Prev | Current Page 388 | Next

Hardy, Thomas, 1840-1928

"The Mayor of Casterbridge"

Two images on a donkey, back to back, their elbows tied to one
another's! She's facing the head, and he's facing the tail."
"Is it meant for anybody in particular?"
"Well--it mid be. The man has got on a blue coat and kerseymere
leggings; he has black whiskers, and a reddish face. 'Tis a stuffed
figure, with a falseface."
The din was increasing now--then it lessened a little.
"There--I shan't see, after all!" cried the disappointed first maid.
"They have gone into a back street--that's all," said the one who
occupied the enviable position in the attic. "There--now I have got 'em
all endways nicely!"
"What's the woman like? Just say, and I can tell in a moment if 'tis
meant for one I've in mind."
"My--why--'tis dressed just as SHE dressed when she sat in the front
seat at the time the play-actors came to the Town Hall!"
Lucetta started to her feet, and almost at the instant the door of the
room was quickly and softly opened. Elizabeth-Jane advanced into the
firelight.
"I have come to see you," she said breathlessly. "I did not stop to
knock--forgive me! I see you have not shut your shutters, and the window
is open."
Without waiting for Lucetta's reply she crossed quickly to the window
and pulled out one of the shutters. Lucetta glided to her side. "Let
it be--hush!" she said perempority, in a dry voice, while she seized
Elizabeth-Jane by the hand, and held up her finger.


Pages:
376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400