twelve o'clock
Part of the distance he travelled by carrier , seating himself in the darkest corner at the back of that trader 's van ; and as the other passengers , mainly women going short journeys , mounted and alighted in front of Henchard , they talked over much local news , not the least portion of this being the wedding then in course of celebration at the town they were nearing . It appeared from their accounts that the town band had been hired for the evening party , and , lest the convivial instincts of that body should get the better of their skill , the further step had been taken of engaging the string band from Budmouth , so that there would be a reserve of harmony to fall back upon in case of need . He heard , however , but few particulars beyond those known to him already , the incident of the deepest interest on the journey being the soft pealing of the Casterbridge bells , which reached the travellers ' ears while the van paused on the top of Yalbury Hill to have the drag lowered . The time was just after twelve o'clock . Those notes were a signal that all had gone well ; that there had been no slip ` twixt cup and lip in this case ; that Elizabeth-Jane and Donald Farfrae were man and wife . Henchard did not care to ride any further with his chattering companions after hearing this sound . Indeed , it quite unmanned him ; and in pursuance of his plan of not showing himself in Casterbridge street till evening , lest he should mortify Farfrae and his bride , he alighted here , with his bundle and bird-cage , and was soon left as a lonely figure on the broad white highway .