Transcript for:
Summary of Far from the Madding Crowd

[Music] far from the madding crowd by thomas hardy retold by john scott chapter one gabriel oak farmer gabriel oak was a quiet sensible man he was 28 years old and unmarried and he was a man of good character on sundays he went to church and prayed during the week he worked in the fields of his farm on a sunny morning in december gabriel oak walked across his field on norcombe hill in the county of wessex he looked towards the road which went between emminster and chalk newton and saw a bright yellow wagon two horses were pulling the heavy wagon slowly along the road the driver was walking beside the wagon which was loaded with furniture a woman was sitting on top of the furniture she was young and very attractive suddenly the driver called to her something has fallen off the wagon miss i'll go back and get it the young woman waited quietly she did not get down from the wagon to help the driver after several minutes she looked back to see if the wagon driver was returning he was not so she opened a small package that was beside her she took a mirror from the package and held it up to her face as she looked in the mirror she smiled the sun shone down onto the woman's red jacket her pretty face and her dark hair gabriel oak watched her and smiled the girl did not touch her hat or her hair she simply looked at herself and smiled then she heard the wagon driver returning to the wagon she put the mirror into the package and waited for him to drive the horses forward when the wagon moved on gabriel oak followed it to the toll gate as he came nearer to the wagon oak heard the driver arguing with the man at the gate the toll is two pence said the gatekeeper but this wagon is large you must pay two pence extra but the young woman would not pay the extra money oak thought that two pence was too small an amount to argue about he held out two pennies to the gatekeeper take this and let the young woman go through he said the young woman looked down at oak she did not thank him but she told her driver to go on oak and the gatekeeper watched her as the wagon passed she's a handsome woman said the gatekeeper that's true said oak but unfortunately she knows it it was nearly midnight on 21st december the shortest day of the year there were no clouds in the dark sky and the stars were shining brightly a cold wind was blowing but it was not the sound of the wind that travelers could hear on norcom hill it was the sound of music the music came from a little wooden shepherd's hut that belonged to gabriel oak inside the hut gabriel was playing a happy tune on his flute the heart was on wheels and it gave shelter for the shepherd in the winter and early spring he stayed in the hut while he cared for his sheep at this time of the year the sheep were giving birth to their lambs it was warm and comfortable inside the hut oak had a small stove to keep him warm and he had some bread cheese and beer oak's father had been a shepherd and he had taught gabriel all that he knew about sheep now the young man had 200 sheep two sheep dogs and a farm of his own he had not yet paid for the sheep and it was important to guard the sheep and their young lambs during the night after a few minutes oak stopped playing his flute picked up a lamp and went outside as he moved around the field he held the light high and looked at each sheep twenty minutes later he returned to the hut with a newborn lamb it was weak and cold after an hour in the warm hut the lamb became stronger oak took the little lamb back outside and left it with its mother suddenly he saw a light shining in a field next to his own farm lamplight was coming from a cow shed that was built into the side of the hill oak walked down the hill until he stood above the roof of the wooden building he looked through a hole in the roof inside the cowshed two women were sitting beside a cow and its young calf a lamp was standing on the floor of the cowshed the soft yellow light shone on the women and the animals one woman was about 50 years old the other was younger but she was wearing a cloak which hid her face we can go home now said the older woman i hope that the cows will be all right if we were rich we could pay a man to do these things said the younger woman well we aren't rich so we must do the work ourselves said the older woman and you must help me if you stay on the farm aunt i've lost my hat said the younger woman the wind blew it into the next field suddenly the cloak fell back from the young woman's head and oak saw her long black hair and her red jacket oak recognized her at once it was the young woman who had been in the yellow wagon the young woman who liked to look at herself in the mirror the young woman who owed him two pence the two women put the calf next to its mother then they picked up their lamp and went out of the hut and down the hill oak went back to his sheep when it began to get light oak remembered the girl's lost hat he went to look for it in his field he found the hat under a hedge and took it back to his hut later in the morning oak saw the young woman on the road he was surprised she was riding her horse like a man she did not ride side saddle like a lady she had pulled up her long skirt and each of her legs were down the sides of the horse he smiled and watched her ride away down the hill an hour later the young woman returned she was riding side saddle now oak got the hat from his hut and stepped onto the road in front of her i found a hat miss he said and he held it up towards her it's mine she said she smiled and took the hat it flew off my head in the wind last night at one o'clock this morning yes how did you know that she asked i was here with my sheep you're farmer oak she said yes he said and i saw you again about an hour ago her face became red she was remembering her ride down the hill he had seen her riding a stride like a man oak turned away he had not wanted to embarrass her when he turned back she was gone five mornings and evenings went by the young woman came to the cowshed to take care of the cows which had newborn calves but she did not speak to oak he watched her each day and his heart ached then one evening he was very tired he came back to his shepherd's hut and shut the door it was a cold night and he was pleased to be near the warm stove but he forgot to open one of the little windows it was important to do this when a fire was burning in the stove and the door was shut in a few minutes oak fell asleep when oak opened his eyes again his head was aching he looked up and saw the face of the young woman his head was in her arms and she was opening the top of his shirt what's the matter asked oak nothing now she replied but you could have died you forgot to open a window oh said oak he wanted to stay with his head in her arms forever but she made him sit up i heard your dog barking she told him it was trying to open the door of the hut i came to see what was wrong you saved my life miss said oak but but i don't know your name i know your aunt's name it's mrs hurst but i don't know yours you don't have to know my name she replied and i don't like it you'll soon get a new name when you marry well farmer oak she said do you always speak so so plainly i'm sorry miss said oak i did not mean to be rude i'm not clever with words i'm a plain man and i speak plainly and honestly but i do thank you please let me shake your hand oak held the young woman's hand in his own how soft it is he said quietly you're thinking i would like to kiss her hand she said well you can if you want to i wasn't thinking that at all but then you won't she said and she pulled her hand away now you must find out my name she said laughing and she went away [Music] [Applause] chapter 2 bathsheba oak learnt that the young woman's name was bathsheba everdeen and he realized that he was in love he thought about her all the time he thought about her face her hair her soft hands he said her name bathsheba again and again i must marry her he said to himself she must be my wife or i'll not be good for anything again when bathsheba no longer visited the cowshed he went to her aunt's house he knocked at the door of the farmhouse and mrs hearst opened the door mr oak she said can i see miss everdeen said oak i've brought a lamb for her to care for it's mother died girls sometimes like to take care of a lamb well i don't know said mrs hurst bathsheba is only a visitor here she won't be staying long on my farm and she's not here at the moment do you want to wait for her yes i'll wait said oak and he sat in a chair the lamb isn't the real reason i came here mrs hirst i want to ask miss everdeen if she would like to be married i would be very happy to marry her do you know if there are any other young men who want to marry her oh yes said mrs hurst it's not surprising because she's so pretty and so clever the young men never come here of course but there are 10 or more young men who want to marry her oh then i won't wait said oak i'm only an ordinary man my best chance was to be the first man to propose to her he was walking back across the fields when he heard someone give a shout he turned round and saw bathsheba running after him farmer oak she called she stopped in front of him breathing fast my aunt made a mistake she said there aren't any other young men who have proposed to me is this true said oak i'm very happy to hear that he held out his hand but she quickly put her own hand behind her back i have a nice little farmhouse and some good fields he went on i haven't paid for the farm yet but when we're married farmer oak bathsheba said surprised i never said that i was going to marry you i only wanted to tell you of my aunt's mistake oak was disappointed think about my proposal he said softly i'll wait miss everdeen please bathsheba i love you more than my life i'll think about what you have said she replied give me time before i must answer i can make you happy he said in a year or two i will have earned more money you can have a piano and a little carriage which you can drive to the market each week i should like that she said we'll be comfortable and happy in our home and i'll be there by the fire whenever you look up and whenever i look up there you will be bathsheba was silent for a few minutes and he watched her then she said no i don't want to marry you farmer oak a wedding in a church would be nice and people would say nice things about me but a husband yes said oak quickly a husband would always be there she said if i could have a wedding without having a husband but i can't so i won't marry anyone not yet what a stupid thing to say said oak but my dear why won't you marry me because i don't love you she answered but i love you said oak and i will love you and want you until i die no i'm sorry mr oak she said we couldn't be happy as man and wife i'm too independent i need a husband who is a stronger character than me and i live with my aunt and have no money you need a woman with money you need a rich wife who can buy more sheep for your farm and help it to grow but began oak no no i can't marry you said bathsheba then she laughed i don't love you i would be stupid if i married you oak did not like people laughing at him then i'll not ask you again he said quietly it is not easy to stop loving someone and oak soon found out that this was true a few days after oak's proposal bathsheba went to weatherbury which was more than 20 miles away had she gone to live in the town or was she only visiting it oak did not know but his love for bathsheba grew stronger now that she was further away from him and then something happened that changed his life one night oak came back to his house and called his two sheepdogs but only the older dog came home oak did not worry about the younger dog he'll come back soon he thought and he went to bed very early