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more trouble about me。 The time is come when I may as well speak。
I have done nothing； my crime is that the condemned man is my
brother。 Early this afternoon I left home at Shottsford to tramp it
all the way to Casterbridge jail to bid him farewell。 I was
benighted； and called here to rest and ask the way。 When I opened
the door I saw before me the very man； my brother； that I thought to
see in the condemned cell at Casterbridge。 He was in this chimney…
corner； and jammed close to him； so that he could not have got out
if he had tried； was the executioner who'd come to take his life；
singing a song about it and not knowing that it was his victim who
was close by； joining in to save appearances。 My brother looked a
glance of agony at me； and I knew he meant； 〃Don't reveal what you
see； my life depends on it。〃 I was so terror…struck that I could
hardly stand； and； not knowing what I did； I turned and hurried
away。'
The narrator's manner and tone had the stamp of truth； and his story
made a great impression on all around。 'And do you know where your
brother is at the present time？' asked the magistrate。
'I do not。 I have never seen him since I closed this door。'
'I can testify to that； for we've been between ye ever since；' said
the constable。
'Where does he think to fly to？what is his occupation？'
'He's a watch…and…clock…maker； sir。'
''A said 'a was a wheelwrighta wicked rogue；' said the constable。
'The wheels of clocks and watches he meant； no doubt；' said Shepherd
Fennel。 'I thought his hands were palish for's trade。'
'Well； it appears to me that nothing can be gained by retaining this
poor man in custody；' said the magistrate； 'your business lies with
the other； unquestionably。'
And so the little man was released off…hand； but he looked nothing
the less sad on that account； it being beyond the power of
magistrate or constable to raze out the written troubles in his
brain； for they concerned another whom he regarded with more
solicitude than himself。 When this was done； and the man had gone
his way； the night was found to be so far advanced that it was
deemed useless to renew the search before the next morning。
Next day； accordingly； the quest for the clever sheep…stealer became
general and keen； to all appearance at least。 But the intended
punishment was cruelly disproportioned to the transgression； and the
sympathy of a great many country…folk in that district was strongly
on the side of the fugitive。 Moreover； his marvellous coolness and
daring in hob…and…nobbing with the hangman； under the unprecedented
circumstances of the shepherd's party； won their admiration。 So
that it may be questioned if all those who ostensibly made
themselves so busy in exploring woods and fields and lanes were
quite so thorough when it came to the private examination of their
own lofts and outhouses。 Stories were afloat of a mysterious figure
being occasionally seen in some old overgrown trackway or other；
remote from turnpike roads； but when a search was instituted in any
of these suspected quarters nobody was found。 Thus the days and
weeks passed without tidings。
In brief； the bass…voiced man of the chimney…corner was never
recaptured。 Some said that he went across the sea； others that he
did not； but buried himself in the depths of a populous city。 At
any rate； the gentleman in cinder…gray never did his morning's work
at Casterbridge； nor met anywhere at all； for business purposes； the
genial comrade with whom he had passed an hour of relaxation in the
lonely house on the coomb。
The grass has long been green on the graves of Shepherd Fennel and
his frugal wife； the guests who made up the christening party have
mainly followed their entertainers to the tomb； the baby in whose
honour they all had met is a matron in the sere and yellow leaf。
But the arrival of the three strangers at the shepherd's that night；
and the details connected therewith； is a story as well known as
ever in the country about Higher Crowstairs。
March 1883。
THE WITHERED ARM
CHAPTER IA LORN MILKMAID
It was an eighty…cow dairy； and the troop of milkers； regular and
supernumerary； were all at work； for； though the time of year was as
yet but early April； the feed lay entirely in water…meadows； and the
cows were 'in full pail。' The hour was about six in the evening；
and three…fourths of the large； red； rectangular animals having been
finished off； there was opportunity for a little conversation。
'He do bring home his bride to…morrow； I hear。 They've come as far
