远离尘嚣-第11章

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er　showed　that　he　was　a　little　ashamed　of　offering　money，but　he　was　prepared　to　do　almost　anything　to　prevent　Troy　marrying　Bathsheba。

Troy　appeared　to　consider　the　offer。　‘It's　true　I　like　Fanny　best，although　she's　only　a　maid。　Fifty　pounds　now，you　said？’

‘Here's　the　money，’said　Boldwood，handing　the　soldier　a　purse　of　gold　coins。

‘Stop，listen！’said　Troy　in　a　whisper。　Light　footsteps　could　be　heard　on　the　road，coming　from　Bathsheba's　house。

‘It's　Bathsheba！She's　expecting　me。　I　must　go　and　speak　to　132　her，and　say　goodbye　to　her，as　you　and　I　have　arranged。　’

‘Why　do　you　need　to　speak　to　her？’

‘She'll　look　for　me　if　I　don't。　Don't　worry，you'll　hear　every　word　I　say　to　her。　It　may　help　you　in　your　courting，when　I've　gone！Stand　over　there　behind　the　tree，and　listen。　’

Troy　stepped　forward　and　whistled　a　double　note。

‘Frank，darling，is　that　you？’It　was　Bathsheba's　voice。

‘Oh　God！’said　Boldwood，unheard　behind　the　tree。

‘Yes，it's　me，’replied　Troy。

‘You'rs　so　late，Frank，’she　continued。　‘The　coach　arrived　a　long　time　ago！Frank，it's　so　lucky！There's　nobody　in　my　house　except　me　tonight，so　nobody　will　know　about　your　visit。　’

‘Excellent，’said　Troy。　‘But　I'll　just　have　to　cdlect　my　bag，so　you　run　home　and　I　promise　to　be　there　in　ten　minutes。　’

‘Yes，Frank。　’She　ran　back　to　her　house。

Troy　turned　to　Boldwood，who　had　stepped　out　from　behind　the　tree，his　face　white　and　his　whole　body　trembling。

‘Shall　I　tell　her　I　cannot　marry　her？’laughed　the　soldier。

‘No，no，wait！I　have　more　to　say　to　you！whispered　Boldwood，the　muscles　in　his　face　strangely　out　of　control。

‘Now，’said　Troy，‘you　see　my　problem。　I　can't　marry　them　both。　But　I　have　two　reasons　for　choosing　Fanny。　First，I　like　her　best，I　think，and　second，you're　paying　me　for　it。　’

At　that　moment　Boldwood　lost　control。　He　attacked　Troy　fiercely，holding　his　neck　with　botn　hands。

‘Wait，’gasped　Troy，who　had　not　expected　this，‘let　me　breathe！If　you　kill　me，you　injure　the　woman　you　love！’

‘What　do　you　mean？’cried　the　farmer。　‘I　should　kill　you　like　a　dog！’But　he　let　go　of　Troy's　neck，and　listened。

‘You　heard　how　Bathsheba　loves　me　and　expects　me　to　visit　her　tonight　Soon　the　whole　village　will　know　this。　The　only　way　to　save　her　good　name，and　her　position　in　Weatherbury，is　for　me　to　marry　her。　’

‘True，true，’agreed　Boldwood　after　a　pause。　‘Troy，marry　her！Poor，weak　woman！She　must　love　you　madly　to　give　herself　so　completely　to　you！’

‘But　what　about　Fanny？’asked　the　soldier　cleverly。

‘Don't　desert　her，Troy，I　beg　you！I　don't　mean　Fanny，I'm　speaking　of　Bathsheba！How　can　I　persuade　you？I　know！I'll　pay　you　five　hundred　pounds　on　the　day　you　marry　Bathsheba！’

Troy　was　secretly　shocked　at　Boldwood's　wild　offer。

‘And　I'll　receive　something　now　as　well？’he　asked。

‘Yes，all　the　money　I　have　with　me！’He　counted　the　coins　in　his　pocket。　‘Twenty－one　pounds—it's　all　for　you！’

‘Give　me　the　money，and　we'll　go　to　her　house。　I'll　ask　her　to　marry　me。　Of　course　I　won't　say　anything　about　the　money。　’

They　went　along　the　road　to　the　farmhouse，and　Boldwood　waited　outside　while　Troy　entered。　He　returned　in　a　moment　with　a　piece　cut　out　of　a　Bath　newspaper。

‘Here，read　this　first，’he　said，smiling。　And　Boldwood　read：

MARRIAGES：On　the　17th，in　Bath，Frank　Troy，Sergeant，to　Bathsheba　Everdene　of　Weatherbury。

The　paper　fell　from　Boldwood's　hands，as　the　soldier　began　to　laugh。　‘Fifty　pounds　to　marry　Fanny。　Twenty－one　pounds　not　to　marry　Fanny，but　Bathsheba。　And　now　you　see　I'm　already　Bathsheba's　husband。　You're　a　fool，Boldwood。　Although　I　may　be　a　bad　man，I'd　never　bribe　anyone　to　mar…ry，as　you've　tried　to。　And　Fanny？She　left　me　long　ago，and　I　don't　know　where　she　is。　I've　searched　everywhere　for　her。　Now　take　your　money　back！I　don't　want　it！’and　Troy　threw　the　gold　coins　into　the　road。

