think that's as many as
the tick will fairly hold. A bit and a drap wouldn't be amiss now, I
reckon. Christian, maul down the victuals from corner-cupboard if canst
reach, man, and I'll draw a drap o' sommat to wet it with."

They sat down to a lunch in the midst of their work, feathers around,
above, and below them; the original owners of which occasionally came
to the open door and cackled begrudgingly at sight of such a quantity of
their old clothes.

"Upon my soul I shall be chokt," said Fairway when, having extracted a
feather from his mouth, he found several others floating on the mug as
it was handed round.

"I've swallered several; and one had a tolerable quill," said Sam
placidly from the corner.

"Hullo--what's that--wheels I hear coming?" Grandfer Cantle exclaimed,
jumping up and hastening to the door. "Why, 'tis they back again--I
didn't expect 'em yet this half-hour. To be sure, how quick marrying can
be done when you are in the mind for't!"

"O yes, it can soon be DONE," said Fairway, as if something should be
added to make the statement complete.

He arose and followed the Grandfer, and the rest also went to the door.
In a moment an open fly was driven past, in which sat Venn and Mrs.
Venn, Yeobright, and a grand relative of Venn's who had come from
Budmouth for the occasion. The fly had been hired at the nearest town,
regardless of distance and cost, there being nothing on Egdon Heath, in
Venn's opinion, dignified enough for such an event when such a woman
as Thomasin was the bride; and the church was too remote for a walking
bridal-party.

As the fly passed the group which had run out from the homestead they
shouted "Hurrah!" and waved their hands; feathers and down floating
from their hair, their sleeves, and the folds of their garments at every
motion, and Grandfer Cantle's seals dancing merrily in the sunlight as
he twirled himself about. The driver of the fly turned a supercilious
gaze upon them; he even treated the wedded pair themselves with
something like condescension; for in what other state than heathen could
people, rich or poor, exist who were doomed to abide in such a world's
end as Egdon? Thomasin showed no such superiority to the group at the
door, fluttering her hand as quickly as a bird's wing towards them, and
asking Diggory, with tears in her eyes, if they ought not to alight and
speak to these kind neighbours. Venn, however, suggested that, as they
were all coming to the hou