\"Why，thatbluefrockyouworelastweek。\"
\"Doesn’tsetwellroundtheneck。Icouldn’twearthat。\"
\"ButIshan’tcare。\"
\"No，youwon’tmind。\"
\"Well，thenit’sallright。Becauseyouonlycarehowyoulooktome，doyou，dear？Ionlydressforyou，that’scertain。\"
\"Yes，butyouseeIcouldn’tappearinitagainverywell。\"
\"Anystrangegentlemanyoumidmeetinyourjourneymightnoticethesetofit，Isuppose。Fancy，meninlovedon’tthinksomuchabouthowtheylooktootherwomen。\"Itisdifficulttosaywhetheratoneofplayfulbanterorofgentlereproachprevailedinthespeech。
\"Wellthen，Dick，\"shesaid，withgood—humouredfrankness，\"I’llownit。Ishouldn’tlikeastrangertoseemedressedbadly，eventhoughIaminlove。’Tisournature，Isuppose。\"
\"Youperfectwoman！\"
\"Yes;ifyoulaythestresson’woman，’\"shemurmured，lookingatagroupofhollyhocksinflower，roundwhichacrowdofbutterflieshadgatheredlikefemaleidlersroundabonnet—shop。
\"Butaboutthedress。Whynotweartheoneyouworeatourparty？\"
\"Thatsetswell，butagirlofthenameofBetTallor，wholivesnearourhouse，hashadonemadealmostlikeit（onlyinpattern，thoughofmiserablycheapstuff），andIcouldn’twearitonthataccount。Dearme，IamafraidIcan’tgonow。\"
\"Oyes，youmust;Iknowyouwill！\"saidDick，withdismay。\"Whynotwearwhatyou’vegoton？\"
\"What！thisoldone！Afterall，IthinkthatbywearingmygrayoneSaturday，IcanmaketheblueonedoforSunday。Yes，Iwill。A
hatorabonnet，whichshallitbe？WhichdoIlookbestin？\"
\"Well，Ithinkthebonnetisnicest，morequietandmatronly。\"
\"What’stheobjectiontothehat？Doesitmakemelookold？\"
\"Ono;thehatiswellenough;butitmakesyoulookrathertoo——youwon’tmindmesayingit，dear？\"
\"Notatall，forIshallwearthebonnet。\"
\"——Rathertoocoquettishandflirtyforanengagedyoungwoman。\"
Shereflectedaminute。\"Yes;yes。Still，afterall，thehatwoulddobest;hatsAREbest，yousee。Yes，Imustwearthehat，dearDicky，becauseIoughttowearahat，youknow。\"
PARTTHEFORTH——AUTUMN
CHAPTERI：GOINGNUTTING
Dick，dressedinhis’second—best’suit，burstintoFancy’ssitting—
roomwithaglowofpleasureonhisface。
Itwastwoo’clockonFriday，thedaybeforehercontemplatedvisittoherfather，andforsomereasonconnectedwithcleaningtheschoolthechildrenhadbeengiventhisFridayafternoonforpastime，inadditiontotheusualSaturday。
\"Fancy！ithappensjustrightthatitisaleisurehalfdaywithyou。Smartislameinhisnear—foot—afore，andso，asIcan’tdoanything，I’vemadeaholidayafternoonofit，andamcomeforyoutogonuttingwithme！\"
Shewassittingbytheparlourwindow，withabluefrocklyingacrossherlapandscissorsinherhand。
\"Gonutting！Yes。ButI’mafraidIcan’tgoforanhourorso。\"
\"Whynot？’Tistheonlyspareafternoonwemaybothhavetogetherforweeks。\"
\"Thisdressofmine，thatIamgoingtowearonSundayatYalbury;——
IfinditfitssobadlythatImustalteritalittle，afterall。I
toldthedressmakertomakeitbyapatternIgaveheratthetime;
insteadofthat，shediditherownway，andmademelookaperfectfright。\"
\"Howlongwillyoube？\"heinquired，lookingratherdisappointed。
\"Notlong。Dowaitandtalktome;come，do，dear。\"
Dicksatdown。Thetalkingprogressedveryfavourably，amidthesnippingandsewing，tillabouthalf—pasttwo，atwhichtimehisconversationbegantobevariedbyaslighttappinguponhistoewithawalking—stickhehadcutfromthehedgeashecamealong。
Fancytalkedandansweredhim，butsometimestheanswersweresonegligentlygiven，thatitwasevidentherthoughtslayforthegreaterpartinherlapwiththebluedress。
Theclockstruckthree。Dickarosefromhisseat，walkedroundtheroomwithhishandsbehindhim，examinedallthefurniture，thensoundedafewnotesontheharmonium，thenlookedinsideallthebookshecouldfind，thensmoothedFancy’sheadwithhishand。
Stillthesnippingandsewingwenton。
Theclockstruckfour。Dickfidgetedabout，yawnedprivately;
