to　weigh　the　moral　of　the　story。
  “I’m　sure　when　I　heard　they’d　been　forbid　I　felt　as　glad　as　if　anybody　had　gied　me　sixpence；”　said　an　earnest　voice—that　of　Olly　Dowden；　a　woman　who　lived　by　making　heath　brooms；　or　besoms。　　Her　nature　was　to　be　civil　to　enemies　as　well　as　to　friends；　and　grateful　to　all　the　world　for　letting　her　remain　alive。
  “And　now　the　maid　have　married　him　just　the　same；”　said　Humphrey。
  “After　that　Mis’ess　Yeobright　came　round　and　was　quite　agreeable；”　Fairway　resumed；　with　an　unheeding　air；　to　show　that　his　words　were　no　appendage　to　Humphrey’s；　but　the　result　of　independent　reflection。
  “Supposing　they　were　ashamed；　I　don’t　see　why　they　shouldn’t　have　done　it　here…right；”　said　a　wide…spread　woman　whose　stays　creaked　like　shoes　whenever　she　stooped　or　turned。　　“’Tis　well　to　call　the　neighbours　together　and　to　hae　a　good　racket　once　now　and　then；　and　it　may　as　well　be　when　there’s　a　wedding　as　at　tide…times。　I　don’t　care　for　close　ways。”
  “Ah；　now；　you’d　hardly　believe　it；　but　I　don’t　care　for　gay　weddings；”　said　Timothy　Fairway；　his　eyes　again　travelling　round。　　“I　hardly　blame　Thomasin　Yeobright　and　neighbour　Wildeve　for　doing　it　quiet；　if　I　must　own　it。　　A　wedding　at　home　means　five　and　six…handed　reels　by　the　hour；　and　they　do　a　man’s　legs　no　good　when　he’s　over　forty。”
  “True。　Once　at　the　woman’s　house　you　can　hardly　say　nay　to　being　one　in　a　jig；　knowing　all　the　time　that　you　be　expected　to　make　yourself　worth　your　victuals。”
  “You　be　bound　to　dance　at　Christmas　because　‘tis　the　time　o’　year；　you　must　dance　at　weddings　because　‘tis　the　time　o’　life。　　At　christenings　folk　will　even　smuggle　in　a　reel　or　two；　if　‘tis　no　further　on　than　the　first　or　second　chiel。　　And　this　is　not　naming　the　songs　you’ve　got　to　sing。。。。For　my　part　I　like　a　good　hearty　funeral　as　well　as　anything。　　You’ve　as　splendid　victuals　and　drink　as　at　other　parties；　and　even　better。　　And　it　don’t　wear　your　legs　to　stumps　in　talking　over　a　poor　fellow’s　ways　as　it　do　to　stand　up　in　hornpipes。”
  “Nine　folks　out　of　ten　would　own　‘twas　going　too　far　to　dance　then；　I　suppose？”　suggested　Grandfer　Cantle。
  “’Tis　the　only　sort　of　party　a　staid　man　can　feel　safe　at　after　the　mug　have　been　round　a　few　times。”
  “Well；　I　can’t　understand　a　quiet　ladylike　little　body　like　Tamsin　Yeobright　caring　to　be　married　in　such　a　mean　way；”　said　Susan　Nunsuch；　the　wide　woman；　who　preferred　the　original　subject。　　“’Tis　worse　than　the　poorest　do。　　And　I　shouldn’t　have　cared　about　the　man；　though　some　may　say　he’s　good…looking。”
  “To　give　him　his　due　he’s　a　clever；　learned　fellow　in　his　way—a’most　as　clever　as　Clym　Yeobright　used　to　be。　　He　was　brought　up　to　better　things　than　keeping　the　Quiet　Woman。　　An　engineer—that’s　what　the　man　was；　as　we　know；　but　he　threw　away　his　chance；　and　so　‘a　took　a　public　house　to　live。　　His　learning　was　no　use　to　him　at　all。”
