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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Adam Bede + +Author: George Eliot + +Release Date: January 21, 2006 [EBook #507] +Last Updated: January 19, 2019 + + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADAM BEDE *** + + + + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + ADAM BEDE + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + by George Eliot + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <b>Book One</b></a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> Chapter I -- The Workshop </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> Chapter II -- The Preaching </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> Chapter III -- After the Preaching </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> Chapter IV -- Home and Its Sorrows </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> Chapter V -- The Rector </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> Chapter VI -- The Hall Farm </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> Chapter VII -- The Dairy </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> Chapter VIII -- A Vocation </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> Chapter IX -- Hetty's World </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> Chapter X -- Dinah Visits Lisbeth </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> Chapter XI -- In the Cottage </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> Chapter XII -- In the Wood </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> Chapter XIII -- Evening in the Wood </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> Chapter XIV -- The Return Home </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> Chapter XV -- The Two Bed-Chambers </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> Chapter XVI -- Links </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> <b>Book Two</b></a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> Chapter XVII -- In Which the Story Pauses a Little </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> Chapter XVIII -- Church</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> Chapter XIX -- Adam on a Working Day </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0020"> Chapter XX -- Adam Visits the Hall Farm </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0021"> Chapter XXI -- The Night-School and the Schoolmaster </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> <b>Book Three</b></a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0022"> Chapter XXII -- Going to the Birthday Feast </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0023"> Chapter XXIII -- Dinner-Time </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0024"> Chapter XXIV -- The Health-Drinking </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0025"> Chapter XXV -- The Games </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0026"> Chapter XXVI -- The Dance </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0030"> <b>Book Four</b></a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0027"> Chapter XXVII -- A Crisis </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0028"> Chapter XXVIII -- A Dilemma </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0029"> Chapter XXIX -- The Next Morning </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0030"> Chapter XXX -- The Delivery of the Letter </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0031"> Chapter XXXI -- In Hetty's Bed-Chamber </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0032"> Chapter XXXII -- Mrs. Poyser “Has Her Say Out” </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0033"> Chapter XXXIII -- More Links </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0034"> Chapter XXXIV -- The Betrothal </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0035"> Chapter XXXV -- The Hidden Dread </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0040"> <b>Book Five</b></a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0036"> Chapter XXXVI -- The Journey of Hope </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0037"> Chapter XXXVII -- The Journey in Despair </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0038"> Chapter XXXVIII -- The Quest </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0039"> Chapter XXXIX -- The Tidings </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0040"> Chapter XL -- The Bitter Waters Spread </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0041"> Chapter XLI -- The Eve of the Trial </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0042"> Chapter XLII -- The Morning of the Trial </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0043"> Chapter XLIII -- The Verdict </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0044"> Chapter XLIV -- Arthur's Return </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0045"> Chapter XLV -- In the Prison </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0046"> Chapter XLVI -- The Hours of Suspense </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0047"> Chapter XLVII -- The Last Moment </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0048"> Chapter XLVIII -- Another Meeting in the Wood </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0054"> <b>Book Six</b></a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0049"> Chapter XLIX -- At the Hall Farm </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0050"> Chapter L -- In the Cottage </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0051"> Chapter LI -- Sunday Morning </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0052"> Chapter LII -- Adam and Dinah </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0053"> Chapter LIII -- The Harvest Supper </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0054"> Chapter LIV -- The Meeting on the Hill </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0055"> Chapter LV -- Marriage Bells </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_EPIL"> <b>Epilogue</b></a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Book One + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter I + </h2> + <h3> + The Workshop + </h3> + <p> + With a single drop of ink for a mirror, the Egyptian sorcerer undertakes + to reveal to any chance comer far-reaching visions of the past. This is + what I undertake to do for you, reader. With this drop of ink at the end + of my pen, I will show you the roomy workshop of Mr. Jonathan Burge, + carpenter and builder, in the village of Hayslope, as it appeared on the + eighteenth of June, in the year of our Lord 1799. + </p> + <p> + The afternoon sun was warm on the five workmen there, busy upon doors and + window-frames and wainscoting. A scent of pine-wood from a tentlike pile + of planks outside the open door mingled itself with the scent of the + elder-bushes which were spreading their summer snow close to the open + window opposite; the slanting sunbeams shone through the transparent + shavings that flew before the steady plane, and lit up the fine grain of + the oak panelling which stood propped against the wall. On a heap of those + soft shavings a rough, grey shepherd dog had made himself a pleasant bed, + and was lying with his nose between his fore-paws, occasionally wrinkling + his brows to cast a glance at the tallest of the five workmen, who was + carving a shield in the centre of a wooden mantelpiece. It was to this + workman that the strong barytone belonged which was heard above the sound + of plane and hammer singing— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Awake, my soul, and with the sun + Thy daily stage of duty run; + Shake off dull sloth... +</pre> + <p> + Here some measurement was to be taken which required more concentrated + attention, and the sonorous voice subsided into a low whistle; but it + presently broke out again with renewed vigour— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Let all thy converse be sincere, + Thy conscience as the noonday clear. +</pre> + <p> + Such a voice could only come from a broad chest, and the broad chest + belonged to a large-boned, muscular man nearly six feet high, with a back + so flat and a head so well poised that when he drew himself up to take a + more distant survey of his work, he had the air of a soldier standing at + ease. The sleeve rolled up above the elbow showed an arm that was likely + to win the prize for feats of strength; yet the long supple hand, with its + broad finger-tips, looked ready for works of skill. In his tall + stalwartness Adam Bede was a Saxon, and justified his name; but the + jet-black hair, made the more noticeable by its contrast with the light + paper cap, and the keen glance of the dark eyes that shone from under + strongly marked, prominent and mobile eyebrows, indicated a mixture of + Celtic blood. The face was large and roughly hewn, and when in repose had + no other beauty than such as belongs to an expression of good-humoured + honest intelligence. + </p> + <p> + It is clear at a glance that the next workman is Adam's brother. He is + nearly as tall; he has the same type of features, the same hue of hair and + complexion; but the strength of the family likeness seems only to render + more conspicuous the remarkable difference of expression both in form and + face. Seth's broad shoulders have a slight stoop; his eyes are grey; his + eyebrows have less prominence and more repose than his brother's; and his + glance, instead of being keen, is confiding and benign. He has thrown off + his paper cap, and you see that his hair is not thick and straight, like + Adam's, but thin and wavy, allowing you to discern the exact contour of a + coronal arch that predominates very decidedly over the brow. + </p> + <p> + The idle tramps always felt sure they could get a copper from Seth; they + scarcely ever spoke to Adam. + </p> + <p> + The concert of the tools and Adam's voice was at last broken by Seth, who, + lifting the door at which he had been working intently, placed it against + the wall, and said, “There! I've finished my door to-day, anyhow.” + </p> + <p> + The workmen all looked up; Jim Salt, a burly, red-haired man known as + Sandy Jim, paused from his planing, and Adam said to Seth, with a sharp + glance of surprise, “What! Dost think thee'st finished the door?” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, sure,” said Seth, with answering surprise; “what's awanting to't?” + </p> + <p> + A loud roar of laughter from the other three workmen made Seth look round + confusedly. Adam did not join in the laughter, but there was a slight + smile on his face as he said, in a gentler tone than before, “Why, thee'st + forgot the panels.” + </p> + <p> + The laughter burst out afresh as Seth clapped his hands to his head, and + coloured over brow and crown. + </p> + <p> + “Hoorray!” shouted a small lithe fellow called Wiry Ben, running forward + and seizing the door. “We'll hang up th' door at fur end o' th' shop an' + write on't 'Seth Bede, the Methody, his work.' Here, Jim, lend's hould o' + th' red pot.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense!” said Adam. “Let it alone, Ben Cranage. You'll mayhap be making + such a slip yourself some day; you'll laugh o' th' other side o' your + mouth then.” + </p> + <p> + “Catch me at it, Adam. It'll be a good while afore my head's full o' th' + Methodies,” said Ben. + </p> + <p> + “Nay, but it's often full o' drink, and that's worse.” + </p> + <p> + Ben, however, had now got the “red pot” in his hand, and was about to + begin writing his inscription, making, by way of preliminary, an imaginary + S in the air. + </p> + <p> + “Let it alone, will you?” Adam called out, laying down his tools, striding + up to Ben, and seizing his right shoulder. “Let it alone, or I'll shake + the soul out o' your body.” + </p> + <p> + Ben shook in Adam's iron grasp, but, like a plucky small man as he was, he + didn't mean to give in. With his left hand he snatched the brush from his + powerless right, and made a movement as if he would perform the feat of + writing with his left. In a moment Adam turned him round, seized his other + shoulder, and, pushing him along, pinned him against the wall. But now + Seth spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Let be, Addy, let be. Ben will be joking. Why, he's i' the right to laugh + at me—I canna help laughing at myself.” + </p> + <p> + “I shan't loose him till he promises to let the door alone,” said Adam. + </p> + <p> + “Come, Ben, lad,” said Seth, in a persuasive tone, “don't let's have a + quarrel about it. You know Adam will have his way. You may's well try to + turn a waggon in a narrow lane. Say you'll leave the door alone, and make + an end on't.” + </p> + <p> + “I binna frighted at Adam,” said Ben, “but I donna mind sayin' as I'll let + 't alone at your askin', Seth.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, that's wise of you, Ben,” said Adam, laughing and relaxing his + grasp. + </p> + <p> + They all returned to their work now; but Wiry Ben, having had the worst in + the bodily contest, was bent on retrieving that humiliation by a success + in sarcasm. + </p> + <p> + “Which was ye thinkin' on, Seth,” he began—“the pretty parson's face + or her sarmunt, when ye forgot the panels?” + </p> + <p> + “Come and hear her, Ben,” said Seth, good-humouredly; “she's going to + preach on the Green to-night; happen ye'd get something to think on + yourself then, instead o' those wicked songs you're so fond on. Ye might + get religion, and that 'ud be the best day's earnings y' ever made.” + </p> + <p> + “All i' good time for that, Seth; I'll think about that when I'm a-goin' + to settle i' life; bachelors doesn't want such heavy earnin's. Happen I + shall do the coortin' an' the religion both together, as YE do, Seth; but + ye wouldna ha' me get converted an' chop in atween ye an' the pretty + preacher, an' carry her aff?” + </p> + <p> + “No fear o' that, Ben; she's neither for you nor for me to win, I doubt. + Only you come and hear her, and you won't speak lightly on her again.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'm half a mind t' ha' a look at her to-night, if there isn't good + company at th' Holly Bush. What'll she take for her text? Happen ye can + tell me, Seth, if so be as I shouldna come up i' time for't. Will't be—what + come ye out for to see? A prophetess? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a + prophetess—a uncommon pretty young woman.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, Ben,” said Adam, rather sternly, “you let the words o' the Bible + alone; you're going too far now.” + </p> + <p> + “What! Are YE a-turnin' roun', Adam? I thought ye war dead again th' women + preachin', a while agoo?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, I'm not turnin' noway. I said nought about the women preachin'. I + said, You let the Bible alone: you've got a jest-book, han't you, as + you're rare and proud on? Keep your dirty fingers to that.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, y' are gettin' as big a saint as Seth. Y' are goin' to th' preachin' + to-night, I should think. Ye'll do finely t' lead the singin'. But I don' + know what Parson Irwine 'ull say at his gran' favright Adam Bede a-turnin' + Methody.” + </p> + <p> + “Never do you bother yourself about me, Ben. I'm not a-going to turn + Methodist any more nor you are—though it's like enough you'll turn + to something worse. Mester Irwine's got more sense nor to meddle wi' + people's doing as they like in religion. That's between themselves and + God, as he's said to me many a time.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye; but he's none so fond o' your dissenters, for all that.” + </p> + <p> + “Maybe; I'm none so fond o' Josh Tod's thick ale, but I don't hinder you + from making a fool o' yourself wi't.” + </p> + <p> + There was a laugh at this thrust of Adam's, but Seth said, very seriously. + “Nay, nay, Addy, thee mustna say as anybody's religion's like thick ale. + Thee dostna believe but what the dissenters and the Methodists have got + the root o' the matter as well as the church folks.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Seth, lad; I'm not for laughing at no man's religion. Let 'em follow + their consciences, that's all. Only I think it 'ud be better if their + consciences 'ud let 'em stay quiet i' the church—there's a deal to + be learnt there. And there's such a thing as being oversperitial; we must + have something beside Gospel i' this world. Look at the canals, an' th' + aqueduc's, an' th' coal-pit engines, and Arkwright's mills there at + Cromford; a man must learn summat beside Gospel to make them things, I + reckon. But t' hear some o' them preachers, you'd think as a man must be + doing nothing all's life but shutting's eyes and looking what's agoing on + inside him. I know a man must have the love o' God in his soul, and the + Bible's God's word. But what does the Bible say? Why, it says as God put + his sperrit into the workman as built the tabernacle, to make him do all + the carved work and things as wanted a nice hand. And this is my way o' + looking at it: there's the sperrit o' God in all things and all times—weekday + as well as Sunday—and i' the great works and inventions, and i' the + figuring and the mechanics. And God helps us with our headpieces and our + hands as well as with our souls; and if a man does bits o' jobs out o' + working hours—builds a oven for 's wife to save her from going to + the bakehouse, or scrats at his bit o' garden and makes two potatoes grow + istead o' one, he's doin' more good, and he's just as near to God, as if + he was running after some preacher and a-praying and a-groaning.” + </p> + <p> + “Well done, Adam!” said Sandy Jim, who had paused from his planing to + shift his planks while Adam was speaking; “that's the best sarmunt I've + heared this long while. By th' same token, my wife's been a-plaguin' on me + to build her a oven this twelvemont.” + </p> + <p> + “There's reason in what thee say'st, Adam,” observed Seth, gravely. “But + thee know'st thyself as it's hearing the preachers thee find'st so much + fault with has turned many an idle fellow into an industrious un. It's the + preacher as empties th' alehouse; and if a man gets religion, he'll do his + work none the worse for that.” + </p> + <p> + “On'y he'll lave the panels out o' th' doors sometimes, eh, Seth?” said + Wiry Ben. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Ben, you've got a joke again' me as 'll last you your life. But it + isna religion as was i' fault there; it was Seth Bede, as was allays a + wool-gathering chap, and religion hasna cured him, the more's the pity.” + </p> + <p> + “Ne'er heed me, Seth,” said Wiry Ben, “y' are a down-right good-hearted + chap, panels or no panels; an' ye donna set up your bristles at every bit + o' fun, like some o' your kin, as is mayhap cliverer.” + </p> + <p> + “Seth, lad,” said Adam, taking no notice of the sarcasm against himself, + “thee mustna take me unkind. I wasna driving at thee in what I said just + now. Some 's got one way o' looking at things and some 's got another.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay, Addy, thee mean'st me no unkindness,” said Seth, “I know that + well enough. Thee't like thy dog Gyp—thee bark'st at me sometimes, + but thee allays lick'st my hand after.” + </p> + <p> + All hands worked on in silence for some minutes, until the church clock + began to strike six. Before the first stroke had died away, Sandy Jim had + loosed his plane and was reaching his jacket; Wiry Ben had left a screw + half driven in, and thrown his screwdriver into his tool-basket; Mum Taft, + who, true to his name, had kept silence throughout the previous + conversation, had flung down his hammer as he was in the act of lifting + it; and Seth, too, had straightened his back, and was putting out his hand + towards his paper cap. Adam alone had gone on with his work as if nothing + had happened. But observing the cessation of the tools, he looked up, and + said, in a tone of indignation, “Look there, now! I can't abide to see men + throw away their tools i' that way, the minute the clock begins to strike, + as if they took no pleasure i' their work and was afraid o' doing a stroke + too much.” + </p> + <p> + Seth looked a little conscious, and began to be slower in his preparations + for going, but Mum Taft broke silence, and said, “Aye, aye, Adam lad, ye + talk like a young un. When y' are six-an'-forty like me, istid o' + six-an'-twenty, ye wonna be so flush o' workin' for nought.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense,” said Adam, still wrathful; “what's age got to do with it, I + wonder? Ye arena getting stiff yet, I reckon. I hate to see a man's arms + drop down as if he was shot, before the clock's fairly struck, just as if + he'd never a bit o' pride and delight in 's work. The very grindstone 'ull + go on turning a bit after you loose it.” + </p> + <p> + “Bodderation, Adam!” exclaimed Wiry Ben; “lave a chap aloon, will 'ee? Ye + war afinding faut wi' preachers a while agoo—y' are fond enough o' + preachin' yoursen. Ye may like work better nor play, but I like play + better nor work; that'll 'commodate ye—it laves ye th' more to do.” + </p> + <p> + With this exit speech, which he considered effective, Wiry Ben shouldered + his basket and left the workshop, quickly followed by Mum Taft and Sandy + Jim. Seth lingered, and looked wistfully at Adam, as if he expected him to + say something. + </p> + <p> + “Shalt go home before thee go'st to the preaching?” Adam asked, looking + up. + </p> + <p> + “Nay; I've got my hat and things at Will Maskery's. I shan't be home + before going for ten. I'll happen see Dinah Morris safe home, if she's + willing. There's nobody comes with her from Poyser's, thee know'st.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I'll tell mother not to look for thee,” said Adam. + </p> + <p> + “Thee artna going to Poyser's thyself to-night?” said Seth rather timidly, + as he turned to leave the workshop. + </p> + <p> + “Nay, I'm going to th' school.” + </p> + <p> + Hitherto Gyp had kept his comfortable bed, only lifting up his head and + watching Adam more closely as he noticed the other workmen departing. But + no sooner did Adam put his ruler in his pocket, and begin to twist his + apron round his waist, than Gyp ran forward and looked up in his master's + face with patient expectation. If Gyp had had a tail he would doubtless + have wagged it, but being destitute of that vehicle for his emotions, he + was like many other worthy personages, destined to appear more phlegmatic + than nature had made him. + </p> + <p> + “What! Art ready for the basket, eh, Gyp?” said Adam, with the same gentle + modulation of voice as when he spoke to Seth. + </p> + <p> + Gyp jumped and gave a short bark, as much as to say, “Of course.” Poor + fellow, he had not a great range of expression. + </p> + <p> + The basket was the one which on workdays held Adam's and Seth's dinner; + and no official, walking in procession, could look more resolutely + unconscious of all acquaintances than Gyp with his basket, trotting at his + master's heels. + </p> + <p> + On leaving the workshop Adam locked the door, took the key out, and + carried it to the house on the other side of the woodyard. It was a low + house, with smooth grey thatch and buff walls, looking pleasant and mellow + in the evening light. The leaded windows were bright and speckless, and + the door-stone was as clean as a white boulder at ebb tide. On the + door-stone stood a clean old woman, in a dark-striped linen gown, a red + kerchief, and a linen cap, talking to some speckled fowls which appeared + to have been drawn towards her by an illusory expectation of cold potatoes + or barley. The old woman's sight seemed to be dim, for she did not + recognize Adam till he said, “Here's the key, Dolly; lay it down for me in + the house, will you?” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, sure; but wunna ye come in, Adam? Miss Mary's i' th' house, and + Mester Burge 'ull be back anon; he'd be glad t' ha' ye to supper wi'm, + I'll be's warrand.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Dolly, thank you; I'm off home. Good evening.” + </p> + <p> + Adam hastened with long strides, Gyp close to his heels, out of the + workyard, and along the highroad leading away from the village and down to + the valley. As he reached the foot of the slope, an elderly horseman, with + his portmanteau strapped behind him, stopped his horse when Adam had + passed him, and turned round to have another long look at the stalwart + workman in paper cap, leather breeches, and dark-blue worsted stockings. + </p> + <p> + Adam, unconscious of the admiration he was exciting, presently struck + across the fields, and now broke out into the tune which had all day long + been running in his head: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Let all thy converse be sincere, + Thy conscience as the noonday clear; + For God's all-seeing eye surveys + Thy secret thoughts, thy works and ways. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter II + </h2> + <h3> + The Preaching + </h3> + <p> + About a quarter to seven there was an unusual appearance of excitement in + the village of Hayslope, and through the whole length of its little + street, from the Donnithorne Arms to the churchyard gate, the inhabitants + had evidently been drawn out of their houses by something more than the + pleasure of lounging in the evening sunshine. The Donnithorne Arms stood + at the entrance of the village, and a small farmyard and stackyard which + flanked it, indicating that there was a pretty take of land attached to + the inn, gave the traveller a promise of good feed for himself and his + horse, which might well console him for the ignorance in which the + weather-beaten sign left him as to the heraldic bearings of that ancient + family, the Donnithornes. Mr. Casson, the landlord, had been for some time + standing at the door with his hands in his pockets, balancing himself on + his heels and toes and looking towards a piece of unenclosed ground, with + a maple in the middle of it, which he knew to be the destination of + certain grave-looking men and women whom he had observed passing at + intervals. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Casson's person was by no means of that common type which can be + allowed to pass without description. On a front view it appeared to + consist principally of two spheres, bearing about the same relation to + each other as the earth and the moon: that is to say, the lower sphere + might be said, at a rough guess, to be thirteen times larger than the + upper which naturally performed the function of a mere satellite and + tributary. But here the resemblance ceased, for Mr. Casson's head was not + at all a melancholy-looking satellite nor was it a “spotty globe,” as + Milton has irreverently called the moon; on the contrary, no head and face + could look more sleek and healthy, and its expression—which was + chiefly confined to a pair of round and ruddy cheeks, the slight knot and + interruptions forming the nose and eyes being scarcely worth mention—was + one of jolly contentment, only tempered by that sense of personal dignity + which usually made itself felt in his attitude and bearing. This sense of + dignity could hardly be considered excessive in a man who had been butler + to “the family” for fifteen years, and who, in his present high position, + was necessarily very much in contact with his inferiors. How to reconcile + his dignity with the satisfaction of his curiosity by walking towards the + Green was the problem that Mr. Casson had been revolving in his mind for + the last five minutes; but when he had partly solved it by taking his + hands out of his pockets, and thrusting them into the armholes of his + waistcoat, by throwing his head on one side, and providing himself with an + air of contemptuous indifference to whatever might fall under his notice, + his thoughts were diverted by the approach of the horseman whom we lately + saw pausing to have another look at our friend Adam, and who now pulled up + at the door of the Donnithorne Arms. + </p> + <p> + “Take off the bridle and give him a drink, ostler,” said the traveller to + the lad in a smock-frock, who had come out of the yard at the sound of the + horse's hoofs. + </p> + <p> + “Why, what's up in your pretty village, landlord?” he continued, getting + down. “There seems to be quite a stir.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a Methodis' preaching, sir; it's been gev hout as a young woman's + a-going to preach on the Green,” answered Mr. Casson, in a treble and + wheezy voice, with a slightly mincing accent. “Will you please to step in, + sir, an' tek somethink?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I must be getting on to Rosseter. I only want a drink for my horse. + And what does your parson say, I wonder, to a young woman preaching just + under his nose?” + </p> + <p> + “Parson Irwine, sir, doesn't live here; he lives at Brox'on, over the hill + there. The parsonage here's a tumble-down place, sir, not fit for gentry + to live in. He comes here to preach of a Sunday afternoon, sir, an' puts + up his hoss here. It's a grey cob, sir, an' he sets great store by't. He's + allays put up his hoss here, sir, iver since before I hed the Donnithorne + Arms. I'm not this countryman, you may tell by my tongue, sir. They're + cur'ous talkers i' this country, sir; the gentry's hard work to + hunderstand 'em. I was brought hup among the gentry, sir, an' got the turn + o' their tongue when I was a bye. Why, what do you think the folks here + says for 'hevn't you?'—the gentry, you know, says, 'hevn't you'—well, + the people about here says 'hanna yey.' It's what they call the dileck as + is spoke hereabout, sir. That's what I've heared Squire Donnithorne say + many a time; it's the dileck, says he.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye,” said the stranger, smiling. “I know it very well. But you've + not got many Methodists about here, surely—in this agricultural + spot? I should have thought there would hardly be such a thing as a + Methodist to be found about here. You're all farmers, aren't you? The + Methodists can seldom lay much hold on THEM.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir, there's a pretty lot o' workmen round about, sir. There's + Mester Burge as owns the timber-yard over there, he underteks a good bit + o' building an' repairs. An' there's the stone-pits not far off. There's + plenty of emply i' this countryside, sir. An' there's a fine batch o' + Methodisses at Treddles'on—that's the market town about three mile + off—you'll maybe ha' come through it, sir. There's pretty nigh a + score of 'em on the Green now, as come from there. That's where our people + gets it from, though there's only two men of 'em in all Hayslope: that's + Will Maskery, the wheelwright, and Seth Bede, a young man as works at the + carpenterin'.” + </p> + <p> + “The preacher comes from Treddleston, then, does she?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, sir, she comes out o' Stonyshire, pretty nigh thirty mile off. But + she's a-visitin' hereabout at Mester Poyser's at the Hall Farm—it's + them barns an' big walnut-trees, right away to the left, sir. She's own + niece to Poyser's wife, an' they'll be fine an' vexed at her for making a + fool of herself i' that way. But I've heared as there's no holding these + Methodisses when the maggit's once got i' their head: many of 'em goes + stark starin' mad wi' their religion. Though this young woman's quiet + enough to look at, by what I can make out; I've not seen her myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I wish I had time to wait and see her, but I must get on. I've been + out of my way for the last twenty minutes to have a look at that place in + the valley. It's Squire Donnithorne's, I suppose?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir, that's Donnithorne Chase, that is. Fine hoaks there, isn't + there, sir? I should know what it is, sir, for I've lived butler there + a-going i' fifteen year. It's Captain Donnithorne as is th' heir, sir—Squire + Donnithorne's grandson. He'll be comin' of hage this 'ay-'arvest, sir, an' + we shall hev fine doin's. He owns all the land about here, sir, Squire + Donnithorne does.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, it's a pretty spot, whoever may own it,” said the traveller, + mounting his horse; “and one meets some fine strapping fellows about too. + I met as fine a young fellow as ever I saw in my life, about half an hour + ago, before I came up the hill—a carpenter, a tall, broad-shouldered + fellow with black hair and black eyes, marching along like a soldier. We + want such fellows as he to lick the French.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, sir, that's Adam Bede, that is, I'll be bound—Thias Bede's son + everybody knows him hereabout. He's an uncommon clever stiddy fellow, an' + wonderful strong. Lord bless you, sir—if you'll hexcuse me for + saying so—he can walk forty mile a-day, an' lift a matter o' sixty + ston'. He's an uncommon favourite wi' the gentry, sir: Captain Donnithorne + and Parson Irwine meks a fine fuss wi' him. But he's a little lifted up + an' peppery-like.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, good evening to you, landlord; I must get on.” + </p> + <p> + “Your servant, sir; good evenin'.” + </p> + <p> + The traveller put his horse into a quick walk up the village, but when he + approached the Green, the beauty of the view that lay on his right hand, + the singular contrast presented by the groups of villagers with the knot + of Methodists near the maple, and perhaps yet more, curiosity to see the + young female preacher, proved too much for his anxiety to get to the end + of his journey, and he paused. + </p> + <p> + The Green lay at the extremity of the village, and from it the road + branched off in two directions, one leading farther up the hill by the + church, and the other winding gently down towards the valley. On the side + of the Green that led towards the church, the broken line of thatched + cottages was continued nearly to the churchyard gate; but on the opposite + northwestern side, there was nothing to obstruct the view of gently + swelling meadow, and wooded valley, and dark masses of distant hill. That + rich undulating district of Loamshire to which Hayslope belonged lies + close to a grim outskirt of Stonyshire, overlooked by its barren hills as + a pretty blooming sister may sometimes be seen linked in the arm of a + rugged, tall, swarthy brother; and in two or three hours' ride the + traveller might exchange a bleak treeless region, intersected by lines of + cold grey stone, for one where his road wound under the shelter of woods, + or up swelling hills, muffled with hedgerows and long meadow-grass and + thick corn; and where at every turn he came upon some fine old + country-seat nestled in the valley or crowning the slope, some homestead + with its long length of barn and its cluster of golden ricks, some grey + steeple looking out from a pretty confusion of trees and thatch and + dark-red tiles. It was just such a picture as this last that Hayslope + Church had made to the traveller as he began to mount the gentle slope + leading to its pleasant uplands, and now from his station near the Green + he had before him in one view nearly all the other typical features of + this pleasant land. High up against the horizon were the huge conical + masses of hill, like giant mounds intended to fortify this region of corn + and grass against the keen and hungry winds of the north; not distant + enough to be clothed in purple mystery, but with sombre greenish sides + visibly specked with sheep, whose motion was only revealed by memory, not + detected by sight; wooed from day to day by the changing hours, but + responding with no change in themselves—left for ever grim and + sullen after the flush of morning, the winged gleams of the April noonday, + the parting crimson glory of the ripening summer sun. And directly below + them the eye rested on a more advanced line of hanging woods, divided by + bright patches of pasture or furrowed crops, and not yet deepened into the + uniform leafy curtains of high summer, but still showing the warm tints of + the young oak and the tender green of the ash and lime. Then came the + valley, where the woods grew thicker, as if they had rolled down and + hurried together from the patches left smooth on the slope, that they + might take the better care of the tall mansion which lifted its parapets + and sent its faint blue summer smoke among them. Doubtless there was a + large sweep of park and a broad glassy pool in front of that mansion, but + the swelling slope of meadow would not let our traveller see them from the + village green. He saw instead a foreground which was just as lovely—the + level sunlight lying like transparent gold among the gently curving stems + of the feathered grass and the tall red sorrel, and the white ambels of + the hemlocks lining the bushy hedgerows. It was that moment in summer when + the sound of the scythe being whetted makes us cast more lingering looks + at the flower-sprinkled tresses of the meadows. + </p> + <p> + He might have seen other beauties in the landscape if he had turned a + little in his saddle and looked eastward, beyond Jonathan Burge's pasture + and woodyard towards the green corn-fields and walnut-trees of the Hall + Farm; but apparently there was more interest for him in the living groups + close at hand. Every generation in the village was there, from old + “Feyther Taft” in his brown worsted night-cap, who was bent nearly double, + but seemed tough enough to keep on his legs a long while, leaning on his + short stick, down to the babies with their little round heads lolling + forward in quilted linen caps. Now and then there was a new arrival; + perhaps a slouching labourer, who, having eaten his supper, came out to + look at the unusual scene with a slow bovine gaze, willing to hear what + any one had to say in explanation of it, but by no means excited enough to + ask a question. But all took care not to join the Methodists on the Green, + and identify themselves in that way with the expectant audience, for there + was not one of them that would not have disclaimed the imputation of + having come out to hear the “preacher woman”—they had only come out + to see “what war a-goin' on, like.” The men were chiefly gathered in the + neighbourhood of the blacksmith's shop. But do not imagine them gathered + in a knot. Villagers never swarm: a whisper is unknown among them, and + they seem almost as incapable of an undertone as a cow or a stag. Your + true rustic turns his back on his interlocutor, throwing a question over + his shoulder as if he meant to run away from the answer, and walking a + step or two farther off when the interest of the dialogue culminates. So + the group in the vicinity of the blacksmith's door was by no means a close + one, and formed no screen in front of Chad Cranage, the blacksmith + himself, who stood with his black brawny arms folded, leaning against the + door-post, and occasionally sending forth a bellowing laugh at his own + jokes, giving them a marked preference over the sarcasms of Wiry Ben, who + had renounced the pleasures of the Holly Bush for the sake of seeing life + under a new form. But both styles of wit were treated with equal contempt + by Mr. Joshua Rann. Mr. Rann's leathern apron and subdued griminess can + leave no one in any doubt that he is the village shoemaker; the thrusting + out of his chin and stomach and the twirling of his thumbs are more subtle + indications, intended to prepare unwary strangers for the discovery that + they are in the presence of the parish clerk. “Old Joshway,” as he is + irreverently called by his neighbours, is in a state of simmering + indignation; but he has not yet opened his lips except to say, in a + resounding bass undertone, like the tuning of a violoncello, “Sehon, King + of the Amorites; for His mercy endureth for ever; and Og the King of + Basan: for His mercy endureth for ever”—a quotation which may seem + to have slight bearing on the present occasion, but, as with every other + anomaly, adequate knowledge will show it to be a natural sequence. Mr. + Rann was inwardly maintaining the dignity of the Church in the face of + this scandalous irruption of Methodism, and as that dignity was bound up + with his own sonorous utterance of the responses, his argument naturally + suggested a quotation from the psalm he had read the last Sunday + afternoon. + </p> + <p> + The stronger curiosity of the women had drawn them quite to the edge of + the Green, where they could examine more closely the Quakerlike costume + and odd deportment of the female Methodists. Underneath the maple there + was a small cart, which had been brought from the wheelwright's to serve + as a pulpit, and round this a couple of benches and a few chairs had been + placed. Some of the Methodists were resting on these, with their eyes + closed, as if wrapt in prayer or meditation. Others chose to continue + standing, and had turned their faces towards the villagers with a look of + melancholy compassion, which was highly amusing to Bessy Cranage, the + blacksmith's buxom daughter, known to her neighbours as Chad's Bess, who + wondered “why the folks war amakin' faces a that'ns.” Chad's Bess was the + object of peculiar compassion, because her hair, being turned back under a + cap which was set at the top of her head, exposed to view an ornament of + which she was much prouder than of her red cheeks—namely, a pair of + large round ear-rings with false garnets in them, ornaments condemned not + only by the Methodists, but by her own cousin and namesake Timothy's Bess, + who, with much cousinly feeling, often wished “them ear-rings” might come + to good. + </p> + <p> + Timothy's Bess, though retaining her maiden appellation among her + familiars, had long been the wife of Sandy Jim, and possessed a handsome + set of matronly jewels, of which it is enough to mention the heavy baby + she was rocking in her arms, and the sturdy fellow of five in + knee-breeches, and red legs, who had a rusty milk-can round his neck by + way of drum, and was very carefully avoided by Chad's small terrier. This + young olive-branch, notorious under the name of Timothy's Bess's Ben, + being of an inquiring disposition, unchecked by any false modesty, had + advanced beyond the group of women and children, and was walking round the + Methodists, looking up in their faces with his mouth wide open, and + beating his stick against the milk-can by way of musical accompaniment. + But one of the elderly women bending down to take him by the shoulder, + with an air of grave remonstrance, Timothy's Bess's Ben first kicked out + vigorously, then took to his heels and sought refuge behind his father's + legs. + </p> + <p> + “Ye gallows young dog,” said Sandy Jim, with some paternal pride, “if ye + donna keep that stick quiet, I'll tek it from ye. What dy'e mane by + kickin' foulks?” + </p> + <p> + “Here! Gie him here to me, Jim,” said Chad Cranage; “I'll tie hirs up an' + shoe him as I do th' hosses. Well, Mester Casson,” he continued, as that + personage sauntered up towards the group of men, “how are ye t' naight? + Are ye coom t' help groon? They say folks allays groon when they're + hearkenin' to th' Methodys, as if they war bad i' th' inside. I mane to + groon as loud as your cow did th' other naight, an' then the praicher 'ull + think I'm i' th' raight way.” + </p> + <p> + “I'd advise you not to be up to no nonsense, Chad,” said Mr. Casson, with + some dignity; “Poyser wouldn't like to hear as his wife's niece was + treated any ways disrespectful, for all he mayn't be fond of her taking on + herself to preach.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, an' she's a pleasant-looked un too,” said Wiry Ben. “I'll stick up + for the pretty women preachin'; I know they'd persuade me over a deal + sooner nor th' ugly men. I shouldna wonder if I turn Methody afore the + night's out, an' begin to coort the preacher, like Seth Bede.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Seth's looking rether too high, I should think,” said Mr. Casson. + “This woman's kin wouldn't like her to demean herself to a common + carpenter.” + </p> + <p> + “Tchu!” said Ben, with a long treble intonation, “what's folks's kin got + to do wi't? Not a chip. Poyser's wife may turn her nose up an' forget + bygones, but this Dinah Morris, they tell me, 's as poor as iver she was—works + at a mill, an's much ado to keep hersen. A strappin' young carpenter as is + a ready-made Methody, like Seth, wouldna be a bad match for her. Why, + Poysers make as big a fuss wi' Adam Bede as if he war a nevvy o' their + own.” + </p> + <p> + “Idle talk! idle talk!” said Mr. Joshua Rann. “Adam an' Seth's two men; + you wunna fit them two wi' the same last.” + </p> + <p> + “Maybe,” said Wiry Ben, contemptuously, “but Seth's the lad for me, though + he war a Methody twice o'er. I'm fair beat wi' Seth, for I've been teasin' + him iver sin' we've been workin' together, an' he bears me no more malice + nor a lamb. An' he's a stout-hearted feller too, for when we saw the old + tree all afire a-comin' across the fields one night, an' we thought as it + war a boguy, Seth made no more ado, but he up to't as bold as a constable. + Why, there he comes out o' Will Maskery's; an' there's Will hisself, + lookin' as meek as if he couldna knock a nail o' the head for fear o' + hurtin't. An' there's the pretty preacher woman! My eye, she's got her + bonnet off. I mun go a bit nearer.” + </p> + <p> + Several of the men followed Ben's lead, and the traveller pushed his horse + on to the Green, as Dinah walked rather quickly and in advance of her + companions towards the cart under the maple-tree. While she was near + Seth's tall figure, she looked short, but when she had mounted the cart, + and was away from all comparison, she seemed above the middle height of + woman, though in reality she did not exceed it—an effect which was + due to the slimness of her figure and the simple line of her black stuff + dress. The stranger was struck with surprise as he saw her approach and + mount the cart—surprise, not so much at the feminine delicacy of her + appearance, as at the total absence of self-consciousness in her + demeanour. He had made up his mind to see her advance with a measured step + and a demure solemnity of countenance; he had felt sure that her face + would be mantled with the smile of conscious saintship, or else charged + with denunciatory bitterness. He knew but two types of Methodist—the + ecstatic and the bilious. But Dinah walked as simply as if she were going + to market, and seemed as unconscious of her outward appearance as a little + boy: there was no blush, no tremulousness, which said, “I know you think + me a pretty woman, too young to preach”; no casting up or down of the + eyelids, no compression of the lips, no attitude of the arms that said, + “But you must think of me as a saint.” She held no book in her ungloved + hands, but let them hang down lightly crossed before her, as she stood and + turned her grey eyes on the people. There was no keenness in the eyes; + they seemed rather to be shedding love than making observations; they had + the liquid look which tells that the mind is full of what it has to give + out, rather than impressed by external objects. She stood with her left + hand towards the descending sun, and leafy boughs screened her from its + rays; but in this sober light the delicate colouring of her face seemed to + gather a calm vividness, like flowers at evening. It was a small oval + face, of a uniform transparent whiteness, with an egg-like line of cheek + and chin, a full but firm mouth, a delicate nostril, and a low + perpendicular brow, surmounted by a rising arch of parting between smooth + locks of pale reddish hair. The hair was drawn straight back behind the + ears, and covered, except for an inch or two above the brow, by a net + Quaker cap. The eyebrows, of the same colour as the hair, were perfectly + horizontal and firmly pencilled; the eyelashes, though no darker, were + long and abundant—nothing was left blurred or unfinished. It was one + of those faces that make one think of white flowers with light touches of + colour on their pure petals. The eyes had no peculiar beauty, beyond that + of expression; they looked so simple, so candid, so gravely loving, that + no accusing scowl, no light sneer could help melting away before their + glance. Joshua Rann gave a long cough, as if he were clearing his throat + in order to come to a new understanding with himself; Chad Cranage lifted + up his leather skull-cap and scratched his head; and Wiry Ben wondered how + Seth had the pluck to think of courting her. + </p> + <p> + “A sweet woman,” the stranger said to himself, “but surely nature never + meant her for a preacher.” + </p> + <p> + Perhaps he was one of those who think that nature has theatrical + properties and, with the considerate view of facilitating art and + psychology, “makes up,” her characters, so that there may be no mistake + about them. But Dinah began to speak. + </p> + <p> + “Dear friends,” she said in a clear but not loud voice “let us pray for a + blessing.” + </p> + <p> + She closed her eyes, and hanging her head down a little continued in the + same moderate tone, as if speaking to some one quite near her: “Saviour of + sinners! When a poor woman laden with sins, went out to the well to draw + water, she found Thee sitting at the well. She knew Thee not; she had not + sought Thee; her mind was dark; her life was unholy. But Thou didst speak + to her, Thou didst teach her, Thou didst show her that her life lay open + before Thee, and yet Thou wast ready to give her that blessing which she + had never sought. Jesus, Thou art in the midst of us, and Thou knowest all + men: if there is any here like that poor woman—if their minds are + dark, their lives unholy—if they have come out not seeking Thee, not + desiring to be taught; deal with them according to the free mercy which + Thou didst show to her. Speak to them, Lord, open their ears to my message, + bring their sins to their minds, and make them thirst for that salvation + which Thou art ready to give. + </p> + <p> + “Lord, Thou art with Thy people still: they see Thee in the night-watches, + and their hearts burn within them as Thou talkest with them by the way. + And Thou art near to those who have not known Thee: open their eyes that + they may see Thee—see Thee weeping over them, and saying 'Ye will + not come unto me that ye might have life'—see Thee hanging on the + cross and saying, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do'—see + Thee as Thou wilt come again in Thy glory to judge them at the last. + Amen.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah opened her eyes again and paused, looking at the group of villagers, + who were now gathered rather more closely on her right hand. + </p> + <p> + “Dear friends,” she began, raising her voice a little, “you have all of + you been to church, and I think you must have heard the clergyman read + these words: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed + me to preach the gospel to the poor.' Jesus Christ spoke those words—he + said he came TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. I don't know whether you + ever thought about those words much, but I will tell you when I remember + first hearing them. It was on just such a sort of evening as this, when I + was a little girl, and my aunt as brought me up took me to hear a good man + preach out of doors, just as we are here. I remember his face well: he was + a very old man, and had very long white hair; his voice was very soft and + beautiful, not like any voice I had ever heard before. I was a little girl + and scarcely knew anything, and this old man seemed to me such a different + sort of a man from anybody I had ever seen before that I thought he had + perhaps come down from the sky to preach to us, and I said, 'Aunt, will he + go back to the sky to-night, like the picture in the Bible?' + </p> + <p> + “That man of God was Mr. Wesley, who spent his life in doing what our + blessed Lord did—preaching the Gospel to the poor—and he + entered into his rest eight years ago. I came to know more about him years + after, but I was a foolish thoughtless child then, and I remembered only + one thing he told us in his sermon. He told us as 'Gospel' meant 'good + news.' The Gospel, you know, is what the Bible tells us about God. + </p> + <p> + “Think of that now! Jesus Christ did really come down from heaven, as I, + like a silly child, thought Mr. Wesley did; and what he came down for was + to tell good news about God to the poor. Why, you and me, dear friends, + are poor. We have been brought up in poor cottages and have been reared on + oat-cake, and lived coarse; and we haven't been to school much, nor read + books, and we don't know much about anything but what happens just round + us. We are just the sort of people that want to hear good news. For when + anybody's well off, they don't much mind about hearing news from distant + parts; but if a poor man or woman's in trouble and has hard work to make + out a living, they like to have a letter to tell 'em they've got a friend + as will help 'em. To be sure, we can't help knowing something about God, + even if we've never heard the Gospel, the good news that our Saviour + brought us. For we know everything comes from God: don't you say almost + every day, 'This and that will happen, please God,' and 'We shall begin to + cut the grass soon, please God to send us a little more sunshine'? We know + very well we are altogether in the hands of God. We didn't bring ourselves + into the world, we can't keep ourselves alive while we're sleeping; the + daylight, and the wind, and the corn, and the cows to give us milk—everything + we have comes from God. And he gave us our souls and put love between + parents and children, and husband and wife. But is that as much as we want + to know about God? We see he is great and mighty, and can do what he will: + we are lost, as if we was struggling in great waters, when we try to think + of him. + </p> + <p> + “But perhaps doubts come into your mind like this: Can God take much + notice of us poor people? Perhaps he only made the world for the great and + the wise and the rich. It doesn't cost him much to give us our little + handful of victual and bit of clothing; but how do we know he cares for us + any more than we care for the worms and things in the garden, so as we + rear our carrots and onions? Will God take care of us when we die? And has + he any comfort for us when we are lame and sick and helpless? Perhaps, + too, he is angry with us; else why does the blight come, and the bad + harvests, and the fever, and all sorts of pain and trouble? For our life + is full of trouble, and if God sends us good, he seems to send bad too. + How is it? How is it? + </p> + <p> + “Ah, dear friends, we are in sad want of good news about God; and what + does other good news signify if we haven't that? For everything else comes + to an end, and when we die we leave it all. But God lasts when everything + else is gone. What shall we do if he is not our friend?” + </p> + <p> + Then Dinah told how the good news had been brought, and how the mind of + God towards the poor had been made manifest in the life of Jesus, dwelling + on its lowliness and its acts of mercy. + </p> + <p> + “So you see, dear friends,” she went on, “Jesus spent his time almost all + in doing good to poor people; he preached out of doors to them, and he + made friends of poor workmen, and taught them and took pains with them. + Not but what he did good to the rich too, for he was full of love to all + men, only he saw as the poor were more in want of his help. So he cured + the lame and the sick and the blind, and he worked miracles to feed the + hungry because, he said, he was sorry for them; and he was very kind to + the little children and comforted those who had lost their friends; and he + spoke very tenderly to poor sinners that were sorry for their sins. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, wouldn't you love such a man if you saw him—if he were here in + this village? What a kind heart he must have! What a friend he would be to + go to in trouble! How pleasant it must be to be taught by him. + </p> + <p> + “Well, dear friends, who WAS this man? Was he only a good man—a very + good man, and no more—like our dear Mr. Wesley, who has been taken + from us?...He was the Son of God—'in the image of the Father,' the + Bible says; that means, just like God, who is the beginning and end of all + things—the God we want to know about. So then, all the love that + Jesus showed to the poor is the same love that God has for us. We can + understand what Jesus felt, because he came in a body like ours and spoke + words such as we speak to each other. We were afraid to think what God was + before—the God who made the world and the sky and the thunder and + lightning. We could never see him; we could only see the things he had + made; and some of these things was very terrible, so as we might well + tremble when we thought of him. But our blessed Saviour has showed us what + God is in a way us poor ignorant people can understand; he has showed us + what God's heart is, what are his feelings towards us. + </p> + <p> + “But let us see a little more about what Jesus came on earth for. Another + time he said, 'I came to seek and to save that which was lost'; and + another time, 'I came not to call the righteous but sinners to + repentance.' + </p> + <p> + “The LOST!...SINNERS!...Ah, dear friends, does that mean you and me?” + </p> + <p> + Hitherto the traveller had been chained to the spot against his will by + the charm of Dinah's mellow treble tones, which had a variety of + modulation like that of a fine instrument touched with the unconscious + skill of musical instinct. The simple things she said seemed like + novelties, as a melody strikes us with a new feeling when we hear it sung + by the pure voice of a boyish chorister; the quiet depth of conviction + with which she spoke seemed in itself an evidence for the truth of her + message. He saw that she had thoroughly arrested her hearers. The + villagers had pressed nearer to her, and there was no longer anything but + grave attention on all faces. She spoke slowly, though quite fluently, + often pausing after a question, or before any transition of ideas. There + was no change of attitude, no gesture; the effect of her speech was + produced entirely by the inflections of her voice, and when she came to + the question, “Will God take care of us when we die?” she uttered it in + such a tone of plaintive appeal that the tears came into some of the + hardest eyes. The stranger had ceased to doubt, as he had done at the + first glance, that she could fix the attention of her rougher hearers, but + still he wondered whether she could have that power of rousing their more + violent emotions, which must surely be a necessary seal of her vocation as + a Methodist preacher, until she came to the words, “Lost!—Sinners!” + when there was a great change in her voice and manner. She had made a long + pause before the exclamation, and the pause seemed to be filled by + agitating thoughts that showed themselves in her features. Her pale face + became paler; the circles under her eyes deepened, as they did when tears + half-gather without falling; and the mild loving eyes took an expression + of appalled pity, as if she had suddenly discerned a destroying angel + hovering over the heads of the people. Her voice became deep and muffled, + but there was still no gesture. Nothing could be less like the ordinary + type of the Ranter than Dinah. She was not preaching as she heard others + preach, but speaking directly from her own emotions and under the + inspiration of her own simple faith. + </p> + <p> + But now she had entered into a new current of feeling. Her manner became + less calm, her utterance more rapid and agitated, as she tried to bring + home to the people their guilt, their wilful darkness, their state of + disobedience to God—as she dwelt on the hatefulness of sin, the + Divine holiness, and the sufferings of the Saviour, by which a way had + been opened for their salvation. At last it seemed as if, in her yearning + desire to reclaim the lost sheep, she could not be satisfied by addressing + her hearers as a body. She appealed first to one and then to another, + beseeching them with tears to turn to God while there was yet time; + painting to them the desolation of their souls, lost in sin, feeding on + the husks of this miserable world, far away from God their Father; and + then the love of the Saviour, who was waiting and watching for their + return. + </p> + <p> + There was many a responsive sigh and groan from her fellow-Methodists, but + the village mind does not easily take fire, and a little smouldering vague + anxiety that might easily die out again was the utmost effect Dinah's + preaching had wrought in them at present. Yet no one had retired, except + the children and “old Feyther Taft,” who being too deaf to catch many + words, had some time ago gone back to his inglenook. Wiry Ben was feeling + very uncomfortable, and almost wishing he had not come to hear Dinah; he + thought what she said would haunt him somehow. Yet he couldn't help liking + to look at her and listen to her, though he dreaded every moment that she + would fix her eyes on him and address him in particular. She had already + addressed Sandy Jim, who was now holding the baby to relieve his wife, and + the big soft-hearted man had rubbed away some tears with his fist, with a + confused intention of being a better fellow, going less to the Holly Bush + down by the Stone-pits, and cleaning himself more regularly of a Sunday. + </p> + <p> + In front of Sandy Jim stood Chad's Bess, who had shown an unwonted + quietude and fixity of attention ever since Dinah had begun to speak. Not + that the matter of the discourse had arrested her at once, for she was + lost in a puzzling speculation as to what pleasure and satisfaction there + could be in life to a young woman who wore a cap like Dinah's. Giving up + this inquiry in despair, she took to studying Dinah's nose, eyes, mouth, + and hair, and wondering whether it was better to have such a sort of pale + face as that, or fat red cheeks and round black eyes like her own. But + gradually the influence of the general gravity told upon her, and she + became conscious of what Dinah was saying. The gentle tones, the loving + persuasion, did not touch her, but when the more severe appeals came she + began to be frightened. Poor Bessy had always been considered a naughty + girl; she was conscious of it; if it was necessary to be very good, it was + clear she must be in a bad way. She couldn't find her places at church as + Sally Rann could, she had often been tittering when she “curcheyed” to Mr. + Irwine; and these religious deficiencies were accompanied by a + corresponding slackness in the minor morals, for Bessy belonged + unquestionably to that unsoaped lazy class of feminine characters with + whom you may venture to “eat an egg, an apple, or a nut.” All this she was + generally conscious of, and hitherto had not been greatly ashamed of it. + But now she began to feel very much as if the constable had come to take + her up and carry her before the justice for some undefined offence. She + had a terrified sense that God, whom she had always thought of as very far + off, was very near to her, and that Jesus was close by looking at her, + though she could not see him. For Dinah had that belief in visible + manifestations of Jesus, which is common among the Methodists, and she + communicated it irresistibly to her hearers: she made them feel that he + was among them bodily, and might at any moment show himself to them in + some way that would strike anguish and penitence into their hearts. + </p> + <p> + “See!” she exclaimed, turning to the left, with her eyes fixed on a point + above the heads of the people. “See where our blessed Lord stands and + weeps and stretches out his arms towards you. Hear what he says: 'How + often would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her + wings, and ye would not!'...and ye would not,” she repeated, in a tone of + pleading reproach, turning her eyes on the people again. “See the print of + the nails on his dear hands and feet. It is your sins that made them! Ah! + How pale and worn he looks! He has gone through all that great agony in + the garden, when his soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death, and the + great drops of sweat fell like blood to the ground. They spat upon him and + buffeted him, they scourged him, they mocked him, they laid the heavy + cross on his bruised shoulders. Then they nailed him up. Ah, what pain! + His lips are parched with thirst, and they mock him still in this great + agony; yet with those parched lips he prays for them, 'Father, forgive + them, for they know not what they do.' Then a horror of great darkness + fell upon him, and he felt what sinners feel when they are for ever shut + out from God. That was the last drop in the cup of bitterness. 'My God, my + God!' he cries, 'why hast Thou forsaken me?' + </p> + <p> + “All this he bore for you! For you—and you never think of him; for + you—and you turn your backs on him; you don't care what he has gone + through for you. Yet he is not weary of toiling for you: he has risen from + the dead, he is praying for you at the right hand of God—'Father, + forgive them, for they know not what they do.' And he is upon this earth + too; he is among us; he is there close to you now; I see his wounded body + and his look of love.” + </p> + <p> + Here Dinah turned to Bessy Cranage, whose bonny youth and evident vanity + had touched her with pity. + </p> + <p> + “Poor child! Poor child! He is beseeching you, and you don't listen to + him. You think of ear-rings and fine gowns and caps, and you never think + of the Saviour who died to save your precious soul. Your cheeks will be + shrivelled one day, your hair will be grey, your poor body will be thin + and tottering! Then you will begin to feel that your soul is not saved; + then you will have to stand before God dressed in your sins, in your evil + tempers and vain thoughts. And Jesus, who stands ready to help you now, + won't help you then; because you won't have him to be your Saviour, he + will be your judge. Now he looks at you with love and mercy and says, + 'Come to me that you may have life'; then he will turn away from you, and + say, 'Depart from me into ever-lasting fire!'” + </p> + <p> + Poor Bessy's wide-open black eyes began to fill with tears, her great red + cheeks and lips became quite pale, and her face was distorted like a + little child's before a burst of crying. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, poor blind child!” Dinah went on, “think if it should happen to you + as it once happened to a servant of God in the days of her vanity. SHE + thought of her lace caps and saved all her money to buy 'em; she thought + nothing about how she might get a clean heart and a right spirit—she + only wanted to have better lace than other girls. And one day when she put + her new cap on and looked in the glass, she saw a bleeding Face crowned + with thorns. That face is looking at you now”—here Dinah pointed to + a spot close in front of Bessy—“Ah, tear off those follies! Cast + them away from you, as if they were stinging adders. They ARE stinging you—they + are poisoning your soul—they are dragging you down into a dark + bottomless pit, where you will sink for ever, and for ever, and for ever, + further away from light and God.” + </p> + <p> + Bessy could bear it no longer: a great terror was upon her, and wrenching + her ear-rings from her ears, she threw them down before her, sobbing + aloud. Her father, Chad, frightened lest he should be “laid hold on” too, + this impression on the rebellious Bess striking him as nothing less than a + miracle, walked hastily away and began to work at his anvil by way of + reassuring himself. “Folks mun ha' hoss-shoes, praichin' or no praichin': + the divil canna lay hould o' me for that,” he muttered to himself. + </p> + <p> + But now Dinah began to tell of the joys that were in store for the + penitent, and to describe in her simple way the divine peace and love with + which the soul of the believer is filled—how the sense of God's love + turns poverty into riches and satisfies the soul so that no uneasy desire + vexes it, no fear alarms it: how, at last, the very temptation to sin is + extinguished, and heaven is begun upon earth, because no cloud passes + between the soul and God, who is its eternal sun. + </p> + <p> + “Dear friends,” she said at last, “brothers and sisters, whom I love as + those for whom my Lord has died, believe me, I know what this great + blessedness is; and because I know it, I want you to have it too. I am + poor, like you: I have to get my living with my hands; but no lord nor + lady can be so happy as me, if they haven't got the love of God in their + souls. Think what it is—not to hate anything but sin; to be full of + love to every creature; to be frightened at nothing; to be sure that all + things will turn to good; not to mind pain, because it is our Father's + will; to know that nothing—no, not if the earth was to be burnt up, + or the waters come and drown us—nothing could part us from God who + loves us, and who fills our souls with peace and joy, because we are sure + that whatever he wills is holy, just, and good. + </p> + <p> + “Dear friends, come and take this blessedness; it is offered to you; it is + the good news that Jesus came to preach to the poor. It is not like the + riches of this world, so that the more one gets the less the rest can + have. God is without end; his love is without end—” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Its streams the whole creation reach, + So plenteous is the store; + Enough for all, enough for each, + Enough for evermore. +</pre> + <p> + Dinah had been speaking at least an hour, and the reddening light of the + parting day seemed to give a solemn emphasis to her closing words. The + stranger, who had been interested in the course of her sermon as if it had + been the development of a drama—for there is this sort of + fascination in all sincere unpremeditated eloquence, which opens to one + the inward drama of the speaker's emotions—now turned his horse + aside and pursued his way, while Dinah said, “Let us sing a little, dear + friends”; and as he was still winding down the slope, the voices of the + Methodists reached him, rising and falling in that strange blending of + exultation and sadness which belongs to the cadence of a hymn. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter III + </h2> + <h3> + After the Preaching + </h3> + <p> + IN less than an hour from that time, Seth Bede was walking by Dinah's side + along the hedgerow-path that skirted the pastures and green corn-fields + which lay between the village and the Hall Farm. Dinah had taken off her + little Quaker bonnet again, and was holding it in her hands that she might + have a freer enjoyment of the cool evening twilight, and Seth could see + the expression of her face quite clearly as he walked by her side, timidly + revolving something he wanted to say to her. It was an expression of + unconscious placid gravity—of absorption in thoughts that had no + connection with the present moment or with her own personality—an + expression that is most of all discouraging to a lover. Her very walk was + discouraging: it had that quiet elasticity that asks for no support. Seth + felt this dimly; he said to himself, “She's too good and holy for any man, + let alone me,” and the words he had been summoning rushed back again + before they had reached his lips. But another thought gave him courage: + “There's no man could love her better and leave her freer to follow the + Lord's work.” They had been silent for many minutes now, since they had + done talking about Bessy Cranage; Dinah seemed almost to have forgotten + Seth's presence, and her pace was becoming so much quicker that the sense + of their being only a few minutes' walk from the yard-gates of the Hall + Farm at last gave Seth courage to speak. + </p> + <p> + “You've quite made up your mind to go back to Snowfield o' Saturday, + Dinah?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Dinah, quietly. “I'm called there. It was borne in upon my + mind while I was meditating on Sunday night, as Sister Allen, who's in a + decline, is in need of me. I saw her as plain as we see that bit of thin + white cloud, lifting up her poor thin hand and beckoning to me. And this + morning when I opened the Bible for direction, the first words my eyes + fell on were, 'And after we had seen the vision, immediately we + endeavoured to go into Macedonia.' If it wasn't for that clear showing of + the Lord's will, I should be loath to go, for my heart yearns over my aunt + and her little ones, and that poor wandering lamb Hetty Sorrel. I've been + much drawn out in prayer for her of late, and I look on it as a token that + there may be mercy in store for her.” + </p> + <p> + “God grant it,” said Seth. “For I doubt Adam's heart is so set on her, + he'll never turn to anybody else; and yet it 'ud go to my heart if he was + to marry her, for I canna think as she'd make him happy. It's a deep + mystery—the way the heart of man turns to one woman out of all the + rest he's seen i' the world, and makes it easier for him to work seven + year for HER, like Jacob did for Rachel, sooner than have any other woman + for th' asking. I often think of them words, 'And Jacob served seven years + for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days for the love he had to + her.' I know those words 'ud come true with me, Dinah, if so be you'd give + me hope as I might win you after seven years was over. I know you think a + husband 'ud be taking up too much o' your thoughts, because St. Paul says, + 'She that's married careth for the things of the world how she may please + her husband'; and may happen you'll think me overbold to speak to you + about it again, after what you told me o' your mind last Saturday. But + I've been thinking it over again by night and by day, and I've prayed not + to be blinded by my own desires, to think what's only good for me must be + good for you too. And it seems to me there's more texts for your marrying + than ever you can find against it. For St. Paul says as plain as can be in + another place, 'I will that the younger women marry, bear children, guide + the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully'; + and then 'two are better than one'; and that holds good with marriage as + well as with other things. For we should be o' one heart and o' one mind, + Dinah. We both serve the same Master, and are striving after the same + gifts; and I'd never be the husband to make a claim on you as could + interfere with your doing the work God has fitted you for. I'd make a + shift, and fend indoor and out, to give you more liberty—more than + you can have now, for you've got to get your own living now, and I'm + strong enough to work for us both.” + </p> + <p> + When Seth had once begun to urge his suit, he went on earnestly and almost + hurriedly, lest Dinah should speak some decisive word before he had poured + forth all the arguments he had prepared. His cheeks became flushed as he + went on his mild grey eyes filled with tears, and his voice trembled as he + spoke the last sentence. They had reached one of those very narrow passes + between two tall stones, which performed the office of a stile in + Loamshire, and Dinah paused as she turned towards Seth and said, in her + tender but calm treble notes, “Seth Bede, I thank you for your love + towards me, and if I could think of any man as more than a Christian + brother, I think it would be you. But my heart is not free to marry. That + is good for other women, and it is a great and a blessed thing to be a + wife and mother; but 'as God has distributed to every man, as the Lord + hath called every man, so let him walk.' God has called me to minister to + others, not to have any joys or sorrows of my own, but to rejoice with + them that do rejoice, and to weep with those that weep. He has called me + to speak his word, and he has greatly owned my work. It could only be on a + very clear showing that I could leave the brethren and sisters at + Snowfield, who are favoured with very little of this world's good; where + the trees are few, so that a child might count them, and there's very hard + living for the poor in the winter. It has been given me to help, to + comfort, and strengthen the little flock there and to call in many + wanderers; and my soul is filled with these things from my rising up till + my lying down. My life is too short, and God's work is too great for me to + think of making a home for myself in this world. I've not turned a deaf + ear to your words, Seth, for when I saw as your love was given to me, I + thought it might be a leading of Providence for me to change my way of + life, and that we should be fellow-helpers; and I spread the matter before + the Lord. But whenever I tried to fix my mind on marriage, and our living + together, other thoughts always came in—the times when I've prayed + by the sick and dying, and the happy hours I've had preaching, when my + heart was filled with love, and the Word was given to me abundantly. And + when I've opened the Bible for direction, I've always lighted on some + clear word to tell me where my work lay. I believe what you say, Seth, + that you would try to be a help and not a hindrance to my work; but I see + that our marriage is not God's will—He draws my heart another way. I + desire to live and die without husband or children. I seem to have no room + in my soul for wants and fears of my own, it has pleased God to fill my + heart so full with the wants and sufferings of his poor people.” + </p> + <p> + Seth was unable to reply, and they walked on in silence. At last, as they + were nearly at the yard-gate, he said, “Well, Dinah, I must seek for + strength to bear it, and to endure as seeing Him who is invisible. But I + feel now how weak my faith is. It seems as if, when you are gone, I could + never joy in anything any more. I think it's something passing the love of + women as I feel for you, for I could be content without your marrying me + if I could go and live at Snowfield and be near you. I trusted as the + strong love God has given me towards you was a leading for us both; but it + seems it was only meant for my trial. Perhaps I feel more for you than I + ought to feel for any creature, for I often can't help saying of you what + the hymn says— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + In darkest shades if she appear, + My dawning is begun; + She is my soul's bright morning-star, + And she my rising sun. +</pre> + <p> + That may be wrong, and I am to be taught better. But you wouldn't be + displeased with me if things turned out so as I could leave this country + and go to live at Snowfield?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Seth; but I counsel you to wait patiently, and not lightly to leave + your own country and kindred. Do nothing without the Lord's clear bidding. + It's a bleak and barren country there, not like this land of Goshen you've + been used to. We mustn't be in a hurry to fix and choose our own lot; we + must wait to be guided.” + </p> + <p> + “But you'd let me write you a letter, Dinah, if there was anything I + wanted to tell you?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sure; let me know if you're in any trouble. You'll be continually in + my prayers.” + </p> + <p> + They had now reached the yard-gate, and Seth said, “I won't go in, Dinah, + so farewell.” He paused and hesitated after she had given him her hand, + and then said, “There's no knowing but what you may see things different + after a while. There may be a new leading.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us leave that, Seth. It's good to live only a moment at a time, as + I've read in one of Mr. Wesley's books. It isn't for you and me to lay + plans; we've nothing to do but to obey and to trust. Farewell.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah pressed his hand with rather a sad look in her loving eyes, and then + passed through the gate, while Seth turned away to walk lingeringly home. + But instead of taking the direct road, he chose to turn back along the + fields through which he and Dinah had already passed; and I think his blue + linen handkerchief was very wet with tears long before he had made up his + mind that it was time for him to set his face steadily homewards. He was + but three-and-twenty, and had only just learned what it is to love—to + love with that adoration which a young man gives to a woman whom he feels + to be greater and better than himself. Love of this sort is hardly + distinguishable from religious feeling. What deep and worthy love is so, + whether of woman or child, or art or music. Our caresses, our tender + words, our still rapture under the influence of autumn sunsets, or + pillared vistas, or calm majestic statues, or Beethoven symphonies all + bring with them the consciousness that they are mere waves and ripples in + an unfathomable ocean of love and beauty; our emotion in its keenest + moment passes from expression into silence, our love at its highest flood + rushes beyond its object and loses itself in the sense of divine mystery. + And this blessed gift of venerating love has been given to too many humble + craftsmen since the world began for us to feel any surprise that it should + have existed in the soul of a Methodist carpenter half a century ago, + while there was yet a lingering after-glow from the time when Wesley and + his fellow-labourer fed on the hips and haws of the Cornwall hedges, after + exhausting limbs and lungs in carrying a divine message to the poor. + </p> + <p> + That afterglow has long faded away; and the picture we are apt to make of + Methodism in our imagination is not an amphitheatre of green hills, or the + deep shade of broad-leaved sycamores, where a crowd of rough men and + weary-hearted women drank in a faith which was a rudimentary culture, + which linked their thoughts with the past, lifted their imagination above + the sordid details of their own narrow lives, and suffused their souls + with the sense of a pitying, loving, infinite Presence, sweet as summer to + the houseless needy. It is too possible that to some of my readers + Methodism may mean nothing more than low-pitched gables up dingy streets, + sleek grocers, sponging preachers, and hypocritical jargon—elements + which are regarded as an exhaustive analysis of Methodism in many + fashionable quarters. + </p> + <p> + That would be a pity; for I cannot pretend that Seth and Dinah were + anything else than Methodists—not indeed of that modern type which + reads quarterly reviews and attends in chapels with pillared porticoes, + but of a very old-fashioned kind. They believed in present miracles, in + instantaneous conversions, in revelations by dreams and visions; they drew + lots, and sought for Divine guidance by opening the Bible at hazard; + having a literal way of interpreting the Scriptures, which is not at all + sanctioned by approved commentators; and it is impossible for me to + represent their diction as correct, or their instruction as liberal. Still—if + I have read religious history aright—faith, hope, and charity have + not always been found in a direct ratio with a sensibility to the three + concords, and it is possible—thank Heaven!—to have very + erroneous theories and very sublime feelings. The raw bacon which clumsy + Molly spares from her own scanty store that she may carry it to her + neighbour's child to “stop the fits,” may be a piteously inefficacious + remedy; but the generous stirring of neighbourly kindness that prompted + the deed has a beneficent radiation that is not lost. + </p> + <p> + Considering these things, we can hardly think Dinah and Seth beneath our + sympathy, accustomed as we may be to weep over the loftier sorrows of + heroines in satin boots and crinoline, and of heroes riding fiery horses, + themselves ridden by still more fiery passions. + </p> + <p> + Poor Seth! He was never on horseback in his life except once, when he was + a little lad, and Mr. Jonathan Burge took him up behind, telling him to + “hold on tight”; and instead of bursting out into wild accusing + apostrophes to God and destiny, he is resolving, as he now walks homewards + under the solemn starlight, to repress his sadness, to be less bent on + having his own will, and to live more for others, as Dinah does. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IV + </h2> + <h3> + Home and Its Sorrows + </h3> + <p> + A GREEN valley with a brook running through it, full almost to overflowing + with the late rains, overhung by low stooping willows. Across this brook a + plank is thrown, and over this plank Adam Bede is passing with his + undoubting step, followed close by Gyp with the basket; evidently making + his way to the thatched house, with a stack of timber by the side of it, + about twenty yards up the opposite slope. + </p> + <p> + The door of the house is open, and an elderly woman is looking out; but + she is not placidly contemplating the evening sunshine; she has been + watching with dim eyes the gradually enlarging speck which for the last + few minutes she has been quite sure is her darling son Adam. Lisbeth Bede + loves her son with the love of a woman to whom her first-born has come + late in life. She is an anxious, spare, yet vigorous old woman, clean as a + snowdrop. Her grey hair is turned neatly back under a pure linen cap with + a black band round it; her broad chest is covered with a buff neckerchief, + and below this you see a sort of short bedgown made of blue-checkered + linen, tied round the waist and descending to the hips, from whence there + is a considerable length of linsey-woolsey petticoat. For Lisbeth is tall, + and in other points too there is a strong likeness between her and her son + Adam. Her dark eyes are somewhat dim now—perhaps from too much + crying—but her broadly marked eyebrows are still black, her teeth + are sound, and as she stands knitting rapidly and unconsciously with her + work-hardened hands, she has as firmly upright an attitude as when she is + carrying a pail of water on her head from the spring. There is the same + type of frame and the same keen activity of temperament in mother and son, + but it was not from her that Adam got his well-filled brow and his + expression of large-hearted intelligence. + </p> + <p> + Family likeness has often a deep sadness in it. Nature, that great tragic + dramatist, knits us together by bone and muscle, and divides us by the + subtler web of our brains; blends yearning and repulsion; and ties us by + our heart-strings to the beings that jar us at every movement. We hear a + voice with the very cadence of our own uttering the thoughts we despise; + we see eyes—ah, so like our mother's!—averted from us in cold + alienation; and our last darling child startles us with the air and + gestures of the sister we parted from in bitterness long years ago. The + father to whom we owe our best heritage—the mechanical instinct, the + keen sensibility to harmony, the unconscious skill of the modelling hand—galls + us and puts us to shame by his daily errors; the long-lost mother, whose + face we begin to see in the glass as our own wrinkles come, once fretted + our young souls with her anxious humours and irrational persistence. + </p> + <p> + It is such a fond anxious mother's voice that you hear, as Lisbeth says, + “Well, my lad, it's gone seven by th' clock. Thee't allays stay till the + last child's born. Thee wants thy supper, I'll warrand. Where's Seth? Gone + arter some o's chapellin', I reckon?” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye, Seth's at no harm, mother, thee mayst be sure. But where's + father?” said Adam quickly, as he entered the house and glanced into the + room on the left hand, which was used as a workshop. “Hasn't he done the + coffin for Tholer? There's the stuff standing just as I left it this + morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Done the coffin?” said Lisbeth, following him, and knitting + uninterruptedly, though she looked at her son very anxiously. “Eh, my lad, + he went aff to Treddles'on this forenoon, an's niver come back. I doubt + he's got to th' 'Waggin Overthrow' again.” + </p> + <p> + A deep flush of anger passed rapidly over Adam's face. He said nothing, + but threw off his jacket and began to roll up his shirt-sleeves again. + </p> + <p> + “What art goin' to do, Adam?” said the mother, with a tone and look of + alarm. “Thee wouldstna go to work again, wi'out ha'in thy bit o' supper?” + </p> + <p> + Adam, too angry to speak, walked into the workshop. But his mother threw + down her knitting, and, hurrying after him, took hold of his arm, and + said, in a tone of plaintive remonstrance, “Nay, my lad, my lad, thee + munna go wi'out thy supper; there's the taters wi' the gravy in 'em, just + as thee lik'st 'em. I saved 'em o' purpose for thee. Come an' ha' thy + supper, come.” + </p> + <p> + “Let be!” said Adam impetuously, shaking her off and seizing one of the + planks that stood against the wall. “It's fine talking about having supper + when here's a coffin promised to be ready at Brox'on by seven o'clock + to-morrow morning, and ought to ha' been there now, and not a nail struck + yet. My throat's too full to swallow victuals.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, thee canstna get the coffin ready,” said Lisbeth. “Thee't work + thyself to death. It 'ud take thee all night to do't.” + </p> + <p> + “What signifies how long it takes me? Isn't the coffin promised? Can they + bury the man without a coffin? I'd work my right hand off sooner than + deceive people with lies i' that way. It makes me mad to think on't. I + shall overrun these doings before long. I've stood enough of 'em.” + </p> + <p> + Poor Lisbeth did not hear this threat for the first time, and if she had + been wise she would have gone away quietly and said nothing for the next + hour. But one of the lessons a woman most rarely learns is never to talk + to an angry or a drunken man. Lisbeth sat down on the chopping bench and + began to cry, and by the time she had cried enough to make her voice very + piteous, she burst out into words. + </p> + <p> + “Nay, my lad, my lad, thee wouldstna go away an' break thy mother's heart, + an' leave thy feyther to ruin. Thee wouldstna ha' 'em carry me to th' + churchyard, an' thee not to follow me. I shanna rest i' my grave if I + donna see thee at th' last; an' how's they to let thee know as I'm + a-dyin', if thee't gone a-workin' i' distant parts, an' Seth belike gone + arter thee, and thy feyther not able to hold a pen for's hand shakin', + besides not knowin' where thee art? Thee mun forgie thy feyther—thee + munna be so bitter again' him. He war a good feyther to thee afore he took + to th' drink. He's a clever workman, an' taught thee thy trade, remember, + an's niver gen me a blow nor so much as an ill word—no, not even in + 's drink. Thee wouldstna ha' 'm go to the workhus—thy own feyther—an' + him as was a fine-growed man an' handy at everythin' amost as thee art + thysen, five-an'-twenty 'ear ago, when thee wast a baby at the breast.” + </p> + <p> + Lisbeth's voice became louder, and choked with sobs—a sort of wail, + the most irritating of all sounds where real sorrows are to be borne and + real work to be done. Adam broke in impatiently. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Mother, don't cry and talk so. Haven't I got enough to vex me + without that? What's th' use o' telling me things as I only think too much + on every day? If I didna think on 'em, why should I do as I do, for the + sake o' keeping things together here? But I hate to be talking where it's + no use: I like to keep my breath for doing i'stead o' talking.” + </p> + <p> + “I know thee dost things as nobody else 'ud do, my lad. But thee't allays + so hard upo' thy feyther, Adam. Thee think'st nothing too much to do for + Seth: thee snapp'st me up if iver I find faut wi' th' lad. But thee't so + angered wi' thy feyther, more nor wi' anybody else.” + </p> + <p> + “That's better than speaking soft and letting things go the wrong way, I + reckon, isn't it? If I wasn't sharp with him he'd sell every bit o' stuff + i' th' yard and spend it on drink. I know there's a duty to be done by my + father, but it isn't my duty to encourage him in running headlong to ruin. + And what has Seth got to do with it? The lad does no harm as I know of. + But leave me alone, Mother, and let me get on with the work.” + </p> + <p> + Lisbeth dared not say any more; but she got up and called Gyp, thinking to + console herself somewhat for Adam's refusal of the supper she had spread + out in the loving expectation of looking at him while he ate it, by + feeding Adam's dog with extra liberality. But Gyp was watching his master + with wrinkled brow and ears erect, puzzled at this unusual course of + things; and though he glanced at Lisbeth when she called him, and moved + his fore-paws uneasily, well knowing that she was inviting him to supper, + he was in a divided state of mind, and remained seated on his haunches, + again fixing his eyes anxiously on his master. Adam noticed Gyp's mental + conflict, and though his anger had made him less tender than usual to his + mother, it did not prevent him from caring as much as usual for his dog. + We are apt to be kinder to the brutes that love us than to the women that + love us. Is it because the brutes are dumb? + </p> + <p> + “Go, Gyp; go, lad!” Adam said, in a tone of encouraging command; and Gyp, + apparently satisfied that duty and pleasure were one, followed Lisbeth + into the house-place. + </p> + <p> + But no sooner had he licked up his supper than he went back to his master, + while Lisbeth sat down alone to cry over her knitting. Women who are never + bitter and resentful are often the most querulous; and if Solomon was as + wise as he is reputed to be, I feel sure that when he compared a + contentious woman to a continual dropping on a very rainy day, he had not + a vixen in his eye—a fury with long nails, acrid and selfish. Depend + upon it, he meant a good creature, who had no joy but in the happiness of + the loved ones whom she contributed to make uncomfortable, putting by all + the tid-bits for them and spending nothing on herself. Such a woman as + Lisbeth, for example—at once patient and complaining, + self-renouncing and exacting, brooding the livelong day over what happened + yesterday and what is likely to happen to-morrow, and crying very readily + both at the good and the evil. But a certain awe mingled itself with her + idolatrous love of Adam, and when he said, “Leave me alone,” she was + always silenced. + </p> + <p> + So the hours passed, to the loud ticking of the old day-clock and the + sound of Adam's tools. At last he called for a light and a draught of + water (beer was a thing only to be drunk on holidays), and Lisbeth + ventured to say as she took it in, “Thy supper stan's ready for thee, when + thee lik'st.” + </p> + <p> + “Donna thee sit up, mother,” said Adam, in a gentle tone. He had worked + off his anger now, and whenever he wished to be especially kind to his + mother, he fell into his strongest native accent and dialect, with which + at other times his speech was less deeply tinged. “I'll see to Father when + he comes home; maybe he wonna come at all to-night. I shall be easier if + thee't i' bed.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, I'll bide till Seth comes. He wonna be long now, I reckon.” + </p> + <p> + It was then past nine by the clock, which was always in advance of the + days, and before it had struck ten the latch was lifted and Seth entered. + He had heard the sound of the tools as he was approaching. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mother,” he said, “how is it as Father's working so late?” + </p> + <p> + “It's none o' thy feyther as is a-workin'—thee might know that well + anoof if thy head warna full o' chapellin'—it's thy brother as does + iverything, for there's niver nobody else i' th' way to do nothin'.” + </p> + <p> + Lisbeth was going on, for she was not at all afraid of Seth, and usually + poured into his ears all the querulousness which was repressed by her awe + of Adam. Seth had never in his life spoken a harsh word to his mother, and + timid people always wreak their peevishness on the gentle. But Seth, with + an anxious look, had passed into the workshop and said, “Addy, how's this? + What! Father's forgot the coffin?” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, lad, th' old tale; but I shall get it done,” said Adam, looking up + and casting one of his bright keen glances at his brother. “Why, what's + the matter with thee? Thee't in trouble.” + </p> + <p> + Seth's eyes were red, and there was a look of deep depression on his mild + face. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Addy, but it's what must be borne, and can't be helped. Why, thee'st + never been to the school, then?” + </p> + <p> + “School? No, that screw can wait,” said Adam, hammering away again. + </p> + <p> + “Let me take my turn now, and do thee go to bed,” said Seth. + </p> + <p> + “No, lad, I'd rather go on, now I'm in harness. Thee't help me to carry it + to Brox'on when it's done. I'll call thee up at sunrise. Go and eat thy + supper, and shut the door so as I mayn't hear Mother's talk.” + </p> + <p> + Seth knew that Adam always meant what he said, and was not to be persuaded + into meaning anything else. So he turned, with rather a heavy heart, into + the house-place. + </p> + <p> + “Adam's niver touched a bit o' victual sin' home he's come,” said Lisbeth. + “I reckon thee'st hed thy supper at some o' thy Methody folks.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Mother,” said Seth, “I've had no supper yet.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, then,” said Lisbeth, “but donna thee ate the taters, for Adam 'ull + happen ate 'em if I leave 'em stannin'. He loves a bit o' taters an' + gravy. But he's been so sore an' angered, he wouldn't ate 'em, for all I'd + putten 'em by o' purpose for him. An' he's been a-threatenin' to go away + again,” she went on, whimpering, “an' I'm fast sure he'll go some dawnin' + afore I'm up, an' niver let me know aforehand, an' he'll niver come back + again when once he's gone. An' I'd better niver ha' had a son, as is like + no other body's son for the deftness an' th' handiness, an' so looked on + by th' grit folks, an' tall an' upright like a poplar-tree, an' me to be + parted from him an' niver see 'm no more.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, Mother, donna grieve thyself in vain,” said Seth, in a soothing + voice. “Thee'st not half so good reason to think as Adam 'ull go away as + to think he'll stay with thee. He may say such a thing when he's in wrath—and + he's got excuse for being wrathful sometimes—but his heart 'ud never + let him go. Think how he's stood by us all when it's been none so easy—paying + his savings to free me from going for a soldier, an' turnin' his earnin's + into wood for father, when he's got plenty o' uses for his money, and many + a young man like him 'ud ha' been married and settled before now. He'll + never turn round and knock down his own work, and forsake them as it's + been the labour of his life to stand by.” + </p> + <p> + “Donna talk to me about's marr'in',” said Lisbeth, crying afresh. “He's + set's heart on that Hetty Sorrel, as 'ull niver save a penny, an' 'ull + toss up her head at's old mother. An' to think as he might ha' Mary Burge, + an' be took partners, an' be a big man wi' workmen under him, like Mester + Burge—Dolly's told me so o'er and o'er again—if it warna as + he's set's heart on that bit of a wench, as is o' no more use nor the + gillyflower on the wall. An' he so wise at bookin' an' figurin', an' not + to know no better nor that!” + </p> + <p> + “But, Mother, thee know'st we canna love just where other folks 'ud have + us. There's nobody but God can control the heart of man. I could ha' + wished myself as Adam could ha' made another choice, but I wouldn't + reproach him for what he can't help. And I'm not sure but what he tries to + o'ercome it. But it's a matter as he doesn't like to be spoke to about, + and I can only pray to the Lord to bless and direct him.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, thee't allays ready enough at prayin', but I donna see as thee gets + much wi' thy prayin'. Thee wotna get double earnin's o' this side Yule. + Th' Methodies 'll niver make thee half the man thy brother is, for all + they're a-makin' a preacher on thee.” + </p> + <p> + “It's partly truth thee speak'st there, Mother,” said Seth, mildly; + “Adam's far before me, an's done more for me than I can ever do for him. + God distributes talents to every man according as He sees good. But thee + mustna undervally prayer. Prayer mayna bring money, but it brings us what + no money can buy—a power to keep from sin and be content with God's + will, whatever He may please to send. If thee wouldst pray to God to help + thee, and trust in His goodness, thee wouldstna be so uneasy about + things.” + </p> + <p> + “Unaisy? I'm i' th' right on't to be unaisy. It's well seen on THEE what + it is niver to be unaisy. Thee't gi' away all thy earnin's, an' niver be + unaisy as thee'st nothin' laid up again' a rainy day. If Adam had been as + aisy as thee, he'd niver ha' had no money to pay for thee. Take no thought + for the morrow—take no thought—that's what thee't allays + sayin'; an' what comes on't? Why, as Adam has to take thought for thee.” + </p> + <p> + “Those are the words o' the Bible, Mother,” said Seth. “They don't mean as + we should be idle. They mean we shouldn't be overanxious and worreting + ourselves about what'll happen to-morrow, but do our duty and leave the + rest to God's will.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye, that's the way wi' thee: thee allays makes a peck o' thy own + words out o' a pint o' the Bible's. I donna see how thee't to know as + 'take no thought for the morrow' means all that. An' when the Bible's such + a big book, an' thee canst read all thro't, an' ha' the pick o' the texes, + I canna think why thee dostna pick better words as donna mean so much more + nor they say. Adam doesna pick a that'n; I can understan' the tex as he's + allays a-sayin', 'God helps them as helps theirsens.'” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Mother,” said Seth, “that's no text o' the Bible. It comes out of a + book as Adam picked up at the stall at Treddles'on. It was wrote by a + knowing man, but overworldly, I doubt. However, that saying's partly true; + for the Bible tells us we must be workers together with God.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, how'm I to know? It sounds like a tex. But what's th' matter wi' + th' lad? Thee't hardly atin' a bit o' supper. Dostna mean to ha' no more + nor that bit o' oat-cake? An' thee lookst as white as a flick o' new + bacon. What's th' matter wi' thee?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing to mind about, Mother; I'm not hungry. I'll just look in at Adam + again, and see if he'll let me go on with the coffin.” + </p> + <p> + “Ha' a drop o' warm broth?” said Lisbeth, whose motherly feeling now got + the better of her “nattering” habit. “I'll set two-three sticks a-light in + a minute.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Mother, thank thee; thee't very good,” said Seth, gratefully; and + encouraged by this touch of tenderness, he went on: “Let me pray a bit + with thee for Father, and Adam, and all of us—it'll comfort thee, + happen, more than thee thinkst.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I've nothin' to say again' it.” + </p> + <p> + Lisbeth, though disposed always to take the negative side in her + conversations with Seth, had a vague sense that there was some comfort and + safety in the fact of his piety, and that it somehow relieved her from the + trouble of any spiritual transactions on her own behalf. + </p> + <p> + So the mother and son knelt down together, and Seth prayed for the poor + wandering father and for those who were sorrowing for him at home. And + when he came to the petition that Adam might never be called to set up his + tent in a far country, but that his mother might be cheered and comforted + by his presence all the days of her pilgrimage, Lisbeth's ready tears + flowed again, and she wept aloud. + </p> + <p> + When they rose from their knees, Seth went to Adam again and said, “Wilt + only lie down for an hour or two, and let me go on the while?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Seth, no. Make Mother go to bed, and go thyself.” + </p> + <p> + Meantime Lisbeth had dried her eyes, and now followed Seth, holding + something in her hands. It was the brown-and-yellow platter containing the + baked potatoes with the gravy in them and bits of meat which she had cut + and mixed among them. Those were dear times, when wheaten bread and fresh + meat were delicacies to working people. She set the dish down rather + timidly on the bench by Adam's side and said, “Thee canst pick a bit while + thee't workin'. I'll bring thee another drop o' water.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, Mother, do,” said Adam, kindly; “I'm getting very thirsty.” + </p> + <p> + In half an hour all was quiet; no sound was to be heard in the house but + the loud ticking of the old day-clock and the ringing of Adam's tools. The + night was very still: when Adam opened the door to look out at twelve + o'clock, the only motion seemed to be in the glowing, twinkling stars; + every blade of grass was asleep. + </p> + <p> + Bodily haste and exertion usually leave our thoughts very much at the + mercy of our feelings and imagination; and it was so to-night with Adam. + While his muscles were working lustily, his mind seemed as passive as a + spectator at a diorama: scenes of the sad past, and probably sad future, + floating before him and giving place one to the other in swift succession. + </p> + <p> + He saw how it would be to-morrow morning, when he had carried the coffin + to Broxton and was at home again, having his breakfast: his father perhaps + would come in ashamed to meet his son's glance—would sit down, + looking older and more tottering than he had done the morning before, and + hang down his head, examining the floor-quarries; while Lisbeth would ask + him how he supposed the coffin had been got ready, that he had slinked off + and left undone—for Lisbeth was always the first to utter the word + of reproach, although she cried at Adam's severity towards his father. + </p> + <p> + “So it will go on, worsening and worsening,” thought Adam; “there's no + slipping uphill again, and no standing still when once you 've begun to + slip down.” And then the day came back to him when he was a little fellow + and used to run by his father's side, proud to be taken out to work, and + prouder still to hear his father boasting to his fellow-workmen how “the + little chap had an uncommon notion o' carpentering.” What a fine active + fellow his father was then! When people asked Adam whose little lad he + was, he had a sense of distinction as he answered, “I'm Thias Bede's lad.” + He was quite sure everybody knew Thias Bede—didn't he make the + wonderful pigeon-house at Broxton parsonage? Those were happy days, + especially when Seth, who was three years the younger, began to go out + working too, and Adam began to be a teacher as well as a learner. But then + came the days of sadness, when Adam was someway on in his teens, and Thias + began to loiter at the public-houses, and Lisbeth began to cry at home, + and to pour forth her plaints in the hearing of her sons. Adam remembered + well the night of shame and anguish when he first saw his father quite + wild and foolish, shouting a song out fitfully among his drunken + companions at the “Waggon Overthrown.” He had run away once when he was + only eighteen, making his escape in the morning twilight with a little + blue bundle over his shoulder, and his “mensuration book” in his pocket, + and saying to himself very decidedly that he could bear the vexations of + home no longer—he would go and seek his fortune, setting up his + stick at the crossways and bending his steps the way it fell. But by the + time he got to Stoniton, the thought of his mother and Seth, left behind + to endure everything without him, became too importunate, and his + resolution failed him. He came back the next day, but the misery and + terror his mother had gone through in those two days had haunted her ever + since. + </p> + <p> + “No!” Adam said to himself to-night, “that must never happen again. It 'ud + make a poor balance when my doings are cast up at the last, if my poor old + mother stood o' the wrong side. My back's broad enough and strong enough; + I should be no better than a coward to go away and leave the troubles to + be borne by them as aren't half so able. 'They that are strong ought to + bear the infirmities of those that are weak, and not to please + themselves.' There's a text wants no candle to show't; it shines by its + own light. It's plain enough you get into the wrong road i' this life if + you run after this and that only for the sake o' making things easy and + pleasant to yourself. A pig may poke his nose into the trough and think o' + nothing outside it; but if you've got a man's heart and soul in you, you + can't be easy a-making your own bed an' leaving the rest to lie on the + stones. Nay, nay, I'll never slip my neck out o' the yoke, and leave the + load to be drawn by the weak uns. Father's a sore cross to me, an's likely + to be for many a long year to come. What then? I've got th' health, and + the limbs, and the sperrit to bear it.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment a smart rap, as if with a willow wand, was given at the + house door, and Gyp, instead of barking, as might have been expected, gave + a loud howl. Adam, very much startled, went at once to the door and opened + it. Nothing was there; all was still, as when he opened it an hour before; + the leaves were motionless, and the light of the stars showed the placid + fields on both sides of the brook quite empty of visible life. Adam walked + round the house, and still saw nothing except a rat which darted into the + woodshed as he passed. He went in again, wondering; the sound was so + peculiar that the moment he heard it it called up the image of the willow + wand striking the door. He could not help a little shudder, as he + remembered how often his mother had told him of just such a sound coming + as a sign when some one was dying. Adam was not a man to be gratuitously + superstitious, but he had the blood of the peasant in him as well as of + the artisan, and a peasant can no more help believing in a traditional + superstition than a horse can help trembling when he sees a camel. + Besides, he had that mental combination which is at once humble in the + region of mystery and keen in the region of knowledge: it was the depth of + his reverence quite as much as his hard common sense which gave him his + disinclination to doctrinal religion, and he often checked Seth's + argumentative spiritualism by saying, “Eh, it's a big mystery; thee + know'st but little about it.” And so it happened that Adam was at once + penetrating and credulous. If a new building had fallen down and he had + been told that this was a divine judgment, he would have said, “May be; + but the bearing o' the roof and walls wasn't right, else it wouldn't ha' + come down”; yet he believed in dreams and prognostics, and to his dying + day he bated his breath a little when he told the story of the stroke with + the willow wand. I tell it as he told it, not attempting to reduce it to + its natural elements—in our eagerness to explain impressions, we + often lose our hold of the sympathy that comprehends them. + </p> + <p> + But he had the best antidote against imaginative dread in the necessity + for getting on with the coffin, and for the next ten minutes his hammer + was ringing so uninterruptedly, that other sounds, if there were any, + might well be overpowered. A pause came, however, when he had to take up + his ruler, and now again came the strange rap, and again Gyp howled. Adam + was at the door without the loss of a moment; but again all was still, and + the starlight showed there was nothing but the dew-laden grass in front of + the cottage. + </p> + <p> + Adam for a moment thought uncomfortably about his father; but of late + years he had never come home at dark hours from Treddleston, and there was + every reason for believing that he was then sleeping off his drunkenness + at the “Waggon Overthrown.” Besides, to Adam, the conception of the future + was so inseparable from the painful image of his father that the fear of + any fatal accident to him was excluded by the deeply infixed fear of his + continual degradation. The next thought that occurred to him was one that + made him slip off his shoes and tread lightly upstairs, to listen at the + bedroom doors. But both Seth and his mother were breathing regularly. + </p> + <p> + Adam came down and set to work again, saying to himself, “I won't open the + door again. It's no use staring about to catch sight of a sound. Maybe + there's a world about us as we can't see, but th' ear's quicker than the + eye and catches a sound from't now and then. Some people think they get a + sight on't too, but they're mostly folks whose eyes are not much use to + 'em at anything else. For my part, I think it's better to see when your + perpendicular's true than to see a ghost.” + </p> + <p> + Such thoughts as these are apt to grow stronger and stronger as daylight + quenches the candles and the birds begin to sing. By the time the red + sunlight shone on the brass nails that formed the initials on the lid of + the coffin, any lingering foreboding from the sound of the willow wand was + merged in satisfaction that the work was done and the promise redeemed. + There was no need to call Seth, for he was already moving overhead, and + presently came downstairs. + </p> + <p> + “Now, lad,” said Adam, as Seth made his appearance, “the coffin's done, + and we can take it over to Brox'on, and be back again before half after + six. I'll take a mouthful o' oat-cake, and then we'll be off.” + </p> + <p> + The coffin was soon propped on the tall shoulders of the two brothers, and + they were making their way, followed close by Gyp, out of the little + woodyard into the lane at the back of the house. It was but about a mile + and a half to Broxton over the opposite slope, and their road wound very + pleasantly along lanes and across fields, where the pale woodbines and the + dog-roses were scenting the hedgerows, and the birds were twittering and + trilling in the tall leafy boughs of oak and elm. It was a strangely + mingled picture—the fresh youth of the summer morning, with its + Edenlike peace and loveliness, the stalwart strength of the two brothers + in their rusty working clothes, and the long coffin on their shoulders. + They paused for the last time before a small farmhouse outside the village + of Broxton. By six o'clock the task was done, the coffin nailed down, and + Adam and Seth were on their way home. They chose a shorter way homewards, + which would take them across the fields and the brook in front of the + house. Adam had not mentioned to Seth what had happened in the night, but + he still retained sufficient impression from it himself to say, “Seth, + lad, if Father isn't come home by the time we've had our breakfast, I + think it'll be as well for thee to go over to Treddles'on and look after + him, and thee canst get me the brass wire I want. Never mind about losing + an hour at thy work; we can make that up. What dost say?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm willing,” said Seth. “But see what clouds have gathered since we set + out. I'm thinking we shall have more rain. It'll be a sore time for th' + haymaking if the meadows are flooded again. The brook's fine and full now: + another day's rain 'ud cover the plank, and we should have to go round by + the road.” + </p> + <p> + They were coming across the valley now, and had entered the pasture + through which the brook ran. + </p> + <p> + “Why, what's that sticking against the willow?” continued Seth, beginning + to walk faster. Adam's heart rose to his mouth: the vague anxiety about + his father was changed into a great dread. He made no answer to Seth, but + ran forward preceded by Gyp, who began to bark uneasily; and in two + moments he was at the bridge. + </p> + <p> + This was what the omen meant, then! And the grey-haired father, of whom he + had thought with a sort of hardness a few hours ago, as certain to live to + be a thorn in his side was perhaps even then struggling with that watery + death! This was the first thought that flashed through Adam's conscience, + before he had time to seize the coat and drag out the tall heavy body. + Seth was already by his side, helping him, and when they had it on the + bank, the two sons in the first moment knelt and looked with mute awe at + the glazed eyes, forgetting that there was need for action—forgetting + everything but that their father lay dead before them. Adam was the first + to speak. + </p> + <p> + “I'll run to Mother,” he said, in a loud whisper. “I'll be back to thee in + a minute.” + </p> + <p> + Poor Lisbeth was busy preparing her sons' breakfast, and their porridge + was already steaming on the fire. Her kitchen always looked the pink of + cleanliness, but this morning she was more than usually bent on making her + hearth and breakfast-table look comfortable and inviting. + </p> + <p> + “The lads 'ull be fine an' hungry,” she said, half-aloud, as she stirred + the porridge. “It's a good step to Brox'on, an' it's hungry air o'er the + hill—wi' that heavy coffin too. Eh! It's heavier now, wi' poor Bob + Tholer in't. Howiver, I've made a drap more porridge nor common this + mornin'. The feyther 'ull happen come in arter a bit. Not as he'll ate + much porridge. He swallers sixpenn'orth o' ale, an' saves a hap'orth o' + por-ridge—that's his way o' layin' by money, as I've told him many a + time, an' am likely to tell him again afore the day's out. Eh, poor mon, + he takes it quiet enough; there's no denyin' that.” + </p> + <p> + But now Lisbeth heard the heavy “thud” of a running footstep on the turf, + and, turning quickly towards the door, she saw Adam enter, looking so pale + and overwhelmed that she screamed aloud and rushed towards him before he + had time to speak. + </p> + <p> + “Hush, Mother,” Adam said, rather hoarsely, “don't be frightened. Father's + tumbled into the water. Belike we may bring him round again. Seth and me + are going to carry him in. Get a blanket and make it hot as the fire.” + </p> + <p> + In reality Adam was convinced that his father was dead but he knew there + was no other way of repressing his mother's impetuous wailing grief than + by occupying her with some active task which had hope in it. + </p> + <p> + He ran back to Seth, and the two sons lifted the sad burden in + heart-stricken silence. The wide-open glazed eyes were grey, like Seth's, + and had once looked with mild pride on the boys before whom Thias had + lived to hang his head in shame. Seth's chief feeling was awe and distress + at this sudden snatching away of his father's soul; but Adam's mind rushed + back over the past in a flood of relenting and pity. When death, the great + Reconciler, has come, it is never our tenderness that we repent of, but + our severity. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter V + </h2> + <h3> + The Rector + </h3> + <p> + BEFORE twelve o'clock there had been some heavy storms of rain, and the + water lay in deep gutters on the sides of the gravel walks in the garden + of Broxton Parsonage; the great Provence roses had been cruelly tossed by + the wind and beaten by the rain, and all the delicate-stemmed border + flowers had been dashed down and stained with the wet soil. A melancholy + morning—because it was nearly time hay-harvest should begin, and + instead of that the meadows were likely to be flooded. + </p> + <p> + But people who have pleasant homes get indoor enjoyments that they would + never think of but for the rain. If it had not been a wet morning, Mr. + Irwine would not have been in the dining-room playing at chess with his + mother, and he loves both his mother and chess quite well enough to pass + some cloudy hours very easily by their help. Let me take you into that + dining-room and show you the Rev. Adolphus Irwine, Rector of Broxton, + Vicar of Hayslope, and Vicar of Blythe, a pluralist at whom the severest + Church reformer would have found it difficult to look sour. We will enter + very softly and stand still in the open doorway, without awaking the + glossy-brown setter who is stretched across the hearth, with her two + puppies beside her; or the pug, who is dozing, with his black muzzle + aloft, like a sleepy president. + </p> + <p> + The room is a large and lofty one, with an ample mullioned oriel window at + one end; the walls, you see, are new, and not yet painted; but the + furniture, though originally of an expensive sort, is old and scanty, and + there is no drapery about the window. The crimson cloth over the large + dining-table is very threadbare, though it contrasts pleasantly enough + with the dead hue of the plaster on the walls; but on this cloth there is + a massive silver waiter with a decanter of water on it, of the same + pattern as two larger ones that are propped up on the sideboard with a + coat of arms conspicuous in their centre. You suspect at once that the + inhabitants of this room have inherited more blood than wealth, and would + not be surprised to find that Mr. Irwine had a finely cut nostril and + upper lip; but at present we can only see that he has a broad flat back + and an abundance of powdered hair, all thrown backward and tied behind + with a black ribbon—a bit of conservatism in costume which tells you + that he is not a young man. He will perhaps turn round by and by, and in + the meantime we can look at that stately old lady, his mother, a beautiful + aged brunette, whose rich-toned complexion is well set off by the complex + wrappings of pure white cambric and lace about her head and neck. She is + as erect in her comely embonpoint as a statue of Ceres; and her dark face, + with its delicate aquiline nose, firm proud mouth, and small, intense, + black eye, is so keen and sarcastic in its expression that you + instinctively substitute a pack of cards for the chess-men and imagine her + telling your fortune. The small brown hand with which she is lifting her + queen is laden with pearls, diamonds, and turquoises; and a large black + veil is very carefully adjusted over the crown of her cap, and falls in + sharp contrast on the white folds about her neck. It must take a long time + to dress that old lady in the morning! But it seems a law of nature that + she should be dressed so: she is clearly one of those children of royalty + who have never doubted their right divine and never met with any one so + absurd as to question it. + </p> + <p> + “There, Dauphin, tell me what that is!” says this magnificent old lady, as + she deposits her queen very quietly and folds her arms. “I should be sorry + to utter a word disagreeable to your feelings.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, you witch-mother, you sorceress! How is a Christian man to win a game + off you? I should have sprinkled the board with holy water before we + began. You've not won that game by fair means, now, so don't pretend it.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes, that's what the beaten have always said of great conquerors. + But see, there's the sunshine falling on the board, to show you more + clearly what a foolish move you made with that pawn. Come, shall I give + you another chance?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Mother, I shall leave you to your own conscience, now it's clearing + up. We must go and plash up the mud a little, mus'n't we, Juno?” This was + addressed to the brown setter, who had jumped up at the sound of the + voices and laid her nose in an insinuating way on her master's leg. “But I + must go upstairs first and see Anne. I was called away to Tholer's funeral + just when I was going before.” + </p> + <p> + “It's of no use, child; she can't speak to you. Kate says she has one of + her worst headaches this morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, she likes me to go and see her just the same; she's never too ill to + care about that.” + </p> + <p> + If you know how much of human speech is mere purposeless impulse or habit, + you will not wonder when I tell you that this identical objection had been + made, and had received the same kind of answer, many hundred times in the + course of the fifteen years that Mr. Irwine's sister Anne had been an + invalid. Splendid old ladies, who take a long time to dress in the + morning, have often slight sympathy with sickly daughters. + </p> + <p> + But while Mr. Irwine was still seated, leaning back in his chair and + stroking Juno's head, the servant came to the door and said, “If you + please, sir, Joshua Rann wishes to speak with you, if you are at liberty.” + </p> + <p> + “Let him be shown in here,” said Mrs. Irwine, taking up her knitting. “I + always like to hear what Mr. Rann has got to say. His shoes will be dirty, + but see that he wipes them Carroll.” + </p> + <p> + In two minutes Mr. Rann appeared at the door with very deferential bows, + which, however, were far from conciliating Pug, who gave a sharp bark and + ran across the room to reconnoitre the stranger's legs; while the two + puppies, regarding Mr. Rann's prominent calf and ribbed worsted stockings + from a more sensuous point of view, plunged and growled over them in great + enjoyment. Meantime, Mr. Irwine turned round his chair and said, “Well, + Joshua, anything the matter at Hayslope, that you've come over this damp + morning? Sit down, sit down. Never mind the dogs; give them a friendly + kick. Here, Pug, you rascal!” + </p> + <p> + It is very pleasant to see some men turn round; pleasant as a sudden rush + of warm air in winter, or the flash of firelight in the chill dusk. Mr. + Irwine was one of those men. He bore the same sort of resemblance to his + mother that our loving memory of a friend's face often bears to the face + itself: the lines were all more generous, the smile brighter, the + expression heartier. If the outline had been less finely cut, his face + might have been called jolly; but that was not the right word for its + mixture of bonhomie and distinction. + </p> + <p> + “Thank Your Reverence,” answered Mr. Rann, endeavouring to look + unconcerned about his legs, but shaking them alternately to keep off the + puppies; “I'll stand, if you please, as more becoming. I hope I see you + an' Mrs. Irwine well, an' Miss Irwine—an' Miss Anne, I hope's as + well as usual.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Joshua, thank you. You see how blooming my mother looks. She beats + us younger people hollow. But what's the matter?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir, I had to come to Brox'on to deliver some work, and I thought it + but right to call and let you know the goins-on as there's been i' the + village, such as I hanna seen i' my time, and I've lived in it man and boy + sixty year come St. Thomas, and collected th' Easter dues for Mr. Blick + before Your Reverence come into the parish, and been at the ringin' o' + every bell, and the diggin' o' every grave, and sung i' the choir long + afore Bartle Massey come from nobody knows where, wi' his counter-singin' + and fine anthems, as puts everybody out but himself—one takin' it up + after another like sheep a-bleatin' i' th' fold. I know what belongs to + bein' a parish clerk, and I know as I should be wantin' i' respect to Your + Reverence, an' church, an' king, if I was t' allow such goins-on wi'out + speakin'. I was took by surprise, an' knowed nothin' on it beforehand, an' + I was so flustered, I was clean as if I'd lost my tools. I hanna slep' + more nor four hour this night as is past an' gone; an' then it was nothin' + but nightmare, as tired me worse nor wakin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what in the world is the matter, Joshua? Have the thieves been at + the church lead again?” + </p> + <p> + “Thieves! No, sir—an' yet, as I may say, it is thieves, an' + a-thievin' the church, too. It's the Methodisses as is like to get th' + upper hand i' th' parish, if Your Reverence an' His Honour, Squire + Donnithorne, doesna think well to say the word an' forbid it. Not as I'm + a-dictatin' to you, sir; I'm not forgettin' myself so far as to be wise + above my betters. Howiver, whether I'm wise or no, that's neither here nor + there, but what I've got to say I say—as the young Methodis woman as + is at Mester Poyser's was a-preachin' an' a-prayin' on the Green last + night, as sure as I'm a-stannin' afore Your Reverence now.” + </p> + <p> + “Preaching on the Green!” said Mr. Irwine, looking surprised but quite + serene. “What, that pale pretty young woman I've seen at Poyser's? I saw + she was a Methodist, or Quaker, or something of that sort, by her dress, + but I didn't know she was a preacher.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a true word as I say, sir,” rejoined Mr. Rann, compressing his mouth + into a semicircular form and pausing long enough to indicate three notes + of exclamation. “She preached on the Green last night; an' she's laid hold + of Chad's Bess, as the girl's been i' fits welly iver sin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Bessy Cranage is a hearty-looking lass; I daresay she'll come round + again, Joshua. Did anybody else go into fits?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, I canna say as they did. But there's no knowin' what'll come, if + we're t' have such preachin's as that a-goin' on ivery week—there'll + be no livin' i' th' village. For them Methodisses make folks believe as if + they take a mug o' drink extry, an' make theirselves a bit comfortable, + they'll have to go to hell for't as sure as they're born. I'm not a + tipplin' man nor a drunkard—nobody can say it on me—but I like + a extry quart at Easter or Christmas time, as is nat'ral when we're goin' + the rounds a-singin', an' folks offer't you for nothin'; or when I'm + a-collectin' the dues; an' I like a pint wi' my pipe, an' a neighbourly + chat at Mester Casson's now an' then, for I was brought up i' the Church, + thank God, an' ha' been a parish clerk this two-an'-thirty year: I should + know what the church religion is.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, what's your advice, Joshua? What do you think should be done?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Your Reverence, I'm not for takin' any measures again' the young + woman. She's well enough if she'd let alone preachin'; an' I hear as she's + a-goin' away back to her own country soon. She's Mr. Poyser's own niece, + an' I donna wish to say what's anyways disrespectful o' th' family at th' + Hall Farm, as I've measured for shoes, little an' big, welly iver sin' + I've been a shoemaker. But there's that Will Maskery, sir as is the + rampageousest Methodis as can be, an' I make no doubt it was him as + stirred up th' young woman to preach last night, an' he'll be a-bringin' + other folks to preach from Treddles'on, if his comb isn't cut a bit; an' I + think as he should be let know as he isna t' have the makin' an' mendin' + o' church carts an' implemen's, let alone stayin' i' that house an' yard + as is Squire Donnithorne's.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but you say yourself, Joshua, that you never knew any one come to + preach on the Green before; why should you think they'll come again? The + Methodists don't come to preach in little villages like Hayslope, where + there's only a handful of labourers, too tired to listen to them. They + might almost as well go and preach on the Binton Hills. Will Maskery is no + preacher himself, I think.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, sir, he's no gift at stringin' the words together wi'out book; he'd + be stuck fast like a cow i' wet clay. But he's got tongue enough to speak + disrespectful about's neebors, for he said as I was a blind Pharisee—a-usin' + the Bible i' that way to find nick-names for folks as are his elders an' + betters!—and what's worse, he's been heard to say very unbecomin' + words about Your Reverence; for I could bring them as 'ud swear as he + called you a 'dumb dog,' an' a 'idle shepherd.' You'll forgi'e me for + sayin' such things over again.” + </p> + <p> + “Better not, better not, Joshua. Let evil words die as soon as they're + spoken. Will Maskery might be a great deal worse fellow than he is. He + used to be a wild drunken rascal, neglecting his work and beating his + wife, they told me; now he's thrifty and decent, and he and his wife look + comfortable together. If you can bring me any proof that he interferes + with his neighbours and creates any disturbance, I shall think it my duty + as a clergyman and a magistrate to interfere. But it wouldn't become wise + people like you and me to be making a fuss about trifles, as if we thought + the Church was in danger because Will Maskery lets his tongue wag rather + foolishly, or a young woman talks in a serious way to a handful of people + on the Green. We must 'live and let live,' Joshua, in religion as well as + in other things. You go on doing your duty, as parish clerk and sexton, as + well as you've always done it, and making those capital thick boots for + your neighbours, and things won't go far wrong in Hayslope, depend upon + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Your Reverence is very good to say so; an' I'm sensable as, you not + livin' i' the parish, there's more upo' my shoulders.” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure; and you must mind and not lower the Church in people's eyes + by seeming to be frightened about it for a little thing, Joshua. I shall + trust to your good sense, now to take no notice at all of what Will + Maskery says, either about you or me. You and your neighbours can go on + taking your pot of beer soberly, when you've done your day's work, like + good churchmen; and if Will Maskery doesn't like to join you, but to go to + a prayer-meeting at Treddleston instead, let him; that's no business of + yours, so long as he doesn't hinder you from doing what you like. And as + to people saying a few idle words about us, we must not mind that, any + more than the old church-steeple minds the rooks cawing about it. Will + Maskery comes to church every Sunday afternoon, and does his wheelwright's + business steadily in the weekdays, and as long as he does that he must be + let alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, sir, but when he comes to church, he sits an' shakes his head, an' + looks as sour an' as coxy when we're a-singin' as I should like to fetch + him a rap across the jowl—God forgi'e me—an' Mrs. Irwine, an' + Your Reverence too, for speakin' so afore you. An' he said as our + Christmas singin' was no better nor the cracklin' o' thorns under a pot.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, he's got a bad ear for music, Joshua. When people have wooden + heads, you know, it can't be helped. He won't bring the other people in + Hayslope round to his opinion, while you go on singing as well as you do.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir, but it turns a man's stomach t' hear the Scripture misused i' + that way. I know as much o' the words o' the Bible as he does, an' could + say the Psalms right through i' my sleep if you was to pinch me; but I + know better nor to take 'em to say my own say wi'. I might as well take + the Sacriment-cup home and use it at meals.” + </p> + <p> + “That's a very sensible remark of yours, Joshua; but, as I said before——” + </p> + <p> + While Mr. Irwine was speaking, the sound of a booted step and the clink of + a spur were heard on the stone floor of the entrance-hall, and Joshua Rann + moved hastily aside from the doorway to make room for some one who paused + there, and said, in a ringing tenor voice, + </p> + <p> + “Godson Arthur—may he come in?” + </p> + <p> + “Come in, come in, godson!” Mrs. Irwine answered, in the deep + half-masculine tone which belongs to the vigorous old woman, and there + entered a young gentleman in a riding-dress, with his right arm in a + sling; whereupon followed that pleasant confusion of laughing + interjections, and hand-shakings, and “How are you's?” mingled with joyous + short barks and wagging of tails on the part of the canine members of the + family, which tells that the visitor is on the best terms with the + visited. The young gentleman was Arthur Donnithorne, known in Hayslope, + variously, as “the young squire,” “the heir,” and “the captain.” He was + only a captain in the Loamshire Militia, but to the Hayslope tenants he + was more intensely a captain than all the young gentlemen of the same rank + in his Majesty's regulars—he outshone them as the planet Jupiter + outshines the Milky Way. If you want to know more particularly how he + looked, call to your remembrance some tawny-whiskered, brown-locked, + clear-complexioned young Englishman whom you have met with in a foreign + town, and been proud of as a fellow-countryman—well-washed, + high-bred, white-handed, yet looking as if he could deliver well from 'the + left shoulder and floor his man: I will not be so much of a tailor as to + trouble your imagination with the difference of costume, and insist on the + striped waistcoat, long-tailed coat, and low top-boots. + </p> + <p> + Turning round to take a chair, Captain Donnithorne said, “But don't let me + interrupt Joshua's business—he has something to say.” + </p> + <p> + “Humbly begging Your Honour's pardon,” said Joshua, bowing low, “there was + one thing I had to say to His Reverence as other things had drove out o' + my head.” + </p> + <p> + “Out with it, Joshua, quickly!” said Mr. Irwine. + </p> + <p> + “Belike, sir, you havena heared as Thias Bede's dead—drownded this + morning, or more like overnight, i' the Willow Brook, again' the bridge + right i' front o' the house.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” exclaimed both the gentlemen at once, as if they were a good deal + interested in the information. + </p> + <p> + “An' Seth Bede's been to me this morning to say he wished me to tell Your + Reverence as his brother Adam begged of you particular t' allow his + father's grave to be dug by the White Thorn, because his mother's set her + heart on it, on account of a dream as she had; an' they'd ha' come + theirselves to ask you, but they've so much to see after with the crowner, + an' that; an' their mother's took on so, an' wants 'em to make sure o' the + spot for fear somebody else should take it. An' if Your Reverence sees + well and good, I'll send my boy to tell 'em as soon as I get home; an' + that's why I make bold to trouble you wi' it, His Honour being present.” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure, Joshua, to be sure, they shall have it. I'll ride round to + Adam myself, and see him. Send your boy, however, to say they shall have + the grave, lest anything should happen to detain me. And now, good + morning, Joshua; go into the kitchen and have some ale.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor old Thias!” said Mr. Irwine, when Joshua was gone. “I'm afraid the + drink helped the brook to drown him. I should have been glad for the load + to have been taken off my friend Adam's shoulders in a less painful way. + That fine fellow has been propping up his father from ruin for the last + five or six years.” + </p> + <p> + “He's a regular trump, is Adam,” said Captain Donnithorne. “When I was a + little fellow, and Adam was a strapping lad of fifteen, and taught me + carpentering, I used to think if ever I was a rich sultan, I would make + Adam my grand-vizier. And I believe now he would bear the exaltation as + well as any poor wise man in an Eastern story. If ever I live to be a + large-acred man instead of a poor devil with a mortgaged allowance of + pocket-money, I'll have Adam for my right hand. He shall manage my woods + for me, for he seems to have a better notion of those things than any man + I ever met with; and I know he would make twice the money of them that my + grandfather does, with that miserable old Satchell to manage, who + understands no more about timber than an old carp. I've mentioned the + subject to my grandfather once or twice, but for some reason or other he + has a dislike to Adam, and I can do nothing. But come, Your Reverence, are + you for a ride with me? It's splendid out of doors now. We can go to + Adam's together, if you like; but I want to call at the Hall Farm on my + way, to look at the whelps Poyser is keeping for me.” + </p> + <p> + “You must stay and have lunch first, Arthur,” said Mrs. Irwine. “It's + nearly two. Carroll will bring it in directly.” + </p> + <p> + “I want to go to the Hall Farm too,” said Mr. Irwine, “to have another + look at the little Methodist who is staying there. Joshua tells me she was + preaching on the Green last night.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, by Jove!” said Captain Donnithorne, laughing. “Why, she looks as + quiet as a mouse. There's something rather striking about her, though. I + positively felt quite bashful the first time I saw her—she was + sitting stooping over her sewing in the sunshine outside the house, when I + rode up and called out, without noticing that she was a stranger, 'Is + Martin Poyser at home?' I declare, when she got up and looked at me and + just said, 'He's in the house, I believe: I'll go and call him,' I felt + quite ashamed of having spoken so abruptly to her. She looked like St. + Catherine in a Quaker dress. It's a type of face one rarely sees among our + common people.” + </p> + <p> + “I should like to see the young woman, Dauphin,” said Mrs. Irwine. “Make + her come here on some pretext or other.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know how I can manage that, Mother; it will hardly do for me to + patronize a Methodist preacher, even if she would consent to be patronized + by an idle shepherd, as Will Maskery calls me. You should have come in a + little sooner, Arthur, to hear Joshua's denunciation of his neighbour Will + Maskery. The old fellow wants me to excommunicate the wheelwright, and + then deliver him over to the civil arm—that is to say, to your + grandfather—to be turned out of house and yard. If I chose to + interfere in this business, now, I might get up as pretty a story of + hatred and persecution as the Methodists need desire to publish in the + next number of their magazine. It wouldn't take me much trouble to + persuade Chad Cranage and half a dozen other bull-headed fellows that they + would be doing an acceptable service to the Church by hunting Will Maskery + out of the village with rope-ends and pitchforks; and then, when I had + furnished them with half a sovereign to get gloriously drunk after their + exertions, I should have put the climax to as pretty a farce as any of my + brother clergy have set going in their parishes for the last thirty + years.” + </p> + <p> + “It is really insolent of the man, though, to call you an 'idle shepherd' + and a 'dumb dog,'” said Mrs. Irwine. “I should be inclined to check him a + little there. You are too easy-tempered, Dauphin.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mother, you don't think it would be a good way of sustaining my + dignity to set about vindicating myself from the aspersions of Will + Maskery? Besides, I'm not so sure that they ARE aspersions. I AM a lazy + fellow, and get terribly heavy in my saddle; not to mention that I'm + always spending more than I can afford in bricks and mortar, so that I get + savage at a lame beggar when he asks me for sixpence. Those poor lean + cobblers, who think they can help to regenerate mankind by setting out to + preach in the morning twilight before they begin their day's work, may + well have a poor opinion of me. But come, let us have our luncheon. Isn't + Kate coming to lunch?” + </p> + <p> + “Miss Irwine told Bridget to take her lunch upstairs,” said Carroll; “she + can't leave Miss Anne.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, very well. Tell Bridget to say I'll go up and see Miss Anne + presently. You can use your right arm quite well now, Arthur,” Mr. Irwine + continued, observing that Captain Donnithorne had taken his arm out of the + sling. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, pretty well; but Godwin insists on my keeping it up constantly for + some time to come. I hope I shall be able to get away to the regiment, + though, in the beginning of August. It's a desperately dull business being + shut up at the Chase in the summer months, when one can neither hunt nor + shoot, so as to make one's self pleasantly sleepy in the evening. However, + we are to astonish the echoes on the 30th of July. My grandfather has + given me carte blanche for once, and I promise you the entertainment shall + be worthy of the occasion. The world will not see the grand epoch of my + majority twice. I think I shall have a lofty throne for you, Godmamma, or + rather two, one on the lawn and another in the ballroom, that you may sit + and look down upon us like an Olympian goddess.” + </p> + <p> + “I mean to bring out my best brocade, that I wore at your christening + twenty years ago,” said Mrs. Irwine. “Ah, I think I shall see your poor + mother flitting about in her white dress, which looked to me almost like a + shroud that very day; and it WAS her shroud only three months after; and + your little cap and christening dress were buried with her too. She had + set her heart on that, sweet soul! Thank God you take after your mother's + family, Arthur. If you had been a puny, wiry, yellow baby, I wouldn't have + stood godmother to you. I should have been sure you would turn out a + Donnithorne. But you were such a broad-faced, broad-chested, + loud-screaming rascal, I knew you were every inch of you a Tradgett.” + </p> + <p> + “But you might have been a little too hasty there, Mother,” said Mr. + Irwine, smiling. “Don't you remember how it was with Juno's last pups? One + of them was the very image of its mother, but it had two or three of its + father's tricks notwithstanding. Nature is clever enough to cheat even + you, Mother.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense, child! Nature never makes a ferret in the shape of a mastiff. + You'll never persuade me that I can't tell what men are by their outsides. + If I don't like a man's looks, depend upon it I shall never like HIM. I + don't want to know people that look ugly and disagreeable, any more than I + want to taste dishes that look disagreeable. If they make me shudder at + the first glance, I say, take them away. An ugly, piggish, or fishy eye, + now, makes me feel quite ill; it's like a bad smell.” + </p> + <p> + “Talking of eyes,” said Captain Donnithorne, “that reminds me that I've + got a book I meant to bring you, Godmamma. It came down in a parcel from + London the other day. I know you are fond of queer, wizardlike stories. + It's a volume of poems, 'Lyrical Ballads.' Most of them seem to be + twaddling stuff, but the first is in a different style—'The Ancient + Mariner' is the title. I can hardly make head or tail of it as a story, + but it's a strange, striking thing. I'll send it over to you; and there + are some other books that you may like to see, Irwine—pamphlets + about Antinomianism and Evangelicalism, whatever they may be. I can't + think what the fellow means by sending such things to me. I've written to + him to desire that from henceforth he will send me no book or pamphlet on + anything that ends in ISM.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I don't know that I'm very fond of isms myself; but I may as well + look at the pamphlets; they let one see what is going on. I've a little + matter to attend to, Arthur,” continued Mr. Irwine, rising to leave the + room, “and then I shall be ready to set out with you.” + </p> + <p> + The little matter that Mr. Irwine had to attend to took him up the old + stone staircase (part of the house was very old) and made him pause before + a door at which he knocked gently. “Come in,” said a woman's voice, and he + entered a room so darkened by blinds and curtains that Miss Kate, the thin + middle-aged lady standing by the bedside, would not have had light enough + for any other sort of work than the knitting which lay on the little table + near her. But at present she was doing what required only the dimmest + light—sponging the aching head that lay on the pillow with fresh + vinegar. It was a small face, that of the poor sufferer; perhaps it had + once been pretty, but now it was worn and sallow. Miss Kate came towards + her brother and whispered, “Don't speak to her; she can't bear to be + spoken to to-day.” Anne's eyes were closed, and her brow contracted as if + from intense pain. Mr. Irwine went to the bedside and took up one of the + delicate hands and kissed it, a slight pressure from the small fingers + told him that it was worth-while to have come upstairs for the sake of + doing that. He lingered a moment, looking at her, and then turned away and + left the room, treading very gently—he had taken off his boots and + put on slippers before he came upstairs. Whoever remembers how many things + he has declined to do even for himself, rather than have the trouble of + putting on or taking off his boots, will not think this last detail + insignificant. + </p> + <p> + And Mr. Irwine's sisters, as any person of family within ten miles of + Broxton could have testified, were such stupid, uninteresting women! It + was quite a pity handsome, clever Mrs. Irwine should have had such + commonplace daughters. That fine old lady herself was worth driving ten + miles to see, any day; her beauty, her well-preserved faculties, and her + old-fashioned dignity made her a graceful subject for conversation in turn + with the King's health, the sweet new patterns in cotton dresses, the news + from Egypt, and Lord Dacey's lawsuit, which was fretting poor Lady Dacey + to death. But no one ever thought of mentioning the Miss Irwines, except + the poor people in Broxton village, who regarded them as deep in the + science of medicine, and spoke of them vaguely as “the gentlefolks.” If + any one had asked old Job Dummilow who gave him his flannel jacket, he + would have answered, “the gentlefolks, last winter”; and widow Steene + dwelt much on the virtues of the “stuff” the gentlefolks gave her for her + cough. Under this name too, they were used with great effect as a means of + taming refractory children, so that at the sight of poor Miss Anne's + sallow face, several small urchins had a terrified sense that she was + cognizant of all their worst misdemeanours, and knew the precise number of + stones with which they had intended to hit Farmer Britton's ducks. But for + all who saw them through a less mythical medium, the Miss Irwines were + quite superfluous existences—inartistic figures crowding the canvas + of life without adequate effect. Miss Anne, indeed, if her chronic + headaches could have been accounted for by a pathetic story of + disappointed love, might have had some romantic interest attached to her: + but no such story had either been known or invented concerning her, and + the general impression was quite in accordance with the fact, that both + the sisters were old maids for the prosaic reason that they had never + received an eligible offer. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, to speak paradoxically, the existence of insignificant + people has very important consequences in the world. It can be shown to + affect the price of bread and the rate of wages, to call forth many evil + tempers from the selfish and many heroisms from the sympathetic, and, in + other ways, to play no small part in the tragedy of life. And if that + handsome, generous-blooded clergyman, the Rev. Adolphus Irwine, had not + had these two hopelessly maiden sisters, his lot would have been shaped + quite differently: he would very likely have taken a comely wife in his + youth, and now, when his hair was getting grey under the powder, would + have had tall sons and blooming daughters—such possessions, in + short, as men commonly think will repay them for all the labour they take + under the sun. As it was—having with all his three livings no more + than seven hundred a-year, and seeing no way of keeping his splendid + mother and his sickly sister, not to reckon a second sister, who was + usually spoken of without any adjective, in such ladylike ease as became + their birth and habits, and at the same time providing for a family of his + own—he remained, you see, at the age of eight-and-forty, a bachelor, + not making any merit of that renunciation, but saying laughingly, if any + one alluded to it, that he made it an excuse for many indulgences which a + wife would never have allowed him. And perhaps he was the only person in + the world who did not think his sisters uninteresting and superfluous; for + his was one of those large-hearted, sweet-blooded natures that never know + a narrow or a grudging thought; Epicurean, if you will, with no + enthusiasm, no self-scourging sense of duty; but yet, as you have seen, of + a sufficiently subtle moral fibre to have an unwearying tenderness for + obscure and monotonous suffering. It was his large-hearted indulgence that + made him ignore his mother's hardness towards her daughters, which was the + more striking from its contrast with her doting fondness towards himself; + he held it no virtue to frown at irremediable faults. + </p> + <p> + See the difference between the impression a man makes on you when you walk + by his side in familiar talk, or look at him in his home, and the figure + he makes when seen from a lofty historical level, or even in the eyes of a + critical neighbour who thinks of him as an embodied system or opinion + rather than as a man. Mr. Roe, the “travelling preacher” stationed at + Treddleston, had included Mr. Irwine in a general statement concerning the + Church clergy in the surrounding district, whom he described as men given + up to the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life; hunting and shooting, + and adorning their own houses; asking what shall we eat, and what shall we + drink, and wherewithal shall we be clothed?