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harm； and I knew she had money in her pocket to buy her food
and lodging。 I didn’t like to set the constable after her； for she’d a
right to go from me if she liked。”
The effect of this evidence on Adam was electrical； it gave him
new force。 Hetty could not be guilty of the crime—her heart must
have clung to her baby—else why should she have taken it with
her？ She might have left it behind。 The little creature had died
naturally； and then she had hidden it。 Babies were so liable to
death—and there might be the strongest suspicions without any
proof of guilt。 His mind was so occupied with imaginary
arguments against such suspicions； that he could not listen to the
cross…examination by Hetty’s counsel； who tried； without result； to
elicit evidence that the prisoner had shown some movements of
maternal affection towards the child。 The whole time this witness
was being examined； Hetty had stood as motionless as before： no
word seemed to arrest her ear。 But the sound of the next witness’s
voice touched a chord that was still sensitive； she gave a start and
a frightened look towards him； but immediately turned away her
head and looked down at her hands as before。 This witness was a
man； a rough peasant。 He said：
“My name is John Olding。 I am a labourer； and live at Tedd’s
Hole； two miles out of Stoniton。 A week last Monday； towards one
o’clock in the afternoon； I was going towards Hetton Coppice； and
about a quarter of a mile from the coppice I saw the prisoner； in a
red cloak； sitting under a bit of a haystack not far off the stile。 She
got up when she saw me； and seemed as if she’d be walking on the
other way。 It was a regular road through the fields； and nothing
very uncommon to see a young woman there； but I took notice of
her because she looked white and scared。 I should have thought
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she was a beggar…woman； only for her good clothes。 I thought she
looked a bit crazy； but it was no business of mine。 I stood and
looked back after her； but she went right on while she was in sight。
I had to go to the other side of the coppice to look after some
stakes。 There’s a road right through it； and bits of openings here
and there； where the trees have been cut down； and some of ’em
not carried away。 I didn’t go straight along the road； but turned off
towards the middle； and took a shorter way towards the spot I
wanted to get to。 I hadn’t got far out of the road into one of the
open places before I heard a strange cry。 I thought it didn’t come
from any animal I knew； but I wasn’t for stopping to look about
just then。 But it went on； and seemed so strange to me in that
place； I couldn’t help stopping to look。 I began to think I might
make some money of it； if it was a new thing。 But I had hard work
to tell which way it came from； and for a good while I kept looking
up at the boughs。 And then I thought it came from the ground； and
there was a lot of timber…choppings lying about； and loose pieces
of turf； and a trunk or two。 And I looked about among them； but
could find nothing； and at last the cry stopped。 So I was for giving
it up； and I went on about my business。 But when I came back the
same way pretty nigh an hour after； I couldn’t help laying down
my stakes to have another look。 And just as I was stooping and
laying down the stakes； I saw something odd and round and
whitish lying on the ground under a nut…bush by the side of me。
And I stooped down on hands and knees to pick it up。 And I saw it
was a little baby’s hand。”
At these words a thrill ran through the court。 Hetty was visibly
trembling； now； for the first time； she seemed to be listening to
what a witness said。
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Adam Bede 572
“There was a lot of timber…choppings put together just where
the ground went hollow； like； under the bush； and the hand came
out from among them。 But there was a hole left in one place and I
could see down it and see the child’s head； and I made haste and
did away the turf and the choppings； and took out the child。 It had
got comfortable clothes on； but its body was cold； and I thought it
must be dead。 I made haste back with it out of the wood； and took
it home to my wife。 She said it was dead； and I’d better take it to
the parish and tell the constable。 And I said； ‘I’ll lay my life it’s that
young woman’s child as I met going to the coppice。’ But she
seemed to be gone clean out of sight。 And I took the child on to
Hetton parish and told the constable； and we went on to Justice
Hardy。 And then we went looking after the young woman till dark
at night； and we went and gave information at Stoniton； as they
might stop her。 And the next morning； another constable came to
me； to go with him to the spot where I found the child。 And when
we got there； there was the prisoner a…sitting against the bush
where I found the child； and she cried out when she saw us； but
she never offered to move。 She’d got a big piece of bread on her
lap。”
Adam had given a faint groan of despair while this witness was
speaking。 He had hidden his face on his arm； which rested on the
boarding in front of him。 It was the supreme moment of his
suffering： Hetty was guilty； and he was silently calling to God for
help。 He heard no more of the evidence； and was unconscious
when the case for the prosecution had closed—unconscious that
Mr。 Irwine was in the witness…box； telling of Hetty’s unblemished
character in her own parish and of the virtuous habits in which
she had been brought up。 This testimony could have no influence
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on the verdict； but it was given as part of that plea for mercy which
her own counsel would have made if he had been allowed to speak
for her—a favour not granted to criminals in those stern times。
At last Adam lifted up his head； for there was a general
movement round him。 The judge had addressed the jury； and they
were retiring。 The decisive moment was not far off Adam felt a
shuddering horror that would not let him look at Hetty； but she
had long relapsed into her blank hard indifference。 All eyes were
strained to look at her； but she stood like a statue of dull despair。
There was a mingled rustling； whispering； and low buzzing
throughout the court during this interval。 The desire to listen was
suspended； and every one had some feeling or opinion to express
in undertones。 Adam sat looking blankly before him； but he did
not see the objects that were right in front of his eyes—the counsel
and attorneys talking with an air of cool business； and Mr。 Irwine
in low earnest conversation with the judge—did not see Mr。 Irwine
sit down again in agitation and shake his head mournfully when
somebody whispered to him。 The inward action was too intense
for Adam to take in outward objects until some strong sensation
roused him。
It was not very long； hardly more than a quarter of an hour；
before the knock which told that the jury had come to their
decision fell as a signal for silence on every ear。 It is sublime—that
sudden pause of a great multitude which tells that one soul moves
in them all。 Deeper and deeper the silence seemed to become； like
the deepening night； while the jurymen’s names were called over；
and the prisoner was made to hold up her hand； and the jury were
asked for their verdi