按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to turn Methodist any more nor you are—though it’s like enough
you’ll turn to something worse。 Mester Irwine’s got more sense
nor to meddle wi’ people’s doing as they like in religion。 That’s
between themselves and God； as he’s said to me many a time。”
“Aye； aye； but he’s none so fond o’ your dissenters； for all that。”
“Maybe； I’m none so fond o’ Josh Tod’s thick ale； but I don’t
hinder you from making a fool o’ yourself wi’t。”
There was a laugh at this thrust of Adam’s； but Seth said； very
seriously。 “Nay； nay； Addy； thee mustna say as anybody’s
religion’s like thick ale。 Thee dostna believe but what the
dissenters and the Methodists have got the root o’ the matter as
well as the church folks。”
“Nay； Seth； lad； I’m not for laughing at no man’s religion。 Let
’em follow their consciences； that’s all。 Only I think it ’ud be better
if their consciences ’ud let ’em stay quiet i’ the church—there’s a
deal to be learnt there。 And there’s such a thing as being over…
speritial； we must have something beside Gospel i’ this world。
Look at the canals； an’ th’ aqueducs； an’ th’ coal…pit engines； and
Arkwright’s mills there at Cromford； a man must learn summat
beside Gospel to make them things； I reckon。 But t’ hear some o’
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 14…
Adam Bede 14
them preachers； you’d think as a man must be doing nothing all’s
life but shutting’s eyes and looking what’s agoing on inside him。 I
know a man must have the love o’ God in his soul； and the Bible’s
God’s word。 But what does the Bible say？ Why； it says as God put
his sperrit into the workman as built the tabernacle； to make him
do all the carved work and things as wanted a nice hand。 And this
is my way o’ looking at it： there’s the sperrit o’ God in all things
and all times—weekday as well as Sunday—and i’ the great works
and inventions； and i’ the figuring and the mechanics。 And God
helps us with our headpieces and our hands as well as with our
souls； and if a man does bits o’ jobs out o’ working hours—builds a
oven for ’s wife to save her from going to the bakehouse； or scrats
at his bit o’ garden and makes two potatoes grow istead o’ one；
he’s doin’ more good； and he’s just as near to God； as if he was
running after some preacher and a…praying and a…groaning。”
“Well done； Adam！” said Sandy Jim； who had paused from his
planing to shift his planks while Adam was speaking； “that’s the
best sarmunt I’ve heared this long while。 By th’ same token； my
wife’s been a…plaguin’ on me to build her a oven this twelvemont。”
“There’s reason in what thee say’st； Adam；” observed Seth；
gravely。 “But thee know’st thyself as it’s hearing the preachers
thee find’st so much fault with has turned many an idle fellow into
an industrious un。 It’s the preacher as empties th’ alehouse； and if
a man gets religion； he’ll do his work none the worse for that。”
“On’y he’ll lave the panels out o’ th’ doors sometimes； eh；
Seth？” said Wiry Ben。
“Ah； Ben； you’ve got a joke again’ me as ’ll last you your life。
But it isna religion as was i’ fault there； it was Seth Bede； as was
allays a wool…gathering chap； and religion hasna cured him； the
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 15…
Adam Bede 15
more’s the pity。”
“Ne’er heed me； Seth；” said Wiry Ben； “y’ are a down…right
good…hearted chap； panels or no panels； an’ ye donna set up your
bristles at every bit o’ fun； like some o’ your kin； as is mayhap
cliverer。”
“Seth； lad；” said Adam； taking no notice of the sarcasm against
himself； “thee mustna take me unkind。 I wasna driving at thee in
what I said just now。 Some ’s got one way o’ looking at things and
some ’s got another。”
“Nay； nay； Addy； thee mean’st me no unkindness；” said Seth； “I
know that well enough。 Thee ’t like thy dog Gyp—thee bark’st at
me sometimes； but thee allays lick’st my hand after。”
All hands worked on in silence for some minutes； until the
church clock began to strike six。 Before the first stroke had died
away； Sandy Jim had loosed his plane and was reaching his jacket；
Wiry Ben had left a screw half driven in； and thrown his
screwdriver into his tool…basket； Mum Taft； who； true to his name；
had kept silence throughout the previous conversation； had flung
down his hammer as he was in the act of lifting it； and Seth； too；
had straightened his back； and was putting out his hand towards
his paper cap。 Adam alone had gone on with his work as if nothing
had happened。 But observing the cessation of the tools； he looked
up； and said； in a tone of indignation； “Look there； now！ I can’t
abide to see men throw away their tools i’ that way； the minute the
clock begins to strike； as if they took no pleasure i’ their work and
was afraid o’ doing a stroke too much。”
Seth looked a little conscious； and began to be slower in his
preparations for going； but Mum Taft broke silence； and said；
“Aye； aye； Adam lad； ye talk like a young un。 When y’ are six…an’…
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 16…
Adam Bede 16
forty like me； istid o’ six…an’…twenty； ye wonna be so flush o’
workin’ for nought。”
“Nonsense；” said Adam； still wrathful； “what’s age got to do
with it； I wonder？ Ye arena getting stiff yet； I reckon。 I hate to see
a man’s arms drop down as if he was shot； before the clock’s fairly
struck； just as if he’d never a bit o’ pride and delight in ’s work。
The very grindstone ’ull go on turning a bit after you loose it。”
“Bodderation； Adam！” exclaimed Wiry Ben； “lave a chap aloon；
will ’ee？ Ye war afinding faut wi’ preachers a while agoo—y’ are
fond enough o’ preachin’ yoursen。 Ye may like work better nor
play； but I like play better nor work； that’ll ’commodate ye—it
laves ye th’ more to do。”
With this exit speech； which he considered effective； Wiry Ben
shouldered his basket and left the workshop； quickly followed by
Mum Taft and Sandy Jim。 Seth lingered； and looked wistfully at
Adam； as if he expected him to say something。
“Shalt go home before thee go’st to the preaching？” Adam
asked； looking up。
“Nay； I’ve got my hat and things at Will Maskery’s。 I shan’t be
home before going for ten。 I’ll happen see Dinah Morris safe home；
if she’s willing。 There’s nobody comes with her from Poyser’s； thee
know’st。”
“Then I’ll tell mother not to look for thee；” said Adam。
“Thee artna going to Poyser’s thyself to…night？” said Seth
rather timidly； as he turned to leave the workshop。
“Nay； I’m going to th’ school。”
Hitherto Gyp had kept his comfortable bed； only lifting up his
head and watching Adam more closely as he noticed the other
workmen departing。 But no sooner did Adam put his ruler in his
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 17…
Adam Bede 17
pocket； and begin to twist his apron round his waist； than Gyp ran
forward and looked up in his master’s face with patient
expectation。 If Gyp had had a tail he would doubtless have wagged
it； but being destitute of that vehicle for his emotions； he was like
many other worthy personages； destined to appear more
phlegmatic than nature had made him。
“What！ Art ready for the basket； eh； Gyp？” said Adam； with the
same gentle modulation of voice as when he spoke to Seth。
Gyp