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orders。”
“Ah！” said Bartle； pausing； with one hand on his back。 “Then
there’s something in the wind—there’s something in the wind。
Have you heard anything about what the old squire means to do？”
“Why； yes；” said Adam； “I’ll tell you what I know； because I
believe you can keep a still tongue in your head if you like； and I
hope you’ll not let drop a word till it’s common talk； for I’ve
particular reasons against its being known。”
“Trust to me； my boy； trust to me。 I’ve got no wife to worm it
out of me and then run out and cackle it in everybody’s hearing。 If
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you trust a man； let him be a bachelor—let him be a bachelor。”
“Well； then； it was so far settled yesterday that I’m to take the
management o’ the woods。 The captain sent for me t’ offer it me；
when I was seeing to the poles and things here and I’ve agreed to
’t。 But if anybody asks any questions upstairs； just you take no
notice； and turn the talk to something else； and I’ll be obliged to
you。 Now； let us go on； for we’re pretty nigh the last； I think。”
“I know what to do； never fear；” said Bartle； moving on。 “The
news will be good sauce to my dinner。 Aye； aye； my boy； you’ll get
on。 I’ll back you for an eye at measuring and a head…piece for
figures； against any man in this county and you’ve had good
teaching—you’ve had good teaching。”
When they got upstairs； the question which Arthur had left
unsettled； as to who was to be president； and who vice； was still
under discussion； so that Adam’s entrance passed without remark。
“It stands to sense；” Mr。 Casson was saying； “as old Mr。 Poyser；
as is th’ oldest man i’ the room； should sit at top o’ the table。 I
wasn’t butler fifteen year without learning the rights and the
wrongs about dinner。”
“Nay； nay；” said old Martin； “I’n gi’en up to my son； I’m no
tenant now： let my son take my place。 Th’ ould foulks ha’ had their
turn： they mun make way for the young uns。”
“I should ha’ thought the biggest tenant had the best right；
more nor th’ oldest；” said Luke Britton； who was not fond of the
critical Mr。 Poyser； “there’s Mester Holdsworth has more land nor
anybody else on th’ estate。”
“Well；” said Mr。 Poyser； “suppose we say the man wi’ the
foulest land shall sit at top； then whoever gets th’ honour； there’ll
be no envying on him。”
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“Eh； here’s Mester Massey；” said Mr。 Craig； who； being a
neutral in the dispute； had no interest but in conciliation； “the
schoolmaster ought to be able to tell you what’s right。 Who’s to sit
at top o’ the table； Mr。 Massey？”
“Why； the broadest man；” said Bartle； “and then he won’t take
up other folks’ room； and the next broadest must sit at bottom。”
This happy mode of settling the dispute produced much
laughter—a smaller joke would have sufficed for that Mr。 Casson；
however； did not feel it compatible with his dignity and superior
knowledge to join in the laugh； until it turned out that he was fixed
on as the second broadest man。 Martin Poyser the younger； as the
broadest； was to be president； and Mr。 Casson； as next broadest；
was to be vice。
Owing to this arrangement； Adam； being； of course； at the
bottom of the table； fell under the immediate observation of Mr。
Casson； who； too much occupied with the question of precedence；
had not hitherto noticed his entrance。 Mr。 Casson； we have seen；
considered Adam “rather lifted up and peppery…like”： he thought
the gentry made more fuss about this young carpenter than was
necessary； they made no fuss about Mr。 Casson； although he had
been an excellent butler for fifteen years。
“Well； Mr。 Bede； you’re one o’ them as mounts hup’ards apace；”
he said； when Adam sat down。 “You’ve niver dined here before； as
I remember。”
“No； Mr。 Casson；” said Adam； in his strong voice； that could be
heard along the table； “I’ve never dined here before； but I come by
Captain Donnithorne’s wish； and I hope it’s not disagreeable to
anybody here。”
“Nay； nay；” said several voices at once； “we’re glad ye’re come。
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Who’s got anything to say again’ it？”
“And ye’ll sing us ‘Over the hills and far away；’ after dinner；
wonna ye？” said Mr。 Chowne。 “That’s a song I’m uncommon fond
on。”
“Peeh！” said Mr。 Craig； “it’s not to be named by side o’ the
Scotch tunes。 I’ve never cared about singing myself； I’ve had
something better to do。 A man that’s got the names and the natur
o’ plants in’s head isna likely to keep a hollow place t’ hold tunes
in。 But a second cousin o’ mine； a drovier； was a rare hand at
remembering the Scotch tunes。 He’d got nothing else to think on。”
“The Scotch tunes！” said Bartle Massey； contemptuously； “I’ve
heard enough o’ the Scotch tunes to last me while I live。 They’re fit
for nothing but to frighten the birds with—that’s to say； the
English birds； for the Scotch birds may sing Scotch for what I
know。 Give the lads a bagpipe instead of a rattle； and I’ll answer
for it the corn ’ll be safe。”
“Yes； there’s folks as find a pleasure in undervallying what they
know but little about；” said Mr。 Craig。
“Why； the Scotch tunes are just like a scolding； nagging
woman；” Bartle went on； without deigning to notice Mr。 Craig’s
remark。 “They go on with the same thing over and over again； and
never come to a reasonable end。 Anybody ’ud think the Scotch
tunes had always been asking a question of somebody as deaf as
old Taft； and had never got an answer yet。”
Adam minded the less about