—careless of dispensing + the bread of life to their flocks, preaching at best but a carnal and + soul-benumbing morality, and trafficking in the souls of men by receiving + money for discharging the pastoral office in parishes where they did not + so much as look on the faces of the people more than once a-year. The + ecclesiastical historian, too, looking into parliamentary reports of that + period, finds honourable members zealous for the Church, and untainted + with any sympathy for the “tribe of canting Methodists,” making statements + scarcely less melancholy than that of Mr. Roe. And it is impossible for me + to say that Mr. Irwine was altogether belied by the generic classification + assigned him. He really had no very lofty aims, no theological enthusiasm: + if I were closely questioned, I should be obliged to confess that he felt + no serious alarms about the souls of his parishioners, and would have + thought it a mere loss of time to talk in a doctrinal and awakening manner + to old “Feyther Taft,” or even to Chad Cranage the blacksmith. If he had + been in the habit of speaking theoretically, he would perhaps have said + that the only healthy form religion could take in such minds was that of + certain dim but strong emotions, suffusing themselves as a hallowing + influence over the family affections and neighbourly duties. He thought + the custom of baptism more important than its doctrine, and that the + religious benefits the peasant drew from the church where his fathers + worshipped and the sacred piece of turf where they lay buried were but + slightly dependent on a clear understanding of the Liturgy or the sermon. + Clearly the rector was not what is called in these days an “earnest” man: + he was fonder of church history than of divinity, and had much more + insight into men's characters than interest in their opinions; he was + neither laborious, nor obviously self-denying, nor very copious in + alms-giving, and his theology, you perceive, was lax. His mental palate, + indeed, was rather pagan, and found a savouriness in a quotation from + Sophocles or Theocritus that was quite absent from any text in Isaiah or + Amos. But if you feed your young setter on raw flesh, how can you wonder + at its retaining a relish for uncooked partridge in after-life? And Mr. + Irwine's recollections of young enthusiasm and ambition were all + associated with poetry and ethics that lay aloof from the Bible. + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, I must plead, for I have an affectionate partiality + towards the rector's memory, that he was not vindictive—and some + philanthropists have been so; that he was not intolerant—and there + is a rumour that some zealous theologians have not been altogether free + from that blemish; that although he would probably have declined to give + his body to be burned in any public cause, and was far from bestowing all + his goods to feed the poor, he had that charity which has sometimes been + lacking to very illustrious virtue—he was tender to other men's + failings, and unwilling to impute evil. He was one of those men, and they + are not the commonest, of whom we can know the best only by following them + away from the marketplace, the platform, and the pulpit, entering with + them into their own homes, hearing the voice with which they speak to the + young and aged about their own hearthstone, and witnessing their + thoughtful care for the everyday wants of everyday companions, who take + all their kindness as a matter of course, and not as a subject for + panegyric. + </p> + <p> + Such men, happily, have lived in times when great abuses flourished, and + have sometimes even been the living representatives of the abuses. That is + a thought which might comfort us a little under the opposite fact—that + it is better sometimes NOT to follow great reformers of abuses beyond the + threshold of their homes. + </p> + <p> + But whatever you may think of Mr. Irwine now, if you had met him that June + afternoon riding on his grey cob, with his dogs running beside him—portly, + upright, manly, with a good-natured smile on his finely turned lips as he + talked to his dashing young companion on the bay mare, you must have felt + that, however ill he harmonized with sound theories of the clerical + office, he somehow harmonized extremely well with that peaceful landscape. + </p> + <p> + See them in the bright sunlight, interrupted every now and then by rolling + masses of cloud, ascending the slope from the Broxton side, where the tall + gables and elms of the rectory predominate over the tiny whitewashed + church. They will soon be in the parish of Hayslope; the grey church-tower + and village roofs lie before them to the left, and farther on, to the + right, they can just see the chimneys of the Hall Farm. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VI + </h2> + <h3> + The Hall Farm + </h3> + <p> + EVIDENTLY that gate is never opened, for the long grass and the great + hemlocks grow close against it, and if it were opened, it is so rusty that + the force necessary to turn it on its hinges would be likely to pull down + the square stone-built pillars, to the detriment of the two stone + lionesses which grin with a doubtful carnivorous affability above a coat + of arms surmounting each of the pillars. It would be easy enough, by the + aid of the nicks in the stone pillars, to climb over the brick wall with + its smooth stone coping; but by putting our eyes close to the rusty bars + of the gate, we can see the house well enough, and all but the very + corners of the grassy enclosure. + </p> + <p> + It is a very fine old place, of red brick, softened by a pale powdery + lichen, which has dispersed itself with happy irregularity, so as to bring + the red brick into terms of friendly companionship with the limestone + ornaments surrounding the three gables, the windows, and the door-place. + But the windows are patched with wooden panes, and the door, I think, is + like the gate—it is never opened. How it would groan and grate + against the stone floor if it were! For it is a solid, heavy, handsome + door, and must once have been in the habit of shutting with a sonorous + bang behind a liveried lackey, who had just seen his master and mistress + off the grounds in a carriage and pair. + </p> + <p> + But at present one might fancy the house in the early stage of a chancery + suit, and that the fruit from that grand double row of walnut-trees on the + right hand of the enclosure would fall and rot among the grass, if it were + not that we heard the booming bark of dogs echoing from great buildings at + the back. And now the half-weaned calves that have been sheltering + themselves in a gorse-built hovel against the left-hand wall come out and + set up a silly answer to that terrible bark, doubtless supposing that it + has reference to buckets of milk. + </p> + <p> + Yes, the house must be inhabited, and we will see by whom; for imagination + is a licensed trespasser: it has no fear of dogs, but may climb over walls + and peep in at windows with impunity. Put your face to one of the glass + panes in the right-hand window: what do you see? A large open fireplace, + with rusty dogs in it, and a bare boarded floor; at the far end, fleeces + of wool stacked up; in the middle of the floor, some empty corn-bags. That + is the furniture of the dining-room. And what through the left-hand + window? Several clothes-horses, a pillion, a spinning-wheel, and an old + box wide open and stuffed full of coloured rags. At the edge of this box + there lies a great wooden doll, which, so far as mutilation is concerned, + bears a strong resemblance to the finest Greek sculpture, and especially + in the total loss of its nose. Near it there is a little chair, and the + butt end of a boy's leather long-lashed whip. + </p> + <p> + The history of the house is plain now. It was once the residence of a + country squire, whose family, probably dwindling down to mere + spinsterhood, got merged in the more territorial name of Donnithorne. It + was once the Hall; it is now the Hall Farm. Like the life in some coast + town that was once a watering-place, and is now a port, where the genteel + streets are silent and grass-grown, and the docks and warehouses busy and + resonant, the life at the Hall has changed its focus, and no longer + radiates from the parlour, but from the kitchen and the farmyard. + </p> + <p> + Plenty of life there, though this is the drowsiest time of the year, just + before hay-harvest; and it is the drowsiest time of the day too, for it is + close upon three by the sun, and it is half-past three by Mrs. Poyser's + handsome eight-day clock. But there is always a stronger sense of life + when the sun is brilliant after rain; and now he is pouring down his + beams, and making sparkles among the wet straw, and lighting up every + patch of vivid green moss on the red tiles of the cow-shed, and turning + even the muddy water that is hurrying along the channel to the drain into + a mirror for the yellow-billed ducks, who are seizing the opportunity of + getting a drink with as much body in it as possible. There is quite a + concert of noises; the great bull-dog, chained against the stables, is + thrown into furious exasperation by the unwary approach of a cock too near + the mouth of his kennel, and sends forth a thundering bark, which is + answered by two fox-hounds shut up in the opposite cow-house; the old + top-knotted hens, scratching with their chicks among the straw, set up a + sympathetic croaking as the discomfited cock joins them; a sow with her + brood, all very muddy as to the legs, and curled as to the tail, throws in + some deep staccato notes; our friends the calves are bleating from the + home croft; and, under all, a fine ear discerns the continuous hum of + human voices. + </p> + <p> + For the great barn-doors are thrown wide open, and men are busy there + mending the harness, under the superintendence of Mr. Goby, the “whittaw,” + otherwise saddler, who entertains them with the latest Treddleston gossip. + It is certainly rather an unfortunate day that Alick, the shepherd, has + chosen for having the whittaws, since the morning turned out so wet; and + Mrs. Poyser has spoken her mind pretty strongly as to the dirt which the + extra number of men's shoes brought into the house at dinnertime. Indeed, + she has not yet recovered her equanimity on the subject, though it is now + nearly three hours since dinner, and the house-floor is perfectly clean + again; as clean as everything else in that wonderful house-place, where + the only chance of collecting a few grains of dust would be to climb on + the salt-coffer, and put your finger on the high mantel-shelf on which the + glittering brass candlesticks are enjoying their summer sinecure; for at + this time of year, of course, every one goes to bed while it is yet light, + or at least light enough to discern the outline of objects after you have + bruised your shins against them. Surely nowhere else could an oak + clock-case and an oak table have got to such a polish by the hand: genuine + “elbow polish,” as Mrs. Poyser called it, for she thanked God she never + had any of your varnished rubbish in her house. Hetty Sorrel often took + the opportunity, when her aunt's back was turned, of looking at the + pleasing reflection of herself in those polished surfaces, for the oak + table was usually turned up like a screen, and was more for ornament than + for use; and she could see herself sometimes in the great round pewter + dishes that were ranged on the shelves above the long deal dinner-table, + or in the hobs of the grate, which always shone like jasper. + </p> + <p> + Everything was looking at its brightest at this moment, for the sun shone + right on the pewter dishes, and from their reflecting surfaces pleasant + jets of light were thrown on mellow oak and bright brass—and on a + still pleasanter object than these, for some of the rays fell on Dinah's + finely moulded cheek, and lit up her pale red hair to auburn, as she bent + over the heavy household linen which she was mending for her aunt. No + scene could have been more peaceful, if Mrs. Poyser, who was ironing a few + things that still remained from the Monday's wash, had not been making a + frequent clinking with her iron and moving to and fro whenever she wanted + it to cool; carrying the keen glance of her blue-grey eye from the kitchen + to the dairy, where Hetty was making up the butter, and from the dairy to + the back kitchen, where Nancy was taking the pies out of the oven. Do not + suppose, however, that Mrs. Poyser was elderly or shrewish in her + appearance; she was a good-looking woman, not more than eight-and-thirty, + of fair complexion and sandy hair, well-shapen, light-footed. The most + conspicuous article in her attire was an ample checkered linen apron, + which almost covered her skirt; and nothing could be plainer or less + noticeable than her cap and gown, for there was no weakness of which she + was less tolerant than feminine vanity, and the preference of ornament to + utility. The family likeness between her and her niece Dinah Morris, with + the contrast between her keenness and Dinah's seraphic gentleness of + expression, might have served a painter as an excellent suggestion for a + Martha and Mary. Their eyes were just of the same colour, but a striking + test of the difference in their operation was seen in the demeanour of + Trip, the black-and-tan terrier, whenever that much-suspected dog unwarily + exposed himself to the freezing arctic ray of Mrs. Poyser's glance. Her + tongue was not less keen than her eye, and, whenever a damsel came within + earshot, seemed to take up an unfinished lecture, as a barrel-organ takes + up a tune, precisely at the point where it had left off. + </p> + <p> + The fact that it was churning day was another reason why it was + inconvenient to have the whittaws, and why, consequently, Mrs. Poyser + should scold Molly the housemaid with unusual severity. To all appearance + Molly had got through her after-dinner work in an exemplary manner, had + “cleaned herself” with great dispatch, and now came to ask, submissively, + if she should sit down to her spinning till milking time. But this + blameless conduct, according to Mrs. Poyser, shrouded a secret indulgence + of unbecoming wishes, which she now dragged forth and held up to Molly's + view with cutting eloquence. + </p> + <p> + “Spinning, indeed! It isn't spinning as you'd be at, I'll be bound, and + let you have your own way. I never knew your equals for gallowsness. To + think of a gell o' your age wanting to go and sit with half-a-dozen men! + I'd ha' been ashamed to let the words pass over my lips if I'd been you. + And you, as have been here ever since last Michaelmas, and I hired you at + Treddles'on stattits, without a bit o' character—as I say, you might + be grateful to be hired in that way to a respectable place; and you knew + no more o' what belongs to work when you come here than the mawkin i' the + field. As poor a two-fisted thing as ever I saw, you know you was. Who + taught you to scrub a floor, I should like to know? Why, you'd leave the + dirt in heaps i' the corners—anybody 'ud think you'd never been + brought up among Christians. And as for spinning, why, you've wasted as + much as your wage i' the flax you've spoiled learning to spin. And you've + a right to feel that, and not to go about as gaping and as thoughtless as + if you was beholding to nobody. Comb the wool for the whittaws, indeed! + That's what you'd like to be doing, is it? That's the way with you—that's + the road you'd all like to go, headlongs to ruin. You're never easy till + you've got some sweetheart as is as big a fool as yourself: you think + you'll be finely off when you're married, I daresay, and have got a + three-legged stool to sit on, and never a blanket to cover you, and a bit + o' oat-cake for your dinner, as three children are a-snatching at.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm sure I donna want t' go wi' the whittaws,” said Molly, whimpering, + and quite overcome by this Dantean picture of her future, “on'y we allays + used to comb the wool for 'n at Mester Ottley's; an' so I just axed ye. I + donna want to set eyes on the whittaws again; I wish I may never stir if I + do.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Ottley's, indeed! It's fine talking o' what you did at Mr. Ottley's. + Your missis there might like her floors dirted wi' whittaws for what I + know. There's no knowing what people WONNA like—such ways as I've + heard of! I never had a gell come into my house as seemed to know what + cleaning was; I think people live like pigs, for my part. And as to that + Betty as was dairymaid at Trent's before she come to me, she'd ha' left + the cheeses without turning from week's end to week's end, and the dairy + thralls, I might ha' wrote my name on 'em, when I come downstairs after my + illness, as the doctor said it was inflammation—it was a mercy I got + well of it. And to think o' your knowing no better, Molly, and been here + a-going i' nine months, and not for want o' talking to, neither—and + what are you stanning there for, like a jack as is run down, instead o' + getting your wheel out? You're a rare un for sitting down to your work a + little while after it's time to put by.” + </p> + <p> + “Munny, my iron's twite told; pease put it down to warm.” + </p> + <p> + The small chirruping voice that uttered this request came from a little + sunny-haired girl between three and four, who, seated on a high chair at + the end of the ironing table, was arduously clutching the handle of a + miniature iron with her tiny fat fist, and ironing rags with an assiduity + that required her to put her little red tongue out as far as anatomy would + allow. + </p> + <p> + “Cold, is it, my darling? Bless your sweet face!” said Mrs. Poyser, who + was remarkable for the facility with which she could relapse from her + official objurgatory to one of fondness or of friendly converse. “Never + mind! Mother's done her ironing now. She's going to put the ironing things + away.” + </p> + <p> + “Munny, I tould 'ike to do into de barn to Tommy, to see de whittawd.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, no; Totty 'ud get her feet wet,” said Mrs. Poyser, carrying away + her iron. “Run into the dairy and see cousin Hetty make the butter.” + </p> + <p> + “I tould 'ike a bit o' pum-take,” rejoined Totty, who seemed to be + provided with several relays of requests; at the same time, taking the + opportunity of her momentary leisure to put her fingers into a bowl of + starch, and drag it down so as to empty the contents with tolerable + completeness on to the ironing sheet. + </p> + <p> + “Did ever anybody see the like?” screamed Mrs. Poyser, running towards the + table when her eye had fallen on the blue stream. “The child's allays i' + mischief if your back's turned a minute. What shall I do to you, you + naughty, naughty gell?” + </p> + <p> + Totty, however, had descended from her chair with great swiftness, and was + already in retreat towards the dairy with a sort of waddling run, and an + amount of fat on the nape of her neck which made her look like the + metamorphosis of a white suckling pig. + </p> + <p> + The starch having been wiped up by Molly's help, and the ironing apparatus + put by, Mrs. Poyser took up her knitting which always lay ready at hand, + and was the work she liked best, because she could carry it on + automatically as she walked to and fro. But now she came and sat down + opposite Dinah, whom she looked at in a meditative way, as she knitted her + grey worsted stocking. + </p> + <p> + “You look th' image o' your Aunt Judith, Dinah, when you sit a-sewing. I + could almost fancy it was thirty years back, and I was a little gell at + home, looking at Judith as she sat at her work, after she'd done the house + up; only it was a little cottage, Father's was, and not a big rambling + house as gets dirty i' one corner as fast as you clean it in another—but + for all that, I could fancy you was your Aunt Judith, only her hair was a + deal darker than yours, and she was stouter and broader i' the shoulders. + Judith and me allays hung together, though she had such queer ways, but + your mother and her never could agree. Ah, your mother little thought as + she'd have a daughter just cut out after the very pattern o' Judith, and + leave her an orphan, too, for Judith to take care on, and bring up with a + spoon when SHE was in the graveyard at Stoniton. I allays said that o' + Judith, as she'd bear a pound weight any day to save anybody else carrying + a ounce. And she was just the same from the first o' my remembering her; + it made no difference in her, as I could see, when she took to the + Methodists, only she talked a bit different and wore a different sort o' + cap; but she'd never in her life spent a penny on herself more than + keeping herself decent.” + </p> + <p> + “She was a blessed woman,” said Dinah; “God had given her a loving, + self-forgetting nature, and He perfected it by grace. And she was very + fond of you too, Aunt Rachel. I often heard her talk of you in the same + sort of way. When she had that bad illness, and I was only eleven years + old, she used to say, 'You'll have a friend on earth in your Aunt Rachel, + if I'm taken from you, for she has a kind heart,' and I'm sure I've found + it so.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know how, child; anybody 'ud be cunning to do anything for you, I + think; you're like the birds o' th' air, and live nobody knows how. I'd + ha' been glad to behave to you like a mother's sister, if you'd come and + live i' this country where there's some shelter and victual for man and + beast, and folks don't live on the naked hills, like poultry a-scratching + on a gravel bank. And then you might get married to some decent man, and + there'd be plenty ready to have you, if you'd only leave off that + preaching, as is ten times worse than anything your Aunt Judith ever did. + And even if you'd marry Seth Bede, as is a poor wool-gathering Methodist + and's never like to have a penny beforehand, I know your uncle 'ud help + you with a pig, and very like a cow, for he's allays been good-natur'd to + my kin, for all they're poor, and made 'em welcome to the house; and 'ud + do for you, I'll be bound, as much as ever he'd do for Hetty, though she's + his own niece. And there's linen in the house as I could well spare you, + for I've got lots o' sheeting and table-clothing, and towelling, as isn't + made up. There's a piece o' sheeting I could give you as that squinting + Kitty spun—she was a rare girl to spin, for all she squinted, and + the children couldn't abide her; and, you know, the spinning's going on + constant, and there's new linen wove twice as fast as the old wears out. + But where's the use o' talking, if ye wonna be persuaded, and settle down + like any other woman in her senses, i'stead o' wearing yourself out with + walking and preaching, and giving away every penny you get, so as you've + nothing saved against sickness; and all the things you've got i' the + world, I verily believe, 'ud go into a bundle no bigger nor a double + cheese. And all because you've got notions i' your head about religion + more nor what's i' the Catechism and the Prayer-book.” + </p> + <p> + “But not more than what's in the Bible, Aunt,” said Dinah. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, and the Bible too, for that matter,” Mrs. Poyser rejoined, rather + sharply; “else why shouldn't them as know best what's in the Bible—the + parsons and people as have got nothing to do but learn it—do the + same as you do? But, for the matter o' that, if everybody was to do like + you, the world must come to a standstill; for if everybody tried to do + without house and home, and with poor eating and drinking, and was allays + talking as we must despise the things o' the world as you say, I should + like to know where the pick o' the stock, and the corn, and the best + new-milk cheeses 'ud have to go. Everybody 'ud be wanting bread made o' + tail ends and everybody 'ud be running after everybody else to preach to + 'em, istead o' bringing up their families, and laying by against a bad + harvest. It stands to sense as that can't be the right religion.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, dear aunt, you never heard me say that all people are called to + forsake their work and their families. It's quite right the land should be + ploughed and sowed, and the precious corn stored, and the things of this + life cared for, and right that people should rejoice in their families, + and provide for them, so that this is done in the fear of the Lord, and + that they are not unmindful of the soul's wants while they are caring for + the body. We can all be servants of God wherever our lot is cast, but He + gives us different sorts of work, according as He fits us for it and calls + us to it. I can no more help spending my life in trying to do what I can + for the souls of others, than you could help running if you heard little + Totty crying at the other end of the house; the voice would go to your + heart, you would think the dear child was in trouble or in danger, and you + couldn't rest without running to help her and comfort her.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said Mrs. Poyser, rising and walking towards the door, “I know it + 'ud be just the same if I was to talk to you for hours. You'd make me the + same answer, at th' end. I might as well talk to the running brook and + tell it to stan' still.” + </p> + <p> + The causeway outside the kitchen door was dry enough now for Mrs. Poyser + to stand there quite pleasantly and see what was going on in the yard, the + grey worsted stocking making a steady progress in her hands all the while. + But she had not been standing there more than five minutes before she came + in again, and said to Dinah, in rather a flurried, awe-stricken tone, “If + there isn't Captain Donnithorne and Mr. Irwine a-coming into the yard! + I'll lay my life they're come to speak about your preaching on the Green, + Dinah; it's you must answer 'em, for I'm dumb. I've said enough a'ready + about your bringing such disgrace upo' your uncle's family. I wouldn't ha' + minded if you'd been Mr. Poyser's own niece—folks must put up wi' + their own kin, as they put up wi' their own noses—it's their own + flesh and blood. But to think of a niece o' mine being cause o' my + husband's being turned out of his farm, and me brought him no fortin but + my savin's——” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, dear Aunt Rachel,” said Dinah gently, “you've no cause for such + fears. I've strong assurance that no evil will happen to you and my uncle + and the children from anything I've done. I didn't preach without + direction.” + </p> + <p> + “Direction! I know very well what you mean by direction,” said Mrs. + Poyser, knitting in a rapid and agitated manner. “When there's a bigger + maggot than usual in your head you call it 'direction'; and then nothing + can stir you—you look like the statty o' the outside o' Treddles'on + church, a-starin' and a-smilin' whether it's fair weather or foul. I hanna + common patience with you.” + </p> + <p> + By this time the two gentlemen had reached the palings and had got down + from their horses: it was plain they meant to come in. Mrs. Poyser + advanced to the door to meet them, curtsying low and trembling between + anger with Dinah and anxiety to conduct herself with perfect propriety on + the occasion. For in those days the keenest of bucolic minds felt a + whispering awe at the sight of the gentry, such as of old men felt when + they stood on tiptoe to watch the gods passing by in tall human shape. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mrs. Poyser, how are you after this stormy morning?” said Mr. + Irwine, with his stately cordiality. “Our feet are quite dry; we shall not + soil your beautiful floor.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, sir, don't mention it,” said Mrs. Poyser. “Will you and the captain + please to walk into the parlour?” + </p> + <p> + “No, indeed, thank you, Mrs. Poyser,” said the captain, looking eagerly + round the kitchen, as if his eye were seeking something it could not find. + “I delight in your kitchen. I think it is the most charming room I know. I + should like every farmer's wife to come and look at it for a pattern.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you're pleased to say so, sir. Pray take a seat,” said Mrs. Poyser, + relieved a little by this compliment and the captain's evident + good-humour, but still glancing anxiously at Mr. Irwine, who, she saw, was + looking at Dinah and advancing towards her. + </p> + <p> + “Poyser is not at home, is he?” said Captain Donnithorne, seating himself + where he could see along the short passage to the open dairy-door. + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, he isn't; he's gone to Rosseter to see Mr. West, the factor, + about the wool. But there's Father i' the barn, sir, if he'd be of any + use.” + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you; I'll just look at the whelps and leave a message about + them with your shepherd. I must come another day and see your husband; I + want to have a consultation with him about horses. Do you know when he's + likely to be at liberty?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir, you can hardly miss him, except it's o' Treddles'on market-day—that's + of a Friday, you know. For if he's anywhere on the farm we can send for + him in a minute. If we'd got rid o' the Scantlands, we should have no + outlying fields; and I should be glad of it, for if ever anything happens, + he's sure to be gone to the Scantlands. Things allays happen so contrairy, + if they've a chance; and it's an unnat'ral thing to have one bit o' your + farm in one county and all the rest in another.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, the Scantlands would go much better with Choyce's farm, especially as + he wants dairyland and you've got plenty. I think yours is the prettiest + farm on the estate, though; and do you know, Mrs. Poyser, if I were going + to marry and settle, I should be tempted to turn you out, and do up this + fine old house, and turn farmer myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, sir,” said Mrs. Poyser, rather alarmed, “you wouldn't like it at all. + As for farming, it's putting money into your pocket wi' your right hand + and fetching it out wi' your left. As fur as I can see, it's raising + victual for other folks and just getting a mouthful for yourself and your + children as you go along. Not as you'd be like a poor man as wants to get + his bread—you could afford to lose as much money as you liked i' + farming—but it's poor fun losing money, I should think, though I + understan' it's what the great folks i' London play at more than anything. + For my husband heard at market as Lord Dacey's eldest son had lost + thousands upo' thousands to the Prince o' Wales, and they said my lady was + going to pawn her jewels to pay for him. But you know more about that than + I do, sir. But, as for farming, sir, I canna think as you'd like it; and + this house—the draughts in it are enough to cut you through, and + it's my opinion the floors upstairs are very rotten, and the rats i' the + cellar are beyond anything.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, that's a terrible picture, Mrs. Poyser. I think I should be doing + you a service to turn you out of such a place. But there's no chance of + that. I'm not likely to settle for the next twenty years, till I'm a stout + gentleman of forty; and my grandfather would never consent to part with + such good tenants as you.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir, if he thinks so well o' Mr. Poyser for a tenant I wish you + could put in a word for him to allow us some new gates for the Five + closes, for my husband's been asking and asking till he's tired, and to + think o' what he's done for the farm, and's never had a penny allowed him, + be the times bad or good. And as I've said to my husband often and often, + I'm sure if the captain had anything to do with it, it wouldn't be so. Not + as I wish to speak disrespectful o' them as have got the power i' their + hands, but it's more than flesh and blood 'ull bear sometimes, to be + toiling and striving, and up early and down late, and hardly sleeping a + wink when you lie down for thinking as the cheese may swell, or the cows + may slip their calf, or the wheat may grow green again i' the sheaf—and + after all, at th' end o' the year, it's like as if you'd been cooking a + feast and had got the smell of it for your pains.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser, once launched into conversation, always sailed along without + any check from her preliminary awe of the gentry. The confidence she felt + in her own powers of exposition was a motive force that overcame all + resistance. + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid I should only do harm instead of good, if I were to speak + about the gates, Mrs. Poyser,” said the captain, “though I assure you + there's no man on the estate I would sooner say a word for than your + husband. I know his farm is in better order than any other within ten + miles of us; and as for the kitchen,” he added, smiling, “I don't believe + there's one in the kingdom to beat it. By the by, I've never seen your + dairy: I must see your dairy, Mrs. Poyser.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, sir, it's not fit for you to go in, for Hetty's in the middle o' + making the butter, for the churning was thrown late, and I'm quite + ashamed.” This Mrs. Poyser said blushing, and believing that the captain + was really interested in her milk-pans, and would adjust his opinion of + her to the appearance of her dairy. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I've no doubt it's in capital order. Take me in,” said the captain, + himself leading the way, while Mrs. Poyser followed. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VII + </h2> + <h3> + The Dairy + </h3> + <p> + THE dairy was certainly worth looking at: it was a scene to sicken for + with a sort of calenture in hot and dusty streets—such coolness, + such purity, such fresh fragrance of new-pressed cheese, of firm butter, + of wooden vessels perpetually bathed in pure water; such soft colouring of + red earthenware and creamy surfaces, brown wood and polished tin, grey + limestone and rich orange-red rust on the iron weights and hooks and + hinges. But one gets only a confused notion of these details when they + surround a distractingly pretty girl of seventeen, standing on little + pattens and rounding her dimpled arm to lift a pound of butter out of the + scale. + </p> + <p> + Hetty blushed a deep rose-colour when Captain Donnithorne entered the + dairy and spoke to her; but it was not at all a distressed blush, for it + was inwreathed with smiles and dimples, and with sparkles from under long, + curled, dark eyelashes; and while her aunt was discoursing to him about + the limited amount of milk that was to be spared for butter and cheese so + long as the calves were not all weaned, and a large quantity but inferior + quality of milk yielded by the shorthorn, which had been bought on + experiment, together with other matters which must be interesting to a + young gentleman who would one day be a landlord, Hetty tossed and patted + her pound of butter with quite a self-possessed, coquettish air, slyly + conscious that no turn of her head was lost. + </p> + <p> + There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of + themselves in various styles, from the desperate to the sheepish; but + there is one order of beauty which seems made to turn the heads not only + of men, but of all intelligent mammals, even of women. It is a beauty like + that of kittens, or very small downy ducks making gentle rippling noises + with their soft bills, or babies just beginning to toddle and to engage in + conscious mischief—a beauty with which you can never be angry, but + that you feel ready to crush for inability to comprehend the state of mind + into which it throws you. Hetty Sorrel's was that sort of beauty. Her + aunt, Mrs. Poyser, who professed to despise all personal attractions and + intended to be the severest of mentors, continually gazed at Hetty's + charms by the sly, fascinated in spite of herself; and after administering + such a scolding as naturally flowed from her anxiety to do well by her + husband's niece—who had no mother of her own to scold her, poor + thing!—she would often confess to her husband, when they were safe + out of hearing, that she firmly believed, “the naughtier the little huzzy + behaved, the prettier she looked.” + </p> + <p> + It is of little use for me to tell you that Hetty's cheek was like a + rose-petal, that dimples played about her pouting lips, that her large + dark eyes hid a soft roguishness under their long lashes, and that her + curly hair, though all pushed back under her round cap while she was at + work, stole back in dark delicate rings on her forehead, and about her + white shell-like ears; it is of little use for me to say how lovely was + the contour of her pink-and-white neckerchief, tucked into her low + plum-coloured stuff bodice, or how the linen butter-making apron, with its + bib, seemed a thing to be imitated in silk by duchesses, since it fell in + such charming lines, or how her brown stockings and thick-soled buckled + shoes lost all that clumsiness which they must certainly have had when + empty of her foot and ankle—of little use, unless you have seen a + woman who affected you as Hetty affected her beholders, for otherwise, + though you might conjure up the image of a lovely woman, she would not in + the least resemble that distracting kittenlike maiden. I might mention all + the divine charms of a bright spring day, but if you had never in your + life utterly forgotten yourself in straining your eyes after the mounting + lark, or in wandering through the still lanes when the fresh-opened + blossoms fill them with a sacred silent beauty like that of fretted + aisles, where would be the use of my descriptive catalogue? I could never + make you know what I meant by a bright spring day. Hetty's was a + spring-tide beauty; it was the beauty of young frisking things, + round-limbed, gambolling, circumventing you by a false air of innocence—the + innocence of a young star-browed calf, for example, that, being inclined + for a promenade out of bounds, leads you a severe steeplechase over hedge + and ditch, and only comes to a stand in the middle of a bog. + </p> + <p> + And they are the prettiest attitudes and movements into which a pretty + girl is thrown in making up butter—tossing movements that give a + charming curve to the arm, and a sideward inclination of the round white + neck; little patting and rolling movements with the palm of the hand, and + nice adaptations and finishings which cannot at all be effected without a + great play of the pouting mouth and the dark eyes. And then the butter + itself seems to communicate a fresh charm—it is so pure, so + sweet-scented; it is turned off the mould with such a beautiful firm + surface, like marble in a pale yellow light! Moreover, Hetty was + particularly clever at making up the butter; it was the one performance of + hers that her aunt allowed to pass without severe criticism; so she + handled it with all the grace that belongs to mastery. + </p> + <p> + “I hope you will be ready for a great holiday on the thirtieth of July, + Mrs. Poyser,” said Captain Donnithorne, when he had sufficiently admired + the dairy and given several improvised opinions on Swede turnips and + shorthorns. “You know what is to happen then, and I shall expect you to be + one of the guests who come earliest and leave latest. Will you promise me + your hand for two dances, Miss Hetty? If I don't get your promise now, I + know I shall hardly have a chance, for all the smart young farmers will + take care to secure you.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty smiled and blushed, but before she could answer, Mrs. Poyser + interposed, scandalized at the mere suggestion that the young squire could + be excluded by any meaner partners. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, sir, you are very kind to take that notice of her. And I'm sure, + whenever you're pleased to dance with her, she'll be proud and thankful, + if she stood still all the rest o' th' evening.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh no, no, that would be too cruel to all the other young fellows who can + dance. But you will promise me two dances, won't you?” the captain + continued, determined to make Hetty look at him and speak to him. + </p> + <p> + Hetty dropped the prettiest little curtsy, and stole a half-shy, + half-coquettish glance at him as she said, “Yes, thank you, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “And you must bring all your children, you know, Mrs. Poyser; your little + Totty, as well as the boys. I want all the youngest children on the estate + to be there—all those who will be fine young men and women when I'm + a bald old fellow.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh dear, sir, that 'ull be a long time first,” said Mrs. Poyser, quite + overcome at the young squire's speaking so lightly of himself, and + thinking how her husband would be interested in hearing her recount this + remarkable specimen of high-born humour. The captain was thought to be + “very full of his jokes,” and was a great favourite throughout the estate + on account of his free manners. Every tenant was quite sure things would + be different when the reins got into his hands—there was to be a + millennial abundance of new gates, allowances of lime, and returns of ten + per cent. + </p> + <p> + “But where is Totty to-day?” he said. “I want to see her.” + </p> + <p> + “Where IS the little un, Hetty?” said Mrs. Poyser. “She came in here not + long ago.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know. She went into the brewhouse to Nancy, I think.” + </p> + <p> + The proud mother, unable to resist the temptation to show her Totty, + passed at once into the back kitchen, in search of her, not, however, + without misgivings lest something should have happened to render her + person and attire unfit for presentation. + </p> + <p> + “And do you carry the butter to market when you've made it?” said the + Captain to Hetty, meanwhile. + </p> + <p> + “Oh no, sir; not when it's so heavy. I'm not strong enough to carry it. + Alick takes it on horseback.” + </p> + <p> + “No, I'm sure your pretty arms were never meant for such heavy weights. + But you go out a walk sometimes these pleasant evenings, don't you? Why + don't you have a walk in the Chase sometimes, now it's so green and + pleasant? I hardly ever see you anywhere except at home and at church.” + </p> + <p> + “Aunt doesn't like me to go a-walking only when I'm going somewhere,” said + Hetty. “But I go through the Chase sometimes.” + </p> + <p> + “And don't you ever go to see Mrs. Best, the housekeeper? I think I saw + you once in the housekeeper's room.” + </p> + <p> + “It isn't Mrs. Best, it's Mrs. Pomfret, the lady's maid, as I go to see. + She's teaching me tent-stitch and the lace-mending. I'm going to tea with + her to-morrow afternoon.” + </p> + <p> + The reason why there had been space for this tete-a-tete can only be known + by looking into the back kitchen, where Totty had been discovered rubbing + a stray blue-bag against her nose, and in the same moment allowing some + liberal indigo drops to fall on her afternoon pinafore. But now she + appeared holding her mother's hand—the end of her round nose rather + shiny from a recent and hurried application of soap and water. + </p> + <p> + “Here she is!” said the captain, lifting her up and setting her on the low + stone shelf. “Here's Totty! By the by, what's her other name? She wasn't + christened Totty.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, sir, we call her sadly out of her name. Charlotte's her christened + name. It's a name i' Mr. Poyser's family: his grandmother was named + Charlotte. But we began with calling her Lotty, and now it's got to Totty. + To be sure it's more like a name for a dog than a Christian child.” + </p> + <p> + “Totty's a capital name. Why, she looks like a Totty. Has she got a pocket + on?” said the captain, feeling in his own waistcoat pockets. + </p> + <p> + Totty immediately with great gravity lifted up her frock, and showed a + tiny pink pocket at present in a state of collapse. + </p> + <p> + “It dot notin' in it,” she said, as she looked down at it very earnestly. + </p> + <p> + “No! What a pity! Such a pretty pocket. Well, I think I've got some things + in mine that will make a pretty jingle in it. Yes! I declare I've got five + little round silver things, and hear what a pretty noise they make in + Totty's pink pocket.” Here he shook the pocket with the five sixpences in + it, and Totty showed her teeth and wrinkled her nose in great glee; but, + divining that there was nothing more to be got by staying, she jumped off + the shelf and ran away to jingle her pocket in the hearing of Nancy, while + her mother called after her, “Oh for shame, you naughty gell! Not to thank + the captain for what he's given you I'm sure, sir, it's very kind of you; + but she's spoiled shameful; her father won't have her said nay in + anything, and there's no managing her. It's being the youngest, and th' + only gell.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, she's a funny little fatty; I wouldn't have her different. But I must + be going now, for I suppose the rector is waiting for me.” + </p> + <p> + With a “good-bye,” a bright glance, and a bow to Hetty Arthur left the + dairy. But he was mistaken in imagining himself waited for. The rector had + been so much interested in his conversation with Dinah that he would not + have chosen to close it earlier; and you shall hear now what they had been + saying to each other. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VIII + </h2> + <h3> + A Vocation + </h3> + <p> + DINAH, who had risen when the gentlemen came in, but still kept hold of + the sheet she was mending, curtsied respectfully when she saw Mr. Irwine + looking at her and advancing towards her. He had never yet spoken to her, + or stood face to face with her, and her first thought, as her eyes met + his, was, “What a well-favoured countenance! Oh that the good seed might + fall on that soil, for it would surely flourish.” The agreeable impression + must have been mutual, for Mr. Irwine bowed to her with a benignant + deference, which would have been equally in place if she had been the most + dignified lady of his acquaintance. + </p> + <p> + “You are only a visitor in this neighbourhood, I think?” were his first + words, as he seated himself opposite to her. + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, I come from Snowfield, in Stonyshire. But my aunt was very kind, + wanting me to have rest from my work there, because I'd been ill, and she + invited me to come and stay with her for a while.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, I remember Snowfield very well; I once had occasion to go there. It's + a dreary bleak place. They were building a cotton-mill there; but that's + many years ago now. I suppose the place is a good deal changed by the + employment that mill must have brought.” + </p> + <p> + “It IS changed so far as the mill has brought people there, who get a + livelihood for themselves by working in it, and make it better for the + tradesfolks. I work in it myself, and have reason to be grateful, for + thereby I have enough and to spare. But it's still a bleak place, as you + say, sir—very different from this country.” + </p> + <p> + “You have relations living there, probably, so that you are attached to + the place as your home?” + </p> + <p> + “I had an aunt there once; she brought me up, for I was an orphan. But she + was taken away seven years ago, and I have no other kindred that I know + of, besides my Aunt Poyser, who is very good to me, and would have me come + and live in this country, which to be sure is a good land, wherein they + eat bread without scarceness. But I'm not free to leave Snowfield, where I + was first planted, and have grown deep into it, like the small grass on + the hill-top.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, I daresay you have many religious friends and companions there; you + are a Methodist—a Wesleyan, I think?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, my aunt at Snowfield belonged to the Society, and I have cause to be + thankful for the privileges I have had thereby from my earliest + childhood.” + </p> + <p> + “And have you been long in the habit of preaching? For I understand you + preached at Hayslope last night.” + </p> + <p> + “I first took to the work four years since, when I was twenty-one.” + </p> + <p> + “Your Society sanctions women's preaching, then?” + </p> + <p> + “It doesn't forbid them, sir, when they've a clear call to the work, and + when their ministry is owned by the conversion of sinners and the + strengthening of God's people. Mrs. Fletcher, as you may have heard about, + was the first woman to preach in the Society, I believe, before she was + married, when she was Miss Bosanquet; and Mr. Wesley approved of her + undertaking the work. She had a great gift, and there are many others now + living who are precious fellow-helpers in the work of the ministry. I + understand there's been voices raised against it in the Society of late, + but I cannot but think their counsel will come to nought. It isn't for men + to make channels for God's Spirit, as they make channels for the + watercourses, and say, 'Flow here, but flow not there.'” + </p> + <p> + “But don't you find some danger among your people—I don't mean to + say that it is so with you, far from it—but don't you find sometimes + that both men and women fancy themselves channels for God's Spirit, and + are quite mistaken, so that they set about a work for which they are unfit + and bring holy things into contempt?” + </p> + <p> + “Doubtless it is so sometimes; for there have been evil-doers among us who + have sought to deceive the brethren, and some there are who deceive their + own selves. But we are not without discipline and correction to put a + check upon these things. There's a very strict order kept among us, and + the brethren and sisters watch for each other's souls as they that must + give account. They don't go every one his own way and say, 'Am I my + brother's keeper?'” + </p> + <p> + “But tell me—if I may ask, and I am really interested in knowing it—how + you first came to think of preaching?” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, sir, I didn't think of it at all—I'd been used from the + time I was sixteen to talk to the little children, and teach them, and + sometimes I had had my heart enlarged to speak in class, and was much + drawn out in prayer with the sick. But I had felt no call to preach, for + when I'm not greatly wrought upon, I'm too much given to sit still and + keep by myself. It seems as if I could sit silent all day long with the + thought of God overflowing my soul—as the pebbles lie bathed in the + Willow Brook. For thoughts are so great—aren't they, sir? They seem + to lie upon us like a deep flood; and it's my besetment to forget where I + am and everything about me, and lose myself in thoughts that I could give + no account of, for I could neither make a beginning nor ending of them in + words. That was my way as long as I can remember; but sometimes it seemed + as if speech came to me without any will of my own, and words were given + to me that came out as the tears come, because our hearts are full and we + can't help it. And those were always times of great blessing, though I had + never thought it could be so with me before a congregation of people. But, + sir, we are led on, like the little children, by a way that we know not. I + was called to preach quite suddenly, and since then I have never been left + in doubt about the work that was laid upon me.” + </p> + <p> + “But tell me the circumstances—just how it was, the very day you + began to preach.” + </p> + <p> + “It was one Sunday I walked with brother Marlowe, who was an aged man, one + of the local preachers, all the way to Hetton-Deeps—that's a village + where the people get their living by working in the lead-mines, and where + there's no church nor preacher, but they live like sheep without a + shepherd. It's better than twelve miles from Snowfield, so we set out + early in the morning, for it was summertime; and I had a wonderful sense + of the Divine love as we walked over the hills, where there's no trees, + you know, sir, as there is here, to make the sky look smaller, but you see + the heavens stretched out like a tent, and you feel the everlasting arms + around you. But before we got to Hetton, brother Marlowe was seized with a + dizziness that made him afraid of falling, for he overworked himself + sadly, at his years, in watching and praying, and walking so many miles to + speak the Word, as well as carrying on his trade of linen-weaving. And + when we got to the village, the people were expecting him, for he'd + appointed the time and the place when he was there before, and such of + them as cared to hear the Word of Life were assembled on a spot where the + cottages was thickest, so as others might be drawn to come. But he felt as + he couldn't stand up to preach, and he was forced to lie down in the first + of the cottages we came to. So I went to tell the people, thinking we'd go + into one of the houses, and I would read and pray with them. But as I + passed along by the cottages and saw the aged and trembling women at the + doors, and the hard looks of the men, who seemed to have their eyes no + more filled with the sight of the Sabbath morning than if they had been + dumb oxen that never looked up to the sky, I felt a great movement in my + soul, and I trembled as if I was shaken by a strong spirit entering into + my weak body. And I went to where the little flock of people was gathered + together, and stepped on the low wall that was built against the green + hillside, and I spoke the words that were given to me abundantly. And they + all came round me out of all the cottages, and many wept over their sins, + and have since been joined to the Lord. That was the beginning of my + preaching, sir, and I've preached ever since.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah had let her work fall during this narrative, which she uttered in + her usual simple way, but with that sincere articulate, thrilling treble + by which she always mastered her audience. She stooped now to gather up + her sewing, and then went on with it as before. Mr. Irwine was deeply + interested. He said to himself, “He must be a miserable prig who would act + the pedagogue here: one might as well go and lecture the trees for growing + in their own shape.” + </p> + <p> + “And you never feel any embarrassment from the sense of your youth—that + you are a lovely young woman on whom men's eyes are fixed?” he said aloud. + </p> + <p> + “No, I've no room for such feelings, and I don't believe the people ever + take notice about that. I think, sir, when God makes His presence felt + through us, we are like the burning bush: Moses never took any heed what + sort of bush it was—he only saw the brightness of the Lord. I've + preached to as rough ignorant people as can be in the villages about + Snowfield—men that looked very hard and wild—but they never + said an uncivil word to me, and often thanked me kindly as they made way + for me to pass through the midst of them.” + </p> + <p> + “THAT I can believe—that I can well believe,” said Mr. Irwine, + emphatically. “And what did you think of your hearers last night, now? Did + you find them quiet and attentive?” + </p> + <p> + “Very quiet, sir, but I saw no signs of any great work upon them, except + in a young girl named Bessy Cranage, towards whom my heart yearned + greatly, when my eyes first fell on her blooming youth, given up to folly + and vanity. I had some private talk and prayer with her afterwards, and I + trust her heart is touched. But I've noticed that in these villages where + the people lead a quiet life among the green pastures and the still + waters, tilling the ground and tending the cattle, there's a strange + deadness to the Word, as different as can be from the great towns, like + Leeds, where I once went to visit a holy woman who preaches there. It's + wonderful how rich is the harvest of souls up those high-walled streets, + where you seemed to walk as in a prison-yard, and the ear is deafened with + the sounds of worldly toil. I think maybe it is because the promise is + sweeter when this life is so dark and weary, and the soul gets more hungry + when the body is ill at ease.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, yes, our farm-labourers are not easily roused. They take life almost + as slowly as the sheep and cows. But we have some intelligent workmen + about here. I daresay you know the Bedes; Seth Bede, by the by, is a + Methodist.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I know Seth well, and his brother Adam a little. Seth is a gracious + young man—sincere and without offence; and Adam is like the + patriarch Joseph, for his great skill and knowledge and the kindness he + shows to his brother and his parents.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps you don't know the trouble that has just happened to them? Their + father, Matthias Bede, was drowned in the Willow Brook last night, not far + from his own door. I'm going now to see Adam.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, their poor aged mother!” said Dinah, dropping her hands and looking + before her with pitying eyes, as if she saw the object of her sympathy. + “She will mourn heavily, for Seth has told me she's of an anxious, + troubled heart. I must go and see if I can give her any help.” + </p> + <p> + As she rose and was beginning to fold up her work, Captain Donnithorne, + having exhausted all plausible pretexts for remaining among the milk-pans, + came out of the dairy, followed by Mrs. Poyser. Mr. Irwine now rose also, + and, advancing towards Dinah, held out his hand, and said, “Good-bye. I + hear you are going away soon; but this will not be the last visit you will + pay your aunt—so we shall meet again, I hope.” + </p> + <p> + His cordiality towards Dinah set all Mrs. Poyser's anxieties at rest, and + her face was brighter than usual, as she said, “I've never asked after + Mrs. Irwine and the Miss Irwines, sir; I hope they're as well as usual.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, thank you, Mrs. Poyser, except that Miss Anne has one of her bad + headaches to-day. By the by, we all liked that nice cream-cheese you sent + us—my mother especially.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm very glad, indeed, sir. It is but seldom I make one, but I remembered + Mrs. Irwine was fond of 'em. Please to give my duty to her, and to Miss + Kate and Miss Anne. They've never been to look at my poultry this long + while, and I've got some beautiful speckled chickens, black and white, as + Miss Kate might like to have some of amongst hers.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'll tell her; she must come and see them. Good-bye,” said the + rector, mounting his horse. + </p> + <p> + “Just ride slowly on, Irwine,” said Captain Donnithorne, mounting also. + “I'll overtake you in three minutes. I'm only going to speak to the + shepherd about the whelps. Good-bye, Mrs. Poyser; tell your husband I + shall come and have a long talk with him soon.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser curtsied duly, and watched the two horses until they had + disappeared from the yard, amidst great excitement on the part of the pigs + and the poultry, and under the furious indignation of the bull-dog, who + performed a Pyrrhic dance, that every moment seemed to threaten the + breaking of his chain. Mrs. Poyser delighted in this noisy exit; it was a + fresh assurance to her that the farm-yard was well guarded, and that no + loiterers could enter unobserved; and it was not until the gate had closed + behind the captain that she turned into the kitchen again, where Dinah + stood with her bonnet in her hand, waiting to speak to her aunt, before + she set out for Lisbeth Bede's cottage. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser, however, though she noticed the bonnet, deferred remarking on + it until she had disburdened herself of her surprise at Mr. Irwine's + behaviour. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mr. Irwine wasn't angry, then? What did he say to you, Dinah? Didn't + he scold you for preaching?” + </p> + <p> + “No, he was not at all angry; he was very friendly to me. I was quite + drawn out to speak to him; I hardly know how, for I had always thought of + him as a worldly Sadducee. But his countenance is as pleasant as the + morning sunshine.” + </p> + <p> + “Pleasant! And what else did y' expect to find him but pleasant?” said + Mrs. Poyser impatiently, resuming her knitting. “I should think his + countenance is pleasant indeed! And him a gentleman born, and's got a + mother like a picter. You may go the country round and not find such + another woman turned sixty-six. It's summat-like to see such a man as that + i' the desk of a Sunday! As I say to Poyser, it's like looking at a full + crop o' wheat, or a pasture with a fine dairy o' cows in it; it makes you + think the world's comfortable-like. But as for such creaturs as you + Methodisses run after, I'd as soon go to look at a lot o' bare-ribbed + runts on a common. Fine folks they are to tell you what's right, as look + as if they'd never tasted nothing better than bacon-sword and sour-cake i' + their lives. But what did Mr. Irwine say to you about that fool's trick o' + preaching on the Green?” + </p> + <p> + “He only said he'd heard of it; he didn't seem to feel any displeasure + about it. But, dear aunt, don't think any more about that. He told me + something that I'm sure will cause you sorrow, as it does me. Thias Bede + was drowned last night in the Willow Brook, and I'm thinking that the aged + mother will be greatly in need of comfort. Perhaps I can be of use to her, + so I have fetched my bonnet and am going to set out.” + </p> + <p> + “Dear heart, dear heart! But you must have a cup o' tea first, child,” + said Mrs. Poyser, falling at once from the key of B with five sharps to + the frank and genial C. “The kettle's boiling—we'll have it ready in + a minute; and the young uns 'ull be in and wanting theirs directly. I'm + quite willing you should go and see th' old woman, for you're one as is + allays welcome in trouble, Methodist or no Methodist; but, for the matter + o' that, it's the flesh and blood folks are made on as makes the + difference. Some cheeses are made o' skimmed milk and some o' new milk, + and it's no matter what you call 'em, you may tell which is which by the + look and the smell. But as to Thias Bede, he's better out o' the way nor + in—God forgi' me for saying so—for he's done little this ten + year but make trouble for them as belonged to him; and I think it 'ud be + well for you to take a little bottle o' rum for th' old woman, for I + daresay she's got never a drop o' nothing to comfort her inside. Sit down, + child, and be easy, for you shan't stir out till you've had a cup o' tea, + and so I tell you.” + </p> + <p> + During the latter part of this speech, Mrs. Poyser had been reaching down + the tea-things from the shelves, and was on her way towards the pantry for + the loaf (followed close by Totty, who had made her appearance on the + rattling of the tea-cups), when Hetty came out of the dairy relieving her + tired arms by lifting them up, and clasping her hands at the back of her + head. + </p> + <p> + “Molly,” she said, rather languidly, “just run out and get me a bunch of + dock-leaves: the butter's ready to pack up now.” + </p> + <p> + “D' you hear what's happened, Hetty?” said her aunt. + </p> + <p> + “No; how should I hear anything?” was the answer, in a pettish tone. + </p> + <p> + “Not as you'd care much, I daresay, if you did hear; for you're too + feather-headed to mind if everybody was dead, so as you could stay + upstairs a-dressing yourself for two hours by the clock. But anybody + besides yourself 'ud mind about such things happening to them as think a + deal more of you than you deserve. But Adam Bede and all his kin might be + drownded for what you'd care—you'd be perking at the glass the next + minute.” + </p> + <p> + “Adam Bede—drowned?” said Hetty, letting her arms fall and looking + rather bewildered, but suspecting that her aunt was as usual exaggerating + with a didactic purpose. + </p> + <p> + “No, my dear, no,” said Dinah kindly, for Mrs. Poyser had passed on to the + pantry without deigning more precise information. “Not Adam. Adam's + father, the old man, is drowned. He was drowned last night in the Willow + Brook. Mr. Irwine has just told me about it.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, how dreadful!” said Hetty, looking serious, but not deeply affected; + and as Molly now entered with the dock-leaves, she took them silently and + returned to the dairy without asking further questions. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IX + </h2> + <h3> + Hetty's World + </h3> + <p> + WHILE she adjusted the broad leaves that set off the pale fragrant butter + as the primrose is set off by its nest of green I am afraid Hetty was + thinking a great deal more of the looks Captain Donnithorne had cast at + her than of Adam and his troubles. Bright, admiring glances from a + handsome young gentleman with white hands, a gold chain, occasional + regimentals, and wealth and grandeur immeasurable—those were the + warm rays that set poor Hetty's heart vibrating and playing its little + foolish tunes over and over again. We do not hear that Memnon's statue + gave forth its melody at all under the rushing of the mightiest wind, or + in response to any other influence divine or human than certain + short-lived sunbeams of morning; and we must learn to accommodate + ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly fashioned + instruments called human souls have only a very limited range of music, + and will not vibrate in the least under a touch that fills others with + tremulous rapture or quivering agony. + </p> + <p> + Hetty was quite used to the thought that people liked to look at her. She + was not blind to the fact that young Luke Britton of Broxton came to + Hayslope Church on a Sunday afternoon on purpose that he might see her; + and that he would have made much more decided advances if her uncle + Poyser, thinking but lightly of a young man whose father's land was so + foul as old Luke Britton's, had not forbidden her aunt to encourage him by + any civilities. She was aware, too, that Mr. Craig, the gardener at the + Chase, was over head and ears in love with her, and had lately made + unmistakable avowals in luscious strawberries and hyperbolical peas. She + knew still better, that Adam Bede—tall, upright, clever, brave Adam + Bede—who carried such authority with all the people round about, and + whom her uncle was always delighted to see of an evening, saying that + “Adam knew a fine sight more o' the natur o' things than those as thought + themselves his betters”—she knew that this Adam, who was often + rather stern to other people and not much given to run after the lasses, + could be made to turn pale or red any day by a word or a look from her. + Hetty's sphere of comparison was not large, but she couldn't help + perceiving that Adam was “something like” a man; always knew what to say + about things, could tell her uncle how to prop the hovel, and had mended + the churn in no time; knew, with only looking at it, the value of the + chestnut-tree that was blown down, and why the damp came in the walls, and + what they must do to stop the rats; and wrote a beautiful hand that you + could read off, and could do figures in his head—a degree of + accomplishment totally unknown among the richest farmers of that + countryside. Not at all like that slouching Luke Britton, who, when she + once walked with him all the way from Broxton to Hayslope, had only broken + silence to remark that the grey goose had begun to lay. And as for Mr. + Craig, the gardener, he was a sensible man enough, to be sure, but he was + knock-kneed, and had a queer sort of sing-song in his talk; moreover, on + the most charitable supposition, he must be far on the way to forty. + </p> + <p> + Hetty was quite certain her uncle wanted her to encourage Adam, and would + be pleased for her to marry him. For those were times when there was no + rigid demarcation of rank between the farmer and the respectable artisan, + and on the home hearth, as well as in the public house, they might be seen + taking their jug of ale together; the farmer having a latent sense of + capital, and of weight in parish affairs, which sustained him under his + conspicuous inferiority in conversation. Martin Poyser was not a + frequenter of public houses, but he liked a friendly chat over his own + home-brewed; and though it was pleasant to lay down the law to a stupid + neighbour who had no notion how to make the best of his farm, it was also + an agreeable variety to learn something from a clever fellow like Adam + Bede. Accordingly, for the last three years—ever since he had + superintended the building of the new barn—Adam had always been made + welcome at the Hall Farm, especially of a winter evening, when the whole + family, in patriarchal fashion, master and mistress, children and + servants, were assembled in that glorious kitchen, at well-graduated + distances from the blazing fire. And for the last two years, at least, + Hetty had been in the habit of hearing her uncle say, “Adam Bede may be + working for wage now, but he'll be a master-man some day, as sure as I sit + in this chair. Mester Burge is in the right on't to want him to go + partners and marry his daughter, if it's true what they say; the woman as + marries him 'ull have a good take, be't Lady day or Michaelmas,” a remark + which Mrs. Poyser always followed up with her cordial assent. “Ah,” she + would say, “it's all very fine having a ready-made rich man, but mayhappen + he'll be a ready-made fool; and it's no use filling your pocket full o' + money if you've got a hole in the corner. It'll do you no good to sit in a + spring-cart o' your own, if you've got a soft to drive you: he'll soon + turn you over into the ditch. I allays said I'd never marry a man as had + got no brains; for where's the use of a woman having brains of her own if + she's tackled to a geck as everybody's a-laughing at? She might as well + dress herself fine to sit back'ards on a donkey.” + </p> + <p> + These expressions, though figurative, sufficiently indicated the bent of + Mrs. Poyser's mind with regard to Adam; and though she and her husband + might have viewed the subject differently if Hetty had been a daughter of + their own, it was clear that they would have welcomed the match with Adam + for a penniless niece. For what could Hetty have been but a servant + elsewhere, if her uncle had not taken her in and brought her up as a + domestic help to her aunt, whose health since the birth of Totty had not + been equal to more positive labour than the superintendence of servants + and children? But Hetty had never given Adam any steady encouragement. + Even in the moments when she was most thoroughly conscious of his + superiority to her other admirers, she had never brought herself to think + of accepting him. She liked to feel that this strong, skilful, keen-eyed + man was in her power, and would have been indignant if he had shown the + least sign of slipping from under the yoke of her coquettish tyranny and + attaching himself to the gentle Mary Burge, who would have been grateful + enough for the most trifling notice from him. “Mary Burge, indeed! Such a + sallow-faced girl: if she put on a bit of pink ribbon, she looked as + yellow as a crow-flower and her hair was as straight as a hank of cotton.” + And always when Adam stayed away for several weeks from the Hall Farm, and + otherwise made some show of resistance to his passion as a foolish one, + Hetty took care to entice him back into the net by little airs of meekness + and timidity, as if she were in trouble at his neglect. But as to marrying + Adam, that was a very different affair! There was nothing in the world to + tempt her to do that. Her cheeks never grew a shade deeper when his name + was mentioned; she felt no thrill when she saw him passing along the + causeway by the window, or advancing towards her unexpectedly in the + footpath across the meadow; she felt nothing, when his eyes rested on her, + but the cold triumph of knowing that he loved her and would not care to + look at Mary Burge. He could no more stir in her the emotions that make + the sweet intoxication of young love than the mere picture of a sun can + stir the spring sap in the subtle fibres of the plant. She saw him as he + was—a poor man with old parents to keep, who would not be able, for + a long while to come, to give her even such luxuries as she shared in her + uncle's house. And Hetty's dreams were all of luxuries: to sit in a + carpeted parlour, and always wear white stockings; to have some large + beautiful ear-rings, such as were all the fashion; to have Nottingham lace + round the top of her gown, and something to make her handkerchief smell + nice, like Miss Lydia Donnithorne's when she drew it out at church; and + not to be obliged to get up early or be scolded by anybody. She thought, + if Adam had been rich and could have given her these things, she loved him + well enough to marry him. + </p> + <p> + But for the last few weeks a new influence had come over Hetty—vague, + atmospheric, shaping itself into no self-confessed hopes or prospects, but + producing a pleasant narcotic effect, making her tread the ground and go + about her work in a sort of dream, unconscious of weight or effort, and + showing her all things through a soft, liquid veil, as if she were living + not in this solid world of brick and stone, but in a beatified world, such + as the sun lights up for us in the waters. Hetty had become aware that Mr. + Arthur Donnithorne would take a good deal of trouble for the chance of + seeing her; that he always placed himself at church so as to have the + fullest view of her both sitting and standing; that he was constantly + finding reason for calling at the Hall Farm, and always would contrive to + say something for the sake of making her speak to him and look at him. The + poor child no more conceived at present the idea that the young squire + could ever be her lover than a baker's pretty daughter in the crowd, whom + a young emperor distinguishes by an imperial but admiring smile, conceives + that she shall be made empress. But the baker's daughter goes home and + dreams of the handsome young emperor, and perhaps weighs the flour amiss + while she is thinking what a heavenly lot it must be to have him for a + husband. And so, poor Hetty had got a face and a presence haunting her + waking and sleeping dreams; bright, soft glances had penetrated her, and + suffused her life with a strange, happy languor. The eyes that shed those + glances were really not half so fine as Adam's, which sometimes looked at + her with a sad, beseeching tenderness, but they had found a ready medium + in Hetty's little silly imagination, whereas Adam's could get no entrance + through that atmosphere. For three weeks, at least, her inward life had + consisted of little else than living through in memory the looks and words + Arthur had directed towards her—of little else than recalling the + sensations with which she heard his voice outside the house, and saw him + enter, and became conscious that his eyes were fixed on her, and then + became conscious that a tall figure, looking down on her with eyes that + seemed to touch her, was coming nearer in clothes of beautiful texture + with an odour like that of a flower-garden borne on the evening breeze. + Foolish thoughts! But all this happened, you must remember, nearly sixty + years ago, and Hetty was quite uneducated—a simple farmer's girl, to + whom a gentleman with a white hand was dazzling as an Olympian god. Until + to-day, she had never looked farther into the future than to the next time + Captain Donnithorne would come to the Farm, or the next Sunday when she + should see him at church; but now she thought, perhaps he would try to + meet her when she went to the Chase to-morrow—and if he should speak + to her, and walk a little way, when nobody was by! That had never happened + yet; and now her imagination, instead of retracing the past, was busy + fashioning what would happen to-morrow—whereabout in the Chase she + should see him coming towards her, how she should put her new + rose-coloured ribbon on, which he had never seen, and what he would say to + her to make her return his glance—a glance which she would be living + through in her memory, over and over again, all the rest of the day. + </p> + <p> + In this state of mind, how could Hetty give any feeling to Adam's + troubles, or think much about poor old Thias being drowned? Young souls, + in such pleasant delirium as hers are as unsympathetic as butterflies + sipping nectar; they are isolated from all appeals by a barrier of dreams—by + invisible looks and impalpable arms. + </p> + <p> + While Hetty's hands were busy packing up the butter, and her head filled + with these pictures of the morrow, Arthur Donnithorne, riding by Mr. + Irwine's side towards the valley of the Willow Brook, had also certain + indistinct anticipations, running as an undercurrent in his mind while he + was listening to Mr. Irwine's account of Dinah—indistinct, yet + strong enough to make him feel rather conscious when Mr. Irwine suddenly + said, “What fascinated you so in Mrs. Poyser's dairy, Arthur? Have you + become an amateur of damp quarries and skimming dishes?” + </p> + <p> + Arthur knew the rector too well to suppose that a clever invention would + be of any use, so he said, with his accustomed frankness, “No, I went to + look at the pretty butter-maker Hetty Sorrel. She's a perfect Hebe; and if + I were an artist, I would paint her. It's amazing what pretty girls one + sees among the farmers' daughters, when the men are such clowns. That + common, round, red face one sees sometimes in the men—all cheek and + no features, like Martin Poyser's—comes out in the women of the + family as the most charming phiz imaginable.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I have no objection to your contemplating Hetty in an artistic + light, but I must not have you feeding her vanity and filling her little + noddle with the notion that she's a great beauty, attractive to fine + gentlemen, or you will spoil her for a poor man's wife—honest + Craig's, for example, whom I have seen bestowing soft glances on her. The + little puss seems already to have airs enough to make a husband as + miserable as it's a law of nature for a quiet man to be when he marries a + beauty. Apropos of marrying, I hope our friend Adam will get settled, now + the poor old man's gone. He will only have his mother to keep in future, + and I've a notion that there's a kindness between him and that nice modest + girl, Mary Burge, from something that fell from old Jonathan one day when + I was talking to him. But when I mentioned the subject to Adam he looked + uneasy and turned the conversation. I suppose the love-making doesn't run + smooth, or perhaps Adam hangs back till he's in a better position. He has + independence of spirit enough for two men—rather an excess of pride, + if anything.” + </p> + <p> + “That would be a capital match for Adam. He would slip into old Burge's + shoes and make a fine thing of that building business, I'll answer for + him. I should like to see him well settled in this parish; he would be + ready then to act as my grand-vizier when I wanted one. We could plan no + end of repairs and improvements together. I've never seen the girl, + though, I think—at least I've never looked at her.” + </p> + <p> + “Look at her next Sunday at church—she sits with her father on the + left of the reading-desk. You needn't look quite so much at Hetty Sorrel + then. When I've made up my mind that I can't afford to buy a tempting dog, + I take no notice of him, because if he took a strong fancy to me and + looked lovingly at me, the struggle between arithmetic and inclination + might become unpleasantly severe. I pique myself on my wisdom there, + Arthur, and as an old fellow to whom wisdom had become cheap, I bestow it + upon you.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you. It may stand me in good stead some day though I don't know + that I have any present use for it. Bless me! How the brook has + overflowed. Suppose we have a canter, now we're at the bottom of the + hill.” + </p> + <p> + That is the great advantage of dialogue on horseback; it can be merged any + minute into a trot or a canter, and one might have escaped from Socrates + himself in the saddle. The two friends were free from the necessity of + further conversation till they pulled up in the lane behind Adam's + cottage. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter X + </h2> + <h3> + Dinah Visits Lisbeth + </h3> + <p> + AT five o'clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it + was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead. Throughout the day, + except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in + incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe + and exactitude that belong to religious rites. She had brought out her + little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in + reserve for this supreme use. It seemed but yesterday—that time so + many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he + might be sure and reach it out for her when SHE died, for she was the + elder of the two. Then there had been the work of cleansing to the + strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from + it every trace of common daily occupation. The small window, which had + hitherto freely let in the frosty moonlight or the warm summer sunrise on + the working man's slumber, must now be darkened with a fair white sheet, + for this was the sleep which is as sacred under the bare rafters as in + ceiled houses. Lisbeth had even mended a long-neglected and unnoticeable + rent in the checkered bit of bed-curtain; for the moments were few and + precious now in which she would be able to do the smallest office of + respect or love for the still corpse, to which in all her thoughts she + attributed some consciousness. Our dead are never dead to us until we have + forgotten them: they can be injured by us, they can be wounded; they know + all our penitence, all our aching sense that their place is empty, all the + kisses we bestow on the smallest relic of their presence. And the aged + peasant woman most of all believes that her dead are conscious. Decent + burial was what Lisbeth had been thinking of for herself through years of + thrift, with an indistinct expectation that she should know when she was + being carried to the churchyard, followed by her husband and her sons; and + now she felt as if the greatest work of her life were to be done in seeing + that Thias was buried decently before her—under the white thorn, + where once, in a dream, she had thought she lay in the coffin, yet all the + while saw the sunshine above and smelt the white blossoms that were so + thick upon the thorn the Sunday she went to be churched after Adam was + born. + </p> + <p> + But now she had done everything that could be done to-day in the chamber + of death—had done it all herself, with some aid from her sons in + lifting, for she would let no one be fetched to help her from the village, + not being fond of female neighbours generally; and her favourite Dolly, + the old housekeeper at Mr. Burge's, who had come to condole with her in + the morning as soon as she heard of Thias's death, was too dim-sighted to + be of much use. She had locked the door, and now held the key in her hand, + as she threw herself wearily into a chair that stood out of its place in + the middle of the house floor, where in ordinary times she would never + have consented to sit. The kitchen had had none of her attention that day; + it was soiled with the tread of muddy shoes and untidy with clothes and + other objects out of place. But what at another time would have been + intolerable to Lisbeth's habits of order and cleanliness seemed to her now + just what should be: it was right that things should look strange and + disordered and wretched, now the old man had come to his end in that sad + way; the kitchen ought not to look as if nothing had happened. Adam, + overcome with the agitations and exertions of the day after his night of + hard work, had fallen asleep on a bench in the workshop; and Seth was in + the back kitchen making a fire of sticks that he might get the kettle to + boil, and persuade his mother to have a cup of tea, an indulgence which + she rarely allowed herself. + </p> + <p> + There was no one in the kitchen when Lisbeth entered and threw herself + into the chair. She looked round with blank eyes at the dirt and confusion + on which the bright afternoon's sun shone dismally; it was all of a piece + with the sad confusion of her mind—that confusion which belongs to + the first hours of a sudden sorrow, when the poor human soul is like one + who has been deposited sleeping among the ruins of a vast city, and wakes + up in dreary amazement, not knowing whether it is the growing or the dying + day—not knowing why and whence came this illimitable scene of + desolation, or why he too finds himself desolate in the midst of it. + </p> + <p> + At another time Lisbeth's first thought would have been, “Where is Adam?” + but the sudden death of her husband had restored him in these hours to + that first place in her affections which he had held six-and-twenty years + ago. She had forgotten his faults as we forget the sorrows of our departed + childhood, and thought of nothing but the young husband's kindness and the + old man's patience. Her eyes continued to wander blankly until Seth came + in and began to remove some of the scattered things, and clear the small + round deal table that he might set out his mother's tea upon it. + </p> + <p> + “What art goin' to do?” she said, rather peevishly. + </p> + <p> + “I want thee to have a cup of tea, Mother,” answered Seth, tenderly. + “It'll do thee good; and I'll put two or three of these things away, and + make the house look more comfortable.” + </p> + <p> + “Comfortable! How canst talk o' ma'in' things comfortable? Let a-be, let + a-be. There's no comfort for me no more,” she went on, the tears coming + when she began to speak, “now thy poor feyther's gone, as I'n washed for + and mended, an' got's victual for him for thirty 'ear, an' him allays so + pleased wi' iverything I done for him, an' used to be so handy an' do the + jobs for me when I war ill an' cumbered wi' th' babby, an' made me the + posset an' brought it upstairs as proud as could be, an' carried the lad + as war as heavy as two children for five mile an' ne'er grumbled, all the + way to Warson Wake, 'cause I wanted to go an' see my sister, as war dead + an' gone the very next Christmas as e'er come. An' him to be drownded in + the brook as we passed o'er the day we war married an' come home together, + an' he'd made them lots o' shelves for me to put my plates an' things on, + an' showed 'em me as proud as could be, 'cause he know'd I should be + pleased. An' he war to die an' me not to know, but to be a-sleepin' i' my + bed, as if I caredna nought about it. Eh! An' me to live to see that! An' + us as war young folks once, an' thought we should do rarely when we war + married. Let a-be, lad, let a-be! I wonna ha' no tay. I carena if I ne'er + ate nor drink no more. When one end o' th' bridge tumbles down, where's + th' use o' th' other stannin'? I may's well die, an' foller my old man. + There's no knowin' but he'll want me.” + </p> + <p> + Here Lisbeth broke from words into moans, swaying herself backwards and + forwards on her chair. Seth, always timid in his behaviour towards his + mother, from the sense that he had no influence over her, felt it was + useless to attempt to persuade or soothe her till this passion was past; + so he contented himself with tending the back kitchen fire and folding up + his father's clothes, which had been hanging out to dry since morning—afraid + to move about in the room where his mother was, lest he should irritate + her further. + </p> + <p> + But after Lisbeth had been rocking herself and moaning for some minutes, + she suddenly paused and said aloud to herself, “I'll go an' see arter + Adam, for I canna think where he's gotten; an' I want him to go upstairs + wi' me afore it's dark, for the minutes to look at the corpse is like the + meltin' snow.” + </p> + <p> + Seth overheard this, and coming into the kitchen again, as his mother rose + from her chair, he said, “Adam's asleep in the workshop, mother. Thee'dst + better not wake him. He was o'erwrought with work and trouble.” + </p> + <p> + “Wake him? Who's a-goin' to wake him? I shanna wake him wi' lookin' at + him. I hanna seen the lad this two hour—I'd welly forgot as he'd + e'er growed up from a babby when's feyther carried him.” + </p> + <p> + Adam was seated on a rough bench, his head supported by his arm, which + rested from the shoulder to the elbow on the long planing-table in the + middle of the workshop. It seemed as if he had sat down for a few minutes' + rest and had fallen asleep without slipping from his first attitude of + sad, fatigued thought. His face, unwashed since yesterday, looked pallid + and clammy; his hair was tossed shaggily about his forehead, and his + closed eyes had the sunken look which follows upon watching and sorrow. + His brow was knit, and his whole face had an expression of weariness and + pain. Gyp was evidently uneasy, for he sat on his haunches, resting his + nose on his master's stretched-out leg, and dividing the time between + licking the hand that hung listlessly down and glancing with a listening + air towards the door. The poor dog was hungry and restless, but would not + leave his master, and was waiting impatiently for some change in the + scene. It was owing to this feeling on Gyp's part that, when Lisbeth came + into the workshop and advanced towards Adam as noiselessly as she could, + her intention not to awaken him was immediately defeated; for Gyp's + excitement was too great to find vent in anything short of a sharp bark, + and in a moment Adam opened his eyes and saw his mother standing before + him. It was not very unlike his dream, for his sleep had been little more + than living through again, in a fevered delirious way, all that had + happened since daybreak, and his mother with her fretful grief was present + to him through it all. The chief difference between the reality and the + vision was that in his dream Hetty was continually coming before him in + bodily presence—strangely mingling herself as an actor in scenes + with which she had nothing to do. She was even by the Willow Brook; she + made his mother angry by coming into the house; and he met her with her + smart clothes quite wet through, as he walked in the rain to Treddleston, + to tell the coroner. But wherever Hetty came, his mother was sure to + follow soon; and when he opened his eyes, it was not at all startling to + see her standing near him. + </p> + <p> + “Eh, my lad, my lad!” Lisbeth burst out immediately, her wailing impulse + returning, for grief in its freshness feels the need of associating its + loss and its lament with every change of scene and incident, “thee'st got + nobody now but thy old mother to torment thee and be a burden to thee. Thy + poor feyther 'ull ne'er anger thee no more; an' thy mother may's well go + arter him—the sooner the better—for I'm no good to nobody now. + One old coat 'ull do to patch another, but it's good for nought else. + Thee'dst like to ha' a wife to mend thy clothes an' get thy victual, + better nor thy old mother. An' I shall be nought but cumber, a-sittin' i' + th' chimney-corner. (Adam winced and moved uneasily; he dreaded, of all + things, to hear his mother speak of Hetty.) But if thy feyther had lived, + he'd ne'er ha' wanted me to go to make room for another, for he could no + more ha' done wi'out me nor one side o' the scissars can do wi'out th' + other. Eh, we should ha' been both flung away together, an' then I + shouldna ha' seen this day, an' one buryin' 'ud ha' done for us both.” + </p> + <p> + Here Lisbeth paused, but Adam sat in pained silence—he could not + speak otherwise than tenderly to his mother to-day, but he could not help + being irritated by this plaint. It was not possible for poor Lisbeth to + know how it affected Adam any more than it is possible for a wounded dog + to know how his moans affect the nerves of his master. Like all + complaining women, she complained in the expectation of being soothed, and + when Adam said nothing, she was only prompted to complain more bitterly. + </p> + <p> + “I know thee couldst do better wi'out me, for thee couldst go where thee + likedst an' marry them as thee likedst. But I donna want to say thee nay, + let thee bring home who thee wut; I'd ne'er open my lips to find faut, for + when folks is old an' o' no use, they may think theirsens well off to get + the bit an' the sup, though they'n to swallow ill words wi't. An' if + thee'st set thy heart on a lass as'll bring thee nought and waste all, + when thee mightst ha' them as 'ud make a man on thee, I'll say nought, now + thy feyther's dead an' drownded, for I'm no better nor an old haft when + the blade's gone.” + </p> + <p> + Adam, unable to bear this any longer, rose silently from the bench and + walked out of the workshop into the kitchen. But Lisbeth followed him. + </p> + <p> + “Thee wutna go upstairs an' see thy feyther then? I'n done everythin' now, + an' he'd like thee to go an' look at him, for he war allays so pleased + when thee wast mild to him.” + </p> + <p> + Adam turned round at once and said, “Yes, mother; let us go upstairs. + Come, Seth, let us go together.” + </p> + <p> + They went upstairs, and for five minutes all was silence. Then the key was + turned again, and there was a sound of footsteps on the stairs. But Adam + did not come down again; he was too weary and worn-out to encounter more + of his mother's querulous grief, and he went to rest on his bed. Lisbeth + no sooner entered the kitchen and sat down than she threw her apron over + her head, and began to cry and moan and rock herself as before. Seth + thought, “She will be quieter by and by, now we have been upstairs”; and + he went into the back kitchen again, to tend his little fire, hoping that + he should presently induce her to have some tea. + </p> + <p> + Lisbeth had been rocking herself in this way for more than five minutes, + giving a low moan with every forward movement of her body, when she + suddenly felt a hand placed gently on hers, and a sweet treble voice said + to her, “Dear sister, the Lord has sent me to see if I can be a comfort to + you.” + </p> + <p> + Lisbeth paused, in a listening attitude, without removing her apron from + her face. The voice was strange to her. Could it be her sister's spirit + come back to her from the dead after all those years? She trembled and + dared not look. + </p> + <p> + Dinah, believing that this pause of wonder was in itself a relief for the + sorrowing woman, said no more just yet, but quietly took off her bonnet, + and then, motioning silence to Seth, who, on hearing her voice, had come + in with a beating heart, laid one hand on the back of Lisbeth's chair and + leaned over her, that she might be aware of a friendly presence. + </p> + <p> + Slowly Lisbeth drew down her apron, and timidly she opened her dim dark + eyes. She saw nothing at first but a face—a pure, pale face, with + loving grey eyes, and it was quite unknown to her. Her wonder increased; + perhaps it WAS an angel. But in the same instant Dinah had laid her hand + on Lisbeth's again, and the old woman looked down at it. It was a much + smaller hand than her own, but it was not white and delicate, for Dinah + had never worn a glove in her life, and her hand bore the traces of labour + from her childhood upwards. Lisbeth looked earnestly at the hand for a + moment, and then, fixing her eyes again on Dinah's face, said, with + something of restored courage, but in a tone of surprise, “Why, ye're a + workin' woman!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I am Dinah Morris, and I work in the cotton-mill when I am at home.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” said Lisbeth slowly, still wondering; “ye comed in so light, like + the shadow on the wall, an' spoke i' my ear, as I thought ye might be a + sperrit. Ye've got a'most the face o' one as is a-sittin' on the grave i' + Adam's new Bible.” + </p> + <p> + “I come from the Hall Farm now. You know Mrs. Poyser—she's my aunt, + and she has heard of your great affliction, and is very sorry; and I'm + come to see if I can be any help to you in your trouble; for I know your + sons Adam and Seth, and I know you have no daughter; and when the + clergyman told me how the hand of God was heavy upon you, my heart went + out towards you, and I felt a command to come and be to you in the place + of a daughter in this grief, if you will let me.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! I know who y' are now; y' are a Methody, like Seth; he's tould me on + you,” said Lisbeth fretfully, her overpowering sense of pain returning, + now her wonder was gone. “Ye'll make it out as trouble's a good thing, + like HE allays does. But where's the use o' talkin' to me a-that'n? Ye + canna make the smart less wi' talkin'. Ye'll ne'er make me believe as it's + better for me not to ha' my old man die in's bed, if he must die, an' ha' + the parson to pray by him, an' me to sit by him, an' tell him ne'er to + mind th' ill words I've gi'en him sometimes when I war angered, an' to gi' + him a bit an' a sup, as long as a bit an' a sup he'd swallow. But eh! To + die i' the cold water, an' us close to him, an' ne'er to know; an' me + a-sleepin', as if I ne'er belonged to him no more nor if he'd been a + journeyman tramp from nobody knows where!” + </p> + <p> + Here Lisbeth began to cry and rock herself again; and Dinah said, “Yes, + dear friend, your affliction is great. It would be hardness of heart to + say that your trouble was not heavy to bear. God didn't send me to you to + make light of your sorrow, but to mourn with you, if you will let me. If + you had a table spread for a feast, and was making merry with your + friends, you would think it was kind to let me come and sit down and + rejoice with you, because you'd think I should like to share those good + things; but I should like better to share in your trouble and your labour, + and it would seem harder to me if you denied me that. You won't send me + away? You're not angry with me for coming?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay; angered! who said I war angered? It war good on you to come. + An' Seth, why donna ye get her some tay? Ye war in a hurry to get some for + me, as had no need, but ye donna think o' gettin' 't for them as wants it. + Sit ye down; sit ye down. I thank you kindly for comin', for it's little + wage ye get by walkin' through the wet fields to see an old woman like + me....Nay, I'n got no daughter o' my own—ne'er had one—an' I + warna sorry, for they're poor queechy things, gells is; I allays wanted to + ha' lads, as could fend for theirsens. An' the lads 'ull be marryin'—I + shall ha' daughters eno', an' too many. But now, do ye make the tay as ye + like it, for I'n got no taste i' my mouth this day—it's all one what + I swaller—it's all got the taste o' sorrow wi't.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah took care not to betray that she had had her tea, and accepted + Lisbeth's invitation very readily, for the sake of persuading the old + woman herself to take the food and drink she so much needed after a day of + hard work and fasting. + </p> + <p> + Seth was so happy now Dinah was in the house that he could not help + thinking her presence was worth purchasing with a life in which grief + incessantly followed upon grief; but the next moment he reproached himself—it + was almost as if he were rejoicing in his father's sad death. Nevertheless + the joy of being with Dinah WOULD triumph—it was like the influence + of climate, which no resistance can overcome. And the feeling even + suffused itself over his face so as to attract his mother's notice, while + she was drinking her tea. + </p> + <p> + “Thee may'st well talk o' trouble bein' a good thing, Seth, for thee + thriv'st on't. Thee look'st as if thee know'dst no more o' care an' cumber + nor when thee wast a babby a-lyin' awake i' th' cradle. For thee'dst + allays lie still wi' thy eyes open, an' Adam ne'er 'ud lie still a minute + when he wakened. Thee wast allays like a bag o' meal as can ne'er be + bruised—though, for the matter o' that, thy poor feyther war just + such another. But ye've got the same look too” (here Lisbeth turned to + Dinah). “I reckon it's wi' bein' a Methody. Not as I'm a-findin' faut wi' + ye for't, for ye've no call to be frettin', an' somehow ye looken sorry + too. Eh! Well, if the Methodies are fond o' trouble, they're like to + thrive: it's a pity they canna ha't all, an' take it away from them as + donna like it. I could ha' gi'en 'em plenty; for when I'd gotten my old + man I war worreted from morn till night; and now he's gone, I'd be glad + for the worst o'er again.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Dinah, careful not to oppose any feeling of Lisbeth's, for her + reliance, in her smallest words and deeds, on a divine guidance, always + issued in that finest woman's tact which proceeds from acute and ready + sympathy; “yes, I remember too, when my dear aunt died, I longed for the + sound of her bad cough in the nights, instead of the silence that came + when she was gone. But now, dear friend, drink this other cup of tea and + eat a little more.” + </p> + <p> + “What!” said Lisbeth, taking the cup and speaking in a less querulous + tone, “had ye got no feyther and mother, then, as ye war so sorry about + your aunt?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I never knew a father or mother; my aunt brought me up from a baby. + She had no children, for she was never married and she brought me up as + tenderly as if I'd been her own child.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, she'd fine work wi' ye, I'll warrant, bringin' ye up from a babby, + an' her a lone woman—it's ill bringin' up a cade lamb. But I daresay + ye warna franzy, for ye look as if ye'd ne'er been angered i' your life. + But what did ye do when your aunt died, an' why didna ye come to live in + this country, bein' as Mrs. Poyser's your aunt too?” + </p> + <p> + Dinah, seeing that Lisbeth's attention was attracted, told her the story + of her early life—how she had been brought up to work hard, and what + sort of place Snowfield was, and how many people had a hard life there—all + the details that she thought likely to interest Lisbeth. The old woman + listened, and forgot to be fretful, unconsciously subject to the soothing + influence of Dinah's face and voice. After a while she was persuaded to + let the kitchen be made tidy; for Dinah was bent on this, believing that + the sense of order and quietude around her would help in disposing Lisbeth + to join in the prayer she longed to pour forth at her side. Seth, + meanwhile, went out to chop wood, for he surmised that Dinah would like to + be left alone with his mother. + </p> + <p> + Lisbeth sat watching her as she moved about in her still quick way, and + said at last, “Ye've got a notion o' cleanin' up. I wouldna mind ha'in ye + for a daughter, for ye wouldna spend the lad's wage i' fine clothes an' + waste. Ye're not like the lasses o' this countryside. I reckon folks is + different at Snowfield from what they are here.” + </p> + <p> + “They have a different sort of life, many of 'em,” said Dinah; “they work + at different things—some in the mill, and many in the mines, in the + villages round about. But the heart of man is the same everywhere, and + there are the children of this world and the children of light there as + well as elsewhere. But we've many more Methodists there than in this + country.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I didna know as the Methody women war like ye, for there's Will + Maskery's wife, as they say's a big Methody, isna pleasant to look at, at + all. I'd as lief look at a tooad. An' I'm thinkin' I wouldna mind if ye'd + stay an' sleep here, for I should like to see ye i' th' house i' th' + mornin'. But mayhappen they'll be lookin for ye at Mester Poyser's.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Dinah, “they don't expect me, and I should like to stay, if + you'll let me.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, there's room; I'n got my bed laid i' th' little room o'er the back + kitchen, an' ye can lie beside me. I'd be glad to ha' ye wi' me to speak + to i' th' night, for ye've got a nice way o' talkin'. It puts me i' mind + o' the swallows as was under the thack last 'ear when they fust begun to + sing low an' soft-like i' th' mornin'. Eh, but my old man war fond o' them + birds! An' so war Adam, but they'n ne'er comed again this 'ear. Happen + THEY'RE dead too.” + </p> + <p> + “There,” said Dinah, “now the kitchen looks tidy, and now, dear Mother—for + I'm your daughter to-night, you know—I should like you to wash your + face and have a clean cap on. Do you remember what David did, when God + took away his child from him? While the child was yet alive he fasted and + prayed to God to spare it, and he would neither eat nor drink, but lay on + the ground all night, beseeching God for the child. But when he knew it + was dead, he rose up from the ground and washed and anointed himself, and + changed his clothes, and ate and drank; and when they asked him how it was + that he seemed to have left off grieving now the child was dead, he said, + 'While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, Who can + tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now + he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall + go to him, but he shall not return to me.'” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, that's a true word,” said Lisbeth. “Yea, my old man wonna come back + to me, but I shall go to him—the sooner the better. Well, ye may do + as ye like wi' me: there's a clean cap i' that drawer, an' I'll go i' the + back kitchen an' wash my face. An' Seth, thee may'st reach down Adam's new + Bible wi' th' picters in, an' she shall read us a chapter. Eh, I like them + words—'I shall go to him, but he wonna come back to me.'” + </p> + <p> + Dinah and Seth were both inwardly offering thanks for the greater + quietness of spirit that had come over Lisbeth. This was what Dinah had + been trying to bring about, through all her still sympathy and absence + from exhortation. From her girlhood upwards she had had experience among + the sick and the mourning, among minds hardened and shrivelled through + poverty and ignorance, and had gained the subtlest perception of the mode + in which they could best be touched and softened into willingness to + receive words of spiritual consolation or warning. As Dinah expressed it, + “she was never left to herself; but it was always given her when to keep + silence and when to speak.” And do we not all agree to call rapid thought + and noble impulse by the name of inspiration? After our subtlest analysis + of the mental process, we must still say, as Dinah did, that our highest + thoughts and our best deeds are all given to us. + </p> + <p> + And so there was earnest prayer—there was faith, love, and hope + pouring forth that evening in the little kitchen. And poor, aged, fretful + Lisbeth, without grasping any distinct idea, without going through any + course of religious emotions, felt a vague sense of goodness and love, and + of something right lying underneath and beyond all this sorrowing life. + She couldn't understand the sorrow; but, for these moments, under the + subduing influence of Dinah's spirit, she felt that she must be patient + and still. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XI + </h2> + <h3> + In the Cottage + </h3> + <p> + IT was but half-past four the next morning when Dinah, tired of lying + awake listening to the birds and watching the growing light through the + little window in the garret roof, rose and began to dress herself very + quietly, lest she should disturb Lisbeth. But already some one else was + astir in the house, and had gone downstairs, preceded by Gyp. The dog's + pattering step was a sure sign that it was Adam who went down; but Dinah + was not aware of this, and she thought it was more likely to be Seth, for + he had told her how Adam had stayed up working the night before. Seth, + however, had only just awakened at the sound of the opening door. The + exciting influence of the previous day, heightened at last by Dinah's + unexpected presence, had not been counteracted by any bodily weariness, + for he had not done his ordinary amount of hard work; and so when he went + to bed; it was not till he had tired himself with hours of tossing + wakefulness that drowsiness came, and led on a heavier morning sleep than + was usual with him. + </p> + <p> + But Adam had been refreshed by his long rest, and with his habitual + impatience of mere passivity, he was eager to begin the new day and subdue + sadness by his strong will and strong arm. The white mist lay in the + valley; it was going to be a bright warm day, and he would start to work + again when he had had his breakfast. + </p> + <p> + “There's nothing but what's bearable as long as a man can work,” he said + to himself; “the natur o' things doesn't change, though it seems as if + one's own life was nothing but change. The square o' four is sixteen, and + you must lengthen your lever in proportion to your weight, is as true when + a man's miserable as when he's happy; and the best o' working is, it gives + you a grip hold o' things outside your own lot.” + </p> + <p> + As he dashed the cold water over his head and face, he felt completely + himself again, and with his black eyes as keen as ever and his thick black + hair all glistening with the fresh moisture, he went into the workshop to + look out the wood for his father's coffin, intending that he and Seth + should carry it with them to Jonathan Burge's and have the coffin made by + one of the workmen there, so that his mother might not see and hear the + sad task going forward at home. + </p> + <p> + He had just gone into the workshop when his quick ear detected a light + rapid foot on the stairs—certainly not his mother's. He had been in + bed and asleep when Dinah had come in, in the evening, and now he wondered + whose step this could be. A foolish thought came, and moved him strangely. + As if it could be Hetty! She was the last person likely to be in the + house. And yet he felt reluctant to go and look and have the clear proof + that it was some one else. He stood leaning on a plank he had taken hold + of, listening to sounds which his imagination interpreted for him so + pleasantly that the keen strong face became suffused with a timid + tenderness. The light footstep moved about the kitchen, followed by the + sound of the sweeping brush, hardly making so much noise as the lightest + breeze that chases the autumn leaves along the dusty path; and Adam's + imagination saw a dimpled face, with dark bright eyes and roguish smiles + looking backward at this brush, and a rounded figure just leaning a little + to clasp the handle. A very foolish thought—it could not be Hetty; + but the only way of dismissing such nonsense from his head was to go and + see WHO it was, for his fancy only got nearer and nearer to belief while + he stood there listening. He loosed the plank and went to the kitchen + door. + </p> + <p> + “How do you do, Adam Bede?” said Dinah, in her calm treble, pausing from + her sweeping and fixing her mild grave eyes upon him. “I trust you feel + rested and strengthened again to bear the burden and heat of the day.” + </p> + <p> + It was like dreaming of the sunshine and awaking in the moonlight. Adam + had seen Dinah several times, but always at the Hall Farm, where he was + not very vividly conscious of any woman's presence except Hetty's, and he + had only in the last day or two begun to suspect that Seth was in love + with her, so that his attention had not hitherto been drawn towards her + for his brother's sake. But now her slim figure, her plain black gown, and + her pale serene face impressed him with all the force that belongs to a + reality contrasted with a preoccupying fancy. For the first moment or two + he made no answer, but looked at her with the concentrated, examining + glance which a man gives to an object in which he has suddenly begun to be + interested. Dinah, for the first time in her life, felt a painful + self-consciousness; there was something in the dark penetrating glance of + this strong man so different from the mildness and timidity of his brother + Seth. A faint blush came, which deepened as she wondered at it. This blush + recalled Adam from his forgetfulness. + </p> + <p> + “I was quite taken by surprise; it was very good of you to come and see my + mother in her trouble,” he said, in a gentle grateful tone, for his quick + mind told him at once how she came to be there. “I hope my mother was + thankful to have you,” he added, wondering rather anxiously what had been + Dinah's reception. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Dinah, resuming her work, “she seemed greatly comforted after + a while, and she's had a good deal of rest in the night, by times. She was + fast asleep when I left her.” + </p> + <p> + “Who was it took the news to the Hall Farm?” said Adam, his thoughts + reverting to some one there; he wondered whether SHE had felt anything + about it. + </p> + <p> + “It was Mr. Irwine, the clergyman, told me, and my aunt was grieved for + your mother when she heard it, and wanted me to come; and so is my uncle, + I'm sure, now he's heard it, but he was gone out to Rosseter all + yesterday. They'll look for you there as soon as you've got time to go, + for there's nobody round that hearth but what's glad to see you.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah, with her sympathetic divination, knew quite well that Adam was + longing to hear if Hetty had said anything about their trouble; she was + too rigorously truthful for benevolent invention, but she had contrived to + say something in which Hetty was tacitly included. Love has a way of + cheating itself consciously, like a child who plays at solitary + hide-and-seek; it is pleased with assurances that it all the while + disbelieves. Adam liked what Dinah had said so much that his mind was + directly full of the next visit he should pay to the Hall Farm, when Hetty + would perhaps behave more kindly to him than she had ever done before. + </p> + <p> + “But you won't be there yourself any longer?” he said to Dinah. + </p> + <p> + “No, I go back to Snowfield on Saturday, and I shall have to set out to + Treddleston early, to be in time for the Oakbourne carrier. So I must go + back to the farm to-night, that I may have the last day with my aunt and + her children. But I can stay here all to-day, if your mother would like + me; and her heart seemed inclined towards me last night.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, then, she's sure to want you to-day. If mother takes to people at the + beginning, she's sure to get fond of 'em; but she's a strange way of not + liking young women. Though, to be sure,” Adam went on, smiling, “her not + liking other young women is no reason why she shouldn't like you.” + </p> + <p> + Hitherto Gyp had been assisting at this conversation in motionless + silence, seated on his haunches, and alternately looking up in his + master's face to watch its expression and observing Dinah's movements + about the kitchen. The kind smile with which Adam uttered the last words + was apparently decisive with Gyp of the light in which the stranger was to + be regarded, and as she turned round after putting aside her + sweeping-brush, he trotted towards her and put up his muzzle against her + hand in a friendly way. + </p> + <p> + “You see Gyp bids you welcome,” said Adam, “and he's very slow to welcome + strangers.” + </p> + <p> + “Poor dog!” said Dinah, patting the rough grey coat, “I've a strange + feeling about the dumb things as if they wanted to speak, and it was a + trouble to 'em because they couldn't. I can't help being sorry for the + dogs always, though perhaps there's no need. But they may well have more + in them than they know how to make us understand, for we can't say half + what we feel, with all our words.” + </p> + <p> + Seth came down now, and was pleased to find Adam talking with Dinah; he + wanted Adam to know how much better she was than all other women. But + after a few words of greeting, Adam drew him into the workshop to consult + about the coffin, and Dinah went on with her cleaning. + </p> + <p> + By six o'clock they were all at breakfast with Lisbeth in a kitchen as + clean as she could have made it herself. The window and door were open, + and the morning air brought with it a mingled scent of southernwood, + thyme, and sweet-briar from the patch of garden by the side of the + cottage. Dinah did not sit down at first, but moved about, serving the + others with the warm porridge and the toasted oat-cake, which she had got + ready in the usual way, for she had asked Seth to tell her just what his + mother gave them for breakfast. Lisbeth had been unusually silent since + she came downstairs, apparently requiring some time to adjust her ideas to + a state of things in which she came down like a lady to find all the work + done, and sat still to be waited on. Her new sensations seemed to exclude + the remembrance of her grief. At last, after tasting the porridge, she + broke silence: + </p> + <p> + “Ye might ha' made the parridge worse,” she said to Dinah; “I can ate it + wi'out its turnin' my stomach. It might ha' been a trifle thicker an' no + harm, an' I allays putten a sprig o' mint in mysen; but how's ye t' know + that? The lads arena like to get folks as 'll make their parridge as I'n + made it for 'em; it's well if they get onybody as 'll make parridge at + all. But ye might do, wi' a bit o' showin'; for ye're a stirrin' body in a + mornin', an' ye've a light heel, an' ye've cleaned th' house well enough + for a ma'shift.” + </p> + <p> + “Makeshift, mother?” said Adam. “Why, I think the house looks beautiful. I + don't know how it could look better.” + </p> + <p> + “Thee dostna know? Nay; how's thee to know? Th' men ne'er know whether the + floor's cleaned or cat-licked. But thee'lt know when thee gets thy + parridge burnt, as it's like enough to be when I'n gi'en o'er makin' it. + Thee'lt think thy mother war good for summat then.” + </p> + <p> + “Dinah,” said Seth, “do come and sit down now and have your breakfast. + We're all served now.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, come an' sit ye down—do,” said Lisbeth, “an' ate a morsel; + ye'd need, arter bein' upo' your legs this hour an' half a'ready. Come, + then,” she added, in a tone of complaining affection, as Dinah sat down by + her side, “I'll be loath for ye t' go, but ye canna stay much longer, I + doubt. I could put up wi' ye i' th' house better nor wi' most folks.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll stay till to-night if you're willing,” said Dinah. “I'd stay longer, + only I'm going back to Snowfield on Saturday, and I must be with my aunt + to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, I'd ne'er go back to that country. My old man come from that + Stonyshire side, but he left it when he war a young un, an' i' the right + on't too; for he said as there war no wood there, an' it 'ud ha' been a + bad country for a carpenter.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said Adam, “I remember father telling me when I was a little lad + that he made up his mind if ever he moved it should be south'ard. But I'm + not so sure about it. Bartle Massey says—and he knows the South—as + the northern men are a finer breed than the southern, harder-headed and + stronger-bodied, and a deal taller. And then he says in some o' those + counties it's as flat as the back o' your hand, and you can see nothing of + a distance without climbing up the highest trees. I couldn't abide that. I + like to go to work by a road that'll take me up a bit of a hill, and see + the fields for miles round me, and a bridge, or a town, or a bit of a + steeple here and there. It makes you feel the world's a big place, and + there's other men working in it with their heads and hands besides + yourself.” + </p> + <p> + “I like th' hills best,” said Seth, “when the clouds are over your head + and you see the sun shining ever so far off, over the Loamford way, as + I've often done o' late, on the stormy days. It seems to me as if that was + heaven where there's always joy and sunshine, though this life's dark and + cloudy.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I love the Stonyshire side,” said Dinah; “I shouldn't like to set my + face towards the countries where they're rich in corn and cattle, and the + ground so level and easy to tread; and to turn my back on the hills where + the poor people have to live such a hard life and the men spend their days + in the mines away from the sunlight. It's very blessed on a bleak cold + day, when the sky is hanging dark over the hill, to feel the love of God + in one's soul, and carry it to the lonely, bare, stone houses, where + there's nothing else to give comfort.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh!” said Lisbeth, “that's very well for ye to talk, as looks welly like + the snowdrop-flowers as ha' lived for days an' days when I'n gethered 'em, + wi' nothin' but a drop o' water an' a peep o' daylight; but th' hungry + foulks had better leave th' hungry country. It makes less mouths for the + scant cake. But,” she went on, looking at Adam, “donna thee talk o' goin' + south'ard or north'ard, an' leavin' thy feyther and mother i' the + churchyard, an' goin' to a country as they know nothin' on. I'll ne'er + rest i' my grave if I donna see thee i' the churchyard of a Sunday.” + </p> + <p> + “Donna fear, mother,” said Adam. “If I hadna made up my mind not to go, I + should ha' been gone before now.” + </p> + <p> + He had finished his breakfast now, and rose as he was speaking. + </p> + <p> + “What art goin' to do?” asked Lisbeth. “Set about thy feyther's coffin?” + </p> + <p> + “No, mother,” said Adam; “we're going to take the wood to the village and + have it made there.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, my lad, nay,” Lisbeth burst out in an eager, wailing tone; “thee + wotna let nobody make thy feyther's coffin but thysen? Who'd make it so + well? An' him as know'd what good work war, an's got a son as is the head + o' the village an' all Treddles'on too, for cleverness.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, mother, if that's thy wish, I'll make the coffin at home; but + I thought thee wouldstna like to hear the work going on.” + </p> + <p> + “An' why shouldna I like 't? It's the right thing to be done. An' what's + liking got to do wi't? It's choice o' mislikings is all I'n got i' this + world. One morsel's as good as another when your mouth's out o' taste. + Thee mun set about it now this mornin' fust thing. I wonna ha' nobody to + touch the coffin but thee.” + </p> + <p> + Adam's eyes met Seth's, which looked from Dinah to him rather wistfully. + </p> + <p> + “No, Mother,” he said, “I'll not consent but Seth shall have a hand in it + too, if it's to be done at home. I'll go to the village this forenoon, + because Mr. Burge 'ull want to see me, and Seth shall stay at home and + begin the coffin. I can come back at noon, and then he can go.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay,” persisted Lisbeth, beginning to cry, “I'n set my heart on't as + thee shalt ma' thy feyther's coffin. Thee't so stiff an' masterful, thee't + ne'er do as thy mother wants thee. Thee wast often angered wi' thy feyther + when he war alive; thee must be the better to him now he's gone. He'd ha' + thought nothin' on't for Seth to ma's coffin.” + </p> + <p> + “Say no more, Adam, say no more,” said Seth, gently, though his voice told + that he spoke with some effort; “Mother's in the right. I'll go to work, + and do thee stay at home.” + </p> + <p> + He passed into the workshop immediately, followed by Adam; while Lisbeth, + automatically obeying her old habits, began to put away the breakfast + things, as if she did not mean Dinah to take her place any longer. Dinah + said nothing, but presently used the opportunity of quietly joining the + brothers in the workshop. + </p> + <p> + They had already got on their aprons and paper caps, and Adam was standing + with his left hand on Seth's shoulder, while he pointed with the hammer in + his right to some boards which they were looking at. Their backs were + turned towards the door by which Dinah entered, and she came in so gently + that they were not aware of her presence till they heard her voice saying, + “Seth Bede!” Seth started, and they both turned round. Dinah looked as if + she did not see Adam, and fixed her eyes on Seth's face, saying with calm + kindness, “I won't say farewell. I shall see you again when you come from + work. So as I'm at the farm before dark, it will be quite soon enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Dinah; I should like to walk home with you once more. It'll + perhaps be the last time.” + </p> + <p> + There was a little tremor in Seth's voice. Dinah put out her hand and + said, “You'll have sweet peace in your mind to-day, Seth, for your + tenderness and long-suffering towards your aged mother.” + </p> + <p> + She turned round and left the workshop as quickly and quietly as she had + entered it. Adam had been observing her closely all the while, but she had + not looked at him. As soon as she was gone, he said, “I don't wonder at + thee for loving her, Seth. She's got a face like a lily.” + </p> + <p> + Seth's soul rushed to his eyes and lips: he had never yet confessed his + secret to Adam, but now he felt a delicious sense of disburdenment, as he + answered, “Aye, Addy, I do love her—too much, I doubt. But she + doesna love me, lad, only as one child o' God loves another. She'll never + love any man as a husband—that's my belief.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, lad, there's no telling; thee mustna lose heart. She's made out o' + stuff with a finer grain than most o' the women; I can see that clear + enough. But if she's better than they are in other things, I canna think + she'll fall short of 'em in loving.” + </p> + <p> + No more was said. Seth set out to the village, and Adam began his work on + the coffin. + </p> + <p> + “God help the lad, and me too,” he thought, as he lifted the board. “We're + like enough to find life a tough job—hard work inside and out. It's + a strange thing to think of a man as can lift a chair with his teeth and + walk fifty mile on end, trembling and turning hot and cold at only a look + from one woman out of all the rest i' the world. It's a mystery we can + give no account of; but no more we can of the sprouting o' the seed, for + that matter.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XII + </h2> + <h3> + In the Wood + </h3> + <p> + THAT same Thursday morning, as Arthur Donnithorne was moving about in his + dressing-room seeing his well-looking British person reflected in the + old-fashioned mirrors, and stared at, from a dingy olive-green piece of + tapestry, by Pharaoh's daughter and her maidens, who ought to have been + minding the infant Moses, he was holding a discussion with himself, which, + by the time his valet was tying the black silk sling over his shoulder, + had issued in a distinct practical resolution. + </p> + <p> + “I mean to go to Eagledale and fish for a week or so,” he said aloud. “I + shall take you with me, Pym, and set off this morning; so be ready by + half-past eleven.” + </p> + <p> + The low whistle, which had assisted him in arriving at this resolution, + here broke out into his loudest ringing tenor, and the corridor, as he + hurried along it, echoed to his favourite song from the Beggar's Opera, + “When the heart of a man is oppressed with care.” Not an heroic strain; + nevertheless Arthur felt himself very heroic as he strode towards the + stables to give his orders about the horses. His own approbation was + necessary to him, and it was not an approbation to be enjoyed quite + gratuitously; it must be won by a fair amount of merit. He had never yet + forfeited that approbation, and he had considerable reliance on his own + virtues. No young man could confess his faults more candidly; candour was + one of his favourite virtues; and how can a man's candour be seen in all + its lustre unless he has a few failings to talk of? But he had an + agreeable confidence that his faults were all of a generous kind—impetuous, + warm-blooded, leonine; never crawling, crafty, reptilian. It was not + possible for Arthur Donnithorne to do anything mean, dastardly, or cruel. + “No! I'm a devil of a fellow for getting myself into a hobble, but I + always take care the load shall fall on my own shoulders.” Unhappily, + there is no inherent poetical justice in hobbles, and they will sometimes + obstinately refuse to inflict their worst consequences on the prime + offender, in spite of his loudly expressed wish. It was entirely owing to + this deficiency in the scheme of things that Arthur had ever brought any + one into trouble besides himself. He was nothing if not good-natured; and + all his pictures of the future, when he should come into the estate, were + made up of a prosperous, contented tenantry, adoring their landlord, who + would be the model of an English gentleman—mansion in first-rate + order, all elegance and high taste—jolly housekeeping, finest stud + in Loamshire—purse open to all public objects—in short, + everything as different as possible from what was now associated with the + name of Donnithorne. And one of the first good actions he would perform in + that future should be to increase Irwine's income for the vicarage of + Hayslope, so that he might keep a carriage for his mother and sisters. His + hearty affection for the rector dated from the age of frocks and trousers. + It was an affection partly filial, partly fraternal—fraternal enough + to make him like Irwine's company better than that of most younger men, + and filial enough to make him shrink strongly from incurring Irwine's + disapprobation. + </p> + <p> + You perceive that Arthur Donnithorne was “a good fellow”—all his + college friends thought him such. He couldn't bear to see any one + uncomfortable; he would have been sorry even in his angriest moods for any + harm to happen to his grandfather; and his Aunt Lydia herself had the + benefit of that soft-heartedness which he bore towards the whole sex. + Whether he would have self-mastery enough to be always as harmless and + purely beneficent as his good-nature led him to desire, was a question + that no one had yet decided against him; he was but twenty-one, you + remember, and we don't inquire too closely into character in the case of a + handsome generous young fellow, who will have property enough to support + numerous peccadilloes—who, if he should unfortunately break a man's + legs in his rash driving, will be able to pension him handsomely; or if he + should happen to spoil a woman's existence for her, will make it up to her + with expensive bon-bons, packed up and directed by his own hand. It would + be ridiculous to be prying and analytic in such cases, as if one were + inquiring into the character of a confidential clerk. We use round, + general, gentlemanly epithets about a young man of birth and fortune; and + ladies, with that fine intuition which is the distinguishing attribute of + their sex, see at once that he is “nice.” The chances are that he will go + through life without scandalizing any one; a seaworthy vessel that no one + would refuse to insure. Ships, certainly, are liable to casualties, which + sometimes make terribly evident some flaw in their construction that would + never have been discoverable in smooth water; and many a “good fellow,” + through a disastrous combination of circumstances, has undergone a like + betrayal. + </p> + <p> + But we have no fair ground for entertaining unfavourable auguries + concerning Arthur Donnithorne, who this morning proves himself capable of + a prudent resolution founded on conscience. One thing is clear: Nature has + taken care that he shall never go far astray with perfect comfort and + satisfaction to himself; he will never get beyond that border-land of sin, + where he will be perpetually harassed by assaults from the other side of + the boundary. He will never be a courtier of Vice, and wear her orders in + his button-hole. + </p> + <p> + It was about ten o'clock, and the sun was shining brilliantly; everything + was looking lovelier for the yesterday's rain. It is a pleasant thing on + such a morning to walk along the well-rolled gravel on one's way to the + stables, meditating an excursion. But the scent of the stables, which, in + a natural state of things, ought to be among the soothing influences of a + man's life, always brought with it some irritation to Arthur. There was no + having his own way in the stables; everything was managed in the stingiest + fashion. His grandfather persisted in retaining as head groom an old dolt + whom no sort of lever could move out of his old habits, and who was + allowed to hire a succession of raw Loamshire lads as his subordinates, + one of whom had lately tested a new pair of shears by clipping an oblong + patch on Arthur's bay mare. This state of things is naturally embittering; + one can put up with annoyances in the house, but to have the stable made a + scene of vexation and disgust is a point beyond what human flesh and blood + can be expected to endure long together without danger of misanthropy. + </p> + <p> + Old John's wooden, deep-wrinkled face was the first object that met + Arthur's eyes as he entered the stable-yard, and it quite poisoned for him + the bark of the two bloodhounds that kept watch there. He could never + speak quite patiently to the old blockhead. + </p> + <p> + “You must have Meg saddled for me and brought to the door at half-past + eleven, and I shall want Rattler saddled for Pym at the same time. Do you + hear?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I hear, I hear, Cap'n,” said old John very deliberately, following + the young master into the stable. John considered a young master as the + natural enemy of an old servant, and young people in general as a poor + contrivance for carrying on the world. + </p> + <p> + Arthur went in for the sake of patting Meg, declining as far as possible + to see anything in the stables, lest he should lose his temper before + breakfast. The pretty creature was in one of the inner stables, and turned + her mild head as her master came beside her. Little Trot, a tiny spaniel, + her inseparable companion in the stable, was comfortably curled up on her + back. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Meg, my pretty girl,” said Arthur, patting her neck, “we'll have a + glorious canter this morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, your honour, I donna see as that can be,” said John. + </p> + <p> + “Not be? Why not?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, she's got lamed.” + </p> + <p> + “Lamed, confound you! What do you mean?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, th' lad took her too close to Dalton's hosses, an' one on 'em flung + out at her, an' she's got her shank bruised o' the near foreleg.” + </p> + <p> + The judicious historian abstains from narrating precisely what ensued. You + understand that there was a great deal of strong language, mingled with + soothing “who-ho's” while the leg was examined; that John stood by with + quite as much emotion as if he had been a cunningly carved crab-tree + walking-stick, and that Arthur Donnithorne presently repassed the iron + gates of the pleasure-ground without singing as he went. + </p> + <p> + He considered himself thoroughly disappointed and annoyed. There was not + another mount in the stable for himself and his servant besides Meg and + Rattler. It was vexatious; just when he wanted to get out of the way for a + week or two. It seemed culpable in Providence to allow such a combination + of circumstances. To be shut up at the Chase with a broken arm when every + other fellow in his regiment was enjoying himself at Windsor—shut up + with his grandfather, who had the same sort of affection for him as for + his parchment deeds! And to be disgusted at every turn with the management + of the house and the estate! In such circumstances a man necessarily gets + in an ill humour, and works off the irritation by some excess or other. + “Salkeld would have drunk a bottle of port every day,” he muttered to + himself, “but I'm not well seasoned enough for that. Well, since I can't + go to Eagledale, I'll have a gallop on Rattler to Norburne this morning, + and lunch with Gawaine.” + </p> + <p> + Behind this explicit resolution there lay an implicit one. If he lunched + with Gawaine and lingered chatting, he should not reach the Chase again + till nearly five, when Hetty would be safe out of his sight in the + housekeeper's room; and when she set out to go home, it would be his lazy + time after dinner, so he should keep out of her way altogether. There + really would have been no harm in being kind to the little thing, and it + was worth dancing with a dozen ballroom belles only to look at Hetty for + half an hour. But perhaps he had better not take any more notice of her; + it might put notions into her head, as Irwine had hinted; though Arthur, + for his part, thought girls were not by any means so soft and easily + bruised; indeed, he had generally found them twice as cool and cunning as + he was himself. As for any real harm in Hetty's case, it was out of the + question: Arthur Donnithorne accepted his own bond for himself with + perfect confidence. + </p> + <p> + So the twelve o'clock sun saw him galloping towards Norburne; and by good + fortune Halsell Common lay in his road and gave him some fine leaps for + Rattler. Nothing like “taking” a few bushes and ditches for exorcising a + demon; and it is really astonishing that the Centaurs, with their immense + advantages in this way, have left so bad a reputation in history. + </p> + <p> + After this, you will perhaps be surprised to hear that although Gawaine + was at home, the hand of the dial in the courtyard had scarcely cleared + the last stroke of three when Arthur returned through the entrance-gates, + got down from the panting Rattler, and went into the house to take a hasty + luncheon. But I believe there have been men since his day who have ridden + a long way to avoid a rencontre, and then galloped hastily back lest they + should miss it. It is the favourite stratagem of our passions to sham a + retreat, and to turn sharp round upon us at the moment we have made up our + minds that the day is our own. + </p> + <p> + “The cap'n's been ridin' the devil's own pace,” said Dalton the coachman, + whose person stood out in high relief as he smoked his pipe against the + stable wall, when John brought up Rattler. + </p> + <p> + “An' I wish he'd get the devil to do's grooming for'n,” growled John. + </p> + <p> + “Aye; he'd hev a deal haimabler groom nor what he has now,” observed + Dalton—and the joke appeared to him so good that, being left alone + upon the scene, he continued at intervals to take his pipe from his mouth + in order to wink at an imaginary audience and shake luxuriously with a + silent, ventral laughter, mentally rehearsing the dialogue from the + beginning, that he might recite it with effect in the servants' hall. + </p> + <p> + When Arthur went up to his dressing-room again after luncheon, it was + inevitable that the debate he had had with himself there earlier in the + day should flash across his mind; but it was impossible for him now to + dwell on the remembrance—impossible to recall the feelings and + reflections which had been decisive with him then, any more than to recall + the peculiar scent of the air that had freshened him when he first opened + his window. The desire to see Hetty had rushed back like an ill-stemmed + current; he was amazed himself at the force with which this trivial fancy + seemed to grasp him: he was even rather tremulous as he brushed his hair—pooh! + it was riding in that break-neck way. It was because he had made a serious + affair of an idle matter, by thinking of it as if it were of any + consequence. He would amuse himself by seeing Hetty to-day, and get rid of + the whole thing from his mind. It was all Irwine's fault. “If Irwine had + said nothing, I shouldn't have thought half so much of Hetty as of Meg's + lameness.” However, it was just the sort of day for lolling in the + Hermitage, and he would go and finish Dr. Moore's Zeluco there before + dinner. The Hermitage stood in Fir-tree Grove—the way Hetty was sure + to come in walking from the Hall Farm. So nothing could be simpler and + more natural: meeting Hetty was a mere circumstance of his walk, not its + object. + </p> + <p> + Arthur's shadow flitted rather faster among the sturdy oaks of the Chase + than might have been expected from the shadow of a tired man on a warm + afternoon, and it was still scarcely four o'clock when he stood before the + tall narrow gate leading into the delicious labyrinthine wood which + skirted one side of the Chase, and which was called Fir-tree Grove, not + because the firs were many, but because they were few. It was a wood of + beeches and limes, with here and there a light silver-stemmed birch—just + the sort of wood most haunted by the nymphs: you see their white sunlit + limbs gleaming athwart the boughs, or peeping from behind the + smooth-sweeping outline of a tall lime; you hear their soft liquid + laughter—but if you look with a too curious sacrilegious eye, they + vanish behind the silvery beeches, they make you believe that their voice + was only a running brooklet, perhaps they metamorphose themselves into a + tawny squirrel that scampers away and mocks you from the topmost bough. It + was not a grove with measured grass or rolled gravel for you to tread + upon, but with narrow, hollow-shaped, earthy paths, edged with faint + dashes of delicate moss—paths which look as if they were made by the + free will of the trees and underwood, moving reverently aside to look at + the tall queen of the white-footed nymphs. + </p> + <p> + It was along the broadest of these paths that Arthur Donnithorne passed, + under an avenue of limes and beeches. It was a still afternoon—the + golden light was lingering languidly among the upper boughs, only glancing + down here and there on the purple pathway and its edge of faintly + sprinkled moss: an afternoon in which destiny disguises her cold awful + face behind a hazy radiant veil, encloses us in warm downy wings, and + poisons us with violet-scented breath. Arthur strolled along carelessly, + with a book under his arm, but not looking on the ground as meditative men + are apt to do; his eyes WOULD fix themselves on the distant bend in the + road round which a little figure must surely appear before long. Ah! There + she comes. First a bright patch of colour, like a tropic bird among the + boughs; then a tripping figure, with a round hat on, and a small basket + under her arm; then a deep-blushing, almost frightened, but bright-smiling + girl, making her curtsy with a fluttered yet happy glance, as Arthur came + up to her. If Arthur had had time to think at all, he would have thought + it strange that he should feel fluttered too, be conscious of blushing too—in + fact, look and feel as foolish as if he had been taken by surprise instead + of meeting just what he expected. Poor things! It was a pity they were not + in that golden age of childhood when they would have stood face to face, + eyeing each other with timid liking, then given each other a little + butterfly kiss, and toddled off to play together. Arthur would have gone + home to his silk-curtained cot, and Hetty to her home-spun pillow, and + both would have slept without dreams, and to-morrow would have been a life + hardly conscious of a yesterday. + </p> + <p> + Arthur turned round and walked by Hetty's side without giving a reason. + They were alone together for the first time. What an overpowering presence + that first privacy is! He actually dared not look at this little + butter-maker for the first minute or two. As for Hetty, her feet rested on + a cloud, and she was borne along by warm zephyrs; she had forgotten her + rose-coloured ribbons; she was no more conscious of her limbs than if her + childish soul had passed into a water-lily, resting on a liquid bed and + warmed by the midsummer sun-beams. It may seem a contradiction, but Arthur + gathered a certain carelessness and confidence from his timidity: it was + an entirely different state of mind from what he had expected in such a + meeting with Hetty; and full as he was of vague feeling, there was room, + in those moments of silence, for the thought that his previous debates and + scruples were needless. + </p> + <p> + “You are quite right to choose this way of coming to the Chase,” he said + at last, looking down at Hetty; “it is so much prettier as well as shorter + than coming by either of the lodges.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” Hetty answered, with a tremulous, almost whispering voice. She + didn't know one bit how to speak to a gentleman like Mr. Arthur, and her + very vanity made her more coy of speech. + </p> + <p> + “Do you come every week to see Mrs. Pomfret?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir, every Thursday, only when she's got to go out with Miss + Donnithorne.” + </p> + <p> + “And she's teaching you something, is she?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir, the lace-mending as she learnt abroad, and the stocking-mending—it + looks just like the stocking, you can't tell it's been mended; and she + teaches me cutting-out too.” + </p> + <p> + “What! are YOU going to be a lady's maid?” + </p> + <p> + “I should like to be one very much indeed.” Hetty spoke more audibly now, + but still rather tremulously; she thought, perhaps she seemed as stupid to + Captain Donnithorne as Luke Britton did to her. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose Mrs. Pomfret always expects you at this time?” + </p> + <p> + “She expects me at four o'clock. I'm rather late to-day, because my aunt + couldn't spare me; but the regular time is four, because that gives us + time before Miss Donnithorne's bell rings.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, then, I must not keep you now, else I should like to show you the + Hermitage. Did you ever see it?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “This is the walk where we turn up to it. But we must not go now. I'll + show it you some other time, if you'd like to see it.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, please, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you always come back this way in the evening, or are you afraid to + come so lonely a road?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh no, sir, it's never late; I always set out by eight o'clock, and it's + so light now in the evening. My aunt would be angry with me if I didn't + get home before nine.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps Craig, the gardener, comes to take care of you?” + </p> + <p> + A deep blush overspread Hetty's face and neck. “I'm sure he doesn't; I'm + sure he never did; I wouldn't let him; I don't like him,” she said + hastily, and the tears of vexation had come so fast that before she had + done speaking a bright drop rolled down her hot cheek. Then she felt + ashamed to death that she was crying, and for one long instant her + happiness was all gone. But in the next she felt an arm steal round her, + and a gentle voice said, “Why, Hetty, what makes you cry? I didn't mean to + vex you. I wouldn't vex you for the world, you little blossom. Come, don't + cry; look at me, else I shall think you won't forgive me.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur had laid his hand on the soft arm that was nearest to him, and was + stooping towards Hetty with a look of coaxing entreaty. Hetty lifted her + long dewy lashes, and met the eyes that were bent towards her with a + sweet, timid, beseeching look. What a space of time those three moments + were while their eyes met and his arms touched her! Love is such a simple + thing when we have only one-and-twenty summers and a sweet girl of + seventeen trembles under our glance, as if she were a bud first opening + her heart with wondering rapture to the morning. Such young unfurrowed + souls roll to meet each other like two velvet peaches that touch softly + and are at rest; they mingle as easily as two brooklets that ask for + nothing but to entwine themselves and ripple with ever-interlacing curves + in the leafiest hiding-places. While Arthur gazed into Hetty's dark + beseeching eyes, it made no difference to him what sort of English she + spoke; and even if hoops and powder had been in fashion, he would very + likely not have been sensible just then that Hetty wanted those signs of + high breeding. + </p> + <p> + But they started asunder with beating hearts: something had fallen on the + ground with a rattling noise; it was Hetty's basket; all her little + workwoman's matters were scattered on the path, some of them showing a + capability of rolling to great lengths. There was much to be done in + picking up, and not a word was spoken; but when Arthur hung the basket + over her arm again, the poor child felt a strange difference in his look + and manner. He just pressed her hand, and said, with a look and tone that + were almost chilling to her, “I have been hindering you; I must not keep + you any longer now. You will be expected at the house. Good-bye.” + </p> + <p> + Without waiting for her to speak, he turned away from her and hurried back + towards the road that led to the Hermitage, leaving Hetty to pursue her + way in a strange dream that seemed to have begun in bewildering delight + and was now passing into contrarieties and sadness. Would he meet her + again as she came home? Why had he spoken almost as if he were displeased + with her? And then run away so suddenly? She cried, hardly knowing why. + </p> + <p> + Arthur too was very uneasy, but his feelings were lit up for him by a more + distinct consciousness. He hurried to the Hermitage, which stood in the + heart of the wood, unlocked the door with a hasty wrench, slammed it after + him, pitched Zeluco into the most distant corner, and thrusting his right + hand into his pocket, first walked four or five times up and down the + scanty length of the little room, and then seated himself on the ottoman + in an uncomfortable stiff way, as we often do when we wish not to abandon + ourselves to feeling. + </p> + <p> + He was getting in love with Hetty—that was quite plain. He was ready + to pitch everything else—no matter where—for the sake of + surrendering himself to this delicious feeling which had just disclosed + itself. It was no use blinking the fact now—they would get too fond + of each other, if he went on taking notice of her—and what would + come of it? He should have to go away in a few weeks, and the poor little + thing would be miserable. He MUST NOT see her alone again; he must keep + out of her way. What a fool he was for coming back from Gawaine's! + </p> + <p> + He got up and threw open the windows, to let in the soft breath of the + afternoon, and the healthy scent of the firs that made a belt round the + Hermitage. The soft air did not help his resolution, as he leaned out and + looked into the leafy distance. But he considered his resolution + sufficiently fixed: there was no need to debate with himself any longer. + He had made up his mind not to meet Hetty again; and now he might give + himself up to thinking how immensely agreeable it would be if + circumstances were different—how pleasant it would have been to meet + her this evening as she came back, and put his arm round her again and + look into her sweet face. He wondered if the dear little thing were + thinking of him too—twenty to one she was. How beautiful her eyes + were with the tear on their lashes! He would like to satisfy his soul for + a day with looking at them, and he MUST see her again—he must see + her, simply to remove any false impression from her mind about his manner + to her just now. He would behave in a quiet, kind way to her—just to + prevent her from going home with her head full of wrong fancies. Yes, that + would be the best thing to do after all. + </p> + <p> + It was a long while—more than an hour before Arthur had brought his + meditations to this point; but once arrived there, he could stay no longer + at the Hermitage. The time must be filled up with movement until he should + see Hetty again. And it was already late enough to go and dress for + dinner, for his grandfather's dinner-hour was six. