808 FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD. in, or anybody at all. But I tlionght I'd wait in the next room in case she should want me. I heard her moving about inside for more than an hour, but she only came out once, and that wafi for more candles, because her's had burnt down into the socket. She said we were to let her know when you or Mr. Thirdly came, sh" Oak entered mth the parson at this moment, and they all went upstairs together, preceded by Liddy Smallbury. Everything was silent as the grave when they paused on the landing. Liddy knocked, and Bathsheba's dress was heard rustling across the room : the key turned in the lock, and she opened the door. Her looks were calm and nearly rigid, like a slightly animated bust of Melpomene.
- ^0h, Mr. Granthead, you have come at last,"
she murmured from her lips merely, and threw back the door. ^' Ah, and Mr. Thirdly. Well, all is done, and anybody in the world may see him now." She then passed by him, crossed the landing, and entered another room. Looking into the chamber of death she had vacated they saw by the light of the candles which were on the drawers a tall straight shape lying at the further end of the bedi'oom, wrapped in white. Everything around was quite orderly. The doctor went in, and after a few minutes returned to the landing again, where Oak and the parson still waited.
