esembling a small stew-pan; for a garment suggesting a coachman's greatcoat, cut out under an exiguity of cloth that would only allow of mini

frey Cass ready to lift her from the pillion. She wished her sister Priscilla had come up at the same time behind the servant, for then she would have contrived that Mr. Godfrey should have lifted off Priscilla first, and, in the meantime, she would have persuaded her father to go round to the horse-block instead of alighting at the door-steps. It was very painful, when you had made it quite clear to a young man that you were determined not to marry him, however much he might wish it, that he would still continue to pay you marked attentions; besides, why didn't he always show the same attentions, if he meant them sincerely, instead

to find concealment for her confusion and neglect of any suitably formal behaviour, while she was being lifted from the pillion by strong arms which seemed to find her ridiculously small and light. And there was the best reason for hastening into the house at once, since the snow was beginning to fall again, threaten

r Mrs. Kimble, who did the honours at the Red House on these great occasions, came forward to meet Miss Nancy in the hall, and conduct her up-stairs. Mrs. Kimble was the Squire's sister, as well as the doctor's wife-a double dignity, with which her diameter was

ine merchant's daughters from Lytherly, dressed in the height of fashion, with the tightest skirts and the shortest waists, and gazed at by Miss Ladbrook (of the Old Pastures) with a shyness not unsustained by inward criticism. Partly, Miss Ladbrook felt that her own skirt must be regarded as unduly lax by the Miss Gunns, and partly, that it was a pity the Miss Gunns did not show t

and mob-cap round her curls of smooth grey hair, were in daring contrast with the puffed yellow satins and top-k

's cheek dutifully, and answered, with the same sort of amiable prim

y health for the present. A

that they began to feel some curiosity about the dress she would put on when she took off her joseph. Miss Nancy, whose thoughts were always conducted with the propriety and moderation conspicuous in her manners, remarked to herself that the Miss Gunns were rather hard-featured than otherwise, and that such very low dresses as they wore might have been attributed to vanity if their shoulders had been pretty, but that, being as they were, it was not reasonable to suppose that they showed their necks from a love of display, but rather from some obligation not inconsistent with sense and modesty. She felt convinced, as she opened her box, t

neck look otherwise than pretty; and when at last she stood complete in her silvery twilled silk, her lace tucker, her coral necklace, and coral ear-drops, the Miss Gunns could see nothing to criticise except her hands, which bore the traces of butter-making, cheese-crushing, and even still coarser work. But Miss Nancy was not ashamed of that, for even while she was dressing she narrated to her aunt how she and Priscilla had packed their boxes yesterday, because this morning was baking morning, and since they were leaving home, it was desirable to make a good supply of meat-pies for the kitchen; and as she concluded this judicious remark, she turned to the Miss Gunns that she might not commit the rudeness of not including them in the conversation. The Miss Gunns smiled stiffly, and thought what a pity it was that these rich country people, who could afford to buy such good clothes (really Miss Nancy's lace and silk were very costly), should be brought up in utter ignorance and vulgarity. She actually said "mate" for "meat", "'appen" for "perhaps", and

e entrance of that cheerful-looking lady herself, with a face made blowsy by cold and damp. After the first questions and greetings,

s, aunt Osgood?" said Priscilla,

good, with a slight increase of formality.

h the delight of talking, to notice that her candour was not appreciated. "The pretty uns do for fly-catchers-they keep the men off us. I've no opinion o' the men, Miss Gunn-I don't know what you have. And as for fretting and stewing about what they'll think of you from morning till night, and making your life uneasy about what they're doing when they're out o' your sight-as I tell Nancy, it's a folly no woman need be guilty of, if she's got a good father and a good home: let her leave it to them as have got no for

ury to her smooth curls, obliged Miss Priscilla to pause in this rapid su

llow us. The Miss Gunns

ey were alone, "you've offend

child?" said Prisci

hey minded about being ug

they don't like the truth. But as for being ugly, look at me, child, in this silver-coloured silk-I to

have this silk if you'd like another better. I was willing to have y

in. What I find fault with, is that notion o' yours as I must dress myself just like you. But you do as you like with me-you always did, from when first you begun to w

o give way as far as is right, but who shouldn't dress alike if it isn't sisters? Would you have us go about looking as if we were no kin to one another-us that have got no moth

ht till Saturday morning. It'll be fine fun to see how you'll master your husband and never ra