the next morning as the sky began to get light oak woke up suddenly he had heard the sound of sheep's bells ringing the sheep were running on the hill and the bells around their necks were ringing loudly oak knew that something was wrong he jumped from his bed and put on his clothes quickly then he ran out of the house down the lane and on to norcombe hill oak had 250 sheep 50 sheep and their young lambs were in one field 200 pregnant sheep were in a second field their lambs were going to be born in a week or two and these sheep had disappeared oak began to call the sheep then he saw that the fence was broken he ran through the hole in the fence and looked up to the top of the hill his younger dog was standing there suddenly oak knew the terrible truth the young dog had become excited and had chased the sheep oak ran to the top of the hill and looked down below the other side of the hill there was a deep chalk pit at the bottom of the pit lay his sheep 200 of them and inside the dead or dying bodies of the sheep were 200 unborn lambs at first oak felt very sorry for the sheep and their lambs but moments later he realized that he had lost more than his sheep i'm ruined he thought the sheep were not insured and i have no more money i cannot buy more sheep the next day took his gun and shot the young dog a bank had given him money so that he could buy the sheep now he had to sell everything so that he could repay the debt thank god that i'm not married to bathsheba he thought i've lost everything i have nothing but the clothes that i'm wearing [Music] chapter 3 the fire two months later gabriel oak was at the market in the town of casterbridge it was now the month of february oak was at the hiring fair he wanted to work as a farm manager but he had been unlucky no one had hired him during the morning he saw a regiment of soldiers leaving the town should i become a soldier gabriel thought the army would pay me each month it would give me food clothes and somewhere to live the next day gabriel decided to go to another village which was 10 miles on the other side of weatherbury he would try to find work there perhaps someone would hire him as a shepherd gabriel bought a shepherd's crook and then he started walking is bathsheba still living in wetherbury he thought after he had walked three or four miles gabriel saw a wagon standing beneath some trees there was no horse with the wagon but there was a large pile of hay on the top of it i'm tired and that hay will make a good soft bed gabriel thought he climbed into the wagon and covered himself with hay he was asleep after only a few minutes when gabriel woke up again it was dark and the wagon was moving he could hear men's voices she's not married and she's a very handsome woman said one man but she knows that she's pretty the other man gave a short laugh i'm much too shy to look at her he said tell me billy smallbury does she pay her work as well i don't know joe porgrass these men talking about bathsheba thought gabriel no the woman they're speaking about is the owner of a farm gabriel looked at the road they were traveling on he guessed that the wagon was near wetherbury now he jumped down onto the road and climbed over a gate into a field the two men in the wagon did not see him gabriel had to find a place to sleep for the rest of the night he began walking after a few minutes he saw a strange light about half a mile away gabriel watched the light growing bigger and brighter something was burning gabriel ran towards the fire and saw that a rick of straw was burning the powerful flames were reaching across to another rick a rick of wheat and past this there were more wheat ricks all the wheat from the farm's fields was kept in these ricks and soon they would be burnt farm workers were running around the farm yard people were shouting fire fire but nobody seemed to know what to do nobody knew how to put out the flames quickly get a rick cloth shouted gabriel make it wet and hang it between the straw rick and the wheat rick the cloth might stop the flames reaching across to the other ricks some of the men did this they found a rick cloth and put it into a pond to make it wet then they pulled the wet cloth up onto two tall poles between the rigs get a ladder shouted gabriel and some buckets of water hurry the ladder that was against the straw rake was burnt shouted a man gabriel quickly climbed to the top of the wheat rick he used his hands and feet to pull himself up gabriel began to beat the flames which were on the stalks of wheat with his shepherd's crook he was trying to put out the flames billy smallbury one of the men who had been driving the wagon had found another ladder he put it against the wheat rick and climbed up onto the rick with a bucket of water he poured the water over oak's face and clothes to stop the flames burning him on the ground groups of farm workers tried to stop the fire but they could not do very much a dark-haired young woman sat on a horse away from the heat and smoke she watched the workers moving around the wrecks another young woman one of her maids stood next to her who's that man on the rick marianne asked the young woman he's a shepherd i think ma'am said the maid who does he work for asked the woman on the horse i don't know ma'am replied marianne nobody knows i've asked many people he's a stranger the young woman on the horse called to one of the men jan coggin are the weitrich safe they're safe now ma'am replied coggin thanks to the shepherd mary anne go and thank the shepherd for me said the woman on the horse after about ten minutes gabriel oak climbed down to the ground and marianne went across to him the farmer wants to thank you she told oak where is he asked oak perhaps there was work for a shepherd here it's not a he it's a she said marianne a woman farmer yes and a rich one too said a villager who was near them her uncle died a few months ago and now this farm is hers she has business in every bank in caster bridge oak walked across to the woman on the horse the flames had burned small holes in his clothes his face was dirty from the smoke he took off his hat and spoke politely do you want a shepherd miss he asked and then he saw the young woman's face more clearly it was bathsheba everdeen she did not reply so oak asked the question again this time there was sadness in his voice do you want a shepherd mess bathsheba everdeen had almost forgotten oak's proposal of marriage but she remembered it now two months later she felt a little sorry for gabriel but she was pleased for herself she saw that gabriel was now a poor man and she had been luckier yes she said kindly i do want to hire a shepherd he's the right man ma'am said one of the farm workers yes he is said a second man speak to my farm manager mr pennyways bathsheba said to gabriel then she turned her horse and rode away gabriel spoke to mr pennyways about his new work as a shepherd then he followed the farm workers towards the village he needed to find a place to live as he walked gabriel thought about bathsheba she was not the young girl that he remembered she was a farm owner now gabriel reached an old church beside the tree there was a churchyard which was surrounded by old trees suddenly he saw a young woman standing beneath one of the trees is this the right way to the village he asked her yes she replied with a sweet low voice are you a stranger in weatherbury yes said gabriel i'm the new shepherd i've just arrived you're only a shepherd oh i thought that you were a farmer she spoke quietly and sadly please don't tell anyone in the village that you've seen me i don't want them to know about me gabriel felt sorry for the sad young woman he gave her a little money before he went on [Music] chapter four a valentine gabriel oak went to an inn called warren's malt house there he found other farm workers drinking beer come in shepherd said one of the men when he saw gabriel at the door you're welcome in weatherbury although we don't know your name my name is gabriel oak he told them and sat down tell me is miss everdeen a good employer we don't know said jan coggin she came here a few days ago after her uncle died she owns his farm now and she's going to keep it i need somewhere to stay said gabriel does anyone have a room in a cottage that i can pay for jan coggin told gabriel that he could stay in his home and the two men left the inn together another farm worker henry frey also went out of the inn at the same time but he returned minutes later looking very excited i've just heard some news about pennywise he said miss everdeen caught him stealing wheat she sent him away everyone began to talk about pennywise miss everdeen's dishonest farm manager henry frey bought another mug of beer but before he had lifted the mug to his mouth another farm worker came running into the inn have you heard the news he asked is this news about pennyways said henry or is it more news laban tall there's news about fanny robin miss everdeen's youngest maid said laban fanny has disappeared miss everdeen wants to speak to all of us before we go to bed all the workers went along the lane to weatherbury farm where bathsheba lived when she saw them arrive she opened a window and called down to them tomorrow morning i want two or three of you to look for fanny robin she said was she courting any young man in the village from another open window marianne spoke she wasn't caught in anyone in the village ma'am said the maid but she's been visiting caster bridge she's been called in a soldier at the barracks there but i don't know his name billy smallbury said bathsheba looking down at a heavy young man who was carrying a lamp if fanny doesn't return tomorrow you must go to casterbridge try to find out the soldier's name then she closed her window and the men went home the next day bathsheba and her maid liddy smallbury were looking through some books and papers that had belonged to bathsheba's uncle suddenly there was a knock at the front door liddy went to the window and looked out it's mr boldwood ma'am she said bathsheba looked at the dust on her dress and hands i can't see him now she said go and ask him what he wants liddy came back a few minutes later mr boldwood asked about fally she said he worries about her fanny had no friends or family when she was a young girl and mr boldwood paid for her to go to school he's a very kind man who is he asked bathsheba he's your neighbor said liddy he owns little weatherbury the farm beside yours he's about 40 years old and very rich all the girls of the village have tried to marry mr boldwood but he's just not interested later that day bathsheba sent for all her farm workers they met together in one of the large farm buildings as you know pennyways has left the farm she told them but i'm not going to hire another farm manager i'm going to manage the farm myself the men looked at each other they were very surprised did this young woman know how to manage a farm but before they could speak bathsheba turned to billy smallbury billy what have you learnt about fanny robin and her soldier she asked many of the soldiers left caster bridge last week said billy i think that fanny's young man is a member of the 11th dragoon guards he went to malchester with the rest of his regiment fanny has followed him but nobody knows his name that night many miles north of weatherbury a person dressed in a cloak moved along a path between a river and a high stone building grey clouds were low in the sky and it was very cold snow was falling the bell of malchester's church clock rang ten times as the person walked slowly towards the army barracks building a few moments later the person stopped and threw a stone up at a high window the window opened who's there called a man's voice sergeant troy a girl's voice asked sergeant frank troy yes replied the man leaning out of the window he wore