adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第159节
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mother’s face。 “What！ Has she said anything o’ that sort to thee；
Mother？” he said； in a lower tone。
“Said？ Nay； she’ll say nothin’。 It’s on’y the men as have to wait
till folks say things afore they find ’em out。”
“Well； but what makes thee think so； Mother？ What’s put it into
thy head？”
“It’s no matter what’s put it into my head。 My head’s none so
hollow as it must get in； an’ nought to put it there。 I know she’s
fond on him； as I know th’ wind’s comin’ in at the door； an’ that’s
anoof。 An’ he might be willin’ to marry her if he know’d she’s fond
on him； but he’ll ne’er think on’t if somebody doesna put it into’s
head。”
His mother’s suggestion about Dinah’s feeling towards Adam
was not quite a new thought to Seth； but her last words alarmed
him； lest she should herself undertake to open Adam’s eyes。 He
was not sure about Dinah’s feeling； and he thought he was sure
about Adam’s。
“Nay； Mother； nay；” he said； earnestly； “thee mustna think o’
speaking o’ such things to Adam。 Thee’st no right to say what
Dinah’s feelings are if she hasna told thee； and it ’ud do nothing
but mischief to say such things to Adam。 He feels very grateful and
affectionate toward Dinah； but he’s no thoughts towards her that
’ud incline him to make her his wife； and I don’t believe Dinah ’ud
marry him either。 I don’t think she’ll marry at all。”
“Eh；” said Lisbeth； impatiently。 “Thee think’st so ’cause she
wouldna ha’ thee。 She’ll ne’er marry thee； thee mightst as well like
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her t’ ha’ thy brother。”
Seth was hurt。 “Mother；” he said； in a remonstrating tone；
“don’t think that of me。 I should be as thankful t’ have her for a
sister as thee wouldst t’ have her for a daughter。 I’ve no more
thoughts about myself in that thing； and I shall take it hard if ever
thee say’st it again。”
“Well； well； then thee shouldstna cross me wi’ sayin’ things
arena as I say they are。”
“But； Mother；” said Seth； “thee’dst be doing Dinah a wrong by
telling Adam what thee think’st about her。 It ’ud do nothing but
mischief； for it ’ud make Adam uneasy if he doesna feel the same
to her。 And I’m pretty sure he feels nothing o’ the sort。”
“Eh； donna tell me what thee ’t sure on； thee know’st nought
about it。 What’s he allays goin’ to the Poysers’ for； if he didna want
t’ see her？ He goes twice where he used t’ go once。 Happen he
knowsna as he wants t’ see her； he knowsna as I put salt in’s broth；
but he’d miss it pretty quick if it warna there。 He’ll ne’er think o’
marrying if it isna put into’s head； an’ if thee’dst any love for thy
mother； thee’dst put him up to ’t an’ not let her go away out o’ my
sight； when I might ha’ her to make a bit o’ comfort for me afore I
go to bed to my old man under the white thorn。”
“Nay； Mother；” said Seth； “thee mustna think me unkind； but I
should be going against my conscience if I took upon me to say
what Dinah’s feelings are。 And besides that； I think I should give
offence to Adam by speaking to him at all about marrying； and I
counsel thee not to do ’t。 Thee may’st be quite deceived about
Dinah。 Nay； I’m pretty sure； by words she said to me last Sabbath；
as she’s no mind to marry。”
“Eh； thee ’t as contrairy as the rest on ’em。 If it war summat I
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didna want； it ’ud be done fast enough。”
Lisbeth rose from the bench at this； and went out of the
workshop； leaving Seth in much anxiety lest she should disturb
Adam’s mind about Dinah。 He consoled himself after a time with
reflecting that； since Adam’s trouble； Lisbeth had been very timid
about speaking to him on matters of feeling； and that she would
hardly dare to approach this tenderest of all subjects。 Even if she
did； he hoped Adam would not take much notice of what she said。
Seth was right in believing that Lisbeth would be held in
restraint by timidity； and during the next three days； the intervals
in which she had an opportunity of speaking to Adam were too
rare and short to cause her any strong temptation。 But in her long
solitary hours she brooded over her regretful thoughts about
Dinah； till they had grown very near that point of unmanageable
strength when thoughts are apt to take wing out of their secret
nest in a startling manner。 And on Sunday morning； when Seth
went away to chapel at Treddleston； the dangerous opportunity
came。
Sunday morning was the happiest time in all the week to
Lisbeth； for as there was no service at Hayslope church till the
afternoon； Adam was always at home； doing nothing but reading；
an occupation in which she could venture to interrupt him。
Moreover； she had always a better dinner than usual to prepare
for her sons—very frequently for Adam and herself alone； Seth
being often away the entire day—and the smell of the roast meat
before the clear fire in the clean kitchen； the clock ticking in a
peaceful Sunday manner； her darling Adam seated near her in his
best clothes； doing nothing very important； so that she could go
and stroke her hand across his hair if she liked； and see him look
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up at her and smile； while Gyp； rather jealous； poked his muzzle
up between them—all these things made poor Lisbeth’s earthly
paradise。
The book Adam most often read on a Sunday morning was his
large pictured Bible； and this morning it lay open before him on
the round white deal table in the kitchen； for he sat there in spite
of the fire； because he knew his mother liked to have him with her；
and it was the only day in the week when he could indulge her in
that way。 You would have liked to see Adam reading his Bible。 He
never opened it on a weekday； and so he came to it as a holiday
book； serving him for history； biography； and poetry。 He held one
hand thrust between his waistcoat buttons； and the other ready to
turn the pages； and in the course of the morning you would have
seen many changes in his face。 Sometimes his lips moved in semi…
articulation—it was when he came to a speech that he could fancy
himself uttering； such as Samuel’s dying speech to the people；
then his eyebrows would be raised； and the corners of his mouth
would quiver a little with sad sympathy—something； perhaps old
Isaac’s meeting with his son； touched him closely； at other times；
over the New Testament； a very solemn look would come upon his
face； and he would every now and then shake his head in serious
assent； or just lift up his hand and let it fall again。 And on some
mornings； when he read in the Apocrypha； of which he was very
fond； the son of Sirach’s keen…edged words would bring a
delighted smile； though he also enjoyed the freedom of
occasionally differing from an Apocryphal writer。 For Adam knew
the Articles quite well； as became a good churchman。
Lisbeth； in the pauses of attending to her dinner； always sat
opposite to him and watched him； till she could rest no longer
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without going up to him and giving him a caress； to call his
attention to her。 This morning he was reading the Gospel
according to St。 Matthew； and Lisbeth had
