Chapter 29

           “Now,whomidyethinkI’veheardnewso’thismorning?”saidDairymanCrick,ashesatdowntobreakfastnextday,withariddlinggazerounduponthemunchingmenandmaids.“Now,justwhomidyethink?”

           Oneguessed,andanotherguessed.MrsCrickdidnotguess,becausesheknewalready.

           “Well,”saidthedairyman,“’tisthatslack-twisted‘hore’s-birdofafeller,JackDollop.He’slatelygotmarriedtoawidow-woman.”

           “NotJackDollop?Avillain—tothinko’that!”saidamilker.

           ThenameenteredquicklyintoTessDurbeyfield’sconsciousness,foritwasthenameoftheloverwhohadwrongedhissweetheart,andhadafterwardsbeensoroughlyusedbytheyoungwoman’smotherinthebutter-churn.

           “Andhadhemarriedthevaliantmatron’sdaughter,ashepromised?”askedAngelClareabsently,asheturnedoverthenewspaperhewasreadingatthelittletabletowhichhewasalwaysbanishedbyMrsCrick,inhersenseofhisgentility.

           “Nothe,sir.Nevermeantto,”repliedthedairyman.“AsIsay,’tisawidow-woman,andshehadmoney,itseems—fiftypoun’ayearorso;andthatwasallhewasafter.Theyweremarriedinagreathurry;andthenshetoldhimthatbymarryingshehadlostherfiftypoun’ayear.Justfancythestateo’mygentleman’smindatthatnews!Neversuchacat-and-doglifeasthey’vebeenleadingeversince!Servehimwillberight.Butonluckilythepoorwomangetstheworsto’t.