adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第45章
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creatures worse off instead o’ better。 But there’s a difference
between the things folks call wrong。 I’m not for making a sin of
every little fool’s trick； or bit o’ nonsense anybody may be let into；
like some o’ them dissenters。 And a man may have two minds
whether it isn’t worthwhile to get a bruise or two for the sake of a
bit o’ fun。 But it isn’t my way to be see…saw about anything： I think
my fault lies th’ other way。 When I’ve said a thing； if it’s only to
myself； it’s hard for me to go back。”
“Yes； that’s just what I expected of you；” said Arthur。 “You’ve
got an iron will； as well as an iron arm。 But however strong a
man’s resolution may be； it costs him something to carry it out；
now and then。 We may determine not to gather any cherries and
keep our hands sturdily in our pockets； but we can’t prevent our
mouths from watering。”
“That’s true； sir； but there’s nothing like settling with ourselves
as there’s a deal we must do without i’ this life。 It’s no use looking
on life as if it was Treddles’on Fair； where folks only go to see
shows and get fairings。 If we do； we shall find it different。 But
where’s the use o’ me talking to you； sir？ You know better than I
do。”
“I’m not so sure of that； Adam。 You’ve had four or five years of
experience more than I’ve had； and I think your life has been a
better school to you than college has been to me。”
“Why； sir； you seem to think o’ college something like what
Bartle Massey does。 He says college mostly makes people like
bladders—just good for nothing but t’ hold the stuff as is poured
into ’em。 But he’s got a tongue like a sharp blade； Bartle has—it
never touches anything but it cuts。 Here’s the turning； sir。 I must
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bid you good…morning； as you’re going to the rectory。”
“Good…bye； Adam； good…bye。”
Arthur gave his horse to the groom at the rectory gate； and
walked along the gravel towards the door which opened on the
garden。 He knew that the rector always breakfasted in his study；
and the study lay on the left hand of this door； opposite the dining…
room。 It was a small low room； belonging to the old part of the
house—dark with the sombre covers of the books that lined the
walls； yet it looked very cheery this morning as Arthur reached the
open window。 For the morning sun fell aslant on the great glass
globe with gold fish in it； which stood on a scagliola pillar in front
of the ready…spread bachelor breakfast…table； and by the side of
this breakfast…table was a group which would have made any room
enticing。 In the crimson damask easy…chair sat Mr。 Irwine； with
that radiant freshness which he always had when he came from
his morning toilet； his finely formed plump white hand was
playing along Juno’s brown curly back； and close to Juno’s tail；
which was wagging with calm matronly pleasure； the two brown
pups were rolling over each other in an ecstatic duet of worrying
noises。 On a cushion a little removed sat Pug； with the air of a
maiden lady； who looked on these familiarities as animal
weaknesses； which she made as little show as possible of
observing。 On the table； at Mr。 Irwine’s elbow； lay the first volume
of the Foulis AEschylus； which Arthur knew well by sight； and the
silver coffee…pot； which Carroll was bringing in； sent forth a
fragrant steam which completed the delights of a bachelor
breakfast。
“Hallo； Arthur； that’s a good fellow！ You’re just in time；” said
Mr。 Irwine； as Arthur paused and stepped in over the low window…
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sill。 “Carroll； we shall want more coffee and eggs； and haven’t you
got some cold fowl for us to eat with that ham？ Why； this is like old
days； Arthur； you haven’t been to breakfast with me these five
years。”
“It was a tempting morning for a ride before breakfast；” said
Arthur； “and I used to like breakfasting with you so when I was
reading with you。 My grandfather is always a few degrees colder at
breakfast than at any other hour in the day。 I think his morning
bath doesn’t agree with him。”
Arthur was anxious not to imply that he came with any special
purpose。 He had no sooner found himself in Mr。 Irwine’s presence
than the confidence which he had thought quite easy before；
suddenly appeared the most difficult thing in the world to him；
and at the very moment of shaking hands he saw his purpose in
quite a new light。 How could he make Irwine understand his
position unless he told him those little scenes in the wood； and
how could he tell them without looking like a fool？ And then his
weakness in coming back from Gawaine’s； and doing the very
opposite of what he intended！ Irwine would think him a shilly…
shally fellow ever after。 However； it must come out in an
unpremeditated way； the conversation might lead up to it。
“I like breakfast…time better than any other moment in the
day；” said Mr。 Irwine。 “No dust has settled on one’s mind then；
and it presents a clear mirror to the rays of things。 I always have a
favourite book by me at breakfast； and I enjoy the bits I pick up
then so much； that regularly every morning it seems to me as if I
should certainly become studious again。 But presently Dent brings
up a poor fellow who has killed a hare； and when I’ve got through
my ‘justicing；’ as Carroll calls it； I’m inclined for a ride round the
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glebe； and on my way back I meet with the master of the
workhouse； who has got a long story of a mutinous pauper to tell
me； and so the day goes on； and I’m always the same lazy fellow
before evening sets in。 Besides； one wants the stimulus of
sympathy； and I have never had that since poor D’Oyley left
Treddleston。 If you had stuck to your books well； you rascal； I
should have had a pleasanter prospect before me。 But scholarship
doesn’t run in your family blood。”
“No indeed。 It’s well if I can remember a little inapplicable
Latin to adorn my maiden speech in Parliament six or seven years
hence。 ‘Cras ingens iterabimus aequor；’ and a few shreds of that
sort； will perhaps stick to me； and I shall arrange my opinions so
as to introduce them。 But I don’t think a knowledge of the classics
is a pressing want to a country gentleman； as far as I can see； he’d
much better have a knowledge of manures。 I’ve been reading your
friend Arthur Young’s books lately； and there’s nothing I should
like better than to carry out some of his ideas in putting the
farmers on a better management of their land； and； as he says；
making what was a wild country； all of the same dark hue； bright
and variegated with corn and cattle。 My grandfather will never let
me have any power while he lives； but there’s nothing I should like
better than to undertake the Stonyshire side of the estate—it’s in a
dismal condition—and set improvements on foot； and gallop about
from one place to another and overlook them。 I should like to
know all the labourers； and see them touching their hats to me
with a look of goodwill。”
“Bravo； Arthur！ A man who has no feeling for the classics
couldn’t make a better apology for coming into the world than by
increasing the quantity of food to maintain scholars—and rectors
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who appreciate scholars。 And whenever you enter on your career
of model landlord may I be there to see。 You’ll want a portly rector
to complete the picture； and take his tithe of all the respect and
honour you get by your hard work。 Only don’t set your heart too
strongly on the goodwill you are to get in consequence。 I’m not
sure that men are the fondest of those who try to be useful to
them。 You know Gawaine has got the curses of the whole
neighbourhood upon him about that enclosure。 You must make it
quite clear to your mind which you are most bent upon； old boy—
popularity or usefulness—else you may happen to miss both。”
“Oh！ Gawaine is harsh in his manners； he doesn’t make himself
personally agreeable to his tenants。 I don’t believe there’s
anything you can’t prevail on people to do with kindness。 For my
part； I couldn’t live in a neighbourhood where I was not respected
and beloved。 And it’s very pleasant to go among the tenants here—
they seem all so well inclined to me I suppose it seems only the
other day to them since I was a little lad； riding on a pony about as
big as a sheep。 And if fair allowances were made to them； and
their buildings attended to； one could persuade them to farm on a
better plan； stupid as they are。”
“Then mind you fall in love in the right place； and don’t get a
wife who will drain your purse and make you niggardly