  “Very　often　the　case；”　said　Olly；　the　besom…maker。　“And　yet　how　people　do　strive　after　it　and　get　it！　The　class　of　folk　that　couldn’t　use　to　make　a　round　O　to　save　their　bones　from　the　pit　can　write　their　names　now　without　a　sputter　of　the　pen；　oftentimes　without　a　single　blot—what　do　I　say？why；　almost　without　a　desk　to　lean　their　stomachs　and　elbows　upon。”
  “True—‘tis　amazing　what　a　polish　the　world　have　been　brought　to；”　said　Humphrey。
  “Why；　afore　I　went　a　soldier　in　the　Bang…up　Locals　（as　we　was　called）；　in　the　year　four；”　chimed　in　Grandfer　Cantle　brightly；　“I　didn’t　know　no　more　what　the　world　was　like　than　the　monest　man　among　ye。　　And　now；　jown　it　all；　I　won’t　say　what　I　bain’t　fit　for；　hey？”
  “Couldst　sign　the　book；　no　doubt；”　said　Fairway；　“if　wast　young　enough　to　join　hands　with　a　woman　again；　like　Wildeve　and　Mis’ess　Tamsin；　which　is　more　than　Humph　there　could　do；　for　he　follows　his　father　in　learning。　　Ah；　Humph；　well　I　can　mind　when　I　was　married　how　I　zid　thy　father’s　mark　staring　me　in　the　face　as　I　went　to　put　down　my　name。　　He　and　your　mother　were　the　couple　married　just　afore　we　were　and　there　stood　they　father’s　cross　with　arms　stretched　out　like　a　great　banging　scarecrow。　　What　a　terrible　black　cross　that　was—thy　father’s　very　likeness　in　en！　　To　save　my　soul　I　couldn’t　help　laughing　when　I　zid　en；　though　all　the　time　I　was　as　hot　as　dog…days；　what　with　the　marrying；　and　what　with　the　woman　a…hanging　to　me；　and　what　with　Jack　Changley　and　a　lot　more　chaps　grinning　at　me　through　church　window。　　But　the　next　moment　a　strawmote　would　have　knocked　me　down；　for　I　called　to　mind　that　if　thy　father　and　mother　had　had　high　words　once；　they’d　been　at　it　twenty　times　since　they’d　been　man　and　wife；　and　I　zid　myself　as　the　next　poor　stunpoll　to　get　into　the　same　mess。。。。Ah—well；　what　a　day　‘twas！”
  “Wildeve　is　older　than　Tamsin　Yeobright　by　a　good…few　summers。　　A　pretty　maid　too　she　is。　　A　young　woman　with　a　home　must　be　a　fool　to　tear　her　smock　for　a　man　like　that。”
  The　speaker；　a　peat…　or　turf…cutter；　who　had　newly　joined　the　group；　carried　across　his　shoulder　the　singular　heart…shaped　spade　of　large　dimensions　used　in　that　species　of　labour；　and　its　well…whetted　edge　gleamed　like　a　silver　bow　in　the　beams　of　the　fire。
  “A　hundred　maidens　would　have　had　him　if　he’d　asked　‘em；”　said　the　wide　woman。
  “Didst　ever　know　a　man；　neighbour；　that　no　woman　at　all　would　marry？”　inquired　Humphrey。
  “I　never　did；”　said　the　turf…cutter。
  “Nor　I；”　said　another。
  “Nor　I；”　said　Grandfer　Cantle。
  “Well；　now；　I　did　once；”　said　Timothy　Fairway；　adding　more　firmness　to　one　of　his　legs。　　“I　did　know　of　such　a　man。　　But　only　once；　mind。”　　He　gave　his　throat　a　thorough　rake　round；　as　if　it　were　the　duty　of　every　person　not　to　be　mistaken　through　thickness　of　voice。　　“Yes；　I　knew　of　such　a　man；”　he　said。
  “And　what　ghastly　gallicrow　might　the　poor　fellow　have　been　like；　Master　Fairway？”　asked　the　turf…cutter。
  “Well；　‘a　was　neither　a　deaf　man；　nor　a　dumb　man；　nor　a　blind　man。　　What　‘a　was　I　don’t　say。”
  “Is　he　known　in　these　parts？”　said　Olly　Dowden。
  “Hardly；”　said　Timothy；　“but　I　name　no　name。。。e；　keep　the　fire　up　there；　youngsters。”
