adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第75章
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nine with the servant…maids to see the dancing； and as this dance
was confined to the chief tenants； there was abundant room for
every one。 The lights were charmingly disposed in coloured…paper
lamps； high up among green boughs； and the farmers’ wives and
daughters； as they peeped in； believed no scene could be more
splendid； they knew now quite well in what sort of rooms the king
and queen lived； and their thoughts glanced with some pity
towards cousins and acquaintances who had not this fine
opportunity of knowing how things went on in the great world。
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The lamps were already lit； though the sun had not long set； and
there was that calm light out of doors in which we seem to see all
objects more distinctly than in the broad day。
It was a pretty scene outside the house： the farmers and their
families were moving about the lawn； among the flowers and
shrubs； or along the broad straight road leading from the east
front； where a carpet of mossy grass spread on each side； studded
here and there with a dark flat…boughed cedar； or a grand
pyramidal fir sweeping the ground with its branches； all tipped
with a fringe of paler green。 The groups of cottagers in the park
were gradually diminishing； the young ones being attracted
towards the lights that were beginning to gleam from the windows
of the gallery in the abbey； which was to be their dancing…room；
and some of the sober elder ones thinking it time to go home
quietly。 One of these was Lisbeth Bede； and Seth went with her—
not from filial attention only； for his conscience would not let him
join in dancing。 It had been rather a melancholy day to Seth：
Dinah had never been more constantly present with him than in
this scene； where everything was so unlike her。 He saw her all the
more vividly after looking at the thoughtless faces and gay…
coloured dresses of the young women—just as one feels the beauty
and the greatness of a pictured Madonna the more when it has
been for a moment screened from us by a vulgar head in a bonnet。
But this presence of Dinah in his mind only helped him to bear the
better with his mother’s mood； which had been becoming more
and more querulous for the last hour。 Poor Lisbeth was suffering
from a strange conflict of feelings。 Her joy and pride in the honour
paid to her darling son Adam was beginning to be worsted in the
conflict with the jealousy and fretfulness which had revived when
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Adam came to tell her that Captain Donnithorne desired him to
join the dancers in the hall。 Adam was getting more and more out
of her reach； she wished all the old troubles back again； for then it
mattered more to Adam what his mother said and did。
“Eh； it’s fine talkin’ o’ dancin’；” she said； “an’ thy father not a
five week in’s grave。 An’ I wish I war there too； i’stid o’ bein’ left to
take up merrier folks’s room above ground。”
“Nay； don’t look at it i’ that way； Mother；” said Adam； who was
determined to be gentle to her to…day。 “I don’t mean to dance—I
shall only look on。 And since the captain wishes me to be there； it
’ud look as if I thought I knew better than him to say as I’d rather
not stay。 And thee know’st how he’s behaved to me to…day。”
“Eh； thee ’t do as thee lik’st； for thy old mother’s got no right t’
hinder thee。 She’s nought but th’ old husk； and thee ’st slipped
away from her； like the ripe nut。”
“Well； Mother；” said Adam； “I’ll go and tell the captain as it
hurts thy feelings for me to stay； and I’d rather go home upo’ that
account： he won’t take it ill then； I daresay； and I’m willing。” He
said this with some effort； for he really longed to be near Hetty this
evening。
“Nay； nay； I wonna ha’ thee do that—the young squire ’ull be
angered。 Go an’ do what thee ’t ordered to do； an’ me and Seth ’ull
go whome。 I know it’s a grit honour for thee to be so looked on—
an’ who’s to be prouder on it nor thy mother？ Hadna she the
cumber o’ rearin’ thee an’ doin’ for thee all these ’ears？”
“Well； good…bye； then； Mother—good…bye； lad—remember Gyp
when you get home；” said Adam； turning away towards the gate of
the pleasure…grounds； where he hoped he might be able to join the
Poysers； for he had been so occupied throughout the afternoon
