Вдалині від божевільного натовпу

X. Mistress and Men

           

           "Whatwomanisthat?"Bathshebaasked.

           "Ibehislawfulwife!"continuedthevoicewithgreaterprominenceofmannerandtone.Thisladycalledherselffive-and-twenty,lookedthirty,passedasthirty-five,andwasforty.Shewasawomanwhonever,likesomenewlymarried,showedconjugaltendernessinpublic,perhapsbecauseshehadnonetoshow.

           "Oh,youare,"saidBathsheba."Well,Laban,willyoustayon?"

           "Yes,he’llstay,ma’am!"saidagaintheshrilltongueofLaban’slawfulwife.

           "Well,hecanspeakforhimself,Isuppose."

           "OhLord,nothe,ma’am!Asimpletool.Wellenough,butapoorgawkhammermortal,"thewifereplied.

           "Heh-heh-heh!"laughedthemarriedmanwithahideouseffortofappreciation,forhewasasirrepressiblygood-humouredunderghastlysnubsasaparliamentarycandidateonthehustings.

           Thenamesremainingwerecalledinthesamemanner.

           "NowIthinkIhavedonewithyou,"saidBathsheba,closingthebookandshakingbackastraytwineofhair."HasWilliamSmallburyreturned?"

           "No,ma’am."

           "Thenewshepherdwillwantamanunderhim,"suggestedHeneryFray,tryingtomakehimselfofficialagainbyasidewayapproachtowardsherchair.

           "Ohhewill.Whocanhehave?"

           "YoungCainBallisaverygoodlad,"Henerysaid,"andShepherdOakdon’tmindhisyouth?"headded,turningwithanapologeticsmiletotheshepherd,whohadjustappearedonthescene,andwasnowleaningagainstthedoorpostwithhisarmsfolded.

           "No,Idon’tmindthat,"saidGabriel.

           "HowdidCaincomebysuchaname?"askedBathsheba.

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