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question for gentlemen in an enlightened age； and that mortal sin
is not incompatible with an appetite for muffins。 An assault on our
pockets； which in more barbarous times would have been made in
the brusque form of a pistol…shot； is quite a well…bred and smiling
procedure now it has become a request for a loan thrown in as an
easy parenthesis between the second and third glasses of claret。
Still； there was this advantage in the old rigid forms； that they
committed you to the fulfilment of a resolution by some outward
deed： when you have put your mouth to one end of a hole in a
stone wall and are aware that there is an expectant ear at the
other end； you are more likely to say what you came out with the
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Adam Bede 215
intention of saying than if you were seated with your legs in an
easy attitude under the mahogany with a companion who will
have no reason to be surprised if you have nothing particular to
say。
However； Arthur Donnithorne； as he winds among the pleasant
lanes on horseback in the morning sunshine； has a sincere
determination to open his heart to the rector； and the swirling
sound of the scythe as he passes by the meadow is all the
pleasanter to him because of this honest purpose。 He is glad to see
the promise of settled weather now； for getting in the hay； about
which the farmers have been fearful； and there is something so
healthful in the sharing of a joy that is general and not merely
personal； that this thought about the hay…harvest reacts on his
state of mind and makes his resolution seem an easier matter。 A
man about town might perhaps consider that these influences
were not to be felt out of a child’s story…book； but when you are
among the fields and hedgerows； it is impossible to maintain a
consistent superiority to simple natural pleasures。
Arthur had passed the village of Hayslope and was approaching
the Broxton side of the hill； when； at a turning in the road； he saw
a figure about a hundred yards before him which it was impossible
to mistake for any one else than Adam Bede； even if there had
been no grey； tailless shepherd…dog at his heels。 He was striding
along at his usual rapid pace； and Arthur pushed on his horse to
overtake him； for he retained too much of his boyish feeling for
Adam to miss an opportunity of chatting with him。 I will not say
that his love for that good fellow did not owe some of its force to
the love of patronage： our friend Arthur liked to do everything that
was handsome； and to have his handsome deeds recognised。
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Adam Bede 216
Adam looked round as he heard the quickening clatter of the
horse’s heels； and waited for the horseman； lifting his paper cap
from his head with a bright smile of recognition。 Next to his own
brother Seth； Adam would have done more for Arthur
Donnithorne than for any other young man in the world。 There
was hardly anything he would not rather have lost than the two…
feet ruler which he always carried in his pocket； it was Arthur’s
present； bought with his pocket…money when he was a fair…haired
lad of eleven； and when he had profited so well by Adam’s lessons
in carpentering and turning as to embarrass every female in the
house with gifts of superfluous thread…reels and round boxes。
Adam had quite a pride in the little squire in those early days； and
the feeling had only become slightly modified as the fair…haired lad
had grown into the whiskered young man。 Adam； I confess； was
very susceptible to the influence of rank； and quite ready to give
an extra amount of respect to every one who had more advantages
than himself； not being a philosopher or a proletaire with
democratic ideas； but simply a stout…limbed clever carpenter wlth
a large fund of reverence in his nature； which inclined him to
admit all established claims unless he saw very clear grounds for
questioning them。 He had no theories about setting the world to
rights； but he saw there was a great deal of damage done by
building with ill…seasoned timber—by ignorant men in fine clothes
making plans for outhouses and workshops and the like without
knowing the bearings of things—by slovenly joiners’ work； and by
hasty contracts that could never be fulfilled without ruining
somebody； and he resolved； for his part； to set his face against
such doings。 On these points he would have maintained his
opinion against the largest landed proprietor in Loamshire or
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Adam Bede 217
Stonyshire either； but he felt that beyond these it would be better
for him to defer to people who were more knowing than himself。
He saw as plainly as possible how ill the woods on the estate were
managed； and the shameful state of the farm…buildings； and if old
Squire Donnithorne had asked him the effect of this
mismanagement； he would have spoken his opinion without
flinching； but the impulse to a respectful demeanour towards a
“gentleman” would have been strong within him all the while。 The
word “gentleman” had a spell for Adam； and； as he often said； he
“couldn’t abide a fellow who thought he made himself fine by
being coxy to ’s betters。” I must remind you again that Adam had
the blood of the peasant in his veins； and that since he was in his
prime half a century ago； you must expect some of his
characteristics to be obsolete。
Towards the young squire this instinctive reverence of Adam’s
was assisted by boyish memories and personal regard so you may
imagine