countedtheknotsinthetable，yawnedpublicly;countedthefliesontheceiling，yawnedhorribly;wentintothekitchenandscullery，andsothoroughlystudiedtheprincipleuponwhichthepumpwasconstructedthathecouldhavedeliveredalectureonthesubject。
SteppingbacktoFancy，andfindingstillthatshehadnotdone，hewentintohergardenandlookedathercabbagesandpotatoes，andremindedhimselfthattheyseemedtohimtowearadecidedlyfeminineaspect;thenpulledupseveralweeds，andcameinagain。
Theclockstruckfive，andstillthesnippingandsewingwenton。
Dickattemptedtokillafly，peeledalltherindoffhiswalking—
stick，thenthrewthestickintothescullerybecauseitwasspoilt，producedhideousdiscordsfromtheharmonium，andaccidentallyoverturnedavaseofflowers，thewaterfromwhichraninarillacrossthetableanddribbledtothefloor，whereitformedalake，theshapeofwhich，afterthelapseofafewminutes，hebegantomodifyconsiderablywithhisfoot，tillitwaslikeamapofEnglandandWales。
\"Well，Dick，youneedn’thavemadequitesuchamess。\"
\"Well，Ineedn’t，Isuppose。\"Hewalkeduptothebluedress，andlookedatitwitharigidgaze。Thenanideaseemedtocrosshisbrain。
\"Fancy。\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Ithoughtyousaidyouweregoingtowearyourgraygownalldayto—morrowonyourtriptoYalbury，andintheeveningtoo，whenI
shallbewithyou，andaskyourfatherforyou？\"
\"SoIam。\"
\"AndtheblueoneonlyonSunday？\"
\"AndtheblueoneSunday。\"
\"Well，dear，Isha’n’tbeatYalburySundaytoseeit。\"
\"No，butIshallwalktoLongpuddlechurchintheafternoonwithfather，andsuchlotsofpeoplewillbelookingatmethere，youknow;anditdidsetsobadlyroundtheneck。\"
\"Inevernoticedit，and’tislikenobodyelsewould。\"
\"Theymight。\"
\"ThenwhynotwearthegrayoneonSundayaswell？’Tisasprettyastheblueone。\"
\"Imightmakethegrayonedo，certainly。Butitisn’tsogood;itdidn’tcosthalfsomuchasthisone，andbesides，itwouldbethesameIworeSaturday。\"
\"Thenwearthestripedone，dear。\"
\"Imight。\"
\"Orthedarkone。\"
\"Yes，Imight;butIwanttowearafreshonetheyhaven’tseen。\"
\"Isee，Isee，\"saidDick，inavoiceinwhichthetonesofloveweredecidedlyinconveniencedbyaconsiderableemphasis，histhoughtsmeanwhilerunningasfollows：\"I，themanshelovesbestintheworld，asshesays，amtounderstandthatmypoorhalf—
holidayistobelost，becauseshewantstowearonSundayagownthereisnottheslightestnecessityforwearing，simply，infact，toappearmorestrikingthanusualintheeyesofLongpuddleyoungmen;andInotthere，either。\"
\"Thentherearethreedressesgoodenoughformyeyes，butneitherisgoodenoughfortheyouthsofLongpuddle，\"hesaid。
\"No，notthatexactly，Dick。Still，yousee，Idowant——tolookprettytothem——there，that’shonest！ButIsha’n’tbemuchlonger。\"
\"Howmuch？\"
\"Aquarterofanhour。\"
\"Verywell;I’llcomeininaquarterofanhour。\"
\"Whygoaway？\"
\"Imidaswell。\"
Hewentout，walkeddowntheroad，andsatuponagate。Herehemeditatedandmeditated，andthemorehemeditatedthemoredecidedlydidhebegintofume，andthemorepositivewashethathistimehadbeenscandalouslytrifledwithbyMissFancyDay——that，sofarfrombeingthesimplegirlwhohadneverhadasweetheartbefore，asshehadsolemnlyassuredhimtimeaftertime，shewas，ifnotaflirt，awomanwhohadhadnoendofadmirers;agirlmostcertainlytooanxiousaboutherfrocks;agirl，whosefeelings，thoughwarm，werenotdeep;agirlwhocaredagreatdealtoomuchhowsheappearedintheeyesofothermen。\"Whatshelovesbestintheworld，\"hethought，withanincipientspiceofhisfather’sgrimness，\"isherhairandcomplexion。Whatshelovesnextbest，hergownsandhats;whatshelovesnextbest，myself，perhaps！\"
Sufferinggreatanguishatthisdisloyaltyinhimselfandharshnesstohisdarling，yetdisposedtopersevereinit，ahorriblycruelthoughtcrossedhismind。Hewouldnotcallforher，ashehadpromised，attheendofaquarterofanhour！Yes，itwouldbeapunishmentshewelldeserved。Althoughthebestpartoftheafternoonhadbeenwastedhewouldgonuttingashehadintended，andgobyhimself。
