It was the single name among all possible wrong ones that just at this moment seemed to Bathsheba more pertinent than the right.
`Well, no. It is only for little Teddy Coggan. I have promised him something, and this will be a pretty surprise for him. Liddy, you may as well bring me my desk and I'll direct it at once.
Bathsheba took from her desk a gorgeously illuminated and embossed design in post-octavo, which had been bought on the previous market-day at the chief stationer's in Casterbridge. In the centre was a small oval enclosure; this was left blank, that the sender might insert tender words more appropriate to the special occasion than any generalities by a printer could possibly be.
`Here's a place for writing,' said Bathsheba. `What shall I put?'
`Something of this sort, I should think,' returned Liddy promptly:-- `The rose is red, The violet blue, Carnation's sweet, And so are you.' `Yes, that shall be it. It just suits itself to a chubby-faced child like him,' said Bathsheba. She inserted the words in a small though legible handwriting; enclosed the sheet in an envelope, and dipped her pen for the direction.
`What fun it would be to send it to the stupid old Boldwood, and how he would wonder!' said the irrepressible Liddy, lifting her eyebrows, and indulging in an awful mirth on the verge of fear as she thought of the moral and social magnitude of the man contemplated.
Bathsheba paused to regard the idea at fill length. Boldwood's had begun to be a troublesome image - a species of Daniel in her kingdom who persisted in kneeling eastward when reason and common sense said that he might just as well follow suit with the rest, and afford her the official glance of admiration which cost nothing at all. She was far from being seriously concerned about his nonconformity. Still, it was faintly depressing that the most dignified and valuable man in the parish should withhold his eyes, and that a girl like Liddy should talk about it. So Liddy's idea was at first rather harassing than piquant.
`No, I won't do that. He wouldn't see any humour in it.'
`He'd worry to death,' said the persistent Liddy.
`Really, I don't care particularly to send it to Teddy,' remarked her mistress. `He's rather a naughty child sometimes.'
`Yes - that he is.'
`Let's toss, as men do,' said Bathsheba idly. `Now then, head, Boldwood; tail, Teddy. No, we won't toss money on a Sunday, that would be tempting the devil indeed.'
`Toss this hymn-book; there can't be no sinfulness in that, miss.'
`Very well. Open, Boldwood - shut, Teddy. No; it's more like to fall open. Open, Teddy - shut, Boldwood.'
The book went fluttering in the air and came down shut.
Bathsheba, a small yawn upon her mouth, took the pen, and with off-hand serenity directed the missive to Boldwood.
`Now light a candle, Liddy. Which seal shall we use? Here's a unicorn s head - there's nothing in that. What's this? - two doves - no. It ought to be something extraordinary, ought it not, Lidd? Here's one with a motto - I remember it is some funny one, but I can't read it. `We'll try this, and if it doesn't do we'll have another.'
A large red seal was duly affixed. Bathsheba looked closely at the hot wax to discover the words.
`Capital!' she exclaimed, throwing down the letter frolicsomely. `'Twould upset the solemnity of a parson and clerk too.'
Liddy looked at the words of the seal, and read-- `MARRY ME.' The same evening the letter was sent, and was duly sorted in Casterbridge post-office that night, to be returned to Weatherbury again in the morning.
So very idly and unreflectingly was this deed done of love as a spectacle Bathsheba had a fair knowledge; but of love subjectively she knew nothing.