‘You　black－hearted　dog！I'll　punish　you　one　day，remember　that！’cried　the　broken　man。　Troy　laughed　loudly　as　he　closed　Bathsheba's　front　door。

Through　the　whole　of　the　long　night　that　followed，Boldwood's　dark　figure　could　be　seen　walking　over　the　hills　of　Weatherbury　like　a　ghost。

Just　before　the　clock　struck　five　the　next　morning，Gabriel　and　Coggan　were　walking　to　the　hayfields　past　their　mistress's　house，when　they　saw　a　surprising　sight。　Bathsheba's　bedroom　window　was　open，and　looking　out　of　it　was　a　hand…some　man，with　his　red　jacket　undone。　It　was　Sergeant　Troy。　

‘She's　married　him！’whispered　Coggan。　Gabriel　said　nothing，but　he　felt　so　ill　that　he　had　to　rest　on　the　gate　for　a　moment。　He　thought　with　pity　of　her　future，as　he　knew　her　marriage　to　Troy　could　not　be　happy　for　long。

‘Good　morning，friends！’shouted　Troy　cheerfully　to　the　men。

‘We　must　be　polite　to　him，’whispered　Coggan，‘if　he's　married　the　mistress。　’

‘Good　morning，Sergeant　Troy，’said　Gabriel　miserably。

‘Now　that　I've　left　the　army，I'll　soon　be　down　in　the　fields　with　you　again，’said　Troy　lightly。　‘My　new　position　won't　change　that，and　I'll　be　friendly　with　you　all，just　as　before。　Drink　to　my　health，men。　’And　he　threw　a　coin　towards　Gabriel，who　refused　to　pick　it　up。　Coggan，however，put　it　in　his　pocket。

As　they　went　on　their　way，they　noticed　Mr　Boldwood　riding　past　them。　Gabriel　forgot　his　own　sadness　when　he　saw　the　bitterness　and　deep　despair　on　the　farmer's　face。　

　



　


13

The　storm

　

There　was　always　a　harvest　supper　for　the　farm　workers　after　all　the　hay　and　wheat　had　been　cut。　On　behalf　of　his　wife，Sergeant　Troy　decided　to　have　it　one　evening　at　the　end　of　August，in　the　great　barn。　The　weather　was　unpleas…antly　warm　that　night。　On　his　way　to　the　harvest　supper　Gabriel　stopped　to　check　the　eight　huge　hay－and　wheat－ricks。　If，as　he　suspected，there　was　a　storm，the　ricks，which　were　all　uncovered，would　be　badly　damaged。

He　went　on　to　the　barn，where　the　farm　workers　had　already　finished　eating　and　started　dancing。　Gabriel　had　to　wait　until　Sergeant　Troy　had　finished　his　dance　with　Bathshe…ba　before　he　could　warn　him　about　possible　damage　to　the　ricks。　Troy，however，was　enjoying　himself　too　much　to　listen　to　Gabriel's　message。

‘Friends，’he　was　saying，‘I've　ordered　brandy　to　be　served　to　you　all，so　that　we　can　celebrate　my　wedding　properly。　’

‘No，Frank，don't　give　them　brandy，’begged　Bathsheba，‘it　will　only　do　them　harm！’

‘Don't　be　silly！’said　Troy。　‘Friends，let's　send　the　women　home！Then　we　men　can　drink　and　sing　as　much　as　we　like！’Angrily，Bathsheba　left　the　barn，followed　by　the　other　women。　

Gabriel　left　soon　afterwards　Later，when　he　went　to　check　that　Bathsheba's　sheep　were　safe，he　noticed　that　they　looked　very　frightened。　They　were　crowded　together　in　a　corner，their　tails　pointing　the　same　way。　To　the　shepherd　this　meant　they　were　expecting　a　storm。　He　went　to　look　at　the　ricks　again。　Should　the　whole　harvest　of　the　farm，worth　at　least　seven　hundred　and　fifty　pounds，be　lost　because　of　a　woman's　weakness？Never，if　I　can　prevent　it！thought　Gabriel。

He　returned　to　the　barn　to　ask　the　other　farm　workers　to　help　him　cover　the　ricks。　But　the　only　noise　he　could　hear　coming　from　the　barn　was　the　men's　loud　and　regular　breathing，and　when　he　entered，he　found　them　all　asleep，in…cluding　Troy。　The　brandy，which　they　had　been　too　polite　to　refuse，had　made　them　drunk　in　a　very　short　time，as　they　were　not　used　to　drinking　anything　stronger　than　beer。　It　was　useless　trying　to　wake　them。

Gabriel　left　the　barn，and　returned　to　the　ricks，two　of　which　he　managed　to　cover　with　the　heavy　material　kept　on　the　farm　for　this　purpose。　The　only　way　to　cover　the　other　six　ricks　was　by　thatching　them　with　straw，and　this　was　a　long　and　difficult　job　to　do　alone。

The　moon　disappeared，and　there　was　a　slow，light　wind，like　the　breath　of　a　dying　man，as　Gabriel　climbed　the　ladder　and　started　thatching　high　up　on　top　of　the　third　rick。　Light－ning　flashed　in　the　sky，and　there　was　a　loud　crash　of　thunder。　In　the　sudden　brightness　Gabriel　could　see　every　tree　around　him，until　the　light　disappeared　just　as　su