远离尘嚣-第4节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



‘I　can't　see　him　like　this，Liddy！’said　Bathsheba，looking　in　horror　at　her　dusty　dress。　‘Go　down　and　tell　him　I'm　busy。　’

When　Liddy　came　back，　after　Mr　Boldwood　had　gone，Bathsheba　asked，‘What　did　he　want，　Liddy？　And　who　is　he，exactly？’

‘He　just　wanted　to　ask　if　Fanny　had　been　found，miss。　You　know，as　she　had　no　family　or　friends，he　was　kind　enough　to　pay　for　her　to　go　to　school，and　found　her　a　job　here　with　your　uncle。　He's　your　neighbour。　His　farm　is　next　to　yours。　’

‘Is　he　married？　And　how　old　is　he？’

‘He　isn't　married。　He's　abeut　forty，very　handsome—and　rich。　All　the　girls　in　the　area　have　tried　to　persuade　him　to　marry。　But　he　just　doesn't　seem　interested　in　women。　Have　you　ever　had　an　offer　of　marriage，miss？’

‘Yes，I　have，Liddy，’answered　Bathsheba　after　a　pause，thinking　of　Gabriel。　‘But　he　wasn't　quite　good　enough　for　me。　’

‘Oh，how　nice　to　be　able　to　refuse，when　most　of　us　are　glad　to　accept　the　first　offer！　And　did　you　love　him，miss？’

‘Oh　no。　But　I　rather　liked　him。　’

In　the　afternoon　Bathsheba　called　her　workers　together，and　spoke　to　them　in　the　old　hall　of　the　farmhouse。

‘Men，I　want　to　tell　you　that　I'm　not　going　to　employ　a　new　farm　manager。　I　shall　manage　the　farm　myself。　’There　were　gasps　of　surprise　from　the　men。　She　gave　her　orders　for　the　next　week's　farm　work　and　then　turned　to　one　of　the　46　men。　‘Billy　Smallbury，　what　have　you　discovered　about　Fanny　Robin？’

‘I　think　she's　run　away　with　her　young　man，ma'am。　The　soldiers　have　left　Casterbridge，and　I　suppose　she's　gone　with　them。　’

‘Well，perhaps　we'll　discover　more　later。　One　of　you　can　go　and　tell　Mr　Boldwood　what　Billy　says。　Now，men，I　hope　I　can　trust　you　all　to　do　your　work　well　for　me。　Goodnight。　’

Later　that　evening，in　a　town　many　miles　north　of　Weather　bury，a　small　white　shape　could　be　seen　walking　slowly　along　a　path　beside　a　large　building。　It　was　a　dull，snowy　night，with　heavy　grey　clouds　hanging　low　in　the　sky，the　kind　of　night　when　hopes　are　destroyed　and　love　is　lost。

‘One。　Two。　Three。　Four。　Five。　’The　white　shape　was　counting　windows　in　the　building。　Then　it　began　to　throw　small　stones，covered　in　snow，at　the　fifth　window。　At　last　the　window　opened，and　a　man　called　out，‘Who's　there？’

‘Is　that　Sergeant　Troy？’asked　a　girl's　voice。

‘Yes，’answered　the　man。　‘Who　are　you？’

‘Oh　Frank，don't　you　know　me？’cried　the　girl　desperately。

‘I'm　your—I'm　Fanny　Robin。　’

‘Fanny！’gasped　the　man　in　surprise。　‘How　did　you　get　here？’

‘I　walked　most　of　the　way　from　Weatherbury。　But，Frank，are　you　glad　to　see　me？　Frank，when　will　it　be？’

‘What　are　you　talking　about？’

‘You　know，you　promised。　When　shall　we　be　married，Frank？’

‘Oh，I　see。　Well—you　need　proper　clothes—we　must　inform　the　vicar。　It　takes　time。　I　didn't　expect　you　to　come　so　soon。　’

‘Oh　Frank，I　love　you　so！And—you　said　you'd　marry　me—’

