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in the fear of the Lord； and that they are not unmindful of the
soul’s wants while they are caring for the body。 We can all be
servants of God wherever our lot is cast； but He gives us different
sorts of work； according as He fits us for it and calls us to it。 I can
no more help spending my life in trying to do what I can for the
souls of others； than you could help running if you heard little
Totty crying at the other end of the house； the voice would go to
your heart； you would think the dear child was in trouble or in
danger； and you couldn’t rest without running to help her and
comfort her。”
“Ah；” said Mrs。 Poyser； rising and walking towards the door； “I
know it ’ud be just the same if I was to talk to you for hours。 You’d
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make me the same answer； at th’ end。 I might as well talk to the
running brook and tell it to stan’ still。”
The causeway outside the kitchen door was dry enough now for
Mrs。 Poyser to stand there quite pleasantly and see what was
going on in the yard； the grey worsted stocking making a steady
progress in her hands all the while。 But she had not been standing
there more than five minutes before she came in again； and said to
Dinah； in rather a flurried； awe…stricken tone； “If there isn’t
Captain Donnithorne and Mr。 Irwine a…coming into the yard！ I’ll
lay my life they’re come to speak about your preaching on the
Green； Dinah； it’s you must answer ’em； for I’m dumb。 I’ve said
enough a’ready about your bringing such disgrace upo’ your
uncle’s family。 I wouldn’t ha’ minded if you’d been Mr。 Poyser’s
own niece—folks must put up wi’ their own kin； as they put up wi’
their own noses—it’s their own flesh and blood。 But to think of a
niece o’ mine being cause o’ my husband’s being turned out of his
farm； and me brought him no fortin but my savin’s—”
“Nay； dear Aunt Rachel；” said Dinah gently； “you’ve no cause
for such fears。 I’ve strong assurance that no evil will happen to you
and my uncle and the children from anything I’ve done。 I didn’t
preach without direction。”
“Direction！ I know very well what you mean by direction；” said
Mrs。 Poyser； knitting in a rapid and agitated manner。 “When
there’s a bigger maggot than usial in your head you call it
‘direction’； and then nothing can stir you—you look like the statty
o’ the outside o’ Treddles’on church； a…starin’ and a…smilin’
whether it’s fair weather or foul。 I hanna common patience with
you。”
By this time the two gentlemen had reached the palings and
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had got down from their horses： it was plain they meant to come
in。 Mrs。 Poyser advanced to the door to meet them； curtsying low
and trembling between anger with Dinah and anxiety to conduct
herself with perfect propriety on the occasion。 For in those days
the keenest of bucolic minds felt a whispering awe at the sight of
the gentry； such as of old men felt when they stood on tiptoe to
watch the gods passing by in tall human shape。
“Well； Mrs。 Poyser； how are you after this stormy morning？”
said Mr。 Irwine； with his stately cordiality。 “Our feet are quite dry；
we shall not soil your beautiful floor。”
“Oh； sir； don’t mention it；” said Mrs。 Poyser。 “Will you and the
captain please to walk into the parlour？”
“No； indeed； thank you； Mrs。 Poyser；” said the captain； looking
eagerly round the kitchen； as if his eye were seeking something it
could not find。 “I delight in your kitchen。 I think it is the most
charming room I know。 I should like every farmer’s wife to come
and look at it for a pattern。”
“Oh； you’re pleased to say so； sir。 Pray take a seat；” said Mrs。
Poyser； relieved a little by this compliment and the captain’s
evident good…humour； but still glancing anxiously at Mr。 Irwine；
who； she saw； was looking at Dinah and advancing towards her。
“Poyser is not at home； is he？” said Captain Donnithorne；
seating himself where he could see along the short passage to the
open dairy…door。
“No； sir； he isn’t； he’s gone to Rosseter to see Mr。 West； the
factor； about the wool。 But there’s Father i’ the barn； sir； if he’d be
of any use。”
“No； thank you； I’ll just look at the whelps and leave a message
about them with your shepherd。 I must come another day and see
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your husband； I want to have a consultation with him about
horses。 Do you know when he’s likely to be at liberty？”
“Why； sir； you can hardly miss him； except it’s o’ Treddles’on
market…day—that’s of a Friday； you know。 For if he’s anywhere on
the farm we can send for him in a minute。 If we’d got rid o’ the
Scantlands； we should have no outlying fields； and I should be
glad of it； for if ever anything happens； he’s sure to be gone to the
Scantlands。 Things allays happen so contrairy； if they’ve a chance；
and it’s an unnat’ral thing to have one bit o’ your farm in one
county and all the rest in another。”
“Ah； the Scantlands would go much better with Choyce’s farm；
especially as he wants dairy…land and you’ve got plenty。 I think
yours is the prettiest farm on the estate； though； and do you know；
Mrs。 Poyser； if I were going to marry and settle； I should be
tempted to turn you out； and do up this fine old house； and turn
farmer myself。”
“Oh； sir；” said Mrs。 Poyser； rather alarmed； “you wouldn’t like
it at all。 As for farming； it’s putting money into your pocket wi’
your right hand and fetching it out wi’ your left。 As fur as I can see；
it’s raising victual for other folks and just getting a mouthful for
yourself and your children as you go along。 Not as you’d be like a
poor man as wants to get his bread—you could afford to lose as
much money as you liked i’ farming—but it’s poor fun losing
money； I should think； though I understan’ it’s what the great folks
i’ London play at more than anything。 For my husband heard at
market as Lord Dacey’s eldest son had lost thousands upo’
thousands to the Prince o’ Wales； and they said my lady was going
to pawn her jewels to pay for him。 But you know more about that
than I do； sir。 But； as for farming； sir； I canna think as you’d like it；
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and this house—the draughts in it are enough to cut you through；
and it’s my opinion the floors upstairs are very rotten； and the rats
i’ the cellar are beyond anything。”
“Why； that’s a terrible picture； Mrs。 Poyser。 I think I should be
doing you a service to turn you out of such a place。 But there’s no
chance of that。 I’m not likely to settle for the next twenty years； till
I’m a stout gentleman of forty； and my grandfather would never
consent to part with such good tenants as you。”
“Well； sir； if he thinks so well o’ Mr。 Poyser for a tenant I wish
you could put in a word for him to allow us some new gates for the
Five closes； for my husband’s been asking and asking till he’s
tired； and to think o’ what he’s done for the farm； and ’s never had
a penny allowed him； be the times bad or good。 And as I’ve said to
my husband often and often； I’m sure if the captain had anything
to do with it； it wouldn’t be so。 Not