ns' was
well liked in four; still, I've got others as good, and even better.
What do you say to my

She cal'-led to' her love'
From the lat'-tice a-bove,
'O come in' from the fog'-gy fog'-gy dew'.'

"'Twould please 'em well at such a time! Really, now I come to think of
it, I haven't turned my tongue in my head to the shape of a real good
song since Old Midsummer night, when we had the 'Barley Mow' at the
Woman; and 'tis a pity to neglect your strong point where there's few
that have the compass for such things!"

"So 'tis, so 'tis," said Fairway. "Now gie the bed a shake down.
We've put in seventy pound of best feathers, and I think that's as
many as the tick will fairly hold. A bit and a drap wouldn't be amiss
now, I reckon. Christian, maul down the victuals from corner-cupboard
if canst reach, man, and I'll draw a drap o' sommat to wet it with."

They sat down to a lunch in the midst of their work, feathers around,
above, and below them; the original owners of which occasionally came
to the open door and cackled begrudgingly at sight of such a quantity
of their old clothes.

"Upon my soul I shall be chokt," said Fairway when, having extracted a
feather from his mouth, he found several others floating on the mug as
it was handed round.

"I've swallered several; and one had a tolerable quill," said Sam
placidly from the corner.

"Hullo--what's that--wheels I hear coming?" Grandfer Cantle exclaimed,
jumping up and hastening to the door. "Why, 'tis they back again: I
didn't expect 'em yet this half-hour. To be sure, how quick marrying
can be done when you are in the mind for't!"

"O yes, it can soon be DONE," said Fairway, as if something should be
added to make the statement complete.

He arose and followed the Grandfer, and the rest also went to the
door. In a moment an open fly was driven past, in which sat Venn and
Mrs. Venn, Yeobright, and a grand relative of Venn's who had come
from Budmouth for the occasion. The fly had been hired at the nearest
town, regardless of distance and cost, there being nothing on Egdon
Heath, in Venn's opinion, dignified enough for such an event when such
a woman as Thomasin was the bride; and the church was too remote for a
walking bridal-party.

As the fly passed the group which had run out from the homestead they
shouted "Hurrah!" and waved their hands; feathers and down floating
from their hair, their sleeves, and the folds of their garments at
every