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painful to think that she is a woman； with a woman’s destiny
before her—a woman spinning in young ignorance a light web of
folly and vain hopes which may one day close round her and press
upon her； a rancorous poisoned garment； changing all at once her
fluttering； trivial butterfly sensations into a life of deep human
anguish。
But she cannot keep in the ear…rings long； else she may make
her uncle and aunt wait。 She puts them quickly into the box again
and shuts them up。 Some day she will be able to wear any ear…
rings she likes； and already she lives in an invisible world of
brilliant costumes； shimmering gauze； soft satin； and velvet； such
as the lady’s maid at the Chase has shown her in Miss Lydia’s
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wardrobe。 She feels the bracelets on her arms； and treads on a soft
carpet in front of a tall mirror。 But she has one thing in the drawer
which she can venture to wear to…day； because she can hang it on
the chain of dark…brown berries which she has been used to wear
on grand days； with a tiny flat scent…bottle at the end of it tucked
inside her frock； and she must put on her brown berries—her neck
would look so unfinished without it。 Hetty was not quite as fond of
the locket as of the ear…rings； though it was a handsome large
locket； with enamelled flowers at the back and a beautiful gold
border round the glass； which showed a light…brown slightly
waving lock； forming a background for two little dark rings。 She
must keep it under her clothes； and no one would see it。 But Hetty
had another passion； only a little less strong than her love of
finery； and that other passion made her like to wear the locket
even hidden in her bosom。 She would always have worn it； if she
had dared to encounter her aunt’s questions about a ribbon round
her neck。 So now she slipped it on along her chain of dark…brown
berries； and snapped the chain round her neck。 It was not a very
long chain； only allowing the locket to hang a little way below the
edge of her frock。 And now she had nothing to do but to put on her
long sleeves； her new white gauze neckerchief； and her straw hat
trimmed with white to…day instead of the pink； which had become
rather faded under the July sun。 That hat made the drop of
bitterness in Hetty’s cup to…day； for it was not quite new—
everybody would see that it was a little tanned against the white
ribbon—and Mary Burge； she felt sure； would have a new hat or
bonnet on。 She looked for consolation at her fine white cotton
stockings： they really were very nice indeed； and she had given
almost all her spare money for them。 Hetty’s dream of the future
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could not make her insensible to triumph in the present。 To be
sure； Captain Donnithorne loved her so that he would never care
about looking at other people； but then those other people didn’t
know how he loved her； and she was not satisfied to appear
shabby and insignificant in their eyes even for a short space。
The whole party was assembled in the house…place when Hetty
went down； all of course in their Sunday clothes； and the bells had
been ringing so this morning in honour of the captain’s twenty…
first birthday； and the work had all been got done so early； that
Marty and Tommy were not quite easy in their minds until their
mother had assured them that going to church was not part of the
day’s festivities。 Mr。 Poyser had once suggested that the house
should be shut up and left to take care of itself； “for；” said he；
“there’s no danger of anybody’s breaking in—everybody’ll be at
the Chase； thieves an’ all。 If we lock th’ house up； all the men can
go： it’s a day they wonna see twice i’ their lives。” But Mrs。 Poyser
answered with great decision： “I never left the house to take care
of itself since I was a missis； and I never will。 There’s been ill…
looking tramps enoo’ about the place this last week； to carry off
every ham an’ every spoon we’n got； and they all collogue
together； them tramps； as it’s a mercy they hanna come and
poisoned the dogs and murdered us all in our beds afore we
knowed； some Friday night when we’n got the money in th’ house
to pay the men。 And it’s like enough the tramps know where we’re
going as well as we do oursens； for if Old Harry wants any work
done； you may be sure he’ll find the means。”
“Nonsense about murdering us in our beds；” said Mr。 Poyser；
“I’ve got a gun i’ our room； hanna I？ and thee ’st got ears as ’ud
find it out if a mouse was gnawing the bacon。 Howiver； if thee
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wouldstna be easy； Alick can stay at home i’ the forepart o’ the
day； and Tim can come back tow’rds five o’clock； and let Alick
have his turn。 They may let Growler loose if anybody offers to do
mischief； and there’s Alick’s dog too； ready enough to set his tooth
in a tramp if Alick gives him a wink。”
Mrs。 Poyser accepted this compromise； but thought it advisable
to bar and bolt to the utmost； and now； at the last moment before
starting； Nancy； the dairy…maid； was closing the shutters of the
house…place； although the window； lying under the immediate
observation of Alick and the dogs； might have been supposed the
least likely to be selected for a burglarious attempt。
The covered cart； without springs； was standing ready to carry
the whole family except the men…servants。 Mr。 Poyser and the
grandfather sat on the seat in front； and within there was room for
all the women and children； the fuller the cart the better； because
then the jolting would not hurt so much； and Nancy’s broad
person and thick arms were an excellent cushion to be pitched on。
But Mr。 Poyser drove at no more than a walking pace； that there
might be as little risk of jolting as possible on this warm day； and
there was time to exchange greetings and remarks with the foot…
passengers who were going the same way； specking the paths
between the green meadows and the golden cornfields with bits of
movable bright colour—a scarlet waistcoat to match the poppies
that nodded a little too thickly among the corn； or a dark…blue
neckerchief with ends flaunting across a brand…new white smock…
frock。 All Broxton and all Hayslope were to be at the Chase； and
make merry there in honour of “th’ heir”； and the old men and
women； who had never been so far down this side of the hill for
the last twenty years； were being brought from Broxton and
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Hayslope in one of the farmer’s waggons； at Mr。 Irwine’s
suggestion。 The church…bells had struck up again now—a last
tune； before the ringers came down the hill to have their share in
the festival； and before the bells had finished； other music was
heard approaching； so that even Old Brown； the sober horse that
was drawing Mr。 Poyser’s cart； began to prick up his ears。 It was
the band of the Benefit Club； which had mustered in all its glory—
that is to say； in bright…blue scarfs and blue favours； and carrying
its banner with the motto； “Let brotherly love continue；”
encircling a picture of a stone…pit。
The carts； of course； wer