远离尘嚣-第7部分

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utiful　as　you。　I　don't　care　if　you're　offended，that's　the　truth。　’

‘Who　are　you，then，if　you　don't　care　who　you　offend？’

‘People　know　me　in　Weatherbury。　My　name's　Sergeant　Troy。　Ah，you　see，your　skirt's　free　now！I　wish　you　and　I　　　　had　been　tied　together　for　ever！’

She　pulled　her　dress　quickly　away　from　his　spurs，and　ran　up　the　path　and　into　her　house。　The　next　day　she　discovered　from　Liddy　that　Sergeant　Troy's　supposed　father　was　a　doctor，but　people　said　his　real　father　was　a　nobleman。　He　had　been　brought　up　in　Weatherbury，and　was　well　known　as　a　young　soldier　with　a　great　interest　in　girls。　Bathsheba　could　not　remain　angry　for　long　with　someone　who　admired　her　as　much　as　he　obviously　did。　It　was　unfortunate　that　Boldwood，when　courting　her，had　forgotten　to　tell　her，even　once，that　she　was　beautiful。

Sergeant　Troy　was　certainly　an　unusual　man。　He　lived　only　in　the　present，caring　nothing　for　the　past　or　the　future。　Because　he　never　expected　anything，he　was　never　disappoint－ed。　To　men　he　usually　told　the　truth，but　to　women，never。　He　was　intelligent　and　well－educated，　and　proud　of　his　success　with　women。

A　week　or　two　after　the　sheep－shearing，Bathsheba　was　in　the　hayfields，where　her　workers　were　cutting　the　hay。　She　was　surprised　to　see　a　bright　red　figure　appear　from　behind　a　cart。　Sergeant　Troy　had　come　to　help　on　the　farm。　She　blushed　as　the　young　soldier　came　to　speak　to　her。

‘Miss　Everdene！’he　said。　‘I　didn't　realize　it　was　the　“Queen　of　Casterbridge　market”I　was　speaking　to　the　other　night。　I　apologize　for　expressing　my　feelings　so　strongly　to　you　102　then。　Of　course，I'm　not　a　stranger　here。　I　often　helped　your　uncle　on　the　farm，and　now　I'm　helping　you。　’

‘I　suppose　I　must　thank　you　for　that，’replied　the　Queen　of　Casterbridge　market　rather　ungratefully。

‘You're　cross　because　I　was　honest　when　I　spoke　to　you　that　night。　But　I　couldn't　look　at　you，and　say　you　aren't　beautiful！’

‘You　are　pretending，Sergeant　Troy！’said　Bathsheba，laughing　in　spite　of　herself　at　his　clever　way　of　talking。

‘No，Miss　Everdene，you　must　let　me　say　how　lovely　you　are！What's　wrong　with　that？’

‘It's　wrong　because—it　isn't　true，’she　said，hesitating。

‘But　you　know　that　everybody　notices　how　beautiful　you　are，don't　you？’

‘Well，no—that　is，I've　heard　Liddy　say　they　do，but…’She　paused。　She　had　never　intended　to　become　involved　in　this　kind　of　conversation　with　the　soldier，but　somehow　he　had　trapped　her　into　replying。　Thank　you　for　helping　the　men　with　the　hay，　she　continued。　‘But　please　don't　speak　to　me　again。　’

‘Oh　Miss　Bathsheba！That's　too　hard！I　won't　be　here　long。　I'm　going　back　to　the　army　in　a　month。　’

‘But　you　don't　really　care　about　a　word　from　me，do　you？

‘I　do，Miss　Everdene。　Perhaps　you　think　it's　foolish　of　me　to　want　just　a　“good　morning”，but　you　have　never　loved　a　beautiful　woman　like　yourself，as　I　do。　’

‘But　you　only　saw　me　the　other　night！I　don't　believe　you　could　fall　in　love　so　fast。　I　won't　listen　to　you　any　more。　I　wish　I　knew　what　time　it　was。　I've　spent　too　much　time　with　you。

‘Haven't　you　got　a　watch，miss？I'll　give　you　one，’and　he　handed　her　a　heavy　gold　watch。　‘That　watch　belonged　to　a　nobleman，my　father，and　is　all　the　inheritance　I　have。　’

‘But　Sergeant　Troy，I　can't　take　this！It's　your　father’s，and　so　valuable！’said　Bathsheba，horrified。

