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‘Couldn't I？’she said gladly。 ‘But then why are you going？’
‘I'm not going to America，you know。 I decided not to，when you seemed against the idea。 No，I've arranged to rent Mr Boldwood's farm，and I could have been your farm manager as well，if—well—if people hadn't said things about us。 ’
‘What？’said Bathsheba，surprised。 ‘What things？’
‘Well，if you must know，that I'm just waiting and hoping for the chance to marry you some day。 ’
‘Marry me！That's too foolish—too soon—to think of！’
‘Yes，of course，it's foolish。 I certainly agree。 ’
‘“Too soon”were the words I used。 ’
‘I'm sorry，but I think you said“too foolish”。 ’
‘I'm sorry too，’she replied with tears in her eyes。 ‘“Too soon”was what I said。 But it doesn't matter a bit，not at all—but I only meant“too soon”。 Indeed，you must believe me！’
Gabriel looked into her face for a long time。 ‘Bathsheba，’he said，coming closer，‘If I only knew one thing—whether you'd allow me to love you，and marry you after all—if I only knew！’
‘But you never will know，’she whispered。
‘Why not？’
‘Because you never ask。 ’
‘Oh！’said Gabriel delightedly。 ‘My darling—’
‘You should never have sent me that cruel letter this morning。 It shows you don't care a bit about me！’
‘Now Bathsheba，’he said，laughing，‘you know very well that I had to be very careful，as a single man working for you，a good…looking young woman。 I've been so worried about your good name。 That's why I was going to leave。 ’
‘And that's the only reason？Oh，I'm so glad I came！’she cried thankfully，as she got up to leave。 ‘I've thought so much more about you since I imagined you didn't even want to see me again。 But Gabriel，I shouldn't have come to visit you！I seem to be courting you！How awful！’
‘Well，I've courted you，my beautiful Bathsheba，for a very long time，so one visit from you isn't much to ask。 ’
As he walked back to the farmhouse with her，they talked of his plans for Boldwood's farm。 They spoke very little of their feelings for each other。 They were such old friends that expressions of love were probably unnecessary。 Their shared interests and their long，friendly relationship had given them a complete understanding of each other's character，and this finally developed，after their wedding，into a love that nothing could destroy。
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