adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第158章
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could see down it and see the child’s head； and I made haste and
did away the turf and the choppings； and took out the child。 It had
got comfortable clothes on； but its body was cold； and I thought it
must be dead。 I made haste back with it out of the wood； and took
it home to my wife。 She said it was dead； and I’d better take it to
the parish and tell the constable。 And I said； ‘I’ll lay my life it’s that
young woman’s child as I met going to the coppice。’ But she
seemed to be gone clean out of sight。 And I took the child on to
Hetton parish and told the constable； and we went on to Justice
Hardy。 And then we went looking after the young woman till dark
at night； and we went and gave information at Stoniton； as they
might stop her。 And the next morning； another constable came to
me； to go with him to the spot where I found the child。 And when
we got there； there was the prisoner a…sitting against the bush
where I found the child； and she cried out when she saw us； but
she never offered to move。 She’d got a big piece of bread on her
lap。”
Adam had given a faint groan of despair while this witness was
speaking。 He had hidden his face on his arm； which rested on the
boarding in front of him。 It was the supreme moment of his
suffering： Hetty was guilty； and he was silently calling to God for
help。 He heard no more of the evidence； and was unconscious
when the case for the prosecution had closed—unconscious that
Mr。 Irwine was in the witness…box； telling of Hetty’s unblemished
character in her own parish and of the virtuous habits in which
she had been brought up。 This testimony could have no influence
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on the verdict； but it was given as part of that plea for mercy which
her own counsel would have made if he had been allowed to speak
for her—a favour not granted to criminals in those stern times。
At last Adam lifted up his head； for there was a general
movement round him。 The judge had addressed the jury； and they
were retiring。 The decisive moment was not far off Adam felt a
shuddering horror that would not let him look at Hetty； but she
had long relapsed into her blank hard indifference。 All eyes were
strained to look at her； but she stood like a statue of dull despair。
There was a mingled rustling； whispering； and low buzzing
throughout the court during this interval。 The desire to listen was
suspended； and every one had some feeling or opinion to express
in undertones。 Adam sat looking blankly before him； but he did
not see the objects that were right in front of his eyes—the counsel
and attorneys talking with an air of cool business； and Mr。 Irwine
in low earnest conversation with the judge—did not see Mr。 Irwine
sit down again in agitation and shake his head mournfully when
somebody whispered to him。 The inward action was too intense
for Adam to take in outward objects until some strong sensation
roused him。
It was not very long； hardly more than a quarter of an hour；
before the knock which told that the jury had come to their
decision fell as a signal for silence on every ear。 It is sublime—that
sudden pause of a great multitude which tells that one soul moves
in them all。 Deeper and deeper the silence seemed to become； like
the deepening night； while the jurymen’s names were called over；
and the prisoner was made to hold up her hand； and the jury were
asked for their verdict。
“Guilty。”
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It was the verdict every one expected； but there was a sigh of
disappointment from some hearts that it was followed by no
recommendation to mercy。 Still the sympathy of the court was not
with the prisoner。 The unnaturalness of her crime stood out the
more harshly by the side of her hard immovability and obstinate
silence。 Even the verdict； to distant eyes； had not appeared to
move her； but those who were near saw her trembling。
The stillness was less intense until the judge put on his black
cap； and the chaplain in his canonicals was observed behind him。
Then it deepened again； before the crier had had time to
command silence。 If any sound were heard； it must have been the
sound of beating hearts。 The judge spoke；
“Hester Sorrel 。 。 。”
The blood rushed to Hetty’s face； and then fled back again as
she looked up at the judge and kept her wide…open eyes fixed on
him； as if fascinated by fear。 Adam had not yet turned towards her；
there was a deep horror； like a great gulf； between them。 But at
the words “and then to be hanged by the neck till you be dead；” a
piercing shriek rang through the hall。 It was Hetty’s shriek。 Adam
started to his feet and stretched out his arms towards her。 But the
arms could not reach her： she had fallen down in a fainting fit； and
was carried out of court。
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Chapter XLIV
Arthur’s Return
hen Arthur Donnithorne landed at Liverpool and read
Wthe letter from his Aunt Lydia； briefly announcing his
grandfather’s death； his first feeling was； “Poor
Grandfather！ I wish I could have got to him to be with him when
he died。 He might have felt or wished something at the last that I
shall never know now。 It was a lonely death。”
It is impossible to say that his grief was deeper than that。 Pity
and softened memory took place of the old antagonism； and in his
busy thoughts about the future； as the chaise carried him rapidly
along towards the home where he was now to be master； there was
a continually recurring effort to remember anything by which he
could show a regard for his grandfather’s wishes； without
counteracting his own cherished aims for the good of the tenants
and the estate。 But it is not in human nature—only in human
pretence—for a young man like Arthur； with a fine constitution
and fine spirits； thinking well of himself； believing that others
think well of him； and having a very ardent intention to give them
more and more reason for that good opinion—it is not possible for
such a young man； just coming into a splendid estate through the
death of a very old man whom he was not fond of； to feel anything
very different from exultant joy。 Now his real life was beginning；
now he would have room and opportunity for action； and he would
use them。 He would show the Loamshire people what a fine
country gentleman was； he would not exchange that career for any
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other unde
