of the sense of both humour and variety does he show in creating such a situation! It is scarcely to be wondered at that these imaginary dairymaids soon begin to talk as never dairymaids talked on earth. One of them has caught another kissing the shade of the prig's mouth against the wall, and as the three are standing that night 'in a group, in their night-gowns, bare-footed at the window,' amorously regarding the beloved one below, Miss Retty Priddle candidly states the fact.
'A rosy spot came into the middle of Izz Huelt's cheek.
'"Well, there's no harm in it," she declared, with attempted coolness. "And if I be in love with him, so is Retty too; and so be you, Marian, come to that."
'Marian's full face could not blush past its chronic pinkness.
'"I?" she said; "what a tale! Ah, there he is again! Dear eyes—dear face—dear Mr. Clare!"
'"There—you've owned it !"
'"So have you—so have we all," said Marian. . . . "I would just marry him to-morrow."
'"So would I—and more," murmured Izz Huett.
'"And I too," whispered the more timid Retty.'
'At this,' observes Mr. Hardy ingenuously, 'the listener [Miss Tess Durbeyfield] grew warm'; and although she is also in her night-gown, though not at the window, it is no wonder.
'"We can't all marry him," said Izz.
'"We shan't, either of us; which is worse still," said the eldest. "There he is again!"
'And all three blew him a silent kiss.'
