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George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Adam Bede 358
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。 No other friend of the family； besides
Mr。 Gawaine； was invited to…day； there was to be a grand dinner
for the neighbouring gentry on the morrow； but to…day all the
forces were required for the entertainment of the tenants。
There was a sunk fence in front of the marquee； dividing the
lawn from the park； but a temporary bridge had been made for the
passage of the victors； and the groups of people standing； or seated
here and there on benches； stretched on each side of the open
space from the white marquees up to the sunk fence。
“Upon my word it’s a pretty sight；” said the old lady； in her
deep voice； when she was seated； and looked round on the bright
scene with its dark…green background； “and it’s the last fete…day
I’m likely to see； unless you make haste and get married； Arthur。
But take care you get a charming bride； else I would rather die
without seeing her。”
“You’re so terribly fastidious； godmother；” said Arthur； “I’m
afraid I should never satisfy you with my choice。”
“Well； I won’t forgive you if she’s not handsome。 I can’t be put
off with amiability； which is always the excuse people are making
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for the existence of plain people。 And she must not be silly； that
will never do； because you’ll want managing； and a silly woman
can’t manage you。 Who is that tall young man； Dauphin； with the
mild face？ There； standing without his hat； and taking such care of
that tall old woman by the side of him—his mother； of course。 I
like to see that。”
“What； don’t you know him； Mother？” said Mr。 Irwine。 “That is
Seth Bede； Adam’s brother—a Methodist； but a very good fellow。
Poor Seth has looked rather down…hearted of late； I thought it was
because of his father’s dying in that sad way； but Joshua Rann
tells me he wanted to marry that sweet little Methodist preacher
who was here about a month ago； and I suppose she refused him。”
“Ah； I remember hearing about her。 But there are no end of
people here that I don’t know； for they’re grown up and altered so
since I used to go about。”
“What excellent sight you have！” said old Mr。 Donnithorne； who
was holding a double glass up to his eyes； “to see the expression of
that young man’s face so far off。 His face is nothing but a pale
blurred spot to me。 But I fancy I have the advantage of you when
we come to look close。 I can read small print without spectacles。”
“Ah； my dear sir； you began with being very near…sighted； and
those near…sighted eyes always wear the best。 I want very strong
spectacles to read with； but then I think my eyes get better and
better for things at a distance。 I suppose if I could live another fifty
years； I should be blind to everything that wasn’t out of other
people’s sight； like a man who stands in a well and sees nothing
but the stars。”
“See；” said Arthur； “the old women are ready to set out on their
race now。 Which do you bet on； Gawaine？”
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Adam Bede 360
“The long…legged one； unless they’re going to have several
heats； and then the little wiry one may win。”
“There are the Poysers； Mother； not far off on the right hand；”
said Miss Irwine。 “Mrs。 Poyser is looking at you。 Do take notice of
her。”
“To be sure I will；” said the old lady； giving a gracious bow to
Mrs。 Poyser。 “A woman who sends me such excellent cream…
cheese is not to be neglected。 Bless me！ What a fat child that is she
is holding on her knee！ But who is that pretty girl with dark eyes？”
“That is Hetty Sorrel；” said Miss Lydia Donnithorne； “Martin
Poyser’s niece—a very likely young person； and well…looking too。
My maid has taught her fine needlework； and she has mended
some lace of mine very respectably indeed—very respectably。”
“Why； she has lived with the Poysers six or seven years；
Mother； you must have seen her；” said Miss Irwine。
“No； I’ve never seen her； child—at least not as she is now；” said
Mrs。 Irwine； continuing to look at Hetty。 “Well…looking； indeed！
She’s a perfect beauty！ I’ve never seen anything so pretty since my
young days。 What a pity such beauty as that should be thrown
away among the farmers； when it’s wanted so terribly among the
good families without fortune！ I daresay； now； she’ll marry a man
who would have thought her just as pretty if she had had round
eyes and red hair。”
Arthur dared not turn his eyes towards Hetty while Mrs。 Irwine
was speaking of her。 He feigned not to hear； and to be occupied
with something on the opposite side。 But he saw her plainly
enough without looking； saw her in heightened beauty； because he
heard her beauty praised—for other men’s opinion； you know； was
like a native climate to Arthur’s feelings： it was the air on which
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Adam Bede