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shallowest girl that can ever experience it； and creates in her a
sensibility to kindness which found her quite hard before。 For the
first time Hetty felt that there was something soothing to her in
Adam’s timid yet manly tenderness。 She wanted to be treated
lovingly—oh； it was very hard to bear this blank of absence；
silence； apparent indifference； after those moments of glowing
love！ She was not afraid that Adam would tease her with love…
making and flattering speeches like her other admirers； he had
always been so reserved to her； she could enjoy without any fear
the sense that this strong brave man loved her and was near her。
It never entered into her mind that Adam was pitiable too—that
Adam too must suffer one day。
Hetty； we know； was not the first woman that had behaved
more gently to the man who loved her in vain because she had
herself begun to love another。 It was a very old story； but Adam
knew nothing about it； so he drank in the sweet delusion。
“That’ll do；” said Hetty； after a little while。 “Aunt wants me to
leave some on the trees。 I’ll take ’em in now。”
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“It’s very well I came to carry the basket；” said Adam “for it ’ud
ha’ been too heavy for your little arms。”
“No； I could ha’ carried it with both hands。”
“Oh； I daresay；” said Adam； smiling； “and been as long getting
into the house as a little ant carrying a caterpillar。 Have you ever
seen those tiny fellows carrying things four times as big as
themselves？”
“No；” said Hetty； indifferently； not caring to know the
difficulties of ant life。
“Oh； I used to watch ’em often when I was a lad。 But now； you
see； I can carry the basket with one arm； as if it was an empty
nutshell； and give you th’ other arm to lean on。 Won’t you？ Such
big arms as mine were made for little arms like yours to lean on。”
Hetty smiled faintly and put her arm within his。 Adam looked
down at her； but her eyes were turned dreamily towards another
corner of the garden。
“Have you ever been to Eagledale？” she said； as they walked
slowly along。
“Yes；” said Adam； pleased to have her ask a question about
himself。 “Ten years ago； when I was a lad； I went with father to see
about some work there。 It’s a wonderful sight—rocks and caves
such as you never saw in your life。 I never had a right notion o’
rocks till I went there。”
“How long did it take to get there？”
“Why； it took us the best part o’ two days’ walking。 But it’s
nothing of a day’s journey for anybody as has got a first…rate nag。
The captain ’ud get there in nine or ten hours； I’ll be bound； he’s
such a rider。 And I shouldn’t wonder if he’s back again to…morrow；
he’s too active to rest long in that lonely place； all by himself； for
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there’s nothing but a bit of a inn i’ that part where he’s gone to
fish。 I wish he’d got th’ estate in his hands； that ’ud be the right
thing for him； for it ’ud give him plenty to do； and he’d do ’t well
too； for all he’s so young； he’s got better notions o’ things than
many a man twice his age。 He spoke very handsome to me th’
other day about lending me money to set up i’ business； and if
things came round that way； I’d rather be beholding to him nor to
any man i’ the world。”
Poor Adam was led on to speak about Arthur because he
thought Hetty would be pleased to know that the young squire was
so ready to befriend him； the fact entered into his future
prospects； which he would like to seem promising in her eyes。 And
it was true that Hetty listened with an interest which brought a
new light into her eyes and a half…smile upon her lips。
“How pretty the roses are now！” Adam continued； pausing to
look at them。 “See！ I stole the prettiest； but I didna mean to keep it
myself。 I think these as are all pink； and have got a finer sort o’
green leaves； are prettier than the striped uns； don’t you？”
He set down the basket and took the rose from his button…hole。
“It smells very sweet；” he said； “those striped uns have no
smell。 Stick it in your frock； and then you can put it in water after。
It ’ud be a pity to let it fade。”
Hetty took the rose； smiling as she did so at the pleasant
thought that Arthur could so soon get back if he liked。 There was a
flash of hope and happiness in her mind； and with a sudden
impulse of gaiety she did what she had very often done before—
stuck the rose in her hair a little above the left ear。 The tender
admiration in Adam’s face was slightly shadowed by reluctant
disapproval。 Hetty’s love of finery was just the thing that would
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most provoke his mother； and he himself disliked it as much as it
was possible for him to dislike anything that belonged to her。
“Ah；” he said； “that’s like the ladies in the pictures at the Chase；
they’ve mostly got flowers or feathers or gold things i’ their hair；
but somehow I don’t like to see ’em they allays put me i’ mind o’
the painted women outside the shows at Treddles’on Fair。 What
can a woman have to set her off better than her own hair； when it
curls so； like yours？ If a woman’s young and pretty； I think you
can see her good looks all the better for her being plain dressed。
Why； Dinah Morris looks very nice； for all she wears such a plain
cap and gown。 It seems to me as a woman’s face doesna want
flowers； it’s almost like a flower itself。