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.