The men, after recognizing Troy's features, withdrew across the orchard as quietly as they had come. The air was big with Bathsheba's fortunes to-night: every word everywhere concerned her. When they were quite out of earshot all by one instinct paused.

`It gave me quite a turn - his face,' said Tall, breathing.

`And so it did me,' said Samway. `What's to be done?'

`I don't see that 'tis any business of ours,' Smallbury murmured dubiously.

`But it is! 'Tis a thing which is everybody's business,' said Samway. `We know very well that master's on a wrong tack, and that she's quite in the dark, and we should let 'em know at once. Laban, you know her best - you'd better go and ask te speak to her.'

`I bain't fit for any such thing,' said Laban, nervously. `I should think William ought to do it if anybody. He's oldest.'

`I shall have nothing to do with it,' said Smallbury. `'Tis a ticklish business altogether. Why, he'll go on to her himself in a few minutes, ye'll see.'

`We don't know that he will. Come, Laban.'

`Very well, if I must I must, I suppose,' Tall reluctantly answered. `What must I say?'

`Just ask to see master.'

`O no; I shan't speak to Mr Boldwood. If I tell anybody, 'twill be mistress.'

`Very well,' said Samway.

Laban then went to the door. When he opened it the hum of bustle rolled out as a wave upon a still strand - the assemblage being immediately inside the hall - and was deadened to a murmur as he closed it again. Each man waited intently, and looked around at the dark tree tops gently rocking against the sky and occasionally shivering in a slight wind, as if he took interest in the scene, which neither did. One of them began walking up and down, and then came to where he started from and stopped again, with a sense that walking was a thing not worth doing now.

`I should think Laban must have seen mistress by this time,' said Smallbury, breaking the silence. `Perhaps she won't come and speak to him.'

The door opened. Tall appeared, and joined them. `Well?' said both.

`I didn't like to ask for her after all,' Laban faltered out. `They were all in such a stir, trying to put a little spirit into the party. Somehow the fan seems to hang fire, though everything's there that a heart can desire, and I couldn't for my soul interfere and throw damp upon it - if 'twas to save my life, I couldn't!'

`I suppose we had better all go in together,' said Samway, gloomily. `Perhaps I may have a chance of saying a word to master.'

So the men entered the hall, which was the room selected and arranged for the gathering because of its size. The younger men and maids were at last just beginning a dance. Bathsheba had been perplexed how to act, for she was not much more than a slim young maid herself, and the weight of stateliness sat heavy upon her. Sometimes she thought she ought not to have come under any circumstances; then she considered what cold unkindness that would have been, and finally resolved upon the middle course of staying for about an hour only, and gliding off unobserved, having from the first made upon her mind that she could on no account dance, sing, or take any active part in the proceedings.