Whilestandingnearalargemirrorinoneofthecourtsdevotedtofurniture，Car’linestarted，forintheglassappearedthereflectionofaformexactlyresemblingMopOllamoor’s——soexactly，thatitseemedimpossibletobelieveanybodybutthatartistinpersontobetheoriginal。OnpassingroundtheobjectswhichhemmedinNed，her，andthechildfromadirectview，noMopwastobeseen。WhetherhewerereallyinLondonornotatthattimewasneverknown；andCar’linealwaysstoutlydeniedthatherreadinesstogoandmeetNedintownarosefromanyrumourthatMophadalsogonethither；whichdenialtherewasnoreasonablegroundfordoubting。
Andthentheyearglidedaway，andtheExhibitionfoldeditselfupandbecameathingofthepast。Theparktreesthathadbeenenclosedforsixmonthswereagainexposedtothewindsandstorms，andthesodgrewgreenanew。NedfoundthatCar’lineresolvedherselfintoaverygoodwifeandcompanion，thoughshehadmadeherselfwhatiscalledcheaptohim；butinthatshewaslikeanotherdomesticarticle，acheaptea-pot，whichoftenbrewsbetterteathanadearone。OneautumnHipcroftfoundhimselfwithbutlittleworktodo，andaprospectoflessforthewinter。Bothbeingcountrybornandbred，theyfanciedtheywouldliketoliveagainintheirnaturalatmosphere。Itwasaccordinglydecidedbetweenthemthattheyshouldleavethepent-upLondonlodging，andthatNedshouldseekoutemploymentnearhisnativeplace，hiswifeandherdaughterstayingwithCar’line’sfatherduringthesearchforoccupationandanabodeoftheirown。
TinglingsofpleasurepervadedCar’line’sspasmodiclittleframeasshejourneyeddownwithNedtotheplaceshehadlefttwoorthreeyearsbefore，insilenceandunderacloud。Toreturntowhereshehadoncebeendespised，asmilingLondonwifewithadistinctLondonaccent，wasatriumphwhichtheworlddidnotwitnesseveryday。
ThetraindidnotstopatthepettyroadsidestationthatlaynearesttoStickleford，andthetriowentontoCasterbridge。Nedthoughtitagoodopportunitytomakeafewpreliminaryinquiriesforemploymentatworkshopsintheboroughwherehehadbeenknown；andfeelingcoldfromherjourney，anditbeingdryunderfootandonlyduskasyet，withamoononthepointofrising，Car’lineandherlittlegirlwalkedontowardStickleford，leavingNedtofollowataquickerpace，andpickherupatacertainhalf-wayhouse，widelyknownasaninn。
Thewomanandchildpursuedthewell-rememberedwaycomfortablyenough，thoughtheywerebothbecomingwearied。InthecourseofthreemilestheyhadpassedHeedless-William’sPond，thefamiliarlandmarkbyBloom’sEnd，andweredrawingneartheQuietWomanInn，aloneroadsidehostelonthelowervergeoftheEgdonHeath，sinceandformanyyearsabolished。InsteppinguptowardsitCar’lineheardmorevoiceswithinthanhadformerlybeencustomaryatsuchanhour，andshelearnedthatanauctionoffatstockhadbeenheldnearthespotthatafternoon。Thechildwouldbethebetterforarestaswellasherself，shethought，andsheentered。