adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第51章
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fond of each other； and then there could be nothing but the misery
of parting； after all。 No gentleman； out of a ballad； could marry a
farmer’s niece。 There must be an end to the whole thing at once。 It
was too foolish。
And yet he had been so determined this morning； before he
went to Gawaine’s； and while he was there something had taken
hold of him and made him gallop back。 It seemed he couldn’t quite
depend on his own resolution； as he had thought he could； he
almost wished his arm would get painful again； and then he should
think of nothing but the comfort it would be to get rid of the pain。
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There was no knowing what impulse might seize him to…morrow；
in this confounded place； where there was nothing to occupy him
imperiously through the livelong day。 What could he do to secure
himself from any more of this folly？
There was but one resource。 He would go and tell Irwine—tell
him everything。 The mere act of telling it would make it seem
trivial； the temptation would vanish； as the charm of fond words
vanishes when one repeats them to the indifferent。 In every way it
would help him to tell Irwine。 He would ride to Broxton Rectory
the first thing after breakfast to…morrow。
Arthur had no sooner come to this determination than he began
to think which of the paths would lead him home； and made as
short a walk thither as he could。 He felt sure he should sleep now：
he had had enough to tire him； and there was no more need for
him to think。
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Chapter XIV
The Return Home
hile that parting in the wood was happening； there was
Wa parting in the cottage too； and Lisbeth had stood with
Adam at the door； straining her aged eyes to get the last
glimpse of Seth and Dinah； as they mounted the opposite slope。
“Eh； I’m loath to see the last on her；” she said to Adam； as they
turned into the house again。 “I’d ha’ been willin’ t’ ha’ her about
me till I died and went to lie by my old man。 She’d make it easier
dyin’—she spakes so gentle an’ moves about so still。 I could be fast
sure that pictur’ was drawed for her i’ thy new Bible—th’ angel a…
sittin’ on the big stone by the grave。 Eh； I wouldna mind ha’in a
daughter like that； but nobody ne’er marries them as is good for
aught。”
“Well； Mother； I hope thee wilt have her for a daughter； for
Seth’s got a liking for her； and I hope she’ll get a liking for Seth in
time。”
“Where’s th’ use o’ talkin’ a…that’n？ She caresna for Seth。 She’s
goin’ away twenty mile aff。 How’s she to get a likin’ for him； I’d
like to know？ No more nor the cake ’ull come wi’out the leaven。
Thy figurin’ books might ha’ tould thee better nor that； I should
think； else thee mightst as well read the commin print； as Seth
allays does。”
“Nay； Mother；” said Adam； laughing； “the figures tell us a fine
deal； and we couldn’t go far without ’em； but they don’t tell us
about folks’s feelings。 It’s a nicer job to calculate them。 But Seth’s
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as good…hearted a lad as ever handled a tool； and plenty o’ sense；
and good…looking too； and he’s got the same way o’ thinking as
Dinah。 He deserves to win her； though there’s no denying she’s a
rare bit o’ workmanship。 You don’t see such women turned off the
wheel every day。”
“Eh； thee ’t allays stick up for thy brother。 Thee’st been just the
same； e’er sin’ ye war little uns together。 Thee wart allays for
halving iverything wi’ him。 But what’s Seth got to do with
marryin’； as is on’y three…an’…twenty？ He’d more need to learn an’
lay by sixpence。 An’ as for his desarving her—she’s two ’ear older
nor Seth： she’s pretty near as old as thee。 But that’s the way； folks
mun allays choose by contrairies； as if they must be sorted like the
pork—a bit o’ good meat wi’ a bit o’ offal。”
To the feminine mind in some of its moods； all things that might
be receive a temporary charm from comparison with what is； and
since Adam did not want to marry Dinah himself； Lisbeth felt
rather peevish on that score—as peevish as she would have been if
he had wanted to marry her； and so shut himself out from Mary
Burge and the partnership as effectually as by marrying Hetty。
It was more than half…past eight when Adam and his mother
were talking in this way； so that when； about ten minutes later；
Hetty reached the turning of the lane that led to the farmyard
gate； she saw Dinah and Seth approaching it from the opposite
direction； and waited for them to come up to her。 They； too； like
Hetty； had lingered a little in their walk； for Dinah was trying to
speak words of comfort and strength to Seth in these parting
moments。 But when they saw Hetty； they paused and shook
hands； Seth turned homewards； and Dinah came on alone。
“Seth Bede would have come and spoken to you； my dear；” she
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said； as she reached Hetty； “but he’s very full of trouble to…night。”
Hetty answered with a dimpled smile； as if she did not quite
know what had been said； and it made a strange contrast to see
that sparkling self…engrossed loveliness looked at by Dinah’s calm
pitying face； with its open glance which told that her heart lived in
no cherished secrets of its own； but in feelings which it longed to
share with all the world。 Hetty liked Dinah as well as she had ever
liked any woman； how was it possible to feel otherwise towards
one who always put in a kind word for her when her aunt was
finding fault； and who was always ready to take Totty off her
hands—little tiresome Totty； that was made such a pet of by every
one； and that Hetty could see no interest in at all？ Dinah had
never said anything disapproving or reproachful to Hetty during
her whole visit to the Hall Farm； she had talked to her a great deal
in a serious way； but Hetty didn’t mind that much； for she never
listened： whatever Dinah might say； she almost always stroked
Hetty’s cheek after it； and wanted to do some mending for her。
Dinah was a riddle to her； Hetty looked at her much in the same
way as one might imagine a little perching bird that could only
flutter from bough to bough； to look at the swoop of the swallow or
the mounting of the lark； but she did not care to solve such riddles；
any more than she car