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XIII + </h2> + <h3> + Evening in the Wood + </h3> + <p> + IT happened that Mrs. Pomfret had had a slight quarrel with Mrs. Best, the + housekeeper, on this Thursday morning—a fact which had two + consequences highly convenient to Hetty. It caused Mrs. Pomfret to have + tea sent up to her own room, and it inspired that exemplary lady's maid + with so lively a recollection of former passages in Mrs. Best's conduct, + and of dialogues in which Mrs. Best had decidedly the inferiority as an + interlocutor with Mrs. Pomfret, that Hetty required no more presence of + mind than was demanded for using her needle, and throwing in an occasional + “yes” or “no.” She would have wanted to put on her hat earlier than usual; + only she had told Captain Donnithorne that she usually set out about eight + o'clock, and if he SHOULD go to the Grove again expecting to see her, and + she should be gone! Would he come? Her little butterfly soul fluttered + incessantly between memory and dubious expectation. At last the + minute-hand of the old-fashioned brazen-faced timepiece was on the last + quarter to eight, and there was every reason for its being time to get + ready for departure. Even Mrs. Pomfret's preoccupied mind did not prevent + her from noticing what looked like a new flush of beauty in the little + thing as she tied on her hat before the looking-glass. + </p> + <p> + “That child gets prettier and prettier every day, I do believe,” was her + inward comment. “The more's the pity. She'll get neither a place nor a + husband any the sooner for it. Sober well-to-do men don't like such pretty + wives. When I was a girl, I was more admired than if I had been so very + pretty. However, she's reason to be grateful to me for teaching her + something to get her bread with, better than farm-house work. They always + told me I was good-natured—and that's the truth, and to my hurt too, + else there's them in this house that wouldn't be here now to lord it over + me in the housekeeper's room.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty walked hastily across the short space of pleasure-ground which she + had to traverse, dreading to meet Mr. Craig, to whom she could hardly have + spoken civilly. How relieved she was when she had got safely under the + oaks and among the fern of the Chase! Even then she was as ready to be + startled as the deer that leaped away at her approach. She thought nothing + of the evening light that lay gently in the grassy alleys between the + fern, and made the beauty of their living green more visible than it had + been in the overpowering flood of noon: she thought of nothing that was + present. She only saw something that was possible: Mr. Arthur Donnithorne + coming to meet her again along the Fir-tree Grove. That was the foreground + of Hetty's picture; behind it lay a bright hazy something—days that + were not to be as the other days of her life had been. It was as if she + had been wooed by a river-god, who might any time take her to his wondrous + halls below a watery heaven. There was no knowing what would come, since + this strange entrancing delight had come. If a chest full of lace and + satin and jewels had been sent her from some unknown source, how could she + but have thought that her whole lot was going to change, and that + to-morrow some still more bewildering joy would befall her? Hetty had + never read a novel; if she had ever seen one, I think the words would have + been too hard for her; how then could she find a shape for her + expectations? They were as formless as the sweet languid odours of the + garden at the Chase, which had floated past her as she walked by the gate. + </p> + <p> + She is at another gate now—that leading into Fir-tree Grove. She + enters the wood, where it is already twilight, and at every step she + takes, the fear at her heart becomes colder. If he should not come! Oh, + how dreary it was—the thought of going out at the other end of the + wood, into the unsheltered road, without having seen him. She reaches the + first turning towards the Hermitage, walking slowly—he is not there. + She hates the leveret that runs across the path; she hates everything that + is not what she longs for. She walks on, happy whenever she is coming to a + bend in the road, for perhaps he is behind it. No. She is beginning to + cry: her heart has swelled so, the tears stand in her eyes; she gives one + great sob, while the corners of her mouth quiver, and the tears roll down. + </p> + <p> + She doesn't know that there is another turning to the Hermitage, that she + is close against it, and that Arthur Donnithorne is only a few yards from + her, full of one thought, and a thought of which she only is the object. + He is going to see Hetty again: that is the longing which has been growing + through the last three hours to a feverish thirst. Not, of course, to + speak in the caressing way into which he had unguardedly fallen before + dinner, but to set things right with her by a kindness which would have + the air of friendly civility, and prevent her from running away with wrong + notions about their mutual relation. + </p> + <p> + If Hetty had known he was there, she would not have cried; and it would + have been better, for then Arthur would perhaps have behaved as wisely as + he had intended. As it was, she started when he appeared at the end of the + side-alley, and looked up at him with two great drops rolling down her + cheeks. What else could he do but speak to her in a soft, soothing tone, + as if she were a bright-eyed spaniel with a thorn in her foot? + </p> + <p> + “Has something frightened you, Hetty? Have you seen anything in the wood? + Don't be frightened—I'll take care of you now.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty was blushing so, she didn't know whether she was happy or miserable. + To be crying again—what did gentlemen think of girls who cried in + that way? She felt unable even to say “no,” but could only look away from + him and wipe the tears from her cheek. Not before a great drop had fallen + on her rose-coloured strings—she knew that quite well. + </p> + <p> + “Come, be cheerful again. Smile at me, and tell me what's the matter. + Come, tell me.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty turned her head towards him, whispered, “I thought you wouldn't + come,” and slowly got courage to lift her eyes to him. That look was too + much: he must have had eyes of Egyptian granite not to look too lovingly + in return. + </p> + <p> + “You little frightened bird! Little tearful rose! Silly pet! You won't cry + again, now I'm with you, will you?” + </p> + <p> + Ah, he doesn't know in the least what he is saying. This is not what he + meant to say. His arm is stealing round the waist again; it is tightening + its clasp; he is bending his face nearer and nearer to the round cheek; + his lips are meeting those pouting child-lips, and for a long moment time + has vanished. He may be a shepherd in Arcadia for aught he knows, he may + be the first youth kissing the first maiden, he may be Eros himself, + sipping the lips of Psyche—it is all one. + </p> + <p> + There was no speaking for minutes after. They walked along with beating + hearts till they came within sight of the gate at the end of the wood. + Then they looked at each other, not quite as they had looked before, for + in their eyes there was the memory of a kiss. + </p> + <p> + But already something bitter had begun to mingle itself with the fountain + of sweets: already Arthur was uncomfortable. He took his arm from Hetty's + waist, and said, “Here we are, almost at the end of the Grove. I wonder + how late it is,” he added, pulling out his watch. “Twenty minutes past + eight—but my watch is too fast. However, I'd better not go any + further now. Trot along quickly with your little feet, and get home + safely. Good-bye.” + </p> + <p> + He took her hand, and looked at her half-sadly, half with a constrained + smile. Hetty's eyes seemed to beseech him not to go away yet; but he + patted her cheek and said “Good-bye” again. She was obliged to turn away + from him and go on. + </p> + <p> + As for Arthur, he rushed back through the wood, as if he wanted to put a + wide space between himself and Hetty. He would not go to the Hermitage + again; he remembered how he had debated with himself there before dinner, + and it had all come to nothing—worse than nothing. He walked right + on into the Chase, glad to get out of the Grove, which surely was haunted + by his evil genius. Those beeches and smooth limes—there was + something enervating in the very sight of them; but the strong knotted old + oaks had no bending languor in them—the sight of them would give a + man some energy. Arthur lost himself among the narrow openings in the + fern, winding about without seeking any issue, till the twilight deepened + almost to night under the great boughs, and the hare looked black as it + darted across his path. + </p> + <p> + He was feeling much more strongly than he had done in the morning: it was + as if his horse had wheeled round from a leap and dared to dispute his + mastery. He was dissatisfied with himself, irritated, mortified. He no + sooner fixed his mind on the probable consequences of giving way to the + emotions which had stolen over him to-day—of continuing to notice + Hetty, of allowing himself any opportunity for such slight caresses as he + had been betrayed into already—than he refused to believe such a + future possible for himself. To flirt with Hetty was a very different + affair from flirting with a pretty girl of his own station: that was + understood to be an amusement on both sides, or, if it became serious, + there was no obstacle to marriage. But this little thing would be spoken + ill of directly, if she happened to be seen walking with him; and then + those excellent people, the Poysers, to whom a good name was as precious + as if they had the best blood in the land in their veins—he should + hate himself if he made a scandal of that sort, on the estate that was to + be his own some day, and among tenants by whom he liked, above all, to be + respected. He could no more believe that he should so fall in his own + esteem than that he should break both his legs and go on crutches all the + rest of his life. He couldn't imagine himself in that position; it was too + odious, too unlike him. + </p> + <p> + And even if no one knew anything about it, they might get too fond of each + other, and then there could be nothing but the misery of parting, after + all. No gentleman, out of a ballad, could marry a farmer's niece. There + must be an end to the whole thing at once. It was too foolish. + </p> + <p> + And yet he had been so determined this morning, before he went to + Gawaine's; and while he was there something had taken hold of him and made + him gallop back. It seemed he couldn't quite depend on his own resolution, + as he had thought he could; he almost wished his arm would get painful + again, and then he should think of nothing but the comfort it would be to + get rid of the pain. There was no knowing what impulse might seize him + to-morrow, in this confounded place, where there was nothing to occupy him + imperiously through the livelong day. What could he do to secure himself + from any more of this folly? + </p> + <p> + There was but one resource. He would go and tell Irwine—tell him + everything. The mere act of telling it would make it seem trivial; the + temptation would vanish, as the charm of fond words vanishes when one + repeats them to the indifferent. In every way it would help him to tell + Irwine. He would ride to Broxton Rectory the first thing after breakfast + to-morrow. + </p> + <p> + Arthur had no sooner come to this determination than he began to think + which of the paths would lead him home, and made as short a walk thither + as he could. He felt sure he should sleep now: he had had enough to tire + him, and there was no more need for him to think. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XIV + </h2> + <h3> + The Return Home + </h3> + <p> + WHILE that parting in the wood was happening, there was a parting in the + cottage too, and Lisbeth had stood with Adam at the door, straining her + aged eyes to get the last glimpse of Seth and Dinah, as they mounted the + opposite slope. + </p> + <p> + “Eh, I'm loath to see the last on her,” she said to Adam, as they turned + into the house again. “I'd ha' been willin' t' ha' her about me till I + died and went to lie by my old man. She'd make it easier dyin'—she + spakes so gentle an' moves about so still. I could be fast sure that + pictur' was drawed for her i' thy new Bible—th' angel a-sittin' on + the big stone by the grave. Eh, I wouldna mind ha'in a daughter like that; + but nobody ne'er marries them as is good for aught.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mother, I hope thee WILT have her for a daughter; for Seth's got a + liking for her, and I hope she'll get a liking for Seth in time.” + </p> + <p> + “Where's th' use o' talkin' a-that'n? She caresna for Seth. She's goin' + away twenty mile aff. How's she to get a likin' for him, I'd like to know? + No more nor the cake 'ull come wi'out the leaven. Thy figurin' books might + ha' tould thee better nor that, I should think, else thee mightst as well + read the commin print, as Seth allays does.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Mother,” said Adam, laughing, “the figures tell us a fine deal, and + we couldn't go far without 'em, but they don't tell us about folks's + feelings. It's a nicer job to calculate THEM. But Seth's as good-hearted a + lad as ever handled a tool, and plenty o' sense, and good-looking too; and + he's got the same way o' thinking as Dinah. He deserves to win her, though + there's no denying she's a rare bit o' workmanship. You don't see such + women turned off the wheel every day.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, thee't allays stick up for thy brother. Thee'st been just the same, + e'er sin' ye war little uns together. Thee wart allays for halving + iverything wi' him. But what's Seth got to do with marryin', as is on'y + three-an'-twenty? He'd more need to learn an' lay by sixpence. An' as for + his desarving her—she's two 'ear older nor Seth: she's pretty near + as old as thee. But that's the way; folks mun allays choose by + contrairies, as if they must be sorted like the pork—a bit o' good + meat wi' a bit o' offal.” + </p> + <p> + To the feminine mind in some of its moods, all things that might be + receive a temporary charm from comparison with what is; and since Adam did + not want to marry Dinah himself, Lisbeth felt rather peevish on that score—as + peevish as she would have been if he HAD wanted to marry her, and so shut + himself out from Mary Burge and the partnership as effectually as by + marrying Hetty. + </p> + <p> + It was more than half-past eight when Adam and his mother were talking in + this way, so that when, about ten minutes later, Hetty reached the turning + of the lane that led to the farmyard gate, she saw Dinah and Seth + approaching it from the opposite direction, and waited for them to come up + to her. They, too, like Hetty, had lingered a little in their walk, for + Dinah was trying to speak words of comfort and strength to Seth in these + parting moments. But when they saw Hetty, they paused and shook hands; + Seth turned homewards, and Dinah came on alone. + </p> + <p> + “Seth Bede would have come and spoken to you, my dear,” she said, as she + reached Hetty, “but he's very full of trouble to-night.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty answered with a dimpled smile, as if she did not quite know what had + been said; and it made a strange contrast to see that sparkling + self-engrossed loveliness looked at by Dinah's calm pitying face, with its + open glance which told that her heart lived in no cherished secrets of its + own, but in feelings which it longed to share with all the world. Hetty + liked Dinah as well as she had ever liked any woman; how was it possible + to feel otherwise towards one who always put in a kind word for her when + her aunt was finding fault, and who was always ready to take Totty off her + hands—little tiresome Totty, that was made such a pet of by every + one, and that Hetty could see no interest in at all? Dinah had never said + anything disapproving or reproachful to Hetty during her whole visit to + the Hall Farm; she had talked to her a great deal in a serious way, but + Hetty didn't mind that much, for she never listened: whatever Dinah might + say, she almost always stroked Hetty's cheek after it, and wanted to do + some mending for her. Dinah was a riddle to her; Hetty looked at her much + in the same way as one might imagine a little perching bird that could + only flutter from bough to bough, to look at the swoop of the swallow or + the mounting of the lark; but she did not care to solve such riddles, any + more than she cared to know what was meant by the pictures in the + Pilgrim's Progress, or in the old folio Bible that Marty and Tommy always + plagued her about on a Sunday. + </p> + <p> + Dinah took her hand now and drew it under her own arm. + </p> + <p> + “You look very happy to-night, dear child,” she said. “I shall think of + you often when I'm at Snowfield, and see your face before me as it is now. + It's a strange thing—sometimes when I'm quite alone, sitting in my + room with my eyes closed, or walking over the hills, the people I've seen + and known, if it's only been for a few days, are brought before me, and I + hear their voices and see them look and move almost plainer than I ever + did when they were really with me so as I could touch them. And then my + heart is drawn out towards them, and I feel their lot as if it was my own, + and I take comfort in spreading it before the Lord and resting in His + love, on their behalf as well as my own. And so I feel sure you will come + before me.” + </p> + <p> + She paused a moment, but Hetty said nothing. + </p> + <p> + “It has been a very precious time to me,” Dinah went on, “last night and + to-day—seeing two such good sons as Adam and Seth Bede. They are so + tender and thoughtful for their aged mother. And she has been telling me + what Adam has done, for these many years, to help his father and his + brother; it's wonderful what a spirit of wisdom and knowledge he has, and + how he's ready to use it all in behalf of them that are feeble. And I'm + sure he has a loving spirit too. I've noticed it often among my own people + round Snowfield, that the strong, skilful men are often the gentlest to + the women and children; and it's pretty to see 'em carrying the little + babies as if they were no heavier than little birds. And the babies always + seem to like the strong arm best. I feel sure it would be so with Adam + Bede. Don't you think so, Hetty?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Hetty abstractedly, for her mind had been all the while in the + wood, and she would have found it difficult to say what she was assenting + to. Dinah saw she was not inclined to talk, but there would not have been + time to say much more, for they were now at the yard-gate. + </p> + <p> + The still twilight, with its dying western red and its few faint + struggling stars, rested on the farm-yard, where there was not a sound to + be heard but the stamping of the cart-horses in the stable. It was about + twenty minutes after sunset. The fowls were all gone to roost, and the + bull-dog lay stretched on the straw outside his kennel, with the + black-and-tan terrier by his side, when the falling-to of the gate + disturbed them and set them barking, like good officials, before they had + any distinct knowledge of the reason. + </p> + <p> + The barking had its effect in the house, for, as Dinah and Hetty + approached, the doorway was filled by a portly figure, with a ruddy + black-eyed face which bore in it the possibility of looking extremely + acute, and occasionally contemptuous, on market-days, but had now a + predominant after-supper expression of hearty good-nature. It is well + known that great scholars who have shown the most pitiless acerbity in + their criticism of other men's scholarship have yet been of a relenting + and indulgent temper in private life; and I have heard of a learned man + meekly rocking the twins in the cradle with his left hand, while with his + right he inflicted the most lacerating sarcasms on an opponent who had + betrayed a brutal ignorance of Hebrew. Weaknesses and errors must be + forgiven—alas! they are not alien to us—but the man who takes + the wrong side on the momentous subject of the Hebrew points must be + treated as the enemy of his race. There was the same sort of antithetic + mixture in Martin Poyser: he was of so excellent a disposition that he had + been kinder and more respectful than ever to his old father since he had + made a deed of gift of all his property, and no man judged his neighbours + more charitably on all personal matters; but for a farmer, like Luke + Britton, for example, whose fallows were not well cleaned, who didn't know + the rudiments of hedging and ditching, and showed but a small share of + judgment in the purchase of winter stock, Martin Poyser was as hard and + implacable as the north-east wind. Luke Britton could not make a remark, + even on the weather, but Martin Poyser detected in it a taint of that + unsoundness and general ignorance which was palpable in all his farming + operations. He hated to see the fellow lift the pewter pint to his mouth + in the bar of the Royal George on market-day, and the mere sight of him on + the other side of the road brought a severe and critical expression into + his black eyes, as different as possible from the fatherly glance he bent + on his two nieces as they approached the door. Mr. Poyser had smoked his + evening pipe, and now held his hands in his pockets, as the only resource + of a man who continues to sit up after the day's business is done. + </p> + <p> + “Why, lasses, ye're rather late to-night,” he said, when they reached the + little gate leading into the causeway. “The mother's begun to fidget about + you, an' she's got the little un ill. An' how did you leave the old woman + Bede, Dinah? Is she much down about the old man? He'd been but a poor + bargain to her this five year.” + </p> + <p> + “She's been greatly distressed for the loss of him,” said Dinah, “but + she's seemed more comforted to-day. Her son Adam's been at home all day, + working at his father's coffin, and she loves to have him at home. She's + been talking about him to me almost all the day. She has a loving heart, + though she's sorely given to fret and be fearful. I wish she had a surer + trust to comfort her in her old age.” + </p> + <p> + “Adam's sure enough,” said Mr. Poyser, misunderstanding Dinah's wish. + “There's no fear but he'll yield well i' the threshing. He's not one o' + them as is all straw and no grain. I'll be bond for him any day, as he'll + be a good son to the last. Did he say he'd be coming to see us soon? But + come in, come in,” he added, making way for them; “I hadn't need keep y' + out any longer.” + </p> + <p> + The tall buildings round the yard shut out a good deal of the sky, but the + large window let in abundant light to show every corner of the + house-place. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser, seated in the rocking-chair, which had been brought out of + the “right-hand parlour,” was trying to soothe Totty to sleep. But Totty + was not disposed to sleep; and when her cousins entered, she raised + herself up and showed a pair of flushed cheeks, which looked fatter than + ever now they were defined by the edge of her linen night-cap. + </p> + <p> + In the large wicker-bottomed arm-chair in the left-hand chimney-nook sat + old Martin Poyser, a hale but shrunken and bleached image of his portly + black-haired son—his head hanging forward a little, and his elbows + pushed backwards so as to allow the whole of his forearm to rest on the + arm of the chair. His blue handkerchief was spread over his knees, as was + usual indoors, when it was not hanging over his head; and he sat watching + what went forward with the quiet OUTWARD glance of healthy old age, which, + disengaged from any interest in an inward drama, spies out pins upon the + floor, follows one's minutest motions with an unexpectant purposeless + tenacity, watches the flickering of the flame or the sun-gleams on the + wall, counts the quarries on the floor, watches even the hand of the + clock, and pleases itself with detecting a rhythm in the tick. + </p> + <p> + “What a time o' night this is to come home, Hetty!” said Mrs. Poyser. + “Look at the clock, do; why, it's going on for half-past nine, and I've + sent the gells to bed this half-hour, and late enough too; when they've + got to get up at half after four, and the mowers' bottles to fill, and the + baking; and here's this blessed child wi' the fever for what I know, and + as wakeful as if it was dinner-time, and nobody to help me to give her the + physic but your uncle, and fine work there's been, and half of it spilt on + her night-gown—it's well if she's swallowed more nor 'ull make her + worse i'stead o' better. But folks as have no mind to be o' use have + allays the luck to be out o' the road when there's anything to be done.” + </p> + <p> + “I did set out before eight, aunt,” said Hetty, in a pettish tone, with a + slight toss of her head. “But this clock's so much before the clock at the + Chase, there's no telling what time it'll be when I get here.” + </p> + <p> + “What! You'd be wanting the clock set by gentlefolks's time, would you? + An' sit up burnin' candle, an' lie a-bed wi' the sun a-bakin' you like a + cowcumber i' the frame? The clock hasn't been put forrard for the first + time to-day, I reckon.” + </p> + <p> + The fact was, Hetty had really forgotten the difference of the clocks when + she told Captain Donnithorne that she set out at eight, and this, with her + lingering pace, had made her nearly half an hour later than usual. But + here her aunt's attention was diverted from this tender subject by Totty, + who, perceiving at length that the arrival of her cousins was not likely + to bring anything satisfactory to her in particular, began to cry, “Munny, + munny,” in an explosive manner. + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, my pet, Mother's got her, Mother won't leave her; Totty be a + good dilling, and go to sleep now,” said Mrs. Poyser, leaning back and + rocking the chair, while she tried to make Totty nestle against her. But + Totty only cried louder, and said, “Don't yock!” So the mother, with that + wondrous patience which love gives to the quickest temperament, sat up + again, and pressed her cheek against the linen night-cap and kissed it, + and forgot to scold Hetty any longer. + </p> + <p> + “Come, Hetty,” said Martin Poyser, in a conciliatory tone, “go and get + your supper i' the pantry, as the things are all put away; an' then you + can come and take the little un while your aunt undresses herself, for she + won't lie down in bed without her mother. An' I reckon YOU could eat a + bit, Dinah, for they don't keep much of a house down there.” + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you, Uncle,” said Dinah; “I ate a good meal before I came away, + for Mrs. Bede would make a kettle-cake for me.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't want any supper,” said Hetty, taking off her hat. “I can hold + Totty now, if Aunt wants me.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what nonsense that is to talk!” said Mrs. Poyser. “Do you think you + can live wi'out eatin', an' nourish your inside wi' stickin' red ribbons + on your head? Go an' get your supper this minute, child; there's a nice + bit o' cold pudding i' the safe—just what you're fond of.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty complied silently by going towards the pantry, and Mrs. Poyser went + on speaking to Dinah. + </p> + <p> + “Sit down, my dear, an' look as if you knowed what it was to make yourself + a bit comfortable i' the world. I warrant the old woman was glad to see + you, since you stayed so long.” + </p> + <p> + “She seemed to like having me there at last; but her sons say she doesn't + like young women about her commonly; and I thought just at first she was + almost angry with me for going.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, it's a poor look-out when th' ould folks doesna like the young uns,” + said old Martin, bending his head down lower, and seeming to trace the + pattern of the quarries with his eye. + </p> + <p> + “Aye, it's ill livin' in a hen-roost for them as doesn't like fleas,” said + Mrs. Poyser. “We've all had our turn at bein' young, I reckon, be't good + luck or ill.” + </p> + <p> + “But she must learn to 'commodate herself to young women,” said Mr. + Poyser, “for it isn't to be counted on as Adam and Seth 'ull keep + bachelors for the next ten year to please their mother. That 'ud be + unreasonable. It isn't right for old nor young nayther to make a bargain + all o' their own side. What's good for one's good all round i' the long + run. I'm no friend to young fellows a-marrying afore they know the + difference atween a crab an' a apple; but they may wait o'er long.” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure,” said Mrs. Poyser; “if you go past your dinner-time, there'll + be little relish o' your meat. You turn it o'er an' o'er wi' your fork, + an' don't eat it after all. You find faut wi' your meat, an' the faut's + all i' your own stomach.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty now came back from the pantry and said, “I can take Totty now, Aunt, + if you like.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, Rachel,” said Mr. Poyser, as his wife seemed to hesitate, seeing + that Totty was at last nestling quietly, “thee'dst better let Hetty carry + her upstairs, while thee tak'st thy things off. Thee't tired. It's time + thee wast in bed. Thee't bring on the pain in thy side again.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, she may hold her if the child 'ull go to her,” said Mrs. Poyser. + </p> + <p> + Hetty went close to the rocking-chair, and stood without her usual smile, + and without any attempt to entice Totty, simply waiting for her aunt to + give the child into her hands. + </p> + <p> + “Wilt go to Cousin Hetty, my dilling, while mother gets ready to go to + bed? Then Totty shall go into Mother's bed, and sleep there all night.” + </p> + <p> + Before her mother had done speaking, Totty had given her answer in an + unmistakable manner, by knitting her brow, setting her tiny teeth against + her underlip, and leaning forward to slap Hetty on the arm with her utmost + force. Then, without speaking, she nestled to her mother again. + </p> + <p> + “Hey, hey,” said Mr. Poyser, while Hetty stood without moving, “not go to + Cousin Hetty? That's like a babby. Totty's a little woman, an' not a + babby.” + </p> + <p> + “It's no use trying to persuade her,” said Mrs. Poyser. “She allays takes + against Hetty when she isn't well. Happen she'll go to Dinah.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah, having taken off her bonnet and shawl, had hitherto kept quietly + seated in the background, not liking to thrust herself between Hetty and + what was considered Hetty's proper work. But now she came forward, and, + putting out her arms, said, “Come Totty, come and let Dinah carry her + upstairs along with Mother: poor, poor Mother! she's so tired—she + wants to go to bed.” + </p> + <p> + Totty turned her face towards Dinah, and looked at her an instant, then + lifted herself up, put out her little arms, and let Dinah lift her from + her mother's lap. Hetty turned away without any sign of ill humour, and, + taking her hat from the table, stood waiting with an air of indifference, + to see if she should be told to do anything else. + </p> + <p> + “You may make the door fast now, Poyser; Alick's been come in this long + while,” said Mrs. Poyser, rising with an appearance of relief from her low + chair. “Get me the matches down, Hetty, for I must have the rushlight + burning i' my room. Come, Father.” + </p> + <p> + The heavy wooden bolts began to roll in the house doors, and old Martin + prepared to move, by gathering up his blue handkerchief, and reaching his + bright knobbed walnut-tree stick from the corner. Mrs. Poyser then led the + way out of the kitchen, followed by the grandfather, and Dinah with Totty + in her arms—all going to bed by twilight, like the birds. Mrs. + Poyser, on her way, peeped into the room where her two boys lay; just to + see their ruddy round cheeks on the pillow, and to hear for a moment their + light regular breathing. + </p> + <p> + “Come, Hetty, get to bed,” said Mr. Poyser, in a soothing tone, as he + himself turned to go upstairs. “You didna mean to be late, I'll be bound, + but your aunt's been worrited to-day. Good-night, my wench, good-night.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XV + </h2> + <h3> + The Two Bed-Chambers + </h3> + <p> + HETTY and Dinah both slept in the second story, in rooms adjoining each + other, meagrely furnished rooms, with no blinds to shut out the light, + which was now beginning to gather new strength from the rising of the moon—more + than enough strength to enable Hetty to move about and undress with + perfect comfort. She could see quite well the pegs in the old painted + linen-press on which she hung her hat and gown; she could see the head of + every pin on her red cloth pin-cushion; she could see a reflection of + herself in the old-fashioned looking-glass, quite as distinct as was + needful, considering that she had only to brush her hair and put on her + night-cap. A queer old looking-glass! Hetty got into an ill temper with it + almost every time she dressed. It had been considered a handsome glass in + its day, and had probably been bought into the Poyser family a quarter of + a century before, at a sale of genteel household furniture. Even now an + auctioneer could say something for it: it had a great deal of tarnished + gilding about it; it had a firm mahogany base, well supplied with drawers, + which opened with a decided jerk and sent the contents leaping out from + the farthest corners, without giving you the trouble of reaching them; + above all, it had a brass candle-socket on each side, which would give it + an aristocratic air to the very last. But Hetty objected to it because it + had numerous dim blotches sprinkled over the mirror, which no rubbing + would remove, and because, instead of swinging backwards and forwards, it + was fixed in an upright position, so that she could only get one good view + of her head and neck, and that was to be had only by sitting down on a low + chair before her dressing-table. And the dressing-table was no + dressing-table at all, but a small old chest of drawers, the most awkward + thing in the world to sit down before, for the big brass handles quite + hurt her knees, and she couldn't get near the glass at all comfortably. + But devout worshippers never allow inconveniences to prevent them from + performing their religious rites, and Hetty this evening was more bent on + her peculiar form of worship than usual. + </p> + <p> + Having taken off her gown and white kerchief, she drew a key from the + large pocket that hung outside her petticoat, and, unlocking one of the + lower drawers in the chest, reached from it two short bits of wax candle—secretly + bought at Treddleston—and stuck them in the two brass sockets. Then + she drew forth a bundle of matches and lighted the candles; and last of + all, a small red-framed shilling looking-glass, without blotches. It was + into this small glass that she chose to look first after seating herself. + She looked into it, smiling and turning her head on one side, for a + minute, then laid it down and took out her brush and comb from an upper + drawer. She was going to let down her hair, and make herself look like + that picture of a lady in Miss Lydia Donnithorne's dressing-room. It was + soon done, and the dark hyacinthine curves fell on her neck. It was not + heavy, massive, merely rippling hair, but soft and silken, running at + every opportunity into delicate rings. But she pushed it all backward to + look like the picture, and form a dark curtain, throwing into relief her + round white neck. Then she put down her brush and comb and looked at + herself, folding her arms before her, still like the picture. Even the old + mottled glass couldn't help sending back a lovely image, none the less + lovely because Hetty's stays were not of white satin—such as I feel + sure heroines must generally wear—but of a dark greenish cotton + texture. + </p> + <p> + Oh yes! She was very pretty. Captain Donnithorne thought so. Prettier than + anybody about Hayslope—prettier than any of the ladies she had ever + seen visiting at the Chase—indeed it seemed fine ladies were rather + old and ugly—and prettier than Miss Bacon, the miller's daughter, + who was called the beauty of Treddleston. And Hetty looked at herself + to-night with quite a different sensation from what she had ever felt + before; there was an invisible spectator whose eye rested on her like + morning on the flowers. His soft voice was saying over and over again + those pretty things she had heard in the wood; his arm was round her, and + the delicate rose-scent of his hair was with her still. The vainest woman + is never thoroughly conscious of her own beauty till she is loved by the + man who sets her own passion vibrating in return. + </p> + <p> + But Hetty seemed to have made up her mind that something was wanting, for + she got up and reached an old black lace scarf out of the linen-press, and + a pair of large ear-rings out of the sacred drawer from which she had + taken her candles. It was an old old scarf, full of rents, but it would + make a becoming border round her shoulders, and set off the whiteness of + her upper arm. And she would take out the little ear-rings she had in her + ears—oh, how her aunt had scolded her for having her ears bored!—and + put in those large ones. They were but coloured glass and gilding, but if + you didn't know what they were made of, they looked just as well as what + the ladies wore. And so she sat down again, with the large ear-rings in + her ears, and the black lace scarf adjusted round her shoulders. She + looked down at her arms: no arms could be prettier down to a little way + below the elbow—they were white and plump, and dimpled to match her + cheeks; but towards the wrist, she thought with vexation that they were + coarsened by butter-making and other work that ladies never did. + </p> + <p> + Captain Donnithorne couldn't like her to go on doing work: he would like + to see her in nice clothes, and thin shoes, and white stockings, perhaps + with silk clocks to them; for he must love her very much—no one else + had ever put his arm round her and kissed her in that way. He would want + to marry her and make a lady of her; she could hardly dare to shape the + thought—yet how else could it be? Marry her quite secretly, as Mr. + James, the doctor's assistant, married the doctor's niece, and nobody ever + found it out for a long while after, and then it was of no use to be + angry. The doctor had told her aunt all about it in Hetty's hearing. She + didn't know how it would be, but it was quite plain the old Squire could + never be told anything about it, for Hetty was ready to faint with awe and + fright if she came across him at the Chase. He might have been earth-born, + for what she knew. It had never entered her mind that he had been young + like other men; he had always been the old Squire at whom everybody was + frightened. Oh, it was impossible to think how it would be! But Captain + Donnithorne would know; he was a great gentleman, and could have his way + in everything, and could buy everything he liked. And nothing could be as + it had been again: perhaps some day she should be a grand lady, and ride + in her coach, and dress for dinner in a brocaded silk, with feathers in + her hair, and her dress sweeping the ground, like Miss Lydia and Lady + Dacey, when she saw them going into the dining-room one evening as she + peeped through the little round window in the lobby; only she should not + be old and ugly like Miss Lydia, or all the same thickness like Lady + Dacey, but very pretty, with her hair done in a great many different ways, + and sometimes in a pink dress, and sometimes in a white one—she + didn't know which she liked best; and Mary Burge and everybody would + perhaps see her going out in her carriage—or rather, they would HEAR + of it: it was impossible to imagine these things happening at Hayslope in + sight of her aunt. At the thought of all this splendour, Hetty got up from + her chair, and in doing so caught the little red-framed glass with the + edge of her scarf, so that it fell with a bang on the floor; but she was + too eagerly occupied with her vision to care about picking it up; and + after a momentary start, began to pace with a pigeon-like stateliness + backwards and forwards along her room, in her coloured stays and coloured + skirt, and the old black lace scarf round her shoulders, and the great + glass ear-rings in her ears. + </p> + <p> + How pretty the little puss looks in that odd dress! It would be the + easiest folly in the world to fall in love with her: there is such a sweet + babylike roundness about her face and figure; the delicate dark rings of + hair lie so charmingly about her ears and neck; her great dark eyes with + their long eye-lashes touch one so strangely, as if an imprisoned frisky + sprite looked out of them. + </p> + <p> + Ah, what a prize the man gets who wins a sweet bride like Hetty! How the + men envy him who come to the wedding breakfast, and see her hanging on his + arm in her white lace and orange blossoms. The dear, young, round, soft, + flexible thing! Her heart must be just as soft, her temper just as free + from angles, her character just as pliant. If anything ever goes wrong, it + must be the husband's fault there: he can make her what he likes—that + is plain. And the lover himself thinks so too: the little darling is so + fond of him, her little vanities are so bewitching, he wouldn't consent to + her being a bit wiser; those kittenlike glances and movements are just + what one wants to make one's hearth a paradise. Every man under such + circumstances is conscious of being a great physiognomist. Nature, he + knows, has a language of her own, which she uses with strict veracity, and + he considers himself an adept in the language. Nature has written out his + bride's character for him in those exquisite lines of cheek and lip and + chin, in those eyelids delicate as petals, in those long lashes curled + like the stamen of a flower, in the dark liquid depths of those wonderful + eyes. How she will dote on her children! She is almost a child herself, + and the little pink round things will hang about her like florets round + the central flower; and the husband will look on, smiling benignly, able, + whenever he chooses, to withdraw into the sanctuary of his wisdom, towards + which his sweet wife will look reverently, and never lift the curtain. It + is a marriage such as they made in the golden age, when the men were all + wise and majestic and the women all lovely and loving. + </p> + <p> + It was very much in this way that our friend Adam Bede thought about + Hetty; only he put his thoughts into different words. If ever she behaved + with cold vanity towards him, he said to himself it is only because she + doesn't love me well enough; and he was sure that her love, whenever she + gave it, would be the most precious thing a man could possess on earth. + Before you despise Adam as deficient in penetration, pray ask yourself if + you were ever predisposed to believe evil of any pretty woman—if you + ever COULD, without hard head-breaking demonstration, believe evil of the + ONE supremely pretty woman who has bewitched you. No: people who love + downy peaches are apt not to think of the stone, and sometimes jar their + teeth terribly against it. + </p> + <p> + Arthur Donnithorne, too, had the same sort of notion about Hetty, so far + as he had thought of her nature of all. He felt sure she was a dear, + affectionate, good little thing. The man who awakes the wondering + tremulous passion of a young girl always thinks her affectionate; and if + he chances to look forward to future years, probably imagines himself + being virtuously tender to her, because the poor thing is so clingingly + fond of him. God made these dear women so—and it is a convenient + arrangement in case of sickness. + </p> + <p> + After all, I believe the wisest of us must be beguiled in this way + sometimes, and must think both better and worse of people than they + deserve. Nature has her language, and she is not unveracious; but we don't + know all the intricacies of her syntax just yet, and in a hasty reading we + may happen to extract the very opposite of her real meaning. Long dark + eyelashes, now—what can be more exquisite? I find it impossible not + to expect some depth of soul behind a deep grey eye with a long dark + eyelash, in spite of an experience which has shown me that they may go + along with deceit, peculation, and stupidity. But if, in the reaction of + disgust, I have betaken myself to a fishy eye, there has been a surprising + similarity of result. One begins to suspect at length that there is no + direct correlation between eyelashes and morals; or else, that the + eyelashes express the disposition of the fair one's grandmother, which is + on the whole less important to us. + </p> + <p> + No eyelashes could be more beautiful than Hetty's; and now, while she + walks with her pigeon-like stateliness along the room and looks down on + her shoulders bordered by the old black lace, the dark fringe shows to + perfection on her pink cheek. They are but dim ill-defined pictures that + her narrow bit of an imagination can make of the future; but of every + picture she is the central figure in fine clothes; Captain Donnithorne is + very close to her, putting his arm round her, perhaps kissing her, and + everybody else is admiring and envying her—especially Mary Burge, + whose new print dress looks very contemptible by the side of Hetty's + resplendent toilette. Does any sweet or sad memory mingle with this dream + of the future—any loving thought of her second parents—of the + children she had helped to tend—of any youthful companion, any pet + animal, any relic of her own childhood even? Not one. There are some + plants that have hardly any roots: you may tear them from their native + nook of rock or wall, and just lay them over your ornamental flower-pot, + and they blossom none the worse. Hetty could have cast all her past life + behind her and never cared to be reminded of it again. I think she had no + feeling at all towards the old house, and did not like the Jacob's Ladder + and the long row of hollyhocks in the garden better than other flowers—perhaps + not so well. It was wonderful how little she seemed to care about waiting + on her uncle, who had been a good father to her—she hardly ever + remembered to reach him his pipe at the right time without being told, + unless a visitor happened to be there, who would have a better opportunity + of seeing her as she walked across the hearth. Hetty did not understand + how anybody could be very fond of middle-aged people. And as for those + tiresome children, Marty and Tommy and Totty, they had been the very + nuisance of her life—as bad as buzzing insects that will come + teasing you on a hot day when you want to be quiet. Marty, the eldest, was + a baby when she first came to the farm, for the children born before him + had died, and so Hetty had had them all three, one after the other, + toddling by her side in the meadow, or playing about her on wet days in + the half-empty rooms of the large old house. The boys were out of hand + now, but Totty was still a day-long plague, worse than either of the + others had been, because there was more fuss made about her. And there was + no end to the making and mending of clothes. Hetty would have been glad to + hear that she should never see a child again; they were worse than the + nasty little lambs that the shepherd was always bringing in to be taken + special care of in lambing time; for the lambs WERE got rid of sooner or + later. As for the young chickens and turkeys, Hetty would have hated the + very word “hatching,” if her aunt had not bribed her to attend to the + young poultry by promising her the proceeds of one out of every brood. The + round downy chicks peeping out from under their mother's wing never + touched Hetty with any pleasure; that was not the sort of prettiness she + cared about, but she did care about the prettiness of the new things she + would buy for herself at Treddleston Fair with the money they fetched. And + yet she looked so dimpled, so charming, as she stooped down to put the + soaked bread under the hen-coop, that you must have been a very acute + personage indeed to suspect her of that hardness. Molly, the housemaid, + with a turn-up nose and a protuberant jaw, was really a tender-hearted + girl, and, as Mrs. Poyser said, a jewel to look after the poultry; but her + stolid face showed nothing of this maternal delight, any more than a brown + earthenware pitcher will show the light of the lamp within it. + </p> + <p> + It is generally a feminine eye that first detects the moral deficiencies + hidden under the “dear deceit” of beauty, so it is not surprising that + Mrs. Poyser, with her keenness and abundant opportunity for observation, + should have formed a tolerably fair estimate of what might be expected + from Hetty in the way of feeling, and in moments of indignation she had + sometimes spoken with great openness on the subject to her husband. + </p> + <p> + “She's no better than a peacock, as 'ud strut about on the wall and spread + its tail when the sun shone if all the folks i' the parish was dying: + there's nothing seems to give her a turn i' th' inside, not even when we + thought Totty had tumbled into the pit. To think o' that dear cherub! And + we found her wi' her little shoes stuck i' the mud an' crying fit to break + her heart by the far horse-pit. But Hetty never minded it, I could see, + though she's been at the nussin' o' the child ever since it was a babby. + It's my belief her heart's as hard as a pebble.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay,” said Mr. Poyser, “thee mustn't judge Hetty too hard. Them + young gells are like the unripe grain; they'll make good meal by and by, + but they're squashy as yet. Thee't see Hetty 'll be all right when she's + got a good husband and children of her own.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't want to be hard upo' the gell. She's got cliver fingers of her + own, and can be useful enough when she likes and I should miss her wi' the + butter, for she's got a cool hand. An' let be what may, I'd strive to do + my part by a niece o' yours—an' THAT I've done, for I've taught her + everything as belongs to a house, an' I've told her her duty often enough, + though, God knows, I've no breath to spare, an' that catchin' pain comes + on dreadful by times. Wi' them three gells in the house I'd need have + twice the strength to keep 'em up to their work. It's like having roast + meat at three fires; as soon as you've basted one, another's burnin'.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty stood sufficiently in awe of her aunt to be anxious to conceal from + her so much of her vanity as could be hidden without too great a + sacrifice. She could not resist spending her money in bits of finery which + Mrs. Poyser disapproved; but she would have been ready to die with shame, + vexation, and fright if her aunt had this moment opened the door, and seen + her with her bits of candle lighted, and strutting about decked in her + scarf and ear-rings. To prevent such a surprise, she always bolted her + door, and she had not forgotten to do so to-night. It was well: for there + now came a light tap, and Hetty, with a leaping heart, rushed to blow out + the candles and throw them into the drawer. She dared not stay to take out + her ear-rings, but she threw off her scarf, and let it fall on the floor, + before the light tap came again. We shall know how it was that the light + tap came, if we leave Hetty for a short time and return to Dinah, at the + moment when she had delivered Totty to her mother's arms, and was come + upstairs to her bedroom, adjoining Hetty's. + </p> + <p> + Dinah delighted in her bedroom window. Being on the second story of that + tall house, it gave her a wide view over the fields. The thickness of the + wall formed a broad step about a yard below the window, where she could + place her chair. And now the first thing she did on entering her room was + to seat herself in this chair and look out on the peaceful fields beyond + which the large moon was rising, just above the hedgerow elms. She liked + the pasture best where the milch cows were lying, and next to that the + meadow where the grass was half-mown, and lay in silvered sweeping lines. + Her heart was very full, for there was to be only one more night on which + she would look out on those fields for a long time to come; but she + thought little of leaving the mere scene, for, to her, bleak Snowfield had + just as many charms. She thought of all the dear people whom she had + learned to care for among these peaceful fields, and who would now have a + place in her loving remembrance for ever. She thought of the struggles and + the weariness that might lie before them in the rest of their life's + journey, when she would be away from them, and know nothing of what was + befalling them; and the pressure of this thought soon became too strong + for her to enjoy the unresponding stillness of the moonlit fields. She + closed her eyes, that she might feel more intensely the presence of a Love + and Sympathy deeper and more tender than was breathed from the earth and + sky. That was often Dinah's mode of praying in solitude. Simply to close + her eyes and to feel herself enclosed by the Divine Presence; then + gradually her fears, her yearning anxieties for others, melted away like + ice-crystals in a warm ocean. She had sat in this way perfectly still, + with her hands crossed on her lap and the pale light resting on her calm + face, for at least ten minutes when she was startled by a loud sound, + apparently of something falling in Hetty's room. But like all sounds that + fall on our ears in a state of abstraction, it had no distinct character, + but was simply loud and startling, so that she felt uncertain whether she + had interpreted it rightly. She rose and listened, but all was quiet + afterwards, and she reflected that Hetty might merely have knocked + something down in getting into bed. She began slowly to undress; but now, + owing to the suggestions of this sound, her thoughts became concentrated + on Hetty—that sweet young thing, with life and all its trials before + her—the solemn daily duties of the wife and mother—and her + mind so unprepared for them all, bent merely on little foolish, selfish + pleasures, like a child hugging its toys in the beginning of a long + toilsome journey in which it will have to bear hunger and cold and + unsheltered darkness. Dinah felt a double care for Hetty, because she + shared Seth's anxious interest in his brother's lot, and she had not come + to the conclusion that Hetty did not love Adam well enough to marry him. + She saw too clearly the absence of any warm, self-devoting love in Hetty's + nature to regard the coldness of her behaviour towards Adam as any + indication that he was not the man she would like to have for a husband. + And this blank in Hetty's nature, instead of exciting Dinah's dislike, + only touched her with a deeper pity: the lovely face and form affected her + as beauty always affects a pure and tender mind, free from selfish + jealousies. It was an excellent divine gift, that gave a deeper pathos to + the need, the sin, the sorrow with which it was mingled, as the canker in + a lily-white bud is more grievous to behold than in a common pot-herb. + </p> + <p> + By the time Dinah had undressed and put on her night-gown, this feeling + about Hetty had gathered a painful intensity; her imagination had created + a thorny thicket of sin and sorrow, in which she saw the poor thing + struggling torn and bleeding, looking with tears for rescue and finding + none. It was in this way that Dinah's imagination and sympathy acted and + reacted habitually, each heightening the other. She felt a deep longing to + go now and pour into Hetty's ear all the words of tender warning and + appeal that rushed into her mind. But perhaps Hetty was already asleep. + Dinah put her ear to the partition and heard still some slight noises, + which convinced her that Hetty was not yet in bed. Still she hesitated; + she was not quite certain of a divine direction; the voice that told her + to go to Hetty seemed no stronger than the other voice which said that + Hetty was weary, and that going to her now in an unseasonable moment would + only tend to close her heart more obstinately. Dinah was not satisfied + without a more unmistakable guidance than those inward voices. There was + light enough for her, if she opened her Bible, to discern the text + sufficiently to know what it would say to her. She knew the physiognomy of + every page, and could tell on what book she opened, sometimes on what + chapter, without seeing title or number. It was a small thick Bible, worn + quite round at the edges. Dinah laid it sideways on the window ledge, + where the light was strongest, and then opened it with her forefinger. The + first words she looked at were those at the top of the left-hand page: + “And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him.” That was + enough for Dinah; she had opened on that memorable parting at Ephesus, + when Paul had felt bound to open his heart in a last exhortation and + warning. She hesitated no longer, but, opening her own door gently, went + and tapped on Hetty's. We know she had to tap twice, because Hetty had to + put out her candles and throw off her black lace scarf; but after the + second tap the door was opened immediately. Dinah said, “Will you let me + come in, Hetty?” and Hetty, without speaking, for she was confused and + vexed, opened the door wider and let her in. + </p> + <p> + What a strange contrast the two figures made, visible enough in that + mingled twilight and moonlight! Hetty, her cheeks flushed and her eyes + glistening from her imaginary drama, her beautiful neck and arms bare, her + hair hanging in a curly tangle down her back, and the baubles in her ears. + Dinah, covered with her long white dress, her pale face full of subdued + emotion, almost like a lovely corpse into which the soul has returned + charged with sublimer secrets and a sublimer love. They were nearly of the + same height; Dinah evidently a little the taller as she put her arm round + Hetty's waist and kissed her forehead. + </p> + <p> + “I knew you were not in bed, my dear,” she said, in her sweet clear voice, + which was irritating to Hetty, mingling with her own peevish vexation like + music with jangling chains, “for I heard you moving; and I longed to speak + to you again to-night, for it is the last but one that I shall be here, + and we don't know what may happen to-morrow to keep us apart. Shall I sit + down with you while you do up your hair?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh yes,” said Hetty, hastily turning round and reaching the second chair + in the room, glad that Dinah looked as if she did not notice her + ear-rings. + </p> + <p> + Dinah sat down, and Hetty began to brush together her hair before twisting + it up, doing it with that air of excessive indifference which belongs to + confused self-consciousness. But the expression of Dinah's eyes gradually + relieved her; they seemed unobservant of all details. + </p> + <p> + “Dear Hetty,” she said, “It has been borne in upon my mind to-night that + you may some day be in trouble—trouble is appointed for us all here + below, and there comes a time when we need more comfort and help than the + things of this life can give. I want to tell you that if ever you are in + trouble, and need a friend that will always feel for you and love you, you + have got that friend in Dinah Morris at Snowfield, and if you come to her, + or send for her, she'll never forget this night and the words she is + speaking to you now. Will you remember it, Hetty?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Hetty, rather frightened. “But why should you think I shall be + in trouble? Do you know of anything?” + </p> + <p> + Hetty had seated herself as she tied on her cap, and now Dinah leaned + forwards and took her hands as she answered, “Because, dear, trouble comes + to us all in this life: we set our hearts on things which it isn't God's + will for us to have, and then we go sorrowing; the people we love are + taken from us, and we can joy in nothing because they are not with us; + sickness comes, and we faint under the burden of our feeble bodies; we go + astray and do wrong, and bring ourselves into trouble with our fellow-men. + There is no man or woman born into this world to whom some of these trials + do not fall, and so I feel that some of them must happen to you; and I + desire for you, that while you are young you should seek for strength from + your Heavenly Father, that you may have a support which will not fail you + in the evil day.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah paused and released Hetty's hands that she might not hinder her. + Hetty sat quite still; she felt no response within herself to Dinah's + anxious affection; but Dinah's words uttered with solemn pathetic + distinctness, affected her with a chill fear. Her flush had died away + almost to paleness; she had the timidity of a luxurious pleasure-seeking + nature, which shrinks from the hint of pain. Dinah saw the effect, and her + tender anxious pleading became the more earnest, till Hetty, full of a + vague fear that something evil was some time to befall her, began to cry. + </p> + <p> + It is our habit to say that while the lower nature can never understand + the higher, the higher nature commands a complete view of the lower. But I + think the higher nature has to learn this comprehension, as we learn the + art of vision, by a good deal of hard experience, often with bruises and + gashes incurred in taking things up by the wrong end, and fancying our + space wider than it is. Dinah had never seen Hetty affected in this way + before, and, with her usual benignant hopefulness, she trusted it was the + stirring of a divine impulse. She kissed the sobbing thing, and began to + cry with her for grateful joy. But Hetty was simply in that excitable + state of mind in which there is no calculating what turn the feelings may + take from one moment to another, and for the first time she became + irritated under Dinah's caress. She pushed her away impatiently, and said, + with a childish sobbing voice, “Don't talk to me so, Dinah. Why do you + come to frighten me? I've never done anything to you. Why can't you let me + be?” + </p> + <p> + Poor Dinah felt a pang. She was too wise to persist, and only said mildly, + “Yes, my dear, you're tired; I won't hinder you any longer. Make haste and + get into bed. Good-night.” + </p> + <p> + She went out of the room almost as quietly and quickly as if she had been + a ghost; but once by the side of her own bed, she threw herself on her + knees and poured out in deep silence all the passionate pity that filled + her heart. + </p> + <p> + As for Hetty, she was soon in the wood again—her waking dreams being + merged in a sleeping life scarcely more fragmentary and confused. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XVI + </h2> + <h3> + Links + </h3> + <p> + ARTHUR DONNITHORNE, you remember, is under an engagement with himself to + go and see Mr. Irwine this Friday morning, and he is awake and dressing so + early that he determines to go before breakfast, instead of after. The + rector, he knows, breakfasts alone at half-past nine, the ladies of the + family having a different breakfast-hour; Arthur will have an early ride + over the hill and breakfast with him. One can say everything best over a + meal. + </p> + <p> + The progress of civilization has made a breakfast or a dinner an easy and + cheerful substitute for more troublesome and disagreeable ceremonies. We + take a less gloomy view of our errors now our father confessor listens to + us over his egg and coffee. We are more distinctly conscious that rude + penances are out of the question for gentlemen in an enlightened age, and + that mortal sin is not incompatible with an appetite for muffins. An + assault on our pockets, which in more barbarous times would have been made + in the brusque form of a pistol-shot, is quite a well-bred and smiling + procedure now it has become a request for a loan thrown in as an easy + parenthesis between the second and third glasses of claret. + </p> + <p> + Still, there was this advantage in the old rigid forms, that they + committed you to the fulfilment of a resolution by some outward deed: when + you have put your mouth to one end of a hole in a stone wall and are aware + that there is an expectant ear at the other end, you are more likely to + say what you came out with the intention of saying than if you were seated + with your legs in an easy attitude under the mahogany with a companion who + will have no reason to be surprised if you have nothing particular to say. + </p> + <p> + However, Arthur Donnithorne, as he winds among the pleasant lanes on + horseback in the morning sunshine, has a sincere determination to open his + heart to the rector, and the swirling sound of the scythe as he passes by + the meadow is all the pleasanter to him because of this honest purpose. He + is glad to see the promise of settled weather now, for getting in the hay, + about which the farmers have been fearful; and there is something so + healthful in the sharing of a joy that is general and not merely personal, + that this thought about the hay-harvest reacts on his state of mind and + makes his resolution seem an easier matter. A man about town might perhaps + consider that these influences were not to be felt out of a child's + story-book; but when you are among the fields and hedgerows, it is + impossible to maintain a consistent superiority to simple natural + pleasures. + </p> + <p> + Arthur had passed the village of Hayslope and was approaching the Broxton + side of the hill, when, at a turning in the road, he saw a figure about a + hundred yards before him which it was impossible to mistake for any one + else than Adam Bede, even if there had been no grey, tailless shepherd-dog + at his heels. He was striding along at his usual rapid pace, and Arthur + pushed on his horse to overtake him, for he retained too much of his + boyish feeling for Adam to miss an opportunity of chatting with him. I + will not say that his love for that good fellow did not owe some of its + force to the love of patronage: our friend Arthur liked to do everything + that was handsome, and to have his handsome deeds recognized. + </p> + <p> + Adam looked round as he heard the quickening clatter of the horse's heels, + and waited for the horseman, lifting his paper cap from his head with a + bright smile of recognition. Next to his own brother Seth, Adam would have + done more for Arthur Donnithorne than for any other young man in the + world. There was hardly anything he would not rather have lost than the + two-feet ruler which he always carried in his pocket; it was Arthur's + present, bought with his pocket-money when he was a fair-haired lad of + eleven, and when he had profited so well by Adam's lessons in carpentering + and turning as to embarrass every female in the house with gifts of + superfluous thread-reels and round boxes. Adam had quite a pride in the + little squire in those early days, and the feeling had only become + slightly modified as the fair-haired lad had grown into the whiskered + young man. Adam, I confess, was very susceptible to the influence of rank, + and quite ready to give an extra amount of respect to every one who had + more advantages than himself, not being a philosopher or a proletaire with + democratic ideas, but simply a stout-limbed clever carpenter with a large + fund of reverence in his nature, which inclined him to admit all + established claims unless he saw very clear grounds for questioning them. + He had no theories about setting the world to rights, but he saw there was + a great deal of damage done by building with ill-seasoned timber—by + ignorant men in fine clothes making plans for outhouses and workshops and + the like without knowing the bearings of things—by slovenly joiners' + work, and by hasty contracts that could never be fulfilled without ruining + somebody; and he resolved, for his part, to set his face against such + doings. On these points he would have maintained his opinion against the + largest landed proprietor in Loamshire or Stonyshire either; but he felt + that beyond these it would be better for him to defer to people who were + more knowing than himself. He saw as plainly as possible how ill the woods + on the estate were managed, and the shameful state of the farm-buildings; + and if old Squire Donnithorne had asked him the effect of this + mismanagement, he would have spoken his opinion without flinching, but the + impulse to a respectful demeanour towards a “gentleman” would have been + strong within him all the while. The word “gentleman” had a spell for + Adam, and, as he often said, he “couldn't abide a fellow who thought he + made himself fine by being coxy to's betters.” I must remind you again + that Adam had the blood of the peasant in his veins, and that since he was + in his prime half a century ago, you must expect some of his + characteristics to be obsolete. + </p> + <p> + Towards the young squire this instinctive reverence of Adam's was assisted + by boyish memories and personal regard so you may imagine that he thought + far more of Arthur's good qualities, and attached far more value to very + slight actions of his, than if they had been the qualities and actions of + a common workman like himself. He felt sure it would be a fine day for + everybody about Hayslope when the young squire came into the estate—such + a generous open-hearted disposition as he had, and an “uncommon” notion + about improvements and repairs, considering he was only just coming of + age. Thus there was both respect and affection in the smile with which he + raised his paper cap as Arthur Donnithorne rode up. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Adam, how are you?” said Arthur, holding out his hand. He never + shook hands with any of the farmers, and Adam felt the honour keenly. “I + could swear to your back a long way off. It's just the same back, only + broader, as when you used to carry me on it. Do you remember?” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, sir, I remember. It 'ud be a poor look-out if folks didn't remember + what they did and said when they were lads. We should think no more about + old friends than we do about new uns, then.” + </p> + <p> + “You're going to Broxton, I suppose?” said Arthur, putting his horse on at + a slow pace while Adam walked by his side. “Are you going to the rectory?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, I'm going to see about Bradwell's barn. They're afraid of the + roof pushing the walls out, and I'm going to see what can be done with it + before we send the stuff and the workmen.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Burge trusts almost everything to you now, Adam, doesn't he? I + should think he will make you his partner soon. He will, if he's wise.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, sir, I don't see as he'd be much the better off for that. A foreman, + if he's got a conscience and delights in his work, will do his business as + well as if he was a partner. I wouldn't give a penny for a man as 'ud + drive a nail in slack because he didn't get extra pay for it.” + </p> + <p> + “I know that, Adam; I know you work for him as well as if you were working + for yourself. But you would have more power than you have now, and could + turn the business to better account perhaps. The old man must give up his + business sometime, and he has no son; I suppose he'll want a son-in-law + who can take to it. But he has rather grasping fingers of his own, I + fancy. I daresay he wants a man who can put some money into the business. + If I were not as poor as a rat, I would gladly invest some money in that + way, for the sake of having you settled on the estate. I'm sure I should + profit by it in the end. And perhaps I shall be better off in a year or + two. I shall have a larger allowance now I'm of age; and when I've paid + off a debt or two, I shall be able to look about me.” + </p> + <p> + “You're very good to say so, sir, and I'm not unthankful. But”—Adam + continued, in a decided tone—“I shouldn't like to make any offers to + Mr. Burge, or t' have any made for me. I see no clear road to a + partnership. If he should ever want to dispose of the business, that 'ud + be a different matter. I should be glad of some money at a fair interest + then, for I feel sure I could pay it off in time.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Adam,” said Arthur, remembering what Mr. Irwine had said about + a probable hitch in the love-making between Adam and Mary Burge, “we'll + say no more about it at present. When is your father to be buried?” + </p> + <p> + “On Sunday, sir; Mr. Irwine's coming earlier on purpose. I shall be glad + when it's over, for I think my mother 'ull perhaps get easier then. It + cuts one sadly to see the grief of old people; they've no way o' working + it off, and the new spring brings no new shoots out on the withered tree.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, you've had a good deal of trouble and vexation in your life, Adam. I + don't think you've ever been hare-brained and light-hearted, like other + youngsters. You've always had some care on your mind.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, yes, sir; but that's nothing to make a fuss about. If we're men and + have men's feelings, I reckon we must have men's troubles. We can't be + like the birds, as fly from their nest as soon as they've got their wings, + and never know their kin when they see 'em, and get a fresh lot every + year. I've had enough to be thankful for: I've allays had health and + strength and brains to give me a delight in my work; and I count it a + great thing as I've had Bartle Massey's night-school to go to. He's helped + me to knowledge I could never ha' got by myself.” + </p> + <p> + “What a rare fellow you are, Adam!” said Arthur, after a pause, in which + he had looked musingly at the big fellow walking by his side. “I could hit + out better than most men at Oxford, and yet I believe you would knock me + into next week if I were to have a battle with you.” + </p> + <p> + “God forbid I should ever do that, sir,” said Adam, looking round at + Arthur and smiling. “I used to fight for fun, but I've never done that + since I was the cause o' poor Gil Tranter being laid up for a fortnight. + I'll never fight any man again, only when he behaves like a scoundrel. If + you get hold of a chap that's got no shame nor conscience to stop him, you + must try what you can do by bunging his eyes up.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur did not laugh, for he was preoccupied with some thought that made + him say presently, “I should think now, Adam, you never have any struggles + within yourself. I fancy you would master a wish that you had made up your + mind it was not quite right to indulge, as easily as you would knock down + a drunken fellow who was quarrelsome with you. I mean, you are never + shilly-shally, first making up your mind that you won't do a thing, and + then doing it after all?” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Adam, slowly, after a moment's hesitation, “no. I don't + remember ever being see-saw in that way, when I'd made my mind up, as you + say, that a thing was wrong. It takes the taste out o' my mouth for + things, when I know I should have a heavy conscience after 'em. I've seen + pretty clear, ever since I could cast up a sum, as you can never do what's + wrong without breeding sin and trouble more than you can ever see. It's + like a bit o' bad workmanship—you never see th' end o' the mischief + it'll do. And it's a poor look-out to come into the world to make your + fellow-creatures worse off instead o' better. But there's a difference + between the things folks call wrong. I'm not for making a sin of every + little fool's trick, or bit o' nonsense anybody may be let into, like some + o' them dissenters. And a man may have two minds whether it isn't + worthwhile to get a bruise or two for the sake of a bit o' fun. But it + isn't my way to be see-saw about anything: I think my fault lies th' other + way. When I've said a thing, if it's only to myself, it's hard for me to + go back.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, that's just what I expected of you,” said Arthur. “You've got an + iron will, as well as an iron arm. But however strong a man's resolution + may be, it costs him something to carry it out, now and then. We may + determine not to gather any cherries and keep our hands sturdily in our + pockets, but we can't prevent our mouths from watering.” + </p> + <p> + “That's true, sir, but there's nothing like settling with ourselves as + there's a deal we must do without i' this life. It's no use looking on + life as if it was Treddles'on Fair, where folks only go to see shows and + get fairings. If we do, we shall find it different. But where's the use o' + me talking to you, sir? You know better than I do.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not so sure of that, Adam. You've had four or five years of + experience more than I've had, and I think your life has been a better + school to you than college has been to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir, you seem to think o' college something like what Bartle Massey + does. He says college mostly makes people like bladders—just good + for nothing but t' hold the stuff as is poured into 'em. But he's got a + tongue like a sharp blade, Bartle has—it never touches anything but + it cuts. Here's the turning, sir. I must bid you good-morning, as you're + going to the rectory.” + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye, Adam, good-bye.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur gave his horse to the groom at the rectory gate, and walked along + the gravel towards the door which opened on the garden. He knew that the + rector always breakfasted in his study, and the study lay on the left hand + of this door, opposite the dining-room. It was a small low room, belonging + to the old part of the house—dark with the sombre covers of the + books that lined the walls; yet it looked very cheery this morning as + Arthur reached the open window. For the morning sun fell aslant on the + great glass globe with gold fish in it, which stood on a scagliola pillar + in front of the ready-spread bachelor breakfast-table, and by the side of + this breakfast-table was a group which would have made any room enticing. + In the crimson damask easy-chair sat Mr. Irwine, with that radiant + freshness which he always had when he came from his morning toilet; his + finely formed plump white hand was playing along Juno's brown curly back; + and close to Juno's tail, which was wagging with calm matronly pleasure, + the two brown pups were rolling over each other in an ecstatic duet of + worrying noises. On a cushion a little removed sat Pug, with the air of a + maiden lady, who looked on these familiarities as animal weaknesses, which + she made as little show as possible of observing. On the table, at Mr. + Irwine's elbow, lay the first volume of the Foulis AEschylus, which Arthur + knew well by sight; and the silver coffee-pot, which Carroll was bringing + in, sent forth a fragrant steam which completed the delights of a bachelor + breakfast. + </p> + <p> + “Hallo, Arthur, that's a good fellow! You're just in time,” said Mr. + Irwine, as Arthur paused and stepped in over the low window-sill. + “Carroll, we shall want more coffee and eggs, and haven't you got some + cold fowl for us to eat with that ham? Why, this is like old days, Arthur; + you haven't been to breakfast with me these five years.” + </p> + <p> + “It was a tempting morning for a ride before breakfast,” said Arthur; “and + I used to like breakfasting with you so when I was reading with you. My + grandfather is always a few degrees colder at breakfast than at any other + hour in the day. I think his morning bath doesn't agree with him.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur was anxious not to imply that he came with any special purpose. He + had no sooner found himself in Mr. Irwine's presence than the confidence + which he had thought quite easy before, suddenly appeared the most + difficult thing in the world to him, and at the very moment of shaking + hands he saw his purpose in quite a new light. How could he make Irwine + understand his position unless he told him those little scenes in the + wood; and how could he tell them without looking like a fool? And then his + weakness in coming back from Gawaine's, and doing the very opposite of + what he intended! Irwine would think him a shilly-shally fellow ever + after. However, it must come out in an unpremeditated way; the + conversation might lead up to it. + </p> + <p> + “I like breakfast-time better than any other moment in the day,” said Mr. + Irwine. “No dust has settled on one's mind then, and it presents a clear + mirror to the rays of things. I always have a favourite book by me at + breakfast, and I enjoy the bits I pick up then so much, that regularly + every morning it seems to me as if I should certainly become studious + again. But presently Dent brings up a poor fellow who has killed a hare, + and when I've got through my 'justicing,' as Carroll calls it, I'm + inclined for a ride round the glebe, and on my way back I meet with the + master of the workhouse, who has got a long story of a mutinous pauper to + tell me; and so the day goes on, and I'm always the same lazy fellow + before evening sets in. Besides, one wants the stimulus of sympathy, and I + have never had that since poor D'Oyley left Treddleston. If you had stuck + to your books well, you rascal, I should have had a pleasanter prospect + before me. But scholarship doesn't run in your family blood.” + </p> + <p> + “No indeed. It's well if I can remember a little inapplicable Latin to + adorn my maiden speech in Parliament six or seven years hence. 'Cras + ingens iterabimus aequor,' and a few shreds of that sort, will perhaps + stick to me, and I shall arrange my opinions so as to introduce them. But + I don't think a knowledge of the classics is a pressing want to a country + gentleman; as far as I can see, he'd much better have a knowledge of + manures. I've been reading your friend Arthur Young's books lately, and + there's nothing I should like better than to carry out some of his ideas + in putting the farmers on a better management of their land; and, as he + says, making what was a wild country, all of the same dark hue, bright and + variegated with corn and cattle. My grandfather will never let me have any + power while he lives, but there's nothing I should like better than to + undertake the Stonyshire side of the estate—it's in a dismal + condition—and set improvements on foot, and gallop about from one + place to another and overlook them. I should like to know all the + labourers, and see them touching their hats to me with a look of + goodwill.” + </p> + <p> + “Bravo, Arthur! A man who has no feeling for the classics couldn't make a + better apology for coming into the world than by increasing the quantity + of food to maintain scholars—and rectors who appreciate scholars. + And whenever you enter on your career of model landlord may I be there to + see. You'll want a portly rector to complete the picture, and take his + tithe of all the respect and honour you get by your hard work. Only don't + set your heart too strongly on the goodwill you are to get in consequence. + I'm not sure that men are the fondest of those who try to be useful to + them. You know Gawaine has got the curses of the whole neighbourhood upon + him about that enclosure. You must make it quite clear to your mind which + you are most bent upon, old boy—popularity or usefulness—else + you may happen to miss both.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! Gawaine is harsh in his manners; he doesn't make himself personally + agreeable to his tenants. I don't believe there's anything you can't + prevail on people to do with kindness. For my part, I couldn't live in a + neighbourhood where I was not respected and beloved. And it's very + pleasant to go among the tenants here—they seem all so well inclined + to me I suppose it seems only the other day to them since I was a little + lad, riding on a pony about as big as a sheep. And if fair allowances were + made to them, and their buildings attended to, one could persuade them to + farm on a better plan, stupid as they are.” + </p> + <p> + “Then mind you fall in love in the right place, and don't get a wife who + will drain your purse and make you niggardly in spite of yourself. My + mother and I have a little discussion about you sometimes: she says, 'I'll + never risk a single prophecy on Arthur until I see the woman he falls in + love with.' She thinks your lady-love will rule you as the moon rules the + tides. But I feel bound to stand up for you, as my pupil you know, and I + maintain that you're not of that watery quality. So mind you don't + disgrace my judgment.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur winced under this speech, for keen old Mrs. Irwine's opinion about + him had the disagreeable effect of a sinister omen. This, to be sure, was + only another reason for persevering in his intention, and getting an + additional security against himself. Nevertheless, at this point in the + conversation, he was conscious of increased disinclination to tell his + story about Hetty. He was of an impressible nature, and lived a great deal + in other people's opinions and feelings concerning himself; and the mere + fact that he was in the presence of an intimate friend, who had not the + slightest notion that he had had any such serious internal struggle as he + came to confide, rather shook his own belief in the seriousness of the + struggle. It was not, after all, a thing to make a fuss about; and what + could Irwine do for him that he could not do for himself? He would go to + Eagledale in spite of Meg's lameness—go on Rattler, and let Pym + follow as well as he could on the old hack. That was his thought as he + sugared his coffee; but the next minute, as he was lifting the cup to his + lips, he remembered how thoroughly he had made up his mind last night to + tell Irwine. No! He would not be vacillating again—he WOULD do what + he had meant to do, this time. So it would be well not to let the personal + tone of the conversation altogether drop. If they went to quite + indifferent topics, his difficulty would be heightened. It had required no + noticeable pause for this rush and rebound of feeling, before he answered, + “But I think it is hardly an argument against a man's general strength of + character that he should be apt to be mastered by love. A fine + constitution doesn't insure one against smallpox or any other of those + inevitable diseases. A man may be very firm in other matters and yet be + under a sort of witchery from a woman.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; but there's this difference between love and smallpox, or + bewitchment either—that if you detect the disease at an early stage + and try change of air, there is every chance of complete escape without + any further development of symptoms. And there are certain alternative + doses which a man may administer to himself by keeping unpleasant + consequences before his mind: this gives you a sort of smoked glass + through which you may look at the resplendent fair one and discern her + true outline; though I'm afraid, by the by, the smoked glass is apt to be + missing just at the moment it is most wanted. I daresay, now, even a man + fortified with a knowledge of the classics might be lured into an + imprudent marriage, in spite of the warning given him by the chorus in the + Prometheus.” + </p> + <p> + The smile that flitted across Arthur's face was a faint one, and instead + of following Mr. Irwine's playful lead, he said, quite seriously—“Yes, + that's the worst of it. It's a desperately vexatious thing, that after all + one's reflections and quiet determinations, we should be ruled by moods + that one can't calculate on beforehand. I don't think a man ought to be + blamed so much if he is betrayed into doing things in that way, in spite + of his resolutions.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, but the moods lie in his nature, my boy, just as much as his + reflections did, and more. A man can never do anything at variance with + his own nature. He carries within him the germ of his most exceptional + action; and if we wise people make eminent fools of ourselves on any + particular occasion, we must endure the legitimate conclusion that we + carry a few grains of folly to our ounce of wisdom.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but one may be betrayed into doing things by a combination of + circumstances, which one might never have done otherwise.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, yes, a man can't very well steal a bank-note unless the bank-note + lies within convenient reach; but he won't make us think him an honest man + because he begins to howl at the bank-note for falling in his way.” + </p> + <p> + “But surely you don't think a man who struggles against a temptation into + which he falls at last as bad as the man who never struggles at all?” + </p> + <p> + “No, certainly; I pity him in proportion to his struggles, for they + foreshadow the inward suffering which is the worst form of Nemesis. + Consequences are unpitying. Our deeds carry their terrible consequences, + quite apart from any fluctuations that went before—consequences that + are hardly ever confined to ourselves. And it is best to fix our minds on + that certainty, instead of considering what may be the elements of excuse + for us. But I never knew you so inclined for moral discussion, Arthur? Is + it some danger of your own that you are considering in this philosophical, + general way?” + </p> + <p> + In asking this question, Mr. Irwine pushed his plate away, threw himself + back in his chair, and looked straight at Arthur. He really suspected that + Arthur wanted to tell him something, and thought of smoothing the way for + him by this direct question. But he was mistaken. Brought suddenly and + involuntarily to the brink of confession, Arthur shrank back and felt less + disposed towards it than ever. The conversation had taken a more serious + tone than he had intended—it would quite mislead Irwine—he + would imagine there was a deep passion for Hetty, while there was no such + thing. He was conscious of colouring, and was annoyed at his boyishness. + </p> + <p> + “Oh no, no danger,” he said as indifferently as he could. “I don't know + that I am more liable to irresolution than other people; only there are + little incidents now and then that set one speculating on what might + happen in the future.” + </p> + <p> + Was there a motive at work under this strange reluctance of Arthur's which + had a sort of backstairs influence, not admitted to himself? Our mental + business is carried on much in the same way as the business of the State: + a great deal of hard work is done by agents who are not acknowledged. In a + piece of machinery, too, I believe there is often a small unnoticeable + wheel which has a great deal to do with the motion of the large obvious + ones. Possibly there was some such unrecognized agent secretly busy in + Arthur's mind at this moment—possibly it was the fear lest he might + hereafter find the fact of having made a confession to the rector a + serious annoyance, in case he should NOT be able quite to carry out his + good resolutions? I dare not assert that it was not so. The human soul is + a very complex thing. + </p> + <p> + The idea of Hetty had just crossed Mr. Irwine's mind as he looked + inquiringly at Arthur, but his disclaiming indifferent answer confirmed + the thought which had quickly followed—that there could be nothing + serious in that direction. There was no probability that Arthur ever saw + her except at church, and at her own home under the eye of Mrs. Poyser; + and the hint he had given Arthur about her the other day had no more + serious meaning than to prevent him from noticing her so as to rouse the + little chit's vanity, and in this way perturb the rustic drama of her + life. Arthur would soon join his regiment, and be far away: no, there + could be no danger in that quarter, even if Arthur's character had not + been a strong security against it. His honest, patronizing pride in the + good-will and respect of everybody about him was a safeguard even against + foolish romance, still more against a lower kind of folly. If there had + been anything special on Arthur's mind in the previous conversation, it + was clear he was not inclined to enter into details, and Mr. Irwine was + too delicate to imply even a friendly curiosity. He perceived a change of + subject would be welcome, and said, “By the way, Arthur, at your colonel's + birthday fete there were some transparencies that made a great effect in + honour of Britannia, and Pitt, and the Loamshire Militia, and, above all, + the 'generous youth,' the hero of the day. Don't you think you should get + up something of the same sort to astonish our weak minds?” + </p> + <p> + The opportunity was gone. While Arthur was hesitating, the rope to which + he might have clung had drifted away—he must trust now to his own + swimming. + </p> + <p> + In ten minutes from that time, Mr. Irwine was called for on business, and + Arthur, bidding him good-bye, mounted his horse again with a sense of + dissatisfaction, which he tried to quell by determining to set off for + Eagledale without an hour's delay. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Book Two + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XVII + </h2> + <h3> + In Which the Story Pauses a Little + </h3> + <p> + “THIS Rector of Broxton is little better than a pagan!” I hear one of my + readers exclaim. “How much more edifying it would have been if you had + made him give Arthur some truly spiritual advice! You might have put into + his mouth the most beautiful things—quite as good as reading a + sermon.” + </p> + <p> + Certainly I could, if I held it the highest vocation of the novelist to + represent things as they never have been and never will be. Then, of + course, I might refashion life and character entirely after my own liking; + I might select the most unexceptionable type of clergyman and put my own + admirable opinions into his mouth on all occasions. But it happens, on the + contrary, that my strongest effort is to avoid any such arbitrary picture, + and to give a faithful account of men and things as they have mirrored + themselves in my mind. The mirror is doubtless defective, the outlines + will sometimes be disturbed, the reflection faint or confused; but I feel + as much bound to tell you as precisely as I can what that reflection is, + as if I were in the witness-box, narrating my experience on oath. + </p> + <p> + Sixty years ago—it is a long time, so no wonder things have changed—all + clergymen were not zealous; indeed, there is reason to believe that the + number of zealous clergymen was small, and it is probable that if one + among the small minority had owned the livings of Broxton and Hayslope in + the year 1799, you would have liked him no better than you like Mr. + Irwine. Ten to one, you would have thought him a tasteless, indiscreet, + methodistical man. It is so very rarely that facts hit that nice medium + required by our own enlightened opinions and refined taste! Perhaps you + will say, “Do improve the facts a little, then; make them more accordant + with those correct views which it is our privilege to possess. The world + is not just what we like; do touch it up with a tasteful pencil, and make + believe it is not quite such a mixed entangled affair. Let all people who + hold unexceptionable opinions act unexceptionably. Let your most faulty + characters always be on the wrong side, and your virtuous ones on the + right. Then we shall see at a glance whom we are to condemn and whom we + are to approve. Then we shall be able to admire, without the slightest + disturbance of our prepossessions: we shall hate and despise with that + true ruminant relish which belongs to undoubting confidence.” + </p> + <p> + But, my good friend, what will you do then with your fellow-parishioner + who opposes your husband in the vestry? With your newly appointed vicar, + whose style of preaching you find painfully below that of his regretted + predecessor? With the honest servant who worries your soul with her one + failing? With your neighbour, Mrs. Green, who was really kind to you in + your last illness, but has said several ill-natured things about you since + your convalescence? Nay, with your excellent husband himself, who has + other irritating habits besides that of not wiping his shoes? These + fellow-mortals, every one, must be accepted as they are: you can neither + straighten their noses, nor brighten their wit, nor rectify their + dispositions; and it is these people—amongst whom your life is + passed—that it is needful you should tolerate, pity, and love: it is + these more or less ugly, stupid, inconsistent people whose movements of + goodness you should be able to admire—for whom you should cherish + all possible hopes, all possible patience. And I would not, even if I had + the choice, be the clever novelist who could create a world so much better + than this, in which we get up in the morning to do our daily work, that + you would be likely to turn a harder, colder eye on the dusty streets and + the common green fields—on the real breathing men and women, who can + be chilled by your indifference or injured by your prejudice; who can be + cheered and helped onward by your fellow-feeling, your forbearance, your + outspoken, brave justice. + </p> + <p> + So I am content to tell my simple story, without trying to make things + seem better than they were; dreading nothing, indeed, but falsity, which, + in spite of one's best efforts, there is reason to dread. Falsehood is so + easy, truth so difficult. The pencil is conscious of a delightful facility + in drawing a griffin—the longer the claws, and the larger the wings, + the better; but that marvellous facility which we mistook for genius is + apt to forsake us when we want to draw a real unexaggerated lion. Examine + your words well, and you will find that even when you have no motive to be + false, it is a very hard thing to say the exact truth, even about your own + immediate feelings—much harder than to say something fine about them + which is NOT the exact truth. + </p> + <p> + It is for this rare, precious quality of truthfulness that I delight in + many Dutch paintings, which lofty-minded people despise. I find a source + of delicious sympathy in these faithful pictures of a monotonous homely + existence, which has been the fate of so many more among my fellow-mortals + than a life of pomp or of absolute indigence, of tragic suffering or of + world-stirring actions. I turn, without shrinking, from cloud-borne + angels, from prophets, sibyls, and heroic warriors, to an old woman + bending over her flower-pot, or eating her solitary dinner, while the + noonday light, softened perhaps by a screen of leaves, falls on her + mob-cap, and just touches the rim of her spinning-wheel, and her stone + jug, and all those cheap common things which are the precious necessaries + of life to her—or I turn to that village wedding, kept between four + brown walls, where an awkward bridegroom opens the dance with a + high-shouldered, broad-faced bride, while elderly and middle-aged friends + look on, with very irregular noses and lips, and probably with quart-pots + in their hands, but with an expression of unmistakable contentment and + goodwill. “Foh!” says my idealistic friend, “what vulgar details! What + good is there in taking all these pains to give an exact likeness of old + women and clowns? What a low phase of life! What clumsy, ugly people!” + </p> + <p> + But bless us, things may be lovable that are not altogether handsome, I + hope? I am not at all sure that the majority of the human race have not + been ugly, and even among those “lords of their kind,” the British, squat + figures, ill-shapen nostrils, and dingy complexions are not startling + exceptions. Yet there is a great deal of family love amongst us. I have a + friend or two whose class of features is such that the Apollo curl on the + summit of their brows would be decidedly trying; yet to my certain + knowledge tender hearts have beaten for them, and their miniatures—flattering, + but still not lovely—are kissed in secret by motherly lips. I have + seen many an excellent matron, who could have never in her best days have + been handsome, and yet she had a packet of yellow love-letters in a + private drawer, and sweet children showered kisses on her sallow cheeks. + And I believe there have been plenty of young heroes, of middle stature + and feeble beards, who have felt quite sure they could never love anything + more insignificant than a Diana, and yet have found themselves in middle + life happily settled with a wife who waddles. Yes! Thank God; human + feeling is like the mighty rivers that bless the earth: it does not wait + for beauty—it flows with resistless force and brings beauty with it. + </p> + <p> + All honour and reverence to the divine beauty of form! Let us cultivate it + to the utmost in men, women, and children—in our gardens and in our + houses. But let us love that other beauty too, which lies in no secret of + proportion, but in the secret of deep human sympathy. Paint us an angel, + if you can, with a floating violet robe, and a face paled by the celestial + light; paint us yet oftener a Madonna, turning her mild face upward and + opening her arms to welcome the divine glory; but do not impose on us any + aesthetic rules which shall banish from the region of Art those old women + scraping carrots with their work-worn hands, those heavy clowns taking + holiday in a dingy pot-house, those rounded backs and stupid + weather-beaten faces that have bent over the spade and done the rough work + of the world—those homes with their tin pans, their brown pitchers, + their rough curs, and their clusters of onions. In this world there are so + many of these common coarse people, who have no picturesque sentimental + wretchedness! It is so needful we should remember their existence, else we + may happen to leave them quite out of our religion and philosophy and + frame lofty theories which only fit a world of extremes. Therefore, let + Art always remind us of them; therefore let us always have men ready to + give the loving pains of a life to the faithful representing of + commonplace things—men who see beauty in these commonplace things, + and delight in showing how kindly the light of heaven falls on them. There + are few prophets in the world; few sublimely beautiful women; few heroes. + I can't afford to give all my love and reverence to such rarities: I want + a great deal of those feelings for my every-day fellow-men, especially for + the few in the foreground of the great multitude, whose faces I know, + whose hands I touch, for whom I have to make way with kindly courtesy. + Neither are picturesque lazzaroni or romantic criminals half so frequent + as your common labourer, who gets his own bread and eats it vulgarly but + creditably with his own pocket-knife. It is more needful that I should + have a fibre of sympathy connecting me with that vulgar citizen who weighs + out my sugar in a vilely assorted cravat and waistcoat, than with the + handsomest rascal in red scarf and green feathers—more needful that + my heart should swell with loving admiration at some trait of gentle + goodness in the faulty people who sit at the same hearth with me, or in + the clergyman of my own parish, who is perhaps rather too corpulent and in + other respects is not an Oberlin or a Tillotson, than at the deeds of + heroes whom I shall never know except by hearsay, or at the sublimest + abstract of all clerical graces that was ever conceived by an able + novelist. + </p> + <p> + And so I come back to Mr. Irwine, with whom I desire you to be in perfect + charity, far as he may be from satisfying your demands on the clerical + character. Perhaps you think he was not—as he ought to have been—a + living demonstration of the benefits attached to a national church? But I + am not sure of that; at least I know that the people in Broxton and + Hayslope would have been very sorry to part with their clergyman, and that + most faces brightened at his approach; and until it can be proved that + hatred is a better thing for the soul than love, I must believe that Mr. + Irwine's influence in his parish was a more wholesome one than that of the + zealous Mr. Ryde, who came there twenty years afterwards, when Mr. Irwine + had been gathered to his fathers. It is true, Mr. Ryde insisted strongly + on the doctrines of the Reformation, visited his flock a great deal in + their own homes, and was severe in rebuking the aberrations of the flesh—put + a stop, indeed, to the Christmas rounds of the church singers, as + promoting drunkenness and too light a handling of sacred things. But I + gathered from Adam Bede, to whom I talked of these matters in his old age, + that few clergymen could be less successful in winning the hearts of their + parishioners than Mr. Ryde. They learned a great many notions about + doctrine from him, so that almost every church-goer under fifty began to + distinguish as well between the genuine gospel and what did not come + precisely up to that standard, as if he had been born and bred a + Dissenter; and for some time after his arrival there seemed to be quite a + religious movement in that quiet rural district. “But,” said Adam, “I've + seen pretty clear, ever since I was a young un, as religion's something + else besides notions. It isn't notions sets people doing the right thing—it's + feelings. It's the same with the notions in religion as it is with + math'matics—a man may be able to work problems straight off in's + head as he sits by the fire and smokes his pipe, but if he has to make a + machine or a building, he must have a will and a resolution and love + something else better than his own ease. Somehow, the congregation began + to fall off, and people began to speak light o' Mr. Ryde. I believe he + meant right at bottom; but, you see, he was sourish-tempered, and was for + beating down prices with the people as worked for him; and his preaching + wouldn't go down well with that sauce. And he wanted to be like my lord + judge i' the parish, punishing folks for doing wrong; and he scolded 'em + from the pulpit as if he'd been a Ranter, and yet he couldn't abide the + Dissenters, and was a deal more set against 'em than Mr. Irwine was. And + then he didn't keep within his income, for he seemed to think at first + go-off that six hundred a-year was to make him as big a man as Mr. + Donnithorne. That's a sore mischief I've often seen with the poor curates + jumping into a bit of a living all of a sudden. Mr. Ryde was a deal + thought on at a distance, I believe, and he wrote books, but as for + math'matics and the natur o' things, he was as ignorant as a woman. He was + very knowing about doctrines, and used to call 'em the bulwarks of the + Reformation; but I've always mistrusted that sort o' learning as leaves + folks foolish and unreasonable about business. Now Mester Irwine was as + different as could be: as quick!—he understood what you meant in a + minute, and he knew all about building, and could see when you'd made a + good job. And he behaved as much like a gentleman to the farmers, and th' + old women, and the labourers, as he did to the gentry. You never saw HIM + interfering and scolding, and trying to play th' emperor. Ah, he was a + fine man as ever you set eyes on; and so kind to's mother and sisters. + That poor sickly Miss Anne—he seemed to think more of her than of + anybody else in the world. There wasn't a soul in the parish had a word to + say against him; and his servants stayed with him till they were so old + and pottering, he had to hire other folks to do their work.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” I said, “that was an excellent way of preaching in the weekdays; + but I daresay, if your old friend Mr. Irwine were to come to life again, + and get into the pulpit next Sunday, you would be rather ashamed that he + didn't preach better after all your praise of him.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay,” said Adam, broadening his chest and throwing himself back in + his chair, as if he were ready to meet all inferences, “nobody has ever + heard me say Mr. Irwine was much of a preacher. He didn't go into deep + speritial experience; and I know there s a deal in a man's inward life as + you can't measure by the square, and say, 'Do this and that 'll follow,' + and, 'Do that and this 'll follow.' There's things go on in the soul, and + times when feelings come into you like a rushing mighty wind, as the + Scripture says, and part your life in two a'most, so you look back on + yourself as if you was somebody else. Those are things as you can't bottle + up in a 'do this' and 'do that'; and I'll go so far with the strongest + Methodist ever you'll find. That shows me there's deep speritial things in + religion. You can't make much out wi' talking about it, but you feel it. + Mr. Irwine didn't go into those things—he preached short moral + sermons, and that was all. But then he acted pretty much up to what he + said; he didn't set up for being so different from other folks one day, + and then be as like 'em as two peas the next. And he made folks love him + and respect him, and that was better nor stirring up their gall wi' being + overbusy. Mrs. Poyser used to say—you know she would have her word + about everything—she said, Mr. Irwine was like a good meal o' + victual, you were the better for him without thinking on it, and Mr. Ryde + was like a dose o' physic, he gripped you and worreted you, and after all + he left you much the same.” + </p> + <p> + “But didn't Mr. Ryde preach a great deal more about that spiritual part of + religion that you talk of, Adam? Couldn't you get more out of his sermons + than out of Mr. Irwine's?” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, I knowna. He preached a deal about doctrines. But I've seen pretty + clear, ever since I was a young un, as religion's something else besides + doctrines and notions. I look at it as if the doctrines was like finding + names for your feelings, so as you can talk of 'em when you've never known + 'em, just as a man may talk o' tools when he knows their names, though + he's never so much as seen 'em, still less handled 'em. I've heard a deal + o' doctrine i' my time, for I used to go after the Dissenting preachers + along wi' Seth, when I was a lad o' seventeen, and got puzzling myself a + deal about th' Arminians and the Calvinists. The Wesleyans, you know, are + strong Arminians; and Seth, who could never abide anything harsh and was + always for hoping the best, held fast by the Wesleyans from the very + first; but I thought I could pick a hole or two in their notions, and I + got disputing wi' one o' the class leaders down at Treddles'on, and + harassed him so, first o' this side and then o' that, till at last he + said, 'Young man, it's the devil making use o' your pride and conceit as a + weapon to war against the simplicity o' the truth.' I couldn't help + laughing then, but as I was going home, I thought the man wasn't far + wrong. I began to see as all this weighing and sifting what this text + means and that text means, and whether folks are saved all by God's grace, + or whether there goes an ounce o' their own will to't, was no part o' real + religion at all. You may talk o' these things for hours on end, and you'll + only be all the more coxy and conceited for't. So I took to going nowhere + but to church, and hearing nobody but Mr. Irwine, for he said nothing but + what was good and what you'd be the wiser for remembering. And I found it + better for my soul to be humble before the mysteries o' God's dealings, + and not be making a clatter about what I could never understand. And + they're poor foolish questions after all; for what have we got either + inside or outside of us but what comes from God? If we've got a resolution + to do right, He gave it us, I reckon, first or last; but I see plain + enough we shall never do it without a resolution, and that's enough for + me.” + </p> + <p> + Adam, you perceive, was a warm admirer, perhaps a partial judge, of Mr. + Irwine, as, happily, some of us still are of the people we have known + familiarly. Doubtless it will be despised as a weakness by that lofty + order of minds who pant after the ideal, and are oppressed by a general + sense that their emotions are of too exquisite a character to find fit + objects among their everyday fellowmen. I have often been favoured with + the confidence of these select natures, and find them to concur in the + experience that great men are overestimated and small men are + insupportable; that if you would love a woman without ever looking back on + your love as a folly, she must die while you are courting her; and if you + would maintain the slightest belief in human heroism, you must never make + a pilgrimage to see the hero. I confess I have often meanly shrunk from + confessing to these accomplished and acute gentlemen what my own + experience has been. I am afraid I have often smiled with hypocritical + assent, and gratified them with an epigram on the fleeting nature of our + illusions, which any one moderately acquainted with French literature can + command at a moment's notice. Human converse, I think some wise man has + remarked, is not rigidly sincere. But I herewith discharge my conscience, + and declare that I have had quite enthusiastic movements of admiration + towards old gentlemen who spoke the worst English, who were occasionally + fretful in their temper, and who had never moved in a higher sphere of + influence than that of parish overseer; and that the way in which I have + come to the conclusion that human nature is lovable—the way I have + learnt something of its deep pathos, its sublime mysteries—has been + by living a great deal among people more or less commonplace and vulgar, + of whom you would perhaps hear nothing very surprising if you were to + inquire about them in the neighbourhoods where they dwelt. Ten to one most + of the small shopkeepers in their vicinity saw nothing at all in them. For + I have observed this remarkable coincidence, that the select natures who + pant after the ideal, and find nothing in pantaloons or petticoats great + enough to command their reverence and love, are curiously in unison with + the narrowest and pettiest. For example, I have often heard Mr. Gedge, the + landlord of the Royal Oak, who used to turn a bloodshot eye on his + neighbours in the village of Shepperton, sum up his opinion of the people + in his own parish—and they were all the people he knew—in + these emphatic words: “Aye, sir, I've said it often, and I'll say it + again, they're a poor lot i' this parish—a poor lot, sir, big and + little.” I think he had a dim idea that if he could migrate to a distant + parish, he might find neighbours worthy of him; and indeed he did + subsequently transfer himself to the Saracen's Head, which was doing a + thriving business in the back street of a neighbouring market-town. But, + oddly enough, he has found the people up that back street of precisely the + same stamp as the inhabitants of Shepperton—“a poor lot, sir, big + and little, and them as comes for a go o' gin are no better than them as + comes for a pint o' twopenny—a poor lot.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XVIII + </h2> + <h3> + Church + </h3> + <p> + “HETTY, Hetty, don't you know church begins at two, and it's gone half + after one a'ready? Have you got nothing better to think on this good + Sunday as poor old Thias Bede's to be put into the ground, and him + drownded i' th' dead o' the night, as it's enough to make one's back run + cold, but you must be 'dizening yourself as if there was a wedding i'stid + of a funeral?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Aunt,” said Hetty, “I can't be ready so soon as everybody else, + when I've got Totty's things to put on. And I'd ever such work to make her + stand still.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty was coming downstairs, and Mrs. Poyser, in her plain bonnet and + shawl, was standing below. If ever a girl looked as if she had been made + of roses, that girl was Hetty in her Sunday hat and frock. For her hat was + trimmed with pink, and her frock had pink spots, sprinkled on a white + ground. There was nothing but pink and white about her, except in her dark + hair and eyes and her little buckled shoes. Mrs. Poyser was provoked at + herself, for she could hardly keep from smiling, as any mortal is inclined + to do at the sight of pretty round things. So she turned without speaking, + and joined the group outside the house door, followed by Hetty, whose + heart was fluttering so at the thought of some one she expected to see at + church that she hardly felt the ground she trod on. + </p> + <p> + And now the little procession set off. Mr. Poyser was in his Sunday suit + of drab, with a red-and-green waistcoat and a green watch-ribbon having a + large cornelian seal attached, pendant like a plumb-line from that + promontory where his watch-pocket was situated; a silk handkerchief of a + yellow tone round his neck; and excellent grey ribbed stockings, knitted + by Mrs. Poyser's own hand, setting off the proportions of his leg. Mr. + Poyser had no reason to be ashamed of his leg, and suspected that the + growing abuse of top-boots and other fashions tending to disguise the + nether limbs had their origin in a pitiable degeneracy of the human calf. + Still less had he reason to be ashamed of his round jolly face, which was + good humour itself as he said, “Come, Hetty—come, little uns!” and + giving his arm to his wife, led the way through the causeway gate into the + yard. + </p> + <p> + The “little uns” addressed were Marty and Tommy, boys of nine and seven, + in little fustian tailed coats and knee-breeches, relieved by rosy cheeks + and black eyes, looking as much like their father as a very small elephant + is like a very large one. Hetty walked between them, and behind came + patient Molly, whose task it was to carry Totty through the yard and over + all the wet places on the road; for Totty, having speedily recovered from + her threatened fever, had insisted on going to church to-day, and + especially on wearing her red-and-black necklace outside her tippet. And + there were many wet places for her to be carried over this afternoon, for + there had been heavy showers in the morning, though now the clouds had + rolled off and lay in towering silvery masses on the horizon. + </p> + <p> + You might have known it was Sunday if you had only waked up in the + farmyard. The cocks and hens seemed to know it, and made only crooning + subdued noises; the very bull-dog looked less savage, as if he would have + been satisfied with a smaller bite than usual. The sunshine seemed to call + all things to rest and not to labour. It was asleep itself on the + moss-grown cow-shed; on the group of white ducks nestling together with + their bills tucked under their wings; on the old black sow stretched + languidly on the straw, while her largest young one found an excellent + spring-bed on his mother's fat ribs; on Alick, the shepherd, in his new + smock-frock, taking an uneasy siesta, half-sitting, half-standing on the + granary steps. Alick was of opinion that church, like other luxuries, was + not to be indulged in often by a foreman who had the weather and the ewes + on his mind. “Church! Nay—I'n gotten summat else to think on,” was + an answer which he often uttered in a tone of bitter significance that + silenced further question. I feel sure Alick meant no irreverence; indeed, + I know that his mind was not of a speculative, negative cast, and he would + on no account have missed going to church on Christmas Day, Easter Sunday, + and “Whissuntide.” But he had a general impression that public worship and + religious ceremonies, like other non-productive employments, were intended + for people who had leisure. + </p> + <p> + “There's Father a-standing at the yard-gate,” said Martin Poyser. “I + reckon he wants to watch us down the field. It's wonderful what sight he + has, and him turned seventy-five.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, I often think it's wi' th' old folks as it is wi' the babbies,” said + Mrs. Poyser; “they're satisfied wi' looking, no matter what they're + looking at. It's God A'mighty's way o' quietening 'em, I reckon, afore + they go to sleep.” + </p> + <p> + Old Martin opened the gate as he saw the family procession approaching, + and held it wide open, leaning on his stick—pleased to do this bit + of work; for, like all old men whose life has been spent in labour, he + liked to feel that he was still useful—that there was a better crop + of onions in the garden because he was by at the sowing—and that the + cows would be milked the better if he stayed at home on a Sunday afternoon + to look on. He always went to church on Sacrament Sundays, but not very + regularly at other times; on wet Sundays, or whenever he had a touch of + rheumatism, he used to read the three first chapters of Genesis instead. + </p> + <p> + “They'll ha' putten Thias Bede i' the ground afore ye get to the + churchyard,” he said, as his son came up. “It 'ud ha' been better luck if + they'd ha' buried him i' the forenoon when the rain was fallin'; there's + no likelihoods of a drop now; an' the moon lies like a boat there, dost + see? That's a sure sign o' fair weather—there's a many as is false + but that's sure.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye,” said the son, “I'm in hopes it'll hold up now.” + </p> + <p> + “Mind what the parson says, mind what the parson says, my lads,” said + Grandfather to the black-eyed youngsters in knee-breeches, conscious of a + marble or two in their pockets which they looked forward to handling, a + little, secretly, during the sermon. + </p> + <p> + “Dood-bye, Dandad,” said Totty. “Me doin' to church. Me dot my neklace on. + Dive me a peppermint.” + </p> + <p> + Grandad, shaking with laughter at this “deep little wench,” slowly + transferred his stick to his left hand, which held the gate open, and + slowly thrust his finger into the waistcoat pocket on which Totty had + fixed her eyes with a confident look of expectation. + </p> + <p> + And when they were all gone, the old man leaned on the gate again, + watching them across the lane along the Home Close, and through the far + gate, till they disappeared behind a bend in the hedge. For the hedgerows + in those days shut out one's view, even on the better-managed farms; and + this afternoon, the dog-roses were tossing out their pink wreaths, the + nightshade was in its yellow and purple glory, the pale honeysuckle grew + out of reach, peeping high up out of a holly bush, and over all an ash or + a sycamore every now and then threw its shadow across the path. + </p> + <p> + There were acquaintances at other gates who had to move aside and let them + pass: at the gate of the Home Close there was half the dairy of cows + standing one behind the other, extremely slow to understand that their + large bodies might be in the way; at the far gate there was the mare + holding her head over the bars, and beside her the liver-coloured foal + with its head towards its mother's flank, apparently still much + embarrassed by its own straddling existence. The way lay entirely through + Mr. Poyser's own fields till they reached the main road leading to the + village, and he turned a keen eye on the stock and the crops as they went + along, while Mrs. Poyser was ready to supply a running commentary on them + all. The woman who manages a dairy has a large share in making the rent, + so she may well be allowed to have her opinion on stock and their “keep”—an + exercise which strengthens her understanding so much that she finds + herself able to give her husband advice on most other subjects. + </p> + <p> + “There's that shorthorned Sally,” she said, as they entered the Home + Close, and she caught sight of the meek beast that lay chewing the cud and + looking at her with a sleepy eye. “I begin to hate the sight o' the cow; + and I say now what I said three weeks ago, the sooner we get rid of her + the better, for there's that little yallow cow as doesn't give half the + milk, and yet I've twice as much butter from her.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, thee't not like the women in general,” said Mr. Poyser; “they like + the shorthorns, as give such a lot o' milk. There's Chowne's wife wants + him to buy no other sort.” + </p> + <p> + “What's it sinnify what Chowne's wife likes? A poor soft thing, wi' no + more head-piece nor a sparrow. She'd take a big cullender to strain her + lard wi', and then wonder as the scratchin's run through. I've seen enough + of her to know as I'll niver take a servant from her house again—all + hugger-mugger—and you'd niver know, when you went in, whether it was + Monday or Friday, the wash draggin' on to th' end o' the week; and as for + her cheese, I know well enough it rose like a loaf in a tin last year. And + then she talks o' the weather bein' i' fault, as there's folks 'ud stand + on their heads and then say the fault was i' their boots.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Chowne's been wanting to buy Sally, so we can get rid of her if + thee lik'st,” said Mr. Poyser, secretly proud of his wife's superior power + of putting two and two together; indeed, on recent market-days he had more + than once boasted of her discernment in this very matter of shorthorns. + “Aye, them as choose a soft for a wife may's well buy up the shorthorns, + for if you get your head stuck in a bog, your legs may's well go after it. + Eh! Talk o' legs, there's legs for you,” Mrs. Poyser continued, as Totty, + who had been set down now the road was dry, toddled on in front of her + father and mother. “There's shapes! An' she's got such a long foot, she'll + be her father's own child.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, she'll be welly such a one as Hetty i' ten years' time, on'y she's + got THY coloured eyes. I niver remember a blue eye i' my family; my mother + had eyes as black as sloes, just like Hetty's.” + </p> + <p> + “The child 'ull be none the worse for having summat as isn't like Hetty. + An' I'm none for having her so overpretty. Though for the matter o' that, + there's people wi' light hair an' blue eyes as pretty as them wi' black. + If Dinah had got a bit o' colour in her cheeks, an' didn't stick that + Methodist cap on her head, enough to frighten the cows, folks 'ud think + her as pretty as Hetty.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay,” said Mr. Poyser, with rather a contemptuous emphasis, “thee + dostna know the pints of a woman. The men 'ud niver run after Dinah as + they would after Hetty.” + </p> + <p> + “What care I what the men 'ud run after? It's well seen what choice the + most of 'em know how to make, by the poor draggle-tails o' wives you see, + like bits o' gauze ribbin, good for nothing when the colour's gone.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, thee canstna say but what I knowed how to make a choice when + I married thee,” said Mr. Poyser, who usually settled little conjugal + disputes by a compliment of this sort; “and thee wast twice as buxom as + Dinah ten year ago.” + </p> + <p> + “I niver said as a woman had need to be ugly to make a good missis of a + house. There's Chowne's wife ugly enough to turn the milk an' save the + rennet, but she'll niver save nothing any other way. But as for Dinah, + poor child, she's niver likely to be buxom as long as she'll make her + dinner o' cake and water, for the sake o' giving to them as want. She + provoked me past bearing sometimes; and, as I told her, she went clean + again' the Scriptur', for that says, 'Love your neighbour as yourself'; + 'but,' I said, 'if you loved your neighbour no better nor you do yourself, + Dinah, it's little enough you'd do for him. You'd be thinking he might do + well enough on a half-empty stomach.' Eh, I wonder where she is this + blessed Sunday! Sitting by that sick woman, I daresay, as she'd set her + heart on going to all of a sudden.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, it was a pity she should take such megrims into her head, when she + might ha' stayed wi' us all summer, and eaten twice as much as she wanted, + and it 'ud niver ha' been missed. She made no odds in th' house at all, + for she sat as still at her sewing as a bird on the nest, and was uncommon + nimble at running to fetch anything. If Hetty gets married, theed'st like + to ha' Dinah wi' thee constant.” + </p> + <p> + “It's no use thinking o' that,” said Mrs. Poyser. “You might as well + beckon to the flying swallow as ask Dinah to come an' live here + comfortable, like other folks. If anything could turn her, I should ha' + turned her, for I've talked to her for a hour on end, and scolded her too; + for she's my own sister's child, and it behoves me to do what I can for + her. But eh, poor thing, as soon as she'd said us 'good-bye' an' got into + the cart, an' looked back at me with her pale face, as is welly like her + Aunt Judith come back from heaven, I begun to be frightened to think o' + the set-downs I'd given her; for it comes over you sometimes as if she'd a + way o' knowing the rights o' things more nor other folks have. But I'll + niver give in as that's 'cause she's a Methodist, no more nor a white + calf's white 'cause it eats out o' the same bucket wi' a black un.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” said Mr. Poyser, with as near an approach to a snarl as his + good-nature would allow; “I'm no opinion o' the Methodists. It's on'y + tradesfolks as turn Methodists; you nuver knew a farmer bitten wi' them + maggots. There's maybe a workman now an' then, as isn't overclever at's + work, takes to preachin' an' that, like Seth Bede. But you see Adam, as + has got one o' the best head-pieces hereabout, knows better; he's a good + Churchman, else I'd never encourage him for a sweetheart for Hetty.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, goodness me,” said Mrs. Poyser, who had looked back while her + husband was speaking, “look where Molly is with them lads! They're the + field's length behind us. How COULD you let 'em do so, Hetty? Anybody + might as well set a pictur' to watch the children as you. Run back and + tell 'em to come on.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. and Mrs. Poyser were now at the end of the second field, so they set + Totty on the top of one of the large stones forming the true Loamshire + stile, and awaited the loiterers Totty observing with complacency, “Dey + naughty, naughty boys—me dood.” + </p> + <p> + The fact was that this Sunday walk through the fields was fraught with + great excitement to Marty and Tommy, who saw a perpetual drama going on in + the hedgerows, and could no more refrain from stopping and peeping than if + they had been a couple of spaniels or terriers. Marty was quite sure he + saw a yellow-hammer on the boughs of the great ash, and while he was + peeping, he missed the sight of a white-throated stoat, which had run + across the path and was described with much fervour by the junior Tommy. + Then there was a little greenfinch, just fledged, fluttering along the + ground, and it seemed quite possible to catch it, till it managed to + flutter under the blackberry bush. Hetty could not be got to give any heed + to these things, so Molly was called on for her ready sympathy, and peeped + with open mouth wherever she was told, and said “Lawks!” whenever she was + expected to wonder. + </p> + <p> + Molly hastened on with some alarm when Hetty had come back and called to + them that her aunt was angry; but Marty ran on first, shouting, “We've + found the speckled turkey's nest, Mother!” with the instinctive confidence + that people who bring good news are never in fault. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said Mrs. Poyser, really forgetting all discipline in this pleasant + surprise, “that's a good lad; why, where is it?” + </p> + <p> + “Down in ever such a hole, under the hedge. I saw it first, looking after + the greenfinch, and she sat on th' nest.” + </p> + <p> + “You didn't frighten her, I hope,” said the mother, “else she'll forsake + it.” + </p> + <p> + “No, I went away as still as still, and whispered to Molly—didn't I, + Molly?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, now come on,” said Mrs. Poyser, “and walk before Father and + Mother, and take your little sister by the hand. We must go straight on + now. Good boys don't look after the birds of a Sunday.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Mother,” said Marty, “you said you'd give half-a-crown to find the + speckled turkey's nest. Mayn't I have the half-crown put into my + money-box?” + </p> + <p> + “We'll see about that, my lad, if you walk along now, like a good boy.” + </p> + <p> + The father and mother exchanged a significant glance of amusement at their + eldest-born's acuteness; but on Tommy's round face there was a cloud. + </p> + <p> + “Mother,” he said, half-crying, “Marty's got ever so much more money in + his box nor I've got in mine.” + </p> + <p> + “Munny, me want half-a-toun in my bots,” said Totty. + </p> + <p> + “Hush, hush, hush,” said Mrs. Poyser, “did ever anybody hear such naughty + children? Nobody shall ever see their money-boxes any more, if they don't + make haste and go on to church.” + </p> + <p> + This dreadful threat had the desired effect, and through the two remaining + fields the three pair of small legs trotted on without any serious + interruption, notwithstanding a small pond full of tadpoles, alias + “bullheads,” which the lads looked at wistfully. + </p> + <p> + The damp hay that must be scattered and turned afresh to-morrow was not a + cheering sight to Mr. Poyser, who during hay and corn harvest had often + some mental struggles as to the benefits of a day of rest; but no + temptation would have induced him to carry on any field-work, however + early in the morning, on a Sunday; for had not Michael Holdsworth had a + pair of oxen “sweltered” while he was ploughing on Good Friday? That was a + demonstration that work on sacred days was a wicked thing; and with + wickedness of any sort Martin Poyser was quite clear that he would have + nothing to do, since money got by such means would never prosper. + </p> + <p> + “It a'most makes your fingers itch to be at the hay now the sun shines + so,” he observed, as they passed through the “Big Meadow.” “But it's poor + foolishness to think o' saving by going against your conscience. There's + that Jim Wakefield, as they used to call 'Gentleman Wakefield,' used to do + the same of a Sunday as o' weekdays, and took no heed to right or wrong, + as if there was nayther God nor devil. An' what's he come to? Why, I saw + him myself last market-day a-carrying a basket wi' oranges in't.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, to be sure,” said Mrs. Poyser, emphatically, “you make but a poor + trap to catch luck if you go and bait it wi' wickedness. The money as is + got so's like to burn holes i' your pocket. I'd niver wish us to leave our + lads a sixpence but what was got i' the rightful way. And as for the + weather, there's One above makes it, and we must put up wi't: it's nothing + of a plague to what the wenches are.” + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding the interruption in their walk, the excellent habit which + Mrs. Poyser's clock had of taking time by the forelock had secured their + arrival at the village while it was still a quarter to two, though almost + every one who meant to go to church was already within the churchyard + gates. Those who stayed at home were chiefly mothers, like Timothy's Bess, + who stood at her own door nursing her baby and feeling as women feel in + that position—that nothing else can be expected of them. + </p> + <p> + It was not entirely to see Thias Bede's funeral that the people were + standing about the churchyard so long before service began; that was their + common practice. The women, indeed, usually entered the church at once, + and the farmers' wives talked in an undertone to each other, over the tall + pews, about their illnesses and the total failure of doctor's stuff, + recommending dandelion-tea, and other home-made specifics, as far + preferable—about the servants, and their growing exorbitance as to + wages, whereas the quality of their services declined from year to year, + and there was no girl nowadays to be trusted any further than you could + see her—about the bad price Mr. Dingall, the Treddleston grocer, was + giving for butter, and the reasonable doubts that might be held as to his + solvency, notwithstanding that Mrs. Dingall was a sensible woman, and they + were all sorry for HER, for she had very good kin. Meantime the men + lingered outside, and hardly any of them except the singers, who had a + humming and fragmentary rehearsal to go through, entered the church until + Mr. Irwine was in the desk. They saw no reason for that premature entrance—what + could they do in church if they were there before service began?—and + they did not conceive that any power in the universe could take it ill of + them if they stayed out and talked a little about “bus'ness.” + </p> + <p> + Chad Cranage looks like quite a new acquaintance to-day, for he has got + his clean Sunday face, which always makes his little granddaughter cry at + him as a stranger. But an experienced eye would have fixed on him at once + as the village blacksmith, after seeing the humble deference with which + the big saucy fellow took off his hat and stroked his hair to the farmers; + for Chad was accustomed to say that a working-man must hold a candle to a + personage understood to be as black as he was himself on weekdays; by + which evil-sounding rule of conduct he meant what was, after all, rather + virtuous than otherwise, namely, that men who had horses to be shod must + be treated with respect. Chad and the rougher sort of workmen kept aloof + from the grave under the white thorn, where the burial was going forward; + but Sandy Jim, and several of the farm-labourers, made a group round it, + and stood with their hats off, as fellow-mourners with the mother and + sons. Others held a midway position, sometimes watching the group at the + grave, sometimes listening to the conversation of the farmers, who stood + in a knot near the church door, and were now joined by Martin Poyser, + while his family passed into the church. On the outside of this knot stood + Mr. Casson, the landlord of the Donnithorne Arms, in his most striking + attitude—that is to say, with the forefinger of his right hand + thrust between the buttons of his waistcoat, his left hand in his breeches + pocket, and his head very much on one side; looking, on the whole, like an + actor who has only a mono-syllabic part entrusted to him, but feels sure + that the audience discern his fitness for the leading business; curiously + in contrast with old Jonathan Burge, who held his hands behind him and + leaned forward, coughing asthmatically, with an inward scorn of all + knowingness that could not be turned into cash. The talk was in rather a + lower tone than usual to-day, hushed a little by the sound of Mr. Irwine's + voice reading the final prayers of the burial-service. They had all had + their word of pity for poor Thias, but now they had got upon the nearer + subject of their own grievances against Satchell, the Squire's bailiff, + who played the part of steward so far as it was not performed by old Mr. + Donnithorne himself, for that gentleman had the meanness to receive his + own rents and make bargains about his own timber. This subject of + conversation was an additional reason for not being loud, since Satchell + himself might presently be walking up the paved road to the church door. + And soon they became suddenly silent; for Mr. Irwine's voice had ceased, + and the group round the white thorn was dispersing itself towards the + church. + </p> + <p> + They all moved aside, and stood with their hats off, while Mr. Irwine + passed. Adam and Seth were coming next, with their mother between them; + for Joshua Rann officiated as head sexton as well as clerk, and was not + yet ready to follow the rector into the vestry. But there was a pause + before the three mourners came on: Lisbeth had turned round to look again + towards the grave! Ah! There was nothing now but the brown earth under the + white thorn. Yet she cried less to-day than she had done any day since her + husband's death. Along with all her grief there was mixed an unusual sense + of her own importance in having a “burial,” and in Mr. Irwine's reading a + special service for her husband; and besides, she knew the funeral psalm + was going to be sung for him. She felt this counter-excitement to her + sorrow still more strongly as she walked with her sons towards the church + door, and saw the friendly sympathetic nods of their fellow-parishioners. + </p> + <p> + The mother and sons passed into the church, and one by one the loiterers + followed, though some still lingered without; the sight of Mr. + Donnithorne's carriage, which was winding slowly up the hill, perhaps + helping to make them feel that there was no need for haste. + </p> + <p> + But presently the sound of the bassoon and the key-bugles burst forth; the + evening hymn, which always opened the service, had begun, and every one + must now enter and take his place. + </p> + <p> + I cannot say that the interior of Hayslope Church was remarkable for + anything except for the grey age of its oaken pews—great square pews + mostly, ranged on each side of a narrow aisle. It was free, indeed, from + the modern blemish of galleries. The choir had two narrow pews to + themselves in the middle of the right-hand row, so that it was a short + process for Joshua Rann to take his place among them as principal bass, + and return to his desk after the singing was over. The pulpit and desk, + grey and old as the pews, stood on one side of the arch leading into the + chancel, which also had its grey square pews for Mr. Donnithorne's family + and servants. Yet I assure you these grey pews, with the buff-washed + walls, gave a very pleasing tone to this shabby interior, and agreed + extremely well with the ruddy faces and bright waistcoats. And there were + liberal touches of crimson toward the chancel, for the pulpit and Mr. + Donnithorne's own pew had handsome crimson cloth cushions; and, to close + the vista, there was a crimson altar-cloth, embroidered with golden rays + by Miss Lydia's own hand. + </p> + <p> + But even without the crimson cloth, the effect must have been warm and + cheering when Mr. Irwine was in the desk, looking benignly round on that + simple congregation—on the hardy old men, with bent knees and + shoulders, perhaps, but with vigour left for much hedge-clipping and + thatching; on the tall stalwart frames and roughly cut bronzed faces of + the stone-cutters and carpenters; on the half-dozen well-to-do farmers, + with their apple-cheeked families; and on the clean old women, mostly + farm-labourers' wives, with their bit of snow-white cap-border under their + black bonnets, and with their withered arms, bare from the elbow, folded + passively over their chests. For none of the old people held books—why + should they? Not one of them could read. But they knew a few “good words” + by heart, and their withered lips now and then moved silently, following + the service without any very clear comprehension indeed, but with a simple + faith in its efficacy to ward off harm and bring blessing. And now all + faces were visible, for all were standing up—the little children on + the seats peeping over the edge of the grey pews, while good Bishop Ken's + evening hymn was being sung to one of those lively psalm-tunes which died + out with the last generation of rectors and choral parish clerks. Melodies + die out, like the pipe of Pan, with the ears that love them and listen for + them. Adam was not in his usual place among the singers to-day, for he sat + with his mother and Seth, and he noticed with surprise that Bartle Massey + was absent too—all the more agreeable for Mr. Joshua Rann, who gave + out his bass notes with unusual complacency and threw an extra ray of + severity into the glances he sent over his spectacles at the recusant Will + Maskery. + </p> + <p> + I beseech you to imagine Mr. Irwine looking round on this scene, in his + ample white surplice that became him so well, with his powdered hair + thrown back, his rich brown complexion, and his finely cut nostril and + upper lip; for there was a certain virtue in that benignant yet keen + countenance as there is in all human faces from which a generous soul + beams out. And over all streamed the delicious June sunshine through the + old windows, with their desultory patches of yellow, red, and blue, that + threw pleasant touches of colour on the opposite wall. + </p> + <p> + I think, as Mr. Irwine looked round to-day, his eyes rested an instant + longer than usual on the square pew occupied by Martin Poyser and his + family. And there was another pair of dark eyes that found it impossible + not to wander thither, and rest on that round pink-and-white figure. But + Hetty was at that moment quite careless of any glances—she was + absorbed in the thought that Arthur Donnithorne would soon be coming into + church, for the carriage must surely be at the church-gate by this time. + She had never seen him since she parted with him in the wood on Thursday + evening, and oh, how long the time had seemed! Things had gone on just the + same as ever since that evening; the wonders that had happened then had + brought no changes after them; they were already like a dream. When she + heard the church door swinging, her heart beat so, she dared not look up. + She felt that her aunt was curtsying; she curtsied herself. That must be + old Mr. Donnithorne—he always came first, the wrinkled small old + man, peering round with short-sighted glances at the bowing and curtsying + congregation; then she knew Miss Lydia was passing, and though Hetty liked + so much to look at her fashionable little coal-scuttle bonnet, with the + wreath of small roses round it, she didn't mind it to-day. But there were + no more curtsies—no, he was not come; she felt sure there was + nothing else passing the pew door but the house-keeper's black bonnet and + the lady's maid's beautiful straw hat that had once been Miss Lydia's, and + then the powdered heads of the butler and footman. No, he was not there; + yet she would look now—she might be mistaken—for, after all, + she had not looked. So she lifted up her eyelids and glanced timidly at + the cushioned pew in the chancel—there was no one but old Mr. + Donnithorne rubbing his spectacles with his white handkerchief, and Miss + Lydia opening the large gilt-edged prayer-book. The chill disappointment + was too hard to bear. She felt herself turning pale, her lips trembling; + she was ready to cry. Oh, what SHOULD she do? Everybody would know the + reason; they would know she was crying because Arthur was not there. And + Mr. Craig, with the wonderful hothouse plant in his button-hole, was + staring at her, she knew. It was dreadfully long before the General + Confession began, so that she could kneel down. Two great drops WOULD fall + then, but no one saw them except good-natured Molly, for her aunt and + uncle knelt with their backs towards her. Molly, unable to imagine any + cause for tears in church except faintness, of which she had a vague + traditional knowledge, drew out of her pocket a queer little flat blue + smelling-bottle, and after much labour in pulling the cork out, thrust the + narrow neck against Hetty's nostrils. “It donna smell,” she whispered, + thinking this was a great advantage which old salts had over fresh ones: + they did you good without biting your nose. Hetty pushed it away + peevishly; but this little flash of temper did what the salts could not + have done—it roused her to wipe away the traces of her tears, and + try with all her might not to shed any more. Hetty had a certain strength + in her vain little nature: she would have borne anything rather than be + laughed at, or pointed at with any other feeling than admiration; she + would have pressed her own nails into her tender flesh rather than people + should know a secret she did not want them to know. + </p> + <p> + What fluctuations there were in her busy thoughts and feelings, while Mr. + Irwine was pronouncing the solemn “Absolution” in her deaf ears, and + through all the tones of petition that followed! Anger lay very close to + disappointment, and soon won the victory over the conjectures her small + ingenuity could devise to account for Arthur's absence on the supposition + that he really wanted to come, really wanted to see her again. And by the + time she rose from her knees mechanically, because all the rest were + rising, the colour had returned to her cheeks even with a heightened glow, + for she was framing little indignant speeches to herself, saying she hated + Arthur for giving her this pain—she would like him to suffer too. + Yet while this selfish tumult was going on in her soul, her eyes were bent + down on her prayer-book, and the eyelids with their dark fringe looked as + lovely as ever. Adam Bede thought so, as he glanced at her for a moment on + rising from his knees. + </p> + <p> + But Adam's thoughts of Hetty did not deafen him to the service; they + rather blended with all the other deep feelings for which the church + service was a channel to him this afternoon, as a certain consciousness of + our entire past and our imagined future blends itself with all our moments + of keen sensibility. And to Adam the church service was the best channel + he could have found for his mingled regret, yearning, and resignation; its + interchange of beseeching cries for help with outbursts of faith and + praise, its recurrent responses and the familiar rhythm of its collects, + seemed to speak for him as no other form of worship could have done; as, + to those early Christians who had worshipped from their childhood upwards + in catacombs, the torch-light and shadows must have seemed nearer the + Divine presence than the heathenish daylight of the streets. The secret of + our emotions never lies in the bare object, but in its subtle relations to + our own past: no wonder the secret escapes the unsympathizing observer, + who might as well put on his spectacles to discern odours. + </p> + <p> + But there was one reason why even a chance comer would have found the + service in Hayslope Church more impressive than in most other village + nooks in the kingdom—a reason of which I am sure you have not the + slightest suspicion. It was the reading of our friend Joshua Rann. Where + that good shoemaker got his notion of reading from remained a mystery even + to his most intimate acquaintances. I believe, after all, he got it + chiefly from Nature, who had poured some of her music into this honest + conceited soul, as she had been known to do into other narrow souls before + his. She had given him, at least, a fine bass voice and a musical ear; but + I cannot positively say whether these alone had sufficed to inspire him + with the rich chant in which he delivered the responses. The way he rolled + from a rich deep forte into a melancholy cadence, subsiding, at the end of + the last word, into a sort of faint resonance, like the lingering + vibrations of a fine violoncello, I can compare to nothing for its strong + calm melancholy but the rush and cadence of the wind among the autumn + boughs. This may seem a strange mode of speaking about the reading of a + parish clerk—a man in rusty spectacles, with stubbly hair, a large + occiput, and a prominent crown. But that is Nature's way: she will allow a + gentleman of splendid physiognomy and poetic aspirations to sing woefully + out of tune, and not give him the slightest hint of it; and takes care + that some narrow-browed fellow, trolling a ballad in the corner of a + pot-house, shall be as true to his intervals as a bird. + </p> + <p> + Joshua himself was less proud of his reading than of his singing, and it + was always with a sense of heightened importance that he passed from the + desk to the choir. Still more to-day: it was a special occasion, for an + old man, familiar to all the parish, had died a sad death—not in his + bed, a circumstance the most painful to the mind of the peasant—and + now the funeral psalm was to be sung in memory of his sudden departure. + Moreover, Bartle Massey was not at church, and Joshua's importance in the + choir suffered no eclipse. It was a solemn minor strain they sang. The old + psalm-tunes have many a wail among them, and the words— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Thou sweep'st us off as with a flood; + We vanish hence like dreams— +</pre> + <p> + seemed to have a closer application than usual in the death of poor Thias. + The mother and sons listened, each with peculiar feelings. Lisbeth had a + vague belief that the psalm was doing her husband good; it was part of + that decent burial which she would have thought it a greater wrong to + withhold from him than to have caused him many unhappy days while he was + living. The more there was said about her husband, the more there was done + for him, surely the safer he would be. It was poor Lisbeth's blind way of + feeling that human love and pity are a ground of faith in some other love. + Seth, who was easily touched, shed tears, and tried to recall, as he had + done continually since his father's death, all that he had heard of the + possibility that a single moment of consciousness at the last might be a + moment of pardon and reconcilement; for was it not written in the very + psalm they were singing that the Divine dealings were not measured and + circumscribed by time? Adam had never been unable to join in a psalm + before. He had known plenty of trouble and vexation since he had been a + lad, but this was the first sorrow that had hemmed in his voice, and + strangely enough it was sorrow because the chief source of his past + trouble and vexation was for ever gone out of his reach. He had not been + able to press his father's hand before their parting, and say, “Father, + you know it was all right between us; I never forgot what I owed you when + I was a lad; you forgive me if I have been too hot and hasty now and + then!” Adam thought but little to-day of the hard work and the earnings he + had spent on his father: his thoughts ran constantly on what the old man's + feelings had been in moments of humiliation, when he had held down his + head before the rebukes of his son. When our indignation is borne in + submissive silence, we are apt to feel twinges of doubt afterwards as to + our own generosity, if not justice; how much more when the object of our + anger has gone into everlasting silence, and we have seen his face for the + last time in the meekness of death! + </p> + <p> + “Ah! I was always too hard,” Adam said to himself. “It's a sore fault in + me as I'm so hot and out o' patience with people when they do wrong, and + my heart gets shut up against 'em, so as I can't bring myself to forgive + 'em. I see clear enough there's more pride nor love in my soul, for I + could sooner make a thousand strokes with th' hammer for my father than + bring myself to say a kind word to him. And there went plenty o' pride and + temper to the strokes, as the devil WILL be having his finger in what we + call our duties as well as our sins. Mayhap the best thing I ever did in + my life was only doing what was easiest for myself. It's allays been + easier for me to work nor to sit still, but the real tough job for me 'ud + be to master my own will and temper and go right against my own pride. It + seems to me now, if I was to find Father at home to-night, I should behave + different; but there's no knowing—perhaps nothing 'ud be a lesson to + us if it didn't come too late. It's well we should feel as life's a + reckoning we can't make twice over; there's no real making amends in this + world, any more nor you can mend a wrong subtraction by doing your + addition right.” + </p> + <p> + This was the key-note to which Adam's thoughts had perpetually returned + since his father's death, and the solemn wail of the funeral psalm was + only an influence that brought back the old thoughts with stronger + emphasis. So was the sermon, which Mr. Irwine had chosen with reference to + Thias's funeral. It spoke briefly and simply of the words, “In the midst + of life we are in death”—how the present moment is all we can call + our own for works of mercy, of righteous dealing, and of family + tenderness. All very old truths—but what we thought the oldest truth + becomes the most startling to us in the week when we have looked on the + dead face of one who has made a part of our own lives. For when men want + to impress us with the effect of a new and wonderfully vivid light, do + they not let it fall on the most familiar objects, that we may measure its + intensity by remembering the former dimness? + </p> + <p> + Then came the moment of the final blessing, when the forever sublime + words, “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding,” seemed to + blend with the calm afternoon sunshine that fell on the bowed heads of the + congregation; and then the quiet rising, the mothers tying on the bonnets + of the little maidens who had slept through the sermon, the fathers + collecting the prayer-books, until all streamed out through the old + archway into the green churchyard and began their neighbourly talk, their + simple civilities, and their invitations to tea; for on a Sunday every one + was ready to receive a guest—it was the day when all must be in + their best clothes and their best humour. + </p> + <p> + Mr. and Mrs. Poyser paused a minute at the church gate: they were waiting + for Adam to come up, not being contented to go away without saying a kind + word to the widow and her sons. