XXVI. Scene on the Verge of the Hay-Mead

           "Ah,MissEverdene!"saidthesergeant,touchinghisdiminutivecap."LittledidIthinkitwasyouIwasspeakingtotheothernight.Andyet,ifIhadreflected,the’QueenoftheCorn-market’(truthistruthatanyhourofthedayornight,andIheardyousonamedinCasterbridgeyesterday),the’QueenoftheCorn-market.’Isay,couldbenootherwoman.Istepacrossnowtobegyourforgivenessathousandtimesforhavingbeenledbymyfeelingstoexpressmyselftoostronglyforastranger.TobesureIamnostrangertotheplace—IamSergeantTroy,asItoldyou,andIhaveassistedyouruncleinthesefieldsnoendoftimeswhenIwasalad.Ihavebeendoingthesameforyouto-day."

           "IsupposeImustthankyouforthat,SergeantTroy,"saidtheQueenoftheCorn-market,inanindifferentlygratefultone.

           Thesergeantlookedhurtandsad."Indeedyoumustnot,MissEverdene,"hesaid."Whycouldyouthinksuchathingnecessary?"

           "Iamgladitisnot."

           "Why?ifImayaskwithoutoffence."

           "BecauseIdon’tmuchwanttothankyouforanything."

           "IamafraidIhavemadeaholewithmytonguethatmyheartwillnevermend.Otheseintolerabletimes:thatill-luckshouldfollowamanforhonestlytellingawomansheisbeautiful!’TwasthemostIsaid—youmustownthat;andtheleastIcouldsay—thatIownmyself."

           "ThereissometalkIcoulddowithoutmoreeasilythanmoney."

           "Indeed.Thatremarkisasortofdigression."

           "No.ItmeansthatIwouldratherhaveyourroomthanyourcompany."

           "AndIwouldratherhavecursesfromyouthankissesfromanyotherwoman;soI’llstayhere.