adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第94章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
good dinner and a moderate quantity of ale in the middle of the
day； they’ll be able to enjoy the games as the day cools。 You can’t
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 336…
Adam Bede 336
hinder some of them from getting too much towards evening； but
drunkenness and darkness go better together than drunkenness
and daylight。”
“Well； I hope there won’t be much of it。 I’ve kept the
Treddleston people away by having a feast for them in the town；
and I’ve got Casson and Adam Bede and some other good fellows
to look to the giving out of ale in the booths； and to take care
things don’t go too far。 Come； let us go up above now and see the
dinner…tables for the large tenants。”
They went up the stone staircase leading simply to the long
gallery above the cloisters； a gallery where all the dusty worthless
old pictures had been banished for the last three generations—
mouldy portraits of Queen Elizabeth and her ladies； General Monk
with his eye knocked out； Daniel very much in the dark among the
lions； and Julius Caesar on horseback； with a high nose and laurel
crown； holding his Commentaries in his hand。
“What a capital thing it is that they saved this piece of the old
abbey！” said Arthur。 “If I’m ever master here； I shall do up the
gallery in first…rate style。 We’ve got no room in the house a third as
large as this。 That second table is for the farmers’ wives and
children： Mrs。 Best said it would be more comfortable for the
mothers and children to be by themselves。 I was determined to
have the children； and make a regular family thing of it。 I shall be
’the old squire’ to those little lads and lasses some day； and they’ll
tell their children what a much finer young fellow I was than my
own son。 There’s a table for the women and children below as
well。 But you will see them all—you will come up with me after
dinner； I hope？”
“Yes； to be sure；” said Mr。 Irwine。 “I wouldn’t miss your maiden
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 337…
Adam Bede 337
speech to the tenantry。”
“And there will be something else you’ll like to hear；” said
Arthur。 “Let us go into the library and I’ll tell you all about it while
my grandfather is in the drawing…room with the ladies。 Something
that will surprise you；” he continued； as they sat down。 “My
grandfather has come round after all。”
“What； about Adam？”
“Yes； I should have ridden over to tell you about it； only I was
so busy。 You know I told you I had quite given up arguing the
matter with him—I thought it was hopeless—but yesterday
morning he asked me to come in here to him before I went out；
and astonished me by saying that he had decided on all the new
arrangements he should make in consequence of old Satchell
being obliged to lay by work； and that he intended to employ
Adam in superintending the woods at a salary of a guinea a…week；
and the use of a pony to be kept here。 I believe the secret of it is；
he saw from the first it would be a profitable plan； but he had
some particular dislike of Adam to get over—and besides； the fact
that I propose a thing is generally a reason with him for rejecting
it。 There’s the most curious contradiction in my grandfather： I
know he means to leave me all the money he has saved； and he is
likely enough to have cut off poor Aunt Lydia； who has been a
slave to him all her life； with only five hundred a…year； for the sake
of giving me all the more； and yet I sometimes think he positively
hates me because I’m his heir。 I believe if I were to break my neck；
he would feel it the greatest misfortune that could befall him； and
yet it seems a pleasure to him to make my life a series of petty
annoyances。”
“Ah； my boy； it is not only woman’s love that is απερ？τοζ ερ？ζ
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 338…
Adam Bede 338
as old AEschylus calls it。 There’s plenty of ‘unloving love’ in the
world of a masculine kind。 But tell me about Adam。 Has he
accepted the post？ I don’t see that it can be much more profitable
than his present work； though； to be sure； it will leave him a good
deal of time on his own hands。
“Well； I felt some doubt about it when I spoke to him and he
seemed to hesitate at first。 His objection was that he thought he
should not be able to satisfy my grandfather。 But I begged him as
a personal favour to me not to let any reason prevent him from
accepting the place； if he really liked the employment and would
not be giving up anything that was more profitable to him。 And he
assured me he should like it of all things—it would be a great step
forward for him in business； and it would enable him to do what
he had long wished to do； to give up working for Burge。 He says he
shall have plenty of time to superintend a little business of his
own； which he and Seth will carry on； and will perhaps be able to
enlarge by degrees。 So he has agreed at last； and I have arranged
that he shall dine with the large tenants to…day； and I mean to
announce the appointment to them； and ask them to drink Adam’s
health。 It’s a little drama I’ve got up in honour of my friend Adam。
He’s a fine fellow； and I like the opportunity of letting people know
that I think so。”
“A drama in which friend Arthur piques himself on having a
pretty part to play；” said Mr。 Irwine； smiling。 But when he saw
Arthur colour； he went on relentingly； “My part； you know； is
always that of the old fogy who sees nothing to admire in the
young folks。 I don’t like to admit that I’m proud of my pupil when
he does graceful things。 But I must play the amiable old
gentleman for once； and second your toast in honour of Adam。 Has
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 339…
Adam Bede 339
your grandfather yielded on the other point too； and agreed to
have a respectable man as steward？”
“Oh no；” said Arthur； rising from his chair with an air of
impatience and walking along the room with his hands in his
pockets。 “He’s got some project or other about letting the Chase
Farm and bargaining for a supply of milk and butter for the house。
But I ask no questions about it—it makes me too angry。 I believe
he means to do all the business himself； and have nothing in the
shape of a steward。 It’s amazing what energy he has； though。”
“Well； we’ll go to the ladies now；” said Mr。 Irwine； rising too。 “I
want to tell my mother what
