织工马南-第6节

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re　distant　and　separate　from　his　neighbours　than　ever．He　sat　in　his　robbed　home，moaning　mis－erably　to　himself，not　noticing　that　his　fire　was　no　longer　burn－ing　and　that　he　was　getting　cold．

But　in　Raveloe　the　church　bells　were　ringing　and　the　church　was　fuller　than　all　through　the　rest　of　the　year．It　was　a　special　day　for　everybody，and　after　the　service　they　all　hurried　home　in　the　biting　cold　to　eat　and　drink　with　their　families．

At　the　Red　House　nobody　spoke　of　Dunstan's　absence．The　village　doctor，Dr　Kimble，and　his　wife　were　guests　there　for　Christmas　lunch，and　the　day　passed　happily．

The　servants，however，were　already　preparing　for　the　New　Year's　Eve　dance　which　Squire　Cass　gave　every　year．It　was　the　best　party　of　the　year，and　guests　used　to　come　from　miles　around．Godfrey　was　looking　forward　to　this　year's　party　more　than　usual．But　he　was　still　worried．

‘What　if　Dunstan　returns？’he　thought．‘He'll　tell　the　Squire　about　my　secret　marriage！And　Molly's　asking　for　more　money！I'll　have　to　sell　something　for　cash．But　on　New　Year's　Eve，I　can　forget　everything　for　an　evening，and　sit　with　Nancy，and　look　into　her　eyes，and　dance　with　her…’

　　



　



6　The　New　Year's　Eve　dance

　　

On　December　3lst　it　was　snowing　and　very　cold．All　day　there　were　ladies　and　gentlemen　arriving　at　the　Red　House．

Godfrey　Cass　was　waiting　at　the　door　for　the　only　guest　he　cared　about，Nancy　Lammeter．Finally　she　arrived，sitting　be　hind　her　father　on　his　horse，looking　more　beautiful　than　ever．Her　lovely　face　blushed　as　she　saw　Godfrey　come　forward　to　lift　her　down　from　the　horse．‘Why　is　he　waiting　for　me？'she　thought．‘I　thought　I　made　it　clear　to　him　that　I'll　never　mar－ry　him．People　say　he　leads　a　bad　life，and　I　can't　marry　a　man　like　that．’

But　the　Squire　appeared　just　then，　to　welcome　his　guests，and　in　the　excitement　nobody　noticed　Nancy's　pink　face　as　Godfrey's　strong　arms　lifted　her　down．She　hurried　into　the　house　with　the　other　ladies　to　change　her　clothes．

The　house　was　full　of　servants　running　here　and　there．Mrs　Kimble，who　always　helped　the　Squire　arrange　these　parties，was　giving　orders　in　a　loud　voice．Cooks　were　preparing　food　in　the　kitchens，and　there　was　already　a　wonderful　smell　of　baking　in　the　air．

Upstairs，the　ladies　were　excitedly　putting　on　their　best　dresses，while　talking　to　each　other　all　the　time．Nancy　met　her　aunt，Mrs　Osgood，who　introduced　her　to　some　visitors　of　hers．The　Misses　Gunn　were　two　young　ladies　who　were　not　beauti－ful，but　dressed　very　fashionably．

Just　then　Nancy's　older　sister　Priscilla　arrived．She　was　a　large，cheerful　girl，with　a　round　face　and　a　nose　pink　with　cold．As　they　were　changing　their　clothes，Priscilla　said　to　Mrs　Osgood，‘Look　at　our　dresses，aunt！Of　course　Nancy　looks　beautiful　in　hers，but　this　colour　makes　me　look　yellow！　Nan－cy　says　we　must　wear　the　same　dresses，because　we're　sisters，although　I'm　five　years　older！I'm　ugly，I　know　I　am．But　I　don't　mind！'she　turned　to　Mrs　Osgood's　two　visitors．‘In　my　opinion　the　pretty　girls　are　useful－I'm　sure　you　agree－to　catch　the　men．I　don't　think　men　are　worth　worrying　about．Any　woman　with　a　good　father　and　a　good　home　had　better　stay　single．That's　what　I'm　going　to　do，anyway．We　ugly　girls　don't　need　husbands！’

