"No, sir--'tis not she yet."

A reserved and sombre expression had returned to Boldwood's face
again, but it poorly cloaked his feelings when he pronounced
Bathsheba's name; and his feverish anxiety continued to show its
existence by a galloping motion of his fingers upon the side of
his thigh as he went down the stairs.

VII

"How does this cover me?" said Troy to Pennyways. "Nobody would
recognize me now, I'm sure."

He was buttoning on a heavy grey overcoat of Noachian cut, with cape
and high collar, the latter being erect and rigid, like a girdling
wall, and nearly reaching to the verge of a travelling cap which was
pulled down over his ears.

Pennyways snuffed the candle, and then looked up and deliberately
inspected Troy.

"You've made up your mind to go then?" he said.

"Made up my mind? Yes; of course I have."

"Why not write to her? 'Tis a very queer corner that you have got
into, sergeant. You see all these things will come to light if you
go back, and they won't sound well at all. Faith, if I was you I'd
even bide as you be--a single man of the name of Francis. A good
wife is good, but the best wife is not so good as no wife at all.
Now that's my outspoke mind, and I've been called a long-headed
feller here and there."

"All nonsense!" said Troy, angrily. "There she is with plenty of
money, and a house and farm, and horses, and comfort, and here am I
living from hand to mouth--a needy adventurer. Besides, it is no use
talking now; it is too late, and I am glad of it; I've been seen and
recognized here this very afternoon. I should have gone back to her
the day after the fair, if it hadn't been for you talking about the
law, and rubbish about getting a separation; and I don't put it off
any longer. What the deuce put it into my head to run away at all, I
can't think! Humbugging sentiment--that's what it was. But what man
on earth was to know that his wife would be in such a hurry to get
rid of his name!"

"I should have known it. She's bad enough for anything."

"Pennyways, mind who you are talking to."

"Well, sergeant, all I say is this, that if I were you I'd go abroad
again where I came from--'tisn't too late to do it now. I wouldn't
stir up the business and get a bad name for the sake of living with
her--for all that about your play-acting is sure to come out, you
know, although you think otherwise. My eyes and limbs, there'll
be a racket if you go back just now--in th