第153章

`Well, I'll tell you,' said Bathsheba, with a mischievous smile in her bright eyes. `Farmer Oak is coming here to dine with me to-day!'

`Farmer Oak - and nobody else? - you two alone?'

`Yes.'

`But is it safe, ma'am, after what's been said?' asked her companion, dubiously. `A woman's good name is such a perishable article that--'

Bathsheba laughed with a flushed cheek, and whispered in Liddy's ear, although there was nobody present. Then Liddy stared and exclaimed, `Souls alive, what news! It makes my heart go quite bumpity-bump!'

`It makes mine rather furious, too,' said Bathsheba. `However, there's no getting out of it now!'

It was a damp disagreeable morning. Nevertheless, at twenty minutes to ten o'clock, Oak came out of his house, and Went up the hill side With that sort of stride A man puts out when walking in search of a bride, and knocked at Bathsheba's door. Ten minutes later a large and a smaller umbrella might have been seen moving from the same door, and through the mist along the road to the church. The distance was not more than a quarter of a mile, and these two sensible persons deemed it unnecessary to drive.

An observer must have been very close indeed to discover that the forms under the umbrellas were those of Oak and Bathsheba, arm-in-arm for the first time in their lives, Oak in a greatcoat extending to his knees, and Bathsheba in a cloak that reached her clods. Yet, though so plainly dressed, there was a certain rejuvenated appearance about her:-- As though a rose should shut and be a bud again. Repose had again incarnadined her cheeks; and having, at Gabriel's request, arranged her hair this morning as she had worn it years ago on Norcombe Hill, she seemed in his eyes remarkably like the girl of that fascinating dream, which, considering that she was now only three or four-and-twenty, was perhaps not very wonderful. In the church were Tall, Liddy, and the parson, and in a remarkably short space of time toe deed was done.

The two sat down very quietly to tea in Bathsheba's parlour in the evening of the same day, for it had been arranged that farmer Oak should go there to live, since he had as yet neither money, house, nor furniture worthy of the name, though he was on a sure way towards them, whilst Bathsheba was, comparatively, in a plethora of all three.

Just as Bathsheba was pouring out a cup of tea, their ears were greeted by the firing of a cannon, followed by what seemed like a tremendous blowing of trumpets, in the front of the house.

`There!' said Oak, laughing, `I knew those fellows were up to something, by the look on their faces.'

Oak took up the light and went into the porch, followed by Bathsheba with a shawl over her head. The rays fell upon a group of male figures gathered upon the gravel in front, who, when they saw the newly-married couple in the porch, set up a loud `Hurrah!' and at the same moment bang again went the cannon in the background followed by a hideous clang of music from a drum, tambourine, clarionet, serpent, hautboy, tenor-viol, and double-bass - the only remaining relics of the true and original Weatherbury band - venerable worm-eaten instruments, which had celebrated in their own persons the victories of Marlborough, under the fingers of the forefathers of those who played them now. The performers came forward, and marched up to the front.

`Those bright boys, Mark Clark and Jan, are at the bottom of all this,' said Oak. `Come in, souls, and have something to eat and drink wi' me and my wife.'

`Not to-night,' said Mark Clark, with evident self-denial. `Thank ye all the same; but we'll call at a more seemly time. However, we couldn't think of letting the day pass without a note of admiration of some sort.

If ye could send a drop of som' at down to Warren's, why so it is. Here's long life and happiness to neighbour Oak and his comely bride!'

`Thank ye; thank ye all!' said Gabriel. `A bit and a drop shall be sent to Warren's for ye at once. I had a thought that we might very likely get a salute of some sort from our old friends, and I was saying so to my wife but now.'

`Faith,' said Coggan, in a critical tone, turning to his companions, `the man hev learnt to say "my wife" in a wonderful naterel way, considering how very youthful he is in wedlock as yet - hey, neighbours all?'

`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. Then Oak laughed. Bathsheba smiled (for she never laughed readily now), and their friends turned to go.

`Yes; I suppose that's the size o't,' said Joseph Poorgrass with a cheerful sigh as they moved away; `and I wish him joy o' her; though I were once or twice upon saying today with holy Hosea, in my scripture manner, which is my second nature, "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone." But since 'tis as 'tis, why, it might have been worse, and I feel my thanks accordingly.'