# ■ 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 However she was honest enough to feel that，as she had begun the courting by sending him the valentine，she ought not to refuse him now. There was only one person whose opinion she trusted more than her own，and that person was Gabriel Oak. So the next day she decided to ask his advice. She found him with Jan Coggan，sharpening the shears which would be used to shear the sheep.

‘Jan，go and help Joseph with the horses，’she ordered. ‘I'll help you，Gabriel. I want to talk to you. ’

The shears were sharpened on a stone which was turned by a wheel，which was itself turned by a handle. Bathsheba could not manage the handle，so she held the shears while Gabriel turned the handle. ‘You aren't holding them right，miss，’he told her. ‘Let me show you how He let go of the handle，and put his large hands round hers，to hold the shears. ‘Like that，’he said，continuing to hold her hands for a peculiarly long time.

‘That's enough，’said Bathsheba. ‘I don't want my hands held！Turn the handle！’They went on sharpening the shears. ‘Gabriel，what do the men think about me and Mr Bold-wood？’

‘They say you'll marry him before the end of the year，miss. ’

‘What a foolish thing to say！I want you to contradict it，Gabriel. ’

‘Well，Bathsheba！’said Gabriel，staring at her in surprise.

‘Miss Everdene，you mean，’she said.

‘Well，if Mr Boldwood really asked you to marry him，I'm not going to contradict that，just to please you. ’

‘I said I wanted you just to say it wasn't true that I was going to marry him，’she said，less confidently.

‘I can say that，if you wish，Miss Everdene. I could also give my opinion of the way you've behaved. ’

He continued with his work. Bathsheba knew that he would always give his honest opinion，even if she asked him whether she should marry another man，and there was nobody else she could trust. ‘Well，what is your opinion of my behaviour？’she asked.

‘No good，respectable woman would behave like that，’he replied. ‘You should never have sent him that valentine. ’

Bathsheba blushed angrily. ‘Luckily I don't care about your opinion！Why do you think I'm not good or respectable，I wonder？Because I didn't agree to marry you，perhaps！’

‘Not at all. ’said Gabriel quietly. ‘I've long ago stopped thinking about that. ’

‘Or wishing it，I suppose，’she said，expecting him to protest that he still loved her.

‘Or wishing It，’repeated Gabriel calmly.

Bathsheba would not have minded being spoken to angrily by Gabriel for her thoughtlessness，if only he had told her he loved her. But his cold words of blame annoyed her greatly.

‘I cannot allow any man to accuse me of bad behaviour！’ she cried. ‘So you will leave the farm at the end of the week！’

‘All right，I will，’said Gabriel calmly. ‘In fact I would rather go at once. ’

‘Go at once then！’she replied angrily. ‘Don't let me see your face any more. ’

‘Very well，Miss Everdene. ’And so be took his shears and walked quietly away.

It was only twenty－four hours after Gabriel had left the farm that three men came running to report a disaster to Bathsheba.

‘Sixty of your sheep—’said Joseph Poorgrass，breathless.

‘Have broken through throgh the gate said Billy，also breathless.

‘And got into a field of young clover！’said Laban Tall.

‘They're eating the clover，and they're all swollen up！’

‘They'll all die if someone doesn't do something！’

‘Oh you fools！’cried Bathsheba. ‘Go straight to the field and get them out！’ She rushed towards the clover field，followed by the men. Her sheep were all lying down，their stomachs badly swollen. Joseph，Billy and Laban carried the sheep back into their own field，where the poor creatures lay helplessly without moving.

‘Oh，what can I do，what can I do？’cried Bathsheba.

‘There's only one way of saving them，’said Laban.

‘Soemeone must make a hole in the sheep's side，’explained Billy，‘with a special tool. Then the air comes out，and the sheep will survive. ’

‘Can you do it？Can I do it？’she asked wildly. ‘No，ma'am If it isn't done very carefully，the sheep will die Most shepherds can't even do it. ’ ‘Only one man in the area can do it，’said Joseph.

‘Who is he？Let's get him！’said his mistress.

‘It's Gabriel Oak. Ah，he's a clever man！’replied Joseph. ‘That's right，he certainly is，’agreed the other two. ‘How dare you say his name to me！’she said angrily.

