adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第32章
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and it was a trouble to ’em because they couldn’t。 I can’t help
being sorry for the dogs always； though perhaps there’s no need。
But they may well have more in them than they know how to
make us understand； for we can’t say half what we feel； with all
our words。”
Seth came down now； and was pleased to find Adam talking
with Dinah； he wanted Adam to know how much better she was
than all other women。 But after a few words of greeting； Adam
drew him into the workshop to consult about the coffin； and Dinah
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went on with her cleaning。
By six o’clock they were all at breakfast with Lisbeth in a
kitchen as clean as she could have made it herself。 The window
and door were open； and the morning air brought with it a
mingled scent of southernwood； thyme； and sweet…briar from the
patch of garden by the side of the cottage。 Dinah did not sit down
at first； but moved about； serving the others with the warm
porridge and the toasted oat…cake； which she had got ready in the
usual way； for she had asked Seth to tell her just what his mother
gave them for breakfast。 Lisbeth had been unusually silent since
she came downstairs； apparently requiring some time to adjust
her ideas to a state of things in which she came down like a lady to
find all the work done； and sat still to be waited on。 Her new
sensations seemed to exclude the remembrance of her grief。 At
last； after tasting the porridge； she broke silence：
“Ye might ha’ made the parridge worse；” she said to Dinah； “I
can ate it wi’out its turnin’ my stomach。 It might ha’ been a trifle
thicker an’ no harm； an’ I allays putten a sprig o’ mint in mysen；
but how’s ye t’ know that？ The lads arena like to get folks as ’ll
make their parridge as I’n made it for ’em； it’s well if they get
onybody as ’ll make parridge at all。 But ye might do； wi’ a bit o’
showin’； for ye’re a stirrin’ body in a mornin’； an’ ye’ve a light heel；
an’ ye’ve cleaned th’ house well enough for a ma’shift。”
“Makeshift； mother？” said Adam。 “Why； I think the house looks
beautiful。 I don’t know how it could look better。”
“Thee dostna know？ Nay； how’s thee to know？ Th’ men ne’er
know whether the floor’s cleaned or cat…licked。 But thee’lt know
when thee gets thy parridge burnt； as it’s like enough to be when
I’n gi’en o’er makin’ it。 Thee’lt think thy mother war good for
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summat then。”
“Dinah；” said Seth； “do come and sit down now and have your
breakfast。 We’re all served now。”
“Aye； come an’ sit ye down—do；” said Lisbeth； “an’ ate a
morsel； ye’d need； arter bein’ upo’ your legs this hour an’ half
a’ready。 Come； then；” she added； in a tone of complaining
affection； as Dinah sat down by her side； “I’ll be loath for ye t’ go；
but ye canna stay much longer； I doubt。 I could put up wi’ ye i’ th’
house better nor wi’ most folks。”
“I’ll stay till to…night if you’re willing；” said Dinah。 “I’d stay
longer； only I’m going back to Snowfield on Saturday； and I must
be with my aunt to…morrow。”
“Eh； I’d ne’er go back to that country。 My old man come from
that Stonyshire side； but he left it when he war a young un； an’ i’
the right on ’t too； for he said as there war no wood there； an’ it ’ud
ha’ been a bad country for a carpenter。”
“Ah；” said Adam； “I remember father telling me when I was a
little lad that he made up his mind if ever he moved it should be
south’ard。 But I’m not so sure about it。 Bartle Massey says—and
he knows the South—as the northern men are a finer breed than
the southern； harder…headed and stronger…bodied； and a deal
taller。 And then he says in some o’ those counties it’s as flat as the
back o’ your hand； and you can see nothing of a distance without
climbing up the highest trees。 I couldn’t abide that。 I like to go to
work by a road that’ll take me up a bit of a hill； and see the fields
for miles round me； and a bridge； or a town； or a bit of a steeple
here and there。 It makes you feel the world’s a big place； and
there’s other men working in it with their heads and hands
besides yourself。”
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“I like th’ hills best；” said Seth； “when the clouds are over your
