively turned to him. +"No;' 'tis no use,' she said. 'I don't want to marry +you. ' +' Try.' +"I have tried hard all the time I've been thinking; +for a marriage would be very nice in one sense. +People would talk about me, and think I had won my +battle, and I should feel triumphant, and' all that, +But a husband -- -- ' - + +" Well .! ' +" Why, he'd always be there, as you say; whenever +I looked up, there he'd be.' +" Of course he would -- I, that is.' +

+" Well, what I mean is that I shouldn't mind being +a bride at a wedding, if I could be one without having +a husband. But since a woman can't show off in that +way by herself, I shan't marry -- at least yet.' +' That's a terrible wooden story.' +At this criticism of her statement Bathsheba made +an addition to her dignity by a slight sweep away +from him. +"Upon my heart and soul, I don't know what a +maid can say stupider than that,' said Oak. "But +dearest,' he continued in a palliative voice, "don't be +like it !.' Oak sighed a deep honest sigh -- none the +less so in that, being like the sigh of a pine plantation, +it was rather noticeable as a disturbance of the atmo+ +sphere. " Why won't you have me ? ' he appealed, +creeping round the holly to reach her side. +" I cannot,' she said, retreating. +"But why ?' he persisted, standing still at last in +despair of ever reaching her, and facing over the +bush. +' Because I don't love you.' +" Yes, but -- -- ' +She contracted a yawn to an inoffensive smallness, +so that it was hardly ill-mannered at all. "I don't love +you,' she said.' +"But I love you -- and, as for myself, I am content +to be liked.' +" O Mr. Oak -- that's very fine ! You'd get to +despise me.' +"Never,' said Mr Oak, so earnestly that he seemed +to be coming, by the forceof his words, straight +through the bush and into her arms. "I shall do one +thing in this life -- one thing certain -- that is, love you, +and long for you, and keep wanting you till I die.' His +voice had a genuine pathos now, and his large brown +hands perceptibly trembled. +"It seems dreadfully wrong not to have you when +you feel so much!' she said with a little distress, and +looking hopeleely around for some means of escape +from her moral dilemma. " H(ow I wish I hadn't run +after you!' However she seemed to have a short cut +for getting back to cheerfulness, and set her face to +signify archness. "It wouldn't do, Mr Oak. I want +somebody to tame me; I am too independent ; and +you would never be able to, I know.' +

+Oak cast his eyes down the field in a way implying +that it was useless to attempt argument. +" Mr. Oak,' she said, with luminous distinctness and +common sense, " you are better off than I. I have +hardly a penny in the world -- I am staying with my +aunt for my bare sustenance. I am better educated +than you -- and I don't love you a bit: that's my side +of the case. Now yours: you are a farmer just begin+ +ing; and you ought in common prudence, if you marry +at all (which you should certainly not think of doing +at present) to marry a woman with money, who would +admiration. +"That's the very thing I had been thinking myself !' +he naively said. +Farmer Oak had one-and-a-half Christian character +istics too many to succeed with Bathsheba : his humility, +and a superfluous moiety of honesty. Bathsheba was +decidedly disconcerted, +"Well, then, why did you come and disturb me?' +she said, almost angrily, if not quite, an enlarging red +spot rising in each cheek. +" I can't do what I think would be -- would be -- -- ' +" Right ? ' +" No : wise.' +" You have made an admission now, Mr. Oak,' she +exclaimed, with even more hauteur, and rocking her +head disdainfully. 'After that, do you think I could +marry you? Not if I know it.' +He broke in passionately ! "But don't mistake me +like that! Because I am open enough to own what +every man in my shoes would have thought of, you +make your colours come up your face, and get crabbed +with me. That about your not being good enough for +me is nonsense. You speak like a lady -- all the parish +notice it, and your uncle at Weatherbury is, I have +heerd, a large farmer -- much larger than ever I shall +be. May I call in the evening, or will you walk along +with me o' Sundays? I don't want you to make-up +your mind at once, if you'd rather not.' +

+" No -- no -- I cannot. Don't press me any more -- +don't. I don't love you -- so 'twould be ridiculous,' +she said, with a laugh. +No man likes to see his emotions the sport of a +merry-go-round of skittishness. " Very well,' said Oak, +firmly, with the bearing of one who was going to give ' +his days and nights to Ecclesiastes for ever. "Then +I'll ask you no more.' + +

+DEPARTURE OF BATHSHEBA -- A PASTORAL TRAGEDY +THE news which one day reached Gabriel, that Bath+ +sheba Everdene had left the neighbourhood, had an +influence upon him which might have surprised any +who never suspected that the more emphatic the renun+ +ciation the less absolute its character. +It may have been observed that there is no regula +path for getting out of love as there is for getting in. +Some people look upon marriage as a short cut that way, +but it has been known to fail. Separation, which was +the means that chance offered to Gabriel Oak by +Bathsheba's disappearance though effectual with people +of certain humours is apt to idealise the removcd object +with others -- notably those whose affection, placid and +regular as it may be flows deep and long. Oak belonged +to the even-tempered order of humanity, and felt the +secret fusion of himself in Bathsheba to be burning with +a finer flame now that she was gone -- that was all. +His incipient friendship with her aunt-had been +nipped by the failure of his suit, and all that Oak learnt +of Bathsheba's movements was done indirectly. It ap+ +peared that she had gone to a place called Weatherbury, +more than twenty miles off, but in what capacity -- +whether as a visitor, or permanently, he could not +discover. +Gabriel had two dogs. George, the elder, exhibited +an ebony-tipped nose, surrounded by a narrow margin +of pink flesh, and a coat marked in random splotches +approximating in colour to white and slaty grey ; but the +grey, after years of sun and rain, had been scorched and +washed out of the more prominent locks, leaving them +of a reddish-brown, as if the blue component of the grey +had faded, like the indigo from the same kind of colour in +Turner's pictures. In substance it had originally been +hair, but long contact with sheep seemed +

+to be turning +it by degrees into wool of a poor quality and staple. +This dog had originally belonged to a shepherd of +inferior morals and dreadful temper, and the result was +that George knew the exact degrees of condemnation +signified by cursing and swearing of all descriptions +better than the wickedest old man in the neighbourhood. +Long experience had so precisely taught the animal the +difference between such exclamations as 'Come in .! ' +and 'D -- -- ye, come in !.' that he knew to a hair's +breadth the rate of trotting back from the ewes' tails +that each call involved, if a staggerer with the sheep +crook was to be escaped. Though old, he was clever +and trustworthy still. +The young dog, George's son, might possibly have +been the image of his mother, for there was not much +resemblance between him and George. He was learn+ +ing the sheep-keeping business, so as to follow on at +the flock when the other should die, but had got no +further than the rudiments as yet -- still finding an +insuperable difculty in distinguishing between doing a +thing well enough and doing it too well. So earnest +and yet so wrong-headed was this young dog (he had no, +name in particular, and answered with perfect readiness +to any pleasant interjection), that if sent behind the +flock to help them on, he did it so thoroughly that he +would have chased them across the whole county with +the greatest pleasure if not called off or reminded when +to step by the example of old George. +Thus much for the dogs. On the further side of +Norcombe Hill was a chalk-pit, from which chalk had +been drawn for generations, and spread over adjacent +farms. Two hcdges converged upon it in the form of +a V, but without quite meeting. The narrow opening +left, which was immediately over the brow of the pit, +was protected by a rough railing. +One night, when Farmer Oak had returned to, his +house, believing there would be no further necessity for +his attendance on the down, he called as usual to the +dogs, previously to shutting them up in the outhouse till +next morning. Only one responded -- old George ; the +other-could not be found, either in the house, lane, or +garden. - Gabriel then remembered +

+that he had left the +two dogs on the hill eating a dead lamb (a kind of meat +he usually kept from them, except when other food-ran +finished his meal, he went indoors to the luxury of a bed, +which latterly he had only enjoyed on Sundays. +It was a still, moist night. Just before dawn he was +assisted in waking by the abnormal reverberation of +familiar music. To the shepherd, the note of the sheep' +chronic sound that only makes itself noticed by ceasing +ever distant, that all is well in the fold. In the solemn +This exceptional ringing may be caused in two ways -- + +by the rapid feeding of the sheep bearing the bell, as +when the flock breaks into new pasture, which gives it +an intermittent rapidity, or by the sheep starting off in +a run, when the sound has a regular palpitation. The +experieced ear of Oak knew the sound he now' heard +to be caused by the running of the flock with great +velocity. +He jumped out of bed, dressed, tore down the lane +through a foggy dawn, and ascended the hill. The +forward ewes were kept apart from those among which +the fall of lambs would be later, there being two hundred +of the latter class in Gabriel's flock. These two hundred +seemed to have absolutely vanished from the hill. There +were the fifty with their lambs, enclosed at the other end +as he had left them, but the rest, forming the bulk of +the flock, were nowhere. Gabriel called at the top of +his voice the shepherd's call. +" Ovey, ovey, ovey .! ' +Not a single bleat. He went to the hedge -- a gap +had been broken through it, and in the gap were the +footprints of the sheep. Rather surprised to find +them break fence at this season, yet putting it down +instantly to their great fondness for ivy in winter-time, +of which a great deal grew in the plantation, he followed +through the hedge. They were not in the plantation. +He called again : the valleys and farthest hills +

+resounded +as when the sailors invoked the lost Hylas on the Mysian +shore ; but no sheep. He passed through the trees and +along the ridge of the hill. On the extreme summit, +where the ends of the two converging hedges of which +we have spoken were stopped short by meeting the brow +of the chalk-pit, he saw the younger dog standing against +the sky -- dark and motionless as Napoleon at St. +Helena. +A horrible conviction darted through Oak. With +a sensation of bodily faintness he advanced : at one +point the rails were broken through, and there he saw +the footprints of his ewes. The dog came up, licked +his hand, and made signs implying that he expected +some great reward for signal services rendered. Oak +looked over the precipice. The ewes lay dead and dying +at its foot -- a heap of two hundred mangled careases, +representing in their condition just now at least two +hundred more. +Oak was an intensely humane man: indeed, his +humanity often tore in pieces any politic intentions of +his which bordered on strategy, and carried him on as +by gravitation. A shadow in his life had always been +that his flock ended in mutton -- that a day came and +found every shepherd an arrant traitor to his defenceless +sheep. His first feeling now was one of pity for the +untimely fate of these gentle ewes and their unborn +lambs. +It was a second to remember another phase of the +matter. The sheep were not insured. All the savings +of a frugal life had been dispersed at a blow ; his hopes +of being an independent farmer were laid low -- possibly +for ever. Gabriel's energies, patience, and industry had +been so severely taxed during the years of his life between +eighteen and eight-and-twenty, to reach his present stage +of progress' that no more seemed to be left in him. He +hands. +Stupors, however, do not last for ever, and Farmer +Oak recovered from his. It was as remarkable as it was +characteristic that the one sentence he uttered was in +thankfulness : -- +'Thank God I am not married : what would she have +done in the poverty now coming upon me ! ' +

+Oak raised his head, and wondering what he could +do listlessly surveyed the scene. By the outer margin +of the Pit was an oval pond, and over it hung the +attenuated skeleton of a chrome-yellow moon which +had only a few days to last -- the morning star dogging +her on the left hand. The pool glittered like a dead +man's eye, and as the world awoke a breeze blew, +shaking and elongating the reflection of the moon +without breaking it, and turning the image of the star +to a phosphoric streak upon the water. All this Oak +saw and remembered. +As far as could be learnt it appeared that the poor +young dog, still under the impression that since he was +kept for running after sheep, the more he ran after +them the better, had at the end of his meal off the +dead lamb, which may have given him additional energy +and spirits, collected all the ewes into a corner, driven +the timid creatures through the hedge, across the upper +field, and by main force of worrying had given them +momentum enough to break down a portion of the +rotten railing, and so hurled them over the edge. +George's son had done his work so thoroughly that +he was considered too good a workman to live, and was, +in fact, taken and tragically shot at twelve o'clcck that +same day -- another instance of the untoward fate which +so often attends dogs and other philosophers who +follow out a train of reasoning to its logical conclusion, +and attempt perfectly consistent conduct in a world +made up so largely of compromise. +Gabriel's farm had been stocked by a dealer -- on the +strength of Oak's promising look and character -- who +was receiving a percentage from the farmer till such +time as the advance should be cleared off Oak found+ +that the value of stock, plant, and implements which +were really his own would be about sufficient to pay his +debts, leaving himself a free man with the clothes he +stood up in, and nothing more. + +

+THE FAIR -- THE JOURNEY -- THE FIRE +TWO months passed away. We are brought on to a +day in February, on which was held the yearly statute +or hiring fair in the county-town of Casterbridge. +At one end of the street stood from two to three +hundred blithe and hearty labourers waiting upon Chance + -- all men of the stamp to whom labour suggests nothing +worse than a wrestle with gravitation, and pleasure +nothing better than a renunciation of the same among +these, carters and waggoners were distinguished by +having a piece of whip-cord twisted round their hats; +thatchers wore a fragment of woven straw; shepherds +held their sheep-crooks in their hands; and thus the +situation required was known to the hirers at a +glance. +In the crowd was an athletic young fellow of some+ +what superior appearance to the rest -- in fact, his +superiority was marked enough to lead several ruddy +peasants standing by to speak to him inquiringly, as to +a farmer, and to use 'Sir' as a finishing word. His +answer always was, +'I am looking for a place myself -- a bailiff's. Do +Ye know of anybody who wants one ?' +Gabriel was paler now. His eyes were more medi+ +tative, and his expression was more sad. He had +passed through an ordeal of wretchedness which had +given him more than it had taken away. He had sunk +from his modest elevation as pastoral king into the very +slime-pits of Siddim ; but there was left to him a digni+ +fied calm he had never before known, and that indiffer+ +ence to fate which, though it often makes a villain of +a man, is the basis of his sublimity when it does not. +And thus the abasement had been exaltation, and the +loss gain. +In the morning a regiment of cavalry had left the +town, and a sergeant and his party had been beating up +for recruits through the four streets. As the end of the +day drew on, and +

+he found himself not hired, Gabriel +almost wished that he had joined them, and gone off to +serve his country. Weary of standing in the market+ +place, and not much minding the kind of work he +turned his hand to, he decided to offer himself in some +other capacity than that of bailiff. +All the farmers seemed to be wanting shepherds. +Sheep-tending was Gabriel's speciality. Turning down +an obscure street and entering an obscurer lane, he went +up to a smith's shop. +'How long would it take you to make a shepherd's +crook ? ' +'Twenty minutes.' +'How much ? ' +'Two shillings.' +He sat on a bench and the crook was made, a stem +being given him into the bargain. +He then went to a ready-made clothes' shop, the +owner of which had a large rural connection. As the +crook had absorbed most of Gabriel's money, he +attempted, and carried out, an exchange of his overcoat +for a shepherd's regulation smock-frock. +This transaction having been completed, he again +hurried off to the centre of the town, and stood on the +kerb of the pavement, as a shepherd, crook in hand. +Now that Oak had turned himself into a shepherd, it +seemed that bailifs were most in demand. However, two +or three farmers noticed him and drew near. Dialogues +followed, more or lessin the subjoined for: -- +'Where do you come from?' +'Norcombe.' +'That's a long way. +'Fifteen miles.' +'Who's farm were you upon last?' +'My own.' +This reply invariably operated like a rumour of +cholera. The inquring farmer would edge away and +shake his head dubiously. Gabriel, like his dog, was +too good to be trustworthy,. and he never made advance +beyond this point. +It is safer to accept any chance that offers itself, and + + +

+extemporize a procedure to fit it, than to get a good +shepherd, but had laid himself out for anything in the +whole cycle of labour that was required in the fair. It +grew dusk. Some merry men were whistling and +singing by the corn-exchange. Gabriel's hand, which +had lain for some time idle in his smock-frock pocket, +touched his flute which he carried there. Here was +an opportunity for putting his dearly bought wisdom +into practice. +He drew out his flute and began to play Jockey to +the Fair' in the style of a man who had never known +moment's sorrow. Oak could pipe with Arcadian +sweetness and the sound of the well-known notes +cheered his own heart as well as those of the loungers. +He played on with spirit, and in half an hour had +earned in pence what was a small fortune to a destitute +man. +By making inquiries he learnt that there was another +fair at Shottsford the next day. +'How far is Shottsford?' +'Ten miles t'other side of Weatherbury.' +Weatherbury!. It was where Bathsheba had gone +two months before. This information was like coming +from night into noon. +'How far is it to Weatherbury ?' +'Five or six miles.' +Bathsheba had probably left Weatherbury long before +this time, but the place had enough interest attaching +to it to lead Oak to choose Shottsford fair as his next +field of inquiry, because it lay in the Weatherbury +quarter. Moreover, the Weatherbury folk were by no +means uninteresting intrinsically. If report spoke truly +they were as hardy, merry, thriving, wicked a set as +any in the whole county. Oak resolved to sleep at +Weatherbury -- -that -- night on his way to Shottsford, +and struck out at once -- into the -- high road which had +been recommended as the direct route to the village in +question. +The road stretched through water-meadows traversed +by little brooks, whose quivering surfaces were braided +along their centres, and folded into creases at the sides; +or, where the flow was more rapid, the stream was pied +with spots of white froth, +

+which rode on in undisturbed +serenity. On the higher levels the dead and dry carcases +of leaves tapped the ground as they bowled along helter+ +skelter upon the shoulders of the wind, and little birds +in the hedges were rustling their feathers and tucking +themselves in comfortably for the night, retaining their +places if Oak kept moving, but flying away if he +stopped to look at them. He passed by Yalbury-Wood +where the game-birds were rising to their roosts, and +heard the crack-voiced cock-pheasants' 'cu-uck, cuck,' +and the wheezy whistle of the hens. +By the time he had walked three or four miles every +shape in the-landscape had assumed a uniform hue of +blackness. He descended Yalbury Hill and could just +discern ahead of him a waggon, drawn up under a great +over-hanging tree by the roadside. +On coming close, he found there were no horses +attached to it, the spot being apparently quite deserted. +The waggon, from its position, seemed to have been left +there for the night, for beyond about half a truss of hay +which was heaped in the bottom, it was quite empty. +Gabriel sat down on the shafts of the vehicle and con+ +sidered his position. He calculated that he had walked +a very fair proportion of the journey; and having been +on foot since daybreak, he felt tempted to lie down upon +the hay in the waggon instead of pushing on to the +village of Weatherbury, and having to pay for a lodging. +Eating his las slices of bread and ham, and drinking +from the bottle of cider he had taken the precaution to +bring with him, he got into the lonely waggon. Here +he spread half of the hay as a bed, and, as well as he +could in the darkness, pulled the other half over him +by way of bed-clothes, covering himself entirely, and +feeling, physically, as comfortable as ever he had been +in his life. Inward melancholy it was impossible for +a man like Oak, introspective far beyond his neighbours, +to banish quite, whilst conning the present. untoward +page of his history. So, thinking of his misfortunes, +amorous and pastoral he fell asleep, shepherds enjoying, +in common with sailors, the privilege of being able to +summon the god instead of having to wait for him. +

+On somewhat suddenly awaking after a sleep of +whose length he had no idea, Oak found that the waggon +was in motion. He was being carried along the road +at a rate rather considerable for a vehicle without +springs, and under circumstances of physical uneadiness, +his head being dandled up and down on the bed of +the waggon like a kettledrum-stick. He then dis+ +tinguished voices in conversation, comig from the +forpart of the waggon. His concern at this dilemma +(which would have been alarm, had he been a thriving +man; but -- misfortune is a fine opiate to personal terror) +led him to peer cautiously from the hay, and the first +sight he beheld was the stars above him. Charles's +Wain was getting towards a right angle with the Pole +star, and Gabriel concluded that it must be about nine +o'clock -- in other words, that he had slept two hours. +This small astronomical calculation was made without +any positive effort, and whilst he was stealthily turning +to discover, if possible, into whose hands he had fallen. +Two figures were dimly visible in front, sitting with +their legs outside the waggon, one of whom was driving. +Gabriel soon found that this was the waggoner, and it +appeared they had come from Casterbridge fair, like +himself. +A conversation was in progress, which continued +thus : -- +'Be as 'twill, she's a fine handsome body as far's +looks be concerned. But that's only the skin of the +woman, and these dandy cattle be as-proud as a lucifer +in their insides.' +'Ay -- so 'a do seem, Billy Smallbury -- so 'a do seem.' +This utterance was very shaky by nature, and more so +by circumstance, the jolting of the waggon not being+ +without its effect upon the speaker's larynx. It came +'from the man who held the reins. +'She's a very vain feymell -- so 'tis said here and +there.' +'Ah, now. If so be 'tis like that, I can't look her in +the face. Lord, no : not I -- heh-heh-heh .! Such a shy +man as I be.!' +'Yes -- she's very vain. 'Tis said that every night at +going to bed she looks in the glass to put on her night+ +cap properly.' +'And not a married woman. Oh, the world .! +"And 'a can play the peanner, so 'tis said. Can +play so clever +

+that 'a can make a psalm tune sound as +well as the merriest loose song a man can wish for.' +'D'ye tell o't .! A happy time for us, and I feel quite +a new man! And how do she play?' +'That I dson't know, Master Poorgrass.' +On hearing these and other similar remarks, a wild +thought flashed into Gabriel's mind that they might +be speaking of Bathsheba. There were, however, no +ground for retaining such a supposition, for the waggon, +though going in the direction of Weatherbury, might be +going beyond it, and the woman alluded to seemed to be +the mistress of some estate. They were now apparently +close upon Weatherbury and not to alarm the speakers +unnecessarily, Gabriel slipped out of the waggon unseen. +He turned to an opening in the hedge, which he +found to be a gate, and mounting thereon, he sat +meditating whether to seek a cheap lodging in the +village, or to ensure a cheaper one by lying under +some hay or corn-stack. The crunching jangle of the +waggon died upon his ear. He was about to walk on, +when he noticed on his left hand an unusual light -- + +appearing about half a mile distant. Oak watched it, +and the glow increased. Something was on fire. +Gabriel again mounted the gate, and, leaping down +on the other side upon what he found to be ploughed +soil, made across the field in the exact direction of the +fire. The blaze, enlarging in a double ratio by his +approach and its own increase, showed him as he drew +nearer the outlines of ricks beside it, lighted up to great +distinctness. A rick-yard was the source of the fire. +His weary face now began to be painted over with a +rich orange glow, and the whole front of his smock+ +frock and gaiters was covered with a dancing shadow +pattern of thorn-twigs -- the light reaching him through +a leafless intervening hedge -- and the metallic curve of +his sheep-crook shone silver-bright in the same abound+ +ing rays. He came up to the boundary fence, and +stood to regain breath. It seemed as if the spot was +unocupied by a living soul. +The fire was issuing from a long straw-stack, which +was so +

+far gone as to preclude a possibility of saving it. +A rick burns differently from a house. As the wind +blows the fire inwards, the portion in flames completely +disappears like melting sugar, and the outline is lost +to the eye. However, a hay or a wheat-rick, well put +together, will resist combustion for a length of time, if +it begins on the outside. +This before Gabriel's eyes was a- rick of straw, loosely +put together, and the flames darted into it with lightning +swiftness. It glowed on the windward side, rising and +falling in intensity, like the coal of a cigar. Then a +superincumbent bundle rolled down, with a whisking +noise ; flames elongated, and bent themselves about +with a quiet roar, but no crackle. Banks of smoke +went off horizontally at the back like passing clouds, +and behind these burned hidden pyres, illuminating +the semi-transparent sheet of smoke to a lustrous yellow +uniformity. Individual straws in the foreground were +consumed in a creeping movement of ruddy heat, as +if they were knots of red worms, and above shone +imaginary fiery faces, tongues hanging from lips, glaring +eyes, and other impish forms, from which at intervals +sparks flew in clusters like birds from a nest, +Oak suddenly ceased from being a mere spectator +by discovering the case to be more serious than he had +at first imagined. A scroll of smoke blew aside and +revealed to him a wheat-rick in startling juxtaposition +with the decaying one, and behind this a series of +others, composing the main corn produce of the farm; +so that instead of the straw-stack standing, as he had +imagined comparatively isolated, there was a regular +connection between it and the remaining stacks of the +group. +Gabriel leapt over the hedge, and saw that he was +not alone. The first man he came to was running +about in a great hurry, as if his thoughts were several +yards in advance of his body, which they could never +drag on fast enough. +'O, man -- fire, fire ! A good master and a. bad +servant is fire, fire .! -- I mane a bad servant and a good +master O, Mark Clark -- come !- And you, Billy +Smallbury -- and you, Maryann Money -- and you, Jan +Coggan, and Matthew there!' Other figures now +appeared behind this shouting man and among the +smoke, and +

+Gabriel found that, far from being alone +he was in a great company -- whose shadows danced +merrily up and down, timed by the jigging of the +flames, and not at all by their owners' movements. +The assemblage -- -belonging to that class of society +which casts its thoughts into the form of feeling, and +its feelings into the form of commotion -- set to work +with a remarkable confusion of purpose. +'Stop the draught under the wheat-rick!' cried +Gabriel to those nearest to him. The corn stood on +stone staddles, and between these, tongues of yellow +hue from the burning straw licked and darted playfully. +If the fire once got under this stack, all would be +lost. +'Get a tarpaulin -- quick .! ' said Gabriel. +A rick-cloth was brought, and they hung it like a +curtain across the channel. The flames immediately +ceased to go under the bottom of the corn-stack, and +stood up vertical. +'Stand here with a bucket of water and keep the +cloth wet,' said Gabriel again. +The flames, now driven upwards, began to attack +the angles of the huge roof covering the wheat-stack. +'A ladder,' cried Gabriel. +'The ladder was against the straw-rick and is burnt +to a cinder,' said a spectre-like form in the smoke. +Oak seized the cut ends of the sheaves, as if he +were going to engage in the operation of ' reed-drawing,' +and digging in his feet, and occasionally sticking in the +stem of his sheep-crook, he clambered up the beetling +face. He at once sat astride the very apex, and began +with his crook to beat off the fiery fragments which had +lodged thereon, shouting to the others to get him a +bough and a ladder, and some water. +Billy Smallbury -- one of the men who had been on +the waggon -- by this time had found a ladder, which +Mark Clark ascended, holding on beside Oak upon the +thatch. The smoke at this corner was stifling, and +Clark, a nimble fellow, having been handed a bucket +of water, bathed Oak's face and sprinkled him generally, +whilst Gabriel, now with a long beech-bough in one +hand, in addition to his crook in the other, kept +sweeping the stack and dislodging all fiery particles. +

+On the ground the groups of villagers were still +occupied in doing all they could to keep down the +conflagration, which was not much. They were all +tinged orange, and backed up by shadows of varying +pattern. Round the corner of the largest stack, out +of the direct rays of the fire, stood a pony, bearing a +young woman on its back. By her side was another +woman, on foot. These two seemed to keep at a +distance from the fire, that the horse might not beome +restive. +'He's a shepherd,' said the woman on foot. 'Yes -- +he is. See how his crook shines as he beats the rick +with it. And his smock-frock is burnt in two holes, I +declare.! A fine young shepherd he is too, ma'am.' +' Whose shepherd is he?' said the equestrian in a +clear voice. +'Don't know, ma'am.' + " Don't any of the others know ?' + " Nobody at all -- I've asked 'em. Quite a stranger, + they say.' + The young woman on the pony rode out from the +shade and looked anxiously around. +"Do you think the barn is safe ?" she said. +"D'ye think the barn is safe, Jan Coggan ?' said +the second woman, passing on the question to the +nearest man in that direction. +"Safe -now -- leastwise I think so. If this rick had +gone the barn would have followed. 'Tis- that bold +shepherd up there that have done the most good -- he +sitting on the top o' rick, whizzing his great long-arms +about like a windmill.' +" He does work hard,' said the young woman on +horseback, looking up at Gabriel through her thick +woollen veil. "I wish he was shepherd here. Don't +any of you know his name.' +"Never heard the man's name in my life, or seed +his form afore.' +The fire began to get worsted, and Gabriel's elevated +position being no longer required of him, he made as +if to descend. +"Maryann,' said the girl on horseback, "go to him +as he comes down, and say that the farmer wishes to +thank him for the great service he has done.' +Maryann stalked off towards the rick and met +Oak at the foot of the ladder. She delivered ber +message. +

+" Where is your master the farmer ?' asked Gabriel, +kindling with the idea of getting employment that +seemed to strike him now. +" 'Tisn't a master ; 'tis a mistress, shepherd.' +" A woman farmer ? ' +"Ay, 'a b'lieve, and a rich one too .!' said a by" +stander. " Lately 'a came here from a distance. Took +on her uncle's farm, who died suddenly. Used to +measure his money in half-pint cups. They say now +that she've business in every bank in Casterbridge, and +thinks no more of playing pitch-and-toss sovereign than +you and I, do pitch-halfpenny -- not a bit in the world, +shepherd.' +"That's she, back there upon the pony,' said Mary+ +ann ;"wi'her face a-covered up in that black cloth with +holes in it.' +Oak, his features smudged, grimy, and undiscoverable +from the smoke and heat, his smock-frock burnt-into +holes and dripping with water, the ash stem of his sheep+ +crook charred six inches shorter, advansed with the +humility stern adversity had thrust upon him up to +the slight female form in the saddle. He lifted his +hat with respect, and not without galantry: stepping +close to her hanging feet he said in a hesitating voice, -- +" Do you happen to want a shepherd, ma'am ? ' +She lifted the wool veil tied round her face, and +looked all astonishment. Gabriel and his cold-hearted +darling, Bathsheba Everdene, were face to face. +Bathsheba did not speak, and he mechanically +repeated in an abashed and sad voice, -- +" Do you want a shepherd, ma'am ? ' + +

+RECOGNITION -- A TIMID GIRL +BATHSHEBA withdrew into the shade. She scarcely +knew whether most to be amused at the singularity of +the meeting, or to be concerned at its awkwardness. +There was room for a little pity, also for a very little +exultation : the former at his position, the latter at her +own. Embarrassed she was not, and she" remembered +Gabriel's declaration of love to her at Norcombe only +to think she had nearly forgotten it. +" Yes,' she murmured, putting on an air of dignity, +and turning again to him with a little warmth of cheek ; +" I do want a shepherd. But -- -- ' +" He's the very man, ma'am,' said one of the villagers, +quietly. +Conviction breeds conviction. " Ay, that 'a is,' said +a second, decisively. +"The man, truly .! ' said a third, with heartiness." +" He's all there ! ' said number four, fervidly." +Then will you tell him to speak to the bailiff, said +Bathsheba. +All "was practical again now. A summer eve and +loneliness would have been necessary to give the +meeting its proper fulness of romance. +the palpitation within his breast at discovering that this +Ashtoreth of strange report was only a modification of +Venus the well-known and admired, retired with him to +talk over the necessary preliminaries of hiring. +The fire before them wasted away. "Men,' said +Bathsheba, " you shall take a little refreshment after this +extra work. Will you come to the house ?' +"We could knock in a bit and a drop a good deal +freer, Miss, +

+if so be ye'd send it to Warren's Malthouse,' +replied the spokesman. +Bathsheba then rode off into the darkness, and the +men straggled on to the village in twos and threes -- Oak +and the bailiff being left by the rick alone. +"And now,' said the bailiff, finally, "all is settled, I +think, about your coming, and I am going home-along. +Good-night to ye, shepherd.' +" Can you get me a lodging ? ' inquired Gabriel. +'That I can't, indeed," he said, moving past Oak as +a Christian edges past an offertory-plate when he does +not mean to contribute. "If you follow on the road till +you come to Warren's Malthouse, where they are all +gone to have their snap of victuals, I daresay some of +'em will tell you of a place. Good-night to ye, shepherd.' +The bailiff who showed this nervous dread of loving +his neighbour as himself, went up the hill, and Oak +walked on to the village, still astonished at the ren+ +counter with Bathsheba, glad of his nearness to her, and +perplexed at the rapidity with which the unpractised girl +of Norcombe had developed into the supervising and cool +woman here. But some women only require an emerg+ +ency to make them fit for one. +Obligcd, to some extent, to forgo dreaming in order +to find the way, he reachcd the churchyard, and passed +round it under the wall where several ancient trees grew. +There was a wide margin of grass along here, and +Gabriel's footsteps were deadened by its softness, even +at this indurating period of the year. When abreast of +a trunk which appeared to be the oldest of the old, he +became aware that a figure was standing behind it. +Gabriel did not pause in his walk, and in another +moment he accidentally kicked a loose stone. The noise +was enough to disturb the motionless stranger, who +started and assumed a careless position. +It was a slim girl, rather thinly clad. +" Good-night to you,' said Gabriel, heartily. +" Good-night,' said the girl to Gabriel. +The voice was unexpectedly attractive ; it was "the +low and +

+dulcet note suggestive of romance ; common in +descriptions, rare in experience. +'I'll thank you to tell me if I'm in the way for +Warren's Malthouse ? ' Gabriel resumed, primarily to gain +the information, indirectly to get more of the music. +"Quite right. It's at the bottom of the hill. And +do you know -- -- ' The girl hesitated and then went +on again. "Do you know how late they keep open +the Buck's Head Inn?' She seemed" to be won by +Gabriel's heartiness, as Gabriel had been won by her +modulations. +" I don't know where the Buck's Head is, or anything +about it. Do you think of going there to-night ?' +" Yes -- -- ' The woman again paused. There was +no necessity for any continuance of speech, and the fact +that she did add more seemed to proceed from an +unconscious desire to show unconcern by making a +remark, which is noticeable in the ingenuous when they +are acting by stealth. " You are not a Weatherbury man ? ' +she said, timorously. +' I am not. I am the new shepherd -- just arrived.' +"Only a shepherd -- and you seem almost a farmer by +your ways.' +" Only a shepherd,' Gabriel repeated, in a dull cadence +of finality. " His thoughts were directed to the past, his +eyes to the feet of the girl; and for the first time he +saw lying there a bundle of some sort. She may have +perceived the direction of his face, for she said +coaxingly, -- +" You won't say anything in the parish about having +seen me here, will you -- at least, not for a day or two ?' +"I won't if you wish me not to,' said Oak. +"Thank you, indeed,' the other replied.'I am +rather poor, and I don't want people to know anything +about me.' Then she was silent and shivered. +'You ought to have a cloak on such a cold night,' +Gabriel observed. " I would advise 'ee to get indoors." +"O no! Would you mind going on and leaving +me ? I thank you much for what you have told me.' +" I will go on,' he said ; adding hesitatingly, -- ' Since +you are +

+not very well off, perhaps you would accept this +trifle from me. It is only a shilling, but'it is all I have +to spare.' +' Yes, I will take it,' said the stranger, gratefully. +She extended her hand ; Gabriel his. In feeling for +each other's palm in the gloom before the money could +be passed, a minute incident occurred which told much. +Gabriel's fingers alighted on the young woman's wrist. +It was beating with a throb of tragic intensity. He had +frequently felt the same quick, hard beat in the femoral +artery of -- his lambs when overdriven. It suggested a +consumption too great of a vitality which, to judge from +her figure and stature, was already too little. +"What is the matter ?' +" Nothing.' +'But there is?' +" No, no, no ! Let your having seen me be a.secret .! " +' Very well ; I will. Good-night, again.' +" Good-night.' +The young girl remained motionless by the tree, and +Gabriel descended into the village of Weatherbury, or +Lower Longpuddle as it was sometimes called. He +fancied that he had felt himself in the penumbra of a +very deep sadness when touching that slight and fragile +creature. But wisdom lies in moderating mere impres+ +sions, and Gabriel endeavoured to think little of this. + +

+THE MALTHOUSE -- THE CHAT -- NEWS +WARREN'S Malthouse was enclosed by an old wall +inwrapped with ivy, and though not much of the exterior +was visible at this hour, the character and purposes of +the building were clearly enough shown by its outline +upon the sky. From the walls an overhanging thatched +roof sloped up to a point in the centre, upon which rose +a small wooden lantern, fitted with louvre-boards on all +the four sides, and from these openings a mist was dimly +perceived to be escaping into the night air. There was +no window in front ; but a square hole in the door was +glazed with a single pane, through which red, comfortable +rays now stretched out upon the ivied wall in front. +Voices were to be heard inside. +Oak's hand skimmed the surface of the door with +fingers extended to an Elymas-the-Somerer pattern, till +he found a leathern strap, which he pulled. This lifted +a wooden latch, and the door swung open. +The room inside was lighted only by the, ruddy glow +from the kiln mouth, which shone over ,the floor with +the streaming, horizontality of the setting sun, and threw +upwards the shadows of all facial irregularities in those +assembled around. The stone-flag floor was worn into +a path from the doorway to the kiln, and into undula+ +tions everywhere. A curved settle of unplaned oak +stretched along one side, and in a remote corner was a +small bed and bedstead, the owner and frequent occupier +of which was the maltster. +This aged man was now sitting opposite the fire, his +frosty white hair and beard overgrowing his gnarled +figure like the grey moss and lichen upon a leafless +apple-tree. He wore breeches and the laced-up shoes +called ankle-jacks; he kept his eyes fixed upon the +fire. +

+Gabriel's nose was greeted by an atmosphere laden +with the sweet smell of new malt. The conversation +(which seemed to have been concerning the origin of the +fire) immediately ceased, and every one ocularly criticised +him to the degree expressed by contracting the flesh of +their foreheads and looking at him with narrowed eye+ +lids, as if he had been a light too strong for their sight. +Several exclaimed meditatively, after this operation had +been completed : -- +"Oh, 'tis the new shepherd, 'a b'lieve.' +"We thought we heard a hand pawing about the +door for the bobbin, but weren't sure 'twere not a dead +leaf blowed across,' said another. " Come in, shepherd ; +sure ye be welcome, though we don't know yer name.' +" Gabriel Oak, that's my name, neighbours.' +The ancient maltster sitting in the midst turned up +this -- his turning being as the turning of a rusty +crane. +"That's never Gable Oak's grandson over at Nor+ +combe -- never !. ' he said, as a formula expressive of +surprise, which nobody was supposed to take literally'. +'My father and my grandfather were old men of the +name of Gabriel,' said the shepherd, placidly. +"Thought I knowed the man's face as I seed him +on the rick ! -- thought I did.! And where be ye trading +o't to now, shepherd ? ' +" I'm thinking of biding here,' said Mr. Oak. +"Knowed yer grandfather for years and years !' +continued the maltster, the words coming forth of their +own accord as if the momentum previously imparted +had been sufficient. +'Ah -- and did you! ' +" Knowed yer grandmother.' +'And her too!' +"Likewise knowed yer father when he was a child. +Why, my boy Jacob there and your father were sworn +brothers -- that they were sure -- weren't ye, Jacob ? ' +"Ay, sure,' said his son, a young man about sixty+ +five, with a semi-bald head and one tooth in the left +centre of his upper jaw, which made much of itself by +standing prominent, like a +

+milestone in a bank. 'But +'twas Joe had most to do with him. However, my son +William must have knowed the very man afore us -- +didn't ye, Billy, afore ye left Norcombe ? ' +"No, 'twas Andrew,' said Jacob's son Billy, a child +of forty, or thereabouts, who manifested the peculiarity +of possessing a cheerful soul in a gloomy body, and +whose whiskers were assuming a chinchilla shade here +and there. +"I can mind Andrew,' said Oak, 'as being a man in +the place when I was quite a child.' +"Ay -- the other day I and my youngest daughter, +Liddy, were over at my grandson's christening,' continued +Billy. ' We were talking about this very family, and +'twas only last Purification Day in this very world, when +the use-money is gied away to the second-best poor +folk, you know, shepherd, and I can mind the day +because they all had to traypse up to the vestry -- yes, +this very man's family.' +' Come, shepherd, and drink. 'Tis gape and +swaller with us -- a drap of sommit, but not of much +account,' said the maltster, removing from the fire his +eyes, which were vermilion-red and bleared by gazing +into it for so many years. "Take up the God-forgive" +me, Jacob. See if 'tis warm, Jacoh.' +Jacob stooped to the God-forgive-me, which was a +two-handled tall mug standing in the ashes, cracked +and charred with heat : it was rather furred with ex" +traneous matter about the outside, especially in the +crevices of the handles, the innermost curves of which +may not have seen daylight for several years by reason +of this encrustation thereon -- formed of ashes accident+ +ally wetted with cider and baked hard; but to the mind +of any sensible drinker the cup was no worse for that, +being incontestably clean on the inside and about the +rim. It may be observed that such a class of mug is +called a God-forgive-me in Weatherbury and its vicinity +for uncertain reasons ; probably because its size makes +any given toper feel ashamed of himself when he sees +its bottom in drinking it empty. +Jacob, on receiving the order to see if the liquor was +warm enough, placidly dipped his forefinger into it by +way of thermometer, and having pronounced it nearly +of the proper degree, raised the cup and very civilly +attempted to dust some of the +

+ashes from the bottom +with the skirt of his smock-frock, because Shepherd Oak +was a stranger. +"A clane cup for the shepherd,' said the maltster +commandingly. +"No -- not at all," said Gabriel, in a reproving tone +of considerateness. "I never fuss about dirt in its pure +state, and when I know what sort it is.' Taking the +mug he drank an inch or more from the depth of its +contents, and duly passed it to the next man. +wouldn't think of giving such trouble to neighbours in +washing up when there's so much work to be done in +the world already,' continued Oak in a moister tone, +after recovering from the stoppage of breath which is +occasioned by pulls at large mugs. +' A right sensible man,' said Jacob. +" True, true ; it can't be gainsaid!.' observed a brisk +young man -- Mark Clark by name, a genial and pleasant +gentleman, whom to meet anywhcre in your travels was +to know, to know was to drink with, and to drink with +was, unfortunately, to pay for. +"And here's a mouthful of bread and bacon that +mis'ess have sent, shepherd. The cider will go down +better with a bit of victuals. Don't ye chaw quite close, +shepherd, for I let the bacon fall in the road outside as +I was bringing it along, and may be 'tis rather gritty. +There, 'tis clane dirt; and we all know what that is, +as you say, and you bain't a particular man we see, +shepherd.' +" True, true -- not at all,' said the friendly Oak. +'Don't let your teeth quite meet, and you won't feel +the sandiness at all. Ah !. 'tis wonderful what can be +done by contrivance .! ' +" My own mind exactly, neighbour.' +" Ah, he's his grandfer's own grandson .! -- his grandfer +were just such a nice unparticular man !.' said the maltster. +" Drink, Henry Fray -- drink,' magnanimously said +Jan Coggan, a person who held Saint-Simonian notions +of share and share alike where liquor was concerned, as +the vessel showed signs of approaching him in its gradual +revolution among them. +Having at this moment reached the end of a wistful +gaze +

+into mid-air, Henry did not refuse. He was a man +of more than middle age, with eyebrows high up in his +forehead, who laid it down that the law of the world +was bad, with a long-suffering look through his listeners +at the world alluded to, as it presented itself to his +imagination. He always signed his name 'Henery' -- +strenuously insisting upon that spelling, and if any +passing schoolmaster ventured to remark that the second +'e' was superfluous and old-fashioned, he received the +reply that ' H-e-n-e-r-y' was the name he was christened +and the name he 'would stick to -- in the tone of one +to whom orthographical differences were matters which +had a great deal to do with personal character. +Mr. Jan Coggan, who had passed the cup to Henery, +was a crimson man with a spacious countenance, and +private glimmer in his eye, whose name had appeared +on the marriage register of Weatherbury and neighbour+ +ing parishes as best man and chief witness in countless +unions of the previous twenty years; he also very +frequently filled the post of head godfather in baptisms +of the subtly-jovial kind. +" Come, Mark Clark -- come. Ther's plenty more +in the barrel,' said Jan. +"Ay -- that I will; 'tis my only doctor,' replied Mr. +Clark, who, twenty years younger than Jan Coggan, +revolved in the same orbit. He secreted mirth on all +occasions for special discharge at popular parties. +" Why, Joseph Poorgrass, ye han't had a drop! ' said +Mr. Coggan to a self-conscious man in the background, +thrusting the cup towards him. +" Such a modest man as he is !. ' said Jacob Smallbury. +" Why, ye've hardly had strength of eye enough to look +in our young mis'ess's face, so I hear, Joseph ?' +All looked at Joseph Poorgrass with pitying reproach. +" No -- I've hardly looked at her at all,' simpered +Joseph, reducing his body smaller whilst talking, +apparently from a meek sense of undue prominence. +"And when I seed her, 'twas nothing but blushes with +me!' +' Poor feller,' said Mr. Clark. +"'Tis a curious nature for a man,' said Jan Coggan. +

+" Yes,' continued Jdseph Poorgrass -- his shyness, +which was so painful as a defect, filling him with a +mild complacency now that it was regarded as an +interesting study. " 'Twere blush, blush, blush with +me every minute of the time, when she was speaking +to me.' +"I believe ye, Joseph Poorgrass, for we all know ye +to be a very bashful man.' +"'Tis a' awkward gift for a man, poor soul,' said the +maltster. "And ye have suffered from it a long time, +we know.' +"Ay ever since I was a boy. Yes -- mother was +concerned to her heart about it -- yes. But twas all +nought.' +"Did ye ever go into the world to try and stop it, +Joseph Poorgrass ? ' +"Oh ay, tried all sorts o' company. They took me +to Greenhill Fair, and into a great gay jerry-go-nimble +show, where there were women-folk riding round -- +standing upon horses, with hardly anything on but their +smocks; but it didn't cure me a morsel. And then I +was put errand-man at the Women's Skittle Alley at the +back of the Tailor's Arms in Casterbridge. 'Twas a +horrible sinful situation, and a very curious place for a +good man. I had to stand and look ba'dy people in +the face from morning till night; but 'twas no use -- I +was just as-bad as ever after all. Blushes hev been +in the family for generations. There, 'tis a happy pro+ +vidence that I be no worse.' +" True,' said Jacob Smallbury, deepening his thoughts +to a profounder view of the subject. "'Tis a thought +to look at, that ye might have been worse; but even +as you be, 'tis a very bad affliction for 'ee, Joseph. For +ye see, shepherd, though 'tis very well for a woman, +dang it all, 'tis awkward for a man like him, poor +feller ? ' +" 'Tis -- 'tis,' said Gabriel, recovering from a medita+ +tion. " Yes, very awkward for the man.' +" Ay, and he's very timid, too,' observed Jan Coggan. +"Once he had been working late at Yalbury Bottom, +and had had a drap of drink, and lost his way as he was +coming home-along through Yalbury Wood, didn't ye, +Master Poorgrass ? ' +" No, no, no ; not that story !' expostulated the +modest man, forcing a laugh to bury his concern. +

+" -- -- And so 'a lost himself quite,' continued Mr +Coggan, with an impassive face, implying that a true +narrative, like time and tide, must run its course and +would respect no man. "And as he was coming along +in the middle of the night, much afeared, and not able +to find his way out of the trees nohow, 'a cried out, +" Man-a-lost!. man-a-lost !." A owl in a tree happened +to be crying "Whoo-whoo-whoo !" as owls do, you +know, shepherd ' (Gabriel nodded), " and Joseph, all +in a tremble, said, " Joseph Poorgrass, of Weatherbury, +sir.!" +"No, no, now -- that's too much! ' said the timid +man, becoming a man of brazen courage all of a sudden. +"I didn't say sir. I'll tike my oath I didn't say " Joseph +Poorgrass o' Weatherbury, sir." No, no ; what's right +is right, and I never said sir to the bird, knowing very +well that no man of a gentleman's rank would be +hollering there at that time o' night. " Joseph Poor+ +grass of Weatherbury," -- that's every word I said, and +I shouldn't ha' said that if 't hadn't been for Keeper +Day's metheglin.... There, 'twas a merciful thing it +ended where it did.' +The question of which was right being tacitly waived +by the company, Jan went on meditatively : -- +"And he's the fearfullest man, bain't ye, Joseph? +Ay, another time ye were lost by Lambing-Down Gate, +weren't ye, Joseph ? ' +"I was,' replied Poorgrass, as if there were some +conditions too serious even for modesty to remember +itself under, this being one. +' Yes ; that were the middle of the night, too. The +gate would not open, try how he would, and knowing +there was the Devil's hand in it, he kneeled down.' +'Ay,' said Joseph, acquiring confidence from the +warmth of the fire, the cider, and a perception of the +narrative capabilities of the experience alluded to. +" My heart died within me, that time; but I kneeled +down and said the Lord's Prayer, and then the Belie +THE CHAT +right through, and then the Ten Commandments, in +earnest prayer. But no, the gate wouldn't open; and +then I went on with Dearly Beloved Brethren, and, +thinks I, this makes four, and 'tis all I know out of +book, and if this don't do it nothing will, and I'm a +lost man. Well, when I got to +

+Saying After Me, I +rose from my knees and found the gate would open + -- yes, neighbours, the gate opened the same as ever.' + A meditation on the obvious inference wsas indulged +in by all, and during its continuance each directed his +vision into the ashpit, which glowed like a desert in +the tropics under a vertical sun, shaping their eyes long +and liny, partly because of the light, partly from the +depth of the subject discussed. + Gabriel broke the silence. "What sort of a place +is this to live at, and what sort of a mis'ess is she to +work under?' Gabriel's bosom thrilled gently as he +thus slipped under the notice of the assembly the inner+ +most subject of his heart. + "We d' know little of her -- nothing. She only +showed herself a few days ago. Her uncle was took +bad, and the doctor was called with his world-wide +skill; but he couldn't save the man. As I take it, +she's going to keep on the farm. + "That's abouyt the shape o't, 'a b'lieve,' said Jan +uncle was a very fair sort of man. Did ye know en, +be under 'em as under one here and there. Her +uncle was a very fair sort of man. Did ye know 'en, +shepherd -- a bachelor-man ? ' + "Not at all.' + "I used to go to his house a-courting my first wife, +Charlotte, who was his dairymaid. Well, a very good+ +hearted man were Farmer Everdene, and I being a +respectable young fellow was allowed to call and see +her and drink as much ale as I liked, but not to carry +away any -- outside my skin I mane of course.' + "Ay, ay, Jan Coggan; we know yer maning.' + "And so you see 'twas beautiful ale, and I wished +to value his kindness as much as I could, and not to +be so ill-mannered as to drink only a thimbleful, which +would have been insulting the man's generosity -- -- ' + "True, Master Coggan, 'twould so,' corroborated +Mark Clark. + " -- -- And so I used to eat a lot of salt fish afore +going, and then by the time I got there I were as dry +as a lime-basket -- so thorough dry that that ale would +slip down -- ah, 'twould slip down sweet! Happy +times! heavenly times! Such lovely drunks as I +used to have at that house! You can mind, Jacob? +You used to go wi' me sometimes.' +

+ "I can -- I can,' said Jacob. "That one, too, that +we had at Buck's Head on a White Monday was a +pretty tipple.' + "'Twas. But for a wet of the better class, that +brought you no nearer to the horned man than you were +afore you begun, there was none like those in Farmer +Everdene's kitchen. Not a single damn allowed; no, +not a bare poor one, even at the most cheerful moment +when all were blindest, though the good old word of +sin thrown in here and there at such times is a great +relief to a merry soul.' + "True,' said the maltster. "Nater requires her +swearing at the regular times, or she's not herself; and +unholy exclamations is a necessity of life.' + "But Charlotte,' continued Coggan -- "not a word of +the sort would Charlotte allow, nor the smallest item of +taking in vain.... Ay, poor Charlotte, I wonder if she +had the good fortune to get into Heaven when 'a died!. +But 'a was never much in luck's way, and perhaps 'a +went downwards after all, poor soul.' + "And did any of you know Miss Everdene's-father +and mother?' inquired the shepherd, who found some +difficulty in keeping the conversation in the desired +channel. +THE CHAT + "I knew them a little,' said Jacob Smallbury; "but +they were townsfolk, and didn't live here. They've +been dead for years. Father, what sort of people were +mis'ess' father and mother?' + "Well,' said the maltster, "he wasn't much to look +at; but she was a lovely woman. He was fond enough +of her as his sweetheart.' + "Used to kiss her scores and long-hundreds o times, +so 'twas said,' observed Coggan. + "He was very proud of her, too, when they were +married, as I've been told,' said the maltster. + "Ay,' said Coggan. "He admired her so much that +he used to light the candle three time a night to look +at her.' + "Boundless love; I shouldn't have supposed it in the +universe!' murmered Joseph Poorgrass, who habitually +spoke on a large scale in his moral reflections. + "Well, to be sure,' said Gabriel. + "Oh, 'tis true enough. I knowed the man and +woman both well. Levi Everdene -- that was the man's +name, sure. ""Man,'' +

+saith I in my hurry, but he were +of a higher circle of life than that -- 'a was a gentleman+ +tailor really, worth scores of pounds. And he became +a very celebrated bankrupt two or three times.' + "Oh, I thought he was quite a common man!.' said +Joseph. + "O no, no! That man failed for heaps of money; +hundreds in gold and silver.' + The maltster being rather short of breath, Mr. Coggan, +after absently scrutinising a coal which had fallen among +the ashes, took up the narrative, with a private twirl of +his eye: -- + "Well, now, you'd hardly believe it, but that man -- +husbands alive, after a while. Understand' 'a didn't +want to be fickle, but he couldn't help it. The poor +feller were faithful and true enough to her in his wish, +but his heart would rove, do what he would. He spoke +to me in real tribulation about it once. ""Coggan,'' +he said, ""I could never wish for a handsomer woman +than I've got, but feeling she's ticketed as my lawful +wife, I can't help my wicked heart wandering, do what +I will.'' But at last I believe he cured it by making her +take off her wedding-ring and calling her by her maiden +name as they sat together after the shop was shut, and +so 'a would get to fancy she was only his sweetheart, and +not married to him at all. And as soon as he could +thoroughly fancy he was doing wrong and committing +the seventh, 'a got to like her as well as ever, and they +lived on a perfect picture of mutel love.' + "Well, 'twas a most ungodly remedy,' murmured +Joseph Poorgrass; "but we ought to feel deep cheerful+ +ness that a 'happy Providence kept it from being any +worse. You see, he might have gone the bad road and +given his eyes to unlawfulness entirely -- yes, gross un+ +lawfulness, so to say it.' + "You see,' said Billy Smallbury, "The man's will was +to do right, sure enough, but his heart didn't chime in.' + "He got so much better, that he was quite godly +in his later years, wasn't he, Jan ?' said Joseph Poor+ +grass. "He got himself confirmed over again in a more +serious way, and took to saying ""Amen'' almost as loud +as the clerk, and he liked to copy comforting verses +from the tombstones. He used, too, to hold the money+ +plate at Let Your Light so Shine, and stand +

+godfather +to poor little come-by-chance children; and he kept a +missionary' box upon his table to nab folks unawares +when they called; yes, and he would-box the charity+ +boys' ears, if they laughed in church, till they could +hardly stand upright, and do other deeds of piety +natural to the saintly inclined.' + "Ay, at that time he thought of nothing but high +things,' added Billy Smallbury. "One day Parson Thirdly +met him and said, ""Good-Morning, Mister Everdene; 'tis +THE CHAT +a fine day!'' ""Amen'' said Everdene, quite absent+ +like, thinking only of religion when he seed a parson+ + "Their daughter was not at all a pretty chiel at that +time,' said Henery Fray. "Never should have. thought +she'd have growed up such a handsome body as she is.' + "'Tis to be hoped her temper is as good as her face.' + "Well, yes; but the baily will have most to do with +the business and ourselves. Ah!' Henery gazed into +the ashpit, and smiled volumes of ironical knowledge. + "A queer Christian, like the Devil's head in a cowl, + "He is,' said Henery, implying that irony must cease +at a certain point. "Between we two, man and man, I +believe that man would as soon tell a lie Sundays as +working-days -- that I do so.' + "Good faith, you do talk!' said Gabriel. + "True enough,' said the man of bitter moods, looking +round upon the company with the antithetic laughter +that comes from a keener appreciation of the miseries +of life than ordinary men are capable of. 'Ah, there's +people of one sort, and people of another, but that man + -- bless your souls!' + Gabriel thought fit to change the subject. "You +must be a very aged man, malter, to have sons growed +mild and ancient' he remarked. + "Father's so old that 'a can't mind his age, can ye, +father?' interposed Jacob. "And he growled terrible +crooked too, lately' Jacob continued, surveying his +father's figure, which +

+was rather more bowed than his own. +"Really one may say that father there is three-double.' + "Crooked folk will last a long while,' said the maltster, +grimly, and not in the best humour. + "Shepherd would like to hear the pedigree of yer +life, father -- wouldn't ye, shepherd ? + "Ay that I should,' said Gabriel with the heartiness +of a man who had longed to hear it for several months. +"What may your age be, malter?' + The maltster cleared his throat in an exaggerated +form for emphasis, and elongating his gaze to the +remotest point of the ashpit! said, in the slow speech +justifiable when the importance of a subject is so +generally felt that any mannerism must be tolerated +in getting at it, "Well, I don't mind the year I were +born in, but perhaps I can reckon up the places I've +lived at, and so get it that way. I bode at Upper Long+ +puddle across there' (nodding to the north) "till I were +eleven. I bode seven at Kingsbere' (nodding to the +east) "where I took to malting. I went therefrom to +Norcombe, and malted there two-and-twenty years, and+ +two-and-twenty years I was there turnip-hoeing and +harvesting. Ah, I knowed that old place, Norcombe, +years afore you were thought of, Master Oak' (Oak smiled +sincere belief in the fact). "Then I malted at Dur+ +nover four year, and four year turnip-hoeing; and +I was fourteen times eleven months at Millpond St. +Jude's ' (nodding north-west-by-north). "Old Twills +wouldn't hire me for more than eleven months at a +time, to keep me from being chargeable to the parish +if so be I was disabled. Then I was three year at +Mellstock, and I've been here one-and-thirty year come +Candlemas. How much is that?" + "Hundred and seventeen,' chuckled another old +gentleman, given to mental arithmetic and little con+ +versation, who had hitherto sat unobserved in a corner. + "Well, then, that's my age,' said the maltster, em+ +phatically. + "O no, father!' said Jacob. "Your turnip-hoeing +were in the summer and your malting in the winter of +the same years, and ye don't ought to count-both halves +father.' +

+ "Chok' it all! I lived through the summers, didn't +I? That's my question. I suppose ye'll say next I be +no age at all to speak of?' + "Sure we shan't,' said Gabriel, soothingly. + "Ye be a very old aged person, malter,' attested Jan +must have a wonderful talented constitution to be able +to live so long, mustn't he, neighbours?' + "True, true; ye must, malter, wonderful;' said the +meeting unanimously. + The maltster, being know pacified, was even generous +enough to voluntarily disparage in a slight degree the +virtue of having lived a great many years, by mentioning +that the cup they were drinking out of was three years +older than he. + While the cup was being examined, the end of +Gabriel Oak's flute became visible over his smock-frock +I seed you blowing into a great flute by now at Caster+ +bridge?' + "You did,' said Gabriel, blushingh faintly. "I've been +in great trouble, neighbours, and was driven to it. +take it careless-like, shepherd and your time will come +tired?' + "Neither drum nor trumpet have I heard since +Christmas,' said Jan Coggan. "Come, raise a tune, +Master Oak!' + "That I will,' said Gabriel, pulling out his flute and +putting it together. "A poor tool, neighbours; but +such as I can do ye shall have and welcome.' + Oak then struck up "Jockey to the Fair,' and played +that sparkling melody three times through accenting the +notes in the third round in a most artistic and lively +manner by bending his body in small jerks and tapping +with his foot to beat time. + "He can blow the flute very well -- that 'a can,' said +a young married man, who having no individuality worth +mentioning was known as "Susan Tall's husband.' He +continued, "I'd as lief as not be able to blow into a +flute as well-as that.' +

+ "He's a clever man, and 'tis a true comfort for us to +have such a shepherd,' murmured Joseph Poorgrass, in +a soft cadence. "We ought to feel full o' thanksgiving +that he's not a player of ba'dy songs 'instead of these +merry tunes; for 'twould have been just as easy for God +to have made the shepherd a loose low man -- a man of +iniquity, so to speak it -- as what he is. Yes, for our wives' +and daughters' sakes we should feel real thanks giving.' + "True, true, -- real thanksgiving!' dashed in Mark +Clark conclusively, not feeling it to be of any conse+ +quence to his opinion that he had only heard about a +word and three-quarters of what Joseph had said. + "Yes,' added Joseph, beginning to feel like a man in +the Bible; "for evil do thrive so in these times that ye +may be as much deceived in the clanest shaved and +whitest shirted man as in the raggedest tramp upon the +turnpike, if I may term it so.' + "Ay, I can mind yer face now, shepherd,' said +Henery Fray, criticising Gabriel with misty eyes as he +entered upon his second tune. "Yes -- now I see 'ee +blowing into the flute I know 'ee to be the same man +I see play at Casterbridge, for yer mouth were scrimped +up and yer eyes a-staring out like a strangled man's -- +just as they be now.' + "'Tis a pity that playing the flute should make a man +look such a scarecrow,' observed Mr. Mark Clark, with +additional criticism of Gabriel's countenance, the latter +person jerking out, with the ghastly grimace required by +the instrument, the chorus of "Dame Durden! + "I hope you don't mind that young man's bad +manners in naming your features?' whispered Joseph to +Gabriel. + "Not at all,' said Mr. Oak. + "For by nature ye be a very handsome man, +shepherd,' continued Joseph Poorgrass, with winning +sauvity. + "Ay, that ye be, shepard,' said the company. + "Thank you very much,' said Oak, in the modest +tone good +

+manners demanded, thinking, however, that +he would never let Bathsheba see him playing the +flute; in this severe showing s discretion equal to that +related to its sagacious inventress, the divine Minerva +herself. + "Ah, when I and my wife were married at Norcombe +Church,' said the old maltster, not pleased at finding +himself left out of the subject "we were called the +handsomest couple in the neighbourhood -- everybody +said so.' + "Danged if ye bain't altered now, malter,' said a voice +with the vigour natural to the enunciation of a remark+ +ably evident truism. It came from the old man in the +background, whose offensiveness and spiteful ways were +barely atoned for by the occasional chuckle he con+ +tributed to general laughs. + "O no, no,' said Gabriel. + "Don't ye play no more shepherd ' said Susan Tall's +husband, the young married man who had spoken once +before. "I must be moving and when there's tunes +going on I seem as if hung in wires. If I thought after +I'd left that music was still playing, and I not there, I +should be quite melancholy-like.' + "What's yer hurry then, Laban?' inquired Coggan+ +"You used to bide as late as the latest.' + "Well, ye see, neighbours, I was lately married to a +woman, and she's my vocation now, and so ye see -- -- ' +The young man hated lamely. + "New Lords new laws, as the saying is, I suppose,' +remarked Coggan. + "Ay, 'a b'lieve -- ha, ha!' said Susan Tall's husband, +in a tone intended to imply his habitual reception of +jokes without minding them at all. The young man +then wished them good-night and withdrew. + Henery Fray was the first to follow. Then Gabriel +arose and went off with Jan Coggan, who had offered +him a lodging. A few minutes later, when the remaining +ones were on their legs and about to depart, Fray came +back again in a hurry. Flourishing his finger ominously +he threw a gaze teeming with tidings just -- where his eye +alighted by accident, which happened to be in Joseph +Poorgrass's face. +

+ "O -- what's the matter, what's the matter, Henery?' +said Joseph, starting back. + "What's a-brewing, Henrey?' asked Jacob and Mark +Clark. + "Baily Pennyways -- Baily Pennyways -- I said so; yes, +I said so!' + "What, found out stealing anything?' + "Stealing it is. The news is, that after Miss +Everdene got home she went out again to see all was +safe, as she usually do, and coming in found Baily +Pennyways creeping down the granary steps with half a +a bushel of barley. She fleed at him like a cat -- never +such a tomboy as she is -- of course I speak with closed +doors?' + "You do -- you do, Henery.' + "She fleed at him, and, to cut a long story short, +he owned to having carried off five sack altogether, upon +her promising not to persecute him. Well, he's turned +out neck and crop, and my question is, who's going to +be baily now?' + The question was such a profound one that Henery +was obliged to drink there and then from the large +cup till the bottom was distinctly visible inside. Before +he had replaced it on the table, in came the young man, +Susan Tall's husband, in a still greater hurry. + "Have ye heard the news that's all over parish?' + "About Baily Pennyways?' + "But besides that?' + "No -- not a morsel of it!' they replied, looking into +the very midst of Laban Tall as if to meet his words +half-way down his throat. + "What a night of horrors!' murmured Joseph Poor+ +grass, waving his hands spasmodically. "I've had the +news-bell ringing in my left ear quite bad enough for a +murder, and I've seen a magpie all alone!' + "Fanny Robin -- Miss everdene's youngest servant -- +can't be found. They've been wanting to lock up the +door these two hours, but she isn't come in. And they +don't know what to do about going to hed for fear of +locking her out. They wouldn't be so concerned if she +hadn't been noticed in such low spirits +

+these last few +days, and Maryann d'think the beginning of a crowner's +inquest has happened to the poor girl.' + "O -- 'tis burned -- 'tis burned!' came from Joseph +Poorgrass's dry lips. + "No -- 'tis drowned!' said 'Tall. + "Or 'tis her father's razor!' suggested Billy Smallbury, +with a vivid sense of detail. + "Well -- Miss Everdene wants to speak to one or two +of us before we go to bed. What with this trouble about +the baily, and now about the girl, mis'ess is almost wild.' + They all hastened up the lane to the farmhouse, +excepting the old maltster, whom neither news, fire, +rain, nor thunder could draw from his hole. There, as +the others' footsteps died away he sat down again and +continued gazing as usual into the furnace with his red, +bleared eyes. + From the bedroom window above their heads Bath+ +sheba's head and shoulders, robed in mystic white, were +dimly seen extended into the air. + "Are any of my men among you?' she said anxiously. + "Yes, ma'am, several,' said Susan Tall's husband. + "Tomorrow morning I wish two or three of you to +make inquiries in the villages round if they have seen +such a person as Fanny Robin. Do it quietly; there is +no reason for alarm as yet. She must have left whilst +we were all at the fire.' + "I beg yer pardon, but had she any young man court+ +ing her in the parish, ma'am?" asked Jacob Smallbury. + "I don't know,' said Bathsheba. + "I've never heard of any such thing, ma'am,' said +two or three. + "It is hardly likely, either,' continued Bathsheba. +"For any lover of hers might have come to the house if +he had been a respectable lad. The most mysterious +matter connected with her absence -- indeed, the only +thing which gives me serious alarm -- is that she was +seen to go out of the house by Maryann with only her +indoor working gown on -- not even a bonnet.' + "And you mean, ma'am, excusing my words, that a +young +

+woman would hardly go to see her young man +without dressing up,' said Jacob, turning his mental +vision upon past experiences. "That's true -- she would +not, ma'am.' + "She had, I think, a bundle, though I couldn't see +very well,' said a female voice from another window, +which seemed that of Maryann. "But she had no +young man about here. Hers lives in Casterbridge, and +I believe he's a soldier.' + "Do you know his name?' Bathsheba said. + "No, mistress; she was very close about it.' + "Perhaps I might be able to find out if I went to +Casterbridge barracks,' said William Smallbury. + "Very well; if she doesn't return tomorrow, mind +you go there and try to discover which man it is, and +see him. I feel more responsible than I should if she +had had any friends or relations alive. I do hope she +has come to no harm through a man of that kind.... +And then there's this disgraceful affair of the bailiff -- +but I can't speak of him now.' + Bathsheba had so many reasons for uneasiness that +it seemed she did not think it worth while to dwell +upon any particular one. "Do as I told you, then' +she said in conclusion, closing the casement. + "Ay, ay, mistress; we will,' they replied, and moved +away. + That night at Coggan's, Gabriel Oak, beneath the +screen of closed eyelids, was busy with fancies, and full +of movement, like a river flowing rapidly under its ice. +Night had always been the time at which he saw Bath+ +sheba most vividly, and through the slow hours of +shadow he tenderly regarded her image now. It is +rarely that the pleasures of the imagination will compen+ +sate for the pain of sleeplessness, but they possibly did +with Oak to-night, for the delight of merely seeing her +effaced for the time his perception of the great differ+ +ence between seeing and possessing. + He also thought of Plans for fetching his few utensils +and books from Norcombe. The Young Man's Best +Companion, The Farrier's Sure Guide, The Veterinary +Surgeon, Paradise Lost, The Pilgrim's Progress, Robinson +Crusoe, Ash's Dictionary, the Walkingame's Arithmetic, +constituted his library; +

+and though a limited series, it was +one from which he had acquired more sound informa+ +tion by diligent perusal than many a man of opportunities +has done from a furlong of laden shelves. + +

+THE HOMESTEAD -- A VISITOR -- HALF-CONFIDENCES +By daylight, the Bower of Oak's new-found mistress, +Bathsheba Everdene, presented itself as a hoary build+ +ing, of the early stage of Classic Renaissance as regards +its architecture, and of 'a proportion which told at a +glance that, as is so frequently the case, it had once +been the memorial hall upon a small estate around it, +now altogether effaced as a distinct property, and merged +in the vast tract of a non-resident landlord, which com+ +prised several such modest demesnes. + Fluted pilasters, worked from the solid stone, +decorated its front, and above the roof the chimneys +were panelled or columnar, some coped gables with +finials and like features still retaining traces of their +Gothic extraction. Soft Brown mosses, like faded +velveteen, formed cushions upon the stone tiling, and +tufts of the houseleek or sengreen sprouted from the +eaves of the low surrounding buildings. A gravel walk +leading from the door to the road in front was encrusted +at the sides with more moss -- here it was a silver-green +variety, the nut-brown of the gravel being visible to the +width of only a foot or two in the centre. This circum+ +stance, and the generally sleepy air of the whole prospect +here, together with the animated and contrasting state +of the reverse facade, suggested to the imagination that +on the adaptation of the building for farming purposes +the vital principle' of the house had turned round inside +its body to face the other way. Reversals of this kind, +strange deformities, tremendous paralyses, are often seen +to be inflicted by trade upon edifices -- either individual +or in the aggregate as streets and towns -- which were +originally planned for pleasure alone. + Lively voices were heard this morning in the upper +rooms, the main staircase to which was of hard oak, the +balusters, heavy as bed-posts, being turned and moulded +in the quaint +

+fashion of their century, the handrail as +stout as a parapet-top, and the stairs themselves con+ +tinually twisting round like a person trying to look over +his shoulder. Going up, the floors above were found +to have a very irregular surface, rising to ridges, sinking +into valley; and being just then uncarpeted, the face +of the boards was seen to be eaten into innumerable +the opening and shutting of every door a tremble +followed every bustling movement, and a creak accom+ +panied a walker about the house like a spirit, wherever+ +he went. + In the room from which the conversation proceeded, +Bathsheba and her servant-companion, Liddy Small+ +bury were to be discovered sitting upon the floor, and +sorting a complication of papers, books, bottles, and +rubbish spread out thereon -- remnants from the house+ +hold stores of the late occupier. Liddy, the maltster's +great-granddaughter, was about Bathsheba's equal in +age, and her face was a prominent advertisement of the +features' might have lacked in form was amply made up +for by perfection of hue, which at this winter-time was +the softened ruddiness on a surface of high rotundity +and, like the presentations of those great colourists, it +was a face which kept well back from the boundary +between comeliness and the ideal. Though elastic in +nature she was less daring than Bathsheba, and occa+ +sionally showed some earnestness, which consisted half +of genuine feeling, and half of mannerliness superadded +by way of duty. + Through a partly-opened door the noise of a scrubbing+ +brush led up to the charwoman, Maryann Money, a person +who for a face had a circular disc, furrowed less by age +than by long gazes of perplexity at distant objects. To +think of her was to get good-humoured; to speak of +her was to raise the image of a dried Normandy +pippin. + "Stop your scrubbing a moment,' said Bathsheba +through the door to her. "I hear something.' + Maryann suspended the brush. +

+ The tramp of a horse was apparent, approaching the +front of the building. The paces slackened, turned in +at the wicket, and, what was most unusual, came up +the mossy path close to the door. The door was +tapped with the end of a crop or stick. + "What impertinence!' said Liddy, in a low voice. +"To ride up the footpath like that! Why didn't he +stop at the gate? Lord! "tis a gentleman! I see the +top of his hat.' + "Be quiet!' said Bathsheba. + The further expression of Liddy's concern was con+ +tinued by aspect instead of narrative. + "Why doesn't Mrs. Coggan go to the door?' Bath+ +sheba continued. + Rat-tat-tat-tat, resounded more decisively from Bath+ +sheba's oak. + "Maryann, you go!' said she, fluttering under the +onset ot a crowd of romantic possibilities. + "O ma'am -- see, here's a mess!' + The argument was unanswerable after a glance at +Maryann. + "Liddy -- you must,' said Bathsheba. + Liddy held up her hands and arms, coated with dust +from the rubbish they were sorting, and looked implor+ +ingly at her mistress. + "There -- -Mrs. Coggan is going!' said Bathsheba, +exhaling her relief in the form of a long breath which +had lain in her bosom a minute or more. + The door opened, and a deep voice said -- + "Is Miss Everdene at home?' + "I'll see, sir,' said Mrs. Coggan, and in a minute +appeared in the room. + "Dear, what a thirtover place this world is!' con+ +tinued Mrs. Coggan (a wholesome-looking lady who +had a voice for each class of remark according to the +emotion involved; who could toss a pancake or twirl +a mop with the accuracy of pure mathematics, and +who at this moment showed hands shaggy with frag+ +ments of dough and arms encrusted with flour). "I +am never up to my elbows, Miss, in making a pudding +but one of two things do happen -- either my nose must +needs begin +

+tickling, and I can't live without scratching + A woman's dress being a part of her countenance, +and any disorder in the one being of the same nature +with a malformation or wound in the other, Bathsheba +said at once -- + "I can't see him in this state. Whatever shall I do?' + Not-at-homes were hardly naturalized in Weatherbury +farmhouses, so Liddy suggested -- "Say you're a fright +with dust, and can't come down.' + "Yes -- that sounds very well,' said Mrs. Coggan, +critically. + "Say I can't see him -- that will do.' + Mrs. Coggan went downstairs, and returned the +answer as requested, adding, however, on her own +responsibility, "Miss is dusting bottles, sir, and is quite +a object -- that's why 'tis.' + "Oh, very well,' said the deep voice,' indifferently. +"All I wanted to ask was, if anything had been heard +of Fanny Robin?' + "Nothing, sir -- but we may know to-night. William +Smallbury is gone to Casterbridge, where her young +man lives, as is supposed, and the other men be inquir+ +ing about everywhere.' + The horse's tramp then recommenced and -retreated, +and the door closed. + "Who is Mr. Boldwood?' said Bathsheba. + "A gentleman-farmer at Little Weatherbury.' + "Married?' + "No, miss.' + "How old is he?' + "Forty, I should say -- very handsome -- rather stern+ +looking -- and rich.' + "What a bother this dusting is! I am always in +some unfortunate plight or other;' Bathsheba said, +complainingly. "Why should he inquire aboat Fanny?' + "Oh, because, as she had no friends in her childhood, +he took her and put her to school, and got her her +place here under your uncle. He's a very kind man +that way, but Lord -- there!' + "What?' + "Never was such a hopeless man for a woman! +He's been +

+courted by sixes and sevens -- all the girls, +gentle and simple, for miles round, have tried him. Jane +Perkins worked at him for two months like a slave, +and the two Miss Taylors spent a year upon him, +and he cost Farmer Ives's daughter nights of tears +and twenty pounds' worth of new clothes; but Lord -- +the money might as well have been thrown out of the +window.' + A little boy came up at this moment and looked in +upon them. This child was one of the Coggans who, +with the Smallburys, were as common among the +families of this district as the Avons and Derwents +among our rivers. He always had a loosened tooth or +a cut finger to show to particular friends, which he did +with an air of being thereby elevated above the common +herd of afflictionless humanity -- to which exhibition +of congratulation as well as pity. + "I've got a pen-nee!' said Master Coggan in a +scanning measure. + "Well -- who gave it you, Teddy?' said Liddy. + "Mis-terr Bold-wood! He gave it to me for opening +the gate.' + "What did he say?' + "He said "Where are you going, my little man?'' +and I said, "To Miss Everdene's please;'' and he said, +"She is a staid woman, isn't she, my little man?' and +I said, ""Yes.''' + "You naughty child! What did you say that for?' + "Cause he gave me the penny!' + "What a pucker evrything is in!' said Bathsheba, +discontentedly when the child had gone. 'Get away, +thing! You ought to be married by this time, and not +here troubling me!' + "Ay, mistress -- so I did. But what between the poor +men I won't have, and the rich men who won't have me, +I stand as a pelicon in the wilderness!' + "Did anybody ever want to marry you miss?' Liddy +ventured to ask when they were again alone. "Lots of +'em, i daresay.?' + Bathsheba paused, as if about to refuse a reply, but +the temptation to say yes, since it was really in her +power was irresistible by aspiring virginity, in spite of +her spleen at having been published as old. +

+ "A man wanted to once,' she said, in a highly experi+ +enced tone and the image of Gabriel Oak, as the farmer, +rose before her. + "How nice it must seem!' said Liddy, with the fixed +features of mental realization. "And you wouldn't have +him?' + "He wasn't quite good enough for me.' + "How sweet to be able to disdain, when most of us +are glad to say, ""Thank you!'' I seem I hear it. +""No, sir -- I'm your better,'' or ""Kiss my foot, sir; my +face is for mouths of consequence.'' And did you love +him, miss?' + "Oh, no. But I rather liked him.' + "Do you now?' + "Of course not -- what footsteps are those I hear?' + Liddy looked from a back window into the courtyard +behind, which was now getting low-toned and dim with +the earliest films of night. A crooked file of men was +approaching the back door. The whole string of trailing +individuals advanced in the completest balance of inten+ +tion, like the remarkable creatures known as Chain +Salpae, which, distinctly organized in other respects, have +one will common to a whole family. Some were, as +usual, in snow-white smock-frocks of Russia duck, and +some in whitey-brown ones of drabbet -- marked on the +wrists, breasts, backs, and sleeves with honeycomb-work. +Two or three womcn in pattens brought up the rear. + "The Philistines be upon us,' said Liddy, making her +nose white against the glass. + "Oh, very well. Maryann, go down and keep them +in the kitchen till I am dressed, and then show them in +to me in the hall.' + +

+HALF-AN-HOUR later Bathsheba, in finished dress, +and followed by Liddy, entered the upper end of the old +hall to find that her men had all deposited themselves on +a long form and a settle at the lower extremity. She sat +down at a table and opened th e time-book, pen in her +hand, with a canvas money-bag beside her. From this +she poured a small heap of coin. Liddy chose a +position at her elbow and began to sew, sometimes +pausing and looking round, or with the air of a privileged +person, taking up one of the half-sovereigns lying before +her and surveying it merely as a work of art, while +strictly preventing her countenance from expressing any +wish to possess it as money. + "Now before I begin, men,' said Bathsheba, "I have +two matters to speak of. The first is that the bailiff is +dismissed for thieving, and that I have formed a resolu+ +tion to have no bailiff at all, but to manage everything +with my own head and hands.' + The men breathed an audible breath of amazement. + "The next matter is, have you heard anything of +Fanny?' + "Nothing, ma'am. + "Have you done anything?' + "I met Farmer Boldwood,' said Jacob Smallbury, 'and +I went with him and two of his men, and dragged New+ +mill Pond, but we found nothing.' + "And the new shepherd have been to Buck's Head, +by Yalbury, thinking she had gone there, but nobody +had seed her,' said Laban Tall. + "Hasn't William Smallbury been to Casterbridge?' + "Yes, ma'am, but he's not yet come home. He +promised to be back by six.' + "It wants a quarter to six at present,' said Bathsheba, + +

+looking at her watch. "I daresay he'll be in directly. +Well, now then' -- she looked into the book -- "Joseph +Poorgrass, are you there?' + "Yes, sir -- ma'am I mane,' said the person addressed. +"I be the personal name of Poorgrass.' + "And what are you?' + "Nothing in my own eye. In the eye of other people + -- well, I don't say it; though public thought will out.' + "What do you do on the farm?' + "I do do carting things all the year, and in seed time I +shoots the rooks and sparrows, and helps at pig-killing, sir.' + "How much to you ?' + "Please nine and ninepence and a good halfpenny +where 'twas a bad one, sir -- ma'am I mane.' + "Quite correct. Now here are ten shillings in addi+ +tion as a small present, as I am a new comer.' + Bathsheba blushed slightly at the sense of being +generous in public, and Henery Fray, who had drawn +up towards her chair, lifted his eyebrows and fingers to +express amazement on a small scale. + "How much do I owe you -- that man in the corner -- +what's your name?' continued Bathsheba. + "Matthew Moon, ma'am,' said a singular framework of +clothes with nothing of any consequence inside them, +which advanced with the toes in no definite direction +forwards, but turned in or out as they chanced to swing. + "Matthew Mark, did you say? -- speak out -- I shall +not hurt you,' inquired the young farmer, kindly. + "Matthew Moon mem' said Henery Fray, correct+ +ingly, from behind her chair, to which point he had +edged himself. + "Matthew Moon,' murmured Bathsheba, turning her +bright eyes to the book. "Ten and twopence halfpenny +is the sum put down to you, I see?' + "Yes, mis'ess,' said Matthew, as the rustle of wind +among dead leaves. + "Here it is and ten shillings. Now -the next -- Andrew +Randle, you are a new man, I hear. How come you to +leave your last farm?' +

+ "P-p-p-p-p-pl-pl-pl-pl-l-l-l-l-ease, ma'am, p-p-p-p-pl-pl+ +pl-pl-please, ma'am-please'm-please'm -- -- ' + "'A's a stammering man, mem,' said Henery Fray in +an undertone, "and they turned him away because the +only time he ever did speak plain he said his soul was +his own, and other iniquities, to the squire. "A can cuss, +mem, as well as you or I, but 'a can't speak a common +speech to save his life.' + "Andrew Randle, here's yours -- finish thanking me +in a day or two. Temperance Miller -- oh, here's another, +Soberness -- both women I suppose?' + "Yes'm. Here we be, 'a b'lieve,' was echoed in shrill +unison. + "What have you been doing?' + "Tending thrashing-machine and wimbling haybonds, +and saying ""Hoosh!'' to the cocks and hens when they +go upon your seeds and planting Early Flourballs and +Thompson's Wonderfuls with a dibble.' + "Yes -- I see. Are they satisfactory women?' she +inquired softly of Henery Fray. + "O mem -- don't ask me! Yeilding women?' as +scarlet a pair as ever was!' groaned Henery under his +breath. + "Sit down. + "Who, mem?' + "Sit down,' + Joseph Poorgrass, in the background twitched, and +his lips became dry with fear of some terrible conse+ +quences, as he saw Bathsheba summarily speaking, and +Henery slinking off to a corner. + "Now the next. Laban Tall, you'll stay on working +for me?' + "For you or anybody that pays me well, ma'am,' +replied the young married man. + "True -- the man must live!' said a woman in the +back quarter, who had just entered with clicking pattens. + "What woman is that?" Bathsheba asked. + "I be his lawful wife!' continued the voice with +greater prominence of manner and tone. This lady +called herself five-and-twenty, looked thirty, passed as +thirty-five, and was forty. She was a woman who never, +like some newly married, showed +

+conjugal tenderness in +public, perhaps because she had none to show. + "Oh, you are,' said Bathsheba. "Well, Laban, will +you stay on ?' + "Yes, he'll stay, ma'am!' said again the shrill tongue +of Laban's lawful wife. + "Well, he can speak for himself, I suppose.' + "O Lord, not he, ma'am! A simple tool. Well +enough, but a poor gawkhammer mortal,' the wife replied + "Heh-heh-heh!' laughed the married man with a +hideous effort of appreciation, for he was as irrepressibly +good-humoured under ghastly snubs as a parliamentary +candidate on the hustings. + The names remaining were called in the same +manner. + "Now I think I have done with you,' said Bathsheba, +closing the book and shaking back a stray twine of hair. +"Has William Smallbury returned?' + "No, ma'am.' + "The new shepherd will want a man under him,' +suggested Henery Fray, trying to make himself official +again by a sideway approach towards her chair. + "Oh -- he will. Who can he have?' + "Young Cain Ball is a very good lad,' Henery said, +"and Shepherd Oak don't mind his youth?' he added, +turning with an apologetic smile to the shepherd, who +had just appeared on the scene, and was now leaning +against the doorpost with his arms folded. + "No, I don't mind that,' said Gabriel. + "How did Cain come by such a name?' asked +Bathsheba. + "Oh you see, mem, his pore mother, not being a +Scripture-read woman made a mistake at his christening, +thinking 'twas Abel killed Cain, and called en Cain, +but 'twas too late, for the name could never be got rid +of in the parish. "Tis very unfortunate for the boy.' + "It is rather unfortunate.' + "Yes. However, we soften it down as much as we +can, and call him Cainey. Ah, pore widow-woman! +she cried her heart +

+out about it almost. She was +brought up by a very heathen father and mother, who +never sent her to church or school, and it shows how +the sins of the parents are visited upon the children, +mem.' + Mr. Fray here drew up his features to the mild degree +of melancholy required when the persons involved in +the given misfortune do not belong to your own family. + "Very well then, Cainey Ball to be under-shepherd +And you quite understand your duties? -- you I mean, +Gabriel Oak?' + "Quite well, I thank you Miss Everdene,' said +Shepard Oak from the doorpost. "If I don't, I'll +inquire.' Gabriel was rather staggered by the remark+ +able coolness of her manner. Certainly nobody without +previous information would have dreamt that Oak and +the handsome woman before whom he stood had ever +been other than strangers. But perhaps her air was +the inevitable result of the social rise which had advanced +her from a cottage to a large house and fields. The +case is not unexampled in high places. When, in the +writings of the later poets, Jove and his family are found +to have moved from their cramped quarters on the peak +of Olympus into the wide sky above it, their words show +a proportionate increase of arrogance and reserve. +Footsteps were heard in the passage, combining in +their character the qualities both of weight and measure, +rather at the expense of velocity. +(All.) 'Here's Billy Smallbury come from Caster+ +bridge.' +' And what's the news ? ' said Bathsheba, as William, +after marching to the middle of the hall, took a hand+ +kerchief from his hat and wiped his forehead from its +centre to its remoter boundaries. +'I should have been sooner, miss,' he said, 'if it +hadn't been for the weather.' He then stamped with +each foot severely, and on looking down his boots were +perceived to be clogged with snow. +'Come at last, is it ?' said Henery. +" Well, what about Fanny ? ' said Bathsheba. +"Well, ma'am, in round numbers, she's run away with +the soldiers,' said William. +

+" No; not a steady girl like Fanny ! ' +"I'll tell ye all particulars. When I got to Caster, +bridge Barracks, they said, " The Eleventh Dragoon+ +Guards be gone away, and new troops have come." +The Eleventh left last week for Melchester and onwards. +The Route came from Government like a thief in the +night, as is his nature to, and afore the Eleventh knew +it almost, they wem on the march. They passed near +here.' +Gabriel had listened with interest. 'I saw them go,' +he said. +' Yes,' continued William, ' they pranced down the +street playing "The Girl I Left Behind Me,' so 'tis +said, in glorious notes of triumph. Every looker-on's +inside shook with the blows of the great drum to his +deepest vitals, and there was not a dry eye throughout +the town among the public-house people and the name+ +less women !.' +'But they're not gone to any war?' +'No, ma'am; but they be gone to take the places +of them who may, which is very close connected. And +so I said to myself, Fanny's young man was one of the +regiment, and she's gone after him. There, ma'am, +that's it in black and white.' +Gabriel remained musing and said nothing, for he +was in doubt. +'Well, we are not likely to know more to-night, at +any rate,' said Bathsheba. 'But one of you had better +run across to Farmer Boldwood's and tell him that +much.' +She then rose; but before retiring, addressed a few +words to them with a pretty dignity, to which her +mourning dress added a soberness that was hardly to +be found in the words themselves. +'Now mind, you have a mistress instead of a master +I don't yet know my powers or my talents in farming; +but I shall do my best, and if you serve me well, so +shall I serve you. Don't any unfair ones among you +(if there are any such, but I hope not) suppose that +because I'm a woman I don't understand the difference +between bad goings-on and good.' +

+(All.) 'Nom!. +(Liddy.) 'Excellent well said.' +'I shall be up before you are awake; I shall be +afield before you are up ; and I shall have breakfasted +before you are afield. In short, I shall astonish you all. +(All.) 'Yes'm!' +'And so good-night.' +(All.) 'Good-night, ma'am.' +Then this small-thesmothete stepped from the table, +and surged out of the hall, her black silk dress licking +up a few straws and dragging them along with a scratch+ +ing noise upon the floor. biddy, elevating her feelings +to the occasion from a sense of grandeur, floated off +behind Bathsheba with a milder dignity not entirely +free from travesty, and the door was closed. + +

+OUTSIDE THE BARRACKS -- SNOW -- A MEETING +FOR dreariness nothing could surpass a prospect in the +outskirts of a certain town and military station, many +miles north of Weatherbury, at a later hour on this +same snowy evening -- if that may be called a prospect +of which the chief constituent was darkness. +It was a night when sorrow may come to the +brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity : +when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitous+ +ness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope : when +the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret +at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, +and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise. +The scene was a public path, bordered on the left +hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall. On +the right was a tract of land, partly meadow'and partly +moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating +uplan. +The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on +spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery. Still, +to a close observer, they are just as perceptible ; the +difference is that their media of manifestation are less +trite and familiar than such well-known ones as the +bursting of the buds or the fall of the leaf. Many are +not so stealthy and gradual as we may be apt to +imagine in considering the general torpidity of a moor +or waste. Winter, in coming to the country hereabout, +advanced in well-marked stages, wherein might have +been successively observed the retreat of the snakes, +the transformation of the ferns, the filling of the pools, +a rising of fogs, the embrowning by frost, the collapse +of the fungi, and an obliteration by snow. +This climax of the series had been reached to-night on +the aforesaid moor, and for the first time in the season +its +

+irregularities were forms without features ; suggestive +of anything, proclaiming nothing, and without more +character than that of being the limit of something +else -- the lowest layer of a firmament of snow. From +this chaotic skyful of crowding flakes the mead and +moor momentarily received additional clothing, only +to appear momentarily more naked thereby. The vast +arch of cloud above was strangely low, and formed as +it were the roof of a large dark cavern, gradually sinking +in upon its floor; for the instinctive thought was that +the snow lining the heavens and that encrusting the +earth would soon unite into one mass without any +intervening stratum of air at all. +We turn our attention to the left-hand characteristics ; +which were flatness in respect of the river, verticality +in respect of the wall behind it, and darkness as to +both. These features made up the mass. If anything +could be darker than the sky, it was the wall, and if any +thing could be gloomier than the wall it was the river +beneath. The indistinct summit of the facade was +notched and pronged by chimneys here and there, and +upon its face were faintly signified the oblong shapes +of windows, though only in the upper part. Below, +down to the water's edge, the flat was unbroken by +hole or projection. +An indescribable succession of dull blows, perplexing +in their regularity, sent their sound- with difficulty +through the fluffy atmosphere. It was a neighbouring +clock striking ten The bell was in the open air, and +being overlaid with several inches of muffling snow, had +lost its voiee for the time. +About this hour the snow abated : ten flakes fell +where twenty had fallen, then one had the room of +ten. Not long after a form moved by the brink of +the river. +By its outline upon the colourless background, a close +observer might have seen 'that it was small. This was +all that was positively discoverable, though it seemed +human. +The shape went slowly along, but without much +exertion, for the snow, though sudden, was not as yet +more than two inches deep. At this time some words +were spoken aloud : -- +' One. Two. 'Three. Four. Five.' + Between each utterance the little shape advanced +about half a dozen yards. It was evident now that +the windows high +

+in the wall were being counted. +The word 'Five' represented the fifth window from +the end of the wall. +Here the spot stopped, and dwindled smaller. The +figure was stooping. Then a morsel of snow flew +across the river towards the fifth window. It smacked +against the wall at a point several yards from its mark. +The throw was the idea of a man conjoined with the +execution of a woman. No man who had ever seen bird, +rabbit, or squirrel in his childhood, could possibly have +thrown with such utter imbecility as was shown here. +Another attempt, and another ; till by degrees the +wall must have become pimpled with the adhering +lumps of snow At last one fragment struck the fifth +window. +The river would have been; seen by day to be of +that deep smooth sort which races middle and' sides +with the same gliding precision, any irregularities of +speed being immediately corrected by a small whirl+ +pool. Nothing was heard in reply to the signal but +the gurgle and cluck of one of these invisible wheels -- +together with a few small sounds which a sad man +would have called moans, and a happy man laughter -- +caused by the flapping of the waters against trifling +objects in other parts of the stream. +The window was struck again in the same manner. +Then a noise was heard, apparently produced by +the opening of the window. This was followed by a +voice from the same quarter. +'Who's there ? ' +The tones were masculine, and not those of surprise. +The high wall being that of a barrack, and marriage +being looked upon with disfavour in the army, assigna+ +tions and communications had probably been made +across the river before tonight. +"Is it Sergeant Troy?' said the blurred spot in the +snow, tremulously. +This person was so much like a mere shade upon +the earth, and the other speaker so much a part of +the building, that one would have said the wall was +holding a conversation with the snow. +

+'Yes,' came suspiciously from the shadow. ' What +girl are you ? ' +'O, Frank -- don't you know me ?' said the spot. +'Your wife, Fanny Robin.' +' Fanny !.' said the wall, in utter astonishment. +'Yes,' said the girl, with a half-suppressed gasp of +emotion. +There was something in the woman's tone which is +not that of the wife, and there was a mannerin the man +which is rarely a husband's. The dialogue went on: +'How did you come here ?' +'I asked which was your window. Forgive me !. ' +"I did not expect you to-night. Indeed, I did not +think you would come at all. It was a wonder you +found me here. I am orderly to-morrow.' +'You said I was to come.' +' Well -- I said that you might.' +'Yes, I mean that I might. You are glad to see me, +Frank ? ' +' O yes -- of course.' +' Can you -- come to me !.' +'My dear Fan, no .! The bugle has sounded, the +barrack gates are closed, and I have no leave. We are +all of us as good as in the county gaol till to-morrow +morning.' +' Then I shan't see you till then .! ' The words- were +in a faltering tone of disappointment. +' How did you get here from Weatherbury ? ' +'I walked -- some part of the way -- the rest by the +carriers.' +' I am surprised.' +' Yes -- so am I. And Frank, when will it 'be ? ' +' What ? ' +' That you promised.' +" I don't quite recollect.' +'0 You do! Don't speak like that. It weighs me +to the earth. It makes me say what ought to be said +first by you.' +' Never mind -- say it.' +'0, must I? -- it is, when shall we be married, +Frank ? ' +" Oh, I " see. Well -- you have to get proper +clothes.' +"I have money. Will it be by banns or license ?' +

+" Banns, I should think.' +" And we live in two parishes.' +"Do we ? What then?' +"My lodgings are in St. Mary's, and this is not. So +they will have to be published in both.' +"Is that the law?' +" Yes. O Frank -- you think me forward, I am +afraid .! Don't, dear Frank -- will you -- for I love you so. +And you said lots of times you would marry me, and +and -- I -- I -- I -- -- ' + "Don't cry, now! It is foolish. If i said so, of +course I will.' +'And shall I put up the banns in my parish, and will +you in yours?' +"Yes' +"To-morrow?' +"Not tomorrow. We'll settle in a few days.' +"You have the permission of the officers?' +"No, not yet.' +"O -- how is it? You said you almost had before +you left Casterbridge.' +"The fact is, I forgot to ask. Your coming like this +I'll go away now. Will you qoDe,and seq be to-morroy +is so sudden and unexpected.' +"Yes -- yes -- it is. It was wrong of me to worry you. +I'll go away now. Will you come and see me to-morrow, +at Mrs. Twills's, in North Street? I don't like to come +to the Barracks. There are bad women about, and they +think me one.' +"Quite,so. I'll come to you, my dean Good-night.' +"Good-night, Frank -- good-night!' +And the noise was again heard of a window closing +The little spot moved away. When she passed the +corner a subdued exclamation was heard inside the +wall. +"Ho -- ho -- Sergeant -- ho -- ho!' An expostulation +followed, but it was indistinct; and it became lost amid +a low peal of laughter, which was hardly distinguishable +from the gurgle of the tiny whirlpools outside. + +

+FARMERS -- A RULE -- IN EXCEPTION +THE first public evidence of Bathsheba's decision to +be a farmer in her own person and by proxy no more +was her appearance the following market-day in. the +cornmarket at Casterbridge. +The low though extensive hall, supported by beams +and pillars, and latterly dignified by-the name of Corn Ex+ +change, was thronged with hot men who talked among +each other in twos and threes, the speaker of the minute +looking sideways into his auditor's face and concentrating +his argument by a contraction of one eyelid during de+ +livery. The greater number carried in their hands +ground-ash saplings, using them partly as walking-sticks +and partly for poking up pigs, sheep, neighbours with +their backs turned, and restful things in general, which +seemed to require such treatment in the course of their +peregrinations. During conversations each subjected +his sapling to great varieties of usage -- bending it round +his back, forming an"arch of it between his two hands, +overweighting it on the ground till it reached nearly a +semicircle; or perhaps it was hastily tucked under the +arm whilst the sample-bag was pulled forth and a hand+ +ful of corn poured into the palm, which, after criticism, +was flung upon the floor, an issue of events perfectly +well known to half-a-dozen acute town-bred fowls which +had as usual crept into the building unobserved, and +waited the fulfilment of their anticipations with a high+ +stretched neck and oblique eye. +Among these heavy yeomen a feminine figure glided, +the single one of her sex that the room contained. She +was prettily and even daintily dressed. She moved +between them as a chaise between carts, was heard after +them as a romance after sermons, was felt among them +like a breeze among furnaces. It had required a little +determination -- far more than she had at +

+first imagined + -- to take up a position here, for at her first entry the +lumbering dialogues had ceased, nearly every face had +been turned towards her, and those that were already +turned rigidly fixed there. +Two or three only of the farmers were personally +known to Bathsheba, and to these she had made her +way. But if she was to be the practical woman she had +intended to show herself, business must be carried on, +introductions or none, and she ultimately acquired con+ +fidence enough to speak and reply boldly to men merely +known to her by hearsay. Bathsheba too had her +sample-bags, and by degrees adopted the professional +pour into the hand -- holding up the grains in her narrow +palm for inspection, in perfect Casterbridge manner. +Something in the exact arch of her upper unbroken +row of teeth, and in the keenly pointed corners of her +red mouth when, with parted lips, she somewhat +defiantly turned up her face to argue a point with a +tall man, suggested that there was potentiality enough +in that lithe slip of humanity for alarming exploits of +sex, and daring enough to carry them out. But her eyes +had a softness -- invariably a softness -- which, had they +not been dark, would have seemed mistiness; as they +were, it lowered an expression that might have been +piercing to simple clearness, +Strange to say of a woman in full bloom and vigor, +she always allowed her interlocutors to finish their state+ +ments before rejoining with hers. In arguing on prices, +he held to her own firmly, as was natural in a dealer, +and reduced theirs persistently, as was inevitable in a +oman. But there was an elasticity in her firmness +which removed it from obstinacy, as there was a naivete +in her cheapening which saved it from meanness. +Those of the farmers with whom she had no dealings +by far the greater part) were continually asking each +other, "Who is she?' The reply would be -- +"Farmer Everdene's niece; took on Weatherbury +Upper Farm; turned away the baily, and swears she'll do +verything herself.' +The other man would then shake his head. +

+"Yes, 'tis a pity she's so headstrong,' the first would +say. "But we ought to be proud of her here -- she +lightens up the old place. 'Tis such a shapely maid, +however, that she'll soon get picked up.' +It would be ungallant to suggest that the novelty of +her engagement in such an occupation had almost as +much to do with the magnetism as had the beauty of +her face and movements. However, te interest was +eneral, and this Saturday's debut in the forum, whatever +it may have been to Bathsheba as the buying and selling +farmer, was unquestionably a triumph to her as the +maiden. Indeed, the sensation was so pronounced that +her instinct on two or three occasions was merely to +valk as a queen among these gods of the fallow, like a +little sister of a little Jove, and"to neglect closing prices +altogether. +The numerous evidences of-her power to attract were +only thrown into greater relief by a marked exception. +Women seem to have eyes in their ribbons for such +matters as these. Bathsheba, without looking within +a right angle of him, was conscious of a black sheep +among the flock. +It perplexed her first. If there had been a respect+ +able minority on either side, the case would have been +most natural. If nobody had regarded her, she would +have -- -taken the matter indifferently -- such cases had +occurred. If eveybody, this man included, she would +have taken it as a matter of course -- people had done +so before. But the smallness of the exception made the +mystery. +She soon knew thus much of the recusant's appear+ +ance. He was a gentlemanly man, with full and +distinctly outlined Roman features, the prominences +of which glowed in the sun with a bronze-like richness +of tone. He was erect in attitude, and quiet in +demeanour. One characteristic pre-eminently marked +him -- dignity. +Apparently he had some time ago reached that +entrance to middle age at which a man's aspect naturally +ceases to alter for the term of a dozen years or so; and, +artificially, a woman't does likewise. Thirty-five and +fifiy were his limits of variation -- he might have been +either, or anywhere between the two. +It may be said that married men of forty are usually +ready +

+and generous enough to fling passing glances at +any specimen of moderate beauty they may discern by +the way. Probably, as with persons playing whist for +love, the consciousness of a certain immunity under +any circumstances from that worst possible ultimate, +the having to pay, makes them unduly speculative. +Bathsheba was convinced that this unmoved person +was not a married man. +When marketing was over, she rushed off to Liddy, +who was waiting for her -- beside the yellowing in which +they had driven to town. The horse was put in, and +on they trotted Bathsheba's sugar, tea, and drapery +parcels being packed behind, and expeessing in some +indescribable manner, by their colour, shape, and +general lineaments, that they were that youmg lady+ +farmer's property, and the grocer's and drapers no +more. +" I've been through it, Liddy, and it is over. I shan't +mind it again, for they will all have grown accustomed +to seeing me there; but this morning it was as bad as +being married -- eyes everywhere!' +"I knowed it would. be,' Liddy said "Men be such +a terrible class of society to look at a body.' +"But there was one man who had more sense than +to waste his time upon me.' The information was put +in this form that Liddy might not for a moment suppose +her mistress was at all piqued. "A very good-looking +man,' she continued, "upright; about forty, I should +think. Do you know at all who he could be?' +Liddy couldn't think. +"Can't you guess at all?' said Bathsheba with some +disappointment. +"I haven't a notion; besides, 'tis no difference, since +he took less notice of you than any of the rest. Now, +if he'd taken more, it would have mattered a great deal.' +Bathsheba was suffering from the reverse feeling just +then, and they bowled along in silence. A low carriage, +bowling along still more rapidly behind a horse of un+ +impeachable breed, overtook and passed them. +"Why, there he is!' she said. +Liddy looked. "That! That's Farmer Boldwood -- +of course +

+'tis -- the man you couldn't see the other day +when he called.' +"Oh, Farmer Boldwood,' murmured Bathsheba, and +looked at him as he outstripped them. The farmer had +never turned his head once, but with eyes fixed on the +most advanced point along the road, passed as uncon+ +sciously and abstractedly as if Bathshea and her charms +were thin air. +"He's an interesting man -- don't you think so?' she +remarked. +"O yes, very. Everybody owns it,' replied Liddy. +"I wonder why he is so wrapt up and indifferent, and +seemingly so far away from all he sees around him,' +"It is said -- but not known for certain -- that he met +with some bitter disappointment when he was a young +man and merry. A woman jilted him, they say.' +"People always say that -- and we know very well +women scarcely ever jilt men; 'tis the men who jilt us. +I expect it is simply his nature to be so reserved.' +"Simply his nature -- I expect so, miss -- nothing else +in the world.' +"Still, 'tis more romantic to think he has been served +cruelly, poor thing'! Perhaps, after all, he has! I +"Depend upon it he has. O yes, miss, he has! +feel he must have.' +"However, we are very apt to think extremes of +people. I -- shouldn't wonder after all if it wasn't a +little of both -- just between the two -- rather cruelly +used and rather reserved.' +"O dear no, miss -- I can't think it between the +two!' +"That's most likely.' +"Well, yes, so it is. I am convinced it is most likely. +You may -- take my word, miss, that that's what's the +matter with him.' + +

+SORTES SANCTORUM -- THE VALENTINE +IT was Sunday afternoon in the farmhouse, on the +thirteenth of February. Dinner being over, Bathsheba, +for want of a better companion, had asked Liddy to +come and sit with her. The mouldy pile was dreary +in winter-time before the candles were lighted and the +shutters closed ; the atmosphere of the place seemed +as old as the walls; every nook behind the furniture +had a temperature of its own, for the fire was not +kindled in this part of the house early in the day; +and Bathsheba's new piano, which was an old one +in other annals, looked particularly sloping and out +of level on the warped floor before night threw a +shade over its less prominent angles and hid the +unpleasantness. Liddy, like a little brook, though +shallow, was always rippling; her presence had not so +much weight as to task thought, and yet enough to +exercise it. +On the table lay an old quarto Bible, bound in +leather. Liddy looking at it said, -- +"Did you ever find out, miss, who you are going to +marry by means of the Bible and key ?, +"Don't be so foolish, Liddy. As if such things +could be.' +" Well, there's a good deal in it, all the same.' +' Nonsense, child.' +" And it makes your heart beat fearful. Some believe +in it; some don't; I do.' +"Very well, let's try it,' said Bathsheba, bounding +from her seat with that total disregard of consistency +which can be indulged in towards a dependent, and +entering into the spirit of divination at once. 'Go and +get the front door key.' +Liddy fetched it. 'I wish it wasn't Sunday,' she +said, on returning. ' Perhaps 'tis wrong.' +' What's right week days is right Sundays,' replied her +mistress in a tone which was a proof in itself. +

+The book was opened -- the leaves, drab with age, +being quite worn away at much-read verses by the fore' +fingers "of unpractised readers in former days, where they +were moved along under the line as an aid to the vision. +The special verse in the Book of Ruth was sought out +by Bathsheba, and the sublime words met her eye. They +slightly thrilled and abashed her. It was Wisdom in +the abstract facing Folly in the concrete. Folly in the +concrete blushed, persisted in her intention, and placed +the key on -the book. A rusty patch immediately upon +the verse, caused by previous pressure of an iron +substance thereon, told that this was not the first time +the old volume had been used for the purpose. +'Now keep steady, and be silent,' said Bathsheba. +The 'verse was repeated; the book turned round ; +Bathsheba blushed guiltily. +'Who did you try ?' said Liddy curiously. +'I shall not tell you.' +'Did you notice Mr. Boldwood's doings in church +this morning, miss ? 'Liddy continued, adumbrating by +the remark the track her thoughts had taken. +'No, indeed,' said Bathsheba, with serene indifference +" His pew is exactly opposite yours, miss.' +"I know it.' +"And you did not see his goings on !,' +Certainly I did not, I tell you.' +Liddy assumed a smaller physiognomy, and shut +her lips decisively. +This move was unexpected, and proportionately dis +concerting. " What did he do?' Bathsheba said perforce. +"Didn't turn his head to look at you once all the +service. +"Why should he?' again demanded her mistress, +wearing a nettled look. "I didn't ask him to. +'Oh no. But everybody else was noticing you ; and +it was odd he didn't. There, 'tis like him. Rich and +gentlemanly, what does he care ? ' +Bathsheba dropped into a silence intended to ex+ +press that she had opinions on the matter too abstruse +for Liddy's comprehension, rather than that she had +nothing to say. +" +

+Dear me -- I had nearly forgotten the valentine +I bought yesterday,' she exclaimed at length. +"Valentine ! who for, miss ? ' said Liddy. " Farmer +Boldwood ?' +It was the single name among all possible wrong +ones that just at this moment seemed to Bathsheba +more pertinent than the right. +"Well, no. It is only for little Teddy Coggan. +have promised him something, and this will be a pretty +surprise for him. Liddy, you may as well bring me +my desk and I'll direct it at once.' +Bathsheba took from her desk a gorgeously illumin+ +ated and embossed design in post-octavo, which had +been "bought on the previous market-day at the chief +stationer's in Casterbridge. In the eentre was a small +oval enclosure ; this was left blank, that the sender +might insert tender words more appropriate to the +special occasion than any generalities by a printer +could possibly be. +" Here's a place for writing,' said Bathsheba. 'What +shall I put ?' +" Something of this sort, I should think', returned +Liddy promptly : -- +" The rose is red, + The violet blue, + Camation's sweet, + And so are you.' +" Yes, that shall be it. It just suits itself to a chubby+ +faced child like him,' said Bathsheba. She ins.erted the +words in a small though legible handwriting; enelosed +the sheet in an envelope, and dipped her pen for the +direction. +"What fun it would be to send it to the stupid old +Boldwood, and how he would wonder.! ' said the +irrepressible Liddy, lifting her eyebrows, and indulging +in an awful mirth on the verge of fear as she thought +of the moral and social magnitude of the man contem+ +plated. +Bathsheba paused to regard the idea at full length. +Boldwood's had begun to be a troublesome image -- a +species of Daniel in her kingdom who persisted in +kneeling eastward +

+when reason and common sense +said that he might just as well follow suit with the +rest, and afford her the official glance of admiration +which cost nothing at all. She was far from being +seriously concerned about his nonconformity. Still, +it was faintly depressing that the most dignified and +valuable man in the parish should withhold his eyes, +and that a girl like Liddy should talk about it. So +Liddy's idea was at first rather harassing than piquant. +" No, I won't do that. He wouldn't see any humour +in it.' +" He'd worry to death,' said the persistent Liddy. +" Really, I don't care particularly to send it to +Teddy,' remarked her mistress. " He's rather a naughty +child sometimes.' +" Yes -- that he is.' +" Let's toss as men do,' said Bathsheba, idly. 'Now +then, head, Boldwood ; tail, Teddy. No, we won't toss +money on a Sunday that would be tempting the devil +indeed.' +"Toss this hymn-book; there can't be no sinfulness +in that, miss.' +'Very well. Open, Boldwood -- shut, Teddy. No; +it's more likely to fall open. Open, Teddy -- shut, +Boldwood.' +The book went fluttering in the air and came down shut. +Bathsheba, a small yawn upon her mouth, took the +pen, and with off-hand serenity directed the missive to +Boldwood. +'Now light a candle, Liddy. Which seal shall we +use? Here's a unicorn's head -- there's nothing in +that. What's this ? -- two doves -- no. It ought to be +something extraodinary, ought it not, Lidd? Here's +one with a motto -- I remember it is some funny one, +but I can't read it. We'll try this, and if it doen't +do we'll have another.' +A large red seal was duly affixed. Bathsheba looked +closely at the hot wax to discover the words. +'Capital!' she exclaimed, throwing down the letter +frolicsomely. " 'Twould upset the solemnity of a parson + +

+The same evening the letter was sent, and was duly +returned to Weatherbury again in the morning. +Of love as a spectacle Bathsheba had a fair knowledge; +but of love subjectively she knew nothing. + +

+EFFECT OF THE LETTER -- SUNRISE +AT dusk, on the evening of St. Valentine's Day, Bold+ +wood sat down to supper as usual, by a beaming fire +of aged logs. Upon the matel-shelf before him was +a time-piece, surmounted by a spread eagle, and upon +the eagle's wings was the letter Bathsheba had sent. +Here the bachelor's gaze was continually fastening +itself, till the large red seal became as a blot of blood +on the retina of his eye; and as he ate and drank he +still read in fancy the words thereon, although they +were too remote for his sight -- +" MARRY ME.' +The pert injunction was like those crystal substances +which, colourless themselves, assume the tone of objects +about them. Here, in the quiet of Boldwood's parlour, +where everything that ,was not grave was extraneous, +and where the atmosphere was that of a Puritan Sunday +lasting all the week, the letter and its dictum changed' +their tenor from the thoughtlessness of their origin to +a deep solemnity, imbibed from their accessories +now. +Since the receipt of the missive in the morning, +Boldwood had felt the symmetry of his existence to +be slowly getting distorted in the direction of an ideal +passion. The disturbance was as the first floating +weed to Columbus -- the eontemptibly little suggesting +possibilities of the infinitely great. +The letter must have had an origin and a motive. +That the latter was of the smallest magnitude com+ +patible with its existence at all, Boldwood, of course, +did not know. And such an explanation did not +strike him as a possibility even. It is foreign to a +mystified condition of mind to realize of the mystifier +that the processes of approving a course suggested by +circumstance, and of striking out a course from inner +impulse, would look the same in the result. The vast +difference between +

+starting a train of events, and direct+ +ing into a particular groove a series already started, is +rarely apparent to the person confounded by the +issue. +When Boldwood went to bed he placed the valen+ +tine in the corner of the looking-glass. He was +conscious of its presence, even when his back was +turned upon it. It was the first time in Boldwood's +life that such an event had occurred. The same +fascination that caused him to think it an act which had +a deliberate motive prevented him from regarding it as +an impertinence. He looked again at the direction. +The mysterious influences of night invested the writing +with the presence of the unknown writer. Somebody's +some woman's -- hand had travelled softly over the +paper bearing his name ; her unrevealed eyes had +watched every curve as she formed it ; her brain had +seen him in imagination the while. Why should +she have imagined him ? Her mouth -- were the lips +red or pale, plump or creased? -- had curved itself to a +certain expression as the pen went on -- the corners had +moved with all their natural tremulousness : what had +been the expression ? +The vision of the woman writing, as a supplement to +the words written, had no individuality. She was a +misty shape, and well she might be, considering that +her original was at that moment sound asleep and +oblivious of all love and letter-writing under the sky. +Whenever Boldwood dozed she took a form, and com+ +paratively ceased to be a vision : when he awoke there +was the letter justifying the dream. +The moon shone to-night, and its light was not of +a customary kind. His window admitted only a +reflection of its rays, and the pale sheen had that +reversed direction which snow gives, coming upward +and lighting up his ceiling in an unnatural way, casting +shadows in strange places, and putting lights where +shadows had used to be. +The substance of the epistle had occupied him but +little in comparison with the fact of its arrival. He +suddenly wondered if anything more might be found in +the envelope than what he had withdrawn. He jumped +out of bed in the weird light, took the letter, pulled out +the flimsy sheet, shook the envelope -- searched it. +Nothing more was there. Boldwood looked, as he +

+had a hundred times the preceding day, at the insistent red +seal : " Marry me,' he said aloud. +The solemn and reserved yeoman again closed the +letter, and stuck it in the frame of the glass. In doing +so he caught sight of his reflected features, wan in +expression, and insubstantial in form. He saw how +closely compressed was his mouth, and that his eyes +were wide-spread and vacant. Feeling uneasy and dis+ +satisfied with himself for this nervous excitability, he +returned to bed. +Then the dawn drew on. The full power of the +clear heaven was not equal to that of a cloudy sky at +noon, when Boldwood arose and dressed himself. He +descended the stairs and went out towards the gate of +a field to the east, leaning over which he paused and +looked around. +It was one of the usual slow sunrises of this time of +the year, and the sky, pure violet in the zenith, was +leaden to the northward, and murky to the east, where, +over the snowy down or ewe-lease on Weatherbury +Upper Farm, and apparently resting upon the ridge, the +only half of the sun yet visible burnt rayless, like a red +and flameless fire shining over a white hearthstone. +The whole effect resembled a sunset as childhood +resembles age. +In other directions, the fields and sky were so much +of one colour by the snow, that it was difficult in a +hasty glance to tell whereabouts the horizon occurred ; +and in general there was here, too, that before-mentioned +preternatural inversion of light and shade which attends +the prospect when the garish brightness commonly in +the sky is found on the earth, and the shades of earth +are in the sky. Over the west hung the wasting moon, +now dull and greenish-yellow, like tarnished brass. +Boldwood was listlessly noting how the frost had +hardened and glazed the surface of the snow, till it +shone in the red eastern light wit-h the polish of marble; +how, in some portions of the slope, withered grass-bents, +encased in icicles, bristled through the smooth wan +coverlet in the twisted and curved shapes of old +Venetian glass; and how the footprints of a few birds, +which had hopped over the snow whilst it lay in the +state of a soft fleece, were now frozen to a short perma+ +

