Asadditionalreservesthereweresweetbreads，andfivemilts，sewedupatonesideintheformofachrysalis，andstuffedwiththyme，sage，parsley，mint，groats，rice，milk，choppedegg，andotheringredients。Theywereafterwardsroastedbeforeaslowfire，andeatenhot。
Thebusinessofchoppingsomanyherbsforthevariousstuffingswasfoundtobeachingworkforwomen；andDavid，themiller，thegrinder，andthegrinder’sboybeingfullyoccupiedintheirproperbranches，andBobbeingverybusypaintingthegigandtouchinguptheharness，LovedaycalledinafriendlydragoonofJohn’sregimentwhowaspassingby，andhe，beingamuscularman，willinglychoppedalltheafternoonforaquartofstrong，judiciouslyadministered，andallothervictualsfound，takingoffhisjacketandgloves，rollinguphisshirt-sleevesandunfasteninghiscollarinanhonourableandenergeticway。
Allwindfallsandmaggot-coredcodlinswereexcludedfromtheapplepies；andastherewasnoknowndishlargeenoughforthepurpose，thepuddingswerestirredupinthemilking-pail，andboiledinthethree-leggedbell-metalcrock，ofgreatweightandantiquity，whicheverytravellingtinkerforthepreviousthirtyyearshadtappedwithhisstick，coveted，madeabidfor，andoftenattemptedtosteal。
IntheliquorlineLovedaylaidinanamplebarrelofCasterbridge’strongbeer。’Thisrenowneddrink——nowalmostasmuchathingofthepastasFalstaff’sfavouritebeverage——wasnotonlywellcalculatedtowintheheartsofsoldiersblowndryanddustybyresidenceintentsonahill-top，butofanywayfarerwhateverinthatland。Itwasofthemostbeautifulcolourthattheeyeofanartistinbeercoulddesire；fullinbody，yetbriskasavolcano；
piquant，yetwithoutatwang；luminousasanautumnsunset；freefromstreakinessoftaste；but，finally，ratherheady。Themassesworshippedit，theminorgentryloveditmorethanwine，andbythemostillustriouscountyfamiliesitwasnotdespised。Anybodybroughtupforbeingdrunkanddisorderlyinthestreetsofitsnatalborough，hadonlytoprovethathewasastrangertotheplaceanditsliquortobehonourablydismissedbythemagistrates，asoneovertakeninafaultthatnomancouldguardagainstwhoenteredthetownunawares。
Inaddition，Mr。Lovedayalsotappedahogsheadoffineciderthathehadhadmellowinginthehouseforseveralmonths，havingboughtitofanhonestdown-countryman，whodidnotcolour，foranyspecialoccasionlikethepresent。Ithadbeenpressedfromfruitjudiciouslychosenbyanoldhand——HornerandCleevesappleforthebody，afewTom-Puttsforcolour，andjustadashofOldFive-cornersforsparkle——aselectionoriginallymadetopleasethepalateofawell-knowntemperateearlwhowasaregularcider-drinker，andlivedtobeeighty-eight。
OnthemorningoftheSundayappointedforhercomingCaptainBobLovedaysetouttomeethisbride。Hehadbeenalltheweekengagedinpaintingthegig，assistedbyhisbrotheratoddtimes，anditnowappearedofagorgeousyellow，withbluestreaks，andtasselsatthecorners，andredwheelsoutlinedwithadarkershade。Heputintheponyathalf-pasteleven，Annelookingathimfromthedoorashepackedhimselfintothevehicleanddroveoff。TheremaybeyoungwomenwholookoutatyoungmendrivingtomeettheirbridesasAnnelookedatCaptainBob，andyetarequiteindifferenttothecircumstances；buttheyarenotoftenmetwith。
SomuchdusthadbeenraisedonthehighwaybytrafficresultingfromthepresenceoftheCourtatthetownfurtheron，thatbrambleshangingfromthefence，andgivingafriendlyscratchtothewanderer’sface，weredingyaschurchcobwebs；andthegrassonthemarginhadassumedapaper-shavinghue。Bob’sfatherhadwishedhimtotakeDavid，lest，fromwantofrecentexperienceatthewhip，heshouldmeetwithanymishap；but，picturingtohimselftheawkwardnessofthreeinsuchcircumstances，Bobwouldnothearofthis；andnothingmoreserioushappenedtohisdrivingthanthatthewheel-marksformedtwoserpentinelinesalongtheroadduringthefirstmileortwo，beforehehadgothishandin，andthatthehorseshiedatamilestone，apieceofpaper，asleepingtramp，andawheelbarrow，justtomakeuseoftheopportunityofbeinginbadhands。
HeenteredCasterbridgebetweentwelveandone，and，puttingupattheOldGreyhound，walkedontotheBow。Here，ratherdustyontheledgesofhisclothes，hestoodandwaitedwhilethepeopleintheirbestsummerdressespouredoutofthethreechurchesroundhim。
