Far from the Madding Crowd, Part 28 of 31

The Sleepy Bookshelf

Elizabeth continues reading Thomas Hardy's 'Far from the Madding Crowd,' focusing on Chapters 51 and 52, where Bathsheba returns home from t

Key takeaways

• Bathsheba's internal conflict between independence and emotional vulnerability is heightened by her encounter with Boldwood.

Main topics

• Emotional complexity in romantic relationships
• The theme of unrequited love

Notable quotes

"I have always had this dreary pleasure in thinking over those pastimes with you."

Conclusion

As Bathsheba grapples with her emotions and past choices, the episode u

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) Hello everyone. Before we begin tonight, I have an exciting new announcement to share with you. Since starting The Sleepy Bookshelf in 2021, we have been looking for new ways to help you sleep. Because we know how much you all love our Jane Austen seasons, I'm pleased to introduce The Sleepy Bookshelf, Just Jane, where we will read Austen's entire catalogue, one novel at a time. New episodes will release every Monday and Wednesday, so click the link at the bottom of the show notes to subscribe and follow along with the first season, Mansfield Park. I hope to see you there, to put down your worries from the day and pick up a good Jane Austen book. Good evening. Thank you so much for being here. The Sleepy Bookshelf wouldn't be possible without your support. Speaker 1 (1:01) Help us keep the show going and enjoy all of our episodes ad-free by joining our premium feed. You'll also get exclusive bonus content. There's a link in the show notes if you'd like to learn more. Before we get started tonight, I wanted to let you in on a little secret. For the best sleep, there's nothing better than the Sleepy Bookshelf's premium feed. You'll have ad-free access to the entire catalogue, so you don't have to listen to things like this, plus exclusive bonus stories in between our longer books. Follow the link in the show notes to learn more, and start your seven-day free trial tonight. Speaker 1 (1:55) Hello, it's Elizabeth, and I'm excited to share with you the newest show from Slumber Studios. It's called Sleepy History, and it's exactly what it sounds like. Intriguing stories, people, mysteries and events from history, delivered in a supremely calming atmosphere. Explore the legend of El Dorado, see what life was like for the Roman gladiators. Uncover the myths and mysteries of Stonehenge. You'll find interesting but relaxing episodes like these on Sleepy History and the same great production quality you've come to know and love from the Sleepy Bookshelf. So check it out. And perhaps you'll have another way to get a good night's rest. Just search Sleepy History in your preferred podcast player. Good evening. Speaker 1 (2:59) And welcome to the Sleepy Bookshelf, where we put down our worries from the day and pick up a good book. I'm your host, Elizabeth. Thank you so much for coming this evening. Tonight will be continuing far from the madding crowd, so allow your body to settle into the surface beneath you and feel the steady support holding you safely in place. Speaker 1 (3:39) Soften your shoulders, relax your arms and hands and allow the muscles in your face to become smooth and peaceful. With each slow breath, feel a gentle heaviness moving through you. Release any remaining tension from the day and simply let go. Become still and as you listen to the sound of my voice, Allow your mind to drift quietly towards sleep. At Greenhill Sheep Fair, the great flocks of Wetherbury arrived alongside thousands of others, with Gabriel helping to oversee the sheep belonging to Bathsheba and Baldwood. lively crowds gathered to watch a travelling performance of Turpin's Ride to York and the Death of Black Bess. Unknown to everyone, Sergeant Troy had returned to England via a brief stay in America, and to avoid going home and using his skills in weaponry learnt from the Dragoons, he was now performing as Turpin in the show. Speaker 1 (5:18) Bathsheba attended the performance, and when Troy spotted her in the audience, he was sure of the embarrassment he would suffer if he was identified. Later, while peeping into the reserved area of the hospitality tent, watching Bathsheba speaking with Boldwood, Troy learned that Pennyways had been in the audience and had recognized him. Bathsheba wouldn't listen to Pennyways speak, so he wrote a note, revealing that Troy was at the fair. Acting quickly, Troy reached under the tent side, snatched the note from Bathsheba's hands before she could read it, and then found Pennyways to control the situation and prevent his return from being exposed. Speaker 1 (6:17) Tonight we pick up with Bathsheba on her way home from the sheep fair, so just lie back and relax as I