Whilestandingnearalargemirrorinoneofthecourtsdevotedtofurniture，Car’linestarted，forintheglassappearedthereflectionofaformexactlyresemblingMopOllamoor’s——soexactly，thatitseemedimpossibletobelieveanybodybutthatartistinpersontobetheoriginal。OnpassingroundtheobjectswhichhemmedinNed，her，andthechildfromadirectview，noMopwastobeseen。WhetherhewerereallyinLondonornotatthattimewasneverknown；andCar’linealwaysstoutlydeniedthatherreadinesstogoandmeetNedintownarosefromanyrumourthatMophadalsogonethither；whichdenialtherewasnoreasonablegroundfordoubting。
Andthentheyearglidedaway，andtheExhibitionfoldeditselfupandbecameathingofthepast。Theparktreesthathadbeenenclosedforsixmonthswereagainexposedtothewindsandstorms，andthesodgrewgreenanew。NedfoundthatCar’lineresolvedherselfintoaverygoodwifeandcompanion，thoughshehadmadeherselfwhatiscalledcheaptohim；butinthatshewaslikeanotherdomesticarticle，acheaptea-pot，whichoftenbrewsbetterteathanadearone。OneautumnHipcroftfoundhimselfwithbutlittleworktodo，andaprospectoflessforthewinter。Bothbeingcountrybornandbred，theyfanciedtheywouldliketoliveagainintheirnaturalatmosphere。Itwasaccordinglydecidedbetweenthemthattheyshouldleavethepent-upLondonlodging，andthatNedshouldseekoutemploymentnearhisnativeplace，hiswifeandherdaughterstayingwithCar’line’sfatherduringthesearchforoccupationandanabodeoftheirown。
TinglingsofpleasurepervadedCar’line’sspasmodiclittleframeasshejourneyeddownwithNedtotheplaceshehadlefttwoorthreeyearsbefore，insilenceandunderacloud。Toreturntowhereshehadoncebeendespised，asmilingLondonwifewithadistinctLondonaccent，wasatriumphwhichtheworlddidnotwitnesseveryday。
ThetraindidnotstopatthepettyroadsidestationthatlaynearesttoStickleford，andthetriowentontoCasterbridge。Nedthoughtitagoodopportunitytomakeafewpreliminaryinquiriesforemploymentatworkshopsintheboroughwherehehadbeenknown；andfeelingcoldfromherjourney，anditbeingdryunderfootandonlyduskasyet，withamoononthepointofrising，Car’lineandherlittlegirlwalkedontowardStickleford，leavingNedtofollowataquickerpace，andpickherupatacertainhalf-wayhouse，widelyknownasaninn。
Thewomanandchildpursuedthewell-rememberedwaycomfortablyenough，thoughtheywerebothbecomingwearied。InthecourseofthreemilestheyhadpassedHeedless-William’sPond，thefamiliarlandmarkbyBloom’sEnd，andweredrawingneartheQuietWomanInn，aloneroadsidehostelonthelowervergeoftheEgdonHeath，sinceandformanyyearsabolished。InsteppinguptowardsitCar’lineheardmorevoiceswithinthanhadformerlybeencustomaryatsuchanhour，andshelearnedthatanauctionoffatstockhadbeenheldnearthespotthatafternoon。Thechildwouldbethebetterforarestaswellasherself，shethought，andsheentered。
Theguestsandcustomersoverflowedintothepassage，andCar’linehadnosoonercrossedthethresholdthanamanwhomsherememberedbysightcameforwardwithglassandmuginhishandstowardsafriendleaningagainstthewall；but，seeingher，verygallantlyofferedheradrinkoftheliquor，whichwasgin-and-beerhot，pouringheroutatumblerfulandsaying，inamomentortwo：’Surely，’tislittleCar’lineAspentthatwas——downatStickleford？’
Sheassented，and，thoughshedidnotexactlywantthisbeverage，shedrankitsinceitwasoffered，andherentertainerbeggedhertocomeinfartherandsitdown。Oncewithintheroomshefoundthatallthepersonspresentwereseatedcloseagainstthewalls，andtherebeingachairvacantshedidthesame。Anexplanationoftheirpositionoccurredthenextmoment。IntheoppositecornerstoodMop，rosininghisbowandlookingjustthesameasever。Thecompanyhadclearedthemiddleoftheroomfordancing，andtheywereabouttodanceagain。Assheworeaveiltokeepoffthewindshedidnotthinkhehadrecognizedher，orcouldpossiblyguesstheidentityofthechild；andtohersatisfiedsurpriseshefoundthatshecouldconfronthimquitecalmly——mistressofherselfinthedignityherLondonlifehadgivenher。Beforeshehadquiteemptiedherglassthedancewascalled，thedancersformedintwolines，themusicsounded，andthefigurebegan。
ThenmatterschangedforCar’line。Atremorquickeneditselftolifeinher，andherhandsoshookthatshecouldhardlysetdownherglass。Itwasnotthedancenorthedancers，butthenotesofthatoldviolinwhichthrilledtheLondonwife，thesehavingstillallthewitcherythatshehadsowellknownofyore，andunderwhichshehadusedtoloseherpowerofindependentwill。Howitallcameback!
