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notions in your head and be an old maid； because some folks are
no better than they should be？ I haven’t a bit o’ patience with
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you—sitting on an addled egg forever； as if there was never a
fresh’un in the world。 One old maid’s enough out o’ two sisters；
and I shall do credit to a single life； for God A’mighty meant me for
it。 Come； we can go down now。 I’m as ready as a mawkin can be—
there’s nothing a…wanting to frighten the crows； now I’ve got my
eardroppers in。”
As the two Miss Lammeters walked into the large parlour
together； any one who did not know the character of both might
certainly have supposed that the reason why the square…
shouldered； clumsy； high…featured Priscilla wore a dress the
facsimile of her pretty sister’s； was either the mistaken vanity of
the one； or the malicious contrivance of the other in order to set off
her own rare beauty。 But the good…natured； self…forgetful
cheeriness and commonsense of Priscilla would soon have
dissipated the one suspicion； and the modest calm of Nancy’s
speech and manners told clearly of a mind free from all disavowed
devices。
Places of honour had been kept for the Miss Lammeters near
the head of the principal tea…table in the wainscoted parlour； now
looking fresh and pleasant with handsome branches of holly； yew；
and laurel； from the abundant growths of the old garden； and
Nancy felt an inward flutter； that no firmness of purpose could
prevent； when she saw Mr。 Godfrey Cass advancing to lead her to
a seat between himself and Mr。 Crackenthorp； while Priscilla was
called to the opposite side between her father and the Squire。 It
certainly did make some difference to Nancy that the lover she
had given up was the young man of quite the highest consequence
in the parish—at home in a venerable and unique parlour； which
was the extremity of grandeur in her experience； a parlour where
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she might one day have been mistress； with the consciousness that
she was spoken of as “Madam Cass”； the Squire’s wife。 These
circumstances exalted her inward drama in her own eyes； and
deepened the emphasis with which she declared to herself that not
the most dazzling rank should induce her to marry a man whose
conduct showed him careless of his character； but that “love once；
love always” was the motto of a true and pure woman； and no man
should ever have any right over her which would be a call on her
to destroy the dried flowers that she treasured； and always would
treasure； for Godfrey Cass’s sake。 And Nancy was capable of
keeping her word to herself under very trying conditions。 Nothing
but a becoming blush betrayed the moving thoughts that urged
themselves upon her as she accepted the seat next to Mr。
Crackenthorp； for she was so instinctively neat and adroit in all
her actions； and her pretty lips met each other with such quiet
firmness； that it would have been difficult for her to appear
agitated。
It was not the Rector’s practice to let a charming blush pass
without an appropriate compliment。 He was not in the least lofty
or aristocratic； but simply a merry…eyed； small…featured； gray…
haired man； with his chin propped by an ample many…creased
white neck…cloth which seemed to predominate over every other
point in his person； and somehow to impress its peculiar character
on his remarks； so that to have considered his amenities apart
from his cravat would have been a severe； and perhaps a
dangerous； effort of abstraction。
“Ha； Miss Nancy；” he said； turning his head within his cravat
and smiling down pleasantly upon her； “when anybody pretends
this has been a severe winter； I shall tell them I saw the roses
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blooming on New Year’s Eve—eh； Godfrey； what do you say？”
Godfrey made no reply； and avoided looking at Nancy very
markedly； for though these complimentary personalities were held
to be in excellent taste in old…fashioned Raveloe society； reverent
love has a politeness of its own which it teaches to men otherwise
of small schooling。 But the Squire was rather impatient at
Godfrey’s showing himself a dull spark in this way。 By this
advanced hour of the day； the Squire was always in higher spirits
than we have seen him in at the breakfast…table； and felt it quite
pleasant to fulfil the hereditary duty of being noisily jovial and
patronising： the large silver snuffbox was in active service； and
was offered without fail to all neighbours from time to time；
however often they might have declined the favour。 At present； the
Squire had only given an express welcome to the heads of families
as they appeared； but always； as the evening deepened； his
hospitality rayed out more widely； till he had tapped the youngest
guests on the back and shown a peculiar fondness for their
presence； in the full belief that they must feel their lives made
happy by their belonging to a parish where there was such a
hearty man as Squire Cass to invite them and wish them well。
Even in this early stage of the jovial mood； it was natural that he
should wish to supply his son’s deficiencies by looking and
speaking for him。
“Ay； ay；” he began； offering his snuffbox to Mr。 Lammeter； who
for the second time bowed his head and waved his hand in stiff
rejection of the offer； “us old fellows may wish ourselves young
tonight； when we see the mistletoe…bough in the White Parlour。
It’s true； most things are gone back’ard in these last thirty years—
the country’s going down since the old king fell ill。 But when I look
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at Miss Nancy here； I begin to think the lasses keep up their
quality—ding me if I remember a sample to match her； not when I
was a fine young fellow； and thought a deal about my pigtail。 No
offence to you； madam；” he added； bending to Mrs。 Crackenthorp；
who sat by him； “I didn’t know you when you were as young as
Miss Nancy here。”
Mrs。 Crackenthorp—a small blinking woman； who fidgeted
incessantly with her lace； ribbons； and gold chain； turning her
head about and making subdued noises； very much like a guinea…
pig that twitches its nose and soliloquises in all company
indiscriminately—now blinked and fidgeted towards the Squire；
and said； “Oh no—no offence。”
This emphatic compliment of the Squire’s to Nancy was felt by
others besides Godfrey to have a diplomatic significance； and her
father gave a slight additional erectness to his back； as he looked
across the table at her with complacent gravity。 That grave and
orderly senior was not going to bate a jot of his dignity by seeming
elated at the notion of a match between his family and the
Squire’s： he was gratified by any honour paid to his daughter； but
he must see an alteration in several ways before his consent would
be vouchsafed。 His spare but healthy person； and high…featu