All this was passed over in silence by Aurelia's pride and delicacy. She only described the scene when the last waggon came in with its load, the horses decked with flowers and ribbons, and the farmer's youngest girl enthroned on the top of the shocks, upholding the harvest doll. This was a little sheaf, curiously constructed and bound with straw plaits and ribbons. The farmer, on the arrival in the yard, stood on the horse-block, and held it high over the heads of all the harvesters, and the chorus was raised: "A knack, a knack, a knack, Well cut, well bound, Well shocked, well saved from the ground, Whoop! whoop! whoop!"
After which the harvest doll displaced her last year's predecessor over the hearth, where she was to hang till next year.
All this Aurelia described, comparing the customs with those of her own county, her heart beating all the time under the doubt how to venture on describing the fulfilment of her commission. At last Mr. Belamour said, "In such a scene of gaiety, no doubt the recollection of sorrow had no place."
"O sir, you could not think I should forget."
"I thought I might have asked more than was possible to you."
"It was the only part of the day that I enjoyed. I took little Fay with me, for no one seemed to care for her, while Amy was queening it with all the Wheatfields, and Letty was equally happy with her foster mother. I could see the church spire, so I needed not to ask the way, and we crossed the stubble fields, while the sun sent a beautiful slanting light through the tall elm trees that closed in the churchyard, but let one window glitter between them like a great diamond. It looked so peaceful after all the noise we left behind, even little Fay felt it, and said she loved the quiet walk along the green baulks [An unplowed strip of land--D.L.]. The churchyard has a wooden rail with steps to cross it on either side, and close under the church wall is a tomb, a great square simple block, surmounted by an urn."
"Yes, let me hear," said the voice, eager, though stifled.
"I thought it might be what you wished me to see and went up to read the names."
"Do not spare. Never fear. Let me hear the very words."
"On one face of the block there was a name-'WILLIAM SEDHURST, AGED 27, DIED MAY 13, 1729.'
On the other side was this inscription:-'MARY, ONLY DAUGHTER OF GEORGE SEDHURST, ESQUIRE, AGED 19, DIED AUGUST 1st, 1729.