远离尘嚣- 第6部分

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　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　Bath