Free Cousin Phillis by Elizabeth Gaskell Page A

modest
household; but my mother had a few extra comforts provided for her by
her husband. I made acquaintance with Mr and Mrs Ellison, and first saw
pretty Margaret Ellison, who is now my wife. When I returned to Eltham,
I found that a step was decided upon, which had been in contemplation
for some time; that Holdsworth and I should remove our quarters to
Hornby; our daily presence, and as much of our time as possible, being
required for the completion of the line at that end.
    Of course this led to greater facility of intercourse with the Hope
Farm people. We could easily walk out there after our day's work was
done, and spend a balmy evening hour or two, and yet return before the
summer's twilight had quite faded away. Many a time, indeed, we would
fain have stayed longer—the open air, the fresh and pleasant country,
made so agreeable a contrast to the close, hot town lodgings which I
shared with Mr Holdsworth; but early hours, both at eve and morn, were
an imperative necessity with the minister, and he made no scruple at
turning either or both of us out of the house directly after evening
prayer, or 'exercise', as he called it. The remembrance of many a happy
day, and of several little scenes, comes back upon me as I think of
that summer. They rise like pictures to my memory, and in this way I
can date their succession; for I know that corn harvest must have come
after hay-making, apple-gathering after corn-harvest.
    The removal to Hornby took up some time, during which we had neither of
us any leisure to go out to the Hope Farm. Mr Holdsworth had been out
there once during my absence at home. One sultry evening, when work was
done, he proposed our walking out and paying the Holmans a visit. It so
happened that I had omitted to write my usual weekly letter home in our
press of business, and I wished to finish that before going out. Then
he said that he would go, and that I could follow him if I liked. This
I did in about an hour; the weather was so oppressive, I remember, that
I took off my coat as I walked, and hung it over my arm. All the doors
and windows at the farm were open when I arrived there, and every tiny
leaf on the trees was still. The silence of the place was profound; at
first I thought that it was entirely deserted; but just as I drew near
the door I heard a weak sweet voice begin to sing; it was cousin
Holman, all by herself in the house-place, piping up a hymn, as she
knitted away in the clouded light. She gave me a kindly welcome, and
poured out all the small domestic news of the fortnight past upon me,
and, in return, I told her about my own people and my visit at home.
    'Where were the rest?' at length I asked.
    Betty and the men were in the field helping with the last load of hay,
for the minister said there would be rain before the morning. Yes, and
the minister himself, and Phillis, and Mr Holdsworth, were all there
helping. She thought that she herself could have done something; but
perhaps she was the least fit for hay-making of any one; and somebody
must stay at home and take care of the house, there were so many tramps
about; if I had not had something to do with the railroad she would
have called them navvies. I asked her if she minded being left alone,
as I should like to go arid help; and having her full and glad
permission to leave her alone, I went off, following her directions:
through the farmyard, past the cattle-pond, into the ashfield, beyond
into the higher field with two holly-bushes in the middle. I arrived
there: there was Betty with all the farming men, and a cleared field,
and a heavily laden cart; one man at the top of the great pile ready to
catch the fragrant hay which the others threw up to him with their
pitchforks; a little heap of cast-off clothes in a corner of the field
(for the heat, even at seven o'clock, was insufferable), a few cans and
baskets, and Rover lying by them panting, and keeping watch. Plenty of
loud, hearty, cheerful talking; but no minister, no Phillis,