adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第65章
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schoolmaster。 If anything like a question was ventured on this
subject； Bartle always replied； “Oh； I’ve seen many places—I’ve
been a deal in the south；” and the Loamshire men would as soon
have thought of asking for a particular town or village in Africa as
in “the south。”
“Now then； my boy；” said Bartle； at last； when he had poured
out his second mug of ale and lighted his pipe； “now then； we’ll
have a little talk。 But tell me first； have you heard any particular
news to…day？”
“No；” said Adam； “not as I remember。”
“Ah； they’ll keep it close； they’ll keep it close； I daresay。 But I
found it out by chance； and it’s news that may concern you； Adam；
else I’m a man that don’t know a superficial square foot from a
solid。”
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Here Bartle gave a series of fierce and rapid puffs； looking
earnestly the while at Adam。 Your impatient loquacious man has
never any notion of keeping his pipe alight by gentle measured
puffs； he is always letting it go nearly out； and then punishing it
for that negligence。 At last he said； “Satchell’s got a paralytic
stroke。 I found it out from the lad they sent to Treddleston for the
doctor； before seven o’clock this morning。 He’s a good way beyond
sixty； you know； it’s much if he gets over it。”
“Well；” said Adam； “I daresay there’d be more rejoicing than
sorrow in the parish at his being laid up。 He’s been a selfish； tale…
bearing； mischievous fellow； but； after all； there’s nobody he’s
done so much harm to as to th’ old squire。 Though it’s the squire
himself as is to blame—making a stupid fellow like that a sort o’
man…of…all…work； just to save th’ expense of having a proper
steward to look after th’ estate。 And he’s lost more by ill
management o’ the woods； I’ll be bound； than ’ud pay for two
stewards。 If he’s laid on the shelf； it’s to be hoped he’ll make way
for a better man； but I don’t see how it’s like to make any
difference to me。”
“But I see it； but I see it；” said Bartle； “and others besides me。
The captain’s coming of age now—you know that as well as I do—
and it’s to be expected he’ll have a little more voice in things。 And
I know； and you know too； what ’ud be the captain’s wish about
the woods； if there was a fair opportunity for making a change。
He’s said in plenty of people’s hearing that he’d make you
manager of the woods to…morrow； if he’d the power。 Why； Carroll；
Mr。 Irwine’s butler； heard him say so to the parson not many days
ago。 Carroll looked in when we were smoking our pipes o’
Saturday night at Casson’s； and he told us about it； and whenever
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anybody says a good word for you； the parson’s ready to back it；
that I’ll answer for。 It was pretty well talked over； I can tell you； at
Casson’s； and one and another had their fling at you； for if
donkeys set to work to sing； you’re pretty sure what the tune’ll
be。”
“Why； did they talk it over before Mr。 Burge？” said Adam； “or
wasn’t he there o’ Saturday？”
“Oh； he went away before Carroll came； and Casson—he’s
always for setting other folks right； you know—would have it
Burge was the man to have the management of the woods。 ‘A
substantial man；’ says he； ‘with pretty near sixty years’ experience
o’ timber： it ’ud be all very well for Adam Bede to act under him；
but it isn’t to be supposed the squire ’ud appoint a young fellow
like Adam； when there’s his elders and betters at hand！’ But I said；
‘That’s a pretty notion o’ yours； Casson。 Why； Burge is the man to
buy timber； would you put the woods into his hands and let him
make his own bargains？ I think you don’t leave your customers to
score their own drink； do you？ And as for age； what that’s worth
depends on the quality o’ the liquor。 It’s pretty well known who’s
the backbone of Jonathan Burge’s business。’”
“I thank you for your good word； Mr。 Massey；” said Adam。
“But； for all that； Casson was partly i’ the right for once。 There’s
not much likelihood that th’ old squire ’ud ever consent t’ employ
me。 I offended him about two years ago； and he’s never forgiven
me。”
“Why； how was that？ You never told me about it；” said Bartle。
“Oh； it was a bit o’ nonsense。 I’d made a frame for a screen for
Miss Lyddy—she’s allays making something with her worsted…