head and you see the sun shining ever so far off； over the
Loamford way； as I’ve often done o’ late； on the stormy days。 It
seems to me as if that was heaven where there’s always joy and
sunshine； though this life’s dark and cloudy。”
“Oh； I love the Stonyshire side；” said Dinah； “I shouldn’t like to
set my face towards the countries where they’re rich in corn and
cattle； and the ground so level and easy to tread； and to turn my
back on the hills where the poor people have to live such a hard
life and the men spend their days in the mines away from the
sunlight。 It’s very blessed on a bleak cold day； when the sky is
hanging dark over the hill； to feel the love of God in one’s soul； and
carry it to the lonely； bare； stone houses； where there’s nothing
else to give comfort。”
“Eh！” said Lisbeth； “that’s very well for ye to talk； as looks welly
like the snowdrop…flowers as ha’ lived for days an’ days when I’n
gethered ’em； wi’ nothin’ but a drop o’ water an’ a peep o’ daylight；
but th’ hungry foulks had better leave th’ hungry country。 It
makes less mouths for the scant cake。 But；” she went on； looking
at Adam； “donna thee talk o’ goin’ south’ard or north’ard； an’
leavin’ thy feyther and mother i’ the churchyard； an’ goin’ to a
country as they know nothin’ on。 I’ll ne’er rest i’ my grave if I
donna see thee i’ the churchyard of a Sunday。”
“Donna fear； mother；” said Adam。 “If I hadna made up my
mind not to go； I should ha’ been gone before now。”
He had finished his breakfast now； and rose as he was speaking。
“What art goin’ to do？” asked Lisbeth。 “Set about thy feyther’s
coffin？”
“No； mother；” said Adam； “we’re going to take the wood to the
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village and have it made there。”
“Nay； my lad； nay；” Lisbeth burst out in an eager； wailing tone；
“thee wotna let nobody make thy feyther’s coffin but thysen？
Who’d make it so well？ An’ him as know’d what good work war；
an’s got a son as is the head o’ the village an’ all Treddles’on too；
for cleverness。”
“Very well； mother； if that’s thy wish； I’ll make the coffin at
home； but I thought thee wouldstna like to hear the work going
on。”
“An’ why shouldna I like ’t？ It’s the right thing to be done。 An’
what’s liking got to do wi’t？ It’s choice o’ mislikings is all I’n got i’
this world。 One mossel’s as good as another when your mouth’s
out o’ taste。 Thee mun set about it now this mornin’ fust thing。 I
wonna ha’ nobody to touch the coffin but thee。”
Adam’s eyes met Seth’s； which looked from Dinah to him rather
wistfully。
“No； Mother；” he said； “I’ll not consent but Seth shall have a
hand in it too； if it’s to be done at home。 I’ll go to the village this
forenoon； because Mr。 Burge ’ull want to see me； and Seth shall
stay at home and begin the coffin。 I can come back at noon； and
then he can go。”
“Nay； nay；” persisted Lisbeth； beginning to cry； “I’n set my
heart on ’t as thee shalt ma’ thy feyther’s coffin。 Thee ’t so stiff an’
masterful； thee ’t ne’er do as thy mother wants thee。 Thee wast
often angered wi’ thy feyther when he war alive； thee must be the
better to him now he’s gone。 He’d ha’ thought nothin’ on ’t for
Seth to ma’s coffin。”
“Say no more； Adam； say no more；” said Seth； gently； though
his voice told that he spoke with some effort； “Mother’s in the
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right。 I’ll go to work； and do thee stay at home。”
He passed into the workshop immediately； followed by Adam；
while Lisbeth； automatically obeying her old habits； began to put
away the breakfast things； as if she did not mean Dinah to take her
place any longer。 Dinah said nothing； but presently used the
opportunity of quietly joining the brothers in the workshop。
They had already got on their aprons and paper caps； and
Adam was standing with his left hand on Seth’s shoulder； while he
pointed with the hammer in his right to some boards which they
were looking at。 Their backs were turned towards the door by
which Dinah entered； and she came in so gently that they were not
aware of her presence till they heard her voice saying； “Seth
Bede！” Seth started； and they both turned round。 Dinah looked as
if she did not see Adam； and fixed her eyes on Seth’s face； saying
with calm kindness； “I won’t say farew
