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the nasty little lambs that the shepherd was always bringing in to
be taken special care of in lambing time； for the lambs were got rid
of sooner or later。 As for the young chickens and turkeys； Hetty
would have hated the very word “hatching；” if her aunt had not
bribed her to attend to the young poultry by promising her the
proceeds of one out of every brood。 The round downy chicks
peeping out from under their mother’s wing never touched Hetty
with any pleasure； that was not the sort of prettiness she cared
about； but she did care about the prettiness of the new things she
would buy for herself at Treddleston Fair with the money they
fetched。 And yet she looked so dimpled； so charming； as she
stooped down to put the soaked bread under the hen…coop； that
you must have been a very acute personage indeed to suspect her
of that hardness。 Molly； the housemaid； with a turn…up nose and a
protuberant jaw； was really a tender…hearted girl； and； as Mrs。
Poyser said； a jewel to look after the poultry； but her stolid face
showed nothing of this maternal delight； any more than a brown
earthenware pitcher will show the light of the lamp within it。
It is generally a feminine eye that first detects the moral
deficiencies hidden under the “dear deceit” of beauty； so it is not
surprising that Mrs。 Poyser； with her keenness and abundant
opportunity for observation； should have formed a tolerably fair
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estimate of what might be expected from Hetty in the way of
feeling； and in moments of indignation she had sometimes spoken
with great openness on the subject to her husband。
“She’s no better than a peacock； as ’ud strut about on the wall
and spread its tail when the sun shone if all the folks i’ the parish
was dying： there’s nothing seems to give her a turn i’ th’ inside；
not even when we thought Totty had tumbled into the pit。 To
think o’ that dear cherub！ And we found her wi’ her little shoes
stuck i’ the mud an’ crying fit to break her heart by the far horse…
pit。 But Hetty never minded it； I could see； though she’s been at
the nussin’ o’ the child ever since it was a babby。 It’s my belief her
heart’s as hard as a pebble。”
“Nay； nay；” said Mr。 Poyser； “thee mustn’t judge Hetty too
hard。 Them young gells are like the unripe grain； they’ll make
good meal by and by； but they’re squashy as yet。 Thee ’t see Hetty
’ll be all right when she’s got a good husband and children of her
own。”
“I don’t want to be hard upo’ the gell。 She’s got cliver fingers of
her own； and can be useful enough when she likes and I should
miss her wi’ the butter； for she’s got a cool hand。 An’ let be what
may； I’d strive to do my part by a niece o’ yours—an’ that I’ve
done； for I’ve taught her everything as belongs to a house； an’ I’ve
told her her duty often enough； though； God knows； I’ve no breath
to spare； an’ that catchin’ pain comes on dreadful by times。 Wi’
them three gells in the house I’d need have twice the strength to
keep ’em up to their work。 It’s like having roast meat at three fires；
as soon as you’ve basted one； another’s burnin’。”
Hetty stood sufficiently in awe of her aunt to be anxious to
conceal from her so much of her vanity as could be hidden without
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too great a sacrifice。 She could not resist spending her money in
bits of finery which Mrs。 Poyser disapproved； but she would have
been ready to die with shame； vexation； and fright if her aunt had
this moment opened the door； and seen her with her bits of candle
lighted； and strutting about decked in her scarf and ear…rings。 To
prevent such a surprise； she always bolted her door； and she had
not forgotten to do so to…night。 It was well： for there now came a
light tap； and Hetty； with a leaping heart； rushed to blow out the
candles and throw them into the drawer。 She dared not stay to
take out her ear…rings； but she threw off her scarf； and let it fall on
the floor； before the light tap came again。 We shall know how it
was that the light tap came； if we leave Hetty for a short time and
return to Dinah； at the moment when she had delivered Totty to
her mother’s arms； and was come upstairs to her bedroom；
adjoining Hetty’s。
Dinah delighted in her bedroom window。 Being on the second
story of that tall house； it gave her a wide view over the fields。 The
thickness of the wall formed a broad step about a yard below the
window； where she could place her chair。 And now the first thing
she did on entering her room was to seat herself in this chair and
look out on the peaceful fields beyond which the large moon was
rising； just above the hedgerow elms。 She liked the pasture best
where the milch cows were lying； and next to that the meadow
where the grass was half…mown； and lay in silvered sweeping lines。
Her heart was very full； for there was to be only one more night on
which she would look out on those fields for a long time to come；
but she thought little of leaving the mere scene； for； to her； bleak
Snowfield had just as many charms。 She thought of all the dear
people whom she had learned to care for among these peaceful
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fields； and who would now have a place in her loving
remembrance for ever。 She thought of the struggles and the
weariness that might lie before them in the rest of their life’s
journey； when she would be away from them； and know nothing of
what was befalling them； and the pressure of this thought soon
became too strong for her to enjoy the unresponding stillness