When　the　show　was　over，Troy　went　out　into　the　darkness。　In　the　large　tent　where　meals　and　drinks　were　being　served，he　saw　Bathsheba　talking　to　a　man。　Was　she　forgetting　her　husband　so　soon？thought　Troy　angrily。　He　decided　to　listen　to　their　conversation，and　knelt　down　outside　the　tent，making　a　little　hole　with　his　knife　in　the　heavy　cotton　so　that　he　could　see　the　two　people　inside。
  She　was　drinking　a　cup　of　tea，which　Boldwood　had　just　brought　her。　Troy　watched　her　every　movement。　She　was　as　handsome　as　ever，and　she　belonged　to　him。　After　a　few　moments　Troy　got　up　and　walked　slowly　from　the　tent。　He　was　considering　what　to　do　next。
  Meanwhile　Boldwood　had　offered　to　ride　back　to　Weather…bury　with　Bathsheba，as　it　was　getting　late，and　she　accepted。　Her　pity　for　the　man　she　had　hurt　so　deeply　made　her　behave　more　kindly　towards　him　than　was　perhaps　sensible。　Her　kind…ness　made　poor　Boldwood　dream　of　their　future　marriage，and　suddenly，unable　to　stop　himself，he　said，‘Mrs　Troy，will　you　marry　again　some　day？’
  ‘You　forget　that　my　husband's　death　has　never　been　proved，so　I　may　not　really　be　a　widow，’she　said，confused。　‘I've　a　feeling　he's　alive，and　I'm　not　thinking　of　marrying　anyone　else。　’
  ‘Do　you　know，Bathsheba，that　according　to　the　lawyers，you　can　remarry　seven　years　after　your　husband's　supposed　death，that　is，six　years　from　now？Could　you—promise　to　marry　me　then？’
  ‘I　don't　know。　Six　years　is　too　far　away。　I'm　bitterly　sorry　I　behaved　so　stupidly　towards　you，but—I　can　promise　I'll　never　marry　another　man　while　you　want　me　to　be　your　wife，but—’
  ‘You　could　put　right　the　mistake　you　made　by　promising　to　be　my　wife　in　six　years’time！’There　was　wild　hope　in　his　eyes。
  ‘Oh，what　shall　I　do？I　don't　love　you，but　if　I　can　give　you　happiness　by　just　promising，then　I　will—consider—and　promise—soon。　Shall　we　say，by　Christmas？’
  ‘You'll　promise　at　Christmas。　Well，I'll　say　no　more。　’
  As　Christmas　came　nearer，Bathsheba　became　more　anxious，and　one　day　she　confessed　her　difficulty　to　Gabriel。
  ‘The　saddest　reason　of　all　for　agreeing　to　his　proposal，’she　said，‘is　that　if　I　don't，I'm　afraid　he'll　go　mad。　His　feelings　are　so　extreme。　I　don't　say　that　because　I'm　vain，but　I　believe　I　hold　that　man's　future　in　my　hands。　Oh　Gabriel，it's　a　terrible　worry！’
  ‘Then　why　don't　you　promise，ma'am？I　don't　think　people　would　think　it　wrong。　The　only　thing　that　makes　it　wrong　in　my　view　is　that　you　don't　love　him。　’
  ‘That　is　my　punishment，Gabriel，for　playing　that　foolish　trick　with　the　valentine　on　him。　’Gabriel　had　given　her　a　reasonable，sensible　answer，as　she　knew　he　would，but　she　felt　annoyed　with　his　cool　advice。　Not　once　had　he　spoken　of　his　love　for　her，or　said　that　he　could　wait　for　her　too。　She　would　have　refused　him　of　course，but　at　least　it　would　have　shown　that　he　still　admired　her。
  18
  Mr　Boldwood's　Christmas　party
  For　months　Weatherbury　people　had　been　discussing　the　party　that　Mr　Boldwood　was　going　to　give　just　before　Christmas，and　now　the　day　had　finally　arrived。　Bathsheba　was　getting　ready　for　it。
