第35章

Afterus，themaidenscame，milkmaidsandtherestofthem，withBettyMuxworthyattheirhead，scoldingevennow，becausetheywouldnotwalkfitly。Buttheyonlylaughedather；andsheknewitwasnogoodtoscold，withallthemenbehindthem。

ThentheSnowescametroopingforward；FarmerNicholasinthemiddle，walkingasifhewouldratherwalktoawheatfieldofhisown，yetcontenttofollowlead，becauseheknewhimselftheleader；andsigningeverynowandthentothepeoplehereandthere，asifIwerenobody。Buttoseehisthreegreatdaughters，strongandhandsomewenches，makinguponeitherside，asifsomebodywouldrunoffwiththem——thiswastheverythingthattaughtmehowtovalueLorna，andherpuresimplicity。

AftertheSnowescameJasperKebby，withhiswife，new-married；andaveryhonestpairtheywere，upononlyahundredacres，andarightofcommon。Afterthesethemencamehotly，withoutdecentorder，tryingtospythegirlsinfront，andmakegoodjokesaboutthem，atwhichtheirwiveslaughedheartily，beingjealouswhenaloneperhaps。Andafterthesemenandtheirwivescameallthechildrentoddling，pickingflowersbytheway，andchatteringandaskingquestions，asthechildrenwill。Theremusthavebeenthreescoreofus，takeonewithanother，andthelanewasfullofpeople。Whenwewerecometothebigfield-gate，wherethefirstsicklewastobe，ParsonBowdenheaveduptherailwiththesleevesofhisgowndonegreenwithit；andhesaidthateverybodymighthearhim，thoughhisbreathwasshort，’InthenameoftheLord，Amen!’

’Amen!Sobeit!’criedtheclerk，whowasfarbehind，beingonlyashoemaker。

ThenParsonBowdenreadsomeversesfromtheparishBible，tellingustoliftupoureyes，andlookuponthefieldsalreadywhitetoharvest；andthenhelaidtheBibledownonthesquareheadofthegate-post，anddespitehisgownandcassock，threegoodswipeshecutoffcorn，andlaidthemrightendonwards。Allthistimetherestwerehuddlingoutsidethegate，andalongthelane，notdaringtointerferewithparson，butwhisperinghowwellhedidit。

Whenhehadstowedthecornlikethat，motherentered，leaningonme，andwebothsaid，’ThanktheLordforallHismercies，andthesethefirst-fruitsofHishand!’Andthentheclerkgaveoutapsalmversebyverse，doneverywell；althoughhesneezedinthemidstofit，fromabeardofwheatthrustuphisnosebytherivalcobbleratBrendon。Andwhenthepsalmwassung，sostronglythatthefoxglovesonthebankwereshaking，likeachimeofbells，atit，Parsontookastoopofcider，andweallfelltoatreaping。

OfcourseImeanthemen，notwomen；althoughIknowthatupthecountry，womenareallowedtoreap；andrightwelltheyreapit，keepingrowforrowwithmen，comely，andindueorder，yet，meseems，themenmustillattendtotheirownreaping-hooks，infearlesttheothercutthemselves，beingtheweakervessel。Butinourpart，womendowhatseemstheirproperbusiness，followingwellbehindthemen，outofharmoftheswinginghook，andstoopingwiththeirbreastsandarmsuptheycatchtheswathesofcorn，wherethereaperscastthem，andtuckingthemtogethertightlywithawisplaidunderthem，thistheyfetcharoundandtwist，withakneetokeepitclose；andlo，thereisagoodlysheaf，readytosetupinstooks!Afterthesethechildrencome，gatheringeachforhislittleself，ifthefarmerberight-minded；untileachhathabundlemadeasbigashimselfandlonger，andtumblesnowandagainwithit，inthedeeperpartofthestubble。

We，themen，keptmarchingonwardsdowntheflankoftheyellowwall，withkneesbentwide，andleftarmbowedandrightarmflashingsteel。Eachmaninhisseveralplace，keepingdowntherigorchine，ontherightsideofthereaperinfront，andtheleftofthemanthatfollowedhim，eachmakingfarthersweepandinroadintothegoldenbreadthanddepth，eachcastingleftwardshisrichclearanceonhisforegoer’sdoubletrack。

Solikehalfawedgeofwildfowl，toandfrowesweptthefield；andwhentoeitherhedgew