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“You’re about as near the right language as a pig’s squeaking is
like a tune played on a key…bugle。”
“Well； I don’t know；” answered Mr。 Casson； with an angry
smile。 “I should think a man as has lived among the gentry from a
by； is likely to know what’s the right language pretty nigh as well
as a schoolmaster。”
“Aye； aye； man；” said Bartle； with a tone of sarcastic
consolation； “you talk the right language for you。 When Mike
Holdsworth’s goat says ba…a…a； it’s all right—it ’ud be unnatural for
it to make any other noise。”
The rest of the party being Loamshire men； Mr。 Casson had the
laugh strongly against him； and wisely fell back on the previous
question； which； far from being exhausted in a single evening； was
renewed in the churchyard； before service； the next day； with the
fresh interest conferred on all news when there is a fresh person
to hear it； and that fresh hearer was Martin Poyser； who； as his
wife said； “never went boozin’ with that set at Casson’s； a…sittin’
soakin’ in drink； and looking as wise as a lot o’ cod…fish wi’ red
faces。”
It was probably owing to the conversation she had had with her
husband on their way from church concerning this problematic
stranger that Mrs。 Poyser’s thoughts immediately reverted to him
when； a day or two afterwards； as she was standing at the house…
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door with her knitting； in that eager leisure which came to her
when the afternoon cleaning was done； she saw the old squire
enter the yard on his black pony； followed by John the groom。 She
always cited it afterwards as a case of prevision； which really had
something more in it than her own remarkable penetration； that
the moment she set eyes on the squire she said to herself； “I
shouldna wonder if he’s come about that man as is a…going to take
the Chase Farm； wanting Poyser to do something for him without
pay。 But Poyser’s a fool if he does。”
Something unwonted must clearly be in the wind； for the old
squire’s visits to his tenantry were rare； and though Mrs。 Poyser
had during the last twelvemonth recited many imaginary
speeches； meaning even more than met the ear； which she was
quite determined to make to him the next time he appeared within
the gates of the Hall Farm； the speeches had always remained
imaginary。
“Good…day； Mrs。 Poyser；” said the old squire； peering at her
with his short…sighted eyes—a mode of looking at her which； as
Mrs。 Poyser observed； “allays aggravated me： it was as if you was a
insect； and he was going to dab his finger…nail on you。”
However； she said； “Your servant； sir；” and curtsied with an air
of perfect deference as she advanced towards him： she was not the
woman to misbehave towards her betters； and fly in the face of the
catechism； without severe provocation。
“Is your husband at home； Mrs。 Poyser？”
“Yes； sir； he’s only i’ the rick…yard。 I’ll send for him in a minute；
if you’ll please to get down and step in。”
“Thank you； I will do so。 I want to consult him about a little
matter； but you are quite as much concerned in it； if not more。 I
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must have your opinion too。”
“Hetty； run and tell your uncle to come in；” said Mrs。 Poyser； as
they entered the house； and the old gentleman bowed low in
answer to Hetty’s curtsy； while Totty； conscious of a pinafore
stained with gooseberry jam； stood hiding her face against the
clock and peeping round furtively。
“What a fine old kitchen this is！” said Mr。 Donnithorne； looking
round admiringly。 He always spoke in the same deliberate； well…
chiselled； polite way； whether his words were sugary or venomous。
“And you keep it so exquisitely clean； Mrs。 Poyser。 I like these
premises； do you know； beyond any on the estate。”
“Well； sir； since you’re fond of ’em； I should be glad if you’d let a
bit o’ repairs be done to ’em； for the boarding’s i’ that state as
we’re like to be eaten up wi’ rats and mice； and the cellar； you may
stan’ up to your knees i’ water in’t； if you like to go down； but
perhaps you’d rather believe my words。 Won’t you please to sit
down； sir？”
“Not yet； I must see your dairy。 I have not seen it for years； and
I hear on all hands about your fine cheese and butter；” said the
squire； looking politely unconscious that there could be any
question on which he and Mrs。 Poyser might happen to disagree。
“I think I see the door open； there。 You must not be surprised if I
cast a covetous eye on your cream and butter。 I don’t expect that
Mrs。 Satchell’s cream and butter will bear comparison with
yours。”
“I can’t say； sir； I’m sure。 It’s seldom I see other folks’s butter；
though there’s some on it as one’s no need to see—the smell’s
enough。”
“Ah； now this I like；” said Mr。 Donnithorne； looking round at
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the damp temple of cleanliness； but keeping near the door。 “I’m
sure I should like my breakfast better if I knew the butter and
cream came from this dairy。 Thank you； that really is a pleasant
sight。 Unfortunately； my slight tendency to rheumatism makes me
afraid of damp： I’ll sit down in your comfortable kitchen。 Ah；
Poyser； how do you do？ In the midst of business； I see； as usual。
I’ve been looking at your wife’s beautiful dairy—the best manager
in the parish； is she not？”
Mr。 Poyser had just entered in shirt…sleeves and open waistcoat；
with a face a shade redder than usual； from the exertion of
“pitching。” As he stood； red； rotund； and radiant； before the small；
wiry； cool old gentleman； he looked like a prize apple by the side of
a withered crab。
“Will you please to take this chair； sir？” he said； lifting his
father’s arm…chair forward a little： “you’ll find it easy。”
“No； thank you； I never sit in easy…chairs；” said the old
gentleman； seating himself on a small chair near the door。 “Do you
know； Mrs。 Poyser—sit down； pray； both of you—I’ve been far
from contented； for some time； with Mrs。 Satchell’s dairy
management。 I think she has not a good method； as you have。”
“Indeed； sir； I can’t speak to that；” said Mrs。 Poyser in a hard
voice； rolling and unrolling her knitting and looking icily out of the
window； as she continued to stand opposite the squire。 Poyser
might sit down if he liked； she thought； she wasn’t going to sit
down； as if she’d give in to any such smooth…tongued palaver。 Mr。
Poyser； who looked and felt the reverse of icy； did sit down in his
three…cornered chair。
“And now； Poyser； as Satchell is laid up； I am intending to let
the Chase Farm to a respectable tenant。 I’m tired of having a farm
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on my own hands—nothing is made the best of in such cases； as
you know。 A satisfactory bailiff is hard to find； and I think you and
I； Poyser； and your excellent wife here； can enter into a little
arrangement in consequence； which will be to our mutual
advantage。”
“Oh；” said Mr。 Poyser； with a good…natured bla