Heleapedoverthegate，andpushedupthelanefornearlytwomiles，tillawindingpathcalledSnail—Creepslopedupahillandenteredahazelcopsebyaholehikearabbit’sburrow。Inheplunged，vanishedamongthebushes，andinashorttimetherewasnosignofhisexistenceuponearth，saveanoccasionalrustlingofboughsandsnappingoftwigsindiverspointsofGrey’sWood。
NevermannuttedasDicknuttedthatafternoon。Heworkedlikeagalleyslave。Half—hourafterhalf—hourpassedaway，andstillhegatheredwithoutceasing。Atlast，whenthesunhadset，andbunchesofnutscouldnotbedistinguishedfromtheleaveswhichnourishedthem，heshoulderedhisbag，containingquitetwopecksofthefinestproduceofthewood，aboutasmuchusetohimastwopecksofstonesfromtheroad，strolleddownthewoodlandtrack，crossedthehighwayandenteredthehomewardlane，whistlingasbewent。
Probably，MissFancyDayneverbeforeorafterstoodsolowinMr。
Dewy’sopinionasonthatafternoon。Infact，itisjustpossiblethatafewmorebluedressesontheLongpuddleyoungmen’saccountwouldhaveclarifiedDick’sbrainentirely，andmadehimoncemoreafreeman。
ButVenushadplannedotherdevelopments，atanyrateforthepresent。Cuckoo—Lane，thewayhepursued，passedoveraridgewhichrosekeenlyagainsttheskyaboutfiftyyardsinhisvan。Here，uponthebrightafter—glowaboutthehorizon，wasnowvisibleanirregularshape，whichatfirstheconceivedtobeaboughstandingalittlebeyondthelineofitsneighbours。Thenitseemedtomove，and，asheadvancedstillfurther，therewasnodoubtthatitwasalivingbeingsittinginthebank，headbowedonhand。Thegrassymarginentirelypreventedhisfootstepsfrombeingheard，anditwasnottillhewasclosethatthefigurerecognizedhim。Upitsprang，andhewasfacetofacewithFancy。
\"Dick，Dick！O，isityou，Dick！\"
\"Yes，Fancy，\"saidDick，inaratherrepentanttone，andloweringhisnuts。
Sheranuptohim，flungherparasolonthegrass，putherlittleheadagainsthisbreast，andthentherebegananarrative，disjointedbysuchahystericalweepingaswasneversurpassedforintensityinthewholehistoryoflove。
\"ODick，\"shesobbedout，\"wherehaveyoubeenawayfromme？O，I
havesufferedagony，andthoughtyouwouldnevercomeanymore！
’Tiscruel，Dick;no’tisn’t，itisjustice！I’vebeenwalkingmilesandmilesupanddownGrey’sWood，tryingtofindyou，tillI
wasweariedandwornout，andIcouldwalknofurther，andhadcomebackthisfar！ODick，directlyyouweregone，IthoughtIhadoffendedyouandIputdownthedress;’tisn’tfinishednow，andI
neverwillfinish，it，andI’llwearanoldoneSunday！Yes，Dick，Iwill，becauseIdon’tcarewhatIwearwhenyouarenotbymyside——ha，youthinkIdo，butIdon’t！——andIranafteryou，andI
sawyougoupSnail—Creepandnotlookbackonce，andthenyouplungedin，andIafteryou;butIwastoofarbehind。O，Ididwishthehorridbusheshadbeencutdown，sothatIcouldseeyourdearshapeagain！AndthenIcalledouttoyou，andnobodyanswered，andIwasafraidtocallveryloud，lestanybodyelseshouldhearme。ThenIkeptwanderingandwanderingabout，anditwasdreadfulmisery，Dick。AndthenIshutmyeyesandfelltopicturingyoulookingatsomeotherwoman，veryprettyandnice，butwithnoaffectionortruthinheratall，andthenimaginedyousayingtoyourself，\"Ah，she’sasgoodasFancy，forFancytoldmeastory，andwasaflirt，andcaredforherselfmorethanme，sonowI’llhavethisoneformysweetheart。\"O，youwon’t，willyou，Dick，forIdoloveyouso！\"
ItisscarcelynecessarytoaddthatDickrenouncedhisfreedomthereandthen，andkissedhertentimesover，andpromisedthatnoprettywomanofthekindalludedtoshouldeverengrosshisthoughts;inshort，thatthoughhehadbeenvexedwithher，allsuchvexationwaspast，andthathenceforthandforeveritwassimplyFancyordeathforhim。Andthentheysetaboutproceedinghomewards，veryslowlyonaccountofFancy’sweariness，sheleaninguponhisshoulder，andinadditionreceivingsupportfromhisarmroundherwaist;thoughshehadsufficientlyrecoveredfromherdesperateconditiontosingtohim，\"Whyareyouwanderinghere，I