  “Whatever　is　Christian　Cantle’s　teeth　a…chattering　for？”　said　a　boy　from　amid　the　smoke　and　shades　on　the　other　side　of　the　blaze。　　“Be　ye　a…cold；　Christian？”
  A　thin　jibbering　voice　was　heard　to　reply；　“No；　not　at　all。”
  “e　forward；　Christian；　and　show　yourself。　　I　didn’t　know　you　were　here；”　said　Fairway；　with　a　humane　look　across　towards　that　quarter。
  Thus　requested；　a　faltering　man；　with　reedy　hair；　no　shoulders；　and　a　great　quantity　of　wrist　and　ankle　beyond　his　clothes；　advanced　a　step　or　two　by　his　own　will；　and　was　pushed　by　the　will　of　others　half　a　dozen　steps　more。　　He　was　Grandfer　Cantle’s　youngest　son。
  “What　be　ye　quaking　for；　Christian？”　said　the　turf…cutter　kindly。
  “I’m　the　man。”
  “What　man？”
  “The　man　no　woman　will　marry。”
  “The　deuce　you　be！”　said　Timothy　Fairway；　enlarging　his　gaze　to　cover　Christian’s　whole　surface　and　a　great　deal　more；　Grandfer　Cantle　meanwhile　staring　as　a　hen　stares　at　the　duck　she　has　hatched。
  “Yes；　I　be　he；　and　it　makes　me　afeard；”　said　Christian。　　“D’ye　think　‘twill　hurt　me？　　I　shall　always　say　I　don’t　care；　and　swear　to　it；　though　I　do　care　all　the　while。”
  “Well；　be　damned　if　this　isn’t　the　queerest　start　ever　I　know’d；”　said　Mr。　Fairway。　　“I　didn’t　mean　you　at　all。　　There’s　another　in　the　country；　then！　Why　did　ye　reveal　yer　misfortune；　Christian？”
  “’Twas　to　be　if　‘twas；　I　suppose。　　I　can’t　help　it；　can　I？”　He　turned　upon　them　his　painfully　circular　eyes；　surrounded　by　concentric　lines　like　targets。
  “No；　that’s　true。　　But　‘tis　a　melancholy　thing；　and　my　blood　ran　cold　when　you　spoke；　for　I　felt　there　were　two　poor　fellows　where　I　had　thought　only　one。　　‘Tis　a　sad　thing　for　ye；　Christian。　　How’st　know　the　women　won’t　hae　thee？”
  “I’ve　asked　‘em。”
  “Sure　I　should　never　have　thought　you　had　the　face。　　Well；　and　what　did　the　last　one　say　to　ye？　　Nothing　that　can’t　be　got　over；　perhaps；　after　all？”
  “’Get　out　of　my　sight；　you　slack…twisted；　slim…looking　maphrotight　fool；’　was　the　woman’s　words　to　me。”
  “Not　encouraging；　I　own；”　said　Fairway。　　“’Get　out　of　my　sight；　you　slack…twisted；　slim…looking　maphrotight　fool；’　is　rather　a　hard　way　of　saying　No。　But　even　that　might　be　overe　by　time　and　patience；　so　as　to　let　a　few　grey　hairs　show　themselves　in　the　hussy’s　head。　　How　old　be　you；　Christian？”
  “Thirty…one　last　tatie…digging；　Mister　Fairway。”
  “Not　a　boy—not　a　boy。　　Still　there’s　hope　yet。”
  “That’s　my　age　by　baptism；　because　that’s　put　down　in　the　great　book　of　the　Judgment　that　they　keep　in　church　vestry；　but　Mother　told　me　I　was　born　some　time　afore　I　was　christened。”
  “Ah！”
  “But　she　couldn’t　tell　when；　to　save　her　life；　except　that　there　was　no　moon。”
  “No　moon—that’s　bad。　　Hey；　neighbours；　that’s　bad　for　him！”
  “Yes；　‘tis　bad；”　said　Grandfer　Cantle；　shaking　his　head。
  “Mother　know’d　‘twas　no　moon；　for　she　asked　another　woman　that　had　an　almanac；　as　she　did　whenever　a　boy　was　born　to　her；　because　of　the　saying；　‘No　moon；　no　man；’　which　made　her　afeard　every　man…child　she　had。　　Do　ye　really　think　it　serio