work； you know—and she’d given me particular orders about this
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screen； and there was as much talking and measuring as if we’d
been planning a house。 However； it was a nice bit o’ work； and I
liked doing it for her。 But； you know； those little friggling things
take a deal o’ time。 I only worked at it in over…hours—often late at
night—and I had to go to Treddleston over an’ over again about
little bits o’ brass nails and such gear； and I turned the little knobs
and the legs； and carved th’ open work； after a pattern； as nice as
could be。 And I was uncommon pleased with it when it was done。
And when I took it home； Miss Lyddy sent for me to bring it into
her drawing…room； so as she might give me directions about
fastening on the work—very fine needlework； Jacob and Rachel a…
kissing one another among the sheep； like a picture—and th’ old
squire was sitting there； for he mostly sits with her。 Well； she was
mighty pleased with the screen； and then she wanted to know
what pay she was to give me。 I didn’t speak at random—you know
it’s not my way； I’d calculated pretty close； though I hadn’t made
out a bill； and I said； ‘One pound thirty。’ That was paying for the
mater’als and paying me； but none too much； for my work。 Th’ old
squire looked up at this； and peered in his way at the screen； and
said； ‘One pound thirteen for a gimcrack like that！ Lydia； my dear；
if you must spend money on these things； why don’t you get them
at Rosseter； instead of paying double price for clumsy work here？
Such things are not work for a carpenter like Adam。 Give him a
guinea； and no more。’ Well； Miss Lyddy； I reckon； believed what
he told her； and she’s not over…fond o’ parting with the money
herself—she’s not a bad woman at bottom； but she’s been brought
up under his thumb； so she began fidgeting with her purse； and
turned as red as her ribbon。 But I made a bow； and said； ‘No；
thank you； madam； I’ll make you a present o’ the screen； if you
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please。 I’ve charged the regular price for my work； and I know it’s
done well； and I know； begging His Honour’s pardon； that you
couldn’t get such a screen at Rosseter under two guineas。 I’m
willing to give you my work—it’s been done in my own time； and
nobody’s got anything to do with it but me； but if I’m paid； I can’t
take a smaller price than I asked； because that ’ud be like saying
I’d asked more than was just。 With your leave； madam； I’ll bid you
good…morning。’ I made my bow and went out before she’d time to
say any more； for she stood with the purse in her hand； looking
almost foolish。 I didn’t mean to be disrespectful； and I spoke as
polite as I could； but I can give in to no man； if he wants to make it
out as I’m trying to overreach him。 And in the evening the footman
brought me the one pound thirteen wrapped in paper。 But since
then I’ve seen pretty clear as th’ old squire can’t abide me。”
“That’s likely enough； that’s likely enough；” said Bartle
meditatively。 “The only way to bring him round would be to show
him what was for his own interest； and that the captain may do—
that the captain may do。”
“Nay； I don’t know；” said Adam； “the squire’s ’cute enough but
it takes something else besides ’cuteness to make folks see what’ll
be their interest in the long run。 It takes some conscience and
belief in right and wrong； I see that pretty clear。 You’d hardly ever
bring round th’ old squire to believe he’d gain as much in a
straightfor’ard way as by tricks and turns。 And； besides； I’ve not
much mind to work under him： I don’t want to quarrel with any
gentleman； more particular an old gentleman turned eighty； and I
know we couldn’t agree long。 If the captain was master o’ th’
estate； it ’ud be different： he’s got a conscience and a will to do
right； and I’d sooner work for him nor for any man living。”
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“Well； well； my boy； if good luck knocks at your door； don’t you
put your head out at window and tell it to be gone about its
business； that’s all。 You must learn to deal with odd and even in
life； as well as in figures。 I tell you now； as I told you ten years ago；
when you pommelled young Mike Holdsworth for wanting to pass
a bad shilling before you knew whether he was in jest or earnest—
you’re over…hasty and pr
