adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第55章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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。
“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？”
“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。”
“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
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 270…
Adam Bede 270
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。”
“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。”
“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
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 271…
Adam Bede 271
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。”
“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。”
“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。”
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。”
So Adam and Seth； with their mother between them； wound
their way down to the valley and up again to the old house； where
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 272…
Adam Bede 272
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？”
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。
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 273…
Adam Bede 273
Chapter XIX
Adam on a Working Day
otwithstanding Mr。 Craig’s prophecy； the dark…blue cloud
Ndispersed 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。”
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。
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
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 274…
Adam Bede 274
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 ri
