adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第52章
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that was their common practice。 The women； indeed； usually
entered the church at once； and the farmers’ wives talked in an
undertone to each other； over the tall pews； about their illnesses
and the total failure of doctor’s stuff； recommending dandelion…
tea； and other home…made specifics； as far preferable—about the
servants； and their growing exorbitance as to wages； whereas the
quality of their services declined from year to year； and there was
no girl nowadays to be trusted any further than you could see
her—about the bad price Mr。 Dingall； the Treddleston grocer； was
giving for butter； and the reasonable doubts that might be held as
to his solvency； notwithstanding that Mrs。 Dingall was a sensible
woman； and they were all sorry for her； for she had very good kin。
Meantime the men lingered outside； and hardly any of them
except the singers； who had a humming and fragmentary
rehearsal to go through； entered the church until Mr。 Irwine was
in the desk。 They saw no reason for that premature entrance—
what could they do in church if they were there before service
began？—and they did not conceive that any power in the universe
could take it ill of them if they stayed out and talked a little about
“bis’ness。”
Chad Cranage looks like quite a new acquaintance to…day； for
he has got his clean Sunday face； which always makes his little
granddaughter cry at him as a stranger。 But an experienced eye
would have fixed on him at once as the village blacksmith； after
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seeing the humble deference with which the big saucy fellow took
off his hat and stroked his hair to the farmers； for Chad was
accustomed to say that a working…man must hold a candle to a
personage understood to be as black as he was himself on
weekdays； by which evil…sounding rule of conduct he meant what
was； after all； rather virtuous than otherwise； namely； that men
who had horses to be shod must be treated with respect。 Chad and
the rougher sort of workmen kept aloof from the grave under the
white thorn； where the burial was going forward； but Sandy Jim；
and several of the farm…labourers； made a group round it； and
stood with their hats off； as fellow…mourners with the mother and
sons。 Others held a midway position； sometimes watching the
group at the grave； sometimes listening to the conversation of the
farmers； who stood in a knot near the church door； and were now
joined by Martin Poyser； while his family passed into the church。
On the outside of this knot stood Mr。 Casson； the landlord of the
Donnithorne Arms； in his most striking attitude—that is to say；
with the forefinger of his right hand thrust between the buttons of
his waistcoat； his left hand in his breeches pocket； and his head
very much on one side； looking； on the whole； like an actor who
has only a mono…syllabic part entrusted to him； but feels sure that
the audience discern his fitness for the leading business； curiously
in contrast with old Jonathan Burge； who held his hands behind
him and leaned forward； coughing asthmatically； with an inward
scorn of all knowingness that could not be turned into cash。 The
talk was in rather a lower tone than usual to…day； hushed a little by
the sound of Mr。 Irwine’s voice reading the final prayers of the
burial…service。 They had all had their word of pity for poor Thias；
but now they had got upon the nearer subject of their own
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grievances against Satchell； the Squire’s bailiff； who played the
part of steward so far as it was not performed by old Mr。
Donnithorne himself； for that gentleman had the meanness to
receive his own rents and make bargains about his own timber。
This subject of conversation was an additional reason for not
being loud； since Satchell himself might presently be walking up
the paved road to the church door。 And soon they became
suddenly silent； for Mr。 Irwine’s voice had ceased； and the group
round the white thorn was dispersing itself towards the church。
They all moved aside； and stood with their hats off； while Mr。
Irwine passed。 Adam and Seth were coming next； with their
mother between them； for Joshua Rann officiated as head sexton
as well as clerk； and was not yet ready to follow the rector into the
vestry。 But there was a pause before the three mourners came on：
Lisbeth had turned round to look again towards the grave！ Ah！
There was nothing now but the brown earth under the white
thorn。 Yet she cried less to…day than she had done any day since
her husband’s death。 Along with all her grief there was mixed an
unusual sense of her own importance in having a “burial；” and in
Mr。 Irwine’s reading a special service for her husband； and
besides； she knew the funeral psalm was going to be sung for him。
She felt this counter…excitement to her sorrow still more strongly
as she walked with her sons towards the church door； and saw the
friendly sympathetic nods of their fellow…parishioners。
The mother and sons passed into the church； and one by one
the loiterers followed； though some still lingered without； the sight
of Mr。 Donnithorne’s carriage； which was winding slowly up the
hill； perhaps helping to make them feel that there was no need for
haste。
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But presently the sound of the bassoon and the key…bugles
burst forth； the evening hymn； which always opened the service；
had begun； and every one must now enter and take his place。
I cannot say that the interior of Hayslope Church was
remarkable for anything except for the grey age of its oaken
pews—great square pews mostly； ranged on each side of a narrow
aisle。 It was free； indeed； from the modern blemish of galleries。
The choir had two narrow pews to themselves in the middle of the
right…hand row； so that it was a short process for Joshua Rann to
take his place among them as principal bass； and return to his
desk after the singing was over。 The pulpit and desk； grey and old
as the pews； stood on one side of the arch leading into the chancel；
which also had its grey square pews for Mr。 Donnithorne’s family
and servants。 Yet I assure you these grey pews； with the buff…
washed walls； gave a very pleasing tone to this shabby interior；
and agreed extremely well with the ruddy faces and bright
waistcoats。 And there were liberal touches of crimson toward the
chancel； for the pulpit and Mr。 Donnithorne’s own pew had
handsome crimson cloth cushions； and； to close the vista； there
was a crimson altar…cloth； embroidered with golden rays by Miss
Lydia’s own hand。
But even without the crimson cloth； the effect must have been
warm and cheering when Mr。 Irwine was in the desk； looking
benignly round on that simple congregation—on the hardy old
men； with bent knees and shoulders； perhaps； but with vigour left
for much hedge…clipping and thatching； on the tall stalwart frames
and roughly cut bronzed faces of the stone…cutters and carpenters；
on the half…dozen well…to…do farmers； with their apple…cheeked
families； and on the clean old women； mostly farm…labourers’
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wives； with their bit of snow…white cap…border under their black
bonnets； and with their withered arms； bare from the elbow；
folded passively over their chests。 For none of the old people held
books—why should they？ Not one of them could read。 But they
knew a few “good words” by heart； and their withered lips now
and then moved silently； following the service without any very
clear comprehension indeed； but with a simple faith in its efficacy
to ward off harm and bring blessing。 And now all faces were
visible； for all were standing up—the little children on the seats
peeping over the edge of the grey pews； while good Bishop Ken’s
evening hymn was being sung to one of those lively psalm…tunes
which died out with the last generation of rectors and choral
parish clerks。 Melodies die out； like the pipe of Pan； with the ears
that love them and listen for them。 Adam was not in his usual
place among the singers to…day； for he sat with his mother and
Seth； and he noticed with surprise that Bartle Massey was absent
too—all the more agreeable for Mr。 Joshua Rann； who gave out his
bass notes with unusual complacency and threw an extra ray of
severity into the glances he sent over his spectacles at the recusant
Will Maskery。
I beseech you to imagine Mr。 Irwine looking round on this
scene； in his ample white surplice that became him so well； with
his powdered hair thrown back； his rich brown complexion； and
his finely cut nostril and upper lip； for there was a certain virtue in
that benignant yet keen countenance as there is in all human faces