Whentheyhadallgone，andasmellofcindersandgravyhadspreaddowntheancienthigh-street，andthepie-dishesfromadjacentbakehouseshadalltravelledpast，hesawthemailcoachriseabovethearchofGrey’sBridge，aquarterofamiledistant，surmountedbyswayingknobs，whichprovedtobetheheadsoftheoutsidetravellers。
’That’sthewayforaman’sbridetocometohim，’saidRoberttohimselfwithafeelingofpoetry；andasthehornsoundedandthehorsesclatteredupthestreethewalkeddowntotheinn。Theknotofhostlersandinn-servantshadgathered，thehorsesweredraggedfromthevehicle，andthepassengersforCasterbridgebegantodescend。CaptainBobeyedthemover，lookedinside，lookedoutsideagain；tohisdisappointmentMatildawasnotthere，norherboxes，noranythingthatwashers。NeithercoachmannorguardhadseenorheardofsuchapersonatMelchester；andBobwalkedslowlyaway。
Depressedbyforebodingstoanextentwhichtookawaynearlyathirdofhisappetite，hesatdownintheparlouroftheOldGreyhoundtoaslicefromthefamilyjointofthelandlord。Thisgentleman，whodinedinhisshirt-sleeves，partlybecauseitwasAugust，andpartlyfromasensethattheywouldnotbesofitforpublicviewfurtheronintheweek，suggestedthatBobshouldwaittillthreeorfourthatafternoon，whentheroad-waggonwouldarrive，asthelostladymighthavepreferredthatmodeofconveyance；andwhenBobappearedratherhurtatthesuggestion，thelandlord’swifeassuredhim，asawomanwhoknewgoodlife，thatmanygenteelpersonstravelledinthatwayduringthepresenthighpriceofprovisions。Loveday，whoknewlittleoftravellingbyland，readilyacceptedherassuranceandresolvedtowait。
Wanderingupanddownthepavement，orleaningagainstsomehotwallbetweenthewaggon-officeandthecornerofthestreetabove，hepassedthetimeaway。Itwasastill，sunny，drowsyafternoon，andscarcelyasoulwasvisibleinthelengthandbreadthofthestreet。
TheofficewasnotfarfromAllSaints’Church，andthechurch-windowsbeingopen，hecouldheartheafternoonservicefromwherehelingeredasdistinctlyasifhehadbeenoneofthecongregation。ThushewasmentallyconductedthroughthePsalms，throughthefirstandsecondlessons，throughtheburstoffiddlesandclarionetswhichannouncedtheevening-hymn，andwellintothesermon，beforeanysignsofthewaggoncouldbeseenupontheLondonroad。
Theafternoonsermonsatthischurchbeingofadryandmetaphysicalnatureatthatdate，itwasbyaspecialprovidencethatthewaggon-officewasplacedneartheancientfabric，sothatwhenevertheSundaywaggonwaslate，whichitalwayswasinhotweather，incoldweather，inwetweather，andinweatherofalmosteveryothersort，therattle，dismounting，andswearingoutsidecompletelydrownedtheparson’svoicewithin，andsustainedtheflagginginterestofthecongregationatpreciselytherightmoment。Nosoonerdidthecharitychildrenbegintowritheontheirbenches，andadultsnoresgrowaudible，thanthewaggonarrived。
CaptainLovedayfeltakindofsinkinginhispoetryatthepossibilityofherforwhomtheyhadmadesuchpreparationsbeingintheslow，unwieldyvehiclewhichcruncheditswaytowardshim；buthewouldnotgiveintotheweakness。Neitherwouldhewalkdownthestreettomeetthewaggon，lestsheshouldnotbethere。Atlastthebroadwheelsdrewupagainstthekerb，thewaggonerwithhiswhitesmock-frock，andwhipaslongasafishing-line，descendedfromtheponyonwhichherodealongside，andthesixbroad-chestedhorsesbackedfromtheircollarsandshookthemselves。Inanothermomentsomethingshowedforth，andheknewthatMatildawasthere。
Bobfeltthreecheersrisewithinhimasshesteppeddown；butitbeingSundayhedidnotutterthem。Indress，MissJohnsonpassedhisexpectations——agreenandwhitegown，withlong，tightsleeves，agreensilkhandkerchiefroundherneckandcrossedinfront，agreenparasol，andgreengloves。Itwasstrangeenoughtoseethisverdantcaterpillarturnoutofaroad-waggon，andgracefullyshakeherselffreefromthebitsofstrawandfluffwhichwouldusuallygatherontheraimentofthegrandesttravellersbythatvehicle。
’But，mydearMatilda，’saidBob，whenhehadkissedherthreetimeswithmuchpublicity——thepracticalstephehaddeterminedonseemingtodemandthatthesethingsshouldnolongerbedoneinacorner——
’mydearMatilda，whydidn’tyoucomebythecoach，havingthemoneyfor’tandall？’
