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cumber o’ rearin’ thee an’ doin’ for thee all these ’ears？”
“Well； good…bye； then； Mother—good…bye； lad—remember Gyp
when you get home；” said Adam； turning away towards the gate of
the pleasure…grounds； where he hoped he might be able to join the
Poysers； for he had been so occupied throughout the afternoon
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that he had had no time to speak to Hetty。 His eye soon detected a
distant group； which he knew to be the right one； returning to the
house along the broad gravel road； and he hastened on to meet
them。
“Why； Adam； I’m glad to get sight on y’ again；” said Mr。 Poyser；
who was carrying Totty on his arm。 “You’re going t’ have a bit o’
fun； I hope； now your work’s all done。 And here’s Hetty has
promised no end o’ partners； an’ I’ve just been askin’ her if she’d
agreed to dance wi’ you； an’ she says no。”
“Well； I didn’t think o’ dancing to…night；” said Adam； already
tempted to change his mind； as he looked at Hetty。
“Nonsense！” said Mr。 Poyser。 “Why； everybody’s goin’ to dance
to…night； all but th’ old squire and Mrs。 Irwine。 Mrs。 Best’s been
tellin’ us as Miss Lyddy and Miss Irwine ’ull dance； an’ the young
squire ’ull pick my wife for his first partner； t’ open the ball： so
she’ll be forced to dance； though she’s laid by ever sin’ the
Christmas afore the little un was born。 You canna for shame stand
still； Adam； an’ you a fine young fellow and can dance as well as
anybody。”
“Nay； nay；” said Mrs。 Poyser； “it ’ud be unbecomin’。 I know the
dancin’s nonsense； but if you stick at everything because it’s
nonsense； you wonna go far i’ this life。 When your broth’s ready…
made for you； you mun swallow the thickenin’； or else let the broth
alone。”
“Then if Hetty ’ull dance with me；” said Adam； yielding either
to Mrs。 Poyser’s argument or to something else； “I’ll dance
whichever dance she’s free。”
“I’ve got no partner for the fourth dance；” said Hetty； “I’ll
dance that with you； if you like。”
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“Ah；” said Mr。 Poyser； “but you mun dance the first dance；
Adam； else it’ll look partic’ler。 There’s plenty o’ nice partners to
pick an’ choose from； an’ it’s hard for the gells when the men stan’
by and don’t ask ’em。”
Adam felt the justice of Mr。 Poyser’s observation： it would not
do for him to dance with no one besides Hetty； and remembering
that Jonathan Burge had some reason to feel hurt to…day； he
resolved to ask Miss Mary to dance with him the first dance； if she
had no other partner。
“There’s the big clock strikin’ eight；” said Mr。 Poyser； “we must
make haste in now； else the squire and the ladies ’ull be in afore
us； an’ that wouldna look well。”
When they had entered the hall； and the three children under
Molly’s charge had been seated on the stairs； the folding…doors of
the drawing…room were thrown open； and Arthur entered in his
regimentals； leading Mrs。 Irwine to a carpet…covered dais
ornamented with hot…house plants； where she and Miss Anne were
to be seated with old Mr。 Donnithorne； that they might look on at
the dancing； like the kings and queens in the plays。 Arthur had put
on his uniform to please the tenants； he said； who thought as much
of his militia dignity as if it had been an elevation to the
premiership。 He had not the least objection to gratify them in that
way： his uniform was very advantageous to his figure。
The old squire； before sitting down； walked round the hall to
greet the tenants and make polite speeches to the wives： he was
always polite； but the farmers had found out； after long puzzling；
that this polish was one of the signs of hardness。 It was observed
that he gave his most elaborate civility to Mrs。 Poyser to…night；
inquiring particularly about her health； recommending her to
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strengthen herself with cold water as he did； and avoid all drugs。
Mrs。 Poyser curtsied and thanked him with great self…command；
but when he had passed on； she whispered to her husband； “I’ll
lay my life he’s brewin’ some nasty turn against us。 Old Harry
doesna wag his tail so for nothin’。” Mr。 Poyser had no time to
answer； for now Arthur came up and said； “Mrs。 Poyser； I’m come
to request the favour of your hand for the first dance； and； Mr。
Poyser； you must let me take you to my aunt； for she claims you as
her partner。”
The wife’s pale cheek flushed with a nervous sense of unwonted
honour as Arthur led her to the top of the room； but Mr。 Poyser； to
whom an extra glass had restored his youthful confidence in his
good looks and good dancing； walked along with them quite
proudly； secretly flattering himself that Miss Lydia had never had
a partner in her life who could lift her off the ground as he would。
In order to balance the honours given to the two parishes； Miss
Irwine danced with Luke Britton； the largest Broxton farmer； and
Mr。 Gawaine led out Mrs。 Britton。 Mr。 Irwine； after seating his
sister Anne； had gone to the abbey gallery； as he had agreed with
Arthur beforehand； to see how the merriment of the cottagers was
prospering。 Meanwhile； all the less distinguished couples had
taken their places： Hetty was led out by the inevitable Mr。 Craig；
and Mary Burge by Adam； and now the music struck up； and the
glorious country…dance； best of all dances； began。
Pity it was not a boarded floor！ Then the rhythmic stamping of
the thick shoes would have been better than any drums。 That
merry stamping； that gracious nodding of the head； that waving
bestowal of the hand—where can we see them now？ That simple
dancing of well…covered matrons； laying aside for an hour the
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cares of house and dairy； remembering but not affecting youth；
not jealous but proud of the young maidens by their side—that
holiday sprightliness of portly husbands paying little compliments
to their wives； as if their courting days were come again—those
lads and lasses a little confused and awkward with their partners；
having nothing to say—it would be a pleasant variety to see all that
sometimes； instead of low dresses and large skirts； and scanning
glances exploring costumes； and languid men in lacquered boots
smiling with double meaning。
There was but one thing to mar Martin Poyser’s pleasure in this
dance： it was that he was always in close contact with Luke
Britton； that slovenly farmer。 He thought of throwing a little
glazed coldness into his eye in the crossing of hands； but then； as
Miss Irwine was opposite to him instead of the offensive Luke； he
might freeze the wrong person。 So he gave his face up to hilarity；
unchilled by moral judgments。
How Hetty’s heart beat as Arthur approached her！ He had
hardly looked at her to…day： now he must take her hand。 Would he
press it？ Would he look at her？ She thought she would cry if he
gave her no sign of feeling。 Now he was there—he had taken her
hand—yes； he was pressing it。 Hetty turned pale as she looked up
at him for an instant and met his eyes； before the dance carried
him away。 That pale look came upon Arthur like the beginning of
a dull pain； which clung to him； though he must dance and smile