conduct of the mutually-attracted on

k of hesitation she agreed to leave her home at Creston and meet Vannicock on the ridge hard by, and to accompany h

she laid on her dressing-table a n

should run away if you persisted in being a clergyman, and now I am doing it. One cannot help one's nature.

arly evening. Almost on the very spot where her husband had stood at their last tryst s

ied to him. 'For God's sake let us have a place of o

the north slope of the ridge, where the old a

er why she would not meet him on the top. At l

f Casterbridge, where a fly was waiting to take them by a cross-cut into the

place they avoided by turning to the right at the Roman Amphitheatre and bearing round to Durnover Cro

rid glare over the Durnover end of the town. It

ps,' he

rushlight in the whole lane. I

ay, with a view to purifying the air; and from the wretched tenements with which the lane was lined in those days persons were bringing out beddin

y the light of the lanterns Laura discovered that her husband was standing by the copper, and that it was he who unloaded

any more loa

is afternoon, sir. But that might bide ti

ybody else to undertake it. Overturn tha

y drudgery amid this squalid and reeking scene, pressing down and stirring the contents of the copper with what

fter all. He is so tired, and I must help hi

st, where it had been resting as the

I'd rather help too.' There w

rd. 'Jack,' she said

, is it you, Laura?' he asked in surprise. 'Why did you

t come by myself-Mr. Vannicock kept me company. He will ma

mbry spoke formally to him, adding as he resumed his l

ve run down again

's toilet articles that he had been carrying. The barrowman soon returned with another load, and

long on Mellstock hill that at last I drove down to the turnpike;

last barrow-load was got through. Mr. Maumbry stretched him

ed to be seized with violent pain. He press

he said with difficulty. 'I must try to get h

helping him, but was oblig

dle, or shutter, or something,' he went on

ht on from the turnpike hard by. Mr. Maumbry was placed therein. Laura entered with h

ut Laura did not reappear. He thereupon entered th