# ■ 18 Mr Boldwood's Christmas party

For months Weatherbury people had been discussing the party that Mr Boldwood was going to give just before Christmas，and now the day had finally arrived. Bathsheba was getting ready for it.

‘I'm upset，Liddy，it's foolish of me，I know，’she said. ‘I wish I didn't have to go to the party. I haven't spoken to Mr Boldwood since the autumn，when I promised to see him at Christmas，so I'll have to go. My black silk dress，please. ’

‘Surely you don't need to wear black tonight，ma'am？You've been a widow for fourteen months now. That's a long time. ’

‘No，if I wear a bright dress，people will say I'm encouraging Mr Boldwood. How do I look，Liddy？’

‘I've hardly ever seen you look so lovely，ma'am. ’

‘I rish offending him if I don't go. Oh，I wish I could have continued as I've been for the last year or so，with no hopes or fears，and no pleasures and no sadness. ’

‘If Mr Boldwood asked you to run away with him，what would you say，ma'am？’said Liddy with a smile.

‘Now，Liddy，no joking. This is far too serious. I won't marry anyone for a long time. Get my cloak. It's time to go. ’

At the same time，in his farmhouse，Boldwood was also dressing He was trying on a new coat which had just been delivered. Tonight he wanted to look his best.

Just then Gabriel entered，to report on farm business.

‘Oh，Oak，’said Boldwood. ‘You're invited to the party tonight，of course. ’

‘I'll try to come，if I'm not too busy，’said Gabriel quietly. ‘I'm glad to see you looking happier，sir. ’

‘Yes，I confess I'm cheerful tonight. But my happiness depends on a hope. Oak，my hands are shaking. Could you help me with the buttons on this coat？’And as Gabriel came forward to help，he went on feverishly，‘Oak，does a woman keep her promise to become engaged？You know women better than I do—tell me. ’

‘I don't think I understand women well at all. But if she wants to put right a mistake，she may keep a promise like that. ’

‘I think she will，’whispered Boldwood. ‘She says she can think of me as a husband seven years after Troy's disappear-ance. ’

‘Seven years，’said Gabriel，shaking his head. ‘A long time. ’

‘But it isn't seven years！’answered Boldwood impatiently. ‘It's only five years，nine months and a few days now！’

‘Don't build your hopes on her promise，sir. Remember，she disappointed you once. And she's young. ’

‘She never promised me that first time，so she's never broken her promise to me yet. I trust her to keep her word. But let's talk business for a moment，Oak. You work so hard as my farm manager that I want you to have a larger share of the profits. I know a little about your secret. You have warm feelings for her too，but you've let me succeed in courting her！I want to show you how grateful I am for that. ’

‘Oh，that's not necessary，thank you，’said Gabriel hurriedly. ‘I must get used to my disappointment as other men have. ’He left，rather worried by Boldwood's strange manner.

Outside the front door of Boldwood's house a group of men were talking quietly.

‘Sergeant Troy was seen in Casterbridge this afternoon，’said Billy Smallbury. ‘His body was never found，you know，neighbours. ’

‘Should we tell the mistress？’asked Laban Tall. ‘Poor woman！What a mistake she made in marrying him！’

Just then Boldwood came out and walked to the gate. He did not notice the men，who were standing in the darkness.

‘I hope to God she'll come！’he whispered. ‘Oh，my darling，my darling，why do you make me wait like this！’

They all heard his words clearly. The sound of wheels came from the road，and Bathsheba arrived. Boldwood took her into the house，and the door closed behind them.

‘I didn't realize he was still in love with her！’said Billy.

‘Poor Mr Boldwood，the news will be hard for him，’said Jan Coggan. ‘We'll have to tell the mistress her husband's still alive. We'll go in and find the right moment to speak to her. ’

But the right moment never came. Bathsheba had planned to stay at the party for only an hour，and she was in fact preparing to leave when Boldwood found her alone in an upstairs room.