pray？\"duringthelatterpartoftheirwalk。Norisitnecessarytodescribeindetailhowthebagofnutswasquiteforgottenuntilthreedayslater，whenitwasfoundamongthebramblesandrestoredemptytoMrs。Dewy，herinitialsbeingmarkedthereoninredcotton;
andhowshepuzzledherselftillherheadacheduponthequestionofhowonearthhermeal—bagcouldhavegotintoCuckoo—Lane。
CHAPTERII：HONEY—TAKING，ANDAFTERWARDS
SaturdayeveningsawDickDewyjourneyingonfoottoYalburyWood，accordingtothearrangementwithFancy。
Thelandscapebeingconcave，atthegoingdownofthesuneverythingsuddenlyassumedauniformrobeofshade。TheeveningadvancedfromsunsettodusklongbeforeDick’sarrival，andhisprogressduringthelatterportionofhiswalkthroughthetreeswasindicatedbytheflutterofterrifiedbirdsthathadbeenroostingoverthepath。
Andincrossingtheglades，massesofhotdryair，thathadbeenformedonthehillsduringtheday，greetedhischeeksalternatelywithcloudsofdampnightairfromthevalleys。Hereachedthekeeper—steward’shouse，wherethegrass—plotandthegardeninfrontappearedlightandpaleagainsttheunbrokendarknessofthegrovefromwhichhehademerged，andpausedatthegardengate。
Hehadscarcelybeenthereaminutewhenhebeheldasortofprocessionadvancingfromthedoorinhisfront。ItconsistedfirstofEnochthetrapper，carryingaspadeonhisshoulderandalanterndanglinginhishand;thencameMrs。Day，thelightofthelanternrevealingthatsheboreinherarmscuriousobjectsaboutafootlong，intheformofLatincrosses（madeoflathandbrownpaperdippedinbrimstone——calledmatchesbybee—masters）;nextcameMissDay，withashawlthrownoverherhead;andbehindall，inthegloom，Mr。FredericShiner。
Dick，inhisconsternationatfindingShinerpresent，wasatalosshowtoproceed，andretiredunderatreetocollecthisthoughts。
\"HereIbe，Enoch，\"saidavoice;andtheprocessionadvancingfarther，thelantern’sraysilluminatedthefigureofGeoffrey，awaitingtheirarrivalbesidearowofbee—hives，infrontofthepath。TakingthespadefromEnoch，heproceededtodigtwoholesintheearthbesidethehives，theothersstandingroundinacircle，exceptMrs。Day，whodepositedhermatchesintheforkofanapple—
treeandreturnedtothehouse。Thepartyremainingwerenowlitupinfrontbythelanternintheirmidst，theirshadowsradiatingeachwayuponthegarden—plotlikethespokesofawheel。AnapparentembarrassmentofFancyatthepresenceofShinercausedasilenceintheassembly，duringwhichthepreliminariesofexecutionwerearranged，thematchesfixed，thestakekindled，thetwohivesplacedoverthetwoholes，andtheearthstoppedroundtheedges。Geoffreythenstooderect，andrathermore，tostraightenhisbackboneafterthedigging。
\"Theywereapeculiarfamily，\"saidMr。Shiner，regardingthehivesreflectively。
Geoffreynodded。
\"Thoseholeswillbethegraveofthousands！\"saidFancy。\"Ithink’tisratheracruelthingtodo。\"
Herfathershookhishead。\"No，\"hesaid，tappingthehivestoshakethedeadbeesfromtheircells，\"ifyousuffocate’emthisway，theyonlydieonce：ifyoufumigate’eminthenewway，theycometolifeagain，anddieo’starvation;sothepangso’deathbetwiceupon’em。\"
\"IinclinetoFancy’snotion，\"saidMr。Shiner，laughinglightly。
\"Theproperwaytotakehoney，sothatthebeesbeneitherstarvednormurdered，isapuzzlingmatter，\"saidthekeepersteadily。
\"Ishouldlikenevertotakeitfromthem，\"saidFancy。
\"But’tisthemoney，\"saidEnochmusingly。\"Forwithoutmoneymanisashadder！\"
Thelantern—lighthaddisturbedmanybeesthathadescapedfromhivesdestroyedsomedaysearlier，and，demoralizedbyaffliction，werenowgettingalivingasmaraudersaboutthedoorsofotherhives。SeveralflewroundtheheadandneckofGeoffrey;thendarteduponhimwithanirritatedbizz。
