Jonty opened his mouth to tell her that she’d best go up to her room and change at once, otherwise, sure as check, she would find herself ruining her best clothes before anyone but the Bell family had seen them, but then he closed it again. His parents were exclaiming, shaking Tess’s hand over and over, introducing her to Harry and Daniel, the farmhands she had never met, whilst Adam hovered, anxious to add his greetings with all the rest.

Presently the workers left and Mrs Bell poured out cups of tea and offered slices of fruit cake, and once seated round the kitchen table Mr and Mrs Bell were able to ask Tess what she thought of the Ford Prefect, and to add that she must admire the many changes which she would discover when Jonty showed her round.

‘I dare say you’ll guess we told the boy to let you know all that go on here,’ Mrs Bell said, giving her son a reproachful look. ‘But he int no hand with a pen and likely he forgot all the important things. Still an’ all, you’re here yourself now, and when Jonty bring you in for your supper you can tell us what you think.’

‘I’m sure you’ve worked marvels. Jonty did his best, but I’m afraid many of the things he mentioned didn’t mean much to me,’ Tess explained. ‘He said you’re in a group of farmers who share things like combine harvesters, and you’re in a pig club, so when you slaughter one of the baconers you take it in turns to keep half the carcass and send half to the government.’ She glanced round the room as though looking for spies, and added in a hushed tone: ‘Only I bet you and the other members of the pig club have thought of a way to keep a good deal more than half of every fifth pig, or whatever it is.’ Jonty saw that his own guilty smile was echoed on his parents’ faces and reached over to dig Tess in the ribs.

‘If you knew the number of forms we all have to fill in regarding a pig’s life from the moment it’s born until its death you wouldn’t say such a cruel thing,’ he said, whilst his father muttered beneath his breath what Jonty knew to be agreement.

‘She’ve hit the mark, wouldn’t you say, Mother?’ Mr Bell said. ‘Pigs be contrary critters, and a bottle-fed piglet ain’t no wuss nor one what feeds from the old sow.’ He got to his feet. ‘Now if you’re going to see round the farm before that grow dark you’d best get out of them fancy clothes, young Tess. Mother have left your old dungarees on your bed and I reckon you’ve not growed much, not like our Jonty here what have shot up like Jack’s beanstalk. I trust Jonty have told you that you ain’t here to work – the honest truth is, my woman, we don’t need you now we’ve got the fellers back – but we still think you’ll likely want to do a few little tasks – feedin’ the poultry, mebbe bringin’ the horses back from the meadow – so it’s best you wear the overalls when you int goin’ out somewhere with your young man.’