ck to me, and neither
this haughty goddess, dashing piece of womanhood, Juno-wife of mine
(Juno was a goddess, you know), nor anybody else shall hurt you. But
all this wants looking into, I perceive. What with one thing and
another, I see that my work is well cut out for me."

V

"How do I look to-night, Liddy?" said Bathsheba, giving a final
adjustment to her dress before leaving the glass.

"I never saw you look so well before. Yes--I'll tell you when you
looked like it--that night, a year and a half ago, when you came in
so wildlike, and scolded us for making remarks about you and Mr.
Troy."

"Everybody will think that I am setting myself to captivate Mr.
Boldwood, I suppose," she murmured. "At least they'll say so. Can't
my hair be brushed down a little flatter? I dread going--yet I dread
the risk of wounding him by staying away."

"Anyhow, ma'am, you can't well be dressed plainer than you are,
unless you go in sackcloth at once. 'Tis your excitement is what
makes you look so noticeable to-night."

"I don't know what's the matter, I feel wretched at one time, and
buoyant at another. I wish I could have continued quite alone as I
have been for the last year or so, with no hopes and no fears, and
no pleasure and no grief."

"Now just suppose Mr. Boldwood should ask you--only just suppose
it--to run away with him, what would you do, ma'am?"

"Liddy--none of that," said Bathsheba, gravely. "Mind, I won't hear
joking on any such matter. Do you hear?"

"I beg pardon, ma'am. But knowing what rum things we women be, I
just said--however, I won't speak of it again."

"No marrying for me yet for many a year; if ever, 'twill be for
reasons very, very different from those you think, or others will
believe! Now get my cloak, for it is time to go."

VI

"Oak," said Boldwood, "before you go I want to mention what has been
passing in my mind lately--that little arrangement we made about
your share in the farm I mean. That share is small, too small,
considering how little I attend to business now, and how much time
and thought you give to it. Well, since the world is brightening
for me, I want to show my sense of it by increasing your proportion
in the partnership. I'll make a memorandum of the arrangement which
struck me as likely to be convenient, for I haven't time to talk
about it now; and then we'll discuss it at our leisure. My intention
is ultimately to retire from the management altoge