Enochthrewdownthelantern，andranoffandpushedhisheadintoacurrantbush;Fancyscuddedupthepath;andMr。Shinerflounderedawayhelter—skelteramongthecabbages。Geoffreystoodhisground，unmovedandfirmasarock。Fancywasthefirsttoreturn，followedbyEnochpickingupthelantern。Mr。Shinerstillremainedinvisible。
\"Havethecratersstungye？\"saidEnochtoGeoffrey。
\"No，notmuch——on’yalittlehereandthere，\"hesaidwithleisurelysolemnity，shakingonebeeoutofhisshirtsleeve，pullinganotherfromamonghishair，andtwoorthreemorefromhisneck。Therestlookedonduringthisproceedingwithacomplacentsenseofbeingoutofit，——muchasaEuropeannationinastateofinternalcommotioniswatchedbyitsneighbours。
\"Arethoseallofthem，father？\"saidFancy，whenGeoffreyhadpulledawayfive。
\"Almostall，——thoughIfeeloneortwomorestickingintomyshoulderandside。Ah！there’sanotherjustbegunagainuponmybackbone。Youlivelyyoungmortals，howdidyougetinsidethere？
However，theycan’tstingmemanytimesmore，poorthings，fortheymustbegettingweak。Theymidaswellstayinmetillbedtimenow，Isuppose。\"
Ashehimselfwastheonlypersonaffectedbythisarrangement，itseemedsatisfactoryenough;andafteranoiseoffeetkickingagainstcabbagesinablunderingprogressamongthem，thevoiceofMr。Shinerwasheardfromthedarknessinthatdirection。
\"Isallquitesafeagain？\"
Noanswerbeingreturnedtothisquery，heapparentlyassumedthathemightventureforth，andgraduallydrewnearthelanternagain。
Thehiveswerenowremovedfromtheirpositionovertheholes，onebeinghandedtoEnochtocarryindoors，andonebeingtakenbyGeoffreyhimself。
\"Bringhitherthelantern，Fancy：thespadecanbide。\"
GeoffreyandEnochthenwenttowardsthehouse，leavingShinerandFancystandingsidebysideonthegarden—plot。
\"Allowme，\"saidShiner，stoopingforthelanternandseizingitatthesametimewithFancy。
\"Icancarryit，\"saidFancy，religiouslyrepressingallinclinationtotrifle。Shehadthoroughlyconsideredthatsubjectafterthetearfulexplanationofthebird—catchingadventuretoDick，andhaddecidedthatitwouldbedishonestinher，asanengagedyoungwoman，totriflewithmen’seyesandhandsanymore。FindingthatShinerstillretainedhisholdofthelantern，sherelinquishedit，andhe，havingfoundherretainingit，alsoletgo。Thelanternfell，andwasextinguished。Fancymovedon。
\"Whereisthepath？\"saidMr。Shiner。
\"Here，\"saidFancy。\"Youreyeswillgetusedtothedarkinaminuteortwo。\"
\"Tillthattimewillyelendmeyourhand？\"Fancygavehimtheextremetipsofherfingers，andtheysteppedfromtheplotintothepath。
\"Youdon’tacceptattentionsveryfreely。\"
\"Itdependsuponwhooffersthem。\"
\"Afellowlikeme，forinstance。\"Adeadsilence。
\"Well，whatdoyousay，Missie？\"
\"Itthendependsuponhowtheyareoffered。\"
\"Notwildly，andyetnotcareless—like;notpurposely，andyetnotbychance;nottooquicknoryettooslow。\"
\"Howthen？\"saidFancy。
\"Coollyandpractically，\"hesaid。\"Howwouldthatkindoflovebetaken？\"
\"Notanxiously，andyetnotindifferently;neitherblushingnorpale;norreligiouslynoryetquitewickedly。\"
\"Notatall。\"
GeoffreyDay’sstorehouseatthebackofhisdwellingwashungwithbunchesofdriedhorehound，mint，andsage;brown—paperbagsofthymeandlavender;andlongropesofcleanonions。Onshelveswerespreadlargeredandyellowapples，andchoiceselectionsofearlypotatoesforseednextyear;——vulgarcrowdsofcommonerkindlyingbeneathinheaps。Afewemptybeehiveswereclusteredaroundanailinonecorner，underwhichstoodtwoorthreebarrelsofnewciderofthefirstcrop，eachbubblingandsquirtingforthfromtheyetopenbunghole。
Fancywasnowkneelingbesidethetwoinvertedhives，oneofwhichrestedagainstherlap，forconvenienceinoperatinguponthecontents。Shethrusthersleevesaboveherelbows，andinsertedhersmallpinkhandedgewisebetweeneachwhitelobeofhoneycomb，performingtheactsoadroitlyandgentlyasnottounsealasinglecell。Thencrackingthepieceoffatthecrownofthehivebyaslightbackwardandforwardmovement，sheliftedeachportionasitwasloosenedintoalargeblueplatter，placedonabenchatherside。
