远离尘嚣-第9章

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Blushing　and　almost　crying，Bathsheba　hurried　home，whis…pering　to　herself，‘Oh　what　have　I　done？What　does　it　mean？I　wish　I　knew　how　much　of　what　he　says　is　true！

　



　


10

Bathsheba　in　love

　

Once　or　twice　during　the　next　few　days　Bathsheba　saw　Troy　working　in　her　hayflelds。　He　behaved　in　a　pleasant，friendly　manner　towards　her，and　she　began　to　lose　her　fear　of　him。

‘Cutting　your　hay　is　harder　work　than　sword　practice！’he　told　her　one　day，a　smile　lighting　up　his　handsome　face。

‘Is　it？I've　never　seen　sword　practice，’she　answered。

‘Ah！Would　you　like　to？’asked　Troy。

Bathsheba　hesitated。　She　had　heard　wonderful　stories　from　people　who　had　watched　soldiers　practising，stories　of　shining　metal　flashing　through　the　air。

‘I　would　like　to　see　it，very　much。　’

‘Well，I'll　show　you。　I　can　get　a　sword　by　this　evening。　Will　you…’and　he　bent　over　her，whispering　in　her　ear。

‘Oh　no！’said　Bathsheba，blushing。　‘I　couldn't。　’

‘Surely　you　could？　Nobody　would　know。　’

‘Well，if　I　came，Liddy　would　have　to　come　with　me。　’

‘I　don't　see　why　you　want　to　bring　her，’Troy　said　coldly。

‘Well　then，I　won't　bring　her—and　I'll　come。　But　only　for　a　very　short　time。　’

So　at　eight　o'clock　that　evening，Bathsheba　found　herself，in　spite　of　her　doubts，climbing　the　hill　near　her　house　and　go－ing　down　the　other　side。　Now　she　was　in　what　seemed　like　a　natural　theatre，a　deep，round　hollow　in　the　ground　。　It　was　completely　hidden　from　her　house　and　the　path。　This　was　the　place　where　Troy　had　asked　her　to　meet　him。

And　Troy，in　his　bright　red　uniform，was　there。

‘Now，he　said，producing　his　sword，which　flashed　in　the　evening　sunlight，‘let　me　show　you。　One，two，three，four。　Like　this！A　sword　can　kill　a　man　in　a　second。　’

Bathsheba　saw　a　kind　of　rainbow　in　the　air，and　gasped。

‘How　cruel　and　murderous！’she　cried。

‘Yes。　Now　I'll　pretend　to　fight　you。　You　are　my　enemy，but　the　only　difference　from　a　real　fight　is　that　I'll　miss　you　each　time。　Stand　in　front　of　me，and　don't　move！’

Bathsheba　was　beginning　to　enjoy　this。　‘I'll　just　test　you　first，’added　Troy，‘to　see　whether　you're　brave　enough。　’

The　sword　flashed　in　the　air，from　her　left　to　right　side。　It　seemed　to　go　through　her　body。　But　there　it　was　again　in　Troy's　hand，perfectly　clean　and　free　from　blood。

‘Oh！’she　cried，frightened。　‘Have　you　killed　me？No，yon　haven't！How　did　you　do　it？’

‘I　haven't　touched　you，’said　Troy　quietly。　‘Now，　you　aren't　afraid，are　you？I　promise　I　won't　hurt　you，or　even　touch　you。　’

‘I　don't　think　I'm　afraid。　Is　the　sword　very　sharp？’

‘Oh　no—just　stand　very　still。　Now！’

In　a　second，Bathsheba　could　no　longer　see　the　sky　or　the　ground。　The　shining　weapon　flashed　above，around　and　in　110　front　of　her，catching　light　from　the　low　sun　and　whistling　as　it　rushed　through　the　air。　Never　had　Sergeant　Troy　managed　his　sword　better　than　today。

‘Your　hair　is　a　little　untidy，’he　said。　‘Allow　me，’and　before　she　could　move　or　speak，a　curl　dropped　to　the　ground。

‘You　are　very　brave，for　a　woman！’he　congratulated　her。

‘It　was　because　I　didn't　expect　it。　Now　I'm　afraid　of　you，I　am，really！’

‘This　time　I　won't　even　touch　your　hair。　I'm　going　to　kill　that　insect　on　your　dress。　Stand　still！’

Not　daring　to　tremble，she　saw　the　point　of　his　sword　coming　towards　her　heart，and，sure　that　this　time　she　would　die，closed　her　eyes。　But　when　she　opened　them，she　saw　the　insect，dead，on　the　point　of　the　sword。

‘It's　magic！’she　cried。　‘And　how　could　you　cut　off　one　of　my　curls　with　a　sword　that　isn't　sharp？’

‘It's　sharper　than　any　knife，’he　said。　‘I　had　to　lie　to　you　about　that，to　give　you　the　confidence　to　stand　still。　’

Bathsheba's　feelings　were　almost　too　much　for　her　to　control，and　she　sat　down　suddenly　in　the　grass。