turn to the next pages of Far From the Madding Crowd. Chapter 51 Bathsheba Talks with Her Outrider Speaker 1 (6:52) The arrangement for getting back again to Wetherbury had been that Oak should take the place of poor grass in Bathsheba's conveyance and drive her home, it being discovered late in the afternoon that Joseph was suffering from his old complained, a multiplying eye, and was therefore hardly trustworthy as coachman and protector to a woman. Speaker 1 (7:22) But Oak had found himself so occupied, and was full of so many cares relative to those portions of Baldwood's flock that were not disposed of, that Bathsheba, without telling Oak or anybody, resolved to drive home herself, as she had many times done from Casterbridge Market, and trust to her good angel for performing the journey unmolested. But having fallen in with Farmer Boldwood accidentally, on her part at least, at the refreshment, she found it impossible to refuse his offer to ride on horseback beside her as escort. It had grown twilight before she was aware, but Boldwood assured her that there was no cause for uneasiness, as the moon would be up in half an hour. Speaker 1 (8:25) Immediately after the incident in the tent, she had risen to go, now absolutely alarmed and really grateful for her old lover's protection, though regretting Gabriel's absence, whose company she would have much preferred as being more proper as well as more pleasant, since he was her own managing man and servant. This, however, could not be helped. She would not, on any consideration, treat Baldwood harshly, having once already ill-used him, and the moon having risen, and the gig being ready. She drove across the hilltop in the wending ways which led downwards, to oblivious obscurity as it seemed, for the moon and the hill it flooded with light were in appearance on a level. Speaker 1 (9:26) the rest of the world lying as a vast, shady concave between them. Baldwood mounted his horse and followed in close attendance behind. Thus they descended into the lowlands, and the sounds of those left on the hill came like voices from the sky, and the lights were as those of a camp in heaven. They soon passed the merry stragglers in the immediate vicinity of the hill, traversed Kingspear, and got upon the high road. The keen instincts of Bathsheba had perceived that the farmer's staunch devotion to herself was still undiminished, and she sympathized deeply. The sight had quite depressed her this evening, had reminded her of her folly, and she wished anew, as she had wished many months ago, for some means of making reparation for her fault. Speaker 1 (10:37) Hence, her pity for the man who so persistently loved on to his own injury and permanent gloom had betrayed Bathsheba into an injudicious considerateness of manner, which appeared almost like tenderness, and gave new vigour to the exquisite dream of a Jacob's seven-year service in poor Baldwood's mind. Speaker 1 (11:07) He soon found an excuse for advancing from his position in the rear and rode close by her side. They had gone two or three miles in the moonlight, speaking desultorily across the wheel of her gig concerning the fair, farming, Oak's usefulness to them both, and other indifferent subjects, when Baldwood said suddenly and simply, Mrs. Troy, you will marry again someday. Speaker 1 (11:47) This point-blank query unmistakably confused her, and it was not till a minute or more had elapsed that she said, I have not seriously thought of any such subject. I quite understand that, yet your late husband has been dead nearly one year, and you forget that his death was never absolutely proved, and may not have taken place, so that I may not really be a widow. She said, catching the straw of escape that the fact afforded. Not absolutely proved, perhaps, but it was proved circumstantially. A man saw him drowning, too. No reasonable person has any doubt of his death, nor have you, Mum, I should imagine. I have none now, or I should have acted differently, she said gently. I certainly at first had a strange, unaccountable feeling that he could not have perished. Speaker 1 (12:50) But I have been able to explain that in several ways since. But though I am fully persuaded that I shall see him no more, I am far from thinking of marriage with another. I should be very contemptible to indulge in such a thought. They were silent now a while, and having struck into an unfrequented track across the common, the creaks of Baldwood's saddle and her gig springs were all the sounds to be heard. Baldwood ended the pause. Speaker 1 (13:29) Do you remember when I carried you fainting in my arms to the king's arms in Casterbridge? Every dog has his day. That was mine. I know. I know it all, she said hurriedly. I, for one, shall never cease regretting that events so fell out as