adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第6章
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strappin’ young carpenter as is a ready…made Methody； like Seth；
wouldna be a bad match for her。 Why； Poysers make as big a fuss
wi’ Adam Bede as if he war a nevvy o’ their own。”
“Idle talk！ idle talk！” said Mr。 Joshua Rann。 “Adam an’ Seth’s
two men； you wunna fit them two wi’ the same last。”
“Maybe；” said Wiry Ben； contemptuously； “but Seth’s the lad
for me； though he war a Methody twice o’er。 I’m fair beat wi’ Seth；
for I’ve been teasin’ him iver sin’ we’ve been workin’ together； an’
he bears me no more malice nor a lamb。 An’ he’s a stout…hearted
feller too； for when we saw the old tree all afire a…comin’ across the
fields one night； an’ we thought as it war a boguy； Seth made no
more ado； but he up to ’t as bold as a constable。 Why； there he
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comes out o’ Will Maskery’s； an’ there’s Will hisself； lookin’ as
meek as if he couldna knock a nail o’ the head for fear o’ hurtin ’t。
An’ there’s the pretty preacher woman！ My eye； she’s got her
bonnet off。 I mun go a bit nearer。”
Several of the men followed Ben’s lead； and the traveller
pushed his horse on to the Green； as Dinah walked rather quickly
and in advance of her companions towards the cart under the
maple…tree。 While she was near Seth’s tall figure； she looked short；
but when she had mounted the cart； and was away from all
comparison； she seemed above the middle height of woman；
though in reality she did not exceed it—an effect which was due to
the slimness of her figure and the simple line of her black stuff
dress。 The stranger was struck with surprise as he saw her
approach and mount the cart—surprise； not so much at the
feminine delicacy of her appearance； as at the total absence of self…
consciousness in her demeanour。 He had made up his mind to see
her advance with a measured step and a demure solemnity of
countenance； he had felt sure that her face would be mantled with
the smile of conscious saintship； or else charged with denunciatory
bitterness。 He knew but two types of Methodist—the ecstatic and
the bilious。 But Dinah walked as simply as if she were going to
market； and seemed as unconscious of her outward appearance as
a little boy： there was no blush； no tremulousness； which said； “I
know you think me a pretty woman； too young to preach”； no
casting up or down of the eyelids； no compression of the lips； no
attitude of the arms that said； “But you must think of me as a
saint。” She held no book in her ungloved hands； but let them hang
down lightly crossed before her； as she stood and turned her grey
eyes on the people。 There was no keenness in the eyes； they
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seemed rather to be shedding love than making observations； they
had the liquid look which tells that the mind is full of what it has to
give out； rather than impressed by external objects。 She stood with
her left hand towards the descending sun； and leafy boughs
screened her from its rays； but in this sober light the delicate
colouring of her face seemed to gather a calm vividness； like
flowers at evening。 It was a small oval face； of a uniform
transparent whiteness； with an egg…like line of cheek and chin； a
full but firm mouth； a delicate nostril； and a low perpendicular
brow； surmounted by a rising arch of parting between smooth
locks of pale reddish hair。 The hair was drawn straight back
behind the ears； and covered； except for an inch or two above the
brow； by a net Quaker cap。 The eyebrows； of the same colour as
the hair； were perfectly horizontal and firmly pencilled； the
eyelashes； though no darker； were long and abundant—nothing
was left blurred or unfinished。 It was one of those faces that make
one think of white flowers with light touches of colour on their
pure petals。 The eyes had no peculiar beauty； beyond that of
expression； they looked so simple； so candid； so gravely loving；
that no accusing scowl； no light sneer could help melting away
before their glance。 Joshua Rann gave a long cough； as if he were
clearing his throat in order to come to a new understanding with
himself； Chad Cranage lifted up his leather skull…cap and
scratched his head； and Wiry Ben wondered how Seth had the
pluck to think of courting her。
“A sweet woman；” the stranger said to himself； “but surely
nature never meant her for a preacher。”
Perhaps he was one of those who think that nature has
theatrical properties and； with the considerate view of facilitating
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art and psychology； “makes up；” her characters； so that there may
be no mistake about them。 But Dinah began to speak。
“Dear friends；” she said in a clear but not loud voice “let us
pray for a blessing。”
She closed her eyes； and hanging her head down a little
continued in the same moderate tone； as if speaking to some one
quite near her： “Saviour of sinners！ When a poor woman laden
with sins； went out to the well to draw water； she found Thee
sitting at the well。 She knew Thee not； she had not sought Thee；
her mind was dark； her life was unholy。 But Thou didst speak to
her； Thou didst teach her； Thou didst show her that her life lay
open before Thee； and yet Thou wast ready to give her that
blessing which she had never sought。 Jesus； Thou art in the midst
of us； and Thou knowest all men： if there is any here like that poor
woman—if their minds are dark； their lives unholy—if they have
come out not seeking Thee； not desiring to be taught； deal with
them according to the free mercy which Thou didst show to her
Speak to them； Lord； open their ears to my message； bring their
sins to their minds； and make them thirst for that salvation which
Thou art ready to give。
“Lord； Thou art with Thy people still： they see Thee in the
night…watches； and their hearts burn within them as Thou talkest
with them by the way。 And Thou art near to those who have not
known Thee： open their eyes that they may see Thee—see Thee
weeping over them； and saying ‘Ye will not come unto me that ye
might have life’—see Thee hanging on the cross and saying；
‘Father； forgive them； for they know not what they do’—see Thee
as Thou wilt come again in Thy glory to judge them at the last。
Amen。”
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Dinah opened her eyes again and paused； looking at the group
of villagers； who were now gathered rather more closely on her
right hand。
“Dear friends；” she began； raising her voice a little； “you have
all of you been to church； and I think you must have heard the
clergyman read these words： ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me；
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor。’
Jesus Christ spoke those words—he said he came to preach the
gospel to the poor。 I don’t know whether you ever thought about
those words much； but I will tell you when I remember first
hearing them。 It was on just such a sort of evening as this； when I
was a little girl； and my aunt as brought me up took me to hear a
good man preach out of doors； just as we are here。 I remember his
face well： he was a very old man； and had very long white hair； his
voice was very soft and beautiful； not like any voice I had ever
heard before。 I was a little girl and scarcely knew anything； and
this old man seemed to me such a different sort of a man from
anybody I had ever seen before that I thought he had perhaps
come down from the sky to preach to us； and I said； ‘Aunt； will he
go back to the sky to…night； like the picture in the Bible？’
“That man of God was Mr。 Wesley； who spent his life in doing
what our blessed Lord did—preaching the Gospel to the poor—
and he entered into his rest eight years ago。 I came to know more
about him years after； but I was a foolish thoughtless child then；
and I remembered only one thing he told us in his sermon。 He told
us as ‘Gospel’ meant ‘good news。’ The Gospel； you know； is what
the Bible tells us about God。
“Think of that now！ Jesus Christ did really come down from
heaven； as I； like a silly child； thought Mr。 Wesley did； and what he
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came down for was to tell good news about God to the poor。 Why；
you and me； dear friends； are poor。 We have been brought up in
poor cottages and have been reared on oat…cake； and lived coarse；
and we haven’t been to school much； nor read books； and we don’t
know much about anything but what happens just round us。 We
are just the sort of people that want to hear good news。 For when
anybody’s well off； they don’t
