LIII. Concurritur—Horae Momento

           OutsidethefrontofBoldwood’shouseagroupofmenstoodinthedark,withtheirfacestowardsthedoor,whichoccasionallyopenedandclosedforthepassageofsomeguestorservant,whenagoldenrodoflightwouldstripethegroundforthemomentandvanishagain,leavingnothingoutsidebuttheglowwormshineofthepalelampamidtheevergreensoverthedoor.

           "HewasseeninCasterbridgethisafternoon—sotheboysaid,"oneofthemremarkedinawhisper."AndIforonebelieveit.Hisbodywasneverfound,youknow."

           "’Tisastrangestory,"saidthenext."Youmaydependupon’tthatsheknowsnothingaboutit."

           "Notaword."

           "Perhapshedon’tmeanthatsheshall,"saidanotherman.

           "Ifhe’saliveandhereintheneighbourhood,hemeansmischief,"saidthefirst."Pooryoungthing:Idopityher,if’tistrue.He’lldraghertothedogs."

           "Ono;he’llsettledownquietenough,"saidonedisposedtotakeamorehopefulviewofthecase.

           "Whatafoolshemusthavebeenevertohavehadanythingtodowiththeman!Sheissoself-willedandindependenttoo,thatoneismoremindedtosayitservesherrightthanpityher."

           "No,no.Idon’tholdwith’eethere.Shewasnootherwisethanagirlmind,andhowcouldshetellwhatthemanwasmadeof?If’tisreallytrue,’tistoohardapunishment,andmorethansheoughttohae.—Hullo,who’sthat?"Thiswastosomefootstepsthatwereheardapproaching.

           "WilliamSmallbury,"saidadimfigureintheshades,comingupandjoiningthem.