远离尘嚣-第6章

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truck　a　quarter　to　twelve，and　still　the　bride　did　not　come。　The　whispers　stopped，and　there　was　silence。　The　young　man　stood　as　stiff　and　straight　as　the　church　columns　around　him。　There　was　a　little　quiet　laughter　from　some　of　the　women，but　soon　they　were　silent　again，waiting　for　the　end。

As　the　church　clock　struck　twelve，they　listened　to　the　heavy　notes　ringing　out　from　the　church　tower。　The　vicar　left　his　position　near　the　soldier，and　disappeared　into　a　back　room。　Every　woman　in　the　church　was　waiting　to　see　the　young　man's　face，and　he　knew　it。　At　last　he　turned，and　marched　bravely　back　the　way　he　had　come，through　the　rows　of　smiling　women。

When　he　got　outside　and　crossed　the　square，he　met　a　girl　hurrying　towards　the　church。　When　she　saw　him，the　anxiety　on　her　face　changed　to　terror。

‘Well’？’he　said，staring　coldly　at　her。

‘Oh　Frank，I　made　a　mistake！I　thought　it　was　the　other　church，he　one　near　the　market，and　I　waited　there　till　a　quarter　to　twelve，and　then　I　realized　my　mistake。　But　it　doesn't　matter，because　we　can　just　as　easily　get　married　tomorrow。　’

‘You're　a　fool，to　play　games　with　me！’he　replied　angrily。

‘So　shall　we　get　married　tomorrow，Frank？’she　asked，not　understanding　how　seriously　she　had　offended　him。　　‘Tomorrow！’he　repeated，and　laughed。　‘I　don't　want　another　experience　like　that　for　a　while，I　can　promise　you！’

‘But　Frank，’she　begged　in　a　trembling　voice，‘it　wasn't　such　a　terrible　mistake！Now，dear　Frank，when　will　our　wedding　be？’

‘Ah，when？God　knows！’he　said，and　turning　away　from　her，walked　rapidly　away。　

　



　


7

Farmer　Boldwood　proposes　marriage

　

On　Saturday　at　Casterbridge　market　Boldwood　saw　the　woman　who　was　disturbing　his　dreams。　For　the　first　time　he　turned　his　head　and　looked　at　her。　It　was　in　fact　the　first　time　in　his　life　that　he　had　looked　at　any　woman。　Up　to　now　he　had　considered　women　to　be　distant，almost　foreign　creatures　who　had　nothing　to　do　with　him。　Now　he　saw　Bathsheba's　hair，and　every　detail　of　her　face。　He　noticed　her　figure，her　dress，and　even　her　feet。　She　seemed　very　beauti…ful　to　him，and　his　heart　began　to　move　within　him。　‘And　this　woman，this　lovely　young　woman，has　asked　me　to　marry　her！’he　thought。　As　he　was　watching　Bathsheba　selling　wheat　to　another　farmer，he　was　filled　with　jealousy。

All　this　time　Bathsheba　was　aware　of　his　eyes　on　her。　At　last　she　had　made　him　look　at　her！But　she　would　have　pre－ferred　him　to　admire　her　from　the　beginning，without　the　en…　couragement　of　her　valentine。　She　felt　sorry　she　had　disturbed　the　usual　calmness　of　a　man　she　respected，but　considered　she　could　not　apologize　to　him　without　either　offending　or　encour…aging　him。

Mr　Boldwood　did　not　try　to　speak　to　her，and　returned　home　to　his　farm。　He　was　a　man　of　strong　feelings，which　normally　lay　hidden　deep　inside　him。　Because　he　was　serious，and　did　not　joke　with　his　neighbours，people　thought　he　was　cold　But　when　he　loved　or　hated，it　was　with　his　whole　heart。　If　Bathsheba　had　known　how　strong　the　feelings　of　this　dark　and　silent　figure　were，she　would　have　blamed　herself　terribly　for　her　thoughtlessness。　But　nobody　guessed　what　lay　behind　his　calm　appearance。

A　few　days　later　Mr　Boldwood　was　looking　at　Bathsheba's　fields，which　were　next　to　his　own，when　he　saw　her　helping　Gabriel　Oak　with　the　sheep。　To　Boldwood，Bathsheba　shone　like　the　moon　on　a　dark　night。　His　heart，which　had　never　been　touched　before，was　filled　completely　with　his　love　for　her。　He　decided　to　go　and　speak　to　her。

As　he　stopped　at　the　gate　of　the　field，Bathsheba　looked　up　and　noticed　him。　Gabriel　was　watching　her　face　and　saw　her　blush。　He　immediately　thought　of　the　envelope，with　the　valentine，that　Boldwood　had　shown　him，and　suspected　Bathsheba　of　encouraging　the　farmer　to　fall　in　love　with　her。

Boldwood　realized　they　had　noticed　him，and　suddenly　felt　unsure　of　himself。　He　did　not　know　enough　about　women　to　discover　from　Bathsheba's　manner　whether　she　wanted　to　see　him　or　not。　And　so　he　did　not　enter　the　field，but　walked　on，　past　the　gate。

