motion, and Grandfer Cantle's seals dancing merrily in the
sunlight as he twirled himself about. The driver of the fly turned
a supercilious gaze upon them; he even treated the wedded pair
themselves with something like condescension; for in what other
state than heathen could people, rich or poor, exist who were doomed
to abide in such a world's end as Egdon? Thomasin showed no such
superiority to the group at the door, fluttering her hand as quickly
as a bird's wing towards them, and asking Diggory, with tears in her
eyes, if they ought not to alight and speak to these kind neighbours.
Venn, however, suggested that, as they were all coming to the house in
the evening, this was hardly necessary.

After this excitement the saluting party returned to their occupation,
and the stuffing and sewing were soon afterwards finished, when
Fairway harnessed a horse, wrapped up the cumbrous present, and drove
off with it in the cart to Venn's house at Stickleford.

Yeobright, having filled the office at the wedding service which
naturally fell to his hands, and afterwards returned to the house with
the husband and wife, was indisposed to take part in the feasting and
dancing that wound up the evening. Thomasin was disappointed.

"I wish I could be there without dashing your spirits," he said. "But
I might be too much like the skull at the banquet."

"No, no."

"Well, dear, apart from that, if you would excuse me, I should be
glad. I know it seems unkind; but, dear Thomasin, I fear I should not
be happy in the company--there, that's the truth of it. I shall
always be coming to see you at your new home, you know, so that my
absence now will not matter."

"Then I give in. Do whatever will be most comfortable to yourself."

Clym retired to his lodging at the housetop much relieved, and
occupied himself during the afternoon in noting down the heads of a
sermon, with which he intended to initiate all that really seemed
practicable of the scheme that had originally brought him hither, and
that he had so long kept in view under various modifications, and
through evil and good report. He had tested and weighed his
convictions again and again, and saw no reason to alter them, though
he had considerably lessened his plan. His eyesight, by long
humouring in his native air, had grown stronger, but not sufficiently
strong to warrant his attempting his extensive educational project.
Yet he did not repine: there was still more than e