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XL. On Casterbridge Highway

           Thesestickswerenearlystraighttotheheightofthreeorfourfeet,whereeachbranchedintoaforkliketheletterY.Shesatdown,snappedoffthesmalluppertwigs,andcarriedtheremainderwithherintotheroad.Sheplacedoneoftheseforksundereacharmasacrutch,testedthem,timidlythrewherwholeweightuponthemsolittlethatitwasandswungherselfforward.Thegirlhadmadeforherselfamaterialaid.

           Thecrutchesansweredwell.Thepatofherfeet,andthetapofhersticksuponthehighway,wereallthesoundsthatcamefromthetravellernow.Shehadpassedthelastmilestonebyagoodlongdistance,andbegantolookwistfullytowardsthebankasifcalculatinguponanothermilestonesoon.Thecrutches,thoughsoveryuseful,hadtheirlimitsofpower.Mechanismonlytransferslabour,beingpowerlesstosupersedeit,andtheoriginalamountofexertionwasnotclearedaway;itwasthrownintothebodyandarms.Shewasexhausted,andeachswingforwardbecamefainter.Atlastsheswayedsideways,andfell.

           Hereshelay,ashapelessheap,fortenminutesandmore.Themorningwindbegantoboomdullyovertheflats,andtomoveafreshdeadleaveswhichhadlainstillsinceyesterday.Thewomandesperatelyturnedrounduponherknees,andnextrosetoherfeet.Steadyingherselfbythehelpofonecrutch,sheessayedastep,thenanother,thenathird,usingthecrutchesnowaswalking-sticksonly.ThussheprogressedtilldescendingMellstockHillanothermilestoneappeared,andsoonthebeginningofaniron-railedfencecameintoview.

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