远离尘嚣-第12节

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ness　in　marrying　you！But　you'll　burn　that　hair，won't　you，Frank，to　please　me？’

Troy　only　answered，‘I　have　a　duty　to　someone　in　my　past。　Mistakes　were　made　which　I　must　put　right。　That's　more　important　than　my　relationship　with　you。　If　you're　sorry　you　married　me，well，so　am　I！’

‘Frank，I'm　only　sorry　if　you　love　another　woman　more　than　me，’said　Bathsheba　in　a　trembling　voice。　‘You　like　the　woman　with　that　pretty　hair。　Yes，it　is　pretty！Was　she　the　woman　we　met　on　the　road　last　night？’

‘Well，yes。　Now　you　know　the　truth，I　hope　you're　happy。　’

‘You　haven't　told　me　everything。　Tell　me　the　whole　truth，’she　said，looking　bravely　into　his　face。　‘I　never　thought　I'd　beg　a　man　to　do　anything，but　my　pride　has　all　gone！’

‘Don't　be　so　desperate！’said　Troy　crossly。　He　left　the　room。

Bathsheba　was　in　deep　despair。　She　knew　that　she　had　lost　her　independence　as　a　woman，which　she　had　been　so　proud　of。　She　hated　herself　for　falling　in　love　so　easily　with　her　hand…some　husband，who，she　now　realized，could　not　be　trusted。　

The　next　morning　Troy　left　the　house　early。　Bathsheba　was　walking　in　her　garden，when　she　noticed　Gabriel　Oak　and　Mr　Boldwood　deep　in　conversation　in　the　road。　They　called　to　Joseph　Poorgrass，who　was　picking　apples，and　soon　he　came　along　the　path　to　Bathsheba's　house。

‘Well，what's　the　message，Joseph？’she　asked，curious。

‘I'm　afraid　Fanny　Robin's　dead，ma'am。　Dead　in　the　Casterbridge　workhouse。

‘No！Why？What　did　she　die　from？’

‘I　don't　know，ma'am，but　she　was　never　very　strong。　Mr　Boldwood　is　sending　a　cart　to　bring　her　back　to　be　buried　here。　’

‘Oh，I　won't　let　Mr　Boldwood　do　that！Fanny　was　my　uncle's　maid，and　mine　too　How　very　sad　to　die　in　a　work…house！Tell　Mr　Boldwood　that　you　will　drive　my　new　cart　over　to　Casterbridge　this　afternoon　to　fetch　her　body。　And　Joseph，put　flowers　on　the　cart　for　poor　Fanny。　How　long　was　she　in　the　workhouse？’

‘Only　a　day，ma'am。　She　arrived，ill　and　exhausted，on　Sunday　morning。　She　came　on　foot　through　Weatherbury。　’

The　colour　left　Bathsheba's　face　at　one。　‘Along　the　road　from　Weatherbury　to　Casterbridge？’she　asked　eagerly。　‘When　did　she　pass　Weatherbury？’

‘Last　Saturday　night　it　was，ma'am。　’

‘Thank　you，Joseph，you　may　go。　’

Later　that　afternoon　Bathsheba　asked　Liddy，‘What　was　the　colour　of　poor　Fanny　Robin's　hair？I　only　saw　her　for　a　day　or　two。　’

‘She　used　to　keep　it　covered，but　it　was　lovely　golden　hair，ma'am。　’

‘Her　young　man　was　a　soldier，wasn't　he？’

‘Yes，and　Mr　Troy　knows　him　well。　’

‘What？Mr　Troy　told　you　that？’

‘Yes。　One　day　I　asked　him　if　he　knew　Fanny's　young　man，and　he　said　he　knew　him　as　well　as　he　knew　himself！’

‘That's　enough，Liddy！’said　Bathsheba，her　anxiety　mak…ing　her　unusually　cross。　

　



　



15

Fanny's　revenge

　

