hending Dick's true meaning, who, as he received no further
reply, continued hesitatingly, and with another smile denoting his pride
as a lover--

"I suppose you know what I mean, sir? You've heard about me and--Miss
Day?"

The red in Maybold's countenance went away: he turned and looked Dick in
the face.

"No," he said constrainedly, "I've heard nothing whatever about you and
Miss Day."

"Why, she's my sweetheart, and we are going to be married next Midsummer.
We are keeping it rather close just at present, because 'tis a good many
months to wait; but it is her father's wish that we don't marry before,
and of course we must submit. But the time 'ill soon slip along."

"Yes, the time will soon slip along--Time glides away every day--yes."

Maybold said these words, but he had no idea of what they were. He was
conscious of a cold and sickly thrill throughout him; and all he reasoned
was this that the young creature whose graces had intoxicated him into
making the most imprudent resolution of his life, was less an angel than
a woman.

"You see, sir," continued the ingenuous Dick, "'twill be better in one
sense. I shall by that time be the regular manager of a branch o'
father's business, which has very much increased lately, and business,
which we think of starting elsewhere. It has very much increased lately,
and we expect next year to keep a' extra couple of horses. We've already
our eye on one--brown as a berry, neck like a rainbow, fifteen hands, and
not a gray hair in her--offered us at twenty-five want a crown. And to
kip pace with the times I have had some cards prented and I beg leave to
hand you one, sir."

"Certainly," said the vicar, mechanically taking the card that Dick
offered him.

"I turn in here by Grey's Bridge," said Dick. "I suppose you go straight
on and up town?"

"Yes."

"Good-morning, sir."

"Good-morning, Dewy."

Maybold stood still upon the bridge, holding the card as it had been put
into his hand, and Dick's footsteps died away towards Durnover Mill. The
vicar's first voluntary action was to read the card:--

DEWY AND SON,
TRANTERS AND HAULIERS,
MELLSTOCK.
NB.--Furniture, Coals, Potatoes, Live and Dead Stock, removed to any
distance on the shortest notice.

Mr. Maybold leant over the parapet of the bridge and looked into the
river. He saw--without heeding--how the water came rapidly from beneath
the arches, glided down a little steep, then spread i