Chapter 118

ItwaslateintheeveningwhenPhiliparrivedatFerne.ItwasMrs.Athelny』snativevillage,andshehadbeenaccustomedfromherchildhoodtopickinthehop-fieldtowhichwithherhusbandandherchildrenshestillwenteveryyear.LikemanyKentishfolkherfamilyhadgoneoutregularly,gladtoearnalittlemoney,butespeciallyregardingtheannualouting,lookedforwardtoformonths,asthebestofholidays.Theworkwasnothard,itwasdoneincommon,intheopenair,andforthechildrenitwasalong,delightfulpicnic;heretheyoungmenmetthemaidens;inthelongeveningswhenworkwasovertheywanderedaboutthelanes,makinglove;andthehoppingseasonwasgenerallyfollowedbyweddings.Theywentoutincartswithbedding,potsandpans,chairsandtables;andFernewhilethehoppinglastedwasdeserted.Theywereveryexclusiveandwouldhaveresentedtheintrusionofforeigners,astheycalledthepeoplewhocamefromLondon;theylookeddownuponthemandfearedthemtoo;theywerearoughlot,andtherespectablecountryfolkdidnotwanttomixwiththem.Intheolddaysthehopperssleptinbarns,buttenyearsagoarowofhutshadbeenerectedatthesideofameadow;andtheAthelnys,likemanyothers,hadthesamehuteveryyear.

AthelnymetPhilipatthestationinacarthehadborrowedfromthepublic-houseatwhichhehadgotaroomforPhilip.Itwasaquarterofamilefromthehop-field.Theylefthisbagthereandwalkedovertothemeadowinwhichwerethehuts.Theywerenothingmorethanalong,lowshed,dividedintolittleroomsabouttwelvefeetsquare.Infrontofeachwasafireofsticks,roundwhichafamilywasgrouped,eagerlywatchingthecookingofsupper.Thesea-airandthesunhadbrownedalreadythefacesofAthelny』schildren.Mrs.Athelnyseemedadifferentwomaninhersun-bonnet:youfeltthatthelongyearsinthecityhadmadenorealdifferencetoher;shewasthecountrywomanbornandbred,andyoucouldseehowmuchathomeshefoundherselfinthecountry.Shewasfryingbaconandatthesametimekeepinganeyeontheyoungerchildren,butshehadaheartyhandshakeandajollysmileforPhilip.Athelnywasenthusiasticoverthedelightsofaruralexistence.

「We』restarvedforsunandlightinthecitieswelivein.Itisn』tlife,it』salongimprisonment.Letussellallwehave,Betty,andtakeafarminthecountry.」

「Icanseeyouinthecountry,」sheansweredwithgood-humouredscorn.「Why,thefirstrainydaywe

hadinthewinteryou』dbecryingforLondon.」SheturnedtoPhilip.「Athelny』salwayslikethiswhenwecomedownhere.Country,Ilikethat!Why,hedon』tknowaswedefromamangel-wurzel.」

「Daddywaslazytoday,」remarkedJane,withthefranknesswhichcharacterizedher,「hedidn』tfillonebin.」

「I』mgettingintopractice,child,andtomorrowIshallfillmorebinsthanallofyouputtogether.」

「Comeandeatyoursupper,children,」saidMrs.Athelny.「Where』sSally?」

「HereIam,mother.」

Shesteppedoutoftheirlittlehut,andtheflamesofthewoodfireleapedupandcastsharpcolouruponherface.OflatePhiliphadonlyseenherinthetrimfrocksshehadtakentosinceshewasatthedressmaker』s,andtherewassomethingverycharmingintheprintdresssheworenow,looseandeasytoworkin;thesleevesweretuckedupandshowedherstrong,roundarms.Shetoohadasun-bonnet.

「Youlooklikeamilkmaidinafairystory,」saidPhilip,asheshookhandswithher.

