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munny；” in an explosive manner。
“Well； then； my pet； Mother’s got her； Mother won’t leave her；
Totty be a good dilling； and go to sleep now；” said Mrs。 Poyser；
leaning back and rocking the chair； while she tried to make Totty
nestle against her。 But Totty only cried louder； and said； “Don’t
yock！” So the mother； with that wondrous patience which love
gives to the quickest temperament； sat up again； and pressed her
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Adam Bede 193
cheek against the linen night…cap and kissed it； and forgot to scold
Hetty any longer。
“Come； Hetty；” said Martin Poyser； in a conciliatory tone； “go
and get your supper i’ the pantry； as the things are all put away；
an’ then you can come and take the little un while your aunt
undresses herself； for she won’t lie down in bed without her
mother。 An’ I reckon you could eat a bit； Dinah； for they don’t keep
much of a house down there。”
“No； thank you； Uncle；” said Dinah； “I ate a good meal before I
came away； for Mrs。 Bede would make a kettle…cake for me。”
“I don’t want any supper；” said Hetty； taking off her hat。 “I can
hold Totty now； if Aunt wants me。”
“Why； what nonsense that is to talk！” said Mrs。 Poyser。 “Do you
think you can live wi’out eatin’； an’ nourish your inside wi’ stickin’
red ribbons on your head？ Go an’ get your supper this minute；
child； there’s a nice bit o’ cold pudding i’ the safe—just what
you’re fond of。”
Hetty complied silently by going towards the pantry； and Mrs。
Poyser went on speaking to Dinah。
“Sit down； my dear； an’ look as if you knowed what it was to
make yourself a bit comfortable i’ the world。 I warrant the old
woman was glad to see you； since you stayed so long。”
“She seemed to like having me there at last； but her sons say
she doesn’t like young women about her commonly； and I thought
just at first she was almost angry with me for going。”
“Eh； it’s a poor look…out when th’ ould folks doesna like the
young uns；” said old Martin； bending his head down lower； and
seeming to trace the pattern of the quarries with his eye。
“Aye； it’s ill livin’ in a hen…roost for them as doesn’t like fleas；”
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said Mrs。 Poyser。 “We’ve all had our turn at bein’ young； I reckon；
be’t good luck or ill。”
“But she must learn to ’commodate herself to young women；”
said Mr。 Poyser； “for it isn’t to be counted on as Adam and Seth
’ull keep bachelors for the next ten year to please their mother。
That ’ud be unreasonable。 It isn’t right for old nor young nayther
to make a bargain all o’ their own side。 What’s good for one’s good
all round i’ the long run。 I’m no friend to young fellows a…marrying
afore they know the difference atween a crab an’ a apple； but they
may wait o’er long。”
“To be sure；” said Mrs。 Poyser； “if you go past your dinner…
time； there’ll be little relish o’ your meat。 You turn it o’er an’ o’er
wi’ your fork； an’ don’t eat it after all。 You find faut wi’ your meat；
an’ the faut’s all i’ your own stomach。”
Hetty now came back from the pantry and said； “I can take
Totty now； Aunt； if you like。”
“Come； Rachel；” said Mr。 Poyser； as his wife seemed to hesitate；
seeing that Totty was at last nestling quietly； “thee’dst better let
Hetty carry her upstairs； while thee tak’st thy things off。 Thee ’t
tired。 It’s time thee wast in bed。 Thee ’t bring on the pain in thy
side again。”
“Well； she may hold her if the child ’ull go to her；” said Mrs。
Poyser。 Hetty went close to the rocking…chair； and stood without
her usual smile； and without any attempt to entice Totty； simply
waiting for her aunt to give the child into her hands。
“Wilt go to Cousin Hetty； my dilling； while mother gets ready to
go to bed？ Then Totty shall go into Mother’s bed； and sleep there
all night。”
Before her mother had done speaking； Totty had given her
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answer in an unmistakable manner； by knitting her brow； setting
her tiny teeth against her underlip； and leaning forward to slap
Hetty on the arm with her utmost force。 Then； without speaking；
she nestled to her mother again。
“Hey； hey；” said Mr。 Poyser； while Hetty stood without moving；
“not go to Cousin Hetty？ That’s like a babby。 Totty’s a little
woman； an’ not a babby。”
“It’s no use trying to persuade her；” said Mrs。 Poyser。 “She
allays takes against Hetty when she isn’t well。 Happen she’ll go to
Dinah。”
Dinah； having taken off her bonnet and shawl； had hitherto
kept quietly seated in the background； not liking to thrust herself
between Hetty and what was considered Hetty’s proper work。 But
now she came forward； and； putting out her arms； said； “Come
Totty； come and let Dinah carry her upstairs along with Mother：
poor； poor Mother！ she’s so tired—she wants to go to bed。”
Totty turned her face towards Dinah； and looked at her an
instant； then lifted herself up； put out her little arms； and let Dinah
lift her from her mother’s lap。 Hetty turned away without any sign
of ill humour； and； taking her hat from the table； stood waiting
with an air of indifference； to see if she should be told to do
anything else。
“You may make the door fast now； Poyser； Alick’s been come in
this long while；” said Mrs。 Poyser； rising with an appearance of
relief from her low chair。 “Get me the matches down； Hetty； for I
must have the rushlight burning i’ my room。 Come； Father。”
The heavy wooden bolts began to roll in the house doors； and
old Martin prepared to move； by gathering up his blue
handkerchief；