were elsewhere by this time.

'As to my marrying Matilda, thinks I, here's one of the very genteelest
sort, and I may as well do the job at once. So I chose her. She's a
dear girl; there's nobody like her, search where you will.'

'How many did you choose her out from?' inquired his father.

'Well, she was the only young woman I happened to know in Southampton,
that's true. But what of that? It would have been all the same if I had
known a hundred.'

'Her father is in business near the docks, I suppose?'

'Well, no. In short, I didn't see her father.'

'Her mother?'

'Her mother? No, I didn't. I think her mother is dead; but she has got
a very rich aunt living at Melchester. I didn't see her aunt, because
there wasn't time to go; but of course we shall know her when we are
married.'

'Yes, yes, of course,' said the miller, trying to feel quite satisfied.
'And she will soon be here?'

'Ay, she's coming soon,' said Bob. 'She has gone to this aunt's at
Melchester to get her things packed, and suchlike, or she would have come
with me. I am going to meet the coach at the King's Arms, Casterbridge,
on Sunday, at one o'clock. To show what a capital sort of wife she'll
be, I may tell you that she wanted to come by the Mercury, because 'tis a
little cheaper than the other. But I said, "For once in your life do it
well, and come by the Royal Mail, and I'll pay." I can have the pony and
trap to fetch her, I suppose, as 'tis too far for her to walk?'

'Of course you can, Bob, or anything else. And I'll do all I can to give
you a good wedding feast.'

XVI. THEY MAKE READY FOR THE ILLUSTRIOUS STRANGER

Preparations for Matilda's welcome, and for the event which was to
follow, at once occupied the attention of the mill. The miller and his
man had but dim notions of housewifery on any large scale; so the great
wedding cleaning was kindly supervised by Mrs. Garland, Bob being mostly
away during the day with his brother, the trumpet-major, on various
errands, one of which was to buy paint and varnish for the gig that
Matilda was to be fetched in, which he had determined to decorate with
his own hands.

By the widow's direction the old familiar incrustation of shining dirt,
imprinted along the back of the settle by the heads of countless jolly
sitters, was scrubbed and scraped away; the brown circle round the nail
whereon the miller hung his hat, stained by the brim in wet weather, was
whitened over