「She』sthebelleofthehop-fields,」saidAthelny.「Myword,iftheSquire』ssonseesyouhe』llmakeyouanofferofmarriagebeforeyoucansayJackRobinson.」

「TheSquirehasn』tgotason,father,」saidSally.

Shelookedaboutforaplacetositdownin,andPhilipmaderoomforherbesidehim.Shelookedwonderfulinthenightlitbywoodfires.Shewaslikesomeruralgoddess,andyouthoughtofthosefresh,stronggirlswhomoldHerrickhadpraisedinexquisitenumbers.Thesupperwassimple,breadandbutter,crispbacon,teaforthechildren,andbeerforMr.andMrs.AthelnyandPhilip.Athelny,eatinghungrily,praisedloudlyallheate.HeflungwordsofscornatLucullusandpiledinvectivesuponBrillat-Savarin.

「There』sonethingonecansayforyou,Athelny,」saidhiswife,「youdoenjoyyourfoodandno

mistake!」

「Cookedbyyourhand,myBetty,」hesaid,stretchingoutaneloquentforefinger.

Philipfelthimselfverycomfortable.Helookedhappilyatthelineoffires,withpeoplegroupedaboutthem,andthecolouroftheflamesagainstthenight;attheendofthemeadowwasalineofgreatelms,andabovethestarrysky.Thechildrentalkedandlaughed,andAthelny,achildamongthem,madethemroarbyhistricksandfancies.

「TheythinkararelotofAthelnydownhere,」saidhiswife.「Why,Mrs.Bridgessaidtome,Idon』tknowwhatweshoulddowithoutMr.Athelnynow,shesaid.He』salwaysuptosomething,he』smorelikeaschoolboythanthefatherofafamily.」

Sallysatinsilence,butsheattendedtoPhilip』swantsinathoughtfulfashionthatcharmedhim.Itwaspleasanttohaveherbesidehim,andnowandthenheglancedathersunburned,healthyface.Oncehecaughthereyes,andshesmiledquietly.WhensupperwasoverJaneandasmallbrotherweresentdowntoabrookthatranatthebottomofthemeadowtofetchapailofwaterforwashingup.

「Youchildren,showyourUnclePhilipwherewesleep,andthenyoumustbethinkingofgoingtobed.」

SmallhandsseizedPhilip,andhewasdraggedtowardsthehut.Hewentinandstruckamatch.Therewasnofurnitureinit;andbesideatinbox,inwhichclotheswerekept,therewasnothingbutthebeds;therewerethreeofthem,oneagainsteachwall.AthelnyfollowedPhilipinandshowedthemproudly.

「That』sthestufftosleepon,」hecried.「Noneofyourspring-mattressesandswansdown.Ineversleepsosoundlyanywhereashere.YOUwillsleepbetweensheets.Mydearfellow,Ipityyoufromthebottomofmysoul.」

Thebedsconsistedofathicklayerofhopvine,onthetopofwhichwasacoatingofstraw,andthiswas

coveredwithablanket.Afteradayintheopenair,withthearomaticscentofthehopsallroundthem,thehappypickerssleptliketops.Bynineo』clockallwasquietinthemeadowandeveryoneinbedbutoneortwomenwhostilllingeredinthepublic-houseandwouldnotcomebacktillitwasclosedatten.AthelnywalkedtherewithPhilip.ButbeforehewentMrs.Athelnysaidtohim:

「Webreakfastaboutaquartertosix,butIdaresayyouwon』twanttogetupasearlyasthat.Yousee,wehavetosettoworkatsix.」

「Ofcoursehemustgetupearly,」criedAthelny,「andhemustworkliketherestofus.He』sgottoearnhisboard.Nowork,nodinner,mylad.」

「Thechildrengodowntobathebeforebreakfast,andtheycangiveyouacallontheirwayback.TheypassTheJollySailor.」

「Ifthey』llwakemeI』llcomeandbathewiththem,」saidPhilip.

