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George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Adam Bede 130
times when there was no rigid demarcation of rank between the
farmer and the respectable artisan； and on the home hearth； as
well as in the public house； they might be seen taking their jug of
ale together； the farmer having a latent sense of capital； and of
weight in parish affairs； which sustained him under his
conspicuous inferiority in conversation。 Martin Poyser was not a
frequenter of public houses； but he liked a friendly chat over his
own home…brewed； and though it was pleasant to lay down the law
to a stupid neighbour who had no notion how to make the best of
his farm； it was also an agreeable variety to learn something from
a clever fellow like Adam Bede。 Accordingly； for the last three
years—ever since he had superintended the building of the new
barn—Adam had always been made welcome at the Hall Farm；
especially of a winter evening； when the whole family； in
patriarchal fashion； master and mistress； children and servants；
were assembled in that glorious kitchen； at well…graduated
distances from the blazing fire。 And for the last two years； at least；
Hetty had been in the habit of hearing her uncle say； “Adam Bede
may be working for wage now； but he’ll be a master…man some
day； as sure as I sit in this chair。 Mester Burge is in the right on ’t
to want him to go partners and marry his daughter； if it’s true
what they say； the woman as marries him ’ull have a good take；
be’t Lady…day or Michaelmas；” a remark which Mrs。 Poyser
always followed up with her cordial assent。 “Ah；” she would say；
“it’s all very fine having a ready…made rich man； but mayhappen
he’ll be a ready…made fool； and it’s no use filling your pocket full o’
money if you’ve got a hole in the corner。 It’ll do you no good to sit
in a spring…cart o’ your own； if you’ve got a soft to drive you： he’ll
soon turn you over into the ditch。 I allays said I’d never marry a
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Adam Bede 131
man as had got no brains； for where’s the use of a woman having
brains of her own if she’s tackled to a geck as everybody’s a…
laughing at？ She might as well dress herself fine to sit back’ards
on a donkey。”
These expressions； though figurative； sufficiently indicated the
bent of Mrs。 Poyser’s mind with regard to Adam； and though she
and her husband might have viewed the subject differently if
Hetty had been a daughter of their own； it was clear that they
would have welcomed the match with Adam for a penniless niece。
For what could Hetty have been but a servant elsewhere； if her
uncle had not taken her in and brought her up as a domestic help
to her aunt； whose health since the birth of Totty had not been
equal to more positive labour than the superintendence of
servants and children？ But Hetty had never given Adam any
steady encouragement。 Even in the moments when she was most
thoroughly conscious of his superiority to her other admirers； she
had never brought herself to think of accepting him。 She liked to
feel that this strong； skilful； keen…eyed man was in her power； and
would have been indignant if he had shown the least sign of
slipping from under the yoke of her coquettish tyranny and
attaching himself to the gentle Mary Burge； who would have been
grateful enough for the most trifling notice from him。 “Mary
Burge； indeed！ Such a sallow…faced girl： if she put on a bit of pink
ribbon； she looked as yellow as a crow…flower and her hair was as
straight as a hank of cotton。” And always when Adam stayed away
for several weeks from the Hall Farm； and otherwise made some
show of resistance to his passion as a foolish one； Hetty took care
to entice him back into the net by little airs of meekness and
timidity； as if she were in trouble at his neglect。 But as to marrying
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Adam Bede 132
Adam； that was a very different affair！ There was nothing in the
world to tempt her to do that。 Her cheeks never grew a shade
deeper when his name was mentioned； she felt no thrill when she
saw him passing along the causeway by the window； or advancing
towards her unexpectedly in the footpath across the meadow； she
felt nothing； when his eyes rested on her； but the cold triumph of
knowing that he loved her and would not care to look at Mary
Burge。 He could no more stir in her the emotions that make the
sweet intoxication of young love than the mere picture of a sun
can stir the spring sap in the subtle fibres of the plant。 She saw
him as he was—a poor man with old parents to keep； who would
not be able； for a long while to come； to give her even such
luxuries as she shared in her uncle’s house。 And Hetty’s dreams
were all of luxuries： to sit in a carpeted parlour； and always wear
white stockings； to have some large beautiful ear…rings； such as
were all the fashion； to have Nottingham lace round the top of her
gown； and something to make her handkerchief smell nice； like
Miss Lydia Donnithorne’s when she drew it out at church； and not
to be obliged to get up early or be scolded by anybody。 She
thought； if Adam had been rich and could have given her these
things； she loved him well enough to marry him。
But for the last few weeks a new influence had come over
Hetty—vague； atmospheric； shaping itself into no self…confessed
hopes or prospects； but producing a pleasant narcotic effect；
making her tread the ground and go about her work in a sort of
dream； unconscious of weight or effort； and showing her all things
through a s