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from the brain of a single rhapsodist； or was gradually perfected
by a school or succession of rhapsodists； I am ignorant。 There is a
stamp of unity； of individual genius upon it； which inclines me to
the former hypothesis； though I am not blind to the consideration
that this unity may rather have arisen from that consensus of
many minds which was a condition of primitive thought； foreign to
our modern consciousness。 Some will perhaps think that they
detect in the first quatrain an indication of a lost line； which later
rhapsodists； failing in imaginative vigour； have supplied by the
feeble device of iteration。 Others； however； may rather maintain
that this very iteration is an original felicity； to which none but the
most prosaic minds can be insensible。
The ceremony connected with the song was a drinking
ceremony。 （That is perhaps a painful fact； but then； you know； we
cannot reform our forefathers。） During the first and second
quatrain； sung decidedlyforte ； no can was filled。
“Here’s a health unto our master；
The founder of the feast；
Here’s a health unto our master
And to our mistress！
And may his doings prosper；
Whate’er he takes in hand；
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For we are all his servants；
And are at his command。
But now； immediately before the third quatrain or chorus； sung
fortissimo ； with emphatic raps of the table； which gave the effect of
cymbals and drum together； Alick’s can was filled； and he was
bound to empty it before the chorus ceased。
“Then drink； boys； drink！
And see ye do not spill；
For if ye do； ye shall drink two；
For ’tis our master’s will。
When Alick had gone successfully through this test of steady…
handed manliness； it was the turn of old Kester； at his right
hand—and so on； till every man had drunk his initiatory pint
under the stimulus of the chorus。 Tom Saft—the rogue—took care
to spill a little by accident； but Mrs。 Poyser （too officiously； Tom
thought） interfered to prevent the exaction of the penalty。
To any listener outside the door it would have been the reverse
of obvious why the “Drink； boys； drink！” should have such an
immediate and often…repeated encore； but once entered； he would
have seen that all faces were at present sober； and most of them
serious—it was the regular and respectable thing for those
excellent farm…labourers to do； as much as for elegant ladies and
gentlemen to smirk and bow over their wine…glasses。 Bartle
Massey； whose ears were rather sensitive； had gone out to see
what sort of evening it was at an early stage in the ceremony； and
had not finished his contemplation until a silence of five minutes
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declared that “Drink； boys； drink！” was not likely to begin again
for the next twelvemonth。 Much to the regret of the boys and
Totty： on them the stillness fell rather flat； after that glorious
thumping of the table； towards which Totty； seated on her father’s
knee； contributed with her small might and small fist。
When Bartle re…entered； however； there appeared to be a
general desire for solo music after the choral。 Nancy declared that
Tim the waggoner knew a song and was “allays singing like a lark
i’ the stable；” whereupon Mr。 Poyser said encouragingly； “Come；
Tim； lad； let’s hear it。” Tim looked sheepish； tucked down his
head； and said he couldn’t sing； but this encouraging invitation of
the master’s was echoed all round the table。 It was a
conversational opportunity： everybody could say； “Come； Tim；”
except Alick； who never relaxed into the frivolity of unnecessary
speech。 At last； Tim’s next neighbour； Ben Tholoway； began to
give emphasis to his speech by nudges； at which Tim； growing
rather savage； said； “Let me alooan； will ye？ Else I’ll ma’ ye sing a
toon ye wonna like。” A good…tempered waggoner’s patience has
limits； and Tim was not to be urged further。
“Well； then； David； ye’re the lad to sing；” said Ben； willing to
show that he was not discomfited by this check。 “Sing ‘M’ loove’s a
roos wi’out a thorn。’”
The amatory David was a young man of an unconscious
abstracted expression； which was due probably to a squint of
superior intensity rather than to any mental characteristic； for he
was not indifferent to Ben’s invitation； but blushed and laughed
and rubbed his sleeve over his mouth in a way that was regarded
as a symptom of yielding。 And for some time the company
appeared to be much in earnest about the desire to hear David’s
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song。 But in vain。 The lyricism of the evening was in the cellar at
present； and was not to be drawn from that retreat just yet。
Meanwhile the conversation at the head of the table had taken
a political turn。 Mr。 Craig was not above talking politics
occasionally； though he piqued himself rather on a wise insight
than on specific information。 He saw so far beyond the mere facts
of a case that really it was superfluous to know them。
“I’m no reader o’ the paper myself；” he observed to…night； as he
filled his pipe； “though I might read it fast enough if I liked； for
there’s Miss Lyddy has ’em and ’s done with ’em i’ no time。 But
there’s Mills； now； sits i’ the chimney…corner and reads the paper
pretty nigh from morning to night； and when he’s got to th’ end on
’t he’s more addle…headed than