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happy； and would make every one else happy that came within his
reach。
And here was dear old Hayslope at last； sleeping； on the hill；
like a quiet old place as it was； in the late afternoon sunlight； and
opposite to it the great shoulders of the Binton Hills； below them
the purplish blackness of the hanging woods； and at last the pale
front of the Abbey； looking out from among the oaks of the Chase；
as if anxious for the heir’s return。 “Poor Grandfather！ And he lies
dead there。 He was a young fellow once； coming into the estate
and making his plans。 So the world goes round！ Aunt Lydia must
feel very desolate； poor thing； but she shall be indulged as much as
she indulges her fat Fido。”
The wheels of Arthur’s chaise had been anxiously listened for at
the Chase； for to…day was Friday； and the funeral had already been
deferred two days。 Before it drew up on the gravel of the
courtyard； all the servants in the house were assembled to receive
him with a grave； decent welcome； befitting a house of death。 A
month ago； perhaps； it would have been difficult for them to have
maintained a suitable sadness in their faces； when Mr。 Arthur was
come to take possession； but the hearts of the head…servants were
heavy that day for another cause than the death of the old squire；
and more than one of them was longing to be twenty miles away；
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as Mr。 Craig was； knowing what was to become of Hetty Sorrel—
pretty Hetty Sorrel—whom they used to see every week。 They had
the partisanship of household servants who like their places； and
were not inclined to go the full length of the severe indignation felt
against him by the farming tenants； but rather to make excuses for
him； nevertheless； the upper servants； who had been on terms of
neighbourly intercourse with the Poysers for many years； could
not help feeling that the longed…for event of the young squire’s
coming into the estate had been robbed of all its pleasantness。
To Arthur it was nothing surprising that the servants looked
grave and sad： he himself was very much touched on seeing them
all again； and feeling that he was in a new relation to them。 It was
that sort of pathetic emotion which has more pleasure than pain in
it—which is perhaps one of the most delicious of all states to a
good…natured man； conscious of the power to satisfy his good
nature。 His heart swelled agreeably as he said；
“Well； Mills； how is my aunt？”
But now Mr。 Bygate； the lawyer； who had been in the house
ever since the death； came forward to give deferential greetings
and answer all questions； and Arthur walked with him towards the
library； where his Aunt Lydia was expecting him。 Aunt Lydia was
the only person in the house who knew nothing about Hetty。 Her
sorrow as a maiden daughter was unmixed with any other
thoughts than those of anxiety about funeral arrangements and
her own future lot； and； after the manner of women； she mourned
for the father who had made her life important； all the more
because she had a secret sense that there was little mourning for
him in other hearts。
But Arthur kissed her tearful face more tenderly than he had
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Adam Bede 582
ever done in his life before。
“Dear Aunt；” he said affectionately； as he held her hand； “your
loss is the greatest of all； but you must tell me how to try and make
it up to you all the rest of your life。”
“It was so sudden and so dreadful； Arthur；” poor Miss Lydia
began； pouring out her little plaints； and Arthur sat down to listen
with impatient patience。 When a pause came； he said：
“Now； Aunt； I’ll leave you for a quarter of an hour just to go to
my own room； and then I shall come and give full attention to
everything。”
“My room is all ready for me； I suppose； Mills？” he said to the
butler； who seemed to be lingering uneasily about the entrance…
hall。
“Yes； sir； and there are letters for you； they are all laid on the
writing…table in your dressing…room。”
On entering the small anteroom which was called a dressing…
room； but which Arthur really used only to lounge and write in； he
just cast his eyes on the writing…table； and saw that there were
several letters and packets lying there； but he was in the
uncomfortable dusty condition of a man who has had a long
hurried journey； and he must really refresh himself by attending
to his toilette a little； before he read his letters。 Pym was there；
making everything ready for him； and soon； with a delightful
freshness about him； as if he were prepared to begin a new day； he
went back into his dressing…room to open his letters。 The level
rays of the low afternoon sun entered directly at the window； and
as Arthur seated himself in his velvet chair with their pleasant
warmth upon him； he was conscious of that quiet well…being which
perhaps you and I have felt on a sunny afternoon when； in our
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Adam Bede 583
brightest youth and health； life has opened a new vista for us； and
long to…morrows of activity have stretched before us like a lovely
plain which there was no need for hurrying to look at； because it
was all our own。
The top letter was placed with its address upwards： it was in
Mr。 Irwine’s handwriting； Arthur saw at once； and below the
address was written； “To be delivered as soon as he arrives。”
Nothing could have been less surprising to him than a letter from
Mr。 Irwine at that moment： of course； there was something he
wished Arthur to know earlier than it was possible for them to see
each other。 At such a time as that it was quite natural that Irwine
should have something pressing to say。 Arthur broke the seal with
an agreeable