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strong； but it did not taste so strong as it actually was。 Hence；
presently； the stranger in cinder…gray at the table； moved by its
creeping influence； unbuttoned his waistcoat； threw himself back in
his chair； spread his legs； and made his presence felt in various
ways。
'Well； well； as I say；' he resumed； 'I am going to Casterbridge； and
to Casterbridge I must go。 I should have been almost there by this
time； but the rain drove me into your dwelling； and I'm not sorry
for it。'
'You don't live in Casterbridge？' said the shepherd。
'Not as yet； though I shortly mean to move there。'
'Going to set up in trade； perhaps？'
'No； no；' said the shepherd's wife。 'It is easy to see that the
gentleman is rich； and don't want to work at anything。'
The cinder…gray stranger paused； as if to consider whether he would
accept that definition of himself。 He presently rejected it by
answering； 'Rich is not quite the word for me； dame。 I do work； and
I must work。 And even if I only get to Casterbridge by midnight I
must begin work there at eight to…morrow morning。 Yes； het or wet；
blow or snow； famine or sword； my day's work to…morrow must be
done。'
'Poor man！ Then； in spite o' seeming； you be worse off than we？'
replied the shepherd's wife。
''Tis the nature of my trade； men and maidens。 'Tis the nature of
my trade more than my poverty 。 。 。 But really and truly I must up
and off； or I shan't get a lodging in the town。' However； the
speaker did not move； and directly added； 'There's time for one more
draught of friendship before I go； and I'd perform it at once if the
mug were not dry。'
'Here's a mug o' small；' said Mrs。 Fennel。 'Small； we call it；
though to be sure 'tis only the first wash o' the combs。'
'No；' said the stranger disdainfully。 'I won't spoil your first
kindness by partaking o' your second。'
'Certainly not；' broke in Fennel。 'We don't increase and multiply
every day； and I'll fill the mug again。' He went away to the dark
place under the stairs where the barrel stood。 The shepherdess
followed him。
'Why should you do this？' she said reproachfully； as soon as they
were alone。 'He's emptied it once； though it held enough for ten
people； and now he's not contented wi' the small； but must needs
call for more o' the strong！ And a stranger unbeknown to any of us。
For my part； I don't like the look o' the man at all。'
'But he's in the house； my honey； and 'tis a wet night； and a
christening。 Daze it； what's a cup of mead more or less？ There'll
be plenty more next bee…burning。'
'Very wellthis time； then；' she answered； looking wistfully at the
barrel。 'But what is the man's calling； and where is he one of；
that he should come in and join us like this？'
'I don't know。 I'll ask him again。'
The catastrophe of having the mug drained dry at one pull by the
stranger in cinder…gray was effectually guarded against this time by
Mrs。 Fennel。 She poured out his allowance in a small cup； keeping
the large one at a discreet distance from him。 When he had tossed
off his portion the shepherd renewed his inquiry about the
stranger's occupation。
The latter did not immediately reply； and the man in the chimney…
corner； with sudden demonstrativeness； said； 'Anybody may know my
tradeI'm a wheelwright。'
'A very good trade for these parts；' said the shepherd。
'And anybody may know mineif they've the sense to find it out；'
said the stranger in cinder…gray。
'You may generally tell what a man is by his claws；' observed the
hedge…carpenter； looking at his own hands。 'My fingers be as full
of thorns as an old pin…cushion is of pins。'
The hands of the man in the chimney…corner instinctively sought the
shade； and he gazed into the fire as he resumed his pipe。 The man
at the table took up the hedge…carpenter's remark； and added
smartly； 'True； but the oddity of my trade is that； instead of
setting a mark upon me； it sets a mark upon my customers。'
No observation being offered by anybody in elucidation of this
enigma； the shepherd's wife once more called for a song。 The same
obstacles presented themselves as at the former timeone had no
voice； another had forgotten the first verse。 The stranger at the
table； whose soul had now risen to a good working temperature；
relieved the difficulty by exclaiming that； to start the company； he
would sing himself。 Thrusting one thumb into the arm…hole of his
waistcoat； he waved the other hand in the air； and； with an
extemporizing gaze at the shining sheep…crooks above the
mantelpiece； began：…
'O my trade it is the rarest one；
Simple shepherds all …
My trade is a sight to see；
For my customers I tie； and take them up on high；
And waft 'em to a far countree！'
The room was silent when he had finished the versewith one
exception； that of the man in the chimney…corner； who； at the
singer's word； 'Chorus！ 'joined him in a deep bass voice of musical
relish …
'And waft 'em to a far countree！'
Oliver Giles； John Pitcher the dairyman； the parish…clerk； the
engaged man of fifty； the row of young women against the wall；
seemed lost in thought not of the gayest kind。 The shepherd looked
meditatively on the ground； the shepherdess gazed keenly at the
singer； and with some suspicion； she was doubting whether this
stranger were merely singing an old song from recollection； or was
composing one there and then for the occasion。 All were as
perplexed at the obscure revelation as the guests at Belshazzar's
Feast； except the man in the chimney…corner； who quietly said；
'Second verse； stranger；' and smoked on。
The singer thoroughly moistened himself from his lips inwards； and
went on with the next stanza as requested：…
'My tools are but common ones；
Simple shepherds all …
My tools are no sight to see：
A little hempen string； and a post whereon to swing；
Are implements enough for me！'
Shepherd Fennel glanced round。 There was no longer any doubt that
the stranger was answering his question rhythmically。 The guests
one and all started back with suppressed exclamations。 The young
woman engaged to the man of fifty fainted half…way； and would have
proceeded； but finding him wanting in alacrity for catching her she
sat down trembling。
'O； he's the！' whispered the people in the background； mentioning
the name of an ominous public officer。 'He's come to do it！ 'Tis
to be at Casterbridge jail to…morrowthe man for sheep…stealing
the poor clock…maker we heard of； who used to live away at
Shottsford and had no work to doTimothy Summers； whose family were
a…starving； and so he went out of Shottsford by the high…road； and
took a sheep in open daylight； defying the farmer and the farmer's
wife and the farmer's lad； and every man jack among 'em。 He' （and
they nodded towards the stranger of the deadly trade） 'is come from
up the country to do it because there's not enough to do in his own
county…town； and he's got the place here now our own county man's
dead； he's going to live in the same cottage under the prison wall。'
The stranger in cinder…gray took no notice of this whispered string
of observations； but again wetted his lips。 Seeing that his f