LII. Converging Courses

           

           I

           Christmas-evecame,andapartythatBoldwoodwastogiveintheeveningwasthegreatsubjectoftalkinWeatherbury.ItwasnotthattherarityofChristmaspartiesintheparishmadethisoneawonder,butthatBoldwoodshouldbethegiver.Theannouncementhadhadanabnormalandincongruoussound,asifoneshouldhearofcroquet-playinginacathedralaisle,orthatsomemuch-respectedjudgewasgoinguponthestage.Thatthepartywasintendedtobeatrulyjovialonetherewasnoroomfordoubt.Alargeboughofmistletoehadbeenbroughtfromthewoodsthatday,andsuspendedinthehallofthebachelor’shome.Hollyandivyhadfollowedinarmfuls.Fromsixthatmorningtillpastnoonthehugewoodfireinthekitchenroaredandsparkledatitshighest,thekettle,thesaucepan,andthethree-leggedpotappearinginthemidstoftheflameslikeShadrach,Meshach,andAbednego;moreover,roastingandbastingoperationswerecontinuallycarriedoninfrontofthegenialblaze.

           Asitgrewlaterthefirewasmadeupinthelargelonghallintowhichthestaircasedescended,andallencumbranceswereclearedoutfordancing.Thelogwhichwastoformtheback-brandoftheeveningfirewastheunclefttrunkofatree,sounwieldythatitcouldbeneitherbroughtnorrolledtoitsplace;andaccordinglytwomenweretobeobserveddraggingandheavingitinbychainsandleversasthehourofassemblydrewnear.

           Inspiteofallthis,thespiritofrevelrywaswantingintheatmosphereofthehouse.Suchathinghadneverbeenattemptedbeforebyitsowner,anditwasnowdoneasbyawrench.

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