A wall bounded the site of Casterbridge Union-house, except along a portion of the end. Here a high gable stood prominent, and it was covered like the front with a mat of ivy. In this gable was no window, chimney, ornament, or protuberance of any kind.
The single feature appertaining to it, beyond the expanse of dark green leaves, was a small door. The situation of the door was peculiar.
The sill was three or four feet above the ground, and for a moment one was at a loss for an explanation of this exceptional altitude, till ruts immediately beneath suggested that the door was used solely for the passage of articles and persons to and from the level of a vehicle standing on the outside.
Upon the whole, the door seemed to advertise itself as a species of Traitor’s Gate translated to another element. That entry and exit hereby was only at rare intervals became apparent on noting that tufts of grass were allowed to flourish undisturbed in the chinks of the sill.
As the clock from the tower of St. George’s Church pointed to three minutes to three, a blue spring waggon, picked out with red, and containing boughs and flowers, turned from the high road and halted on this side of the building.
Whilst the chimes were yet stammering out a shattered form of 'Malbrook,' Joseph Poorgrass rang the bell, and received directions to back his waggon against the high door under the gable.
The door then opened, and a plain elm coffin was slowly thrust forth, and laid by two men in fustian along the middle of the vehicle.
One of the men then stepped up beside it, took from his pocket a lump of chalk, and wrote upon the cover the name and a few