+nency. A half-muffled noise of light wheels interrupted +him. Boldwood turned back into the road. It was +the mail-cart -- a crazy, two-wheeled vehicle, hardly +heavy enough to resist a puff of wind. The driver held +out a letter. Boldwood seized it and opened it, ex+ +pecting another anonymous one -- so greatly are people's +ideas of probability a mere sense that precedent will +repeat itself. +"I don't think it is for you, sir,' said the man, when +he saw Boldwood's action. "Though there is no name +I think it is for your shepherd.' +Boldwood looked then at the address -- +To the New Shepherd, +Weatherbury Farm, +Near Casterbridge. +"Oh -- what a mistake !. -- it is not mine. Nor is it +for my shepherd. It is for Miss Everdene's.' You had +better take it on to him -- Gabriel Oak -- and say I opencd +it in mistake." +At this moment, on the ridge, up against the blazing +sky, a figure was visible, like the black snuff in the +midst of a candle-flame. Then it moved and began to +bustle about vigorously from place to place, carrying +square skeleton masses, which were riddled by the same +rays. A small figure on all fours followed behind. The +tall form was that of Gabriel Oak ; the small one that +of George ; the articles in course of transit were hurdles. +'Wait, 'said Boldwood. " That's the man on the hill. +I'll take the letter to him myself." +To Boldwood it was now no longer merely a letter to +I another man. It was an opportunity. Exhibiting a +face pregnant with intention, he entered the snowy field. +Gabriel, at that minute, descended the hill towards +the right. The glow stretched down in this direction +now, and touched the distant roof of Warren's Malthouse +whither the shepherd was apparently bent : Boldwood +followed at a distance. + +

+THE scarlet and orange light outside the malthouse did +not penetrate to its interior, which was, as usual, lighted +by a rival glow of similar hue, radiating from the hearth. +The maltster, after having lain down in his clothes +for a few hours, was now sitting beside a three-leggcd +table, breakfasting of bread and bacon. This was +eaten on the plateless system, which is performed by +placing a slice of bread upon the table, the meat flat +upon the bread, a mustard plaster upon the meat, and +a pinch of salt upon the whole, then cutting them +vertically downwards with a large pocket-knife till wood +is reached, when the severed lamp is impaled on the +knife, elevated, and sent the proper way of food. +The maltster's lack of teeth appeared not to sensibly +diminish his powers as a mill. He had been without +them for so many years that toothlessness was felt less +to be a defect than hard gums an acquisition. Indeed, +he seemed to approach the grave as a hyperbolic curve +approaches a stmight line -- less directly as he got nearer, +till it was doubtful if he would ever reach it at all. +In the ashpit was a heap of potatoes roasting, and a +boiling pipkin of charred bread, callcd 'coffee,' for the +benefit of whomsoever should call, for Warren's was a +sort of clubhouse. used as an alternative to the in!. +"I say, says I, we get a fine day, and then down +comes a snapper at night,' was a remark now suddenly +heard spreading into the malthouse from the door, which +had been opened the previous moment. The form of +Henery Fray advanced to the fire, stamping the snow +from his boots when about half-way there. The speech +and entry had not seemed to be at all an abrupt begin+ +ning to the maltster, introductoy matter being often +omitted in this neighbourhood, both from word and +

+deed, and the maltster having the same latitude allowed +him, did not hurry to reply. He picked up a fragment +of cheese, by pecking upon it with his knife, as a butcher +picks up skewers. +Henery appeared in a drab kerseymere great-coat, +buttoned over his smock-frock, the white skirts of the +latter being visible to the distance of about a foot below +the coat-tails, which, when you got used to the style of +dress, looked natural enough, and even ornamental -- it +certainly was comfortable. +Matthew Moon, Joseph Poorgrass, and other carters +and waggoners followed at his heels, with great lanterns +dangling from their hands, which showed that they had +just come from the cart-horse stables, where they had +been busily engaged since four o'clock that morning. +"And how is she getting on without a baily?' the +maltster inquired. +Henery shook his head, and smiled one of the bitter +smiles, dragging all the flesh of his forehead into a +corrugated heap in the centre. +" She'll rue it -- surely, surely ! ' he said " Benjy +Pennyways were not a true man or an honest baily -- +as big a betrayer as Joey Iscariot himself. But to think +she can carr' on alone! ' He allowed his head to swing +laterally three or four times in silence. " Never in all my +creeping up -- never! ' +This was recognized by all as the conclusion of some +gloomy speech which had been expressed in thought +alone during the shake of the head; Henery meanwhile +retained several marks of despair upon his face, to +imply that they would be required for use again directly +he should go on speaking. +'All will be ruined, and ourselves too, or there's no +meat in gentlemen's houses!' said Mark Clark. +'A headstrong maid, that's what she is -- and won't +listen to no advice at all. Pride and vanity have ruined +many a cobbler's dog. Dear, dear, when I think o' it, +I sorrows like a man in travel ! ' +'True, Henery, you do, I've heard ye,' said Joseph +Poorgrass in a voice of thorough attestation, and with +a wire-drawn smile of misery. +"'Twould do a martel man no harm to have what's +under +

+her bonnet,' said Billy Smallbury, who had just +entered, bearing his one tooth before him. "She can +spaik real language, and must have some sense some+ +where. Do ye foller me ?' +"I do: but no baily -- I deserved that place,' wailed +Henery, signifying wasted genius by gazing blankly at +visions of a high destiny apparently visible to him on +Billy Smallbury's smock-frock. " There, 'twas to be, I +suppose. Your lot is your lot, and Scripture is nothing; +for if you do good you don't get rewarded according to +your works, but be cheated in some mean way out of +your recompense.' +"No, no; I don't agree with'ee there,' said Mark +Clark. God's a perfect gentleman in that respect.' +"Good works good pay, so to speak it,' attested +Joseph Poorgrass. +A short pause ensued, and as a sort of entr'acte +Henery turned and blew out the lanterns, which the +increase of daylight rendered no longer necessary even +in the malthouse, with its one pane of glass. +"I wonder what a farmer-woman can want with a +harpsichord, dulcimer, pianner, or whatever 'tis they d'call +it?' said the maltster. 'Liddy saith she've a new one.' +"Got a pianner?' +"Ay. Seems her old uncle's things were not good +enough for her. She've bought all but everything new. +There's heavy chairs for the stout, weak and wiry ones +for the slender; great watches, getting on to the size +of clocks, to stand upon the chimbley-piece.' +Pictures, for the most part wonderful frames.' +" And long horse-hair settles for the drunk, with horse+ +hair pillows at each end,' said Mr. Clark. " Likewise +looking-glasses for the pretty, and lying books for the +wicked.' +A firm loud tread was now heard stamping outside; +the door was opened about six inches, and somebody on +the other side exclaimed -- +"Neighbours, have ye got room for a few new-born +lambs?' +" Ay, sure, shepherd,' said the conclave. +The door was flung back till it kicked the wall and +trembled from top to bottom with the blow. Mr. +Oak appeared in the +

+entry with a steaming face, hay+ +bands wound about his ankles to keep out the snow, a +leather strap round his waist outside the smock-frock, +and looking altogether an epitome of the world's health +and vigour. Four lambs hung in various embarrassing +attitudes over his shoulders, and the dog George, whom +Gabriel had contrived to fetch from Norcombe, stalked +solemnly behind. +" Well, Shepherd Oak, and how's lambing this year, +if I mid say it?' inquired Joseph Poorgrass. +"Terrible trying," said Oak. "I've been wet through +twice a-day, either in snow or rain, this last fortnight. +Cainy and I haven't tined our eyes to-night.' +"A good few twins, too, I hear ?' +"Too many by half. Yes ; 'tis a very queer lambing +this year. We shan't have done by Lady Day.' +"And last year 'twer all over by Sexajessamine +Sunday,' Joseph remarked. +"Bring on the rest Cain,' said Gabriel, " and then run +back to the ewes. I'll follow you soon.' +Cainy Ball -- a cheery-faced young lad, with a small +circular orifice by way of mouth, advanced and deposited +two others, and retired as he was bidden. Oak lowered +the lambs from their unnatural elevation, wrapped them +in hay, and placed them round the fire. +" We've no lambing-hut here, as I used to have at +Norcombe,' said Gabriel, " and 'tis such a plague to bring +the weakly ones to a house. If 'twasn't for your place +here, malter, I don't know what I should do! this keen +weather. And how is it with you to-day, malter? ' +" Oh, neither sick nor sorry, shepherd ; 'but no +younger.' +" Ay -- I understand. +"Sit down, Shepherd Oak', continued the ancient man +of malt. " And how was the old place at Norcombe, +when ye went for your dog? I should like to see the +old familiar spot ; but faith, I shouldn't" know a soul +there now.' +" I suppose you wouldn't. 'Tis' altered very much.' +"Is it true that Dicky Hill's wooden cider-house is +pulled down?' +

+" O yes -- years ago, and Dicky's cottage just above it.' +"Well, to be sure!, +" Yes ; and Tompkins's old apple-tree is rooted that +used to bear two hogsheads of cider; and no help from +other trees.' +'Rooted? -- you don't say it! Ah! stirring times we +live in -- stirring times.' +"And you can mind the old well that used to be in +the middle of the place? That's turned into a solid +iron pump with a large stone trough, and all complete.' +"Dear, dear -- how the face of nations alter, and +what we live to see nowadays! Yes -- and 'tis the same +here. They've been talking but now of the mis'ess's +strange doings.' +" What have you been saying about her?' inquired +Oak, sharply turning to the rest, and getting very +warm. +" These middle-aged men have been pulling her over +the coals for pride and vanity,' said Mark Clark; "but +I say, let her have rope enough. Bless her pretty face +shouldn't I like to do so -- upon her cherry lips!' +The gallant Mark Clark here made a peculiar and well +known sound with his own. +" Mark,' said Gabriel, sternly, 'now you mind this ! +none of that dalliance-talk -- that smack-and-coddle style +of yours -- about Miss Everdene. I don't allow it. Do +you hear? ' +" With all my heart, as I've got no chance,' replied +Mr. Clark, cordially. +' I suppose you've been speaking against her? ' said +Oak, turning to Joseph Poorgrass with a very grim +look. +"No, no -- not a word I -- 'tis a real joyful thing that +she's no worse, that's what I say,' said Joseph, trembling +and blushing with terror. " Matthew just said -- -- ' +" Matthew Moon, what have you been saying ? ' asked +Oak. +'I? Why ye know I wouldn't harm a worm -- no, +not one underground worm ?' said Matthew Moon, +looking very uneasy. +"Well, somebody has -- and look here, neighbours.' +Gabriel, though one of the quietest and most gentle +men on earth, rose to the occasion, with martial +promptness and vigour. "That's my fist.' Here he +placed his fist, rather smaller in size than a common +loaf, in the mathemarical centre of the maltster's little +table, and with it gave a bump or two thereon, as if +

+to ensure that their eyes all thoroughly took in the +idea of fistiness before he went further. "Now -- the +first man in the parish that I hear prophesying bad of +our mistress, why' (here the fist was raised and let fall +as T'hor might have done with his hammer in assaying +it) -- "he'll smell and taste that -- or I'm a Dutchman.' +All earnestly expressed by their features that their +minds did not wander to Holland for a moment on +account of this statement, but were deploring the +difference which gave rise to the figure ; and Mark +Clark cried "Hear, hear; just what I should ha' said.' +The dog George looked up at the same time after the +shepherd's menace, and though he understood English +but imperfectly, began to growl. +" Now, don't ye take on so, shepherd, and sit down!' +said Henery, with a deprecating peacefulness equal to +anything of the kind in Christianity. +"We hear that ye bc a extraordinary good and +clever man, shepherd,' said Joseph Poorgrass with +considerable anxiety from behind the maltster's bed+ +stead whither he had retired for safety. "'Tis a great +thing to be clever, I'm sure,' he added, making move+ +ments associated with states of mind rather than body ; +" we wish we were, don't we, neighbours ? ' +"Ay, that we do, sure,' said Matthew Moon, with +a small anxious laugh towards Oak, to show how very +friendly disposed he was likewise. +" Who's been telling you I'm clever?' said Oak. +"'Tis blowed about from pillar to post quite common,' +said Matthew. " We hear that ye can tell the t1me as +well by the stars as we can by the sun and moon, +shepherd.' +" Yes, I can do a little that way,' said Gabriel, as a +man of medium sentiments on the subject. +names upon their waggons almost like copper-plate, +with beautiful flourishes, and great long tails. A +excellent fine thing for ye to be such a clever man, +shepherd. Joseph Poorgrass used to prent to Farmer +James Everdene's waggons before you came, and 'a +could never mind which way to turn the J's and E's + -- could ye, Joseph?' Joseph shook his head to express +how absolute was +

+the fact that he couldn't. "And so +you used to do 'em the wrong way, like this, didn't ye, +Joseph ?' Matthew marked on the dusty floor with his +whip-handle +LAMES +"And how Farmer James would cuss, and call thee a +fool, wouldn't he, Joseph, when 'a seed his name +looking so inside-out-like ?' continued Matthew Moon +with feeling. +'Ay -- 'a would,' said Joseph, meekly. " But, you see, +I wasn't so much to blame, for them J's and E's be +such trying sons o' witches for the memory to mind +whether they face backward or forward ; and I always +had such a forgetful memory, too.' +"'Tis a bad afiction for ye, being such a man of +calamities in other ways.' +" Well, 'tis ; but a happy Providence ordered that it +should be no worse, and I feel my thanks. As to +shepherd, there, I'm sure mis'ess ought to have made +ye her baily -- such a fitting man for't as you be.' +"I don't mind owning that I expected it,' said Oak, +frankly. ' Indeed, I hoped for the place. At the same +time, Miss Everdene has a right to be own baily if +she choose -- and to keep me down to be a common +shepherd only.' Oak drew a slow breath, looked sadly +into the bright ashpit, and seemed lost in thoughts not +of the most hopeful hue. +The genial warmth of the fire now began to stimulate +the nearly lifeless lambs to bleat and move their limbs +briskly upon the hay, and to recognize for the first time +the fact that they were born. Their noise increased to a +chorus of baas, upon which Oak pulled the milk-can from +before the fire, and taking a small tea-pot from the pocket +of his smock-frock, filled it with milk, and taught those of +the helpless creatures which were not to be restored to +their dams how to drink from the spout -- a trick they +acquired with astonishing aptitude. +"And she don't even let ye have the skins of the +dead lambs, I hear?' resumed Joseph Poorgrass, his +eyes lingering on the operations of Oak with the neces+ +sary melancholy. +"I don't have them,' said Gabriel. +"Ye be very badly used, shepherd,' hazardcd Joseph +again, in +

+the hope of getting Oak as an ally in lamenta+ +tion after all. "I think she's took against ye -- that +I do.' +'O no -- not at all,' replied Gabriel, hastily, and a +sigh escaped him, which the deprivation of lamb skins +could hardly have caused. +Before any further remark had been added a shade +darkened the door, and Boldwood entered the malthouse, +bestowing upon each a nod of a quality between friendli+ +ness and condescension. +"Ah! Oak, I thought you were here,' he said. 'I +met the mail-cart ten minutes ago, and a letter was put +into my hand, which I opened without reading the +address. I believe it is yours. You must excuse the +accident please.' +"O yes -- not a bit of difference, Mr. Boldwood -- +not a bit,' said Gabriel, readily. He had not a corre+ +spondent on earth, nor was there a possible letter coming +to him whose contents the whole parish would not have +been welcome to persue. +Oak stepped aside, and read the following in an +unknown hand: -- +" DEAR FRIEND, -- I do not know your name, but l think +these few lines will reach you, which I wrote to thank you +for your kindness to me the night I left Weatherbury in a +reckless way. I also return the money I owe you, which +you will excuse my not keeping as a gift. All has ended +well, and I am happy to say I am going to be married to +the young man who has courted me for some time -- Sergeant +Troy, of the 11th Dragoon Guards, now quartered in this +town. He would, I know, object to my having received +anything except as a loan, being a man of great respecta+ +bility and high honour -- indeed, a nobleman by blood. + "I should be much obliged to you if you would keep the +contents of this letter a secret for the present, dear friend. +We mean to surprise Weatherbury by coming there soon +as husband and wife, though l blush to state it to one nearly +a strangen The sergeant grew up in Weatherbury. Thank+ +ing you again for your kindness, +"I am, your sincere well-wisher, +" FANNV ROBIN.' +' Have you read it, Mr. Boldwood?' said Gabriel; +"if not, you had better do so. I know you are interested +in Fanny Robin.' +

+Boldwood read the letter and looked grieved. +"Fanny -- poor Fanny! the end she is so confident +of has not yet come, she should remember -- and may +never come. I see she gives no address.' +"What sort of a man is this Sergeant Troy?' said +Gabriel. +"H'm -- I'm afraid not one to build much hope upon +in such a case as this,' the farmer murmured, "though +he's a clever fellow, and up to everything. A slight +romance attaches to him, too. His mother was a French +governess, and it seems that a secret attachment existed +between her and the late Lord Severn. She was married +to a poor medical man, and soon after an infant was +horn; and while money was forthcoming all went on +well. Unfortunately for her boy, his best friends died; +and he got then a situation as second clerk at a lawyer's +in Casterbridge. He stayed there for some time, and +might have worked himself into a dignified position of +some sort had he not indulged in the wild freak of +enlisting. I have much doubt if ever little Fanny will +surprise us in the way she mentions -- very much doubt +A silly girl! -- silly girl!' +The door was hurriedly burst open again, and in +came running Cainy Ball out of breath, his mouth red +and open, like the bell of a penny trumpet, from which +he coughed with noisy vigour and great distension of face. +"Now, Cain Ball,' said Oak, sternly, "why will you +run so fast and lose your breath so? I'm always telling +you of it.' +'Oh -- I -- a puff of mee breath -- went -- the -- wrong +way, please, Mister Oak, and made me cough -- hok -- +hok!' +"Well -- what have you come for?' +"I've run to tell ye,' said the junior shepherd, +supporting his exhausted youthful frame against the +doorpost, ' that you must come directly'. Two more ewes +have twinned -- that's what's the matter, Shepherd Oak.' +" Oh, that's it,' said Oak, jumping up, and dimissing +for the present his thoughts on poor Fanny. " You are +a good boy to run and tell me, Cain, and you shall +smell a large plum pudding some day as a treat. But, +before we go, Cainy, bring the tarpot, and we'll mark +this lot and have done with 'em.' +

+Oak took from his illimitable pockets a marking iron, +dipped it into the pot, and imprintcd on the buttocks +of the infant sheep the initials of her he delighted to +muse on -- "B. E.,' which signified to all the region +round that henceforth the lambs belonged to Farmer +Bathsheba Everdene, and to no one else. +" Now, Cainy, shoulder your two, and off Good +morning, Mr. Boldwood.' The shepherd lifted the +sixteen large legs and four small bodies he had himself +brought, and vanished with them in the direction of +the lambing field hard by -- their frames being now in a +sleek and hopeful state, pleasantly contrasting with their +death's-door plight of hialf an hour before. +Boldwood followed him a little way up the field, +hesitated, and turned back. He followed him again +with a last resolve, annihilating return. On approaching +the nook in which the fold was constructed, the farmer +drew out-his pocket-book, unfastened-it, and allowed it +to lie open on his hand. A letter was revealed -- Bath+ +sheba's. +"I was going to ask you, Oak,' he said, with unreal +carelessness, "if you know whose writing this is? ' +Oak glanced into the book, and replied instantly, +with a flushed face, " Miss Everdene's.' +Oak had coloured simply at the consciousness of +sounding her name. He now felt a strangely distressing +qualm from a new thought. ' The letter could of course +be no other than anonymous, or the inquiry would not +have been necessary. +Boldwood mistook his confusion : sensitive persons +are always ready with their "Is it I ? ' in prefercnce to +objective reasoning. +" The question was perfectly fair,' he returned -- and +there was something incongruous in the serious eamest+ +ness with which he applied himself to an argument on +a valentine. " You know it is always expected that +privy inquiries will be made : that's where the -- fun +lies.' If the word "fun' had been "torture,' it could +not have been uttered with a more constrained and +restless countenance than was Boldwood's then.' +Soon parting from Gabriel, the lonely and reserved +man returned to his house to breakfast -- feeling twinges +of shame and regret at having so far exposed his mood +by those fevered +

+questions to a stranger. He again +placed the letter on the mantelpiece, and sat down to +think of the circumstances attending it by the light of +Gabriel's information. +ALL SAINTS' AND ALL SOULS" + +

+ALL SAINTS' AND ALL SOULS' +ON a week-day morning a small congregation, con+ +sisting mainly of women and girls, rose from its knees +in the mouldy nave of a church called All Saints', in +the distant barrack-town before mentioned, at the end +of a service without a sermon. They were about to +disperse, when a smart footstep, entering the porch and +coming up the central passage, arrested their attention. +The step echoed with a ring unusual in a church; it +was the clink of spurs. Everybody looked. A young +cavalry soldier in a red uniform, with the three chevrons +of a sergeant upon his sleeve, strode up the aisle, with +an embarrassment which was only the more marked +by the intense vigour of his step, and by the deter+ +mination upon his face to show none. A slight flush +had mounted his cheek by the time he had run the +gauntlet between these women ; but, passing on through +the chancel arch, he never paused till he came close +to the altar railing. Here for a moment he stood +alone. +The officiating curate, who had not yet doffed his +surplice, perceived the new-comer, and followed him +to the communion-space. He whispered to the soldier, +and then beckoned to the clerk, who in his turn +whispered to an elderly woman, apparently his wife, and +they also went up the chancel steps. +"'Tis a wedding!' murmured some of the women, +brightening. " Let's wait!' +The majority again sat down. +There was a creaking of machinery behind, and +some of the young ones turned their heads. From the +interior face of the west wall of the tower projected a +little canopy with a quarter-jack and small bcll beneath +it, the automaton being driven by the same clock +machinery that struck the large bell in the tower. Be+ +tween the tower and the church was a close sereen, the +door of which was kept shut during services, hiding +this +

+grotesque clockwork from sight. At present, how+ +ever, the door was open, and the egress of the jack, the +blows on the bell, and the mannikin's retreat intc.the +nook again, were visible to many, and audible through+ +out the church. +The jack had struck half-past eleven. +" Where's the woman ?" whispered some of the +spectators. +The young sergeant stood still with the abnormal +rigidity of the old pillars around. He faced the south+ +east, and was as silent as he was still. +The silence grew to be a noticeable thing as the +minutes went on, and nobody else appeared, and not a +soul moved. The rattle of the quarter-jack again from +its niche, its blows for three-quarters, its fussy retreat, +were almost painfully abrupt, and caused many of the +congregation to start palpably. +"I wonder where the woman is!' a voice whispered +again. +There began now that slight shifting of feet, that +artificial coughing among several, which betrays a +nervous suspense. At length there was a titter. But +the soldier never moved. There he stood, his face to +the south-east, upright as a column, his cap in his hand. +The clock ticked on. The women threw off their +nervousness, and titters and giggling became more +frequent. Then came a dead silence. Every one was +waiting for the end. Some persons may have noticed +how extraordinarily the striking of quarters. seems to +quicken the flight of time. It was hardly credible that +the jack had not got wrong with the minutes when the +rattle began again, the puppet emerged, and the four +quarters were struck fitfully as before: One could al+ +most be positive that there was a malicious leer upon +the hideous creature's face, and a mischievous delight +in its twitchings. Then, followed the dull and remote +resonance of the twelve heavy strokes in the tower +above. The women were impressed, and there was no +giggle this time. +The clergyman glided into the vestry, and the clerk +vanished. The sergeant had not yet turned ; every +woman in the church was waiting to see his face, and +he appeared to know it. At last he did turn, and +stalked resolutely down the nave, braving them all, +with a compressed lip. Two bowed and toothless old +

+almsmen then looked at each other and chuckled, +innocently enough ; but the sound had a strange weird +effect in that place. +Opposite to the church was a paved square, around +which several overhanging wood buildings of old time +cast a picturesque shade. The young man on leaving +the door went to cross the square, when, in the middle, +he met a little woman. The expression of her face, +which had been one of intense anxiety, sank at the +sight of his nearly to terror. +" Well ? ' he said, in a suppressed passion, fixedly +looking at her. +" O, Frank -- I made a mistake! -- I thought that +church with the spire was All Saints', and I was at the +door at half-past eleven to a minute as you said. +waited till a quarter to twelve, and found then that I +was in All Souls'. But I wasn't much frightened, for +I thought it could be to-morrow as well.' +"You fool, for so fooling me! But say no more.' +" Shall it be to-monow, Frank ? ' she asked blankly. +"To-morrow !' and he gave vent to a hoarse laugh. +"I don't go through that experience again for some +time, I warrant you ! ' +" But after all,' she expostulated in a trembling voice, +"the mistake was not such a terrible thing! Now, dear +Frank, when shall it be?' +"Ah, when ? God knows !' he said, with a light +irony, and turning from her walked rapidly away. + +

+IN THE MARKET-PLACE +ON Saturday Boldwood was in Casterbridge market +house as usual, when the disturber of his dreams entered +and became visible to him. Adam had awakened from +his deep sleep, and behold! there was Eve. The +farmer took courage, and for the first time really looked +at her. +Material causes and emotional effects are not to be +arranged in regular equation. The result from capital +employed in the production of any movement of a +mental nature is sometimes as tremendous as the cause +itself is absurdly minute. When women are in a freakish +mood, their usual intuition, either from carelessness or +inherent defect, seemingly fails to teaeh them this, and +hence it was that Bathsheba was fated to be astonished +today. +Boldwood looked at her -- not slily, critically, or +understandingly, but blankly at gaze, in the way a +reaper looks up at a passing train -- as something foreign +to his element, and but dimly understood. To Bold+ +wood women had been remote phenomena rather than +necessary complements -- comets of such uncertain +aspeet, movement, and permanence, that whether +their orbits were as geometrical, unchangeable, and +as subject to laws as his own, or as absolutely erratic +as they superficially appeared, he had not deemed it +his duty to consider. +He saw her black hair, her correct facial curves +and profile, and the roundness of her chin and throat. +He saw then the side of her eyelids, eyes, and lashes, +and the shape of her ear. Next he noticed her figure, +her skirt, and the very soles of her shoes. +Boldwood thought her beautiful, but wondered +whether he was right in his thought, for it seemed +impossible that this romance in the flesh, if so sweet +as he imagined, could have +

+been going on long without +creating a commotion of delight among men, and pro+ +voking more inquiry than Bathsheba had done, even +though that was not a little. To the best of his judg+ +ment neither nature nor art could improve this perfect +one of an imperfect many. His heart began to move +within him. Boldwood, it must be remembered, though +forty years of age, had never before inspected a woman +with the very centre and force of his glance; they had +struck upon all his senses at wide angles. +Was she really beautiful? He could not assure +himself that his opinion was true even now. He fur+ +tively said to a neighbour, 'Is Miss Everdene considered +handsome?' +"0 yes; she was a good deal 'notied the first +time she came, if you remember. A very handsome +girl indeed.' +A man is never more credulous than in receiving +favourable opinions on the beauty of a woman he is +half, or quite, in love with; a mere child's word on the +point has the weight of an R.A.'s. Boldwood was +satisfied now. +And this charming woman had in effect said to +him, "Marry me.' Why should she have done that +strange thing ? Boldwood's blindness to the difference +between approving of what circumstances suggest, and +originating what they do not suggest, was well matched +by Bathsheba's insensibility to the possibly great issues +of little beginnings. +She was at this moment coolly dealing with a dashing +young farmer, adding up accounts with him as indiffer+ +ently as if his face had been the pages of a ledger. It +was evident that such a nature as his had no attraction +for a woman of Bathsheba's taste. But Boldwood grew +hot down to his hands with an incipient jealousy; he +trod for the first time the threshold of "the injured +lover's hell.' His first impulse was to go and thrust +himself between them. This could be done, but only +in one way -- by asking to see a sample of her corn. +Boldwood renounced the idea. He could not make +the request; it was debasing loveliness to ask it to +buy and sell, and jarred with his conceptions of her. +All this time Bathsheba was conscious of having +broken into that dignified stronghold at last. His +eyes, she knew, were +

+following her everywhere. This +was a triumph; and had it come naturally, such a +triumph would have been the sweeter to her for this +piquing delay. But it had been brought about by +misdirected ingenuity, and she valued it only as she +valued an artificial flower or a wax fruit. +Being a woman with some good sense in reasoning +on subjects wherein her heart was not involved, Bath+ +sheba genuinely repented that a freak which had owed +its existence as much to Liddy as to herself, should +ever have been undertaken, to disturb the placidity of +a man she respected too highly to deliberately tease. +She that day nearly formed the intention of begging +his pardon on the very next occasion of their meeting. +The worst features of this arrangement were that, if +he thought she ridiculed him, an apology would in+ +crease the offence by being disbelieved; and if he +thought she wanted him to woo her, it would read +like additional evidence of her forwardness. + +

+BOLDWOOD IN MEDITATION -- REGRET +BOLDWOOD was tenant of what was called Little +Weatherbury Farm, and his person was the nearest ap+ +proach to aristocracy that this remoter quarter of the +parish could boast of. Genteel strangers, whose god +was their town, who might happen to be compelled to +linger about this nook for a day, heard the sound of +light wheels, and prayed to see good society, to the +degree of a solitary lord, or squire at the very least, +but it was only Mr. Boldwood going out for the day. +They heard the sound of wheels yet once more, and +were re-animated to expectancy : it was only Mr. Bold+ +wood coming home again. +His house stood recessed from the road, and the +stables, which are to a farm what a fireplace is to a +room, were behind, their lower portions being lost +amid bushes of laurel. Inside the blue door, open +half-way down, were to be seen at this time the backs +and tails of half-a-dozen warm and contented horses +standing in their stalls; and as thus viewed, they pre+ +sented alternations of roan and bay, in shapes like a +Moorish arch, the tail being a streak down the midst +of each. Over these, and lost to the eye gazing in +from the outer light, the mouths of the same animals +could be heard busily sustaining the above-named +warmth and plumpness by quantities of oats and hay. +The restless and shadowy figure of a colt wandered +about a loose-box at the end, whilst the steady grind +of all the eaters was occasionally diversified by the +rattle of a rope or the stamp of a foot. +Pacing up and down at the heels of the animals was +Farmer Boldwood himself. This place was his almonry +and cloister in one : here, after looking to the feeding +of his four-footed dependants, the celibate would walk +and meditate of an evening till the moon's rays streamed +in through the cobwebbed windows, or total darkness +enveloped the scene. +

+His square-framed perpendicularity showed more fully +now than in the crowd and bustle of the market-house. +In this meditative walk his foot met the floor with heel +and toe simultaneously, and his fine reddish-fleshed face +was bent downwards just enough to render obscure the +still mouth and the well-rounded though rather prominent +and broad chin. A few clear and thread-like horizontal +lines were the only interruption to the otherwise smooth +surface of his large forehead. +The phases of Boldwood's life were ordinary enough, +but his was not an ordinary nature. That stillness, +which struck casual observers more than anything else +in his character and habit, and seemed so precisely +like the rest of inanition, may have been the perfect +balance of enormous antagonistic forces -- positives and +negatives in fine adjustment. His equilibrium disturbed, +he was in extremity at once. If an emotion possessed +him at all, it ruled him; a feeling not mastering him +was entirely latent. Stagnant or rapid, it was never +slow. He was always hit mortally, or he was missed. +He had no light and careless touches in his constitu+ +tion, either for good or for evil. Stern in the outlines of +action, mild in the details, he was serious throughout all. +He saw no absurd sides to the follies of life, and thus, +though not quite companionable in the eyes of merry +men and scoffers, and those to whom all things show +life as a jest, he was not intolerable to the earnest and +those acquainted with grief. Being a man -who read +all the dramas of life seriously, if he failed to please +when they were comedies, there was no frivolous treat+ +ment to reproach him for when they chanced to end +tragically. +Bathsheba was far from dreaming that the dark and +silent shape upon which she had so carelessly thrown a +seed was a hotbed of tropic intensity. Had she known +Boldwood's moods, her blame would have been fearful, +and the stain upon her heart ineradicable. Moreover, +had she known her present power for good or evil over +this man, she would have trembled at her responsibility. +Luckily for her present, unluckily for her future tran+ +quillity, her understanding had not yet told her what +Boldwood was. Nobody knew entirely ; for though it +was possible to form guesses concerning his wild 'capa+ +

+bilities from old floodmarks faintly visible, he had never +been seen at the high tides which caused them. +Farmer Boldwood came to the stable-door and looked +forth across the level fields. Beyond the first enclosure +was a hedge, and on the other side of this a meadow +belonging to Bathsheba's farm. +It was now early spring -- the time of going to grass +with the sheep, when they have the first feed of the +meadows, before these are laid up for mowing. The +wind, which had been blowing east for several weeks, +had veered to the southward, and the middle of spring +had come abruptly -- almost without a beginning. It +was that period in the vernal quarter when we map +suppose the Dryads to be waking for the season. The +vegetable world begins to move and swell and the saps +to rise, till in the completest silence of lone gardens +and trackless plantations, where- everything seems -help+ +less and still after the bond and slavery of frost, there +are bustlings, strainings, united thrusts, and pulls-all+ +together, in comparison with which the powerful tugs of +cranes and pulleys in a noisy city are but. pigmy efforts. +"Boldwood, looking into the distant meadows, saw +there three figures. They were those of Miss' Everdene, +Shepherd Oak, and Cainy Ball. +When Bathsheba's figure shone upon the farmer's +eyes it lighted him up as the moon lights up a great +tower. A man's body is as the shell; or the tablet, of +his soul, as he is reserved or ingenuous, overflowing or +self-contained. There was a change in Boldwood's +exterior from its former impassibleness ; and his face +showed that he was now living outside his defences +for the first time, and with a fearful sense of exposure. +It is the usual experience of strong natures when they +love. +At last he arrived at a conclusion. It was to go +across and inquire boldly of her. +The insulation of his heart by reserve during these +many years, without a channel of any kind for disposable +emotion, had worked its effect. It has been observed +more than once that the causes of love are chiefly +

+subjective, and Boldwood was a living testimony to +the truth of the proposition. No mother existed to +absorb his devotion, no sister for his tenderness, no +idle ties for sense. He became surcharged with the +compound, which was genuine lover's love. +He approached the gate of the meadow. Beyond +it the ground was melodious with ripples, and the sky +with larks; the low bleating of the flock mingling with +both. Mistress and man were engaged in the operation +of making a lamb "take,' which is performed whenever +an ewe has lost her own offspring, one of the twins of +another ewe being given her as a substitute. Gabriel +had skinned the dead lamb, and was tying the skin +over the body of the live lamb, in the customary manner, +whilst Bathsheba was holding open a little pen of four +hurdles, into which the Mother and foisted lamb were +driven, where they would remain till the old sheep +conceived an affection for the young one. +Bathsheba looked up at the completion of the +manouvre, and saw the farmer by the gate, where he +was overhung by a willow tree in full bloom. Gabriel, +to whom her face was as the uncertain glory of an April +day, was ever regardful of its faintest changes, and +instantly discerned thereon the mark of some influence +from without, in the form of a keenly self-conscious +reddening. He also turned and beheld Boldwood. +At onee connecting these signs with the letter Bold+ +wood had shown him, Gabriel suspected her of some +coquettish procedure begun by that means, and carried +on since, he knew not how. +Farmer Boldwood had read the pantomime denoting +that they were aware of his presence, and the perception +was as too much light turned upon his new sensibility. +He was still in the road, and by moving on he hoped +that neither would recognize that he had originally +intended to enter the field. He passed by with an +utter and overwhelming sensation of ignorance, shyness, +and doubt. Perhaps in her manner there were signs +that she wished to see him -- perhaps not -- he could not +read a woman. The cabala of this erotic philosophy +seemed to consist of the subtlest meanings expressed in +misleading ways. +

+Every turn, look, word, and accent +contained a mystery quite distinct from its obvious +import, and not one had ever been pondered by him +until now. +As for Bathsheba, she was not deceived into the +belief that Farmer Boldwood had walked by on business +or in idleness. She collected the probabilities of the +case, and concluded that she was herself responsible for +Boldwood's appearance there. It troubled her much +to see what a great flame a little Wildfire was likely to +kindle. Bathsheba was no schemer for marriage, nor +was she deliberately a trifler with the affections of men, +and a censor's experience on seeing an actual flirt after +observing her would have been a feeling of surprise +that Bathsheba could be so different from such a one, +and yet so like what a flirt is supposed to be. +She resolved never again, by look or by sign, to +interrupt the steady flow of this man's life. But a +resolution to avoid an evil is seldom framed till the evil +is so far advanced as to make avoidance impossible. + +

+THE SHEEP-WASHING -- THE OFFER +BOLDWOOD did eventually call upon her. She was +not at home. " Of course not,' he murmured. In con+ +templating Bathsheba as a woman, he had forgotten the +accidents of her position as an agriculturist -- that being +as much of a farmer, and as extensive a farmer, as +himself, her probable whereabouts was out-of-dooTs at +this time of the year. This, and the other oversights +Boldwood was guilty of, were natural to the mood, and +still more natural to the circumstances. The great aids +to idealization in love were present here : occasional +observation of her from a distance, and the absence of +social intercourse with her -- visual familiarity, oral +strangeness. The smaller human elements were kept +out of sight ; the pettinesses that enter so largely into +all earthly living and doing were disguised by the +accident of lover and loved-one not being on visiting +terms ; and there was hardly awakened a thought in +Boldwood that sorry household realities appertained to +her, or that she, like all others, had moments of +commonplace, when to be least plainly seen was to be +most prettily remembered. Thus a mild sort of +apotheosis took place in his fancy, whilst she still lived +and breathed within his own horizon, a troubled creature +like himself. +It was the end of May when the farmer determined +to be no longer repulsed by trivialities or distracted by +suspense. He had by this time grown used to being in +love; the passion now startled him less even when it +tortured him more, and he felt himself adequate to the +situation. On inquiring for her at her house they had +told him she was at the sheepwashing, and he went off +to seek her there. +The sheep-washing pool was a perfectly circular basin +of brickwork in the meadows, full of the clearest water. +To birds on the wing its glassy surface, reflecting the +light sky, must have been +

+visible for miles around as a +glistening Cyclops' eye in a green face. The grass +about the margin at this season was a sight to remember +long -- in a minor sort of way. Its activity in sucking +the moisture from the rich damp sod. was almost a pro+ +cess observable by the eye. The outskirts of this level +water-meadow were diversified by rounded and hollow +pastures, where just now every flower that was not a +buttercup was a daisy. The river slid along noiselessly +as a shade, the swelling reeds and sedge forming a +flexible palisade upon its moist brink. To the north +of the mead were trees, the leaves of which were new, +soft, and moist, not yet having stiffened and darkened +under summer sun and drought, their colour being +yellow beside a green -- green beside a yellow. +From the recesses of this knot of foliage the loud +notes of three cuckoos were resounding through the +still air. +Boldwood went meditating down the slopes with his +eyes on his boots, which the yellow pollen from the +buttercups had bronzed in artistic gradations. A tribu+ +tary of the main stream flowed through the basin of the +pool by an inlet and outlet at opposite points of its +diameter. Shepherd Oak, Jan Coggan, Moon, Poor+ +grass, Cain Ball, and several others were assembled +here, all dripping wet to the very roots of their hair, +and Bathsheba was standing by in a new riding-habit -- +the most elegant she had ever worn -- the reins of her +horse being looped over her arm. Flagons of cider +were rolling about upon the green. The meek sheep +were pushed into the pool by Coggan and Matthew +Moon, who stood by the lower hatch, immersed to their +waists; then Gabriel, who stood on the brink, thrust +them under as they swam along, with an instrument +like a crutch, formed for the purpose, and also for +assisting the exhausted animals when the wool became +saturated and they began to sink. They were let out +against the stream, and through the upper opening, all +impurities flowing away below. Cainy Ball and Joseph, +who performed this latter operation, were if possible +wetter than the rest ; they resembled dolphins under a +fountain, every protuberance and angle of their clothes +dribbling forth a small rill. +

+Boldwood came close and bade her good-morning, with +such constraint that she could not but think he had +stepped across to the washing for its own sake, hoping +not to find her there ; more, she fancied his brow severe +and his eye slighting. Bathsheba immediately contrived +to withdraw, and glided along by the river till she was +a stone's throw off. She heard footsteps brushing the +grass, and had a consciousness that love was encircling +her like a perfume. Instead of turning or waiting, +Bathsheba went further among the high sedges, but +Boldwood seemed determined, and pressed on till they +were completely past the bend of the river. Here, +without being seen, they could hear the splashing and +shouts of the washers above. +"Miss Everdene!' said the farmer. +She trembled, turned, and said 'Good morning.' +His tone was so utterly removed from all she had +expected as a beginning. It was lowness and quiet +accentuated : an emphasis of deep meanings, their form, +at the same time, being scarcely expressed. Silence +has sometimes a remarkable power of showing itself as +the disembodied soul of feeling wandering without its +carcase, and it is then more impressive than speech. +In the same way, to say a little is often to tell more +than to say a great deal. Boldwood told everything in +that word. +As the conseiousness expands on learning that what +was fancied to be the rumble of wheels is the reverbera+ +tion of thunder, so did Bathsheba's at her intuitive +conviction. +'I feel -- almost too much -- to think,' he said, with a +solemn simplicity. "I have come to speak to you with+ +out preface. My life is not my own since I have beheld +you clearly, Miss Everdene -- I come to make you an +offer of marriage.' +Bathsheba tried to preserve an absolutely neutral +countenance, and all the motion she made was that of +closing lips which had previously been a little parted. +"I am now forty-one years old,' he went on. "I may +have been called a confirmed bachelor, and I was a +confirmed bachelor. I had never any views of myself +as a husband in my earlier days, nor have I made any +calculation on the subject since I have been older. +But we all change, and my change, in this matter, +

+came +with seeing you. I have felt lately, more and more, +that my present way of living is bad in every respect. +Beyond all things, I want you as my wife.' +"I feel, Mr. Boldwood, that though I respect you +much, I do not feel -- what would justify me to -- in +accepting your offer,' she stammered. +This giving back of dignity for dignity seemed to +open the sluices of feeling that Boldwood had as yet +kept closed. +" My life is a burden without you,' he exclaimed, in +a low voice. "I want you -- I want you to let me say +I love you again and again!' +Bathsheba answered nothing, and the mare upon +her arm seemed so impressed that instead of cropping +the herbage she looked up. +"I think and hope you care enough for me to listen +to what I have to tell!" + Bathsheba's momentary impulse at hearing this was +to ask why he thought that, till she remembered that, +far from being a conceited assumption on Boldwood's +part, it was but the natural conclusion of serious reflec+ +tion based on deceptive premises of her own offering. +"I wish I could say courteous flatteries to you,' the +farmer continued in an easier tone, " and put my rugged +feeling into a graceful shape: but I have neither power +nor patience to learn such things. I want you for my +wife -- so wildly that no other feeling can abide in me; +but I should not have spoken out had I not been led +to hope.' +"The valentine again! O that valentine!' she +said to herself, but not a word to him. + "If you can love me say so, Miss Everdene. If not + -- don't say no!' + "Mr. Boldwood, it is painful to have to say I am +surprised, so that I don't know how to answer you with +propriety and respect -- but am only just able to speak +out my feeling -- I mean my meaning; that I am afraid +I can't marry you, much as I respect you. You are too +dignified for me to suit you, sir.' + "But, Miss Everdene!' +"I -- I didn't -- I know I ought never to have dreamt +of sending +

+that valentine -- forgive me, sir -- it was a +wanton thing which no woman with any self-respect +should have done. If you will only pardon my thought+ +lessness, I promise never to -- -- ' +" No, no, no. Don't say thoughtlessness! Make me +think it was something more -- that it was a sort of +prophetic instinct -- the beginning of a feeling that you +would like me. You torture me to say it was done in +thoughtlessness -- I never thought of it in that light, and +I can't endure it. Ah ! I wish I knew how to win you! +but that I can't do -- I can only ask if I have already got +you. If I have not, and it is not true that you have +come unwittingly to me as I have to you, I can say no +more.' + "I have not fallen in love with you, Mr. Boldwood -- +certainly I must say that.' She allowed a very small +smile to creep for the first time over her serious face in +saying this, and the white row of upper teeth, and keenly+ +cut lips already noticed, suggested an idea of heartless+ +ness, which was immediately contradicted by the pleasant +eyes. +"But you will just think -- in kindness and conde+ +scension think -- if you cannot bear with me as a husband! +I fear I am too old for you, but believe me I will take +more care of you than would many a man of your own +age. I will protect and cherish you with all my strength + -- I will indeed! You shall have no cares -- be worried +by no household affairs, and live quite at ease, Miss +Everdene. The dairy superintendence shall be done by +a man -- I can afford it will -- you shall never have so +much as to look out of doors at haymaking time, or to +think of weather in the harvest. I rather cling; to the +chaise, because it is he same my poor father and mother +drove, but if you don't like it I will sell it, and you shall +have a pony-carriage of your own. I cannot say how +far above every other idea and object on earth you seem +to me -- nobody knows -- God only knows -- how much +you are to me!' +Bathsheba's heart was young, and it swelled with +sympathy for the deep-natured man who spoke so +simply. + "Don't say it! don't! I cannot bear you to feel so +much, and me to feel nothing. And I am afraid they +will notice us, Mr. Boldwood. Will you let the matter +rest now? I cannot think +

+collectedly. I did not know +you were going to say this to me. 0, I am wicked to +have made you suffer so!' She was frightened as well +as agitated at his vehemence. + "Say then, that you don't absolutely refuse. Do not +quite refuse?' +"I can do nothing. I cannot answer.' +"I may speak to you again on the subject?' +"Yes.' +"I may think of you?' +"Yes, I suppose you may think of me.' +"And hope to obtain you?' +"No -- do not hope! Let us go on.' +"I will call upon you again to-morrow.' +"No -- please not. Give me time.' +"Yes -- I will give you any time,' he said earnestly and +gratefully. "I am happier now.' +"No -- I beg you! Don't be happier if happiness +only comes from my agreeing. Be neutral, Mr. Bold+ +wood! I must think.' +"I will wait,' he said. +And then she turned away. Boldwood dropped his +gaze to the ground, and stood long like a man who did not +know where he was. Realities then returned upon him +like the pain of a wound received in an excitement +which eclipses it, and he, too, then went on. + +

+PERPLEXITy -- GRINDING THE SHEARS -- A QUARREL +"HE is so disinterested and kind to offer me all that I +can desire,' Bathsheba mused. +Yet Farmer Boldwood, whether by nature kind or +the reverse to kind, did not exercise kindness, here. +The rarest offerings of the purest loves are but a self+ +indulgence, and no generosity at all. +Bathsheba, not being the least in love with him, was +eventually able to look calmly at his offer. It was one +which many women of her own station in the neighbour+ +hood, and not a few of higher rank, would have been +wild to accept and proud to publish. In every point of +view, ranging from politic to passionate, it was desirable +that she, a lonely girl, should marry, and marry this +earnest, well-to-do, and respected man. He was close +to her doors: his standing was sufficient: his qualities +were even supererogatory. Had she felt, which she did +not, any wish whatever for the married state in the +abstract, she could not reasonably have rejected him, +being a woman who frequently appealed to her under, +standing for deliverance from her whims. Boldwood as +a means to marriage was unexceptionable: she esteemed +and liked him, yet she did not want him. It appears +that ordinary men take wives because possession is not +possible without marriage, and that ordinary women +accept husbands because marriage is not possible with, +out possession; with totally differing aims the method is +the same on both sides. But the understood incentive +on the woman's part was wanting here. Besides, Bath+ +sheba's position as absolute mistress of a farm and house +was a novel one, and the novelty had not yet begun to +wear off. +But a disquiet filled her which was somewhat to her +credit, for it would have affected few. Beyond the men+ +tioned reasons with which she combated her objections, +she had a strong +

+feeling that, having been the one who +began the game, she ought in honesty to accept the conse, +quences. Still the reluctance remained. She said in the +same breath that it would be ungenerous not to marry +Boldwood, and that she couldn't do it to save her life. +Bathsheba's was an impulsive nature under a delibera, +tive aspect. An Elizabeth in brain and a Mary Stuart +in spirit, she often performed actions of the greatest +temerity with a manner of extreme discretion. Many of +her thoughts were perfect syllogisms; unluckily they +always remained thoughts. Only a few were irrational +assumptions; but, unfortunately, they were the ones +which most frequently grew into deeds. + The next day to that of the declaration she found +Gabriel Oak at the bottom of her garden, grinding his +shears for the sheep-shearing. All the surrounding +cottages were more or less scenes of the same operation; +the scurr of whetting spread into the sky from all parts +of the village as from an armury previous to a campaign. +Peace and war kiss each other at their hours of prepara+ +tion -- sickles, scythes, shears, and pruning-hooks, ranking +with swords, bayonets, and lances, in their common +necessity for point and edge. +Cainy Ball turned the handle of Gabriel's grinstone, +his head performing a melancoly see-saw up and down +with each turn of the wheel. Oak stood somewhat as +Eros is represented when in the act of sharpening his +arrows: his figure slightly bent, the weight of his body +thrown over on the shears, and his head balanced side+ +ways, with a critical compression of the lips and contrac+ +tion of the eyelids to crown the attitude. +His mistress came up and looked upon them in +silence for a minute or two; then she said -- +"Cain, go to the lower mead and catch the bay mare. +I'll turn the winch of the grindstone. I want to speak +to you, Gabriel. +Cain departed, and Bathsheba took the handle. +Gabriel had glanced up in intense surprise, quelled its +expression, and looked down again. Bathsheba turned +the winch, and Gabriel applied the shears. +The peculiar motion involved in turning a wheel +has a wonderful tendency to benumb the mind. It +is a sort of +

+attenuated variety of Ixion's punishment, +and contributes a dismal chapter to the history of +heavy, and the body's centre of gravity seems to +settle by degrees in a leaden lump somewhere be+ +tween the eyebrows and the crown. Bathsheba felt +the unpleasant symptoms after two or three dozen +turns. + "Will you turn, Gabriel, and let me hold the shears?" +she said. "My head is in a'whirl, and I can't talk. +Gabriel turned. Bathsheba then began, with some +awkwardness, allowing her thoughts to stray occasion+ +ally from her story to attend to the shears, which +required a little nicety in sharpening. + "I wanted to ask you if the men made any observa+ +tions on my going behind the sedge with Mr. Boldwood +yesterday?' + "Yes, they did,' said Gabriel. "You don't hold +the shears right, miss -- I knew you wouldn't know the +way -- hold like this.' +He relinquished the winch, and inclosing her two +hands completely i his own (taking each as we some+ +times slasp a child's hand in teaching him to write), +grasped the shears with her. "Incline the edge so,' +he said. + Hands and shears were inclined to suit the words, +and held thus for a peculiarly long time by the in+ +structor as he spoke. + "That will do,' exclaimed Bathsheba. "Loose my +hands. I won't have them held! Turn the winch.' +Gabriel freed her hands quietly, retired to his +handle, and the grinding went on. + "Did the men think it odd?' she said again. +"Odd was not the idea, miss.' +"What did they say?' +"That Farmer Boldwood's name and your own +were likely to be flung over pulpit together before the +year was out.' +"I thought so by the look of them! Why, there's +nothing in it. A more foolish remark was never made, +and I want you to contradict it! that's what I came for.' + Gabriel looked incredulous and sad, but between +his moments of incredulity, relieved. +"They must have heard our conversation,' she +continued. +

+"Well, then, Bathsheba!' said Oak, stopping the +handle, and gazing into her face with astonishment. + "Miss Everdene, you mean," she said, with dignity. + "I mean this, that if Mr. Boldwood really spoke of +marriage, I bain't going to tell a story and say he +didn't to please you. I have already tried to please +you too much for my own good!' +Hathsheba regarded him with round-eyed perplexity. +She did not know whether to pity him for disappointed +love of her, or to be angry with him for having got +over it -- his tone being ambiguous. + "I said I wanted you just to mention that it was +not true I was going to be married to him,' she mur+ +mured, with a slight decline in her assurance. +"I can say that to them if you wish, Miss Everdene. +And I could likewise give an opinion to 'ee on what +you have done.' +"I daresay. But I don't want your opinion.' +"I suppose not,' said Gabriel bitterly, and going on +with his turning, his words rising and falling in a +regular swell and cadence as he stooped or rose with +the winch, which directed them, according to his +position, perpendiculary into the earth, or horizontally +along the garden, his eyes being fixed on a leaf upon +the ground. + With Bathsheba a hastened act was a rash act; +but, as does not always happen, time gained was +prudence insured. It must be added, however, that +time was very seldom gained. At this period the +single opinion in the parish on herself and her doings +that she valued as sounder than her own was Gabriel +Oak's. And the outspoken honesty of his character +was such- that on any subject even that of her love +for, or marriage with, another man, the same disinter+ +estedness of opinion might be calculated on, and be +had for the asking. Thoroughly convinced of the +impossibility of his own suit, a high resolve constrained +him not to injure that of another. This is a lover's +most stoical virtue, as the lack of it is a lover's most +venial sin. Hnowing he would reply truly, she asked +the question, painful as she must have known the sub+ +ject would be. Such is the selfishness of some charm+ +ing women. Perhaps it was some excuse for her thus +torturing honesty to her own advantage, that she had +

+absolutely no other sound judgment within easy reach. +"Well, what is your opinion of my conduct,' she +said, quietly. +"That it is unworthy of any thoughtful, and meek, +and comely woman.' +In an instant Bathsheba's face coloured with the +angry crimson of a danby sunset. But she forbore +to utter this feeling, and the reticence of her tongue +only made the loquacity of her face the more notice+ +able. +The next thing Gabriel did was to make a mistake. +"Perhaps you don't like the rudeness of my repri+ +manding you, for I know it is rudeness; but I thought +it would do good.' +She instantly replied sarcastically -- +"On the contrary, my opinion of you is so low, that +I see in your abuse the praise of discerning people!' +"I am glad you don't mind it, for I said it honestly +and with every serious meaning.' + "I see. But, unfortunately, when you try not to +speak in jest you are amusing -- just as when you wish +to avoid seriousness you sometimes say a sensible word +It was a hard hit, but Bathsheba had unmistakably +lost her temper, and on that account Gabriel had +never in his life kept his own better. He said nothing. +She then broke out -- + "I may ask, I suppose, where in particular my +unworthiness lies? In my not marrying you, perhaps! +"Not by any means,' said Gabriel quietly. "I have +long given up thinking of that matter.' +"Or wishing it, I suppose,' she said; and it was +apparent that she expected an unhesitating denial of +this supposition. +Whatever Gabriel felt, he coolly echoed her words -- +"Or wishing it either.' + A woman may be treated with a bitterness which +is sweet to her, and with a rudeness which is not +offensive. Bathsheba would have submitted to an +indignant chastisement for her levity had Gabriel pro+ +tested that he was loving her at the same time; the +impetuosity of passion unrequited is bearable, even if +it stings and anathematizes there is a triumph in the +humiliation, and a tenderness in the strife. This was +what she had been expecting, and what she had not +got. To be lectured +

+because the lecturer saw her in +the cold morning light of open-shuttered disillusion +was exasperating. He had not finished, either. He +continued in a more agitated voice: -- +"My opinion is (since you ask it) that you are +greatly to blame for playing pranks upon a man like +Mr. Boldwood, merely as a pastime. Leading on a +man you don't care for is not a praiseworthy action. +And even, Miss Everdene, if you seriously inclined +towards him, you might have let him find it out in +some way of true loving-kindness, and not by sending +him a valentine's letter.' +Bathsheba laid down the shears. + "I cannot allow any man to -- to criticise my private +Conduct!' she exclaimed. "Nor will I for a minute. +So you'll please leave the farm at the end of the week!' +It may have been a peculiarity -- at any rate it was +a fact -- that when Bathsheba was swayed by an emotion +of an earthly sort her lower lip trembled: when by a +refined emotion, her upper or heavenward one. Her +nether lip quivered now. +"Very well, so I will,' said Gabriel calmly. He had +been held to her by a beautiful thread which it pained +him to spoil by breaking, rather than by a chain he +could not break. "I should be even better pleased to +go at once,' he added. +"Go at once then, in Heaven's name!' said she,her +eyes flashing at his, though never meeting them. +"Don't let me see your face any more.' +"Very well, Miss Everdene -- so it shall be.' +And he took his shears and went away from her in +placid dignity, as Moses left the presence of Pharaoh. + +

+TROUBLES IN THE FOLD -- A MESSAGE +GABRIEL OAK had ceased to feed the Weatherbury +flock for about four-and-twenty hours, when on Sunday +afternoon the elderly gentlemen Joseph Poorgrass, +Matthew Moon, Fray, and half-a-dozen others, came +running up to the house of the mistress of the Upper +Farm. + "Whatever is the matter, men?' she said, meeting +them at the door just as she was coming out on her +way to church, and ceasing in a moment from the close +compression of her two red lips, with which she had +accompanied the exertion of pelling on a tight glove. +"Sixty!' said Joseph Poorgrass. +"Seventy!' said Moon. +"Fifty-nine!' said Susan Tall's husband. +" -- Sheep have broke fence,' said Fray. +" -- And got into a field of young clover,' said Tall. +" -- Young clover!' said Moon. +" -- Clover!' said Joseph Poorgrass. +"And they be getting blasted,' said Henery Fray. +"That they be,' said Joseph. +"And will all die as dead as nits, if they bain't got +out and cured!'said Tall. +Joseph's countenance was drawn into lines and +puckers by his concern. Fray's forehead was wrinkled +both perpendicularly and crosswise, after the pattern of +a portcullis, expressive of a double despair. Laban +Tall's lips were thin, and his face were rigid. Matthew's +jaws sank, and his eyes turned whichever way the +strongest muscle happened to pull them. + "Yes,' said Joseph, "and I was sitting at home, +looking for Ephesians, and says I to myself, "'Tis +nothing but Corinthians and Thessalonians in this +danged Testament,'' when +

+who should come in but +Henery there: ""Joseph,'' he said, ""the sheep have +With Bathsheba it was a moment when thought was +blasted theirselves -- -''' + With Bathsheba it was a moment when thought was +speech and speech exclamation. Moreover, she had +hardly recovered her equanimity since the disturbance +which she had suffered from Oak's remarks. +'Thats enought -- that's enough! -- oh, you fools!' +she cried, throwing the parasol and Prayer-book into +the passage, and running out of doors in the direction +signified. "To come to me, and not go and get them +out directly! Oh, the stupid numskulls!' +Her eyes were at their darkest and brightest now. +Bathsheba's beauty belonged rather to the demonian +than to the angelic school, she never looked so well as +when she was angry -- and particularly when the effect +was heightened by a rather dashing velvet dress, care+ +fully put on before a glass. +All the ancient men ran in a jumbled throng after +her to the clover-field, Joseph sinking down in the +midst when about half-way, like an individual withering +in a world which was more and more insupportable. +Having once received the stimulus that her presence +always gave them they went round among the sheep +with a will. The majority of the afflicted animals were +lying down, and could not be stirred. These were +bodily lifted out, and the others driven into the adjoining +field. Here, after the lapse of a few minutes, several +more fell down, and lay helpless and livid as the rest. +Bathsheba, with a sad, bursting heart, looked at these +primest specimens of her prime flock as they rolled +there -- +Swoln with wind and the rank mist they drew. +Many of them foamed at the mouth, their breathing +being quick and short, whilst the bodies of all were +fearfully distended. +"O, what can I do, what can I do!' said Bathsheba, +helplessly. "Sheep are such unfortunate animals! -- +there's always something happening to them! I never +knew a flock pass a year without getting into some scrape +or other.' +"There's only one way of saving them,' said Tall. +

+"What way? Tell me quick!' +"They must be pierced in the side with a thing made +on purpose.' +"Can you do it? Can I?' +"No, ma'am. We can't, nor you neither. It must +be done in a particular spot. If ye go to the right or +left but an inch you stab the ewe and kill her. Not +even a shepherd can do it, as a rule.' +"Then they must die,' she said, in a resigned tone. +"Only one man in the neighbourhood knows the way,' +said Joseph, now just come up. "He could cure 'em +all if he were here.' +"Who is he? Let's get him!' +"Shepherd Oak," said Matthew. "Ah, he's a clever +man in talents!' +"Ah, that he is so!' said Joseph Poorgrass. +"True -- he's the man,' said Laban Tall. +"How dare you name that man in my presence!' she +said excitedly. "I told you never to allude to him, nor +shall you if you stay with me. Ah!' she added, brighten+ +ing, "Farmer Boldwood knows!' + "0 no, ma'am' said Matthew. "Two of his store +ewes got into some vetches t'other day, and were just +like these. He sent a man on horseback here post-haste +for Gable, and Gable went and saved 'em, Farmer +Boldwood hev got the thing they do it with. 'Tis a +holler pipe, with a sharp pricker inside. Isn't it, +Joseph?' + "Ay -- a holler pipe,' echoed Joseph. "That's what +'tis.' +"Ay, sure -- that's the machine,' chimed in Henery +Fray, reflectively, with an Oriental indifference to the +flight of time. +"Well," burst out Bathsheba, "don't stand there with +your ""ayes'' and your ""sures,'' talking at me! Get +somebody to cure the sheep instantly!' + All then stalked or in eonsternation, to get some+ +body as directed, without any idea of who it was to be. +In a minute they had vanished through the gate,.and +she stood alone with the dying flock. +"Never will I send for him never!' she said firmly. +

+One of the ewes here contracted its muscles horribly, +extended itself, and jumped high into the air. The +leap was an astonishing one. The ewe fell heavily, and +lay still. +Bathsheba went up to it. The sheep was dead. +"O, what shall I do -- what shall I do!' she again +exclaimed, wringing her hands. "I won't send for him. +No, I won't!' +The most vigorous expression of a resolution does +not always coinicide with the greatest vigour of the +resolution itself. It is often flung out as a sort of prop +to support a decaying conviction which, whilst strong, +required no enunciation to prove it so. The "No, I +won't' of Bathsheba meant virtually, "I think I must.' +She followed her assistants through the gate, and +lifted her hand to one of them. Laban answered to her +signal. +"Where is Oak staying?' +"Across the valley at Nest Cottage!' +"Jump on the bay mare, and ride across, and say he +must return instantly -- that I say so.' +Tall scrambled off to the field, and in two minutes +was on Poll, the bay, bare-backed, and with only a +halter by way of rein. He diminished down the +hill. +Bathsheba watched. So did all the rest. Tall +cantered along the bridle-path through Sixteen Acres, +Sheeplands, Middle Field The Flats, Cappel's Piece, +shrank almost to a point, crossed the bridge, and +ascended from the valley through Springmead and +Whitepits on the other side. The cottage to which +Gabriel had retired before taking his final departure +from the locality was visible as a white spot on the +opposite hill, backed by blue firs. Bathsheba walked +up and down. The men entered the field and +endeavoured to ease the anguish of the dumb creatures +by rubbing them. Nothing availed. +Bathsheba continued walking. The horse was seen +descending the hill, and the wearisome series had to be +repeated in reverse order: Whitepits, Springmead, +Cappel's Piece, The Flats, Middle Field, Sheeplands, +Sixteen Acres. She hoped Tall had had presence of +mind enough to give the mare up to Gabriel, and return +himself on foot. The rider neared them. It was Tall. +

+"O, what folly!' said Bathsheba. +Gabriel was not visible anywhere. +"Perhaps he is already gone!' she said. +Tall came into the inclosure, and leapt off, his face +tragic as Morton's after the battle of Shrewsbury. +"Well?' said Bathsheba, unwilling to believe that +her verbal lettre-de-cachet could possibly have miscarried. +"He says beggars mustn't be choosers,' replied Laban. +"What!' said the young farmer, opening her eyes +and drawing in her breath for an outburst. Joseph +Poorgrass retired a few steps behind a hurdle. +"He says he shall not come onless you request en +to come civilly and in a proper manner, as becomes any +'ooman begging a favour.' +"Oh, oh, that's his answer! Where does he get his +airs? Who am I, then, to be treated like that? Shall +I beg to a man who has begged to me?' +Another of the flock sprang into the air, and fell +dead. +The men looked grave, as if they suppressed opinion. +Bathsheba turned aside, her eyes full of tears. The +strait she was in through pride and shrewishness could +not be disguised longer: she burst out crying bitterly; +they all saw it; and she attempted no further concealment. +"I wouldn't cry about it, miss,' said William Small+ +bury, compassionately. "Why not ask him softer like? +I'm sure he'd come then. Gable is a true man in that +way.' +Bathsheba checked her grief and wiped her eyes. +"O, it is a wicked cruelty to me -- it is -- it is!' she +murmured. "And he drives me to do what I wouldn't; +yes, he does ! -- Tall, come indoors.' +After this collapse, not very dignified for the head +of an establishment, she went into the house, Tall at +her heels. Here she sat down and hastily scribbled a +note between the small convulsive sobs of convalescence +which follow a fit of crying as a ground-swell follows a +storm. The note was none the less polite for being +written in a hurry. She held it at a distance, was +about to fold it, then added these words at the +bottom: -- +"Do not desert me, Gabriel!' +

+She looked a little redder in refolding it, and closed +her lips, as if thereby to suspend till too late the action +of conscience in examining whether such strategy were +justifiable. The note was despatched as the message +had been, and Bathsheba waited indoors for the result. +It was an anxious quarter of an hour that intervened +between the messenger's departure and the sound of the +horse's tramp again outside. She- could not watch this +time, but, leaning over the old bureau at which she had +written the letter, closed her eyes, as if to keep out both +hope and fear. + The case, however, was a promising one. Gabriel +was not angry: he was simply neutral, although her first +command had been so haughty. Such imperiousness +would have damned a little less beauty; and on the +other hand, such beauty would have redeemed a little +less imperiousness. +She went out when the horse was heard, and looked +up. A mounted figure passed between her and the +sky, and drew on towards the fleld of sheep, the rider +turning his face in receding. Gabriel looked at her. +It was a moment when a woman's eyes and tongue tell +distinctly opposite tales. Bathsheba looked full of +gratitude, and she said: -- + "O, Gabriel, how could you serve me so unkindly!' +Such a tenderly-shaped reproach for his previous +delay was the one speech in the language that he could +pardon for not being commendation of his readiness +now. +Gabriel murmured a confused reply, and hastened +on. She knew from the look which sentence in her +note had brought him. Bathsheba followed to the +field. +Gabriel was already among the turgid, prostrate forms. +He had flung off his coat, rolled up his shirt-sleeves, +and taken from his pocket the instrument of salvation. +It was a small tube or trochar, with a lance passing +down the inside; and Gabriel began to use it with a +dexterity that would have graced a hospital surgeon. +Passing his hand over the sheep's left flank, and +selecting the proper point, he punctured the skin and +rumen with the lance as it stood in the tube; then he +suddenly withdrew the lance, retaining the tube in its +place. A current of air rushed up the tube, forcible +enough to have extinguished a candle held at the +orifice. +It has been said that mere ease after torment is de+ +light for a time; and the countenances of these poor +creatures expressed it now. Forty-nine operations were +successfully performed. Owing to the great hurry +necessitated by the far-gone state of some of the flock, +Gabriel missed his aim in one case, and in one only -- +striking wide of the mark, and inflicting a mortal blow +at once upon the suffering ewe. Four had died; three +recovered without an operation. The total number of +sheep which had thus strayed and injured themselves +so dangerously was fifty-seven. +When the love-led man had ceased from his labours, +Bathsheba came and looked him in the face. +"Gabriel, will you stay on with me?' she, said, +smiling winningly, and not troubling to bring her lips +quite together again at the end, because there was going +to be another smile soon. +"I will,' said Gabriel. +And she smiled on him again. + +

+THE GREAT BARN AnD THE SHEEP-SHEARERS +MEN thin away to insignificance and oblivion quite as +often by not making the most of good spirits when they +have them as by lacking good spirits when they are +indispensable. Gabriel lately, for the first time since +his prostration by misfortune, had been independent in +thought and vigorous in action to a marked extent -- +conditions which, powerless without an opportunity as +an opportunity without them is barren, would have +given him a sure lift upwards when the favourable-con+ +junction should have occurred. But this incurable +loitering beside Bathsheba Everdene stole his time +ruinously. The spring tides were going by without +floating him off, and the neap might soon come which +could not. +It was the first day of June, and the sheep-shearing +season culminated, the landscape, even to the leanest +pasture, being all health and colour. Every green was +young, every pore was open, and every stalk was swollen +with racing currents of juice. God was palpably present +in the country, and the devil had gone with the world +to town. Flossy catkins of the later kinds, fern-sprouts +like bishops' croziers, the square-headed moschatel, the +odd cuckoo-pint, -- like an apoplectic saint in a niche +of malachite, -- snow-white ladies'-smocks, the toothwort, +approximating to human flesh, the enchanter's night+ +shade, and the black-petaled doleful-bells, were among +the quainter objects of the vegetable world in and about +Weatherbury at this teeming time; and of the animal, +the metamorphosed figures of Mr. Jan Coggan, the +master-shearer; the second and third shearers, who +travelled in the exercise of their calling, and do not re+ +quire definition by name; Henery Fray the fourth +shearer, Susan Tall's husband the fifth, Joseph Poorgrass +the sixth, young Cain Ball as assistant-shearer, and +Gabriel Oak as general supervisor. None of these were +clothed +

+to any extent worth mentioning, each appearing +to have hit in the matter of raiment the decent mean +between a high and low caste Hindoo. An angularity +of lineament, and a fixity of facial machinery in general, +proclaimed that serious work was the order of the day. +They sheared in the great barn, called for the nonce +the Shearing-barn, which on ground-plan resembled a +church with transepts. It not only emulated the form +of the neighbouring church of the parish, but vied with +it in antiquity. Whether the barn had ever formed one +of a group of conventual buildings nobody seemed to be +aware; no trace of such surroundings remained. The +vast porches at the sides, lofty enough to admit a waggon +laden to its highest with corn in the sheaf, were spanned +by heavy-pointed arches of stone, broadly and boldly cut, +whose very simplicity was the origin of a grandeur not +apparent in erections where more ornament has been +attempted. The dusky, filmed, chestnut roof, braced +and tied in by huge collars, curves, and diagonals, was +far nobler in design, because more wealthy in material, +than nine-tenths of those in our modern churches. +Along each side wall was a range of striding buttresses, +throwing deep shadows on the spaces between them, +which were perforated by lancet openings, combining +in their proportions the precise requirements both of +beauty and ventilation. +One could say about this barn, what could hardly +be said of either the church or the castle, akin to it in +age and style, that the purpose which had dictated its +original erection was the same with that to which it +was still applied. Unlike and superior to either of +those two typical remnants of mediaevalism, the old +barn embodied practices which had suffered no mutila+ +tion at the hands of time. Here at least the spirit of +the ancient builders was at one with the spirit of the +modern beholder. Standing before this abraded pile, +the eye regarded its present usage, the mind-dwelt upon +its past history, with a satisfied sense of functional +continuity throughout -- a feeling almost of gratitude, +and quite of pride, at the permanence of the idea +which had heaped it up. The fact that four centuries +had neither proved it to be founded on a mistake, +

+inspired any hatred of its purpose, nor given rise to +any reaction that had battered it down, invested this +simple grey effort of old minds with a repose, if not a +grandeur, which a too curious reflection was apt to +disturb in its ecclesiastical and military compeers. For +once medievalism and modernism had a common stand+ +point. The lanccolate windows, the time-eaten arch+ +stones and chamfers, the orientation of the axis, the +misty chestnut work of the rafters, referred to no exploded +fortifying art or worn-out religious creed. The defence +and salvation of the body by daily bread is still a study, +a religion, and a desire. +To-day the large side doors were thrown open +towards the sun to admit a bountiful light to the +immediate spot of the shearers' operations, which was +the wood threshing-floor in the centre, formed of thick +oak, black with age and polished by the beating of flails +for many generations, till it had grown as slippery and +as rich in hue as the state-room floors of an Elizabethan +mansion. Here the shearers knelt, the sun slanting in +upon their bleached shirts, tanned arms, and the polished +shears they flourished, causing these to bristle with a +thousand rays strong enough to blind a weak-eyed man. +Beneath them a captive sheep lay panting, quickening +its pants as misgiving merged in terror, till it quivered +like the hot landscape outside. +This picture of to-day in its frame of four hundred +years ago did not produce that marked contrast between +ancient and modern which is implied by the contrast +of date. In comparison with cities, Weatherbury was +immutable. The citizen's Then is the rustic's Now. +In London, twenty or thirty-years ago are old times; +in Paris ten years, or five; in Weatherbury three or +four score years were included in the mere present, +and nothing less than a century set a mark on its +face or tone. Five decades hardly modified the cut of +a gaiter, the embroidery of a smock-frock, by the breadth +of a hair. Ten generations failed to alter the turn of +a single phrase. In these Wessex nooks the busy out+ +sider's ancient times are only old; his old times are still +new; his present is futurity. +So the barn was natural to the shearers, and the +shearers were in harmony with the barn. +The spacious ends of the building, answering ecclesi+ +astically +

+to nave and chancel extremities, were fenced +off with hurdles, the sheep being all collected in a crowd +within these two enclosures; and in one angle a catching+ +pen was formed, in which three or four sheep were +continuously kept ready for the shearers to seize without +loss of time. In the background, mellowed by tawny +shade, were the three women, Maryann Money, and +Temperance and Soberness Miller, gathering up the +fleeces and twisting ropes of wool with a wimble for +tying them round. They were indifferently well assisted +by the old maltster, who, when the malting season from +October to April had passed, made himself useful upon +any of the bordering farmsteads. +"Behind all was Bathsheba, carefully watching the +men to see that there was no cutting or wounding +through carelessness, and that the animals were shorn +close. Gabriel, who flitted and hovered under her +bright eyes like a moth, did not shear continuously, +half his time being spent in attending to the others +and selecting the sheep for them. At the present +moment he was engaged in handing round a mug of +mild liquor, supplied from a barrel in the corner, +and cut pieces of bread and cheese. +Bathsheba, after throwing a glance here, a caution +there, and lecturing one of the younger operators who +had allowed his last finished sheep to go off among +the flock without re-stamping it with her initials, came +again to Gabriel, as he put down the luncheon to drag +a frightened ewe to his shear-station, flinging it over +upon its back with a dexterous twist of the arm +He lopped off the tresses about its head, and opened +up the neck and collar, his mistress quietly looking +on: +"She blushes at the insult,' murmured Bathsheba, +watching the pink flush which arose and overspread +the neck and shoulders of the ewe where they were +left bare by the clicking shears -- a flush which was +enviable, for its delicacy, by many queens of coteries, +and would have been creditable, for its promptness, to +any woman in the world. +Poor Gabriel's soul was fed with a luxury of content +by having her over him, her eyes critically regarding +his skilful shears, which apparently were going to gather +up a piece of the flesh at every close, and yet never did +so. Like Guildenstern, +

+Oak was happy in that he was +not over happy. He had no wish to converse with her: +that his bright lady and himself formed one group, +exclusively their own, and containing no others in the +world, was enough. +So the chatter was all on her side. There is a +loquacity that tells nothing, which was Bathsheba's; +and there is a silence which says much: that was +Gabriel's. Full of this dim and temperate bliss, he +went on to fling the ewe over upon her other side, +covering her head with his knee, gradually running +the shears line after line round her dewlap; thence +about her flank and back, and finishing over the tail. +"Well done, and done quickly!' said Bathsheba, +looking at her watch as the last snip resounded. +"How long, miss?' said Gabriel, wiping his brow. +"Three-and-twenty minutes and a half since you took +the first lock from its forehead. It is the first time that +I have ever seen one done in less than half an hour.' +The clean, sleek creature arose from its fleece -- how +perfectly like Aphrodite rising from the foam should +have been seen to be realized -- looking startled and +shy at the loss of its garment, which lay on the floor +in one soft cloud, united throughout, the portion visible +being the inner surface only, which, never before exposed, +was white as snow, and without flaw or blemish of the +minutest kind. +"Cain Ball!' +"Yes, Mister Oak; here I be!' +Cainy now runs forward with the tar-pot. "B. E.' is +newly stamped upon the shorn skin, and away the simplc +dam lcaps, panting, over the board into the shirtless +flock outside. Then up comes Maryann; throws the +loose locks into the middle of the fleece, rolls it up, +and carries it into the background as three-and-a-half +pounds of unadulterated warmth for the winter enjoy+ +ment of persons unknown and far away, who will, +however, never experience the superlative comfort +derivable from the wool as it here exists, new and pure + -- before the unctuousness of its nature whilst in a +living state has dried, stiffened, and been washed out + -- rendering it just now as superior to anything woollen +as cream is superior to milk-and-water. +

+But heartless circumstance could not leave entire +Gabriel's happiness of this morning. The rams, old +ewes, and two-shear ewes had duly undergone their +stripping, and the men were proceeding with the shear+ +lings and hogs, when Oak's belief that she was going to +stand pleasantly by and time him through another +performance was painfully interrupted by Farmer Bold+ +wood's appearance in the extremest corner of the barn. +Nobody seemed to have perceived his entry, but there +he certainly was. Boldwood always carried with him a +social atmosphere of his own, which everybody felt who +came near him; and the talk, which Bathsheba's +presence had somewhat suppressed, was now totally +suspended. + He crossed over rowards Bathsheba, who turned to +greet him with a carriage of perfect ease. He spoke to +her in low tones, and she instinctively modulated her +own to the same pitch, and her voice ultimately even +caught the inflection of his. She was far from having +a wish to appear mysteriously connected with him; but +woman at the impressionable age gravitates to the larger +body not only in her choice of words, which is apparent +every day, but even in her shades of tone and humour, +when the influence is great. + What they conversed about was not audible to +Gabriel, who was too independent to get near, though +too concerned to disregard. The issue of their dialogue +was the taking of her hand by the courteous farmer to +help her over the spreading-board into the bright June +sunlight outside. Standing beside the sheep already +shorn, they went on talking again. Concerning the +flock? Apparently not. Gabriel theorized, not without +truth, that in quiet discussion of any matter within reach +of the speakers' eyes, these are usually fixed upon it. +Bathsheba demurely regarded a contemptible straw lying +upon the ground, in a way which suggested less ovine +criticism than womanly embarrassment. She became +more or less red in the cheek, the blood wavering in +uncertain flux and reflux over the sensitive space between +ebb and flood. Gabriel sheared on, constrained and +sad. +She left Boldwood's side, and he walked up and +down alone for nearly a quarter of an hour. Then she +reappeared in her +

+new riding-habit of myrtle-green, which +fitted her to the waist as a rind fits its fruit; and young +Bob Coggan led -on -her mare, Boldwood fetching his +own horse from the tree under which it had been tied. + Oak's eyes could not forsake them; and in en+ +deavouring to continue his shearing at the same time +that he watched Boldwood's manner, he snipped the +sheep in the groin. The animal plunged; Bathsheba +instantly gazed towards it, and saw the blood. +"O, Gabriel!' she exclaimed, with severe remon+ +strance you who are so strict with the other men -- see +what you are doing yourself!' +To an outsider there was not much to complain of +in this remark ; but to Oak, who "knew Bathsheba to be +well aware that she herself was the cause of the poor +ewe's wound, because she had wounded the ewe's shearer +in a -- still more vital part, it had a sting which the abiding +sense of his inferiority to both herself and Boldwood was +not calculated to heal. But a manly resolve to recognize +boldly that he had no longer a lover's interest in her, +helped him oceasionally to conceal a feeling. +" Bottle .! ' he shouted, in an unmoved voice of routine. +Cainy Ball ran up, the wound was anointed, and the +shearing continued. +Boldwood gently tossed Bathsheba into the saddle, +and before they turned away she again spoke out to Oak +with the same dominative and tantalizing graciousness. +"I am going now to see Mr. Boldwood's Leicesters. +Take my place in the barn, Gabriel, and keep the men +carefully to their work.' +The horses' heads were put about, and they trotted +away. +Boldwood's deep attachment was a matter of great +interest among all around him ; but, after having been +pointed out for so many years as the perfect exemplar +of thriving bachelorship, his lapse was an anticlimax +somewhat resembling that of St. John Long's death by +consumption in the midst of his proofs that it was not +a fatal disease. +

+" That means matrimony,' said Temperance Miller, +following them out of sight with her eyes. +"I reckon that's the size o't,' said Coggan, working +along without looking up. +" Well, better wed over the mixen than over the moor,' +said Laban Tall, turning his sheep. +Henery Fray spoke, exhibiting miserable eyes at the +same time: "I don't see why a maid should take a +husband when she's bold enough to fight her own +battles, and don't want a home ; for 'tis keeping another +woman out. But let it be, for 'tis a pity he and she +should trouble two houses.' +As usual with decided characters, Bathsheba invari+ +ably provoked the criticism of individuals like Henery +Fray. Her emblazoned fault was to be too pronounced +in her objections, and not sufficiently overt in her +likings. We learn that it is not the rays which bodies +absorb, but those which they reject, that give them the +colours they are known by ; and win the same way people +are specialized by their dislikes and antagonisms, whilst +their goodwill is looked upon as no attribute at all. +Henery continued in a more complaisant mood : "I +once hinted my mind to her on a few things, as nearly +as a battered frame dared to do 'so to such a froward +piece. You all know, neighbours, what a man I be, +and how I come down with my powerful words when +my pride is boiling wi' scarn ?' +" We do, we do, Henery.' +" So I said, "" Mistress Everdene, there's places empty, +and there's gifted men willing ; but the spite '' -- no. not +the spite -- I didn't say spite -- ""but the villainy of the +contrarikind,'' I said (meaning womankind), "" keeps 'em +out.'' That wasn't too strong for her, say ? ' +" Passably well put.' +"Yes; and I would have said it, had death and +salvation overtook me for it. Such is my spirit when I +have a mind.' +"A true man, and proud as a lucifer.' +"You see the artfulness ? Why, 'twas about being +baily really; but I didn't put it so plain that she could +understand my meaning, so I could lay it on all the +

+stronger. That was my depth .! ... However, let her +marry an she will. Perhaps 'tis high time. I believe +Farmer Boldwood kissed her behind the spear-bed at the +sheep-washing t'other day -- that I do.' +" What a lie !.' said Gabriel. +" Ah, neighbour Oak -- how'st know ? ' said, Henery, +mildly. +" Because she told me all that passed,' said Oak, with +a pharisaical sense that he was not as other shearers in +this matter. +"Ye have a right to believe it,' said Henery, with +dudgeon; "a very true right. But I mid see a little +distance into things !. To be long-headed enough for a +baily's place is a poor mere trifle -- yet a trifle more than +nothing. However, I look round upon life quite cool. +Do you heed me, neighbours ? My words, though made +as simple as I can, mid be rather deep for some heads.' +" O yes, Henery, we quite heed ye.' +" A strange old piece, goodmen -- whirled about from +here to yonder, as if I were nothing ! A little warped, +too. But I have my depths; ha, and even my great +depths ! I might gird at a certain shepherd, brain to +brain. But no -- O no !.' +" A strange old piece, ye say .! ' interposed the maltster, +in a querulous voice. "At the same time ye be no old +man worth naming -- no old man at all. Yer teeth +bain't half gone yet ; and what's a old man's standing +if se be his teeth bain't gone? Weren't I stale in +wedlock afore ye were out of arms ? 'Tis a poor thing +to be sixty, when there's people far past four-score -- a +boast'weak as water.' +It was the unvaying custom in Weatherbury to +sink minor differences when the maltster had to be +pacified. +" Weak as-water .! yes,' said Jan Coggan.- "Malter, +we feel ye to be a wonderful veteran man, and nobody +can gainsay it.' +" Nobody,' said Joseph Poorgrass. "Ye be a very +rare old spectacle, malter, and we all admire ye for that +gift. ' +"Ay, and as a young man, when my senses were in +prosperity, I was likewise liked by a good-few who +knowed me,' said the maltster. +" 'Ithout doubt you was -- 'ithout doubt.' +The bent and hoary 'man was satisfied, and so +apparently was Henery Frag. That matters should +continue pleasant Maryann +

+spoke, who, what with her +brown complexion, and the working wrapper of rusty +linsey, had at present the mellow hue of an old sketch +in oils -- notably some of Nicholas Poussin's: -- +" Do anybody know of a crooked man, or a lame, or +any second-hand fellow at all that would do for poor +me ?' said Maryann. "A perfect one I don't expect to + at my time of life. If I could hear of such a thing +twould do me more good thantoast and ale.' + Coggan furnished a suitable reply. Oak went on +with his shearing, and said not another word. Pestilent +moods had come, and teased away his quiet. Bathsheba +had shown indications of anointing him above his +fellows by installing him as the bailiff that the farm +imperatively required. He did not covet the post +relatively to the farm : in relation to herself, as beloved +by him and unmarried to another, he had coveted it. +His readings of her seemed now to be vapoury and +indistinct. His lecture to her was, he thought, one of +the absurdest mistakes. Far from coquetting with +Boldwood, she had trifled with himself in thus feigning +that she had trifled with another. He was inwardly +convinced that, in accordance with the anticipations of +his easy-going and worse-educated comrades, that day +would see Boldwood the accepted husband of Miss +Everdene. Gabriel at this time of his life had out+ +grown the instinctive dislike which every Christian +boy has for reading the Bible, perusing it now quite +frequently, and he inwardly said, " ''I find more bitter +than death the woman whose heart is snares and +nets .! '' ' This was mere exclamation -- the froth of the +storm. He adored Bathsheba just the same. +" We workfolk shall have some lordly- junketing +to-night,' said Cainy Ball, casting forth his thoughts in +a new direction. "This morning I see'em making the +great puddens in the milking-pails -- lumps of fat as big +as yer thumb, Mister Oak ! I've never seed such +splendid large knobs of fat before in the days of my +life -- they never used to be bigger then a horse-bean. +And there was a great black crock upon the brandise +with his legs a-sticking out, but I dont know what was +in within." +'And there's two bushels of biffins for apple-pies,' +said Maryann. +

+"Well, I hope to do my duty by it all,' said Joseph +Poorgrass, in a pleasant, masticating manner of anticipa+ +tion. " Yes ; victuals and drink is a cheerful thing, +and gives nerves to the nerveless, if the form of words +may be used. 'Tis the gospel of the body, without +which we perish, so to speak it.' + +

+EVENTIDE -- A SECOND DECLARATION +FOR the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the +grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being +thrust over the sill of the wide parlour window and a +foot or two into the room. Miss Everdene sat inside +the window, facing down the table. She was thus at +the head without mingling with the men. +This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her +red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy +skeins of her shadowy hair. She seemed to expect +assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was +at her request left vacant until after they had begun +and the duties appertaining to that end, which he did +with great readiness. +At this moment Mr. Boldwood came in at the gate, +and crossed the green to Bathsheba at the window. +He apologized for his lateness : his arrival was evidently +by arrangement. +" Gabriel,' said she, " will you move again, please, +and let Mr. Boldwood come there ?' +Oak moved in silence back to his original seat. +The gentleman-farmer was dressed in cheerful style, +in a new coat and white waistcoat, quite contrasting +with his usual sober suits of grey. Inwardy, too, he +was blithe, and consequently chatty to an exceptional +degree. So also was Bathsheba now that he had come, +though the uninvited presence of Pennyways, the bailiff +who had been dismissed for theft, disturbed her equan+ +imity for a while. +Supper being ended, Coggan began on his own +private account, without reference to listeners : -- +l've lost my love and l care not, +I've lost my love, and l care not; +I shall soon have another +

+That's better than t'other! +I've lost my love, and I care not. +This lyric, when concluded, was received with a +silently appreciative gaze at the table, implying that the +performance, like a work by those established authors +who are independent of notices in the papers, was a +well-known delight which required no applause. +"Now, Master Poorgass, your song!' said Coggan. +"I be all but in liquor, and the gift is wanting in +me,' said Joseph, diminishing himself. +"Nonsense; wou'st never be so ungrateful, Joseph -- +never!' said Coggan, expressing hurt feelings by an +inflection of voice. "And mistress is looking hard at +ye, as much as to say, ""Sing at once, Joseph Poor+ +grass.'' ' +"Faith, so she is; well, I must suffer it! ... Just +eye my features, and see if the tell-tale blood overheats +me much, neighbours?' +"No, yer blushes be quite reasonable,' said Coggan. +"I always tries to keep my colours from rising when +a beauty's eyes get fixed on me,' said Joseph, differently; +"but if so be 'tis willed they do, they must.' +"Now, Joseph, your song, please,' said Bathsheba, +from the window. +"Well, really, ma'am,' he replied, in a yielding tone, +"I don't know what to say. It would be a poor plain +ballet of my own composure.' +'Hear, hear! ' said the supper-party. +Poorgrass, thus assured, trilled forth a flickering yet +commendable piece of sentiment, the tune of which +consisted of the key-note and another, the latter being +the sound chiefly dwelt upon. This was so successful +that he rashly plunged into a second in the same +breath, after a few false starts : -- +I sow'-ed th'-e +I sow'-ed +I sow'-ed the'-e seeds' of love', +I-it was' all' i'-in the'-e spring', +I-in A'-pril', Ma'-ay, a'-nd sun'-ny' June', +When sma'-all bi'-irds they' do' sing. +

+" Well put out of hand,' said Coggan, at the end of the +verse. ' "" They do sing '' was a very taking paragraph.' +"Ay; and there was a pretty place at "seeds of +love,'' and 'twas well heaved out. Though "love '' is +a nasty high corner when a man's voice is getting +crazed. Next verse, Master Poorgrass.' +But during this rendering young Bob Coggan ex+ +hibited one of those anomalies which will afflict little +people when other persons are particularly serious : in +trying to check his laughter, he pushed down his throat +as much of the tablecloth as he could get hold of, when, +after continuing hermetically sealed for a short time, his +mirth burst out through his nose. Joseph perceived it, +and with hectic cheeks of indignation instantly ceased +singing. Coggan boxed Bob's ears immediately. +"Go on, Joseph -- go on, and never mind the young +scamp,' said Coggan. "'Tis a very catching ballet. +Now then again -- the next bar; I'll help ye to flourish +up the shrill notes where yer wind is rather wheezy : -- +O the wi'-il-lo'-ow tree' will' twist', +And the wil'-low' tre'-ee wi'ill twine'. +But the singer could not be set going again. Bob +Coggan was sent home for his ill manners, and tran+ +quility was restored by Jacob Smallbury, who volunteered +a ballad as inclusive and interminable as that with which +the worthy toper old Silenus amused on a similar occasion +the swains Chromis and Mnasylus, and other jolly dogs +of his day. +It' was still the beaming time .of evening, though +night was stealthily making itself visible low down upon +the ground, the western lines of light taking the earth +without alighting upon it to any extent, or illuminating +the dead levels at all. The sun had crept round the +tree as a last effort before death, and then began to +sink, the shearers' lower parts becoming steeped in +embrowning twilight, whilst their heads and shoulders +were still enjoying day, touched with a yellow of self+ +sustained brilliancy that seemed inherent rather than +acquired. +The sun went down in an ochreous mist; but they +sat, and +

+talked on, and grew as merry as the gods in +Homer's heaven. Bathsheba still remained enthroned +inside the window, and occupied herself in knitting, +from which she sometimes looked up to view the fading +scene outside. The slow twilight expanded and enveloped +them completely before the signs of moving were shown. +Gabriel suddenly missed Farmer Boldwood from his +place at the bottom of the table. How long he had +been gone Oak did not know; but he had apparently +withdrawn into the eneircling dusk. Whilst he was +thinking of this, Liddy brought candles into the back +part of the room overlooking the shearers, and their +lively new flames shone down the table and over the +men, and dispersed among the green shadows behind. +Bathsheba's form, still in its original position, was now +again distinct between their eyes and the light, which +revealed that Boldwood had gone inside the room, and +was sitting near her. +Next came the question of the evening. Would Miss +Everdene sing to them the song she always sang so +charmingly -- " The Banks of Allan Water ' -- before they +went home ? +After a moment's consideration Bathsheba assented, +beckoning to Gabriel, who hastened up into the coveted +atmosphere. +" Have you brought your flute ? " she whispered. +" Yes, miss.' +" Play to my singing, then.' +She stood up in the window-opening, facing the +men, the candles behind her, Gabriel on her right hand, +immediately outside the sash-frame. Boldwood had +drawn up on her left, within the room. Her singing +was soft and rather tremulous at first, but it soon swelled +to a steady clearness. Subsequent events caused one +of the verses to be remembered for many months, and +even years, by more than one of those who were gathered +there : -- +For his bride a soldier sought her, +And a winning tongue had he : +On the banks of Allan Water +None was gay as she !. +

+In addition to the dulcet piping of Gabriel's flute, +Boldwood supplied a bass in his customary profound +voice, uttering his notes so softly, however, as to abstain +entirely from making anything like an ordinary duet of +the song ; they rather formed a rich unexplored shadow, +which threw her tones into relief. The shearers reclined +against each other as at suppers in the early ages of the +world, and so silent and absorbed were they that her +breathing could almost be heard between the bars ; and +at the end of the ballad, when the last tone loitered on +to an inexpressible close, there arose that buzz of +pleasure which is the attar of applause. +It is scarcely necessary to state that Gabriel could +not avoid noting the farmer's bearing to-night towards +their entertainer. Yet there was nothing exceptional in +his actions beyond what appertained to his time of +performing them. It was when the rest were all looking +away that Boldwood observed her ; when they regarded +her he turned aside; when they thanked or praised he +was silent; when they were inattentive he murmured +his thanks. The meaning lay in the difference between +actions, none of which had any meaning of itself; +and the necessity of being jealous, which lovers are +troubled with, did not lead Oak to underestimate these +signs. +Bathsheba then wished them good-night, withdrew +from the window, and retired to the back part of the +room, Boldwood thereupon closing the sash and the +shutters, and remaining inside with her. Oak wandered +away under the quiet and scented trees. Recovering +from the softer impressions produced by Bathsheba's +voice, the shearers rose to leave, Coggan turning to +Pennyways as he pushed back the bench to pass out : -- +"I like to give praise where praise is due, and the +man deserves it -- that 'a do so,' he remarked, looking at +the worthy thief, as if he were the masterpiece of some +world-renowned artist. +

+"I'm sure I should never have believed it if we hadn t +proved it, so to allude,' hiccupped Joseph Poorgrass, " that +every cup, every one of the best knives and forks, and +every empty bottle be in their place as perfect now as +at the beginning, and not one stole at all. +"I'm sure I don't deserve half the praise you give +me,' said the virtuous thief, grimly. +" Well, I'll say this for Pennyways,' added Coggan, +"that whenever he do really make up his mind to do a +noble thing in the shape of a good action, as I could +see by his face he. did to-night afore sitting down, he's +generally able to carry it out. Yes, I'm proud to say. +neighbours, that he's stole nothing at all. +"Well,' -- 'tis an honest deed, and we thank ye for it, +Pennyways,' said Joseph; to which opinion the remainder +of the company subscribed unanimously. + At this time of departure, when nothing more was +visible of the inside of the parlour than a thin and still +chink of light between the shutters, a passionate scene +was in eourse of enactment there.' +Miss Everdene and Boldwood were alone. Her +cheeks had lost a great deal of their healthful fire from +the very seriousness of her position ; but her eye was +bright with the excitement of a triumph -- though it was +a triumph which had rather been contemplated than +desired. +She was standing behind a low arm-chair, from which +she had just risen, and he was kneeling in it -- inclining +himself over its back towards her, and holding her hand +in both his own. His body moved restlessly, and it was +with what Keats daintily calls a too happy happiness. +This unwonted abstraction by love of all dignity from +a man of whom it had ever seemed the chief component, +was, in its distressing incongruity, a pain to her which +quenched much of the pleasure she derived from the +proof that she was idolized. +" I will try to love you,' she was saying, in a trembling +voice quite unlike her usual self-confidence. " And if I +can believe in any way that I shall make you a good +wife I shall indeed be willing to marry you. But, Mr. +Boldwood, hesitation on so high a matter is honourable +in any woman, and I don't want to give a solemn +promise to-night. I would rather ask you to wait a few +weeks till I can see my situation better.' +"But you have every reason to believe that then -- -- ' +'I have every reason to hope that at the end of the +five or +

+six weeks, between this time and harvest, that +you say you are going to be away from home, I shall be +able to promise to be your wife,' she said, firmly. "But +remember this distinctly, I don't promise yet.' +"It is enough I don't ask more. I can wait on +those dear words. And now, Miss Everdene, good+ +night!' +" Good-night,' she said, graciously -- almost tenderly; +and Boldwood withdrew with a serene smile. +Bathsheba knew more of him now ; he had entirely +bared his heart before her, even until he had almost +worn in her eyes the sorry look of a grand bird without +the feathers that make it grand. She had been awe+ +struck at her past temerity, and was struggling to make +amends without thinking whether the sin quite deserved +the penalty she was schooling herself to pay. To have +brought all this about her ears was terrible; but after a +while the situation was not without a fearful joy. The +facility with which even the most timid woman some+ +times acquire a relish for the dreadful when that is +amalgamated with a little triumph, is marvellous. + +

+THE SAME NIGHT -- THE FIR PLANTATION +AMONG the multifarious duties which Bathsheba had +voluntarily imposed upon herself by dispensing with the +services of a bailiff, was the particular one of looking +round the homestead before going to bed, to see that +all was right and safe for the night. Gabriel had almost +constantly preceded her in this tour every evening, +watching her affairs as carefully as any specially appointed +officer of surveillance could have done; but this tender +devotion was to a great extent unknown to his mistress, +and as much as was known was somewhat thanklessly +received. Women are never tired of bewailing man's +fickleness in love, but they only seem to snub his con+ +stancy. +As watching is best done invisibly, she usually carried +a dark lantern in her hand, and every now and then +turned on the light to examine nooks and corners with +the coolness of a metropolitan policeman. This cool+ +ness may have owed its existence not so much to her +fearlessness of expected danger as to her freedom from +the suspicion of any; her worst anticipated discovery +being that a horse might not be well bedded, the fowls +not all in, or a door not closed. +This night the buildings were inspected as usual, +and she went round to the farm paddock. Here the +only sounds disturbing the stillness were steady munch+ +ings of many mouths, and stentorian breathings from all +but invisible noses, ending in snores and puffs like the +blowing of bellows slowly. Then the munching would +recommence, when the lively imagination might assist +the eye to discern a group of pink-white nostrils, shaped +as caverns, and very clammy and humid on their sur+ +faces, not exactly pleasant to the touch until one got +used to them; the mouths beneath having a great +partiality for closing upon any loose end of Bathsheba's +apparel which came within +

+reach of their tongues. +Above each of these a still keener vision suggested a +brown forehead and two staring though not unfriendly +eyes, and above all a pair of whitish crescent-shaped +horns like two particularly new moons, an occasional +stolid " moo!' proclaiming beyond the shade of a doubt +that these phenomena were the features and persons of +Daisy, Whitefoot, Bonny-lass, Jolly-O, Spot, Twinkle-eye, +etc., etc. -- the respectable dairy of Devon cows belonging +to Bathsheba aforesaid. +Her way back to the house was by a path through a +young plantation of tapering firs, which had been planted +some years earlier to shelter the premises from the north +wind. By reason of the density of the interwoven foliage +overhead, it was gloomy there at cloudless noontide, +twilight in the evening, dark as midnight at dusk, and +black as the ninth plague of Egypt at midnight. To +describe the spot is to call it a vast, low, naturally formed +hall, the plumy ceiling of which was supported by slender +pillars of living wood, the floor being covered with a soft +dun carpet of dead spikelets and mildewed cones, with +a tuft of grass-blades here and there. +This bit of the path was always the crux of the +night's ramble, though, before starting, her apprehen+ +sions of danger were not vivid enough to lead her to +take a companion. Slipping along here covertly as +Time, Bathsheba fancied she could hear footsteps enter+ +ing the track at the opposite end. It was certainly a +rustle of footsteps. Her own instantly fell as gently as +snowflakes. She reassured herself by a remembrance +that the path was public, and that the traveller was +probably some villager returning home ; regetting, at +the same time, that the meeting should be about to +occur in' the darkest point of her route, even though +only just outside her own door. +The noise approached, came close, and a figure was +apparently on the point of gliding past her when some+ +thing tugged at her skirt and pinned it forcibly to the +ground. The instantaneous check nearly threw Bath+ +sheba off her balance. In recovering she struck against +warm clothes and buttons. +'A rum start, upon my soul!' said a masculine voice, +a foot or so above her head. 'Have I hurt you, mate?' +"No,' said Bathsheba, attempting to shrink a way. +

+" We have got hitched together somehow, I think.' +" Yes.' +"Are you a woman ?' +'Yes.' +"A lady, I should have said.' +"It doesn't matter.' +"I am a man.' +"Oh!' +Bathsheba softly tugged again, but to no purpose. +"Is that a dark lantern you have ? I fancy so,' said +the man. +'Yes.' +"If you'll allow me I'll open it, and set you free.' +A hand seized the lantern, the door was opened, the +rays burst out from their prison, and Bathsheba beheld +her position with astonishment. +The man to whom she was hooked was brilliant in +brass and scarlet. He was a soldier. His sudden +appearance was to darkness what the sound of a trumpet +is to silense. Gloom, the genius loci at all times hitherto, +was now totally overthrown, less by the lantern-light +than by what the lantern lighted. The contrast of this +revelation with her anticipations of some sinister figure +in sombre garb was so great that it had upon her the +effect of a fairy transformation. +It was immediately apparent that the military man's +spur had become entangled in the gimp which decorated +the skirt of her dress. He caught a view of her face. +"I'll unfasten you in one moment, miss,' he said, +with new-born gallantry. +" O no -- I can do it, thank you,' she hastily replied, +and stooped for the performance. +The unfastening was not such a trifling affair. The +rowel of the spur had so wound itself among the gimp +cords in those few moments, that separation was likely +to be a matter of time. +He too stooped, and the lantern standing on the +ground betwixt them threw the gleam from its open side +among the fir-tree needles and the blades of long damp +grass with the effect of a large glowworm. It radiated +upwards into their +

+faces, and sent over half the planta+ +tion gigantic shadows of both man and woman, each +dusky shape becoming distorted and mangled upon the +tree-trunks till it wasted to nothing. +He looked hard into her eyes when she raised them +for a moment; Bathsheba looked down again, for his +gaze was too strong to be received point-blank with her +own. But she had obliquely noticed that he was young +and slim, and that he wore three chevrons upon his +sleeve. +Bathsheba pulled again. +" You are a prisoner, miss; it is no use blinking the +matter,' said the soldier, drily. " I must cut your dress +if you are in such a hurry.' +" Yes -- please do!' she exclaimed, helplessly. ' +"It wouldn't be necessary if you could wait a +moment;' and he unwound a cord from the little +wheel. She withdrew her own hand, but, whether by +accident or design, he touched it. Bathsheba was +vexed; she hardly knew why. +His unravelling went on, but it nevertheless seemed +coming to no end. She looked at him again. +'Thank you for the sight of such a beautiful face!' +said the young sergeant, without ceremony. +She coloured with embarrassment. "'Twas un+ +willingly shown,' she replied, stiffly, and with as much +dignity -- which was very little -- as she could infuse into +a position of captivity +"I like you the better for that incivility, miss,' he +said. +" I should have liked -- I wish -- you had never shown +yourself to me by intruding here!' She pulled again, +and the gathers of her dress began to give way like +liliputian musketry. +" I deserve the chastisement your words give me. +But why should such a fair and dutiful girl have such +an aversion to her father's sex ? ' +"Go on your way, please.' +' What, Beauty, and drag you after me ? Do but +look; I never saw such a tangle!' +'O, 'tis shameful of you ; you have been making +it worse on purpose to keep me here -- you have ! ' +"Indeed, I don't think so,' said the sergeant, with a +merry twinkle. +

+"I tell you you have!' she exclaimed, in high +temper. I insist upon undoing it. Now, allow me!' +"Certainly, miss; I am not of steel.' He added a +sigh which had as much archness in it as a sigh could +possess without losing its nature altogether. 'I am +thankful for beauty, even when 'tis thrown to me like +a bone to a dog. These moments will be over too +soon!' +She closed her lips in a determined silence. +Bathsheba was revolving in her mind whether by a +bold and desperate rush she could free herself at the +risk of leaving her skirt bodily behind her. The +thought was too dreadful. The dress -- which she had +put on to appear stately at the supper -- was the head +and front of her wardrobe ; not another in her stock +became her so well. What woman in Bathsheba's +position, not naturally timid, and within call of her +retainers, would have bought escape from a dashing +soldier at so dear a price ? +"All in good time ; it will soon be done, I perceive,' +said her cool friend. +" This trifling provokes, and -- and -- -- ' +" Not too cruel!' +" -- Insults me.!' +"It is done in order that I may have the pleasure +of apologizing to so charming a woman, which I +straightway do most humbly, madam,' he said, bowing +low. +Bathsheba really knew not what to say. +"I've seen a good many women in my time, +continued the young man in a murmur, and more +thoughtfully than hitherto, critically regarding her bent +head at the same time; "but I've never seen a woman +so beautiful as you. Take it or leave it -- be offended +or like it -- I don't care.' +" Who are you, then, who can so well afford to +despise opinion ? ' +" No stranger. Sergeant Troy. I am staying in +this place. -- There ! it is undone at last, you see. +Your light fingers were more eager than mine. I wish it +had been the knot of knots, which there's no untying !. ' +This was worse and worse. She started up, and so +did he. +

+How to decently get away from him -- that +was her difficulty now. She sidled off inch by inch, +the lantern in her hand, till she could see the redness +of his coat no longer. +" Ah, Beauty ; good-bye !. ' he said. +She made no reply, and, reaching a distance of +twenty or thirty yards, turned about, and ran indoors. +Liddy had just retired to rest. In ascending to her +own chamber, Bathsheba opened the girl's door an +inch or two, and, panting, said -- +" Liddy, is any soldier staying in the village -- +sergeant somebody -- rather gentlemanly for a sergeant, +and good looking -- a red coat with blue facings ?' +'No, miss ... No, I say; but really it might be +Sergeant Troy home on furlough, though I have not +seen him. He was here once in that way when the +regiment was at Casterbridge.' +" Yes; that's the name. Had he a moustache -- no +whiskers or beard ?' +" He had.' +" What kind of a person is he ?' +"O ! miss -- I blush to name it -- a gay man! But +I know him to be very quick and trim, who might have +made his thousands, like a squire. Such a clever +young dand as he is! He's a doctor's son by name, +which is a great deal; and he's an earl's son by +nature!' +" Which is a great deal more. Fancy! Is it true ? ' +" Yes. And, he was brought up so well, and sent to +Casterbridge Grammar School for years and years. +Learnt all languages while he was there ; and it was +said he got on so far that he could take down Chinese +in shorthand ; but that I don't answer for, as it was +only reported. However, he wasted his gifted lot, +and listed a soldier; but even then he rose to be a +sergeant without trying at all. Ah! such a blessing it +is to be high-born ; nobility of blood will shine out even +in the ranks and files. And is he really come home, +miss ?" +' I believe so. Good-night, Liddy.' +After all, how could a cheerful wearer of skirts +be permanently offended with the man ? There are +occasions when girls like Bathsheba will put up with +a great deal of +

+unconventional behaviour. When they +want to be praised, which is often, when they want to +be mastered, which is sometimes ; and when they want +no nonsense, which is seldom. Just now the first +feeling was in the ascendant with Bathsheba, with a dash +of the second. Moreover, by chance or by devilry, the +ministrant was antecedently made interesting by being +a handsome stranger who had evidently seen better +days. +So she could not clearly decide whether it was her +opinion that he had insulted her or not. ' +"Was ever anything so odd! ' she at last exclaimed +to herself, in her own room. "And was ever anything +so meanly done as what I did to to sulk away like that +from a man who was only civil and kind!' Clearly she +did not think his barefaced praise of her person an +insult now. +It was a fatal omission of Boldwood's that he had +never once told her she was beautiful. + +

+THE NEW ACQUAINTANCE DESCRIBED +IDIOSYNCRASY and vicissitude had combined to +stamp Sergeant Troy as an exceptional being. +He was a man to whom memories were an in+ +cumbrance, and anticipations a superfluity. Simply +feeling, considering, and caring for what was before his +eyes, he was vulnerable only in the present. His out+ +look upon time was as a transient flash of the eye now +and then : that projection of consciousness into days +gone by and to come, which makes the past a synonym +for the pathetic and the future a word for circum+ +spection, was foreign to Troy. With him the past +was yesterday ; the future, to-morrow ; never, the day +after. +On this account he might, in certain lights, have +been regarded as one of the most fortunate of his +order. For it may be argued with great plausibility +that reminiscence is less an endowment than a disease, +and that expectation in its only comfortable form -- that +of absolute faith -- is practically an impossibility; whilst +in the form of hope and the secondary compounds, +patience, impatience, resolve, curiosity, it is a constant +fluctuation between pleasure and pain. +Sergeant Troy, being entirely innocent of the +practice of expectation, was never disappointed. To +set against this negative gain there may have been +some positive losses from a certain narrowing of the +higher tastes and sensations which it entailed. But +limitation of the capacity is never recognized as a loss +by the loser therefrom : in this attribute moral or +aesthetic poverty contrasts plausibly with material, since +those who suffer do not mind it, whilst those who mind +it soon cease to suffer. It is not a denial of anything +to have been always without it, and what Troy had +never enjoyed he did not miss; but, being fully +conscious that what sober +

+people missed he enjoyed, +his capacity, though really less, seemed greater than +theirs. +He was moderately truthful towards men, but to +women lied like a Cretan -- a system of ethics above all +others calculated to win popularity at the first flush of +admission into lively society ; and the possibility of the +favour gained being transitory had reference only to +the future. +He never passed the line which divides the spruce +vices from the ugly ; and hence, though his morals had +hardly been applauded, disapproval of them" had fre+ +quently been tempered with a smile. This treatment +had led to his becoming a sort of regrater of other +men's gallantries, to his own aggrandizement as a +Corinthian, rather than to the moral profit of his +hearers. +His reason and his propensities had seldom any +reciprocating influence, having separated by mutual +consent long ago : thence it sometimes happened that, +while his intentions were as honourable as could be +wished, any particular deed formed a dark background +which threw them into fine relief. The sergeant's +vicious phases being the offspring of impulse, and +his virtuous phases of cool meditation, the latter +had a modest tendency to be oftener heard of than +seen. +Troy was full of activity, but his activities were less of +a locomotive than a vegetative nature ; and, never being +based upon any original choice of foundation or direc+ +tion, they were exercised on whatever object chance +might place in their way. Hence, whilst he sometimes +reached the brilliant in speech because that -was +spontaneous, he fell below the commonplace in action, +from inability to guide incipient effort. He had a +quick comprehension and considerable force of char+ +acter ; but, being without the power to combine them, +the comprehension became engaged with trivialities +whilst waiting for the will to direct it, and the force +wasted itself in useless grooves through unheeding the +comprehension. +He was a fairly well-educated man for one of middle +class -- exceptionally well educated for a common soldier. +He spoke fluently and unceasingly. He could in this +way be one thing and seem another : for instance, he +could speak of love and +

+think of dinner; call on the +intend to owe. +The wondrous power of flattery in passados at woman +is a perception so universal as to be remarked upon by +many people almost as automatically as they repeat a +proverb, or say that they are Christians and the like, +without thinking much of the enormous corollaries +which spring from the proposition. Still less is it acted +upon for the good of the complemental being alluded +to. With the majority such an opinion is shelved with +all those trite aphorisms which require some catastrophe +to bring their tremendous meanings thoroughly home. +When expressed with some amount of reflectiveness it +seems co-ordinate with a belief that this flattery must +be reasonable to be effective. It is to the credit of +men that few attempt to settle the question by experi+ +ment, and it is for their happiness, perhaps, that accident +has never settled it for them. Nevertheless, that a +male dissembler who by deluging her with untenable +fictions charms the female wisely, may acquire powers +reaching to the extremity of perdition, is a truth taught +to many by unsought and wringing occurrences. And +some profess to have attained to the same knowledge +by experiment as aforesaid, and jauntily continue their +indulgence in such experiments with terrible effect. +Sergeant Troy was one. +He had been known to observe casually that in +dealing with womankind the only alternative to flattery +was cursing and swearing. There was no third method. +" Treat them fairly, and you are a lost man,' he would +say. +This philosopher's public appearance in Weatherbury +promptly followed his arrival there. A week or two +after the shearing, Bathsheba, feeling a nameless relief +of spirits on account of Boldwood's absence, approached +her hayfields and looked over the hedge towards the +haymakers. They consisted in about equal proportions +of gnarled and flexuous forms, the former being the +men, the latter the women, who wore tilt bonnets +covered with nankeen, which hung in a curtain upon +their shoulders. Coggan and Mark Clark were mowing +in a less forward meadow, Clark humming a tune to +the strokes of his +

+scythe, to which Jan made no attempt +to keep time with his. In the first mead they were +already loading hay, the women raking it into cocks +and windrows, and the men tossing it upon the +waggon. +From behind the waggon a bright scarlet spot +emerged, and went on loading unconcernedly with the +rest. It was the gallant sergeant, who had come hay+ +making for pleasure ; and nobody could deny that he +was doing the mistress of the farm real knight-service +by this voluntary contribution of his labour at a busy +time. +As soon as she had entered the field Troy saw her, +and sticking his pitchfork into the ground and picking +up his crop or cane, he came forward. Bathsheba +blushed with half-angry embarrassment, and adjusted +her eyes as well as her feet to the direct line of her +path. + +

+SCENE ON THE VERGE OF THE HAY-MEAD +'AH, Miss Everdene!' said the sergeant, touching his +diminutive cap. "Little did I think it was you I was +speaking to the other night. And yet, if I had reflected, +the "Queen of the Corn-market" (truth is truth at any +hour of the day or night, and I heard you so named in +Casterbridge yesterday), the "Queen of the Corn-market,'' +I say, could be no other woman. I step across now to +beg your forgiveness a thousand times for having been +led by my feelings to express myself too strongly for a +stranger. To be sure I am no stranger to the place -- +I am Sergeant Troy, as I told you, and I have assisted +your uncle in these fields no end of times when I was a +lad. I have been doing the same for you today.' +"I suppose I must thank you for that, Sergeant +Troy,' said the Queen of the Corn-market, in an in+ +differently grateful tone. +The sergeant looked hurt and sad. "Indeed you +must not, Miss Everdene,' he said. " Why could you +think such a thing necessary ? ' +"I am glad it is not.' +" Why ? if I may ask without offence.' +" Because I don't much want to thank you for any" +thing.' +"I am afraid I have made a hole with my tongue +that my heart will never mend. O these intolerable +times: that ill-luck should follow a man for honestly +telling a woman she is beautiful.! 'Twas the most I +said -- you must own that; and the least I could say -- +that I own myself.' +'There is some talk I could do without more easily +than money.' +"Indeed. That remark is a sort of digression.' +" No. It means that I would rather have your room +than your company.' +

+"And I would rather have curses from you than +kisses from any other woman ; so I'll stay here.' +Bathsheba was absolutely speechless. And yet she +could not help feeling that the assistance he was render+ +ing forbade a harsh repulse. +" Well,' continued Troy, "I suppose there is a praise +which is rudeness, and that may be mine. At the +same time there is a treatment which is injustice, and +that may be yours. Because a plain blunt man, who +has never been taught concealment, speaks out his +mind without exactly intending it, he's to be snapped +off like the son of a sinner.' +"Indeed there's no such case between us,' she said, +turning away. "I don't allow strangers to be bold and +impudent -- even in praise of me.' +" Ah -- it is not the fact but the method which offends +you,' he said, carelessly. "But I have the sad satis+ +faction of knowing that my words, whether pleasing or +offensive, are unmistakably true. Would you have had +me look at you, and tell my acquaintance that you are +quite a common-place woman, to save you the embar+ +rassment of being stared at if they come near you ? +Not I. I couldn't tell any such ridiculous lie about +a beauty to encourage a single woman in England in +too excessive a modesty.' +"It is all pretence -- what you are saying!' exclaimed +Bathsheba, laughing in spite of herself at the sergeant's +sly method. " You have a rare invention, Sergeant +Troy. Why couldn't you have passed by me that +night, and said nothing ? -- that was all I meant to +reproach you for.' +"Because I wasn't going to. Half the pleasure of +a feeling lies in being able to express it on the spur of +the moment, and I let out mine. It would have been +just the same if you had been the reverse person -- ugly +and old -- I should have exclaimed about it in the same +way. ' +" How long is it since you have been so afflicted with +strong feeling, then ? ' +" Oh, ever since I was big enough to know loveliness +from deformity.' +

