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too； for all he’s so young； he’s got better notions o’ things than
many a man twice his age。 He spoke very handsome to me th’
other day about lending me money to set up i’ business； and if
things came round that way； I’d rather be beholding to him nor to
any man i’ the world。”
Poor Adam was led on to speak about Arthur because he
thought Hetty would be pleased to know that the young squire was
so ready to befriend him； the fact entered into his future
prospects； which he would like to seem promising in her eyes。 And
it was true that Hetty listened with an interest which brought a
new light into her eyes and a half…smile upon her lips。
“How pretty the roses are now！” Adam continued； pausing to
look at them。 “See！ I stole the prettiest； but I didna mean to keep it
myself。 I think these as are all pink； and have got a finer sort o’
green leaves； are prettier than the striped uns； don’t you？”
He set down the basket and took the rose from his button…hole。
“It smells very sweet；” he said； “those striped uns have no
smell。 Stick it in your frock； and then you can put it in water after。
It ’ud be a pity to let it fade。”
Hetty took the rose； smiling as she did so at the pleasant
thought that Arthur could so soon get back if he liked。 There was a
flash of hope and happiness in her mind； and with a sudden
impulse of gaiety she did what she had very often done before—
stuck the rose in her hair a little above the left ear。 The tender
admiration in Adam’s face was slightly shadowed by reluctant
disapproval。 Hetty’s love of finery was just the thing that would
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most provoke his mother； and he himself disliked it as much as it
was possible for him to dislike anything that belonged to her。
“Ah；” he said； “that’s like the ladies in the pictures at the Chase；
they’ve mostly got flowers or feathers or gold things i’ their hair；
but somehow I don’t like to see ’em they allays put me i’ mind o’
the painted women outside the shows at Treddles’on Fair。 What
can a woman have to set her off better than her own hair； when it
curls so； like yours？ If a woman’s young and pretty； I think you
can see her good looks all the better for her being plain dressed。
Why； Dinah Morris looks very nice； for all she wears such a plain
cap and gown。 It seems to me as a woman’s face doesna want
flowers； it’s almost like a flower itself。 I’m sure yours is。”
“Oh； very well；” said Hetty； with a little playful pout； taking the
rose out of her hair。 “I’ll put one o’ Dinah’s caps on when we go in；
and you’ll see if I look better in it。 She left one behind； so I can
take the pattern。”
“Nay； nay； I don’t want you to wear a Methodist cap like
Dinah’s。 I daresay it’s a very ugly cap； and I used to think when I
saw her here as it was nonsense for her to dress different t’ other
people； but I never rightly noticed her till she came to see mother
last week； and then I thought the cap seemed to fit her face
somehow as th’ acorn…cup fits th’ acorn； and I shouldn’t like to see
her so well without it。 But you’ve got another sort o’ face； I’d have
you just as you are now； without anything t’ interfere with your
own looks。 It’s like when a man’s singing a good tune—you don’t
want t’ hear bells tinkling and interfering wi’ the sound。”
He took her arm and put it within his again； looking down on
her fondly。 He was afraid she should think he had lectured her；
imagining； as we are apt to do； that she had perceived all the
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thoughts he had only half…expressed。 And the thing he dreaded
most was lest any cloud should come over this evening’s
happiness。 For the world he would not have spoken of his love to
Hetty yet； till this commencing kindness towards him should have
grown into unmistakable love。 In his imagination he saw long
years of his future life stretching before him； blest with the right to
call Hetty his own： he could be content with very little at present。
So he took up the basket of currants once more； and they went on
towards the house。
The scene had quite changed in the half…hour that Adam had
been in the garden。 The yard was full of life now： Marty was
letting the screaming geese through the gate； and wickedly
provoking the gander by hissing at him； the granary…door was
groaning on its hinges as Alick shut it； after dealing out the corn；
the horses were being led out to watering； amidst much barking of
all the three dogs and many “whups” from Tim the ploughman； as
if the heavy animals who held down their meek； intelligent heads；
and lifted their shaggy feet so deliberately； were likely to rush
wildly in every direction but the right。 Everybody was come back
from the meadow； and when Hetty and Adam entered the house…
place； Mr。 Poyser was seated in the three…cornered chair； and the
grandfather in the large arm…chair opposite； looking on with
pleasant expectation while the supper was being laid on the oak
table。 Mrs。 Poyser had laid the cloth herself—a cloth made of
homespun linen； with a shining checkered pattern on it； and of an
agreeable whitey…brown hue； such as all sensible housewives like
to see—none of your bleached “shop…rag” that would wear into
holes in no time； but good homespun that would last for two
generations。 The cold veal； the fresh lettuces； and the stuffed chine
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might well look tempting to hungry men who had dined at half…
past twelve o’clock。 On the large deal table against the wall there
were bright pewter plates and spoons and cans； ready for Alick
and his companions； for the master and servants ate their supper
not far off each other； which was all the pleasanter； because if a
remark about to…morrow morning’s work occurred to Mr。 Poyser；
Alick was at hand to hear it。
“Well； Adam； I’m glad to see ye；” said Mr。 Poyser。 “What！ ye’ve
been helping Hetty to gether the curran’s； eh？ Come； sit ye down；
sit ye down。 Why； it’s pretty near a three…week since y’ had your
supper with us； and the missis has got one of her rare stuffed
chines。 I’m glad ye’re come。”
“Hetty；” said Mrs。 Poyser； as she looked into the basket of
currants to see if the fruit was fine； “run upstairs and send Molly
down。 She’s putting Totty to bed； and I want her to draw th’ ale；
for Nancy’s busy yet i’ the dairy。 You can see to the child。 But
whativer did you let her run away from you along wi’ Tommy for；
and stuff herself wi’ fruit as she can’t eat a bit o’ good victual？”
This was said in a lower tone than usual； while her husband
was talking to Adam； for Mrs。 Poyser was strict in adherence to
her own rules of propriety； and she considered that a young girl
was not to be treated sharply in the presence of a respectable man
who was courting her。 That would not be fair…play： every woman
was young in her turn； and had her chances of matrimony； which
it was a point of honour for other women not to spoil—just as one
market…woman who has sold her own eggs must not try to balk
another of a customer。
Hetty made haste to run away upstairs； not easily finding an
answer to her aunt’s question； and Mrs。