Far from the Madding Crowd (1967 film) disharmony among the farmhands. He learns that Fanny has died in childbirth and is filled with remorse. He swears that he never loved Bathsheba, walks out on her, and his clothes are found at the edge of the ocean. Bathsheba promises to marry Boldwood after Troy is declared legally dead. However, the sergeant appears alive at their engagement party and threatens his wife; Boldwood kills him. Boldwood is sentenced to be hanged but then receives a life sentence. Gabriel tells Bathsheba that he is planning to emigrate to America. Realising how much she has always needed his quiet strength and
Far from the Madding Crowd gives notice that he is leaving her employ, she realises how important he has become to her well-being. That night, she goes alone to visit him in his cottage, to find out why he is deserting her. Pressed, he reluctantly reveals that it is because people have been injuring her good name by gossiping that he wants to marry her. She exclaims that it is "... too absurd – too soon – to think of, by far!" He bitterly agrees that it is absurd, but when she corrects him, saying that it is only "too soon", he is emboldened to