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Arthur’s name to Burge； and yet the story of his conduct towards
Hetty； with all the dark shadows cast upon it by its terrible
consequences； was presently as well known as that his
grandfather was dead； and that he was come into the estate。 For
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Martin Poyser felt no motive to keep silence towards the one or
two neighbours who ventured to come and shake him sorrowfully
by the hand on the first day of his trouble； and Carroll； who kept
his ears open to all that passed at the rectory； had framed an
inferential version of the story； and found early opportunities of
communicating it。
One of those neighbours who came to Martin Poyser and shook
him by the hand without speaking for some minutes was Bartle
Massey。 He had shut up his school； and was on his way to the
rectory； where he arrived about half…past seven in the evening；
and； sending his duty to Mr。 Irwine； begged pardon for troubling
him at that hour； but had something particular on his mind。 He
was shown into the study； where Mr。 Irwine soon joined him。
“Well； Bartle？” said Mr。 Irwine； putting out his hand。 That was
not his usual way of saluting the schoolmaster； but trouble makes
us treat all who feel with us very much alike。 “Sit down。”
“You know what I’m come about as well as I do； sir； I daresay；”
said Bartle。
“You wish to know the truth about the sad news that has
reached you 。 。 。 about Hetty Sorrel？”
“Nay； sir； what I wish to know is about Adam Bede。 I
understand you left him at Stoniton； and I beg the favour of you to
tell me what’s the state of the poor lad’s mind； and what he means
to do。 For as for that bit o’ pink…and…white they’ve taken the
trouble to put in jail； I don’t value her a rotten nut—not a rotten
nut—only for the harm or good that may come out of her to an
honest man—a lad I’ve set such store by—trusted to； that he’d
make my bit o’ knowledge go a good way in the world 。 。 。 Why； sir；
he’s the only scholar I’ve had in this stupid country that ever had
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Adam Bede 549
the will or the head…piece for mathematics。 If he hadn’t had so
much hard work to do； poor fellow； he might have gone into the
higher branches； and then this might never have happened—
might never have happened。”
Bartle was heated by the exertion of walking fast in an agitated
frame of mind； and was not able to check himself on this first
occasion of venting his feelings。 But he paused now to rub his
moist forehead； and probably his moist eyes also。
“You’ll excuse me； sir；” he said； when this pause had given him
time to reflect； “for running on in this way about my own feelings；
like that foolish dog of mine howling in a storm； when there’s
nobody wants to listen to me。 I came to hear you speak； not to talk
myself—if you’ll take the trouble to tell me what the poor lad’s
doing。”
“Don’t put yourself under any restraint； Bartle；” said Mr。
Irwine。 “The fact is； I’m very much in the same condition as you
just now； I’ve a great deal that’s painful on my mind； and I find it
hard work to be quite silent about my own feelings and only
attend to others。 I share your concern for Adam； though he is not
the only one whose sufferings I care for in this affair。 He intends to
remain at Stoniton till after the trial： it will come on probably a
week to…morrow。 He has taken a room there； and I encouraged
him to do so； because I think it better he should be away from his
own home at present； and； poor fellow； he still believes Hetty is
innocent—he wants to summon up courage to see her if he can； he
is unwilling to leave the spot where she is。”
“Do you think the creatur’s guilty； then？” said Bartle。 “Do you
think they’ll hang her？”
“I’m afraid it will go hard with her。 The evidence is very strong。
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And one bad symptom is that she denies everything—denies that
she has had a child in the face of the most positive evidence。 I saw
her myself； and she was obstinately silent to me； she shrank up
like a frightened animal when she saw me。 I was never so shocked
in my life as at the change in her。 But I trust that； in the worst
case； we may obtain a pardon for the sake of the innocent who are
involved。”
“Stuff and nonsense！” said Bartle； forgetting in his irritation to
whom he was speaking。 “I beg your pardon； sir； I mean it’s stuff
and nonsense for the innocent to care about her being hanged。 For
my own part； I think the sooner such women are put out o’ the
world the better； and the men that help ’em to do mischief had
better go along with ’em for that matter。 What good will you do by
keeping such vermin alive； eating the victual that ’ud feed rational
beings？ But if Adam’s fool enough to care about it； I don’t want
him to suffer more than’s needful 。 。 。 Is he very much cut up； poor
fellow？” Bartle added； taking out his spectacles and putting them
on； as if they would assist his imagination。
“Yes； I’m afraid the grief cuts very deep；” said Mr。 Irwine。 “He
looks terribly shattered； and a certain violence came over him now
and then yesterday； which made me wish I could have remained
near him。 But I shall go to Stoniton again to…morrow； and I have
confidence enough in the strength of Adam’s principle to trust that
he will be able to endure the worst without being driven to
anything rash。”
Mr。 Irwine； who was involuntarily uttering his own thoughts
rather than addressing Bartle Massey in the last sentence； had in
his mind the possibility that the spirit