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planing to shift his planks while Adam was speaking； “that’s the
best sarmunt I’ve heared this long while。 By th’ same token； my
wife’s been a…plaguin’ on me to build her a oven this twelvemont。”
“There’s reason in what thee say’st； Adam；” observed Seth；
gravely。 “But thee know’st thyself as it’s hearing the preachers
thee find’st so much fault with has turned many an idle fellow into
an industrious un。 It’s the preacher as empties th’ alehouse； and if
a man gets religion； he’ll do his work none the worse for that。”
“On’y he’ll lave the panels out o’ th’ doors sometimes； eh；
Seth？” said Wiry Ben。
“Ah； Ben； you’ve got a joke again’ me as ’ll last you your life。
But it isna religion as was i’ fault there； it was Seth Bede； as was
allays a wool…gathering chap； and religion hasna cured him； the
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more’s the pity。”
“Ne’er heed me； Seth；” said Wiry Ben； “y’ are a down…right
good…hearted chap； panels or no panels； an’ ye donna set up your
bristles at every bit o’ fun； like some o’ your kin； as is mayhap
cliverer。”
“Seth； lad；” said Adam； taking no notice of the sarcasm against
himself； “thee mustna take me unkind。 I wasna driving at thee in
what I said just now。 Some ’s got one way o’ looking at things and
some ’s got another。”
“Nay； nay； Addy； thee mean’st me no unkindness；” said Seth； “I
know that well enough。 Thee ’t like thy dog Gyp—thee bark’st at
me sometimes； but thee allays lick’st my hand after。”
All hands worked on in silence for some minutes； until the
church clock began to strike six。 Before the first stroke had died
away； Sandy Jim had loosed his plane and was reaching his jacket；
Wiry Ben had left a screw half driven in； and thrown his
screwdriver into his tool…basket； Mum Taft； who； true to his name；
had kept silence throughout the previous conversation； had flung
down his hammer as he was in the act of lifting it； and Seth； too；
had straightened his back； and was putting out his hand towards
his paper cap。 Adam alone had gone on with his work as if nothing
had happened。 But observing the cessation of the tools； he looked
up； and said； in a tone of indignation； “Look there； now！ I can’t
abide to see men throw away their tools i’ that way； the minute the
clock begins to strike； as if they took no pleasure i’ their work and
was afraid o’ doing a stroke too much。”
Seth looked a little conscious； and began to be slower in his
preparations for going； but Mum Taft broke silence； and said；
“Aye； aye； Adam lad； ye talk like a young un。 When y’ are six…an’…
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Adam Bede 16
forty like me； istid o’ six…an’…twenty； ye wonna be so flush o’
workin’ for nought。”
“Nonsense；” said Adam； still wrathful； “what’s age got to do
with it； I wonder？ Ye arena getting stiff yet； I reckon。 I hate to see
a man’s arms drop down as if he was shot； before the clock’s fairly
struck； just as if he’d never a bit o’ pride and delight in ’s work。
The very grindstone ’ull go on turning a bit after you loose it。”
“Bodderation； Adam！” exclaimed Wiry Ben； “lave a chap aloon；
will ’ee？ Ye war afinding faut wi’ preachers a while agoo—y’ are
fond enough o’ preachin’ yoursen。 Ye may like work better nor
play； but I like play better nor work； that’ll ’commodate ye—it
laves ye th’ more to do。”
With this exit speech； which he considered effective； Wiry Ben
shouldered his basket and left the workshop； quickly followed by
Mum Taft and Sandy Jim。 Seth lingered； and looked wistfully at
Adam； as if he expected him to say something。
“Shalt go home before thee go’st to the preaching？” Adam
asked； looking up。
“Nay； I’ve got my hat and things at Will Maskery’s。 I shan’t be
home before going for ten。 I’ll happen see Dinah Morris safe home；
if she’s willing。 There’s nobody comes with her from Poyser’s； thee
know’st。”
“Then I’ll tell mother not to look for thee；” said Adam。
“Thee artna going to Poyser’s thyself to…night？” said Seth
rather timidly； as he turned to leave the workshop。
“Nay； I’m going to th’ school。”
Hitherto Gyp had kept his comfortable bed； only lifting up his
head and watching Adam more closely as he noticed the other
workmen departing。 But no sooner did Adam put his ruler in his
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Adam Bede 17
pocket； and begin to twist his apron round his waist； than Gyp ran
forward and looked up in his master’s face with patient
expectation。 If Gyp had had a tail he would doubtless have wagged
it； but being destitute of that vehicle for his emotions； he was like
many other worthy personages； destined to appear more
phlegmatic than nature had made him。
“What！ Art ready for the basket； eh； Gyp？” said Adam； with the
same gentle modulation of voice as when he spoke to Seth。
Gyp jumped and gave a short bark； as much as to say； “Of
course。” Poor fellow； he had not a great range of expression。
The basket was the one which on workdays held Adam’s and
Seth’s dinner； and no official； walking in procession； could look
more resolutely unconscious of all acquaintances than Gyp with
his basket； trotting at his master’s heels。
On leaving the workshop Adam locked the door； took the key
out； and carried it to the house on the other side of the woodyard。
It was a low house； with smooth grey thatch and buff walls；
looking pleasant and mellow in the evening light。 The leaded
windows were bright and speckless； and the door…stone was as
clean as a white boulder at ebb tide。 On the door…stone stood a
clean old woman； in a dark