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Adam Bede 354
speaking； not being troubled with small vanity or lack of words； he
looked neither awkward nor embarrassed； but stood in his usual
firm upright attitude； with his head thrown a little backward and
his hands perfectly still； in that rough dignity which is peculiar to
intelligent； honest； well…built workmen； who are never wondering
what is their business in the world。
“I’m quite taken by surprise；” he said。 “I didn’t expect anything
o’ this sort； for it’s a good deal more than my wages。 But I’ve the
more reason to be grateful to you； Captain； and to you； Mr。 Irwine；
and to all my friends here； who’ve drunk my health and wished me
well。 It ’ud be nonsense for me to be saying； I don’t at all deserve
th’ opinion you have of me； that ’ud be poor thanks to you； to say
that you’ve known me all these years and yet haven’t sense
enough to find out a great deal o’ the truth about me。 You think； if
I undertake to do a bit o’ work； I’ll do it well； be my pay big or
little—and that’s true。 I’d be ashamed to stand before you here if it
wasna true。 But it seems to me that’s a man’s plain duty； and
nothing to be conceited about； and it’s pretty clear to me as I’ve
never done more than my duty； for let us do what we will； it’s only
making use o’ the sperrit and the powers that ha’ been given to us。
And so this kindness o’ yours； I’m sure； is no debt you owe me； but
a free gift； and as such I accept it and am thankful。 And as to this
new employment I’ve taken in hand； I’ll only say that I took it at
Captain Donnithorne’s desire； and that I’ll try to fulfil his
expectations。 I’d wish for no better lot than to work under him；
and to know that while I was getting my own bread I was taking
care of his int’rests。 For I believe he’s one o those gentlemen as
wishes to do the right thing； and to leave the world a bit better
than he found it； which it’s my belief every man may do； whether
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Adam Bede 355
he’s gentle or simple； whether he sets a good bit o’ work going and
finds the money； or whether he does the work with his own hands。
There’s no occasion for me to say any more about what I feel
towards him： I hope to show it through the rest o’ my life in my
actions。”
There were various opinions about Adam’s speech： some of the
women whispered that he didn’t show himself thankful enough；
and seemed to speak as proud as could be； but most of the men
were of opinion that nobody could speak more straightfor’ard； and
that Adam was as fine a chap as need to be。 While such
observations were being buzzed about； mingled with wonderings
as to what the old squire meant to do for a bailiff； and whether he
was going to have a steward； the two gentlemen had risen； and
were walking round to the table where the wives and children sat。
There was none of the strong ale here； of course； but wine and
dessert—sparkling gooseberry for the young ones； and some good
sherry for the mothers。 Mrs。 Poyser was at the head of this table；
and Totty was now seated in her lap； bending her small nose deep
down into a wine…glass in search of the nuts floating there。
“How do you do； Mrs。 Poyser？” said Arthur。 “Weren’t you
pleased to hear your husband make such a good speech to…day？”
“Oh； sir； the men are mostly so tongue…tied—you’re forced
partly to guess what they mean； as you do wi’ the dumb creaturs。”
“What！ you think you could have made it better for him？” said
Mr。 Irwine； laughing。
“Well； sir； when I want to say anything； I can mostly find words
to say it in； thank God。 Not as I’m a…finding faut wi’ my husband；
for if he’s a man o’ few words； what he says he’ll stand to。”
“I’m sure I never saw a prettier party than this；” Arthur said；
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looking round at the apple…cheeked children。 “My aunt and the
Miss Irwines will come up and see you presently。 They were afraid
of the noise of the toasts； but it would be a shame for them not to
see you at table。”
He walked on； speaking to the mothers and patting the
children； while Mr。 Irwine satisfied himself with standing still and
nodding at a distance； that no one’s attention might be disturbed
from the young squire； the hero of the day。 Arthur did not venture
to stop near Hetty； but merely bowed to her as he passed along the
opposite side。 The foolish child felt her heart swelling with
discontent； for what woman was ever satisfied with apparent
neglect； even when she knows it to be the mask of love？ Hetty
thought this was going to be the most miserable day she had had
for a long while； a moment of chill daylight and reality came across
her dream： Arthur； who had seemed so near to her only a few
hours before； was separated from her； as the hero of a great
procession is separated from a small outsider in the crowd。
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Adam Bede 357
Chapter XXV
The Games
he great dance was not to begin until eight o’clock； but for
any lads and lasses who liked to dance on the shady grass
T
before then； there was music always at hand—for was not
the band of the Benefit Club capable of playing excellent jigs；
reels； and hornpipes？ And； besides this； there was a grand band
hired from Rosseter； who； with their wonderful wind…instruments
and puffed…out cheeks； were themselves a delightful show to the
small boys and girls。 To say nothing of Joshua Rann’s fiddle；
which； by an act of generous forethought； he had provided himself
with； in case any one should be of sufficiently pure taste to prefer
dancing to a solo on that instrument。
Meantime； when the sun had moved off the great open space in
front of the house； the games began。 There were； of course； well…
soaped poles to be climbed by the boys and youths； races to be run
by the old women； races to be run in sacks； heavy weights to be
lifted by the strong men； and a long list of challenges to such
ambitious attempts as that of walking as many yards possible on
one leg—feats in which it was generally remarked that Wiry Ben；
being “the lissom’st； springest fellow i’ the country；” was sure to
be pre…eminent。 To crown all； there was to be a donkey…race—that
sublimest of all races； conducted on the grand socialistic idea of
everybody encouraging everybody else’s donkey； and the sorriest
donkey winning。
And soon after four o’clock； splendid old Mrs。 Irwine； in her
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damask satin and jewels and black lace； was led out by Arthur；
followed by the whole family party； to her raised seat under the
striped marquee； where she was to give out the prizes to the
victors。 Staid； formal Miss Lydia had requested to resign that
queenly office to the royal old lady； and Arthur was pleased with
this opportunity of gratifying his godmother’s taste for stateliness。
Old Mr。 Donnithorne； the delicately clean； finely scented； withered
old man； led out Miss Irwine； with his air of punctilious； acid
politeness； Mr。 Gawaine brought Miss Lydia； looking neutral and
stiff in an elegant peach…blossom silk； and Mr。 Irwine came last
with his pale sister Anne