t 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 newly
affianced youth and maiden passed up the steep hill to the Ridgeway, and
vanished in the direction of Mellstock.

CHAPTER III: A CONFESSION

It was a morning of the latter summer-time; a morning of lingering dews,
when the grass is never dry in the shade. Fuchsias and dahlias were
laden till eleven o'clock with small drops and dashes of water, changing
the colour of their sparkle at every movement of the air; and elsewhere
hanging on twigs like small silver fruit. The threads of garden spiders
appeared thick and polished. In the dry and sunny places, dozens of long-
legged crane-flies whizzed off the grass at every step the passer took.

Fancy Day and her friend Susan Dewy the tranter's daughter, were in such
a spot as this, pulling down a bough laden with early apples. Three
months had elapsed since Dick and Fancy had journeyed together from
Budmouth, and the course of their love had run on vigorously during the
whole time. There had been just enough difficulty attending its
development, and just enough finesse required in keeping it private, to
lend the passion an ever-increasing freshness on Fancy's part, whilst,
whether from these accessories or not, Dick's heart had been at all times
as fond as could be desired. But there was a cloud on Fancy's horizon
now.

"She is so well off--better than any of us," Susan Dewy was saying. "Her
father farms five hundred acres, and she might marry a doctor or curate
or anything of that kind if she contrived a little."

"I don't think Dick ought to have gone to that gipsy-party at all when he
knew I couldn't go," replied Fancy uneasily.

"He didn't know that you would not be there till it was too late to
refuse the invitation," said Susan.

"And what was she like? Tell me."

"Well, she was rather pretty, I must own."

"Tell straight on about her, can't you! Come, do, Susan. How many times
did you say he danced with her?"

"Once."

"Twice, I think you said?"

"Indeed I'm sure I didn't."

"Well, and he wanted to again, I expect."

"No; I don't think he did. She wanted to dance with him again bad
enough, I know. Everybody does with Dick, because he's so handsome and
such a clever courter."

"O, I wish!--How did you say she wore her hair?"

"In long curls,--an