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poor eating and drinking； and was allays talking as we must
despise the things o’ the world as you say； I should like to know
where the pick o’ the stock； and the corn； and the best new…milk
cheeeses ’ud have to go。 Everybody ’ud be wanting bread made o’
tail ends and everybody ’ud be running after everybody else to
preach to ’em； istead o’ bringing up their families； and laying by
against a bad harvest。 It stands to sense as that can’t be the right
religion。”
“Nay； dear aunt； you never heard me say that all people are
called to forsake their work and their families。 It’s quite right the
land should be ploughed and sowed； and the precious corn stored；
and the things of this life cared for； and right that people should
rejoice in their families； and provide for them； so that this is done
in the fear of the Lord； and that they are not unmindful of the
soul’s wants while they are caring for the body。 We can all be
servants of God wherever our lot is cast； but He gives us different
sorts of work； according as He fits us for it and calls us to it。 I can
no more help spending my life in trying to do what I can for the
souls of others； than you could help running if you heard little
Totty crying at the other end of the house； the voice would go to
your heart； you would think the dear child was in trouble or in
danger； and you couldn’t rest without running to help her and
comfort her。”
“Ah；” said Mrs。 Poyser； rising and walking towards the door； “I
know it ’ud be just the same if I was to talk to you for hours。 You’d
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make me the same answer； at th’ end。 I might as well talk to the
running brook and tell it to stan’ still。”
The causeway outside the kitchen door was dry enough now for
Mrs。 Poyser to stand there quite pleasantly and see what was
going on in the yard； the grey worsted stocking making a steady
progress in her hands all the while。 But she had not been standing
there more than five minutes before she came in again； and said to
Dinah； in rather a flurried； awe…stricken tone； “If there isn’t
Captain Donnithorne and Mr。 Irwine a…coming into the yard！ I’ll
lay my life they’re come to speak about your preaching on the
Green； Dinah； it’s you must answer ’em； for I’m dumb。 I’ve said
enough a’ready about your bringing such disgrace upo’ your
uncle’s family。 I wouldn’t ha’ minded if you’d been Mr。 Poyser’s
own niece—folks must put up wi’ their own kin； as they put up wi’
their own noses—it’s their own flesh and blood。 But to think of a
niece o’ mine being cause o’ my husband’s being turned out of his
farm； and me brought him no fortin but my savin’s—”
“Nay； dear Aunt Rachel；” said Dinah gently； “you’ve no cause
for such fears。 I’ve strong assurance that no evil will happen to you
and my uncle and the children from anything I’ve done。 I didn’t
preach without direction。”
“Direction！ I know very well what you mean by direction；” said
Mrs。 Poyser； knitting in a rapid and agitated manner。 “When
there’s a bigger maggot than usial in your head you call it
‘direction’； and then nothing can stir you—you look like the statty
o’ the outside o’ Treddles’on church； a…starin’ and a…smilin’
whether it’s fair weather or foul。 I hanna common patience with
you。”
By this time the two gentlemen had reached the palings and
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had got down from their horses： it was plain they meant to come
in。 Mrs。 Poyser advanced to the door to meet them； curtsying low
and trembling between anger with Dinah and anxiety to conduct
herself with perfect propriety on the occasion。 For in those days
the keenest of bucolic minds felt a whispering awe at the sight of
the gentry； such as of old men felt when they stood on tiptoe to
watch the gods passing by in tall human shape。
“Well； Mrs。 Poyser； how are you after this stormy morning？”
said Mr。 Irwine； with his stately cordiality。 “Our feet are quite dry；
we shall not soil your beautiful floor。”
“Oh； sir； don’t mention it；” said Mrs。 Poyser。 “Will you and the
captain please to walk into the parlour？”
“No； indeed； thank you； Mrs。 Poyser；” said the captain； looking
eagerly round the kitchen； as if his eye were seeking something it
could not find。 “I delight in your kitchen。 I think it is the most
charming room I know。 I should like every farmer’s wife to come
and look at it for a pattern。”
“Oh； you’re pleased to say so； sir。 Pray take a seat；” said Mrs。
Poyser； relieved a little by this compliment and the captain’s
evident good…humour； but still glancing anxiously at Mr。 Irwine；
who； she saw； was looking at Dinah and advancing towards her。
“Poyser is not at home； is he？” said Captain Donnithorne；
seating himself where he could see along the short passage to the
open dairy…door。
“No； sir； he isn’t； he’s gone to Rosseter to see Mr。 West； the
factor； about the wool。 But there’s Father i’ the barn； sir； if he’d be
of any use。”
“No； thank you； I’ll just look at the whelps and leave a message
about them with your shepherd。 I must come another day and see
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your husband； I want to have a consultation with him about
horses。 Do you know when he’s likely to be at liberty？”
“Why； sir； you can hardly miss him； except it’s o’ Treddles’on
market…day—that’s of a Friday； you know。 For if he’s anywhere on
the farm we can send for him in a minute。 If we’d got rid o’ the
Scantlands； we should have no outlying fields； and I should be
glad