adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第159章
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Adam Bede 576
other under the sun。 He felt himself riding over the hills in the
breezy autumn days； looking after favourite plans of drainage and
enclosure； then admired on sombre mornings as the best rider on
the best horse in the hunt； spoken well of on market…days as a
first…rate landlord； by and by making speeches at election dinners；
and showing a wonderful knowledge of agriculture； the patron of
new ploughs and drills； the severe upbraider of negligent
landowners； and withal a jolly fellow that everybody must like—
happy faces greeting him everywhere on his own estate； and the
neighbouring families on the best terms with him。 The Irwines
should dine with him every week； and have their own carriage to
come in； for in some very delicate way that Arthur would devise；
the lay…impropriator of the Hayslope tithes would insist on paying
a couple of hundreds more to the vicar； and his aunt should be as
comfortable as possible； and go on living at the Chase； if she liked；
in spite of her old…maidish ways—at least until he was married；
and that event lay in the indistinct background； for Arthur had not
yet seen the woman who would play the lady…wife to the first…rate
country gentleman。
These were Arthur’s chief thoughts； so far as a man’s thoughts
through hours of travelling can be compressed into a few
sentences； which are only like the list of names telling you what
are the scenes in a long； long panorama full of colour； of detail；
and of life。 The happy faces Arthur saw greeting him were not pale
abstractions； but real ruddy faces； long familiar to him： Martin
Poyser was there—the whole Poyser family。
What—Hetty？
Yes； for Arthur was at ease about Hetty—not quite at ease
about the past； for a certain burning of the ears would come
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Adam Bede 577
whenever he thought of the scenes with Adam last August； but at
ease about her present lot。 Mr。 Irwine； who had been a regular
correspondent； telling him all the news about the old places and
people； had sent him word nearly three months ago that Adam
Bede was not to marry Mary Burge； as he had thought； but pretty
Hetty Sorrel。 Martin Poyser and Adam himself had both told Mr。
Irwine all about it—that Adam had been deeply in love with Hetty
these two years； and that now it was agreed they were to be
married in March。 That stalwart rogue Adam was more
susceptible than the rector had thought； it was really quite an
idyllic love affair； and if it had not been too long to tell in a letter；
he would have liked to describe to Arthur the blushing looks and
the simple strong words with which the fine honest fellow told his
secret。 He knew Arthur would like to hear that Adam had this sort
of happiness in prospect。
Yes； indeed！ Arthur felt there was not air enough in the room to
satisfy his renovated life； when he had read that passage in the
letter。 He threw up the windows； he rushed out of doors into the
December air； and greeted every one who spoke to him with an
eager gaiety； as if there had been news of a fresh Nelson victory。
For the first time that day since he had come to Windsor； he was in
true boyish spirits。 The load that had been pressing upon him was
gone； the haunting fear had vanished。 He thought he could
conquer his bitterness towards Adam now—could offer him his
hand； and ask to be his friend again； in spite of that painful
memory which would still make his ears burn。 He had been
knocked down； and he had been forced to tell a lie： such things
make a scar； do what we will。 But if Adam were the same again as
in the old days； Arthur wished to be the same too； and to have
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Adam Bede 578
Adam mixed up with his business and his future； as he had always
desired before the accursed meeting in August。 Nay； he would do
a great deal more for Adam than he should otherwise have done；
when he came into the estate； Hetty’s husband had a special claim
on him—Hetty herself should feel that any pain she had suffered
through Arthur in the past was compensated to her a hundredfold。
For really she could not have felt much； since she had so soon
made up her mind to marry Adam。
You perceive clearly what sort of picture Adam and Hetty made
in the panorama of Arthur’s thoughts on his journey homeward。 It
was March now； they were soon to be married： perhaps they were
already married。 And now it was actually in his power to do a great
deal for them。 Sweet—sweet little Hetty！ The little puss hadn’t
cared for him half as much as he cared for her； for he was a great
fool about her still—was almost afraid of seeing her—indeed； had
not cared much to look at any other woman since he parted from
her。 That little figure coming towards him in the Grove； those
dark…fringed childish eyes； the lovely lips put up to kiss him—that
picture had got no fainter with the lapse of months。 And she would
look just the same。 It was impossible to think how he could meet
her： he should certainly tremble。 Strange； how long this sort of
influence lasts； for he was certainly not in love with Hetty now。 He
had been earnestly desiring； for months； that she should marry
Adam； and there was nothing that contributed more to his
happiness in these moments than the thought of their marriage。 It
was the exaggerating effect of imagination that made his heart still
beat a little more quickly at the thought of her。 When he saw the
little thing again as she really was； as Adam’s wife； at work quite
prosaically in her new home； he should perhaps wonder at the
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Adam Bede 579
possibility of his past feelings。 Thank heaven it had turned out so
well！ He should have plenty of affairs and interests to fill his life
now； and not be in danger of playing the fool again。
Pleasant the crack of the postboy’s whip！ Pleasant the sense of
being hurried along in swift ease through English scenes； so like
those round his own home； only not quite so charming。 Here was a
market…town—very much like Treddleston—where the arms of the
neighbouring lord of the manor were borne on the sign of the
principal inn； then mere fields and hedges； their vicinity to a
market…town carrying an agreeable suggestion of high rent； till the
land began to assume a trimmer look； the woods were more
frequent； and at length a white or red mansion looked down from
a moderate eminence； or allowed him to be aware of its parapet
and chimneys among the dense…looking ma
