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George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Adam Bede 149
and voice。 After a while she was persuaded to let the kitchen be
made tidy； for Dinah was bent on this； believing that the sense of
order and quietude around her would help in disposing Lisbeth to
join in the prayer she longed to pour forth at her side。 Seth；
meanwhile； went out to chop wood； for he surmised that Dinah
would like to be left alone with his mother。
Lisbeth sat watching her as she moved about in her still quick
way； and said at last； “Ye’ve got a notion o’ cleanin’ up。 I wouldna
mind ha’in ye for a daughter； for ye wouldna spend the lad’s wage
i’ fine clothes an’ waste。 Ye’re not like the lasses o’ this
countryside。 I reckon folks is different at Snowfield from what
they are here。”
“They have a different sort of life； many of ’em；” said Dinah；
“they work at different things—some in the mill； and many in the
mines； in the villages round about。 But the heart of man is the
same everywhere； and there are the children of this world and the
children of light there as well as elsewhere。 But we’ve many more
Methodists there than in this country。”
“Well； I didna know as the Methody women war like ye； for
there’s Will Maskery’s wife； as they say’s a big Methody； isna
pleasant to look at； at all。 I’d as lief look at a tooad。 An’ I’m thinkin’
I wouldna mind if ye’d stay an’ sleep here； for I should like to see
ye i’ th’ house i’ th’ mornin’。 But mayhappen they’ll be lookin for
ye at Mester Poyser’s。”
“No；” said Dinah； “they don’t expect me； and I should like to
stay； if you’ll let me。”
“Well； there’s room； I’n got my bed laid i’ th’ little room o’er the
back kitchen； an’ ye can lie beside me。 I’d be glad to ha’ ye wi’ me
to speak to i’ th’ night； for ye’ve got a nice way o’ talkin’。 It puts me
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i’ mind o’ the swallows as was under the thack last ’ear when they
fust begun to sing low an’ soft…like i’ th’ mornin’。 Eh； but my old
man war fond o’ them birds！ An’ so war Adam； but they’n ne’er
comed again this ’ear。 Happen they’re dead too。”
“There；” said Dinah； “now the kitchen looks tidy； and now； dear
Mother—for I’m your daughter to…night； you know—I should like
you to wash your face and have a clean cap on。 Do you remember
what David did； when God took away his child from him？ While
the child was yet alive he fasted and prayed to God to spare it； and
he would neither eat nor drink； but lay on the ground all night；
beseeching God for the child。 But when he knew it was dead； he
rose up from the ground and washed and anointed himself； and
changed his clothes； and ate and drank； and when they asked him
how it was that he seemed to have left off grieving now the child
was dead； he said； ‘While the child was yet alive； I fasted and wept；
for I said； Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me； that
the child may live？ But now he is dead； wherefore should I fast？
Can I bring him back again？ I shall go to him； but he shall not
return to me。’”
“Eh； that’s a true word；” said Lisbeth。 “Yea； my old man wonna
come back to me； but I shall go to him—the sooner the better。
Well； ye may do as ye like wi’ me： there’s a clean cap i’ that
drawer； an’ I’ll go i’ the back kitchen an’ wash my face。 An’ Seth；
thee may ’st reach down Adam’s new Bible wi’ th’ picters in； an’
she shall read us a chapter。 Eh； I like them words—‘I shall go to
him； but he wonna come back to me。’”
Dinah and Seth were both inwardly offering thanks for the
greater quietness of spirit that had come over Lisbeth。 This was
what Dinah had been trying to bring about； through all her still
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sympathy and absence from exhortation。 From her girlhood
upwards she had had experience among the sick and the
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 himse