第 144 节
作者:温暖寒冬      更新:2024-04-09 19:50      字数:9210
  at Hayslope the same evening I heard you preach; and recognised
  him in court to…day; ill as he looked。”
  “Ah; sir; can you tell me anything about him? Can you tell me
  where he lodges? For my poor uncle was too much weighed down
  with trouble to remember。”
  George Eliot                                                        ElecBook Classics
  … Page 587…
  Adam Bede                                     587
  “Close    by   here。   I  inquired   all  about    him   of  Mr。   Irwine。   He
  lodges over a tinman’s shop; in the street on the right hand as you
  entered the prison。 There is an old school…master with him。 Now;
  good…bye: I wish you success。”
  “Farewell; sir。 I am grateful to you。”
  As Dinah crossed the prison court with the turnkey; the solemn
  evening light seemed to make the walls higher than they were by
  day; and the sweet pale face in the cap was more than ever like a
  white   flower   on   this   background   of   gloom。   The   turnkey   looked
  askance   at   her   all   the   while;   but   never   spoke。   He   somehow   felt
  that the sound of his   own   rude   voice   would be   grating  just  then。
  He struck a light as they entered the dark corridor leading to the
  condemned cell; and then said in his most civil tone; “It’ll be pretty
  nigh dark in the cell a’ready; but I can stop with my light a bit; if
  you like。”
  “Nay; friend; thank you;” said Dinah。 “I wish to go in alone。”
  “As you like;” said the jailer; turning the harsh key in the lock
  and opening the door wide enough to admit  Dinah。 A   jet  of  light
  from his lantern fell on the opposite corner of the cell; where Hetty
  was sitting on her straw pallet with her face buried in her knees。 It
  seemed as if she were asleep; and yet the grating of the lock would
  have been likely to waken her。
  The door closed again; and the only light in the cell was that of
  the    evening     sky;  through     the   small    high   grating—enough         to
  discern human faces by。 Dinah stood still for a minute; hesitating
  to   speak    because     Hetty    might    be   asleep;   and    looking    at  the
  motionless      heap    with   a  yearning     heart。   Then    she   said;  softly;
  “Hetty!”
  There   was   a   slight   movement  perceptible   in   Hetty’s   frame—a
  George Eliot                                                        ElecBook Classics
  … Page 588…
  Adam Bede                                      588
  start   such   as   might   have     been    produced     by   a  feeble   electrical
  shock—but she did not look up。 Dinah spoke again; in a tone made
  stronger by irrepressible emotion:
  “Hetty 。 。 。 it’s Dinah。”
  Again   there   was     a   slight   startled   movement   through   Hetty’s
  frame;   and   without   uncovering   her   face;   she   raised   her   head   a
  little; as if listening。
  “Hetty 。 。 。 Dinah is come to you。”
  After    a  moment’s       pause;    Hetty   lifted   her   head    slowly    and
  timidly   from   her   knees   and   raised   her   eyes。   The   two   pale   faces
  were looking at each other: one with a wild hard despair in it; the
  other   full   of   sad   yearning   love。   Dinah   unconsciously   opened   her
  arms and stretched them out。
  “Don’t you know me; Hetty? Don’t you remember Dinah?  Did
  you think I wouldn’t come to you in trouble?”
