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that heart affair； he might have donebut the less said about him
the better。 I don't know what we should have done if Miss Aldclyffe
had insisted upon the conditions of the leases。 Your brother…in…
law； the steward； had a hand in making it light for us； I know； and
I heartily thank him for it。' He ceased speaking； and looked round
at the sky。
'Have you heard o' what's happened？' he said suddenly； 'I was just
coming out to learn about it。'
'I haven't heard of anything。'
'It is something very serious； though I don't know what。 All I know
is what I heard a man call out bynowthat it very much concerns
somebody who lives in the parish。'
It seems singular enough； even to minds who have no dim beliefs in
adumbration and presentiment； that at that moment not the shadow of
a thought crossed Owen's mind that the somebody whom the matter
concerned might be himself； or any belonging to him。 The event
about to transpire was as portentous to the woman whose welfare was
more dear to him than his own； as any； short of death itself； could
possibly be； and ever afterwards； when he considered the effect of
the knowledge the next half…hour conveyed to his brain； even his
practical good sense could not refrain from wonder that he should
have walked toward the village after hearing those words of the
farmer； in so leisurely and unconcerned a way。 'How unutterably
mean must my intelligence have appeared to the eye of a foreseeing
God；' he frequently said in after…time。 'Columbus on the eve of his
discovery of a world was not so contemptibly unaware。'
After a few additional words of common…place the farmer left him；
and； as has been said； Owen proceeded slowly and indifferently
towards the village。
The labouring men had just left work； and passed the park gate；
which opened into the street as Owen came down towards it。 They
went along in a drift； earnestly talking； and were finally about to
turn in at their respective doorways。 But upon seeing him they
looked significantly at one another； and paused。 He came into the
road； on that side of the village…green which was opposite the row
of cottages； and turned round to the right。 When Owen turned； all
eyes turned； one or two men went hurriedly indoors； and afterwards
appeared at the doorstep with their wives； who also contemplated
him； talking as they looked。 They seemed uncertain how to act in
some matter。
'If they want me； surely they will call me；' he thought； wondering
more and more。 He could no longer doubt that he was connected with
the subject of their discourse。
The first who approached him was a boy。
'What has occurred？' said Owen。
'O； a man ha' got crazy…religious； and sent for the pa'son。'
'Is that all？'
'Yes； sir。 He wished he was dead； he said； and he's almost out of
his mind wi' wishen it so much。 That was before Mr。 Raunham came。'
'Who is he？' said Owen。
'Joseph Chinney； one of the railway…porters； he used to be night…
porter。'
'Ahthe man who was ill this afternoon； by the way； he was told to
come to the Old House for something； but he hasn't been。 But has
anything else happenedanything that concerns the wedding to…day？'
'No； sir。'
Concluding that the connection which had seemed to be traced between
himself and the event must in some way have arisen from Cytherea's
friendliness towards the man； Owen turned about and went homewards
in a much quieter frame of mindyet scarcely satisfied with the
solution。 The route he had chosen led through the dairy…yard； and
he opened the gate。
Five minutes before this point of time； Edward Springrove was
looking over one of his father's fields at an outlying hamlet of
three or four cottages some mile and a half distant。 A turnpike…
gate was close by the gate of the field。
The carrier to Casterbridge came up as Edward stepped into the road；
and jumped down from the van to pay toll。 He recognized Springrove。
'This is a pretty set…to in your place； sir；' he said。 'You don't
know about it； I suppose？'
'What？' said Springrove。
The carrier paid his dues； came up to Edward； and spoke ten words in
a confidential whisper： then sprang upon the shafts of his vehicle；
gave a clinching nod of significance to Springrove； and rattled
away。
Edward turned pale with the intelligence。 His first thought was；
'Bring her home！'
The nextdid Owen Graye know what had been discovered？ He probably
did by that time； but no risks of probability must be run by a woman
he loved dearer than all the world besides。 He would at any rate
make perfectly sure that her brother was in possession of the
knowledge； by telling it him with his own lips。
Off he ran in the direction of the old manor…house。
The path was across arable land； and was ploughed up with the rest
of the field every autumn； after which it was trodden out afresh。
The thaw had so loosened the soft earth； that lumps of stiff mud
were lifted by his feet at every leap he took； and flung against him
by his rapid motion； as it were doggedly impeding him； and
increasing tenfold the customary effort of running；
But he ran onuphill； and downhill； the same pace alikelike the
shadow of a cloud。 His nearest direction； too； like Owen's； was
through the dairy…barton； and as Owen entered it he saw the figure
of Edward rapidly descending the opposite hill； at a distance of two
or three hundred yards。 Owen advanced amid the cows。
The dairyman； who had hitherto been talking loudly on some absorbing
subject to the maids and men milking around him； turned his face
towards the head of the cow when Owen passed； and ceased speaking。
Owen approached him and said
'A singular thing has happened； I hear。 The man is not insane； I
suppose？'
'Not hehe's sensible enough；' said the dairyman； and paused。 He
was a man noisy with his associatesstolid and taciturn with
strangers。
'Is it true that he is Chinney； the railway…porter？'
'That's the man； sir。' The maids and men sitting under the cows
were all attentively listening to this discourse； milking
irregularly； and softly directing the jets against the sides of the
pail。
Owen could contain himself no longer； much as his mind dreaded
anything of the nature of ridicule。 'The people all seem to look at
me； as if something seriously concerned me； is it this stupid
matter； or what is it？'
'Surely； sir； you know better than anybody else if such a strange
thing concerns you。'
'What strange thing？'
'Don't you know！ His confessing to Parson Raunham。'
'What did he confess？ Tell me。'
'If you really ha'n't heard； 'tis this。 He was as usual on duty at
the station on the night of the fire last year； otherwise he
wouldn't ha' known it。'
'Known what？ For God's sake tell； man！'
But at this instant the two opposite gates of the dairy…yard； one on
the east； the other on the west side； slammed almost simultaneously。
The rector from one； Springrove from the other； came striding across
the barton。
Edward was nearest； and spoke first。 He said in a low voice： 'Your
sister is not legally married！ His first wife is still living！ How
it comes out I don't know！'
'O； here you are at last； Mr。 Gr