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mrs. Bede,” said Mrs. Poyser, as they walked on together, “you must + keep up your heart; husbands and wives must be content when they've lived + to rear their children and see one another's hair grey.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye,” said Mr. Poyser; “they wonna have long to wait for one another + then, anyhow. And ye've got two o' the strapping'st sons i' th' country; + and well you may, for I remember poor Thias as fine a broad-shouldered + fellow as need to be; and as for you, Mrs. Bede, why you're straighter i' + the back nor half the young women now.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh,” said Lisbeth, “it's poor luck for the platter to wear well when it's + broke i' two. The sooner I'm laid under the thorn the better. I'm no good + to nobody now.” + </p> + <p> + Adam never took notice of his mother's little unjust plaints; but Seth + said, “Nay, Mother, thee mustna say so. Thy sons 'ull never get another + mother.” + </p> + <p> + “That's true, lad, that's true,” said Mr. Poyser; “and it's wrong on us to + give way to grief, Mrs. Bede; for it's like the children cryin' when the + fathers and mothers take things from 'em. There's One above knows better + nor us.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said Mrs. Poyser, “an' it's poor work allays settin' the dead above + the livin'. We shall all on us be dead some time, I reckon—it 'ud be + better if folks 'ud make much on us beforehand, i'stid o' beginnin' when + we're gone. It's but little good you'll do a-watering the last year's + crop.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Adam,” said Mr. Poyser, feeling that his wife's words were, as + usual, rather incisive than soothing, and that it would be well to change + the subject, “you'll come and see us again now, I hope. I hanna had a talk + with you this long while, and the missis here wants you to see what can be + done with her best spinning-wheel, for it's got broke, and it'll be a nice + job to mend it—there'll want a bit o' turning. You'll come as soon + as you can now, will you?” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Poyser paused and looked round while he was speaking, as if to see + where Hetty was; for the children were running on before. Hetty was not + without a companion, and she had, besides, more pink and white about her + than ever, for she held in her hand the wonderful pink-and-white hot-house + plant, with a very long name—a Scotch name, she supposed, since + people said Mr. Craig the gardener was Scotch. Adam took the opportunity + of looking round too; and I am sure you will not require of him that he + should feel any vexation in observing a pouting expression on Hetty's face + as she listened to the gardener's small talk. Yet in her secret heart she + was glad to have him by her side, for she would perhaps learn from him how + it was Arthur had not come to church. Not that she cared to ask him the + question, but she hoped the information would be given spontaneously; for + Mr. Craig, like a superior man, was very fond of giving information. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Craig was never aware that his conversation and advances were received + coldly, for to shift one's point of view beyond certain limits is + impossible to the most liberal and expansive mind; we are none of us aware + of the impression we produce on Brazilian monkeys of feeble understanding—it + is possible they see hardly anything in us. Moreover, Mr. Craig was a man + of sober passions, and was already in his tenth year of hesitation as to + the relative advantages of matrimony and bachelorhood. It is true that, + now and then, when he had been a little heated by an extra glass of grog, + he had been heard to say of Hetty that the “lass was well enough,” and + that “a man might do worse”; but on convivial occasions men are apt to + express themselves strongly. + </p> + <p> + Martin Poyser held Mr. Craig in honour, as a man who “knew his business” + and who had great lights concerning soils and compost; but he was less of + a favourite with Mrs. Poyser, who had more than once said in confidence to + her husband, “You're mighty fond o' Craig, but for my part, I think he's + welly like a cock as thinks the sun's rose o' purpose to hear him crow.” + For the rest, Mr. Craig was an estimable gardener, and was not without + reasons for having a high opinion of himself. He had also high shoulders + and high cheek-bones and hung his head forward a little, as he walked + along with his hands in his breeches pockets. I think it was his pedigree + only that had the advantage of being Scotch, and not his “bringing up”; + for except that he had a stronger burr in his accent, his speech differed + little from that of the Loamshire people about him. But a gardener is + Scotch, as a French teacher is Parisian. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. Poyser,” he said, before the good slow farmer had time to + speak, “ye'll not be carrying your hay to-morrow, I'm thinking. The glass + sticks at 'change,' and ye may rely upo' my word as we'll ha' more + downfall afore twenty-four hours is past. Ye see that darkish-blue cloud + there upo' the 'rizon—ye know what I mean by the 'rizon, where the + land and sky seems to meet?” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye, I see the cloud,” said Mr. Poyser, “'rizon or no 'rizon. It's + right o'er Mike Holdsworth's fallow, and a foul fallow it is.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, you mark my words, as that cloud 'ull spread o'er the sky pretty + nigh as quick as you'd spread a tarpaulin over one o' your hay-ricks. It's + a great thing to ha' studied the look o' the clouds. Lord bless you! Th' + met'orological almanecks can learn me nothing, but there's a pretty sight + o' things I could let THEM up to, if they'd just come to me. And how are + you, Mrs. Poyser?—thinking o' getherin' the red currants soon, I + reckon. You'd a deal better gether 'em afore they're o'erripe, wi' such + weather as we've got to look forward to. How do ye do, Mistress Bede?” Mr. + Craig continued, without a pause, nodding by the way to Adam and Seth. “I + hope y' enjoyed them spinach and gooseberries as I sent Chester with th' + other day. If ye want vegetables while ye're in trouble, ye know where to + come to. It's well known I'm not giving other folks' things away, for when + I've supplied the house, the garden's my own spekilation, and it isna + every man th' old squire could get as 'ud be equil to the undertaking, let + alone asking whether he'd be willing I've got to run my calkilation fine, + I can tell you, to make sure o' getting back the money as I pay the + squire. I should like to see some o' them fellows as make the almanecks + looking as far before their noses as I've got to do every year as comes.” + </p> + <p> + “They look pretty fur, though,” said Mr. Poyser, turning his head on one + side and speaking in rather a subdued reverential tone. “Why, what could + come truer nor that pictur o' the cock wi' the big spurs, as has got its + head knocked down wi' th' anchor, an' th' firin', an' the ships behind? + Why, that pictur was made afore Christmas, and yit it's come as true as + th' Bible. Why, th' cock's France, an' th' anchor's Nelson—an' they + told us that beforehand.” + </p> + <p> + “Pee—ee-eh!” said Mr. Craig. “A man doesna want to see fur to know + as th' English 'ull beat the French. Why, I know upo' good authority as + it's a big Frenchman as reaches five foot high, an' they live upo' + spoon-meat mostly. I knew a man as his father had a particular knowledge + o' the French. I should like to know what them grasshoppers are to do + against such fine fellows as our young Captain Arthur. Why, it 'ud + astonish a Frenchman only to look at him; his arm's thicker nor a + Frenchman's body, I'll be bound, for they pinch theirsells in wi' stays; + and it's easy enough, for they've got nothing i' their insides.” + </p> + <p> + “Where IS the captain, as he wasna at church to-day?” said Adam. “I was + talking to him o' Friday, and he said nothing about his going away.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, he's only gone to Eagledale for a bit o' fishing; I reckon he'll be + back again afore many days are o'er, for he's to be at all th' arranging + and preparing o' things for the comin' o' age o' the 30th o' July. But + he's fond o' getting away for a bit, now and then. Him and th' old squire + fit one another like frost and flowers.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Craig smiled and winked slowly as he made this last observation, but + the subject was not developed farther, for now they had reached the + turning in the road where Adam and his companions must say “good-bye.” The + gardener, too, would have had to turn off in the same direction if he had + not accepted Mr. Poyser's invitation to tea. Mrs. Poyser duly seconded the + invitation, for she would have held it a deep disgrace not to make her + neighbours welcome to her house: personal likes and dislikes must not + interfere with that sacred custom. Moreover, Mr. Craig had always been + full of civilities to the family at the Hall Farm, and Mrs. Poyser was + scrupulous in declaring that she had “nothing to say again' him, on'y it + was a pity he couldna be hatched o'er again, an' hatched different.” + </p> + <p> + So Adam and Seth, with their mother between them, wound their way down to + the valley and up again to the old house, where a saddened memory had + taken the place of a long, long anxiety—where Adam would never have + to ask again as he entered, “Where's Father?” + </p> + <p> + And the other family party, with Mr. Craig for company, went back to the + pleasant bright house-place at the Hall Farm—all with quiet minds, + except Hetty, who knew now where Arthur was gone, but was only the more + puzzled and uneasy. For it appeared that his absence was quite voluntary; + he need not have gone—he would not have gone if he had wanted to see + her. She had a sickening sense that no lot could ever be pleasant to her + again if her Thursday night's vision was not to be fulfilled; and in this + moment of chill, bare, wintry disappointment and doubt, she looked towards + the possibility of being with Arthur again, of meeting his loving glance, + and hearing his soft words with that eager yearning which one may call the + “growing pain” of passion. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XIX + </h2> + <h3> + Adam on a Working Day + </h3> + <p> + NOTWITHSTANDING Mr. Craig's prophecy, the dark-blue cloud dispersed itself + without having produced the threatened consequences. “The weather”—as + he observed the next morning—“the weather, you see, 's a ticklish + thing, an' a fool 'ull hit on't sometimes when a wise man misses; that's + why the almanecks get so much credit. It's one o' them chancy things as + fools thrive on.” + </p> + <p> + This unreasonable behaviour of the weather, however, could displease no + one else in Hayslope besides Mr. Craig. All hands were to be out in the + meadows this morning as soon as the dew had risen; the wives and daughters + did double work in every farmhouse, that the maids might give their help + in tossing the hay; and when Adam was marching along the lanes, with his + basket of tools over his shoulder, he caught the sound of jocose talk and + ringing laughter from behind the hedges. The jocose talk of hay-makers is + best at a distance; like those clumsy bells round the cows' necks, it has + rather a coarse sound when it comes close, and may even grate on your ears + painfully; but heard from far off, it mingles very prettily with the other + joyous sounds of nature. Men's muscles move better when their souls are + making merry music, though their merriment is of a poor blundering sort, + not at all like the merriment of birds. + </p> + <p> + And perhaps there is no time in a summer's day more cheering than when the + warmth of the sun is just beginning to triumph over the freshness of the + morning—when there is just a lingering hint of early coolness to + keep off languor under the delicious influence of warmth. The reason Adam + was walking along the lanes at this time was because his work for the rest + of the day lay at a country-house about three miles off, which was being + put in repair for the son of a neighbouring squire; and he had been busy + since early morning with the packing of panels, doors, and chimney-pieces, + in a waggon which was now gone on before him, while Jonathan Burge himself + had ridden to the spot on horseback, to await its arrival and direct the + workmen. + </p> + <p> + This little walk was a rest to Adam, and he was unconsciously under the + charm of the moment. It was summer morning in his heart, and he saw Hetty + in the sunshine—a sunshine without glare, with slanting rays that + tremble between the delicate shadows of the leaves. He thought, yesterday + when he put out his hand to her as they came out of church, that there was + a touch of melancholy kindness in her face, such as he had not seen + before, and he took it as a sign that she had some sympathy with his + family trouble. Poor fellow! That touch of melancholy came from quite + another source, but how was he to know? We look at the one little woman's + face we love as we look at the face of our mother earth, and see all sorts + of answers to our own yearnings. It was impossible for Adam not to feel + that what had happened in the last week had brought the prospect of + marriage nearer to him. Hitherto he had felt keenly the danger that some + other man might step in and get possession of Hetty's heart and hand, + while he himself was still in a position that made him shrink from asking + her to accept him. Even if he had had a strong hope that she was fond of + him—and his hope was far from being strong—he had been too + heavily burdened with other claims to provide a home for himself and Hetty—a + home such as he could expect her to be content with after the comfort and + plenty of the Farm. Like all strong natures, Adam had confidence in his + ability to achieve something in the future; he felt sure he should some + day, if he lived, be able to maintain a family and make a good broad path + for himself; but he had too cool a head not to estimate to the full the + obstacles that were to be overcome. And the time would be so long! And + there was Hetty, like a bright-cheeked apple hanging over the orchard + wall, within sight of everybody, and everybody must long for her! To be + sure, if she loved him very much, she would be content to wait for him: + but DID she love him? His hopes had never risen so high that he had dared + to ask her. He was clear-sighted enough to be aware that her uncle and + aunt would have looked kindly on his suit, and indeed, without this + encouragement he would never have persevered in going to the Farm; but it + was impossible to come to any but fluctuating conclusions about Hetty's + feelings. She was like a kitten, and had the same distractingly pretty + looks, that meant nothing, for everybody that came near her. + </p> + <p> + But now he could not help saying to himself that the heaviest part of his + burden was removed, and that even before the end of another year his + circumstances might be brought into a shape that would allow him to think + of marrying. It would always be a hard struggle with his mother, he knew: + she would be jealous of any wife he might choose, and she had set her mind + especially against Hetty—perhaps for no other reason than that she + suspected Hetty to be the woman he HAD chosen. It would never do, he + feared, for his mother to live in the same house with him when he was + married; and yet how hard she would think it if he asked her to leave him! + Yes, there was a great deal of pain to be gone through with his mother, + but it was a case in which he must make her feel that his will was strong—it + would be better for her in the end. For himself, he would have liked that + they should all live together till Seth was married, and they might have + built a bit themselves to the old house, and made more room. He did not + like “to part wi' th' lad”: they had hardly ever been separated for more + than a day since they were born. + </p> + <p> + But Adam had no sooner caught his imagination leaping forward in this way—making + arrangements for an uncertain future—than he checked himself. “A + pretty building I'm making, without either bricks or timber. I'm up i' the + garret a'ready, and haven't so much as dug the foundation.” Whenever Adam + was strongly convinced of any proposition, it took the form of a principle + in his mind: it was knowledge to be acted on, as much as the knowledge + that damp will cause rust. Perhaps here lay the secret of the hardness he + had accused himself of: he had too little fellow-feeling with the weakness + that errs in spite of foreseen consequences. Without this fellow-feeling, + how are we to get enough patience and charity towards our stumbling, + falling companions in the long and changeful journey? And there is but one + way in which a strong determined soul can learn it—by getting his + heart-strings bound round the weak and erring, so that he must share not + only the outward consequence of their error, but their inward suffering. + That is a long and hard lesson, and Adam had at present only learned the + alphabet of it in his father's sudden death, which, by annihilating in an + instant all that had stimulated his indignation, had sent a sudden rush of + thought and memory over what had claimed his pity and tenderness. + </p> + <p> + But it was Adam's strength, not its correlative hardness, that influenced + his meditations this morning. He had long made up his mind that it would + be wrong as well as foolish for him to marry a blooming young girl, so + long as he had no other prospect than that of growing poverty with a + growing family. And his savings had been so constantly drawn upon (besides + the terrible sweep of paying for Seth's substitute in the militia) that he + had not enough money beforehand to furnish even a small cottage, and keep + something in reserve against a rainy day. He had good hope that he should + be “firmer on his legs” by and by; but he could not be satisfied with a + vague confidence in his arm and brain; he must have definite plans, and + set about them at once. The partnership with Jonathan Burge was not to be + thought of at present—there were things implicitly tacked to it that + he could not accept; but Adam thought that he and Seth might carry on a + little business for themselves in addition to their journeyman's work, by + buying a small stock of superior wood and making articles of household + furniture, for which Adam had no end of contrivances. Seth might gain more + by working at separate jobs under Adam's direction than by his + journeyman's work, and Adam, in his overhours, could do all the “nice” + work that required peculiar skill. The money gained in this way, with the + good wages he received as foreman, would soon enable them to get + beforehand with the world, so sparingly as they would all live now. No + sooner had this little plan shaped itself in his mind than he began to be + busy with exact calculations about the wood to be bought and the + particular article of furniture that should be undertaken first—a + kitchen cupboard of his own contrivance, with such an ingenious + arrangement of sliding-doors and bolts, such convenient nooks for stowing + household provender, and such a symmetrical result to the eye, that every + good housewife would be in raptures with it, and fall through all the + gradations of melancholy longing till her husband promised to buy it for + her. Adam pictured to himself Mrs. Poyser examining it with her keen eye + and trying in vain to find out a deficiency; and, of course, close to Mrs. + Poyser stood Hetty, and Adam was again beguiled from calculations and + contrivances into dreams and hopes. Yes, he would go and see her this + evening—it was so long since he had been at the Hall Farm. He would + have liked to go to the night-school, to see why Bartle Massey had not + been at church yesterday, for he feared his old friend was ill; but, + unless he could manage both visits, this last must be put off till + to-morrow—the desire to be near Hetty and to speak to her again was + too strong. + </p> + <p> + As he made up his mind to this, he was coming very near to the end of his + walk, within the sound of the hammers at work on the refitting of the old + house. The sound of tools to a clever workman who loves his work is like + the tentative sounds of the orchestra to the violinist who has to bear his + part in the overture: the strong fibres begin their accustomed thrill, and + what was a moment before joy, vexation, or ambition, begins its change + into energy. All passion becomes strength when it has an outlet from the + narrow limits of our personal lot in the labour of our right arm, the + cunning of our right hand, or the still, creative activity of our thought. + Look at Adam through the rest of the day, as he stands on the scaffolding + with the two-feet ruler in his hand, whistling low while he considers how + a difficulty about a floor-joist or a window-frame is to be overcome; or + as he pushes one of the younger workmen aside and takes his place in + upheaving a weight of timber, saying, “Let alone, lad! Thee'st got too + much gristle i' thy bones yet”; or as he fixes his keen black eyes on the + motions of a workman on the other side of the room and warns him that his + distances are not right. Look at this broad-shouldered man with the bare + muscular arms, and the thick, firm, black hair tossed about like trodden + meadow-grass whenever he takes off his paper cap, and with the strong + barytone voice bursting every now and then into loud and solemn + psalm-tunes, as if seeking an outlet for superfluous strength, yet + presently checking himself, apparently crossed by some thought which jars + with the singing. Perhaps, if you had not been already in the secret, you + might not have guessed what sad memories what warm affection, what tender + fluttering hopes, had their home in this athletic body with the broken + finger-nails—in this rough man, who knew no better lyrics than he + could find in the Old and New Version and an occasional hymn; who knew the + smallest possible amount of profane history; and for whom the motion and + shape of the earth, the course of the sun, and the changes of the seasons + lay in the region of mystery just made visible by fragmentary knowledge. + It had cost Adam a great deal of trouble and work in overhours to know + what he knew over and above the secrets of his handicraft, and that + acquaintance with mechanics and figures, and the nature of the materials + he worked with, which was made easy to him by inborn inherited faculty—to + get the mastery of his pen, and write a plain hand, to spell without any + other mistakes than must in fairness be attributed to the unreasonable + character of orthography rather than to any deficiency in the speller, + and, moreover, to learn his musical notes and part-singing. Besides all + this, he had read his Bible, including the apocryphal books; Poor + Richard's Almanac, Taylor's Holy Living and Dying, The Pilgrim's Progress, + with Bunyan's Life and Holy War, a great deal of Bailey's Dictionary, + Valentine and Orson, and part of a History of Babylon, which Bartle Massey + had lent him. He might have had many more books from Bartle Massey, but he + had no time for reading “the commin print,” as Lisbeth called it, so busy + as he was with figures in all the leisure moments which he did not fill up + with extra carpentry. + </p> + <p> + Adam, you perceive, was by no means a marvellous man, nor, properly + speaking, a genius, yet I will not pretend that his was an ordinary + character among workmen; and it would not be at all a safe conclusion that + the next best man you may happen to see with a basket of tools over his + shoulder and a paper cap on his head has the strong conscience and the + strong sense, the blended susceptibility and self-command, of our friend + Adam. He was not an average man. Yet such men as he are reared here and + there in every generation of our peasant artisans—with an + inheritance of affections nurtured by a simple family life of common need + and common industry, and an inheritance of faculties trained in skilful + courageous labour: they make their way upwards, rarely as geniuses, most + commonly as painstaking honest men, with the skill and conscience to do + well the tasks that lie before them. Their lives have no discernible echo + beyond the neighbourhood where they dwelt, but you are almost sure to find + there some good piece of road, some building, some application of mineral + produce, some improvement in farming practice, some reform of parish + abuses, with which their names are associated by one or two generations + after them. Their employers were the richer for them, the work of their + hands has worn well, and the work of their brains has guided well the + hands of other men. They went about in their youth in flannel or paper + caps, in coats black with coal-dust or streaked with lime and red paint; + in old age their white hairs are seen in a place of honour at church and + at market, and they tell their well-dressed sons and daughters, seated + round the bright hearth on winter evenings, how pleased they were when + they first earned their twopence a-day. Others there are who die poor and + never put off the workman's coat on weekdays. They have not had the art of + getting rich, but they are men of trust, and when they die before the work + is all out of them, it is as if some main screw had got loose in a + machine; the master who employed them says, “Where shall I find their + like?” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XX + </h2> + <h3> + Adam Visits the Hall Farm + </h3> + <p> + ADAM came back from his work in the empty waggon—that was why he had + changed his clothes—and was ready to set out to the Hall Farm when + it still wanted a quarter to seven. + </p> + <p> + “What's thee got thy Sunday cloose on for?” said Lisbeth complainingly, as + he came downstairs. “Thee artna goin' to th' school i' thy best coat?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Mother,” said Adam, quietly. “I'm going to the Hall Farm, but mayhap + I may go to the school after, so thee mustna wonder if I'm a bit late. + Seth 'ull be at home in half an hour—he's only gone to the village; + so thee wutna mind.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, an' what's thee got thy best cloose on for to go to th' Hall Farm? + The Poyser folks see'd thee in 'em yesterday, I warrand. What dost mean by + turnin' worki'day into Sunday a-that'n? It's poor keepin' company wi' + folks as donna like to see thee i' thy workin' jacket.” + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye, mother, I can't stay,” said Adam, putting on his hat and going + out. + </p> + <p> + But he had no sooner gone a few paces beyond the door than Lisbeth became + uneasy at the thought that she had vexed him. Of course, the secret of her + objection to the best clothes was her suspicion that they were put on for + Hetty's sake; but deeper than all her peevishness lay the need that her + son should love her. She hurried after him, and laid hold of his arm + before he had got half-way down to the brook, and said, “Nay, my lad, thee + wutna go away angered wi' thy mother, an' her got nought to do but to sit + by hersen an' think on thee?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay, Mother,” said Adam, gravely, and standing still while he put + his arm on her shoulder, “I'm not angered. But I wish, for thy own sake, + thee'dst be more contented to let me do what I've made up my mind to do. + I'll never be no other than a good son to thee as long as we live. But a + man has other feelings besides what he owes to's father and mother, and + thee oughtna to want to rule over me body and soul. And thee must make up + thy mind as I'll not give way to thee where I've a right to do what I + like. So let us have no more words about it.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh,” said Lisbeth, not willing to show that she felt the real bearing of + Adam's words, “and' who likes to see thee i' thy best cloose better nor + thy mother? An' when thee'st got thy face washed as clean as the smooth + white pibble, an' thy hair combed so nice, and thy eyes a-sparklin'—what + else is there as thy old mother should like to look at half so well? An' + thee sha't put on thy Sunday cloose when thee lik'st for me—I'll + ne'er plague thee no moor about'n.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well; good-bye, mother,” said Adam, kissing her and hurrying away. + He saw there was no other means of putting an end to the dialogue. Lisbeth + stood still on the spot, shading her eyes and looking after him till he + was quite out of sight. She felt to the full all the meaning that had lain + in Adam's words, and, as she lost sight of him and turned back slowly into + the house, she said aloud to herself—for it was her way to speak her + thoughts aloud in the long days when her husband and sons were at their + work—“Eh, he'll be tellin' me as he's goin' to bring her home one o' + these days; an' she'll be missis o'er me, and I mun look on, belike, while + she uses the blue-edged platters, and breaks 'em, mayhap, though there's + ne'er been one broke sin' my old man an' me bought 'em at the fair twenty + 'ear come next Whissuntide. Eh!” she went on, still louder, as she caught + up her knitting from the table, “but she'll ne'er knit the lad's + stockin's, nor foot 'em nayther, while I live; an' when I'm gone, he'll + bethink him as nobody 'ull ne'er fit's leg an' foot as his old mother did. + She'll know nothin' o' narrowin' an' heelin', I warrand, an' she'll make a + long toe as he canna get's boot on. That's what comes o' marr'in' young + wenches. I war gone thirty, an' th' feyther too, afore we war married; an' + young enough too. She'll be a poor dratchell by then SHE'S thirty, + a-marr'in' a-that'n, afore her teeth's all come.” + </p> + <p> + Adam walked so fast that he was at the yard-gate before seven. Martin + Poyser and the grandfather were not yet come in from the meadow: every one + was in the meadow, even to the black-and-tan terrier—no one kept + watch in the yard but the bull-dog; and when Adam reached the house-door, + which stood wide open, he saw there was no one in the bright clean + house-place. But he guessed where Mrs. Poyser and some one else would be, + quite within hearing; so he knocked on the door and said in his strong + voice, “Mrs. Poyser within?” + </p> + <p> + “Come in, Mr. Bede, come in,” Mrs. Poyser called out from the dairy. She + always gave Adam this title when she received him in her own house. “You + may come into the dairy if you will, for I canna justly leave the cheese.” + </p> + <p> + Adam walked into the dairy, where Mrs. Poyser and Nancy were crushing the + first evening cheese. + </p> + <p> + “Why, you might think you war come to a dead-house,” said Mrs. Poyser, as + he stood in the open doorway; “they're all i' the meadow; but Martin's + sure to be in afore long, for they're leaving the hay cocked to-night, + ready for carrying first thing to-morrow. I've been forced t' have Nancy + in, upo' 'count as Hetty must gether the red currants to-night; the fruit + allays ripens so contrairy, just when every hand's wanted. An' there's no + trustin' the children to gether it, for they put more into their own + mouths nor into the basket; you might as well set the wasps to gether the + fruit.” + </p> + <p> + Adam longed to say he would go into the garden till Mr. Poyser came in, + but he was not quite courageous enough, so he said, “I could be looking at + your spinning-wheel, then, and see what wants doing to it. Perhaps it + stands in the house, where I can find it?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I've put it away in the right-hand parlour; but let it be till I can + fetch it and show it you. I'd be glad now if you'd go into the garden and + tell Hetty to send Totty in. The child 'ull run in if she's told, an' I + know Hetty's lettin' her eat too many currants. I'll be much obliged to + you, Mr. Bede, if you'll go and send her in; an' there's the York and + Lankester roses beautiful in the garden now—you'll like to see 'em. + But you'd like a drink o' whey first, p'r'aps; I know you're fond o' whey, + as most folks is when they hanna got to crush it out.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Mrs. Poyser,” said Adam; “a drink o' whey's allays a treat to + me. I'd rather have it than beer any day.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye,” said Mrs. Poyser, reaching a small white basin that stood on + the shelf, and dipping it into the whey-tub, “the smell o' bread's sweet + t' everybody but the baker. The Miss Irwines allays say, 'Oh, Mrs. Poyser, + I envy you your dairy; and I envy you your chickens; and what a beautiful + thing a farm-house is, to be sure!' An' I say, 'Yes; a farm-house is a + fine thing for them as look on, an' don't know the liftin', an' the + stannin', an' the worritin' o' th' inside as belongs to't.'” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mrs. Poyser, you wouldn't like to live anywhere else but in a + farm-house, so well as you manage it,” said Adam, taking the basin; “and + there can be nothing to look at pleasanter nor a fine milch cow, standing + up to'ts knees in pasture, and the new milk frothing in the pail, and the + fresh butter ready for market, and the calves, and the poultry. Here's to + your health, and may you allays have strength to look after your own + dairy, and set a pattern t' all the farmers' wives in the country.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser was not to be caught in the weakness of smiling at a + compliment, but a quiet complacency over-spread her face like a stealing + sunbeam, and gave a milder glance than usual to her blue-grey eyes, as she + looked at Adam drinking the whey. Ah! I think I taste that whey now—with + a flavour so delicate that one can hardly distinguish it from an odour, + and with that soft gliding warmth that fills one's imagination with a + still, happy dreaminess. And the light music of the dropping whey is in my + ears, mingling with the twittering of a bird outside the wire network + window—the window overlooking the garden, and shaded by tall Guelder + roses. + </p> + <p> + “Have a little more, Mr. Bede?” said Mrs. Poyser, as Adam set down the + basin. + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you; I'll go into the garden now, and send in the little lass.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, do; and tell her to come to her mother in the dairy.” + </p> + <p> + Adam walked round by the rick-yard, at present empty of ricks, to the + little wooden gate leading into the garden—once the well-tended + kitchen-garden of a manor-house; now, but for the handsome brick wall with + stone coping that ran along one side of it, a true farmhouse garden, with + hardy perennial flowers, unpruned fruit-trees, and kitchen vegetables + growing together in careless, half-neglected abundance. In that leafy, + flowery, bushy time, to look for any one in this garden was like playing + at “hide-and-seek.” There were the tall hollyhocks beginning to flower and + dazzle the eye with their pink, white, and yellow; there were the syringas + and Guelder roses, all large and disorderly for want of trimming; there + were leafy walls of scarlet beans and late peas; there was a row of bushy + filberts in one direction, and in another a huge apple-tree making a + barren circle under its low-spreading boughs. But what signified a barren + patch or two? The garden was so large. There was always a superfluity of + broad beans—it took nine or ten of Adam's strides to get to the end + of the uncut grass walk that ran by the side of them; and as for other + vegetables, there was so much more room than was necessary for them that + in the rotation of crops a large flourishing bed of groundsel was of + yearly occurrence on one spot or other. The very rose-trees at which Adam + stopped to pluck one looked as if they grew wild; they were all huddled + together in bushy masses, now flaunting with wide-open petals, almost all + of them of the streaked pink-and-white kind, which doubtless dated from + the union of the houses of York and Lancaster. Adam was wise enough to + choose a compact Provence rose that peeped out half-smothered by its + flaunting scentless neighbours, and held it in his hand—he thought + he should be more at ease holding something in his hand—as he walked + on to the far end of the garden, where he remembered there was the largest + row of currant-trees, not far off from the great yew-tree arbour. + </p> + <p> + But he had not gone many steps beyond the roses, when he heard the shaking + of a bough, and a boy's voice saying, “Now, then, Totty, hold out your + pinny—there's a duck.” + </p> + <p> + The voice came from the boughs of a tall cherry-tree, where Adam had no + difficulty in discerning a small blue-pinafored figure perched in a + commodious position where the fruit was thickest. Doubtless Totty was + below, behind the screen of peas. Yes—with her bonnet hanging down + her back, and her fat face, dreadfully smeared with red juice, turned up + towards the cherry-tree, while she held her little round hole of a mouth + and her red-stained pinafore to receive the promised downfall. I am sorry + to say, more than half the cherries that fell were hard and yellow instead + of juicy and red; but Totty spent no time in useless regrets, and she was + already sucking the third juiciest when Adam said, “There now, Totty, + you've got your cherries. Run into the house with 'em to Mother—she + wants you—she's in the dairy. Run in this minute—there's a + good little girl.” + </p> + <p> + He lifted her up in his strong arms and kissed her as he spoke, a ceremony + which Totty regarded as a tiresome interruption to cherry-eating; and when + he set her down she trotted off quite silently towards the house, sucking + her cherries as she went along. + </p> + <p> + “Tommy, my lad, take care you're not shot for a little thieving bird,” + said Adam, as he walked on towards the currant-trees. + </p> + <p> + He could see there was a large basket at the end of the row: Hetty would + not be far off, and Adam already felt as if she were looking at him. Yet + when he turned the corner she was standing with her back towards him, and + stooping to gather the low-hanging fruit. Strange that she had not heard + him coming! Perhaps it was because she was making the leaves rustle. She + started when she became conscious that some one was near—started so + violently that she dropped the basin with the currants in it, and then, + when she saw it was Adam, she turned from pale to deep red. That blush + made his heart beat with a new happiness. Hetty had never blushed at + seeing him before. + </p> + <p> + “I frightened you,” he said, with a delicious sense that it didn't signify + what he said, since Hetty seemed to feel as much as he did; “let ME pick + the currants up.” + </p> + <p> + That was soon done, for they had only fallen in a tangled mass on the + grass-plot, and Adam, as he rose and gave her the basin again, looked + straight into her eyes with the subdued tenderness that belongs to the + first moments of hopeful love. + </p> + <p> + Hetty did not turn away her eyes; her blush had subsided, and she met his + glance with a quiet sadness, which contented Adam because it was so unlike + anything he had seen in her before. + </p> + <p> + “There's not many more currants to get,” she said; “I shall soon ha' done + now.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll help you,” said Adam; and he fetched the large basket, which was + nearly full of currants, and set it close to them. + </p> + <p> + Not a word more was spoken as they gathered the currants. Adam's heart was + too full to speak, and he thought Hetty knew all that was in it. She was + not indifferent to his presence after all; she had blushed when she saw + him, and then there was that touch of sadness about her which must surely + mean love, since it was the opposite of her usual manner, which had often + impressed him as indifference. And he could glance at her continually as + she bent over the fruit, while the level evening sunbeams stole through + the thick apple-tree boughs, and rested on her round cheek and neck as if + they too were in love with her. It was to Adam the time that a man can + least forget in after-life, the time when he believes that the first woman + he has ever loved betrays by a slight something—a word, a tone, a + glance, the quivering of a lip or an eyelid—that she is at least + beginning to love him in return. The sign is so slight, it is scarcely + perceptible to the ear or eye—he could describe it to no one—it + is a mere feather-touch, yet it seems to have changed his whole being, to + have merged an uneasy yearning into a delicious unconsciousness of + everything but the present moment. So much of our early gladness vanishes + utterly from our memory: we can never recall the joy with which we laid + our heads on our mother's bosom or rode on our father's back in childhood. + Doubtless that joy is wrought up into our nature, as the sunlight of + long-past mornings is wrought up in the soft mellowness of the apricot, + but it is gone for ever from our imagination, and we can only BELIEVE in + the joy of childhood. But the first glad moment in our first love is a + vision which returns to us to the last, and brings with it a thrill of + feeling intense and special as the recurrent sensation of a sweet odour + breathed in a far-off hour of happiness. It is a memory that gives a more + exquisite touch to tenderness, that feeds the madness of jealousy and adds + the last keenness to the agony of despair. + </p> + <p> + Hetty bending over the red bunches, the level rays piercing the screen of + apple-tree boughs, the length of bushy garden beyond, his own emotion as + he looked at her and believed that she was thinking of him, and that there + was no need for them to talk—Adam remembered it all to the last + moment of his life. + </p> + <p> + And Hetty? You know quite well that Adam was mistaken about her. Like many + other men, he thought the signs of love for another were signs of love + towards himself. When Adam was approaching unseen by her, she was absorbed + as usual in thinking and wondering about Arthur's possible return. The + sound of any man's footstep would have affected her just in the same way—she + would have FELT it might be Arthur before she had time to see, and the + blood that forsook her cheek in the agitation of that momentary feeling + would have rushed back again at the sight of any one else just as much as + at the sight of Adam. He was not wrong in thinking that a change had come + over Hetty: the anxieties and fears of a first passion, with which she was + trembling, had become stronger than vanity, had given her for the first + time that sense of helpless dependence on another's feeling which awakens + the clinging deprecating womanhood even in the shallowest girl that can + ever experience it, and creates in her a sensibility to kindness which + found her quite hard before. For the first time Hetty felt that there was + something soothing to her in Adam's timid yet manly tenderness. She wanted + to be treated lovingly—oh, it was very hard to bear this blank of + absence, silence, apparent indifference, after those moments of glowing + love! She was not afraid that Adam would tease her with love-making and + flattering speeches like her other admirers; he had always been so + reserved to her; she could enjoy without any fear the sense that this + strong brave man loved her and was near her. It never entered into her + mind that Adam was pitiable too—that Adam too must suffer one day. + </p> + <p> + Hetty, we know, was not the first woman that had behaved more gently to + the man who loved her in vain because she had herself begun to love + another. It was a very old story, but Adam knew nothing about it, so he + drank in the sweet delusion. + </p> + <p> + “That'll do,” said Hetty, after a little while. “Aunt wants me to leave + some on the trees. I'll take 'em in now.” + </p> + <p> + “It's very well I came to carry the basket,” said Adam “for it 'ud ha' + been too heavy for your little arms.” + </p> + <p> + “No; I could ha' carried it with both hands.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I daresay,” said Adam, smiling, “and been as long getting into the + house as a little ant carrying a caterpillar. Have you ever seen those + tiny fellows carrying things four times as big as themselves?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Hetty, indifferently, not caring to know the difficulties of + ant life. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I used to watch 'em often when I was a lad. But now, you see, I can + carry the basket with one arm, as if it was an empty nutshell, and give + you th' other arm to lean on. Won't you? Such big arms as mine were made + for little arms like yours to lean on.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty smiled faintly and put her arm within his. Adam looked down at her, + but her eyes were turned dreamily towards another corner of the garden. + </p> + <p> + “Have you ever been to Eagledale?” she said, as they walked slowly along. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Adam, pleased to have her ask a question about himself. “Ten + years ago, when I was a lad, I went with father to see about some work + there. It's a wonderful sight—rocks and caves such as you never saw + in your life. I never had a right notion o' rocks till I went there.” + </p> + <p> + “How long did it take to get there?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, it took us the best part o' two days' walking. But it's nothing of a + day's journey for anybody as has got a first-rate nag. The captain 'ud get + there in nine or ten hours, I'll be bound, he's such a rider. And I + shouldn't wonder if he's back again to-morrow; he's too active to rest + long in that lonely place, all by himself, for there's nothing but a bit + of a inn i' that part where he's gone to fish. I wish he'd got th' estate + in his hands; that 'ud be the right thing for him, for it 'ud give him + plenty to do, and he'd do't well too, for all he's so young; he's got + better notions o' things than many a man twice his age. He spoke very + handsome to me th' other day about lending me money to set up i' business; + and if things came round that way, I'd rather be beholding to him nor to + any man i' the world.” + </p> + <p> + Poor Adam was led on to speak about Arthur because he thought Hetty would + be pleased to know that the young squire was so ready to befriend him; the + fact entered into his future prospects, which he would like to seem + promising in her eyes. And it was true that Hetty listened with an + interest which brought a new light into her eyes and a half-smile upon her + lips. + </p> + <p> + “How pretty the roses are now!” Adam continued, pausing to look at them. + “See! I stole the prettiest, but I didna mean to keep it myself. I think + these as are all pink, and have got a finer sort o' green leaves, are + prettier than the striped uns, don't you?” + </p> + <p> + He set down the basket and took the rose from his button-hole. + </p> + <p> + “It smells very sweet,” he said; “those striped uns have no smell. Stick + it in your frock, and then you can put it in water after. It 'ud be a pity + to let it fade.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty took the rose, smiling as she did so at the pleasant thought that + Arthur could so soon get back if he liked. There was a flash of hope and + happiness in her mind, and with a sudden impulse of gaiety she did what + she had very often done before—stuck the rose in her hair a little + above the left ear. The tender admiration in Adam's face was slightly + shadowed by reluctant disapproval. Hetty's love of finery was just the + thing that would most provoke his mother, and he himself disliked it as + much as it was possible for him to dislike anything that belonged to her. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” he said, “that's like the ladies in the pictures at the Chase; + they've mostly got flowers or feathers or gold things i' their hair, but + somehow I don't like to see 'em; they allays put me i' mind o' the painted + women outside the shows at Treddles'on Fair. What can a woman have to set + her off better than her own hair, when it curls so, like yours? If a + woman's young and pretty, I think you can see her good looks all the + better for her being plain dressed. Why, Dinah Morris looks very nice, for + all she wears such a plain cap and gown. It seems to me as a woman's face + doesna want flowers; it's almost like a flower itself. I'm sure yours is.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, very well,” said Hetty, with a little playful pout, taking the rose + out of her hair. “I'll put one o' Dinah's caps on when we go in, and + you'll see if I look better in it. She left one behind, so I can take the + pattern.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay, I don't want you to wear a Methodist cap like Dinah's. I + daresay it's a very ugly cap, and I used to think when I saw her here as + it was nonsense for her to dress different t' other people; but I never + rightly noticed her till she came to see mother last week, and then I + thought the cap seemed to fit her face somehow as th 'acorn-cup fits th' + acorn, and I shouldn't like to see her so well without it. But you've got + another sort o' face; I'd have you just as you are now, without anything + t' interfere with your own looks. It's like when a man's singing a good + tune—you don't want t' hear bells tinkling and interfering wi' the + sound.” + </p> + <p> + He took her arm and put it within his again, looking down on her fondly. + He was afraid she should think he had lectured her, imagining, as we are + apt to do, that she had perceived all the thoughts he had only + half-expressed. And the thing he dreaded most was lest any cloud should + come over this evening's happiness. For the world he would not have spoken + of his love to Hetty yet, till this commencing kindness towards him should + have grown into unmistakable love. In his imagination he saw long years of + his future life stretching before him, blest with the right to call Hetty + his own: he could be content with very little at present. So he took up + the basket of currants once more, and they went on towards the house. + </p> + <p> + The scene had quite changed in the half-hour that Adam had been in the + garden. The yard was full of life now: Marty was letting the screaming + geese through the gate, and wickedly provoking the gander by hissing at + him; the granary-door was groaning on its hinges as Alick shut it, after + dealing out the corn; the horses were being led out to watering, amidst + much barking of all the three dogs and many “whups” from Tim the + ploughman, as if the heavy animals who held down their meek, intelligent + heads, and lifted their shaggy feet so deliberately, were likely to rush + wildly in every direction but the right. Everybody was come back from the + meadow; and when Hetty and Adam entered the house-place, Mr. Poyser was + seated in the three-cornered chair, and the grandfather in the large + arm-chair opposite, looking on with pleasant expectation while the supper + was being laid on the oak table. Mrs. Poyser had laid the cloth herself—a + cloth made of homespun linen, with a shining checkered pattern on it, and + of an agreeable whitey-brown hue, such as all sensible housewives like to + see—none of your bleached “shop-rag” that would wear into holes in + no time, but good homespun that would last for two generations. The cold + veal, the fresh lettuces, and the stuffed chine might well look tempting + to hungry men who had dined at half-past twelve o'clock. On the large deal + table against the wall there were bright pewter plates and spoons and + cans, ready for Alick and his companions; for the master and servants ate + their supper not far off each other; which was all the pleasanter, because + if a remark about to-morrow morning's work occurred to Mr. Poyser, Alick + was at hand to hear it. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Adam, I'm glad to see ye,” said Mr. Poyser. “What! ye've been + helping Hetty to gether the curran's, eh? Come, sit ye down, sit ye down. + Why, it's pretty near a three-week since y' had your supper with us; and + the missis has got one of her rare stuffed chines. I'm glad ye're come.” + </p> + <p> + “Hetty,” said Mrs. Poyser, as she looked into the basket of currants to + see if the fruit was fine, “run upstairs and send Molly down. She's + putting Totty to bed, and I want her to draw th' ale, for Nancy's busy yet + i' the dairy. You can see to the child. But whativer did you let her run + away from you along wi' Tommy for, and stuff herself wi' fruit as she + can't eat a bit o' good victual?” + </p> + <p> + This was said in a lower tone than usual, while her husband was talking to + Adam; for Mrs. Poyser was strict in adherence to her own rules of + propriety, and she considered that a young girl was not to be treated + sharply in the presence of a respectable man who was courting her. That + would not be fair-play: every woman was young in her turn, and had her + chances of matrimony, which it was a point of honour for other women not + to spoil—just as one market-woman who has sold her own eggs must not + try to balk another of a customer. + </p> + <p> + Hetty made haste to run away upstairs, not easily finding an answer to her + aunt's question, and Mrs. Poyser went out to see after Marty and Tommy and + bring them in to supper. + </p> + <p> + Soon they were all seated—the two rosy lads, one on each side, by + the pale mother, a place being left for Hetty between Adam and her uncle. + Alick too was come in, and was seated in his far corner, eating cold broad + beans out of a large dish with his pocket-knife, and finding a flavour in + them which he would not have exchanged for the finest pineapple. + </p> + <p> + “What a time that gell is drawing th' ale, to be sure!” said Mrs. Poyser, + when she was dispensing her slices of stuffed chine. “I think she sets the + jug under and forgets to turn the tap, as there's nothing you can't + believe o' them wenches: they'll set the empty kettle o' the fire, and + then come an hour after to see if the water boils.” + </p> + <p> + “She's drawin' for the men too,” said Mr. Poyser. “Thee shouldst ha' told + her to bring our jug up first.” + </p> + <p> + “Told her?” said Mrs. Poyser. “Yes, I might spend all the wind i' my body, + an' take the bellows too, if I was to tell them gells everything as their + own sharpness wonna tell 'em. Mr. Bede, will you take some vinegar with + your lettuce? Aye you're i' the right not. It spoils the flavour o' the + chine, to my thinking. It's poor eating where the flavour o' the meat lies + i' the cruets. There's folks as make bad butter and trusten to the salt t' + hide it.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser's attention was here diverted by the appearance of Molly, + carrying a large jug, two small mugs, and four drinking-cans, all full of + ale or small beer—an interesting example of the prehensile power + possessed by the human hand. Poor Molly's mouth was rather wider open than + usual, as she walked along with her eyes fixed on the double cluster of + vessels in her hands, quite innocent of the expression in her mistress's + eye. + </p> + <p> + “Molly, I niver knew your equils—to think o' your poor mother as is + a widow, an' I took you wi' as good as no character, an' the times an' + times I've told you....” + </p> + <p> + Molly had not seen the lightning, and the thunder shook her nerves the + more for the want of that preparation. With a vague alarmed sense that she + must somehow comport herself differently, she hastened her step a little + towards the far deal table, where she might set down her cans—caught + her foot in her apron, which had become untied, and fell with a crash and + a splash into a pool of beer; whereupon a tittering explosion from Marty + and Tommy, and a serious “Ello!” from Mr. Poyser, who saw his draught of + ale unpleasantly deferred. + </p> + <p> + “There you go!” resumed Mrs. Poyser, in a cutting tone, as she rose and + went towards the cupboard while Molly began dolefully to pick up the + fragments of pottery. “It's what I told you 'ud come, over and over again; + and there's your month's wage gone, and more, to pay for that jug as I've + had i' the house this ten year, and nothing ever happened to't before; but + the crockery you've broke sin' here in th' house you've been 'ud make a + parson swear—God forgi' me for saying so—an' if it had been + boiling wort out o' the copper, it 'ud ha' been the same, and you'd ha' + been scalded and very like lamed for life, as there's no knowing but what + you will be some day if you go on; for anybody 'ud think you'd got the St. + Vitus's Dance, to see the things you've throwed down. It's a pity but what + the bits was stacked up for you to see, though it's neither seeing nor + hearing as 'ull make much odds to you—anybody 'ud think you war + case-hardened.” + </p> + <p> + Poor Molly's tears were dropping fast by this time, and in her desperation + at the lively movement of the beer-stream towards Alick's legs, she was + converting her apron into a mop, while Mrs. Poyser, opening the cupboard, + turned a blighting eye upon her. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” she went on, “you'll do no good wi' crying an' making more wet to + wipe up. It's all your own wilfulness, as I tell you, for there's nobody + no call to break anything if they'll only go the right way to work. But + wooden folks had need ha' wooden things t' handle. And here must I take + the brown-and-white jug, as it's niver been used three times this year, + and go down i' the cellar myself, and belike catch my death, and be laid + up wi' inflammation....” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser had turned round from the cupboard with the brown-and-white + jug in her hand, when she caught sight of something at the other end of + the kitchen; perhaps it was because she was already trembling and nervous + that the apparition had so strong an effect on her; perhaps jug-breaking, + like other crimes, has a contagious influence. However it was, she stared + and started like a ghost-seer, and the precious brown-and-white jug fell + to the ground, parting for ever with its spout and handle. + </p> + <p> + “Did ever anybody see the like?” she said, with a suddenly lowered tone, + after a moment's bewildered glance round the room. “The jugs are + bewitched, I think. It's them nasty glazed handles—they slip o'er + the finger like a snail.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, thee'st let thy own whip fly i' thy face,” said her husband, who had + now joined in the laugh of the young ones. + </p> + <p> + “It's all very fine to look on and grin,” rejoined Mrs. Poyser; “but + there's times when the crockery seems alive an' flies out o' your hand + like a bird. It's like the glass, sometimes, 'ull crack as it stands. What + is to be broke WILL be broke, for I never dropped a thing i' my life for + want o' holding it, else I should never ha' kept the crockery all these + 'ears as I bought at my own wedding. And Hetty, are you mad? Whativer do + you mean by coming down i' that way, and making one think as there's a + ghost a-walking i' th' house?” + </p> + <p> + A new outbreak of laughter, while Mrs. Poyser was speaking, was caused, + less by her sudden conversion to a fatalistic view of jug-breaking than by + that strange appearance of Hetty, which had startled her aunt. The little + minx had found a black gown of her aunt's, and pinned it close round her + neck to look like Dinah's, had made her hair as flat as she could, and had + tied on one of Dinah's high-crowned borderless net caps. The thought of + Dinah's pale grave face and mild grey eyes, which the sight of the gown + and cap brought with it, made it a laughable surprise enough to see them + replaced by Hetty's round rosy cheeks and coquettish dark eyes. The boys + got off their chairs and jumped round her, clapping their hands, and even + Alick gave a low ventral laugh as he looked up from his beans. Under cover + of the noise, Mrs. Poyser went into the back kitchen to send Nancy into + the cellar with the great pewter measure, which had some chance of being + free from bewitchment. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Hetty, lass, are ye turned Methodist?” said Mr. Poyser, with that + comfortable slow enjoyment of a laugh which one only sees in stout people. + “You must pull your face a deal longer before you'll do for one; mustna + she, Adam? How come you put them things on, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Adam said he liked Dinah's cap and gown better nor my clothes,” said + Hetty, sitting down demurely. “He says folks looks better in ugly + clothes.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay,” said Adam, looking at her admiringly; “I only said they seemed + to suit Dinah. But if I'd said you'd look pretty in 'em, I should ha' said + nothing but what was true.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, thee thought'st Hetty war a ghost, didstna?” said Mr. Poyser to his + wife, who now came back and took her seat again. “Thee look'dst as scared + as scared.” + </p> + <p> + “It little sinnifies how I looked,” said Mrs. Poyser; “looks 'ull mend no + jugs, nor laughing neither, as I see. Mr. Bede, I'm sorry you've to wait + so long for your ale, but it's coming in a minute. Make yourself at home + wi' th' cold potatoes: I know you like 'em. Tommy, I'll send you to bed + this minute, if you don't give over laughing. What is there to laugh at, I + should like to know? I'd sooner cry nor laugh at the sight o' that poor + thing's cap; and there's them as 'ud be better if they could make + theirselves like her i' more ways nor putting on her cap. It little + becomes anybody i' this house to make fun o' my sister's child, an' her + just gone away from us, as it went to my heart to part wi' her. An' I know + one thing, as if trouble was to come, an' I was to be laid up i' my bed, + an' the children was to die—as there's no knowing but what they will—an' + the murrain was to come among the cattle again, an' everything went to + rack an' ruin, I say we might be glad to get sight o' Dinah's cap again, + wi' her own face under it, border or no border. For she's one o' them + things as looks the brightest on a rainy day, and loves you the best when + you're most i' need on't.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser, you perceive, was aware that nothing would be so likely to + expel the comic as the terrible. Tommy, who was of a susceptible + disposition, and very fond of his mother, and who had, besides, eaten so + many cherries as to have his feelings less under command than usual, was + so affected by the dreadful picture she had made of the possible future + that he began to cry; and the good-natured father, indulgent to all + weaknesses but those of negligent farmers, said to Hetty, “You'd better + take the things off again, my lass; it hurts your aunt to see 'em.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty went upstairs again, and the arrival of the ale made an agreeable + diversion; for Adam had to give his opinion of the new tap, which could + not be otherwise than complimentary to Mrs. Poyser; and then followed a + discussion on the secrets of good brewing, the folly of stinginess in + “hopping,” and the doubtful economy of a farmer's making his own malt. + Mrs. Poyser had so many opportunities of expressing herself with weight on + these subjects that by the time supper was ended, the ale-jug refilled, + and Mr. Poyser's pipe alight she was once more in high good humour, and + ready, at Adam's request, to fetch the broken spinning-wheel for his + inspection. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said Adam, looking at it carefully, “here's a nice bit o' turning + wanted. It's a pretty wheel. I must have it up at the turning-shop in the + village and do it there, for I've no convenence for turning at home. If + you'll send it to Mr. Burge's shop i' the morning, I'll get it done for + you by Wednesday. I've been turning it over in my mind,” he continued, + looking at Mr. Poyser, “to make a bit more convenence at home for nice + jobs o' cabinet-making. I've always done a deal at such little things in + odd hours, and they're profitable, for there's more workmanship nor + material in 'em. I look for me and Seth to get a little business for + ourselves i' that way, for I know a man at Rosseter as 'ull take as many + things as we should make, besides what we could get orders for round + about.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Poyser entered with interest into a project which seemed a step + towards Adam's becoming a “master-man,” and Mrs. Poyser gave her + approbation to the scheme of the movable kitchen cupboard, which was to be + capable of containing grocery, pickles, crockery, and house-linen in the + utmost compactness without confusion. Hetty, once more in her own dress, + with her neckerchief pushed a little backwards on this warm evening, was + seated picking currants near the window, where Adam could see her quite + well. And so the time passed pleasantly till Adam got up to go. He was + pressed to come again soon, but not to stay longer, for at this busy time + sensible people would not run the risk of being sleepy at five o'clock in + the morning. + </p> + <p> + “I shall take a step farther,” said Adam, “and go on to see Mester Massey, + for he wasn't at church yesterday, and I've not seen him for a week past. + I've never hardly known him to miss church before.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye,” said Mr. Poyser, “we've heared nothing about him, for it's the + boys' hollodays now, so we can give you no account.” + </p> + <p> + “But you'll niver think o' going there at this hour o' the night?” said + Mrs. Poyser, folding up her knitting. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Mester Massey sits up late,” said Adam. “An' the night-school's not + over yet. Some o' the men don't come till late—they've got so far to + walk. And Bartle himself's never in bed till it's gone eleven.” + </p> + <p> + “I wouldna have him to live wi' me, then,” said Mrs. Poyser, “a-dropping + candle-grease about, as you're like to tumble down o' the floor the first + thing i' the morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, eleven o'clock's late—it's late,” said old Martin. “I ne'er + sot up so i' MY life, not to say as it warna a marr'in', or a christenin', + or a wake, or th' harvest supper. Eleven o'clock's late.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I sit up till after twelve often,” said Adam, laughing, “but it + isn't t' eat and drink extry, it's to work extry. Good-night, Mrs. Poyser; + good-night, Hetty.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty could only smile and not shake hands, for hers were dyed and damp + with currant-juice; but all the rest gave a hearty shake to the large palm + that was held out to them, and said, “Come again, come again!” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, think o' that now,” said Mr. Poyser, when Adam was out of on the + causeway. “Sitting up till past twelve to do extry work! Ye'll not find + many men o' six-an' twenty as 'ull do to put i' the shafts wi' him. If you + can catch Adam for a husband, Hetty, you'll ride i' your own spring-cart + some day, I'll be your warrant.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty was moving across the kitchen with the currants, so her uncle did + not see the little toss of the head with which she answered him. To ride + in a spring-cart seemed a very miserable lot indeed to her now. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXI + </h2> + <h3> + The Night-School and the Schoolmaster + </h3> + <p> + Bartle Massey's was one of a few scattered houses on the edge of a common, + which was divided by the road to Treddleston. Adam reached it in a quarter + of an hour after leaving the Hall Farm; and when he had his hand on the + door-latch, he could see, through the curtainless window, that there were + eight or nine heads bending over the desks, lighted by thin dips. + </p> + <p> + When he entered, a reading lesson was going forward and Bartle Massey + merely nodded, leaving him to take his place where he pleased. He had not + come for the sake of a lesson to-night, and his mind was too full of + personal matters, too full of the last two hours he had passed in Hetty's + presence, for him to amuse himself with a book till school was over; so he + sat down in a corner and looked on with an absent mind. It was a sort of + scene which Adam had beheld almost weekly for years; he knew by heart + every arabesque flourish in the framed specimen of Bartle Massey's + handwriting which hung over the schoolmaster's head, by way of keeping a + lofty ideal before the minds of his pupils; he knew the backs of all the + books on the shelf running along the whitewashed wall above the pegs for + the slates; he knew exactly how many grains were gone out of the ear of + Indian corn that hung from one of the rafters; he had long ago exhausted + the resources of his imagination in trying to think how the bunch of + leathery seaweed had looked and grown in its native element; and from the + place where he sat, he could make nothing of the old map of England that + hung against the opposite wall, for age had turned it of a fine yellow + brown, something like that of a well-seasoned meerschaum. The drama that + was going on was almost as familiar as the scene, nevertheless habit had + not made him indifferent to it, and even in his present self-absorbed + mood, Adam felt a momentary stirring of the old fellow-feeling, as he + looked at the rough men painfully holding pen or pencil with their cramped + hands, or humbly labouring through their reading lesson. + </p> + <p> + The reading class now seated on the form in front of the schoolmaster's + desk consisted of the three most backward pupils. Adam would have known it + only by seeing Bartle Massey's face as he looked over his spectacles, + which he had shifted to the ridge of his nose, not requiring them for + present purposes. The face wore its mildest expression: the grizzled bushy + eyebrows had taken their more acute angle of compassionate kindness, and + the mouth, habitually compressed with a pout of the lower lip, was relaxed + so as to be ready to speak a helpful word or syllable in a moment. This + gentle expression was the more interesting because the schoolmaster's + nose, an irregular aquiline twisted a little on one side, had rather a + formidable character; and his brow, moreover, had that peculiar tension + which always impresses one as a sign of a keen impatient temperament: the + blue veins stood out like cords under the transparent yellow skin, and + this intimidating brow was softened by no tendency to baldness, for the + grey bristly hair, cut down to about an inch in length, stood round it in + as close ranks as ever. + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Bill, nay,” Bartle was saying in a kind tone, as he nodded to Adam, + “begin that again, and then perhaps, it'll come to you what d-r-y spells. + It's the same lesson you read last week, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “Bill” was a sturdy fellow, aged four-and-twenty, an excellent + stone-sawyer, who could get as good wages as any man in the trade of his + years; but he found a reading lesson in words of one syllable a harder + matter to deal with than the hardest stone he had ever had to saw. The + letters, he complained, were so “uncommon alike, there was no tellin' 'em + one from another,” the sawyer's business not being concerned with minute + differences such as exist between a letter with its tail turned up and a + letter with its tail turned down. But Bill had a firm determination that + he would learn to read, founded chiefly on two reasons: first, that Tom + Hazelow, his cousin, could read anything “right off,” whether it was print + or writing, and Tom had sent him a letter from twenty miles off, saying + how he was prospering in the world and had got an overlooker's place; + secondly, that Sam Phillips, who sawed with him, had learned to read when + he was turned twenty, and what could be done by a little fellow like Sam + Phillips, Bill considered, could be done by himself, seeing that he could + pound Sam into wet clay if circumstances required it. So here he was, + pointing his big finger towards three words at once, and turning his head + on one side that he might keep better hold with his eye of the one word + which was to be discriminated out of the group. The amount of knowledge + Bartle Massey must possess was something so dim and vast that Bill's + imagination recoiled before it: he would hardly have ventured to deny that + the schoolmaster might have something to do in bringing about the regular + return of daylight and the changes in the weather. + </p> + <p> + The man seated next to Bill was of a very different type: he was a + Methodist brickmaker who, after spending thirty years of his life in + perfect satisfaction with his ignorance, had lately “got religion,” and + along with it the desire to read the Bible. But with him, too, learning + was a heavy business, and on his way out to-night he had offered as usual + a special prayer for help, seeing that he had undertaken this hard task + with a single eye to the nourishment of his soul—that he might have + a greater abundance of texts and hymns wherewith to banish evil memories + and the temptations of old habit—or, in brief language, the devil. + For the brickmaker had been a notorious poacher, and was suspected, though + there was no good evidence against him, of being the man who had shot a + neighbouring gamekeeper in the leg. However that might be, it is certain + that shortly after the accident referred to, which was coincident with the + arrival of an awakening Methodist preacher at Treddleston, a great change + had been observed in the brickmaker; and though he was still known in the + neighbourhood by his old sobriquet of “Brimstone,” there was nothing he + held in so much horror as any further transactions with that evil-smelling + element. He was a broad-chested fellow with a fervid temperament, which + helped him better in imbibing religious ideas than in the dry process of + acquiring the mere human knowledge of the alphabet. Indeed, he had been + already a little shaken in his resolution by a brother Methodist, who + assured him that the letter was a mere obstruction to the Spirit, and + expressed a fear that Brimstone was too eager for the knowledge that + puffeth up. + </p> + <p> + The third beginner was a much more promising pupil. He was a tall but thin + and wiry man, nearly as old as Brimstone, with a very pale face and hands + stained a deep blue. He was a dyer, who in the course of dipping homespun + wool and old women's petticoats had got fired with the ambition to learn a + great deal more about the strange secrets of colour. He had already a high + reputation in the district for his dyes, and he was bent on discovering + some method by which he could reduce the expense of crimsons and scarlets. + The druggist at Treddleston had given him a notion that he might save + himself a great deal of labour and expense if he could learn to read, and + so he had begun to give his spare hours to the night-school, resolving + that his “little chap” should lose no time in coming to Mr. Massey's + day-school as soon as he was old enough. + </p> + <p> + It was touching to see these three big men, with the marks of their hard + labour about them, anxiously bending over the worn books and painfully + making out, “The grass is green,” “The sticks are dry,” “The corn is ripe”—a + very hard lesson to pass to after columns of single words all alike except + in the first letter. It was almost as if three rough animals were making + humble efforts to learn how they might become human. And it touched the + tenderest fibre in Bartle Massey's nature, for such full-grown children as + these were the only pupils for whom he had no severe epithets and no + impatient tones. He was not gifted with an imperturbable temper, and on + music-nights it was apparent that patience could never be an easy virtue + to him; but this evening, as he glances over his spectacles at Bill + Downes, the sawyer, who is turning his head on one side with a desperate + sense of blankness before the letters d-r-y, his eyes shed their mildest + and most encouraging light. + </p> + <p> + After the reading class, two youths between sixteen and nineteen came up + with the imaginary bills of parcels, which they had been writing out on + their slates and were now required to calculate “off-hand”—a test + which they stood with such imperfect success that Bartle Massey, whose + eyes had been glaring at them ominously through his spectacles for some + minutes, at length burst out in a bitter, high-pitched tone, pausing + between every sentence to rap the floor with a knobbed stick which rested + between his legs. + </p> + <p> + “Now, you see, you don't do this thing a bit better than you did a + fortnight ago, and I'll tell you what's the reason. You want to learn + accounts—that's well and good. But you think all you need do to + learn accounts is to come to me and do sums for an hour or so, two or + three times a-week; and no sooner do you get your caps on and turn out of + doors again than you sweep the whole thing clean out of your mind. You go + whistling about, and take no more care what you're thinking of than if + your heads were gutters for any rubbish to swill through that happened to + be in the way; and if you get a good notion in 'em, it's pretty soon + washed out again. You think knowledge is to be got cheap—you'll come + and pay Bartle Massey sixpence a-week, and he'll make you clever at + figures without your taking any trouble. But knowledge isn't to be got + with paying sixpence, let me tell you. If you're to know figures, you must + turn 'em over in your heads and keep your thoughts fixed on 'em. There's + nothing you can't turn into a sum, for there's nothing but what's got + number in it—even a fool. You may say to yourselves, 'I'm one fool, + and Jack's another; if my fool's head weighed four pound, and Jack's three + pound three ounces and three quarters, how many pennyweights heavier would + my head be than Jack's?' A man that had got his heart in learning figures + would make sums for himself and work 'em in his head. When he sat at his + shoemaking, he'd count his stitches by fives, and then put a price on his + stitches, say half a farthing, and then see how much money he could get in + an hour; and then ask himself how much money he'd get in a day at that + rate; and then how much ten workmen would get working three, or twenty, or + a hundred years at that rate—and all the while his needle would be + going just as fast as if he left his head empty for the devil to dance in. + But the long and the short of it is—I'll have nobody in my + night-school that doesn't strive to learn what he comes to learn, as hard + as if he was striving to get out of a dark hole into broad daylight. I'll + send no man away because he's stupid: if Billy Taft, the idiot, wanted to + learn anything, I'd not refuse to teach him. But I'll not throw away good + knowledge on people who think they can get it by the sixpenn'orth, and + carry it away with 'em as they would an ounce of snuff. So never come to + me again, if you can't show that you've been working with your own heads, + instead of thinking that you can pay for mine to work for you. That's the + last word I've got to say to you.” + </p> + <p> + With this final sentence, Bartle Massey gave a sharper rap than ever with + his knobbed stick, and the discomfited lads got up to go with a sulky + look. The other pupils had happily only their writing-books to show, in + various stages of progress from pot-hooks to round text; and mere + pen-strokes, however perverse, were less exasperating to Bartle than false + arithmetic. He was a little more severe than usual on Jacob Storey's Z's, + of which poor Jacob had written a pageful, all with their tops turned the + wrong way, with a puzzled sense that they were not right “somehow.” But he + observed in apology, that it was a letter you never wanted hardly, and he + thought it had only been there “to finish off th' alphabet, like, though + ampusand (&) would ha' done as well, for what he could see.” + </p> + <p> + At last the pupils had all taken their hats and said their “Good-nights,” + and Adam, knowing his old master's habits, rose and said, “Shall I put the + candles out, Mr. Massey?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, my boy, yes, all but this, which I'll carry into the house; and just + lock the outer door, now you're near it,” said Bartle, getting his stick + in the fitting angle to help him in descending from his stool. He was no + sooner on the ground than it became obvious why the stick was necessary—the + left leg was much shorter than the right. But the school-master was so + active with his lameness that it was hardly thought of as a misfortune; + and if you had seen him make his way along the schoolroom floor, and up + the step into his kitchen, you would perhaps have understood why the + naughty boys sometimes felt that his pace might be indefinitely quickened + and that he and his stick might overtake them even in their swiftest run. + </p> + <p> + The moment he appeared at the kitchen door with the candle in his hand, a + faint whimpering began in the chimney-corner, and a brown-and-tan-coloured + bitch, of that wise-looking breed with short legs and long body, known to + an unmechanical generation as turnspits, came creeping along the floor, + wagging her tail, and hesitating at every other step, as if her affections + were painfully divided between the hamper in the chimney-corner and the + master, whom she could not leave without a greeting. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Vixen, well then, how are the babbies?” said the schoolmaster, + making haste towards the chimney-corner and holding the candle over the + low hamper, where two extremely blind puppies lifted up their heads + towards the light from a nest of flannel and wool. Vixen could not even + see her master look at them without painful excitement: she got into the + hamper and got out again the next moment, and behaved with true feminine + folly, though looking all the while as wise as a dwarf with a large + old-fashioned head and body on the most abbreviated legs. + </p> + <p> + “Why, you've got a family, I see, Mr. Massey?” said Adam, smiling, as he + came into the kitchen. “How's that? I thought it was against the law + here.” + </p> + <p> + “Law? What's the use o' law when a man's once such a fool as to let a + woman into his house?” said Bartle, turning away from the hamper with some + bitterness. He always called Vixen a woman, and seemed to have lost all + consciousness that he was using a figure of speech. “If I'd known Vixen + was a woman, I'd never have held the boys from drowning her; but when I'd + got her into my hand, I was forced to take to her. And now you see what + she's brought me to—the sly, hypocritical wench”—Bartle spoke + these last words in a rasping tone of reproach, and looked at Vixen, who + poked down her head and turned up her eyes towards him with a keen sense + of opprobrium—“and contrived to be brought to bed on a Sunday at + church-time. I've wished again and again I'd been a bloody minded man, + that I could have strangled the mother and the brats with one cord.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm glad it was no worse a cause kept you from church,” said Adam. “I was + afraid you must be ill for the first time i' your life. And I was + particularly sorry not to have you at church yesterday.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, my boy, I know why, I know why,” said Bartle kindly, going up to Adam + and raising his hand up to the shoulder that was almost on a level with + his own head. “You've had a rough bit o' road to get over since I saw you—a + rough bit o' road. But I'm in hopes there are better times coming for you. + I've got some news to tell you. But I must get my supper first, for I'm + hungry, I'm hungry. Sit down, sit down.” + </p> + <p> + Bartel went into his little pantry, and brought out an excellent + home-baked loaf; for it was his one extravagance in these dear times to + eat bread once a-day instead of oat-cake; and he justified it by + observing, that what a schoolmaster wanted was brains, and oat-cake ran + too much to bone instead of brains. Then came a piece of cheese and a + quart jug with a crown of foam upon it. He placed them all on the round + deal table which stood against his large arm-chair in the chimney-corner, + with Vixen's hamper on one side of it and a window-shelf with a few books + piled up in it on the other. The table was as clean as if Vixen had been + an excellent housewife in a checkered apron; so was the quarry floor; and + the old carved oaken press, table, and chairs, which in these days would + be bought at a high price in aristocratic houses, though, in that period + of spider-legs and inlaid cupids, Bartle had got them for an old song, + where as free from dust as things could be at the end of a summer's day. + </p> + <p> + “Now, then, my boy, draw up, draw up. We'll not talk about business till + we've had our supper. No man can be wise on an empty stomach. But,” said + Bartle, rising from his chair again, “I must give Vixen her supper too, + confound her! Though she'll do nothing with it but nourish those + unnecessary babbies. That's the way with these women—they've got no + head-pieces to nourish, and so their food all runs either to fat or to + brats.” + </p> + <p> + He brought out of the pantry a dish of scraps, which Vixen at once fixed + her eyes on, and jumped out of her hamper to lick up with the utmost + dispatch. + </p> + <p> + “I've had my supper, Mr. Massey,” said Adam, “so I'll look on while you + eat yours. I've been at the Hall Farm, and they always have their supper + betimes, you know: they don't keep your late hours.” + </p> + <p> + “I know little about their hours,” said Bartle dryly, cutting his bread + and not shrinking from the crust. “It's a house I seldom go into, though + I'm fond of the boys, and Martin Poyser's a good fellow. There's too many + women in the house for me: I hate the sound of women's voices; they're + always either a-buzz or a-squeak—always either a-buzz or a-squeak. + Mrs. Poyser keeps at the top o' the talk like a fife; and as for the young + lasses, I'd as soon look at water-grubs. I know what they'll turn to—stinging + gnats, stinging gnats. Here, take some ale, my boy: it's been drawn for + you—it's been drawn for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Mr. Massey,” said Adam, who took his old friend's whim more + seriously than usual to-night, “don't be so hard on the creaturs God has + made to be companions for us. A working-man 'ud be badly off without a + wife to see to th' house and the victual, and make things clean and + comfortable.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense! It's the silliest lie a sensible man like you ever believed, to + say a woman makes a house comfortable. It's a story got up because the + women are there and something must be found for 'em to do. I tell you + there isn't a thing under the sun that needs to be done at all, but what a + man can do better than a woman, unless it's bearing children, and they do + that in a poor make-shift way; it had better ha' been left to the men—it + had better ha' been left to the men. I tell you, a woman 'ull bake you a + pie every week of her life and never come to see that the hotter th' oven + the shorter the time. I tell you, a woman 'ull make your porridge every + day for twenty years and never think of measuring the proportion between + the meal and the milk—a little more or less, she'll think, doesn't + signify. The porridge WILL be awk'ard now and then: if it's wrong, it's + summat in the meal, or it's summat in the milk, or it's summat in the + water. Look at me! I make my own bread, and there's no difference between + one batch and another from year's end to year's end; but if I'd got any + other woman besides Vixen in the house, I must pray to the Lord every + baking to give me patience if the bread turned out heavy. And as for + cleanliness, my house is cleaner than any other house on the Common, + though the half of 'em swarm with women. Will Baker's lad comes to help me + in a morning, and we get as much cleaning done in one hour, without any + fuss, as a woman 'ud get done in three, and all the while be sending + buckets o' water after your ankles, and let the fender and the fire-irons + stand in the middle o' the floor half the day for you to break your shins + against 'em. Don't tell me about God having made such creatures to be + companions for us! I don't say but He might make Eve to be a companion to + Adam in Paradise—there was no cooking to be spoilt there, and no + other woman to cackle with and make mischief, though you see what mischief + she did as soon as she'd an opportunity. But it's an impious, unscriptural + opinion to say a woman's a blessing to a man now; you might as well say + adders and wasps, and foxes and wild beasts are a blessing, when they're + only the evils that belong to this state o' probation, which it's lawful + for a man to keep as clear of as he can in this life, hoping to get quit + of 'em for ever in another—hoping to get quit of 'em for ever in + another.” + </p> + <p> + Bartle had become so excited and angry in the course of his invective that + he had forgotten his supper, and only used the knife for the purpose of + rapping the table with the haft. But towards the close, the raps became so + sharp and frequent, and his voice so quarrelsome, that Vixen felt it + incumbent on her to jump out of the hamper and bark vaguely. + </p> + <p> + “Quiet, Vixen!” snarled Bartle, turning round upon her. “You're like the + rest o' the women—always putting in your word before you know why.” + </p> + <p> + Vixen returned to her hamper again in humiliation, and her master + continued his supper in a silence which Adam did not choose to interrupt; + he knew the old man would be in a better humour when he had had his supper + and lighted his pipe. Adam was used to hear him talk in this way, but had + never learned so much of Bartle's past life as to know whether his view of + married comfort was founded on experience. On that point Bartle was mute, + and it was even a secret where he had lived previous to the twenty years + in which happily for the peasants and artisans of this neighbourhood he + had been settled among them as their only schoolmaster. If anything like a + question was ventured on this subject, Bartle always replied, “Oh, I've + seen many places—I've been a deal in the south,” and the Loamshire + men would as soon have thought of asking for a particular town or village + in Africa as in “the south.” + </p> + <p> + “Now then, my boy,” said Bartle, at last, when he had poured out his + second mug of ale and lighted his pipe, “now then, we'll have a little + talk. But tell me first, have you heard any particular news to-day?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Adam, “not as I remember.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, they'll keep it close, they'll keep it close, I daresay. But I found + it out by chance; and it's news that may concern you, Adam, else I'm a man + that don't know a superficial square foot from a solid.” + </p> + <p> + Here Bartle gave a series of fierce and rapid puffs, looking earnestly the + while at Adam. Your impatient loquacious man has never any notion of + keeping his pipe alight by gentle measured puffs; he is always letting it + go nearly out, and then punishing it for that negligence. At last he said, + “Satchell's got a paralytic stroke. I found it out from the lad they sent + to Treddleston for the doctor, before seven o'clock this morning. He's a + good way beyond sixty, you know; it's much if he gets over it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Adam, “I daresay there'd be more rejoicing than sorrow in the + parish at his being laid up. He's been a selfish, tale-bearing, + mischievous fellow; but, after all, there's nobody he's done so much harm + to as to th' old squire. Though it's the squire himself as is to blame—making + a stupid fellow like that a sort o' man-of-all-work, just to save th' + expense of having a proper steward to look after th' estate. And he's lost + more by ill management o' the woods, I'll be bound, than 'ud pay for two + stewards. If he's laid on the shelf, it's to be hoped he'll make way for a + better man, but I don't see how it's like to make any difference to me.” + </p> + <p> + “But I see it, but I see it,” said Bartle, “and others besides me. The + captain's coming of age now—you know that as well as I do—and + it's to be expected he'll have a little more voice in things. And I know, + and you know too, what 'ud be the captain's wish about the woods, if there + was a fair opportunity for making a change. He's said in plenty of + people's hearing that he'd make you manager of the woods to-morrow, if + he'd the power. Why, Carroll, Mr. Irwine's butler, heard him say so to the + parson not many days ago. Carroll looked in when we were smoking our pipes + o' Saturday night at Casson's, and he told us about it; and whenever + anybody says a good word for you, the parson's ready to back it, that I'll + answer for. It was pretty well talked over, I can tell you, at Casson's, + and one and another had their fling at you; for if donkeys set to work to + sing, you're pretty sure what the tune'll be.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, did they talk it over before Mr. Burge?” said Adam; “or wasn't he + there o' Saturday?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, he went away before Carroll came; and Casson—he's always for + setting other folks right, you know—would have it Burge was the man + to have the management of the woods. 'A substantial man,' says he, 'with + pretty near sixty years' experience o' timber: it 'ud be all very well for + Adam Bede to act under him, but it isn't to be supposed the squire 'ud + appoint a young fellow like Adam, when there's his elders and betters at + hand!' But I said, 'That's a pretty notion o' yours, Casson. Why, Burge is + the man to buy timber; would you put the woods into his hands and let him + make his own bargains? I think you don't leave your customers to score + their own drink, do you? And as for age, what that's worth depends on the + quality o' the liquor. It's pretty well known who's the backbone of + Jonathan Burge's business.'” + </p> + <p> + “I thank you for your good word, Mr. Massey,” said Adam. “But, for all + that, Casson was partly i' the right for once. There's not much likelihood + that th' old squire 'ud ever consent t' employ me. I offended him about + two years ago, and he's never forgiven me.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, how was that? You never told me about it,” said Bartle. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, it was a bit o' nonsense. I'd made a frame for a screen for Miss + Lyddy—she's allays making something with her worsted-work, you know—and + she'd given me particular orders about this screen, and there was as much + talking and measuring as if we'd been planning a house. However, it was a + nice bit o' work, and I liked doing it for her. But, you know, those + little friggling things take a deal o' time. I only worked at it in + overhours—often late at night—and I had to go to Treddleston + over an' over again about little bits o' brass nails and such gear; and I + turned the little knobs and the legs, and carved th' open work, after a + pattern, as nice as could be. And I was uncommon pleased with it when it + was done. And when I took it home, Miss Lyddy sent for me to bring it into + her drawing-room, so as she might give me directions about fastening on + the work—very fine needlework, Jacob and Rachel a-kissing one + another among the sheep, like a picture—and th' old squire was + sitting there, for he mostly sits with her. Well, she was mighty pleased + with the screen, and then she wanted to know what pay she was to give me. + I didn't speak at random—you know it's not my way; I'd calculated + pretty close, though I hadn't made out a bill, and I said, 'One pound + thirteen.' That was paying for the mater'als and paying me, but none too + much, for my work. Th' old squire looked up at this, and peered in his way + at the screen, and said, 'One pound thirteen for a gimcrack like that! + Lydia, my dear, if you must spend money on these things, why don't you get + them at Rosseter, instead of paying double price for clumsy work here? + Such things are not work for a carpenter like Adam. Give him a guinea, and + no more.' Well, Miss Lyddy, I reckon, believed what he told her, and she's + not overfond o' parting with the money herself—she's not a bad woman + at bottom, but she's been brought up under his thumb; so she began + fidgeting with her purse, and turned as red as her ribbon. But I made a + bow, and said, 'No, thank you, madam; I'll make you a present o' the + screen, if you please. I've charged the regular price for my work, and I + know it's done well; and I know, begging His Honour's pardon, that you + couldn't get such a screen at Rosseter under two guineas. I'm willing to + give you my work—it's been done in my own time, and nobody's got + anything to do with it but me; but if I'm paid, I can't take a smaller + price than I asked, because that 'ud be like saying I'd asked more than + was just. With your leave, madam, I'll bid you good-morning.' I made my + bow and went out before she'd time to say any more, for she stood with the + purse in her hand, looking almost foolish. I didn't mean to be + disrespectful, and I spoke as polite as I could; but I can give in to no + man, if he wants to make it out as I'm trying to overreach him. And in the + evening the footman brought me the one pound thirteen wrapped in paper. + But since then I've seen pretty clear as th' old squire can't abide me.” + </p> + <p> + “That's likely enough, that's likely enough,” said Bartle meditatively. + “The only way to bring him round would be to show him what was for his own + interest, and that the captain may do—that the captain may do.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, I don't know,” said Adam; “the squire's 'cute enough but it takes + something else besides 'cuteness to make folks see what'll be their + interest in the long run. It takes some conscience and belief in right and + wrong, I see that pretty clear. You'd hardly ever bring round th' old + squire to believe he'd gain as much in a straightfor'ard way as by tricks + and turns. And, besides, I've not much mind to work under him: I don't + want to quarrel with any gentleman, more particular an old gentleman + turned eighty, and I know we couldn't agree long. If the captain was + master o' th' estate, it 'ud be different: he's got a conscience and a + will to do right, and I'd sooner work for him nor for any man living.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, my boy, if good luck knocks at your door, don't you put your + head out at window and tell it to be gone about its business, that's all. + You must learn to deal with odd and even in life, as well as in figures. I + tell you now, as I told you ten years ago, when you pommelled young Mike + Holdsworth for wanting to pass a bad shilling before you knew whether he + was in jest or earnest—you're overhasty and proud, and apt to set + your teeth against folks that don't square to your notions. It's no harm + for me to be a bit fiery and stiff-backed—I'm an old schoolmaster, + and shall never want to get on to a higher perch. But where's the use of + all the time I've spent in teaching you writing and mapping and + mensuration, if you're not to get for'ard in the world and show folks + there's some advantage in having a head on your shoulders, instead of a + turnip? Do you mean to go on turning up your nose at every opportunity + because it's got a bit of a smell about it that nobody finds out but + yourself? It's as foolish as that notion o' yours that a wife is to make a + working-man comfortable. Stuff and nonsense! Stuff and nonsense! Leave + that to fools that never got beyond a sum in simple addition. Simple + addition enough! Add one fool to another fool, and in six years' time six + fools more—they're all of the same denomination, big and little's + nothing to do with the sum!” + </p> + <p> + During this rather heated exhortation to coolness and discretion the pipe + had gone out, and Bartle gave the climax to his speech by striking a light + furiously, after which he puffed with fierce resolution, fixing his eye + still on Adam, who was trying not to laugh. + </p> + <p> + “There's a good deal o' sense in what you say, Mr. Massey,” Adam began, as + soon as he felt quite serious, “as there always is. But you'll give in + that it's no business o' mine to be building on chances that may never + happen. What I've got to do is to work as well as I can with the tools and + mater'als I've got in my hands. If a good chance comes to me, I'll think + o' what you've been saying; but till then, I've got nothing to do but to + trust to my own hands and my own head-piece. I'm turning over a little + plan for Seth and me to go into the cabinet-making a bit by ourselves, and + win a extra pound or two in that way. But it's getting late now—it'll + be pretty near eleven before I'm at home, and Mother may happen to lie + awake; she's more fidgety nor usual now. So I'll bid you good-night.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, we'll go to the gate with you—it's a fine night,” said + Bartle, taking up his stick. Vixen was at once on her legs, and without + further words the three walked out into the starlight, by the side of + Bartle's potato-beds, to the little gate. + </p> + <p> + “Come to the music o' Friday night, if you can, my boy,” said the old man, + as he closed the gate after Adam and leaned against it. + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye,” said Adam, striding along towards the streak of pale road. He + was the only object moving on the wide common. The two grey donkeys, just + visible in front of the gorse bushes, stood as still as limestone images—as + still as the grey-thatched roof of the mud cottage a little farther on. + Bartle kept his eye on the moving figure till it passed into the darkness, + while Vixen, in a state of divided affection, had twice run back to the + house to bestow a parenthetic lick on her puppies. + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye,” muttered the schoolmaster, as Adam disappeared, “there you go, + stalking along—stalking along; but you wouldn't have been what you + are if you hadn't had a bit of old lame Bartle inside you. The strongest + calf must have something to suck at. There's plenty of these big, + lumbering fellows 'ud never have known their A B C if it hadn't been for + Bartle Massey. Well, well, Vixen, you foolish wench, what is it, what is + it? I must go in, must I? Aye, aye, I'm never to have a will o' my own any + more. And those pups—what do you think I'm to do with 'em, when + they're twice as big as you? For I'm pretty sure the father was that + hulking bull-terrier of Will Baker's—wasn't he now, eh, you sly + hussy?” + </p> + <p> + (Here Vixen tucked her tail between her legs and ran forward into the + house. Subjects are sometimes broached which a well-bred female will + ignore.) + </p> + <p> + “But where's the use of talking to a woman with babbies?” continued + Bartle. “She's got no conscience—no conscience; it's all run to + milk.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Book Three + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXII + </h2> + <h3> + Going to the Birthday Feast + </h3> + <p> + THE thirtieth of July was come, and it was one of those half-dozen warm + days which sometimes occur in the middle of a rainy English summer. No + rain had fallen for the last three or four days, and the weather was + perfect for that time of the year: there was less dust than usual on the + dark-green hedge-rows and on the wild camomile that starred the roadside, + yet the grass was dry enough for the little children to roll on it, and + there was no cloud but a long dash of light, downy ripple, high, high up + in the far-off blue sky. Perfect weather for an outdoor July merry-making, + yet surely not the best time of year to be born in. Nature seems to make a + hot pause just then: all the loveliest flowers are gone; the sweet time of + early growth and vague hopes is past; and yet the time of harvest and + ingathering is not come, and we tremble at the possible storms that may + ruin the precious fruit in the moment of its ripeness. The woods are all + one dark monotonous green; the waggon-loads of hay no longer creep along + the lanes, scattering their sweet-smelling fragments on the blackberry + branches; the pastures are often a little tanned, yet the corn has not got + its last splendour of red and gold; the lambs and calves have lost all + traces of their innocent frisky prettiness, and have become stupid young + sheep and cows. But it is a time of leisure on the farm—that pause + between hay-and corn-harvest, and so the farmers and labourers in Hayslope + and Broxton thought the captain did well to come of age just then, when + they could give their undivided minds to the flavour of the great cask of + ale which had been brewed the autumn after “the heir” was born, and was to + be tapped on his twenty-first birthday. The air had been merry with the + ringing of church-bells very early this morning, and every one had made + haste to get through the needful work before twelve, when it would be time + to think of getting ready to go to the Chase. + </p> + <p> + The midday sun was streaming into Hetty's bedchamber, and there was no + blind to temper the heat with which it fell on her head as she looked at + herself in the old specked glass. Still, that was the only glass she had + in which she could see her neck and arms, for the small hanging glass she + had fetched out of the next room—the room that had been Dinah's—would + show her nothing below her little chin; and that beautiful bit of neck + where the roundness of her cheek melted into another roundness shadowed by + dark delicate curls. And to-day she thought more than usual about her neck + and arms; for at the dance this evening she was not to wear any + neckerchief, and she had been busy yesterday with her spotted + pink-and-white frock, that she might make the sleeves either long or short + at will. She was dressed now just as she was to be in the evening, with a + tucker made of “real” lace, which her aunt had lent her for this + unparalleled occasion, but with no ornaments besides; she had even taken + out her small round ear-rings which she wore every day. But there was + something more to be done, apparently, before she put on her neckerchief + and long sleeves, which she was to wear in the day-time, for now she + unlocked the drawer that held her private treasures. It is more than a + month since we saw her unlock that drawer before, and now it holds new + treasures, so much more precious than the old ones that these are thrust + into the corner. Hetty would not care to put the large coloured glass + ear-rings into her ears now; for see! she has got a beautiful pair of gold + and pearls and garnet, lying snugly in a pretty little box lined with + white satin. Oh, the delight of taking out that little box and looking at + the ear-rings! Do not reason about it, my philosphical reader, and say + that Hetty, being very pretty, must have known that it did not signify + whether she had on any ornaments or not; and that, moreover, to look at + ear-rings which she could not possibly wear out of her bedroom could + hardly be a satisfaction, the essence of vanity being a reference to the + impressions produced on others; you will never understand women's natures + if you are so excessively rational. Try rather to divest yourself of all + your rational prejudices, as much as if you were studying the psychology + of a canary bird, and only watch the movements of this pretty round + creature as she turns her head on one side with an unconscious smile at + the ear-rings nestled in the little box. Ah, you think, it is for the sake + of the person who has given them to her, and her thoughts are gone back + now to the moment when they were put into her hands. No; else why should + she have cared to have ear-rings rather than anything else? And I know + that she had longed for ear-rings from among all the ornaments she could + imagine. + </p> + <p> + “Little, little ears!” Arthur had said, pretending to pinch them one + evening, as Hetty sat beside him on the grass without her hat. “I wish I + had some pretty ear-rings!” she said in a moment, almost before she knew + what she was saying—the wish lay so close to her lips, it WOULD + flutter past them at the slightest breath. And the next day—it was + only last week—Arthur had ridden over to Rosseter on purpose to buy + them. That little wish so naively uttered seemed to him the prettiest bit + of childishness; he had never heard anything like it before; and he had + wrapped the box up in a great many covers, that he might see Hetty + unwrapping it with growing curiosity, till at last her eyes flashed back + their new delight into his. + </p> + <p> + No, she was not thinking most of the giver when she smiled at the + ear-rings, for now she is taking them out of the box, not to press them to + her lips, but to fasten them in her ears—only for one moment, to see + how pretty they look, as she peeps at them in the glass against the wall, + with first one position of the head and then another, like a listening + bird. It is impossible to be wise on the subject of ear-rings as one looks + at her; what should those delicate pearls and crystals be made for, if not + for such ears? One cannot even find fault with the tiny round hole which + they leave when they are taken out; perhaps water-nixies, and such lovely + things without souls, have these little round holes in their ears by + nature, ready to hang jewels in. And Hetty must be one of them: it is too + painful to think that she is a woman, with a woman's destiny before her—a + woman spinning in young ignorance a light web of folly and vain hopes + which may one day close round her and press upon her, a rancorous poisoned + garment, changing all at once her fluttering, trivial butterfly sensations + into a life of deep human anguish. + </p> + <p> + But she cannot keep in the ear-rings long, else she may make her uncle and + aunt wait. She puts them quickly into the box again and shuts them up. + Some day she will be able to wear any ear-rings she likes, and already she + lives in an invisible world of brilliant costumes, shimmering gauze, soft + satin, and velvet, such as the lady's maid at the Chase has shown her in + Miss Lydia's wardrobe. She feels the bracelets on her arms, and treads on + a soft carpet in front of a tall mirror. But she has one thing in the + drawer which she can venture to wear to-day, because she can hang it on + the chain of dark-brown berries which she has been used to wear on grand + days, with a tiny flat scent-bottle at the end of it tucked inside her + frock; and she must put on her brown berries—her neck would look so + unfinished without it. Hetty was not quite as fond of the locket as of the + ear-rings, though it was a handsome large locket, with enamelled flowers + at the back and a beautiful gold border round the glass, which showed a + light-brown slightly waving lock, forming a background for two little dark + rings. She must keep it under her clothes, and no one would see it. But + Hetty had another passion, only a little less strong than her love of + finery, and that other passion made her like to wear the locket even + hidden in her bosom. She would always have worn it, if she had dared to + encounter her aunt's questions about a ribbon round her neck. So now she + slipped it on along her chain of dark-brown berries, and snapped the chain + round her neck. It was not a very long chain, only allowing the locket to + hang a little way below the edge of her frock. And now she had nothing to + do but to put on her long sleeves, her new white gauze neckerchief, and + her straw hat trimmed with white to-day instead of the pink, which had + become rather faded under the July sun. That hat made the drop of + bitterness in Hetty's cup to-day, for it was not quite new—everybody + would see that it was a little tanned against the white ribbon—and + Mary Burge, she felt sure, would have a new hat or bonnet on. She looked + for consolation at her fine white cotton stockings: they really were very + nice indeed, and she had given almost all her spare money for them. + Hetty's dream of the future could not make her insensible to triumph in + the present. To be sure, Captain Donnithorne loved her so that he would + never care about looking at other people, but then those other people + didn't know how he loved her, and she was not satisfied to appear shabby + and insignificant in their eyes even for a short space. + </p> + <p> + The whole party was assembled in the house-place when Hetty went down, all + of course in their Sunday clothes; and the bells had been ringing so this + morning in honour of the captain's twenty-first birthday, and the work had + all been got done so early, that Marty and Tommy were not quite easy in + their minds until their mother had assured them that going to church was + not part of the day's festivities. Mr. Poyser had once suggested that the + house should be shut up and left to take care of itself; “for,” said he, + “there's no danger of anybody's breaking in—everybody'll be at the + Chase, thieves an' all. If we lock th' house up, all the men can go: it's + a day they wonna see twice i' their lives.” But Mrs. Poyser answered with + great decision: “I never left the house to take care of itself since I was + a missis, and I never will. There's been ill-looking tramps enoo' about + the place this last week, to carry off every ham an' every spoon we'n got; + and they all collogue together, them tramps, as it's a mercy they hanna + come and poisoned the dogs and murdered us all in our beds afore we + knowed, some Friday night when we'n got the money in th' house to pay the + men. And it's like enough the tramps know where we're going as well as we + do oursens; for if Old Harry wants any work done, you may be sure he'll + find the means.” + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense about murdering us in our beds,” said Mr. Poyser; “I've got a + gun i' our room, hanna I? and thee'st got ears as 'ud find it out if a + mouse was gnawing the bacon. Howiver, if thee wouldstna be easy, Alick can + stay at home i' the forepart o' the day, and Tim can come back tow'rds + five o'clock, and let Alick have his turn. They may let Growler loose if + anybody offers to do mischief, and there's Alick's dog too, ready enough + to set his tooth in a tramp if Alick gives him a wink.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser accepted this compromise, but thought it advisable to bar and + bolt to the utmost; and now, at the last moment before starting, Nancy, + the dairy-maid, was closing the shutters of the house-place, although the + window, lying under the immediate observation of Alick and the dogs, might + have been supposed the least likely to be selected for a burglarious + attempt. + </p> + <p> + The covered cart, without springs, was standing ready to carry the whole + family except the men-servants. Mr. Poyser and the grandfather sat on the + seat in front, and within there was room for all the women and children; + the fuller the cart the better, because then the jolting would not hurt so + much, and Nancy's broad person and thick arms were an excellent cushion to + be pitched on. But Mr. Poyser drove at no more than a walking pace, that + there might be as little risk of jolting as possible on this warm day, and + there was time to exchange greetings and remarks with the foot-passengers + who were going the same way, specking the paths between the green meadows + and the golden cornfields with bits of movable bright colour—a + scarlet waistcoat to match the poppies that nodded a little too thickly + among the corn, or a dark-blue neckerchief with ends flaunting across a + brand-new white smock-frock. All Broxton and all Hayslope were to be at + the Chase, and make merry there in honour of “th' heir”; and the old men + and women, who had never been so far down this side of the hill for the + last twenty years, were being brought from Broxton and Hayslope in one of + the farmer's waggons, at Mr. Irwine's suggestion. The church-bells had + struck up again now—a last tune, before the ringers came down the + hill to have their share in the festival; and before the bells had + finished, other music was heard approaching, so that even Old Brown, the + sober horse that was drawing Mr. Poyser's cart, began to prick up his + ears. It was the band of the Benefit Club, which had mustered in all its + glory—that is to say, in bright-blue scarfs and blue favours, and + carrying its banner with the motto, “Let brotherly love continue,” + encircling a picture of a stone-pit. + </p> + <p> + The carts, of course, were not to enter the Chase. Every one must get down + at the lodges, and the vehicles must be sent back. + </p> + <p> + “Why, the Chase is like a fair a'ready,” said Mrs. Poyser, as she got down + from the cart, and saw the groups scattered under the great oaks, and the + boys running about in the hot sunshine to survey the tall poles surmounted + by the fluttering garments that were to be the prize of the successful + climbers. “I should ha' thought there wasna so many people i' the two + parishes. Mercy on us! How hot it is out o' the shade! Come here, Totty, + else your little face 'ull be burnt to a scratchin'! They might ha' cooked + the dinners i' that open space an' saved the fires. I shall go to Mrs. + Best's room an' sit down.” + </p> + <p> + “Stop a bit, stop a bit,” said Mr. Poyser. “There's th' waggin coming wi' + th' old folks in't; it'll be such a sight as wonna come o'er again, to see + 'em get down an' walk along all together. You remember some on 'em i' + their prime, eh, Father?” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye,” said old Martin, walking slowly under the shade of the lodge + porch, from which he could see the aged party descend. “I remember Jacob + Taft walking fifty mile after the Scotch raybels, when they turned back + from Stoniton.” + </p> + <p> + He felt himself quite a youngster, with a long life before him, as he saw + the Hayslope patriarch, old Feyther Taft, descend from the waggon and walk + towards him, in his brown nightcap, and leaning on his two sticks. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mester Taft,” shouted old Martin, at the utmost stretch of his + voice—for though he knew the old man was stone deaf, he could not + omit the propriety of a greeting—“you're hearty yet. You can enjoy + yoursen to-day, for-all you're ninety an' better.” + </p> + <p> + “Your sarvant, mesters, your sarvant,” said Feyther Taft in a treble tone, + perceiving that he was in company. + </p> + <p> + The aged group, under care of sons or daughters, themselves worn and grey, + passed on along the least-winding carriage-road towards the house, where a + special table was prepared for them; while the Poyser party wisely struck + across the grass under the shade of the great trees, but not out of view + of the house-front, with its sloping lawn and flower-beds, or of the + pretty striped marquee at the edge of the lawn, standing at right angles + with two larger marquees on each side of the open green space where the + games were to be played. The house would have been nothing but a plain + square mansion of Queen Anne's time, but for the remnant of an old abbey + to which it was united at one end, in much the same way as one may + sometimes see a new farmhouse rising high and prim at the end of older and + lower farm-offices. The fine old remnant stood a little backward and under + the shadow of tall beeches, but the sun was now on the taller and more + advanced front, the blinds were all down, and the house seemed asleep in + the hot midday. It made Hetty quite sad to look at it: Arthur must be + somewhere in the back rooms, with the grand company, where he could not + possibly know that she was come, and she should not see him for a long, + long while—not till after dinner, when they said he was to come up + and make a speech. + </p> + <p> + But Hetty was wrong in part of her conjecture. No grand company was come + except the Irwines, for whom the carriage had been sent early, and Arthur + was at that moment not in a back room, but walking with the rector into + the broad stone cloisters of the old abbey, where the long tables were + laid for all the cottage tenants and the farm-servants. A very handsome + young Briton he looked to-day, in high spirits and a bright-blue + frock-coat, the highest mode—his arm no longer in a sling. So + open-looking and candid, too; but candid people have their secrets, and + secrets leave no lines in young faces. + </p> + <p> + “Upon my word,” he said, as they entered the cool cloisters, “I think the + cottagers have the best of it: these cloisters make a delightful + dining-room on a hot day. That was capital advice of yours, Irwine, about + the dinners—to let them be as orderly and comfortable as possible, + and only for the tenants: especially as I had only a limited sum after + all; for though my grandfather talked of a carte blanche, he couldn't make + up his mind to trust me, when it came to the point.” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind, you'll give more pleasure in this quiet way,” said Mr. + Irwine. “In this sort of thing people are constantly confounding + liberality with riot and disorder. It sounds very grand to say that so + many sheep and oxen were roasted whole, and everybody ate who liked to + come; but in the end it generally happens that no one has had an enjoyable + meal. If the people get a good dinner and a moderate quantity of ale in + the middle of the day, they'll be able to enjoy the games as the day + cools. You can't hinder some of them from getting too much towards + evening, but drunkenness and darkness go better together than drunkenness + and daylight.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I hope there won't be much of it. I've kept the Treddleston people + away by having a feast for them in the town; and I've got Casson and Adam + Bede and some other good fellows to look to the giving out of ale in the + booths, and to take care things don't go too far. Come, let us go up above + now and see the dinner-tables for the large tenants.” + </p> + <p> + They went up the stone staircase leading simply to the long gallery above + the cloisters, a gallery where all the dusty worthless old pictures had + been banished for the last three generations—mouldy portraits of + Queen Elizabeth and her ladies, General Monk with his eye knocked out, + Daniel very much in the dark among the lions, and Julius Caesar on + horseback, with a high nose and laurel crown, holding his Commentaries in + his hand. + </p> + <p> + “What a capital thing it is that they saved this piece of the old abbey!” + said Arthur. “If I'm ever master here, I shall do up the gallery in + first-rate style. We've got no room in the house a third as large as this. + That second table is for the farmers' wives and children: Mrs. Best said + it would be more comfortable for the mothers and children to be by + themselves. I was determined to have the children, and make a regular + family thing of it. I shall be 'the old squire' to those little lads and + lasses some day, and they'll tell their children what a much finer young + fellow I was than my own son. There's a table for the women and children + below as well. But you will see them all—you will come up with me + after dinner, I hope?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, to be sure,” said Mr. Irwine. “I wouldn't miss your maiden speech to + the tenantry.” + </p> + <p> + “And there will be something else you'll like to hear,” said Arthur. “Let + us go into the library and I'll tell you all about it while my grandfather + is in the drawing-room with the ladies. Something that will surprise you,” + he continued, as they sat down. “My grandfather has come round after all.” + </p> + <p> + “What, about Adam?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; I should have ridden over to tell you about it, only I was so busy. + You know I told you I had quite given up arguing the matter with him—I + thought it was hopeless—but yesterday morning he asked me to come in + here to him before I went out, and astonished me by saying that he had + decided on all the new arrangements he should make in consequence of old + Satchell being obliged to lay by work, and that he intended to employ Adam + in superintending the woods at a salary of a guinea a-week, and the use of + a pony to be kept here. I believe the secret of it is, he saw from the + first it would be a profitable plan, but he had some particular dislike of + Adam to get over—and besides, the fact that I propose a thing is + generally a reason with him for rejecting it. There's the most curious + contradiction in my grandfather: I know he means to leave me all the money + he has saved, and he is likely enough to have cut off poor Aunt Lydia, who + has been a slave to him all her life, with only five hundred a-year, for + the sake of giving me all the more; and yet I sometimes think he + positively hates me because I'm his heir. I believe if I were to break my + neck, he would feel it the greatest misfortune that could befall him, and + yet it seems a pleasure to him to make my life a series of petty + annoyances.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, my boy, it is not only woman's love that is [two greek words omitted] + as old AEschylus calls it. There's plenty of 'unloving love' in the world + of a masculine kind. But tell me about Adam. Has he accepted the post? I + don't see that it can be much more profitable than his present work, + though, to be sure, it will leave him a good deal of time on his own + hands. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I felt some doubt about it when I spoke to him and he seemed to + hesitate at first. His objection was that he thought he should not be able + to satisfy my grandfather. But I begged him as a personal favour to me not + to let any reason prevent him from accepting the place, if he really liked + the employment and would not be giving up anything that was more + profitable to him. And he assured me he should like it of all things—it + would be a great step forward for him in business, and it would enable him + to do what he had long wished to do, to give up working for Burge. He says + he shall have plenty of time to superintend a little business of his own, + which he and Seth will carry on, and will perhaps be able to enlarge by + degrees. So he has agreed at last, and I have arranged that he shall dine + with the large tenants to-day; and I mean to announce the appointment to + them, and ask them to drink Adam's health. It's a little drama I've got up + in honour of my friend Adam. He's a fine fellow, and I like the + opportunity of letting people know that I think so.” + </p> + <p> + “A drama in which friend Arthur piques himself on having a pretty part to + play,” said Mr. Irwine, smiling. But when he saw Arthur colour, he went on + relentingly, “My part, you know, is always that of the old fogy who sees + nothing to admire in the young folks. I don't like to admit that I'm proud + of my pupil when he does graceful things. But I must play the amiable old + gentleman for once, and second your toast in honour of Adam. Has your + grandfather yielded on the other point too, and agreed to have a + respectable man as steward?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh no,” said Arthur, rising from his chair with an air of impatience and + walking along the room with his hands in his pockets. “He's got some + project or other about letting the Chase Farm and bargaining for a supply + of milk and butter for the house. But I ask no questions about it—it + makes me too angry. I believe he means to do all the business himself, and + have nothing in the shape of a steward. It's amazing what energy he has, + though.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, we'll go to the ladies now,” said Mr. Irwine, rising too. “I want + to tell my mother what a splendid throne you've prepared for her under the + marquee.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, and we must be going to luncheon too,” said Arthur. “It must be two + o'clock, for there is the gong beginning to sound for the tenants' + dinners.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXIII + </h2> + <h3> + Dinner-Time + </h3> + <p> + WHEN Adam heard that he was to dine upstairs with the large tenants, he + felt rather uncomfortable at the idea of being exalted in this way above + his mother and Seth, who were to dine in the cloisters below. But Mr. + Mills, the butler, assured him that Captain Donnithorne had given + particular orders about it, and would be very angry if Adam was not there. + </p> + <p> + Adam nodded and went up to Seth, who was standing a few yards off. “Seth, + lad,” he said, “the captain has sent to say I'm to dine upstairs—he + wishes it particular, Mr. Mills says, so I suppose it 'ud be behaving ill + for me not to go. But I don't like sitting up above thee and mother, as if + I was better than my own flesh and blood. Thee't not take it unkind, I + hope?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay, lad,” said Seth, “thy honour's our honour; and if thee get'st + respect, thee'st won it by thy own deserts. The further I see thee above + me, the better, so long as thee feel'st like a brother to me. It's because + o' thy being appointed over the woods, and it's nothing but what's right. + That's a place o' trust, and thee't above a common workman now.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye,” said Adam, “but nobody knows a word about it yet. I haven't given + notice to Mr. Burge about leaving him, and I don't like to tell anybody + else about it before he knows, for he'll be a good bit hurt, I doubt. + People 'ull be wondering to see me there, and they'll like enough be + guessing the reason and asking questions, for there's been so much talk up + and down about my having the place, this last three weeks.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, thee canst say thee wast ordered to come without being told the + reason. That's the truth. And mother 'ull be fine and joyful about it. + Let's go and tell her.” + </p> + <p> + Adam was not the only guest invited to come upstairs on other grounds than + the amount he contributed to the rent-roll. There were other people in the + two parishes who derived dignity from their functions rather than from + their pocket, and of these Bartle Massey was one. His lame walk was rather + slower than usual on this warm day, so Adam lingered behind when the bell + rang for dinner, that he might walk up with his old friend; for he was a + little too shy to join the Poyser party on this public occasion. + Opportunities of getting to Hetty's side would be sure to turn up in the + course of the day, and Adam contented himself with that for he disliked + any risk of being “joked” about Hetty—the big, outspoken, fearless + man was very shy and diffident as to his love-making. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mester Massey,” said Adam, as Bartle came up “I'm going to dine + upstairs with you to-day: the captain's sent me orders.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” said Bartle, pausing, with one hand on his back. “Then there's + something in the wind—there's something in the wind. Have you heard + anything about what the old squire means to do?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, yes,” said Adam; “I'll tell you what I know, because I believe you + can keep a still tongue in your head if you like, and I hope you'll not + let drop a word till it's common talk, for I've particular reasons against + its being known.” + </p> + <p> + “Trust to me, my boy, trust to me. I've got no wife to worm it out of me + and then run out and cackle it in everybody's hearing. If you trust a man, + let him be a bachelor—let him be a bachelor.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, it was so far settled yesterday that I'm to take the + management o' the woods. The captain sent for me t' offer it me, when I + was seeing to the poles and things here and I've agreed to't. But if + anybody asks any questions upstairs, just you take no notice, and turn the + talk to something else, and I'll be obliged to you. Now, let us go on, for + we're pretty nigh the last, I think.” + </p> + <p> + “I know what to do, never fear,” said Bartle, moving on. “The news will be + good sauce to my dinner. Aye, aye, my boy, you'll get on. I'll back you + for an eye at measuring and a head-piece for figures, against any man in + this county and you've had good teaching—you've had good teaching.” + </p> + <p> + When they got upstairs, the question which Arthur had left unsettled, as + to who was to be president, and who vice, was still under discussion, so + that Adam's entrance passed without remark. + </p> + <p> + “It stands to sense,” Mr. Casson was saying, “as old Mr. Poyser, as is th' + oldest man i' the room, should sit at top o' the table. I wasn't butler + fifteen year without learning the rights and the wrongs about dinner.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay,” said old Martin, “I'n gi'en up to my son; I'm no tenant now: + let my son take my place. Th' ould foulks ha' had their turn: they mun + make way for the young uns.” + </p> + <p> + “I should ha' thought the biggest tenant had the best right, more nor th' + oldest,” said Luke Britton, who was not fond of the critical Mr. Poyser; + “there's Mester Holdsworth has more land nor anybody else on th' estate.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Mr. Poyser, “suppose we say the man wi' the foulest land + shall sit at top; then whoever gets th' honour, there'll be no envying on + him.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, here's Mester Massey,” said Mr. Craig, who, being a neutral in the + dispute, had no interest but in conciliation; “the schoolmaster ought to + be able to tell you what's right. Who's to sit at top o' the table, Mr. + Massey?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, the broadest man,” said Bartle; “and then he won't take up other + folks' room; and the next broadest must sit at bottom.” + </p> + <p> + This happy mode of settling the dispute produced much laughter—a + smaller joke would have sufficed for that Mr. Casson, however, did not + feel it compatible with his dignity and superior knowledge to join in the + laugh, until it turned out that he was fixed on as the second broadest + man. Martin Poyser the younger, as the broadest, was to be president, and + Mr. Casson, as next broadest, was to be vice. + </p> + <p> + Owing to this arrangement, Adam, being, of course, at the bottom of the + table, fell under the immediate observation of Mr. Casson, who, too much + occupied with the question of precedence, had not hitherto noticed his + entrance. Mr. Casson, we have seen, considered Adam “rather lifted up and + peppery-like”: he thought the gentry made more fuss about this young + carpenter than was necessary; they made no fuss about Mr. Casson, although + he had been an excellent butler for fifteen years. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. Bede, you're one o' them as mounts hup'ards apace,” he said, + when Adam sat down. “You've niver dined here before, as I remember.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Mr. Casson,” said Adam, in his strong voice, that could be heard + along the table; “I've never dined here before, but I come by Captain + Donnithorne's wish, and I hope it's not disagreeable to anybody here.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay,” said several voices at once, “we're glad ye're come. Who's got + anything to say again' it?” + </p> + <p> + “And ye'll sing us 'Over the hills and far away,' after dinner, wonna ye?” + said Mr. Chowne. “That's a song I'm uncommon fond on.” + </p> + <p> + “Peeh!” said Mr. Craig; “it's not to be named by side o' the Scotch tunes. + I've never cared about singing myself; I've had something better to do. A + man that's got the names and the natur o' plants in's head isna likely to + keep a hollow place t' hold tunes in. But a second cousin o' mine, a + drovier, was a rare hand at remembering the Scotch tunes. He'd got nothing + else to think on.” + </p> + <p> + “The Scotch tunes!” said Bartle Massey, contemptuously; “I've heard enough + o' the Scotch tunes to last me while I live. They're fit for nothing but + to frighten the birds with—that's to say, the English birds, for the + Scotch birds may sing Scotch for what I know. Give the lads a bagpipe + instead of a rattle, and I'll answer for it the corn 'll be safe.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, there's folks as find a pleasure in undervallying what they know but + little about,” said Mr. Craig. + </p> + <p> + “Why, the Scotch tunes are just like a scolding, nagging woman,” Bartle + went on, without deigning to notice Mr. Craig's remark. “They go on with + the same thing over and over again, and never come to a reasonable end. + Anybody 'ud think the Scotch tunes had always been asking a question of + somebody as deaf as old Taft, and had never got an answer yet.” + </p> + <p> + Adam minded the less about sitting by Mr. Casson, because this position + enabled him to see Hetty, who was not far off him at the next table. + Hetty, however, had not even noticed his presence yet, for she was giving + angry attention to Totty, who insisted on drawing up her feet on to the + bench in antique fashion, and thereby threatened to make dusty marks on + Hetty's pink-and-white frock. No sooner were the little fat legs pushed + down than up they came again, for Totty's eyes were too busy in staring at + the large dishes to see where the plum pudding was for her to retain any + consciousness of her legs. Hetty got quite out of patience, and at last, + with a frown and pout, and gathering tears, she said, “Oh dear, Aunt, I + wish you'd speak to Totty; she keeps putting her legs up so, and messing + my frock.” + </p> + <p> + “What's the matter wi' the child? She can niver please you,” said the + mother. “Let her come by the side o' me, then. I can put up wi' her.” + </p> + <p> + Adam was looking at Hetty, and saw the frown, and pout, and the dark eyes + seeming to grow larger with pettish half-gathered tears. Quiet Mary Burge, + who sat near enough to see that Hetty was cross and that Adam's eyes were + fixed on her, thought that so sensible a man as Adam must be reflecting on + the small value of beauty in a woman whose temper was bad. Mary was a good + girl, not given to indulge in evil feelings, but she said to herself, + that, since Hetty had a bad temper, it was better Adam should know it. And + it was quite true that if Hetty had been plain, she would have looked very + ugly and unamiable at that moment, and no one's moral judgment upon her + would have been in the least beguiled. But really there was something + quite charming in her pettishness: it looked so much more like innocent + distress than ill humour; and the severe Adam felt no movement of + disapprobation; he only felt a sort of amused pity, as if he had seen a + kitten setting up its back, or a little bird with its feathers ruffled. He + could not gather what was vexing her, but it was impossible to him to feel + otherwise than that she was the prettiest thing in the world, and that if + he could have his way, nothing should ever vex her any more. And + presently, when Totty was gone, she caught his eye, and her face broke + into one of its brightest smiles, as she nodded to him. It was a bit of + flirtation—she knew Mary Burge was looking at them. But the smile + was like wine to Adam. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXIV + </h2> + <h3> + The Health-Drinking + </h3> + <p> + WHEN the dinner was over, and the first draughts from the great cask of + birthday ale were brought up, room was made for the broad Mr. Poyser at + the side of the table, and two chairs were placed at the head. It had been + settled very definitely what Mr. Poyser was to do when the young squire + should appear, and for the last five minutes he had been in a state of + abstraction, with his eyes fixed on the dark picture opposite, and his + hands busy with the loose cash and other articles in his breeches pockets. + </p> + <p> + When the young squire entered, with Mr. Irwine by his side, every one + stood up, and this moment of homage was very agreeable to Arthur. He liked + to feel his own importance, and besides that, he cared a great deal for + the good-will of these people: he was fond of thinking that they had a + hearty, special regard for him. The pleasure he felt was in his face as he + said, “My grandfather and I hope all our friends here have enjoyed their + dinner, and find my birthday ale good. Mr. Irwine and I are come to taste + it with you, and I am sure we shall all like anything the better that the + rector shares with us.” + </p> + <p> + All eyes were now turned on Mr. Poyser, who, with his hands still busy in + his pockets, began with the deliberateness of a slow-striking clock. + “Captain, my neighbours have put it upo' me to speak for 'em to-day, for + where folks think pretty much alike, one spokesman's as good as a score. + And though we've mayhappen got contrairy ways o' thinking about a many + things—one man lays down his land one way an' another another—an' + I'll not take it upon me to speak to no man's farming, but my own—this + I'll say, as we're all o' one mind about our young squire. We've pretty + nigh all on us known you when you war a little un, an' we've niver known + anything on you but what was good an' honorable. You speak fair an' y' act + fair, an' we're joyful when we look forrard to your being our landlord, + for we b'lieve you mean to do right by everybody, an' 'ull make no man's + bread bitter to him if you can help it. That's what I mean, an' that's + what we all mean; and when a man's said what he means, he'd better stop, + for th' ale 'ull be none the better for stannin'. An' I'll not say how we + like th' ale yet, for we couldna well taste it till we'd drunk your health + in it; but the dinner was good, an' if there's anybody hasna enjoyed it, + it must be the fault of his own inside. An' as for the rector's company, + it's well known as that's welcome t' all the parish wherever he may be; + an' I hope, an' we all hope, as he'll live to see us old folks, an' our + children grown to men an' women an' Your Honour a family man. I've no more + to say as concerns the present time, an' so we'll drink our young squire's + health—three times three.” + </p> + <p> + Hereupon a glorious shouting, a rapping, a jingling, a clattering, and a + shouting, with plentiful da capo, pleasanter than a strain of sublimest + music in the ears that receive such a tribute for the first time. Arthur + had felt a twinge of conscience during Mr. Poyser's speech, but it was too + feeble to nullify the pleasure he felt in being praised. Did he not + deserve what was said of him on the whole? If there was something in his + conduct that Poyser wouldn't have liked if he had known it, why, no man's + conduct will bear too close an inspection; and Poyser was not likely to + know it; and, after all, what had he done? Gone a little too far, perhaps, + in flirtation, but another man in his place would have acted much worse; + and no harm would come—no harm should come, for the next time he was + alone with Hetty, he would explain to her that she must not think + seriously of him or of what had passed. It was necessary to Arthur, you + perceive, to be satisfied with himself. Uncomfortable thoughts must be got + rid of by good intentions for the future, which can be formed so rapidly + that he had time to be uncomfortable and to become easy again before Mr. + Poyser's slow speech was finished, and when it was time for him to speak + he was quite light-hearted. + </p> + <p> + “I thank you all, my good friends and neighbours,” Arthur said, “for the + good opinion of me, and the kind feelings towards me which Mr. Poyser has + been expressing on your behalf and on his own, and it will always be my + heartiest wish to deserve them. In the course of things we may expect + that, if I live, I shall one day or other be your landlord; indeed, it is + on the ground of that expectation that my grandfather has wished me to + celebrate this day and to come among you now; and I look forward to this + position, not merely as one of power and pleasure for myself, but as a + means of benefiting my neighbours. It hardly becomes so young a man as I + am to talk much about farming to you, who are most of you so much older, + and are men of experience; still, I have interested myself a good deal in + such matters, and learned as much about them as my opportunities have + allowed; and when the course of events shall place the estate in my hands, + it will be my first desire to afford my tenants all the encouragement a + landlord can give them, in improving their land and trying to bring about + a better practice of husbandry. It will be my wish to be looked on by all + my deserving tenants as their best friend, and nothing would make me so + happy as to be able to respect every man on the estate, and to be + respected by him in return. It is not my place at present to enter into + particulars; I only meet your good hopes concerning me by telling you that + my own hopes correspond to them—that what you expect from me I + desire to fulfil; and I am quite of Mr. Poyser's opinion, that when a man + has said what he means, he had better stop. But the pleasure I feel in + having my own health drunk by you would not be perfect if we did not drink + the health of my grandfather, who has filled the place of both parents to + me. I will say no more, until you have joined me in drinking his health on + a day when he has wished me to appear among you as the future + representative of his name and family.” + </p> + <p> + Perhaps there was no one present except Mr. Irwine who thoroughly + understood and approved Arthur's graceful mode of proposing his + grandfather's health. The farmers thought the young squire knew well + enough that they hated the old squire, and Mrs. Poyser said, “he'd better + not ha' stirred a kettle o' sour broth.” The bucolic mind does not readily + apprehend the refinements of good taste. But the toast could not be + rejected and when it had been drunk, Arthur said, “I thank you, both for + my grandfather and myself; and now there is one more thing I wish to tell + you, that you may share my pleasure about it, as I hope and believe you + will. I think there can be no man here who has not a respect, and some of + you, I am sure, have a very high regard, for my friend Adam Bede. It is + well known to every one in this neighbourhood that there is no man whose + word can be more depended on than his; that whatever he undertakes to do, + he does well, and is as careful for the interests of those who employ him + as for his own. I'm proud to say that I was very fond of Adam when I was a + little boy, and I have never lost my old feeling for him—I think + that shows that I know a good fellow when I find him. It has long been my + wish that he should have the management of the woods on the estate, which + happen to be very valuable, not only because I think so highly of his + character, but because he has the knowledge and the skill which fit him + for the place. And I am happy to tell you that it is my grandfather's wish + too, and it is now settled that Adam shall manage the woods—a change + which I am sure will be very much for the advantage of the estate; and I + hope you will by and by join me in drinking his health, and in wishing him + all the prosperity in life that he deserves. But there is a still older + friend of mine than Adam Bede present, and I need not tell you that it is + Mr. Irwine. I'm sure you will agree with me that we must drink no other + person's health until we have drunk his. I know you have all reason to + love him, but no one of his parishioners has so much reason as I. Come, + charge your glasses, and let us drink to our excellent rector—three + times three!” + </p> + <p> + This toast was drunk with all the enthusiasm that was wanting to the last, + and it certainly was the most picturesque moment in the scene when Mr. + Irwine got up to speak, and all the faces in the room were turned towards + him. The superior refinement of his face was much more striking than that + of Arthur's when seen in comparison with the people round them. Arthur's + was a much commoner British face, and the splendour of his new-fashioned + clothes was more akin to the young farmer's taste in costume than Mr. + Irwine's powder and the well-brushed but well-worn black, which seemed to + be his chosen suit for great occasions; for he had the mysterious secret + of never wearing a new-looking coat. + </p> + <p> + “This is not the first time, by a great many,” he said, “that I have had + to thank my parishioners for giving me tokens of their goodwill, but + neighbourly kindness is among those things that are the more precious the + older they get. Indeed, our pleasant meeting to-day is a proof that when + what is good comes of age and is likely to live, there is reason for + rejoicing, and the relation between us as clergyman and parishioners came + of age two years ago, for it is three-and-twenty years since I first came + among you, and I see some tall fine-looking young men here, as well as + some blooming young women, that were far from looking as pleasantly at me + when I christened them as I am happy to see them looking now. But I'm sure + you will not wonder when I say that among all those young men, the one in + whom I have the strongest interest is my friend Mr. Arthur Donnithorne, + for whom you have just expressed your regard. I had the pleasure of being + his tutor for several years, and have naturally had opportunities of + knowing him intimately which cannot have occurred to any one else who is + present; and I have some pride as well as pleasure in assuring you that I + share your high hopes concerning him, and your confidence in his + possession of those qualities which will make him an excellent landlord + when the time shall come for him to take that important position among + you. We feel alike on most matters on which a man who is getting towards + fifty can feel in common with a young man of one-and-twenty, and he has + just been expressing a feeling which I share very heartily, and I would + not willingly omit the opportunity of saying so. That feeling is his value + and respect for Adam Bede. People in a high station are of course more + thought of and talked about and have their virtues more praised, than + those whose lives are passed in humble everyday work; but every sensible + man knows how necessary that humble everyday work is, and how important it + is to us that it should be done well. And I agree with my friend Mr. + Arthur Donnithorne in feeling that when a man whose duty lies in that sort + of work shows a character which would make him an example in any station, + his merit should be acknowledged. He is one of those to whom honour is + due, and his friends should delight to honour him. I know Adam Bede well—I + know what he is as a workman, and what he has been as a son and brother—and + I am saying the simplest truth when I say that I respect him as much as I + respect any man living. But I am not speaking to you about a stranger; + some of you are his intimate friends, and I believe there is not one here + who does not know enough of him to join heartily in drinking his health.” + </p> + <p> + As Mr. Irwine paused, Arthur jumped up and, filling his glass, said, “A + bumper to Adam Bede, and may he live to have sons as faithful and clever + as himself!” + </p> + <p> + No hearer, not even Bartle Massey, was so delighted with this toast as Mr. + Poyser. “Tough work” as his first speech had been, he would have started + up to make another if he had not known the extreme irregularity of such a + course. As it was, he found an outlet for his feeling in drinking his ale + unusually fast, and setting down his glass with a swing of his arm and a + determined rap. If Jonathan Burge and a few others felt less comfortable + on the occasion, they tried their best to look contented, and so the toast + was drunk with a goodwill apparently unanimous. + </p> + <p> + Adam was rather paler than usual when he got up to thank his friends. He + was a good deal moved by this public tribute—very naturally, for he + was in the presence of all his little world, and it was uniting to do him + honour. But he felt no shyness about speaking, not being troubled with + small vanity or lack of words; he looked neither awkward nor embarrassed, + but stood in his usual firm upright attitude, with his head thrown a + little backward and his hands perfectly still, in that rough dignity which + is peculiar to intelligent, honest, well-built workmen, who are never + wondering what is their business in the world. + </p> + <p> + “I'm quite taken by surprise,” he said. “I didn't expect anything o' this + sort, for it's a good deal more than my wages. But I've the more reason to + be grateful to you, Captain, and to you, Mr. Irwine, and to all my friends + here, who've drunk my health and wished me well. It 'ud be nonsense for me + to be saying, I don't at all deserve th' opinion you have of me; that 'ud + be poor thanks to you, to say that you've known me all these years and yet + haven't sense enough to find out a great deal o' the truth about me. You + think, if I undertake to do a bit o' work, I'll do it well, be my pay big + or little—and that's true. I'd be ashamed to stand before you here + if it wasna true. But it seems to me that's a man's plain duty, and + nothing to be conceited about, and it's pretty clear to me as I've never + done more than my duty; for let us do what we will, it's only making use + o' the sperrit and the powers that ha' been given to us. And so this + kindness o' yours, I'm sure, is no debt you owe me, but a free gift, and + as such I accept it and am thankful. And as to this new employment I've + taken in hand, I'll only say that I took it at Captain Donnithorne's + desire, and that I'll try to fulfil his expectations. I'd wish for no + better lot than to work under him, and to know that while I was getting my + own bread I was taking care of his int'rests. For I believe he's one o + those gentlemen as wishes to do the right thing, and to leave the world a + bit better than he found it, which it's my belief every man may do, + whether he's gentle or simple, whether he sets a good bit o' work going + and finds the money, or whether he does the work with his own hands. + There's no occasion for me to say any more about what I feel towards him: + I hope to show it through the rest o' my life in my actions.” + </p> + <p> + There were various opinions about Adam's speech: some of the women + whispered that he didn't show himself thankful enough, and seemed to speak + as proud as could be; but most of the men were of opinion that nobody + could speak more straightfor'ard, and that Adam was as fine a chap as need + to be. While such observations were being buzzed about, mingled with + wonderings as to what the old squire meant to do for a bailiff, and + whether he was going to have a steward, the two gentlemen had risen, and + were walking round to the table where the wives and children sat. There + was none of the strong ale here, of course, but wine and dessert—sparkling + gooseberry for the young ones, and some good sherry for the mothers. Mrs. + Poyser was at the head of this table, and Totty was now seated in her lap, + bending her small nose deep down into a wine-glass in search of the nuts + floating there. + </p> + <p> + “How do you do, Mrs. Poyser?” said Arthur. “Weren't you pleased to hear + your husband make such a good speech to-day?