adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第30章
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you to come。 An’ Seth； why donna ye get her some tay？ Ye war in
a hurry to get some for me； as had no need； but ye donna think o’
gettin’ ’t for them as wants it。 Sit ye down； sit ye down。 I thank you
kindly for comin’； for it’s little wage ye get by walkin’ through the
wet fields to see an old woman like me 。 。 。 Nay； I’n got no daughter
o’ my own—ne’er had one—an’ I warna sorry； for they’re poor
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queechy things； gells is； I allays wanted to ha’ lads； as could fend
for theirsens。 An’ the lads ’ull be marryin’—I shall ha’ daughters
eno’； an’ too many。 But now； do ye make the tay as ye like it； for I’n
got no taste i’ my mouth this day—it’s all one what I swaller—it’s
all got the taste o’ sorrow wi’t。”
Dinah took care not to betray that she had had her tea； and
accepted Lisbeth’s invitation very readily； for the sake of
persuading the old woman herself to take the food and drink she
so much needed after a day of hard work and fasting。
Seth was so happy now Dinah was in the house that he could
not help thinking her presence was worth purchasing with a life in
which grief incessantly followed upon grief； but the next moment
he reproached himself—it was almost as if he were rejoicing in his
father’s sad death。 Nevertheless the joy of being with Dinah would
triumph—it was like the influence of climate； which no resistance
can overcome。 And the feeling even suffused itself over his face so
as to attract his mother’s notice； while she was drinking her tea。
“Thee may ’st well talk o’ trouble bein’ a good thing； Seth； for
thee thriv’st on ’t。 Thee look’st as if thee know’dst no more o’ care
an’ cumber nor when thee wast a babby a…lyin’ awake i’ th’ cradle。
For thee’dst allays lie still wi’ thy eyes open； an’ Adam ne’er ’ud lie
still a minute when he wakened。 Thee wast allays like a bag o’
meal as can ne’er be bruised—though； for the matter o’ that； thy
poor feyther war just such another。 But ye’ve got the same look
too” （here Lisbeth turned to Dinah）。 “I reckon it’s wi’ bein’ a
Methody。 Not as I’m a…findin’ faut wi’ ye for ’t； for ye’ve no call to
be frettin’； an’ somehow ye looken sorry too。 Eh！ Well； if the
Methodies are fond o’ trouble； they’re like to thrive： it’s a pity they
canna ha’t all； an’ take it away from them as donna like it。 I could
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ha’ gi’en ’em plenty； for when I’d gotten my old man I war
worreted from morn till night； and now he’s gone； I’d be glad for
the worst o’er again。”
“Yes；” said Dinah； careful not to oppose any feeling of
Lisbeth’s； for her reliance； in her smallest words and deeds； on a
divine guidance； always issued in that finest woman’s tact which
proceeds from acute and ready sympathy； “yes； I remember too；
when my dear aunt died； I longed for the sound of her bad cough
in the nights； instead of the silence that came when she was gone。
But now； dear friend； drink this other cup of tea and eat a little
more。”
“What！” said Lisbeth； taking the cup and speaking in a less
querulous tone； “had ye got no feyther and mother； then； as ye war
so sorry about your aunt？”
“No； I never knew a father or mother； my aunt brought me up
from a baby。 She had no children； for she was never married and
she brought me up as tenderly as if I’d been her own child。”
“Eh； she’d fine work wi’ ye； I’ll warrant； bringin’ ye up from a
babby； an’ her a lone woman—it’s ill bringin’ up a cade lamb。 But I
daresay ye warna franzy； for ye look as if ye’d ne’er been angered
i’ your life。 But what did ye do when your aunt died； an’ why didna
ye come to live in this country； bein’ as Mrs。 Poyser’s your aunt
too？”
Dinah； seeing that Lisbeth’s attention was attracted； told her
the story of her early life—how she had been brought up to work
hard； and what sort of place Snowfield was； and how many people
had a hard life there—all the details that she thought likely to
interest Lisbeth。 The old woman listened； and forgot to be fretful；
unconsciously subject to the soothing influence of Dinah’s face
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and voice。 After a while she was persuaded to let the kitchen be
made tidy； for Dinah was bent on this； believing that the sense of
order and quietude around her would help in disposing Lisbeth to
