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alias “bullheads；” which the lads looked at wistfully。
The damp hay that must be scattered and turned afresh to…
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morrow was not a cheering sight to Mr。 Poyser； who during hay
and corn harvest had often some mental struggles as to the
benefits of a day of rest； but no temptation would have induced
him to carry on any field…work； however early in the morning； on a
Sunday； for had not Michael Holdsworth had a pair of oxen
“sweltered” while he was ploughing on Good Friday？ That was a
demonstration that work on sacred days was a wicked thing； and
with wickedness of any sort Martin Poyser was quite clear that he
would have nothing to do； since money got by such means would
never prosper。
“It a’most makes your fingers itch to be at the hay now the sun
shines so；” he observed； as they passed through the “Big
Meadow。” “But it’s poor foolishness to think o’ saving by going
against your conscience。 There’s that Jim Wakefield； as they used
to call ‘Gentleman Wakefield；’ used to do the same of a Sunday as
o’ week…days； and took no heed to right or wrong； as if there was
nayther God nor devil。 An’ what’s he come to？ Why； I saw him
myself last market…day a…carrying a basket wi’ oranges in ’t。”
“Ah； to be sure；” said Mrs。 Poyser； emphatically； “you make but
a poor trap to catch luck if you go and bait it wi’ wickedness。 The
money as is got so’s like to burn holes i’ your pocket。 I’d niver wish
us to leave our lads a sixpence but what was got i’ the rightful way。
And as for the weather； there’s One above makes it； and we must
put up wi’t： it’s nothing of a plague to what the wenches are。”
Notwithstanding the interruption in their walk； the excellent
habit which Mrs。 Poyser’s clock had of taking time by the forelock
had secured their arrival at the village while it was still a quarter
to two； though almost every one who meant to go to church was
already within the churchyard gates。 Those who stayed at home
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were chiefly mothers； like Timothy’s Bess； who stood at her own
door nursing her baby and feeling as women feel in that position—
that nothing else can be expected of them。
It was not entirely to see Thias Bede’s funeral that the people
were standing about the churchyard so long before service began；
that was their common practice。 The women； indeed； usually
entered the church at once； and the farmers’ wives talked in an
undertone to each other； over the tall pews； about their illnesses
and the total failure of doctor’s stuff； recommending dandelion…
tea； and other home…made specifics； as far preferable—about the
servants； and their growing exorbitance as to wages； whereas the
quality of their services declined from year to year； and there was
no girl nowadays to be trusted any further than you could see
her—about the bad price Mr。 Dingall； the Treddleston grocer； was
giving for butter； and the reasonable doubts that might be held as
to his solvency； notwithstanding that Mrs。 Dingall was a sensible
woman； and they were all sorry for her； for she had very good kin。
Meantime the men lingered outside； and hardly any of them
except the singers； who had a humming and fragmentary
rehearsal to go through； entered the church until Mr。 Irwine was
in the desk。 They saw no reason for that premature entrance—
what could they do in church if they were there before service
began？—and they did not conceive that any power in the universe
could take it ill of them if they stayed out and talked a little about
“bis’ness。”
Chad Cranage looks like quite a new acquaintance to…day； for
he has got his clean Sunday face； which always makes his little
granddaughter cry at him as a stranger。 But an experienced eye
would have fixed on him at once as the village blacksmith； after
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seeing the humble deference with which the big saucy fellow took
off his hat and stroked his hair to the farmers； for Chad was
accustomed to say that a working…man must hold a candle to a
personage understood to be as black as he was himself on
weekdays； by which evil…sounding rule of conduct he meant what
was； after all； rather virtuous than otherwise； namely； that men
who had horses to be shod must be treated with respect。 Chad and
the rougher sort of workmen kept aloof from the grave under the
white thorn； where the burial was going forward； but Sandy Jim；
and several of the farm…labourers； made a group round it； and
stood with their hats off； as fellow…mourners with the mother and
sons。 Others held a midway position； sometimes watching the
group at the grave； sometimes listening to the conversation of the
farmers； who stood in a knot near the church door； and were now
joined by Martin Poyser； while his family passed into the church。
On the outside of this knot stood Mr。 Casson； the landlord of the
Donnithorne Arms； in his most striking attitude—that is to say；
with the forefinger of his right hand thrust between the buttons of
his waistcoat； his left hand in his breeches pocket； and his head
very much on one side； looking； on the whole； like an actor who
has only a mono…syllabic part entrusted to him； but feels sure that
the audience discern his fitness for the leading business； curiously
in contrast with old Jonathan Burge； who held his hands behind
him and leaned forward； coughing asthmatically； with an inward
scorn of all knowingness that could not be turned into cash。 The
talk was in rather a lower tone than usual to…day； hushed a little by
the sound of Mr。 Irwine’s voice reading the final prayers of the
burial…service。 They had all had their word of pity for poor Thias；
but now they had got upon the nearer subject of their own
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grievances against Satchell； the Squire’s bailiff； who played the
part of steward so far as it was not performed by old Mr。
Donnithorne himself； for that gentleman had the meanness to
receive his own rents and make bargains about his own timber。
This subject of conversation was an additional reason for not
being loud； since Satchell himself might presently be walking up
the paved road to the church door。 And soon they became
suddenly silent； for Mr。 Irwine’s voice had ceased； and the group
round the white thorn was dispersing itself towards the church。
They all moved aside； and stood with their hats off； while Mr。
Irwine passed。 Adam and Seth were coming next； with their
mother between them； for Joshua Rann officiated as head sexton
as well as clerk； and was not yet ready to follow the rector into the
vestry。 But there was a pause before the three mourners came on：
Lisbeth had turned round to look again towards the grave！ Ah！
There was nothing now but the brown earth under the white
thorn。 Yet she cried less to…day than she had done any day since
her husband’s death。 Along with all her grief there was mixed an
unusual sense of her own importance in having a “burial；” and in
Mr。 Irwine’s reading a special service for her husband； and
besides； she knew the funeral psalm was going to be sung for him。
She felt this counter…excitem