a red coat and blue trousers the uniform of a dragoon guardsman the dragoon looked down at the girl standing below him snow fell onto her face and cloak frank this is funny robin fanny how did you find me asked troy i asked someone which was the window of your room she said frank are you pleased to see me oh well yes when will we be married frank you promised wait he said i didn't expect you to come here so soon i didn't expect you to come at all fanny began to cry frank i love you and you said lots of times that you would marry me don't cry he said i will marry you if i made that promise i'll come and see you tomorrow i'm staying in rooms at mrs twill's house in north street said fanny good night frank good night the next time that there was a market in caster bridge bathsheba went into the town she went to the corn exchange she was the only woman there and all the men stared at her all except one farmer william boldwood of little weatherbury farm this rich handsome gentleman did not seem to notice her bathsheba was surprised and annoyed she was a beautiful woman and she knew this most men found her attractive one sunday bathsheba was talking with liddy it was the 13th of february and a dark cold winter afternoon the two women were sitting together by the fire in the kitchen of the farmhouse did you see mr boldwood in church this morning ma'am asked liddy no said bathsheba he was sitting opposite you are you sure that you didn't see him said liddy smiling i did not replied bathsheba and he didn't seem to notice you said liddy why should he said bathsheba every other man in the church looked at you said liddy but mr baldwood didn't even turn his head towards you bathsheba was silent for some minutes then she said oh i bought a valentine card yesterday i almost forgot about it a valentine card said liddy excitedly who is it for farmer boldwood no said bathsheba it's for teddy coggan jan coggins son she took the card from her desk teddy is a lovely child i wanted him to get his first valentine card from me it would be fun to send a card to boldwood said liddy laughing bathsheba thought about this for a moment all the other important men in the area admired her but boldwood did not even notice her she was annoyed you're right liddy she said we'll send the card to boldwood it will be a good joke bathsheba wrote boldwood's name and address on the front of an envelope and put the card inside it then she laughed and wrote the words marry me on the back of the envelope that evening the valentine was sent to boldwood it was a joke but bathsheba would soon wish that she had never done it on the evening of saint valentine's day the 14th of february farmer boldwood sat down to eat his supper on the dining table next to him was the valentine card since it had arrived that morning boldwood had asked himself these questions many times who has sent the card marry me are the words on the back of the envelope which woman would send such a message to me boldwood could not sleep that night a dawn he got out of his bed but he did not eat breakfast he went out into the fields and watched the sun come up over the cold snowy hills then he walked back to the road suddenly he heard a noise behind him and turned around the male cart was coming along the road towards his farmhouse when he reached boldwood the driver stopped and held out a letter towards him the farmer took the envelope and started to open it but the mail cart driver said i don't think that the ladder is for you sir i think it's for your shepherd boldwood looked at the envelope and read the words to the new shepherd weatherbury farm near caster bridge you've made a mistake said boldwood this letter isn't for me or my shepherd it's for miss everdeen shepherd gabriel oak at weatherbury farm this is little weatherbury farm at that moment he saw someone moving on the hill there's oak i'll take the letter to him myself when he reached the top of the hill farmer boldwood called to the shepherd oak i met the mail cart and this letter was delivered to me but it was a mistake the letter is for you i'm sorry that i started to open it gabriel oak took the letter from the envelope and read it dear friend i do not know your name but i want to thank you you were kind to me on the night that i left wetherbury i am going to be married to the young man who has been courting me his name is sergeant troy and he is a man of honor he would not want me to keep your money so i am returning it to you please do not tell anyone about this letter as soon as we are husband and wife we will come to weatherbury thank you again for your kindness fanny robin gabriel gave the letter to boldwood i know that you're worried about fanny robin he said you must read this boldwood read the letter and looked unhappy what kind of man is sergeant troy asked gabriel is he a good and honest man who's young and handsome said boldwood and many women love him but i don't think that troy wants to marry anyone poor fanny after a moment boldwood put his hand in his pocket he took out the envelope containing the valentine card tell me oak he said do you know who wrote this gabriel looked at the writing on the envelope it's miss everdeen's handwriting he said he looked quickly at boldwood the farmer turned his head and looked across the hill a person who receives a valentine will try and find out who sent it he said everyone expects that will happen but boldwood spoke seriously he was not enjoying the joke a few minutes later he returned to his house a day or two later a handsome young dragoon walked into all souls church he was wearing his red jacket and blue trousers and carried a shining helmet with a tall crest a long sword hung from a belt at the sergeant's waist the dragoon waited for the young woman who was to be his wife he waited and waited but she did not come the silver spurs on the dragoon's boots rang like little bells as he walked up and down after half an hour he left the church as he walked away from the church he met a young woman she was running towards the church when she saw the soldier the young woman looked frightened oh frank she cried i made a mistake i went to the wrong church i went to all saints church i'm sorry but it doesn't matter we can be married tomorrow instead you fool funny said sergeant francis troy get married tomorrow no i waited at the church but you didn't come you embarrassed me i won't do this again for a long time i promise you chapter 5 mr boldwood's proposal on saturday morning farmer william boldwood was at caster bridge market when bathsheba arrived for several nights boldwood's dreams had been about bathsheba everdeen but now for the first time he looked at her closely he saw her black hair the shape of her face her clothes and he saw that she was beautiful this is the woman who has asked me to marry her he thought bathsheba saw him watching her and smiled he knows who sent the valentine card she thought but only a joke made him notice me suddenly bathsheba was sorry she respected boldwood she was sorry that she had disturbed this quiet calm man's life boldwood was a serious man but he had strong feelings as the weeks passed and spring came he watched bathsheba he watched her from his fields next to her farm at last he decided to speak to her one morning in may boldwood saw bathsheba at the sheep-washing pool with gabriel oak and her other farm workers she was watching the men push each sheep down into the water the women were watching and laughing as the water splashed over everyone when she saw boldwood bathsheba moved away and began to walk towards the river boldwood followed her miss everdeen he said when they were both walking next to the river i can't think sensibly about anything or anybody since i saw you clearly so i've come to make you a proposal of marriage more than anything in the world i want you to be my wife bathsheba tried to stay calm she stopped walking and looked at him mr boldwood she said carefully i admire you and respect you but i can't marry you ms everdeen my life is empty without you said boldwood oh i wish that i could court you with pretty words let me say again and again that i love you i want you to be my wife i'm speaking to you now because you gave me hope you wrote marry me on the valentine i was wrong and foolish to send you that valentine said bathsheba please forgive me i promise that i'll never play jokes again no no don't say this cried boldwood his eyes shone fiercely as he spoke and he stood close to her i don't love you mr boldwood said bathsheba she was frightened by his strong feelings please don't speak about this anymore i can't think clearly i didn't know that you were going to say this to me don't say that you'll never love me he said quickly let me speak to you about this again let me hope that one day you will accept my proposal no don't hope bathsheba replied give me time let me think yes i'll give you time he said quietly i'll wait bathsheba was not in love with boldwood so she was able to think calmly about his proposal many women would be proud to marry boldwood she knew this the farmer was a man of good character and he was rich i started a foolish game by sending that valentine she thought but perhaps i should be honest now perhaps i should marry him but i can't do it the day after boldwood made his proposal bathsheba went to see gabriel oak tell me she said to him did the workers say anything about me and mr boldwood they think that you will probably marry him before the end of the year said gabriel how stupid said bathsheba i want you to tell them that it's not true gabriel was surprised when he heard this but he was also happy yes i can tell them he said but do you want my opinion bathsheba you should call me miss everdeen she said coldly but she did want gabriel's opinion she respected him more than anyone else well what do you have to say she asked you were wrong to send farmer boldwood the valentine card said gabriel it was unkind and dishonest bathsheba's face became red and she said angrily i'm not interested in your opinion and why am i unkind and dishonest is it because i didn't marry you no said gabriel quietly i stopped thinking about my proposal a long time ago and you'll never wish to ask again i suppose she said but she expected him to say that he still loved her no i don't wish to he said but i repeat you were wrong when you sent mr boldwood that valentine it was cruel and dishonest i won't let you speak to me like that said bathsheba she was shaking with anger please leave my farm at the end of the week i'll be happier if i go now said gabriel very well go she said i don't want to see you again 24 hours later three of bathsheba's farm workers came running to her house with terrible news of your sheep broke the fence around their field said joe poor grass and they got into a field of clover said henry frey they've eaten the clover and they're all sick said laban tall their stomachs are swollen they'll die if someone doesn't help them bathsheba hurried out to the field with the men her sheep were lying on the ground their stomachs were very swollen and they groaned in pain oh what can we do she cried someone must make a hole in their sights and let out the air said laban you need a special tool to make a small hole and there's only one man who can do this said joseph poor grass gabriel oak don't speak his name said bathsheba angrily i don't want to hear it perhaps farmer boldwood will help us no ma'am said laban this happened to two of his sheep a few days ago he sent for shepherd oak and shepherd oak saved them [Music] i'll never send for him never said bathsheba suddenly one of the sheep jumped up then fell heavily onto the ground it did not move and bathsheba went to look at it the sheep was dead oh what shall i do what shall i do she cried she looked at the dead sheep for several moments then she said laban take a