# ■ 9 Bathsheba meets a handsome soldier

Farmers always gave a special supper to the sheep shearers when they had finished their work. This year Bathsheba had ordered her maids to put a long table in the garden，with the top end of the table just inside the house. The farm workers took their seats，and she sat at the top of the table，so that she was with them，but a little apart. There was an empty place at the bottom of the table. At first she asked Gabriel to sit there，but just then Mr Boldwood arrived， apologizing for his lateness. ‘Gabriel，’said Bathsheba，‘will you move again please， and let Mr Boldwood sit there？’Gabriel moved away in silence to another seat. They all ate and drank，and celebrated the end of the sheep－shearing by singing their favourite songs. Mr Boldwood seemed unusually cheerful，and at the end of the meal he left his seat and went to join Bathsheba at her end of the table，just inside the sitting-room. It was growing dark，but Gabriel and the other men could not avoid noticing how Boldwood looked at her. It was clear that the middle－aged farmer was deeply in love.

After a while Bathsheba said goodnight to her farm workers，and closed the sitting－room door and windows. Now she and Boldwood were alone. Kneeling in front of her，he took her hands.

‘Tell me，tell me what you've decided！’he begged. ‘I'll try to love you，’she answered in a trembling voice. ‘And if you think I'll make a good wife，I'll agree to marry you But，Mr Boldwood，any woman would hesitate before deciding on something as important as marriage. Could you wait a few weeks until I'm sure？’

‘I'll be away on business for five or six weeks anyway. Do you really think that by that time you will…’

‘I feel almost sure that when you come back，at harvest time，I'll be able to promise to marry you. But，remember，I can't promise yet. ’

‘I don't ask for anything more. I can wait. Goodnight， Miss Everdene！’And he left her. Bathsheba now realized how thoughtlessly she had behaved towards him，and understood how deeply he loved her. She was very sorry for her mistake and was therefore punishing herself by agreeing to marry him.

That evening she went round the farm as usual，lighting her lamp whenever necessary，to check that all the animals were safe. On her way back，she was walking along the narrow public path which led to her house. It was very dark there， among the trees，and she was a little surprised to hear some footsteps coming towards her. It was unfortunate that she would meet the traveller at the darkest point of the path. As she was about to pass the dark shape，something seemed to attach her skirt to the ground，and she had to stop ‘What's happened？Have I hurt you，friend？'a man asked.

‘No，’said Bathsheba，trying to pull her skirt away.

‘Ah！You're a lady！The spur on my boot has got tied up with your dress. Have you got a lamp？I'll light it for you. ’

The light from the lamp shone suddenly on a handsome young man in a bright red and gold army uniform. He looked admiringly at Bathsheba.

‘Thank you for letting me see such a beautiful face！’he said.

‘I didn't want to show it to you，’she said coldly， blushing. ‘Please undo your spur quickly！’He bent down to pull rather lazily at his boots. ‘You are making it even worse，’she accused him angrily，‘to keep me here longer！’

‘Oh no，surely not，’smiled the soldier. ‘Don't be angry. I was doing it so that I could have the pleasure of apologizing to such a lovely woman. ’ Bathsheba had no idea what to say. She wondered whether to escape by pulling the material away，but did not want to tear her best dress.

‘I've seen many women in my life，’continued the young man，staring into her face，‘but I've never seen a woman as beautiful as you. I don't care if you're offended，that's the truth. ’

‘Who are you，then，if you don't care who you offend？’

‘People know me in Weatherbury. My name's Sergeant Troy. Ah，you see，your skirt's free now！I wish you and I had been tied together for ever！’

She pulled her dress quickly away from his spurs，and ran up the path and into her house. The next day she discovered from Liddy that Sergeant Troy's supposed father was a doctor，but people said his real father was a nobleman. He had been brought up in Weatherbury，and was well known as a young soldier with a great interest in girls. Bathsheba could not remain angry for long with someone who admired her as much as he obviously did. It was unfortunate that Boldwood，when courting her，had forgotten to tell her，even once，that she was beautiful.

Sergeant Troy was certainly an unusual man. He lived only in the present，caring nothing for the past or the future. Because he never expected anything，he was never disappoint－ed. To men he usually told the truth，but to women，never. He was intelligent and well－educated， and proud of his success with women.

A week or two after the sheep－shearing，Bathsheba was in the hayfields，where her workers were cutting the hay. She was surprised to see a bright red figure appear from behind a cart. Sergeant Troy had come to help on the farm. She blushed as the young soldier came to speak to her.

‘Miss Everdene！’he said. ‘I didn't realize it was the “Queen of Casterbridge market”I was speaking to the other night. I apologize for expressing my feelings so strongly to you 102 then. Of course，I'm not a stranger here. I often helped your uncle on the farm，and now I'm helping you. ’

‘I suppose I must thank you for that，’replied the Queen of Casterbridge market rather ungratefully.