‘What about Farmer Boldwood？Perhaps he can do it？’

‘No，ma‘am，’answered Laban. ‘When his sheep ate some clover the other day，and were swollen just like these，he sent for Cabriel at once，and Gabriel saved their lives. ’

‘I don't care！Don't just stand there！Go and find someone！’cried Bathsheba. The men ran off，without any clear idea where they were going，and Bathsheba was left alone with her dying sheep. ‘Never will I send for him，never！’she promised herself.

One of the sheep jumped high in the air，fell heavily and did not move. It was dead. Bathsheba knew she must swallow her pride，and called to Laban，who was waiting at the gate.

‘Take a horse，and go and find Gabriel，’she ordered. ‘Give him a message from me，that he must return at once. ’

Bathsheba and her men waited miserably in the field. Several more sheep jumped wildly into the air，their stomachs horribly swollen and their muscles stiff，then died. At last a rider could be seen across the fields. But it was not Gabriel，it was Laban.

‘He says he won't come unless you ask him politely，’Laban reported to Bathsheba.

‘What！’said the young woman，opening her eyes wide. Joseph Poorgrass hid behind a tree in case she became violent. ‘How dare he answer me like that！’Another sheep fell dead. The men looked very serious，and did not offer their opinion. Bathsheba's eyes filled with tears，and she did not try to hide her anger and her injured pride.

‘Don't cry about it，miss，’suggested Billy sympathetically.

‘Why not ask Gabriel in a gentler way？I'm sure he'll come then. ’ ‘Oh，he's cruel to me！’said Bathsheba，drying her eyes. ‘But I'll beg him，yes，I'll have to！’She wrote a few words quickly on a piece of paper，and at the last moment added at the bottom：

Gabriel，do not desert me！

She blushed a little as she wrote this，and gave the letter to Laban，who rode off again to find Gabriel.

When Gabriel arrived，Bathsheba knew from his expression which words in her note had made him come. He went straight to work on the swollen sheep，and managed to save almost all of them When he had finished，Bathsheba came to speak to him.

‘Gabriel，will you stay on with me？’she asked，smiling.

‘I will，’said Gabriel. And she smiled at him again.

A few days later the sheep－shearing began. The sheep were shorn every year at the beginning of June，and their wool was sold. The shearing was always done in the great barn，which had stood on the farm for four centuries. Today the sunshine poured in on the shearers. Bathsheba was watching them care－ fully to make sure that the sheep were not injured，and that all the wool was cut off Gabriel was the most experienced shearer. He loved being watched by Bathsheba，and felt warm with pride when she congratulated him on his speed.

But he was not happy for long Farmer Boldwood arrived at the door of the barn，and spoke to Bathsheba. They stepped outside into the bright sunlight to carry on their conversation. Gabriel could not hear what they were saying，but noticed that Bathsheba was blushing. He continued shearing，feeling sud－ denly very sad. Bathsheba went back to the house，and returned a short while later in her new green riding dress. She and Boldwood were obviously going for a ride together. As Gabriel's concentration was broken for a moment，his shears cut the sheep's skin. Bathsheba，at the door of the barn，noticed the animal jump，and saw the blood.

‘Oh Gabriel！’she said. ‘Be more careful！’Gabriel knew she was aware that she herself had indirectly caused the poor sheep's wound. But he bravely hid his hurt feelings，and watched Boldwood and Bathsheba ride away，feeling as sure as the other workers that the couple would soon be married.

■ 8 芭絲謝芭的羊群遇到了危險

芭絲謝芭一點兒也不愛農場主伯德伍德，所以她可以平心靜氣地考慮他的求婚。他的求婚是這個地區許多家境富裕的女人都求之不得的。伯德伍德嚴謹、可敬，而且富有。如果芭絲謝芭要找一個丈夫的話，她找不出理由來拒絕和他結婚。不過，她現在還相當喜歡她的這個農場女主人的新位置的。儘管她尊敬他，喜歡他，但並不想和他結婚。她誠心誠意地覺得，既然是由於自己給他寄了情人卡而開始了這場求婚，所以不應該現在拒絕他。

