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第108章

adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第108章

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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 



George Eliot                                                             ElecBook Classics 


… Page 388…

                                    Adam Bede                                       388 



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。 

    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。 

    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 



George Eliot                                                          ElecBook Classics 


… Page 389…

                                    Adam Bede                                       389 



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。 

    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。 

    Arthur Donnithorne looked flushed and excited; he had tried to 

make unpleasant feelings more bearable by drinking a little more 



George Eliot                                                          ElecBook Classics 


… Page 390…

                                    Adam Bede                                       390 



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。 

    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。 

    “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。” 



George Eliot                                                          ElecBook Classics 


… Page 391…

                                   Adam Bede                                     391 



   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 m

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