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mourning； among minds hardened and shrivelled through poverty
and ignorance； and had gained the subtlest perception of the mode
in which they could best be touched and softened into willingness
to receive words of spiritual consolation or warning。 As Dinah
expressed it； “she was never left to herself； but it was always given
her when to keep silence and when to speak。” And do we not all
agree to call rapid thought and noble impulse by the name of
inspiration？ After our subtlest analysis of the mental process； we
must still say； as Dinah did； that our highest thoughts and our best
deeds are all given to us。
And so there was earnest prayer—there was faith； love； and
hope pouring forth that evening in the little kitchen。 And poor；
aged； fretful Lisbeth； without grasping any distinct idea； without
going through any course of religious emotions； felt a vague sense
of goodness and love； and of something right lying underneath and
beyond all this sorrowing life。 She couldn’t understand the sorrow；
but； for these moments； under the subduing influence of Dinah’s
spirit； she felt that she must be patient and still。
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Chapter XI
In the Cottage
t was but half…past four the next morning when Dinah； tired of
lying awake listening to the birds and watching the growing
I
light through the little window in the garret roof； rose and
began to dress herself very quietly； lest she should disturb Lisbeth。
But already some one else was astir in the house； and had gone
downstairs； preceded by Gyp。 The dog’s pattering step was a sure
sign that it was Adam who went down； but Dinah was not aware of
this； and she thought it was more likely to be Seth； for he had told
her how Adam had stayed up working the night before。 Seth；
however； had only just awakened at the sound of the opening
door。 The exciting influence of the previous day； heightened at last
by Dinah’s unexpected presence； had not been counteracted by
any bodily weariness； for he had not done his ordinary amount of
hard work； and so when he went to bed； it was not till he had tired
himself with hours of tossing wakefulness that drowsiness came；
and led on a heavier morning sleep than was usual with him。
But Adam had been refreshed by his long rest； and with his
habitual impatience of mere passivity； he was eager to begin the
new day and subdue sadness by his strong will and strong arm。
The white mist lay in the valley； it was going to be a bright warm
day； and he would start to work again when he had had his
breakfast。
“There’s nothing but what’s bearable as long as a man can
work；” he said to himself； “the natur o’ things doesn’t change；
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though it seems as if one’s own life was nothing but change。 The
square o’ four is sixteen； and you must lengthen your lever in
proportion to your weight； is as true when a man’s miserable as
when he’s happy； and the best o’ working is； it gives you a grip
hold o’ things outside your own lot。”
As he dashed the cold water over his head and face； he felt
completely himself again； and with his black eyes as keen as ever
and his thick black hair all glistening with the fresh moisture； he
went into the workshop to look out the wood for his father’s coffin；
intending that he and Seth should carry it with them to Jonathan
Burge’s and have the coffin made by one of the workmen there； so
that his mother might not see and hear the sad task going forward
at home。
He had just gone into the workshop when his quick ear
detected a light rapid foot on the stairs—certainly not his
mother’s。 He had been in bed and asleep when Dinah had come in；
in the evening； and now he wondered whose step this could be。 A
foolish thought came； and moved him strangely。 As if it could be
Hetty！ She was the last person likely to be in the house。 And yet he
felt reluctant to go and look and have the clear proof that it was
some one else。 He stood leaning on a plank he had taken hold of；
listening to sounds which his imagination interpreted for him so
pleasantly that the keen strong face became suffused with a timid
tenderness。 The light footstep moved about the kitchen； followed
by the sound of the sweeping brush； hardly making so much noise
as the lightest breeze that chases the autumn leaves along the
dusty path； and Adam’s imagination saw a dimpled face； with dark
bright eyes and roguish smiles looking backward at this brush；
and a rounded figure just leaning a little to clasp the handle。 A
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very foolish thought—it could not be Hetty； but the only way of
dismissing such nonsense from his head was to go and see who it
was； for his fancy only got nearer and nearer to belief while he
stood there listening。 He loosed the plank and went to the kitchen
door。
“How do you do； Adam Bede？” said Dinah； in her calm treble；
pausing from her sweeping and fixing her mild grave eyes upon
him。 “I trust you feel rested and strengthened again to bear the
burden and heat of the day。”
It was like dreaming of the sunshine and awaking in the
moonlight。 Adam had seen Dinah several times； but always at the
Hall Farm； where he was not very vividly conscious of any
woman’s presence except Hetty’s； and he had only in the last day
or two begun to suspect that Seth was in love with her； so that his
attention had not hitherto been drawn towards her for his
brother’s sake。 But now her slim figure； her plain black gown； and
her pale serene face impressed him with a