Far from the Madding Crowd (excerpt)
Chapter 17 Farmer Boldwood begins to hope
When Troy did not return，Bathsheba felt neither happiness nor sadness.She had no hope for the future.She was sure that one day he would return，and spend the rest of her money.Then they would have to sell the farm.She could do nothing to prevent it.
One Saturday at Casterbridge market，a stranger came up to her.“I must tell you，ma'am，”he said，“your husband is dead.”
“No，it can't be true！”gasped Bathsheba.Darkness came over her eyes，and she fell.But not to the ground.Boldwood，who had been standing in a corner watching her，ran forward to catch her.
“Tell me more，”he said to the stranger，as he held the unconscious girl gently in his arms.
“The police found her husband's clothes on the beach.He must have been swimming，and drowned off the Budmouth coast.”
There was a strange excitement in Boldwood's face，but he said nothing.
He carried her to a private room at the hotel，where she could rest until she felt well enough to ride home.
When she arrived home，still feeling weak and confused，Liddy had already heard the news.“Shall we get some black clothes made for you，ma'am？”said the maid，hesitating a little.
“No，Liddy.It isn't necessary.You see，I think he may still be alive.I feel—I think I'm sure he's alive！”
But the following Monday Troy's death was reported in the local newspaper.A witness had seen him in deep water，shouting and waving for help.And when his clothes and his watch，found on the beach，were delivered to the farmhouse，Bathsheba began to doubt that he was alive.She opened the back of his watch case and took out the curl of golden hair.
