`Everybody will think that I am setting myself to captivate Mr Boldwood, I suppose,' she murmured. `At least they'll say so. Can't my hair be brushed down a little flatter? I dread going - yet I dread the risk of wounding him by staying away.'

`Anyhow, ma'am, you can't well be dressed plainer than you are, unless you go in sackcloth at once. 'Tis your excitement is what makes you look so noticeable to-night.'

`I don't know what's the matter, I feel wretched at one time, and buoyant at another. I wish I could have continued quite alone as I have been for the last year or so, with no hopes and no fears, and no pleasure and no grief' `Now just suppose Mr Boldwood should ask you - only just suppose it - to run away with him, what would you do, ma'am?'

`Liddy - none of that,' said Bathsheba, gravely. `Mind, I won't hear joking on any such matter. Do you hear?'

`I beg pardon, ma'am. But knowing what rum things we women be, I just said - however, I won't speak of it again.'

`No marrying for me yet for many a year; if ever, 'twill be for reasons very, very different from those you think, or others will believe! Now get my cloak for it is time to go.' VI `Oak,' said Boldwood, `before you go I want to mention what has been passing in my mind lately - that little arrangement we made about your share in the farm I mean. That share is small, too small, considering how little I attend to business now, and how much time and thought you give to it.

Well, since the world is brightening for me, I want to show my sense of it by increasing your proportion in the partnership. I'll make a memorandum of the arrangement which struck me as likely to be convenient, for I haven't time to talk about it now; and then we'll discuss it at our leisure. My intention is ultimately to retire from the management altogether, and until you can take all the expenditure upon your shoulders, I'll be a sleeping partner in the stock. Then, if I marry her - and I hope - I feel I shall, why--'

`Pray don't speak of it, sir,' said Oak, hastily. `We don't know what may happen. So many upsets may befall 'ee. There's many a slip, as they say - and I would advise you - I know you'll pardon me this once - not to be too sure .

`I know, I know. But the feeling I have about increasing your share is on account of what I know of you. Oak, I have learnt a little about your secret: your interest in her is more than that of bailiff for an employer.

But you have behaved like a man, and I, as a sort of successful rival - successful partly through your goodness of heart - should like definitely to show my sense of your friendship under what must have been a great pain to you.

`O that's not necessary, thank 'ee,' said Oak, hurriedly. `I must get used to such as that; other men have, and so shall I.'

Oak then left him. He was uneasy on Boldwood's account, for he saw anew that this constant passion of the farmer made him not the man he once had been.

As Boldwood continued awhile in his room alone - ready and dressed to receive his company - the mood of anxiety about his appearance seemed to pass away, and to be succeeded by a deep solemnity. He looked out of the window, and regarded the dim outline of the trees upon the sky, and the twilight deepening to darkness.

Then he went to a locked closet, and took from a locked drawer therein a small circular case the size of a pill-box, and was about to put it into his pocket. But he lingered to open the cover and take a momentary glance inside. It contained a woman's finger-ring, set all the way round with small diamonds, and from its appearance had evidently been recently purchased.

Boldwood's eyes dwelt upon its many sparkles a long time, though that its material aspect concerned him little was plain from his manner and mien, which were those of a mind following out the presumed thread of that jewel's future history.