Sweet Nothings

While the listeners were smiling their comments there was a quick movement behind their backs, and they looked round. Tess, pale-faced, had gone to the door. ¡¡¡¡`How warm 'tis to-day!' she said, almost inaudibly. ¡¡¡¡It was warm, and none of them connected her withdrawal with the reminiscences of the dairyman. He went forward, and opened the door for her, saying with tender raillery-- ¡¡¡¡`Why, maidy' (he frequently, with unconscious irony, gave her this pet name), `the prettiest milker I've got in my dairy; you mustn't get so fagged as this at the first breath of summer weather, or we shall be finely put to for want of 'ee by dog-days, shan't we, Mr Clare?' ¡¡¡¡`I was faint - and - I think I am better out o' doors,' she said mechanically; and disappeared outside. ¡¡¡¡Fortunately for her the milk in the revolving churn at that moment changed its squashing for a decided flick-flack. ¡¡¡¡`'Tis coming!' cried Mrs Crick, and the attention of all was called off from Tess.