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change in the household economy； and not much in its appearance；
beyond such minor particulars as that the crack over the window；
which had been a hundred years coming； was a trifle wider； that the
beams were a shade blacker； that the influence of modernism had
supplanted the open chimney corner by a grate； that Rebekah； who had
worn a cap when she had plenty of hair； had left it off now she had
scarce any； because it was reported that caps were not fashionable；
and that Sally's face had naturally assumed a more womanly and
experienced cast。
Mrs。 Hall was actually lifting coals with the tongs； as she had used
to do。
'Five years ago this very night； if I am not mistaken' she said；
laying on an ember。
'Not this very nightthough 'twas one night this week；' said the
correct Sally。
'Well； 'tis near enough。 Five years ago Mr。 Darton came to marry
you； and my poor boy Phil came home to die。' She sighed。 'Ah；
Sally；' she presently said； 'if you had managed well Mr。 Darton
would have had you； Helena or none。'
'Don't be sentimental about that； mother；' begged Sally。 'I didn't
care to manage well in such a case。 Though I liked him； I wasn't so
anxious。 I would never have married the man in the midst of such a
hitch as that was；' she added with decision； 'and I don't think I
would if he were to ask me now。'
'I am not sure about that； unless you have another in your eye。'
'I wouldn't； and I'll tell you why。 I could hardly marry him for
love at this time o' day。 And as we've quite enough to live on if
we give up the dairy to…morrow； I should have no need to marry for
any meaner reason 。 。 。 I am quite happy enough as I am； and there's
an end of it。'
Now it was not long after this dialogue that there came a mild rap
at the door； and in a moment there entered Rebekah； looking as
though a ghost had arrived。 The fact was that that accomplished
skimmer and churner （now a resident in the house） had overheard the
desultory observations between mother and daughter； and on opening
the door to Mr。 Darton thought the coincidence must have a grisly
meaning in it。 Mrs。 Hall welcomed the farmer with warm surprise； as
did Sally； and for a moment they rather wanted words。
'Can you push up the chimney…crook for me； Mr Darton？ the notches
hitch；' said the matron。 He did it； and the homely little act
bridged over the awkward consciousness that he had been a stranger
for four years。
Mrs。 Hall soon saw what he had come for； and left the principals
together while she went to prepare him a late tea； smiling at
Sally's recent hasty assertions of indifference； when she saw how
civil Sally was。 When tea was ready she joined them。 She fancied
that Darton did not look so confident as when he had arrived； but
Sally was quite light…hearted； and the meal passed pleasantly。
About seven he took his leave of them。 Mrs。 Hall went as far as the
door to light him down the slope。 On the doorstep he said frankly
'I came to ask your daughter to marry me； chose the night and
everything； with an eye to a favourable answer。 But she won't。'
'Then she's a very ungrateful girl！' emphatically said Mrs。 Hall。
Darton paused to shape his sentence； and asked； 'II suppose
there's nobody else more favoured？'
'I can't say that there is； or that there isn't；' answered Mrs。
Hall。 'She's private in some things。 I'm on your side； however；
Mr。 Darton； and I'll talk to her。'
'Thank 'ee； thank 'ee！' said the farmer in a gayer accent； and with
this assurance the not very satisfactory visit came to an end。
Darton descended the roots of the sycamore； the light was withdrawn；
and the door closed。 At the bottom of the slope he nearly ran
against a man about to ascend。
'Can a jack…o'…lent believe his few senses on such a dark night； or
can't he？' exclaimed one whose utterance Darton recognized in a
moment； despite its unexpectedness。 'I dare not swear he can；
though I fain would！' The speaker was Johns。
Darton said he was glad of this opportunity； bad as it was； of
putting an end to the silence of years； and asked the dairyman what
he was travelling that way for。
Japheth showed the old jovial confidence in a moment。 'I'm going to
see yourrelationsas they always seem to me；' he said'Mrs。 Hall
and Sally。 Well； Charles； the fact is I find the natural
barbarousness of man is much increased by a bachelor life； and； as
your leavings were always good enough for me； I'm trying
civilization here。' He nodded towards the house。
'Not with Sallyto marry her？' said Darton； feeling something like
a rill of ice water between his shoulders。
'Yes； by the help of Providence and my personal charms。 And I think
I shall get her。 I am this road every weekmy present dairy is
only four miles off； you know； and I see her through the window。
'Tis rather odd that I was going to speak practical to…night to her
for the first time。 You've just called？'
'Yes； for a short while。 But she didn't say a word about you。'
'A good sign； a good sign。 Now that decides me。 I'll swing the
mallet and get her answer this very night as I planned。'
A few more remarks； and Darton； wishing his friend joy of Sally in a
slightly hollow tone of jocularity； bade him good…bye。 Johns
promised to write particulars； and ascended； and was lost in the
shade of the house and tree。 A rectangle of light appeared when
Johns was admitted； and all was dark again。
'Happy Japheth！' said Darton。 'This then is the explanation！'
He determined to return home that night。 In a quarter of an hour he
passed out of the village； and the next day went about his swede…
lifting and storing as if nothing had occurred。
He waited and waited to hear from Johns whether the wedding…day was
fixed： but no letter came。 He learnt not a single particular till；
meeting Johns one day at a horse…auction； Darton exclaimed genially…
…rather more genially than he felt'When is the joyful day to be？'
To his great surprise a reciprocity of gladness was not conspicuous
in Johns。 'Not at all；' he said； in a very subdued tone。 ''Tis a
bad job； she won't have me。'
Darton held his breath till he said with treacherous solicitude；
'Try again'tis coyness。'
'O no；' said Johns decisively。 'There's been none of that。 We
talked it over dozens of times in the most fair and square way。 She
tells me plainly； I don't suit her。 'Twould be simply annoying her
to ask her again。 Ah； Charles； you threw a prize away when you let
her slip five years ago。'
'I didI did；' said Darton。
He returned from that auction with a new set of feelings in play。
He had certainly made a surprising mistake in thinking Johns his
successful rival。 It really seemed as if he might hope for Sally
after all。
This time； being rather pressed by business； Darton had recourse to
pen…and…ink； and wrote her as manly and straightforward a proposal
as any woman could wish to receive。 The reply came promptly：…
'DEAR MR。 DARTON；I am as sensible as any woman can be of the
goodness that leads you to make me this offer a second time。 Better
women than I would be proud of the honour； for when I read your nice
long speeches on mangold…wurzel； and such like topics； at the
Casterbridge Farmers' Club； I do feel it an honour； I assure you。
But my answer is just the same as before。 I will not try to explain
what； in truth； I cannot explainmy reasons； I will simply say that
I must decline to be married to you。 With good wishes as in former
times； I am； your faithful friend；
'SALLY HALL。'
Darton dropped the letter hopelessly。 Beyond the negative； there
was just a possibility of sarcasm in it'nice long speeches on
mangold…wurzel' had a suspicious sound。 However； sarcasm or none；
there was the answer； and he had to be content。
He proceeded to seek relief in a business which at this time
engrossed much of his attentionthat of clearing up a curious
mistake just current in the county； that he had been nearly ruined
by the recent failure of a local bank。 A farmer named Darton had
lost heavily； and the similarity of name had probably led to the
error。 Belief in it was so persistent that it demanded several days
of letter…writin