er
into the secret, and it was dull work to hear so much laughter going on
without ever joining in it; but very soon she knew what it all meant.

"Heard the news?" cried Agnetta, rushing into the dairy, then, without
waiting for an answer, "Bella's goin' to get married. Guess who to?"

"Young Mr Buckle," said Lilac without a moment's hesitation.

"As soon as ever Ma's about again the wedding's to be," said Agnetta
exultingly. "I'm to be bridesmaid, and p'r'aps Charlotte Smith as
well." Lilac, who had stopped her scrubbing to listen, now went on with
it, and Agnetta looked down at her kneeling figure with some contempt.

"What a lot of trouble you take over it!" she said. "Molly used to do
it in half the time."

"If I ain't careful," answered Lilac, "the butter'd get a taste."

"I'll help you a bit," said her cousin condescendingly. "I'll rinse
these pans for you."

Lilac was glad to have Agnetta's company, for she wanted to hear all
about Bella's wedding; but Agnetta's help she was not so anxious for,
because she usually had to do the work all over again. Agnetta's idea
of excellence was to get through her work quickly, to make it look well
outside, to polish the part that showed and leave the rest undone.
Speed and show had always been the things desired in the household at
Orchards Farm--not what _was_ good but what _looked_ good, and could be
had at small expense and labour. Beneath the smart clothing which Mrs
Greenways and her daughters displayed on Sundays, strange discoveries
might have been made. Rents fastened up with pins, stains hidden by
stylish scarves and mantles, stockings unmended, boots trodden down or
in holes. A feather in the hat, a bangle on the arm, and a bunched-up
dress made up for these deficiencies. "If it don't show it don't
matter," Bella was accustomed to say. Agnetta paused to rest after
about two minutes.

"Bella won't have nothing of this sort to do after she's married," she
said. "Charlie says she needn't stir a finger, not unless she likes.
She'll be able to sit with her hands before her just like a lady."

"I shouldn't care about being a lady if that's what I had to do," said
Lilac. "I should think it would be dull. I'd rather see after the
farm, if I was Bella."

"You don't mean to tell me you _like work_?" said Agnetta, staring.
"You wouldn't do it, not if you weren't obliged? 'Tain't natural."

"I like some," said Lilac. "I like the dairy work and I like