She'd have stuck to him all through the time, 'tis my belief; if t'other hadn't come along.' 'At the time of the courtship,' resumed the woodman, 'the regiment was quartered in Casterbridge Barracks, and he and she got acquainted by his calling to buy a penn'orth of rathe-ripes off that tree yonder in her father's orchard--though 'twas said he seed her over hedge as well as the apples.

He declared 'twas a kind of apple he much fancied; and he called for a penn'orth every day till the tree was cleared.

It ended in his calling for her.' ''Twas a thousand pities they didn't jine up at once and ha' done wi' it.
'Well; better late than never, if so be he'll have her now.

But, Lord, she'd that faith in 'en that she'd no more belief that he was alive, when a' didn't come, than that the undermost man in our churchyard was alive.
She'd never have thought of another but for that--O no!' ''Tis awkward, altogether, for her now.' 'Still she hadn't married wi' the new man.

Though to be sure she would have committed it next week, even the licence being got, they say, for she'd have no banns this time, the first being so unfortunate.' 'Perhaps the sergeant-major will think he's released, and go as he came.' 'O, not as I reckon.