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of her life and never come to see that the hotter th’ oven the
shorter the time。 I tell you； a woman ’ull make your porridge every
day for twenty years and never think of measuring the proportion
between the meal and the milk—a little more or less； she’ll think；
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doesn’t signify。 The porridge will be awk’ard now and then： if it’s
wrong； it’s summat in the meal； or it’s summat in the milk； or it’s
summat in the water。 Look at me！ I make my own bread； and
there’s no difference between one batch and another from year’s
end to year’s end； but if I’d got any other woman besides Vixen in
the house； I must pray to the Lord every baking to give me
patience if the bread turned out heavy。 And as for cleanliness； my
house is cleaner than any other house on the Common； though the
half of ’em swarm with women。 Will Baker’s lad comes to help me
in a morning； and we get as much cleaning done in one hour；
without any fuss； as a woman ’ud get done in three； and all the
while be sending buckets o’ water after your ankles； and let the
fender and the fire…irons stand in the middle o’ the floor half the
day for you to break your shins against ’em。 Don’t tell me about
God having made such creatures to be companions for us！ I don’t
say but He might make Eve to be a companion to Adam in
Paradise—there was no cooking to be spoilt there； and no other
woman to cackle with and make mischief； though you see what
mischief she did as soon as she’d an opportunity。 But it’s an
impious； unscriptural opinion to say a woman’s a blessing to a
man now； you might as well say adders and wasps； and foxes and
wild beasts are a blessing； when they’re only the evils that belong
to this state o’ probation； which it’s lawful for a man to keep as
clear of as he can in this life； hoping to get quit of ’em for ever in
another—hoping to get quit of ’em for ever in another。”
Bartle had become so excited and angry in the course of his
invective that he had forgotten his supper； and only used the knife
for the purpose of rapping the table with the haft。 But towards the
close； the raps became so sharp and frequent； and his voice so
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Adam Bede 317
quarrelsome； that Vixen felt it incumbent on her to jump out of the
hamper and bark vaguely。
“Quiet； Vixen！” snarled Bartle； turning round upon her。
“You’re like the rest o’ the women—always putting in your word
before you know why。”
Vixen returned to her hamper again in humiliation； and her
master continued his supper in a silence which Adam did not
choose to interrupt； he knew the old man would be in a better
humour when he had had his supper and lighted his pipe。 Adam
was used to hear him talk in this way； but had never learned so
much of Bartle’s past life as to know whether his view of married
comfort was founded on experience。 On that point Bartle was
mute； and it was even a secret where he had lived previous to the
twenty years in which happily for the peasants and artisans of this
neighbourhood he had been settled among them as their only
schoolmaster。 If anything like a question was ventured on this
subject； Bartle always replied； “Oh； I’ve seen many places—I’ve
been a deal in the south；” and the Loamshire men would as soon
have thought of asking for a particular town or village in Africa as
in “the south。”
“Now then； my boy；” said Bartle； at last； when he had poured
out his second mug of ale and lighted his pipe； “now then； we’ll
have a little talk。 But tell me first； have you heard any particular
news to…day？”
“No；” said Adam； “not as I remember。”
“Ah； they’ll keep it close； they’ll keep it close； I daresay。 But I
found it out by chance； and it’s news that may concern you； Adam；
else I’m a man that don’t know a superficial square foot from a
solid。”
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Here Bartle gave a series of fierce and rapid puffs； looking
earnestly the while at Adam。 Your impatient loquacious man has
never any notion of keeping his pipe alight by gentle measured
puffs； he is always letting it go nearly out； and then punishing it
for that negligence。 At last he said； “Satchell’s got a paralytic
stroke。 I found it out from the lad they sent to Treddleston for the
doctor； before seven o’clock this morning。 He’s a good way beyond
sixty； you know； it’s much if he gets over it。”
“Well；” said Adam； “I daresay there’d be more rejoicing than
sorrow in the parish at his being laid up。 He’s been a selfish； tale…
bearing； mischievous fellow； but； after all； there’s nobody he’s
done so much harm to as to th’ old squire。 Though it’s the squire
himself as is to blame—making a stupid fellow like that a sort o’
man…of…all…work； just to save th’ expense of having a proper
steward to look after th’ estate。 And he’s lost more by ill
management o’ the woods； I’ll be bound； than ’ud pay for two
stewards。 If he’s laid on the shelf； it’s to be hoped he’ll make way
for a better man； but I don’t see how it’s like to make any
difference to me。”
“But I see it； but I see it；” said Bartle； “and others besides me。
The captain’s coming of age now—you know that as well as I do—
and it’s to be expected he’ll have a little more voice in things。 And
I know； and you know too； what ’ud be the captain’s wish about
the woods； if there was a fair opportunity for making a change。
He’s said in plenty of people’s hearin