adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第26章
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passed on to the pantry without deigning more precise
information。 “Not Adam。 Adam’s father； the old man； is drowned。
He was drowned last night in the Willow Brook。 Mr。 Irwine has
just told me about it。”
“Oh； how dreadful！” said Hetty； looking serious； but not deeply
affected； and as Molly now entered with the dock…leaves； she took
them silently and returned to the dairy without asking further
questions。
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Chapter IX
Hetty’s World
hile she adjusted the broad leaves that set off the pale
Wfragrant butter as the primrose is set off by its nest of
green I am afraid Hetty was thinking a great deal more
of the looks Captain Donnithorne had cast at her than of Adam
and his troubles。 Bright； admiring glances from a handsome young
gentleman with white hands； a gold chain； occasional regimentals；
and wealth and grandeur immeasurable—those were the warm
rays that set poor Hetty’s heart vibrating and playing its little
foolish tunes over and over again。 We do not hear that Memnon’s
statue gave forth its melody at all under the rushing of the
mightiest wind； or in response to any other influence divine or
human than certain short…lived sunbeams of morning； and we
must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some
of those cunningly fashioned instruments called human souls have
only a very limited range of music； and will not vibrate in the least
under a touch that fills others with tremulous rapture or quivering
agony。
Hetty was quite used to the thought that people liked to look at
her。 She was not blind to the fact that young Luke Britton of
Broxton came to Hayslope Church on a Sunday afternoon on
purpose that he might see her； and that he would have made
much more decided advances if her uncle Poyser； thinking but
lightly of a young man whose father’s land was so foul as old Luke
Britton’s； had not forbidden her aunt to encourage him by any
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civilities。 She was aware； too； that Mr。 Craig； the gardener at the
Chase； was over head and ears in love with her； and had lately
made unmistakable avowals in luscious strawberries and
hyperbolical peas。 She knew still better； that Adam Bede—tall；
upright； clever； brave Adam Bede—who carried such authority
with all the people round about； and whom her uncle was always
delighted to see of an evening； saying that “Adam knew a fine
sight more o’ the natur o’ things than those as thought themselves
his betters”—she knew that this Adam； who was often rather stern
to other people and not much given to run after the lasses； could
be made to turn pale or red any day by a word or a look from her。
Hetty’s sphere of comparison was not large； but she couldn’t help
perceiving that Adam was “something like” a man； always knew
what to say about things； could tell her uncle how to prop the
hovel； and had mended the churn in no time； knew； with only
looking at it； the value of the chestnut…tree that was blown down；
and why the damp came in the walls； and what they must do to
stop the rats； and wrote a beautiful hand that you could read off；
and could do figures in his head—a degree of accomplishment
totally unknown among the richest farmers of that countryside。
Not at all like that slouching Luke Britton； who； when she once
walked with him all the way from Broxton to Hayslope； had only
broken silence to remark that the grey goose had begun to lay。
And as for Mr。 Craig； the gardener； he was a sensible man enough；
to be sure； but he was knock…kneed； and had a queer sort of sing…
song in his talk； moreover； on the most charitable supposition； he
must be far on the way to forty。
Hetty was quite certain her uncle wanted her to encourage
Adam； and would be pleased for her to marry him。 For those were
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times when there was no rigid demarcation of rank between the
farmer and the respectable artisan； and on the home hearth； as
well as in the public house； they might be seen taking their jug of
ale together； the farmer having a latent sense of capital； and of
weight in parish affairs； which sustained him under his
conspicuous inferiority in conversation。 Martin Poyser was not a
frequenter of public houses； but he liked a friendly chat over his
own home…brewed； and though it was pleasant to lay down the law
to a stupid neighbour who had no notion how to make the best of
his farm； it was also an agreeable variety to learn something from
a clever fellow like Adam Bede。 Accordingly； for the last three
years—ever since he had superintended the building of the new
barn—Adam had always been made welcome at the Hall Farm；
especially of a winter evening； when the whole family； in
patriarchal fashion； master and mistress； children and servants；
were assembled in that glorious kitchen； at well…graduated
distances from the blazing fire。 And for the last two years； at least；
Hetty had been in the habit of hearing her uncle say； “Adam Bede
may be working for wage now； but he’ll be a master…man some
day； as sure as I sit in this chair。 Mester Burge is in the right on ’t
to want him to go partners and marry his daughter； if it’s true
what they say； the woman as marries him ’ull have a good take；
be’t Lady…day or Michaelmas；” a remark which Mrs。 Poyser
always followed up with her cordial assent。 “Ah；” she would say；
“it’s all very fine having a ready…made rich man； but mayhappen
he’ll be a ready…made fool； and it’s no use filling your pocket full o’
money if you’ve got a hole in the corner。 It’ll do you no good to sit
in a spring…cart o’ your own； if you’ve got a soft to drive you： he’ll
soon turn you over into the ditch。 I allays said I’d never marry a
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man as had got no brains； for where’s the use of a woman having
brains of her own if she’s tackled to a geck as everybody’s a…
laughing at？ She might as well dress herself fine to sit back’ards
on a donkey。”
These expressions； though figurative； sufficiently indicated the
bent of Mrs。 Poyser’s mind with regard to Adam； and though she
and her husband might have viewed the subject differently if
Hetty had been a daughter of their own； it was clear that they
would have welcomed the match with Adam for a penniless niece。
For what could Hetty have been but a servant elsewhere； if her
uncle had not taken her in and brought her up as a domestic help
to her aunt； whose health since the birth of Totty had not been
equal to more positive labour than the superintendence of
servants and children？ But Hetty had never given Adam any
steady encouragement。 Even in the moments when she was most
thoroughly conscious of his superiority to her other admirers； she
had never brought herself to think of accepting him。 She liked to
feel that this strong； skilful； keen…eyed man was in her power； and
would have been indignant if he had shown the least sign of
slipping from under the yoke of her coquettish tyranny and
attaching himself to the gentle Mary Burge； who would have been
grateful enough for the most trifling notice from him。 “Mary
Burge； indeed！ Such a sallow…faced girl： if she put on a bit of pink
ribbon； she looked as yellow as a crow…flower and her hair was as
straight as a hank of cotton。” And always when Adam stayed away
for several weeks from the Hall Farm； and otherwise made some
show of resistance to his passion as a foolish one； Hetty took care
to entice him back into the net by little airs of meekness and
timidity； as if she were in trouble at his neglect。 But as to marrying
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Adam； that was a very different affair！ There was nothing in the
world to tempt her to do that。 Her cheeks never grew a shade
deeper when his name was mentioned； she felt no thrill when she
saw him passing along the causeway by the window； or advancing
towards her unexpectedly in the footpath across the meadow； she
felt nothing； when his eyes rested on her； but the cold triumph of
knowing that he loved her and would not care to look at Mary
Burge。 He could no more stir in her the emotions that make the
sweet intoxication of young love than the mere picture of a sun
can stir the spring sap in the subtle fibres of the plant。 She saw
him as he was—a poor man with old parents to keep； who would
not be able； for a long while to come； to give her even such
luxuries as she shared in her uncle’s house。 And Hetty’s dreams
were all of luxuries： to sit in a carp
