"Nay, nay," said Mr. Poyser, who was in his merriest mood, and felt that he had
had a great day, "a bit o' pleasuring's good for thee sometimes. An' thee danc'st
as well as any of 'em, for I'll back thee against all the wives i' the parish for a light
foot an' ankle. An' it was a great honour for the young squire to ask thee first--I
reckon it was because I sat at th' head o' the table an' made the speech. An'
Hetty too--she never had such a partner before--a fine young gentleman in
reg'mentals. It'll serve you to talk on, Hetty, when you're an old woman--how you
danced wi' th' young squire the day he come o' age."
