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boarded floor； at the far end； fleeces of wool stacked up； in the
middle of the floor； some empty corn…bags。 That is the furniture of
the dining…room。 And what through the left…hand window？
Several clothes…horses； a pillion； a spinning…wheel； and an old box
wide open and stuffed full of coloured rags。 At the edge of this box
there lies a great wooden doll； which； so far as mutilation is
concerned； bears a strong resemblance to the finest Greek
sculpture； and especially in the total loss of its nose。 Near it there
is a little chair； and the butt end of a boy’s leather long…lashed
whip。
The history of the house is plain now。 It was once the residence
of a country squire； whose family； probably dwindling down to
mere spinsterhood； got merged in the more territorial name of
Donnithorne。 It was once the Hall； it is now the Hall Farm。 Like
the life in some coast town that was once a watering…place； and is
now a port； where the genteel streets are silent and grass…grown；
and the docks and warehouses busy and resonant； the life at the
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Hall has changed its focus； and no longer radiates from the
parlour； but from the kitchen and the farmyard。
Plenty of life there； though this is the drowsiest time of the year；
just before hay…harvest； and it is the drowsiest time of the day too；
for it is close upon three by the sun； and it is half…past three by
Mrs。 Poyser’s handsome eight…day clock。 But there is always a
stronger sense of life when the sun is brilliant after rain； and now
he is pouring down his beams； and making sparkles among the
wet straw； and lighting up every patch of vivid green moss on the
red tiles of the cow…shed； and turning even the muddy water that
is hurrying along the channel to the drain into a mirror for the
yellow…billed ducks； who are seizing the opportunity of getting a
drink with as much body in it as possible。 There is quite a concert
of noises； the great bull…dog； chained against the stables； is thrown
into furious exasperation by the unwary approach of a cock too
near the mouth of his kennel； and sends forth a thundering bark；
which is answered by two fox…hounds shut up in the opposite cow…
house； the old top…knotted hens； scratching with their chicks
among the straw； set up a sympathetic croaking as the discomfited
cock joins them； a sow with her brood； all very muddy as to the
legs； and curled as to the tail； throws in some deep staccato notes；
our friends the calves are bleating from the home croft； and； under
all； a fine ear discerns the continuous hum of human voices。
For the great barn…doors are thrown wide open； and men are
busy there mending the harness； under the superintendence of
Mr。 Goby； the “whittaw；” otherwise saddler； who entertains them
with the latest Treddleston gossip。 It is certainly rather an
unfortunate day that Alick； the shepherd； has chosen for having
the whittaws； since the morning turned out so wet； and Mrs。
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Poyser has spoken her mind pretty strongly as to the dirt which
the extra number of men’s shoes brought into the house at
dinnertime。 Indeed； she has not yet recovered her equanimity on
the subject； though it is now nearly three hours since dinner； and
the house…floor is perfectly clean again； as clean as everything else
in that wonderful house…place； where the only chance of collecting
a few grains of dust would be to climb on the salt…coffer； and put
your finger on the high mantel…shelf on which the glittering brass
candlesticks are enjoying their summer sinecure； for at this time
of year； of course； every one goes to bed while it is yet light； or at
least light enough to discern the outline of objects after you have
bruised your shins against them。 Surely nowhere else could an
oak clock…case and an oak table have got to such a polish by the
hand： genuine “elbow polish；” as Mrs。 Poyser called it； for she
thanked God she never had any of your varnished rubbish in her
house。 Hetty Sorrel often took the opportunity； when her aunt’s
back was turned； of looking at the pleasing reflection of herself in
those polished surfaces； for the oak table was usually turned up
like a screen； and was more for ornament than for use； and she
could see herself sometimes in the great round pewter dishes that
were ranged on the shelves above the long deal dinner…table； or in
the hobs of the grate； which always shone like jasper。
Everything was looking at its brightest at this moment； for the
sun shone right on the pewter dishes； and from their reflecting
surfaces pleasant jets of light were thrown on mellow oak and
bright brass—and on a still pleasanter object than these； for some
of the rays fell on Dinah’s finely moulded cheek； and lit up her
pale red hair to auburn； as she bent over the heavy household
linen which she was mending for her aunt。 No scene could have
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been more peaceful； if Mrs。 Poyser； who was ironing a few things
that still remained from the Monday’s wash； had not been making
a frequent clinking with her iron and moving to and fro whenever
she wanted it to cool； carrying the keen glance of her blue…grey eye
from the kitchen to the dairy； where Hetty was making up the
butter； and from the dairy to the back kitchen； where Nancy was
taking the pies out of the oven。 Do not suppose； however； that Mrs。
Poyser was elderly or shrewish in her appearance； she was a good…
looking woman； not more than eight…and…thirty； of fair complexion
and sandy hair； well…shapen； light…footed。 The most conspicuous
article in her attire was an am