The hay takes off any sourness, and ensures it being perfectly sweet.

She knew when the oven was hot enough by the gauge-brick: this particular brick as the heat increased became spotted with white, and when it had turned quite white the oven was ready.

The wood embers were raked out with the scraper, and the malkin, being wetted, cleaned out the ashes.

'Thee looks like a gurt malkin' is a common term of reproach among the poor folk--meaning a bunch of rags on the end of a stick.
We went out to look at the oven; and then Mrs.Luckett made me taste her black-currant gin, which was very good.

Presently we went into the orchard to look at the first apple-tree out in bloom.