by Thomas Hardy
CHAPTER II: FURTHER ALONG THE ROAD
Dick's spirits having risen in the course of these admissions of hissweetheart, he now touched Smart with the whip; and on Smart's neck, notfar behind his ears. Smart, who had been lost in thought for some time,never dreaming that Dick could reach so far with a whip which, on thisparticular journey, had never been extended further than his flank,tossed his head, and scampered along with exceeding briskness, which wasvery pleasant to the young couple behind him till, turning a bend in theroad, they came instantly upon the farmer, farmer's man, and farmer'swife with the flapping mantle, all jogging on just the same as ever.
"Bother those people! Here we are upon them again."
"Well, of course. They have as much right to the road as we."
"Yes, but it is provoking to be overlooked so. I like a road all tomyself. Look what a lumbering affair theirs is!" The wheels of thefarmer's cart, just at that moment, jogged into a depression runningacross the road, giving the cart a twist, whereupon all three nodded tothe left, and on coming out of it all three nodded to the right, and wenton jerking their backs in and out as usual. "We'll pass them when theroad gets wider."
When an opportunity seemed to offer itself for carrying this intentioninto effect, they heard light flying wheels behind, and on theirquartering there whizzed along past them a brand-new gig, so brightlypolished that the spokes of the wheels sent forth a continual quiveringlight at one point in their circle, and all the panels glared likemirrors in Dick and Fancy's eyes. The driver, and owner as it appeared,was really a handsome man; his companion was Shiner. Both turned roundas they passed Dick and Fancy, and stared with bold admiration in herface till they were obliged to attend to the operation of passing thefarmer. Dick glanced for an instant at Fancy while she was undergoingtheir scrutiny; then returned to his driving with rather a sadcountenance.
"Why are you so silent?" she said, after a while, with real concern.
"Nothing."
"Yes, it is, Dick. I couldn't help those people passing."
"I know that."
"You look offended with me. What have I done?"
"I can't tell without offending you."
"Better out."
"Well," said Dick, who seemed longing to tell, even at the risk ofoffending her, "I was thinking how different you in love are from me inlove. Whilst those men were staring, you dismissed me from your thoughtsaltogether, and--"
"You can't offend me further now; tell all!"
"And showed upon your face a pleased sense of being attractive to 'em."
"Don't be silly, Dick! You know very well I didn't."
Dick shook his head sceptically, and smiled.
"Dick, I always believe flattery if possible--and it was possible then.Now there's an open confession of weakness. But I showed noconsciousness of it."
Dick, perceiving by her look that she would adhere to her statement,charitably forbore saying anything that could make her prevaricate. Thesight of Shiner, too, had recalled another branch of the subject to hismind; that which had been his greatest trouble till her company and wordshad obscured its probability.
"By the way, Fancy, do you know why our quire is to be dismissed?"
"No: except that it is Mr. Maybold's wish for me to play the organ."
"Do you know how it came to be his wish?"
"That I don't."
"Mr. Shiner, being churchwarden, has persuaded the vicar; who, however,was willing enough before. Shiner, I know, is crazy to see you playingevery Sunday; I suppose he'll turn over your music, for the organ will beclose to his pew. But--I know you have never encouraged him?"
"Never once!" said Fancy emphatically, and with eyes full of earnesttruth. "I don't like him indeed, and I never heard of his doing thisbefore! I have always felt that I should like to play in a church, but Inever wished to turn you and your choir out; and I never even said that Icould play till I was asked. You don't think for a moment that I did,surely, do you?"
"I know you didn't, dear."
"Or that I care the least morsel of a bit for him?"
"I know you don't."
The distance between Budmouth and Mellstock was ten or eleven miles, andthere being a good inn, 'The Ship,' four miles out of Budmouth, with amast and cross-trees in front, Dick's custom in driving thither was todivide the journey into three stages by resting at this inn going andcoming, and not troubling the Budmouth stables at all, whenever his visitto the town was a mere call and deposit, as to-day.
Fancy was ushered into a little tea-room, and Dick went to the stables tosee to the feeding of Smart. In face of the significant twitches offeature that were visible in the ostler and labouring men idling around,Dick endeavoured to look unconscious of the fact that there was anysentiment between him and Fancy beyond a tranter's desire to carry apassenger home. He presently entered the inn and opened the door ofFancy's room.
"Dick, do you know, it has struck me that it is rather awkward, my beinghere alone with you like this. I don't think you had better come in withme."
"That's rather unpleasant, dear."
"Yes, it is, and I wanted you to have some tea as well as myself too,because you must be tired."
"Well, let me have some with you, then. I was denied once before, if yourecollect, Fancy."