Therewasthefiddlingfigureagainstthewall；thelarge，oily，mop-
likeheadofhim，andbeneaththemopthefacewithclosedeyes。
Afterthefirstmomentsofparalyzedreveriethefamiliartuneinthefamiliarrenderingmadeherlaughandshedtearssimultaneously。
Thenamanatthebottomofthedance，whosepartnerhaddroppedaway，stretchedouthishandandbeckonedtohertotaketheplace。
Shedidnotwanttodance；sheentreatedbysignstobeleftwhereshewas，butshewasentreatingofthetuneanditsplayerratherthanofthedancingman。ThesaltatorytendencywhichthefiddlerandhiscunninginstrumenthadeverbeenabletostartinherwasseizingCar’linejustasithaddoneinearlieryears，possiblyassistedbythegin-and-beerhot。Tiredasshewasshegraspedherlittlegirlbythehand，andplunginginatthebottomofthefigure，whirledaboutwiththerest。Shefoundthathercompanionsweremostlypeopleoftheneighbouringhamletsandfarms——Bloom’sEnd，Mellstock，Lewgate，andelsewhere；andbydegreesshewasrecognizedassheconvulsivelydancedon，wishingthatMopwouldceaseandletherheartrestfromtheachinghecaused，andherfeetalso。
Afterlongandmanyminutesthedanceended，whenshewasurgedtofortifyherselfwithmoregin-and-beer；whichshedid，feelingveryweakandoverpoweredwithhystericemotion。Sherefrainedfromunveiling，tokeepMopinignoranceofherpresence，ifpossible。
Severaloftheguestshavingleft，Car’linehastilywipedherlipsandalsoturnedtogo；but，accordingtotheaccountofsomewhoremained，atthatverymomentafive-handedreelwasproposed，inwhichtwoorthreebeggedhertojoin。
ShedeclinedonthepleaofbeingtiredandhavingtowalktoStickleford，whenMopbeganaggressivelytweedling’MyFancy-Lad，’inDmajor，astheairtowhichthereelwastobefooted。Hemusthaverecognizedher，thoughshedidnotknowit，foritwasthestrainofallseductivestrainswhichshewasleastabletoresist——theonehehadplayedwhenshewasleaningoverthebridgeatthedateoftheirfirstacquaintance。Car’linesteppeddespairinglyintothemiddleoftheroomwiththeotherfour。
Reelswereresortedtohereaboutsatthistimebythemorerobustspirits，forthereductionofsuperfluousenergywhichtheordinaryfigure-danceswerenotpowerfulenoughtoexhaust。Aseverybodyknows，ordoesnotknow，thefivereelersstoodintheformofacross，thereelbeingperformedbyeachlineofthreealternately，thepersonswhosuccessivelycametothemiddleplacedancinginbothdirections。Car’linesoonfoundherselfinthisplace，theaxisofthewholeperformance，andcouldnotgetoutofit，thetuneturningintothefirstpartwithoutgivingheropportunity。AndnowshebegantosuspectthatMopdidknowher，andwasdoingthisonpurpose，thoughwhenevershestoleaglanceathimhisclosedeyesbetokenedobliviousnesstoeverythingoutsidehisownbrain。Shecontinuedtowendherwaythroughthefigureof8thatwasformedbyhercourse，thefiddlerintroducingintohisnotesthewildandagonizingsweetnessofalivingvoiceinonetoohighlywrought；itspathosrunninghighandrunninglowinendlessvariation，projectingthroughhernervesexcruciatingspasms，asortofblissfultorture。
Theroomswam，thetunewasendless；andinaboutaquarterofanhourtheonlyotherwomaninthefiguredroppedoutexhausted，andsankpantingonabench。
Thereelinstantlyresolveditselfintoafour-handedone。Car’linewouldhavegivenanythingtoleaveoff；butshehad，orfanciedshehad，nopower，whileMopplayedsuchtunes；andthusanothertenminutesslippedby，ahazeofdustnowcloudingthecandles，thefloorbeingofstone，sanded。Thenanotherdancerfellout——oneofthemen——andwentintothepassage，inafranticsearchforliquor。
Toturnthefigureintoathree-handedreelwastheworkofasecond，Mopmodulatingatthesametimeinto’TheFairyDance，’asbettersuitedtothecontractedmovement，andnolessoneofthosefoodsoflovewhich，asmanufacturedbyhisbow，hadalwaysintoxicatedher。
Inareelforthreetherewasnorestwhatever，andfourorfiveminuteswereenoughtomakeherremainingtwopartners，nowthoroughlyblown，stamptheirlastbarand，liketheirpredecessors，limpoffintothenextroomtogetsomethingtodrink。Car’line，half-stifledinsideherveil，wasleftdancingalone，theapartmentnowbeingemptyofeverybodysaveherself，Mop，andtheirlittlegirl。