as Anglebury to…day。'
The voice seemed to proceed from the belly of the cow called Cherry；
but the speaker was a milking…woman； whose face was buried in the
flank of that motionless beast。
'Hav' anybody seen her？' said another。
There was a negative response from the first。 'Though they say
she's a rosy…cheeked； tisty…tosty little body enough；' she added；
and as the milkmaid spoke she turned her face so that she could
glance past her cow's tail to the other side of the barton； where a
thin； fading woman of thirty milked somewhat apart from the rest。
'Years younger than he； they say；' continued the second； with also a
glance of reflectiveness in the same direction。
'How old do you call him； then？'
'Thirty or so。'
'More like forty；' broke in an old milkman near； in a long white
pinafore or 'wropper；' and with the brim of his hat tied down； so
that he looked like a woman。 ''A was born before our Great Weir was
builded； and I hadn't man's wages when I laved water there。'
The discussion waxed so warm that the purr of the milk…streams
became jerky； till a voice from another cow's belly cried with
authority； 'Now then； what the Turk do it matter to us about Farmer
Lodge's age； or Farmer Lodge's new mis'ess？ I shall have to pay him
nine pound a year for the rent of every one of these milchers；
whatever his age or hers。 Get on with your work； or 'twill be dark
afore we have done。 The evening is pinking in a'ready。' This
speaker was the dairyman himself； by whom the milkmaids and men were
employed。
Nothing more was said publicly about Farmer Lodge's wedding； but the
first woman murmured under her cow to her next neighbour； ''Tis hard
for SHE；' signifying the thin worn milkmaid aforesaid。
'O no；' said the second。 'He ha'n't spoke to Rhoda Brook for
years。'
When the milking was done they washed their pails and hung them on a
many…forked stand made of the peeled limb of an oak…tree； set
upright in the earth； and resembling a colossal antlered horn。 The
majority then dispersed in various directions homeward。 The thin
woman who had not spoken was joined by a boy of twelve or
thereabout； and the twain went away up the field also。
Their course lay apart from that of the others； to a lonely spot
high above the water…meads； and not far from the border of Egdon
Heath； whose dark countenance was visible in the distance as they
drew nigh to their home。
'They've just been saying down in barton that your father brings his
young wife home from Anglebury to…morrow；' the woman observed。 'I
shall want to send you for a few things to market； and you'll be
pretty sure to meet 'em。'
'Yes； mother；' said the boy。 'Is father married then？'
'Yes 。 。 。 You can give her a look； and tell me what's she's like；
if you do see her。'
'Yes； mother。'
'If she's dark or fair； and if she's tallas tall as I。 And if she
seems like a woman who has ever worked for a living； or one that has
been always well off； and has never done anything； and shows marks
of the lady on her； as I expect she do。'
'Yes。'
They crept up the hill in the twilight； and entered the cottage。 It
was built of mud…walls； the surface of which had been washed by many
rains into channels and depressions that left none of the original
flat face visible； while here and there in the thatch above a rafter
showed like a bone protruding through the skin。
She was kneeling down in the chimney…corner； before two pieces of
turf laid together with the heather inwards； blowing at the red…hot
ashes with her breath till the turves flamed。 The radiance lit her
pale cheek； and made her dark eyes； that had once been handsome；
seem handsome anew。 'Yes；' she resumed； 'see if she is dark or
fair； and if you can； notice if her hands be white； if not； see if
they look as though she had ever done housework； or are milker's
hands like mine。'
The boy again promised； inattentively this time； his mother not
observing that he was cutting a notch with his pocket…knife in the
beech…backed chair。
CHAPTER IITHE YOUNG WIFE
The road from Anglebury to Holmstoke is in general level； but there
is one place where a sharp ascent breaks its monotony。 Farmers
homeward…bound from the former market…town； who trot all the rest of
the way； walk their horses up this short incline。
The next evening； while the sun was yet bright； a handsome new gig；
with a lemon…coloured body and red wheels； was spinning westward
along the level highway at the heels of a powerful mare。 The driver
was a yeoman in the prime of life； cleanly shaven like an actor； his
face being toned to that