horse and ride quickly find oak and give him this order tell the shepherd that he must return immediately laban took one of the horses from a field and rode away bathsheba watched the man and the horse disappear over the hill then she began to walk up and down beside the sick sheep after an hour laban returned he was alone well said bathsheba where is sheppard oak gabriel won't come until you ask him politely ma'am said laban what is that his answer suddenly another sheep jumped into the air and fell dead bathsheba began to cry oh how can oak be so cruel gabriel is a good man mom said laban he'll come if you ask him and not order him bathsheba hurried back to the house she wrote these words in a note do not desert me gabriel laban rode away with the note 15 minutes later he returned with gabriel oak gabriel went straight to the sheep and began to work on them he pushed a sharp tool into the side of each sheep and let out the air in their swollen stomachs he saved all except four of the animals bathsheba came and stood beside him gabriel i i was wrong to send you away will you stay with me she asked smiling i will he said chapter six sergeant troy it was the first day of june at this time in the summer the sheep were sheared in the great barn the men cut the wool off the sheep and the women prepared the wool to sell it at the market bathsheba went to the barn to watch them working she watched gabriel oak bending over a sheep and cutting the wool from its body at last he stood up straight and wiped the sweat from his face the sheep ran out of the barn its slim white body shone in the bright sunshine 23 minutes bathsheba said to gabriel i've never seen a sheep sheared in less than half an hour gabriel smiled he was pleased that she had noticed him then he saw farmer boldwood at the barn door and his happiness disappeared mathsheba and farmer boldwood spoke quietly together then bathsheba went into the house when she came out a few minutes later she was wearing a green riding habit oak watched boldwood and bathsheba get onto their horses and ride away that evening there was a big supper for all the farm workers a long table had been put on the grass outside the house the men women and children had all worked hard and now they were going to enjoy a good meal and plenty of beer bathsheba sat at one end of the table and she asked gabriel to sit at the other end at that moment farmer boldwood arrived i'm late he said to bathsheba i'm sorry gabriel will you move again said bathsheba let mr boldwood sit there silently gabriel oak moved to another seat after their supper the farm workers sang songs and told stories gabriel played his flute as everyone sang william boldwood usually wore dark grey clothes but tonight he wore a bright new coat and a beautiful white silk waistcoat he seemed very happy and so did bathsheba gabriel watched them sitting together at the end of the table boldwood was usually a serious silent man tonight he was talking quietly to bathsheba and smiling the sun went down and the sky became dark soon it was time for the workers to leave bathsheba said good night to everyone then she and boldwood went inside the house when bathsheba and boldwood were alone the farmer got down onto his knees now please tell me he said kneeling in front of bathsheba promise me that you'll marry me i'll try to love you said bathsheba and i'll marry you if i believe that i can be a good wife to you but i can't make a promise tonight please don't make me give you an answer you're going away tomorrow for five or six weeks when you come back perhaps i'll be able to make you a promise but remember i'm not promising to be your wife now that is all right said boldwood i don't ask for more good night miss aberdeen that evening bathsheba took a lamp and walked around the farm she checked that everything was safe for the night as she was walking along the path back to the farmhouse she heard footsteps someone was coming through the trees towards her bathsheba was standing on the darkest part of the path when she and the stranger met something caught the edge of her skirt and held it oh have i hurt you said a man's voice no said bathsheba and she pulled at her skirt give me your lamp said the man i'll see what has happened and he bent down and shone the lamp at his feet bathsheba saw that the stranger was a dragoon he wore a bright red coat and the sharp spur on one of his boots was caught in the bottom of her skirt bathsheba began to pull at her skirt again but she could not get it free you're a prisoner miss said the soldier smiling i must cut your skirt if you want to get away quickly yes please do that she said he looked up at her he was very handsome and his white teeth shone beneath his black moustache thank you for letting me see your beautiful face he said bathsheba's face became hot and red i didn't choose to show you my face please hurry i think that you're trying to keep me here don't be angry said the young man i've seen many women but none as beautiful as you who are you i'm not a stranger in weatherbury he said my name's sergeant troy there now you're free but i wish that you weren't i wish that we were tied together forever beauty bathsheba pulled her skirt away from his boot and hurried along the path to her house she did not look back at him inside the farmhouse liddy was preparing to go to bed bathsheba asked her about the soldier from liddy she learnt that sergeant francis troy had been born in weatherbury he came from a good family and his father had been a doctor francis troy had received a good education but when he lost all his money he had become a soldier troy was a sergeant in a regiment of dragoons everyone admired the dragoons they rode tall horses and wore smart uniforms and women especially liked handsome sergeant troy bathsheba thought about the young soldier and smiled she could not be angry with troy for long he had said that she was beautiful he had called her beauty boldwood has never said that i'm beautiful she thought a week or two later bathsheba walked down to her fields she wanted to watch her farm workers cutting the hay she was surprised to see sergeant troy helping them it was a hot bright day and troy's coat was like a red flame the dragoon was standing with the men who were pulling their sharp scythes through the long grass he saw her and came across the field to speak to her miss everdeen i didn't realize that i was speaking to the queen of the corn exchange the other evening he said laughing i often helped your uncle in these fields when i was a boy today i've been helping you i suppose that i must thank you said bathsheba it's not necessary he replied good she said because i don't really want to thank you for anything oh i'm sorry i made you angry the other evening he said but i spoke honestly i can't be the only person to tell you that you're beautiful don't others tell you this too no well liddy says that they do said bathsheba there it's the truth said troy now please forgive me well perhaps you didn't mean to be rude to me the other evening said bathsheba thank you for helping the men today but please don't speak to me unless i speak to you oh miss everdeen that's too hard said troy you'll never speak to me and i'm going away again in a month do you really care that i might not speak to you bathsheba asked perhaps i'm foolish but yes i do care troy replied i loved you from the moment that i saw you the other night and i love you now you can't love me you don't said bathsheba i won't listen to you anymore but what time is it i've wasted too much time here already haven't you got a watch asked troy and before she could stop him he put a heavy gold watch into her hand please take it he said softly it belonged to my mother's family who were noblemen she gave it to my father and the watch became mine after he died but sergeant troy i can't take this a gold watch please keep it ms everdeen troy said i loved my father but i love you more he was not playing games with her now he was serious his eyes shone with love as he looked at her how can you love me said bathsheba this is only the second time that you've spoken to me please take back the watch i can't have it very well i'll take it back he said and she gave the watch to him but will you speak to me for the few weeks that i'm here he asked yes no i don't know bathsheba cried oh why did you come will you let me work in your fields frank troy asked yes if it pleases you she said thank you miss everdeen bathsheba hurried away oh what have i done she thought he said that he loved me was he speaking the truth i wish that i knew [Applause] chapter seven keep him away from me bathsheba saw tree in the old sevens during the next few days first she was light but cool towards him but slowly he found way to make her smile and love one day he asked her if she had ever seen a soldier's sword practice she had not but she agreed that she would like to see it so at eight o'clock that evening she met troy on the other side of the hill a mile from her house the evening sun shone on troy's red uniform and bright long sword now i'll begin the first exercise he said first there are four cuts to the right then four cuts to the left his sword moved quickly through the air and he called out one two three four the sharp blade moved so fast that bathsheba gasped now i'll make the exercise more interesting he said i'll pretend to fight you you'll be my enemy but i won't cut you of course stand there and don't move the sword moved like a bright light around bathsheba it made a sound like the wind first the blade went one way then another way up down once it seemed to go right through her body oh has it gone through me she cried no it hasn't i haven't touched you said troy quietly are you afraid i promise not to touch you i don't think that i'm afraid she said staring at him the sword moved again and the light from the sun flashed on the bright metal soon all that bathsheba could see was a bright light flashing around her troy had never practiced better than this your hair is a little untidy miss everdeen he said i'll make it tidy for you the sword went past her ear with a whispering sound a small piece of her hair fell to the ground she watched him pick up the lock of hair and put it in his pocket i'll keep this forever he said he came closer to her i must leave you now then he kissed her softly on the lips she was not strong enough to say or do anything to stop him a moment later he was gone bathsheba was a strong independent woman and she was usually sensible but now she lost her good sense and she no longer had control of her own feelings she was deeply in love with frank troy bathsheba was like an innocent child she knew little about men and troy's bad character was carefully hidden by his sweet talk frank troy sometimes told the truth to men but he always lied to women bathsheba foolishly believed that troy was as good and honest as gabriel oak oak saw what was happening he was sad and worried and he decided to speak to bathsheba he met her when she was walking home one evening it's late and i was worried about you he said there are bad people in this area sometimes and mr boldwood can't take care of you because he's away why would mr boldwood take care of me said bathsheba well you and he are going to be married and that's not true she said quickly i didn't promise mr boldwood anything i've never loved him he asked me to marry him but i promised nothing when he returns i'll give him my answer it will be no oak then made the mistake of speaking about troy at that moment i wish that you'd never met young sergeant troy he said he's not good enough for you he's clever yes but you can't trust him don't speak about him like that said bathsheba he's as good as anybody in weatherbury please listen to me bathsheba said oak he spoke sadly but with deep feeling you know that i love