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！
day； and Tim can come back tow’rds five o’clock； and let Alick
have his turn。 They may let Growler loose if anybody offers to do
mischief； and there’s Alick’s dog too； ready enough to set his tooth
in a tramp if Alick gives him a wink。”
Mrs。 Poyser accepted this compromise； but thought it advisable
to bar and bolt to the utmost； and now； at the last moment before
starting； Nancy； the dairy…maid； was closing the shutters of the
house…place； although the window； lying under the immediate
observation of Alick and the dogs； might have been supposed the
least likely to be selected for a burglarious attempt。
The covered cart； without springs； was standing ready to carry
the whole family except the men…servants。 Mr。 Poyser and the
grandfather sat on the seat in front； and within there was room for
all the women and children； the fuller the cart the better； because
then the jolting would not hurt so much； and Nancy’s broad
person and thick arms were an excellent cushion to be pitched on。
But Mr。 Poyser drove at no more than a walking pace； that there
might be as little risk of jolting as possible on this warm day； and
there was time to exchange greetings and remarks with the foot…
passengers who were going the same way； specking the paths
between the green meadows and the golden cornfields with bits of
movable bright colour—a scarlet waistcoat to match the poppies
that nodded a little too thickly among the corn； or a dark…blue
neckerchief with ends flaunting across a brand…new white smock…
frock。 All Broxton and all Hayslope were to be at the Chase； and
make merry there in honour of “th’ heir”； and the old men and
women； who had never been so far down this side of the hill for
the last twenty years； were being brought from Broxton and
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 333…
Adam Bede 333
Hayslope in one of the farmer’s waggons； at Mr。 Irwine’s
suggestion。 The church…bells had struck up again now—a last
tune； before the ringers came down the hill to have their share in
the festival； and before the bells had finished； other music was
heard approaching； so that even Old Brown； the sober horse that
was drawing Mr。 Poyser’s cart； began to prick up his ears。 It was
the band of the Benefit Club； which had mustered in all its glory—
that is to say； in bright…blue scarfs and blue favours； and carrying
its banner with the motto； “Let brotherly love continue；”
encircling a picture of a stone…pit。
The carts； of course； were not to enter the Chase。 Every one
must get down at the lodges； and the vehicles must be sent back。
“Why； the Chase is like a fair a’ready；” said Mrs。 Poyser； as she
got down from the cart； and saw the groups scattered under the
great oaks； and the boys running about in the hot sunshine to
survey the tall poles surmounted by the fluttering garments that
were to be the prize of the successful climbers。 “I should ha’
thought there wasna so many people i’ the two parishes。 Mercy on
us！ How hot it is out o’ the shade！ Come here； Totty； else your little
face ’ull be burnt to a scratchin’！ They might ha’ cooked the
dinners i’ that open space an’ saved the fires。 I shall go to Mrs。
Best’s room an’ sit down。”
“Stop a bit； stop a bit；” said Mr。 Poyser。 “There’s th’ waggin
coming wi’ th’ old folks in’t； it’ll be such a sight as wonna come
o’er again； to see ’em get down an’ walk along all together。 You
remember some on ’em i’ their prime； eh； Father？”
“Aye； aye；” said old Martin； walking slowly under the shade of
the lodge porch； from which he could see the aged party descend。
“I remember Jacob Taft walking fifty mile after the Scotch
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 334…
Adam Bede 334
raybels； when they turned back from Stoniton。”
He felt himself quite a youngster； with a long life before him； as
he saw the Hayslope patriarch； old Feyther Taft； descend from the
waggon and walk towards him； in his brown nightcap； and leaning
on his two sticks。
“Well； Mester Taft；” shouted old Martin； at the utmost stretch of
his voice—for though he knew the old man was stone deaf； he
could not omit the propriety of a greeting—“you’re hearty yet。 You
can enjoy yoursen to…day； for…all you’re ninety an’ better。”
“Your sarvant； mesters； your sarvant；” said Feyther Taft in a
treble tone； perceiving that he was in company。
The aged group； under care of sons or daughters； themselves
worn and grey； passed on along the least…winding carriage…road
towards the house； where a special table was prepared for them；
while the Poyser party wisely struck across the grass under the
shade of the great trees； but not out of view of the house…front；
with its sloping lawn and flower…beds； or of the pretty striped
marquee at the edge of the lawn； standing at right angles with two
larger marquees on each side of the open green space where the
games were to be played。 The house would have been nothing but
a plain square mansion of Queen Anne’s time； but for the remnant
of an old abbey to which it was united at one end； in much the
same way as one may sometimes see a new farmhouse rising high
and prim at the end of older and lower farm…offices。 The fine old
remnant stood a little backward and under the shadow of tall
beeches； but the sun was now on the taller and more advanced
front； the blinds were all down； and the house seemed asleep in
the hot midday。 It made Hetty quite sad to look at it： Arthur must
be somewhere in the back rooms； with the grand company； where
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 335…
Adam Bede 335
he could not possibly know that she w