Nancy, blushing. "You know I d

e an old maid, because some folks are no better than they should be? I haven't a bit o' patience with you-sitting on an addled egg for ever, as if there was never a fresh un in the world. One old maid's enough out o' two

Priscilla wore a dress the facsimile of her pretty sister's, was either the mistaken vanity of the one, or the malicious contrivance of the other in order to set off her own rare beauty. But the good-nature

oung man of quite the highest consequence in the parish-at home in a venerable and unique parlour, which was the extremity of grandeur in her experience, a parlour where she might one day have been mistress, with the consciousness that she was spoken of as "Madam Cass", the Squire's wife. These circumstances exalted her inward drama in her own eyes, and deepened the emphasis with which she declared to herself that not the most dazzling rank should induce her to marry a man whose conduct showed him careless of his character, but that, "love once, love always", was the motto of a true and pu

eatured, grey-haired man, with his chin propped by an ample, many-creased white neckcloth which seemed to predominate over every other point in his person, and somehow to impre

easantly upon her, "when anybody pretends this has been a severe winter, I shall

ave seen him in at the breakfast-table, and felt it quite pleasant to fulfil the hereditary duty of being noisily jovial and patronizing: the large silver snuff-box was in active service and was offered without fail to all neighbours from time to time, however often they might have declined the favour. At present, the Squire had only given an express welcome to the heads of families as they appeared; but always as the evening deepened, his hospita

White Parlour. It's true, most things are gone back'ard in these last thirty years-the country's going down since the old king fell ill. But when I look at Miss Nancy here, I begin to think the lasses keep up their quality;-ding me if I rememb

ning her head about and making subdued noises, very much like a guinea-pig that twitches its nose and soliloqu

going to bate a jot of his dignity by seeming elated at the notion of a match between his family and the Squire's: he was gratified by any honour paid to his daughter; but he must see an alteration in several ways before his consent would be vouchsafed. His spare but healthy person,

s, though; isn't she, Kimble?" said the stout l

right-not one of those miserable apothecaries who canvass for practice in strange neighbourhoods, and spend all their income in starving their one horse, but a man of substance, able to keep an extravagant table like the best of his patients. Time out of mind the Raveloe doctor had been a Kimble; Kimble was inherently a

seeing that she would be too much out of breath to repeat her remark, he went on immediately-"Ha, Miss Prisci

but I'll answer for it the next shall be as goo

nd doctors as many loyal churchmen regard the church and the clergy-tasting a joke against them when he was in health, but imp

ttle pepper to sprinkle over her talk-that's the reason why she never puts too much into her pies. There's my wife now, she never has an answer at her tongue's end; but if I offend her, sh

h good-humour, aside to Mrs. Crackenthorp, who blinked and nodded, and seemed to intend

opted in your profession, Kimble, if you've

en, you see, we haven't the chance of prescribing for 'em. Ha, Miss Nancy," he continued, suddenly

g to have a round with you if you run off with Miss Nancy. He's bespoke her for the first dance, I'll be bound. Eh, sir! what do yo

re it would end by the time his father had set his usual hospitable example of drinking before and a

t I hope she'll consent-if some

If Mr. Godfrey founded any hopes on her consenting to dance with him, he

e," said Godfrey, beginning to lose the sense that

ns," said Nancy,

tand in your way. Else I'm not so very old, eh, my dear?" he went on, skipping to his wife's side

s. Kimble, feeling some pride in a husband who must be regarded as so clever an

the fiddle approaching within a distance at which it could be heard distinctly, made t

oy"-he's for giving us a hint as we aren't enough in a hurry to hear him play. Bob," he called out to his third long-leg