JaneandHaroldandEdwardshoutedwithdelightattheprospect,andnextmorningPhilipwasawakenedoutofasoundsleepbytheirburstingintohisroom.Theboysjumpedonhisbed,andhehadtochasethemoutwithhisslippers.Heputonacoatandapairoftrousersandwentdown.Thedayhadonlyjustbroken,andtherewasanipintheair;buttheskywascloudless,andthesunwasshiningyellow.Sally,holdingConnie』shand,wasstandinginthemiddleoftheroad,withatowelandabathing-dressoverherarm.Hesawnowthathersun-bonnetwasofthecolouroflavender,andagainstitherface,redandbrown,waslikeanapple.Shegreetedhimwithherslow,sweetsmile,andhenoticedsuddenlythatherteethweresmallandregularandverywhite.Hewonderedwhytheyhadnevercaughthisattentionbefore.

「Iwasforlettingyousleepon,」shesaid,「buttheywouldgoupandwakeyou.Isaidyoudidn』treally

wanttocome.」

「Oh,yes,Idid.」

Theywalkeddowntheroadandthencutacrossthemarshes.Thatwayitwasunderamiletothesea.Thewaterlookedcoldandgray,andPhilipshiveredatthesightofit;buttheotherstoreofftheirclothesandraninshouting.Sallydideverythingalittleslowly,andshedidnotcomeintothewatertillalltherestweresplashingroundPhilip.Swimmingwashisonlyaccomplishment;hefeltathomeinthewater;andsoonhehadthemallimitatinghimasheplayedatbeingaporpoise,andadrowningman,andafatladyafraidofwettingherhair.Thebathewasuproarious,anditwasnecessaryforSallytobeveryseveretoinducethemalltocomeout.

「You』reasbadasanyofthem,」shesaidtoPhilip,inhergrave,maternalway,whichwasatoncecomicandtouching.「They』renotanythinglikesonaughtywhenyou』renothere.」

Theywalkedback,Sallywithherbrighthairstreamingoveroneshoulderandhersun-bonnetinherhand,butwhentheygottothehutsMrs.Athelnyhadalreadystartedforthehop-garden.Athleny,inapairoftheoldesttrousersanyonehadeverworn,hisjacketbuttoneduptoshowhehadnoshirton,andinawide-brimmedsofthat,wasfryingkippersoverafireofsticks.Hewasdelightedwithhimself:helookedeveryinchabrigand.Assoonashesawthepartyhebegantoshoutthewitches』chorusfromMacbethovertheodorouskippers.

「Youmustn』tdawdleoveryourbreakfastormotherwillbeangry,」hesaid,whentheycameup.

Andinafewminutes,HaroldandJanewithpiecesofbreadandbutterintheirhands,theysaunteredthroughthemeadowintothehop-field.Theywerethelasttoleave.Ahop-gardenwasoneofthesightsconnectedwithPhilip』sboyhoodandtheoast-housestohimthemosttypicalfeatureoftheKentishscene.

Itwaswithnosenseofstrangeness,butasthoughhewereathome,thatPhilipfollowedSallythroughthelonglinesofthehops.Thesunwasbrightnowandcastasharpshadow.Philipfeastedhiseyesontherichnessofthegreenleaves.Thehopswereyellowing,andtohimtheyhadthebeautyandthepassionwhichpoetsinSicilyhavefoundinthepurplegrape.AstheywalkedalongPhilipfelthimselfoverwhelmedbytherichluxuriance.AsweetscentarosefromthefatKentishsoil,andthefitfulSeptemberbreezewasheavywiththegoodlyperfumeofthehops.Athelstanfelttheexhilarationinstinctively,forhelifteduphisvoiceandsang;itwasthecrackedvoiceoftheboyoffifteen,andSallyturnedround.

