nd what's the use o' it?"

"Pretended! You shall go, sir--your lecturing I will not hear! I am
mistress here."

"Go, indeed--what folly will you say next? Treating me like Dick,
Tom and Harry when you know that a short time ago my position was as
good as yours! Upon my life, Bathsheba, it is too barefaced. You
know, too, that I can't go without putting things in such a strait as
you wouldn't get out of I can't tell when. Unless, indeed, you'll
promise to have an understanding man as bailiff, or manager, or
something. I'll go at once if you'll promise that."

"I shall have no bailiff; I shall continue to be my own manager," she
said decisively.

"Very well, then; you should be thankful to me for biding. How would
the farm go on with nobody to mind it but a woman? But mind this, I
don't wish 'ee to feel you owe me anything. Not I. What I do, I do.
Sometimes I say I should be as glad as a bird to leave the place--for
don't suppose I'm content to be a nobody. I was made for better
things. However, I don't like to see your concerns going to ruin, as
they must if you keep in this mind.... I hate taking my own measure
so plain, but, upon my life, your provoking ways make a man say
what he wouldn't dream of at other times! I own to being rather
interfering. But you know well enough how it is, and who she is that
I like too well, and feel too much like a fool about to be civil to
her!"

It is more than probable that she privately and unconsciously
respected him a little for this grim fidelity, which had been shown
in his tone even more than in his words. At any rate she murmured
something to the effect that he might stay if he wished. She said
more distinctly, "Will you leave me alone now? I don't order it
as a mistress--I ask it as a woman, and I expect you not to be so
uncourteous as to refuse."

"Certainly I will, Miss Everdene," said Gabriel, gently. He wondered
that the request should have come at this moment, for the strife was
over, and they were on a most desolate hill, far from every human
habitation, and the hour was getting late. He stood still and
allowed her to get far ahead of him till he could only see her form
upon the sky.

A distressing explanation of this anxiety to be rid of him at that
point now ensued. A figure apparently rose from the earth beside
her. The shape beyond all doubt was Troy's. Oak would not be even
a possible listener, and at once turned back till a good two