\"Bothertheselittlemortals！\"saidGeoffrey，whowasholdingthelighttoher，andgivinghisbackanuneasytwist。\"IreallythinkImayaswellgoindoorsandtake’emout，poorthings！fortheywon’tletmealone。There’stwoastingingwi’alltheirmightnow。
I’msureIwondertheirstrengthcanlastsolong。\"
\"Allright，friend;I’llholdthecandlewhilstyouaregone，\"saidMr。Shiner，leisurelytakingthelight，andallowingGeoffreytodepart，whichhedidwithhisusuallongpaces。
Hecouldhardlyhavegoneroundtothehouse—doorwhenotherfootstepswereheardapproachingtheoutbuilding;thetipofafingerappearedintheholethroughwhichthewoodlatchwaslifted，andDickDewycamein，havingbeenallthistimewalkingupanddownthewood，vainlywaitingforShiner’sdeparture。
Fancylookedupandwelcomedhimratherconfusedly。Shinergraspedthecandlestickmorefirmly，and，lestdoingthisinsilenceshouldnotimplytoDickwithsufficientforcethathewasquiteathomeandcool，hesanginvincibly—
\"’KingArthurhehadthreesons。’\"
\"Fatherhere？\"saidDick。
\"Indoors，Ithink，\"saidFancy，lookingpleasantlyathim。
Dicksurveyedthescene，anddidnotseeminclinedtohurryoffjustatthatmoment。Shinerwentonsinging\"’Themillerwasdrown’dinhispond，Theweaverwashunginhisyarn，Andthed—ranawaywiththelittletail—or，Withthebroadclothunderhisarm。’\"
\"That’saterriblecrippledrhyme，ifthat’syourrhyme！\"saidDick，withagrainofsuperciliousnessinhistone。
\"It’snouseyourcomplainingtomeabouttherhyme！\"saidMr。
Shiner。\"Youmustgotothemanthatmadeit。\"
Fancybythistimehadacquiredconfidence。
\"Tasteabit，Mr。Dewy，\"shesaid，holdinguptohimasmallcircularpieceofhoneycombthathadbeenthelastintherowoflayers，remainingstillonherkneesandflingingbackherheadtolookinhisface;\"andthenI’lltasteabittoo。\"
\"AndI，ifyouplease，\"saidMr。Shiner。Neverthelessthefarmerlookedsuperior，asifhecouldevennowhardlyjointhetriflingfromveryimportanceofstation;andafterreceivingthehoneycombfromFancy，heturneditoverinhishandtillthecellsbegantobecrushed，andtheliquidhoneyrandownfromhisfingersinathinstring。
SuddenlyafaintcryfromFancycausedthemtogazeather。
\"What’sthematter，dear？\"saidDick。
\"Itisnothing，butO—o！abeehasstungtheinsideofmylip！HewasinoneofthecellsIwaseating！\"
\"Wemustkeepdowntheswelling，oritmaybeserious！\"saidShiner，steppingupandkneelingbesideher。\"Letmeseeit。\"
\"No，no！\"
\"JustletMEseeit，\"saidDick，kneelingontheotherside：andaftersomehesitationshepresseddownherlipwithonefingertoshowtheplace。\"O，Ihope’twillsoonhebetter！Idon’tmindastinginordinaryplaces，hutitissobaduponyourlip，\"sheaddedwithtearsinhereyes，andwrithingalittlefromthepain。
ShinerheldthelightabovehisheadandpushedhisfaceclosetoFancy’s，asiftheliphadbeenshownexclusivelytohimself，uponwhichDickpushedcloser，asifShinerwerenotthereatall。
\"Itisswelling，\"saidDicktoherrightaspect。
\"Itisn’tswelling，\"saidShinertoherleftaspect。
\"Isitdangerousonthelip？\"criedFancy。\"Iknowitisdangerousonthetongue。\"
\"Ono，notdangerous！\"answeredDick。
\"Ratherdangerous，\"hadansweredShinersimultaneously。
\"Imusttrytobearit！\"saidFancy，turningagaintothehives。
\"Hartshorn—and—oilisagoodthingtoputtoit，MissDay，\"saidShinerwithgreatconcern。
\"Sweet—oil—and—hartshornI’vefoundtobeagoodthingtocurestings，MissDay，\"saidDickwithgreaterconcern。
\"Wehavesomemixedindoors;wouldyoukindlyrunandgetitforme？\"shesaid。
