按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
morning； made Adam look back on all the previous years as if they
had been a dim sleepy existence； and he had only now awaked to
full consciousness。 It seemed to him as if he had always before
thought it a light thing that men should suffer； as if all that he had
himself endured and called sorrow before was only a moment’s
stroke that had never left a bruise。 Doubtless a great anguish may
do the work of years； and we may come out from that baptism of
fire with a soul full of new awe and new pity。
“O God；” Adam groaned； as he leaned on the table and looked
blankly at the face of the watch； “and men have suffered like this
before 。 。 。 and poor helpless young things have suffered like her 。 。
。 Such a little while ago looking so happy and so pretty 。 。 。 kissing
’em all； her grandfather and all of ’em； and they wishing her luck 。
。 。 O my poor； poor Hetty 。 。 。 dost think on it now？”
Adam started and looked round towards the door。 Vixen had
begun to whimper； and there was a sound of a stick and a lame
walk on the stairs。 It was Bartle Massey come back。 Could it be all
over？
Bartle entered quietly； and； going up to Adam； grasped his
hand and said； “I’m just come to look at you； my boy； for the folks
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 562…
Adam Bede 562
are gone out of court for a bit。”
Adam’s heart beat so violently he was unable to speak—he
could only return the pressure of his friend’s hand—and Bartle；
drawing up the other chair； came and sat in front of him； taking off
his hat and his spectacles。
“That’s a thing never happened to me before；” he observed； “to
go out o’ the door with my spectacles on。 I clean forgot to take ’em
off。”
The old man made this trivial remark； thinking it better not to
respond at all to Adam’s agitation： he would gather； in an indirect
way； that there was nothing decisive to communicate at present。
“And now；” he said； rising again； “I must see to your having a
bit of the loaf； and some of that wine Mr。 Irwine sent this morning。
He’ll be angry with me if you don’t have it。 Come； now；” he went
on； bringing forward the bottle and the loaf and pouring some
wine into a cup； “I must have a bit and a sup myself。 Drink a drop
with me； my lad—drink with me。”
Adam pushed the cup gently away and said； entreatingly； “Tell
me about it； Mr。 Massey—tell me all about it。 Was she there？ Have
they begun？”
“Yes； my boy； yes—it’s taken all the time since I first went； but
they’re slow； they’re slow； and there’s the counsel they’ve got for
her puts a spoke in the wheel whenever he can； and makes a deal
to do with cross…examining the witnesses and quarrelling with the
other lawyers。 That’s all he can do for the money they give him；
and it’s a big sum—it’s a big sum。 But he’s a ’cute fellow； with an
eye that ’ud pick the needles out of the hay in no time。 If a man
had got no feelings； it ’ud be as good as a demonstration to listen
to what goes on in court； but a tender heart makes one stupid。 I’d
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 563…
Adam Bede 563
have given up figures for ever only to have had some good news to
bring to you； my poor lad。”
“But does it seem to be going against her？” said Adam。 “Tell
me what they’ve said。 I must know it now—I must know what they
have to bring against her。”
“Why； the chief evidence yet has been the doctors； all but
Martin Poyser—poor Martin。 Everybody in court felt for him—it
was like one sob； the sound they made when he came down again。
The worst was when they told him to look at the prisoner at the
bar。 It was hard work； poor fellow—it was hard work。 Adam； my
boy； the blow falls heavily on him as well as you； you must help
poor Martin； you must show courage。 Drink some wine now； and
show me you mean to bear it like a man。”
Bartle had made the right sort of appeal。 Adam； with an air of
quiet obedience； took up the cup and drank a little。
“Tell me how she looked；” he said presently。
“Frightened； very frightened； when they first brought her in； it
was the first sight of the crowd and the judge； poor creatur。 And
there’s a lot o’ foolish women in fine clothes； with gewgaws all up
their arms and feathers on their heads； sitting near the judge：
they’ve dressed themselves out in that way； one ’ud think； to be
scarecrows and warnings against any man ever meddling with a
woman again。 They put up their glasses； and stared and
whispered。 But after that she stood like a white image； staring
down at her hands and seeming neither to hear nor see anything。
And she’s as white as a sheet。 She didn’t speak when they asked
her if she’d plead ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty；’ and they pleaded ‘not
guilty’ for her。 But when she heard her uncle’s name； there
seemed to go a shiver right through her； and when they told him
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 564…
Adam Bede 564
to look at her； she hung her head down； and cowered； and hid her
face in her hands。 He’d much ado to speak poor man； his voice
trembled so。 And the counsellors—who look as hard as nails
mostly—I saw； spared him as much as they could。 Mr。 Irwine put
himself near him and went with him out o’ court。 Ah； it’s a great
thing in a man’s life to be able to stand by a neighbour and uphold
him in such trouble as that。”
“God bless him； and you too； Mr。 Massey；” said Adam； in a low
voice； laying his hand on Bartle’s arm。
“Aye； aye； he’s good metal； he gives the right ring when you try
him； our parson does。 A man o’ sense—says no more than’s
needful。 He’s not one of those that think they can comfort you with
chattering； as if folks who stand by and look on knew a deal better
what the trouble was than those who have to bear it。 I’ve had to do
with such folks in my time—in the south； when I was in trouble
myself。 Mr。 Irwine is to be a witness himself；