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you？ An’ isn’t there them i’ this parish as you’ve got under hand；
and they’re like enough to make friends wi’ Old Harry again as
soon as your back’s turned？ There’s that Bessy Cranage—she’ll be
flaunting i’ new finery three weeks after you’re gone； I’ll be bound。
She’ll no more go on in her new ways without you than a dog ’ull
stand on its hind…legs when there’s nobody looking。 But I suppose
it doesna matter so much about folks’s souls i’ this country； else
you’d be for staying with your own aunt； for she’s none so good
but what you might help her to be better。”
There was a certain something in Mrs。 Poyser’s voice just then；
which she did not wish to be noticed； so she turned round hastily
to look at the clock； and said： “See there！ It’s tea…time； an’ if
Martin’s i’ the rick…yard； he’ll like a cup。 Here； Totty； my chicken；
let mother put your bonnet on； and then you go out into the rick…
yard and see if Father’s there； and tell him he mustn’t go away
again without coming t’ have a cup o’ tea； and tell your brothers to
come in too。”
Totty trotted off in her flapping bonnet； while Mrs。 Poyser set
out the bright oak table and reached down the tea…cups。
“You talk o’ them gells Nancy and Molly being clever i’ their
work；” she began again； “it’s fine talking。 They’re all the same；
clever or stupid—one can’t trust ’em out o’ one’s sight a minute。
They want somebody’s eye on ’em constant if they’re to be kept to
their work。 An’ suppose I’m ill again this winter； as I was the
winter before last？ Who’s to look after ’em then； if you’re gone？
An’ there’s that blessed child—something’s sure t’ happen to her—
they’ll let her tumble into the fire； or get at the kettle wi’ the
boiling lard in’t； or some mischief as ’ull lame her for life； an’ it’ll
be all your fault； Dinah。”
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“Aunt；” said Dinah； “I promise to come back to you in the
winter if you’re ill。 Don’t think I will ever stay away from you if
you’re in real want of me。 But； indeed； it is needful for my own
soul that I should go away from this life of ease and luxury in
which I have all things too richly to enjoy—at least that I should go
away for a short space。 No one can know but myself what are my
inward needs； and the besetments I am most in danger from。 Your
wish for me to stay is not a call of duty which I refuse to hearken to
because it is against my own desires； it is a temptation that I must
resist； lest the love of the creature should become like a mist in my
soul shutting out the heavenly light。”
“It passes my cunning to know what you mean by ease and
luxury；” said Mrs。 Poyser； as she cut the bread and butter。 “It’s
true there’s good victual enough about you； as nobody shall ever
say I don’t provide enough and to spare； but if there’s ever a bit o’
odds an’ ends as nobody else ’ud eat； you’re sure to pick it out 。 。 。
but look there！ There’s Adam Bede a…carrying the little un in。 I
wonder how it is he’s come so early。”
Mrs。 Poyser hastened to the door for the pleasure of looking at
her darling in a new position； with love in her eyes but reproof on
her tongue。
“Oh for shame； Totty！ Little gells o’ five year old should be
ashamed to be carried。 Why； Adam； she’ll break your arm； such a
big gell as that； set her down—for shame！”
“Nay； nay；” said Adam； “I can lift her with my hand—I’ve no
need to take my arm to it。”
Totty； looking as serenely unconscious of remark as a fat white
puppy； was set down at the door…place； and the mother enforced
her reproof with a shower of kisses。
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“You’re surprised to see me at this hour o’ the day；” said Adam。
“Yes； but come in；” said Mrs。 Poyser； making way for him；
“there’s no bad news； I hope？”
“No； nothing bad；” Adam answered； as he went up to Dinah
and put out his hand to her。 She had laid down her work and
stood up； instinctively； as he approached her。 A faint blush died
away from her pale cheek as she put her hand in his and looked up
at him timidly。
“It’s an errand to you brought me； Dinah；” said Adam；
apparently unconscious that he was holding her hand all the
while； “mother’s a bit ailing； and she’s set her heart on your
coming to stay the night with her； if you’ll be so kind。 I told her I’d
call and ask you as I came from the village。 She overworks herself；
and I can’t persuade her to have a little girl t’ help her。 I don’t
know what’s to be done。”
Adam released Dinah’s hand as he ceased speaking； and was
expecting an answer； but before she had opened her lips Mrs。
Poyser said； “Look there now！ I told you there was folks enow t’
help i’ this parish； wi’out going further off。 There’s Mrs。 Bede
getting as old and cas’alty as can be； and she won’t let anybody but
you go a…nigh her hardly。 The folks at Snowfield have learnt by
this time to do better wi’out you nor she can。”
“I’ll put my bonnet on and set off directly； if you don’t want
anything done first； Aunt；” said Dinah； folding up her work。
“Yes； I do want something done。 I want you t’ have your tea；
child； it’s all ready—and you’ll have a cup； Adam； if y’ arena in too
big a hurry。”
“Yes； I’ll have a cup； please； and then I’ll walk with Dinah。 I’m
going straight home； for I’ve got a lot o’ timber valuations to write
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out。”
“Why； Adam； lad； are you here？” said Mr。 P