Adam Bede

urity, such fresh fragrance of new-pressed cheese, of firm butter, of wooden vessels perpetually bathed in pure water; such soft colouring of re

a distractingly pretty girl of seventeen, standing on little pattens a

r aunt was discoursing to him about the limited amount of milk that was to be spared for butter and cheese so long as the calves were not all weaned, and a large quantity but inferior quality of milk yielded by the shorthorn, which had been bought on exp

st beginning to toddle and to engage in conscious mischief — a beauty with which you can never be angry, but that you feel ready to crush for inability to comprehend the state of mind into which it throws you. Hetty Sorrel’s was that sort of beauty. Her aunt, Mrs. Poyser, who professed to despise all personal attractions and intended to be the severest of mentors, continually gazed at Het

duchesses, since it fell in such charming lines, or how her brown stockings and thick-soled buckled shoes lost all that clumsiness which they must certainly have had when empty of her foot and ankle — of little use, unless you have seen a woman who affected you as Hetty affected her beholders, for otherwise, though you might conjure up the image of a lovely woman, she would not in the least resemble that distracting kittenlike maiden. I might mention all the divine charms of a bright spring day, but if you had never in your life utterly forgotten yourself in straining your eyes after the mounting lark, or

hand, and nice adaptations and finishings which cannot at all be effected without a great play of the pouting mouth and the dark eyes. And then the butter itself seems to communicate a fresh charm — it is so pure, so sweet-scented; it is turned off the mould with such a be

ovised 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 pr

Poyser interposed, scandalized at the mere suggestion that

’m sure, whenever you’re pleased to dance with her, she’ll be pro

o can dance. But you will promise me two dances, won’t you?” the capt

and stole a half-shy, half-coquettish glanc

, as well as the boys. I want all the youngest children on the estate to be the

g 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 manner

today?” he said. “

tty?” said Mrs. Poyser. “Sh

ent into the brewhou

into the back kitchen, in search of her, not, however, without misgivings lest som

market when you’ve made it?” sai

vy. I’m not strong enough to carr

sometimes these pleasant evenings, don’t you? Why don’t you have a walk in the Chase sometimes

ly when I’m going somewhere,” said Hetty

est, the housekeeper? I think I saw

as I go to see. She’s teaching me tent-stitch and the lac

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

ting her on the low stone shelf. “Here’s Totty! By the

r. Poyser’s family: his grandmother was named Charlotte. But we began with calling her Lotty,

a Totty. Has she got a pocket on?” said the c

ted up her frock, and showed a tiny pink

he said, as she looked d

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 he

have her different. But I must be going now,

ining himself waited for. The rector had been so much interested in his conversation with Dinah that he w