Who is Dinah (Poyser?) from Adam Bede and what is their importance?

Dinah is a young, enthusiastic Methodist lay preacher who is the apple of Seth Bede's eyes. She is a rather conventional woman of the 18th Century, except for her ur-feminism and religious obsession. Because of these traits, she is not seen as approachable by most of the eligible young men and she gives Seth a slip, the better to pursue her church activities. She is looked on with a combination of respect and awe by the local villagers.