Now，whetherbyinadvertence，orwhetherbymischievousintention，theindividualityoftheYOUwassocarelesslydenotedthatbothDickandShinersprangtotheirfeetliketwinacrobats，andmarchedabreasttothedoor;bothseizedthelatchandliftedit，andcontinuedmarchingon，shouldertoshoulder，inthesamemannertothedwelling—house。Notonlyso，butenteringtheroom，theymarchedasbeforestraightuptoMrs。Day’schair，lettingthedoorintheoakpartitionslamsoforcibly，thattherowsofpewteronthedresserranglikeabell。
\"Mrs。Day，Fancyhasstungherlip，andwantsyoutogivemethehartshorn，please，\"saidMr。Shiner，veryclosetoMrs。Day’sface。
\"O，Mrs。Day，Fancyhasaskedmetobringoutthehartshorn，please，becauseshehasstungherlip！\"saidDick，alittleclosertoMrs。
Day’sface。
\"Well，menalive！that’snoreasonwhyyoushouldeatme，I
suppose！\"saidMrs。Day，drawingback。
Shesearchedinthecorner—cupboard，producedthebottle，andbegantodustthecork，therim，andeveryotherpartverycarefully，Dick’shandandShiner’shandwaitingsidebyside。
\"Whichisheadman？\"saidMrs。Day。\"Now，don’tcomemumbudgetingsocloseagain。Whichisheadman？\"
Neitherspoke;andthebottlewasinclinedtowardsShiner。Shiner，asahigh—classman，wouldnotlookintheleasttriumphant，andturnedtogooffwithitasGeoffreycamedownstairsafterthesearchinhislinenforconcealedbees。
\"O——thatyou，MasterDewy？\"
Dickassuredthekeeperthatitwas;andtheyoungmanthendetermineduponaboldstrokefortheattainmentofhisend，forgettingthattheworstofboldstrokesisthedisastrousconsequencestheyinvolveiftheyfail。
\"I’vecomeonpurposetospeaktoyouveryparticular，Mr。Day，\"hesaid，withacrushingemphasisintendedfortheearsofMr。Shiner，whowasvanishingroundthedoor—postatthatmoment。
\"Well，I’vebeenforcedtogoupstairsandunrindmyself，andshakesomebeesouto’me\"saidGeoffrey，walkingslowlytowardstheopendoor，andstandingonthethreshold。\"Theyoungrascalsgotintomyshirtandwouldn’tbequietnohow。\"
Dickfollowedhimtothedoor。
\"I’vecometospeakawordtoyou，\"herepeated，lookingoutatthepalemistcreepingupfromthegloomofthevalley。\"Youmayperhapsguesswhatitisabout。\"
Thekeeperloweredhishandsintothedepthsofhispockets，twirledhiseyes，balancedhimselfonhistoes，lookedasperpendicularlydownwardasifhisglancewereaplumb—line，thenhorizontally，collectingtogetherthecracksthatlayabouthisfacetilltheywereallintheneighbourhoodofhiseyes。
\"MaybeIdon’tknow，\"hereplied。
Dicksaidnothing;andthestillnesswasdisturbedonlybysomesmallbirdthatwasbeingkilledbyanowlintheadjoiningwood，whosecrypassedintothesilencewithoutminglingwithit。
\"I’veleftmyhatupinchammer，\"saidGeoffrey;\"waitwhileIstepupandgeten。\"
\"I’llbeinthegarden，\"saidDick。
Hewentroundbyasidewicketintothegarden，andGeoffreywentupstairs。ItwasthecustominMellstockanditsvicinitytodiscussmattersofpleasureandordinarybusinessinsidethehouse，andtoreservethegardenforveryimportantaffairs：acustomwhich，asissupposed，originatedinthedesirabilityofgettingawayatsuchtimesfromtheothermembersofthefamilywhentherewasonlyoneroomforlivingin，thoughitwasnowquiteasfrequentlypractisedbythosewhosufferedfromnosuchlimitationtothesizeoftheirdomiciles。
Thehead—keeper’sformappearedintheduskygarden，andDickwalkedtowardshim。Theelderpausedandleantovertherailofapiggerythatstoodontheleftofthepath，uponwhichDickdidthesame;
andtheybothcontemplatedawhitishshadowyshapethatwasmovingaboutandgruntingamongthestrawoftheinterior。
\"I’vecometoaskforFancy，\"saidDick。
\"I’dasliefyouhadn’t。\"
\"Whyshouldthatbe，Mr。Day？\"
\"Becauseitmakesmesaythatyou’vecometoaskwhatyebe’n’tlikelytohave。Haveyecomeforanythingelse？\"
\"Nothing。\"
\"ThenI’lljusttell’eeyou’vecomeonaveryfoolisherrand。D’yeknowwhathermotherwas？\"
\"No。\"
\"Ateacherinalandedfamily’snursery，whowasfoolishenoughtomarrythekeeperofthesameestablishment;forIwasonlyakeeperthen，thoughnowI’veadozenotherironsinthefireasstewardhereformylord，whatwiththetimbersalesandtheyearlyfellings，andthegravelandsandsalesandonethingand’tother。
