adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第178章
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in the song of the birds； and the tiniest perceptible budding on the
hedge…row branches。 Those slight words and looks and touches
are part of the soul’s language； and the finest language； I believe；
is chiefly made up of unimposing words； such as “light；” “sound；”
“stars；” “music”—words really not worth looking at； or hearing； in
themselves； any more than “chips” or “sawdust。” It is only that
they happen to be the signs of something unspeakably great and
beautiful。 I am of opinion that love is a great and beautiful thing
too； and if you agree with me； the smallest signs of it will not be
chips and sawdust to you： they will rather be like those little
words； “light” and “music；” stirring the long…winding fibres of
your memory and enriching your present with your most precious
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past。
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Chapter LI
Sunday Morning
isbeth’s touch of rheumatism could not be made to appear
Lserious enough to detain Dinah another night from the
Hall Farm； now she had made up her mind to leave her
aunt so soon； and at evening the friends must part。 “For a long
while；” Dinah had said； for she had told Lisbeth of her resolve。
“Then it’ll be for all my life； an’ I shall ne’er see thee again；”
said Lisbeth。 “Long while！ I’n got no long while t’ live。 An’ I shall
be took bad an’ die； an’ thee canst ne’er come a…nigh me； an’ I shall
die a…longing for thee。”
That had been the key…note of her wailing talk all day； for Adam
was not in the house； and so she put no restraint on her
complaining。 She had tried poor Dinah by returning again and
again to the question； why she must go away； and refusing to
accept reasons； which seemed to her nothing but whim and
“contrairiness”； and still more； by regretting that she “couldna’ ha’
one o’ the lads” and be her daughter。
“Thee couldstna put up wi’ Seth；” she said。 “He isna cliver
enough for thee； happen； but he’d ha’ been very good t’ thee—he’s
as handy as can be at doin’ things for me when I’m bad； an’ he’s as
fond o’ the Bible an’ chappellin’ as thee art thysen。 But happen；
thee’dst like a husband better as isna just the cut o’ thysen： the
runnin’ brook isna athirst for th’ rain。 Adam ’ud ha’ done for
thee—I know he would—an’ he might come t’ like thee well
enough； if thee’dst stop。 But he’s as stubborn as th’ iron bar—
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there’s no bending him no way but ’s own。 But he’d be a fine
husband for anybody； be they who they will； so looked…on an’ so
cliver as he is。 And he’d be rare an’ lovin’： it does me good on’y a
look o’ the lad’s eye when he means kind tow’rt me。”
Dinah tried to escape from Lisbeth’s closest looks and questions
by finding little tasks of housework that kept her moving about；
and as soon as Seth came home in the evening she put on her
bonnet to go。 It touched Dinah keenly to say the last good…bye； and
still more to look round on her way across the fields and see the
old woman still standing at the door； gazing after her till she must
have been the faintest speck in the dim aged eyes。 “The God of
love and peace be with them；” Dinah prayed； as she looked back
from the last stile。 “Make them glad according to the days wherein
thou hast afflicted them； and the years wherein they have seen
evil。 It is thy will that I should part from them； let me have no will
but thine。”
Lisbeth turned into the house at last and sat down in the
workshop near Seth； who was busying himself there with fitting
some bits of turned wood he had brought from the village into a
small work…box； which he meant to give to Dinah before she went
away。
“Thee ’t see her again o’ Sunday afore she goes；” were her first
words。 “If thee wast good for anything； thee’dst make her come in
again o’ Sunday night wi’ thee； and see me once more。”
“Nay； Mother；” said Seth。 “Dinah ’ud be sure to come again if
she saw right to come。 I should have no need to persuade her。 She
only thinks it ’ud be troubling thee for nought； just to come in to
say good…bye over again。”
“She’d ne’er go away； I know； if Adam ’ud be fond on her an’
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marry her； but everything’s so contrairy；” said Lisbeth； with a
burst of vexation。
Seth paused a moment and looked up； with a slight blush； at his
mother’s face。 “What！ Has she said anything o’ that sort to thee；
Mother？” he said； in a lower tone。
“Said？ Nay； she’ll say nothin’。 It’s on’y the men as have to wait
till folks say things afore they find ’em out。”
“Well； but what makes thee think so； Mother？ What’s put it into
thy head？”
“It’s no matter what’s put it into my head。 My head’s none so
hollow as it must get in； an’ nought to put it there。 I know she’s
fond on him； as I know th’ wind’s comin’ in at the door； an’ that’s
anoof。 An’ he might be willin’ to marry her if he know’d she’s fond
on him； but he’ll ne’er think on’t if somebody doesna put it into’s
head。”
His mother’s suggestion about Dinah’s feeling towards Adam
was not quite a new thought to Seth； but her last words alarmed
him； lest she should herself undertake to open Adam’s eyes。 He
was not sure about Dinah’s feeling； and he thought he was sure
about Adam’s。
“Nay； Mother； nay；” he said； earnestly； “thee mustna think o’
speaking o’ such things to Adam。 Thee’st no right to say what
Dinah’s feelings are if she hasna told thee； and it ’ud do nothing
but mischief to say such things to Adam。 He feels very grateful and
affectionate toward Dinah； but he’s no thoughts towards her that
’ud incline him to make her his wife； and I don’t believe Dinah ’ud
marry him either。 I don’t think she’ll marry at all。”
“Eh；” said Lisbeth； impatiently。 “Thee think’st so ’cause she
wouldna ha’ thee。 She’ll ne’er marry thee； thee mightst as well like
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her t’ ha’ thy brother。”
Seth was hurt。 “Mother；” he said； in a remonstrating tone；
“do