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that he had had no time to speak to Hetty。 His eye soon detected a
distant group； which he knew to be the right one； returning to the
house along the broad gravel road； and he hastened on to meet
them。
“Why； Adam； I’m glad to get sight on y’ again；” said Mr。 Poyser；
who was carrying Totty on his arm。 “You’re going t’ have a bit o’
fun； I hope； now your work’s all done。 And here’s Hetty has
promised no end o’ partners； an’ I’ve just been askin’ her if she’d
agreed to dance wi’ you； an’ she says no。”
“Well； I didn’t think o’ dancing to…night；” said Adam； already
tempted to change his mind； as he looked at Hetty。
“Nonsense！” said Mr。 Poyser。 “Why； everybody’s goin’ to dance
to…night； all but th’ old squire and Mrs。 Irwine。 Mrs。 Best’s been
tellin’ us as Miss Lyddy and Miss Irwine ’ull dance； an’ the young
squire ’ull pick my wife for his first partner； t’ open the ball： so
she’ll be forced to dance； though she’s laid by ever sin’ the
Christmas afore the little un was born。 You canna for shame stand
still； Adam； an’ you a fine young fellow and can dance as well as
anybody。”
“Nay； nay；” said Mrs。 Poyser； “it ’ud be unbecomin’。 I know the
dancin’s nonsense； but if you stick at everything because it’s
nonsense； you wonna go far i’ this life。 When your broth’s ready…
made for you； you mun swallow the thickenin’； or else let the broth
alone。”
“Then if Hetty ’ull dance with me；” said Adam； yielding either
to Mrs。 Poyser’s argument or to something else； “I’ll dance
whichever dance she’s free。”
“I’ve got no partner for the fourth dance；” said Hetty； “I’ll
dance that with you； if you like。”
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“Ah；” said Mr。 Poyser； “but you mun dance the first dance；
Adam； else it’ll look partic’ler。 There’s plenty o’ nice partners to
pick an’ choose from； an’ it’s hard for the gells when the men stan’
by and don’t ask ’em。”
Adam felt the justice of Mr。 Poyser’s observation： it would not
do for him to dance with no one besides Hetty； and remembering
that Jonathan Burge had some reason to feel hurt to…day； he
resolved to ask Miss Mary to dance with him the first dance； if she
had no other partner。
“There’s the big clock strikin’ eight；” said Mr。 Poyser； “we must
make haste in now； else the squire and the ladies ’ull be in afore
us； an’ that wouldna look well。”
When they had entered the hall； and the three children under
Molly’s charge had been seated on the stairs； the folding…doors of
the drawing…room were thrown open； and Arthur entered in his
regimentals； leading Mrs。 Irwine to a carpet…covered dais
ornamented with hot…house plants； where she and Miss Anne were
to be seated with old Mr。 Donnithorne； that they might look on at
the dancing； like the kings and queens in the plays。 Arthur had put
on his uniform to please the tenants； he said； who thought as much
of his militia dignity as if it had been an elevation to the
premiership。 He had not the least objection to gratify them in that
way： his uniform was very advantageous to his figure。
The old squire； before sitting down； walked round the hall to
greet the tenants and make polite speeches to the wives： he was
always polite； but the farmers had found out； after long puzzling；
that this polish was one of the signs of hardness。 It was observed
that he gave his most elaborate civility to Mrs。 Poyser to…night；
inquiring particularly about her health； recommending her to
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strengthen herself with cold water as he did； and avoid all drugs。
Mrs。 Poyser curtsied and thanked him with great self…command；
but when he had passed on； she whispered to her husband； “I’ll
lay my life he’s brewin’ some nasty turn against us。 Old Harry
doesna wag his tail so for nothin’。” Mr。 Poyser had no time to
answer； for now Arthur came up and said； “Mrs。 Poyser； I’m come
to request the favour of your hand for the first dance； and； Mr。
Poyser； you must let me take you to my aunt； for she claims you as
her partner。”
The wife’s pale cheek flushed with a nervous sense of unwonted
honour as Arthur led her to the top of the room； but Mr。 Poyser； to
whom an extra glass had restored his youthful confidence in his
good looks and good dancing； walked along with them quite
proudly； secretly flattering himself that Miss Lydia had never had
a partner in her life who could lif
