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Adam Bede 465
wondrous harmonies searching the subtlest windings of your soul；
the delicate fibres of life where no memory can penetrate； and
binding together your whole being past and present in one
unspeakable vibration； melting you in one moment with all the
tenderness； all the love that has been scattered through the
toilsome years； concentrating in one emotion of heroic courage or
resignation all the hard…learnt lessons of self…renouncing
sympathy； blending your present joy with past sorrow and your
present sorrow with all your past joy？ If not； then neither is it a
weakness to be so wrought upon by the exquisite curves of a
woman’s cheek and neck and arms； by the liquid depths of her
beseeching eyes； or the sweet childish pout of her lips。 For the
beauty of a lovely woman is like music： what can one say more？
Beauty has an expression beyond and far above the one woman’s
soul that it clothes； as the words of genius have a wider meaning
than the thought that prompted them。 It is more than a woman’s
love that moves us in a woman’s eyes—it seems to be a far…off
mighty love that has come near to us； and made speech for itself
there； the rounded neck； the dimpled arm； move us by something
more than their prettiness—by their close kinship with all we have
known of tenderness and peace。 The noblest nature sees the most
of this impersonal expression in beauty （it is needless to say that
there are gentlemen with whiskers dyed and undyed who see none
of it whatever）； and for this reason； the noblest nature is often the
most blinded to the character of the one woman’s soul that the
beauty clothes。 Whence； I fear； the tragedy of human life is likely
to continue for a long time to come； in spite of mental philosophers
who are ready with the best receipts for avoiding all mistakes of
the kind。
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Our good Adam had no fine words into which he could put his
feeling for Hetty： he could not disguise mystery in this way with
the appearance of knowledge； he called his love frankly a mystery；
as you have heard him。 He only knew that the sight and memory
of her moved him deeply； touching the spring of all love and
tenderness； all faith and courage within him。 How could he
imagine narrowness； selfishness； hardness in her？ He created the
mind he believed in out of his own； which was large； unselfish；
tender。
The hopes he felt about Hetty softened a little his feeling
towards Arthur。 Surely his attentions to Hetty must have been of a
slight kind； they were altogether wrong； and such as no man in
Arthur’s position ought to have allowed himself； but they must
have had an air of playfulness about them； which had probably
blinded him to their danger and had prevented them from laying
any strong hold on Hetty’s heart。 As the new promise of happiness
rose for Adam； his indignation and jealousy began to die out。 Hetty
was not made unhappy； he almost believed that she liked him
best； and the thought sometimes crossed his mind that the
friendship which had once seemed dead for ever might revive in
the days to come； and he would not have to say “good…bye” to the
grand old woods； but would like them better because they were
Arthur’s。 For this new promise of happiness following so quickly
on the shock of pain had an intoxicating effect on the sober Adam；
who had all his life been used to much hardship and moderate
hope。 Was he really going to have an easy lot after all？ It seemed
so； for at the beginning of November； Jonathan Burge； finding it
impossible to replace Adam； had at last made up his mind to offer
him a share in the business； without further condition than that he
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Adam Bede 467
should continue to give his energies to it and renounce all thought
of having a separate business of his own。 Son…in…law or no son…in…
law； Adam had made himself too necessary to be parted with； and
his headwork was so much more important to Burge than his skill
in handicraft that his having the management of the woods made
little difference in the value of his services； and as to the bargains
about the squire’s timber； it would be easy to call in a third person。
Adam saw here an opening into a broadening path of prosperous
work such as he had thought of with ambitious longing ever since
he was a lad： he might come to build a bridge； or a town hall； or a
factory； for he had always said to himself that Jonathan Burge’s
building business was like an acorn； which might be the mother of
a great tree。 So he gave his hand to Burge on that bargain； and
went home with his mind full of happy visions； in which （my
refined reader will perhaps be shocked when I say it） the image of
Hetty hovered； and smiled over plans for seasoning timber at a
trifling expense； calculations as to the cheapening of bricks per
thousand by water…carriage； and a favourite scheme for the
strengthening of roofs and walls with a peculiar form of iron
girder。 What then？ Adam’s enthusiasm lay in these things； and
our love is inwrought in our enthusiasm as electricity is inwrought
in the air； exalting its power by a subtle presence。
Adam would be able to take a separate house now； and provide
for his mother in the old one； his prospects would justify his
marrying very soon； and if Dinah consented to have Seth； their
mother would perhaps be more contented to live apart from
Adam。 But he told himself that he would not be hasty—he would
not try Hetty’s feeling for him until it had had time to grow strong
and firm。 However； tomorrow； after church； he would go to the
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Hall Farm and tell them the news。 Mr。 Poyser； he knew； would like
it better than a five…pound note； and he should see if Hetty’s eyes
brightened at it。 The months would be short with all he had to fill
his mind； and this foolish eagerness which had come over him of
late must not hurry him into any premature words。 Yet when he
got home and told his mother the good news； and ate his supper；
while she sat by almost crying for joy and wanting him to eat twice
as much as usual because of this good…luck； he could not help
preparing her gently for the coming change by talking of the old
house being too small for them all to go on living in it always。
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Chapter XXXIV
The Betrothal
t was a dry Sunday； and really a pleasant day for the 2d of
November。 There was no sunshine； but the clouds were high；
Iand the wind was so still that the yellow leaves which
fluttered down from the hedgerow elms must have fallen from
pure decay。 Nevertheless； Mrs。 Poyser did not go to church； for
she had taken a cold too serious to be neglected； only two winters
ago she had been laid up for weeks with a cold； and since his wife
did not go to church； Mr。 Poyser considered that on the whole it
would be as well for him to stay away too and “keep her
company。” He could perhaps have given no precise form to the
reasons that determined this conclusion；