“Aye, aye, I see the cloud,” said Mr. Poyser, “’rizon or no ’rizon.  It’s right o’er Mike Holdsworth’s fallow, and a foul fallow it is.”

“Well, you mark my words, as that cloud ’ull spread o’er the sky pretty nigh as quick as you’d spread a tarpaulin over one o’ your hay-ricks.  It’s a great thing to ha’ studied the look o’ the clouds.  Lord bless you!  Th’ met’orological almanecks can learn me nothing, but there’s a pretty sight o’ things I could let them up to, if they’d just come to me.  And how are you, Mrs. Poyser?—­thinking o’ getherin’ the red currants soon, I reckon.  You’d a deal better gether ’em afore they’re o’erripe, wi’ such weather as we’ve got to look forward to.  How do ye do, Mistress Bede?” Mr. Craig continued, without a pause, nodding by the way to Adam and Seth.  “I hope y’ enjoyed them spinach and gooseberries as I sent Chester with th’ other day.  If ye want vegetables while ye’re in trouble, ye know where to come to.  It’s well known I’m not giving other folks’ things away, for when I’ve supplied the house, the garden s my own spekilation, and it isna every man th’ old squire could get as ’ud be equil to the undertaking, let alone asking whether he’d be willing I’ve got to run my calkilation fine, I can tell you, to make sure o’ getting back the money as I pay the squire.  I should like to see some o’ them fellows as make the almanecks looking as far before their noses as I’ve got to do every year as comes.”

“They look pretty fur, though,” said Mr. Poyser, turning his head on one side and speaking in rather a subdued reverential tone.  “Why, what could come truer nor that pictur o’ the cock wi’ the big spurs, as has got its head knocked down wi’ th’ anchor, an’ th’ firin’, an’ the ships behind?  Why, that pictur was made afore Christmas, and yit it’s come as true as th’ Bible.  Why, th’ cock’s France, an’ th’ anchor’s Nelson—­an’ they told us that beforehand.”

“Pee—­ee-eh!” said Mr. Craig.  “A man doesna want to see fur to know as th’ English ‘ull beat the French.  Why, I know upo’ good authority as it’s a big Frenchman as reaches five foot high, an’ they live upo’ spoon-meat mostly.  I knew a man as his father had a particular knowledge o’ the French.  I should like to know what them grasshoppers are to do against such fine fellows as our young Captain Arthur.  Why, it ’ud astonish a Frenchman only to look at him; his arm’s thicker nor a Frenchman’s body, I’ll be bound, for they pinch theirsells in wi’ stays; and it’s easy enough, for they’ve got nothing i’ their insides.”

“Where is the captain, as he wasna at church to-day?” said Adam.  “I was talking to him o’ Friday, and he said nothing about his going away.”

“Oh, he’s only gone to Eagledale for a bit o’ fishing; I reckon he’ll be back again afore many days are o’er, for he’s to be at all th’ arranging and preparing o’ things for the comin’ o’ age o’ the 30th o’ July.  But he’s fond o’ getting away for a bit, now and then.  Him and th’ old squire fit one another like frost and flowers.”