you and that i'll always love you i know that i can't marry you because i'm poor but you were more important to me than my own life marry mr boldwood you'll be safe with him go away said bathsheba leave this farm i don't want you here anymore don't be foolish said gabriel calmly you sent me away once before but you soon needed me again and you need me now no i'll stay because i love you all right you can stay if you want to said bathsheba after a moment but will you leave me alone now she walked away gabriel watched her for some minutes then he saw someone else on the hill it was a soldier had bathsheba been expecting to meet troy gabriel oak watched the two of them speak together then he turned and went home half an hour later bathsheba entered her house troy was going to the town of bath for two days to see his friends but bathsheba was excited troy had kissed her a second time and his loving words were still in her ears i must write to mr boldwood at once she thought i can't marry him and i must tell him now after three minutes bathsheba gave the letter to liddy to send the next day she told her maid about her love for troy people tell stories about sergeant troy bathsheba said in a worried voice but he cannot be as bad as they say liddy you don't believe the stories do you i i don't know ma'am said liddy oh how weak i am cried bathsheba i wish that i'd never seen frank troy but i love him but you mustn't tell anyone liddy no ma'am said liddy the next evening bathsheba went to visit liddy's sister earlier that day liddy had gone to her sister's house she was going to stay there for a short holiday she had invited bathsheba to come and stay for a day or two bathsheba had walked two miles when she saw boldwood coming along the road towards her he walked slowly and sadly she knew then that he had received her letter oh it's you mr boldwood she said her face was hot and red with embarrassment you know that i love you bathsheba he said slowly a letter can't change my feelings for you i wish that you didn't feel so strongly about me said bathsheba please don't speak about it then what can i say we're not going to be married your letter was very clear it could good evening said bathsheba she began to walk away but he stopped her oh bathsheba he said there was a time when i knew nothing about you and did not care about you but after you've sent me the valentine i believed that you loved me i believed that you wanted to marry me it was a cruel joke and i'm sorry said bathsheba you're the first woman that i've ever loved said boldwood and you almost agreed to marry me where are all your kind words now mr boldwood i promised you nothing how can you be so cruel he cried you gave me hope and then you took it away i did not give you hope she said you chose to have hope sir i can't love in the way that you love perhaps that's true he said but you're not the cold woman that you pretend to be you have plenty of love but you've given it to another person he knows about sergeant troy she thought oh why didn't troy leave my dearest one alone said boldwood tell me the truth bathsheba if you had not met troy you would have married me am i right she could not tell a lie yes she said quietly i knew it said boldwood he stole you when i was away now people laugh at me i've lost my respect and my good name tell me has he kissed you bathsheba gasped leave me sir she cried let me go tell me he shouted as he kissed you she held her head up and looked straight at him yes boldwood gave a groan of pain oh and i would have given everything just to touch your hand he said bitterly but you let a man like that kiss you please be kind to him sir said bathsheba i love him very much boldwood did not hear her i'll punish him he said in a terrible voice bathsheba forgive me for blaming you you did nothing wrong troy stole you away from me with his lies but keep him away from me then boldwood turned and walked away bathsheba began to cry she sat down at the side of the road and tried to think she must keep troy away from boldwood until the farmer was quieter and calmer perhaps i should tell troy that i don't love him bathsheba said to herself then perhaps troy will stop loving me that would please gabriel oak and boldwood i need to see troy that will help me to decide i'll go to him now [Music] chapter 8 the storm bathsheba went to bath that night she took one of her horses and a carriage and she left her farm secretly no one knew where she had gone she stayed in the city for two weeks news came back to weatherbury that she and sergeant troy were courting gabriel oak heard this news and his heart ached bathsheba and liddy arrived back at weatherbury farm on the same day soon after bathsheba arrived mr boldwood came to the farmhouse but she would not see him boldwood walked back to the village it was now late in the evening suddenly he saw sergeant troy enter a house the soldier had stayed in the house the last time that he had been in weatherbury boldwood waited for some minutes then troy came out of the house again boldwood went up to him sergeant troy i'm william boldwood oh yes i want to speak to you said boldwood troy looked at the older man he could see that boldwood was carrying a big stick and he decided not to argue with him what do you want to talk to me about he asked gabriel oak and i know a lot about you and fanny robin said boldwood coldly the girl loves you and you should marry her troy turned his head so that boldwood could not see his smile i'm too poor he said then i'll give you 50 pounds now and 50 pounds for fanny's wedding clothes said boldwood and i'll give you another pounds on the day that you and fanny robin are married just leave miss everdeen alone she's too good for you troy seem to think about this i do like fanny best he said and you'll give me 50 pounds now boldwood gave him a small bag of coins here is the money stop listen whispered troy they could hear footsteps it's bathsheba she's meeting me tonight right here boldwood stepped back and hid in the dark shadows beside the house after a moment he heard troy and bathsheba talking he could not see them but he could hear their voices frank dearest is that you said bathsheba you're late was it a long slow journey from bath i was afraid that you weren't coming you knew that i would come troy replied frank we're lucky there's nobody in my house tonight except me i've sent all the servants away nobody will know that you're with me tonight wonderful said troy but i must collect my bag go home and i'll come to you in 10 minutes yes dearest said bathsheba and she hurried away boldwood stepped out of the shadows his face was pale with shock do you understand my problem said troy i can't marry both of them he laughed but perhaps i'll marry fanny i like her the best and you promised to pay me i'll kill you cried boldwood he jumped forward and put his hands around troy's neck stop gasp troy kill me and you'll only hurt the woman that you love i've already taken that woman to my bed and loved her she must be my wife or she'll be ruined boldwood gave a cry and pushed troy away from him you devil he shouted but but yes it would be a mistake to kill you she has given herself to you so she must love you very much oh my bathsheba he looked fiercely at troy marry her don't desert her i'll give you money keep your money and look at this said troy with a cruel laugh he took a newspaper from his pocket you're too late boldwood bathsheba and i were married a week ago here's a report of our marriage it was a night at the end of august and bathsheba had been married only a few weeks gabriel oak came out of the barn to check the ricks of wheat and hay they had no covers on them and he looked up at the dark clouds in the sky there's going to be a storm he said to himself sergeant troy was now the manager of bathsheba's farm he had chosen this night to celebrate their harvest with a supper inside the barn all the farm workers and their families were eating drinking and dancing musicians had come from the village and there were tables of food and drink [Music] troy was sitting at a table drinking brandy and water oak had sent a young man to speak to him gabriel oakes told me to give you a message mr troy the man said the shepherd says the rick should be covered before the storm comes a few minutes later the young man came out of the barn with the answer shepard oak mr troy says it will not rain inside the barn troy called to everyone friends he said tonight we have two reasons to celebrate we're celebrating the harvest and also my wedding i've ordered brandy and water for you all [Music] bathsheba put her hand on troy's arm no frank she said please don't give them brandy they've already had a lot of beer troy laughed loudly he had been drinking brandy for several hours and he was already a little drunk the friends he said we'll send the women home it's time that they were in bed then we can drink and sing as much as we want to bathsheba stood up and left the barn she was angry the women and children followed her gabriel oak went home and sat quietly thinking after an hour he went to check the sheep they were crowded close together in the corner of a field the sheep knew that a storm was coming [Music] oak hurried back to the farm and went into the barn he needed help to cover the ricks before the rain started to fall but he knew that he would get no help from the other men troy and the farm workers were asleep on the floor they were very drunk and could not move oak went outside again the moon was covered by thick clouds and a strong wind was blowing he pulled large rick cloths over the first two ricks but he had to make covers of straw for the others he needed to attach bundles of straw onto the top of the ricks so that the rain would not damage the crop suddenly lightning flashed across the sky it was followed by a crash of thunder oak found a ladder and the tools that he needed soon he was working on top of a wheat rick it was difficult and dangerous work but he did not stop he pushed spars into the bundles and attached them to the top of the rig suddenly he saw someone moving on the ground below bathsheba's voice called who's there it's gabriel oakman he answered i'm up on the rick i'm making a straw cover oh gabriel i was worried about the ricks is my husband with you no he's asleep in the barn with the others replied gabriel she was silent for a moment then she said can i help you can bring me the straw bundles if you're not afraid to climb the ladder in the dark ma'am said gabriel i'll do anything said bathsheba she collected some straw bundles and began to climb the ladder there was a sudden flash of lightning it hit a tall tree not far from them and they watched it burn and fall how terrible cried bathsheba they worked together as the lightning flashed in the sky and the thunder crashed around them once bathsheba almost fell from the ladder but gabriel caught her arm and held her it's too dangerous he said it last we must wait for the storm to go past they climbed down to the ground and stood together after half an hour the thunder and lightning moved away there was still no rain i think that it's safe now said gabriel i'll go back up onto the rick you're so kind to me she said where are the other men don't tell me i know my husband and all the men are drunk in the barn gabriel i must explain something to you yes mom i went to bath to tell troy that i would never marry him said bathsheba but he said that he had seen a woman more beautiful than me he said that he would marry her unless i became his wife at once gabriel i was crazy with jealousy and and so i married him gabriel said nothing and now please don't speak about it she said i only wanted you to understand what happened shall i bring up some more straw for you they worked on for a little while then gabriel said you're tired go back to the house i