adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第130章
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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。
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
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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。
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Chapter XXXIV
The Betrothal
t was a dry Sunday； and really a pleasant day for the 2d of
November。 There was no sunshine； but the clouds were high；
Iand 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。”
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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。”
“What’s that？” Hetty said indifferently。
“Why； Mr。 Burge has offered me a share in his business； and
I’m going to take it。”
There was a change in Hetty’s face； certainly not produced by
any agreeable impression from this news。 In fact she felt a
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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
sa
