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impious； unscriptural opinion to say a woman’s a blessing to a
man now； you might as well say adders and wasps； and foxes and
wild beasts are a blessing； when they’re only the evils that belong
to this state o’ probation； which it’s lawful for a man to keep as
clear of as he can in this life； hoping to get quit of ’em for ever in
another—hoping to get quit of ’em for ever in another。”
Bartle had become so excited and angry in the course of his
invective that he had forgotten his supper； and only used the knife
for the purpose of rapping the table with the haft。 But towards the
close； the raps became so sharp and frequent； and his voice so
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quarrelsome； that Vixen felt it incumbent on her to jump out of the
hamper and bark vaguely。
“Quiet； Vixen！” snarled Bartle； turning round upon her。
“You’re like the rest o’ the women—always putting in your word
before you know why。”
Vixen returned to her hamper again in humiliation； and her
master continued his supper in a silence which Adam did not
choose to interrupt； he knew the old man would be in a better
humour when he had had his supper and lighted his pipe。 Adam
was used to hear him talk in this way； but had never learned so
much of Bartle’s past life as to know whether his view of married
comfort was founded on experience。 On that point Bartle was
mute； and it was even a secret where he had lived previous to the
twenty years in which happily for the peasants and artisans of this
neighbourhood he had been settled among them as their only
schoolmaster。 If anything like a question was ventured on this
subject； Bartle always replied； “Oh； I’ve seen many places—I’ve
been a deal in the south；” and the Loamshire men would as soon
have thought of asking for a particular town or village in Africa as
in “the south。”
“Now then； my boy；” said Bartle； at last； when he had poured
out his second mug of ale and lighted his pipe； “now then； we’ll
have a little talk。 But tell me first； have you heard any particular
news to…day？”
“No；” said Adam； “not as I remember。”
“Ah； they’ll keep it close； they’ll keep it close； I daresay。 But I
found it out by chance； and it’s news that may concern you； Adam；
else I’m a man that don’t know a superficial square foot from a
solid。”
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Here Bartle gave a series of fierce and rapid puffs； looking
earnestly the while at Adam。 Your impatient loquacious man has
never any notion of keeping his pipe alight by gentle measured
puffs； he is always letting it go nearly out； and then punishing it
for that negligence。 At last he said； “Satchell’s got a paralytic
stroke。 I found it out from the lad they sent to Treddleston for the
doctor； before seven o’clock this morning。 He’s a good way beyond
sixty； you know； it’s much if he gets over it。”
“Well；” said Adam； “I daresay there’d be more rejoicing than
sorrow in the parish at his being laid up。 He’s been a selfish； tale…
bearing； mischievous fellow； but； after all； there’s nobody he’s
done so much harm to as to th’ old squire。 Though it’s the squire
himself as is to blame—making a stupid fellow like that a sort o’
man…of…all…work； just to save th’ expense of having a proper
steward to look after th’ estate。 And he’s lost more by ill
management o’ the woods； I’ll be bound； than ’ud pay for two
stewards。 If he’s laid on the shelf； it’s to be hoped he’ll make way
for a better man； but I don’t see how it’s like to make any
difference to me。”
“But I see it； but I see it；” said Bartle； “and others besides me。
The captain’s coming of age now—you know that as well as I do—
and it’s to be expected he’ll have a little more voice in things。 And
I know； and you know too； what ’ud be the captain’s wish about
the woods； if there was a fair opportunity for making a change。
He’s said in plenty of people’s hearing that he’d make you
manager of the woods to…morrow； if he’d the power。 Why； Carroll；
Mr。 Irwine’s butler； heard him say so to the parson not many days
ago。 Carroll looked in when we were smoking our pipes o’
Saturday night at Casson’s； and he told us about it； and whenever
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anybody says a good word for you； the parson’s ready to back it；
that I’ll answer for。 It was pretty well talked over； I can tell you； at
Casson’s； and one and another had their fling at you； for if
donkeys set to work to sing； you’re pretty sure what the tune’ll
be。”
“Why； did they talk it over before Mr。 Burge？” said Adam； “or
wasn’t he there o’ Saturday？”
“Oh； he went away before Carroll came； and Casson—he’s
always for setting other folks right； you know—would have it
Burge was the man to have the management of the woods。 ‘A
substantial man；’ says he； ‘with pretty near sixty years’ experience
o’ timber： it ’ud be all very well for Adam Bede to act under him；
but it isn’t to be supposed the squire ’ud appoint a young fellow
like Adam； when there’s his elders and betters at hand！’ But I said；
‘That’s a pretty notion o’ yours； Casson。 Why； Burge is the man to
buy timber； would you put the woods into his hands and let him
make his own bargains？ I think you don’t leave your customers to
score their own drink； do you？ And as for age； what that’s worth
depends on the quality o’ the liquor。 It’s pretty well known who’s
the backbone of Jonathan Burge’s business。’”
“I thank you for your good word； Mr。 Massey；” said Adam。
“But； for all that； Casson was partly i’ the right for once。 There’s
not much likelihood that th’ old squire ’ud ever consent t’ employ
me。 I offended him about two years ago； and he’s never forgiven
me。”
“Why； how was that？ You never told me about it；” said Bartle。
“Oh； it was a bit o’ nonsense。 I’d made a frame for a screen for
Miss Lyddy—she’s allays making something with her worsted…
work； you know—and she’d given me particular orders about this
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screen； and there was as much talking and measuring as if we’d
been planning a house。 However； it was a nice bit o’ work； and I
liked doing it for her。 But； you know； those little friggling things
take a deal o’ time。 I only worked at it in over…hours—often late at
night—and I had to go to Treddleston over an’ over again about
little bits o’ brass nails and such gear； and I turned the little knobs
and the legs； and carved th’ open work； after a pattern； as nice as
could be。 And I was uncommon pleased with it when it was done。
And when I took it home； Miss Lyddy sent for me to bring it into
her drawing…room； so as she might give me directions about
fastening on the work—very fine needlework； Jacob and Rachel a…
kissing one another among the sheep； like a picture—and th’ old
squire was sitting there； for he mostly sits with her。 Well； she was
mighty pleased with the screen； and then she wanted to know
what pay she was to give me。 I didn’t speak at random—you know
it’s not my way； I’d calculated pretty close； though I hadn’t made
out a bill； and I said； ‘One pound th