AttheHallFarmTHEfirstautumnalafternoonsunshineof1801——morethaneighteenmonthsafterthatpartingofAdamandArthurintheHermitage——wasontheyardattheHallFarm；andthebull-dogwasinoneofhismostexcitedmoments，foritwasthathourofthedaywhenthecowswerebeingdrivenintotheyardfortheirafternoonmilking。
Nowonderthepatientbeastsranconfusedlyintothewrongplaces，forthealarmingdinofthebull-dogwasmingledwithmoredistantsoundswhichthetimidfemininecreatures，withpardonablesuperstition，imaginedalsotohavesomerelationtotheirownmovements——withthetremendouscrackofthewaggoner’swhip，theroarofhisvoice，andtheboomingthunderofthewaggon，asitlefttherick-yardemptyofitsgoldenload。
ThemilkingofthecowswasasightMrs。Poyserloved，andatthishouronmilddaysshewasusuallystandingatthehousedoor，withherknittinginherhands，inquietcontemplation，onlyheightenedtoakeenerinterestwhentheviciousyellowcow，whohadoncekickedoverapailfulofpreciousmilk，wasabouttoundergothepreventivepunishmentofhavingherhinder-legsstrapped。
To-day，however，Mrs。Poysergavebutadividedattentiontothearrivalofthecows，forshewasineagerdiscussionwithDinah，whowasstitchingMr。Poyser’sshirt-collars，andhadbornepatientlytohaveherthreadbrokenthreetimesbyTottypullingatherarmwithasuddeninsistencethatsheshouldlookat\"Baby，\"thatis，atalargewoodendollwithnolegsandalongskirt，whosebaldheadTotty，seatedinhersmallchairatDinah’sside，wascaressingandpressingtoherfatcheekwithmuchfervour。Tottyislargerbymorethantwoyears’growththanwhenyoufirstsawher，andshehasonablackfrockunderherpinafore。Mrs。Poysertoohasonablackgown，whichseemstoheightenthefamilylikenessbetweenherandDinah。Inotherrespectsthereislittleoutwardchangenowdiscernibleinouroldfriends，orinthepleasanthouse-place，brightwithpolishedoakandpewter。
\"Ineversawtheliketoyou，Dinah，\"Mrs。Poyserwassaying，\"whenyou’veoncetookanythingintoyourhead:there’snomoremovingyouthantherootedtree。Youmaysaywhatyoulike，butI