Far from the Madding Crowd

"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."

"O 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."

"O, 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."