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his mind the possibility that the spirit of vengeance to…wards
Arthur； which was the form Adam’s anguish was continually
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taking； might make him seek an encounter that was likely to end
more fatally than the one in the Grove。 This possibility heightened
the anxiety with which he looked forward to Arthur’s arrival。 But
Bartle thought Mr。 Irwine was referring to suicide； and his face
wore a new alarm。
“I’ll tell you what I have in my head； sir；” he said； “and I hope
you’ll approve of it。 I’m going to shut up my school—if the scholars
come； they must go back again； that’s all—and I shall go to
Stoniton and look after Adam till this business is over。 I’ll pretend
I’m come to look on at the assizes； he can’t object to that。 What do
you think about it； sir？”
“Well；” said Mr。 Irwine； rather hesitatingly； “there would be
some real advantages in that 。 。 。 and I honour you for your
friendship towards him； Bartle。 But 。 。 。 you must be careful what
you say to him； you know。 I’m afraid you have too little fellow…
feeling in what you consider his weakness about Hetty。”
“Trust to me； sir—trust to me。 I know what you mean。 I’ve been
a fool myself in my time； but that’s between you and me。 I shan’t
thrust myself on him only keep my eye on him； and see that he
gets some good food； and put in a word here and there。”
“Then；” said Mr。 Irwine； reassured a little as to Bartle’s
discretion； “I think you’ll be doing a good deed； and it will be well
for you to let Adam’s mother and brother know that you’re going。”
“Yes； sir； yes；” said Bartle； rising； and taking off his spectacles；
“I’ll do that； I’ll do that； though the mother’s a whimpering thing—
I don’t like to come within earshot of her； however； she’s a
straight…backed； clean woman； none of your slatterns。 I wish you
good…bye； sir； and thank you for the time you’ve spared me。 You’re
everybody’s friend in this business—everybody’s friend。 It’s a
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heavy weight you’ve got on your shoulders。”
“Good…bye； Bartle； till we meet at Stoniton； as I daresay we
shall。”
Bartle hurried away from the rectory； evading Carroll’s
conversational advances； and saying in an exasperated tone to
Vixen； whose short legs pattered beside him on the gravel； “Now； I
shall be obliged to take you with me； you good…for…nothing woman。
You’d go fretting yourself to death if I left you—you know you
would； and perhaps get snapped up by some tramp。 And you’ll be
running into bad company； I expect； putting your nose in every
hole and corner where you’ve no business！ But if you do anything
disgraceful； I’ll disown you—mind that； madam； mind that！”
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Chapter XLI
The Eve of the Trial
n upper room in a dull Stoniton street； with two beds in
Ait—one laid on the floor。 It is ten o’clock on Thursday
night； and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out
the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one
dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read； while he
is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede； seated near the
dark window。
You would hardly have known it was Adam without being told。
His face has got thinner this last week： he has the sunken eyes； the
neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick…bed。 His heavy
black hair hangs over his forehead； and there is no active impulse
in him which inclines him to push it off； that he may be more
awake to what is around him。 He has one arm over the back of the
chair； and he seems to be looking down at his clasped hands。 He is
roused by a knock at the door。
“There he is；” said Bartle Massey； rising hastily and
unfastening the door。 It was Mr。 Irwine。
Adam rose from his chair with instinctive respect； as Mr。 Irwine
approached him and took his hand。
“I’m late； Adam；” he said； sitting down on the chair which
Bartle placed for him； “but I was later in setting off from Broxton
than I intended to be； and I have been incessantly occupied since I
arrived。 I have done everything now； however—everything that
can be done to…night； at least。 Let us all sit down。”
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Adam took his chair again mechanically； and Bartle； for whom
there was no chair remaining； sat on the bed in the background。
“Have you seen her； sir？” said Adam tremulously。
“Yes； Adam； I and the chaplain have both been with her this
evening。”
“Did you ask her； sir 。 。 。 did you say anything about me？”
“Yes；” said Mr。 Irwine； with some hesitation； “I spoke of you。 I
said you wished to see her before the trial； if she consented。”
As Mr。 Irwine paused； Adam looked at him with eager；
questioning eyes。
“You know she shrinks from seeing any one； Adam。 It is not
only you—some fatal influence seems to have shut up her heart
against her fellow…creatures。 She has scarcely said anything more
than ‘No’ either to me or the chaplain。 Three or four days ago；
before you were mentioned to her； when I asked her if there was
any one of her family whom she would like to see—to whom she
could open her mind—she said； with a violent shudder； ‘Tell them
not to come near me—I won’t see any of them。’”
Adam’s head was hanging down again； and he did not speak。
There was silence for a few minutes； and then Mr。 Irwine said； “I
don’t like to advise you against your own feel