’That’smyscrimping！’saidMatildainadelightfulgush。’Iknowyouwon’tbeoffendedwhenyouknowIdidittosaveagainstarainyday！’
Bob，ofcourse，wasnotoffended，thoughthegloryofmeetingherhadbeenless；andevenifvexationwerepossible，itwouldhavebeenoutofplacetosayso。Still，hewouldhaveexperiencednolittlesurprisehadhelearnttherealreasonofhisMatilda’schangeofplan。Thatangelhad，inshort，sowildlyspentBob’sandherownmoneyintheadornmentofherpersonbeforesettingout，thatshefoundherselfwithoutasufficientmarginforherfarebycoach，andhadscrimpedfromsheernecessity，’Well，IhavegotthetrapoutattheGreyhound，’saidBob。’I
don’tknowwhetheritwillholdyourluggageandustoo；butitlookedmorerespectablethanthewaggononaSunday，andifthere’snotroomfortheboxesIcanwalkalongside。’
’Ithinktherewillberoom，’saidMissJohnsonmildly。Anditwassoonveryevidentthatshespokethetruth；forwhenherpropertywasdepositedonthepavement，itconsistedofatrunkabouteighteenincheslong，andnothingmore。
’O——that’sall！’saidCaptainLoveday，surprised。
’That’sall，’saidtheyoungwomanassuringly。’Ididn’twanttogivetrouble，youknow，andwhatIhavebesidesIhaveleftatmyaunt’s。’
’Yes，ofcourse，’heansweredreadily。’Andasit’snobigger，I
cancarryitinmyhandtotheinn，andsoitwillbenotroubleatall。’
Hecaughtupthelittlebox，andtheywentsidebysidetotheGreyhound；andintenminutestheyweretrottinguptheSouthernRoad。
Bobdidnothurrythehorse，therebeingmanythingstosayandhear，forwhichthepresentsituationwasadmirablysuited。ThesunshoneoccasionallyintoMatilda’sfaceastheydroveon，itsrayspickingoutallherfeaturestoagreatnicety。Hereyeswouldhavebeencalledbrown，buttheywerereallyeel-colour，likemanyothernicebrowneyes；theywerewell-shapedandratherbright，thoughtheyhadmoreofabroadshinethanasparkle。Shehadafirm，sufficientnose，whichseemedtosayofitselfthatitwasgoodasnosesgo。Shehadratherapicturesquewayofwrappingherupperinherlowerlip，sothattheredofthelattershowedstrongly。
Whenevershegazedagainstthesuntowardsthedistanthills，shebroughtintoherforehead，withoutknowingit，threeshortverticallines——notthereatothertimes——givingherforthemomentratherahardlook。Andinturningherheadroundtoafarangle，tostareatsomethingorotherthathepointedout，thedrawnfleshofherneckbecameamassoflines。ButBobdidnotlookatthesethings，which，ofcourse，wereofnosignificance；forhadshenottoldhim，whentheycomparedages，thatshewasalittleovertwo-and-twenty？
AsNaturewashardlyinventedatthisearlypointofthecentury，Bob’sMatildacouldnotsaymuchabouttheglamourofthehills，ortheshimmeringofthefoliage，orthewealthofgloryinthedistantsea，asshewoulddoubtlesshavedonehadshelivedlateron；butshedidherbesttobeinteresting，askingBobaboutmattersofsocialinterestintheneighbourhood，towhichsheseemedquiteastranger。
’Isyourwatering-placealargecity？’sheinquiredwhentheymountedthehillwheretheOvercombefolkhadwaitedfortheKing。
’Blessyou，mydear——no！’Twouldbenothingifitwasn’tfortheRoyalFamily，andthelordsandladies，andtheregimentsofsoldiers，andthefrigates，andtheKing’smessengers，andtheactorsandactresses，andthegamesthatgoon。’
Atthewords’actorsandactresses，’theinnocentyoungthingprickedupherears。
’DoesEllistonpayasgoodsalariesthissummerasin——？’
’O，youknowaboutitthen？Ithought——’
’Ono，no！IhaveheardofBudmouth——readinthepapers，youknow，dearRobert，aboutthedoingsthere，andtheactorsandactresses，youknow。’
’Yes，yes，Isee。Well，IhavebeenawayfromEnglandalongtime，anddon’tknowmuchaboutthetheatreinthetown；butI’lltakeyoutheresomeday。Woulditbeatreattoyou？’
’O，anamazingtreat！’saidMissJohnson，withanecstasyinwhichacloseobservermighthavediscoveredatingeofghastliness。
’You’veneverbeenintooneperhaps，dear？’
’N——never，’saidMatildaflatly。’WhateverdoIseeyonder——arowofwhitethingsonthedown？’
’Yes，that’sapartoftheencampmentaboveOvercombe。Lotsofsoldiersareencampedabouthere；thosearethewhitetopsoftheirtents。’
Hepointedtoawingofthecampthathadbecomevisible。Matildawasmuchinterested。
’Itwillmakeitverylivelyforus，’headded，’especiallyasJohnisthere。’
Shethoughtsotoo，andthustheychattedon。