‘Don't　cry　now！It's　foolish。　If　I　said　so，of　course　I　will。　I'll　come　and　see　you　tomorrow　to　decide　the　details。　’

‘Oh　yes，Frank，do！I'm　staying　at　Mrs　Twill’s　in　North　Street。　Come　tomorrow，Frank！Goodnight，Frank！’　

　



　


5

Bathsheba　sends　a　valentine

　

When　Bathsheba　first　appeared　at　the　weekly　Caster－　bridge　market，where　farmers　bought　and　sold　their　wheat　and　animals，she　caused　a　sensation。　Men's　heads　turned　to　look　at　her，the　only　woman　there。　Like　any　woman，she　was　happy　to　be　admired，but　she　was　also　deter…　mined　to　sell　her　wheat　at　a　good　price，and　to　do　business　with　the　other　farmers　like　a　man。　There　was　one　farmer，　however，who　did　not　seem　to　notice　her，and　this　annoyed　her　a　little。　It　was　Mr　Boldwood。

One　Sunday　afternoon，on　the　thirteenth　of　February，Bathsheba　and　Liddy　were　in　the　sitting－room　together。　It　was　a　dull，cold　day，and　they　were　both　very　bored。

‘Have　you　ever　tried　to　discover　who　you're　going　to　marry，miss，’asked　Liddy，‘with　a　Bible　and　a　key？’

‘I　don't　believe　in　such　foolish　games，Liddy。　’

‘Well，some　people　believe　it　works。　’

‘All　right，let's　try　it，’said　Bathsheba　suddenly，jumping　up　from　her　seat。　Together　they　opened　the　big　family　Bible　and　put　a　key　on　a　page。

‘Now　you　think　of　someone　you　could　marry，miss，’said　Liddy，‘then　read　aloud　the　words　on　that　page，and　if　the　Bible　moves，perhaps　you'll　marry　him。　’

Bathsheba　read　the　words，holding　the　Bible。　As　they　watched，the　Bible　turned　in　her　hands，and　Bathsheba　blushed。

‘Who　were　you　thinking　of？’asked　Liddy　curiously。

‘I'm　not　going　to　tell　you，’answered　her　mistress。

‘By　the　way，did　you　notice　Mr　Boldwood　in　church　this　morning？’asked　Liddy，making　it　very　clear　who　she　was　thinking　of。　‘He　didn't　turn　his　head　once　to　look　at　you！’

‘Why　should　he？’replied　Bathsheba，annoyed。　‘I　didn't　ask　him　to　look　at　me。　’

‘Oh　no。　But　everybody　else　in　church　was　looking　at　you。　’

Bathsheba　did　not　reply　to　this。　After　a　few　minutes　she　said，‘Oh，I　nearly　forgot　the　valentine　card　I　bought　yester－　day！’

‘A　valentine！Who's　it　for，miss？Farmer　Boldwood？’

‘No，of　course　not。　It's　for　one　of　the　village　children，that　sweet　little　boy　of　Jan　Coggan's。　I'll　write　the　address　on　the　envelope　now，and　we'll　post　it　today。　’

‘What　fun　it　would　be　to　send　it　to　that　silly　old　Bold－　wood！’laughed　Liddy。

Bathsheba　paused　to　consider。　It　was　certainly　a　little　de－　pressing　that　the　wealthiest　and　most　important　man　in　the　area　did　not　seem　to　admire　her，as　all　the　other　men　did。

‘We'll　throw　a　coin　to　decide，’she　said　lightly。　‘No，we　shouldn't　play　with　money　on　a　Sunday。　I　know，we'll　throw　this　book。　If　it　comes　down　open，I'll　send　the　valentine　to　Jan's　son。　If　it　comes　down　shut，I'll　send　it　to　Boldwood。　’　The　little　book　went　up　in　the　air　and　came　down　shut。　Bathsheba　immediately　picked　up　her　pen　and　wrote　Bold…wood's　address　on　the　envelope。

