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must have your opinion too。”
“Hetty； run and tell your uncle to come in；” said Mrs。 Poyser； as
they entered the house； and the old gentleman bowed low in
answer to Hetty’s curtsy； while Totty； conscious of a pinafore
stained with gooseberry jam； stood hiding her face against the
clock and peeping round furtively。
“What a fine old kitchen this is！” said Mr。 Donnithorne； looking
round admiringly。 He always spoke in the same deliberate； well…
chiselled； polite way； whether his words were sugary or venomous。
“And you keep it so exquisitely clean； Mrs。 Poyser。 I like these
premises； do you know； beyond any on the estate。”
“Well； sir； since you’re fond of ’em； I should be glad if you’d let a
bit o’ repairs be done to ’em； for the boarding’s i’ that state as
we’re like to be eaten up wi’ rats and mice； and the cellar； you may
stan’ up to your knees i’ water in’t； if you like to go down； but
perhaps you’d rather believe my words。 Won’t you please to sit
down； sir？”
“Not yet； I must see your dairy。 I have not seen it for years； and
I hear on all hands about your fine cheese and butter；” said the
squire； looking politely unconscious that there could be any
question on which he and Mrs。 Poyser might happen to disagree。
“I think I see the door open； there。 You must not be surprised if I
cast a covetous eye on your cream and butter。 I don’t expect that
Mrs。 Satchell’s cream and butter will bear comparison with
yours。”
“I can’t say； sir； I’m sure。 It’s seldom I see other folks’s butter；
though there’s some on it as one’s no need to see—the smell’s
enough。”
“Ah； now this I like；” said Mr。 Donnithorne； looking round at
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the damp temple of cleanliness； but keeping near the door。 “I’m
sure I should like my breakfast better if I knew the butter and
cream came from this dairy。 Thank you； that really is a pleasant
sight。 Unfortunately； my slight tendency to rheumatism makes me
afraid of damp： I’ll sit down in your comfortable kitchen。 Ah；
Poyser； how do you do？ In the midst of business； I see； as usual。
I’ve been looking at your wife’s beautiful dairy—the best manager
in the parish； is she not？”
Mr。 Poyser had just entered in shirt…sleeves and open waistcoat；
with a face a shade redder than usual； from the exertion of
“pitching。” As he stood； red； rotund； and radiant； before the small；
wiry； cool old gentleman； he looked like a prize apple by the side of
a withered crab。
“Will you please to take this chair； sir？” he said； lifting his
father’s arm…chair forward a little： “you’ll find it easy。”
“No； thank you； I never sit in easy…chairs；” said the old
gentleman； seating himself on a small chair near the door。 “Do you
know； Mrs。 Poyser—sit down； pray； both of you—I’ve been far
from contented； for some time； with Mrs。 Satchell’s dairy
management。 I think she has not a good method； as you have。”
“Indeed； sir； I can’t speak to that；” said Mrs。 Poyser in a hard
voice； rolling and unrolling her knitting and looking icily out of the
window； as she continued to stand opposite the squire。 Poyser
might sit down if he liked； she thought； she wasn’t going to sit
down； as if she’d give in to any such smooth…tongued palaver。 Mr。
Poyser； who looked and felt the reverse of icy； did sit down in his
three…cornered chair。
“And now； Poyser； as Satchell is laid up； I am intending to let
the Chase Farm to a respectable tenant。 I’m tired of having a farm
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on my own hands—nothing is made the best of in such cases； as
you know。 A satisfactory bailiff is hard to find； and I think you and
I； Poyser； and your excellent wife here； can enter into a little
arrangement in consequence； which will be to our mutual
advantage。”
“Oh；” said Mr。 Poyser； with a good…natured blankness of
imagination as to the nature of the arrangement。
“If I’m called upon to speak； sir；” said Mrs。 Poyser； after
glancing at her husband with pity at his softness； “you know better
than me； but I don’t see what the Chase Farm is t’ us—we’ve
cumber enough wi’ our own farm。 Not but what I’m glad to hear o’
anybody respectable coming into the parish； there’s some as ha’
been brought in as hasn’t been looked on i’ that character。”
“You’re likely to find Mr。 Thurle an excellent neighbour； I
assure you—such a one as you will feel glad to have
accommodated by the little plan I’m going to mention； especially
as I hope you will find it as much to your own advantage as his。”
“Indeed； sir； if it’s anything t’ our advantage； it’ll be the first
offer o’ the sort I’ve heared on。 It’s them as take advantage that get
advantage i’ this world； I think。 Folks have to wait long enough
afore it’s brought to ’em。”
“The fact is； Poyser；” said the squire； ignoring Mrs。 Poyser’s
theory of worldly prosperity； “there is too much dairy land； and
too little plough land； on the Chase Farm to suit Thurle’s
purpose—indeed； he will only take the farm on condition of some
change in it： his wife； it appears； is not a clever dairy…woman； like
yours。 Now； the plan I’m thinking of is to effect a little exchange。 If
you were to have the Hollow Pastures； you might increase your
dairy； which must be so profitable under your wife’s management；
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