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Adam Bede 622
Chapter XLIX
At the Hall Farm
he first autumnal afternoon sunshine of 1801—more than
eighteen months after that parting of Adam and Arthur in
T
the Hermitage—was on the yard at the Hall Farm； and the
bull…dog was in one of his most excited moments； for it was that
hour of the day when the cows were being driven into the yard for
their afternoon milking。 No wonder the patient beasts ran
confusedly into the wrong places； for the alarming din of the bull…
dog was mingled with more distant sounds which the timid
feminine creatures； with pardonable superstition； imagined also to
have some relation to their own movements—with the tremendous
crack of the waggoner’s whip； the roar of his voice； and the
booming thunder of the waggon； as it left the rick…yard empty of
its golden load。
The milking of the cows was a sight Mrs。 Poyser loved； and at
this hour on mild days she was usually standing at the house door；
with her knitting in her hands； in quiet contemplation； only
heightened to a keener interest when the vicious yellow cow； who
had once kicked over a pailful of precious milk； was about to
undergo the preventive punishment of having her hinder…legs
strapped。
To…day； however； Mrs。 Poyser gave but a divided attention to
the arrival of the cows； for she was in eager discussion with Dinah；
who was stitching Mr。 Poyser’s shirt…collars； and had borne
patiently to have her thread broken three times by Totty pulling at
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Adam Bede 623
her arm with a sudden insistence that she should look at “Baby；”
that is； at a large wooden doll with no legs and a long skirt； whose
bald head Totty； seated in her small chair at Dinah’s side； was
caressing and pressing to her fat cheek with much fervour。 Totty is
larger by more than two years’ growth than when you first saw
her； and she has on a black frock under her pinafore。 Mrs。 Poyser
too has on a black gown； which seems to heighten the family
likeness between her and Dinah。 In other respects there is little
outward change now discernible in our old friends； or in the
pleasant house…place； bright with polished oak and pewter。
“I never saw the like to you； Dinah；” Mrs。 Poyser was saying；
“when you’ve once took anything into your head： there’s no more
moving you than the rooted tree。 You may say what you like； but I
don’t believe that’s religion； for what’s the Sermon on the Mount
about； as you’re so fond o’ reading to the boys； but doing what
other folks ’ud have you do？ But if it was anything unreasonable
they wanted you to do； like taking your cloak off and giving it to
’em； or letting ’em slap you i’ the face； I daresay you’d be ready
enough。 It’s only when one ’ud have you do what’s plain common
sense and good for yourself； as you’re obstinate th’ other way。”
“Nay； dear Aunt；” said Dinah； smiling slightly as she went on
with her work； “I’m sure your wish ’ud be a reason for me to do
anything that I didn’t feel it was wrong to do。”
“Wrong！ You drive me past bearing。 What is there wrong； I
should like to know； i’ staying along wi’ your own friends； as are
th’ happier for having you with ’em an’ are willing to provide for
you； even if your work didn’t more nor pay ’em for the bit o’
sparrow’s victual y’ eat and the bit o’ rag you put on？ An’ who is it；
I should like to know； as you’re bound t’ help and comfort i’ the
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world more nor your own flesh and blood—an’ me th’ only aunt
you’ve got above…ground； an’ am brought to the brink o’ the grave
welly every winter as comes； an’ there’s the child as sits beside you
’ull break her little heart when you go； an’ the grandfather not
been dead a twelvemonth； an’ your uncle ’ull miss you so as never
was—a…lighting his pipe an’ waiting on him； an’ now I can trust
you wi’ the butter； an’ have had all the trouble o’ teaching you； and
there’s all the sewing to be done； an’ I must have a strange gell out
o’ Treddles’on to do it—an’ all because you must go back to that
bare heap o’ stones as the very crows fly over an’ won’t stop at。”
“Dear Aunt Rachel；” said Dinah； looking up in Mrs。 Poyser’s
face； “it’s your kindness makes you say I’m useful to you。 You
don’t really want me now； for Nancy and Molly are clever at their
work； and you’re in good health now； by the blessing of God； and
my uncle is of a cheerful countenance again； and you have
neighbours and friends not a few—some of them come to sit with
my uncle almost daily。 Indeed； you will not miss me； and at
Snowfield there are brethren and sisters in great need； who have
none of those comforts you have around you。 I feel that I am called
back to those amongst whom my lot was first cast。 I feel drawn
again towards the hills where I used to be blessed in carrying the
word of life to the sinful and desolate。”
“You feel！ yes；” said Mrs。 Poyser； returning from a parenthetic
glance at the cows； “that’s allays the reason I’m to sit down wi’；
when you’ve a mind to do anything contrairy。 What do you want to
be preaching for more than you’re preaching now？ Don’t you go
off； the Lord knows where； every Sunday a…preaching and
praying？ An’ haven’t you got Methodists enow at Treddles’on to
go and look at； if church…folks’s faces are too handsome to please
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you？ An’ isn’t there them i’ this parish as you’ve got under hand；
and they’re li