# ■ 12 Bathsheba makes her choice

On the same day that Bathsheba arrived home， Mr Boldwood went to apologize to her for speaking so violently the last time he had seen her. He knew nothing of her trip to Bath，and supposed she had only been to visit Liddy. But at her door he was told he could not see her，and he realized she had not forgiven him.

On his way home through Weatherbury he saw the coach from Bath. It stopped at the usual place，and a soldier in a red and gold uniform jumped down. Sergeant Troy picked up his bag and was about to take the road to Bathsheba's house，when Boldwood stepped forward.

‘Sergeant Troy？I am William Boldwood. ’

‘Indeed？’said Troy，showing little interest.

‘I want to speak to you—about two women. ’

Troy saw the heavy stick Boldwood was holding，and real－ized how determined he was. He decided it was worth being polite.

‘I'll listen with pleasure，but do speak quietly. ’

‘Well then，I've heard about your relationship with Fanny Robin，and I think you ought to marry her. ’

‘I suppose I ought. Indeed，I want to，but I cannot. ’

‘Why can't you？’

Troy was going to reply immediately，but he stopped him－self. ‘I am too poor，’he said，looking quickly at Boldwood to see if the farmer believed him. Boldwood did not notice the look.

‘I don't want to talk about right or wrong，I just want to discuss business with you. I was engaged to Miss Everdene，when you came and—’

‘Not engaged，’said Troy.

‘More or less engaged，’insisted Boldwood. ‘If you hadn't come，she would certainly have accepted my proposal by now. Well，her position in society is so much higher than yours that you can't hope to marry her. So all I ask is that you don't bother her any more，and marry Fanny. ’

‘Why should I？’asked Troy carelessly.

‘I'll pay you. If you leave Weatherbury today，I'll give you fifty pounds Fanny will have fifty pounds for wedding clothes，and I'll give her five hundred pounds the day she marries you. ’Boldwood's manner showed that he was a little ashamed of offering money，but he was prepared to do almost anything to prevent Troy marrying Bathsheba.

Troy appeared to consider the offer. ‘It's true I like Fanny best，although she's only a maid. Fifty pounds now，you said？’

‘Here's the money，’said Boldwood，handing the soldier a purse of gold coins.

‘Stop，listen！’said Troy in a whisper. Light footsteps could be heard on the road，coming from Bathsheba's house.

‘It's Bathsheba！She's expecting me. I must go and speak to 132 her，and say goodbye to her，as you and I have arranged. ’

‘Why do you need to speak to her？’

‘She'll look for me if I don't. Don't worry，you'll hear every word I say to her. It may help you in your courting，when I've gone！Stand over there behind the tree，and listen. ’

Troy stepped forward and whistled a double note.

‘Frank，darling，is that you？’It was Bathsheba's voice.

‘Oh God！’said Boldwood，unheard behind the tree.

‘Yes，it's me，’replied Troy.

‘You'rs so late，Frank，’she continued. ‘The coach arrived a long time ago！Frank，it's so lucky！There's nobody in my house except me tonight，so nobody will know about your visit. ’

‘Excellent，’said Troy. ‘But I'll just have to cdlect my bag，so you run home and I promise to be there in ten minutes. ’

‘Yes，Frank. ’She ran back to her house.

Troy turned to Boldwood，who had stepped out from behind the tree，his face white and his whole body trembling.

‘Shall I tell her I cannot marry her？’laughed the soldier.

‘No，no，wait！I have more to say to you！whispered Boldwood，the muscles in his face strangely out of control.

‘Now，’said Troy，‘you see my problem. I can't marry them both. But I have two reasons for choosing Fanny. First，I like her best，I think，and second，you're paying me for it. ’

At that moment Boldwood lost control. He attacked Troy fiercely，holding his neck with botn hands.

‘Wait，’gasped Troy，who had not expected this，‘let me breathe！If you kill me，you injure the woman you love！’

‘What do you mean？’cried the farmer. ‘I should kill you like a dog！’But he let go of Troy's neck，and listened.

‘You heard how Bathsheba loves me and expects me to visit her tonight Soon the whole village will know this. The only way to save her good name，and her position in Weatherbury，is for me to marry her. ’

‘True，true，’agreed Boldwood after a pause. ‘Troy，marry her！Poor，weak woman！She must love you madly to give herself so completely to you！’

‘But what about Fanny？’asked the soldier cleverly.

‘Don't desert her，Troy，I beg you！I don't mean Fanny，I'm speaking of Bathsheba！How can I persuade you？I know！I'll pay you five hundred pounds on the day you marry Bathsheba！’

Troy was secretly shocked at Boldwood's wild offer.

‘And I'll receive something now as well？’he asked.

‘Yes，all the money I have with me！’He counted the coins in his pocket. ‘Twenty－one pounds—it's all for you！’

‘Give me the money，and we'll go to her house. I'll ask her to marry me. Of course I won't say anything about the money. ’

They went along the road to the farmhouse，and Boldwood waited outside while Troy entered. He returned in a moment with a piece cut out of a Bath newspaper.

