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crack of the waggoner’s whip； the roar of his voice； and the
booming thunder of the waggon； as it left the rick…yard empty of
its golden load。
The milking of the cows was a sight Mrs。 Poyser loved； and at
this hour on mild days she was usually standing at the house door；
with her knitting in her hands； in quiet contemplation； only
heightened to a keener interest when the vicious yellow cow； who
had once kicked over a pailful of precious milk； was about to
undergo the preventive punishment of having her hinder…legs
strapped。
To…day； however； Mrs。 Poyser gave but a divided attention to
the arrival of the cows； for she was in eager discussion with Dinah；
who was stitching Mr。 Poyser’s shirt…collars； and had borne
patiently to have her thread broken three times by Totty pulling at
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her arm with a sudden insistence that she should look at “Baby；”
that is； at a large wooden doll with no legs and a long skirt； whose
bald head Totty； seated in her small chair at Dinah’s side； was
caressing and pressing to her fat cheek with much fervour。 Totty is
larger by more than two years’ growth than when you first saw
her； and she has on a black frock under her pinafore。 Mrs。 Poyser
too has on a black gown； which seems to heighten the family
likeness between her and Dinah。 In other respects there is little
outward change now discernible in our old friends； or in the
pleasant house…place； bright with polished oak and pewter。
“I never saw the like to you； Dinah；” Mrs。 Poyser was saying；
“when you’ve once took anything into your head： there’s no more
moving you than the rooted tree。 You may say what you like； but I
don’t believe that’s religion； for what’s the Sermon on the Mount
about； as you’re so fond o’ reading to the boys； but doing what
other folks ’ud have you do？ But if it was anything unreasonable
they wanted you to do； like taking your cloak off and giving it to
’em； or letting ’em slap you i’ the face； I daresay you’d be ready
enough。 It’s only when one ’ud have you do what’s plain common
sense and good for yourself； as you’re obstinate th’ other way。”
“Nay； dear Aunt；” said Dinah； smiling slightly as she went on
with her work； “I’m sure your wish ’ud be a reason for me to do
anything that I didn’t feel it was wrong to do。”
“Wrong！ You drive me past bearing。 What is there wrong； I
should like to know； i’ staying along wi’ your own friends； as are
th’ happier for having you with ’em an’ are willing to provide for
you； even if your work didn’t more nor pay ’em for the bit o’
sparrow’s victual y’ eat and the bit o’ rag you put on？ An’ who is it；
I should like to know； as you’re bound t’ help and comfort i’ the
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world more nor your own flesh and blood—an’ me th’ only aunt
you’ve got above…ground； an’ am brought to the brink o’ the grave
welly every winter as comes； an’ there’s the child as sits beside you
’ull break her little heart when you go； an’ the grandfather not
been dead a twelvemonth； an’ your uncle ’ull miss you so as never
was—a…lighting his pipe an’ waiting on him； an’ now I can trust
you wi’ the butter； an’ have had all the trouble o’ teaching you； and
there’s all the sewing to be done； an’ I must have a strange gell out
o’ Treddles’on to do it—an’ all because you must go back to that
bare heap o’ stones as the very crows fly over an’ won’t stop at。”
“Dear Aunt Rachel；” said Dinah； looking up in Mrs。 Poyser’s
face； “it’s your kindness makes you say I’m useful to you。 You
don’t really want me now； for Nancy and Molly are clever at their
work； and you’re in good health now； by the blessing of God； and
my uncle is of a cheerful countenance again； and you have
neighbours and friends not a few—some of them come to sit with
my uncle almost daily。 Indeed； you will not miss me； and at
Snowfield there are brethren and sisters in great need； who have
none of those comforts you have around you。 I feel that I am called
back to those amongst whom my lot was first cast。 I feel drawn
again towards the hills where I used to be blessed in carrying the
word of life to the sinful and desolate。”
“You feel！ yes；” said Mrs。 Poyser； returning from a parenthetic
glance at the cows； “that’s allays the reason I’m to sit down wi’；
when you’ve a mind to do anything contrairy。 What do you want to
be preaching for more than you’re preaching now？ Don’t you go
off； the Lord knows where； every Sunday a…preaching and
praying？ An’ haven’t you got Methodists enow at Treddles’on to
go and look at； if church…folks’s faces are too handsome to please
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you？ An’ isn’t there them i’ this parish as you’ve got under hand；
and they’re like enough to make friends wi’ Old Harry again as
soon as your back’s turned？ There’s that Bessy Cranage—she’ll be
flaunting i’ new finery three weeks after you’re gone； I’ll be bound。
She’ll no more go on in her new ways without you than a dog ’ull
stand on its hind…legs when there’s nobody looking。 But I suppose
it doesna matter so much about folks’s souls i’ this country； else
you’d be for staying with your own aunt； for she’s none so good
but what you might help her to be better。”
There was a certain something in Mrs。 Poyser’s voice just then；
which she did not wish to be noticed； so she turned round hastily
to look at the clock； and said： “See there！ It’s tea…time； an’ if
Martin’s i’ the rick…yard； he’ll like a cup。 Here； Totty； my chicken；
let mother put your bonnet on； and then you go out into the rick…
yard and see if Father’s there； and tell him he mustn’t go away
again without coming t’ have a cup o’ tea； and tell your brothers to
come in too。”
Totty trotted off in her flapping bonnet； while Mrs。 Poyser set
out the bright oak table and reached down the tea…cups。
“You talk o’ them gells Nancy and Molly being clever i’ their
work；” she began again； “it’s fine talking。 They’re all the same；
clever or stupid—one can’t trust ’em out o’ one’s sight a minute。
They want somebody’s eye on ’em constant if they’re to be kept to
their work。 An’ suppose I’m ill again this winter； as I was the
winter before last？ Who’s to look after ’em then； if you’re gone？
An’ there’s that blessed child—something’s sure t’ happen to her—
they’ll let her tumble into the fire； or get at the kettle wi’ the
boiling lard in’t； or some mischief as ’ull lame her for life； an’ it’ll
be all your fault； Dinah。”
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“Aunt；” said Dinah； “I promise to come back to you in the
winter if you’re ill。 Don’t think I will ever stay away from you if
you’re in real want of me。 But； indeed； it is needful for my own
soul that I should go away from this life of ease and luxury in
which I have all things too richly to enjoy—at least that I should go
away for a short space。 No one can know but myself what are my
inward needs； and the besetments I am most in danger from。 Your
wish for me to stay is not a call of duty which I refuse to hea