+"'Tis to be hoped your sense of the difference you +speak of doesn't stop at faces, but extends to morals as +well. ' +'I won't speak of morals or religion -- my own or +anybody else's. Though perhaps I should have been a +very good Christian if you pretty women hadn't made +me an idolater.' +Bathsheba moved on to hide the irrepressible dimp+ +lings of merriment. Troy followed, whirling his crop. +'But -- Miss Everdene -- you do forgive me ? ' +" Hardly. ' +"Why ?' +" You say such things.' +"I said you were beautiful, and I'll say so still; for, +by -- so you are !. The most beautiful ever I saw, or +may I fall dead this instant! Why, upon my -- -- ' +" Don't -- don't! I won't listen to you -- you are so +profane!' she said, in a restless state between distress +at hearing him and a penchant to hear more. +"I again say you are a most fascinating woman. +There's nothing remarkable in my saying so, is there? +I'm sure the fact is evident enough. Miss Everdene, +my opinion may be too forcibly let out to please you, +and, for the matter of that, too insignificant to convince +you, but surely it is honest, and why can't it be ex+ +cused? ' +"Because it -- it isn't a correct one,' she femininely +murmured. +" 0, fie -- fie-! Am I any worse for breaking the +third of that Terrible Ten than you for breaking the +ninth ?" +"Well, it doesn't seem quite true to me that I am +fascinating,' she replied evasively. +' Not so to you : then I say with all respect that, if +so, it is owing to your modesty, Miss Everdene. But +surely you must have been told by everybody of what +everybody notices ? and you should take their words +for it.' +" They don't say so exactly.' +" O yes, they must!' +"Well, I mean to my face, as you do,' she went on, +allowing +

+herself to be further lured into a conversation +that intention had rigorously forbidden. +"But you know they think so ?' +"No -- that is -- I certainly have heard Liddy say +they do, but -- -- ' She paused. +Capitulation -- that was the purport of the simple +reply, guarded as it was -- capitulation, unknown to her+ +self. Never did a fragile tailless sentence convey a +more perfect meaning. The careless sergeant smiled +within himself, and probably too the devil smiled from +a loop-hole in Tophet, for the moment was the turning+ +point of a career. Her tone and mien signified beyond +mistake that the seed which was to lift the foundation +had taken root in the chink : the remainder was a mere +question of time and natural changes. +"There the truth comes out ! ' said the soldier, in +reply. "Never tell me that a young lady can live in a +buzz of admiration without knowing something about it. +Ah,' well, Miss Everdene, you are -- pardon my blunt +way -- you are rather an injury to our race than other+ +wise. +" How -- indeed ? ' she said, opening her eyes. +"O, it is true enough. I may as well be hung for +a sheep as a lamb (an old country saying, not of much +account, but it will do for a rough soldier), and so I +will speak my mind, regardless of your pleasure, and +without hoping or intending to get your pardon. Why, +Miss Everdene, it is in this manner that your good +looks may do more. harm than good in the world.' +The sergeant looked down the mead in critical abstrac+ +ion. " Probably some one man on an average falls in' +love, with each ordinary woman. She can marry him : +he is content, and leads a useful life. Such women as +you a hundred men always covet -- your eyes will be+ +witch scores on scores into an unavailing fancy for you +you can only marry one of that many. Out of these +say twenty will endeavour to. drown the bitterness of +espised love in drink ; twenty more will mope away +their lives without a wish or attempt to make a mark in +he world, because they have no ambition apart from +their attachment to you ; twenty more -- the susceptible +person +

+myself possibly among them -- will be always +draggling after you, getting where they may just see +you, doing desperate things. Men are such constant +fools! The rest may try to get over their passion with +more or less success. But all these men will be +saddened. And not only those ninety-nine men, but +the ninety-nine women they might have married are +saddened with them. There's my tale. That's why I +say that a woman so charming as yourself, Miss Ever+ +dene, is hardly a blessing to her race.' +The handsome sergeant's features were during this +speech as rigid and stern as John Knox's in addressing +his gay young queen. +Seeing she made no reply, he said, "Do you read +French ? ' +"No; I began, but when I got to the verbs, father +died,' she said simply. +'I do -- -when I have an opportunity, which latterly +has not been often (my mother was a Parisienne) -- -and +there's a proverb they have, Qui aime bien chatie bien + -- "He chastens who loves well." Do you understand +me? +'Ah!' she replied, and there was even a little tremu+ +lousness in the usually cool girl's voice; 'if you can +only fight half as winningly as you can talk, you are +able to make a pleasure of a bayonet wound!' And +then poor Bathsheba instanly perceived her slip in +making this admission: in hastily trying to retrieve it, +she went from bad to worse. 'Don't, however, suppose +that I derive any pleasure from what you tell me.' +'I know you do not -- -I know it perfectly,' said Troy, +with much hearty conviction on the exterior of his face: +and altering the expression to moodiness; 'when a +dozen men arfe ready to speak tenderly to you, and +give the admiration you deserve without adding the +warning you need, it stands to reason that my poor +rough-and-ready mixture of praise and blame cannot +convey much pleasure. Fool as I may be, I am not so +conceited as to suppose that!' +'I think you -- -are conceited, nevertheless,' said +Bathsheba, looking askance at a reed she was fitfully +pulling with one hand, having lately grown feverish +under the soldier's +

+system of procedure -- not because +the nature of his cajolery was entirely unperceived, but +because its vigour was overwelming. +'I would not own it to anybody esle -- nor do I +exactly to you. Still, there might have been some self+ +conceit in my foolish supposition the other night. I +knew that what I said in admiration might be an +opinion too often forced upon you to give any pleasure +but I certainly did think that the kindness of your +nature might prevent you judging an uncontrolled +tongue harshly -- which you have done -- and thinking +badly of me and wounding me this morning, when I +am working hard to save your hay.' +'Well, you need not think more of that: perhaps you +did not mean to be rude to me by speaking out your +mind: indeed, I believe you did not,' said the shrewd +woman, in painfully innocent earnest. 'And I thank +you for giving help here. But -- -but mind you don't +speak to me again in that way, or in any other, unless +I speak to you.' +'O, Miss Bathsheba! That is to hard!' +'No, it isn't. Why is it?' +'You will never speak to me; for I shall not be +here long. I am soon going back again to the miser+ +able monotony of drill -- and perhaps our regiment will +be ordered out soon. And yet you take away the one +little ewe-lamb of plaesure that I have in this dull life +of mine. Well, perhaps generosity is not a woman's +most marked characteristic.' +'When are you going from here?' she asked, with +some interest. +'In a month.' +'But how can it give you pleasure to speak to me?' +'Can you ask Miss Everdene -- knowing as you do + -- what my offence is based on?' +'I you do care so much for a silly trifle of that +kind, then, I don't mind doing it,' she uncertainly and +doubtingly answered. 'But you can't really care for a +word from me? you only say so -- I think you only +say so.' +'that's unjust -- but I won't repeat the remark. I +am too +

+gratified to get such a mark of your friendship +at any price to cavil at the tone. I do Miss Everdene, +care for it. You may think a man foolish to want a +mere word -- just a good morning. Perhaps he is -- I +don't know. But you have never been a man looking +upon a woman, and that woman yourself.' +" Well.' +" Then you know nothing of what such an experience +is like -- and Heaven forbid that you ever should!' +"Nonsense, flatterer! What is it like? I am +interested in knowing." +"Put shortly, it is not being able to think, hear, or +look in any direction except one without wretchedness, +nor there without torture.' +" Ah, sergeant, it won't do -- you are pretending ! ' she +said, shaking her head. ' Your words are too dashing +to be true.' +"I am not, upon the honour of a soldier' +"But why is it so? -- Of course I ask for mere pas+ +time.' +" Because you are so distracting -- and I am so +distracted. ' +" You look like it.' +" I am indeed.' +" Why, you only saw me the other night!' +" That makes no difference. The lightning works in+ +stantaneously. I loved you then, at once -- as I do now.' +Bathsheba surveyed him curiously, from the feet +upward, as high as she liked to venture her glance, +which was not quite so high as his eyes. +" You cannot and you don"t,' she said demurely. +"There is-no such sudden feeling in people. I won't +listen to you any longer. Hear me, I wish I knew what +o'clock it is -- I am going -- I have wasted too much time +here already!" +The sergeant looked at his watch and told her. +" What, haven't you a watch, miss?' he inquired. +"I have not just at present -- I am about to get a +new one.' +"No. You shall be given one. Yes -- you shall. +A gift, Miss Everdene -- a gift." +And before she knew what the young -- man was +intending, a heavy gold watch was in her hand. +

+"It is an unusually good one for a man like me to +possess,' he quietly said. "That watch has a history. +Press the spring and open the back.' +She did so. +'What do you see?' +'A crest and a motto.' +" A coronet with five points, and beneath, Cedit amor +rebus -- "Love yields to circumstance." It's the motto +of the Earls of Severn. That watch belonged to the +last lord, and was given to my mother's husband, a +medical man, for his use till I came of age, when it was +to be given to me. It was all the fortune that ever I +inherited. That watch has regulated imperial interests +in its time -- the stately ceremonial, the courtly assigna+ +tion, pompous travels, and lordly sleeps. Now it is +yours. +" But, Sergeant Troy, I cannot take this -- I cannot ! ' +she exclaimed, with round-eyed wonder. " A gold watch ! +What are you doing? Don't be such a dissembler!" +The sergeant retreated to avoid receiving back his +gift, which she held out persistently towards him. +Bathsheba followed as he retired. +"Keep it -- do, Miss Everdene -- keep it !' said the +erratic child of impulse. " The fact of your possessing +it makes it worth ten times as much to me. A more +plebeian one will answer my purpose just as well, and +the pleasure of knowing whose heart my old one beats +against -- well, I won't speak of that. It is in far +worthier hands than ever it has been in before.' +"But indeed I can't have it!' she said, in a perfect +simmer of distress. " O, how can you do such a thing ; +that is if you really mean it! Give me your dead +father's watch, and such a valuable one! You should +not be so reckless, indeed, Sergeant Troy!' +"I loved my father: good; but better, I love you +more. That's how I can do it,' said the sergeant, with +an intonation of such exquisite fidelity to nature that it. +was evidently not all acted now. Her beauty, which, +whilst it had been quiescent, he had praised in jest, +had in its animated phases moved him to +

+earnest; and +though his seriousness was less than she imagined, it +was probably more than he imagined himself. +Bathsheba was brimming with agitated bewilderment, +and she said, in half-suspicious accents of feeling, "Can +it be! 0, how can it be, that you care for me, and +so suddenly,! You have seen so little of me: I may +not be really so -- so nice-looking as I seem to you. +Please, do take it ; O, do! I cannot and will not have +it. Believe me, your generosity is too great. I have +never done you a single kindness, and why should you +be so kind to me?' +A factitious reply had been again upon his lips, but +it was again suspended, and he looked at her with an +arrested eye. The truth was, that as she now stood -- +excited, wild, and honest as the day -- her alluring +beauty bore out so fully the epithets he had bestowed +upon it that he was quite startled at his temerity in +advancing them as false. He said mechanically, "Ah, +why ?' and continued to look at her. +"And my workfolk see me following you about the +field, and are wondering. O, this is dreadful!' she +went on, unconscious of the transmutation she was +effecting. +"I did not quite mean you to accept it at first, for it +as my one poor patent of nobility,' he broke out, +bluntly; "but, upon my soul, I wish you would now. +Without any shamming, come! Don't deny me the +happiness of wearing it for my sake ? But you are too +lovely even to care to be kind as others are.' +" No, no ; don"t say so !. I have reasons for reserve +which I cannot explain.' +" bet it be, then, let it be,' he said, receiving back +the watch at last; "I must be leaving you now. And +will you speak to me for these few weeks of my stay ? ' +'Indeed I will. Yet, I don't know if I will! O, +why did you come and disturb me so !' +"Perhaps in setting a gin, I have caught myself. +Such things have happened. Well, will you let me +work in your fields ? ' he coaxed. +" Yes, I suppose so ; if it is any pleasure to you.' +" Miss Everdene, I thank you. +" No, no.' +

+'Good-bye!' +The sergeant brought his hand to the cap on the +slope of his head, saluted, and returned to the distant +group of haymakers. +Bathsheba could not face the haymakers now. Her +heart erratically flitting hither and thither from per+ +plexed excitement, hot, and almost tearful, she retreated +homeward, murmuring, O, what have I done ! What +does it mean ! I wish I knew how much of it was +true! + +

+HIVING THE BEES +THE Weatherbury bees were late in their swarming this +year. It was in the latter part of June, and the day after +the interview with Troy in the hayfield, that Bathsheba +was standing in her garden, watching a swarm in the +air and guessing their probable settling place. Not only +were they late this year, but unruly. Sometimes through+ +out a whole season all the swarms would alight on the +lowest attainable bough -- such as part of a currant-bush +or espalier apple-tree ; next year they would, with just +the same unanimity, make straight off to the uppermost +member of some tall, gaunt costard, or quarrenden, +and there defy all invaders who did not come armed +with ladders and staves to take them. +This was the case at present. Bathsheba's eyes, +shaded by one hand, were following the ascending +multitude against the unexplorable stretch of blue till +they ultimately halted by one of the unwieldy trees +spoken of. A process somewhat analogous to that of +alleged formations of the universe, time and times ago, +was observable. The bustling swarm had swept the sky +in a scattered and uniform haze, which now thickened to +a nebulous centre: this glided on to a bough and grew +still denser, till it formed a solid black spot upon the +light. +The men and women being all busily engaged in +saving the hay -- even Liddy had left the house for the +purpose of lending a hand -- Bathsheba resolved to hive +the bees herself, if possible. She had dressed the hive +with herbs and honey, fetched a ladder, brush, and +crook, made herself impregnable with armour of leather +gloves, straw hat, and large gauze veil -- once green but +now faded to snuff colour -- and ascended a dozen rungs +of the ladder. At once she heard, not ten yards off, +a voice that was beginning to have a strange power in +agitating her. +

+"Miss Everdene, let me assist you ; you should not +attempt such a thing alone.' +Troy was just opening the garden gate. +Bathsheba flung down the brush, crook, and empty +hive, pulled the skirt of her dress tightly round her +ankles in a tremendous flurry, and as well as she could +slid down the ladder. By the time she reached the +bottom Troy was there also, and he stooped to pick +up the hive. +"How fortunate I am to have dropped in at this +moment!' exclaimed the sergeant. +She found her voice in a minute. "What! and will +you shake them in for me?' she asked, in what, for a +defiant girl, was a faltering way; though, for a timid +girl, it would have seemed a brave way enough. +" Will I ! ' said Troy. " Why, of course I will. How +blooming you are to-day ! ' Troy flung down his cane +and put his foot on the ladder to ascend. +"But you must have on the veil and gloves, or you'll +be stung fearfully!' +"Ah, yes. I must put on the veil and gloves. Will +you kindly show me how to fix them properly?' +'And you must have the broad-brimmed hat, too ;, for +your cap has no brim to keep the veil off, and they'd +reach your face.' +" The broad-brimmed hat, too, by all means.' +So a whimsical fate ordered that her hat should be +taken off -- veil and all attached -- and placed upon his +head, Troy tossing his own into a gooseberry bush. +Then the veil had to be tied at its lower edge round +his collar and the gloves put on him. +He looked such an extraordinary object in this guise +that, flurried as she was, she could not avoid laughing +outright. It was the removal of yet another stake from +the palisade of cold manners which had kept him off +Bathsheba looked on from the g:-ound whilst he was +busy sweeping and shaking the bees from the tree, +holding up the hive with the other hand for them to +fall into. She made use of an unobserved minute +whilst his attention was absorbed in the +

+operation to +arrange her plumes a little. He came down holding +the hive at arm's length, behind which trailed a cloud +of bees. +' Upon my life,' said Troy, through the veil, ' holding +up this hive makes one"s arm ache worse than a week +of sword-exercise.' When the manoeuvre was complete +he approached her. 'Would you be good enough to +untie me and let me out? I am nearly stifled inside +this silk cage.' +To hide her embarrassment during the unwonted +process of untying the string about his neck, she said : -- +'I have never seen that you spoke of.' +'What ?' +'The sword-exercise.' +'Ah ! would you like to ?' said Troy. +Bathsheba hesitated. She had heard wondrous +reports from time to time by dwellers in Weatherbury, +who had by chance sojourned awhile in Casterbridge, +near the barracks, of this strange and glorious perform+ +ance, tlie sword-exercise. Men and boys who had +peeped through chinks or over walls into the barrack+ +yard returned with accounts of its being the most +flashing affair conceivable ; accoutrements and weapons +glistening like stars-here,there,around-yet all by rule +and compass. So she said mildly what she felt strongly. +'Yes ; I should like to see it very much.' +'And so you shall; you shall see me go through it.' +'No! How?' +'Let me consider.' +'Not with a walking-stick -- I don't care to see that. +lt must be a real sword.' +'Yes, I know; and I have no sword here; but I +think I could get one by the evening. Now, will you +do this?' +'O no, indeed !' said Bathsheba, blushing. ' Thank +you very much, but I couldn't on any account. +'Surely you might? Nobody would know.' +She shook her head, but with a weakened negation. +' If I were to,' she said, 'I must bring Liddy too. Might +I not?' +

+Troy looked far away. 'I don't see why you want +to bring her,' he said coldly. +An unconscious look of assent in Bathsheba's eyes +betrayed that something more than his coldness had +made her also feel that Liddy Would be superfluous in +the suggested scene. She had felt it, even whilst making +the proposal. +'Well, I won't bring Liddy -- and I'll come. But +only for a very short time,' she added; 'a very short +time.' +'It will not take five minutes,' said Troy. +

+ +THE HOLLOW AMID THE FERNS +THE hill opposite Bathsheba's dwelling extended, a +mile off, into an uncultivated tract of land, dotted at +this season with tall thickets of brake fern, plump and +diaphanous from recent rapid growth, and radiant in +hues of clear and untainted green. +At eight o'clock this midsummer evening, whilst the +bristling ball of gold in the west still swept the tips of +the ferns with its long, luxuriant rays, a soft brushing+ +by of garments might have been heard among them, +and Bathsheba appeared in their midst, their soft, +feathery arms caressing her up to her shoulders. She +paused, turned, went back over the hill and half-way +to her own door, whence she cast a farewell glance upon +the spot she had just left, having resolved not to remain +near the place after all. +She saw a dim spot of artificial red moving round +the shoulder of the rise. It disappeared on the other +side. +She waited one minute -- two minutes -- thought of +Troy's disappointment at her non-fulfilment of a promised +engagement, till she again ran along the field, clambered +over the bank, and followed the original direction. She +was now literally trembling and panting at this her +temerity in such an errant undertaking; her breath +came and went quickly, and her eyes shone with an in+ +frequent light. Yet go she must. She reached the +verge of a pit in the middle of the ferns. Troy stood +in the bottom, looking up towards her. +'I heard you rustling through the fern before I saw +you,' he said, coming up and giving her his hand to help +her down the slope. +The pit was a saucer-shaped concave, naturally +formed, with a top diameter of about thirty feet, and +shallow enough to allow the sunshine to reach their +heads. Standing in the +

+centre, the sky overhead was +met by a circular horizon of fern : this grew nearly to +the bottom of the slope and then abruptly ceased. The +middle within the belt of verdure was floored with a +thick flossy carpet of moss and grass intermingled, so +yielding that the foot was half-buried within it. +'Now,' said 'Troy, producing the sword, which, as he +raised it into the sunlight, gleamed a sort of greeting, +like a living thing, 'first, we have four right and four +left cuts; four right and four left thrusts. Infantry cuts +and guards are more interesting than ours, to my mind; +but they are not so swashing. They have seven cuts +and three thrusts. So much as a preliminary. Well, +next, our cut one is as if you were sowing your corn -- +so.' Bathsheba saw a sort of rainbow, upside down in +the air, and Troy's arm was still again. 'Cut two, as if +you were hedging -- so. Three, as if you were reaping + -- so.' Four, as if you were threshing -- in that way. +'Then the same on the left. The thrusts are these : one, +two, three, four, right ; one, two, three, four, left.' He +repeated them. 'Have 'em again ?' he said. 'One, +two -- -- ' +She hurriedly interrupted : 'I'd rather not; though +I don't mind your twos and fours; but your ones and +threes are terrible !' +'Very well. I'll let you off the ones and threes. +Next, cuts, points and guards altogether.' Troy duly +exhibited them. 'Then there's pursuing practice, in +this way.' He gave the movements as before. 'There, +those are the stereotyped forms. The infantry have +two most diabolical upward cuts, which we are too +humane to use. Like this -- three, four.' +'How murderous and bloodthirsty !' +'They are rather deathy. Now I'll be more inter+ +esting, and let you see some loose play -- giving all the +cuts and points, infantry and cavalry, quicker than +lightning, and as promiscuously -- with just enough rule +to regulate instinct and yet not to fetter it. You are +my antagonist, with this difference from real warfare, +that I shall miss you every time by one hair's breadth, +or perhaps two. Mind you don't flinch, whatever you +do.' +

+'I'll be sure not to!' she said invincibly. +He pointed to about a yard in front of him. +Bathsheba's adventurous spirit was beginning to find +some grains of relish in these highly novel proceedings. +She took up her position as directed, facing Troy. +'Now just to learn whether you have pluck enough +to let me do what I wish, I'll give you a preliminary +test.' +He flourished the sword by way of introduction +number two, and the next thing of which she was +conscious was that the point and blade of the sword +were darting with a gleam towards her left side, just +above her hip; then of their reappearance on her right +side, emerging as it were from between her ribs, having +apparently passed through her body. The third item +of consciousness was that of seeing the same sword, +perfectly clean and free from blood held vertically in +Troy's hand (in the position technically called 'recover +swords'). All was as quick as electricity. +'Oh!' she cried out in affright, pressing her hand to +her side. ' Have you run me through ? -- no, you have +not! Whatever have you done!' +'I have not touched you,' said Troy, quietly. 'It +was mere sleight of hand. The sword passed behind +you. Now you are not afraid, are you ? Because if +you are l can't perform. I give my word that l will +not only not hurt you, but not once touch you.' +'I don't think I am afraid. You are quite sure you +will not hurt me ?' +'Quite sure.' +"Is the sWord very sharp ?' +'O no -- only stand as still as a statue. Now !' +In an instant the atmosphere was transformed to +Bathsheba's eyes. Beams of light caught from the low +sun's rays, above, around, in front of her, well-nigh shut +out earth and heaven -- all emitted in the marvellous +evolutions of Troy's reflecting blade, which seemed +everywhere at once, and yet nowherre specially. These +circling gleams were accompanied by a keen rush that +was almost a whistling -- also springing +

+from all sides of +her at once. In short, she was enclosed in a firmament +of light, and of sharp hisses, resembling a sky-full of +meteors close at hand. +Never since the broadsword became the national +weapon had there been more dexterity shown in its +management than by the hands of Sergeant Troy, and +never had he been in such splendid temper for the +performance as now in the evening sunshine among the +ferns with Bathsheba. It may safely be asserted with +respect to the closeness of his cuts, that had it been +possible for the edge of the sword to leave in the air a +permanent substance wherever it flew past, the space +left untouched would have been almost a mould of +Bathsheba's figure. +Behind the luminous streams of this aurora militaris, +she could see the hue of Troy's sword arm, spread in a +scarlet haze over the space covered by its motions, like +a twanged harpstring, and behind all Troy himself, +mostly facing her; sometimes, to show the rear cuts, +half turned away, his eye nevertheless always keenly +measuring her breadth and outline, and his lips tightly +closed in sustained effort. Next, his movements lapsed +slower, and she could see them individually. The +hissing of the sword had ceased, and he stopped +entirely. +'That outer loose lock of hair wants tidying, he +said, before she had moved or spoken. 'Wait: I'll do +it for you.' +An arc of silver shone on her right side: the sword +had descended. The lock droped to the ground. +'Bravely borne!' said Troy. 'You didn't flinch a +shade's thickness. Wonderful in a woman!' +'It was because I didn't expect it. O, you have +spoilt my hair!' +'Only once more.' +'No -- no! I am afraid of you -- indeed I am !' she +cried. +'I won't touch you at all -- not even your hair. I +am only going to kill that caterpillar settling on you. +Now: still!' +It appeared that a caterpillar had come from the +fern and chosen the front of her bodice as his resting +place. She saw the point glisten towards her bosom, +and seemingly enter it. Bathsheba closed her eyes in +the full persuasion that she was +

+killed at last. How+ +ever, feeling just as usual, she opened them again. +'There it is, look,' said the sargeant, holding his +sword before her eyes. +The caterpillar was spitted upon its point. +'Why, it is magic!' said Bathsheba, amazed. +'O no -- dexterity. I merely gave point to your +bosom where the caterpillar was, and instead of running +you through checked the extension a thousandth of an +inch short of your surface.' +'But how could you chop off a curl of my hair with +a sword that has no edge?' +THE HOLLOW AMID THE FERNS +"No edge .! This sword will shave like a razor. +Look here.' +He touched the palm of his hand with the blade, +and then, lifting it, showed her a thin shaving of scarf+ +skin dangling therefrom. +" But you said before beginning that it was blunt and +couldn't cut me .!' +'That was to get you to stand still, and so make sure +of your safety. The risk of injuring you through your +moving was too great not to force me to tell you a +fib to escape it.' +She shuddered. 'I have been within an inch of my +life, and didn't know it! ' +'More precisely speaking, you have been within half +an inch of being pared alive two hundred and ninety-five +tinies.' +" Cruel, cruel, 'tis of you !. ' +" You have been perfectly safe, nevertheless. My +sword never errs.' And Troy returned the weapon to +the scabbard. +Bathsheba, overcome by a hundred tumultuous feel' +ings resulting from the scene, abstractedly sat down on +a tuft of heather. +'I must leave you now,' said Troy, softly. " And I'll +venture to take and keep this in remembrance of you.' +She saw him stoop to the grass, pick up the winding +lock which he had severcd from her manifold tresses, +twist it round his fingers, unfasten a button in the hreast +of his coat, and carefully put it inside. She felt power+ +less to withstand or deny him. He was altogether too +much for her, and Bathsheba +

+seemed as one who, facing +a reviving wind, finds it blow so strongly that it stops +the breath. +He drew near and said, 'I must be leaving you.' +He drew nearer still. A minute later and she saw his +scarlet form disappear amid the ferny thicket, almost in +a flash, like a brand swiftly waved. +That minute's interval had brought the blood beating +into her face, set her stinging as if aflame to the very +hollows oi her feet, and enlarged emotion to a compass +which quite swamped thought. It had brought upon +her a stroke resulting, as did that of Moses in Horeh, in +a liquid stream -- here a stream of tears. She felt like +one who has sinned a great sin. +The circumstance had been the gentle dip of Troy's +mouth downwards upon her own. He had kissed her, +PARTICULARS OF A TWILIGHT WALK + +

+PARTICULARS OF A TWILIGHT WALK +WE now see the element of folly distinctly mingling +with the many varying particulars which made up the +character of Bathsheba Everdene. It was almost foreign +to her intrinsic nature. Introduced as lymph on the +dart of Eros, it eventually permeated and coloured +her whole constitution. Bathsheba, though she had too +much understanding to be entirely governed by her +womanliness, had too much womanliness to use her +understanding to the best advantage. Perhaps in no +minor point does woman astonish her helpmate more +than in the strange power she possesses of believing +cajoleries that she knows to be false -- except, indeed, in +that of being utterly sceptical on strictures that she +knows to be true. +Bathsheba loved Troy in the way that only self-reliant +women love when they abandon their self-reliance. +When a strong woman recklessly throws away her +strength she is worse than a weak woman who has never +had any strength to throw away. One source of her +inadequacy is the novelty of the occasion. She has +never had practice in making the best of such a +condition. Weakness is doubly weak by being new. +Bathsheba was not conscious of guile in this matter. +Though in one sense a woman of the world, it was, after +all, that world of daylight coteries and green carpets +wherein cattle form the passing crowd and winds the +busy hum ; where a quiet family of rabbits or hares lives +on the other side of your party-wall, where your neigh+ +bour is everybody in the tything, and where calculation +formulated self-indulgence of bad, nothing at all. Had +her utmost thoughts in this direction been distinctly +worded (and by herself they never were), they would +

+only have amounted to such a matter as that she felt +her impulses to be pleasanter guides than her discretion . +Her love was entire as a child's, and though warm as +summer it was fresh as spring. Her culpability lay in +her making no attempt to control feeling by subtle and +careful inquiry into consuences. She could show others +the steep and thorny way, but 'reck'd not her own rede,' +And Troy's deformities lay deep down from a +woman's vision, whilst his embellishments were upon +the verysurface; thus contrasting with homely Oak, +whose defects were patent to the blindest, and whose +vertues were as metals in a mine. +The difference between love and respect was mark+ +edly shown in her conduct. Bathsheba had spoken of +her interest in Boldwood with the greatest freedom to +Liddy, but she had only communed with her own heart +concerning 'Troy'. +All this infatuation Gabriel saw, and was troubled +thereby from the time of his daily journey a-field to the +time of his return, and on to the small hours of many a +night. That he was not beloved had hitherto been his +great that Bathsheba was getting into the toils +was now a sorrow greater than the first, and one which +nearly olbscured it. It was a result which paralleled +the oft-quoted observation of Hippocrates concerning +physical pains. +That is a noble though perhaps an unpromising love +PARTICULARS OF A TWILlGHT WALK +which not even the fear of breeding aversion in the +bosom of the one beloved can deter from combating his +or her errors. Oak determined to speak to his mistress. +He would base his appeal on what he considered her +unfair treatment of Farmer Boldwood, now absent from +home. +An opportunity occurred one evening when she had +gone for a short walk by a path through the neighbour+ +ing cornfields. It was dusk when Oak, who had not +been far a-field that day, took the same path and met +her returning, quite pensively, as he thought. +The wheat was now tall, and the path was narrow; +thus the way was quite a sunken groove between the +embowing thicket on either side. Two persons could +not walk abreast +

+without damaging the crop, and Oak +stood aside to let her pass. +'Oh, is it Gabriel?' she said. 'You are taking a +walk too. Good-night.' +"I thought I would come to meet you, as it is rather +late," said Oak, turning and following at her heels when +she had brushed somewhat quickly by him. +"Thank you, indeed, but I am not very fearful.' +" O no ; but there are bad characters about.' +"I never meet them.' +Now Oak, with marvellous ingenuity, had been going +to introduce the gallant sergeant through the channel of +"bad characters.' But all at once the scheme broke +down, it suddenly occurring to him that this was rather a +clumsy way, and too barefaced to begin with. He tried +another preamble. +"And as the man who would naturally come to meet +you is away from home, too -- I mean Farmer Boldwood + -- why, thinks I, I'll go,' he said. +"Ah, yes.' She walked on without turning her head, +and for many steps nothing further was heard from her +quarter than the rustle of her dress against the heavy +corn-ears. Then she resumed rather tartly -- +'I don't quite understand what you meant by saying +that Mr. Boldwood would naturally come to meet me.' +I meant on account of the wedding which they say +is likely to take place between you and him, miss. For+ +give my speaking plainly.' +"They say what is not true,' she returned quickly. +No marriage is likely to take place between us.' +Gabriel now put forth his unobscured opinion, for +the moment had come. " Well, Miss Everdene,' he +said, "putting aside what people say, I never in my life +saw any courting if his is not a courting of you." +Bathsheba would probably have terminated the con' +versation there and then by flatly forbidding the subject, +had not her conscious weakness of position allured her +to palter and argue in endeavours to better it. +

+"Since this subject has been mentioned,' she said +very emphatically, 'I am glad of the opportunity of +clearing up a mistake which is very common and very +provoking. I didn't definitely promise Mr. Boldwood +anything. I have never cared for him. I respect him, +and he has urged me to marry him. But I have given +him no distinct answer. As soon as he returns I shall +do so; and the answer will be that I cannot think of +marrying him.' +'People are full of mistakes, seemingly.' +' They are.' +The other day they said you were trifling with him, +and you almost proved that you were not; lately they +have said that you be not, and you straightway begin +to show -- -- ' +That I am, I suppose you mean.' +' Well, I hope they speak the truth.' +They do, but wrongly applied. I don't trifle with +him ; but then, I have nothing to do with him.' +Oak was unfortunately led on to speak of Boldwood's +rival in a wrong tone to her after all. 'I wish you had +never met that young Sergeant Troy, miss,' he sighed. +PARTlCULARS OF A TWILIGHT WALK +Bathsheba's steps became faintly spasmodic. " Why?' +she asked. +' He is not good enough for 'ee.' +"Did any one tell you to speak to me like this ?' +" Nobody at all.' +"Then it appears to me that Sergeant Troy does not +concern us here,' she said, intractably. ' Yet I must say +that Sergeant 'Troy is an educated man, and quite worthy +of any woman. He is well born.' +"His being higher in learning and birth than the +ruck o' soldiers is anything but a proof of his worth. It +show's his course to be down'ard.' +"I cannot see what this has to do with our conversa+ +tion. Mr. Troy's course is not by any means downward; +and his superiority <1is>1 a proof of his worth .! ' +"I believe him to have no conscience at all. And I +cannot help begging you, miss, to have nothing to do +with him. Listen to me this once -- only this once !. +I don't say he's such +

+a bad man as I have fancied -- I +pray to God he is not. But since we don't exactly +know what he is, why not behave as if he <1might>1 be bad, +simply for your own safety ? Don't trust him, mistress; +I ask you not to trust him so.' +" Why, pray ? ' +"I like soldiers, but this one I do not like,' he said, +sturdily. " His cleverness in his calling may have +tempted him astray, and what is mirth to the neighbours +is ruin to the woman. When he tries to talk to 'ee again, +why not turn away with a short 'Good day' ; and when +you see him coming one way, turn the other. When +he says anything laughable, fail to see the point +and don't smile, and speak of him before those who will +report your talk as "that fantastical man,' or " that +Sergeant What's-his-name." "That man of a family +that has come to the dogs.' Don't be unmannerly +towards en, but harmless-uncivil, and so get rid of the +man.' +No Christmas robin detained by a window-pane ever +pulsed as did Bathsheba now. +I say -- I say again -- that it doesn't become you to +talk about him. Why he should be mentioned passes +me quite . she exclaimed desperately. " I know this, +th-th-that he is a thoroughly conscientious man -- blunt +sometimes even to rudeness -- but always speaking his +mind about you plain to your face .! ' +"Oh.' +"He is as good as anybody in this parish.! He is +very particular, too, about going to church -- yes, he +is.!' +'I am afraid nobody saw him there. I never +did certainly.' +' The reason of that is,' she said eagerly, " that he goes +in privately by the old tower door, just when the service +commences, and sits at the back of the gallery. He +told me so.' +This supreme instance of Troy's goodness fell upon +Gabriel ears like the thirteenth stroke of crazy clock. +It was not only received with utter incredulity as re+ +garded itself, but threw a doubt on all the assurances +that had preceded it. +Oak was grieved to find how entirely she trusted him. +He brimmed with deep feeling as he replied in a steady +voice, the +

+steadiness of which was spoilt by the palpable+ +ness of his great effort to keep it so : -- +' You know, mistress, that I love you, and shall love +you always. I only mention this to bring to your mind +that at any rate I would wish to do you no harm : +beyond that I put it aside. I have lost in the race for +money and good things, and I am not such a fool as to +pretend to 'ee now I am poor, and you have got alto+ +gether above me. But Bathsheba, dear mistress, this +I beg you to consider -- that, both to keep yourself well +honoured among the workfolk, and in common generosity +to an honourable man who loves you as well as I, you +PARTICULARS OF A TWILIGHT WALK +should be more discreet in your bearing towards this +soldier.' +" Don't, don't, don't !. ' she exclaimed, in a choking +voice. +"Are ye not more to me than my own affairs, and +even life .! ' he went on. "Come, listen to me.! I am +six years older than you, and Mr. Boldwood is ten years +older than I, and consider -- I do beg of 'ee to consider +before it is too late -- how safe you would be in his +hands .! ' +Oak's allusion to his own love for her lessened, to +some extent, her anger at his interference ; but she +could not really forgive him for letting his wish to marry +her be eclipsed by his wish to do her good, any more +than for his slighting treatment of Troy. +"I wish you to go elsewhere,' she commanded, a +paleness of face invisible to the eye being suggested by +the trembling words. " Do not remain on this farm any +longer. I don't want you -- I beg you to go !.' +"That's nonsense,' said Oak, calmly. " This is the +second time you have pretended to dismiss me; and +what's the use o' it?' +" Pretended !. You shall go, sir -- your lecturing I +will not hear .! I am mistress here.' +" Go, indeed -- what folly will you say next ? Treating +me like Dick, Tom and Harry when you know that a +short time ago my position was as good as yours !. Upon +my life, Bathsheba, it is too barefaced. You know, too, +that I can't go without putting things in such a strait as +you wouldn't get out of +

+I can't tell when. Unless, indeed, +you'll promise to have an understanding man as bailiff, +or manager, or something. I'll go at once if you'll +promise that.' +'I shall have no bailiff; I shall continue to be my +own manager,' she said decisively. +"Very well, then ; you should be thankful to me for +biding. How would the farm go on with nobody to +mind it but a woman? But mind this, I don't wish +'ee to feel you owe me anything. Not I. What I do, +I do. Sometimes I say I should be as glad as a bird to +leave the place -- for don't suppose I'm content to be a +nobody. I was made for better things. However, I +don't like to see your concerns going to ruin, as they +must if you keep in this mind.... I hate taking my +own measure so plain, but, upon my life, your provok+ +ing ways make a man say what he wouldn't dream of +at other times ! I own to being rather interfering. But +you know well enough how it is, and who she is that I +like too well, and feel too much like a fool about to be +civil to her ! ' +It is more than probable that she privately and un+ +consciously respected him a little for this grim fidelity, +which had been shown in his tone even more than in +his words. At any rate she murmured something to the +effect that he might stay if he wished. She said more +distinctly, " Will you leave me alone now? I don't +order it as a mistress -- I ask it as a woman, and I +expect you not to be so uncourteous as to refuse.' +" Certainly I will, Miss Everdene,' said Gabriel, gently. +He wondered that the request should have come at this +moment, for the strife was over, and they were on a +most desolate hill, far from every human habitation, and +the hour was getting late. He stood still and allowed +her to get far ahead of him till he could only see her +form upon the sky. +A distressing explanation of this anxiety to be rid of +him at that point now ensued. A figure apparently rose +from the earth beside her. The shape beyond all doubt +was Troy's. Oak would not be even a possible listener, +and at once turned back till a good two hundred yards +were between the lovers and himself. +

+Gabriel went home by way of the churchyard. In +passing the tower he thought of what she had said about +the sergeant's virtuous habit of entering the church un+ +PARTICULARS OF A TWILIGHT WALK +perceived at the beginning of service. Believing that +the little gallery door alluded to was quite disused, he +ascended the external flight of steps at the top of which +it stood, and examined it. The pale lustre yet hanging +in the north-western heaven was sufficient to show that +a sprig of ivy had grown from the wall across the door +to a length of more than a foot, delicately tying the +panel to the stone jamb. It was a decisive proof that +the door had not been opened at least since Troy came +back to Weatherbury. + +

+HOT CHEEKS AND TEARFUL EYES +HALF an hour later Bathsheba entered her own house. +There burnt upon her face when she met the light of +the candles the flush and excitement which were little +less than chronic with her now. The farewell words of +Troy, who had accompanied her to the very door, still +lingered in her ears. He had bidden her adieu for two +days, which were so he stated, to be spent at Bath in +visiting some friends. He had also kissed her a second +time. +It is only fair to Bathsheba to explain here a little +fact which did not come to light till a long time after+ +wards : that Troy's presentation of himself so aptly at +the roadside this evening was not by any distinctly pre+ +concerted arrangement. He had hinted -- she had +forbidden; and it was only on the chance of his still +coming that she had dismissed Oak, fearing a meeting +between them just then. +She now sank down into a chair, wild and perturbed +by all these new and fevering sequences. Then she +jumped up with a manner of decision, and fetched her +desk from a side tahle. +In three minutes, without pause or modification, she +had written a letter to Boldwood, at his address beyond +Casterbridge, saying mildly but firmly that she had well +HOT CHEEKS AND TEARFUL EYES +considered the whole subject he had brought before her +and kindly given her time to decide upon; that her +final decision was that she could not marry him. She +had expressed to Oak an intention to wait till Boldwood +came home before communicating to him her conclusive +reply. But Bathsheba found that she could not wait. +It was impossible to send this letter till the next day; +yet to quell her uneasiness by getting it out of her hands, +and so, as it were, setting the act in motion at once, she +arose to take it to any one of the women who might be +in the kitchen. +

+She paused in the passage. A dialogue was going +on in the kitchen, and Bathsheba and Troy were the +subject of it. +"If he marry her, she'll gie up farming.' +"Twill be a gallant life, but may bring some trouble +between the mirth -- so say I.' +"Well, I wish I had half such a husband.' +Bathsheba had too much sense to mind seriously +what her servitors said about her ; but too much womanly +redundance of speech to leave alone what was said till +it died the natural death of unminded things. She +burst in upon them. +"Who are you speaking of? ' she asked. +There was a pause before anybody replied. At last +Liddy said frankly, ' What was passing was a bit of a +word about yourself, miss.' +"I thought so .! Maryann and Liddy and Temper+ +ance -- now I forbid you to suppose such things. You +know I don't care the least for Mr. Troy -- not I. Every+ +body knows how much I hate him. -- Yes,' repeated the +froward young person, "<1hate>1 him .! ' +" We know you do, miss,' said Liddy; "and so do we +all.' +" I hate him too,' said Maryann. +" Maryann -- O you perjured woman !. How can you +speak that wicked story ! ' said Bathsheba, excitedly. +"You admired him from your heart only this morning +in the very world, you did. Yes, Maryann, you know it ! ' +'Yes, miss, but so did you. He is a wild scamp +now, and you are right to hate him." +"He's <1not>1 a wild scamp.! How dare you to my face !. +I have no right to hate him, nor you, nor anybody. +But I am a silly woman.! What is it to me what he is ? +You know it is nothing. I don't care for him ; I don"t +mean to defend his good name, not I. Mind this, if +any of you say a word against him you'll be dismissed +instantly !. ' +She flung down the letter and surged back into the +parlour, with a big heart and tearful eyes, Liddy following +her. +'O miss.!' said mild Liddy, looking pitifully into +Bathsheba's face. "I am sorry we mistook you so .! +did think you cared for him; but I see you don't now.' +" Shut the door, Liddy.' +

+Liddy closed the door, and went on : ' People always +say such foolery, miss. I'll make answer hencefor'ard, +"Of course a lady like Miss Everdene can't love him;' +I'll say it out in plain black and white.' +Bathsheba burst out : 'O Liddy, are you such a +simpleton ? Can't you read riddles ? Can't you see? +Are you a woman yourself ? ' +Liddy's clear eyes rounded with wonderment. +' Yes; you must be a blind thing, Liddy .! ' she said, +in reckless abandonment and grief. "O, I love him +to very distraction and misery and agony .! Don't be +frightened at me, though perhaps I am enough to frighten +any innocent woman. Come closer -- closer.' She put +her arms round Liddy's neck. "I must let it out to +somebody; it is wearing me away !. Don't you yet know +enough of me to see through that miserable denial of +mine? O God, what a lie it was !. Heaven and my +Love forgive me. And don't you know that a woman +who loves at all thinks nothing of perjury when it is +HOT CHEEKS AND TEARFUL EYES +balanced against her love ? There, go out of the room ; +I want to be quite alone.' +Liddy went towards the door. +' Liddy, come here. Solemnly swear to me that he's +not a fast man; that it is all lies they say about him !.' +'Put, miss, how can I say he is not if -- -- ' +"You graceless girl.! How can you have the cruel +heart to repeat what they say? Unfeeling thing that +you are.... But <1I'll>1 see if you or anybody else in the +village, or town either, dare do such a thing .! ' She +started off, pacing from fireplace to door, and back +again. +"No, miss. I don't -- I know it is not true !. ' said +Liddy, frightened at Bathsheba's unwonted vehemence. +I suppose you only agree with me like that to please +me. But, Liddy, he <1cannot be>1 had, as is said. Do you +hear? " +' Yes, miss, yes.' +"And you don't believe he is?" +'I don't know what to say, miss,' said Liddy, be+ +ginning to cry. "If I say No, you don"t believe me; +and if I say Yes, you rage at me ! ' +" Say you don't believe it -- say you don't ! ' +

+'I don't believe him to be so had as they make out.' +"He is not had at all.... My poor life and heart, +how weak I am .! ' she moaned, in a relaxed, desultory +way, heedless of Liddy's presence. "O, how I wish I +had never seen him.! Loving is misery for women +always. I shall never forgive God for making me a +woman, and dearly am I beginning to pay for the honour +of owning a pretty face.' She freshened and turned to +Liddy suddenly. " Mind this, Lydia Smallbury, if you +repeat anywhere a single word of what l have said to +you inside this closed door, I'll never trust you, or love +you, or have you with me a moment longer -- not a +moment ! ' +" I don't want to repeat anything,' said Liddy, with +womanly dignity of a diminutive order; "but I don't +wish to stay with you. And, if you please, I'll go at the +end of the harvest, or this week, or to-day.... I don't +see that I deserve to be put upon and stormed at for +nothing ! ' concluded the small woman, bigly. +" No, no, Liddy ; you must stay ! ' said Bathsheba, +dropping from haughtiness to entreaty with capricious +inconsequence. "You must not notice my being in a +taking just now. You are not as a servant -- -you are a +companion to me. Dear, dear -- I don't know what I +am doing since this miserable ache o'! my heart has +weighted and worn upon me so .! What shall I come +to ! I suppose I shall get further and further into +troubles. I wonder sometimes if I am doomed to die +in the Union. I am friendless enough, God knows .! ' +'I won't notice anything, nor will I leave you ! " sobbed +Liddy, impulsively putting up her lips to Bathsheba's, +and kissing her. +Then Bathsheba kissed Liddy, and all was smooth +again. +"I don't often cry, do I, Lidd ? but you have made +tears come into my eyes,' she said, a smile shining +through the moisture. "Try to think him a good man, +won't you, dear Liddy ? ' +"I will, miss, indeed.' +"He is a sort of steady man in a wild way, you know. +way. I am afraid that's how I am. And promise me +to keep my secret -- do, Liddy.! And do not let them +know that I have been crying +

+about him, because it will +be dreadful for me, and no good to him, poor thing .!' +"Death's head himself shan't wring it from me, mistress, +if I've a mind to keep anything; and I'll always be your +friend,' replied Liddy, emphatically, at the same time +bringing a few more tears into her own eyes, not from +any particular necessity, but from an artistic sense of +making herself in keeping with the remainder of the +HOT CHEEKS AND TEARFUL EYES +picture, which seems to influence women at such times. +"I think God likes us to be good friends, don't you ?' +"Indeed I do.' +"And, dear miss, you won"t harry me and storm at +me, will you ? because you seem to swell so tall as a +lion then, and it frightens me !. Do you know, I fancy +you would be a match for any man when you are in one +0' your takings.' +"Never.! do you ? ' said Bathsheba, slightly laughing, +though somewhat seriously alarmed by this Amazonian +picture of herself. "I hope I am not a bold sort of +maid -- mannish ? ' she continued with some anxiety. +"O no, not mannish; but so almighty womanish +that 'tis getting on that way sometimes. Ah ! miss,' she +said, after having drawn her breath very sadly in and +sent it very sadly out, "I wish I had half your failing +that way. 'Tis a great protection to a poor maid in +these illegit'mate days !. ' + +

+BLAME -- FURY +THE next evening Bathsheba, with the idea of getting +out of the way of Mr. Boldwood in the event of his +returning to answer her note in person, proceeded to +fulfil an engagement made with Liddy some few hours +earlier. Bathsheba's companion, as a gage of their +reconciliation, had heen granted a week's holiday to +visit her sister, who was married to a thriving hurdler +and cattle-crib-maker living in a delightful labyrinth of +hazel copse not far beyond Yalbury. The arrangement +was that Miss Everdene should honour them by coming +there for a day or two to inspect some ingenious con+ +tnvances which this man of the woods had introduced +into his wares. +Leaving her instructions with Gabriel and Maryann, +that they were to see everything carefully locked up for +the night, she went out of the house just at the close of +a timely thunder-shower, which had refined the air, and +daintily bathed the coat of the land, though all beneath +was dry as ever. Freshness was exhaled in an essence +from the varied contours of bank and hollow, as if the +earth breathed maiden breath; and the pleased birds +were hymning to the scene. Before her, among the +clouds, there was a contrast in the shape of lairs of +fierce light which showed themselves in the neighbour+ +hood of a hidden sun, lingering on to the farthest north+ +west corner of the heavens that this midsummer season +allowed. +She had walked nearly two miles of her journey, +watching how the day was retreating, and thinking how +the time of deeds was quietly melting into the time of +thought, to give place in its turn to the time of prayer +and sleep, when she beheld advancing over Yalbury hill +the very man she sought so anxiously to elude. Boldwood +was stepping on, not with that quiet tread of reserved +strength which was his customary +

+gait, in which he +always seemed to be balancing two thoughts. His +manner was stunned and sluggish now. +Boldwood had for the first time been awakened to +woman's privileges in tergiversation even when it involves +another person's possible blight. That Bathsheba was +a firm and positive girl, far less inconsequent than her +fellows, had been the very lung of his hope ; for he had +held that these qualities would lead her to adhere to a +straight course for consistency's sake, and accept him, +though her fancy might not flood him with the iridescent +hues of uncritical love. But the argument now came +back as sorry gleams from a broken mirror. The dis+ +covery was no less a scourge than a surprise. +He came on looking upon the ground, and did not +see Bathsheba till they were less than a stone's throw +apart. He looked up at the sound of her pit-pat, and +his changed appearance sufficiently denoted to her the +depth and strength of the feelings paralyzed by her +letter. +" Oh ; is it you, Mr. Boldwood ? ' she faltered, a guilty +warmth pulsing in her face. +Those who have the power of reproaching in silence +may find it a means more effective than words. There +are accents in the eye which are not on the tongue, and +more tales come from pale lips than can enter an ear. +It is both the grandeur and the pain of the remoter +moods that they avoid the pathway of sound. Bold+ +wood's look was unanswerable. +Seeing she turned a little aside, he said, 'What, are +you afraid of me?' +" Why should you say that ? ' said Bathsheba. +"I fancied you looked so,' said he. 'And it is most +strange, because of its contrast with my feeling for you. +She regained self-possession, fixed her eyes calmly, +and waited. +" You know what that feeling is,' continued Boldwood, +deliberately. "A thing strong as death. No dismissal +by a hasty letter affects that.' +'I wish you did not feel so strongly about me,' she +murmured. "It is generous of you, and more than I +deserve, but I must not hear it now.' +

+"Hear it? What do you think I have to say, then ? +I am not to marry you, and thats enough. Your letter +was excellently plain. I want you to hear nothing -- +not I.' +Bathsheba was unable to direct her will into any +definite groove for freeing herself from this fearfully +and was moving on. Boldwood walked up to her heavily +and dully. +"Bathsheba -- -darling -- -is it final indeed?' +"Indeed it is.' +"O, Bathsheba -- -have pity upon me!' Boldwood +burst out. "God's sake, yes -- I am come to that low, +lowest stage -- -to ask a woman for pity! Still, she is +you -- -she is you.' +Bathsheba commanded herself well. But she could +hardly get a clear voice for what came instinctively to +her lips: "There is little honour to the woman in that +speech.' It was only whispered, for something unutter+ +ably mournful no less than distressing in this spectacle +of a man showing himself to be so entirely the vane of a +passion enervated the feminine instinct for punctilios. +BLAME +"I am beyond myself about this, and am mad,' he +said. "I am no stoic at all to he supplicating here ; but +I do supplicate to you. I wish you knew what is in +me of devotion to you ; but it is impossible, that. In +bare human mercy to a lonely man, don't throw me off +now !' +'I don't throw you off -- indeed, how can I ? I never +had you.' In her noon-clear sense that she had never +loved him she forgot for a moment her thoughtless angle +on that day in February. +'But there was a time when you turned to me, +before I thought of you ! I don't reproach you, for +even now I feel that the ignorant and cold darkness +that I should have lived in if you had not attracted me +by that letter -- valentine you call it -- would have becn +worse than my knowledge of you, though it has brought +this misery. But, I say, there was a time when I knew +nothing of you, and cared nothing for you, and yet you +drew me on. And if you say you gave me no en+ +couragement, I cannot but contradict you.' +

+"What you call encouragement was the childish +game of an idle minute. I have bitterly repented of it + -- ay, bitterly, and in tears. Can you still go on re+ +minding me ?' +'I don't accuse you of it -- I deplore it. I took for +earnest what you insist was jest, and now this that I +pray to be jest you say is awful, wretched earnest. Our +moods meet at wrong places. I wish your feeling was +more like mine, or my feeling more like yours.! O, +could I but have foreseen the torture that trifling trick +was going to lead me into, how I should have cursed +you ; but only having been able to see it since, I cannot +do that, for I love you too well.! But it is weak, idle +drivelling to go on like this.... Bathsheba, you are +the first woman of any shade or nature that I have ever +looked at to love, and it is the having been so near +claiming you for my own that makes this denial so hard +to bear. How nearly you promised me ! But I don't +speak now to move your heart, and make you grieve +because of my pain ; it is no use, that. I must bear it; +my pain would get no less by paining you.' +"But I do pity you -- deeply -- O so deeply .!' she +earnestly said. +"Do no such thing -- do no such thing. Your dear +love, Bathsheba, is such a vast thing beside your pity, +that the loss of your pity as well as your love is no great +addition to my sorrow, nor does the gain of your pity +make it sensibly less. O sweet -- how dearly you +spoke to me behind the spear-bed at the washing-pool, +and in the barn at the shearing, and that dearest last +time in the evening at your home.! Where are your +pleasant words all gone -- your earnest hope to be able +to love me? Where is your firm conviction that you +would get to care for me very much ? Really forgotten ? + -- really ? ' +She checked emotion, looked him quietly and clearly +in the face, and said in her low, firm voice, " Mr. Bold+ +wood, I promised you nothing. Would you have had +me a woman of clay when you paid me that furthest, +highest compliment a man can pay a woman -- telling +her he loves her? I was bound to show some feeling, +if l would not be a graceless shrew. Yet each of those +pleasures was just for the day -- the day just for the +

+pleasure. How was I to know that what is a pastime +to all other men was death to you ? Have reason, do, +and think more kindly of me !' +'Well, never mind arguing -- never mind. One +thing is sure: you were all but mine, and now you are +not nearly mine. Everything is changed, and that by +you alone, remember. You were nothing to me once, +and I was contented; you are now nothing to me again, +and how different the second nothing is from the first .! +Would to God you had never taken me up, since it was +only to throw me down .! ' +FURY +Bathsheba, in spite of her mettle, began to feel un+ +mistakable signs that she was inherently the weaker +vessel. She strove miserably against this feminity +which would insist upon supplying unbidden emotions +in stronger and stronger current. She had tried to +elude agitation by fixing her mind on the trees, sky, any +trivial object before her eyes, whilst his reproaches fell, +but ingenuity could not save her now. +"I did not take you up -- -surely I did not!' she +answered as heroically as she could. " But don't be in +this mood with me. I can endure being told I am in +the wrong, if you will only tell it me gently! O sir, +will you not kindly forgive me, and look at it +cheerfully ? ' +"Cheerfully! Can a man fooled to utter heart+ +burning find a reason for being merry> If I have lost, +how can I be as if I had won? Heavens you must be +heartless quite ! Had I known what a fearfully bitter +sweet this was to be, how would I have avoided you, +and never seen you, and been deaf of you. I tell you +all this, but what do you care! You don't care.' +She returned silent and weak denials to his charges, +and swayed her head desperately, as if to thrust away +the words as they came showering ahout her ears from +the lips of the trembling man in the climax of life, with +his bronzed Roman face and fine frame. +"Dearest, dearest, I am wavering even now between +the two opposites of recklessly renouncing you, and +labouring humbly for you again. Forget that you have +said No, and let it be as it was !. Say, Bathsheba, that +you only wrote that refusal to me in fun -- -come, say it +to me!' +

+" It would be untrue, and painful to both of us. You +overrate my capacity for love. I don't possess half +the warmth of nature you believe me to have. An un+ +protected childhood in a cold world has beaten gentle+ +ness out of me.' +He immediately said with more resentment: "That +may be true, somewhat ; but ah, Miss Everdene, it won't +do as a reason! You are not the cold woman you +would have me believe. No, no .! It isn't because you +have no feeling in you that you don't love me. You +naturally would have me think so -- -you would hide from +that you have a burning heart like mine. You have +love enough, but it is turned into a new channel. I +know where.' +The swift music of her heart became hubbub now, +and she throbbed to extremity. He was coming to +Troy. He did then know what had occurred .! And +the name fell from his lips the next moment. +"Why did Troy not leave my treasure alone?' he +asked, fiercely. "When I had no thought of injuring +him, why did he force himself upon your notice.! +Before he worried you your inclination was to have me; +when next I should have come to you your answer +would have been Yes. Can you deny it -- -I ask, can +you deny it?' +She delayed the reply, but was to honest to with +hold it. ' I cannot,' she whispered. +"I know you cannot. But he stole in in my absence +and robbed me. Why did't he win you away before, +when nobody would have been grieved? -- -when nobody +would have been set tale-bearing. Now the people +sneer at me -- -the very hills and sky seem to laugh at +me till I blush shamefuly for my folly. I have lost my +respect, my good name, my standing -- -lost it, never to +get it again. Go and marry your man -- go on .! ' +"O sir -- -Mr. Boldwood!' +" You may as well. I have no further claim upon you. +As for me, I had better go somewhere alone, and hide -- +and pray. I loved a woman once. I am now ashamed. +When I am dead they'll say, Miserable love-sick man +that he was. Heaven -- -heaven -- -if I had got jilted +secretly, and the dishonour not known, and my position +FURY +kept.! But no matter, it is +

+gone, and the woman not +gained. Shame upon him -- shame .! ' +His unreasonable anger terrified her, and she glided +from him, without obviously moving, as she said, "I am +only a girl -- do not speak to me so.!' +"All the time you knew -- how very well you knew -- +that your new freak was my misery. Dazzled by brass +and scarlet -- O, Bathsheba -- this is woman's folly +indeed .! ' +She fired up at once. "You are taking too much +upon yourself .! ' she said, veheniently. " Everybody is +upon me -- everybody. It is unmanly to attack a +woman so ! I have nobody in the world to fight my +battles for me; but no mercy is shown. Yet if a +thousand of you sneer and say things against me, I <1will>1 +<1not>1 be put down !." +" You'll chatter with him doubtless about me. Say to +him, "Boldwood would have died for me.' Yes, and +you have given way to him, knowing him to be not the +man for you. He has kissed you -- claimed you as his. +Do you hear -- he has kissed you. Deny it .! ' +The most tragic woman is cowed by a tragic man, +and although Boldwood was, in vehemence and glow, +nearly her own self rendered into another sex, +Bathsheba's cheek quivered. She gasped, ' Leave me, +sir -- leave me !. I am nothing to you. Let me go on !.' +"Deny that he has kissed you.' +"I shall not.' +" Ha -- then he has ! ' came hoarsely from the farmer. +"He has," she said, slowly, and, in spite of her fear, +defiantly. 'I am not ashamed to speak the truth.' +"Then curse him; and curse him !. ' said Boldwood, +breaking into a whispered fury. ' Whilst I would have +given worlds to touch your hand, you have let a rake come +in without right or ceremony and -- kiss you .! Heaven's +mercy -- kiss you ! ... Ah, a time of his life shall come +when he will have to repent, and think wretchedly of +the pain he has caused another man ; and then may he +ache, and wish, and curse, and yearn -- as I do now .! " +'Don't, don't, O, don't pray down evil upon him.! ' +she +

+implored in a miserable cry. "Anything but that -- +anything. O, be kind to him, sir, for I love him true .' +Boldwood's ideas had reached that point of fusion at +which outline and consistency entirely disappear. The +impending night appeared to concentrate in his eye. +He did not hear her at all now. +"I'll punish him -- -by my soul, that will I.! I'll meet +him, soldier or no, and I'll horsewhip the untimely +stripling for this reckless theft of my one delight. If he +were a hundred men I'd horsewhip him -- -- ' He +dropped his voice suddenly and unnaturally. "Bath+ +sheba, sweet, lost coquette, pardon me .! I've been +blaming you, threatening you, behaving like a churl to +you, when he's the greatest sinner. He stole your dear +heart away with his unfathomable lies.! ... lt is a +fortunate thing for him that he's gone back to his +regiment -- -that he's away up the country, and not here! +I hope he may not return here just yet. I pray God +he may not come into my sight, for I may be tempted +beyond myself. O, Bathsheba, keep him away -- yes, +keep him away from me.!" +For a moment Boldwood stood so inertly after this +that his soul seemed to have been entirely exhaled with +the breath of his passionate words. He turned his face +away, and withdrew, and his form was soon covered over +by the twilight as his footsteps mixed in with the low +hiss of the leafy trees. +Bathsheba, who had been standing motionless as a +model all this latter time, flung her hands to her face, +and wildly attempted to ponder on the exhibition which +had just passed away. Such astounding wells of fevered +feeling in a still man like Mr. Boldwood were incompre+ +hensible, dreadful. Instead of being a man trained to +repression he was -- what she had seen him. +The force of the farmer's threats lay in their relation to a +circumstance known at present only to herself: her lover was +coming back to Weatherby in the course of the very next +day or two. Troy had not returned to his distant barracks as +Boldwood and others supposed, but had merely gone to visit +

+some acquaintance in Bath, and had yet a wek or more +remaining to his furlough. + She felt wretchedly certain that if he revisited her just at +this nick of time, and came into contact with Boldwood,a +fierce quarrel would be the consequence. She panted with +solicitude when she thought of possible injury to Troy. The +least spark would kindle the farmer's swift feelings of rage +and jealousy; he would lose his self-mastery as he had this +evening; Troy's blitheness might become aggressive; it might +take the direction of derision, and Boldwood's anger might +then take the direction of revenge. + With almost a morbid dread of being thought a gushing +girl, this guideless woman too well concealed from the world +under a manner of carelessness the warm depths of her strong +emotions. But now there was no reserve. In fer + +her distraction,instead of advancing further she +walked up and down,beating +the air with her fingers,pressing on her brow, and sobbing +brokenly to herself. Then she sat down on a heap of stones by +the wayside to think. There she remained long. Above the +dark margin of the earth appeared foreshores and promontor+ +ies of coppery cloud,bounding a green and pellucid expanse +in the western sky. Amaranthine glosses came over them then, +and the unresting world wheeled her round to a contrasting +prospect eastward, in the shape of indecisive and palpitating +stars. She gazed upon their silent throes amid the shades of +space, but realised none at all. Her troubled spirit was far +away with Troy. + +

+NIGHT -- HORSES TRAMPING +THE village of Weatherbury was quiet as the graveyard +in its midst, and the living were lying welinigh as still +as the dead. The church clock struck eleven. The +air was so empty of other sounds that the whirr of the +clock-work 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 to-night +occupied only by Maryann, Liddy being, as was stated, +with her sister, whom Bathsheba had set out to visit. +A few minutes after eleven had struck, Maryann 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 gray 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 circum+ +stances proved to be a vehicle for after a few minutes +the horse down the road, mingled with the sound of +light wheels. +Two varieties only of humanity could have entered +the paddock with the ghostiike glide of that mysterious +figure. They were a woman and a gipsy 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 house+ +hold on this particular night, and have +

+chosen it on +that account for his daring attempt. Moreover, to +raise suspicion to conviction itself, there were gipsies in ! +Weatherbury Bottom. +Maryann, 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 dis+ +jointed staircase with its hundred creaks, ran to Coggan's, +the nearest house, and raised an alarm. Coggan called +Gabriel, who now again lodged in his 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 gipsies' encampment in Weather+ +bury Bottom. +" That's our Dainty-i'll swear to her step,' said Jan. +" Mighty me ! Won't mis'ess storm and call us stupids +wen she comes back ! ' moaned Maryann. "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. +be responsible to Miss Everdene for what we do. Yes, +we'll follow. ' +" Faith, I don't see how,' said Coggan. " All our +horses are too heavy for that trick except little Poppet, +and what's she between two of us?-if we only had that +" pair over the hedge we might do something.' +'Which pair ? ' +'Mr Boldwood's Tidy and Moll.' +" Then wait here till I come hither again,' said Gabriel. +He ran down the hill towards Farmer Boldwood's. +" Farmer Boldwood is not at home,' said Maryann. +",All the better,' said Coggan. "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 'em ?" said Coggan, 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. "Coggan, you can ride +bare-backed ? there's no time to look for saddles.' +

+" Like a hero .! ' said Jan. +'Maryann, you go to hed,' Gabriel shouted to her +from the top of the hedge. +Springing down into Boldwood's pastures, each +pocketed his halter to hide it from the horses, who, +seeing the men empty-handed, docilely allowed them+ +selves to he seized by the mane, when the halters +were dexterously slipped on. Having neither bit nor +bridle, Oak and Coggan extemporized the former by +passing the rope in each case through the animal's +mouth and looping it on the other side. Oak vaulted +astride, and Coggan clambered up by aid of the hank, +when they ascended to the gate and galloped off in the +direction taken by Bathsheha'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 gipsies were gone. +"The villains .! ' said Gabriel. 'Which way have they +gone, I wonder ? ' +'Straight on, as sure as God made little apples,' +said Jan. +" Very well; we are better mounted, and must over+ +discovered. The road-metal grew softer and more +rain had wetted its surface to a somewhat plastic, but +not muddy state. They came to cross-roads. Coggan +suddenly pulled up Moll and slipped off. +" What"s the matter ? ' said Gabriel. +"We must try to track 'em, since we can't hear 'em,' +said Jan, fumbling in his pockets. He struck a light, +and held the 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 they were now so many little scoops of water, which +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 cthers. +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. "Tracks like that +mean a stiff gallop. No wonder we don't hear him. +And the horse is harnessed-iook at the ruts. Ay, +'How do you know ?' +"Old Jimmy Harris only shoed her last week, and +I'd swear to his make among ten thousand.' +"The rest of the gipsies must ha" 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. Coggan carried an old pinchbeck repeater which +he had inherited from some genius in his family; and +it now struck one. He lighted another match, and ex+ +amined the ground again. +"'Tis a canter now,' he said, throwing away the light. +'A twisty', rickety pace for a gig. The fact is, they over+ +drove her at starting ; we shall catch "em 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 a 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. "Twill help us,' A light was +promptly struck upon his gaiters as before, and the ex+ +amination 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 milipond trickling hoarsely through a +hatch, and suggesting gloomy possibilities of drowning +by juraping in. Gabriel dismounted when they came +to a turning. The tracks were ahsolutely 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 latterly shown signs +of weariness, again scrutinized the mystic characters. +This time only three were of the regular horseshoe +shape. Every fourth was a dot. +HORSES TRAMPING +He screwed up his face and emitted a long +" whew-w-w !. ' +" Lame,' said Oak. +" Yes Dainty is lamed ; the near-foot-afore,' 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 nomin+ +ally only a byway. The last turning had brought them +into the high road leading to Bath. Coggan recollected +himself. +"We shall have him now ! ' he exclaimed. +" Where ? " +' Sherton Turnpike. The keeper of that gate is the +sleepiest man between here and London -- Dan Randall. +that's his name -- knowed en for years, when he was at +Casterbridge gate. Between the lameness and the gate +'tis a done job.' +was said until, against a shady background of foliage, +five white bars were visible, crossing their route a little +way ahead. +" Hush -- we are almost close !. ' said Gabriel. +"Amble on upon the grass,' said Coggan. +The white bars were blotted out in the midst by a +dark shape in front of them. The silence of this lonely +time was pierced by an exclamation from that quarter. +" Hoy-a-hoy ! 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 close .! ' shouted Gabriel. " He has +stolen the horse !. ' +

+" Who ? ' 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. +"Why, 'tis 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 crises not of love, +namely, mask a surprise by coolness of manner. +' Well, Gabriel,' she inquired quietly, ' where are you +going ? ' +' We thought -- -- ' began Gabriel. +Bath,' she said, taking for her own +use the assurance that Gahriel 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.' +" Weli-what a thing .! How very foolish of you not +to know that I had taken the trap and horse. I could +neither wake Maryann 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?" +' Why should we, miss ? ' +" Perhaps not Why, those are never Farmer Bold+ +wood's 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 being +dogged like a thief?' +'But how was we to know, if you left no account of +your doings ? ' expostulated Coggan, "and ladies don't +" drive at these hours, miss, as a jineral 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, ma'am, 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 +had borrowed anybody's horses but Mr. Boldwood's.' +'Dainty is lame, miss,' said Coggan. 'Can ye go +on?' +'lt 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 gateman's candle +shimmering upon her quick, clear eyes as she did so -- +passed through the gate, and was soon wrapped in the +embowering shades of mysterious summer boughs. +Coggan and Gabriel put about their horses, and, fanned +by the velvety air of this July night, retraced the road +by which they had come. +'A strange vagary, this of hers, isn't it, Oak?' said +Coggan, curiously. +'Yes,' said Gabriel, shortly. +'She won't be in Bath by no daylight!.' +'Coggan, suppose we keep this night's work as quiet +as we can?' +'I am of one and the same mind.' +'Very well. We shall be home by three o'clock or +so, and can creep into the parish like lambs.' +Bathsheba's 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 Weather+ +bury till Boldwood's indignation had cooled; the second +to listen to Oak's entreaties, and Boldwood's denuncia+ +tions, 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 Weather' +bury no niore? +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 Boldwood, and the path +of love the path of duty -- inflicting upon herself gratuit+ +ous tortures by imagining him the lover of another +woman after forgetting her; for she had penetrated +Troy's nature so far as to estimate his tendencies pretty +accurately, hut 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 sophistically 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 Liddy 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 Liddy's and leave things to +take their course? No, no; anything but that. Bath+ +sheba 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 cottagers were in bed, and, par+ +ticularly, till Boldwood 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 +

+Liddy 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 topo+ +graphical ignorance as a late comer to the place, slie +misreckoned the distance of her journey as not much +more than half what it really was. Her idea, however, +she proceeded to carry out, with what initial success we +have already seen. + +

+IN THE SUN -- A HARBINGER +A WEEK passed, and there were no tidings of Bath+ +sheba; nor was there any explanation of her Gilpin's +rig. +Then a note came for Maryann, 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 a-field under a monochromatic Lammas +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 whetting of scythes +and the hiss of tressy oat-ears 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 perspira+ +tion 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 Coggan +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 +Maryann, who with some other women was tying the +bundles (oats being always sheafed on this farm), 'but +an unlucky token came to me indoors this morning. +l went to unlock the door and dropped the key, and it +fell upon the stone floor and broke into two pieces. +Breaking a key is a dreadful bodement. I wish mis'ess +was home.' +''Tis Cain Ball,' said Gabriel, pausing from whetting +his reaphook. +Oak was not bound by his agreement to assist in the +corn-field; 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 hev been away from home for a few days, +since he's had that felon upon his finger; for 'a said, +since I can't work I'll have a hollerday.' + 'A good time for one -- a" excellent time,' said Joseph +Poorgrass, 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 preternaturally small; of +which Cain Pall's advent on a week-day in his Sunday+ +clothes was one of the first magnitude. ''Twas a bad leg +allowed me to read the Pilgrim's Progress, and Mark +Clark learnt AliFours in a whitlow.' +'Ay, and my father put his arm out of joint to have +time to go courting,' said Jan Coggan, 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 Cainy 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, Cainy!.' said Gabriel, sternly. 'How many +more times must I tell you to keep from running so fast +when you be eating? You'll choke yourself some day, +that's what you'll do, Cain Ball.' + 'Hok-hok-hok.! 'replied Cain. 'A crumb of my +victuals went the wrong way -- hok-hok!, That's what +'tis, Mister Oak.! And I've been visiting to Bath +because I had a felon on my thumb; yes, and l've +seen -- ahok-hok!' +Directly Cain mentioned Bath, they all threw down +their hooks and forks and drew round him. Un+ +fortunately 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, 'l've seed the world at last + -- yes -- and I've seed our mis'ess -- ahok-hok-hok ! ' +' Bother 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.' +"Ahok !. there ! Please, Mister Oak, a gnat have +just fleed into my stomach and brought the cough on +again !. ' +'Yes, that's just it. Your mouth is always open, you +young rascal .! ' +''Tis terrible bad to have a gnat fly down yer throat, +pore boy !. ' said Matthew Moon. +' Well, at Bath you saw -- -- ' prompted Gabriel. +'I saw our mistress,' continued the junior shepherd, +'and a sojer, walking along. And bymeby they got +closer and closer, and then they went arm-in-crook, like +courting complete -- hok-hok ! like courting complete -- +hok .! -- courting complete -- -- " Losing the thread of his +narrative at this point simultaneously with his loss of +breath, their informant looked up and down the field +apparently for some clue to it. 'Well, I see our mis'ess +and a soldier -- a-ha-a-wk .! ' +A HARBlNGER +!Damn the boy !' said Gabriel. +!'Tis only my manner, Mister Oak, if ye'll excuse it,' +said Cain Ball, looking reproachfully at Oak, with eyes +drenched in their own dew. +!Here's some cider for him -- that'll cure his throat,' +said Jan Coggan, lifting a flagon of cider, pulling out +the cork, and applying the hole to Cainy's mouth; +Joseph Poorgrass 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 ' afore +I do anything,' said Joseph, in an unboastful voice ; " and +so should you, Cain Ball. "Tis a great safeguard, and +might perhaps save you from being choked to death +some day.' +Mr. Coggan poured the liquor with unstinted liber+ +ality 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 +reapers in the form of a cider fog, which for a moment +hung in the sunny air like a small exhalation. +"There's a great clumsy sneeze ! Why can't ye have +better manners, you young dog ! ' said Coggan, with+ +drawing the flagon. +"The cider went up my nose ! ' cried Cainy, 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 cloze ! ' +"The poor lad's cough is terrible onfortunate,' said +Matthew Moon. 'And a great history on hand, too. +Bump his back, shepherd.' +"'Tis my nater,' mourned Cain. "Mother says I +always was so excitable when my feelings were worked +up to a point!' +" True, true,' said Joseph Poorgrass. "The Balls +were always a very excitable family. I knowed the +boy's grandfather -- a truly nervous and modest man, +even to genteel 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 Poorgrass,' said Coggan. " 'Tis +a very noble quality in ye.' +"Heh-heh ! well, I wish to noise nothing abroad -- +nothing at all,' murmured Poorgrass, diffidently. " But +we be born to things -- that's true. Yet I would rather +my trifle were hid ; though, perhaps, a high nater is a +little high, 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 +'ee ! A strange desire, neighbours, this desire to hide, +and no praise due. Yet there is a Sermon on the +Mount with a calendar of the blessed at the head, and +certain meek men may be named therein.' +"Cainy's grandfather was a very clever man,' said +Matthew Moon. "Invented a' apple-tree out of his own +head, which is called by his name to this day -- the Early +Ball. You know 'em, +

+Jan ? A Quarrenden grafted on +a Tom Putt, and a Rathe-ripe upon top o' that again. +'Tis trew 'a used to bide about in a public-house wi' a +'ooman in a way he had no business to by rights, but +there -- 'a were a clever man in the sense of the term.' +" Now then,' said Gabriel, impatiently, " what did you +see, Cain ? ' +"I seed our mis'ess go into a sort of a park place, +where there's seats, and shrubs and flowers, arm-in-crook +with a sojer,' continued Cainy, firmly, and with a dim +sense that his words were very effective as regarded +Gabriel's emotions. "And I think the sojer was +Sergeant Troy. And they sat there together for more +than half-an-hour, talking moving things, and she once +was crying a'most 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 seemed to get thinner. " Well, +what did you see besides ? ' +" Oh, all sorts." +"White as a lily? You are sure 'twas 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-poll! What will ye say next?' said +Coggan. +" Let en alone,' interposed Joseph Poorgrass. "The +boy's maning is that the sky and the earth in the +kingdom of Bath is not altogether different from ours +here. 'Tis for our good to gain knowledge of strange +cities, and as such the boy's words 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.' +" 'Tis true as 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 swaller it down.' +

+"Well, it seems a barbarian practice enough to us, +but I daresay the natives think nothing o' it,' said +Matthew. +"And don't victuals spring up as well as drink?' +asked Coggan, twirling his eye. +"No-i own to a blot there in Bath -- a true blot. +God didn't proride 'em with victuals as well as (+ +and 'twas a drawback I couldn't get over at all.' +" Well, 'tis a curious place, to say the least,' observed +Moon; "and it must be a curious people that live +therein. ' +"Miss Everdene and the soldier were walking about +together, you say ? ' said Gabriel, returning to the +group. +"Ay, and she wore a beautiful gold-colour silk +gown, trimmed with black lace, that would have stood +alone 'ithout legs inside if required. 'Twas 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 'em all the length of the street.' +" And what then ? ' murmured Gabriel. +"And then I went into Griffin's to hae my boots +hobbed, and then I went to Riggs's batty-cake shop, +and asked 'em for a penneth of the cheapest and nicest +stales, that were all but blue-mouldy, but not quite. +And whilst I was chawing 'em down I walked on and +seed a clock with a face as big as a baking trendle -- -- ' +"But that's nothing to do with mistress ! ' +"I'm coming to that, if you'll leave me alone, Mister +Oak ! ' remonstrated Cainy. "If you excites me, +perhaps you'll bring on my cough, and then I shan't be +able to tell ye nothing.' +" Yes-iet him tell it his own way,' said Coggan. +Gabriel settled into a despairing attitude of patience, +and Cainy went on : -- +"And there were great large houses, and more +people all the week long than at Weatherbury club+ +walking on White Tuesdays. And I 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 yer 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'd be to him on +a dull a'ternoon, when he's up in the pulpit lighted by +the wax candles ! But 'tis impossible, poor man. Ah, +to think how unequal things be.' +"Perhaps he's made of different stuff than to wear +'em,' said Gabriel, grimly. ' Well, that's enough of this. +Go on, Cainy -- quick.' +' Oh -- and the new style of pa'sons wear moustaches +and long beards,' continued the illustrious traveller, +'and look like Moses and Aaron complete, and make +we fokes in the congregation feel all over like the +children of Israel.' +"A very right feeling -- very,' said Joseph Poorgrass. +"And there's two religions going on in the nation +now -- High Church and High Chapel. And, thinks I, +I'll play fair; so I went to High Church in the morning, +and High Chapel in the afternoon.' +' A right and proper boy,' said Joseph Poorgrass. +"Well, at High Church they pray singing, and worship +all the colours of the rainbow; and at High Chapel they +pray preaching, and worship drab and whitewash only. +And then-i didn't see no more of Miss Everdene 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 Coggan. "Our +mis'ess has too much sense under they knots of 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. " 'Twas +only wildness that made him a soldier, and maids rather +like your man of sin.' +"Now, Cain Ball,' said Gabriel restlessly, "can you +swear in the most +

+awful form that the woman you saw +was Miss Everdene ? ' +'Cain Ball, you be no longer a babe and suckling,' +said Joseph in the sepulchral tone the circumstances +demanded, "and you know what taking an oath is. +'Tis a horrible testament mind ye, which you say and +seal with your blood-stone, and the prophet Matthew +tells us that on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind +him to powder. Now, before all the work-folk here +assembled, can you swear to your words as the shep+ +herd asks ye ?' +" Please no, Mister Oak ! ' said Cainy, looking from +one to the other with great uneasiness at the spiritual +magnitude of the position. "I don't mind saying 'tis +true, but I don't like to say 'tis damn true, if that's +what you mane.' +'Cain, Cain, how can you ! ' asked Joseph sternly. +"You be asked to swear in a holy manner, and you +swear like wicked Shimei, the son of Gera, who cursed +as he came. Young man, fie ! ' +"No, I don't ! 'Tis you want to squander a pore +boy's soul, Joseph Poorgrass -- that's what 'tis ! ' said +Cain, beginning to cry. "All I mane is that in common +truth 'twas Miss Everdene and Sergeant Troy, but in +the horrible so-help-me truth that ye want to make of +it perhaps 'twas somebody else ! ' +'There's no getting at the rights of it,' said Gabriel, +turning to his work. +"Cain Ball, you'll come to a bit of bread ! ' groaned +Joseph Poorgrass. +Then the reapers' hooks were flourished again, and +the old sounds went on. Gabriel, without making any +pretence of being lively, did nothing to show that he +was particularly dull. However, Coggan 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 sweetheart she is, since she can't be +yours ? ' +"That's the very thing I say to myself,' said Gabriel. + +

+HOME AGAIN -- A TRICKSTER +THAT same evening at dusk Gabriel was leaning over +Coggan'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 he those of Bathsheba and Liddy. +The carriage came opposite and passed by. It was +Miss Everdene's gig, and 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 the eastern and western expanses +of sky, and the timid hares began to limp courageously +round the dim hillocks. Gabriel might have been +there an additional half-hour when a dark form walked +slowly by. " Good-night, Gabriel,' the passer 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 went on towards Miss Everdene's +house. He reached the front, and approaching the +entrance, saw a light in the parlour. 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 in moody medita+ +tion on woman'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 to-night. He had come to +apologize and beg forgiveness of Bathsheba with some+ +thing like a sense of shame at his violence, having but +just now learnt 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 Everdene. 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. Bold+ +wood 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 +as 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 +he 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 determina+ +tion. He hastened home. In ten minutes he was +back again, and made as if he were going to call upon +Troy at the carrier's. But as he approached, some +

+one 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 from up 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 conver+ +sation 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 worth while 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 Robin's attachment to you. I may say, too, that +I believe I am the only person in the village, excepting +Gabriel Oak, who does know it. You ought to marry +her.' +" I suppose I ought. Indeed, l 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 deviimay-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 honour 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. +The tone in which this word was uttered was all +Troy heard the dull determination in Boldwood's +voice, looked at his stalwart frame, then at the thick +plainly ; and understand, I don't wish to enter into the +" I was engaged to be married to Miss Everdene,' +said Boldwood, "but you came and -- -- ' +" Not engaged,' said Troy. +" As good as engaged.' +" If I had not turned up she might have become en+ +gaged 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 Ever+ +dene'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 molest her any more. Marry Fanny. +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 to-morrow; take up your carpet-bag, turn about, +leave Weatherbury now, this night, and you shall take +fifty pounds with you. Fanny shall have fifty to enable +her to prepare for the wedding, when you have told me +where she is living, and she shall have five hundred +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 and dignified Bold+ +wood of former times; and such a scheme as he had +now engaged in he would have condemned as childishly +imbecile only a few months ago. We discern a grand +force in the lover which helacks 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 narrowness, and love, though added +emotion, is subtracted capacity. Boldwood exemplified +this to an abnormal degree: he knew nothing of Fanny +Robin's 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 Everdene 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. "O, +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 +Bathsh -- -- Miss Everdene 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 at 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 programme shall be +adhered to, whilst I at any rate have fifty pounds.' +" l had thought of that, and l have considered that +if I can't appeal to your honour I can trust to 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 -- 'tis she,' he continued. 'I must go +on and meet her.' +'She -- who ? ' +'Bathsheba.' +'Bathsheba -- out alone at this time o' night .! ' said +Boldwood in amazement, and starting up. ' Why must +you meet her ?' +'She was expecting me to-night -- and I must now +speak to her, and wish her good-bye, according to your +wish. ' +'I don't see the necessity of speaking.' +'It can do no harm -- and she'll be wandering about +looking for me if I don't. You shall hear all I say to her. +It will help you in your love-making when I am gone.' +'Your tone is mocking.' +'O no. And renaember 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.' +'Will you confine 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 +Bathsheba's. +'O 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 knew 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 to-night. I've packed them all off so +nobody on earth will know of your visit to your lady's +bower. Liddy wanted to go to her grandfather's to +tell him about her holiday, and I said she might stay +with them till to-morrow -- when you'll be gone again.' +'Capital,' said Troy. ' But, dear me, I. had 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 parlour in ten minutes.' +'Yes.' She turned and tripped up the hill again. +During the progress of this dialogue there was a +nervous twitching of Boldwood's 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 and +cannot marry her ? ' said the soldier, mockingly. +'No, no; wait a minute. I want to say more to +you -- more to you !. ' said Boldwood, in a hoarse 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 Boldwood sprang upon him, and +held him by the neck. Troy felt Boldwood's grasp slowly +tightening. The move was absolutely unexpected. +'A moment,' he gasped. 'You are 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've 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, +you torture me .! ' said he. +Troy rebounded like a ball, and was about to make +a dash at the farmer; but he checked himself, saying +lightly -- +'It is not worth while to measure my strength with +you. Indeed it 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, 'twould be a mistake to kill me, +would it not?' +''Twould 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 and body to you so utterly as she +has done. Wretched woman -- deluded woman -- you +are, Bathsheba .! ' +'But about Fanny ? ' +'Bathsheba is a woman well to do,' continued Bold+ +wood, 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 wili-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, imploringly, ' I'll do anything +for you, only don't desert her; pray don't desert her, +Troy.' +'Which, poor Fanny ? ' +'No ; Bathsheba Everdene. Love her best .! Love +her tenderly !. How shall I get you to see how advan+ +tageous it will be to you to secure her at once ?' +'I don't wish to secure her in any new way.' +Boldwood's arm moved spasmodically towards Troy's +person again. He repressed the instinct, and his form +drooped as 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 five hundred 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 in 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 somnambulist than a wakeful +man, pulled out the large canvas bag he carried by way +of a purse, and searched it. +'I have twenty-one pounds more with me,' he said. +'Two notes and a sovereign. But before I leave you +I must have a paper signed -- -- ' +'Pay me the money, and we'll go straight to her +parlour, 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 to-night, and go with +me to-morrow to the surrogate's.' +'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 humour 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 doorpost, 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 inst., at St. Ambrose's Church, Bath, +by the Rev. G. Mincing, B.A., Francis Troy, only son +of the late Edward Troy, Esq., H.D., of Weatherbury, +and sergeant iith Dragoon Guards, to Bathsheba, only +surviving daughter of the late Mr, John Everdene, of +Casterbridge.' +'This may be called Fort meeting Feeble, hey, +Boldwood ?' said Troy. A low gurgle of derisive +laughter followed the words. +The paper fell from Boldwood's hands. Troy +continued -- +'Fifty pounds to marry Fanny, Good. Twenty-+ +one pounds not to marry Fanny, but Bathsheba. Good. +Finale : already Bathsheba's husband. Now, Boldwood, +yours is the ridiculous fate which always attends inter+ +ference between a man and his wife. And another +word. Bad as I am, I am not such a villain as to +make the marriage or misery of any woman a matter +of huckster and sale. Fanny has long ago left me. +don't know where she is. I have searched everywhere. +Another word yet. You say you love Bathsheba ; yet +on the merest apparent evidence you instantly believe +in her dishonour. 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 whole into the road. +Boldwood shook his 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 peal of laughter. Troy then closed the +door, and locked himself in. +Throughout the whole of that night Boldwood's dark +downs of Weatherbury like an unhappy Shade in the +Mournful Fields by Acheron. + +

+CHAPTER XXXV +AT AN UPPER WINDOW +IT was very early the next morning -- a time of sun and +dew. The confused beginnings of many birds' songs +spread into the healthy air, and the wan blue of the +heaven was here and there coated with thin webs of +incorporeal cloud which were of no efect in obscuring +day. All the lights in the scene were yellow as to +colour, 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, which had 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 bunches +of fruit, and they paused before emerging 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 to-day,' con+ +tinued Coggan. 'I heard wheels pass my door just +after dark -- you were out somewhere.'He glanced +round 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.' +',All right, all right. ' +They stood by the gate awhile, Gabriel listlessly +staring at the ground. His mind sped into the future, +and saw there enacted in years of leisure the scenes o +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 candour +itself. Could she have been entrapped ? The union +was not only an unutterable grief to him: it amazed +him, notwithstanding that he had passed the preceding +week in a 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 infinitely divided in its properties from stili +ness itself, so had his hope undistinguishable 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. ' Bain't ye going to +answer the man ?' he then said to Gabriel. 'I'd say +good morning -- you needn't spend a hapeth 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 +to an orange glow. +'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, and these old wainscoted walls +brightened up a bit ; or the oak cleared quite away, and +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 when art was a living +thing, 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 niaking 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. Gabriel and Coggan began to move on. +' Oh, Coggan,' said Troy, as if inspired by a recollec+ +tion ' 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 o't,' he said. +'It is of no importance,' said Troy, lightly. 'Well, +I shall be down in the fields with you some time this +week ; but I have a few matters to attend to first. So +good-day to you. We shall, of course, keep on just as +friendly terms as usual. I'm not a proud man : nobody +is ever able to say that of Sergeant Troy. However, +what is must be, and here'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. Coggan +twirled his eye, edged +

+forward, and caught the money +in its ricochet upon the road. +' very weli-you keep it, Coggan,' said Gabriel with +disdain and almost fiercely. 'As for me, I'll do with+ +out gifts from him !' +'Don't show it too much,' said Coggan, musingly. +'For if he's married to her, mark my words, he'll buy +his discharge and be our master here. Therefore 'tis +well to say '' Friend '' outwardly, though you say +''Troublehouse '' within. ' +' Weli-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.' +Coggan 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 colour in his welidefined face, +the enlarged appearance of the veins in his forehead +and 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 elbows steady by +the hips, the brim 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. + +

+WEALTH IN JEOPARDY -- THE RVEEL +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 stackyard of Weatherbury Upper +Farm, looking at the moon and sky. +The night had a sinister aspect. A heated breeze +from the south slowly fanned 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 sallow 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 +behaviour of the rooks had heen confused, and the +horses had moved with timidity and caution. +Thunder was imminent, and, taking some secondary +appearances into consideration, it was likely to be +followed by one of the lengthened rains which mark +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 un' +protected 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 incumbrances, and this area, +covering about two-thirds of the whole, 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 decomted +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, perspiration streaming down his cheeks, +and a tanabourine 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, ma'am, and no offence 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 build+ +ing, observing the scene from behind a table covered +with cups and viands. Troy was lolling 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 sonnies, and gentlemen all ? ' +'It shall be ''The Soldier's Joy,''' exclaimed a +chorus. +'Thanks for the compliment,' said the sergeant +THE REVEL +gaily, taking Bathsheba by the hand and leading her +to the top of the dance. 'For though I have pur+ +chased my discharge from Her Most Gracious Majesty's +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, too, an +additional charm, in being so admirably adapted to +the tambourine aforesaid -- 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 bass-viol with the sonorousness of a cannonade, +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,' said Gabriel, 'that I only +stepped ath'art to say that a heavy rain is sure to fall +soon, and that something should be done to protect +the ricks ?' +'M. Troy says it will not rain,' returned the +messenger, 'and he cannot stop to talk to you about +such fidgets.' +In Juxtaposition with Troy, Oak had a melancholy +tendency to look like a candle beside gas, and ill 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 to-night; but this is also a Wedding +Feast. A short time ago I had the happiness to lead +to the altar this lady, your mistress, and not until now +have we been able to give any public flourish to the +event in 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 treble-strong +goblet will he 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, thank ye,' said +one or two. +'Pooh .! ' said the sergeant contemptuously, and +raised his +

+voice as if lighted up by a new idea. +' Friends,' he said, ' we'll send the women-folk home .! +'Tis time they were in bed. Then we cockbirds will +have a jolly carouse to ourselves .! If any of the men +show the white feather, let them look elsewhere for a +winter'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 spring waggon and put in the horse. +Thus Troy and the men on the farm were left sole +occupants of the place. Oak, not to appear unneces+ +sarily 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. In approach+ +ing the door, his toe kicked something which felt and +sounded soft, leathery, and distended, like a boxing+ +glove. It was a large toad humbly travelling 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 +to-night 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 +in 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 +

+furze bushes, and the first peculiarity ob+ +servable 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 vandyked lace +collar, to which the clump of furze-bushes stood in the +position of a wearer's neck. +opinion. He knew now that he was right, and that +Troy was wrong. Every voice in nature was unanimous +in bespeaking change. But two distinct translations +attached to these dumb expressions. Apparently there +was to be a thunder-storm, and afterwards a cold con+ +tinuous rain. The creeping things seemed to know all +about the later rain, hut little of the interpolated +thunder-storm ; whilst the sheep knew all about the +thunder-storm 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 thirty +quarters to each stack ; the barley, at least forty. Their +value to Bathsheba, and indeed to anybody, Oak +mentally estimated by the following simple calcula+ +tion : -- +5 x 30 = 150 quarters= 500fl. +3 x 40=120 quarters= 250l. +Total . . 750l. +Seven hundred and fifty pounds in the divinest form +that money can wear -- that of necessary food for man +and beast : should the risk be run cf 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 palimpsest, 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 endeavour 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 as 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. Many of the +lights had quite gone out, others smoked and 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, with his mouth +open, huzzing forth snores, as were several others ; the +united breathings of the horizonal assemblage forming +a subdued roar like London from a distance. Joseph +Poorgrass was curled round in the fashion of a hedge+ +hog, 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 Smali +bury. The glasses and cups still stood upon the table, +a water-jug being overturned, from which a small rill, +after tracing its course with marvellous precision down +the centre 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 at 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 Coggan's +waistcoat. It was Coggan's watch striking the hour of +two. +Oak went to the recumbent form of Matthew Moon, +who usually undertook the rough thatching of the home+ +stead, and shook him. The shaking was without effect. +Gabriel shouted in his ear, ' where's your thatching+ +beetle and rick-stick and spars ? ' +' Under the staddles,' 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 and demoralizing termination to the +evening's entertainment. Sergeant Troy had so strenu+ +ously insisted, glass in hand, that drinking should be +the bond of their union, that those who wished to refuse +hardly liked to be so unmannerly under the circum+ +stances. Having from their youth up been entirely un+ +accustomed 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 boded +ill for that wilful and fascinating mistress whom the +faithful man even now felt within him as the embodi+ +ment 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 +lone night. A hot breeze, as if breathed from the +parted lips of some dragon about to swallow the globe, +fanned him from the south, while directly opposite in +the north rose a grim misshapen body of +

+cloud, in 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 +south-east 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 Laban Tall's bedroom, expecting +Susan to open it ; but nobody stirred. He went round +to the back door, which had been left unfastened for +Laban's entry, and passed in to the foot of the stair+ +case. +'Mrs. Tall, I've come for the key of the granary, +to get at the rick-cloths,' said Oak, in a stentorian +voice. +'Is that you ? ' said Mrs. Susan Tall, half awake. +' Yes,' said Gabriel. +'Come along to bed, do, you drawlatching rogue -- +keeping a body awake like this .' +'It isn't Laban -- 'tis Gabriel Oak. I want the key +of the granary.' +'Gabriel. what in the name of fortune did you +pretend to be Laban for ?' +' I didn't. I thought you meant -- -- ' +'yes you did !. what do you want here ?' +'The key of the granary.' +"Take it then. 'Tis on the nail. People coming +disturbing women at this time of night ought -- -- ' +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 water+ +proof coverings across the yard, and soon two of these +heaps of treasure in 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 staddles and found a +fork. He mounted the third pile of wealth and began +operating, adopting 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 in 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 the +farewell of the ambassador previous to war. The +night had a haggard look, like a sick thing; and there +came finally an utter 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. +THE STORM + +

+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 peal was noisy, with comparatively little +visible lightning. Gabriel saw a candle shining in Bath+ +sheba's bedroom, and soon a shadow swept to and fro +upon the blind. +Then there came a third flash. Manoeuvres of a +most extraordinary kind were going on in the vast +firmamental hollows overhead. The lightning now was +the colour 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. In a +paddock 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 fore+ +ground 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 poniard, 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 in+ +describable 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 he 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 +should be so chary of running risk, when important +and urgent labour could not be carried on without +such risk ? He resolved to stick to the stack. How+ +ever, he took a precaution. Under the staddles 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 +and the shout of a fiend. 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, +THE TWO TOGETHER +"Gabriel. I am on the rick, thatching.' +"O, 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 any+ +how ? I cannot find my husband. Is he with you ?' +"He is not here.' +"Do you know where he is ?' +"Asleep in the barn.' +"He promised that the stacks should be seen to, +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-sheaves 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'll do anything ! ' she said, resolutely. She instantly +took a sheaf 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 majolica -- every knot +in 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 peal. 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 ali-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 in unparalleled con+ +fusion. 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 eise earthly. In the meantime one of +the grisly 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 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 ears in a +dead, flat blow, without that reverberation which lends +the tones of a drum to more distant thunder. By the +lustre 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 riband of bark being apparently flung off. The +other portion remained erect, and revealed the bared +surface as a strip of white down the front. The +lightning had struck the tree. A sulphurous smell +filled the air; then all was silent, and black as a cave +in Hinnom. +" We had a narrow escape ! ' said Gabriel, hurriedly. +" You had better go down.' +Bathsheba said nothing ; but he could distinctly hear +her rhythmical 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. O, why are not some of the others +here ! ' +" They would have been here if they could,' said Oak, +in a hesitating way. +'O, I know it ali-all,' she said, adding slowly : +" They are all asleep in 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 endeavoured to put off the immediate and pain+ +ful subject of their thoughts by remarking gently, "lf +you'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 away +to Bath that night it was on purpose to be married ?" +'I did at 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 ?' +" Weli-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 looked 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 + -- 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 certainly +under no delusion that I ever loved you, or that I can +have any object in speaking, more than that object I +have mentioned. Well, 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. +Gabriel soon perceived a languor in the movements of +his mistress up and down, and he said to her, gently as +a mother -- +"I think you had better go indoors now, you are +tired. I can finish the rest alone. If the wind does +not change the rain is likely to keep off.' +"If I am useless I will go,' said Bathsheba, in a +flagging cadence. 'But O, 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 contradictoriness of that feminine heart which +had caused her to speak more warmly to him to-night +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 vane on the +roof turning round, and this change in the wind was the +signal for a disastrous rain. +RAIN + +

+RAIN -- ONE SOLITARY MEETS ANOTHER +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 coursed 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 was now whirled fantas+ +tically 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 routes down +his back. Ultimately he was reduced welinigh to a +homogeneous sop, and the dyes of his clothes trickled +down and stood in a pool at the foot of the ladder. +The rain stretched obliquely through the dull atmo+ +sphere in liquid spines, unbroken 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 dis+ +missed 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 in +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 abashed, save +the foremost, who wore a red jacket, and advanced +with his hands in his pockets, whistling. 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 upon their +condition. +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 Boldwood. +" How are you this morning, sir ?' said Oak. +"Yes, it is a wet day. -- Oh, I am well, very well, I +thank you ; quite well.' +"I am glad to hear it, sir.' +Boldwood seemed to awake to the present by degrees. +" You look tired and ill, Oak,' he said then, desultorily +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 Boldwood, +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.' +" O yes.' Boldwood 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 staddles ?' +" They are not.' +"Them under the hedge ?' +" No. I forgot to tell the thatcher to set about it.' +" Nor the little one by the stile ?' +"Nor the little one by the stile. I overlooked the +ricks this year.' +'Then not a tenth of your corn will come to measure, +sir.' +" Possibly not. +" Overlooked them,' repeated Gabriel slowly to him+ +self. 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 labouring 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, a greater waste had been going on, uncomplained +of and disregarded. A few months earlier Boldwood's +forgetting his husbandry would have been as preposter+ +ous 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 Boldwood 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 +Boldwood's love to keep silence on the farmer's account, +and determined not to evade 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 whom misfortune had inured rather than sub+ +dued. +'I daresay I am a joke about the parish,' said Bold+ +wood, as if the subject came irresistibly to his tongue, +and with a miserable lightness meant to express his +indifference. +

+" O no -- I don't think that.' + -- But the real truth of the matter is that there was +not, as some fancy, any jilting on -- her part. No +engagement ever existed between me and Miss Ever+ +dene. People say so, but it is untrue: she never +promised me .! ' Boldwood stood still now and turned +his wild face to Oak. 'O, 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.!" +A silence followed. Boldwood 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 on the countenance 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.' + +

+COMING HOME -- A CRY +ON the turnpke road, between Casterbridge and +Weatherbury, and about three miles from the former +which pervade the highways of this undulating part of +South Wessex. I 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 farmer's marketing suit +of unusually fashionable cut was an erect, welimade +young man. Though on foot, he 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 unalter+ +able ideas still insisted upon calling him 'Sergeant' +when they met him, which was in some degree owing +to his having still retained the welishaped moustache +of his military days, and the soldierly bearing insepar+ +able from his form and training. +"Yes, if it hadn't been for that wretched rain 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, +wet 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 is 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 'twas .! +'Tis 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, 'twas as black +as my hat before the last race was run. 'Twas five +o'clock, and you couldn't see the horses till they were +almost in, leave alone colours. The ground was as +heavy as lead, and all judgment from a fellow's experi+ +ence went for nothing. 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. Aye, +Pimpernel regularly stuck fast, when 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 -- +her voice was painfully lowered from the fulness and +vivacity of the previous summer -- "that you have lost +more than a hundred pounds in a month by this +dreadful horse-racing ? O, 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 +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 with our going +there 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 and wife before she became visible. Troy had +turned towards the gig to remount, and whilst putting +his foot on the step-the woman passed behind him. +Though the overshadowing trees and the approach +of eventide enveloped them in 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 Casterbridge +Union-house closes at night ? ' +A CRY +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, examined the side of his face, and recognized the +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. +" O, poor thing.!' exclaimed Bathsheba, instantly +preparing to alight. +"Stay where you are, and attend to the horse!' +said Troy, peremptorily throwing her the reins and +the whip. "Walk the horse to the top: I'll see to +the woman.' +" But i -- -' +" Do you hear? Clk -- Poppet.!' +

+The horse, gig, and 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 merest trifle. It is every +farthing 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 to-night? +Casterbridge Union?' +"Yes; I thought to go there.' +" You shan't go there; yet, wait. Yes, perhaps for +to-night ; I can do nothing better -- worse luck.! Sleep +there to-night, and stay there to-morrow. Monday is +the first free day I have; and on Monday morning, +at ten 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. Good-bye till then. I am a brute + -- but good-bye.!' +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 Bath+ +sheba, looking searchingly into his face. +"I do,' he said, looking boldly back into hers. +"I thought you did,' said she, with angry hauteur, +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 Poppet's +flank, which caused the animal to start forward at a +wild pace. No more was said. +ON CASTERBRIDGE HIGHWAY + +

+FOR a considerable time the woman walked on. Her +steps became feebler, and she strained her eyes to look +afar upon the naked road, now indistinct amid the +penumbrae of night. At length her onward walk +dwindled to the merest totter, and she opened a gate +within which was a haystack. Underneath this she sat +down and presently slept. +When the woman awoke it was to find herself in the +depths of a moonless and starless night. A heavy un+ +broken crust of cloud stretched across the sky, shutting +out every speck of heaven ; and a distant halo which +hung over the town of Casterbridge was visible against +the black concave, the luminosity appearing the +brighter by its great contrast with the circumscribing +darkness. Towards this weak, soft glow the woman +turned her eyes. +"If I could only get there.!' she said. "Meet him +the day after to-morrow: God help me! Perhaps I +shall be in my grave before then.' +A manor-house clock from the far depths of shadow +struck the hour, one, in a small, attenuated tone. After +midnight the voice of a clock seems to lose in breadth +as much as in length, and to diminish its sonorousness +to a thin falsetto. +Afterwards a light -- two lights -- arose frona the re+ +mote shade, and grew larger. A carriage rolled along +the toad, and passed the gate. It probably contained +some late diners-out. The beams from one lamp shone +for a moment upon the crouching woman, and threw +her face into vivid relieff. The face was young in the +groundwork, old in the finish ; the general contours +were flexuous and childlike, but the finer lineaments +had begun to be sharp and thin. +The pedestrian stood up, apparently with revived +determination, and looked around. The road appeared +to be +

+familiar to her, and she carefully scanned the fence +as she slowly walked along. Presently there became +visible a dim white shape; it was another milestone. +She drew her fingers across its face to feel the marks. +"Two more!' she said. +She leant against the stone as a means of rest for a + short interval, then bestirred herself, and again pursued +her way. For a slight distance she bore up bravely, +afterwards flagging as before. This was beside a lone +copsewood, wherein heaps of white chips strewn upon +the leafy ground showed that woodmen had been +faggoting and making hurdles during the day. Now +there was not a rustle, not a breeze, not the faintest +clash of twigs to keep her company. The woman +looked over the gat, opened it, and went in. Close +to the entrance stood a row of faggots, bound and un+ +bound, together with stakes of all sizes. +For a few seconds the wayfarer stood with that tense +stillness which signifies itself to be not the end but +merely the suspension, of a previous motion. Her +attitude was that of a person who listens, either to the +external world of sound, or to the imagined discourse of +thought. A close criticism might have detected signs +proving that she was intent on the latter alternative. +Moreover, as was shown by what followed, she was +oddly exercising the faculty of invention upon the spe+ +ciality of the clever Jacquet Droz, the designer of auto+ +matic substitutes for human limbs. +By the aid of the Casterbridge aurora, and by feeling +with her hands, the woman selected two sticks from the +heaps. These sticks were nearly straight to the height +of three or four feet, where each branched into a fork +like the letter Y. She sat down, snapped off the small +upper twigs, and carried the remainder with her into +the road. She placed one of these forks under each +arm as a crutch, tested them, timidly threw her whole +weight upon them -- so little that it was -- and swung +herself forward. The girl had made for herself a +material aid. +The crutches answered well. The pat of her feet, +and the tap of her sticks upon the highway, were all the +sounds that +

+came from the traveller now. She had +passed the last milestone by a good long distance, and +began to look wistfully towards the bank as if calculating +upon another milestone soon. The crutches, though +so very useful, had their limits of power. Mechanism +only transfers labour, being powerless to supersede it, +and the original amount of exertion was not cleared +away; it was thrown into the body and arms. She was +exhausted, and each swing forward became fainter. At +last she swayed sideways, and fell. +Here she lay, a shapeless heap, for ten minutes and +more. The morning wind began to boom dully over +the flats, and to move afresh dead leaves which had +lain still since yesterday. The woman desperately +turned round upon her knees, and next rose to her +feet. Steadying herself by the help of one crutch, she +essayed a step, then another, then a third, using the +crutches now as walking-sticks only. Thus she pro+ +gressed till descending Mellstock Hill another milestone +appeared, and soon the beginning of an iron-railed fence +came into view. She staggered across to the first post, +clung to it, and looked around. +The Casterbridge lights were now individually visible, +It was getting towards morning, and vehicles might be +hoped for, if not expected soon. She listened. There +was not a sound of life save that acme and sublimation +of all dismal sounds, the hark of a fox, its three hollow +notes being rendered at intervals of a minute with the +precision of a funeral bell. +Less than a mile.!' the woman murmured. "No; +more,' she added, after a pause. 'The mile is to the +county hall, and my resting-place is on the other side +Casterbridge. A little over a mile, and there I am! ' +After an interval she again spoke. "Five or six steps to +a yard -- six perhaps. I have to go seventeen hundred +yards. A hundred times six, six hundred. Seventeen +times that. O pity me, Lord.!' +Holding to the rails, she advanced, thrusting one +hand forward upon the rail, then the other, then leaning +over it whilst she dragged her feet on beneath. +This woman was not given to soliloquy; but ex, +tremity of feeling lessens the individuality of the weak, +as it increases +

+that of the strong. She said again in the +same tone, "I'll believe that the end lies five posts for+ +ward, and no further, and so get strength to pass them.' +This was a practical application of the principle that +a half-feigned and fictitious faith is better than no faith +at all. +She passed five posts and held on to the fifth. +"I'll pass five more by believing my longed-for spot +is at the next fifth. I can do it.' +she passed five more. +"It lies only five further.' +she passed five more. +"But it is five further.' +She passed them. +'That stone bridge is the end of my journey,' she +said, when the bridge over the Froom was in view. +She crawled to the bridge. During the effort each +breath of the woman went into the air as if never to +return again. +"Now for the truth of the matter,' she said, sitting +down. "The truth is, that I have less than half a mile.' +Self-beguilement with what she had known all the time +to be false had given her strength to come over half +a mile that she would have been powerless to face in +the lump. The artifice showed that the woman, by +some mysterious intuition, had grasped the paradoxical +truth that blindness may operate more vigorously than +prescience, and the short-sighted effect more than the +far-seeing ; that limitation, and not comprehensiveness, +is needed for striking a blow. +The half-mile stood now before the sick and weary +woman like a stolid Juggernaut. It was an impassive +King of her world. The road here ran across Durnover +Moor, open to the road on either side. She surveyed +the wide space, the lights, herself, sighed, and lay down +against a guard-stone of the bridge. +Never was ingenuity exercised so sorely as the +traveller here exercised hers. Every conceivable aid, +m&thod, stratagem, mechanism, by which these last +desperate eight hundred yards could be overpasscd by a +human being unperceived, was revolved in her busy +brain, and dismissed as impracticable. She thought of +

+sticks, wheels, crawling -- she even thought of rolling. +But the exertion demanded by either of these latter two +was greater than to walk erect. The faculty of con+ +trivance was worn out, Hopelessness had come at +last. +" No further.!' she whispered, and closed her eyes. +From the stripe of shadow on the opposite side of +the bridge a portion of shade seemed to detach itself +and move into isolation upon the pale white of the road. +It glided noiselessly towards the recumbent woman. +She became conscious of something touching her +hand; it was softness and it was warmth. She +opened her eye's, and the substance touched her face. +A dog was licking her cheek. +He was huge, heavy, and quiet creature, standing +darkly against the low horizon, and at least two feet +higher than the present position of her eyes. Whether +Newfoundland, mastiff, bloodhound, or what not, it was +impossible to say. He seemed to be of too strange and +mysterious a nature to belong to any variety among those +of popular nomenclature. Being thus assignable to no +breed, he was the ideal embodiment of canine greatness + -- a generalization from what was common to all. Night, +in its sad, solemn, and benevolent aspect, apart from its +stealthy and cruel side, was personified in this form +Darkness endows the small and ordinary ones among +mankind with poetical power, and even the suffering +woman threw her idea nto figure. +In her reclining position she looked up to him just +as in earlier times she had, when standing, looked up +to a man. The animal, who was as homeless as she, +respectfully withdrew a step or two when the woman +moved, and, seeing that she did not repulse him, he +licked her hand again. +A thought moved within her like lightning. "Perhaps +I can make use of him-i might do it then!' +She pointed in the direction of Casterbridge, and +the dog seemed to misunderstand : he trotted on. Then, +finding she could not follow, he came back and whined. +The ultimate and saddest singularity of woman's effort +and invention was reached when, with a quickened breath+ +ing, she rose to a stooping posture, and, resting her two +little arms +

+upon the shoulders of the dog, leant firmly +thereon, and murmured stimulating words. Whilst she +sorrowed in her heart she cheered with her voice, and +what was stranger than that the strong should need +encouragement from the weak was that cheerfulness +should be so well stimulated by such utter dejection. +Her friend moved forward slowly, and she with small +mincing steps moved forward beside him, half her +weight being thrown upon the animal. Sometimes +she sank as she had sunk from walking erect, from +the crutches, from the rails. The dog, who now +thoroughly understood her desire and her incapacity, +was frantic in his distress on these occasions ; he would +tug at her dress and run forward. She always called +him back, and it was now to be observed that the +woman listened for human sounds only to avoid them. +It was evident that she had an object in keeping her +presence on the road and her forlorn state unknown. +Their progress was necessarily very slow. They +reached the bottom of the town, and the Casterbridge +lamps lay before them like fallen Pleiads as they turned +to the left into the dense shade of a deserted avenue of +chestnuts, and so skirted the borough. Thus the town +was passed, and the goal was reached. +On this much-desired spot outside the town rose a +picturesque building. Originally it had been a mere +case to hold people. The shell had been so thin, so +devoid of excrescence, and so closely drawn over the +accommodation granted, that the grim character of +what was beneath showed through it, as the shape of +a body is visible under a winding-sheet. +Then Nature, as if offended, lent a hand. Masses +of ivy grew up, completely covering the walls, till the +place looked like an abbey; and it was discovered that +the view from the front, over the Casterbridge chimneys, +was one of the most magnificent in the county. A +neighbouring earl once said that he would give up a +year's rental to have at his own door the view enjoyed +by the inmates from theirs -- and very probably the +inmates would have given up the view for his year's +rental. +This stone edifice consisted of a central mass and +

+two wings, whereon stood as sentinels a few slim +chimneys, now gurgling sorrowfully to the slow wind. +In the wall was a gate, and by the gate a belipull +formed of a hanging wire. The woman raised herself +as high as possible upon her knees, and could just +reach the handle. She moved it and fell forwards in +a bowed attitude, her face upon her bosom. +It was getting on towards six o'clock, and sounds of +movement were to be heard inside the building which +was the haven of rest to this wearied soul. A little door +by the large one was opened, and a man appeared inside. +He discerned the panting heap of clothes, went back +for a light, and came again. He entered a second +time, and returned with two women. +These lifted the prostrate figure and assisted her in +through the doorway. The man then closed the door. +How did she get here ?" said one of the women. +"The Lord knows,' said the other. +There is a dog outside," murmured the overcome +traveller. " Where is he gone ? He helped me.' +I stoned him away,' said the man. +The little procession then moved forward -- the man +in front bearing the light, the two bony women next, +supporting between them the small and supple one. +Thus they entered the house and disappeared. +SUSPICION + +

+SUSPICION -- FANNY IS SENT FOR +BATHSHEBA said very little to her husband all that +evening of their return from market, and he was not +disposed to say much to her. He exhibited the un+ +pleasant combination of a restless condition with a +silent tongue. The next day, which was Sunday, passed +nearly in the same manner as regarded their taciturnity, +Bathsheba going to church both morning and afternoon. +This was the day before the Budmouth races. In the +evening Troy said, suddenly -- +" Bathsheba, could you let me have twenty pounds ?" +Her countenance instantly sank. ' Twenty pounds ? +she said. +'The fact is, I want it badly.' The anxiety upon +Troy's face was unusual and very marked. lt was a +culmination of the mood he had been in all the day. +"Ah !. for those races to-morrow.' +Troy for the moment made no reply. Her mistake +had its advantages to a man who shrank from having +his mind inspected as he did now. "Well, suppose I +do want it for races ?' he said, at last. +"O, Frank.!' Bathsheba replied, and there was such +a volume of entreaty in the words. "Only such a few +weeks ago you said that I was far sweeter than all your +other pleasures put together, and that you would give +them all up for me; and now, won't you give up this +one, which is more a worry than a pleasure? Do, +Frank. Come, let me fascinate you by all I can do + -- by pretty words and pretty looks, and everything I +can think of -- to stay at home. Say yes to your wife -- +say yes.!' +The tenderest and softest phases of Bathsheba's +nature were prominent now -- advanced impulsively for +his acceptance, without any of the disguises and defences +which the wariness of her character when she was cool +too frequently threw +

+over them. Few men could have +resisted the arch yet dignified entreaty of the beautiful +face, thrown a little back and sideways in the weli +known attitude that expresses more than the words it +accompanies, and which seems to have heen designed +for these special occasions. Had the woman not been +his wife, Troy would have succumbed instantly ; as it +was, he thought he would not deceive her longer. +"The money is not wanted for racing debts at all,' +he said. +" What is it for ?' she asked. " You worry me a great +deal by these mysterious responsibilities, Frank." +Troy hesitated. He did not now love her enough +to allow himself to be carried too far by her ways. Yet +it was necessary to be civil. "You wrong me by such +a suspicious manner, he said. " Such strait-waistcoating +as you treat me to is not becoming in you at so early a +date.' +"I think that I have a right to grumble a little if I +pay,' she said, with features between a smile and a +pout. +Exactly; and, the former being done, suppose we +proceed to the latter. Bathsheba, fun is all very well, +but don't go too far, or you may have cause to regret +something.' +She reddened. " I do that already,' she said, quickly +" What do you regret ? ' +SUSPICION +"That my romance has come to an end.' +" All romances end at marriage.' +'I wish you wouldn't talk like that. You grieve me +to my soul by being smart at my expense.' +" You are dull enough at mine. I believe you hate +me.' +" Not you -- only your faults. I do hate them.' +"'Twould be much more becoming if you set your+ +self to cure them. Come, let's strike a balance with +the twenty pounds, and be friends.' +She gave a sigh of resignation. 'I have about that +sum here for household expenses. If you must have it, +take it.' +"Very good. Thank you. I expect I shall have +gone away before you are in to breakfast to-morrow.' +"And must you go ? Ah !. there was a time, Frank, +when it would have taken a good many promises to +other people to drag you away from me. You used to +call me darling, then. +

