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Adam Bede 361
they thrived the best； and grew strong。 Yes！ she was enough to
turn any man’s head： any man in his place would have done and
felt the same。 And to give her up after all； as he was determined to
do； would be an act that he should always look back upon with
pride。
“No； Mother；” and Mr。 Irwine； replying to her last words； “I
can’t agree with you there。 The common people are not quite so
stupid as you imagine。 The commonest man； who has his ounce of
sense and feeling； is conscious of the difference between a lovely；
delicate woman and a coarse one。 Even a dog feels a difference in
their presence。 The man may be no better able than the dog to
explain the influence the more refined beauty has on him； but he
feels it。”
“Bless me； Dauphin； what does an old bachelor like you know
about it？”
“Oh； that is one of the matters in which old bachelors are wiser
than married men； because they have time for more general
contemplation。 Your fine critic of woman must never shackle his
judgment by calling one woman his own。 But； as an example of
what I was saying； that pretty Methodist preacher I mentioned just
now told me that she had preached to the roughest miners and
had never been treated with anything but the utmost respect and
kindness by them。 The reason is—though she doesn’t know it—
that there’s so much tenderness； refinement； and purity about her。
Such a woman as that brings with her ‘airs from heaven’ that the
coarsest fellow is not insensible to。”
“Here’s a delicate bit of womanhood； or girlhood； coming to
receive a prize； I suppose；” said Mr。 Gawaine。 “She must be one of
the racers in the sacks； who had set off before we came。”
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Adam Bede 362
The “bit of womanhood” was our old acquaintance Bessy
Cranage； otherwise Chad’s Bess； whose large red cheeks and
blowsy person had undergone an exaggeration of colour； which； if
she had happened to be a heavenly body； would have made her
sublime。 Bessy； I am sorry to say； had taken to her ear…rings again
since Dinah’s departure； and was otherwise decked out in such
small finery as she could muster。 Any one who could have looked
into poor Bessy’s heart would have seen a striking resemblance
between her little hopes and anxieties and Hetty’s。 The advantage；
perhaps； would have been on Bessy’s side in the matter of feeling。
But then； you see； they were so very different outside！ You would
have been inclined to box Bessy’s ears； and you would have longed
to kiss Hetty。
Bessy had been tempted to run the arduous race； partly from
mere hedonish gaiety； partly because of the prize。 Some one had
said there were to be cloaks and other nice clothes for prizes； and
she approached the marquee； fanning herself with her
handkerchief； but with exultation sparkling in her round eyes。
“Here is the prize for the first sack…race；” said Miss Lydia；
taking a large parcel from the table where the prizes were laid and
giving it to Mrs。 Irwine before Bessy came up； “an excellent
grogram gown and a piece of flannel。”
“You didn’t think the winner was to be so young； I suppose；
Aunt？” said Arthur。 “Couldn’t you find something else for this girl；
and save that grim…looking gown for one of the older women？”
“I have bought nothing but what is useful and substantial；” said
Miss Lydia； adjusting her own lace； “I should not think of
encouraging a love of finery in young women of that class。 I have a
scarlet cloak； but that is for the old woman who wins。”
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Adam Bede 363
This speech of Miss Lydia’s produced rather a mocking
expression in Mrs。 Irwine’s face as she looked at Arthur； while
Bessy came up and dropped a series of curtsies。
“This is Bessy Cranage； mother；” said Mr。 Irwine； kindly；
“Chad Cranage’s daughter。 You remember Chad Cranage； the
blacksmith？”
“Yes； to be sure；” said Mrs。 Irwine。 “Well； Bessy； here is your
prize—excellent warm things for winter。 I’m sure you have had
hard work to win them this warm day。”
Bessy’s lip fell as she saw the ugly； heavy gown—which felt so
hot and disagreeable too； on this July day； and was such a great
ugly thing to carry。 She dropped her curtsies again； without
looking up； and with a growing tremulousness about the corners
of her mouth； and then turned away。
“Poor girl；” said Arthur； “I think she’s disappointed。 I wish it
had been something more to her taste。”
“She’s a bold…looking young person；” observed Miss Lydia。
“Not at all one I should like to encourage。”
Arthur silently resolved that he would make Bessy a present of
money before the day was over； that she might buy something
more to her mind； but she； not aware of the consolation in store
for her； turned out of the open space； where she was visible from
the marquee； and throwing down the odious bundle under a tree；
began to cry—very much tittered at the while by the small boys。 In
this situation she was descried by her discreet matronly cousin；
who lost no time in coming up； having just given the baby into her
husband’s charge。
“What’s the matter wi’ ye？” said Bess the matron； taking up the
bundle and examining it。 “Ye’n sweltered yoursen； I reckon；
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Adam Bede 364
running that fool’s race。 An’ here； they’n gi’en you lots o’ good
grogram and flannel； as should ha’ been gi’en by good rights to
them as had the sense to keep away from such foolery。 Ye might
spare me a bit o’ this