05-04-远离尘嚣 [62]
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
‘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