+But it doesn't matter to you how +my days are passed now.' +"I must go, in spite of sentiment.' Troy, as he +spoke, looked at his watch, and, apparently actuated by +<1non lucendo>1 principles, opened the case at the back, +revealing, snugly stowed within it, a small coil of hair. +Bathsheba's eyes had been accidentally lifted at that +moment, and she saw the action and saw the hair. She +flushed in pain and surprise, and some words escaped +her before she had thought whether or not it was wise +to utter them. "A woman's curl of hair !' she said. +"O, Frank, whose is that ?' +Troy had instantly closed his watch. He carelessly +replied, as one who cloaked some feelings that the sight +had stirred. ' Why, yours, of course. Whose should it +be ? I had quite forgotten that I had it.' +' What a dreadful fib, Frank.!' +" I tell you I had forgotten it.!' he said, loudly. +'I don't mean that -- it was yellow hair.' +"Nonsense.' +"That's insulting me. I know it was yellow. Now +whose was it ? I want to know.' +"Very welii'll tell you, so make no more ado. It +is the hair of a young woman I was going to marry +before I knew you.' +" You ought to tell me her name, then.' +"I cannot do that.' +"Is she married yet?' +"No.' +"Is she alive?' +" Yes.' +"Is she pretty ?' +" Yes.' +'It is wonderful how she can be, poor thing, under +such an awful affliction!' +" Affliction -- what affliction ? ' he inquired, quickly. +" Having hair of that dreadful colour.' +" Oh -- ho-i like that.!' said Troy, recovering him+ +self. "Why, her hair has been admired by everybody +who has seen her since she has worn it loose, which has +not been long. It is +

+beautiful hair. People used to +turn their heads to look at it, poor girl.!' +"Pooh! that's nothing -- that's nothing!' she ex+ +claimed, in incipient accents of pique. 'If I cared for +your love as much as I used to I could say people had +turned to look at mine.' +"Bathsheba, don't be so fitful and jealous. You +knew what married life would be like, and shouldn't +have entered it if you feared these contingencies.' +Troy had by this time driven her to bitterness: her +heart was big in her throat, and the ducts to her eyes +were painfully full. Ashamed as she was to show +emotion, at last she burst out: -- +"This is all I get for loving you so well! Ah! when +I married you your life was dearer to me than my own. +I would have died for you -- how truly I can say that I +would have died for you.! And now you sneer at my +foolishness in marrying you. O! is it kind to me to +throw my mistake in my face ? Whatever opinion you +may have of my wisdom, you should not tell me of it so +mercilessly, now that I am in your power.' +" I can't help how things fall out,' said Troy; "upon +my heart, women will be the death of me.!' +"Well you shouldn't keep people's hair. You'll +burn it, won't you, Frank?' +Frank went on as if he had not heard her. "There +are considerations even before my consideration for you; +reparations to be made -- ties you know nothing of If +you repent of marrying, so do I.' +Trembling now, she put her hand upon his arm, +saying, in mingled tones of wretchedness and coaxing, +"I only repent it if you don't love me better than any +woman in the world.! I don't otherwise, Frank. You +don't repent because you already love somebody better +than you love me, do you ?' +"I don't know. Why do you say that?' +"You won't burn that curl. You like the woman +who owns that pretty hair -- yes; it is pretty -- more +beautiful than my miserable black mane! Well, it is +no use; I can't help being ugly. You must like her +best, if you will!' +"Until to-day, when I took it from a drawer, I have +

+never looked upon that bit of hair for several months -- +that I am ready to swear.' +"But just now you said "ties;" and then -- that +woman we met?' +"'Twas the meeting with her that reminded me of +the hair.' +"Is it hers, then ?' +"Yes. There, now that you have wormed it out of +me, I hope you are content.' +"And what are the ties ?' +"Oh! that meant nothing -- a mere jest.' +"A mere jest ! ' she said, in mournful astonishment. +"Can you jest when I am so wretchedly in earnest ? +Tell me the truth, Frank. I am not a fool, you know, +although I am a woman, and have my woman's moments. +Come! treat me fairly,' she said, looking honestly and +fearlessly into his face. "I don't want much; bare +justice -- that's all! Ah! once I felt I could be content +with nothing less than the highest homage from the +husband I should choose. Now, anything short of +cruelty will content me. Yes! the independent and +spirited Bathsheba is come to this.!' +"For Heaven's sake don't be so desperate! "Troy +said, snappishly, rising as he did so, and leaving the +room. +Directly he had gone, Bathsheba burst into great +sobs -- dry-eyed sobs, which cut as they came, without +any softening by tears. But she determined to repress +all evidences of feeling. She was conquered; but she +would never own it as long as she lived. Her pride +was indeed brought low by despairing discoveries of her +spoliation by marriage with a less pure nature than her +own. She chafed to and fro in rebelliousness, like a +caged leopard; her whole soul was in arms, and the +blood fired her face. Until she had met Troy, Bath+ +sheba had heen proud of her position as a woman; it +had been a glory to her to know that her lips had been +touched hy no man's on earth -- that her waist had +never been encircled by a lover's arm. She hated +herself now. In those earlier days she had always +nourished a secret contempt for girls who were the +slaves of the first goodiooking young fellow who should +choose to salute them. She had never taken kindly to +the idea of +

+marriage in the abstract as did the majority +of women she saw about her. In the turmoil of her +anxiety for her lover she had agreed to marry him; but +the perception that had accompanied her happiest hours +on this account was rather that of self-sacrifice than of +promotion and honour. Although she scarcely knew +the divinity's name, Diana was the goddess whom +Bathsheba instinctively adored. That she had never, +by look, word, or sign, encouraged a man to approach +her -- that she had felt herself sufficient to herself, and +had in the independence of her girlish heart fancied +there was a certain degradation in renouncing the +simplicity of a maiden existence to become the humbler +half of an indifferent matrimonial whole -- were facts +now bitterly remembered. O, if she had never +stooped to folly of this kind, respectable as it was, and +could only stand again, as she had stood on the hill at +Norcombe, and dare Troy or any other man to pollute +a hair of her head by his interference!. +The next morning she rose earlier than usual, and +had the horse saddled for her ride round the farm in +the customary way. When she came in at half-past +eight -- their usual hour for breakfasting -- she was in+ +formed that her husband had risen, taken his breakfast, +and driven off to Casterbridge with the gig and Poppet. +After breakfast she was cool and collected -- quite +herself in fact -- and she rambled to the gate, intending +to walk to another quarter of the farm, which she still +personally superintended as well as her duties in the +house would permit, continually, however, finding her+ +self preceded in forethought by Gabriel Oak, for whom +she began to entertain the genuine friendship of a sister. +Of course, she sometimes thought of him in the light of +an old lover, and had momentary imaginings of what +life with him as a husband would have been like; also +of life with Boldwood under the same conditions. But +Bathsheba, though she could feel, was not much given +to futile dreaming, and her musings under this head +were short and entirely confined to the times when +Troy's neglect was more than ordinarily evident. +She saw coming up the road a man like Mr. Boldwood. +

+It was Mr. Boldwood. Bathsheba blushed painfully, +and watched. The farmer stopped when still a long +way off, and held up his hand to Gabriel Oak, who was +in a footpath across the field. The two men then +approached each other and seemed to engage in +earnest conversation. +Thus they continued for a long time. Joseph Poor+ +grass now passed near them, wheeling a barrow of apples +up the hill to Bathsheba's residence. Boldwood and +Gabriel called to him, spoke to him for a few minutes, +and then all three parted, Joseph immediately coming +up the hill with his barrow. +Bathsheba, who had seen this pantomime with some +surprise, experienced great relief when Boldwood turned +back again. 'Well, what's the message, Joseph ? ' she +said. +He set down his barrow, and, putting upon himself +the refined aspect that a conversation with a lady re+ +quired, spoke to Bathsheba over the gate. +"You'll never see Fanny Robin no more -- use nor +principai-ma'am.' +" Why ?' +"Because she's dead in the Union.' +" Fanny dead -- never.!' +" Yes, ma'am.' +" What did she die from ?" +"I don't know for certain; but I should be inclined +to think it was from general neshness of constitution. +She was such a limber maid that 'a could stand no +hardship, even when I knowed her, and 'a went like a +candle-snoff, so 'tis said. She was took bad in the +morning, and, being quite feeble and worn out, she +died in the evening. She belongs by law to our parish; +and Mr. Boldwood is going to send a waggon at three +this afternoon to fetch her home here and bury her.' +"Indeed I shall not let Mr. Boldwood do any such +thing-i shall do it! Fanny was my uncle's servant, +and, although I only knew her for a couple of days, +FANNY IS SENT FOR +she belongs to me. How very, very sad this is.! -- +the idea of Fanny being in a workhouse.' Bathsheba +had begun to know what suffering was, and she spoke +with real feeling.... "Send across to Mr. Boldwood's, +and say that Mrs. Troy will take upon herself the duty +

+of fetching an old servant of the family.... We +ought not to put her in a waggon; we'll get a hearse.' +" There will hardly be time, ma'am, will there?' +" Perhaps not,' she said, musingly. " When did you +say we must be at the door -- three o'clock?' +" Three o'clock this afternoon, ma'am, so to speak it.' +"Very weli-you go with it. A pretty waggon is +better than an ugly hearse, after all. Joseph, have the +new spring waggon with the blue body and red wheels, +and wash it very clean. And, Joseph -- -- ' +" Yes, ma'am.' +' Carry with you some evergreens and flowers to put +upon her coffin -- indeed, gather a great many, and +completely bury her in them. Get some boughs of +laurustinus, and variegated box, and yew, and boy'siove; +ay, and some hunches of chrysanthemum. And let old +Pleasant draw her, because she knew him so well.' +'I will, ma'am. I ought to have said that the +Union, in the form of four labouring men, will meet me +when I gets to our churchyard gate, and take her and +bury her according to the rites of the Board of Guardians, +as by law ordained.' +" Dear me -- Casterbridge Union -- and is Fanny come +to this?' said Bathsheba, musing. "I wish I had known +of it sooner. I thought she was far away. How long +has she lived there?' +"On'y been there a day or two.' +"Oh.! -- then she has not been staying there as a +regular inmate?' +" No. She first went to live in a garrison-town t'other +side o' Wessex, and since then she's been picking up a +living at seampstering in Melchester for several months, +at the house of a very respectable widow-woman who +takes in work of that sort. She only got handy the +Union-house on Sunday morning 'a b'lieve, and 'tis sup+ +posed here and there that she had traipsed every step +of the way from Melchester. Why she left her place, +I can't say, for I don't know; and as to a lie, why, I +wouldn't tell it. That's the short of the story, ma'am.' +"Ah-h .! ' +

+No gem ever flashed from a rosy ray to a white one +more rapidly than changed the young wife's counten+ +ance whilst this word came from her in a long-drawn +breath. "Did she walk along our turnpike-road?' she +said, in a suddenly restless and eager voice. +"I believe she did.... Ma'am, shall I call Liddy? +You bain't well, ma'am, surely ? You look like a lily -- +so pale and fainty.!' +"No; don't call her; it is nothing. When did she +pass Weatherbury?' +"Last Saturday night.' +"That will do, Joseph; now you may go.' +" Certainly, ma'am.' +" Joseph, come hither a moment. What was the +colour of Fanny Robin's hair?' +"Really, mistress, now that 'tis put to me so judge+ +and-jury like, I can't call to mind, if ye'll believe me.!' +"Never mind; go on and do what I told you. Stop + -- well no, go on.' +She turned herself away from him, that he might no +longer notice the mood which had set its sign so visibly +upon her, and went indoors with a distress:ng sense of +faintness and a beating brow. About an hour after, she +heard the noise of the waggon and went out, still with a +painful consciousness of her bewildered and troubled +look. Joseph, dressed in his best suit of clothes, was +putting in the horse to start. The shrubs and flowers +were all piled in the waggon, as she had directed +Bathsheba hardly saw them now. +" Whose sweetheart did you say, Joseph?' +'I don't know, ma'am.' +"Are you quite sure?' +" Yes, ma'am, quite sure.' +"Sure of what?' +"I'm sure that all I know is that she arrived in the +morning and died in the evening without further parley. +What Oak and Mr. Boldwood told me was only these +few words. "Little Fanny Robin is dead, Joseph,' +Gabriel said, looking in my face in his steady old way. +I was very sorry, and I said, "Ah!. -- and how did she +

+come to die?' "Well, she's dead in Casterhridge +Union," he said; "and perhaps 'tisn't much matter +about how she came to die. She reached the Union +early Sunday morning, and died in the afternoon -- that's +clear enough." Then I asked what she'd been doing +lately, and Mr. Boldwood turned round to me then, and +left off spitting a thistle with the end of his stick. He +told me about her having lived by seampstering in +Melchester, as I mentioned to you, and that she walked +therefrom at the end of last week, passing near here +Saturday night in the dusk. They then said I had +better just name a hent of her death to you, and away +they went. Her death might have been brought on by +biding in the night wind, you know, ma'am; for people +used to say she'd go off in a decline: she used to cough +a good deal in winter time. However, 'tisn't much +odds to us about that now, for 'tis all over.' +"Have you heard a different story at all?' She +looked at him so intently that Joseph's eyes quailed. +"Not a word, mistress, I assure 'ee.!" he said. +"Hardly anybody in the parish knows the news yet.' +"I wonder why Gabriel didn't bring the message to +me himself. He mostly makes a point of seeing me +upon the most trifling errand.' These words were +merely murmured, and she was looking upon the ground. +"Perhaps he was busy, ma'am,' Joseph suggested. +"And sometimes he seems to suffer from things upon +his mind, connected with the time when he was better +off than 'a is now. 'A's rather a curious item, but a +very understanding shepherd, and learned in books.' +'Did anything seem upon his mind whilst he was +speaking to you about this?' +'I cannot but say that there did, ma'am. He was +terrible down, and so was Farmer Boldwood.' +'Thank you, Joseph. That will do. Go on now, +or you'll be late.' +Bathsheba, still unhappy, went indoors again. In +the course of the afternoon she said to Liddy, Who had +been informed of the occurrence, " What was the colour +

+of poor Fanny Robin's hair? Do you know? I cannot +recollect-i only saw her for a day or two.' +"It was light, ma'am; but she wore it rather short, +and packed away under her cap, so that you would +hardly notice it. But I have seen her let it down when +she was going to bed, and it looked beautiful then. +Real golden hair.' +" Her young man was a soldier, was he not?' +"Yes. In the same regiment as Mr. Troy. He says +he knew him very well.' +" What, Mr. Troy says so? How came he to say +that?' +"One day I just named it to him, and asked him if +he knew Fanny's young man. He said, "O yes, he +knew the young man as well as he knew himself, and +that there wasn't a man in the regiment he liked +better."' +"Ah! Said that, did he ?' +"Yes; and he said there was a strong likeness be+ +tween himself and the other young man, so that some+ +times people mistook them -- -- ' +' Liddy, for Heaven's sake stop your talking.!' said +Bathsheba, with the nervous petulance that comes from +worrying perceptions. +JOSEPH AND HIS BURDEN +

+ +JOSEPH AND HIS BURDEN -- BUCK'S HEAD +A WALL bounded the site of Casterbridge Union+ +house, except along a portion of the end. Here a high +gable stood prominent, and it was covered like the front +with a mat of ivy. In this gable was no window, +chimney, ornament, or protuberance of any kind. The +single feature appertaining to it, beyond the expanse of +dark green leaves, was a small door. +The situation of the door was peculiar. The sill +was three or four feet above the ground, and for a +moment one was at a loss for an explanation of this +exceptional altitude, till ruts immediately beneath sug+ +gested that the door was used solely for the passage of +articles and persons to and from the level of a vehicle +standing on the outside. Upon the whole, the door +seemed to advertise itself as a species of Traitor's Gate +translated to another sphere. That entry and exit +hereby was only at rare intervals became apparent on +noting that tufts of grass were allowed to flourish undis+ +turbed in the chinks of the sill. +As the clock over the South-street Alms-house pointed +to five minutes to three, a blue spring waggon, picked +out with red, and containing boughs and flowers, passed +the end of the street, and up towards this side of the +building. Whilst the chimes were yet stammering out +a shattered form of "Malbrook,' Joseph Poorgrass rang +the bell, and received directions to back his waggon +against the high door under the gable. The door then +opened, and a plain elm coffin was slowly thrust forth, +and laid by two men in fustian along the middle of the +vehicle. +One of the men then stepped up beside it, took from +his pocket a lump of chalk, and wrote upon the cover +the name and a few other words in a large scrawling +hand. (We believe that they do these things more +tenderly now, and provide a +

+plate.) He covered the +whole with a black cloth, threadbare, but decent, the +taiiboard of the waggon was returned to its place, one +of the men handed a certificate of registry to Poorgrass, +and both entered the door, closing it hehind them. +Their connection with her, short as it had been, was +over for ever. +Joseph then placed the flowers as enjoined, and the +evergreens around the flowers, till it was difficult to +divine what the waggon contained; he smacked his +whip, and the rather pleasing funeral car crept down +the hill, and along the road to Weatherbury. +The afternoon drew on apace, and, looking to the +right towards the sea as he walked beside the horse, Poor+ +grass saw strange clouds and scrolls of mist rolling over +the long ridges which girt the landscape in that quarter. +They came in yet greater volumes, and indolently crept +across the intervening valleys, and around the withered +papery flags of the moor and river brinks. Then their +dank spongy forms closed in upon the sky. It was +a sudden overgrowth of atmospheric fungi which had +their roots in the neighbouring sea, and by the time +that horse, man, and corpse entered Yalbury Great +Wood, these silent workings of an invisible hand had +reached them, and they were completely enveloped, +this being the first arrival of the autumn fogs, and the +first fog of the series. +The air was as an eye suddenly struck blind. The +waggon and its load rolled no longer on the horizontal +division between clearness and opacity, but were +imbedded in an elastic body of a monotonous pallor +throughout. There was no perceptible motion in the +air, not a visible drop of water fell upon a leaf of the +beeches, birches, and firs composing the wood on either +side. The trees stood in an attitude of intentness, as if +they waited longingly for a wind to come and rock +them. A startling quiet overhung all surrounding things + -- so completely, that the crunching of the waggon+ +wheels was as a great noise, and small rustles, which +had never ohtained a hearing except by night, were dis+ +tinctly individualized. +Joseph Poorgrass looked round upon his sad burden +as it loomed faintly through the flowering laurustinus, +then at the +

+unfathomable gloom amid the high trees on +each hand, indistinct, shadowless, and spectreiike in +their monochrome of grey. He felt anything but cheer+ +ful, and wished he had the company even of a child or +dog. Stopping the home, he listened. Not a footstep +or wheel was audible anywhere around, and the dead +silence was broken only by a heavy particle falling from +a tree through the evergreens and alighting with a smart +rap upon the coffin of poor Fanny. The fog had by +this time saturated the trees, and this was the first +dropping of water from the overbrimming leaves. The +hollow echo of its fall reminded the waggoner painfully +of the grim Leveller. Then hard by came down another +drop, then two or three. Presently there was a continual +tapping of these heavy drops upon the dead leaves, the +road, and the travellers. The nearer boughs were beadcd +with the mist to the greyness of aged men, and the rusty+ +red leaves of the beeches were hung with similar drops, +like diamonds on auburn hair. +At the roadside hamlet called Roy-Town, just beyond +this wood, was the old inn Buck's Head. It was about +a mile and a half from Weatherbury, and in the meridian +times of stage-coach travelling had been the place +where many coaches changed and kept their relays +of horses. All the old stabling was now pulled down, +and little remained besides the habitable inn itself, +which, standing a little way back from the road, sig+ +nified its existence to people far up and down the +highway by a sign hanging from the horizontal bough +of an elm on the opposite side of the way. +Travellers -- for the variety <1tourist>1 had hardly +developed into a distinct species at this date -- some+ +times said in passing, when they cast their eyes up to +the sign-bearing tree, that artists were fond of repre+ +senting the signboard hanging thus, but that they +themselves had never before noticed so perfect an +instance in actual working order. It was near this tree +that the waggon was standing into which Gabriel Oak +crept on his first journey to Weatherbury; but, owing +to the darkness, the sign and the inn had been un+ +observed. +The manners of the inn were of the old-established +

+type. Indeed, in the minds of its frequenters they +existed as unalterable formule : <1e.g.>1 -- +Rap with the bottom of your pint for more liquor. +For tobacco, shout. +In calling for the girl in waiting, say, "Maid.!' +Ditto for the landlady, 'Old Soul.!' etc., etc. +It was a relief to Joseph's heart when the friendly +signboard came in view, and, stopping his horse +immediately beneath it, he proceeded to fulfil an +intention made a long time before. His spirits were +oozing out of him quite. He turned the horse's head +to the green bank, and entered the hostel for a mug +of ale. +Going down into the kitchen of the inn, the floor +of which was a step below the passage, which in its +BUCK'S HEAD +turn was a step below the road outside, what should +Joseph see to gladden his eyes but two copper-coloured +discs, in the form of the countenances of Mr. Jan +Coggan and Mr. Mark Clark. These owners of the +two most appreciative throats in the neighbourhood, +within the pale of respectability, were now sitting face +to face over a threeiegged circular table, having an +iron rim to keep cups and pots from being accidentally +elbowed off; they might have been said to resemble +the setting sun and the full moon shining <1vis-a*-vis>1 +across the globe. +" Why, 'tis neighbour Poorgrass.!' said Mark Clark. +"I'm sure your face don't praise your mistress's table, +Joseph.' +"I've had a very pale companion for the last four +miles,' said Joseph, indulging in a shudder toned +down by resignation. 'And to speak the truth, 'twas +beginning to tell upon me. I assure ye, I ha'n't seed +the colour of victuals or drink since breakfast time +this morning, and that was no more than a dew-bit +afield.' +"Then drink, Joseph, and don't restrain yourself!.' +said Coggan, handing him a hooped mug three+ +quarters full. +Joseph drank for a moderately long time, then for +a longer time, saying, as he lowered the jug, "'Tis +pretty drinking -- very +

+pretty drinking, and is more +than cheerful on my melancholy errand, so to speak it.' +"True, drink is a pleasant delight,' said Jan, as one +who repeated a truism so familiar to his brain that he +hardly noticed its passage over his tongue ; and, +lifting the cup, Coggan tilted his head gradually +backwards, with closed eyes, that his expectant soul +might not be diverted for one instant from its bliss +by irrelevant surroundings. +"Well, I must be on again,' said Poorgmss. "Not +but that I should like another nip with ye; but the +parish might lose confidence in me if I was seed +here.' +" Where be ye trading o't to to-day, then, Joseph ?' +"Back to Weatherbury. I've got poor little Fanny +Robin in my waggon outside, and I must be at the +churchyard gates at a quarter to five with her.' +'Ay-i've heard of it. And so she's nailed up in +parish boards after all, and nobody to pay the bell +shilling and the grave half-crown.' +"The parish pays the grave half-crown, but not the +bell shilling, because the bell's a luxery: but 'a can +hardly do without the grave, poor body. However, I +expect our mistress will pay all.' +"A pretty maid as ever I see.! But what's yer hurry, +Joseph ? The pore woman's dead, and you can't bring +her to life, and you may as well sit down comfortable, +and finish another with us.' +"I don't mind taking just the least thimbleful ye +can dream of more with ye, sonnies. But only a few +minutes, because 'tis as 'tis.' +"Of course, you'll have another drop. A man's +twice the man afterwards. You feel so warm and +glorious, and you whop and slap at your work without +any trouble, and everything goes on like sticks a+ +breaking. Too much liquor is bad, and leads us to +that horned man in the smoky house ; but after all, +many people haven't the gift of enjoying a wet, and +since we be highly favoured with a power that way, +we should make the most o't.' +"True,' said Mark Clark. "'Tis a talent the Lord +

+has mercifully bestowed upon us, and we ought not +to neglect it. But, what with the parsons and clerks +and schooipeople and serious tea-parties, the merry +old ways of good life have gone to the dogs -- upon +my carcase, they have.!' +" Well, really, I must be onward again now,' said +Joseph. +'Now, now, Joseph; nonsense.! The poor woman +is dead, isn't she, and what's your hurry?' +"Well, I hope Providence won't be in a way with +me for my doings,' said Joseph, again sitting down. +'I've been troubled with weak moments lately, 'tis +true. I've been drinky once this month already, and +I did not go to church a-Sunday, and I dropped a +curse or two yesterday; so I don't want to go too far +for my safety. Your next world is your next world, +and not to be squandered offhand.' +'I believe ye to be a chapeimember, Joseph. That +I do.' +'Oh, no, no.! I don't go so far as that.' +" For my part,' said Coggan, "I'm staunch Church +of England.' +" Ay, and faith, so be I,' said Mark Clark. +"I won't say much for myself; I don't wish to,' +Coggan continued, with that tendency to talk on +principles which is characteristic of the barley-corn. +"But I've never changed a single doctrine : I've stuck +like a plaster to the old faith I was born in. Yes; +there's this to be said for the Church, a man can +belong to the Church and bide in his cheerful old +inn, and never trouble or worry his mind about +doctrines at all. But to be a meetinger, you must +go to chapel in all winds and weathers, and make +yerself as frantic as a skit. Not but that chapei +members be clever chaps enough in their way. They +can lift up beautiful prayers out of their own heads, all +about their families and shipwmcks in the newspaper.' +"They can -- they can,' said Mark Clark, with cor+ +roborative feeling ; "but we Churchmen, you see, must +have it all printed aforehand, or, dang it all, we should +no more know what to say to a great gaffer like the +Lord than babes unborn,' +" Chapeifolk be more hand-in-glove with them above +than we,' said Joseph, thoughtfully. +" Yes,' said Coggan. " We know very well that if +anybody do go to heaven, they will. They've worked +hard for it, and they +

+deserve to have it, such as 'tis. +I bain't such a fool as to pretend that we who stick +to the Church have the same chance as they, because +we know we have not. But I hate a feller who'll +change his old ancient doctrines for the sake of getting +to heaven. I'd as soon turn king's-evidence for the +few pounds you get. Why, neighbours, when every +one of my taties were frosted, our Parson Thirdly +were the man who gave me a sack for seed, though +he hardly had one for his own use, and no money to +buy 'em. If it hadn't been for him, I shouldn't hae +had a tatie to put in my garden. D'ye think I'd +turn after that? No, I'll stick to my side; and if we +be in the wrong, so be it : I'll fall with the fallen .! ' +" Well said -- very well said,' observed Joseph. -- +" However, folks, I must be moving now: upon my life +I must. Pa'son Thirdly will be waiting at the church +gates, and there's the woman a-biding outside in the +waggon.' +" Joseph Poorgmss, don't be so miserable.! Pa'son +Thirdly won't mind. He's a generous man ; he's found +me in tracts for years, and I've consumed a good many +in the course of a long and shady life; but he's never +been the man to cry out at the expense. Sit down.' +The longer Joseph Poorgrass remained, the less his +spirit was troubled by the duties which devolved upon +him this afternoon. The minutes glided by uncounted, +until the evening shades began perceptibly to deepen, +and the eyes of the three were but sparkling points +on the surface of darkness. Coggan's repeater struck +six from his pocket in the usual still small tones. +At that moment hasty steps were heard in the entry, +and the door opened to admit the figure of Gabriel Oak, +followed by the maid of the inn bearing a candle. He +stared sternly at the one lengthy and two round faces +of the sitters, which confronted him with the expressions +of a fiddle and a couple of warming-pans. Joseph Poor+ +grass blinked, and shrank several inches into the back+ +ground. +' Upon my soul, I'm ashamed of you ; 'tis disgraceful, +Joseph, disgraceful!. " said Gabriel, indignantly. " Coggan, +you call yourself a man, and don't know better than this.' +

+Coggan looked up indefinitely at Oak, one or other +of his eyes occasionally opening and closing of its own +accord, as if it were not a member, but a dozy individual +with a distinct personality. +" Don't take on so, shepherd!' said Mark Clark, +looking reproachfully at the candle, which appeared +to possess special features of interest for his eyes. +'Nobody can hurt a dead woman,' at length said +Coggan, with the precision of a machine. "All that +could be done for her is done -- she's beyond us : and +why should a man put himself in a tearing hurry for +lifeless clay that can neither feel nor see, and don't +know what you do with her at all? If she'd been +alive, I would have been the first to help her. If she +now wanted victuals and drink, I'd pay for it, money +down. But she's dead, and no speed of ours will +bring her to life. The woman's past us -- time spent +upon her is throwed away: why should we hurry to +do what's not required ? Drink, shepherd, and be +friends, for to-morrow we may be like her.' +" We may,' added Mark Clark, emphatically, at once +drinking himself, to run no further risk of losing his +chance by the event alluded to, Jan meanwhile merging +his additional thoughts of to-morrow in a song : -- +To-mor-row, to-mor-row ! +And while peace and plen-ty I find at my board, +With a heart free from sick-ness and sor-row, +With my friends will I share what to-day may af-ford, +And let them spread the ta-ble to-mor-row. +To-mor -- row', to-mor -- + +"Do hold thy horning, Jan.!' said Oak; and turning +upon Poorgrass, " as for you, Joseph, who do your wicked +deeds in such confoundedly holy ways, you are as drunk +as you can stand.' +"No, Shepherd Oak, no! Listen to reason, shepherd. +All that's the matter with me is the affliction called a +multiplying eye, and that's how it is I look double to +you-i mean, you look double to me.' +A multiplying eye is a very bad thing,' said Mark +Clark. +

+It always comes on when I have been in a public -- +house a little time,' said Joseph Poorgrass, meekly. +"Yes; I see two of every sort, as if I were some holy +man living in the times of King Noah and entering +into the ark.... Y-y-y-yes,' he added, becoming much +affected by the picture of himself as a person thrown +away, and shedding tears; "I feel too good for England : +I ought to have lived in Genesis by rights, like the other +men of sacrifice, and then I shouldn't have b-b-been +called a d-d-drunkard in such a way.!' +"I wish you'd show yourself a man of spirit, and not +sit whining there.!' +"Show myself a man of spirit ? ... Ah, well! let +me take the name of drunkard humbly-iet me be a +man of contrite knees-iet it be .! l know that I always +do say "Please God' afore I do anything, from my +getting up to my going down of the same, and I be +willing to take as much disgrace as there is in that +holy act. Hah, yes.! ... But not a man of spirit ? +Have I ever allowed the toe of pride to be lifted +against my hinder parts without groaning manfully that +I question the right to do so? I inquire that query +boldly?' +" We can't say that you have, Hero Poorgrass,' +admitted Jan. +"Never have I allowed such treatment to pass un+ +questioned!. Yet the shepherd says in the face of that +rich testimony that I be not a man of spirit! Well, +let it pass by, and death is a kind friend !.' +Gabriel, seeing that neither of the three was in a fit +state to Cake charge of the waggon for the remainder of +the journey, made no reply, but, closing the door again +upon them, went across to where the vehicle stood, now +getting indistinct in the fog and gloom of this mildewy +time. He pulled the horse's head from the large patch +of turf it had eaten bare, readjusted the boughs over +the coffin, and drove along through the unwholesome +night. +It had gradually become rumoured in the village +that the body to be brought and buried that day was +all that was left of the unfortunate Fanny Robin who +had followed the Eleventh from Casterbridge through +Melchester and onwards. But, +

+thanks to Boldwood's +reticence and Oak's generosity, the lover she had followed +had never been individualized as Troy. Gabriel hoped +that the whole truth of the matter might not be published +till at any rate the girl had been in her grave for a few +days, when the interposing barriers of earth and time, +and a sense that the events had been somewhat shut +into oblivion, would deaden the sting that revelation and +invidious remark would have for Bathsheba just now. +By the time that Gabriel reached the old manor+ +house, her residence, which lay in his way to the church, +it was quite dark. A man came from the gate and said +through the fog, which hung between them like blown +flour -- +"Is that Poorgrass with the corpse?' +Gabriel recognized the voice as that of the parson. +" The corpse is here, sir,' said Gabriel. +"I have just been to inquire of Mrs. Troy if she could +tell me the reason of the delay. I am afraid it is too +late now for the funeral to be performed with proper +decency. Have you the registrar's certificate ? ' +" No,' said Gabriel. "I expect Poorgrass has that ; +and he's at the Buck's Head. I forgot to ask him +for it.' +"Then that settles the matter. We'll put off the +funeral till to-morrow morning. The body may be +brought on to the church, or it may be left here at +the farm and fetched by the bearers in the morning. +They waited more than an hour, and have now gone +home.' +Gabriel had his reasons for thinking the latter a +most objectionable plan, notwithstanding that Fanny +had been an inmate of the farm-house for several years +in the lifetime of Bathsheba's uncle. Visions of several +unhappy contingencies which might arise from this delay +flitted before him. But his will was not law, and he +went indoors to inquire of his mistress what were her +wishes on the subject. He found her in an unusual +mood : her eyes as she looked up to him were suspicious +and perplexed as with some antecedent thought. Troy +had not yet returned. At first Bathsheba assented with +a mien of indifference to his proposition that they should +go on to the church at once with their burden; but +immediately +

+afterwards, following Gabriel to the gate, +she swerved to the extreme of solicitousness on Fanny's +account, and desired that the girl might be brought into +the house. Oak argued upon the convenience of leaving +her in the waggon, just as she lay now, with her flowers +and green leaves about her, merely wheeling the vehicle +into the coach-house till the morning, but to no purpose, +"It is unkind and unchristian,' she said, 'to leave the +poor thing in a coach-house all night.' +Very well, then,' said the parson. "And I will +arrange that the funeral shall take place early to+ +morrow. Perhaps Mrs. Troy is right in feeling that we +cannot treat a dead fellow-creature too thoughtfully +We must remember that though she may have erred +grievously in leaving her home, she is still our sister : +and it is to be believed that God's uncovenanted +mercies are extended towards her, and that she is a +member of the flock of Christ.' +The parson's words spread into the heavy air with a +sad yet unperturbed cadence, and Gabriel shed an +honest tear. Bathsheba seemed unmoved. Mr. +Thirdly then left them, and Gabriel lighted a lantern. +Fetching three other men to assist him, they bore the +unconscious truant indoors, placing the coffin on two +benches in the middle of a little sitting-room next the +hall, as Bathsheba directed. +Every one except Gabriel Oak then left the room. +He still indecisively lingered beside the body. He was +deeply troubled at the wretchedly ironical aspect that +circumstances were putting on with regard to Troy's +wife, and at his own powerlessness to counteract them, +(n spite of his careful manoeuvring all this day, the very +worst event that could in any way have happened in +connection with the burial had happened now. Oak +imagined a terrible discovery resulting from this after+ +noon's work that might cast over Bathsheba's life a shade +which the interposition of many lapsing years might but +indifferently lighten, and which nothing at all might +altogether remove. +Suddenly, as in a last attempt to save Bathsheba +from, at any rate, immediate anguish, he looked again, +as he had looked before, at the chalk writing upon the +

+coffinlid. The scrawl was this simple one, " Fanny +Robin and child.' Gabriel took his handkerchief and +carefully rubbed out the two latter words, leaving visible +the inscription " Fanny' Robin ' only. He then left the +room, and went out quietly by the front door. + +

+FANNY'S REVENGE +! DO you want me any longer ma'am ? " inquired Liddy, +at a later hour the same evening, standing by the door +with a chamber candlestick in her hand and addressing +Bathsheba, who sat cheerless and alone in the large +parlour beside the first fire of the season. +" No more to-night, Liddy.' +"l'll sit up for master if you like, ma'am. I am not +at all afraid of Fanny, if I may sit in my own room and ' +have a candle. She was such a childlike, nesh young +thing that her spirit couldn't appear to anybody if it +tried, I'm quite sure.' +"O no, no! You go to bed. I'll sit up for him +myself till twelve o'clock, and if he has not arrived by +that time, I shall give him up and go to bed too.' +It is half-past ten now.' +'Oh! is it?' +Why don't you sit upstairs, ma'am ? ' +" Why don't I ? ' said Bathsheba, desultorily. 'It +isn t worth while -- there's a fire here, Liddy.' She +suddenly exclaimed in an impulsive and excited whisper, +Have you heard anything strange said of Fanny?' +The words had no sooner escaped her than an expres+ +sion of unutterable regret crossed her face, and she +burst into tears. +"No -- not a word !' said Liddy, looking at the +weeping woman with astonishment. 'What is it makes +you cry so, ma'am; has anything hurt you ? ' She came +to Bathsheba's side with a face full of sympathy. +" No, Liddy-i don't want you any more. I can +hardly say why I have taken to crying lately: I never +used to cry. Good-night.' +Liddy then left the parlour and closed the door. +

+Bathsheba was lonely and miserable now ; not lone+ +lier actually than she had heen before her marriage; +but her loneliness then was to that of the present time +as the solitude of a mountain is to the solitude of a +cave. And within the last day or two had come these +disquieting thoughts about her husband's past. Her +wayward sentiment that evening concerning Fanny's +temporary resting-place had been the result of a strange +complication of impulses in Bathsheba's bosom. Per+ +haps it would be more accurately described as a +determined rebellion against her prejudices, a revulsion +from a lower instinct of uncharitableness, which would +have withheld all sympathy from the dead woman, be+ +cause in life she had preceded Bathsheba in the atten+ +tions of a man whom Bathsheba had by no means +ceased from loving, though her love was sick to death +just now with the gravity of a further misgiving. +In five or ten minutes there was another tap at the +door. Liddy reappeared, and coming in a little way +stood hesitating, until at length she said, !Maryann has +just heard something very strange, but I know it isn't +true. And we shall be sure to know the rights of it in +a day or two.' +"What is it ?' +" Oh, nothing connected with you or us, ma'am. It +is about Fanny. That same thing you have heard.' +"I have heard nothing.' +"I mean that a wicked story is got to Weatherbury +within this last hour -- that -- -- ' Liddy came close to +her mistress and whispered the remainder of the sentence +slowly into her ear, inclining her head as she spoke in +the direction of the room where Fanny lay. +Bathsheba trembled from head to foot. +"I don't believe it ! ' she said, excitedly. 'And +there's only one name written on the coffin-cover.' +"Nor I, ma'am. And a good many others don't; +for we should surely have been told more about it if it +had been true -- don't you think so, ma'am ? ' +"We might or we might not.' +Bathsheba turned and looked into the fire, that +Liddy might not see her +

+face. Finding that her mistress +was going to say no more, Liddy glided out, closed the +door softly, and went to bed. +Bathsheba's face, as she continued looking into the +fire that evening, might have excited solicitousness on +her account even among those who loved her least. +The sadness of Fanny Robin's fate did not make Bath+ +sheba's glorious, although she was the Esther to this +poor Vashti, and their fates might be supposed to stand +in some respects as contrasts to each other. When +Liddy came into the room a second time the beautiful +eyes which met hers had worn a listless, weary look+ +When she went out after telling the story they had ex+ +pressed wretchedness in full activity. Her simple +country nature, fed on old-fashioned principles, was +troubled by that which would have troubled a woman +of the world very little, both Fanny and her child, if she +had one, being dead. +Bathsheba had grounds for conjecturing a connection +between her own history and the dimly suspected +tragedy of Fanny's end which Oak and Boldwood never +for a moment credited her with possessing. The +meeting with the lonely woman on the previous Saturday +night had been unwitnessed and unspoken of. Oak +may have had the best of intentions in withholding for +as many days as possible the details of what had +happened to Fanny ; but had he known that Bathsheba's +perceptions had already been exercised in the matter, +he would have done nothing to lengthen the minutes of +suspense she was now undergoing, when the certainty +which must terminate it would be the worst fact suspected +after all. +She suddenly felt a longing desire to speak to some +one stronger than herself, and so get strength to sustain +her surmised position with dignity and her carking +doubts with stoicism. Where could she find such a +friend? nowhere in the house. She was by far the +coolest of the women under her roof. Patience and +suspension of judgement for a few hours were what she +wanted to learn, and there was nobody to teach her. +Might she but go to Gabriel Oak ! -- but that could not +be. What a way Oak had, she thought, of enduring +things. Boldwood, who seemed so much deeper and +higher and stronger in +

+feeling than Gabriel, had not +yet learnt, any more than she herself, the simple +lesson which Oak showed a mastery of by every turn +and look he gave -- that among the multitude of interests +by which he was surrounded, those which affected his +personal welibeing were not the most absorbing and +important in his eyes. Oak meditatively looked upon +the horizon of circumstances without any special regard +to his own standpoint in the midst. That was how +she would wish to be. But then Oak was not racked +by incertitude upon the inmost matter of his bosom, as +she was at this moment. Oak knew all about Fanny +that he wished to know -- she felt convinced of that. +If she were to go to him now at once and say no more +than these few words, !What is the truth of the story?' +he would feel bound in honour to tell her. It would +be an inexpressible relief. No further speech would +need to be uttered. He knew her so well that no +eccentricity of behaviour in her would alarm him. +She flung a cloak roundher, went to the door and +opened it. Every blade, every twig was still. The air +was yet thick with moisture, though somewhat less dense +than during the afternoon, and a steady smack of drops +upon the fallen leaves under the boughs was almost +musical in its soothing regularity. lt seemed better to +be out of the house than within it, and Bathsheba closed +the door, and walked slowly down the lane till she came +opposite to Gabriel's cottage, where he now lived alone, +having left Coggan's house through being pinched for +room. There was a light in one window only', and that +was downstairs. The shutters were not closed, nor was +any blind or curtain drawn over the window, neither +robbery nor observation being a contingency which could +do much injury to the occupant of the domicile. Yes, +it was Gabriel himself who was sitting up : he was reading, +From her standing-place in the road she could see him +plainly, sitting quite still, his light curly head upon his +hand, and only occasionally looking up to snuff the +candle which stood beside him. At length he looked +at the clock, seemed surprised at the lateness of the +hour, closed his book, and arose. He was going to bed, +she knew, and if she tapped it must be done at once. +

+Alas for her resolve ! She felt she could not do it, +Not for worlds now could she give a hint about her +misery to him, much less ask him plainly for information +on the cause of Fanny's death. She must suspect, and +guess, and chafe, and bear it all alone. +Like a homeless wanderer she lingered by the bank, +as if lulled and fascinated by the atmosphere of content +which seemed to spread from that little dwelling, and +was so sadly lacking in her own. Gabriel appeared in +an upper room, placed his light in the window-bench, +and then -- knelt down to pray. The contrast of the +picture with her rebellious and agitated existence at this +same time was too much for her to bear to look upon +longer. It was not for her to make a truce with +trouble by any such means. She must tread her giddy +distracting measure to its last note, as she had begun it. +With a swollen heart she went again up the lane, and +entered her own door. +More fevered now by a reaction from the first feelings +which Oak's example had raised in her, she paused in +the hall, looking at the door of the room wherein Fanny +lay. She locked her fingers, threw back her head, and +strained her hot hands rigidly across her forehead, saying, +with a hysterical sob, 'Would to God you would speak +and tell me your secret, Fanny .! . , . O, I hope, hope +it is not true that there are two of you ! ... If I could +only look in upon you for one little minute, I should +know all !. ' +A few moments passed, and she added, slowly, 'And +I will' +Bathsheba in after times could never gauge the mood +which carried her through the actions following this +murmured resolution on this memorable evening of her +life. She went to the lumber-closet for a screw-driver. +At the end of a short though undefined time she found +herself in the small room, quivering with emotion, a mist +before her eyes, and an excruciating pulsation in her +brain, standing beside the uncovered coffin of the girl +whose conjectured end had so entirely engrossed her, and +saying to herself in a husky voice as she gazed within -- +'It was best to know the worst, and I know it now.!' +

+She was conscious of having brought about this +situation by a series of actions done as by one in an +extravagant dream ; of following that idea as to method, +which had burst upon her in the hall with glaring +obviousness, by gliding to the top of the stairs, assuring +herself by listening to the heavy breathing of her maids +that they were asleep, gliding down again, turning the +handle of the door within which the young girl lay, and +deliberately setting herself to do what, if she had antici+ +pated any such undertaking at night and alone, would +have horrified her, but which, when done, was not so +dreadful as was the conclusive proof of her husband's +conduct which came with knowing beyond doubt the +last chapter of Fanny's story. +Bathsheba's head sank upon her bosom, and the +breath which had been bated in suspense, curiosity, and +interest, was exhaled now in the form of a whispered +wail: 'Oh-h-h!' she said, and the silent room added +length to her moan. +Her tears fell fast beside the unconscious pair in the +coffin: tears of a complicated origin, of a nature inde+ +scribable, almost indefinable except as other than those +of simple sorrow. Assuredly their wonted fires must +have lived in Fanny's ashes when events were so shaped +as to chariot her hither in this natural, unobtrusive, yet +effectual manner. The one feat alone -- that of dying -- +by which a mean condition couId be resolved into a +grand one, Fanny had achieved. And to that had +destiny subjoined this rencounter to-night, which had, +in Bathsheba's wild imagining, turned her companion's +failure to success, her humiliation to triumph, her luck +lessness to ascendency; et had thrown over herself a +garish light of mockery, and set upon all things about +her an ironical smile. +Fanny's face was framed in by that yeIIow hair of +hers; and there was no longer much room for doubt as +to the origin of the curl owned by Troy. In Bath+ +sheba's heated fancy the innocent white countenance +expressed a dim triumphant consciousness of the pain +she was retaliating for her pain with all the merciless +rigour of the Mosaic law: 'Burning for burning; wound +for wound: strife for strife. +Bathsheba indulged in contempIations of escape from +her position by immediate death, which thought she, +

+though it was an inconvenient and awful way, had limits +to its inconvenience and awfulness that could not be +overpassed ; whilst the shames of life were measureless. +Yet even this scheme of extinction by death was out +FANNY'S REVENGE +tamely copying her rival's method without the reasons +which had glorified it in her rival's case. She glided +rapidly up and down the room, as was mostly her habit +hen excited, her hands hanging clasped in front of her, +as she thought and in part expressed in brocken words : +O, I hate her, yet I don't mean that I hate her, for +it is grievous and wicked; and yet I hate her a little ! +yes, my flesh insists upon hating her, whether my spirit +is willing or no !.... If she had only lived, I could +ave been angry and cruel towards her with some justifi+ +cation ; but to be vindictive towards a poor dead woman +recoils upon myself. O God, have mercy,! I am +miserable at all this !. ' +Bathsheba became at this moment so terrified at her +own state of mind that she looked around for some sort +of refuge from herself. The vision of Oak kneeling +down that night recurred to her, and with the imitative +instinct which animates women she seized upon the idea, +resolved to kneel, and, if possible, pray. Gabriel had +prayed ; so would she. +She knelt beside the coffin, covered her face with her +hands, and for a time the room was silent as a tomb. +whether from a purely mechanical, or from any other +cause, when Bathsheba arose it was with a quieted spirit, +and a regret for the antagonistic instincts which had +seized upon her just before. +In her desire to make atonement she took flowers +from a vase by the window, and began laying them +around the dead girl's head. Bathsheba knew no other +way of showing kindness to persons departed than by +giving them flowers. She knew not how long she +remained engaged thus. She forgot time, life, where +she was, what she was doing. A slamming together of +the coach-house doors in the yard brought her to her+ +self again. An instant after, the front door opened and +closed, steps crossed the hall, and her husband appeared +at the entrance to the room, looking in upon her. +He beheld it all by degrees, stared in stupefaction at +the scene, as if he thought it an illusion raised by some +fiendish +

+incantation. Bathsheba, pallid as a corpse on +end, gazed back at him in the same wild way. +So little are instinctive guesses the fruit of a legitimate +induction, that at this moment, as he stood with the +door in his hand, Troy never once thought of Fanny in +connection with what he saw. His first confused idea +was that somebody in the house had died. +'Weli-what ? ' said Troy, blankly. +'I must go ! I must go ! ' said Bathsheba, to herself +more than to him. She came with a dilated eye towards +the door, to push past him. +' What's the matter, in God's name ? who's dead ?' +said Troy. +'I cannot say; let me go out. I want air.! ' she +continued. +'But no; stay, I insist ! ' He seized her hand, and +then volition seemed to leave her, and she went off into +a state of passivity. He, still holding her, came up the +room, and thus, hand in hand, Troy and Bathsheba +approached the coffin's side. +The candle was standing on a bureau close by them, +and the light slanted down, distinctly enkindling the +cold features of both mother and babe. Troy looked +in, dropped his wife's hand, knowledge of it all came +over him in a lurid sheen, and he stood still. +So still he remained that he could be imagined to +have left in him no motive power whatever. The +clashes of feeling in all directions confounded one +another, produced a neutrality, and there was motion in +none. +'Do you know her?' said Bathsheba, in a small +enclosed echo, as from the interior of a cell. +'I do,' said Troy. +'Is it she?' +'It is.' +He had originally stood perfectly erect. And now, +in the welinigh congealed immobility of his frame +could be discerned an incipient movement, as in the +darkest night may be discerned light after a while. +He was gradually sinking forwards. The lines of his +features softened, and dismay modulated to illiimitable +sadness. Bathsheba was regarding him from the other +side, still with parted lips and distracted eyes. +

+Capacity +for intense feeling is proportionate to the general +intensity of the nature ,and perhaps in all Fanny's +sufferings, much greater relatively to her strength, there +never was a time she suffered in an absolute sense +what Bathsheba suffered now. +What Troy did was to sink upon his knees with +an indefinable union of remorse and reverence upon +his face, and, bending over Fanny Robin, gently kissed +her, as one would kiss an infant asleep to avoid +awakening it. +At the sight and sound of that, to her, unendurable +act, Bathsheba sprang towards him. All the strong +feelings which had been scattered over her existence +since she knew what feeling was, seemed gathered +together into one pulsation now. The revulsion from +her indignant mood a little earlier, when she had +meditated upon compromised honour, forestalment, +eclipse in maternity by another, was violent and entire. +All that was forgotten in the simple and still strong +attachment of wife to husband. She had sighed for +her self-completeness then, and now she cried aloud +against the severance of the union she had deplored. +She flung her arms round Troy's neck, exclaiming wildly +from the deepest deep of her heart -- +' Don't -- don't kiss them !. O, Frank, I can"t bear +it-i can't ! I love you better than she did: kiss me +too, Frank -- kiss me ! You will, Frank, kiss me too !' +There was something so abnormal and startling in +the childlike pain and simplicity of this appeal from a +woman of Bathsheba's calibre and independence, that +Troy, loosening her tightly clasped arms from his neck, +looked at her in bewilderment. It was such and unex+ +pected revelation of all women being alike at heart, even +those so different in their accessories as Fanny and this +one beside him, that Troy could hardly seem to believe +her to be his proud wife Bathsheba. Fanny's own +spirit seemed to be animating her frame. But this was +the mood of a few instants only. When the momentary +'I will not kiss you!' he said pushing her away. +Had the wife now but gone no further. Yet, +perhaps. under the harrowing circumstances, to speak +out was the one wrong +

+act which can be better under+ +stood, if not forgiven in her, than the right and politic +one, her rival being now but a corpse. All the feeling +she had been betrayed into showing she drew back to +herself again by a strenuous effort of self-command. +'What have you to say as your reason ?' she asked +her bitter voice being strangely low -- quite that of +another woman now. +'I have to say that I have been a bad, black-hearted +man,' he answered. +less than she.' +'Ah! don't taunt me, madam. This woman is more +to me, dead as she is, than ever you were, or are, or can +be. If Satan had not tempted me with that face of +yours, and those cursed coquetries, I should have +He turned to Fanny then. 'But never mind, darling,' +wife.!' +At these words there arose from Bathsheba's lips a +long, low cry of measureless despair and indignation, +such a wail of anguish as had never before been heard +within those old-inhabited walls. It was the ?????????? +of her union with Troy. +"If she's -- that, -- what -- am I ? ' she added, as a +continuation of the same cry, and sobbing pitifully: +and the rarity with her of such abandonment only made +the condition more dire. +" You are nothing to me -- nothing,' said Troy, +heartlessly. 'A ceremony before a priest doesn't make +a marriage. I am not morally yours.' +A vehement impulse to flee from him, to run from +this place, hide, and escape his words at any price, not +stopping short of death itself, mastered Bathsheba now. +She waited not an instant, but turned to the door and +ran out. + +

+UNDER A TREE -- REACTION +BATHSHEBA went along the dark road, neither know' +ing nor caring about the direction or issue of her flight. +The first time that she definitely noticed her position +was when she reached a gate leading into a thicket over+ +hung by some large oak and beech trees. On looking +into the place, it occurred to her that she had seen it +by daylight on some previous occasion, and that what +appeared like an impassable thicket was in reality a +brake of fern now withering fast. She could think of +nothing better to do with her palpitating self than to go +in here and hide; and entering, she lighted on a spot +sheltered from the damp fog hy a reclining trunk, where +she sank down upon a tangled couch of fronds and +stems. She mechanically pulled some armfuls round +her to keep off the breezes, and closed her eyes. +Whether she slept or not that night Bathsheba was +not clearly aware. But it was with a freshened exist+ +ence and a cooler brain that, a long time afterwards, she +became conscious of some interesting proceedings which +were going on in the trees above her head and around. +A coarse-throated chatter was the first sound. +It was a sparrow just waking. +Next : ' Chee-weeze-weeze-weeze .! ' from another +retreat. +It was a finch. +Third : ' Tink-tink-tink-tink-a-chink ! ' from the hedge, +It was a robin. +' Chuck-chuck-chuck !. ' overhead. +A squirrel. +Then, from the road, 'With my ra-ta-ta, and my +rum-tum-tum ! ' +It was a ploughboy. Presently he came opposite, +and she believed from his voice that he was one of +the boys on her own farm. He was followed by a +shambling tramp of heavy feet, and +

+looking through +the ferns Bathsheba could just discern in the wan light +of daybreak a team of her own horses. They stopped +to drink at a pond on the other side of the way'. She +watched them flouncing into the pool, drinking, tossing +up their heads, drinking again, the water dribbling +from their lips in silver threads. There was another +flounce, and they came out of the pond, and turned +back again towards the farm. +She looked further around. Day was just dawning, +and beside its cool air and colours her heated actions +and resolves of the night stood out in lurid contrast. +She perceived that in her lap, and clinging to her +hair, were red and yellow leaves which had come +down from the tree and settled silently upon her +during her partial sleep. Bathsheba shook her dress to +get rid of them, when multitudes of the same family lying +round about her rose and fiuttered away in the breeze +thus created, 'like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing.' +There was an opening towards the east, and the +glow from the as yet unrisen sun attracted her eyes +thither. From her feet, and between the beautiful +yellowing ferns with their feathery arms, the ground +sloped downwards to a hollow, in which was a species +of swamp, dotted with fungi. A morning mist hung +over it now -- a fulsome yet magnificent silvery veil, +full of light from the sun, yet semi-opaque -- the hedge +behind it being in some measure hidden by its hazy +luminousness. Up the sides of this depression grew +sheaves of the common rush, and here and there a +peculiar species of flag, the blades of which glistened +in the enaerging sun, like scythes. But the general +aspect of the swamp was malignant. From its moist +and poisonous coat seemed to be exhaled the essences +of evil things in the earth, and in the waters under +the earth. The fungi grew in all manner of positions +from rotting leaves and tree stumps, some exhibiting +to her listless gaze their clammy tops, others their +oozing gills. Some were marked with great splotches, +red as arterial blood, others were saffron yellow, and +others tall and attenuated, with stems like macaroni. +Some were leathery and of richest browns. The +hollow seemed a nursery of pestilences small and +great, in the immediate neighbourhood of comfort +and health, and Bathsheba arose with a tremor at the +thought of having +

+passed the night on the brink of +so dismal a place. +'l'here were now other footsteps to be heard along +the road. Bathsheba's nerves were still unstrung : +she crouchcd down out of sight again, and the pedes+ +trian came into view. He was a schoolboy, with a +bag slung over his shoulder containing his dinner, +and a hook in his hand. He paused by the gate, +and, without looking up, continued murmuring words +in tones quite loud enough to reach her ears. +'''O Lord, O Lord, O Lord, O Lord, O Lord'': -- +that I know out o' book. ''Give us, give us, give us, +give us, give us '' : -- that I know. ''Grace that, grace that, +grace that, grace that '' : -- that I know.' Other words +followed to the same effect. The boy was of the +dunce class apparently; the book was a psalter, and +this was his way of learning the collect. In the worst +attacks of trouble there appears to be always a super+ +ficial film of consciousness which is left disengaged +and open to the notice of trifles, and Bathsheba was +faintly amused at the boy's method, till he too passed on. +By this time stupor had given place to anxiety, and +anxiety began to make room for hunger and thirst. +A form now appeared upon the rise on the other side +of the swamp, half-hidden by the mist, and came +towards Bathsheba. The woman -- for it was a woman + -- approached with her face askance, as if looking +earnestly on all sides of her. When she got a little +further round to the left, and drew nearer, Bathsheba +could see the newcomer's profile ngainst the sunny +sky', and knew the wavy sweep from forehead to chin, +with neither angle nor decisive line anywhere about +it, to be the familiar contour of Liddy Smallbury. +Bathsheba's heart bounded with gratitude in the +thought that she was not altogether deserted, and she +jumped up. ' O, Liddy .! ' she said, or attempted to say; +but the words had only been framed hy her lips; there +came no sound. She had lost her voice by exposure +to the clogged atmosphere all these hours of night. +'O, ma'am.! I am so glad I have found you,' said +the girl, as soon as she saw Bathsheba. +' You can't come across,' Bathsheba said in a whisper, +wihich she +

+vainly endeavoured to make loud enough to +reach Liddy's ears. Liddy, not knowing this, stepped +down upon the swamp, saying, as she did so, 'It will +bear me up, I think.' +Bathsheba never forgot that transient little picture +of Liddy crossing the swamp to her there in the +morning light. Iridescent bubbles of dank subter+ +ranean breath rose from the sweating sod beside the +waiting maid's feet as she trod, hissing as they burst +and expanded away to join the vapoury firmament above. +Liddy did not sink, as Bathsheba had anticipated. +She landed safely on the other side, and looked up +at the beautiful though pale and weary face of her +young mistress. +'Poor thing ! ' said Liddy, with tears in her eyes, +Do hearten yourself up a little, ma'am. However +did -- -- ' +'I can't speak above a whisper -- my voice is gone +for the present,' said Bathsheba, hurriedly. ' I suppose +the damp air from that hollow has taken it away +Liddy, don't question me, mind. Who sent you -- +anybody ? ' +' Nobody. I thought, when I found you were not +at home, that something cruel had happened. I fancy +I heard his voice late last night; and so, knowing +something was wrong -- -- ' +'Is he at home?' +'No ; he left just before I came out.' +'Is Fanny taken away ? ' +' Not yet. She will soon be -- at nine o'clock.' +'we won't go home at present, then. Suppose we +walk about in this wood ?' +Liddy, without exactly understanding everything, or +anything, in this episode, assented, and they walked +together further among the trees. +'But you had better come in, ma'am, and have +something to eat. You will die of a chill! ' +'I shall not come indoors yet -- perhaps never.' +'Shall I get you something to eat, and something +else to put over your head besides that little shawl?' +'If you will, Liddy.' +Liddy vanished, and at the end of twenty minutes +returned with a cloak, hat, some slices of bread and +butter, a tea-cup, and some hot tea in a little china jug +

+"Is Fanny gone ? ' said Bathsheba. +' No,' said her companion, pouring out the tea. +Bathsheba wrapped herself up and ate and drank +sparingly. Her voice was then a little clearer, and +trifling colour returned to her face. 'Now we'll walk +about again,' she said. +They wandered about the wood for nearly two +REACTION +hours, Bathsheba replying in monosyllables to Liddy's +prattle, for her mind ran on one subject, and one only. +She interrupted with -- +'l wonder if Fanny is gone by this time ? ' +'I will go and see.' +She came back with the information that the +men were just taking away the corpse; that Bathsheba +had been inquired for; that she had replied to the +effect that her mistress was unwell and could not be +seen. +'Then they think I am in my bedroom ?' +' Yes.' Liddy then ventured to add: ' You said +when I first found you that you might never go home +again -- you didn't mean it, ma'am ? ' +'No; I've altered my mind. It is only women with +no pride in them who run away from their husbands. +There is one position worse than that of being found +dead in your husband's house from his iliusage, and +that is, to be found alive through having gone away to +The house of somebody else. l've thought of it all this +morning, and I've chosen my course. A runaway wife +is an encumbrance to everybody, a burden to herself and +a byword -- all of which make up a heap of misery +greater than any that comes by staying at home -- +though this may include the trifling items of insult, +beating, and starvation. Liddy, if ever you marry -- +God forbid that you ever should ! -- you'll find yourself +in a fearful situation ; but mind this, don't you flinch. +Stand your ground, and be cut to pieces. That's +what I'm going to do.' +' O, mistress, don't talk so .! ' said Liddy,-taking her +hand; 'but I knew you had too much sense to bide +away. May I ask what dreadful thing it is that has +happened between you and him ?' +' You may ask; but I may not tell.' +In about ten minutes they returned to the house by +a cimuitous route, entering at the rear. Bathsheba +glided up the +

+back stairs to a disused attic, and her +companion followed. +'Liddy,' she said, with a lighter heart, for youth an +hope had begun to reassert themselves; ' you are to b +my confidante for the present -- somebody must be -- and +I choose you. Well, I shall take up my abode here fo +a while. Will you get a fire lighted, put down a piece +of carpet, and help me to make the place comfortable. +Afterwards, I want you and Maryann to bring up that +little stump bedstead in the small room, and the be +belonging to it, and a table, and some other things. +What shall I do to pass the heavy time away ?' +'Hemming handkerchiefs is a very good thing,' said +Liddy. +'O no, no .! I hate needlework-i always did.' +'knitting ? ' +' And that, too.' +'You might finish your sampler. Only the carn +tions and peacocks want filling in; and then it could +be framed and glazed, and hung beside your aunt' +ma'am.' +' Samplers are out of date -- horribly countrified. No +Liddy, I'll read. Bring up some books -- not new ones. +I haven't heart to read anything new.' +'Some of your uncle's old ones, ma'am ? ' +' Yes. Some of those we stowed away in boxes.' , +faint gleam of humour passed over her face as she said: +'Bring Beaumont and Fletcher's Mai'd's Tragedy,- an +the Mourning Bride ,- and-iet me see -- Niht Thoghts, +and the Vanity of Human Wishes.' +'And that story of the black man, who murdered his +wife Desdemona? It is a nice dismal one that would +suit you excellent just now.' +' Now, Liddy, you've been looking into my book +without telling me; and I said you were not to ! How +do you know it would suit me? It wouldn't suit me a +all.' +'But if the others do -- -- ' +' No, they don't ; and I won't read dismal books. +Why should I read dismal books, indeed ? Bring me +Love in a Village, and Maid of the Mill, and Doctor +Syntax, and some volumes of the Spectator.' +All that day Bathsheba and Liddy lived in the attic +in a state of +

+barricade ; a precaution which proved to be +needless as against Troy, for he did not appear in the +neighbourhood or trouble them at all. Bathsheba sat +at the window till sunset, sometimes attempting to read, +at other times watching every movement outside without +much purpose, and listening without much interest to +every sound. +The sun went down almost blood-red that night, and +a livid cloud received its rays in the east. Up against +this dark background the west front of the church +tower -- the only part of the edifice visible from the +farm-house windows -- rose distinct and lustrous, the +vane upon the summit bristling with rays. Hereabouts, +at six o'clock, the young men of the village gathered, +as was their custom, for a game of Prisoners' base. The +spot had been consecrated to this ancient diversion from +time immemorial, the old stocks conveniently forming +a base facing the boundary of the churchyard, in front +of which the ground was trodden hard and bare as a +pavement by the players. She could see the brown +and black heads of the young lads darting about right +and left, their white shirt-sleeves gleaming in the sun; +whilst occasionally a shout and a peal of hearty laughter +varied the stillness of the evening air. They continued +playing for a quarter of an hour or so, when the game +concluded abruptly, and the players leapt over the wall +and vanished round to the other side behind a yew-tree, +which was also half behind a beech, now spreading in +one mass of golden foliage, on which the branches +traced black lines. +'Why did the base-players finish their game so +suddenly?' Bathsheba inquired, the next time that +Liddy entered the room. +' I think 'twas because two men came just then from +Casterbridge and began putting up grand carved +tombstone,' said Liddy. 'The lads went to see whose +it was.' +' Do you know ? ' Bathsheba asked. +' I don't,' said Liddy. + +

+TROY'S ROMANTICISM +WHEN Troy's wife had left the house at the previous +midnight his first act was to cover the dead from sight. +This done he ascended the stairs, and throwing himself +down upon the bed dressed as he was, he waited miser+ +ably for the morning. +Fate had dealt grimly with him through the last four+ +and-twenty hours. His day had been spent in a way +which varied very materially from his intentions regard+ +ing it. There is always an inertia to be overcome in +striking out a new line of conduct -- not more in our+ +selves, it seems, than in circumscribing events, which +appear as if leagued together to allow no novelties in +the way of amelioration. +Twenty pounds having been secured from Bathsheba, +he had managed to add to the sum every farthing he +could muster on his own account, which had been seven +pounds ten. With this money, twenty-seven pounds ten +in all, he had hastily driven from the gate that morning +to keep his appointment with Fanny Robin. +On reaching Casterbridge he left the horse and trap +at an inn, and at five minutes before ten came back to +the bridge at the lower end of the town, and sat himself +upon the parapet. The clocks struck the hour, and no +Fanny appeared. In fact, at that moment she was being +robed in her grave-clothes by two attendants at the +Union poorhouse -- the first and last tiring-women the +gentle creature had ever been honoured with. The +quarter went, the half hour. A rush of recollection +came upon Troy as he waited: this was the second +time she had broken a serious engagement with him +In anger he vowed it should be the last, and at eleven +o'clock, when he had lingered and watched the stone +of the bridge till he knew every lichen upon their face +and heard the chink of the ripples underneath till they +oppressed him, he jumped from his seat, went to the inn +

+for his gig, and in a bitter mood of indifference con+ +cerning the past, and recklessness about the future, +drove on to Budmouth races. +He reached the race-course at two o'clock, and re+ +mained either there or in the town till nine, But +Fanny's image, as it had appeared to him in the sombre +shadows of that Saturday evening, returned to his mind, +backed up by Bathsheba's reproaches. He vowed he +would not bet, and he kept his vow, for on leaving the +town at nine o'clock in the evening he had diminish +his cash only to the extent of a few shillings. +He trotted slowly homeward, and it was now that +was struck for the first time with a thought that Fanny +had been really prevented by illness from keeping her +promise. 'This time she could have made no mistake +He regretted that he had not remained in Casterbridge +and made inquiries. Reaching home he quietly un+ +harnessed the horse and came indoors, as we have seen, +to the fearful shock that awaited him. +As soon as it grew light enough to distinguish objects, +Troy arose from the coverlet of the bed, and in a mood +of absolute indifference to Bathsheba's whereabouts, a +almost oblivious of her existence, he stalked downstairs +and left the house by the back door. His walk was +towards the churchyard, entering which he searched +around till he found a newly dug unoccupied grave -- +the grave dug the day before for Fanny. The position +of this having been marked, he hastened on to Caster+ +bridge, only pausing +whereon he had last seen Fanny alive. +Reaching the town, Troy descended into a side +street and entered a pair of gates surmounted by a board +bearing the words, 'Lester, stone and marble mason.' +Within were lying about stones of all sizes and designs, +inscribed as being sacred to the memory of unnamed +persons who had not yet died. +Troy was so unlike himself now in look, word, and +deed, that the want of likeness was perceptible even to +his own consciousness. His method of engaging himself +in this business of purchasing a tomb was that of an +absolutely unpractised man. He could not bring him+ +self to consider, calculate, or +

+economize. He waywardly +wished for something, and he set about obtaining it like +a child in a nursery. 'I want a good tomb,' he said to +the man who stood in a little office within the yard. +'I want as good a one as you can give me for twenty+ +seven pounds,' +It was all the money he possessed. +'That sum to include everything?' +' Everything. Cutting the name, carriage to Weather+ +bury, and erection. And I want it now at once .' +' We could not get anything special worked this +week. +'If you would like one of these in stock it could be +got ready immediately.' +'Very well,' said Troy, impatiently. 'Let's see what +you have.' +'The best I have in stock is this one, 'said the stone+ +cutter, going into a shed. ' Here's a marble headstone +beautifully crocketed, with medallions beneath of typical +subjects ; here's the footstone after the same pattern, +and here's the coping to enclose the- grave. The +slabs are the best of their kind, and I can warrant them +'Well, I couId add the name, and put it up at +visitor who wore not a shred of mourning. Troy then +settled the account and went away. In the afternoon +almost done. He waited in the yard till the tomb was +way to Weatherbury, giving directions to the two men +the grave of the person named in the inscription. +bridge. He carried rather a heavy basket upon his +occasionally at bridges and +

+gates, whereon he deposited +returning in the darkness, the men and the waggon +the work was done, and, on being assured that it was, +Troy entered Weatherbury churchyard about ten +had marked the vacant grave early in the morning. It +extent from the view of passers along the road -- a spot +and bushes of alder, but now it was cleared and made +the ground elsewhere. +Here now stood the tomb as the men had stated, snow+ +white and shapely in the gloom, consisting of head and +foot-stone, and enclosing border of marble-work uniting +them. In the midst was mould, suitable for plants. +Troy deposited his basket beside the tomb, and +vanished for a few minutes. When he returned he +carried a spade and a lantern, the light of which he +directed for a few moments upon the marble, whilst he +read the inscription. He hung his lantern on the lowest +bough of the yew-tree, and took from his basket flower+ +roots of several varieties. There were bundles of snow+ +drop, hyacinth and crocus bulbs, violets and double +daisies, which were to bloom in early spring, and of +carnations, pinks, picotees, lilies of the valley, forget-me+ +not, summer's-farewell, meadow-saffron and others, for +the later seasons of the year. +Troy laid these out upon the grass, and with an im+ +passive face set to work to plant them. The snowdrops +were arranged in a line on the outside of the coping, +the remainder within the enclosure of the grave. The +crocuses and hyacinths were to grow in rows; some of +the summer flowers he placed over her head and feet, +the lilies and forget-me-nots over her heart. The +remainder were dispersed in the spaces between these. +Troy, in his prostration at this time, had no percep+ +tion that in the futility of these romantic doings, dictated +by a remorseful reaction from previous indifference, there +was any element +

+of absurdity. Deriving his idiosyn+ +crasies from both sides of the Channel, he showed at +such junctures as the present the inelasticity of the +Englishman, together with that blindness to the line +where sentiment verges on mawkishness, characteristic +of the French. +lt was a cloudy, muggy, and very dark night, and +the rays from Troy's lantern spread into the two old +yews with a strange illuminating power, flickering, as it +seemed, up to the black ceiling of cloud above. He +felt a large drop of rain upon the back of his hand, and +presently one came and entered one of the holes of the +lantern, whereupon the candle sputtered and went out+ +Troy was weary and it being now not far from midnight, +and the rain threatening to increase, he resolved to leave +the finishing touches of his labour until the day should +break. He groped along the wall and over the graves +in the dark till he found himself round at the north side. +Here he entered the porch, and, reclining upon the +bench within, fell asleep. + +

+THE GURGOYLE : ITS DOINGS +THE tower of Weatherbury Church was a square +erection of fourteenth-century date, having two stone +gurgoyles on each of the four faces of its parapet. Of +these eight carved protuberances only two at this time +continued to serve the purpose of their erection -- that +of spouting the water from the lead roof within. One +mouth in each front had been closed hy bygone church+ +wardens as superfluous, and two others were broken +away and choked -- a matter not of much consequence +to the welibeing of the tower, for the two mouths which +still remained open and active were gaping enough to do +all the work. +It has been sometimes argued that there is no truer +criterion of the vitality of any given art-period than the +power of the master-spirits of that time in grotesque ; +and certainly in the instance of Gothic art there is no +disputing the proposition. Weatherbury tower was a +somewhat early instance of the use of an ornamental +parapet in parish as distinct from cathedral churches, +and the gurgoyles, which are the necessary correlatives +of a parapet, were exccptionally prominent -- of the +boldest cut that the hand could shape, and of the most +original design that a human brain could conceive. +There was, so to speak, that symmetry in their distortion +which is less the characteristic of British than of +Continental grotesques of the period. All the eight +were different from each other. A beholder was con+ +vinced that nothing on earth could be more hideous +than those he saw on the north side until he went +round to the south. Of the two on this latter face, only +that at the south-eastern corner concerns the story. It +was too human to be called like a dragon, too impish +to be like a man, too animal to be like a fiend, and not +enough like a bird to be called a griffin. This horrible +stone entity was fashioned as if covered with a +

+wrinkled +hide; it had short, erect ears, eyes starting from their +sockets, and its fingers and hands were seizing the +corners of its mouth, which they thus seemed to pull +open to give free passage to the water it vomited. The +lower row of teeth was quite washed away, though the +upper still remained. Here and thus, jutting a couple +of feet from the wall against which its feet rested as a +support, the creature had for four hundred years +laughed at the surrounding landscape, voicelessly in +dry weather, and in wet with a gurgling and snorting +sound. +Troy slept on in the porch, and the rain increased +outside. Presently the gurgoyle spat. In due time a +small stream began to trickle through the seventy feet +of aerial space between its mouth and the ground, which +the water-drops smote like duckshot in their accelerated +velocity. The stream thickened in substance, and in+ +creased in power, gradually spouting further and yet +further from the side of the tower. When the rain fell +in a steady and ceaseless torrent the stream dashed +downward in volumes. +We follow its course to the ground at this point of +time. The end of the liquid parabola has come forward +from the wall, has advanced over the plinth mouldings, +over a heap of stones, over the marble border, into the +midst of Fanny Robin's grave. +The force of the stream had, until very lately, been +received upon some loose stones spread thereabout, +which had acted as a shield to the soil under the onset. +These during the summer had been cleared from the +ground, and there was now nothing to resist the down+ +fall but the bare earth. For several years the stream +had not spouted so far from the tower as it was doing +on this night, and such a contingency had been over+ +looked. Sometimes this obscure corner received no +inhabitant for the space of two or three years, and +then it was usually but a pauper, a poacher, or other +sinner of undignified sins. +The persistent torrent from the gurgoyle's jaws +directed all its vengeance into the grave. The rich +tawny mould was stirred into motion, and boiled like +chocolate. The water accumulated and washed deeper +down, and the roar of the pool thus formed spread into +the night as the head and chief among other noises of +

+the kind created by the deluging rain. The flowers so +carefully planted by Fanny's repentant lover began to +move and writhe in their bed. The winter-violets +turned slowly upside down, and became a mere mat of +mud. Soon the snowdrop and other bulbs danced in +the boiling mass like ingredients in a cauldron. Plants +of the tufted species were loosened, rose to the surface, +and floated of. +Troy did not awake from his comfortless sleep till it +was broad day. Not having been in bed for two nights +his shouldrrs felt stiff his feet tender, and his head +heavy. He remembered his position, arose, shivered, +took the spade, and again went out. +The rain had quite ceased, and the sun was shining +through the green, brown, and yellow leaves, now +sparkling and varnished by the raindrops to the bright+ +ness of similar effects in the landscapes of Ruysdael and +Hobbema, and full of all those infinite beauties that +arise from the union of water and colour with high +lights. The air was rendered so transparent by the +heavy fall of rain that the autumn hues of the middle +distance were as rich as those near at hand, and the +remote fields intercepted by the angle of the tower ap+ +peared in the same plane as the tower itself. +He entered the gravel path which would take him +behind the tower. The path, instead of being stony as +it had been the night before, was browned over with a +thin coating of mud. At one place in the path he saw +a tuft of stringy roots washed white and clean as a +bundle of tendons. He picked it up -- surely it could +not be one of the primroses he had planted? He saw +a bulb, another, and another as he advanced. Beyond +doubt they were the crocuses. With a face of perplexed +dismay Troy turned the corner and then beheld the +wreck the stream had made. +The pool upon the grave had soaked away into the +ground, and in its place was a hollow. The disturbed +earth was washed over the grass and pathway in the +guise of the brown mud he had already seen, and it +spotted the marble tombstone with the same stains. +Nearly all the flowers were washed clean out of the +ground, and they lay, roots upwards, on the spots whither +they had been splashed by the stream. +

+Troy's brow became heavily contracted. He set his +teeth closely, and his compressed lips moved as those of +one in great pain. This singular accident, by a strange +confluence of emotions in him, was felt as the sharpest +sting of all. Troy's face was very expressive, and any +observer who had seen him now would hardly have +believed him to be a man who had laughed, and sung, +and poured love-trifles into a woman's ear. To curse +his miserable lot was at first his impulse, but even that +lowest stage of rebellion needed an activity whose +absence was necessarily antecedent to the existence of the +morbid misery which wrung him. The sight, coming +as it did, superimposed upon the other dark scenery of +the previous days, formed a sort of climax to the whole +panorama, and it was more than he could endure. +Sanguine by nature, Troy had a power of eluding +grief by simply adjourning it. He could put off the +consideration of any particular spectre till the matter +had become old and softened by time. The planting +of flowers on Fanny's grave had been perhaps but a +species of elusion of the primary grief, and now it was +as if his intention had been known and circumvented. +Almost for the first time in his life, Troy, as he stood +by this dismantled grave, wished himself another man. +lt is seldom that a person with much animal spirit does +not feel that the fact of his life being his own is the one +qualification which singles it out as a more hopeful life +than that of others who may actually resemble him in +every particular. Troy had felt, in his transient way, +hundreds of times, that he could not envy other people +their condition, because the possession of that condition +would have necessitated a different personality, when he +desired no other than his own. He had not minded +the peculiarities of his birth, the vicissitudes of his life, +the meteoriike uncertainty of all that related to him, +because these appertained to the hero of his story, +without whom there would have been no story at all for +him; and it seemed to be only in the nature of things +that matters would right themselves at some proper date +and wind up well. This very morning the illusion +completed its disappearance, and, as it were, all of a +sudden, Troy hated himself. The suddenness was +probably more +

+apparent than real. A coral reef which +just comes short of the ocean surface is no more to the +horizon than if it had never been begun, and the mere +finishing stroke is what often appears to create an event +which has long been potentially an accomplished thing. +He stood and mediated -- a miserable man. Whither +should he go ? " He that is accursed, let him be accursed +still,' was the pitiless anathema written in this spoliated +effort of his new-born solicitousness. A man who has +spent his primal strength in journeying in one direction +has not much spirit left for reversing his course. Troy +had, since yesterday, faintly reversed his ; but the merest +opposition had disheartened him. To turn about would +have been hard enough under the greatest providential +encouragement; but to find that Providence, far from +helping him into a new course, or showing any wish +that he might adopt one, actuallyjeered his first trembling +and critical attempt in that kind, was more than nature +could bear. +He slowly withdrew from the grave. He did not +attempt to fill up the hole, replace the flowers, or do +anything at all. He simply threw up his cards and +forswore his game for that time and always. Going out +of the churchyard silently and unobserved -- none of the +villagers having yet risen -- he passed down some fields +at the back, and emerged just as secretly upon the high +road. Shortly afterwards he had gone from the village. +Meanwhile, Bathsheba remained a voluntary prisoner +in the attic. The door was kept locked, except during +the entries and exits of Liddy, for whom a bed had +been arranged in a small adjoining room. The light +of Troy's lantern in the churchyard was noticed about +ten o'clock by the maid-servant, who casually glanced +from the window in that direction whilst taking her +supper, and she called Bathsheba's attention to it. +They looked curiously at the phenomenon for a time, +until Liddy was sent to bed. +bathsheba did not sleep very heavily that night. +When her attendant was unconscious and softly breath+ +ing in the next room, the mistress of the house was +still looking out of the window at the faint gleam +spreading from among the trees -- +

+not in a steady shine, +but blinking like a revolving coastiight, though this +appearance failed to suggest to her that a person was +passing and repassing in front of it. Bathsheba sat +here till it began to rain, and the light vanished, when +she withdrew to lie restlessly in her bed and re-enact +in a worn mind the lurid scene of yesternight. +Almost before the first faint sign of dawn appeared +she arose again, and opened the window to obtain a full +breathing of the new morning air, the panes being now +wet with trembling tears left by the night rain, each +one rounded with a pale lustre caught from primrose+ +hued slashes through a cloud low down in the awaken+ +ing sky. From the trees came the sound of steady +dripping upon the drifted leaves under them, and from +the direction of the church she could hear another noise + -- peculiar, and not intermittent like the rest, the purl +of water falling into a pool. +Liddy knocked at eight o'clock, and Bathsheba un+ +locked the door. +" What a heavy rain we've had in the night, ma'am!.' +said Liddy, when her inquiries about breakfast had been +made. +" Yes ; very heavy.' +"Did you hear the strange noise from the church +yard?' +"I heard one strange noise. I've been thinking it +must have been the water from the tower spouts.' +"Well, that's what the shepherd was saying, ma'am. +He's now gone on to see. +"Oh!. Gabriel has been here this morning!.' +"Only just looked in in passing -- quite in his old way, +which I thought he had left off lately. But the tower +spouts used to spatter on the stones, and we are puzzled, +for this was like the boiling of a pot.' +Not being able to read, think, or work, Bathsheba asked +Liddy to stay and breakfast with her. The tongue of the +more childish womian still ran upon recent events. "Are +you going across to the church, ma'am?' she asked. +"Not that I know of,' said Bathsheba. +"I thought you might like to go and see where they +have put Fanny. The trees hide the place from your +window.' +

+Bathsheba had all sorts of dreads about meeting her +husband. "Has Mr. Troy been in to-night?' she said +" No, ma'am ; I think he's gone to Budmouth. +Budmouth! The sound of the word carried with +it a much diminished perspective of him and his deeds; +there were thirteen miles interval betwixt them now. +She hated questioning Liddy about her husband's +movements, and indeed had hitherto sedulously avoided +doing so; but now all the house knew that there had +been some dreadful disagreement between them, and +it was futile to attempt disguise. Bathsheba had +reached a stage at which people cease to have any +appreciative regard for public opinion. +"What makes you think he has gone there?' she said. +"Laban Tall saw him on the Budmouth road this +morning before breakfast.' +Bathsheba was momentarily relieved of that wayward +heaviness of the past twenty-four hours which had +quenched the vitality of youth in her without sub+ +stituting the philosophy of maturer years, and the +resolved to go out and walk a little way. So when +breakfast was over, she put on her bonnet, and took +a direction towards the church. It was nine o'clock, +and the men having returned to work again from their +first meal, she was not likely to meet many of them in +the road. Knowing that Fanny had been laid in the +reprobates' quarter of the graveyard, called in the parish +'behind church,' which was invisible from the road, it +was impossible to resist the impulse to enter and look +upon a spot which, from nameless feelings, she at the +same time dreaded to see. She had been unable to +overcome an impression that some connection existed +between her rival and the light through the trees. +Bathsheba skirted the buttress, and beheld the hole +and the tomb, its delicately veined surface splashed and +stained just as Troy had seen it and left it two hours +earlier. On the other side of the scene stood Gabriel. +His eyes, too, were fixed on the tomb, and her arrival +having been noiseless, she had not as yet attracted his +attention. Bathsheba did not at once perceive that the +grand tomb and the disturbed grave were Fanny's, and +she looked on both sides and around for some humbler +mound, +

+earthed up and clodded in the usual way. Then +her eye followed Oak's, and she read the words with +which the inscription opened : -- +"Erected by Francis Troy in Beloved Memory of +Fanny Robin.' +Oak saw her, and his first act was to gaze inquiringly +and learn how she received this knowledge of the +authorship of the work, which to himself had caused +considerable astonishment. But such discoveries did +not much affect her now. Emotional convulsions seemed +to have become the commonplaces of her history, and +she bade him good morning, and asked him to fill in +the hole with the spade which was standing by. Whilst +Oak was doing as she desired, Bathsheba collected the +flowers, and began planting them with that sympathetic +manipulation of roots and leaves which is so conspicuous +in a woman's gardening, and which flowers seem to +understand and thrive upon. She requested Oak to +get the churchwardens to turn the leadwork at the +mouth of the gurgoyle that hung gaping down upon +them, that by this means the stream might be directed +sideways, and a repetition of the accident prevented. +Finally, with the superfluous magnanimity of a woman +whose narrower instincts have brought down bitterness +upon her instead of love, she wiped the mud spots from +the tomb as if she rather liked its words than otherwise, + +

+ADVENTURES BY THE SHORE +TROY wandered along towards the south. A composite +feeling, made up of disgust with the, to him, humdrum +tediousness of a farmer's life, gloomly images of her who +lay in the churchyard, remorse, and a general averseness +to his wife's society, impelled him to seek a home in any +place on earth save Weatherbury. The sad accessories +of Fanny's end confronted him as vivid pictures which +threatened to be indelible, and made life in Bathsheba's +house intolerable. At three in the afternoon he found +himself at the foot of a slope more than a mile in length, +which ran to the ridge of a range of hills lying parallel +with the shore, and forming a monotonous barrier between +the basin of cultivated country inland and the wilder +scenery of the coast. Up the hill stretched a road +nearly straight and perfectly white, the two sides +approaching each other in a gradual taper till they +met the sky at the top about two miles off. Through+ +out the length of this narrow and irksome inclined plane +not a sign of life was visible on this garish afternoon +Troy toiled up the road with a languor and depression +greater than any he had experienced for many a day +and year before. The air was warm and muggy, and +the top seemed to recede as he approached. +At last he reached the summit, and a wide and +novel prospect burst upon him with an effect almost like +that of the Pacific upon Balboa's gaze. The broad +steely sea, marked only by faint lines, which had a +semblance of being etched thereon to a degree not deep +enough to disturb its general evenness, stretched the +whole width of his front and round to the right, where, +near the town and port of Budmouth, the sun bristled +down upon it, and banished all colour, to substitute in +its place a clear oily polish. Nothing moved in sky, +land, or sea, except a frill of milkwhite foam along the +nearer angles of the +

+shore, shreds of which licked the +contiguous stones like tongues. +He descended and came to a small basin of sea +enclosed by the cliffs. Troy's nature freshened within +him ; he thought he would rest and bathe here before +going farther. He undressed and plunged in. Inside +the cove the water was uninteresting to a swimmer, +being smooth as a pond, and to get a little of the ocean +swell, Troy presently swam between the two projecting +spurs of rock which formed the pillars of Hercules to +this miniature Mediterranean. Unfortunately for Troy +a current unknown to him existed outside, which, un+ +important to craft of any burden, was awkward for a +swimmer who might be taken in it unawares. Troy +found himself carried to the left and then round in a +swoop out to sea. +He now recollected the place and its sinister +character. Many bathers had there prayed for a dry +death from time to time, and, like Gonzalo also, had +been unanswered ; and Troy began to deem it possible +that he might be added to their number. Not a boat +of any kind was at present within sight, but far in the +distance Budmouth lay upon the sea, as it were quietly +regarding his efforts, and beside the town the harbour +showed its position by a dim meshwork of ropes and +spars. After welinigh exhausting himself in attempts +to get back to the mouth of the cove, in his weakness +swimming several inches deeper than was his wont, +keeping up his breathing entirely by his nostrils, turning +upon his back a dozen times over, swimming <1en papillon>1 +and so on, Troy resolved as a last resource to tread +water at a slight incline, and so endeavour to reach the +shore at any point, merely giving himself a gentle +impetus inwards whilst carried on in the general direc+ +tion of the tide. This, necessarily a slow process, he +found to be not altogether so difficult, and though there +was no choice of a landing-place -- the objects on shore +passing by him in a sad and slow procession -- he per+ +ceptibly approached the extremity of a spit of land yet +further to the right, now well defined against the sunny +portion of the horizon- While the swimmer s eye's were +fixed upon the spit as his only means of salvation on +this side of the +

+Unknown, a moving object broke the +outline of the extremity, and immediately a ship's boat +appeared manned with several sailor lads, her bows +towards the sea. +All Troy's vigour spasmodically revived to prolong +the struggle yet a little further. Swimming with his +right arm, he held up his left to hail them, splashing +upon the waves, and shouting with all his might. From +the position of the setting sun his white form was +distinctly visible upon the now deep-hued bosom of the +sea to the east of the boat, and the men saw him at +once. Backing their oars and putting the boat about, +they pulled towards him with a will, and in five or six +minutes from the time of his first halloo, two of the +sailors hauled him in over the stern. +They formed part of a brig's crew, and had come +ashore for sand. Lending him what little clothing they +could spare among them as a slight protection against +late they made again towards the roadstead where their +And now night drooped slowly upon the wide watery +levels in front; and at no great distance from them, +where the shoreiine curved round, and formed a long +riband of shade upon the horizon, a series of points of +yellow light began to start into existence, denoting the +spot to be the site of Budmouth, where the lamps were +being lighted along the parade. The cluck of their +oars was the only sound of any distinctness upon the +sea, and as they laboured amid the thickening shades +the lampiights grew larger, each appearing to send a +flaming sword deep down into the waves before it, until +there arose, among other dim shapes of the kind, the +form of the vessel for which they were bound. + +

+DOUBTS ARISE -- DOUBTS LINGER +BATHSHEBA underwent the enlargement of her +Husband's absence from hours to days with a slight +feeling of suprise, and a slight feeling of relief; yet +neither sensation rose at any time far above the level +commonly designated as indifference. She belonged to +him : the certiinties of that position were so well defined, +and the reasonable probabilies of its issue so bounded +that she could not speculate on contingenciezs. Taking +no further interest in herself as a splendid woman, she +acquired the indifferent feelings of an outsider in contem+ +plating her probable fate as a singular wretch ; for Bath+ +sheba drew herself and her future in colours that no +reality could exceed for darkness. Her original vigorous +pride of youth had sickened, and with it had declined +all her anzieties about coming years, since anxiety +recognizes a better and a worse alternative, and Bath+ +sheba had made up her mind that alternatives on any +noteworthy scale had ceased for her. Soon, or later -- +and that not very late -- her husband would be home +again. And then the days of their tenancy of the +Upper Farm would be numbered. There had origin+ +ally been shown by the agent to the estate some distrust +of Bathsheba's tenure as James Everdene's successor, +on the score of her sex, and her youth, and her beauty ; +but the peculiar nature of her uncle's will, his own +frequent testimony before his death to her cleverness +in such a pursuit, and her vigorous marshalling of the +numerous flocks and herds which came suddenly into +her hands before negotiations were concluded, had won +confidence in her powers, and no further objections had +been raised. She had latterly been in great doubt as +to what the legal effects of her marriage would be upon +her position; but no notice had been taken as yet of +her change of name, and only one point was clear -- that +in the event of her own or her husband's inability to +meet the agent at the +

+forthcoming January rent-day, +very little consideration would be shown, and, for that +matter, very little would be deserved. Once out of the +farm, the approach of poverty would be sure. +Hence Bathsheba lived in a perception that her +purposes were broken of. She was not a woman who +could hope on without good materials for the process, +differing thus from the less far-Sighted and energetic, +though more petted ones of the sex, with whom hope +goes on as a sort of clockwork which the merest food +and shelter are sufficient to wind up; and perceiving +clearly that her mistake had been a fatal one, she +accepted her position, and waited coldly for the end. +The first Saturday after Troy's departure she went +to Casterbridge alone, a journey she had not before +taken since her marriage. On this Saturday Bathsheba +was passing slowly on foot through the crowd of rural +business-men gathered as usual in front ot the market+ +house, who were as usual gazed upon by the burghers +with feelings that those healthy lives were dearly paid +for by exclusion from possible aldermanship, when a +man, who had apparently been following her, said some +words to another on her left hand. Bathsheba's ears +were keen as those of any wild animal, and she dis+ +tinctly heard what the speaker said, though her back +was towards him +"I am looking for Mrs. Troy. Is that she there?' +" Yes ; that's the young lady, I believe,' said the +the person addressed. +"I have some awkward news to break to her. Her +husband is drowned.' +As if endowed with the spirit of prophecy, Bathsheba +gasped out, "No, it is not true; it cannot be true!' +Then she said and heard no more. The ice of self+ +command which had latterly gathered over her was +broken, and the currents burst forth again, and over +whelmed her. A darkness came into her eyes, and she +fell. +But not to the ground. A gloomy man, who had +been observing her from under the portico of the old +corn-exchange when she passed through the group +without, stepped quickly to her side at the moment of +her exclamation, and caught her in his arms as she sank +down. +

+"What is it?' said Boldwood, looking up at the +bringer of the big news, as he supported her. +"Her husband was drowned this week while bathing +in Lulwind Cove. A coastguardsman found his clothes, +and brought them into Budmouth yestersay.' +Thereupon a strange fire lighted up Boldwood's eye, +and his face flushed with the suppressed excitement of +an unutterable thought. Everybody's glance was now +centred upon him and the unconsious Bathsheba. He +lifted her bodily off the ground, and smoothed down +the folds of her dress as a child might have taken a +storm-beaten bird and arranged its ruffled plumes, and +bore her along the pavement to the King's Arms Inn. +Here he passed with her under the archway into a +private room; and by the time he had deposited -- so +lothly -- the precious burden upon a sofa, Bathsheba had +opened her eyes. Remembering all that had occurred, +she murmured, 'I want to go home .! ' +Boldwood left the room. He stood for a moment in +the passage to recover his senses. The experience had +been too much for his consciousness to keep up with, +and now that he had grasped it it had gone again. For +those few heavenly, golden moments she had been in his +arms. What did it matter about her not knowing it? She +had been close to his breast ; he had been close to hers. +He started onward again, and sending a woman to +her, went out to ascertain all the facts of the case. +These appeared to be limited to what he had already +heard. He then ordered her horse to be put into the +gig, and when all was ready returned to inform her. +He found that, though still pale and unwell, she had in +the meantime sent for the Budmouth man who brought +the tidings, and learnt from him all there was to know. +Being hardly in a condition to drive home as she +had driven to town, Boldwood, with every delicacy of +manner and feeling, offered to get her a driver, or to +give her a seat in his phaeton, which was more com+ +fortable than her own conveyance. These proposals +Bathsheba gently declined, and the farmer at once de+ +parted. +About half-an-hour later she invigorated herself by +an effort, and took her seat and the reins as usuai-in +external +

+appearance much as if nothing had happened. +She went out of the town by a tortuous back street, and +drove slowly along, unconscious of the road and the +scene. The first shades of evening were showing them+ +selves when Bathsheba reached home, where, silently +alighting and leaving the horse in the hands of the boy, +she proceeded at once upstairs. Liddy met her on the +landing. The news had preceded Bathsheba to Weather+ +bury by half-an-hour, and Liddy looked inquiringly into +her mistress's face. Bathsheba had nothing to say. +She entered her bedroom and sat by the window, and +thought and thought till night enveloped her, and the +extreme lines only of her shape were visible. Somebody +came to the door, knocked, and opened it. +' Well, what is it, Liddy ? ' she said. +'I was thinking there must be something got for you +to wear,' said Liddy, with hesitation. +'What do you mean ?' +' Mourning.' +' No, no, no,' said Bathsheba, hurriedly. +'But I suppose there must be something done for +poor -- -- ' +' Not at present, I think. It is not necessary.' +' Why not, ma'am ? ' +' Because he's still alive.' +' How do you know that ? ' said Liddy, amazed. +' I don't know it. But wouldn't it have heen different, +or shouldn't I have heard more, or wouldn't they have +found him, Liddy ? -- or-i don't know how it is, but +death would have been different from how this is. I am +perfectly convinced that he is still alive .! ' +Bathsheba remained firm in this opinion till Monday, +when two circumstances conjoined to shake it. The +first was a short paragraph in the local newspaper, which, +beyond making by a methodizing pen formidable pre+ +sumptive evidence of Troy's death by drowning, con+ +tained the important testimony of a young Mr. Barker, +M.D., of Budmouth, who spoke to being an eyewitness +of the accident, in a letter to the editor. In this he +stated that he was passing over the cliff on the remoter +side of the +

+cove just as the sun was setting. At that +time he saw a bather carried along in the current outside +the mouth of the cove, and guessed in an instant that +there was but a poor chance for him unless he should +be possessed of unusual muscular powers. He drifted +behind a projection of the coast, and Mr. Barker followed +along the shore in the same direction. But by the time +that he could reach an elevation sufficiently great to +command a view of the sea beyond, dusk had set in, and +nothing further was to be seen. +The other circumstance was the arrival of his clothes, +when it became necessary for her to examine and identify +them -- though this had virtually been done long before +by those who inspected the letters in his pockets. It +was so evident to her in the midst of her agitation that +Troy had undressed in the full conviction of dressing +again almost immediately, that the notion that anything +but death could have prevented him was a perverse one +to entertain. +Then Bathsheba said to herself that others were +assured in their opinion; strange that she should not +be. A stmnge reflection occured to her, causing her +face to flush. Suppose that Troy had followed Fanny +into another world. Had he done this intentionally, yet +contrived to make his death appear like an accident ? +Nevertheless, this thought of how the apparent might +differ from the reai-made vivid by her bygone jealousy +of Fanny, and the remorse he had shown that night + -- did not blind her to the perception of a likelier +difference, less tragic, but to herself far more disastrous. +When alone late that evening beside a small fire, and +much calmed down, Bathsheba took Troy's watch into +her hand, which had been restored to her with the rest +of the articles belonging to him. She opened the case +as he had opened it before her a week ago. There was +the little coil of pale hair which had been as the fuze to +this great explosion. +'He was hers and she was his; they should be gone +together,' she said. 'I am nothing to either of them, +and why should I keep her hair?' She took it in her +hand, and held it over the fire. ' No-i'll not burn it +-i'll keep it in memory of her, poor thing !. ' she added, +snatching back her hand. + +

+OAK'S ADVANCEMENY -- A GREAT HOPE +THE later autumn and the winter drew on apace, +and the leaves lay thick upon the turf of the glades +and the mosses of the woods. Bathsheba, having +previously been living in a state of suspended feeling +which was not suspense, now lived in a mood of +quietude which was not precisely peacefulness. While +she had known him to be alive she could have thought +of his death with equanimity; but now that it might be +she had lost him, she regretted that he was not hers +still. She kept the farm going, raked in her profits +without caring keenly about them, and expended +money on ventures because she had done so in bygone +days, which, though not long gone by, seemed infinitely +removed from her present. She looked back upon that +past over a great gulf, as if she were now a dead person, +having the faculty of meditation still left in her, by +means of which, like the mouldering gentlefolk of the +poet's story, she could sit and ponder what a gift life +used to be. +However, one excellent result of her general apathy +was the long-delayed installation of Oak as bailiff; but +he having virtually exercised that function for a long +time already, the change, beyond the substantial in+ +crease of wages it brought, was little more than a +nominal one addressed to the outside world. +Boldwood lived secluded and inactive. Much of +his wheat and all his barley of that season had been +spoilt by the rain. It sprouted, grew into intricate +mats, and was ultimately thrown to the pigs in armfuls. +The strange neglect which had produced this ruin +and waste became the subject of whispered talk among +all the people round; and it was elicited from one of +Boldwood's men that forgetfulness had nothing to do +with it, for he had been reminded of the danger to +his corn as many times and as persistently as inferiors +dared to do. The sight of the +

+pigs turning in disgust +from the rotten ears seemed to arouse Boldwood, and +he one evening sent for Oak. Whether it was sug+ +gested by Bathsheba's recent act of promotion or not, +the farmer proposed at the interview that Gabriel +should undertake the superintendence of the Lower +Farm as well as of Bathsheba's, because of the necessity +Boldwood felt for such aid, and the impossibility of +discovering a more trustworthy man. Gabriel's malig+ +nant star was assuredly setting fast. +Bathsheba, when she learnt of this proposai-for +Oak was obliged to consult her -- at first languidly +objected. She considered that the two farms together +were too extensive for the observation of one man. +Boldwood, who was apparently determined by personal +rather than commercial reasons, suggested that Oak +should be furnished with a horse for his sole use, +when the plan would present no difficulty, the two +farms lying side by side. Boldwood did not directly +communicate with her during these negotiations, only +speaking to Oak, who was the go-between throughout. +All was harmoniously arranged at last, and we now +see Oak mounted on a strong cob, and daily trotting +the length breadth of about two thousand acres +in a cheerful spirit of surveillance, as if the crops +belonged to him -- the actual mistress of the one-half +and the master of the other, sitting in their respective +homes in gloomy and sad seclusion. +Out of this there arose, during the spring succeeding, +a talk in the parish that Gabriel Oak was feathering his +nest fast. +' Whatever d'ye think,' said Susan Tall, ' Gable Oak +is coming it quite the dand. He now wears shining +boots with hardly a hob in 'em, two or three times +a-week, and a tall hat a-Sundays, and 'a hardly knows +the name of smockfrock. When I see people strut +enough to he cut up into bantam cocks, I stand +dormant with wonder, and says no more .! ' +It was eventually known that Gabriel, though paid +a fixed wage by Bathslieba independent of the fluctua+ +tions of agricultural profits, had made an engagement +with Boldwood by which Oak was to receive a share +of the receipts -- a small share certainly, yet it was +money of a higher quality than mere wages, and +capable of expansion in a way that wages were not. +

+Some were beginning to consider Oak a 'near' man, +for though his condition had thus far improved, he +lived in no better style than hefore, occupying the +same cottage, paring his own potatoes, mending his +stockings, and sometimes even making his bed with +his own hands. But as Oak was not only provokingly +indifferent to public opinion, but a man who clung +persistently to old habits and usages, simply because +they were old, there was room for doubt as to his +motives. +A great hope had latterly germinated in Boldwood, +whose unreasoning devotion to Bathsheba could only +be characterized as a fond madness which neither +time nor circumstance, evil nor good report, could +weaken or destroy. This fevered hope had grown up +again like a grain of mustard-seed during the quiet +which followed the hasty conjecture that Troy was +drowned. He nourished it fearfully, and almost +shunned the contemplation of it in earnest, lest facts +should reveal the wildness of the dream. Bathsheba +having at last been persuaded to wear mourning, her +appearance as she entered the church in that guise +was in itself a weekly addition to his faith that a +time was coming -- very far off perhaps, yet surely +nearing -- when his waiting on events should have +its reward. How long he might have to wait he had +not yet closely considered. what he would try to +recognize was that the severe schooling she had been +subjected to had made Bathsheba much more con+ +siderate than she had formerly been of the feelings of +others, and he trusted that, should she be willing at +any time in the future to marry any man at all, that +man would be himself. There was a substratum of +good feeling in her: her self-reproach for the injury +she had thoughtlessly done him might be depended +upon now to a much greater extent than before her +infatuation and disappointment. It would be possible +to approach her by the channel of her good nature, +and to suggest a friendly businessiike compact between +them for fulfilment at some future day, keeping the +passionate side of his desire entirely out of her sight. +Such was Boldwood's hope. +To the eyes of the middle-aged, Bathsheba was +perhaps additionally charming just now. Her exuber+ +ance cf spirit was pruned down ; the original phantom +of delight had shown +

+herself to be not too bright for +human nature's daily food, and she had been able to +enter this second poetical phase without losing much +of the first in the process. +Bathsheba's return from a two months' visit to her +old aunt at Norcombe afforded the impassioned and +yearning farmer a pretext for inquiring directly after +her -- now possibly in the ninth month of her +widowhood -- and endeavouring to get a notion of her +middle of the haymaking, and Boldwood contrived to +'I am glad to see you out of doors, Lydia,' he said +She simpered, and wondered in her heart why he +'I hope Mrs. Troy is quite well after her long +the coldest-hearted neighbour could scarcely say less +'She is quite well, sir. +'Yes, cheerful. +'Fearful, did you say?' +'O no. I merely said she was cheerful.' +'Tells you all her affairs?' +'No, sir. +'Some of them?' +'Yes, sir. +'Mrs Troy puts much confidence in you, Lydia; +and very wisely, perhaps.' +'She do, sir. I've been with her all through her +troubles, and was with her at the time of Mr.Troy's +going and all. And if she were to marry again I +expect I should bide with her.' +'She promises that you shali -- quite natural,' said +the strategic lover, throbbing throughout him at the +presumption which Liddy's words appeared to warrant + -- that his darling had thought of re-marriage. +'No -- -she doesn't promise it exactly. I merely +judge on my own account. +'Yes yes, I understand. When she alludes to the +possibility of marrying again, you conclude -- -- ' +

+'She never do allude to it, sir,' said Liddy, thinking +how very stupid Mr. Boldwood was getting. +'Of course not,' he returned hastily, his hope falling +again. ' You needn't take quite such long reaches with +your rake, Lydia -- short and quick ones are best. Well, +perhaps, as she is absolute mistress again now, it is wise +of her to resolve never to give up her freedom.' +' My mistress did certainly once say, though not +seriously, that she supposed she might marry again at +the end of seven years from last year, if she cared to +risk Mr. Troy's coming back and claiming her.' +' Ah, six years from the present time. Said that she +might. She might marry at once in every reasonable +person's opinion, whatever the lawyers may say to the +contrary.' +'Have you been to ask them?' said Liddy, innocently. +' Not I,' said Boldwood, growing red. ' Liddy, you +needn't stay here a minute later than you wish, so Mr, +Oak says. I am now going on a little farther. Good' +afternoon.' +He went away vexed with himself, and ashamed of +having for this one time in his life done anything which +could be called underhand. Poor Boldwood had no +more skill in finesse than a battering-ram, and he was +uneasy with a sense of having made himself to appear +stupid and, what was worse, mean. But he had, after +all, lighted upon one fact by way of repayment. It was +a singularly fresh and fascinating fact, and though not +without its sadness it was pertinent and real. In little +more than six years from this time Bathsheba might +certainly marry him. There was something definite in +that hope, for admitting that there might have been no +deep thought in her words to Liddy about marriage, +they showed at least her creed on the matter. +This pleasant notion was now continually in his mind. +Six years were a long time, but how much shorter than +never, the idea he had for so long been obliged to +endure .! Jacob had served twice seven years for +Rachel: what were six for such a woman as this ? He +tried to like the notion of waiting for her better than +that of winning her at once. Boldwood felt his love +to be so deep and strong and eternal, that it was pos+ +sible she +

+had never yet known its full volume, and this +patience in delay would afford him an opportunity of +giving sweet proof on the point. He would annihilate +the six years of his life as if they were minutes -- so little +did he value his time on earth beside her love. He +would let her see, all those six years of intangible ether+ +eal courtship, how little care he had for anything but as +it bore upon the consummation. +Meanwhile the early and the late summer brought +round the week in which Greenhill Fair was held. +This fair was frequently attended by the folk of Weather+ +bury. + +

+THE SHEEP FAIR -- TROY TOUCHES HIS WIFE'S HAND +GREENHILL was the Nijni Novgorod of South +Wessex; and the busiest, merriest, noisiest day of the +whole statute number was the day of the sheep fair. +This yearly gathering was upon the summit of a hill +which retained in good preservation the remains of an +ancient earthwork, consisting of a huge rampart and +entrenchnaent of an oval form encircling the top of +the hill, though somewhat broken down here and there. +To each of the two chief openings on opposite sides a +winding road ascended, and the level green space of +ten or fifteen acres enclosed by the bank was the +site of the fair. A few permanent erections dotted the +spot, but the majority of visitors patronized canvas alone +for resting and feeding under during the time of their +sojourn here. +Shepherds who attended with their flocks from long +distances started from home two or three days, or even +a week, before the fair, driving their charges a few miles +each day -- not more than ten or twelve -- and resting +them at night in hired fields by the wayside at pre+ +viously chosen points, where they fed, having fasted since +morning. The shepherd of each flock marched behind, +a bundle containing his kit for the week strapped upon +his shoulders, and in his hand his crook, which he used +as the staff of his pilgrimage. Several of the sheep +would get worn and lame, and occasionally a lambing +occurred on the road. To meet these contingencies, +there was frequently provided, to accompany the flocks +from the remoter points, a pony and waggon into which +the weakly ones were taken for the remainder of the +journey. +The Weatherbury Farms, however, were no such +long distance from the hill, and those arrangements +were not necessary in their case. But the large united +flocks of Bathsheba and Farmer Boldwood formed a +valuable and imposing multitude which +

+demanded much +attention, and on this account Gabriel, in addition to +Boldwood's shepherd and Cain Ball, accompanied them +along the way, through the decayed old town of Kings' +bere, and upward to the plateau, -- old George the dog +of course behind them. +When the autumn sun slanted over Greenhill this +morning and lighted the dewy flat upon its crest, nebu+ +lous clouds of dust were to be seen floating between +the pairs of hedges which streaked the wide prospect +around in all directions. These gradually converged +upon the base of the hill, and the flocks became +individually visible, climbing the serpentine ways which +led to the top. Thus, in a slow procession, they entered +the opening to which the roads tended, multitude after +multitude, horned and hornless -- blue flocks and red +flocks, buff flocks and brown flocks, even green and +salmon-tinted flocks, according to the fancy of the +colourist and custom of the farm. Men were shouting, +dogs were barking, with greatest animation, but the +thronging travellers in so long a journey had grown +nearly indifferent to such terrors, though they still +bleated piteously at the unwontedness of their experi+ +ences, a tall shepherd rising here and there in the midst +of them, like a gigantic idol amid a crowd of prostrate +devotees. +The great mass of sheep in the fair consisted of +South Downs and the old Wessex horned breeds, to +the latter class Bathsheba's and Farmer Boldwood's +mainly belonged. These filed in about nine o'clock, +their vermiculated horns lopping gracefully on each side +of their cheeks in geometrically perfect spirals, a small +pink and white ear nestling under each horn. Before +and behind came other varieties, perfect leopards as to +the full rich substance of their coats, and only lacking the +spots. There were also a few of the Oxfordshire breeed, +whose wool was beginning to curl like a child's flaxen +hair, though surpassed in this respect by the effeminate +Leicesters, which were in turn less curly than the Cots+ +wolds. But the most picturesque by far was a small +flock of Exmoors, which chanced to be there this year. +Their pied faces and legs, dark and heavy horns, tresses +of wool hanging round their swarthy +

+foreheads, quite +relieved the monotony of the flocks in that quarter. +All these bleating, panting, and weary thousands had +entered and were penned before the morning had far +advanced, the dog belonging to each flock being tied to +the corner of the pen containing it. Alleys for pedes+ +trians intersected the pens, which soon became crowded +with buyers and sellers from far and near. +In another part of the hill an altogether different +scene began to force itself upon the eye towards mid+ +day. A circular tent, of exceptional newness and size, +was in course of erection here. As the day drew on, +the flocks began to change hands, lightening the shep+ +herd's responsibilities ; and they turned their attention +to this tent and inquired of a man at work there, whose +soul seemed concentrated on tying a bothering knot in +no time, what was going on. +' The Royal Hippodrome Performance of Turpin's +Ride to York and the Death of Black Bess,' replied the +man promptly, without turning his eyes or leaving off +tying. +As soon as the tent was completed the band struck +up highly stimulating harmonies, and the announce+ +ment was publicly made, Black Bess standing in a con+ +spicuous position on the outside, as a living proof, If +proof were wanted, of the truth of the oracular utterances +from the stage over which the people were to enter. +These were so convinced by such genuine appeals to +heart and understanding both that they soon began to +crowd in abundantly, among the foremost being visible +Jan Coggan and Joseph Poorgrass, who were holiday +keeping here to-day, +''That's the great ruffen pushing me .! ' screamed a +woman in front of Jan over her shoulder at him when +the rush was at its fiercest. +'How can I help pushing ye when the folk behind +push me ?' said Coggan, in a deprecating tone, turning +without turning his body, which was jammed as in a vice. +Tjere was a silence ; then the drums and trumpets +again sent forth their echoing notes. The crowd was +again ectasied, +

+and gave another lurch in which Coggan +and Poorgrass were again thrust by those behind upon +the women in front. +'O that helpless feymels should be at the mercy of +she swayed like a reed shaken by the wind. +Now,' said Coggan, appealing in an earnest voice +to the public at large as it stood clustered about his +shoulder-blades,'ded ye ever hear such onreasonable +woman as that ? Upon my carcase, neighbours, if I +could onlyu get out of this cheesewring, the damn women +might eat the show for me.! ' +'Don't ye lose yer temper, Jan!' implored Joseph +Poorgrass, in a whisper. ' They might get their men to +murder us, for I think by the shine of their eyes that +they be a sinful form of womankind.' +Jan held his tongue, as if he had no objection to be +pacified to please a friend, and they gradually reached +the foot of the ladder, Poorgrass being flattened like a +jumping-jack, and the sixpence, for admission, which he +had got ready half-an-hour earlier, having become so +reeking hot in the tight squeeze of his excited hand that +the woman in spangles, brazen rings set with glass +diamonds, and with chalked face and shoulders, who +took the money of him, hastily dropped it again from +a fear that some trick had been played to burn her +fingers. So they all entered, and the cloth of the +tent, to the eyes of an observer on the outside, became +bulged into innumerable pimples such as we observe on +a sack of potatoes, caused by the various human heads, +backs, and elbows at high pressure within. +At the rear of the large tent there were two small +dressing-tents. One of these, alloted to the male per+ +formers, was partitioned into halves by a cloth ; and in +one of the divisions there was sitting on the grass, puli +ing on a pair of jack-boots, a young man whom we +instantly recognise as Sergeant Troy. +Troy's appearance in this position may be briefly +accounted for. The brig aboard which he was taken in +Budmouth Roads was about to start on a voyage, though +somewhat short of hands. Troy read the articles and +joined, but before they sailed a boat was despatched +across the bay to Lulwind cove; as he +

+had half expected, +his clothes were gone. He ultimately worked his passage +to the United States, where he made a precarious living +in various towns as Professor of Gymnastics, Sword +Exercise, Fencing, and Pugilism. A few months were +sufficient to give him a distaste for this kind of life. +There was a certain animal form of refinement in his +nature; and however pleasant a strange condition might +be whilst privations were easily warded off, it was dis+ +advantageously coarse when money was short. There +was ever present, too, the idea that he could claim a +home and its comforts did he but chose to return to +England and Weatherbury Farm. Whether Bathsheba +thought him dead was a frequent subject of curious +conjecture. To England he did return at last ; but the +but the fact of drawing nearer to Weatherbury abstracted its +fascinations, and his intention to enter his old groove at +the place became modified. It was with gloom he con+ +sidered on landing at Liverpool that if he were to go home +his reception would be of a kind very unpleasant to con+ +template ; for what Troy had in the way of emotion was +an occasional fitful sentiment which sometimes caused +him as much inconvenience as emotion of a strong and +healthy kind. Bathsheba was not a women to be made +a fool of, or a woman to suffer in silence; and how +could he endure existence with a spirited wife to whom +at first entering he would be beholden for food and +lodging ? Moreover, it was not at all unlikely that his +wife would fail at her farming, if she had not already +done so; and he would then become liable for her +maintenance : and what a life such a future of poverty +with her would be, the spectre of Fanny constantly be+ +tween them, harrowing his temper and embittering her +words! Thus, for reasons touching on distaste, regret, +and shame commingled, he put off his return from day +to day, and would have decided to put it off altogether +if he could have found anywhere else the ready-made +establishment which existed for him there. +At this time -- the July preceding the September in +which we find at Greenhill Fair -- he fell in with a +travelling circus which was performing in the outskirts of +a northern town. Troy introduced himself to the +manager by taming a restive horse of the troupe, hitting +a suspended apple with pistol-+ +

+bullet fired from the +animal's back when in full gallop, and other feats. For +his merits in these -- all more or less based upon his ex+ +periences as a dragoon-guardsman -- Troy was taken into +the company, and the play of Turpin was prepared with +a view to his personation of the chief character. Troy +was not greatly elated by the appreciative spirit in which +he was undoubtedly treated, but he thought the engage+ +ment might afford him a few weeks for consideration. +It was thus carelessly, and without having formed any +definite plan for the future, that Troy found himself +at Greenhill Fair with the rest of the company on this +day. +And now the mild autumn sun got lower, and in +front of the pavilion the following incident had taken +place. Bathsheba -- who was driven to the fair that day +by her odd man Poorgrass -- had, like every one else, +read or heard the announcement that Mr. Francis, the +Great Cosmopolitan Equestrian and Roughrider, would +enact the part of Turpin, and she was not yet too old +and careworn to be without a little curiosity to see him. +This particular show was by far the largest and grandest +in the fair, a horde of little shows grouping themselves +under its shade like chickens around a hen. The crowd +had passed in, and Boldwood, who had been watching +all the day for an opportunity of speaking to her, seeing +her comparatively isolated, came up to her side. +"I hope the sheep have done well to-day, Mrs. Troy?' +he said, nervously. +"O yes, thank you,' said Bathsheba, colour springing +up in the centre of her cheeks. "I was fortunate +enough to sell them all just as we got upon the hill, so +we hadn't to pen at all.' +"And now you are entirely at leisure ?' +"Yes, except that I have to see one more dealer in +two hours' time : otherwise I should be going home. +was looking at this large tent and the announcement. +Have you ever seen the play of "Turpin's Ride to +York?" Turpin was a real man, was he not ?' +"O yes, perfectly true -- all of it. Indeed, I think +I've heard Jan Coggan say that a relation of his knew +Tom King, Turpin's friend, quite well.' +

