adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第32章
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Adam Bede 115
“It isn’t Mrs。 Best； it’s Mrs。 Pomfret； the lady’s maid； as I go to
see。 She’s teaching me tent…stitch and the lace…mending。 I’m going
to tea with her to…morrow afternoon。”
The reason why there had been space for this tête…à…tête can
only be known by looking into the back kitchen； where Totty had
been discovered rubbing a stray blue…bag against her nose； and in
the same moment allowing some liberal indigo drops to fall on her
afternoon pinafore。 But now she appeared holding her mother’s
hand—the end of her round nose rather shiny from a recent and
hurried application of soap and water。
“Here she is！” said the captain； lifting her up and setting her on
the low stone shelf。 “Here’s Totty！ By the by； what’s her other
name？ She wasn’t christened Totty。”
“Oh； sir； we call her sadly out of her name。 Charlotte’s her
christened name。 It’s a name i’ Mr。 Poyser’s family： his
grandmother was named Charlotte。 But we began with calling her
Lotty； and now it’s got to Totty。 To be sure it’s more like a name
for a dog than a Christian child。”
“Totty’s a capital name。 Why； she looks like a Totty。 Has she got
a pocket on？” said the captain； feeling in his own waistcoat
pockets。
Totty immediately with great gravity lifted up her frock； and
showed a tiny pink pocket at present in a state of collapse。
“It dot notin’ in it；” she said； as she looked down at it very
earnestly。
“No！ What a pity！ Such a pretty pocket。 Well； I think I’ve got
some things in mine that will make a pretty jingle in it。 Yes！ I
declare I’ve got five little round silver things； and hear what a
pretty noise they make in Totty’s pink pocket。” Here he shook the
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Adam Bede 116
pocket with the five sixpences in it； and Totty showed her teeth
and wrinkled her nose in great glee； but； divining that there was
nothing more to be got by staying； she jumped off the shelf and
ran away to jingle her pocket in the hearing of Nancy； while her
mother called after her； “Oh for shame； you naughty gell！ Not to
thank the captain for what he’s given you I’m sure； sir； it’s very
kind of you； but she’s spoiled shameful； her father won’t have her
said nay in anything； and there’s no managing her。 It’s being the
youngest； and th’ only gell。”
“Oh； she’s a funny little fatty； I wouldn’t have her different。 But
I must be going now； for I suppose the rector is waiting for me。”
With a “good…bye；” a bright glance； and a bow to Hetty； Arthur
left the dairy。 But he was mistaken in imagining himself waited
for。 The rector had been so much interested in his conversation
with Dinah that he would not have chosen to close it earlier； and
you shall hear now what they had been saying to each other。
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Adam Bede 117
Chapter VIII
A Vocation
inah； who had risen when the gentlemen came in； but still
kept hold of the sheet she was mending； curtsied
D
respectfully when she saw Mr。 Irwine looking at her and
advancing towards her。 He had never yet spoken to her； or stood
face to face with her； and her first thought； as her eyes met his；
was； “What a well…favoured countenance！ Oh that the good seed
might fall on that soil； for it would surely flourish。” The agreeable
impression must have been mutual； for Mr。 Irwine bowed to her
with a benignant deference； which would have been equally in
place if she had been the most dignified lady of his acquaintance。
“You are only a visitor in this neighbourhood； I think？” were
his first words； as he seated himself opposite to her。
“No； sir； I come from Snowfield； in Stonyshire。 But my aunt
was very kind； wanting me to have rest from my work there；
because I’d been ill； and she invited me to come and stay with her
for a while。”
“Ah； I remember Snowfield very well； I once had occasion to go
there。 It’s a dreary bleak place。 They were building a cotton…mill
there； but that’s many years ago now。 I suppose the place is a good
deal changed by the employment that mill must have brought。”
“It is changed so far as the mill has brought people there； who
get a livelihood for themselves by working in it； and make it better
for the trades…folks。 I work in it myself； and have reason to be
grateful； for thereby I have enough and to spare。 But it’s still a
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bleak place； as you say； sir—very different from this country。”
“You have relations living there； probably； so that you are
attached to the place as your home？”
“I had an aunt there once； she brought me up； for I was an
orphan。 But she was taken away seven years ago； and I have no
other kindred that I know of； besides my Aunt Poyser； who is very
good to me； and would have me come and live in this country；
which to be sure is a good land； wherein they eat bread without
scarceness。 But I’m not free to leave Snowfield； where I was first
planted； and have grown deep into it； like the small grass on the
hill…top。”
“Ah； I daresay you have many religious friends and companions
there； you are a Methodist—a Wesleyan； I think？”
“Yes； my aunt at Snowfield belonged to the Society； and I have
cause to be thankful for the privileges I have had thereby from my
earliest childhood。”
“And have you been long in the habit of preaching？ For I
understand you preached at Hayslope last night。”
“I first took to the work four years since； when I was twenty…
one。”
“Your Society sanctions women’s preaching； then？”
“It doesn’t forbid them； sir； when they’ve a clear call to the
work； and when their ministry is owned by the conversion of
sinners and the strengthening of God’s people。 Mrs。 Fletcher； as
you may have heard about； was the first woman to preach in the
Society； I believe； before she was married； when she was Miss
Bosanquet； and Mr。 Wesley approved of her undertaking the
work。 She had a great gift； and there are many others now living
who are precious fellow…helpers in the work of the ministry。 I
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understand there’s been voices raised ag
