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them with your wet hands； for the things at the top are all Starched
and Ironed。〃
Dick managed； by the aid of a knife and fork； to extract a towel
from under a muslin dress without wetting the latter； and for a
moment he ventured to assume a tone of criticism。
〃I fear for that dress；〃 he said； as they wiped their hands
together。
〃What？〃 said Miss Day； looking into the box at the dress alluded to。
〃O； I know what you meanthat the vicar will never let me wear
muslin？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； I know it is condemned by all orders in the church as
flaunting； and unfit for common wear for girls who've their living
to get； hut we'll see。〃
〃In the interest of the church； I hope you don't speak seriously。〃
〃Yes； I do； but we'll see。〃 There was a comely determination on her
lip； very pleasant to a beholder who was neither bishop； priest； nor
deacon。 〃I think I can manage any vicar's views about me if he's
under forty。〃
Dick rather wished she had never thought of managing vicars。
〃I certainly shall be glad to get some of your delicious tea；〃 he
said in rather a free way； yet modestly； as became one in a position
between that of visitor and inmate； and looking wistfully at his
lonely saucer。
〃So shall I。 Now is there anything else we want； Mr Dewy？〃
〃I really think there's nothing else； Miss Day。〃
She prepared to sit down； looking musingly out of the window at
Smart's enjoyment of the rich grass。 〃Nobody seems to care about
me；〃 she murmured； with large lost eyes fixed upon the sky beyond
Smart。
〃Perhaps Mr。 Shiner does；〃 said Dick； in the tone of a slightly
injured man。
〃Yes； I forgothe does； I know。〃 Dick precipitately regretted that
he had suggested Shiner； since it had produced such a miserable
result as this。
〃I'll warrant you'll care for somebody very much indeed another day；
won't you； Mr。 Dewy？〃 she continued； looking very feelingly into the
mathematical centre of his eyes。
〃Ah； I'll warrant I shall；〃 said Dick； feelingly too； and looking
back into her dark pupils； whereupon they were turned aside。
〃I meant；〃 she went on； preventing him from speaking just as he was
going to narrate a forcible story about his feelings； 〃I meant that
nobody comes to see if I have returnednot even the vicar。〃
〃If you want to see him； I'll call at the vicarage directly we have
had some tea。〃
〃No； no！ Don't let him come down here； whatever you do； whilst I am
in such a state of disarrangement。 Parsons look so miserable and
awkward when one's house is in a muddle； walking about； and making
impossible suggestions in quaint academic phrases till your flesh
creeps and you wish them dead。 Do you take sugar？〃
Mr。 Maybold was at this instant seen coming up the path。
〃There！ That's he coming！ How I wish you were not here Ithat is；
how awkwarddear； dear！〃 she exclaimed； with a quick ascent of
blood to her face； and irritated with Dick rather than the vicar； as
it seemed。
〃Pray don't be alarmed on my account； Miss Daygood…afternoon！〃
said Dick in a huff； putting on his hat； and leaving the room
hastily by the back…door。
The horse was caught and put in； and on mounting the shafts to start
he saw through the window the vicar； standing upon some books piled
in a chair； and driving a nail into the wall； Fancy； with a demure
glance； holding the canary…cage up to him； as if she had never in
her life thought of anything but vicars and canaries。
CHAPTER VIII： DICK MEETS HIS FATHER
For several minutes Dick drove along homeward； with the inner eye of
reflection so anxiously set on his passages at arms with Fancy； that
the road and scenery were as a thin mist over the real pictures of
his mind。 Was she a coquette？ The balance between the evidence
that she did love him and that she did not was so nicely struck；
that his opinion had no stability。 She had let him put his hand
upon hers； she had allowed her gaze to drop plumb into the depths of
hishis into hersthree or four times； her manner had been very
free with regard to the basin and towel； she had appeared vexed at
the mention of Shiner。 On the other hand； she had driven him about
the house like a quiet dog or cat； said Shiner cared for her； and
seemed anxious that Mr。 Maybold should do the same。
Thinking thus as he neared the handpost at Mellstock Cross； sitting
on the front board of the spring carthis legs on the outside； and
his whole frame jigging up and down like a candle…flame to the time
of Smart's trottingwho should he see coming down the hill but his
father in the light wagon； quivering up and down on a smaller scale
of shakes； those merely caused by the stones in the road。 They were
soon crossing each other's front。
〃Weh…hey！〃 said the tranter to Smiler。
〃Weh…hey！〃 said Dick to Smart； in an echo of the same voice。
〃Th'st hauled her back； I suppose？〃 Reuben inquired peaceably。
〃Yes；〃 said Dick； with such a clinching period at the end that it
seemed he was never going to add another word。 Smiler； thinking
this the close of the conversation； prepared to move on。
〃Weh…hey！〃 said the tranter。 〃I tell thee what it is； Dick。 That
there maid is taking up thy thoughts more than's good for thee； my
sonny。 Thou'rt never happy now unless th'rt making thyself
miserable about her in one way or another。〃
〃I don't know about that； father；〃 said Dick rather stupidly。
〃But I doWey； Smiler！'Od rot the women； 'tis nothing else wi'
'em nowadays but getting young men and leading 'em astray。〃
〃Pooh； father！ you just repeat what all the common world says；
that's all you do。〃
〃The world's a very sensible feller on things in jineral； Dick； very
sensible indeed。〃
Dick looked into the distance at a vast expanse of mortgaged estate。
〃I wish I was as rich as a squire when he's as poor as a crow；〃 he
murmured； 〃I'd soon ask Fancy something。〃
〃I wish so too； wi' all my heart； sonny； that I do。 Well； mind what
beest about； that's all。〃
Smart moved on a step or two。 〃Supposing now； father；We…hey；
Smart！I did think a little about her； and I had a chance； which I
ha'n't； don't you think she's a very good sort ofofone？〃
〃Ay； good； she's good enough。 When you've made up your mind to
marry； take the first respectable body that comes to handshe's as
good as any other； they be all alike in the groundwork； 'tis only in
the flourishes there's a difference。 She's good enough； but I can't
see what the nation a young feller like youwi a comfortable house
and home； and father and mother to take care o' thee； and who sent
'ee to a school so good that 'twas hardly fair to the other
childrenshould want to go hollering after a young woman for； when
she's quietly making a husband in her pocket； and not troubled by
chick nor chiel； to make a poverty…stric' wife and family of her；
and neither hat； cap； wig； nor waistcoat to set 'em up w