 me I
will take more care of you than would many a man of your own age. I will protect
and cherish you with all my strength - I will indeed! You shall have no cares -
be worried by no household affairs, and live quite at ease, Miss Everdene. The
dairy superintendence shall be done by a man - I can afford it well - you shall
never have so much as to look out of doors at haymaking time, or to think of
weather in the harvest. I rather cling to the chaise, because it is the same my
poor father and mother drove, but if you don't like it I will sell it, and you
shall have a pony-carriage of your own. I cannot say how far above every other
idea and object on earth you seem to me - nobody knows - God only knows - how
much you are to me!«
    Bathsheba's heart was young, and it swelled with sympathy for the
deep-natured man who spoke so simply.
    »Don't say it: don't! I can not bear you to feel so much, and me to feel
nothing. And I am afraid they will notice us, Mr. Boldwood. Will you let the
matter rest now? I can not think collectedly. I did not know you were going to
say this to me. O, I am wicked to have made you suffer so!« She was frightened
as well as agitated at his vehemence.
    »Say then, that you don't absolutely refuse. Do not quite refuse?«
    »I can do nothing. I can not answer.«
    »I may speak to you again on the subiect?«
    »Yes.«
    »I may think of you?«
    »Yes, I suppose you may think of me.«
    »And hope to obtain you?«
    »No - do not hope! Let us go on.«
    »I will call upon you again to-morrow.«
    »No - please not. Give me time.«
    »Yes - I will give you any time,« he said earnestly and gratefully. »I am
happier now.«
    »No - I beg you! Don't be happier if happiness only comes from my agreeing.
Be neutral, Mr. Boldwood! I must think.«
    »I will wait,« he said.
    And then she turned away. Boldwood dropped his gaze to the ground, and stood
long like a man who did not know where he was. Realities then returned upon him
like the pain of a
