Henchard's financial difficulties persuade him that he should marry Lucetta quickly.
Farfrae buys Henchard's old business
and tries to help Henchard by employing him as a journeyman.
When he catches the eye of Elizabeth-Jane, Henchard dismisses him and Farfrae sets himself up as an independent merchant.
The next day, Newson- who it transpires was not lost at sea- arrives at Henchard's door asking about his daughter.
Henchard, who has come to value her kindness to him,
is afraid of losing her companionship and tells Newson she is dead.
Farfrae conducts himself with scrupulous honesty, but Henchard is so determined to ruin xasterbridge rival that
he makes risky business decisions that prove disastrous.
Farfrae conducts himself with scrupulous honesty, but Henchard is so determined to ruin his rival that
he makes risky business decisions that prove disastrous.
Now wealthy after receiving an inheritance from her aunt, and learning that Henchard's wife had died,
Lucetta has come to Casterbridge to marry him.
Henchard reads the letter, which is not properly sealed,
and learns that Elizabeth-Jane is not in fact his daughter, but Newson's- his Elizabeth-Jane having died as an infant.
Henchard prevails upon him to stay in town, hiring him
as his manager over the head of another man named Jopp to whom he had already made a job offer.