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his eyes steadily on it。 Mr。 Irwine meanwhile went out to give
some orders。 When he came back； Adam’s eyes were still on the
first page—he couldn’t read—he could not put the words together
and make out what they meant。 He threw it down at last and
clenched his fist。
“It’s his doing；” he said； “if there’s been any crime； it’s at his
door； not at hers。 He taught her to deceive—he deceived me first。
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Let ’em put him on his trial—let him stand in court beside her； and
I’ll tell ’em how he got hold of her heart； and ’ticed her t’ evil； and
then lied to me。 Is he to go free； while they lay all the punishment
on her 。 。 。 so weak and young？”
The image called up by these last words gave a new direction to
poor Adam’s maddened feelings。 He was silent； looking at the
corner of the room as if he saw something there。 Then he burst out
again； in a tone of appealing anguish；
“I can’t bear it 。 。 。 O God； it’s too hard to lay upon me—it’s too
hard to think she’s wicked。”
Mr。 Irwine had sat down again in silence。 He was too wise to
utter soothing words at present； and indeed； the sight of Adam
before him； with that look of sudden age which sometimes comes
over a young face in moments of terrible emotion—the hard
bloodless look of the skin； the deep lines about the quivering
mouth； the furrows in the brow—the sight of this strong firm man
shattered by the invisible stroke of sorrow； moved him so deeply
that speech was not easy。 Adam stood motionless； with his eyes
vacantly fixed in this way for a minute or two； in that short space
he was living through all his love again。
“She can’t ha’ done it；” he said； still without moving his eyes； as
if he were only talking to himself： “it was fear made her hide it 。 。 。
I forgive her for deceiving me 。 。 。 I forgive thee； Hetty 。 。 。 thee
wast deceived too 。 。 。 it’s gone hard wi’ thee； my poor Hetty 。 。 。 but
they’ll never make me believe it。”
He was silent again for a few moments； and then he said； with
fierce abruptness； “I’ll go to him—I’ll bring him back—I’ll make
him go and look at her in her misery—he shall look at her till he
can’t forget it—it shall follow him night and day—as long as he
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Adam Bede 539
lives it shall follow him—he shan’t escape wi’ lies this time—I’ll
fetch him； I’ll drag him myself。”
In the act of going towards the door； Adam paused
automatically and looked about for his hat； quite unconscious
where he was or who was present with him。 Mr。 Irwine had
followed him； and now took him by the arm； saying； in a quiet but
decided tone；
“No； Adam； no； I’m sure you will wish to stay and see what good
can be done for her； instead of going on a useless errand of
vengeance。 The punishment will surely fall without your aid。
Besides； he is no longer in Ireland。 He must be on his way home—
or would be； long before you arrived； for his grandfather； I know；
wrote for him to come at least ten days ago。 I want you now to go
with me to Stoniton。 I have ordered a horse for you to ride with us；
as soon as you can compose yourself。”
While Mr。 Irwine was speaking； Adam recovered his
consciousness of the actual scene。 He rubbed his hair off his
forehead and listened。
“Remember；” Mr。 Irwine went on； “there are others to think of；
and act for； besides yourself； Adam： there are Hetty’s friends； the
good Poysers； on whom this stroke will fall more heavily than I can
bear to think。 I expect it from your strength of mind； Adam—from
your sense of duty to God and man—that you will try to act as long
as action can be of any use。”
In reality； Mr。 Irwine proposed this journey to Stoniton for
Adam’s own sake。 Movement； with some object before him； was
the best means of counteracting the violence of suffering in these
first hours。
“You will go with me to Stoniton； Adam？” he said again； after a
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moment’s pause。 “We have to see if it is really Hetty who is there；
you know。”
“Yes； sir；” said Adam； “I’ll do what you think right。 But the
folks at th’ Hall Farm？”
“I wish them not to know till I return to tell them myself。 I shall
have ascertained things then which I am uncertain about now； and
I shall return as soon as possible。 Come now； the horses are
ready。”
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Chapter XL
The Bitter Waters Spread
r。 Irwine returned from Stoniton in a post…chaise that
night； and the first words Carroll said to him； as he
M
entered the house； were； that Squire Donnithorne was
dead—found dead in his bed at ten o’clock that morning—and that
Mrs。 Irwine desired him to say she should be awake when Mr。
Irwine came home； and she begged him not to go to bed without
seeing her。
“Well； Dauphin；” Mrs。 Irwine said； as her son entered her room；
“you’re come at last。 So the old gentleman’s fidgetiness and low
spirits； which made him send for Arthur in that sudden way； really
meant something。 I suppose Carroll has told you that Donnithorne
was found dead in his bed this morning。 You will believe my
prognostications another time； though I daresay I shan’t live to
prognosticate anything but my own death。”
“What have they done about Arthur？” said Mr。 Irwine。 “Sent a
messenger to await him at Liverpool？”
“Yes； Ralph was gone before the news was brought to us。 Dear
A