beauty bore out so fully the epithets he had bestowed upon it that he was quite startled at his temerity in advancing them as false. He said mechanically, `Ah, why?' and continued to look at her.

`And my workfolk see me following you about the field, and are wondering. O, this is dreadful!' she went on, unconscious of the transmutation she was effecting.

`I did not quite mean you to accept it at first, for it was my one poor patent of nobility,' he broke out bluntly; `but, upon my soul, I wish you would now. Without any shamming, come! Don't deny me the happiness of wearing it for my sake? But you are too lovely even to care to be kind as others are.'

`No, no; don't say so! I have reasons for reserve which I cannot explain.'

`Let it be' then, let it be,' he said, receiving back the watch at last; `I must be leaving you now. And will you speak to me for theme few weeks of my stay?'

`Indeed I will. Yet, I don't know if I will! O, why did you come and disturb me so!'

`Perhaps in setting a gin, I have caught myself. Such things have happened. Well, will you let me work in your fields?' he coaxed.

`Yes, I suppose so; if it is any pleasure to you.

`Miss Everdene, I thank you.'

`No, no.'

`Good-bye!'

The sergeant brought his hand to the cap on the slope of his head, saluted, and returned to the distant group of haymakers.

Bathsheba could not face the haymakers now. Her heart erratically flitting hither and thither from perplexed excitement, hot, and almost tearful, she retreated homeward, murmuring, `O, what have I done! What does it mean! I wish I knew how much of it was true!'