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have thought that it was not well for me to love you！ But I
resolved to struggle no longer； I have examined the feeling； and the
love I bear you is as genuine as that I could bear any woman！ I see
your great charm； I respect your natural talents； and the refinement
they have brought into your naturethey are quite enough； and more
than enough for me！ They are equal to anything ever required of the
mistress of a quiet parsonage…housethe place in which I shall pass
my days； wherever it may be situated。 O Fancy； I have watched you；
criticized you even severely； brought my feelings to the light of
judgment； and still have found them rational； and such as any man
might have expected to be inspired with by a woman like you！ So
there is nothing hurried； secret； or untoward in my desire to do
this。 Fancy； will you marry me？〃
No answer was returned。
〃Don't refuse； don't；〃 he implored。 〃It would be foolish of youI
mean cruel！ Of course we would not live here； Fancy。 I have had
for a long time the offer of an exchange of livings with a friend in
Yorkshire； but I have hitherto refused on account of my mother。
There we would go。 Your musical powers shall be still further
developed； you shall have whatever pianoforte you like； you shall
have anything； Fancy； anything to make you happypony…carriage；
flowers； birds； pleasant society； yes； you have enough in you for
any society； after a few months of travel with me！ Will you； Fancy；
marry me？〃
Another pause ensued； varied only by the surging of the rain against
the windowpanes； and then Fancy spoke； in a faint and broken
voice。
〃Yes； I will；〃 she said。
〃God bless you； my own！〃 He advanced quickly； and put his arm out
to embrace her。 She drew back hastily。 〃No no； not now！〃 she said
in an agitated whisper。 〃There are things；but the temptation is；
O； too strong； and I can't resist it I can't tell you now； but I
must tell you！ Don't； please； don't come near me now！ I want to
think； I can scarcely get myself used to the idea of what I have
promised yet。〃 The next minute she turned to a desk； buried her
face in her hands； and burst into a hysterical fit of weeping。 〃O；
leave me to myself！〃 she sobbed； 〃leave me！ O； leave me！〃
〃Don't be distressed； don't； dearest！〃 It was with visible
difficulty that he restrained himself from approaching her。 〃You
shall tell me at your leisure what it is that grieves you so； I am
happybeyond all measure happy！at having your simple promise。〃
〃And do go and leave me now！〃
〃But I must not； in justice to you； leave for a minute； until you
are yourself again。〃
〃There then；〃 she said； controlling her emotion； and standing up； 〃I
am not disturbed now。〃
He reluctantly moved towards the door。 〃Good…bye！〃 he murmured
tenderly。 〃I'll come to…morrow about this time。〃
CHAPTER VII： SECOND THOUGHTS
The next morning the vicar rose early。 The first thing he did was
to write a long and careful letter to his friend in Yorkshire。
Then； eating a little breakfast； he crossed the meadows in the
direction of Casterbridge； bearing his letter in his pocket； that he
might post it at the town office； and obviate the loss of one day in
its transmission that would have resulted had he left it for the
foot…post through the village。
It was a foggy morning； and the trees shed in noisy water…drops the
moisture they had collected from the thick air； an acorn
occasionally falling from its cup to the ground； in company with the
drippings。 In the meads； sheets of spiders'…web； almost opaque with
wet； hung in folds over the fences； and the falling leaves appeared
in every variety of brown； green； and yellow hue。
A low and merry whistling was heard on the highway he was
approaching； then the light footsteps of a man going in the same
direction as himself。 On reaching the junction of his path with the
road； the vicar beheld Dick Dewy's open and cheerful face。 Dick
lifted his hat； and the vicar came out into the highway that Dick
was pursuing。
〃Good…morning； Dewy。 How well you are looking！〃 said Mr。 Maybold。
〃Yes； sir； I am wellquite well！ I am going to Casterbridge now；
to get Smart's collar； we left it there Saturday to be repaired。〃
〃I am going to Casterbridge； so we'll walk together；〃 the vicar
said。 Dick gave a hop with one foot to put himself in step with Mr。
Maybold； who proceeded： 〃I fancy I didn't see you at church
yesterday； Dewy。 Or were you behind the pier？〃
〃No； I went to Charmley。 Poor John Dunford chose me to be one of
his bearers a long time before he died； and yesterday was the
funeral。 Of course I couldn't refuse； though I should have liked
particularly to have been at home as 'twas the day of the new
music。〃
〃Yes； you should have been。 The musical portion of the service was
successfulvery successful indeed； and what is more to the purpose；
no ill…feeling whatever was evinced by any of the members of the old
choir。 They joined in the singing with the greatest good…will。〃
〃'Twas natural enough that I should want to be there； I suppose；〃
said Dick； smiling a private smile； 〃considering who the organ
player was。〃
At this the vicar reddened a little； and said； 〃Yes； yes；〃 though
not at all comprehending Dick's true meaning； who； as he received no
further reply； continued hesitatingly； and with another smile
denoting his pride as a lover …
〃I suppose you know what I mean； sir？ You've heard about me and
Miss Day？〃
The red in Maybold's countenance went away： he turned and looked
Dick in the face。
〃No；〃 he said constrainedly； 〃I've heard nothing whatever about you
and Miss Day。〃
〃Why； she's my sweetheart； and we are going to be married next
Midsummer。 We are keeping it rather close just at present； because
'tis a good many months to wait； but it is her father's wish that we
don't marry before； and of course we must submit。 But the time 'ill
soon slip along。〃
〃Yes； the time will soon slip alongTime glides away every day
yes。〃
Maybold said these words； but he had no idea of what they were。 He
was conscious of a cold and sickly thrill throughout him； and all he
reasoned was this that the young creature whose graces had
intoxicated him into making the most imprudent resolution of his
life； was less an angel than a woman。
〃You see； sir；〃 continued the ingenuous Dick； 〃'twill be better in
one sense。 I shall by that time be the regular manager of a branch
o' father's business； which has very much increased lately； and
business； which we think of starting elsewhere。 It has very much
increased lately； and we expect next year to keep a' extra couple of
horses。 We've already our eye on onebrown as a berry； neck like a
rainbow； fifteen hands； and not a gray hair in heroffered us at
twenty…five want a crown。 And to kip pace with the times I have had
some cards prented and I beg leave to hand yo