Boldwood compressed his emotion to mere welcome the men marked her light laugh and apology as she met him he took her into the house; and the door closed again.
"Gracious heaven, I didn't know it was like that with him!" said one of the men. "I thought that fancy of his was over long ago."
"You don't know much of master, if you thought that," said Samway.
"I would't he should know we heard what 'a said for the world," remarked a third.
"I wish we had told of the report at once," the first uneasily continued. "More harm may come of this than we know of. Poor Mr. Boldwood, it will be hard upon en. I wish Troy was in———. Well, God forgive me for such a wish! A scoundrel to play a poor wife such tricks. Nothing has prospered in Weatherbury since he came here. And now I've no heart to go in. Let's look into Warren's, shall us, neighbours?"
Samway, Tall, and Smallbury agreed to go, and went out at the gate, the remaining ones entering the house. The three soon drew near the malthouse, approaching it from the adjoining orchard, and not by way of the street. The pane of glass was illuminated as usual. Smallbury was a little in advance of the rest, when, pausing, he turned suddenly to his companions and said, "Hist! See there."
