远离尘嚣-第16章

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eba　was　getting　ready　for　it。

‘I'm　upset，Liddy，it's　foolish　of　me，I　know，’she　said。　‘I　wish　I　didn't　have　to　go　to　the　party。　I　haven't　spoken　to　Mr　Boldwood　since　the　autumn，when　I　promised　to　see　him　at　Christmas，so　I'll　have　to　go。　My　black　silk　dress，please。　’

‘Surely　you　don't　need　to　wear　black　tonight，ma'am？You've　been　a　widow　for　fourteen　months　now。　That's　a　long　time。　’

‘No，if　I　wear　a　bright　dress，people　will　say　I'm　encouraging　Mr　Boldwood。　How　do　I　look，Liddy？’

‘I've　hardly　ever　seen　you　look　so　lovely，ma'am。　’

‘I　rish　offending　him　if　I　don't　go。　Oh，I　wish　I　could　have　continued　as　I've　been　for　the　last　year　or　so，with　no　hopes　or　fears，and　no　pleasures　and　no　sadness。　’

‘If　Mr　Boldwood　asked　you　to　run　away　with　him，what　would　you　say，ma'am？’said　Liddy　with　a　smile。

‘Now，Liddy，no　joking。　This　is　far　too　serious。　I　won't　marry　anyone　for　a　long　time。　Get　my　cloak。　It's　time　to　go。　’

At　the　same　time，in　his　farmhouse，Boldwood　was　also　dressing　He　was　trying　on　a　new　coat　which　had　just　been　delivered。　Tonight　he　wanted　to　look　his　best。

Just　then　Gabriel　entered，to　report　on　farm　business。

‘Oh，Oak，’said　Boldwood。　‘You're　invited　to　the　party　tonight，of　course。　’

‘I'll　try　to　come，if　I'm　not　too　busy，’said　Gabriel　quietly。　‘I'm　glad　to　see　you　looking　happier，sir。　’

‘Yes，I　confess　I'm　cheerful　tonight。　But　my　happiness　depends　on　a　hope。　Oak，my　hands　are　shaking。　Could　you　help　me　with　the　buttons　on　this　coat？’And　as　Gabriel　came　forward　to　help，he　went　on　feverishly，‘Oak，does　a　woman　keep　her　promise　to　become　engaged？You　know　women　better　than　I　do—tell　me。　’

‘I　don't　think　I　understand　women　well　at　all。　But　if　she　wants　to　put　right　a　mistake，she　may　keep　a　promise　like　that。　’

‘I　think　she　will，’whispered　Boldwood。　‘She　says　she　can　think　of　me　as　a　husband　seven　years　after　Troy's　disappear…ance。　’

‘Seven　years，’said　Gabriel，shaking　his　head。　‘A　long　time。　’

‘But　it　isn't　seven　years！’answered　Boldwood　impatiently。　‘It's　only　five　years，nine　months　and　a　few　days　now！’

‘Don't　build　your　hopes　on　her　promise，sir。　Remember，she　disappointed　you　once。　And　she's　young。　’

‘She　never　promised　me　that　first　time，so　she's　never　broken　her　promise　to　me　yet。　I　trust　her　to　keep　her　word。　But　let's　talk　business　for　a　moment，Oak。　You　work　so　hard　as　my　farm　manager　that　I　want　you　to　have　a　larger　share　of　the　profits。　I　know　a　little　about　your　secret。　You　have　warm　feelings　for　her　too，but　you've　let　me　succeed　in　courting　her！I　want　to　show　you　how　grateful　I　am　for　that。　’

‘Oh，that's　not　necessary，thank　you，’said　Gabriel　hurriedly。　‘I　must　get　used　to　my　disappointment　as　other　men　have。　’He　left，rather　worried　by　Boldwood's　strange　manner。

Outside　the　front　door　of　Boldwood's　house　a　group　of　men　were　talking　quietly。

‘Sergeant　Troy　was　seen　in　Casterbridge　this　afternoon，’said　Billy　Smallbury。　‘His　body　was　never　found，you　know，neighbours。　’

‘Should　we　tell　the　mistress？’asked　Laban　Tall。　‘Poor　woman！What　a　mistake　she　made　in　marrying　him！’

Just　then　Boldwood　came　out　and　walked　to　the　gate。　He　did　not　notice　the　men，who　were　standing　in　the　darkness。

‘I　hope　to　God　she'll　come！’he　whispered。　‘Oh，my　darling，my　darling，why　do　you　make　me　wait　like　this！’

They　all　heard　his　words　clearly。　The　sound　of　wheels　came　from　the　road，and　Bathsheba　arrived。　Boldwood　took　her　into　the　house，and　the　door　closed　behind　them。

‘I　didn't　realize　he　was　still　in　love　with　her！’said　Billy。

‘Poor　Mr　Boldwood，the　news　will　be　hard　for　him，’said　Jan　Coggan。　‘We'll　have　to　tell　the　mistress　her　husband's　still　alive。　We'll　go　in　and　find　the　right　moment　to　speak　to　her。　’

But　the　right　moment　never　came。　Bathsheba　had　planned　to　stay　at　the　party　for　only　an　hour，and　she　was　in　fact　preparing　to　leave　when　Boldwood　found　her　alone　in　an　upstairs　room。

‘Mrs　Troy，you　can't　go！’he　said　wildly。　‘We've　only　just　begun！’

