adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第4章
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preparations for going； but Mum Taft broke silence； and said；
“Aye； aye； Adam lad； ye talk like a young un。 When y’ are six…an’…
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forty like me； istid o’ six…an’…twenty； ye wonna be so flush o’
workin’ for nought。”
“Nonsense；” said Adam； still wrathful； “what’s age got to do
with it； I wonder？ Ye arena getting stiff yet； I reckon。 I hate to see
a man’s arms drop down as if he was shot； before the clock’s fairly
struck； just as if he’d never a bit o’ pride and delight in ’s work。
The very grindstone ’ull go on turning a bit after you loose it。”
“Bodderation； Adam！” exclaimed Wiry Ben； “lave a chap aloon；
will ’ee？ Ye war afinding faut wi’ preachers a while agoo—y’ are
fond enough o’ preachin’ yoursen。 Ye may like work better nor
play； but I like play better nor work； that’ll ’commodate ye—it
laves ye th’ more to do。”
With this exit speech； which he considered effective； Wiry Ben
shouldered his basket and left the workshop； quickly followed by
Mum Taft and Sandy Jim。 Seth lingered； and looked wistfully at
Adam； as if he expected him to say something。
“Shalt go home before thee go’st to the preaching？” Adam
asked； looking up。
“Nay； I’ve got my hat and things at Will Maskery’s。 I shan’t be
home before going for ten。 I’ll happen see Dinah Morris safe home；
if she’s willing。 There’s nobody comes with her from Poyser’s； thee
know’st。”
“Then I’ll tell mother not to look for thee；” said Adam。
“Thee artna going to Poyser’s thyself to…night？” said Seth
rather timidly； as he turned to leave the workshop。
“Nay； I’m going to th’ school。”
Hitherto Gyp had kept his comfortable bed； only lifting up his
head and watching Adam more closely as he noticed the other
workmen departing。 But no sooner did Adam put his ruler in his
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pocket； and begin to twist his apron round his waist； than Gyp ran
forward and looked up in his master’s face with patient
expectation。 If Gyp had had a tail he would doubtless have wagged
it； but being destitute of that vehicle for his emotions； he was like
many other worthy personages； destined to appear more
phlegmatic than nature had made him。
“What！ Art ready for the basket； eh； Gyp？” said Adam； with the
same gentle modulation of voice as when he spoke to Seth。
Gyp jumped and gave a short bark； as much as to say； “Of
course。” Poor fellow； he had not a great range of expression。
The basket was the one which on workdays held Adam’s and
Seth’s dinner； and no official； walking in procession； could look
more resolutely unconscious of all acquaintances than Gyp with
his basket； trotting at his master’s heels。
On leaving the workshop Adam locked the door； took the key
out； and carried it to the house on the other side of the woodyard。
It was a low house； with smooth grey thatch and buff walls；
looking pleasant and mellow in the evening light。 The leaded
windows were bright and speckless； and the door…stone was as
clean as a white boulder at ebb tide。 On the door…stone stood a
clean old woman； in a dark…striped linen gown； a red kerchief； and
a linen cap； talking to some speckled fowls which appeared to have
been drawn towards her by an illusory expectation of cold
potatoes or barley。 The old woman’s sight seemed to be dim； for
she did not recognise Adam till he said； “Here’s the key； Dolly； lay
it down for me in the house； will you？”
“Aye； sure； but wunna ye come in； Adam？ Miss Mary’s i’ th’
house； and Mester Burge ’ull be back anon； he’d be glad t’ ha’ ye
to supper wi’m； I’ll be’s warrand。”
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“No； Dolly； thank you； I’m off home。 Good evening。”
Adam hastened with long strides； Gyp close to his heels； out of
the workyard； and along the highroad leading away from the
village and down to the valley。 As he reached the foot of the slope；
an elderly horseman； with his portmanteau strapped behind him；
stopped his horse when Adam had passed him； and turned round
to have another long look at the stalwart workman in paper cap；
leather breeches； and dark…blue worsted stockings。
Adam； unconscious of the admiration he was exciting； presently
struck across the fields； and now broke out into the tune which
had all day long been running in his head：
“Let all thy converse be sincere；
Thy conscience as the noonday clear；
For God’s all…seeing eye surveys
Thy secret thoughts； thy works and ways。
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Chapter II
The Preaching
bout a quarter to seven there was an unusual appearance
Aof excitement in the village of Hayslope； and through the
whole length of its little street； from the Donnithorne
Arms to the churchyard gate； the inhabitants had evidently been
drawn out of their houses by something more than the pleasure of
lounging in the evening sunshine。 The Donnithorne Arms stood at
the entrance of the village； and a small farmyard and stackyard
which flanked it； indicating that there was a pretty take of land
attached to the inn； gave the traveller a promise of good feed for
himself and his horse； which might well console him for the
ignorance in which the weather…beaten sign left him as to the
heraldic bearings of that ancient family； the Donnithornes。 Mr。
Casson； the landlord； had been for some time standing at the door
with his hands in his pockets； balancing himself on his heels and
toes and looking towards a piece of unenclosed ground； with a
maple in the middle of it； which he knew to be the destination of
certain grave…looking men and women whom he had observed
passing at intervals。
Mr。 Casson’s person was by no means of that common type
which can be allowed to pass without description。 On a front view
it appeared to consist principally of two spheres； bearing about the
same relation to each other as the earth and the moon： that is to
say； the lower sphere might be said； at a rough guess； to be
thirteen times larger than the upper which naturally performed
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the function