Bathsheba，however，knew　that　he　had　come　to　see　her，　and　felt　extremely　guilty。　She　promised　herself　never　again　to　disturb　the　peace　of　this　man's　life。　Unfortunately　her　promise　was　made　too　late，as　such　promises　often　are。

It　was　not　until　the　end　of　May　that　Boldwood　was　brave　enough　to　declare　his　love。　He　went　to　Bathsheba's　house，where　the　maids　told　him　their　mistress　was　watching　the　sheep－washing。　Every　spring　the　sheep　were　washed　in　a　spe－　cial　pool，to　keep　their　wool　clean　and　to　get　rid　of　insects　on　their　skin。　Boldwood　walked　across　the　fields　to　the　pool，　where　he　found　the　farm　workers　busily　washing　the　sheep。

Bathsheba　was　standing　near　them，and　saw　Boldwood　com…　ing　towards　her。　She　moved　away，walking　beside　the　river，　but　she　could　hear　footsteps　behind　her　in　the　grass，and　felt　love　all　around　her，like　perfume　in　the　air　Boldwood　caught　up　with　her。

‘Miss　Everdene！’he　said　quietly。

She　trembled，turned，and　said，‘Good　morning。　’She　had　guessed　the　truth　from　the　way　he　spoke　those　two　words。

‘I　feel—almost　too　much　to　think，　’he　said　simply。　‘My　life　does　not　belong　to　me　any　more，Miss　Everdene，but　to　you。　I've　come　to　propose　marriage　to　you。　’

Bathsheba　tried　not　to　show　any　expression　on　her　face。

‘I'm　now　forty…one，’he　continued。　‘I've　never　married，or　thought　I　ever　would　marry。　But　we　all　change，and　I　changed　when　I　saw　you。　More　than　anything　else，I　want　you　as　my　wife。　’　‘I　think，Mr　Boldwood，that　although　I　respect　you　very　much，I　don't　feel—enough　for　you—to　accept　your　proposal。　’

‘But　my　life　is　worthless　without　you！’he　cried，calm　no　longer。　‘I　want　you…to　let　me　say　I　love　you，again　and　again！’Bathsheba　remained　silent。　‘I　think　and　hope　you　care　enough　for　me　to　listen　to　what　I　have　to　say！’he　added。

Bathsheba　was　about　to　ask　why　he　should　think　that，when　she　remembered　the　valentine　After　all，it　was　quite　natural　for　him　to　think　she　admired　him。

‘I　wish　I　could　court　you　with　beautiful　words，’the　farmer　went　on，‘but　I　can　only　say　I　love　you　madly　and　want　you　for　my　wife。　I　wouldn't　have　proposed　if　you　hadn't　allowed　me　to　hope。　’

‘Mr　Boldwood，this　is　difficult　for　me！I'm　afraid　I　can't　marry　you。　I'm　not　in　love　with　you！I　should　never　have　sent　that　valentine—forgive　me—it　was　a　thoughtless　thing　to　do。　’

‘No，no，don't　say　it　was　thoughtless！Say　it　was　the　beginning　of　a　feeling　that　you　would　like　me。　Just　consider　whether　you　can　accept　me　as　a　husband。　I　know　I'm　too　old　for　you，but　believe　me，　I'll　take　more　care　of　you　than　a　younger　man　would。　You'll　have　nothing　to　worry　about。　You'll　have　everything　you　want。　God　only　knows　how　much　you　mean　to　me！’

Bathsheba's　young　heart　was　full　of　pity　for　this　sensitive　man　who　had　spoken　so　simply　and　honestly。

‘Don't　say　it，don't！You　feel　so　much，and　I　feel　nothing，’she　replied。　‘Don't　discuss　it　any　more。　I　can't　think！Oh，I've　given　you　such　pain！’

‘Tell　me　that　you　don't　refuse　completely。　Give　me　some　hope！May　I　ask　you　again？May　I　think　of　you？’

‘Yes，I　suppose　so。　’

‘May　I　hope　you　will　accept　my　proposal　next　time？’

‘No，don't　hope！I　must　go　now。　Give　me　time　to　think。　’

‘Yes，I'll　give　you　time，’he　answered　gratefully。　‘Thank　you，I'm　happier　now。　’

‘No，please，don't　be　happier，Mr　Boldwood，if　happiness　only　comes　from　my　agreeing！I　must　think。　’

‘I'll　wait，’he　agreed。　They　turned　away　from　each　other，　and　returned　to　their　separate　houses。　

　



　


8

Bathsheba's　sheep　in　danger

　

Because　Bathsheba　was　not　at　all　in　love　with　Farmer　Boldwood，she　was　able　to　consider　his　proposal　of　marriage　calmly。　It　was　an　offer　which　many　women　of　good　family　in　the　area　would　have　been　delighted　to　accept。　He　was　serious，respectable　and　rich。　If　she　had　wanted　a　husband，she　could　not　have　found　a　good　reason　for　refusing　to　marry　him。　But　she　was　still　enjoying　her　new　position　as　mistress　of　a　farm　and　house，and　although　she　respected　and　liked　him，she　did　not　want　to　marry　him　Howeve