Timepassed，andthehouseholdontheKnapbecameagainsereneunderthecomposinginfluencesofdailyroutine。Adesultory，verydesultorycorrespondence，draggedonbetweenSallyHallandDarton，who，notquiteknowinghowtotakeherpetulantwordsonthenightofherbrother’sdeath，hadcontinuedpassivethuslong。Helenaandherchildrenremainedatthedairy-house，almostofnecessity，andDartonthereforedeemeditadvisabletostayaway。
Oneday，sevenmonthslateron，whenMr。Dartonwasasusualathisfarm，twentymilesfromHintock，anotereachedhimfromHelena。
Shethankedhimforhiskindofferaboutherchildren，whichhermother-in-lawhaddulycommunicated，andstatedthatshewouldbegladtoacceptitasregardedtheeldest，theboy。Helenahad，intruth，goodneedtodoso，forherunclehadleftherpenniless，andallapplicationtosomerelativesinthenorthhadfailed。Therewas，besides，asshesaid，nogoodschoolnearHintocktowhichshecouldsendthechild。
Onafinesummerdaytheboycame。Hewasaccompaniedhalf-waybySallyandhismother——tothe’WhiteHorse，’atChalkNewton——wherehewashandedovertoDarton’sbailiffinashiningspring-cart，whometthemthere。
Hewasenteredasaday-scholaratapopularschoolatCasterbridge，threeorfourmilesfromDarton’s，havingfirstbeentaughtbyDartontorideaforest-pony，onwhichhecanteredtoandfromtheaforesaidfountofknowledge，andasDartonhopedbroughtawayapromisingheadfulofthesameateachdiurnalexpedition。ThethoughtfultaciturnityintowhichDartonhadlatterlyfallenwasquitedissipatedbythepresenceofthisboy。