The light from the pane was now perceived to be shining not upon the ivied wall as usual, but upon some object close to the glass. It was a human face.
"Let's come closer," whispered Samway; and they approached on tiptoe. There was no disbelieving the report any longer. Troy's face was almost close to the pane, and he was looking in. Not only was he looking in, but he appeared to have been arrested by a conversation which was in progress in the malt-house, the voices of the interlocutors being those of Oak and the maltster.
"The spree is all in her honour, isn't it—hey?" said the old man. Although he made believe 'tis only keeping up o' Christmas."
"I cannot say," replied Oak.
"Oh 'tis true enough, faith. I can't understand Farmer Boldwood being such a fool at his time of life as to ho and hanker after thik woman in the way 'a do, and she not care a bit about en."
The men, after recognizing Troy's features, withdrew across the orchard as quietly as they had come. The air was big with Bathsheba's fortunes to-night every word everywhere concerned her. When they were quite out of earshot all by one instinct paused.
"It gave me quite a turn—his face," said Tall, breathing.
