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hold o’ things outside your own lot。”
As he dashed the cold water over his head and face； he felt
completely himself again； and with his black eyes as keen as ever
and his thick black hair all glistening with the fresh moisture； he
went into the workshop to look out the wood for his father’s coffin；
intending that he and Seth should carry it with them to Jonathan
Burge’s and have the coffin made by one of the workmen there； so
that his mother might not see and hear the sad task going forward
at home。
He had just gone into the workshop when his quick ear
detected a light rapid foot on the stairs—certainly not his
mother’s。 He had been in bed and asleep when Dinah had come in；
in the evening； and now he wondered whose step this could be。 A
foolish thought came； and moved him strangely。 As if it could be
Hetty！ She was the last person likely to be in the house。 And yet he
felt reluctant to go and look and have the clear proof that it was
some one else。 He stood leaning on a plank he had taken hold of；
listening to sounds which his imagination interpreted for him so
pleasantly that the keen strong face became suffused with a timid
tenderness。 The light footstep moved about the kitchen； followed
by the sound of the sweeping brush； hardly making so much noise
as the lightest breeze that chases the autumn leaves along the
dusty path； and Adam’s imagination saw a dimpled face； with dark
bright eyes and roguish smiles looking backward at this brush；
and a rounded figure just leaning a little to clasp the handle。 A
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very foolish thought—it could not be Hetty； but the only way of
dismissing such nonsense from his head was to go and see who it
was； for his fancy only got nearer and nearer to belief while he
stood there listening。 He loosed the plank and went to the kitchen
door。
“How do you do； Adam Bede？” said Dinah； in her calm treble；
pausing from her sweeping and fixing her mild grave eyes upon
him。 “I trust you feel rested and strengthened again to bear the
burden and heat of the day。”
It was like dreaming of the sunshine and awaking in the
moonlight。 Adam had seen Dinah several times； but always at the
Hall Farm； where he was not very vividly conscious of any
woman’s presence except Hetty’s； and he had only in the last day
or two begun to suspect that Seth was in love with her； so that his
attention had not hitherto been drawn towards her for his
brother’s sake。 But now her slim figure； her plain black gown； and
her pale serene face impressed him with all the force that belongs
to a reality contrasted with a preoccupying fancy。 For the first
moment or two he made no answer； but looked at her with the
concentrated； examining glance which a man gives to an object in
which he has suddenly begun to be interested。 Dinah； for the first
time in her life； felt a painful self…consciousness； there was
something in the dark penetrating glance of this strong man so
different from the mildness and timidity of his brother Seth。 A
faint blush came； which deepened as she wondered at it。 This
blush recalled Adam from his forgetfulness。
“I was quite taken by surprise； it was very good of you to come
and see my mother in her trouble；” he said； in a gentle grateful
tone； for his quick mind told him at once how she came to be
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there。 “I hope my mother was thankful to have you；” he added；
wondering rather anxiously what had been Dinah’s reception。
“Yes；” said Dinah； resuming her work； “she seemed greatly
comforted after a while； and she’s had a good deal of rest in the
night； by times。 She was fast asleep when I left her。”
“Who was it took the news to the Hall Farm？” said Adam； his
thoughts reverting to some one there； he wondered whether she
had felt anything about it。
“It was Mr。 Irwine； the clergyman； told me； and my aunt was
grieved for your mother when she heard it； and wanted me to
come； and so is my uncle； I’m sure； now he’s heard it； but he was
gone out to Rosseter all yesterday。 They’ll look for you there as
soon as you’ve got time to go； for there’s nobody round that hearth
but what’s glad to see you。”
Dinah； with her sympathetic divination； knew quite well that
Adam was longing to hear if Hetty had said anything about their
trouble； she was too rigorously truthful for benevolent invention；
but she had contrived to say something in which Hetty was tacitly
included。 Love has a way of cheating itself consciously； like a child
who plays at solitary hide…and…seek； it is pleased with assurances
that it all the while disbelieves。 Adam liked what Dinah had said so
much that his mind was directly full of the next visit he should pay
to the Hall Farm； when Hetty would perhaps behave more kindly
to him than she had ever done before。
“But you won’t be there yourself any longer？” he said to Dinah。
“No； I go back to Snowfield on Saturday； and I shall have to set
out to Treddleston early； to be in time for the Oakbourne carrier。
So I must go back to the farm to…night； that I may have the last day
with my aunt and her children。 But I can stay here all to…day； if
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your mother would like me； and her heart seemed inclined
towards me last night。”
“Ah； then； she’s sure to want you to…day。 If mother takes to
people at the beginning； she’s sure to get fond of ’em； but she’s a
strange way of not liking young women。 Though； to be sure；”
Adam went on； smiling； “her not liking other young women is no
reason why she shouldn’t like you。”
Hitherto Gyp had been assisting at this conversation in
motionless silence； seated on his haunches； and alternately
looking up in his master’s face to watch its expression and
observing Dinah’s movements about the kitchen。 The kind smile
with which Adam uttered the last words was apparently decisive
with Gyp of the light in which the stranger was to be regarded；
and as she turned round after putting aside her sweeping…brush；
he trotted towards her and put up his muzzle against her hand in
a friendly way。
“You see Gyp bids you welcome；” said Adam； “and he’s very
slow to welcome strangers。”
“Poor dog！” said Dinah； patting the rough grey coat； “I’ve a
strange feeling about the dumb things as if they wanted to speak；
and it was a trouble to ’em because they couldn’t。 I can’t help
being sorry for the dogs always； though perhaps there’s no need。
But they may well have more in them than they know how to
make us understand； for we can’t say half what we feel； with all
our words。”
Seth came down now； and was pleased to find Adam talking
with Dinah； he wanted Adam to know how much better she was
than all other women。 But after a few words of greeting； Adam
drew him into the workshop to consult about the coffin； and Dinah
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went on with her cleaning。
By six o’clock they were all at breakfast with Lisbeth in a
kitchen as clean as she could have made it h