er, "'twas on a White Tuesday when I committed it.
Mellstock Club walked the same day, and we new-married folk went a-gaying
round the parish behind 'em. Everybody used to wear something white at
Whitsuntide in them days. My sonnies, I've got the very white trousers
that I wore, at home in box now. Ha'n't I, Ann?"

"You had till I cut 'em up for Jimmy," said Mrs. Dewy.

"And we ought, by rights, after doing this parish, to go round Higher and
Lower Mellstock, and call at Viney's, and so work our way hither again
across He'th," said Mr. Penny, recovering scent of the matter in hand.
"Dairyman Viney is a very respectable man, and so is Farmer Kex, and we
ought to show ourselves to them."

"True," said the tranter, "we ought to go round Mellstock to do the thing
well. We shall form a very striking object walking along in rotation,
good-now, neighbours?"

"That we shall: a proper pretty sight for the nation," said Mrs. Penny.

"Hullo!" said the tranter, suddenly catching sight of a singular human
figure standing in the doorway, and wearing a long smock-frock of pillow-
case cut and of snowy whiteness. "Why, Leaf! whatever dost thou do
here?"

"I've come to know if so be I can come to the wedding--hee-hee!" said
Leaf in a voice of timidity.

"Now, Leaf," said the tranter reproachfully, "you know we don't want 'ee
here to-day: we've got no room for ye, Leaf."

"Thomas Leaf, Thomas Leaf, fie upon ye for prying!" said old William.

"I know I've got no head, but I thought, if I washed and put on a clane
shirt and smock-frock, I might just call," said Leaf, turning away
disappointed and trembling.

"Poor feller!" said the tranter, turning to Geoffrey. "Suppose we must
let en come? His looks are rather against en, and he is terrible silly;
but 'a have never been in jail, and 'a won't do no harm."

Leaf looked with gratitude at the tranter for these praises, and then
anxiously at Geoffrey, to see what effect they would have in helping his
cause.

"Ay, let en come," said Geoffrey decisively. "Leaf, th'rt welcome, 'st
know;" and Leaf accordingly remained.

They were now all ready for leaving the house, and began to form a
procession in the following order: Fancy and her father, Dick and Susan
Dewy, Nat Callcome and Vashti Sniff, Ted Waywood and Mercy Onmey, and
Jimmy and Bessie Dewy. These formed the executive, and all appeared in
strict wedding attire. Then came the tranter and Mrs. Dewy, and last of
all Mr