adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第71章
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us old folks； an’ our children grown to men an’ women an’ Your
Honour a family man。 I’ve no more to say as concerns the present
time； an’ so we’ll drink our young squire’s health—three times
three。”
Hereupon a glorious shouting； a rapping； a jingling； a clattering；
and a shouting； with plentiful da capo； pleasanter than a strain of
sublimest music in the ears that receive such a tribute for the first
time。 Arthur had felt a twinge of conscience during Mr。 Poyser’s
speech； but it was too feeble to nullify the pleasure he felt in being
praised。 Did he not deserve what was said of him on the whole？ If
there was something in his conduct that Poyser wouldn’t have
liked if he had known it； why； no man’s conduct will bear too close
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an inspection； and Poyser was not likely to know it； and； after all；
what had he done？ Gone a little too far； perhaps； in flirtation； but
another man in his place would have acted much worse； and no
harm would come—no harm should come； for the next time he was
alone with Hetty； he would explain to her that she must not think
seriously of him or of what had passed。 It was necessary to Arthur；
you perceive； to be satisfied with himself。 Uncomfortable thoughts
must be got rid of by good intentions for the future； which can be
formed so rapidly that he had time to be uncomfortable and to
become easy again before Mr。 Poyser’s slow speech was finished；
and when it was time for him to speak he was quite light…hearted。
“I thank you all； my good friends and neighbours；” Arthur said；
“for the good opinion of me； and the kind feelings towards me
which Mr。 Poyser has been expressing on your behalf and on his
own； and it will always be my heartiest wish to deserve them。 In
the course of things we may expect that； if I live； I shall one day or
other be your landlord； indeed； it is on the ground of that
expectation that my grandfather has wished me to celebrate this
day and to come among you now； and I look forward to this
position； not merely as one of power and pleasure for myself； but
as a means of benefiting my neighbours。 It hardly becomes so
young a man as I am to talk much about farming to you； who are
most of you so much older； and are men of experience； still； I have
interested myself a good deal in such matters； and learned as
much about them as my opportunities have allowed； and when the
course of events shall place the estate in my hands； it will be my
first desire to afford my tenants all the encouragement a landlord
can give them； in improving their land and trying to bring about a
better practice of husbandry。 It will be my wish to be looked on by
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all my deserving tenants as their best friend； and nothing would
make me so happy as to be able to respect every man on the
estate； and to be respected by him in return。 It is not my place at
present to enter into particulars； I only meet your good hopes
concerning me by telling you that my own hopes correspond to
them—that what you expect from me I desire to fulfil； and I am
quite of Mr。 Poyser’s opinion； that when a man has said what he
means； he had better stop。 But the pleasure I feel in having my
own health drunk by you would not be perfect if we did not drink
the health of my grandfather； who has filled the place of both
parents to me。 I will say no more； until you have joined me in
drinking his health on a day when he has wished me to appear
among you as the future representative of his name and family。”
Perhaps there was no one present except Mr。 Irwine who
thoroughly understood and approved Arthur’s graceful mode of
proposing his grandfather’s health。 The farmers thought the
young squire knew well enough that they hated the old squire； and
Mrs。 Poyser said； “he’d better not ha’ stirred a kettle o’ sour
broth。” The bucolic mind does not readily apprehend the
refinements of good taste。 But the toast could not be rejected and
when it had been drunk； Arthur said； “I thank you； both for my
grandfather and myself； and now there is one more thing I wish to
tell you； that you may share my pleasure about it； as I hope and
believe you will。 I think there can be no man here who has not a
respect； and some of you； I am sure； have a very high regard； for
my friend Adam Bede。 It is well known to every one in this
neighbourhood that there is no man whose word can be more
depended on than his； that whatever he undertakes to do； he does
well； and is as careful for the interests of those who employ him as
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for his own。 I’m proud to say that I was very fond of Adam when I
was a little boy； and I have never lost my old feeling for him—I
think that shows that I know a good fellow when I find him。 It has
long been my wish that he should have the management of the
woods on the estate； which happen to be very valuable； not only
because I think so highly of his character； but because he has the
knowledge and the skill which fit him for the place。 And I am
happy to tell you that it is my grandfather’s wish too； and it is now
settled that Adam shall manage the woods—a change which I am
sure will be very much for the advantage of the estate； and I hope
you will by…and…by join me in drinking his health； and in wishing
him all the prosperity in life that he deserves。 But there is a still
older friend of mine than Adam Bede present； and I need not tell
you that it is Mr。 Irwine。 I’m sure you will agree with me that we
must drink no other person’s health until we have drunk his。 I
know you have all reason to love him； but no one of his
parishioners has so much reason as I。 Come； charge your glasses；
and let us drink to our excellent rector—three times three！”
This toast was drunk with all the enthusiasm that was wanting
to the last； and it certainly was the most picturesque moment in
the scene when Mr。 Irwine got up to speak； and all the faces in the
room were turned towards him。 The superior refinement of his
face was much more striking than that of Arthur’s when seen in
comparison with the people round them。 Arthur’s was a much
commoner British face； and the splendour of his new…fashioned
clothes was more akin to the young farmer’s taste in costume than
Mr。 Irwine’s powder and the well…brushed but well…worn black；
which seemed to be his chosen suit for great occasions； for he had
the mysterious secret of never wearing a new…looking coat。
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“This is not the first time； by a great many；” he said； “that I
have had to thank my parishioners for giving me tokens of their
goodwill； but neighbourly kindness is among those things that are
the more precious the older they get。 Indeed； our pleasant meeting
to…day is a proof that when what is good comes of age and is likely
to live； there is reason for rejoicing； and the relation between us as
clergyman and parishioners came of age two years ago； for it is
three…and…twenty years since I first came among you； and I see
some tall fine…looking young men here； as well as some blooming
young women； that were far from looking as pleasantly at me
when I christened them as I am happy to see them looking now。
But I’m sure you will not wonder when I say that among all those
young men； the one in whom I have the strongest interest is my
friend Mr。 Arthur Donnithorne； for whom you have just expressed
your regard。 I had the pleasure of being his tutor for several years；
and have naturally had opportunities of knowing him intimately
which cannot have occurred to any one else who is present； and I
have some pride as well as pleasure in assuring you that I share
your high hopes concerning him； and your confidence in his
possession of those qualities which will make him an excellent
landlord when the time shall come for him to take that important
position among you。 We feel alike on most matters on which a man
who is getting towards fifty can feel in common with a young man
of one…and…twenty； and he has just been expressing a feeling
which I share very heartily； and I would not willingly omit the
opportunity of saying so。 That feeling is his value and respect for
Adam Bede。 People in a high station are of course more thought of
and talked about and have their virtues more praised； than those
whose lives are passed in humble everyday work； but every
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sensible man knows how necessary that humble everyday work is；
and how important it is to us that it should be done well。 And I
agree with my friend Mr。 Arthur Donnithorne in feeling that when
a man whose duty lies in that sort of work shows a character
which would make him an example in a
