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压缩包里包含算术码压缩和解压到源代码

 Y        A T  HARDY   T MADDING CROWD PENGUIN         C I   P     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  P     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  P     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  P     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  P     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   P     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    C II   P     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   P     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  P     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  P     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  P     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   P      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  P     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    P      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   C III   P     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  P     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  P     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      P       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  P     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   P     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  P     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    P       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   C IV   P     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  P     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   P      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  P     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  P     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  P     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    P      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    P       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    P     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    P       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    C V   P     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  P     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  P     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