1. MARCH THE TWENTY-NINTH. NOONExactly seven days after Edward Springrove had seen the man with
the bundle of straw walking down the streets of Casterbridge, old
Farmer Springrove was standing on the edge of the same pavement,
talking to his friend, Farmer Baker.
There was a pause in their discourse. Mr. Springrove was looking
down the street at some object which had attracted his attention.
'Ah, 'tis what we shall all come to!' he murmured.
The other looked in the same direction. 'True, neighbour
Springrove; true.'
Two men, advancing one behind the other in the middle of the
road, were what the farmers referred to. They were carpenters, and
bore on their shoulders an empty coffin, covered by a thin black
cloth.
'I always feel a satisfaction at being breasted by such a sight
