, it isn't. Why is it?«
    »You will never speak to me; for I shall not be here long. I am soon going
back again to the miserable monotony of drill - and perhaps our regiment will be
ordered out soon. And yet you take away the one little ewe-lamb of pleasure that
I have in this dull life of mine. Well, perhaps generosity is not a woman's most
marked characteristic.«
    »When are you going from here?« she asked with some interest.
    »In a month.«
    »But how can it give you pleasure to speak to me?«
    »Can you ask, Miss Everdene - knowing as you do - what my offence is based
on?«
    »If you do care so much for a silly trifle of that kind, then, I don't mind
doing it,« she uncertainly and doubtingly answered. »But you can't really care
for a word from me? you only say so - I think you only say so.«
    »That's unjust - but I won't repeat the remark. I am too gratified to get
such a mark of your friendship at any price to cavil at the tone. I do, Miss
Everdene, care for it. You may think a man foolish to want a mere word - just a
good morning. Perhaps he is - I don't know. But you have never been a man
looking upon a woman, and that woman yourself.«
    »Well.«
    »Then you know nothing of what such an experience is like - and Heaven
forbid that you ever should!«
    »Nonsense, flatterer! What is it like? I am interested in knowing.«
    »Put shortly, it is not being able to think, hear, or look in any direction
except one without wretchedness, nor there without torture.«
    »Ah, sergeant, it won't do - you are pretending!« she said, shaking her
head. »Your words are too dashing to be true.«
    »I am not, upon the honour of a soldier.«
    »But why is it so? - Of course I ask for mere pastime.«
    »Because you are so distracting - and I am so distracted.«
    »You look like it.«
    »I am indeed.«
    »Why, you only saw me the other night!«
    »That makes no difference. The lightning works instantaneously. I loved you
then, at once - as I do now.«
    Bathsheba surveyed him curiously,