‘I　could　have　died，’she　whispered。

‘You　were　perfectly　safe，’Troy　told　her。　‘My　sword　never　makes　a　mistake。　I　must　leave　you　now。　I'll　keep　this　to　re－mind　me　of　you。　’He　bent　to　pick　up　the　curl　of　hair，which　he　put　carefully　in　his　pocket，next　to　his　heart。　She　was　not　strong　enough　to　say　or　do　anything。　He　came　closer，bent　112　again，and　a　minute　later　his　red　coat　disappeared　through　the　grass。　Bathsheba　blushed　guiltily　and　tears　rolled　down　her　face。　In　that　minute　Troy　had　kissed　her　on　the　lips。

Determined，independent　women　often　show　their　weakness　when　they　fall　in　love，and　Bathsheba　had　very　little　experi…ence　of　the　world，or　of　men。　It　was　as　difficult　for　her　to　see　Troy's　bad　qualities，which　he　kept　carefully　hidden，as　to　ad…mire　Gabriel　Oak's　good　ones，which　were　not　all　obvious　at　first　sight。

One　evening　a　few　days　later，Gabriel　went　to　find　his　mis…tress。　He　knew　that　she　was　falling　in　love，and　had　decided　to　warn　her　of　the　mistake　she　was　making。　He　found　her　walking　along　a　path　through　the　fields。

‘I　was　worried　about　your　walking　alone，miss，’he　said。

‘It's　rather　late，and　there　are　some　bad　men　in　the　area。　’He　was　hoping　to　introduce　Troy's　name　as　one　of　the　‘bad　men’。

‘I　never　meet　any，’said　Bathsheba　lightly。

Gabriel　tried　again。　‘Farmer　Boldwood　will　be　taking　care　of　you　in　future，of　course。　’

‘What　do　you　mean，Gabriel？’

‘Well，when　you　and　he　are　married，miss，as　everybody　expects。　You've　let　him　court　you，after　all。　’

‘Everybody　is　wrong，Gabriel。　I　didn't　promise　him　any－thing。　I　respect　him，but　I　won't　marry　him。　’

‘I　wish　you　had　never　met　that　young　Sergeant　Troy，114　miss，’be　said　sadly。　‘He's　not　good　enough　for　you。　’

‘How　dare　you　say　that！He's　of　good　family，and　well－educated！’replied　Bathsheba　angrily。

‘He　can't　be　trusted，miss。　Don't　trust　him，I　beg　you。　’

‘He's　as　good　as　anybody　in　the　village！He　goes　to　church　regularly！He　told　me　so　himself。　’

‘I'm　afraid　nobody　has　ever　seen　him　in　church。　I　certainly　haven't。　’Cabriel's　heart　ached　when　he　saw　how　completely　Bathsheba　trusted　the　soldier。

‘That's　because　he　enters　by　the　old　tower　door　and　sits　at　the　back，where　he　can't　be　seen，’she　replied　eagerly。

‘You　know，mistress，’said　Gabriel　in　a　deep　voice　full　of　sadness，‘that　I　love　you　and　shall　love　you　for　ever。　I　accept　that　I　can't　marry　you　now　that　I'm　poor。　But　Bathsheba，dear　mistress，think　of　your　position！Be　careful　of　your　behaviour　towards　this　soldier　Mr　Boldwood　is　sixteen　years　older　than　you。　Consider　how　well　he　would　lood　after　you！’

‘Leave　my　farm，Cabriel，’said　Bathsheba，her　face　white　with　anger。　‘You　can't　speak　like　that　to　me，your　mistress！’

‘Don't　be　foolish！You've　already　sent　me　away　once。　How　would　you　manage　without　me？No，although　I'd　like　to　have　my　own　farm，I'll　stay　with　you，and　you　know　why。　’

‘Well，I　suppose　you　can　stay　if　you　wish。　Will　you　leave　me　here　now　please？I　ask　not　as　your　mistress，but　as　a　woman。

‘Of　course，Miss　Everdene，’said　Gabriel　gently。　He　was　a　little　surprised　by　her　request，as　it　was　getting　dark，and　they　were　on　a　lonely　hill　some　way　from　her　house。　As　she　moved　away　from　him，the　reason　became　clear。　The　figure　of　a　soldier　appeared　on　the　hill　and　came　to　meet　Bathsheba。　Gabriel　turned　away　and　walked　sadly　home。　On　his　way　he　passed　the　church，where　he　looked　closely　at　the　old　tower　door。　It　was　covered　with　climbing　plants，and　clearly　had　not　been　used　for　years。

Half　an　hour　later　Bathsheba　arrived　home，with　Troy's　words　of　love　still　in　her　ears。　He　had　kissed　her　a　second　time。　Wild　and　feverish　with　excitement，she　sat　down　imme…diately　to　write　to　Boldwood，to　inform　him　that　she　could　not　marry　him。　The　letter　would　reach　him　on　his　business　trip。　She　was　so　enger　to　send　the　letter　at　once　that　she　called　Liddy　to　post　it。

‘Liddy，tell　me，’she　said　urgently，when　her　maid　entered　the　room，promise　me　that　Sergeant　Troy　isn't　a　bad　man。　Promise　me　that　he　doesn't　chase　girls，as　people　say！’

‘But，miss，how　can　I　say　he　doesn't　if　he—’

‘Don't　be　so　cruel，Liddy！Say　you　don't　believe　he's　had！’

‘I　don't　know　what　to　say，miss，’said　Liddy，beginning　to　cry。　‘I'll　make