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November morning who was not either in church to see Adam and
Dinah married； or near the church door to greet them as they
came forth。 Mrs。 Irwine and her daughters were waiting at the
churchyard gates in their carriage （for they had a carriage now） to
shake hands with the bride and bridegroom and wish them well；
and in the absence of Miss Lydia Donnithorne at Bath； Mrs。 Best；
Mr。 Mills； and Mr。 Craig had felt it incumbent on them to
represent “the family” at the Chase on the occasion。 The
churchyard walk was quite lined with familiar faces； many of them
faces that had first looked at Dinah when she preached on the
Green。 And no wonder they showed this eager interest on her
marriage morning； for nothing like Dinah and the history which
had brought her and Adam Bede together had been known at
Hayslope within the memory of man。
Bessy Cranage； in her neatest cap and frock； was crying； though
she did not exactly know why； for； as her cousin Wiry Ben； who
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stood near her； judiciously suggested； Dinah was not going away；
and if Bessy was in low spirits； the best thing for her to do was to
follow Dinah’s example and marry an honest fellow who was ready
to have her。 Next to Bessy； just within the church door； there were
the Poyser children； peeping round the corner of the pews to get a
sight of the mysterious ceremony； Totty’s face wearing an unusual
air of anxiety at the idea of seeing cousin Dinah come back looking
rather old； for in Totty’s experience no married people were
young。
I envy them all the sight they had when the marriage was fairly
ended and Adam led Dinah out of church。 She was not in black
this morning； for her Aunt Poyser would by no means allow such a
risk of incurring bad luck； and had herself made a present of the
wedding dress； made all of grey； though in the usual Quaker form；
for on this point Dinah could not give way。 So the lily face looked
out with sweet gravity from under a grey Quaker bonnet； neither
smiling nor blushing； but with lips trembling a little under the
weight of solemn feelings。 Adam； as he pressed her arm to his side；
walked with his old erectness and his head thrown rather
backward as if to face all the world better。 But it was not because
he was particularly proud this morning； as is the wont of
bridegrooms； for his happiness was of a kind that had little
reference to men’s opinion of it。 There was a tinge of sadness in
his deep joy； Dinah knew it； and did not feel aggrieved。
There were three other couples； following the bride and
bridegroom： first； Martin Poyser； looking as cheery as a bright fire
on this rimy morning； led quiet Mary Burge； the bridesmaid； then
came Seth serenely happy； with Mrs。 Poyser on his arm； and last
of all Bartle Massey； with Lisbeth—Lisbeth in a new gown and
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bonnet； too busy with her pride in her son and her delight in
possessing the one daughter she had desired to devise a single
pretext for complaint。
Bartle Massey had consented to attend the wedding at Adam’s
earnest request； under protest against marriage in general and the
marriage of a sensible man in particular。 Nevertheless； Mr。 Poyser
had a joke against him after the wedding dinner； to the effect that
in the vestry he had given the bride one more kiss than was
necessary。
Behind this last couple came Mr。 Irwine； glad at heart over this
good morning’s work of joining Adam and Dinah。 For he had seen
Adam in the worst moments of his sorrow； and what better
harvest from that painful seed…time could there be than this？ The
love that had brought hope and comfort in the hour of despair； the
love that had found its way to the dark prison cell and to poor
Hetty’s darker soul—this strong gentle love was to be Adam’s
companion and helper till death。
There was much shaking of hands mingled with “God bless
you’s” and other good wishes to the four couples； at the
churchyard gate； Mr。 Poyser answering for the rest with unwonted
vivacity of tongue； for he had all the appropriate wedding…day
jokes at his command。 And the women； he observed； could never
do anything but put finger in eye at a wedding。 Even Mrs。 Poyser
could not trust herself to speak as the neighbours shook hands
with her； and Lisbeth began to cry in the face of the very first
person who told her she was getting young again。
Mr。 Joshua Rann； having a slight touch of rheumatism； did not
join in the ringing of the bells this morning； and； looking on with
some contempt at these informal greetings which required no
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official co…operation from the clerk； began to hum in his musical
bass； “Oh what a joyful thing it is；” by way of preluding a little to
the effect he intended to produce in the wedding psalm next
Sunday。
“That’s a bit of good news to cheer Arthur；” said Mr。 Irwine to
his mother； as they drove off。 “I shall write to him the first thing
when we get home。”
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Epilogue
t is near the end of June； in 1807。 The workshops have been
Ishut up half an hour or more in Adam Bede’s timber…yard；
which used to be Jonathan Burge’s； and the mellow evening
light is falling on the pleasant house with the buff walls and the
soft grey thatch； very much as it did when we saw Adam bringing
in the keys on that June evening nine years ago。
There is a figure we know well； just come out of the house； and
shading her eyes with her hands as she looks for something in the
distance； for the rays that fall on her white borderless cap and her
pale auburn hair are very dazzling。 But now she turns away from
the sunlight and looks towards the door。
We can see the sweet pale face quite well now： it is scarcely at
all altered—only a little fuller； to correspond to her more matronly
figure； which still seems light and active enough in the plain black
dress。
“I see him； Seth；” Dinah said； as she looked into the house。 “Let
us go and meet him。 Come； Lisbeth； come with Mother。”
The last call was answered immediately by a small fair creature
with pale auburn hair and grey eyes； little more than four years
old； who ran out silently and put her hand into her mother’s。
“Come； Uncle Seth；” said Dinah。
“Aye； aye； we’re coming；” Seth answered from within； and
presently appeared stooping under the doorway； being taller than
usual by the black head of a sturdy two…year…old nephew； who had
caused some delay by demanding to be carried on uncle’s
shoulder。
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“Better take him on thy arm； Seth；” said Dinah； looking fondly
at the stout black…eyed fellow。 “He’s troublesome to thee so。”
“Nay； nay： Addy likes a ride on my shoulder。 I can carry him so
for a bit。” A kindness which young Addy acknowledged by
drumming his heels with promising force against Uncle Seth’s
chest。 But to walk by Dinah’s side； and be tyrannised over by
Dinah’s and Adam’s children； was Uncle Seth’s earthly happiness。
“Where didst see him？” asked Seth； as they wal