However，d’yethinkFancypickeduphergoodmanners，thesmoothturnofhertongue，hermusicalnotes，andherknowledgeofbooks，inahomelyholelikethis？\"
\"No。\"
\"D’yeknowwhere？\"
\"No。\"
\"Well，whenIwenta—wanderingafterhermother’sdeath，shelivedwithheraunt，whokeptaboarding—school，tillherauntmarriedLawyerGreen——amanassharpasaneedle——andtheschoolwasbrokeup。Didyeknowthatthenshewenttothetraining—school，andthathernamestoodfirstamongtheQueen’sscholarsofheryear？\"
\"I’veheardso。\"
\"AndthatwhenshesatforhercertificateasGovernmentteacher，shehadthehighestofthefirstclass？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Well，anddoyeknowwhatIliveinsuchamiserlywayforwhenI’vegotenoughtodowithoutit，andwhyImakeherworkasaschoolmistressinsteadoflivinghere？\"
\"No。\"
\"Thatifanygentleman，whoseeshertobehisequalinpolish，shouldwanttomarryher，andshewanttomarryhim，hesha’n’tbesuperiortoherinpocket。Nowdoyethinkafterthisthatyoubegoodenoughforher？\"
\"No。\"
\"Thengood—nightt’ee，MasterDewy。\"
\"Good—night，Mr。Day。\"
ModestDick’sreplyhadfaltereduponhistongue，andheturnedawaywonderingathispresumptioninaskingforawomanwhomhehadseenfromthebeginningtobesosuperiortohim。
CHAPTERIII：FANCYINTHERAIN
Thenextsceneisatempestuousafternooninthefollowingmonth，andFancyDayisdiscoveredwalkingfromherfather’shometowardsMellstock。
Asinglevastgraycloudcoveredthecountry，fromwhichthesmallrainandmisthadjustbeguntoblowdowninwavysheets，alternatelythickandthin。Thetreesofthefieldsandplantationswrithedlikemiserablemenastheairwounditswayswiftlyamongthem：thelowestportionsoftheirtrunks，thathadhardlyeverbeenknowntomove，werevisiblyrockedbythefiercergusts，distressingthemindbyitspainfulunwontedness，aswhenastrongmanisseentoshedtears。Low—hangingboughswentupanddown;
highanderectboughswenttoandfro;theblastsbeingsoirregular，anddividedintosomanycross——currents，thatneighbouringbranchesofthesametreeswepttheskiesinindependentmotions，crossedeachother，orbecameentangled。
Acrosstheopenspacesflewflocksofgreenandyellowishleaves，which，aftertravellingalongdistancefromtheirparenttrees，reachedtheground，andlaytherewiththeirunder——sidesupward。
Astherainandwindincreased，andFancy’sbonnet——ribbonsleaptmoreandmoresnappishlyagainstherchin，shepausedonenteringMellstockLanetoconsiderherlatitude，andthedistancetoaplaceofshelter。ThenearesthousewasElizabethEndorfield’s，inHigherMellstock，whosecottageandgardenstoodnotfarfromthejunctionofthathamletwiththeroadshefollowed。Fancyhastenedonward，andinfiveminutesenteredagate，whichsheduponhertoesafloodofwater—dropsassheopenedit。
\"Comein，chiel！\"avoiceexclaimed，beforeFancyhadknocked：apromptnessthatwouldhavesurprisedherhadshenotknownthatMrs。
Endorfieldwasanexceedinglyandexceptionallysharpwomanintheuseofhereyesandears。
Fancywentinandsatdown。Elizabethwasparingpotatoesforherhusband’ssupper。
Scrape，scrape，scrape;thenatoss，andsplashwentapotatointoabucketofwater。
Now，asFancylistlesslynotedtheseproceedingsofthedame，shebegantoreconsideranoldsubjectthathayuppermostinherheart。
SincetheinterviewbetweenherfatherandDick，thedayshadbeenmelancholydaysforher。Geoffrey’sfirmoppositiontothenotionofDickasason—in—lawwasmorethanshehadexpected。Shehadfrequentlyseenherloversincethattime，itistrue，andhadlovedhimmorefortheoppositionthanshewouldhaveotherwisedreamtofdoing——whichwasahappinessofacertainkind。Yet，thoughloveisthusanendinitself，itmustbebelievedtobethemeanstoanotherendifitistoassumetherosyhuesofanunalloyedpleasure。AndsuchabeliefFancyandDickwereemphaticallydeniedjustnow。
