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for the everyday wants of everyday companions； who take all their
kindness as a matter of course； and not as a subject for panegyric。
Such men； happily； have lived in times when great abuses
flourished； and have sometimes even been the living
representatives of the abuses。 That is a thought which might
comfort us a little under the opposite fact—that it is better
sometimes not to follow great reformers of abuses beyond the
threshold of their homes。
But whatever you may think of Mr。 Irwine now； if you had met
him that June afternoon riding on his grey cob； with his dogs
running beside him—portly； upright； manly； with a good…natured
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smile on his finely turned lips as he talked to his dashing young
companion on the bay mare； you must have felt that； however ill
he harmonised with sound theories of the clerical office； he
somehow harmonised extremely well with that peaceful
landscape。
See them in the bright sunlight； interrupted every now and
then by rolling masses of cloud； ascending the slope from the
Broxton side； where the tall gables and elms of the rectory
predominate over the tiny whitewashed church。 They will soon be
in the parish of Hayslope； the grey church…tower and village roofs
lie before them to the left； and farther on； to the right； they can
just see the chimneys of the Hall Farm。
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Chapter VI
The Hall Farm
vidently that gate is never opened； for the long grass and
Ethe great hemlocks grow close against it； and if it were
opened； it is so rusty that the force necessary to turn it on
its hinges would be likely to pull down the square stone…built
pillars； to the detriment of the two stone lionesses which grin with
a doubtful carnivorous affability above a coat of arms surmounting
each of the pillars。 It would be easy enough； by the aid of the nicks
in the stone pillars； to climb over the brick wall with its smooth
stone coping； but by putting our eyes close to the rusty bars of the
gate； we can see the house well enough； and all but the very
corners of the grassy enclosure。
It is a very fine old place； of red brick； softened by a pale
powdery lichen； which has dispersed itself with happy irregularity；
so as to bring the red brick into terms of friendly companionship
with the limestone ornaments surrounding the three gables； the
windows； and the door…place。 But the windows are patched with
wooden panes； and the door； I think； is like the gate—it is never
opened。 How it would groan and grate against the stone floor if it
were！ For it is a solid； heavy； handsome door； and must once have
been in the habit of shutting with a sonorous bang behind a
liveried lackey； who had just seen his master and mistress off the
grounds in a carriage and pair。
But at present one might fancy the house in the early stage of a
chancery suit； and that the fruit from that grand double row of
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walnut…trees on the right hand of the enclosure would fall and rot
among the grass； if it were not that we heard the booming bark of
dogs echoing from great buildings at the back。 And now the half…
weaned calves that have been sheltering themselves in a gorse…
built hovel against the left…hand wall come out and set up a silly
answer to that terrible bark； doubtless supposing that it has
reference to buckets of milk。
Yes； the house must be inhabited； and we will see by whom； for
imagination is a licensed trespasser： it has no fear of dogs； but may
climb over walls and peep in at windows with impunity。 Put your
face to one of the glass panes in the right…hand window： what do
you see？ A large open fireplace； with rusty dogs in it； and a bare
boarded floor； at the far end； fleeces of wool stacked up； in the
middle of the floor； some empty corn…bags。 That is the furniture of
the dining…room。 And what through the left…hand window？
Several clothes…horses； a pillion； a spinning…wheel； and an old box
wide open and stuffed full of coloured rags。 At the edge of this box
there lies a great wooden doll； which； so far as mutilation is
concerned； bears a strong resemblance to the finest Greek
sculpture； and especially in the total loss of its nose。 Near it there
is a little chair； and the butt end of a boy’s leather long…lashed
whip。
The history of the house is plain now。 It was once the residence
of a country squire； whose family； probably dwindling down to
mere spinsterhood； got merged in the more territorial name of
Donnithorne。 It was once the Hall； it is now the Hall Farm。 Like
the life in some coast town that was once a watering…place； and is
now a port； where the genteel streets are silent and grass…grown；
and the docks and warehouses busy and resonant； the life at the
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Hall has changed its focus； and no longer radiates from the
parlour； but from the kitchen and the farmyard。
Plenty of life there； though this is the drowsiest time of the year；
just before hay…harvest； and it is the drowsiest time of the day too；
for it is close upon three by the sun； and it is half…past three by
Mrs。 Poyser’s handsome eight…day clock。 But there is always a
stronger sense of life when the sun is brilliant after rain； and now
he is pouring down his beams； and making sparkles among the
wet straw； and lighting up every patch of vivid green moss on the
red tiles of the cow…shed； and turning even the muddy water that
is hurrying along the channel to the drain into a mirror for the
yellow…billed ducks； who are seizing the opportunity of getting a
drink with as much body in it as possible。 There is quite a concert
of noises； the great bull…dog； chained against the stables； is thrown
into furious exasperation by the unwary approach of a cock too
near the mouth of his kennel； and sends forth a thundering bark；
which is answered by two fox…hounds shut up in the opposite cow…
house； the old top…knotted hens； scratching with their chicks
among the straw； set up a sympathetic croaking as the discomfited
cock joins them； a sow with her brood； all very muddy as to the
legs； and curled as to the tail； throws in some deep staccato notes；
our friends the calves are bleating from the home croft； and； under
all； a fine ear discerns the continuous hum of human voices。
For the great barn…doors are thrown wide open； and men are
busy there mending the harness； under the superintendence of
Mr。 Goby； the “whittaw；” otherwise saddler； who entertains them
with the latest Treddleston gossip。 It is certainly rather an
unfortunate day that Alick； the shepherd； has chosen for having
the whittaws； since the morning turned out so wet； and Mrs。
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Poyser has spoken her mind pretty strongly as to the dirt which
the extra number of men’s shoes brought into