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XLII. Joseph and His Burden—Buck's Head

           

           BythetimethatGabrielreachedtheoldmanor-house,herresidence,whichlayinhiswaytothechurch,itwasquitedark.Amancamefromthegateandsaidthroughthefog,whichhungbetweenthemlikeblownflour

           "IsthatPoorgrasswiththecorpse?"

           Gabrielrecognizedthevoiceasthatoftheparson.

           "Thecorpseishere,sir,"saidGabriel.

           "IhavejustbeentoinquireofMrs.Troyifshecouldtellmethereasonofthedelay.Iamafraiditistoolatenowforthefuneraltobeperformedwithproperdecency.Haveyoutheregistrar’scertificate?"

           "No,"saidGabriel."IexpectPoorgrasshasthat;andhe’sattheBuck’sHead.Iforgottoaskhimforit."

           "Thenthatsettlesthematter.We’llputoffthefuneraltillto-morrowmorning.Thebodymaybebroughtontothechurch,oritmaybelefthereatthefarmandfetchedbythebearersinthemorning.Theywaitedmorethananhour,andhavenowgonehome."

           Gabrielhadhisreasonsforthinkingthelatteramostobjectionableplan,notwithstandingthatFannyhadbeenaninmateofthefarm-houseforseveralyearsinthelifetimeofBathsheba’suncle.Visionsofseveralunhappycontingencieswhichmightarisefromthisdelayflittedbeforehim.Buthiswillwasnotlaw,andhewentindoorstoinquireofhismistresswhatwereherwishesonthesubject.Hefoundherinanunusualmood:hereyesasshelookeduptohimweresuspiciousandperplexedaswithsomeantecedentthought.Troyhadnotyetreturned.

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