George Eliot

“ I could try plans then, as I can't do now."
"You get on pretty well wi' the new steward, I reckon?" said Mr Poyser.
"Yes, yes; he's a sensible man enough: understands farming—he's carrying on the draining, and all that, capital. You must go some day towards the Stonyshire side, and see what alterations they're making. But he's got no notion about buildings: you can so seldom get hold of a man as can turn his brains to more nor one thing; it's just as if they wore blinkers like th' horses, and could see nothing o' one side of 'em. ”

“ Totty trotted off in her flapping bonnet, while Mrs Poyser set out the bright oak table, and reached down the tea-cups.
"You talk o' them gells Nancy and Molly being clever i' their work," she began again;—"it's fine talking. They're all the same, clever or stupid—one can't trust 'em out o' one's sight a minute. They want somebody's eye on 'em constant if they're to be kept to their work. ”

“ Adam released Dinah's hand as he ceased speaking, and was expecting an answer; but before she had opened her lips Mrs Poyser said,
"Look there now! I told you there was folks enow t' help i' this parish, wi'out going further off. There's Mrs Bede getting as old and cas'alty as can be, and she won't let anybody but you go a-nigh her hardly. The folks at Snowfield have learnt by this time to do better wi'out you nor she can."
"I'll put my bonnet on and set off directly, if you don't want anything done first, aunt," said Dinah, folding up her work. ”

“ There's that Bessy Cranage—she'll be flaunting i' new finery three weeks after you're gone, I'll be bound: she'll no more go on in her new ways without you, than a dog 'ull stand on its hind-legs when there's nobody looking. But I suppose it doesna matter so much about folks's souls i' this country, else you'd be for staying with your own aunt, for she's none so good but what you might help her to be better."
There was a certain something in Mrs Poyser's voice just then, which she did not wish to be noticed, so she turned round hastily to look at the clock, and said: "See there! It's tea-time ”

“ But I canna think what she mun leave a good home for, to go back int' a country where the land, most on't, isna worth ten shillings an acre, rent and profits."
"Why, that's just the reason she wants to go, as fur as she can give a reason," said Mrs Poyser. "She says this country's too comfortable, an' there's too much t' eat, an' folks arena miserable enough. And she's going next week: I canna turn her, say what I will It's allays the way wi' them meek-faced people; you may's well pelt a bag o' feathers as talk to 'em. But I say it isna religion, to be so obstinate—is it now, Adam?" ”

“ The missis was saying, Adam, as the preaching was th' only fault to be found wi' Dinah, and Mr Irwine says, 'But you mustn't find fault with her for that, Mrs Poyser; you forget she's got no husband to preach to. ”

“ What is there wrong, I should like to know, i' staying along wi' your own friends, as are th' happier for having you with 'em, an' are willing to provide for you, even if your work didn't more nor pay 'em for the bit o' sparrow's victual y' eat, and the bit o' rag you put on? ”