远离尘嚣-第6部分

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ked。

‘No　good，respectable　woman　would　behave　like　that，’he　replied。　‘You　should　never　have　sent　him　that　valentine。　’

Bathsheba　blushed　angrily。　‘Luckily　I　don't　care　about　your　opinion！Why　do　you　think　I'm　not　good　or　respectable，I　wonder？Because　I　didn't　agree　to　marry　you，perhaps！’

‘Not　at　all。　’said　Gabriel　quietly。　‘I've　long　ago　stopped　thinking　about　that。　’

‘Or　wishing　it，I　suppose，’she　said，expecting　him　to　protest　that　he　still　loved　her。

‘Or　wishing　It，’repeated　Gabriel　calmly。

Bathsheba　would　not　have　minded　being　spoken　to　angrily　by　Gabriel　for　her　thoughtlessness，if　only　he　had　told　her　he　loved　her。　But　his　cold　words　of　blame　annoyed　her　greatly。

‘I　cannot　allow　any　man　to　accuse　me　of　bad　behaviour！’　she　cried。　‘So　you　will　leave　the　farm　at　the　end　of　the　week！’

‘All　right，I　will，’said　Gabriel　calmly。　‘In　fact　I　would　rather　go　at　once。　’

‘Go　at　once　then！’she　replied　angrily。　‘Don't　let　me　see　your　face　any　more。　’

‘Very　well，Miss　Everdene。　’And　so　be　took　his　shears　and　walked　quietly　away。

It　was　only　twenty－four　hours　after　Gabriel　had　left　the　farm　that　three　men　came　running　to　report　a　disaster　to　Bathsheba。

‘Sixty　of　your　sheep—’said　Joseph　Poorgrass，breathless。　

‘Have　broken　through　throgh　the　gate　said　Billy，also　breathless。

‘And　got　into　a　field　of　young　clover！’said　Laban　Tall。

‘They're　eating　the　clover，and　they're　all　swollen　up！’　

‘They'll　all　die　if　someone　doesn't　do　something！’

‘Oh　you　fools！’cried　Bathsheba。　‘Go　straight　to　the　field　and　get　them　out！’　She　rushed　towards　the　clover　field，followed　by　the　men。　Her　sheep　were　all　lying　down，their　stomachs　badly　swollen。　Joseph，Billy　and　Laban　carried　the　sheep　back　into　their　own　field，where　the　poor　creatures　lay　helplessly　without　moving。

‘Oh，what　can　I　do，what　can　I　do？’cried　Bathsheba。

‘There's　only　one　way　of　saving　them，’said　Laban。

‘Soemeone　must　make　a　hole　in　the　sheep's　side，’explained　Billy，‘with　a　special　tool。　Then　the　air　comes　out，and　the　sheep　will　survive。　’

‘Can　you　do　it？Can　I　do　it？’she　asked　wildly。　　‘No，ma'am　If　it　isn't　done　very　carefully，the　sheep　will　die　Most　shepherds　can't　even　do　it。　’　‘Only　one　man　in　the　area　can　do　it，’said　Joseph。

‘Who　is　he？Let's　get　him！’said　his　mistress。

‘It's　Gabriel　Oak。　Ah，he's　a　clever　man！’replied　Joseph。　　‘That's　right，he　certainly　is，’agreed　the　other　two。　　‘How　dare　you　say　his　name　to　me！’she　said　angrily。

‘What　about　Farmer　Boldwood？Perhaps　he　can　do　it？’

‘No，ma‘am，’answered　Laban。　‘When　his　sheep　ate　some　clover　the　other　day，and　were　swollen　just　like　these，he　sent　for　Cabriel　at　once，and　Gabriel　saved　their　lives。　’

‘I　don't　care！Don't　just　stand　there！Go　and　find　someone！’cried　Bathsheba。　The　men　ran　off，without　any　clear　idea　where　they　were　going，and　Bathsheba　was　left　alone　with　her　dying　sheep。　‘Never　will　I　send　for　him，never！’she　promised　herself。

One　of　the　sheep　jumped　high　in　the　air，fell　heavily　and　did　not　move。　It　was　dead。　Bathsheba　knew　she　must　swallow　her　pride，and　called　to　Laban，who　was　waiting　at　the　gate。

‘Take　a　horse，and　go　and　find　Gabriel，’she　ordered。　‘Give　him　a　message　from　me，that　he　must　return　at　once。　’