只有一個人的意見她比對自己的意見更加信賴，這個人就是蓋伯瑞爾·奧克。第二天，她決定去問問他的意見。她發現他和簡·考根在一起磨剪羊毛的剪刀。

“簡，你去幫約瑟夫弄馬去，”她命令說。“我來幫你，蓋伯瑞爾。我想和你談談。”

剪刀是在一塊由一個輪子帶著轉動的石頭上磨快，輪子上按著一個搖柄。芭絲謝芭搖不了搖柄，所以她拿著剪刀，蓋伯瑞爾搖搖柄。“小姐，你拿剪刀的方法不對，”他對她說。“我來教你怎麼拿。”他鬆開搖柄，用他的大手握住她的手，拿著剪刀。“像這樣拿著，”他說，好半天一直握著她的手。

“行了，”芭絲謝芭說。“我不想讓人握著我的手！去搖搖柄！”他們繼續磨剪刀。

“蓋伯瑞爾，人們怎麼看我和伯德伍德先生？”

“小姐，人們說你在年底前會和他結婚。”

“這樣說是愚蠢的！蓋伯瑞爾，我要你反駁這種說法。”

“怎麼回事？芭絲謝芭！”蓋伯瑞爾吃驚地瞪著她說。

“你該稱呼伊芙丁小姐吧，”她說。

“如果伯德伍德先生真的要你和他結婚，那我並不想為了取悅你而去反駁那種說法。”

“我說我只是想要你說我沒有打算和他結婚這回事，”她有點心虛地說。

“伊芙丁小姐，如果你希望，我可以去說。我還可以對你的所作所為談談我的看法。”

他繼續幹他的活。芭絲謝芭知道既使她問他自己是否應該和另一個男人結婚，他也總是會實實在在地說出他的看法的。沒有誰比蓋伯瑞爾更使她信任了。“那你怎麼看我做的那件事？”她問。

“不怎麼樣，體面的女人不會那樣做的，”他回答說。“你決不該送他那張情人卡。”

芭絲謝芭氣紅了臉。“幸好我不在乎你說的！我不知道你怎麼會覺得我不好，不體面！也許是因為我不同意和你結婚！”

“根本不是，”蓋伯瑞爾平靜地說。“很久以前我就不想那件事了。”

“我猜想也不抱希望了？”她說，希望他會抗議說他仍愛著她。

“不抱希望了，”蓋伯瑞爾平靜地重複。

若是蓋伯瑞爾告訴芭絲謝芭他愛她的話，芭絲謝芭並不會在意他由於她欠考慮而斥責她。但是他責備時冷漠的言詞卻使她很惱火。

“我不能允許任何人指責我行為不檢點！”她大聲說。“你這個週末走吧！”

“行，我會走的，”蓋伯瑞爾平靜地說。“實際上我更願意現在就走。”

“那現在就走吧！”她生氣地說。“別再讓我看見你。”

“很好，伊芙丁小姐。”他拿起剪刀，默默地走了。

就在蓋伯瑞爾剛離開農場一天，三個人跑來向芭絲謝芭報告一起災難。

“你的60只羊——”約瑟夫·普格拉斯上氣不接下氣地說。

“沖壞了大門——”比利也上氣不接下氣地說。

“到了一片長著嫩三葉草的地裡！”拉班·托爾說。

“羊正在吃三葉草，肚子都脹起來了！”

“要是不想辦法，他們會死的！”

“哼，你們這幫蠢才！”芭絲謝芭嚷道。“快去地裡，把羊弄出來！”

她朝長著三葉草的地裡跑去，後面跟著那幾個人。她的羊肚子脹得鼓鼓的，全都躺著。約瑟夫、比利和拉班把羊扛回它們自己的地裡，那些可憐的羊一動也不動地躺在那裡。

“哎呀，我該怎麼辦，我該怎麼辦？”芭絲謝芭大聲地說著。

“要救這些羊只有一個辦法，”拉班說。

“用一種特殊的工具在羊身體的一側鑽一個洞，”比利解釋說，“肚子裡的氣出來，羊就有救了。”

‘你會幹嗎？我會幹嗎？”她氣急敗壞地問。

“不會，小姐。如果操作不當，羊會死的。大多數牧羊人也都幹不了。”