‘You're cross because I was honest when I spoke to you that night. But I couldn't look at you，and say you aren't beautiful！’

‘You are pretending，Sergeant Troy！’said Bathsheba，laughing in spite of herself at his clever way of talking.

‘No，Miss Everdene，you must let me say how lovely you are！What's wrong with that？’

‘It's wrong because—it isn't true，’she said，hesitating.

‘But you know that everybody notices how beautiful you are，don't you？’

‘Well，no—that is，I've heard Liddy say they do，but…’She paused. She had never intended to become involved in this kind of conversation with the soldier，but somehow he had trapped her into replying. Thank you for helping the men with the hay， she continued. ‘But please don't speak to me again. ’

‘Oh Miss Bathsheba！That's too hard！I won't be here long. I'm going back to the army in a month. ’

‘But you don't really care about a word from me，do you？

‘I do，Miss Everdene. Perhaps you think it's foolish of me to want just a “good morning”，but you have never loved a beautiful woman like yourself，as I do. ’

‘But you only saw me the other night！I don't believe you could fall in love so fast. I won't listen to you any more. I wish I knew what time it was. I've spent too much time with you.

‘Haven't you got a watch，miss？I'll give you one，’and he handed her a heavy gold watch. ‘That watch belonged to a nobleman，my father，and is all the inheritance I have. ’

‘But Sergeant Troy，I can't take this！It's your father’s，and so valuable！’said Bathsheba，horrified.

‘I loved my father，true，but I love you more. ’The young man was not pretending now，as he looked at Bathsheba's beautiful，excited face.

‘Can it be true，that you love me？You have seen so little of me！Please take it back！’

‘Wll then，I'll take it，’he said，‘because it's all I have to prove that I come of good family. But will you speak to me while I'm in Weatherbury？Will you let me work in your fields？’

‘Yes！Or no，I don't know！Oh，why did you come and disturb me like this！’

‘Perhaps，in setting a trap，I've caught myself. Such things sometimes happen. Goodbye，Miss Everdene！’

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！

■ 9 芭絲謝芭遇到一位英俊的士兵

農場主們在剪羊毛的人剪完羊毛後，總要設宴款待他們一次。今年，芭絲謝芭命令女僕們在院子裡擺了一張長桌子，桌子的上端在屋子裡。僱工們入了座，她在主座上坐下。這樣，她和他們既坐在一起，又保持一點距離。在桌子的尾端空著一個位子。起初，芭絲謝芭讓蓋伯瑞爾坐在那裡，但伯德伍德剛好來了，抱歉地說他來晚了。

“蓋伯瑞爾，”芭絲謝芭說，“請你再動一下，讓伯德伍德先生坐在那裡好嗎？”蓋伯瑞爾默默地移到了另一個座位上。人們一邊吃喝，一邊唱著自己喜愛的歌曲，慶祝剪羊毛的結束。伯德伍德好像異常興奮，宴會快結束時，他離開他的座位，到位於起居室的桌子上端，和芭絲謝芭坐在了一起。天漸漸黑了，蓋伯瑞爾和其他人都注意到伯德伍德看芭絲謝芭的樣子。很顯然，這位中年農場主墜入了情網。

過了一會兒，芭絲謝芭和她的僱工道別，關上了起居室的門和窗戶。現在，只剩下她和伯德伍德。他跪在她的面前，握住她的手。

“告訴我，告訴我你的決定！”他懇求地說。

“我將盡量愛你，”她用顫抖的聲音回答。“如果你覺得我會是一個好妻子，我會同意和你結婚。可是，伯德伍德先生，任何女人在決定像婚姻這樣的大事時，都會猶豫的。在我決定之前，你能等幾個星期嗎？”

“我由於業務上的事會離開五、六個星期。你真的覺得那時你會……”

“我幾乎敢肯定你在收割季節回來時，我就能答應和你結婚。不過，記住，我現在不能許諾。”

“我不要求別的。我可以等待。晚安，伊芙丁小姐！”他們分手了。

芭絲謝芭現在意識到她當初的舉動是多麼的輕率，她也明白他是多麼深地愛著自己。她對自己所犯的錯誤非常內疚，因此，想以與他結婚來懲罰自己。

那天晚上，她像通常一樣到農場各處去查看是否所有的牲口都安然無恙。她不時地把燈點著。回去的時候，她沿著一條能通到她的屋子的小路走著。小路從樹林中穿過，所以很黑。聽到有腳步聲走來，她有點吃驚。糟糕的是她與這位旅行者相遇的地方恰好是路上最黑的地方。她正要與那個黑色人影擦肩而過時，地面上有什麼東西掛住了她的裙子，她只好站住。

“怎麼了？我傷著你了嗎，朋友？”一個男人的聲音問。

“沒有，”芭絲謝芭說，使勁地扯裙子。

“噢，是一位女士！我靴子上的馬刺把你的裙子纏住了。你有燈嗎？我給你照著。”

