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orders。”
“Ah！” said Bartle； pausing； with one hand on his back。 “Then
there’s something in the wind—there’s something in the wind。
Have you heard anything about what the old squire means to do？”
“Why； yes；” said Adam； “I’ll tell you what I know； because I
believe you can keep a still tongue in your head if you like； and I
hope you’ll not let drop a word till it’s common talk； for I’ve
particular reasons against its being known。”
“Trust to me； my boy； trust to me。 I’ve got no wife to worm it
out of me and then run out and cackle it in everybody’s hearing。 If
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you trust a man； let him be a bachelor—let him be a bachelor。”
“Well； then； it was so far settled yesterday that I’m to take the
management o’ the woods。 The captain sent for me t’ offer it me；
when I was seeing to the poles and things here and I’ve agreed to
’t。 But if anybody asks any questions upstairs； just you take no
notice； and turn the talk to something else； and I’ll be obliged to
you。 Now； let us go on； for we’re pretty nigh the last； I think。”
“I know what to do； never fear；” said Bartle； moving on。 “The
news will be good sauce to my dinner。 Aye； aye； my boy； you’ll get
on。 I’ll back you for an eye at measuring and a head…piece for
figures； against any man in this county and you’ve had good
teaching—you’ve had good teaching。”
When they got upstairs； the question which Arthur had left
unsettled； as to who was to be president； and who vice； was still
under discussion； so that Adam’s entrance passed without remark。
“It stands to sense；” Mr。 Casson was saying； “as old Mr。 Poyser；
as is th’ oldest man i’ the room； should sit at top o’ the table。 I
wasn’t butler fifteen year without learning the rights and the
wrongs about dinner。”
“Nay； nay；” said old Martin； “I’n gi’en up to my son； I’m no
tenant now： let my son take my place。 Th’ ould foulks ha’ had their
turn： they mun make way for the young uns。”
“I should ha’ thought the biggest tenant had the best right；
more nor th’ oldest；” said Luke Britton； who was not fond of the
critical Mr。 Poyser； “there’s Mester Holdsworth has more land nor
anybody else on th’ estate。”
“Well；” said Mr。 Poyser； “suppose we say the man wi’ the
foulest land shall sit at top； then whoever gets th’ honour； there’ll
be no envying on him。”
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“Eh； here’s Mester Massey；” said Mr。 Craig； who； being a
neutral in the dispute； had no interest but in conciliation； “the
schoolmaster ought to be able to tell you what’s right。 Who’s to sit
at top o’ the table； Mr。 Massey？”
“Why； the broadest man；” said Bartle； “and then he won’t take
up other folks’ room； and the next broadest must sit at bottom。”
This happy mode of settling the dispute produced much
laughter—a smaller joke would have sufficed for that Mr。 Casson；
however； did not feel it compatible with his dignity and superior
knowledge to join in the laugh； until it turned out that he was fixed
on as the second broadest man。 Martin Poyser the younger； as the
broadest； was to be president； and Mr。 Casson； as next broadest；
was to be vice。
Owing to this arrangement； Adam； being； of course； at the
bottom of the table； fell under the immediate observation of Mr。
Casson； who； too much occupied with the question of precedence；
had not hitherto noticed his entrance。 Mr。 Casson； we have seen；
considered Adam “rather lifted up and peppery…like”： he thought
the gentry made more fuss about this young carpenter than was
necessary； they made no fuss about Mr。 Casson； although he had
been an excellent butler for fifteen years。
“Well； Mr。 Bede； you’re one o’ them as mounts hup’ards apace；”
he said； when Adam sat down。 “You’ve niver dined here before； as
I remember。”
“No； Mr。 Casson；” said Adam； in his strong voice； that could be
heard along the table； “I’ve never dined here before； but I come by
Captain Donnithorne’s wish； and I hope it’s not disagreeable to
anybody here。”
“Nay； nay；” said several voices at once； “we’re glad ye’re come。
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Who’s got anything to say again’ it？”
“And ye’ll sing us ‘Over the hills and far away；’ after dinner；
wonna ye？” said Mr。 Chowne。 “That’s a song I’m uncommon fond
on。”
“Peeh！” said Mr。 Craig； “it’s not to be named by side o’ the
Scotch tunes。 I’ve never cared about singing myself； I’ve had
something better to do。 A man that’s got the names and the natur
o’ plants in’s head isna likely to keep a hollow place t’ hold tunes
in。 But a second cousin o’ mine； a drovier； was a rare hand at
remembering the Scotch tunes。 He’d got nothing else to think on。”
“The Scotch tunes！” said Bartle Massey； contemptuously； “I’ve
heard enough o’ the Scotch tunes to last me while I live。 They’re fit
for nothing but to frighten the birds with—that’s to say； the
English birds； for the Scotch birds may sing Scotch for what I
know。 Give the lads a bagpipe instead of a rattle； and I’ll answer
for it the corn ’ll be safe。”
“Yes； there’s folks as find a pleasure in undervallying what they
know but little about；” said Mr。 Craig。
“Why； the Scotch tunes are just like a scolding； nagging
woman；” Bartle went on； without deigning to notice Mr。 Craig’s
remark。 “They go on with the same thing over and over again； and
never come to a reasonable end。 Anybody ’ud think the Scotch
tunes had always been asking a question of somebody as deaf as
old Taft； and had never got an answer yet。”
Adam minded the less about sitting by Mr。 Casson； because this
position enabled him to see Hetty； who was not far off him at the
next table。 Hetty； however； had not even noticed his presence yet；
for she was giving angry attention to Totty； who insisted on
drawing up her feet on to the bench in antique fashion； and
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thereby threatened to make dusty marks on Hetty’s pink…and…
white frock。 No sooner were the little fat legs pushed down than
up they came again； for Totty’s eyes were too busy in staring at the
large dishes to see where the plum pudding was for her to retain
any consciousness of her legs。 Hetty got quite out of patience； and
at last； with a frown and pout； and gathering tears； she said； “Oh
dear； Aunt； I wish you’d speak to Totty； she keeps putting her legs
up so； and messing my frock。”
“What’s the matter wi’ the child？ She can niver please you；”
said the mother。 “Let her come by the side o’ me； then。 I can put
up wi’ her。”
Adam was looking at Hetty； and saw the frown； and pout； and
the dark eyes seeming to grow larger with pettish half…gathered
tears。 Quiet Mary Burge； who sat near enough to see that Hetty
was cross and that Adam’s eyes were fixed on her； thought that so
sensible a man as Adam must be reflecting on the small value of
beauty in a woman whose temper was bad。 Mary was a good girl；
not given to indulge in evil feelings； but she said to herself； that；
since Hetty had a bad temper； it was better Adam should know it。
And it was quite true that if Hetty had been plain； she would have
looked very ugly and unamiable at that moment；