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Chapter XLIII
The Verdict
he place fitted up that day as a court of justice was a grand
old hall； now destroyed by fire。 The midday light that fell
T
on the close pavement of human heads was shed through
a line of high pointed windows； variegated with the mellow tints of
old painted glass。 Grim dusty armour hung in high relief in front
of the dark oaken gallery at the farther end； and under the broad
arch of the great mullioned window opposite was spread a curtain
of old tapestry； covered with dim melancholy figures； like a dozing
indistinct dream of the past。 It was a place that through the rest of
the year was haunted with the shadowy memories of old kings and
queens； unhappy； discrowned； imprisoned； but to…day all those
shadows had fled； and not a soul in the vast hall felt the presence
of any but a living sorrow； which was quivering in warm hearts。
But that sorrow seemed to have made it itself feebly felt
hitherto； now when Adam Bede’s tall figure was suddenly seen
being ushered to the side of the prisoner’s dock。 In the broad
sunlight of the great hall； among the sleek shaven faces of other
men； the marks of suffering in his face were startling even to Mr。
Irwine； who had last seen him in the dim light of his small room；
and the neighbours from Hayslope who were present； and who
told Hetty Sorrel’s story by their firesides in their old age； never
forgot to say how it moved them when Adam Bede； poor fellow；
taller by the head than most of the people round him； came into
court and took his place by her side。
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But Hetty did not see him。 She was standing in the same
position Bartle Massey had described； her hands crossed over
each other and her eyes fixed on them。 Adam had not dared to
look at her in the first moments； but at last； when the attention of
the court was withdrawn by the proceedings he turned his face
towards her with a resolution not to shrink。
Why did they say she was so changed？ In the corpse we love； it
is the likeness we see—it is the likeness； which makes itself felt the
more keenly because something else was and is not。 There they
were—the sweet face and neck； with the dark tendrils of hair； the
long dark lashes； the rounded cheek and the pouting lips—pale
and thin； yes； but like Hetty； and only Hetty。 Others thought she
looked as if some demon had cast a blighting glance upon her；
withered up the woman’s soul in her； and left only a hard
despairing obstinacy。 But the mother’s yearning； that completest
type of the life in another life which is the essence of real human
love； feels the presence of the cherished child even in the debased；
degraded man； and to Adam； this pale； hard…looking culprit was
the Hetty who had smiled at him in the garden under the apple…
tree boughs—she was that Hetty’s corpse； which he had trembled
to look at the first time； and then was unwilling to turn away his
eyes from。
But presently he heard something that compelled him to listen；
and made the sense of sight less absorbing。 A woman was in the
witness…box； a middle…aged woman； who spoke in a firm distinct
voice。 She said；
“My name is Sarah Stone。 I am a widow； and keep a small shop
licensed to sell tobacco； snuff； and tea in Church Lane； Stoniton。
The prisoner at the bar is the same young woman who came；
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looking ill and tired； with a basket on her arm； and asked for a
lodging at my house on Saturday evening； the 27th of February。
She had taken the house for a public； because there was a figure
against the door。 And when I said I didn’t take in lodgers； the
prisoner began to cry； and said she was too tired to go anywhere
else； and she only wanted a bed for one night。 And her prettiness；
and her condition； and something respectable about her clothes
and looks； and the trouble she seemed to be in made me as I
couldn’t find in my heart to send her away at once。 I asked her to
sit down； and gave her some tea； and asked her where she was
going； and where her friends were。 She said she was going home
to her friends： they were farming folks a good way off； and she’d
had a long journey that had cost her more money than she
expected； so as she’d hardly any money left in her pocket； and was
afraid of going where it would cost her much。 She had been
obliged to sell most of the things out of her basket； but she’d
thankfully give a shilling for a bed。 I saw no reason why I shouldn’t
take the young woman in for the night。 I had only one room； but
there were two beds in it； and I told her she might stay with me。 I
thought she’d been led wrong； and got into trouble； but if she was
going to her friends； it would be a good work to keep her out of
further harm。”
The witness then stated that in the night a child was born； and
she identified the baby…clothes then shown to her as those in
which she had herself dressed the child。
“Those are the clothes。 I made them myself； and had kept them
by me ever since my last child was born。 I took a deal of trouble
both for the child and the mother。 I couldn’t help taking to the
little thing and being anxious about it。 I didn’t send for a doctor；
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for there seemed no need。 I told the mother in the day…time she
must tell me the name of her friends； and where they lived； and let
me write to them。 She said； by and by she would write herself； but
not to…day。 She would have no nay； but she would get up and be
dressed； in spite of everything I could say。 She said she felt quite
strong enough； and it was wonderful what spirit she showed。 But I
wasn’t quite easy what I should do about her； and towards evening
I made up my mind I’d go； after Meeting was over； and speak to
our minister about it。 I left the house about half…past eight o’clock。
I didn’t go out at the shop door； but at the back door； which opens
into a narrow alley。 I’ve only got the ground…floor of the house； and
the kitchen and bedroom both look into the alley。 I left the
prisoner sitting up by the fire in the kitchen with the baby on her
lap。 She hadn’t cried or seemed low at all； as she did the night
before。 I thought she had a strange look with her eyes； and she got
a bit flushed towards evening。 I was afraid of the fever； and I
thought I’d call and ask an acquaintance of mine； an experienced
woman； to come back with me when I went out。 It was a very dark
night。 I didn’t fasten the door behind me； there was no lock； it was
a latch with a bolt inside； and when there was nobody in the house
I always went out at the shop door。 But I thought there was no
danger in leaving it unfastened that little while。 I was longer than I
meant to be； for I had to wait for the woman that came back with
me。 It was an hour and a half before we got back； and when we
went in； the candle was standing burning just as I left it； but the
prisoner and the baby were both gone。 She’d taken her cloak and
bonnet； but she’d left the basket and the things in it 。 。 。 I was
dreadful frightened； and angry with her for going。 I didn’t go to
give information； because I’d no thought she meant to do any
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