远离尘嚣-第13章

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d　leave　the　farm　in　three　months’time。

Bathsheba　sat　and　cried　bitterly　over　this　letter。　She　was　deeply　hurt　that　Gabriel　no　longer　loved　her。　She　was　also　worried　about　having　to　manage　the　farm　by　herself　again。　She　thought　about　it　all　morning，and　was　so　depressed　by　the　afternoon　that　she　put　on　her　cloak　and　found　her　way　to　where　Gabriel　lived。　She　knocked　at　the　door。

‘Who　is　it？’said　Gabriel，opening　the　door。　‘Oh，It's　you，mistress！’

‘I　won't　be　your　mistress　much　longer，will　I，Gabriel？’she　said　sadly。

‘Well，no，I　suppose　not。　’

Because　these　two　people，who　knew　each　other　well，were　meeting　in　a　strange　place，they　felt　like　the　strangers　they　were　when　they　first　met，and　neither　spoke　for　a　moment。

‘Gabriel，perhaps　I　shouldn't　have　come，but　I—I　thought　I　must　have　offended　you，and　that's　why　you're　going　away。

‘Offended　me！You　couldn't　do　that，Bathsheba！’

‘Couldn't　I？’she　said　gladly。　‘But　then　why　are　you　going？’

‘I'm　not　going　to　America，you　know。　I　decided　not　to，when　you　seemed　against　the　idea。　No，I've　arranged　to　rent　Mr　Boldwood's　farm，and　I　could　have　been　your　farm　manager　as　well，if—well—if　people　hadn't　said　things　about　us。　’

‘What？’said　Bathsheba，surprised。　‘What　things？’

‘Well，if　you　must　know，that　I'm　just　waiting　and　hoping　for　the　chance　to　marry　you　some　day。　’

‘Marry　me！That's　too　foolish—too　soon—to　think　of！’

‘Yes，of　course，it's　foolish。　I　certainly　agree。　’

‘“Too　soon”were　the　words　I　used。　’

‘I'm　sorry，but　I　think　you　said“too　foolish”。　’

‘I'm　sorry　too，’she　replied　with　tears　in　her　eyes。　‘“Too　soon”was　what　I　said。　But　it　doesn't　matter　a　bit，not　at　all—but　I　only　meant“too　soon”。　Indeed，you　must　believe　me！’

Gabriel　looked　into　her　face　for　a　long　time。　‘Bathsheba，’he　said，coming　closer，‘If　I　only　knew　one　thing—whether　you'd　allow　me　to　love　you，and　marry　you　after　all—if　I　only　knew！’

‘But　you　never　will　know，’she　whispered。　

‘Why　not？’

‘Because　you　never　ask。　’

‘Oh！’said　Gabriel　delightedly。　‘My　darling—’

‘You　should　never　have　sent　me　that　cruel　letter　this　morning。　It　shows　you　don't　care　a　bit　about　me！’

‘Now　Bathsheba，’he　said，laughing，‘you　know　very　well　that　I　had　to　be　very　careful，as　a　single　man　working　for　you，a　good…looking　young　woman。　I've　been　so　worried　about　your　good　name。　That's　why　I　was　going　to　leave。　’

‘And　that's　the　only　reason？Oh，I'm　so　glad　I　came！’she　cried　thankfully，as　she　got　up　to　leave。　‘I've　thought　so　much　more　about　you　since　I　imagined　you　didn't　even　want　to　see　me　again。　But　Gabriel，I　shouldn't　have　come　to　visit　you！I　seem　to　be　courting　you！How　awful！’

‘Well，I've　courted　you，my　beautiful　Bathsheba，for　a　very　long　time，so　one　visit　from　you　isn't　much　to　ask。　’

As　he　walked　back　to　the　farmhouse　with　her，they　talked　of　his　plans　for　Boldwood's　farm。　They　spoke　very　little　of　their　feelings　for　each　other。　They　were　such　old　friends　that　expressions　of　love　were　probably　unnecessary。　Their　shared　interests　and　their　long，friendly　relationship　had　given　them　a　complete　understanding　of　each　other's　character，and　this　finally　developed，after　their　wedding，into　a　love　that　nothing　could　destroy。　

　



　


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