‘Mrs Troy，you can't go！’he said wildly. ‘We've only just begun！’

‘I'd like to go now. I think I'll walk home. ’

‘You know what I want to say to you？’Bathsheba looked silently at the floor. ’You do give it？’he said eagerly.

‘Give what？’she asked，althoug she knew well what he meant.

‘Your promise！Just a business arrangement between two sensible people who no longer think of love. To marry me in five to six years！You owe it to me！’

‘I have no feeling in that matter at all，’she replied，hesitating. ‘But if I must，I promise—if I'm really a widow. ’

‘You'll marry me in five and three-quarter years’time？’

‘Let me think！I'll marry nobody else. Oh，I don't know！Is Frank really dead？Perhaps I should ask a lawyer！’

‘Say the words，my dear one，and I won't speak about it any more. A long engagement，then marriage—Oh Bathsheba！Promise yourself to me！’he begged wildly，forgetting his cool，businesslike manner. ‘I've loved you so much and for so long！’

‘Very well，’she said after a pause，‘I'll marry you six years from now if we're both alive and if my husband doesn't return. ’

‘Then wear this ring for me. ’Boldwood took from his pocket a diamond engagement ring，and held it out to her.

‘No，no，I can't，I don't want anyone to know！’

‘Just wear it tonight，to please me！’Bathsheba could say no more，and weakly let him put it on her finger. He left her.

In a few minutes she was calmer. She put on her cloak and went downstairs. She paused at the foot of the stairs. Bold-wood was standing near the fire，and he had just noticed that a group of villagers were whispering among themselves.

‘What's the matter，men？’he asked cheerfully. ‘Is any-body engaged or married，born or dead？Tell us the news，Tall. ’

‘I wish somebody was dead，’replied Laban Tall in a whisper.

‘What was that，Tall？’asked Boldwood. ‘Speak out，if you have anything to say. ’

At that moment there was a knock on the front door. One of the men opened it. ‘A stranger wants to see Mrs Troy，’he said.

‘Ask him to come in，’said Boldwood.

The message was given，and Troy，wrapped up to his eyes in the cloak，stood in the doorway. Those who knew he was in the area recognized him immediately. Boldwood did not. He said，‘Come in，stranger，and have a Christmas drink with us！’

Troy entered，threw off his cloak and looked Boldwood in the face. But it was only when he laughed that Boldwood recognized the man who had destroyed his hope and happiness once and was about to do it again.

Troy turned to Bathsheba. She had dropped miserably on to the lowest stair. Her mouth was blue and dry，her eyes empty and staring. He said，‘Bathsheba，I've come here for you！’She did not reply. ‘Come home with me，do you hear！’He went towards her.

A strange，thin voice，full of despair，came from the fire-place. ‘Bathsheba，go with your husband！’said Boldwood.

She did not move，and when Troy stretched out his hand to pull her towards him，she fell back with a quick，low scream.

A second later there was a loud bang，and the hall was filled with smoke. At Bathsheba's cry，Boldwood's despair had turned to anger. From the wall above the fireplace he had taken a gun and shot Troy，who now lay very still. Boldwood turned the gun on himself，but was stopped by one of his men.

‘It doesn't matter！’Boldwood gasped. ‘There's another way to die！’

He crossed the room to Bathsheba，and kissed her hand. Then he went out into the darkness before anyone could prevent him.

