adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第61章
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she hastened her step a little towards the far deal table； where she
might set down her cans—caught her foot in her apron； which had
become untied； and fell with a crash and a splash into a pool of
beer； whereupon a tittering explosion from Marty and Tommy；
and a serious “Ello！” from Mr。 Poyser； who saw his draught of ale
unpleasantly deferred。
“There you go！” resumed Mrs。 Poyser； in a cutting tone； as she
rose and went towards the cupboard while Molly began dolefully
to pick up the fragments of pottery。 “It’s what I told you ’ud come；
over and over again； and there’s your month’s wage gone； and
more； to pay for that jug as I’ve had i’ the house this ten year； and
nothing ever happened to ’t before； but the crockery you’ve broke
sin’ here in th’ house you’ve been ’ud make a parson swear—God
forgi’ me for saying so—an’ if it had been boiling wort out o’ the
copper； it ’ud ha’ been the same； and you’d ha’ been scalded and
very like lamed for life； as there’s no knowing but what you will be
some day if you go on； for anybody ’ud think you’d got the St。
Vitus’s Dance； to see the things you’ve throwed down。 It’s a pity
but what the bits was stacked up for you to see； though it’s neither
seeing nor hearing as ’ull make much odds to you—anybody ’ud
think you war case…hardened。”
Poor Molly’s tears were dropping fast by this time； and in her
desperation at the lively movement of the beer…stream towards
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Alick’s legs； she was converting her apron into a mop； while Mrs。
Poyser； opening the cupboard； turned a blighting eye upon her。
“Ah；” she went on； “you’ll do no good wi’ crying an’ making
more wet to wipe up。 It’s all your own wilfulness； as I tell you； for
there’s nobody no call to break anything if they’ll only go the right
way to work。 But wooden folks had need ha’ wooden things t’
handle。 And here must I take the brown…and…white jug； as it’s
niver been used three times this year； and go down i’ the cellar
myself； and belike catch my death； and be laid up wi’ inflammation
。 。 。”
Mrs。 Poyser had turned round from the cupboard with the
brown…and…white jug in her hand； when she caught sight of
something at the other end of the kitchen； perhaps it was because
she was already trembling and nervous that the apparition had so
strong an effect on her； perhaps jug…breaking； like other crimes；
has a contagious influence。 However it was； she stared and started
like a ghost…seer； and the precious brown…and…white jug fell to the
ground； parting for ever with its spout and handle。
“Did ever anybody see the like？” she said； with a suddenly
lowered tone； after a moment’s bewildered glance round the room。
“The jugs are bewitched； I think。 It’s them nasty glazed handles—
they slip o’er the finger like a snail。”
“Why； thee ’st let thy own whip fly i’ thy face；” said her
husband； who had now joined in the laugh of the young ones。
“It’s all very fine to look on and grin；” rejoined Mrs。 Poyser；
“but there’s times when the crockery seems alive an’ flies out o’
your hand like a bird。 It’s like the glass； sometimes； ’ull crack as it
stands。 What is to be broke will be broke； for I never dropped a
thing i’ my life for want o’ holding it； else I should never ha’ kept
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the crockery all these ’ears as I bought at my own wedding。 And
Hetty； are you mad？ Whativer do you mean by coming down i’
that way； and making one think as there’s a ghost a…walking i’ th’
house？”
A new outbreak of laughter； while Mrs。 Poyser was speaking；
was caused； less by her sudden conversion to a fatalistic view of
jug…breaking than by that strange appearance of Hetty； which had
startled her aunt。 The little minx had found a black gown of her
aunt’s； and pinned it close round her neck to look like Dinah’s； had
made her hair as flat as she could； and had tied on one of Dinah’s
high…crowned borderless net caps。 The thought of Dinah’s pale
grave face and mild grey eyes； which the sight of the gown and cap
brought with it； made it a laughable surprise enough to see them
replaced by Hetty’s round rosy cheeks and coquettish dark eyes。
The boys got off their chairs and jumped round her； clapping their
