按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
There was silence for a few minutes； and then Mr。 Irwine said； “I
don’t like to advise you against your own feelings； Adam； if they
now urge you strongly to go and see her to…morrow morning； even
without her consent。 It is just possible； notwithstanding
appearances to the contrary； that the interview might affect her
favourably。 But I grieve to say I have scarcely any hope of that。
She didn’t seem agitated when I mentioned your name； she only
said ‘No；’ in the same cold； obstinate way as usual。 And if the
meeting had no good effect on her； it would be pure； useless
suffering to you—severe suffering； I fear。 She is very much
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 555…
Adam Bede 555
changed 。 。 。 ”
Adam started up from his chair and seized his hat； which lay on
the table。 But he stood still then； and looked at Mr。 Irwine； as if he
had a question to ask which it was yet difficult to utter。 Bartle
Massey rose quietly； turned the key in the door； and put it in his
pocket。
“Is he come back？” said Adam at last。
“No； he is not；” said Mr。 Irwine； quietly。 “Lay down your hat；
Adam； unless you like to walk out with me for a little fresh air。 I
fear you have not been out again to…day。”
“You needn’t deceive me； sir；” said Adam； looking hard at Mr。
Irwine and speaking in a tone of angry suspicion。 “You needn’t be
afraid of me。 I only want justice。 I want him to feel what she feels。
It’s his work 。 。 。 she was a child as it ’ud ha’ gone t’ anybody’s
heart to look at 。 。 。 I don’t care what she’s done 。 。 。 it was him
brought her to it。 And he shall know it 。 。 。 he shall feel it 。 。 。 if
there’s a just God； he shall feel what it is t’ ha’ brought a child like
her to sin and misery。”
“I’m not deceiving you； Adam；” said Mr。 Irwine。 “Arthur
Donnithorne is not come back—was not come back when I left。 I
have left a letter for him： he will know all as soon as he arrives。”
“But you don’t mind about it；” said Adam indignantly。 “You
think it doesn’t matter as she lies there in shame and misery； and
he knows nothing about it—he suffers nothing。”
“Adam； he will know—he will suffer； long and bitterly。 He has a
heart and a conscience： I can’t be entirely deceived in his
character。 I am convinced—I am sure he didn’t fall under
temptation without a struggle。 He may be weak； but he is not
callous； not coldly selfish。 I am persuaded that this will be a shock
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 556…
Adam Bede 556
of which he will feel the effects all his life。 Why do you crave
vengeance in this way？ No amount of torture that you could inflict
on him could benefit her。”
“No—O God； no；” Adam groaned out； sinking on his chair
again； “but then； that’s the deepest curse of all 。 。 。 that’s what
makes the blackness of it 。 。 。 it can never be undone。 My poor Hetty
。 。 。 she can never be my sweet Hetty again 。 。 。 the prettiest thing
God had made—smiling up at me 。 。 。 I thought she loved me 。 。 。
and was good 。 。 。 ”
Adam’s voice had been gradually sinking into a hoarse
undertone； as if he were only talking to himself； but now he said
abruptly； looking at Mr。 Irwine； “But she isn’t as guilty as they
say？ You don’t think she is； sir？ She can’t ha’ done it。”
“That perhaps can never be known with certainty； Adam；” Mr。
Irwine answered gently。 “In these cases we sometimes form our
judgment on what seems to us strong evidence； and yet； for want
of knowing some small fact； our judgment is wrong。 But suppose
the worst： you have no right to say that the guilt of her crime lies
with him； and that he ought to bear the punishment。 It is not for us
men to apportion the shares of moral guilt and retribution。 We
find it impossible to avoid mistakes even in determining who has
committed a single criminal act； and the problem how far a man is
to be held responsible for the unforeseen consequences of his own
deed is one that might well make us tremble to look into it。 The
evil consequences that may lie folded in a single act of selfish
indulgence is a thought so awful that it ought surely to awaken
some feeling less presumptuous than a rash desire to punish。 You
have a mind that can understand this fully； Adam； when you are
calm。 Don’t suppose I can’t enter into the anguish that drives you
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 557…
Adam Bede 557
into this state of revengeful hatred。 But think of this： if you were to
obey your passion—for it is passion； and you deceive yourself in
calling it justice—it might be with you precisely as it has been with
Arthur； nay； worse； your passion might lead you yourself into a
horrible crime。”
“No—not worse；” said Adam； bitterly； “I don’t believe it’s
worse—I’d sooner do it—I’d sooner do a wickedness as I could
suffer for by myself than ha’ brought her to do wickedness and
then stand by and see ’em punish her while they let me alone； and
all for a bit o’ pleasure； as； if he’d had a man’s heart in him； he’d
ha’ cut his hand off sooner than he’d ha’ taken it。 What if he didn’t
foresee what’s happened？ He foresaw enough； he’d no right to
expect anything but harm and shame to her。 And then he wanted
to smooth it off wi’ lies。 No—there’s plenty o’ things folks are
hanged for not half so hateful as that。 Let a man do what he will； if
he knows he’s to bear the punishment himself； he isn’t half so bad
as a mean selfish coward as makes things easy t’ himself and
knows all the while the punishment ’ll fall on somebody else。”
“There again you partly deceive yourself； Adam。 There is