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`It wouldn't be necessary if you could wait a moment;' and he unwound a cord from the little wheel. She withdrew her own hand, but, whether by accident or design, he touched it. Bathsheba was vexed; she hardly knew why. His unravelling went on, but it nevertheless seemed coming to no end. She looked at him again. `Thank you for the sight of such a beautiful face!' said the young sergeant, without ceremony. She coloured with embarrassment. `'Twas unwillingly shown,' she replied stiffly, and with as much dignity - which was very little - as she could infuse into a position of captivity. `I like you the better for that incivility, miss,' he said. `I should have liked - I wish - you had never shown yourself to me by intruding here!' She pulled again, and the gathers of her dress began to give way like lilliputian musketry. `I deserve the chastisement your words give me. But why should such a fair and dutiful girl have such an aversion to her father's sex?' `Go on your way, please.' `What, Beauty, and drag you after me? Do but look; I never saw such a tangle!' `O, 'tis shameful of you; you have been making it worse on purpose to keep me here - you have!' `Indeed, I don't think so,' said the sergeant, with a merry twinkle. `I tell you you have!' she exclaimed, in high temper. `I insist upon undoing it. Now, allow me!' `Certainly, miss; I am not of steel.' He added a sigh which had as much archness in it as a sigh could possess without losing its nature altogether. `I am thankful for beauty, even when 'tis thrown to me like a hone to a dog. These moments will be over too soon!' She closed her lips in a determined silence. Bathsheba was revolving in her mind whether by a bold and desperate rush she could free herself at the risk of leaving her skirt bodily behind her. The thought was too dreadful. The dress - which she had put on to appear stately at the supper - was the head and front of her wardrobe; not another in her stock became her so well. What woman in Bathsheba's position, not naturally timid, and within call of her retainers, would have bought escape from a dashing soldier at so dear a price? `All in good time; it will soon be done, I perceive,' said her cool friend. `This trifling provokes, and - and--' `Not too cruel!' ` - Insults me!' `It is done in order that I may have the pleasure of apologizing to so charming a woman, which I straightway do most humbly, madam,' he said, bowing low. Bathsheba really knew not what to say. `I've seen a good many women in my time,' continued the young man in a murmur, and more thoughtfully than hitherto, critically regarding her bent head at the same time; `but I've never seen a woman so beautiful as you. Take it or leave it - be offended or like it - I don't care.' |
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