The farm manager had advised Gabriel to go straight to the malthouse in Weatherbury, to ask for somewhere to stay. That was the place where the men of the village spent their evenings, drinking beer and talking by the fire. When Gabriel entered the warm, dark room, some of Bathsheba's workers recognized him.

The ancient maltster, with his white hair and long white beard, turned his old head stiffly towards Gabriel. "Gabriel Oak of Norcombe!" he said. "I knew your grandparents well! My boy Jacob and his young son Billy know your family too." His boy Jacob was bald and toothless, and young Billy was about forty.

"Come in, shepherd, you're welcome," said one.

"You must be very old maltster," said Gabriel politely, "to have such an old son as Jacob here."

"Gabriel Oak is my name, neighbours."

"Yes, I've lived for over a hundred years," replied the little old man proudly. "Sit down and drink with us, shepherd."

The cup of warm beer passed round the circle of drinkers. There was silence for a moment. Then Gabriel turned the conversation to the matter closest to his heart.

"We know almost nothing of her, shepherd," answered Jan Coggan, a big, cheerful man with a red face. "She only arrived here a few days ago, when her uncle died. But the Everdenes are a good family to work for. Of course, it's the farm manager who'll be giving us our orders."

"What kind of mistress is Miss Everdene?" he asked.

Soon afterwards Gabriel left with Jan Coggan, who had offered the shepherd a bed in his house. The remaining men were just preparing to leave when suddenly a young man called Laban Tall rushed into the malthouse, almost too excited to speak.

"Ah!" said the maltster, frowning. "Benjy Pennyways!"

"It's Benjy Pennyways!" he cried. "Miss Everdene's caught him stealing wheat from the barn! She's sent him away! And worse than that -- Fanny Robin, you know, Miss Everdene's youngest maid, is missing! The mistress wants us to look for her tomorrow. And Billy Smallbury, she wants you to go to Casterbridge, to see if you can find the young soldier who's been courting Fanny."

"You can't trust him!" added Jacob darkly.

"I can't see him like this, Liddy!" said Bathsheba, looking in horror at her dusty dress. "Go down and tell him I'm busy."

The next morning Bathsheba and her maid Liddy were dusting some books, when a visitor arrived at the front door. It was Mr Boldwood, who had a large farm in Weatherbury.

That night the news spread fast round the village, but did not reach Gabriel, whose dreams were only of Bathsheba. Through the long slow hours of darkness he saw her lovely face and forgot that she did not love him.

"He just wanted to ask if Fanny had been found, miss. You know, as she had no family or friends, he was kind enough to pay for her to go to school, and found her a job here with your uncle. He's your neighbour. His farm is next to yours."

When Liddy came back, after Mr Boldwood had gone, Bathsheba asked, "What did he want, Liddy? And who is he, exactly?"

"Is he married? And how old is he?"

"He isn't married. He's about forty, very handsome -- and rich. All the girls in the area have tried to persuade him to marry. But he just doesn't seem interested in women. Have you ever had an offer of marriage, miss?"

"Oh no. But I rather liked him."

"Yes, I have, Liddy," answered Bathsheba after a pause, thinking of Gabriel. "But he wasn't quite good enough for me."

"Men, I want to tell you that I'm not going to employ a new farm manager. I shall manage the farm myself." There were gasps of surprise from the men. She gave her orders for the next week's farm work and then turned to one of the 46 men. "Billy Smallbury, what have you discovered about Fanny Robin?"

In the afternoon Bathsheba called her workers together, and spoke to them in the old hall of the farmhouse.

"Oh, how nice to be able to refuse, when most of us are glad to accept the first offer! And did you love him, miss?"

Later that evening, in a town many miles north of Weather bury, a small white shape could be seen walking slowly along a path beside a large building. It was a dull, snowy night, with heavy grey clouds hanging low in the sky, the kind of night when hopes are destroyed and love is lost.

"I think she's run away with her young man, ma'am. The soldiers have left Casterbridge, and I suppose she's gone with them."

"Well, perhaps we'll discover more later. One of you can go and tell Mr Boldwood what Billy says. Now, men, I hope I can trust you all to do your work well for me. Goodnight."

"Yes," answered the man. "Who are you?"

"One. Two. Three. Four. Five." The white shape was counting windows in the building. Then it began to throw small stones, covered in snow, at the fifth window. At last the window opened, and a man called out, "Who's there?"

"Fanny!" gasped the man in surprise. "How did you get here?"

"Oh Frank, don't you know me?" cried the girl desperately.

"Oh Frank, I love you so! And -- you said you'd marry me --"

"Is that Sergeant Troy?" asked a girl's voice.

"Oh, I see. Well -- you need proper clothes -- we must inform the vicar. It takes time. I didn't expect you to come so soon."

"You know, you promised. When shall we be married, Frank?"

"I walked most of the way from Weatherbury. But, Frank, are you glad to see me? Frank, when will it be?"

"I'm your -- I'm Fanny Robin."

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh yes, Frank, do! I'm staying at Mrs Twill's in North Street. Come tomorrow, Frank! Goodnight, Frank!"

"Don't cry now! It's foolish. If I said so, of course I will. I'll come and see you tomorrow to decide the details."