TheBetrothalITwasadrySunday，andreallyapleasantdayforthe2dofNovember。Therewasnosunshine，butthecloudswerehigh，andthewindwassostillthattheyellowleaveswhichfluttereddownfromthehedgerowelmsmusthavefallenfrompuredecay。
Nevertheless，Mrs。Poyserdidnotgotochurch，forshehadtakenacoldtooserioustobeneglected；onlytwowintersagoshehadbeenlaidupforweekswithacold；andsincehiswifedidnotgotochurch，Mr。Poyserconsideredthatonthewholeitwouldbeaswellforhimtostayawaytooand\"keephercompany。\"Hecouldperhapshavegivennopreciseformtothereasonsthatdeterminedthisconclusion，butitiswellknowntoallexperiencedmindsthatourfirmestconvictionsareoftendependentonsubtleimpressionsforwhichwordsarequitetoocoarseamedium。
Howeveritwas，noonefromthePoyserfamilywenttochurchthatafternoonexceptHettyandtheboys；yetAdamwasboldenoughtojointhemafterchurch，andsaythathewouldwalkhomewiththem，thoughallthewaythroughthevillageheappearedtobechieflyoccupiedwithMartyandTommy，tellingthemaboutthesquirrelsinBintonCoppice，andpromisingtotakethemtheresomeday。Butwhentheycametothefieldshesaidtotheboys，\"Now，then，whichisthestoutestwalker？Himasgetstoth’home-gatefirstshallbethefirsttogowithmetoBintonCoppiceonthedonkey。
ButTommymusthavethestartuptothenextstile，becausehe’sthesmallest。\"
Adamhadneverbehavedsomuchlikeadeterminedloverbefore。Assoonastheboyshadbothsetoff，helookeddownatHettyandsaid，\"Won’tyouhangonmyarm，Hetty？\"inapleadingtone，asifhehadalreadyaskedherandshehadrefused。Hettylookedupathimsmilinglyandputherroundarmthroughhisinamoment。Itwasnothingtoher，puttingherarmthroughAdam’s，butsheknewhecaredagreatdealabouthavingherarmthroughhis，andshewishedhimtocare。Herheartbeatnofaster，andshelookedatthehalf-barehedgerowsandtheploughedfieldwiththesamesenseofoppressivedulnessasbefore。ButAdamscarcelyfeltthathewaswalking。HethoughtHettymustknowthathewaspressingherarmalittle——averylittle。Wordsrushedtohislipsthathedarednotutter——thathehadmadeuphismindnottoutteryet——