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surface of the lane revealed itself between the dark hedgerows like
a ribbon jagged at the edges； the irregularity being caused by
temporary accumulations of leaves extending from the ditch on either
side。
The song （many times interrupted by flitting thoughts which took the
place of several bars； and resumed at a point it would have reached
had its continuity been unbroken） now received a more palpable
check； in the shape of 〃Ho…i…i…i…i…i！〃 from the crossing lane to
Lower Mellstock； on the right of the singer who had just emerged
from the trees。
〃Ho…i…i…i…i…i！〃 he answered； stopping and looking round； though with
no idea of seeing anything more than imagination pictured。
〃Is that thee； young Dick Dewy？〃 came from the darkness。
〃Ay； sure； Michael Mail。〃
〃Then why not stop for fellow…cratersgoing to thy own father's
house too； as we be； and knowen us so well？〃
Dick Dewy faced about and continued his tune in an under…whistle；
implying that the business of his mouth could not be checked at a
moment's notice by the placid emotion of friendship。
Having come more into the open he could now be seen rising against
the sky； his profile appearing on the light background like the
portrait of a gentleman in black cardboard。 It assumed the form of
a low…crowned hat； an ordinary…shaped nose； an ordinary chin； an
ordinary neck； and ordinary shoulders。 What he consisted of further
down was invisible from lack of sky low enough to picture him on。
Shuffling； halting； irregular footsteps of various kinds were now
heard coming up the hill； and presently there emerged from the shade
severally five men of different ages and gaits； all of them working
villagers of the parish of Mellstock。 They； too； had lost their
rotundity with the daylight； and advanced against the sky in flat
outlines； which suggested some processional design on Greek or
Etruscan pottery。 They represented the chief portion of Mellstock
parish choir。
The first was a bowed and bent man； who carried a fiddle under his
arm； and walked as if engaged in studying some subject connected
with the surface of the road。 He was Michael Mail； the man who had
hallooed to Dick。
The next was Mr。 Robert Penny； boot… and shoemaker； a little man；
who； though rather round…shouldered； walked as if that fact had not
come to his own knowledge； moving on with his back very hollow and
his face fixed on the north…east quarter of the heavens before him；
so that his lower waist…coat…buttons came first； and then the
remainder of his figure。 His features were invisible； yet when he
occasionally looked round； two faint moons of light gleamed for an
instant from the precincts of his eyes； denoting that he wore
spectacles of a circular form。
The third was Elias Spinks； who walked perpendicularly and
dramatically。 The fourth outline was Joseph Bowman's； who had now
no distinctive appearance beyond that of a human being。 Finally
came a weak lath…like form； trotting and stumbling along with one
shoulder forward and his bead inclined to the left； his arms
dangling nervelessly in the wind as if they were empty sleeves。
This was Thomas Leaf。
〃Where be the boys？〃 said Dick to this somewhat indifferently…
matched assembly。
The eldest of the group； Michael Mail； cleared his throat from a
great depth。
〃We told them to keep back at home for a time； thinken they wouldn't
be wanted yet awhile； and we could choose the tuens； and so on。〃
〃Father and grandfather William have expected ye a little sooner。 I
have just been for a run round by Ewelease Stile and Hollow Hill to
warm my feet。〃
〃To be sure father did！ To be sure 'a did expect usto taste the
little barrel beyond compare that he's going to tap。〃
〃'Od rabbit it all！ Never heard a word of it！〃 said Mr。 Penny；
gleams of delight appearing upon his spectacle…glasses； Dick
meanwhile singing parenthetically〃The lads and the lasses a…sheep…
shearing go。〃
〃Neighbours； there's time enough to drink a sight of drink now afore
bedtime？〃 said Mail。
〃True； truetime enough to get as drunk as lords！〃 replied Bowman
cheerfully。
This opinion being taken as convincing they all advanced between the
varying hedges and the trees dotting them here and there； kicking
their toes occasionally among the crumpled leaves。 Soon appeared
glimmering indications of the few cottages forming the small hamlet
of Upper Mellstock for which they were bound； whilst the faint sound
of church…bells ringing a Christmas peal could be heard floating
over upon the breeze from the direction of Longpuddle and
Weatherbury parishes on the other side of the hills。 A little
wicket admitted them to the garden； and they proceeded up the path
to Dick's house。
CHAPTER II： THE TRANTER'S
It was a long low cottage with a hipped roof of thatch； having
dormer windows breaking up into the eaves； a chimney standing in the
middle of the ridge and another at each end。 The window…shutters
were not yet closed； and the fire… and candle…light within radiated
forth upon the thick bushes of box and laurestinus growing in clumps
outside； and upon the bare boughs of several codlin…trees hanging
about in various distorted shapes； the result of early training as
espaliers combined with careless climbing into their boughs in later
years。 The walls of the dwelling were for the most part covered
with creepers； though these were rather beaten back from the
doorwaya feature which was worn and scratched by much passing in
and out； giving it by day the appearance of an old keyhole。 Light
streamed through the cracks and joints of outbuildings a little way
from the cottage； a sight which nourished a fancy that the purpose
of the erection must be rather to veil bright attractions than to
shelter unsightly necessaries。 The noise of a beetle and wedges and
the splintering of wood was periodically heard from this direction；
and at some little distance further a steady regular munching and
the occasional scurr of a rope betokened a stable； and horses
feeding within it。
The choir stamped severally on the door…stone to shake from their
boots any fragment of earth or leaf adhering thereto； then entered
the house and looked around to survey the condition of things。
Through the open doorway of a small inner room on the right hand； of
a character between pantry and cellar； was Dick Dewy's father
Reuben； by vocation a 〃tranter；〃 or irregular carrier。 He was a
stout florid man about forty years of age； who surveyed people up
and down when first making their acquaintance； and generally smiled
at the horizon or other distant object during conversations with
friends； walking about with a steady sway； and turning out his toes
very considerably。 Being now occupied in bending over a hogshead；
that stood in the pantry ready horsed for the process of broaching；
he did not take the trouble to turn or raise his eyes