Alanna Thornton’s Reviews > Far From the Madding Crowd > Status Update

She was conquered, but she would never own it as long as she lived. Her pride was indeed brought low... She chafed to and fro in rebelliousness, like a caged leopard, her whole soul was in arms, and the blood fired her face. Until she had met Troy Bathsheba had been proud of her position as a woman; it had been a glory to her to know that her lips had been touched by no man's on earth.

Oak, suddenly remembered that eight months before this time he had been fighting against fire in the same spot as desperately as he was fighting against water now - and for a futile love of the same woman. As for her -. But Oak was generous and true, and dismissed his reflections.

“he could feel Bathsheba's warm arm tremble in his hand - a sensation novel and thrilling enough; but love, life, everything human, seemed small and trifling in such close juxtaposition with an infuriated universe.”

“In the midst of them shone red and distinct the figure of Sergeant Troy, leaning back in a chair.“

Ominous red back again

“To one who knew the man and his story there was something more striking in this immobility than in a collapse.
The clash of discord between mood and matter here was forced painfully home to the heart; and, as in laughter there are more dreadful phases than in tears, so was there in the steadiness of this troubled man an expression deeper than a cry.”

I hope this turns into a murder story (Boldwood kills Troy or maybe Oak kills Bathsheba)

"Don't take on about her Gabriel. What difference does it make whose sweetheart she is, since she can't be yours?"
"That's the very thing I say to myself," said Gabriel.

I’ve never read a book with horse track diagrams in it before haha

Bathsheba loved Troy in the way that only self-reliant women love when they abandon their self-reliance. When a strong woman recklessly throws away her strength she is worse than a weak woman who has never had any strength to throw away.

He drew near and said, "I must be leaving you." He drew nearer still.
A minute later and she saw his scarlet form disappear amid the ferny thicket, almost in a flash, like a brand swiftly waved.

Did he just kiss her…?