Sheflunguptheveil，andcasthereyesuponhim，asifimploringhimtowithdrawhimselfandhisacousticmagnetismfromtheatmosphere。Mopopenedoneofhisownorbs，asthoughforthefirsttime，fixeditpeeringlyuponher，andsmilingdreamily，threwintohisstrainsthereserveofexpressionwhichhecouldnotaffordtowasteonabigandnoisydance。Crowdsoflittlechromaticsubtleties，capableofdrawingtearsfromastatue，proceededstraightwayfromtheancientfiddle，asifitweredyingoftheemotionwhichhadbeenpentupwithiniteversinceitsbanishmentfromsomeItaliancitywhereitfirsttookshapeandsound。TherewasthatinthelookofMop’sonedarkeyewhichsaid：’Youcannotleaveoff，dear，whetheryouwouldorno!’anditbredinheraparoxysmofdesperationthatdefiedhimtotireherdown。
Shethuscontinuedtodancealone，defiantlyasshethought，butintruthslavishlyandabjectly，subjecttoeverywaveofthemelody，andprobedbythegimlet-likegazeofherfascinator’sopeneye；
keepingupatthesametimeafeeblesmileinhisface，asafeinttosignifyitwasstillherownpleasurewhichledheron。Aterrifiedembarrassmentastowhatshecouldsaytohimifsheweretoleaveoff，haditsunrecognizedshareinkeepinghergoing。Thechild，whowasbeginningtobedistressedbythestrangesituation，cameupandsaid：’Stop，mother，stop，andlet’sgohome!’assheseizedCar’line’shand。
SuddenlyCar’linesankstaggeringtothefloor；androllingoveronherface，pronesheremained。Mop’sfiddlethereuponemittedanelfinshriekoffinality；steppingquicklydownfromthenine-gallonbeer-caskwhichhadformedhisrostrum，hewenttothelittlegirl，whodisconsolatelybentoverhermother。
Theguestswhohadgoneintotheback-roomforliquorandchangeofair，hearingsomethingunusual，troopedbackhitherward，wheretheyendeavouredtorevivepoor，weakCar’linebyblowingherwiththebellowsandopeningthewindow。Ned，herhusband，whohadbeendetainedinCasterbridge，asaforesaid，camealongtheroadatthisjuncture，andhearingexcitedvoicesthroughtheopencasement，andtohisgreatsurprise，thementionofhiswife’sname，heenteredamidtherestuponthescene。Car’linewasnowinconvulsions，weepingviolently，andforalongtimenothingcouldbedonewithher。WhilehewassendingforacarttotakeheronwardtoSticklefordHipcroftanxiouslyinquiredhowithadallhappened；andthentheassemblyexplainedthatafiddlerformerlyknowninthelocalityhadlatelyrevisitedhisoldhaunts，andhadtakenuponhimselfwithoutinvitationtoplaythateveningattheinn。
Neddemandedthefiddler’sname，andtheysaidOllamoor。
’Ah!’exclaimedNed，lookingroundhim。’Whereishe，andwhere——
where’smylittlegirl？’
Ollamoorhaddisappeared，andsohadthechild。Hipcroftwasinordinaryaquietandtractablefellow，butadeterminationwhichwastobefearedsettledinhisfacenow。’Blasthim!’hecried。’I’llbeathisskullinfor’n，ifIswingforitto-morrow!’
Hehadrushedtothepokerwhichlayonthehearth，andhasteneddownthepassage，thepeoplefollowing。Outsidethehouse，ontheothersideofthehighway，amassofdarkheath-landrosesullenlyupwardtoitsnoteasilyaccessibleinterior，aravinedplateau，whereonjuttedintothesky，atthedistanceofacoupleofmiles，thefir-
woodsofMistoverbackedbytheYalburycoppices——aplaceofDantesquegloomatthishour，whichwouldhaveaffordedsecurehidingforabatteryofartillery，muchlessamanandachild。
Someothermenplungedthitherwardwithhim，andmorewentalongtheroad。Theyweregoneabouttwentyminutesaltogether，returningwithoutresulttotheinn。Nedsatdowninthesettle，andclaspedhisforeheadwithhishands。
’Well——whatafoolthemanis，andhevbeenalltheseyears，ifhethinksthechildhis，asa’doseemto!’theywhispered。’Andeverybodyelseknowingotherwise!’
’No，Idon’tthink’tismine!’criedNedhoarsely，ashelookedupfromhishands。’Butsheismine，allthesame!Ha’n’tInussedher？Ha’n’tIfedherandteachedher？Ha’n’tIplayedwi’her？O，littleCarry——gonewiththatrogue——gone!’