adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第33章
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if she did not see Adam； and fixed her eyes on Seth’s face； saying
with calm kindness； “I won’t say farewell。 I shall see you again
when you come from work。 So as I’m at the farm before dark； it
will be quite soon enough。”
“Thank you； Dinah； I should like to walk home with you once
more。 It’ll perhaps be the last time。”
There was a little tremor in Seth’s voice。 Dinah put out her
hand and said； “You’ll have sweet peace in your mind to…day； Seth；
for your tenderness and long…suffering towards your aged
mother。”
She turned round and left the workshop as quickly and quietly
as she had entered it。 Adam had been observing her closely all the
while； but she had not looked at him。 As soon as she was gone； he
said； “I don’t wonder at thee for loving her； Seth。 She’s got a face
like a lily。”
Seth’s soul rushed to his eyes and lips： he had never yet
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confessed his secret to Adam； but now he felt a delicious sense of
disburthenment； as he answered；
“Aye； Addy； I do love her—too much； I doubt。 But she doesna
love me； lad； only as one child o’ God loves another。 She’ll never
love any man as a husband—that’s my belief。”
“Nay； lad； there’s no telling； thee mustna lose heart。 She’s made
out o’ stuff with a finer grain than most o’ the women； I can see
that clear enough。 But if she’s better than they are in other things；
I canna think she’ll fall short of ’em in loving。”
No more was said。 Seth set out to the village； and Adam began
his work on the coffin。
“God help the lad； and me too；” he thought； as he lifted the
board。 “We’re like enough to find life a tough job—hard work
inside and out。 It’s a strange thing to think of a man as can lift a
chair with his teeth and walk fifty mile on end； trembling and
turning hot and cold at only a look from one woman out of all the
rest i’ the world。 It’s a mystery we can give no account of； but no
more we can of the sprouting o’ the seed； for that matter。”
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Chapter XII
In the Wood
hat same Thursday morning； as Arthur Donnithorne was
moving about in his dressing…room seeing his well…looking
T
British person reflected in the old…fashioned mirrors； and
stared at； from a dingy olive…green piece of tapestry； by Pharaoh’s
daughter and her maidens； who ought to have been minding the
infant Moses； he was holding a discussion with himself； which； by
the time his valet was tying the black silk sling over his shoulder；
had issued in a distinct practical resolution。
“I mean to go to Eagledale and fish for a week or so；” he said
aloud。 “I shall take you with me； Pym； and set off this morning； so
be ready by half…past eleven。”
The low whistle； which had assisted him in arriving at this
resolution； here broke out into his loudest ringing tenor； and the
corridor； as he hurried along it； echoed to his favourite song from
the Beggar’s Opera； “When the heart of a man is oppressed with
care。” Not an heroic strain； nevertheless Arthur felt himself very
heroic as he strode towards the stables to give his orders about the
horses。 His own approbation was necessary to him； and it was not
an approbation to be enjoyed quite gratuitously； it must be won by
a fair amount of merit。 He had never yet forfeited that
approbation； and he had considerable reliance on his own virtues。
No young man could confess his faults more candidly； candour
was one of his favourite virtues； and how can a man’s candour be
seen in all its lustre unless he has a few failings to talk of？ But he
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had an agreeable confidence that his faults were all of a generous
kind—impetuous； warm…blooded； leonine； never crawling； crafty；
reptilian。 It was not possible for Arthur Donnithorne to do
anything mean； dastardly； or cruel。 “No！ I’m a devil of a fellow for
getting myself into a hobble； but I always take care the load shall
fall on my own shoulders。” Unhappily； there is no inherent
poetical justice in hobbles； and they will sometimes obstinately
refuse to inflict their worst consequences on the prime offender； in
spite of his loudly expressed wish。 It was entirely owing to this
deficiency in the scheme of things that Arthur had ever brought
any one into trouble besides himself。 He was nothing if not good…
natured； and all his pictures of the future； when he should come
into the estate； were made up of a prosperous； contented tenantry；
adoring their landlord； who would be the model of an English
gentleman—mansion in first…rate order； all elegance and high
taste—jolly housekeeping； finest stud in Loamshire—purse open
to all public objects—in short； everything as different as possible
from what was now associated with the name of Donnithorne。 And
one of the first good actions he would perform in that future
should be to increase Irwine’s income for the vicarage of Hayslope；
so that he might keep a carriage for his mother and sisters。 His
hearty affection for the rector dated from the age of frocks and
trousers。 It was an affection partly filial； partly fraternal—fraternal
enough to make him like Irwine’s company better than that of
most younger men； and filial enough to make him shrink strongly
from incurring Irwine’s disapprobation。
You perceive that Arthur Donnithorne was “a good fellow”—all
his college friends thought him such。 He couldn’t bear to see any
one uncomfortable； he would have been sorry even in his angriest
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moods for any harm to happen to his grandfather； and his Aunt
Lydia herself had the benefit of that soft…heartedness which he
bore towards the whole sex。 Whether he would have self…mastery
enough to be always as harmless and purely beneficent as his
good…nature led him to desire； was a question that no one had yet
decided against him； he was but twenty…one； you remember； and
we don’t inquire too closely into character in the case of a
handsome generous young fellow； who will have property enough
to support numerous peccadilloes—who； if he should
unfortunately break a man’s legs in his rash driving； will be able to
pension him handsomely； or if he should happen to spoil a
woman’s existence for her； will make it up to her with expensive
bon…bons； packed up and directed by his own hand。 It would be
ridiculous to be prying and analytic in such cases； as if one were
inquiring into the character of a confidential clerk。 We use round；
general； gentlemanly epithets about a young man of birth and
fortune； and ladies； with that fine intuition which is the
distinguishing attribute of their sex； see at once that he is “nice。”
The chances are that he will go through life without scandalising
any one； a seaworthy vessel that no one would refuse to insure。
Ships； certainly； are liable to casualties； which sometimes make
terribly evident some flaw in their construction that would never
have been discoverable in smooth water； and many a “good
fellow；” through a disastrous combination of circumstances； has
undergone a like betrayal。
But we have no fair ground for entertaining unfavourable
auguries concerning Arthur Donnithorne； who this morning
proves himself capable of a prudent resolution founded on
conscience。 One thing is clear： Nature has taken care that he shall
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never go far astray with perfect comfort and satisfaction to
himself； he will never get beyond that borderland of sin； where he
will be perpetually harassed by assaults from the other side of the
boundary。 He will never be a courtier of Vice； and wear her orders
in his button…hole。
It was about ten o’clock； and the sun was shining brilliantly；
everything was looking lovelier for the yesterday’s rain。 It is a
pleasant thing on such a morning to walk along the well…rolled
gravel on one’s way to the stables； meditating an excursion。 But
the scent of the stables； which； in a natural state of things； ought to
be among the soothing influences of a man’s life； always brought
with it some irritation to Arthur。 There was no having his own way
in the stables； everything was managed in the stingiest fashion。
His grandfather persisted in retaining as head groom an old dolt
whom no sort of lever could move out of his old habits； and who
was allowed to hire a succession of raw Loamshire lads as his
subordinates； one of whom had lately tested a new pair of shears
by clipping an oblong patch on Arthur’s bay mare。 This state of
things is naturally embittering； one can put up with annoyances in
the house； but to have the stable made a scene of vexation and
disgust is a point beyond what human fl