Mrs　Osgood　stood　up　and　said　quickly，‘My　visitors　and　I　should　go　downstairs　now．Priscilla　and　Nancy，we'll　see　you　later．’And　the　three　ladies　hurried　out．

‘Oh　really，Priscilla！’cried　Nancy，when　they　were　alone．‘You　never　think　before　you　speak！　I'm　sure　the　Misses　Gunn　thought　you　were　very　impolite！You　almost　told　them　they　were　ugly！’

‘Did　I？’asked　Priscilla　in　surprise．‘Well，that's　the　way　I　am．I　always　tell　the　truth．But　I'm　the　ugly　one—just　look　at　me！’

‘Priscilla，you　know　I　asked　you　to　choose　the　dresses，’replied　Nancy　worriedly．‘I　don't　mind　what　colour　I　wear．’

‘You　look　lovely　in　this　colour，dear　child！You　know　you　always　have　whatever　you　want　in　the　end，although　you　never　give　orders　or　shout　about　it．I'm　looking　forward　to　seeing　you　married．It'll　be　fun　watching　you　make　your　husband　do　exactly　what　you　want．’

‘Don't　say　that，’answered　Nancy，　blushing．　‘You　know　I'm　never　going　to　get　married．’

Priscilla　laughed．‘I'm　the　one　who'll　stay　single．And　if　you　don't　like　Godfrey　Cass，well，there　are　plenty　of　other　young　men．Come，let's　go　downstairs　now．’

Although　Priscilla　was　right　in　saying　she　was　not　good…looking，she　was　very　popular　among　her　neighbours　because　she　was　so　cheerful　and　sensible．And　Nancy　was　not　only　con－sidered　to　be　the　most　beautiful　girl　in　and　around　Raveloe，but　also　one　of　the　most　intelligent．

Seats　at　the　dining－table　had　been　kept　for　the　Lammeter　sisters．Priscilla　was　taken　to　sit　between　her　father　and　the　Squire．Nancy　felt　herself　blushing　again　as　Godfrey　Cass　came　to　lead　her　to　a　seat　between　himself　and　the　vicar，Mr　Crack－enthorp　She　knew　that　if　she　married　Godfrey，she　would　one　day　be　the　most　important　woman　in　Raveloe，the　Squire's　wife　But　she　repeated　firmly　to　herself　that　she　could　not　mar－ry　a　man　of　bad　character．

As　she　sat　down，the　vicar，who　was　always　polite　to　ladies，said　with　a　smile，‘Ah，Miss　Nancy，you're　looking　lovely　this　evening．Isn't　she，Go　dfrey？’

Godfrey　made　no　reply，and　avoided　looking　at　Nancy．　There　was　too　much　he　wanted　to　say　to　her．But　the　Squire，　who　al－ways　enjoyed　his　parties　and　was　feeling　extremely　cheerful，was　rather　impatient　with　his　son．He　thought　he　had　better　speak，if　Godfrey　was　too　shy　to　do　it　himself．

‘That's　right，'the　Squire　said　loudly．‘When　I　look　at　Miss　Nancy　here，I　think　she's　more　beautiful　than　any　girl　I've　ev…er　seen．’

While　they　were　eating　and　drinking，people　around　the　table　were　listening　with　interest　to　the　Squire's　words．‘　Per－haps　Godfrey　will　marry　Nancy　after　all！'the　vicar's　wife　whispered　to　Mrs　Osgood．Mr　Lammeter's　back　was　very　straight　as　he　looked　across　the　table　at　his　daughter．He　was　a　serious，careful　gentleman，who　considered　the　Lammeters　a　better　family　than　the　Casses．He　had　already　decided　that　Godfrey　must　change　his　way　of　life　before　Nancy　could　possi…bly　marry　him．

