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the cottages was thickest； so as others might be drawn to come。
But he felt as he couldn’t stand up to preach； and he was forced to
lie down in the first of the cottages we came to。 So I went to tell
the people； thinking we’d go into one of the houses； and I would
read and pray with them。 But as I passed along by the cottages
and saw the aged and trembling women at the doors； and the hard
looks of the men； who seemed to have their eyes no more filled
with the sight of the Sabbath morning than if they had been dumb
oxen that never looked up to the sky； I felt a great movement in
my soul； and I trembled as if I was shaken by a strong spirit
entering into my weak body。 And I went to where the little flock of
people was gathered together； and stepped on the low wall that
was built against the green hillside； and I spoke the words that
were given to me abundantly。 And they all came round me out of
all the cottages； and many wept over their sins； and have since
been joined to the Lord。 That was the beginning of my preaching；
sir； and I’ve preached ever since。”
Dinah had let her work fall during this narrative； which she
uttered in her usual simple way； but with that sincere articulate；
thrilling treble by which she always mastered her audience。 She
stooped now to gather up her sewing； and then went on with it as
before。 Mr。 Irwine was deeply interested。 He said to himself； “He
must be a miserable prig who would act the pedagogue here： one
might as well go and lecture the trees for growing in their own
shape。”
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“And you never feel any embarrassment from the sense of your
youth—that you are a lovely young woman on whom men’s eyes
are fixed？” he said aloud。
“No； I’ve no room for such feelings； and I don’t believe the
people ever take notice about that。 I think； sir； when God makes
His presence felt through us； we are like the burning bush： Moses
never took any heed what sort of bush it was—he only saw the
brightness of the Lord。 I’ve preached to as rough ignorant people
as can be in the villages about Snowfield—men that looked very
hard and wild—but they never said an uncivil word to me； and
often thanked me kindly as they made way for me to pass through
the midst of them。”
“That I can believe—that I can well believe；” said Mr。 Irwine；
emphatically。 “And what did you think of your hearers last night；
now？ Did you find them quiet and attentive？”
“Very quiet； sir； but I saw no signs of any great work upon
them； except in a young girl named Bessy Cranage； towards whom
my heart yearned greatly； when my eyes first fell on her blooming
youth； given up to folly and vanity。 I had some private talk and
prayer with her afterwards； and I trust her heart is touched。 But
I’ve noticed that in these villages where the people lead a quiet life
among the green pastures and the still waters； tilling the ground
and tending the cattle； there’s a strange deadness to the Word； as
different as can be from the great towns； like Leeds； where I once
went to visit a holy woman who preaches there。 It’s wonderful how
rich is the harvest of souls up those high…walled streets； where you
seemed to walk as in a prison…yard； and the ear is deafened with
the sounds of worldly toil。 I think maybe it is because the promise
is sweeter when this life is so dark and weary； and the soul gets
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more hungry when the body is ill at ease。”
“Why； yes； our farm…labourers are not easily roused。 They take
life almost as slowly as the sheep and cows。 But we have some
intelligent workmen about here。 I daresay you know the Bedes；
Seth Bede； by the by； is a Methodist。”
“Yes； I know Seth well； and his brother Adam a little。 Seth is a
gracious young man—sincere and without offence； and Adam is
like the patriarch Joseph； for his great skill and knowledge and the
kindness he shows to his brother and his parents。”
“Perhaps you don’t know the trouble that has just happened to
them？ Their father； Matthias Bede； was drowned in the Willow
Brook last night； not far from his own door。 I’m going now to see
Adam。”
“Ah； their poor aged mother！” said Dinah； dropping her hands
and looking before her with pitying eyes； as if she saw the object of
her sympathy。 “She will mourn heavily； for Seth has told me she’s
of an anxious； troubled heart。 I must go and see if I can give her
any help。”
As she rose and was beginning to fold up her work； Captain
Donnithorne； having exhausted all plausible pretexts for
remaining among the milk…pans； came out of the dairy； followed
by Mrs。 Poyser。 Mr。 Irwine now rose also； and； advancing towards
Dinah； held out his hand； and said； “Good…bye。 I hear you are
going away soon； but this will not be the last visit you will pay your
aunt—so we shall meet again； I hope。”
His cordiality towards Dinah set all Mrs。 Poyser’s anxieties at
rest； and her face was brighter than usual； as she said； “I’ve never
asked after Mrs。 Irwine and the Miss Irwines； sir； I hope they’re as
well as usual。”
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“Yes； thank you； Mrs。 Poyser； except that Miss Anne has one of
her bad headaches to…day。 By the by； we all liked that nice cream…
cheese you sent us—my mother especially。”
“I’m very glad； indeed； sir。 It is but seldom I make one； but I
remembered Mrs。 Irwine was fond of ’em。 Please to give my duty
to her； and to Miss Kate and Miss Anne。 They’ve never been to
look at my poultry this long while； and I’ve got some beautiful
speckled chickens； black and white； as Miss Kate might like to
have some of amongst hers。”
“Well； I’ll tell her； she must come and see them。 Good…bye；” said
the rector； mounting his horse。
“Just ride slowly on； Irwine；” said Captain Donnithorne；
mounting also。 “I’ll overtake you in three minutes。 I’m only going
to speak to the shepherd about the whelps。 Good…bye； Mrs。 Poyser；
tell your husband I shall come and have a long talk with him
soon。”
Mrs。 Poyser curtsied duly； and watched the two horses until
they had disappeared from the yard； amidst great excitement on
the part of the pigs and the poultry； and under the furious
indignation of the bull…dog； who performed a Pyrrhic dance； that
every moment seemed to threaten the breaking of his chain。 Mrs。
Poyser delighted in this noisy exit； it was a fresh assurance to her
that the farm…yard was well guarded； and that no loiterers could
enter unobserved； and it was not until the gate had closed behind
the captain that she turned into the kitchen again； where Dinah
stood with her bonnet in her hand； waiting to speak to her aunt；
before she set out for Lisbeth Bede’s cottage。
Mrs。 Poyser； however； though she noticed the bonnet； deferred
remarking on it until she had disburdened herself of her surprise
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at Mr。 Irwine’s behaviour。
“Why； Mr。 Irwine wasn’t angry； then？ What did he say to you；
Dinah？ Didn’t he scold you for preaching？”
“No； he was not at all angry； he was very friendly to me。 I was
quite drawn out to speak to him； I hardly know how； for I had
always thought of him as a worldly Sadducee。 But his countenance
is as pleasant as the morning sunshin