远离尘嚣-第3节

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‘She's　a　handsome　woman，that's　true，’said　one，‘but　proud　too！And　very　vain，that's　what　people　say！’

‘Oh，if　she's　vain，Billy　Smallbury，I'll　never　be　able　to　look　at　her！I'm　such　a　shy　man，as　you　know！’said　the　other。　‘A　single　woman，and　vain！And　does　she　pay　her　farm　workers　well？’

‘I　don't　know　about　that，Joseph　Poorgrass。　’

Gabriel　thought　they　could　be　talking　about　Bathsheba，except　that　the　woman　they　were　discussing　seemed　to　be　the　mistress　of　a　farm。　As　the　cart　was　now　quite　near　Weather－bury，Gabriel　jumped　out，unseen　by　the　two　men。　He　climbed　a　gate　into　a　field，intending　to　sleep　for　the　rest　of　the　night　under　a　hay－rick，but　then　he　noticed　an　unusual　light　in　the　darkness，about　half　a　mile　away。　Something　was　on　fire。

He　hurried　across　the　fields　towards　the　fire。　Soon，in　the　rich　orange　light　of　the　flames，he　could　see　a　hay－rick　burning　fiercely。　It　was　too　late　to　save　the　rick，so　for　a　few　minutes　he　stood　and　stared　at　the　flames。　But　when　the　smoke　cleared　for　a　moment，he　was　horrified　to　see，very　close　to　the　burn－ing　rick，a　whole　row　of　wheat－ricks。　These　probably　con－tained　most　of　the　wheat　produced　on　the　farm　that　year，and　could　catch　fire　at　any　moment。

As　he　rushed　towards　the　wheat－rick　that　was　most　in　dan…ger，he　saw　he　was　not　alone。　A　crowd　of　farm　workers　had　seen　the　fire　and　run　into　the　field　to　help　save　the　wheat，but　they　were　so　confused　they　did　not　know　what　to　do。　Gabriel　took　control　and　gave　orders。

‘Get　a　large　cloth！’he　shouted。　‘Put　it　over　the　wheat－rick，so　the　wind　can't　blow　the　flames　from　the　hay－rick　on　to　it！Now，you，stand　here　with　a　bucket　of　water　and　keep　the　cloth　wet！’The　men　hurried　to　obey　him。　The　flames，prevented　from　burning　the　bottom　and　sides　of　the　wheat…32　rick，began　to　attack　its　roof。

‘Get　me　a　ladder！’cried　Gabriel。　‘And　a　branch，and　some　water！’He　climbed　up　the　wheat－rick　and　sat　on　the　top，beating　down　the　flames　with　the　branch。　Billy　Smallbury，one　of　the　men　who　had　been　in　the　cart，climbed　up　with　a　bucket　of　water，　to　throw　water　on　Gabriel　and　keep　the　flames　off　him。　The　smoke　was　at　its　thickest　at　this　corner　of　the　rick，　but　Gabriel　never　stopped　his　work。

On　the　ground　the　villagers　were　doing　what　they　could　to　stop　the　fire，which　was　not　much。　A　little　further　away　was　a　young　woman　who　had　just　arrived　on　her　horse，witn　her　maid　on　foot。　They　were　watching　the　fire　and　discussing　Gabriel。

‘He's　a　fine　young　man，ma'am，’said　Liddy，the　maid。　‘And　look　at　his　clothes！They're　all　burnt！’

‘Who　does　he　work　for？’asked　the　woman　in　a　clear　voice。

‘I　don't　know，ma'am，nor　do　the　others。　He's　a　stranger。　’

‘Jan　Coggan！’called　the　woman　to　one　of　her　workers。　‘Do　you　think　the　wheat　is　safe　now？’

‘I　think　so，yes，ma'am，’he　answered。　‘If　the　fire　had　spread　to　this　wheat－rick，all　the　other　ricks　would　have　caught　fire　too。　That　brave　young　man　up　there　on　top　of　the　rick　is　the　one　who's　saved　your　wheat。　’