+"Coggan is rather given to strange stories connected +with his relations, we must remember. I hope they +can all be believed.' +"Yes, yes; we know Coggan. But Turpin is true +enough. You have never seen it played, I suppose?' +"Never. I was not allowed to go into these places +when I was young. Hark.! What's that prancing? +How they shout!' +"Black Bess just started off, I suppose. Am I right +in supposing you would like to see the performance, +Mrs. Troy ? Please excuse my mistake, if it is one; +but if you would like to, I'll get a seat for you with +pleasure.' Perceiving that she hesitated, he added, 'I +myself shall not stay to see it: I've seen it before.' +Now Bathsheba did care a little to see the show, and +had only withheld her feet from the ladder because she +feared to go in alone. She had been hoping that Oak +might appear, whose assistance in such cases was always +accepted as an inalienable right, but Oak was nowhere +to be seen; and hence it was that she said, "Then if +you will just look in first, to see if there's room, I think +I will go in for a minute or two.' +And so a short time after this Bathsheba appeared +in the tent with Boldwood at her elbow, who, taking +her to a " reserved ' seat, again withdrew. +This feature consisted of one raised bench in very +conspicuous part of the circle, covered with red cloth, +and floored with a piece of carpet, and Bathsheba +immediately found, to her confusion, that she was the +single reserved individual in the tent, the rest of the +crowded spectators, one and all, standing on their legs +on the borders of the arena, where they got twice as +good a view of the performance for half the money. +Hence as many eyes were turned upon her, enthroned +alone in this place of honour, against a scarlet back+ +ground, as upon the ponies and clown who were +engaged in preliminary exploits in the centre, Turpin +not having yet appeared. Once there, Bathsheba was +forced to make the best of it and remain: she sat +down, spreading her skirts with some dignity over the +unoccupied space on each side of her, and giving a +new and feminine aspect to the pavilion. In a few +minutes she noticed the fat red nape of Coggan's neck +among those standing just +

+below her, and Joseph Poor+ +grass's saintly profile a little further on. +The interior was shadowy with a peculiar shade. +The strange luminous semi-opacities of fine autumn +afternoons and eves intensified into Rembrandt effects +the few yellow sunbeams which came through holes +and divisions in the canvas, and spirted like jets of +gold-dust across the dusky blue atmosphere of haze +pervading the tent, until they alighted on inner surfaces +of cloth opposite, and shone like little lamps suspended +there. +Troy, on peeping from his dressing-tent through a +slit for a reconnoitre before entering, saw his unconscious +wife on high before him as described, sitting as queen +of the tournament. He started back in utter confusion, +for although his disguise efectually concealed his person+ +ality, he instantly felt that she would be sure to recognize +his voice. He had several times during the day thought +of the possibility of some Weatherbury person or other +appearing and recognizing him; but he had taken the +risk carelessly. If they see me, let them, he had said. +But here was Bathsheba in her own person; and the +reality of the scene was so much intenser than any of +his prefigurings that he felt he had not half enough +considered the point. +She looked so charming and fair that his cool mood +about Weatherbury people was changed. He had not +expected her to exercise this power over him in the +twinkling of an eye. Should he go on, and care nothing ? +He could not bring himself to do that. Beyond a politic +wish to remain unknown, there suddenly arose in him +now a sense of shame at the possibility that his +attractive young wife, who already despised him, should +despise him more by discovering him in so mean a +condition after so long a time. He actually blushed +at the thought, and was vexed beyond measure that +his sentiments of dislike towards Weatherbury should +have led him to dally about the country in this way. +But Troy was never more clever than when absolutely +at his wit's end. He hastily thrust aside the curtain +dividing his own little dressing space from that of the +manager and proprietor, who now appeared as the +individual called Tom King as far +

+down as his waist, and +as the aforesaid respectable manager thence to his toes. +"Here's the devil to pay!' said Troy. +"How's that ?' +"Why, there's a blackguard creditor in the tent I don't +want to see, who'll discover me and nab me as sure as +Satan if I open my mouth. What's to be done?' +You must appear now, I think.' +"I can't.' +But the play must proceed.' +"Do you give out that Turpin has got a bad cold, +and can't speak his part, but that he'll perform it just +the same without speaking.' +The proprietor shook his head. +"Anyhow, play or no play, I won't open my mouth, +said Troy, firmly. +"Very well, then let me see. I tell you how we'll +manage,' said the other, who perhaps felt it would be +extremely awkward to offend his leading man just at +this time. "I won't tell 'em anything about your +keeping silence; go on with the piece and say nothing, +doing what you can by a judicious wink now and then, +and a few indomitable nods in the heroic places, you +know. They'll never find out that the speeches are +omitted.' +This seemed feasible enough, for Turpin's speeches +were not many or long, the fascination of the piece +lying entirely in the action ; and accordingly the play +began, and at the appointed time Black Bess leapt +into the grassy circle amid the plaudits of the spectators. +At the turnpike scene, where Bess and Turpin are hotly +pursued at midnight by the officers, and half-awake +gatekeeper in his tasselled nightcap denies that any +horseman has passed, Coggan uttered a broad-chested +"Well done!' which could be heard all over the fair +above the bleating, and Poorgrass smiled delightedly +with a nice sense of dramatic contrast between our +hero, who coolly leaps the gate, and halting justice in +the form of his enemies, who must needs pull up +cumbersomely and wait to be let through. At the +death of Tom King, he could not refrain from seizing +Coggan by the hand, and whispering, with tears in his +eyes, "Of +

+course he's not really shot, Jan -- only +seemingly!' And when the last sad scene came on, +and the body of the gallant and faithful Bess had to +be carried out on a shutter by twelve volunteers from +among the spectators, nothing could restrain Poorgrass +from lending a hand, exclaiming, as he asked Jan to +join him, "Twill be something to tell of at Warren's in +future years, Jan, and hand down to our children.' For +many a year in Weatherbury, Joseph told, with the air +of a man who had had experiences in his time, that he +touched with his own hand the hoof of Bess as she lay +upon the board upon his shoulder. If, as some thinkers +hold, immortality consists in being enshrined in others' +memories, then did Black Bess become immortal that +day if she never had done so before. +Meanwhile Troy had added a few touches to his +ordinary make-up for the character, the more effectually +to disguise himself, and though he had felt faint qualms +on first entering, the metamorphosis effected by judici+ +ously "lining' his face with a wire rendered him safe from +the eyes of Bathsheba and her men. Nevertheless, he +was relieved when it was got through. +There a second performance in the evening, and +the tent was lighted up. Troy had taken his part very +quietly this time, venturing to indroduce a few speeches +on occasion ; and was just concluding it when, whilst +standing at the edge of the circle contiguous to the first +row of spectators, he observed within a yard of him the +eye of a man darted keenly into his side features. Troy +hastily shifted his position, after having recognized in +sworn enemy, who still hung about the outskirts of +At first Troy resolved to take no notice and abide +by circumstances. That he had been recongnized by +this man was highly probable; yet there was room for +a doubt. Then the great objection he had felt to +allowing news of his proximity to precede him to +Weatherbury in the event of his return, based on a +feeling that knowledge of his present occupation would +discredit him still further in his wife's eyes, returned +in full force. Moreover, should he resolve not to +return at all, a tale of his being alive and being in +the neighbourhood would be +

+awkward ; and he was +anxious to acquire a knowledge of his wife's temporal +affairs before deciding which to do. +In this dilemma Troy at once went out to recon+ +noitre. It occurred to him that to find Pennyways, and +make a friend of him if possible, would be a very wise +act. He had put on a thick beard borrowed from the +establishment, and this he wandered about the fair+ +field. It was now almost dark, and respectable people +were getting their carts and gigs ready to go home +The largest refreshment booth in the fair was provided +by an innkeeper from a neighbouring town. This was +considered an unexceptionable place for obtaining the +necessary food and rest: Host Trencher (as he was +jauntily called by the local newspaper) being a sub+ +stantial man of high repute for catering through all the +county round. The tent was divided into first and +second-class compartments, and at the end of the first+ +class division was a yet further enclosure for the most +exclusive, fenced of from the body of the tent by a +luncheon-bar, behind which the host himself stood +bustling about in white apron and shirt-sleeves, and look+ +ing as if he had never lived anywhere but under canvas +all his life. In these penetralia were chairs and a table, +which, on candles being lighted, made quite a cozy and +luxurious show, with an urn, plated tea and coffee pots, +china teacups, and plum cakes. +Troy stood at the entrance to the booth, where a +gipsy-woman was frying pancakes over a little fire of +sticks and selling them at a penny a-piece, and looked +over the heads of the people within. He could see +nothing of Pennyways, but he soon discerned Bathsheba +through an opening into the reserved space at the +further end. Troy thereupon retreated, went round the +tent into the darkness, and listened. He could hear +Bathsheba's voice immediately inside the canvas ; she +was conversing with a man. A warmth overspread his +face: surely she was not so unprincipled as to flirt in +a fair! He wondered if, then, she reckoned upon his +death as an absolute certainty. To get at the root of +the matter, Troy took a penknife from his pocket and +softly made two little cuts crosswise in the cloth, which, +by folding back the corners left a hole the size of a +

+wafer. Close to this he placed his face, withdrawing +it again in a movement of surprise; for his eye had +been within twelve inches of the top of Bathsheba's +head. lt was too near to be convenient. He made +another hole a little to one side and lower down, in a +shaded place beside her chair, from which it was easy +and safe to survey her by looking horizontally'. +Troy took in the scene completely now. She was +leaning back, sipping a cup of tea that she held in her +hand, and the owner of the male voice was Boldwood, +who had apparently just brought the cup to her, +Bathsheba, being in a negligent mood, leant so idly +against the canvas that it was pressed to the shape of +her shoulder, and she was, in fact, as good as in 'rioy's +arms; and he was obliged to keep his breast carefully +backward that she might not feel its warmth through the +cloth as he gazed in. +Troy found unexpected chords of feeling to be stirred +again within him as they had been stirred earlier in the +day. She was handsome as ever, and she was his. It +was some minutes before he could counteract his sudden +wish to go in, and claim her. Then he thought how +the proud girl who had always looked down upon him +even whilst it was to love him, would hate him on dis+ +covering him to be a strolling player. Were he to make +himself known, that chapter of his life must at all risks +be kept for ever from her and from the Weatherbury +people, or his name would be a byword throughout the +parish. He would be nicknamed 'Turpin' as long as +he lived. Assuredly before he could claim her these few +past months of his existence must be entirely blotted out. +"Shall I get you another cup before you start, +ma'am?' said Farmer Boldwood. +I thank you," said Bathsheba. " But I must be going +at once. It was great neglect in that man to keep me +waiting here till so late. I should have gone two hours +ago, if it had not been for him. I had no idea of +coming in here; but there's nothing so refreshing as a +cup of tea, though I should never have got one if you +hadn't helped me.' +Troy scrutinized her cheek as lit by the candles, +and watched each varying shade thereon, and the +white shell-like sinuosities +

+of her little ear. She took +out her purse and was insisting to Boldwood on paying +for her tea for herself, when at this moment Pennyways +entered the tent. Troy trembled : here was his scheme +for respectability endangered at once. He was about +to leave his hole of espial, attempt to follow Pennyways, +and find out if the ex-bailiff had recognized him, when +he was arrested by the conversation, and found he was +too late. +"Excuse me, ma'am,' said Pennyways ; "I've some +private information for your ear alone.' +"I cannot hear it now,' she said, coldly. That +Bathsheba could not endure this man was evident; in +fact, he was continually coming to her with some tale +or other, by which he might creep into favour at the +expense of persons maligned. +"I'll write it down,' said Pennyways, confidently. He +stooped over the table, pulled a leaf from a warped +pocket-book, and wrote upon the paper, in a round +hand -- +" <1Your husband is here. I've seen him. Who's the fool +now?' +This he folded small, and handed towards her. +Bathsheba would not read it ; she would not even put +out her hand to take it. Pennyways, then, with a laugh +of derision, tossed it into her lap, and, turning away, +left her. +From the words and action of Pennyways, Troy, +though he had not been able to see what the ex-bailiff +wrote, had not a moment's doubt that the note referred +to him. Nothing that he could think of could be done +to check the exposure. " Curse my luck.!' he whispered, +and added imprecations which rustled in the gloom like +a pestilent wind. Meanwhile Boldwood said, taking up +the note from her lap -- +"Don't you wish to read it, Mrs. Troy? If not, +I'll destroy it." +" Oh, well,' said Bathsheba, carelessly, "perhaps it is +unjust not to read it; but I can guess what it is about. +He wants me to recommend him, or it is to tell me of +some little scandal or another connected with my work+ +people. He's always doing that.' +Bathsheba held the note in her right hand. Bold+ +wood handed towards her a plate of cut bread-and+ +butter; when, in order to take a slice, she put the note +into her left hand, where she was still holding the purse, +and then allowed her hand to drop +

+beside her close to +the canvas. The moment had come for saving his game, +and Troy impulsively felt that he would play the card, +For yet another time he looked at the fair hand, and +saw the pink finger-tips, and the blue veins of the +wrrist, encircled by a bracelet of coral chippings which +she wore: how familiar it all was to him.! Then, with +the lightning action in which he was such an adept, he +noiselessly slipped his hand under the bottom of the +tent-cloth, which was far from being pinned tightly down, +lifted it a little way, keeping his eye to the hole, +snatched the note from her fingers, dropped the canvas, +and ran away in the gloom towards the bank and ditch, +smiling at the scream of astonishment which burst from +her. Troy then slid down on the outside of the rampart, +hastened round in the bottom of the entrenchment to +a distance of a hundred yards, ascended again, and +crossed boldly in a slow walk towards the front entrance +of the tent. His object was now to get to Pennyways, +and prevent a repetition of the announcement until +such time as he should choose. +Troy reached the tent door, and standing among the +groups there gathered, looked anxiously for Pennyways, +evidently not wishing to make himself prominent by +inquiring for him. One or two men were speaking of +a daring attempt that had just been made to rob a +young lady by lifting the canvas of the tent beside her. +It was supposed that the rogue had imagined a slip of +paper which she held in her hand to he a bank note, +for he had seized it, and made off with it, leaving her +purse behind. His chagrin and disappointment at dis+ +covering its worthlessness would be a good joke, it was +said. However, the occurrence seemed to have become +known to few, for it had not interrupted a fiddler, who +had lately begun playing by the door of the tent, nor +the four bowed old men with grim countenances and +walking-sticks in hand, who were dancing "Major +Malley's Reel' to the tune. Behind these stood +Pennyways. Troy glided up to him, beckoned, and +whispered a few words ; and with a mutual glance of +concurrence the two men went into the night together. + +

+BATHSHEBA TALKS WITH HER OUTRIDER +THE arrangement for getting back again to Weather+ +bury had been that Oak should take the place of Poor+ +grass in Bathsheba's conveyance and drive her home, +it being discovered late in the afternoon that Joseph +was suffering from his old complaint, a multiplying eye, +and was, therefore, hardly trustworthy as coachman and +protector to a woman. But Oak had found himself so +occupied, and was full of so many cares relative to +those portions of Boldwood's flocks that were not +disposed of, that Bathsheba, without telling Oak or +anybody, resolved to drive home herself, as she had +many times done from Casterbridge Market, and trust +to her good angel for performing the journey un+ +molested. But having fallen in with Farmer Boldwood +accidentally (on her part at least) at the refreshment+ +tent, she found it impossible to refuse his offer to ride +on horseback beside her as escort. It had grown +twilight before she was aware, but Boldwood assured +her that there was no cause for uneasiness, as the +moon would be up in half-an-hour. +Immediately after the incident in the tent, she had +risen to go -- now absolutely alarmed and really grateful +for her old lover's protection -- though regretting Gabriel's +absence, whose company she would have much preferred, +as being more proper as well as more pleasant, since he +was her own managing-man and servant. This, how+ +ever, could not be helped; she would not, on any +consideration, treat Boldwood harshly, having once +already iliused him, and the moon having risen, and +the gig being ready, she drove across the hilitop in +the wending way's which led downwards -- to oblivious +obscurity, as it seemed, for the moon and the hill it +flooded with light were in appearance on a level, the +rest of the world lying as a vast shady concave between +them. Boldwood mounted his horse, and +

+followed in +close attendance behind. Thus they descended into +the lowlands, and the sounds of those left on the +hill came like voices from the sky, and the lights were +as those of a camp in heaven. They soon passed the +merry stragglers in the immediate vicinity of the hill, +traversed Kingsbere, and got upon the high road. +The keen instincts of Bathsheba had perceived that +the farmer's staunch devotion to herself was still un+ +diminished, and she sympathized deeply. The sight +had quite depressed her this evening; had reminded +her of her folly; she wished anew, as she had wished +many months ago, for some means of making repara+ +tion for her fault. Hence her pity for the man who +so persistently loved on to his own injury and per+ +manent gloom had betrayed Bathsheba into an injudi+ +cious considerateness of manner, which appeared +almost like tenderness, and gave new vigour to the +exquisite dream of a Jacob's seven years service in +poor Boldwood's mind. +He soon found an excuse for advancing from his +position in the rear, and rode close by her side. They +had gone two or three miles in the moonlight, speaking +desultorily across the wheel of her gig concerning the +fair, farming, Oak's usefulness to them both, and other +indifferent subjects, when Boldwood said suddenly +and simply -- +"Mrs. Troy, you will marry again some day?' +This point-blank query unmistakably confused her, +it was not till a minute or more had elapsed that +she said, "I have not seriously thought of any such +subject.' +"I quite understand that. Yet your late husband +has been dead nearly one year, and -- ' +" You forget that his death was never absolutely +proved, and may not have taken place; so that I may +not be really a widow,' she said, catching at the straw of +escape that the fact afforded +"Not absolutely proved, perhaps, but it was proved +circumstantially. A man saw him drowning, too. No +reasonable person has any doubt of his death; nor +have you, ma'am, I should imagine. +"O yes I have, or I should have acted differently,' +she said, gently. "From the first, I have had a strange +uaccountable +

+feeling that he could not have perished, +but I have been able to explain that in several ways +since. Even were I half persuaded that I shall see +him no more, I am far from thinking of marriage with +another. I should be very contemptible to indulge in +such a thought.' +They were silent now awhile, and having struck into +an unfrequented track across a common, the creaks of +Boldwood's saddle and gig springs were all the +sounds to be heard. Boldwood ended the pause. +"Do you remember when I carried you fainting in +my arms into the King's Arms, in Casterbridge? Every +dog has his day: that was mine.' +"I know-i know it all,' she said, hurriedly. +"I, for one, shall never cease regretting that events +so fell out as to deny you to me.' +"I, too, am very sorry,' she said, and then checked +herself. "I mean, you know, I am sorry you thought +i -- ' +"I have always this dreary pleasure in thinking over +those past times with you -- that I was something to +you before <1he>1 was anything, and that you belonged +<1almost>1 to me. But, of course, that's nothing. You +never liked me.' +" I did ; and respected you, too.' +"Do you now?' +"Yes.' +"Which?' +"How do you mean which?' +"Do you like me, or do you respect me?' +"I don't know -- at least, I cannot tell you. It is +difficult for a woman to define her feelings in language +which is chiefly made by men to express theirs. My +treatment of you was thoughtless, inexcusable, wicked.! +I shall eternally regret it. If there had been anything +I could have done to make amends I would most +gladly have done it -- there was nothing on earth I so +longed to do as to repair the error. But that was not +possible.' +"Don't blame yourself -- you were not so far in the +wrong as you suppose. Bathsheba, suppose you had +real complete proof +

+that you are what, in fact, you are + -- a widow -- would you repair the old wrong to me by +marrying me?' +"I cannot say. I shouldn't yet, at any rate.' +"But you might at some future time of your life?' +"O yes, I might at some time.' +"Well, then, do you know that without further proof +of any kind you may marry again in about six years +from the present -- subject to nobody's objection or +blame?' +"O yes,' she said, quickly. " I know all that. But +don't talk of it -- seven or six years -- where may we all +be by that time?' +"They will soon glide by, and it will seem an +astonishingly short time to look back upon when they +are past -- much less than to look forward to now.' +"Yes, yes; I have found that in my own experience.' +" Now listen once more,' Boldwood pleaded. "If I +wait that time, will you marry me? You own that you +owe me amends-iet that be your way of making them.' +"But, Mr. Boldwood -- six years -- ' +"Do you want to be the wife of any other man?' +"No indeed! I mean, that I don't like to talk +about this matter now. Perhaps it is not proper, and +I ought not to allow it. Let us drop it. My husband +may be living, as I said.' +"Of course, I'll drop the subject if you wish. But +propriety has nothing to do with reasons. I am a +middle-aged man, willing to protect you for the +remainder of our lives. On your side, at least, there +is no passion or blamable haste -- on mine, perhaps, +there is. But I can't help seeing that if you choose +from a feeling of pity, and, as you say, a wish to make +amends, to make a bargain with me for a far-ahead +time -- an agreement which will set all things right +and make me happy, late though it may be -- there is +no fault to be found with you as a woman. Had'nt +I the first place beside you? Haven't you been +almost mine once already? Surely you can say to +me as much as this, you will have me back again +should circumstances permit ? Now, pray speak ! O +Bathsheba, promise -- it is only a little promise -- that +if you marry again, you will marry me.!' +His tone was so excited that she almost feared him +at this +

+moment, even whilst she sympathized. It was +a simple physical fear -- the weak of the strong; there +no emotional aversion or inner repugnance. She +said, with some distress in her voice, for she remembered +vividly his outburst on the Yalbury Road, and shrank +from a repetition of his anger: -- +"I will never marry another man whilst you wish me +to be your wife, whatever comes -- but to say more -- you +have taken me so by surprise -- -' +"But let it stand in these simple words -- that in six +years' time you will be my wife ? Unexpected accidents +we'll not mention, because those, of course, must be +given way to. Now, this time I know you will keep +your word.' +"That's why I hesitate to give it.' +"But do give it ! Remember the past, and be kind.' +She breathed; and then said mournfully : "O what +shall I do ? I don't love you, and I much fear that I +never shall love you as much as a woman ought to love +a husband. If you, sir, know that, and I can yet give +you happiness by a mere promise to marry at the end of +six years, if my husband should not come back, it is a +great honour to me. And if you value such an act of +friendship from a woman who doesn't esteem her+ +self as she did, and has little love left, why it +wili -- ' +"Promise!.' +" -- Consider, if I cannot promise soon.' +"But soon is perhaps never?' +"O no, it is not.! I mean soon. Christmas, we'll +say.' +"Christmas.!' He said nothing further till he +added : "Well, I'll say no more to you about it till that +time.' +Bathsheba was in a very peculiar state of mind, +which showed how entirely the soul is the slave of the +body, the ethereal spirit dependent for its quality upon +the tangible flesh and blood. It is hardly too much to +say that she felt coerced by a force stronger than her +own will, not only into the act of promising upon this +singularly remote and vague matter, but into the emo+ +tion of fancying that she ought to promise. When the +weeks intervening between the night of this conversa+ +

+tion and Christmas day began perceptibly to diminish, +her anxiety and perplexity increased. +One day she was led by an accident into an oddly +confidential dialogue with Gabriel about her difficulty +It afforded her a little relief -- of a dull and cheerless +kind. They were auditing accounts, and something +occurred in the course of their labours which led Oak +to say, speaking of Boldwood, " He'll never forget you, +ma'am, never.' +Then out came her trouble before she was aware ; +and she told him how she had again got into the toils; +what Boldwood had asked her, and how he was ex+ +pecting her assent. "The most mournful reason of all +for my agreeing to it,' she said sadly, 'and the true +reason why I think to do so for good or for evil, is this + -- it is a thing I have not breathed to a living soul as +yet-i believe that if I don't give my word, he'll go out +of his mind.' +"Really, do ye?' said Gabriel, gravely. +'I believe this,' she continued, with reckless frank+ +ness; "and Heaven knows I say it in a spirit the very +reverse of vain, for I am grieved and troubled to my +soul about it-i believe I hold that man's future in my +hand. His career depends entirely upon my treatment +of him. O Gabriel, I tremble at my responsibility, for +it is terrible.!' +"Well, I think this much, ma'am, as I told you years +ago,' said Oak, 'that his life is a total blank whenever +he isn't hoping for 'ee; but I can't suppose-i hope +that nothing so dreadful hangs on to it as you fancy. +His natural manner has always been dark and strange, +you know. But since the case is so sad and oddiike, +why don't ye give the conditional promise? I think I +would.' +"But is it right? Some rash acts of my past life +have taught me that a watched woman must have very +much circumspection to retain only a very little credit, +and I do want and long to be discreet in this! And +six years -- why we may all be in our graves by that +BATHSHEBA TALKS WITH OAK +time, even if Mr. Troy does not come back again, which +he may not impossibly do.! Such thoughts give a sort +of absurdity to the scheme. Now, isn't it preposterous, +

+Gabriel? However he came to dream of it, I cannot think. +But is it wrong? You know -- you are older than I.' +"Eight years older, ma'am.' +"Yes, eight years -- and is it wrong?' +"Perhaps it would be an uncommon agreement for a +man and woman to make : I don't see anything really +wrong about it,' said Oak, slowly. "In fact the very +thing that makes it doubtful if you ought to marry en +under any condition, that is, your not caring about him + -- for I may suppose -- -- ' +"Yes, you may suppose that love is wanting,' she +said shortly. "Love is an utterly bygone, sorry, worn+ +out, miserable thing with me -- for him or any one else.' +"Well, your want of love seems to me the one thing +that takes away harm from such an agreement with him. +If wild heat had to do wi' it, making ye long to over+ +come the awkwardness about your husband's vanishing, +it mid be wrong ; but a cold-hearted agreement to oblige +a man seems different, somehow. The real sin, ma'am +in my mind, lies in thinking of ever wedding wi' a man +you don't love honest and true.' +"That I'm willing to pay the penalty of,' said Bath+ +sheba, firmly. " You know, Gabriel, this is what I can+ +not get off my conscience -- that I once seriously injured +him in sheer idleness. If I had never played a trick +upon him, he would never have wanted to marry me. +O if I could only pay some heavy damages in money +to him for the harm I did, and so get the sin off my +soul that way!... Well, there's the debt, which can +only be discharged in one way, and I believe I am +bound to do it if it honestly lies in my power, without +any consideration of my own future at all. When a +rake gambles away his expectations, the fact that it is +an inconvenient debt doesn't make him the less liable. +I've been a rake, and the single point I ask you is, con+ +sidering that my own scruples, and the fact that in the +eye of the law my husband is only missing, will keep +any man from marrying me until seven years have +passed -- am I free to entertain such an idea, even +though 'tis a sort of penance -- for it will be that? I +hate the act of marriage under such circumstances, and +the class of women I should seem to belong to by doing +it!' +

+"It seems to me that all depends upon whe'r you +think, as everybody else do, that your husband is +dead.' +"I shall get to, I suppose, because I cannot help +feeling what would have brought him back long before +this time if he had lived.' +"Well, then, in religious sense you will be as free +to <1think>1 o' marrying again as any real widow of one +year's standing. But why don't ye ask Mr. Thirdly's +advice on how to treat Mr. Boldwood?' +"No. When I want a broad-minded opinion for +general enlightenment, distinct from special advice, I +never go to a man who deals in the subject pro+ +fessionally. So I like the parson's opinion on law, the +lawyer's on doctoring, the doctor's on business, and my +business-man's -- that is, yours -- on morals.' +'And on love -- -- ' +"My own.' +"I'm afraid there's a hitch in that argument,' said +Oak, with a grave smile. +She did not reply at once, and then saying, 'Good +evening Mr. Oak,' went away. +She had spoken frankly, and neither asked nor ex+ +pected any reply from Gabriel more satisfactory than +that she had obtained. Yet in the centremost parts of +her complicated heart there existed at this minute a +little pang of disappointment, for a reason she would +not allow herself to recognize. Oak had not once +wished her free that he might marry her himself -- had +not once said, "I could wait for you as well as he.' +That was the insect sting. Not that she would have +listened to any such hypothesis. O no -- for wasn't +she saying all the time that such thoughts of the future +were improper, and wasn't Gabriel far too poor a man +to speak sentiment to her? Yet he might have just +hinted about that old love of his, and asked, in a playful +off-hand way, if he might speak of it. It would have +seemed pretty and sweet, if no more; and then she +would have shown how kind and inoffensive a woman's +"No' can sometimes be. But to give such cool advice + -- the very advice she had asked for -- it ruffled our +heroine all the afternoon. + +

+CONVERGING COURSES + I +CHRISTMAS-EVE came, and a party that Boldwood +was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk +in Weatherbury. It was not that the rarity of Christmas +parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that +Boldwood should be the giver. The announcement +had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one +should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or +that some much-respected judge was going upon the +stage. That the party was intended to be a truly jovial +one there was no room for doubt. A large bough of +mistletoe had been brought from the woods that day, and +suspended in the hall of the bachelor's home. Holly +and ivy had followed in armfuls. From six that morning +till past noon the huge wood fire in the kitchen roared +and sparkled at its highest, the kettle, the saucepan, and +the threeiegged pot appearing in the midst of the flames +like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego ; moreover, +roasting and basting operations were continually +carried on in front of the genial blaze. +As it grew later the fire was made up in the large +long hall into which the staircase descended, and all +encumbrances were cleared out for dancing. The log +which was to form the back-brand of the evening fire +was the uncleft trunk of a tree, so unwieldy that it could +be neither brought nor rolled to its place ; and accord+ +ingly two men were to be observed dragging and heaving +it in by chains and levers as the hour of assembly drew +near. +In spite of all this, the spirit of revelry was wanting +In the atmosphere of the house. Such a thing had +never been attempted before by its owner, and it was +now done as by a wrench. Intended gaieties would +insist upon appearing like solemn grandeurs, the organ+ +ization of the whole effort was +

+carried out coldly,by +hirelings, and a shadow seemed to move about the +rooms, saying that the proceedings were unnatural to +the place and the lone man who lived therein, and hence +not good. +Bathsheba was at this time in her room, dressing for +the event. She had called for candles, and Liddy +entered and placed one on each side of her mistress's +glass. +"Don't go away, Liddy,' said Bathsheba, almost +timidly.' I am foolishly agitated-i cannot tell why. +I wish I had not been obliged to go to this dance; but +there's no escaping now. I have not spoken to Mr. +Boldwood since the autumn, when I promised to see +him at Christmas on business, but I had no idea there +was to be anything of this kind.' +"But I would go now,' said Liddy, who was going +with her; for Boldwood had been indiscriminate in his +invitations. +"Yes, I shall make my appearance, of course,' said +Bathsheba. ' But I am <1the cause>1 of the party, and that +upsets me! -- Don't tell, Liddy.' +"O no, ma'am, You the cause of it, ma'am ?' +"Yes. I am the reason of the party-i. If it had +not been for me, there would never have been one. I +can't explain any more -- there's no more to be explained. +I wish I had never seen Weatherbury.' +"That's wicked of you -- to wish to be worse off than +you are.' +"No, Liddy. I have never been free from trouble +since I have lived here, and this party is likely to bring +me more. Now, fetch my black silk dress, and see how +it sits upon me.' +"But you will leave off that, surely, ma'am? You +have been a widowiady fourteen months, and ought to +brighten up a little on such a night as this.' +"Is it necessary? No; I will appear as usual, for if +I were to wear any light dress people would say things +about me, and I should seem to he rejoicing when I am +solemn all the time. The party doesn't suit me a bit; +but never mind, stay and help to finish me off.' + III +

+Boldwood was dressing also at this hour. A tailor +from Casterbridge was with him, assisting him in the +operation of trying on a new coat that had just beem +brought home. +Never had Boldwood been so fastidious, unreasonable +about the fit, and generally difficult to please. The +tailor walked round and round him, tugged at the waist, +pulled the sleeve, pressed out the collar, and for the +first time in his experience Boldwood was not bored+ +Times had been when the farmer had exclaimed against +all such niceties as childish, but now no philosophic or +hasty rebuke whatever was provoked by this man for +attaching as much importance to a crease in the coat +as to an earthquake in South America. Boldwood at +last expressed himself nearly satisfied, and paid the bill, +the tailor passing out of the door just as Oak came in +to report progress for the day. +"Oh, Oak,' said Boldwood. "I shall of course see +you here to-night. Make yourself merry. I am deter+ +mined that neither expense nor trouble shall be spared.' +"I'll try to be here, sir, though perhaps it may not +be very early,' said Gabriel, quietly. "I am glad indeed +to see such a change in 'ee from what it used to be.' +" Yes-i must own it-i am bright to-night : cheerful +and more than cheerfui-so much so that I am almost +sad again with the sense that all of it is passing away. +And sometimes, when I am excessively hopeful and +blithe, a trouble is looming in the distance : so that I +often get to look upon gloom in me with content, and +to fear a happy mood. Still this may be absurd-i feel +that it is absurd. Perhaps my day is dawning at last.' +"I hope it 'ill be a long and a fair one.' +"Thank you -- thank you. Yet perhaps my cheerfui +mess rests on a slender hope. And yet I trust my hope. +It is faith, not hope. I think this time I reckon with +my host. -- Oak, my hands are a little shaky, or some+ +thing; I can't tie this neckerchief properly. Perhaps +you will tie it for me. The fact is, I have not been well +lately, you know.' +"I am sorry to hear that, sir.' +

+"Oh, it's nothing. I want it done as well as you can, +please. Is there any late knot in fashion, Oak?' +"I don't know, sir,' said Oak. His tone had sunk to +sadness. +Boldwood approached Gabriel, and as Oak tied the +neckerchief the farmer went on feverishly -- +"Does a woman keep her promise, Gabriel?' +"If it is not inconvenient to her she may.' +" -- Or rather an implied promise.' +"I won't answer for her implying,' said Oak, with +faint bitterness. "That's a word as full o' holes as a +sieve with them.' +"Oak, don't talk like that. You have got quite +cynical lately -- how is it? We seem to have shifted our +positions: I have become the young and hopeful man, +and you the old and unbelieving one. However, does +a woman keep a promise, not to marry, but to enter on +an engagement to marry at some time? Now you +know women better than i-tell me.' +"I am afeard you honour my understanding too much. +However, she may keep such a promise, if it is made +with an honest meaning to repair a wrong.' +"It has not gone far yet, but I think it will soon -- +yes, I know it will,' he said, in an impulsive whisper. +"I have pressed her upon the subject, and she inclines +to be kind to me, and to think of me as a husband at +a long future time, and that's enough for me. How +can I expect more? She has a notion that a woman +should not marry within seven years of her husband's +disappearance -- that her own self shouldn't, I mean -- +because his body was not found. It may be merely +this legal reason which influences her, or it may be a +religious one, but she is reluctant to talk on the point+ +Yet she has promised -- implied -- that she will ratify an +engagement to-night.' +"Seven years,' murmured Oak. +"No, no -- it's no such thing!' he said, with im+ +patience. Five years, nine months, and a few days. +Fifteen months nearly have passed since he vanished, +and is there anything so wonderful in an engagement of +little more than five years?' +"It seems long in a forward view. Don't build too +much upon such promises, sir. Remember, you have +once be'n deceived. Her meaning may be good; but +there -- she's young yet.' +

+"Deceived? Never! ' said Boldwood, vehemently. +"She never promised me at that first time, and hence +she did not break her promise! If she promises me, +she'll marry me, Bathsheba is a woman to her word.' + IV +Troy was sitting in a corner of The White Hart +tavern at Casterbridge, smoking and drinking a steaming +mixture from a glass. A knock was given at the door, +and Pennyways entered. +"Well, have you seen him?' Troy inquired, pointing +to a chair. +"Boldwood?' +"No -- Lawyer Long.' +"He wadn' at home. I went there first, too.' +"That's a nuisance.' +"'Tis rather, I suppose.' +"Yet I don't see that, because a man appears to be +drowned and was not, he should be liable for anything. +I shan't ask any lawyer -- not I.' +"But that's not it, exactly. If a man changes his +name and so forth, and takes steps to deceive the world +and his own wife, he's a cheat, and that in the eye of +the law is ayless a rogue, and that is ayless a lammocken +vagabond; and that's a punishable situation.' +"Ha-ha! Well done, Pennyways.' Troy had laughed, +but it was with some anxiety that he said, "Now, what +I want to know is this, do you think there's really +anything going on between her and Boldwood? Upon +my soul, I should never have believed it! How she. +must detest me! Have you found out whether she +has encouraged him?' +"I haen't been able to learn. There's a deal of +feeling on his side seemingly, but I don't answer for +her. I didn't know a word about any such thing till +yesterday, and all I heard then was that she was gwine +to the party at his house to-night. This is the first +time she has ever gone there, they say. And they say +that she've not so much as spoke to him since they were +at Greenhill Fair: but what can folk believe o't ? How+ +ever, she's not fond of him -- quite offish and quite care +less, I know.' +

+"I'm not so sure of that.... She's a handsome +woman, Pennyways, is she not? Own that you never +saw a finer or more splendid creature in your life. +Upon my honour, when I set eyes upon her that day +I wondered what I could have been made of to be able +to leave her by herself so long. And then I was +hampered with that bothering show, which I'm free of +at last, thank the stars.' He smoked on awhile, and +then added, "How did she look when you passed by +yesterday?' +"Oh, she took no great heed of me, ye may well +fancy; but she looked well enough, far's I know. Just +flashed her haughty eyes upon my poor scram body, and +then let them go past me to what was yond, much as if +I'd been no more than a leafless tree. She had just got +off her mare to look at the last wring-down of cider for +the year; she had been riding, and so her colours were +up and her breath rather quick, so that her bosom +plimmed and feli-plimmed and feli-every time plain +to my eye. Ay, and there were the fellers round her +wringing down the cheese and bustling about and +saying, Ware o' the pommy, ma'am : 'twill spoil yer +gown. "Never mind me," says she. Then Gabe +brought her some of the new cider, and she must +needs go drinking it through a strawmote, and not in +a nateral way at all. "Liddy," says she, "bring indoors +a few gallons, and I'll make some cider-wine." Sergeant, +I was no more to her than a morsel of scroffin the fuei +house!' +"I must go and find her out at once -- O yes, I see +that-i must go. Oak is head man still, isn't he?' +"Yes, 'a b'lieve. And at Little Weatherbury Farm +too. He manages everything.' +"Twill puzzle him to manage her, or any other man +of his compass!' +"I don't know about that. She can't do without +him, and knowing it well he's pretty independent. +And she've a few soft corners to her mind, though +I've never been able to get into one, the devil's in't!' +"Ah baily she's a notch above you, and you must +own it: a higher class of animai-a finer tissue. How+ +ever, stick to me, and neither this haughty goddess, +dashing piece of womanhood, Juno-wife of mine (Juno +was a goddess, you know), nor +

+anybody else shall hurt +you. But all this wants looking into, I perceive. +What with one thing and another, I see that my work +is well cut out for me.' + v +"How do I look to-night, Liddy?' said Bathsheba, +giving a final adjustment to her dress before leaving the +glass. +"I never saw you look so well before. Yes-i'll tell +you when you looked like it -- that night, a year and a +half ago, when you came in so wildiike, and scolded us +for making remarks about you and Mr. Troy.' +"Everybody will think that I am setting myself to +captivate Mr. Boldwood, I suppose,' she murmured. +"At least they'll say so. Can't my hair be brushed +down a little flatter? I dread going -- yet I dread the +risk of wounding him by staying away.' +"Anyhow, ma'am, you can't well be dressed plainer +than you are, unless you go in sackcloth at once. 'Tis +your excitement is what makes you look so noticeable +to-night.' +"I don't know what's the matter, I feel wretched at +one time, and buoyant at another. I wish I could have +continued quite alone as I have been for the last year +or so, with no hopes and no fears, and no pleasure and +no grief. +"Now just suppose Mr. Boldwood should ask you + -- only just suppose it -- to run away with him, what +would you do, ma'am?' +"Liddy -- none of that,' said Bathsheba, gravely. +"Mind, I won't hear joking on any such matter. Do +you hear?' +"I beg pardon, ma'am. But knowing what rum +things we women be, I just said -- however, I won't +speak of it again.' +"No marrying for me yet for many a year; if ever, +'twill be for reasons very, very different from those you +think, or others will believe! Now get my cloak, for it +is time to go.' + VI +"Oak, said Boldwood, "before you go I want to +mention what has been passing in my mind lately -- +that little arrangement we made about your share in the +farm I mean. That share is small, too small, consider+ +ing how little I attend to business now, and how much +time and thought you give to it. Well, +

+since the world +is brightening for me, I want to show my sense of it +by increasing yopur proportion in the partnership. I'll +make a memorandum of the arrangement which struck +me as likely to be convenient, for I haven't time to talk +about it now; and then we'll discuss it at our leisure. +My intention is ultimately to retire from the manage+ +ment altogether, and until you can take all the expendi+ +ture upon your shoulders, I'll be a sleeping partner in +the stock. Then, if I marry her -- and I hope-i feel I +shall, why -- -- ' +"Pray don't speak of it, sir,' said Oak, hastily. "We +don't know what may happen. So many upsets may +befall 'ee. There's many a slip, as they say -- and I +would advise you-i know you'll pardon me this once -- +not to be <1too sure>1.' +"I know, I know. But the feeling I have about in+ +creasing your share is on account of what I know of you +Oak, I have learnt a little about your secret: your +interest in her is more than that of bailiff for an em+ +ployer. But you have behaved like a man, and I, as a +sort of successful rivai-successful partly through your +goodness of heart -- should like definitely to show my +sense of your friendship under what must have been a +great pain to you.' +"O that's not necessary, thank 'ee,' said Oak, +hurriedly. "I must get used to such as that; other +men have, and so shall I.' +Oak then left him. He was uneasy on Boldwood's +account, for he saw anew that this constant passion +of the farmer made him not the man he once had +been. +As Boldwood continued awhile in his room alone -- +ready and dressed to receive his company -- the mood of +anxiety about his appearance seemed to pass away, and +to be succeeded by a deep solemnity. He looked out +of the window, and regarded the dim outline of the trees +upon the sky, and the twilight deepening to darkness. +Then he went to a locked closet, and took from +a locked drawer therein a small circular case the size of +a pilibox, and was about to put it into his pocket. But +he lingered to open the cover and take a momentary +glance inside. It contained a woman's finger-ring, set +all the way round with small +

+diamonds, and from its +appearance had evidently been recently purchased. +Boldwood's eyes dwelt upon its many sparkles a long +time, though that its material aspect concerned him +little was plain from his manner and mien, which were +those of a mind following out the presumed thread of +that jewel's future history. +The noise of wheels at the front of the house became +audible. Boldwood closed the box, stowed it away +carefully in his pocket, and went out upon the landing. +The old man who was his indoor factotum came at the +same moment to the foot of the stairs. +"They be coming, sir-iots of 'em -- a-foot and a+ +driving!' +"I was coming down this moment. Those wheels I +heard -- is it Mrs. Troy?' +"No, sir -- 'tis not she yet.' +A reserved and sombre expression had returned to +Boldwood's face again, but it poorly cloaked his feei +ings when he pronounced Bathsheba's name; and his +feverish anxiety continued to show its existence by a +galloping motion of his fingers upon the side of his thigh +as he went down the stairs. + VII +"How does this cover me?' said Troy to Pennyways, +"Nobody would recognize me now, I'm sure.' +He was buttoning on a heavy grey overcoat of +Noachian cut, with cape and high collar, the latter being +erect and rigid, like a girdling wall, and nearly reaching +to the verge of travelling cap which was pulled down +over his ears. +Pennyways snuffed the candle, and then looked up +and deliberately inspected Troy +"You've made up your mind to go then?' he +said. +"Made up my mind? Yes; of course I have.' +"Why not write to her? 'Tis a very queer corner +that you have got into, sergeant. You see all these things +will come to light if you go back, and they won't sound +well at all. Faith, if I was you I'd even bide as you be + -- a single man of the name of Francis. A good wife is +good, but the best wife is not so good +

+as no wife at all. +Now that's my outspoke mind, and I've been called a +long-headed feller here and there.' +"All nonsense!' said Troy, angrily. "There she is +with plenty of money, and a house and farm, and +horses, and comfort, and here am I living from hand to +mouth -- a needy adventurer. Besides, it is no use +talking now; it is too late, and I am glad of it ; I've been +seen and recognized here this very afternoon. I should +have gone back to her the day after the fair, if it hadn't +been for you talking about the law, and rubbish about +getting a separation; and I don't put it off any longer. +What the deuce put it into my head to run away at all, +I can't think! Humbugging sentiment -- that's what it +was. But what man on earth was to know that his wife +would be in such a hurry to get rid of his name!' +"I should have known it. She's bad enough for +anything.' +"Pennyways, mind who you are talking to.' +"Well, sergeant, all I say is this, that if I were you I'd +go abroad again where I came from -- 'tisn't too late to do +it now. I wouldn't stir up the business and get a bad +name for the sake of living with her -- for all that about +your play-acting is sure to come out, you know, although +you think otherwise. My eyes and limbs, there'll be a +racket if you go back just now -- in the middle of Bold+ +wood's Christmasing!' +"H'm, yes. I expect I shall not be a very welcome +guest if he has her there,' said the sergeant, with a slight +laugh. "A sort of Alonzo the Brave; and when I go in +the guests will sit in silence and fear, and all laughter +and pleasure will be hushed, and the lights in the +chamber burn blue, and the worms -- Ugh, horrible! -- +Ring for some more brandy, Pennyways, I felt an +awful shudder just then! Well, what is there besides? +A stick-i must have a walking-stick.' +Pennyways now felt himself to be in something of a +difficulty, for should Bathsheba and Troy become recon+ +ciled it would be necessary to regain her good opinion +if he would secure the patronage of her husband. I +sometimes think she likes you yet, and is a good woman +at bottom,' he said, as a saving sentence. "But there's +no telling to a certainty from a body's outside. Well, +

+you'll do as you like about going, of course, sergeant, +and as for me, I'll do as you tell me.' +"Now, let me see what the time is,' said Troy, after +emptying his glass in one draught as he stood. 'Half+ +past six o'clock. I shall not hurry along the road, and +shall be there then before nine.' +CONCURRITUR + +

+CONCURRITUR -- HORAE MOMENTO +OUTSIDE the front of Boldwood's house a group of +men stood in the dark, with their faces towards the door, +which occasionally opened and closed for the passage of +some guest or servant, when a golden rod of light would +stripe the ground for the moment and vanish again, +leaving nothing outside but the glowworm shine of the +pale lamp amid the evergreens over the door. +"He was seen in Casterbridge this afternoon -- so the +boy said,' one of them remarked in a whisper. "And l +for one believe it. His body was never found, you know.' +"'Tis a strange story,' said the next. "You may +depend upon't that she knows nothing about it.' +"Not a word.' +"Perhaps he don't mean that she shall,' said another +man. +"If he's alive and here in the neighbourhood, he +means mischief,' said the first. "Poor young thing: +I do pity her, if 'tis true. He'll drag her to the dogs.' +"O no; he'll settle down quiet enough,' said one +disposed to take a more hopeful view of the case. +"What a fool she must have been ever to have had +anything to do with the man! She is so self-willed and +independent too, that one is more minded to say it +serves her right than pity her.' +"No, no. I don't hold with 'ee there. She was no +otherwise than a girl mind, and how couid she tell what +the man was made of? If 'tis really true, 'tis too hard +a punishment, and more than she ought to hae. -- Hullo, +who's that?' This was to some footsteps that were +heard approaching. +"William Smallbury,' said a dim figure in the shades, +coming up and joining them. 'Dark as a hedge, to+ +night, isn't it? I all but missed the plank over the river +ath'art there in the bottom -- +

+never did such a thing +before in my life. Be ye any of Boldwood's workfolk?' +He peered into their faces. +"Yes -- all o' us. We met here a few minutes ago.' +"Oh, I hear now -- that's Sam Samway : thought I +knowed the voice, too. Going in?' +"Presently. But I say, William,' Samway whispered, +"have ye heard this strange tale?' +"What -- that about Sergeant Troy being seen, d'ye +mean, souls?' said Smallbury, also lowering his voice. +"Ay: in Casterbridge.' +"Yes, I have. Laban Tall named a hint of it to me +but now -- but I don't think it. Hark, here Laban +comes himself, 'a b'lieve.' A footstep drew near. +"Laban?' +"Yes, 'tis I,' said Tall. +"Have ye heard any more about that?' +"No,' said Tall, joining the group. "And I'm in+ +clined to think we'd better keep quiet. If so be 'tis not +true, 'twill flurry her, and do her much harm to repeat +it; and if so be 'tis true, 'twill do no good to forestall +her time o' trouble. God send that it mid be a lie, for +though Henery Fray and some of 'em do speak against +her, she's never been anything but fair to me. She's +hot and hasty, but she's a brave girl who'll never tell a +lie however much the truth may harm her, and I've no +cause to wish her evil.' +"She never do tell women's little lies, that's true ; and +'tis a thing that can be said of very few. Ay, all the +harm she thinks she says to yer face: there's nothing +underhand wi' her.' +They stood silent then, every man busied with his +own thoughts, during which interval sounds of merri+ +ment could be heard within. Then the front door again +opened, the rays streamed out, the weliknown form of +Boldwood was seen in the rectangular area of light, the +door closed, and Boldwood walked slowly down the path. +"'Tis master,' one of the men whispered, as he neared +them. "We'd better stand quiet -- he'll go in again +directly. He would think it unseemly o' us to be +loitering here. +Boldwood came on, and passed by the men without +

+seeing them, they being under the bushes on the grass. +He paused, leant over the gate, and breathed a long +breath. They heard low words come from him. +"I hope to God she'll come, or this night will be +nothing but misery to me! O my darling, my darling, +why do you keep me in suspense like this?' +He said this to himself, and they all distinctly heard +it. Boldwood remained silent after that, and the noise +from indoors was again just audible, until, a few minutes +later, light wheels could be distinguished coming down +the hill. They drew nearer, and ceased at the gate. +Boldwood hastened back to the door, and opened it; +and the light shone upon Bathsheba coming up the +path. +Boldwood compressed his emotion to mere welcome: +the men marked her light laugh and apology as she met +him: he took her into the house; and the door closed +again. +"Gracious heaven, I didn't know it was like that with +him!' said one of the men. "I thought that fancy of +his was over long ago. +"You don't know much of master, if you thought +that,' said Samway. +"I wouldn't he should know we heard what 'a said +for the world,' remarked a third. +"I wish we had told of the report at once,' the first +uneasily continued. "More harm may come of this than +we know of. Poor Mr. Boldwood, it will, be hard upon +en. I wish Troy was in -- -- Well, God forgive me +for such a wish! A scoundrel to play a poor wife such +tricks. Nothing has prospered in Weatherbury since he +came here. And now I've no heart to go in. Let's +look into Warren's for a few minutes first, shall us, +neighbours?' +Samway, Tall, and Smallbury agreed to go to Warren's, +and went out at the gate, the remaining ones entering +the house. The three soon drew near the malt-house, +approaching it from the adjoining orchard, and not by +way of the street. The pane of glass was illuminated +as usual. Smallbury was a little in advance of the rest +when, pausing, he turned suddenly to his companions +and said, "Hist! See there.' +

+The light from the pane was now perceived to be +shining not upon the ivied wall as usual, but upon some +object close to the glass. It was a human face. +"Let's come closer,' whispered Samway; and they +approached on tiptoe. There was no disbelieving the +report any longer. Troy's face was almost close to the +pane, and he was looking in. Not only was he looking in, +but he appeared to have been arrested by a conversation +which was in progress in the malt-house, the voices of +the interlocutors being those of Oak and the maltster. +"The spree is all in her honour, isn't it -- hey?' said +the old man. "Although he made believe 'tis only +keeping up o' Christmas?' +"I cannot say,' replied Oak. +"O 'tis true enough, faith. I cannot understand +Farmer Boldwood being such a fool at his time of life +as to ho and hanker after thik woman in the way 'a do, +and she not care a bit about en.' +The men, after recognizing Troy's features, withdrew +across the orchard as quietly as they had come. The +air was big with Bathsheba's fortunes to-night : every +word everywhere concerned her. When they were quite +out of earshot all by one instinct paused. +"It gave me quite a turn -- his face,' said Tall, +breathing. +"And so it did me,' said Samway. "What's to be +done?' +"I don't see that 'tis any busincss of ours,' Smallbury +murmured dubiously. +"But it is! 'Tis a thing which is everybody's business, +said Samway. "We know very well that master's on a +wrong tack, and that she's quite in the dark, and we +should let 'em know at once. Laban, you know her +best -- you'd better go and ask to speak to her.' +"I bain't fit for any such thing,' said Laban, nervously. +"I should think William ought to do it if anybody. He's +oldest.' +"I shall have nothing to do with it,' said Smallbury. +"'Tis a ticklish business altogether. Why, he'll go on +to her himself in a few minutes, ye'll see.' +"We don't know that he will. Come, Laban.' +

+"Very well, if I must I must, I suppose,' Tall reluct+ +antly answered. "What must I say?' +"Just ask to see master.' +"O no; I shan't speak to Mr. Boldwood. If I tell +anybody, 'twill be mistress.' +"Very well,' said Samway. +Laban then went to the door. When he opened it +the hum of bustle rolled out as a wave upon a still +strand -- the assemblage being immediately inside the +hali-and was deadened to a murmur as he closed it +again. Each man waited intently, and looked around at +the dark tree tops gently rocking against the sky and +occasionally shivering in a slight wind, as if he took +interest in the scene, which neither did. One of them +began walking up and down, and then came to where +he started from and stopped again, with a sense that +walking was thing not worth doing now. +"I should think Laban must have seen mistress by +this time,' said Smallbury, breaking the silence. "Per+ +haps she won't come and speak to him.' +The door opened. Tall appeared, and joined them +"Well?' said both. +"I didn't like to ask for her after all,' Laban faltered +out. "They were all in such a stir, trying to put a little +spirit into the party. Somehow the fun seems to hang +fire, though everything's there that a heart can desire, +and I couldn't for my soul interfere and throw damp +upon it -- if 'twas to save my life, I couldn't!' +"I suppose we had better all go in together,' said +Samway, gloomily. "Perhaps I may have a chance of +saying a word to master.' +So the men entered the hall, which was the room +sellected and arranged for the gathering because of its +size. The younger men and maids were at last just +beginning to dance. Bathshesba had been perplexed +how to act, for she was not much more than a slim +young maid herself, and the weight of stateliness sat +heavy upon her. Sometimes she thought she ought +not to have come under any circumstances; then she +considered what cold unkindness that would have been, +and finally resolved +

+upon the middle course of staying +for about an hour only, and gliding off unobserved, +having from the first made up her mind that she could +on no account dance, sing, or take any active part in +the proceedings. +Her allotted hour having been passed in chatting +and looking on, Bathsheba told Liddy not to hurry her+ +self, and went to the small parlour to prepare for +departure, which, like the hall, was decorated with holly +and ivy, and well lighted up. +Nobody was in the room, but she had hardly +HORAE MOMENTO +been there a moment when the master of the house +entered. +"Mrs. Troy -- you are not going?' he said. "We've +hardly begun!' +"If you'll excuse me, I should like to go now.' Her +manner was restive, for she remembered her promise, +and imagined what he was about to say. "But as it is +not late,' she added, "I can walk home, and leave my +man and Liddy to come when they choose.' +"I've been trying to get an opportunity of speaking +to you,' said Boldwood. "You know perhaps what I +long to say?' +Bathsheba silently looked on the floor. +"You do give it?' he said, eagerly. +"What?' she whispered. +"Now, that's evasion! Why, the promise. I don't +want to intrude upon you at all, or to let it become +known to anybody. But do give your word! A +mere business compact, you know, between two people +who are beyond the influence of passicn.' Boldwood +knew how false this picture was as regarded himself; +but he had proved that it was the only tone in which +she would allow him to approach her. "A promise to +marry me at the end of five years and three-quarters. +You owe it to me!' +"I feel that I do,' said Bathsheba ; "that is, if you +demand it. But I am a changed woman -- an unhappy +woman -- and not -- not -- -- " +" You are still a very beautiful woman, said Boldwood. +Honesty and pure conviction suggested the remark, +unaccompanied by any perception that it might have +been adopted by blunt flattery to soothe and win her. +However, it had not much effect now, for for she said, +in a +

+passionless murmur which was in itself a proof of +her words: "I have no feeling in the matter at all. +And I don't at all know what is right to do in my +diddicult Position, and I have nobody to advise me. But +I give my promise, if I must. I give it as the rendering of +a debt, conditionally, of course, on my being a widow.' +"You'll marry me between five and six years hence ? ' +"Don't press me too hard. I'll marry nobody +else.' +" But surely you will name the time, or there's nothing +in the promise at all?' +"O, I don't know, pray let me go!' she said, her +bosom beginning to rise. "I am afraid what to do.! +want to be just to you, and to be that seems to be wrong+ +ing myself, and perhaps it is breaking the commandments. +There is considerable doubt of his death, and then it +is dreadful; let me ask a solicitor, Mr. Boldwood, if I +ought or no!' +"Say the words, dear one, and the subject shall be +dismissed ; a blissrul loving intimacy of six years, and +then marriage -- O Bathsheba, say them!' he begged in +a husky voice, unable to sustain the forms of mere +friendship any longer. "Promise yourself to me; I +deserve it, indeed I do, for I have loved you more than +anybody in the world! And if I said hasty words and +showed uncalled-for heat of manner towards you, believe +me, dear, I did not mean to distress you ; I was in +agony, Bathsheba, and I did not know what I said. +You wouldn't let a dog suffer what I have suffered, +could you but know it! Sometimes I shrink from your +knowing what I have felt for you, and sometimes I am +distressed that all of it you never will know. Be +gracious, and give up a little to me, when I would give +up mylife for you!' +The trimmings of her dress, as they quivered against +the light, showed how agitated she was, and at last she +burst out crying. 'And you'll not -- press me -- about +anything more -- if I say in five or six years?' she +sobbed, when she had power to frame the words. +"Yes, then I'll leave it to time.' +"Very well. If he does not return, I'll marry you +in six years from this day, if we both live,' she said +solemnly. +

+"And you'll take this as a token from me.' +Boldwood had come close to her side, and now he +clasped one of her hands in both his own, and lifted it +to his breast. +"What is it? Oh I cannot wear a ring!' she ex+ +claimed, on seeing what he held; "besides, I wouldn't +have a soul know that it's an engagement! Perhaps it +is improper? Besides, we are not engaged in the usual +sense, are we ? Don't insist, Mr. Boldwood -- don't!' +In her trouble at not being able to get her hand away +from him at once, she stamped passionately on the floor +with one foot, and tears crowded to her eyes again. +"It means simply a pledge -- no sentiment -- the seal +of a practical compact,' he said more quictly, but still +retaining her hand in his firm grasp. "Come, now!' +And Boldwood slipped the ring on her finger. +"I cannot wear it,' she said, weeping as if her heart +would break. " You frighten me, almost. So wild a +scheme! Please let me go home!' +" Only to-night : wear it just to-night, to please me!.' +Bathsheba sat down in a chair, and buried her face +in her handkerchief, though Boldwood kept her hand +yet. At length she said, in a sort of hopeless whisper -- +"Very well, then, I will to-night, if you wish it so +earnestly. Now loosen my hand; I will, indeed I will +wear it to-night.' +"And it shall be the beginning of a pleasant secret +courtship of six years, with a wedding at the end?' +"It must be, I suppose, since you will have it so!' +she said, fairly beaten into non-resistance. +Boldwood pressed her hand, and allowed it to drop +in her lap. "I am happy now,' he said. "God bless +you!' +He left the room, and when he thought she might +be sufficiently composed sent one of the maids to her +Bathsheba cloaked the effects of the late scene as she +best could, followed the girl, and in a few moments +came downstairs with her hat and cloak on, ready to go. +To get to the door it was necessary to pass through the +hall, and before doing so she paused on the bottom of +the staircase which descended into one corner, to take +a last look at the gathering. +There was no music or dancing in progress just now. +At the +

+lower end, which had been arranged for the work+ +folk specially, a group conversed in whispers, and with +clouded looks. Boldwood was standing by the fireplace, +and he, too, though so absorbed in visions arising from +her promise that he scarcely saw anything, seemed at +that moment to have observed their peculiar manner, +and their looks askance. +"What is it you are in doubt about, men?' he said. +One of them turned and replied uneasily: 'It was +something Laban heard of, that's all, sir.' +"News? Anybody married or engaged, born or +dead?' inquired the farmer, gaily. "Tell it to us, Tall. +One would think from your looks and mysterious ways +that it was something very dreadful indeed.' +"O no, sir, nobody is dead,' said Tall. +"I wish somebody was,' said Samway, in a whisper. +"What do you say, Samway?' asked Boldwood, some+ +what sharply. "If you have anything to say, speak out; +if not, get up another dance.' +"Mrs. Troy has come downstairs,' said Samway to +Tall. "If you want to tell her, you had better do it now.' +"Do you know what they mean?' the farmer asked +Bathsheba, across the room. +"I don't in the least," said Bathsheba. +There was a smart rapping at the door. One of +the men opened it instantly, and went outside. +"Mrs. Troy is wanted,' he said, on returning. +"Quite ready,' said Bathsheba. "Though I didn't +tell them to send.' +"It is a stranger, ma'am,' said the man by the door. +"A stranger?' she said. +"Ask him to come in,' said Boldwood. +The message was given, and Troy, wrapped up to +his eyes as we have seen him, stood in the doorway. +There was an unearthly silence, all looking towards +the newcomer. Those who had just learnt that he +was in the neighbourhood recognized him instantly; +those who did not were perplexed. Nobody noted +Bathsheba. She was leaning on the stairs. Her brow +had heavily contracted; her whole face was +

+pallid, her +lips apart, her eyes rigidly staring at their visitor. +Boldwood was among those who did not notice that +he was Troy. "Come in, come in!' he repeated, +cheerfully, "and drain a Christmas beaker with us, +stranger!' +Troy next advanced into the middle of the room, +took off his cap, turned down his coat-collar, and looked +Boldwood in the face. Even then Boldwood did not +recognize that the impersonator of Heaven's persistent +irony towards him, who had once before broken in +upon his bliss, scourged him, and snatched his delight +away, had come to do these things a second time. +Troy began to laugh a mechanical laugh: Boldwood +recognized him now. +Troy turned to Bathsheba. The poor girl's wretched+ +ness at this time was beyond all fancy or narration. +She had sunk down on the lowest stair; and there +she sat, her mouth blue and dry, and her dark eyes +fixed vacantly upon him, as if she wondered whether it +were not all a terrible illusion. +Then Troy spoke. "Bathsheba, I come here for +you!' +She made no reply. +" Come home with me: come! +Bathsheba moved her feet a little, but did not rise. +Troy went across to her. +"come, madam, do you hear what I say?' he said, +peremptorily. +A strange voice came from the fireplace -- a voice +sounding far off and confined, as if from a dungeon. +Hardly a soul in the assembly recognized the thin tones +to be those of Boldwood. Sudden dispaire had trans+ +formed him. +"Bathsheba, go with your husband!' +Nevertheless, she did not move. The truth was +that Bathsheba was beyond the pale of activity -- and +yet not in a swoon. She was in a state of mental <1gutta>1 +<1serena>1; her mind was for the minute totally deprived of +light at the same time no obscuration was apparent +from without. +Troy stretched out his hand to pull her her towards him, +when she quickly shrank back. This visible dread of +him seemed to irritate Troy, and he seized her arm and +pulled it sharply. +

+Whether his grasp pinched her, or +whether his mere touch was the ccause, was never known, +but at the moment of his seizure she writhed, and gave +a quick, low scream. +The scream had been heard but a few seconds When +it was followed by sudden deafening report that +echoed through the room and stupefied them all. The +oak partition shook with the concussion, and the place +was filled with grey smoke. +In bewilderment they turned their eyes to Boldwood. +at his back, as stood before the fireplace, was a gun+ +rack, as is usual in farmhouses, constructed to hold two +guns. When Bathsheba had cried out in her husband's +grasp, Boldwood's face of gnashing despair had changed. +The veins had swollen, and a frenzied look had gleamed +in his eye. He had turned quickly, taken one of the +guns, cocked it, and at once discharged it at Troy. +Troy fell. The distance apart of the two men was +so small that the charge of shot did not spread in the +least, but passed like a bullet into his body. He uttered +a long guttural sigh -- there was a contraction -- an exten+ +sion -- then his muscles relaxed, and he lay still. +Boldwood was seen through the smoke to be now +again engaged with the gun. It was double-barrelled, +and he had, meanwhile, in some way fastened his hand+ +kerchief to the trigger, and with his foot on the other +end was in the act of turning the second barrel upon +himself. Samway his man was the first to see this, and +in the midst of the general horror darted up to him. +Boldwood had already twitched the handkerchief, and +the gun exploded a second time, sending its contents, +by a timely blow from Samway, into the beam which +crossed the ceiling. +"Well, it makes no difference!' Boldwood gasped. +"There is another way for me to die.' +Then he broke from Samway, crossed the room to +Bathsheba, and kissed her hand. He put on his hat, +opened the door, and went into the darkness, nobody +thinking of preventing him. + +

+AFTER THE SHOCK +BOLDWOOD passed into the high road and turned +in the direction of Casterbridge. Here he walked at +an even, steady pace over Yalbury Hill, along the dead +level beyond, mounted Mellstock Hill, and between +eleven and twelve o'clock crossed the Moor into the town. +The streets were nearly deserted now, and the waving +lamp-flames only lighted up rows of grey shop-shutters, +and strips of white paving upon which his step echoed +as his passed along. He turned to the right, and halted +before an archway of heavy stonework, which was closed +by an iron studded pair of doors. This was the entrance +to the gaol, and over it a lamp was fixed, the light en+ +abling the wretched traveller to find a belipull. +The small wicket at last opened, and a porter +appeared. Boldwood stepped forward, and said some+ +thing in a low tone, when, after a delay, another man +came. Boldwood entered, and the door was closed +behind him, and he walked the world no more. +Long before this time Weatherbury had been +thoroughly aroused, and the wild deed which had ter+ +minated Boldwood's merrymaking became known to +all. Of those out of the house Oak was one of the +first to hear of the catastophe, and when he entered +the room, which was about five minutes after Boldwood's +exit, the scene was terrible. All the female guests were +huddled aghast against the walls like sheep in a storm, +and the men were bewildered as to what to do. As for +Bathsheba, she had changed. She was sitting on the +floor beside the body of Troy, his head pillowed in her +lap, where she had herself lifted it. With one hand she +held her handkerchief to his breast and covered the +wound, though scarcely a single drop of blood had +flowed, and with the other she tightly clasped one of +his. The household convulsion had made her herself +again. The +

+temporary coma had ceased, and activity +had come with the necessity for it. Deeds of endur+ +ance, which seem ordinary in philosophy, are rare in +conduct, and Bathsheba was astonishing all around her +now, for her philosophy was her conduct, and she +seldom thought practicable what she did not practise. +She was of the stuff of which great men's mothers +are made. She was indispensable to high generation, +hated at tea parties, feared in shops, and loved at crises. +Troy recumbent in his wife's lap formed now the sole +spectacle in the middle of the spacious room. +"Gabriel,' she said, automatically, when he entered, +turning up a face of which only the weliknown lines +remained to tell him it was hers, all else in the picture +having faded quite. "Ride to Casterbridge instantly +for a surgeon. It is, I believe, useless, but go. Mr. +Boldwood has shot my husband.' +Her statement of the fact in such quiet and simple +words came with more force than a tragic declamation, +and had somewhat the effect of setting the distorted +images in each mind present into proper focus. Oak, +almost before he had comprehended anything beyond +the briefest abstract of the event, hurried out of the +room, saddled a horse and rode away. Not till he had +ridden more than a mile did it occur to him that he +would have done better by sending some other man +on this errand, remaining himself in the house. What +had become of Boldwood? He should have been +looked after. Was he mad -- had there been a quarrel? +Then how had Troy got there? Where had he come +from? How did this remarkable reappearance effect +itself when he was supposed by many to be at the +bottom of the sea? Oak had in some slight measure +been prepared for the presence of Troy by hearing a +rumour of his return just before entering Boldwood's +house ; but before he had weighed that information, this +fatal event had been superimposed. However, it was too +late now to think of sending another messenger, and +he rode on, in the excitement of these self-inquiries +not discerning, when about three miles from Caster+ +bridge, a square-figured pedestrian passing along +under the dark hedge in the same direction as his +own. +The miles necessary to be traversed, and other +hindrances +

+incidental to the lateness of the hour and +the darkness of the night, delayed the arrival of Mr, +Aldritch, the surgeon ; and more than three hours +passed between the time at which the shot was fired +and that of his entering the house. Oak was addition+ +ally detained in Casterbridge through having to give +notice to the authorities of what had happened; and +he then found that Boldwood had also entered the +town, and delivercd himself up. +In the meantime the surgeon, having hastened into +the hall at Boldwood's, found it in darkness and quite +deserted. He went on to the back of the house, +where he discovered in the kitchen an old man, of +whom he made inquiries. +"She's had him took away to her own house, sir,' +said his informant. +"Who has?' said the doctor. +"Mrs. Troy. 'A was quite dead, sir.' +This was astonishing information. "She had no +right to do that,' said the doctor. "There will have +to be an inquest, and she should have waited to know +what to do.' +"Yes, sir; it was hinted to her that she had better +wait till the law was known. But she said law was +nothing to her, and she wouldn't let her dear husband's +corpse bide neglected for folks to stare at for all the +crowners in England.' +Mr. Aldritch drove at once back again up the +hill to Bathsheba's. The first person he met was +poor Liddy, who seemed literally to have dwindled +smaller in these few latter hours. "What has been +done?' he said. +"I don't know, sir,' said Liddy, with suspended +breath. "My mistress has done it all.' +"Where is she?' +" Upstairs with him, sir. When he was brought +home and taken upstairs, she said she wanted no +further help from the men. And then she called me, +and made me fill the bath, and after that told me I +had better go and lie down because I looked so ill. +Then she locked herself into the room alone with him, +and would not let a nurse come in, or anybody at all. +But I thought l'd wait in the next room in case she +should want me. I heard her moving about inside +for more than an +

+hour, but she only came out once, +and that was for more candles, because hers had burnt +down into the socket. She said we were to let her +know when you or Mr. Thirdly came, sir.' +Oak entered with the parson at this moment, and +they all went upstairs together, preceded by Liddy +Smallbury. Everything was silent as the grave when +they paused on the landing. Liddy knocked, and +Bathsheba's dress was heard rustling across the room: +the key turned in the lock, and she opened the door. +Her looks were calm and nearly rigid, like a slightly +animated bust of Melpomene. +"Oh, Mr. Aldritch, you have come at last,' she +murmured from her lips merely, and threw back the +door. "Ah, and Mr. Thirdly. Well, all is done, and +anybody in the world may see him now.' She then +passed by him, crossed the landing, and entered +another room. +Looking into the chamber of death she had vacated +they saw by the light of the candles which were on the +drawers a tall straight shape lying at the further end +of the bedroom, wrapped in white. Everything around +was quite orderly. The doctor went in, and after a +few minutes returned to the landing again, where +Oak and the parson still waited. +"It is all done, indeed, as she says,' remarked Mr. +Aldritch, in a subdued voice. "The body has been +undressed and properly laid out in grave clothes. +Gracious Heaven -- this mere girl! She must have the +nerve of a stoic!' +"The heart of a wife merely,' floated in a whisper +about the ears of the three, and turning they saw +Bathsheba in the midst of them. Then, as if at that +instant to prove that her fortitude had been more of +will than of spontaneity, she silently sank down between +them and was a shapeless heap of drapery on the floor. +The simple consciousness that superhuman strain was +no longer required had at once put a period to her +power to continue it. +They took her away into a further room, and the +medical attendance which had been useless in Troy's +case was invaluable in Bathsheba's, who fell into a +series of fainting-fits that had a serious aspect for a +time. The sufferer was got to bed, +

+and Oak, finding +from the bulletins that nothing really dreadful was to +be apprehended on her score, left the house. Liddy +kept watch in Bathsheba's chamber, where she heard +her mistress, moaning in whispers through the dull +slow hours of that wretched night: "O it is my fault + -- how can I live! O Heaven, how can I live!' + +

+THE MARCH FOLLOWING -- "BATHSHEBA BOLDWOOD' +WE pass rapidly on into the month of March, to a +breezy day without sunshine, frost, or dew. On Yai +bury Hill, about midway between Weatherbury and +Casterbridge, where the turnpike road passes over +the crest, a numerous concourse of people had +gathered, the eyes of the greater number being fre+ +quently stretched afar in a northerly direction. The +groups consisted of a throng of idlers, a party of +javelin-men, and two trumpeters, and in the midst +were carriages, one of which contained the high +sheriff. With the idlers, many of whom had mounted +to the top of a cutting formed for the road, were several +Weatherbury men and boys -- among others Poorgrass, +Coggan, and Cain Ball. +At the end of half-an-hour a faint dust was seen in +the expected quarter, and shortly after a travelling+ +carriage, bringing one of the two judges on the Western +Circuit, came up the hill and halted on the top. The +judge changed carriages whilst a flourish was blown +by the big-cheeked trumpeters, and a procession being +formed of the vehicles and javelin-men, they all pro+ +ceeded towards the town, excepting the Weatherbury +men, who as soon as they had seen the judge move +off returned home again to their work. +" Joseph, I zeed you squeezing close to the carriage," +said Coggan, as they walked. "Did ye notice my lord +judge's face ?' +"I did,' said Poorgrass. "I looked hard at en, as +if I would read his very soul; and there was mercy +in his eyes -- or to speak with the exact truth required +of us at this solemn time, in the eye that was towards +me.' +"Well, I hope for the best,' said Coggan, though +bad that must be. However, I shan't go to the trial, +and I'd advise the rest of ye that bain't wanted to bide +away. 'Twill disturb his +

+mind more than anything to +see us there staring at him as if he were a show.' +" The very thing I said this morning,' observed Joseph, +"Justice is come to weigh him in the balances," I said +in my reflectious way, "and if he's found wanting, so +be it unto him," and a bystander said "Hear, hear, +A man who can talk like that ought to be heard.' +But I don't like dwelling upon it, for my few words +are my few words, and not much; though the speech +of some men is rumoured abroad as though by nature +formed for such.' +"So 'tis, Joseph. And now, neighbours, as I said, +every man bide at home.' +The resolution was adhered to ; and all waited +anxiously for the news next day. Their suspense +was diverted, however, by a discovery which was made +in the afternoon, throwing more light on Boldwood's +conduct and condition than any details which had +preceded it. +That he had been from the time of Greenhill Fair +until the fatal Christmas Eve in excited and unusual +moods was known to those who had been intimate +with him; but nobody imagined that there had shown +in him unequivocal symptoms of the mental derange+ +ment which Bathsheha and Oak, alone of all others +and at different times, had momentarily suspected. +In a locked closet was now discovered an extraordinary +collection of articles. There were several sets of ladies' +dresses in the piece, of sundry expensive materials; +silks and satins, poplins and velvets, all of colours +which from Bathsheba's style of dress might have been +judged to be her favourites. There were two muffs, +sable and ermine. Above all there was a case of +jewellery, containing four heavy gold bracelets and +several lockets and rings, all of fine quality and manu+ +facture. These things had been bought in Bath and +other towns from time to time, and brought home by +stealth. They were all carefully packed in paper, and +each package was labelled " Bathsheba Boldwood,' a +date being subjoined six years in advance in every +instance. +These somewhat pathetic evidences of a mind crazed +with care and love were the subject of discourse in +

+Warren's malt-house when Oak entered from Caster+ +bridge with tidings of the kiln glow shone upon +it, told the tale sufficiently well. Boldwood, as every +one supposed he would do, had pleaded guilty, and +had been sentenced to death. +The conviction that Boldwood had not been morally +responsible for his later acts now becam general. Facts +elicited previous to the trial had pointed strongly in the +same direction, but they had not been of sufficient weight +to lead to an order for an examination into the state +of Boldwood's mind. It was astonishing, now that a +presumption of insanity was raised, how many collateral +circumstances were remembered to which a condition +of mental disease seemed to afford the only explanation + -- among others, the unprecedented neglect of his corn +stacks in the previous summer. +A petition was addressed to the Home Secretary, +advancing the circumstances which appeared to justify +a request for a reconsideration of the sentence. It was +not "numerously signed ' by the inhabitants of Caster+ +bridge, as is usual in such cases, for Boldwood had +never made many friends over the counter. The shops +thought it very natural that a man who, by importing +direct from the producer, had daringly set aside the +first great principle of provincial existence, namely +that God made country villages to supply customers +to county towns, should have confused ideas about +the Decalogue. The prompters were a few merciful +men who had perhaps too feelingly considered the +facts latterly unearthed, and the result was that evidence +was taken which it was hoped might remove the crime +in a moral point of view, out of the category of wilful +murder, and lead it to be regarded as a sheer outcome +of madness. +The upshot of the petition was waited for in Weather+ +bury with solicitous interest. The execution had been +fixed for eight o'clock on a Saturday morning about a +fortnight after the sentence was passed, and up to +Friday afternoon no answer had been recieved. At +that time Gabriel came from Casterbridge Gaol, whither +he had been to wish Boldwood good-bye, and turned +down a by-street to avoid the town. When past the last +

+house he heard a hammering, and lifting his bowed +head he looked back for a moment. Over the chimneys +he could see the upper part of the gaol entrance, rich +and glowing in the afternoon sun, and some moving +figures were there. They were carpenters lifting a post +into a vertical position within the parapet. He with+ +drew his eyes quickly, and hastened on. +It was dark when he reached home, and half the +village was out to meet him. +"No tidings,' Gabriel said, wearily. "And I'm afraid +there's no hope. I've been with him more than two +hours.' +"Do ye think he <1really>1 was out of his mind when he +did it?' said Smallbury. +" I can't honestly say that I do,' Oak replied. " How+ +ever, that we can talk of another time. Has there been +any change in mistress this afternoon?' +"None at all.' +"Is she downstairs?' +"No. And getting on so nicely as she was too. +She's but very little better now again than she was at +Christmas. She keeps on asking if you be come, and +if there's news, till one's wearied out wi' answering her. +Shall I go and say you've come?' +"No,' said Oak. "There's a chance yet; but I +couldn't stay in town any longer -- after seeing him too, +So Laban -- Laban is here, isn't he ? ' +" Yes,' said Tall. +"What I've arranged is, that you shall ride to town +the last thing to-night ; leave here about nine, and wait +a while there, getting home about twelve. If nothing +has been received by eleven to-night, they say there's +no chance at all.' +"I do so hope his life will be spared,' said Liddy. +"If it is not, she'll go out of her mind too. Poor thing; +her sufferings have been dreadful; she deserves any+ +body's pity.' +"Is she altered much ? ' said Coggan. +"If you haven't seen poor mistress since Christmas, +you wouldn't know her,' said Liddy. " Her eyes are so +miserable that she's not the same woman. Only two +years ago she was a romping girl, and now she's this!' +Laban departed as directed, and at eleven o'clock +that night +

+several of the villagers strolled along the +road to Casterbridge and awaited his arrivai-among +them Oak, and nearly all the rest of Bathsheba's men. +Gabriel's anxiety was great that Boldwood might be +saved, even though in his conscience he felt that he +ought to die; for there had been qualities in the farmer +which Oak loved. At last, when they all were weary +the tramp of a horse was heard in the distance -- +First dead, as if on turf it trode, +Then, clattering on the village road +In other pace than forth he yode. +'We shall soon know now, one way or other,' said +Coggan, and they all stepped down from the bank on +which they had been standing into the road, and the +rider pranced into the midst of them. +"Is that you, Laban ? ' said Gabriel. +"Yes -- 'tis come. He's not to die. 'Tis confine+ +ment during her Majesty's pleasure.' +"Hurrah!' said Coggan, with a swelling heart. "God's +above the devil yet!' + +

+BEAUTY IN LONELINESS -- AFTER ALL +BATHSHEBA revived with the spring. The utter +prostration that had followed the low fever from which +she had sufered diminished perceptibly when all un+ +certainty upon every subject had come to an end. +But she remained alone now for the greater part of +her time, and stayed in the house, or at furthest went +into the garden. She shunned every one, even Liddy, +and could be brought to make no confidences, and to +ask for no sympathy. +As the summer drew on she passed more of her time +in the open air, and began to examine into farming +matters from sheer necessity, though she never rode +out or personally superintended as at former times. +One Friday evening in August she walked a little way +along the road and entered the village for the first time +since the sombre event of the preceding Christmas. +None of the old colour had as yet come to her cheek, +and its absolute paleness was heightened by the jet black +of her gown, till it appeared preternatural. When she +reached a little shop at the other end of the place, +which stood nearly opposite to the churchyard, Bath+ +sheba heard singing inside the church, and she knew +that the singers were practising. She crossed the road, +opened the gate, and entered the graveyard, the high +sills of the church windows effectually screening her +from the eyes of those gathered within. Her stealthy +walk was to the nook wherein Troy had worked at +planting flowers upon Fanny Robin's grave, and she +came to the marble tombstone. +A motion of satisfaction enlivened her face as she +read the complete inscription. First came the words of +Troy himself: -- +

+ERECTED BY FRANCIS TROY +IN BELOVEO MEMORY OF +FANNY ROBIN, +WHO DIED OCTOBER 9, 18 -- , +AGED 20 YEARS. +Unerneath this was now inscribed in new letters: -- +IN THE SAME GRAVE LIE +THE REMAINS OF THE AFORESAID +FRANCIS TROY, +WHO DIED DECEMBER 24TH, 18 -- , +Whilst she stood and read and meditated the tones of +the organ began again in the church, and she went +with the same light step round to the porch and listened. +The door was closed, and the coir was learning a new +hymn. Bathsheba was stirred by emotions which +latterly she had assumed to be altogether dead within +her. The little attenuated voices of the children +brought to her ear in destinct utterance the words they +sang without thought or comprehension -- +Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, +Lead Thou me on. +Bathsheba's feeling was always to some extent de+ +pendent upon her whim, as is the case with many other +women. Something big came into her throat and an +uprising to her eyes -- and she thought that she would +allow the imminent tears to flow if they wished. They +did flow and plenteously, and one fell upon the stone +bench beside her. Once that she had begun to cry for +she hardly knew what, she could not leave off for crowd+ +ing thoughts she knew too well. She would have given +anything in the world to be, as those children were, un+ +concerned at the meaning of their words, because too +innocent to feel the necessity for any such expression. +All the impassioned scenes of her brief expenence +seemed to revive with added emotion at that moment, +and those scenes which had been without emotion +

+during enactment had emotion then. Yet grief came +to her rather as a luxury than as the scourge of former +times. +Owing to Bathsheba's face being buried in her hands +she did not notice a form which came quietly into the +porch, and on seeing her, first moved as if to retreat, +then paused and regarded her. Bathsheba did not raise +her head for some time, and when she looked round +her face was wet, and her eyes drowned and dim. "Mr. +Oak,' exclaimed she, disconcerted, " how long have you +been here ?' +"A few minutes, ma'am,' said Oak, respectfully. +"Are you going in?' said Bathsheba; and there came +from within the church as from a prompter -- +l loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, +pride ruled my will: remember not past years. +"I was,' said Gabriel. " I am one of the bass singers, +you know. I have sung bass for several months. +"Indeed: I wasn't aware of that. I'll leave you, then.' +Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile, +sang the children. +"Don't let me drive you away, mistress. I think I +won't go in to-night.' +"O no -- you don't drive me away. +Then they stood in a state of some embarrassment +Bathsheba trying to wipe her dreadfully drenched and +inflamed face without his noticing her. At length Oak +said, I've not seen you-i mean spoken to you -- since +ever so long, have I?' But he feared to bring distress+ +ing memories back, and interrupted himself with: "Were +you going into church ?' +"No,' she said. I came to see the tombstone +privately -- to see if they had cut the inscription as I +wished Mr. Oak, you needn't mind speaking to me, if +you wish to, on the matter which is in both our minds +at this moment.' +"And have they done it as you wished ?' said Oak. +"Yes. Come and see it, if you have not already.' +So together they went and read the tomb. "Eight +months +

+ago!' Gabriel murmured when he saw the date. +'It seems like yesterday to me.' +And to me as if it were years ago-iong years, and +I had been dead between. And now I am going home, +Mr. Oak.' +Oak walked after her. 'I wanted to name a small +matter to you as soon as I could,' he said, with hesitation. +"Merrly about business, and I think I may just mention it +now, if you'll allow me.' +" O yes, certainly.' +It is that I may soon have to give up the manage+ +ment of your farm, Mrs. Troy. The fact is, I am think+ +ing of leaving England -- not yet, you know -- next +spring. ' +"Leaving England!' she said, in surprise and +genuine disappointment.' Why, Gabriel, what are you +going to do that for?' +"Well, I've thought it best,' Oak stammered out. +"California is the spot I've had in my mind to try.' +"But it is understood everywhere that you are going +to take poor Mr. Boldwood's farm on your own account.' +"I've had the refusal o' it 'tis true; but nothing is +settled yet, and I have reasons for gieing up. I shall +finish out my year there as manager for the trustees, +but no more.' +"And what shall I do without you? Oh, Gabriel, I +don't think you ought to go away. You've been with +me so long -- through bright times and dark times -- such +old friends that as we are -- that it seems unkind almost. I +had fancied that if you leased the other farm as master, +you might still give a helping look across at mine. And +now going away!' +"I would have willingly.' +" Yet now that I am more helpless than ever you go +away!' +"Yes, that's the ill fortune o' it,' said Gabriel, in a +distressed tone. "And it is because of that very help+ +lessness that I feel bound to go. Good afternoon, +ma'am ' he concluded, in evident anxiety to get +away, and at once went out of the churchyard by a +path she could follow on no pretence whatever. +Bathsheba went home, her mind occupied with a +new trouble, which being rather harassing than deadly +was calculated to do good by diverting her from the +chronic gloom of +

+her life. She was set thinking a great +deal about Oak and of his wich to shun her; and there +occurred to Bathsheba several incidents of latter in+ +tercourse with him, which, trivial when singly viewed +amounted together to a perceptible disinclination for +her society. It broke upon her at length as a great +pain that her last old disciple was about to forsake her +and flee. He who had believed in her and argued on +her side when all the rest of the world was against her, +had at last like the others become weary and neglectful +of the old cause, and was leaving her to fight her battles +alone. +Three weeks went on, and more evidence of his +want of interest in her was forthcoming. She noticed +that instead of entering the small parlour or office +where the farm accounts were kept, and waiting, or +leaving a memorandum as he had hitherto done during +her seclusion, Oak never came at all when she was likely +to be there, only entering at unseasonable hours when +her presence in that part of the house was least to be +expected. Whenever he wanted directions he sent a +message, or note with neither heading nor signature, to +which she was obliged to reply in the same off-hand +style. Poor Bathsheba began to suffer now from the +most torturing sting of ali-a sensation that she was +despised. +The autumn wore away gloomily enough amid these +melancholy conjectures, and Christmas-day came, com+ +pleting a year of her legal widowhood, and two years +and a quarter of her life alone. On examining her +heart it appeared beyond measure strange that the sub+ +ject of which the season might have been supposed +suggestive -- the event in the hall at Boldwood's -- was +not agitating her at all; but instead, an agonizing con+ +viction that everybody abjured her -- for what she could +not teli-and that Oak was the ringleader of the +recusants. Coming out of church that day she looked +round in hope that Oak, whose bass voice she had +heard rolling out from the gallery overhead in a most +unconcerned manner, might chance to linger in her path +in the old way. There he was, as usual, coming down +the path behind her. But on seeing Bathsheba turn, he +looked aside, and as soon as he got beyond the gate, +

+and there was the barest excuse for a divergence, he +made one, and vanished. +The next morning brought the culminating stroke; +she had been expecting it long. It was a formal notice +by letter from him that he should not renew his engage+ +ment with her for the following Lady-day. +Bathsheba actually sat and cried over this letter most +bitterly. She was aggrieved and wounded that the +possession of hopeless love from Gabriel, which she had +AFTER ALL +grown to regard as her inalienable right for life, should +have been withdrawn just at his own pleasure in this +way. She was bewildered too by the prospect of having +to rely on her own resources again: it seemed to herself +that she never could again acquire energy sufficient to +go to market, barter, and sell. Since Troy's death Oak +had attended all sales and fairs for her, transacting her +business at the same time with his own. What should +she do now? Her life was becoming a desolation. +So desolate was Bathsheba this evening, that in an +absolute hunger for pity and sympathy, and miserable in +that she appeared to have outlived the only true friend+ +ship she had ever owned, she put on her bonnet and +cloak and went down to Oak's house just after sunset, +guided on her way by the pale primrose rays of a +crescent moon a few days old. +A lively firelight shone from the window, but nobody +was visible in the room. She tapped nervously, and +then thought it doubtful if it were right for a single +woman to call upon a bachelor who lived alone, although +he was her manager, and she might be supposed to call +on business without any real impropriety. Gabriel +opened the door, and the moon shone upon his fore+ +haad. +"Mr. Oak,' said Bathsheba, faintly. +"Yes; I am Mr. Oak,' said Gabriel. "Who have I +the honour -- O how stupid of me, not to know you, +mistress!' +"I shall not be your mistress much longer, shall I +Gabriel?' she said, in pathetic tones. +"Well, no. I suppose -- But come in, ma'am. Oh -- +and I'll get a light,' Oak replied, with some awkwardness. +

+"No; not on my account.' +"It is so seldom that I get a lady visitor that I'm +afraid I haven't proper accommodation. Will you sit +down, please ? Here's a chair, and there's one, too. +I am sorry that my chairs all have wood scats, and are +rather hard, but i-was thinging of getting some new +ones.' Oak placed two or three for her. +"They are quite easy enough for me.' +So down she sat, and down sat he, the fire dancing +in their faces, and upon the old furniture +all a-sheenen +Wi' long years o' handlen, +that formed Oak's array of household possessions, which +sent back a dancing reflection in reply. It was very +odd to these two persons, who knew each other passing +well, that the mere circumstance of their meeting in a +new place and in a new way should make them so +awkward and constrained. In the fields, or at her house, +there had never been any embarrassment; but now that +Oak had become the entertainer their lives seemed to be +moved back again to the days when they were strangers. +"You'll think it strange that I have come, but -- -' +"O no; not at all.' +"But I thought -- Gabriel, I have been uneasy in the +belief that I have offended you, and that you are going +away on that account. It grieved me very much and +I couldn't help coming.' +"Offended me! As if you could do that, Bathsheba!' +"Haven't I?' she asked, gladly. " But, what are you +going away for else?' +"I am not going to emigrate, you know; I wasn't +aware that you would wish me not to when I told 'ee or I +shouldn't ha' thought of doing it,' he said, simply. "I +have arranged for Little Weatherbury Farm and shall +have it in my own hands at Lady-day. You know I've +had a share in it for some time. Still, that wouldn't +prevent my attending to your business as before, hadn't +it been that things have been said about us.' +

+"What?' said Bathsheba, in surprise. "Things said +about you and me! What are they?' +"I cannot tell you.' +"It would be wiser if you were to, I think. You have +played the part of mentor to me many times, and I don't +see why you should fear to do it now.' +"It is nothing that you have done, this time. The +top and tail o't is this -- that I am sniffing about here, +and waiting for poor Boldwood's farm, with a thought +of getting you some day.' +"Getting me! What does that mean?' +"Marrying o' 'ee, in plain British. You asked me to +tell, so you mustn't blame me.' +Bathsheba did not look quite so alarmed as if a +cannon had been discharged by her ear, which was what +Oak had expected. "Marrying me! I didn't know it +was that you meant,' she said, quietly. "Such a thing +as that is too absurd -- too soon -- to think of, by far!' +"Yes; of course, it is too absurd. I don't desire any +such thing; I should think that was plain enough by +this time. Surely, surely you be the last person in the +world I think of marrying. It is too absurd, as you say +""Too -- s-s-soon" were the words I used.' +"I must beg your pardon for correcting you, but you +said, ""too absurd,"' and so do I.' +"I beg your pardon too! she returned, with tears +in her eyes. """Too soon"' was what I said. But it +doesn't matter a bit -- not at ali-but I only meant, +""too soon"' Indeed, I didn't, Mr. Oak, and you must +believe me!' +Gabriel looked her long in the face, but the firelight +being faint there was not much to be seen. " Bathsheba,' +he said, tenderly and in surprise, and coming closer: +"if I only knew one thing -- whether you would allow me +to love you and win you, and marry you after ali-if I +only knew that!' +"But you never will know,' she murmured. +"Why?' +"Because you never ask. +"Oh -- Oh!' said Gabriel, with a low laugh of joyous+ +ness. "My own dear -- -' +

+"You ought not to have sent me that harsh letter +this morning,' she interrupted. "It shows you didn't +care a bit about me, and were ready to desert me like +all the rest of them! It was very cruel of you, consider+ +ing I was the first sweetheart that you ever had, and +you were the first I ever had; and I shall not forget it!' +"Now, Bathsheba, was ever anybody so provoking +he said, laughing. " You know it was purely that I, as +an unmarried man, carrying on a business for you as a +very taking young woman, had a proper hard part to +play -- more particular that people knew I had a sort +of feeling for'ee; and I fancied, from the way we were +mentioned together, that it might injure your good name. +Nobody knows the heat and fret I have been caused +by it.' +"And was that all?' +"All.' +"Oh, how glad I am I came!' she exclaimed, thank+ +fully, as she rose from her seat. "I have thought so +much more of you since I fancied you did not want +even to see me again. But I must be going now, or I +shall be missed. Why Gabriel,' she said, with a slight +laugh, as they went to the door, "it seems exactly as if +I had come courting you -- how dreadful!' +"And quite right too,' said Oak. "I've danced at +your skittish heels, my beautiful Bathsheba, for many a +long mile, and many a long day; and it is hard to be+ +grudge me this one visit.' +He accompanied her up the hill, explaining to her +the details of his forthcoming tenure of the other farm. +They spoke very little of their mutual feeling; pretty +phrases and warm expressions being probably un+ +necessary between such tried friends. Theirs was that +substantial affection which arises (if any arises at all) +when the two who are thrown together begin first by +knowing the rougher sides of each other's character, +and not the best till further on, the romance growing +up in the interstices of a mass of hard prosaic reality. +This good-fellowship -- <1camaraderie>1 -- usually occurring +through similarity of pursuits, is unfortunately seldom +superadded to love between the sexes, because men and +women associate, not in their lahours, but in their +pleasures merely. Where, however, happy circumstance +

+permits its development, the compounded feeling proves +itself to be the only love which is strong as death -- that +love which many waters cannot quench, nor the floods +drown, beside which the passion usually called by the +name is evanescent as steam. + +

+A FOGGY NIGHT AND MORNING -- CONCLUSION +"THE most private, secret, plaines wedding that it is +possible to have.' +Those had been Bathsheba's words to Oak one +evening, some time after the event of the preceding +chapter, and he meditated a full hour by the clock upon +how to carry out her wishes to the letter. +"A licence -- O yes, it must be a licence,' he said +to himself at last. "Very well, then; first, a license.' +On a dark night, a few days later, Oak came with +mysterious steps from the surrogate's door, in Caster+ +bridge. On the way home he heard a heavy tread in +front of him, and, overtaking the man, found him to be +Coggan. They walked together into the village until +they came to a little lane behind the church, leading +down to the cottage of Laban Tall, who had lately been +installed as clerk of the parish, and was yet in mortal +terror at church on Sundays when he heard his lone +voice among certain hard words of the Psalms, whither +no man ventured to follow him. +"Well, good-night, Coggan,' said Oak, "I'm going +down this way.' +"Oh!' said Coggan, surprised; "what's going on to+ +night then, make so bold Mr. Oak?' +It seemed rather ungenerous not to tell Coggan, +under the circumstances, for Coggan had been true as +steel all through the time of Gabriel's unhappiness about +Bathsheba, and Gabriel said, " You can keep a secret, +Coggan?' +"You've proved me, and you know.' +"Yes, I have, and I do know. Well, then, mistress +and I mean to get married to-morrow morning.' +"Heaven's high tower! And yet I've thought of +such a thing +

+from time to time; true, I have. But +keeping it so close! Well, there, 'tis no consarn of +amine, and I wish 'ee joy o' her.' +"Thank you, Coggan. But I assure 'ee that this +great hush is not what I wished for at all, or what +either of us would have wished if it hadn't been for +certain things that would make a gay wedding seem +hardly the thing. Bathsheba has a great wish that all +the parish shall not be in church, looking at her -- she's +shyiike and nervous about it, in fact -- so I be doing +this to humour her.' +"Ay, I see: quite right, too, I suppose I must say. +And you be now going down to the clerk.' +"Yes; you may as well come with me.' +"I am afeard your labour in keeping it close will be +throwed away,' said Coggan, as they walked along. +"Labe Tall's old woman will horn it all over parish in +half-an-hour. ' +"So she will, upon my life; I never thought of +that,' said Oak, pausing. "Yet I must tell him to+ +night, I suppose, for he's working so far off, and leaves +early.' +"I'll tell 'ee how we could tackle her,' said Coggan. +"I'll knock and ask to speak to Laban outside the door, +you standing in the background. Then he'll come out, +and you can tell yer tale. She'll never guess what I +want en for; and I'll make up a few words about the +farm-work, as a blind.' +This scheme was considered feasible; and Coggan +advanced boldly, and rapped at Mrs. Tall's door. Mrs. +Tall herself opened it. +"I wanted to have a word with Laban.' +"He's not at home, and won't be this side of eleven +o'clock. He've been forced to go over to Yalbury since +shutting out work. I shall do quite as well.' +"I hardly think you will. Stop a moment;' and +Coggan stepped round the corner of the porch to consult +Oak. +"Who's t'other man, then?' said Mrs. Tall. +"Only a friend,' said Coggan. +"Say he's wanted to meet mistress near church-hatch +to-morrow morning at ten,' said Oak, in a whisper. +"That he must come without fail, and wear his best +clothes.' +

+"The clothes will floor us as safe as houses!' said +Coggan. +"It can't be helped said Oak. "Tell her.' +So Coggan delivered the message. "Mind, het or +wet, blow or snow, he must come, added Jan. "'Tis +very particular, indeed. The fact is, 'tis to witness her +sign some law-work about taking shares wi' another +farmer for a long span o' years. There, that's what 'tis, +and now I've told 'ee, Mother Tall, in a way I shouldn't +ha' done if I hadn't loved 'ee so hopeless well.' +Coggan retired before she could ask any further; +and next they called at the vicar's in a manner which +excited no curiosity at all. Then Gabriel went home, +and prepared for the morrow. +"Liddy,' said Bathsheba, on going to bed that night, +"I want you to call me at seven o'clock to-morrow, In +case I shouldn't wake.' +"But you always do wake afore then, ma'am.' +"Yes, but I have something important to do, which +I'll tell you of when the time comes, and it's best to +make sure.' +CONCLUSION +Bathsheba, however, awoke voluntarily at four, nor +could she by any contrivance get to sleep again. About +six, being quite positive that her watch had stopped +during the night, she could wait no longer. She went +and tapped at Liddy's door, and after some labour awoke +her. +"But I thought it was I who had to call you?' said +the bewildered Liddy. "And it isn't six yet.' +"Indeed it is; how can you tell such a story, Liddy? +I know it must be ever so much past seven. Come to +my room as soon as you can; I want you to give my +hair a good brushing.' +When Liddy came to Bathsheba's room her mistress +was already waiting. Liddy could not understand +this extraordinary promptness. " Whatever <1is>1 going on, +ma'am?' she said. +"Well, I'll tell you,' said Bathsheba, with a mischiev+ +ous smile in her bright eyes. "Farmer Oak is coming +here to dine with me to-day!' +"Farmer Oak -- and nobody else ? -- you two alone?' +"Yes.' +

+"But is it safe, ma'am, after what's been said?' asked +her companion, dubiously. "A woman's good name is +such a perishable article that -- -- ' +Bathsheba laughed with a flushed cheek, and +whispered in Liddy's ear, although there was nobody +present. Then Liddy stared and exclaimcd, " Souls +alive, what news! It makes my heart go quite +bumpity-bump" +"It makes mine rather furious, too,' said Bathsheba. +"However, there's no getting out of it now!' +It was a damp disagreeable morning. Nevertheless, +at twenty minutes to ten o'clock, Oak came out of his +house, and +Went up the hill side +With that sort of stride +A man puts out when walking in search of a bride, +and knocked Bathsheba's door. Ten minutes later +a large and a smaller umbrella might have been seen +moving from the same door, and through the mist along +the road to the church. The distance was not more +than a quarter of a mile, and these two sensible persons +deemed it unnecessary to drive. An observer must have +been very close indeed to discover that the forms under +the umbrellas were those of Oak and Bathsheba, arm-in+ +arm for the first time in their lives, Oak in a greatcoat +extending to his knees, and Bathsheba in a cloak that +reached her clogs. Yet, though so plainly dressed +there was a certain rejuvenated appearance about her : -- + As though a rose should shut and be a bud again. +Repose had again incarnadined her cheeks; and having, +at Gabriel's request, arranged her hair this morning as +she had worn it years ago on Norcombe Hill, she seemed +in his eyes remarkably like a girl of that fascinating +dream, which, considering that she was now only three +or four-and-twenty, was perhaps not very wonderful. In +the church were Tall, Liddy, and the parson, and in a +remarkably short space of time the deed was done. +The two sat down very quietly to tea in Bathsheba's +parlour in the evening of the same day, for it had been +arranged that +

+Farmer Oak should go there to live, since +he had as yet neither money, house, nor furniture worthy +of the name, though he was on a sure way towards them, +whilst Bathsheba was, comparatively, in a plethora of all +three. +Just as Bathsheba was pouring out a cup of tea, +their ears were greeted by the firing of a cannon, +followed by what seemed like a tremendous blowing of +trumpets, in the front of the house. +"There!' said Oak, laughing, "I knew those fellows +were up to something, by the look on their face; ' +Oak took up the light and went into the porch, +followed by Bathsheba with a shawl over her head. The +rays fell upon a group of male figures gathered upon the +gravel in front, who, when they saw the newly-married +couple in the porch, set up a loud "Hurrah!' and at +the same moment bang again went the cannon in the +background, followed by a hideous clang of music from +a drum, tambourine, clarionet, serpent, hautboy, tenor+ +viol, and double-bass -- the only remaining relics of the +true and original Weatherbury band -- venerable worm+ +eaten instruments, which had celebrated in their own +persons the victories of Marlhorough, under the fingers +of the forefathers of those who played them now. The +performers came forward, and marched up to the +front. +"Those bright boys, Mark Clark and Jan, are at the +bottom of all this,' said Oak. " Come in, souls, and +have something to eat and drink wi' me and my wife.' +"Not to-night,' said Mr. Clark, with evident self+ +denial. "Thank ye all the same; but we'll call at a +more seemly time. However, we couldn't think of +letting the day pass without a note of admiration of +some sort. If ye could send a drop of som'at down to +Warren's, why so it is. Here's long life and happiness +to neighbour Oak and his comely bride!' +"Thank ye; thank ye all,' said Gabriel. "A bit and +a drop shall be sent to Warren's for ye at once. I had +a thought that we might very likely get a salute of some +sort from our old friends, and I was saying so to my +wife but now.' +"Faith,' said Coggan, in a critical tone, turning to his +companions, "the man hev learnt to say ""my wife"' +in a wonderful +

