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best thing God’s ever given me to know。”
“Nay； Adam。 It seems to me that my love for you is not weak；
for my heart waits on your words and looks； almost as a little child
waits on the help and tenderness of the strong on whom it
depends。 If the thought of you took slight hold of me； I should not
fear that it would be an idol in the temple。 But you will strengthen
me—you will not hinder me in seeking to obey to the uttermost。”
“Let us go out into the sunshine； Dinah； and walk together。 I’ll
speak no word to disturb you。”
They went out and walked towards the fields； where they would
meet the family coming from church。 Adam said； “Take my arm；
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Dinah；” and she took it。 That was the only change in their manner
to each other since they were last walking together。 But no
sadness in the prospect of her going away—in the uncertainty of
the issue—could rob the sweetness from Adam’s sense that Dinah
loved him。 He thought he would stay at the Hall Farm all that
evening。 He would be near her as long as he could。
“Hey…day！ There’s Adam along wi’ Dinah；” said Mr。 Poyser； as
he opened the far gate into the Home Close。 “I couldna think how
he happened away from church。 Why；” added good Martin； after a
moment’s pause； “what dost think has just jumped into my head？”
“Summat as hadna far to jump； for it’s just under our nose。 You
mean as Adam’s fond o’ Dinah。”
“Aye！ hast ever had any notion of it before？”
“To be sure I have；” said Mrs。 Poyser； who always declined； if
possible； to be taken by surprise。 “I’m not one o’ those as can see
the cat i’ the dairy an’ wonder what she’s come after。”
“Thee never saidst a word to me about it。”
“Well； I aren’t like a bird…clapper； forced to make a rattle when
the wind blows on me。 I can keep my own counsel when there’s no
good i’ speaking。”
“But Dinah ’ll ha’ none o’ him。 Dost think she will？”
“Nay；” said Mrs。 Poyser； not sufficiently on her guard against a
possible surprise； “she’ll never marry anybody； if he isn’t a
Methodist and a cripple。”
“It ’ud ha’ been a pretty thing though for ’em t’ marry；” said
Martin； turning his head on one side； as if in pleased
contemplation of his new idea。 “Thee’dst ha’ liked it too；
wouldstna？”
“Ah！ I should。 I should ha’ been sure of her then； as she
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wouldn’t go away from me to Snowfield； welly thirty mile off； and
me not got a creatur to look to； only neighbours； as are no kin to
me； an’ most of ’em women as I’d be ashamed to show my face； if
my dairy things war like their’n。 There may well be streaky butter
i’ the market。 An’ I should be glad to see the poor thing settled like
a Christian woman； with a house of her own over her head； and
we’d stock her well wi’ linen and feathers； for I love her next to my
own children。 An’ she makes one feel safer when she’s i’ the house；
for she’s like the driven snow： anybody might sin for two as had
her at their elbow。”
“Dinah；” said Tommy； running forward to meet her； “mother
says you’ll never marry anybody but a Methodist cripple。 What a
silly you must be！” a comment which Tommy followed up by
seizing Dinah with both arms； and dancing along by her side with
incommodious fondness。
“Why； Adam； we missed you i’ the singing to…day；” said Mr。
Poyser。 “How was it？”
“I wanted to see Dinah—she’s going away so soon；” said Adam。
“Ah； lad！ Can you persuade her to stop somehow？ Find her a
good husband somewhere i’ the parish。 If you’ll do that； we’ll
forgive you for missing church。 But； anyway； she isna going before
the harvest supper o’ Wednesday； and you must come then。
There’s Bartle Massey comin’； an’ happen Craig。 You’ll be sure an’
come； now； at seven？ The missis wunna have it a bit later。”
“Aye；” said Adam； “I’ll come if I can。 But I can’t often say what
I’ll do beforehand； for the work often holds me longer than I
expect。 You’ll stay till the end o’ the week； Dinah？”
“Yes； yes！” said Mr。 Poyser。 “We’ll have no nay。”
“She’s no call to be in a hurry；” observed Mrs。 Poyser。
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“Scarceness o’ victual ’ull keep： there’s no need to be hasty wi’ the
cooking。 An’ scarceness is what there’s the biggest stock of i’ that
country。”
Dinah smiled； but gave no promise to stay； and they talked of
other things through the rest of the walk； lingering in the sunshine
to look at the great flock of geese grazing； at the new corn…ricks；
and at the surprising abundance of fruit on the old pear…tree；
Nancy and Molly having already hastened home； side by side； each
holding； carefully wrapped in her pocket…handkerchief； a prayer…
book； in which she could read little beyond the large letters and
the Amens。
Surely all other leisure is hurry compared with a sunny walk
through the fields from “afternoon church”—as such walks used
to be in those old leisurely times； when the boat； gliding sleepily
along the canal； was the newest locomotive wonder； when Sunday
books had most of them old brown…leather covers； and opened
with remarkable precision always in one place。 Leisure is gone—
gone where the spinning…wheels are gone； and the pack…horses；
and the slow waggons； and the pedlars； who brought bargains to
the door on sunny afternoons。 Ingenious philosophers tell you；
perhaps； that the great work of the steam…engine is to create
leisure for mankind。 Do not believe them： it only creates a vacuum
for eager thought to rush in。 Even idleness is eager now—eager for
amusement； prone to excursion…trains； art museums； periodical
literature； and exciting novels； prone even to scientific theorising
and cursory peeps through microscopes。 Old Leisure was quite a
different personage。 He only read one newspaper； innocent of
leaders； and was free from that periodicity of sensations which we
call post…time。 He was a contemplative； rather stout gentleman； of
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excellent digestion； of quiet perceptions； undiseased by
hypothesis； happy in his inability to know the causes of things；
preferring the things themselves。 He lived chiefly in the country；
among pleasant seats and homesteads； and was fond of sauntering
by the fruit…tree wall and scenting the apricots when they were
warmed by the morning sunshine； or of sheltering himself under
the orchard boughs at noon； when the summer pears were falling。
He knew nothing of weekday services； and thought none the worse
of the Sunday sermon if it allowed him to sleep from the text to the
blessing； liking the afternoon service best； because the prayers
were the shortest； and not ashamed to say so； for he had an easy；
jolly conscience； broad…backed like himself； and able to carry a
great deal of beer or port…wine； not being made squeamish by
doubts and qualms and lofty aspirations。 Life was not a task to
him； but a sinecure。 He fingered the guineas in his pocket； and ate
his dinners； and slept the sleep of the irresponsible； for had he not
kept up his character by going to church on the Sunday
afternoons？
Fine old Leisure！ Do not be severe upon him； and judge him by
our modern standard。 He never went to Exeter Hall； or heard a
p