'
'Then manage so as you may stay tea, Priscilla,' said Nancy,
putting her hand on her sister's arm affectionately. 'Come, now; and
we'll go round the garden while father has his nap.'
'My dear child, he'll have a beautiful nap in the gig, for I
shall drive. And as for staying tea, I can't hear of it; for there's
this dairymaid, now she knows she's to be married, turned
Michaelmas, she'd as lieve pour the new milk into the pig-trough as
into the pans. That's the way with 'em all: it's as if they thought
the world 'ud be new-made because they're to be married. So come and
let me put my bonnet on, and there'll 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:
'I'm as glad as anything at your husband's making that exchange
o' land with cousin Osgood, and beginning the dairying. It's a
thousand pities you didn't do it before; for it'll give you
something to fill your mind. There's 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 there's
nothing else to look for; but there's always something fresh with
the dairy; for even in the depths o' winter there's some pleasure in
conquering the butter, and making it come whether or no.
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