"Yes, yes, never mind! And it seems unfriendly of me now, but I don'tknow what to do."
"It shall be as you say, then." Dick began to retreat with adissatisfied wrinkling of face, and a farewell glance at the cosy tea-tray.
"But you don't see how it is, Dick, when you speak like that," she said,with more earnestness than she had ever shown before. "You do know, thateven if I care very much for you, I must remember that I have a difficultposition to maintain. The vicar would not like me, as hisschoolmistress, to indulge in a tete-a-tete anywhere with anybody."
"But I am not any body!" exclaimed Dick.
"No, no, I mean with a young man;" and she added softly, "unless I werereally engaged to be married to him."
"Is that all? Then, dearest, dearest, why we'll be engaged at once, tobe sure we will, and down I sit! There it is, as easy as a glove!"
"Ah! but suppose I won't! And, goodness me, what have I done!" shefaltered, getting very red. "Positively, it seems as if I meant you tosay that!"
"Let's do it! I mean get engaged," said Dick. "Now, Fancy, will you bemy wife?"
"Do you know, Dick, it was rather unkind of you to say what you didcoming along the road," she remarked, as if she had not heard the latterpart of his speech; though an acute observer might have noticed about herbreast, as the word 'wife' fell from Dick's lips, a soft silent escape ofbreaths, with very short rests between each.
"What did I say?"
"About my trying to look attractive to those men in the gig."
"You couldn't help looking so, whether you tried or no. And, Fancy, youdo care for me?"
"Yes."
"Very much?"
"Yes."
"And you'll be my own wife?"
Her heart quickened, adding to and withdrawing from her cheek varyingtones of red to match each varying thought. Dick looked expectantly atthe ripe tint of her delicate mouth, waiting for what was coming forth.
"Yes--if father will let me."
Dick drew himself close to her, compressing his lips and pouting themout, as if he were about to whistle the softest melody known.
"O no!" said Fancy solemnly.
The modest Dick drew back a little.
"Dick, Dick, kiss me and let me go instantly!--here's somebody coming!"she whisperingly exclaimed.
* * *
Half an hour afterwards Dick emerged from the inn, and if Fancy's lipshad been real cherries probably Dick's would have appeared deeplystained. The landlord was standing in the yard.
"Heu-heu! hay-hay, Master Dewy! Ho-ho!" he laughed, letting the laughslip out gently and by degrees that it might make little noise in itsexit, and smiting Dick under the fifth rib at the
same time. "This willnever do, upon my life, Master Dewy! calling for tay for a feymelpassenger, and then going in and sitting down and having some too, andbiding such a fine long time!"
"But surely you know?" said Dick, with great apparent surprise. "Yes,yes! Ha-ha!" smiting the landlord under the ribs in return.
"Why, what? Yes, yes; ha-ha!"
"You know, of course!"
"Yes, of course! But--that is--I don't."
"Why about--between that young lady and me?" nodding to the window of theroom that Fancy occupied.
"No; not I!" said the innkeeper, bringing his eyes into circles.
"And you don't!"
"Not a word, I'll take my oath!"
"But you laughed when I laughed."
"Ay, that was me sympathy; so did you when I laughed!"
"Really, you don't know? Goodness--not knowing that!"
"I'll take my oath I don't!"
"O yes," said Dick, with frigid rhetoric of pitying astonishment, "we'reengaged to be married, you see, and I naturally look after her."
"Of course, of course! I didn't know that, and I hope ye'll excuse anylittle freedom of mine, Mr. Dewy. But it is a very odd thing; I wastalking to your father very intimate about family matters only lastFriday in the world, and who should come in but Keeper Day, and we allthen fell a-talking o' family matters; but neither one o' them said amortal word about it; knowen me too so many years, and I at your father'sown wedding. 'Tisn't what I should have expected from an old neighbour!"
"Well, to say the truth, we hadn't told father of the engagement at thattime; in fact, 'twasn't settled."
"Ah! the business was done Sunday. Yes, yes, Sunday's the courting day.Heu-heu!"
"No, 'twasn't done Sunday in particular."
"After school-hours this week? Well, a very good time, a very propergood time."
"O no, 'twasn't done then."
"Coming along the road to-day then, I suppose?"
"Not at all; I wouldn't think of getting engaged in a dog-cart."
"Dammy--might as well have said at once, the when be blowed! Anyhow,'tis a fine day, and I hope next time you'll come as one."
Fancy was duly brought out and assisted into the vehicle, and the newlyaffianced youth and maiden passed up the steep hill to the Ridgeway, andvanished in the direction of Mellstock.