远离尘嚣- 第4部分

‘He　does　work　hard，’said　the　young　woman，looking　up　at　Gabriel；　who　had　not　noticed　her。　‘I　wish　he　worked　for　me。　’

As　the　ricks　were　no　longer　in　danger，　Gabriel　started　to　climb　down，and　at　the　bottom　he　met　the　maid。

‘I　have　a　message　from　the　farmer，who　wishes　to　thank　you　for　all　you've　done，’she　said。

‘Where　is　he？’asked　Gabriel，suddenly　aware　of　the　chance　of　getting　some　work。

‘It　isn't　a　he，it's　a　she，’answered　the　girl。

‘A　woman　farmer？’asked　Gabriel。

‘Yes，and　a　rich　one　too！’said　a　villager　who　was　standing　near。　‘She　inherited　her　uncle's　farm，when　he　died　suddenly。　She　has　business　in　every　bank　in　Casterbridge！’

‘She's　over　there，wrapped　in　a　cloak，on　her　horse，’added　the　maid。　In　the　darkness　Gabriel　could　only　see　the　shape　of　a　woman　sitting　on　a　horse。　He　walked　over　to　her。　Although　his　face　was　black　from　the　smoke　and　his　clothes　were　burnt　by　the　fire，he　remembered　to　lift　his　hat　politely，and　asked；　looking　up　at　her，‘Do　you　want　a　shepherd，ma'am？’She　let　her　cloak　fall　back　from　her　head　in　surprise。　Gabriel　and　his　cold…hearted　darling，Bathsheba　Everdene，stared　at　each　other。　She　did　not　speak。　He　only　repeated　sadly，‘Do　you　want　a　shepherd，ma'am？’

Bathsheba　turned　away　into　the　shadows　to　consider。　She　was　a　little　sorry　for　him，　but　also　glad　that　she　had　improved　her　position　since　they　last　met。　She　realized　she　had　almost　forgotten　his　offer　of　marriage　on　Norcombe　Hill。　

‘Yes，’she　answered　quietly，blushing　a　little，‘I　do　want　a　shepherd。　But—’

‘He's　just　the　right　man，ma'am，’said　one　of　the　villagers。

‘That's　right！’said　a　second，and　a　third。

‘Then　will　you　men　tell　him　to　speak　to　the　farm　manager？’said　Bathsheba　in　a　businesslike　way，as　she　rode　off。

Gabriel　soon　arranged　the　details　of　his　employment　with　Bathsheba's　farm　manager，Benjy　Pennyways，and　walked　on　to　the　village　to　find　a　place　to　live。　As　he　walked，he　thought　of　Bathsheba。　How　quickly　the　young　girl　he　remembered　had　become　the　capable　mistress　of　a　farm！

When　he　passed　the　churchyard，and　the　ancient　trees　around　it，he　noticed　that　someone　was　standing　behind　one　of　the　trees。

‘Is　this　the　right　way　to　Weatherbury？’asked　Gabriel。

‘Oh　yes，straight　on，’said　a　girl's　voice，low　and　sweet。　After　a　pause　she　added，‘You're　not　a　Weatherbury　man？’

‘No，I'm　the　new　shepherd，just　arrived。　’

‘Only　a　shepherd！You　seem　almost　like　a　farmer　to　me。　’

‘Only　a　shepherd，’repeated　Gabriel　in　a　dull　voice，think－ing　of　the　disaster　that　had　destroyed　his　hopes　of　being　a　farmer。

‘Please　don't　tell　anyone　in　the　village　that　you've　seen　me，’begged　the　girl。　‘I'm　rather　poor，and　I　don't　want　anyone　to　know　about　me。　’　Her　thin　arms　trembled　in　the　cold。

‘I　won't　tell　anyone，’said　Gabriel，‘but　you　ought　to　be　wearing　a　cloak　on　a　night　like　this。　’

‘Oh，it　doesn't　matter。　Please　go　on　and　leave　me。　’

He　hesitated　‘Perhaps　you'd　accept　this。　It's　not　much，but　it's　all　I　have　to　spare。　’He　put　a　coin　into　her　small　hand，and　as　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　Bathsh