adam bede(亚当[1].比德)-第48节
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said Mrs。 Poyser。 “We’ve all had our turn at bein’ young； I reckon；
be’t good luck or ill。”
“But she must learn to ’commodate herself to young women；”
said Mr。 Poyser； “for it isn’t to be counted on as Adam and Seth
’ull keep bachelors for the next ten year to please their mother。
That ’ud be unreasonable。 It isn’t right for old nor young nayther
to make a bargain all o’ their own side。 What’s good for one’s good
all round i’ the long run。 I’m no friend to young fellows a…marrying
afore they know the difference atween a crab an’ a apple； but they
may wait o’er long。”
“To be sure；” said Mrs。 Poyser； “if you go past your dinner…
time； there’ll be little relish o’ your meat。 You turn it o’er an’ o’er
wi’ your fork； an’ don’t eat it after all。 You find faut wi’ your meat；
an’ the faut’s all i’ your own stomach。”
Hetty now came back from the pantry and said； “I can take
Totty now； Aunt； if you like。”
“Come； Rachel；” said Mr。 Poyser； as his wife seemed to hesitate；
seeing that Totty was at last nestling quietly； “thee’dst better let
Hetty carry her upstairs； while thee tak’st thy things off。 Thee ’t
tired。 It’s time thee wast in bed。 Thee ’t bring on the pain in thy
side again。”
“Well； she may hold her if the child ’ull go to her；” said Mrs。
Poyser。 Hetty went close to the rocking…chair； and stood without
her usual smile； and without any attempt to entice Totty； simply
waiting for her aunt to give the child into her hands。
“Wilt go to Cousin Hetty； my dilling； while mother gets ready to
go to bed？ Then Totty shall go into Mother’s bed； and sleep there
all night。”
Before her mother had done speaking； Totty had given her
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answer in an unmistakable manner； by knitting her brow； setting
her tiny teeth against her underlip； and leaning forward to slap
Hetty on the arm with her utmost force。 Then； without speaking；
she nestled to her mother again。
“Hey； hey；” said Mr。 Poyser； while Hetty stood without moving；
“not go to Cousin Hetty？ That’s like a babby。 Totty’s a little
woman； an’ not a babby。”
“It’s no use trying to persuade her；” said Mrs。 Poyser。 “She
allays takes against Hetty when she isn’t well。 Happen she’ll go to
Dinah。”
Dinah； having taken off her bonnet and shawl； had hitherto
kept quietly seated in the background； not liking to thrust herself
between Hetty and what was considered Hetty’s proper work。 But
now she came forward； and； putting out her arms； said； “Come
Totty； come and let Dinah carry her upstairs along with Mother：
poor； poor Mother！ she’s so tired—she wants to go to bed。”
Totty turned her face towards Dinah； and looked at her an
instant； then lifted herself up； put out her little arms； and let Dinah
lift her from her mother’s lap。 Hetty turned away without any sign
of ill humour； and； taking her hat from the table； stood waiting
with an air of indifference； to see if she should be told to do
anything else。
“You may make the door fast now； Poyser； Alick’s been come in
this long while；” said Mrs。 Poyser； rising with an appearance of
relief from her low chair。 “Get me the matches down； Hetty； for I
must have the rushlight burning i’ my room。 Come； Father。”
The heavy wooden bolts began to roll in the house doors； and
old Martin prepared to move； by gathering up his blue
handkerchief； and reaching his bright knobbed walnut…tree stick
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from the corner。 Mrs。 Poyser then led the way out of the kitchen；
followed by the grandfather； and Dinah with Totty in her arms—
all going to bed by twilight； like the birds。 Mrs。 Poyser； on her way；
peeped into the room where her two boys lay； just to see their
ruddy round cheeks on the pillow； and to hear for a moment their
light regular breathing。
“Come； Hetty； get to bed；” said Mr。 Poyser； in a soothing tone；
as he himself turned to go upstairs。 “You didna mean to be late； I’ll
be bound； but your aunt’s been worrited to…day。 Good…night； my
wench； good…night。”
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Chapter XV
The Two Bed…Chambers
etty and Dinah both slept in the second story； in rooms
Hadjoining each other； meagrely furnished rooms； with no
blinds to shut out the light； which was now beginning to
gather new strength from the rising of the moon—more than
enough strength to enable Hetty to move about and undress with
perfect comfort。 She could see quite well the pegs in the old
painted linen…press on which she hung her hat and gown； she
could see the head of every pin on her red cloth pin…cushion； she
could see a reflection of herself in the old…fashioned looking…glass；
quite as distinct as was needful； considering that she had only to
brush her hair and put on her night…cap。 A queer old looking…
glass！ Hetty got into an ill temper with it almost every time she
dressed。 It had been considered a handsome glass in its day； and
had probably been bought into the Poyser family a quarter of a
century before； at a sale of genteel household furniture。 Even now
an auctioneer could say something for it： it had a great deal of
tarnished gilding about it； it had a firm mahogany base； well
supplied with drawers； which opened with a decided jerk and sent
the contents leaping out from the farthest corners； without giving
you the trouble of reaching them； above all； it had a brass candle…
socket on each side； which would give it an aristocratic air to the
very last。 But Hetty objected to it because it had numerous dim
blotches sprinkled over the mirror； which no rubbing would
remove； and because； instead of swinging backwards and
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forwards； it was fixed in an upright position； so that she could only
get one good view of her head and neck； and that was to be had
only by sitting down on a low chair before her dressing…table。 And
the dressing…table was no dressing…table at all； but a small old
chest of drawers； the most awkward thing in the world to sit down
before； for the big brass handles quite hurt her knees； and she
couldn’t get near the glass at all comfortably。 But devout
worshippers never allow inconveniences to prevent them from
performing their religious rites； and Hetty this evening was more
bent on her peculiar form of worship than usual。
Having taken off her gown and white kerchief； she drew a key
from the large pocket that hung outside her petticoat； and；
unlocking one of the lower drawers in the chest； reached from it
two short bits of wax candle—secretly bought at Treddleston—and
stuck them in the two brass sockets。 Then she drew forth a bundle
of matches and lighted the candles； and last of all； a small red…
framed shilling looking…glass； without blotches。 It was into this
small glass that she chose to look first after seating herself。 She
looked into it； smiling and turning her head on one side； for a
minute； then laid it down and took out her brush and comb from
an upper drawer。 She was going to let down her hair； and make
herself look
