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Updated: June 15, 2025
Lilac's work increased; other people beside Mrs Greenways discovered the advantage of her willing hands, and were glad to put some of their own business into them. Thus the care of the poultry, which had been shuffled off Bella's shoulders on to Agnetta, now descended from her to Lilac, the number of eggs brought in much increasing in consequence.
A scarlet one from the cherry tree overhead had dropped into Lilac's lap, and lay there, a bright red spot on her white pinafore. As Peter's eye fell on it it occurred to him to say gruffly: "The leaves is nearly all gone." "Pretty nigh," said Lilac, looking up into the bare branches of the cherry tree. "We'll soon have winter now." There was silence.
It was this: A lady staying at the Rectory had seen Lilac at the concert, and asked whom she was. Whereupon, hearing her history and her present occupation at Orchards Farm, she made the following suggestion. She wanted a second dairymaid, and was greatly pleased with Lilac's appearance and neat dress. Would Mrs Leigh find out whether her friends would like her to take such a situation?
It was not unlikely, for although she had not been actively unkind to Lilac she had never tried to make her happy at the farm; her jealousy had prevented that. And then, the money that would be a great temptation; and the offer of it seemed to raise Lilac's value enormously.
It was not for her to speak, with Ben working at the farm since a boy, but So even the great and important Mr Benson was prepared to be interested in Lilac's choice. She often wondered, as day after day went by so quickly and left her still undecided, what her mother would have advised her to do. But then, if her mother had been alive, all this would not have happened.
"'Twasn't only the poor people though," said Agnetta. "I saw those friends of Mrs Leigh's clapping like anything." "Ah, well," said Mrs Greenways, "Lilac's parents were greatly respected in the parish, and that's the reason of it. She hasn't got no cause to be set up as if it was her singing that pleased 'em." Lilac had indeed very little opportunity of being "set up."
Mrs Greenways interposed hastily, for she feared the beginning of what she called Joshua's "preachments." "You'd like to have seen her, maybe; but she's gone with Agnetta to the Vicarage to take some eggs. Mrs Leigh likes to see the gals now and then." Joshua made his visit as long as he could in the hope of Lilac's return, but she did not appear, and at last he could wait no longer.
Still holding the hair, she drew her cousin towards the wide open doors of the loft. "Now," she said, "I can see what I'm at, an' I shan't be a minute." The steel scissors struck coldly against Lilac's forehead. It was too late to resist now. She held her breath. Grind, grind, snip! they went in Agnetta's remorseless fingers, and some soft waving lengths of hair fell on the ground.
Then the artist he had been quite angry. "You stupid little girl," he had said, "you've made yourself quite commonplace. You're no use whatever. Run away." And now Mother that was worst of all: "You don't look like my child." Lilac's tears fell fast when she remembered that. How very hard they all were upon her!
"Lilac's lucky to get a home like Orchards Farm. But there! Some is born lucky." The conversation continued in the same strain until Mrs Wishing discovered that she must go home and get Dan'l's supper ready. "An' it's time I was starting too," added Mrs Pinhorn. "I've got a goodish bit to walk." They both looked hesitatingly at Lilac.
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