can finish this work very well she said thank you a thousand times gabriel good night at five o'clock in the morning the rain came gabriel continued working he smiled eight months earlier he had fought against fire in this same place now he was fighting against water and he was here because he loved the same woman by seven o'clock gabriel's work had finished he saw some of the men come from the barn and walk slowly past him troy was the only man who was singing when he came out of the barn none of the men looked at the ricks gabriel walked home and saw a man coming towards him it was mr boldwood how are you this morning sir ask gabriel what said boldwood oh i'm very well it's a wet day you look a little strange sir me no i'm quite well gabriel told boldwood about his work on the rigs did you cover your wrecks before the storm sir he asked no said boldwood i forgot about them you forgot about the rex said gabriel he was surprised you'll lose a lot of your wheat and hay after this rain yes probably said boldwood gabriel oaks stared at boldwood the farmer had changed he was now even more unhappy than gabriel i was going to get married oak said boldwood you know that of course but things went wrong for me i guess that people laugh at me and weatherbury oh no said gabriel i don't think that they do but the truth is miss everdeen never promised me anything said boldwood i'm weak and foolish i feel that it's better to die than to live he was silent for a moment then he said well good morning oak please don't speak about our conversation to anyone [Music] chapter nine the lock of hair it was a saturday evening in october bathsheba and her husband were riding home in their carriage they were three miles outside the town of casterbridge and they were arguing about money you mustn't gamble on any more horse races frank said bathsheba you've lost more than a hundred pounds this month it's foolish and cruel to spend my money like this don't say that troy replied you're no longer fun to be with bathsheba why can't you be he stopped speaking as a woman came towards them they could see that she was very poor her clothes were dirty and torn and her face was thin and pale when she spoke her voice was weak please sir the woman said do you know what time the caster bridge workhouse closes when troy heard the woman's voice he turned away i i i don't know he said when she heard him speak the woman looked to troy quickly there was both happiness and pain in her face after a moment she gave a cry and fell to the ground oh the poor thing said bathsheba she started to get out of the carriage stay there said troy he jumped down onto the road go on up the hill he ordered i'll look after the woman but i can help you go on bathsheba he said sharply bathsheba and the carriage moved away and troy helped the woman up from the ground how did you come here he asked i thought that you were far away or dead why didn't you write to me fanny i was afraid to she said have you got any money no she replied here's all the money that i've got with me troy said it's not very much but i can't ask my wife for any more at the moment stay at the caster bridge workhouse tonight and tomorrow meet me on monday morning on grey's bridge it's just outside the town i'll be on the bridge at 10 o'clock with all the money that i can get then i'll find you somewhere to stay you'll be alright funny i'll make sure of it goodbye bathsheba was waiting for her husband at the top of the hill do you know that woman she asked troy as he climbed into the carriage yes he replied who is she she's not important to either of us what's her name frank said bathsheba i think that you know her name think what you like he said they were silent as they rode the rest of the way home and they did not speak very much the next day on sunday evening troy went to his wife bathsheba can you give me 20 pounds he asked is this for the horse races tomorrow she said oh frank do you have to go and gamble stay at home with me your pretty wife promise that you'll stay at home i don't want the money to gamble troy said what do you want it for i'm worried frank don't ask too many questions bathsheba or you could be sorry oh here take the money she said and she gave him 20 pounds thank you he said i'll leave before breakfast tomorrow he took out his watch to look at it and the back of the watch opened inside the watch case there was a lock of hair bathsheba saw the piece of hair that is a woman's lock of hair she said frank whose hair is it it's yours he said no it's blonde hair she said my hair is black don't tell lies to me frank all right i'll tell you the truth he said the hair belongs to a woman that i was going to marry i met her before i met you what's her name asked bathsheba i can't tell you he said is she married no he said is she alive yes is she pretty asked bathsheba yes troy said is she pretty with hair that color she can't be pretty you're jealous bathsheba said troy don't be so foolish all right perhaps the hair is pretty perhaps it is prettier than my black hair but burn it frank there are more important things for me to think about said troy there are mistakes from the past which i must put right mistakes said bathsheba what made you remember them today did that woman on the road make you remember yes said troy there now you know and he turned and walked from the room bathsheba was miserable before she had met troy she had laughed at girls who fell in love with the first handsome young man who came along now she hated herself she loved a man whom she could not trust the next morning bathsheba got up very early and as usual rode around the farm when she returned to the house troy had left after she had eaten breakfast bathsheba went outside again she looked across a field and saw gabriel oak talking seriously with boldwood a few minutes later joe poor grass came along the road and they called to him the three men spoke together for a few minutes then joe came to bathsheba's house do you have a message joe asked bathsheba yes ma'am said joe fanny robin is dead in the caster bridge workhouse funny dead cried bathsheba the poor girl why did she die i don't know but she wasn't a strong girl said joe farmer boldwood is sending a wagon to bring her body to the church joe tell mr boldwood that you'll bring fanny back to weatherbury in my new wagon this afternoon said bathsheba fanny was my maid i must make the arrangements for her body to be collected before you leave wash the wagon and put some flowers on it yes mom replied joe how long had fanny lived in the workhouse only one or two days said joe she arrived there on sunday morning after walking from malchester bathsheba's face became pale did she come along the road from weatherbury last saturday night yes that's right joe looked closely at bathsheba his employer's face had become pale are you alright ma'am shall i call liddy no it's nothing thank you joe you can go now that afternoon bathsheba asked liddy questions about fanny what was the color of fanny robin's hair said bathsheba i can't remember it was blonde a beautiful golden color ma'am said liddy and was she courting a soldier asked bathsheba yes said liddy mr troy knew him did mr troy tell you that he knew him oh yes replied liddy he said that he knew the young man as well as he knew himself he said that the two of them look very like each other and that's enough liddy said bathsheba joe porgrass went to collect the body of fanny robin that afternoon but on the way home he stopped at an inn where he met jan coggan and mark clark all three farm workers began drinking and sometime later gabriel oak found them in the inn the three men were very drunk gabriel himself drove the wagon the rest of the way to weatherbury but when he arrived at the church it was late fanny could not be buried at night so bathsheba asked for her coffin to be brought to weatherbury farm fanny's coffin was put in the sitting room of the farmhouse fanny would have to be buried the next morning when gabriel was alone with the coffin he looked again at the writing on its lid he did not want bathsheba to see the words fanny robin and child with his handkerchief oak carefully removed the words and child then he quietly left the house [Music] chapter 10 you're nothing to me bathsheba and liddy were going to their beds before liddy went to her room she spoke to bathsheba ma'am people in the village are talking about fanny she said they say that she moved closer to bathsheba and whispered the rest of the sentence in her ear bathsheba's face became pale her body began to tremble i don't believe it she said there's only one name on the coffin but after liddy went to bed bathsheba went down to the sitting room she stared at the coffin tell me your secret fanny she said i hope it isn't true that there are two of you inside this coffin if i could look at you for a minute then i would know i must know the truth a few minutes later bathsheba had opened the coffin and looked inside now i know she said tears fell from her eyes as she knelt beside the coffin inside it were the bodies of fanny and the tiny child both of them had golden blonde hair it was the same color as the lock of hair that troy carried inside his watch case at last bathsheba stood up and got flowers to put round the coffin she did not hear the front door open and close she did not hear her husband come into the room what's the matter said troy in god's name who is dead bathsheba stared wildly and tried to run past him to the door troy stopped her stay he said he held her hand and stood with her beside the coffin he looked into it and did not move do you know her asked bathsheba do said troy then he went down on his knees and kissed fanny and the child oh please don't kiss them frank cried bathsheba i love you more than she did kiss me too frank kiss me troy pushed her away i'll not kiss you he said roughly fanny means more to me than you ever will i should have married her and not you he turned to the woman in the coffin but in god's name yes my dearest fanny you are my wife bathsheba gave a long loud cry if she's that what am i you're nothing to me said troy nothing bathsheba turned and ran out of the room she left the house and did not come back that night she returned later the next morning after fanny's coffin had been taken to the church is my husband at home she asked liddy no ma'am said liddy he left early this morning that night troy stayed in his room after bathsheba ran out of the house he waited miserably for the morning to come it had been a bad day even before he had come home and learned that fanny was dead earlier in the morning he had gone to grey's bridge and waited an hour for fanny she had not come it's the second time that i've waited and she hasn't come troy had said to himself well i won't wait any longer he had gone to the horse races but he did not use any of bathsheba's money now as the sky began to get light troy left his room and went out of the house he went to the churchyard he found the place where fanny would be buried later that day then he went on to cast a bridge when he reached caster bridge troy ordered a gravestone to be made for fanny's grave he paid for it with bathsheba's twenty pounds troy walked around caster bridge for many hours then at ten o'clock in the evening he went back to the churchyard with some flowers fanny had been buried and the white gravestone was already on the grave troy knelt on the ground and began to plant sweet-smelling flowers around the grave when rain began to fall heavily troy went into the church and stayed there all night in the morning he returned to the grave to finish planting the flowers the rain had stopped but there was mud on the churchyard path when he reached the grave troy saw mud on the white gravestone and he saw something worse than this the rain had washed all his plants out of the ground