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draught of water （beer was a thing only to be drunk on holidays）；
and Lisbeth ventured to say as she took it in； “Thy supper stan’s
ready for thee； when thee lik’st。”
“Donna thee sit up； mother；” said Adam； in a gentle tone。 He
had worked off his anger now； and whenever he wished to be
especially kind to his mother； he fell into his strongest native
accent and dialect； with which at other times his speech was less
deeply tinged。 “I’ll see to Father when he comes home； maybe he
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wonna come at all to…night。 I shall be easier if thee ’t i’ bed。”
“Nay； I’ll bide till Seth comes。 He wonna be long now； I
reckon。”
It was then past nine by the clock； which was always in advance
of the days； and before it had struck ten the latch was lifted and
Seth entered。 He had heard the sound of the tools as he was
approaching。
“Why； Mother；” he said； “how is it as Father’s working so late？”
“It’s none o’ thy feyther as is a…workin’—thee might know that
well anoof if thy head warna full o’ chapellin’—it’s thy brother as
does iverything； for there’s niver nobody else i’ th’ way to do
nothin’。”
Lisbeth was going on； for she was not at all afraid of Seth； and
usually poured into his ears all the querulousness which was
repressed by her awe of Adam。 Seth had never in his life spoken a
harsh word to his mother； and timid people always wreak their
peevishness on the gentle。 But Seth； with an anxious look； had
passed into the workshop and said； “Addy； how’s this？ What！
Father’s forgot the coffin？”
“Aye； lad； th’ old tale； but I shall get it done；” said Adam；
looking up and casting one of his bright keen glances at his
brother。 “Why； what’s the matter with thee？ Thee ’t in trouble。”
Seth’s eyes were red； and there was a look of deep depression
on his mild face。
“Yes； Addy； but it’s what must be borne； and can’t be helped。
Why； thee ’st never been to the school； then？”
“School？ No； that screw can wait；” said Adam； hammering
away again。
“Let me take my turn now； and do thee go to bed；” said Seth。
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“No； lad； I’d rather go on； now I’m in harness。 Thee ’t help me
to carry it to Brox’on when it’s done。 I’ll call thee up at sunrise。 Go
and eat thy supper； and shut the door so as I mayn’t hear Mother’s
talk。”
Seth knew that Adam always meant what he said； and was not
to be persuaded into meaning anything else。 So he turned； with
rather a heavy heart； into the house…place。
“Adam’s niver touched a bit o’ victual sin’ home he’s come；”
said Lisbeth。 “I reckon thee ’st hed thy supper at some o’ thy
Methody folks。”
“Nay； Mother；” said Seth； “I’ve had no supper yet。”
“Come； then；” said Lisbeth； “but donna thee ate the taters； for
Adam ’ull happen ate ’em if I leave ’em stannin’。 He loves a bit o’
taters an’ gravy。 But he’s been so sore an’ angered； he wouldn’t ate
’em； for all I’d putten ’em by o’ purpose for him。 An’ he’s been a…
threatenin’ to go away again；” she went on； whimpering； “an’ I’m
fast sure he’ll go some dawnin’ afore I’m up； an’ niver let me know
aforehand； an’ he’ll niver come back again when once he’s gone。
An’ I’d better niver ha’ had a son； as is like no other body’s son for
the deftness an’ th’ handiness； an’ so looked on by th’ grit folks； an’
tall an’ upright like a poplar…tree； an’ me to be parted from him an’
niver see ’m no more。”
“Come； Mother； donna grieve thyself in vain；” said Seth； in a
soothing voice。 “Thee ’st not half so good reason to think as Adam
’ull go away as to think he’ll stay with thee。 He may say such a
thing when he’s in wrath—and he’s got excuse for being wrathful
sometimes—but his heart ’ud never let him go。 Think how he’s
stood by us all when it’s been none so easy—paying his savings to
free me from going for a soldier； an’ turnin’ his earnin’s into wood
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for father； when he’s got plenty o’ uses for his money； and many a
young man like him ’ud ha’ been married and settled before now。
He’ll never turn round and knock down his own work； and forsake
them as it’s been the labour of his life to stand by。”
“Donna talk to me about ’s marr’in’；” said Lisbeth； crying
afresh。 “He’s set’s heart on that Hetty Sorrel； as ’ull niver save a
penny； an’ ’ull toss up her head at’s old mother。 An’ to think as he
might ha’ Mary Burge； an’ be took partners； an’ be a big man wi’
workmen under him； like Mester Burge—Dolly’s told me so o’er
and o’er again—if it warna as he’s set’s heart on that bit of a
wench； as is o’ no more use nor the gillyflower on the wall。 An’ he
so wise at bookin’ an’ figurin’； an’ not to know no better nor that！”
“But； Mother； thee know’st we canna love just where other
folks ’ud have us。 There’s nobody but God can control the heart of
man。 I could ha’ wished myself as Adam could ha’ made another
choice； but I wouldn’t reproach him for what he can’t help。 And
I’m not sure but what he tries to o’ercome it。 But it’s a matter as
he doesn’t like to be spoke to about； and I can only pray to the
Lord to bless and direct him。”
“Aye； thee ’t allays ready enough at prayin’； but I donna see as
thee gets much wi’ thy prayin’。 Thee wotna get double earnins o’
this side Yule。 Th’ Methodies ’ll niver make thee half the man thy
brother is； for all they’re a…makin’ a preacher on thee。”
“It’s partly truth thee speak’st there； Mother；” said Seth； mildly；
“Adam’s far before me； an’s done more for me than I can ever do
for him。 God distributes talents to every man according as He sees
good。 But thee mustna undervally pray