Fifty Five: Far From The Madding Crowd: Thomas Hardy: The March Following Bathsheba Boldwood

The month of March.  A breezy day without sunshine, frost or dew.  On Yalbury hill, midway between Weatherbury and Casterbridge, where the turn-pike passes over the crest, numerous groups of people had gathered, their eyes stretched a distant north. The groups consisted of idlers, javelin men, and two trumpeters.  In the midst were carriages, one of which contained the sheriff in uniform.  Among the idlers were Weatherbury men and boys, and included Joseph Poorgrass, Jan Coggan, and Cain Ball. 

They were waiting there for half an hour, and a travelling carriage brought one of the judges, which came up the hill and halted at the top.  The judge changed carriages , while the trumpets were blown and the procession proceeded towards the town, while the Weatherbury men

returned home to their work.

"Joseph, I saw you squeezing close to the carriage," said Coggan as they walked.  "Did you see my lord judge's face? 

"I saw," said Poorgrass, "I looked hard at him, as if I would read his soul, and there was mercy in his eyes.  We shall know all we want to know here."

"Well, I hope for the best," said Coggan, "though bad that must be. However I shan't go to the trial." 

They waited for the news to be brought by Gabriel Oak, next day.  It was known that Boldwood had been, from the time of Greenhill Fair, in excited and unusual mood. It was now discovered an extraordinary collection of articles, in a locked closet of Boldwood's house.  There were several sets of lady's dresses, in the piece, sundry expensive materials; silks and satins, poplins and velvets, all of colours from Bathsheba's style. There were two muffs, sable, and ermine.  Then, there was a case of jewellery containing four gold bracelets, lockets and ear rings, all of good quality and manufacture.  Most of these things had been bought in Bath and other towns from time to time and brought home by stealth. They were all carefully packed in paper, and each package was labelled, "Bathsheba Boldwood", and dated six years in advance. 

These were the subject matter of men's talking at Warren's Malt house when Gabriel Oak entered with tidings from Casterbridge. He came in the afternoon and his face, as the fire glow shone upon it told the tale well in advance. Boldwood had pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to death. 

The general belief was that Boldwood was not morally responsible for his acts of the past two months became an absolute certitude.  Enough evidences were not presented at the time of trial to prove the insanity of Boldwood.  A petition was addressed to Home Secretary to reconsider the sentence.  The petition was not numerously signed, because Boldwood had not much friends among the trading community, for  he had directly imported from the producers.  The promoters of the petition were a few thoughtful grey headed men, who carefully considered the ground realities in the light of decalogue. 

The result of the petition was waited for eagerly in Weatherbury.  The execution was fixed for eight o'clock on Saturday morning about a fortnight after the sentence had been passed.  The fate of the petition was not known by Friday afternoon.  At that time Gabriel Oak came from Casterbridge jail, where he had been to wish Boldwood goodbye, and to avoid the town he turned up a by-street.  When past the last house he heard a hammering, and lifting his head he looked back for a moment. Over the chimneys he could see the upper part of the jail entrance, and some moving figures were there: the Carpenters lifting a post to vertical position within the parapet.  He withdrew his eyes quickly and hastened on. 

It was dark when he reached home, and half the village were out to meet him. 

"No tidings,"  Gabriel said wearily. "And I am afraid there's no hope.  I have been with him more than two hours, and his mind seems quite a wreck.  However, that we can talk of another time.  Has there been any change in mistress this afternoon." 

"None." 

"Is she downstairs?" 

"No.  And getting on so nicely as she was too.  She's but very little better now again than she was a-Christmas.  She keeps on asking if you be come, and if there's news, till one is wearied out with answering her.  Shall I go and say you've come?" 

"No," said Oak.  "There's a chance yet;.but I couldn't stay in town any longer --- after seeing him, too. 

So, Laban --- Laban's here, isn't he? "

"Yes," said Laban Tall.

"What I have arranged is that you shall ride to town the last thing tonight; leave here at nine, and wait a while there, getting home about twelve.  If nothing has been received by eleven tonight, they say there's no chance at all."

"I do hope he won't be hung," said Liddy,  if he is, she'll go out of her mind, too.  Poor thing; her suffering have been dreadful; she deserves anybody's pity." 

"Is she altered much?" said Coggan.

" If you haven't seen poor mis'ess since Christmas, you wouldn't know her," said Liddy. "Her eyes are so miserable that she's not the same woman.  Only two years ago she was almost a romping girl, and now she's this." 

Laban departed as directed, and at eleven o'clock that night, several of the villagers strolled along the road to Casterbridge, and awaited his arrival, among them Oak and all the rest of Bathsheba's men.  Gabriel's anxiety was so great that he paced  up and down, pausing at every turn straining his ears for a sound.  At last when all were weary the tramp of a horse was heard in the distance. 

First, dead as if on turf it trode;

Then clattering on the village road, 

In other pace than forth he yode. 

"We shall soon know, one way or the other, " said Coggan, and they all stepped down from the bank on which they had been standing, into the road, and the rider pranced into the midst of them. 

"Is that you, Laban?" said Gabriel. 

"Yes ---- it's come.  He's not to die. It is confinement during her Majesty's pleasure." 

"Hurrah!" said Coggan, with a swelling heart; God is above the devil yet."

END OF THE CHAPTER