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, sir, the men are mostly so tongue-tied—you're forced partly to + guess what they mean, as you do wi' the dumb creaturs.” + </p> + <p> + “What! you think you could have made it better for him?” said Mr. Irwine, + laughing. + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir, when I want to say anything, I can mostly find words to say it + in, thank God. Not as I'm a-finding faut wi' my husband, for if he's a man + o' few words, what he says he'll stand to.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm sure I never saw a prettier party than this,” Arthur said, looking + round at the apple-cheeked children. “My aunt and the Miss Irwines will + come up and see you presently. They were afraid of the noise of the + toasts, but it would be a shame for them not to see you at table.” + </p> + <p> + He walked on, speaking to the mothers and patting the children, while Mr. + Irwine satisfied himself with standing still and nodding at a distance, + that no one's attention might be disturbed from the young squire, the hero + of the day. Arthur did not venture to stop near Hetty, but merely bowed to + her as he passed along the opposite side. The foolish child felt her heart + swelling with discontent; for what woman was ever satisfied with apparent + neglect, even when she knows it to be the mask of love? Hetty thought this + was going to be the most miserable day she had had for a long while, a + moment of chill daylight and reality came across her dream: Arthur, who + had seemed so near to her only a few hours before, was separated from her, + as the hero of a great procession is separated from a small outsider in + the crowd. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0025" id="link2HCH0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXV + </h2> + <h3> + The Games + </h3> + <p> + THE great dance was not to begin until eight o'clock, but for any lads and + lasses who liked to dance on the shady grass before then, there was music + always at hand—for was not the band of the Benefit Club capable of + playing excellent jigs, reels, and hornpipes? And, besides this, there was + a grand band hired from Rosseter, who, with their wonderful + wind-instruments and puffed-out cheeks, were themselves a delightful show + to the small boys and girls. To say nothing of Joshua Rann's fiddle, + which, by an act of generous forethought, he had provided himself with, in + case any one should be of sufficiently pure taste to prefer dancing to a + solo on that instrument. + </p> + <p> + Meantime, when the sun had moved off the great open space in front of the + house, the games began. There were, of course, well-soaped poles to be + climbed by the boys and youths, races to be run by the old women, races to + be run in sacks, heavy weights to be lifted by the strong men, and a long + list of challenges to such ambitious attempts as that of walking as many + yards possible on one leg—feats in which it was generally remarked + that Wiry Ben, being “the lissom'st, springest fellow i' the country,” was + sure to be pre-eminent. To crown all, there was to be a donkey-race—that + sublimest of all races, conducted on the grand socialistic idea of + everybody encouraging everybody else's donkey, and the sorriest donkey + winning. + </p> + <p> + And soon after four o'clock, splendid old Mrs. Irwine, in her damask satin + and jewels and black lace, was led out by Arthur, followed by the whole + family party, to her raised seat under the striped marquee, where she was + to give out the prizes to the victors. Staid, formal Miss Lydia had + requested to resign that queenly office to the royal old lady, and Arthur + was pleased with this opportunity of gratifying his godmother's taste for + stateliness. Old Mr. Donnithorne, the delicately clean, finely scented, + withered old man, led out Miss Irwine, with his air of punctilious, acid + politeness; Mr. Gawaine brought Miss Lydia, looking neutral and stiff in + an elegant peach-blossom silk; and Mr. Irwine came last with his pale + sister Anne. No other friend of the family, besides Mr. Gawaine, was + invited to-day; there was to be a grand dinner for the neighbouring gentry + on the morrow, but to-day all the forces were required for the + entertainment of the tenants. + </p> + <p> + There was a sunk fence in front of the marquee, dividing the lawn from the + park, but a temporary bridge had been made for the passage of the victors, + and the groups of people standing, or seated here and there on benches, + stretched on each side of the open space from the white marquees up to the + sunk fence. + </p> + <p> + “Upon my word it's a pretty sight,” said the old lady, in her deep voice, + when she was seated, and looked round on the bright scene with its + dark-green background; “and it's the last fete-day I'm likely to see, + unless you make haste and get married, Arthur. But take care you get a + charming bride, else I would rather die without seeing her.” + </p> + <p> + “You're so terribly fastidious, Godmother,” said Arthur, “I'm afraid I + should never satisfy you with my choice.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I won't forgive you if she's not handsome. I can't be put off with + amiability, which is always the excuse people are making for the existence + of plain people. And she must not be silly; that will never do, because + you'll want managing, and a silly woman can't manage you. Who is that tall + young man, Dauphin, with the mild face? There, standing without his hat, + and taking such care of that tall old woman by the side of him—his + mother, of course. I like to see that.” + </p> + <p> + “What, don't you know him, Mother?” said Mr. Irwine. “That is Seth Bede, + Adam's brother—a Methodist, but a very good fellow. Poor Seth has + looked rather down-hearted of late; I thought it was because of his + father's dying in that sad way, but Joshua Rann tells me he wanted to + marry that sweet little Methodist preacher who was here about a month ago, + and I suppose she refused him.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, I remember hearing about her. But there are no end of people here + that I don't know, for they're grown up and altered so since I used to go + about.” + </p> + <p> + “What excellent sight you have!” said old Mr. Donnithorne, who was holding + a double glass up to his eyes, “to see the expression of that young man's + face so far off. His face is nothing but a pale blurred spot to me. But I + fancy I have the advantage of you when we come to look close. I can read + small print without spectacles.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, my dear sir, you began with being very near-sighted, and those + near-sighted eyes always wear the best. I want very strong spectacles to + read with, but then I think my eyes get better and better for things at a + distance. I suppose if I could live another fifty years, I should be blind + to everything that wasn't out of other people's sight, like a man who + stands in a well and sees nothing but the stars.” + </p> + <p> + “See,” said Arthur, “the old women are ready to set out on their race now. + Which do you bet on, Gawaine?” + </p> + <p> + “The long-legged one, unless they're going to have several heats, and then + the little wiry one may win.” + </p> + <p> + “There are the Poysers, Mother, not far off on the right hand,” said Miss + Irwine. “Mrs. Poyser is looking at you. Do take notice of her.” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure I will,” said the old lady, giving a gracious bow to Mrs. + Poyser. “A woman who sends me such excellent cream-cheese is not to be + neglected. Bless me! What a fat child that is she is holding on her knee! + But who is that pretty girl with dark eyes?” + </p> + <p> + “That is Hetty Sorrel,” said Miss Lydia Donnithorne, “Martin Poyser's + niece—a very likely young person, and well-looking too. My maid has + taught her fine needlework, and she has mended some lace of mine very + respectably indeed—very respectably.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, she has lived with the Poysers six or seven years, Mother; you must + have seen her,” said Miss Irwine. + </p> + <p> + “No, I've never seen her, child—at least not as she is now,” said + Mrs. Irwine, continuing to look at Hetty. “Well-looking, indeed! She's a + perfect beauty! I've never seen anything so pretty since my young days. + What a pity such beauty as that should be thrown away among the farmers, + when it's wanted so terribly among the good families without fortune! I + daresay, now, she'll marry a man who would have thought her just as pretty + if she had had round eyes and red hair.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur dared not turn his eyes towards Hetty while Mrs. Irwine was + speaking of her. He feigned not to hear, and to be occupied with something + on the opposite side. But he saw her plainly enough without looking; saw + her in heightened beauty, because he heard her beauty praised—for + other men's opinion, you know, was like a native climate to Arthur's + feelings: it was the air on which they thrived the best, and grew strong. + Yes! She was enough to turn any man's head: any man in his place would + have done and felt the same. And to give her up after all, as he was + determined to do, would be an act that he should always look back upon + with pride. + </p> + <p> + “No, Mother,” and Mr. Irwine, replying to her last words; “I can't agree + with you there. The common people are not quite so stupid as you imagine. + The commonest man, who has his ounce of sense and feeling, is conscious of + the difference between a lovely, delicate woman and a coarse one. Even a + dog feels a difference in their presence. The man may be no better able + than the dog to explain the influence the more refined beauty has on him, + but he feels it.” + </p> + <p> + “Bless me, Dauphin, what does an old bachelor like you know about it?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, that is one of the matters in which old bachelors are wiser than + married men, because they have time for more general contemplation. Your + fine critic of woman must never shackle his judgment by calling one woman + his own. But, as an example of what I was saying, that pretty Methodist + preacher I mentioned just now told me that she had preached to the + roughest miners and had never been treated with anything but the utmost + respect and kindness by them. The reason is—though she doesn't know + it—that there's so much tenderness, refinement, and purity about + her. Such a woman as that brings with her 'airs from heaven' that the + coarsest fellow is not insensible to.” + </p> + <p> + “Here's a delicate bit of womanhood, or girlhood, coming to receive a + prize, I suppose,” said Mr. Gawaine. “She must be one of the racers in the + sacks, who had set off before we came.” + </p> + <p> + The “bit of womanhood” was our old acquaintance Bessy Cranage, otherwise + Chad's Bess, whose large red cheeks and blowsy person had undergone an + exaggeration of colour, which, if she had happened to be a heavenly body, + would have made her sublime. Bessy, I am sorry to say, had taken to her + ear-rings again since Dinah's departure, and was otherwise decked out in + such small finery as she could muster. Any one who could have looked into + poor Bessy's heart would have seen a striking resemblance between her + little hopes and anxieties and Hetty's. The advantage, perhaps, would have + been on Bessy's side in the matter of feeling. But then, you see, they + were so very different outside! You would have been inclined to box + Bessy's ears, and you would have longed to kiss Hetty. + </p> + <p> + Bessy had been tempted to run the arduous race, partly from mere hedonish + gaiety, partly because of the prize. Some one had said there were to be + cloaks and other nice clothes for prizes, and she approached the marquee, + fanning herself with her handkerchief, but with exultation sparkling in + her round eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Here is the prize for the first sack-race,” said Miss Lydia, taking a + large parcel from the table where the prizes were laid and giving it to + Mrs. Irwine before Bessy came up, “an excellent grogram gown and a piece + of flannel.” + </p> + <p> + “You didn't think the winner was to be so young, I suppose, Aunt?” said + Arthur. “Couldn't you find something else for this girl, and save that + grim-looking gown for one of the older women?” + </p> + <p> + “I have bought nothing but what is useful and substantial,” said Miss + Lydia, adjusting her own lace; “I should not think of encouraging a love + of finery in young women of that class. I have a scarlet cloak, but that + is for the old woman who wins.” + </p> + <p> + This speech of Miss Lydia's produced rather a mocking expression in Mrs. + Irwine's face as she looked at Arthur, while Bessy came up and dropped a + series of curtsies. + </p> + <p> + “This is Bessy Cranage, mother,” said Mr. Irwine, kindly, “Chad Cranage's + daughter. You remember Chad Cranage, the blacksmith?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, to be sure,” said Mrs. Irwine. “Well, Bessy, here is your prize—excellent + warm things for winter. I'm sure you have had hard work to win them this + warm day.” + </p> + <p> + Bessy's lip fell as she saw the ugly, heavy gown—which felt so hot + and disagreeable too, on this July day, and was such a great ugly thing to + carry. She dropped her curtsies again, without looking up, and with a + growing tremulousness about the corners of her mouth, and then turned + away. + </p> + <p> + “Poor girl,” said Arthur; “I think she's disappointed. I wish it had been + something more to her taste.” + </p> + <p> + “She's a bold-looking young person,” observed Miss Lydia. “Not at all one + I should like to encourage.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur silently resolved that he would make Bessy a present of money + before the day was over, that she might buy something more to her mind; + but she, not aware of the consolation in store for her, turned out of the + open space, where she was visible from the marquee, and throwing down the + odious bundle under a tree, began to cry—very much tittered at the + while by the small boys. In this situation she was descried by her + discreet matronly cousin, who lost no time in coming up, having just given + the baby into her husband's charge. + </p> + <p> + “What's the matter wi' ye?” said Bess the matron, taking up the bundle and + examining it. “Ye'n sweltered yoursen, I reckon, running that fool's race. + An' here, they'n gi'en you lots o' good grogram and flannel, as should ha' + been gi'en by good rights to them as had the sense to keep away from such + foolery. Ye might spare me a bit o' this grogram to make clothes for the + lad—ye war ne'er ill-natured, Bess; I ne'er said that on ye.” + </p> + <p> + “Ye may take it all, for what I care,” said Bess the maiden, with a + pettish movement, beginning to wipe away her tears and recover herself. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I could do wi't, if so be ye want to get rid on't,” said the + disinterested cousin, walking quickly away with the bundle, lest Chad's + Bess should change her mind. + </p> + <p> + But that bonny-cheeked lass was blessed with an elasticity of spirits that + secured her from any rankling grief; and by the time the grand climax of + the donkey-race came on, her disappointment was entirely lost in the + delightful excitement of attempting to stimulate the last donkey by + hisses, while the boys applied the argument of sticks. But the strength of + the donkey mind lies in adopting a course inversely as the arguments + urged, which, well considered, requires as great a mental force as the + direct sequence; and the present donkey proved the first-rate order of his + intelligence by coming to a dead standstill just when the blows were + thickest. Great was the shouting of the crowd, radiant the grinning of + Bill Downes the stone-sawyer and the fortunate rider of this superior + beast, which stood calm and stiff-legged in the midst of its triumph. + </p> + <p> + Arthur himself had provided the prizes for the men, and Bill was made + happy with a splendid pocket-knife, supplied with blades and gimlets + enough to make a man at home on a desert island. He had hardly returned + from the marquee with the prize in his hand, when it began to be + understood that Wiry Ben proposed to amuse the company, before the gentry + went to dinner, with an impromptu and gratuitous performance—namely, + a hornpipe, the main idea of which was doubtless borrowed; but this was to + be developed by the dancer in so peculiar and complex a manner that no one + could deny him the praise of originality. Wiry Ben's pride in his dancing—an + accomplishment productive of great effect at the yearly Wake—had + needed only slightly elevating by an extra quantity of good ale to + convince him that the gentry would be very much struck with his + performance of his hornpipe; and he had been decidedly encouraged in this + idea by Joshua Rann, who observed that it was nothing but right to do + something to please the young squire, in return for what he had done for + them. You will be the less surprised at this opinion in so grave a + personage when you learn that Ben had requested Mr. Rann to accompany him + on the fiddle, and Joshua felt quite sure that though there might not be + much in the dancing, the music would make up for it. Adam Bede, who was + present in one of the large marquees, where the plan was being discussed, + told Ben he had better not make a fool of himself—a remark which at + once fixed Ben's determination: he was not going to let anything alone + because Adam Bede turned up his nose at it. + </p> + <p> + “What's this, what's this?” said old Mr. Donnithorne. “Is it something + you've arranged, Arthur? Here's the clerk coming with his fiddle, and a + smart fellow with a nosegay in his button-hole.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Arthur; “I know nothing about it. By Jove, he's going to dance! + It's one of the carpenters—I forget his name at this moment.” + </p> + <p> + “It's Ben Cranage—Wiry Ben, they call him,” said Mr. Irwine; “rather + a loose fish, I think. Anne, my dear, I see that fiddle-scraping is too + much for you: you're getting tired. Let me take you in now, that you may + rest till dinner.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Anne rose assentingly, and the good brother took her away, while + Joshua's preliminary scrapings burst into the “White Cockade,” from which + he intended to pass to a variety of tunes, by a series of transitions + which his good ear really taught him to execute with some skill. It would + have been an exasperating fact to him, if he had known it, that the + general attention was too thoroughly absorbed by Ben's dancing for any one + to give much heed to the music. + </p> + <p> + Have you ever seen a real English rustic perform a solo dance? Perhaps you + have only seen a ballet rustic, smiling like a merry countryman in + crockery, with graceful turns of the haunch and insinuating movements of + the head. That is as much like the real thing as the “Bird Waltz” is like + the song of birds. Wiry Ben never smiled: he looked as serious as a + dancing monkey—as serious as if he had been an experimental + philosopher ascertaining in his own person the amount of shaking and the + varieties of angularity that could be given to the human limbs. + </p> + <p> + To make amends for the abundant laughter in the striped marquee, Arthur + clapped his hands continually and cried “Bravo!” But Ben had one admirer + whose eyes followed his movements with a fervid gravity that equalled his + own. It was Martin Poyser, who was seated on a bench, with Tommy between + his legs. + </p> + <p> + “What dost think o' that?” he said to his wife. “He goes as pat to the + music as if he was made o' clockwork. I used to be a pretty good un at + dancing myself when I was lighter, but I could niver ha' hit it just to + th' hair like that.” + </p> + <p> + “It's little matter what his limbs are, to my thinking,” re-turned Mrs. + Poyser. “He's empty enough i' the upper story, or he'd niver come jigging + an' stamping i' that way, like a mad grasshopper, for the gentry to look + at him. They're fit to die wi' laughing, I can see.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, so much the better, it amuses 'em,” said Mr. Poyser, who did + not easily take an irritable view of things. “But they're going away now, + t' have their dinner, I reckon. Well move about a bit, shall we, and see + what Adam Bede's doing. He's got to look after the drinking and things: I + doubt he hasna had much fun.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0026" id="link2HCH0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXVI + </h2> + <h3> + The Dance + </h3> + <p> + ARTHUR had chosen the entrance-hall for the ballroom: very wisely, for no + other room could have been so airy, or would have had the advantage of the + wide doors opening into the garden, as well as a ready entrance into the + other rooms. To be sure, a stone floor was not the pleasantest to dance + on, but then, most of the dancers had known what it was to enjoy a + Christmas dance on kitchen quarries. It was one of those entrance-halls + which make the surrounding rooms look like closets—with stucco + angels, trumpets, and flower-wreaths on the lofty ceiling, and great + medallions of miscellaneous heroes on the walls, alternating with statues + in niches. Just the sort of place to be ornamented well with green boughs, + and Mr. Craig had been proud to show his taste and his hothouse plants on + the occasion. The broad steps of the stone staircase were covered with + cushions to serve as seats for the children, who were to stay till + half-past nine with the servant-maids to see the dancing, and as this + dance was confined to the chief tenants, there was abundant room for every + one. The lights were charmingly disposed in coloured-paper lamps, high up + among green boughs, and the farmers' wives and daughters, as they peeped + in, believed no scene could be more splendid; they knew now quite well in + what sort of rooms the king and queen lived, and their thoughts glanced + with some pity towards cousins and acquaintances who had not this fine + opportunity of knowing how things went on in the great world. The lamps + were already lit, though the sun had not long set, and there was that calm + light out of doors in which we seem to see all objects more distinctly + than in the broad day. + </p> + <p> + It was a pretty scene outside the house: the farmers and their families + were moving about the lawn, among the flowers and shrubs, or along the + broad straight road leading from the east front, where a carpet of mossy + grass spread on each side, studded here and there with a dark flat-boughed + cedar, or a grand pyramidal fir sweeping the ground with its branches, all + tipped with a fringe of paler green. The groups of cottagers in the park + were gradually diminishing, the young ones being attracted towards the + lights that were beginning to gleam from the windows of the gallery in the + abbey, which was to be their dancing-room, and some of the sober elder + ones thinking it time to go home quietly. One of these was Lisbeth Bede, + and Seth went with her—not from filial attention only, for his + conscience would not let him join in dancing. It had been rather a + melancholy day to Seth: Dinah had never been more constantly present with + him than in this scene, where everything was so unlike her. He saw her all + the more vividly after looking at the thoughtless faces and gay-coloured + dresses of the young women—just as one feels the beauty and the + greatness of a pictured Madonna the more when it has been for a moment + screened from us by a vulgar head in a bonnet. But this presence of Dinah + in his mind only helped him to bear the better with his mother's mood, + which had been becoming more and more querulous for the last hour. Poor + Lisbeth was suffering from a strange conflict of feelings. Her joy and + pride in the honour paid to her darling son Adam was beginning to be + worsted in the conflict with the jealousy and fretfulness which had + revived when Adam came to tell her that Captain Donnithorne desired him to + join the dancers in the hall. Adam was getting more and more out of her + reach; she wished all the old troubles back again, for then it mattered + more to Adam what his mother said and did. + </p> + <p> + “Eh, it's fine talkin' o' dancin',” she said, “an' thy father not a five + week in's grave. An' I wish I war there too, i'stid o' bein' left to take + up merrier folks's room above ground.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, don't look at it i' that way, Mother,” said Adam, who was determined + to be gentle to her to-day. “I don't mean to dance—I shall only look + on. And since the captain wishes me to be there, it 'ud look as if I + thought I knew better than him to say as I'd rather not stay. And thee + know'st how he's behaved to me to-day.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, thee't do as thee lik'st, for thy old mother's got no right t' hinder + thee. She's nought but th' old husk, and thee'st slipped away from her, + like the ripe nut.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mother,” said Adam, “I'll go and tell the captain as it hurts thy + feelings for me to stay, and I'd rather go home upo' that account: he + won't take it ill then, I daresay, and I'm willing.” He said this with + some effort, for he really longed to be near Hetty this evening. + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay, I wonna ha' thee do that—the young squire 'ull be + angered. Go an' do what thee't ordered to do, an' me and Seth 'ull go + whome. I know it's a grit honour for thee to be so looked on—an' + who's to be prouder on it nor thy mother? Hadna she the cumber o' rearin' + thee an' doin' for thee all these 'ears?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, good-bye, then, Mother—good-bye, lad—remember Gyp when + you get home,” said Adam, turning away towards the gate of the + pleasure-grounds, where he hoped he might be able to join the Poysers, for + he had been so occupied throughout the afternoon that he had had no time + to speak to Hetty. His eye soon detected a distant group, which he knew to + be the right one, returning to the house along the broad gravel road, and + he hastened on to meet them. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Adam, I'm glad to get sight on y' again,” said Mr. Poyser, who was + carrying Totty on his arm. “You're going t' have a bit o' fun, I hope, now + your work's all done. And here's Hetty has promised no end o' partners, + an' I've just been askin' her if she'd agreed to dance wi' you, an' she + says no.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I didn't think o' dancing to-night,” said Adam, already tempted to + change his mind, as he looked at Hetty. + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense!” said Mr. Poyser. “Why, everybody's goin' to dance to-night, + all but th' old squire and Mrs. Irwine. Mrs. Best's been tellin' us as + Miss Lyddy and Miss Irwine 'ull dance, an' the young squire 'ull pick my + wife for his first partner, t' open the ball: so she'll be forced to + dance, though she's laid by ever sin' the Christmas afore the little un + was born. You canna for shame stand still, Adam, an' you a fine young + fellow and can dance as well as anybody.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay,” said Mrs. Poyser, “it 'ud be unbecomin'. I know the dancin's + nonsense, but if you stick at everything because it's nonsense, you wonna + go far i' this life. When your broth's ready-made for you, you mun swallow + the thickenin', or else let the broth alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Then if Hetty 'ull dance with me,” said Adam, yielding either to Mrs. + Poyser's argument or to something else, “I'll dance whichever dance she's + free.” + </p> + <p> + “I've got no partner for the fourth dance,” said Hetty; “I'll dance that + with you, if you like.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said Mr. Poyser, “but you mun dance the first dance, Adam, else + it'll look partic'ler. There's plenty o' nice partners to pick an' choose + from, an' it's hard for the gells when the men stan' by and don't ask + 'em.” + </p> + <p> + Adam felt the justice of Mr. Poyser's observation: it would not do for him + to dance with no one besides Hetty; and remembering that Jonathan Burge + had some reason to feel hurt to-day, he resolved to ask Miss Mary to dance + with him the first dance, if she had no other partner. + </p> + <p> + “There's the big clock strikin' eight,” said Mr. Poyser; “we must make + haste in now, else the squire and the ladies 'ull be in afore us, an' that + wouldna look well.” + </p> + <p> + When they had entered the hall, and the three children under Molly's + charge had been seated on the stairs, the folding-doors of the + drawing-room were thrown open, and Arthur entered in his regimentals, + leading Mrs. Irwine to a carpet-covered dais ornamented with hot-house + plants, where she and Miss Anne were to be seated with old Mr. + Donnithorne, that they might look on at the dancing, like the kings and + queens in the plays. Arthur had put on his uniform to please the tenants, + he said, who thought as much of his militia dignity as if it had been an + elevation to the premiership. He had not the least objection to gratify + them in that way: his uniform was very advantageous to his figure. + </p> + <p> + The old squire, before sitting down, walked round the hall to greet the + tenants and make polite speeches to the wives: he was always polite; but + the farmers had found out, after long puzzling, that this polish was one + of the signs of hardness. It was observed that he gave his most elaborate + civility to Mrs. Poyser to-night, inquiring particularly about her health, + recommending her to strengthen herself with cold water as he did, and + avoid all drugs. Mrs. Poyser curtsied and thanked him with great + self-command, but when he had passed on, she whispered to her husband, + “I'll lay my life he's brewin' some nasty turn against us. Old Harry + doesna wag his tail so for nothin'.” Mr. Poyser had no time to answer, for + now Arthur came up and said, “Mrs. Poyser, I'm come to request the favour + of your hand for the first dance; and, Mr. Poyser, you must let me take + you to my aunt, for she claims you as her partner.” + </p> + <p> + The wife's pale cheek flushed with a nervous sense of unwonted honour as + Arthur led her to the top of the room; but Mr. Poyser, to whom an extra + glass had restored his youthful confidence in his good looks and good + dancing, walked along with them quite proudly, secretly flattering himself + that Miss Lydia had never had a partner in HER life who could lift her off + the ground as he would. In order to balance the honours given to the two + parishes, Miss Irwine danced with Luke Britton, the largest Broxton + farmer, and Mr. Gawaine led out Mrs. Britton. Mr. Irwine, after seating + his sister Anne, had gone to the abbey gallery, as he had agreed with + Arthur beforehand, to see how the merriment of the cottagers was + prospering. Meanwhile, all the less distinguished couples had taken their + places: Hetty was led out by the inevitable Mr. Craig, and Mary Burge by + Adam; and now the music struck up, and the glorious country-dance, best of + all dances, began. + </p> + <p> + Pity it was not a boarded floor! Then the rhythmic stamping of the thick + shoes would have been better than any drums. That merry stamping, that + gracious nodding of the head, that waving bestowal of the hand—where + can we see them now? That simple dancing of well-covered matrons, laying + aside for an hour the cares of house and dairy, remembering but not + affecting youth, not jealous but proud of the young maidens by their side—that + holiday sprightliness of portly husbands paying little compliments to + their wives, as if their courting days were come again—those lads + and lasses a little confused and awkward with their partners, having + nothing to say—it would be a pleasant variety to see all that + sometimes, instead of low dresses and large skirts, and scanning glances + exploring costumes, and languid men in lacquered boots smiling with double + meaning. + </p> + <p> + There was but one thing to mar Martin Poyser's pleasure in this dance: it + was that he was always in close contact with Luke Britton, that slovenly + farmer. He thought of throwing a little glazed coldness into his eye in + the crossing of hands; but then, as Miss Irwine was opposite to him + instead of the offensive Luke, he might freeze the wrong person. So he + gave his face up to hilarity, unchilled by moral judgments. + </p> + <p> + How Hetty's heart beat as Arthur approached her! He had hardly looked at + her to-day: now he must take her hand. Would he press it? Would he look at + her? She thought she would cry if he gave her no sign of feeling. Now he + was there—he had taken her hand—yes, he was pressing it. Hetty + turned pale as she looked up at him for an instant and met his eyes, + before the dance carried him away. That pale look came upon Arthur like + the beginning of a dull pain, which clung to him, though he must dance and + smile and joke all the same. Hetty would look so, when he told her what he + had to tell her; and he should never be able to bear it—he should be + a fool and give way again. Hetty's look did not really mean so much as he + thought: it was only the sign of a struggle between the desire for him to + notice her and the dread lest she should betray the desire to others. But + Hetty's face had a language that transcended her feelings. There are faces + which nature charges with a meaning and pathos not belonging to the single + human soul that flutters beneath them, but speaking the joys and sorrows + of foregone generations—eyes that tell of deep love which doubtless + has been and is somewhere, but not paired with these eyes—perhaps + paired with pale eyes that can say nothing; just as a national language + may be instinct with poetry unfelt by the lips that use it. That look of + Hetty's oppressed Arthur with a dread which yet had something of a + terrible unconfessed delight in it, that she loved him too well. There was + a hard task before him, for at that moment he felt he would have given up + three years of his youth for the happiness of abandoning himself without + remorse to his passion for Hetty. + </p> + <p> + These were the incongruous thoughts in his mind as he led Mrs. Poyser, who + was panting with fatigue, and secretly resolving that neither judge nor + jury should force her to dance another dance, to take a quiet rest in the + dining-room, where supper was laid out for the guests to come and take it + as they chose. + </p> + <p> + “I've desired Hetty to remember as she's got to dance wi' you, sir,” said + the good innocent woman; “for she's so thoughtless, she'd be like enough + to go an' engage herself for ivery dance. So I told her not to promise too + many.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Mrs. Poyser,” said Arthur, not without a twinge. “Now, sit + down in this comfortable chair, and here is Mills ready to give you what + you would like best.” + </p> + <p> + He hurried away to seek another matronly partner, for due honour must be + paid to the married women before he asked any of the young ones; and the + country-dances, and the stamping, and the gracious nodding, and the waving + of the hands, went on joyously. + </p> + <p> + At last the time had come for the fourth dance—longed for by the + strong, grave Adam, as if he had been a delicate-handed youth of eighteen; + for we are all very much alike when we are in our first love; and Adam had + hardly ever touched Hetty's hand for more than a transient greeting—had + never danced with her but once before. His eyes had followed her eagerly + to-night in spite of himself, and had taken in deeper draughts of love. He + thought she behaved so prettily, so quietly; she did not seem to be + flirting at all she smiled less than usual; there was almost a sweet + sadness about her. “God bless her!” he said inwardly; “I'd make her life a + happy 'un, if a strong arm to work for her, and a heart to love her, could + do it.” + </p> + <p> + And then there stole over him delicious thoughts of coming home from work, + and drawing Hetty to his side, and feeling her cheek softly pressed + against his, till he forgot where he was, and the music and the tread of + feet might have been the falling of rain and the roaring of the wind, for + what he knew. + </p> + <p> + But now the third dance was ended, and he might go up to her and claim her + hand. She was at the far end of the hall near the staircase, whispering + with Molly, who had just given the sleeping Totty into her arms before + running to fetch shawls and bonnets from the landing. Mrs. Poyser had + taken the two boys away into the dining-room to give them some cake before + they went home in the cart with Grandfather and Molly was to follow as + fast as possible. + </p> + <p> + “Let me hold her,” said Adam, as Molly turned upstairs; “the children are + so heavy when they're asleep.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty was glad of the relief, for to hold Totty in her arms, standing, was + not at all a pleasant variety to her. But this second transfer had the + unfortunate effect of rousing Totty, who was not behind any child of her + age in peevishness at an unseasonable awaking. While Hetty was in the act + of placing her in Adam's arms, and had not yet withdrawn her own, Totty + opened her eyes, and forthwith fought out with her left fist at Adam's + arm, and with her right caught at the string of brown beads round Hetty's + neck. The locket leaped out from her frock, and the next moment the string + was broken, and Hetty, helpless, saw beads and locket scattered wide on + the floor. + </p> + <p> + “My locket, my locket!” she said, in a loud frightened whisper to Adam; + “never mind the beads.” + </p> + <p> + Adam had already seen where the locket fell, for it had attracted his + glance as it leaped out of her frock. It had fallen on the raised wooden + dais where the band sat, not on the stone floor; and as Adam picked it up, + he saw the glass with the dark and light locks of hair under it. It had + fallen that side upwards, so the glass was not broken. He turned it over + on his hand, and saw the enamelled gold back. + </p> + <p> + “It isn't hurt,” he said, as he held it towards Hetty, who was unable to + take it because both her hands were occupied with Totty. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, it doesn't matter, I don't mind about it,” said Hetty, who had been + pale and was now red. + </p> + <p> + “Not matter?” said Adam, gravely. “You seemed very frightened about it. + I'll hold it till you're ready to take it,” he added, quietly closing his + hand over it, that she might not think he wanted to look at it again. + </p> + <p> + By this time Molly had come with bonnet and shawl, and as soon as she had + taken Totty, Adam placed the locket in Hetty's hand. She took it with an + air of indifference and put it in her pocket, in her heart vexed and angry + with Adam because he had seen it, but determined now that she would show + no more signs of agitation. + </p> + <p> + “See,” she said, “they're taking their places to dance; let us go.” + </p> + <p> + Adam assented silently. A puzzled alarm had taken possession of him. Had + Hetty a lover he didn't know of? For none of her relations, he was sure, + would give her a locket like that; and none of her admirers, with whom he + was acquainted, was in the position of an accepted lover, as the giver of + that locket must be. Adam was lost in the utter impossibility of finding + any person for his fears to alight on. He could only feel with a terrible + pang that there was something in Hetty's life unknown to him; that while + he had been rocking himself in the hope that she would come to love him, + she was already loving another. The pleasure of the dance with Hetty was + gone; his eyes, when they rested on her, had an uneasy questioning + expression in them; he could think of nothing to say to her; and she too + was out of temper and disinclined to speak. They were both glad when the + dance was ended. + </p> + <p> + Adam was determined to stay no longer; no one wanted him, and no one would + notice if he slipped away. As soon as he got out of doors, he began to + walk at his habitual rapid pace, hurrying along without knowing why, busy + with the painful thought that the memory of this day, so full of honour + and promise to him, was poisoned for ever. Suddenly, when he was far on + through the Chase, he stopped, startled by a flash of reviving hope. After + all, he might be a fool, making a great misery out of a trifle. Hetty, + fond of finery as she was, might have bought the thing herself. It looked + too expensive for that—it looked like the things on white satin in + the great jeweller's shop at Rosseter. But Adam had very imperfect notions + of the value of such things, and he thought it could certainly not cost + more than a guinea. Perhaps Hetty had had as much as that in Christmas + boxes, and there was no knowing but she might have been childish enough to + spend it in that way; she was such a young thing, and she couldn't help + loving finery! But then, why had she been so frightened about it at first, + and changed colour so, and afterwards pretended not to care? Oh, that was + because she was ashamed of his seeing that she had such a smart thing—she + was conscious that it was wrong for her to spend her money on it, and she + knew that Adam disapproved of finery. It was a proof she cared about what + he liked and disliked. She must have thought from his silence and gravity + afterwards that he was very much displeased with her, that he was inclined + to be harsh and severe towards her foibles. And as he walked on more + quietly, chewing the cud of this new hope, his only uneasiness was that he + had behaved in a way which might chill Hetty's feeling towards him. For + this last view of the matter must be the true one. How could Hetty have an + accepted lover, quite unknown to him? She was never away from her uncle's + house for more than a day; she could have no acquaintances that did not + come there, and no intimacies unknown to her uncle and aunt. It would be + folly to believe that the locket was given to her by a lover. The little + ring of dark hair he felt sure was her own; he could form no guess about + the light hair under it, for he had not seen it very distinctly. It might + be a bit of her father's or mother's, who had died when she was a child, + and she would naturally put a bit of her own along with it. + </p> + <p> + And so Adam went to bed comforted, having woven for himself an ingenious + web of probabilities—the surest screen a wise man can place between + himself and the truth. His last waking thoughts melted into a dream that + he was with Hetty again at the Hall Farm, and that he was asking her to + forgive him for being so cold and silent. + </p> + <p> + And while he was dreaming this, Arthur was leading Hetty to the dance and + saying to her in low hurried tones, “I shall be in the wood the day after + to-morrow at seven; come as early as you can.” And Hetty's foolish joys + and hopes, which had flown away for a little space, scared by a mere + nothing, now all came fluttering back, unconscious of the real peril. She + was happy for the first time this long day, and wished that dance would + last for hours. Arthur wished it too; it was the last weakness he meant to + indulge in; and a man never lies with more delicious languor under the + influence of a passion than when he has persuaded himself that he shall + subdue it to-morrow. + </p> + <p> + But Mrs. Poyser's wishes were quite the reverse of this, for her mind was + filled with dreary forebodings as to the retardation of to-morrow + morning's cheese in consequence of these late hours. Now that Hetty had + done her duty and danced one dance with the young squire, Mr. Poyser must + go out and see if the cart was come back to fetch them, for it was + half-past ten o'clock, and notwithstanding a mild suggestion on his part + that it would be bad manners for them to be the first to go, Mrs. Poyser + was resolute on the point, “manners or no manners.” + </p> + <p> + “What! Going already, Mrs. Poyser?” said old Mr. Donnithorne, as she came + to curtsy and take leave; “I thought we should not part with any of our + guests till eleven. Mrs. Irwine and I, who are elderly people, think of + sitting out the dance till then.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Your Honour, it's all right and proper for gentlefolks to stay up by + candlelight—they've got no cheese on their minds. We're late enough + as it is, an' there's no lettin' the cows know as they mustn't want to be + milked so early to-morrow mornin'. So, if you'll please t' excuse us, + we'll take our leave.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh!” she said to her husband, as they set off in the cart, “I'd sooner + ha' brewin' day and washin' day together than one o' these pleasurin' + days. There's no work so tirin' as danglin' about an' starin' an' not + rightly knowin' what you're goin' to do next; and keepin' your face i' + smilin' order like a grocer o' market-day for fear people shouldna think + you civil enough. An' you've nothing to show for't when it's done, if it + isn't a yallow face wi' eatin' things as disagree.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay,” said Mr. Poyser, who was in his merriest mood, and felt that + he had had a great day, “a bit o' pleasuring's good for thee sometimes. + An' thee danc'st as well as any of 'em, for I'll back thee against all the + wives i' the parish for a light foot an' ankle. An' it was a great honour + for the young squire to ask thee first—I reckon it was because I sat + at th' head o' the table an' made the speech. An' Hetty too—she + never had such a partner before—a fine young gentleman in + reg'mentals. It'll serve you to talk on, Hetty, when you're an old woman—how + you danced wi' th' young squire the day he come o' age.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0030" id="link2H_4_0030"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Book Four + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0027" id="link2HCH0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXVII + </h2> + <h3> + A crisis + </h3> + <p> + IT was beyond the middle of August—nearly three weeks after the + birthday feast. The reaping of the wheat had begun in our north midland + county of Loamshire, but the harvest was likely still to be retarded by + the heavy rains, which were causing inundations and much damage throughout + the country. From this last trouble the Broxton and Hayslope farmers, on + their pleasant uplands and in their brook-watered valleys, had not + suffered, and as I cannot pretend that they were such exceptional farmers + as to love the general good better than their own, you will infer that + they were not in very low spirits about the rapid rise in the price of + bread, so long as there was hope of gathering in their own corn undamaged; + and occasional days of sunshine and drying winds flattered this hope. + </p> + <p> + The eighteenth of August was one of these days when the sunshine looked + brighter in all eyes for the gloom that went before. Grand masses of cloud + were hurried across the blue, and the great round hills behind the Chase + seemed alive with their flying shadows; the sun was hidden for a moment, + and then shone out warm again like a recovered joy; the leaves, still + green, were tossed off the hedgerow trees by the wind; around the + farmhouses there was a sound of clapping doors; the apples fell in the + orchards; and the stray horses on the green sides of the lanes and on the + common had their manes blown about their faces. And yet the wind seemed + only part of the general gladness because the sun was shining. A merry day + for the children, who ran and shouted to see if they could top the wind + with their voices; and the grown-up people too were in good spirits, + inclined to believe in yet finer days, when the wind had fallen. If only + the corn were not ripe enough to be blown out of the husk and scattered as + untimely seed! + </p> + <p> + And yet a day on which a blighting sorrow may fall upon a man. For if it + be true that Nature at certain moments seems charged with a presentiment + of one individual lot must it not also be true that she seems unmindful + unconscious of another? For there is no hour that has not its births of + gladness and despair, no morning brightness that does not bring new + sickness to desolation as well as new forces to genius and love. There are + so many of us, and our lots are so different, what wonder that Nature's + mood is often in harsh contrast with the great crisis of our lives? We are + children of a large family, and must learn, as such children do, not to + expect that our hurts will be made much of—to be content with little + nurture and caressing, and help each other the more. + </p> + <p> + It was a busy day with Adam, who of late had done almost double work, for + he was continuing to act as foreman for Jonathan Burge, until some + satisfactory person could be found to supply his place, and Jonathan was + slow to find that person. But he had done the extra work cheerfully, for + his hopes were buoyant again about Hetty. Every time she had seen him + since the birthday, she had seemed to make an effort to behave all the + more kindly to him, that she might make him understand she had forgiven + his silence and coldness during the dance. He had never mentioned the + locket to her again; too happy that she smiled at him—still happier + because he observed in her a more subdued air, something that he + interpreted as the growth of womanly tenderness and seriousness. “Ah!” he + thought, again and again, “she's only seventeen; she'll be thoughtful + enough after a while. And her aunt allays says how clever she is at the + work. She'll make a wife as Mother'll have no occasion to grumble at, + after all.” To be sure, he had only seen her at home twice since the + birthday; for one Sunday, when he was intending to go from church to the + Hall Farm, Hetty had joined the party of upper servants from the Chase and + had gone home with them—almost as if she were inclined to encourage + Mr. Craig. “She's takin' too much likin' to them folks i' the house + keeper's room,” Mrs. Poyser remarked. “For my part, I was never overfond + o' gentlefolks's servants—they're mostly like the fine ladies' fat + dogs, nayther good for barking nor butcher's meat, but on'y for show.” And + another evening she was gone to Treddleston to buy some things; though, to + his great surprise, as he was returning home, he saw her at a distance + getting over a stile quite out of the Treddleston road. But, when he + hastened to her, she was very kind, and asked him to go in again when he + had taken her to the yard gate. She had gone a little farther into the + fields after coming from Treddleston because she didn't want to go in, she + said: it was so nice to be out of doors, and her aunt always made such a + fuss about it if she wanted to go out. “Oh, do come in with me!” she said, + as he was going to shake hands with her at the gate, and he could not + resist that. So he went in, and Mrs. Poyser was contented with only a + slight remark on Hetty's being later than was expected; while Hetty, who + had looked out of spirits when he met her, smiled and talked and waited on + them all with unusual promptitude. + </p> + <p> + That was the last time he had seen her; but he meant to make leisure for + going to the Farm to-morrow. To-day, he knew, was her day for going to the + Chase to sew with the lady's maid, so he would get as much work done as + possible this evening, that the next might be clear. + </p> + <p> + One piece of work that Adam was superintending was some slight repairs at + the Chase Farm, which had been hitherto occupied by Satchell, as bailiff, + but which it was now rumoured that the old squire was going to let to a + smart man in top-boots, who had been seen to ride over it one day. Nothing + but the desire to get a tenant could account for the squire's undertaking + repairs, though the Saturday-evening party at Mr. Casson's agreed over + their pipes that no man in his senses would take the Chase Farm unless + there was a bit more ploughland laid to it. However that might be, the + repairs were ordered to be executed with all dispatch, and Adam, acting + for Mr. Burge, was carrying out the order with his usual energy. But + to-day, having been occupied elsewhere, he had not been able to arrive at + the Chase Farm till late in the afternoon, and he then discovered that + some old roofing, which he had calculated on preserving, had given way. + There was clearly no good to be done with this part of the building + without pulling it all down, and Adam immediately saw in his mind a plan + for building it up again, so as to make the most convenient of cow-sheds + and calf-pens, with a hovel for implements; and all without any great + expense for materials. So, when the workmen were gone, he sat down, took + out his pocket-book, and busied himself with sketching a plan, and making + a specification of the expenses that he might show it to Burge the next + morning, and set him on persuading the squire to consent. To “make a good + job” of anything, however small, was always a pleasure to Adam, and he sat + on a block, with his book resting on a planing-table, whistling low every + now and then and turning his head on one side with a just perceptible + smile of gratification—of pride, too, for if Adam loved a bit of + good work, he loved also to think, “I did it!” And I believe the only + people who are free from that weakness are those who have no work to call + their own. It was nearly seven before he had finished and put on his + jacket again; and on giving a last look round, he observed that Seth, who + had been working here to-day, had left his basket of tools behind him. + “Why, th' lad's forgot his tools,” thought Adam, “and he's got to work up + at the shop to-morrow. There never was such a chap for wool-gathering; + he'd leave his head behind him, if it was loose. However, it's lucky I've + seen 'em; I'll carry 'em home.” + </p> + <p> + The buildings of the Chase Farm lay at one extremity of the Chase, at + about ten minutes' walking distance from the Abbey. Adam had come thither + on his pony, intending to ride to the stables and put up his nag on his + way home. At the stables he encountered Mr. Craig, who had come to look at + the captain's new horse, on which he was to ride away the day after + to-morrow; and Mr. Craig detained him to tell how all the servants were to + collect at the gate of the courtyard to wish the young squire luck as he + rode out; so that by the time Adam had got into the Chase, and was + striding along with the basket of tools over his shoulder, the sun was on + the point of setting, and was sending level crimson rays among the great + trunks of the old oaks, and touching every bare patch of ground with a + transient glory that made it look like a jewel dropt upon the grass. The + wind had fallen now, and there was only enough breeze to stir the + delicate-stemmed leaves. Any one who had been sitting in the house all day + would have been glad to walk now; but Adam had been quite enough in the + open air to wish to shorten his way home, and he bethought himself that he + might do so by striking across the Chase and going through the Grove, + where he had never been for years. He hurried on across the Chase, + stalking along the narrow paths between the fern, with Gyp at his heels, + not lingering to watch the magnificent changes of the light—hardly + once thinking of it—yet feeling its presence in a certain calm happy + awe which mingled itself with his busy working-day thoughts. How could he + help feeling it? The very deer felt it, and were more timid. + </p> + <p> + Presently Adam's thoughts recurred to what Mr. Craig had said about Arthur + Donnithorne, and pictured his going away, and the changes that might take + place before he came back; then they travelled back affectionately over + the old scenes of boyish companionship, and dwelt on Arthur's good + qualities, which Adam had a pride in, as we all have in the virtues of the + superior who honours us. A nature like Adam's, with a great need of love + and reverence in it, depends for so much of its happiness on what it can + believe and feel about others! And he had no ideal world of dead heroes; + he knew little of the life of men in the past; he must find the beings to + whom he could cling with loving admiration among those who came within + speech of him. These pleasant thoughts about Arthur brought a milder + expression than usual into his keen rough face: perhaps they were the + reason why, when he opened the old green gate leading into the Grove, he + paused to pat Gyp and say a kind word to him. + </p> + <p> + After that pause, he strode on again along the broad winding path through + the Grove. What grand beeches! Adam delighted in a fine tree of all + things; as the fisherman's sight is keenest on the sea, so Adam's + perceptions were more at home with trees than with other objects. He kept + them in his memory, as a painter does, with all the flecks and knots in + their bark, all the curves and angles of their boughs, and had often + calculated the height and contents of a trunk to a nicety, as he stood + looking at it. No wonder that, not-withstanding his desire to get on, he + could not help pausing to look at a curious large beech which he had seen + standing before him at a turning in the road, and convince himself that it + was not two trees wedded together, but only one. For the rest of his life + he remembered that moment when he was calmly examining the beech, as a man + remembers his last glimpse of the home where his youth was passed, before + the road turned, and he saw it no more. The beech stood at the last + turning before the Grove ended in an archway of boughs that let in the + eastern light; and as Adam stepped away from the tree to continue his + walk, his eyes fell on two figures about twenty yards before him. + </p> + <p> + He remained as motionless as a statue, and turned almost as pale. The two + figures were standing opposite to each other, with clasped hands about to + part; and while they were bending to kiss, Gyp, who had been running among + the brushwood, came out, caught sight of them, and gave a sharp bark. They + separated with a start—one hurried through the gate out of the + Grove, and the other, turning round, walked slowly, with a sort of + saunter, towards Adam who still stood transfixed and pale, clutching + tighter the stick with which he held the basket of tools over his + shoulder, and looking at the approaching figure with eyes in which + amazement was fast turning to fierceness. + </p> + <p> + Arthur Donnithorne looked flushed and excited; he had tried to make + unpleasant feelings more bearable by drinking a little more wine than + usual at dinner to-day, and was still enough under its flattering + influence to think more lightly of this unwished-for rencontre with Adam + than he would otherwise have done. After all, Adam was the best person who + could have happened to see him and Hetty together—he was a sensible + fellow, and would not babble about it to other people. Arthur felt + confident that he could laugh the thing off and explain it away. And so he + sauntered forward with elaborate carelessness—his flushed face, his + evening dress of fine cloth and fine linen, his hands half-thrust into his + waistcoat pockets, all shone upon by the strange evening light which the + light clouds had caught up even to the zenith, and were now shedding down + between the topmost branches above him. + </p> + <p> + Adam was still motionless, looking at him as he came up. He understood it + all now—the locket and everything else that had been doubtful to + him: a terrible scorching light showed him the hidden letters that changed + the meaning of the past. If he had moved a muscle, he must inevitably have + sprung upon Arthur like a tiger; and in the conflicting emotions that + filled those long moments, he had told himself that he would not give + loose to passion, he would only speak the right thing. He stood as if + petrified by an unseen force, but the force was his own strong will. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Adam,” said Arthur, “you've been looking at the fine old beeches, + eh? They're not to be come near by the hatchet, though; this is a sacred + grove. I overtook pretty little Hetty Sorrel as I was coming to my den—the + Hermitage, there. She ought not to come home this way so late. So I took + care of her to the gate, and asked for a kiss for my pains. But I must get + back now, for this road is confoundedly damp. Good-night, Adam. I shall + see you to-morrow—to say good-bye, you know.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur was too much preoccupied with the part he was playing himself to be + thoroughly aware of the expression in Adam's face. He did not look + directly at Adam, but glanced carelessly round at the trees and then + lifted up one foot to look at the sole of his boot. He cared to say no + more—he had thrown quite dust enough into honest Adam's eyes—and + as he spoke the last words, he walked on. + </p> + <p> + “Stop a bit, sir,” said Adam, in a hard peremptory voice, without turning + round. “I've got a word to say to you.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur paused in surprise. Susceptible persons are more affected by a + change of tone than by unexpected words, and Arthur had the susceptibility + of a nature at once affectionate and vain. He was still more surprised + when he saw that Adam had not moved, but stood with his back to him, as if + summoning him to return. What did he mean? He was going to make a serious + business of this affair. Arthur felt his temper rising. A patronising + disposition always has its meaner side, and in the confusion of his + irritation and alarm there entered the feeling that a man to whom he had + shown so much favour as to Adam was not in a position to criticize his + conduct. And yet he was dominated, as one who feels himself in the wrong + always is, by the man whose good opinion he cares for. In spite of pride + and temper, there was as much deprecation as anger in his voice when he + said, “What do you mean, Adam?” + </p> + <p> + “I mean, sir”—answered Adam, in the same harsh voice, still without + turning round—“I mean, sir, that you don't deceive me by your light + words. This is not the first time you've met Hetty Sorrel in this grove, + and this is not the first time you've kissed her.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur felt a startled uncertainty how far Adam was speaking from + knowledge, and how far from mere inference. And this uncertainty, which + prevented him from contriving a prudent answer, heightened his irritation. + He said, in a high sharp tone, “Well, sir, what then?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, instead of acting like th' upright, honourable man we've all + believed you to be, you've been acting the part of a selfish light-minded + scoundrel. You know as well as I do what it's to lead to when a gentleman + like you kisses and makes love to a young woman like Hetty, and gives her + presents as she's frightened for other folks to see. And I say it again, + you're acting the part of a selfish light-minded scoundrel though it cuts + me to th' heart to say so, and I'd rather ha' lost my right hand.” + </p> + <p> + “Let me tell you, Adam,” said Arthur, bridling his growing anger and + trying to recur to his careless tone, “you're not only devilishly + impertinent, but you're talking nonsense. Every pretty girl is not such a + fool as you, to suppose that when a gentleman admires her beauty and pays + her a little attention, he must mean something particular. Every man likes + to flirt with a pretty girl, and every pretty girl likes to be flirted + with. The wider the distance between them, the less harm there is, for + then she's not likely to deceive herself.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know what you mean by flirting,” said Adam, “but if you mean + behaving to a woman as if you loved her, and yet not loving her all the + while, I say that's not th' action of an honest man, and what isn't honest + does come t' harm. I'm not a fool, and you're not a fool, and you know + better than what you're saying. You know it couldn't be made public as + you've behaved to Hetty as y' have done without her losing her character + and bringing shame and trouble on her and her relations. What if you meant + nothing by your kissing and your presents? Other folks won't believe as + you've meant nothing; and don't tell me about her not deceiving herself. I + tell you as you've filled her mind so with the thought of you as it'll + mayhap poison her life, and she'll never love another man as 'ud make her + a good husband.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur had felt a sudden relief while Adam was speaking; he perceived that + Adam had no positive knowledge of the past, and that there was no + irrevocable damage done by this evening's unfortunate rencontre. Adam + could still be deceived. The candid Arthur had brought himself into a + position in which successful lying was his only hope. The hope allayed his + anger a little. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Adam,” he said, in a tone of friendly concession, “you're perhaps + right. Perhaps I've gone a little too far in taking notice of the pretty + little thing and stealing a kiss now and then. You're such a grave, steady + fellow, you don't understand the temptation to such trifling. I'm sure I + wouldn't bring any trouble or annoyance on her and the good Poysers on any + account if I could help it. But I think you look a little too seriously at + it. You know I'm going away immediately, so I shan't make any more + mistakes of the kind. But let us say good-night”—Arthur here turned + round to walk on—“and talk no more about the matter. The whole thing + will soon be forgotten.” + </p> + <p> + “No, by God!” Adam burst out with rage that could be controlled no longer, + throwing down the basket of tools and striding forward till he was right + in front of Arthur. All his jealousy and sense of personal injury, which + he had been hitherto trying to keep under, had leaped up and mastered him. + What man of us, in the first moments of a sharp agony, could ever feel + that the fellow-man who has been the medium of inflicting it did not mean + to hurt us? In our instinctive rebellion against pain, we are children + again, and demand an active will to wreak our vengeance on. Adam at this + moment could only feel that he had been robbed of Hetty—robbed + treacherously by the man in whom he had trusted—and he stood close + in front of Arthur, with fierce eyes glaring at him, with pale lips and + clenched hands, the hard tones in which he had hitherto been constraining + himself to express no more than a just indignation giving way to a deep + agitated voice that seemed to shake him as he spoke. + </p> + <p> + “No, it'll not be soon forgot, as you've come in between her and me, when + she might ha' loved me—it'll not soon be forgot as you've robbed me + o' my happiness, while I thought you was my best friend, and a + noble-minded man, as I was proud to work for. And you've been kissing her, + and meaning nothing, have you? And I never kissed her i' my life—but + I'd ha' worked hard for years for the right to kiss her. And you make + light of it. You think little o' doing what may damage other folks, so as + you get your bit o' trifling, as means nothing. I throw back your favours, + for you're not the man I took you for. I'll never count you my friend any + more. I'd rather you'd act as my enemy, and fight me where I stand—it's + all th' amends you can make me.” + </p> + <p> + Poor Adam, possessed by rage that could find no other vent, began to throw + off his coat and his cap, too blind with passion to notice the change that + had taken place in Arthur while he was speaking. Arthur's lips were now as + pale as Adam's; his heart was beating violently. The discovery that Adam + loved Hetty was a shock which made him for the moment see himself in the + light of Adam's indignation, and regard Adam's suffering as not merely a + consequence, but an element of his error. The words of hatred and contempt—the + first he had ever heard in his life—seemed like scorching missiles + that were making ineffaceable scars on him. All screening self-excuse, + which rarely falls quite away while others respect us, forsook him for an + instant, and he stood face to face with the first great irrevocable evil + he had ever committed. He was only twenty-one, and three months ago—nay, + much later—he had thought proudly that no man should ever be able to + reproach him justly. His first impulse, if there had been time for it, + would perhaps have been to utter words of propitiation; but Adam had no + sooner thrown off his coat and cap than he became aware that Arthur was + standing pale and motionless, with his hands still thrust in his waistcoat + pockets. + </p> + <p> + “What!” he said, “won't you fight me like a man? You know I won't strike + you while you stand so.” + </p> + <p> + “Go away, Adam,” said Arthur, “I don't want to fight you.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Adam, bitterly; “you don't want to fight me—you think I'm + a common man, as you can injure without answering for it.” + </p> + <p> + “I never meant to injure you,” said Arthur, with returning anger. “I + didn't know you loved her.” + </p> + <p> + “But you've made her love you,” said Adam. “You're a double-faced man—I'll + never believe a word you say again.” + </p> + <p> + “Go away, I tell you,” said Arthur, angrily, “or we shall both repent.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Adam, with a convulsed voice, “I swear I won't go away without + fighting you. Do you want provoking any more? I tell you you're a coward + and a scoundrel, and I despise you.” + </p> + <p> + The colour had all rushed back to Arthur's face; in a moment his right + hand was clenched, and dealt a blow like lightning, which sent Adam + staggering backward. His blood was as thoroughly up as Adam's now, and the + two men, forgetting the emotions that had gone before, fought with the + instinctive fierceness of panthers in the deepening twilight darkened by + the trees. The delicate-handed gentleman was a match for the workman in + everything but strength, and Arthur's skill enabled him to protract the + struggle for some long moments. But between unarmed men the battle is to + the strong, where the strong is no blunderer, and Arthur must sink under a + well-planted blow of Adam's as a steel rod is broken by an iron bar. The + blow soon came, and Arthur fell, his head lying concealed in a tuft of + fern, so that Adam could only discern his darkly clad body. + </p> + <p> + He stood still in the dim light waiting for Arthur to rise. + </p> + <p> + The blow had been given now, towards which he had been straining all the + force of nerve and muscle—and what was the good of it? What had he + done by fighting? Only satisfied his own passion, only wreaked his own + vengeance. He had not rescued Hetty, nor changed the past—there it + was, just as it had been, and he sickened at the vanity of his own rage. + </p> + <p> + But why did not Arthur rise? He was perfectly motionless, and the time + seemed long to Adam. Good God! had the blow been too much for him? Adam + shuddered at the thought of his own strength, as with the oncoming of this + dread he knelt down by Arthur's side and lifted his head from among the + fern. There was no sign of life: the eyes and teeth were set. The horror + that rushed over Adam completely mastered him, and forced upon him its own + belief. He could feel nothing but that death was in Arthur's face, and + that he was helpless before it. He made not a single movement, but knelt + like an image of despair gazing at an image of death. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0028" id="link2HCH0028"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXVIII + </h2> + <h3> + A Dilemma + </h3> + <p> + IT was only a few minutes measured by the clock—though Adam always + thought it had been a long while—before he perceived a gleam of + consciousness in Arthur's face and a slight shiver through his frame. The + intense joy that flooded his soul brought back some of the old affection + with it. + </p> + <p> + “Do you feel any pain, sir?” he said, tenderly, loosening Arthur's cravat. + </p> + <p> + Arthur turned his eyes on Adam with a vague stare which gave way to a + slightly startled motion as if from the shock of returning memory. But he + only shivered again and said nothing. + </p> + <p> + “Do you feel any hurt, sir?” Adam said again, with a trembling in his + voice. + </p> + <p> + Arthur put his hand up to his waistcoat buttons, and when Adam had + unbuttoned it, he took a longer breath. “Lay my head down,” he said, + faintly, “and get me some water if you can.” + </p> + <p> + Adam laid the head down gently on the fern again, and emptying the tools + out of the flag-basket, hurried through the trees to the edge of the Grove + bordering on the Chase, where a brook ran below the bank. + </p> + <p> + When he returned with his basket leaking, but still half-full, Arthur + looked at him with a more thoroughly reawakened consciousness. + </p> + <p> + “Can you drink a drop out o' your hand, sir?” said Adam, kneeling down + again to lift up Arthur's head. + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Arthur, “dip my cravat in and souse it on my head.” + </p> + <p> + The water seemed to do him some good, for he presently raised himself a + little higher, resting on Adam's arm. + </p> + <p> + “Do you feel any hurt inside sir?” Adam asked again + </p> + <p> + “No—no hurt,” said Arthur, still faintly, “but rather done up.” + </p> + <p> + After a while he said, “I suppose I fainted away when you knocked me + down.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir, thank God,” said Adam. “I thought it was worse.” + </p> + <p> + “What! You thought you'd done for me, eh? Come help me on my legs.” + </p> + <p> + “I feel terribly shaky and dizzy,” Arthur said, as he stood leaning on + Adam's arm; “that blow of yours must have come against me like a + battering-ram. I don't believe I can walk alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Lean on me, sir; I'll get you along,” said Adam. “Or, will you sit down a + bit longer, on my coat here, and I'll prop y' up. You'll perhaps be better + in a minute or two.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Arthur. “I'll go to the Hermitage—I think I've got some + brandy there. There's a short road to it a little farther on, near the + gate. If you'll just help me on.” + </p> + <p> + They walked slowly, with frequent pauses, but without speaking again. In + both of them, the concentration in the present which had attended the + first moments of Arthur's revival had now given way to a vivid + recollection of the previous scene. It was nearly dark in the narrow path + among the trees, but within the circle of fir-trees round the Hermitage + there was room for the growing moonlight to enter in at the windows. Their + steps were noiseless on the thick carpet of fir-needles, and the outward + stillness seemed to heighten their inward consciousness, as Arthur took + the key out of his pocket and placed it in Adam's hand, for him to open + the door. Adam had not known before that Arthur had furnished the old + Hermitage and made it a retreat for himself, and it was a surprise to him + when he opened the door to see a snug room with all the signs of frequent + habitation. + </p> + <p> + Arthur loosed Adam's arm and threw himself on the ottoman. “You'll see my + hunting-bottle somewhere,” he said. “A leather case with a bottle and + glass in.” + </p> + <p> + Adam was not long in finding the case. “There's very little brandy in it, + sir,” he said, turning it downwards over the glass, as he held it before + the window; “hardly this little glassful.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, give me that,” said Arthur, with the peevishness of physical + depression. When he had taken some sips, Adam said, “Hadn't I better run + to th' house, sir, and get some more brandy? I can be there and back + pretty soon. It'll be a stiff walk home for you, if you don't have + something to revive you.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes—go. But don't say I'm ill. Ask for my man Pym, and tell him to + get it from Mills, and not to say I'm at the Hermitage. Get some water + too.” + </p> + <p> + Adam was relieved to have an active task—both of them were relieved + to be apart from each other for a short time. But Adam's swift pace could + not still the eager pain of thinking—of living again with + concentrated suffering through the last wretched hour, and looking out + from it over all the new sad future. + </p> + <p> + Arthur lay still for some minutes after Adam was gone, but presently he + rose feebly from the ottoman and peered about slowly in the broken + moonlight, seeking something. It was a short bit of wax candle that stood + amongst a confusion of writing and drawing materials. There was more + searching for the means of lighting the candle, and when that was done, he + went cautiously round the room, as if wishing to assure himself of the + presence or absence of something. At last he had found a slight thing, + which he put first in his pocket, and then, on a second thought, took out + again and thrust deep down into a waste-paper basket. It was a woman's + little, pink, silk neckerchief. He set the candle on the table, and threw + himself down on the ottoman again, exhausted with the effort. + </p> + <p> + When Adam came back with his supplies, his entrance awoke Arthur from a + doze. + </p> + <p> + “That's right,” Arthur said; “I'm tremendously in want of some + brandy-vigour.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm glad to see you've got a light, sir,” said Adam. “I've been thinking + I'd better have asked for a lanthorn.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no; the candle will last long enough—I shall soon be up to + walking home now.” + </p> + <p> + “I can't go before I've seen you safe home, sir,” said Adam, hesitatingly. + </p> + <p> + “No: it will be better for you to stay—sit down.” + </p> + <p> + Adam sat down, and they remained opposite to each other in uneasy silence, + while Arthur slowly drank brandy-and-water, with visibly renovating + effect. He began to lie in a more voluntary position, and looked as if he + were less overpowered by bodily sensations. Adam was keenly alive to these + indications, and as his anxiety about Arthur's condition began to be + allayed, he felt more of that impatience which every one knows who has had + his just indignation suspended by the physical state of the culprit. Yet + there was one thing on his mind to be done before he could recur to + remonstrance: it was to confess what had been unjust in his own words. + Perhaps he longed all the more to make this confession, that his + indignation might be free again; and as he saw the signs of returning ease + in Arthur, the words again and again came to his lips and went back, + checked by the thought that it would be better to leave everything till + to-morrow. As long as they were silent they did not look at each other, + and a foreboding came across Adam that if they began to speak as though + they remembered the past—if they looked at each other with full + recognition—they must take fire again. So they sat in silence till + the bit of wax candle flickered low in the socket, the silence all the + while becoming more irksome to Adam. Arthur had just poured out some more + brandy-and-water, and he threw one arm behind his head and drew up one leg + in an attitude of recovered ease, which was an irresistible temptation to + Adam to speak what was on his mind. + </p> + <p> + “You begin to feel more yourself again, sir,” he said, as the candle went + out and they were half-hidden from each other in the faint moonlight. + </p> + <p> + “Yes: I don't feel good for much—very lazy, and not inclined to + move; but I'll go home when I've taken this dose.” + </p> + <p> + There was a slight pause before Adam said, “My temper got the better of + me, and I said things as wasn't true. I'd no right to speak as if you'd + known you was doing me an injury: you'd no grounds for knowing it; I've + always kept what I felt for her as secret as I could.” + </p> + <p> + He paused again before he went on. + </p> + <p> + “And perhaps I judged you too harsh—I'm apt to be harsh—and + you may have acted out o' thoughtlessness more than I should ha' believed + was possible for a man with a heart and a conscience. We're not all put + together alike, and we may misjudge one another. God knows, it's all the + joy I could have now, to think the best of you.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur wanted to go home without saying any more—he was too + painfully embarrassed in mind, as well as too weak in body, to wish for + any further explanation to-night. And yet it was a relief to him that Adam + reopened the subject in a way the least difficult for him to answer. + Arthur was in the wretched position of an open, generous man who has + committed an error which makes deception seem a necessity. The native + impulse to give truth in return for truth, to meet trust with frank + confession, must be suppressed, and duty was becoming a question of + tactics. His deed was reacting upon him—was already governing him + tyrannously and forcing him into a course that jarred with his habitual + feelings. The only aim that seemed admissible to him now was to deceive + Adam to the utmost: to make Adam think better of him than he deserved. And + when he heard the words of honest retractation—when he heard the sad + appeal with which Adam ended—he was obliged to rejoice in the + remains of ignorant confidence it implied. He did not answer immediately, + for he had to be judicious and not truthful. + </p> + <p> + “Say no more about our anger, Adam,” he said, at last, very languidly, for + the labour of speech was unwelcome to him; “I forgive your momentary + injustice—it was quite natural, with the exaggerated notions you had + in your mind. We shall be none the worse friends in future, I hope, + because we've fought. You had the best of it, and that was as it should + be, for I believe I've been most in the wrong of the two. Come, let us + shake hands.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur held out his hand, but Adam sat still. + </p> + <p> + “I don't like to say 'No' to that, sir,” he said, “but I can't shake hands + till it's clear what we mean by't. I was wrong when I spoke as if you'd + done me an injury knowingly, but I wasn't wrong in what I said before, + about your behaviour t' Hetty, and I can't shake hands with you as if I + held you my friend the same as ever till you've cleared that up better.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur swallowed his pride and resentment as he drew back his hand. He was + silent for some moments, and then said, as indifferently as he could, “I + don't know what you mean by clearing up, Adam. I've told you already that + you think too seriously of a little flirtation. But if you are right in + supposing there is any danger in it—I'm going away on Saturday, and + there will be an end of it. As for the pain it has given you, I'm heartily + sorry for it. I can say no more.” + </p> + <p> + Adam said nothing, but rose from his chair and stood with his face towards + one of the windows, as if looking at the blackness of the moonlit + fir-trees; but he was in reality conscious of nothing but the conflict + within him. It was of no use now—his resolution not to speak till + to-morrow. He must speak there and then. But it was several minutes before + he turned round and stepped nearer to Arthur, standing and looking down on + him as he lay. + </p> + <p> + “It'll be better for me to speak plain,” he said, with evident effort, + “though it's hard work. You see, sir, this isn't a trifle to me, whatever + it may be to you. I'm none o' them men as can go making love first to one + woman and then t' another, and don't think it much odds which of 'em I + take. What I feel for Hetty's a different sort o' love, such as I believe + nobody can know much about but them as feel it and God as has given it to + 'em. She's more nor everything else to me, all but my conscience and my + good name. And if it's true what you've been saying all along—and if + it's only been trifling and flirting as you call it, as 'll be put an end + to by your going away—why, then, I'd wait, and hope her heart 'ud + turn to me after all. I'm loath to think you'd speak false to me, and I'll + believe your word, however things may look.” + </p> + <p> + “You would be wronging Hetty more than me not to believe it,” said Arthur, + almost violently, starting up from the ottoman and moving away. But he + threw himself into a chair again directly, saying, more feebly, “You seem + to forget that, in suspecting me, you are casting imputations upon her.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, sir,” Adam said, in a calmer voice, as if he were half-relieved—for + he was too straightforward to make a distinction between a direct + falsehood and an indirect one—“Nay, sir, things don't lie level + between Hetty and you. You're acting with your eyes open, whatever you may + do; but how do you know what's been in her mind? She's all but a child—as + any man with a conscience in him ought to feel bound to take care on. And + whatever you may think, I know you've disturbed her mind. I know she's + been fixing her heart on you, for there's a many things clear to me now as + I didn't understand before. But you seem to make light o' what she may + feel—you don't think o' that.” + </p> + <p> + “Good God, Adam, let me alone!” Arthur burst out impetuously; “I feel it + enough without your worrying me.” + </p> + <p> + He was aware of his indiscretion as soon as the words had escaped him. + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, if you feel it,” Adam rejoined, eagerly; “if you feel as you + may ha' put false notions into her mind, and made her believe as you loved + her, when all the while you meant nothing, I've this demand to make of you—I'm + not speaking for myself, but for her. I ask you t' undeceive her before + you go away. Y'aren't going away for ever, and if you leave her behind + with a notion in her head o' your feeling about her the same as she feels + about you, she'll be hankering after you, and the mischief may get worse. + It may be a smart to her now, but it'll save her pain i' th' end. I ask + you to write a letter—you may trust to my seeing as she gets it. + Tell her the truth, and take blame to yourself for behaving as you'd no + right to do to a young woman as isn't your equal. I speak plain, sir, but + I can't speak any other way. There's nobody can take care o' Hetty in this + thing but me.” + </p> + <p> + “I can do what I think needful in the matter,” said Arthur, more and more + irritated by mingled distress and perplexity, “without giving promises to + you. I shall take what measures I think proper.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Adam, in an abrupt decided tone, “that won't do. I must know + what ground I'm treading on. I must be safe as you've put an end to what + ought never to ha' been begun. I don't forget what's owing to you as a + gentleman, but in this thing we're man and man, and I can't give up.” + </p> + <p> + There was no answer for some moments. Then Arthur said, “I'll see you + to-morrow. I can bear no more now; I'm ill.” He rose as he spoke, and + reached his cap, as if intending to go. + </p> + <p> + “You won't see her again!” Adam exclaimed, with a flash of recurring anger + and suspicion, moving towards the door and placing his back against it. + “Either tell me she can never be my wife—tell me you've been lying—or + else promise me what I've said.” + </p> + <p> + Adam, uttering this alternative, stood like a terrible fate before Arthur, + who had moved forward a step or two, and now stopped, faint, shaken, sick + in mind and body. It seemed long to both of them—that inward + struggle of Arthur's—before he said, feebly, “I promise; let me go.” + </p> + <p> + Adam moved away from the door and opened it, but when Arthur reached the + step, he stopped again and leaned against the door-post. + </p> + <p> + “You're not well enough to walk alone, sir,” said Adam. “Take my arm + again.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur made no answer, and presently walked on, Adam following. But, after + a few steps, he stood still again, and said, coldly, “I believe I must + trouble you. It's getting late now, and there may be an alarm set up about + me at home.” + </p> + <p> + Adam gave his arm, and they walked on without uttering a word, till they + came where the basket and the tools lay. + </p> + <p> + “I must pick up the tools, sir,” Adam said. “They're my brother's. I doubt + they'll be rusted. If you'll please to wait a minute.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur stood still without speaking, and no other word passed between them + till they were at the side entrance, where he hoped to get in without + being seen by any one. He said then, “Thank you; I needn't trouble you any + further.” + </p> + <p> + “What time will it be conven'ent for me to see you to-morrow, sir?” said + Adam. + </p> + <p> + “You may send me word that you're here at five o'clock,” said Arthur; “not + before.” + </p> + <p> + “Good-night, sir,” said Adam. But he heard no reply; Arthur had turned + into the house. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0029" id="link2HCH0029"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXIX + </h2> + <h3> + The Next Morning + </h3> + <p> + ARTHUR did not pass a sleepless night; he slept long and well. For sleep + comes to the perplexed—if the perplexed are only weary enough. But + at seven he rang his bell and astonished Pym by declaring he was going to + get up, and must have breakfast brought to him at eight. + </p> + <p> + “And see that my mare is saddled at half-past eight, and tell my + grandfather when he's down that I'm better this morning and am gone for a + ride.” + </p> + <p> + He had been awake an hour, and could rest in bed no longer. In bed our + yesterdays are too oppressive: if a man can only get up, though it be but + to whistle or to smoke, he has a present which offers some resistance to + the past—sensations which assert themselves against tyrannous + memories. And if there were such a thing as taking averages of feeling, it + would certainly be found that in the hunting and shooting seasons regret, + self-reproach, and mortified pride weigh lighter on country gentlemen than + in late spring and summer. Arthur felt that he should be more of a man on + horseback. Even the presence of Pym, waiting on him with the usual + deference, was a reassurance to him after the scenes of yesterday. For, + with Arthur's sensitiveness to opinion, the loss of Adam's respect was a + shock to his self-contentment which suffused his imagination with the + sense that he had sunk in all eyes—as a sudden shock of fear from + some real peril makes a nervous woman afraid even to step, because all her + perceptions are suffused with a sense of danger. + </p> + <p> + Arthur's, as you know, was a loving nature. Deeds of kindness were as easy + to him as a bad habit: they were the common issue of his weaknesses and + good qualities, of his egoism and his sympathy. He didn't like to witness + pain, and he liked to have grateful eyes beaming on him as the giver of + pleasure. When he was a lad of seven, he one day kicked down an old + gardener's pitcher of broth, from no motive but a kicking impulse, not + reflecting that it was the old man's dinner; but on learning that sad + fact, he took his favourite pencil-case and a silver-hafted knife out of + his pocket and offered them as compensation. He had been the same Arthur + ever since, trying to make all offences forgotten in benefits. If there + were any bitterness in his nature, it could only show itself against the + man who refused to be conciliated by him. And perhaps the time was come + for some of that bitterness to rise. At the first moment, Arthur had felt + pure distress and self-reproach at discovering that Adam's happiness was + involved in his relation to Hetty. If there had been a possibility of + making Adam tenfold amends—if deeds of gift, or any other deeds, + could have restored Adam's contentment and regard for him as a benefactor, + Arthur would not only have executed them without hesitation, but would + have felt bound all the more closely to Adam, and would never have been + weary of making retribution. But Adam could receive no amends; his + suffering could not be cancelled; his respect and affection could not be + recovered by any prompt deeds of atonement. He stood like an immovable + obstacle against which no pressure could avail; an embodiment of what + Arthur most shrank from believing in—the irrevocableness of his own + wrongdoing. The words of scorn, the refusal to shake hands, the mastery + asserted over him in their last conversation in the Hermitage—above + all, the sense of having been knocked down, to which a man does not very + well reconcile himself, even under the most heroic circumstances—pressed + on him with a galling pain which was stronger than compunction. Arthur + would so gladly have persuaded himself that he had done no harm! And if no + one had told him the contrary, he could have persuaded himself so much + better. Nemesis can seldom forge a sword for herself out of our + consciences—out of the suffering we feel in the suffering we may + have caused: there is rarely metal enough there to make an effective + weapon. Our moral sense learns the manners of good society and smiles when + others smile, but when some rude person gives rough names to our actions, + she is apt to take part against us. And so it was with Arthur: Adam's + judgment of him, Adam's grating words, disturbed his self-soothing + arguments. + </p> + <p> + Not that Arthur had been at ease before Adam's discovery. Struggles and + resolves had transformed themselves into compunction and anxiety. He was + distressed for Hetty's sake, and distressed for his own, that he must + leave her behind. He had always, both in making and breaking resolutions, + looked beyond his passion and seen that it must speedily end in + separation; but his nature was too ardent and tender for him not to suffer + at this parting; and on Hetty's account he was filled with uneasiness. He + had found out the dream in which she was living—that she was to be a + lady in silks and satins—and when he had first talked to her about + his going away, she had asked him tremblingly to let her go with him and + be married. It was his painful knowledge of this which had given the most + exasperating sting to Adam's reproaches. He had said no word with the + purpose of deceiving her—her vision was all spun by her own childish + fancy—but he was obliged to confess to himself that it was spun half + out of his own actions. And to increase the mischief, on this last evening + he had not dared to hint the truth to Hetty; he had been obliged to soothe + her with tender, hopeful words, lest he should throw her into violent + distress. He felt the situation acutely, felt the sorrow of the dear thing + in the present, and thought with a darker anxiety of the tenacity which + her feelings might have in the future. That was the one sharp point which + pressed against him; every other he could evade by hopeful + self-persuasion. The whole thing had been secret; the Poysers had not the + shadow of a suspicion. No one, except Adam, knew anything of what had + passed—no one else was likely to know; for Arthur had impressed on + Hetty that it would be fatal to betray, by word or look, that there had + been the least intimacy between them; and Adam, who knew half their + secret, would rather help them to keep it than betray it. It was an + unfortunate business altogether, but there was no use in making it worse + than it was by imaginary exaggerations and forebodings of evil that might + never come. The temporary sadness for Hetty was the worst consequence; he + resolutely turned away his eyes from any bad consequence that was not + demonstrably inevitable. But—but Hetty might have had the trouble in + some other way if not in this. And perhaps hereafter he might be able to + do a great deal for her and make up to her for all the tears she would + shed about him. She would owe the advantage of his care for her in future + years to the sorrow she had incurred now. So good comes out of evil. Such + is the beautiful arrangement of things! + </p> + <p> + Are you inclined to ask whether this can be the same Arthur who, two + months ago, had that freshness of feeling, that delicate honour which + shrinks from wounding even a sentiment, and does not contemplate any more + positive offence as possible for it?—who thought that his own + self-respect was a higher tribunal than any external opinion? The same, I + assure you, only under different conditions. Our deeds determine us, as + much as we determine our deeds, and until we know what has been or will be + the peculiar combination of outward with inward facts, which constitutes a + man's critical actions, it will be better not to think ourselves wise + about his character. There is a terrible coercion in our deeds, which may + first turn the honest man into a deceiver and then reconcile him to the + change, for this reason—that the second wrong presents itself to him + in the guise of the only practicable right. The action which before + commission has been seen with that blended common sense and fresh + untarnished feeling which is the healthy eye of the soul, is looked at + afterwards with the lens of apologetic ingenuity, through which all things + that men call beautiful and ugly are seen to be made up of textures very + much alike. Europe adjusts itself to a <i>fait accompli</i>, and so does + an individual character—until the placid adjustment is disturbed by + a convulsive retribution. + </p> + <p> + No man can escape this vitiating effect of an offence against his own + sentiment of right, and the effect was the stronger in Arthur because of + that very need of self-respect which, while his conscience was still at + ease, was one of his best safeguards. Self-accusation was too painful to + him—he could not face it. He must persuade himself that he had not + been very much to blame; he began even to pity himself for the necessity + he was under of deceiving Adam—it was a course so opposed to the + honesty of his own nature. But then, it was the only right thing to do. + </p> + <p> + Well, whatever had been amiss in him, he was miserable enough in + consequence: miserable about Hetty; miserable about this letter that he + had promised to write, and that seemed at one moment to be a gross + barbarity, at another perhaps the greatest kindness he could do to her. + And across all this reflection would dart every now and then a sudden + impulse of passionate defiance towards all consequences. He would carry + Hetty away, and all other considerations might go to.... + </p> + <p> + In this state of mind the four walls of his room made an intolerable + prison to him; they seemed to hem in and press down upon him all the crowd + of contradictory thoughts and conflicting feelings, some of which would + fly away in the open air. He had only an hour or two to make up his mind + in, and he must get clear and calm. Once on Meg's back, in the fresh air + of that fine morning, he should be more master of the situation. + </p> + <p> + The pretty creature arched her bay neck in the sunshine, and pawed the + gravel, and trembled with pleasure when her master stroked her nose, and + patted her, and talked to her even in a more caressing tone than usual. He + loved her the better because she knew nothing of his secrets. But Meg was + quite as well acquainted with her master's mental state as many others of + her sex with the mental condition of the nice young gentlemen towards whom + their hearts are in a state of fluttering expectation. + </p> + <p> + Arthur cantered for five miles beyond the Chase, till he was at the foot + of a hill where there were no hedges or trees to hem in the road. Then he + threw the bridle on Meg's neck and prepared to make up his mind. + </p> + <p> + Hetty knew that their meeting yesterday must be the last before Arthur + went away—there was no possibility of their contriving another + without exciting suspicion—and she was like a frightened child, + unable to think of anything, only able to cry at the mention of parting, + and then put her face up to have the tears kissed away. He could do + nothing but comfort her, and lull her into dreaming on. A letter would be + a dreadfully abrupt way of awakening her! Yet there was truth in what Adam + said—that it would save her from a lengthened delusion, which might + be worse than a sharp immediate pain. And it was the only way of + satisfying Adam, who must be satisfied, for more reasons than one. If he + could have seen her again! But that was impossible; there was such a + thorny hedge of hindrances between them, and an imprudence would be fatal. + And yet, if he COULD see her again, what good would it do? Only cause him + to suffer more from the sight of her distress and the remembrance of it. + Away from him she was surrounded by all the motives to self-control. + </p> + <p> + A sudden dread here fell like a shadow across his imagination—the + dread lest she should do something violent in her grief; and close upon + that dread came another, which deepened the shadow. But he shook them off + with the force of youth and hope. What was the ground for painting the + future in that dark way? It was just as likely to be the reverse. Arthur + told himself he did not deserve that things should turn out badly. He had + never meant beforehand to do anything his conscience disapproved; he had + been led on by circumstances. There was a sort of implicit confidence in + him that he was really such a good fellow at bottom, Providence would not + treat him harshly. + </p> + <p> + At all events, he couldn't help what would come now: all he could do was + to take what seemed the best course at the present moment. And he + persuaded himself that that course was to make the way open between Adam + and Hetty. Her heart might really turn to Adam, as he said, after a while; + and in that case there would have been no great harm done, since it was + still Adam's ardent wish to make her his wife. To be sure, Adam was + deceived—deceived in a way that Arthur would have resented as a deep + wrong if it had been practised on himself. That was a reflection that + marred the consoling prospect. Arthur's cheeks even burned in mingled + shame and irritation at the thought. But what could a man do in such a + dilemma? He was bound in honour to say no word that could injure Hetty: + his first duty was to guard her. He would never have told or acted a lie + on his own account. Good God! What a miserable fool he was to have brought + himself into such a dilemma; and yet, if ever a man had excuses, he had. + (Pity that consequences are determined not by excuses but by actions!) + </p> + <p> + Well, the letter must be written; it was the only means that promised a + solution of the difficulty. The tears came into Arthur's eyes as he + thought of Hetty reading it; but it would be almost as hard for him to + write it; he was not doing anything easy to himself; and this last thought + helped him to arrive at a conclusion. He could never deliberately have + taken a step which inflicted pain on another and left himself at ease. + Even a movement of jealousy at the thought of giving up Hetty to Adam went + to convince him that he was making a sacrifice. + </p> + <p> + When once he had come to this conclusion, he turned Meg round and set off + home again in a canter. The letter should be written the first thing, and + the rest of the day would be filled up with other business: he should have + no time to look behind him. Happily, Irwine and Gawaine were coming to + dinner, and by twelve o'clock the next day he should have left the Chase + miles behind him. There was some security in this constant occupation + against an uncontrollable impulse seizing him to rush to Hetty and thrust + into her hand some mad proposition that would undo everything. Faster and + faster went the sensitive Meg, at every slight sign from her rider, till + the canter had passed into a swift gallop. + </p> + <p> + “I thought they said th' young mester war took ill last night,” said sour + old John, the groom, at dinner-time in the servants' hall. “He's been + ridin' fit to split the mare i' two this forenoon.” + </p> + <p> + “That's happen one o' the symptims, John,” said the facetious coachman. + </p> + <p> + “Then I wish he war let blood for 't, that's all,” said John, grimly. + </p> + <p> + Adam had been early at the Chase to know how Arthur was, and had been + relieved from all anxiety about the effects of his blow by learning that + he was gone out for a ride. At five o'clock he was punctually there again, + and sent up word of his arrival. In a few minutes Pym came down with a + letter in his hand and gave it to Adam, saying that the captain was too + busy to see him, and had written everything he had to say. The letter was + directed to Adam, but he went out of doors again before opening it. It + contained a sealed enclosure directed to Hetty. On the inside of the cover + Adam read: + </p> + <p> + “In the enclosed letter I have written everything you wish. I leave it to + you to decide whether you will be doing best to deliver it to Hetty or to + return it to me. Ask yourself once more whether you are not taking a + measure which may pain her more than mere silence. + </p> + <p> + “There is no need for our seeing each other again now. We shall meet with + better feelings some months hence. + </p> + <p> + “A.D.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps he's i' th' right on 't not to see me,” thought Adam. “It's no + use meeting to say more hard words, and it's no use meeting to shake hands + and say we're friends again. We're not friends, an' it's better not to + pretend it. I know forgiveness is a man's duty, but, to my thinking, that + can only mean as you're to give up all thoughts o' taking revenge: it can + never mean as you're t' have your old feelings back again, for that's not + possible. He's not the same man to me, and I can't feel the same towards + him. God help me! I don't know whether I feel the same towards anybody: I + seem as if I'd been measuring my work from a false line, and had got it + all to measure over again.” + </p> + <p> + But the question about delivering the letter to Hetty soon absorbed Adam's + thoughts. Arthur had procured some relief to himself by throwing the + decision on Adam with a warning; and Adam, who was not given to + hesitation, hesitated here. He determined to feel his way—to + ascertain as well as he could what was Hetty's state of mind before he + decided on delivering the letter. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0030" id="link2HCH0030"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXX + </h2> + <h3> + The Delivery of the Letter + </h3> + <p> + THE next Sunday Adam joined the Poysers on their way out of church, hoping + for an invitation to go home with them. He had the letter in his pocket, + and was anxious to have an opportunity of talking to Hetty alone. He could + not see her face at church, for she had changed her seat, and when he came + up to her to shake hands, her manner was doubtful and constrained. He + expected this, for it was the first time she had met him since she had + been aware that he had seen her with Arthur in the Grove. + </p> + <p> + “Come, you'll go on with us, Adam,” Mr. Poyser said when they reached the + turning; and as soon as they were in the fields Adam ventured to offer his + arm to Hetty. The children soon gave them an opportunity of lingering + behind a little, and then Adam said: + </p> + <p> + “Will you contrive for me to walk out in the garden a bit with you this + evening, if it keeps fine, Hetty? I've something partic'lar to talk to you + about.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty said, “Very well.” She was really as anxious as Adam was that she + should have some private talk with him. She wondered what he thought of + her and Arthur. He must have seen them kissing, she knew, but she had no + conception of the scene that had taken place between Arthur and Adam. Her + first feeling had been that Adam would be very angry with her, and perhaps + would tell her aunt and uncle, but it never entered her mind that he would + dare to say anything to Captain Donnithorne. It was a relief to her that + he behaved so kindly to her to-day, and wanted to speak to her alone, for + she had trembled when she found he was going home with them lest he should + mean “to tell.” But, now he wanted to talk to her by herself, she should + learn what he thought and what he meant to do. She felt a certain + confidence that she could persuade him not to do anything she did not want + him to do; she could perhaps even make him believe that she didn't care + for Arthur; and as long as Adam thought there was any hope of her having + him, he would do just what she liked, she knew. Besides, she MUST go on + seeming to encourage Adam, lest her uncle and aunt should be angry and + suspect her of having some secret lover. + </p> + <p> + Hetty's little brain was busy with this combination as she hung on Adam's + arm and said “yes” or “no” to some slight observations of his about the + many hawthorn-berries there would be for the birds this next winter, and + the low-hanging clouds that would hardly hold up till morning. And when + they rejoined her aunt and uncle, she could pursue her thoughts without + interruption, for Mr. Poyser held that though a young man might like to + have the woman he was courting on his arm, he would nevertheless be glad + of a little reasonable talk about business the while; and, for his own + part, he was curious to hear the most recent news about the Chase Farm. + So, through the rest of the walk, he claimed Adam's conversation for + himself, and Hetty laid her small plots and imagined her little scenes of + cunning blandishment, as she walked along by the hedgerows on honest + Adam's arm, quite as well as if she had been an elegantly clad coquette + alone in her boudoir. For if a country beauty in clumsy shoes be only + shallow-hearted enough, it is astonishing how closely her mental processes + may resemble those of a lady in society and crinoline, who applies her + refined intellect to the problem of committing indiscretions without + compromising herself. Perhaps the resemblance was not much the less + because Hetty felt very unhappy all the while. The parting with Arthur was + a double pain to her—mingling with the tumult of passion and vanity + there was a dim undefined fear that the future might shape itself in some + way quite unlike her dream. She clung to the comforting hopeful words + Arthur had uttered in their last meeting—“I shall come again at + Christmas, and then we will see what can be done.” She clung to the belief + that he was so fond of her, he would never be happy without her; and she + still hugged her secret—that a great gentleman loved her—with + gratified pride, as a superiority over all the girls she knew. But the + uncertainty of the future, the possibilities to which she could give no + shape, began to press upon her like the invisible weight of air; she was + alone on her little island of dreams, and all around her was the dark + unknown water where Arthur was gone. She could gather no elation of + spirits now by looking forward, but only by looking backward to build + confidence on past words and caresses. But occasionally, since Thursday + evening, her dim anxieties had been almost lost behind the more definite + fear that Adam might betray what he knew to her uncle and aunt, and his + sudden proposition to talk with her alone had set her thoughts to work in + a new way. She was eager not to lose this evening's opportunity; and after + tea, when the boys were going into the garden and Totty begged to go with + them, Hetty said, with an alacrity that surprised Mrs. Poyser, “I'll go + with her, Aunt.” + </p> + <p> + It did not seem at all surprising that Adam said he would go too, and soon + he and Hetty were left alone together on the walk by the filbert-trees, + while the boys were busy elsewhere gathering the large unripe nuts to play + at “cob-nut” with, and Totty was watching them with a puppylike air of + contemplation. It was but a short time—hardly two months—since + Adam had had his mind filled with delicious hopes as he stood by Hetty's + side in this garden. The remembrance of that scene had often been with him + since Thursday evening: the sunlight through the apple-tree boughs, the + red bunches, Hetty's sweet blush. It came importunately now, on this sad + evening, with the low-hanging clouds, but he tried to suppress it, lest + some emotion should impel him to say more than was needful for Hetty's + sake. + </p> + <p> + “After what I saw on Thursday night, Hetty,” he began, “you won't think me + making too free in what I'm going to say. If you was being courted by any + man as 'ud make you his wife, and I'd known you was fond of him and meant + to have him, I should have no right to speak a word to you about it; but + when I see you're being made love to by a gentleman as can never marry + you, and doesna think o' marrying you, I feel bound t' interfere for you. + I can't speak about it to them as are i' the place o' your parents, for + that might bring worse trouble than's needful.” + </p> + <p> + Adam's words relieved one of Hetty's fears, but they also carried a + meaning which sickened her with a strengthened foreboding. She was pale + and trembling, and yet she would have angrily contradicted Adam, if she + had dared to betray her feelings. But she was silent. + </p> + <p> + “You're so young, you know, Hetty,” he went on, almost tenderly, “and y' + haven't seen much o' what goes on in the world. It's right for me to do + what I can to save you from getting into trouble for want o' your knowing + where you're being led to. If anybody besides me knew what I know about + your meeting a gentleman and having fine presents from him, they'd speak + light on you, and you'd lose your character. And besides that, you'll have + to suffer in your feelings, wi' giving your love to a man as can never + marry you, so as he might take care of you all your life.” + </p> + <p> + Adam paused and looked at Hetty, who was plucking the leaves from the + filbert-trees and tearing them up in her hand. Her little plans and + preconcerted speeches had all forsaken her, like an ill-learnt lesson, + under the terrible agitation produced by Adam's words. There was a cruel + force in their calm certainty which threatened to grapple and crush her + flimsy hopes and fancies. She wanted to resist them—she wanted to + throw them off with angry contradiction—but the determination to + conceal what she felt still governed her. It was nothing more than a blind + prompting now, for she was unable to calculate the effect of her words. + </p> + <p> + “You've no right to say as I love him,” she said, faintly, but + impetuously, plucking another rough leaf and tearing it up. She was very + beautiful in her paleness and agitation, with her dark childish eyes + dilated and her breath shorter than usual. Adam's heart yearned over her + as he looked at her. Ah, if he could but comfort her, and soothe her, and + save her from this pain; if he had but some sort of strength that would + enable him to rescue her poor troubled mind, as he would have rescued her + body in the face of all danger! + </p> + <p> + “I doubt it must be so, Hetty,” he said, tenderly; “for I canna believe + you'd let any man kiss you by yourselves, and give you a gold box with his + hair, and go a-walking i' the Grove to meet him, if you didna love him. + I'm not blaming you, for I know it 'ud begin by little and little, till at + last you'd not be able to throw it off. It's him I blame for stealing your + love i' that way, when he knew he could never make you the right amends. + He's been trifling with you, and making a plaything of you, and caring + nothing about you as a man ought to care.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, he does care for me; I know better nor you,” Hetty burst out. + Everything was forgotten but the pain and anger she felt at Adam's words. + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Hetty,” said Adam, “if he'd cared for you rightly, he'd never ha' + behaved so. He told me himself he meant nothing by his kissing and + presents, and he wanted to make me believe as you thought light of 'em + too. But I know better nor that. I can't help thinking as you've been + trusting to his loving you well enough to marry you, for all he's a + gentleman. And that's why I must speak to you about it, Hetty, for fear + you should be deceiving yourself. It's never entered his head the thought + o' marrying you.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know? How durst you say so?” said Hetty, pausing in her walk + and trembling. The terrible decision of Adam's tone shook her with fear. + She had no presence of mind left for the reflection that Arthur would have + his reasons for not telling the truth to Adam. Her words and look were + enough to determine Adam: he must give her the letter. + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps you can't believe me, Hetty, because you think too well of him—because + you think he loves you better than he does. But I've got a letter i' my + pocket, as he wrote himself for me to give you. I've not read the letter, + but he says he's told you the truth in it. But before I give you the + letter, consider, Hetty, and don't let it take too much hold on you. It + wouldna ha' been good for you if he'd wanted to do such a mad thing as + marry you: it 'ud ha' led to no happiness i' th' end.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty said nothing; she felt a revival of hope at the mention of a letter + which Adam had not read. There would be something quite different in it + from what he thought. + </p> + <p> + Adam took out the letter, but he held it in his hand still, while he said, + in a tone of tender entreaty, “Don't you bear me ill will, Hetty, because + I'm the means o' bringing you this pain. God knows I'd ha' borne a good + deal worse for the sake o' sparing it you. And think—there's nobody + but me knows about this, and I'll take care of you as if I was your + brother. You're the same as ever to me, for I don't believe you've done + any wrong knowingly.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty had laid her hand on the letter, but Adam did not loose it till he + had done speaking. She took no notice of what he said—she had not + listened; but when he loosed the letter, she put it into her pocket, + without opening it, and then began to walk more quickly, as if she wanted + to go in. + </p> + <p> + “You're in the right not to read it just yet,” said Adam. “Read it when + you're by yourself. But stay out a little bit longer, and let us call the + children: you look so white and ill, your aunt may take notice of it.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty heard the warning. It recalled to her the necessity of rallying her + native powers of concealment, which had half given way under the shock of + Adam's words. And she had the letter in her pocket: she was sure there was + comfort in that letter in spite of Adam. She ran to find Totty, and soon + reappeared with recovered colour, leading Totty, who was making a sour + face because she had been obliged to throw away an unripe apple that she + had set her small teeth in. + </p> + <p> + “Hegh, Totty,” said Adam, “come and ride on my shoulder—ever so high—you'll + touch the tops o' the trees.” + </p> + <p> + What little child ever refused to be comforted by that glorious sense of + being seized strongly and swung upward? I don't believe Ganymede cried + when the eagle carried him away, and perhaps deposited him on Jove's + shoulder at the end. Totty smiled down complacently from her secure + height, and pleasant was the sight to the mother's eyes, as she stood at + the house door and saw Adam coming with his small burden. + </p> + <p> + “Bless your sweet face, my pet,” she said, the mother's strong love + filling her keen eyes with mildness, as Totty leaned forward and put out + her arms. She had no eyes for Hetty at that moment, and only said, without + looking at her, “You go and draw some ale, Hetty; the gells are both at + the cheese.” + </p> + <p> + After the ale had been drawn and her uncle's pipe lighted, there was Totty + to be taken to bed, and brought down again in her night-gown because she + would cry instead of going to sleep. Then there was supper to be got + ready, and Hetty must be continually in the way to give help. Adam stayed + till he knew Mrs. Poyser expected him to go, engaging her and her husband + in talk as constantly as he could, for the sake of leaving Hetty more at + ease. He lingered, because he wanted to see her safely through that + evening, and he was delighted to find how much self-command she showed. He + knew she had not had time to read the letter, but he did not know she was + buoyed up by a secret hope that the letter would contradict everything he + had said. It was hard work for him to leave her—hard to think that + he should not know for days how she was bearing her trouble. But he must + go at last, and all he could do was to press her hand gently as he said + “Good-bye,” and hope she would take that as a sign that if his love could + ever be a refuge for her, it was there the same as ever. How busy his + thoughts were, as he walked home, in devising pitying excuses for her + folly, in referring all her weakness to the sweet lovingness of her + nature, in blaming Arthur, with less and less inclination to admit that + his conduct might be extenuated too! His exasperation at Hetty's suffering—and + also at the sense that she was possibly thrust for ever out of his own + reach—deafened him to any plea for the miscalled friend who had + wrought this misery. Adam was a clear-sighted, fair-minded man—a + fine fellow, indeed, morally as well as physically. But if Aristides the + Just was ever in love and jealous, he was at that moment not perfectly + magnanimous. And I cannot pretend that Adam, in these painful days, felt + nothing but righteous indignation and loving pity. He was bitterly + jealous, and in proportion as his love made him indulgent in his judgment + of Hetty, the bitterness found a vent in his feeling towards Arthur. + </p> + <p> + “Her head was allays likely to be turned,” he thought, “when a gentleman, + with his fine manners, and fine clothes, and his white hands, and that way + o' talking gentlefolks have, came about her, making up to her in a bold + way, as a man couldn't do that was only her equal; and it's much if she'll + ever like a common man now.” He could not help drawing his own hands out + of his pocket and looking at them—at the hard palms and the broken + finger-nails. “I'm a roughish fellow, altogether; I don't know, now I come + to think on't, what there is much for a woman to like about me; and yet I + might ha' got another wife easy enough, if I hadn't set my heart on her. + But it's little matter what other women think about me, if she can't love + me. She might ha' loved me, perhaps, as likely as any other man—there's + nobody hereabouts as I'm afraid of, if he hadn't come between us; but now + I shall belike be hateful to her because I'm so different to him. And yet + there's no telling—she may turn round the other way, when she finds + he's made light of her all the while. She may come to feel the vally of a + man as 'ud be thankful to be bound to her all his life. But I must put up + with it whichever way it is—I've only to be thankful it's been no + worse. I am not th' only man that's got to do without much happiness i' + this life. There's many a good bit o' work done with a bad heart. It's + God's will, and that's enough for us: we shouldn't know better how things + ought to be than He does, I reckon, if we was to spend our lives i' + puzzling. But it 'ud ha' gone near to spoil my work for me, if I'd seen + her brought to sorrow and shame, and through the man as I've always been + proud to think on. Since I've been spared that, I've no right to grumble. + When a man's got his limbs whole, he can bear a smart cut or two.” + </p> + <p> + As Adam was getting over a stile at this point in his reflections, he + perceived a man walking along the field before him. He knew it was Seth, + returning from an evening preaching, and made haste to overtake him. + </p> + <p> + “I thought thee'dst be at home before me,” he said, as Seth turned round + to wait for him, “for I'm later than usual to-night.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'm later too, for I got into talk, after meeting, with John + Barnes, who has lately professed himself in a state of perfection, and I'd + a question to ask him about his experience. It's one o' them subjects that + lead you further than y' expect—they don't lie along the straight + road.” + </p> + <p> + They walked along together in silence two or three minutes. Adam was not + inclined to enter into the subtleties of religious experience, but he was + inclined to interchange a word or two of brotherly affection and + confidence with Seth. That was a rare impulse in him, much as the brothers + loved each other. They hardly ever spoke of personal matters, or uttered + more than an allusion to their family troubles. Adam was by nature + reserved in all matters of feeling, and Seth felt a certain timidity + towards his more practical brother. + </p> + <p> + “Seth, lad,” Adam said, putting his arm on his brother's shoulder, “hast + heard anything from Dinah Morris since she went away?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Seth. “She told me I might write her word after a while, how + we went on, and how mother bore up under her trouble. So I wrote to her a + fortnight ago, and told her about thee having a new employment, and how + Mother was more contented; and last Wednesday, when I called at the post + at Treddles'on, I found a letter from her. I think thee'dst perhaps like + to read it, but I didna say anything about it because thee'st seemed so + full of other things. It's quite easy t' read—she writes wonderful + for a woman.” + </p> + <p> + Seth had drawn the letter from his pocket and held it out to Adam, who + said, as he took it, “Aye, lad, I've got a tough load to carry just now—thee + mustna take it ill if I'm a bit silenter and crustier nor usual. Trouble + doesna make me care the less for thee. I know we shall stick together to + the last.” + </p> + <p> + “I take nought ill o' thee, Adam. I know well enough what it means if + thee't a bit short wi' me now and then.” + </p> + <p> + “There's Mother opening the door to look out for us,” said Adam, as they + mounted the slope. “She's been sitting i' the dark as usual. Well, Gyp, + well, art glad to see me?” + </p> + <p> + Lisbeth went in again quickly and lighted a candle, for she had heard the + welcome rustling of footsteps on the grass, before Gyp's joyful bark. + </p> + <p> + “Eh, my lads! Th' hours war ne'er so long sin' I war born as they'n been + this blessed Sunday night. What can ye both ha' been doin' till this + time?” + </p> + <p> + “Thee shouldstna sit i' the dark, Mother,” said Adam; “that makes the time + seem longer.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, what am I to do wi' burnin' candle of a Sunday, when there's on'y me + an' it's sin to do a bit o' knittin'? The daylight's long enough for me to + stare i' the booke as I canna read. It 'ud be a fine way o' shortenin' the + time, to make it waste the good candle. But which on you's for ha'in' + supper? Ye mun ayther be clemmed or full, I should think, seein' what time + o' night it is.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm hungry, Mother,” said Seth, seating himself at the little table, + which had been spread ever since it was light. + </p> + <p> + “I've had my supper,” said Adam. “Here, Gyp,” he added, taking some cold + potato from the table and rubbing the rough grey head that looked up + towards him. + </p> + <p> + “Thee needstna be gi'in' th' dog,” said Lisbeth; “I'n fed him well + a'ready. I'm not like to forget him, I reckon, when he's all o' thee I can + get sight on.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, then, Gyp,” said Adam, “we'll go to bed. Good-night, Mother; I'm + very tired.” + </p> + <p> + “What ails him, dost know?” Lisbeth said to Seth, when Adam was gone + upstairs. “He's like as if he was struck for death this day or two—he's + so cast down. I found him i' the shop this forenoon, arter thee wast gone, + a-sittin' an' doin' nothin'—not so much as a booke afore him.” + </p> + <p> + “He's a deal o' work upon him just now, Mother,” said Seth, “and I think + he's a bit troubled in his mind. Don't you take notice of it, because it + hurts him when you do. Be as kind to him as you can, Mother, and don't say + anything to vex him.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, what dost talk o' my vexin' him? An' what am I like to be but kind? + I'll ma' him a kettle-cake for breakfast i' the mornin'.” + </p> + <p> + Adam, meanwhile, was reading Dinah's letter by the light of his dip + candle. + </p> + <p> + DEAR BROTHER SETH—Your letter lay three days beyond my knowing of it + at the post, for I had not money enough by me to pay the carriage, this + being a time of great need and sickness here, with the rains that have + fallen, as if the windows of heaven were opened again; and to lay by + money, from day to day, in such a time, when there are so many in present + need of all things, would be a want of trust like the laying up of the + manna. I speak of this, because I would not have you think me slow to + answer, or that I had small joy in your rejoicing at the worldly good that + has befallen your brother Adam. The honour and love you bear him is + nothing but meet, for God has given him great gifts, and he uses them as + the patriarch Joseph did, who, when he was exalted to a place of power and + trust, yet yearned with tenderness towards his parent and his younger + brother. + </p> + <p> + “My heart is knit to your aged mother since it was granted me to be near + her in the day of trouble. Speak to her of me, and tell her I often bear + her in my thoughts at evening time, when I am sitting in the dim light as + I did with her, and we held one another's hands, and I spoke the words of + comfort that were given to me. Ah, that is a blessed time, isn't it, Seth, + when the outward light is fading, and the body is a little wearied with + its work and its labour. Then the inward light shines the brighter, and we + have a deeper sense of resting on the Divine strength. I sit on my chair + in the dark room and close my eyes, and it is as if I was out of the body + and could feel no want for evermore. For then, the very hardship, and the + sorrow, and the blindness, and the sin I have beheld and been ready to + weep over—yea, all the anguish of the children of men, which + sometimes wraps me round like sudden darkness—I can bear with a + willing pain, as if I was sharing the Redeemer's cross. For I feel it, I + feel it—infinite love is suffering too—yea, in the fulness of + knowledge it suffers, it yearns, it mourns; and that is a blind + self-seeking which wants to be freed from the sorrow wherewith the whole + creation groaneth and travaileth. Surely it is not true blessedness to be + free from sorrow, while there is sorrow and sin in the world: sorrow is + then a part of love, and love does not seek to throw it off. It is not the + spirit only that tells me this—I see it in the whole work and word + of the Gospel. Is there not pleading in heaven? Is not the Man of Sorrows + there in that crucified body wherewith he ascended? And is He not one with + the Infinite Love itself—as our love is one with our sorrow? + </p> + <p> + “These thoughts have been much borne in on me of late, and I have seen + with new clearness the meaning of those words, 'If any man love me, let + him take up my cross.' I have heard this enlarged on as if it meant the + troubles and persecutions we bring on ourselves by confessing Jesus. But + surely that is a narrow thought. The true cross of the Redeemer was the + sin and sorrow of this world—that was what lay heavy on his heart—and + that is the cross we shall share with him, that is the cup we must drink + of with him, if we would have any part in that Divine Love which is one + with his sorrow. + </p> + <p> + “In my outward lot, which you ask about, I have all things and abound. I + have had constant work in the mill, though some of the other hands have + been turned off for a time, and my body is greatly strengthened, so that I + feel little weariness after long walking and speaking. What you say about + staying in your own country with your mother and brother shows me that you + have a true guidance; your lot is appointed there by a clear showing, and + to seek a greater blessing elsewhere would be like laying a false offering + on the altar and expecting the fire from heaven to kindle it. My work and + my joy are here among the hills, and I sometimes think I cling too much to + my life among the people here, and should be rebellious if I was called + away. + </p> + <p> + “I was thankful for your tidings about the dear friends at the Hall Farm, + for though I sent them a letter, by my aunt's desire, after I came back + from my sojourn among them, I have had no word from them. My aunt has not + the pen of a ready writer, and the work of the house is sufficient for the + day, for she is weak in body. My heart cleaves to her and her children as + the nearest of all to me in the flesh—yea, and to all in that house. + I am carried away to them continually in my sleep, and often in the midst + of work, and even of speech, the thought of them is borne in on me as if + they were in need and trouble, which yet is dark to me. There may be some + leading here; but I wait to be taught. You say they are all well. + </p> + <p> + “We shall see each other again in the body, I trust, though, it may be, + not for a long while; for the brethren and sisters at Leeds are desirous + to have me for a short space among them, when I have a door opened me + again to leave Snowfield. + </p> + <p> + “Farewell, dear brother—and yet not farewell. For those children of + God whom it has been granted to see each other face to face, and to hold + communion together, and to feel the same spirit working in both can never + more be sundered though the hills may lie between. For their souls are + enlarged for evermore by that union, and they bear one another about in + their thoughts continually as it were a new strength.—Your faithful + Sister and fellow-worker in Christ, + </p> + <p> + “DINAH MORRIS.” + </p> + <p> + “I have not skill to write the words so small as you do and my pen moves + slow. And so I am straitened, and say but little of what is in my mind. + Greet your mother for me with a kiss. She asked me to kiss her twice when + we parted.” + </p> + <p> + Adam had refolded the letter, and was sitting meditatively with his head + resting on his arm at the head of the bed, when Seth came upstairs. + </p> + <p> + “Hast read the letter?” said Seth. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Adam. “I don't know what I should ha' thought of her and her + letter if I'd never seen her: I daresay I should ha' thought a preaching + woman hateful. But she's one as makes everything seem right she says and + does, and I seemed to see her and hear her speaking when I read the + letter. It's wonderful how I remember her looks and her voice. She'd make + thee rare and happy, Seth; she's just the woman for thee.” + </p> + <p> + “It's no use thinking o' that,” said Seth, despondingly. “She spoke so + firm, and she's not the woman to say one thing and mean another.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, but her feelings may grow different. A woman may get to love by + degrees—the best fire dosna flare up the soonest. I'd have thee go + and see her by and by: I'd make it convenient for thee to be away three or + four days, and it 'ud be no walk for thee—only between twenty and + thirty mile.” + </p> + <p> + “I should like to see her again, whether or no, if she wouldna be + displeased with me for going,” said Seth. + </p> + <p> + “She'll be none displeased,” said Adam emphatically, getting up and + throwing off his coat. “It might be a great happiness to us all if she'd + have thee, for mother took to her so wonderful and seemed so contented to + be with her.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye,” said Seth, rather timidly, “and Dinah's fond o' Hetty too; she + thinks a deal about her.” + </p> + <p> + Adam made no reply to that, and no other word but “good-night” passed + between them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0031" id="link2HCH0031"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXXI + </h2> + <h3> + In Hetty's Bed-Chamber + </h3> + <p> + IT was no longer light enough to go to bed without a candle, even in Mrs. + Poyser's early household, and Hetty carried one with her as she went up at + last to her bedroom soon after Adam was gone, and bolted the door behind + her. + </p> + <p> + Now she would read her letter. It must—it must have comfort in it. + How was Adam to know the truth? It was always likely he should say what he + did say. + </p> + <p> + She set down the candle and took out the letter. It had a faint scent of + roses, which made her feel as if Arthur were close to her. She put it to + her lips, and a rush of remembered sensations for a moment or two swept + away all fear. But her heart began to flutter strangely, and her hands to + tremble as she broke the seal. She read slowly; it was not easy for her to + read a gentleman's handwriting, though Arthur had taken pains to write + plainly. + </p> + <p> + “DEAREST HETTY—I have spoken truly when I have said that I loved + you, and I shall never forget our love. I shall be your true friend as + long as life lasts, and I hope to prove this to you in many ways. If I say + anything to pain you in this letter, do not believe it is for want of love + and tenderness towards you, for there is nothing I would not do for you, + if I knew it to be really for your happiness. I cannot bear to think of my + little Hetty shedding tears when I am not there to kiss them away; and if + I followed only my own inclinations, I should be with her at this moment + instead of writing. It is very hard for me to part from her—harder + still for me to write words which may seem unkind, though they spring from + the truest kindness. + </p> + <p> + “Dear, dear Hetty, sweet as our love has been to me, sweet as it would be + to me for you to love me always, I feel that it would have been better for + us both if we had never had that happiness, and that it is my duty to ask + you to love me and care for me as little as you can. The fault has all + been mine, for though I have been unable to resist the longing to be near + you, I have felt all the while that your affection for me might cause you + grief. I ought to have resisted my feelings. I should have done so, if I + had been a better fellow than I am; but now, since the past cannot be + altered, I am bound to save you from any evil that I have power to + prevent. And I feel it would be a great evil for you if your affections + continued so fixed on me that you could think of no other man who might be + able to make you happier by his love than I ever can, and if you continued + to look towards something in the future which cannot possibly happen. For, + dear Hetty, if I were to do what you one day spoke of, and make you my + wife, I should do what you yourself would come to feel was for your misery + instead of your welfare. I know you can never be happy except by marrying + a man in your own station; and if I were to marry you now, I should only + be adding to any wrong I have done, besides offending against my duty in + the other relations of life. You know nothing, dear Hetty, of the world in + which I must always live, and you would soon begin to dislike me, because + there would be so little in which we should be alike. + </p> + <p> + “And since I cannot marry you, we must part—we must try not to feel + like lovers any more. I am miserable while I say this, but nothing else + can be. Be angry with me, my sweet one, I deserve it; but do not believe + that I shall not always care for you—always be grateful to you—always + remember my Hetty; and if any trouble should come that we do not now + foresee, trust in me to do everything that lies in my power. + </p> + <p> + “I have told you where you are to direct a letter to, if you want to + write, but I put it down below lest you should have forgotten. Do not + write unless there is something I can really do for you; for, dear Hetty, + we must try to think of each other as little as we can. Forgive me, and + try to forget everything about me, except that I shall be, as long as I + live, your affectionate friend, + </p> + <p> + “ARTHUR DONNITHORNE.” + </p> + <p> + Slowly Hetty had read this letter; and when she looked up from it there + was the reflection of a blanched face in the old dim glass—a white + marble face with rounded childish forms, but with something sadder than a + child's pain in it. Hetty did not see the face—she saw nothing—she + only felt that she was cold and sick and trembling. The letter shook and + rustled in her hand. She laid it down. It was a horrible sensation—this + cold and trembling. It swept away the very ideas that produced it, and + Hetty got up to reach a warm cloak from her clothes-press, wrapped it + round her, and sat as if she were thinking of nothing but getting warm. + Presently she took up the letter with a firmer hand, and began to read it + through again. The tears came this time—great rushing tears that + blinded her and blotched the paper. She felt nothing but that Arthur was + cruel—cruel to write so, cruel not to marry her. Reasons why he + could not marry her had no existence for her mind; how could she believe + in any misery that could come to her from the fulfilment of all she had + been longing for and dreaming of? She had not the ideas that could make up + the notion of that misery. + </p> + <p> + As she threw down the letter again, she caught sight of her face in the + glass; it was reddened now, and wet with tears; it was almost like a + companion that she might complain to—that would pity her. She leaned + forward on her elbows, and looked into those dark overflooding eyes and at + the quivering mouth, and saw how the tears came thicker and thicker, and + how the mouth became convulsed with sobs. + </p> + <p> + The shattering of all her little dream-world, the crushing blow on her + new-born passion, afflicted her pleasure-craving nature with an + overpowering pain that annihilated all impulse to resistance, and + suspended her anger. She sat sobbing till the candle went out, and then, + wearied, aching, stupefied with crying, threw herself on the bed without + undressing and went to sleep. + </p> + <p> + There was a feeble dawn in the room when Hetty awoke, a little after four + o'clock, with a sense of dull misery, the cause of which broke upon her + gradually as she began to discern the objects round her in the dim light. + And then came the frightening thought that she had to conceal her misery + as well as to bear it, in this dreary daylight that was coming. She could + lie no longer. She got up and went towards the table: there lay the + letter. She opened her treasure-drawer: there lay the ear-rings and the + locket—the signs of all her short happiness—the signs of the + lifelong dreariness that was to follow it. Looking at the little trinkets + which she had once eyed and fingered so fondly as the earnest of her + future paradise of finery, she lived back in the moments when they had + been given to her with such tender caresses, such strangely pretty words, + such glowing looks, which filled her with a bewildering delicious surprise—they + were so much sweeter than she had thought anything could be. And the + Arthur who had spoken to her and looked at her in this way, who was + present with her now—whose arm she felt round her, his cheek against + hers, his very breath upon her—was the cruel, cruel Arthur who had + written that letter, that letter which she snatched and crushed and then + opened again, that she might read it once more. The half-benumbed mental + condition which was the effect of the last night's violent crying made it + necessary to her to look again and see if her wretched thoughts were + actually true—if the letter was really so cruel. She had to hold it + close to the window, else she could not have read it by the faint light. + Yes! It was worse—it was more cruel. She crushed it up again in + anger. She hated the writer of that letter—hated him for the very + reason that she hung upon him with all her love—all the girlish + passion and vanity that made up her love. + </p> + <p> + She had no tears this morning. She had wept them all away last night, and + now she felt that dry-eyed morning misery, which is worse than the first + shock because it has the future in it as well as the present. Every + morning to come, as far as her imagination could stretch, she would have + to get up and feel that the day would have no joy for her. For there is no + despair so absolute as that which comes with the first moments of our + first great sorrow, when we have not yet known what it is to have suffered + and be healed, to have despaired and to have recovered hope. As Hetty + began languidly to take off the clothes she had worn all the night, that + she might wash herself and brush her hair, she had a sickening sense that + her life would go on in this way. She should always be doing things she + had no pleasure in, getting up to the old tasks of work, seeing people she + cared nothing about, going to church, and to Treddleston, and to tea with + Mrs. Best, and carrying no happy thought with her. For her short poisonous + delights had spoiled for ever all the little joys that had once made the + sweetness of her life—the new frock ready for Treddleston Fair, the + party at Mr. Britton's at Broxton wake, the beaux that she would say “No” + to for a long while, and the prospect of the wedding that was to come at + last when she would have a silk gown and a great many clothes all at once. + These things were all flat and dreary to her now; everything would be a + weariness, and she would carry about for ever a hopeless thirst and + longing. + </p> + <p> + She paused in the midst of her languid undressing and leaned against the + dark old clothes-press. Her neck and arms were bare, her hair hung down in + delicate rings—and they were just as beautiful as they were that + night two months ago, when she walked up and down this bed-chamber glowing + with vanity and hope. She was not thinking of her neck and arms now; even + her own beauty was indifferent to her. Her eyes wandered sadly over the + dull old chamber, and then looked out vacantly towards the growing dawn. + Did a remembrance of Dinah come across her mind? Of her foreboding words, + which had made her angry? Of Dinah's affectionate entreaty to think of her + as a friend in trouble? No, the impression had been too slight to recur. + Any affection or comfort Dinah could have given her would have been as + indifferent to Hetty this morning as everything else was except her + bruised passion. She was only thinking she could never stay here and go on + with the old life—she could better bear something quite new than + sinking back into the old everyday round. She would like to run away that + very morning, and never see any of the old faces again. But Hetty's was + not a nature to face difficulties—to dare to loose her hold on the + familiar and rush blindly on some unknown condition. Hers was a luxurious + and vain nature—not a passionate one—and if she were ever to + take any violent measure, she must be urged to it by the desperation of + terror. There was not much room for her thoughts to travel in the narrow + circle of her imagination, and she soon fixed on the one thing she would + do to get away from her old life: she would ask her uncle to let her go to + be a lady's maid. Miss Lydia's maid would help her to get a situation, if + she knew Hetty had her uncle's leave. + </p> + <p> + When she had thought of this, she fastened up her hair and began to wash: + it seemed more possible to her to go downstairs and try to behave as + usual. She would ask her uncle this very day. On Hetty's blooming health + it would take a great deal of such mental suffering as hers to leave any + deep impress; and when she was dressed as neatly as usual in her + working-dress, with her hair tucked up under her little cap, an + indifferent observer would have been more struck with the young roundness + of her cheek and neck and the darkness of her eyes and eyelashes than with + any signs of sadness about her. But when she took up the crushed letter + and put it in her drawer, that she might lock it out of sight, hard + smarting tears, having no relief in them as the great drops had that fell + last night, forced their way into her eyes. She wiped them away quickly: + she must not cry in the day-time. Nobody should find out how miserable she + was, nobody should know she was disappointed about anything; and the + thought that the eyes of her aunt and uncle would be upon her gave her the + self-command which often accompanies a great dread. For Hetty looked out + from her secret misery towards the possibility of their ever knowing what + had happened, as the sick and weary prisoner might think of the possible + pillory. They would think her conduct shameful, and shame was torture. + That was poor little Hetty's conscience. + </p> + <p> + So she locked up her drawer and went away to her early work. + </p> + <p> + In the evening, when Mr. Poyser was smoking his pipe, and his good-nature + was therefore at its superlative moment, Hetty seized the opportunity of + her aunt's absence to say, “Uncle, I wish you'd let me go for a lady's + maid.