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between me and Hetty then； though I’d loved her for a long while；
and she knew it。 But I reproached him with his wrong actions； and
words and blows passed between us； and he said solemnly to me；
after that； as it had been all nonsense and no more than a bit o’
flirting。 But I made him write a letter to tell Hetty he’d meant
nothing； for I saw clear enough； sir； by several things as I hadn’t
understood at the time； as he’d got hold of her heart； and I thought
she’d belike go on thinking of him and never come to love another
man as wanted to marry her。 And I gave her the letter； and she
seemed to bear it all after a while better than I’d expected 。 。 。 and
she behaved kinder and kinder to me 。 。 。 I daresay she didn’t
know her own feelings then； poor thing； and they came back upon
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her when it was too late 。 。 。 I don’t want to blame her 。 。 。 I can’t
think as she meant to deceive me。 But I was encouraged to think
she loved me； and—you know the rest； sir。 But it’s on my mind as
he’s been false to me； and ’ticed her away； and she’s gone to him—
and I’m going now to see； for I can never go to work again till I
know what’s become of her。”
During Adam’s narrative； Mr。 Irwine had had time to recover
his self…mastery in spite of the painful thoughts that crowded upon
him。 It was a bitter remembrance to him now—that morning when
Arthur breakfasted with him and seemed as if he were on the
verge of a confession。 It was plain enough now what he had
wanted to confess。 And if their words had taken another turn 。 。 。 if
he himself had been less fastidious about intruding on another
man’s secrets 。 。 。 it was cruel to think how thin a film had shut out
rescue from all this guilt and misery。 He saw the whole history
now by that terrible illumination which the present sheds back
upon the past。 But every other feeling as it rushed upon his was
thrown into abeyance by pity； deep respectful pity； for the man
who sat before him—already so bruised； going forth with sad blind
resignedness to an unreal sorrow； while a real one was close upon
him； too far beyond the range of common trial for him ever to have
feared it。 His own agitation was quelled by a certain awe that
comes over us in the presence of a great anguish； for the anguish
he must inflict on Adam was already present to him。 Again he put
his hand on the arm that lay on the table； but very gently this time；
as he said solemnly：
“Adam； my dear friend； you have had some hard trials in your
life。 You can bear sorrow manfully； as well as act manfully。 God
requires both tasks at our hands。 And there is a heavier sorrow
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Adam Bede 536
coming upon you than any you have yet known。 But you are not
guilty—you have not the worst of all sorrows。 God help him who
has！”
The two pale faces looked at each other； in Adam’s there was
trembling suspense； in Mr。 Irwine’s hesitating； shrinking pity。 But
he went on。
“I have had news of Hetty this morning。 She is not gone to him。
She is in Stonyshire—at Stoniton。”
Adam started up from his chair； as if he thought he could have
leaped to her that moment。 But Mr。 Irwine laid hold of his arm
again and said； persuasively； “Wait； Adam； wait。” So he sat down。
“She is in a very unhappy position—one which will make it
worse for you to find her； my poor friend； than to have lost her for
ever。”
Adam’s lips moved tremulously； but no sound came。 They
moved again； and he whispered； “Tell me。”
“She has been arrested 。 。 。 she is in prison。”
It was as if an insulting blow had brought back the spirit of
resistance into Adam。 The blood rushed to his face； and he said；
loudly and sharply； “For what？”
“For a great crime—the murder of her child。”
“It can’t be！” Adam almost shouted； starting up from his cnair
and making a stride towards the door； but he turned round again；
setting his back against the bookcase； and looking fiercely at Mr。
Irwine。 “It isn’t possible。 She never had a child。 She can’t be
guilty。 Who says it？”
“God grant she may be innocent； Adam。 We can still hope she
is。”
“But who says she is guilty？” said Adam violently。 “Tell me
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Adam Bede 537
everything。”
“Here is a letter from the magistrate before whom she was
taken； and the constable who arrested her is in the dining…room。
She will not confess her name or where she comes from； but I fear；
I fear； there can be no doubt it is Hetty。 The description of her
person corresponds； only that she is said to look very pale and ill。
She had a small red…leather pocket…book in her pocket with two
names written in it—one at the beginning； ‘Hetty Sorrel；
Hayslope；’ and the other near the end； ‘Dinah Morris； Snowfield。’
She will not say which is her own name—she denies everything；
and will answer no questions； and application has been made to
me； as a magistrate； that I may take measures for identifying her；
for it was thought probable that the name which stands first is her
own name。”
“But what proof have they got against her； if it is Hetty？” said
Adam； still violently； with an effort that seemed to shake his whole
frame。 “I’ll not believe it。 It couldn’t ha’ been； and none of us know
it。”
“Terrible proof that she was under the temptation to commit
the crime； but we have room to hope that she did not really
commit it。 Try and read that letter； Adam。”
Adam took the letter between his shaking hands and tried to fix
his eyes steadily on it。 Mr。 Irwine meanwhile went out to give
some orders。 When he came back； Adam’s eyes were