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things on； eh？”
“Adam said he liked Dinah’s cap and gown better nor my
clothes；” said Hetty； sitting down demurely。 “He says folks looks
better in ugly clothes。”
“Nay； nay；” said Adam； looking at her admiringly； “I only said
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they seemed to suit Dinah。 But if I’d said you’d look pretty in ’em；
I should ha’ said nothing but what was true。”
“Why； thee thought’st Hetty war a ghost； didstna？” said Mr。
Poyser to his wife； who now came back and took her seat again。
“Thee look’dst as scared as scared。”
“It little sinnifies how I looked；” said Mrs。 Poyser； “looks ’ull
mend no jugs； nor laughing neither； as I see。 Mr。 Bede； I’m sorry
you’ve to wait so long for your ale； but it’s coming in a minute。
Make yourself at home wi’ th’ cold potatoes： I know you like ’em。
Tommy； I’ll send you to bed this minute； if you don’t give over
laughing。 What is there to laugh at； I should like to know？ I’d
sooner cry nor laugh at the sight o’ that poor thing’s cap； and
there’s them as ’ud be better if they could make theirselves like
her i’ more ways nor putting on her cap。 It little becomes anybody
i’ this house to make fun o’ my sister’s child； an’ her just gone
away from us； as it went to my heart to part wi’ her。 An’ I know
one thing； as if trouble was to come； an’ I was to be laid up i’ my
bed； an’ the children was to die—as there’s no knowing but what
they will—an’ the murrain was to come among the cattle again； an’
everything went to rack an’ ruin； I say we might be glad to get
sight o’ Dinah’s cap again； wi’ her own face under it； border or no
border。 For she’s one o’ them things as looks the brightest on a
rainy day； and loves you the best when you’re most i’ need on ’t。”
Mrs。 Poyser； you perceive； was aware that nothing would be so
likely to expel the comic as the terrible。 Tommy； who was of a
susceptible disposition； and very fond of his mother； and who had；
besides； eaten so many cherries as to have his feelings less under
command than usual； was so affected by the dreadful picture she
had made of the possible future that he began to cry； and the
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good…natured father； indulgent to all weaknesses but those of
negligent farmers； said to Hetty； “You’d better take the things off
again； my lass； it hurts your aunt to see ’em。”
Hetty went upstairs again； and the arrival of the ale made an
agreeable diversion； for Adam had to give his opinion of the new
tap； which could not be otherwise than complimentary to Mrs。
Poyser； and then followed a discussion on the secrets of good
brewing； the folly of stinginess in “hopping；” and the doubtful
economy of a farmer’s making his own malt。 Mrs。 Poyser had so
many opportunities of expressing herself with weight on these
subjects that by the time supper was ended； the ale…jug refilled；
and Mr。 Poyser’s pipe alight she was once more in high good
humour； and ready； at Adam’s request； to fetch the broken
spinning…wheel for his inspection。
“Ah；” said Adam； looking at it carefully； “here’s a nice bit o’
turning wanted。 It’s a pretty wheel。 I must have it up at the
turning…shop in the village and do it there； for I’ve no convenience
for turning at home。 If you’ll send it to Mr。 Burge’s shop i’ the
morning； I’ll get it done for you by Wednesday。 I’ve been turning it
over in my mind；” he continued； looking at Mr。 Poyser； “to make a
bit more convenience at home for nice jobs o’ cabinet…making。 I’ve
always done a deal at such little things in odd hours； and they’re
profitable； for there’s more workmanship nor material in ’em。 I
look for me and Seth to get a little business for ourselves i’ that
way； for I know a man at Rosseter as ’ull take as many things as
we should make； besides what we could get orders for round
about。”
Mr。 Poyser entered with interest into a project which seemed a
step towards Adam’s becoming a “master…man；” and Mrs。 Poyser
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gave her approbation to the scheme of the movable kitchen
cupboard； which was to be capable of containing grocery； pickles；
crockery； and house…linen in the utmost compactness without
confusion。 Hetty； once more in her own dress； with her
neckerchief pushed a little backwards on this warm evening； was
seated picking currants near the window； where Adam could see
her quite well。 And so the time passed pleasantly till Adam got up
to go。 He was pressed to come again soon； but not to stay longer；
for at this busy time sensible people would not run the risk of
being sleepy at five o’clock in the morning。
“I shall take a step farther；” said Adam； “and go on to see
Mester Massey； for he wasn’t at church yesterday； and I’ve not
seen him for a week past。 I’ve never hardly known him to miss
church before。”
“Aye；” said Mr。 Poyser； “we’ve heared nothing about him； for
it’s the boys’ hollodays now； so we can give you no account。”
“But you’ll niver think o’ going there at this hour o’ the night？”
said Mrs。 Poyser； folding up her knitting。
“Oh； Mester Massey sits up late；” said Adam。 “An’ the night…
school’s not over yet。 Some o’ the men don’t come till late—they’ve
got so far to walk。 And Bartle himself’s never in bed till it’s gone
eleven。”
“I wouldna have him to live wi’ me； then；” said Mrs。 Poyser； “a…
dropping candle…grease about； as you’re like to tumble down o’ the
floor the first thing i’ the morning。”
“Aye； eleven o’clock’s late—it’s late；” said old Martin。 “I ne’er
sot up so i’ my life； not to say as it warna a marr’in’； or a
christenin’； or a wake； or th’ harvest supper。 Eleven o’clock’s late。”
“Why； I sit up till after twelve often；” said Adam； laughing； “but
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it isn’t t’ eat and drink extry； it’s to work extry。 Good…night； Mrs。
Poyser； good…night； Hetty。”
Hetty could only smile and not shake hands； for hers were dyed
and damp with currant…juice； but all the rest gave a hearty shake
to the large palm that was held out to them； and said； “Come
again； come again！”
“Aye； think o’ that now；” said Mr。 Poyser； when Adam was out
of on the causeway。 “Sitting up till past twelve to do extry work！
Ye’ll not find many men o’ six…an’ twenty as ’ull do to put i’ the
shafts wi’ him。 If you can catch Adam for a husband； Hetty； you’ll
ride i’ your own spring…cart some day； I’ll be your warrant。”
Hetty was moving across the kitchen with the currants； so her
uncle did not see the little toss of the head with which she
answered him。 To ride in a spring…cart seemed a very miserable lot
indeed to her now。
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Chapter XXI
The Night…School and the Schoolmaster
artle Massey’s was one of a few scattered houses on the