Bathsheba　and　her　men　waited　miserably　in　the　field。　Several　more　sheep　jumped　wildly　into　the　air，their　stomachs　horribly　swollen　and　their　muscles　stiff，then　died。　At　last　a　rider　could　be　seen　across　the　fields。　But　it　was　not　Gabriel，it　was　Laban。

‘He　says　he　won't　come　unless　you　ask　him　politely，’Laban　reported　to　Bathsheba。

‘What！’said　the　young　woman，opening　her　eyes　wide。　Joseph　Poorgrass　hid　behind　a　tree　in　case　she　became　violent。　‘How　dare　he　answer　me　like　that！’Another　sheep　fell　dead。　The　men　looked　very　serious，and　did　not　offer　their　opinion。　Bathsheba's　eyes　filled　with　tears，and　she　did　not　try　to　hide　her　anger　and　her　injured　pride。

‘Don't　cry　about　it，miss，’suggested　Billy　sympathetically。

‘Why　not　ask　Gabriel　in　a　gentler　way？I'm　sure　he'll　come　then。　’　‘Oh，he's　cruel　to　me！’said　Bathsheba，drying　her　eyes。　‘But　I'll　beg　him，yes，I'll　have　to！’She　wrote　a　few　words　quickly　on　a　piece　of　paper，and　at　the　last　moment　added　at　the　bottom：

Gabriel，do　not　desert　me！

She　blushed　a　little　as　she　wrote　this，and　gave　the　letter　to　Laban，who　rode　off　again　to　find　Gabriel。

When　Gabriel　arrived，Bathsheba　knew　from　his　expression　which　words　in　her　note　had　made　him　come。　He　went　straight　to　work　on　the　swollen　sheep，and　managed　to　save　almost　all　of　them　When　he　had　finished，Bathsheba　came　to　speak　to　him。

‘Gabriel，will　you　stay　on　with　me？’she　asked，smiling。

‘I　will，’said　Gabriel。　And　she　smiled　at　him　again。

A　few　days　later　the　sheep－shearing　began。　The　sheep　were　shorn　every　year　at　the　beginning　of　June，and　their　wool　was　sold。　The　shearing　was　always　done　in　the　great　barn，which　had　stood　on　the　farm　for　four　centuries。　Today　the　sunshine　poured　in　on　the　shearers。　Bathsheba　was　watching　them　care－　fully　to　make　sure　that　the　sheep　were　not　injured，and　that　all　the　wool　was　cut　off　Gabriel　was　the　most　experienced　shearer。　He　loved　being　watched　by　Bathsheba，and　felt　warm　with　pride　when　she　congratulated　him　on　his　speed。

But　he　was　not　happy　for　long　Farmer　Boldwood　arrived　at　the　door　of　the　barn，and　spoke　to　Bathsheba。　They　stepped　outside　into　the　bright　sunlight　to　carry　on　their　conversation。　Gabriel　could　not　hear　what　they　were　saying，but　noticed　that　Bathsheba　was　blushing。　He　continued　shearing，feeling　sud－　denly　very　sad。　Bathsheba　went　back　to　the　house，and　returned　a　short　while　later　in　her　new　green　riding　dress。　She　and　Boldwood　were　obviously　going　for　a　ride　together。　As　Gabriel's　concentration　was　broken　for　a　moment，his　shears　cut　the　sheep's　skin。　Bathsheba，at　the　door　of　the　barn，noticed　the　animal　jump，and　saw　the　blood。

‘Oh　Gabriel！’she　said。　‘Be　more　careful！’Gabriel　knew　she　was　aware　that　she　herself　had　indirectly　caused　the　poor　sheep's　wound。　But　he　bravely　hid　his　hurt　feelings，and　watched　Boldwood　and　Bathsheba　ride　away，feeling　as　sure　as　the　other　workers　that　the　couple　would　soon　be　married。　

　



　


9

Bathsheba　meets　a　handsome　soldier

　

