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XXI. Troubles in the Fold—A Message

           "

           Tallscrambledofftothefield,andintwominuteswasonPoll,thebay,bare-backed,andwithonlyahalterbywayofrein.Hediminisheddownthehill.

           Bathshebawatched.Sodidalltherest.Tallcanteredalongthebridle-paththroughSixteenAcres,Sheeplands,MiddleField,TheFlats,Cappel’sPiece,shrankalmosttoapoint,crossedthebridge,andascendedfromthevalleythroughSpringmeadandWhitepitsontheotherside.ThecottagetowhichGabrielhadretiredbeforetakinghisfinaldeparturefromthelocalitywasvisibleasawhitespotontheoppositehill,backedbybluefirs.Bathshebawalkedupanddown.Themenenteredthefieldandendeavouredtoeasetheanguishofthedumbcreaturesbyrubbingthem.Nothingavailed.

           Bathshebacontinuedwalking.Thehorsewasseendescendingthehill,andthewearisomeserieshadtoberepeatedinreverseorder:Whitepits,Springmead,Cappel’sPiece,TheFlats,MiddleField,Sheeplands,SixteenAcres.ShehopedTallhadhadpresenceofmindenoughtogivethemareuptoGabriel,andreturnhimselfonfoot.Theridernearedthem.ItwasTall.

           "Oh,whatfolly!"saidBathsheba.

           Gabrielwasnotvisibleanywhere.

           "Perhapsheisalreadygone!"shesaid.

           Tallcameintotheinclosure,andleaptoff,hisfacetragicasMorton’safterthebattleofShrewsbury.

           "Well?"saidBathsheba,unwillingtobelievethatherverballettre-de-cachetcouldpossiblyhavemiscarried.

           "Hesaysbeggarsmustn’tbechoosers,"repliedLaban.

           "What!"saidtheyoungfarmer,openinghereyesanddrawinginherbreathforanoutburst.JosephPoorgrassretiredafewstepsbehindahurdle.

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