燈光照在一個英俊的年輕人身上，他身穿大紅色和金色相間的軍裝。他讚賞地看著芭絲謝芭。

“謝謝你讓我看到一張如此美麗的面龐！”他說。

“我不想讓你看我的臉，”她冷冷地說，紅了臉。“請你趕快鬆開你的馬刺！”他彎腰慢慢地拉他的靴子。“你把事情搞得更糟了，”她生氣地指責，“讓我在這兒呆這麼久！”

“噢，不，我沒有那個意思，”土兵笑著說。“別生氣。我這樣做就有機會向一位可愛的女人道歉，這是我很樂意做的。”

芭絲謝芭不知說什麼好。她在想是否該拽出裙子，趕快走開，可她不想撕壞自己最好的裙子。

“我一生中見過許多女人，”年輕人盯著她，繼續說，“但我從未見過像你一樣漂亮的女子。我不在乎你是否生氣，我說的是實話。”

“如果你不在意你惹了誰，那你是誰呢？”

“威瑟伯裡的人都認識我，我是託伊中士。你看，裙子解開了！我真希望我和你能永遠拴在一起！”

她迅速把裙子從馬刺上拉開，沿著路跑回了屋裡。第二天，芭絲謝芭從利蒂那裡得知託伊中士所謂的父親是一個醫生，人們說他真正的父親是個貴族。他在威瑟伯里長大，人人都知道他是個對女孩子有極大興趣的年輕士兵。對於一個像他這樣明顯地讚賞自己的人，芭絲謝芭不會生他的氣。多麼遺憾，伯德伍德在追求她時，一次也沒提起她長得漂亮。

託伊中士當然不是一般的人，他只管眼前，不考慮過去和將來。由於他從不期望什麼，所以他也從未失望過。對男人，他是講真話的，但對女人，卻從沒有一句實話。他聰明，受過良好的教育，對自己在女人方面所取得的成功很自豪。

在剪完羊毛一、兩週後，芭絲謝芭正在乾草地裡，她的僱工們正在割草。她很驚訝地看到馬車後面走出一個紅色的人影。託伊中士來到農場幫忙。當年輕士兵走上前來和她講話時，她紅了臉。

“伊芙丁小姐！”他說。“我沒有意識到那天晚上和我講話的是‘卡斯特橋市場的女王’。我為自己當時露骨的表白道歉。當然，我在這兒也不是外人。我過去常幫你叔叔在農場幹活，現在我幫你。”

“既然如此，那我得謝謝你了，”卡斯特橋市場的女王不領情地說。

“你因為那天晚上我對你說了實話生氣了。可我不能看著你，說你不漂亮！”

“託伊中士，你在說謊！”芭絲謝芭為他聰明的談話方式忍不住笑起來。

“沒有，伊芙丁小姐，你一定要允許我說你是多麼地漂亮！這有什麼錯呢？”

“有錯，因為這不是真的，”她有點猶豫地說。

“你心裡清楚人們都注意到你是多麼的漂亮，難道不是嗎？”

“不，我只聽利蒂說過人們都這麼說，可是……”她不說了，她根本沒想過跟這個士兵談論這個，是他設計讓她回答這個問題。“謝謝你幫著割草，”她接著說。“別再跟我講話了。”

“歐，芭絲謝芭小姐！這太不近人情了！我在這兒呆不了多久。我一個月後就要回軍隊去。”

“我說話對你根本無所謂，不是嗎？”

“不，伊芙丁小姐，我只聽一聲‘早安’就滿足了，也許你覺得這樣很傻，但你從未像我一樣愛上一個你這樣漂亮的女人。”

“可你只是那天晚上才見到我！我不信你這麼快就會愛上我。我不想聽你再說下去。我希望我知道現在幾點了。我跟你呆的時間太長了。”

“你沒表嗎，小姐？我給你一塊，”他遞給她一塊沉甸甸的金錶。“這塊表屬於一個貴族，我的父親，是我繼承的全部財產。”

“託伊中士，我不能要這塊表！這是你父親的，而且如此珍貴！”芭絲謝芭驚恐地說。

“我愛我的父親，這不假，可我更愛你。”這個年輕人看著芭絲謝芭美麗、激動的面龐，不無真情地說。

“你愛我，這會是真的嗎？你根本就沒見過我幾次！請你把這塊表拿回去！”

“既然如此，我就不給你了，”他說，“它是證實我出身高貴的唯一的東西。我在威瑟伯裡這段時期你會跟我講話嗎？你會讓我在你的地裡幹活嗎？”

“會的！也許不會，我不知道！唉，你為什麼要來這樣打擾我呢！”

“也許是為了設陷階，我把自己陷住了。這種事情有時也會發生。再見，伊芙丁小姐！”

芭絲謝芭紅著臉，差不多都要哭了，匆忙回到了家。她低聲自語著，“唉，我都幹了些什麼？這意味著什麼？我希望我知道他說的有多少是真話！”