“Did you hear the strange noise from the churchyard?”
“I heard one strange noise. I’ve been thinking it must have been the water from the tower spouts.”
“Well, that’s what the shepherd was saying, ma’am. He’s now gone on to see.”
“Oh! Gabriel has been here this morning!”
“Only just looked in in passing—quite in his old way, which I thought he had left off lately. But the tower spouts used to spatter on the stones, and we are puzzled, for this was like the boiling of a pot.”
Not being able to read, think, or work, Bathsheba asked Liddy to stay and breakfast with her. The tongue of the more childish woman still ran upon recent events. “Are you going across to the church, ma’am?” she asked.
“Not that I know of,” said Bathsheba.
“I thought you might like to go and see where they have put Fanny. The trees hide the place from your window.”
Bathsheba had all sorts of dreads about meeting her husband. “Has Mr. Troy been in to-night?” she said.
“No, ma’am; I think he’s gone to Budmouth.”