adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第38章
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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。
Dinah took her hand now and drew it under her own arm。
“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
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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。”
She paused a moment； but Hetty said nothing。
“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？”
“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。
The still twilight； with its dying western red and its few faint
struggling stars； rested on the farm…yard； where there was not a
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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。
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
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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。
“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。”
“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。”
“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
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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。”
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。
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。
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。
“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 en