「Youbequiet,Athelstan,orweshallhaveathunderstorm.」

Inamomenttheyheardthehumofvoices,andinamomentmorecameuponthepickers.Theywereallhardatwork,talkingandlaughingastheypicked.Theysatonchairs,onstools,onboxes,withtheirbasketsbytheirsides,andsomestoodbythebinthrowingthehopstheypickedstraightintoit.Therewerealotofchildrenaboutandagoodmanybabies,someinmakeshiftcradles,sometuckedupinarugonthesoftbrowndryearth.Thechildrenpickedalittleandplayedagreatdeal.Thewomenworkedbusily,theyhadbeenpickersfromchildhood,andtheycouldpicktwiceasfastasforeignersfromLondon.Theyboastedaboutthenumberofbushelstheyhadpickedinaday,buttheycomplainedyoucouldnotmakemoneynowasinformertimes:thentheypaidyouashillingforfivebushels,butnowtheratewaseightandevenninebushelstotheshilling.Intheolddaysagoodpickercouldearnenoughintheseasontokeepherfortherestoftheyear,butnowtherewasnothinginit;yougotaholidayfornothing,andthatwasaboutall.Mrs.Hillhadboughtherselfapianneroutofwhatshemadepicking,soshesaid,butshewasverynear,

onewouldn』tliketobenearlikethat,andmostpeoplethoughtitwasonlywhatshesaid,ifthetruthwasknownperhapsitwouldbefoundthatshehadputabitofmoneyfromthesavingsbanktowardsit.

Thehoppersweredividedintobincompaniesoftenpickers,notcountingchildren,andAthelnyloudlyboastedofthedaywhenhewouldhaveacompanyconsistingentirelyofhisownfamily.Eachcompanyhadabin-man,whosedutyitwastosupplyitwithstringsofhopsattheirbins(thebinwasalargesackonawoodenframe,aboutsevenfeethigh,andlongrowsofthemwereplacedbetweentherowsofhops;)anditwastothispositionthatAthelnyaspiredwhenhisfamilywasoldenoughtoformacompany.Meanwhileheworkedratherbyencouragingothersthanbyexertionsofhisown.HesauntereduptoMrs.Athelny,whohadbeenbusyforhalfanhourandhadalreadyemptiedabasketintothebin,andwithhiscigarettebetweenhislipsbegantopick.Heassertedthathewasgoingtopickmorethananyonethatday,butmother;ofcoursenoonecouldpicksomuchasmother;thatremindedhimofthetrialswhichAphroditeputuponthecuriousPsyche,andhebegantotellhischildrenthestoryofherlovefortheunseenbridegroom.Hetolditverywell.ItseemedtoPhilip,listeningwithasmileonhislips,thattheoldtalefittedinwiththescene.Theskywasverybluenow,andhethoughtitcouldnotbemorelovelyeveninGreece.Thechildrenwiththeirfairhairandrosycheeks,strong,healthy,andvivacious;thedelicateformofthehops;thechallengingemeraldoftheleaves,likeablareoftrumpets;themagicofthegreenalley,narrowingtoapointasyoulookeddowntherow,withthepickersintheirsun-bonnets:perhapstherewasmoreoftheGreekspirittherethanyoucouldfindinthebooksofprofessorsorinmuseums.HewasthankfulforthebeautyofEngland.Hethoughtofthewindingwhiteroadsandthehedgerows,thegreenmeadowswiththeirelm-trees,thedelicatelineofthehillsandthecopsesthatcrownedthem,theflatnessofthemarshes,andthemelancholyoftheNorthSea.Hewasverygladthathefeltitsloveliness.ButpresentlyAthelnygrewrestlessandannouncedthathewouldgoandaskhowRobertKemp』smotherwas.HekneweveryoneinthegardenandcalledthemallbytheirChristiannames;heknewtheirfamilyhistoriesandallthathadhappenedtothemfrombirth.Withharmlessvanityheplayedthefinegentlemanamongthem,andtherewasatouchofcondescensioninhisfamiliarity.Philipwouldnotgowithhim.

「I』mgoingtoearnmydinner,」hesaid.

「Quiteright,myboy,」answeredAthelny,withawaveofthehand,ashestrolledaway.「Nowork,nodinner.」