they were ruined troy stood looking at the flowers miserably he did not try to replace the plants after a few moments he turned and slowly walked away he walked out of the village and did not stop at weatherbury farm liddy took some food to bathsheba's bedroom here is your breakfast mum she said we had some heavy rain in the night and there have been some strange noises coming from the churchyard gabriel oak has gone to see if the rain got in through the church roof did mr troy come home last night asked bathsheba no ma'am laban tall saw him on the road to budmoth earlier this morning after she had eaten breakfast bathsheba went to the churchyard gabriel oak was standing next to fanny's grave he was looking at the new gravestone bathsheba saw the words this stone was put here by francis troy in loving memory of fanny robin gabriel looked at bathsheba but she was quite calm she quietly told him to fill in the hole that the rain had made in the grave then she planted the flowers and cleaned the mud from the gravestone troy walked towards the south he had to get away from bathsheba's house and away from weatherbury at about three o'clock he came to the top of a steep hill from there he could look down to lulwind cove the sun shone down on the sea and the bright sand he was alone troy decided to go for a swim he climbed down to the beach and took off his clothes then he walked into the sea and swam out between two large rocks to the deeper water suddenly he realized that the sea was pulling him farther and farther away from the land he remembered that this was a dangerous part of the sea several people had drowned at this place troy could see the town of badmouth but he could not swim there it was too far he tried to swim back to the beach at lulwind cove but he could no longer see it troy was tired he could not swim any further suddenly he saw a boat moving across the water it was sailing towards a large ship troy waved to the men in the boat again and again after a few moments the men saw him and turned their boat towards him several minutes later they pulled him out of the water and into the boat thank you gasp troy the men were sailors they took him out to their ship and gave him some clothes we'll take you back to the land tomorrow one of the sailors said to troy yes all right he said then after thinking for a moment he said oh perhaps i'll stay with you on the saturday after troy left weatherbury bathsheba went to the market in casterbridge it was her first visit to the market since her marriage and she went alone she was walking through the crowd when a stranger spoke her name bathsheba turned round are you mrs troy the man asked yes she said i've got some bad news for you the stranger said your husband is dead he went into the sea and drowned no she cried it can't be true it but she could not say or hear anything more she had fainted and fallen to the ground suddenly a man pushed through the crowd of people and held bathsheba in his arms it was mr boldwood what happened he asked the man her husband's clothes were found on the beach at lolwind cove yesterday said the man mr troy must have gone swimming and drowned mrs troy fainted when i told her the news a strange look of excitement came into boldwood's eyes had troy drowned was he dead he carried bathsheba to a hotel when she had rested he offered to take her home but after half an hour bathsheba decided to ride back to her farm alone bathsheba told liddy what she had heard i don't believe the news she said mr troy is still alive i'm sure that he is how do you know asked liddy i don't know said bathsheba but i'd feel differently if my husband was dead i know that i would on monday there was a short report in the newspaper a young man had been walking on the hill above lolwind cove he had seen troy swimming far from the beach but by the time the young man had walked farther along the hill troy had disappeared later on monday evening someone brought troy's clothes and his gold watch to the house bathsheba sat with his watch in her hands she opened the back of the case and there was the lock of fanny's blonde hair frank belongs to fanny and fanny belongs to frank she said to herself i mean nothing to either of them i know that now she held the lock of hair in her hand shall i burn this no i'll keep it in memory of poor fanny [Music] chapter 11 a promise from bathsheba for the next few months bathsheba lived quietly she made gabriel oak the manager of her farm boldwood was very unhappy he was no longer interested in his own farm and he did not often leave his farmhouse so he also made gabriel his farm manager then very slowly boldwood began to hope again perhaps one day bathsheba will marry me he thought troy is dead bathsheba won't think about marriage again for a long time but i'll wait and if she does marry again she'll marry me bathsheba left weatherbury and went to visit her old aunt at norcombe she was away for two months it was now late summer nine months had passed since the report of troy's death bathsheba returned to weatherbury at the time when the hay was harvested one morning mr boldwood came to bathsheba's fields and found liddy working there he spoke to the young girl i hope that mrs troy is well after her time away he said she's quite well sir said liddy does she ever speak about marrying again never sir said liddy then she went on well she did once say that she might marry again at the end of seven years but only if mr troy doesn't come back before then a few minutes later boldwood left the fields so there was reason for him to hope perhaps one day bathsheba would marry again his love for her was deep and strong he could wait it was time for the sheep fair at green hill the fair took place in green hill once every year and many people from weatherbury went there visitors could play games or watch entertainments and they could buy or sell clothes drink food and animals gabriel oak took sheep from both bathsheba's and boldwood's farms he hoped to sell the animals for a good price at the center of the fair there was a large circular tent inside the tent musicians and a travelling circus gave performances and one of the entertainers in the circus was sergeant troy after the sailors pulled troy out of the sea at lolwind cove he decided to stay with them however a few weeks later troy realized that he did not want to work on ships but he did not wish to go back to weatherbury i don't think that bathsheba will want me there he thought we can never be happy together we'll both think of fanny robin and how she died and perhaps life on the farm isn't going well perhaps bathsheba has less money now so troy had become an actor in the travelling circus he acted as a famous highwayman in his performance he rode a big black horse and wore a big hat a long cloak and a thick black moustache and now at green hill sheep fare troy suddenly saw bathsheba she was sitting with boldwood and they were watching the play at first troy was shocked to see her then he saw how beautiful bathsheba was and he wanted her again aren't you still my wife troy thought he quickly pulled the cloak up to his ears then he walked out of the tent and into the crowd of people he wanted time to think later in the afternoon boldwood rode back to weatherbury beside bathsheba who drove her carriage mrs troy he said will you ever marry again my husband's body was never found bathsheba said he could still be alive your husband disappeared a year ago said boldwood if he doesn't return you can marry again after seven years this is what the law says if troy doesn't come back then you will have to wait for six years from now boldwood's face was sad you almost became my wife once he said but that's nothing you never liked me i did like you bathsheba said and i respected you too and do you like and respect me now he asked yes she said quietly this conversation was making her feel uncomfortable mr boldwood i'm sorry that i made you unhappy i shall always be sorry it was wrong of me don't worry he said don't blame yourself too much but if you learnt that your husband was dead would you marry me i don't know she replied but perhaps one day boldwood said perhaps she said so after six years six years is a long time bathsheba said the time will pass quickly said boldwood please listen if i wait for six years will you marry me it would put right all the wrong things that you've done to me do you want to be the wife of any other man no she said i mean please i don't want to talk about this now it isn't right my husband may still be alive of course said boldwood we won't speak about it if you don't want to but perhaps you can promise me this promise me that if you marry again you'll marry me i'll never marry another man while you want to marry me she said at last i can't say more than that so will you promise he said excitedly in six years time will you marry me oh what shall i do she cried i don't love you i'm afraid that i'll never love you as much as a woman should love her husband but it seems that i can make you happy with only a promise so yes if my husband doesn't come back at the end of six years i'll think about marriage i'll think and perhaps i'll make a promise soon soon boldwood said but soon could me never well perhaps i'll make a promise by christmas she told him christmas he said happily then i'll say no more about marriage until then as the weeks passed bathsheba became very worried one day she was speaking with gabriel oak and they began to talk about boldwood he'll never forget you ma'am said gabriel and suddenly bathsheba told gabriel about her worries she told him about her conversation with boldwood and she spoke about the promise that she had to make at christmas and if i don't promise i'm afraid that farmer boldwood will go mad she said it's terrible i don't love him gabriel and is it right to marry a man that you don't love he asked perhaps it isn't right said bathsheba oh i wish that i'd never sent that valentine card i sent the card so mr boldwood began to love me now he wants to marry me i'll be punished for my foolishness but am i free to marry him you are free to marry if you believe that your husband is dead said gabriel most people believe that mr troy drowned in the sea chapter 12 death at christmas it was christmas eve everybody in weatherbury was talking about the big party at boldwood's house that evening everyone from the village was invited bathsheba was getting ready in her room and liddy was helping her i wish that i didn't have to go to mr boldwood's party liddy she said i haven't spoken to him since september i promised to see him at christmas but i didn't expect that the meeting would be at a big party but you must go ma'am said liddy yes of course i must go said bathsheba i'm the reason for the party but you mustn't tell anyone liddy you're the reason for the party repeated liddy i can't say anything more said bathsheba now help me to put on my black dress do you want to wear black clothes tonight mom asked liddy mr troy disappeared 14 months ago you don't have to wear black for more than a year i won't wear a brightly colored dress bathsheba replied if i do that people will say she's not showing respect for her dead husband liddy finished her work on bathsheba's hair you look very beautiful ma'am she said everyone will say she wants mr boldwood to propose marriage said bathsheba if mr boldwood does propose what will he say asked liddy smiling liddy i don't wish to talk about it now give me my coat it's time to go in little weatherbury farm boldwood was also getting ready for the party he dressed carefully putting on a new coat which he had bought that day gabriel oak came to see boldwood after he had heard his manager's report about the farm boldwood asked gabriel if he was coming to the party i'll try to be here sir said gabriel i must do a few things first it's good to see you