  ‘I'm　upset，Liddy，it's　foolish　of　me，I　know，’she　said。　‘I　wish　I　didn't　have　to　go　to　the　party。　I　haven't　spoken　to　Mr　Boldwood　since　the　autumn，when　I　promised　to　see　him　at　Christmas，so　I'll　have　to　go。　My　black　silk　dress，please。　’
  ‘Surely　you　don't　need　to　wear　black　tonight，ma'am？You've　been　a　widow　for　fourteen　months　now。　That's　a　long　time。　’
  ‘No，if　I　wear　a　bright　dress，people　will　say　I'm　encouraging　Mr　Boldwood。　How　do　I　look，Liddy？’
  ‘I've　hardly　ever　seen　you　look　so　lovely，ma'am。　’
  ‘I　rish　offending　him　if　I　don't　go。　Oh，I　wish　I　could　have　continued　as　I've　been　for　the　last　year　or　so，with　no　hopes　or　fears，and　no　pleasures　and　no　sadness。　’
  ‘If　Mr　Boldwood　asked　you　to　run　away　with　him，what　would　you　say，ma'am？’said　Liddy　with　a　smile。
  ‘Now，Liddy，no　joking。　This　is　far　too　serious。　I　won't　marry　anyone　for　a　long　time。　Get　my　cloak。　It's　time　to　go。　’
  At　the　same　time，in　his　farmhouse，Boldwood　was　also　dressing　He　was　trying　on　a　new　coat　which　had　just　been　delivered。　Tonight　he　wanted　to　look　his　best。
  Just　then　Gabriel　entered，to　report　on　farm　business。
  ‘Oh，Oak，’said　Boldwood。　‘You're　invited　to　the　party　tonight，of　course。　’
  ‘I'll　try　to　come，if　I'm　not　too　busy，’said　Gabriel　quietly。　‘I'm　glad　to　see　you　looking　happier，sir。　’
  ‘Yes，I　confess　I'm　cheerful　tonight。　But　my　happiness　depends　on　a　hope。　Oak，my　hands　are　shaking。　Could　you　help　me　with　the　buttons　on　this　coat？’And　as　Gabriel　came　forward　to　help，he　went　on　feverishly，‘Oak，does　a　woman　keep　her　promise　to　become　engaged？You　know　women　better　than　I　do—tell　me。　’
  ‘I　don't　think　I　understand　women　well　at　all。　But　if　she　wants　to　put　right　a　mistake，she　may　keep　a　promise　like　that。　’
  ‘I　think　she　will，’whispered　Boldwood。　‘She　says　she　can　think　of　me　as　a　husband　seven　years　after　Troy's　disappear…ance。　’
  ‘Seven　years，’said　Gabriel，shaking　his　head。　‘A　long　time。　’
  ‘But　it　isn't　seven　years！’answered　Boldwood　impatiently。　‘It's　only　five　years，nine　months　and　a　few　days　now！’
  ‘Don't　build　your　hopes　on　her　promise，sir。　Remember，she　disappointed　you　once。　And　she's　young。　’
  ‘She　never　promised　me　that　first　time，so　she's　never　broken　her　promise　to　me　yet。　I　trust　her　to　keep　her　word。　But　let's　talk　business　for　a　moment，Oak。　You　work　so　hard　as　my　farm　manager　that　I　want　you　to　have　a　larger　share　of　the　profits。　I　know　a　little　about　your　secret。　You　have　warm　feelings　for　her　too，but　you've　let　me　succeed　in　courting　her！I　want　to　show　you　how　grateful　I　am　for　that。　’
  ‘Oh，that's　not　necessary，thank　you，’said　Gabriel　hurriedly。　‘I　must　get　used　to　my　disappointment　as　other　men　have。　’He　left，rather　worried　by　Boldwood's　strange　manner。
  Outside　the　front　door　of　Boldwood's　house　a　group　of　men　were　talking　quietly。
  ‘Sergeant　Troy　was　seen　in　Casterbridge　this　afternoon，’said　Billy　Smallbury。　‘His　body　was　never　found，you　know，neighbours。　’
