Thomas Hardy

“ Shiner, as a high-class man, would not look in the least triumphant, and turned to go off with it as Geoffrey came downstairs after the search in his linen for concealed bees.
“O—that you, Master Dewy?”
Dick assured the keeper that it was; and the young man then determined upon a bold stroke for the attainment of his end, forgetting that the worst of bold strokes is the disastrous consequences they involve if they fail. ”

“ Geoffrey and Enoch then went towards the house, leaving Shiner and Fancy standing side by side on the garden-plot.
“Allow me,” said Shiner, stooping for the lantern and seizing it at the same time with Fancy.
“I can carry it,” said Fancy, religiously repressing all inclination to trifle. She had thoroughly considered that subject after the tearful explanation of the bird-catching adventure to Dick, and had decided that it would be dishonest in her, as an engaged young woman, to trifle with men’s eyes and hands any more. ”

“ Shiner, regarding the hives reflectively.
Geoffrey nodded.
“Those holes will be the grave of thousands!” said Fancy. “I think ’tis rather a cruel thing to do.”
Her father shook his head. “No,” he said, tapping the hives to shake the dead bees from their cells, “if you suffocate ’em this way, they only die once: if you fumigate ’em in the new way, they come to life again, and die o’ starvation; so the pangs o’ death be twice upon ’em.”
“I incline to Fancy’s notion,” said Mr. Shiner, laughing lightly. ”

“ You lively young mortals, how did you get inside there? However, they can’t sting me many times more, poor things, for they must be getting weak. They mid as well stay in me till bedtime now, I suppose. ”