Thomas Hardy

Name: The Mayor of Casterbridge — Chapter 20
Author: Thomas Hardy

The Mayor of Casterbridge — Chapter 20 (1886)

Summary

“The Mayor of Casterbridge — Chapter 20”, published in 1886, is a work by Thomas Hardy. It explores elements such as Elizabeth-Jane, Henchard and Farfrae.

Quotes from The Mayor of Casterbridge — Chapter 20 (Thomas Hardy)

Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge — Chapter 20 (1886)

“ On a day when Henchard was on the premises he saw his step-daughter enter the hay-barn on this errand; and, as there was no clear spot on which to deposit the provisions, she at once set to work arranging two trusses of hay as a table, Mockridge meanwhile standing with her hands on her hips, easefully looking at the preparations on her behalf.
"Elizabeth, come here!" said Henchard; and she obeyed.
"Why do you lower yourself so confoundedly?" he said with suppressed passion. "Haven't I told you o't fifty times? Hey? Making yourself a drudge for a common workwoman of such a character as hers! ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge — Chapter 20 (1886)

“ There was no movement or word for a few seconds; then the girl felt that the young lady was sitting down beside her.
"I guess how it is with you," said the latter. "That was your mother." She waved her hand towards the tombstone. Elizabeth looked up at her as if inquiring of herself whether there should be confidence. The lady's manner was so desirous, so anxious, that the girl decided there should be confidence. "It was my mother," she said, "my only friend."
"But your father, Mr. Henchard. He is living?"
"Yes, he is living," said Elizabeth-Jane. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge — Chapter 20 (1886)

“ Henchard's tombstone. The personage was in mourning like herself, was about her age and size, and might have been her wraith or double, but for the fact that it was a lady much more beautifully dressed than she. Indeed, comparatively indifferent as Elizabeth-Jane was to dress, unless for some temporary whim or purpose, her eyes were arrested by the artistic perfection of the lady's appearance. Her gait, too, had a flexuousness about it, which seemed to avoid angularity. It was a revelation to Elizabeth that human beings could reach this stage of external development—she had never suspected it. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge — Chapter 20 (1886)

“ One would think you worked upon a farm! One day I learn that you lend a hand in public-houses. Then I hear you talk like a clodhopper. I'm burned, if it goes on, this house can't hold us two."
The only way of getting a single pleasant thought to go to sleep upon after this was by recalling the lady she had seen that day, and hoping she might see her again.
Meanwhile Henchard was sitting up, thinking over his jealous folly in forbidding Farfrae to pay his addresses to this girl who did not belong to him, when if he had allowed them to go on he might not have been encumbered with her. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge — Chapter 20 (1886)

“ Nance glanced triumphantly at Henchard, and sailed into the barn; for assuming that she was to be discharged on the instant she had resolved to make the most of her victory. Henchard, however, said nothing about discharging her. Unduly sensitive on such points by reason of his own past, he had the look of one completely ground down to the last indignity. Elizabeth followed him to the house like a culprit ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge — Chapter 20 (1886)

“ Winter had almost come, and unsettled weather made her still more dependent upon indoor resources. But there were certain early winter days in Casterbridge—days of firmamental exhaustion which followed angry south-westerly tempests—when, if the sun shone, the air was like velvet. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge — Chapter 20 (1886)

“ The lady seemed to warm towards her for that reply. "Do you know the impression your words give me?" she said ingenuously. "That he is a hot-tempered man—a little proud—perhaps ambitious; but not a bad man." Her anxiety not to condemn Henchard while siding with Elizabeth was curious.
"O no; certainly not bad," agreed the honest girl. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge — Chapter 20 (1886)

“ Sir,—On consideration, I don't wish to interfere with your courtship of Elizabeth-Jane, if you care for her. I therefore withdraw my objection; excepting in this—that the business be not carried on in my house.— Yours, M. Henchard Mr. Farfrae. The morrow, being fairly fine, found Elizabeth-Jane again in the churchyard, but while looking for the lady she was startled by the apparition of Farfrae, who passed outside the gate. ”

Thomas Hardy

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Quotes from The Mayor of Casterbridge — Chapter 20 (Thomas Hardy)

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