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Poyser took the pipe from his mouth and looked at Hetty in mild + surprise for some moments. She was sewing, and went on with her work + industriously. + </p> + <p> + “Why, what's put that into your head, my wench?” he said at last, after he + had given one conservative puff. + </p> + <p> + “I should like it—I should like it better than farm-work.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay; you fancy so because you donna know it, my wench. It wouldn't + be half so good for your health, nor for your luck i' life. I'd like you + to stay wi' us till you've got a good husband: you're my own niece, and I + wouldn't have you go to service, though it was a gentleman's house, as + long as I've got a home for you.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Poyser paused, and puffed away at his pipe. + </p> + <p> + “I like the needlework,” said Hetty, “and I should get good wages.” + </p> + <p> + “Has your aunt been a bit sharp wi' you?” said Mr. Poyser, not noticing + Hetty's further argument. “You mustna mind that, my wench—she does + it for your good. She wishes you well; an' there isn't many aunts as are + no kin to you 'ud ha' done by you as she has.” + </p> + <p> + “No, it isn't my aunt,” said Hetty, “but I should like the work better.” + </p> + <p> + “It was all very well for you to learn the work a bit—an' I gev my + consent to that fast enough, sin' Mrs. Pomfret was willing to teach you. + For if anything was t' happen, it's well to know how to turn your hand to + different sorts o' things. But I niver meant you to go to service, my + wench; my family's ate their own bread and cheese as fur back as anybody + knows, hanna they, Father? You wouldna like your grand-child to take + wage?” + </p> + <p> + “Na-a-y,” said old Martin, with an elongation of the word, meant to make + it bitter as well as negative, while he leaned forward and looked down on + the floor. “But the wench takes arter her mother. I'd hard work t' hould + HER in, an' she married i' spite o' me—a feller wi' on'y two head o' + stock when there should ha' been ten on's farm—she might well die o' + th' inflammation afore she war thirty.” + </p> + <p> + It was seldom the old man made so long a speech, but his son's question + had fallen like a bit of dry fuel on the embers of a long unextinguished + resentment, which had always made the grandfather more indifferent to + Hetty than to his son's children. Her mother's fortune had been spent by + that good-for-nought Sorrel, and Hetty had Sorrel's blood in her veins. + </p> + <p> + “Poor thing, poor thing!” said Martin the younger, who was sorry to have + provoked this retrospective harshness. “She'd but bad luck. But Hetty's + got as good a chance o' getting a solid, sober husband as any gell i' this + country.” + </p> + <p> + After throwing out this pregnant hint, Mr. Poyser recurred to his pipe and + his silence, looking at Hetty to see if she did not give some sign of + having renounced her ill-advised wish. But instead of that, Hetty, in + spite of herself, began to cry, half out of ill temper at the denial, half + out of the day's repressed sadness. + </p> + <p> + “Hegh, hegh!” said Mr. Poyser, meaning to check her playfully, “don't + let's have any crying. Crying's for them as ha' got no home, not for them + as want to get rid o' one. What dost think?” he continued to his wife, who + now came back into the house-place, knitting with fierce rapidity, as if + that movement were a necessary function, like the twittering of a crab's + antennae. + </p> + <p> + “Think? Why, I think we shall have the fowl stole before we are much + older, wi' that gell forgetting to lock the pens up o' nights. What's the + matter now, Hetty? What are you crying at?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, she's been wanting to go for a lady's maid,” said Mr. Poyser. “I + tell her we can do better for her nor that.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought she'd got some maggot in her head, she's gone about wi' her + mouth buttoned up so all day. It's all wi' going so among them servants at + the Chase, as we war fools for letting her. She thinks it 'ud be a finer + life than being wi' them as are akin to her and ha' brought her up sin' + she war no bigger nor Marty. She thinks there's nothing belongs to being a + lady's maid but wearing finer clothes nor she was born to, I'll be bound. + It's what rag she can get to stick on her as she's thinking on from + morning till night, as I often ask her if she wouldn't like to be the + mawkin i' the field, for then she'd be made o' rags inside and out. I'll + never gi' my consent to her going for a lady's maid, while she's got good + friends to take care on her till she's married to somebody better nor one + o' them valets, as is neither a common man nor a gentleman, an' must live + on the fat o' the land, an's like enough to stick his hands under his + coat-tails and expect his wife to work for him.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye,” said Mr. Poyser, “we must have a better husband for her nor + that, and there's better at hand. Come, my wench, give over crying and get + to bed. I'll do better for you nor letting you go for a lady's maid. Let's + hear no more on't.” + </p> + <p> + When Hetty was gone upstairs he said, “I canna make it out as she should + want to go away, for I thought she'd got a mind t' Adam Bede. She's looked + like it o' late.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, there's no knowing what she's got a liking to, for things take no + more hold on her than if she was a dried pea. I believe that gell, Molly—as + is aggravatin' enough, for the matter o' that—but I believe she'd + care more about leaving us and the children, for all she's been here but a + year come Michaelmas, nor Hetty would. But she's got this notion o' being + a lady's maid wi' going among them servants—we might ha' known what + it 'ud lead to when we let her go to learn the fine work. But I'll put a + stop to it pretty quick.” + </p> + <p> + “Thee'dst be sorry to part wi' her, if it wasn't for her good,” said Mr. + Poyser. “She's useful to thee i' the work.” + </p> + <p> + “Sorry? Yes, I'm fonder on her nor she deserves—a little + hard-hearted hussy, wanting to leave us i' that way. I can't ha' had her + about me these seven year, I reckon, and done for her, and taught her + everything wi'out caring about her. An' here I'm having linen spun, an' + thinking all the while it'll make sheeting and table-clothing for her when + she's married, an' she'll live i' the parish wi' us, and never go out of + our sights—like a fool as I am for thinking aught about her, as is + no better nor a cherry wi' a hard stone inside it.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay, thee mustna make much of a trifle,” said Mr. Poyser, + soothingly. “She's fond on us, I'll be bound; but she's young, an' gets + things in her head as she can't rightly give account on. Them young + fillies 'ull run away often wi'-ou knowing why.” + </p> + <p> + Her uncle's answers, however, had had another effect on Hetty besides that + of disappointing her and making her cry. She knew quite well whom he had + in his mind in his allusions to marriage, and to a sober, solid husband; + and when she was in her bedroom again, the possibility of her marrying + Adam presented itself to her in a new light. In a mind where no strong + sympathies are at work, where there is no supreme sense of right to which + the agitated nature can cling and steady itself to quiet endurance, one of + the first results of sorrow is a desperate vague clutching after any deed + that will change the actual condition. Poor Hetty's vision of + consequences, at no time more than a narrow fantastic calculation of her + own probable pleasures and pains, was now quite shut out by reckless + irritation under present suffering, and she was ready for one of those + convulsive, motiveless actions by which wretched men and women leap from a + temporary sorrow into a lifelong misery. + </p> + <p> + Why should she not marry Adam? She did not care what she did, so that it + made some change in her life. She felt confident that he would still want + to marry her, and any further thought about Adam's happiness in the matter + had never yet visited her. + </p> + <p> + “Strange!” perhaps you will say, “this rush of impulse to-wards a course + that might have seemed the most repugnant to her present state of mind, + and in only the second night of her sadness!” + </p> + <p> + Yes, the actions of a little trivial soul like Hetty's, struggling amidst + the serious sad destinies of a human being, are strange. So are the + motions of a little vessel without ballast tossed about on a stormy sea. + How pretty it looked with its parti-coloured sail in the sunlight, moored + in the quiet bay! + </p> + <p> + “Let that man bear the loss who loosed it from its moorings.” + </p> + <p> + But that will not save the vessel—the pretty thing that might have + been a lasting joy. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0032" id="link2HCH0032"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXXII + </h2> + <h3> + Mrs. Poyser “Has Her Say Out” + </h3> + <p> + THE next Saturday evening there was much excited discussion at the + Donnithorne Arms concerning an incident which had occurred that very day—no + less than a second appearance of the smart man in top-boots said by some + to be a mere farmer in treaty for the Chase Farm, by others to be the + future steward, but by Mr. Casson himself, the personal witness to the + stranger's visit, pronounced contemptuously to be nothing better than a + bailiff, such as Satchell had been before him. No one had thought of + denying Mr. Casson's testimony to the fact that he had seen the stranger; + nevertheless, he proffered various corroborating circumstances. + </p> + <p> + “I see him myself,” he said; “I see him coming along by the Crab-tree + Meadow on a bald-faced hoss. I'd just been t' hev a pint—it was half + after ten i' the fore-noon, when I hev my pint as reg'lar as the clock—and + I says to Knowles, as druv up with his waggon, 'You'll get a bit o' barley + to-day, Knowles,' I says, 'if you look about you'; and then I went round + by the rick-yard, and towart the Treddles'on road, and just as I come up + by the big ash-tree, I see the man i' top-boots coming along on a + bald-faced hoss—I wish I may never stir if I didn't. And I stood + still till he come up, and I says, 'Good morning, sir,' I says, for I + wanted to hear the turn of his tongue, as I might know whether he was a + this-country man; so I says, 'Good morning, sir: it 'll 'old hup for the + barley this morning, I think. There'll be a bit got hin, if we've good + luck.' And he says, 'Eh, ye may be raight, there's noo tallin',' he says, + and I knowed by that”—here Mr. Casson gave a wink—“as he + didn't come from a hundred mile off. I daresay he'd think me a hodd + talker, as you Loamshire folks allays does hany one as talks the right + language.” + </p> + <p> + “The right language!” said Bartle Massey, contemptuously. “You're about as + near the right language as a pig's squeaking is like a tune played on a + key-bugle.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I don't know,” answered Mr. Casson, with an angry smile. “I should + think a man as has lived among the gentry from a by, is likely to know + what's the right language pretty nigh as well as a schoolmaster.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye, man,” said Bartle, with a tone of sarcastic consolation, “you + talk the right language for you. When Mike Holdsworth's goat says ba-a-a, + it's all right—it 'ud be unnatural for it to make any other noise.” + </p> + <p> + The rest of the party being Loamshire men, Mr. Casson had the laugh + strongly against him, and wisely fell back on the previous question, + which, far from being exhausted in a single evening, was renewed in the + churchyard, before service, the next day, with the fresh interest + conferred on all news when there is a fresh person to hear it; and that + fresh hearer was Martin Poyser, who, as his wife said, “never went boozin' + with that set at Casson's, a-sittin' soakin' in drink, and looking as wise + as a lot o' cod-fish wi' red faces.” + </p> + <p> + It was probably owing to the conversation she had had with her husband on + their way from church concerning this problematic stranger that Mrs. + Poyser's thoughts immediately reverted to him when, a day or two + afterwards, as she was standing at the house-door with her knitting, in + that eager leisure which came to her when the afternoon cleaning was done, + she saw the old squire enter the yard on his black pony, followed by John + the groom. She always cited it afterwards as a case of prevision, which + really had something more in it than her own remarkable penetration, that + the moment she set eyes on the squire she said to herself, “I shouldna + wonder if he's come about that man as is a-going to take the Chase Farm, + wanting Poyser to do something for him without pay. But Poyser's a fool if + he does.” + </p> + <p> + Something unwonted must clearly be in the wind, for the old squire's + visits to his tenantry were rare; and though Mrs. Poyser had during the + last twelvemonth recited many imaginary speeches, meaning even more than + met the ear, which she was quite determined to make to him the next time + he appeared within the gates of the Hall Farm, the speeches had always + remained imaginary. + </p> + <p> + “Good-day, Mrs. Poyser,” said the old squire, peering at her with his + short-sighted eyes—a mode of looking at her which, as Mrs. Poyser + observed, “allays aggravated me: it was as if you was a insect, and he was + going to dab his finger-nail on you.” + </p> + <p> + However, she said, “Your servant, sir,” and curtsied with an air of + perfect deference as she advanced towards him: she was not the woman to + misbehave towards her betters, and fly in the face of the catechism, + without severe provocation. + </p> + <p> + “Is your husband at home, Mrs. Poyser?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir; he's only i' the rick-yard. I'll send for him in a minute, if + you'll please to get down and step in.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you; I will do so. I want to consult him about a little matter; but + you are quite as much concerned in it, if not more. I must have your + opinion too.” + </p> + <p> + “Hetty, run and tell your uncle to come in,” said Mrs. Poyser, as they + entered the house, and the old gentleman bowed low in answer to Hetty's + curtsy; while Totty, conscious of a pinafore stained with gooseberry jam, + stood hiding her face against the clock and peeping round furtively. + </p> + <p> + “What a fine old kitchen this is!” said Mr. Donnithorne, looking round + admiringly. He always spoke in the same deliberate, well-chiselled, polite + way, whether his words were sugary or venomous. “And you keep it so + exquisitely clean, Mrs. Poyser. I like these premises, do you know, beyond + any on the estate.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir, since you're fond of 'em, I should be glad if you'd let a bit + o' repairs be done to 'em, for the boarding's i' that state as we're like + to be eaten up wi' rats and mice; and the cellar, you may stan' up to your + knees i' water in't, if you like to go down; but perhaps you'd rather + believe my words. Won't you please to sit down, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Not yet; I must see your dairy. I have not seen it for years, and I hear + on all hands about your fine cheese and butter,” said the squire, looking + politely unconscious that there could be any question on which he and Mrs. + Poyser might happen to disagree. “I think I see the door open, there. You + must not be surprised if I cast a covetous eye on your cream and butter. I + don't expect that Mrs. Satchell's cream and butter will bear comparison + with yours.” + </p> + <p> + “I can't say, sir, I'm sure. It's seldom I see other folks's butter, + though there's some on it as one's no need to see—the smell's + enough.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, now this I like,” said Mr. Donnithorne, looking round at the damp + temple of cleanliness, but keeping near the door. “I'm sure I should like + my breakfast better if I knew the butter and cream came from this dairy. + Thank you, that really is a pleasant sight. Unfortunately, my slight + tendency to rheumatism makes me afraid of damp: I'll sit down in your + comfortable kitchen. Ah, Poyser, how do you do? In the midst of business, + I see, as usual. I've been looking at your wife's beautiful dairy—the + best manager in the parish, is she not?” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Poyser had just entered in shirt-sleeves and open waistcoat, with a + face a shade redder than usual, from the exertion of “pitching.” As he + stood, red, rotund, and radiant, before the small, wiry, cool old + gentleman, he looked like a prize apple by the side of a withered crab. + </p> + <p> + “Will you please to take this chair, sir?” he said, lifting his father's + arm-chair forward a little: “you'll find it easy.” + </p> + <p> + “No, thank you, I never sit in easy-chairs,” said the old gentleman, + seating himself on a small chair near the door. “Do you know, Mrs. Poyser—sit + down, pray, both of you—I've been far from contented, for some time, + with Mrs. Satchell's dairy management. I think she has not a good method, + as you have.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, sir, I can't speak to that,” said Mrs. Poyser in a hard voice, + rolling and unrolling her knitting and looking icily out of the window, as + she continued to stand opposite the squire. Poyser might sit down if he + liked, she thought; she wasn't going to sit down, as if she'd give in to + any such smooth-tongued palaver. Mr. Poyser, who looked and felt the + reverse of icy, did sit down in his three-cornered chair. + </p> + <p> + “And now, Poyser, as Satchell is laid up, I am intending to let the Chase + Farm to a respectable tenant. I'm tired of having a farm on my own hands—nothing + is made the best of in such cases, as you know. A satisfactory bailiff is + hard to find; and I think you and I, Poyser, and your excellent wife here, + can enter into a little arrangement in consequence, which will be to our + mutual advantage.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” said Mr. Poyser, with a good-natured blankness of imagination as to + the nature of the arrangement. + </p> + <p> + “If I'm called upon to speak, sir,” said Mrs. Poyser, after glancing at + her husband with pity at his softness, “you know better than me; but I + don't see what the Chase Farm is t' us—we've cumber enough wi' our + own farm. Not but what I'm glad to hear o' anybody respectable coming into + the parish; there's some as ha' been brought in as hasn't been looked on + i' that character.” + </p> + <p> + “You're likely to find Mr. Thurle an excellent neighbour, I assure you—such + a one as you will feel glad to have accommodated by the little plan I'm + going to mention, especially as I hope you will find it as much to your + own advantage as his.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, sir, if it's anything t' our advantage, it'll be the first offer + o' the sort I've heared on. It's them as take advantage that get advantage + i' this world, I think. Folks have to wait long enough afore it's brought + to 'em.” + </p> + <p> + “The fact is, Poyser,” said the squire, ignoring Mrs. Poyser's theory of + worldly prosperity, “there is too much dairy land, and too little plough + land, on the Chase Farm to suit Thurle's purpose—indeed, he will + only take the farm on condition of some change in it: his wife, it + appears, is not a clever dairy-woman, like yours. Now, the plan I'm + thinking of is to effect a little exchange. If you were to have the Hollow + Pastures, you might increase your dairy, which must be so profitable under + your wife's management; and I should request you, Mrs. Poyser, to supply + my house with milk, cream, and butter at the market prices. On the other + hand, Poyser, you might let Thurle have the Lower and Upper Ridges, which + really, with our wet seasons, would be a good riddance for you. There is + much less risk in dairy land than corn land.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Poyser was leaning forward, with his elbows on his knees, his head on + one side, and his mouth screwed up—apparently absorbed in making the + tips of his fingers meet so as to represent with perfect accuracy the ribs + of a ship. He was much too acute a man not to see through the whole + business, and to foresee perfectly what would be his wife's view of the + subject; but he disliked giving unpleasant answers. Unless it was on a + point of farming practice, he would rather give up than have a quarrel, + any day; and, after all, it mattered more to his wife than to him. So, + after a few moments' silence, he looked up at her and said mildly, “What + dost say?” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser had had her eyes fixed on her husband with cold severity + during his silence, but now she turned away her head with a toss, looked + icily at the opposite roof of the cow-shed, and spearing her knitting + together with the loose pin, held it firmly between her clasped hands. + </p> + <p> + “Say? Why, I say you may do as you like about giving up any o' your + corn-land afore your lease is up, which it won't be for a year come next + Michaelmas, but I'll not consent to take more dairy work into my hands, + either for love or money; and there's nayther love nor money here, as I + can see, on'y other folks's love o' theirselves, and the money as is to go + into other folks's pockets. I know there's them as is born t' own the + land, and them as is born to sweat on't”—here Mrs. Poyser paused to + gasp a little—“and I know it's christened folks's duty to submit to + their betters as fur as flesh and blood 'ull bear it; but I'll not make a + martyr o' myself, and wear myself to skin and bone, and worret myself as + if I was a churn wi' butter a-coming in't, for no landlord in England, not + if he was King George himself.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, my dear Mrs. Poyser, certainly not,” said the squire, still + confident in his own powers of persuasion, “you must not overwork + yourself; but don't you think your work will rather be lessened than + increased in this way? There is so much milk required at the Abbey that + you will have little increase of cheese and butter making from the + addition to your dairy; and I believe selling the milk is the most + profitable way of disposing of dairy produce, is it not?” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, that's true,” said Mr. Poyser, unable to repress an opinion on a + question of farming profits, and forgetting that it was not in this case a + purely abstract question. + </p> + <p> + “I daresay,” said Mrs. Poyser bitterly, turning her head half-way towards + her husband and looking at the vacant arm-chair—“I daresay it's true + for men as sit i' th' chimney-corner and make believe as everything's cut + wi' ins an' outs to fit int' everything else. If you could make a pudding + wi' thinking o' the batter, it 'ud be easy getting dinner. How do I know + whether the milk 'ull be wanted constant? What's to make me sure as the + house won't be put o' board wage afore we're many months older, and then I + may have to lie awake o' nights wi' twenty gallons o' milk on my mind—and + Dingall 'ull take no more butter, let alone paying for it; and we must fat + pigs till we're obliged to beg the butcher on our knees to buy 'em, and + lose half of 'em wi' the measles. And there's the fetching and carrying, + as 'ud be welly half a day's work for a man an' hoss—that's to be + took out o' the profits, I reckon? But there's folks 'ud hold a sieve + under the pump and expect to carry away the water.” + </p> + <p> + “That difficulty—about the fetching and carrying—you will not + have, Mrs. Poyser,” said the squire, who thought that this entrance into + particulars indicated a distant inclination to compromise on Mrs. Poyser's + part. “Bethell will do that regularly with the cart and pony.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, sir, begging your pardon, I've never been used t' having + gentlefolks's servants coming about my back places, a-making love to both + the gells at once and keeping 'em with their hands on their hips listening + to all manner o' gossip when they should be down on their knees + a-scouring. If we're to go to ruin, it shanna be wi' having our back + kitchen turned into a public.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Poyser,” said the squire, shifting his tactics and looking as if he + thought Mrs. Poyser had suddenly withdrawn from the proceedings and left + the room, “you can turn the Hollows into feeding-land. I can easily make + another arrangement about supplying my house. And I shall not forget your + readiness to accommodate your landlord as well as a neighbour. I know you + will be glad to have your lease renewed for three years, when the present + one expires; otherwise, I daresay Thurle, who is a man of some capital, + would be glad to take both the farms, as they could be worked so well + together. But I don't want to part with an old tenant like you.” + </p> + <p> + To be thrust out of the discussion in this way would have been enough to + complete Mrs. Poyser's exasperation, even without the final threat. Her + husband, really alarmed at the possibility of their leaving the old place + where he had been bred and born—for he believed the old squire had + small spite enough for anything—was beginning a mild remonstrance + explanatory of the inconvenience he should find in having to buy and sell + more stock, with, “Well, sir, I think as it's rether hard...” when Mrs. + Poyser burst in with the desperate determination to have her say out this + once, though it were to rain notices to quit and the only shelter were the + work-house. + </p> + <p> + “Then, sir, if I may speak—as, for all I'm a woman, and there's + folks as thinks a woman's fool enough to stan' by an' look on while the + men sign her soul away, I've a right to speak, for I make one quarter o' + the rent, and save another quarter—I say, if Mr. Thurle's so ready + to take farms under you, it's a pity but what he should take this, and see + if he likes to live in a house wi' all the plagues o' Egypt in't—wi' + the cellar full o' water, and frogs and toads hoppin' up the steps by + dozens—and the floors rotten, and the rats and mice gnawing every + bit o' cheese, and runnin' over our heads as we lie i' bed till we expect + 'em to eat us up alive—as it's a mercy they hanna eat the children + long ago. I should like to see if there's another tenant besides Poyser as + 'ud put up wi' never having a bit o' repairs done till a place tumbles + down—and not then, on'y wi' begging and praying and having to pay + half—and being strung up wi' the rent as it's much if he gets enough + out o' the land to pay, for all he's put his own money into the ground + beforehand. See if you'll get a stranger to lead such a life here as that: + a maggot must be born i' the rotten cheese to like it, I reckon. You may + run away from my words, sir,” continued Mrs. Poyser, following the old + squire beyond the door—for after the first moments of stunned + surprise he had got up, and, waving his hand towards her with a smile, had + walked out towards his pony. But it was impossible for him to get away + immediately, for John was walking the pony up and down the yard, and was + some distance from the causeway when his master beckoned. + </p> + <p> + “You may run away from my words, sir, and you may go spinnin' underhand + ways o' doing us a mischief, for you've got Old Harry to your friend, + though nobody else is, but I tell you for once as we're not dumb creatures + to be abused and made money on by them as ha' got the lash i' their hands, + for want o' knowing how t' undo the tackle. An' if I'm th' only one as + speaks my mind, there's plenty o' the same way o' thinking i' this parish + and the next to 't, for your name's no better than a brimstone match in + everybody's nose—if it isna two-three old folks as you think o' + saving your soul by giving 'em a bit o' flannel and a drop o' porridge. + An' you may be right i' thinking it'll take but little to save your soul, + for it'll be the smallest savin' y' iver made, wi' all your scrapin'.” + </p> + <p> + There are occasions on which two servant-girls and a waggoner may be a + formidable audience, and as the squire rode away on his black pony, even + the gift of short-sightedness did not prevent him from being aware that + Molly and Nancy and Tim were grinning not far from him. Perhaps he + suspected that sour old John was grinning behind him—which was also + the fact. Meanwhile the bull-dog, the black-and-tan terrier, Alick's + sheep-dog, and the gander hissing at a safe distance from the pony's heels + carried out the idea of Mrs. Poyser's solo in an impressive quartet. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser, however, had no sooner seen the pony move off than she turned + round, gave the two hilarious damsels a look which drove them into the + back kitchen, and unspearing her knitting, began to knit again with her + usual rapidity as she re-entered the house. + </p> + <p> + “Thee'st done it now,” said Mr. Poyser, a little alarmed and uneasy, but + not without some triumphant amusement at his wife's outbreak. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I know I've done it,” said Mrs. Poyser; “but I've had my say out, + and I shall be th' easier for't all my life. There's no pleasure i' living + if you're to be corked up for ever, and only dribble your mind out by the + sly, like a leaky barrel. I shan't repent saying what I think, if I live + to be as old as th' old squire; and there's little likelihood—for it + seems as if them as aren't wanted here are th' only folks as aren't wanted + i' th' other world.” + </p> + <p> + “But thee wutna like moving from th' old place, this Michaelmas + twelvemonth,” said Mr. Poyser, “and going into a strange parish, where + thee know'st nobody. It'll be hard upon us both, and upo' Father too.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, it's no use worreting; there's plenty o' things may happen between + this and Michaelmas twelvemonth. The captain may be master afore them, for + what we know,” said Mrs. Poyser, inclined to take an unusually hopeful + view of an embarrassment which had been brought about by her own merit and + not by other people's fault. + </p> + <p> + “I'm none for worreting,” said Mr. Poyser, rising from his three-cornered + chair and walking slowly towards the door; “but I should be loath to leave + th' old place, and the parish where I was bred and born, and Father afore + me. We should leave our roots behind us, I doubt, and niver thrive again.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0033" id="link2HCH0033"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXXIII + </h2> + <h3> + More Links + </h3> + <p> + THE barley was all carried at last, and the harvest suppers went by + without waiting for the dismal black crop of beans. The apples and nuts + were gathered and stored; the scent of whey departed from the farm-houses, + and the scent of brewing came in its stead. The woods behind the Chase, + and all the hedgerow trees, took on a solemn splendour under the dark + low-hanging skies. Michaelmas was come, with its fragrant basketfuls of + purple damsons, and its paler purple daisies, and its lads and lasses + leaving or seeking service and winding along between the yellow hedges, + with their bundles under their arms. But though Michaelmas was come, Mr. + Thurle, that desirable tenant, did not come to the Chase Farm, and the old + squire, after all, had been obliged to put in a new bailiff. It was known + throughout the two parishes that the squire's plan had been frustrated + because the Poysers had refused to be “put upon,” and Mrs. Poyser's + outbreak was discussed in all the farm-houses with a zest which was only + heightened by frequent repetition. The news that “Bony” was come back from + Egypt was comparatively insipid, and the repulse of the French in Italy + was nothing to Mrs. Poyser's repulse of the old squire. Mr. Irwine had + heard a version of it in every parishioner's house, with the one exception + of the Chase. But since he had always, with marvellous skill, avoided any + quarrel with Mr. Donnithorne, he could not allow himself the pleasure of + laughing at the old gentleman's discomfiture with any one besides his + mother, who declared that if she were rich she should like to allow Mrs. + Poyser a pension for life, and wanted to invite her to the parsonage that + she might hear an account of the scene from Mrs. Poyser's own lips. + </p> + <p> + “No, no, Mother,” said Mr. Irwine; “it was a little bit of irregular + justice on Mrs. Poyser's part, but a magistrate like me must not + countenance irregular justice. There must be no report spread that I have + taken notice of the quarrel, else I shall lose the little good influence I + have over the old man.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I like that woman even better than her cream-cheeses,” said Mrs. + Irwine. “She has the spirit of three men, with that pale face of hers. And + she says such sharp things too.” + </p> + <p> + “Sharp! Yes, her tongue is like a new-set razor. She's quite original in + her talk too; one of those untaught wits that help to stock a country with + proverbs. I told you that capital thing I heard her say about Craig—that + he was like a cock, who thought the sun had risen to hear him crow. Now + that's an AEsop's fable in a sentence.” + </p> + <p> + “But it will be a bad business if the old gentleman turns them out of the + farm next Michaelmas, eh?” said Mrs. Irwine. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, that must not be; and Poyser is such a good tenant that Donnithorne + is likely to think twice, and digest his spleen rather than turn them out. + But if he should give them notice at Lady Day, Arthur and I must move + heaven and earth to mollify him. Such old parishioners as they are must + not go.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, there's no knowing what may happen before Lady day,” said Mrs. + Irwine. “It struck me on Arthur's birthday that the old man was a little + shaken: he's eighty-three, you know. It's really an unconscionable age. + It's only women who have a right to live as long as that.” + </p> + <p> + “When they've got old-bachelor sons who would be forlorn without them,” + said Mr. Irwine, laughing, and kissing his mother's hand. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser, too, met her husband's occasional forebodings of a notice to + quit with “There's no knowing what may happen before Lady day”—one + of those undeniable general propositions which are usually intended to + convey a particular meaning very far from undeniable. But it is really too + hard upon human nature that it should be held a criminal offence to + imagine the death even of the king when he is turned eighty-three. It is + not to be believed that any but the dullest Britons can be good subjects + under that hard condition. + </p> + <p> + Apart from this foreboding, things went on much as usual in the Poyser + household. Mrs. Poyser thought she noticed a surprising improvement in + Hetty. To be sure, the girl got “closer tempered, and sometimes she seemed + as if there'd be no drawing a word from her with cart-ropes,” but she + thought much less about her dress, and went after the work quite eagerly, + without any telling. And it was wonderful how she never wanted to go out + now—indeed, could hardly be persuaded to go; and she bore her aunt's + putting a stop to her weekly lesson in fine-work at the Chase without the + least grumbling or pouting. It must be, after all, that she had set her + heart on Adam at last, and her sudden freak of wanting to be a lady's maid + must have been caused by some little pique or misunderstanding between + them, which had passed by. For whenever Adam came to the Hall Farm, Hetty + seemed to be in better spirits and to talk more than at other times, + though she was almost sullen when Mr. Craig or any other admirer happened + to pay a visit there. + </p> + <p> + Adam himself watched her at first with trembling anxiety, which gave way + to surprise and delicious hope. Five days after delivering Arthur's + letter, he had ventured to go to the Hall Farm again—not without + dread lest the sight of him might be painful to her. She was not in the + house-place when he entered, and he sat talking to Mr. and Mrs. Poyser for + a few minutes with a heavy fear on his heart that they might presently + tell him Hetty was ill. But by and by there came a light step that he + knew, and when Mrs. Poyser said, “Come, Hetty, where have you been?” Adam + was obliged to turn round, though he was afraid to see the changed look + there must be in her face. He almost started when he saw her smiling as if + she were pleased to see him—looking the same as ever at a first + glance, only that she had her cap on, which he had never seen her in + before when he came of an evening. Still, when he looked at her again and + again as she moved about or sat at her work, there was a change: the + cheeks were as pink as ever, and she smiled as much as she had ever done + of late, but there was something different in her eyes, in the expression + of her face, in all her movements, Adam thought—something harder, + older, less child-like. “Poor thing!” he said to himself, “that's allays + likely. It's because she's had her first heartache. But she's got a spirit + to bear up under it. Thank God for that.” + </p> + <p> + As the weeks went by, and he saw her always looking pleased to see him—turning + up her lovely face towards him as if she meant him to understand that she + was glad for him to come—and going about her work in the same + equable way, making no sign of sorrow, he began to believe that her + feeling towards Arthur must have been much slighter than he had imagined + in his first indignation and alarm, and that she had been able to think of + her girlish fancy that Arthur was in love with her and would marry her as + a folly of which she was timely cured. And it perhaps was, as he had + sometimes in his more cheerful moments hoped it would be—her heart + was really turning with all the more warmth towards the man she knew to + have a serious love for her. + </p> + <p> + Possibly you think that Adam was not at all sagacious in his + interpretations, and that it was altogether extremely unbecoming in a + sensible man to behave as he did—falling in love with a girl who + really had nothing more than her beauty to recommend her, attributing + imaginary virtues to her, and even condescending to cleave to her after + she had fallen in love with another man, waiting for her kind looks as a + patient trembling dog waits for his master's eye to be turned upon him. + But in so complex a thing as human nature, we must consider, it is hard to + find rules without exceptions. Of course, I know that, as a rule, sensible + men fall in love with the most sensible women of their acquaintance, see + through all the pretty deceits of coquettish beauty, never imagine + themselves loved when they are not loved, cease loving on all proper + occasions, and marry the woman most fitted for them in every respect—indeed, + so as to compel the approbation of all the maiden ladies in their + neighbourhood. But even to this rule an exception will occur now and then + in the lapse of centuries, and my friend Adam was one. For my own part, + however, I respect him none the less—nay, I think the deep love he + had for that sweet, rounded, blossom-like, dark-eyed Hetty, of whose + inward self he was really very ignorant, came out of the very strength of + his nature and not out of any inconsistent weakness. Is it any weakness, + pray, to be wrought on by exquisite music? To feel its wondrous harmonies + searching the subtlest windings of your soul, the delicate fibres of life + where no memory can penetrate, and binding together your whole being past + and present in one unspeakable vibration, melting you in one moment with + all the tenderness, all the love that has been scattered through the + toilsome years, concentrating in one emotion of heroic courage or + resignation all the hard-learnt lessons of self-renouncing sympathy, + blending your present joy with past sorrow and your present sorrow with + all your past joy? If not, then neither is it a weakness to be so wrought + upon by the exquisite curves of a woman's cheek and neck and arms, by the + liquid depths of her beseeching eyes, or the sweet childish pout of her + lips. For the beauty of a lovely woman is like music: what can one say + more? Beauty has an expression beyond and far above the one woman's soul + that it clothes, as the words of genius have a wider meaning than the + thought that prompted them. It is more than a woman's love that moves us + in a woman's eyes—it seems to be a far-off mighty love that has come + near to us, and made speech for itself there; the rounded neck, the + dimpled arm, move us by something more than their prettiness—by + their close kinship with all we have known of tenderness and peace. The + noblest nature sees the most of this impersonal expression in beauty (it + is needless to say that there are gentlemen with whiskers dyed and undyed + who see none of it whatever), and for this reason, the noblest nature is + often the most blinded to the character of the one woman's soul that the + beauty clothes. Whence, I fear, the tragedy of human life is likely to + continue for a long time to come, in spite of mental philosophers who are + ready with the best receipts for avoiding all mistakes of the kind. + </p> + <p> + Our good Adam had no fine words into which he could put his feeling for + Hetty: he could not disguise mystery in this way with the appearance of + knowledge; he called his love frankly a mystery, as you have heard him. He + only knew that the sight and memory of her moved him deeply, touching the + spring of all love and tenderness, all faith and courage within him. How + could he imagine narrowness, selfishness, hardness in her? He created the + mind he believed in out of his own, which was large, unselfish, tender. + </p> + <p> + The hopes he felt about Hetty softened a little his feeling towards + Arthur. Surely his attentions to Hetty must have been of a slight kind; + they were altogether wrong, and such as no man in Arthur's position ought + to have allowed himself, but they must have had an air of playfulness + about them, which had probably blinded him to their danger and had + prevented them from laying any strong hold on Hetty's heart. As the new + promise of happiness rose for Adam, his indignation and jealousy began to + die out. Hetty was not made unhappy; he almost believed that she liked him + best; and the thought sometimes crossed his mind that the friendship which + had once seemed dead for ever might revive in the days to come, and he + would not have to say “good-bye” to the grand old woods, but would like + them better because they were Arthur's. For this new promise of happiness + following so quickly on the shock of pain had an intoxicating effect on + the sober Adam, who had all his life been used to much hardship and + moderate hope. Was he really going to have an easy lot after all? It + seemed so, for at the beginning of November, Jonathan Burge, finding it + impossible to replace Adam, had at last made up his mind to offer him a + share in the business, without further condition than that he should + continue to give his energies to it and renounce all thought of having a + separate business of his own. Son-in-law or no son-in-law, Adam had made + himself too necessary to be parted with, and his headwork was so much more + important to Burge than his skill in handicraft that his having the + management of the woods made little difference in the value of his + services; and as to the bargains about the squire's timber, it would be + easy to call in a third person. Adam saw here an opening into a broadening + path of prosperous work such as he had thought of with ambitious longing + ever since he was a lad: he might come to build a bridge, or a town hall, + or a factory, for he had always said to himself that Jonathan Burge's + building business was like an acorn, which might be the mother of a great + tree. So he gave his hand to Burge on that bargain, and went home with his + mind full of happy visions, in which (my refined reader will perhaps be + shocked when I say it) the image of Hetty hovered, and smiled over plans + for seasoning timber at a trifling expense, calculations as to the + cheapening of bricks per thousand by water-carriage, and a favourite + scheme for the strengthening of roofs and walls with a peculiar form of + iron girder. What then? Adam's enthusiasm lay in these things; and our + love is inwrought in our enthusiasm as electricity is inwrought in the + air, exalting its power by a subtle presence. + </p> + <p> + Adam would be able to take a separate house now, and provide for his + mother in the old one; his prospects would justify his marrying very soon, + and if Dinah consented to have Seth, their mother would perhaps be more + contented to live apart from Adam. But he told himself that he would not + be hasty—he would not try Hetty's feeling for him until it had had + time to grow strong and firm. However, tomorrow, after church, he would go + to the Hall Farm and tell them the news. Mr. Poyser, he knew, would like + it better than a five-pound note, and he should see if Hetty's eyes + brightened at it. The months would be short with all he had to fill his + mind, and this foolish eagerness which had come over him of late must not + hurry him into any premature words. Yet when he got home and told his + mother the good news, and ate his supper, while she sat by almost crying + for joy and wanting him to eat twice as much as usual because of this + good-luck, he could not help preparing her gently for the coming change by + talking of the old house being too small for them all to go on living in + it always. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0034" id="link2HCH0034"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXXIV + </h2> + <h3> + The Betrothal + </h3> + <p> + IT was a dry Sunday, and really a pleasant day for the 2d of November. + There was no sunshine, but the clouds were high, and the wind was so still + that the yellow leaves which fluttered down from the hedgerow elms must + have fallen from pure decay. Nevertheless, Mrs. Poyser did not go to + church, for she had taken a cold too serious to be neglected; only two + winters ago she had been laid up for weeks with a cold; and since his wife + did not go to church, Mr. Poyser considered that on the whole it would be + as well for him to stay away too and “keep her company.” He could perhaps + have given no precise form to the reasons that determined this conclusion, + but it is well known to all experienced minds that our firmest convictions + are often dependent on subtle impressions for which words are quite too + coarse a medium. However it was, no one from the Poyser family went to + church that afternoon except Hetty and the boys; yet Adam was bold enough + to join them after church, and say that he would walk home with them, + though all the way through the village he appeared to be chiefly occupied + with Marty and Tommy, telling them about the squirrels in Binton Coppice, + and promising to take them there some day. But when they came to the + fields he said to the boys, “Now, then, which is the stoutest walker? Him + as gets to th' home-gate first shall be the first to go with me to Binton + Coppice on the donkey. But Tommy must have the start up to the next stile, + because he's the smallest.” + </p> + <p> + Adam had never behaved so much like a determined lover before. As soon as + the boys had both set off, he looked down at Hetty and said, “Won't you + hang on my arm, Hetty?” in a pleading tone, as if he had already asked her + and she had refused. Hetty looked up at him smilingly and put her round + arm through his in a moment. It was nothing to her, putting her arm + through Adam's, but she knew he cared a great deal about having her arm + through his, and she wished him to care. Her heart beat no faster, and she + looked at the half-bare hedgerows and the ploughed field with the same + sense of oppressive dulness as before. But Adam scarcely felt that he was + walking. He thought Hetty must know that he was pressing her arm a little—a + very little. Words rushed to his lips that he dared not utter—that + he had made up his mind not to utter yet—and so he was silent for + the length of that field. The calm patience with which he had once waited + for Hetty's love, content only with her presence and the thought of the + future, had forsaken him since that terrible shock nearly three months + ago. The agitations of jealousy had given a new restlessness to his + passion—had made fear and uncertainty too hard almost to bear. But + though he might not speak to Hetty of his love, he would tell her about + his new prospects and see if she would be pleased. So when he was enough + master of himself to talk, he said, “I'm going to tell your uncle some + news that'll surprise him, Hetty; and I think he'll be glad to hear it + too.” + </p> + <p> + “What's that?” Hetty said indifferently. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mr. Burge has offered me a share in his business, and I'm going to + take it.” + </p> + <p> + There was a change in Hetty's face, certainly not produced by any + agreeable impression from this news. In fact she felt a momentary + annoyance and alarm, for she had so often heard it hinted by her uncle + that Adam might have Mary Burge and a share in the business any day, if he + liked, that she associated the two objects now, and the thought + immediately occurred that perhaps Adam had given her up because of what + had happened lately, and had turned towards Mary Burge. With that thought, + and before she had time to remember any reasons why it could not be true, + came a new sense of forsakenness and disappointment. The one thing—the + one person—her mind had rested on in its dull weariness, had slipped + away from her, and peevish misery filled her eyes with tears. She was + looking on the ground, but Adam saw her face, saw the tears, and before he + had finished saying, “Hetty, dear Hetty, what are you crying for?” his + eager rapid thought had flown through all the causes conceivable to him, + and had at last alighted on half the true one. Hetty thought he was going + to marry Mary Burge—she didn't like him to marry—perhaps she + didn't like him to marry any one but herself? All caution was swept away—all + reason for it was gone, and Adam could feel nothing but trembling joy. He + leaned towards her and took her hand, as he said: + </p> + <p> + “I could afford to be married now, Hetty—I could make a wife + comfortable; but I shall never want to be married if you won't have me.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty looked up at him and smiled through her tears, as she had done to + Arthur that first evening in the wood, when she had thought he was not + coming, and yet he came. It was a feebler relief, a feebler triumph she + felt now, but the great dark eyes and the sweet lips were as beautiful as + ever, perhaps more beautiful, for there was a more luxuriant womanliness + about Hetty of late. Adam could hardly believe in the happiness of that + moment. His right hand held her left, and he pressed her arm close against + his heart as he leaned down towards her. + </p> + <p> + “Do you really love me, Hetty? Will you be my own wife, to love and take + care of as long as I live?” + </p> + <p> + Hetty did not speak, but Adam's face was very close to hers, and she put + up her round cheek against his, like a kitten. She wanted to be caressed—she + wanted to feel as if Arthur were with her again. + </p> + <p> + Adam cared for no words after that, and they hardly spoke through the rest + of the walk. He only said, “I may tell your uncle and aunt, mayn't I, + Hetty?” and she said, “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + The red fire-light on the hearth at the Hall Farm shone on joyful faces + that evening, when Hetty was gone upstairs and Adam took the opportunity + of telling Mr. and Mrs. Poyser and the grandfather that he saw his way to + maintaining a wife now, and that Hetty had consented to have him. + </p> + <p> + “I hope you have no objections against me for her husband,” said Adam; + “I'm a poor man as yet, but she shall want nothing as I can work for.” + </p> + <p> + “Objections?” said Mr. Poyser, while the grandfather leaned forward and + brought out his long “Nay, nay.” “What objections can we ha' to you, lad? + Never mind your being poorish as yet; there's money in your head-piece as + there's money i' the sown field, but it must ha' time. You'n got enough to + begin on, and we can do a deal tow'rt the bit o' furniture you'll want. + Thee'st got feathers and linen to spare—plenty, eh?” + </p> + <p> + This question was of course addressed to Mrs. Poyser, who was wrapped up + in a warm shawl and was too hoarse to speak with her usual facility. At + first she only nodded emphatically, but she was presently unable to resist + the temptation to be more explicit. + </p> + <p> + “It ud be a poor tale if I hadna feathers and linen,” she said, hoarsely, + “when I never sell a fowl but what's plucked, and the wheel's a-going + every day o' the week.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, my wench,” said Mr. Poyser, when Hetty came down, “come and kiss + us, and let us wish you luck.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty went very quietly and kissed the big good-natured man. + </p> + <p> + “There!” he said, patting her on the back, “go and kiss your aunt and your + grandfather. I'm as wishful t' have you settled well as if you was my own + daughter; and so's your aunt, I'll be bound, for she's done by you this + seven 'ear, Hetty, as if you'd been her own. Come, come, now,” he went on, + becoming jocose, as soon as Hetty had kissed her aunt and the old man, + “Adam wants a kiss too, I'll warrant, and he's a right to one now.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty turned away, smiling, towards her empty chair. + </p> + <p> + “Come, Adam, then, take one,” persisted Mr. Poyser, “else y' arena half a + man.” + </p> + <p> + Adam got up, blushing like a small maiden—great strong fellow as he + was—and, putting his arm round Hetty stooped down and gently kissed + her lips. + </p> + <p> + It was a pretty scene in the red fire-light; for there were no candles—why + should there be, when the fire was so bright and was reflected from all + the pewter and the polished oak? No one wanted to work on a Sunday + evening. Even Hetty felt something like contentment in the midst of all + this love. Adam's attachment to her, Adam's caress, stirred no passion in + her, were no longer enough to satisfy her vanity, but they were the best + her life offered her now—they promised her some change. + </p> + <p> + There was a great deal of discussion before Adam went away, about the + possibility of his finding a house that would do for him to settle in. No + house was empty except the one next to Will Maskery's in the village, and + that was too small for Adam now. Mr. Poyser insisted that the best plan + would be for Seth and his mother to move and leave Adam in the old home, + which might be enlarged after a while, for there was plenty of space in + the woodyard and garden; but Adam objected to turning his mother out. + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” said Mr. Poyser at last, “we needna fix everything to-night. + We must take time to consider. You canna think o' getting married afore + Easter. I'm not for long courtships, but there must be a bit o' time to + make things comfortable.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, to be sure,” said Mrs. Poyser, in a hoarse whisper; “Christian folks + can't be married like cuckoos, I reckon.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm a bit daunted, though,” said Mr. Poyser, “when I think as we may have + notice to quit, and belike be forced to take a farm twenty mile off.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh,” said the old man, staring at the floor and lifting his hands up and + down, while his arms rested on the elbows of his chair, “it's a poor tale + if I mun leave th' ould spot an be buried in a strange parish. An' you'll + happen ha' double rates to pay,” he added, looking up at his son. + </p> + <p> + “Well, thee mustna fret beforehand, father,” said Martin the younger. + “Happen the captain 'ull come home and make our peace wi' th' old squire. + I build upo' that, for I know the captain 'll see folks righted if he + can.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0035" id="link2HCH0035"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXXV + </h2> + <h3> + The Hidden Dread + </h3> + <p> + IT was a busy time for Adam—the time between the beginning of + November and the beginning of February, and he could see little of Hetty, + except on Sundays. But a happy time, nevertheless, for it was taking him + nearer and nearer to March, when they were to be married, and all the + little preparations for their new housekeeping marked the progress towards + the longed-for day. Two new rooms had been “run up” to the old house, for + his mother and Seth were to live with them after all. Lisbeth had cried so + piteously at the thought of leaving Adam that he had gone to Hetty and + asked her if, for the love of him, she would put up with his mother's ways + and consent to live with her. To his great delight, Hetty said, “Yes; I'd + as soon she lived with us as not.” Hetty's mind was oppressed at that + moment with a worse difficulty than poor Lisbeth's ways; she could not + care about them. So Adam was consoled for the disappointment he had felt + when Seth had come back from his visit to Snowfield and said “it was no + use—Dinah's heart wasna turned towards marrying.” For when he told + his mother that Hetty was willing they should all live together and there + was no more need of them to think of parting, she said, in a more + contented tone than he had heard her speak in since it had been settled + that he was to be married, “Eh, my lad, I'll be as still as th' ould + tabby, an' ne'er want to do aught but th' offal work, as she wonna like t' + do. An' then we needna part the platters an' things, as ha' stood on the + shelf together sin' afore thee wast born.” + </p> + <p> + There was only one cloud that now and then came across Adam's sunshine: + Hetty seemed unhappy sometimes. But to all his anxious, tender questions, + she replied with an assurance that she was quite contented and wished + nothing different; and the next time he saw her she was more lively than + usual. It might be that she was a little overdone with work and anxiety + now, for soon after Christmas Mrs. Poyser had taken another cold, which + had brought on inflammation, and this illness had confined her to her room + all through January. Hetty had to manage everything downstairs, and + half-supply Molly's place too, while that good damsel waited on her + mistress, and she seemed to throw herself so entirely into her new + functions, working with a grave steadiness which was new in her, that Mr. + Poyser often told Adam she was wanting to show him what a good housekeeper + he would have; but he “doubted the lass was o'erdoing it—she must + have a bit o' rest when her aunt could come downstairs.” + </p> + <p> + This desirable event of Mrs. Poyser's coming downstairs happened in the + early part of February, when some mild weather thawed the last patch of + snow on the Binton Hills. On one of these days, soon after her aunt came + down, Hetty went to Treddleston to buy some of the wedding things which + were wanting, and which Mrs. Poyser had scolded her for neglecting, + observing that she supposed “it was because they were not for th' outside, + else she'd ha' bought 'em fast enough.” + </p> + <p> + It was about ten o'clock when Hetty set off, and the slight hoar-frost + that had whitened the hedges in the early morning had disappeared as the + sun mounted the cloudless sky. Bright February days have a stronger charm + of hope about them than any other days in the year. One likes to pause in + the mild rays of the sun, and look over the gates at the patient + plough-horses turning at the end of the furrow, and think that the + beautiful year is all before one. The birds seem to feel just the same: + their notes are as clear as the clear air. There are no leaves on the + trees and hedgerows, but how green all the grassy fields are! And the dark + purplish brown of the ploughed earth and of the bare branches is beautiful + too. What a glad world this looks like, as one drives or rides along the + valleys and over the hills! I have often thought so when, in foreign + countries, where the fields and woods have looked to me like our English + Loamshire—the rich land tilled with just as much care, the woods + rolling down the gentle slopes to the green meadows—I have come on + something by the roadside which has reminded me that I am not in + Loamshire: an image of a great agony—the agony of the Cross. It has + stood perhaps by the clustering apple-blossoms, or in the broad sunshine + by the cornfield, or at a turning by the wood where a clear brook was + gurgling below; and surely, if there came a traveller to this world who + knew nothing of the story of man's life upon it, this image of agony would + seem to him strangely out of place in the midst of this joyous nature. He + would not know that hidden behind the apple-blossoms, or among the golden + corn, or under the shrouding boughs of the wood, there might be a human + heart beating heavily with anguish—perhaps a young blooming girl, + not knowing where to turn for refuge from swift-advancing shame, + understanding no more of this life of ours than a foolish lost lamb + wandering farther and farther in the nightfall on the lonely heath, yet + tasting the bitterest of life's bitterness. + </p> + <p> + Such things are sometimes hidden among the sunny fields and behind the + blossoming orchards; and the sound of the gurgling brook, if you came + close to one spot behind a small bush, would be mingled for your ear with + a despairing human sob. No wonder man's religion has much sorrow in it: no + wonder he needs a suffering God. + </p> + <p> + Hetty, in her red cloak and warm bonnet, with her basket in her hand, is + turning towards a gate by the side of the Treddleston road, but not that + she may have a more lingering enjoyment of the sunshine and think with + hope of the long unfolding year. She hardly knows that the sun is shining; + and for weeks, now, when she has hoped at all, it has been for something + at which she herself trembles and shudders. She only wants to be out of + the high-road, that she may walk slowly and not care how her face looks, + as she dwells on wretched thoughts; and through this gate she can get into + a field-path behind the wide thick hedgerows. Her great dark eyes wander + blankly over the fields like the eyes of one who is desolate, homeless, + unloved, not the promised bride of a brave tender man. But there are no + tears in them: her tears were all wept away in the weary night, before she + went to sleep. At the next stile the pathway branches off: there are two + roads before her—one along by the hedgerow, which will by and by + lead her into the road again, the other across the fields, which will take + her much farther out of the way into the Scantlands, low shrouded pastures + where she will see nobody. She chooses this and begins to walk a little + faster, as if she had suddenly thought of an object towards which it was + worth while to hasten. Soon she is in the Scantlands, where the grassy + land slopes gradually downwards, and she leaves the level ground to follow + the slope. Farther on there is a clump of trees on the low ground, and she + is making her way towards it. No, it is not a clump of trees, but a dark + shrouded pool, so full with the wintry rains that the under boughs of the + elder-bushes lie low beneath the water. She sits down on the grassy bank, + against the stooping stem of the great oak that hangs over the dark pool. + She has thought of this pool often in the nights of the month that has + just gone by, and now at last she is come to see it. She clasps her hands + round her knees, and leans forward, and looks earnestly at it, as if + trying to guess what sort of bed it would make for her young round limbs. + </p> + <p> + No, she has not courage to jump into that cold watery bed, and if she had, + they might find her—they might find out why she had drowned herself. + There is but one thing left to her: she must go away, go where they can't + find her. + </p> + <p> + After the first on-coming of her great dread, some weeks after her + betrothal to Adam, she had waited and waited, in the blind vague hope that + something would happen to set her free from her terror; but she could wait + no longer. All the force of her nature had been concentrated on the one + effort of concealment, and she had shrunk with irresistible dread from + every course that could tend towards a betrayal of her miserable secret. + Whenever the thought of writing to Arthur had occurred to her, she had + rejected it. He could do nothing for her that would shelter her from + discovery and scorn among the relatives and neighbours who once more made + all her world, now her airy dream had vanished. Her imagination no longer + saw happiness with Arthur, for he could do nothing that would satisfy or + soothe her pride. No, something else would happen—something must + happen—to set her free from this dread. In young, childish, ignorant + souls there is constantly this blind trust in some unshapen chance: it is + as hard to a boy or girl to believe that a great wretchedness will + actually befall them as to believe that they will die. + </p> + <p> + But now necessity was pressing hard upon her—now the time of her + marriage was close at hand—she could no longer rest in this blind + trust. She must run away; she must hide herself where no familiar eyes + could detect her; and then the terror of wandering out into the world, of + which she knew nothing, made the possibility of going to Arthur a thought + which brought some comfort with it. She felt so helpless now, so unable to + fashion the future for herself, that the prospect of throwing herself on + him had a relief in it which was stronger than her pride. As she sat by + the pool and shuddered at the dark cold water, the hope that he would + receive her tenderly—that he would care for her and think for her—was + like a sense of lulling warmth, that made her for the moment indifferent + to everything else; and she began now to think of nothing but the scheme + by which she should get away. + </p> + <p> + She had had a letter from Dinah lately, full of kind words about the + coming marriage, which she had heard of from Seth; and when Hetty had read + this letter aloud to her uncle, he had said, “I wish Dinah 'ud come again + now, for she'd be a comfort to your aunt when you're gone. What do you + think, my wench, o' going to see her as soon as you can be spared and + persuading her to come back wi' you? You might happen persuade her wi' + telling her as her aunt wants her, for all she writes o' not being able to + come.” Hetty had not liked the thought of going to Snowfield, and felt no + longing to see Dinah, so she only said, “It's so far off, Uncle.” But now + she thought this proposed visit would serve as a pretext for going away. + She would tell her aunt when she got home again that she should like the + change of going to Snowfield for a week or ten days. And then, when she + got to Stoniton, where nobody knew her, she would ask for the coach that + would take her on the way to Windsor. Arthur was at Windsor, and she would + go to him. + </p> + <p> + As soon as Hetty had determined on this scheme, she rose from the grassy + bank of the pool, took up her basket, and went on her way to Treddleston, + for she must buy the wedding things she had come out for, though she would + never want them. She must be careful not to raise any suspicion that she + was going to run away. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser was quite agreeably surprised that Hetty wished to go and see + Dinah and try to bring her back to stay over the wedding. The sooner she + went the better, since the weather was pleasant now; and Adam, when he + came in the evening, said, if Hetty could set off to-morrow, he would make + time to go with her to Treddleston and see her safe into the Stoniton + coach. + </p> + <p> + “I wish I could go with you and take care of you, Hetty,” he said, the + next morning, leaning in at the coach door; “but you won't stay much + beyond a week—the time 'ull seem long.” + </p> + <p> + He was looking at her fondly, and his strong hand held hers in its grasp. + Hetty felt a sense of protection in his presence—she was used to it + now: if she could have had the past undone and known no other love than + her quiet liking for Adam! The tears rose as she gave him the last look. + </p> + <p> + “God bless her for loving me,” said Adam, as he went on his way to work + again, with Gyp at his heels. + </p> + <p> + But Hetty's tears were not for Adam—not for the anguish that would + come upon him when he found she was gone from him for ever. They were for + the misery of her own lot, which took her away from this brave tender man + who offered up his whole life to her, and threw her, a poor helpless + suppliant, on the man who would think it a misfortune that she was obliged + to cling to him. + </p> + <p> + At three o'clock that day, when Hetty was on the coach that was to take + her, they said, to Leicester—part of the long, long way to Windsor—she + felt dimly that she might be travelling all this weary journey towards the + beginning of new misery. + </p> + <p> + Yet Arthur was at Windsor; he would surely not be angry with her. If he + did not mind about her as he used to do, he had promised to be good to + her. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0040" id="link2H_4_0040"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Book Five + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0036" id="link2HCH0036"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXXVI + </h2> + <h3> + The Journey of Hope + </h3> + <p> + A LONG, lonely journey, with sadness in the heart; away from the familiar + to the strange: that is a hard and dreary thing even to the rich, the + strong, the instructed; a hard thing, even when we are called by duty, not + urged by dread. + </p> + <p> + What was it then to Hetty? With her poor narrow thoughts, no longer + melting into vague hopes, but pressed upon by the chill of definite fear, + repeating again and again the same small round of memories—shaping + again and again the same childish, doubtful images of what was to come—seeing + nothing in this wide world but the little history of her own pleasures and + pains; with so little money in her pocket, and the way so long and + difficult. Unless she could afford always to go in the coaches—and + she felt sure she could not, for the journey to Stoniton was more + expensive than she had expected—it was plain that she must trust to + carriers' carts or slow waggons; and what a time it would be before she + could get to the end of her journey! The burly old coachman from + Oakbourne, seeing such a pretty young woman among the outside passengers, + had invited her to come and sit beside him; and feeling that it became him + as a man and a coachman to open the dialogue with a joke, he applied + himself as soon as they were off the stones to the elaboration of one + suitable in all respects. After many cuts with his whip and glances at + Hetty out of the corner of his eye, he lifted his lips above the edge of + his wrapper and said, “He's pretty nigh six foot, I'll be bound, isna he, + now?” + </p> + <p> + “Who?” said Hetty, rather startled. + </p> + <p> + “Why, the sweetheart as you've left behind, or else him as you're goin' + arter—which is it?” + </p> + <p> + Hetty felt her face flushing and then turning pale. She thought this + coachman must know something about her. He must know Adam, and might tell + him where she was gone, for it is difficult to country people to believe + that those who make a figure in their own parish are not known everywhere + else, and it was equally difficult to Hetty to understand that chance + words could happen to apply closely to her circumstances. She was too + frightened to speak. + </p> + <p> + “Hegh, hegh!” said the coachman, seeing that his joke was not so + gratifying as he had expected, “you munna take it too ser'ous; if he's + behaved ill, get another. Such a pretty lass as you can get a sweetheart + any day.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty's fear was allayed by and by, when she found that the coachman made + no further allusion to her personal concerns; but it still had the effect + of preventing her from asking him what were the places on the road to + Windsor. She told him she was only going a little way out of Stoniton, and + when she got down at the inn where the coach stopped, she hastened away + with her basket to another part of the town. When she had formed her plan + of going to Windsor, she had not foreseen any difficulties except that of + getting away, and after she had overcome this by proposing the visit to + Dinah, her thoughts flew to the meeting with Arthur and the question how + he would behave to her—not resting on any probable incidents of the + journey. She was too entirely ignorant of traveling to imagine any of its + details, and with all her store of money—her three guineas—in + her pocket, she thought herself amply provided. It was not until she found + how much it cost her to get to Stoniton that she began to be alarmed about + the journey, and then, for the first time, she felt her ignorance as to + the places that must be passed on her way. Oppressed with this new alarm, + she walked along the grim Stoniton streets, and at last turned into a + shabby little inn, where she hoped to get a cheap lodging for the night. + Here she asked the landlord if he could tell her what places she must go + to, to get to Windsor. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I can't rightly say. Windsor must be pretty nigh London, for it's + where the king lives,” was the answer. “Anyhow, you'd best go t' Ashby + next—that's south'ard. But there's as many places from here to + London as there's houses in Stoniton, by what I can make out. I've never + been no traveller myself. But how comes a lone young woman like you to be + thinking o' taking such a journey as that?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm going to my brother—he's a soldier at Windsor,” said Hetty, + frightened at the landlord's questioning look. “I can't afford to go by + the coach; do you think there's a cart goes toward Ashby in the morning?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, there may be carts if anybody knowed where they started from; but + you might run over the town before you found out. You'd best set off and + walk, and trust to summat overtaking you.” + </p> + <p> + Every word sank like lead on Hetty's spirits; she saw the journey stretch + bit by bit before her now. Even to get to Ashby seemed a hard thing: it + might take the day, for what she knew, and that was nothing to the rest of + the journey. But it must be done—she must get to Arthur. Oh, how she + yearned to be again with somebody who would care for her! She who had + never got up in the morning without the certainty of seeing familiar + faces, people on whom she had an acknowledged claim; whose farthest + journey had been to Rosseter on the pillion with her uncle; whose thoughts + had always been taking holiday in dreams of pleasure, because all the + business of her life was managed for her—this kittenlike Hetty, who + till a few months ago had never felt any other grief than that of envying + Mary Burge a new ribbon, or being girded at by her aunt for neglecting + Totty, must now make her toilsome way in loneliness, her peaceful home + left behind for ever, and nothing but a tremulous hope of distant refuge + before her. Now for the first time, as she lay down to-night in the + strange hard bed, she felt that her home had been a happy one, that her + uncle had been very good to her, that her quiet lot at Hayslope among the + things and people she knew, with her little pride in her one best gown and + bonnet, and nothing to hide from any one, was what she would like to wake + up to as a reality, and find that all the feverish life she had known + besides was a short nightmare. She thought of all she had left behind with + yearning regret for her own sake. Her own misery filled her heart—there + was no room in it for other people's sorrow. And yet, before the cruel + letter, Arthur had been so tender and loving. The memory of that had still + a charm for her, though it was no more than a soothing draught that just + made pain bearable. For Hetty could conceive no other existence for + herself in future than a hidden one, and a hidden life, even with love, + would have had no delights for her; still less a life mingled with shame. + She knew no romances, and had only a feeble share in the feelings which + are the source of romance, so that well-read ladies may find it difficult + to understand her state of mind. She was too ignorant of everything beyond + the simple notions and habits in which she had been brought up to have any + more definite idea of her probable future than that Arthur would take care + of her somehow, and shelter her from anger and scorn. He would not marry + her and make her a lady; and apart from that she could think of nothing he + could give towards which she looked with longing and ambition. + </p> + <p> + The next morning she rose early, and taking only some milk and bread for + her breakfast, set out to walk on the road towards Ashby, under a + leaden-coloured sky, with a narrowing streak of yellow, like a departing + hope, on the edge of the horizon. Now in her faintness of heart at the + length and difficulty of her journey, she was most of all afraid of + spending her money, and becoming so destitute that she would have to ask + people's charity; for Hettv had the pride not only of a proud nature but + of a proud class—the class that pays the most poor-rates, and most + shudders at the idea of profiting by a poor-rate. It had not yet occurred + to her that she might get money for her locket and earrings which she + carried with her, and she applied all her small arithmetic and knowledge + of prices to calculating how many meals and how many rides were contained + in her two guineas, and the odd shillings, which had a melancholy look, as + if they were the pale ashes of the other bright-flaming coin. + </p> + <p> + For the first few miles out of Stoniton, she walked on bravely, always + fixing on some tree or gate or projecting bush at the most distant visible + point in the road as a goal, and feeling a faint joy when she had reached + it. But when she came to the fourth milestone, the first she had happened + to notice among the long grass by the roadside, and read that she was + still only four miles beyond Stoniton, her courage sank. She had come only + this little way, and yet felt tired, and almost hungry again in the keen + morning air; for though Hetty was accustomed to much movement and exertion + indoors, she was not used to long walks which produced quite a different + sort of fatigue from that of household activity. As she was looking at the + milestone she felt some drops falling on her face—it was beginning + to rain. Here was a new trouble which had not entered into her sad + thoughts before, and quite weighed down by this sudden addition to her + burden, she sat down on the step of a stile and began to sob hysterically. + The beginning of hardship is like the first taste of bitter food—it + seems for a moment unbearable; yet, if there is nothing else to satisfy + our hunger, we take another bite and find it possible to go on. When Hetty + recovered from her burst of weeping, she rallied her fainting courage: it + was raining, and she must try to get on to a village where she might find + rest and shelter. Presently, as she walked on wearily, she heard the + rumbling of heavy wheels behind her; a covered waggon was coming, creeping + slowly along with a slouching driver cracking his whip beside the horses. + She waited for it, thinking that if the waggoner were not a very + sour-looking man, she would ask him to take her up. As the waggon + approached her, the driver had fallen behind, but there was something in + the front of the big vehicle which encouraged her. At any previous moment + in her life she would not have noticed it, but now, the new susceptibility + that suffering had awakened in her caused this object to impress her + strongly. It was only a small white-and-liver-coloured spaniel which sat + on the front ledge of the waggon, with large timid eyes, and an incessant + trembling in the body, such as you may have seen in some of these small + creatures. Hetty cared little for animals, as you know, but at this moment + she felt as if the helpless timid creature had some fellowship with her, + and without being quite aware of the reason, she was less doubtful about + speaking to the driver, who now came forward—a large ruddy man, with + a sack over his shoulders, by way of scarf or mantle. + </p> + <p> + “Could you take me up in your waggon, if you're going towards Ashby?” said + Hetty. “I'll pay you for it.” + </p> + <p> + “Aw,” said the big fellow, with that slowly dawning smile which belongs to + heavy faces, “I can take y' up fawst enough wi'out bein' paid for't if you + dooant mind lyin' a bit closish a-top o' the wool-packs. Where do you coom + from? And what do you want at Ashby?” + </p> + <p> + “I come from Stoniton. I'm going a long way—to Windsor.” + </p> + <p> + “What! Arter some service, or what?” + </p> + <p> + “Going to my brother—he's a soldier there.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'm going no furder nor Leicester—and fur enough too—but + I'll take you, if you dooant mind being a bit long on the road. Th' hosses + wooant feel YOUR weight no more nor they feel the little doog there, as I + puck up on the road a fortni't agoo. He war lost, I b'lieve, an's been all + of a tremble iver sin'. Come, gi' us your basket an' come behind and let + me put y' in.” + </p> + <p> + To lie on the wool-packs, with a cranny left between the curtains of the + awning to let in the air, was luxury to Hetty now, and she half-slept away + the hours till the driver came to ask her if she wanted to get down and + have “some victual”; he himself was going to eat his dinner at this + “public.” Late at night they reached Leicester, and so this second day of + Hetty's journey was past. She had spent no money except what she had paid + for her food, but she felt that this slow journeying would be intolerable + for her another day, and in the morning she found her way to a + coach-office to ask about the road to Windsor, and see if it would cost + her too much to go part of the distance by coach again. Yes! The distance + was too great—the coaches were too dear—she must give them up; + but the elderly clerk at the office, touched by her pretty anxious face, + wrote down for her the names of the chief places she must pass through. + This was the only comfort she got in Leicester, for the men stared at her + as she went along the street, and for the first time in her life Hetty + wished no one would look at her. She set out walking again; but this day + she was fortunate, for she was soon overtaken by a carrier's cart which + carried her to Hinckley, and by the help of a return chaise, with a + drunken postilion—who frightened her by driving like Jehu the son of + Nimshi, and shouting hilarious remarks at her, twisting himself backwards + on his saddle—she was before night in the heart of woody + Warwickshire: but still almost a hundred miles from Windsor, they told + her. Oh what a large world it was, and what hard work for her to find her + way in it! She went by mistake to Stratford-on-Avon, finding Stratford set + down in her list of places, and then she was told she had come a long way + out of the right road. It was not till the fifth day that she got to Stony + Stratford. That seems but a slight journey as you look at the map, or + remember your own pleasant travels to and from the meadowy banks of the + Avon. But how wearily long it was to Hetty! It seemed to her as if this + country of flat fields, and hedgerows, and dotted houses, and villages, + and market-towns—all so much alike to her indifferent eyes—must + have no end, and she must go on wandering among them for ever, waiting + tired at toll-gates for some cart to come, and then finding the cart went + only a little way—a very little way—to the miller's a mile off + perhaps; and she hated going into the public houses, where she must go to + get food and ask questions, because there were always men lounging there, + who stared at her and joked her rudely. Her body was very weary too with + these days of new fatigue and anxiety; they had made her look more pale + and worn than all the time of hidden dread she had gone through at home. + When at last she reached Stony Stratford, her impatience and weariness had + become too strong for her economical caution; she determined to take the + coach for the rest of the way, though it should cost her all her remaining + money. She would need nothing at Windsor but to find Arthur. When she had + paid the fare for the last coach, she had only a shilling; and as she got + down at the sign of the Green Man in Windsor at twelve o'clock in the + middle of the seventh day, hungry and faint, the coachman came up, and + begged her to “remember him.” She put her hand in her pocket and took out + the shilling, but the tears came with the sense of exhaustion and the + thought that she was giving away her last means of getting food, which she + really required before she could go in search of Arthur. As she held out + the shilling, she lifted up her dark tear-filled eyes to the coachman's + face and said, “Can you give me back sixpence?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” he said, gruffly, “never mind—put the shilling up again.” + </p> + <p> + The landlord of the Green Man had stood near enough to witness this scene, + and he was a man whose abundant feeding served to keep his good nature, as + well as his person, in high condition. And that lovely tearful face of + Hetty's would have found out the sensitive fibre in most men. + </p> + <p> + “Come, young woman, come in,” he said, “and have adrop o' something; + you're pretty well knocked up, I can see that.” + </p> + <p> + He took her into the bar and said to his wife, “Here, missis, take this + young woman into the parlour; she's a little overcome”—for Hetty's + tears were falling fast. They were merely hysterical tears: she thought + she had no reason for weeping now, and was vexed that she was too weak and + tired to help it. She was at Windsor at last, not far from Arthur. + </p> + <p> + She looked with eager, hungry eyes at the bread and meat and beer that the + landlady brought her, and for some minutes she forgot everything else in + the delicious sensations of satisfying hunger and recovering from + exhaustion. The landlady sat opposite to her as she ate, and looked at her + earnestly. No wonder: Hetty had thrown off her bonnet, and her curls had + fallen down. Her face was all the more touching in its youth and beauty + because of its weary look, and the good woman's eyes presently wandered to + her figure, which in her hurried dressing on her journey she had taken no + pains to conceal; moreover, the stranger's eye detects what the familiar + unsuspecting eye leaves unnoticed. + </p> + <p> + “Why, you're not very fit for travelling,” she said, glancing while she + spoke at Hetty's ringless hand. “Have you come far?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Hetty, roused by this question to exert more self-command, and + feeling the better for the food she had taken. “I've come a good long way, + and it's very tiring. But I'm better now. Could you tell me which way to + go to this place?” Here Hetty took from her pocket a bit of paper: it was + the end of Arthur's letter on which he had written his address. + </p> + <p> + While she was speaking, the landlord had come in and had begun to look at + her as earnestly as his wife had done. He took up the piece of paper which + Hetty handed across the table, and read the address. + </p> + <p> + “Why, what do you want at this house?” he said. It is in the nature of + innkeepers and all men who have no pressing business of their own to ask + as many questions as possible before giving any information. + </p> + <p> + “I want to see a gentleman as is there,” said Hetty. + </p> + <p> + “But there's no gentleman there,” returned the landlord. “It's shut up—been + shut up this fortnight. What gentleman is it you want? Perhaps I can let + you know where to find him.” + </p> + <p> + “It's Captain Donnithorne,” said Hetty tremulously, her heart beginning to + beat painfully at this disappointment of her hope that she should find + Arthur at once. + </p> + <p> + “Captain Donnithorne? Stop a bit,” said the landlord, slowly. “Was he in + the Loamshire Militia? A tall young officer with a fairish skin and + reddish whiskers—and had a servant by the name o' Pym?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh yes,” said Hetty; “you know him—where is he?” + </p> + <p> + “A fine sight o' miles away from here. The Loamshire Militia's gone to + Ireland; it's been gone this fortnight.” + </p> + <p> + “Look there! She's fainting,” said the landlady, hastening to support + Hetty, who had lost her miserable consciousness and looked like a + beautiful corpse. They carried her to the sofa and loosened her dress. + </p> + <p> + “Here's a bad business, I suspect,” said the landlord, as he brought in + some water. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, it's plain enough what sort of business it is,” said the wife. “She's + not a common flaunting dratchell, I can see that. She looks like a + respectable country girl, and she comes from a good way off, to judge by + her tongue. She talks something like that ostler we had that come from the + north. He was as honest a fellow as we ever had about the house—they're + all honest folks in the north.” + </p> + <p> + “I never saw a prettier young woman in my life,” said the husband. “She's + like a pictur in a shop-winder. It goes to one's 'eart to look at her.” + </p> + <p> + “It 'ud have been a good deal better for her if she'd been uglier and had + more conduct,” said the landlady, who on any charitable construction must + have been supposed to have more “conduct” than beauty. “But she's coming + to again. Fetch a drop more water.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0037" id="link2HCH0037"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXXVII + </h2> + <h3> + The Journey in Despair + </h3> + <p> + HETTY was too ill through the rest of that day for any questions to be + addressed to her—too ill even to think with any distinctness of the + evils that were to come. She only felt that all her hope was crushed, and + that instead of having found a refuge she had only reached the borders of + a new wilderness where no goal lay before her. The sensations of bodily + sickness, in a comfortable bed, and with the tendance of the good-natured + landlady, made a sort of respite for her; such a respite as there is in + the faint weariness which obliges a man to throw himself on the sand + instead of toiling onward under the scorching sun. + </p> + <p> + But when sleep and rest had brought back the strength necessary for the + keenness of mental suffering—when she lay the next morning looking + at the growing light which was like a cruel task-master returning to urge + from her a fresh round of hated hopeless labour—she began to think + what course she must take, to remember that all her money was gone, to + look at the prospect of further wandering among strangers with the new + clearness shed on it by the experience of her journey to Windsor. But + which way could she turn? It was impossible for her to enter into any + service, even if she could obtain it. There was nothing but immediate + beggary before her. She thought of a young woman who had been found + against the church wall at Hayslope one Sunday, nearly dead with cold and + hunger—a tiny infant in her arms. The woman was rescued and taken to + the parish. “The parish!” You can perhaps hardly understand the effect of + that word on a mind like Hetty's, brought up among people who were + somewhat hard in their feelings even towards poverty, who lived among the + fields, and had little pity for want and rags as a cruel inevitable fate + such as they sometimes seem in cities, but held them a mark of idleness + and vice—and it was idleness and vice that brought burdens on the + parish. To Hetty the “parish” was next to the prison in obloquy, and to + ask anything of strangers—to beg—lay in the same far-off + hideous region of intolerable shame that Hetty had all her life thought it + impossible she could ever come near. But now the remembrance of that + wretched woman whom she had seen herself, on her way from church, being + carried into Joshua Rann's, came back upon her with the new terrible sense + that there was very little now to divide HER from the same lot. And the + dread of bodily hardship mingled with the dread of shame; for Hetty had + the luxurious nature of a round soft-coated pet animal. + </p> + <p> + How she yearned to be back in her safe home again, cherished and cared for + as she had always been! Her aunt's scolding about trifles would have been + music to her ears now; she longed for it; she used to hear it in a time + when she had only trifles to hide. Could she be the same Hetty that used + to make up the butter in the dairy with the Guelder roses peeping in at + the window—she, a runaway whom her friends would not open their + doors to again, lying in this strange bed, with the knowledge that she had + no money to pay for what she received, and must offer those strangers some + of the clothes in her basket? It was then she thought of her locket and + ear-rings, and seeing her pocket lie near, she reached it and spread the + contents on the bed before her. There were the locket and ear-rings in the + little velvet-lined boxes, and with them there was a beautiful silver + thimble which Adam had bought her, the words “Remember me” making the + ornament of the border; a steel purse, with her one shilling in it; and a + small red-leather case, fastening with a strap. Those beautiful little + ear-rings, with their delicate pearls and garnet, that she had tried in + her ears with such longing in the bright sunshine on the 30th of July! She + had no longing to put them in her ears now: her head with its dark rings + of hair lay back languidly on the pillow, and the sadness that rested + about her brow and eyes was something too hard for regretful memory. Yet + she put her hands up to her ears: it was because there were some thin gold + rings in them, which were also worth a little money. Yes, she could surely + get some money for her ornaments: those Arthur had given her must have + cost a great deal of money. The landlord and landlady had been good to + her; perhaps they would help her to get the money for these things. + </p> + <p> + But this money would not keep her long. What should she do when it was + gone? Where should she go? The horrible thought of want and beggary drove + her once to think she would go back to her uncle and aunt and ask them to + forgive her and have pity on her. But she shrank from that idea again, as + she might have shrunk from scorching metal. She could never endure that + shame before her uncle and aunt, before Mary Burge, and the servants at + the Chase, and the people at Broxton, and everybody who knew her. They + should never know what had happened to her. What could she do? She would + go away from Windsor—travel again as she had done the last week, and + get among the flat green fields with the high hedges round them, where + nobody could see her or know her; and there, perhaps, when there was + nothing else she could do, she should get courage to drown herself in some + pond like that in the Scantlands. Yes, she would get away from Windsor as + soon as possible: she didn't like these people at the inn to know about + her, to know that she had come to look for Captain Donnithorne. She must + think of some reason to tell them why she had asked for him. + </p> + <p> + With this thought she began to put the things back into her pocket, + meaning to get up and dress before the landlady came to her. She had her + hand on the red-leather case, when it occurred to her that there might be + something in this case which she had forgotten—something worth + selling; for without knowing what she should do with her life, she craved + the means of living as long as possible; and when we desire eagerly to + find something, we are apt to search for it in hopeless places. No, there + was nothing but common needles and pins, and dried tulip-petals between + the paper leaves where she had written down her little money-accounts. But + on one of these leaves there was a name, which, often as she had seen it + before, now flashed on Hetty's mind like a newly discovered message. The + name was—Dinah Morris, Snowfield. There was a text above it, + written, as well as the name, by Dinah's own hand with a little pencil, + one evening that they were sitting together and Hetty happened to have the + red case lying open before her. Hetty did not read the text now: she was + only arrested by the name. Now, for the first time, she remembered without + indifference the affectionate kindness Dinah had shown her, and those + words of Dinah in the bed-chamber—that Hetty must think of her as a + friend in trouble. Suppose she were to go to Dinah, and ask her to help + her? Dinah did not think about things as other people did. She was a + mystery to Hetty, but Hetty knew she was always kind. She couldn't imagine + Dinah's face turning away from her in dark reproof or scorn, Dinah's voice + willingly speaking ill of her, or rejoicing in her misery as a punishment. + Dinah did not seem to belong to that world of Hetty's, whose glance she + dreaded like scorching fire. But even to her Hetty shrank from beseeching + and confession. She could not prevail on herself to say, “I will go to + Dinah”: she only thought of that as a possible alternative, if she had not + courage for death. + </p> + <p> + The good landlady was amazed when she saw Hetty come downstairs soon after + herself, neatly dressed, and looking resolutely self-possessed. Hetty told + her she was quite well this morning. She had only been very tired and + overcome with her journey, for she had come a long way to ask about her + brother, who had run away, and they thought he was gone for a soldier, and + Captain Donnithorne might know, for he had been very kind to her brother + once. It was a lame story, and the landlady looked doubtfully at Hetty as + she told it; but there was a resolute air of self-reliance about her this + morning, so different from the helpless prostration of yesterday, that the + landlady hardly knew how to make a remark that might seem like prying into + other people's affairs. She only invited her to sit down to breakfast with + them, and in the course of it Hetty brought out her ear-rings and locket, + and asked the landlord if he could help her to get money for them. Her + journey, she said, had cost her much more than she expected, and now she + had no money to get back to her friends, which she wanted to do at once. + </p> + <p> + It was not the first time the landlady had seen the ornaments, for she had + examined the contents of Hetty's pocket yesterday, and she and her husband + had discussed the fact of a country girl having these beautiful things, + with a stronger conviction than ever that Hetty had been miserably deluded + by the fine young officer. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said the landlord, when Hetty had spread the precious trifles + before him, “we might take 'em to the jeweller's shop, for there's one not + far off; but Lord bless you, they wouldn't give you a quarter o' what the + things are worth. And you wouldn't like to part with 'em?” he added, + looking at her inquiringly. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I don't mind,” said Hetty, hastily, “so as I can get money to go + back.” + </p> + <p> + “And they might think the things were stolen, as you wanted to sell 'em,” + he went on, “for it isn't usual for a young woman like you to have fine + jew'llery like that.” + </p> + <p> + The blood rushed to Hetty's face with anger. “I belong to respectable + folks,” she said; “I'm not a thief.” + </p> + <p> + “No, that you aren't, I'll be bound,” said the landlady; “and you'd no + call to say that,” looking indignantly at her husband. “The things were + gev to her: that's plain enough to be seen.” + </p> + <p> + “I didn't mean as I thought so,” said the husband, apologetically, “but I + said it was what the jeweller might think, and so he wouldn't be offering + much money for 'em.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said the wife, “suppose you were to advance some money on the + things yourself, and then if she liked to redeem 'em when she got home, + she could. But if we heard nothing from her after two months, we might do + as we liked with 'em.” + </p> + <p> + I will not say that in this accommodating proposition the landlady had no + regard whatever to the possible reward of her good nature in the ultimate + possession of the locket and ear-rings: indeed, the effect they would have + in that case on the mind of the grocer's wife had presented itself with + remarkable vividness to her rapid imagination. The landlord took up the + ornaments and pushed out his lips in a meditative manner. He wished Hetty + well, doubtless; but pray, how many of your well-wishers would decline to + make a little gain out of you? Your landlady is sincerely affected at + parting with you, respects you highly, and will really rejoice if any one + else is generous to you; but at the same time she hands you a bill by + which she gains as high a percentage as possible. + </p> + <p> + “How much money do you want to get home with, young woman?” said the + well-wisher, at length. + </p> + <p> + “Three guineas,” answered Hetty, fixing on the sum she set out with, for + want of any other standard, and afraid of asking too much. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I've no objections to advance you three guineas,” said the + landlord; “and if you like to send it me back and get the jewellery again, + you can, you know. The Green Man isn't going to run away.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh yes, I'll be very glad if you'll give me that,” said Hetty, relieved + at the thought that she would not have to go to the jeweller's and be + stared at and questioned. + </p> + <p> + “But if you want the things again, you'll write before long,” said the + landlady, “because when two months are up, we shall make up our minds as + you don't want 'em.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Hetty indifferently. + </p> + <p> + The husband and wife were equally content with this arrangement. The + husband thought, if the ornaments were not redeemed, he could make a good + thing of it by taking them to London and selling them. The wife thought + she would coax the good man into letting her keep them. And they were + accommodating Hetty, poor thing—a pretty, respectable-looking young + woman, apparently in a sad case. They declined to take anything for her + food and bed: she was quite welcome. And at eleven o'clock Hetty said + “Good-bye” to them with the same quiet, resolute air she had worn all the + morning, mounting the coach that was to take her twenty miles back along + the way she had come. + </p> + <p> + There is a strength of self-possession which is the sign that the last + hope has departed. Despair no more leans on others than perfect + contentment, and in despair pride ceases to be counteracted by the sense + of dependence. + </p> + <p> + Hetty felt that no one could deliver her from the evils that would make + life hateful to her; and no one, she said to herself, should ever know her + misery and humiliation. No; she would not confess even to Dinah. She would + wander out of sight, and drown herself where her body would never be + found, and no one should know what had become of her. + </p> + <p> + When she got off this coach, she began to walk again, and take cheap rides + in carts, and get cheap meals, going on and on without distinct purpose, + yet strangely, by some fascination, taking the way she had come, though + she was determined not to go back to her own country. Perhaps it was + because she had fixed her mind on the grassy Warwickshire fields, with the + bushy tree-studded hedgerows that made a hiding-place even in this + leafless season. She went more slowly than she came, often getting over + the stiles and sitting for hours under the hedgerows, looking before her + with blank, beautiful eyes; fancying herself at the edge of a hidden pool, + low down, like that in the Scantlands; wondering if it were very painful + to be drowned, and if there would be anything worse after death than what + she dreaded in life. Religious doctrines had taken no hold on Hetty's + mind. She was one of those numerous people who have had godfathers and + godmothers, learned their catechism, been confirmed, and gone to church + every Sunday, and yet, for any practical result of strength in life, or + trust in death, have never appropriated a single Christian idea or + Christian feeling. You would misunderstand her thoughts during these + wretched days, if you imagined that they were influenced either by + religious fears or religious hopes. + </p> + <p> + She chose to go to Stratford-on-Avon again, where she had gone before by + mistake, for she remembered some grassy fields on her former way towards + it—fields among which she thought she might find just the sort of + pool she had in her mind. Yet she took care of her money still; she + carried her basket; death seemed still a long way off, and life was so + strong in her. She craved food and rest—she hastened towards them at + the very moment she was picturing to herself the bank from which she would + leap towards death. It was already five days since she had left Windsor, + for she had wandered about, always avoiding speech or questioning looks, + and recovering her air of proud self-dependence whenever she was under + observation, choosing her decent lodging at night, and dressing herself + neatly in the morning, and setting off on her way steadily, or remaining + under shelter if it rained, as if she had a happy life to cherish. + </p> + <p> + And yet, even in her most self-conscious moments, the face was sadly + different from that which had smiled at itself in the old specked glass, + or smiled at others when they glanced at it admiringly. A hard and even + fierce look had come in the eyes, though their lashes were as long as + ever, and they had all their dark brightness. And the cheek was never + dimpled with smiles now. It was the same rounded, pouting, childish + prettiness, but with all love and belief in love departed from it—the + sadder for its beauty, like that wondrous Medusa-face, with the + passionate, passionless lips. + </p> + <p> + At last she was among the fields she had been dreaming of, on a long + narrow pathway leading towards a wood. If there should be a pool in that + wood! It would be better hidden than one in the fields. No, it was not a + wood, only a wild brake, where there had once been gravel-pits, leaving + mounds and hollows studded with brushwood and small trees. She roamed up + and down, thinking there was perhaps a pool in every hollow before she + came to it, till her limbs were weary, and she sat down to rest. The + afternoon was far advanced, and the leaden sky was darkening, as if the + sun were setting behind it. After a little while Hetty started up again, + feeling that darkness would soon come on; and she must put off finding the + pool till to-morrow, and make her way to some shelter for the night. She + had quite lost her way in the fields, and might as well go in one + direction as another, for aught she knew. She walked through field after + field, and no village, no house was in sight; but there, at the corner of + this pasture, there was a break in the hedges; the land seemed to dip down + a little, and two trees leaned towards each other across the opening. + Hetty's heart gave a great beat as she thought there must be a pool there. + She walked towards it heavily over the tufted grass, with pale lips and a + sense of trembling. It was as if the thing were come in spite of herself, + instead of being the object of her search. + </p> + <p> + There it was, black under the darkening sky: no motion, no sound near. She + set down her basket, and then sank down herself on the grass, trembling. + The pool had its wintry depth now: by the time it got shallow, as she + remembered the pools did at Hayslope, in the summer, no one could find out + that it was her body. But then there was her basket—she must hide + that too. She must throw it into the water—make it heavy with stones + first, and then throw it in. She got up to look about for stones, and soon + brought five or six, which she laid down beside her basket, and then sat + down again. There was no need to hurry—there was all the night to + drown herself in. She sat leaning her elbow on the basket. She was weary, + hungry. There were some buns in her basket—three, which she had + supplied herself with at the place where she ate her dinner. She took them + out now and ate them eagerly, and then sat still again, looking at the + pool. The soothed sensation that came over her from the satisfaction of + her hunger, and this fixed dreamy attitude, brought on drowsiness, and + presently her head sank down on her knees. She was fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + When she awoke it was deep night, and she felt chill. She was frightened + at this darkness—frightened at the long night before her. If she + could but throw herself into the water! No, not yet. She began to walk + about that she might get warm again, as if she would have more resolution + then. Oh how long the time was in that darkness! The bright hearth and the + warmth and the voices of home, the secure uprising and lying down, the + familiar fields, the familiar people, the Sundays and holidays with their + simple joys of dress and feasting—all the sweets of her young life + rushed before her now, and she seemed to be stretching her arms towards + them across a great gulf. She set her teeth when she thought of Arthur. + She cursed him, without knowing what her cursing would do. She wished he + too might know desolation, and cold, and a life of shame that he dared not + end by death. + </p> + <p> + The horror of this cold, and darkness, and solitude—out of all human + reach—became greater every long minute. It was almost as if she were + dead already, and knew that she was dead, and longed to get back to life + again. But no: she was alive still; she had not taken the dreadful leap. + She felt a strange contradictory wretchedness and exultation: + wretchedness, that she did not dare to face death; exultation, that she + was still in life—that she might yet know light and warmth again. + She walked backwards and forwards to warm herself, beginning to discern + something of the objects around her, as her eyes became accustomed to the + night—the darker line of the hedge, the rapid motion of some living + creature—perhaps a field-mouse—rushing across the grass. She + no longer felt as if the darkness hedged her in. She thought she could + walk back across the field, and get over the stile; and then, in the very + next field, she thought she remembered there was a hovel of furze near a + sheepfold. If she could get into that hovel, she would be warmer. She + could pass the night there, for that was what Alick did at Hayslope in + lambing-time. The thought of this hovel brought the energy of a new hope. + She took up her basket and walked across the field, but it was some time + before she got in the right direction for the stile. The exercise and the + occupation of finding the stile were a stimulus to her, however, and + lightened the horror of the darkness and solitude. There were sheep in the + next field, and she startled a group as she set down her basket and got + over the stile; and the sound of their movement comforted her, for it + assured her that her impression was right—this was the field where + she had seen the hovel, for it was the field where the sheep were. Right + on along the path, and she would get to it. She reached the opposite gate, + and felt her way along its rails and the rails of the sheep-fold, till her + hand encountered the pricking of the gorsy wall. Delicious sensation! She + had found the shelter. She groped her way, touching the prickly gorse, to + the door, and pushed it open. It was an ill-smelling close place, but + warm, and there was straw on the ground. Hetty sank down on the straw with + a sense of escape. Tears came—she had never shed tears before since + she left Windsor—tears and sobs of hysterical joy that she had still + hold of life, that she was still on the familiar earth, with the sheep + near her. The very consciousness of her own limbs was a delight to her: + she turned up her sleeves, and kissed her arms with the passionate love of + life. Soon warmth and weariness lulled her in the midst of her sobs, and + she fell continually into dozing, fancying herself at the brink of the + pool again—fancying that she had jumped into the water, and then + awaking with a start, and wondering where she was. But at last deep + dreamless sleep came; her head, guarded by her bonnet, found a pillow + against the gorsy wall, and the poor soul, driven to and fro between two + equal terrors, found the one relief that was possible to it—the + relief of unconsciousness. + </p> + <p> + Alas! That relief seems to end the moment it has begun. It seemed to Hetty + as if those dozen dreams had only passed into another dream—that she + was in the hovel, and her aunt was standing over her with a candle in her + hand. She trembled under her aunt's glance, and opened her eyes. There was + no candle, but there was light in the hovel—the light of early + morning through the open door. And there was a face looking down on her; + but it was an unknown face, belonging to an elderly man in a smock-frock. + </p> + <p> + “Why, what do you do here, young woman?” the man said roughly. + </p> + <p> + Hetty trembled still worse under this real fear and shame than she had + done in her momentary dream under her aunt's glance. She felt that she was + like a beggar already—found sleeping in that place. But in spite of + her trembling, she was so eager to account to the man for her presence + here, that she found words at once. + </p> + <p> + “I lost my way,” she said. “I'm travelling—north'ard, and I got away + from the road into the fields, and was overtaken by the dark. Will you + tell me the way to the nearest village?” + </p> + <p> + She got up as she was speaking, and put her hands to her bonnet to adjust + it, and then laid hold of her basket. + </p> + <p> + The man looked at her with a slow bovine gaze, without giving her any + answer, for some seconds. Then he turned away and walked towards the door + of the hovel, but it was not till he got there that he stood still, and, + turning his shoulder half-round towards her, said, “Aw, I can show you the + way to Norton, if you like. But what do you do gettin' out o' the + highroad?” he added, with a tone of gruff reproof. “Y'ull be gettin' into + mischief, if you dooant mind.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Hetty, “I won't do it again. I'll keep in the road, if you'll + be so good as show me how to get to it.” + </p> + <p> + “Why dooant you keep where there's a finger-poasses an' folks to ax the + way on?” the man said, still more gruffly. “Anybody 'ud think you was a + wild woman, an' look at yer.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty was frightened at this gruff old man, and still more at this last + suggestion that she looked like a wild woman. As she followed him out of + the hovel she thought she would give him a sixpence for telling her the + way, and then he would not suppose she was wild. As he stopped to point + out the road to her, she put her hand in her pocket to get the six-pence + ready, and when he was turning away, without saying good-morning, she held + it out to him and said, “Thank you; will you please to take something for + your trouble?” + </p> + <p> + He looked slowly at the sixpence, and then said, “I want none o' your + money. You'd better take care on't, else you'll get it stool from yer, if + you go trapesin' about the fields like a mad woman a-thatway.” + </p> + <p> + The man left her without further speech, and Hetty held on her way. + Another day had risen, and she must wander on. It was no use to think of + drowning herself—she could not do it, at least while she had money + left to buy food and strength to journey on. But the incident on her + waking this morning heightened her dread of that time when her money would + be all gone; she would have to sell her basket and clothes then, and she + would really look like a beggar or a wild woman, as the man had said. The + passionate joy in life she had felt in the night, after escaping from the + brink of the black cold death in the pool, was gone now. Life now, by the + morning light, with the impression of that man's hard wondering look at + her, was as full of dread as death—it was worse; it was a dread to + which she felt chained, from which she shrank and shrank as she did from + the black pool, and yet could find no refuge from it. + </p> + <p> + She took out her money from her purse, and looked at it. She had still + two-and-twenty shillings; it would serve her for many days more, or it + would help her to get on faster to Stonyshire, within reach of Dinah. The + thought of Dinah urged itself more strongly now, since the experience of + the night had driven her shuddering imagination away from the pool. If it + had been only going to Dinah—if nobody besides Dinah would ever know—Hetty + could have made up her mind to go to her. The soft voice, the pitying + eyes, would have drawn her. But afterwards the other people must know, and + she could no more rush on that shame than she could rush on death. + </p> + <p> + She must wander on and on, and wait for a lower depth of despair to give + her courage. Perhaps death would come to her, for she was getting less and + less able to bear the day's weariness. And yet—such is the strange + action of our souls, drawing us by a lurking desire towards the very ends + we dread—Hetty, when she set out again from Norton, asked the + straightest road northwards towards Stonyshire, and kept it all that day. + </p> + <p> + Poor wandering Hetty, with the rounded childish face and the hard, + unloving, despairing soul looking out of it—with the narrow heart + and narrow thoughts, no room in them for any sorrows but her own, and + tasting that sorrow with the more intense bitterness! My heart bleeds for + her as I see her toiling along on her weary feet, or seated in a cart, + with her eyes fixed vacantly on the road before her, never thinking or + caring whither it tends, till hunger comes and makes her desire that a + village may be near. + </p> + <p> + What will be the end, the end of her objectless wandering, apart from all + love, caring for human beings only through her pride, clinging to life + only as the hunted wounded brute clings to it? + </p> + <p> + God preserve you and me from being the beginners of such misery! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0038" id="link2HCH0038"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXXVIII + </h2> + <h3> + The Quest + </h3> + <p> + THE first ten days after Hetty's departure passed as quietly as any other + days with the family at the Hall Farm, and with Adam at his daily work. + They had expected Hetty to stay away a week or ten days at least, perhaps + a little longer if Dinah came back with her, because there might then be + something to detain them at Snowfield. But when a fortnight had passed + they began to feel a little surprise that Hetty did not return; she must + surely have found it pleasanter to be with Dinah than any one could have + supposed. Adam, for his part, was getting very impatient to see her, and + he resolved that, if she did not appear the next day (Saturday), he would + set out on Sunday morning to fetch her. There was no coach on a Sunday, + but by setting out before it was light, and perhaps getting a lift in a + cart by the way, he would arrive pretty early at Snowfield, and bring back + Hetty the next day—Dinah too, if she were coming. It was quite time + Hetty came home, and he would afford to lose his Monday for the sake of + bringing her. + </p> + <p> + His project was quite approved at the Farm when he went there on Saturday + evening. Mrs. Poyser desired him emphatically not to come back without + Hetty, for she had been quite too long away, considering the things she + had to get ready by the middle of March, and a week was surely enough for + any one to go out for their health. As for Dinah, Mrs. Poyser had small + hope of their bringing her, unless they could make her believe the folks + at Hayslope were twice as miserable as the folks at Snowfield. “Though,” + said Mrs. Poyser, by way of conclusion, “you might tell her she's got but + one aunt left, and SHE'S wasted pretty nigh to a shadder; and we shall + p'rhaps all be gone twenty mile farther off her next Michaelmas, and shall + die o' broken hearts among strange folks, and leave the children + fatherless and motherless.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay,” said Mr. Poyser, who certainly had the air of a man perfectly + heart-whole, “it isna so bad as that. Thee't looking rarely now, and + getting flesh every day. But I'd be glad for Dinah t' come, for she'd help + thee wi' the little uns: they took t' her wonderful.” + </p> + <p> + So at daybreak, on Sunday, Adam set off. Seth went with him the first mile + or two, for the thought of Snowfield and the possibility that Dinah might + come again made him restless, and the walk with Adam in the cold morning + air, both in their best clothes, helped to give him a sense of Sunday + calm. It was the last morning in February, with a low grey sky, and a + slight hoar-frost on the green border of the road and on the black hedges. + They heard the gurgling of the full brooklet hurrying down the hill, and + the faint twittering of the early birds. For they walked in silence, + though with a pleased sense of companionship. + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye, lad,” said Adam, laying his hand on Seth's shoulder and looking + at him affectionately as they were about to part. “I wish thee wast going + all the way wi' me, and as happy as I am.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm content, Addy, I'm content,” said Seth cheerfully. “I'll be an old + bachelor, belike, and make a fuss wi' thy children.” + </p> + <p> + They turned away from each other, and Seth walked leisurely homeward, + mentally repeating one of his favourite hymns—he was very fond of + hymns: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Dark and cheerless is the morn + Unaccompanied by thee: + Joyless is the day's return + Till thy mercy's beams I see: + Till thou inward light impart, + Glad my eyes and warm my heart. + + Visit, then, this soul of mine, + Pierce the gloom of sin and grief— + Fill me, Radiancy Divine, + Scatter all my unbelief. + More and more thyself display, + Shining to the perfect day. +</pre> + <p> + Adam walked much faster, and any one coming along the Oakbourne road at + sunrise that morning must have had a pleasant sight in this tall + broad-chested man, striding along with a carriage as upright and firm as + any soldier's, glancing with keen glad eyes at the dark-blue hills as they + began to show themselves on his way. Seldom in Adam's life had his face + been so free from any cloud of anxiety as it was this morning; and this + freedom from care, as is usual with constructive practical minds like his, + made him all the more observant of the objects round him and all the more + ready to gather suggestions from them towards his own favourite plans and + ingenious contrivances. His happy love—the knowledge that his steps + were carrying him nearer and nearer to Hetty, who was so soon to be his—was + to his thoughts what the sweet morning air was to his sensations: it gave + him a consciousness of well-being that made activity delightful. Every now + and then there was a rush of more intense feeling towards her, which + chased away other images than Hetty; and along with that would come a + wondering thankfulness that all this happiness was given to him—that + this life of ours had such sweetness in it. For Adam had a devout mind, + though he was perhaps rather impatient of devout words, and his tenderness + lay very close to his reverence, so that the one could hardly be stirred + without the other. But after feeling had welled up and poured itself out + in this way, busy thought would come back with the greater vigour; and + this morning it was intent on schemes by which the roads might be improved + that were so imperfect all through the country, and on picturing all the + benefits that might come from the exertions of a single country gentleman, + if he would set himself to getting the roads made good in his own + district. + </p> + <p> + It seemed a very short walk, the ten miles to Oakbourne, that pretty town + within sight of the blue hills, where he break-fasted. After this, the + country grew barer and barer: no more rolling woods, no more + wide-branching trees near frequent homesteads, no more bushy hedgerows, + but greystone walls intersecting the meagre pastures, and dismal + wide-scattered greystone houses on broken lands where mines had been and + were no longer. “A hungry land,” said Adam to himself. “I'd rather go + south'ard, where they say it's as flat as a table, than come to live here; + though if Dinah likes to live in a country where she can be the most + comfort to folks, she's i' the right to live o' this side; for she must + look as if she'd come straight from heaven, like th' angels in the desert, + to strengthen them as ha' got nothing t' eat.” And when at last he came in + sight of Snowfield, he thought it looked like a town that was “fellow to + the country,” though the stream through the valley where the great mill + stood gave a pleasant greenness to the lower fields. The town lay, grim, + stony, and unsheltered, up the side of a steep hill, and Adam did not go + forward to it at present, for Seth had told him where to find Dinah. It + was at a thatched cottage outside the town, a little way from the mill—an + old cottage, standing sideways towards the road, with a little bit of + potato-ground before it. Here Dinah lodged with an elderly couple; and if + she and Hetty happened to be out, Adam could learn where they were gone, + or when they would be at home again. Dinah might be out on some preaching + errand, and perhaps she would have left Hetty at home. Adam could not help + hoping this, and as he recognized the cottage by the roadside before him, + there shone out in his face that involuntary smile which belongs to the + expectation of a near joy. + </p> + <p> + He hurried his step along the narrow causeway, and rapped at the door. It + was opened by a very clean old woman, with a slow palsied shake of the + head. + </p> + <p> + “Is Dinah Morris at home?” said Adam. + </p> + <p> + “Eh?...no,” said the old woman, looking up at this tall stranger with a + wonder that made her slower of speech than usual. “Will you please to come + in?” she added, retiring from the door, as if recollecting herself. “Why, + ye're brother to the young man as come afore, arena ye?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Adam, entering. “That was Seth Bede. I'm his brother Adam. He + told me to give his respects to you and your good master.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, the same t' him. He was a gracious young man. An' ye feature him, + on'y ye're darker. Sit ye down i' th' arm-chair. My man isna come home + from meeting.” + </p> + <p> + Adam sat down patiently, not liking to hurry the shaking old woman with + questions, but looking eagerly towards the narrow twisting stairs in one + corner, for he thought it was possible Hetty might have heard his voice + and would come down them. + </p> + <p> + “So you're come to see Dinah Morris?” said the old woman, standing + opposite to him. “An' you didn' know she was away from home, then?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Adam, “but I thought it likely she might be away, seeing as + it's Sunday. But the other young woman—is she at home, or gone along + with Dinah?” + </p> + <p> + The old woman looked at Adam with a bewildered air. + </p> + <p> + “Gone along wi' her?” she said. “Eh, Dinah's gone to Leeds, a big town ye + may ha' heared on, where there's a many o' the Lord's people. She's been + gone sin' Friday was a fortnight: they sent her the money for her journey. + You may see her room here,” she went on, opening a door and not noticing + the effect of her words on Adam. He rose and followed her, and darted an + eager glance into the little room with its narrow bed, the portrait of + Wesley on the wall, and the few books lying on the large Bible. He had had + an irrational hope that Hetty might be there. He could not speak in the + first moment after seeing that the room was empty; an undefined fear had + seized him—something had happened to Hetty on the journey. Still the + old woman was so slow of speech and apprehension, that Hetty might be at + Snowfield after all. + </p> + <p> + “It's a pity ye didna know,” she said. “Have ye come from your own country + o' purpose to see her?” + </p> + <p> + “But Hetty—Hetty Sorrel,” said Adam, abruptly; “Where is she?” + </p> + <p> + “I know nobody by that name,” said the old woman, wonderingly. “Is it + anybody ye've heared on at Snowfield?” + </p> + <p> + “Did there come no young woman here—very young and pretty—Friday + was a fortnight, to see Dinah Morris?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay; I'n seen no young woman.” + </p> + <p> + “Think; are you quite sure? A girl, eighteen years old, with dark eyes and + dark curly hair, and a red cloak on, and a basket on her arm? You couldn't + forget her if you saw her.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay; Friday was a fortnight—it was the day as Dinah went away—there + come nobody. There's ne'er been nobody asking for her till you come, for + the folks about know as she's gone. Eh dear, eh dear, is there summat the + matter?” + </p> + <p> + The old woman had seen the ghastly look of fear in Adam's face. But he was + not stunned or confounded: he was thinking eagerly where he could inquire + about Hetty. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; a young woman started from our country to see Dinah, Friday was a + fortnight. I came to fetch her back. I'm afraid something has happened to + her. I can't stop. Good-bye.” + </p> + <p> + He hastened out of the cottage, and the old woman followed him to the + gate, watching him sadly with her shaking head as he almost ran towards + the town. He was going to inquire at the place where the Oakbourne coach + stopped. + </p> + <p> + No! No young woman like Hetty had been seen there. Had any accident + happened to the coach a fortnight ago? No. And there was no coach to take + him back to Oakbourne that day. Well, he would walk: he couldn't stay + here, in wretched inaction. But the innkeeper, seeing that Adam was in + great anxiety, and entering into this new incident with the eagerness of a + man who passes a great deal of time with his hands in his pockets looking + into an obstinately monotonous street, offered to take him back to + Oakbourne in his own “taxed cart” this very evening. It was not five + o'clock; there was plenty of time for Adam to take a meal and yet to get + to Oakbourne before ten o'clock. The innkeeper declared that he really + wanted to go to Oakbourne, and might as well go to-night; he should have + all Monday before him then. Adam, after making an ineffectual attempt to + eat, put the food in his pocket, and, drinking a draught of ale, declared + himself ready to set off. As they approached the cottage, it occurred to + him that he would do well to learn from the old woman where Dinah was to + be found in Leeds: if there was trouble at the Hall Farm—he only + half-admitted the foreboding that there would be—the Poysers might + like to send for Dinah. But Dinah had not left any address, and the old + woman, whose memory for names was infirm, could not recall the name of the + “blessed woman” who was Dinah's chief friend in the Society at Leeds. + </p> + <p> + During that long, long journey in the taxed cart, there was time for all + the conjectures of importunate fear and struggling hope. In the very first + shock of discovering that Hetty had not been to Snowfield, the thought of + Arthur had darted through Adam like a sharp pang, but he tried for some + time to ward off its return by busying himself with modes of accounting + for the alarming fact, quite apart from that intolerable thought. Some + accident had happened. Hetty had, by some strange chance, got into a wrong + vehicle from Oakbourne: she had been taken ill, and did not want to + frighten them by letting them know. But this frail fence of vague + improbabilities was soon hurled down by a rush of distinct agonizing + fears. Hetty had been deceiving herself in thinking that she could love + and marry him: she had been loving Arthur all the while; and now, in her + desperation at the nearness of their marriage, she had run away. And she + was gone to him. The old indignation and jealousy rose again, and prompted + the suspicion that Arthur had been dealing falsely—had written to + Hetty—had tempted her to come to him—being unwilling, after + all, that she should belong to another man besides himself. Perhaps the + whole thing had been contrived by him, and he had given her directions how + to follow him to Ireland—for Adam knew that Arthur had been gone + thither three weeks ago, having recently learnt it at the Chase. Every sad + look of Hetty's, since she had been engaged to Adam, returned upon him now + with all the exaggeration of painful retrospect. He had been foolishly + sanguine and confident. The poor thing hadn't perhaps known her own mind + for a long while; had thought that she could forget Arthur; had been + momentarily drawn towards the man who offered her a protecting, faithful + love. He couldn't bear to blame her: she never meant to cause him this + dreadful pain. The blame lay with that man who had selfishly played with + her heart—had perhaps even deliberately lured her away. + </p> + <p> + At Oakbourne, the ostler at the Royal Oak remembered such a young woman as + Adam described getting out of the Treddleston coach more than a fortnight + ago—wasn't likely to forget such a pretty lass as that in a hurry—was + sure she had not gone on by the Buxton coach that went through Snowfield, + but had lost sight of her while he went away with the horses and had never + set eyes on her again. Adam then went straight to the house from which the + Stonition coach started: Stoniton was the most obvious place for Hetty to + go to first, whatever might be her destination, for she would hardly + venture on any but the chief coach-roads. She had been noticed here too, + and was remembered to have sat on the box by the coachman; but the + coachman could not be seen, for another man had been driving on that road + in his stead the last three or four days. He could probably be seen at + Stoniton, through inquiry at the inn where the coach put up. So the + anxious heart-stricken Adam must of necessity wait and try to rest till + morning—nay, till eleven o'clock, when the coach started. + </p> + <p> + At Stoniton another delay occurred, for the old coachman who had driven + Hetty would not be in the town again till night. When he did come he + remembered Hetty well, and remembered his own joke addressed to her, + quoting it many times to Adam, and observing with equal frequency that he + thought there was something more than common, because Hetty had not + laughed when he joked her. But he declared, as the people had done at the + inn, that he had lost sight of Hetty directly she got down. Part of the + next morning was consumed in inquiries at every house in the town from + which a coach started—(all in vain, for you know Hetty did not start + from Stonition by coach, but on foot in the grey morning)—and then + in walking out to the first toll-gates on the different lines of road, in + the forlorn hope of finding some recollection of her there. No, she was + not to be traced any farther; and the next hard task for Adam was to go + home and carry the wretched tidings to the Hall Farm. As to what he should + do beyond that, he had come to two distinct resolutions amidst the tumult + of thought and feeling which was going on within him while he went to and + fro. He would not mention what he knew of Arthur Donnithorne's behaviour + to Hetty till there was a clear necessity for it: it was still possible + Hetty might come back, and the disclosure might be an injury or an offence + to her. And as soon as he had been home and done what was necessary there + to prepare for his further absence, he would start off to Ireland: if he + found no trace of Hetty on the road, he would go straight to Arthur + Donnithorne and make himself certain how far he was acquainted with her + movements. Several times the thought occurred to him that he would consult + Mr. Irwine, but that would be useless unless he told him all, and so + betrayed the secret about Arthur. It seems strange that Adam, in the + incessant occupation of his mind about Hetty, should never have alighted + on the probability that she had gone to Windsor, ignorant that Arthur was + no longer there. Perhaps the reason was that he could not conceive Hetty's + throwing herself on Arthur uncalled; he imagined no cause that could have + driven her to such a step, after that letter written in August. There were + but two alternatives in his mind: either Arthur had written to her again + and enticed her away, or she had simply fled from her approaching marriage + with himself because she found, after all, she could not love him well + enough, and yet was afraid of her friends' anger if she retracted. + </p> + <p> + With this last determination on his mind, of going straight to Arthur, the + thought that he had spent two days in inquiries which had proved to be + almost useless, was torturing to Adam; and yet, since he would not tell + the Poysers his conviction as to where Hetty was gone, or his intention to + follow her thither, he must be able to say to them that he had traced her + as far as possible. + </p> + <p> + It was after twelve o'clock on Tuesday night when Adam reached + Treddleston; and, unwilling to disturb his mother and Seth, and also to + encounter their questions at that hour, he threw himself without + undressing on a bed at the “Waggon Overthrown,” and slept hard from pure + weariness. Not more than four hours, however, for before five o'clock he + set out on his way home in the faint morning twilight. He always kept a + key of the workshop door in his pocket, so that he could let himself in; + and he wished to enter without awaking his mother, for he was anxious to + avoid telling her the new trouble himself by seeing Seth first, and asking + him to tell her when it should be necessary. He walked gently along the + yard, and turned the key gently in the door; but, as he expected, Gyp, who + lay in the workshop, gave a sharp bark. It subsided when he saw Adam, + holding up his finger at him to impose silence, and in his dumb, tailless + joy he must content himself with rubbing his body against his master's + legs. + </p> + <p> + Adam was too heart-sick to take notice of Gyp's fondling. He threw himself + on the bench and stared dully at the wood and the signs of work around + him, wondering if he should ever come to feel pleasure in them again, + while Gyp, dimly aware that there was something wrong with his master, + laid his rough grey head on Adam's knee and wrinkled his brows to look up + at him. Hitherto, since Sunday afternoon, Adam had been constantly among + strange people and in strange places, having no associations with the + details of his daily life, and now that by the light of this new morning + he was come back to his home and surrounded by the familiar objects that + seemed for ever robbed of their charm, the reality—the hard, + inevitable reality of his troubles pressed upon him with a new weight. + Right before him was an unfinished chest of drawers, which he had been + making in spare moments for Hetty's use, when his home should be hers. + </p> + <p> + Seth had not heard Adam's entrance, but he had been roused by Gyp's bark, + and Adam heard him moving about in the room above, dressing himself. + Seth's first thoughts were about his brother: he would come home to-day, + surely, for the business would be wanting him sadly by to-morrow, but it + was pleasant to think he had had a longer holiday than he had expected. + And would Dinah come too? Seth felt that that was the greatest happiness + he could look forward to for himself, though he had no hope left that she + would ever love him well enough to marry him; but he had often said to + himself, it was better to be Dinah's friend and brother than any other + woman's husband. If he could but be always near her, instead of living so + far off! + </p> + <p> + He came downstairs and opened the inner door leading from the kitchen into + the workshop, intending to let out Gyp; but he stood still in the doorway, + smitten with a sudden shock at the sight of Adam seated listlessly on the + bench, pale, unwashed, with sunken blank eyes, almost like a drunkard in + the morning. But Seth felt in an instant what the marks meant—not + drunkenness, but some great calamity. Adam looked up at him without + speaking, and Seth moved forward towards the bench, himself trembling so + that speech did not come readily. + </p> + <p> + “God have mercy on us, Addy,” he said, in a low voice, sitting down on the + bench beside Adam, “what is it?” + </p> + <p> + Adam was unable to speak. The strong man, accustomed to suppress the signs + of sorrow, had felt his heart swell like a child's at this first approach + of sympathy. He fell on Seth's neck and sobbed. + </p> + <p> + Seth was prepared for the worst now, for, even in his recollections of + their boyhood, Adam had never sobbed before. + </p> + <p> + “Is it death, Adam? Is she dead?” he asked, in a low tone, when Adam + raised his head and was recovering himself. + </p> + <p> + “No, lad; but she's gone—gone away from us. She's never been to + Snowfield. Dinah's been gone to Leeds ever since last Friday was a + fortnight, the very day Hetty set out. I can't find out where she went + after she got to Stoniton.” + </p> + <p> + Seth was silent from utter astonishment: he knew nothing that could + suggest to him a reason for Hetty's going away. + </p> + <p> + “Hast any notion what she's done it for?” he said, at last. + </p> + <p> + “She can't ha' loved me. She didn't like our marriage when it came nigh—that + must be it,” said Adam. He had determined to mention no further reason. + </p> + <p> + “I hear Mother stirring,” said Seth. “Must we tell her?” + </p> + <p> + “No, not yet,” said Adam, rising from the bench and pushing the hair from + his face, as if he wanted to rouse himself. “I can't have her told yet; + and I must set out on another journey directly, after I've been to the + village and th' Hall Farm. I can't tell thee where I'm going, and thee + must say to her I'm gone on business as nobody is to know anything about. + I'll go and wash myself now.” Adam moved towards the door of the workshop, + but after a step or two he turned round, and, meeting Seth's eyes with a + calm sad glance, he said, “I must take all the money out o' the tin box, + lad; but if anything happens to me, all the rest 'll be thine, to take + care o' Mother with.” + </p> + <p> + Seth was pale and trembling: he felt there was some terrible secret under + all this. “Brother,” he said, faintly—he never called Adam “Brother” + except in solemn moments—“I don't believe you'll do anything as you + can't ask God's blessing on.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, lad,” said Adam, “don't be afraid. I'm for doing nought but what's a + man's duty.” + </p> + <p> + The thought that if he betrayed his trouble to his mother, she would only + distress him by words, half of blundering affection, half of irrepressible + triumph that Hetty proved as unfit to be his wife as she had always + foreseen, brought back some of his habitual firmness and self-command. He + had felt ill on his journey home—he told her when she came down—had + stayed all night at Tredddleston for that reason; and a bad headache, that + still hung about him this morning, accounted for his paleness and heavy + eyes. + </p> + <p> + He determined to go to the village, in the first place, attend to his + business for an hour, and give notice to Burge of his being obliged to go + on a journey, which he must beg him not to mention to any one; for he + wished to avoid going to the Hall Farm near breakfast-time, when the + children and servants would be in the house-place, and there must be + exclamations in their hearing about his having returned without Hetty. He + waited until the clock struck nine before he left the work-yard at the + village, and set off, through the fields, towards the Farm. It was an + immense relief to him, as he came near the Home Close, to see Mr. Poyser + advancing towards him, for this would spare him the pain of going to the + house. Mr. Poyser was walking briskly this March morning, with a sense of + spring business on his mind: he was going to cast the master's eye on the + shoeing of a new cart-horse, carrying his spud as a useful companion by + the way. His surprise was great when he caught sight of Adam, but he was + not a man given to presentiments of evil. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Adam, lad, is't you? Have ye been all this time away and not brought + the lasses back, after all? Where are they?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I've not brought 'em,” said Adam, turning round, to indicate that he + wished to walk back with Mr. Poyser. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said Martin, looking with sharper attention at Adam, “ye look bad. + Is there anything happened?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Adam, heavily. “A sad thing's happened. I didna find Hetty at + Snowfield.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Poyser's good-natured face showed signs of troubled astonishment. “Not + find her? What's happened to her?” he said, his thoughts flying at once to + bodily accident. + </p> + <p> + “That I can't tell, whether anything's happened to her. She never went to + Snowfield—she took the coach to Stoniton, but I can't learn nothing + of her after she got down from the Stoniton coach.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you donna mean she's run away?” said Martin, standing still, so + puzzled and bewildered that the fact did not yet make itself felt as a + trouble by him. + </p> + <p> + “She must ha' done,” said Adam. “She didn't like our marriage when it came + to the point—that must be it. She'd mistook her feelings.” + </p> + <p> + Martin was silent for a minute or two, looking on the ground and rooting + up the grass with his spud, without knowing what he was doing. His usual + slowness was always trebled when the subject of speech was painful. At + last he looked up, right in Adam's face, saying, “Then she didna deserve + t' ha' ye, my lad. An' I feel i' fault myself, for she was my niece, and I + was allays hot for her marr'ing ye. There's no amends I can make ye, lad—the + more's the pity: it's a sad cut-up for ye, I doubt.” + </p> + <p> + Adam could say nothing; and Mr. Poyser, after pursuing his walk for a + little while, went on, “I'll be bound she's gone after trying to get a + lady's maid's place, for she'd got that in her head half a year ago, and + wanted me to gi' my consent. But I'd thought better on her”—he + added, shaking his head slowly and sadly—“I'd thought better on her, + nor to look for this, after she'd gi'en y' her word, an' everything been + got ready.” + </p> + <p> + Adam had the strongest motives for encouraging this supposition in Mr. + Poyser, and he even tried to believe that it might possibly be true. He + had no warrant for the certainty that she was gone to Arthur. + </p> + <p> + “It was better it should be so,” he said, as quietly as he could, “if she + felt she couldn't like me for a husband. Better run away before than + repent after. I hope you won't look harshly on her if she comes back, as + she may do if she finds it hard to get on away from home.” + </p> + <p> + “I canna look on her as I've done before,” said Martin decisively. “She's + acted bad by you, and by all of us. But I'll not turn my back on her: + she's but a young un, and it's the first harm I've knowed on her. It'll be + a hard job for me to tell her aunt. Why didna Dinah come back wi' ye? + She'd ha' helped to pacify her aunt a bit.” + </p> + <p> + “Dinah wasn't at Snowfield. She's been gone to Leeds this fortnight, and I + couldn't learn from th' old woman any direction where she is at Leeds, + else I should ha' brought it you.” + </p> + <p> + “She'd a deal better be staying wi' her own kin,” said Mr. Poyser, + indignantly, “than going preaching among strange folks a-that'n.” + </p> + <p> + “I must leave you now, Mr. Poyser,” said Adam, “for I've a deal to see + to.