looking so happy yes i am happy tonight said boldwood smiling perhaps better times are coming for me i hope that you're right sir said gabriel will a woman keep her promise oak asked boldwood not a promise to marry now but in six years tell me oak you understand women better than i do perhaps she'll keep her promise said gabriel but don't expect too much she disappointed you once and she's still young she never gave me her promise the first time said boldwood if she promises now then she'll marry me bathsheba is an honest woman yes sir said gabriel now there's something that i wanted to say to you said boldwood i know about your secret oak i know that you have strong feelings for bathsheba but you didn't try to stop me courting her thank you you don't have to thank me sir said gabriel after oak left the room boldwood took a small box from his pocket he looked at a ring inside the box this is for you bathsheba he said to himself when you make your promise to me you will wear this ring outside boldwood's house a group of men were talking i heard news that mr troy was in caster bridge this afternoon said billy smallbury perhaps it's true said another man perhaps mr troy didn't drown his body was never found remember does she know his wife no poor woman and it's best not to tell mrs troy said laban tall perhaps the story isn't true at that moment boldwood came outside as he went past the men they heard him talking to himself i hope she'll come he was saying oh my dearest my dearest why do you make me wait like this a few minutes later bathsheba came up the path towards the house the men watched boldwood hurry towards her and take her into the house farmer baldwood still loves mrs troy said laban why are you so surprised said billy he never stopped loving her but i wish that mr troy was dead he's always brought trouble to weatherbury an hour after bathsheba arrived at the party she decided to go home she went to get her coat from one of the rooms upstairs boldwood found her there a few moments later are you leaving so soon bathsheba he asked the party has only just started i'd like to go now she said i can walk home i've been waiting until you were alone i want to speak to you he said you know what i want to say bathsheba was silent she looked at the floor will you give me your promise boldwood said please bathsheba promise to marry me at the end of five years and nine months oh i don't know she cried please let me go i'm afraid perhaps frank isn't dead say the words bathsheba boldwood cried promised to marry me i've loved you more than anybody in the world i would die for you all right she said at last if frank doesn't return in six years from this day i'll marry you boldwood took the small box from his pocket and you'll wear this for me what is it she said she looked inside the box a ring no i can't wear your ring i don't want people to know about this proposal now please let me go home please wear the ring said boldwood wear it tonight to please me all right she agreed i'll wear it but only tonight as he put the ring on bathsheba's finger boldwood's hand shook and his face was pale i'm happy now he said and he left the room when she was calmer bathsheba followed boldwood she stood at the bottom of the stairs the music and the dancing had stopped for a few minutes a group of men were talking together in a corner of the big room what's the news asked boldwood you men all look very serious has somebody got married or died well tell me laban i wish that somebody was dead said laban tall suddenly there was a loud knock on the front door a servant went to open it after a moment he came and spoke to boldwood sir a stranger wants to see mrs troy he said tell him to come in said boldwood the stranger entered with his cloak covering half of his face some people had heard the news about bathsheba's husband they recognized troy immediately boldwood did not recognize him nobody noticed bathsheba she was staring at troy her face was pale and shocked come and have a drink stranger called boldwood smiling troy walked into the middle of the room he pulled his cloak away from his face and laughed boldwood recognized him at last troy turned towards his wife bathsheba was sitting on the stairs and her dark eyes stared at him bathsheba come home with me troy said she did not move or answer did you hear me troy said bathsheba go with your husband said boldwood in a sad low voice but bathsheba did not could not move troy held out his hand to help her to stand up she was frightened and she moved away from him quickly he took her arm and pulled her towards him come on said troy fiercely bathsheba gave a little scream and tried to get away from him suddenly there was a loud noise and the room was filled with smoke everyone turned to look at boldwood he was holding a gun when he had heard bathsheba scream boldwood's sadness had turned to anger he had taken his gun which was fixed to the wall and shot troy troy was lying on the floor he made a small sound then his head fell back and he lay still boldwood turned the gun towards his own head but as he tried to shoot himself laban tall knocked the gun out of boldwood's hands well it doesn't matter said boldwood there's another way that i can die he went across to bathsheba and kissed her hand then he walked out of the house nobody tried to stop him chapter 13 marry me gabriel oak came to little weatherbury farmhouse about five minutes after boldwood walked out he went straight to bathsheba who was sitting on the floor beside troy's body she was holding troy's head in her arms gabriel she said go to caster bridge and bring a doctor i'm afraid that it's too late but go mr baldwin has killed my husband gabriel hurried outside and got onto his horse as he rode along the road to casterbridge he thought about troy where had the man come from had troy not drowned was he not dead at the bottom of the sea oak road fast about three miles from the town he saw a man walking along the road it was boldwood he was also going to cast a bridge he was going to tell the police what he had done bathsheba ordered her farm workers to take her husband's body to her house she washed troy's body and dressed him in clean clothes gabriel and the doctor found her there when they arrived bathsheba was now weak and tired liddy put her into her bed and stayed with her late in the night liddy heard bathsheba whispering the same words over and over again oh i am to blame how can i live dear god how can i live in march boldwood was tried for murder everyone in weatherbury waited for news but as they waited they learned more about the man who had shot frank troy after the green hill sheep fair william boldwood had begun to behave strangely he had bought women's coats and dresses then put them carefully into boxes on the outside of each box he had written the words bathsheba boldwood and a date six years in the future as time passed boldwood had become more and more excited but he became less and less interested in his farm his love for mrs troy drove him a little mad said the people of weatherbury the judge at the trial also believed that boldwood had become a little mad at last gabriel brought the news back to weatherbury the court has said that boldwood did murder mr troy he told everyone but he will not die he'll go to prison for the rest of his life as spring turned into summer bathsheba began to go into the fields again once more she watched her farm workers working during the month since christmas bathsheba had stayed in the house and had only spoken to liddy now she began to be interested in the farm again one evening in august bathsheba walked to the village as she entered weatherbury she heard singing in the church she entered the churchyard walked to fanny robins grave and looked at the gravestone first she read troy's words this stone was put here by francis troy in loving memory of fanny robin who died october 9 18 age 20 years then she read the new words that were written below in this same grave lies the body of francis troy who died december 24 18 age 26 years bathsheba went to stand outside the door of the church as she listened to the sweet singing she began to cry she put her face in her hands and did not see gabriel oak walk towards her he watched her silently for a few moments then she turned and saw him mr oak she said how long have you been there only a minute or two ma'am gabriel said i wanted to speak to you i'm thinking about leaving england next spring bathsheba was surprised and disappointed where will you go i'll probably go to america said gabriel but everyone knows that mr boltwood made you a partner in his business she said everyone knows that you own the farm now they expect you to stay at little weatherbury farm and what shall i do without you oh gabriel we're old friends you've been with me through the good times and the bad times i know gabriel said and i'm sorry but i think that it's best for both of us if i leave then he turned quickly and walked away in the months that followed this conversation gabriel only came to the house when bathsheba was out he sent reports to her about the farm but he never met her the day after christmas she received a letter from him in his letter gabriel told her that he was going to leave the farm at the end of march bathsheba sat and cried she had expected oak to love her and help her forever what could she do now how could she manage the farm alone that evening she went to gabriel oak's house she knocked on the door and waited until he opened it mrs troy said gabriel please come in and sit down you'll think that it's strange for me to come here bathsheba said but i've been worried have i said something to make you angry gabriel something has made you want to go away what have i said no said oak you couldn't make me angry bathsheba then why are you going i'm not going to america said gabriel i've decided to keep boldwood's farm and manage it but i can't work for you bathsheba people are talking about us what are they saying asked bathsheba surprised people are saying that i have hopes to marry you one day said gabriel marry me said bathsheba but it's too foolish it's too soon to think about that yes ma'am said oak it is foolish i'm surprised that people can't understand this too soon were my words said bathsheba i'm sorry but you also said too foolish he replied i'm sorry too said bathsheba she began to cry i only meant to say too soon please believe me gabriel oak stared at bathsheba then moved closer to her bathsheba he said if i only knew one thing he stopped and then began again if i only knew one thing will you let me love you and marry you if i only knew that but you'll never know it she said why he said because you'd never ask she replied gabriel smiled happily and put his hands on bathsheba's face oh my dearest bathsheba he said my love i why did you send me that letter this morning she said quickly it was cruel it showed that you didn't care about me and that you were going to desert me oak laughed oh bathsheba you can be so annoying you know that i had to be careful he said people don't say very nice things about an unmarried man who works for a beautiful young woman that's the reason that i was going to leave you and the farm then i'm so pleased that i came to see you bathsheba cried i think about you all the time i believe that you didn't want to see me again now i must go suddenly she laughed but oh dear no i'm courting you gabriel well that's a good thing said gabriel he laughed i've courted you my beautiful bathsheba for a very long time he walked back to her house with her but they spoke very little they did not have to say anything gabriel and bathsheba were old friends and they understood each other well now that they had both spoken about their love for each other nothing could destroy that love and a few weeks later they were married [Music] so [Music] you