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"And did any of you know Miss Everdene's-father and mother?" inquired the shepherd, who found some difficulty in keeping the conversation in the desired channel. "I knew them a little." said Jacob Smallbury; "but they were townsfolk, and didn't live here. They've been dead for years. Father, what sort of people were mis'ess' father and mother?"
"I never heerd a skilful old married feller of twenty years" standing pipe "my wife" in a more used note than 'a did." said Jacob Smallbury. "It might have been a little more true to nater if't had been spoke a little chillier, but that wasn't to be expected just now. "That improvement will come wi' time." said Jan, twirling his eye.
The air was big with Bathsheba's fortunes to-night: every word everywhere concerned her. When they were quite out of earshot all by one instinct paused. "It gave me quite a turn his face." said Tall, breathing. "And so it did me." said Samway. "What's to be done?" "I don't see that 'tis any business of ours." Smallbury murmured dubiously. "But it is!
Do it quietly; there is no reason for alarm as yet. She must have left whilst we were all at the fire." "I beg yer pardon, but had she any young man courting her in the parish, ma'am?" asked Jacob Smallbury. "I don't know," said Bathsheba. "I've never heard of any such thing, ma'am," said two or three. "It is hardly likely, either," continued Bathsheba.
"True, Henery, you do, I've heard ye." said Joseph Poorgrass in a voice of thorough attestation, and with a wire-drawn smile of misery. "'Twould do a martel man no harm to have what's under her bonnet." said Billy Smallbury, who had just entered, bearing his one tooth before him. "She can spaik real language, and must have some sense some- where. Do ye foller me?"
The pane of glass was illuminated as usual. Smallbury was a little in advance of the rest when, pausing, he turned suddenly to his companions and said, "Hist! See there." The light from the pane was now perceived to be shining not upon the ivied wall as usual, but upon some object close to the glass. It was a human face. "Let's come closer," whispered Samway; and they approached on tiptoe.
A conversation was in progress, which continued thus: "Be as 'twill, she's a fine handsome body as far's looks be concerned. But that's only the skin of the woman, and these dandy cattle be as-proud as a lucifer in their insides." "Ay so 'a do seem, Billy Smallbury so 'a do seem."
"O 'tis burned 'tis burned!" came from Joseph Poorgrass's dry lips. "No 'tis drowned!" said Tall. "Or 'tis her father's razor!" suggested Billy Smallbury, with a vivid sense of detail. "Well Miss Everdene wants to speak to one or two of us before we go to bed. What with this trouble about the baily, and now about the girl, mis'ess is almost wild."
"I should think Laban must have seen mistress by this time." said Smallbury, breaking the silence. "Per- haps she won't come and speak to him." The door opened. Tall appeared, and joined them "Well?" said both. "I didn't like to ask for her after all." Laban faltered out. "They were all in such a stir, trying to put a little spirit into the party.
"True, Henery, you do, I've heard ye," said Joseph Poorgrass in a voice of thorough attestation, and with a wire-drawn smile of misery. "'Twould do a martel man no harm to have what's under her bonnet," said Billy Smallbury, who had just entered, bearing his one tooth before him. "She can spaik real language, and must have some sense somewhere. Do ye foller me?"
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