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, you'd best be after your business, and I must tell the missis when I + go home. It's a hard job.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” said Adam, “I beg particular, you'll keep what's happened quiet for + a week or two. I've not told my mother yet, and there's no knowing how + things may turn out.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye; least said, soonest mended. We'n no need to say why the match + is broke off, an' we may hear of her after a bit. Shake hands wi' me, lad: + I wish I could make thee amends.” + </p> + <p> + There was something in Martin Poyser's throat at that moment which caused + him to bring out those scanty words in rather a broken fashion. Yet Adam + knew what they meant all the better, and the two honest men grasped each + other's hard hands in mutual understanding. + </p> + <p> + There was nothing now to hinder Adam from setting off. He had told Seth to + go to the Chase and leave a message for the squire, saying that Adam Bede + had been obliged to start off suddenly on a journey—and to say as + much, and no more, to any one else who made inquiries about him. If the + Poysers learned that he was gone away again, Adam knew they would infer + that he was gone in search of Hetty. + </p> + <p> + He had intended to go right on his way from the Hall Farm, but now the + impulse which had frequently visited him before—to go to Mr. Irwine, + and make a confidant of him—recurred with the new force which + belongs to a last opportunity. He was about to start on a long journey—a + difficult one—by sea—and no soul would know where he was gone. + If anything happened to him? Or, if he absolutely needed help in any + matter concerning Hetty? Mr. Irwine was to be trusted; and the feeling + which made Adam shrink from telling anything which was her secret must + give way before the need there was that she should have some one else + besides himself who would be prepared to defend her in the worst + extremity. Towards Arthur, even though he might have incurred no new + guilt, Adam felt that he was not bound to keep silence when Hetty's + interest called on him to speak. + </p> + <p> + “I must do it,” said Adam, when these thoughts, which had spread + themselves through hours of his sad journeying, now rushed upon him in an + instant, like a wave that had been slowly gathering; “it's the right + thing. I can't stand alone in this way any longer.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0039" id="link2HCH0039"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XXXIX + </h2> + <h3> + The Tidings + </h3> + <p> + ADAM turned his face towards Broxton and walked with his swiftest stride, + looking at his watch with the fear that Mr. Irwine might be gone out—hunting, + perhaps. The fear and haste together produced a state of strong excitement + before he reached the rectory gate, and outside it he saw the deep marks + of a recent hoof on the gravel. + </p> + <p> + But the hoofs were turned towards the gate, not away from it, and though + there was a horse against the stable door, it was not Mr. Irwine's: it had + evidently had a journey this morning, and must belong to some one who had + come on business. Mr. Irwine was at home, then; but Adam could hardly find + breath and calmness to tell Carroll that he wanted to speak to the rector. + The double suffering of certain and uncertain sorrow had begun to shake + the strong man. The butler looked at him wonderingly, as he threw himself + on a bench in the passage and stared absently at the clock on the opposite + wall. The master had somebody with him, he said, but he heard the study + door open—the stranger seemed to be coming out, and as Adam was in a + hurry, he would let the master know at once. + </p> + <p> + Adam sat looking at the clock: the minute-hand was hurrying along the last + five minutes to ten with a loud, hard, indifferent tick, and Adam watched + the movement and listened to the sound as if he had had some reason for + doing so. In our times of bitter suffering there are almost always these + pauses, when our consciousness is benumbed to everything but some trivial + perception or sensation. It is as if semi-idiocy came to give us rest from + the memory and the dread which refuse to leave us in our sleep. + </p> + <p> + Carroll, coming back, recalled Adam to the sense of his burden. He was to + go into the study immediately. “I can't think what that strange person's + come about,” the butler added, from mere incontinence of remark, as he + preceded Adam to the door, “he's gone i' the dining-room. And master looks + unaccountable—as if he was frightened.” Adam took no notice of the + words: he could not care about other people's business. But when he + entered the study and looked in Mr. Irwine's face, he felt in an instant + that there was a new expression in it, strangely different from the warm + friendliness it had always worn for him before. A letter lay open on the + table, and Mr. Irwine's hand was on it, but the changed glance he cast on + Adam could not be owing entirely to preoccupation with some disagreeable + business, for he was looking eagerly towards the door, as if Adam's + entrance were a matter of poignant anxiety to him. + </p> + <p> + “You want to speak to me, Adam,” he said, in that low constrainedly quiet + tone which a man uses when he is determined to suppress agitation. “Sit + down here.” He pointed to a chair just opposite to him, at no more than a + yard's distance from his own, and Adam sat down with a sense that this + cold manner of Mr. Irwine's gave an additional unexpected difficulty to + his disclosure. But when Adam had made up his mind to a measure, he was + not the man to renounce it for any but imperative reasons. + </p> + <p> + “I come to you, sir,” he said, “as the gentleman I look up to most of + anybody. I've something very painful to tell you—something as it'll + pain you to hear as well as me to tell. But if I speak o' the wrong other + people have done, you'll see I didn't speak till I'd good reason.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Irwine nodded slowly, and Adam went on rather tremulously, “You was t' + ha' married me and Hetty Sorrel, you know, sir, o' the fifteenth o' this + month. I thought she loved me, and I was th' happiest man i' the parish. + But a dreadful blow's come upon me.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Irwine started up from his chair, as if involuntarily, but then, + determined to control himself, walked to the window and looked out. + </p> + <p> + “She's gone away, sir, and we don't know where. She said she was going to + Snowfield o' Friday was a fortnight, and I went last Sunday to fetch her + back; but she'd never been there, and she took the coach to Stoniton, and + beyond that I can't trace her. But now I'm going a long journey to look + for her, and I can't trust t' anybody but you where I'm going.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Irwine came back from the window and sat down. + </p> + <p> + “Have you no idea of the reason why she went away?” he said. + </p> + <p> + “It's plain enough she didn't want to marry me, sir,” said Adam. “She + didn't like it when it came so near. But that isn't all, I doubt. There's + something else I must tell you, sir. There's somebody else concerned + besides me.” + </p> + <p> + A gleam of something—it was almost like relief or joy—came + across the eager anxiety of Mr. Irwine's face at that moment. Adam was + looking on the ground, and paused a little: the next words were hard to + speak. But when he went on, he lifted up his head and looked straight at + Mr. Irwine. He would do the thing he had resolved to do, without + flinching. + </p> + <p> + “You know who's the man I've reckoned my greatest friend,” he said, “and + used to be proud to think as I should pass my life i' working for him, and + had felt so ever since we were lads....” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Irwine, as if all self-control had forsaken him, grasped Adam's arm, + which lay on the table, and, clutching it tightly like a man in pain, + said, with pale lips and a low hurried voice, “No, Adam, no—don't + say it, for God's sake!” + </p> + <p> + Adam, surprised at the violence of Mr. Irwine's feeling, repented of the + words that had passed his lips and sat in distressed silence. The grasp on + his arm gradually relaxed, and Mr. Irwine threw himself back in his chair, + saying, “Go on—I must know it.” + </p> + <p> + “That man played with Hetty's feelings, and behaved to her as he'd no + right to do to a girl in her station o' life—made her presents and + used to go and meet her out a-walking. I found it out only two days before + he went away—found him a-kissing her as they were parting in the + Grove. There'd been nothing said between me and Hetty then, though I'd + loved her for a long while, and she knew it. But I reproached him with his + wrong actions, and words and blows passed between us; and he said solemnly + to me, after that, as it had been all nonsense and no more than a bit o' + flirting. But I made him write a letter to tell Hetty he'd meant nothing, + for I saw clear enough, sir, by several things as I hadn't understood at + the time, as he'd got hold of her heart, and I thought she'd belike go on + thinking of him and never come to love another man as wanted to marry her. + And I gave her the letter, and she seemed to bear it all after a while + better than I'd expected...and she behaved kinder and kinder to me...I + daresay she didn't know her own feelings then, poor thing, and they came + back upon her when it was too late...I don't want to blame her...I can't + think as she meant to deceive me. But I was encouraged to think she loved + me, and—you know the rest, sir. But it's on my mind as he's been + false to me, and 'ticed her away, and she's gone to him—and I'm + going now to see, for I can never go to work again till I know what's + become of her.” + </p> + <p> + During Adam's narrative, Mr. Irwine had had time to recover his + self-mastery in spite of the painful thoughts that crowded upon him. It + was a bitter remembrance to him now—that morning when Arthur + breakfasted with him and seemed as if he were on the verge of a + confession. It was plain enough now what he had wanted to confess. And if + their words had taken another turn...if he himself had been less + fastidious about intruding on another man's secrets...it was cruel to + think how thin a film had shut out rescue from all this guilt and misery. + He saw the whole history now by that terrible illumination which the + present sheds back upon the past. But every other feeling as it rushed + upon his was thrown into abeyance by pity, deep respectful pity, for the + man who sat before him—already so bruised, going forth with sad + blind resignedness to an unreal sorrow, while a real one was close upon + him, too far beyond the range of common trial for him ever to have feared + it. His own agitation was quelled by a certain awe that comes over us in + the presence of a great anguish, for the anguish he must inflict on Adam + was already present to him. Again he put his hand on the arm that lay on + the table, but very gently this time, as he said solemnly: + </p> + <p> + “Adam, my dear friend, you have had some hard trials in your life. You can + bear sorrow manfully, as well as act manfully. God requires both tasks at + our hands. And there is a heavier sorrow coming upon you than any you have + yet known. But you are not guilty—you have not the worst of all + sorrows. God help him who has!” + </p> + <p> + The two pale faces looked at each other; in Adam's there was trembling + suspense, in Mr. Irwine's hesitating, shrinking pity. But he went on. + </p> + <p> + “I have had news of Hetty this morning. She is not gone to him. She is in + Stonyshire—at Stoniton.” + </p> + <p> + Adam started up from his chair, as if he thought he could have leaped to + her that moment. But Mr. Irwine laid hold of his arm again and said, + persuasively, “Wait, Adam, wait.” So he sat down. + </p> + <p> + “She is in a very unhappy position—one which will make it worse for + you to find her, my poor friend, than to have lost her for ever.” + </p> + <p> + Adam's lips moved tremulously, but no sound came. They moved again, and he + whispered, “Tell me.” + </p> + <p> + “She has been arrested...she is in prison.” + </p> + <p> + It was as if an insulting blow had brought back the spirit of resistance + into Adam. The blood rushed to his face, and he said, loudly and sharply, + “For what?” + </p> + <p> + “For a great crime—the murder of her child.” + </p> + <p> + “It CAN'T BE!” Adam almost shouted, starting up from his chair and making + a stride towards the door; but he turned round again, setting his back + against the bookcase, and looking fiercely at Mr. Irwine. “It isn't + possible. She never had a child. She can't be guilty. WHO says it?” + </p> + <p> + “God grant she may be innocent, Adam. We can still hope she is.” + </p> + <p> + “But who says she is guilty?” said Adam violently. “Tell me everything.” + </p> + <p> + “Here is a letter from the magistrate before whom she was taken, and the + constable who arrested her is in the dining-room. She will not confess her + name or where she comes from; but I fear, I fear, there can be no doubt it + is Hetty. The description of her person corresponds, only that she is said + to look very pale and ill. She had a small red-leather pocket-book in her + pocket with two names written in it—one at the beginning, 'Hetty + Sorrel, Hayslope,' and the other near the end, 'Dinah Morris, Snowfield.' + She will not say which is her own name—she denies everything, and + will answer no questions, and application has been made to me, as a + magistrate, that I may take measures for identifying her, for it was + thought probable that the name which stands first is her own name.” + </p> + <p> + “But what proof have they got against her, if it IS Hetty?” said Adam, + still violently, with an effort that seemed to shake his whole frame. + “I'll not believe it. It couldn't ha' been, and none of us know it.” + </p> + <p> + “Terrible proof that she was under the temptation to commit the crime; but + we have room to hope that she did not really commit it. Try and read that + letter, Adam.” + </p> + <p> + Adam took the letter between his shaking hands and tried to fix his eyes + steadily on it. Mr. Irwine meanwhile went out to give some orders. When he + came back, Adam's eyes were still on the first page—he couldn't read—he + could not put the words together and make out what they meant. He threw it + down at last and clenched his fist. + </p> + <p> + “It's HIS doing,” he said; “if there's been any crime, it's at his door, + not at hers. HE taught her to deceive—HE deceived me first. Let 'em + put HIM on his trial—let him stand in court beside her, and I'll + tell 'em how he got hold of her heart, and 'ticed her t' evil, and then + lied to me. Is HE to go free, while they lay all the punishment on + her...so weak and young?” + </p> + <p> + The image called up by these last words gave a new direction to poor + Adam's maddened feelings. He was silent, looking at the corner of the room + as if he saw something there. Then he burst out again, in a tone of + appealing anguish, “I can't bear it...O God, it's too hard to lay upon me—it's + too hard to think she's wicked.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Irwine had sat down again in silence. He was too wise to utter + soothing words at present, and indeed, the sight of Adam before him, with + that look of sudden age which sometimes comes over a young face in moments + of terrible emotion—the hard bloodless look of the skin, the deep + lines about the quivering mouth, the furrows in the brow—the sight + of this strong firm man shattered by the invisible stroke of sorrow, moved + him so deeply that speech was not easy. Adam stood motionless, with his + eyes vacantly fixed in this way for a minute or two; in that short space + he was living through all his love again. + </p> + <p> + “She can't ha' done it,” he said, still without moving his eyes, as if he + were only talking to himself: “it was fear made her hide it...I forgive + her for deceiving me...I forgive thee, Hetty...thee wast deceived + too...it's gone hard wi' thee, my poor Hetty...but they'll never make me + believe it.” + </p> + <p> + He was silent again for a few moments, and then he said, with fierce + abruptness, “I'll go to him—I'll bring him back—I'll make him + go and look at her in her misery—he shall look at her till he can't + forget it—it shall follow him night and day—as long as he + lives it shall follow him—he shan't escape wi' lies this time—I'll + fetch him, I'll drag him myself.” + </p> + <p> + In the act of going towards the door, Adam paused automatically and looked + about for his hat, quite unconscious where he was or who was present with + him. Mr. Irwine had followed him, and now took him by the arm, saying, in + a quiet but decided tone, “No, Adam, no; I'm sure you will wish to stay + and see what good can be done for her, instead of going on a useless + errand of vengeance. The punishment will surely fall without your aid. + Besides, he is no longer in Ireland. He must be on his way home—or + would be, long before you arrived, for his grandfather, I know, wrote for + him to come at least ten days ago. I want you now to go with me to + Stoniton. I have ordered a horse for you to ride with us, as soon as you + can compose yourself.” + </p> + <p> + While Mr. Irwine was speaking, Adam recovered his consciousness of the + actual scene. He rubbed his hair off his forehead and listened. + </p> + <p> + “Remember,” Mr. Irwine went on, “there are others to think of, and act + for, besides yourself, Adam: there are Hetty's friends, the good Poysers, + on whom this stroke will fall more heavily than I can bear to think. I + expect it from your strength of mind, Adam—from your sense of duty + to God and man—that you will try to act as long as action can be of + any use.” + </p> + <p> + In reality, Mr. Irwine proposed this journey to Stoniton for Adam's own + sake. Movement, with some object before him, was the best means of + counteracting the violence of suffering in these first hours. + </p> + <p> + “You will go with me to Stoniton, Adam?” he said again, after a moment's + pause. “We have to see if it is really Hetty who is there, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” said Adam, “I'll do what you think right. But the folks at th' + Hall Farm?” + </p> + <p> + “I wish them not to know till I return to tell them myself. I shall have + ascertained things then which I am uncertain about now, and I shall return + as soon as possible. Come now, the horses are ready.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0040" id="link2HCH0040"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XL + </h2> + <h3> + The Bitter Waters Spread + </h3> + <p> + MR. IRWINE returned from Stoniton in a post-chaise that night, and the + first words Carroll said to him, as he entered the house, were, that + Squire Donnithorne was dead—found dead in his bed at ten o'clock + that morning—and that Mrs. Irwine desired him to say she should be + awake when Mr. Irwine came home, and she begged him not to go to bed + without seeing her. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Dauphin,” Mrs. Irwine said, as her son entered her room, “you're + come at last. So the old gentleman's fidgetiness and low spirits, which + made him send for Arthur in that sudden way, really meant something. I + suppose Carroll has told you that Donnithorne was found dead in his bed + this morning. You will believe my prognostications another time, though I + daresay I shan't live to prognosticate anything but my own death.” + </p> + <p> + “What have they done about Arthur?” said Mr. Irwine. “Sent a messenger to + await him at Liverpool?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Ralph was gone before the news was brought to us. Dear Arthur, I + shall live now to see him master at the Chase, and making good times on + the estate, like a generous-hearted fellow as he is. He'll be as happy as + a king now.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Irwine could not help giving a slight groan: he was worn with anxiety + and exertion, and his mother's light words were almost intolerable. + </p> + <p> + “What are you so dismal about, Dauphin? Is there any bad news? Or are you + thinking of the danger for Arthur in crossing that frightful Irish Channel + at this time of year?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Mother, I'm not thinking of that; but I'm not prepared to rejoice + just now.” + </p> + <p> + “You've been worried by this law business that you've been to Stoniton + about. What in the world is it, that you can't tell me?” + </p> + <p> + “You will know by and by, mother. It would not be right for me to tell you + at present. Good-night: you'll sleep now you have no longer anything to + listen for.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Irwine gave up his intention of sending a letter to meet Arthur, since + it would not now hasten his return: the news of his grandfather's death + would bring him as soon as he could possibly come. He could go to bed now + and get some needful rest, before the time came for the morning's heavy + duty of carrying his sickening news to the Hall Farm and to Adam's home. + </p> + <p> + Adam himself was not come back from Stoniton, for though he shrank from + seeing Hetty, he could not bear to go to a distance from her again. + </p> + <p> + “It's no use, sir,” he said to the rector, “it's no use for me to go back. + I can't go to work again while she's here, and I couldn't bear the sight + o' the things and folks round home. I'll take a bit of a room here, where + I can see the prison walls, and perhaps I shall get, in time, to bear + seeing her.” + </p> + <p> + Adam had not been shaken in his belief that Hetty was innocent of the + crime she was charged with, for Mr. Irwine, feeling that the belief in her + guilt would be a crushing addition to Adam's load, had kept from him the + facts which left no hope in his own mind. There was not any reason for + thrusting the whole burden on Adam at once, and Mr. Irwine, at parting, + only said, “If the evidence should tell too strongly against her, Adam, we + may still hope for a pardon. Her youth and other circumstances will be a + plea for her.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, and it's right people should know how she was tempted into the wrong + way,” said Adam, with bitter earnestness. “It's right they should know it + was a fine gentleman made love to her, and turned her head wi' notions. + You'll remember, sir, you've promised to tell my mother, and Seth, and the + people at the farm, who it was as led her wrong, else they'll think harder + of her than she deserves. You'll be doing her a hurt by sparing him, and I + hold him the guiltiest before God, let her ha' done what she may. If you + spare him, I'll expose him!” + </p> + <p> + “I think your demand is just, Adam,” said Mr. Irwine, “but when you are + calmer, you will judge Arthur more mercifully. I say nothing now, only + that his punishment is in other hands than ours.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Irwine felt it hard upon him that he should have to tell of Arthur's + sad part in the story of sin and sorrow—he who cared for Arthur with + fatherly affection, who had cared for him with fatherly pride. But he saw + clearly that the secret must be known before long, even apart from Adam's + determination, since it was scarcely to be supposed that Hetty would + persist to the end in her obstinate silence. He made up his mind to + withhold nothing from the Poysers, but to tell them the worst at once, for + there was no time to rob the tidings of their suddenness. Hetty's trial + must come on at the Lent assizes, and they were to be held at Stoniton the + next week. It was scarcely to be hoped that Martin Poyser could escape the + pain of being called as a witness, and it was better he should know + everything as long beforehand as possible. + </p> + <p> + Before ten o'clock on Thursday morning the home at the Hall Farm was a + house of mourning for a misfortune felt to be worse than death. The sense + of family dishonour was too keen even in the kind-hearted Martin Poyser + the younger to leave room for any compassion towards Hetty. He and his + father were simple-minded farmers, proud of their untarnished character, + proud that they came of a family which had held up its head and paid its + way as far back as its name was in the parish register; and Hetty had + brought disgrace on them all—disgrace that could never be wiped out. + That was the all-conquering feeling in the mind both of father and son—the + scorching sense of disgrace, which neutralised all other sensibility—and + Mr. Irwine was struck with surprise to observe that Mrs. Poyser was less + severe than her husband. We are often startled by the severity of mild + people on exceptional occasions; the reason is, that mild people are most + liable to be under the yoke of traditional impressions. + </p> + <p> + “I'm willing to pay any money as is wanted towards trying to bring her + off,” said Martin the younger when Mr. Irwine was gone, while the old + grandfather was crying in the opposite chair, “but I'll not go nigh her, + nor ever see her again, by my own will. She's made our bread bitter to us + for all our lives to come, an' we shall ne'er hold up our heads i' this + parish nor i' any other. The parson talks o' folks pitying us: it's poor + amends pity 'ull make us.” + </p> + <p> + “Pity?” said the grandfather, sharply. “I ne'er wanted folks's pity i' MY + life afore...an' I mun begin to be looked down on now, an' me turned + seventy-two last St. Thomas's, an' all th' underbearers and pall-bearers + as I'n picked for my funeral are i' this parish and the next to 't....It's + o' no use now...I mun be ta'en to the grave by strangers.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't fret so, father,” said Mrs. Poyser, who had spoken very little, + being almost overawed by her husband's unusual hardness and decision. + “You'll have your children wi' you; an' there's the lads and the little un + 'ull grow up in a new parish as well as i' th' old un.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, there's no staying i' this country for us now,” said Mr. Poyser, and + the hard tears trickled slowly down his round cheeks. “We thought it 'ud + be bad luck if the old squire gave us notice this Lady day, but I must gi' + notice myself now, an' see if there can anybody be got to come an' take to + the crops as I'n put i' the ground; for I wonna stay upo' that man's land + a day longer nor I'm forced to't. An' me, as thought him such a good + upright young man, as I should be glad when he come to be our landlord. + I'll ne'er lift my hat to him again, nor sit i' the same church wi' + him...a man as has brought shame on respectable folks...an' pretended to + be such a friend t' everybody....Poor Adam there...a fine friend he's been + t' Adam, making speeches an' talking so fine, an' all the while poisoning + the lad's life, as it's much if he can stay i' this country any more nor + we can.” + </p> + <p> + “An' you t' ha' to go into court, and own you're akin t' her,” said the + old man. “Why, they'll cast it up to the little un, as isn't four 'ear + old, some day—they'll cast it up t' her as she'd a cousin tried at + the 'sizes for murder.” + </p> + <p> + “It'll be their own wickedness, then,” said Mrs. Poyser, with a sob in her + voice. “But there's One above 'ull take care o' the innicent child, else + it's but little truth they tell us at church. It'll be harder nor ever to + die an' leave the little uns, an' nobody to be a mother to 'em.” + </p> + <p> + “We'd better ha' sent for Dinah, if we'd known where she is,” said Mr. + Poyser; “but Adam said she'd left no direction where she'd be at Leeds.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, she'd be wi' that woman as was a friend t' her Aunt Judith,” said + Mrs. Poyser, comforted a little by this suggestion of her husband. “I've + often heard Dinah talk of her, but I can't remember what name she called + her by. But there's Seth Bede; he's like enough to know, for she's a + preaching woman as the Methodists think a deal on.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll send to Seth,” said Mr. Poyser. “I'll send Alick to tell him to + come, or else to send up word o' the woman's name, an' thee canst write a + letter ready to send off to Treddles'on as soon as we can make out a + direction.” + </p> + <p> + “It's poor work writing letters when you want folks to come to you i' + trouble,” said Mrs. Poyser. “Happen it'll be ever so long on the road, an' + never reach her at last.” + </p> + <p> + Before Alick arrived with the message, Lisbeth's thoughts too had already + flown to Dinah, and she had said to Seth, “Eh, there's no comfort for us + i' this world any more, wi'out thee couldst get Dinah Morris to come to + us, as she did when my old man died. I'd like her to come in an' take me + by th' hand again, an' talk to me. She'd tell me the rights on't, belike—she'd + happen know some good i' all this trouble an' heart-break comin' upo' that + poor lad, as ne'er done a bit o' wrong in's life, but war better nor + anybody else's son, pick the country round. Eh, my lad...Adam, my poor + lad!” + </p> + <p> + “Thee wouldstna like me to leave thee, to go and fetch Dinah?” said Seth, + as his mother sobbed and rocked herself to and fro. + </p> + <p> + “Fetch her?” said Lisbeth, looking up and pausing from her grief, like a + crying child who hears some promise of consolation. “Why, what place is't + she's at, do they say?” + </p> + <p> + “It's a good way off, mother—Leeds, a big town. But I could be back + in three days, if thee couldst spare me.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay, I canna spare thee. Thee must go an' see thy brother, an' bring + me word what he's a-doin'. Mester Irwine said he'd come an' tell me, but I + canna make out so well what it means when he tells me. Thee must go + thysen, sin' Adam wonna let me go to him. Write a letter to Dinah canstna? + Thee't fond enough o' writin' when nobody wants thee.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not sure where she'd be i' that big town,” said Seth. “If I'd gone + myself, I could ha' found out by asking the members o' the Society. But + perhaps if I put Sarah Williamson, Methodist preacher, Leeds, o' th' + outside, it might get to her; for most like she'd be wi' Sarah + Williamson.” + </p> + <p> + Alick came now with the message, and Seth, finding that Mrs. Poyser was + writing to Dinah, gave up the intention of writing himself; but he went to + the Hall Farm to tell them all he could suggest about the address of the + letter, and warn them that there might be some delay in the delivery, from + his not knowing an exact direction. + </p> + <p> + On leaving Lisbeth, Mr. Irwine had gone to Jonathan Burge, who had also a + claim to be acquainted with what was likely to keep Adam away from + business for some time; and before six o'clock that evening there were few + people in Broxton and Hayslope who had not heard the sad news. Mr. Irwine + had not mentioned Arthur's name to Burge, and yet the story of his conduct + towards Hetty, with all the dark shadows cast upon it by its terrible + consequences, was presently as well known as that his grandfather was + dead, and that he was come into the estate. For Martin Poyser felt no + motive to keep silence towards the one or two neighbours who ventured to + come and shake him sorrowfully by the hand on the first day of his + trouble; and Carroll, who kept his ears open to all that passed at the + rectory, had framed an inferential version of the story, and found early + opportunities of communicating it. + </p> + <p> + One of those neighbours who came to Martin Poyser and shook him by the + hand without speaking for some minutes was Bartle Massey. He had shut up + his school, and was on his way to the rectory, where he arrived about + half-past seven in the evening, and, sending his duty to Mr. Irwine, + begged pardon for troubling him at that hour, but had something particular + on his mind. He was shown into the study, where Mr. Irwine soon joined + him. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Bartle?” said Mr. Irwine, putting out his hand. That was not his + usual way of saluting the schoolmaster, but trouble makes us treat all who + feel with us very much alike. “Sit down.” + </p> + <p> + “You know what I'm come about as well as I do, sir, I daresay,” said + Bartle. + </p> + <p> + “You wish to know the truth about the sad news that has reached + you...about Hetty Sorrel?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, sir, what I wish to know is about Adam Bede. I understand you left + him at Stoniton, and I beg the favour of you to tell me what's the state + of the poor lad's mind, and what he means to do. For as for that bit o' + pink-and-white they've taken the trouble to put in jail, I don't value her + a rotten nut—not a rotten nut—only for the harm or good that + may come out of her to an honest man—a lad I've set such store by—trusted + to, that he'd make my bit o' knowledge go a good way in the world....Why, + sir, he's the only scholar I've had in this stupid country that ever had + the will or the head-piece for mathematics. If he hadn't had so much hard + work to do, poor fellow, he might have gone into the higher branches, and + then this might never have happened—might never have happened.” + </p> + <p> + Bartle was heated by the exertion of walking fast in an agitated frame of + mind, and was not able to check himself on this first occasion of venting + his feelings. But he paused now to rub his moist forehead, and probably + his moist eyes also. + </p> + <p> + “You'll excuse me, sir,” he said, when this pause had given him time to + reflect, “for running on in this way about my own feelings, like that + foolish dog of mine howling in a storm, when there's nobody wants to + listen to me. I came to hear you speak, not to talk myself—if you'll + take the trouble to tell me what the poor lad's doing.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't put yourself under any restraint, Bartle,” said Mr. Irwine. “The + fact is, I'm very much in the same condition as you just now; I've a great + deal that's painful on my mind, and I find it hard work to be quite silent + about my own feelings and only attend to others. I share your concern for + Adam, though he is not the only one whose sufferings I care for in this + affair. He intends to remain at Stoniton till after the trial: it will + come on probably a week to-morrow. He has taken a room there, and I + encouraged him to do so, because I think it better he should be away from + his own home at present; and, poor fellow, he still believes Hetty is + innocent—he wants to summon up courage to see her if he can; he is + unwilling to leave the spot where she is.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you think the creatur's guilty, then?” said Bartle. “Do you think + they'll hang her?” + </p> + <p> + “I'm afraid it will go hard with her. The evidence is very strong. And one + bad symptom is that she denies everything—denies that she has had a + child in the face of the most positive evidence. I saw her myself, and she + was obstinately silent to me; she shrank up like a frightened animal when + she saw me. I was never so shocked in my life as at the change in her. But + I trust that, in the worst case, we may obtain a pardon for the sake of + the innocent who are involved.” + </p> + <p> + “Stuff and nonsense!” said Bartle, forgetting in his irritation to whom he + was speaking. “I beg your pardon, sir, I mean it's stuff and nonsense for + the innocent to care about her being hanged. For my own part, I think the + sooner such women are put out o' the world the better; and the men that + help 'em to do mischief had better go along with 'em for that matter. What + good will you do by keeping such vermin alive, eating the victual that 'ud + feed rational beings? But if Adam's fool enough to care about it, I don't + want him to suffer more than's needful....Is he very much cut up, poor + fellow?” Bartle added, taking out his spectacles and putting them on, as + if they would assist his imagination. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I'm afraid the grief cuts very deep,” said Mr. Irwine. “He looks + terribly shattered, and a certain violence came over him now and then + yesterday, which made me wish I could have remained near him. But I shall + go to Stoniton again to-morrow, and I have confidence enough in the + strength of Adam's principle to trust that he will be able to endure the + worst without being driven to anything rash.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Irwine, who was involuntarily uttering his own thoughts rather than + addressing Bartle Massey in the last sentence, had in his mind the + possibility that the spirit of vengeance to-wards Arthur, which was the + form Adam's anguish was continually taking, might make him seek an + encounter that was likely to end more fatally than the one in the Grove. + This possibility heightened the anxiety with which he looked forward to + Arthur's arrival. But Bartle thought Mr. Irwine was referring to suicide, + and his face wore a new alarm. + </p> + <p> + “I'll tell you what I have in my head, sir,” he said, “and I hope you'll + approve of it. I'm going to shut up my school—if the scholars come, + they must go back again, that's all—and I shall go to Stoniton and + look after Adam till this business is over. I'll pretend I'm come to look + on at the assizes; he can't object to that. What do you think about it, + sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Mr. Irwine, rather hesitatingly, “there would be some real + advantages in that...and I honour you for your friendship towards him, + Bartle. But...you must be careful what you say to him, you know. I'm + afraid you have too little fellow-feeling in what you consider his + weakness about Hetty.” + </p> + <p> + “Trust to me, sir—trust to me. I know what you mean. I've been a + fool myself in my time, but that's between you and me. I shan't thrust + myself on him only keep my eye on him, and see that he gets some good + food, and put in a word here and there.” + </p> + <p> + “Then,” said Mr. Irwine, reassured a little as to Bartle's discretion, “I + think you'll be doing a good deed; and it will be well for you to let + Adam's mother and brother know that you're going.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir, yes,” said Bartle, rising, and taking off his spectacles, “I'll + do that, I'll do that; though the mother's a whimpering thing—I + don't like to come within earshot of her; however, she's a + straight-backed, clean woman, none of your slatterns. I wish you good-bye, + sir, and thank you for the time you've spared me. You're everybody's + friend in this business—everybody's friend. It's a heavy weight + you've got on your shoulders.” + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye, Bartle, till we meet at Stoniton, as I daresay we shall.” + </p> + <p> + Bartle hurried away from the rectory, evading Carroll's conversational + advances, and saying in an exasperated tone to Vixen, whose short legs + pattered beside him on the gravel, “Now, I shall be obliged to take you + with me, you good-for-nothing woman. You'd go fretting yourself to death + if I left you—you know you would, and perhaps get snapped up by some + tramp. And you'll be running into bad company, I expect, putting your nose + in every hole and corner where you've no business! But if you do anything + disgraceful, I'll disown you—mind that, madam, mind that!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0041" id="link2HCH0041"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XLI + </h2> + <h3> + The Eve of the Trial + </h3> + <p> + AN upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one + laid on the floor. It is ten o'clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall + opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with + the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to + read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated + near the dark window. + </p> + <p> + You would hardly have known it was Adam without being told. His face has + got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of + a man just risen from a sick-bed. His heavy black hair hangs over his + forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push + it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him. He has one arm + over the back of the chair, and he seems to be looking down at his clasped + hands. He is roused by a knock at the door. + </p> + <p> + “There he is,” said Bartle Massey, rising hastily and unfastening the + door. It was Mr. Irwine. + </p> + <p> + Adam rose from his chair with instinctive respect, as Mr. Irwine + approached him and took his hand. + </p> + <p> + “I'm late, Adam,” he said, sitting down on the chair which Bartle placed + for him, “but I was later in setting off from Broxton than I intended to + be, and I have been incessantly occupied since I arrived. I have done + everything now, however—everything that can be done to-night, at + least. Let us all sit down.” + </p> + <p> + Adam took his chair again mechanically, and Bartle, for whom there was no + chair remaining, sat on the bed in the background. + </p> + <p> + “Have you seen her, sir?” said Adam tremulously. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Adam; I and the chaplain have both been with her this evening.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you ask her, sir...did you say anything about me?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Mr. Irwine, with some hesitation, “I spoke of you. I said you + wished to see her before the trial, if she consented.” + </p> + <p> + As Mr. Irwine paused, Adam looked at him with eager, questioning eyes. + </p> + <p> + “You know she shrinks from seeing any one, Adam. It is not only you—some + fatal influence seems to have shut up her heart against her + fellow-creatures. She has scarcely said anything more than 'No' either to + me or the chaplain. Three or four days ago, before you were mentioned to + her, when I asked her if there was any one of her family whom she would + like to see—to whom she could open her mind—she said, with a + violent shudder, 'Tell them not to come near me—I won't see any of + them.'” + </p> + <p> + Adam's head was hanging down again, and he did not speak. There was + silence for a few minutes, and then Mr. Irwine said, “I don't like to + advise you against your own feelings, Adam, if they now urge you strongly + to go and see her to-morrow morning, even without her consent. It is just + possible, notwithstanding appearances to the contrary, that the interview + might affect her favourably. But I grieve to say I have scarcely any hope + of that. She didn't seem agitated when I mentioned your name; she only + said 'No,' in the same cold, obstinate way as usual. And if the meeting + had no good effect on her, it would be pure, useless suffering to you—severe + suffering, I fear. She is very much changed...” + </p> + <p> + Adam started up from his chair and seized his hat, which lay on the table. + But he stood still then, and looked at Mr. Irwine, as if he had a question + to ask which it was yet difficult to utter. Bartle Massey rose quietly, + turned the key in the door, and put it in his pocket. + </p> + <p> + “Is he come back?” said Adam at last. + </p> + <p> + “No, he is not,” said Mr. Irwine, quietly. “Lay down your hat, Adam, + unless you like to walk out with me for a little fresh air. I fear you + have not been out again to-day.” + </p> + <p> + “You needn't deceive me, sir,” said Adam, looking hard at Mr. Irwine and + speaking in a tone of angry suspicion. “You needn't be afraid of me. I + only want justice. I want him to feel what she feels. It's his work...she + was a child as it 'ud ha' gone t' anybody's heart to look at...I don't + care what she's done...it was him brought her to it. And he shall know + it...he shall feel it...if there's a just God, he shall feel what it is t' + ha' brought a child like her to sin and misery.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not deceiving you, Adam,” said Mr. Irwine. “Arthur Donnithorne is not + come back—was not come back when I left. I have left a letter for + him: he will know all as soon as he arrives.” + </p> + <p> + “But you don't mind about it,” said Adam indignantly. “You think it + doesn't matter as she lies there in shame and misery, and he knows nothing + about it—he suffers nothing.” + </p> + <p> + “Adam, he WILL know—he WILL suffer, long and bitterly. He has a + heart and a conscience: I can't be entirely deceived in his character. I + am convinced—I am sure he didn't fall under temptation without a + struggle. He may be weak, but he is not callous, not coldly selfish. I am + persuaded that this will be a shock of which he will feel the effects all + his life. Why do you crave vengeance in this way? No amount of torture + that you could inflict on him could benefit her.” + </p> + <p> + “No—O God, no,” Adam groaned out, sinking on his chair again; “but + then, that's the deepest curse of all...that's what makes the blackness of + it...IT CAN NEVER BE UNDONE. My poor Hetty...she can never be my sweet + Hetty again...the prettiest thing God had made—smiling up at me...I + thought she loved me...and was good...” + </p> + <p> + Adam's voice had been gradually sinking into a hoarse undertone, as if he + were only talking to himself; but now he said abruptly, looking at Mr. + Irwine, “But she isn't as guilty as they say? You don't think she is, sir? + She can't ha' done it.” + </p> + <p> + “That perhaps can never be known with certainty, Adam,” Mr. Irwine + answered gently. “In these cases we sometimes form our judgment on what + seems to us strong evidence, and yet, for want of knowing some small fact, + our judgment is wrong. But suppose the worst: you have no right to say + that the guilt of her crime lies with him, and that he ought to bear the + punishment. It is not for us men to apportion the shares of moral guilt + and retribution. We find it impossible to avoid mistakes even in + determining who has committed a single criminal act, and the problem how + far a man is to be held responsible for the unforeseen consequences of his + own deed is one that might well make us tremble to look into it. The evil + consequences that may lie folded in a single act of selfish indulgence is + a thought so awful that it ought surely to awaken some feeling less + presumptuous than a rash desire to punish. You have a mind that can + understand this fully, Adam, when you are calm. Don't suppose I can't + enter into the anguish that drives you into this state of revengeful + hatred. But think of this: if you were to obey your passion—for it + IS passion, and you deceive yourself in calling it justice—it might + be with you precisely as it has been with Arthur; nay, worse; your passion + might lead you yourself into a horrible crime.” + </p> + <p> + “No—not worse,” said Adam, bitterly; “I don't believe it's worse—I'd + sooner do it—I'd sooner do a wickedness as I could suffer for by + myself than ha' brought HER to do wickedness and then stand by and see 'em + punish her while they let me alone; and all for a bit o' pleasure, as, if + he'd had a man's heart in him, he'd ha' cut his hand off sooner than he'd + ha' taken it. What if he didn't foresee what's happened? He foresaw + enough; he'd no right to expect anything but harm and shame to her. And + then he wanted to smooth it off wi' lies. No—there's plenty o' + things folks are hanged for not half so hateful as that. Let a man do what + he will, if he knows he's to bear the punishment himself, he isn't half so + bad as a mean selfish coward as makes things easy t' himself and knows all + the while the punishment 'll fall on somebody else.” + </p> + <p> + “There again you partly deceive yourself, Adam. There is no sort of wrong + deed of which a man can bear the punishment alone; you can't isolate + yourself and say that the evil which is in you shall not spread. Men's + lives are as thoroughly blended with each other as the air they breathe: + evil spreads as necessarily as disease. I know, I feel the terrible extent + of suffering this sin of Arthur's has caused to others; but so does every + sin cause suffering to others besides those who commit it. An act of + vengeance on your part against Arthur would simply be another evil added + to those we are suffering under: you could not bear the punishment alone; + you would entail the worst sorrows on every one who loves you. You would + have committed an act of blind fury that would leave all the present evils + just as they were and add worse evils to them. You may tell me that you + meditate no fatal act of vengeance, but the feeling in your mind is what + gives birth to such actions, and as long as you indulge it, as long as you + do not see that to fix your mind on Arthur's punishment is revenge, and + not justice, you are in danger of being led on to the commission of some + great wrong. Remember what you told me about your feelings after you had + given that blow to Arthur in the Grove.” + </p> + <p> + Adam was silent: the last words had called up a vivid image of the past, + and Mr. Irwine left him to his thoughts, while he spoke to Bartle Massey + about old Mr. Donnithorne's funeral and other matters of an indifferent + kind. But at length Adam turned round and said, in a more subdued tone, + “I've not asked about 'em at th' Hall Farm, sir. Is Mr. Poyser coming?” + </p> + <p> + “He is come; he is in Stoniton to-night. But I could not advise him to see + you, Adam. His own mind is in a very perturbed state, and it is best he + should not see you till you are calmer.” + </p> + <p> + “Is Dinah Morris come to 'em, sir? Seth said they'd sent for her.” + </p> + <p> + “No. Mr. Poyser tells me she was not come when he left. They're afraid the + letter has not reached her. It seems they had no exact address.” + </p> + <p> + Adam sat ruminating a little while, and then said, “I wonder if Dinah 'ud + ha' gone to see her. But perhaps the Poysers would ha' been sorely against + it, since they won't come nigh her themselves. But I think she would, for + the Methodists are great folks for going into the prisons; and Seth said + he thought she would. She'd a very tender way with her, Dinah had; I + wonder if she could ha' done any good. You never saw her, sir, did you?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I did. I had a conversation with her—she pleased me a good + deal. And now you mention it, I wish she would come, for it is possible + that a gentle mild woman like her might move Hetty to open her heart. The + jail chaplain is rather harsh in his manner.” + </p> + <p> + “But it's o' no use if she doesn't come,” said Adam sadly. + </p> + <p> + “If I'd thought of it earlier, I would have taken some measures for + finding her out,” said Mr. Irwine, “but it's too late now, I fear...Well, + Adam, I must go now. Try to get some rest to-night. God bless you. I'll + see you early to-morrow morning.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0042" id="link2HCH0042"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XLII + </h2> + <h3> + The Morning of the Trial + </h3> + <p> + AT one o'clock the next day, Adam was alone in his dull upper room; his + watch lay before him on the table, as if he were counting the long + minutes. He had no knowledge of what was likely to be said by the + witnesses on the trial, for he had shrunk from all the particulars + connected with Hetty's arrest and accusation. This brave active man, who + would have hastened towards any danger or toil to rescue Hetty from an + apprehended wrong or misfortune, felt himself powerless to contemplate + irremediable evil and suffering. The susceptibility which would have been + an impelling force where there was any possibility of action became + helpless anguish when he was obliged to be passive, or else sought an + active outlet in the thought of inflicting justice on Arthur. Energetic + natures, strong for all strenuous deeds, will often rush away from a + hopeless sufferer, as if they were hard-hearted. It is the overmastering + sense of pain that drives them. They shrink by an ungovernable instinct, + as they would shrink from laceration. Adam had brought himself to think of + seeing Hetty, if she would consent to see him, because he thought the + meeting might possibly be a good to her—might help to melt away this + terrible hardness they told him of. If she saw he bore her no ill will for + what she had done to him, she might open her heart to him. But this + resolution had been an immense effort—he trembled at the thought of + seeing her changed face, as a timid woman trembles at the thought of the + surgeon's knife, and he chose now to bear the long hours of suspense + rather than encounter what seemed to him the more intolerable agony of + witnessing her trial. + </p> + <p> + Deep unspeakable suffering may well be called a baptism, a regeneration, + the initiation into a new state. The yearning memories, the bitter regret, + the agonized sympathy, the struggling appeals to the Invisible Right—all + the intense emotions which had filled the days and nights of the past + week, and were compressing themselves again like an eager crowd into the + hours of this single morning, made Adam look back on all the previous + years as if they had been a dim sleepy existence, and he had only now + awaked to full consciousness. It seemed to him as if he had always before + thought it a light thing that men should suffer, as if all that he had + himself endured and called sorrow before was only a moment's stroke that + had never left a bruise. Doubtless a great anguish may do the work of + years, and we may come out from that baptism of fire with a soul full of + new awe and new pity. + </p> + <p> + “O God,” Adam groaned, as he leaned on the table and looked blankly at the + face of the watch, “and men have suffered like this before...and poor + helpless young things have suffered like her....Such a little while ago + looking so happy and so pretty...kissing 'em all, her grandfather and all + of 'em, and they wishing her luck....O my poor, poor Hetty...dost think on + it now?” + </p> + <p> + Adam started and looked round towards the door. Vixen had begun to + whimper, and there was a sound of a stick and a lame walk on the stairs. + It was Bartle Massey come back. Could it be all over? + </p> + <p> + Bartle entered quietly, and, going up to Adam, grasped his hand and said, + “I'm just come to look at you, my boy, for the folks are gone out of court + for a bit.” + </p> + <p> + Adam's heart beat so violently he was unable to speak—he could only + return the pressure of his friend's hand—and Bartle, drawing up the + other chair, came and sat in front of him, taking off his hat and his + spectacles. + </p> + <p> + “That's a thing never happened to me before,” he observed, “to go out o' + the door with my spectacles on. I clean forgot to take 'em off.” + </p> + <p> + The old man made this trivial remark, thinking it better not to respond at + all to Adam's agitation: he would gather, in an indirect way, that there + was nothing decisive to communicate at present. + </p> + <p> + “And now,” he said, rising again, “I must see to your having a bit of the + loaf, and some of that wine Mr. Irwine sent this morning. He'll be angry + with me if you don't have it. Come, now,” he went on, bringing forward the + bottle and the loaf and pouring some wine into a cup, “I must have a bit + and a sup myself. Drink a drop with me, my lad—drink with me.” + </p> + <p> + Adam pushed the cup gently away and said, entreatingly, “Tell me about it, + Mr. Massey—tell me all about it. Was she there? Have they begun?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, my boy, yes—it's taken all the time since I first went; but + they're slow, they're slow; and there's the counsel they've got for her + puts a spoke in the wheel whenever he can, and makes a deal to do with + cross-examining the witnesses and quarrelling with the other lawyers. + That's all he can do for the money they give him; and it's a big sum—it's + a big sum. But he's a 'cute fellow, with an eye that 'ud pick the needles + out of the hay in no time. If a man had got no feelings, it 'ud be as good + as a demonstration to listen to what goes on in court; but a tender heart + makes one stupid. I'd have given up figures for ever only to have had some + good news to bring to you, my poor lad.” + </p> + <p> + “But does it seem to be going against her?” said Adam. “Tell me what + they've said. I must know it now—I must know what they have to bring + against her.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, the chief evidence yet has been the doctors; all but Martin Poyser—poor + Martin. Everybody in court felt for him—it was like one sob, the + sound they made when he came down again. The worst was when they told him + to look at the prisoner at the bar. It was hard work, poor fellow—it + was hard work. Adam, my boy, the blow falls heavily on him as well as you; + you must help poor Martin; you must show courage. Drink some wine now, and + show me you mean to bear it like a man.” + </p> + <p> + Bartle had made the right sort of appeal. Adam, with an air of quiet + obedience, took up the cup and drank a little. + </p> + <p> + “Tell me how SHE looked,” he said presently. + </p> + <p> + “Frightened, very frightened, when they first brought her in; it was the + first sight of the crowd and the judge, poor creatur. And there's a lot o' + foolish women in fine clothes, with gewgaws all up their arms and feathers + on their heads, sitting near the judge: they've dressed themselves out in + that way, one 'ud think, to be scarecrows and warnings against any man + ever meddling with a woman again. They put up their glasses, and stared + and whispered. But after that she stood like a white image, staring down + at her hands and seeming neither to hear nor see anything. And she's as + white as a sheet. She didn't speak when they asked her if she'd plead + 'guilty' or 'not guilty,' and they pleaded 'not guilty' for her. But when + she heard her uncle's name, there seemed to go a shiver right through her; + and when they told him to look at her, she hung her head down, and + cowered, and hid her face in her hands. He'd much ado to speak poor man, + his voice trembled so. And the counsellors—who look as hard as nails + mostly—I saw, spared him as much as they could. Mr. Irwine put + himself near him and went with him out o' court. Ah, it's a great thing in + a man's life to be able to stand by a neighbour and uphold him in such + trouble as that.” + </p> + <p> + “God bless him, and you too, Mr. Massey,” said Adam, in a low voice, + laying his hand on Bartle's arm. + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye, he's good metal; he gives the right ring when you try him, our + parson does. A man o' sense—says no more than's needful. He's not + one of those that think they can comfort you with chattering, as if folks + who stand by and look on knew a deal better what the trouble was than + those who have to bear it. I've had to do with such folks in my time—in + the south, when I was in trouble myself. Mr. Irwine is to be a witness + himself, by and by, on her side, you know, to speak to her character and + bringing up.” + </p> + <p> + “But the other evidence...does it go hard against her!” said Adam. “What + do you think, Mr. Massey? Tell me the truth.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, my lad, yes. The truth is the best thing to tell. It must come at + last. The doctors' evidence is heavy on her—is heavy. But she's gone + on denying she's had a child from first to last. These poor silly + women-things—they've not the sense to know it's no use denying + what's proved. It'll make against her with the jury, I doubt, her being so + obstinate: they may be less for recommending her to mercy, if the + verdict's against her. But Mr. Irwine 'ull leave no stone unturned with + the judge—you may rely upon that, Adam.” + </p> + <p> + “Is there nobody to stand by her and seem to care for her in the court?” + said Adam. + </p> + <p> + “There's the chaplain o' the jail sits near her, but he's a sharp + ferrety-faced man—another sort o' flesh and blood to Mr. Irwine. + They say the jail chaplains are mostly the fag-end o' the clergy.” + </p> + <p> + “There's one man as ought to be there,” said Adam bitterly. Presently he + drew himself up and looked fixedly out of the window, apparently turning + over some new idea in his mind. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Massey,” he said at last, pushing the hair off his forehead, “I'll go + back with you. I'll go into court. It's cowardly of me to keep away. I'll + stand by her—I'll own her—for all she's been deceitful. They + oughtn't to cast her off—her own flesh and blood. We hand folks over + to God's mercy, and show none ourselves. I used to be hard sometimes: I'll + never be hard again. I'll go, Mr. Massey—I'll go with you.” + </p> + <p> + There was a decision in Adam's manner which would have prevented Bartle + from opposing him, even if he had wished to do so. He only said, “Take a + bit, then, and another sup, Adam, for the love of me. See, I must stop and + eat a morsel. Now, you take some.” + </p> + <p> + Nerved by an active resolution, Adam took a morsel of bread and drank some + wine. He was haggard and unshaven, as he had been yesterday, but he stood + upright again, and looked more like the Adam Bede of former days. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0043" id="link2HCH0043"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XLIII + </h2> + <h3> + The Verdict + </h3> + <p> + THE place fitted up that day as a court of justice was a grand old hall, + now destroyed by fire. The midday light that fell on the close pavement of + human heads was shed through a line of high pointed windows, variegated + with the mellow tints of old painted glass. Grim dusty armour hung in high + relief in front of the dark oaken gallery at the farther end, and under + the broad arch of the great mullioned window opposite was spread a curtain + of old tapestry, covered with dim melancholy figures, like a dozing + indistinct dream of the past. It was a place that through the rest of the + year was haunted with the shadowy memories of old kings and queens, + unhappy, discrowned, imprisoned; but to-day all those shadows had fled, + and not a soul in the vast hall felt the presence of any but a living + sorrow, which was quivering in warm hearts. + </p> + <p> + But that sorrow seemed to have made it itself feebly felt hitherto, now + when Adam Bede's tall figure was suddenly seen being ushered to the side + of the prisoner's dock. In the broad sunlight of the great hall, among the + sleek shaven faces of other men, the marks of suffering in his face were + startling even to Mr. Irwine, who had last seen him in the dim light of + his small room; and the neighbours from Hayslope who were present, and who + told Hetty Sorrel's story by their firesides in their old age, never + forgot to say how it moved them when Adam Bede, poor fellow, taller by the + head than most of the people round him, came into court and took his place + by her side. + </p> + <p> + But Hetty did not see him. She was standing in the same position Bartle + Massey had described, her hands crossed over each other and her eyes fixed + on them. Adam had not dared to look at her in the first moments, but at + last, when the attention of the court was withdrawn by the proceedings he + turned his face towards her with a resolution not to shrink. + </p> + <p> + Why did they say she was so changed? In the corpse we love, it is the + likeness we see—it is the likeness, which makes itself felt the more + keenly because something else was and is not. There they were—the + sweet face and neck, with the dark tendrils of hair, the long dark lashes, + the rounded cheek and the pouting lips—pale and thin, yes, but like + Hetty, and only Hetty. Others thought she looked as if some demon had cast + a blighting glance upon her, withered up the woman's soul in her, and left + only a hard despairing obstinacy. But the mother's yearning, that + completest type of the life in another life which is the essence of real + human love, feels the presence of the cherished child even in the debased, + degraded man; and to Adam, this pale, hard-looking culprit was the Hetty + who had smiled at him in the garden under the apple-tree boughs—she + was that Hetty's corpse, which he had trembled to look at the first time, + and then was unwilling to turn away his eyes from. + </p> + <p> + But presently he heard something that compelled him to listen, and made + the sense of sight less absorbing. A woman was in the witness-box, a + middle-aged woman, who spoke in a firm distinct voice. She said, “My name + is Sarah Stone. I am a widow, and keep a small shop licensed to sell + tobacco, snuff, and tea in Church Lane, Stoniton. The prisoner at the bar + is the same young woman who came, looking ill and tired, with a basket on + her arm, and asked for a lodging at my house on Saturday evening, the 27th + of February. She had taken the house for a public, because there was a + figure against the door. And when I said I didn't take in lodgers, the + prisoner began to cry, and said she was too tired to go anywhere else, and + she only wanted a bed for one night. And her prettiness, and her + condition, and something respectable about her clothes and looks, and the + trouble she seemed to be in made me as I couldn't find in my heart to send + her away at once. I asked her to sit down, and gave her some tea, and + asked her where she was going, and where her friends were. She said she + was going home to her friends: they were farming folks a good way off, and + she'd had a long journey that had cost her more money than she expected, + so as she'd hardly any money left in her pocket, and was afraid of going + where it would cost her much. She had been obliged to sell most of the + things out of her basket, but she'd thankfully give a shilling for a bed. + I saw no reason why I shouldn't take the young woman in for the night. I + had only one room, but there were two beds in it, and I told her she might + stay with me. I thought she'd been led wrong, and got into trouble, but if + she was going to her friends, it would be a good work to keep her out of + further harm.” + </p> + <p> + The witness then stated that in the night a child was born, and she + identified the baby-clothes then shown to her as those in which she had + herself dressed the child. + </p> + <p> + “Those are the clothes. I made them myself, and had kept them by me ever + since my last child was born. I took a deal of trouble both for the child + and the mother. I couldn't help taking to the little thing and being + anxious about it. I didn't send for a doctor, for there seemed no need. I + told the mother in the day-time she must tell me the name of her friends, + and where they lived, and let me write to them. She said, by and by she + would write herself, but not to-day. She would have no nay, but she would + get up and be dressed, in spite of everything I could say. She said she + felt quite strong enough; and it was wonderful what spirit she showed. But + I wasn't quite easy what I should do about her, and towards evening I made + up my mind I'd go, after Meeting was over, and speak to our minister about + it. I left the house about half-past eight o'clock. I didn't go out at the + shop door, but at the back door, which opens into a narrow alley. I've + only got the ground-floor of the house, and the kitchen and bedroom both + look into the alley. I left the prisoner sitting up by the fire in the + kitchen with the baby on her lap. She hadn't cried or seemed low at all, + as she did the night before. I thought she had a strange look with her + eyes, and she got a bit flushed towards evening. I was afraid of the + fever, and I thought I'd call and ask an acquaintance of mine, an + experienced woman, to come back with me when I went out. It was a very + dark night. I didn't fasten the door behind me; there was no lock; it was + a latch with a bolt inside, and when there was nobody in the house I + always went out at the shop door. But I thought there was no danger in + leaving it unfastened that little while. I was longer than I meant to be, + for I had to wait for the woman that came back with me. It was an hour and + a half before we got back, and when we went in, the candle was standing + burning just as I left it, but the prisoner and the baby were both gone. + She'd taken her cloak and bonnet, but she'd left the basket and the things + in it....I was dreadful frightened, and angry with her for going. I didn't + go to give information, because I'd no thought she meant to do any harm, + and I knew she had money in her pocket to buy her food and lodging. I + didn't like to set the constable after her, for she'd a right to go from + me if she liked.” + </p> + <p> + The effect of this evidence on Adam was electrical; it gave him new force. + Hetty could not be guilty of the crime—her heart must have clung to + her baby—else why should she have taken it with her? She might have + left it behind. The little creature had died naturally, and then she had + hidden it. Babies were so liable to death—and there might be the + strongest suspicions without any proof of guilt. His mind was so occupied + with imaginary arguments against such suspicions, that he could not listen + to the cross-examination by Hetty's counsel, who tried, without result, to + elicit evidence that the prisoner had shown some movements of maternal + affection towards the child. The whole time this witness was being + examined, Hetty had stood as motionless as before: no word seemed to + arrest her ear. But the sound of the next witness's voice touched a chord + that was still sensitive, she gave a start and a frightened look towards + him, but immediately turned away her head and looked down at her hands as + before. This witness was a man, a rough peasant. He said: + </p> + <p> + “My name is John Olding. I am a labourer, and live at Tedd's Hole, two + miles out of Stoniton. A week last Monday, towards one o'clock in the + afternoon, I was going towards Hetton Coppice, and about a quarter of a + mile from the coppice I saw the prisoner, in a red cloak, sitting under a + bit of a haystack not far off the stile. She got up when she saw me, and + seemed as if she'd be walking on the other way. It was a regular road + through the fields, and nothing very uncommon to see a young woman there, + but I took notice of her because she looked white and scared. I should + have thought she was a beggar-woman, only for her good clothes. I thought + she looked a bit crazy, but it was no business of mine. I stood and looked + back after her, but she went right on while she was in sight. I had to go + to the other side of the coppice to look after some stakes. There's a road + right through it, and bits of openings here and there, where the trees + have been cut down, and some of 'em not carried away. I didn't go straight + along the road, but turned off towards the middle, and took a shorter way + towards the spot I wanted to get to. I hadn't got far out of the road into + one of the open places before I heard a strange cry. I thought it didn't + come from any animal I knew, but I wasn't for stopping to look about just + then. But it went on, and seemed so strange to me in that place, I + couldn't help stopping to look. I began to think I might make some money + of it, if it was a new thing. But I had hard work to tell which way it + came from, and for a good while I kept looking up at the boughs. And then + I thought it came from the ground; and there was a lot of timber-choppings + lying about, and loose pieces of turf, and a trunk or two. And I looked + about among them, but could find nothing, and at last the cry stopped. So + I was for giving it up, and I went on about my business. But when I came + back the same way pretty nigh an hour after, I couldn't help laying down + my stakes to have another look. And just as I was stooping and laying down + the stakes, I saw something odd and round and whitish lying on the ground + under a nut-bush by the side of me. And I stooped down on hands and knees + to pick it up. And I saw it was a little baby's hand.” + </p> + <p> + At these words a thrill ran through the court. Hetty was visibly + trembling; now, for the first time, she seemed to be listening to what a + witness said. + </p> + <p> + “There was a lot of timber-choppings put together just where the ground + went hollow, like, under the bush, and the hand came out from among them. + But there was a hole left in one place and I could see down it and see the + child's head; and I made haste and did away the turf and the choppings, + and took out the child. It had got comfortable clothes on, but its body + was cold, and I thought it must be dead. I made haste back with it out of + the wood, and took it home to my wife. She said it was dead, and I'd + better take it to the parish and tell the constable. And I said, 'I'll lay + my life it's that young woman's child as I met going to the coppice.' But + she seemed to be gone clean out of sight. And I took the child on to + Hetton parish and told the constable, and we went on to Justice Hardy. And + then we went looking after the young woman till dark at night, and we went + and gave information at Stoniton, as they might stop her. And the next + morning, another constable came to me, to go with him to the spot where I + found the child. And when we got there, there was the prisoner a-sitting + against the bush where I found the child; and she cried out when she saw + us, but she never offered to move. She'd got a big piece of bread on her + lap.” + </p> + <p> + Adam had given a faint groan of despair while this witness was speaking. + He had hidden his face on his arm, which rested on the boarding in front + of him. It was the supreme moment of his suffering: Hetty was guilty; and + he was silently calling to God for help. He heard no more of the evidence, + and was unconscious when the case for the prosecution had closed—unconscious + that Mr. Irwine was in the witness-box, telling of Hetty's unblemished + character in her own parish and of the virtuous habits in which she had + been brought up. This testimony could have no influence on the verdict, + but it was given as part of that plea for mercy which her own counsel + would have made if he had been allowed to speak for her—a favour not + granted to criminals in those stern times. + </p> + <p> + At last Adam lifted up his head, for there was a general movement round + him. The judge had addressed the jury, and they were retiring. The + decisive moment was not far off. Adam felt a shuddering horror that would + not let him look at Hetty, but she had long relapsed into her blank hard + indifference. All eyes were strained to look at her, but she stood like a + statue of dull despair. + </p> + <p> + There was a mingled rustling, whispering, and low buzzing throughout the + court during this interval. The desire to listen was suspended, and every + one had some feeling or opinion to express in undertones. Adam sat looking + blankly before him, but he did not see the objects that were right in + front of his eyes—the counsel and attorneys talking with an air of + cool business, and Mr. Irwine in low earnest conversation with the judge—did + not see Mr. Irwine sit down again in agitation and shake his head + mournfully when somebody whispered to him. The inward action was too + intense for Adam to take in outward objects until some strong sensation + roused him. + </p> + <p> + It was not very long, hardly more than a quarter of an hour, before the + knock which told that the jury had come to their decision fell as a signal + for silence on every ear. It is sublime—that sudden pause of a great + multitude which tells that one soul moves in them all. Deeper and deeper + the silence seemed to become, like the deepening night, while the + jurymen's names were called over, and the prisoner was made to hold up her + hand, and the jury were asked for their verdict. + </p> + <p> + “Guilty.” + </p> + <p> + It was the verdict every one expected, but there was a sigh of + disappointment from some hearts that it was followed by no recommendation + to mercy. Still the sympathy of the court was not with the prisoner. The + unnaturalness of her crime stood out the more harshly by the side of her + hard immovability and obstinate silence. Even the verdict, to distant + eyes, had not appeared to move her, but those who were near saw her + trembling. + </p> + <p> + The stillness was less intense until the judge put on his black cap, and + the chaplain in his canonicals was observed behind him. Then it deepened + again, before the crier had had time to command silence. If any sound were + heard, it must have been the sound of beating hearts. The judge spoke, + “Hester Sorrel....” + </p> + <p> + The blood rushed to Hetty's face, and then fled back again as she looked + up at the judge and kept her wide-open eyes fixed on him, as if fascinated + by fear. Adam had not yet turned towards her, there was a deep horror, + like a great gulf, between them. But at the words “and then to be hanged + by the neck till you be dead,” a piercing shriek rang through the hall. It + was Hetty's shriek. Adam started to his feet and stretched out his arms + towards her. But the arms could not reach her: she had fallen down in a + fainting-fit, and was carried out of court. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0044" id="link2HCH0044"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XLIV + </h2> + <h3> + Arthur's Return + </h3> + <p> + When Arthur Donnithorne landed at Liverpool and read the letter from his + Aunt Lydia, briefly announcing his grand-father's death, his first feeling + was, “Poor Grandfather! I wish I could have got to him to be with him when + he died. He might have felt or wished something at the last that I shall + never know now. It was a lonely death.” + </p> + <p> + It is impossible to say that his grief was deeper than that. Pity and + softened memory took place of the old antagonism, and in his busy thoughts + about the future, as the chaise carried him rapidly along towards the home + where he was now to be master, there was a continually recurring effort to + remember anything by which he could show a regard for his grandfather's + wishes, without counteracting his own cherished aims for the good of the + tenants and the estate. But it is not in human nature—only in human + pretence—for a young man like Arthur, with a fine constitution and + fine spirits, thinking well of himself, believing that others think well + of him, and having a very ardent intention to give them more and more + reason for that good opinion—it is not possible for such a young + man, just coming into a splendid estate through the death of a very old + man whom he was not fond of, to feel anything very different from exultant + joy. Now his real life was beginning; now he would have room and + opportunity for action, and he would use them. He would show the Loamshire + people what a fine country gentleman was; he would not exchange that + career for any other under the sun. He felt himself riding over the hills + in the breezy autumn days, looking after favourite plans of drainage and + enclosure; then admired on sombre mornings as the best rider on the best + horse in the hunt; spoken well of on market-days as a first-rate landlord; + by and by making speeches at election dinners, and showing a wonderful + knowledge of agriculture; the patron of new ploughs and drills, the severe + upbraider of negligent landowners, and withal a jolly fellow that + everybody must like—happy faces greeting him everywhere on his own + estate, and the neighbouring families on the best terms with him. The + Irwines should dine with him every week, and have their own carriage to + come in, for in some very delicate way that Arthur would devise, the + lay-impropriator of the Hayslope tithes would insist on paying a couple of + hundreds more to the vicar; and his aunt should be as comfortable as + possible, and go on living at the Chase, if she liked, in spite of her + old-maidish ways—at least until he was married, and that event lay + in the indistinct background, for Arthur had not yet seen the woman who + would play the lady-wife to the first-rate country gentleman. + </p> + <p> + These were Arthur's chief thoughts, so far as a man's thoughts through + hours of travelling can be compressed into a few sentences, which are only + like the list of names telling you what are the scenes in a long long + panorama full of colour, of detail, and of life. The happy faces Arthur + saw greeting him were not pale abstractions, but real ruddy faces, long + familiar to him: Martin Poyser was there—the whole Poyser family. + </p> + <p> + What—Hetty? + </p> + <p> + Yes; for Arthur was at ease about Hetty—not quite at ease about the + past, for a certain burning of the ears would come whenever he thought of + the scenes with Adam last August, but at ease about her present lot. Mr. + Irwine, who had been a regular correspondent, telling him all the news + about the old places and people, had sent him word nearly three months ago + that Adam Bede was not to marry Mary Burge, as he had thought, but pretty + Hetty Sorrel. Martin Poyser and Adam himself had both told Mr. Irwine all + about it—that Adam had been deeply in love with Hetty these two + years, and that now it was agreed they were to be married in March. That + stalwart rogue Adam was more susceptible than the rector had thought; it + was really quite an idyllic love affair; and if it had not been too long + to tell in a letter, he would have liked to describe to Arthur the + blushing looks and the simple strong words with which the fine honest + fellow told his secret. He knew Arthur would like to hear that Adam had + this sort of happiness in prospect. + </p> + <p> + Yes, indeed! Arthur felt there was not air enough in the room to satisfy + his renovated life, when he had read that passage in the letter. He threw + up the windows, he rushed out of doors into the December air, and greeted + every one who spoke to him with an eager gaiety, as if there had been news + of a fresh Nelson victory. For the first time that day since he had come + to Windsor, he was in true boyish spirits. The load that had been pressing + upon him was gone, the haunting fear had vanished. He thought he could + conquer his bitterness towards Adam now—could offer him his hand, + and ask to be his friend again, in spite of that painful memory which + would still make his ears burn. He had been knocked down, and he had been + forced to tell a lie: such things make a scar, do what we will. But if + Adam were the same again as in the old days, Arthur wished to be the same + too, and to have Adam mixed up with his business and his future, as he had + always desired before the accursed meeting in August. Nay, he would do a + great deal more for Adam than he should otherwise have done, when he came + into the estate; Hetty's husband had a special claim on him—Hetty + herself should feel that any pain she had suffered through Arthur in the + past was compensated to her a hundredfold. For really she could not have + felt much, since she had so soon made up her mind to marry Adam. + </p> + <p> + You perceive clearly what sort of picture Adam and Hetty made in the + panorama of Arthur's thoughts on his journey homeward. It was March now; + they were soon to be married: perhaps they were already married. And now + it was actually in his power to do a great deal for them. Sweet—sweet + little Hetty! The little puss hadn't cared for him half as much as he + cared for her; for he was a great fool about her still—was almost + afraid of seeing her—indeed, had not cared much to look at any other + woman since he parted from her. That little figure coming towards him in + the Grove, those dark-fringed childish eyes, the lovely lips put up to + kiss him—that picture had got no fainter with the lapse of months. + And she would look just the same. It was impossible to think how he could + meet her: he should certainly tremble. Strange, how long this sort of + influence lasts, for he was certainly not in love with Hetty now. He had + been earnestly desiring, for months, that she should marry Adam, and there + was nothing that contributed more to his happiness in these moments than + the thought of their marriage. It was the exaggerating effect of + imagination that made his heart still beat a little more quickly at the + thought of her. When he saw the little thing again as she really was, as + Adam's wife, at work quite prosaically in her new home, he should perhaps + wonder at the possibility of his past feelings. Thank heaven it had turned + out so well! He should have plenty of affairs and interests to fill his + life now, and not be in danger of playing the fool again. + </p> + <p> + Pleasant the crack of the post-boy's whip! Pleasant the sense of being + hurried along in swift ease through English scenes, so like those round + his own home, only not quite so charming. Here was a market-town—very + much like Treddleston—where the arms of the neighbouring lord of the + manor were borne on the sign of the principal inn; then mere fields and + hedges, their vicinity to a market-town carrying an agreeable suggestion + of high rent, till the land began to assume a trimmer look, the woods were + more frequent, and at length a white or red mansion looked down from a + moderate eminence, or allowed him to be aware of its parapet and chimneys + among the dense-looking masses of oaks and elms—masses reddened now + with early buds. And close at hand came the village: the small church, + with its red-tiled roof, looking humble even among the faded half-timbered + houses; the old green gravestones with nettles round them; nothing fresh + and bright but the children, opening round eyes at the swift post-chaise; + nothing noisy and busy but the gaping curs of mysterious pedigree. What a + much prettier village Hayslope was! And it should not be neglected like + this place: vigorous repairs should go on everywhere among farm-buildings + and cottages, and travellers in post-chaises, coming along the Rosseter + road, should do nothing but admire as they went. And Adam Bede should + superintend all the repairs, for he had a share in Burge's business now, + and, if he liked, Arthur would put some money into the concern and buy the + old man out in another year or two. That was an ugly fault in Arthur's + life, that affair last summer, but the future should make amends. Many men + would have retained a feeling of vindictiveness towards Adam, but he would + not—he would resolutely overcome all littleness of that kind, for he + had certainly been very much in the wrong; and though Adam had been harsh + and violent, and had thrust on him a painful dilemma, the poor fellow was + in love, and had real provocation. No, Arthur had not an evil feeling in + his mind towards any human being: he was happy, and would make every one + else happy that came within his reach. + </p> + <p> + And here was dear old Hayslope at last, sleeping, on the hill, like a + quiet old place as it was, in the late afternoon sunlight, and opposite to + it the great shoulders of the Binton Hills, below them the purplish + blackness of the hanging woods, and at last the pale front of the Abbey, + looking out from among the oaks of the Chase, as if anxious for the heir's + return. “Poor Grandfather! And he lies dead there. He was a young fellow + once, coming into the estate and making his plans. So the world goes + round! Aunt Lydia must feel very desolate, poor thing; but she shall be + indulged as much as she indulges her fat Fido.” + </p> + <p> + The wheels of Arthur's chaise had been anxiously listened for at the + Chase, for to-day was Friday, and the funeral had already been deferred + two days. Before it drew up on the gravel of the courtyard, all the + servants in the house were assembled to receive him with a grave, decent + welcome, befitting a house of death. A month ago, perhaps, it would have + been difficult for them to have maintained a suitable sadness in their + faces, when Mr. Arthur was come to take possession; but the hearts of the + head-servants were heavy that day for another cause than the death of the + old squire, and more than one of them was longing to be twenty miles away, + as Mr. Craig was, knowing what was to become of Hetty Sorrel—pretty + Hetty Sorrel—whom they used to see every week. They had the + partisanship of household servants who like their places, and were not + inclined to go the full length of the severe indignation felt against him + by the farming tenants, but rather to make excuses for him; nevertheless, + the upper servants, who had been on terms of neighbourly intercourse with + the Poysers for many years, could not help feeling that the longed-for + event of the young squire's coming into the estate had been robbed of all + its pleasantness. + </p> + <p> + To Arthur it was nothing surprising that the servants looked grave and + sad: he himself was very much touched on seeing them all again, and + feeling that he was in a new relation to them. It was that sort of + pathetic emotion which has more pleasure than pain in it—which is + perhaps one of the most delicious of all states to a good-natured man, + conscious of the power to satisfy his good nature. His heart swelled + agreeably as he said, “Well, Mills, how is my aunt?” + </p> + <p> + But now Mr. Bygate, the lawyer, who had been in the house ever since the + death, came forward to give deferential greetings and answer all + questions, and Arthur walked with him towards the library, where his Aunt + Lydia was expecting him. Aunt Lydia was the only person in the house who + knew nothing about Hetty. Her sorrow as a maiden daughter was unmixed with + any other thoughts than those of anxiety about funeral arrangements and + her own future lot; and, after the manner of women, she mourned for the + father who had made her life important, all the more because she had a + secret sense that there was little mourning for him in other hearts. + </p> + <p> + But Arthur kissed her tearful face more tenderly than he had ever done in + his life before. + </p> + <p> + “Dear Aunt,” he said affectionately, as he held her hand, “YOUR loss is + the greatest of all, but you must tell me how to try and make it up to you + all the rest of your life.” + </p> + <p> + “It was so sudden and so dreadful, Arthur,” poor Miss Lydia began, pouring + out her little plaints, and Arthur sat down to listen with impatient + patience. When a pause came, he said: + </p> + <p> + “Now, Aunt, I'll leave you for a quarter of an hour just to go to my own + room, and then I shall come and give full attention to everything.” + </p> + <p> + “My room is all ready for me, I suppose, Mills?” he said to the butler, + who seemed to be lingering uneasily about the entrance-hall. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir, and there are letters for you; they are all laid on the + writing-table in your dressing-room.” + </p> + <p> + On entering the small anteroom which was called a dressing-room, but which + Arthur really used only to lounge and write in, he just cast his eyes on + the writing-table, and saw that there were several letters and packets + lying there; but he was in the uncomfortable dusty condition of a man who + has had a long hurried journey, and he must really refresh himself by + attending to his toilette a little, before he read his letters. Pym was + there, making everything ready for him, and soon, with a delightful + freshness about him, as if he were prepared to begin a new day, he went + back into his dressing-room to open his letters. The level rays of the low + afternoon sun entered directly at the window, and as Arthur seated himself + in his velvet chair with their pleasant warmth upon him, he was conscious + of that quiet well-being which perhaps you and I have felt on a sunny + afternoon when, in our brightest youth and health, life has opened a new + vista for us, and long to-morrows of activity have stretched before us + like a lovely plain which there was no need for hurrying to look at, + because it was all our own. + </p> + <p> + The top letter was placed with its address upwards: it was in Mr. Irwine's + handwriting, Arthur saw at once; and below the address was written, “To be + delivered as soon as he arrives.” Nothing could have been less surprising + to him than a letter from Mr. Irwine at that moment: of course, there was + something he wished Arthur to know earlier than it was possible for them + to see each other. At such a time as that it was quite natural that Irwine + should have something pressing to say. Arthur broke the seal with an + agreeable anticipation of soon seeing the writer. + </p> + <p> + “I send this letter to meet you on your arrival, Arthur, because I may + then be at Stoniton, whither I am called by the most painful duty it has + ever been given me to perform, and it is right that you should know what I + have to tell you without delay. + </p> + <p> + “I will not attempt to add by one word of reproach to the retribution that + is now falling on you: any other words that I could write at this moment + must be weak and unmeaning by the side of those in which I must tell you + the simple fact. + </p> + <p> + “Hetty Sorrel is in prison, and will be tried on Friday for the crime of + child-murder.”... + </p> + <p> + Arthur read no more. He started up from his chair and stood for a single + minute with a sense of violent convulsion in his whole frame, as if the + life were going out of him with horrible throbs; but the next minute he + had rushed out of the room, still clutching the letter—he was + hurrying along the corridor, and down the stairs into the hall. Mills was + still there, but Arthur did not see him, as he passed like a hunted man + across the hall and out along the gravel. The butler hurried out after him + as fast as his elderly limbs could run: he guessed, he knew, where the + young squire was going. + </p> + <p> + When Mills got to the stables, a horse was being saddled, and Arthur was + forcing himself to read the remaining words of the letter. He thrust it + into his pocket as the horse was led up to him, and at that moment caught + sight of Mills' anxious face in front of him. + </p> + <p> + “Tell them I'm gone—gone to Stoniton,” he said in a muffled tone of + agitation—sprang into the saddle, and set off at a gallop. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0045" id="link2HCH0045"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XLV + </h2> + <h3> + In the Prison + </h3> + <p> + NEAR sunset that evening an elderly gentleman was standing with his back + against the smaller entrance-door of Stoniton jail, saying a few last + words to the departing chaplain. The chaplain walked away, but the elderly + gentleman stood still, looking down on the pavement and stroking his chin + with a ruminating air, when he was roused by a sweet clear woman's voice, + saying, “Can I get into the prison, if you please?” + </p> + <p> + He turned his head and looked fixedly at the speaker for a few moments + without answering. + </p> + <p> + “I have seen you before,” he said at last. “Do you remember preaching on + the village green at Hayslope in Loamshire?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir, surely. Are you the gentleman that stayed to listen on + horseback?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes. Why do you want to go into the prison?” + </p> + <p> + “I want to go to Hetty Sorrel, the young woman who has been condemned to + death—and to stay with her, if I may be permitted. Have you power in + the prison, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; I am a magistrate, and can get admittance for you. But did you know + this criminal, Hetty Sorrel?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, we are kin. My own aunt married her uncle, Martin Poyser. But I was + away at Leeds, and didn't know of this great trouble in time to get here + before to-day. I entreat you, sir, for the love of our heavenly Father, to + let me go to her and stay with her.” + </p> + <p> + “How did you know she was condemned to death, if you are only just come + from Leeds?” + </p> + <p> + “I have seen my uncle since the trial, sir. He is gone back to his home + now, and the poor sinner is forsaken of all. I beseech you to get leave + for me to be with her.” + </p> + <p> + “What! Have you courage to stay all night in the prison? She is very + sullen, and will scarcely make answer when she is spoken to.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, sir, it may please God to open her heart still. Don't let us delay.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, then,” said the elderly gentleman, ringing and gaining admission, + “I know you have a key to unlock hearts.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah mechanically took off her bonnet and shawl as soon as they were + within the prison court, from the habit she had of throwing them off when + she preached or prayed, or visited the sick; and when they entered the + jailer's room, she laid them down on a chair unthinkingly. There was no + agitation visible in her, but a deep concentrated calmness, as if, even + when she was speaking, her soul was in prayer reposing on an unseen + support. + </p> + <p> + After speaking to the jailer, the magistrate turned to her and said, “The + turnkey will take you to the prisoner's cell and leave you there for the + night, if you desire it, but you can't have a light during the night—it + is contrary to rules. My name is Colonel Townley: if I can help you in + anything, ask the jailer for my address and come to me. I take some + interest in this Hetty Sorrel, for the sake of that fine fellow, Adam + Bede. I happened to see him at Hayslope the same evening I heard you + preach, and recognized him in court to-day, ill as he looked.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, sir, can you tell me anything about him? Can you tell me where he + lodges? For my poor uncle was too much weighed down with trouble to + remember.” + </p> + <p> + “Close by here. I inquired all about him of Mr. Irwine. He lodges over a + tinman's shop, in the street on the right hand as you entered the prison. + There is an old school-master with him. Now, good-bye: I wish you + success.” + </p> + <p> + “Farewell, sir. I am grateful to you.” + </p> + <p> + As Dinah crossed the prison court with the turnkey, the solemn evening + light seemed to make the walls higher than they were by day, and the sweet + pale face in the cap was more than ever like a white flower on this + background of gloom. The turnkey looked askance at her all the while, but + never spoke. He somehow felt that the sound of his own rude voice would be + grating just then. He struck a light as they entered the dark corridor + leading to the condemned cell, and then said in his most civil tone, + “It'll be pretty nigh dark in the cell a'ready, but I can stop with my + light a bit, if you like.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, friend, thank you,” said Dinah. “I wish to go in alone.” + </p> + <p> + “As you like,” said the jailer, turning the harsh key in the lock and + opening the door wide enough to admit Dinah. A jet of light from his + lantern fell on the opposite corner of the cell, where Hetty was sitting + on her straw pallet with her face buried in her knees. It seemed as if she + were asleep, and yet the grating of the lock would have been likely to + waken her. + </p> + <p> + The door closed again, and the only light in the cell was that of the + evening sky, through the small high grating—enough to discern human + faces by. Dinah stood still for a minute, hesitating to speak because + Hetty might be asleep, and looking at the motionless heap with a yearning + heart. Then she said, softly, “Hetty!” + </p> + <p> + There was a slight movement perceptible in Hetty's frame—a start + such as might have been produced by a feeble electrical shock—but + she did not look up. Dinah spoke again, in a tone made stronger by + irrepressible emotion, “Hetty...it's Dinah.” + </p> + <p> + Again there was a slight startled movement through Hetty's frame, and + without uncovering her face, she raised her head a little, as if + listening. + </p> + <p> + “Hetty...Dinah is come to you.” + </p> + <p> + After a moment's pause, Hetty lifted her head slowly and timidly from her + knees and raised her eyes. The two pale faces were looking at each other: + one with a wild hard despair in it, the other full of sad yearning love. + Dinah unconsciously opened her arms and stretched them out. + </p> + <p> + “Don't you know me, Hetty? Don't you remember Dinah? Did you think I + wouldn't come to you in trouble?” + </p> + <p> + Hetty kept her eyes fixed on Dinah's face—at first like an animal + that gazes, and gazes, and keeps aloof. + </p> + <p> + “I'm come to be with you, Hetty—not to leave you—to stay with + you—to be your sister to the last.” + </p> + <p> + Slowly, while Dinah was speaking, Hetty rose, took a step forward, and was + clasped in Dinah's arms. + </p> + <p> + They stood so a long while, for neither of them felt the impulse to move + apart again. Hetty, without any distinct thought of it, hung on this + something that was come to clasp her now, while she was sinking helpless + in a dark gulf; and Dinah felt a deep joy in the first sign that her love + was welcomed by the wretched lost one. The light got fainter as they + stood, and when at last they sat down on the straw pallet together, their + faces had become indistinct. + </p> + <p> + Not a word was spoken. Dinah waited, hoping for a spontaneous word from + Hetty, but she sat in the same dull despair, only clutching the hand that + held hers and leaning her cheek against Dinah's. It was the human contact + she clung to, but she was not the less sinking into the dark gulf. + </p> + <p> + Dinah began to doubt whether Hetty was conscious who it was that sat + beside her. She thought suffering and fear might have driven the poor + sinner out of her mind. But it was borne in upon her, as she afterwards + said, that she must not hurry God's work: we are overhasty to speak—as + if God did not manifest himself by our silent feeling, and make his love + felt through ours. She did not know how long they sat in that way, but it + got darker and darker, till there was only a pale patch of light on the + opposite wall: all the rest was darkness. But she felt the Divine presence + more and more—nay, as if she herself were a part of it, and it was + the Divine pity that was beating in her heart and was willing the rescue + of this helpless one. At last she was prompted to speak and find out how + far Hetty was conscious of the present. + </p> + <p> + “Hetty,” she said gently, “do you know who it is that sits by your side?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” Hetty answered slowly, “it's Dinah.” + </p> + <p> + “And do you remember the time when we were at the Hall Farm together, and + that night when I told you to be sure and think of me as a friend in + trouble?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Hetty. Then, after a pause, she added, “But you can do nothing + for me. You can't make 'em do anything. They'll hang me o' Monday—it's + Friday now.” + </p> + <p> + As Hetty said the last words, she clung closer to Dinah, shuddering. + </p> + <p> + “No, Hetty, I can't save you from that death. But isn't the suffering less + hard when you have somebody with you, that feels for you—that you + can speak to, and say what's in your heart?...Yes, Hetty: you lean on me: + you are glad to have me with you.” + </p> + <p> + “You won't leave me, Dinah? You'll keep close to me?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Hetty, I won't leave you. I'll stay with you to the last....But, + Hetty, there is some one else in this cell besides me, some one close to + you.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty said, in a frightened whisper, “Who?” + </p> + <p> + “Some one who has been with you through all your hours of sin and trouble—who + has known every thought you have had—has seen where you went, where + you lay down and rose up again, and all the deeds you have tried to hide + in darkness. And on Monday, when I can't follow you—when my arms + can't reach you—when death has parted us—He who is with us + now, and knows all, will be with you then. It makes no difference—whether + we live or die, we are in the presence of God.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Dinah, won't nobody do anything for me? Will they hang me for + certain?...I wouldn't mind if they'd let me live.” + </p> + <p> + “My poor Hetty, death is very dreadful to you. I know it's dreadful. But + if you had a friend to take care of you after death—in that other + world—some one whose love is greater than mine—who can do + everything?...If God our Father was your friend, and was willing to save + you from sin and suffering, so as you should neither know wicked feelings + nor pain again? If you could believe he loved you and would help you, as + you believe I love you and will help you, it wouldn't be so hard to die on + Monday, would it?” + </p> + <p> + “But I can't know anything about it,” Hetty said, with sullen sadness. + </p> + <p> + “Because, Hetty, you are shutting up your soul against him, by trying to + hide the truth. God's love and mercy can overcome all things—our + ignorance, and weakness, and all the burden of our past wickedness—all + things but our wilful sin, sin that we cling to, and will not give up. You + believe in my love and pity for you, Hetty, but if you had not let me come + near you, if you wouldn't have looked at me or spoken to me, you'd have + shut me out from helping you. I couldn't have made you feel my love; I + couldn't have told you what I felt for you. Don't shut God's love out in + that way, by clinging to sin....He can't bless you while you have one + falsehood in your soul; his pardoning mercy can't reach you until you open + your heart to him, and say, 'I have done this great wickedness; O God, + save me, make me pure from sin.' While you cling to one sin and will not + part with it, it must drag you down to misery after death, as it has + dragged you to misery here in this world, my poor, poor Hetty. It is sin + that brings dread, and darkness, and despair: there is light and + blessedness for us as soon as we cast it off. God enters our souls then, + and teaches us, and brings us strength and peace. Cast it off now, Hetty—now: + confess the wickedness you have done—the sin you have been guilty of + against your Heavenly Father. Let us kneel down together, for we are in + the presence of God.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty obeyed Dinah's movement, and sank on her knees. They still held each + other's hands, and there was long silence. Then Dinah said, “Hetty, we are + before God. He is waiting for you to tell the truth.” + </p> + <p> + Still there was silence. At last Hetty spoke, in a tone of beseeching— + </p> + <p> + “Dinah...help me...I can't feel anything like you...my heart is hard.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah held the clinging hand, and all her soul went forth in her voice: + </p> + <p> + “Jesus, thou present Saviour! Thou hast known the depths of all sorrow: + thou hast entered that black darkness where God is not, and hast uttered + the cry of the forsaken. Come Lord, and gather of the fruits of thy + travail and thy pleading. Stretch forth thy hand, thou who art mighty to + save to the uttermost, and rescue this lost one. She is clothed round with + thick darkness. The fetters of her sin are upon her, and she cannot stir + to come to thee. She can only feel her heart is hard, and she is helpless. + She cries to me, thy weak creature....Saviour! It is a blind cry to thee. + Hear it! Pierce the darkness! Look upon her with thy face of love and + sorrow that thou didst turn on him who denied thee, and melt her hard + heart. + </p> + <p> + “See, Lord, I bring her, as they of old brought the sick and helpless, and + thou didst heal them. I bear her on my arms and carry her before thee. + Fear and trembling have taken hold on her, but she trembles only at the + pain and death of the body. Breathe upon her thy life-giving Spirit, and + put a new fear within her—the fear of her sin. Make her dread to + keep the accursed thing within her soul. Make her feel the presence of the + living God, who beholds all the past, to whom the darkness is as noonday; + who is waiting now, at the eleventh hour, for her to turn to him, and + confess her sin, and cry for mercy—now, before the night of death + comes, and the moment of pardon is for ever fled, like yesterday that + returneth not. + </p> + <p> + “Saviour! It is yet time—time to snatch this poor soul from + everlasting darkness. I believe—I believe in thy infinite love. What + is my love or my pleading? It is quenched in thine. I can only clasp her + in my weak arms and urge her with my weak pity. Thou—thou wilt + breathe on the dead soul, and it shall arise from the unanswering sleep of + death. + </p> + <p> + “Yea, Lord, I see thee, coming through the darkness coming, like the + morning, with healing on thy wings. The marks of thy agony are upon thee—I + see, I see thou art able and willing to save—thou wilt not let her + perish for ever. Come, mighty Saviour! Let the dead hear thy voice. Let + the eyes of the blind be opened. Let her see that God encompasses her. Let + her tremble at nothing but at the sin that cuts her off from him. Melt the + hard heart. Unseal the closed lips: make her cry with her whole soul, + 'Father, I have sinned.'...” + </p> + <p> + “Dinah,” Hetty sobbed out, throwing her arms round Dinah's neck, “I will + speak...I will tell...I won't hide it any more.” + </p> + <p> + But the tears and sobs were too violent. Dinah raised her gently from her + knees and seated her on the pallet again, sitting down by her side. It was + a long time before the convulsed throat was quiet, and even then they sat + some time in stillness and darkness, holding each other's hands. At last + Hetty whispered, “I did do it, Dinah...I buried it in the wood...the + little baby...and it cried...I heard it cry...ever such a way off...all + night...and I went back because it cried.” + </p> + <p> + She paused, and then spoke hurriedly in a louder, pleading tone. + </p> + <p> + “But I thought perhaps it wouldn't die—there might somebody find it. + I didn't kill it—I didn't kill it myself. I put it down there and + covered it up, and when I came back it was gone....It was because I was so + very miserable, Dinah...I didn't know where to go...and I tried to kill + myself before, and I couldn't. Oh, I tried so to drown myself in the pool, + and I couldn't. I went to Windsor—I ran away—did you know? I + went to find him, as he might take care of me; and he was gone; and then I + didn't know what to do. I daredn't go back home again—I couldn't + bear it. I couldn't have bore to look at anybody, for they'd have scorned + me. I thought o' you sometimes, and thought I'd come to you, for I didn't + think you'd be cross with me, and cry shame on me. I thought I could tell + you. But then the other folks 'ud come to know it at last, and I couldn't + bear that. It was partly thinking o' you made me come toward Stoniton; + and, besides, I was so frightened at going wandering about till I was a + beggar-woman, and had nothing; and sometimes it seemed as if I must go + back to the farm sooner than that. Oh, it was so dreadful, Dinah...I was + so miserable...I wished I'd never been born into this world. I should + never like to go into the green fields again—I hated 'em so in my + misery.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty paused again, as if the sense of the past were too strong upon her + for words. + </p> + <p> + “And then I got to Stoniton, and I began to feel frightened that night, + because I was so near home. And then the little baby was born, when I + didn't expect it; and the thought came into my mind that I might get rid + of it and go home again. The thought came all of a sudden, as I was lying + in the bed, and it got stronger and stronger...I longed so to go back + again...I couldn't bear being so lonely and coming to beg for want. And it + gave me strength and resolution to get up and dress myself. I felt I must + do it...I didn't know how...I thought I'd find a pool, if I could, like + that other, in the corner of the field, in the dark. And when the woman + went out, I felt as if I was strong enough to do anything...I thought I + should get rid of all my misery, and go back home, and never let 'em know + why I ran away. I put on my bonnet and shawl, and went out into the dark + street, with the baby under my cloak; and I walked fast till I got into a + street a good way off, and there was a public, and I got some warm stuff + to drink and some bread. And I walked on and on, and I hardly felt the + ground I trod on; and it got lighter, for there came the moon—oh, + Dinah, it frightened me when it first looked at me out o' the clouds—it + never looked so before; and I turned out of the road into the fields, for + I was afraid o' meeting anybody with the moon shining on me. And I came to + a haystack, where I thought I could lie down and keep myself warm all + night. There was a place cut into it, where I could make me a bed, and I + lay comfortable, and the baby was warm against me; and I must have gone to + sleep for a good while, for when I woke it was morning, but not very + light, and the baby was crying. And I saw a wood a little way off...I + thought there'd perhaps be a ditch or a pond there...and it was so early I + thought I could hide the child there, and get a long way off before folks + was up. And then I thought I'd go home—I'd get rides in carts and go + home and tell 'em I'd been to try and see for a place, and couldn't get + one. I longed so for it, Dinah, I longed so to be safe at home. I don't + know how I felt about the baby. I seemed to hate it—it was like a + heavy weight hanging round my neck; and yet its crying went through me, + and I daredn't look at its little hands and face. But I went on to the + wood, and I walked about, but there was no water....” + </p> + <p> + Hetty shuddered. She was silent for some moments, and when she began + again, it was in a whisper. + </p> + <p> + “I came to a place where there was lots of chips and turf, and I sat down + on the trunk of a tree to think what I should do. And all of a sudden I + saw a hole under the nut-tree, like a little grave. And it darted into me + like lightning—I'd lay the baby there and cover it with the grass + and the chips. I couldn't kill it any other way. And I'd done it in a + minute; and, oh, it cried so, Dinah—I couldn't cover it quite up—I + thought perhaps somebody 'ud come and take care of it, and then it + wouldn't die. And I made haste out of the wood, but I could hear it crying + all the while; and when I got out into the fields, it was as if I was held + fast—I couldn't go away, for all I wanted so to go. And I sat + against the haystack to watch if anybody 'ud come. I was very hungry, and + I'd only a bit of bread left, but I couldn't go away. And after ever such + a while—hours and hours—the man came—him in a + smock-frock, and he looked at me so, I was frightened, and I made haste + and went on. I thought he was going to the wood and would perhaps find the + baby. And I went right on, till I came to a village, a long way off from + the wood, and I was very sick, and faint, and hungry. I got something to + eat there, and bought a loaf. But I was frightened to stay. I heard the + baby crying, and thought the other folks heard it too—and I went on. + But I was so tired, and it was getting towards dark. And at last, by the + roadside there was a barn—ever such a way off any house—like + the barn in Abbot's Close, and I thought I could go in there and hide + myself among the hay and straw, and nobody 'ud be likely to come. I went + in, and it was half full o' trusses of straw, and there was some hay too. + And I made myself a bed, ever so far behind, where nobody could find me; + and I was so tired and weak, I went to sleep....But oh, the baby's crying + kept waking me, and I thought that man as looked at me so was come and + laying hold of me. But I must have slept a long while at last, though I + didn't know, for when I got up and went out of the barn, I didn't know + whether it was night or morning. But it was morning, for it kept getting + lighter, and I turned back the way I'd come. I couldn't help it, Dinah; it + was the baby's crying made me go—and yet I was frightened to death. + I thought that man in the smock-frock 'ud see me and know I put the baby + there. But I went on, for all that. I'd left off thinking about going home—it + had gone out o' my mind. I saw nothing but that place in the wood where + I'd buried the baby...I see it now. Oh Dinah! shall I allays see it?” + </p> + <p> + Hetty clung round Dinah and shuddered again. The silence seemed long + before she went on. + </p> + <p> + “I met nobody, for it was very early, and I got into the wood....I knew + the way to the place...the place against the nut-tree; and I could hear it + crying at every step....I thought it was alive....I don't know whether I + was frightened or glad...I don't know what I felt. I only know I was in + the wood and heard the cry. I don't know what I felt till I saw the baby + was gone. And when I'd put it there, I thought I should like somebody to + find it and save it from dying; but when I saw it was gone, I was struck + like a stone, with fear. I never thought o' stirring, I felt so weak. I + knew I couldn't run away, and everybody as saw me 'ud know about the baby. + My heart went like a stone. I couldn't wish or try for anything; it seemed + like as if I should stay there for ever, and nothing 'ud ever change. But + they came and took me away.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty was silent, but she shuddered again, as if there was still something + behind; and Dinah waited, for her heart was so full that tears must come + before words. At last Hetty burst out, with a sob, “Dinah, do you think + God will take away that crying and the place in the wood, now I've told + everything?” + </p> + <p> + “Let us pray, poor sinner. Let us fall on our knees again, and pray to the + God of all mercy.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0046" id="link2HCH0046"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XLVI + </h2> + <h3> + The Hours of Suspense + </h3> + <p> + ON Sunday morning, when the church bells in Stoniton were ringing for + morning service, Bartle Massey re-entered Adam's room, after a short + absence, and said, “Adam, here's a visitor wants to see you.” + </p> + <p> + Adam was seated with his back towards the door, but he started up and + turned round instantly, with a flushed face and an eager look. His face + was even thinner and more worn than we have seen it before, but he was + washed and shaven this Sunday morning. + </p> + <p> + “Is it any news?” he said. + </p> + <p> + “Keep yourself quiet, my lad,” said Bartle; “keep quiet. It's not what + you're thinking of. It's the young Methodist woman come from the prison. + She's at the bottom o' the stairs, and wants to know if you think well to + see her, for she has something to say to you about that poor castaway; but + she wouldn't come in without your leave, she said. She thought you'd + perhaps like to go out and speak to her. These preaching women are not so + back'ard commonly,” Bartle muttered to himself. + </p> + <p> + “Ask her to come in,” said Adam. + </p> + <p> + He was standing with his face towards the door, and as Dinah entered, + lifting up her mild grey eyes towards him, she saw at once the great + change that had come since the day when she had looked up at the tall man + in the cottage. There was a trembling in her clear voice as she put her + hand into his and said, “Be comforted, Adam Bede, the Lord has not + forsaken her.” + </p> + <p> + “Bless you for coming to her,” Adam said. “Mr. Massey brought me word + yesterday as you was come.” + </p> + <p> + They could neither of them say any more just yet, but stood before each + other in silence; and Bartle Massey, too, who had put on his spectacles, + seemed transfixed, examining Dinah's face. But he recovered himself first, + and said, “Sit down, young woman, sit down,” placing the chair for her and + retiring to his old seat on the bed. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, friend; I won't sit down,” said Dinah, “for I must hasten + back. She entreated me not to stay long away. What I came for, Adam Bede, + was to pray you to go and see the poor sinner and bid her farewell. She + desires to ask your forgiveness, and it is meet you should see her to-day, + rather than in the early morning, when the time will be short.” + </p> + <p> + Adam stood trembling, and at last sank down on his chair again. + </p> + <p> + “It won't be,” he said, “it'll be put off—there'll perhaps come a + pardon. Mr. Irwine said there was hope. He said, I needn't quite give it + up.” + </p> + <p> + “That's a blessed thought to me,” said Dinah, her eyes filling with tears. + “It's a fearful thing hurrying her soul away so fast.” + </p> + <p> + “But let what will be,” she added presently. “You will surely come, and + let her speak the words that are in her heart. Although her poor soul is + very dark and discerns little beyond the things of the flesh, she is no + longer hard. She is contrite, she has confessed all to me. The pride of + her heart has given way, and she leans on me for help and desires to be + taught. This fills me with trust, for I cannot but think that the brethren + sometimes err in measuring the Divine love by the sinner's knowledge. She + is going to write a letter to the friends at the Hall Farm for me to give + them when she is gone, and when I told her you were here, she said, 'I + should like to say good-bye to Adam and ask him to forgive me.' You will + come, Adam? Perhaps you will even now come back with me.” + </p> + <p> + “I can't,” Adam said. “I can't say good-bye while there's any hope. I'm + listening, and listening—I can't think o' nothing but that. It can't + be as she'll die that shameful death—I can't bring my mind to it.” + </p> + <p> + He got up from his chair again and looked away out of the window, while + Dinah stood with compassionate patience. In a minute or two he turned + round and said, “I will come, Dinah...to-morrow morning...if it must be. I + may have more strength to bear it, if I know it must be. Tell her, I + forgive her; tell her I will come—at the very last.” + </p> + <p> + “I will not urge you against the voice of your own heart,” said Dinah. “I + must hasten back to her, for it is wonderful how she clings now, and was + not willing to let me out of her sight. She used never to make any return + to my affection before, but now tribulation has opened her heart. + Farewell, Adam. Our heavenly Father comfort you and strengthen you to bear + all things.” Dinah put out her hand, and Adam pressed it in silence. + </p> + <p> + Bartle Massey was getting up to lift the stiff latch of the door for her, + but before he could reach it, she had said gently, “Farewell, friend,” and + was gone, with her light step down the stairs. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Bartle, taking off his spectacles and putting them into his + pocket, “if there must be women to make trouble in the world, it's but + fair there should be women to be comforters under it; and she's one—she's + one. It's a pity she's a Methodist; but there's no getting a woman without + some foolishness or other.” + </p> + <p> + Adam never went to bed that night. The excitement of suspense, heightening + with every hour that brought him nearer the fatal moment, was too great, + and in spite of his entreaties, in spite of his promises that he would be + perfectly quiet, the schoolmaster watched too. + </p> + <p> + “What does it matter to me, lad?” Bartle said: “a night's sleep more or + less? I shall sleep long enough, by and by, underground. Let me keep thee + company in trouble while I can.” + </p> + <p> + It was a long and dreary night in that small chamber. Adam would sometimes + get up and tread backwards and forwards along the short space from wall to + wall; then he would sit down and hide his face, and no sound would be + heard but the ticking of the watch on the table, or the falling of a + cinder from the fire which the schoolmaster carefully tended. Sometimes he + would burst out into vehement speech, “If I could ha' done anything to + save her—if my bearing anything would ha' done any good...but t' + have to sit still, and know it, and do nothing...it's hard for a man to + bear...and to think o' what might ha' been now, if it hadn't been for + HIM....O God, it's the very day we should ha' been married.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, my lad,” said Bartle tenderly, “it's heavy—it's heavy. But you + must remember this: when you thought of marrying her, you'd a notion she'd + got another sort of a nature inside her. You didn't think she could have + got hardened in that little while to do what she's done.” + </p> + <p> + “I know—I know that,” said Adam. “I thought she was loving and + tender-hearted, and wouldn't tell a lie, or act deceitful. How could I + think any other way? And if he'd never come near her, and I'd married her, + and been loving to her, and took care of her, she might never ha' done + anything bad. What would it ha' signified—my having a bit o' trouble + with her? It 'ud ha' been nothing to this.” + </p> + <p> + “There's no knowing, my lad—there's no knowing what might have come. + The smart's bad for you to bear now: you must have time—you must + have time. But I've that opinion of you, that you'll rise above it all and + be a man again, and there may good come out of this that we don't see.” + </p> + <p> + “Good come out of it!” said Adam passionately. “That doesn't alter th' + evil: HER ruin can't be undone. I hate that talk o' people, as if there + was a way o' making amends for everything. They'd more need be brought to + see as the wrong they do can never be altered. When a man's spoiled his + fellow-creatur's life, he's no right to comfort himself with thinking good + may come out of it. Somebody else's good doesn't alter her shame and + misery.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, lad, well,” said Bartle, in a gentle tone, strangely in contrast + with his usual peremptoriness and impatience of contradiction, “it's + likely enough I talk foolishness. I'm an old fellow, and it's a good many + years since I was in trouble myself. It's easy finding reasons why other + folks should be patient.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Massey,” said Adam penitently, “I'm very hot and hasty. I owe you + something different; but you mustn't take it ill of me.” + </p> + <p> + “Not I, lad—not I.” + </p> + <p> + So the night wore on in agitation till the chill dawn and the growing + light brought the tremulous quiet that comes on the brink of despair. + There would soon be no more suspense. + </p> + <p> + “Let us go to the prison now, Mr. Massey,” said Adam, when he saw the hand + of his watch at six. “If there's any news come, we shall hear about it.” + </p> + <p> + The people were astir already, moving rapidly, in one direction, through + the streets. Adam tried not to think where they were going, as they + hurried past him in that short space between his lodging and the prison + gates. He was thankful when the gates shut him in from seeing those eager + people. + </p> + <p> + No; there was no news come—no pardon—no reprieve. + </p> + <p> + Adam lingered in the court half an hour before he could bring himself to + send word to Dinah that he was come. But a voice caught his ear: he could + not shut out the words. + </p> + <p> + “The cart is to set off at half-past seven.” + </p> + <p> + It must be said—the last good-bye: there was no help. + </p> + <p> + In ten minutes from that time, Adam was at the door of the cell. Dinah had + sent him word that she could not come to him; she could not leave Hetty + one moment; but Hetty was prepared for the meeting. + </p> + <p> + He could not see her when he entered, for agitation deadened his senses, + and the dim cell was almost dark to him. He stood a moment after the door + closed behind him, trembling and stupefied. + </p> + <p> + But he began to see through the dimness—to see the dark eyes lifted + up to him once more, but with no smile in them. O God, how sad they + looked! The last time they had met his was when he parted from her with + his heart full of joyous hopeful love, and they looked out with a tearful + smile from a pink, dimpled, childish face. The face was marble now; the + sweet lips were pallid and half-open and quivering; the dimples were all + gone—all but one, that never went; and the eyes—O, the worst + of all was the likeness they had to Hetty's. They were Hetty's eyes + looking at him with that mournful gaze, as if she had come back to him + from the dead to tell him of her misery. + </p> + <p> + She was clinging close to Dinah; her cheek was against Dinah's. It seemed + as if her last faint strength and hope lay in that contact, and the + pitying love that shone out from Dinah's face looked like a visible pledge + of the Invisible Mercy. + </p> + <p> + When the sad eyes met—when Hetty and Adam looked at each other—she + felt the change in him too, and it seemed to strike her with fresh fear. + It was the first time she had seen any being whose face seemed to reflect + the change in herself: Adam was a new image of the dreadful past and the + dreadful present. She trembled more as she looked at him. + </p> + <p> + “Speak to him, Hetty,” Dinah said; “tell him what is in your heart.” + </p> + <p> + Hetty obeyed her, like a little child. + </p> + <p> + “Adam...I'm very sorry...I behaved very wrong to you...will you forgive + me...before I die?” + </p> + <p> + Adam answered with a half-sob, “Yes, I forgive thee Hetty. I forgave thee + long ago.” + </p> + <p> + It had seemed to Adam as if his brain would burst with the anguish of + meeting Hetty's eyes in the first moments, but the sound of her voice + uttering these penitent words touched a chord which had been less + strained. There was a sense of relief from what was becoming unbearable, + and the rare tears came—they had never come before, since he had + hung on Seth's neck in the beginning of his sorrow. + </p> + <p> + Hetty made an involuntary movement towards him, some of the love that she + had once lived in the midst of was come near her again. She kept hold of + Dinah's hand, but she went up to Adam and said timidly, “Will you kiss me + again, Adam, for all I've been so wicked?” + </p> + <p> + Adam took the blanched wasted hand she put out to him, and they gave each + other the solemn unspeakable kiss of a lifelong parting. + </p> + <p> + “And tell him,” Hetty said, in rather a stronger voice, “tell him...for + there's nobody else to tell him...as I went after him and couldn't find + him...and I hated him and cursed him once...but Dinah says I should + forgive him...and I try...for else God won't forgive me.” + </p> + <p> + There was a noise at the door of the cell now—the key was being + turned in the lock, and when the door opened, Adam saw indistinctly that + there were several faces there. He was too agitated to see more—even + to see that Mr. Irwine's face was one of them. He felt that the last + preparations were beginning, and he could stay no longer. Room was + silently made for him to depart, and he went to his chamber in loneliness, + leaving Bartle Massey to watch and see the end. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0047" id="link2HCH0047"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XLVII + </h2> + <h3> + The Last Moment + </h3> + <p> + IT was a sight that some people remembered better even than their own + sorrows—the sight in that grey clear morning, when the fatal cart + with the two young women in it was descried by the waiting watching + multitude, cleaving its way towards the hideous symbol of a deliberately + inflicted sudden death. + </p> + <p> + All Stoniton had heard of Dinah Morris, the young Methodist woman who had + brought the obstinate criminal to confess, and there was as much eagerness + to see her as to see the wretched Hetty. + </p> + <p> + But Dinah was hardly conscious of the multitude. When Hetty had caught + sight of the vast crowd in the distance, she had clutched Dinah + convulsively. + </p> + <p> + “Close your eyes, Hetty,” Dinah said, “and let us pray without ceasing to + God.” + </p> + <p> + And in a low voice, as the cart went slowly along through the midst of the + gazing crowd, she poured forth her soul with the wrestling intensity of a + last pleading, for the trembling creature that clung to her and clutched + her as the only visible sign of love and pity. + </p> + <p> + Dinah did not know that the crowd was silent, gazing at her with a sort of + awe—she did not even know how near they were to the fatal spot, when + the cart stopped, and she shrank appalled at a loud shout hideous to her + ear, like a vast yell of demons. Hetty's shriek mingled with the sound, + and they clasped each other in mutual horror. + </p> + <p> + But it was not a shout of execration—not a yell of exultant cruelty. + </p> + <p> + It was a shout of sudden excitement at the appearance of a horseman + cleaving the crowd at full gallop. The horse is hot and distressed, but + answers to the desperate spurring; the rider looks as if his eyes were + glazed by madness, and he saw nothing but what was unseen by others. See, + he has something in his hand—he is holding it up as if it were a + signal. + </p> + <p> + The Sheriff knows him: it is Arthur Donnithorne, carrying in his hand a + hard-won release from death. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0048" id="link2HCH0048"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XLVIII + </h2> + <h3> + Another Meeting in the Wood + </h3> + <p> + THE next day, at evening, two men were walking from opposite points + towards the same scene, drawn thither by a common memory. The scene was + the Grove by Donnithorne Chase: you know who the men were. + </p> + <p> + The old squire's funeral had taken place that morning, the will had been + read, and now in the first breathing-space, Arthur Donnithorne had come + out for a lonely walk, that he might look fixedly at the new future before + him and confirm himself in a sad resolution. He thought he could do that + best in the Grove. + </p> + <p> + Adam too had come from Stontion on Monday evening, and to-day he had not + left home, except to go to the family at the Hall Farm and tell them + everything that Mr. Irwine had left untold. He had agreed with the Poysers + that he would follow them to their new neighbourhood, wherever that might + be, for he meant to give up the management of the woods, and, as soon as + it was practicable, he would wind up his business with Jonathan Burge and + settle with his mother and Seth in a home within reach of the friends to + whom he felt bound by a mutual sorrow. + </p> + <p> + “Seth and me are sure to find work,” he said. “A man that's got our trade + at his finger-ends is at home everywhere; and we must make a new start. My + mother won't stand in the way, for she's told me, since I came home, she'd + made up her mind to being buried in another parish, if I wished it, and if + I'd be more comfortable elsewhere. It's wonderful how quiet she's been + ever since I came back. It seems as if the very greatness o' the trouble + had quieted and calmed her. We shall all be better in a new country, + though there's some I shall be loath to leave behind. But I won't part + from you and yours, if I can help it, Mr. Poyser. Trouble's made us kin.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, lad,” said Martin. “We'll go out o' hearing o' that man's name. But + I doubt we shall ne'er go far enough for folks not to find out as we've + got them belonging to us as are transported o'er the seas, and were like + to be hanged. We shall have that flyin' up in our faces, and our + children's after us.” + </p> + <p> + That was a long visit to the Hall Farm, and drew too strongly on Adam's + energies for him to think of seeing others, or re-entering on his old + occupations till the morrow. “But to-morrow,” he said to himself, “I'll go + to work again. I shall learn to like it again some time, maybe; and it's + right whether I like it or not.” + </p> + <p> + This evening was the last he would allow to be absorbed by sorrow: + suspense was gone now, and he must bear the unalterable. He was resolved + not to see Arthur Donnithorne again, if it were possible to avoid him. He + had no message to deliver from Hetty now, for Hetty had seen Arthur. And + Adam distrusted himself—he had learned to dread the violence of his + own feeling. That word of Mr. Irwine's—that he must remember what he + had felt after giving the last blow to Arthur in the Grove—had + remained with him. + </p> + <p> + These thoughts about Arthur, like all thoughts that are charged with + strong feeling, were continually recurring, and they always called up the + image of the Grove—of that spot under the overarching boughs where + he had caught sight of the two bending figures, and had been possessed by + sudden rage. + </p> + <p> + “I'll go and see it again to-night for the last time,” he said; “it'll do + me good; it'll make me feel over again what I felt when I'd knocked him + down. I felt what poor empty work it was, as soon as I'd done it, before I + began to think he might be dead.” + </p> + <p> + In this way it happened that Arthur and Adam were walking towards the same + spot at the same time. + </p> + <p> + Adam had on his working-dress again, now, for he had thrown off the other + with a sense of relief as soon as he came home; and if he had had the + basket of tools over his shoulder, he might have been taken, with his pale + wasted face, for the spectre of the Adam Bede who entered the Grove on + that August evening eight months ago. But he had no basket of tools, and + he was not walking with the old erectness, looking keenly round him; his + hands were thrust in his side pockets, and his eyes rested chiefly on the + ground. He had not long entered the Grove, and now he paused before a + beech. He knew that tree well; it was the boundary mark of his youth—the + sign, to him, of the time when some of his earliest, strongest feelings + had left him. He felt sure they would never return. And yet, at this + moment, there was a stirring of affection at the remembrance of that + Arthur Donnithorne whom he had believed in before he had come up to this + beech eight months ago. It was affection for the dead: THAT Arthur existed + no longer. + </p> + <p> + He was disturbed by the sound of approaching footsteps, but the beech + stood at a turning in the road, and he could not see who was coming until + the tall slim figure in deep mourning suddenly stood before him at only + two yards' distance. They both started, and looked at each other in + silence. Often, in the last fortnight, Adam had imagined himself as close + to Arthur as this, assailing him with words that should be as harrowing as + the voice of remorse, forcing upon him a just share in the misery he had + caused; and often, too, he had told himself that such a meeting had better + not be. But in imagining the meeting he had always seen Arthur, as he had + met him on that evening in the Grove, florid, careless, light of speech; + and the figure before him touched him with the signs of suffering. Adam + knew what suffering was—he could not lay a cruel finger on a bruised + man. He felt no impulse that he needed to resist. Silence was more just + than reproach. Arthur was the first to speak. + </p> + <p> + “Adam,” he said, quietly, “it may be a good thing that we have met here, + for I wished to see you. I should have asked to see you to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + He paused, but Adam said nothing. + </p> + <p> + “I know it is painful to you to meet me,” Arthur went on, “but it is not + likely to happen again for years to come.” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir,” said Adam, coldly, “that was what I meant to write to you + to-morrow, as it would be better all dealings should be at an end between + us, and somebody else put in my place.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur felt the answer keenly, and it was not without an effort that he + spoke again. + </p> + <p> + “It was partly on that subject I wished to speak to you. I don't want to + lessen your indignation against me, or ask you to do anything for my sake. + I only wish to ask you if you will help me to lessen the evil consequences + of the past, which is unchangeable. I don't mean consequences to myself, + but to others. It is but little I can do, I know. I know the worst + consequences will remain; but something may be done, and you can help me. + Will you listen to me patiently?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” said Adam, after some hesitation; “I'll hear what it is. If I + can help to mend anything, I will. Anger 'ull mend nothing, I know. We've + had enough o' that.” + </p> + <p> + “I was going to the Hermitage,” said Arthur. “Will you go there with me + and sit down? We can talk better there.” + </p> + <p> + The Hermitage had never been entered since they left it together, for + Arthur had locked up the key in his desk. And now, when he opened the + door, there was the candle burnt out in the socket; there was the chair in + the same place where Adam remembered sitting; there was the waste-paper + basket full of scraps, and deep down in it, Arthur felt in an instant, + there was the little pink silk handkerchief. It would have been painful to + enter this place if their previous thoughts had been less painful. + </p> + <p> + They sat down opposite each other in the old places, and Arthur said, “I'm + going away, Adam; I'm going into the army.” + </p> + <p> + Poor Arthur felt that Adam ought to be affected by this announcement—ought + to have a movement of sympathy towards him. But Adam's lips remained + firmly closed, and the expression of his face unchanged. + </p> + <p> + “What I want to say to you,” Arthur continued, “is this: one of my reasons + for going away is that no one else may leave Hayslope—may leave + their home on my account. I would do anything, there is no sacrifice I + would not make, to prevent any further injury to others through my—through + what has happened.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur's words had precisely the opposite effect to that he had + anticipated. Adam thought he perceived in them that notion of compensation + for irretrievable wrong, that self-soothing attempt to make evil bear the + same fruits as good, which most of all roused his indignation. He was as + strongly impelled to look painful facts right in the face as Arthur was to + turn away his eyes from them. Moreover, he had the wakeful suspicious + pride of a poor man in the presence of a rich man. He felt his old + severity returning as he said, “The time's past for that, sir. A man + should make sacrifices to keep clear of doing a wrong; sacrifices won't + undo it when it's done. When people's feelings have got a deadly wound, + they can't be cured with favours.” + </p> + <p> + “Favours!” said Arthur, passionately; “no; how can you suppose I meant + that? But the Poysers—Mr. Irwine tells me the Poysers mean to leave + the place where they have lived so many years—for generations. Don't + you see, as Mr. Irwine does, that if they could be persuaded to overcome + the feeling that drives them away, it would be much better for them in the + end to remain on the old spot, among the friends and neighbours who know + them?” + </p> + <p> + “That's true,” said Adam coldly. “But then, sir, folks's feelings are not + so easily overcome. It'll be hard for Martin Poyser to go to a strange + place, among strange faces, when he's been bred up on the Hall Farm, and + his father before him; but then it 'ud be harder for a man with his + feelings to stay. I don't see how the thing's to be made any other than + hard. There's a sort o' damage, sir, that can't be made up for.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur was silent some moments. In spite of other feelings dominant in him + this evening, his pride winced under Adam's mode of treating him. Wasn't + he himself suffering? Was not he too obliged to renounce his most + cherished hopes? It was now as it had been eight months ago—Adam was + forcing Arthur to feel more intensely the irrevocableness of his own + wrong-doing. He was presenting the sort of resistance that was the most + irritating to Arthur's eager ardent nature. But his anger was subdued by + the same influence that had subdued Adam's when they first confronted each + other—by the marks of suffering in a long familiar face. The + momentary struggle ended in the feeling that he could bear a great deal + from Adam, to whom he had been the occasion of bearing so much; but there + was a touch of pleading, boyish vexation in his tone as he said, “But + people may make injuries worse by unreasonable conduct—by giving way + to anger and satisfying that for the moment, instead of thinking what will + be the effect in the future. + </p> + <p> + “If I were going to stay here and act as landlord,” he added presently, + with still more eagerness—“if I were careless about what I've done—what + I've been the cause of, you would have some excuse, Adam, for going away + and encouraging others to go. You would have some excuse then for trying + to make the evil worse. But when I tell you I'm going away for years—when + you know what that means for me, how it cuts off every plan of happiness + I've ever formed—it is impossible for a sensible man like you to + believe that there is any real ground for the Poysers refusing to remain. + I know their feeling about disgrace—Mr. Irwine has told me all; but + he is of opinion that they might be persuaded out of this idea that they + are disgraced in the eyes of their neighbours, and that they can't remain + on my estate, if you would join him in his efforts—if you would stay + yourself and go on managing the old woods.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur paused a moment and then added, pleadingly, “You know that's a good + work to do for the sake of other people, besides the owner. And you don't + know but that they may have a better owner soon, whom you will like to + work for. If I die, my cousin Tradgett will have the estate and take my + name. He is a good fellow.” + </p> + <p> + Adam could not help being moved: it was impossible for him not to feel + that this was the voice of the honest warm-hearted Arthur whom he had + loved and been proud of in old days; but nearer memories would not be + thrust away. He was silent; yet Arthur saw an answer in his face that + induced him to go on, with growing earnestness. + </p> + <p> + “And then, if you would talk to the Poysers—if you would talk the + matter over with Mr. Irwine—he means to see you to-morrow—and + then if you would join your arguments to his to prevail on them not to + go....I know, of course, that they would not accept any favour from me—I + mean nothing of that kind—but I'm sure they would suffer less in the + end. Irwine thinks so too. And Mr. Irwine is to have the chief authority + on the estate—he has consented to undertake that. They will really + be under no man but one whom they respect and like. It would be the same + with you, Adam, and it could be nothing but a desire to give me worse pain + that could incline you to go.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur was silent again for a little while, and then said, with some + agitation in his voice, “I wouldn't act so towards you, I know. If you + were in my place and I in yours, I should try to help you to do the best.” + </p> + <p> + Adam made a hasty movement on his chair and looked on the ground. Arthur + went on, “Perhaps you've never done anything you've had bitterly to repent + of in your life, Adam; if you had, you would be more generous. You would + know then that it's worse for me than for you.” + </p> + <p> + Arthur rose from his seat with the last words, and went to one of the + windows, looking out and turning his back on Adam, as he continued, + passionately, “Haven't I loved her too? Didn't I see her yesterday? Shan't + I carry the thought of her about with me as much as you will? And don't + you think you would suffer more if you'd been in fault?” + </p> + <p> + There was silence for several minutes, for the struggle in Adam's mind was + not easily decided. Facile natures, whose emotions have little permanence, + can hardly understand how much inward resistance he overcame before he + rose from his seat and turned towards Arthur. Arthur heard the movement, + and turning round, met the sad but softened look with which Adam said, + “It's true what you say, sir. I'm hard—it's in my nature. I was too + hard with my father, for doing wrong. I've been a bit hard t' everybody + but her. I felt as if nobody pitied her enough—her suffering cut + into me so; and when I thought the folks at the farm were too hard with + her, I said I'd never be hard to anybody myself again. But feeling + overmuch about her has perhaps made me unfair to you. I've known what it + is in my life to repent and feel it's too late. I felt I'd been too harsh + to my father when he was gone from me—I feel it now, when I think of + him. I've no right to be hard towards them as have done wrong and repent.” + </p> + <p> + Adam spoke these words with the firm distinctness of a man who is resolved + to leave nothing unsaid that he is bound to say; but he went on with more + hesitation. + </p> + <p> + “I wouldn't shake hands with you once, sir, when you asked me—but if + you're willing to do it now, for all I refused then...” + </p> + <p> + Arthur's white hand was in Adam's large grasp in an instant, and with that + action there was a strong rush, on both sides, of the old, boyish + affection. + </p> + <p> + “Adam,” Arthur said, impelled to full confession now, “it would never have + happened if I'd known you loved her. That would have helped to save me + from it. And I did struggle. I never meant to injure her. I deceived you + afterwards—and that led on to worse; but I thought it was forced + upon me, I thought it was the best thing I could do. And in that letter I + told her to let me know if she were in any trouble: don't think I would + not have done everything I could. But I was all wrong from the very first, + and horrible wrong has come of it. God knows, I'd give my life if I could + undo it.” + </p> + <p> + They sat down again opposite each other, and Adam said, tremulously, “How + did she seem when you left her, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Don't ask me, Adam,” Arthur said; “I feel sometimes as if I should go mad + with thinking of her looks and what she said to me, and then, that I + couldn't get a full pardon—that I couldn't save her from that + wretched fate of being transported—that I can do nothing for her all + those years; and she may die under it, and never know comfort any more.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, sir,” said Adam, for the first time feeling his own pain merged in + sympathy for Arthur, “you and me'll often be thinking o' the same thing, + when we're a long way off one another. I'll pray God to help you, as I + pray him to help me.” + </p> + <p> + “But there's that sweet woman—that Dinah Morris,” Arthur said, + pursuing his own thoughts and not knowing what had been the sense of + Adam's words, “she says she shall stay with her to the very last moment—till + she goes; and the poor thing clings to her as if she found some comfort in + her. I could worship that woman; I don't know what I should do if she were + not there. Adam, you will see her when she comes back. I could say nothing + to her yesterday—nothing of what I felt towards her. Tell her,” + Arthur went on hurriedly, as if he wanted to hide the emotion with which + he spoke, while he took off his chain and watch, “tell her I asked you to + give her this in remembrance of me—of the man to whom she is the one + source of comfort, when he thinks of...I know she doesn't care about such + things—or anything else I can give her for its own sake. But she + will use the watch—I shall like to think of her using it.