Farmers　always　gave　a　special　supper　to　the　sheep　shearers　when　they　had　finished　their　work。　This　year　Bathsheba　had　ordered　her　maids　to　put　a　long　table　in　the　garden，with　the　top　end　of　the　table　just　inside　the　house。　The　farm　workers　took　their　seats，and　she　sat　at　the　top　of　the　table，so　that　she　was　with　them，but　a　little　apart。　There　was　an　empty　place　at　the　bottom　of　the　table。　At　first　she　asked　Gabriel　to　sit　there，but　just　then　Mr　Boldwood　arrived，　apologizing　for　his　lateness。　‘Gabriel，’said　Bathsheba，‘will　you　move　again　please，　and　let　Mr　Boldwood　sit　there？’Gabriel　moved　away　in　silence　to　another　seat。　They　all　ate　and　drank，and　celebrated　the　end　of　the　sheep－shearing　by　singing　their　favourite　songs。　Mr　Boldwood　seemed　unusually　cheerful，and　at　the　end　of　the　meal　he　left　his　seat　and　went　to　join　Bathsheba　at　her　end　of　the　table，just　inside　the　sitting…room　。　It　was　growing　dark，but　Gabriel　and　the　other　men　could　not　avoid　noticing　how　Boldwood　looked　at　her。　It　was　clear　that　the　middle－aged　farmer　was　deeply　in　love。

After　a　while　Bathsheba　said　goodnight　to　her　farm　workers，and　closed　the　sitting－room　door　and　windows。　Now　she　and　Boldwood　were　alone。　Kneeling　in　front　of　her，he　took　her　hands。　

‘Tell　me，tell　me　what　you've　decided！’he　begged。　　‘I'll　try　to　love　you，’she　answered　in　a　trembling　voice。　‘And　if　you　think　I'll　make　a　good　wife，I'll　agree　to　marry　you　But，Mr　Boldwood，any　woman　would　hesitate　before　deciding　on　something　as　important　as　marriage。　Could　you　wait　a　few　weeks　until　I'm　sure？’

‘I'll　be　away　on　business　for　five　or　six　weeks　anyway。　Do　you　really　think　that　by　that　time　you　will…’

‘I　feel　almost　sure　that　when　you　come　back，at　harvest　time，I'll　be　able　to　promise　to　marry　you。　But，remember，I　can't　promise　yet。　’

‘I　don't　ask　for　anything　more。　I　can　wait。　Goodnight，　Miss　Everdene！’And　he　left　her。　　Bathsheba　now　realized　how　thoughtlessly　she　had　behaved　towards　him，and　understood　how　deeply　he　loved　her。　She　was　very　sorry　for　her　mistake　and　was　therefore　punishing　herself　by　agreeing　to　marry　him。

That　evening　she　went　round　the　farm　as　usual，lighting　her　lamp　whenever　necessary，to　check　that　all　the　animals　were　safe。　On　her　way　back，she　was　walking　along　the　narrow　public　path　which　led　to　her　house。　It　was　very　dark　there，　among　the　trees，and　she　was　a　little　surprised　to　hear　some　footsteps　coming　towards　her。　It　was　unfortunate　that　she　would　meet　the　traveller　at　the　darkest　point　of　the　path。　As　she　was　about　to　pass　the　dark　shape，something　seemed　to　attach　her　skirt　to　the　ground，and　she　had　to　stop　　‘What's　happened？Have　I　hurt　you，friend？'a　man　asked。

‘No，’said　Bathsheba，trying　to　pull　her　skirt　away。

‘Ah！You're　a　lady！The　spur　on　my　boot　has　got　tied　up　with　your　dress。　Have　you　got　a　lamp？I'll　light　it　for　you。　’

The　light　from　the　lamp　shone　suddenly　on　a　handsome　young　man　in　a　bright　red　and　gold　army　uniform。　He　looked　admiringly　at　Bathsheba。

‘Thank　you　for　letting　me　see　such　a　beautiful　face！’he　said。

‘I　didn't　want　to　show　it　to　you，’she　said　coldly，　blushing。　‘Please　undo　your　spur　quickly！’He　bent　down　to　pull　rather　lazily　at　his　boots。　‘You　are　making　it　even　worse，’she　accused　him　angrily，‘to　keep　me　here　longer！’

‘Oh　no，surely　not，’smiled　the　soldier。　‘Don't　be　angry。　I　was　doing　it　so　that　I　could　have　the　pleasure　of　apologizing　to　such　a　lovely　woman。　’　Bathsheba　had　no　idea　what　to　say。　She　wondered　whether　to　escape　by　pulling　the　material　away，but　did　not　want　to　tear　her　best　dress。

‘I've　seen　many　women　in　my　life，’continued　the　young　man，staring　into　her　face，‘but　I've　never　seen　a　woman　as　beautiful　as　you。　I　don't　care　if　you're　offended，that's　the　truth。　’

‘Who　are　you，then，if　you