That　afternoon　Joseph　Poorgrass　was　bringing　Fanny's　coffin　back　from　Casterbridge。　Feeling　a　little　frightened　of　the　dead　body　behind　him　in　the　cart，and　de…pressed　by　the　autumn　fog，he　stopped　for　some　beer　at　a　pub，where　he　met　Jan　Coggan　and　Laban　Tall。　There　Gabriel　Oak　found　the　three　men，completely　drunk，two　hours　later。　As　Joseph　was　clearly　incapable　of　driving　the　cart，Gabriel　drove　it　to　Weatherbury　himself。　On　the　way　into　the　village，the　vicar　stopped　him。

‘I'm　afraid　it's　too　late　now　for　the　burial，’he　said，‘but　I　can　arrange　for　the　body　to　be　buried　tomorrow。　’

‘I　could　take　the　coffin　to　the　church　for　the　night，sir，’offered　Gabriel，hoping　to　prevent　Bathsheba　from　seeing　it。

But　just　then　Bathsheba　herself　appeared。　‘No，Gabriel，’she　said。　‘Poor　Fanny　must　rest　in　her　old　home　for　her　last　night。　Bring　the　coffin　into　the　house。　’

The　coffin　was　carried　into　a　small　sitting…room　and　Gabriel　was　left　alone　with　it。　In　spite　of　all　his　care，the　worst　had　happened，and　Bathsheba　was　about　to　make　a　terrible　discovery。　But　suddenly　he　had　an　idea。　He　looked　at　the　words　written　simply　on　the　coffin　lid—Fanny　Robin　and　child。　With　a　cloth　Gabriel　carefully　removed　the　last　two　words。　Quietly　he　left　the　room。　

Bathsheba　was　in　a　strange　mood。　She　felt　lonely　and　miser…able，but　she　had　not　stopped　loving　her　husband，in　spite　of　her　anxiety　about　his　past。　She　was　waiting　for　him　to　come　home，when　Liddy　knocked　and　entered。

‘Ma'am，Maryann　has　just　heard　something…’she　hesitated　a　little。　‘Not　about　you　or　us，ma'am。　About　Fanny。　There's　a　story　in　Weatherbury　that…’Liddy　whis…pered　in　her　mistress's　ear。

Bathsheba　trembled　from　head　to　foot。

‘I　don't　believe　it！’she　cried。　‘There's　only　one　name　on　the　coffin　lid！But　I　suppose　it　could　be　true。　’

She　said　no　more，and　Liddy　went　quietly　out　of　the　room。　Bathsheba　felt　almost　sure　she　knew　the　truth　about　Fanny　and　Troy，but　she　wanted　to　be　certain。　She　entered　the　sitting…room　where　the　coffin　lay。　Holding　her　hot　hands　to　her　fore…head　she　cried，‘Tell　me　your　secret，Fanny！I　hope　it　isn't　true　there　are　two　of　you！If　I　could　only　look。　at　you，I'd　know！’

After　a　pause，she　added　slowly，‘And　I　will。　’

A　few　moments　later，she　stood　beside　the　uncovered　coffin。　Staring　in，she　said，‘It　was　best　to　know　the　worst，and　I　know　it　now！’Her　tears　fell　fast　beside　the　dead　pair　in　the　coffin，tears　for　Fanny　and　for　herself。　Although　Bathsheba，not　Fanny，had　married　Troy，in　death　Fanny　was　the　winner。　She　was　taking　her　revenge　now　on　Bathsheba　for　the　difficulties　she　had　experienced　in　her　life。　

Bathsheba　forgot　the　passing　of　time　as　she　looked　at　Fanny's　cold　white　face　and　yellow　hair，and　did　not　realize　Troy　had　arrived　home。　He　threw　open　the　door　and　came　in。　He　did　not　guess　who　was　in　the　coffin。

‘What's　the　matter？Who's　dead？’he　asked。

Bathsheba　tried　to　push　past　him。　‘Let　me　out！’she　cried。

‘No，stay，I　insist！’He　held　her　arm　and　together　they　looked　into　the　coffin。

Troy　stood　completely　still　when　he　saw　the　mother　and　ba…by。　Little　by　little　his　shoulders　bent　forward，and　his　face　showed　deep　sadness。　Bathsheba　was　watching　his　expression　closely，and　she　had　never　been　more　miserable。　Slowly　Troy　knelt　to　give　Fanny　Robin　a　gentle　kiss。