‘He　does　work　hard，’said　the　young　woman，looking　up　at　Gabriel；　who　had　not　noticed　her。　‘I　wish　he　worked　for　me。　’

As　the　ricks　were　no　longer　in　danger，　Gabriel　started　to　climb　down，and　at　the　bottom　he　met　the　maid。

‘I　have　a　message　from　the　farmer，who　wishes　to　thank　you　for　all　you've　done，’she　said。

‘Where　is　he？’asked　Gabriel，suddenly　aware　of　the　chance　of　getting　some　work。

‘It　isn't　a　he，it's　a　she，’answered　the　girl。

‘A　woman　farmer？’asked　Gabriel。

‘Yes，and　a　rich　one　too！’said　a　villager　who　was　standing　near。　‘She　inherited　her　uncle's　farm，when　he　died　suddenly。　She　has　business　in　every　bank　in　Casterbridge！’

‘She's　over　there，wrapped　in　a　cloak，on　her　horse，’added　the　maid。　In　the　darkness　Gabriel　could　only　see　the　shape　of　a　woman　sitting　on　a　horse。　He　walked　over　to　her。　Although　his　face　was　black　from　the　smoke　and　his　clothes　were　burnt　by　the　fire，he　remembered　to　lift　his　hat　politely，and　asked；　looking　up　at　her，‘Do　you　want　a　shepherd，ma'am？’She　let　her　cloak　fall　back　from　her　head　in　surprise。　Gabriel　and　his　cold…hearted　darling，Bathsheba　Everdene，stared　at　each　other。　She　did　not　speak。　He　only　repeated　sadly，‘Do　you　want　a　shepherd，ma'am？’

Bathsheba　turned　away　into　the　shadows　to　consider。　She　was　a　little　sorry　for　him，　but　also　glad　that　she　had　improved　her　position　since　they　last　met。　She　realized　she　had　almost　forgotten　his　offer　of　marriage　on　Norcombe　Hill。　

‘Yes，’she　answered　quietly，blushing　a　little，‘I　do　want　a　shepherd。　But—’

‘He's　just　the　right　man，ma'am，’said　one　of　the　villagers。

‘That's　right！’said　a　second，and　a　third。

‘Then　will　you　men　tell　him　to　speak　to　the　farm　manager？’said　Bathsheba　in　a　businesslike　way，as　she　rode　off。

Gabriel　soon　arranged　the　details　of　his　employment　with　Bathsheba's　farm　manager，Benjy　Pennyways，and　walked　on　to　the　village　to　find　a　place　to　live。　As　he　walked，he　thought　of　Bathsheba。　How　quickly　the　young　girl　he　remembered　had　become　the　capable　mistress　of　a　farm！

When　he　passed　the　churchyard，and　the　ancient　trees　around　it，he　noticed　that　someone　was　standing　behind　one　of　the　trees。

‘Is　this　the　right　way　to　Weatherbury？’asked　Gabriel。

‘Oh　yes，straight　on，’said　a　girl's　voice，low　and　sweet。　After　a　pause　she　added，‘You're　not　a　Weatherbury　man？’

‘No，I'm　the　new　shepherd，just　arrived。　’

‘Only　a　shepherd！You　seem　almost　like　a　farmer　to　me。　’

‘Only　a　shepherd，’repeated　Gabriel　in　a　dull　voice，think－ing　of　the　disaster　that　had　destroyed　his　hopes　of　being　a　farmer。

‘Please　don't　tell　anyone　in　the　village　that　you've　seen　me，’begged　the　girl。　‘I'm　rather　poor，and　I　don't　want　anyone　to　know　about　me。　’　Her　thin　arms　trembled　in　the　cold。

‘I　won't　tell　anyone，’said　Gabriel，‘but　you　ought　to　be　wearing　a　cloak　on　a　night　like　this。　’

‘Oh，it　doesn't　matter。　Please　go　on　and　leave　me。　’

