第 172 节
作者:温暖寒冬      更新:2024-04-09 19:50      字数:7471
  Dinah’s and Adam’s children; was Uncle Seth’s earthly happiness。
  “Where didst see him?” asked Seth; as they walked on into the
  adjoining field。 “I can’t catch sight of him anywhere。”
  “Between   the   hedges   by  the   roadside;”  said   Dinah。   “I   saw  his
  hat and his shoulder。 There he is again。”
  “Trust   thee   for   catching   sight   of   him   if   he’s   anywhere   to   be
  seen;” said Seth; smiling。 “Thee’t like poor mother used to be。 She
  was   always   on  the  look   out  for  Adam;   and   could   see   him   sooner
  than other folks; for all her eyes got dim。”
  “He’s     been    longer    than    he   expected;”      said   Dinah;     taking
  Arthur’s   watch   from   a   small   side   pocket   and   looking   at   it;   “it’s
  nigh upon seven now。”
  “Aye; they’d have a deal to say to one another;” said Seth; “and
  the meeting ’ud touch ’em both pretty closish。 Why; it’s getting on
  towards eight years since they parted。”
  “Yes;”   said   Dinah;   “Adam   was   greatly   moved   this   morning   at
  the thought of the  change  he  should   see in  the  poor  young  man;
  from   the   sickness   he   has   undergone;   as   well   as   the   years   which
  have   changed  us   all。   And   the   death   of   the   poor   wanderer;   when
  she was coming back to us; has been sorrow upon sorrow。”
  “See; Addy;” said Seth; lowering the young one to his arm now
  and pointing; “there’s Father coming—at the far stile。”
  Dinah     hastened     her   steps;   and    little  Lisbeth   ran    on  at  her
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  Adam Bede                                     706
  utmost   speed   till   she   clasped   her   father’s   leg。   Adam   patted   her
  head and lifted her up to kiss her; but Dinah could see the marks
  of agitation on his face as she approached him; and he put her arm
  within his in silence。
  “Well;   youngster;   must   I   take   you?”   he   said;   trying   to   smile;
  when      Addy     stretched     out   his   arms—ready;        with    the   usual
  baseness of infancy; to give up his Uncle Seth at once; now there
  was some rarer patronage at hand。
  “It’s cut me a good deal; Dinah;” Adam said at last; when they
  were walking on。
  “Didst find him greatly altered?” said Dinah。
  “Why; he’s altered and yet not altered。 I should ha’ known him
  anywhere。 But his colour’s changed; and he looks sadly。 However;
  the doctors say he’ll soon be set right in his own country air。 He’s
  all sound in th’ inside; it’s only the fever shattered him so。 But he
  speaks just the same; and smiles at me just as he did when he was
  a lad。 It’s wonderful how he’s always had just the same sort o’ look
  when he smiles。”
  “I’ve never seen him smile; poor young man;” said Dinah。
  “But    thee  wilt   see   him   smile;   to…morrow;”      said   Adam。     “He
  asked after thee the first thing when he began to come round; and
  we could talk to one another。 ‘I hope she isn’t altered;’ he said; ‘I
  remember   her   face   so   well。’   I   told   him   ‘no;’”   Adam   continued;
  looking fondly at the eyes that were turned towards his; “only a bit
  plumper;   as   thee’dst   a   right   to   be   after   seven   year。   ‘I   may   come
  and see her to…morrow; mayn’t I?’ he said; ‘I long to tell her how
  I’ve thought of her all these years。’”
  “Didst tell him I’d always used the watch?” said Dinah。
  “Aye; and we talked a deal about thee; for he says he never saw
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  Adam Bede                                     707
  a woman a bit like thee。 ‘I shall turn Methodist some day;’ he said;
  ‘when she preaches out of doors; and go to hear her。’ And I said;
  ‘Nay; sir; you can’t do that; for Conference has forbid the women
  preaching; and she’s given it up; all but talking to the people a bit
  in their houses。’”
  “Ah;”    said   Seth;   who    could   not  repress    a  comment       on  this
  point; “and a sore pity it was o’ Conference; and if Dinah had seen
  as I did; we’d ha’ left the Wesleyans and joined a body that ’ud put
  no bonds on Christian liberty。”
  “Nay;    lad;   nay;”   said  Adam;     “she   was    right   and   thee   wast
  wrong。 There’s no rules so wise but what it’s a pity for somebody
  or   other。   Most   o’   the   women   do   more   harm   nor   good   with   their
  preaching—they’ve not got Dinah’s gift nor her sperrit—and she’s
  seen that; and she thought it right to set th’ example o’ submitting;
  for  she’s   not  held  from   other  sorts   o’   teaching。   And   I   agree   with
  her; and approve o’ what she did。”
  Seth was silent。 This was a standing subject of difference rarely
  alluded     to;  and   Dinah;    wishing    to  quit  it  at  once;   said;  “Didst
  remember; Adam; to speak to Colonel Donnithorne the words my
  uncle and aunt entrusted to thee?”
  “Yes; and he’s going to the Hall Farm with Mr。 Irwine the day
  after to…morrow。 Mr。 Irwine came in while we were talking about
  it; and he would have it as the Colonel must see nobody but thee
  to…morrow。 He said—and he’s in the right of it—as it’ll be bad for
  him t’ have his feelings stirred with seeing many people one after
  another。 ‘We must get you strong and hearty;’ he said; ’that’s the
  first  thing  to  be   done   Arthur;   and   then   you   shall   have   your   own
  way。 But I shall keep you under your old tutor’s thumb till then。’
  Mr。 Irwine’s fine and joyful at having him home again。”
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  Adam Bede                                    708
  Adam was silent a little while; and then said;
  “It was very cutting when we first saw one another。 He’d never
  heard about poor Hetty till Mr。 Irwine met him in London; for the
  letters   missed   him   on   his   journey。   The   first   thing   he   said   to   me;
  when we’d got hold o’ one another’s hands was; ‘I could never do
  anything      for  her;   Adam—she        lived   long   enough      for  all  the
  suffering—and        I’d  thought     so  of  the   time   when     I  might    do
  something for her。 But you told me the truth when you said to me
  once; “There’s a sort of wrong that can never be made up for。”’”
  “Why; there’s Mr。 and Mrs。 Poyser coming in at the yard gate;”
  said Seth。
  “So   there   is;”  said  Dinah。    “Run;   Lisbeth;    run   to  meet   Aunt
  Poyser。 Come in; Adam; and rest; it has been a hard day for thee。”
  The End
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  Adam Bede                                         709
  George Eliot                                                             ElecBook Classics