adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第167章
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Dinah says I should forgive him 。 。 。 and I try 。 。 。 for else God won’t
forgive me。”
There was a noise at the door of the cell now—the key was
being turned in the lock； and when the door opened； Adam saw
indistinctly that there were several faces there。 He was too
agitated to see more—even to see that Mr。 Irwine’s face was one of
them。 He felt that the last preparations were beginning； and he
could stay no longer。 Room was silently made for him to depart；
and he went to his chamber in loneliness； leaving Bartle Massey to
watch and see the end。
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Chapter XLVII
The Last Moment
t was a sight that some people remembered better even than
their own sorrows—the sight in that grey clear morning； when
I
the fatal cart with the two young women in it was descried by
the waiting watching multitude； cleaving its way towards the
hideous symbol of a deliberately inflicted sudden death。
All Stoniton had heard of Dinah Morris； the young Methodist
woman who had brought the obstinate criminal to confess； and
there was as much eagerness to see her as to see the wretched
Hetty。
But Dinah was hardly conscious of the multitude。 When Hetty
had caught sight of the vast crowd in the distance； she had
clutched Dinah convulsively。
“Close your eyes； Hetty；” Dinah said； “and let us pray without
ceasing to God。”
And in a low voice； as the cart went slowly along through the
midst of the gazing crowd； she poured forth her soul with the
wrestling intensity of a last pleading； for the trembling creature
that clung to her and clutched her as the only visible sign of love
and pity。
Dinah did not know that the crowd was silent； gazing at her
with a sort of awe—she did not even know how near they were to
the fatal spot； when the cart stopped； and she shrank appalled at a
loud shout hideous to her ear； like a vast yell of demons。 Hetty’s
shriek mingled with the sound； and they clasped each other in
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mutual horror。
But it was not a shout of execration—not a yell of exultant
cruelty。
It was a shout of sudden excitement at the appearance of a
horseman cleaving the crowd at full gallop。 The horse is hot and
distressed； but answers to the desperate spurring； the rider looks
as if his eyes were glazed by madness； and he saw nothing but
what was unseen by others。 See； he has something in his hand—he
is holding it up as if it were a signal。
The Sheriff knows him： it is Arthur Donnithorne； carrying in
his hand a hard…won release from death。
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Chapter XLVIII
Another Meeting in the Wood
he next day； at evening； two men were walking from
opposite points towards the same scene； drawn thither by
T
a common memory。 The scene was the Grove by
Donnithorne Chase： you know who the men were。
The old squire’s funeral had taken place that morning； the will
had been read； and now in the first breathing…space； Arthur
Donnithorne had come out for a lonely walk； that he might look
fixedly at the new future before him and confirm himself in a sad
resolution。 He thought he could do that best in the Grove。
Adam too had come from Stoniton on Monday evening； and to…
day he had not left home； except to go to the family at the Hall
Farm and tell them everything that Mr。 Irwine had left untold。 He
had agreed with the Poysers that he would follow them to their
new neighbourhood； wherever that might be； for he meant to give
up the management of the woods； and； as soon as it was
practicable； he would wind up his business with Jonathan Burge
and settle with his mother and Seth in a home within reach of the
friends to whom he felt bound by a mutual sorrow。
“Seth and me are sure to find work；” he said。 “A man that’s got
our trade at his finger…ends is at home everywhere； and we must
make a new start。 My mother won’t stand in the way； for she’s told
me； since I came home； she’d made up her mind to being buried in
another parish； if I wished it； and if I’d be more comfortable
elsewhere。 It’s wonderful how quiet she’s been ever since I came
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back。 It seems as if the very greatness o’ the trouble had quieted
and calmed her。 We shall all be better in a new country； though
there’s some I shall be loath to leave behind。 But I won’t part from
you and yours； if I can help it； Mr。 Poyser。 Trouble’s made us kin。”
“Aye； lad；” said Martin。 “We’ll go out o’ hearing o’ that man’s
name。 But I doubt we shall ne’er go far enough for folks not to find
out as we’ve got them belonging to us as are transported o’er the
seas； and were like to be hanged。 We shall have that flyin’ up in
our faces； and our children’s after us。”
That was a long visit to the Hall Farm； and drew too strongly on
Adam’s energies for him to think of seeing others； or re…entering
on his old occupations till the morrow。 “But to…morrow；” he said to
himself； “I’ll go to work again。 I shall learn to like it again some
time； maybe； and it’s right whether I like it or not。”
This evening was the last he would allow to be absorbed by
sorrow： suspense was gone now； and he must bear the unalterable。
He was resolved not to see Arthur Donnithorne again； if it were
possible to avoid him。 He had no message to deliver from Hetty
now； for Hetty had seen Arthur。 And Adam distrusted himself—he
had learned to dread the violence of his own feeling。 That word of
Mr。 Irwine’s—that he must remember what he had felt after giving
the last blow to Arthur in the Grove—had remained with him。
These thoughts about Arthur； like all thoughts that are charged
with strong feeling； were continually recurring； and they always
called up the image of the Grove—of that spot under the
overarching boughs where he had caught sight of the two bending
figures； and had been possessed by sudden rage。
“I’ll go and see it again to…night for the last time；” he said； “it’ll
do me good； it’ll make me feel over again what I felt when I’d
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