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except to say； in a resounding bass undertone； like the tuning of a
violoncello； “Sehon； King of the Amorites； for His mercy endureth
for ever； and Og the King of Basan： for His mercy endureth for
ever”—a quotation which may seem to have slight bearing on the
present occasion； but； as with every other anomaly； adequate
knowledge will show it to be a natural sequence。 Mr。 Rann was
inwardly maintaining the dignity of the Church in the face of this
scandalous irruption of Methodism； and as that dignity was bound
up with his own sonorous utterance of the responses； his
argument naturally suggested a quotation from the psalm he had
read the last Sunday afternoon。
The stronger curiosity of the women had drawn them quite to
the edge of the Green； where they could examine more closely the
quaker…like costume and odd deportment of the female
Methodists。 Underneath the maple there was a small cart； which
had been brought from the wheelwright’s to serve as a pulpit； and
round this a couple of benches and a few chairs had been placed。
Some of the Methodists were resting on these； with their eyes
closed； as if wrapt in prayer or meditation。 Others chose to
continue standing； and had turned their faces towards the
villagers with a look of melancholy compassion； which was highly
amusing to Bessy Cranage； the blacksmith’s buxom daughter；
known to her neighbours as Chad’s Bess； who wondered “why the
folks war amakin’ faces a that’ns。” Chad’s Bess was the object of
peculiar compassion； because her hair； being turned back under a
cap which was set at the top of her head； exposed to view an
ornament of which she was much prouder than of her red
cheeks—namely； a pair of large round ear…rings with false garnets
in them； ornaments condemned not only by the Methodists； but by
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her own cousin and namesake Timothy’s Bess； who； with much
cousinly feeling； often wished “them ear…rings” might come to
good。
Timothy’s Bess； though retaining her maiden appellation
among her familiars； had long been the wife of Sandy Jim； and
possessed a handsome set of matronly jewels； of which it is enough
to mention the heavy baby she was rocking in her arms； and the
sturdy fellow of five in knee…breeches； and red legs； who had a
rusty milk…can round his neck by way of drum； and was very
carefully avoided by Chad’s small terrier。 This young olive…branch；
notorious under the name of Timothy’s Bess’s Ben； being of an
inquiring disposition； unchecked by any false modesty； had
advanced beyond the group of women and children； and was
walking round the Methodists； looking up in their faces with his
mouth wide open； and beating his stick against the milk…can by
way of musical accompaniment。 But one of the elderly women
bending down to take him by the shoulder； with an air of grave
remonstrance； Timothy’s Bess’s Ben first kicked out vigorously；
then took to his heels and sought refuge behind his father’s legs。
“Ye gallows young dog；” said Sandy Jim； with some paternal
pride； “if ye donna keep that stick quiet； I’ll tek it from ye。 What
dy’e mane by kickin’ foulks？”
“Here！ Gie him here to me； Jim；” said Chad Cranage； “I’ll tie
hirs up an’ shoe him as I do th’ hosses。 Well； Mester Casson；” he
continued； as that personage sauntered up towards the group of
men； “how are ye t’ naight？ Are ye coom t’ help groon？ They say
folks allays groon when they’re hearkenin’ to th’ Methodys； as if
they war bad i’ th’ inside。 I mane to groon as loud as your cow did
th’ other naight； an’ then the praicher ’ull think I’m i’ th’ raight
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Adam Bede 29
way。”
“I’d advise you not to be up to no nonsense； Chad；” said Mr。
Casson； with some dignity； “Poyser wouldn’t like to hear as his
wife’s niece was treated any ways disrespectful； for all he mayn’t
be fond of her taking on herself to preach。”
“Aye； an’ she’s a pleasant…looked un too；” said Wiry Ben。 “I’ll
stick up for the pretty women preachin’； I know they’d persuade
me over a deal sooner nor th’ ugly men。 I shouldna wonder if I
turn Methody afore the night’s out； an’ begin to coort the
preacher； like Seth Bede。”
“Why； Seth’s looking rether too high； I should think；” said Mr。
Casson。 “This woman’s kin wouldn’t like her to demean herself to
a common carpenter。”
“Tchu！” said Ben； with a long treble intonation； “what’s folks’s
kin got to do wi’t？ Not a chip。 Poyser’s wife may turn her nose up
an’ forget bygones； but this Dinah Morris； they tell me； ’s as poor
as iver she was—works at a mill； an’s much ado to keep hersen。 A
strappin’ young carpenter as is a ready…made Methody； like Seth；
wouldna be a bad match for her。 Why； Poysers make as big a fuss
wi’ Adam Bede as if he war a nevvy o’ their own。”
“Idle talk！ idle talk！” said Mr。 Joshua Rann。 “Adam an’ Seth’s
two men； you wunna fit them two wi’ the same last。”
“Maybe；” said Wiry Ben； contemptuously； “but Seth’s the lad
for me； though he war a Methody twice o’er。 I’m fair beat wi’ Seth；
for I’ve been teasin’ him iver sin’ we’ve been workin’ together； an’
he bears me no more malice nor a lamb。 An’ he’s a stout…hearted
feller too； for when we saw the old tree all afire a…comin’ across the
fields one night； an’ we thought as it war a boguy； Seth made no
more ado； but he up to ’t as bold as a constable。 Why； there he
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comes out