+naterel way, considering how very youth+ +ful he is in wedlock as yet -- hey, neighbours all?' +"I never heerd a skilful old married feller of twenty +years' standing pipe ""my wife"' in a more used note +than 'a did,' said Jacob Smallbury. "It might have been +a little more true to nater if't had been spoke a little +chillier, but that wasn't to be expected just now. +"That improvement will come wi' time,' said Jan, +twirling his eye. +Then Oak laughed, and Bathsheba smiled (for she +never laughed readily now), and their friends turned to +go. +"Yes; I suppose that's the size o't,' said Joseph +Poorgrass with a cheerful sigh as they moved away; +"and I wish him joy o' her; though I were once or +twice upon saying to-day with holy Hosea, in my +scripture manner, which is my second nature. ""Ephraim +is joined to idols: let him alone."' But since 'tis as 'tis +why, it might have been worse, and I feel my thanks +accordingly.' +THE END diff --git a/ryg_rans/exam b/ryg_rans/exam new file mode 100755 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e2d49d8a2e646660f7956a215f2deb2197c455f1 GIT binary patch literal 23936 zcmeHvdw5&LweOZC2PZh*3JqW$EgLFwY#_$UgIJJ&Vy*rkAevWwh|tW1BppPbbo91 z9(hZ#did_W-~H|%Og?$dTC--&nl)?I%$~h7_j>(H3M>|ZC#!I+Kv?xRbV{{RFtEzV z08|TA!c_ddNce^@1$ZH&>E+crK&hU_4bdDH8FVY44Zo@aosbJJH265=8WN=T@};Ho z^%4#RL1F}|N4oxU5kmnbmf`SrQV40Y0eL-AkLo>c)O*~h$Dw5C&mr$0^^JZFMtLsu zpo|iS#7n8}J*A2AT~3Cc277g~z#*^qEz~1DzihG_j4O@y^4Vpzp+ARw9Ik9@U31mE zE8Ci8x3zXeyJvS-T{Zivc@>e)iaD&`B%gSfF4rB0+ff3Ibe@SHnVQOfG0@%f4|i3M ztxy;I=QEyC*RQXAv5@#L!HC{3c-HA;p#!wZ=m+xfD|z@6 zdFX$D9MUg0CGyDc$wLq4pvQ5B;({^!7Y-dmj4F^XO9yx`bbDTAWADvw7%c5Fq6W0lpv){g-*< z{1o&V!uf*amQYg=c)SuYpTi2xU#Af8HPi;0LgCQb)`$`cH`Fd}>+A?M1lP2Mgg{_z zduK-=q6EWAAfU5O%GlV}*?4DQZAejC+e0KhqBJ#LemS*pl@PeOBiN3=^@?*rAfU8_ zJJ$!+1e*fEHq=^&MjE?=fi-BqBhVOB8e72H)K*6YYrDGxU7>KKvm@Bns%!|XtE93Z zmEF92S-nyffaXfDwQWvipe~H21L06hFwzp}>TGLm+~AxSs10<4LQMwQ+ulxkbgai; z)@V4yv@x(yN0XrdI?%4`-qyKxj?flv?NF#!Ya1H_5yNb&I@Y(M!pcx2s&~0juMz5Q zRfOiwu26^2tc2Rygs!L(K?}i1Bm^rqLtCLe)E)_eD-sIbNl0URm(UEpMxhy&jD!T3 zFBA?7&FjOhN=Rr9hk{LplFhATi@RxTpb*qyW78gN?GV;Acafsa!qUZy19K}Xg{6L9 z&EmkEia8bY_5AA9pwFvtRtbw&uXfk?0?vxL<`VLe0z_*1+3;8YS7=Z;Zp9i|Ae_NC z3X!w17+-{(UcUh0+ak<|@6oy-;a4|n!Y#(ZxyENDzesB8oVeL^!5uf^7%f2 z&zI_ph)WQ*8T$cF$EJv-@oI@dPUrZ6>vTG;)#mkj#6&kQY?_H~Y{{71Q4`&0lF`Ra zbiE};76iABp^L%=28n>=mI$yt)g>&a|0y-}KLaS$;Yl*l4b!orG7~+sg+fWCiO%;b zRH4d5H}B`FO>}CTC)q^jHl?yU6CDndNvlotX&I^@+-{=70W+z^M5ma|Q(8R6uzscj6u zgm7}z)K-R{PdK?~s-NL!5l&M#)x+>WJk(bC4{t{5OuR3_j}E#^6(q z0YEv?>lk5h(JX}19W-uFlXJ-N=`*01j3(@I!sCzzJ&qz8MZn@pVn9i$wg?uMO~e|{6_Z;5cM_~+^gIT5cevwtLkC1@ms+A0*UJz z5PPfOBC@*6d29#yx~vXrKcyn|ZSA#_>9lj7^O#TF4V3y-r1hc9uO8Q4M47CIq@6EC>Fh^g=!|->-?+cfk)GPu8BYO2yG^6 z;=Pa90A1tj&PmjzJ?i`FaQV1w`9x0CS+r)T?TbBY@ohXwt5tN*Gf=01!tOcvQ_(KG3Z8K6Mgw=YSigTVIl*hY<0i z9*7pyp@eMlsIR|#(Cr#te?)yLAxn=_qaJl<>|={p_3tQ>UmlUwz0Gb_*--+YEWoJA z$B(#G&kkF&M=idx*{j+X%CSM4yfIB36#JILJ^ipcLgqb=vZr5wJb$9ear=`Lzx?W$ zFVS&IbCDSmi%MW|Z4n#qHcYU18%?k#M`^S8$pDR9DRW_(XSZvwpbDI-Zya%o%JJJX zCX1JO94%wwO@$x81qsD$91~Y3$HWN$jVj~mw?Gt;y3l^$Z=})Xm*Qy`-6aGTsaY5*T?F84(^`bBKp~bz~ z=16KquAS?S$jSF@YBIiM-lq^??VUFcAdA1LVQ3M|95uIH6i zZgIQQ7fV@WbqpFpgPFPp(I0Cv%mSD7(AW+3K1G5l*3y8IM0a9i`Z|nZ?^D!PsuQ!E z`?tDN-7Ri^A$iE2)Jol(6~{^UX20VL_vQx2DfecNBP}|afypEZ#nB~C9hS?-nW=s1 zAX&RhYdN7?`+JBc#0kGA1;VmlJ@q(63~k?dIvqQV8Gjfv z+=q~O(yx9DrcV&dX=e3mowxZ))9E_D$3rC-3y0B<~% z94Sg3v`-zLI;8HTf^>4Ebn0+z-$%;5e)Y(Tgl9hbdE)Sy&HZvLY4N*~%38OYOll?W zjqlLNdeoOZ;`S}`C@Oh2&!`a}dvwb|s3ZP%H_MM8Uq0%w3@u8h?-kbXXs+PnFUNLT z#O+};STuE%m9G2n@Q)_Sjp3*HrB92@@XP9RVtFq!tJVw)(tO)&jFQ~<5qZG97$34k zuj3&oV0Hq%o^Bg^u|pqpGF}5!VI%$<>{+&)Q3q!!p6gd%M+IB_em#!t5qlqH3l8+&LD9>fm^ruK z^?bO*7yAV9>)hm_BG>bgF<HP$T`8Zqn$yzTxA^&s}K^zz3H z)uY%EznYYj@1VJ23R{-3J~X%(4Z4!+jTX+J0GV8e7Df;tA>O8o@3oo5+p@*m4Dpsx zziYoz=@qx%Y{8#tzSyAxzxtY~Ni^6u8&NU!BH|V6A>y;R{U!J28xi!Dj=MLn_(I*A zJXD%Y*+ENVDsEnJ3XzfGBL&A5pM!h?tbb#(f|*jznH4^o6;H82*Xlmghct{)pdrP4 zrdiPn|I%j##wur4kh4rOE3Ty~Y*w7Y&Yxsa(9Fz=pJ2O-V5iTD=Z|7m!1)mg{~3{x zCPJw%v2+}seE{2Jzxr;ideWcJ_m`;U{v&g03WwVFQJ1!y!%%}(*fPI*4{c_#l{EGN z)HbPfL9BBs&{o0mUUvm&+y(M)}xyWBiMrL-b)p7qN3k1PImOM=;v{q@J-!^ zFxcSu9DlJSB}eSZgGEz!s>6)>x2Z#be#fcg!P2P|FFlSglJD3lgbhs{MZ{KYp)J z9$v@-E7rU1PqFM0@v)~KrU1KS^DWacu^xN);Spdpo9~%!af`ow)l>eu<#|knr}QA4 zq%1L%4|yyD8{vNUVrO<2d=c?{w?*8(JWc(3UN2d9ICTRp-fTV3lvC%7_?)Uiu`wQ4 zYn8?1wT9;E5OlPWx)gxwG*$!gz9QP@>B~Gumc@BCx>)P| z<-=^5*Ih#U?wCHzTe0HOFtcUaKK()XmG038(8=sLPp&kHN4HTG=FyLUfn%5LSK+*P^!Q{CHIb1pgeLZ2e^l&9 zy^R&huWJ6h?Hpne90QMeW6kVUd-c64p0f5KBrT%gzTVFwV81E053d_j_tNGx-m7m- zxA3hg`LD4x)ufj-!t|({v<#;nM%SJokxby>r?CTe4(#ZGMVxz_$5OvUix?J%9m8@j z1~S#eo-r4Fg9sf&=)~p$51l(PaClN&iU%q1{|v=Deh1gkuK$D;KcW|x>BUa~?D!8V zzMK`$->B1j01(HTAy>PBhB>i_NwX3MjkAW%WJfJRI??1P>kYOuscfGO=H}m3h$w z4h6nN^%C>1XJX2+4|q>bp0cv%2<|bx)^eV=#_G8 z(V&FfD$=JI&-kySx^^q9p~>jN?!wQ3Tc~=EfOHi54thQy_FGfU;4tFLARQ?P^5CX% zD`gNCRV)?v7Gb$|4#=?&#^v(QHzozd^<>H__wBucsL%5 zesXkIe{;XN{|{2#!AFRVLgK$1XV_sU9YlwH2>(30H*^uZrFG#4R-N9E1TC$ zicdZ1RzEY#qSF`k3yiDPi>dpZP3@z0WY_-a#~$_2)AVpHtDk5~u$Oel?{`okZ3Frt z+3Wg^gI*^ovr-$WA>B@{81Y2wFK1AW?XszhPs*;t%2n~N#bfkD-?vYBUFQnF4!^mR zIo|wT*wbLFUjx{2GsI~>{E+z@o&M<|27ATn*XqpwqBC#B(Zr6`#M}&K6kntluh)xx zRJ@9cm+HlWUc6c_zL}a@PQ_)csa|B!OPsg()Z=7EpSpily-$4sHhKbffPDrf{dn@m zaXG$T^T*d0Y4@XUF9Jg`St@n{510GJ-lc>*4j-X(k?h(jZjwRrCl=B=iol%KK0Qp4 z=!BDwTyQX>Z6Q2SkLU7bc6o3yW-mnGP$l4X4)_zx?1#@a{4H*m)fuvi6BmT1&z0-s zxLd+GLEI%D|IC+|_lg{!f>{-PRgN#VBO|L&X_?)xmWaJunauPuwRpEr9Y*cw&VD(5 zjn8#LDbyA-g*1p#?<|5WzdF~azPc##Fx)udx(?8IAgf7i?j?B;Jea8aYNsCcsCN~qEyeO+H5<{v>QXB5s|S3?N68X? z^{79-5M%KQwgO`B&rw(#Kesl1y>z&Y&2wM80CpF9@26^U8ADyGzKVUGUmb!7+4V{^ zTI>2#^nm-Cn~S3R+}GSu9DSiSejTJKx5(}nhkB(uf}dkFh< z2@{1%5bJ0svB${wph+RV)J7y)iHF8&#G8sgKfImB2@gMh^#lF<5E}*b-Q$pJ;M?a6{tj>Z0Hs%qp829$2J>v3loK^T52R-E{)VI*Vo0R7;zlxtDok^EU^%ln!-o$zf zogY_W^;aBrO{9GYjw`E}WW5pIp5I~jl#h)qhNS6m=@g`jtFd*M;dhi8)rYZrLM0H~ zPteRhDt`CulQ`G{BaU2PwRhMt7FfQ%pB{gcw-aea1ABU-?e z^uy<>Jy?mUN7#5?VJHh@v}4}EjPCL`L2ErtnGXs1Kh92*EG#9w|Z<xe%;B)8V1!aGZ#^``F=W%s%Q~90cL zhLBxub>T*=^fr$Rj}GAj?!EH!+V;6jz z?uXJ$2E38j`R?|{rUlq zgyr3rsIH`UELd=G;DYHYsBclWnv6>snPq4;0jU#&p6iH8D=sU(oif@EJdTkaV%oIW z_^0BgCD;dHtB#c|sTIh_55z{SN+r(2-TF?6y?s$Gij5bz2bW^d@EQOQLxM6LD0UM- zX&+Vo9Ca{Jdr}?nC1!4N4kS|rIJs-?$GZd^x!J|?no%5l97(=YV0p=vQf^X5;qVv2 zGd7Wo#1e~ZFzlH?3xLj_K&?P$O`tZQ=f-vya*FGCxCr^jNL1e&iN$I0`**-R{>Bk? z08vja$6JzdIi_J;VRSa`-oC$jalVVSVh*}P$ES!qhiMj8!Lw14y3h zkn$Sl-6hzFV%~ilTQ$tPc7Po_p}%(hyKsrjd8Nm7S5b6|$JJV_w8`9n+w~l##)INN?T206<E}0GzE#L!lzfN+G*V}0j}-QXmlFeCd-OesOv-~lx_#m{2bRyRUiFGiUgt-t!zjR9 zg%$9AXu#r1!XFVu9VxlH*ru^{nud!ykiq_|KD?O<8b>4Zg;9a?L#mcKCd}k-=)bPc^G<+Qv3b%!V>q1RZ*uA`73UyG0tA*SGwA&<6 z=g~USgsPRdvaU+AW|{Oy_ZZpSZD!DkdaTbdl8JIFwnebVwTT>`|hR7{g`d8FD7G zuCujCS_#MSb~M&Sm3r2E84>E?2BFKYkfN|;RY186*~ZR}h{Cyb*2^Z5nGueRS-xJw z*U_r52GF7*LvLj6oPaV}?(eq1S{L)*UYVtxSux{U zUB^myIF#XMe$K}4T6lhAu(2gn(Fm7S%2+;dXJ|vY5L^eRr7uYXk+x1HLQ{dNn7f>n zH|+n9!H&+34eg!L$ak*3dP!?X(~2$(Nw95kXGF%rdzFCTyFr=;*zOY)GHnt1CTv9Yg6nIy?1n)N+CKnqD9{dJyW~NT-JZ z?SDz9#{nfk`o4G!@Cv}Q-%6*e0jmM&ac3B33tPcA@=-e7K=hB(Y5KCM3-BJmZ8)qd z!){|M&fK~I?Kmnt04QNKs6@2w2kZuo@ zIWZV%a(+Q@pq%)-Ur(n8po36iUs6(fy?EyOq8{P8^RKyVuHzCCLG?ZO+22g3*|v^| zNc8-Rb7P?h^nFBdm)K(k*O!bymK|s}eov$9n^bmFiJfTl?E7L4Z7XQK(77Iv67fBX zAK8reqYC&CejkFywzoAU_C!HVN$LGocZqbL&0SI!EA*697Cb+#qzn{yNhvsLN{ZZP z3Vzh1?{#|6ZURS}0!kjBy5G0@N~DCXrljotLb;^!zA5gKs@NGzOSbK>SbK`6l~gS* zsf6H~5(&(@I4>Rs$!3%+ch~vZ2%Pcb=yXZAKpzL}Em20c?ZH^nH?X!F@n@nCM? zYqVKkQf;+c&>~1VEy`z-jp^HR2|m(6KCm*Q|AZ`eMwX|f-%{{mNtO3BQJ!79UwHAQ zKi>|9*ctatxxX-B`@Z#of(D5EPy8zJrl1IWP1~P={C$1DRkF=ueZ&TZ(Qb~yH82rN z|R?^9iB`c^M_|?PT+7HAd}KRzSMHTm4$+^c4xt_td>7m z3wKzp`>chpT7`pFkYTd#5OX?hxu6VqRpAfL6#5GaU!NxIwLWYcpC%lg2J%1*q5-B3j;ZH$zb4o^nb7@aeSqbDb~rtRwIK~ zKrGp2>k!|{vBdu$)CC64_wwf(IRF1pe1FT!KRcD~B$kJa%@^M@(O!{~0fYggoISLI zex8Bz{UALrP&!)&nZL$k4IYXlM&o?mfcF{jUkvzj18z6qZUeqz!1oP!%z#tq*$e3$ z1I{wwRR&yQz#9zMY`}E})N2dExZx)p$A6H#S}OB|*0csYqy-huiptr}x#fC}^W=k8 z%%&>ta3&`DUz7a*{hP@6Ux!vfnUvp_nIGBwg_(JgO`jt0`IAjQL*RavO)t{_XOfwS zycM@OaKASfS%ql=pC8%uGc$1_n_eso7=DsXpDy&|*q_R+LW$5nDP0tJ+{u<>7o^!{ zik`RPe>C&^63nGm{Ezr?rwb| z|2)lwR*D`uen;h2;XGkMM2nVjT$I2PFQ!9R97K6Tf8e8^yv-gDzAegLH)sgf9Szf2+ao zHR#u(1C#0R1D)FK!vEGXr)36xTMqp;gU;7UUPl4lg8%nk=9U-(0i-N^ncHgBVDWu;QyalLg1%<*$u<9Ga0b_0d!^`!)~`5?FMZ+T`>H4 zfkDq_w;wY8vxJlL3`P@}OwXT!pKb=ookx!{Ij8&i9~uA5)8@rX2A%H{c(d;?Ij8&o zanSK?>S>7%RVJg~iG_MH`q#m4$2=->OIfnEfnSp+CyTu_SZP z5bswa5C2c|&>zi1r}ghF;q-NC5d37HTt9g^kDT}O(8u%8&&=bW7v-V1=Aqx4hyEkb zC%eDn-$5t;&s|6Mz_IO!dzHrc>Z2wIPv()oKM!4F^3OlbZlC7ipTg|VTbqETjE;5R zSP()+QCS{-Pab**bZJ6tCbuyU|GzRiHXFu#=i9Ge<>4R7BmdPr^dpA+I%A&l_YgDj z;4s;|n|L!ExY<9yE7;N6ShuY4ZrnxUcV3nIKC$kOy1JISWzM-qf&RX(q6@Emaotkj z<}Y8z>vRPIbt}CM4L1drtXjUf!M9>LUE=~B*elL;y3n~ys6onG=jP>3r|H$9bAIMk zp#JL6dq@7Ne&>R$&d^)Ux||N)aYsG@jbSCCM4Ou{8u5agUq2I2+5>nc+!3O?Rhl{j zYuh^41ls~lN@q9{2u8bw#?JPxwvZBPs#s82iEC~qV+!ClmDWHo91d;>ggTV)2E36D z;ue{vXnXqxR54)za4K1>xi3R;B@J%4sSL=tfJUL0p1$SIIf14A6*X>uAh0~(tYU8> zmxVTX>y>$3!Pc;ES-mr`yuLEvoXg*Ewsf{OhP>YTps#*@zzczyD{dgUKGYU!RGbk7 z0;)oHMbTfS(+3$~gpfJZa;A;t^$XBsptcjY-vm3>h5~dkPHV?n@Gc18z8p`eIT&qI z^ui`q%8MqsN{1EU`kqYZ0!lcDZw`F^HBPU8O(lL#FVY+*uH0$uU{~ElJ6i9Gh5{Y< z!T>k#)G>v0^Dr9qP_G65%Q2O6e$H!OZ`~cOt#!+q>R{rzQMev?LKD8o=<+SE4@_7V zNUkx7lx>&*)=YiCAeUVtp`_0pvH|4*y@bIe(F`it$l{F5pWShCVx>xJuhC?o`M zHCw(fO~!ad;_gtQ`tp} zl74@eLE|3qzk8WimKeI$YMpTfR(6|Nx07WT=@)Hf)38*)A@!TJ;OulenQ>8AmUrPx zmS9tE%{7sTQIT#A%Pyshz_KaE9bS!*D4SA7W0`x%vYMOB8?qVx-bHR%x0OK&h3D8OYF$DF zzKsi2xNCf~mEc+fTiX$>SQBl<^^~nmLIq*8)(I6&8#*9Qhe}v4S%>T7T01+kkO0cU zp|&7ZFmhdOicmpePN+b(Vr?ffN~jxunVl-aoh)cogj$SELQ4~ba17FMQ(UOKG1P^x z0NGV~OqjlZ&}HyE+6=b0Hlj+WLTy1^3WpW&BmrMkwYOtqlG*V7A7eLDSIsM;IU~ZqEXLA_NIiKY1a(R#B)aU0d9P;;0 zoS(+ZoPGs_+UMiP&$BqJ%c&rlDe7)Lug}l+|;k{Jv<(7#Qx~ydL+1hftU7$LsU=1_!PK5vfcEnZLX~hbK{DuAh0o zP_0)P&D7L0ydH;zsBEs!&yPlp`h1>qF}xnf&qQUSas4H?#EOdC4B+f3J4xB7K;OGk z`;|F#UjOSkbmFCChTQk{68&$PTZeV@0tAWVxbWlp^M29%;<_W7N!`ozERTb{fVa!> T8OTgle`|xzab8Y^98~yU_|LbD literal 0 HcmV?d00001 diff --git a/ryg_rans/exam64 b/ryg_rans/exam64 new file mode 100755 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..586d27e55450b7e5e2d2b44318b8b639aa362489 GIT binary patch literal 24464 zcmeHve|%KcweOis0s%tKps1*AIoiRSsKgAv%plQBn1M4gfs_OVstm(q0)hN;<_rX1 zdkvigJRPQTEl<7IzFThF+uB|~S6*wWrT$1j30hkN7R29C{BZ_UVo->dGWWaoIeT(u z$lTX^|9GGG`Mhq;th3f$Ywf+)UVH6*_CD-;JiY~a7K^}>Rk&FotbeLbsWLM9Z#NzQ zs)Pz*9Db(?UlYavFJLr1ze)$l)zh${n!`eaZUxN8Uqzly$cA4r_&DS>BuM4uN4$mOVdB=>|N_kCG19DW)zc$$n#-&Dix$Lsss6U6iA8u%FS~F+X z4b2VHo10pr9n(81=1iY6t1Qx1HiNaB^b_yG#miVp+>R13s`F(0k*O)acByw~->oNK zezNkFhc~|e?IYh^zF`CLPs1PYH})V1tTse<4#l}^0J|{lhTugPl7;VpHX8jZXdaDz zZw~%{$w5Dla<3kx+@m?_^L!5a-W>XWmxI3}2mMz$^c>H@Z_h#R&q4o14*I|5pud@e zemqA#PvoFa&Cy@q$iZKcqugtA&?#Px<`0n^^gTJ~D{|2Pn4_LWpiB76PTO@n<2T$ z-yCXPtDu&QJ=EG@)Ebs((T&jDwswZl9Byh=$UJL^g+?XR+$^+5l?X}*L?R({MK2!+RVV&F(XlfNUHnvkm8-<1Q=lf@tl?w}f z-s<`O8D%rdW()I|FLzaY{f@GkWfgkH^5tNfRpzKL<(YHfw3rgC>@Od`^dG?jgQio6 zV+^Qcg+e2jxM&s{$8cQ>1`Lt~|NT9Do8~VGf3??aoab+Q}-0pCFuEI$6%}cL^s~ zPD%`ajc{_|q>bT+2`AT03JiaNaB|t?;CT?H?IYYq_yEKA5>76f>}U8d2`AS~_AvYx zgkMbfZifGeaB{`uE{6XT;pBqJ9SpypaB{t5C&Rx>IJsQ1o#EdhoLnurn&Ed7PA-+S7g=@0CkkP%CNVkcc<>7({t z3_fn(&ES*v9zZ$KWglR$awEd~Uh3zk$(iK%#CK2;8AaISgxfClx$TA2>wrb&#DJVB zS|xf!j#us>)I*Qmu@#5)(g^AfK3Bgc9XMWibH^ zgS~~|(H{N_W9iaak}wQdz9c{_w9MB!be4B8?x5u(on?@-%%*~tfkm9^76jMruG_$L zCCYFubJauF#dus+2b&f)fpI(O>h2M{n&5J>y5DhTFO3~p?b8C3rM|7H=Ta%hVaFM- zdH|^2ZV&Q&>RIjE$dlDq_fqS8>KTYpeuefN$;O5)V)r#n@7r?X2lheOPdiE4dVbr< z3VHjq{BLsHXP+W>Kd+R?am8LCtAn!T(?)S>7dX&ydu(#7#}ez>NzxYC*&F>xPCRNC zO3_h571i`@kK;Y93nPT$Lv{SgAJfvOI^Ol;d_d>$#!C~mDYyE8+Fv>>TTaP|T8nlm zD&dViYw>P5N3&@3d2vrc-VG95Ozip?V-peS&t;Mz?VUhn$9X{9woAtxDVG{9EFFxUx46`5+orL}DeyM+ zrNk18s=YkmJh16>Vu_><`BcrFSOw<0CwtWDBKhS3Sv}-9ET8?P$KCGY{zdJ}EuwMV{$NfMRgFzB@xnR%M+RdT$UMsS0@yiq*WLtS6a#t04M zc5NBh;FaA4Xe;I8@A)BFyw+{+7!p?$JOCdi)MsxW5|{T5iIXrwMTgw`uH;qsd&j+8 z)14B#24IhBaZi0EO3z;!?|QZn7AIf-1;R0vSmjGBLn9jOHebR$8~%h!pOo}*1IP2m zG)tCbJ4yBqIArJGrim_uqjPfaCz3bzQ9c}FDfw>ihgSLQPv%kQ#<$O#%=)-LzH^?9 zo?g~u@v(itiU_kDl`RKqocp5pliVkg3+^$@l!^{&G_wb_NlrX&??mO~as9s1V;F~G zX%{1C(_vb&)0=22iJ;v>qHW?v1Ou{9m;GLd!D0s~Q>Tz3GMad=9U}_#_lCUUwI9NU z4feuDvE;=e@eWwCruz(8dKPICR~;1ZJ%ZTCw1E2nNQj5%)b|kSG4P+DprPF}oJz$` zV$hee5UAK~UWCqJuw4T-8n(N@R-=C4OXy*lIg4C+z|o`4hb;M1i4Tr3MOK@2$MC5i z7;e$U0=ah67kZ0NV#=lJ;E#Dmm;E8uuoVTH;b+v;?MxusKMTpiA1j-dBz%=<%lR60u(6ECA6eb!RrgIx-69BE-lbn}?}=h@&-Td_fbK1h?_{GR zzMTygulU$ux%36u(l1wHc-*t;3Rm35MpvvSAI0cYajOKw%drC%pYxB=f7bh&4FJ~H zU@INgyIy^cI+|>zxnUma=+E>%>yf)ZrjAZvV%59#5xw=MjwU(1^){cqQ14ah(g4Y@ zF1;1Y9M+|<)^q7DorK9;RzK0Z^wBd$m$tDktw+~j;2>0g3sL?VWKyMm4%a{@pTjCa zJ9!p^J$?uA@wni6nqq>izUEcm)E*Ov@*1ot&6|jvkg1PmjSPQ>)krPdg8ZYv+v$|GVMKBhK># zvdK8};HbLukbv2FSae{)VkFGSv2WSS1+lvU4V1fI7rS1^g9{;NDr|syd&E6OW3xiY zbTSs^yyefJfXd_r^}-Wl5e!cj>{WFO1;xEebxTSn%;7zRBva zw|BsL>)D^=Q}C&dZ_hWPPj!4}zA5|=s>h#KWJ}+oM84M)8t+S&ksaWcfDr-izgh;x zIG^)~*nKrd1XY?vIK;bCk{!=Kh#z}}b)k&Vu`Lejp30Am;*iCy% zBVJXW=~V}@`XO@T~8)nb9?XOj@nXMKj=LKgTxy;q+e8*C7&8%(8=y-acCDk4-9 zVJW&79AmDQ1T6pp`CE!SD^WRgl_bc01*ZU@PSA!vNu{8MhW#cbuyC z3$SXhf)TY}qi6q}p1l)A?)^8)-pjIQZ`bK@0IdElLD?wtA9QRiFl`N5sSVN73-mJq zz70QieC$;Zt&-Ju<=A_Jwe`M4!7u0qGcj={1C>Q!OI`BGR7v=Z#aAf3{3=OUCMOCe z0m{x{S$$u*9B*d(z(ZS36Yoq7jLg4xVz5*RBRJ$=mB5&oeHdVwT#5zB`*QDjD_iSp zw_tXY51m)A+9^;Cg+-*0_fNLI&dPs)9wB;z9ILz$0#J$i6k!ix4d~imU>r?G6AlzK z0k@ENr+{>Nzdm0O`<=-~aOk+)hvfte(6^1^Bqgtk1@}FLKD8GPANz0^fp|-=kS_?m zNvqs_7;oIlm9k~X&@1j4Ln~2NEWZ;k*F(`$r}yt@++lA2gCyIxjeaRPdYE0UW93+1 zzRJk5^A#pXmZMDu>@HxhV$1my*u||@3#yl3TD&Tz`p?a}Xm>~b3;NaS!HW2~e6^d( zk)21PpSaZ%Pt&WWte(;qU{&IZZ?{us_w!=+4rul`u?v9JuyRdu3l*f>$r&S_Xx()T z%9tlqtPhT~M zQmjZPe!`q~_70tS7xn}8E+^&>PBNE&NzcAZ&-POGGRp4Lvv=#+OZDvAsHnx1{RpzT zztDb-S3OH+^r}ae)p^wyVWZ!|4zN$3q;HqrJ}k#KX}w|I zyA~4i1bl=N_Ad5`+hmY@iFrq$2ca>gDJT=~=MLJk!3(99Pk5rPT#hfY$$j%-6sW+a zj34pSmsn&wd70sFc%e}z$!ek8jb-~6$}Mu-C1DF8?v&4d?oG@(D#yoQR7GErRcJN%Gl9VU21(iZ=+f$#U}F$$wF?N~lr)T!V=bn~%NT-s6(o2ObR6 z!!_ehyVbi2)pbR3Ulr@ozN#sd;DZDBCglDKcx~m(|2?l}?th zaqf-h!R}($b`p!r=;|8v6}%Dq)PqnVJC8=AHO}8hkGXDISr|R+x@mn;^u?O^EzqXi zA*(NGA8D!7kV~{J!5iDN%dx%Co6%QTD%mFXW1vtDty5@~VLW%DNFly3pGdSIIXF}; zt|*{}VPVAzSeTbe>57Ux_D;XN1 zB|g(8PEza=mTa_{(W}iwMTwDVL#>dfo~XehLQS&O&=XK647tVYhdtdXx43v18y((Y zpS$!+^({1Th4LK6SJ87+XR1rNdWZdbPhyjW_NObbO2P|+Cc=4qSe;ie&3YlcJfGd> zE*%=04^0!{(n)9)mt%>A<<%5JydSeSgg|ipmPYnz@$WBr6j20>cq4|@-l6qTIat2h z4RWJc|8ApLc3j*_4gstm*vsP9-vaXn4=qg066uAzLQZ^zg#~O|(0*K1O``rewBZi4 z;iS9tw5J>1cEqK=;Z}dItaCd*|5gwsU`YB)1@9nJIh-r1r0bD{h<-ZsU7?+q&T(R?c z;?~o6!qy{d{S{aIG9TWrByZxLe8=lC&3XtMus$J=W=T51F|NDtL z#K)Ii>a6<{a-J(b`94`a$a3HEsQJH2M38&hrB41Of`6ggc`*7+qTNC+1nW<>yQw%? z9YWmw&B^i1KI);^K1=*&mvi2IDB@KV@!iCHDB15)=WW4EpYL|=Q~SfmT#0X6Xs=TH z-Fv#a*5iC117lMDTam-q527try!oQ)Z1YIM^zKbmmD3pxCLEj@(D+i{qQ@#SEa*~6SpnEItVWknAv)@Jo)Ug*nm|j$5Dh! zUn#NE9c5~4IM3C$5S@l&1lqe)CIZE30w}GcN}r=xkf=GQ_IMMMw>f%xlX=(yZ`^^i z2syUTCYDwYI(s*L+WStP<&Vy!vO*n%!+!;yv5j;j7Fe8pVfP4{2XyubY6W`D2$~P{ zve3+|XQ0$m1 zW}rE=?TW~Al15<#Jey|dar?2&CZ9daVuT#eN6t5zV={kUnJ35ZlDz6cYy)`J zPt)_C^Y>!cgDAYF`*3t^O&qXCnN-7O0?YxV&v`<5731zO7NQt;6BwxcD!|@-sK55Y zyKss0eyZDfS7CIF+u2m4G|TaERPfiRV4C*_nYJU*iL&#wf`tU-M&D&qp7t!XP;1~T zWEI4xUbos_=%&d{eJyK#!|tW_E4I%l+fI&S_K{<~HaR}e9(NU1$0z^H<$Ml9<3aH| zN6<7^>2uh@xA<;qfHAv&i6BjV>FA;T5VaRQ?oAZk7k8+WEJMz|$j4NTDlC7Li`n{O zs#ZvK>wX>4B05OctsstaIACHjn-8>~y+f5JN2iPt&rbV#tfyRd_F)zD6ywCksrGf& z;CXiK3ZvzcW}~OrvmK@xbce^;jyn5MXODATk=VTqPv|9VhFGYlF3IdEtPQUthVH{+ z_k(yyy78miC!TM|^tsEUUcb%b_&9kI85paug1QeDaQ4CWVj2*8he~Z^( z80mG#^U1aBjd(v9SX*y2LDE*!6AloE4N4Wl5ZUb_Ier69s3`N)$xlE$`O>InYbTb! z%4}O1Czlez{CBU<^z|?<^x}1+D4JRDo!Ve zr8kZ|kN8U8XN&IMzgV>;Z=*suDv%tnb9tY70>>Y2Xh=bFX!r`{?TuBHAS|j+zc%2a0+%o-Ud~tS{bXBEPE_6sYS4vA= zi|gjh^81AL=77@J7H%OvC7?tjQYA6b=VuTOwzmuT91Y(S`js{%&`hE;X3r6V(H1{x zjC`}{I>(*T&60_5rx0EvtZ8f8;1C*{nnO}+n<6!~MOz!@O4B0a1^V($qHpFx4dbcE zup-T?lu8^?Y2G|35)3ql{A-$&NU6{e3br+bq_z!L37(}(mn@wt;k!ghr-rW*#^b}d zP#7N`ZVWX@VKheywUWSGAv*)*Hb`qWD<{D-^m&*U2~184QL`Go14xgN90($ zVJZ{lPArSa%A+<%nl7=%>J^yQ9F^Fonvv_JX=RQ^1GxcRwWh6EDw#GL#G0n+8zQBw z&VL<$nw>ZE0@%K~4I2Zk!BB}#sDpciuDxE0 z!oD+S_?2r-&m+{4r%}`knfjN8TH$#))sLdUB=2br)<%^&X0V(pu9t#str5j&5=3-< zQ_V9A$<(hids~|nqkz#Aj5K)UDO0J*$V|VkmdqKMJC`iLKL6CmQwg`OuHt_ly+)f* zHtA+vMY$`?EXMfR*kt~8GsbH$5L_233u2flCG6S1A+)(v2yDbaqc4d4k>)lfLc^Ct zOf|}UH2mX#1X|l#H@CD!Bj27ocR^EY!;*HmOrUvwTSQ6M5JrS27(cq1b#Y{5D40)m zs|mDUTdMcJp-k_6))uo)Zh%p&Id~5uG194f^jZ(z!cc7GXSPD<rM2oNw2H6 z*HWotl<`I?MLR(@z$t+50?q;~coX3mumtc9z*@jR0ZP~tc?4qRAE#37z;^(40rmhs z1Snu>Zlm%o}y4N@J7Z3~L0+$v7kRM;upa>Y&8&a_`mI!NA)zhShU zEk}unMDOi);BOH0!$fcu+hTdQ77sud*{TD7KYcxw`a0#UD7F!e?D*>}+Ah$Z&7wUH z+7oC;9Uvu=J&3=2*paub0{9#FBipj2dUdfakyl+jWxLf?EN#tq6_>;c+{NX2FN`lP z0mW531sv7Ig{}!gE##=*6qNf1Y|{$JxsPPOXZ03KiTvu~lI;a@arxFUuHuT=*oDPC zhb`7uCyXzym|t8D#nr_Un00k-e1JiTY)Q#-cdd{0%-DygPmqKw_5Q(H8F_a6?M8h+ zMA`Yb<7cE?Pr6*x*(kTJxXNm?pj42uN|h&&?cackT5Qm^(i_6kbQ?x=xzf7a#XBr{ ze<-f-T%gLm|G`z_vO_?<)84k8vECU*zL@J3CMq5-)|J} zwpf3hj|!vQtO{2fW@5gy6TUqK2Q(q5991W?y-c>RDXt2SrjPl=8_-h)Jpk#HdU%@U z${VoITDvdr=T^(Ftp$6n*2C6`|K-gKPs zN(K;mjC}rL+h*W=zNU2^C45tqk!Z=mQkBF2pM(322U<5$!nPYr_&SKCexo2x9~h_8 zdA$b>K7-8GnMC??N^cJy87sDfSo>@SBi8W@=k3H&n&CZ$Vtnqw@N~V6a{g}v{_ohc z%ROp1zy}6AW56-AK1I6Jfb{t~r8x#%V8Gi9*l56w2Ha}E2MqXA1MV^40RtX2;0Fdg zW56+@Uf!h!yvBfY3`k#FP`b^4jRxFkz^w*+z<@tBpe}{Ay-VVc4C3D@&Xr2sp*2l` zR_VqvM_KuF$IMdwDT8qo#EMZ@!5z_*Pyb$#-v?kK<6rez1!YwJ{PeiVh80nU&iu2JRVWsE zMx~4Ccx0BbV)ebN%uLart@zH9-=kp8wc=k)SIsh0IRC}M>KjL+Pfp(#Va~N83h{WC zNxu~LMM!26d$tOf3H;wtnlr5wRgAcmNxxhubV+6sd$yYX-L*N>D)6X0LZ$GYFMLX$ znq(x3_jx8evv+3DD2@~TetOA8V(-g)GeS}VC@o@E`VyVw3yK^ z^sA_$r(b6`xbe|FtCovIGyLQp001|tL2kgw(?LT1H ze>G(yU5|;4^~+2h=fftK-BvOFi-bEkqb|mNN2_Nun>a5VzxOab7mlxc8UN%9#^XO4 zbiQuk#XidPTsZFbfqoHZGQlG`=(oY~M&sAOZxb$0-;cmmJq&&c^z3nc3jC8yaSUc> z>3oiI?N~64R&F)uM%VHp8C;cvKg{UGLi<%ZJKMX$;{yhrK9#4$_N4$HHt1CbKi~g) zI*0zlpij!X{DOJ)?Hv569P}%&K)VWhrnn^3!dP?xK85wxMZ$&i!W{5l1b?=bFm{3V zj3|AB(e-EZZ$l3H4_W^fr|(1J?d{0HzdZ;2hdJo;Sp6@YH-8C!vYX_R%+(a0&Y|Z} z4*KyN^fNi=<8%0PeGdBi9Q1C`N4p>7A3>*ak?sFG*?74^sLE>ZPjl!$l7oIK2R#pV zwv94x7Bl;2n3y3_4*Cp6FBT+Yy%91*t8?(L%0a&ebm_ukg@<$S|BBIzg&jt@d4}x% z9Q?;~(DTNRUhbqE^y@&UaWr65mhXWtX7o`SU^-{@uk_7s541J~YZnFY#;qqlM}>ay zW0tFSJyP{~X(&mK@Fha=;Dmh)o;<_7Aq`#&O z7X}4d*M|IbmrzsdTJYZJ#}z~FP-7t4tmv5yESG1Ea{Ca=!YxSY#`%?S0G}dweQO*Z z-q??D)sD-)|oG!~$j@el!tDf5R zO-;3n8fszUnNj#Tc|rsHw%xn9&Oc&VAlb$wQl@D#tT)Tgtex(WS$?v-$3r9G|Giq} z9MCHr6&Icz*XABne*c1{t{M+q$4wELN=c)JCyQ+O2zkVZBRh9W-CU&KkLDH{e68xctfD*vHT}yDiQv>eOibg^x zB*(2=S+eXZE7KKRRaGNbKcS*@rx(9NDzhT`Jye-Aa>M^aKxH5QFn`TpoP}?5g8uaP zE}o6XrB_+{{SA>ejI`DUc5T_ng=5AgVOf8QY@Dv=ofos zYSJ$(GiXMC=$CS3^WmPcEH=8%D~rpIi`fj1Vt0aNX473^nG|*lSSCro63w7-5Bcxj zkCvf^?*7_nTpE^HX2!*EnOXYPWSKNfC2&~%E;7T%a^JRQ?o-@FmT^^^IgdV%3N&OF zv?dZU%Au>-GIQyswM>d}Nm?)xWh2xmEPc^iMscG#PbR~EcI95ib#SPJaRr;H0yMK4 z709?$FSCs7TivqT^H<*Ncfr7Qu&;ge&xSm;i`KOmm&;}97s?`=TQF4vDq$V2<4^2E zxptupU+9I(aF^V4C9u}O*0x5=)l&bhW6+MP`a&JS zP&>XwWS1f`W%_bO*TJ7rW}u}h2$430%0hK1`j)}d1bida(t>r+C~NWm28nhME%@W_ z7kvMkLw>HqRTHl{(S9LbEz|ORpPNI;%#3Hg&%w#G4QH0;`{5iK+f$tV0(m!b@MSYU zHcIcC^K&OIkJn9>@Vc0hXkU=dnt1zrj0X;P7zZ}Aoj`5p^88%tHqeNL%kzDB4$~C_ z52bATtpbhCj<`JEujkOmq(;uqI3I@_kWXh(9OwJ`9QGUXRDZGoufIVS?#2W4376;l z{~Qh)jM?_%?e8+=s|`MWPLPI%Vv;8rUOt!q9%y6}W4k7Op1{u~`MDifSfaX`lM2Kv z&(9q=WZ#yV1Z>7LhdZ<6`S}EgyuMro$2t68S@QfGgTupLO&y}il5&E~3 z=EUVVEI__lzR)Ex_Cl8~#mA|RjkKTR6Cg~wc>N`p#IhtqUdI?or;j|cCmZDPzfhh< z=kj08q7yGAGvvOn=jgvxE*;t^xFeAs`Ush~o41R`7q2@W)2Y@7ylb%UWlp?YPNVJe R(d2(g69dxaSpr$8@E;4_rPlxe literal 0 HcmV?d00001 diff --git a/ryg_rans/exam_alias b/ryg_rans/exam_alias new file mode 100755 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..98398c4671767eb5fbfa416d61fa6e3ccdbc8025 GIT binary patch literal 18296 zcmeHve|VEsmj9b3#TH86;-GePcZg1K8jZ(!k_C3HK z0IH<9QX&3MlfEWR0G`iiT7H!VkgKI(UbTP)oNfd(;Wsx=BV@xr;CuoK2?^x9Lc(SCPM+u>_Na%5(ue`Ls5>zqjLLrxqZBxfMzbgfTDlYH~KB-`PtBk zJW2u*FQwWup?Z2QDP!mu*r<^u0Y$k-P>$sMeNzc%T*}+arI!_4egTCYW;HgfzGwEV z#`>9!4b5#EW^R~!&&+#fmj_$Q?_&L?`iXbZl1EufLXT!(B=c1KNY#{oVfUHE-@CAC z&YbsNdExA@rq;aquM_Sf{;%RE?8Y7>iAh6r`^AWG4Pax_8z5ajmMk^rpjV=y@%V2B z{kC!HxtOD#GdbudbI?;c=;w0Kdvnm^Ip|k%(A6CD`*P^vksSO}bMW`);1A`X7lCfZ zFFWl9VLZE7bF@pt#++RV@OyL6C+DbV0_anuo26KVR+|{t68t_8B0slDo|@&0J@vkT zZ%somU1LLNqo=(BS@m_b?Np#iT8z#Azx#o)Y=vbqKUd-&<9cdbq$SDldmc016R=J zTSthusa5iW&nx*MZqO$|MqeNx`PT;;LO#hK@YU6$3h#zGkH3LLe2NqRfglc3KvP{q zv()Zy4Ky@|{L-QY3p{t1S4fN8HPs6|ca`5&K1W)xVuho+#$zkLTO+Sn0hZZh$UMY} zym9^!)x_vDA56fL#;rjE0>%pBEf9sMgr;3=V_-yn#9Lpu76I{L7Vev^*AkGD_V)sIIpKF9`K zbXKaA^Ir#ytBBFfI=W^lMwZHS^z;;rtO^~S+7M~3j;^2gs&sT}TO>tC7rLgrS{)q@ zkWMRf^oePzB(2iX;ZW(cR!65;CQ_@8K3Na}H|XfaI{FqJUDnaNbae7Rk-ByCDS`<2 zypB$Dtw_6cbiTx6SxWd^ffC7oZ@O7hI%A={RG$()RB%vA%{dKHYWfHGD^IJ!6X9#A zOmZNFH2t@PlZlgk4DTnLOq+}`{21Y6(&Qe7_YiI(d>6y_6Hca0b~F5+2q%*!w=n$g z2q#k}TN(ai!pVfmRSbWDa57!8mf?R!IGHS2#qd8NoJ^IhVE8kHlZldMhCf9(nI>7n z@BratlBC4&Zxc?YNDhsFFnu-QWP;=X!yhM{RG;i)_%jx>vBu0Y<l*pVPgZ3KfF|iwj*QnCOvy>H`eE4RRkIwly97u^) z?jZp8**}L^W`MG(KB1zqjZ#upKRx^ZiJnC2u_EJ1Px(qr=d=2b(QjMK4xnnv^ zqNoRLm-dtIDC*&afwI)!CDd!Fl&#-(sYX3S=vkm{^`pcyfQtH?{Un%M{SYN;P-s3C z3J)9P&R*CY{7Upi3u!;`WAM9du~)XR>VM}}V~aaKP!4xkPC*VzpDKSJvOE+mn(tPJ z{h|Z%-V!AoGlV;KQY8k(9&bB`T3@B8mY4;%A(1{pM0^d|d5Mp>}(MWr+bG5X-He ze)SFHD(dTrYeb4xE`!PvKcWu6G_{Uj<+E%Ugz!~V+U%Fl$COCOQpz;X+#~TYN^MNGajM7Sr)7Iz;NRqFPINXrXy`J=69x93_5W9gw0}7GbBZHsk9t_% z`&s;KNjy-UZuQbW^3TN7FH$K-_+$9lGV(YWsz8Y@xC*wPVmei;sm;>*m$~04 z;kZHG`v{sWDC}cd?dJwx@ONh!m)UignV1<@Q%=GU&5;rY5YIIGUJ`ofuyjFvqzVV@ zL8{on6sl>Xq{yO~lo-m0f!Xs1m`|vl4120r52fwtydvzm2KK~|g@)W}Dls2)l4Ld{ zfpMQf=MxFg6!p9q*NHO1qm|#Gyf^UdRtFZVXBJ1-kAw#dHQ_TOh`AMFh?mqvT_a?D zg<^L%cZIox?BYljM7=~VHJ6Y5ml$87mdkRC_hwWjG@Pl&Fp_H2 zcunDPCA`T}BFP=AA<+VPZ|INUy@&&B_(yiUL}Qr^<*lDnK#;dRg}K|-F9HJvgO_x{ zU~%Wi7?d4lsEmS)@`^r+)I{fBH~0wiFZGCe+}3~jLbY+{i&T7JEU+J0AJHN0A0{_qu4DOCU3bSnDX;2w)aAVbO4qV$T?;-}hq@k0v7i+k?pp8#b7&R-s`SyyZ9T$C(cB@I1q`L|Hvvj~zqS>YJ~EJz+;RX7dDSRAbG+LUjQ zw|n7@@-)noy@-=fvp6}-<79FX%i97e_4BB_y^U56qZ4cU>7*Bwbo^%ZKrf$boo*jY zPDDjm$~dVW8ucNU{PM6v9d=-1uDh{B@YinjnT?VBK(91n@}+E_j+}!2Q`g5kxfhM9R#D5*D#QAYt-XUDww~+9}LwlcSrMoOZ$N6WG@4ijc6=&!zVYIrO&i+ z5v_dXCbRUY63zc5pkg0Z)H9*4Vk_JO9@+{|UYQyg-O#K&NUPUT9Aa#wa?v>fR*e;N z`xzxZVpP;2C7yUdG4v|OM?$5jP~{aCQH5fEkzL=GN*n5t+GZ)?%6m}&l0lv#?9uW- zPyE#dC`>^Ydh-i`8>sjem`D2bpf=8lePz-=I_?kCmQYd-Zy)BzDm5yC|K8n?xi z@JGXn^~%<`gy0=d8Zq%aBE899k=ik^B7s=bgw1kMV+G^C4zCuO4 zR-<0k`iBjOr6zpHCZb1QGZCitV*7(Q8!^zL zB5taYe-TqIUs4@c75kO8q$9#4w7sLKjg}I>+;YQr;Z%OP{is{5x0GVqD;T_iLw(Poz8hUetO9g&V7l0*)B#}7$@wl^I6VTP1TYr?Hw zwq0_n{eu-uKjABecDpmO$b>n`srERn$HJc*+HLmZF7>zVcR+Uql_R8@-q0*(L{^8K z(I*W~^{CStw;vDmIMoyC@j+-Ba&b%JaHw=JwYoDnOg&ZP(C0`w=<(pMc>JgWTaq5jBpUX#Av8@KZ6ye}eP> z8ql$ywBxeBEl2M|DJLGDdmRJ3CTjYDQ$6iePhReKT0g?5$a5O{mCL8X1IDOgv>yxn zF^1W_iuYqjxZ@Y3LIdh{L>n!6p<8vNJR%uG#c2}ZChK7=QjGKl)7Gz!)I^K6$3Mv< zC+vX4kg~@BtD5jqvP-T9`pH66x*?l8H#>3{pOkChJK4Ztie8cOoB?JO2UmRm6==WCVWbj==XikIJ1k zI2!Y9J5zaRMsgY`H5FRM%Cv{fyl4Bd81F-Qt#e2yS{`t$JHV)*4 zre_ji<$y6%q9=l4a#&-Ep~n_;;+Q8|^nF`@{CpniL1*81+P){(C!A`G4BYFmW7^*i z;T3N$n&wtsXmDU1xP#^`vQC*HiXCXxZDe z?Ax^LGVB-kZ=>vIwd^%owo%J=P_|0hEn2psWq$zQfrp#}*#87&*CJaNzqg(%MHp~u zLBvJNt5-4XT^-mh{|g=*TZgH;^0vbi4AhuA>c&x|`URGruWUgE7VB_*lUsdLiT=3> zYiz&VyvbrxqG1X$pDKUtms@`a0V1ZaQC`ap7iin-#KSOun4IDd`Q*%CsVvsuoEsUW zbuXwr_?^b@m=f+W`yKK~+%MM+AP`jf<%T23IE&vQJY%^uavpieZ#hPc{qmF*F?s-3 z9XMLRQTJ~k_JR8h@T6aUrx*AD@N>v}1J6Um1NyK1@*1iMWmn<1HYQJba6q0?J*3!= z%boR@8Ei3(c+=oiZGMRvluB)SSwho`y=bf26G*t#BetX1v@tgHNAbQ1$xU0Y5Nl|& zy&}5N5Ijo^n*U(w58ZC|Z@t3clTlNlGxEfa66N`>okr5K;>GOoVuW-Yad(tB4ZpEo zuwPK|D2F>yr{Xp`d55h=iqE%JaP zdS{;DqIw`=q79sS-f6uIqyW>pQ+?BV+11%kc|b$A(EJ(sXOc}l?24L<=%D>|r)qk& zE#a^pcXcA-&A%!12h2VZ)(7meFRx>&F^#jIDUcu(3xJ4*tyqu<2r zf82US@%AeiFou(ZQ#3uorxD9Se|j}gfMphp*Y+_yBI%;&<9(AJ=i!mf%*j2NV-Q-b z7>}3$^2ylI%4UH5=U~;ucRpm<6SeFQX^3Kefc*QvPuWYg>_HGv`mmP$bt+A#Pl>yc z4Sllspr&Yv=Z;QaSjd*vGYKxMQE`O-w%dA!y=#hJGbXm5L5rOqhs?Hj#C+{m&tg00 zL=CB_@3L9a{$ATzdKaZrk8b_>=|PA?@2hK67(R$n0-vYp$PXo*tYi(JOW{y`1;ePn7C?-j;fwxncKg1DQoTqqIm_usJOQy#gEZ`GBhcYXQyJ_P+>N zg{93Z@b3ZKO&vl)jAqI3)KbZ?p~P@Y(RBsghU-d*j@dz~K;1Jm7WQ|1eo3-${@V9b zsS30u6_+e5E`3m*w7y`A^uW#c-Ep_&HmZQiJMmkAzLB0pD#gPS_|<~mPeey?NjUGp z;sMk}`rd%w1oZ#wl=oP13DI`ow+r$uBN`IXcHwtUC$j?lCHxAYn;6zxQgw03b9vRp zrOz6xi_K9}b#d8_d`EG`wh4~nx#8=a#jA{l{E5YLL2?wAfd#B6Qe9l&nB+!ra)wPf zSNTIS`j^+WsJO4h_@FUIWhhSirDS-j*3Gnk-CzD}f?2vnvjKF0JkslY=wuBX!t@g$ zqixotHOHM7ftWl*M~`EZ_?P9MQ6Lhynl-UZ=ApzGJ(E<06LQ(*u^o_iQ4zi2VN? zNnuptyCgnXDHKv-??nNzlVd5y^Tm3kg$qitgA&DQO8Rfv2shFnN)=`XL`>Mj%Zqsf z8$*_E;&25QP|(?zM#vL#4{<&mny@6=$H_SB4~UEvi)@CU;vK<)pWzgyDPc-r_%5E0 z@W=49+#1{e_+RlIdv?S3a04vl@EaWZIc(=}8;9TH@NYQW%V95vCpi3&!%G}a;D)`C z!`nH$hr@*&3iYB~>mfOlJX4>wyYEObE7c^oN%oUEJW1=rh z#rOI;GJMP^g~sJKrTsdSKVK65oJpUM_WMlwb&~LpOnQMN{3?@PsC^lyC*s*CO_YRR z>$8l~r1bdCq!&qMZjVg*WT`ew|CDc(iltTK(q&1+i_CgTqyZjBGU-#&_Zu?l*GpT< z^c3ycD1AlhyJI~1)bxE0eXbEvLd2s?`i;2HVb+t_vr)Q965rSAGmR8=viy$njfjf7 z$EA;cH=bFKh?=8R3Qs2K0&Vv*60Ifkbb4lMQqXW#!RU8kJw}PGM*%DFGtjE&kBEvh z2MtI|0g1kf)9>W;D5sk_eLANf1sqSFw?HR((h~vaKf&o$VuIlGB&Un{ij%SXAbD<< zj&Qw+d8ilmQ2Xtyz%zvUD2jd@W_gwO?V*J-jZ;azVpy?O_@|EXx4-0cF>i``{*l!))~{%7jPEzbq?0-5^mWd7{Aa;m0%OIp{PQ*No5%6n z3*bj@)8kakTTnjgFHXBZ+jl^^>7d^>MoMg(82{LeM|nN1e4)VhLSWm->8rRu(>{aJ z)0|$#`DbWk=|?&0{}<4wE9s^&{r{Z=>VaWAtRlv4c#{@I$@; z5b|8fQUBx|cFAY;kB!4-@RR)6_PR4iJrCrdKazu9pM$<32mRR`^q+w~-o2P#flmIG z9S^_9{P1R}FUt>)<*5HXR?pb@nasie1)~>BwS0bIdrJ7qB&KKXG&*o6=w=-*9+e#Y zs~Ejlidi&Hn46{69Q@CLZst6C@Pi!meXO2hX@JL1ahC8-j{37tD?N|9=d{)}H+X9w z@;-%2LGC&1D674^6&H`_j?&|4lFMfIcxsormM?$Iv+&U+3zpYByo9bMJ^uI-n@xAb zWt)?AMCJPS?_Kns?9(wu-9c*b)CB@{8$G_}P+%i2DAhIjJoRl& zO&d`}hk3vm%3$?)7A|!xc6nS&oTM8M?k9R&3MVSgrIN?_*b>L$ngz(qC`=cibOd(q zN%AamKV0o_dmdi6aG7hlXSt)=?eb{%uBxi^*Pqx$FHYiDpFF<$x=cyXdII0uVQ7kq+RFAq>ZU`tOqc^8{7J9Z(XC;lRoNowe!1US@nDBgDsx5 zbb$`==4i0; z*lU4RRl19GUwS_=<9;9-;&<}+wLNNth7lUcy2h6+)9-oBag2-Eym+~R`-b$+#8vyy z+9rORFtdKC94`QH%nld|XmG7~VlOjVrE6Lmal2SL&&!Q zf0>@j11)U0miyN70JF9pl?V*A<8G#JgV)!JS4-@MD6341Jz5>&8Ew`zHF!~^B}8pO zTnYr`@C~UP0k8={O+U5#x1MPyf~lF7cPxp0uz=$HhG#Qg@l5dR_|ch(C@=QQ0-BMh zPnga!k`0)?yx3O@XvyH#-f!qhP9Qi2ZxQW_b0q;qd2!Ap)_0=JSbC((i*qai#kmz&SfV=g=}91TMkLx7`+fmub7mpG;1h5i^6AV; z;NpBhz;0fi4YDLrOzeA`J*_W0}D&k2Yph3=*x@q3jx_XAYB3Mj9C(JCop|^an2#2ke3%r%P;7E zl~rDxhX}YjYdIn3_=&vFut8Tg|a=)Z*? zvM)VFGwAQgKyS}LzcmB>Us2##_4-i;{x37|Z_2=5mw~<_1AS`-`tLH7+na%YB!ix> zXW-Au!2jzE^qVr!TQbls8R$RHU{5~iR(#Uaf(&|I%0MrK0&BVw;51B(MSn7bo__;< zk}yrMIy5OhUJ2;W?K1UWyWn-#R(TtI?Y`AbLD|<{TeYA$(CVwLTh;6nyx!FK3Q&R@sakR+)#h>%~Zl%!Fyk8T?@WzWcxg?S8i+%to5#{ zYw*@JLuw5Qsb5#;U4`;nz4di+eIr;KnyV>e^}2Q5HeY)%&|25rB(L|bDWSYN%DZpz zq8ho>3(MuYrskO?-s*M~?QQop)&(2AZGq;d`t|nN-YRda&)1-nT`etSN9$UAvqIZ_ z%o-i@wKnJmpaLzL?ahJJGlk~%rdFA1wYt9E8`Rylv~_J01eW-MA+5^wnuKp%lPvfH zZN65)FZ-ICg|?6!L4N z{yt9f+gu6WM$_3t; z#WRcNXwS=*fj+y~UMehDw#-rK_S%bQ8FLU`7ALgOBj!lJqxpQ z79frBxp>m#vjh|V<{xZyxfPJ8n4!P+22z|3KQ8SU1zC`CmwxE@tmDJDI3B12p zrW2PS>?pS~$mxAHh6*DUsdSDXy;GypTy31M2Ml!M#HJePU)5Bz??D6oIs<*gK(`v` zfovT?L*9Z>0SAKmuv{e8NqH_c44X;S{>@9){mUIE8F{2g7e5oI*9eo#E36 zrx1;IGkh}P)OF(>44*(ag=)Nw;aP-Jh{jhk{K8D&6q@mBh7S==AsMe=_$k6E6yqff zKTbG>VBE^^w+N@ui(44pPdJ5KTwwSsgj1-+2QPv!y_awbvG@SP_Yh8@74KvCGlWkj zyocdW5q>%0I~e}&gi{E`w=?`lgj49myBYp{!YO3p9Sr|2;S?(IHimzPa0-$5N`^l| zIE6;Mn&It)Q%J-s7{0`A75v@6S*nqgFQknh^#SSZkrdfhC@HnJ5=rscNu zB+nCzoVIGQ$YWb67S-C?#G-As4#q43kiVMT$CY*8NUfF0~?HehD!kXR2Bb4@;5qlXkF1Yi+rb@{amT zR6~l)=?CpaYFD)pgcnJvx|p(}6W3z0kfL)ophPKJ-a!Ciy=M-w{O+%bguht4t`mqL zbUW^K+ymAp!Q)u!s0I6WJT9$)PYx^x`$u3$M-V%0Xd+43Yd^n-Vp&r5t1-$_-c>*U zGLf+N+t0g|{e(URvPVg%Lm*4apZAbq9_1n=s7mY9X=Gz~#3Xi|yqpxhD@C{2c7RK* zhNQjcxeliP-E-1^NRbV;byZzZGvbcs-zi_|?-rl6NZ}q+xN|Fsn541;p^sjm8J3E^ z8)4(JAEbU+8Oe{>dlp7IBeXPdDzA4PR9=&9-HzxK!LM{~?L`lPo{G)SPw8=Edl&O7 zJGb_L82XDl95cB$eooU+Xtzfhk)luA`e4)Vs8dQY)$B2Ww!0gcC%U}@Kpls=qRwvR zWl8C@Z70&XFNk#Eg+Bm6-QCK*D$_^m401}e{IMIrVP}qNu&wk&8f@!4h&`)cJli8F zXINv3MV+iz^&n)>0$neo6A=SG2Zto_rcT>Y=pGW6=X_`b1Z4{o7!sGohQvt-EYa?X z$hMVI?6{TOpZ6wwDRy21Js#!r-89j5OX0Z5AwD}L-x=A;TpHQAbq6ZyRQhAbrVlnLWou=pGnMl(Q*+??x^caa;DW2{h4hL+*&jg?X&l&Qz1tkog#)} z+)CDZl#|J3Bz`qZuj@tK5HRV@IKry5JjY7LvSuU!V>9Y4=n!|gE}|I$mwp)=u;lf@ zVRFsg(fm6+$|qHd>hD(e#nk+bCleT;#a&x>Qbdct?xjbHcvGMF?AF;7@a2gF4xc8i zod{hPsB(vUvd~5deNWlJ&~thVQiWOBqs=F2%|~@rZ$-ta`EJ&$B$3lC6PF>nwZ_T? zS8DT-oK`c7$Cj(L6*bf?B*Pl&4CWf%+@lTkDHfgR8CpaAVnlDKAJAArg9Lh-M>(&) zfDAIoiRzIBN*c!Fb8c!usbiqX`cqNglr3eN#DSS3dLS7r`utJ9vZN#XzmuMBJ z(EAilC3;N!jFqCE(d|8@*LgH1rfQzc$-iFn$^>`r_bcw}3f%bxH%m30?)gITcm z4}Zcsc2(E=(flm2^P9TP>K91X6P;o{eJhQx$^m;n`ugIF==kpNsjRB#0~d#fDd*6jmwkV0fvdF=oCqvW=PKjC3-aoXSxcRW`UbADY%&jGcj|Gg-=@z27l> zPT42b?{}JdBhRPE#7^d$jwmA}cR+k}4W>u3ge({yR$}0fy_at~D-}?79ryFz&$@EK>$iCe>mj7ALrnhOadjiE@GUfRCxoD#+8U-7t!IiVk3& zqv@WSSe-Gf1zZtaNf}j(RBQQZ6!tj_SmAxu%^3$@6^*VX-bT-!NDi>^a-jNs`JXz>m zI`@&U)uB%{hn~S2jvUHnEX%}ezM^@t( zEcf6!44xD@m!}P$8<9bS=TsPk2zn7~Xf+BW`6`A6&ld0?Zyyw@4Wl{4GR-MD zpW;wK3pOg=7;I9cSzGe>#X$LAz~)w7qV;EFg{{q<_a|Bc6+Lh3h7`f=1UsL?%G)nq z=Y)0PGbTwH7N5dflpb~(a=4BP@qPqa8%nr z(ZanIEu{6o_i6F+V}!jnbT@)4b?7F!vHD+tWZ2OC3q%R;e=jA6?s?d*Vm+u0-KWl? z|2=K%fP2shM`%NUNoJ*V^G?lW(efW*w`=dA(VO}a7AaEr#EAL~E3PY1EO&8LwaBRrcF{9@}iHf6+)=OT#mdMlB`IP!W)?10%{DYkCeLURQ0 z8@938!sLV=HbW3i%QZP-$EP|eBAZ`zC{yl$9e;)iufdi#EPk=H;t(hpsxQ6)N?$&& zDznll23Tn@)giVIf}ITJmY}dL%-GmKt|RuI#hG`2)dka(Rv9vJ+o*}`$>hxI1K0d3 zUooSOTUZ^z2Wz)dT}%+(HibL^d;jc+oq*{_9g6dgY$?1SyQILYFzg*zdWhM+7k0z; zz{~i&jpptZi?-;^;y(%+^3NU^e`tfqF8tu?i3n=e z$JDK0Ke_|H5&ZZb4f?K=2zu&n`X=gfoMmX^&}OaI8P)-$FKryM&=T@PoY83G&_(6| zZO=TqiFy}1f4+&Lx}f(rQ}4$vkA?t?y7)B4re<3s`V`DWY`{!17F_ryfv(?R>1^C` zErJME4W0Dj11p2A*vYH+endQ&Tw#U!78q#h&=1H2)dTdj@g+K6viE%Be#Z*O{f-A5 z-o4m!u=9%N*fyoB3yT1DR%Y*s-%D!^nj$fm#t&oHgbfElrbJj(G53=S;+Jc{a3;+!F^i0xPo|4oK}#&Df9@}Oii z@&JrHhyx33fa8m4R99eXrh+bDG-h7eO4Oa{7T#dQM@jJrVmml+CqaRac zwO_%U$aZ!sY!ytvW$(e+mQA3cRl(=J#7!ZSn&5#a>eN0k4N2n|HYr4?m#&I2HT@qPfDj{FEY!0I(@3ovy# z0)VfFK6WdI9*~sdQuzJB>RL}U=PB%kafUgIf$|k#O<-^nPw3O`0$C>Q}(A8)h)s;|% zeK|$IO(fm{XA9>rrqcLC?DxlMKcTNb_tO!vAno5YVx|Y0`mmq-cCJT>*?Xk$ha*za z=Nn^ms2Pi!rLKM)lgigfrXgLg`0O|uvK-;;4jhgSh0dPa+wJcj^@kLFoMiWJqHjv} z9%hGmJZ6S$g^{JQH<=uHjt+%!8jR!PjTf;Y62wQ%2o_z7TlvzVd}h=|r|HUH#p?vK z3rp#jvz0C?M=CoUI^$GMy?_YD0CZMeh^2)C%UsH&O*!oVTxCz&@Pby5Z;WrGf;2ys zg^4Frb2EcdcyG3{;7h6Ov^+O*c_f@o^8NB#8dv*Uh?^g?xS8`fom(JS0ruPnb?V-e z6mu}@rCe>u*$d`Yjrl>1xec56JoW4qrw+NQjlO!cqqGR^YXYT0iBT{4>dR6F6 zDYC$V2T6fRi!2_cK-;B5Y>|?`&#m-9I@H@OMQ(GKU66CsAQ_;jP^CPS3tb*%mRosq zQ8XWC$IUoZjF_mi!aj>znPT%OaK(bDCTboG%!Wxpj{{F+*6ChqKg|rck`0-9i#*vK z$+nTb6;^3Dm|LaTj^Jz#buyj)6~!+Mi(e0~@&4d$AK%X+L<- zQTwa%&N-EbbCt$?X@3Q4(ft)ziBkX^bq^1cCp^kIPvmyA#Sz-)cK#fhRgtTzB44wf zE@b`O9m#^<#m+4x7Lm}@Rmz)grI!{+!-G=Ukx;0r?A6dw$8GoJhWZ`1J(wT*LsjHX zI%i%XDX**BP9zdT4$*QqUc1U~(Jjz=h(8 zp&>fXXWGO`Sgc?fv=2+5n0n$kwF+%|pbb_bPdQaZbAFty1K2b-