Bathsheba　threw　her　arms　round　his　neck，crying　wildly　from　the　depths　of　her　heart，‘Don't，don't　kiss　them！Oh　Frank，no！I　love　you　better　than　she　did！Kiss　me　too，Frank！You　will　kiss　me　too，Frank！’

Troy　looked　puzzled　for　a　moment，not　expecting　this　child…like　cry　from　his　proud　wife。　But　then　he　pushed　her　away。

‘I　will　not　kiss　you！’he　said。

‘Can　you　give　me　a　reason？’asked　Bathsheba，fighting　to　control　herself。　Perhaps　it　was　unfortunate　that　she　asked。

‘I've　been　a　bad，black…hearted　man，but　this　woman，dead　as　she　is，is　more　to　me　than　you　ever　were，or　are，or　can　be。　I　would　have　married　her，if　I'd　never　seen　your　beau…tiful　face！And　I　wish　I　had　married　her！’He　turned　to　Fanny。　‘But　never　mind，darling，’he　said，‘in　the　sight　of　God　you　are　my　wife！’

At　these　words　a　long，low　cry　of　despair　and　anger　came　from　Bathsheba's　lips。　‘If　she's—that，what—am　I？’

‘You　are　nothing　to　me，nothing，’said　Troy　heartlessly。　‘A　ceremony　in　front　of　a　vicar　doesn't　make　a　marriage。　I　don't　consider　myself　your　husband。　’

Bathsheba　wanted　only　to　get　away　from　him　and　his　words。　She　ran　straight　out　of　the　house。　She　stayed　out　all　night，wrapped　in　a　cloak，waiting　for　the　coffin　to　be　taken　for　burial。　As　soon　as　the　men　had　taken　it　away　the　next　morning，she　re…entered　the　house，very　cautiously　to　avoid　Troy，but　her　husband　had　gone　out　very　early　and　did　not　return。　

　



　


16

Sergeant　Troy　leaves

　

When　Bathsheba　ran　out　of　the　house　the　previous　night，Troy　first　replaced　the　coffin　lid，then　went　upstairs　to　lie　on　his　bed　and　wait　miserably　for　the　morning。

The　day　before，on　Monday，he　had　waited　for　Fanny，as　arranged，on　the　bridge　just　outside　Casterbridge，for　over　an　hour。　He　had　Bathsheba's　twenty　pounds　and　seven　pounds　of　his　own　to　give　Fanny。　When　she　did　not　come，he　became　angry，remembering　the　last　time　she　had　failed　to　arrive，on　her　wedding　day。　In　fact　she　was　at　that　moment　being　put　in　her　coffin　at　the　workhouse，but　he　did　not　know　that。　He　rode　straight　to　the　races　at　Budmouth　and　stayed　there　all　afternoon。　But　he　was　still　thinking　of　Fanny，and　he　did　not　risk　any　money　on　the　horses。　Only　on　his　way　home　did　he　suddenly　realize　that　illness　could　have　prevented　her　from　meeting　him，and　only　when　he　entered　the　farmhouse　that　evening　did　he　discover　that　she　was　dead。

On　Tuesday　morning　Troy　got　up　and，without　even　thinking　about　Bathsheba，went　straight　to　the　churchyard　to　find　the　position　of　Fanny's　grave。　He　continued　on　foot　to　Casterbridge　to　order　the　best　gravestone　available　for　twenty…seven　pounds，which　was　all　the　money　he　had。　Having　ar…ranged　for　it　to　be　put　on　the　grave　that　afternoon，he　returned　to　Weatherbury　in　the　evening，with　a　basket　of　flowering　plants。　The　new　gravestone　was　already　in　place，and　he　worked　solidly　for　several　hours　in　the　churchyard，putting　the　plants　carefully　into　the　soft　earth　of　her　grave。　When　it　s