"I am afraid not before eight, sir," said she. "You see we wasn't aware
till this morning that you were going to move, or we could have been
forwarder."
"A--well, never mind, never mind!" said Farfrae cheerily. "Eight o'clock
will do well enough if it be not later. Now, don't ye be standing here
talking, or it will be twelve, I doubt." Thus speaking he went out by
the front door and up the street.
During this interval Henchard and Lucetta had had experiences of
a different kind. After Elizabeth's departure for the muff the
corn-merchant opened himself frankly, holding her hand within his arm,
though she would fain have withdrawn it. "Dear Lucetta, I have been
very, very anxious to see you these two or three days," he said, "ever
since I saw you last! I have thought over the way I got your promise
that night. You said to me, 'If I were a man I should not insist.' That
cut me deep. I felt that there was some truth in it. I don't want to
make you wretched; and to marry me just now would do that as nothing
else could--it is but too plain. Therefore I agree to an indefinite
engagement--to put off all thought of marriage for a year or two."
"But--but--can I do nothing of a different kind?" said Lucetta. "I am
full of gratitude to you--you have saved my life. And your care of me is
like coals of fire on my head! I am a monied person now.
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