Atthisdate，andforseveralyearsafter，therewasahangmantoalmosteveryjail。Gertrudefound，oninquiry，thattheCasterbridgeofficialdweltinalonelycottagebyadeepslowriverflowingunderthecliffonwhichtheprisonbuildingsweresituate——
thestreambeingtheself-sameone，thoughshedidnotknowit，whichwateredtheSticklefordandHolmstokemeadslowerdowninitscourse。
Havingchangedherdress，andbeforeshehadeatenordrunk——forshecouldnottakehereasetillshehadascertainedsomeparticulars——
Gertrudepursuedherwaybyapathalongthewater-sidetothecottageindicated。Passingthustheoutskirtsofthejail，shediscernedonthelevelroofoverthegatewaythreerectangularlinesagainstthesky，wherethespeckshadbeenmovinginherdistantview；sherecognizedwhattheerectionwas，andpassedquicklyon。
Anotherhundredyardsbroughthertotheexecutioner’shouse，whichaboypointedoutItstoodclosetothesamestream，andwashardbyaweir，thewatersofwhichemittedasteadyroar。