He　hesitated　‘Perhaps　you'd　accept　this。　It's　not　much，but　it's　all　I　have　to　spare。　’He　put　a　coin　into　her　small　hand，and　as　he　touched　her　wrist　he　noticed　how　quickly　the　blood　was　beating。　It　was　the　same　quick，hard　beat　that　he　felt　in　his　lambs　when　they　were　close　to　death。

‘What's　the　matter？Can't　I　help　you？’he　asked。　He　felt　a　deep　sadness　in　this　thin，weak　creature。

‘No，no！Don't　tell　anyone　you've　seen　me！Good　night！’She　stayed　in　the　shadows，and　Gabriel　went　on　to　Weather…bury。　

　



　



4

Fanny　Robin　disappears

　

The　farm　manager　had　advised　Gabriel　to　go　straight　to　the　malthouse　in　Weatherbury，to　ask　for　somewhere　to　stay。　That　was　the　place　where　the　men　of　the　village　spent　their　evenings，drinking　beer　and　talking　by　the　fire。　When　Gabriel　entered　the　warm，dark　room，some　of　Bathsheba's　workers　recognized　him。

‘Come　in，shepherd，you're　welcome，’said　one。

‘Gabriel　Oak　is　my　name，neighbours。　’

The　ancient　maltster，with　his　white　hair　and　long　white　beard，turned　his　old　head　stiffly　towards　Gabriel。　‘Gabriel　Oak　of　Norcombe！’he　said。　‘I　knew　your　grandparents　well！My　boy　Jacob　and　his　young　son　Billy　know　your　family　too。　’His　boy　Jacob　was　bald　and　toothless，and　young　Billy　was　about　forty。

‘You　must　be　very　old，maltster，’said　Gabriel　politely，‘to　have　such　an　old　son　as　Jacob　here。　’

‘Yes，I've　lived　for　over　a　hundred　years，’replied　the　little　old　man　proudly。　‘Sit　down　and　drink　with　us，shepherd。　’

The　cup　of　warm　beer　passed　round　the　circle　of　drinkers。　There　was　silence　for　a　moment。　Then　Gabriel　turned　the　conversation　to　the　matter　closest　to　his　heart。

‘What　kind　of　mistress　is　Miss　Everdene？’he　asked。

‘We　know　almost　nothing　of　her，shepherd，’answered　Jan　Coggan，a　big，cheerful　man　with　a　red　face。　‘She　only　arrived　here　a　few　days　ago，when　her　uncle　died。　But　the　Everdenes　are　a　good　family　to　work　for。　Of　course，it's　the　farm　manager　who'll　be　giving　us　our　orders。　’

‘Ah！’said　the　maltster，frowning。　‘Benjy　Pennyways！’

‘You　can't　trust　him！’added　Jacob　darkly。

Soon　afterwards　Gabriel　left　with　Jan　Coggan，who　had　offered　the　shepherd　a　bed　in　his　house。　The　remaining　men　were　just　preparing　to　leave　when　suddenly　a　young　man　called　Laban　Tall　rushed　into　the　malthouse，almost　too　excited　to　speak。

‘It's　Benjy　Pennyways！’he　cried。　‘Miss　Everdene's　caught　him　stealing　wheat　from　the　barn！She's　sent　him　away！And　worse　than　that——Fanny　Robin，you　know，Miss　Everdene's　youngest　maid，is　missing！The　mistress　wants　us　to　look　for　her　tomorrow。　And　Billy　Smallbury，she　wants　you　to　go　to　Casterbridge，to　see　if　you　can　find　the　young　soldier　who's　been　courting　Fanny。　’

That　night　the　news　spread　fast　round　the　village，but　did　not　reach　Gabriel，whose　dreams　were　only　of　Bathsheba。　Through　the　long　slow　hours　of　darkness　he　saw　her　lovely　face　and　forgot　that　she　did　not　love　him。

The　next　morning　Bathsheba　and　her　maid　Liddy　were　dust…ing　some　books，when　a　visitor　arrived　at　the　front　door。　It　was　Mr　Boldwood，who　had　a　large　farm　in　Weatherbury。

‘I　can't　see　him　like　this，Liddy！’said　Bathshe