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turned off the mould with such a beautiful firm surface； like
marble in a pale yellow light！ Moreover； Hetty was particularly
clever at making up the butter； it was the one performance of hers
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that her aunt allowed to pass without severe criticism； so she
handled it with all the grace that belongs to mastery。
“I hope you will be ready for a great holiday on the thirtieth of
July； Mrs。 Poyser；” said Captain Donnithorne； when he had
sufficiently admired the dairy and given several improvised
opinions on Swede turnips and shorthorns。 “You know what is to
happen then； and I shall expect you to be one of the guests who
come earliest and leave latest。 Will you promise me your hand for
two dances； Miss Hetty？ If I don’t get your promise now； I know I
shall hardly have a chance； for all the smart young farmers will
take care to secure you。”
Hetty smiled and blushed； but before she could answer； Mrs。
Poyser interposed； scandalised at the mere suggestion that the
young squire could be excluded by any meaner partners。
“Indeed； sir； you are very kind to take that notice of her。 And
I’m sure； whenever you’re pleased to dance with her； she’ll be
proud and thankful； if she stood still all the rest o’ th’ evening。”
“Oh no； no； that would be too cruel to all the other young
fellows who can dance。 But you will promise me two dances； won’t
you？” the captain continued； determined to make Hetty look at
him and speak to him。
Hetty dropped the prettiest little curtsy； and stole a half…shy；
half…coquettish glance at him as she said； “Yes； thank you； sir。”
“And you must bring all your children； you know； Mrs。 Poyser；
your little Totty； as well as the boys。 I want all the youngest
children on the estate to be there—all those who will be fine young
men and women when I’m a bald old fellow。”
“Oh dear； sir； that ’ull be a long time first；” said Mrs。 Poyser；
quite overcome at the young squire’s speaking so lightly of
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himself； and thinking how her husband would be interested in
hearing her recount this remarkable specimen of high…born
humour。 The captain was thought to be “very full of his jokes；”
and was a great favourite throughout the estate on account of his
free manners。 Every tenant was quite sure things would be
different when the reins got into his hands—there was to be a
millennial abundance of new gates； allowances of lime； and
returns of ten per cent。
“But where is Totty to…day？” he said。 “I want to see her。”
“Where is the little un； Hetty？” said Mrs。 Poyser。 “She came in
here not long ago。”
“I don’t know。 She went into the brewhouse to Nancy； I think。”
The proud mother； unable to resist the temptation to show her
Totty； passed at once into the back kitchen； in search of her； not；
however； without misgivings lest something should have
happened to render her person and attire unfit for presentation。
“And do you carry the butter to market when you’ve made it？”
said the Captain to Hetty； meanwhile。
“Oh no； sir； not when it’s so heavy。 I’m not strong enough to
carry it。 Alick takes it on horseback。”
“No； I’m sure your pretty arms were never meant for such
heavy weights。 But you go out a walk sometimes these pleasant
evenings； don’t you？ Why don’t you have a walk in the Chase
sometimes； now it’s so green and pleasant？ I hardly ever see you
anywhere except at home and at church。”
“Aunt doesn’t like me to go a…walking only when I’m going
somewhere；” said Hetty。 “But I go through the Chase sometimes。”
“And don’t you ever go to see Mrs。 Best； the housekeeper？ I
think I saw you once in the housekeeper’s room。”
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“It isn’t Mrs。 Best； it’s Mrs。 Pomfret； the lady’s maid； as I go to
see。 She’s teaching me tent…stitch and the lace…mending。 I’m going
to tea with her to…morrow afternoon。”
The reason why there had been space for this tête…à…tête can
only be known by looking into the back kitchen； where Totty had
been discovered rubbing a stray blue…bag against her nose； and in
the same moment allowing some liberal indigo drops to fall on her
afternoon pinafore。 But now she appeared holding her mother’s
hand—the end of her round nose rather shiny from a recent and
hurried application of soap and water。
“Here she is！” said the captain； lifting her up and setting her on
the low stone shelf。 “Here’s Totty！ By the by； what’s her other
name？ She wasn’t christened Totty。”
“Oh； sir； we call her sadly out of her name。 Charlotte’s her
christened name。 It’s a name i’ Mr。 Poyser’s family： his
grandmother was named Charlotte。 But we began with calling her
Lotty； and now it’s got to Totty。 To be sure it’s more like a name
for a dog than a Christian child。”
“Totty’s a capital name。 Why； she looks like a Totty。 Has she got
a pocket on？” said the captain； feeling in his own waistcoat
pockets。
Totty immediately with great gravity lifted up her frock； and
showed a tiny pink pocket at present in a state of collapse。
“It dot notin’ in it；” she said； as she looked down at it very
earnestly。
“No！ What a pity！ Such a pretty pocket。 Well； I think I’ve got
some things in mine that will make a pretty jingle in it。 Yes！ I
declare I’ve got five little round silver things； and hear what a
pretty noise they make in Totty’s pink pocket。” Here he shook the
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pocket with the five sixpences in it； and Totty showed her teeth
and wrinkled her nose in great glee； but； divining that there was
nothing more to be got by staying； she jumped off the shelf and
ran away to jingle her pocket in the hearing of Nancy； while her
mother called after her； “Oh for shame； you naughty gell！ Not to
thank the captain for what he’s given you I’m sure； sir； it’s very
kind of you； but she’s spoiled shameful； her father won’t have her
said nay in anything； and there’s no managing her。 It’s being the
youngest； and th’ only gell。”
“Oh； she’s a funny little fatty； I wouldn’t have her different。 But
I must be going now； for I suppose the rector is waiting for me。”
With a “good…bye；” a bright glance； and a bow to Hetty； Arthur
left the dairy。 But he was mistaken in imagining himself waited
for。 The rector had been so much interested in his conversation
with Dinah that he would not have chosen to close it earlier； and
you shall hear now what they had been saying to each other。
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Chapter VIII
A Vocation
inah； who had risen when the gentlemen came in； but still
kept hold of the sheet she was mending； curtsied
D
respectfully when she saw Mr。 Irwine looking at her and
advancing towards her。 He had never yet spoken to her