“這個地方只有一個人能幹這個事，”約瑟夫說。

“是誰？我們去找他！”女主人說。

“蓋伯瑞爾·奧克。他是個聰明的人！”約瑟夫回答說。

“對，他是很聰明，”另外兩人附和著說。

“你們怎敢在我面前提他的名字！”她生氣地說。“農場主伯德伍德怎麼樣？也許他會？”

“不行，小姐，”拉班答道。“那天他的羊吃了三葉草，肚子鼓得也像這樣，他立刻派人去請蓋伯瑞爾，蓋伯瑞爾把羊救活了。”

“我不管這些！別站在那兒！去找個人來！”芭絲謝芭大聲說。那幾個人走了，並不知道該往哪裡去。只剩下芭絲謝芭和她快死的羊。“我決不去請他，決不！”她暗自下決心。

一隻羊跳了起來，重重地落在地上，不動了。羊死了。芭絲謝芭明白她必須收起她的自尊，她招呼等在大門口的拉班。

“牽一匹馬，去把蓋伯瑞爾找來，”她命令說。“告訴他我說了他必須立刻回來。”

芭絲謝芭和她的僱工在地裡苦苦地等著。又有幾隻羊抽瘋似地跳了起來，它們的肚子鼓得可怕，肌肉僵硬，然後死了。終於，看到一個人騎著馬穿過了田地。但卻不是蓋伯瑞爾，而是拉班。

“他說除非你客氣地請他，否則他不回來，”拉班向芭絲謝芭報告說。

“什麼！”這年輕女人說，眼睛瞪得大大的。約瑟夫·普格拉斯藏到了樹後，害怕她會發作。“他怎麼敢這樣答覆我！”又有一隻羊落在地上死了。人們表情嚴肅，不發表意見。芭絲謝芭的眼裡滿是淚水。她並不想隱藏她的憤怒和受傷的自尊心。

“別哭，小姐，”比利同情地建議說“幹嗎不用更客氣的方式去請蓋伯瑞爾呢？我敢保證他會來的。”

“唉，他對我很冷酷！”芭絲謝芭擦乾眼淚說。“我會懇求他，當然，我只能懇求他！”她在一張紙上很快地寫了幾個字，最後又在下邊加了一句：

蓋伯瑞爾，別拋棄我！

寫這個時，她臉紅了。她把信給了拉班，拉班又騎馬去找蓋伯瑞爾去了。

蓋伯瑞爾來了，芭絲謝芭從他的表情得知是字條上的話促使他來的。他立即著手給那些肚子鼓脹的羊治病，差不多把所有的羊都救活了。他幹完時，芭絲謝芭走過來跟他說話。

“蓋伯瑞爾，你願意繼續留在我這兒嗎？”她笑著問。

“願意，”蓋伯瑞爾說。她又衝他笑笑。

幾天後，開始剪羊毛了。每年六月初剪羊毛，然後把羊毛賣掉。剪羊毛總是在巨大的倉房進行，這個倉房在農場已有四百年了。這一天，陽光照在剪羊毛的人的身上。芭絲謝芭仔細地看著他們，她要確保羊沒有被傷著，而且羊毛也剪乾淨了。蓋伯瑞爾剪得最熟練。他很願意讓芭絲謝芭看著，當她祝賀他剪得快時，他感到無比自豪。

不過，他沒高興多久。農場主伯德伍德來到了倉房門口，和芭絲謝芭說話。他們走出去，在燦爛的陽光下繼續著他們的談話。蓋伯瑞爾聽不到他們在說什麼，但他注意到芭絲謝芭臉紅了。他繼續剪著羊毛，突然感到很沮喪。芭絲謝芭回到屋裡，片刻又返身出來，穿著嶄新的綠色騎馬服。她顯然要與伯德伍德一起去騎馬。由於蓋伯瑞爾注意力不集中，他的剪子剪到了羊的皮肉。在倉房門口的芭絲謝芭注意到那隻牲畜跳了一下，也看到了血。

“喂，蓋伯瑞爾！”她說。“當心點！”蓋伯瑞爾知道芭絲謝芭意識到她自己是這隻可憐的羊受傷的間接原因。蓋伯瑞爾堅強地藏起自己受傷的感情，看著伯德伍德和芭絲謝芭一同騎馬走了，像其他僱工一樣確信這一對很快就會結婚。