■ 18 伯德伍德先生舉辦聖誕宴會

幾個月來，威瑟伯裡的人們一直在談論伯德伍德先生將在聖誕節之前舉行的宴會，現在這一天終於來到了。芭絲謝芭正為赴宴作準備。

“我挺心煩的，利蒂。我真蠢，我知道，”她說。“真希望我能不去。去年秋天我答應聖誕節去見他，從那以後我就沒和他說過什麼話，所以，我是得去。請給我穿上黑綢裙子。”

“你今晚用不著穿黑吧，太太？你守寡已經14個月了，時間夠長的了。”

“不行，我要是穿上鮮亮衣裙，人們會說我在鼓勵伯德伍德先生。你看我怎麼樣？”

“我還沒怎麼見過你這麼漂亮呢，太太。”

“如果我不去，就會得罪他。唉，真想繼續過這一年多的這種日子，既沒有希望，也沒有恐懼，既沒有歡樂，也沒有哀愁。”

“如果伯德伍德先生要你和他遠走高飛，你說什麼呀，太太？”利蒂微笑著說。

“利蒂，別開玩笑了。這可是嚴肅的事。我嫁給誰都長不了。給我拿斗篷，該走了。”

這時，伯德伍德也在房裡穿衣打扮。他正在試穿剛剛送到的一件新上衣。今晚，他想以最佳狀態出場。

就在這時，蓋伯瑞爾進來了，彙報農事進展情況。

“來，奧克，”伯德伍德說。“你今晚是一定要參加宴會的了。”

“如果我不太忙，就儘量來，”蓋伯瑞爾平靜地說。“看到你快活起來我真高興，先生。”

“你說得對，今晚我是快活。不過，我的快活取決於一個希望。奧克，我的手在抖。你能幫我係一下釦子嗎？”蓋伯瑞爾走上前來，伯德伍德接著熱情地說，“奧克，女人答應訂婚以後還會守約嗎？你比我更瞭解女人——給我說說。”

“我覺得我並不十分了解女人，不過，如果她想糾正錯事，可能會遵守那諾言的。”

“我想她會的，”伯德伍德輕聲說道。“她說在她的丈夫消失七年以後，她可以考慮我成為她的丈夫的。”

“七年哪，”蓋伯瑞爾說著搖了搖頭。“時間太長了。”

“可現在不是七年了！”伯德伍德急切地說。“現在只剩五年九個月零幾天了！”

“別把你的希望建立在她的許諾上面，先生。記住，她曾使你失望過一次，而且她還年輕。”

“那一次她本來就沒答應過我什麼，所以她也說不上違背過我的諾言。我相信她會說話算話的。咱們還是來說說正事吧，奧克。你為我經營農場，幹得這麼賣力，我想讓你多拿一點利潤分成。你的祕密我也知道一點，你對她也懷有熱情，可你卻讓我去追求她！我想對你表示我由衷的感激！”

“嗨，那沒必要，謝謝你了。”蓋伯瑞爾匆忙說道，“我也必須像其他男人一樣，學著習慣這種失意。”他離開了，伯德伍德奇怪的表現令他十分擔心。

伯德伍德房子的前門外，一群男人正在悄聲議論。

“今天下午有人在卡斯特橋看到託伊中士了，”比利·斯莫伯裡說。“沒有人見過他的屍體，鄉親們。”

“咱們應不應當告訴女主人呢？”拉班·托爾問道。“可憐的女人！她嫁給他就是個大錯誤！”

就在此時，伯德伍德出來向大門走去。他並沒有注意到那些人，因為他們站在暗處。

“上帝保佑，讓她來吧！”他悄聲自語。“哦，親愛的，我親愛的人，你幹嗎讓我這樣地等待呢？”

他的話他們聽得清清楚楚。路上傳來車輪聲，芭絲謝芭到了。伯德伍德將她領進房內，並關上了門。

“真沒想到他還愛著她。”比利說。

“可憐的伯德伍德先生，那消息可夠他受的，”簡·考根說。“我們總得告訴女主人他的丈夫還活著。咱們進去，找個合適的時機告訴她吧。”

可是這合適的時機卻沒有來。芭絲謝芭本來就打算只待一個小時，伯德伍德在樓上房間發現芭絲謝芭一人獨處時，她正準備離開。

“託伊太太，你不能走！”他狂熱地說。“我們才剛剛開始啊！”

