The desperate man stood still for a moment

Posted by taohong on April 13th, 2017

‘In my absence he stole my most valuable prize from me. Now I've lost my respect and my good name,and everybody laughs at me. Marry him,go on,marry him!I would have died for you,but you have given yourself to a worthless man. Perhaps he has even kissed you!Tell me he hasn't!’

She was frightened of Boldwood's anger,but she answered bravely,‘He has. I'm not ashamed to speak the truth. ’

‘I would have given a fortune to touch your hand,’cried Boldwood wildly,‘but you have let a man like that—kiss you!One day he'll be sorry,and realize the pain he's caused me!’

‘Be kind to him,sir,’she cried miserably,‘because I love him so much!’

Boldwood was no longer listening to her. ‘I'll punish him!Sweet Bathsheba,forgive me!I've been blaming you,but it's his fault. He stole your dear heart away with his lies. When I find him,I'll fight him!Keep him away from me,Bathsbeba!’

The desperate man stood still for a moment,then turned and left her. Bathsheba walked up and down,crying and whispering to herself,then threw herself down by the road,exhausted. She knew that Troy was away in Bath at the moment,but would be returning to Weatherbury very soon. If he came to visit her,and Boldwood saw him,a fierce argu-ment would be the result,and Troy could be hurt. But per-haps Gabriel and Boldwood were right,and she should not see him again?If she could only see Troy now,he would help her to decide!She jumped to her feet,and hurried back along the road to Weatherbury.

That night Maryann,the only person sleeping in Bathsheba's house,was woken by strange noises in the field where the horses were kept. She looked out of her bedroom window just in time to see a dark figure leading Bathsheba's horse and cart out of the field. She ran to Jan Coggan's house for help. Jan and Gabriel immediately rode after the thief. After riding for some time in the dark,they finally caught up with the cart at a toll-gate.

‘Keep the gate closed!’shouted Gabriel to the gatekeeper.

‘That man's stolen the horse and cart!’

‘What man ?’asked the gatekeeper,puzzled.

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taohong

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taohong
Joined: April 13th, 2017
Articles Posted: 1