  ‘Should　we　tell　the　mistress？’asked　Laban　Tall。　‘Poor　woman！What　a　mistake　she　made　in　marrying　him！’
  Just　then　Boldwood　came　out　and　walked　to　the　gate。　He　did　not　notice　the　men，who　were　standing　in　the　darkness。
  ‘I　hope　to　God　she'll　come！’he　whispered。　‘Oh，my　darling，my　darling，why　do　you　make　me　wait　like　this！’
  They　all　heard　his　words　clearly。　The　sound　of　wheels　came　from　the　road，and　Bathsheba　arrived。　Boldwood　took　her　into　the　house，and　the　door　closed　behind　them。
  ‘I　didn't　realize　he　was　still　in　love　with　her！’said　Billy。
  ‘Poor　Mr　Boldwood，the　news　will　be　hard　for　him，’said　Jan　Coggan。　‘We'll　have　to　tell　the　mistress　her　husband's　still　alive。　We'll　go　in　and　find　the　right　moment　to　speak　to　her。　’
  But　the　right　moment　never　came。　Bathsheba　had　planned　to　stay　at　the　party　for　only　an　hour，and　she　was　in　fact　preparing　to　leave　when　Boldwood　found　her　alone　in　an　upstairs　room。
  ‘Mrs　Troy，you　can't　go！’he　said　wildly。　‘We've　only　just　begun！’
  ‘I'd　like　to　go　now。　I　think　I'll　walk　home。　’
  ‘You　know　what　I　want　to　say　to　you？’Bathsheba　looked　silently　at　the　floor。　’You　do　give　it？’he　said　eagerly。
  ‘Give　what？’she　asked，althoug　she　knew　well　what　he　meant。
  ‘Your　promise！Just　a　business　arrangement　between　two　sensible　people　who　no　longer　think　of　love。　To　marry　me　in　five　to　six　years！You　owe　it　to　me！’
  ‘I　have　no　feeling　in　that　matter　at　all，’she　replied，hesitating。　‘But　if　I　must，I　promise—if　I'm　really　a　widow。　’
  ‘You'll　marry　me　in　five　and　three…quarter　years’time？’
  ‘Let　me　think！I'll　marry　nobody　else。　Oh，I　don't　know！Is　Frank　really　dead？Perhaps　I　should　ask　a　lawyer！’
  ‘Say　the　words，my　dear　one，and　I　won't　speak　about　it　any　more。　A　long　engagement，then　marriage—Oh　Bathsheba！Promise　yourself　to　me！’he　begged　wildly，forgetting　his　cool，businesslike　manner。　‘I've　loved　you　so　much　and　for　so　long！’
  ‘Very　well，’she　said　after　a　pause，‘I'll　marry　you　six　years　from　now　if　we're　both　alive　and　if　my　husband　doesn't　return。　’
  ‘Then　wear　this　ring　for　me。　’Boldwood　took　from　his　pocket　a　diamond　engagement　ring，and　held　it　out　to　her。
  ‘No，no，I　can't，I　don't　want　anyone　to　know！’
  ‘Just　wear　it　tonight，to　please　me！’Bathsheba　could　say　no　more，and　weakly　let　him　put　it　on　her　finger。　He　left　her。
  In　a　few　minutes　she　was　calmer。　She　put　on　her　cloak　and　went　downstairs。　She　paused　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　Bold…wood　was　standing　near　the　fire，and　he　had　just　noticed　that　a　group　of　villagers　were　whispering　among　themselves。
  ‘What's　the　matter，men？’he　asked　cheerfully。　‘Is　any…body　engaged　or　married，born　or　dead？Tell　us　the　news，Tall。　’
  ‘I　wish　somebody　was　dead，’replied　Laban　Tall　in　a　whisper。
  ‘What　was　that，Tall？’asked　Boldwood。　‘Speak　out，if　you　have　anything　to　say。　’
  At　that　moment　there　was　a　knock　on　the　front　door。　One　of　the　men　opened　it。　‘A　stranger　wants　to　see　Mrs　Troy，’he　said。
  ‘Ask　him　to　co