adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第104章
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of more intense feeling towards her； which chased away other
images than Hetty； and along with that would come a wondering
thankfulness that all this happiness was given to him—that this
life of ours had such sweetness in it。 For Adam had a devout mind；
though he was perhaps rather impatient of devout words； and his
tenderness lay very close to his reverence； so that the one could
hardly be stirred without the other。 But after feeling had welled up
and poured itself out in this way； busy thought would come back
with the greater vigour； and this morning it was intent on schemes
by which the roads might be improved that were so imperfect all
through the country； and on picturing all the benefits that might
come from the exertions of a single country gentleman； if he would
set himself to getting the roads made good in his own district。
It seemed a very short walk； the ten miles to Oakbourne； that
pretty town within sight of the blue hills； where he break…fasted。
After this； the country grew barer and barer： no more rolling
woods； no more wide…branching trees near frequent homesteads；
no more bushy hedgerows； but grey stone walls intersecting the
meagre pastures； and dismal wide…scattered grey stone houses on
broken lands where mines had been and were no longer。 “A
hungry land；” said Adam to himself。 “I’d rather go south’ard；
where they say it’s as flat as a table； than come to live here； though
if Dinah likes to live in a country where she can be the most
comfort to folks； she’s i’ the right to live o’ this side； for she must
look as if she’d come straight from heaven； like th’ angels in the
desert； to strengthen them as ha’ got nothing t’ eat。” And when at
last he came in sight of Snowfield； he thought it looked like a town
that was “fellow to the country；” though the stream through the
valley where the great mill stood gave a pleasant greenness to the
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lower fields。 The town lay； grim； stony； and unsheltered； up the
side of a steep hill； and Adam did not go forward to it at present；
for Seth had told him where to find Dinah。 It was at a thatched
cottage outside the town； a little way from the mill—an old cottage；
standing sideways towards the road； with a little bit of potato…
ground before it。 Here Dinah lodged with an elderly couple； and if
she and Hetty happened to be out； Adam could learn where they
were gone； or when they would be at home again。 Dinah might be
out on some preaching errand； and perhaps she would have left
Hetty at home。 Adam could not help hoping this； and as he
recognised the cottage by the roadside before him； there shone out
in his face that involuntary smile which belongs to the expectation
of a near joy。
He hurried his step along the narrow causeway； and rapped at
the door。 It was opened by a very clean old woman； with a slow
palsied shake of the head。
“Is Dinah Morris at home？” said Adam。
“Eh？ 。 。 。 no；” said the old woman； looking up at this tall
stranger with a wonder that made her slower of speech than usual。
“Will you please to come in？” she added； retiring from the door； as
if recollecting herself。 “Why； ye’re brother to the young man as
come afore； arena ye？”
“Yes；” said Adam； entering。 “That was Seth Bede。 I’m his
brother Adam。 He told me to give his respects to you and your
good master。”
“Aye； the same t’ him。 He was a gracious young man。 An’ ye
feature him； on’y ye’re darker。 Sit ye down i’ th’ arm…chair。 My
man isna come home from meeting。”
Adam sat down patiently； not liking to hurry the shaking old
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woman with questions； but looking eagerly towards the narrow
twisting stairs in one corner； for he thought it was possible Hetty
might have heard his voice and would come down them。
“So you’re come to see Dinah Morris？” said the old woman；
standing opposite to him。 “An’ you didn’ know she was away from
home； then？”
“No；” said Adam； “but I thought it likely she might be away；
seeing as it’s Sunday。 But the other young woman—is she at
home； or gone along with Dinah？”
The old woman looked at Adam with a bewildered air。
“Gone along wi’ her？” she said。 “Eh； Dinah’s gone to Leeds； a
big town ye may ha’ heared on； where there’s a many o’ the Lord’s
people。 She’s been gone sin’ Friday was a fortnight： they sent her
the money for her journey。 You may see her room here；” she went
on； opening a door and not noticing the effect of her words on
Adam。 He rose and followed her； and darted an eager glance into
the little room with its narrow bed； the portrait of Wesley on the
wall； and the few books lying on the large Bible。 He had had an
irrational hope that Hetty might be there。 He could not speak in
the first moment after seeing that the room was empty； an
undefined fear had seized him—something had happened to Hetty
on the journey。 Still the old woman was so slow of； speech and
apprehension； that Hetty might be at Snowfield after all。
“It’s a pity ye didna know；” she said。 “Have ye come from your
own country o’ purpose to see her？”
“But Hetty—Hetty Sorrel；” said Adam； abruptly； “Where is
she？”
“I know nobody by that name；” said the old woman；
wonderingly。 “Is it anybody ye’ve heared on at Snowfield？”
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“Did there come no young woman here—very young and
pretty—Friday was a fortnight； to see Dinah Morris？”
“Nay； I’n seen no young woman。”
“Think； are you quite sure？ A girl； eighteen years old； with dark
eyes and dark curly hair； and a red cloak on； and a basket on her
arm？ You couldn’t forget her if you saw her。”
“Nay； Friday was a fortnight—it was the day as Dinah went
away—there come nobody。 There’s ne’er been nobody asking for
her till you come； for the folks about know as she’s gone。 Eh dear；
eh dear； is there summat the matter？”
The old woman had seen the ghastly look of fear in Adam’s
face。 But he was not stunned or confounded： he was thinking
eagerly where he could inquire about Hetty。
“Yes； a young woman started from our country to see Dinah；
Friday was a fortnight。 I came to fetch her back。 I’m afraid
something has happened to her。 I can’t stop。 Good…bye。”
He hastened out of the cottage； and the old woman followed
him to the gate； watching him sadly with her shaking head as he
almost ran towards the town。 He was going to inquire at the place
where the Oakbourne coach stopped。
No！ No young woman like Hetty had been seen there。 Had any
accident happened to the coach a fortnight ago？ No。 And there
was no coach to take him back to Oakbourne that day。 Well； he
would walk： he couldn’t stay here； in wretched inaction。 But the
innkeeper； seeing that Adam was in great anxiety； and entering
into this new incident with the eagerness of a man who passes a
great deal of time with his hands in his pockets looking into an
obstinately monotonous street； offered to take him back to
Oakbourne in his own “taxed cart” this very evening。 It was not
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five o’clock； there was plenty of time for Adam to take a meal and
yet to get to Oakbourne before ten o’clock。 The innkeeper
declared that he really wanted to go to Oakbourne； and might as
well go to…night； he should have all Monday before him then。
Adam； after making an ineffectual attempt to eat； put the food in
his pocket； and； drinking a draught of ale； declared himself ready
to set off。 As they approached the cottage； it occurred to him that
he would do well to learn from the old woman where Dinah was to
be found in Leeds： if there was trouble at the Hall Farm—he only
half…admitted the foreboding that there would be—the Poysers
might like to send for Dinah。 But Dinah had not left any address；
and the old woman； whose memory for names was infirm； could
not recall the name of the “blessed woman” who was Dinah’s chief
friend in the Society at Leeds。
During that long； long journey in the taxed cart； there was time
for all the conjectures of importunate fear and struggling hope。 In
the very first shock of discovering that Hetty had not been to
Snowfield； the thought of Arthur had darted through Adam like a
sharp pang； but he tried for some time to ward off its return by
busying himself with modes of accounting for the alarming fact；
quite apart from that intolerable thought。 Some accident had
happened。 Hetty had； by some strange chance； got into a wrong
vehicle from Oakbourne： she had been taken ill； and did not want
to frighten them by letting them know。 But this frail fence of vague
improbabilities was soon hurled down by a rush of distinct
agonising fears。 Hetty had been deceiving herself in thinking that