iiadjn};^GmU z{JU}DSad;o2Nhf{zl{Es|1!CkY$?HPd5bH$76-z3Gl)2k}dG9m(;Y1Rti<$18( zE*ctI08JAS(s5`Nmtp3|tUpy3@5Aa9LLfMvqn>?E{HH6nU=#r(_Q~+td$gA-0n1l> zAp6ByELVz8h>uc00P6$xhWIF!OM<)p&|T5lq6b~8REl29h6Tyg=TWd`tBTgXj5=Vp zS57;N&bhh}ZHFDo+fL^v@8Cv9(c7S5 zN3LGMOeZt73V6(HiC7$4d!-Abo#`Evf(jf6{j1)8sU{MHC7eX8n;L%+@+=-vg_yXh z9JP1X?;{DEt~%K87%v17gYYZtIBHJ4b}H2ju%`hvR)+@A!0i2{TS-v=awzAQ)9_)C=2>>;xRjmOIBPAu<=GdQYgGK@U67z{8d@)OW z^cJhSN<`g3HoY4wX*%8^IyyZ}`e-N#~ z`1poHnf?8!l;wy_c}!9cu-tcCO7?G}LFAsp{_z>whdJ@`^2KPIi9!h8pJH=TaoDY3 z+}(A00`re@DBNp`+~Fv@{V^2rXB6?>=mIF&>rigrh?zdyS=OucwI6jvzh%M!idp^U zyIS1ig(Fq8(5a{{J3HAZg6j|k7JV7~fEJ9{4bnPni&I9b;1VJHdXOrCB^tI>LeJg%lfBOz-Y!MG3t#$Asgwm7==}$~*K}LC&QI zi9Jwn0#Ypq9d{CyW?YuNk{;AOSbCEm!s>+Z$fx3_g;)n+A&r?Wre;aQN5cbVxdiWz z9okBXErI3h!XsIZ{db|!@O~W|DM6kH6srlKw2msm*7j^qwCYQx#~q!r$=(x-XW?C! zzZ>s>rEsrBEUFwVi>>`6_Fk6hwX(RpTp2{Au0>>QA|26%rn3F*&QUZA=$uj14D`lP zG#ltu;e9!rQa0S4i|1XWs_R&EK|=iAgEW8F4=6nt^`s)a8Xu9uD%urJXYJwYdfye5 zZI~-&qB?Y{kCEpzdAbylO*3>J-YgxJhKJc0Aw{w==;OSlM|MgPOy&pW+oj0ER=08h zD}J}~Npk+f@pb3pD7>nxKeW0k0@x!@s$w$%<^a-Hc1r#;`rR{Fh+>(18cQ`Sr2Y!9 zrx*6CkNgE8kz7wZ%O1`RjdPYY<;%@dB##RIDiuug{vgwKI5bfzJ11iyLAjyhY|2w* zXrbC5R>&(DpJGm>E!RntoAOrL{DwWN`WtMxq^M*$oyYuxqj-xHx!o3VK zf)48#`Es_txK7>uHj3&xhS4H4NZu_ajuHf5bPAgf)YZg*3|N4S(a285dbp=VD%+1$ zPz&SSU@KJLU{AN()K_$pRqdgt@Js6qGibM~tPM7MVY92OF<#GUxk{1eHxVfx(eQf}GgvVR;ujSTcvctPof2g+iI$H&R>!L#uu z4950j@#nC!hm(%k55`y1CLgaZ;b3)I(q0Qa;b#_4=#&a#f!`)ekz3X9G0Hr9`V5Gt zUmw$LCB*V~xos}vB)4tDQ(V?&0xJ$z5s}N$%Mp>^0obz-HBi;JM%Q<=-g0R30gevm zUdFbHGYDeoji0C-_7r`<7TvMGnpF{kIBt=x_G8KZp`5~tWG6Hvro4^q1~yTD37s0< zHL!yU!+z@AUKm5a84GK_5;Ng9sIK<*K>K{F(AHch`vdJQ#f|tiZJitnTFc9=B?A3Y z)*EbUX(+C5YZLI}S^Q|(D+lDdX6qg0)|qqW3iY8DFMe_RaPS*VH{0*G-eENm?ibou z39ABuhwOsCso7_34aio1Ak^A0-#R@wL7?C1TIm`xgRef&;IjrEx?XTCS#tN1 z`Bwbs*{V_7uNNlZr@FrOW?$VJUxT&XvAD+SYbAmCLV5;tH&|D#mwhOq#$DxP+(x3o z-1u~Uq@~Yu5VctXtowk zp95l5Q{}Ben%;!JlRwFx>Vss}xFf8Enn$cna?sc8w>AY^|53IQTM-pDMrsIz@UwL* z{Rq9ia15q3fu;s)4Kuz5F%g_UzZDU}eow76d0`07pEc7f>%t~emMJUCOrI>XIU7A8 zB?+b!lp#hMJ!hFS^Kf1xk5Ps{XXlKqgUeGc*THFob9u@)>fm%EFVE+Bgd3m7jZY;0 z*O435%Zex6p}D@qL5E_-550^{`QXrk-sJKRm^)HGCg7u=c3-kRSofrEhz?jH)YsKF z`ikq()8s<-?0v|$zDTHBgT6-pso)JZ2jn32U=l$QV<$a6zFF5AXkFhD2nD}2fBwRz z)`q*=5HfYm3j#qo838xlVnrt)vQ8cR$#jkRwhcgV6e0}%DUmn;xZ_A7L3`gG zK-vp`|II|g2G|2guP!TaJp2Umt8pSu%fuak9>4*>m4H^9iCVDgvEU8eO27^r=k@@0 zV`Vs%R&!r~P7sOz_Sp2u62Y|2V!9@Od~UaCyoKm^D=uuu`QgpPsHd^{1;K`V; zJ+MJ2uq-T?`Ze*gwYeR_ozrf+X_oBeX9wv0L~|5a!dYJ{ z7=SL?s;|Sx4}bgv>{u$7Mn_y@9}zS?Qte?LAOGVS zNxGg!+?C+T$%c_OSKjE_* zv6hQ9ZuaXy{0>dm6MCM29)M&@{CK+Qnp<-OVRdiTFU_XknsfG;&Hd(_H_gIvGstk+w}?5BFkMp! zyfo+gmkHfjId4r64w<)Qk4zBGO#u0S(*Jm1Ob_t?H{$WSzw9(AJjEE&d1zoI?n$eipFkAJpZ$ci2&hG=$(eg zI`wf%IuK}Hp~M!CfLH4{@5eN*Q^MQWl%!8Tn9Qt<&im$O{egyCO4vlRgr737L_e;g z#OZ~38qV#e@tTrO7I^uX@>qS4#aOYOV>tWI4-hd=Go05G@9G$SgRU6AZDn}UZYt#e zLE`_%o?i43Jq}Ll@VpMk>49;j4sX=qTpcdd;XOL^>u`+@AJyRxb@+1~KC8ohIy|Do zlR7-F!*R5*LAp|hH|lV%4j1b19v%91xJHMXw2=J&JdWcZBbQ zoTbupwf{^q67g(Cbo013W|`3odH+bIUncNzB9)#m^yqPtN}ninr1_un%~+*&k4YB= zKJKLIu?PeDc$7+?l)NV)l|EUhrUhGCG7Far(rsx(pk}Nl`S@ncHDk2l<60{HO56)! zHImq~S-48z|L1AUG}Gvzk58%etA)Wa>C=+`r=7~rN8eE@4ddCuC)in~CJ|_s!Ov_h z4BA(8`YK{TV(VbQTk$brl`}A#s5pbyfbexdq6>30!Yw*|i%zf5>3m{&QKy&abV#!F z3BJd&^Gndl&I($r8WR0*hUgt>^hu~N(fNGHMg9?V6aK%w&|zgH@(ZQ8jDBf5-mmN7 z^Q*=!2u+Ot(s-aB|BPk-6S|(k8#N8I)~56Z`Z?J-P^jT-&5TF-k3;6qc^ZAC281cu z8hxcs*MX49Zwnd!WWhN`Jdb5(E%@mM0DixSUaYX1>A5tX+Zg|pOX7c{PEYSITbZ6q zK+wZFy+h~c`^}#-x~9YU zy$AG3Syx{&kL}OEe;oAd!7n(hObuV(+=GY7=;i6-?M0@iK&aL`I-h5*#zJi@|J;&+ zzM8dTLGnH!UayJ_{IwbAt259KGyRv&M~{G?{F5Fhk7m&G&l%|dk%9g~26}%6`n4J2 zd1eNB73gE#(@_UH#eaI7Z(#jmnoy#*FKc9c(XXk;YOl>1=s#xqr(NQ=Uu58aE(85l zMlTRn&eSaN=>{Fkz(1UUJ{9q4)n$!fHj7&$MSJ!zI_3qvT)xa&k%9l48T5ZQ1N~>Z ze(Q9tJbqTRKZE|Xw+r6;JagLWTAS*t7u7$4i$^?j*va&o;x^o;LRYWcmn6CDWnORf z5?5{Qa__>Wix?#d5hW!3!A1*0@J%5+Tyw*_5DxAs-_3d&{hIDZ~UU%@DVZ3sS7jF$( zNu#$R;9cDuSXI~TZIA=)L2q4XolqZWX>0b$zJ}s?B_(jfSWI4AbkgLlYj3Yx@Ab9H z?dx$1N*ykEX$ZBntcQpJ^MX@OVNE|r#%(dUe5S-J;cgh2&WqiP?K8c1dG4-sc)Z@l zUVAA!#9icD@2Zh!x79VZyBF2iy^Cu~y!KiAaJVthRPS@SYU08RE~cq#UG4MIoi$CZtHC?Zi>qv$ zK7U=PS=KTeST4^Rs`3S zQRPDDIB5v*;?^{;OVWvwbBW+}E??}ZaxXw$O6WJF64=#10uS@M7cQ)E)p~0kl^&N@ zyPBw?!gxavyQWDeX%__vUSC6_;a9>p#8{Hd~#^uGuU3$c@%coMa z=~Ajx3cGG9m84y*rPFu>{CDr!N>M{MPOZ^zr%El8y~wLMeuq~|bm1jnT|>I$s$ftTq)WY0bLoz*REmDRR(&wU`j}o=@`|vO;>L=GREEEG z$6CroVlYC#yvtw!O@%NZ?Y^&cd;iX>+AirycJ^9TUrkgmYHZQ39ZS_O6yv2o=1xGl zU4xDMiTz-qO(@2%A$-NSR&0h`w_3+mw}y&Wg_>}4WK)AsOc>2|LUF_TR_N29+^*%U z!A);Xfz}kni@bJUa~%ojPi@VzP)y^VP>jdo)d4)nzIFI!ekyJcutBTX*QhTN8XKU5 zW6+LE+LC)4sVtaF!(lNZNx;kKmKH2bE?t!V zHz;(%Lq`aF{mRc5IppW-T(y4Oz)^OdgC%uRo}WW1q=Vb9lZ8j{ zKtAR2{Ct)}{$7HY&*gdjJ9YU=T_Hcm<&eJ@A$gKXm;WAU7a(k&PN*w3#UqCaK&(E1TtmFa6q_ubb`Xd8B zO_S&6BOLPgL0pE~%9wr$gv#gb$IqWQ9843i8in!vfABHN^Yc0mH>B~WsS~vG*U|F% zIXH(S+%R1a_ZwGxFs*!kUe4iNoKc7A!^jOVa3Ep57lA6WL112-8B0 +#include +#include +#include +#include +#include + +#include "rans_byte.h" + +// This is just the sample program. All the meat is in rans_byte.h. + +static void panic(const char *fmt, ...) +{ + va_list arg; + + va_start(arg, fmt); + fputs("Error: ", stderr); + vfprintf(stderr, fmt, arg); + va_end(arg); + fputs("\n", stderr); + + exit(1); +} + +static uint8_t* read_file(char const* filename, size_t* out_size) +{ + FILE* f = fopen(filename, "rb"); + if (!f) + panic("file not found: %s\n", filename); + + fseek(f, 0, SEEK_END); + size_t size = ftell(f); + fseek(f, 0, SEEK_SET); + + uint8_t* buf = new uint8_t[size]; + if (fread(buf, size, 1, f) != 1) + panic("read failed\n"); + + fclose(f); + if (out_size) + *out_size = size; + + return buf; +} + +// ---- Stats + +struct SymbolStats +{ + uint32_t freqs[256]; + uint32_t cum_freqs[257]; + + void count_freqs(uint8_t const* in, size_t nbytes); + void calc_cum_freqs(); + void normalize_freqs(uint32_t target_total); +}; + +void SymbolStats::count_freqs(uint8_t const* in, size_t nbytes) +{ + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) + freqs[i] = 0; + + for (size_t i=0; i < nbytes; i++) + freqs[in[i]]++; +} + +void SymbolStats::calc_cum_freqs() +{ + cum_freqs[0] = 0; + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) + cum_freqs[i+1] = cum_freqs[i] + freqs[i]; +} + +void SymbolStats::normalize_freqs(uint32_t target_total) +{ + assert(target_total >= 256); + + calc_cum_freqs(); + uint32_t cur_total = cum_freqs[256]; + + // resample distribution based on cumulative freqs + for (int i = 1; i <= 256; i++) + cum_freqs[i] = ((uint64_t)target_total * cum_freqs[i])/cur_total; + + // if we nuked any non-0 frequency symbol to 0, we need to steal + // the range to make the frequency nonzero from elsewhere. + // + // this is not at all optimal, i'm just doing the first thing that comes to mind. + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) { + if (freqs[i] && cum_freqs[i+1] == cum_freqs[i]) { + // symbol i was set to zero freq + + // find best symbol to steal frequency from (try to steal from low-freq ones) + uint32_t best_freq = ~0u; + int best_steal = -1; + for (int j=0; j < 256; j++) { + uint32_t freq = cum_freqs[j+1] - cum_freqs[j]; + if (freq > 1 && freq < best_freq) { + best_freq = freq; + best_steal = j; + } + } + assert(best_steal != -1); + + // and steal from it! + if (best_steal < i) { + for (int j = best_steal + 1; j <= i; j++) + cum_freqs[j]--; + } else { + assert(best_steal > i); + for (int j = i + 1; j <= best_steal; j++) + cum_freqs[j]++; + } + } + } + + // calculate updated freqs and make sure we didn't screw anything up + assert(cum_freqs[0] == 0 && cum_freqs[256] == target_total); + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) { + if (freqs[i] == 0) + assert(cum_freqs[i+1] == cum_freqs[i]); + else + assert(cum_freqs[i+1] > cum_freqs[i]); + + // calc updated freq + freqs[i] = cum_freqs[i+1] - cum_freqs[i]; + } +} + +int main() +{ + size_t in_size; + uint8_t* in_bytes = read_file("book1", &in_size); + + static const uint32_t prob_bits = 14; + static const uint32_t prob_scale = 1 << prob_bits; + + SymbolStats stats; + stats.count_freqs(in_bytes, in_size); + stats.normalize_freqs(prob_scale); + + // cumlative->symbol table + // this is super brute force + uint8_t cum2sym[prob_scale]; + for (int s=0; s < 256; s++) + for (uint32_t i=stats.cum_freqs[s]; i < stats.cum_freqs[s+1]; i++) + cum2sym[i] = s; + + static size_t out_max_size = 32<<20; // 32MB + uint8_t* out_buf = new uint8_t[out_max_size]; + uint8_t* dec_bytes = new uint8_t[in_size]; + + // try rANS encode + uint8_t *rans_begin; + RansEncSymbol esyms[256]; + RansDecSymbol dsyms[256]; + + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) { + RansEncSymbolInit(&esyms[i], stats.cum_freqs[i], stats.freqs[i], prob_bits); + RansDecSymbolInit(&dsyms[i], stats.cum_freqs[i], stats.freqs[i]); + } + + // ---- regular rANS encode/decode. Typical usage. + + memset(dec_bytes, 0xcc, in_size); + + printf("rANS encode:\n"); + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t enc_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansState rans; + RansEncInit(&rans); + + uint8_t* ptr = out_buf + out_max_size; // *end* of output buffer + for (size_t i=in_size; i > 0; i--) { // NB: working in reverse! + int s = in_bytes[i-1]; + RansEncPutSymbol(&rans, &ptr, &esyms[s]); + } + RansEncFlush(&rans, &ptr); + rans_begin = ptr; + + uint64_t enc_clocks = __rdtsc() - enc_start_time; + double enc_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMiB/s)\n", enc_clocks, 1.0 * enc_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (enc_time * 1048576.0)); + } + printf("rANS: %d bytes\n", (int) (out_buf + out_max_size - rans_begin)); + + // try rANS decode + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t dec_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansState rans; + uint8_t* ptr = rans_begin; + RansDecInit(&rans, &ptr); + + for (size_t i=0; i < in_size; i++) { + uint32_t s = cum2sym[RansDecGet(&rans, prob_bits)]; + dec_bytes[i] = (uint8_t) s; + RansDecAdvanceSymbol(&rans, &ptr, &dsyms[s], prob_bits); + } + + uint64_t dec_clocks = __rdtsc() - dec_start_time; + double dec_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMiB/s)\n", dec_clocks, 1.0 * dec_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (dec_time * 1048576.0)); + } + + // check decode results + if (memcmp(in_bytes, dec_bytes, in_size) == 0) + printf("decode ok!\n"); + else + printf("ERROR: bad decoder!\n"); + + // ---- interleaved rANS encode/decode. This is the kind of thing you might do to optimize critical paths. + + memset(dec_bytes, 0xcc, in_size); + + // try interleaved rANS encode + printf("\ninterleaved rANS encode:\n"); + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t enc_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansState rans0, rans1; + RansEncInit(&rans0); + RansEncInit(&rans1); + + uint8_t* ptr = out_buf + out_max_size; // *end* of output buffer + + // odd number of bytes? + if (in_size & 1) { + int s = in_bytes[in_size - 1]; + RansEncPutSymbol(&rans0, &ptr, &esyms[s]); + } + + for (size_t i=(in_size & ~1); i > 0; i -= 2) { // NB: working in reverse! + int s1 = in_bytes[i-1]; + int s0 = in_bytes[i-2]; + RansEncPutSymbol(&rans1, &ptr, &esyms[s1]); + RansEncPutSymbol(&rans0, &ptr, &esyms[s0]); + } + RansEncFlush(&rans1, &ptr); + RansEncFlush(&rans0, &ptr); + rans_begin = ptr; + + uint64_t enc_clocks = __rdtsc() - enc_start_time; + double enc_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMiB/s)\n", enc_clocks, 1.0 * enc_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (enc_time * 1048576.0)); + } + printf("interleaved rANS: %d bytes\n", (int) (out_buf + out_max_size - rans_begin)); + + // try interleaved rANS decode + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t dec_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansState rans0, rans1; + uint8_t* ptr = rans_begin; + RansDecInit(&rans0, &ptr); + RansDecInit(&rans1, &ptr); + + for (size_t i=0; i < (in_size & ~1); i += 2) { + uint32_t s0 = cum2sym[RansDecGet(&rans0, prob_bits)]; + uint32_t s1 = cum2sym[RansDecGet(&rans1, prob_bits)]; + dec_bytes[i+0] = (uint8_t) s0; + dec_bytes[i+1] = (uint8_t) s1; + RansDecAdvanceSymbolStep(&rans0, &dsyms[s0], prob_bits); + RansDecAdvanceSymbolStep(&rans1, &dsyms[s1], prob_bits); + RansDecRenorm(&rans0, &ptr); + RansDecRenorm(&rans1, &ptr); + } + + // last byte, if number of bytes was odd + if (in_size & 1) { + uint32_t s0 = cum2sym[RansDecGet(&rans0, prob_bits)]; + dec_bytes[in_size - 1] = (uint8_t) s0; + RansDecAdvanceSymbol(&rans0, &ptr, &dsyms[s0], prob_bits); + } + + uint64_t dec_clocks = __rdtsc() - dec_start_time; + double dec_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMB/s)\n", dec_clocks, 1.0 * dec_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (dec_time * 1048576.0)); + } + + // check decode results + if (memcmp(in_bytes, dec_bytes, in_size) == 0) + printf("decode ok!\n"); + else + printf("ERROR: bad decoder!\n"); + + delete[] out_buf; + delete[] dec_bytes; + delete[] in_bytes; + return 0; +} diff --git a/ryg_rans/main64.cpp b/ryg_rans/main64.cpp new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f771fcf --- /dev/null +++ b/ryg_rans/main64.cpp @@ -0,0 +1,299 @@ +#include "platform.h" +#include +#include +#include +#include +#include +#include + +#include "rans64.h" + +// This is just the sample program. All the meat is in rans_byte.h. + +static void panic(const char *fmt, ...) +{ + va_list arg; + + va_start(arg, fmt); + fputs("Error: ", stderr); + vfprintf(stderr, fmt, arg); + va_end(arg); + fputs("\n", stderr); + + exit(1); +} + +static uint8_t* read_file(char const* filename, size_t* out_size) +{ + FILE* f = fopen(filename, "rb"); + if (!f) + panic("file not found: %s\n", filename); + + fseek(f, 0, SEEK_END); + size_t size = ftell(f); + fseek(f, 0, SEEK_SET); + + uint8_t* buf = new uint8_t[size]; + if (fread(buf, size, 1, f) != 1) + panic("read failed\n"); + + fclose(f); + if (out_size) + *out_size = size; + + return buf; +} + +// ---- Stats + +struct SymbolStats +{ + uint32_t freqs[256]; + uint32_t cum_freqs[257]; + + void count_freqs(uint8_t const* in, size_t nbytes); + void calc_cum_freqs(); + void normalize_freqs(uint32_t target_total); +}; + +void SymbolStats::count_freqs(uint8_t const* in, size_t nbytes) +{ + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) + freqs[i] = 0; + + for (size_t i=0; i < nbytes; i++) + freqs[in[i]]++; +} + +void SymbolStats::calc_cum_freqs() +{ + cum_freqs[0] = 0; + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) + cum_freqs[i+1] = cum_freqs[i] + freqs[i]; +} + +void SymbolStats::normalize_freqs(uint32_t target_total) +{ + assert(target_total >= 256); + + calc_cum_freqs(); + uint32_t cur_total = cum_freqs[256]; + + // resample distribution based on cumulative freqs + for (int i = 1; i <= 256; i++) + cum_freqs[i] = ((uint64_t)target_total * cum_freqs[i])/cur_total; + + // if we nuked any non-0 frequency symbol to 0, we need to steal + // the range to make the frequency nonzero from elsewhere. + // + // this is not at all optimal, i'm just doing the first thing that comes to mind. + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) { + if (freqs[i] && cum_freqs[i+1] == cum_freqs[i]) { + // symbol i was set to zero freq + + // find best symbol to steal frequency from (try to steal from low-freq ones) + uint32_t best_freq = ~0u; + int best_steal = -1; + for (int j=0; j < 256; j++) { + uint32_t freq = cum_freqs[j+1] - cum_freqs[j]; + if (freq > 1 && freq < best_freq) { + best_freq = freq; + best_steal = j; + } + } + assert(best_steal != -1); + + // and steal from it! + if (best_steal < i) { + for (int j = best_steal + 1; j <= i; j++) + cum_freqs[j]--; + } else { + assert(best_steal > i); + for (int j = i + 1; j <= best_steal; j++) + cum_freqs[j]++; + } + } + } + + // calculate updated freqs and make sure we didn't screw anything up + assert(cum_freqs[0] == 0 && cum_freqs[256] == target_total); + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) { + if (freqs[i] == 0) + assert(cum_freqs[i+1] == cum_freqs[i]); + else + assert(cum_freqs[i+1] > cum_freqs[i]); + + // calc updated freq + freqs[i] = cum_freqs[i+1] - cum_freqs[i]; + } +} + +int main() +{ + size_t in_size; + uint8_t* in_bytes = read_file("book1", &in_size); + + static const uint32_t prob_bits = 14; + static const uint32_t prob_scale = 1 << prob_bits; + + SymbolStats stats; + stats.count_freqs(in_bytes, in_size); + stats.normalize_freqs(prob_scale); + + // cumlative->symbol table + // this is super brute force + uint8_t cum2sym[prob_scale]; + for (int s=0; s < 256; s++) + for (uint32_t i=stats.cum_freqs[s]; i < stats.cum_freqs[s+1]; i++) + cum2sym[i] = s; + + static size_t out_max_size = 32<<20; // 32MB + static size_t out_max_elems = out_max_size / sizeof(uint32_t); + uint32_t* out_buf = new uint32_t[out_max_elems]; + uint32_t* out_end = out_buf + out_max_elems; + uint8_t* dec_bytes = new uint8_t[in_size]; + + // try rANS encode + uint32_t *rans_begin; + Rans64EncSymbol esyms[256]; + Rans64DecSymbol dsyms[256]; + + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) { + Rans64EncSymbolInit(&esyms[i], stats.cum_freqs[i], stats.freqs[i], prob_bits); + Rans64DecSymbolInit(&dsyms[i], stats.cum_freqs[i], stats.freqs[i]); + } + + // ---- regular rANS encode/decode. Typical usage. + + memset(dec_bytes, 0xcc, in_size); + + printf("rANS encode:\n"); + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t enc_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + Rans64State rans; + Rans64EncInit(&rans); + + uint32_t* ptr = out_end; // *end* of output buffer + for (size_t i=in_size; i > 0; i--) { // NB: working in reverse! + int s = in_bytes[i-1]; + Rans64EncPutSymbol(&rans, &ptr, &esyms[s], prob_bits); + } + Rans64EncFlush(&rans, &ptr); + rans_begin = ptr; + + uint64_t enc_clocks = __rdtsc() - enc_start_time; + double enc_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMiB/s)\n", enc_clocks, 1.0 * enc_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (enc_time * 1048576.0)); + } + printf("rANS: %d bytes\n", (int) ((out_end - rans_begin) * sizeof(uint32_t))); + + // try rANS decode + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t dec_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + Rans64State rans; + uint32_t* ptr = rans_begin; + Rans64DecInit(&rans, &ptr); + + for (size_t i=0; i < in_size; i++) { + uint32_t s = cum2sym[Rans64DecGet(&rans, prob_bits)]; + dec_bytes[i] = (uint8_t) s; + Rans64DecAdvanceSymbol(&rans, &ptr, &dsyms[s], prob_bits); + } + + uint64_t dec_clocks = __rdtsc() - dec_start_time; + double dec_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMiB/s)\n", dec_clocks, 1.0 * dec_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (dec_time * 1048576.0)); + } + + // check decode results + if (memcmp(in_bytes, dec_bytes, in_size) == 0) + printf("decode ok!\n"); + else + printf("ERROR: bad decoder!\n"); + + // ---- interleaved rANS encode/decode. This is the kind of thing you might do to optimize critical paths. + + memset(dec_bytes, 0xcc, in_size); + + // try interleaved rANS encode + printf("\ninterleaved rANS encode:\n"); + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t enc_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + Rans64State rans0, rans1; + Rans64EncInit(&rans0); + Rans64EncInit(&rans1); + + uint32_t* ptr = out_end; + + // odd number of bytes? + if (in_size & 1) { + int s = in_bytes[in_size - 1]; + Rans64EncPutSymbol(&rans0, &ptr, &esyms[s], prob_bits); + } + + for (size_t i=(in_size & ~1); i > 0; i -= 2) { // NB: working in reverse! + int s1 = in_bytes[i-1]; + int s0 = in_bytes[i-2]; + Rans64EncPutSymbol(&rans1, &ptr, &esyms[s1], prob_bits); + Rans64EncPutSymbol(&rans0, &ptr, &esyms[s0], prob_bits); + } + Rans64EncFlush(&rans1, &ptr); + Rans64EncFlush(&rans0, &ptr); + rans_begin = ptr; + + uint64_t enc_clocks = __rdtsc() - enc_start_time; + double enc_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMiB/s)\n", enc_clocks, 1.0 * enc_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (enc_time * 1048576.0)); + } + printf("interleaved rANS: %d bytes\n", (int) ((out_end - rans_begin) * sizeof(uint32_t))); + + // try interleaved rANS decode + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t dec_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + Rans64State rans0, rans1; + uint32_t* ptr = rans_begin; + Rans64DecInit(&rans0, &ptr); + Rans64DecInit(&rans1, &ptr); + + for (size_t i=0; i < (in_size & ~1); i += 2) { + uint32_t s0 = cum2sym[Rans64DecGet(&rans0, prob_bits)]; + uint32_t s1 = cum2sym[Rans64DecGet(&rans1, prob_bits)]; + dec_bytes[i+0] = (uint8_t) s0; + dec_bytes[i+1] = (uint8_t) s1; + Rans64DecAdvanceSymbolStep(&rans0, &dsyms[s0], prob_bits); + Rans64DecAdvanceSymbolStep(&rans1, &dsyms[s1], prob_bits); + Rans64DecRenorm(&rans0, &ptr); + Rans64DecRenorm(&rans1, &ptr); + } + + // last byte, if number of bytes was odd + if (in_size & 1) { + uint32_t s0 = cum2sym[Rans64DecGet(&rans0, prob_bits)]; + dec_bytes[in_size - 1] = (uint8_t) s0; + Rans64DecAdvanceSymbol(&rans0, &ptr, &dsyms[s0], prob_bits); + } + + uint64_t dec_clocks = __rdtsc() - dec_start_time; + double dec_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMB/s)\n", dec_clocks, 1.0 * dec_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (dec_time * 1048576.0)); + } + + // check decode results + if (memcmp(in_bytes, dec_bytes, in_size) == 0) + printf("decode ok!\n"); + else + printf("ERROR: bad decoder!\n"); + + delete[] out_buf; + delete[] dec_bytes; + delete[] in_bytes; + return 0; +} diff --git a/ryg_rans/main_alias.cpp b/ryg_rans/main_alias.cpp new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c648f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/ryg_rans/main_alias.cpp @@ -0,0 +1,422 @@ +#include "platform.h" +#include +#include +#include +#include +#include +#include + +#include "rans_byte.h" + +static void panic(const char *fmt, ...) +{ + va_list arg; + + va_start(arg, fmt); + fputs("Error: ", stderr); + vfprintf(stderr, fmt, arg); + va_end(arg); + fputs("\n", stderr); + + exit(1); +} + +static uint8_t* read_file(char const* filename, size_t* out_size) +{ + FILE* f = fopen(filename, "rb"); + if (!f) + panic("file not found: %s\n", filename); + + fseek(f, 0, SEEK_END); + size_t size = ftell(f); + fseek(f, 0, SEEK_SET); + + uint8_t* buf = new uint8_t[size]; + if (fread(buf, size, 1, f) != 1) + panic("read failed\n"); + + fclose(f); + if (out_size) + *out_size = size; + + return buf; +} + +// ---- Stats + +struct SymbolStats +{ + static const int LOG2NSYMS = 8; + static const int NSYMS = 1 << LOG2NSYMS; + + uint32_t freqs[NSYMS]; + uint32_t cum_freqs[NSYMS + 1]; + + // alias table + uint32_t divider[NSYMS]; + uint32_t slot_adjust[NSYMS*2]; + uint32_t slot_freqs[NSYMS*2]; + uint8_t sym_id[NSYMS*2]; + + // for encoder + uint32_t* alias_remap; + + SymbolStats() : alias_remap(0) {} + ~SymbolStats() { delete[] alias_remap; } + + void count_freqs(uint8_t const* in, size_t nbytes); + void calc_cum_freqs(); + void normalize_freqs(uint32_t target_total); + + void make_alias_table(); +}; + +void SymbolStats::count_freqs(uint8_t const* in, size_t nbytes) +{ + for (int i=0; i < NSYMS; i++) + freqs[i] = 0; + + for (size_t i=0; i < nbytes; i++) + freqs[in[i]]++; +} + +void SymbolStats::calc_cum_freqs() +{ + cum_freqs[0] = 0; + for (int i=0; i < NSYMS; i++) + cum_freqs[i+1] = cum_freqs[i] + freqs[i]; +} + +void SymbolStats::normalize_freqs(uint32_t target_total) +{ + assert(target_total >= NSYMS); + + calc_cum_freqs(); + uint32_t cur_total = cum_freqs[NSYMS]; + + // resample distribution based on cumulative freqs + for (int i = 1; i <= NSYMS; i++) + cum_freqs[i] = ((uint64_t)target_total * cum_freqs[i])/cur_total; + + // if we nuked any non-0 frequency symbol to 0, we need to steal + // the range to make the frequency nonzero from elsewhere. + // + // this is not at all optimal, i'm just doing the first thing that comes to mind. + for (int i=0; i < NSYMS; i++) { + if (freqs[i] && cum_freqs[i+1] == cum_freqs[i]) { + // symbol i was set to zero freq + + // find best symbol to steal frequency from (try to steal from low-freq ones) + uint32_t best_freq = ~0u; + int best_steal = -1; + for (int j=0; j < NSYMS; j++) { + uint32_t freq = cum_freqs[j+1] - cum_freqs[j]; + if (freq > 1 && freq < best_freq) { + best_freq = freq; + best_steal = j; + } + } + assert(best_steal != -1); + + // and steal from it! + if (best_steal < i) { + for (int j = best_steal + 1; j <= i; j++) + cum_freqs[j]--; + } else { + assert(best_steal > i); + for (int j = i + 1; j <= best_steal; j++) + cum_freqs[j]++; + } + } + } + + // calculate updated freqs and make sure we didn't screw anything up + assert(cum_freqs[0] == 0 && cum_freqs[NSYMS] == target_total); + for (int i=0; i < NSYMS; i++) { + if (freqs[i] == 0) + assert(cum_freqs[i+1] == cum_freqs[i]); + else + assert(cum_freqs[i+1] > cum_freqs[i]); + + // calc updated freq + freqs[i] = cum_freqs[i+1] - cum_freqs[i]; + } +} + +// Set up the alias table. +void SymbolStats::make_alias_table() +{ + // verify that our distribution sum divides the number of buckets + uint32_t sum = cum_freqs[NSYMS]; + assert(sum != 0 && (sum % NSYMS) == 0); + assert(sum >= NSYMS); + + // target size in every bucket + uint32_t tgt_sum = sum / NSYMS; + + // okay, prepare a sweep of vose's algorithm to distribute + // the symbols into buckets + uint32_t remaining[NSYMS]; + for (int i=0; i < NSYMS; i++) { + remaining[i] = freqs[i]; + divider[i] = tgt_sum; + sym_id[i*2 + 0] = i; + sym_id[i*2 + 1] = i; + } + + // a "small" symbol is one with less than tgt_sum slots left to distribute + // a "large" symbol is one with >=tgt_sum slots. + // find initial small/large buckets + int cur_large = 0; + int cur_small = 0; + while (cur_large < NSYMS && remaining[cur_large] < tgt_sum) + cur_large++; + while (cur_small < NSYMS && remaining[cur_small] >= tgt_sum) + cur_small++; + + // cur_small is definitely a small bucket + // next_small *might* be. + int next_small = cur_small + 1; + + // top up small buckets from large buckets until we're done + // this might turn the large bucket we stole from into a small bucket itself. + while (cur_large < NSYMS && cur_small < NSYMS) { + // this bucket is split between cur_small and cur_large + sym_id[cur_small*2 + 0] = cur_large; + divider[cur_small] = remaining[cur_small]; + + // take the amount we took out of cur_large's bucket + remaining[cur_large] -= tgt_sum - divider[cur_small]; + + // if the large bucket is still large *or* we haven't processed it yet... + if (remaining[cur_large] >= tgt_sum || next_small <= cur_large) { + // find the next small bucket to process + cur_small = next_small; + while (cur_small < NSYMS && remaining[cur_small] >= tgt_sum) + cur_small++; + next_small = cur_small + 1; + } else // the large bucket we just made small is behind us, need to back-track + cur_small = cur_large; + + // if cur_large isn't large anymore, forward to a bucket that is + while (cur_large < NSYMS && remaining[cur_large] < tgt_sum) + cur_large++; + } + + // okay, we now have our alias mapping; distribute the code slots in order + uint32_t assigned[NSYMS] = { 0 }; + alias_remap = new uint32_t[sum]; + + for (int i=0; i < NSYMS; i++) { + int j = sym_id[i*2 + 0]; + uint32_t sym0_height = divider[i]; + uint32_t sym1_height = tgt_sum - divider[i]; + uint32_t base0 = assigned[i]; + uint32_t base1 = assigned[j]; + uint32_t cbase0 = cum_freqs[i] + base0; + uint32_t cbase1 = cum_freqs[j] + base1; + + divider[i] = i*tgt_sum + sym0_height; + + slot_freqs[i*2 + 1] = freqs[i]; + slot_freqs[i*2 + 0] = freqs[j]; + slot_adjust[i*2 + 1] = i*tgt_sum - base0; + slot_adjust[i*2 + 0] = i*tgt_sum - (base1 - sym0_height); + for (uint32_t k=0; k < sym0_height; k++) + alias_remap[cbase0 + k] = k + i*tgt_sum; + for (uint32_t k=0; k < sym1_height; k++) + alias_remap[cbase1 + k] = (k + sym0_height) + i*tgt_sum; + + assigned[i] += sym0_height; + assigned[j] += sym1_height; + } + + // check that each symbol got the number of slots it needed + for (int i=0; i < NSYMS; i++) + assert(assigned[i] == freqs[i]); +} + +// ---- rANS encoding/decoding with alias table + +static inline void RansEncPutAlias(RansState* r, uint8_t** pptr, SymbolStats* const syms, int s, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + // renormalize + uint32_t freq = syms->freqs[s]; + RansState x = RansEncRenorm(*r, pptr, freq, scale_bits); + + // x = C(s,x) + // NOTE: alias_remap here could be replaced with e.g. a binary search. + *r = ((x / freq) << scale_bits) + syms->alias_remap[(x % freq) + syms->cum_freqs[s]]; +} + +static inline uint32_t RansDecGetAlias(RansState* r, SymbolStats* const syms, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + RansState x = *r; + + // figure out symbol via alias table + uint32_t mask = (1u << scale_bits) - 1; // constant for fixed scale_bits! + uint32_t xm = x & mask; + uint32_t bucket_id = xm >> (scale_bits - SymbolStats::LOG2NSYMS); + uint32_t bucket2 = bucket_id * 2; + if (xm < syms->divider[bucket_id]) + bucket2++; + + // s, x = D(x) + *r = syms->slot_freqs[bucket2] * (x >> scale_bits) + xm - syms->slot_adjust[bucket2]; + return syms->sym_id[bucket2]; +} + +// ---- + +int main() +{ + size_t in_size; + uint8_t* in_bytes = read_file("book1", &in_size); + + static const uint32_t prob_bits = 16; + static const uint32_t prob_scale = 1 << prob_bits; + + SymbolStats stats; + stats.count_freqs(in_bytes, in_size); + stats.normalize_freqs(prob_scale); + stats.make_alias_table(); + + static size_t out_max_size = 32<<20; // 32MB + uint8_t* out_buf = new uint8_t[out_max_size]; + uint8_t* dec_bytes = new uint8_t[in_size]; + + // try rANS encode + uint8_t *rans_begin; + + // ---- regular rANS encode/decode. Typical usage. + + memset(dec_bytes, 0xcc, in_size); + + printf("rANS encode:\n"); + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t enc_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansState rans; + RansEncInit(&rans); + + uint8_t* ptr = out_buf + out_max_size; // *end* of output buffer + for (size_t i=in_size; i > 0; i--) { // NB: working in reverse! + int s = in_bytes[i-1]; + RansEncPutAlias(&rans, &ptr, &stats, s, prob_bits); + } + RansEncFlush(&rans, &ptr); + rans_begin = ptr; + + uint64_t enc_clocks = __rdtsc() - enc_start_time; + double enc_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMiB/s)\n", enc_clocks, 1.0 * enc_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (enc_time * 1048576.0)); + } + printf("rANS: %d bytes\n", (int) (out_buf + out_max_size - rans_begin)); + + // try rANS decode + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t dec_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansState rans; + uint8_t* ptr = rans_begin; + RansDecInit(&rans, &ptr); + + for (size_t i=0; i < in_size; i++) { + uint32_t s = RansDecGetAlias(&rans, &stats, prob_bits); + dec_bytes[i] = (uint8_t) s; + RansDecRenorm(&rans, &ptr); + } + + uint64_t dec_clocks = __rdtsc() - dec_start_time; + double dec_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMiB/s)\n", dec_clocks, 1.0 * dec_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (dec_time * 1048576.0)); + } + + // check decode results + if (memcmp(in_bytes, dec_bytes, in_size) == 0) + printf("decode ok!\n"); + else + printf("ERROR: bad decoder!\n"); + + // ---- interleaved rANS encode/decode. This is the kind of thing you might do to optimize critical paths. + + memset(dec_bytes, 0xcc, in_size); + + // try interleaved rANS encode + printf("\ninterleaved rANS encode:\n"); + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t enc_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansState rans0, rans1; + RansEncInit(&rans0); + RansEncInit(&rans1); + + uint8_t* ptr = out_buf + out_max_size; // *end* of output buffer + + // odd number of bytes? + if (in_size & 1) { + int s = in_bytes[in_size - 1]; + RansEncPutAlias(&rans0, &ptr, &stats, s, prob_bits); + } + + for (size_t i=(in_size & ~1); i > 0; i -= 2) { // NB: working in reverse! + int s1 = in_bytes[i-1]; + int s0 = in_bytes[i-2]; + RansEncPutAlias(&rans1, &ptr, &stats, s1, prob_bits); + RansEncPutAlias(&rans0, &ptr, &stats, s0, prob_bits); + } + RansEncFlush(&rans1, &ptr); + RansEncFlush(&rans0, &ptr); + rans_begin = ptr; + + uint64_t enc_clocks = __rdtsc() - enc_start_time; + double enc_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMiB/s)\n", enc_clocks, 1.0 * enc_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (enc_time * 1048576.0)); + } + printf("interleaved rANS: %d bytes\n", (int) (out_buf + out_max_size - rans_begin)); + + // try interleaved rANS decode + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t dec_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansState rans0, rans1; + uint8_t* ptr = rans_begin; + RansDecInit(&rans0, &ptr); + RansDecInit(&rans1, &ptr); + + for (size_t i=0; i < (in_size & ~1); i += 2) { + uint32_t s0 = RansDecGetAlias(&rans0, &stats, prob_bits); + uint32_t s1 = RansDecGetAlias(&rans1, &stats, prob_bits); + dec_bytes[i+0] = (uint8_t) s0; + dec_bytes[i+1] = (uint8_t) s1; + RansDecRenorm(&rans0, &ptr); + RansDecRenorm(&rans1, &ptr); + } + + // last byte, if number of bytes was odd + if (in_size & 1) { + uint32_t s0 = RansDecGetAlias(&rans0, &stats, prob_bits); + dec_bytes[in_size - 1] = (uint8_t) s0; + RansDecRenorm(&rans0, &ptr); + } + + uint64_t dec_clocks = __rdtsc() - dec_start_time; + double dec_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMB/s)\n", dec_clocks, 1.0 * dec_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (dec_time * 1048576.0)); + } + + // check decode results + if (memcmp(in_bytes, dec_bytes, in_size) == 0) + printf("decode ok!\n"); + else + printf("ERROR: bad decoder!\n"); + + delete[] out_buf; + delete[] dec_bytes; + delete[] in_bytes; + return 0; +} diff --git a/ryg_rans/main_simd.cpp b/ryg_rans/main_simd.cpp new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9fe54cc --- /dev/null +++ b/ryg_rans/main_simd.cpp @@ -0,0 +1,349 @@ +#include "platform.h" +#include +#include +#include +#include +#include +#include + +#include "rans_word_sse41.h" + +// This is just the sample program. All the meat is in rans_byte.h. + +static void panic(const char *fmt, ...) +{ + va_list arg; + + va_start(arg, fmt); + fputs("Error: ", stderr); + vfprintf(stderr, fmt, arg); + va_end(arg); + fputs("\n", stderr); + + exit(1); +} + +static uint8_t* read_file(char const* filename, size_t* out_size) +{ + FILE* f = fopen(filename, "rb"); + if (!f) + panic("file not found: %s\n", filename); + + fseek(f, 0, SEEK_END); + size_t size = ftell(f); + fseek(f, 0, SEEK_SET); + + uint8_t* buf = new uint8_t[size]; + if (fread(buf, size, 1, f) != 1) + panic("read failed\n"); + + fclose(f); + if (out_size) + *out_size = size; + + return buf; +} + +// ---- Stats + +struct SymbolStats +{ + uint32_t freqs[256]; + uint32_t cum_freqs[257]; + + void count_freqs(uint8_t const* in, size_t nbytes); + void calc_cum_freqs(); + void normalize_freqs(uint32_t target_total); +}; + +void SymbolStats::count_freqs(uint8_t const* in, size_t nbytes) +{ + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) + freqs[i] = 0; + + for (size_t i=0; i < nbytes; i++) + freqs[in[i]]++; +} + +void SymbolStats::calc_cum_freqs() +{ + cum_freqs[0] = 0; + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) + cum_freqs[i+1] = cum_freqs[i] + freqs[i]; +} + +void SymbolStats::normalize_freqs(uint32_t target_total) +{ + assert(target_total >= 256); + + calc_cum_freqs(); + uint32_t cur_total = cum_freqs[256]; + + // resample distribution based on cumulative freqs + for (int i = 1; i <= 256; i++) + cum_freqs[i] = ((uint64_t)target_total * cum_freqs[i])/cur_total; + + // if we nuked any non-0 frequency symbol to 0, we need to steal + // the range to make the frequency nonzero from elsewhere. + // + // this is not at all optimal, i'm just doing the first thing that comes to mind. + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) { + if (freqs[i] && cum_freqs[i+1] == cum_freqs[i]) { + // symbol i was set to zero freq + + // find best symbol to steal frequency from (try to steal from low-freq ones) + uint32_t best_freq = ~0u; + int best_steal = -1; + for (int j=0; j < 256; j++) { + uint32_t freq = cum_freqs[j+1] - cum_freqs[j]; + if (freq > 1 && freq < best_freq) { + best_freq = freq; + best_steal = j; + } + } + assert(best_steal != -1); + + // and steal from it! + if (best_steal < i) { + for (int j = best_steal + 1; j <= i; j++) + cum_freqs[j]--; + } else { + assert(best_steal > i); + for (int j = i + 1; j <= best_steal; j++) + cum_freqs[j]++; + } + } + } + + // calculate updated freqs and make sure we didn't screw anything up + assert(cum_freqs[0] == 0 && cum_freqs[256] == target_total); + for (int i=0; i < 256; i++) { + if (freqs[i] == 0) + assert(cum_freqs[i+1] == cum_freqs[i]); + else + assert(cum_freqs[i+1] > cum_freqs[i]); + + // calc updated freq + freqs[i] = cum_freqs[i+1] - cum_freqs[i]; + } +} + +int main() +{ + size_t in_size; + uint8_t* in_bytes = read_file("book1", &in_size); + + SymbolStats stats; + stats.count_freqs(in_bytes, in_size); + stats.normalize_freqs(RANS_WORD_M); + + // init decoding tables + RansWordTables tab; + for (int s=0; s < 256; s++) + RansWordTablesInitSymbol(&tab, (uint8_t)s, stats.cum_freqs[s], stats.freqs[s]); + + size_t out_max_size = in_size + (in_size >> 3) + 128; + uint8_t* out_buf = new uint8_t[out_max_size + 16]; // extra bytes at end + uint8_t* dec_bytes = new uint8_t[in_size]; + + // try rANS encode + uint16_t *rans_begin; + + // ---- regular rANS encode/decode. Typical usage. + + memset(dec_bytes, 0xcc, in_size); + + printf("rANS encode:\n"); + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t enc_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansWordEnc rans = RansWordEncInit(); + + uint16_t* ptr = (uint16_t *) (out_buf + out_max_size); // *end* of output buffer + for (size_t i=in_size; i > 0; i--) { // NB: working in reverse! + int s = in_bytes[i-1]; + RansWordEncPut(&rans, &ptr, stats.cum_freqs[s], stats.freqs[s]); + } + RansWordEncFlush(&rans, &ptr); + rans_begin = ptr; + + uint64_t enc_clocks = __rdtsc() - enc_start_time; + double enc_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMiB/s)\n", enc_clocks, 1.0 * enc_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (enc_time * 1048576.0)); + } + printf("rANS: %d bytes\n", (int) (out_buf + out_max_size - (uint8_t *)rans_begin)); + + // try rANS decode + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t dec_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansWordDec rans; + uint16_t* ptr = rans_begin; + RansWordDecInit(&rans, &ptr); + + for (size_t i=0; i < in_size; i++) { + uint8_t s = RansWordDecSym(&rans, &tab); + dec_bytes[i] = (uint8_t) s; + RansWordDecRenorm(&rans, &ptr); + } + + uint64_t dec_clocks = __rdtsc() - dec_start_time; + double dec_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMiB/s)\n", dec_clocks, 1.0 * dec_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (dec_time * 1048576.0)); + } + + // check decode results + if (memcmp(in_bytes, dec_bytes, in_size) == 0) + printf("decode ok!\n"); + else + printf("ERROR: bad decoder!\n"); + + // ---- interleaved rANS encode/decode. This is the kind of thing you might do to optimize critical paths. + + memset(dec_bytes, 0xcc, in_size); + + // try interleaved rANS encode + printf("\ninterleaved rANS encode:\n"); + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t enc_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansWordEnc rans0 = RansWordEncInit(); + RansWordEnc rans1 = RansWordEncInit(); + + uint16_t* ptr = (uint16_t *)(out_buf + out_max_size); // *end* of output buffer + + // odd number of bytes? + if (in_size & 1) { + int s = in_bytes[in_size - 1]; + RansWordEncPut(&rans0, &ptr, stats.cum_freqs[s], stats.freqs[s]); + } + + for (size_t i=(in_size & ~1); i > 0; i -= 2) { // NB: working in reverse! + int s1 = in_bytes[i-1]; + int s0 = in_bytes[i-2]; + RansWordEncPut(&rans1, &ptr, stats.cum_freqs[s1], stats.freqs[s1]); + RansWordEncPut(&rans0, &ptr, stats.cum_freqs[s0], stats.freqs[s0]); + } + RansWordEncFlush(&rans1, &ptr); + RansWordEncFlush(&rans0, &ptr); + rans_begin = ptr; + + uint64_t enc_clocks = __rdtsc() - enc_start_time; + double enc_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMiB/s)\n", enc_clocks, 1.0 * enc_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (enc_time * 1048576.0)); + } + printf("interleaved rANS: %d bytes\n", (int) (out_buf + out_max_size - (uint8_t*)rans_begin)); + + // try interleaved rANS decode + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t dec_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansWordDec rans0, rans1; + uint16_t* ptr = rans_begin; + RansWordDecInit(&rans0, &ptr); + RansWordDecInit(&rans1, &ptr); + + for (size_t i=0; i < (in_size & ~1); i += 2) { + uint8_t s0 = RansWordDecSym(&rans0, &tab); + uint8_t s1 = RansWordDecSym(&rans1, &tab); + dec_bytes[i+0] = (uint8_t) s0; + dec_bytes[i+1] = (uint8_t) s1; + RansWordDecRenorm(&rans0, &ptr); + RansWordDecRenorm(&rans1, &ptr); + } + + // last byte, if number of bytes was odd + if (in_size & 1) { + uint8_t s0 = RansWordDecSym(&rans0, &tab); + dec_bytes[in_size - 1] = (uint8_t) s0; + } + + uint64_t dec_clocks = __rdtsc() - dec_start_time; + double dec_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMB/s)\n", dec_clocks, 1.0 * dec_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (dec_time * 1048576.0)); + } + + // check decode results + if (memcmp(in_bytes, dec_bytes, in_size) == 0) + printf("decode ok!\n"); + else + printf("ERROR: bad decoder!\n"); + + // ---- SIMD interleaved rANS encode/decode. + + memset(dec_bytes, 0xcc, in_size); + + // try SIMD rANS encode + // this is written for clarity not speed. + printf("\ninterleaved SIMD rANS encode: (encode itself isn't SIMD)\n"); + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t enc_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansWordEnc rans[8]; + for (int i=0; i < 8; i++) + rans[i] = RansWordEncInit(); + + uint16_t* ptr = (uint16_t *)(out_buf + out_max_size); // *end* of output buffer + + // last few bytes + for (size_t i=in_size; i > 0; i--) { // NB: working in reverse + int s = in_bytes[i - 1]; + RansWordEncPut(&rans[(i - 1) & 7], &ptr, stats.cum_freqs[s], stats.freqs[s]); + } + for (int i=8; i > 0; i--) + RansWordEncFlush(&rans[i - 1], &ptr); + rans_begin = ptr; + + uint64_t enc_clocks = __rdtsc() - enc_start_time; + double enc_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMiB/s)\n", enc_clocks, 1.0 * enc_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (enc_time * 1048576.0)); + } + printf("SIMD rANS: %d bytes\n", (int) (out_buf + out_max_size - (uint8_t*)rans_begin)); + + // try SIMD rANS decode + for (int run=0; run < 5; run++) { + double start_time = timer(); + uint64_t dec_start_time = __rdtsc(); + + RansSimdDec rans0, rans1; + uint16_t* ptr = rans_begin; + RansSimdDecInit(&rans0, &ptr); + RansSimdDecInit(&rans1, &ptr); + + for (size_t i=0; i < (in_size & ~7); i += 8) { + uint32_t s03 = RansSimdDecSym(&rans0, &tab); + uint32_t s47 = RansSimdDecSym(&rans1, &tab); + *(uint32_t *)(dec_bytes + i) = s03; + *(uint32_t *)(dec_bytes + i + 4) = s47; + RansSimdDecRenorm(&rans0, &ptr); + RansSimdDecRenorm(&rans1, &ptr); + } + + // last few bytes + for (size_t i=(in_size & ~7); i < in_size; i++) { + RansSimdDec* which = (i & 4) != 0 ? &rans1 : &rans0; + uint8_t s = RansWordDecSym(&which->lane[i & 3], &tab); + dec_bytes[i] = s; + } + + uint64_t dec_clocks = __rdtsc() - dec_start_time; + double dec_time = timer() - start_time; + printf("%"PRIu64" clocks, %.1f clocks/symbol (%5.1fMB/s)\n", dec_clocks, 1.0 * dec_clocks / in_size, 1.0 * in_size / (dec_time * 1048576.0)); + } + + // check decode results + if (memcmp(in_bytes, dec_bytes, in_size) == 0) + printf("decode ok!\n"); + else + printf("ERROR: bad decoder!\n"); + + delete[] out_buf; + delete[] dec_bytes; + delete[] in_bytes; + return 0; +} diff --git a/ryg_rans/perf.data b/ryg_rans/perf.data new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..18ab0e8eca4edb2064bf2388e1f096f99cf46394 GIT binary patch literal 238292 zcmcG%2Yk-g`~M$%6|sp?dlP%_z4xk>9fAy5HZeDt+5MyC$2{ey;$O`F9@pPuo#D{ z+xic8w*EMJ&Fpg*O2l)p3XSK`!r`6eD;kNg{hU0f{qLQ6dIkD<^(x-etyiz0e!f9n zT!Ov&21gTif7#j#uxl^*F16=s2U&h}?&ag|?Cb9t(#tEzxlHkrrHYq#wux}|4D<>0 z3Jh{~^9b;94({$1=<8;Y>u>)5V}7&AbA2z*HCkSa7{d1VC*)b5#3Rt7WVzUc*xK*= zzWvDP_U#ANBH|P6$LJFhWRc_V>+A35Z27U6?Z?<;TA%oXe$1J|){ha^|N8zb4srtm zf}AbiE*}1YURH5>g!e7je)>S(u4s9VrrpOuo=wj{FRPX@GW|X)?|7>JRlgvQARp%- zPZx_dS=Ez{ACYG_jsdA{^5SkMG2`g%6X@H=&7z-|w~zI^SU^y4bk|bLm~rg>-hOs{ zv0U#UXJ2;@H;?YpELtul*~ZUKj-%uM+MfZz0nV0hYhU`vSJ=z?z)m8g<$U>k@b&g| zwtQPAg3T`N#r*fPOzyrdfdL)F8#cMoxQC7#QKAeU$9p%XRneaN|dk+r2dL^ zDt^$f0qJe>zg%BWx4zDnZ>yN#&-d$5@=@sl1=-k&O*v;MI zTw~QL#xCvrv}*>NUc2HfFJ?Yi$1yNCsINt*$0-Ti|sM$_HHGRbYqnXSaqk2y2h^!h)@>-#10BBSLUk8eEM zC+s9<+-!c+;yhzK=g0fg&Tob}+4OTY#C^41fTA$?oR~-8FKY6m7Ps+3N z*T-{2+szlt^YwK0^eq-0{oX&R?I&A5+Kr!UPMe%all+8Ua+d+2W$c`bPr#?WODz5A zn9C;j%kv4hU^na2S^lz`OSD%rpFS3OIrG}&MVRC#^t8lTw~%0e@1Qat=}%eKJOE4^T}<$*~Zas-nS_5rFI%)H`ac2i|$kx%KAXggJ?McCi#i^5bdt@ zmwcvW@IE5Pt{+_s+Vt5KXE`zYSjWvhBq+$TAhZsjPlXaCW19)Kc5V9E$<0~FCfDJM zxJ_Q%=Y_p~$`50bUzZ?Hi>k5P&Ij}HO0?V-aqd@3eCpxu zSxSFcg(&HcT|YbjQlf-SzlbCT`ib$g$gz}m%IJ^J$gx|O9WQT_6L-7(ATR9h7Sz3% zM=#%yUVc8sv_Ol!FRhB$`qOS4b5^j)cQw@flDyQ-E2x+yO?4?(#ws>izS&wVa>JtK z{_lEQYEPw0S=JX;#jTPp3)7GJ0XuzZ?|CQP|F|I;j(^zOpcwMxK_656J|cpC+s9< zyrN65wo-{pfPWvaK#yK-zA6lvjah!P>1Q`?SEA)cm}ng2DlUflczXF;Rg9Kvwh|-H zPS3C^Upj6vdir|#1_k?g^o$Nx(Z5+`$MW@op2wr*)<|g3anQ3{K!~N*?Q8wE3bV;I z8nOKHfuD1%`K9yEW}lY&g>!dLH|HQf&tjIp-%oo=wEg~p+=yto0VW>@J#G0_kXN9O zzq9^y33Ti8k?xJw*DkI&*0SmA`o(g6y*z!~oI}g>Dy5}>vrNi8#Jf~6>%V>E0c?8P z$q)GdLB7S}`~zaI%ze=B$D`%%vi_I%UvcPnJNt6!=^JEMa$2f4mJK_1S&UOv|EV!q140=&#tV(i*ZUWvN@>->$*->p&uJc0sx##&YSK)gI1-{#k!2=I#^g;@vW2ALw^HTCSt@zr6qY#CY2LqE;vt zr)V8X%M-l+f7*WfK));XZT%ScxE)L06&$n%1``}p+?aPxGrTG2;*uJu`L^6m7!($J>wm&Y6H zenhVT4;LSg?iy6d|E#_(8vU>G%=%rZm!GG9pi59lK!AVX$E-INeRoC64>O-M&h}d@ z*vHpaP?vnOl^A(;{-8$VFSRF2{^{3C-!37+-W6=FFLpV0{viB|<=D?luii>ng1mYc z^YjY!@rZRzZ+(Uj?I&9974r$>*q`s^%7i>VAHQ}r`Csj)dmrnO0IMGg_OfNy7Cp_U zjzzx`O{2#z&hyj0UoA;sfQS6SC-t)%$FOELc@gH5eWE{O{K0?uwOK6jjWq%KU>tKc zx5?dQp0kOA+?f2wr((&n&elJys`ASw&u(5^aka^FjdQ1oraMV$4Cb)QVzRW7zY`H$P5UEB+Zmir*i za&7b4er*?1hOo#rTZzSwxO&<2j4;Vh*hkE`+455TY1Pc~zqrVA@cvS}hu`Yn$J0wS zh)>9~8^`b%d2yc4HhEkxd-!{L#hPi``t3u%)!nA2>lgQ{Z9UV&zn>-ISvyv8%~oQ@ z(N52>XnA2K8HaJ?d8Saez*t?g8vZ~}2OpcBHR9aA|Jje-I?<}9{csL{hF zFCfnKZ0o%2;}hs*ISdoz?BU(b>I<~9WYzPt@*;cx-^S4^G({3H(5EN}MCjE(d5sO?uZx=teU>9Gvpxz-~fo`5&E^R_m9p_l>T6OK1yw6lczkOie z5z+Ghhq$e}y7iP>NT`SP`@g*!i+qayU|g>Z{9pC9omcE;HKNdu#2dRjAz+YAPGnN! zkv=i5R{QmJ^H6&5-wz)%*$?_N=cs6Tah^A<3tIM{tcakZkE%_JwMj#vCLn`?``tq?k8gL)6wxg zCa7EF+v{Te`GfIx{r^a=rJZH`Leaqb+}Z ztmi)%_ZAau{l3e1j8C1nh`rxE{Qdlb1Km7&{?`S14ztym{8kzU>C;GvX ze^}17l+qtoH7$qa{k-4*KW#sKFwTw>ZE}vAp6_*V;FkbA`W)sI>ja@GLi8}pV9Aqzgk?B(XU1; z?|-q4r=5O|v!eCO@gB1L^a;8D#igDWuVDGMj^Ib$r?QK;jz3AxyZiO4+Y9;vIiEa| zVDok*9PV{+(6{B~0dE)UdxQ4E?0y!Xv*3TcS6?^ndB^b6~%2mZJ`SR<~mlZee5OZ*2Dw`Nu2Po-o7$y5_e0@%}4De)9NV=^tO8Otr!K z!+-Lvt8&}vwPL+|{6hK`>*g2Y+{?3Asp6%|6c74u=EulCHOpSU>wnMX;QI8dw^sQ% zt*w9lOY$8Z96E)12Kje+uU~;Pw)T@*nuuScpu?_w9V4u3j2QVZir!NHTkX~Q^)aq- z^|*2M8rrzTw&p(CUhg(GuGwd}K3#3x^yo1AvFG#bZsXcG+Zy~BH*>0uTi?T$AAVqW zEwb3gJuGMRliB`?8TYD5ZR4Kil-;;n`d#zu!*Ta<4-7VjKBnI*ExxUOk9p2&+4h{H?d;=fE!pRT^07YWuT8V*-{)sc|K2{W&lwUF_|az#3ik9U zQp94V#mf~hVX;?B3o*}=ufFYhKIpHUYi-X_qeQIFkt@2t62`T^e2wn1wEWohuNW;qbzJ2K1b4S2{~z^NNxr{p*e(4@wxaj-->bS? zE#I$C#kr+|Jdr$ zG4rYqxFp$Aid#Cvh6xX4i$yM#$#o$i0aS|6+ zz~n-vm~szK$|3IIS07 zGPxz-JQ6yK8?)EsI!!j)%af$ExCEO`u1*EB|FR@1FK*z|rnJ%s+xCM}V zCEILq-N1znGVN;jKl8--gIn6m?B`rN7K-x*$9|p}zEqqixF+yd4sOfEB?1?)%JggX zORg4|7+ikXm1n$l;&Ovy|ILZoD6TZPK=gB;1zW_`1IIWWbZWaeH*jk)9&PUI5*Oal zv@3VW9rb*#xHj;UlM%Oy=J-Y2yd7qHt;(7Gx25x8aXxoVt^~%zbHPz@?&-{Ud0?7p zFAoMB7gwgD$^8m$snX{}eakvdPiz>wDi2*Sxx!U){z$`YY^~xMIk|sPCbD zcf`5d*V7H|0@kH?DvN@xt?a87zuxRKmJp3|86ij>U*mGb8$bsG&#{z*%Omb(6_eZVZ^ngp4h6)GuWxdz!Flg2EN);6lj{vV znuHY>_qe^uQI9HhN{Q>-)#PX|QAx{*3->TNN5qeBPE-`P&Bx?sz^+Qnt|~5~m&rAQ zU#sU;Q`}L1lRF0g+_gkqaejd&$GGs-s|MoM1)JPbJl}}}O~hsGV{-J*`zN;$m$9G8 zjfNf(Zf(R(>~C`0p~p4n4&s&$FgeDp-`{i+H+P`PF;1sE;v#PKAd`EAaZ5YfL)?nN zCN~6njPKD+T*DzIw*dM0uu46}ZL;IyS?Ya5LruG1{*}MDcXph$F35S*>U^L$S8&-d zZcA5%it`9FpO1Ox+(G@ttw4J<5YHDk9W3q|IQo~(*@lVB1-Uyge_z}gDQ*Y2P2iqx z8zZjKP*ace9nAiVx;#$YaB!UGT_PunOX+U5w+{J6mC&i;(t@ip!Iayv%1m(syv_EO zBTiRNI9J@B9wyhMi`m}NqY>g-`>4_o)u8F76ukMcr~OBc?HdkAhE^vJR5qBuv)BR-$oz^mdafup~A-S~#Mo#33I z@AIs;#pNGn+ErQj-7$CXigN+S`SEP$194v97#DU=cp|P2o^LFk&)4O-xJlsHFO{5M zi+cpF74+Ei?wz<=cs{Ocn?@y=WX(@&fTQ1yibx{vPsnASxH%w&xK?QID4s82&D7$i zgJb=wM4EKsBEfNf%)gdV+zD_QAh+9kCvh3U(XQGL&mpcSxGMqXe4Eiax44zyQX@}1 zk|)2oW8iLJeq4J}NZcK8Suro$rY$b+M{tb4>;Eh%ZiJU<_l4j$sx2=oZY;Pry}KKA zq$|M{#nnLG$@!7AT2*mNdzx}-&zBO{6t@=fh+NvJI^u319=X7e_nOl{Tp03B#z8-y zCgPSM9#uhJ;!&=JxRQt;tna2y&_>*N#1HOk+&|u4Tv5ai`h#2ZI*F_QnfMXu>msfV z@=n%E?pE;-mlAP-^L%QGZsKNvqhDKfv4^-{AU6`@5w_A#TtRSLe+(HEDDEOSu74ey zhKgHG4)bGp*8bu$LJ!(i`@aW?dk2p7=S5qFid%ztN&ix7%t&!%5C=IwmVYxwTsSzc z<8KxmCvH19C&Z7?=i%Z?!#}g`J?`KXadW|4fuFoIV}`g>;BH_YRo7>ZIL3uz$WM1y zh!FP#?U7rWbg?*J__bu=rr!;@uuR+naJy!k^}k%JR*3V4T;?SKgVuQN7{3A|_3jo(2>)IXxXT|ja$N1K<#zk>k!7+ci z=y+A!b8xgP&r~Xp?x5RZp+~RzjxBRZS>j7rGN$GMOMlXd8*rGnq!{BWt3TU>RtN4wgQGQYUv?xr2^9Kh3)g~ZiF-7y^Fv3^!DaYMS9 z?G2b^`rRJimJ~M{`5(_){NA^$ICodGy*J2Db62YvW}@Et`_=b+YD3R0E5>!M{|89%-+*i>qgsXItx& zTvyCqkTaUtN?&xz}<5a$W*(L~d4Tur}5Tsm+ZkD1rkiR%Dv zJjNr(hE3wuf@8jWc*It5S&+Z9zMloDaBVh#x;a*)MJdxE@$H zF5h=Z+;8Asz^;CqdQ@DB;iliE-^lJA6>EEWQI{`X?zFh4kjwE{ne42%ci?zV>+IPJ z;?7_^xIXV(>Z&-_^;)8z|Mt2eE>}xaU)HaZkG?JLby1V!d~=%nkGMUlOpfDG{D+6) zf}fiEzw}prE1!xxd)egnVg627_CnnDBPN%sujwZP=e!a3`e&14zE*K;yeZava^xD5 z>khxWxKAQ+cNdu)>y9&Al8JjY)8sayURSA3N^$iknjFss?aG@*+$rquQ;%J}8& z&)4LbM>shZ6*sV_$st%K%KSO-qPaQb~m~17`Nfm%ZoehZE}3RvtuiZ z>*r;1jRQ?P9g?`ZxUn5fj_Z`G18Rv|Ho)ZCVt%xKT~}P61t!OJne&*2;&$&bIgW=% zj;7*HUott`-_Jj{5ZCpY$#LI)lUEyYW#gNEqdfe0jno~)1>-zOKa5+Z9i7CD&26^F z_1ntcF58sU_lRYkD8kt&m%>+`-vOyne!kG z^9PDM)WvM?Ypi=N{~aPOGu9t`zV2)LiA#j_2kQqD`wbG87w19f|60}_DsC3mADl-+ zQ;ihohV=*Kc0W5>+;przSRbmiWUROccIyS}IR%c}U%}zxo?snN5O#H=))aBAu@0dB ztC(hnxXxGyFdzD{@Emch%X2)kzL+m=wyQb5jS!DY?p!3!%gy9iZ;BeZOx#-R&oKTv zG+QBVH}+>Z9_2Hx5m(OFl*>F~>E(6emY^=hbC#2qZxS~Fb*YW0Z=4C;D(*Vgjnv~# z?H%G4eP$i%=D0^(de{NizoRei7xxS7faCV!`wDV-KJ3-aKg2b~I+X3r-E=`*N31Vd|I0J#inxMUH}ZVW&+V^^3kR0~ z=bP5|yCtqJINDWkle^*$VSZ4LgrN_`t#C2zlzGXWSx?3JJvZYP?Vxkb7vlDxH96Yf z{F|@E?fBc|*xpayJ506aon>B|9Q{?F@(INSBhMz6A)Z${mQh@fIwr^ck4xj6#C2|Jay$?0(kzEK&o(B< zJZ!3CZgE#Tn%qR>bqOxy6BqRvyE=5Wkhn+gW_y&oGi7mc^P8C*$L+U-rNr&#dJF!3 z`L43!USWKfqJDa^cSUgr^P6&+|GDI^Dz0W}lVd$%(3KkEPF6EH*P7;ebl*jF#HDOt za@?mY+M|KEl^9>nk1NHRh&zq-D&v0G-R9!{X=lpiyc`kPT3qw4CP%+9GPJ$85admh zv7Vkcxs$kGQO{<-_;+#<_pXsCw=w+R6DJRG17I)IqwNK6al_i0?eUz4>%1P~e(Gd$ zNsuQVb@vmu0eJ-NbXCDXacgm&koyL!AB2c=M4g)FZu)QSCvL8v`Fym$$HNDSbH_dy z&u@e@A1baP@&5Xr1M~5tPdABcgZzN|R>`+*6&LXt zzfn1Chq%=68{8M4(`b*l{a9}u!TRHFx&z`mU>@;Y(1nYK#5KY^%7nT=oBP z*HK&x_=E3ZSBHmn755e#<7H?ocX74g57^Ibb9swf2re9PX52#`ajmd#MSXkj@)g$~ z9P5cmC-xRs2>WHUtJQ8H;&?8N=T+vF?kBDc+T%QOOE5^>YCPWq?8Ew;3={Vf9PR4K zq7mZCLN4_P4jwJ8G&r713$8O(TxD=Px9OigT--=-$1ra5uTK`Y4jk<&eB*R+=fP2r zNuy?q+W?MrsgCXDi<|iwu6_PR;x2rK+xYKNaT$i2{<#U}$D&`Biz^H+3j4%UW~>&M z7##DVcI(%PyNu_fUF8|INnAPPe-Y1a8|US_H`^+%CDxY>phx^nJH)L={3wI-gpIE3 z7WV@2gL%o4<@;?M;s^8l<{^i~4MY6k{#*T;N5%bvbrj$0ZICKT9M2Qdt_GbyC9VPT zMCK9Ie)vP&a`=1tp@Sh8#8reJC+AS-int*7ar�>8^|G2|rFfX8n0n+*@!w?^9{* z9dUi&$7z2p!tRT!4gZ`C>-{mU9*au?e?`0cE%!5Vu4s?(W5=VH;`)Q*`SxAA--_D{ zj_Z#!6XQ>}=AAtM!uReTE>A3u=f_K6evBQET-+n%VH}UAbyA6Y2#$7eEk#;!H!y!W z&;6@s6n6r7EZ4OsR%R9Fhq@WxZ_Lu`YjLwqn)PDp@gPYaarMuc9P1lB7v~rE^uEba zk0!ab3~RQK;)J8dF1DA*?Ide?K>>BW_6tQ!e92^3)B)C2}!2#=%1;8;eWlX>yz& z3uiSKcN_M{Jn@oyYjJEujFMjf@qqy?$_vesD+}YDrTqF2 z?&2n)ZpL$N-*@sB*B}0#b=Fe_dx%Skyq)u-?n_^BDd5LB&)XdAEp9d9La&E+jW|7h zT8OwUXpeU9?A1@)k9Ph(w)gE%lpQ3F{+@btNi=C2 zPjx>lj&)Y{%TJ{*in|DZ`Uv+LoG5x#Tv^mX=nwMGz9H@f)(gD9q}8O`;!;;N`;X^5 z0uSF4*CMCMQIBM+9*MiK*~}wYx4m8cUvV2FO^*8{!;ilZ_vnzxQQv=hy%E>-y2&vP zu1gtjhBcqO@xtVI-rH$ILU9vQn)))&uGcN8xW_q6?gHvk+p~Nn?oDBn%a8Mz!ADYy z>r&q2sPB-`>BOz8ZF2N~jT&YWSEPx_@qU_l$+C)zXk~J|za-hOImA`_#^mVNewvnB zoHy#Mm64ARb;&PoUOTfr>f0)RVR4rrm-iS>yj4uxm@Z~}w9_P!CB^xAm>la* zk6Z1TalviC3~}Dbvw03>Len|oTA{wd_n91XM2O?QAJ>=X?=BLz7IGPnE^k{Vt{dcX zJcfL~LLBQpAH3(VagDfM$ag=mt5NI4l|>%LylG(L&EmFT{mXfD+;N*Y7x=50SO={8 zeTTT$@RPKINAvfH`xon9>M^Cq0dZZi{-vLsS>~{~)0l76W8=G{;=-{0<+w%t8YONE z*1voYXyc62;=-~1r5+AF&Weiy$9TE7{6%qN!0{Z<%Y;|Ot;YOi9d6!<>*7*ioy_&` z`iNWNs$*XAz4wvlSX? zQi&S@j(&H>*tFvIf#bcGMO-q9<9!d@w|ZLKN!%>xL4D`E%`WaHxLz0!uVcBy)x+~~ zeoUL6&n6cf>*G!Q3yJdvw;FPbRxc)QBRKA>)k|Gc+$(VOSKgP)h%1JDCcd{gF|vZV zj^MV!PfiP~BJOK&%wvzVtRb!gIF3iA+;zmI1xJ6d;!%BZCBSh!uI_CdE600m#!PN5 z?qBpDpKp+NYjKSrmt3Rr?Zvf5d+e9Q$vTOv0FLLM-=6I%ZU^j??PXlZ|_=y_>j^ok)@805~z%h>~x-~@H6mVR3m-?=sxVzv! z=$B4|#O1=cG5$6!GE`hVaMWYw>k;DegZm(U92qU{5}uE7dd-}%;!>hLj@v~4aB7fjgBQfTL7qtN#I!5ocn=28D=+cB zZfg(uALDPOvbV%F`%M0qA>mzdIgr=UuGXEpFYXvPo_h#i{8-$t;21yt4SpsrJ^cL% z`1^8oUWwzmX4=8ZbnnEivuiK5dsDhxk3Y+rcjm^tY>W6&e?ww%yzha2x7_aJ;^<#^ zj;zqcRN{)D4#NG=XWyh1=WWNurbo}b8O2S-`Dd;_>fOsCE-lVKb3Afv%`WZ?<}c@E z?~%F09mf3S{^him`NZA9{H0y>%TY+&Hq1+&Q$2I1sJQBwZ+~K*@7P*G+<444u0OVo zE+eiM)@3{|8r80XxTctI)T2@UD&lxPk@-Qjf2)hzi+M@AirQaWTmsA^wl{BjeR1W{ z9{tN)@5bWR+vyRTUHO)4F0K{Y<9Yr;iCT-B4~}{~J>5=RRp`Nd_x$3H;+lh_9>s#Y zihF6t#iqykI_~27+W7-(or~wqrlj{4=MRqc-JUmm#Qg$}e(1smUvVqJ@x8!NBYKOY zA7VW6Z4)9c4E~DtJU4GYar?n>JXSp&DDECOz8^Jff0(%4;CL_bt#u>B-3CWJQVt(2 zZY2DHEBx-Q=3~Y2J!ZziHQB?(6^7rS+<29yh-;2`&Um>g$qaFeyO?$FF1SB2;K*!o zTe_MY^R-zM=Zl-&fom6Q;Hh{JLUU`uMedWcLI46&rt-- z%pmRo?3w#VGrDCF*8}#S#=dZ@J=_sxM<_G6_o!ni;4Z{53d(n#?x{3P% z^P@7}dq29KxZLp1 zT<<6Tt*^M2;P`wy<_#2g8ggk@W&Og$6+(N=+izDLA&&R5Q;$cfMvHrn_UJc`T>4(z zad3p z6vuie^QM*)mx>#T_NZ@Hx8>qif#Y}#F11?RHE_%iy2M{6j-L}kJt{xgDDDQ@qy4qo zwMAS__zivz)~m7G#q|U?0(H@a9e0aM1ph+0lMCz@R|9dnQ=oayH~!Ou;x@w%@xBL# zy+_2of*+z^bDwxzTnhLXjz@mCQ{o^|9kTGytv19Tx{!r6UQ!# zTL6E+IGB9iHF0;rQIBjg5tQZOFw=iZBcRD7k>vk`06ibah0)8 z$MNW}xwN?A(1YjdvwmA%+%=2`{p8_xmBsPBUXI89{ME%xf?V!PzWBG6xZ~iMUll!A zPuvr5w3p}88;RQhj&=Fu-J6Nyd#)T0&kC)?RX{(_ho2mfw4J!-;5g5JIs1*cVc-}C zfBLbDxN_i_M;z+sCay2I%{X_RwUL*&<=~1ykAY4;;`W21U3I_LOWYQ4JSRAAM}WAl z7!U5-&l(>rj{EjpmtE}ISKQBNkM9pYE=pVP#ZLVGE(ek;9hmbf0^ zsK<<9^Tf>n$MbdjTQ3wx`=cHX`Id_7iS}5R%8+uoxQyWFcT-(lC64<{)Z@VNwc>6g zuj4&bd-`s)$wj`#dmua2-y$v_@-^C3#SGiUJqO2p{QGOWY;uvWQIDzX_SxD4$Gooa zu!G_j+U0B3xXdoxh741CDl8BmBI$ z>)^PLbKdo`IDW1cpRZ4eYvQ zJrc+JM))29k{RYc~5=L6%ZF6&qsfie?<{-=U@kXf1%ONYkG2$76dd1IJ2bbgxcK1s{@YF8Z^X3#ml2=e z-KJU>aRb3IzsjH1Osy%~M=X^mAXFtID>%yEuN1BFE$6uwLT$IeX9ytf_dIb0m`HQu*$ zu*|pO>R~)MKW-%YUYrZK4p`ToJUw1qA#fazEK4VeW4=Z`W`s@?HwNwfj(ZWu)So48 z5;&ggOP_U~IO@T=t@E7);)-G1xNneq+Y)i#fQ!O=hPA%`QQQo0)FW}{RpM9|NPu{L zzUW$UyoZYYJn!{}Smkn`WW|x6#L=$UFVE-vEG{?tnfDas_uD0|3OL%8bM<}V-l1QZ zUnNO>P#iz6i0hBamwy$P4RV99Ufr?gH*wX$@qV9YVJF4a1s8#Od%9M?i=#i~K18Pq z=f$zk@EY-Le$vb0QlJjZ&s}eN=1+0C!141xycYi@t})gh9FK%Se~W8@bp<~U_fCy_ z;&Nl(iuUK5`jNQuSXZ!a(dE)pacQxx;Qfh?t6zxQ3NDKCWAGbs>9DS#J#TFqZ=N;p zBaH<8sCRl z@0?j2*GD{W_TXJsahIVl^~iVpYjJPEaXh>u@`%d`eUl?@_4h9zt_C=cN7?E{#GMDn zbN>ZXJB#Bzfz;#Lq)O4a>F_R|_1+ zBTJHR#MMT>FyEd2duMT*Ukp3Ws1>*T#qm8u+JWm&LE`$NJ?4onqx*>CdrHGmuN&84fH>A2X;;35hKMVVapQX5 z>%}l}yjLP<7a*+Za6sVo3Y1uaofOc!~95DZIZZI;GW_A{TnH# ziK~Qu=6-Vd%QMA&3(gbsBlnuQ;<*3u4ELnE3|SzqAKK$RN{zgih~xT~{$)zJAH}Uk zeUkO@w+U8>+YgTI6^)7%ml}Bl?X>Xx4dQwuk6?Xmi0@D0h9Zx+g7|SxH5w}=ZDgWay;(i9lxUi=0ui~=9Z>&UIsMh#5arx}H*!EX5 zWjiUZBji3pp4jNl8F4(1$@6-VThEExhxTY!zfHR&uDadxS?jySu#Z^J`%iH*Fuoj* znq~eHmjL6-`8y!~-{LZ0e3|ETi26rdGK??df=|Rlal63rJ@tP6PsMqmU-)^Dud2Ne z_Z%GKLdR5Z#PvY`@tjtdOAhm`c_-`7w5zVG6N<|PfAB#+4^AqM`(>QxXsYcP4QUz;S+D3C}8y>uyKb{WjOH#SK8eP>*RP@`&Sl zn&%jQaVQ`z72*Q#b4zrhusH6Y=g0HCT~J&c>&3MDQh}w!m4RIP-L|#LiE9sz?d?lj zN!$o<%*RXCswQqKxUAU!9g(({xO}eWxl+n?{G+b8ir}b6*^LdwWy5=^v@54UO~pC6 znR0m#M(x@y#Vy2rC_f_pW=Y;w++Dmk!THhuLgT)2HkJGN)B8G{}3;)bI>zcq(;--M( zdp54Mz7uyFa%uMgX~v7=`)ahSBUdJh`yFzrN3O`J;=X~Oq}+I6Gi~jGqu;&Ve6Bdw z(dj3D`g(!5Uht=UzUB89i`xv2^EYtU58`-kiR~>8Un%Y~+GC!W)h$w7a`-FuONNpg z#AOCYxfSF6B(60$=Jzd5Y!f#K9PhK-wQ#36*3o%ibJEbg;@YCU8CaLKtoMsJ-m5`- zE|u|DalEI4`X>78n7Enf=jzB$Q*1gR?j|_eRkd%=h~qsDhoMKa_UFX${4U3>OMy$` zShr=~-sRa-$2 zo{F1^_IO`&`E$?3Z3f5jShC`^xP9Ol2SW!tL|F6A4&eCS$);ur#qnG?`{h86q~gZH zUidjRzuZe9j{B?BBgwAR;$EUX?wjtIkWL)^5T9?0OD1uwZ;-q1oK;*y^b6k~EbH*K zIA3tQmt<>HZgJzlF}|%>kYAiLIDRf!roh7DdV`}L^=cIt$9-7Z>C3dG#4SL39FNi0 z%Zi%@j{Biu8!C#c0FLu~%(qp=bpb~`*0!%Ht~2a__wYp(s4H$5IPSyVecnJE@1dgH z?+-Q+HyG_b3^32%ub$CD+!b)VhwsPkZNxEd(T_V->>!T&OeF>{z8>M=;Bc>l?Ymp@ z&f?mj{}|6ZpK}q%^$hDYGnRXZv$uO|Jz^-{V}3lKn>g;*(yp>M=_!tNVA|Et?EW9f zwbmJUZf^WPf#R4)@O;VY?V;j$pAql<4GHfrj((i`QAb<{i|dB*r5>3|4HGv69N(kb z8gG=iGT^um+b`R9;--M(JeqlToVZR{M={Q{+%QpGUvRuH?ef5>;cxB__JkK@rI=m&A@@IDUrXMU)@ zQd}ymkNAAYzKRrg5c{j!Q4i~VZoRmoSRZkoZ(gxkTybz**BP24@K%NRdg8tfD| z8tw6ZmAM)Bira&A8SO92jRWG=U|q(%xY@?T;=aTBi0?fO8F|ds9ysdJw#^A~e}JRE z`XSF5ap9j?N8NjLR-7Z&N7FEFgZ5k$_qq4VyH36;EyPHgoW#Y0y-@CmxjDq80mt~;@@Q^xv%$T@d*un{<`K+h5!&aLn7kNjO;CQgA$ZrJRf~DtvJ?|dA@l0+>GK_m*;pq z^>q^02y)3~td>KZH#p{`w%<-b{AI-9Q8Q9)mxk&#*O}9`*%IWea>(E-qBAS z_c@P2k77jw#nBGtqHdA?b%;2gYhgdHJkn1b-wR}2>e`$^;u4@=vO;cR-=X3Pfa5%0 zQf;I-?lUnzxZplU9M2b%>t24GxX~VF-pM-LoVVfPoZL;0{;Ki*DdN7vJ?a_oIczP) z%@8*e_n=YV{q5$6ON+WF{pnoa2yso2pE90TsjyhwvbLrkJQvyZ)iQB!+M66d=W)`G z72*bWF*)kdV#FG8kI;XNmw}Dei}S)d{%g$Nx@k9y+k$mG>+LJgZxz=FpXbGU4UR0` zA+8GUA*CMPfqTUDM&3^U{HE#was83EFT(kuzR3@Z3rC)v7Wwmv-;atbhdi6_b7oo^ zC2kt>Y}O+d2cH%fj69ouXj-ka;u;~(ray43cv0LXw09o!{EsA8#XW^RbAP($iR@=P%ERjsaQvqhFy*Eb`njHaSPzrI6uDK+*n*V<_G(4&dBEC4q|>#kCSa$i#ve%!TN?zf%f8-p*`x6`B_JC zXYqVopBLHRRh%>0V|^|46nAkI@qBwxk1g-vE$%uv#=+F3dWai{dC7ARndAG3D~S2V zdr7vv>MhO#9P1XRiiV1-V`tB?ofjC_xxcvH_tR9wbUCdc_!-)XtHrh`n5 z_l?YYzDnG!5R+rRmj2{gajyeRj^kVH$Bp8C?`3j~tKmbph}+l0Q6xfd(9AMx$Tu}9*HpuJbfbB@gWSKMFF_XO5QY5ZS``x@=h zPP;5ushcj?7l>T7a-7`M~OGK+gL&*Z4@(WzO*ZQEsX%%2w&{#sl?#D(e@ zH?M=a#a(-9wnw{v;G19EpUKU*RSWCOrCAD#`!Sozai8S=uf@duUc}_+55^5GDXwh= zlVko;xN=!>KDAAb^X=8M3gRv!o^v1U(&j4SUbHdW<9Ku*P($3=PA13x^Qc}&Tsb$B zn}qSGm#BfbjyUJG6z3jx{MJ}p81@k-Aa5@^v$?ppSl3bySI^es9$;Nt8_$=)xxKgo zs7G+zcD?KLB2EzYrv+0VR}v$|goaqBQ1 z>}TIHe&T+@c<|oo?5}%^dxdj{w7<2fL&eR2m^+ym6tXn!v0XNbFibtv=pb(d$03&lE=`wN#=&KEZi>rg&lfqsj`CB-_F^;5Tc z%fubPI`lr`@3HhN#O25Otupp?UtV1;j_)T&p)T*WcAYrZUs~WC!2Thd#NEXDje4AD zwpH9AtlwyVOLOcH*B$FJj$7t?yTz>s$9bM*?|yOJun*f1`$t_S9TGPe&*y=2Bir4M zipvJMe7;L1qQvp@fEYij`zB7d`DNjC2lp^OO5ZTsN zzpj6;6yoC5G&%aA(}Plrdzjng=-2v{OegLD@-_PVZ!cyPS2Uy99?#`&AL}HpNIsLJ zzDsK45O=MV$yVXkDy&Gs@zW;>&m=WZF#3b z;_?kK?SS{NjH^9VToyNzqrX~`Y^1n9kjHX7W*-?XE_Y|Mz19Badp38%$BJ7Ixp|OZ zm1!R?j`{sm#J3h-PZ9SV`91F;NPla(xE_cL^t+|k%@(%;>n+~TkYvz&arLm?;<=k; zGZu-P5BsAYyS^Z*RK=z2=knEz2*Zp ziED~}=KZ4A8*CMK3UQk6CH&N7hq#3B2ZeB7Uzq}X#HDO)_6z67;amH~J;l0=^}5+B z4vEVGJLP$XMgd2~?SP#!?w>3lC2j`RTl5Dh-klQH4*f?xmj3dGxWcg0eOT`wop?c< zKkStE!=3MZMO-@ADc2uvg|3Th3OnWVHF|ne+$*fN$W7XFN8B~|NyhVECfpZS1Aeju z=J~H(9*bK9Kgsu^TMv9Dt`Rt%W9-@JmAGSFO}qL7{X8M{J8_2*FOQ+_li*DJrPjPN z6!|XqIhV{$EN%hvUB=6?-pR$)#=4v5R2Mp@64wLkZr%_4;6)m7!>|rud$aau5SI?? z?!B|k_o%u~$|5cc?0|KKVr|VKz6nCVGX@8tYj|){5_g6NP zWBziWVoh<8@l1~XDzZjhao_xH)|D$`-*4rg4aD_5V{)t$UK!j(T*2EWw+HLIx;a~j z+xFJv@}gey-NDx4s;4#e;C;hI`m`5!0qZT^^S-fgCvnG1nC&s1&$-%F-2Tsu$J9CQ z;=0r~+v9s}i930VtI@*bcn)P?wjScvBEO>jmAK+7?h5LJw3jqbdy6}PJc4;i?kyqW z64W%GkL!g&A^pUqtY>l_b4-6wy!0S(otv2)-{UJ)eWzLnSzPQK8BiJwBW?3X|1@Z{$5qW*7xId6bP>(5VmWxY^JmNa;HEnlr zwYaBPm(fm-PhKZ(EY|yst99FN5;q0*%+Dijl5MNFcZk!p`{`G=i~9+2n&+Q){;*qI zd#r2O&xv~P7gv^fEb{g-l@5uUj&&{lbB4r6#SKOO(M~<0j*FX!I8A*+=AII_6>*yP z@s#QDhqy_Izs%R>mA@b^8{#j|n}sC4B98a7@?2!6Q`f}hNBrgdt+)85xGIRhj7KB( z+!2=g?j;!44=l8_#APaIay+kGyo#^5@0*((&u#8s9UyMl0F&eRzBm>vZq7oJ zWB(QI)K}aOIRD2yamD2U;+mm7)=$gz93pPhZc{Gv*bxrH#kId=a(uoF5u?PN``6?+ z&r{X=PF(sFrXOPcWx}Iz;(oyTjef2D;)&u$*qytH?c8f*$Eo5UugMQ8P-VSkzkl#~} z8yokCD~HSZjU_w(qVdu~V~&IkH34wei~Aua{s(n(w%?2}NBG&6IEbNj}$E4~jq zqH}I>dEu}49^|oX`Nf4||AY6&_qkli)*jZ$oF5Ms787?7_RM{{Vm>9s)q%dWt6xi( z71tl@WM9<(TwYfYcN6Y8taamcQ+R|7Ji81du@Dcao@qO(VmZWZZGa0);({qU$$;QCvm*5 zZ#niWoEo`^yWQ2aQ`%KcM-OqkU@z>KMW?;RB|=>#9`;if&*>p#_=q zW{9hTeqnx5>Jp4W9(Wv#y#QDJAGw&?je}%XT zuv6+$tM(dktzf6z*Qof_dU3tr*EnwD^KBLvhB^)P?et))xO<3$JWtbY{SI+u5RZ5s z#5sJAxLxoEytl%y?E!ID(B5)<4%X}}hsBLRd$gCIFC7)P0OLVBZF)3H9N#DAIf|-# zPm5cNJeK)O*9m9Ey@tPHJg?F2qPSl%e`le-dm#H&8;AKzyZZgF>*5At{_=Au=dHaZ zZUW{n@xGl)rxldO$@|C!f zh;Q`IM+UzWR|)Zr&$p~ef*-AUXVyWcf9CwCmNkjEqNvyLTzIO#lZ$%^E(OjXO#L~P zxHRCnZ~yQ2X~nh1^HGm$-((bb0vz?|T+m6}ACSv^@t>Y$7q@IImZ;aC>n9;5a{qz3M2ApFhogy1GZYiu>H> zi5!{jF0KjW(yk`<^cJ@gTuY4G@0ELqdkd~L#^cmie&YB!A&mPAFZLGq80~TXc3Kr8 z?iM)aS1kwk6IX7yY0tbrVrR2K;&|UblSfHTn2DF-?=v8sJK9IjDuNEM~Smr8R|4;~^=y$;+`7aj$9W$4GKIK(=}nGyRepJDaijB^ z+}GH@ywW9|xB{h2j(VKWlu2BYY9`10<-0RZ;#_dfjdtojD~GsCsAJOZ=ey+=cMj|Q zda#3B#qx_=i1q$r)Dw>tEG+H~)}hq5e9hwG8e(1sJ-BPckJE2Tipy2p>=)`=Yg<`y zRm+(i^^F%?QQSE6GvD`fC{tD33G_4l)ws7c#5F=c^W06d-F3wMj5<2~^QzGe#Cf28 zkRG3xaBe{pas5$OW_vE(T8KLjed(VcR?1;5**pvZ5|P`}=!+4{@QW3(!w?9_VL#KExT; z36s?e6qg%y0iNfY>liBT`Df|^^)B=i=YzU8@B7cSa*(*y;23AB^c`xG3y%GKyv|5* z$52P7A6k=UjJP1w(OKWP~60={pUih)Y25~E#OpbQnH~CNE78f)*#>-8|w~4!3)a3Yn&+cz` zic5ny$a@?b)YvQT+sbBp!GY%cYMmT@5f^~-2aF3Vw;dK&8T*{9Qhwi3a-b*qs+a+=3vG2!ofqGUn7A8=gS4w* zy-SMw3vrNo6s%QN+-qtAnOWWVC zj<{8*NAMip=7tT#bwoXa?+d-j)I{7&aMWYv&F135P`CII`!kQJAgEp8O-nR@j6sfW05 z*fZz(tKoj)GQ*zvc@x`P1&W&jd**l)%NZ)JKK74j_ucOH6E_ofdKCFp*p@-!Tw$lF za4+^q&tc*Y+u5o0-T=m#zkeAeu2yN&?s>1|;+x-zOW-ErF$M3DW zLEP!gCPzEHac{G@dU;HacKZ8*ZQ_cSFgdP2;(fDITxaAt%oB&D+bixQ@)zd!;ZX;~ zT}GUKhBqC; z^24ujy?;OGqPThRYaEZ{)vk)G48JxE{=Q7I8{+=Nc@?&I^VBVI>EW+vfA071irWK@ zcJ=Si55)b9{EzYcN!Sx{|8zF(iqE&M?sIXOkhk;sHm7)PYY+7Z)=yLAc35f6JF6jY z;(HUx?j{g-0Cgmuqy2Sd5^=$(zZ65gWQ|`6asQxRNB`HpRBCb0kQXzL&G$U5xN2CZ z@N)sO@5(4H66X_{ANY@U5?2ZJ7oMjn&?<+xIRWOlabL1`w%p=+p#H+~J##ysxMzsJ zw5x%M3yb>!_RKoNwUfofU4%c_jCFj%=_SSGzU1nCZeCYYU#`!8{JNsJbjXLe z57y&$6>*X98`R_8+8W~e!cIAlF7~e@?iWAv`8Yo=)oCE^FVxMbZ$if=;`n)d)T7Gn z=HgBxAL2bMt2ee5*XsWfcHdDw|9|}dC0kZz_Q>8c%Zy}3QG|>NmCQ0TqO!8L?CiY> zp``5Wy@l+NJ>vK6_CDY9?Roulew^dK%Xz+fJRj@+m`{`grsGv$7rBfm2ai#YZnWzz z$M5?w9VaY$$rZx>oFQ|J@#(qe?s7{JU-8~Ir}X{hW~Xv#t*>sl>?2nU<%Rbmx-A+c zw-}E1$3E>oOl~0hqheSmb|^DK?ia?59KThqKSnMB<%;9MOeW*yPC6RP6~E_I_ryfG z=l_^LI29ZsXN`V=^Ze-+PLt#JCfFYMb)PA>ua)ud<9^_|7IWpUV_u5wX~)|OXemRp{S1A8Rvtr(A!ur_7J@t@q0DyaC&_;W-b=-9mrPbR=9mEEn~U^fq2`OztVl zGvhz+{wL(@5nnM5t6M8h?lIa)-ZPdh`HWmM^hX>=%{YBQZUx%O|0#b9FUxJic+d&s z!DsH*<(i~whf>Bp%#WNkZ_D{(Jji>&KK;2T$8+kvFpjd#^jNMs<~Mkspvm>8a;C^P zu3uJL@j~u69Mkc*?;E*N$Y0*48dL3qT#tYBgCXBP$xTE4a(-iR%r`kFMO zTZsH+I-K49%2h}HavasZlIix8_;e-uE%ryjvNE=aid< z`6jLl_3$v4bHjWSJuVunuwwaQypjHti&rjPgw9nyZW4LzGkYTgRVtlgkXp?~qU2(=*M#FFV@P4}tD- zwea_GoxMkgesaa|yZrk;m-3PO499X%;^RQMl5m{YD;_;m?jRh0_xkMNa-ZP1PwQ&W z(Q=1V)!&qU>nF}-U9CD!&Lz+o*D(%jmmDbf3y$q>rubmFA=nSh_cCb3R5|y5xOcuY zSojqx%P0}*Rpla9=Z8&Ovjqu2juR+ z@m|EcH4e)a2r`yGrXySWV{%R4_`7yjqUC{Yj4d;JLov+~%7c z_to?JYEIdI$*sfR$NQGL-TfoSa?kV*+?swzO5DlsZL{575Rgf(Im$sW*1I#c&n7nn zj_+?$v7B;+;h1kZKIW0L_=l?#onP(|${*Xw8gnh=vf%v%A|3Dh6q9QO$9lfCW+}P) zaO@YBo0OHC3&-aTy<9;q9d9W zE_`>87mSeeMIywgolzW8du^(*TcBouQk4ZhMYef@3HRWGDogI z)`gfKBZ@7M%ZT|umX`((7Rx1IeT(hY_f^Z}T)G+KCiXM&9;@UAVcgAmhN+d-%56tF z`2G$hZIFw=`WDmCGjfYuRjhBZT&)h?A@>vWgxt@Nv%?-a4~)B6KPDDAAomvI?kd># zzaa6D9KYkl_CDvnqjCWlce9^ym>4Z*iTNSkcT=lF?0?V0c$)Ji-v^wLdyR2C?|Ycu z;DTJbp2l*(@j}l(m*kpaos;qX+L&u{*)adY^K^@*-;&#k`4`Ub?(B3=ZawB-T49~( zebGm9dr%Izzqov2f?OolRb|?qj&){P5 zNp1x4jrV?hfBsdD`^WiR6wCcT<%(k7g7<*W3Hl?K7xMxy5nna!lzwMQ-1!5J^PSNH zGs(r{ci9dVZJ14NOCMwTV_Z@{eNMSK?ncM&ecn5rNA3pJXV_j1n44ejJ+^^VFH~eZTlA733CUo|^T1 zM&~MWi70c%EB-bD1 zkNsQjzAkcgQU1Q+JnZ{w-Q>og{PB73ez?imp!{(^&8E0Ma#K+L*e^uQ>nm3n<&Wtd z-^*L>1Ii!cjZ0Mq%8f($A<=S~9gXSW`IHlOv2uGcu813CJb$z~^BKAN7+0{}=yC46 zTpf%ncrM||oJ(@!F|J@euk3nFE*r`-%jua?x8#OkT*3V4_xi5f5v=Di-i_b?P;Lgs z6&83eGbSd;L@+6|s# zwpf!@ZX4oursL+I9CD#}&*kv`vNX&i$9r7a-bZE4FIN=r*#q%p;>|*Gws?Q6M*}t# zm1~ZEhWF7n9#K-R0QxQNlYY^{QqBX8@3~~Y3UXFh&+Cr$vX%*z{X zK6tpB+#Wct8_cxpBbN^IW=zND{C(xBz;S%u=DC+#V>sr=wu8QMocCsZJ2GX6TqZn^ z`*Xs(`OB4oV>+Hy8YNc+?}hQ?tDgaKj&MiOe>^xhL2eox=WS0d3zF*z$M4x}88Ag| zI~>!o(I!-m<$(3$L-yHnOQrc*Cf}dP)r4CI*Y@;tx&Cl0FBP7>k{b`l{RjRL@8t4hewY2nl8H%jzcF6r zd->k#tDGs~d!A#-RR5=3{6FG*$8vw4zkMSVa19~*bA(x2pAj?(tba~_kVm!$60XI(P`_JLMaGv_`{6ca&G4A30 zo#DNT%4I-2&fk4qsifRzjQ5$2gI~+Y6+}GFcGoMWyj(WKI}<-Wr)9mAJ3mV1kFz%P7f;G4ItoHND& zZ7>dfS-+)RJ;e7N#~IJr#Aj|JcN>o7z~*Lqxe&y~9M|61=qQ&CaV)3ATzcF?WjEbR&K8dKyh%4- zIbWnBC)NW_R~#a@0gma|_`^@m48O~EH|p$2IquWq`)eN-Ajf@QjEn7jCdhH04C_&O z>ma!^`1=?i%+EGOj{BRqj`R5LbU91(NBqv?tF5!-ZsK=Yf9sE(m*(%X{*G?9NUkD& zm*1&*UNlV39*+4@;oS;3jz74Mr_ixAa{2K*p4-kjcYT__TNwBM+4k8i$9Eez)8jyl1xK4X*5y8xF_voH0B??i3vRnF_-q<#^vK<2pavC^>7qKeoHa z@}89AJ|mVFv!|!z^5S`12WzqKoE+mY)}!UY7v(zOd5o{VcfKm;0mt!RyK*<>0^pb* z)xX`5s{_aS+w#-{xjg@HZNi?&Re+8G_k zgL|@8k;~y=bZj@SovAMO2kT6%A7^G*$sOond>);-Q$0BcccbGz-`j<3nU6(iEZvCXOFm@?ei1!K5{QG4q(4v{@7D45YOX% z>r-}m$%SAX!1#3Wcwf10jPG&J&WSNY|%993g)f4S!<2i(6_)@qcTnTN5QavrYl zj{v#zSoh<7P`9Hd$eEy=S|ZNrIz31(7VW7i>iN#jQ{>iR{L6A+Q6f~%3gch4&qH6$ zl8eK76xS;z9GEAUfblQ)`ML%zk~@xa%69i+=Pe9gB(&f3kGzg&O&dw;W>7uvPsXzv|!?3DB9Wqcmf+phRtxqG-TocrM% zP9BhB|CZ!poHuLkaagYUhyVZnGB(>Wxs@4=e;>zr;|@j3EzNIq-2eA?aIBnX8KdLA z;dZ6Z$W^Ombj-Iech1X=vo^XySYO@0@RFQE3!`H?(mP+1Yu?`IxE^)4#4WkcxW|G0 zumAJAa#K4PpT~WmH?}>L8;v-J^8%lJ6XbSwF+MLD>#GN9CCat#X>_cYV}8DpOGdxS z^C|Hs-^ua2X)LGh7bMB~VZP1_^EA;tzRLB3V;tMG(oebL*dNP!8S^<=?it!YmY3=$ zO!lV4ojuV0@w+_t=Vz3=fc~8Q^l`VWa#nDhzaLsDhul}Rr~La&|K^sPf%cT^W$$z4 zmvc!KN2JyMeJW)k7t!5V4tQRzQr%*5*KLiC_X~t4m6Y>Fe9C*uw{NtRn~(UE=}qWa zLGE!wY^rcXG$B>!8mqso91#GDj6NWpFH|+OF7@VM#p_$og&)Eoor@w?9VUy zJIIB!H9E#?vt6C!`d}Qu^J<9}E^;GU8lT5`qCUvb}1&*iG(oXXEo8VSabK zYah8-lzW!H48{A(t?grc9`Bc$@x@DS4aOBLr&Evl%Ecr8V>%jz43T?<=W#rEyq&+? z7sP+u*YYg?D7g)YPxE73JKAfkTm;%Hw&QoK0_DD=J>a@k+Ydo<=`n8Pe*TNwr^wkO ze;GGr85Am465~ept9G?#%OxOx`MvFL-{;BY?QP6o#wA^jEt30$^(gj7-XURfv(ayH zezJnYO1V+!k3x|jHig3FcA!6EeBhn1Ue56!{m1$po8_jW|KR;YkH>76i$Xlk`<6^w z?UoBc{LFi@M&;ix_Yv_k%hkDr2)Sw)53*ja*c~ZX7~?_CUwxbqC1;EAAmhKk4kzU* zW1Lq5`ElOsv>d;a#Qf-Mb6zeU&d*=ulD_$a_12b zv0oUq@vdBB#FNaAt=9eu>AO3ZV}p3#%mQ1zLK*+`^R|0 zYr;FZIcWcwj`&tda-UG&cprd|`B%BusBirHEbjl1JNb|L_GDACTy@OTaNg&_aFcy0 zac4!$(=Z(kn`e|;jrzuZCR^UDa!=s6ZV>s%Os*#CCClHA9l7Ot1sK~&-Y?p6Tt2zs zsJ~oiw`x~N&Ia|DzuTs8QMp%e%#W`xO31xKJ!g8WMU;`_cQ@Itm77{#&JOFk>_19( ztt>Ylj{DI&l&>y#9FFOI_qCRs6Xx$ZK6)HiS8gv{GREWe$)$al#795KV7G-vs^qJ z_rK&S;wqO5>EQapz}G$GI>9kN%0%{-8wSVxFq`Qq*9DHxtKsG)*8(mZ#?xi1`pWf# z@7J-X8= zNUjm?>odo`f;Ppb$mK@=!F|`So==x6gZ_i}hgIJ-OYSPp;c}g6tp=;E@S>a$C-R`{V-l&xnDV_kX#(vd)~wB<62a19Og@y-c@Bv z%5A`W3Fn87d@du$bML%&%QmXKT%J_(wkhw0>39=bS*|$76`U_I=~`W`G{zOok1}Pg zZS<16565}s?4Jk9C82&C#CLrIj}Mg_nBG{=8Q%x{ z4wv)HYILl>5d}xfeJ*HpJpWei)L6Nm<&BQ(?0W(Nawvv=l4$L z@7pPNHOlBXkJ-87Ub&n2J`?Mu>$d}P^OB6uX8gOO)qi?E5deD^|`Q>uAlw(IS;JA@&3AqG8g2&*%|*nro;8gCAkEY1J1Xb zue~PM$i?_P_P@5?x8$OF7#-&cV`|-#GeI1|^1Lkhpg5(CzpBAPr2(D zud<%Udi{}Gk9kq{M@#CbKadi4-p2DdFFGM(Cb^7w9{cm9H?zw1LEOZ37n{F1rSFVsvc(66@BGn~i$OzwhTyE4lTk zmweBEqUy;-qrP#xwPdP|TtU<$u1khGHj#@#{a`xQ7Huwx`e~l7b%9Tg?<9*?e z_Oy{(jJTceCFcYOx#fu4FZ6z8J9|R9bnm+U_kUe`Cpj<7(=cvtQ`AMy25~#@otg5| zRW2LmX$~UZn0e4mt~cgsSWb)F>mxT9@i_DM{g%FRF+GjtiuX~3_<75%M0w#on(hq- z%Du+A8sj1VbVKD@A%0KpHA+cR~xTp83i#_dI&=F0`4 zzVYunQ)IE+Xw)~3ry~->vDc^Um$OIxWqdHi<&a!i)L*VIEVVo; z_XUpk3wV5rl1oB8=ly?UPMnn6jCoe>gX%Qzv|KBUr+F^FwflLwIdEKO+F$dM+;uqC zqf#c<eX!?F-uj zi!M3jBG7Jdp24$h9yves=geQrPx<6L&>rwy!m8*(a-nDs7{6?sT~w|g>N(Flf9qXR zt}vd*bkwbGDHo5wkL!qclgrB;#q$mJY+9B>| zy=~t{?id`~XU{?oas|-7u%3s!bWGEA!8}8?L(X!~@w;qyZ%lQSYl7e9_u88DaFgTt zT8{UNRqZ1efZyf4U;)XVa;|WUiz{95k{bxu8|x4!mix+GhGV&k^Bp2r4e4cj-(af0 z+#oovvp?)QN-h!eb!#yWEmCr<+zUANZ=Q)0m+YyH`9Z8!P$?=}MRoE}^E+9%#XNZk#e2T{xLuH%!-m@TsIT@{?qk3DVG=Z zlJD86+G#l}xZNlRr<2dg9fV^#E?&4OR~Ge`?bXPYSLJvw-DRX>mETRd9(W$t!Tg%v zl?%fA<2-+&`9rx2a7@RxCr{*>A-%ovUJ~{^ms<$OcGoZHmE3+f_6r}J-pNJ&!!0bG zBv%#hh5hQEf*%qEA5h-!!ayX_p$tt59zdMqM z_uM^0Ryp4L!ThkhZYEbh$QZXX9W^)Pmg9XRoEJSZDxchKq=V<3qgxe{%K^uE^ize3 z%Gtqj{NeMmgxo|prlZQ?GIIQ`49|xU{It??~e=$Di_o6)qPLPYo_?+h} zx-|%r%Ypch`wwzuoFexH<8$8kaN+WFxo;SsGd{>2K1+^qBKHC09WqaDH{w5@WB%A^ z(SHu{ALkFcXAhIRj`)xH*75cVIqs)nyIW+-8o64C*EpZJVf1=Ae$SQVD!J8Wxrull z+i|~w+vPGN{$siKdcI5U8C)>h-S7MN$<0DN;_q5cj*#QMYW&W?XqQMi3)DB3gT%5? za&`XU#(#;C+X2UM^1|3tavXPa{_5G1b8@_=jrlRq`=T7v!SgQ9>tB_##NWqp%G@kB zSRwUAg?2e__5Yb+MLPkN%ha;OH`q zsMcJkH1qCboZmfGZkF6|{4VQn&aZRjLf}|G zuEZ{s%ZB!p-*5c0aH$;UrFb8nS-%x>Gw?i?E4TV<)_Z4mhs;*z=U!bvTx*kZR}T=E1RCb^Q}B$NlJ>N9q-SMXnvvdj$K! z)33TA$NPp^KY|C}k>k7y+n1J29>`6?@6xr(^+b;Q+qqwP&BJGMy#I74>iNW7FXbvB z-&jA!Pkbwv1&-fiS?u^x?k>_%ALl-gmHHx=56}CbdX)5Cj^7F9y&CUhf6H;+k?YO} z7Nt9!5_djEdEq>Dn|>MOF2S)}y{VH$j^8Wi`gHM3W^$abW1QIFW-hsCyg&9I4>snN zn+(VDGGk;xxp8o;M}GE2o5^y*N}(j`O=d*av!i zS|z#5NC)%ds%tele&59z?Q@$-wd9=f_pzS${#8e=Hyp=N;qeX9{9W!ZS+lZ{Tu!8e zajf5`JeaJf*=H|1(Aw;PV_ZkI>xTi1*BK?YL4s%PJ!E#Io+l`fa!>I0alYin^|^9I@m|I1>u`FVTyKn%FCZ=no4-k} z9LC8E(Sbx$m5nYlv|?>v{c6@p6YT zj%PnOdc+mELm0=ieaY40hTL|H<5`dF%b!=B=DoPXx{^ zawqUSruUU&IXR9$xGvtmbS1eK=sy^jr2kq~t`;2It0QqW<+u*P@6vW$R7WlW<$&Y! zn*AEcalFd=$F1u&lADkB(hBYF%q6ar=&P&GDYkBOUV#b(ZS__Xz!T@QW^T{JtOO6N??{E*FUBaop`Yt(V+rIOa!& zZXR+A;JD8tQ_cQqI)10HdWHdVnNVK%-O~A22gz}smG_c73m+yo80{L%smHJpa-ZS& zJ?qA{W8^&W_wgR3{dvaA9f0F~03#kxl;i$2meV@BL*z!HoU%P|pEyk}9*+IOcE_1= z-{790Tx~5iSFRZHm*x4~#|3hZaEuePoLC|^4vy!Jo#rish(2a20W%(cp^la?B65 zyPJPrmb-%IF};({T~G6OS*|iHzb!Wu&*S&4O8MTG@haP^BfH+nO-H$6`?4nRgWOIyrel4_&vKvPdJZ%0hud88yIfVIgYA{+ z$6s>%E-3S3T=ZYLv3MT$XRn`Y8krKGPJ?5+`>Ri8xqWcFFQ`wg>~d$|m>+x6=aRb% z$8>mKHJAGe$8p|`wFTtf!f{_(75~C=KjHZIjc-w0E=RC&{hV<`bivYc8Q_?XrZ3CN zy+=9V?|zD?C>ILH`-hfKt19;#j_+lGYfU-E;~Z~2s8~m?Fy0I2JB$CSFINwa<@C+j zhH{_q_c6U+!pLj`0=Sdw-i&a%?x4AD7MA$sNJ(vVF0--$9PwcV>Gq zb9*N_eutOo-8rs{+&ug)`;WKnyUQJi!M zVSd+go{!u)0>HmC&9M`v)jsXYe$n{F~ zyD8^lSe|=NSs)h%$GGHX*Cld8;Ml({t-M^$1di!g{A-n5Y2+LCJvg3QE9U~o_P}k~ zM!6ku{7#&w?^d~&aEv?KHry!}3CI0w?q+-C(jmRPcft4G0XeRNaX;(IZHMLf-AI-z zv+>8|=HPc7u&=p>!wET#YkB^1Xz@5XPdtz1YQ?)VazSuAP~S|CUy$1f$8`A5xh%)= zM?pMqd++OVTz_LZm}_-gZUlap`MbgNzT5=luPN@Edwcbf+#WctmsziWDt7~p?=Rc% z7joQ(!unCv?v327e>|^H{tt55kzVfK?e*-F9Op~8o*a4Ln;ge8OvnDozvK$wcmHSq zuFGFJj%#`DGkh!XfZQznF6W2NnH84fIWK7~_v=0HCTIJP{K$Nur`*baIE%^da@A{+J&N%lpVRLwZ^6 zmwy{5$9(`SFI!Iym8*;Aalgf%#lz*e4}kGYSFh1>+y}t;}701+Iq`WInFn6JhN}i47o%2``8bj?Knp+b-bGrcQQZfms%jl`wG}k z-}|swZbGVg;I!grljvn~w^O;4-(`FCXwE9Rj3}qPf9Q0dwQ^2y{GQ>~nj7V+!STBV zJx#XCje=wO>vVaC9Os|eZuqR(BbNjD!FAXj!w$%$Zr4)YANMP_ZE;wR^@I1L&&_vC zj_ZERH;<>$a@&wz_FMD!#maF$mi7E*$Qe0~dpQ1R?0P}&Jbstw9DFNYmRp1J!u+W6 zx3xjFb zt_$g$9ls|^(Zj7hFl!}KBnVl=h||~aK{E4=jAV3)|cb{M5ZI@i;Wz|6}%^_ zU|bWqB523C9%{3wxm;^FwtxM+?d2Fx^84LA8nl(`fb{ZvEOoPWkmERo@A>y_Cplj{ zkNxlM%`S2$;kXV_dQ3Mtjw?7WyV9noTot?*j-x8|bC=^i6THW;RNa1Z8*r~A(|a!2 zTkaVg%hk--fpRnOJqJg$VCtu=zmE5kw<@#Yi9OwCOlo>5|0{h{(kGs_S zv2x{b{+#Jpb|g@)E%x=Xo%9P0mb1ftIPRa^=sHzyIvn3~!}2raLa=X+>D~T$w%iHq zo4bnnoWm#P%VkNmA1Hj&Wl5KFj37;5eSPuCYqa0{h{3&Y{rXaJh4E zyl2caeuG>9_FJ%>?7wP@Tn6+DY_I+d-XV7p&*ME9qnhkV({UeYLe2wnt?;`nR|g*) zk~<2=d4c~E7R&KG80U9qhegYAKOFm`AfH&dp4i{X^7pdt8M)2NG?6fALrrL-A<5; zh1-h##pgCB%Jo3G;(JLN^;&MmKb%*q_i`msUYL$w1wYC0K7gUijrTT&C4QA-+{AnL z7e)M(^P#&fj_D!rYAO-HeCgqw>qWgJV5E6=ES5=Wcu+%R$k0#pFV9@9KW^gFo|? zk~@NXS6M$E+_#i_j((N(Jbq&ZxxBd7h2<(~SQWWA+`Gzk$%w`^RFN>ql&4AG!9ZZ%oJD8GYq=Uo+D&xQDk~X2j1-N1Lhx;y${a& z%W<5?auu~|l-xZ$kL}gI!DHp#;k|sUYrIeEO4C3&_UGJJa4&bT+;=>W-?uvcXo_5Q z{C!Nvi(R2|{0=I=^Aj65TW&R;$NaeJIA885-2dELR%)?a1RUd+Z6CwrI9_Es{zR{o z<30-B10FvwT&^p|QB21Zj}3BMPi}*Az0a+-$Z>s!nT~GPcFT>#-^cUp z^*8O8^MhN1{-fCFLvs1?p4ksxYIRiZGs+d~$I3#{a-H!!*7MjGC*`=F$8-c7J}t+2 zV2-1#L(j``o|^CZRkurWT*u*lsfCrU$*o5^m>&;*-jw6M2kxWYe(tVZapcD@xcjDBsuQ$D1x|d z&cv^BCV0;r*S2;1DOdL&ZeFQBa=gcZ?Tc-aNmNSQxdqSTJavVbjB=^xV^jL+ia6i% zab8xrv3MTu=lbfNLyqN{>lziU^2lXCc{zdmMGI!gFIN+e`H}g0AvxYd)fMekuJuLb zcs`luLz@jRDaZZ%EH5#3mU2z-_wk<(i`0*F?P>xOKZ+Gdz#^ zaVTK79Oqg2edp_K_RB5B^Ee)~D||?|9MgFI-bY;-E#J-ToN4P_N&Wo%CY}7!Fzc* z;I16|bH*D#Z63<8U(Jp4=atP8@qIGN zJ%eMp+E+8HTyEqC=dW_7&mrdo$8@+~%`Gm~5iuX=e`B_))@IRjS@rW&3<|x+`&ttw79P2E{bAfbj?Of%!PnzdHP8M^M zJBHuo{eO9qddu;=eL;Nx&F6%t+!K_mAsAowo#!RT`w#g3D!Kd0S)v>;KXO?OksA(o z9`V7B^!{>P;TSg^zcNxT3Xbi;w(tNso;zVVeLQS}9On<1j`A&n!^?>u@~Z%^}iyuYMZw%u}UubAE` zclODZMtZq^v}{X+9Qz}dtGfY_a(sVWhq&4{O0F?}m#%EllX7F=xL%2KugCY?tJ+Pu)aOXk>K8tn+?8W_Hp97-5?3C` zjX}G?{3y2ei5%x+7vo;FW5b@y1>kus&&O?F$vuFpfq3_<`8zqD@5zRE(mdg#9Lp8Q zA5-^zkxLz4rM17a;p883jIY>FH+M;v18eVul~1h&Bk(jkPeosfb_O|Vp#%dLhhfqI^?g`*tT4Y*HcVL@j(o`>K*!LEs2<-TIRg#E|1 z13ly%QpJgBez2&%1pY`M9I!`%kd|!y)kyz~OCAS=oag&XeuUu`+V{$#<;IF}Q zEmO^7rj?GJaei|1F^|b|5H)9{+#~D*<$0W#9szQpn8#$jbgM8yZW#7~RzW%N{5(l+ zc&d5KlypqQJ-s_}O_A$}c}&i8Rl7f3?j!aO@x0o&wX@`^_cG2u&&Rsj2cLOz%{+{b z^ASNc7s;i^J|nh6rG6}x%a46VjN89QuaG-|eMYS3HZ#}Ay+gin-`BG)>*Y!!-}t+u z%WRgLj(lT1dhvdn+`Lrzmex4*e&jB>mdH2m3l9$6Cl`hJXZ9auT_faXWB!@r!A|8P z|9c+hpNC>x_U_AZxd_ZZGtQ1V86!6t^UA!x=z9%9@N<<#yqD+(%LT`VF}PsoKAkd}F!#wEm9V6gZ}%&hQ6vL*RIx>2r%Ga^K*1 zkL%-n&*j>p|6u?7;^|Ad*>H>#O%J@4I}OKlYzp}($9qXwKju1rk>kBHE77hkE&D@` z=RP_9xbWq-9LJ$tKd*5rT}(>cIUjKe$D!7XGsvYrpO=!q98Wv+&mzbDFT8*4OlLE> z1^C_lSU>+|nOm*^+5^Ukrl0c4)rI3Z`o+f!%C*A&XMS%dd`1zuM6@qlzl`o)Le3fO z2HWRn70bxIgX6yNZa>P&y+-@O@6FynRY}eV?F)Z*+M;T5jZ(EQY4zu^{c6emN##=V zm*wyogouG=peJxPw=bFE$9xL>qU`^j=vX#bcW zZpEg{alMQ#%iEc99RIREN_TXw9KWx@dj5CDLb+o|FY8Bvo=fGv!*Sm1N!1l{>@WGd zW`9=8@%=F!&EnU|abAz}SDq_3$$8>Evs@h=yiJbx6s-^}CM9t%75JZZ_$-+$FfbxJNy|bBtU+IJQGQ%bk+*ME)`z3%;I} z%MHiWO%LnH6++z3@mqx*4dk|`irdr5x0->Cug>-qH} zc5=_~yt-JIZ1b{}+zre}a2%EAU^_W}f13F*eR4-R8;k=uFWTR^v)oQN>z&59q{QH^ zavm5597Vk>+_;C_LJwoP=e${bhTd{jFh9xtG;7a!$Z>v><$34){&H3*&-^ZJ-kt;G z_F#UJ?PQ}0gXJ1ypC!kkMLrFaOTauA^X>1k5puP#&+-D=-L136$hly=%6mVS_ZTmC z2#)38ROLx>XHZT#{>c6#M6Nr^Da-xBxM^~GQBE1x&0H{3E(zmW){pd_bLG;b{4qc5 zYAuu-3&;70Kk1gr4L~_%zn|yQa=8i^AMtsuSFM(dgJZe6J$RiQ$DxcPIyBiN=Zb!d zf8Xz%+vLu{F@N(u+$mQ9{i-GQeI@VM``_=vaev~{NeAU-!7)F2IUSMfg1?XDDyGzN zxlM44|N4GBAy*u~%knoaI!HiM z@*{pu!uoXGYq#Zg<9As%KGzLZP7j+oL9 z(v5!kMvm)cOvl8-ALLG=9Pm4``DT8WTL;H-b-2fOxhJTX{QD|Y{Vi7&&tv{3{r)S* z^9#IRbmIln*p&Em2A;>iZ_>}qazSv6iwmC3F88J9|LZT)nui-bCzo8;UjNUf^d`>|Z*cve{M9@dX|&vyD9#pME0^{Z*6!+dmUxuxh=nU1q95GU2v>NkB@he^Z7?TkDSw8E-UIA$H~Kb_mX>!=P^IN z*YJ?zIvD#8?{xj;I^uWfvR(3#i-u#r>Ki^tt|Z!Lo>y}nHcZY7&*OSj&gLWJ*#Gi= z>Ui@pay)OveMW9i#>sue?=l??e@v9)c@5U{bZ0{3MqnMA`v5M@ohEk{j^E=8bDb&o z2lrL6Tv?W$E4Kja-AqT$Hw)zMVZEF6$SGopTo~Fbw!5uEmdm;QW4(K{<7&AlXxDfT znnm$-a_i6zah}@!^+vg-XkYmL(noHUTL8!X)Y(IK%FTjfecRr3uUtK}S6nw(TkfD- zf3#Q3k3wG#%lV@nV%+{9=9rul+84$p=@y)j%YpWQ^|y>ioLpl#?o()8>#W>WIOfMC zlX$s)s7J}z2Q~ci<^P@s_XX$AJA_}CtBrPp^Uv3Z-j*u_$M$7Ov-@(~=f?clndho{Y~Ri;?7cdFC1UCte07i`vnSh zHQobRA#-*)j#HS9zPED9^}z3PyzjZmT#olj@;fjCM-`CczC+fJtE~#lO~>!XFEgI! z%xF`jt5!pugBMy3&-!WeLl9bq1<~orlZW@rgFT0lIQ($HEki+3h$5i zg`4JSCC7dLYzhmb*L1HNx*Q9rlwt$$7x>UV{XuE^@q=ll9|EneKAs z@w~%>jrGm)b5FS+NC)>bn4fZ&W4&ZOpR>519OJ|&)Q^PzKL7oF_+6%BLj6H*Ues>%I62-I#JI$w%|tn#*X4QBPZl9^ zk@)*qkDk7qDwhfQ%X3Pd56_U}cN$nfx`fV=WBbDVaOtr?t}K3+_gNluT_R@!$8{cI^D~WtXalJOrfk$%Icpm$Y&%saSY~gr6wRPtga&O`IJafx8a{l=H z{^#EK&+p|p-sieO<=9Vhr|~@Q2VS}0TbhpJ_yL~3*?q2tTqqpB-#vPHZMn;EOz$n<`f2`svyqNtjT*|u<9SR+c+RGB-2cM%%JD&S zIj(=Oz4G2+FZU9^%W?eO@onXJuRZf^SBDOAmC*k(9Xm>PlH>T7`x)FmxyYTv-^YHi ze@r(y-s{KjVGNnyQ;z4#^CLe@J>BK_-3+GVN$q}e-Tv|S4awjm*9?wvgx|G+avR`y zf62;qL*=+1sh5*6&i>&)T#ok@upcySIa;m+@{Qw)`26GKI6mSyYH4Di9Pc$?{U{g_ zEO#8~?T&P~Or0us3XbbhEnH{Fu{`s8%uR;Pkvoa!v0ROCTOh}KtvKF)Ty}|Em7d1+ zsAPO+bouLLa>M%=9m~~Jv(<9Xu)m4#`DMLzawqML&tp0o4B8|&x17;^#dv?os%>%~ zO^lA`nKF*tCD-a<_H-%#vi_g{DdTwleP37amm7D_==ffeb{>-JIojyBzLi||s9YZp zqvLwYqm@x|ZKfLC2gLWWrBBK&+h%k;=g?yRDLLQsM#p<5Ry&@PEA-sx*ncEvxhS{( zm(lTD*1p46;7jmI?M#uQ{#^E<|TiO{N_f^#!`#~F_wGj58}rZJ*M7}7Op|AwsiD>upA=ssaT+;>mY(_eU1HZ z1)r*NJJ8-g!aaN;HEPO5;hx3pNXM7&wdFqIJ@dY$1t;puwZeO5T-SO=L%GtJKVW-s z$)%~>FYIUKzP{O|TgVN>{6Su%BjUZiTz||TFdc28+RA;vy5B{N-;T`akf!7J?y4T> zB)1Lo5uCROyV*r<8rlQ4F9qLrms@FVEH7LSJ-e%yTue!$z%Nkw2#m0Gl zuOnV^R}UEb59UX5M_;+5Xrp6%aPrw;ImS z^Ys|HsrihK`H^+mcsa8YM(2ZaFulVhx$RYqj`Ok6StrZYtZ#ITcR!q;Cg)wx=oqhg zO`a+Dt)bDeeQw`uu3V3nM#uT=t0oKO96J~t^X<`zC2}S%MwbukTah8lL!1$%{#GP`_uup3f+TFVC z_R6_qo|W-SeT#!~tI)r39=*)7!*aP&?dM8~cbSeG5y#}(pgna)yml=3gxqU9kNMlO zOPpML^lwY>yxAkp%GJQ{@;u#e+jzOjos9X$`MP2muE_O4Kgj*r!{e^YO-Db-dKokQ zwwyD{759PO=y+eQC;CC2v*}{-SZ+7^L7rzfd-7B+1NuR}=bc+$$Th+H`Sw;{UA3I{UGtze40&*uXf6sI@D_vM_3g+*5pMuTDVsdeCV{mWE+^AA=12K=zcCFByvT`rrxUY17 zuZnWc6OHwk>F8FYs$3)-pO-ydO}T%4uPx?cZ8>wym+*U8F{|p!dBbtuF>Y`}xz%t? zM{@I~a;f)&q}A@4=W8Lya|FCM??ZyU++4gD=EsS>ZRPI3@&3epK^^4EARWAasN$|p za$a<}N7F5^i`<&t#{6Y_RkLMxxomKZ+k>+AlIx3eMT`&nU2&JojBz9H;oH2dpWI)Z zD>6sCQM#|se}5mwZ>;BIst=NTkN%D6i2FHI&L8LGSkF(!4VMeYc!A|AaKUJ~320CG zo^$jcC)fKQ&b{_Txix6V`S*1&36Xn>=g}RGpZeeLqMc+qOjpd1+lhAaJNlz~1Lnvr zM?1-OEwaG^xg}^PS&s%~St2(W?H}iJX53sRR~_vd`}2nzSIM1+%Y<={_sF$!Jm)OH zU_6iMebeBw+)lVo!;I-Do$b2Z7dU=Tsr21ja$MKocPZ?)-jn0H2LHZR0gvR$V4Z~f zH%_;GD#v@1d7iU;(HC<3zBBV<>)Y3IyeDDXyEnG8C!|aFfA9Z`JNjOZ_g?b8v;wm} z$??8xw$Ii3e3Rq;9JW{fHGj#qMt(3I6Vv~d<32&gv1_lSKbsPF^8N#Um-cFSCOLkm zIup*}HucLUHxqv!(_!B{r(75u_v<<5Gncyw$LDo;nqO`W9Lv?jeHL=h;aJaS2N#p$ zK3d-EaC?JIS>}oXGtfcXM`;bAV$y0051wV#|f;z>G}@7{7PFi*|>$_X(809%Xt^_~;>5J}w}&K;mE-yIf!L?8=4_zcNQ}F=zTaeNuv`M-NzU8W z?LSp+2jWS7C(f-g8_i^tD_qych0Itl#~; zTnW6F?ugrCDu0q=oXGsR^ZTn@M?8<`k2anEDOVVd@7e3=A34UInQ^}C+5PnAQsU0K zScl;LgH!7>$u;R>oTuS@`&{pAau>Q89nTZDteR6UGy3267)M=8$|Khq>nYqfSMYFt zxf|$zx!){$l7-w3tbeec2emII_Y(at>!oR-QgZFl|8m?jC&5yV{qH>V3*+}x`0sh> zSGix{%=jvDU*MP@4()2lMWpI~Q|cx6(dMzJE%yuaG%QyKp4XF`iGGzXBFRSX2>R7H ze77_(p^4lj%ur!}<*8 zeO^a9$?=|TmaBwN7r6~spW*#=dz`z;b;0@!%Rykto^qC0pW(S3%Qt=GMxng0|L{E0 zSI!ypiQL~*ahkW>Q#d{^!g-)vHk2#QKkq3$RBjLAI_6u$5B_o`QLY#tbUHRlt|#I( zo=-_PYpk3H;x)EIi+cph#lmqs7+g76j&U91_VAxmADQl~l;b{R?!P*) zJzS3Q5bODraU107<98Xi+qd5$$M3{(eEFj24!H+-9`7^%_GY&n=Lwk~FOKe)8-sqD z^VBgj56L;evD}|_J1Vydj{6S|RE?J7`8S^P&+_M_Tt37(j7th!JS|rnj=!6G)p@z! z`1@GT>khso$NO2CUXLc%_B+8A1tB5$vrQB;dj-yzvYJGbrmk-ZleY+KxB**gsj9+#x`YP8I&!ZdH z@2A{4IDW5pd)+^BZ{e7ZCz;cqPl-DV<3017|EHT7<*wm*(Swcixt*FoIadUQjYn? zbUf{0DK`V}kNNSXY6ZFTaD3j)Un5N!x#ktQ7^WL+v4wO5OIGg9EFJ2uY_Y-k8%T??uf4PN-vl)-i z9570baW?yfU-iby`D0wh_mYqyP_7i>V!E+cg5*|VT*h?tT{A`QUaI&xt@+pogG1#) z5I?g$ZP|FX+yKPIjK|-Z&6l&sd?&~8g&r=Fn+V78N41?{a!>KQJm;S@Zlzo<5aXp^p%I&4if>}Med2r0PGxx0Jp1`r3Ufb4Kj{9@i?pltsmE%4Xu5aFnu;Ojx zcut+)->TKjL5|~nrnhGvC%LLv7iYPueal(S36A+ub+xNpC!BNO{#^?%H@OFh|5#p1 z*6btK?;qz4Tz`4WjlzCR#%n=wUUK=ce$MsU;Q79CZ80y(=Oy$SB6k+?-*23szF);( zZX)78jz2p694Yq^@!to0-(~9Q06A;Kb=*hxa`6PYnuxC$*A43zB)1EW`%5y_nIgx1 z=KQ|Kt4yJC>+w8CwBxyN%#yQ&V?TIc{XDrtaHiNVwZMOoT#0|ge>0nh$(@H|J&!YA zDaU>AM-i_%Jy|378*$<@w7cK-te5jfd)gN3jbkQlmg^74{=>#;yWBN6#`k;6?3Uwr zmGRJ{&->(J@Vv`N$F|rAxllOP-=+&A<^13{Z+68qO70OH=XY1uJ}K7%?KAgFjm&&n zZXz7ptFgDv$t}U}vj2U%@uD2>>E*tqg(I)ZCE$6Sx9w(sQ;zqvv3+(acvp`5|CkP+ z7Z2ok4-4

KySzj`Kdux4u)K%RR&UA3adqnsZc z*A23q{UXPHknb-l?1vopvogKEeUjz4uax`E&fA#8r^KCo@%OPmcgvkoj?ZJ99rP%R z+**_u_A_O7naN#F<tGr4Eu~YUt<1ishmCb8L@s0 zJ+(saJjN+kFixH`e~sKMj8oR3opkQKUalARZ!jIxt8JEhg>eeos}jGr$vwk3h51q9 z+%CC-7^kqG9<_9z+zB}LgGIa|nU94Ot=1l+!K^%reo`nCvpzhx5RNz?nck$95J3|I(}q(C1-+i%D8UC zt+#R(D5pQs?v~&1QO-TpdP+(^$o_np{};I#CnZCJ z(p^l6J6qs+_L#3bvpa)a*?-iJ<$+n`ievoCdOop(ncQtS=Eu1bx#a>=jepZxk1F;d zuiTncF6BM*cY7T#D0du=<;rw+5xM4wOL#APK+h6#TjAIbmabk#j^}K6pThY+<>Yc9 zj$rwVh_58~|222l@mU;u-^YUo2yUeWcMHLShX6qWgyIqcae{;dA`rB=1TUnJKyV9Q zq)iZ9b!+Y-$9*Lkk4F@7mE$^n<|Fn+W4ZXR)T@rWn#*xtgCB8UwVBddt|rQl z?PGICce&|s>^IyhddhK~8|QZuS^LVpM|!MRg-`j*aeWEb4d-6iMULOkV?Gx34wBo9 zddhP4bPbU^hx6lnr*+Pra_?|GxUbNGyS?SykRJEdoe|exZY3O_JBN%JB*%3gj5h|h z8z#s39Jcd56>?AD zl7^e>%^VA?mP-W3_YE@DS|`W%nRq>Jr;U^I#d8wwzc%{#Cb?#a>o`6?HEpY05aK#s zk5hg-uO9c$fPy zPd$BB?x#$q;Greit3d3;@Ndo|NBA3v?UEqB++bX-3^ zHSoUN5A{sPe)3U?M{=thn~rfwh6hjOsp|+3FXf82H{D@8ugKZ+tz5j1>3Dr# zS5I`v5_g8Rv}Cxb@b>qRAD9kspe`(U8 ziQE%7=3|3h3%MPbm*V{Wv1hI2Y%wpz=eiBz-Q^}?UMdRft`9|c%JsoGp7q(irLWvm z%u6vJX$yChi@>~8N4z)I{Bf5rI?iX`*%Tz_jQK0ZO&7+7$lXG_WWT#&c~7}fXqQ~i z%JkPd-_0e?Bukw)2_4MaxyQHyztYiSEZ)-Y! z2d2QA)pGf~Ovm?=4{cc|7lM9+@$UK2adM5&Z>+(*z_FI`aw)NI1^3x;DzHs%J>p5$ z=cf;M$|XVn!t2&x(_Xm(xSz8gTpxK*E&}U#SWn~JkILP_eV^|ORV;f_E-73L+K2P2 zGjh>5KlZ0iyU)ulL;uHmpCanATo1$>yw7<1U6-2;$NjTs4!~T+lJ%9`0MyeBP0aC@%lWr*7aYy>*xqVI zCpv72JL}Xm9p68XZkbGOeSOn0AM>-Ml*`b}bc-+#TIW7ygts|ESaRl>w>7t9=Qnbq?$Vcb- zu5vxmE}7oWE=}Z;qg}FnTrJZ=ZvJQW?@Q}T&gW?($9)&LU!Uu3ce%XYX8T|}|K%4? zxo2n}JU`!XU%B5f4&{AtoKr`+y{PvrmrE%Fe!io7 zgj_O=2RW{Ab{Z@98jf*9jr2ds?Zvo}->>L-IZ`edj{Vivl~Hn=aa`WFh7OF8y9T!w z{Z)gxv*c#rxa^;uLgvYhL%Za6WD`}2m2*J+$LAln-!GAiMf+vFdb4AN+}zLFujRQK z*J*Vbw^}X&<3_fRsdLuJokRPes}mR}m$B7fxARe`0<1J(q)W$I)-FohQ$BR4y2CF~3K;^x_G*KX6}V{Fig_ z8M*biud;n)3qLPc0dXhC3x3X*<(49zWIi@#xGooh`zr6}{m2Dzv%QpCj`lkg^H=4rzmdy^_RH@XmRMtT#1eO2 zf#dzidq`5b2+T{dyI0xj%7!e9!-0 zWH!0_Nbf(!wSGC|mcsG701F&)%OxLVwqN#F9?A2|T|jz#uebDxLUNUn9^;M3`Nib8 z-ka_1bq_naB}k9+?GE+Ie9^I8w*AgQj_XA^-_-DCB{{AaH)>V_+gY#p*`}@%v za;dOhkJsbI+}d(OKYPyfrF9uuy1K}@e&#Iq54Ovq6lw%FXUivxoqe+n2(Dy z`pYeYV>`DB8YH&`j`5_g<1jgX2Z85zBz=V33-lZNJ#QQHAQLW*k#m4!KI;B5L5}?? z+j;EXNV$PXkLBEPYLuK0;x)P$?-;pNaI9C`iq4W7g}9FS_%YW!xz1>B>?cQWStM7( z!|b2A-%`~P%jBxyJDJSK)Iuxe%3U$%pP3Jb9c$!vJvSZSkILHhH@U<%=K1ls%f9>l z!*O$(j`i>4?s&Q25~kxgYQc}&8u;>xucM?#M^-Umwb?LR|b1`iqkRGqc=_2Xn+;RWlbLYG-GRYM}e?JP>Bh9XCa!cXZua%gRL+%kA zpX<(_Q9$n&XtWDSF7|!FN0vH|3t*OD^etGrj*9UsmWRXMN3d z+=r$8l>u_k-k6U0%{+F9+?&*9ez{)xxx)y#AvsLP_#p1VD7m}EO;;Z4frI9clY5AI z&+$h_--&YdQ1AKu-_ivp%UNR`8J}~8UyYVKkLTELaedwAO_vKr9Kr99KkYDE?n+xT zzbwBzCFjefL>$3+(W}p5<#u9x$@ly_Z(Ax?2knFNe?3S4BG(b|2FI&TZfoRDATHj4 z`Jw3izsV)Wd>!vI)n3NQ@i`dh9ldwQ%W>Te?{AHM-X^yj<6qX7eSW*-W@Da^?X2NPF!TCyKTw;z$K)2kalSqCy_0g~F%Qh+K3aZOE^!<4xa@ZWLN3V7 zZErfp;|D5UkxPVmV7hbfuggVY9(XO{tK++F%MC!k%YOXig!^(cKdUcadS3Rz{gK>8 zTo0xfU-+5a6U4E6kJS13OS!|i9{Z7xyIbGN)keJA9`R}U@rjOE;?C2U2jO-5#XXta zJjA=~pYIk;Dfa{7U4G~1)N>m-e*et_@zt^&>E+@P$7btp#@TL>ndL$d$8tW=(f2#K zI*4Pl;yZvl%iGG`h2wpzL$W+_W8fAbA9arBmwO1udf#?#VLAKH;@vORt7c)v<+z_T z<_qqNql%6Irba;Ui50m`f@3;{+aKIJV@3^&I{vT#+@tnH<5G1`e(Y@ zlUvB0#`u@@V4PPQxy=~=vc1(V(N3-*`i&S|k7O@B)~>p(I4=>Q2k_t+#a~sSnuOEf2>?Lw4>i} zJ#2gYB$pKJ_br}>M%4RR&Kr*Tu*x1SHwnk(xT3_(7`gdy%dif4``TG@<#1fKj{(Ey z$?<(UKF`b2I#%vE(qleii!7D92gmF2=G6*0?(fa|w`k95IquiTdNn$Fo!oF7w-Vm# zz0o;N?j#()M>@7jyxe6tt{=~pdYc@dzu98EaPG`bxw@E-n1yHSM{cxXy za$DheJu);pDz_Al<-8^5Nx7tOr!bzLb?=OvCmho|^ZR+ZMR1H?V#i*V<31wH$2^bg za?6n(kLy$Fw%kZKzAyP>;`?&D;U0D~YxM1Lr)I<9B44kD{S3<+dR` z_NSX_y_MSz$LFw1G9@~0i90#ZH3#Fe6IYVTbwz%8ABY!asIcv;Ya37$H&uYs}#k>XQk2yRv2ZNEi1s<;Lg1L+mZfvcZTgB^ znkc^<$Ezn19~3-NNbWw%5AVCIpIuDu5gebBv<|kDdj`k+rmR^;&JFqCa|8d34svVY z_+DGHE0yFJXS1CTT3tK#Gh{Natjg1R!6_pr;Cm2B6k|`F57wWc0qFa5O?yuwn@c9;pbw(v-~#&pQX(2yv(S#WG0Pix1>@%cS0j@6bMa;d&J4xk>KPSK7z?I$Py7q26;{LGdg*<;r0k z)foH2w!OMX&Ia|F_3!Yi19H>g*v`WTACXIsdd0XsbM;elV~`$?+b``oxwWs%buyeU zDYfQ;T!Gi7<9k^??pNfRVO=iYdup2UhMZSU^En;+E3XZ=duzF+jZMezX|{{Ek*n0&bj-)FA?fA#-W{*U53ZTz;;_zx z^9&8ses0m&=89LF|Wm6e}z@7V!)7 zQU7T%xyR_Ax1#_1F5XVg1@Q~hn=-159M{uu95ueRgWN{+&m2ePEm&Eu0^$;WpCsT> zHMw)>pV@B|h_4}69{n!chs)U7a_!LXa=qx8b}k@pZ~J_UNv1Imk#N%-z}7XwH&{*!g3kq1TXIE_9>z85<@;aAvHxTH zSQPU{uF7ZU_oa1$djqXbS>n#{&zxoco^ix0$E0%no(SJ7a>!&YR}blN-;cUiQp@f6 z?EYpsF6+ywmFeUXp}z2XgQH zkEe)hD97tN9_vsxjcP2{66vwO+UDL|j{V<0tk(-H(OQn*t>XP-#GAHq=WtxE>pQ;B zL(T@}Y(3SC|MpDtkt+qq`K!Ev{&K!>Y;UC`-|Hb|}!9IwZ~^TBfC;kYmC z*=0TC7Q(S!IS=S9w+4>;ZMrq?FXsiveH#blA0)^7FZZj@`edja=kK{rCf&A?a$MiU zeB_B7BR3EAfbq~p-wAS|aM`iH=(%!{a$HBo>yb2Blw1;&3-?{Ua(tRxX}AOEuNKdr zDVGtB`&IqYW3Jq5uC2a=C#>kIx5t{~@I7%vu6HdnJ?<-1b>a!ROASrOe7tLRM($a2(=i_pvz(Xv zv90O2&hpslOLG0ZOvkvydFC~_<#?{f>zk(IExB`;m*V$;&Xv9=*B$Q%aK8-qcYn%N z#`^(WAC_nL6S-@6ZoqtujC>(i2hRm+i| z@cshhh!s0i$mPX+81r#DGPPWK%!lziA^CjL$)&-37{B|qt#l^2_IO^w`N{t8v&t36 zycxf9`{Vxa_9KQ>75ciMo()!DdM0$)%oX>Zb z<2Z`-wB@ouImR!HOFI7;EXVjIKiXT_rak1&;{13$s^#k~_wp;(!|72!Ij)1xhH+Wu zEd%Ag7AIz#I8=`7g4mDm^&TlV0{Qrld4V!xErJKtSw?FWbJ#<;!9>-BQ}aJTUMBkR76a&6!y|7p(e z9+g7NMxn*(xbQ7)`k*Z(*ycLV45AJ1`?9+!)U z<8|BD@3fpXj>~mHc8&g!tNs<|ko%Gx<9p6CB>(fO9P2&XZ}Rw?a-2_O`^Y{1t{ms} z*l&3G{Q1T6^GR- z;jO-xtBd-_csHU*E;&92<9w&ri@b8raDLpMaK^5Ja-YvrTjo2TW8eJ}QAOq2;rv*y zwsb8i$NqE&o^x(?EG;(;_g{YZp;FrNay{Yry0@%s8Nt16cn<-+#|pZ0f> zYY4~nyJLQEmgBl%)|YCz>&fx?U{=gy+COL@w*bdwdSRP>kmK_du3I`hu9;j)TsO9l zc+XaHtXGVm*V?z0dxG<0zneUfhaBrwH10EghrQ*R;{4iT9oha_9ppN|v3+=ib(Z72 zD9^8coj^H$kCgYpLRo|5QX{|I55CIvFu4|RydK+s?Ip*!j?Zy|hWC>jj`Wz1!mS3% z{rDAEvG7p2Kj8R%jp*ki>;4Pm-lLqSAWj_GXt5lh zgK=E8B-e5|7o^8^`n?{klnaC7JVU|wU*#AlvYoFUw_c8MBIAm~_@d+e{1!^_*M@IPQy+e)UDU6mX1VYYe|CR}qfwXl<*Ta)nSX?5{c(xhrP}Hv#S3 z>g5ADet(tYvdCSJ<#HfB_G_c3JeP}r<9%>($JcT@;39E7hF5wo_ZaR^tm8SIGRav> z+{txNY##?tCzpGQ^mu-UVpGYL!S$f?>z!6E04^Q!v8zGGFFNiUn$$L{+~?16zVy7i z-M#E`jyNvkKmXrz%5j}hBJA_DdVF3vt}|jg@9$Mm?iJ!S)`Q}ui^_4IPtN~2Bq}La z8`mQ@`rYpj+spC&M)p^Mv&zZ+iu9V=y3Kr_@aukSD=W+IWc@12oq%IL3c6O6<9spa z1@7i>lAD0}Vy=Uqbi0;ZZOj+5o?iW}t{m6F^Zr(JWCOWK%y;sAp;@hekh8^gi^sa9 zszsW~jfdlVPiLODl>7WWSIhW={l>eUZgNdg&RoyBHoCnW>jB@(y3*NO&I{+q>oKZw z2RXj)%>7;~rRprl_mjDQMBy`C#7EA7$WBm$MV}dYJ{9O9M_{?XggYN5FF#HTqVZK zEr;WK6OL~u${mDb`scU6r!az3aBZ0E}} zERb6T$9!zOyhx65Hs4cUymFb`??{i&g=P*~DVG%G!gymr(_iJd4v+ow<$UYqxE_w* zUF!7Yce!aeF7K;7wr!T+;SCHO_d{j%^OfCoZ5k3Uhcuz~Y>ZmVC2AlP&zy&wC)p!q$=Qm|x zd%3O6%zQAvft|hOrnfX5kLyvggWMvNAM=~|Q75@t-e!8tZ<}>p<%**Gc-`*(*j=tI z_DQANS}#m4?PvQdTlyj9cSXita#gS%iEiTgzH*PT&WPpGc+mj4i`X}S=QpRv5V^B> zFPg`lP-}!-6xJDSMSV$>VYFN}tRLd_m~1y*&K7PR(u;UAQSKSm|ItNmo-Fs=!@Rz1 zm(Pbym0N**w%M<3be$nrANxnJ{9b06Bi9)9ekJlT@WOn#^?d&l?oI3>xtUmR#`N66 zmdWMD^<_Uftj0>Y8o0i^ZuQdsDwht|_X*B##M$5EVz7>ku6gY5a<6fHS+Ba>)aJch4DS0Z zzodH;|6z$c&*Q$&e)nEPa=BW_FWZ}ElT>n{$OqG#mnE$n;}@n^{%i)hd3dj!uIcP7 za>YJ6lP))@bM1hnn$At{SD~mR2^?%LiA>qr68j$m1-sXl8^6PJJZ=#`7rB*dOvm(6HglEhz0h<_FH4Oka&ux# z*Bs~f-o1rf`iZ73CenpWWqB4K|$>(rYu;Q*QWd(^ZFC_p7hm3!Gm; zxXz9p<(h|?>G8VFj_V>f_9xTXA-zepgXCtcHeFk|$0vj3>YyI5TwKF@$R)aKrdJv1 zmCw~%?(lolu^!~!)lbengIVu64*h<^K)FI_ADg1xjPGDM_Z<4+{L+}|F&`Tzj+85t z#dN&ByBm&?YxB~~2g|wr!|`&v5}WDqxKE-d$sN!9*REFmDRQq1n2z<{E%7wDm@=kg zeF@w!LoO}$SILU&_H*w!a;|mE^jKeVS6(0&i2j-FE$;Oqxj7hjv;4AdUM4rj%{(sM zouMn`To8}59i?gbtK1Xx&vdUdt(SAecr_);WziqM%k9RvjOSP7_sw!#C(Uwc6|r5; zAMZKv{C2h3EjI>nEU&M9(fx9X5y!G!=5;+R$Nh3yPZQZ5mrINJ4W3^K`_ppk;2NX+ zUOYV~_dWLQVLy3i)kV3m24+3rad(DZ{g58U`^<-r!%ex-ZOruO-n_gcw*vKwE^N~S zxnzikSYP~xJ(in#9nc^0`lz0KpY zeO&09U9KU^lOP2F_r=oIIFs@*^H0fPZ zt~BO5dEAU+OUtz_WR?r_yJKQ`xi+|8wnO`Mo>WQh8t&&zuh0WWxqJ7_`z71?pA&1! zl^b9>-hcCDts{45yy=qS{1V5w$l3p5I@W^+rCjCKA2c1~l3V*4%ay)mI`(Th&o-Cq z{?2sFhts9ja@TH{j^%gpg1g+Aqo!j$@H^`%cW}#JyUa&?sWrTjVxTZcN+1POnPh z$#Rq2Ovip`dar0Xx6Y|HtdmGh&6@$UA0wJinupSIdpScidU;7gk&+R|(&9<@tpk+8{Um zqIq2QllDQIe8wK4Nc=e>D{T%BB|w&HHeKj&bG{_D!wI?0g-y2vE=7(ra?etkE*S3Bjz8r5vYIaS2=llt zdR&t0iTx~dz@000O|DQ`Grd7LuFaL3aw{B7w;8U%^t*EF@cr5oa9h0olw0$InO-+I zr~FUk@?xIwDqQJn&*f_2Ip=M-nz64xI6NQZ^{@_lFV_L{*({f(Ly}yu#GS`6Pq-Gx z{mwOo+%(MVv0QGYNiBCB>n(cj0DExvZEM-G%h#ugojg81wgRNA3F+l(WVBJ=;gw1x4isWB#7?zD}=_ za%(V;&T?5fvb5Y0)W4g^N9u;<Tt&pi%tzY%HRQ%s zHQP~ET#s!vYRgqXKgn`_*3?CA2JSPgS4rGl^NfCS(-F6`oL4>XDEDBP znI7vwi8}#u9R`|?{gD06ZgSC~rel4XJ~LFVb~n@Uz7W?dTy7-dNtVn07JcOobu!aq zxl}7MKyEzZ&UYxkyYC0fo%c1aK+!zltJ@!LYA4bbfg`0@uZrVIuu1q^KJ=W)_sM&J1a6G>{Ve{nz z5EnDQtNa(qEp2HYm)AF{+A_Jq4NS*&>6vY%+{n77vpxn#b;zOZmO&c-?OM?UzfR(sbp} z|HXzLmRpm~bnFkZL>-qK@G6y+1Icm z@#Ngu7v+9_{@1Rm`&GH%q-H+;M0)Sj+?0D@W4c(l6kG4e`F>|QrWe!af!r_oOm`OP zMOSz%x2U-34#B;B_DrsAS<|sxhOK)gx3iMzm=CYM@8o=|n{F76>t8eRMN2%HAMJx~ za?0d#w)M>PCLz7rM^ef~qy0XCJ2N$n+|Wj5ddzR14jJTfH~DMlS3Zke%VvM=0uyDI zOV`|VyuP^)*vc(xVLG1QfT?-pa<(#EYvgxuU;(+Vtxd<{7Oz%BZW7WvhV;BrmyoN4 z^ftn^KV3@Bw#{E3*K0vpxs2$?Sr7gUt00#Y^CdjLUCveHwtdB2%2Zvh6Xt1n+@e=% z$~}W)e&?*LBi9Z0tp+HU27~I$or2?WFV|=!SE{{Pe$4N_bxq{vA>Q!BahtYkA=h)H zncgb6W8K@xb&4@vf4B~<+R3@#IXnBI<~_aTzVH3l>5Y2iCl_dII@bGhEjr01b2J^x zdBgSqxfWea$Mo##c9ZKr(R9Jc@6Dqja)t0b{s*{89ec{1=C61? z9`&0bx6jr*ZXcv~uw10vgW{$;2zTN36uBM_repgUktIg%MHSOAz4ixZ%H93mbZj3T z2F;brhv)k&=k^sA%GIZcI6qh{7lrfV^{`#ETyA4+Gd-T)oWNCbiyN6P9>Bg7e#Ze1}}_Vy0s`Z;#j` zHx%`N$GuhSz=z}3Fw+6G=QH_3dhs9A+xPMBPd@%Ve#(dc?*8%bwoxDczU0FnR=cKs_y?Qh zA3?$&iL89BEblazy;t9^o?W>LX$w?b_h?X^ehxYB?zX75UHpOr{Q~T|cm)K6^y(VY z?*IMh-~Ok>ACFOWMDnAx3pA>dZT8wi-uc44irc+N) z-Pfm7a4&z4V6VWCQhwoHUH`_BJ{@CjOPeOXo8t@r)Hb|FE3;}BM#juGtMXN*mq8_8UMv)O*jdGYT% z&rF_X`T4dzd_#i1rGP#=_@`qOtk~4$;-u)g!`t-R79Co+(4@XCt6Ny9u#n(VU(QP> z?~qVmpW?+6a%1OUXP=O-&(i(;A3q&q^@2NRU#B_YwqQZ2(YdQTpKsGXlZTG+f2H5` z@0Zr6W3>G_XUFR)%FgK#vg_)Axc>Q~j~9sj%VYTby<<2fB+?}ytZO$*V&C}7DdFeJ z*_AG1SK%8INcge;O~c{erSYL^etR00KF{*oDdD$EV5na}k)}oS)CvmrE7IJxXr4|L zN|tl5w{MZBR^t|Vobr^hD{Wu5Uhf3@#a~Vd|F*7QU|6R>KP6Sdp@c)F5~aUr|F3`f z=1Cv@r(_BL@09Rc_13#nV5x3?!5us-rLO<{xBt(QMzEhxP_Xac{*nKHmNZKG{l~xl zNB_c-hEFe_0KbsR-M+Q%S<(&)2?_NI_4DY~#sAyV`P7Ga2m5(-=@yiby>Cm$G75A``28_o zKHfp$9^X=HEb*Kroo+!r{elzz{MKKe`fHzV-`I#g9{5vR3JK~E+S4oen|nCR{IpZT z?~movsjJV&1N_53EVIr|3BNxtXZwGchJ{<|v{S{&~v}Iwk!6 zxBcmt^5zm45*i%l6WS>#&~li6{L3lfC;nUW_TO^d{_Q>NzxlfT+q`}12donQ;Zu8S z5!k6iC%r)x zT%-`X|DR(6q3^lpna6czn$>Pmr+%Z_B|U8{ze1z_=D+Vn{r9l2cu_wY|N1yEwedg1 z@GpO>|28+J=@+UD=11>{bjkH zzt#1U?AG<1tdQwPJ8v%+J0Cx{U~l(8yVAu=lq_D(&Ju*3TYy)HdqAL_v#YQ`&nYUrX3@g(_jkfG--&C0Yl*Tk1!B2=udmmSh`PRYrkaBI z&h?|?6C7v?$Ir*d&)3fMV=>E*F@HQQ@UBmit(QXNhNkyE&H8Vfy|sypt*ZYy1LT1HJ45-5gD&$s9e! z@n6ET%18f{mhfU7};9I;?NXNkmjQKVKhwJlyO|zfBdv zQZB87`R8X#c%fg@&o*^bzWsE$^mPxib2qmq<{!L#gWSFC+)LQo+nX{{f5li8ze!jB zbe8acKE7_wz3fcC&A|lyI9(&7!U_E+DfGj4>Yq7Urr#c3-a+mGcD)>foLx+fYmBjq zE|*sAv{QOZymrSryy*I1&c}eDz+R62u3qNQVr;3uNk`iZKbwx`_yu@$_wx3R`YWcW zeN#TeqQVLL>3EsjF;BlhQ=##6HC1v;1Xqg&2@Pfx3MGc=1OeoltqzSsXb2e^9L^>Qd{>STNS2l?4`^$vD-^mO<3 zcMpguM9X!*$;Zg3aDP6Y|Ky|6)zekIgz@fU$j6B6mU!Bl@8s*RSfuMe;i=qwH$1EM z`ecr%a`V&S`MBA+`4o%l{l4C*9NboAdp6W;Eq z@S4Rsyy$w^(>ci1)6K7|omZ=xO&xo>1;tb=zNrtX@>${+`|v`%0)iBMuYevdz5Sg7 z)i=a8Jg2DeLVr4b(fMa;)yy%AW&9$e!i)Ur@VrX8+L?a;Gp_hfdRoC|FXUl1HxiP1!b5x=_GOTaHc^Vatzfpdt zK14Ow`b%x5Df9j%9IJG6Drkw%?pTKt9UpVPxdaCWnkIzi?DKN4FA-Bsuw2&?KdW$U z3t7Uo`RRVp%hx|R$TSxX4s^Hk57gg33fF4fWLv}%uG3G)SMyt!;GiHsUvqfo@QZgh zUL}ThEi@{;*w_2$^kq3U2m0giPDX_nX-@I4zrIs$qQmp?aW&0%P4gAg5C2R)zh1%e zlO-Rm(lesie=R@O@iWIw)1{chvnn_K#Vz5*zFt_zPvgVr!LMVWn<=U>mz{6wV`Nmg z&0?Ldrv9m$i(5(kVGcxt?wI3e)xOx>D)k_cOAiEILALi^b|Nggd ztjdW~MN51_jW_h2auS_iQA@9ur4mPfzn<;^uHMc*S{O23%=9ly{H*dVGAi7;MjDH7 z)h~v4xw-q9qZk#g@hZ{bS;aH7($D5wbUc0BeFB5LT)RhgR#E>lhaJPOZ{m3}D%@(n z7<4S++0{STwASro{%sD-60YGQrhk0X&ZVmUv-QtXK27TvcAjp|c7eWb#Y}&Ht@aGj z^6ziLof{RdztP7co|f@dpnHIqpPl}63~=uGFUcDfU#os4RSipgoqjr8A9pt|XS3W}|A+8RCC<-3=9Rf`(*0yq_`A*j%hzAANO!C9 z<=EXP&}zxW6#myMS$?vFYgK>4YFW~Ku2IG!TpzDMS34hfFZ1tWJ{pDjyBn_(U9PRd zv#u=Qf-5jdFYoLGk7+00PiC<_`cuvMUi$(k_<96pD(<*Ckb1C{xcvj^o@;}G# zJLTB4Gv@6V z7$@(hEc+&YC!@kmW&U5j{`yXSTG~a;P)v=YIVVkb@b&-G^3yl*i>zx&$JqDVF^s!{ zO4z%3d03747;IGhtm=nI|&Tfw8QuHrvuK8Xp;akNwvc4t0Ki}V&_anUhT^+q#J(Z~n|A+By*5JQ}XI#Gv zarbre3vdh!_V@P-__xv#lBINqx{%d!m|5|=Ldzy~~nA@QscgyJ76i?$_#}GgJ#!>kf>-uS(uBJhtzpL7V z@5aw6A48j1!kcTnv+ty5bbIj6_}aKw;uGTl=$m}BZE6X3xAB}!EW(W*|9F)zQO3^v zhdHYJWeLx!UPL-s!gGpsx|-)@=CwofA4*Mgcs~rMnu{fz*!LsR^V%Q{I841&tim}N z6^@hfj=qzA(cxIiM{L8fceTVPG}hrnmk;y)Qc$qgKx2_^5mDj9zF#n3-@(3Qi5`|e z%~|ws;aHV-TQ^I5n#DRkG47LTyUNkBC;#u|&#K?^j|%r`ti!d`YwNjP^fH7gT;o+@ zXh)pfE%BUdl;0^I(fMW>m+DV*%uN3moA7Krezx4B-SX_|=B_n}?}TTSk73c_#kxLQ z!sC3|)z8g6#*wxq-M($NJT38b`ssAF%xAj!^)~f*=7d$a#;Zi%!l})5gmZ&uXzw-+#)F)jZK0Plao|`{;OD)sJf3EaCabdOh1*FME0g zxSI~c1lqZJbTzjH+F3Hk^M~O@^!UH!qkBkHHu~AbD!fzymhfWV?nJlO=4E78$FAF~_wB~8CA%g5%7Glv&*I$D*_h@TE8=JwRFMePQ)Yqm0n8`CdK z`LvqH*aSwE7o+}8y@(-PUk^uL=O9NP=fEDp?g7qj?v7rj0}(OZ!#DNA|38Iqx`(K9 zT$Z5CK`DG=ETZd&RenZBh390H--)l)xZc&jbg6RYu>Pf9ScOw9=x6JNDI6CsUk@Ks zJWMs;9Lm3jV^wbEMuk)Dr}uSZTsMiTjK;(<{mYVXR^dj5{A~PUC^ugIL5_{9w`|_J zc8lt@YX5tAu_~|CdRoE_Gv4BN@-MnQjb5)e?_v3O?`k@r?PEHo6RY#nBW(UT|9vtl z{ANF$-sbrK)6QDXS9qmUQ^(cF?rkqMB)G?~SP# zLq7XQg)`SEW0BsLoe5|Es11?;Xa9dcrXE$ktnxWk-~XD=F_vqsYe$d!j8W0QzA4{x zqr(3W{kGQC&8OUgLtM?j|JkcCh0mbB$=Aq!|25v0^NL-~g(&1-`Wvfpf`5NYI1z~q zxAdKSHJ4u>XIBjm{`ukGitIP(X*(<`yja&8t_zy>pJTi4ZB>p=jb(b{Y^F65`OI4i5S}H zsQx{=Q#XZg9T)S@-{iN`|3~4vxqAdScm2V5!m53ahzfUZJi{%1C%vQlhwrq{J|RBl zHrn*pzoq;)`QB{2CEa%$ZsU9BEn-f0S3h6hpa5sr?*Al#?!$Q1==8VhA5w)`!dK3G z)!#`6)A+-5uBD{@Fh|pLNZ!}u>;I?ar*HB()dWj8Cynwu;e4-rd%9W9As8=a`qww% zMn;AEe=66e@rU^#0Q2D09OD><%-@7-Kk>iRCsW==KX(vhI_njcrRFeW8*XS+xRJ)B z`A#~=T%H2lyScjt{Zp8XSBp+(t8(Nt=|7Ys^Er&DV;FkaA{OPyX|g4pi1>zE`a%4@ zrmLxmGNh~FDqsI$$xo~JrJ5cUzZ_qY>8J06`%k~r-P9_Wew%afU!JG3>TgqRRybdt z)U9eA&`*T(-6IK>*3RB0vYm~7n;stUa5O(RXdRf<&xuVx$E{Y-W_P|0bIoJh=>NYU z=Z`Cr%!>C-Bo zzO|N>lB;ndlfkhZtS?_tZp5kd2A4CvF`Z{!tuE)&Go8V;Lp%m%t|vFtDXqaxgbVr7 zSgwS>C4-~$jo0fmv!z_b9Lv5(w7b74QDWMpuma+h>fYoNaZZtG3yAe+O3i$mQOh!f?Ho&yClcKR-aOUR|S$TfmsV z-l09^>Mu@ixE|Bbd0Ah%({+t*Fw*7y`hjw;d5x|X;!%6kU^(ApMprMN@&2Af43{hO z*3u$G=i3fA??t2K{O=lF7|QeClg7&(Ja2TYZ#M=^k_$U(bVE>He({(pcW95%b-OJ^s z&oMeTq;tM$tL5s=Fgo6!v;SJTw^NPoDB7Vc4K~V!PcXV|r;O$KXpXIN55^jueF|eb zH-520&VG#1{gL13zU<#4H)WL3Iqj)xXb)VZP_AGY>*JHc3qF+n7D=tRI@>i^WTe(iPjBZmwW4Jwbc9OeS+vqBy-%mckNp8`J zq=xYo+wsWEZgP*#7#;Js*Ve9bBmOqJQz)mMT)WFXw=v!y+l>sV{N&!JGCH>7_qGSf zEy-zgX%KE!zYw{u#f`2P+Lz(^`pErV!RRKTyez)iUv4?lc{S>9`+0-p+#4IO$MOAb z=b>^ot&PqJ<;p$pNV&-!jgIr9WRJ$kxjGvi>)VjcVRC2DKC_&<4VWyq!ozqyj_Xpj z3YSaS-RQQUoqSz*rd%8JZwxoXi#c+E2$ycs_62hHalKHqFSExkkt^bByuVZ^2T9#m z$ldfYx)#}t>kO-1ev|vFo6-G+aK{&0C)cFC(Y-;v9QSmi++5@@=e5kQv1cgfWlF2@JMTkVze#kiyq=10?d9gusD{3wL=gD=&O$c?XS4431L>^8^c`ZO@Q zX{bl(cAb)okMT=K%rDD_o{_78bUuJ~a&N5*a^V=SF`Wx1xgs|P^@HtXic^ttc~Snx zquoe6>z3SMl$ZJ#zua`cC$|jaoJz=#;`R^aPGg+Y=e2Ph(enKhIZupp7>{=QU&y7x zIESw1gg0_cFwQxP@^`HB2f2K`jrqF>?ZKZ#zQ|q2IEVGJ%e%O%&Ew8TeT~OeIdE+Xb;#Q z^|mc$xj*y^TxamPZ!dQO?enHcO-A3*=)Ju+YI_>Kqmkjd&#-mht7rDl$mt5Z%>fs{y4)uHu@}qBQ z54jr%m+knAc-`b)A>91WjP+LToTl`Td3zxa)ijO!gz8M;_?1` zZ@EKNjpb@L%6;hM{+4j-8y(AEsg{G});2e~qgZEHmVT(^dgw1X&UU#lLhc;m%XI#G z&KNmc^q1+dZ!p~>Os*p4`|M|S6rU_tAN?TLOWwVmDz_8;Am>M$U(ApTgJb#~y*fuO zJK9O^yChk-KyG#`V>(wwKiI)zi5$lzy^$Xa3$KvNhHyC!b9}m5t^m@R^VQs&*2+!) zK{{s|xKVBn(wXzxiS@S174kR6_WT(6EB4Ddp

y zbZ*!4uv{y&YaH*csC7&(E!r2xV`Q3Ba-L{k7?0D}PsI+ej^uzbrp_Z%71t-HwBLMe9w{3a;xAtZkjMX?r-LCXXgJI z(SErXd2gmj7$%iw` zWr910eS-?qv&&7wypj8ZIb3qdjf0!p(>Sh+S16xcX3V3QZ~31UluL*CIqP|?ZAImV zqrGB3_;jefTyeBlELRy@l$M*0_Ubss<9D+=$a$f?Vti{ps3_MF?G?wx%Qsb(%kYEt zYWmQcaxQ2$W?@})V5_=vA!s+4eoJ#Vl*^BHgZYu|SrfV3Xb(=IJvg?vgcMRof z?1VOQ3E@~jiaK|Y+X=_~=w{zVj`Oz#s7GF3oaI&_9!!^rUN4YD#1Yc=UffS}yxwWBcrhaml?sLj_02$%UW zaP?HVlxWuyVm&M%c!r!G9Or|lD$S8|M*BA!@oNq_p&Zkf z%e}Q)ABtl-S2YOhNGCm3%MC~S_W|RVu_f2aWkdVd9q}miWrJKMw14Z+UKKdDMQ#h` zp_kC^E}OnX?g-jR&Qm6O?vYE3_K)pax^nyFa-eka?kv_F_nkW`ml=-X z_E>yUZW8W~>ma*=PRn(|^;k~#)jTg(3+1= zGx5D#b+j8?cdYF4S#CNU%hkY=aU;y*&I@oA>=GN+;e6sHkb4iu`PFmIZK{rXcCfIEE)Wkv0Tl{m|3ndTu$_FweDt1N{g4^T>ilP? zyXV8p$@RzmasF||tD@WtIF5HuSEwrI2e%9Pkv3^fxh8Oo$M!3A`sL5rCPvo{{a~^u?d4c6IZtl8tFv5A#FzQu5aujb z36A5E7f$YSEPvb&_+alPmkQT=jPY*zI6iW<;qIe;bUNiP7YxVxF?fEE+$1>Gj~0Qw z>*48gH*viQ*ni75eYV^#IPOcX^_nji z0q2NvwXFPNxeT~J_Lq+nFPCcr$9kUq(ki(?xNpuCtXLyg7LN6@P`?dwS>ZT-$=hg) zTopJ+v>OAn?U3sW$Nb3rbhlhTIM(y@d-lmSKss~ZYI)cpIj+;NegrukwcH=BR}<@S zPWC6|tj7oDexK_lo#LF9WBbBzJD)lycMsvR98{fmNv;6WB`x+z9C}=n^MvE|W>>!{ zw*-#ktI#xe$f6tJiY3 z;JB}Lz508(+i*;m_31xb9QGS|9(~%4IBU$~&gq!Hx%_dG}^=Y;EVKDc&ECb=NYx0rrwM`W|yALd(s zV4gRot*zWXxJaDmYMVc=TyM;`CLx_eUKNlliTRO#G2=X7!M-AL2jQBdpRu28C)W}4 z8TN1QT}#OwfMYt(E>%u03+g%do%1B9DCZ8x@!zvERpe$N++^iAYW!ZkuVm%ZIw?wfuP`$8=?w3c&0{pI@F!=dfv!r<8M zzH8lCZu}2iNPcIz-{F`ak+0q4j=~K=e2X0Pl)DVaa`j=Vx7=Ge*0*||{&Lsh7~k#= zL2@5|;2e_nlFKs0xK7A%;*d*yx`5n16a9kg1+2?`WpKujXFPAoWEcX(Q>mYG*JeRu<$9nX__qE(1 zS8v2!YaVxgNNIFSu^ut}RRX!?uZ+(dFn`;8 zNg}uYiqY-C{C7Z{lyVym86DH*x6f(h+%_5=+k?I@GswMM^nKUsW)`^y;YP=E;fIgs zkb6JI=(xVyV0~`6ii3@g`%(TA^2_z_YjhlsXPj49u1AQ`u^;T#ySQ8_C!^!@Ti(q} z$}Q~h)y1^_JTO;Txle7sI`ce=UpS{+=x!b>v5eS!?ad% zFW`6%V1j2mxrcC5Fs>U@u9IBb&c<-ru6<76B=-dFcZ?4bo^zFJ-o<#m^%xH&Th>)> zBplE4x9!ti?lZz=dvL#rpPWA&pA(795hxcA>GB-;_Wn_bTp>923*C0~k=qFOE7lzs zj~yUqi~D0a&D!OEay8+&o>-;WFuBHXJSVvF<4C!)aO|f&kB*hAhWudtXgPC&+yuC+ z7$0=@`Bm;X9Q*yyD%0c^z%hS4Qp}R`gJXZ>cy+GaN;qC`!Rm!_cj35Ryldc6xj2r- z@_Zco*dJQ2l$(O<@j1W3vz%9h{Osnr)k=p^seero4ugiUa<2W(?@Y{0bQT`Z@Or7t`Ilyt< z!oJuexr!(UY!6m{d@AP*mkIqxo}(}2cEPb6q?+|sj^&Ey$DewCluM3uVgEL)vdud4 zc(O4Z+pChvf01KY|ya+#5D zEPwNIWR$yr>v8?+=;JJMg>XIQ$C;fu?Gq}8*4;&dN$WB&FW)=2IZ9QT=Ow{0eu68ZKH{acHIt>oU}dR%|5 z{3zVm|n(N>{m6C@)Jf9&eJOyBx=1 zS@Znq>m+BI6fD1CC31{AN8vho(z)v z71!ha<=-__ZYv!3laq}fDR%>o@yP2qRxU5{jn7~HYCl1)30w~3$8MWnjKC3AEc|hP;L>*3(tK`&bU;rCmh?CD|c4N4TR%) zsm>dJlY0*rjD4nj!`8`lK>G1LawXerl3NPLd~+(WO^*E**AH&J*(o<4*W

