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Chapter 17 While Silas and Eppie were seated on the bank discoursing in the fleckered shade of the ash-tree, Miss Priscilla Lammeter was resisting her sisters arguments that it would be better to take tea at the Red House, and let her father have a long nap, than drive home to the Warrens so soon after dinner. The family party (of four only) were seated round the table in the dark wainscoted parlour, with the Sunday dessert before them of fresh filberts, apples, and pears, duly ornamented with leaves by Nancys own hand before the bells had rung for church. A great change has come over the dark wainscoted parlour since we saw it in Godfreys bachelor days, and under the wifeless reign of the old Squire. Now all is polish, on which no yesterdays dust is ever allowed to rest, from the yards width of oaken boards round the carpet to the old Squires gun and whips and walking-sticks ranged on the stags antlers above the mantelpiece. All other signs of sporting and out-door occupation Nancy has removed to another room; but she has brought into the Red House the habit of filial reverence, and preserves sacredly in a place of honour these relics of her husbands departed father. The tankards are on the side-table still, but the bossed silver is undimmed by handling, and there are no dregs to send forth unpleasant suggestionsthe only prevailing scent is of the lavender and rose-leaves that fill the vases of Derbyshire spar. All is purity and order in this once dreary room, for fifteen years ago it was entered by a new presiding spirit. Now, father, said Nancy, is there any call for you to go home to tea? Maynt you just as well stay with us?such a beautiful evening as its likely to be. The old gentleman had been talking with Godfrey about the increasing poor-rate and the ruinous times, and had not heard the dialogue between his daughters. My dear, you must ask Priscilla, he said in the once firm voice, now become rather broken. She manages me and the farm too. And reason good as I should manage you, father, said Priscilla, else youd be giving yourself your death with rheumatism. And as for the farm, if anything turns out wrong, as it cant but do in these times, theres nothing kills a man so soon as having nobody to find fault with but himself. Its a deal the best way o being master, to let somebody else do the ordering, and keep the blaming in your own hands. It ud save many a man a stroke, I believe. Well, well, my dear, said her father, with a quiet laugh, I didnt say you dont manage for everybodys good. Then manage so as you may stay tea, Priscilla, said Nancy, putting her hand on her sisters arm affectionately. Come now; and well go round the garden while father has his nap. My dear child, hell have a beautiful nap in the gig, for I shall drive. And as for staying tea, I cant hear of it; for theres this dairymaid, now she knows shes to be married turned Michaelmas, shed as lief pour the new milk into the pig-trough as into the pans. Thats the way with em all; its as if they thought the world ud be new-made because theyre to be married. So come and let me put my bonnet on, and therell be time for us to walk round the garden while the horse is being put in. When the sisters were treading the neatly-swept garden walks, between the bright turf that contrasted pleasantly with the dark cones and arches and wall-like hedges of yew, Priscilla said, Im as glad as anything at your husbands making that exchange o land with Cousin Osgood, and beginning with the dairying. Its a thousand pities you didnt do it before; for itll give you something to fill your mind. Theres nothing like a dairy if folks want a bit o worrit to make the days pass. For as for rubbing furniture, when you can once see your face in a table theres nothing else to look for; but theres always something fresh with the dairy; for even in the depths o winter theres some pleasure in conquering the butter, and making it come whether or no. My dear, added Priscilla, pressing her sisters hand affectionately as they walked side by side, youll never be low when youve got a dairy. |
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