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll give it to her, sir,” Adam said, “and tell her your words. She told + me she should come back to the people at the Hall Farm.” + </p> + <p> + “And you will persuade the Poysers to stay, Adam?” said Arthur, reminded + of the subject which both of them had forgotten in the first interchange + of revived friendship. “You will stay yourself, and help Mr. Irwine to + carry out the repairs and improvements on the estate?” + </p> + <p> + “There's one thing, sir, that perhaps you don't take account of,” said + Adam, with hesitating gentleness, “and that was what made me hang back + longer. You see, it's the same with both me and the Poysers: if we stay, + it's for our own worldly interest, and it looks as if we'd put up with + anything for the sake o' that. I know that's what they'll feel, and I + can't help feeling a little of it myself. When folks have got an + honourable independent spirit, they don't like to do anything that might + make 'em seem base-minded.” + </p> + <p> + “But no one who knows you will think that, Adam. That is not a reason + strong enough against a course that is really more generous, more + unselfish than the other. And it will be known—it shall be made + known, that both you and the Poysers stayed at my entreaty. Adam, don't + try to make things worse for me; I'm punished enough without that.” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, no,” Adam said, looking at Arthur with mournful affection. “God + forbid I should make things worse for you. I used to wish I could do it, + in my passion—but that was when I thought you didn't feel enough. + I'll stay, sir, I'll do the best I can. It's all I've got to think of now—to + do my work well and make the world a bit better place for them as can + enjoy it.” + </p> + <p> + “Then we'll part now, Adam. You will see Mr. Irwine to-morrow, and consult + with him about everything.” + </p> + <p> + “Are you going soon, sir?” said Adam. + </p> + <p> + “As soon as possible—after I've made the necessary arrangements. + Good-bye, Adam. I shall think of you going about the old place.” + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye, sir. God bless you.” + </p> + <p> + The hands were clasped once more, and Adam left the Hermitage, feeling + that sorrow was more bearable now hatred was gone. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the door was closed behind him, Arthur went to the waste-paper + basket and took out the little pink silk handkerchief. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0054" id="link2H_4_0054"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Book Six + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0049" id="link2HCH0049"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XLIX + </h2> + <h3> + At the Hall Farm + </h3> + <p> + THE first autumnal afternoon sunshine of 1801—more than eighteen + months after that parting of Adam and Arthur in the Hermitage—was on + the yard at the Hall Farm; and the bull-dog was in one of his most excited + moments, for it was that hour of the day when the cows were being driven + into the yard for their afternoon milking. No wonder the patient beasts + ran confusedly into the wrong places, for the alarming din of the bull-dog + was mingled with more distant sounds which the timid feminine creatures, + with pardonable superstition, imagined also to have some relation to their + own movements—with the tremendous crack of the waggoner's whip, the + roar of his voice, and the booming thunder of the waggon, as it left the + rick-yard empty of its golden load. + </p> + <p> + The milking of the cows was a sight Mrs. Poyser loved, and at this hour on + mild days she was usually standing at the house door, with her knitting in + her hands, in quiet contemplation, only heightened to a keener interest + when the vicious yellow cow, who had once kicked over a pailful of + precious milk, was about to undergo the preventive punishment of having + her hinder-legs strapped. + </p> + <p> + To-day, however, Mrs. Poyser gave but a divided attention to the arrival + of the cows, for she was in eager discussion with Dinah, who was stitching + Mr. Poyser's shirt-collars, and had borne patiently to have her thread + broken three times by Totty pulling at her arm with a sudden insistence + that she should look at “Baby,” that is, at a large wooden doll with no + legs and a long skirt, whose bald head Totty, seated in her small chair at + Dinah's side, was caressing and pressing to her fat cheek with much + fervour. Totty is larger by more than two years' growth than when you + first saw her, and she has on a black frock under her pinafore. Mrs. + Poyser too has on a black gown, which seems to heighten the family + likeness between her and Dinah. In other respects there is little outward + change now discernible in our old friends, or in the pleasant house-place, + bright with polished oak and pewter. + </p> + <p> + “I never saw the like to you, Dinah,” Mrs. Poyser was saying, “when you've + once took anything into your head: there's no more moving you than the + rooted tree. You may say what you like, but I don't believe that's + religion; for what's the Sermon on the Mount about, as you're so fond o' + reading to the boys, but doing what other folks 'ud have you do? But if it + was anything unreasonable they wanted you to do, like taking your cloak + off and giving it to 'em, or letting 'em slap you i' the face, I daresay + you'd be ready enough. It's only when one 'ud have you do what's plain + common sense and good for yourself, as you're obstinate th' other way.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, dear Aunt,” said Dinah, smiling slightly as she went on with her + work, “I'm sure your wish 'ud be a reason for me to do anything that I + didn't feel it was wrong to do.” + </p> + <p> + “Wrong! You drive me past bearing. What is there wrong, I should like to + know, i' staying along wi' your own friends, as are th' happier for having + you with 'em an' are willing to provide for you, even if your work didn't + more nor pay 'em for the bit o' sparrow's victual y' eat and the bit o' + rag you put on? An' who is it, I should like to know, as you're bound t' + help and comfort i' the world more nor your own flesh and blood—an' + me th' only aunt you've got above-ground, an' am brought to the brink o' + the grave welly every winter as comes, an' there's the child as sits + beside you 'ull break her little heart when you go, an' the grandfather + not been dead a twelvemonth, an' your uncle 'ull miss you so as never was—a-lighting + his pipe an' waiting on him, an' now I can trust you wi' the butter, an' + have had all the trouble o' teaching you, and there's all the sewing to be + done, an' I must have a strange gell out o' Treddles'on to do it—an' + all because you must go back to that bare heap o' stones as the very crows + fly over an' won't stop at.” + </p> + <p> + “Dear Aunt Rachel,” said Dinah, looking up in Mrs. Poyser's face, “it's + your kindness makes you say I'm useful to you. You don't really want me + now, for Nancy and Molly are clever at their work, and you're in good + health now, by the blessing of God, and my uncle is of a cheerful + countenance again, and you have neighbours and friends not a few—some + of them come to sit with my uncle almost daily. Indeed, you will not miss + me; and at Snowfield there are brethren and sisters in great need, who + have none of those comforts you have around you. I feel that I am called + back to those amongst whom my lot was first cast. I feel drawn again + towards the hills where I used to be blessed in carrying the word of life + to the sinful and desolate.” + </p> + <p> + “You feel! Yes,” said Mrs. Poyser, returning from a parenthetic glance at + the cows, “that's allays the reason I'm to sit down wi', when you've a + mind to do anything contrairy. What do you want to be preaching for more + than you're preaching now? Don't you go off, the Lord knows where, every + Sunday a-preaching and praying? An' haven't you got Methodists enow at + Treddles'on to go and look at, if church-folks's faces are too handsome to + please you? An' isn't there them i' this parish as you've got under hand, + and they're like enough to make friends wi' Old Harry again as soon as + your back's turned? There's that Bessy Cranage—she'll be flaunting + i' new finery three weeks after you're gone, I'll be bound. She'll no more + go on in her new ways without you than a dog 'ull stand on its hind-legs + when there's nobody looking. But I suppose it doesna matter so much about + folks's souls i' this country, else you'd be for staying with your own + aunt, for she's none so good but what you might help her to be better.” + </p> + <p> + There was a certain something in Mrs. Poyser's voice just then, which she + did not wish to be noticed, so she turned round hastily to look at the + clock, and said: “See there! It's tea-time; an' if Martin's i' the + rick-yard, he'll like a cup. Here, Totty, my chicken, let mother put your + bonnet on, and then you go out into the rick-yard and see if Father's + there, and tell him he mustn't go away again without coming t' have a cup + o' tea; and tell your brothers to come in too.” + </p> + <p> + Totty trotted off in her flapping bonnet, while Mrs. Poyser set out the + bright oak table and reached down the tea-cups. + </p> + <p> + “You talk o' them gells Nancy and Molly being clever i' their work,” she + began again; “it's fine talking. They're all the same, clever or stupid—one + can't trust 'em out o' one's sight a minute. They want somebody's eye on + 'em constant if they're to be kept to their work. An' suppose I'm ill + again this winter, as I was the winter before last? Who's to look after + 'em then, if you're gone? An' there's that blessed child—something's + sure t' happen to her—they'll let her tumble into the fire, or get + at the kettle wi' the boiling lard in't, or some mischief as 'ull lame her + for life; an' it'll be all your fault, Dinah.” + </p> + <p> + “Aunt,” said Dinah, “I promise to come back to you in the winter if you're + ill. Don't think I will ever stay away from you if you're in real want of + me. But, indeed, it is needful for my own soul that I should go away from + this life of ease and luxury in which I have all things too richly to + enjoy—at least that I should go away for a short space. No one can + know but myself what are my inward needs, and the besetments I am most in + danger from. Your wish for me to stay is not a call of duty which I refuse + to hearken to because it is against my own desires; it is a temptation + that I must resist, lest the love of the creature should become like a + mist in my soul shutting out the heavenly light.” + </p> + <p> + “It passes my cunning to know what you mean by ease and luxury,” said Mrs. + Poyser, as she cut the bread and butter. “It's true there's good victual + enough about you, as nobody shall ever say I don't provide enough and to + spare, but if there's ever a bit o' odds an' ends as nobody else 'ud eat, + you're sure to pick it out...but look there! There's Adam Bede a-carrying + the little un in. I wonder how it is he's come so early.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser hastened to the door for the pleasure of looking at her + darling in a new position, with love in her eyes but reproof on her + tongue. + </p> + <p> + “Oh for shame, Totty! Little gells o' five year old should be ashamed to + be carried. Why, Adam, she'll break your arm, such a big gell as that; set + her down—for shame!” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay,” said Adam, “I can lift her with my hand—I've no need to + take my arm to it.” + </p> + <p> + Totty, looking as serenely unconscious of remark as a fat white puppy, was + set down at the door-place, and the mother enforced her reproof with a + shower of kisses. + </p> + <p> + “You're surprised to see me at this hour o' the day,” said Adam. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but come in,” said Mrs. Poyser, making way for him; “there's no bad + news, I hope?” + </p> + <p> + “No, nothing bad,” Adam answered, as he went up to Dinah and put out his + hand to her. She had laid down her work and stood up, instinctively, as he + approached her. A faint blush died away from her pale cheek as she put her + hand in his and looked up at him timidly. + </p> + <p> + “It's an errand to you brought me, Dinah,” said Adam, apparently + unconscious that he was holding her hand all the while; “mother's a bit + ailing, and she's set her heart on your coming to stay the night with her, + if you'll be so kind. I told her I'd call and ask you as I came from the + village. She overworks herself, and I can't persuade her to have a little + girl t' help her. I don't know what's to be done.” + </p> + <p> + Adam released Dinah's hand as he ceased speaking, and was expecting an + answer, but before she had opened her lips Mrs. Poyser said, “Look there + now! I told you there was folks enow t' help i' this parish, wi'out going + further off. There's Mrs. Bede getting as old and cas'alty as can be, and + she won't let anybody but you go a-nigh her hardly. The folks at Snowfield + have learnt by this time to do better wi'out you nor she can.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll put my bonnet on and set off directly, if you don't want anything + done first, Aunt,” said Dinah, folding up her work. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I do want something done. I want you t' have your tea, child; it's + all ready—and you'll have a cup, Adam, if y' arena in too big a + hurry.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I'll have a cup, please; and then I'll walk with Dinah. I'm going + straight home, for I've got a lot o' timber valuations to write out.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Adam, lad, are you here?” said Mr. Poyser, entering warm and + coatless, with the two black-eyed boys behind him, still looking as much + like him as two small elephants are like a large one. “How is it we've got + sight o' you so long before foddering-time?” + </p> + <p> + “I came on an errand for Mother,” said Adam. “She's got a touch of her old + complaint, and she wants Dinah to go and stay with her a bit.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, we'll spare her for your mother a little while,” said Mr. Poyser. + “But we wonna spare her for anybody else, on'y her husband.” + </p> + <p> + “Husband!” said Marty, who was at the most prosaic and literal period of + the boyish mind. “Why, Dinah hasn't got a husband.” + </p> + <p> + “Spare her?” said Mrs. Poyser, placing a seed-cake on the table and then + seating herself to pour out the tea. “But we must spare her, it seems, and + not for a husband neither, but for her own megrims. Tommy, what are you + doing to your little sister's doll? Making the child naughty, when she'd + be good if you'd let her. You shanna have a morsel o' cake if you behave + so.” + </p> + <p> + Tommy, with true brotherly sympathy, was amusing himself by turning + Dolly's skirt over her bald head and exhibiting her truncated body to the + general scorn—an indignity which cut Totty to the heart. + </p> + <p> + “What do you think Dinah's been a-telling me since dinner-time?” Mrs. + Poyser continued, looking at her husband. + </p> + <p> + “Eh! I'm a poor un at guessing,” said Mr. Poyser. + </p> + <p> + “Why, she means to go back to Snowfield again, and work i' the mill, and + starve herself, as she used to do, like a creatur as has got no friends.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Poyser did not readily find words to express his unpleasant + astonishment; he only looked from his wife to Dinah, who had now seated + herself beside Totty, as a bulwark against brotherly playfulness, and was + busying herself with the children's tea. If he had been given to making + general reflections, it would have occurred to him that there was + certainly a change come over Dinah, for she never used to change colour; + but, as it was, he merely observed that her face was flushed at that + moment. Mr. Poyser thought she looked the prettier for it: it was a flush + no deeper than the petal of a monthly rose. Perhaps it came because her + uncle was looking at her so fixedly; but there is no knowing, for just + then Adam was saying, with quiet surprise, “Why, I hoped Dinah was settled + among us for life. I thought she'd given up the notion o' going back to + her old country.” + </p> + <p> + “Thought! Yes,” said Mrs. Poyser, “and so would anybody else ha' thought, + as had got their right end up'ards. But I suppose you must be a Methodist + to know what a Methodist 'ull do. It's ill guessing what the bats are + flying after.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what have we done to you. Dinah, as you must go away from us?” said + Mr. Poyser, still pausing over his tea-cup. “It's like breaking your word, + welly, for your aunt never had no thought but you'd make this your home.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Uncle,” said Dinah, trying to be quite calm. “When I first came, I + said it was only for a time, as long as I could be of any comfort to my + aunt.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, an' who said you'd ever left off being a comfort to me?” said Mrs. + Poyser. “If you didna mean to stay wi' me, you'd better never ha' come. + Them as ha' never had a cushion don't miss it.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay,” said Mr. Poyser, who objected to exaggerated views. “Thee + mustna say so; we should ha' been ill off wi'out her, Lady day was a + twelvemont'. We mun be thankful for that, whether she stays or no. But I + canna think what she mun leave a good home for, to go back int' a country + where the land, most on't, isna worth ten shillings an acre, rent and + profits.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, that's just the reason she wants to go, as fur as she can give a + reason,” said Mrs. Poyser. “She says this country's too comfortable, an' + there's too much t' eat, an' folks arena miserable enough. And she's going + next week. I canna turn her, say what I will. It's allays the way wi' them + meek-faced people; you may's well pelt a bag o' feathers as talk to 'em. + But I say it isna religion, to be so obstinate—is it now, Adam?” + </p> + <p> + Adam saw that Dinah was more disturbed than he had ever seen her by any + matter relating to herself, and, anxious to relieve her, if possible, he + said, looking at her affectionately, “Nay, I can't find fault with + anything Dinah does. I believe her thoughts are better than our guesses, + let 'em be what they may. I should ha' been thankful for her to stay among + us, but if she thinks well to go, I wouldn't cross her, or make it hard to + her by objecting. We owe her something different to that.” + </p> + <p> + As it often happens, the words intended to relieve her were just too much + for Dinah's susceptible feelings at this moment. The tears came into the + grey eyes too fast to be hidden and she got up hurriedly, meaning it to be + understood that she was going to put on her bonnet. + </p> + <p> + “Mother, what's Dinah crying for?” said Totty. “She isn't a naughty dell.” + </p> + <p> + “Thee'st gone a bit too fur,” said Mr. Poyser. “We've no right t' + interfere with her doing as she likes. An' thee'dst be as angry as could + be wi' me, if I said a word against anything she did.” + </p> + <p> + “Because you'd very like be finding fault wi'out reason,” said Mrs. + Poyser. “But there's reason i' what I say, else I shouldna say it. It's + easy talking for them as can't love her so well as her own aunt does. An' + me got so used to her! I shall feel as uneasy as a new sheared sheep when + she's gone from me. An' to think of her leaving a parish where she's so + looked on. There's Mr. Irwine makes as much of her as if she was a lady, + for all her being a Methodist, an' wi' that maggot o' preaching in her + head—God forgi'e me if I'm i' the wrong to call it so.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye,” said Mr. Poyser, looking jocose; “but thee dostna tell Adam what he + said to thee about it one day. The missis was saying, Adam, as the + preaching was the only fault to be found wi' Dinah, and Mr. Irwine says, + 'But you mustn't find fault with her for that, Mrs. Poyser; you forget + she's got no husband to preach to. I'll answer for it, you give Poyser + many a good sermon.' The parson had thee there,” Mr. Poyser added, + laughing unctuously. “I told Bartle Massey on it, an' he laughed too.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, it's a small joke sets men laughing when they sit a-staring at one + another with a pipe i' their mouths,” said Mrs. Poyser. “Give Bartle + Massey his way and he'd have all the sharpness to himself. If the + chaff-cutter had the making of us, we should all be straw, I reckon. + Totty, my chicken, go upstairs to cousin Dinah, and see what she's doing, + and give her a pretty kiss.” + </p> + <p> + This errand was devised for Totty as a means of checking certain + threatening symptoms about the corners of the mouth; for Tommy, no longer + expectant of cake, was lifting up his eyelids with his forefingers and + turning his eyeballs towards Totty in a way that she felt to be + disagreeably personal. + </p> + <p> + “You're rare and busy now—eh, Adam?” said Mr. Poyser. “Burge's + getting so bad wi' his asthmy, it's well if he'll ever do much riding + about again.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, we've got a pretty bit o' building on hand now,” said Adam, “what + with the repairs on th' estate, and the new houses at Treddles'on.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll bet a penny that new house Burge is building on his own bit o' land + is for him and Mary to go to,” said Mr. Poyser. “He'll be for laying by + business soon, I'll warrant, and be wanting you to take to it all and pay + him so much by th' 'ear. We shall see you living on th' hill before + another twelvemont's over.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Adam, “I should like t' have the business in my own hands. It + isn't as I mind much about getting any more money. We've enough and to + spare now, with only our two selves and mother; but I should like t' have + my own way about things—I could try plans then, as I can't do now.” + </p> + <p> + “You get on pretty well wi' the new steward, I reckon?” said Mr. Poyser. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes; he's a sensible man enough; understands farming—he's + carrying on the draining, and all that, capital. You must go some day + towards the Stonyshire side and see what alterations they're making. But + he's got no notion about buildings. You can so seldom get hold of a man as + can turn his brains to more nor one thing; it's just as if they wore + blinkers like th' horses and could see nothing o' one side of 'em. Now, + there's Mr. Irwine has got notions o' building more nor most architects; + for as for th' architects, they set up to be fine fellows, but the most of + 'em don't know where to set a chimney so as it shan't be quarrelling with + a door. My notion is, a practical builder that's got a bit o' taste makes + the best architect for common things; and I've ten times the pleasure i' + seeing after the work when I've made the plan myself.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Poyser listened with an admiring interest to Adam's discourse on + building, but perhaps it suggested to him that the building of his + corn-rick had been proceeding a little too long without the control of the + master's eye, for when Adam had done speaking, he got up and said, “Well, + lad, I'll bid you good-bye now, for I'm off to the rick-yard again.” + </p> + <p> + Adam rose too, for he saw Dinah entering, with her bonnet on and a little + basket in her hand, preceded by Totty. + </p> + <p> + “You're ready, I see, Dinah,” Adam said; “so we'll set off, for the sooner + I'm at home the better.” + </p> + <p> + “Mother,” said Totty, with her treble pipe, “Dinah was saying her prayers + and crying ever so.” + </p> + <p> + “Hush, hush,” said the mother, “little gells mustn't chatter.” + </p> + <p> + Whereupon the father, shaking with silent laughter, set Totty on the white + deal table and desired her to kiss him. Mr. and Mrs. Poyser, you perceive, + had no correct principles of education. + </p> + <p> + “Come back to-morrow if Mrs. Bede doesn't want you, Dinah,” said Mrs. + Poyser: “but you can stay, you know, if she's ill.” + </p> + <p> + So, when the good-byes had been said, Dinah and Adam left the Hall Farm + together. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0050" id="link2HCH0050"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter L + </h2> + <h3> + In the Cottage + </h3> + <p> + ADAM did not ask Dinah to take his arm when they got out into the lane. He + had never yet done so, often as they had walked together, for he had + observed that she never walked arm-in-arm with Seth, and he thought, + perhaps, that kind of support was not agreeable to her. So they walked + apart, though side by side, and the close poke of her little black bonnet + hid her face from him. + </p> + <p> + “You can't be happy, then, to make the Hall Farm your home, Dinah?” Adam + said, with the quiet interest of a brother, who has no anxiety for himself + in the matter. “It's a pity, seeing they're so fond of you.” + </p> + <p> + “You know, Adam, my heart is as their heart, so far as love for them and + care for their welfare goes, but they are in no present need. Their + sorrows are healed, and I feel that I am called back to my old work, in + which I found a blessing that I have missed of late in the midst of too + abundant worldly good. I know it is a vain thought to flee from the work + that God appoints us, for the sake of finding a greater blessing to our + own souls, as if we could choose for ourselves where we shall find the + fulness of the Divine Presence, instead of seeking it where alone it is to + be found, in loving obedience. But now, I believe, I have a clear showing + that my work lies elsewhere—at least for a time. In the years to + come, if my aunt's health should fail, or she should otherwise need me, I + shall return.” + </p> + <p> + “You know best, Dinah,” said Adam. “I don't believe you'd go against the + wishes of them that love you, and are akin to you, without a good and + sufficient reason in your own conscience. I've no right to say anything + about my being sorry: you know well enough what cause I have to put you + above every other friend I've got; and if it had been ordered so that you + could ha' been my sister, and lived with us all our lives, I should ha' + counted it the greatest blessing as could happen to us now. But Seth tells + me there's no hope o' that: your feelings are different, and perhaps I'm + taking too much upon me to speak about it.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah made no answer, and they walked on in silence for some yards, till + they came to the stone stile, where, as Adam had passed through first and + turned round to give her his hand while she mounted the unusually high + step, she could not prevent him from seeing her face. It struck him with + surprise, for the grey eyes, usually so mild and grave, had the bright + uneasy glance which accompanies suppressed agitation, and the slight flush + in her cheeks, with which she had come downstairs, was heightened to a + deep rose-colour. She looked as if she were only sister to Dinah. Adam was + silent with surprise and conjecture for some moments, and then he said, “I + hope I've not hurt or displeased you by what I've said, Dinah. Perhaps I + was making too free. I've no wish different from what you see to be best, + and I'm satisfied for you to live thirty mile off, if you think it right. + I shall think of you just as much as I do now, for you're bound up with + what I can no more help remembering than I can help my heart beating.” + </p> + <p> + Poor Adam! Thus do men blunder. Dinah made no answer, but she presently + said, “Have you heard any news from that poor young man, since we last + spoke of him?” + </p> + <p> + Dinah always called Arthur so; she had never lost the image of him as she + had seen him in the prison. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Adam. “Mr. Irwine read me part of a letter from him yesterday. + It's pretty certain, they say, that there'll be a peace soon, though + nobody believes it'll last long; but he says he doesn't mean to come home. + He's no heart for it yet, and it's better for others that he should keep + away. Mr. Irwine thinks he's in the right not to come. It's a sorrowful + letter. He asks about you and the Poysers, as he always does. There's one + thing in the letter cut me a good deal: 'You can't think what an old + fellow I feel,' he says; 'I make no schemes now. I'm the best when I've a + good day's march or fighting before me.'” + </p> + <p> + “He's of a rash, warm-hearted nature, like Esau, for whom I have always + felt great pity,” said Dinah. “That meeting between the brothers, where + Esau is so loving and generous, and Jacob so timid and distrustful, + notwithstanding his sense of the Divine favour, has always touched me + greatly. Truly, I have been tempted sometimes to say that Jacob was of a + mean spirit. But that is our trial: we must learn to see the good in the + midst of much that is unlovely.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said Adam, “I like to read about Moses best, in th' Old Testament. + He carried a hard business well through, and died when other folks were + going to reap the fruits. A man must have courage to look at his life so, + and think what'll come of it after he's dead and gone. A good solid bit o' + work lasts: if it's only laying a floor down, somebody's the better for it + being done well, besides the man as does it.” + </p> + <p> + They were both glad to talk of subjects that were not personal, and in + this way they went on till they passed the bridge across the Willow Brook, + when Adam turned round and said, “Ah, here's Seth. I thought he'd be home + soon. Does he know of you're going, Dinah?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I told him last Sabbath.” + </p> + <p> + Adam remembered now that Seth had come home much depressed on Sunday + evening, a circumstance which had been very unusual with him of late, for + the happiness he had in seeing Dinah every week seemed long to have + outweighed the pain of knowing she would never marry him. This evening he + had his habitual air of dreamy benignant contentment, until he came quite + close to Dinah and saw the traces of tears on her delicate eyelids and + eyelashes. He gave one rapid glance at his brother, but Adam was evidently + quite outside the current of emotion that had shaken Dinah: he wore his + everyday look of unexpectant calm. Seth tried not to let Dinah see that he + had noticed her face, and only said, “I'm thankful you're come, Dinah, for + Mother's been hungering after the sight of you all day. She began to talk + of you the first thing in the morning.” + </p> + <p> + When they entered the cottage, Lisbeth was seated in her arm-chair, too + tired with setting out the evening meal, a task she always performed a + long time beforehand, to go and meet them at the door as usual, when she + heard the approaching footsteps. + </p> + <p> + “Coom, child, thee't coom at last,” she said, when Dinah went towards her. + “What dost mane by lavin' me a week an' ne'er coomin' a-nigh me?” + </p> + <p> + “Dear friend,” said Dinah, taking her hand, “you're not well. If I'd known + it sooner, I'd have come.” + </p> + <p> + “An' how's thee t' know if thee dostna coom? Th' lads on'y know what I + tell 'em. As long as ye can stir hand and foot the men think ye're hearty. + But I'm none so bad, on'y a bit of a cold sets me achin'. An' th' lads + tease me so t' ha' somebody wi' me t' do the work—they make me ache + worse wi' talkin'. If thee'dst come and stay wi' me, they'd let me alone. + The Poysers canna want thee so bad as I do. But take thy bonnet off, an' + let me look at thee.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah was moving away, but Lisbeth held her fast, while she was taking off + her bonnet, and looked at her face as one looks into a newly gathered + snowdrop, to renew the old impressions of purity and gentleness. + </p> + <p> + “What's the matter wi' thee?” said Lisbeth, in astonishment; “thee'st been + a-cryin'.” + </p> + <p> + “It's only a grief that'll pass away,” said Dinah, who did not wish just + now to call forth Lisbeth's remonstrances by disclosing her intention to + leave Hayslope. “You shall know about it shortly—we'll talk of it + to-night. I shall stay with you to-night.” + </p> + <p> + Lisbeth was pacified by this prospect. And she had the whole evening to + talk with Dinah alone; for there was a new room in the cottage, you + remember, built nearly two years ago, in the expectation of a new inmate; + and here Adam always sat when he had writing to do or plans to make. Seth + sat there too this evening, for he knew his mother would like to have + Dinah all to herself. + </p> + <p> + There were two pretty pictures on the two sides of the wall in the + cottage. On one side there was the broad-shouldered, large-featured, hardy + old woman, in her blue jacket and buff kerchief, with her dim-eyed anxious + looks turned continually on the lily face and the slight form in the black + dress that were either moving lightly about in helpful activity, or seated + close by the old woman's arm-chair, holding her withered hand, with eyes + lifted up towards her to speak a language which Lisbeth understood far + better than the Bible or the hymn-book. She would scarcely listen to + reading at all to-night. “Nay, nay, shut the book,” she said. “We mun + talk. I want t' know what thee was cryin' about. Hast got troubles o' thy + own, like other folks?” + </p> + <p> + On the other side of the wall there were the two brothers so like each + other in the midst of their unlikeness: Adam with knit brows, shaggy hair, + and dark vigorous colour, absorbed in his “figuring”; Seth, with large + rugged features, the close copy of his brother's, but with thin, wavy, + brown hair and blue dreamy eyes, as often as not looking vaguely out of + the window instead of at his book, although it was a newly bought book—Wesley's + abridgment of Madame Guyon's life, which was full of wonder and interest + for him. Seth had said to Adam, “Can I help thee with anything in here + to-night? I don't want to make a noise in the shop.” + </p> + <p> + “No, lad,” Adam answered, “there's nothing but what I must do myself. + Thee'st got thy new book to read.” + </p> + <p> + And often, when Seth was quite unconscious, Adam, as he paused after + drawing a line with his ruler, looked at his brother with a kind smile + dawning in his eyes. He knew “th' lad liked to sit full o' thoughts he + could give no account of; they'd never come t' anything, but they made him + happy,” and in the last year or so, Adam had been getting more and more + indulgent to Seth. It was part of that growing tenderness which came from + the sorrow at work within him. + </p> + <p> + For Adam, though you see him quite master of himself, working hard and + delighting in his work after his inborn inalienable nature, had not + outlived his sorrow—had not felt it slip from him as a temporary + burden, and leave him the same man again. Do any of us? God forbid. It + would be a poor result of all our anguish and our wrestling if we won + nothing but our old selves at the end of it—if we could return to + the same blind loves, the same self-confident blame, the same light + thoughts of human suffering, the same frivolous gossip over blighted human + lives, the same feeble sense of that Unknown towards which we have sent + forth irrepressible cries in our loneliness. Let us rather be thankful + that our sorrow lives in us as an indestructible force, only changing its + form, as forces do, and passing from pain into sympathy—the one poor + word which includes all our best insight and our best love. Not that this + transformation of pain into sympathy had completely taken place in Adam + yet. There was still a great remnant of pain, and this he felt would + subsist as long as her pain was not a memory, but an existing thing, which + he must think of as renewed with the light of every new morning. But we + get accustomed to mental as well as bodily pain, without, for all that, + losing our sensibility to it. It becomes a habit of our lives, and we + cease to imagine a condition of perfect ease as possible for us. Desire is + chastened into submission, and we are contented with our day when we have + been able to bear our grief in silence and act as if we were not + suffering. For it is at such periods that the sense of our lives having + visible and invisible relations, beyond any of which either our present or + prospective self is the centre, grows like a muscle that we are obliged to + lean on and exert. + </p> + <p> + That was Adam's state of mind in this second autumn of his sorrow. His + work, as you know, had always been part of his religion, and from very + early days he saw clearly that good carpentry was God's will—was + that form of God's will that most immediately concerned him. But now there + was no margin of dreams for him beyond this daylight reality, no + holiday-time in the working-day world, no moment in the distance when duty + would take off her iron glove and breast-plate and clasp him gently into + rest. He conceived no picture of the future but one made up of + hard-working days such as he lived through, with growing contentment and + intensity of interest, every fresh week. Love, he thought, could never be + anything to him but a living memory—a limb lopped off, but not gone + from consciousness. He did not know that the power of loving was all the + while gaining new force within him; that the new sensibilities bought by a + deep experience were so many new fibres by which it was possible, nay, + necessary to him, that his nature should intertwine with another. Yet he + was aware that common affection and friendship were more precious to him + than they used to be—that he clung more to his mother and Seth, and + had an unspeakable satisfaction in the sight or imagination of any small + addition to their happiness. The Poysers, too—hardly three or four + days passed but he felt the need of seeing them and interchanging words + and looks of friendliness with them. He would have felt this, probably, + even if Dinah had not been with them, but he had only said the simplest + truth in telling Dinah that he put her above all other friends in the + world. Could anything be more natural? For in the darkest moments of + memory the thought of her always came as the first ray of returning + comfort. The early days of gloom at the Hall Farm had been gradually + turned into soft moonlight by her presence; and in the cottage, too, for + she had come at every spare moment to soothe and cheer poor Lisbeth, who + had been stricken with a fear that subdued even her querulousness at the + sight of her darling Adam's grief-worn face. He had become used to + watching her light quiet movements, her pretty loving ways to the + children, when he went to the Hall Farm; to listen for her voice as for a + recurrent music; to think everything she said and did was just right, and + could not have been better. In spite of his wisdom, he could not find + fault with her for her overindulgence of the children, who had managed to + convert Dinah the preacher, before whom a circle of rough men had often + trembled a little, into a convenient household slave—though Dinah + herself was rather ashamed of this weakness, and had some inward conflict + as to her departure from the precepts of Solomon. Yes, there was one thing + that might have been better; she might have loved Seth and consented to + marry him. He felt a little vexed, for his brother's sake, and he could + not help thinking regretfully how Dinah, as Seth's wife, would have made + their home as happy as it could be for them all—how she was the one + being that would have soothed their mother's last days into peacefulness + and rest. + </p> + <p> + “It's wonderful she doesn't love th' lad,” Adam had said sometimes to + himself, “for anybody 'ud think he was just cut out for her. But her + heart's so taken up with other things. She's one o' those women that feel + no drawing towards having a husband and children o' their own. She thinks + she should be filled up with her own life then, and she's been used so to + living in other folks's cares, she can't bear the thought of her heart + being shut up from 'em. I see how it is, well enough. She's cut out o' + different stuff from most women: I saw that long ago. She's never easy but + when she's helping somebody, and marriage 'ud interfere with her ways—that's + true. I've no right to be contriving and thinking it 'ud be better if + she'd have Seth, as if I was wiser than she is—or than God either, + for He made her what she is, and that's one o' the greatest blessings I've + ever had from His hands, and others besides me.” + </p> + <p> + This self-reproof had recurred strongly to Adam's mind when he gathered + from Dinah's face that he had wounded her by referring to his wish that + she had accepted Seth, and so he had endeavoured to put into the strongest + words his confidence in her decision as right—his resignation even + to her going away from them and ceasing to make part of their life + otherwise than by living in their thoughts, if that separation were chosen + by herself. He felt sure she knew quite well enough how much he cared to + see her continually—to talk to her with the silent consciousness of + a mutual great remembrance. It was not possible she should hear anything + but self-renouncing affection and respect in his assurance that he was + contented for her to go away; and yet there remained an uneasy feeling in + his mind that he had not said quite the right thing—that, somehow, + Dinah had not understood him. + </p> + <p> + Dinah must have risen a little before the sun the next morning, for she + was downstairs about five o'clock. So was Seth, for, through Lisbeth's + obstinate refusal to have any woman-helper in the house, he had learned to + make himself, as Adam said, “very handy in the housework,” that he might + save his mother from too great weariness; on which ground I hope you will + not think him unmanly, any more than you can have thought the gallant + Colonel Bath unmanly when he made the gruel for his invalid sister. Adam, + who had sat up late at his writing, was still asleep, and was not likely, + Seth said, to be down till breakfast-time. Often as Dinah had visited + Lisbeth during the last eighteen months, she had never slept in the + cottage since that night after Thias's death, when, you remember, Lisbeth + praised her deft movements and even gave a modified approval to her + porridge. But in that long interval Dinah had made great advances in + household cleverness, and this morning, since Seth was there to help, she + was bent on bringing everything to a pitch of cleanliness and order that + would have satisfied her Aunt Poyser. The cottage was far from that + standard at present, for Lisbeth's rheumatism had forced her to give up + her old habits of dilettante scouring and polishing. When the kitchen was + to her mind, Dinah went into the new room, where Adam had been writing the + night before, to see what sweeping and dusting were needed there. She + opened the window and let in the fresh morning air, and the smell of the + sweet-brier, and the bright low-slanting rays of the early sun, which made + a glory about her pale face and pale auburn hair as she held the long + brush, and swept, singing to herself in a very low tone—like a sweet + summer murmur that you have to listen for very closely—one of + Charles Wesley's hymns: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Eternal Beam of Light Divine, + Fountain of unexhausted love, + In whom the Father's glories shine, + Through earth beneath and heaven above; + + Jesus! the weary wanderer's rest, + Give me thy easy yoke to bear; + With steadfast patience arm my breast, + With spotless love and holy fear. + + Speak to my warring passions, “Peace!” + Say to my trembling heart, “Be still!” + Thy power my strength and fortress is, + For all things serve thy sovereign will. +</pre> + <p> + She laid by the brush and took up the duster; and if you had ever lived in + Mrs. Poyser's household, you would know how the duster behaved in Dinah's + hand—how it went into every small corner, and on every ledge in and + out of sight—how it went again and again round every bar of the + chairs, and every leg, and under and over everything that lay on the + table, till it came to Adam's papers and rulers and the open desk near + them. Dinah dusted up to the very edge of these and then hesitated, + looking at them with a longing but timid eye. It was painful to see how + much dust there was among them. As she was looking in this way, she heard + Seth's step just outside the open door, towards which her back was turned, + and said, raising her clear treble, “Seth, is your brother wrathful when + his papers are stirred?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, very, when they are not put back in the right places,” said a deep + strong voice, not Seth's. + </p> + <p> + It was as if Dinah had put her hands unawares on a vibrating chord. She + was shaken with an intense thrill, and for the instant felt nothing else; + then she knew her cheeks were glowing, and dared not look round, but stood + still, distressed because she could not say good-morning in a friendly + way. Adam, finding that she did not look round so as to see the smile on + his face, was afraid she had thought him serious about his wrathfulness, + and went up to her, so that she was obliged to look at him. + </p> + <p> + “What! You think I'm a cross fellow at home, Dinah?” he said, smilingly. + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” said Dinah, looking up with timid eyes, “not so. But you might be + put about by finding things meddled with; and even the man Moses, the + meekest of men, was wrathful sometimes.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, then,” said Adam, looking at her affectionately, “I'll help you + move the things, and put 'em back again, and then they can't get wrong. + You're getting to be your aunt's own niece, I see, for particularness.” + </p> + <p> + They began their little task together, but Dinah had not recovered herself + sufficiently to think of any remark, and Adam looked at her uneasily. + Dinah, he thought, had seemed to disapprove him somehow lately; she had + not been so kind and open to him as she used to be. He wanted her to look + at him, and be as pleased as he was himself with doing this bit of playful + work. But Dinah did not look at him—it was easy for her to avoid + looking at the tall man—and when at last there was no more dusting + to be done and no further excuse for him to linger near her, he could bear + it no longer, and said, in rather a pleading tone, “Dinah, you're not + displeased with me for anything, are you? I've not said or done anything + to make you think ill of me?” + </p> + <p> + The question surprised her, and relieved her by giving a new course to her + feeling. She looked up at him now, quite earnestly, almost with the tears + coming, and said, “Oh, no, Adam! how could you think so?” + </p> + <p> + “I couldn't bear you not to feel as much a friend to me as I do to you,” + said Adam. “And you don't know the value I set on the very thought of you, + Dinah. That was what I meant yesterday, when I said I'd be content for you + to go, if you thought right. I meant, the thought of you was worth so much + to me, I should feel I ought to be thankful, and not grumble, if you see + right to go away. You know I do mind parting with you, Dinah?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, dear friend,” said Dinah, trembling, but trying to speak calmly, “I + know you have a brother's heart towards me, and we shall often be with one + another in spirit; but at this season I am in heaviness through manifold + temptations. You must not mark me. I feel called to leave my kindred for a + while; but it is a trial—the flesh is weak.” + </p> + <p> + Adam saw that it pained her to be obliged to answer. + </p> + <p> + “I hurt you by talking about it, Dinah,” he said. “I'll say no more. Let's + see if Seth's ready with breakfast now.” + </p> + <p> + That is a simple scene, reader. But it is almost certain that you, too, + have been in love—perhaps, even, more than once, though you may not + choose to say so to all your feminine friends. If so, you will no more + think the slight words, the timid looks, the tremulous touches, by which + two human souls approach each other gradually, like two little quivering + rain-streams, before they mingle into one—you will no more think + these things trivial than you will think the first-detected signs of + coming spring trivial, though they be but a faint indescribable something + in the air and in the song of the birds, and the tiniest perceptible + budding on the hedge-row branches. Those slight words and looks and + touches are part of the soul's language; and the finest language, I + believe, is chiefly made up of unimposing words, such as “light,” “sound,” + “stars,” “music”—words really not worth looking at, or hearing, in + themselves, any more than “chips” or “sawdust.” It is only that they + happen to be the signs of something unspeakably great and beautiful. I am + of opinion that love is a great and beautiful thing too, and if you agree + with me, the smallest signs of it will not be chips and sawdust to you: + they will rather be like those little words, “light” and “music,” stirring + the long-winding fibres of your memory and enriching your present with + your most precious past. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0051" id="link2HCH0051"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter LI + </h2> + <h3> + Sunday Morning + </h3> + <p> + LISBETH'S touch of rheumatism could not be made to appear serious enough + to detain Dinah another night from the Hall Farm, now she had made up her + mind to leave her aunt so soon, and at evening the friends must part. “For + a long while,” Dinah had said, for she had told Lisbeth of her resolve. + </p> + <p> + “Then it'll be for all my life, an' I shall ne'er see thee again,” said + Lisbeth. “Long while! I'n got no long while t' live. An' I shall be took + bad an' die, an' thee canst ne'er come a-nigh me, an' I shall die + a-longing for thee.” + </p> + <p> + That had been the key-note of her wailing talk all day; for Adam was not + in the house, and so she put no restraint on her complaining. She had + tried poor Dinah by returning again and again to the question, why she + must go away; and refusing to accept reasons, which seemed to her nothing + but whim and “contrairiness”; and still more, by regretting that she + “couldna' ha' one o' the lads” and be her daughter. + </p> + <p> + “Thee couldstna put up wi' Seth,” she said. “He isna cliver enough for + thee, happen, but he'd ha' been very good t' thee—he's as handy as + can be at doin' things for me when I'm bad, an' he's as fond o' the Bible + an' chappellin' as thee art thysen. But happen, thee'dst like a husband + better as isna just the cut o' thysen: the runnin' brook isna athirst for + th' rain. Adam 'ud ha' done for thee—I know he would—an' he + might come t' like thee well enough, if thee'dst stop. But he's as + stubborn as th' iron bar—there's no bending him no way but's own. + But he'd be a fine husband for anybody, be they who they will, so + looked-on an' so cliver as he is. And he'd be rare an' lovin': it does me + good on'y a look o' the lad's eye when he means kind tow'rt me.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah tried to escape from Lisbeth's closest looks and questions by + finding little tasks of housework that kept her moving about, and as soon + as Seth came home in the evening she put on her bonnet to go. It touched + Dinah keenly to say the last good-bye, and still more to look round on her + way across the fields and see the old woman still standing at the door, + gazing after her till she must have been the faintest speck in the dim + aged eyes. “The God of love and peace be with them,” Dinah prayed, as she + looked back from the last stile. “Make them glad according to the days + wherein thou hast afflicted them, and the years wherein they have seen + evil. It is thy will that I should part from them; let me have no will but + thine.” + </p> + <p> + Lisbeth turned into the house at last and sat down in the workshop near + Seth, who was busying himself there with fitting some bits of turned wood + he had brought from the village into a small work-box, which he meant to + give to Dinah before she went away. + </p> + <p> + “Thee't see her again o' Sunday afore she goes,” were her first words. “If + thee wast good for anything, thee'dst make her come in again o' Sunday + night wi' thee, and see me once more.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Mother,” said Seth. “Dinah 'ud be sure to come again if she saw + right to come. I should have no need to persuade her. She only thinks it + 'ud be troubling thee for nought, just to come in to say good-bye over + again.” + </p> + <p> + “She'd ne'er go away, I know, if Adam 'ud be fond on her an' marry her, + but everything's so contrairy,” said Lisbeth, with a burst of vexation. + </p> + <p> + Seth paused a moment and looked up, with a slight blush, at his mother's + face. “What! Has she said anything o' that sort to thee, Mother?” he said, + in a lower tone. + </p> + <p> + “Said? Nay, she'll say nothin'. It's on'y the men as have to wait till + folks say things afore they find 'em out.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but what makes thee think so, Mother? What's put it into thy head?” + </p> + <p> + “It's no matter what's put it into my head. My head's none so hollow as it + must get in, an' nought to put it there. I know she's fond on him, as I + know th' wind's comin' in at the door, an' that's anoof. An' he might be + willin' to marry her if he know'd she's fond on him, but he'll ne'er think + on't if somebody doesna put it into's head.” + </p> + <p> + His mother's suggestion about Dinah's feeling towards Adam was not quite a + new thought to Seth, but her last words alarmed him, lest she should + herself undertake to open Adam's eyes. He was not sure about Dinah's + feeling, and he thought he was sure about Adam's. + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Mother, nay,” he said, earnestly, “thee mustna think o' speaking o' + such things to Adam. Thee'st no right to say what Dinah's feelings are if + she hasna told thee, and it 'ud do nothing but mischief to say such things + to Adam. He feels very grateful and affectionate toward Dinah, but he's no + thoughts towards her that 'ud incline him to make her his wife, and I + don't believe Dinah 'ud marry him either. I don't think she'll marry at + all.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh,” said Lisbeth, impatiently. “Thee think'st so 'cause she wouldna ha' + thee. She'll ne'er marry thee; thee mightst as well like her t' ha' thy + brother.” + </p> + <p> + Seth was hurt. “Mother,” he said, in a remonstrating tone, “don't think + that of me. I should be as thankful t' have her for a sister as thee + wouldst t' have her for a daughter. I've no more thoughts about myself in + that thing, and I shall take it hard if ever thee say'st it again.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, then thee shouldstna cross me wi' sayin' things arena as I + say they are.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Mother,” said Seth, “thee'dst be doing Dinah a wrong by telling Adam + what thee think'st about her. It 'ud do nothing but mischief, for it 'ud + make Adam uneasy if he doesna feel the same to her. And I'm pretty sure he + feels nothing o' the sort.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, donna tell me what thee't sure on; thee know'st nought about it. + What's he allays goin' to the Poysers' for, if he didna want t' see her? + He goes twice where he used t' go once. Happen he knowsna as he wants t' + see her; he knowsna as I put salt in's broth, but he'd miss it pretty + quick if it warna there. He'll ne'er think o' marrying if it isna put + into's head, an' if thee'dst any love for thy mother, thee'dst put him up + to't an' not let her go away out o' my sight, when I might ha' her to make + a bit o' comfort for me afore I go to bed to my old man under the white + thorn.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Mother,” said Seth, “thee mustna think me unkind, but I should be + going against my conscience if I took upon me to say what Dinah's feelings + are. And besides that, I think I should give offence to Adam by speaking + to him at all about marrying; and I counsel thee not to do't. Thee may'st + be quite deceived about Dinah. Nay, I'm pretty sure, by words she said to + me last Sabbath, as she's no mind to marry.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, thee't as contrairy as the rest on 'em. If it war summat I didna + want, it 'ud be done fast enough.” + </p> + <p> + Lisbeth rose from the bench at this, and went out of the workshop, leaving + Seth in much anxiety lest she should disturb Adam's mind about Dinah. He + consoled himself after a time with reflecting that, since Adam's trouble, + Lisbeth had been very timid about speaking to him on matters of feeling, + and that she would hardly dare to approach this tenderest of all subjects. + Even if she did, he hoped Adam would not take much notice of what she + said. + </p> + <p> + Seth was right in believing that Lisbeth would be held in restraint by + timidity, and during the next three days, the intervals in which she had + an opportunity of speaking to Adam were too rare and short to cause her + any strong temptation. But in her long solitary hours she brooded over her + regretful thoughts about Dinah, till they had grown very near that point + of unmanageable strength when thoughts are apt to take wing out of their + secret nest in a startling manner. And on Sunday morning, when Seth went + away to chapel at Treddleston, the dangerous opportunity came. + </p> + <p> + Sunday morning was the happiest time in all the week to Lisbeth, for as + there was no service at Hayslope church till the afternoon, Adam was + always at home, doing nothing but reading, an occupation in which she + could venture to interrupt him. Moreover, she had always a better dinner + than usual to prepare for her sons—very frequently for Adam and + herself alone, Seth being often away the entire day—and the smell of + the roast meat before the clear fire in the clean kitchen, the clock + ticking in a peaceful Sunday manner, her darling Adam seated near her in + his best clothes, doing nothing very important, so that she could go and + stroke her hand across his hair if she liked, and see him look up at her + and smile, while Gyp, rather jealous, poked his muzzle up between them—all + these things made poor Lisbeth's earthly paradise. + </p> + <p> + The book Adam most often read on a Sunday morning was his large pictured + Bible, and this morning it lay open before him on the round white deal + table in the kitchen; for he sat there in spite of the fire, because he + knew his mother liked to have him with her, and it was the only day in the + week when he could indulge her in that way. You would have liked to see + Adam reading his Bible. He never opened it on a weekday, and so he came to + it as a holiday book, serving him for history, biography, and poetry. He + held one hand thrust between his waistcoat buttons, and the other ready to + turn the pages, and in the course of the morning you would have seen many + changes in his face. Sometimes his lips moved in semi-articulation—it + was when he came to a speech that he could fancy himself uttering, such as + Samuel's dying speech to the people; then his eyebrows would be raised, + and the corners of his mouth would quiver a little with sad sympathy—something, + perhaps old Isaac's meeting with his son, touched him closely; at other + times, over the New Testament, a very solemn look would come upon his + face, and he would every now and then shake his head in serious assent, or + just lift up his hand and let it fall again. And on some mornings, when he + read in the Apocrypha, of which he was very fond, the son of Sirach's + keen-edged words would bring a delighted smile, though he also enjoyed the + freedom of occasionally differing from an Apocryphal writer. For Adam knew + the Articles quite well, as became a good churchman. + </p> + <p> + Lisbeth, in the pauses of attending to her dinner, always sat opposite to + him and watched him, till she could rest no longer without going up to him + and giving him a caress, to call his attention to her. This morning he was + reading the Gospel according to St. Matthew, and Lisbeth had been standing + close by him for some minutes, stroking his hair, which was smoother than + usual this morning, and looking down at the large page with silent + wonderment at the mystery of letters. She was encouraged to continue this + caress, because when she first went up to him, he had thrown himself back + in his chair to look at her affectionately and say, “Why, Mother, thee + look'st rare and hearty this morning. Eh, Gyp wants me t' look at him. He + can't abide to think I love thee the best.” Lisbeth said nothing, because + she wanted to say so many things. And now there was a new leaf to be + turned over, and it was a picture—that of the angel seated on the + great stone that has been rolled away from the sepulchre. This picture had + one strong association in Lisbeth's memory, for she had been reminded of + it when she first saw Dinah, and Adam had no sooner turned the page, and + lifted the book sideways that they might look at the angel, than she said, + “That's her—that's Dinah.” + </p> + <p> + Adam smiled, and, looking more intently at the angel's face, said, “It is + a bit like her; but Dinah's prettier, I think.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, if thee think'st her so pretty, why arn't fond on her?” + </p> + <p> + Adam looked up in surprise. “Why, Mother, dost think I don't set store by + Dinah?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” said Lisbeth, frightened at her own courage, yet feeling that she + had broken the ice, and the waters must flow, whatever mischief they might + do. “What's th' use o' settin' store by things as are thirty mile off? If + thee wast fond enough on her, thee wouldstna let her go away.” + </p> + <p> + “But I've no right t' hinder her, if she thinks well,” said Adam, looking + at his book as if he wanted to go on reading. He foresaw a series of + complaints tending to nothing. Lisbeth sat down again in the chair + opposite to him, as she said: + </p> + <p> + “But she wouldna think well if thee wastna so contrairy.” Lisbeth dared + not venture beyond a vague phrase yet. + </p> + <p> + “Contrairy, mother?” Adam said, looking up again in some anxiety. “What + have I done? What dost mean?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, thee't never look at nothin', nor think o' nothin', but thy figurin, + an' thy work,” said Lisbeth, half-crying. “An' dost think thee canst go on + so all thy life, as if thee wast a man cut out o' timber? An' what wut do + when thy mother's gone, an' nobody to take care on thee as thee gett'st a + bit o' victual comfortable i' the mornin'?” + </p> + <p> + “What hast got i' thy mind, Mother?” said Adam, vexed at this whimpering. + “I canna see what thee't driving at. Is there anything I could do for thee + as I don't do?” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, an' that there is. Thee might'st do as I should ha' somebody wi' me + to comfort me a bit, an' wait on me when I'm bad, an' be good to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mother, whose fault is it there isna some tidy body i' th' house t' + help thee? It isna by my wish as thee hast a stroke o' work to do. We can + afford it—I've told thee often enough. It 'ud be a deal better for + us.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh, what's the use o' talking o' tidy bodies, when thee mean'st one o' + th' wenches out o' th' village, or somebody from Treddles'on as I ne'er + set eyes on i' my life? I'd sooner make a shift an' get into my own coffin + afore I die, nor ha' them folks to put me in.” + </p> + <p> + Adam was silent, and tried to go on reading. That was the utmost severity + he could show towards his mother on a Sunday morning. But Lisbeth had gone + too far now to check herself, and after scarcely a minute's quietness she + began again. + </p> + <p> + “Thee mightst know well enough who 'tis I'd like t' ha' wi' me. It isna + many folks I send for t' come an' see me. I reckon. An' thee'st had the + fetchin' on her times enow.” + </p> + <p> + “Thee mean'st Dinah, Mother, I know,” said Adam. “But it's no use setting + thy mind on what can't be. If Dinah 'ud be willing to stay at Hayslope, it + isn't likely she can come away from her aunt's house, where they hold her + like a daughter, and where she's more bound than she is to us. If it had + been so that she could ha' married Seth, that 'ud ha' been a great + blessing to us, but we can't have things just as we like in this life. + Thee must try and make up thy mind to do without her.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, but I canna ma' up my mind, when she's just cut out for thee; an' + nought shall ma' me believe as God didna make her an' send her there o' + purpose for thee. What's it sinnify about her bein' a Methody! It 'ud + happen wear out on her wi' marryin'.” + </p> + <p> + Adam threw himself back in his chair and looked at his mother. He + understood now what she had been aiming at from the beginning of the + conversation. It was as unreasonable, impracticable a wish as she had ever + urged, but he could not help being moved by so entirely new an idea. The + chief point, however, was to chase away the notion from his mother's mind + as quickly as possible. + </p> + <p> + “Mother,” he said, gravely, “thee't talking wild. Don't let me hear thee + say such things again. It's no good talking o' what can never be. Dinah's + not for marrying; she's fixed her heart on a different sort o' life.” + </p> + <p> + “Very like,” said Lisbeth, impatiently, “very like she's none for + marr'ing, when them as she'd be willin' t' marry wonna ax her. I shouldna + ha' been for marr'ing thy feyther if he'd ne'er axed me; an' she's as fond + o' thee as e'er I war o' Thias, poor fellow.” + </p> + <p> + The blood rushed to Adam's face, and for a few moments he was not quite + conscious where he was. His mother and the kitchen had vanished for him, + and he saw nothing but Dinah's face turned up towards his. It seemed as if + there were a resurrection of his dead joy. But he woke up very speedily + from that dream (the waking was chill and sad), for it would have been + very foolish in him to believe his mother's words—she could have no + ground for them. He was prompted to express his disbelief very strongly—perhaps + that he might call forth the proofs, if there were any to be offered. + </p> + <p> + “What dost say such things for, Mother, when thee'st got no foundation for + 'em? Thee know'st nothing as gives thee a right to say that.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I knowna nought as gi'es me a right to say as the year's turned, for + all I feel it fust thing when I get up i' th' morning. She isna fond o' + Seth, I reckon, is she? She doesna want to marry HIM? But I can see as she + doesna behave tow'rt thee as she daes tow'rt Seth. She makes no more o' + Seth's coming a-nigh her nor if he war Gyp, but she's all of a tremble + when thee't a-sittin' down by her at breakfast an' a-looking at her. Thee + think'st thy mother knows nought, but she war alive afore thee wast born.” + </p> + <p> + “But thee canstna be sure as the trembling means love?” said Adam + anxiously. + </p> + <p> + “Eh, what else should it mane? It isna hate, I reckon. An' what should she + do but love thee? Thee't made to be loved—for where's there a + straighter cliverer man? An' what's it sinnify her bein' a Methody? It's + on'y the marigold i' th' parridge.” + </p> + <p> + Adam had thrust his hands in his pockets, and was looking down at the book + on the table, without seeing any of the letters. He was trembling like a + gold-seeker who sees the strong promise of gold but sees in the same + moment a sickening vision of disappointment. He could not trust his + mother's insight; she had seen what she wished to see. And yet—and + yet, now the suggestion had been made to him, he remembered so many + things, very slight things, like the stirring of the water by an + imperceptible breeze, which seemed to him some confirmation of his + mother's words. + </p> + <p> + Lisbeth noticed that he was moved. She went on, “An' thee't find out as + thee't poorly aff when she's gone. Thee't fonder on her nor thee know'st. + Thy eyes follow her about, welly as Gyp's follow thee.” + </p> + <p> + Adam could sit still no longer. He rose, took down his hat, and went out + into the fields. + </p> + <p> + The sunshine was on them: that early autumn sunshine which we should know + was not summer's, even if there were not the touches of yellow on the lime + and chestnut; the Sunday sunshine too, which has more than autumnal + calmness for the working man; the morning sunshine, which still leaves the + dew-crystals on the fine gossamer webs in the shadow of the bushy + hedgerows. + </p> + <p> + Adam needed the calm influence; he was amazed at the way in which this new + thought of Dinah's love had taken possession of him, with an overmastering + power that made all other feelings give way before the impetuous desire to + know that the thought was true. Strange, that till that moment the + possibility of their ever being lovers had never crossed his mind, and yet + now, all his longing suddenly went out towards that possibility. He had no + more doubt or hesitation as to his own wishes than the bird that flies + towards the opening through which the daylight gleams and the breath of + heaven enters. + </p> + <p> + The autumnal Sunday sunshine soothed him, but not by preparing him with + resignation to the disappointment if his mother—if he himself—proved + to be mistaken about Dinah. It soothed him by gentle encouragement of his + hopes. Her love was so like that calm sunshine that they seemed to make + one presence to him, and he believed in them both alike. And Dinah was so + bound up with the sad memories of his first passion that he was not + forsaking them, but rather giving them a new sacredness by loving her. + Nay, his love for her had grown out of that past: it was the noon of that + morning. + </p> + <p> + But Seth? Would the lad be hurt? Hardly; for he had seemed quite contented + of late, and there was no selfish jealousy in him; he had never been + jealous of his mother's fondness for Adam. But had he seen anything of + what their mother talked about? Adam longed to know this, for he thought + he could trust Seth's observation better than his mother's. He must talk + to Seth before he went to see Dinah, and, with this intention in his mind, + he walked back to the cottage and said to his mother, “Did Seth say + anything to thee about when he was coming home? Will he be back to + dinner?” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, lad, he'll be back for a wonder. He isna gone to Treddles'on. He's + gone somewhere else a-preachin' and a-prayin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Hast any notion which way he's gone?” said Adam. + </p> + <p> + “Nay, but he aften goes to th' Common. Thee know'st more o's goings nor I + do.” + </p> + <p> + Adam wanted to go and meet Seth, but he must content himself with walking + about the near fields and getting sight of him as soon as possible. That + would not be for more than an hour to come, for Seth would scarcely be at + home much before their dinner-time, which was twelve o'clock. But Adam + could not sit down to his reading again, and he sauntered along by the + brook and stood leaning against the stiles, with eager intense eyes, which + looked as if they saw something very vividly; but it was not the brook or + the willows, not the fields or the sky. Again and again his vision was + interrupted by wonder at the strength of his own feeling, at the strength + and sweetness of this new love—almost like the wonder a man feels at + the added power he finds in himself for an art which he had laid aside for + a space. How is it that the poets have said so many fine things about our + first love, so few about our later love? Are their first poems their best? + Or are not those the best which come from their fuller thought, their + larger experience, their deeper-rooted affections? The boy's flutelike + voice has its own spring charm; but the man should yield a richer deeper + music. + </p> + <p> + At last, there was Seth, visible at the farthest stile, and Adam hastened + to meet him. Seth was surprised, and thought something unusual must have + happened, but when Adam came up, his face said plainly enough that it was + nothing alarming. + </p> + <p> + “Where hast been?” said Adam, when they were side by side. + </p> + <p> + “I've been to the Common,” said Seth. “Dinah's been speaking the Word to a + little company of hearers at Brimstone's, as they call him. They're folks + as never go to church hardly—them on the Common—but they'll go + and hear Dinah a bit. She's been speaking with power this forenoon from + the words, 'I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' + And there was a little thing happened as was pretty to see. The women + mostly bring their children with 'em, but to-day there was one stout curly + headed fellow about three or four year old, that I never saw there before. + He was as naughty as could be at the beginning while I was praying, and + while we was singing, but when we all sat down and Dinah began to speak, + th' young un stood stock still all at once, and began to look at her + with's mouth open, and presently he ran away from's mother and went to + Dinah, and pulled at her, like a little dog, for her to take notice of + him. So Dinah lifted him up and held th' lad on her lap, while she went on + speaking; and he was as good as could be till he went to sleep—and + the mother cried to see him.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a pity she shouldna be a mother herself,” said Adam, “so fond as the + children are of her. Dost think she's quite fixed against marrying, Seth? + Dost think nothing 'ud turn her?” + </p> + <p> + There was something peculiar in his brother's tone, which made Seth steal + a glance at his face before he answered. + </p> + <p> + “It 'ud be wrong of me to say nothing 'ud turn her,” he answered. “But if + thee mean'st it about myself, I've given up all thoughts as she can ever + be my wife. She calls me her brother, and that's enough.” + </p> + <p> + “But dost think she might ever get fond enough of anybody else to be + willing to marry 'em?” said Adam rather shyly. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Seth, after some hesitation, “it's crossed my mind sometimes + o' late as she might; but Dinah 'ud let no fondness for the creature draw + her out o' the path as she believed God had marked out for her. If she + thought the leading was not from Him, she's not one to be brought under + the power of it. And she's allays seemed clear about that—as her + work was to minister t' others, and make no home for herself i' this + world.” + </p> + <p> + “But suppose,” said Adam, earnestly, “suppose there was a man as 'ud let + her do just the same and not interfere with her—she might do a good + deal o' what she does now, just as well when she was married as when she + was single. Other women of her sort have married—that's to say, not + just like her, but women as preached and attended on the sick and needy. + There's Mrs. Fletcher as she talks of.” + </p> + <p> + A new light had broken in on Seth. He turned round, and laying his hand on + Adam's shoulder, said, “Why, wouldst like her to marry THEE, Brother?” + </p> + <p> + Adam looked doubtfully at Seth's inquiring eyes and said, “Wouldst be hurt + if she was to be fonder o' me than o' thee?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” said Seth warmly, “how canst think it? Have I felt thy trouble so + little that I shouldna feel thy joy?” + </p> + <p> + There was silence a few moments as they walked on, and then Seth said, + “I'd no notion as thee'dst ever think of her for a wife.” + </p> + <p> + “But is it o' any use to think of her?” said Adam. “What dost say? + Mother's made me as I hardly know where I am, with what she's been saying + to me this forenoon. She says she's sure Dinah feels for me more than + common, and 'ud be willing t' have me. But I'm afraid she speaks without + book. I want to know if thee'st seen anything.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a nice point to speak about,” said Seth, “and I'm afraid o' being + wrong; besides, we've no right t' intermeddle with people's feelings when + they wouldn't tell 'em themselves.” + </p> + <p> + Seth paused. + </p> + <p> + “But thee mightst ask her,” he said presently. “She took no offence at me + for asking, and thee'st more right than I had, only thee't not in the + Society. But Dinah doesn't hold wi' them as are for keeping the Society so + strict to themselves. She doesn't mind about making folks enter the + Society, so as they're fit t' enter the kingdom o' God. Some o' the + brethren at Treddles'on are displeased with her for that.” + </p> + <p> + “Where will she be the rest o' the day?” said Adam. + </p> + <p> + “She said she shouldn't leave the farm again to-day,” said Seth, “because + it's her last Sabbath there, and she's going t' read out o' the big Bible + wi' the children.” + </p> + <p> + Adam thought—but did not say—“Then I'll go this afternoon; for + if I go to church, my thoughts 'ull be with her all the while. They must + sing th' anthem without me to-day.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0052" id="link2HCH0052"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter LII + </h2> + <h3> + Adam and Dinah + </h3> + <p> + IT was about three o'clock when Adam entered the farmyard and roused Alick + and the dogs from their Sunday dozing. Alick said everybody was gone to + church “but th' young missis”—so he called Dinah—but this did + not disappoint Adam, although the “everybody” was so liberal as to include + Nancy the dairymaid, whose works of necessity were not unfrequently + incompatible with church-going. + </p> + <p> + There was perfect stillness about the house. The doors were all closed, + and the very stones and tubs seemed quieter than usual. Adam heard the + water gently dripping from the pump—that was the only sound—and + he knocked at the house door rather softly, as was suitable in that + stillness. + </p> + <p> + The door opened, and Dinah stood before him, colouring deeply with the + great surprise of seeing Adam at this hour, when she knew it was his + regular practice to be at church. Yesterday he would have said to her + without any difficulty, “I came to see you, Dinah: I knew the rest were + not at home.” But to-day something prevented him from saying that, and he + put out his hand to her in silence. Neither of them spoke, and yet both + wished they could speak, as Adam entered, and they sat down. Dinah took + the chair she had just left; it was at the corner of the table near the + window, and there was a book lying on the table, but it was not open. She + had been sitting perfectly still, looking at the small bit of clear fire + in the bright grate. Adam sat down opposite her, in Mr. Poyser's + three-cornered chair. + </p> + <p> + “Your mother is not ill again, I hope, Adam?” Dinah said, recovering + herself. “Seth said she was well this morning.” + </p> + <p> + “No, she's very hearty to-day,” said Adam, happy in the signs of Dinah's + feeling at the sight of him, but shy. + </p> + <p> + “There's nobody at home, you see,” Dinah said; “but you'll wait. You've + been hindered from going to church to-day, doubtless.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” Adam said, and then paused, before he added, “I was thinking about + you: that was the reason.” + </p> + <p> + This confession was very awkward and sudden, Adam felt, for he thought + Dinah must understand all he meant. But the frankness of the words caused + her immediately to interpret them into a renewal of his brotherly regrets + that she was going away, and she answered calmly, “Do not be careful and + troubled for me, Adam. I have all things and abound at Snowfield. And my + mind is at rest, for I am not seeking my own will in going.” + </p> + <p> + “But if things were different, Dinah,” said Adam, hesitatingly. “If you + knew things that perhaps you don't know now....” + </p> + <p> + Dinah looked at him inquiringly, but instead of going on, he reached a + chair and brought it near the corner of the table where she was sitting. + She wondered, and was afraid—and the next moment her thoughts flew + to the past: was it something about those distant unhappy ones that she + didn't know? + </p> + <p> + Adam looked at her. It was so sweet to look at her eyes, which had now a + self-forgetful questioning in them—for a moment he forgot that he + wanted to say anything, or that it was necessary to tell her what he + meant. + </p> + <p> + “Dinah,” he said suddenly, taking both her hands between his, “I love you + with my whole heart and soul. I love you next to God who made me.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah's lips became pale, like her cheeks, and she trembled violently + under the shock of painful joy. Her hands were cold as death between + Adam's. She could not draw them away, because he held them fast. + </p> + <p> + “Don't tell me you can't love me, Dinah. Don't tell me we must part and + pass our lives away from one another.” + </p> + <p> + The tears were trembling in Dinah's eyes, and they fell before she could + answer. But she spoke in a quiet low voice. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, dear Adam, we must submit to another Will. We must part.” + </p> + <p> + “Not if you love me, Dinah—not if you love me,” Adam said + passionately. “Tell me—tell me if you can love me better than a + brother?” + </p> + <p> + Dinah was too entirely reliant on the Supreme guidance to attempt to + achieve any end by a deceptive concealment. She was recovering now from + the first shock of emotion, and she looked at Adam with simple sincere + eyes as she said, “Yes, Adam, my heart is drawn strongly towards you; and + of my own will, if I had no clear showing to the contrary, I could find my + happiness in being near you and ministering to you continually. I fear I + should forget to rejoice and weep with others; nay, I fear I should forget + the Divine presence, and seek no love but yours.” + </p> + <p> + Adam did not speak immediately. They sat looking at each other in + delicious silence—for the first sense of mutual love excludes other + feelings; it will have the soul all to itself. + </p> + <p> + “Then, Dinah,” Adam said at last, “how can there be anything contrary to + what's right in our belonging to one another and spending our lives + together? Who put this great love into our hearts? Can anything be holier + than that? For we can help one another in everything as is good. I'd never + think o' putting myself between you and God, and saying you oughtn't to do + this and you oughtn't to do that. You'd follow your conscience as much as + you do now.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Adam,” Dinah said, “I know marriage is a holy state for those who + are truly called to it, and have no other drawing; but from my childhood + upwards I have been led towards another path; all my peace and my joy have + come from having no life of my own, no wants, no wishes for myself, and + living only in God and those of his creatures whose sorrows and joys he + has given me to know. Those have been very blessed years to me, and I feel + that if I was to listen to any voice that would draw me aside from that + path, I should be turning my back on the light that has shone upon me, and + darkness and doubt would take hold of me. We could not bless each other, + Adam, if there were doubts in my soul, and if I yearned, when it was too + late, after that better part which had once been given me and I had put + away from me.” + </p> + <p> + “But if a new feeling has come into your mind, Dinah, and if you love me + so as to be willing to be nearer to me than to other people, isn't that a + sign that it's right for you to change your life? Doesn't the love make it + right when nothing else would?” + </p> + <p> + “Adam, my mind is full of questionings about that; for now, since you tell + me of your strong love towards me, what was clear to me has become dark + again. I felt before that my heart was too strongly drawn towards you, and + that your heart was not as mine; and the thought of you had taken hold of + me, so that my soul had lost its freedom, and was becoming enslaved to an + earthly affection, which made me anxious and careful about what should + befall myself. For in all other affection I had been content with any + small return, or with none; but my heart was beginning to hunger after an + equal love from you. And I had no doubt that I must wrestle against that + as a great temptation, and the command was clear that I must go away.” + </p> + <p> + “But now, dear, dear Dinah, now you know I love you better than you love + me...it's all different now. You won't think o' going. You'll stay, and be + my dear wife, and I shall thank God for giving me my life as I never + thanked him before.” + </p> + <p> + “Adam, it's hard to me to turn a deaf ear...you know it's hard; but a + great fear is upon me. It seems to me as if you were stretching out your + arms to me, and beckoning me to come and take my ease and live for my own + delight, and Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, was standing looking towards me, + and pointing to the sinful, and suffering, and afflicted. I have seen that + again and again when I have been sitting in stillness and darkness, and a + great terror has come upon me lest I should become hard, and a lover of + self, and no more bear willingly the Redeemer's cross.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah had closed her eyes, and a faint shudder went through her. “Adam,” + she went on, “you wouldn't desire that we should seek a good through any + unfaithfulness to the light that is in us; you wouldn't believe that could + be a good. We are of one mind in that.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Dinah,” said Adam sadly, “I'll never be the man t' urge you against + your conscience. But I can't give up the hope that you may come to see + different. I don't believe your loving me could shut up your heart—it's + only adding to what you've been before, not taking away from it. For it + seems to me it's the same with love and happiness as with sorrow—the + more we know of it the better we can feel what other people's lives are or + might be, and so we shall only be more tender to 'em, and wishful to help + 'em. The more knowledge a man has, the better he'll do's work; and + feeling's a sort o' knowledge.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah was silent; her eyes were fixed in contemplation of something + visible only to herself. Adam went on presently with his pleading, “And + you can do almost as much as you do now. I won't ask you to go to church + with me of a Sunday. You shall go where you like among the people, and + teach 'em; for though I like church best, I don't put my soul above yours, + as if my words was better for you to follow than your own conscience. And + you can help the sick just as much, and you'll have more means o' making + 'em a bit comfortable; and you'll be among all your own friends as love + you, and can help 'em and be a blessing to 'em till their dying day. + Surely, Dinah, you'd be as near to God as if you was living lonely and + away from me.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah made no answer for some time. Adam was still holding her hands and + looking at her with almost trembling anxiety, when she turned her grave + loving eyes on his and said, in rather a sad voice, “Adam there is truth + in what you say, and there's many of the brethren and sisters who have + greater strength than I have, and find their hearts enlarged by the cares + of husband and kindred. But I have not faith that it would be so with me, + for since my affections have been set above measure on you, I have had + less peace and joy in God. I have felt as it were a division in my heart. + And think how it is with me, Adam. That life I have led is like a land I + have trodden in blessedness since my childhood; and if I long for a moment + to follow the voice which calls me to another land that I know not, I + cannot but fear that my soul might hereafter yearn for that early + blessedness which I had forsaken; and where doubt enters there is not + perfect love. I must wait for clearer guidance. I must go from you, and we + must submit ourselves entirely to the Divine Will. We are sometimes + required to lay our natural lawful affections on the altar.” + </p> + <p> + Adam dared not plead again, for Dinah's was not the voice of caprice or + insincerity. But it was very hard for him; his eyes got dim as he looked + at her. + </p> + <p> + “But you may come to feel satisfied...to feel that you may come to me + again, and we may never part, Dinah?” + </p> + <p> + “We must submit ourselves, Adam. With time, our duty will be made clear. + It may be when I have entered on my former life, I shall find all these + new thoughts and wishes vanish, and become as things that were not. Then I + shall know that my calling is not towards marriage. But we must wait.” + </p> + <p> + “Dinah,” said Adam mournfully, “you can't love me so well as I love you, + else you'd have no doubts. But it's natural you shouldn't, for I'm not so + good as you. I can't doubt it's right for me to love the best thing God's + ever given me to know.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Adam. It seems to me that my love for you is not weak, for my heart + waits on your words and looks, almost as a little child waits on the help + and tenderness of the strong on whom it depends. If the thought of you + took slight hold of me, I should not fear that it would be an idol in the + temple. But you will strengthen me—you will not hinder me in seeking + to obey to the uttermost.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us go out into the sunshine, Dinah, and walk together. I'll speak no + word to disturb you.” + </p> + <p> + They went out and walked towards the fields, where they would meet the + family coming from church. Adam said, “Take my arm, Dinah,” and she took + it. That was the only change in their manner to each other since they were + last walking together. But no sadness in the prospect of her going away—in + the uncertainty of the issue—could rob the sweetness from Adam's + sense that Dinah loved him. He thought he would stay at the Hall Farm all + that evening. He would be near her as long as he could. + </p> + <p> + “Hey-day! There's Adam along wi' Dinah,” said Mr. Poyser, as he opened the + far gate into the Home Close. “I couldna think how he happened away from + church. Why,” added good Martin, after a moment's pause, “what dost think + has just jumped into my head?” + </p> + <p> + “Summat as hadna far to jump, for it's just under our nose. You mean as + Adam's fond o' Dinah.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye! hast ever had any notion of it before?” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure I have,” said Mrs. Poyser, who always declined, if possible, + to be taken by surprise. “I'm not one o' those as can see the cat i' the + dairy an' wonder what she's come after.” + </p> + <p> + “Thee never saidst a word to me about it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I aren't like a bird-clapper, forced to make a rattle when the wind + blows on me. I can keep my own counsel when there's no good i' speaking.” + </p> + <p> + “But Dinah 'll ha' none o' him. Dost think she will?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” said Mrs. Poyser, not sufficiently on her guard against a possible + surprise, “she'll never marry anybody, if he isn't a Methodist and a + cripple.” + </p> + <p> + “It 'ud ha' been a pretty thing though for 'em t' marry,” said Martin, + turning his head on one side, as if in pleased contemplation of his new + idea. “Thee'dst ha' liked it too, wouldstna?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! I should. I should ha' been sure of her then, as she wouldn't go away + from me to Snowfield, welly thirty mile off, and me not got a creatur to + look to, only neighbours, as are no kin to me, an' most of 'em women as + I'd be ashamed to show my face, if my dairy things war like their'n. There + may well be streaky butter i' the market. An' I should be glad to see the + poor thing settled like a Christian woman, with a house of her own over + her head; and we'd stock her well wi' linen and feathers, for I love her + next to my own children. An' she makes one feel safer when she's i' the + house, for she's like the driven snow: anybody might sin for two as had + her at their elbow.” + </p> + <p> + “Dinah,” said Tommy, running forward to meet her, “mother says you'll + never marry anybody but a Methodist cripple. What a silly you must be!” a + comment which Tommy followed up by seizing Dinah with both arms, and + dancing along by her side with incommodious fondness. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Adam, we missed you i' the singing to-day,” said Mr. Poyser. “How + was it?” + </p> + <p> + “I wanted to see Dinah—she's going away so soon,” said Adam. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, lad! Can you persuade her to stop somehow? Find her a good husband + somewhere i' the parish. If you'll do that, we'll forgive you for missing + church. But, anyway, she isna going before the harvest supper o' + Wednesday, and you must come then. There's Bartle Massey comin', an' + happen Craig. You'll be sure an' come, now, at seven? The missis wunna + have it a bit later.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye,” said Adam, “I'll come if I can. But I can't often say what I'll do + beforehand, for the work often holds me longer than I expect. You'll stay + till the end o' the week, Dinah?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes!” said Mr. Poyser. “We'll have no nay.” + </p> + <p> + “She's no call to be in a hurry,” observed Mrs. Poyser. “Scarceness o' + victual 'ull keep: there's no need to be hasty wi' the cooking. An' + scarceness is what there's the biggest stock of i' that country.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah smiled, but gave no promise to stay, and they talked of other things + through the rest of the walk, lingering in the sunshine to look at the + great flock of geese grazing, at the new corn-ricks, and at the surprising + abundance of fruit on the old pear-tree; Nancy and Molly having already + hastened home, side by side, each holding, carefully wrapped in her + pocket-handkerchief, a prayer-book, in which she could read little beyond + the large letters and the Amens. + </p> + <p> + Surely all other leisure is hurry compared with a sunny walk through the + fields from “afternoon church”—as such walks used to be in those old + leisurely times, when the boat, gliding sleepily along the canal, was the + newest locomotive wonder; when Sunday books had most of them old + brown-leather covers, and opened with remarkable precision always in one + place. Leisure is gone—gone where the spinning-wheels are gone, and + the pack-horses, and the slow waggons, and the pedlars, who brought + bargains to the door on sunny afternoons. Ingenious philosophers tell you, + perhaps, that the great work of the steam-engine is to create leisure for + mankind. Do not believe them: it only creates a vacuum for eager thought + to rush in. Even idleness is eager now—eager for amusement; prone to + excursion-trains, art museums, periodical literature, and exciting novels; + prone even to scientific theorizing and cursory peeps through microscopes. + Old Leisure was quite a different personage. He only read one newspaper, + innocent of leaders, and was free from that periodicity of sensations + which we call post-time. He was a contemplative, rather stout gentleman, + of excellent digestion; of quiet perceptions, undiseased by hypothesis; + happy in his inability to know the causes of things, preferring the things + themselves. He lived chiefly in the country, among pleasant seats and + homesteads, and was fond of sauntering by the fruit-tree wall and scenting + the apricots when they were warmed by the morning sunshine, or of + sheltering himself under the orchard boughs at noon, when the summer pears + were falling. He knew nothing of weekday services, and thought none the + worse of the Sunday sermon if it allowed him to sleep from the text to the + blessing; liking the afternoon service best, because the prayers were the + shortest, and not ashamed to say so; for he had an easy, jolly conscience, + broad-backed like himself, and able to carry a great deal of beer or + port-wine, not being made squeamish by doubts and qualms and lofty + aspirations. Life was not a task to him, but a sinecure. He fingered the + guineas in his pocket, and ate his dinners, and slept the sleep of the + irresponsible, for had he not kept up his character by going to church on + the Sunday afternoons? + </p> + <p> + Fine old Leisure! Do not be severe upon him, and judge him by our modern + standard. He never went to Exeter Hall, or heard a popular preacher, or + read Tracts for the Times or Sartor Resartus. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0053" id="link2HCH0053"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter LIII + </h2> + <h3> + The Harvest Supper + </h3> + <p> + As Adam was going homeward, on Wednesday evening, in the six o'clock + sunlight, he saw in the distance the last load of barley winding its way + towards the yard-gate of the Hall Farm, and heard the chant of “Harvest + Home!” rising and sinking like a wave. Fainter and fainter, and more + musical through the growing distance, the falling dying sound still + reached him, as he neared the Willow Brook. The low westering sun shone + right on the shoulders of the old Binton Hills, turning the unconscious + sheep into bright spots of light; shone on the windows of the cottage too, + and made them a-flame with a glory beyond that of amber or amethyst. It + was enough to make Adam feel that he was in a great temple, and that the + distant chant was a sacred song. + </p> + <p> + “It's wonderful,” he thought, “how that sound goes to one's heart almost + like a funeral bell, for all it tells one o' the joyfullest time o' the + year, and the time when men are mostly the thankfullest. I suppose it's a + bit hard to us to think anything's over and gone in our lives; and there's + a parting at the root of all our joys. It's like what I feel about Dinah. + I should never ha' come to know that her love 'ud be the greatest o' + blessings to me, if what I counted a blessing hadn't been wrenched and + torn away from me, and left me with a greater need, so as I could crave + and hunger for a greater and a better comfort.” + </p> + <p> + He expected to see Dinah again this evening, and get leave to accompany + her as far as Oakbourne; and then he would ask her to fix some time when + he might go to Snowfield, and learn whether the last best hope that had + been born to him must be resigned like the rest. The work he had to do at + home, besides putting on his best clothes, made it seven before he was on + his way again to the Hall Farm, and it was questionable whether, with his + longest and quickest strides, he should be there in time even for the + roast beef, which came after the plum pudding, for Mrs. Poyser's supper + would be punctual. + </p> + <p> + Great was the clatter of knives and pewter plates and tin cans when Adam + entered the house, but there was no hum of voices to this accompaniment: + the eating of excellent roast beef, provided free of expense, was too + serious a business to those good farm-labourers to be performed with a + divided attention, even if they had had anything to say to each other—which + they had not. And Mr. Poyser, at the head of the table, was too busy with + his carving to listen to Bartle Massey's or Mr. Craig's ready talk. + </p> + <p> + “Here, Adam,” said Mrs. Poyser, who was standing and looking on to see + that Molly and Nancy did their duty as waiters, “here's a place kept for + you between Mr. Massey and the boys. It's a poor tale you couldn't come to + see the pudding when it was whole.” + </p> + <p> + Adam looked anxiously round for a fourth woman's figure, but Dinah was not + there. He was almost afraid of asking about her; besides, his attention + was claimed by greetings, and there remained the hope that Dinah was in + the house, though perhaps disinclined to festivities on the eve of her + departure. + </p> + <p> + It was a goodly sight—that table, with Martin Poyser's round + good-humoured face and large person at the head of it helping his servants + to the fragrant roast beef and pleased when the empty plates came again. + Martin, though usually blest with a good appetite, really forgot to finish + his own beef to-night—it was so pleasant to him to look on in the + intervals of carving and see how the others enjoyed their supper; for were + they not men who, on all the days of the year except Christmas Day and + Sundays, ate their cold dinner, in a makeshift manner, under the + hedgerows, and drank their beer out of wooden bottles—with relish + certainly, but with their mouths towards the zenith, after a fashion more + endurable to ducks than to human bipeds. Martin Poyser had some faint + conception of the flavour such men must find in hot roast beef and + fresh-drawn ale. He held his head on one side and screwed up his mouth, as + he nudged Bartle Massey, and watched half-witted Tom Tholer, otherwise + known as “Tom Saft,” receiving his second plateful of beef. A grin of + delight broke over Tom's face as the plate was set down before him, + between his knife and fork, which he held erect, as if they had been + sacred tapers. But the delight was too strong to continue smouldering in a + grin—it burst out the next instant in a long-drawn “haw, haw!” + followed by a sudden collapse into utter gravity, as the knife and fork + darted down on the prey. Martin Poyser's large person shook with his + silent unctuous laugh. He turned towards Mrs. Poyser to see if she too had + been observant of Tom, and the eyes of husband and wife met in a glance of + good-natured amusement. + </p> + <p> + “Tom Saft” was a great favourite on the farm, where he played the part of + the old jester, and made up for his practical deficiencies by his success + in repartee. His hits, I imagine, were those of the flail, which falls + quite at random, but nevertheless smashes an insect now and then. They + were much quoted at sheep-shearing and haymaking times, but I refrain from + recording them here, lest Tom's wit should prove to be like that of many + other bygone jesters eminent in their day—rather of a temporary + nature, not dealing with the deeper and more lasting relations of things. + </p> + <p> + Tom excepted, Martin Poyser had some pride in his servants and labourers, + thinking with satisfaction that they were the best worth their pay of any + set on the estate. There was Kester Bale, for example (Beale, probably, if + the truth were known, but he was called Bale, and was not conscious of any + claim to a fifth letter), the old man with the close leather cap and the + network of wrinkles on his sun-browned face. Was there any man in + Loamshire who knew better the “natur” of all farming work? He was one of + those invaluable labourers who can not only turn their hand to everything, + but excel in everything they turn their hand to. It is true Kester's knees + were much bent outward by this time, and he walked with a perpetual + curtsy, as if he were among the most reverent of men. And so he was; but I + am obliged to admit that the object of his reverence was his own skill, + towards which he performed some rather affecting acts of worship. He + always thatched the ricks—for if anything were his forte more than + another, it was thatching—and when the last touch had been put to + the last beehive rick, Kester, whose home lay at some distance from the + farm, would take a walk to the rick-yard in his best clothes on a Sunday + morning and stand in the lane, at a due distance, to contemplate his own + thatching, walking about to get each rick from the proper point of view. As + he curtsied along, with his eyes upturned to the straw knobs imitative of + golden globes at the summits of the beehive ricks, which indeed were gold + of the best sort, you might have imagined him to be engaged in some pagan + act of adoration. Kester was an old bachelor and reputed to have stockings + full of coin, concerning which his master cracked a joke with him every + pay-night: not a new unseasoned joke, but a good old one, that had been + tried many times before and had worn well. “Th' young measter's a merry + mon,” Kester frequently remarked; for having begun his career by + frightening away the crows under the last Martin Poyser but one, he could + never cease to account the reigning Martin a young master. I am not + ashamed of commemorating old Kester. You and I are indebted to the hard + hands of such men—hands that have long ago mingled with the soil + they tilled so faithfully, thriftily making the best they could of the + earth's fruits, and receiving the smallest share as their own wages. + </p> + <p> + Then, at the end of the table, opposite his master, there was Alick, the + shepherd and head-man, with the ruddy face and broad shoulders, not on the + best terms with old Kester; indeed, their intercourse was confined to an + occasional snarl, for though they probably differed little concerning + hedging and ditching and the treatment of ewes, there was a profound + difference of opinion between them as to their own respective merits. When + Tityrus and Meliboeus happen to be on the same farm, they are not + sentimentally polite to each other. Alick, indeed, was not by any means a + honeyed man. His speech had usually something of a snarl in it, and his + broad-shouldered aspect something of the bull-dog expression—“Don't + you meddle with me, and I won't meddle with you.” But he was honest even + to the splitting of an oat-grain rather than he would take beyond his + acknowledged share, and as “close-fisted” with his master's property as if + it had been his own—throwing very small handfuls of damaged barley + to the chickens, because a large handful affected his imagination + painfully with a sense of profusion. Good-tempered Tim, the waggoner, who + loved his horses, had his grudge against Alick in the matter of corn. They + rarely spoke to each other, and never looked at each other, even over + their dish of cold potatoes; but then, as this was their usual mode of + behaviour towards all mankind, it would be an unsafe conclusion that they + had more than transient fits of unfriendliness. The bucolic character at + Hayslope, you perceive, was not of that entirely genial, merry, + broad-grinning sort, apparently observed in most districts visited by + artists. The mild radiance of a smile was a rare sight on a + field-labourer's face, and there was seldom any gradation between bovine + gravity and a laugh. Nor was every labourer so honest as our friend Alick. + At this very table, among Mr. Poyser's men, there is that big Ben + Tholoway, a very powerful thresher, but detected more than once in + carrying away his master's corn in his pockets—an action which, as + Ben was not a philosopher, could hardly be ascribed to absence of mind. + However, his master had forgiven him, and continued to employ him, for the + Tholoways had lived on the Common time out of mind, and had always worked + for the Poysers. And on the whole, I daresay, society was not much the + worse because Ben had not six months of it at the treadmill, for his views + of depredation were narrow, and the House of Correction might have + enlarged them. As it was, Ben ate his roast beef to-night with a serene + sense of having stolen nothing more than a few peas and beans as seed for + his garden since the last harvest supper, and felt warranted in thinking + that Alick's suspicious eye, for ever upon him, was an injury to his + innocence. + </p> + <p> + But NOW the roast beef was finished and the cloth was drawn, leaving a + fair large deal table for the bright drinking-cans, and the foaming brown + jugs, and the bright brass candlesticks, pleasant to behold. NOW, the + great ceremony of the evening was to begin—the harvest-song, in + which every man must join. He might be in tune, if he liked to be + singular, but he must not sit with closed lips. The movement was obliged + to be in triple time; the rest was ad libitum. + </p> + <p> + As to the origin of this song—whether it came in its actual state + from the brain of a single rhapsodist, or was gradually perfected by a + school or succession of rhapsodists, I am ignorant. There is a stamp of + unity, of individual genius upon it, which inclines me to the former + hypothesis, though I am not blind to the consideration that this unity may + rather have arisen from that consensus of many minds which was a condition + of primitive thought, foreign to our modern consciousness. Some will + perhaps think that they detect in the first quatrain an indication of a + lost line, which later rhapsodists, failing in imaginative vigour, have + supplied by the feeble device of iteration. Others, however, may rather + maintain that this very iteration is an original felicity, to which none + but the most prosaic minds can be insensible. + </p> + <p> + The ceremony connected with the song was a drinking ceremony. (That is + perhaps a painful fact, but then, you know, we cannot reform our + forefathers.) During the first and second quatrain, sung decidedly forte, + no can was filled. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Here's a health unto our master, + The founder of the feast; + Here's a health unto our master + And to our mistress! + + And may his doings prosper, + Whate'er he takes in hand, + For we are all his servants, + And are at his command. +</pre> + <p> + But now, immediately before the third quatrain or chorus, sung fortissimo, + with emphatic raps of the table, which gave the effect of cymbals and drum + together, Alick's can was filled, and he was bound to empty it before the + chorus ceased. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Then drink, boys, drink! + And see ye do not spill, + For if ye do, ye shall drink two, + For 'tis our master's will. +</pre> + <p> + When Alick had gone successfully through this test of steady-handed + manliness, it was the turn of old Kester, at his right hand—and so + on, till every man had drunk his initiatory pint under the stimulus of the + chorus. Tom Saft—the rogue—took care to spill a little by + accident; but Mrs. Poyser (too officiously, Tom thought) interfered to + prevent the exaction of the penalty. + </p> + <p> + To any listener outside the door it would have been the reverse of obvious + why the “Drink, boys, drink!” should have such an immediate and + often-repeated encore; but once entered, he would have seen that all faces + were at present sober, and most of them serious—it was the regular + and respectable thing for those excellent farm-labourers to do, as much as + for elegant ladies and gentlemen to smirk and bow over their wine-glasses. + Bartle Massey, whose ears were rather sensitive, had gone out to see what + sort of evening it was at an early stage in the ceremony, and had not + finished his contemplation until a silence of five minutes declared that + “Drink, boys, drink!” was not likely to begin again for the next + twelvemonth. Much to the regret of the boys and Totty: on them the + stillness fell rather flat, after that glorious thumping of the table, + towards which Totty, seated on her father's knee, contributed with her + small might and small fist. + </p> + <p> + When Bartle re-entered, however, there appeared to be a general desire for + solo music after the choral. Nancy declared that Tim the waggoner knew a + song and was “allays singing like a lark i' the stable,” whereupon Mr. + Poyser said encouragingly, “Come, Tim, lad, let's hear it.” Tim looked + sheepish, tucked down his head, and said he couldn't sing, but this + encouraging invitation of the master's was echoed all round the table. It + was a conversational opportunity: everybody could say, “Come, Tim,” except + Alick, who never relaxed into the frivolity of unnecessary speech. At + last, Tim's next neighbour, Ben Tholoway, began to give emphasis to his + speech by nudges, at which Tim, growing rather savage, said, “Let me + alooan, will ye? Else I'll ma' ye sing a toon ye wonna like.” A + good-tempered waggoner's patience has limits, and Tim was not to be urged + further. + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, David, ye're the lad to sing,” said Ben, willing to show that + he was not discomfited by this check. “Sing 'My loove's a roos wi'out a + thorn.'” + </p> + <p> + The amatory David was a young man of an unconscious abstracted expression, + which was due probably to a squint of superior intensity rather than to + any mental characteristic; for he was not indifferent to Ben's invitation, + but blushed and laughed and rubbed his sleeve over his mouth in a way that + was regarded as a symptom of yielding. And for some time the company + appeared to be much in earnest about the desire to hear David's song. But + in vain. The lyricism of the evening was in the cellar at present, and was + not to be drawn from that retreat just yet. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the conversation at the head of the table had taken a political + turn. Mr. Craig was not above talking politics occasionally, though he + piqued himself rather on a wise insight than on specific information. He + saw so far beyond the mere facts of a case that really it was superfluous + to know them. + </p> + <p> + “I'm no reader o' the paper myself,” he observed to-night, as he filled + his pipe, “though I might read it fast enough if I liked, for there's Miss + Lyddy has 'em and 's done with 'em i' no time. But there's Mills, now, + sits i' the chimney-corner and reads the paper pretty nigh from morning to + night, and when he's got to th' end on't he's more addle-headed than he + was at the beginning. He's full o' this peace now, as they talk on; he's + been reading and reading, and thinks he's got to the bottom on't. 'Why, + Lor' bless you, Mills,' says I, 'you see no more into this thing nor you + can see into the middle of a potato. I'll tell you what it is: you think + it'll be a fine thing for the country. And I'm not again' it—mark my + words—I'm not again' it. But it's my opinion as there's them at the + head o' this country as are worse enemies to us nor Bony and all the + mounseers he's got at 's back; for as for the mounseers, you may skewer + half-a-dozen of 'em at once as if they war frogs.'” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye,” said Martin Poyser, listening with an air of much intelligence + and edification, “they ne'er ate a bit o' beef i' their lives. Mostly + sallet, I reckon.” + </p> + <p> + “And says I to Mills,” continued Mr. Craig, “'Will you try to make me + believe as furriners like them can do us half th' harm them ministers do + with their bad government? If King George 'ud turn 'em all away and govern + by himself, he'd see everything righted. He might take on Billy Pitt again + if he liked; but I don't see myself what we want wi' anybody besides King + and Parliament. It's that nest o' ministers does the mischief, I tell + you.'” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, it's fine talking,” observed Mrs. Poyser, who was now seated near her + husband, with Totty on her lap—“it's fine talking. It's hard work to + tell which is Old Harry when everybody's got boots on.” + </p> + <p> + “As for this peace,” said Mr. Poyser, turning his head on one side in a + dubitative manner and giving a precautionary puff to his pipe between each + sentence, “I don't know. Th' war's a fine thing for the country, an' + how'll you keep up prices wi'out it? An' them French are a wicked sort o' + folks, by what I can make out. What can you do better nor fight 'em?” + </p> + <p> + “Ye're partly right there, Poyser,” said Mr. Craig, “but I'm not again' + the peace—to make a holiday for a bit. We can break it when we like, + an' I'm in no fear o' Bony, for all they talk so much o' his cliverness. + That's what I says to Mills this morning. Lor' bless you, he sees no more + through Bony!...why, I put him up to more in three minutes than he gets + from's paper all the year round. Says I, 'Am I a gardener as knows his + business, or arn't I, Mills? Answer me that.' 'To be sure y' are, Craig,' + says he—he's not a bad fellow, Mills isn't, for a butler, but weak + i' the head. 'Well,' says I, 'you talk o' Bony's cliverness; would it be + any use my being a first-rate gardener if I'd got nought but a quagmire to + work on?' 'No,' says he. 'Well,' I says, 'that's just what it is wi' Bony. + I'll not deny but he may be a bit cliver—he's no Frenchman born, as + I understand—but what's he got at's back but mounseers?'” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Craig paused a moment with an emphatic stare after this triumphant + specimen of Socratic argument, and then added, thumping the table rather + fiercely, “Why, it's a sure thing—and there's them 'ull bear witness + to't—as i' one regiment where there was one man a-missing, they put + the regimentals on a big monkey, and they fit him as the shell fits the + walnut, and you couldn't tell the monkey from the mounseers!” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Think o' that, now!” said Mr. Poyser, impressed at once with the + political bearings of the fact and with its striking interest as an + anecdote in natural history. + </p> + <p> + “Come, Craig,” said Adam, “that's a little too strong. You don't believe + that. It's all nonsense about the French being such poor sticks. Mr. + Irwine's seen 'em in their own country, and he says they've plenty o' fine + fellows among 'em. And as for knowledge, and contrivances, and + manufactures, there's a many things as we're a fine sight behind 'em in. + It's poor foolishness to run down your enemies. Why, Nelson and the rest + of 'em 'ud have no merit i' beating 'em, if they were such offal as folks + pretend.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Poyser looked doubtfully at Mr. Craig, puzzled by this opposition of + authorities. Mr. Irwine's testimony was not to be disputed; but, on the + other hand, Craig was a knowing fellow, and his view was less startling. + Martin had never “heard tell” of the French being good for much. Mr. Craig + had found no answer but such as was implied in taking a long draught of + ale and then looking down fixedly at the proportions of his own leg, which + he turned a little outward for that purpose, when Bartle Massey returned + from the fireplace, where he had been smoking his first pipe in quiet, and + broke the silence by saying, as he thrust his forefinger into the + canister, “Why, Adam, how happened you not to be at church on Sunday? + Answer me that, you rascal. The anthem went limping without you. Are you + going to disgrace your schoolmaster in his old age?” + </p> + <p> + “No, Mr. Massey,” said Adam. “Mr. and Mrs. Poyser can tell you where I + was. I was in no bad company.” + </p> + <p> + “She's gone, Adam—gone to Snowfield,” said Mr. Poyser, reminded of + Dinah for the first time this evening. “I thought you'd ha' persuaded her + better. Nought 'ud hold her, but she must go yesterday forenoon. The + missis has hardly got over it. I thought she'd ha' no sperrit for th' + harvest supper.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser had thought of Dinah several times since Adam had come in, but + she had had “no heart” to mention the bad news. + </p> + <p> + “What!” said Bartle, with an air of disgust. “Was there a woman concerned? + Then I give you up, Adam.” + </p> + <p> + “But it's a woman you'n spoke well on, Bartle,” said Mr. Poyser. “Come + now, you canna draw back; you said once as women wouldna ha' been a bad + invention if they'd all been like Dinah.” + </p> + <p> + “I meant her voice, man—I meant her voice, that was all,” said + Bartle. “I can bear to hear her speak without wanting to put wool in my + ears. As for other things, I daresay she's like the rest o' the women—thinks + two and two 'll come to make five, if she cries and bothers enough about + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye!” said Mrs. Poyser; “one 'ud think, an' hear some folks talk, as + the men war 'cute enough to count the corns in a bag o' wheat wi' only + smelling at it. They can see through a barn-door, they can. Perhaps that's + the reason THEY can see so little o' this side on't.” + </p> + <p> + Martin Poyser shook with delighted laughter and winked at Adam, as much as + to say the schoolmaster was in for it now. + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” said Bartle sneeringly, “the women are quick enough—they're + quick enough. They know the rights of a story before they hear it, and can + tell a man what his thoughts are before he knows 'em himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Like enough,” said Mrs. Poyser, “for the men are mostly so slow, their + thoughts overrun 'em, an' they can only catch 'em by the tail. I can count + a stocking-top while a man's getting's tongue ready an' when he outs wi' + his speech at last, there's little broth to be made on't. It's your dead + chicks take the longest hatchin'. Howiver, I'm not denyin' the women are + foolish: God Almighty made 'em to match the men.” + </p> + <p> + “Match!” said Bartle. “Aye, as vinegar matches one's teeth. If a man says + a word, his wife 'll match it with a contradiction; if he's a mind for hot + meat, his wife 'll match it with cold bacon; if he laughs, she'll match + him with whimpering. She's such a match as the horse-fly is to th' horse: + she's got the right venom to sting him with—the right venom to sting + him with.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Mrs. Poyser, “I know what the men like—a poor soft, as + 'ud simper at 'em like the picture o' the sun, whether they did right or + wrong, an' say thank you for a kick, an' pretend she didna know which end + she stood uppermost, till her husband told her. That's what a man wants in + a wife, mostly; he wants to make sure o' one fool as 'ull tell him he's + wise. But there's some men can do wi'out that—they think so much o' + themselves a'ready. An' that's how it is there's old bachelors.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, Craig,” said Mr. Poyser jocosely, “you mun get married pretty + quick, else you'll be set down for an old bachelor; an' you see what the + women 'ull think on you.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said Mr. Craig, willing to conciliate Mrs. Poyser and setting a + high value on his own compliments, “I like a cleverish woman—a woman + o' sperrit—a managing woman.” + </p> + <p> + “You're out there, Craig,” said Bartle, dryly; “you're out there. You + judge o' your garden-stuff on a better plan than that. You pick the things + for what they can excel in—for what they can excel in. You don't + value your peas for their roots, or your carrots for their flowers. Now, + that's the way you should choose women. Their cleverness 'll never come to + much—never come to much—but they make excellent simpletons, + ripe and strong-flavoured.” + </p> + <p> + “What dost say to that?” said Mr. Poyser, throwing himself back and + looking merrily at his wife. + </p> + <p> + “Say!” answered Mrs. Poyser, with dangerous fire kindling in her eye. + “Why, I say as some folks' tongues are like the clocks as run on strikin', + not to tell you the time o' the day, but because there's summat wrong i' + their own inside...” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Poyser would probably have brought her rejoinder to a further climax, + if every one's attention had not at this moment been called to the other + end of the table, where the lyricism, which had at first only manifested + itself by David's sotto voce performance of “My love's a rose without a + thorn,” had gradually assumed a rather deafening and complex character. + Tim, thinking slightly of David's vocalization, was impelled to supersede + that feeble buzz by a spirited commencement of “Three Merry Mowers,” but + David was not to be put down so easily, and showed himself capable of a + copious crescendo, which was rendering it doubtful whether the rose would + not predominate over the mowers, when old Kester, with an entirely unmoved + and immovable aspect, suddenly set up a quavering treble—as if he + had been an alarum, and the time was come for him to go off. + </p> + <p> + The company at Alick's end of the table took this form of vocal + entertainment very much as a matter of course, being free from musical + prejudices; but Bartle Massey laid down his pipe and put his fingers in + his ears; and Adam, who had been longing to go ever since he had heard + Dinah was not in the house, rose and said he must bid good-night. + </p> + <p> + “I'll go with you, lad,” said Bartle; “I'll go with you before my ears are + split.” + </p> + <p> + “I'll go round by the Common and see you home, if you like, Mr. Massey,” + said Adam. + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye!” said Bartle; “then we can have a bit o' talk together. I never + get hold of you now.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh! It's a pity but you'd sit it out,” said Martin Poyser. “They'll all + go soon, for th' missis niver lets 'em stay past ten.” + </p> + <p> + But Adam was resolute, so the good-nights were said, and the two friends + turned out on their starlight walk together. + </p> + <p> + “There's that poor fool, Vixen, whimpering for me at home,” said Bartle. + “I can never bring her here with me for fear she should be struck with + Mrs. Poyser's eye, and the poor bitch might go limping for ever after.” + </p> + <p> + “I've never any need to drive Gyp back,” said Adam, laughing. “He always + turns back of his own head when he finds out I'm coming here.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye,” said Bartle. “A terrible woman!—made of needles, made of + needles. But I stick to Martin—I shall always stick to Martin. And + he likes the needles, God help him! He's a cushion made on purpose for + 'em.” + </p> + <p> + “But she's a downright good-natur'd woman, for all that,” said Adam, “and + as true as the daylight. She's a bit cross wi' the dogs when they offer to + come in th' house, but if they depended on her, she'd take care and have + 'em well fed. If her tongue's keen, her heart's tender: I've seen that in + times o' trouble. She's one o' those women as are better than their word.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” said Bartle, “I don't say th' apple isn't sound at the core; + but it sets my teeth on edge—it sets my teeth on edge.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0054" id="link2HCH0054"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter LIV + </h2> + <h3> + The Meeting on the Hill + </h3> + <p> + ADAM understood Dinah's haste to go away, and drew hope rather than + discouragement from it. She was fearful lest the strength of her feeling + towards him should hinder her from waiting and listening faithfully for + the ultimate guiding voice from within. + </p> + <p> + “I wish I'd asked her to write to me, though,” he thought. “And yet even + that might disturb her a bit, perhaps. She wants to be quite quiet in her + old way for a while. And I've no right to be impatient and interrupting + her with my wishes. She's told me what her mind is, and she's not a woman + to say one thing and mean another. I'll wait patiently.” + </p> + <p> + That was Adam's wise resolution, and it throve excellently for the first + two or three weeks on the nourishment it got from the remembrance of + Dinah's confession that Sunday afternoon. There is a wonderful amount of + sustenance in the first few words of love. But towards the middle of + October the resolution began to dwindle perceptibly, and showed dangerous + symptoms of exhaustion. The weeks were unusually long: Dinah must surely + have had more than enough time to make up her mind. Let a woman say what + she will after she has once told a man that she loves him, he is a little + too flushed and exalted with that first draught she offers him to care + much about the taste of the second. He treads the earth with a very + elastic step as he walks away from her, and makes light of all + difficulties. But that sort of glow dies out: memory gets sadly diluted + with time, and is not strong enough to revive us. Adam was no longer so + confident as he had been. He began to fear that perhaps Dinah's old life + would have too strong a grasp upon her for any new feeling to triumph. If + she had not felt this, she would surely have written to him to give him + some comfort; but it appeared that she held it right to discourage him. As + Adam's confidence waned, his patience waned with it, and he thought he + must write himself. He must ask Dinah not to leave him in painful doubt + longer than was needful. He sat up late one night to write her a letter, + but the next morning he burnt it, afraid of its effect. It would be worse + to have a discouraging answer by letter than from her own lips, for her + presence reconciled him to her will. + </p> + <p> + You perceive how it was: Adam was hungering for the sight of Dinah, and + when that sort of hunger reaches a certain stage, a lover is likely to + still it though he may have to put his future in pawn. + </p> + <p> + But what harm could he do by going to Snowfield? Dinah could not be + displeased with him for it. She had not forbidden him to go. She must + surely expect that he would go before long. By the second Sunday in + October this view of the case had become so clear to Adam that he was + already on his way to Snowfield, on horseback this time, for his hours + were precious now, and he had borrowed Jonathan Burge's good nag for the + journey. + </p> + <p> + What keen memories went along the road with him! He had often been to + Oakbourne and back since that first journey to Snowfield, but beyond + Oakbourne the greystone walls, the broken country, the meagre trees, + seemed to be telling him afresh the story of that painful past which he + knew so well by heart. But no story is the same to us after a lapse of + time—or rather, we who read it are no longer the same interpreters—and + Adam this morning brought with him new thoughts through that grey country, + thoughts which gave an altered significance to its story of the past. + </p> + <p> + That is a base and selfish, even a blasphemous, spirit which rejoices and + is thankful over the past evil that has blighted or crushed another, + because it has been made a source of unforeseen good to ourselves. Adam + could never cease to mourn over that mystery of human sorrow which had + been brought so close to him; he could never thank God for another's + misery. And if I were capable of that narrow-sighted joy in Adam's behalf, + I should still know he was not the man to feel it for himself. He would + have shaken his head at such a sentiment and said, “Evil's evil, and + sorrow's sorrow, and you can't alter it's natur by wrapping it up in other + words. Other folks were not created for my sake, that I should think all + square when things turn out well for me.” + </p> + <p> + But it is not ignoble to feel that the fuller life which a sad experience + has brought us is worth our own personal share of pain. Surely it is not + possible to feel otherwise, any more than it would be possible for a man + with cataract to regret the painful process by which his dim blurred sight + of men as trees walking had been exchanged for clear outline and effulgent + day. The growth of higher feeling within us is like the growth of faculty, + bringing with it a sense of added strength. We can no more wish to return + to a narrower sympathy than a painter or a musician can wish to return to + his cruder manner, or a philosopher to his less complete formula. + </p> + <p> + Something like this sense of enlarged being was in Adam's mind this Sunday + morning, as he rode along in vivid recollection of the past. His feeling + towards Dinah, the hope of passing his life with her, had been the distant + unseen point towards which that hard journey from Snowfield eighteen + months ago had been leading him. Tender and deep as his love for Hetty had + been—so deep that the roots of it would never be torn away—his + love for Dinah was better and more precious to him, for it was the + outgrowth of that fuller life which had come to him from his acquaintance + with deep sorrow. “It's like as if it was a new strength to me,” he said + to himself, “to love her and know as she loves me. I shall look t' her to + help me to see things right. For she's better than I am—there's less + o' self in her, and pride. And it's a feeling as gives you a sort o' + liberty, as if you could walk more fearless, when you've more trust in + another than y' have in yourself. I've always been thinking I knew better + than them as belonged to me, and that's a poor sort o' life, when you + can't look to them nearest to you t' help you with a bit better thought + than what you've got inside you a'ready.” + </p> + <p> + It was more than two o'clock in the afternoon when Adam came in sight of + the grey town on the hill-side and looked searchingly towards the green + valley below, for the first glimpse of the old thatched roof near the ugly + red mill. The scene looked less harsh in the soft October sunshine than it + had in the eager time of early spring, and the one grand charm it + possessed in common with all wide-stretching woodless regions—that + it filled you with a new consciousness of the overarching sky—had a + milder, more soothing influence than usual, on this almost cloudless day. + Adam's doubts and fears melted under this influence as the delicate + weblike clouds had gradually melted away into the clear blue above him. He + seemed to see Dinah's gentle face assuring him, with its looks alone, of + all he longed to know. + </p> + <p> + He did not expect Dinah to be at home at this hour, but he got down from + his horse and tied it at the little gate, that he might ask where she was + gone to-day. He had set his mind on following her and bringing her home. + She was gone to Sloman's End, a hamlet about three miles off, over the + hill, the old woman told him—had set off directly after morning + chapel, to preach in a cottage there, as her habit was. Anybody at the + town would tell him the way to Sloman's End. So Adam got on his horse + again and rode to the town, putting up at the old inn and taking a hasty + dinner there in the company of the too chatty landlord, from whose + friendly questions and reminiscences he was glad to escape as soon as + possible and set out towards Sloman's End. With all his haste it was + nearly four o'clock before he could set off, and he thought that as Dinah + had gone so early, she would perhaps already be near returning. The + little, grey, desolate-looking hamlet, unscreened by sheltering trees, lay + in sight long before he reached it, and as he came near he could hear the + sound of voices singing a hymn. “Perhaps that's the last hymn before they + come away,” Adam thought. “I'll walk back a bit and turn again to meet + her, farther off the village.” He walked back till he got nearly to the + top of the hill again, and seated himself on a loose stone, against the + low wall, to watch till he should see the little black figure leaving the + hamlet and winding up the hill. He chose this spot, almost at the top of + the hill, because it was away from all eyes—no house, no cattle, not + even a nibbling sheep near—no presence but the still lights and + shadows and the great embracing sky. + </p> + <p> + She was much longer coming than he expected. He waited an hour at least + watching for her and thinking of her, while the afternoon shadows + lengthened and the light grew softer. At last he saw the little black + figure coming from between the grey houses and gradually approaching the + foot of the hill. Slowly, Adam thought, but Dinah was really walking at + her usual pace, with a light quiet step. Now she was beginning to wind + along the path up the hill, but Adam would not move yet; he would not meet + her too soon; he had set his heart on meeting her in this assured + loneliness. And now he began to fear lest he should startle her too much. + “Yet,” he thought, “she's not one to be overstartled; she's always so calm + and quiet, as if she was prepared for anything.” + </p> + <p> + What was she thinking of as she wound up the hill? Perhaps she had found + complete repose without him, and had ceased to feel any need of his love. + On the verge of a decision we all tremble: hope pauses with fluttering + wings. + </p> + <p> + But now at last she was very near, and Adam rose from the stone wall. It + happened that just as he walked forward, Dinah had paused and turned round + to look back at the village—who does not pause and look back in + mounting a hill? Adam was glad, for, with the fine instinct of a lover, he + felt that it would be best for her to hear his voice before she saw him. + He came within three paces of her and then said, “Dinah!” She started + without looking round, as if she connected the sound with no place. + “Dinah!” Adam said again. He knew quite well what was in her mind. She was + so accustomed to think of impressions as purely spiritual monitions that + she looked for no material visible accompaniment of the voice. + </p> + <p> + But this second time she looked round. What a look of yearning love it was + that the mild grey eyes turned on the strong dark-eyed man! She did not + start again at the sight of him; she said nothing, but moved towards him + so that his arm could clasp her round. + </p> + <p> + And they walked on so in silence, while the warm tears fell. Adam was + content, and said nothing. It was Dinah who spoke first. + </p> + <p> + “Adam,” she said, “it is the Divine Will. My soul is so knit to yours that + it is but a divided life I live without you. And this moment, now you are + with me, and I feel that our hearts are filled with the same love. I have + a fulness of strength to bear and do our heavenly Father's Will that I had + lost before.” + </p> + <p> + Adam paused and looked into her sincere eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Then we'll never part any more, Dinah, till death parts us.” + </p> + <p> + And they kissed each other with a deep joy. + </p> + <p> + What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are + joined for life—to strengthen each other in all labour, to rest on + each other in all sorrow, to minister to each other in all pain, to be one + with each other in silent unspeakable memories at the moment of the last + parting? + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0055" id="link2HCH0055"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter LV + </h2> + <h3> + Marriage Bells + </h3> + <p> + IN little more than a month after that meeting on the hill—on a rimy + morning in departing November—Adam and Dinah were married. + </p> + <p> + It was an event much thought of in the village. All Mr. Burge's men had a + holiday, and all Mr. Poyser's, and most of those who had a holiday + appeared in their best clothes at the wedding. I think there was hardly an + inhabitant of Hayslope specially mentioned in this history and still + resident in the parish on this November morning who was not either in + church to see Adam and Dinah married, or near the church door to greet + them as they came forth. Mrs. Irwine and her daughters were waiting at the + churchyard gates in their carriage (for they had a carriage now) to shake + hands with the bride and bridegroom and wish them well; and in the absence + of Miss Lydia Donnithorne at Bath, Mrs. Best, Mr. Mills, and Mr. Craig had + felt it incumbent on them to represent “the family” at the Chase on the + occasion. The churchyard walk was quite lined with familiar faces, many of + them faces that had first looked at Dinah when she preached on the Green. + And no wonder they showed this eager interest on her marriage morning, for + nothing like Dinah and the history which had brought her and Adam Bede + together had been known at Hayslope within the memory of man. + </p> + <p> + Bessy Cranage, in her neatest cap and frock, was crying, though she did + not exactly know why; for, as her cousin Wiry Ben, who stood near her, + judiciously suggested, Dinah was not going away, and if Bessy was in low + spirits, the best thing for her to do was to follow Dinah's example and + marry an honest fellow who was ready to have her. Next to Bessy, just + within the church door, there were the Poyser children, peeping round the + corner of the pews to get a sight of the mysterious ceremony; Totty's face + wearing an unusual air of anxiety at the idea of seeing cousin Dinah come + back looking rather old, for in Totty's experience no married people were + young. + </p> + <p> + I envy them all the sight they had when the marriage was fairly ended and + Adam led Dinah out of church. She was not in black this morning, for her + Aunt Poyser would by no means allow such a risk of incurring bad luck, and + had herself made a present of the wedding dress, made all of grey, though + in the usual Quaker form, for on this point Dinah could not give way. So + the lily face looked out with sweet gravity from under a grey Quaker + bonnet, neither smiling nor blushing, but with lips trembling a little + under the weight of solemn feelings. Adam, as he pressed her arm to his + side, walked with his old erectness and his head thrown rather backward as + if to face all the world better. But it was not because he was + particularly proud this morning, as is the wont of bridegrooms, for his + happiness was of a kind that had little reference to men's opinion of it. + There was a tinge of sadness in his deep joy; Dinah knew it, and did not + feel aggrieved. + </p> + <p> + There were three other couples, following the bride and bridegroom: first, + Martin Poyser, looking as cheery as a bright fire on this rimy morning, + led quiet Mary Burge, the bridesmaid; then came Seth serenely happy, with + Mrs. Poyser on his arm; and last of all Bartle Massey, with Lisbeth—Lisbeth + in a new gown and bonnet, too busy with her pride in her son and her + delight in possessing the one daughter she had desired to devise a single + pretext for complaint. + </p> + <p> + Bartle Massey had consented to attend the wedding at Adam's earnest + request, under protest against marriage in general and the marriage of a + sensible man in particular. Nevertheless, Mr. Poyser had a joke against + him after the wedding dinner, to the effect that in the vestry he had + given the bride one more kiss than was necessary. + </p> + <p> + Behind this last couple came Mr. Irwine, glad at heart over this good + morning's work of joining Adam and Dinah. For he had seen Adam in the + worst moments of his sorrow; and what better harvest from that painful + seed-time could there be than this? The love that had brought hope and + comfort in the hour of despair, the love that had found its way to the + dark prison cell and to poor Hetty's darker soul—this strong gentle + love was to be Adam's companion and helper till death. + </p> + <p> + There was much shaking of hands mingled with “God bless you's” and other + good wishes to the four couples, at the churchyard gate, Mr. Poyser + answering for the rest with unwonted vivacity of tongue, for he had all + the appropriate wedding-day jokes at his command. And the women, he + observed, could never do anything but put finger in eye at a wedding. Even + Mrs. Poyser could not trust herself to speak as the neighbours shook hands + with her, and Lisbeth began to cry in the face of the very first person + who told her she was getting young again. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Joshua Rann, having a slight touch of rheumatism, did not join in the + ringing of the bells this morning, and, looking on with some contempt at + these informal greetings which required no official co-operation from the + clerk, began to hum in his musical bass, “Oh what a joyful thing it is,” + by way of preluding a little to the effect he intended to produce in the + wedding psalm next Sunday. + </p> + <p> + “That's a bit of good news to cheer Arthur,” said Mr. Irwine to his + mother, as they drove off. “I shall write to him the first thing when we + get home.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_EPIL" id="link2H_EPIL"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Epilogue + </h2> + <p> + IT is near the end of June, in 1807. The workshops have been shut up half + an hour or more in Adam Bede's timber-yard, which used to be Jonathan + Burge's, and the mellow evening light is falling on the pleasant house + with the buff walls and the soft grey thatch, very much as it did when we + saw Adam bringing in the keys on that June evening nine years ago. + </p> + <p> + There is a figure we know well, just come out of the house, and shading + her eyes with her hands as she looks for something in the distance, for + the rays that fall on her white borderless cap and her pale auburn hair + are very dazzling. But now she turns away from the sunlight and looks + towards the door. + </p> + <p> + We can see the sweet pale face quite well now: it is scarcely at all + altered—only a little fuller, to correspond to her more matronly + figure, which still seems light and active enough in the plain black + dress. + </p> + <p> + “I see him, Seth,” Dinah said, as she looked into the house. “Let us go + and meet him. Come, Lisbeth, come with Mother.” + </p> + <p> + The last call was answered immediately by a small fair creature with pale + auburn hair and grey eyes, little more than four years old, who ran out + silently and put her hand into her mother's. + </p> + <p> + “Come, Uncle Seth,” said Dinah. + </p> + <p> + “Aye, aye, we're coming,” Seth answered from within, and presently + appeared stooping under the doorway, being taller than usual by the black + head of a sturdy two-year-old nephew, who had caused some delay by + demanding to be carried on uncle's shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “Better take him on thy arm, Seth,” said Dinah, looking fondly at the + stout black-eyed fellow. “He's troublesome to thee so.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay: Addy likes a ride on my shoulder. I can carry him so for a + bit.” A kindness which young Addy acknowledged by drumming his heels with + promising force against Uncle Seth's chest. But to walk by Dinah's side, + and be tyrannized over by Dinah's and Adam's children, was Uncle Seth's + earthly happiness. + </p> + <p> + “Where didst see him?” asked Seth, as they walked on into the adjoining + field. “I can't catch sight of him anywhere.” + </p> + <p> + “Between the hedges by the roadside,” said Dinah. “I saw his hat and his + shoulder. There he is again.” + </p> + <p> + “Trust thee for catching sight of him if he's anywhere to be seen,” said + Seth, smiling. “Thee't like poor mother used to be. She was always on the + look out for Adam, and could see him sooner than other folks, for all her + eyes got dim.” + </p> + <p> + “He's been longer than he expected,” said Dinah, taking Arthur's watch + from a small side pocket and looking at it; “it's nigh upon seven now.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, they'd have a deal to say to one another,” said Seth, “and the + meeting 'ud touch 'em both pretty closish. Why, it's getting on towards + eight years since they parted.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” said Dinah, “Adam was greatly moved this morning at the thought of + the change he should see in the poor young man, from the sickness he has + undergone, as well as the years which have changed us all. And the death + of the poor wanderer, when she was coming back to us, has been sorrow upon + sorrow.” + </p> + <p> + “See, Addy,” said Seth, lowering the young one to his arm now and + pointing, “there's Father coming—at the far stile.” + </p> + <p> + Dinah hastened her steps, and little Lisbeth ran on at her utmost speed + till she clasped her father's leg. Adam patted her head and lifted her up + to kiss her, but Dinah could see the marks of agitation on his face as she + approached him, and he put her arm within his in silence. + </p> + <p> + “Well, youngster, must I take you?” he said, trying to smile, when Addy + stretched out his arms—ready, with the usual baseness of infancy, to + give up his Uncle Seth at once, now there was some rarer patronage at + hand. + </p> + <p> + “It's cut me a good deal, Dinah,” Adam said at last, when they were + walking on. + </p> + <p> + “Didst find him greatly altered?” said Dinah. + </p> + <p> + “Why, he's altered and yet not altered. I should ha' known him anywhere. + But his colour's changed, and he looks sadly. However, the doctors say + he'll soon be set right in his own country air. He's all sound in th' + inside; it's only the fever shattered him so. But he speaks just the same, + and smiles at me just as he did when he was a lad. It's wonderful how he's + always had just the same sort o' look when he smiles.” + </p> + <p> + “I've never seen him smile, poor young man,” said Dinah. + </p> + <p> + “But thee wilt see him smile, to-morrow,” said Adam. “He asked after thee + the first thing when he began to come round, and we could talk to one + another. 'I hope she isn't altered,' he said, 'I remember her face so + well.' I told him 'no,'” Adam continued, looking fondly at the eyes that + were turned towards his, “only a bit plumper, as thee'dst a right to be + after seven year. 'I may come and see her to-morrow, mayn't I?' he said; + 'I long to tell her how I've thought of her all these years.'” + </p> + <p> + “Didst tell him I'd always used the watch?” said Dinah. + </p> + <p> + “Aye; and we talked a deal about thee, for he says he never saw a woman a + bit like thee. 'I shall turn Methodist some day,' he said, 'when she + preaches out of doors, and go to hear her.' And I said, 'Nay, sir, you + can't do that, for Conference has forbid the women preaching, and she's + given it up, all but talking to the people a bit in their houses.'” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said Seth, who could not repress a comment on this point, “and a + sore pity it was o' Conference; and if Dinah had seen as I did, we'd ha' + left the Wesleyans and joined a body that 'ud put no bonds on Christian + liberty.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, lad, nay,” said Adam, “she was right and thee wast wrong. There's no + rules so wise but what it's a pity for somebody or other. Most o' the + women do more harm nor good with their preaching—they've not got + Dinah's gift nor her sperrit—and she's seen that, and she thought it + right to set th' example o' submitting, for she's not held from other + sorts o' teaching. And I agree with her, and approve o' what she did.” + </p> + <p> + Seth was silent. This was a standing subject of difference rarely alluded + to, and Dinah, wishing to quit it at once, said, “Didst remember, Adam, to + speak to Colonel Donnithorne the words my uncle and aunt entrusted to + thee?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, and he's going to the Hall Farm with Mr. Irwine the day after + to-morrow. Mr. Irwine came in while we were talking about it, and he would + have it as the Colonel must see nobody but thee to-morrow. He said—and + he's in the right of it—as it'll be bad for him t' have his feelings + stirred with seeing many people one after another. 'We must get you strong + and hearty,' he said, 'that's the first thing to be done Arthur, and then + you shall have your own way. But I shall keep you under your old tutor's + thumb till then.' Mr. Irwine's fine and joyful at having him home again.” + </p> + <p> + Adam was silent a little while, and then said, “It was very cutting when + we first saw one another. He'd never heard about poor Hetty till Mr. + Irwine met him in London, for the letters missed him on his journey. The + first thing he said to me, when we'd got hold o' one another's hands was, + 'I could never do anything for her, Adam—she lived long enough for + all the suffering—and I'd thought so of the time when I might do + something for her. But you told me the truth when you said to me once, + “There's a sort of wrong that can never be made up for.”'” + </p> + <p> + “Why, there's Mr. and Mrs. Poyser coming in at the yard gate,” said Seth. + </p> + <p> + “So there is,” said Dinah. “Run, Lisbeth, run to meet Aunt Poyser. Come + in, Adam, and rest; it has been a hard day for thee.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0063" id="link2H_4_0063"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <big><b>SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY</b></big> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Other Works by George Eliot + +Scenes of Clerical Life 1857 Stories +Adam Bede 1859 Novel +The Mill on the Floss 1860 Novel +Silas Marner 1861 Novel +Romola 1863 Novel +Felix Holt the Radical 1866 Novel +How Lisa Loved the King 1867 Poems +The Spanish Gypsy 1868 Poem +Middlemarch 1872 Novel +The Legend of Jubal 1874 Poem +Daniel Deronda 1876 Novel +Impressions of Theophrastus Such 1879 Essays +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Adam Bede, by George Eliot + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADAM BEDE *** + +***** This file should be named 507-h.htm or 507-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/507/ + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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