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T
beans。 The apples and nuts were gathered and stored； the
scent of whey departed from the farm…houses； and the scent of
brewing came in its stead。 The woods behind the Chase； and all
the hedgerow trees； took on a solemn splendour under the dark
low…hanging skies。 Michaelmas was come； with its fragrant
basketfuls of purple damsons； and its paler purple daisies； and its
lads and lasses leaving or seeking service and winding along
between the yellow hedges； with their bundles under their arms。
But though Michaelmas was come； Mr。 Thurle； that desirable
tenant； did not come to the Chase Farm； and the old squire； after
all； had been obliged to put in a new bailiff。 It was known
throughout the two parishes that the squire’s plan had been
frustrated because the Poysers had refused to be “put upon；” and
Mrs。 Poyser’s outbreak was discussed in all the farm…houses with a
zest which was only heightened by frequent repetition。 The news
that “Bony” was come back from Egypt was comparatively insipid；
and the repulse of the French in Italy was nothing to Mrs。 Poyser’s
repulse of the old squire。 Mr。 Irwine had heard a version of it in
every parishioner’s house； with the one exception of the Chase。
But since he had always； with marvellous skill； avoided any
quarrel with Mr。 Donnithorne； he could not allow himself the
pleasure of laughing at the old gentleman’s discomfiture with any
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one besides his mother； who declared that if she were rich she
should like to allow Mrs。 Poyser a pension for life； and wanted to
invite her to the parsonage that she might hear an account of the
scene from Mrs。 Poyser’s own lips。
“No； no； Mother；” said Mr。 Irwine； “it was a little bit of irregular
justice on Mrs。 Poyser’s part； but a magistrate like me must not
countenance irregular justice。 There must be no report spread
that I have taken notice of the quarrel； else I shall lose the little
good influence I have over the old man。”
“Well； I like that woman even better than her cream…cheeses；”
said Mrs。 Irwine。 “She has the spirit of three men； with that pale
face of hers。 And she says such sharp things too。”
“Sharp！ Yes； her tongue is like a new…set razor。 She’s quite
original in her talk too； one of those untaught wits that help to
stock a country with proverbs。 I told you that capital thing I heard
her say about Craig—that he was like a cock； who thought the sun
had risen to hear him crow。 Now that’s an AEsop’s fable in a
sentence。”
“But it will be a bad business if the old gentleman turns them
out of the farm next Michaelmas； eh？” said Mrs。 Irwine。
“Oh； that must not be； and Poyser is such a good tenant that
Donnithorne is likely to think twice； and digest his spleen rather
than turn them out。 But if he should give them notice at Lady Day；
Arthur and I must move heaven and earth to mollify him。 Such old
parishioners as they are must not go。”
“Ah； there’s no knowing what may happen before Lady day；”
said Mrs。 Irwine。 “It struck me on Arthur’s birthday that the old
man was a little shaken： he’s eighty…three； you know。 It’s really an
unconscionable age。 It’s only women who have a right to live as
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long as that。”
“When they’ve got old…bachelor sons who would be forlorn
without them；” said Mr。 Irwine； laughing； and kissing his mother’s
hand。
Mrs。 Poyser； too； met her husband’s occasional forebodings of a
notice to quit with “There’s no knowing what may happen before
Lady Day”—one of those undeniable general propositions which
are usually intended to convey a particular meaning very far from
undeniable。 But it is really too hard upon human nature that it
should be held a criminal offence to imagine the death even of the
king when he is turned eighty…three。 It is not to be believed that
any but the dullest Britons can be good subjects under that hard
condition。
Apart from this foreboding； things went on much as usual in the
Poyser household。 Mrs。 Poyser thought she noticed a surprising
improvement in Hetty。 To be sure； the girl got “closer tempered；
and sometimes she seemed as if there’d be no drawing a word
from her with cart…ropes；” but she thought much less about her
dress； and went after the work quite eagerly； without any telling。
And it was wonderful how she never wanted to go out now—
indeed； could hardly be persuaded to go； and she bore her aunt’s
putting a stop to her weekly lesson in fine…work at the Chase
without the least grumbling or pouting。 It must be； after all； that
she had set her heart on Adam at last； and her sudden freak of
wanting to be a lady’s maid must have been caused by some little
pique or misunderstanding between them； which had passed by。
For whenever Adam came to the Hall Farm； Hetty seemed to be in
better spirits and to talk more than at other times； though she was
almost sullen when Mr。 Craig or any other admirer happened to
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pay a visit there。
Adam himself watched her at first with trembling anxiety；
which gave way to surprise and delicious hope。 Five days after
delivering Arthur’s letter； he had ventured to go to the Hall Farm
again—not without dread lest the sight of him might be painful to
her。 She was not in the house…place when he entered； and he sat
talking to Mr。 and Mrs。 Poyser for a few minutes with a heavy fear
on his heart that they might presently tell him Hetty was ill。 But
by…and…by there came a light step that he knew； and when Mrs。
Poyser said； “Come； Hetty； where have you been？”