Page:Far from the Madding Crowd Vol 1.djvu/94

 out gallantry: stepping close to her hanging feet, he said in a hesitating voice,—

"Do you happen to want a shepherd, ma'am?"

She lifted the Shetland veil tied round her face, and looked all astonishment. Gabriel and his cold-hearted darling, Bathsheba Everdene, were face to face.

Bathsheba did not speak, and he mechanically repeated in an abashed and sad voice,―

"Do you want a shepherd, ma'am?"