Reader's Club

Home Category

05-04-远离尘嚣 [42]

By Root 4962 0
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 芭丝谢芭作出抉择
  芭丝谢芭到家的那天,伯德伍德先生前去准备向她致歉,告诉她上次见她时自己说话不该那么粗声粗气。他并不知她去过巴斯,只以为她是刚去看过利蒂。但是到了她家门口,有人告诉他不能见她,他这才知道她并未原谅他。
  在穿过威瑟伯里回家的路上,他看见了来自巴斯的马车。车停在老地方,一个身着红色镶金制眼的士兵跳了下来,是托伊中士。他提起包,正准备向芭丝谢芭家走,伯德伍德走上前来。
  “托伊中士吗?我叫威廉·伯德伍德。”
  “是吗?”托伊说着,一副不感兴趣的样子。
  “我想和你谈谈——谈谈两个女人的事。”
  托伊看到伯德伍德拿着的大棒,知道这人决意要谈,于是便想,礼貌点还是划算的。
  “我将很乐意听你说,不过请不要声张。”
  “好吧。我听说你与范妮·罗宾有关系,我想你应当娶她为妻。”
  “我想是应当。我也确实想这样,可我不能。”
  “为什么不能?”
  托伊准备马上回答,可又停住口。“我太穷了,”他说,一边瞥了伯德伍德一眼,看着这位农场主信不信自己的话。可伯德伍德并没有注意到他的表情。
  “我并不想谈论是与非,我只是想和你谈正事。你来的时候,我和芭丝谢芭已经订婚了——”
  “没有订婚吧,”托伊说。
  “差不多订婚了,”伯德伍德坚持道。“如果不是你来,现在她肯定早已接受我的求婚了。嗯,她的社会地位远比你高,你就别指望娶她了。所以,我请你做的事就是,别再烦她,和范妮结婚吧。”
  “我干吗要这样?”托伊漫不经心地问道。
  “我付给你钱。如果你今天就离开威瑟伯里,我付你50镑。范妮也会得到50镑去买嫁衣。她嫁给你那天,我会再给她500镑的。”伯德伍德的样子像是因付钱而略显羞臊,但是,他准备不借一切阻止托伊把芭丝谢芭娶到手。
  托伊似乎在考虑这一提议。“我是喜欢范妮,虽然她只是个女仆。现在付50镑,对吗?”
  “给你钱,”伯德伍德说着,把一袋金币递给了那个兵。
  “等一下!你听!”托伊悄声说道。轻微的脚步声从路上传来,来自芭丝谢芭的房子。“是芭丝谢芭!她在等我,我得跟她去说句话,告个别。按你我安排的那样。”
  “你干吗要和她说话?”
  “我不和她说句话,她会找我的。别担心,我对她说的每个字都会让你听到的,我走后,这些话对你追求她会有用处的。过来站在树
Return Main Page Previous Page Next Page

®Reader's Club