Far from the Madding Crowd

Such was Boldwood's hope.

To the eyes of the middle-aged, Bathsheba was perhaps additionally charming just now. Her exuberance of 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 shall -- 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.