AtfirstTroyresolvedtotakenonoticeandabidebycircumstances。
Thathehadbeenrecognizedbythismanwashighlyprobable；yettherewasroomforadoubt。ThenthegreatobjectionhehadfelttoallowingnewsofhisproximitytoprecedehimtoWeatherburyintheeventofhisreturn，basedonafeelingthatknowledgeofhispresentoccupationwoulddiscredithimstillfartherinhiswife’seyes，returnedinfallforce。
Moreover，shouldheresolvenottoreturnatall，ataleofhisbeingaliveandbeingintheneighbourhoodwouldbeawkward；andhewasanxioustoacquireknowledgeofhiswife’stemporalaffairsbeforedecidingwhichtodo。
InthisdilemmaTroyatoncewentouttoreconnoitre。ItoccurredtohimthattofindPennyways，andmakeafriendofhimifpossible，wouldbeaverywiseact。Hehadputonathickbeardborrowedfromtheestablishment，andinthishewanderedaboutthefair-field。Itwasnowalmostdark，andrespectablepeopleweregettingtheircartsandgigsreadytogohome。
Thelargestrefreshmentboothinthefairwasprovidedbyaninnkeeperfromaneighbouringtown。Thiswasconsideredanunexceptionableplaceforobtainingthenecessaryfoodandrest：HostTrencherashewasjauntilycalledbythelocalnewspaperbeingasubstantialmanofhighreputeforcateringthroughallthecountryround。Thetentwasdividedintofirstandsecond-classcompartments，andattheendofthefirst-classdivisionwasayetfartherenclosureforthemostexclusive，fencedofffromthebodyofthetentbyaluncheon-bar，behindwhichthehosthimselfstood，bustlingaboutinwhiteapronandshirt-sleeves，andlookingasifhehadneverlivedanywherebutundercanvasallhislife。Inthesepenetraliawerechairsandatable，which，oncandlesbeinglighted，madequiteacosyandluxuriousshowwithanurn，platedteaandcoffeepots，chinateacups，andplumcakes。