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respectful than ever to his old father since he had made a deed of
gift of all his property； and no man judged his neighbours more
charitably on all personal matters； but for a farmer； like Luke
Britton； for example； whose fallows were not well cleaned； who
didn’t know the rudiments of hedging and ditching； and showed
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but a small share of judgment in the purchase of winter stock；
Martin Poyser was as hard and implacable as the north…east wind。
Luke Britton could not make a remark； even on the weather； but
Martin Poyser detected in it a taint of that unsoundness and
general ignorance which was palpable in all his farming
operations。 He hated to see the fellow lift the pewter pint to his
mouth in the bar of the Royal George on market…day； and the mere
sight of him on the other side of the road brought a severe and
critical expression into his black eyes； as different as possible from
the fatherly glance he bent on his two nieces as they approached
the door。 Mr。 Poyser had smoked his evening pipe； and now held
his hands in his pockets； as the only resource of a man who
continues to sit up after the day’s business is done。
“Why； lasses； ye’re rather late to…night；” he said； when they
reached the little gate leading into the causeway。 “The mother’s
begun to fidget about you； an’ she’s got the little un ill。 An’ how did
you leave the old woman Bede； Dinah？ Is she much down about
the old man？ He’d been but a poor bargain to her this five year。”
“She’s been greatly distressed for the loss of him；” said Dinah；
“but she’s seemed more comforted to…day。 Her son Adam’s been at
home all day； working at his father’s coffin； and she loves to have
him at home。 She’s been talking about him to me almost all the
day。 She has a loving heart； though she’s sorely given to fret and
be fearful。 I wish she had a surer trust to comfort her in her old
age。”
“Adam’s sure enough；” said Mr。 Poyser； misunderstanding
Dinah’s wish。 “There’s no fear but he’ll yield well i’ the threshing。
He’s not one o’ them as is all straw and no grain。 I’ll be bond for
him any day； as he’ll be a good son to the last。 Did he say he’d be
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coming to see us soon？ But come in； come in；” he added； making
way for them； “I hadn’t need keep y’ out any longer。”
The tall buildings round the yard shut out a good deal of the
sky； but the large window let in abundant light to show every
corner of the house…place。
Mrs。 Poyser； seated in the rocking…chair； which had been
brought out of the “right…hand parlour；” was trying to soothe Totty
to sleep。 But Totty was not disposed to sleep； and when her
cousins entered； she raised herself up and showed a pair of
flushed cheeks； which looked fatter than ever now they were
defined by the edge of her linen night…cap。
In the large wicker…bottomed arm…chair in the left…hand
chimney…nook sat old Martin Poyser； a hale but shrunken and
bleached image of his portly black…haired son—his head hanging
forward a little； and his elbows pushed backwards so as to allow
the whole of his forearm to rest on the arm of the chair。 His blue
handkerchief was spread over his knees； as was usual indoors；
when it was not hanging over his head； and he sat watching what
went forward with the quiet outward glance of healthy old age；
which； disengaged from any interest in an inward drama； spies out
pins upon the floor； follows one’s minutest motions with an
unexpectant purposeless tenacity； watches the flickering of the
flame or the sun…gleams on the wall； counts the quarries on the
floor； watches even the hand of the clock； and pleases itself with
detecting a rhythm in the tick。
“What a time o’ night this is to come home； Hetty！” said Mrs。
Poyser。 “Look at the clock； do； why； it’s going on for half…past nine；
and I’ve sent the gells to bed this half…hour； and late enough too；
when they’ve got to get up at half after four； and the mowers’
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bottles to fill； and the baking； and here’s this blessed child wi’ the
fever for what I know； and as wakeful as if it was dinner…time； and
nobody to help me to give her the physic but your uncle； and fine
work there’s been； and half of it spilt on her night…gown—it’s well
if she’s swallowed more nor ’ull make her worse i’stead o’ better。
But folks as have no mind to be o’ use have allays the luck to be
out o’ the road when there’s anything to be done。”
“I did set out before eight； aunt；” said Hetty； in a pettish tone；
with a slight toss of her head。 But this clock’s so much before the
clock at the Chase； there’s no telling what time it’ll be when I get
here。”
“What！ You’d be wanting the clock set by gentlefolks’s time；
would you？ An’ sit up burnin’ candle； an’ lie a…bed wi’ the sun a…
bakin’ you like a cowcumber i’ the frame？ The clock hasn’t been
put forrard for the first time to…day； I reckon。”
The fact was； Hetty had really forgotten the difference of the
clocks when she told Captain Donnithorne that she set out at
eight； and this； with her lingering pace； had made her nearly half
an hour later than usual。 But here her aunt’s attention was
diverted from this tender subject by Totty； who； perceiving at
length that the arrival of her cousins was not likely to bring
anything satisfactory to her in particular； began to cry； “Munny；
munny；” in an explosive manner。
“Well； then； my pet； Mother’s got her； Mother won’t