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light quiet step。 Now she was beginning to wind along the path up
the hill； but Adam would not move yet； he would not meet her too
soon； he had set his heart on meeting her in this assured
loneliness。 And now he began to fear lest he should startle her too
much。 “Yet；” he thought； “she’s not one to be overstartled； she’s
always so calm and quiet； as if she was prepared for anything。”
What was she thinking of as she wound up the hill？ Perhaps
she had found complete repose without him； and had ceased to
feel any need of his love。 On the verge of a decision we all tremble：
hope pauses with fluttering wings。
But now at last she was very near； and Adam rose from the
stone wall。 It happened that just as he walked forward； Dinah had
paused and turned round to look back at the village—who does
not pause and look back in mounting a hill？ Adam was glad； for；
with the fine instinct of a lover； he felt that it would be best for her
to hear his voice before she saw him。 He came within three paces
of her and then said； “Dinah！” She started without looking round；
as if she connected the sound with no place。 “Dinah！” Adam said
again。 He knew quite well what was in her mind。 She was so
accustomed to think of impressions as purely spiritual monitions
that she looked for no material visible accompaniment of the
voice。
But this second time she looked round。 What a look of yearning
love it was that the mild grey eyes turned on the strong dark…eyed
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man！ She did not start again at the sight of him； she said nothing；
but moved towards him so that his arm could clasp her round。
And they walked on so in silence； while the warm tears fell。
Adam was content； and said nothing。 It was Dinah who spoke first。
“Adam；” she said； “it is the Divine Will。 My soul is so knit to
yours that it is but a divided life I live without you。 And this
moment； now you are with me； and I feel that our hearts are filled
with the same love。 I have a fulness of strength to bear and do our
heavenly Father’s Will that I had lost before。”
Adam paused and looked into her sincere eyes。
“Then we’ll never part any more； Dinah； till death parts us。”
And they kissed each other with a deep joy。
What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel
that they are joined for life—to strengthen each other in all labour；
to rest on each other in all sorrow； to minister to each other in all
pain； to be one with each other in silent unspeakable memories at
the moment of the last parting？
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Chapter LV
Marriage Bells
n little more than a month after that meeting on the hill—on a
rimy morning in departing November—Adam and Dinah
I
were married。
It was an event much thought of in the village。 All Mr。 Burge’s
men had a holiday； and all Mr。 Poyser’s； and most of those who
had a holiday appeared in their best clothes at the wedding。 I
think there was hardly an inhabitant of Hayslope specially
mentioned in this history and still resident in the parish on this
November morning who was not either in church to see Adam and
Dinah married； or near the church door to greet them as they
came forth。 Mrs。 Irwine and her daughters were waiting at the
churchyard gates in their carriage （for they had a carriage now） to
shake hands with the bride and bridegroom and wish them well；
and in the absence of Miss Lydia Donnithorne at Bath； Mrs。 Best；
Mr。 Mills； and Mr。 Craig had felt it incumbent on them to
represent “the family” at the Chase on the occasion。 The
churchyard walk was quite lined with familiar faces； many of them
faces that had first looked at Dinah when she preached on the
Green。 And no wonder they showed this eager interest on her
marriage morning； for nothing like Dinah and the history which
had brought her and Adam Bede together had been known at
Hayslope within the memory of man。
Bessy Cranage； in her neatest cap and frock； was crying； though
she did not exactly know why； for； as her cousin Wiry Ben； who
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stood near her； judiciously suggested； Dinah was not going away；
and if Bessy was in low spirits； the best thing for her to do was to
follow Dinah’s example and marry an honest fellow who was ready
to have her。 Next to Bessy； just within the church door； there were
the Poyser children； peeping round the corner of the pews to get a
sight of the mysterious ceremony； Totty’s face wearing an unusual
air of anxiety at the idea of seeing cousin Dinah come back looking
rather old； for in Totty’s experience no married people were
young。
I envy them all the sight they had when the marriage was fairly
ended and Adam led Dinah out of church。 She was not in black
this morning； for her Aunt Poyser would by no means allow such a
risk of incurring bad luck； and had herself made a present of the
wedding dress； made all of grey； though in the usual Quaker form；
for on this point Dinah could not give way。 So the lily face looked
out with sweet gravity from under a grey Quaker bonnet； neither
smiling nor blushing； but with lips trembling a little under the
weight of solemn feelings。 Adam； as he pressed her arm to his side；
walked with his old erectness and his head thrown rather
backward as if to face all the world better。 But it was not because
he was particularly proud this morning； as is the wont of
bridegrooms； for his happiness was of a kind that had little
reference to men’s opinion of it。 There was a tinge of sadness in
his deep joy； Dinah knew it； and did not fee