Pucklechurch and Rachel Mole, who had nice smooth
hair neatly parted in the middle, and declared them to be examples of
the way that heads ought to appear.

That afternoon the women stood out at their gates. "So the lady told
you to take pattern by Widdy Mole's child, did her?" said Nanny Barton,
loud enough for all her neighbours to hear.

"Ay, mother, by Rachel Mole and Susie Pucklechurch."

"As if I'd go out of my way to follow after a mean creeper and low thing
like Widow Mole," exclaimed Mrs Barton.

"She knows which way her bread is buttered. A-making favourites!"
exclaimed Nancy Morris.

"Getting in to work in the garding away from Farmer Goodenough, as her
man had worked for for years, ay, and his before un," chimed in Nanny
Barton.

"And if you could see the platefuls and cupfuls as the ladies carries
out to her," added Betsy Seddon. "My word and honour! No wonder she is
getting lively enough just to bust some day."

"That's the way she comes over them," said Nanny Barton.

"That's what them gentlefolks likes, and Bessy Mole she knows it,"
observed Nancy Morris; at which they all laughed shrilly.

"As though I'd take pattern by her," exclaimed Nanny Barton. "I'd
liefer take pattern by Softy Sam, or Goodenough's old scarecrow."

"Whatever's that?" demanded Tirzah, coming out of the "Fox and Hounds."
"What have they been after now?"

"Just the lady's been a preachin' down at that there school, how that
she don't want no curl-papers there, and that all the poor children's
heads is to be clipped like boys, and setting up that there Rachel
Mole's bowl-dish of a poll to set the fashion."

"There! As I telled you," said Tirzah. "That's the way gentry always
goes on if they gets their way."

"They just hates to see a curl or a bit of ribbon," added Betsy Seddon.

"Or to see one have a bit of pleasure," added Nancy Morris.
"Pucklechurches and Mole, they never durst send their poor children to
the fair--"

"And to hear the lady run out agin' me for just having a drop of beer,"
exclaimed Nanny Barton. "Nothing warn't bad enough for me! As if she
hadn't her wine and all the rest of it, and a poor woman mayn't touch
one draught, if it is ever so--"

"Well, you know, Nan, you'd had a bit more than enough," said Tirzah.

"Well, and what call to that was hern or yourn?" cried Nancy, facing
upon her.

"A pretty job I had to get you home that night," said Tirzah; and they
all laughed. "And you w