远离尘嚣-第13章

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oy　soon　caught　up　with　his　wife。　He　looked　very　upset。

‘Who　is　that　woman？Bathsheba　looked　closely　into　his　face。

‘She's　not　important　to　either　of　us，’he　replied　coldly。　

‘I　think　you　know　her，’Bathsheba　went　on。

‘I　don't　care　what　you　think！’he　answered，and　they　continued　their　ride　in　silence。

The　two　miles　to　Casterbridge　seemed　a　very　long　way　to　the　woman，who　was　tired　and　ill。　Sometimes　she　walked，sometimes　she　rested　a　little，beside　the　road。　All　through　the　night　her　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　lights　of　Casterbridge，the　end　of　her　journey。　At　six　o'clock　the　next　morning　she　finally　fell　in　front　of　the　door　of　the　workhouse，and　the　people　there　took　her　in。

Bathsheba　and　her　husband　did　not　speak　much　that　evening，or　the　following　day。　But　on　Sunday　evening　Troy　said　suddenly，‘Bathsheba，could　you　let　me　have　twenty　pounds？I　need　it。　’

‘Ah！’she　said　sadly，‘for　the　races　tomorrow。　Oh，Frank，only　a　few　weeks　ago　you　said　I　was　far　sweeter　than　all　your　other　pleasures！Now　won't　you　stop　risking　money　on　horses，which　is　more　a　worry　than　a　pleasure？Say　yes　to　your　wife，Frank，say　yes！’Her　beautiful　face　would　have　persuaded　most　men，including　Troy　if　he　had　not　been　married　to　her，but　he　no　longer　loved　her　enough　to　agree　to　anything　she　wanted。

‘Well，the　money　isn't　for　racing　anyway，’he　said。　‘Don't　keep　me　short　of　money，Bathsheba，or　you'll　be　sorry。　’

‘I'm　sorry　already，’she　replied，‘sorry　that　our　love　has　come　to　an　end。　’

‘Love　always　ends　after　marriage。　I　think　you　hate　me。　’

‘No，not　you。　I　only　hate　your　faults。　’

‘Then　why　not　help　me　to　improve？Come，let's　be　friends。　Just　give　me　the　twenty　pounds。　’

‘Well，here's　the　money。　Take　it。　’

‘Thank　you。　I　expect　I'll　be　away　before　breakfast　tomor…row。　’

‘Must　you　go，Frank？Stay　with　me！There　was　a　time　when　you　used　to　call　me　darling。　Now　you　don't　care　how　I　spend　my　time。　’

‘I　must　go，’said　Troy，taking　out　his　watch。　He　opened　the　back　of　the　watch　case，and　Bathsheba，who　happened　to　be　looking，saw　that　there　was　a　curl　of　hair　hidden　inside。

‘Oh　Frank！’she　gasped。　‘A　woman's　hair！Whose　is　it？’

Troy　closed　the　watch　immediately　and　replied　carelessly，‘Why，yours　of　course。　I'd　quite　forgotten　I　had　it。　’

‘You're　lying，Frank。　It's　yellow　hair。　Mine　is　darker。　’

‘Well，all　right，if　I　must　tell　you，it's　the　hair　of　a　young　woman　I　was　going　to　marry　before　I　met　you。　’

‘Tell　me　her　name！Is　she　married？’

‘I　can't　tell　you　her　name，but　she's　single。　’

‘Is　she　alive？Is　she　pretty？’

‘Yes　to　both　questions。　’

‘How　can　she　be　pretty，poor　thing，with　hair　that　colour？’

‘Her　hair　has　been　admired　by　everybody　who's　seen　her。　It's　beautiful　hair！Don't　be　jealous，Bathsheba！You　shouldn't　have　married　me　if　you　didn't　trust　me！’

‘This　is　all　I　get　for　loving　you　so　much！’cried　Bathsheba　bitterly。　‘I　would　have　died　for　you　when　I　married　you，and　now　you　laugh　at　my　foolishness　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