Cousin Phillis | Page 9

be practical as well as reverend, I shall begin
to respect him.'
But he hardly attended to my answer, he was so much more occupied
with directing his work-people. Indeed, my answer did not come very
readily; and the most distinct part of it was the mention of the invitation
that had been given me.
'Oh, of course you can go--and on Friday, too, if you like; there is no
reason why not this week; and you've done a long spell of work this
time, old fellow.' I thought that I did not want to go on Friday; but
when the day came, I found that I should prefer going to staying away,
so I availed myself of Mr Holdsworth's permission, and went over to

Hope Farm some time in the afternoon, a little later than my last visit. I
found the 'curate' open to admit the soft September air, so tempered by
the warmth of the sun, that it was warmer out of doors than in, although
the wooden log lay smouldering in front of a heap of hot ashes on the
hearth. The vine-leaves over the window had a tinge more yellow, their
edges were here and there scorched and browned; there was no ironing
about, and cousin Holman sate just outside the house, mending a shirt.
Phillis was at her knitting indoors: it seemed as if she had been at it all
the week. The manyspeckled fowls were pecking about in the farmyard
beyond, and the milk-cans glittered with brightness, hung out to
sweeten. The court was so full of flowers that they crept out upon the
low-covered wall and horse-mount, and were even to be found
self-sown upon the turf that bordered the path to the back of the house.
I fancied that my Sunday coat was scented for days afterwards by the
bushes of sweetbriar and the fraxinella that perfumed the air. From time
to time cousin Holman put her hand into a covered basket at her feet,
and threw handsful of corn down for the pigeons that cooed and
fluttered in the air around, in expectation of this treat.
I had a thorough welcome as soon as she saw me. 'Now this is
kind--this is right down friendly,' shaking my hand warmly. 'Phillis,
your cousin Manning is come!'
'Call me Paul, will you?' said I; 'they call me so at home, and Manning
in the office.'
'Well, Paul, then. Your room is all ready for you, Paul, for, as I said to
the minister, "I'll have it ready whether he comes on Friday or not."
And the minister said he must go up to the Ashfield whether you were
to come or not; but he would come home betimes to see if you were
here. I'll show you to your room, and you can wash the dust off a bit.'
After I came down, I think she did not quite know what to do with me;
or she might think that I was dull; or she might have work to do in
which I hindered her; for she called Phillis, and bade her put on her
bonnet, and go with me to the Ashfield, and find father. So we set off, I
in a little flutter of a desire to make myself agreeable, but wishing that
my companion were not quite so tall; for she was above me in height.

While I was wondering how to begin our conversation, she took up the
words.
'I suppose, cousin Paul, you have to be very busy at your work all day
long in general.'
'Yes, we have to be in the office at half-past eight; and we have an hour
for dinner, and then we go at it again till eight or nine.'
'Then you have not much time for reading.'
'No,' said I, with a sudden consciousness that I did not make the most
of what leisure I had.
'No more have I. Father always gets an hour before going a-field in the
mornings, but mother does not like me to get up so early.'
'My mother is always wanting me to get up earlier when I am at home.'
'What time do you get up?'
'Oh!--ah!--sometimes half-past six: not often though;' for I remembered
only twice that I had done so during the past summer.
She turned her head and looked at me.
'Father is up at three; and so was mother till she was ill. I should like to
be up at four.'
'Your father up at three! Why, what has he to do at that hour?'
'What has he not to do? He has his private exercise in his own room; he
always rings the great bell which calls the men to milking; he rouses up
Betty, our maid; as often as not he