Yes--mother was concerned to her heart about it--yes.

But 'twas all nought." "Did ye ever go into the world to try and stop it, Joseph Poorgrass ?" "Oh ay, tried all sorts o' company.

They took me to Greenhill Fair, and into a great gay jerry-go-nimble show, where there were women-folk riding round--standing upon horses, with hardly anything on but their smocks; but it didn't cure me a morsel.

And then I was put errand-man at the Women's Skittle Alley at the back of the Tailor's Arms in Casterbridge.

'Twas a horrible sinful situation, and a very curious place for a good man.