adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第131章
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trembling joy。 He leaned towards her and took her hand； as he
said：
“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。”
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。
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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。
“Do you really love me； Hetty？ Will you be my own wife； to love
and take care of as long as I live？”
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。
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。”
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。
“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。”
“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’ve 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？”
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
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Adam Bede 473
usual facility。 At first she only nodded emphatically； but she was
presently unable to resist the temptation to be more explicit。
“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。”
“Come； my wench；” said Mr。 Poyser； when Hetty came down；
“come and kiss us； and let us wish you luck。”
Hetty went very quietly and kissed the big good…natured man。
“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。”
Hetty turned away； smiling； towards her empty chair。
“Come； Adam； then； take one；” persisted Mr。 Poyser； “else y’
arena half a man。”
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。
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。
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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。
“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。”
“Aye； to be sure；” said Mrs。 Poyser； in a hoarse whisper；
“Christian folks can’t be married like cuckoos； I reckon。”
“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。”
“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。
“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。”
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Chapter XXXV
The Hidden Dread
t was a busy time for Adam—the time between the beginning
of November and the beginning of February； and he could see
I
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
