`We may,' added Mark Clark emphatically, at once drinking himself, to run no farther risk of losing his chance by the event alluded to, Jan meanwhile merging his additional thoughts of to-morrow in a song:--

`To-morrow to-morrow!

And while peace and plen-ty I find at my board,

With a heart free from sick-ness and sor-row

With my friends will I share what to-day may af-ford,

And let them spread the table to-morrow

To-morrow to-mor--'

`Do hold thy horning, Jan!' said Oak; and turning upon Poorgrass, `as for you, Joseph, who do your wicked deeds in such confoundedly holy ways, you are as drunk as you can stand.'

`No, Shepherd Oak, no! Listen to reason, shepherd. All that's the matter with me is the affliction called a multiplying eye, and that's how it is I look double to you - I mean, you look double to me.'

`A multiplying eye is a very bad thing,' said Mark Clark.

`It always comes on when I have been in a public-house a little time,' said Joseph Poorgrass meekly. `Yes; I see two of every sort, as if I were some holy man living in the times of King Noah and entering into the ark... Y-y-y-yes,' he added, becoming much affected by the picture of himself as a person thrown away, and shedding tears; `I feel too good for England: I ought to have lived in Genesis by rights, like the other men of sacrifice, and then I shouldn't have b-b-been called a d-d-drunkard in such away!'

`I wish you'd show yourself a man of spirit, and not sit whining there!'

`Show myself a man of spirit?... Ah, well! let me take the name of drunkard humbly - let me be a man of contrite knees - let it be! I know that I always do say "Please God" afore I do anything, from my getting up to my going down of the same, and I be willing to take as much disgrace as there is in that holy act. Hah, yes!... But not a man of spirit? Have I ever allowed the toe of pride to be lifted against my hinder parts without groaning manfully that I question the right to do so! I inquire that query boldly?'

`We can't say that you have, Hero Poorgrass,' admitted Jan.

`Never have I allowed such treatment to pass unquestioned! Yet the shepherd says in the face of that rich testimony that I be not a man of spirit! Well, let it pass by, and death is a kind friend!'

Gabriel, seeing that neither of the three was in a fit state to take charge of the waggon for the remainder of the journey, made no reply, but, closing the door again upon them, went across to where the vehicle stood, now getting indistinct in the fog and gloom of this mildewy time. He pulled the horse's head from the large patch of turf it had eaten bare, readjusted the boughs over the coffin, and drove along through the unwholesome night.

It had gradually become rumoured in the village that the body to be brought and buried that day was all that was left of the unfortunate Fanny Robin who had followed the Eleventh from Casterbridge through Melchester and onwards. But, thanks to Boldwood's reticence and Oak's generosity, the lover she had followed had never been individualized as Troy. Gabriel hoped that the whole truth of the matter might not be published till at any rate the girl had been in her grave for a few days, when the interposing barriers of earth and time, and a sense that the events had been somewhat shut into oblivion, would deaden the sting that revelation and invidious remark would have for Bathsheba just now.