`I am afeard you honour my understanding too much. However, she may keep such a promise, if it is made with an honest meaning to repair a wrong.
`It has not gone far yet, but I think it will soon - yes, I know it will,' he said, in an impulsive whisper. `I have pressed her upon the subject, and she inclines to be kind to me, and to think of me as a husband at a long future time, and that's enough for me. How can I expect more? She has a notion that a woman should not marry within seven years of her husband's disappearance - that her own self shouldn't, I mean - because his body was not found. It may be merely this legal reason which influences her, or it may be a religious one, but she is reluctant to talk on the point. Yet she has promised - implied - that she will ratify an engagement to-night.'
`Seven years,' murmured Oak.
`No, no - it's no such thing!' he said, with impatience. `Five years, nine months, and a few days. Fifteen months nearly have passed since he vanished, and is there anything so wonderful in an engagement of little more than five years?'
`It seems long in a forward view. Don't build too much upon such promises, sir. Remember, you have once be'n deceived. Her meaning may be good; but there - she's young yet.'
`Deceived? Never!' said Boldwood, vehemently. `She never promised me at that first time, and hence she did not break her promise! If she promises me, she'll marry me. Bathsheba is a woman to her word.'
IV
Troy was sitting in a corner of The White Hart tavern at Casterbridge, smoking and drinking a steaming mixture from a glass. A knock was given at the door, and Pennyways entered.
`Well, have you seen him?' Troy inquired, pointing to a chair.
`Boldwood?'
`No - lawyer long.'
`He wadn' at home. I went there first, too.'
`That's a nuisance.'
`'Tis rather, I suppose.'
`Yet I don't see that, because a man appears to be drowned and was not, he should be liable for anything. I shan't ask any lawyer - not I.'
`But that's not it, exactly. If a man changes his name and so forth, and takes steps to deceive the world and his own wife, he's a cheat, and that in the eye of the law is ayless a rogue, and that is ayless a lammocken vagabond; and that's a punishable situation.'
`Ha-ha! Well done, Pennyways.' Troy had laughed, but it was with some anxiety that he said, `Now, what I want to know is this, do you think there's really anything going on between her and Boldwood? Upon my soul, I should never have believed it! How she must detest me! Have you found out whether she has encouraged him?'
`I haen't been able to learn. There's a deal of feeling on his side seemingly, but I don't answer for her. I didn't know a word about any such thing till yesterday, and all I heard then was that she was gwine to the party at his house tonight. This is the first time she has ever gone there, they say. And they say