ase
in the coat as to an earthquake in South America. Boldwood at last
expressed himself nearly satisfied, and paid the bill, the tailor
passing out of the door just as Oak came in to report progress for
the day.

"Oh, Oak," said Boldwood. "I shall of course see you here to-night.
Make yourself merry. I am determined that neither expense nor
trouble shall be spared."

"I'll try to be here, sir, though perhaps it may not be very early,"
said Gabriel, quietly. "I am glad indeed to see such a change in
'ee from what it used to be."

"Yes--I must own it--I am bright to-night: cheerful and more than
cheerful--so much so that I am almost sad again with the sense that
all of it is passing away. And sometimes, when I am excessively
hopeful and blithe, a trouble is looming in the distance: so that I
often get to look upon gloom in me with content, and to fear a happy
mood. Still this may be absurd--I feel that it is absurd. Perhaps
my day is dawning at last."

"I hope it 'ill be a long and a fair one."

"Thank you--thank you. Yet perhaps my cheerfulness rests on a
slender hope. And yet I trust my hope. It is faith, not hope. I
think this time I reckon with my host.--Oak, my hands are a little
shaky, or something; I can't tie this neckerchief properly. Perhaps
you will tie it for me. The fact is, I have not been well lately,
you know."

"I am sorry to hear that, sir."

"Oh, it's nothing. I want it done as well as you can, please. Is
there any late knot in fashion, Oak?"

"I don't know, sir," said Oak. His tone had sunk to sadness.

Boldwood approached Gabriel, and as Oak tied the neckerchief the
farmer went on feverishly--

"Does a woman keep her promise, Gabriel?"

"If it is not inconvenient to her she may."

"--Or rather an implied promise."

"I won't answer for her implying," said Oak, with faint bitterness.
"That's a word as full o' holes as a sieve with them."

"Oak, don't talk like that. You have got quite cynical lately--how
is it? We seem to have shifted our positions: I have become the
young and hopeful man, and you the old and unbelieving one. However,
does a woman keep a promise, not to marry, but to enter on an
engagement to marry at some time? Now you know women better than
I--tell me."

"I am afeard you honour my understanding too much. However, she may
keep such a promise, if it is made with an honest meaning to repair
a wrong."

"It has not gone far yet, but I think it