Soon after, they all sat down to dinner; Jem Watkins' plan of the barn being universally scouted in favour of an open-air feast, in the shelter of a hay-rick, under the mild blue September sky.

Jem presided with a ponderous dignity which throughout the day furnished great private amusement to Ursula, John, and me.
In the afternoon, all rambled about as they liked--many under the ciceroneship of Master Edwin and Master Guy, who were very popular and grand indeed.

Then the mother, with Walter clinging shy-eyed to her gown, went among the other poorer mothers there; talked to one, comforted another, counselled a third, and invariably listened to all.
There was little of patronizing benevolence about her; she spoke freely, sometimes even with some sharpness, when reproving comment was needed; but her earnest kindness, her active goodness, darting at once to the truth and right of things, touched the women's hearts.

While a few were a little wholesomely afraid of her--all recognized the influence of "the mistress," penetrating deep and sure, extending far and wide.
She laughed at me when I told her so--said it was all nonsense--that she only followed John's simple recipe for making his work-people feel that he was a friend as well as a master.
"What is that ?" "To pay attention and consideration to all they say; and always to take care and remember to call them by their right Christian names." I could not help smiling--it was an answer so like Mrs.Halifax, who never indulged in any verbal sentimentalism.

Her part in the world was deeds.
It was already evening, when, having each contributed our quota, great or small, to the entertainment, we all came and sat on the long bench under the walnut-tree.