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aunt does。 An’ me got so used to her！ I shall feel as uneasy as a
new sheared sheep when she’s gone from me。 An’ to think of her
leaving a parish where she’s so looked on。 There’s Mr。 Irwine
makes as much of her as if she was a lady； for all her being a
Methodist； an’ wi’ that maggot o’ preaching in her head—God
forgi’e me if I’m i’ the wrong to call it so。”
“Aye；” said Mr。 Poyser； looking jocose； “but thee dostna tell
Adam what he said to thee about it one day。 The missis was
saying； Adam； as the preaching was the only fault to be found wi’
Dinah； and Mr。 Irwine says； ‘But you mustn’t find fault with her
for that； Mrs。 Poyser； you forget she’s got no husband to preach to。
I’ll answer for it； you give Poyser many a good sermon。’ The
parson had thee there；” Mr。 Poyser added； laughing unctuously。 “I
told Bartle Massey on it； an’ he laughed too。”
“Yes； it’s a small joke sets men laughing when they sit a…staring
at one another with a pipe i’ their mouths；” said Mrs。 Poyser。
“Give Bartle Massey his way and he’d have all the sharpness to
himself。 If the chaff…cutter had the making of us； we should all be
straw； I reckon。 Totty； my chicken； go upstairs to cousin Dinah；
and see what she’s doing； and give her a pretty kiss。”
This errand was devised for Totty as a means of checking
certain threatening symptoms about the corners of the mouth； for
Tommy； no longer expectant of cake； was lifting up his eyelids
with his forefingers and turning his eyeballs towards Totty in a
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way that she felt to be disagreeably personal。
“You’re rare and busy now—eh； Adam？” said Mr。 Poyser。
“Burge’s getting so bad wi’ his asthmy； it’s well if he’ll ever do
much riding about again。”
“Yes； we’ve got a pretty bit o’ building on hand now；” said
Adam； “what with the repairs on th’ estate； and the new houses at
Treddles’on。”
“I’ll bet a penny that new house Burge is building on his own
bit o’ land is for him and Mary to go to；” said Mr。 Poyser。 “He’ll be
for laying by business soon； I’ll warrant； and be wanting you to
take to it all and pay him so much by th’ ’ear。 We shall see you
living on th’ hill before another twelvemont’s over。”
“Well；” said Adam； “I should like t’ have the business in my
own hands。 It isn’t as I mind much about getting any more money。
We’ve enough and to spare now； with only our two selves and
mother； but I should like t’ have my own way about things—I
could try plans then； as I can’t do now。”
“You get on pretty well wi’ the new steward； I reckon？” said
Mr。 Poyser。
“Yes； yes； he’s a sensible man enough； understands farming—
he’s carrying on the draining； and all that； capital。 You must go
some day towards the Stonyshire side and see what alterations
they’re making。 But he’s got no notion about buildings。 You can so
seldom get hold of a man as can turn his brains to more nor one
thing； it’s just as if they wore blinkers like th’ horses and could see
nothing o’ one side of ’em。 Now； there’s Mr。 Irwine has got notions
o’ building more nor most architects； for as for th’ architects； they
set up to be fine fellows； but the most of ’em don’t know where to
set a chimney so as it shan’t be quarrelling with a door。 My notion
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is； a practical builder that’s got a bit o’ taste makes the best
architect for common things； and I’ve ten times the pleasure i’
seeing after the work when I’ve made the plan myself。”
Mr。 Poyser listened with an admiring interest to Adam’s
discourse on building； but perhaps it suggested to him that the
building of his corn…rick had been proceeding a little too long
without the control of the master’s eye； for when Adam had done
speaking； he got up and said； “Well； lad； I’ll bid you good…bye now；
for I’m off to the rick…yard again。”
Adam rose too； for he saw Dinah entering； with her bonnet on
and a little basket in her hand； preceded by Totty。
“You’re ready； I see； Dinah；” Adam said； “so we’ll set off； for the
sooner I’m at home the better。”
“Mother；” said Totty； with her treble pipe； “Dinah was saying
her prayers and crying ever so。”
“Hush； hush；” said the mother； “little gells mustn’t chatter。”
Whereupon the father； shaking with silent laughter； set Totty
on the white deal table and desired her to kiss him。 Mr。 and Mrs。
Poyser； you perceive； had no correct principles of education。
“Come back to…morrow if Mrs。 Bede doesn’t want you； Dinah；”
said Mrs。 Poyser： “but you can stay； you know； if she’s ill。”
So； when the good…byes had been said； Dinah and Adam left the
Hall Farm together。
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Chapter L
In the Cottage
dam did not ask Dinah to take his arm when they got out
Ainto the lane。 He had never yet done so； often as they had
walked together； for he had observed that she never
walked arm…in…arm with Seth； and he thought； perhaps； that kind
of support was not agreeable to her。 So they walked apart； though
side by side； and the close poke of her little black bonnet hid her
face from him。
“You can’t be happy； then； to make the Hall Farm your home；
Dinah？” Adam said； with the quiet interest of a brother； who has
no anxiety for himself in the matter。 “It’s a pity； seeing they’re so
fond of you。”
“You know； Adam； my heart is as their heart； so far as love for
them and care for their welfare goes； but they are in no present