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believed the old squire had small spite enough for anything—was
beginning a mild remonstrance explanatory of the inconvenience
he should find in having to buy and sell more stock； with；
“Well； sir； I think as it’s rether hard 。 。 。” when Mrs。 Poyser
burst in with the desperate determination to have her say out this
once； though it were to rain notices to quit and the only shelter
were the workhouse。
“Then； sir； if I may speak—as； for all I’m a woman； and there’s
folks as thinks a woman’s fool enough to stan’ by an’ look on while
the men sign her soul away； I’ve a right to speak； for I make one
quarter o’ the rent； and save another quarter—I say； if Mr。
Thurle’s so ready to take farms under you； it’s a pity but what he
should take this； and see if he likes to live in a house wi’ all the
plagues o’ Egypt in’t—wi’ the cellar full o’ water； and frogs and
toads hoppin’ up the steps by dozens—and the floors rotten； and
the rats and mice gnawing every bit o’ cheese； and runnin’ over
our heads as we lie i’ bed till we expect ’em to eat us up alive—as
it’s a mercy they hanna eat the children long ago。 I should like to
see if there’s another tenant besides Poyser as ’ud put up wi’ never
having a bit o’ repairs done till a place tumbles down—and not
then； on’y wi’ begging and praying and having to pay half—and
being strung up wi’ the rent as it’s much if he gets enough out o’
the land to pay； for all he’s put his own money into the ground
beforehand。 See if you’ll get a stranger to lead such a life here as
that： a maggot must be born i’ the rotten cheese to like it； I reckon。
You may run away from my words； sir；” continued Mrs。 Poyser；
following the old squire beyond the door—for after the first
moments of stunned surprise he had got up； and； waving his hand
towards her with a smile； had walked out towards his pony。 But it
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was impossible for him to get away immediately； for John was
walking the pony up and down the yard； and was some distance
from the causeway when his master beckoned。
“You may run away from my words； sir； and you may go
spinnin’ underhand ways o’ doing us a mischief； for you’ve got Old
Harry to your friend； though nobody else is； but I tell you for once
as we’re not dumb creatures to be abused and made money on by
them as ha’ got the lash i’ their hands； for want o’ knowing how t’
undo the tackle。 An’ if I’m th’ only one as speaks my mind； there’s
plenty o’ the same way o’ thinking i’ this parish and the next to ’t；
for your name’s no better than a brimstone match in everybody’s
nose—if it isna two…three old folks as you think o’ saving your soul
by giving ’em a bit o’ flannel and a drop o’ porridge。 An’ you may
be right i’ thinking it’ll take but little to save your soul； for it’ll be
the smallest savin’ y’ iver made； wi’ all your scrapin’。”
There are occasions on which two servant…girls and a waggoner
may be a formidable audience； and as the squire rode away on his
black pony； even the gift of short…sightedness did not prevent him
from being aware that Molly and Nancy and Tim were grinning
not far from him。 Perhaps he suspected that sour old John was
grinning behind him—which was also the fact。 Meanwhile the
bull…dog； the black…and…tan terrier； Alick’s sheep…dog； and the
gander hissing at a safe distance from the pony’s heels carried out
the idea of Mrs。 Poyser’s solo in an impressive quartet。
Mrs。 Poyser； however； had no sooner seen the pony move off
than she turned round； gave the two hilarious damsels a look
which drove them into the back kitchen； and unspearing her
knitting； began to knit again with her usual rapidity as she re…
entered the house。
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“Thee’st done it now；” said Mr。 Poyser； a little alarmed and
uneasy； but not without some triumphant amusement at his wife’s
outbreak。
“Yes； I know I’ve done it；” said Mrs。 Poyser； “but I’ve had my
say out； and I shall be th’ easier for ’t all my life。 There’s no
pleasure i’ living if you’re to be corked up for ever； and only
dribble your mind out by the sly； like a leaky barrel。 I shan’t
repent saying what I think； if I live to be as old as th’ old squire；
and there’s little likelihood—for it seems as if them as aren’t
wanted here are th’ only folks as aren’t wanted i’ th’ other world。”
“But thee wutna like moving from th’ old place； this
Michaelmas twelvemonth；” said Mr。 Poyser； “and going into a
strange parish； where thee know’st nobody。 It’ll be hard upon us
both； and upo’ Father too。”
“Eh； it’s no use worreting； there’s plenty o’ things may happen
between this and Michaelmas twelvemonth。 The captain may be
master afore them； for what we know；” said Mrs。 Poyser； inclined
to take an unusually hopeful view of an embarrassment which had
been brought about by her own merit and not by other people’s
fault。
“I’m none for worreting；” said Mr。 Poyser； rising from his three…
cornered chair and walking slowly towards the door； “but I should
be loath to leave th’ old place； and the parish where I was bred and
born； and Father afore me。 We should leave our roots behind us； I
doubt； and niver thrive again。”
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Chapter XXXIII
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he barley was all carried at last； and the harvest suppers
went by without waiting for the dismal black crop of
T
beans。 The apples and nuts were gathered and stored； the
scent of whey departed from the farm…houses； and the scent of
brewing came in its stead。 The woods behind the Chase； and all
the hedgerow trees； took on a solemn splendour under the dark
low…hanging skies。 Michaelmas was come； with its fragrant
basketfuls of purple damsons； and its paler purple daisies； and its
lads and lasses leaving or seeking service and winding along
between the yellow hedges； with their bundles under their arms。
But though Michaelmas was come； Mr。 Thurle； that desirable
tenant； did not come to the Chase Farm； and the old squire； after
all； had been obliged to put in a new bailiff。 It was known
throughout the two parishes that the squire’s plan had been
frustrated because the Poysers had refused to be “put upon；” and
Mrs。 Poyser’s outbreak was discussed in all the farm…houses with a
zest which was only heightened by frequent repetition。 The news
that “Bony” was come back from Egypt was comparatively insipid；
and the repulse of the French in Italy was nothing to Mrs。 Poyser’s
repulse of the old squire。 Mr。 Irwine had heard a version of it in
every parishioner’s house； with the one exception of the Chase。
But since he had always； with marvellous skill； avoided any
quarrel with Mr。 Donnithorne； he could not allow himself the
pleasure of laughing at the old gentleman’s discomfiture with any
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Adam Bede 461
one besides his mother； who declared that if she were rich she
should like to allow Mrs。 Poyser a pension for life； and wanted to
invite her to the parsonage that she might hear an account of the
scene from Mrs。 P