远离尘嚣-第4章

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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　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