05-04-远离尘嚣 [10]
all the other ricks would have caught fire too. That brave young man up there on top of the rick is the one who's saved your wheat. ’
‘He does work hard，’said the young woman，looking up at Gabriel, who had not noticed her. ‘I wish he worked for me. ’
As the ricks were no longer in danger， Gabriel started to climb down，and at the bottom he met the maid.
‘I have a message from the farmer，who wishes to thank you for all you've done，’she said.
‘Where is he？’asked Gabriel，suddenly aware of the chance of getting some work.
‘It isn't a he，it's a she，’answered the girl.
‘A woman farmer？’asked Gabriel.
‘Yes，and a rich one too！’said a villager who was standing near. ‘She inherited her uncle's farm，when he died suddenly. She has business in every bank in Casterbridge！’
‘She's over there，wrapped in a cloak，on her horse，’added the maid. In the darkness Gabriel could only see the shape of a woman sitting on a horse. He walked over to her. Although his face was black from the smoke and his clothes were burnt by the fire，he remembered to lift his hat politely，and asked, looking up at her，‘Do you want a shepherd，ma'am？’She let her cloak fall back from her head in surprise. Gabriel and his cold-hearted darling，Bathsheba Everdene，stared at each other. She did not speak. He only repeated sadly，‘Do you want a shepherd，ma'am？’
Bathsheba turned away into the shadows to consider. She was a little sorry for him， but also glad that she had improved her position since they last met. She realized she had almost forgotten his offer of marriage on Norcombe Hill.
‘Yes，’she answered quietly，blushing a little，‘I do want a shepherd. But—’
‘He's just the right man，ma'am，’said one of the villagers.
‘That's right！’said a second，and a third.
‘Then will you men tell him to speak to the farm manager？’said Bathsheba in a businesslike way，as she rode off.
Gabriel soon arranged the details of his employment with Bathsheba's farm manager，Benjy Pennyways，and walked on to the village to find a place to live. As he walked，he thought of Bathsheba. How quickly the young girl he remembered had become the capable mistress of a farm！
When he passed the churchyard，and the ancient trees around it，he noticed that someone was standing behind one of the trees.
‘Is this the right way to Weatherbury？’asked Gabriel.
‘Oh yes，straight on，’said a girl's voice，low and sweet. After a pause she added，‘You're not a Weatherbury man？’
‘No，I'm the new shepherd，just arrived. ’
‘Only a shepherd！You seem almost like a farmer to me. ’
‘Only a shepherd，’repeated Gabriel in a dull voice，think－ing of the disaster that had destroyed his hopes of being a farmer.
‘Please don't tell anyone in the village that you've seen me，’begged the girl. ‘I'm rather poor，and I don't want anyone to know about me. ’ Her thin arms trembled in the cold.
‘I won't tell anyone，’said Gabriel，‘but you ought to be wearing a cloak on a night like this. ’
‘Oh，it doesn't matter. Please go on and leave me. ’
He hesitated ‘Perhaps you'd accept this. It's not much，but it's all I have to spare. ’He put a coin into her small hand，and as he touched her wrist he noticed how quickly the blood was beating. It was the same quick，hard beat that he felt in his lambs when they were close to death.
‘What's the matter？Can't I help you？’he asked. He felt a deep sadness in this thin，weak creature.
‘No，no！Don't tell anyone you've seen me！Good night！’She stayed in the shadows，and Gabriel went on to Weather-bury.
■ 3 火灾
两个月后，盖伯瑞尔去了位于卡斯特桥的大集市，希望找一份农场经理的工作。在下午，快结束时，他意识到卡斯特桥没有哪个农
‘He does work hard，’said the young woman，looking up at Gabriel, who had not noticed her. ‘I wish he worked for me. ’
As the ricks were no longer in danger， Gabriel started to climb down，and at the bottom he met the maid.
‘I have a message from the farmer，who wishes to thank you for all you've done，’she said.
‘Where is he？’asked Gabriel，suddenly aware of the chance of getting some work.
‘It isn't a he，it's a she，’answered the girl.
‘A woman farmer？’asked Gabriel.
‘Yes，and a rich one too！’said a villager who was standing near. ‘She inherited her uncle's farm，when he died suddenly. She has business in every bank in Casterbridge！’
‘She's over there，wrapped in a cloak，on her horse，’added the maid. In the darkness Gabriel could only see the shape of a woman sitting on a horse. He walked over to her. Although his face was black from the smoke and his clothes were burnt by the fire，he remembered to lift his hat politely，and asked, looking up at her，‘Do you want a shepherd，ma'am？’She let her cloak fall back from her head in surprise. Gabriel and his cold-hearted darling，Bathsheba Everdene，stared at each other. She did not speak. He only repeated sadly，‘Do you want a shepherd，ma'am？’
Bathsheba turned away into the shadows to consider. She was a little sorry for him， but also glad that she had improved her position since they last met. She realized she had almost forgotten his offer of marriage on Norcombe Hill.
‘Yes，’she answered quietly，blushing a little，‘I do want a shepherd. But—’
‘He's just the right man，ma'am，’said one of the villagers.
‘That's right！’said a second，and a third.
‘Then will you men tell him to speak to the farm manager？’said Bathsheba in a businesslike way，as she rode off.
Gabriel soon arranged the details of his employment with Bathsheba's farm manager，Benjy Pennyways，and walked on to the village to find a place to live. As he walked，he thought of Bathsheba. How quickly the young girl he remembered had become the capable mistress of a farm！
When he passed the churchyard，and the ancient trees around it，he noticed that someone was standing behind one of the trees.
‘Is this the right way to Weatherbury？’asked Gabriel.
‘Oh yes，straight on，’said a girl's voice，low and sweet. After a pause she added，‘You're not a Weatherbury man？’
‘No，I'm the new shepherd，just arrived. ’
‘Only a shepherd！You seem almost like a farmer to me. ’
‘Only a shepherd，’repeated Gabriel in a dull voice，think－ing of the disaster that had destroyed his hopes of being a farmer.
‘Please don't tell anyone in the village that you've seen me，’begged the girl. ‘I'm rather poor，and I don't want anyone to know about me. ’ Her thin arms trembled in the cold.
‘I won't tell anyone，’said Gabriel，‘but you ought to be wearing a cloak on a night like this. ’
‘Oh，it doesn't matter. Please go on and leave me. ’
He hesitated ‘Perhaps you'd accept this. It's not much，but it's all I have to spare. ’He put a coin into her small hand，and as he touched her wrist he noticed how quickly the blood was beating. It was the same quick，hard beat that he felt in his lambs when they were close to death.
‘What's the matter？Can't I help you？’he asked. He felt a deep sadness in this thin，weak creature.
‘No，no！Don't tell anyone you've seen me！Good night！’She stayed in the shadows，and Gabriel went on to Weather-bury.
■ 3 火灾
两个月后，盖伯瑞尔去了位于卡斯特桥的大集市，希望找一份农场经理的工作。在下午，快结束时，他意识到卡斯特桥没有哪个农