远离尘嚣-第5章

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’

‘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　them　in　here。　’

‘We've　been　talking　of　the　mistress，and　her　strange　behaviour，shepherd，’said　the　maltster。

‘What　have　you　been　saying　about　her？’asked　Gabriel　sharply，turning　to　the　others。　‘I　suppose　you've　been　speak…　ing　against　her？’he　added　angrily　to　Joseph　Poorgrass。

‘No，no，not　a　word，’said　Joseph，trembling　and　blushing　with　terror。

‘well，look　here，neighbours。　’Gabriel，although　normally　one　of　the　quietest　and　most　gentle　men　on　earth，had　sudden－ly　become　aggressive。　‘The　first　man　I　hear　saying　anything　bad　about　our　mistress　will　receive　this　in　his　face，’and　he　banged　his　great　heavy　hand　down　on　the　maltster's　table。

‘Now　don't　get　so　angry，shepherd，and　sit　down！’said　Jacob。

‘We　hear　you're　a　very　clever　man，shepherd，’added　Joseph　Poorgrass　from　behind　the　maltster's　bed，where　he　had　been　hiding。　‘We　all　wish　we　were　as　clever　as　you，don't　we，neighbours？’There　was　general　agreement。

‘I　think　mistress　ought　to　have　made　you　her　farm　manager，you're　so　suitable　for　the　job，’continued　Joseph。　He　could　see　that　Gabriel　was　no　longer　angry。

‘I　don't　mind　confessing　I　was　hoping　to　be　her　farm　man－　ager，’said　Gabriel　in　his　honest　way。　‘But　Miss　Everdene　can　do　as　she　likes，and　she's　chosen　to　manage　her　own　farm—and　keep　me　as　an　ordinary　shepherd　only。　’He　sounded　rather　depressed，and　looked　sadly　into　the　fire。

Before　anyone　could　reply，the　door　opened　and　Mr　Bold－　wood　came　in。　He　greeted　them　all　and　handed　the　letter　to　Gabriel。

‘I　opened　this　by　mistake，Oak，’he　said，‘but　it　must　be　for　you。　I'm　sorry。　’

‘Oh，it　doesn't　matter　at　all，’answered　Gabriel，who　had　no　secrets　from　anyone。　He　read　this　letter：

Dear　friend，

I　don't　know　your　name，but　I　want　to　thank　you　for　your　kindness　to　me　on　the　night　I　left　Weatherbury。　I'm　also　returning　the　money　you　gave　me。　I'm　happy　to　say　I'm　going　to　marry　the　young　man　who　has　been　courting　me，　Sergeant　Troy。　As　he　is　a　nobleman's　son，I　know　he　wouldn't　like　me　to　accept　a　gift　from　anyone。　Please　don't　tell　anyone　about　my　marriage。　We　intend　to　surprise　Weatherbury　by　arriuing　there　as　husband　and　wife，very　soon。　Thank　you　again。

Fanny　Robin。

‘You'd　better　read　it，Mr　Boldwood，’said　Gabriel。　‘It's　from　Fanny　Robin。　She　wants　to　keep　this　a　secret　but　I　know　you're　interested　in　her。　I　met　her　on　my　way　to　Weather…　bury，but　I　didn't　know　then　who　she　was。　’　When　Mr　Boldwood　had　finished　reading　the　letter，he　looked　very　serious。　‘Poor　Fanny！’he　said。　‘I　don't　think　this　Sergeant　Troy　will　ever　marry　her。　He's　clever，and　handsome，but　he　can't　be　trusted。　What　a　silly　girl　Fanny　is！’　

‘I'm　very　sorry　to　hear　that，’said　Gabriel。

‘By　the　way，Oak，’said　Mr　Boldwood　quietly，as　he　and　the　shepherd　left　the　malthouse　together，‘could　you　tell　me　whose　writing　this　is？’He　showed　Gabriel　the　envelope　containing　the　valentine。

Gabriel　looked　at　it，and　said　simply，‘Miss　Everdene’s。　’Then　he　realized　that　Bathsheba　must　have　written　to　Mr　Boldwood　without　signing　her　name，and　he　looked，puzzled，　at　the　farmer。

Mr　Boldwood　replied　rather　too　quickly　to　Gabriel's　unspo－　ken　question。　‘It's　quite　normal　to　try　to　discover　who　has　written　the——valentine。　That's　the——fun　of　it。　’There　was　no　fun　at　all　in　his　manner。　‘Goodbye，Oak，’he　added，and　walked　slowly　back　to　his　empty　house。

A　few　days　later，in　the　town　north　of　Weatherbury　where　the　soldiers　were　staying，a　wedding　was　arranged　As　the　church　clock　in　the　square　struck　half…past　eleven，a　handsome　young　soldier　marched　into　the　church　and　spoke　to　the　vicar　Then　he　stood　still　in　the　centre　of　the　church，waiting　for　his　bride。　The　church　was　full　of　the　women　and　girls　who　had　at－　tended　the　morning　service　and　had　decided　to　wait　to　see　the　wedding。　They　watched　the　young　man's　straight　back，whis－　pering　among　themselves。　The　soldier　waited　without　moving　a　muscle。　The　church　clock　struck　a　quarter　to　twelve，and　still　the　bride　did　not　come。　The　whispers　stopped，and　there　was　sil