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.”