Just　then　Dr　Kimble　called　across　the　table，‘Miss　Nancy，will　you　save　a　dance　for　me？’

‘Come，come，Kimble，'said　the　Squire，‘let　the　young　ones　enjoy　themselves．My　son　Godfrey'll　be　angry　if　you　take　Miss　Nancy　away．I　expect　he's　asked　her　for　the　first　dance　already．Haven't　you，Godfrey？’

Godfrey　was　feeling　very　uncomfortable　by　now．Turning　to　Nancy，he　said　as　lightly　as　possible，‘I　haven't　asked　her　yet，but　I　hope　she'll　agree，if　nobody's　asked　her…’

‘No，I　haven't　accapted　anyone　else，'replied　Nancy　quietly　with　a　blush．

‘So　will　you　please　have　the　first　dance　with　me？’asked　Godfrey，beginning　to　feel　better．She　had　not　refused　him！

‘I　will，’answered　Nancy　coldly．She　was　still　sure　she　would　not　marry　him，but　she　wanted　to　remain　polite．

‘Ah　well，you're　a　lucky　man，Godfrey，'said　Dr　Kimble　with　a　laugh．‘I　think　I　can　hear　the　music　starting　now！’

The　guests　got　up　from　the　table　in　pairs　and　small　groups，to　move　into　the　large　hall，where　the　dancing　was　about　to　start．The　small　village　band　was　already　playing，as　the　Squire　led　the　vicar's　wife　to　the　end　of　the　hall　to　start　the　dance．They　were　followed　by　Godfrey　and　Nancy，and　the　other　ladies　and　gentlemen．

As　the　dance　went　on，Godfrey　felt　happier　and　happier．Holding　Nancy　in　his　arms，he　forgot　all　his　problems．Sudden－ly　the　Squire's　heavy　foot　stood　on　part　of　Nancy's　dress，and　some　of　the　material　was　pulled　away　at　the　waist．Nancy　asked　Godfrey　to　take　her　to　a　quieter　place，where　she　could　repair　the　damage．He　took　her　to　a　small　room　near　the　hall，hoping　they　would　have　a　few　private　moments　together．　But　Nancy　sat　down　on　the　chair　furthest　away　from　him，　and　said　coldly，‘Thank　you，sir．You　needn't　stay．　I'm　very　sorry　about　taking　you　away　from　the　dance．’

‘It's　not　very　kind　of　you，'said　Godfrey，moving　close　to　her，‘to　be　sorry　you've　danced　with　me．’

‘I　didn't　mean　that'replied　Nancy，blushing　prettily．‘Gentlemen　have　so　many　things　to　enjoy．I'm　sure　one　dance　can't　matter　very　much．’

‘You　know　that　isn't　true．You　know　one　dance　with　you　means　more　to　me　than　anything　else　in　the　world．’

Nancy　was　a　little　surprised．Godfrey　had　not　said　anything　like　this　to　her　for　a　long　time．She　replied　firmly，‘I'm　afraid　I　can't　believe　you，Mr　Godrey．’

‘Nancy，if　I　changed　my　life，would　you　think　better　of　me？Would　you—like　me，then？’Godfrey　knew　these　were　danger－ous　words，but　the　sudden　chance　of　speaking　to　her　alone　made　him　say　more　than　he　had　planned．

‘I'd　be　glad　to　see　a　good　change　in　anybody，sir．’

‘You're　very　hard，Nancy，'said　Godfrey　bitterly．‘You　could　help　me　to　be　better．I'm　very　miserable—but　you　don't　feel　anything．’

‘I　think　people　who　behave　badly　don't　feel　anything，'said　Nancy　sharply，forgetting　to　be　cool　and　distant．

Godfrey　was　delighted．He　wanted　to　make　her　a