WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 147 



tells of the milkers' return ; and then the dairy is in 

 full operation. The household breakfasts at half -past 

 six or thereabouts, and while breakfast is going on the 

 heavy tramp of feet may be heard passing along the 

 roadway through the rickyard the haymakers march- 

 ing to the fields. For the next two hours or so the 

 sounds from the dairy are the only interruption of 

 the silence ; then come the first wagons loaded with 

 hay, jolting and creaking, the carter's lads shouting, 

 " Woaght ! " to the horses as they steer through the 

 gateway and sweep round, drawing up under the rick. 

 Between eleven and twelve the wagons cease to 

 arrive it is luncheon-time : the exact time for lunch- 

 eon varies a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes, 

 or more, according to the state of the work. Mes- 

 sengers come home for cans of beer, and carry out 

 also to the field wooden " bottles " small barrels 

 holding a gallon or two. After a short interval work 

 goes on again till nearly four o'clock, when it is dinner- 

 time. One or two labourers, deputed by the rest, and 

 having leave and licence so to do, enter the farmhouse 

 garden and pull up bundles of onions, lettuces, 01 

 radishes sown over wide areas on purpose and 

 carry them out to the cart-house, or wherever the 

 men may be. If far from home, the women often 

 boil a kettle for tea under the hedge, collecting dead 

 sticks fallen from the trees. At six o'clock work is 

 over : the women are allowed to leave half an hour 

 or so previously, that they may prepare their hus- 

 bands' suppers. 