‘Now　we　need　a　seal，’she　said。　‘Look　for　an　interesting　one，Liddy。　Ah，let's　use　this　one。　I　can't　remember　what　it　says，but　I　know　it's　funny。　’When　she　had　sealed　the　enve－lope，Bathsheba　looked　closely　at　the　words　left　by　the　seal：

‘MARRY　ME’。

‘Just　right！’she　cried。　‘That　would　make　even　a　vicar　laugh！’And　so　the　valentine　was　sent，not　for　love，but　as　a　joke。　Bathsheba　had　no　idea　of　the　effect　it　would　have。

It　arrived　at　Mr　Boldwood's　house　on　the　morning　of　St　Valentine's　Day，14th　February　He　was　puzzled，but　strangely　excited　by　it　He　had　never　received　one　before，and　all　day　he　thought　about　it。　Who　could　the　woman　be　who　admired　him　so　much　that　she　sent　him　a　valentine？He　kept　on　looking　at　it，until　the　words　on　the　large　red　seal　danced　in　front　of　his　tired　eyes，and　he　could　no　longer　read　them。　But　he　knew　what　they　said：

‘MARRY　ME’。

The　valentine　had　destroyed　the　peaceful　routine　of　Bold－wood's　life。　That　night　he　dreamed　of　the　unknown　woman，and　when　he　woke　up　very　early，the　first　thing　he　saw　was　the　valentine，with　its　message　in　red，on　the　table　by　his　bed。

‘Marry　me，’he　repeated　to　himself。　He　was　too　restless　to　sleep　any　more　so　he　went　out　for　a　walk。　He　watched　the　sun　rise　over　the　snowy　fields，and　on　his　way　home　he　met　the　postman，who　handed　him　a　letter。　Boldwood　took　it　quickly　and　opened　it，thinking　it　could　be　from　the　sender　of　the　valentine。

‘I　don't　think　it's　for　you，sir，’said　the　postman。　‘I　think　it's　for　your　shepherd。　’

Boldwood　looked　at　the　address　on　the　envelope：

To　the　new　shepherd，

Weatherbury　Farm，

Near　Casterbridge。

‘Oh，what　a　mistake！It　isn't　mine，or　my　shepherd's。　It　must　be　for　Miss　Everdene's　shepherd。　His　name　is　Gabriel　Oak。　’

At　that　moment　he　noticed　a　figure　in　a　distant　field。

‘Ah，there　he　is　now，’Boldwood　added。　‘I'll　take　the　let－　ter　to　him　myself。　’The　shepherd　started　walking　towards　the　malthouse，and　Boldwood　followed　him，holding　the　letter。　

　



　


6

Fanny's　mistake

　

At　the　malthouse　the　men　were　discussing　Bathsheba。　‘How's　she　getting　on　without　a　farm　manager？’the　old　maltster　asked　the　younger　men。

‘She　can't　manage　the　farm　alone，’replied　Jacob，‘and　she　won't　listen　to　our　advice。　Proud，she　is。　I've　often　said　it，’

‘You　have，Jacob，you　have，that's　true，’agreed　little　Joseph　Poorgrass。

‘But　she's　intelligent，’said　Billy　Smallbury，‘and　must　have　some　common　sense。　’

‘It　seems　her　old　uncle's　furniture　wasn't　good　enough　for　her，’said　the　maltster‘I　hear　she's　bought　new　beds，chairs　and　a　piano！If　she's　a　farmer，why　does　she　want　a　piano？　’

Just　then　they　heard　a　heavy　footstep　outside，and　a　voice　called，‘Neighbours，can　I　bring　a　few　lambs　in　there？’

‘Of　course，shepherd，’they　all　replied。

Gabriel　appeared　in　the　doorway，his　cheeks　red　and　his　healthy　face　shining。　On　his　shoulders　were　four　half－dead　lambs，which　he　put　down　carefully，close　to　the　fire。

‘I　haven't　got　a　shepherd's　hut　here，as　I　used　to　have　at　Norcombe，’he　explained。　‘These　new　lambs　would　die　if　I　couldn't　keep　them　warm　for　a　while。　It's　very　kind　of　you，maltster，to　let　me　bring　the