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！
being often away the entire day—and the smell of the roast meat
before the clear fire in the clean kitchen； the clock ticking in a
peaceful Sunday manner； her darling Adam seated near her in his
best clothes； doing nothing very important； so that she could go
and stroke her hand across his hair if she liked； and see him look
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 654…
Adam Bede 654
up at her and smile； while Gyp； rather jealous； poked his muzzle
up between them—all these things made poor Lisbeth’s earthly
paradise。
The book Adam most often read on a Sunday morning was his
large pictured Bible； and this morning it lay open before him on
the round white deal table in the kitchen； for he sat there in spite
of the fire； because he knew his mother liked to have him with her；
and it was the only day in the week when he could indulge her in
that way。 You would have liked to see Adam reading his Bible。 He
never opened it on a weekday； and so he came to it as a holiday
book； serving him for history； biography； and poetry。 He held one
hand thrust between his waistcoat buttons； and the other ready to
turn the pages； and in the course of the morning you would have
seen many changes in his face。 Sometimes his lips moved in semi…
articulation—it was when he came to a speech that he could fancy
himself uttering； such as Samuel’s dying speech to the people；
then his eyebrows would be raised； and the corners of his mouth
would quiver a little with sad sympathy—something； perhaps old
Isaac’s meeting with his son； touched him closely； at other times；
over the New Testament； a very solemn look would come upon his
face； and he would every now and then shake his head in serious
assent； or just lift up his hand and let it fall again。 And on some
mornings； when he read in the Apocrypha； of which he was very
fond； the son of Sirach’s keen…edged words would bring a
delighted smile； though he also enjoyed the freedom of
occasionally differing from an Apocryphal writer。 For Adam knew
the Articles quite well； as became a good churchman。
Lisbeth； in the pauses of attending to her dinner； always sat
opposite to him and watched him； till she could rest no longer
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 655…
Adam Bede 655
without going up to him and giving him a caress； to call his
attention to her。 This morning he was reading the Gospel
according to St。 Matthew； and Lisbeth had been standing close by
him for some minutes； stroking his hair； which was smoother than
usual this morning； and looking down at the large page with silent
wonderment at the mystery of letters。 She was encouraged to
continue this caress； because when she first went up to him； he
had thrown himself back in his chair to look at her affectionately
and say； “Why； Mother； thee look’st rare and hearty this morning。
Eh； Gyp wants me t’ look at him。 He can’t abide to think I love
thee the best。” Lisbeth said nothing； because she wanted to say so
many things。 And now there was a new leaf to be turned over； and
it was a picture—that of the angel seated on the great stone that
has been rolled away from the sepulchre。 This picture had one
strong association in Lisbeth’s memory； for she had been
reminded of it when she first saw Dinah； and Adam had no sooner
turned the page； and lifted the book sideways that they might look
at the angel； than she said； “That’s her—that’s Dinah。”
Adam smiled； and； looking more intently at the angel’s face；
said； “It is a bit like her； but Dinah’s prettier； I think。”
“Well； then； if thee think’st her so pretty； why arn’t fond on
her？”
Adam looked up in surprise。 “Why； Mother； dost think I don’t
set store by Dinah？”
“Nay；” said Lisbeth； frightened at her own courage； yet feeling
that she had broken the ice； and the waters must flow； whatever
mischief they might do。 “What’s th’ use o’ settin’ store by things as
are thirty mile off？ If thee wast fond enough on her； thee
wouldstna let her go away。”
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 656…
Adam Bede 656
“But I’ve no right t’ hinder her； if she thinks well；” said Adam；
looking at his book as if he wanted to go on reading。 He foresaw a
series of complaints tending to nothing。 Lisbeth sat down again in
the chair opposite to him； as she said：
“But she wouldna think well if thee wastna so contrairy。”
Lisbeth dared not venture beyond a vague phrase yet。
“Contrairy； mother？” Adam said； looking up again in some
anxiety。 “What have I done？ What dost mean？”
“Why； thee’t never look at nothin’； nor think o’ nothin’； but thy
figurin； an’ thy work；” said Lisbeth； half…crying。 “An’ dost think
thee canst go on so all thy life； as if thee wast a man cut out o’
timber？ An’ what wut do when thy mother’s gone； an’ nobody to
take care on thee as thee gett’st a bit o’ victual comfortable i’ the
mornin’？”
“What hast got i’ thy mind； Mother？” said Adam； vexed at this
whimpering。 “I canna see what thee’t driving at。 Is there anything
I could do for thee as I don’t do？”
“Aye； an’ that there is。 Thee might’st do as I should ha’
somebody wi’ me to comfort me a bit； an’ wait on me when I’m
bad； an’ be good to me。”
“Well； Mother； whose fault is it there isna some tidy body i’ th’
house t’ help thee？ It isna by my wish as thee hast a stroke o’ work
to do。 We can afford it—I’ve told thee often enough。 It ’ud be a
deal better for us。”
“Eh； what’s the use o’ talking o’ tidy bodies； when thee mean’st
one o’ th’ wenches out o’ th’ village； or somebody from Treddles’on
as I ne’er set eyes on i’ my life？ I’d sooner make a shift an’ get into
my own coffin afore I die； nor ha’ them folks to put me in。”
Adam was silent； and tried to go on rea