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rigorously excluded。 He walked with it in his pocket down the lane
in strides not an inch less than three feet long。 Reaching her gate
he put on a resolute expressionthen put it off again； turned back
homeward； tore up his letter； and sat down。
That letter was altogether in a wrong tonethat he must own。 A
heartless man…of…the…world tone was what the juncture required。
That he rather wanted her； and rather did not want herthe latter
for choice； hut that as a member of society he didn't mind making a
query in jaunty terms； which could only be answered in the same way：
did she mean anything by her bearing towards him； or did she not？
This letter was considered so satisfactory in every way that； being
put into the hands of a little boy； and the order given that he was
to run with it to the school； he was told in addition not to look
behind him if Dick called after him to bring it hack； but to run
along with it just the same。 Having taken this precaution against
vacillation； Dick watched his messenger down the road； and turned
into the house whistling an air in such ghastly jerks and starts；
that whistling seemed to be the act the very furthest removed from
that which was instinctive in such a youth。
The letter was left as ordered： the next morning came and passed
and no answer。 The next。 The next。 Friday night came。 Dick
resolved that if no answer or sign were given by her the next day；
on Sunday he would meet her face to face； and have it all out by
word of mouth。
〃Dick；〃 said his father； coming in from the garden at that moment
in each hand a hive of bees tied in a cloth to prevent their egress…
…〃I think you'd better take these two swarms of bees to Mrs。
Maybold's to…morrow； instead o' me； and I'll go wi' Smiler and the
wagon。〃
It was a relief； for Mrs。 Maybold； the vicar's mother； who had just
taken into her head a fancy for keeping bees （pleasantly disguised
under the pretence of its being an economical wish to produce her
own honey）； lived near the watering…place of Budmouth…Regis； ten
miles off； and the business of transporting the hives thither would
occupy the whole day； and to some extent annihilate the vacant time
between this evening and the coming Sunday。 The best spring…cart
was washed throughout； the axles oiled； and the bees placed therein
for the journey。
PART THE THIRDSUMMER
CHAPTER I： DRIVING OUT OF BUDMOUTH
An easy bend of neck and graceful set of head； full and wavy bundles
of dark…brown hair； light fall of little feet； pretty devices on the
skirt of the dress； clear deep eyes； in short； a bunch of sweets：
it was Fancy！ Dick's heart went round to her with a rush。
The scene was the corner of Mary Street in Budmouth…Regis； near the
King's statue； at which point the white angle of the last house in
the row cut perpendicularly an embayed and nearly motionless expanse
of salt water projected from the outer oceanto…day lit in bright
tones of green and opal。 Dick and Smart had just emerged from the
street； and there on the right； against the brilliant sheet of
liquid colour； stood Fancy Day； and she turned and recognized him。
Dick suspended his thoughts of the letter and wonder at how she came
there by driving close to the chains of the Esplanadeincontinently
displacing two chairmen； who had just come to life for the summer in
new clean shirts and revivified clothes； and being almost displaced
in turn by a rigid boy rattling along with a baker's cart； and
looking neither to the right nor the left。 He asked if she were
going to Mellstock that night。
〃Yes； I'm waiting for the carrier；〃 she replied； seeming； too； to
suspend thoughts of the letter。
〃Now I can drive you home nicely； and you save half an hour。 Will
ye come with me？〃
As Fancy's power to will anything seemed to have departed in some
mysterious manner at that moment； Dick settled the matter by getting
out and assisting her into the vehicle without another word。
The temporary flush upon her cheek changed to a lesser hue； which
was permanent； and at length their eyes met； there was present
between them a certain feeling of embarrassment； which arises at
such moments when all the instinctive acts dictated by the position
have been performed。 Dick； being engaged with the reins； thought
less of this awkwardness than did Fancy； who had nothing to do but
to feel his presence； and to be more and more conscious of the fact；
that by accepting a seat beside him in this way she succumbed to the
tone of his note。 Smart jogged along； and Dick jogged； and the
helpless Fancy necessarily jogged； too； and she felt that she was in
a measure capture I and made a prisoner。
〃I am so much obliged to you for your company； Miss Day；〃 he
observed； as they drove past the two semicircular bays of the Old
Royal Hotel； where His Majesty King George the Third had many a time
attended the balls of the burgesses。
To Miss Day； crediting him with the same consciousness of masterya
consciousness of which he was perfectly innocentthis remark
sounded like a magnanimous intention to soothe her； the captive。
〃I didn't come for the pleasure of obliging you with my company；〃
she said。
The answer had an unexpected manner of incivility in it that must
have been rather surprising to young Dewy。 At the same time it may
be observed； that when a young woman returns a rude answer to a
young man's civil remark； her heart is in a state which argues
rather hopefully for his case than otherwise。
There was silence between them till they had left the sea…front and
passed about twenty of the trees that ornamented the road leading up
out of the town towards Casterbridge and Mellstock。
〃Though I didn't come for that purpose either； I would have done
it；〃 said Dick at the twenty…first tree。
〃Now； Mr。 Dewy； no flirtation； because it's wrong； and I don't wish
it。〃
Dick seated himself afresh just as he had been sitting before；
arranged his looks very emphatically； and cleared his throat。
〃Really； anybody would think you had met me on business and were
just going to commence；〃 said the lady intractably。
〃Yes； they would。〃
〃Why； you never have； to be sure！〃
This was a shaky beginning。 He chopped round； and said cheerily； as
a man who had resolved never to spoil his jollity by loving one of
womankind〃Well； how are you getting on； Miss Day； at the present
time？ Gaily； I don't doubt for a moment。〃
〃I am not gay； Dick； you know that。〃
〃Gaily doesn't mean decked in gay dresses。〃
〃I didn't suppose gaily was gaily dressed。 Mighty me； what a
scholar you've grown！〃
〃Lots of things have happened to you this spring； I see。〃
〃What have you seen？〃
〃O； nothing； I've heard； I mean！〃
〃What have you heard？〃
〃The name of a pretty man； with brass studs and a copper ring and a
tin watch…chain； a little mixed up with