hands； and even Alick gave a low ventral laugh as he looked up
from his beans。 Under cover of the noise； Mrs。 Poyser went into
the back kitchen to send Nancy into the cellar with the great
pewter measure； which had some chance of being free from
bewitchment。
“Why； Hetty； lass； are ye turned Methodist？” said Mr。 Poyser；
with that comfortable slow enjoyment of a laugh which one only
sees in stout people。 “You must pull your face a deal longer before
you’ll do for one； mustna she； Adam？ How come you put them
things on； eh？”
“Adam said he liked Dinah’s cap and gown better nor my
clothes；” said Hetty； sitting down demurely。 “He says folks looks
better in ugly clothes。”
“Nay； nay；” said Adam； looking at her admiringly； “I only said
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they seemed to suit Dinah。 But if I’d said you’d look pretty in ’em；
I should ha’ said nothing but what was true。”
“Why； thee thought’st Hetty war a ghost； didstna？” said Mr。
Poyser to his wife； who now came back and took her seat again。
“Thee look’dst as scared as scared。”
“It little sinnifies how I looked；” said Mrs。 Poyser； “looks ’ull
mend no jugs； nor laughing neither； as I see。 Mr。 Bede； I’m sorry
you’ve to wait so long for your ale； but it’s coming in a minute。
Make yourself at home wi’ th’ cold potatoes： I know you like ’em。
Tommy； I’ll send you to bed this minute； if you don’t give over
laughing。 What is there to laugh at； I should like to know？ I’d
sooner cry nor laugh at the sight o’ that poor thing’s cap； and
there’s them as ’ud be better if they could make theirselves like
her i’ more ways nor putting on her cap。 It little becomes anybody
i’ this house to make fun o’ my sister’s child； an’ her just gone
away from us； as it went to my heart to part wi’ her。 An’ I know
one thing； as if trouble was to come； an’ I was to be laid up i’ my
bed； an’ the children was to die—as there’s no knowing but what
they will—an’ the murrain was to come among the cattle again； an’
everything went to rack an’ ruin； I say we might be glad to get
sight o’ Dinah’s cap again； wi’ her own face under it； border or no
border。 For she’s one o’ them things as looks the brightest on a
rainy day； and loves you the best when you’re most i’ need on ’t。”
Mrs。 Poyser； you perceive； was aware that nothing would be so
likely to expel the comic as the terrible。 Tommy； who was of a
susceptible disposition； and very fond of his mother； and who had；
besides； eaten so many cherries as to have his feelings less under
command than usual； was so affected by the dreadful picture she
had made of the possible future that he began to cry； and the
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good…natured father； indulgent to all weaknesses but those of
negligent farmers； said to Hetty； “You’d better take the things off
again； my lass； it hurts your aunt to see ’em。”
Hetty went upstairs again； and the arrival of the ale made an
agreeable diversion； for Adam had to give his opinion of the new
tap； which could not be otherwise than complimentary to Mrs。
Poyser； and then followed a discussion on the secrets of good
brewing； the folly of stinginess in “hopping；” and the doubtful
economy of a farmer’s making his own malt。 Mrs。 Poyser had so
many opportunities of expressing herself with weight on these
subjects that by the time supper was ended； the ale…jug refilled；
and Mr。 Poyser’s pipe alight she was once more in high good
humour； and ready； at Adam’s request； to fetch the broken
spinning…wheel for his inspection。
“Ah；” said Adam； looking at it carefully； “here’s a nice bit o’
turning wanted。 It’s a pretty wheel。 I must have it up at the
turning…shop in the village and do it there； for I’ve no convenience
for turning at home。 If you’ll send it to Mr。 Burge’s shop i’ the
morning； I’ll get it done for you by Wednesday。 I’ve been turning it
over in my mind；” he continued； looking at Mr。 Poyser； “to make a
bit more convenience at home for nice jobs o’ cabinet…making。 I’ve
always done a deal at such little things in odd hours； and they’re
profitable； for there’s more workmanship nor material in ’em。 I
look for me and Seth to get a little business for ourselves i’ that
way； for I know a man at Rosseter as ’ull take as many things as
we should make； besides what we could get orders for round
about。”
Mr。 Poys
