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“Dear Aunt；” he said affectionately； as he held her hand； “your
loss is the greatest of all； but you must tell me how to try and make
it up to you all the rest of your life。”
“It was so sudden and so dreadful； Arthur；” poor Miss Lydia
began； pouring out her little plaints； and Arthur sat down to listen
with impatient patience。 When a pause came； he said：
“Now； Aunt； I’ll leave you for a quarter of an hour just to go to
my own room； and then I shall come and give full attention to
everything。”
“My room is all ready for me； I suppose； Mills？” he said to the
butler； who seemed to be lingering uneasily about the entrance…
hall。
“Yes； sir； and there are letters for you； they are all laid on the
writing…table in your dressing…room。”
On entering the small anteroom which was called a dressing…
room； but which Arthur really used only to lounge and write in； he
just cast his eyes on the writing…table； and saw that there were
several letters and packets lying there； but he was in the
uncomfortable dusty condition of a man who has had a long
hurried journey； and he must really refresh himself by attending
to his toilette a little； before he read his letters。 Pym was there；
making everything ready for him； and soon； with a delightful
freshness about him； as if he were prepared to begin a new day； he
went back into his dressing…room to open his letters。 The level
rays of the low afternoon sun entered directly at the window； and
as Arthur seated himself in his velvet chair with their pleasant
warmth upon him； he was conscious of that quiet well…being which
perhaps you and I have felt on a sunny afternoon when； in our
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brightest youth and health； life has opened a new vista for us； and
long to…morrows of activity have stretched before us like a lovely
plain which there was no need for hurrying to look at； because it
was all our own。
The top letter was placed with its address upwards： it was in
Mr。 Irwine’s handwriting； Arthur saw at once； and below the
address was written； “To be delivered as soon as he arrives。”
Nothing could have been less surprising to him than a letter from
Mr。 Irwine at that moment： of course； there was something he
wished Arthur to know earlier than it was possible for them to see
each other。 At such a time as that it was quite natural that Irwine
should have something pressing to say。 Arthur broke the seal with
an agreeable anticipation of soon seeing the writer。
“I send this letter to meet you on your arrival； Arthur； because I
may then be at Stoniton； whither I am called by the most painful duty
it has ever been given me to perform； and it is right that you should
know what I have to tell you without delay。
“I will not attempt to add by one word of reproach to the
retribution that is now falling on you： any other words that I could
write at this moment must be weak and unmeaning by the side of
those in which I must tell you the simple fact。
“Hetty Sorrel is in prison； and will be tried on Friday for the
crime of child…murder 。 。 。”
Arthur read no more。 He started up from his chair and stood for
a single minute with a sense of violent convulsion in his whole
frame； as if the life were going out of him with horrible throbs； but
the next minute he had rushed out of the room； still clutching the
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letter—he was hurrying along the corridor； and down the stairs
into the hall。 Mills was still there； but Arthur did not see him； as he
passed like a hunted man across the hall and out along the gravel。
The butler hurried out after him as fast as his elderly limbs could
run： he guessed； he knew； where the young squire was going。
When Mills got to the stables； a horse was being saddled； and
Arthur was forcing himself to read the remaining words of the
letter。 He thrust it into his pocket as the horse was led up to him；
and at that moment caught sight of Mills’ anxious face in front of
him。
“Tell them I’m gone—gone to Stoniton；” he said in a muffled
tone of agitation—sprang into the saddle； and set off at a gallop。
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Chapter XLV
In the Prison
ear sunset that evening an elderly gentleman was
Nstanding with his back against the smaller entrance…door
of Stoniton jail； saying a few last words to the departing
chaplain。 The chaplain walked away； but the elderly gentleman
stood still； looking down on the pavement and stroking his chin
with a ruminating air； when he was roused by a sweet clear
woman’s voice； saying； “Can I get into the prison； if you please？”
He turned his head and looked fixedly at the speaker for a few
moments without answering。
“I have seen you before；” he said at last。 “Do you remember
preaching on the village green at Hayslope in Loamshire？”
“Yes； sir； surely。 Are you the gentleman that stayed to listen on
horseback？”
“Yes。 Why do you want to go into the prison？”
“I want to go to Hetty Sorrel； the young woman who has been
condemned to death—and to stay with her； if I may be permitted。
Have you power in the prison； sir？”
“Yes； I am a magistrate； and can get admittance for you。 But
did you know this criminal； Hetty Sorrel？”
“Yes； we are kin。 My own aunt married her uncle； Martin
Poyser。 But I was away at Leeds； and didn’t know of this great
trouble in time to get here before to…day。 I entreat you； sir； for the
love of our heavenly Father； to let me go to her and stay with her。”
“How did you know she was condemned to death； if you are
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only just come from Leeds？”
“I have seen my uncle since the trial； sir。 He is gone back to his
home now； and the poor sinner is forsaken of all。 I beseech you to
get leave for me to be with her。”
“What！ Have you courage to stay all night in the prison？ She is
very sullen； and will scarcely make answer when she is spoken to。”
“Oh； sir； it may please God to open her heart still。 Don’t let us
delay。”
“Come； then；” said the elderly gentleman； ringing and gaining
admission； “I know you have a key to unlock hearts。”
Dinah mechanically took off her bonnet and shawl as soon as
they were within the prison court； from the habit she had of
throwing them off when she preached or prayed； or visited the
sick； and when they entered the jailer’s room； she laid them down
on a chair unthinkingly。 There was no agitation visible in her； but
a deep concentrated calmness； as if； even when she was speaking；
her soul was in prayer reposing on an unseen support。
After speaking to the jailer； the magistrate turned to her and
said； “The turnkey will take you to the prisoner’s cell and leave
you there for the night； if you desire it； but you can’t have a light
during the night—it is contrary to rules。 My name is Colonel
Townley： if I can help you in anything； ask the jailer for my
address and come to me。 I take some interest in this Hetty Sorrel；
for the sake of that fine fellow； Adam Bede。 I happened to see him
at Hayslope the same evening I heard you preach； and recognised
him in court to…day； ill as he looked。”