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grave face and mild grey eyes； which the sight of the gown and cap
brought with it； made it a laughable surprise enough to see them
replaced by Hetty’s round rosy cheeks and coquettish dark eyes。
The boys got off their chairs and jumped round her； clapping their
hands； and even Alick gave a low ventral laugh as he looked up
from his beans。 Under cover of the noise； Mrs。 Poyser went into
the back kitchen to send Nancy into the cellar with the great
pewter measure； which had some chance of being free from
bewitchment。
“Why； Hetty； lass； are ye turned Methodist？” said Mr。 Poyser；
with that comfortable slow enjoyment of a laugh which one only
sees in stout people。 “You must pull your face a deal longer before
you’ll do for one； mustna she； Adam？ How come you put them
things on； eh？”
“Adam said he liked Dinah’s cap and gown better nor my
clothes；” said Hetty； sitting down demurely。 “He says folks looks
better in ugly clothes。”
“Nay； nay；” said Adam； looking at her admiringly； “I only said
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they seemed to suit Dinah。 But if I’d said you’d look pretty in ’em；
I should ha’ said nothing but what was true。”
“Why； thee thought’st Hetty war a ghost； didstna？” said Mr。
Poyser to his wife； who now came back and took her seat again。
“Thee look’dst as scared as scared。”
“It little sinnifies how I looked；” said Mrs。 Poyser； “looks ’ull
mend no jugs； nor laughing neither； as I see。 Mr。 Bede； I’m sorry
you’ve to wait so long for your ale； but it’s coming in a minute。
Make yourself at home wi’ th’ cold potatoes： I know you like ’em。
Tommy； I’ll send you to bed this minute； if you don’t give over
laughing。 What is there to laugh at； I should like to know？ I’d
sooner cry nor laugh at the sight o’ that poor thing’s cap； and
there’s them as ’ud be better if they could make theirselves like
her i’ more ways nor putting on her cap。 It little becomes anybody
i’ this house to make fun o’ my sister’s child； an’ her just gone
away from us； as it went to my heart to part wi’ her。 An’ I know
one thing； as if trouble was to come； an’ I was to be laid up i’ my
bed； an’ the children was to die—as there’s no knowing but what
they will—an’ the murrain was to come among the cattle again； an’
everything went to rack an’ ruin； I say we might be glad to get
sight o’ Dinah’s cap again； wi’ her own face under it； border or no
border。 For she’s one o’ them things as looks the brightest on a
rainy day； and loves you the best when you’re most i’ need on ’t。”
Mrs。 Poyser； you perceive； was aware that nothing would be so
likely to expel the comic as the terrible。 Tommy； who was of a
susceptible disposition； and very fond of his mother； and who had；
besides； eaten so many cherries as to have his feelings less under
command than usual； was so affected by the dreadful picture she
had made of the possible future that he began to cry； and the
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good…natured father； indulgent to all weaknesses but those of
negligent farmers； said to Hetty； “You’d better take the things off
again； my lass； it hurts your aunt to see ’em。”
Hetty went upstairs again； and the arrival of the ale made an
agreeable diversion； for Adam had to give his opinion of the new
tap； which could not be otherwise than complimentary to Mrs。
Poyser； and then followed a discussion on the secrets of good
brewing； the folly of stinginess in “hopping；” and the doubtful
economy of a farmer’s making his own malt。 Mrs。 Poyser had so
many opportunities of expressing herself with weight on these
subjects that by the time supper was ended； the ale…jug refilled；
and Mr。 Poyser’s pipe alight she was once more in high good
humour； and ready； at Adam’s request； to fetch the broken
spinning…wheel for his inspection。
“Ah；” said Adam； looking at it carefully； “here’s a nice bit o’
turning wanted。 It’s a pretty wheel。 I must have it up at the
turning…shop in the village and do it there； for I’ve no convenience
for turning at home。 If you’ll send it to Mr。 Burge’s shop i’ the
morning； I’ll get it done for you by Wednesday。 I’ve been turning it
over in my mind；” he continued； looking at Mr。 Poyser； “to make a
bit more convenience at home for nice jobs o’ cabinet…making。 I’ve
always done a deal at such little things in odd hours； and they’re
profitable； for there’s more workmanship nor material in ’em。 I
look for me and Seth to get a little business for ourselves i’ that
way； for I know a man at Rosseter as ’ull take as many things as
we should make； besides what we could get orders for round
about。”
Mr。 Poyser entered with interest into a project which seemed a
step towards Adam’s becoming a “master…man；” and Mrs。 Poyser
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gave her approbation to the scheme of the movable kitchen
cupboard； which was to be capable of containing grocery； pickles；
crockery； and house…linen in the utmost compactness without
confusion。 Hetty； once more in her own dress； with her
neckerchief pushed a little backwards on this warm evening； was
seated picking currants near the window； where Adam could see
her quite well。 And so the time passed pleasantly till Adam got up
to go。 He was pressed to come again soon； but not to stay longer；
for at this busy time sensible people would not run the risk of
being sleepy at fi