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“No； Mother；” said Adam； quietly。 “I’m going to the Hall Farm；
but mayhap I may go to the school after； so thee mustna wonder if
I’m a bit late。 Seth ’ull be at home in half an hour—he’s only gone
to the village； so thee wutna mind。”
“Eh； an’ what’s thee got thy best cloose on for to go to th’ Hall
Farm？ The Poyser folks see’d thee in ’em yesterday； I warrand。
What dost mean by turnin’ worki’ day into Sunday a…that’n？ It’s
poor keepin’ company wi’ folks as donna like to see thee i’ thy
workin’ jacket。”
“Good…bye； mother； I can’t stay；” said Adam； putting on his hat
and going out。
But he had no sooner gone a few paces beyond the door than
Lisbeth became uneasy at the thought that she had vexed him。 Of
course； the secret of her objection to the best clothes was her
suspicion that they were put on for Hetty’s sake； but deeper than
all her peevishness lay the need that her son should love her。 She
hurried after him； and laid hold of his arm before he had got half…
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way down to the brook； and said； “Nay； my lad； thee wutna go
away angered wi’ thy mother； an’ her got nought to do but to sit by
hersen an’ think on thee？”
“Nay； nay； Mother；” said Adam； gravely； and standing still
while he put his arm on her shoulder； “I’m not angered。 But I
wish； for thy own sake； thee’dst be more contented to let me do
what I’ve made up my mind to do。 I’ll never be no other than a
good son to thee as long as we live。 But a man has other feelings
besides what he owes to’s father and mother； and thee oughtna to
want to rule over me body and soul。 And thee must make up thy
mind as I’ll not give way to thee where I’ve a right to do what I
like。 So let us have no more words about it。”
“Eh；” said Lisbeth； not willing to show that she felt the real
bearing of Adam’s words； “and’ who likes to see thee i’ thy best
cloose better nor thy mother？ An’ when thee ’st got thy face
washed as clean as the smooth white pibble； an’ thy hair combed
so nice； and thy eyes a…sparklin’—what else is there as thy old
mother should like to look at half so well？ An’ thee sha’t put on thy
Sunday cloose when thee lik’st for me—I’ll ne’er plague thee no
moor about’n。”
“Well； well； good…bye； mother；” said Adam； kissing her and
hurrying away。 He saw there was no other means of putting an
end to the dialogue。 Lisbeth stood still on the spot； shading her
eyes and looking after him till he was quite out of sight。 She felt to
the full all the meaning that had lain in Adam’s words； and； as she
lost sight of him and turned back slowly into the house； she said
aloud to herself—for it was her way to speak her thoughts aloud in
the long days when her husband and sons were at their work—
“Eh； he’ll be tellin’ me as he’s goin’ to bring her home one o’ these
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days； an’ she’ll be missis o’er me； and I mun look on； belike； while
she uses the blue…edged platters； and breaks ’em； mayhap； though
there’s ne’er been one broke sin’ my old man an’ me bought ’em at
the fair twenty ’ear come next Whis…suntide。 Eh！” she went on； still
louder； as she caught up her knitting from the table； “but she’ll
ne’er knit the lad’s stockin’s； nor foot ’em nayther； while I live； an’
when I’m gone； he’ll bethink him as nobody ’ull ne’er fit’s leg an’
foot as his old mother did。 She’ll know nothin’ o’ narrowin’ an’
heelin’； I warrand； an’ she’ll make a long toe as he canna get’s boot
on。 That’s what comes o’ marr’in’ young wenches。 I war gone
thirty； an’ th’ feyther too； afore we war married； an’ young enough
too。 She’ll be a poor dratchell by then she’s thirty； a…marr’in’ a…
that’n； afore her teeth’s all come。”
Adam walked so fast that he was at the yard…gate before seven。
Martin Poyser and the grandfather were not yet come in from the
meadow： every one was in the meadow； even to the black…and…tan
terrier—no one kept watch in the yard but the bull…dog； and when
Adam reached the house…door； which stood wide open； he saw
there was no one in the bright clean house…place。 But he guessed
where Mrs。 Poyser and some one else would be； quite within
hearing； so he knocked on the door and said in his strong voice；
“Mrs。 Poyser within？”
“Come in； Mr。 Bede； come in；” Mrs。 Poyser called out from the
dairy。 She always gave Adam this title when she received him in
her own house。 “You may come into the dairy if you will； for I
canna justly leave the cheese。”
Adam walked into the dairy； where Mrs。 Poyser and Nancy
were crushing the first evening cheese。
“Why； you might think you war come to a dead…house；” said
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Mrs。 Poyser； as he stood in the open doorway； “they’re all i’ the
meadow； but Martin’s sure to be in afore long； for they’re leaving
the hay cocked to…night； ready for carrying first thing to…morrow。
I’ve been forced t’ have Nancy in； upo’ ’count as Hetty must gether
the red currants to…night； the fruit allays ripens so contrairy； just
when every hand’s wanted。 An’ there’s no trustin’ the children to
gether it； for they put more into their own mouths nor into the
basket； you might as well set the wasps to gether the fruit。”
Adam longed to say he would go into the garden till Mr。 Poyser
came in； but he was not quite courageous enough； so he said； “I
could be looking at your spinning…wheel； then； and see what wants
doing to it。 Perhaps it stands in the house； where I can find it？”
“No； I’ve put it away in the right…hand parlour； but let it be till I
can fetch