第140章

The noise of wheels at the front of the house became audible. Boldwood closed the box, stowed it away carefully in his pocket, and went out upon the landing. The old man who was his indoor factotum came at the same moment to the foot of the stairs.

`They be coming, sir - lots of 'em - a-foot and a-driving!'

`I was coming down this moment. Those wheels I heard - is it Mrs Troy?'

`No, sir--'tis not she yet.'

A reserved and sombre expression had returned to Boldwood's face again, but it poorly cloaked his feelings when he pronounced Bathsheba's name; and his feverish anxiety continued to show its existence by a galloping motion of his fingers upon the side of his thigh as he went down the stairs. VII `How does this cover me?' said Troy to Pennyways. `Nobody would recognize me now, I'm sure.'

He was buttoning on a heavy grey overcoat of Noachian cut, with cape and high collar, the latter being erect and rigid, like a girdling wall, and nearly reaching to the verge of a travelling cap which was pulled down over his ears.

Pennyways snuffed the candle, and then looked up and deliberately inspected Troy.

`You've made up your mind to go then?' he said.

`Made up my mind? Yes; of course I have.'

`Why not write to her? 'Tis a very queer comer that you have got into, sergeant. You see, all these things will come to light if you go back, and they won't sound well at all. Faith, if! was you I'd even bide as you be - a single man of the name of Francis. A good wife is good, but the best wife is not so good as no wife at all. Now that's my outspoke mind, and I've been called a long-headed feller here and there.'

`All nonsense!' said Troy, angrily. `There she is with plenty of money, and a house and farm, and horses, and comfort, and here am I living from hand to mouth - a needy adventurer. Besides, it is no use talking now; it is too late, and I am glad of it; I've been seen and recognized here this very afternoon. I should have gone back to her the day after the fair, if it hadn't been for you talking about the law, and rubbish about getting a separation: and I don't put it off any longer. What the deuce put it into my head to run away at all, I can't think! Humbugging sentiment - that's what it was. But what man on earth was to know that his wife would be in such a hurry to get rid of his name!'

`I should have known it. She's bad enough for anything.'

`Pennyways, mind who you are talking to.'

`Well, sergeant, all I say is this, that if! were you I'd go abroad again where I came from--'tisn't too late to do it now. I wouldn't stir up the business and get a bad name for the sake of living with her - for all that about your play-acting is sure to come out, you know, although you think otherwise. My eyes and limbs, there'll be a racket if you go back just now - in the middle of Boldwood's Chritmasing!'

`Hm, yes. I expect I shall not be a very welcome guest if he has her there,' said the sergeant, with a slight laugh. `A sort of Alonzo the Brave; and when I go in the guests will sit in silence and fear, and all laughter and pleasure will be hushed, and the lights in the chamber burn blue, and the worms - Ugh, horrible! - Ring for some more brandy, Pennyways, I felt an awful shudder just then! Well, what is there besides? A stick - I must have a walking-stick.'

Pennyways now felt himself to be in something of a difficulty, for should Bathsheba and Troy become reconciled it would be necessary to regain her good opinion if he would secure the patronage of her husband. `I sometimes think she likes you yet, and is a good woman at bottom, he said, as a saving sentence. `But there's no telling to a certainty from a body's outside.

Well, you'll do as you like about going, of course, sergeant, and as for me, I'll do as you tell me.'

`Now, let me see what the time is,' said Troy, after emptying his glass in one draught as he stood. `Half-past six o'clock. I shall not hurry along the road, and shall be there then before nine.'