“我想現在就走，我準備走著回去。”

“你知道我想對你說什麼嗎？”芭絲謝芭默默地看著地面。“你真的給我嗎？”他很急切地說。

“給什麼？”她問道。其實她知道他所指的是什麼。

“你的諾言呀！就當兩個不再思想愛情的理智的人對一件事情進行安排吧。五、六年以後嫁給我！你理應這樣的！”

“這事我完全沒有情緒，”她猶豫著回答。“但如果我必須保證，那我就保證——如果我真正成了寡婦的話。”

“你將在五年又九個月後嫁給我嗎？”

“讓我想一下！我不會嫁給別的人。唉，我也不知道！弗蘭克真的死了嗎？我也許應該找個律師問一問！”

“把那句話說一遍，我親愛的人，以後我就不會再提這事了。長長的訂婚期，然後再結婚——芭絲謝芭啊！答應把你給我吧！”他狂熱地懇求道，忘卻了他那冷靜而公事公辦的作派。“我真愛你，愛了這麼久！”

“那好吧，”她停了一會兒後說道。“如果咱們兩人六年以後都還活著，如果我丈夫到時沒有回來，我就嫁給你。”

“那你就把這個戒指戴上，”伯德伍德從衣兜裡摸出一個訂婚鑽戒，舉在她的面前。

“不行，不行，我不能戴，不能讓任何人知道這事！”

“就今天晚上戴一戴，只讓我高興一下！”芭絲謝芭不能再說什麼，無力地讓他給自己戴上了戒指。然後他便走開了。

過了一會兒，她鎮靜一點了。她披上斗篷下了樓，先是在樓梯下停了停。伯德伍德站在爐邊，剛剛注意到一群村民在一旁竊竊私語。

“什麼事啊，夥計們？”他興高采烈地問道。“是不是有人訂婚了，要麼是結婚了？生孩子了還是有人去世了？給我們講講新鮮事吧，托爾。”

“我倒希望有人真的死了，”拉班·托爾低聲答道。

“你說什麼，托爾？”伯德伍德問道。大點聲說出來。”

正在此時，前門傳來敲門聲。一個人去開了門。“有個陌生人要見託伊太太，”他說。

“請他進來。”伯德伍德說。

話傳了出去，託伊用斗篷齊眼遮擋著臉站在門口。知道他在這一片活動的那幾個人馬上便認出了他，但是，伯德伍德沒有認出他來。他說，“請進來，這位陌生的人，跟我們喝一杯聖誕喜酒吧。”

託伊進了門，脫掉斗篷，直視伯德伍德。但是，直到他哈哈大笑起來伯德伍德才認出了這個人，這個毀了他的希望和幸福，現在又要來毀他的人。

託伊轉向芭絲謝芭，她早已痛苦地跌倒在樓梯上。她的嘴又青又幹，眼睛茫然地瞪著。他說，“芭絲謝芭，我回來找你了！”她沒有回答。“跟我回家吧，聽見我的話了嗎！”他向她走了過去。

壁爐邊傳來一個奇怪的細嗓音，充滿了絕望：“芭絲謝芭，跟你丈夫走！”是伯德伍德在說話。

她一動未動，託伊伸手去拉她時，她迅速發出一聲低沉的叫聲，向後倒去。

剎那間，只聽得“砰”的一聲，大廳裡頓時充滿煙味。原來，伯德伍德聽到芭絲謝芭的叫聲，心中的絕望變成了憤怒。他從壁爐上方的牆上摘下一支槍來，向託伊開了一槍。此時，託伊一動不動地躺在地上。伯德伍德又把槍對準自己，被一個人攔下了。

“沒關係的！”伯德伍德氣吁吁地說。”別的死法也行！”

他走到房間另一邊的芭絲謝芭身邊，吻了吻她的手。然後，他出門走進黑暗之中，沒有人能攔得住他。