‘Here，read this first，’he said，smiling. And Boldwood read：

MARRIAGES：On the 17th，in Bath，Frank Troy，Sergeant，to Bathsheba Everdene of Weatherbury.

The paper fell from Boldwood's hands，as the soldier began to laugh. ‘Fifty pounds to marry Fanny. Twenty－one pounds not to marry Fanny，but Bathsheba. And now you see I'm already Bathsheba's husband. You're a fool，Boldwood. Although I may be a bad man，I'd never bribe anyone to mar-ry，as you've tried to. And Fanny？She left me long ago，and I don't know where she is. I've searched everywhere for her. Now take your money back！I don't want it！’and Troy threw the gold coins into the road.

‘You black－hearted dog！I'll punish you one day，remember that！’cried the broken man. Troy laughed loudly as he closed Bathsheba's front door.

Through the whole of the long night that followed，Boldwood's dark figure could be seen walking over the hills of Weatherbury like a ghost.

Just before the clock struck five the next morning，Gabriel and Coggan were walking to the hayfields past their mistress's house，when they saw a surprising sight. Bathsheba's bedroom window was open，and looking out of it was a hand-some man，with his red jacket undone. It was Sergeant Troy.

‘She's married him！’whispered Coggan. Gabriel said nothing，but he felt so ill that he had to rest on the gate for a moment. He thought with pity of her future，as he knew her marriage to Troy could not be happy for long.

‘Good morning，friends！’shouted Troy cheerfully to the men.

‘We must be polite to him，’whispered Coggan，‘if he's married the mistress. ’

‘Good morning，Sergeant Troy，’said Gabriel miserably.

‘Now that I've left the army，I'll soon be down in the fields with you again，’said Troy lightly. ‘My new position won't change that，and I'll be friendly with you all，just as before. Drink to my health，men. ’And he threw a coin towards Gabriel，who refused to pick it up. Coggan，however，put it in his pocket.

As they went on their way，they noticed Mr Boldwood riding past them. Gabriel forgot his own sadness when he saw the bitterness and deep despair on the farmer's face.

■ 12 芭絲謝芭作出抉擇

芭絲謝芭到家的那天，伯德伍德先生前去準備向她致歉，告訴她上次見她時自己說話不該那麼粗聲粗氣。他並不知她去過巴斯，只以為她是剛去看過利蒂。但是到了她家門口，有人告訴他不能見她，他這才知道她並未原諒他。

在穿過威瑟伯裡回家的路上，他看見了來自巴斯的馬車。車停在老地方，一個身著紅色鑲金制眼的士兵跳了下來，是託伊中士。他提起包，正準備向芭絲謝芭家走，伯德伍德走上前來。

“託伊中士嗎？我叫威廉·伯德伍德。”

“是嗎？”託伊說著，一副不感興趣的樣子。

“我想和你談談——談談兩個女人的事。”

託伊看到伯德伍德拿著的大棒，知道這人決意要談，於是便想，禮貌點還是划算的。

“我將很樂意聽你說，不過請不要聲張。”

“好吧。我聽說你與範妮·羅賓有關係，我想你應當娶她為妻。”

“我想是應當。我也確實想這樣，可我不能。”

“為什麼不能？”

託伊準備馬上回答，可又停住口。“我太窮了，”他說，一邊瞥了伯德伍德一眼，看著這位農場主信不信自己的話。可伯德伍德並沒有注意到他的表情。

“我並不想談論是與非，我只是想和你談正事。你來的時候，我和芭絲謝芭已經訂婚了——”

“沒有訂婚吧，”託伊說。

“差不多訂婚了，”伯德伍德堅持道。“如果不是你來，現在她肯定早已接受我的求婚了。嗯，她的社會地位遠比你高，你就別指望娶她了。所以，我請你做的事就是，別再煩她，和範妮結婚吧。”

“我幹嗎要這樣？”託伊漫不經心地問道。

“我付給你錢。如果你今天就離開威瑟伯裡，我付你50鎊。範妮也會得到50鎊去買嫁衣。她嫁給你那天，我會再給她500鎊的。”伯德伍德的樣子像是因付錢而略顯羞臊，但是，他準備不借一切阻止託伊把芭絲謝芭娶到手。

託伊似乎在考慮這一提議。“我是喜歡範妮，雖然她只是個女僕。現在付50鎊，對嗎？”

“給你錢，”伯德伍德說著，把一袋金幣遞給了那個兵。

“等一下！你聽！”託伊悄聲說道。輕微的腳步聲從路上傳來，來自芭絲謝芭的房子。“是芭絲謝芭！她在等我，我得跟她去說句話，告個別。按你我安排的那樣。”

“你幹嗎要和她說話？”

“我不和她說句話，她會找我的。別擔心，我對她說的每個字都會讓你聽到的，我走後，這些話對你追求她會有用處的。過來站在樹後聽著。”