‘I　loved　my　father，true，but　I　love　you　more。　’The　young　man　was　not　pretending　now，as　he　looked　at　Bathsheba's　beautiful，excited　face。

‘Can　it　be　true，that　you　love　me？You　have　seen　so　little　of　me！Please　take　it　back！’

‘Wll　then，I'll　take　it，’he　said，‘because　it's　all　I　have　to　prove　that　I　come　of　good　family。　But　will　you　speak　to　me　while　I'm　in　Weatherbury？Will　you　let　me　work　in　your　fields？’

‘Yes！Or　no，I　don't　know！Oh，why　did　you　come　and　disturb　me　like　this！’

‘Perhaps，in　setting　a　trap，I've　caught　myself。　Such　things　sometimes　happen。　Goodbye，Miss　Everdene！’

Blushing　and　almost　crying，Bathsheba　hurried　home，whis…pering　to　herself，‘Oh　what　have　I　done？What　does　it　mean？I　wish　I　knew　how　much　of　what　he　says　is　true！

　



　


10

Bathsheba　in　love

　

Once　or　twice　during　the　next　few　days　Bathsheba　saw　Troy　working　in　her　hayflelds。　He　behaved　in　a　pleasant，friendly　manner　towards　her，and　she　began　to　lose　her　fear　of　him。

‘Cutting　your　hay　is　harder　work　than　sword　practice！’he　told　her　one　day，a　smile　lighting　up　his　handsome　face。

‘Is　it？I've　never　seen　sword　practice，’she　answered。

‘Ah！Would　you　like　to？’asked　Troy。

Bathsheba　hesitated。　She　had　heard　wonderful　stories　from　people　who　had　watched　soldiers　practising，stories　of　shining　metal　flashing　through　the　air。

‘I　would　like　to　see　it，very　much。　’

‘Well，I'll　show　you。　I　can　get　a　sword　by　this　evening。　Will　you…’and　he　bent　over　her，whispering　in　her　ear。

‘Oh　no！’said　Bathsheba，blushing。　‘I　couldn't。　’

‘Surely　you　could？　Nobody　would　know。　’

‘Well，if　I　came，Liddy　would　have　to　come　with　me。　’

‘I　don't　see　why　you　want　to　bring　her，’Troy　said　coldly。

‘Well　then，I　won't　bring　her—and　I'll　come。　But　only　for　a　very　short　time。　’

So　at　eight　o'clock　that　evening，Bathsheba　found　herself，in　spite　of　her　doubts，climbing　the　hill　near　her　house　and　go－ing　down　the　other　side。　Now　she　was　in　what　seemed　like　a　natural　theatre，a　deep，round　hollow　in　the　ground　。　It　was　completely　hidden　from　her　house　and　the　path。　This　was　the　place　where　Troy　had　asked　her　to　meet　him。

And　Troy，in　his　bright　red　uniform，was　there。

‘Now，he　said，producing　his　sword，which　flashed　in　the　evening　sunlight，‘let　me　show　you。　One，two，three，four。　Like　this！A　sword　can　kill　a　man　in　a　second。　’

Bathsheba　saw　a　kind　of　rainbow　in　the　air，and　gasped。

‘How　cruel　and　murderous！’she　cried。

‘Yes。　Now　I'll　pretend　to　fight　you。　You　are　my　enemy，but　the　only　difference　from　a　real　fight　is　that　I'll　miss　you　each　time。　Stand　in　front　of　me，and　don't　move！’

Bathsheba　was　beginning　to　enjoy　this。　‘I'll　just　test　you　first，’added　Troy，‘to　see　whether　you're　brave　enough。　’

The　sword　flashed　in　the　air，from　her　left　to　right　side。　It　seemed　to　go　through　her　body。　But　there　it　was　again　in　Troy's　hand，perfectly　clean　and　free　from　blood。

‘Oh！’she　cried，frightened。　‘Have　you　killed　me？No，yon　haven't！How　did　you　do　it？’

‘I　haven't　touched　you，’said　Troy　quietly。　‘Now，　you　aren't　afraid，are　you？I　promise　I　won't　hurt　you，or　even　touch　you。　’

‘I　don't　think　I'm　afraid。　Is　the　sword　very　sharp？’

‘Oh　no—just　stand　very　still。　Now！’

