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But she was silent。
“You’re so young； you know； Hetty；” he went on； almost
tenderly； “and y’ haven’t seen much o’ what goes on in the world。
It’s right for me to do what I can to save you from getting into
trouble for want o’ your knowing where you’re being led to。 If
anybody besides me knew what I know about your meeting a
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gentleman and having fine presents from him； they’d speak light
on you； and you’d lose your character。 And besides that； you’ll
have to suffer in your feelings； wi’ giving your love to a man as can
never marry you； so as he might take care of you all your life。”
Adam paused and looked at Hetty； who was plucking the leaves
from the filbert…trees and tearing them up in her hand。 Her little
plans and preconcerted speeches had all forsaken her； like an ill…
learnt lesson； under the terrible agitation produced by Adam’s
words。 There was a cruel force in their calm certainty which
threatened to grapple and crush her flimsy hopes and fancies。 She
wanted to resist them—she wanted to throw them off with angry
contradiction—but the determination to conceal what she felt still
governed her。 It was nothing more than a blind prompting now；
for she was unable to calculate the effect of her words。
“You’ve no right to say as I love him；” she said； faintly； but
impetuously； plucking another rough leaf and tearing it up。 She
was very beautiful in her paleness and agitation； with her dark
childish eyes dilated and her breath shorter than usual。 Adam’s
heart yearned over her as he looked at her。 Ah； if he could but
comfort her； and soothe her； and save her from this pain； if he had
but some sort of strength that would enable him to rescue her
poor troubled mind； as he would have rescued her body in the face
of all danger！
“I doubt it must be so； Hetty；” he said； tenderly； “for I canna
believe you’d let any man kiss you by yourselves； and give you a
gold box with his hair； and go a…walking i’ the Grove to meet him；
if you didna love him。 I’m not blaming you； for I know it ’ud begin
by little and little； till at last you’d not be able to throw it off。 It’s
him I blame for stealing your love i’ that way； when he knew he
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could never make you the right amends。 He’s been trifling with
you； and making a plaything of you； and caring nothing about you
as a man ought to care。”
“Yes； he does care for me； I know better nor you；” Hetty burst
out。 Everything was forgotten but the pain and anger she felt at
Adam’s words。
“Nay； Hetty；” said Adam； “if he’d cared for you rightly； he’d
never ha’ behaved so。 He told me himself he meant nothing by his
kissing and presents； and he wanted to make me believe as you
thought light of ’em too。 But I know better nor that。 I can’t help
thinking as you’ve been trusting to his loving you well enough to
marry you； for all he’s a gentleman。 And that’s why I must speak to
you about it； Hetty； for fear you should be deceiving yourself。 It’s
never entered his head the thought o’ marrying you。”
“How do you know？ How durst you say so？” said Hetty；
pausing in her walk and trembling。 The terrible decision of
Adam’s tone shook her with fear。 She had no presence of mind left
for the reflection that Arthur would have his reasons for not telling
the truth to Adam。 Her words and look were enough to determine
Adam： he must give her the letter。
“Perhaps you can’t believe me； Hetty； because you think too
well of him—because you think he loves you better than he does。
But I’ve got a letter i’ my pocket； as he wrote himself for me to give
you。 I’ve not read the letter； but he says he’s told you the truth in
it。 But before I give you the letter； consider； Hetty； and don’t let it
take too much hold on you。 It wouldna ha’ been good for you if
he’d wanted to do such a mad thing as marry you： it ’ud ha’ led to
no happiness i’ th’ end。”
Hetty said nothing； she felt a revival of hope at the mention of a
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letter which Adam had not read。 There would be something quite
different in it from what he thought。
Adam took out the letter； but he held it in his hand still； while
he said； in a tone of tender entreaty； “Don’t you bear me ill will；
Hetty； because I’m the means o’ bringing you this pain。 God knows
I’d ha’ borne a good deal worse for the sake o’ sparing it you。 And
think—there’s nobody but me knows about this； and I’ll take care
of you as if I was your brother。 You’re the same as ever to me； for I
don’t believe you’ve done any wrong knowingly。”
Hetty had laid her hand on the letter； but Adam did not loose it
till he had done speaking。 She took no notice of what he said—she
had not listened； but when he loosed the letter； she put it into her
pocket； without opening it； and then began to walk more quickly；
as if she wanted to go in。
“You’re in the right not to read it just yet；” said Adam。 “Read it
when you’re by yourself。 But stay out a little bit longer； and let us
call the children： you look so white and ill； your aunt may take
notice of it。”
Hetty heard the warning。 It recalled to her the necessity of
rallying her native powers of concealment； which had half given
way under the shock of Adam’s words。 And she had the letter in
her pocket： she was sure there was comfort in that letter in spite of
Adam。 She ran to find Totty； and soon reappeared with recovered
colour； leading Totty； who was making a sour face because she
had been obliged to throw away an unripe apple that she had set
her small teeth in。
“Hegh； Totty；” said Adam； “come and ride on my