Chapter 21

           Therewasagreatstirinthemilk-housejustafterbreakfast.Thechurnrevolvedasusual,butthebutterwouldnotcome.Wheneverthishappenedthedairywasparalyzed.Squish,squash,echoedthemilkinthegreatcylinder,butneverarosethesoundtheywaitedfor.

           DairymanCrickandhiswife,themilkmaidsTess,Marian,RettyPriddle,IzzHuett,andthemarriedonesfromthecottages;alsoMrClare,JonathanKail,oldDeborah,andtherest,stoodgazinghopelesslyatthechurn;andtheboywhokeptthehorsegoingoutsideputonmoon-likeeyestoshowhissenseofthesituation.Eventhemelancholyhorsehimselfseemedtolookinatthewindowininquiringdespairateachwalkround.

           “’TisyearssinceIwenttoConjurorTrendle’ssoninEgdon—years!”saidthedairymanbitterly.“Andhewasnothingtowhathisfatherhadbeen.Ihavesaidfiftytimes,ifIhavesaidonce,thatIDON’Tbelieveinen;though‘adocastfolks’watersverytrue.ButIshallhavetogoto‘nifhe’salive.Oyes,Ishallhavetogoto‘n,ifthissortofthingcontinnys!”

           EvenMrClarebegantofeeltragicalatthedairyman’sdesperation.

           “ConjurorFall,t’othersideofCasterbridge,thattheyusedtocall‘Wide-O’,wasaverygoodmanwhenIwasaboy,”saidJonathanKail.“Buthe’srottenastouchwoodbynow.”

           “MygrandfatherusedtogotoConjurorMynterne,outatOwlscombe,andaclevermana’were,soI’veheardgrandf’ersay,”continuedMrCrick.