託伊邁步向前，用口哨吹了一個雙音。

“弗蘭克，親愛的，是你嗎？”這是芭絲謝芭的聲音。

“喔喲，天哪！”伯德伍德說道。不過因在樹後，沒有人聽到。

“是的，是我。”託伊回答道。

“你來晚了，弗蘭克，”她接著說。“馬車早就到了！弗蘭克，咱們真走運！今晚，我屋裡除了我沒有別人，誰也不會知道你來。”

“好極了，”託伊說。“不過我得去拿我的包。這樣吧，你先回去，我保證十分鐘後到。”

“好吧，弗蘭克。”她跑回了家。

伯德伍德從樹後走出來，臉色慘白，渾身發抖。託伊向伯德伍德轉過身去。

“我對她說不能娶她，好嗎？”這個兵笑了起來。

“別，別！等一下！我還有話對你說！”伯德伍德低聲說。他臉部的肌肉不可思議地失去了控制。

“這下你看到我的問題了吧，”託伊說，“我又不能娶她們兩個人。不過我選擇範妮有兩個理由，首先，我想我最喜歡她；再說，你還為此付錢。”

伯德伍德再也控制不住了。他猛地襲向託伊，用雙手掐住了他的脖子。

“等等，”託伊有點透不過氣來了，他沒想到會是這樣。“讓我出口氣！你要是掐死我，你就會傷害你愛的女人。”

“什麼意思？”農場主喊道。“我殺你就像殺一隻狗！”他鬆開託伊的脖子，聽他說話。

“芭絲謝芭怎樣愛我，你都聽到了。她晚上還等著我去呢，這事全村人很快就都會知曉的。要想為她保留好名聲，保住她在威瑟伯裡的地位，唯一的辦法就是讓我娶她。”

“對，說得對，”伯德伍德頓了一頓後說道。“娶了她吧，託伊！可憐的弱女子！她這麼完全獻身給你，肯定是愛你愛得發瘋！”

“不過，範妮怎麼辦？”那士兵機巧地問。

“別拋棄她，託伊，我求你！我不是說範妮，我是說芭絲謝芭。我怎麼說服你呢？我知道！你娶芭絲謝芭的那天，我給你500鎊！”

伯德伍德這樣胡亂給錢，令託伊暗自吃驚。

“現在我也會得到點什麼嗎？”他問道。

“是的，我身上帶的錢全都給你！”他數著衣袋裡的硬幣。“21鎊——都給你！”

“把錢給我，然後咱們去她家。我請她嫁給我。當然了我不會提錢的事。”

他們二人沿路向農場走去，託伊進了房內，伯德伍德則在外邊等候。不一會兒，託伊出來了，手裡拿著一張巴斯一家報紙的剪報。

“來，先念一念。”他微笑著說。伯德伍德念道：

結婚啟事：中士弗蘭克·託伊與威瑟伯裡的芭絲謝芭·伊芙丁於17日在巴斯結婚。

剪報從伯德伍德手中滑落，士兵託伊笑了起來。“給了我50鎊娶範妮，給了我21鎊要我不娶範妮，娶芭絲謝芭。現在你看見了吧，我已經是芭絲謝芭的丈夫了。你是個傻瓜，伯德伍德。雖然我可能是個壞人，可是我決不會像你那樣花錢買動別人去娶老婆。範妮呢？她早就離我而去了，我不知道她現在何處，我四處尋找過她。把你的錢拿回去吧，我不想要！“託伊說著，把錢扔到了路上。

“你這個黑了心的狗！你記著，我總有一天要懲罰你的！”伯德伍德心情沮喪地大叫。託伊哈哈大笑著關上了芭絲謝芭家的前門。

那天晚上長長的一整夜，人們都能看見伯德伍德黑乎乎的身影像幽魂一樣在威瑟伯裡的山上行走。

次日清晨，鍾還沒有敲五點，蓋伯瑞爾和考根路過女主人的房子向乾草地走去，突然看到一個意外的情景。芭絲謝芭臥室的窗戶打開著，有個英俊男子正在向外張望，紅色上衣解開著。那是託伊中士。

“她嫁給他啦！”考根悄聲說道。蓋伯瑞爾什麼也沒有說，可心裡直堵，只得靠在大門上歇一會兒。他為她的將來感到惋惜，因為他知道，她與託伊的婚姻會好景不長。

“早上好啊，朋友們！”託伊興高采烈地向他們喊道。

“咱們得對他禮貌一點，”考根悄聲說道。“他不是娶了咱們女主人歐。”

“早上好，託伊中士，”蓋伯瑞爾痛苦地說。

“我退了伍，就很快會再和你們到地裡幹活的，”託伊輕快地說。“我的新身份也不會改變這一點的，我還會對你們友好如初。為我的健康喝一杯去吧，夥計們。”他向蓋伯瑞爾扔出一個硬幣，蓋伯瑞爾沒撿，但考根把硬幣撿起來放到了衣兜裡。

他們走在路上，看到伯德伍德先生騎馬走過他們身邊。蓋伯瑞爾看到農場主臉上的苦楚與深深的絕望，自己的悲傷心情便忘記了。