adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第172节
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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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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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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 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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