In the morning there was bustle. Mrs. Nadin sent her to help with milking at once. At half-past six when they were only two-thirds through, Mrs. Nadin poked her round head over the shippon door and called: “Emmott, thee come an’ get thi breeches on,” just as if he were a child. The lanky farmer finished his cow, then got up obediently.
“Ma’s goin’ ta keep her eye on ’im, but oo’ll have a job,” said Clem, looking round the back of the roan polly cow he was finishing next to Flo.
“How d’you mean . . . he might get lost?”
“He’ll get lost if he con, all right,” said Clem with a chuckle.
Then Flo and Bert were left while Clem wheeled the float from the open shed at the end of the yard facing the gate and hooked Job in. While Clem was still busy, Mrs. Nadin came out in a navy-blue coat to her ankles and a flat black hat tilted slightly forward because it wouldn’t go over the small tight knob of her hair at the back. There was a yellow lily in the hat which bobbed about as she energetically moved her head. Her umbrella was only eighteen inches shorter than she was, and she walked with it as a shepherd walks with a crook. She went round and watched the finishing of the fixing of traces and belly-band as if she doubted whether Clem knew anything about the job. Dot brought one of the wooden kitchen chairs to put in the float and Mrs. Nadin briskly hauled herself in at the back and then sat sternly facing the house.
“Tell that theer mutton-yead ta be shaping” she called shrilly after Dot. The two churns were swung in and strapped in place. While Clem went to the house Bert got a brush and tidied Job’s mane and forelock. “Where is he?” demanded Mrs. Nadin, looking at Flo. “Goo an’ see if ’e’s got stuck in ’is porridge or swallowed ’is teacup; ’e’s gormless enough fer owt.”
Flo set off up the path but at the door she heard the harness jingle and glancing back she saw Mrs. Nadin getting out. Mr. Nadin was placidly chewing. When he saw Flo he winked, stopped chewing to take a swig at his pint pot, and started chewing again.
“Stuffin’ your guts!” snapped Mrs. Nadin before Flo could speak. “Yo’re the slowest gutser i’ Darbyshire. What about the train?”
“I reckon it winna goo before it’s time,” said the farmer, taking another swig.
“By gum, if I have ta be worried bi you, I’d sooner goo mysen,” she retorted, abruptly turning and going out once more, as if afraid now that the float would go without her. Mr. Nadin finished his pot and then leisurely followed. His light grey whipcord suit, nearly skin-tight in the legs, made him appear taller and thinner than ever. Clem went out last, still chewing. Bert turned Job’s head to the gate, and as his shuffle rocked the float fore and aft the yellow lily in Mrs. Nadin’s hat seemed to nod good-bye.
“Hast getten thi hand-bag?” asked Mr. Nadin from his high seat on the float side.
The instant jerk of the lily unmistakably said, “No!” Job stopped willingly to the least signal, and Mrs. Nadin scrambled out almost as if impelled by a spring.
“Where is it?” asked Dot, turning to run. She was coming out of the door with it when she nearly bumped into her mother. Mrs. Nadin tucked the big black bag under her arm in a way that suggested that she never intended to let go of it again. Without thanks she scuttered energetically back and with Bert lifting and Clem hauling she was up in the float again in a jiff. Flo glanced at the farmer, but he seemed to be chewing something and did not even look at his wife. After the float had travelled a score of yards Dot said abruptly:
“You’ve no time to stand . . . there’s the siding and washing.”
Flo started.
“Ay, keep her goin’ now as you’re boss,” said Bert in a teasing sarcastic way.
“You do your jobs and I’ll do mine without your advice,” retorted Dot, turning after Flo.
“Nay, I’d sooner change over; you do my jobs an’ I’ll look after her,” he called.
Dot went through into the front part of the house. Flo thought she must be going to dust. Twenty minutes later she walked briskly back into the kitchen and asked if the washing-up wasn’t done yet; there were the bedrooms to do, and all the dusting.
“I can’t get dinner and do everything else, you know,” she said severely.
Flo realized how it was going to be all day and decided to keep steadily at work without over exerting. She saw Bert occasionally going about the yard, and he didn’t seem to be over pushing either. Eventually she saw him walking through the gate with his gun under his arm as usual. The float came back at half-past nine, though Flo had expected that Clem would take most of the day off also. She heard the empty churns banging as he unloaded, and then Dot called impatiently.
“Yes?” said Flo at the kitchen door.
“I’ve told you before; you should say, ‘Yes, miss’. If I had my way you wouldn’t be let do as you like. Go out and wash the cans.”
Flo, unprepared, could not quite hide surprise.
“Don’t stand there,” snapped Dot. “There’s the big pan. Carry it out and I’ll show you.”