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ha’ gi’en ’em plenty； for when I’d gotten my old man I war
worreted from morn till night； and now he’s gone； I’d be glad for
the worst o’er again。”
“Yes；” said Dinah； careful not to oppose any feeling of
Lisbeth’s； for her reliance； in her smallest words and deeds； on a
divine guidance； always issued in that finest woman’s tact which
proceeds from acute and ready sympathy； “yes； I remember too；
when my dear aunt died； I longed for the sound of her bad cough
in the nights； instead of the silence that came when she was gone。
But now； dear friend； drink this other cup of tea and eat a little
more。”
“What！” said Lisbeth； taking the cup and speaking in a less
querulous tone； “had ye got no feyther and mother； then； as ye war
so sorry about your aunt？”
“No； I never knew a father or mother； my aunt brought me up
from a baby。 She had no children； for she was never married and
she brought me up as tenderly as if I’d been her own child。”
“Eh； she’d fine work wi’ ye； I’ll warrant； bringin’ ye up from a
babby； an’ her a lone woman—it’s ill bringin’ up a cade lamb。 But I
daresay ye warna franzy； for ye look as if ye’d ne’er been angered
i’ your life。 But what did ye do when your aunt died； an’ why didna
ye come to live in this country； bein’ as Mrs。 Poyser’s your aunt
too？”
Dinah； seeing that Lisbeth’s attention was attracted； told her
the story of her early life—how she had been brought up to work
hard； and what sort of place Snowfield was； and how many people
had a hard life there—all the details that she thought likely to
interest Lisbeth。 The old woman listened； and forgot to be fretful；
unconsciously subject to the soothing influence of Dinah’s face
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and voice。 After a while she was persuaded to let the kitchen be
made tidy； for Dinah was bent on this； believing that the sense of
order and quietude around her would help in disposing Lisbeth to
join in the prayer she longed to pour forth at her side。 Seth；
meanwhile； went out to chop wood； for he surmised that Dinah
would like to be left alone with his mother。
Lisbeth sat watching her as she moved about in her still quick
way； and said at last； “Ye’ve got a notion o’ cleanin’ up。 I wouldna
mind ha’in ye for a daughter； for ye wouldna spend the lad’s wage
i’ fine clothes an’ waste。 Ye’re not like the lasses o’ this
countryside。 I reckon folks is different at Snowfield from what
they are here。”
“They have a different sort of life； many of ’em；” said Dinah；
“they work at different things—some in the mill； and many in the
mines； in the villages round about。 But the heart of man is the
same everywhere； and there are the children of this world and the
children of light there as well as elsewhere。 But we’ve many more
Methodists there than in this country。”
“Well； I didna know as the Methody women war like ye； for
there’s Will Maskery’s wife； as they say’s a big Methody； isna
pleasant to look at； at all。 I’d as lief look at a tooad。 An’ I’m thinkin’
I wouldna mind if ye’d stay an’ sleep here； for I should like to see
ye i’ th’ house i’ th’ mornin’。 But mayhappen they’ll be lookin for
ye at Mester Poyser’s。”
“No；” said Dinah； “they don’t expect me； and I should like to
stay； if you’ll let me。”
“Well； there’s room； I’n got my bed laid i’ th’ little room o’er the
back kitchen； an’ ye can lie beside me。 I’d be glad to ha’ ye wi’ me
to speak to i’ th’ night； for ye’ve got a nice way o’ talkin’。 It puts me
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i’ mind o’ the swallows as was under the thack last ’ear when they
fust begun to sing low an’ soft…like i’ th’ mornin’。 Eh； but my old
man war fond o’ them birds！ An’ so war Adam； but they’n ne’er
comed again this ’ear。 Happen they’re dead too。”
“There；” said Dinah； “now the kitchen looks tidy； and now； dear
Mother—for I’m your daughter to…night； you know—I should like
you to wash your face and have a clean cap on。 Do you remember
what David did； when God took away his child from him？ While
the child was yet alive he fasted and prayed to God to spare it； and
he would neither eat nor drink； but lay on the ground all night；
beseeching God for the child。 But when he knew it was dead； he
rose up from the ground and washed and anointed himself； and
changed his clothes； and ate and drank； and when they asked him
how it was that he seemed to have left off grieving now the child
was dead； he said； ‘While the child was yet alive； I fasted and wept；
for I said； Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me； that
the child may live？ But now he is dead； wherefore should I fast？
Can I bring him back again？ I shall go to him； but he shall not
return to me。’”
“Eh； that’s a true word；” said Lisbeth。 “Yea； my old man wonna
come back to me； but I shall go to him—the sooner the better。
Well； ye may do as ye like wi’ me： there’s a clean cap i’ that
drawer； an’ I’ll go i’ the back kitchen an’ wash my face。 An’ Seth；
thee may ’st reach down Adam’s new Bible wi’ th’ picters in； an’
she shall read us a chapter。 Eh； I like them words—‘I shall go to
him； but he wonna come back to me。’”
Dinah and Seth were both inwardly offering thanks for the
greater quietness of spirit that had come over Lisbeth。 This was
what Dinah had been trying to bring about； through all her still
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sympathy and absence from exhortation。 From her girlhood
upwards she had had experience among the sick and the
mourning； among minds hardened and shrivelled through poverty
and ign