The Mayor of Casterbridge Chapter 12

In which the Mayor, Henchard, reveals to Donald Farfrae the burdensome tale of his troubled past involving a lost wife and an entangled promise to another woman, laying bare the complexities that shadow his solitary existence. The two men confront the delicate necessity of amends and concealment, as Henchard contemplates the delicate dance of honour and affection that must now guide his future actions.