join in the prayer she longed to pour forth at her side。 Seth；
meanwhile； went out to chop wood； for he surmised that Dinah
would like to be left alone with his mother。
Lisbeth sat watching her as she moved about in her still quick
way； and said at last； “Ye’ve got a notion o’ cleanin’ up。 I wouldna
mind ha’in ye for a daughter； for ye wouldna spend the lad’s wage
i’ fine clothes an’ waste。 Ye’re not like the lasses o’ this
countryside。 I reckon folks is different at Snowfield from what
they are here。”
“They have a different sort of life； many of ’em；” said Dinah；
“they work at different things—some in the mill； and many in the
mines； in the villages round about。 But the heart of man is the
same everywhere； and there are the children of this world and the
children of light there as well as elsewhere。 But we’ve many more
Methodists there than in this country。”
“Well； I didna know as the Methody women war like ye； for
there’s Will Maskery’s wife； as they say’s a big Methody； isna
pleasant to look at； at all。 I’d as lief look at a tooad。 An’ I’m thinkin’
I wouldna mind if ye’d stay an’ sleep here； for I should like to see
ye i’ th’ house i’ th’ mornin’。 But mayhappen they’ll be lookin for
ye at Mester Poyser’s。”
“No；” said Dinah； “they don’t expect me； and I should like to
stay； if you’ll let me。”
“Well； there’s room； I’n got my bed laid i’ th’ little room o’er the
back kitchen； an’ ye can lie beside me。 I’d be glad to ha’ ye wi’ me
to speak to i’ th’ night； for ye’ve got a nice way o’ talkin’。 It puts me
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i’ mind o’ the swallows as was under the thack last ’ear when they
fust begun to sing low an’ soft…like i’ th’ mornin’。 Eh； but my old
man war fond o’ them birds！ An’ so war Adam； but they’n ne’er
comed again this ’ear。 Happen they’re dead too。”
“There；” said Dinah； “now the kitchen looks tidy； and now； dear
Mother—for I’m your daughter to…night； you know—I should like
you to wash your face and have a clean cap on。 Do you remember
what David did； when God took away his child from him？ While
the child was yet alive he fasted and prayed to God to spare it； and
he would neither eat nor drink； but lay on the ground all night；
beseeching God for the child。 But when he knew it was dead； he
rose up from the ground and washed and anointed himself； and
changed his clothes； and ate and drank； and when they asked him
how it was that he seemed to have left off grieving now the child
was dead； he said； ‘While the child was yet alive； I fasted and wept；
for I said； Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me； that
the child may live？ But now he is dead； wherefore should I fast？
Can I bring him back again？ I shall go to him； but he shall not
return to me。’”
“Eh； that’s a true word；” said Lisbeth。 “Yea； my old man wonna
come back to me； but I shall go to him—the sooner the better。
Well； ye may do as ye like wi’ me： there’s a clean cap i’ that
drawer； an’ I’ll go i’ the back kitchen an’ wash my face。 An’ Seth；
thee may ’st reach down Adam’s new Bible wi’ th’ picters in； an’
she shall read us a chapter。 Eh； I like them words—‘I shall go to
him； but he wonna come back to me。’”
Dinah and Seth were both inwardly offering thanks for the
greater quietness of spirit that had come over Lisbeth。 This was
what Dinah had been trying to bring about； through all her still
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sympathy and absence from exhortation。 From her girlhood
upwards she had had experience among the sick and the
mourning； among minds hardened and shrivelled through poverty
and ignorance； and had gained the subtlest perception of the mode
in which they could best be touched and softened into willingness
to receive words of spiritual consolation or warning。 As Dinah
expressed it； “she was never left to herself； but it was always given
her when to keep silence and when to speak。” And do we not all
agree to call rapid thought and noble impulse by the name of
inspiration？ After our subtlest analysis of the mental process； we
must still say； as Dinah did； that our highest thoughts and our best
deeds are all given to us。
And so there was earnest prayer—there was faith； love； and
hope pouring forth that evening in the little kitchen。 And poor；
aged； fretful Lisbeth； without grasping any distinct idea； without
going through any course of religious emotions； felt a vague sense
of goodness and love； an
