adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第12章
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Father’s forgot the coffin？”
“Aye； lad； th’ old tale； but I shall get it done；” said Adam；
looking up and casting one of his bright keen glances at his
brother。 “Why； what’s the matter with thee？ Thee ’t in trouble。”
Seth’s eyes were red； and there was a look of deep depression
on his mild face。
“Yes； Addy； but it’s what must be borne； and can’t be helped。
Why； thee ’st never been to the school； then？”
“School？ No； that screw can wait；” said Adam； hammering
away again。
“Let me take my turn now； and do thee go to bed；” said Seth。
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“No； lad； I’d rather go on； now I’m in harness。 Thee ’t help me
to carry it to Brox’on when it’s done。 I’ll call thee up at sunrise。 Go
and eat thy supper； and shut the door so as I mayn’t hear Mother’s
talk。”
Seth knew that Adam always meant what he said； and was not
to be persuaded into meaning anything else。 So he turned； with
rather a heavy heart； into the house…place。
“Adam’s niver touched a bit o’ victual sin’ home he’s come；”
said Lisbeth。 “I reckon thee ’st hed thy supper at some o’ thy
Methody folks。”
“Nay； Mother；” said Seth； “I’ve had no supper yet。”
“Come； then；” said Lisbeth； “but donna thee ate the taters； for
Adam ’ull happen ate ’em if I leave ’em stannin’。 He loves a bit o’
taters an’ gravy。 But he’s been so sore an’ angered； he wouldn’t ate
’em； for all I’d putten ’em by o’ purpose for him。 An’ he’s been a…
threatenin’ to go away again；” she went on； whimpering； “an’ I’m
fast sure he’ll go some dawnin’ afore I’m up； an’ niver let me know
aforehand； an’ he’ll niver come back again when once he’s gone。
An’ I’d better niver ha’ had a son； as is like no other body’s son for
the deftness an’ th’ handiness； an’ so looked on by th’ grit folks； an’
tall an’ upright like a poplar…tree； an’ me to be parted from him an’
niver see ’m no more。”
“Come； Mother； donna grieve thyself in vain；” said Seth； in a
soothing voice。 “Thee ’st not half so good reason to think as Adam
’ull go away as to think he’ll stay with thee。 He may say such a
thing when he’s in wrath—and he’s got excuse for being wrathful
sometimes—but his heart ’ud never let him go。 Think how he’s
stood by us all when it’s been none so easy—paying his savings to
free me from going for a soldier； an’ turnin’ his earnin’s into wood
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for father； when he’s got plenty o’ uses for his money； and many a
young man like him ’ud ha’ been married and settled before now。
He’ll never turn round and knock down his own work； and forsake
them as it’s been the labour of his life to stand by。”
“Donna talk to me about ’s marr’in’；” said Lisbeth； crying
afresh。 “He’s set’s heart on that Hetty Sorrel； as ’ull niver save a
penny； an’ ’ull toss up her head at’s old mother。 An’ to think as he
might ha’ Mary Burge； an’ be took partners； an’ be a big man wi’
workmen under him； like Mester Burge—Dolly’s told me so o’er
and o’er again—if it warna as he’s set’s heart on that bit of a
wench； as is o’ no more use nor the gillyflower on the wall。 An’ he
so wise at bookin’ an’ figurin’； an’ not to know no better nor that！”
“But； Mother； thee know’st we canna love just where other
folks ’ud have us。 There’s nobody but God can control the heart of
man。 I could ha’ wished myself as Adam could ha’ made another
choice； but I wouldn’t reproach him for what he can’t help。 And
I’m not sure but what he tries to o’ercome it。 But it’s a matter as
he doesn’t like to be spoke to about； and I can only pray to the
Lord to bless and direct him。”
“Aye； thee ’t allays ready enough at prayin’； but I donna see as
thee gets much wi’ thy prayin’。 Thee wotna get double earnins o’
this side Yule。 Th’ Methodies ’ll niver make thee half the man thy
brother is； for all they’re a…makin’ a preacher on thee。”
“It’s partly truth thee speak’st there； Mother；” said Seth； mildly；
“Adam’s far before me； an’s done more for me than I can ever do
for him。 God distributes talents to every man according as He sees
good。 But thee mustna undervally prayer。 Prayer mayna bring
money； but it brings us what no money can buy—a power to keep
from sin and be content with God’s will； whatever He may please
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to send。 If thee wouldst pray to God to help thee； and trust in His
