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his business” and who had great lights concerning soils and
compost； but he was less of a favourite with Mrs。 Poyser； who had
more than once said in confidence to her husband； “You’re mighty
fond o’ Craig； but for my part； I think he’s welly like a cock as
thinks the sun’s rose o’ purpose to hear him crow。” For the rest；
Mr。 Craig was an estimable gardener； and was not without reasons
for having a high opinion of himself。 He had also high shoulders
and high cheek…bones and hung his head forward a little； as he
walked along with his hands in his breeches pockets。 I think it was
his pedigree only that had the advantage of being Scotch； and not
his “bringing up”； for except that he had a stronger burr in his
accent； his speech differed little from that of the Loamshire people
about him。 But a gardener is Scotch； as a French teacher is
Parisian。
“Well； Mr。 Poyser；” he said； before the good slow farmer had
time to speak； “ye’ll not be carrying your hay to…morrow； I’m
thinking。 The glass sticks at ‘change；’ and ye may rely upo’ my
word as we’ll ha’ more downfall afore twenty…four hours is past。 Ye
see that darkish…blue cloud there upo’ the ’rizon—ye know what I
mean by the ’rizon； where the land and sky seems to meet？”
“Aye； aye； I see the cloud；” said Mr。 Poyser； “’rizon or no ’rizon。
It’s right o’er Mike Holdsworth’s fallow； and a foul fallow it is。”
“Well； you mark my words； as that cloud ’ull spread o’er the sky
pretty nigh as quick as you’d spread a tarpaulin over one o’ your
hay…ricks。 It’s a great thing to ha’ studied the look o’ the clouds。
Lord bless you！ Th’ met’orological almanecks can learn me
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nothing； but there’s a pretty sight o’ things I could let them up to； if
they’d just come to me。 And how are you； Mrs。 Poyser？—thinking
o’ getherin’ the red currants soon； I reckon。 You’d a deal better
gether ’em afore they’re o’erripe； wi’ such weather as we’ve got to
look forward to。 How do ye do； Mistress Bede？” Mr。 Craig
continued； without a pause； nodding by the way to Adam and
Seth。 “I hope y’ enjoyed them spinach and gooseberries as I sent
Chester with th’ other day。 If ye want vegetables while ye’re in
trouble； ye know where to come to。 It’s well known I’m not giving
other folks’ things away； for when I’ve supplied the house； the
garden s my own spekilation； and it isna every man th’ old squire
could get as ’ud be equil to the undertaking； let alone asking
whether he’d be willing I’ve got to run my calkilation fine； I can
tell you； to make sure o’ getting back the money as I pay the
squire。 I should like to see some o’ them fellows as make the
almanecks looking as far before their noses as I’ve got to do every
year as comes。”
“They look pretty fur； though；” said Mr。 Poyser； turning his
head on one side and speaking in rather a subdued reverential
tone。 “Why； what could come truer nor that pictur o’ the cock wi’
the big spurs； as has got its head knocked down wi’ th’ anchor； an’
th’ firin’； an’ the ships behind？ Why； that pictur was made afore
Christmas； and yit it’s come as true as th’ Bible。 Why； th’ cock’s
France； an’ th’ anchor’s Nelson—an’ they told us that
beforehand。”
“Pee—ee…eh！” said Mr。 Craig。 “A man doesna want to see fur to
know as th’ English ’ull beat the French。 Why； I know upo’ good
authority as it’s a big Frenchman as reaches five foot high； an’
they live upo’ spoon…meat mostly。 I knew a man as his father had a
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particular knowledge o’ the French。 I should like to know what
them grasshoppers are to do against such fine fellows as our
young Captain Arthur。 Why； it ’ud astonish a Frenchman only to
look at him； his arm’s thicker nor a Frenchman’s body； I’ll be
bound； for they pinch theirsells in wi’ stays； and it’s easy enough；
for they’ve got nothing i’ their insides。”
“Where IS the captain； as he wasna at church to…day？” said
Adam。 “I was talking to him o’ Friday； and he said nothing about
his going away。”
“Oh； he’s only gone to Eagledale for a bit o’ fishing； I reckon
he’ll be back again afore many days are o’er； for he’s to be at all th’
arranging and preparing o’ things for the comin’ o’ age o’ the 30th
o’ July。 But he’s fond o’ getting away for a bit； now and then。 Him
and th’ old squire fit one another like frost and flowers。”
Mr。 Craig smiled and winked slowly as he made this last
observation； but the subject was not developed farther； for now
they had reached the turning in the road where Adam and his
companions must say “good…bye。” The gardener； too； would have
had to turn off in the same direction if he had not accepted Mr。
Poyser’s invitation to tea。 Mrs。 Poyser duly seconded the
invitation； for she would have held it a deep disgrace not to make
her neighbours welcome to her house： personal likes and dislikes
must not interfere with that sacred custom。 Moreover； Mr。 Craig
had always been full of civilities to the family at the Hall Farm；
and Mrs。 Poyser was scrupulous in declaring that she had
“nothing to say again’ him； on’y it was a pity he couldna be
hatched o’er again； an’ hatched different。”
So Adam and Seth； with their mother between them； wound
their way down to the valley and up again to the old house； where
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a saddened memory had taken the place of a long； long anxiety—
where Adam would never have to ask again as he entered；
“Where’s Father？”
And the other family party； with Mr。 Craig for company； went
back to the pleasant bright house…place at the Hall Farm—all with
quiet minds； except Hetty； who knew now where Arthur was gone；
but was only the more puzzled and uneasy。 For it appeared that
his absence was quite voluntary； he need not have gone—he
would not have gone if he had wanted to see her。 She had a
sickening sense that no lot could ever be pleasant to her again if
her Thursday night’s vision was not to be fulfilled； and in this
moment of chill； bare； wintry disappointment and doubt； she
looked towards the possibility of being with Arthur again； of
meeting his loving glance； and hearing his soft words with that
eager yearning which one may call the “growing pain” of passion。
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Chapter XIX
Adam on a Working Day
otwithstanding Mr。 Craig’s prophecy； the dark…blue cloud
Ndispersed itself without having produced the threatened
consequences。 “The weather”—as he observed the next
morning—“the weather； you see； ’s a ticklish thing； an’ a fool ’ull
hit on ’t sometimes when a wise man misses； that’s why the
almanecks get so much credit。 It’s one o’ them chancy things as
fools thrive on。”
This unreasonable behaviour of the weather； however； could
displease n