she had been expecting, and what she had not got. To be lectured because the lecturer saw her in the cold morning light of open-shuttered disillusion was exasperating. He had not finished, either. He continued in a more agitated voice:--

`My opinion is (since you ask it) that you are greatly to blame for playing pranks upon a man like Mr Boldwood, merely as a pastime. Leading on a man you don't care for is not a praiseworthy action. And even, Miss Everdene, if you seriously inclined towards him, you might have let him find it out in some way of true loving-kindness, and not by sending him a valentine's letter.'

Bathsheba laid down the shears.

`I cannot allow any man to - to criticize my private conduct!' she exclaimed. `Nor will I for a minute. So you'll please leave the farm at the end of the week!'

It may have been a peculiarity - at any rate it was a fact - that when Bathsheba was swayed by an emotion of an earthly sort her lower lip trembled; when by a refined emotion, her upper or heavenward one. Her nether lip quivered now.

`Very well, so I will,' said Gabriel calmly. He had been held to her by a beautiful thread which it pained him to spoil by breaking, rather than by a chain he could not break. `I should be even better pleased to go at once,' he added.

`Go at once then, in Heaven's name!' said she, her eyes flashing at hid though never meeting them. `Don't let me see your face any more.'

`Very well, Miss Everdene - so it shall be.'

And he took his shears and went away from her in placid dignity, as Moses left the presence of Pharaoh.