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wife’s niece was treated any ways disrespectful； for all he mayn’t
be fond of her taking on herself to preach。”
“Aye； an’ she’s a pleasant…looked un too；” said Wiry Ben。 “I’ll
stick up for the pretty women preachin’； I know they’d persuade
me over a deal sooner nor th’ ugly men。 I shouldna wonder if I
turn Methody afore the night’s out； an’ begin to coort the
preacher； like Seth Bede。”
“Why； Seth’s looking rether too high； I should think；” said Mr。
Casson。 “This woman’s kin wouldn’t like her to demean herself to
a common carpenter。”
“Tchu！” said Ben； with a long treble intonation； “what’s folks’s
kin got to do wi’t？ Not a chip。 Poyser’s wife may turn her nose up
an’ forget bygones； but this Dinah Morris； they tell me； ’s as poor
as iver she was—works at a mill； an’s much ado to keep hersen。 A
strappin’ young carpenter as is a ready…made Methody； like Seth；
wouldna be a bad match for her。 Why； Poysers make as big a fuss
wi’ Adam Bede as if he war a nevvy o’ their own。”
“Idle talk！ idle talk！” said Mr。 Joshua Rann。 “Adam an’ Seth’s
two men； you wunna fit them two wi’ the same last。”
“Maybe；” said Wiry Ben； contemptuously； “but Seth’s the lad
for me； though he war a Methody twice o’er。 I’m fair beat wi’ Seth；
for I’ve been teasin’ him iver sin’ we’ve been workin’ together； an’
he bears me no more malice nor a lamb。 An’ he’s a stout…hearted
feller too； for when we saw the old tree all afire a…comin’ across the
fields one night； an’ we thought as it war a boguy； Seth made no
more ado； but he up to ’t as bold as a constable。 Why； there he
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comes out o’ Will Maskery’s； an’ there’s Will hisself； lookin’ as
meek as if he couldna knock a nail o’ the head for fear o’ hurtin ’t。
An’ there’s the pretty preacher woman！ My eye； she’s got her
bonnet off。 I mun go a bit nearer。”
Several of the men followed Ben’s lead； and the traveller
pushed his horse on to the Green； as Dinah walked rather quickly
and in advance of her companions towards the cart under the
maple…tree。 While she was near Seth’s tall figure； she looked short；
but when she had mounted the cart； and was away from all
comparison； she seemed above the middle height of woman；
though in reality she did not exceed it—an effect which was due to
the slimness of her figure and the simple line of her black stuff
dress。 The stranger was struck with surprise as he saw her
approach and mount the cart—surprise； not so much at the
feminine delicacy of her appearance； as at the total absence of self…
consciousness in her demeanour。 He had made up his mind to see
her advance with a measured step and a demure solemnity of
countenance； he had felt sure that her face would be mantled with
the smile of conscious saintship； or else charged with denunciatory
bitterness。 He knew but two types of Methodist—the ecstatic and
the bilious。 But Dinah walked as simply as if she were going to
market； and seemed as unconscious of her outward appearance as
a little boy： there was no blush； no tremulousness； which said； “I
know you think me a pretty woman； too young to preach”； no
casting up or down of the eyelids； no compression of the lips； no
attitude of the arms that said； “But you must think of me as a
saint。” She held no book in her ungloved hands； but let them hang
down lightly crossed before her； as she stood and turned her grey
eyes on the people。 There was no keenness in the eyes； they
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Adam Bede 31
seemed rather to be shedding love than making observations； they
had the liquid look which tells that the mind is full of what it has to
give out； rather than impressed by external objects。 She stood with
her left hand towards the descending sun； and leafy boughs
screened her from its rays； but in this sober light the delicate
colouring of her face seemed to gather a calm vividness； like
flowers at evening。 It was a small oval face； of a uniform
transparent whiteness； with an egg…like line of cheek and chin； a
full but firm mouth； a delicate nostril； and a low perpendicular
brow； surmounted by a rising arch of parting between smooth
locks of pale reddish hair。 The hair was drawn straight back
behind the ears； and covered； except for an inch or two above the
brow； by a net Quaker cap。 The eyebrows； of the same colour as
the hair； were perfectly horizontal and firmly pencilled； the
eyelashes； though no darker； were long and abundant—nothing
was left blurred or unfinished。 It was one of those faces that make
one think of white flowers with light touches of colour on their
pure petals。 The eyes had no peculiar beauty； beyond that of
expression； they looked so simple； so candid； so gravely loving；
that no accusing scowl； no light sneer could help melting away
before their glance。 Joshua Rann gave a long cough； as if he were
clearing his throat in order to come to a new understanding with
himself； Chad Cranage lifted up his leather skull…cap and
scratched his head； and Wiry Ben wondered how Seth had the
pluck to think of courting her。
“A sweet woman；” the stranger said to himself； “but surely
nature never meant her for a preacher。”
Perhaps he was one of those who think that nature has
theatrical properties and； with the considerate view of facilitating
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Adam Bede 32
art and psychology； “makes up；” her characters； so that there may
be no mistake about them。 But Dinah began to speak。
“Dear friends；” she said in a clear but not loud voice “let us
pray for a blessing。”
She closed her eyes； and hanging her head down a little
continued in the same moderate tone； as if speaking to some one
quite near her： “Saviour of sinners！ When a poor woman laden
with sins； went out to the well to draw water； she found Thee
sitting at the well。 She knew Thee not； she had not sought Thee；
her mind was dark； her life was unholy。 But Thou didst speak to
her； Thou didst teach her； Thou didst show her that her life lay
open before Thee； and yet Thou wast ready to give her that
blessing which she had never sought。 Jesus； Thou art in the midst
of us； and Thou knowest all men： if there is any here like that poor
woman—if their minds are dark； their lives unholy—if they have
come out not seeking Thee； not desiring to be taught； deal with
them according to the free mercy which Thou didst show to her
Speak to them； Lord； open their ears to my message； bring their
sins to their minds； and make them thirst for that salvation which
Thou art ready to give。
“Lord； Thou art with Thy people still： they see Thee in the
night…watches； and their hearts burn within them as Thou talkest
with them by the way。 And Thou art near to those who have not
known Thee： open their eyes that they may see Thee—see Thee
weeping over them； and saying ‘Ye will not come unto me that ye
might have life’—see Thee hanging on the cross and saying；
‘Father； forgive them； for they know not what they do’—see Thee
as Thou wilt come again in Thy glory to judge them at the last。
Amen。”
George Eliot