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Adam Bede 8
Chapter I
The Workshop
ith a single drop of ink for a mirror； the Egyptian
Wsorcerer undertakes to reveal to any chance comer far…
reaching visions of the past。 This is what I undertake to
do for you； reader。 With this drop of ink at the end of my pen； I will
show you the roomy workshop of Mr。 Jonathan Burge； carpenter
and builder； in the village of Hayslope； as it appeared on the
eighteenth of June； in the year of our Lord 1799。
The afternoon sun was warm on the five workmen there； busy
upon doors and window…frames and wainscoting。 A scent of pine…
wood from a tent…like pile of planks outside the open door mingled
itself with the scent of the elder…bushes which were spreading
their summer snow close to the open window opposite； the
slanting sunbeams shone through the transparent shavings that
flew before the steady plane； and lit up the fine grain of the oak
panelling which stood propped against the wall。 On a heap of
those soft shavings a rough； grey shepherd dog had made himself
a pleasant bed； and was lying with his nose between his fore…paws；
occasionally wrinkling his brows to cast a glance at the tallest of
the five workmen； who was carving a shield in the centre of a
wooden mantelpiece。 It was to this workman that the strong
baritone belonged which was heard above the sound of plane and
hammer singing—
“Awake； my soul； and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run；
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Adam Bede 9
Shake off dull sloth。。。
Here some measurement was to be taken which required more
concentrated attention； and the sonorous voice subsided into a low
whistle； but it presently broke out again with renewed vigour—
“Let all thy converse be sincere；
Thy conscience as the noonday clear。
Such a voice could only come from a broad chest； and the broad
chest belonged to a large…boned； muscular man nearly six feet
high； with a back so flat and a head so well poised that when he
drew himself up to take a more distant survey of his work； he had
the air of a soldier standing at ease。 The sleeve rolled up above the
elbow showed an arm that was likely to win the prize for feats of
strength； yet the long supple hand； with its broad finger…tips；
looked ready for works of skill。 In his tall stalwartness Adam Bede
was a Saxon； and justified his name； but the jet…black hair； made
the more noticeable by its contrast with the light paper cap； and
the keen glance of the dark eyes that shone from under strongly
marked； prominent and mobile eyebrows； indicated a mixture of
Celtic blood。 The face was large and roughly hewn； and when in
repose had no other beauty than such as belongs to an expression
of good…humoured honest intelligence。
It is clear at a glance that the next workman is Adam’s brother。
He is nearly as tall； he has the same type of features； the same hue
of hair and complexion； but the strength of the family likeness
seems only to render more conspicuous the remarkable difference
of expression both in form and face。 Seth’s broad shoulders have a
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Adam Bede 10
slight stoop； his eyes are grey； his eyebrows have less prominence
and more repose than his brother’s； and his glance； instead of
being keen； is confiding and benign。 He has thrown off his paper
cap； and you see that his hair is not thick and straight； like
Adam’s； but thin and wavy； allowing you to discern the exact
contour of a coronal arch that predominates very decidedly over
the brow。
The idle tramps always felt sure they could get a copper from
Seth； they scarcely ever spoke to Adam。
The concert of the tools and Adam’s voice was at last broken by
Seth； who； lifting the door at which he had been working intently；
placed it against the wall； and said； “There！ I’ve finished my door
to…day； anyhow。”
The workmen all looked up； Jim Salt； a burly； red…haired man
known as Sandy Jim； paused from his planing； and Adam said to
Seth； with a sharp glance of surprise； “What！ Dost think thee ’st
finished the door？”
“Aye； sure；” said Seth； with answering surprise； “what’s
awanting to ’t？”
A loud roar of laughter from the other three workmen made
Seth look round confusedly。 Adam did not join in the laughter； but
there was a slight smile on his face as he said； in a gentler tone
than before； “Why； thee ’st forgot the panels。”
The laughter burst out afresh as Seth clapped his hands to his
head； and coloured over brow and crown。
“Hoorray！” shouted a small lithe fellow called Wiry Ben；
running forward and seizing the door。 “We’ll hang up th’ door at
fur end o’ th’ shop an’ write on ’t ‘Seth Bede； the Methody； his
work。’ Here； Jim； lend’s hould o’ th’ red pot。”
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Adam Bede 11
“Nonsense！” said Adam。 “Let it alone； Ben Cranage。 You’ll
mayhap be making such a slip yourself some day； you’ll laugh o’
th’ other side o’ your mouth then。”
“Catch me at it； Adam。 It’ll be a good while afore my head’s full
o’ th’ Methodies；” said Ben。
“Nay； but it’s often full o’ drink； and that’s worse。”
Ben； however； had now got the “red pot” in his hand； and was
about to begin writing his inscription； making； by way of
preliminary； an imaginary S in the air。
“Let it alone； will you？” Adam called out； laying down his tools；
striding up to Ben； and seizing his right shoulder。 “Let it alone； or
I’ll shake the soul out o’ your body。”
Ben shook in Adam’s iron grasp； but； like a plucky small man as
he was； he didn’t mean to give in。 With his