Hardy_Far_From_the_Madding_Crowd.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
seldom superadded to love between the sexes,
because men and women associate, not in their labours, but
in their pleasures merely. , 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.
--
" most private, secret, plainest wedding that it is
possible to have."
had been 's words to 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.
" licence -- yes, it must be a licence," he said to
himself at last. " well, then; first, a license."
a dark night, a few days later, came with mysterious
steps from the surrogate's door, in . the
way home he heard a heavy tread in front of him, and,
overtaking the man, found him to be . walked
together into the village until they came to a little lane
behind the church, leading down to the cottage of
, who had lately been installed as clerk of the parish,
and was yet in mortal terror at church on when he
heard his lone voice among certain hard words of the ,
whither no man ventured to follow him.
", good-night, ," said , "'m going down this
way."
"!" said , surprised; "what's going on to-night
then, make so bold . ?"
seemed rather ungenerous not to tell , under the
circumstances, for had been true as steel all through
the time of 's unhappiness about , and
said, " can keep a secret, ?"
"'ve proved me, and you know."
", have, and do know. , then, mistress and
mean to get married to-morrow morning."
"'s high tower! yet 've thought of such a thing
from time to time; true, have. keeping it so close!
, there, 'tis no consarn of of mine, and wish 'ee joy
o' her."
" you, . assure 'ee that this great hush
is not what 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. has a
great wish that all the parish shall not be in church,
looking at her -- she's shylike and nervous about it, in
fact -- so be doing this to humour her."
", see: quite right, too, suppose must say. you
be now going down to the clerk."
"; you may as well come with me."
" am afeard your labour in keeping it close will be throwed
away," said , as they walked along. " 's old
woman will horn it all over parish in half-an-hour."
" she will, upon my life; never thought of that," said
, pausing. " must tell him to-night, suppose, for
he's working so far off, and leaves early."
"'ll tell 'ee how we could tackle her," said . "'ll
knock and ask to speak to outside the door, you
standing in the background. he'll come out, and you
can tell yer tale. 'll never guess what want en for;
and 'll make up a few words about the farm-work, as a
blind."
scheme was considered feasible; and advanced
boldly, and rapped at . 's door. . herself
opened it.
" wanted to have a word with ."
"'s not at home, and won't be this side of eleven o'clock.
've been forced to go over to since shutting out
work. shall do quite as well."
" hardly think you will. a moment;" and
stepped round the corner of the porch to consult .
"'s t'other man, then?" said . .
" a friend," said .
" he's wanted to meet mistress near church-hatch to-
morrow morning at ten," said , in a whisper. " he
must come without fail, and wear his best clothes."
" clothes will floor us as safe as houses!" said .
" can't be helped," said . " her."
delivered the message. ", het or wet, blow or
snow, he must come," added . "' very particular,
indeed. fact is, 'tis to witness her sign some law-work
about taking shares wi' another farmer for a long span o'
years. , that's what 'tis, and now 've told 'ee,
, in a way shouldn't ha' done if hadn't loved
'ee so hopeless well."
retired before she could ask any further; and next
they called at the vicar's in a manner which excited no
curiosity at all. went home, and prepared for
the morrow.
"," said , on going to bed that night, " want
you to call me at seven o'clock to-morrow, case
shouldn't wake."
" you always do wake afore then, ma'am."
", but have something important to do, which 'll tell
you of when the time comes, and it's best to make sure."
, however, awoke voluntarily at four, nor could she
by any contrivance get to sleep again. six, being
quite positive that her watch had stopped during the night,
she could wait no longer. went and tapped at 's
door, and after some labour awoke her.
" thought it was who had to call you?" said the
bewildered . " it isn't six yet."
" it is; how can you tell such a story, ? know
it must be ever so much past seven. to my room as soon
as you can; want you to give my hair a good brushing."
came to 's room her mistress was already
waiting. could not understand this extraordinary
promptness. " going on, ma'am?" she said.
", 'll tell you," said , with a mischievous
smile in her bright eyes. " is coming here to
dine with me to-day!"
" -- and nobody else? -- you two alone?"
"."
" is it safe, ma'am, after what's been said?" asked her
companion, dubiously. " woman's good name is such a
perishable article that ----"
laughed with a flushed cheek, and whispered in
's ear, although there was nobody present.
stared and exclaimed, " alive, what news! makes my
heart go quite bumpity-bump!"
" makes mine rather furious, too," said .
", there's no getting out of it now!"
was a damp disagreeable morning. , at twenty
minutes to ten o'clock, came out of his house, and
up the hill side
that sort of stride
man puts out when walking in search of a bride,
and knocked 's door. 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.
distance was not more than a quarter of a mile, and
these two sensible persons deemed it unnecessary to drive.
observer must have been very close indeed to discover
that the forms under the umbrellas were those of and
, arm-in-arm for the first time in their lives,
in a greatcoat extending to his knees, and in a
cloak that reached her clogs. , though so plainly
dressed there was a certain rejuvenated appearance about
her: --
though a rose should shut and be a bud again.
had again incarnadined her cheeks; and having, at
's request, arranged her hair this morning as she had
worn it years ago on , 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. the church were ,
, and the parson, and in a remarkably short space of
time the deed was done.
two sat down very quietly to tea in 's parlour
in the evening of the same day, for it had been arranged
that 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
was, comparatively, in a plethora of all three.
as 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.
"!" said , laughing, " knew those fellows were up
to something, by the look on their faces"
took up the light and went into the porch, followed by
with a shawl over her head. 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 "!" 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 band --
venerable worm-eaten instruments, which had celebrated in
their own persons the victories of , under the
fingers of the forefathers of those who played them now.
performers came forward, and marched up to the front.
" bright boys, and , are at the bottom of
all this," said . " in, souls, and have something to
eat and drink wi' me and my wife."
" to-night," said . , with evident self-denial.
" ye all the same; but we'll call at a more seemly
time. , we couldn't think of letting the day pass
without a note of admiration of some sort. ye could send
a drop of som'at down to 's, why so it is. 's
long life and happiness to neighbour and his comely
bride!"
" ye; thank ye all," said . " bit and a drop
shall be sent to 's for ye at once. had a thought
that we might very likely get a salute of some sort from our
old friends, and was saying so to my wife but now."
"," said , in a critical tone, turning to his
companions, "the man hev learnt to say 'my wife' in a
wonderful naterel way, considering how very youthful he is
in wedlock as yet -- hey, neighbours all?"
" never heerd a skilful old married feller of twenty years'
standing pipe 'my wife' in a more used note than 'a did,"
said . " 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."
" improvement will come wi' time," said , twirling
his eye.
laughed, and smiled (for she never
laughed readily now), and their friends turned to go.
"; suppose that's the size o't," said
with a cheerful sigh as they moved away; "and wish him joy
o' her; though were once or twice upon saying to-day with
holy , in my scripture manner, which is my second
nature. ' is joined to idols: let him alone.'
since 'tis as 'tis why, it might have been worse, and feel
my thanks accordingly."