adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第95章
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“Well； we’ll go to the ladies now；” said Mr。 Irwine； rising too。 “I
want to tell my mother what a splendid throne you’ve prepared for
her under the marquee。”
“Yes； and we must be going to luncheon too；” said Arthur。 “It
must be two o’clock； for there is the gong beginning to sound for
the tenants’ dinners。”
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Chapter XXIII
Dinner…Time
hen Adam heard that he was to dine upstairs with the
Wlarge tenants； he felt rather uncomfortable at the idea of
being exalted in this way above his mother and Seth；
who were to dine in the cloisters below。 But Mr。 Mills； the butler；
assured him that Captain Donnithorne had given particular orders
about it； and would be very angry if Adam was not there。
Adam nodded and went up to Seth； who was standing a few
yards off。 “Seth； lad；” he said； “the captain has sent to say I’m to
dine upstairs—he wishes it particular； Mr。 Mills says； so I suppose
it ’ud be behaving ill for me not to go。 But I don’t like sitting up
above thee and mother； as if I was better than my own flesh and
blood。 Thee ’t not take it unkind； I hope？”
“Nay； nay； lad；” said Seth； “thy honour’s our honour； and if
thee get’st respect； thee ’st won it by thy own deserts。 The further
I see thee above me； the better； so long as thee feel’st like a
brother to me。 It’s because o’ thy being appointed over the woods；
and it’s nothing but what’s right。 That’s a place o’ trust； and thee ’t
above a common workman now。”
“Aye；” said Adam； “but nobody knows a word about it yet。 I
haven’t given notice to Mr。 Burge about leaving him； and I don’t
like to tell anybody else about it before he knows； for he’ll be a
good bit hurt； I doubt。 People ’ull be wondering to see me there；
and they’ll like enough be guessing the reason and asking
questions； for there’s been so much talk up and down about my
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having the place； this last three weeks。”
“Well； thee canst say thee wast ordered to come without being
told the reason。 That’s the truth。 And mother ’ull be fine and joyful
about it。 Let’s go and tell her。”
Adam was not the only guest invited to come upstairs on other
grounds than the amount he contributed to the rent…roll。 There
were other people in the two parishes who derived dignity from
their functions rather than from their pocket； and of these Bartle
Massey was one。 His lame walk was rather slower than usual on
this warm day； so Adam lingered behind when the bell rang for
dinner； that he might walk up with his old friend； for he was a
little too shy to join the Poyser party on this public occasion。
Opportunities of getting to Hetty’s side would be sure to turn up in
the course of the day； and Adam contented himself with that for he
disliked any risk of being “joked” about Hetty—the big；
outspoken； fearless man was very shy and diffident as to his love…
making。
“Well； Mester Massey；” said Adam； as Bartle came up “I’m
going to dine upstairs with you to…day： the captain’s sent me
orders。”
“Ah！” said Bartle； pausing； with one hand on his back。 “Then
there’s something in the wind—there’s something in the wind。
Have you heard anything about what the old squire means to do？”
“Why； yes；” said Adam； “I’ll tell you what I know； because I
believe you can keep a still tongue in your head if you like； and I
hope you’ll not let drop a word till it’s common talk； for I’ve
particular reasons against its being known。”
“Trust to me； my boy； trust to me。 I’ve got no wife to worm it
out of me and then run out and cackle it in everybody’s hearing。 If
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you trust a man； let him be a bachelor—let him be a bachelor。”
“Well； then； it was so far settled yesterday that I’m to take the
management o’ the woods。 The captain sent for me t’ offer it me；
when I was seeing to the poles and things here and I’ve agreed to
’t。 But if anybody asks any questions upstairs； just you take no
notice； and turn the talk to something else； and I’ll be obliged to
you。 Now； let us go on； for we’re pretty nigh the last； I think。”
“I know what to do； never fear；” said Bartle； moving on。 “The
news will be good sauce to my dinner。 Aye； aye； my boy； you’ll get
on。 I’ll back you for an eye at measuring and a head…piece for
figures； against any man in this county and you’ve had good
teaching—you’ve had good teaching。”
When they got upstairs； the question which Arthur had left
unsettled； as to who was to be president； and who vice； was still
under discussion； so that Adam’s entrance passed without remark。
“It stands to sense；” Mr。 Casson was saying； “as old Mr。 Poyser；
as is th’ oldest man i’ the room； should sit at top o’ the table。 I
wasn’t butler fifteen year without learning the rights and the
wrongs about dinner。”
“Nay； nay；” said old Martin； “I’n gi’en up to my son； I’m no
tenant now： let my son take my place。 Th’ ould foulks ha’ had their
turn： they mun make way for the young uns。”
“I should ha’ thought the biggest tenant had the best right；
more nor th’ oldest；” said Luke Britton； who was not fond of the
critical Mr。 Poyser； “there’s Mester Holdsworth has more land nor
anybody else on th’ estate。”
“Well；” said Mr。 Poyser； “suppose we say the man wi’ the
foulest land shall sit at top； then whoever gets th’ honour； there’ll
be no envying on him。”
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“Eh； here’s Mester Massey；” said Mr。 Craig； who； being a
neutral in the dispute； had no interest but in conciliation； “the
schoolmaster ought to be able to tell you what’s right。 Who’s to sit
at top o’ the table； Mr。 Massey？”
“Why； the broadest man；” said Bartle； “and then he won’t take
up other folks’ room； and the next broadest must sit at bottom。”
This happy mode of settling the dispute produced much
laughter—a smaller joke would have sufficed for that Mr。 Casson；
however； did not feel it compatible with his dignity and superior
knowledge to join in the laugh； until it turned out that he was fixed
on as the second broadest man。 Martin Poyser the younger； as the
broadest； was to be president； and Mr。 Casson； as next broadest；