goodness； thee wouldstna be so uneasy about things。”
“Unaisy？ I’m i’ th’ right on ’t to be unaisy。 It’s well seen on thee
what it is niver to be unaisy。 Thee ’t gi’ away all thy earnins； an’
niver be unaisy as thee ’st nothin’ laid up again’ a rainy day。 If
Adam had been as aisy as thee； he’d niver ha’ had no money to pay
for thee。 Take no thought for the morrow—take no thought—that’s
what thee ’t allays sayin’； an’ what comes on ’t？ Why； as Adam has
to take thought for thee。”
“Those are the words o’ the Bible； Mother；” said Seth。 “They
don’t mean as we should be idle。 They mean we shouldn’t be
overanxious and worreting ourselves about what’ll happen to…
morrow； but do our duty and leave the rest to God’s will。”
“Aye； aye； that’s the way wi’ thee： thee allays makes a peck o’
thy own words out o’ a pint o’ the Bible’s。 I donna see how thee ’t
to know as ’take no thought for the morrow’ means all that。 An’
when the Bible’s such a big book； an’ thee canst read all thro’t； an’
ha’ the pick o’ the texes； I canna think why thee dostna pick better
words as donna mean so much more nor they say。 Adam doesna
pick a that’n； I can understan’ the tex as he’s allays a…sayin’； ‘God
helps them as helps theirsens。’”
“Nay； Mother；” said Seth； “that’s no text o’ the Bible。 It comes
out of a book as Adam picked up at the stall at Treddles’on。 It was
wrote by a knowing man； but overworldly； I doubt。 However； that
saying’s partly true； for the Bible tells us we must be workers
together with God。”
“Well； how’m I to know？ It sounds like a tex。 But what’s th’
matter wi’ th’ lad？ Thee ’t hardly atin’ a bit o’ supper。 Dostna
mean to ha’ no more nor that bit o’ oat…cake？ An’ thee lookst as
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white as a flick o’ new bacon。 What’s th’ matter wi’ thee？”
“Nothing to mind about； Mother； I’m not hungry。 I’ll just look in
at Adam again； and see if he’ll let me go on with the coffin。”
“Ha’ a drop o’ warm broth？” said Lisbeth； whose motherly
feeling now got the better of her “nattering” habit。 “I’ll set two…
three sticks a…light in a minute。”
“Nay； Mother； thank thee； thee ’t very good；” said Seth；
gratefully； and encouraged by this touch of tenderness； he went
on： “Let me pray a bit with thee for Father； and Adam； and all of
us—it’ll comfort thee； happen； more than thee thinkst。”
“Well； I’ve nothin’ to say again’ it。”
Lisbeth； though disposed always to take the negative side in her
conversations with Seth； had a vague sense that there was some
comfort and safety in the fact of his piety； and that it somehow
relieved her from the trouble of any spiritual transactions on her
own behalf。
So the mother and son knelt down together； and Seth prayed
for the poor wandering father and for those who were sorrowing
for him at home。 And when he came to the petition that Adam
might never be called to set up his tent in a far country； but that
his mother might be cheered and comforted by his presence all the
days of her pilgrimage； Lisbeth’s ready tears flowed again； and she
wept aloud。
When they rose from their knees； Seth went to Adam again and
said； “Wilt only lie down for an hour or two； and let me go on the
while？”
“No； Seth； no。 Make Mother go to bed； and go thyself。”
Meantime Lisbeth had dried her eyes； and now followed Seth；
holding something in her hands。 It was the brown…and…yellow
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platter containing the baked potatoes with the gravy in them and
bits of meat which she had cut and mixed among them。 Those
were dear times； when wheaten bread and fresh meat were
delicacies to working people。 She set the dish down rather timidly
on the bench by Adam’s side and said； “Thee canst pick a bit while
thee ’t workin’。 I’ll bring thee another drop o’ water。”
“Aye； Mother； do；” said Adam； kindly； “I’m getting very
thirsty。”
In half an hour all was quiet； no sound was to be heard in the
house but the loud ticking of the old day…clock and the ringing of
Adam’s tools。 The night was very still： when Adam opened the
door to look out at twelve o’clock； the only motion seemed to be in
the glowing； twinkling stars； every blade of grass was asleep。
Bodily haste and exertion usually leave our thoughts very much
at the mercy of our feelings and imagination； and it was so to…night
with Adam。 While his muscles were working lustily； his mind
seemed as passive as a s
