ng that
the proceedings were unnatural to the place and the lone man who
lived therein, and hence not good.

II

Bathsheba was at this time in her room, dressing for the event. She
had called for candles, and Liddy entered and placed one on each side
of her mistress's glass.

"Don't go away, Liddy," said Bathsheba, almost timidly. "I am
foolishly agitated--I cannot tell why. I wish I had not been obliged
to go to this dance; but there's no escaping now. I have not spoken
to Mr. Boldwood since the autumn, when I promised to see him at
Christmas on business, but I had no idea there was to be anything of
this kind."

"But I would go now," said Liddy, who was going with her; for
Boldwood had been indiscriminate in his invitations.

"Yes, I shall make my appearance, of course," said Bathsheba. "But I
am THE CAUSE of the party, and that upsets me!--Don't tell, Liddy."

"Oh no, ma'am. You the cause of it, ma'am?"

"Yes. I am the reason of the party--I. If it had not been for me,
there would never have been one. I can't explain any more--there's
no more to be explained. I wish I had never seen Weatherbury."

"That's wicked of you--to wish to be worse off than you are."

"No, Liddy. I have never been free from trouble since I have lived
here, and this party is likely to bring me more. Now, fetch my black
silk dress, and see how it sits upon me."

"But you will leave off that, surely, ma'am? You have been a
widow-lady fourteen months, and ought to brighten up a little on
such a night as this."

"Is it necessary? No; I will appear as usual, for if I were to wear
any light dress people would say things about me, and I should seem
to be rejoicing when I am solemn all the time. The party doesn't
suit me a bit; but never mind, stay and help to finish me off."

III

Boldwood was dressing also at this hour. A tailor from Casterbridge
was with him, assisting him in the operation of trying on a new coat
that had just been brought home.

Never had Boldwood been so fastidious, unreasonable about the fit,
and generally difficult to please. The tailor walked round and round
him, tugged at the waist, pulled the sleeve, pressed out the collar,
and for the first time in his experience Boldwood was not bored.
Times had been when the farmer had exclaimed against all such
niceties as childish, but now no philosophic or hasty rebuke whatever
was provoked by this man for attaching as much importance to a cre