mVx1vFWE=}^M+$Ds|ab5e1XXG})@!XQ% z@(XeaP_Ed&IS;%dmjaIMZm*`-<@%!>a6FmK_O{%7IL5>6$vwFla9o#)x9g!?dc>FY za__jOa_k2;Vx0Y@%S$=7L!57Iv3o1W^2hr2&gP@sQQRNv+mVxBgq}5s=_hf`lm@L*BOrOTIU;SE8RQzlu{{_x zEK7`z?a-+fi z?whWyUr(+D9N%ZOC`%(b_LqDw*y+EU%CS5%zKgcCluLqeS)SXDZ!1?3j@PU1*ikMs z@`L+jSM40-IKO21OBBadt{$$(=NDX0ddOvhYm511&AHv=M!+@0Jf*t7uiODR)}txa z0_50lG2a@e4v|Zb^kaM%-RLcs7LN1K25bAv9l`x&!8p6~{|3pi{bT+PZ821?4#K^R z{jznrN6Pua@x3HXUXGEQ2=@ZdGv(YDCdYM^jEF~)@X2!BalKE--)f%Wmg^y1*e?V- z%#`E01@kR_;<j_X`pXLaknLXPuLzAq@a{%>;6aDNPU zMCNsJZ2!h${&x1kMmhFJc`y%Hwsor<$3wiot)q6zwL-ozzOOp$mFo}3eqnf#19J1= z?C~C;(2s}Z=D?joe77AtCf6H|&spD|drFS;C_Z0t#{Z05G2{pLYwuONAm;+-6l#2~ z_fD!Sa+BeBPAlGxNIA9#9A8adb4zYEuE%w$utE3a*ss1td$6hbL%E_zKbF5_xu43l zf#dqi$LBBPyx|=1+>YIWH*)pixPSC=$_Kd+#FyieIUZl+*d7c)xzAoM-Ujoyllu^i zZ;ONp<)$Irc_@F5=aa~7hvRrR>BNY&_Xdvp-JYep$>l@(vE1+a#aFHw9G_!( ze5Qw-I~?1|WJ`kOior45XCb}i-XR`*&N_YF{&L(edxP^ET{8}nb40j2U$^=05IOe0 z?BCLDA0gKj*W-Gpm+Kh0xQGYy&GF)RxfH&}eP{OjHQP**dpptSn0^bdOp(in^G!B5 zr|_HKbh$yNjo0J2WOLHla$O%AU6<#^_i1%rJx?yzFUE6UtZ#eUE|N>1(dd{i%@Qt? zt60G3KH+`by|=BDyI9)jI1jxO6d^aJn$dBbILLmzTw1)(lHoRgvPo_|-e<{p9E{i| zXVbwLt{vtT-a)(M$~hSw+rK%Lf0w(0_Yfq(^$z}WQ0@-i8^wL>_eYP&?X-GtR80Ls z{_x{+c6bi~$CE8x{*?2wdJloQo#Z-*d-1b!aq%7kz6aywy9;ucLyYOt8u4v&;ELR1 zJQu_HzRl$8a&z$<3)fXPJKvW36VInG9;fW@%YDG}Df|w{+RqQ=rs4UNPw2M_9(yXc z&g!|7nDS%w%$IUw@Z8BPj1wnye=BE$=Sf(u;#T@7w+!wQ*2DHBx7lbOcfPW6F`fT= zc_p6QAS-7s2h0!e)d}UM!m(XD+&`(@5;&e?Y~CcLTrNCM!hM`VInv76!Et|Zm_MsyUOu>*Nkrwm#%WQosH?o za&R$!ce&~=M#ueqo5#L#xsV@Rm+!qHKrR9DgU_jV91tS+JKkH%{21S;kK9}28?P5X z;{dr==r7q`^}aDkt_R**#{N9P>Y;L@(Ov@ZtljZWDA7s6J5)m%<46Z2F&B_g&DVN)-A2jzLWia30+IX&93iN|42lKNn zl)DGVcx-yOMDADgGoP?td~w?fxub9n=r5a%{!Pvq{Q|$MaIwQWxl?dFZ!xUcCOP&W zEzs`P`Mgz*?^$GdUU_V%9G@elt2t}0+(q0U%gZzG19BD6&u~5LMx`TiGvL_nHb`;Y z5-uFebC#>8z>>&IF846kAEmP4=yR&d#9&zhv1kWZ%e(D`wfo!QMrD3E9Zgq>w)oU z#?v3BI3EPFeJ zTst_H)8Gwh+!rmfOA{9V7NnA7j03Zqud!dmisYr9Od}DDc_T@_>_xW4U~Jn zcks)64>`8GQ~izKK{y!DO)fXC$8p`++P-pLa4h%fGX%(WM|`s&M143hf-$8vQb|4_N|h%e8_CV4YLj_-BhIl-_)W8~Nl@qKQi z!o%bWBV2wjX20iTIcGSQ(~RZAu`OD`ke4nh9V?F1*%y!pCxiDOh@qIdOtK5&? zhnK{0r(8M2gYj)>w^xq!?G^Sf2iY8u8;$F+{mXIcuv~pOp0jK-?^ukEoh5EUY6^E>+!vB4(lT2=EE`HCJeqM_Xk{3JomYy z%{@83kAm-q%Uij6Ug0y6b!|{S4PjRyR%~ z$N3iPTa)Y=wg zT<*uud(%da?|I^SiQl0Pa>H;vmaEazy2$y$@ws3|(Mle2jZywM?%bHP zo7^-w=5N3yA346KHx&I~$jTmaoe&R>H?H;#mgD?`;m&Q?TW*Eb^7%Inhob@C1&LMIyt->|0|8ZaZ%-9ifYv8zky07yXx%eojEPt8o!sPgV8n%-T zUna@DMz~yub2&Lxj_n`M4L6uOLyqGnx@LiMM+PV490Di;U&%XsvEwL`8p z9NWJZ`}fEtg5$WP+OPZNTEemY>+gP8ZXz7Nb1|vRF*(jF7>{@fPs!cE^=@IEIx_wl zxgWhpZcL&Jasl{$-g=DxDxbY9SJcV4Kf`jcXGWx)yR*^pJp^}MZpmH4J{`;HnL_vE z_Tsw=EC)8v|CZZ;?<%ldt=;xSE-&KC{-f!z7jo~gKf`^Tk1gKFb;rIM*KJGW{2&+K zYF{m;{qqtJKg*rM{tU}i^DS|=n8%&fu|KmL`oq?W6SeHX@~*xvMV8L*$i{Kz&rvs?w(Y$>ve)fA3)0yi>!LvpUF0UhF&+~VxyW(+ zY*WPe9;)Hz-Q^M^9z3^nWSN&-Jvf%D`u%)jydL*;t2F8%$8j;A7b=%6SdQz(cQOBH z@UWNMMx+bNmDi4ba(CglPh4VbsN6a@&MUHY9wNtaBJ-n3u@Q20kbZnF_0Ff!axC|Z zN8A(R<+x7Bes$-(Npg7*F4vV0_n0bI6Y*s{4p*Nc7X-)Wk4~nZBexcg{osik^X0f+ z!sn=_tz9g~_tkr$pXvL*<#MSI-z6BAENZb@t`!{L`>`a?TDkwhF+UEx+z{jS*p83i zw?&To6?6fUcgXo5T(-Nb-S)_>g=2o~FSB3n931xzo+LOd$Nk^;I46DV>`^%nT#x&M z^Ol{In*hghmAB7nxn(FXtRKz|&&&PjJBq2YUzX#0ryHW5Uik2u+;jB5Ja1cN`%Sry zxIgxnoyOdi+YUDe?N!3gf6MXvGb~r1ian9z_Z(P1)_!^}$8~w$--2VWDST*2#<3FJ7B;{83pmRPO@?vHNn`s8x` z;rJb_!$VWcas7|^(WOm#xd|vQo;b&|I)COE-4m>fmVcd1ZY8egjdm^00b9BBC|7)r zVAPbna$a!pu}5w11jF)V?-9KR#M=g=0MEhU!=`N4WVWJx)> zW^f$uy7j6kXAhSK-=A(-uc};XIKFSLeWsdn>=*bv$)vwJ;$8*EnKfhSCjhqXv$9Cw^$M$lE;Mjje9P2Fi0gm;f=p1Lc2XLM7 zJ*5JE?sB8y_#U}ORlMYmz;S=!U0ENwY)EI06Vuh`AvX^5bH<}tieR|}IDg9b3Jv_T zm)yxN#&wI?r;Pgxb;J9~-EcKJ&I1xUhRQX>a~OO-O`L*59@vRpey%klgv`;WyV#>@SV^y4~LxmJ_pDq?+u?}uxUYpPs*tMv_YJeVK5A5WLt zjP(sZ4|`_YY`M5t-{5m{gGSDm^TGPYKD4`s+b))yjr9$#3)mG{E;k128{Fp{`FfRH zVytgu#Q5~h{xx!=;aILR{JKHz3mn^xA#PjbCSl!z{ou^fJLHm~KVpA=|Cc>-mEd@O z^61%pa{b{ZVI0wU@gcc)xIgws?}CrYb-?x5?sl(pQf?O<%hkOMr{#{qaU4j!c?7s-15 z;J{t}2O@ZV4H|kY*FURpI?=MY~&vHB;#{Ki%m*Z?R zk2^WvV!K;zReZU+NWYYS8r$)P{S(X8hhu&?G)XSk7mnp>fA-XJ?cw+w?uAF`{%zi~L|bJRNQ2xWC17k%R5>$|c41cz-Tm3dog(V?Ez>qKMo; zIDSWQ%v?J;?vwC+hxr3a$@Rwdyn7hW^}VlNPA(lB2;MLC|QVgB~KT_whF`Tg3a z8*9k5LjLkSa(2V($d!QO`vm8=Z6KExj`8SPpoyF<9OF^vO>?;(aD2bA&7szETj02V zemA_mob^7jx!>o$^K#G5a{S&W&x0&>aF%2H$8(Ie61&UsyF7^<#naY`G_R-irOl&f@ds(qg>JeS;1k7s(C8 zc=rVM0}32oCbtRCC-b`$@xoWh)xdan7v7&3-(!v3D>(KaO$Tm}`;2ih^W$E#EplNl z#{A_z=kp9Z^1}H?_`-d1ySo{~Ww}bQ^^jaJp5x;>^@brwk2p^J-?MjeZg5M)j&~=Ii?iK4?o5e##QC{v=lF76;5d(J zT_mwwCe$~kbNIVta)mGtJ&1Z<_E0Lh%$PUcM?W}YYC5?)aO?-)cFiQ`g83WIH76*S zO>QvUH~mZkTe%GAXPCbk&*qWicOzNP&nzh*$9{|Td|9s|a=||c_jX-7IVU*wgO#(C zl6wZn_bz04P*#rfX-~{Qo@}Wg7mDlgJuK}6I*t1q_-j`?x;aAP^1Ut>LgG`+c8LX2Pd{<^i@TFae9xS!BoZL82;E(fl+8tL*X zNoTpXaLkW$mz?B!!7(23SGmcxhhsgz-Op2w<5Q;d(?;HMZnz%zv2ASq<+%UG{-fBl zKsi2F$#`7Z(^IYq(wY57(1gBnHQ-o3Dmf37TM4%b--T*ZVz3;~i*meME$(nRp7&-v zO8+%Vj{8iUhbCDtPVNTokNtV7z=?8p$PbQ z@wtwo8|KOJoDAF3`a>7Vu{_s7{n*udncNbD%X&Vd&?-5eCuDw1c^@HH1?kLjUD6}# zqvN{D-usv3 z?w>O{wpXhv+>jgk(C9MaJr3`#+?LBX$mn>^sLRaza$6=F9mBoX?vdPIGmMVs$b#-X zm7Bi6=vYp-1-z7dyVK}+e`ONAm8)^d=(ujybkPU7-(DCU^DW!1FLHk;GUhMew=|_& zydCCo=Ony;Z4<_I6;daZ>-@hZ+x#R{nH9C%CYn{t0*B$e` zaI}+`Qx}q(iTAlN9yS+?%C#?J40l9P4s!oPd11aC zNzp~_Hr55$9u)k`S+13fFIcum&GPk;TiV!oJ=QmG zyB=~kuwKIbr~%J{yC23{HQelkX&<=1J27j`5l$JgL1%l#H(^rt|{`D z>2e_HX*sT6G2GM_&&k!o`W2tAShDnzTrsRm@p|tLT$A&`^?06P{gj(>Z=HLt!6 zw(4|Ou0Gl!p6gqc=Wn^g*#F?VO2FTb<@R7-gXMI_y619smii+&I{ug z)}x5UwsQU`e}gcuP2-(cZW-P`$@k8@D_KykJjxa4DZw9#$gx~8T~h3~lN*F`#r25( zVWs3cqg?U5TfIA$lk0s^p6Pd_XcIYCv_sRezt#6cb2)poYiv(jA89T38jkx5%V)Qj zJBRgl*7FZOo#oo&di*X_vdYeKXW;nUam{4za=r+c`;xmZdCGl)WBq8f(%W*qLB@K? z?*JiCKHe<-$4=>(Q6L`^x#jaXy`4$3Qv0hk*IJa?D^k zo-^X}6$?5Imy1BSyuUL=N6Ybf14q=OcOS>e@%#(>nM|1{$yLMp-!ZJ)UVb=5E-l7a ztRK_XPnWxZaXVeyezWDAF>Yu2r3jlZR{-O7z6U6ChsAO|Fi+w6u!Px`%VlnBEPtGT z?7g~5E;rhH_6r>stdTqHg6rWqo3!0F$Zf*DF25I@yyOxzgj5ipMq<0?3t-?5h?eoPIkL7M)e9H56^8%mCHAa2odQQGTW;gSwG7qM}1>GKXx_FF7vo^1k#!NDVZ0RcV3Zeco9yT4a$)!g9 z<$KF^=Cze;V6`4$K8MG1&554nkz0lJ2+jj;?I# zjr%kh_U|W4k-?Nn^QL$TvPuvUz)RxifHFfB7)7wOm5vFY8Cs zcJ1X{k-vOyXH34%axKyBvVP=#;Uu>V?f7G?vtHWcCU+O(cGizGVV-h}F>dF0_gxon zIli}o_qV>7zg%OCi|L+x43tZX@h;a{w;$~(Hyw`g$T6$0+K`r_1ff{qcK-ha6_hWyJWD2GpDZ;ktTBM{#=uhz;9!@eZ*W7g!2avQN<%jfu3m)$B?FOIQaM7*hkEWb=LbEkIH4OZoD4z<8{DEx#&d z#C)(~^1E`kQT|vz-kyCRml5MS#$((3$8xu@KE(IF{o(Um?keULd@lb<`PXvU&>wMJ z+&AHSxku=aI9@w(`jcF7^fO%Na$FE+w|U$dihhRU(-J}PqvQCh`_`&*zB!GK-!1SDt|>P&m(j6)cowQF z*S@gPjYt2{?OFr5Oo%Vrp+vKr$bG72ydGT_rxtP{^^A_sM=i+JMlK)r+1b8qztLXK z3+p*t*Gsanv)u1!cj?Z0I?E+-Hr^lOai+Mt9N$aF=YaOV^OSQyyUX>QYX`jLhG1U7 zaN~~kmwSu$neIgUAi2tzS8!aCs$eg5RUE8yN46yrVTS*kL54l z&M9)iLyeB*>VDXCIR`lA+wV>1$h8<^ydIxB8ECseZhsl0V?8f{AY$R$NR=lP~lPxi^>L_foHd9?A6+;G(M1~^CYY2Z=023V)& z`O^mtPRcoAe8u;=l*w>fZWZb;?{C@lb8;6kzGA<%detSlr&zaTyYat1*W^xMe8uxz zN$cN~YlHC>_jMO!x+_-<<16kj?7j0qZZjO~(f#$0<)&hM#d_{N__^G8jIUDRoT|g6 z*K!|zHI^&BSF+mG_i~OHkF%Z3wdk|lIMffuBful>9`m@#)=e0n)=t8yRHIjFrIGs}gbKVN`& zRLGuPu6Y|{eEHn*^+;Q}A!rYnexDcSmHP|nQULY0#*Tt=4}Op?&(9W>D~a(W+vgoK z?d8_l8{@(E6#2z3E4QJj(eXY0e{C->cXx|%U4Y~J=S?fijsM-~_&nnM+tuWbTsAts zPta+2ExCBFjE?DCqbUF*|jq|eiz;;j)zp4>9TC+5V;EVjE>`%@WCVG@-#KNL3mzcQLQm@*Rk%y zb;3$X!sJ?D{;?kW=Wk9V)9NB+`{a+x8Q0sF~eXirlOnw;KELeE(XB;5~9JurI`T^sTyIt}Etm6|oNT zB)0Jy-X)vy1d0D&Srrbw3w)b{@?#jKy_>b4i(dciv&sbk8hj{eO_C&4+ z9P?w0?F+dH*u;2DV|(SDpr%||tW)#7jT6q)k=qT&c$8n%K(5swWBuU!MQ;W*ky{VP zeS>zjTgc_bc|De^)al#E<%i=qC-PQ%xn6LL$K~~%jwSI-*?hyw9ewv*mcMl;tYaX}(-0 zT#xl5(0;L88N`?4?8P?A<^17Tu9}`&B{vn0?e5?6*2s;AV}4xhu|baC$>h1J5!JWI z@x6_0F+W<7dWT$oqzl)Zrry{s*A9;H=)7*9Tq!utquLEVB**XJrbM|K-}0zjCtQ#H z<$*jW<@o+T&R4I${7a7SAz*uTZ2vhqUxdqbm8-vAl4}gd^PL|&ugUQ}2^=T3E`L+* zn{tJEo-4^+xxpwed@tCsix1>@&Yb5lLzX|5vwr`5Oy3PUbKtq$UWCha(UIY=A*ROoG#Fxv5aU#!K_zy`eR{-Ng zw!3YbC71KZIFa+g4B1o5wZ}M-&xd;6Pbc>X^C(Bm7lJlsl3Rjt;vB4RBpsejj?d@u zJY4D4wsQAzJ;q~kp1g9A7$>s+_Ip-9?f}M#91qRhRYdM8#);pw8{_QcE@QsM^NH^} zmy(->@gLi(t;Nd8@qNf#XWjd;f?QjS|5%S6{ZU2kH5~i5!82;e4ac}-FY5We?seq& z9xCQX-AWDQQlVb5eq2r3L@p~F>&K`|&E@#q3FA9tMQgc>xE|Zx&0*z}Tn1;_k#KiOBV68a;qUmch`P>$cd=J%rC^%yJ{itD}Q`d^LV za#i4xV!Tl@&1gCHt9-xr>>K0cX5e~k|C+6vD7PGr`Eg;`6uEFXuD73UGhNOD>CE-I zgZXF6&4OcoJbOJ)j_(WNd6m)!7s>JcQjACA@MUrZ5f6Tkua)O2xwp7KjyGC4tcme@ zYtRlYNVGwY?+@dC?W_x%ty>N!uY@P{<<2inOP|n1`|))EqfZj_;>oJe=B2luKeYUyW(Kq+0$da)~fs<$V9s%V~1k z;qGJo`OfdN8-izDC^~mRJ-LmqulfT3@xtzF30cL z@O>H0*B_MYkLz)Nb=r_WV484)%Y!4sv?w4Y>n27sPp4`5t%VZed+7#1{LU6&}b{#kwBX zk@CiWESDYYdMsCMPCk=cfptB;mo8xDE4fIl>qR~_o*VY{dMCFL`@e&Z8Qr0>pXBV& zuCYA#{Uy$R^SE;m+BL?*{>(3O18_Z#OA;(dBo_jA2*Kj?c}q z-)fgKo!lL(_SF1bIpgu-EJHxcb5zaJW}UrxEoX#aSgwR^)na(}@w zKMrImAlC%#ALG&VL1DQ+;CK$|m#xL+%A%e#-1wtP%JF^Nr?3y3phH<4qbuPj#)?Hb34e;lnY=LyGn*v+afHxBp5c||p!`f~H&c)iM%8_S*lfh(N6 zxg5Xuc>wENt**3^<9v|)$Ff!J?9Ws$MW(=QzyCRKXBJ`y2B`jN?v?fv4oedWd> zT#lc=oEspw5{~;!$Cmz2Za3=X6wLR7dkvGD569;m64x6g_XUpMBeoljHYX>5jCUC6@{5$8_#pXr3Iu|Hl42^4&r?&KtRZ znf8yRa`h1|-#7Ab`bxRPa0@XHz0)m1t`*#F^lvs5*UN>$+2gqm=cJqE_QEkgvR~UK zw;GP=Y>>>B9D4p7TXHewTvv=tYUEauskrj&~EryCKJRoZ(*n^R}EV zu9p+%6tXY4FV`K8&+&~9d?Ys-j{W7+n$P5>!m-`Wk^Yt3Dmb>gr^~&Q<9Z3p-{gd! zOs8@ny7TzZ^;=J}GB!!pX<$N6VIU(vNyR=M~X-}5~-RdeN(Yl8KSim2z) z9_N<(3*&LlyXS7tFP9(VXRa4t8dX@XB*xFok6s;$%jL!RndjV!7Ah$>3XbEAKi`*; zI|RpbeTNU1m+J(_b=DK%mE~+O9_P4yr)PD!`EX2^N9AkF-GwWQ_kOr0t}nL`j{BE? zoo^(U3H| zfn&Q?e6y=u0<=SXAC%q5u5#@6Io?guzPlXH6EYq}3i-*kMz}10yFUcT^?~E~CGN2h zIqq*UKc39$Bj5Uw)5e z;_9(-T<79@W@itWAjkD=?t}f&{r=d9h5``{umo*cd*haA7B$@V4w(A;wQFpfBi`q8y@ zez~b|Y@eGJDlB&sj{V@rx5eb9SdFh@sz;3vmyo+|<;?8?+xyGmW#st2aDJDuq*r-4 z58NN);a9%0Tqqpl5s|36+@c>im-Dscil9H|cK|OhttS@-$9OF5-AHa49OKcmK{L5N zaBNR)v$T@qetfb=#{G&n_uI<nk#e^&@8*8b?7*>d z{7y{+oICWYIzcWN{lYHvm(`N}D(8iHH~Ya_7sKUVpkLtorS>kJDQAQBp6hG{NFmcv2d&( zZ<=kA^G83E6zgFHY`4i(L;KA7vE|85xj*5!u5xGBUb%{>ms9z>?wq#wr-Mb|%+I}68oN~Yd$U~a`ZeAm^Z4`xuE+fN#Ur8I8#tcd zJytfUTn6MD=Z#Aerj&~d=ZWVHW}izV$Mb)T$F?OITzv&eBBo$pmU(kO=< z_Xin|-?QhIn}_nk^Y`f=<&z77V?5SwFC_N}j^|`%jVUJA9QnciqiyFBax7Oo7nHtu z8M$G&ULTB`{`lk|7YxVmQO!MGN$w~dpNr`~r<&XWIKEH6oPRAjmS?_q=9lXA@lH)nJ)g8;iQEW`pIKg}{BMQa8jPQlpk4da z^f$Sj7{_wIr%;Y{a@{eGW&d&b;YK+Rj88dE?7MxdTq%rCxz4|N^iH`jIIge#)?u$) zW{gi+&(jq?Ah!pO@$h_qSgtbK1D30_e;ku*3&;6jvKgo38o^aSd(heEj2z#e&2gt) z&ZExA5$Oy^<4ug$u^;4kK8MerFX{Y6j^}BTVt&4;c)Y{r zaVMV_Vm;sdC4pRVw9niRSaBkW+iJ&MWQ z!hXOv--mE0A$Jmv-^t8wQ$}tt)_o4*9Mr?-4sw&RAJ7Qp>cN#ta#_*;vYwAxSWRwa zYh(Y*cue=GCAX)&(Q#cRXW@EsYaNY_?|+`~q@i3gqzm6iR&Hxkxk#Kd=RQvR!7b$) zqu*zLezsv-x%TMyd4DU@ca&R=exK*prbTv<^T9p|-?#K`rHkAioI_!ImA{XNTu%a@WxB^S#*nB7)`kem$0}lA*oj=A+-|cP_%3 z^q0$m{+!?GYMyTj%?3_5p5-!{V^wXc5!{j^> zkAYYheQQ5i?l~OKEj70Zm$TkaF^`|Qe>D2!47n`0KeoH?=gyJiIvo2qcmD-)^>{se z_b_9%C30ME=Q=~;R4e3ipg-b!KaNGNmg@w^a}N<~*2?iYYo|R`6I;K(?*B1%A8ndez^CO{MFtSGsPm=AKkkh4{^++6evELZONU&wtx zzrgx&Am)`^Ao_*sXb;Bhc_%j>{Q~#Tn~nV>7m0o$2j*p)8+?O)E8X2Y?(}4q|N2#d^a8MZ<-&{O72iv^Y`&Qh-2$^atmxs*BkSIJ88V+k~*1= z`;D(ocanSVYC4{0*f_GATz)sx@qUme6?)2b$35!o7v}!#E!Vu686MxupL5h-?p_?++)mB{_)=I`U!GFv2V|K zy!4+UHxuW%c+T=^#TjxuFVEk%HRWu%m*|hU&bswlpqvNR9XVdhymFyjQOrLWkMq5k z$_+xlz;mT86<5fuL%+b^m(XgB+}l6&3!%5y$)!hoU;D0k{^i-a5V>$T#$)NAt#TaS zyI`Mgko!)#qv$_)zG+t0y>flg-m^We^5TFT*XuZ+xwrp_9M9GBe8jdX$K_t(_i>z< z#%74?$u&2Dv#lBLufGu=FRnoTzVWasTAV6yN0fq5iUdq`L7#E+HKEf3vMh7#26~ z42LU(=h}rPmE(5-c&@o~U`n~PC@*OdUcr#ma!b*F@OzNMqB6+YS2fEYlWSGk z43F!(YX?`7E8=cCj)wxuRg>FS-*g;@1;^Hq%Z>5N+iPY&lRUJR+%uFvwv(5~)sxGH z`7i6y+B%KonqXYQa#}xkGr9Jd|MGo^BGE17a>213irUszE+yv4Y)>7AcaTelc9Q!f zeHwL=D~0`J-ltGIe>b`P2#@id^4>?z9**tbs-wN-F2b>&ejVs9mjJ(y>ogs@4U}7r z@VLI=*>k8|GmPu_K6~xfBjv`lGRq&|C(e>*tlT4vvzc#e?oW`*fpvb)x6Uq~BDVq0 zeT8|{vMw{^7J8b$kLwX(4zuMFV&2I2juU?jl=Hy%DXw6Tv?2Zx!)6;YmHn#tkduuW0~jc{AJ!Kil!1mBl!l z=V-r7eJ3{wzmMbHIZZ#w^+i9!b@{=$zsVg&J?H*Wqo+UQ?xCKCVBAz;d&0AEl_Q{%W_nDdqa2p0nJ)&X!v4JnCgI+Ea(7e6yY)R|PH&)~Pc;pDfo7u08s}B>Sh!*~9U<&n5@R@%vWH zkMFGl3vm>-$@#e z`jNNP4LKh?m;3QQliral4aafz5u5vRIpCNdzV9E(`C z=P=LXe5*jcS8~ZP{^Rdko%NmE56rvyo?L;4ALXL39?SK=7a?EeJTd-bf1YH>54jc? z|8XC?p?kt}apTSt82|D7RsYOM<#J>E$9^GOR0_GN82@qIvGrCfxm}oV4Me#*FfyIo zT8#hLpTBRINzM-AKmNWKHr8^f;JAq%p065lj%QQA}!!Qox`f1vTd~()a=6VFj zyOmel$<=|&jd9{*pCWRFP@Y+TOS(A8eL;CTDcE1&{lMM7R+sZfc}|9NZnaN&$i-rvA;o` zJAmKE_Y$7=@s_KB@K`?rr*@UAjo-(0%ucO+8zDCw^Z4QTj_md{W8|DMk7qn;-x)7A0qr=; zOTx92chuQIbWSRY`I(#lt0GfM(x#dX;JAHN1f*z<-*|DUUlEQMJ^lK zd%o|NZqg39ZE%do@)mpK(qNv<{qt;v4#@Glv@BPlUk=Oho;Jp#$?0Qqe9xLL(fm_# zwJ;uMJTiAZE4K!2I@(>^G8g4IKW98Dr@Shc0pq{sIL~n4&ULwqcrMQgF4=Hf&JvF8 z)uJI0a&_Q%p4GO_L%FGN++Vnt^NAeqQ~gIe$2^l8iSTM;ogwrz=10`jw{kz> zxE^+@?MJy{NN46pu;W)b&Zj?OA92Ia?{cs3T<#B!y^!F1+_;nX25iKB%E6^c;Umwr?TQ|)k$9o*OkDa7IKDn8AE`Q(c4+Z6}!?B!39=Dg{y|t_#yXQK}@xDIJ zqb77NAy*OU%;&yyDJ{qE2{Rr~lDo?BUgBb?NBM77kV}QZAbei5mj^DLp zIwx$`My@2v3&&vv9X;jvJrR!E8~^Mm$M660JV?@uUF2f$T;A{fAgG5N@3Z8%{i3h0 z9N#}@d_ybsl}n9u=6TVA=?2L0y-LpGe?Ay2$L|WV-A%J?xLi3rm-C}+qeshG!f~FL zqtSS|I&gg7Z*<C1To@elqvP7OatGiB;XRS&12@XOfMffYz+;PC zL8LR^x4N2bhg>!|ma8Mrcgyj9Gp=uh?%OZNb$RAT(B#8%x$s=RhZfQ5m>lnG;W^|h zMNY|$MtG~x?)JAhE60AC^}N-^3vwxt&fGsw8gxaj1svxy*?q6eaX*Uf)!j&Kmd?{X{QxF6-+F~Nnnap!tC_JgBJCXw3& zcLV$O-IJ$~Q$LbrY|Am@%-fGv!&$Nzp-3>TU=Id6vAV>YuBrSTp2i)=PVVg$nl;8ejo93y6SSg zKbzs@j&zsfc#ZjSb88(rzURvGf1O7+kmEh?{61&dMor|{p0fPq%-ce4A?gR?;rOn# zTqGRN0c1bcUXJ&h{iA-&=_vOO;qkdQJ9d#{zn>K2@f0O{$mK--vL5A6;w#7c!Tpbl z*ZkzzzHq#oV@-cKmS^@KPx}p)od3e(6a^7$pU#-7(ORgOp%YESLdvd&|i0yOI z0g-ag5FW>g&uTuFn+C^opx3fKljA)$YqV*zYr4q9%Nh{-e z@!XP4&s1_l;P@We=kjUgM!_*2o6}^J3x{Jp3XaGk*BFlLYoVL6%kle?Jcqm`Ft^-s zgvWc!wsp=c*Xs}aU>}_e%B_ZD`5TqkUhXIMiTT~q=9eAhe6X*U4Esz)gNn;d!hRX= zqb=XFl-xS(g9Tu`QMF=Oxrx{Z<2hgZ)D`4B;TYerJC)^9Vjt{rL32O((0VtyYjEt3 zjtz2`8}WyIuwygo$mPL47|+MHZQnpH0Pkz?JBqIhHj(=b$8u#A+gvUf`^4NAKX|OQ zTshnuzbeEO!R`-Hb=eM8oC!V86RA=G}QOj*@$g z-^X~oSvXE^FrLfvu_d}plJmuL*?$x&IZdu4+5>(s`clGKa$C?I@EqRai*w{2p*`UG z_}eA(<#^vZ`)R+Pi{)OSp7Y%1+;Yq0+N1vR-1m*wE>t>F0Ihx*I>sIzW^ z+)Oym&)*E(ESCW7J;z~3Mr@ZW4Yv>H!nZWoEms!joA_Mk?EB>s!Eryuve03<=cvC- zm)<#!$#rUOo`2!{Bu67o%ANNxT}_M=mo5#HD_!4oi}AgkjqNYUrN?`pV=zB*$$Lev zPa88lmaC&ruE~}4G9BaFA>@`^0i4I=e9)!;z4-9ZPI9~(T`5woE7F<2??%eUa;|9C zxE^so{Hfe0v>OcX?6Q|~E;w(-dsp-Jc_UXD?F-)rJ5}L>Tyr?S=ej%P7rBpkF8kG< z*JI^)zn&}hu_IPmT#6fa_Ch#B#gP4sjo+NR{MrlQ1sf{cugwrjl!nc8KH2 zrx9u7+|UjM;@n7qO&R1i!0~*0mf>0CT+v=}Ui++WcDbQ&EC+9M=9WA22iNAMtz1{M zYn<;FJy1X{5{~66bZTL_VrbWRALBt!2f6BSd~T0o#pPoD5RdB?rQ|B%_pzR@yI4kU zI~?cdRhN~QONigc{CMBH@^2l_NBC5Blly_^@?1;NbnbGU@m!9tJRj7S<9-VJ58JKv zEr|B?PiKe?%JjK{^`L2^8Q zz~ARPV3-{5S>(CCmNiGo{b|2;T-I@N4oE-N^Nmj@%JF;j-2W)IZ>k*E`FXDD=cJi( zJCH8yKVn+Wk>hvGgD^fQWItcd1M%R!742dd$?^RU=0}rrL2~v8kL953;+1kN_iTsi z`3B4Jd=C57)s;5LasPw)ku%+9xvEG%#^dsXZF2SC7>_<%cF9$PV}8^cxle929LI?R z8XS^~fnz=IU>hoz1?kN5SL5HEkb95tn9fB*&&ct8D>{dO^K#t(;QP*vye`Y}`?}m$ ztKoc2ZaCt>c}m?Rx8!)9hQF^w_+2@c7tSl3S3Qv9z2Y2~931dSj^_^9UQKs@D(8cA z=KF({v%Qq74R;vl$Sj_{mSZ{Pxt5iC-pkEJcn46=Vw_w|J*WGE*=jT_j_b;tN0sSVM(!lincsu7aV{^%e$Wo{ zqt=Nl%Y8t2pWs$pttQ9wP5i#g{#7;QN+Ca3u7dm3mP-i7{(NNh`f_*h`?zn=D|2Hx zjt_XQ@9^Vha$WIU#^dL%R&t}@7>}Wo+sX0$bH2~nqLr6iV#I^vu*Zcv%kg~!){hTg zyUA@rc%xCz?}zo2ZIw51_c%GW~A=e)^QI6knXZdSXcdDEhejneTKAdZ&+!8p}^NX)$ z%kjJGeE)pY;dydH5FXc0D+Vl*Dy&MB=`{dZ4bKU#Z~ z%dwpD`(O(f-;~>nbh(Z9l-By(m3xeSmGMYZ;elKZgvWLC5UWRWTp!~4TKb4+IrhJy z_)cq{O)unJ@m!8y3J-rR*Bg%eIL*4gms<>XmaEuumU2(AF3NqJX_jf^qOdN?@l~f= z>E(7{y_5Thn>S>Z%ZznB=EuY#+2nd6yuE0Ld~4;B+Xlz{@XKZ^*9OmJ{cwDiUoHX4 zJ=?!;dkV?%dtPi$*Gw!bw+`X)TtV#?#pHP2oAJn4sH7a%37H>HKD)@Vp0oVbI$chV z=VN&uY47|>a%?9HV1Ivg*J^THFJbu$EmKpDwDg ze$Y6ik=$iC&MRsSYbMtn?E&NAT(^~6FdV;cx;IxlIj(~+-_n%zlH>UPALS}#XSu;R zFTn7^FLjd}1jqZ^E6wjI*9hkdn9gZC^pVSm_s{v(zZYkPv#$!gpAh}X#PdPuTacPCzZaChj z+B9g59PeeXiF&@e*Lt}OXeXOtUYoAsCb>X3wpaDjY?Diedbt4W2euJA^pJ zxv}5muEBAA&9>Q3xzBLCuf?fgqN{P^&h>D--)HNmq;mJ+n7`-Gq?Ef3$ML=G!qjqH zXJvla_DC=H1m%zIX_9i8<@UqzzMv$jvdJaF@8h^B|DBw2<>6S*CvLEj>jB661jC2s zmm3Dh@!y_0h2&VSn9k8Ti^>f^cw8S!9^)jp436cw?m=g{OK==tEuQWo7X!y~x~g3{ zxm9p{?oY=`a<|}kzi0)EYI3jOxW85TN)5TUaNHLUSXoQ%8_EmA^X^+uj{9Kkt<3YM zL#j2B<9j>Iw}}~>$#Gqj-!(rM)l!b{Iq*AdS$4LS!d z9rw&RTh0~f!uD!wOrTsFIG)pAe{i8(S~z|$`uwz|a$HwtzCCHXLT(Vkr z;Mjkxu~;v61g;$V-_VO8a(u6i`}P*gw#xlFUyWO@8;SSm)AiXYw;#{VfcdmdmA!I& zUybpYnBm}W!{hhGKNmkL$Nd!6^E8Q0$PL5ygy{;OIV~3q$Ni56GtbFQ#(8wUAHTch zrTE{6^Q^p|HEq6dxmLK>kH7D6%niAQf4J8#-QGKL8*nb1?S1}n_vIeqyd(4DX`?8) zeRyAk>z#{iqUEA659NM$(^t>s(qKNw_vou0cqLaF^Fh|5`IFzt)x~^}`x+jtKFO8A zJdf{Rek=4%ZXR4xyoZr6_J`bhJeTeG@-qp;k*kUG#cy$c@yW9J<@nwN=K=0X3&}0S`U~g#8!i`-+k*8M-mAMQ$VsjX z$~~X^+Q(UL2-aT`pnZPe>LPam^@H_yT&i+%72r7ET5zkPTxmGw$AYz0h@3m%xoE;pW+q(Z4 zxv_A(ztf?{1i4diT>q<`Wr|!@#Dn$2FM7IM4LG)wO?L;#S;29f-F!lzTthh4^I6Ro z%5mJp_AgbTrE*+XVLTdsT`sp5&*eO{`1IKt|PP0=k0*>V>L&P3Az8B5;LWxZW;-8E1!uGWM@FQ|x;Mfl~tan__3BPY9 z>c`SNr{#FggWoG!^7^bC%PH$ewa|-l4e(t4KCghQa;%peN2Kg{LyqeLyhq8smTL7|G6B`6Y@Qqy47FFah;m!7nSv$ z9Ot22H|z84qg*M(gZ0RF?^n5l=s);<`#h6=$i>1jKi;)Wcr9++*$mI+y{nT8CzY!N z$8y!;YYMrQe{eo$tmL>p#C-EykWP;K2F#DZ?wRB|qdapxakQ(o9M_w;@3+J<=WoMf zIh}Pkk6a+0%X3RlHs+H{2Dc3LJkxMHIo|)m_vmleEh5Kzb~rz8ZQ~@z^R~>lHg8JE zbwj>cVSLc}NNG9Vlgjx=yIHPs;RuiAxkZPHa@*m!zR|dNRk^3XxZj-%ib+&Mj`xtV zzGb}XA;)uM>_4ims{4=UCj4uCqc`?vQu;TP3;E^u#W|Lj^wpcnah;X-h8E7;Qtr$j z!n^dija)1o?}JLa+f$DFWv8$|XgR@Kj^{R+ewUkdmE-T*P`KznnYhT~J8qQ~Xj@m)ra zU%tINCHD^Ri?hA5*?(3pHP$hC@5jQi7v;ua9h2`71UI-U=Yw@ju7jM&aYL>S)-hSn zw?^NV8;^BN=EtfX5pq4Sj>-BKIqIQYG}d#N9|s#fk=qZ)_ZCyzJeOMvR~qf}h?p3; zk60gKyE}CMTRB&(zc7E#PWmXv?}RWvTDJTu=YsVYuERMO`XRR(j``8}bAsy{cVeA} z`ElfA61i7!od1>zOd;ou@opsc)joB$lDiGZeVoCi)5)ENWBcrwER$Sm)N{61d9G)b zn*qn~VSHVkL+&!16V8_m8<0ni=M$N~A3XBO9YT1#5A;bkJ2}3$&HPyZ%wCTDD({^h zy4O+ePw)Q@pIk!j7Ji>2+S3}XO3QIv!v3SEy{p`JgvWkx#J37^)zI!P#kruhVO8YX z!Lgp-TvT0dBHRVk-dNta1naqrRYSQw2#@z1uf5wu?kXJb)qN4t zLXPKJcpp#N;cevjUM2G*tbylme;>?QZh` z-`|GE_hBn|^_Anik?~02JV1`)oPV4@NIpcaIr4+&8SHNkmwSzNi1*;04jwJH8;gkjmEy(fqVPqZX!I!V^7FoIj&o9eeL|PV{$D~ z?%DpWt9MFn1{~LY_T@P%$MZQHZybAlL5}Cw_&wpzhp))>!*gA+PTg|mb-DR)+|T>m z@wVJ7IOa#@QW0`Z{*cbElRT7Tx#Ib&9pR7VI{hKM2dkdR?SadeX`As~^NIapKG7rDXseOxEJwEMdp+o6Z{=DD<46BFEs8+Y>eF+b+D zOd@vz&t(6v!zNV7`Y&yWxCKbA9SOas`ntMbK{Sy_Z+69~{4<{Vb%Q9P^FmEW?J|%UwZu+!uOM z&ry!&Ub(M!Ja-AXM+lGo%)3{mmDu!)4`~!M(x!BWz{`xvFq{KWdX_6*=w? z^1bp6#j49SMtCfLRtY`iX2S6vjFeaE$gPB9{YbpBfgI1JalLcFz$S7$=f-s2<=#TB z6~-^G(C&I$w~^})*9GsDKYrR??i?J;)sDR#<-*~(&*VI*iyZe|crR>3iym?gC|3pX zzUh@hzH*b{c;AihS3kM4aLkW}Vg2Q}KFRm^N-P{Kw+`X4-L>sLT<#4V+pAWtqvg1N z$^7V^YP=lpli~TRns+D3*`oZhKkvSAnjG&R;(MgSN6eB-kMNi-SL)A=cZe_VYi?|_ zKrS~N^W*xP#d7)KSU={6E|X(<;rDxH1+0?WjB*-{`q98^tsL*C=KT@dOKg>c_RCoy-}pZE{c4Bh`2HpHBRtbF zIqtvldrvnWos_$e-^X)7dv}D%@jV;%Gf@*R$dyGrm>&~cT#@7agXfTK3SXDA#qZ<& z?WJqn{;gwvyvZCPmj&lpTcJNsbuUuR8;;-guvq%}ZrK3%@cy}>& z7>@aI*D9;r7yLfH$G7=TcDZLb|HpA+$_=^YmSJ6)`EhG-UO5}A7jvDuYpsHEz2MkB z@5pX1cMFd9skVIXAomfD{l}qw#pRly9p}BemQzZ}b%W!2&d63}<)*=Lzc#IX1-UP9 zWwFkh?ptL!?ys_3oegu7Ta0#y znkI4`5S~BAiCgSj$c4hOTxE@IEoX=JkLy0sN88Jlf#du3=O=cQb3r@Fbn$4|Ma~KP zYL?|~nB(o4<)`)aJe*SGq~v7Kc97BZ~A+!VBvtRMYr4VD{C)r9k_~{MhEWb;esMK7!=ANeGy4i(q^W~?!^I%TXEw~-bcoIK5bfJxnQIV%hi>($>kQp@qBw7hg5R=;CN2;`S&z( zMGy~;6JMRnAjkc4&OZ(=$s)&f5bhiJ^vW)`1<&O@HsvekmgBkRL)h1~OOsdbBf?`n zDj88g&IR*9t|!`TE-c6Uf_M%fW`u)WEriGY+6*DZ<@g>w`}1nUO36(^zr}r~d5({ z-{N?8$@ltlThVW^el$AMSZ)FOEqsiRHD_`Y@tmYX-;bX<@4dSks@=AowJ`)bVxZIW}JVLHzDZ{*k} zmurRTxZl|4!A`l8TTI9KN0r`t<-B*Aj^l%C$qvf>xM(___Zhn4h}<2dAIs^T&Bx_# z|1iU2J2|iQX}L)VkLB6T;+&lICo?>bv;Egzl$)HwoX;?SgPLBIJ78@(#-m}<8}Z@U znU3d57ah7ScekYJcs?g;K!jX}ig0+(x^>Bia$jnij`0Zp_E@e=1Jkiwr91RYu4NO` z@%KF$6C?MjrRln%eYx-cR?exN>3FYcQtOX$!Ct20`LMoEzsU8(dEgJ|r#-fQm#YDn z9qYCcgA?428+Ur)J#e0trdp zei(-_KfcW>E4LQoFvcT6y9#orFb?BAkQ?l)$Sub>jQv)oFK%+>uzv6k_dVP^;Vw5G z<1l`2(RWTAxy=}d?ZG*`FJ2AghGKlh{8&=FiChDWuefh;J3$M%>=@_Na7>Y6%y0{f z`_1G3_PEqqE*OsEzu7_U<@jAt_FFl8JIbxZc!=+7T&vhcE*<7kT)%&sriUEgSL6LE zGb4M+Ek$@dZ?ST#pWF%jK9;NV=laWihT}Q?-irsz%|N~6{Nqr^;c{=`ct7xK$I)_! zF|K1d?eKY=-23ikJH&YOKQc+K7WUQH&jd}LCf5S>HwW%D*xhuN+&A27%6McgHdn4J z>LvH-0>96ftAX}_2;!FIVLXoniWd3V_@_Y>_9+p8m`_RCqJec^gey(EX_ zKEUz3ZOLNClEYJK7QLafBkL6-< zKMlv7TQfeBTZwXC1?9!(!ArTra9o!!8S+N1HtGk@Q|BM@LGBjH^LdE(Yb9 z^E|h#-{p9Z@ITtW#};?u#+~2MuO7m9sLGDSa^Fy%zrQ(PoO?YzHo4p;lxL17$2UnO z$9viN`+DX}D`$m%mG0)d408Mb;Kqk$k#jljUvWA1)4V?{*sYWt?@8eJ zs%56KavX2)-1V?W<>gKyzKqA_9hK#H{{g?>^KzVCI<}P;+&*gmIvtS)L zzF)@h=6tFzmjlnOh;nuJRAad+Z~>_2LGzo-eZ}vq_12sRjP2T5j_0Hg;yVc4%e0r{ zxm?D>&#I#w?@i(NbqC(-EN6k=$8wcEw!0kP3*w%I4{6^7aVtvl8Z#Y#dNMZa-3X$%*)s>jHxq8 zZa4ZFejl-AwrO(1(9f{F8Xi4UE*bg{wlB|j%#pLic!=wmZ%5CUtBwAH@%3rASgr;7 z4}KS_ZN6o4+Ylbh)w*{p`IM#EU85`u*;P)kXW7fA4lQzrELjT5c z<-B0KTuqE~c)rBdd$(MIX6AT}{qNR-`{k;)Fx?XL(|JlCma}SSI^M@vD>hUvdkxdI zA5qbm*FN5RQtnVK(=k5^4-S*d-NEHto&um~U-PT$7uQ z`5@nqDm(3#+)B&`v*SHstCsiV>@kkz`yau!k#gCw?lTYh@#Xm=xprtb_2%u_fl)`v$z{K?%a-coaM@8bYi*k$TyBlJZdGEyNGt2>#TD!rjo0H{NOy1-f%2e){(YyKhZA? zM?89NDj?Sr{Q~bbC_1dL+!6E(1JLfe)pn2@g?5+Y#HHDa%Z*06%lUq*rzPcjpxx!V zRD<1R%NM^c2aM97ea!tRO`*cs>&e!NC*X*|G z`1=+{4V0ViW4cg;x1;?~x&0$ew;S$QD@}JAu1T*ka)pnZ?mFD1BopM?JTM)9 zU;CAl`1_W6Oqa`$+Dzxoc<$40v*cVdn2yiAyLPTz!aSy9JK4VV0=cRVrel0( zq+cSpqO9ruQC_T<%Z+d|9e>}*YpdiQIGHX{2D6;nO#Km+hFa2w5l#8umI_7VY z#9QQM)HWUCu_tu9+&=89u{^IGyIXEgD>J;U$hT}B`{fRJnvU_!l=iUPZk)H^?|X7R zR4yIHR}61<&`G&9_>LIe$ZlbBkFl@D_%yge6ky@9ih`4Ioya;9VZV&nNu&b5;17+$LRKjjXcG21ofTjOGh z?!}Eem#sD(<2&_WQn{oDOvm4su~AC78#heHbhb{CT5kGl)1A(?*;qfd3P~sTB-V5% zk$xo~Ws=KjWu^;%pM8L}+$)?{VSJC4$|=|AqxoEx(?hrO$el}WK9~6sGBuyvscir5 z`c$!#Yf{j3{C$Z(+soZ3ZaV(Hh@FmdSIV1?;RW|8As2=Ap6y>)vC?w$>X_lNULN{b zR_-v`UFKWjgB9e0F#lzHpJ{Xzx!PzC7~khLtIHKcd%*HHyOoFB8|?S6-KgKSu3Rn5 z_u1~gDBMtP1;$}42Za?a=nLs36Q4fm8Q==ks9 zeXi&&x2~k=`1{Iy>LNG8)pTrMvgGrT`-XDG@GL6#mdlp!-^1J4%wO&)#<6_vHP3-^ zwPVcs%lzHtH8lSBp}pdG&A#18xf3VM@KR+m$2t2OkCl6m^Lo~BvF;P){MMV{Rfn@K zIaTiMV$;=!Ym{@Q+{XaZ@wsm-=Ezl?Y`PQ(FGu7&Ip;B^vxU2LaFN_koS$qCH*tQD zT+4xGc=_R8_gN`7*WYyI;AVIP%hl;)I;LL|n+(`9+xL-FBt`ghkNPpI5!FVj`Sa~-~%kgM3i zbQR&e&zzBSZf82C-;4$4<=(aZcekh8WjX6Vgm=5_HMvS~Oy_i#x8%CPv7Gj}c~@>4 z9Md_x{)71N+W&hzww;QSdxiSJ@Yd9dmOHlg-@{9I>$%+b)Bo<)9(yI%{gLS$kZ&mx zzL$G|`8o4<*~(9HXLp$4F@LA;jFl^W%50vsi%gHo}VZpIom}rfY-vHg9hycek?X7~jr0ipWjH zc!=e1UqvUmZ;j0G=vpLlmaB;I2Gix#{?c-OShrw34;bbu_Xy)Awi`7(D#|s)IF`>X zZdp~XUOh7&EH4?(RF~V1c^=d6&2$gBSnM0{xyPH;m1~D}2BzQAF%9M3Vc&qyJy)x# z+zza(u)o}uyrta8>SlcT+`4Dl$jzy1I_Af?sh)DXFc0AG^R448=g`s&kNwu(nqB2m zB3&5XmJ&X4_t9*l33v*YDXdYI|L{B1gUvYbEGH`s2B-Zxz?1oJokzNn=Ea(&Pa zF@IM#50u-8bxi&~`!oyXx?nw#Zr!ORa<*s>7!UVX%jJTQzl=x!v}@!-iB^$red4@H&iRAcf3RFVE3+;Bx%W)R-`CJ(m)wvr)3N=FDY;K>+d&jLbIf#M{`M?xaX)U{Ss(jCOuuUf6Uo^fHN#{2wP=z|t^?{DpS$ZrO1Vy0CuDd> zmZp}gmePzb)9+mE^m19TPRMwy{E$u+@wAG%hTi^$obyhxtLsR1@re! zh8y3lq+HYwvmD%ld)Baw+`8wcE0ooIu3v}pa)TmGX9<_UqOx3Xw9kC*s`=IA%HKD` zvqpF=U2DpHK>1^M=N{FPb42;0yFa&{++Axk{YD{On$~P2cd&rzqT#CiY$`Va>!M6Q zhXXC;QX}6sAiN&~+RBAsJ(2O4Grxn}NQ_VWBD}#{JIRf~{^ek}nO(cdP03`&_bpuc zY(3?k<~AME@5P1Qaz`+KyN2-G$NI~i#<=MRT=NP8XZ<7Z*vZVl!~tRFw` zT$BsN{D|$r$e^ooPchFMfOJXJ>4sblZ}a!jITgJlcNymdgArclZxM1Eac+~pZ)nUz zxx_fX%l1B3?r6CNDECaidUapO6+(N@@*LXZwcLX2W_%|g9)pIzm&^3i>@SDGeH;H- zZpCBMvD{~z7%TVclIi&SzAUnM5I62je%N$u50)28EVp%y>DZs2J(NuD^C8o*9^G$b zDc1?>yDWe1Z&J(k!MuX?!*gzWx%nx~bY{AYs+?JFGV-Gj(z*UyYq{@*|2@30H96(d zV_Y{bn>oH}x4}lv74!IEa231emm7?I&ckqv@)eTn54RjH!|ft+Hu!zp;O@?LlDm!d zwQq1~8#>FC!8!wZs?Cz!+jssP|muqS*{r0^b4BGjqhi=S_p4N z=azCO{*Zn>3b&PefOXre2+!h`r`%+mKVbT;+U+fO7w_Y^A-t(0y2|b7ZpMT8Hrw4t zt}@zZ){pHOddu;B?Du%?v3q^xej=S&?x(LC5dU2C=PU=d{fEev8feCY;Z?0RLXPi! zGT$-q3-oq^P5OCT?j+tPp-Xu#Lhc~i``JjBt$`2a5@P=G9nO09 z6FDE0Q$9Dz&F6B#7;jLc&N^W);Ge26wef0kz*QT85`1=}^_#)Q>`|NDjN@n{m zS9HHQ{$sll8)6X|H|{*T&2;Q9PgPAUXMfgoOqY_8$>dH){kyxc-%`#C=inQ_P{pot&(xSa>T=4(>>+k2MOc-C!Vy~p$9``T*`}`hVJ2(z- zDb=o&bI~4Md-@M3+PSB{V~>tSi#rr|cJS-&`d`2Am~FhPRsG-H>qhZzeWXg}Kg-?4p7HrUB2Rok z|M}0q^S%6k_Pf$u{UzW3N_WTK=X=)>W;@1I)) zC5`_bm7IS2J8b@w4vGJN)4|6`hW|e2eDfDdhyRtYC8x*#dsj;<{f>XM6Hbq`k7MC$ z^V{F)mngoTX3B;1`d|6g*~_b)UtCfZQ+R);lT@A${_+pmv*{>3uCeSY@;q?5(} zZ#sGXKAj3wdHMVDGGpR@p8xy!m-)~0)BOKF-?wj82>x|&aar)@$KZ_ z>6HD>JN?chB~mLr{&wtFdSCn|ccW!|zWy(lxOt+Pas5MIjH`Xqn(H!7jZ(^0-DUP? zd~dm5bXvL5wsAT6f9(nHTU$9Rvs{q{alh>U9Ph`d^(MPqXi3xY{mt50ZRC30Pi}>qc;T8Yx+83@YH+QV*cz^W1c5ZUBx|@#oA7`HDF1Mzd>6p&3FKWxx zcQD;Kynk(9y1racJ=5_!0CoY5DYf~KG|9> zEV-G#8F8OuzNmI`XX}`b<#b_oFS($JrsMn4PIjH-dhItIzYkL_x{KWWgl7HVeXOGo zc9(PPV>;e1JZ)D`xem8X$NbHBskdBk3A3K_K9zHs{pEfRGabu8b&mmZ%XXTsEAEvz zI&H9AtIwu$#eG9TPln0mFY)i~)yjsWFZR{jAs(N*u9Le_)C`aHtzDiFx#>7h z%=UE9tu1oRaNdC5c2zLL~EkIOZ|`+~d|=2QODayf0x-^cGoS>HS>XOHs>%(sTqFUnObZHC8meplnF zTn_A?@Scx8iEqfg$N2@`n|>qowp=OfpYXdSx5h=txncc(8}1(quJusvCeAOgJ;;{s ziQE?K&$52xy!lM79QIFmA5F^TF>;5o?zRc-T6Fifa*rurE-{sa~-Iw1L7#*EpR@`{<$pEt)@cY_MJCn$H;5|=%Cw$`I6mmV+aDy`K5u?v+EXC)Vr# zF}`xhBexIh^^9-Sm%Q=65Bb6Rw%|lTxfEE3=e_P_X4}gJ4Km}K7xzT@cW{&o$9g@# zlWXl%LXO|5Vn4I!M=7~jtk<)hbUR;G?(#76_pu(edR{?pHNxXPI2-p?kz0&<&i3AN zM0L4**iYsC%-h^NTK8gg*TAja&lkr!pQv2|eW;QO_3^Hv7R|7dpy)MfqbrzqYuG+&Gjgj$bBq?;+O> z^Hs)oOj%#K*(e8$hkJ^?a^+C2+GCzF?nZyPFK~>9<;TJC4$p0c`zz}o8!mSm<&XJs zV$x{2T_}Hy$DR7)O?1AqvPMPvpE+fh_$6>EpJd+DVdFK7D`|V=nqW(~xPknqN7liW6djX%H{2N0{}J?fs};Y2`xUSU>Vq$|zTLq!}LT<^D8Tf9p8DsvnVEZWY2~d~G)6 zmPrr>B5^@F%?*BJfkeT+*E zpLUn4hJKan5y|G(k=u=V9_NGSJR8W3!@Ppyh#C$}|W@$K0ZYGN;q$hASc!Tbn5I$v%P z9LEu!vlh!ufa7<}3wKy1cL(k^#wB*eSIHGdd&T?TeG{&g>kP+ucwE~c=L^UDXtR2= zTrT{+WN2S<_uDR47j7QfwItPd%LT#lJ19jm@0a7f{k*Te&67iN84wTNm+iVMRF3zy zw#9s_^7xZ-{7ykuv{yZvg~>I=bD4f?3to^L4aafGgU^@cg5cN=4Lf~Jt_>Xf=@avB z{nq6}{YcsEo}53zyNrArP&QI-E*#6%5zEJNE8sHTFy|k6Bc96Dgk$=Z+4NGbD9Q`J zZ&!Ty8@a}C3@?AZ4|22N7>`|fzQ|pHsYy7aLkY4hb?BujXPKU!Ht@cSnd-X z?<*eHKDivfzs&DapD30}j^BL_#lFG$1Zm|8{vkh-Ud|xb0gm(T>dUjpje_HMxz_Z_ zF1Hen@wizvx7-HcYhGo!o^U*;u&1k= z+#)!JcesqZTr)WSzP*-p&es>S{iM#dXSU)(QnYFR8TwA0I>-oT8&E-PiTri)m zSg*C*OgN6)3+HYxH}DttyLeoB>m?Wbi;MdXGQU?AeYCTjAI3S1$FYF!a)EHGF^+Ke z>LoWCj`?=HxS!nfU)=BFQ9V(AxfX~A=L@!12FZ1RONRPkxpJ7?Iyi>+*l(2FG`Q{e z&F^#Et~yTc*LM7O@o>yENiN+l3PjQ+W?3%HPwlZ*s}uSgr~${wcTF)BJq_7}uTXnP^VjxU(u8+m|mDlgZu0J(m+O z&-;+pQf?6(zjL_tVQRU4aAomb;N&~f%LU^ePR@ItOw26T8IJk;tW7q#&^BheaNK#n zXfC-?txd;uvzFg&Ga4c6XdlZ%14aau;g=;an+-(t$ z*XDRKcdC+d!{C^2)9<;+Er;WHyxgX8a&Peam~Ul9Rg!xJ_Y?E!EDfv4C4gf+nrKr~ zt_s|Fv{xnG)RNl-=ZyN6=x9B;WQZ@%>kXLMNbViNW4`6;*i0@T!ecpoU80p-Cxpj& z%JxL<uF&<-T^pwku=W<;tSC&3< zo^YJk9(?RCcLtv?6q1X_Z5!& zuv_mgl?#Al`D+)lLhc+K$Jx(^u8}(i$NCmrXT6*);>&h&V$Mx+ec<@q+A&+@cEItw zj#Urslv@wSdBBh9d*#^f^0{N%9hB>b@ZMs+f86n?++{eHgS9`8%e{tUe{}Q0X}RJk zf6TX3%g)I)f%8SVU(xrHTnaem+m&kJa_m3Y{|08fDQAgzu)PnCx+B*Nj^7RIxZ}Ru zcsRzl+_)&Y{%}mc_f4YZI>51=T$cZZTnOA9tjA{h_)0D@(vS7m{lq)DEO0w8pB@tU zNv;^21=_!XoxjO_!0+SyZF=dSa`p(X2-?X_$r8`oN`m(GGJWd zKg~w&0vy|o+->vAt%PHJOW{yR?jsz_sr!#2a!fz2zg#)*B-ak<%yX}AmpRL^95CN3 z{9NR^;`i}AulH5T$yI=3x|~U0NzNaR*A3xq zMY}fMrIQ@%2lq|4B=082`A2TNClYbPNA41y%l0Mv+TL=^H;yMA2KmdSLB5^DdfhYk zfpU>}Zl`zVc>JUFP&o&L$NZi1Y=j)^5#v!|-x#^J2(KaL=P##EkShYme2Z>BMQ$_7 zOB1x?d!1&;O@L#0wzZfocM6W>H1)+mIcKCF<7*qVP_8c=IptCzUF!ET+sTZ!HgZvT zZV8mrY;W_)ah#YN@$GZePR<+8<^25XtRiwl;d0|VaK4UCawFl`zLYNMEawi#d9qs) z7r8ue?@?a*hP%qugyVUdz~G8<)!~?LsRve-YlL);M16~JuOZhCj_bCQt!v5EfUArC zeA?5xa*N^k{@b!W4dpJvv7fm#v8kK|;>-8O*0pRYmluxhV_4iXuG5W5mkUava|eK)FxlzfNu zC&FVt*lXV&Ii?@?H9{sIkV}d5W4)Z&>WEwcIOf~jBFE)A!llQ#!-TP?<^ z$hos}T;KhM`ukwUs6IzmMa|;0ib7CLz2>sBcTt+>zsahUPwc z036#%zhfWe3d6lZc|JV*tK19BD_H*ScKjjt6YePH-EB)IoEJClv`6}}f6JdVsa$b5 zu4jjar;y`5BHNAetE}V(B0R32X6~0x?l>IF%d+a3JWzWd&;h+GGh7v|gDFOG6tM`!tKaK3~b z$3x7IAxlcj%|^N6_^NVGSGnzQT&Kxep3ZxA&Iog6FcFMmlwsn*hi8Tjhj4a?|1XKFNe|U%85KET`vJ^_62e z;P`aE{{XqBNEhbEQ@0^G+E#<&Ezsvj`a{b}B zez3-Sk6ijDW_aB1Sy}vm+~TIDW4^tyI3oAHndw-rdY?ZgcfPslSl?SG=X^4xpXfUH+n+GaTQ`vaz}ug}aY)c$tfQmD^8;`-0lVewWLGcyNDz%h?3;vc&tWR;tY=d!-}4$UEV z4UX$MqwD06<2;JzfuHBhC$|IP@x8V|Zwt!toCnKk`%rtilE{w)Sg(tis~q>~m~ZDUSCAWobh(6ei}A~=$Z`Ld`8L+Cy4(hY z$8p58svdG<;YQ%StX&!E%5i@`0Q0wlQ4QqoAw0%+>5e9H+u_(B%^cf8E)b6G{ir5w zTX%QIc%I1kN%@;7UK54k5OSIoEh-F)RZo@9SC zsBB+3Yotq1fAhVaEhz`cwT9z7%Kr9XInF;A-^c5R%kkV7+pC3xN6WE1pGSK-xz>2O zGx&XPZOr!quVtSsmjwC2d%>PPpC-qB2+q4R9+)M^eLA*7j#KB#@q8H9C+oIZAXgQ? zkME&9E4oCE>&hGttxm99j`MDwQ&@j_m0U5TAM>rsinVeUaNK84RDI9;_u_{~S zxKC05yLH)der;s4%W{Dy&G7j9dc}mx<$q{8 z{=Pd?Z_0iDf6d)>Tvun~|8W!x+krV-CWt85t%!kOA&P}cD+YpqjolrXsIvpxi7{h3 zyEnUQVq%M3KR$2tJI?F&`*qXbAGeR&+qpft&biLHy3U)w-Iv;H*5xkCHOyk%|Hl4D zOx!iOOgWA2CdS7vPKlG7VQqAb$48etat})x-5j*r2Yif|v#4%#T;Fte%Oklq^^A_| zu7i3%lgrw~=$MZ@s=Soz-_q#VJ_!BrMs8?3qjN)j*?;#3xeWN85YuVd@hPKC?bAIt z@5UePgI>+k$Q8prNRET_D41Su63*vhKgIH1Cb`-;pNsB5Y&N-kIG?L1#`%K=W|td^ z^SL-)64M~J+*q8?#q$^)^5v7Ohx2au{LJGE$~A=Jd0)3STg!FExj5`^y%}yRHx%dM za9kk7(_U^2&WYKIa?SZCN4X9-Cx-Rl$7f~aw!$$V+3l_%*AwTzOhEdZKe>urx@7y4 zP4g}+@5}kskc))lJo_J|YsuY!WBFV^rHfn~9M3gPb;3=~1N(n@f7j>_uHG&0o&udUxdn?KzKaQ_uRe+Ii4rO`Y6rxUUDvY&hs%( z=Nc3#$8&Z#uiK#FKsj547mfb;&~!uPeBc=09p^^K4TCFybl?y(MlJ@9=NK;OGeM5$ zZ{$RH*WIGzS|dE3+r2v9bh!{XmVafQM$3)Hdt-Uka@Wst_fc*zf1H`TKrRRJFV8*C z>bFF$C>-<0@KVd=mc#KJ!@4O}%jHEpIL?*p_&T|8IL4#Mf(>#z;aHxY==Q7JL^#G{ zan0>=55D3~WcyvN0^S?*Ww9H3U_S{1`=3h^=hhkPdmHQFlFb6OQq{-zJk>Zaf#BgS)~p zn;f4r>%oU9vddZFy4-iy<#;Z+eJF=`f92-ql`Eetyf3XI%MeyjZbUL?s#p2mayeVe zb%A3(FJx&e$NHS>OYZ(vTrLdZah=SPUmWCi!*LvGS9Js3(?B6x0O4C@Ys*4=H@Gx9`WV6v^seL<#^5_ z_w`o07bN$!bAa5pbdh6vVZAkLbf_H9|Ks~e-zGwCF5%y43Ha*@OEN-dx|+j5%=W4oC1`>nD~kn4qX!10ng z*C)%deBpN*TCJNVcN5`pUai^SXt}SoBkVkWmSaDP`NO5~0=dd~E-X)5KV2*r1jloL zHt&j&n*;X*<5#buR>{S}@w#{X*U9nRH?~Xil-(e=2H|m?{-jjD%AJPeIQoTC+vKjn zalWk9lAUtz;Mfms(qoU@5;&d*Z|!S`ax%+TzUmcxu zPi{LL*DW0gekhj-@8ccXodv2tm2-n*J7QYq7jo=>@H-rbuD+IIx@Y}6bP3cMc}zGUv4~IM2_Px94|?C#752$;c>lQ znN!8(8ekll@AvFn2f33NA7}nJ7+6N`l#g*7o$Xk!;uVta59h{n+|lc4Wx3dn#_-tA ziQ7_LZa%&T#P?QfgtOdUoEy)0T=l3cHyq!i;`;GX`P}5j@cE(MuXVSf+(V3`^Zf>G zZXy?tarB9pH|RdhQ*IE>muEcIH*F>N6yL*Oy&6}rt=v6~x3fM!^3X@l1>@*;D6i6N z50GnzadeLRTp1H2=ZW!go==$I)kV$%<6NxYZrFv&Rfl8y%IZzH+#NWsqZn|or(6%z zN6a5ZXZDqQ1jqLg++~0q&jV%om!awqIX8sI^>7n1jF96v9Miq?#nE!PP_A)3h|7xc zauINI(7wtaIazKM9Mj98`qSii?lhm@_8+6=9wI!(<8=HSIrba54)5XC`EslWIquVN z++w-OC?}a-Y}&@i)rI5z6)&+$j{S=4n8z9Tey!YYgvaxD-ye;Yy9CGm@x|wEmWzYq z{?&A0+vIreG~lPoD04i#B|>xyR)1nz8l2+d*ON=xvgmbab6?M8do`gwCgsY zo*5I_Q0@TQb&N;d`c350pyPriM$2(L zoA2YH%Xqoe|{^xfS>h zG{?;r_u4FHgY|3dpRcO9O>PI)ukrcK$gorH9Li^ow+ElyEf30_6*zv*(8ga-ncs-?{VX6Swrpx_4>7(?-lmdk z(A?;_&;Qx>baLI>7#+`l@f@5{u9TnAF&@FLS>;M2|1w=&$Z92*1NpZj%7du$IpxkE z|1#Z|TJ)n_=49=rFU_;p4J{xy0Qr~e$K$FNk!ykc8-RTIIGv5$E3~h;4yE}yJ2`te zuFL&#aY?yla2#jN5LQ~Q494MjZpG~y<>l6*+~E7Dk*TuWF_atJr(Wn{HM#sKH#k4o zF{Y+mMU)3jr&)T{kt>Gsfa&U@i>ur-xK8M=?$6Ost}e=rpOLOI+;W$D1jqc_Z$mRV zwsV;N3Jq(S6duYK)`RCf+sJV}63f%jpM2!%pk2cAsa>D@%Poatcn9})kmI~*C+t_t zGo!PdEyCmb*cBA=#rtFXxnad{xvB_{&Nf|7IexE=@%V7Ij~vJA*zZXh(_fD3uQ*=f z&}Xn*X0&r$a9+V(*Wq$p&&qssCHH7Ku5+7=^!MoQIJr)^F4LdgmPv9y!*QLA-_St}4K5rrba{#$!_PIdYrf_*_oEohNq{t{$#?_t+x2yKqcbjpi+ryN&e1a-(qQ zN;$5xwUgdA6*=@L#`si zWBGEX$!@tOaIB{@7Tzz%abSLDzTMM9avTri_hRPlJ|=er*JZshE9!*YNH~sXAM!sV zw+oK@cCwefAjkB=b$v0ZuE?buYHXMAeIz`&F831Gqdm@X^ylO6%58>Y zy1MH1K(0LMU-oOGn>>-*g!-4`SAMmh%jG~jk@dnw-`8>ryp7L=-)k#w^FHai&PK;_ zcl!;qxu$lfi;K~5-n4Pf)N+Fw8y)lc=1LZFHH#Y^`{$b)W|AwH$>?~0>y~7btD5ll zel^qjN$!V8Uq8Ft#Jxtx@}=fqx#S9+HM$^t=d9hZymHN-7#;hKjeQEreK0r1<2~wM zduMAoGqbHb>>%MHUmQdhJ)yY?S0m#U>PJifP#&ZFh#v^6?=q^l`u#>+kRGrB%FckAYn zNpe@wkN=NyW9n2nt1iay24Ftmp6^V#_2|d*9M^94bL8q_oea~JO>!@= z-<0tfH)X5b2=vdHu9o=kkPAltoZo49QF^yr8uYt4FSIPhez|dQd~dV=JS5i${cgr1 zef%-Gmv9^pv)g(??i|X4eOP}VHtdYtDwGE-Uv4+JAm@bfI-X;bJNp$mGn5BBKWzDx z>vEluo;gpFIp(HZqi|zB;=aJJ?sw%*BRz9prDM$pauboB`95}KdLlOx>6zud-Nghs zTclHdcjVr(S8~0PPC5P@+UuR%T%=R>L#Nd>n`dfwS|OcsTsc+tRB{=R{+O|6ZO3IysEl`qW{MA zNWF`em*e-(+3!jHvXWd-Gh=>ZJWg${Cf5p%@i@?@rd)^C#_+gKzkl^Qavgn)j_Zrl zrgoKEhxrB8A5RZAkUN9&isuGJD-sj`eS5tn+xgFHCL;%C)rU=Xp-;A-5dm8p~(~>dfo}V$i$>?7Ww0w}{&~M~Aw=EYR%caKrFVofd#R+mv&~M~=q%0w? zKAL;nTrLpx5!>yT7NnJnLVKL!&)GvV z$TfoF{(zsWWRbH<)^7jOIAOGfrQCMZgDhW~oXsJ}`QM88etdx?dE{QAea~^Y(h>RP zwxAw-hwuE%b}lTp0repJWggjz%1uK($aPv_*NVw`q29WScFFLyCFGvMaeZ-~gQeuY zb}q@x8Rg_wpuJWF?SmWMmE`iE++aI+?GP9pv(1T#x1Mt0JA{YM~sb zJ8`qC+#d8RSbvO)36ndD__CkeE2M{9Zlu4^g2s07q4Is?dZON9d))P7Ke;+6pE-Uo z_3$9MSLj#p+^sUxhROYga=Z-IdARzHl5;@%^T^wJ-p9mW*IJsHnSKv&87J5AE9LmF zmXqZ6As_L5)Ve%HZY1Ktd6(WxXUKIyK4LrZXxMDIbQsTJJpO7hPtF1Pi0QyO_aeDg zsNeWL{Nk3%<-v8?-e|veg`6v{+XCg9ZND{gHp%KEQ@O!-3~0DsZWHPwmM=~y)jQxb?$k&Xp{$BZ|mOvvRt39ln1Tj z{*v=YdBAlUapt$>?4BFv^SFMuWXwIe9GGwP!MW2;bsx&jzH1DR?XV$tp2(g3V07tG zf3%qRT<&=`<8$UZP>-6g8nQprWu zGCHpB3@DT?DLl;ku^hj7ErZ;C)JOK1kFr~sMeeYd@wyDpwS%SHN~BZvx137mlskm< z$8qJZ&-2J_L;5?4_CcxN^2<#{`g``o_}#vIBMZwNL_Mf}J;V30uYjH0 zNz^l(uecvyLar0~3oQRUe=Q|f0p%al-^JnO$@SzGp?%NuExP$Okn=~oo#!DhDCI8q5RUzxGiJ@? zcs?QTuWjy@N%x0wB)XD!z2r(DJ#+nmt+|g}KRA8|HS=+Qxq9`D`HkyJ%`SG3%Y%Hr z68+x->AT2zmN$mScFxkhA#&DMM#uL%pij7*T|uMcdf-zfddl^}dLQ=l9^dFA7goU- z9`jp|`TgaZI~yJQ$sN50%N1}lI-W;yE&p)2V63ZWd&u$fD7m98jo~pJ{Je0STr;%C z*^X#Dc#>RS%wMwnvu`w2?o_+KuluF`etxT&a=+ucd~Z(YXUmm9zlZJEn0fQ$PNLt# zdGR#Ci{vJw{mgz|!-~t~>Z1M3bzfE%E9H8jeCGSGxxPj&3hiv3kGbNP^>V9mUB0*Y zA)DkLq5kkfyQxBxt#UDNOs7G4cgPjx{4eU6w(+~KiKOsQzi}Po#&Kulj=>$kdM=;V7m}RQ-|5-ZUtl_Ip5uy~ z8}d2NU$Z`WU2X^RIoESVPQEF3)x&sQmVZ~8-j#dS>i>3A@;s2s>1}k3$Jwio<*faU zj^Fb;YjjP*^7Z}F^V3r+3LX$X(!$XT2>mvcZq zVtM7aFs)omq*L}k+J!7P)=N($$ydnH()F<*uQ9#q&nWp2?9E9{Q_n zhwWIHN3Js3S8IW*NVwqgX6v; zTZ@u%OW_{kJ6LTlm6ChX)|gINu63DLPHs8I;W&<&KCqJ9dh`Qkp!~~Jyqerhw1+(5 zjz4vhdxm}hzYkk?TWz_huawWHhu4$qi+YCb2(Km${h&ghoqWVy_!e_3Ab_+x6){ka&!TaA3#e8Nn*@$N>){fOh;=g2i~ zVRUTQIa+@6t*UIHX zyM*<0)3&j4$6bxrrL!rtS?+diqhoxBU)?JA9^vu+nl0WTH@1l}Jf_pPKD*_Pc^Vz_ zQK2IH<+>&7f0*(I#}8WEJ0$0g{tU-eI;=e=R{`x3_6NuGIw3b2>x&uR@w3jzy+yl( z-)-^ka6v8;o(tnKs@N5|c(fB2Vjd#?!F9RPt&Pu*_cwFhO}TPtCvrSzPmjBDz3}{& z4>vLAs zDJpjmj_;#yc00M+7!Tt-`-AEw<#t#P{25RwcPe zXC!LD+Jk$>sd%m|aqg?!0)><{W8cNmWO=uxFU za_`|TAs)xm^_M#c$MeYUoE;<=iu}v`5wUcbTn6M{cciQ8Jx9rPhvWX*V=m*8?hkJ7 zBV#|gLe5EY$KhC>-nlhJuGU~*ctvp5q%=DsPh8 zg7COsXm$Fnav$Mr&<`kd@i(~!SZB%iQEuffIj+-Ze<4S|eR4$*9{Xj{jSk7BgX4GX zPUk-+w+Qjz{IvO_<8pi8j$+(r;I7khr{Q>xmtWL*xrInC9N+!ucUf*E9QSjsE`43@ z9vsJGe@%H)&IR|k74g_{@{U|zIF?uDi|)%cgk!s8L-=F4U^upSXVprOI|#>i*fq;n zay+MFD)Ra2xVLilNC#XWJ7vR1x$JQ1k)9_FGhb|KpT5KWasR?v&$M#o5FYD~Ohq%u zdBgpLc>MS>vs`yLz7MnPmU5-xIG&UHW)8VinD1eE(0FAYxpWwZ<2cu~@ceS;(f=?* zJbtZOSZ);hAB;z6+M;r?=zlQX|CHBGt|0m!TsP9~b_uy6t&H^t=OGHMC?!|h%jmej z;&w zle>#{C*OyMZ3DTYXm@gblXqr!xiuKSXL>1ep{bk=+RsdLqs$ z@#Q*z)0MpCnjpP!KhDEc{&HOrU!KEv^3V2i>(I{Te8u)To#ZB=ojn)pRW@|)DrbfE zF6XV{fjhujl5)^7vO^p;DH_AbYVychSAdj-dI6(2E3ZXMdE9FN#s zdzf5Kv`<-1Zm=9B7Xrugs%&qKm5YYs`}kwSM7i_0KaMwT9yUd;D#GLV^CHg~a(&^L zKQ3F(mfHcx^)%(4&y{P1`ke8|xM!gp_kFUQEH`DTTyE4`Iq}`_#_d@8fBY-{gkFv3+%+?k>3ra9sBg zpJSigDLBUC%H4x<@o>!NJGUH_dxz)3a(CvK<8mkAGT^+C0$!)(cEZg-`{jV$dATCE zzXEXg-&~R#0>^y5`S3M4o|nsbc+ZZLn}P5+E@0K=j@)FpCK%W2TlKyipEJvi)fpel zvAxFneC*|Ca_m=dpL(CwFXj0C0FKi%>Hk*lD&oO*tZk!@a>dbJV?3tkH(z3EclLne zcwL95Y2 zay-|M>8i%5d~(MT9-p7pqC#@qx5)M0sUm)ov&3_@I%gcWXj!|MTr)V%I~U4cLM|AN z=bRM1%?a@=3b^(AgTz2$}?Jf7p=T&ka3E4a`S78XMXB<<}n?eAG- zK1i+r9Lu3OCx^=UA|2#GJ+pt|NV(Z?e16j-#>(x3V|nFPXQJFHxM`U0G0#3lj^CZ* z`4NA`O_zI(@L2v;*)U74CY}r1yFU(}E63-|eTE;JFO;i<@Ho$Ytmsm?JaEkCaW9t3 zwTI()M4SDq<)Y!Z{&dugU*s0T@qMiAxKS<;j^l~>s%(+t_j}mB-<#<-xv$kn7FT|k zdyDoO(^ZExd*yQC{W2aC1|F2#i}3iIZ!|tCH|{HLP=Vue7Pv0=AB}!=O0EkW=RbUQ zpOfQxzC3rP%9KlTjd6dhKcf7v$yJAI`qWrY?=2fAw+@c&_C9Iu$Z=kh>jhe!iI=lN zczhrEmp+oK1;_TrpdQcUcwP|Gy-nSha;p#?`-3r!-^!)I`{2IMjDtSPrNsCPoN4=k?W3lSgh{3!`H^91rG`b8BaGEO!f!FC=%{-{|116@yVKzW#z_UJdEw3w{8{XQeu3K z@1t_gs&f0_xW7B?l_WaWGWVr@ zF~`h%%Z>iZb+ev~lxq&h{#KF21LZEjaeY(z?nC8RZ!sRL>Wq{dityM@Oq+eI++a99 zzr}GA{d@k&Ny!N~=SHHN?aemsl^<%k- zXkYQYJ;;_I_dLHbJf6pMXZK6FT*Zv;EY=Hb>it%3c{!uwdG$L>f0SF}WON))ob@o} zGE=+L8~e8ykM66|$X!P|Ww}uyB)yz%YvXktF+c5GCbL|1AEP^l^D+N;olVXk`H1b3 zl{>S`jm5k!-J6lQcxjHx=z{z7Ln|_2q73{+#7>8fA7)^hwlJLgIM^lm5j80}*2v%XNmPcFgN znBQ3b{gMzU_u9|s*pF{y(MfI@)~oQ`g)x5y%bjar43F<4a8ft9Xw)A}SI3%km$O8_ zk#4C~Z@INd_w2`qo{yAkiuBBR;`4I{$`wbyk@5H#G*r$L{YI|)zh7#kTnD6QmZt^Y zjgcFH^vv}FE%#55D~R%i=W{tlMJ3%I$`{Tr-0+z$S0!2h?Mv;UZY5{Qbw_$;KHv8C zXStPFZ^3vRKDa0PrrRjD9Q6_3Z}sE9%DqNrVFQ$5s^~d2Ef6B!oy>LIaefv{#8<1W&Z+ffDIXR{m z#^a6oCApI5@AG~9b>ga=FC52DFFm>;Hwo#K>AvxAx85u0pT4#GER}cGjIUce6!V9@v=tu3wIAOO%Z{*CdUzg)+FS~w_<9O54LdJ9M z##c@mV`_KSM7_#!kPT_l$TdK{%6XD0r!3_1Azj5H9>2`bB**b4zPIKf+2rPcDE0(*DFXokt#yAq|tq!XS%C$gv9GCjg*IMp9?(aX=$++2m z@&2;l`9^S_*bFy0o)gV>`=p>oaw8BP&s|+#(L?Sx zIIeq$vuG~Ibvzs=oOr&KTr9$4{abKlTREN+&HPb5(pRoJ!ehBxvO%C6*R8WYZT|Axe>s1H-0v9Q;QV=w*k9!) zV0?q|nBIT8TyONZ_}!{0HGh|T*UI?(*#8}xdavAMw8!~Aem{IbZWqS&enfk`&*UR= zDbUX5I+WPff68USbK(43QR`E3-SJ$w54=j{b8?N*9%8%XOzKN=moaY3a;V&at8!N{ zF3R&fJjdLSTi?$3oCB~wKHUAbTm?KomTT{F#>+iKzn1AL=k>#P@Y+t5#8`kOT3joePOcX__NdE*aqZ(AFm3&%@tTBclXYIknL^W*r-=5wj# z2BBP=kM>aQxfXJscz%u0{;Sm?lUxX%AM?k4$82&5cz%q>>i1T11(5z&f27NnTW%hn zGutnfFXffvz8&sgST?tyoIA=trsq5U)^Z!s@8Le1tu<`rcH{jr9lS_mFXxQ%l=aN6 zBMx%e5gyCacTr{J`k~y2LizGxQ3bhXC^vYXmUT!KxlPTC>5utsd+8c-9w<*)&xAd9 zmRo~)9F7BL+EQ1psh{z>d>^d`y2&}C{;h&>`Q!B($@N10%ksH)b`QA>crF}2eP`2L zZX5cSyuTlxwvro&`j_i5&&0NsD}r*8`&_T|@|8Q%*7#gFt`b{4P%Z(_kLxjSrs^oy z2G5W27<;6P+#EbV=JTCXL*;lL;|aWvzRM!y+>n16kI0B#a%oWiG9T@%5Gfaja+2wE z<+}lLZIOT7asKo2T|?yZBfs%|oE|kot~>G@)0K78F>+0iuC^mzRxU6>?f}vi<2%_g zN^TnJbM7Mzd^=6XIUbb z7tfFBD*kMYTrNC6uB$J&V3k}ro(tc{tqtqsGGl&==N)&dOCs`r~s>G5MmLJJMfEtRE`f;;P(8q`&`&NB$df z4oH7HF|HhP>y}(0JU_jmx)h`sh&?j6P*8IMb=-^i{0Orj|>RAD~J{V8r`$)B?h+I~T|FJwRG1W${@K@Z7fZ}pDab3p4uB?MxON7UCdd$3x-0yIV z$GTJHlkN}WKAc~zy{NKWMmV+;-6E>Xg~Bl&wzZw*7Qk`5?s|^8a@XM)59d3sa;f3U zp z|HkL{!wVm|9jF($EhfO$H$b6z&@A~y)-8qam9`%|b~2h7tk z9)+HU%e6(h#`GMuqo>>jlxtjnKYCnWxk4yk_ z<@o)XDkvw{9vUt81mW?!jE!cFm*cs=%pcZ4ljT-oo`mO{)vP#8&JX1a_jN2x8!a~t zj^{UJKRZV*8}bpq12|&Ie7PZT+!s@&$6~oRaBN?_sv9HciG02k<0Zf3SS81EaacYt zzO`0v4#MMj*u;&oa+ly(e@q#^S*|d~+gT4@Zm~_y3y$+v?shxnzBd2i`DV8qY9?fi$_BRJ0MwyttgZZ90m7xxTj+~JL9RNU zAJ?C*SaC(J8yx3*-bDT-HwljYD6@vQF=Mz8;HN}fj{!;?=4e&x}Ot6 z-~EFo<<&VbtZQJGlAV3KbP4Yr9NzZtAN|Mwl=9Ox?)m-c+xX(Voavv~zP=S4lyT>@ z99d0)I0S_R2ReiYhKC0_1O)bQ=oaAb5Z1eccbIS2aEHKNzQOsCmXF0l)9G zncQ+t|3x0RUV2uGpP_4X>FDRst73WY@?}eO>DaYxRSew4%GSSe2t$fdbnPj61`|d ztA2Z;BW#LJiELiO#2mVZhdF#XE*<^CBLe)37f*~$$?_!~6XTUE+~oiG`5LiH<1fC= zbf)#vr4C~Y)Tn)>RXa;>UE_ZXKlqogQ3JD9eZPu_@!HyM5lr8V*=vlCqyJtbCf~8BAa&)QJCy{>fms8@u zbqVa+y<^uv1!Z5}zI-M7QeU+H+rNC5&{zK{b>ja!CH_{r_3PNxAv7?oy|?M9>p%bF z|1*UV7U&-m7VwXM6fWW z_i7dDBmrZpJC`w_}Mi ziU0rYzfvats8ix^#}fZ8ee#N?FiL;ty)ewr51fB~&Km*yOgZ-R{eRzc$dnk4sakhR z{N2%%|GoVp!V~}bTYi~ZMNWyoyLU~@Z-L&vVSe8dikVsFPvQ87NBBkrdWUxI@NMCI zE<^mn0)0D&h9pMs+rlw@{lY2n_osOI`-SxK{+3i@YR{R%2@UBP7?$|wxBmKEUi*iB zV&~JfwX@Pv5X_F5xT^!*fdf{ptC14EFzYfq(f&`b6)P_&fP?cKnxNn7AoT zJ0<@9lzvQ!G4XHz{#VMxA8|_j9TDd1ANU>VC+(+jg2TV(ttXXzrm#N0H`Bd+PE)mg zBYYG8`pv(b5`VHx>H6RN^QIqkO8ou3<>{B==GrwpBCNZAM8}Y>rpx^6UrvcX@!uM^ z|Caamy>-}s^LzW=xP2}M%o6|MbAI#e+Od7dz;ACCWT(=#&5s{iSq|9`x&2Pw>3iF+{|^f(Js|)9 literal 0 HcmV?d00001 diff --git a/ryg_rans/platform.h b/ryg_rans/platform.h new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5860fc3 --- /dev/null +++ b/ryg_rans/platform.h @@ -0,0 +1,64 @@ +// Just some platform utilities. +#ifndef PLATFORM_H_INCLUDED +#define PLATFORM_H_INCLUDED + +// x86 intrinsics (__rdtsc etc.) + +#if defined(_MSC_VER) + +#define _CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE +#include +#define ALIGNSPEC(type,name,alignment) __declspec(align(alignment)) type name + +#elif defined(__GNUC__) + +#include +#define ALIGNSPEC(type,name,alignment) type name __attribute__((aligned(alignment))) + +#else +#error Unknown compiler! +#endif + +// Timer + +#if defined(_WIN32) + +#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN +#define NOMINMAX +#include + +#define PRIu64 "llu" + +double timer() +{ + LARGE_INTEGER ctr, freq; + QueryPerformanceCounter(&ctr); + QueryPerformanceFrequency(&freq); + return 1.0 * ctr.QuadPart / freq.QuadPart; +} + +#elif defined(__linux__) + +#define __STDC_FORMAT_MACROS +#include +#include +#include + +static inline double timer() +{ + timespec ts; + ts.tv_sec = 0; + ts.tv_nsec = 0; + int status = clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &ts); + assert(status == 0); + return double(ts.tv_sec) + 1.0e-9 * double(ts.tv_nsec); +} + +#else + +#error Unknown platform! + +#endif + +#endif // PLATFORM_H_INCLUDED + diff --git a/ryg_rans/rans64.h b/ryg_rans/rans64.h new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f1142f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/ryg_rans/rans64.h @@ -0,0 +1,318 @@ +// 64-bit rANS encoder/decoder - public domain - Fabian 'ryg' Giesen 2014 +// +// This uses 64-bit states (63-bit actually) which allows renormalizing +// by writing out a whole 32 bits at a time (b=2^32) while still +// retaining good precision and allowing for high probability resolution. +// +// The only caveat is that this version requires 64-bit arithmetic; in +// particular, the encoder approximation in the bottom half requires a +// fast way to obtain the top 64 bits of an unsigned 64*64 bit product. +// +// In short, as written, this code works on 64-bit targets only! + +#ifndef RANS64_HEADER +#define RANS64_HEADER + +#include + +#ifdef assert +#define Rans64Assert assert +#else +#define Rans64Assert(x) +#endif + +// -------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +// This code needs support for 64-bit long multiplies with 128-bit result +// (or more precisely, the top 64 bits of a 128-bit result). This is not +// really portable functionality, so we need some compiler-specific hacks +// here. + +#if defined(_MSC_VER) + +#include + +static inline uint64_t Rans64MulHi(uint64_t a, uint64_t b) +{ + return __umulh(a, b); +} + +#elif defined(__GNUC__) + +static inline uint64_t Rans64MulHi(uint64_t a, uint64_t b) +{ + return (uint64_t) (((unsigned __int128)a * b) >> 64); +} + +#else + +#error Unknown/unsupported compiler! + +#endif + +// -------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +// L ('l' in the paper) is the lower bound of our normalization interval. +// Between this and our 32-bit-aligned emission, we use 63 (not 64!) bits. +// This is done intentionally because exact reciprocals for 63-bit uints +// fit in 64-bit uints: this permits some optimizations during encoding. +#define RANS64_L (1ull << 31) // lower bound of our normalization interval + +// State for a rANS encoder. Yep, that's all there is to it. +typedef uint64_t Rans64State; + +// Initialize a rANS encoder. +static inline void Rans64EncInit(Rans64State* r) +{ + *r = RANS64_L; +} + +// Encodes a single symbol with range start "start" and frequency "freq". +// All frequencies are assumed to sum to "1 << scale_bits", and the +// resulting bytes get written to ptr (which is updated). +// +// NOTE: With rANS, you need to encode symbols in *reverse order*, i.e. from +// beginning to end! Likewise, the output bytestream is written *backwards*: +// ptr starts pointing at the end of the output buffer and keeps decrementing. +static inline void Rans64EncPut(Rans64State* r, uint32_t** pptr, uint32_t start, uint32_t freq, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + Rans64Assert(freq != 0); + + // renormalize (never needs to loop) + uint64_t x = *r; + uint64_t x_max = ((RANS64_L >> scale_bits) << 32) * freq; // this turns into a shift. + if (x >= x_max) { + *pptr -= 1; + **pptr = (uint32_t) x; + x >>= 32; + Rans64Assert(x < x_max); + } + + // x = C(s,x) + *r = ((x / freq) << scale_bits) + (x % freq) + start; +} + +// Flushes the rANS encoder. +static inline void Rans64EncFlush(Rans64State* r, uint32_t** pptr) +{ + uint64_t x = *r; + + *pptr -= 2; + (*pptr)[0] = (uint32_t) (x >> 0); + (*pptr)[1] = (uint32_t) (x >> 32); +} + +// Initializes a rANS decoder. +// Unlike the encoder, the decoder works forwards as you'd expect. +static inline void Rans64DecInit(Rans64State* r, uint32_t** pptr) +{ + uint64_t x; + + x = (uint64_t) ((*pptr)[0]) << 0; + x |= (uint64_t) ((*pptr)[1]) << 32; + *pptr += 2; + *r = x; +} + +// Returns the current cumulative frequency (map it to a symbol yourself!) +static inline uint32_t Rans64DecGet(Rans64State* r, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + return *r & ((1u << scale_bits) - 1); +} + +// Advances in the bit stream by "popping" a single symbol with range start +// "start" and frequency "freq". All frequencies are assumed to sum to "1 << scale_bits", +// and the resulting bytes get written to ptr (which is updated). +static inline void Rans64DecAdvance(Rans64State* r, uint32_t** pptr, uint32_t start, uint32_t freq, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + uint64_t mask = (1ull << scale_bits) - 1; + + // s, x = D(x) + uint64_t x = *r; + x = freq * (x >> scale_bits) + (x & mask) - start; + + // renormalize + if (x < RANS64_L) { + x = (x << 32) | **pptr; + *pptr += 1; + Rans64Assert(x >= RANS64_L); + } + + *r = x; +} + +// -------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +// That's all you need for a full encoder; below here are some utility +// functions with extra convenience or optimizations. + +// Encoder symbol description +// This (admittedly odd) selection of parameters was chosen to make +// RansEncPutSymbol as cheap as possible. +typedef struct { + uint64_t rcp_freq; // Fixed-point reciprocal frequency + uint32_t freq; // Symbol frequency + uint32_t bias; // Bias + uint32_t cmpl_freq; // Complement of frequency: (1 << scale_bits) - freq + uint32_t rcp_shift; // Reciprocal shift +} Rans64EncSymbol; + +// Decoder symbols are straightforward. +typedef struct { + uint32_t start; // Start of range. + uint32_t freq; // Symbol frequency. +} Rans64DecSymbol; + +// Initializes an encoder symbol to start "start" and frequency "freq" +static inline void Rans64EncSymbolInit(Rans64EncSymbol* s, uint32_t start, uint32_t freq, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + Rans64Assert(scale_bits <= 31); + Rans64Assert(start <= (1u << scale_bits)); + Rans64Assert(freq <= (1u << scale_bits) - start); + + // Say M := 1 << scale_bits. + // + // The original encoder does: + // x_new = (x/freq)*M + start + (x%freq) + // + // The fast encoder does (schematically): + // q = mul_hi(x, rcp_freq) >> rcp_shift (division) + // r = x - q*freq (remainder) + // x_new = q*M + bias + r (new x) + // plugging in r into x_new yields: + // x_new = bias + x + q*(M - freq) + // =: bias + x + q*cmpl_freq (*) + // + // and we can just precompute cmpl_freq. Now we just need to + // set up our parameters such that the original encoder and + // the fast encoder agree. + + s->freq = freq; + s->cmpl_freq = ((1 << scale_bits) - freq); + if (freq < 2) { + // freq=0 symbols are never valid to encode, so it doesn't matter what + // we set our values to. + // + // freq=1 is tricky, since the reciprocal of 1 is 1; unfortunately, + // our fixed-point reciprocal approximation can only multiply by values + // smaller than 1. + // + // So we use the "next best thing": rcp_freq=~0, rcp_shift=0. + // This gives: + // q = mul_hi(x, rcp_freq) >> rcp_shift + // = mul_hi(x, (1<<64) - 1)) >> 0 + // = floor(x - x/(2^64)) + // = x - 1 if 1 <= x < 2^64 + // and we know that x>0 (x=0 is never in a valid normalization interval). + // + // So we now need to choose the other parameters such that + // x_new = x*M + start + // plug it in: + // x*M + start (desired result) + // = bias + x + q*cmpl_freq (*) + // = bias + x + (x - 1)*(M - 1) (plug in q=x-1, cmpl_freq) + // = bias + 1 + (x - 1)*M + // = x*M + (bias + 1 - M) + // + // so we have start = bias + 1 - M, or equivalently + // bias = start + M - 1. + s->rcp_freq = ~0ull; + s->rcp_shift = 0; + s->bias = start + (1 << scale_bits) - 1; + } else { + // Alverson, "Integer Division using reciprocals" + // shift=ceil(log2(freq)) + uint32_t shift = 0; + uint64_t x0, x1, t0, t1; + while (freq > (1u << shift)) + shift++; + + // long divide ((uint128) (1 << (shift + 63)) + freq-1) / freq + // by splitting it into two 64:64 bit divides (this works because + // the dividend has a simple form.) + x0 = freq - 1; + x1 = 1ull << (shift + 31); + + t1 = x1 / freq; + x0 += (x1 % freq) << 32; + t0 = x0 / freq; + + s->rcp_freq = t0 + (t1 << 32); + s->rcp_shift = shift - 1; + + // With these values, 'q' is the correct quotient, so we + // have bias=start. + s->bias = start; + } +} + +// Initialize a decoder symbol to start "start" and frequency "freq" +static inline void Rans64DecSymbolInit(Rans64DecSymbol* s, uint32_t start, uint32_t freq) +{ + Rans64Assert(start <= (1 << 31)); + Rans64Assert(freq <= (1 << 31) - start); + s->start = start; + s->freq = freq; +} + +// Encodes a given symbol. This is faster than straight RansEnc since we can do +// multiplications instead of a divide. +// +// See RansEncSymbolInit for a description of how this works. +static inline void Rans64EncPutSymbol(Rans64State* r, uint32_t** pptr, Rans64EncSymbol const* sym, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + Rans64Assert(sym->freq != 0); // can't encode symbol with freq=0 + + // renormalize + uint64_t x = *r; + uint64_t x_max = ((RANS64_L >> scale_bits) << 32) * sym->freq; // turns into a shift + if (x >= x_max) { + *pptr -= 1; + **pptr = (uint32_t) x; + x >>= 32; + } + + // x = C(s,x) + uint64_t q = Rans64MulHi(x, sym->rcp_freq) >> sym->rcp_shift; + *r = x + sym->bias + q * sym->cmpl_freq; +} + +// Equivalent to RansDecAdvance that takes a symbol. +static inline void Rans64DecAdvanceSymbol(Rans64State* r, uint32_t** pptr, Rans64DecSymbol const* sym, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + Rans64DecAdvance(r, pptr, sym->start, sym->freq, scale_bits); +} + +// Advances in the bit stream by "popping" a single symbol with range start +// "start" and frequency "freq". All frequencies are assumed to sum to "1 << scale_bits". +// No renormalization or output happens. +static inline void Rans64DecAdvanceStep(Rans64State* r, uint32_t start, uint32_t freq, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + uint64_t mask = (1u << scale_bits) - 1; + + // s, x = D(x) + uint64_t x = *r; + *r = freq * (x >> scale_bits) + (x & mask) - start; +} + +// Equivalent to RansDecAdvanceStep that takes a symbol. +static inline void Rans64DecAdvanceSymbolStep(Rans64State* r, Rans64DecSymbol const* sym, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + Rans64DecAdvanceStep(r, sym->start, sym->freq, scale_bits); +} + +// Renormalize. +static inline void Rans64DecRenorm(Rans64State* r, uint32_t** pptr) +{ + // renormalize + uint64_t x = *r; + if (x < RANS64_L) { + x = (x << 32) | **pptr; + *pptr += 1; + Rans64Assert(x >= RANS64_L); + } + + *r = x; +} + +#endif // RANS64_HEADER diff --git a/ryg_rans/rans_byte.h b/ryg_rans/rans_byte.h new file mode 100644 index 0000000..71463c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/ryg_rans/rans_byte.h @@ -0,0 +1,320 @@ +// Simple byte-aligned rANS encoder/decoder - public domain - Fabian 'ryg' Giesen 2014 +// +// Not intended to be "industrial strength"; just meant to illustrate the general +// idea. + +#ifndef RANS_BYTE_HEADER +#define RANS_BYTE_HEADER + +#include + +#ifdef assert +#define RansAssert assert +#else +#define RansAssert(x) +#endif + +// READ ME FIRST: +// +// This is designed like a typical arithmetic coder API, but there's three +// twists you absolutely should be aware of before you start hacking: +// +// 1. You need to encode data in *reverse* - last symbol first. rANS works +// like a stack: last in, first out. +// 2. Likewise, the encoder outputs bytes *in reverse* - that is, you give +// it a pointer to the *end* of your buffer (exclusive), and it will +// slowly move towards the beginning as more bytes are emitted. +// 3. Unlike basically any other entropy coder implementation you might +// have used, you can interleave data from multiple independent rANS +// encoders into the same bytestream without any extra signaling; +// you can also just write some bytes by yourself in the middle if +// you want to. This is in addition to the usual arithmetic encoder +// property of being able to switch models on the fly. Writing raw +// bytes can be useful when you have some data that you know is +// incompressible, and is cheaper than going through the rANS encode +// function. Using multiple rANS coders on the same byte stream wastes +// a few bytes compared to using just one, but execution of two +// independent encoders can happen in parallel on superscalar and +// Out-of-Order CPUs, so this can be *much* faster in tight decoding +// loops. +// +// This is why all the rANS functions take the write pointer as an +// argument instead of just storing it in some context struct. + +// -------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +// L ('l' in the paper) is the lower bound of our normalization interval. +// Between this and our byte-aligned emission, we use 31 (not 32!) bits. +// This is done intentionally because exact reciprocals for 31-bit uints +// fit in 32-bit uints: this permits some optimizations during encoding. +#define RANS_BYTE_L (1u << 23) // lower bound of our normalization interval + +// State for a rANS encoder. Yep, that's all there is to it. +typedef uint32_t RansState; + +// Initialize a rANS encoder. +static inline void RansEncInit(RansState* r) +{ + *r = RANS_BYTE_L; +} + +// Renormalize the encoder. Internal function. +static inline RansState RansEncRenorm(RansState x, uint8_t** pptr, uint32_t freq, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + uint32_t x_max = ((RANS_BYTE_L >> scale_bits) << 8) * freq; // this turns into a shift. + if (x >= x_max) { + uint8_t* ptr = *pptr; + do { + *--ptr = (uint8_t) (x & 0xff); + x >>= 8; + } while (x >= x_max); + *pptr = ptr; + } + return x; +} + +// Encodes a single symbol with range start "start" and frequency "freq". +// All frequencies are assumed to sum to "1 << scale_bits", and the +// resulting bytes get written to ptr (which is updated). +// +// NOTE: With rANS, you need to encode symbols in *reverse order*, i.e. from +// beginning to end! Likewise, the output bytestream is written *backwards*: +// ptr starts pointing at the end of the output buffer and keeps decrementing. +static inline void RansEncPut(RansState* r, uint8_t** pptr, uint32_t start, uint32_t freq, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + // renormalize + RansState x = RansEncRenorm(*r, pptr, freq, scale_bits); + + // x = C(s,x) + *r = ((x / freq) << scale_bits) + (x % freq) + start; +} + +// Flushes the rANS encoder. +static inline void RansEncFlush(RansState* r, uint8_t** pptr) +{ + uint32_t x = *r; + uint8_t* ptr = *pptr; + + ptr -= 4; + ptr[0] = (uint8_t) (x >> 0); + ptr[1] = (uint8_t) (x >> 8); + ptr[2] = (uint8_t) (x >> 16); + ptr[3] = (uint8_t) (x >> 24); + + *pptr = ptr; +} + +// Initializes a rANS decoder. +// Unlike the encoder, the decoder works forwards as you'd expect. +static inline void RansDecInit(RansState* r, uint8_t** pptr) +{ + uint32_t x; + uint8_t* ptr = *pptr; + + x = ptr[0] << 0; + x |= ptr[1] << 8; + x |= ptr[2] << 16; + x |= ptr[3] << 24; + ptr += 4; + + *pptr = ptr; + *r = x; +} + +// Returns the current cumulative frequency (map it to a symbol yourself!) +static inline uint32_t RansDecGet(RansState* r, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + return *r & ((1u << scale_bits) - 1); +} + +// Advances in the bit stream by "popping" a single symbol with range start +// "start" and frequency "freq". All frequencies are assumed to sum to "1 << scale_bits", +// and the resulting bytes get written to ptr (which is updated). +static inline void RansDecAdvance(RansState* r, uint8_t** pptr, uint32_t start, uint32_t freq, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + uint32_t mask = (1u << scale_bits) - 1; + + // s, x = D(x) + uint32_t x = *r; + x = freq * (x >> scale_bits) + (x & mask) - start; + + // renormalize + if (x < RANS_BYTE_L) { + uint8_t* ptr = *pptr; + do x = (x << 8) | *ptr++; while (x < RANS_BYTE_L); + *pptr = ptr; + } + + *r = x; +} + +// -------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +// That's all you need for a full encoder; below here are some utility +// functions with extra convenience or optimizations. + +// Encoder symbol description +// This (admittedly odd) selection of parameters was chosen to make +// RansEncPutSymbol as cheap as possible. +typedef struct { + uint32_t x_max; // (Exclusive) upper bound of pre-normalization interval + uint32_t rcp_freq; // Fixed-point reciprocal frequency + uint32_t bias; // Bias + uint16_t cmpl_freq; // Complement of frequency: (1 << scale_bits) - freq + uint16_t rcp_shift; // Reciprocal shift +} RansEncSymbol; + +// Decoder symbols are straightforward. +typedef struct { + uint16_t start; // Start of range. + uint16_t freq; // Symbol frequency. +} RansDecSymbol; + +// Initializes an encoder symbol to start "start" and frequency "freq" +static inline void RansEncSymbolInit(RansEncSymbol* s, uint32_t start, uint32_t freq, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + RansAssert(scale_bits <= 16); + RansAssert(start <= (1u << scale_bits)); + RansAssert(freq <= (1u << scale_bits) - start); + + // Say M := 1 << scale_bits. + // + // The original encoder does: + // x_new = (x/freq)*M + start + (x%freq) + // + // The fast encoder does (schematically): + // q = mul_hi(x, rcp_freq) >> rcp_shift (division) + // r = x - q*freq (remainder) + // x_new = q*M + bias + r (new x) + // plugging in r into x_new yields: + // x_new = bias + x + q*(M - freq) + // =: bias + x + q*cmpl_freq (*) + // + // and we can just precompute cmpl_freq. Now we just need to + // set up our parameters such that the original encoder and + // the fast encoder agree. + + s->x_max = ((RANS_BYTE_L >> scale_bits) << 8) * freq; + s->cmpl_freq = (uint16_t) ((1 << scale_bits) - freq); + if (freq < 2) { + // freq=0 symbols are never valid to encode, so it doesn't matter what + // we set our values to. + // + // freq=1 is tricky, since the reciprocal of 1 is 1; unfortunately, + // our fixed-point reciprocal approximation can only multiply by values + // smaller than 1. + // + // So we use the "next best thing": rcp_freq=0xffffffff, rcp_shift=0. + // This gives: + // q = mul_hi(x, rcp_freq) >> rcp_shift + // = mul_hi(x, (1<<32) - 1)) >> 0 + // = floor(x - x/(2^32)) + // = x - 1 if 1 <= x < 2^32 + // and we know that x>0 (x=0 is never in a valid normalization interval). + // + // So we now need to choose the other parameters such that + // x_new = x*M + start + // plug it in: + // x*M + start (desired result) + // = bias + x + q*cmpl_freq (*) + // = bias + x + (x - 1)*(M - 1) (plug in q=x-1, cmpl_freq) + // = bias + 1 + (x - 1)*M + // = x*M + (bias + 1 - M) + // + // so we have start = bias + 1 - M, or equivalently + // bias = start + M - 1. + s->rcp_freq = ~0u; + s->rcp_shift = 0; + s->bias = start + (1 << scale_bits) - 1; + } else { + // Alverson, "Integer Division using reciprocals" + // shift=ceil(log2(freq)) + uint32_t shift = 0; + while (freq > (1u << shift)) + shift++; + + s->rcp_freq = (uint32_t) (((1ull << (shift + 31)) + freq-1) / freq); + s->rcp_shift = shift - 1; + + // With these values, 'q' is the correct quotient, so we + // have bias=start. + s->bias = start; + } +} + +// Initialize a decoder symbol to start "start" and frequency "freq" +static inline void RansDecSymbolInit(RansDecSymbol* s, uint32_t start, uint32_t freq) +{ + RansAssert(start <= (1 << 16)); + RansAssert(freq <= (1 << 16) - start); + s->start = (uint16_t) start; + s->freq = (uint16_t) freq; +} + +// Encodes a given symbol. This is faster than straight RansEnc since we can do +// multiplications instead of a divide. +// +// See RansEncSymbolInit for a description of how this works. +static inline void RansEncPutSymbol(RansState* r, uint8_t** pptr, RansEncSymbol const* sym) +{ + RansAssert(sym->x_max != 0); // can't encode symbol with freq=0 + + // renormalize + uint32_t x = *r; + uint32_t x_max = sym->x_max; + if (x >= x_max) { + uint8_t* ptr = *pptr; + do { + *--ptr = (uint8_t) (x & 0xff); + x >>= 8; + } while (x >= x_max); + *pptr = ptr; + } + + // x = C(s,x) + // NOTE: written this way so we get a 32-bit "multiply high" when + // available. If you're on a 64-bit platform with cheap multiplies + // (e.g. x64), just bake the +32 into rcp_shift. + uint32_t q = (uint32_t) (((uint64_t)x * sym->rcp_freq) >> 32) >> sym->rcp_shift; + *r = x + sym->bias + q * sym->cmpl_freq; +} + +// Equivalent to RansDecAdvance that takes a symbol. +static inline void RansDecAdvanceSymbol(RansState* r, uint8_t** pptr, RansDecSymbol const* sym, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + RansDecAdvance(r, pptr, sym->start, sym->freq, scale_bits); +} + +// Advances in the bit stream by "popping" a single symbol with range start +// "start" and frequency "freq". All frequencies are assumed to sum to "1 << scale_bits". +// No renormalization or output happens. +static inline void RansDecAdvanceStep(RansState* r, uint32_t start, uint32_t freq, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + uint32_t mask = (1u << scale_bits) - 1; + + // s, x = D(x) + uint32_t x = *r; + *r = freq * (x >> scale_bits) + (x & mask) - start; +} + +// Equivalent to RansDecAdvanceStep that takes a symbol. +static inline void RansDecAdvanceSymbolStep(RansState* r, RansDecSymbol const* sym, uint32_t scale_bits) +{ + RansDecAdvanceStep(r, sym->start, sym->freq, scale_bits); +} + +// Renormalize. +static inline void RansDecRenorm(RansState* r, uint8_t** pptr) +{ + // renormalize + uint32_t x = *r; + if (x < RANS_BYTE_L) { + uint8_t* ptr = *pptr; + do x = (x << 8) | *ptr++; while (x < RANS_BYTE_L); + *pptr = ptr; + } + + *r = x; +} + +#endif // RANS_BYTE_HEADER \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/ryg_rans/rans_word_sse41.h b/ryg_rans/rans_word_sse41.h new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8a626dc --- /dev/null +++ b/ryg_rans/rans_word_sse41.h @@ -0,0 +1,232 @@ +// Word-aligned SSE 4.1 rANS encoder/decoder - public domain - Fabian 'ryg' Giesen +// +// This implementation has a regular rANS encoder and a 4-way interleaved SIMD +// decoder. Like rans_byte.h, it's intended to illustrate the idea, not to +// be used as a drop-in arithmetic coder. + +#ifndef RANS_WORD_SSE41_HEADER +#define RANS_WORD_SSE41_HEADER + +#include +#include + +#include "platform.h" + +// READ ME FIRST: +// +// The intention in this version is to demonstrate a design where the decoder +// is made as fast as possible, even when it makes the encoder slightly slower +// or hurts compression a bit. (The code in rans_byte.h, with the 31-bit +// arithmetic to allow for faster division by constants, is a more "balanced" +// approach). +// +// This version is intended to be used with relatively low-resolution +// probability distributions (scale_bits=12 or less). In these regions, the +// "fully unrolled" table-based approach shown here (suggested by "enotuss" +// on my blog) is optimal; for larger scale_bits, other approaches are more +// favorable. It also only assumes an 8-bit symbol alphabet for simplicity. +// +// Unlike rans_byte.h, this file needs to be compiled as C++. + +// -------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +// This coder uses L=1<<16 and B=1<<16 (16-bit word based renormalization). +// Since we still continue to use 32-bit words, this means we require +// scale_bits <= 16; on the plus side, renormalization never needs to +// iterate. +#define RANS_WORD_L (1u << 16) + +#define RANS_WORD_SCALE_BITS 12 +#define RANS_WORD_M (1u << RANS_WORD_SCALE_BITS) + +#define RANS_WORD_NSYMS 256 + +typedef uint32_t RansWordEnc; +typedef uint32_t RansWordDec; + +typedef union { + __m128i simd; + uint32_t lane[4]; +} RansSimdDec; + +union RansWordSlot { + uint32_t u32; + struct { + uint16_t freq; + uint16_t bias; + }; +}; + +struct RansWordTables { + RansWordSlot slots[RANS_WORD_M]; + uint8_t slot2sym[RANS_WORD_M]; +}; + +// Initialize slots for a symbol in the table +static inline void RansWordTablesInitSymbol(RansWordTables* tab, uint8_t sym, uint32_t start, uint32_t freq) +{ + for (uint32_t i=0; i < freq; i++) { + uint32_t slot = start + i; + tab->slot2sym[slot] = sym; + tab->slots[slot].freq = (uint16_t)freq; + tab->slots[slot].bias = (uint16_t)i; + } +} + +// Initialize a rANS encoder +static inline RansWordEnc RansWordEncInit() +{ + return RANS_WORD_L; +} + +// Encodes a single symbol with range "start" and frequency "freq". +static inline void RansWordEncPut(RansWordEnc* r, uint16_t** pptr, uint32_t start, uint32_t freq) +{ + // renormalize + uint32_t x = *r; + if (x >= ((RANS_WORD_L >> RANS_WORD_SCALE_BITS) << 16) * freq) { + *pptr -= 1; + **pptr = (uint16_t) (x & 0xffff); + x >>= 16; + } + + // x = C(s,x) + *r = ((x / freq) << RANS_WORD_SCALE_BITS) + (x % freq) + start; +} + +// Flushes the rANS encoder +static inline void RansWordEncFlush(RansWordEnc* r, uint16_t** pptr) +{ + uint32_t x = *r; + uint16_t* ptr = *pptr; + + ptr -= 2; + ptr[0] = (uint16_t) (x >> 0); + ptr[1] = (uint16_t) (x >> 16); + + *pptr = ptr; +} + +// Initializes a rANS decoder. +static inline void RansWordDecInit(RansWordDec* r, uint16_t** pptr) +{ + uint32_t x; + uint16_t* ptr = *pptr; + + x = ptr[0] << 0; + x |= ptr[1] << 16; + ptr += 2; + + *pptr = ptr; + *r = x; +} + +// Decodes a symbol using the given tables. +static inline uint8_t RansWordDecSym(RansWordDec* r, RansWordTables const* tab) +{ + uint32_t x = *r; + uint32_t slot = x & (RANS_WORD_M - 1); + + // s, x = D(x) + *r = tab->slots[slot].freq * (x >> RANS_WORD_SCALE_BITS) + tab->slots[slot].bias; + return tab->slot2sym[slot]; +} + +// Renormalize after decoding a symbol. +static inline void RansWordDecRenorm(RansWordDec* r, uint16_t** pptr) +{ + uint32_t x = *r; + if (x < RANS_WORD_L) { + *r = (x << 16) | **pptr; + *pptr += 1; + } +} + +// Initializes a SIMD rANS decoder. +static inline void RansSimdDecInit(RansSimdDec* r, uint16_t** pptr) +{ + r->simd = _mm_loadu_si128((const __m128i*)*pptr); + *pptr += 2*4; +} + +// Decodes a four symbols in parallel using the given tables. +static inline uint32_t RansSimdDecSym(RansSimdDec* r, RansWordTables const* tab) +{ + __m128i freq_bias_lo, freq_bias_hi, freq_bias; + __m128i freq, bias; + __m128i xscaled; + __m128i x = r->simd; + __m128i slots = _mm_and_si128(x, _mm_set1_epi32(RANS_WORD_M - 1)); + uint32_t i0 = (uint32_t) _mm_cvtsi128_si32(slots); + uint32_t i1 = (uint32_t) _mm_extract_epi32(slots, 1); + uint32_t i2 = (uint32_t) _mm_extract_epi32(slots, 2); + uint32_t i3 = (uint32_t) _mm_extract_epi32(slots, 3); + + // symbol + uint32_t s = tab->slot2sym[i0] | (tab->slot2sym[i1] << 8) | (tab->slot2sym[i2] << 16) | (tab->slot2sym[i3] << 24); + + // gather freq_bias + freq_bias_lo = _mm_cvtsi32_si128(tab->slots[i0].u32); + freq_bias_lo = _mm_insert_epi32(freq_bias_lo, tab->slots[i1].u32, 1); + freq_bias_hi = _mm_cvtsi32_si128(tab->slots[i2].u32); + freq_bias_hi = _mm_insert_epi32(freq_bias_hi, tab->slots[i3].u32, 1); + freq_bias = _mm_unpacklo_epi64(freq_bias_lo, freq_bias_hi); + + // s, x = D(x) + xscaled = _mm_srli_epi32(x, RANS_WORD_SCALE_BITS); + freq = _mm_and_si128(freq_bias, _mm_set1_epi32(0xffff)); + bias = _mm_srli_epi32(freq_bias, 16); + r->simd = _mm_add_epi32(_mm_mullo_epi32(xscaled, freq), bias); + return s; +} + +// Renormalize after decoding a symbol. +static inline void RansSimdDecRenorm(RansSimdDec* r, uint16_t** pptr) +{ + static ALIGNSPEC(int8_t const, shuffles[16][16], 16) = { +#define _ -1 // for readability + { _,_,_,_, _,_,_,_, _,_,_,_, _,_,_,_ }, // 0000 + { 0,1,_,_, _,_,_,_, _,_,_,_, _,_,_,_ }, // 0001 + { _,_,_,_, 0,1,_,_, _,_,_,_, _,_,_,_ }, // 0010 + { 0,1,_,_, 2,3,_,_, _,_,_,_, _,_,_,_ }, // 0011 + { _,_,_,_, _,_,_,_, 0,1,_,_, _,_,_,_ }, // 0100 + { 0,1,_,_, _,_,_,_, 2,3,_,_, _,_,_,_ }, // 0101 + { _,_,_,_, 0,1,_,_, 2,3,_,_, _,_,_,_ }, // 0110 + { 0,1,_,_, 2,3,_,_, 4,5,_,_, _,_,_,_ }, // 0111 + { _,_,_,_, _,_,_,_, _,_,_,_, 0,1,_,_ }, // 1000 + { 0,1,_,_, _,_,_,_, _,_,_,_, 2,3,_,_ }, // 1001 + { _,_,_,_, 0,1,_,_, _,_,_,_, 2,3,_,_ }, // 1010 + { 0,1,_,_, 2,3,_,_, _,_,_,_, 4,5,_,_ }, // 1011 + { _,_,_,_, _,_,_,_, 0,1,_,_, 2,3,_,_ }, // 1100 + { 0,1,_,_, _,_,_,_, 2,3,_,_, 4,5,_,_ }, // 1101 + { _,_,_,_, 0,1,_,_, 2,3,_,_, 4,5,_,_ }, // 1110 + { 0,1,_,_, 2,3,_,_, 4,5,_,_, 6,7,_,_ }, // 1111 +#undef _ + }; + static uint8_t const numbits[16] = { + 0,1,1,2, 1,2,2,3, 1,2,2,3, 2,3,3,4 + }; + + __m128i x = r->simd; + + // NOTE: SSE2+ only offer a signed 32-bit integer compare, while we + // need unsigned. So we subtract 0x80000000 before the compare, + // which converts unsigned integers to signed integers in an + // order-preserving manner. + __m128i x_biased = _mm_xor_si128(x, _mm_set1_epi32((int) 0x80000000)); + __m128i greater = _mm_cmpgt_epi32(_mm_set1_epi32(RANS_WORD_L - 0x80000000), x_biased); + unsigned int mask = _mm_movemask_ps(_mm_castsi128_ps(greater)); + + // NOTE: this will read slightly past the end of the input buffer. + // In practice, either pad the input buffer by 8 bytes at the end, + // or switch to the non-SIMD version once you get close to the end. + __m128i memvals = _mm_loadl_epi64((const __m128i*)*pptr); + __m128i xshifted = _mm_slli_epi32(x, 16); + __m128i shufmask = _mm_load_si128((const __m128i*)shuffles[mask]); + __m128i newx = _mm_or_si128(xshifted, _mm_shuffle_epi8(memvals, shufmask)); + r->simd = _mm_blendv_epi8(x, newx, greater); + *pptr += numbits[mask]; +} + +#endif // RANS_WORD_SSE41_HEADER + -- 2.39.2