  Hetty    kept    her   eyes   fixed   on   Dinah’s    face—at     first  like   an
  animal that gazes; and gazes; and keeps aloof。
  “I’m come to be with you; Hetty—not to leave you—to stay with
  you—to be your sister to the last。”
  Slowly;     while   Dinah     was   speaking;     Hetty    rose;   took   a   step
  forward; and was clasped in Dinah’s arms。
  They stood so a long while; for neither of them felt the impulse
  to move apart again。 Hetty; without any distinct thought of it; hung
  on this something that was come to clasp her now; while she was
  sinking   helpless   in   a   dark   gulf;   and   Dinah   felt   a   deep   joy   in   the
  first   sign   that   her   love   was   welcomed   by   the   wretched   lost   one。
  The light got fainter as they stood; and when at last they sat down
  on the straw pallet together; their faces had become indistinct。
  Not     a   word     was     spoken。     Dinah      waited;    hoping      for   a
  George Eliot                                                         ElecBook Classics
  … Page 589…
  Adam Bede                                      589
  spontaneous        word    from    Hetty;    but   she   sat  in   the   same    dull
  despair;   only   clutching   the   hand   that   held   hers   and   leaning   her
  cheek against Dinah’s。 It was the human contact she clung to; but
  she was not the less sinking into the dark gulf。
  Dinah began to doubt whether Hetty was conscious who it was
  that   sat   beside   her。   She   thought   suffering   and   fear   might   have
  driven the poor sinner out of her mind。 But it was borne in upon
  her; as she afterwards said; that  she   must not  hurry  God’s   work:
  we are overhasty to speak—as if God did not manifest himself by
  our silent feeling; and make his love felt through ours。 She did not
  know how long they sat in that way; but it got darker and darker;
  till there was only a pale patch of light on the opposite wall: all the
  rest   was    darkness。    But   she   felt   the  Divine   presence     more    and
  more—nay; as if she herself were a part of it; and it was the Divine
  pity   that   was   beating   in   her   heart   and   was   willing   the   rescue   of
  this helpless one。 At last she was prompted to speak and find out
  how far Hetty was conscious of the present。
  “Hetty;”   she   said   gently;   “do   you   know   who   it   is   that   sits   by
  your side?”
  “Yes;” Hetty answered slowly; “it’s Dinah。”
  “And   do   you   remember   the   time   when   we   were   at   the   Hall
  Farm together; and that night when I told you to be sure and think
  of me as a friend in trouble?”
  “Yes;” said Hetty。 Then; after a pause; she added; “But you can
  do nothing for me。 You can’t make ’em do anything。 They’ll hang
  me o’ Monday—it’s Friday now。”
  As    Hetty    said   the  last   words;    she   clung    closer    to  Dinah;
  shuddering。
  “No;    Hetty;   I  can’t   save   you   from   that   death。    But   isn’t  the
  George Eliot                                                         ElecBook Classics
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  Adam Bede                                    590
  suffering less hard when you have somebody with  you;   that  feels
  for you—that you can speak to; and say what’s in your heart? 。 。 。
  Yes; Hetty: you lean on me: you are glad to have me with you。”
  “You won’t leave me; Dinah? You’ll keep close to me?”
  “No; Hetty; I won’t leave you。 I’ll stay  with  you  to  the   last  。   。   。
  But; Hetty; there is some one else in this cell besides me; some one
  close to you。”
  Hetty said; in a frightened whisper; “Who?”
  “Some one who has been with you through all your hours of sin
  and   trouble—who   has   known   every   thought   you   have   had—has
  seen where you went; where you lay down and rose up again; and
  all the deeds you have tried to hide in darkness。 And on Monday;
  when   I   can’t   follow   you—when   my   arms   can’t   reach   you—when
  death has parted us—He who is with us now; and knows all; will
  be with you then。 It makes no difference—whether we live or die;
  we are in the presence of God。”
  “Oh; Dinah; won’t nobody do anything for me? Will they hang
  me for certain? 。 。 。 I wouldn’t mind if they’d let me live。”
  “My    poor   Hetty;   death    is  very  dreadful    to  you。   I  know   it’s
  dreadful。 But if you had a friend to take care of you after death—in
  that other world—some one whose love is greater than mine—who
  can do everything? 。 。 。 If God our Father was your friend; and was
  willing to save you from sin and suffering; so as you should neither
  know wicked feelings nor pain again? If you could believe he loved
  you  and   would   help   you; as   you   believe   I   love   you   and   will   help
  you; it wouldn’t be so hard to die on Monday; would it?”
  “But   I   can’t   know   anything   about   it;”   Hetty   said;   with   sullen
  sadness。
  “Because; Hetty; you are shutting up your soul against him; by
  George Eliot                                                      ElecBook Classics
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  Adam Bede                                         591
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