126 Luncheon and Dinner. 



past another clattering tells of the milkers' return ; 

 and then the dairy is in full operation. The house- 

 hold breakfasts at half-past six or thereabouts, and 

 while breakfast is going on the heavy tramp of feet 

 ma}^ be heard passing along the roadway through the 

 rick-yard — the haymakers marching 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 thej^ 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 

 luncheon varies a quarter of an hour or twenty 

 minutes, or more, according to the state of the work. 

 Messengers 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 nearl}'^ four o'clock, when it is 

 dinner-time. A laborer or two, deputed by the rest 

 and having leave and Hcense so to do, enters the 

 farmhouse garden and pulls up bundles of onions, 

 lettuces, or radishes — sown over wide areas on 

 purpose — and carries them out to the cart-houses, 

 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 husbands' suppers. 



As the sunset approaches the long broad dusty 

 road loses its white glare, and j^onder by the hamlet 



