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a series of transitions which his good ear really taught him to
execute with some skill。 It would have been an exasperating fact to
him； if he had known it； that the general attention was too
thoroughly absorbed by Ben’s dancing for any one to give much
heed to the music。
Have you ever seen a real English rustic perform a solo dance？
Perhaps you have only seen a ballet rustic； smiling like a merry
countryman in crockery； with graceful turns of the haunch and
insinuating movements of the head。 That is as much like the real
thing as the “Bird Waltz” is like the song of birds。 Wiry Ben never
smiled： he looked as serious as a dancing monkey—as serious as if
he had been an experimental philosopher ascertaining in his own
person the amount of shaking and the varieties of angularity that
could be given to the human limbs。
To make amends for the abundant laughter in the striped
marquee； Arthur clapped his hands continually and cried
“Bravo！” But Ben had one admirer whose eyes followed his
movements with a fervid gravity that equalled his own。 It was
Martin Poyser； who was seated on a bench； with Tommy between
his legs。
“What dost think o’ that？” he said to his wife。 “He goes as pat to
the music as if he was made o’ clockwork。 I used to be a pretty
good un at dancing myself when I was lighter； but I could niver ha’
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hit it just to th’ hair like that。”
“It’s little matter what his limbs are； to my thinking；” re…turned
Mrs。 Poyser。 “He’s empty enough i’ the upper story； or he’d niver
come jigging an’ stamping i’ that way； like a mad grasshopper； for
the gentry to look at him。 They’re fit to die wi’ laughing； I can see。”
“Well； well； so much the better； it amuses ’em；” said Mr。 Poyser；
who did not easily take an irritable view of things。 “But they’re
going away now； t’ have their dinner； I reckon。 We’ll move about a
bit； shall we； and see what Adam Bede’s doing。 He’s got to look
after the drinking and things： I doubt he hasna had much fun。”
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Chapter XXVI
The Dance
rthur had chosen the entrance…hall for the ballroom： very
Awisely； for no other room could have been so airy； or
would have had the advantage of the wide doors opening
into the garden； as well as a ready entrance into the other rooms。
To be sure； a stone floor was not the pleasantest to dance on； but
then； most of the dancers had known what it was to enjoy a
Christmas dance on kitchen quarries。 It was one of those
entrance…halls which make the surrounding rooms look like
closets—with stucco angels； trumpets； and flower…wreaths on the
lofty ceiling； and great medallions of miscellaneous heroes on the
walls； alternating with statues in niches。 Just the sort of place to
be ornamented well with green boughs； and Mr。 Craig had been
proud to show his taste and his hothouse plants on the occasion。
The broad steps of the stone staircase were covered with cushions
to serve as seats for the children； who were to stay till half…past
nine with the servant…maids to see the dancing； and as this dance
was confined to the chief tenants； there was abundant room for
every one。 The lights were charmingly disposed in coloured…paper
lamps； high up among green boughs； and the farmers’ wives and
daughters； as they peeped in； believed no scene could be more
splendid； they knew now quite well in what sort of rooms the king
and queen lived； and their thoughts glanced with some pity
towards cousins and acquaintances who had not this fine
opportunity of knowing how things went on in the great world。
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The lamps were already lit； though the sun had not long set； and
there was that calm light out of doors in which we seem to see all
objects more distinctly than in the broad day。
It was a pretty scene outside the house： the farmers and their
families were moving about the lawn； among the flowers and
shrubs； or along the broad straight road leading from the east
front； where a carpet of mossy grass spread on each side； studded
here and there with a dark flat…boughed cedar； or a grand
pyramidal fir sweeping the ground with its branches； all tipped
with a fringe of paler green。 The groups of cottagers in the park
were gradually diminishing； the young ones being attracted
towards the lights that were beginning to gleam from the windows
of the gallery in the abbey； which was to be their dancing…room；
and some of the sober elder ones thinking it time to go home
quietly。 One of these was Lisbeth Bede； and Seth went with her—
not from filial attention only； for his conscience would not let him
join in dancing。 It had been rather a melancholy day to Seth：
Dinah had never been more constantly present with him than in
this scene； where everything was so unlike her。 He saw her all the
more vividly after looking at the thoughtless faces and gay…
coloured dresses of the young women—just as one feels the beauty
and the greatness of a pictured Madonna the more when it has
been for a moment screened from us by a vulgar head in a bonnet。
But this presence of Dinah in his mind only helped him to bear the
better with his mother’s mood； which had been becoming more
and more querulous for the last hour。 Poor Lisbeth was suffering
from a strange conflict of feelings。 Her joy and pride in the honour
paid to her darling son Adam was beginning to be worsted in the
conflict with the jealousy and fretfulness which had revived when
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Adam came to tell her that Captain Donnithorne desired him to
join the dancers in the hall。 Adam was getting more and more out
of her reach； she wished all the old troubles back again； for then it
mattered more to Adam what his mother said and did。
“Eh； it’s fine talkin’ o’ dancin’；” she said； “an’ thy father not a
five week in’s grave。 An’ I wish I war there too； i’stid o’ bein’ left to
take up merrier folks’s room above ground。”
“Nay； don’t look at it i’ that way； Mother；” said Adam； who was
determined to be gentle to her to…day。 “I don’t mean to dance—I
shall only look on。 And since the captain wishes me to be there； it
’ud look as if I thought I knew better than him to say as I’d rather
not stay。 And thee know’st how he’s behaved to me to…day。”
“Eh； thee ’t do as thee lik’st； for thy old mother’s got no right t’
hinder thee。 She’s nought but th’ old husk； and thee ’st slipped
away from her； like the ripe nut。”
“Well； Mother；” said Adam； “I’ll go and tell the captain as it
hurts thy feelings for me to stay； and I’d rather go home upo’ that
account： he won’t take it ill then； I daresay； and I’m willing。” He
said this with some effort； for he really longed to be near Hetty this
evening。
“Nay； nay； I wonna ha’ thee do that—the young squire ’ull be
angered。 Go an’ do what thee ’t ordered to do； an’ me and Seth ’ull
go whome。 I know it’s a grit honour for thee to be so looked on—
an’ who’s to be prouder on it nor thy mother？ Hadna she the
cumber o’ rearin’ thee an’ doin’ for thee a