Eleven: Far From The Madding Crowd: Thomas Hardy - Fanny Robins

Outskirts of the city of Melchester. A snowy evening. Darkness and gloom. A public path, on its left hand was a river, and behind it a high wall. On the right was a tract of land partly meadow and partly moor. And the moor reaches to a heathen with ups and downs. In winter, the place is marked by snakes, ferns, pools and puddles and the rising of fogs, and 

the wood eaten by fungi, all hidden by by snow. The cloud above was low, as if it were the roof of a large dark cavern gradually sinking in upon its floor. The earth, and everything on it and snow and sky appeared a single mass. The wall was darker than the sky; the river was darker than the wall. The facade of this convergence was occasionally notched and pronged by chimneys here and there.

The neighbouring clock struck ten. The bell had lost its voice because of the muffling snow. Not long after, when the snow abated, a form moved by the brink of the river. It moved slowly, but without much exertion. It seemed to count "one, two, three, four, five." Between each count the little form advanced about half a dozen yards. It was evident that the windows high in the wall were being counted. Five meant the fifth window from the end of the wall. Here the spot gradually became smaller. The form was stooping. A morsel of snow flew across the river towards the fifth window. It hit against the wall. Another attempt failed. After many attempts one fragment of snow struck the fifth window. Nothing was heard in reply.

The window was struck again by a throw.

A noise of the window opening was heard. 

"Who's there?" Came a masculine voice from the window.

"Is it seargent Troy?" 

"Yes," came suspiciously from the window. "What girl are you?" 

"Oh, Frank, don't you know me? Your wife Fanny Robbin." 

"Fanny," came from the window in utter astonishment.

"Yes," said the girl with a half suppressed gap of emotions.

"How did you come here?" 

"I asked which was your window. Forgive me." 

"I did not expect you tonight. Indeed, I did not think you would come at all. It is a wonder you found me here. I am orderly tomorrow." 

"You said I was to come." 

"Well- I said that you might.

"Well, I mean that I might. You are glad to see me, Frank?"

"Oh, yes -- ofcourse."

"Can you -- come to me?" 

"Dear Fan, no. The bugle had sounded, the barrack gates are closed, and I have no leave. We are all of us as good as in Melchester jail till tomorrow morning."

"I shan't see you till then!" she said with disappointment.

"How did you get here from Weatherbury?

"I walked some part of the way, the rest by the carrier."

"I am surprised."

"So am I. And Frank when will it be?"

"What?"

"That you promised."

"I don't quite recollect."

"Oh, you do." Don't speak like that. It weighs me to earth. It makes me to say what ought to be said first by you."

"Never mind -- say it."

"Oh, must I? It is, when shall we be married, Frank?"

"Oh, I see. Well -- you have to get proper clothes."

"I have money. Will it be by banns or license?" [1]

"Banns, I should think."

"We live in two parishes." 

"Do we? What then?"

"My lodgings are in St Mary's, and this is not. So they will have to be published in both." 

"Is that the law?" 

"Yes. Oh, Frank, you think me pushy, I am afraid! Don't dear Frank -- will you -- for I love you so. And you said lots of time you would marry me, and -- and -- I --I -- I"

"Don't cry now. It's foolish. If I said so, of course I will."

"Shall I put up banns in my parish, and will you in yours?"

"Yes."

"Tomorrow?"

"Not tomorrow. We'll settle in a few days."

"You have the permission of the officers?"

"No -- not yet."

"Oh -- how's it? You almost had before you left Casterbridge."

"The fact is, I forgot to ask. Your coming like this is so sudden and unexpected."

"Yes -- yes -- it is. It was wrong of me to worry you. I'll go away now. Will you come and see me tomorrow, at Twill's in North Street? I don't like to come to Barracks. There are bad women about, and they might think me one."

"Quite so. I'll come to you, my dear. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Frank -- Goodnight!"

There was the noise of a window closing. The girl moved away. When she passed the corner, a subdued exclamation was heard inside the wall. It became lost among low peal of laughter, which was hardly distinguishable from the tiny gugle of whirlpools outside.

THE END OF THE CHAPTER 

==============================Notes:-

1. Banns or license: Banns is a traditional method, where the intention to marry is announced in the parish churches for three consecutive Sundays. This was free but took time. A faster but expensive method is to get a license. It allows people to marry without the three week waiting period.