‘I'd　like　to　go　now。　I　think　I'll　walk　home。　’

‘You　know　what　I　want　to　say　to　you？’Bathsheba　looked　silently　at　the　floor。　’You　do　give　it？’he　said　eagerly。

‘Give　what？’she　asked，althoug　she　knew　well　what　he　meant。

‘Your　promise！Just　a　business　arrangement　between　two　sensible　people　who　no　longer　think　of　love。　To　marry　me　in　five　to　six　years！You　owe　it　to　me！’

‘I　have　no　feeling　in　that　matter　at　all，’she　replied，hesitating。　‘But　if　I　must，I　promise—if　I'm　really　a　widow。　’

‘You'll　marry　me　in　five　and　three…quarter　years’time？’

‘Let　me　think！I'll　marry　nobody　else。　Oh，I　don't　know！Is　Frank　really　dead？Perhaps　I　should　ask　a　lawyer！’

‘Say　the　words，my　dear　one，and　I　won't　speak　about　it　any　more。　A　long　engagement，then　marriage—Oh　Bathsheba！Promise　yourself　to　me！’he　begged　wildly，forgetting　his　cool，businesslike　manner。　‘I've　loved　you　so　much　and　for　so　long！’

‘Very　well，’she　said　after　a　pause，‘I'll　marry　you　six　years　from　now　if　we're　both　alive　and　if　my　husband　doesn't　return。　’

‘Then　wear　this　ring　for　me。　’Boldwood　took　from　his　pocket　a　diamond　engagement　ring，and　held　it　out　to　her。

‘No，no，I　can't，I　don't　want　anyone　to　know！’

‘Just　wear　it　tonight，to　please　me！’Bathsheba　could　say　no　more，and　weakly　let　him　put　it　on　her　finger。　He　left　her。

In　a　few　minutes　she　was　calmer。　She　put　on　her　cloak　and　went　downstairs。　She　paused　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　Bold…wood　was　standing　near　the　fire，and　he　had　just　noticed　that　a　group　of　villagers　were　whispering　among　themselves。

‘What's　the　matter，men？’he　asked　cheerfully。　‘Is　any…body　engaged　or　married，born　or　dead？Tell　us　the　news，Tall。　’

‘I　wish　somebody　was　dead，’replied　Laban　Tall　in　a　whisper。

‘What　was　that，Tall？’asked　Boldwood。　‘Speak　out，if　you　have　anything　to　say。　’

At　that　moment　there　was　a　knock　on　the　front　door。　One　of　the　men　opened　it。　‘A　stranger　wants　to　see　Mrs　Troy，’he　said。

‘Ask　him　to　come　in，’said　Boldwood。

The　message　was　given，and　Troy，wrapped　up　to　his　eyes　in　the　cloak，stood　in　the　doorway。　Those　who　knew　he　was　in　the　area　recognized　him　immediately。　Boldwood　did　not。　He　said，‘Come　in，stranger，and　have　a　Christmas　drink　with　us！’

Troy　entered，threw　off　his　cloak　and　looked　Boldwood　in　the　face。　But　it　was　only　when　he　laughed　that　Boldwood　recognized　the　man　who　had　destroyed　his　hope　and　happiness　once　and　was　about　to　do　it　again。

Troy　turned　to　Bathsheba。　She　had　dropped　miserably　on　to　the　lowest　stair。　Her　mouth　was　blue　and　dry，her　eyes　empty　and　staring。　He　said，‘Bathsheba，I've　come　here　for　you！’She　did　not　reply。　‘Come　home　with　me，do　you　hear！’He　went　towards　her。

A　strange，thin　voice，full　of　despair，came　from　the　fire…place。　‘Bathsheba，go　with　your　husband！’said　Boldwood。

She　did　not　move，and　when　Troy　stretched　out　his　hand　to　pull　her　towards　him，she　fell　back　with　a　quick，low　scream。

A　second　later　there　was　a　loud　bang，and　the　hall　was　filled　with　smoke。　At　Bathsheba's　cry，Boldwood's　despair　had　turned　to　anger。　From　the　wall　above　the　fireplace　he　had　taken　a　gun　and　shot　Troy，who　now　lay　very　still。　Boldwood　turned　the　gun　on　himself，but　was　stopped　by　one　of　his　men。

‘It　doesn't　matter！’Boldwood　gasped。　‘There's　another　way　to　die！’

He　crossed　the　room　to　Bathsheba，and　kissed　her　hand。　Then　he　went　out　into　the　darkness　before　anyone　could　prevent　him。　

　



　


19

Bathsheba　and　Gabriel

　

Gabriel　arrived　at　Boldwood's　house　about　five　minutes　after　the　shooting。　The　villagers　were　all　shocked　and　silent，but　Bathsheba　was　sitting　on　the　floor，calmly　holding　Troy's　head。

‘Gabriel，’she　said　simply，‘I'm　afraid　it's　too　late，but　ride　to　Casterbridge　for　a　doctor。　Mr　Boldwood　has　shot　my　husband　Gabriel　obeyed　at　once，and　while　riding　along　was　tinking　so　hard　about　the　shooting　that　in　the　darkness　he　failed　to　notice　a　man　walking　along　the　road　to　Casterbridge。　That　man　was　Boldwood，on　his　way　to　Casterbridge　to　confess　to　his　crime。

Bathsheba　order