ling as he walked, for he would on no a

nage. "Round here, my man. Ah, I knew it was "The

he respected the company, though he respected the key-note more. As soon as he had repeated the tune and lowered his fiddle, he bowed again to the Squire and the rector, and said, "I hope I see your hon

hould be wanting in due respect. But thereupon he immediately began to prelude, and f

er used to say to me, whenever we heard that tune, "Ah, lad, I come from over the hills and far away." There's a many tunes I don't ma

ly broke with much spirit into "Sir Roger de Coverley", at whic

the Squire, rising. "It's time to begin the dance

fashioned oval mirrors fastened in the panels of the white wainscot. A quaint procession! Old Solomon, in his seedy clothes and long white locks, seemed to be luring that decent company by the magic scream of his fiddle-luring discreet matrons in turban-shaped caps, nay, Mrs. Crackenthorp herself, the summit of whose

tle before sitting down to cards, but rather as part of their social duties. For what were these if not to be merry at appropriate times, interchanging visits and poultry with due frequency, paying each other old-established compliments in sound traditional phrases, passing well-tried personal jokes, urging your guests to eat and drink too much out of hospitality, and eating and drinking too much in your neighbour's house to show that you liked your cheer? And the parson naturally set an example in these social duties. For it would not have been possible for the Raveloe mind, without a peculiar reve

Squire's, or why, on the other hand, Mr. Macey's official respect should restrain him from subjecting the parson's performance to

, and he isn't so cushiony as most o' the oldish gentlefolks-they run fat in general; and he's got a fine leg. The parson's nimble enough, but he hasn't got much of a leg: it's a bit

trips along with her little steps, so as nobody can see how she goes-it's like as if she had little wheels to her

ey, with some contempt. "They wear nayther coat nor

, "how does that big cock's-feather stick in Mrs. Crackenthorp'

wi' a long quill in it. Hey, by jingo, there's the young Squire leading off now, wi' Miss Nancy for partners! There's a lass for you!-like a pink-and-white posy-there's nobody 'ud think as anybody could be

side, and twirled his thumbs with a presto movement as his eyes

er-blades. And as for them coats as he gets from the Fli

it, and do my inside good, i'stead o' smelling and staring at it to see if I can't find faut wi' the brewing. I should like you to pick me

his head, else why should he be turned round the finger by that offal Dunsey as nobody's seen o' late, and let him kill that fine hunting hoss as was the talk o' the coun

y hung off, like, and you

I took care to know as she'd say "snaff", and pretty quick too. I wasn't a-going t

oesn't look so down-hearted to-night. And I see he's for taking her away to sit do

ous concern in Nancy's. One's thoughts may be much occupied with love-struggles, but hardly so as to be insensible to a disorder in the general framework of things. Nancy had no sooner completed her duty in the figure they were dancing than she said to Godfrey, with a deep blush, that she must go and sit down till Priscilla could come to her; for the sisters had already exchanged a short whisper and an open-eyed glance full o

was going, "not in there. I'll wait here till Priscilla's ready to come to

said the artful Godfrey: "I'll leave you here till y

hurt that Mr. Godfrey should make it? They entered, and she seated herself on a chair agains

I needn't give you any more trouble. I'm

, standing by her without any sign of intended

aid Nancy, looking distractingly prim and pretty. "When gentlem

dance with you matters more to me than

was startled. But her instinctive dignity and repugnance to any show of emotion made he

, and I have very good reasons for thinking diff

t would happen-would you never think the present made amends for the pas

feeling had got the mastery of his tongue. Nancy really felt much agitated by the possibility Godfrey's words suggested, b

rey," she answered, with the slightest discernible differen

pettishly. "You might encourage me to be a better

ite of herself. Godfrey was delighted with that little flash, and would have liked to go on and make her q

saying, "Dear heart alive, child, let us look at

t go now," he sa

," said that frank lady, searching for somet

rey, looking at Nancy, who was no

over all her former coldness, and lookin

ess determination to get as much of this joy as h