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honour keenly。 “I could swear to your back a long way off。 It’s just
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the same back； only broader； as when you used to carry me on it。
Do you remember？”
“Aye； sir； I remember。 It ’ud be a poor look…out if folks didn’t
remember what they did and said when they were lads。 We should
think no more about old friends than we do about new uns； then。”
“You’re going to Broxton； I suppose？” said Arthur； putting his
horse on at a slow pace while Adam walked by his side。 “Are you
going to the rectory？”
“No； sir； I’m going to see about Bradwell’s barn。 They’re afraid
of the roof pushing the walls out； and I’m going to see what can be
done with it before we send the stuff and the workmen。”
“Why； Burge trusts almost everything to you now； Adam；
doesn’t he？ I should think he will make you his partner soon。 He
will； if he’s wise。”
“Nay； sir； I don’t see as he’d be much the better off for that。 A
foreman； if he’s got a conscience and delights in his work； will do
his business as well as if he was a partner。 I wouldn’t give a penny
for a man as ’ud drive a nail in slack because he didn’t get extra
pay for it。”
“I know that； Adam； I know you work for him as well as if you
were working for yourself。 But you would have more power than
you have now； and could turn the business to better account
perhaps。 The old man must give up his business sometime； and he
has no son； I suppose he’ll want a son…in…law who can take to it。
But he has rather grasping fingers of his own； I fancy。 I daresay he
wants a man who can put some money into the business。 If I were
not as poor as a rat； I would gladly invest some money in that way；
for the sake of having you settled on the estate。 I’m sure I should
profit by it in the end。 And perhaps I shall be better off in a year or
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Adam Bede 219
two。 I shall have a larger allowance now I’m of age； and when I’ve
paid off a debt or two； I shall be able to look about me。”
“You’re very good to say so； sir； and I’m not unthankful。 But”—
Adam continued； in a decided tone—“I shouldn’t like to make any
offers to Mr。 Burge； or t’ have any made for me。 I see no clear road
to a partnership。 If he should ever want to dispose of the business；
that ’ud be a different matter。 I should be glad of some money at a
fair interest then； for I feel sure I could pay it off in time。”
“Very well； Adam；” said Arthur； remembering what Mr。 Irwine
had said about a probable hitch in the love…making between Adam
and Mary Burge； “we’ll say no more about it at present。 When is
your father to be buried？”
“On Sunday； sir； Mr。 Irwine’s coming earlier on purpose。 I shall
be glad when it’s over； for I think my mother ’ull perhaps get
easier then。 It cuts one sadly to see the grief of old people； they’ve
no way o’ working it off； and the new spring brings no new shoots
out on the withered tree。”
“Ah； you’ve had a good deal of trouble and vexation in your life；
Adam。 I don’t think you’ve ever been hare…brained and light…
hearted； like other youngsters。 You’ve always had some care on
your mind。”
“Why； yes； sir； but that’s nothing to make a fuss about。 If we’re
men and have men’s feelings； I reckon we must have men’s
troubles。 We can’t be like the birds； as fly from their nest as soon
as they’ve got their wings； and never know their kin when they see
’em； and get a fresh lot every year。 I’ve had enough to be thankful
for： I’ve allays had health and strength and brains to give me a
delight in my work； and I count it a great thing as I’ve had Bartle
Massey’s night…school to go to。 He’s helped me to knowledge I
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could never ha’ got by myself。”
“What a rare fellow you are； Adam！” said Arthur； after a pause；
in which he had looked musingly at the big fellow walking by his
side。 “I could hit out better than most men at Oxford； and yet I
believe you would knock me into next week if I were to have a
battle with you。”
“God forbid I should ever do that； sir；” said Adam； looking
round at Arthur and smiling。 “I used to fight for fun； but I’ve never
done that since I was the cause o’ poor Gil Tranter being laid up
for a fortnight。 I’ll never fight any man again； only when he
behaves like a scoundrel。 If you get hold of a chap that’s got no
shame nor conscience to stop him； you must try what you can do
by bunging his eyes up。”
Arthur did not laugh； for he was preoccupied with some
thought that made him say presently； “I should think now； Adam；
you never have any struggles within yourself。 I fancy you would
master a wish that you had made up your mind it was not quite
right to indulge； as easily as you would knock down a drunken
fellow who was quarrelsome with you。 I mean； you are never
shilly…shally； first making up your mind that you won’t do a thing；
and then doing it after all？”
“Well；” said Adam； slowly； after a moment’s hesitation； “no。 I
don’t remember ever being see…saw in that way； when I’d made
my mind up； as you say； that a thing was wrong。 It takes the taste
out o’ my mouth for things； when I know I should have a heavy
conscience after ’em。 I’ve seen pretty clear； ever since I could cast
up a sum； as you can never do what’s wrong without breeding sin
and trouble more than you can ever see。 It’s like a bit o’ bad
workmanship—you never see th’ end o’ the mischief it’ll do。 And
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it’s a poor look…out to come into the world to make your fellow…
creatures worse off instead o’ better。 But there’s a difference
between the things folks call wrong。 I’m not for making a sin of
every little fool’s trick； or bit o’ nonsense anybody may be let into；
like some o’ them dissenters。 And a man may have two minds
whether it isn’t worthwhile to get a bruise or two for the sake of a
bit o’ fun。 But it isn’t my way to be see…saw about anything： I think
my fault lies th’ other way。 When I’ve said a thing； if it’s only to
myself； it’s hard for me to go back。”
“Yes； that’s just what I expected of you；” said Arthur。 “You’ve
got an iron will； as well as an iron arm。 But however strong a
man’s resolution may be； it costs him something to carry it out；
now and then。 We may determine not to gather any cherries and
keep our hands sturdily in our pockets； but we can’t prevent our
mouths from watering。”
“That’s true； sir； but there’s nothing like settling with ourselves
as there’s a deal we must do without i’ this life。 It’s no use looking
on life as if it was Treddles’on Fair； where folks only go to see
shows and get fairings。 If we do； we shall find it different。 But
where’s the use o’ me talking to you； sir？ You know better than I
do。”
“I’m not so sure of that； Adam。 You’ve had four or five years of
experience more than I’ve had； and I think your life has been a
better school to you than college has been to me。”
“Why； sir； you seem to think o’ college something like what
Bartle Massey does。 He says college mostly makes people like
bladders—just good for nothing but t’ hold the stuff as is poured
into ’em。 But he’s got a tongue like a sharp blade； Bartle has—it
never touches anything but it cuts。 Here’s