In　a　second，Bathsheba　could　no　longer　see　the　sky　or　the　ground。　The　shining　weapon　flashed　above，around　and　in　110　front　of　her，catching　light　from　the　low　sun　and　whistling　as　it　rushed　through　the　air。　Never　had　Sergeant　Troy　managed　his　sword　better　than　today。

‘Your　hair　is　a　little　untidy，’he　said。　‘Allow　me，’and　before　she　could　move　or　speak，a　curl　dropped　to　the　ground。

‘You　are　very　brave，for　a　woman！’he　congratulated　her。

‘It　was　because　I　didn't　expect　it。　Now　I'm　afraid　of　you，I　am，really！’

‘This　time　I　won't　even　touch　your　hair。　I'm　going　to　kill　that　insect　on　your　dress。　Stand　still！’

Not　daring　to　tremble，she　saw　the　point　of　his　sword　coming　towards　her　heart，and，sure　that　this　time　she　would　die，closed　her　eyes。　But　when　she　opened　them，she　saw　the　insect，dead，on　the　point　of　the　sword。

‘It's　magic！’she　cried。　‘And　how　could　you　cut　off　one　of　my　curls　with　a　sword　that　isn't　sharp？’

‘It's　sharper　than　any　knife，’he　said。　‘I　had　to　lie　to　you　about　that，to　give　you　the　confidence　to　stand　still。　’

Bathsheba's　feelings　were　almost　too　much　for　her　to　control，and　she　sat　down　suddenly　in　the　grass。

‘I　could　have　died，’she　whispered。

‘You　were　perfectly　safe，’Troy　told　her。　‘My　sword　never　makes　a　mistake。　I　must　leave　you　now。　I'll　keep　this　to　re－mind　me　of　you。　’He　bent　to　pick　up　the　curl　of　hair，which　he　put　carefully　in　his　pocket，next　to　his　heart。　She　was　not　strong　enough　to　say　or　do　anything。　He　came　closer，bent　112　again，and　a　minute　later　his　red　coat　disappeared　through　the　grass。　Bathsheba　blushed　guiltily　and　tears　rolled　down　her　face。　In　that　minute　Troy　had　kissed　her　on　the　lips。

Determined，independent　women　often　show　their　weakness　when　they　fall　in　love，and　Bathsheba　had　very　little　experi…ence　of　the　world，or　of　men。　It　was　as　difficult　for　her　to　see　Troy's　bad　qualities，which　he　kept　carefully　hidden，as　to　ad…mire　Gabriel　Oak's　good　ones，which　were　not　all　obvious　at　first　sight。

One　evening　a　few　days　later，Gabriel　went　to　find　his　mis…tress。　He　knew　that　she　was　falling　in　love，and　had　decided　to　warn　her　of　the　mistake　she　was　making。　He　found　her　walking　along　a　path　through　the　fields。

‘I　was　worried　about　your　walking　alone，miss，’he　said。

‘It's　rather　late，and　there　are　some　bad　men　in　the　area。　’He　was　hoping　to　introduce　Troy's　name　as　one　of　the　‘bad　men’。

‘I　never　meet　any，’said　Bathsheba　lightly。

Gabriel　tried　again。　‘Farmer　Boldwood　will　be　taking　care　of　you　in　future，of　course。　’

‘What　do　you　mean，Gabriel？’

‘Well，when　you　and　he　are　married，miss，as　everybody　expects。　You've　let　him　court　you，after　all。　’

‘Everybody　is　wrong，Gabriel。　I　didn't　promise　him　any－thing。　I　respect　him，but　I　won't　marry　him。　’

‘I　wish　you　had　never　met　that　young　Sergeant　Troy，114　miss，’be　said　sadly。　‘He's　not　good　enough　for　you。　’

‘How　dare　you　say　that！He's　of　good　family，and　well－educated！’replied　Bathsheba　angrily。

‘He　can't　be　trusted，miss。　Don't　trust　him，I　beg　you。　’

‘He's　as　good　as　anybody　in　the　village！He　goes　to　church　regularly！He　told　me　so　himself。　’

‘I'm　afraid　nobody　has　ever　seen　him　in　church。　I　certainly　haven't。　’Cabriel's　heart　ached　when　he　saw　how　completely　Bathsheba　trusted　the　soldier。

‘That's　because　he　enters　by　the　old　tower　door　and　sits　at　the　back，where　he　can't　be　seen，’she　replied　eagerly。

‘You　know，mistress