Fiction  |  Thomas Hardy  |  Far from the Madding Crowd  |  Chapter 16

Far from the Madding Crowd — Chapter 16 (Part 2 of 2)

stalked resolutely down the nave, braving them all, with a compressed lip. Two bowed and toothless old almsmen then looked at each other and chuckled, innocently enough; but the sound had a strange weird effect in that place.

Opposite to the church was a paved square, around which several overhanging wood buildings of old time cast a picturesque shade. The young man on leaving the door went to cross the square, when, in the middle, he met a little woman. The expression of her face, which had been one of intense anxiety, sank at the sight of his nearly to terror.

`Well?' he said, in a suppressed passion, fixedly looking at her.

`O Frank - I made a mistake! - I thought that church with the spire was All Saints', and I was at the door at half-past eleven to a minute as you said. I waited till a quarter to twelve, and found then that I was in All Souls'. But I wasn't much frightened, for I thought it could be to-morrow as well.'

`You fool, for so fooling me! But say no more.'

`Shall it be to-morrow, Frank?' she asked blankly.

`To-morrow!' and he gave vent to a hoarse laugh. `I don't go through that experience again for some time; I warrant you!'

`But after all,' she expostulated in a trembling voice, `the mistake was not such a terrible thing! Now, dear Frank, when shall it be?'

`Ah, when? God knows!' he said, with a light irony, and turning from her walked rapidly away.