silas marner(织工马南)-第24节
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indulgence had not been kindness； and had had a vague longing
for some discipline that would have checked his own errant
weakness and helped his better will。 The Squire ate his bread and
meat hastily； took a deep draught of ale； then turned his chair
from the table； and began to speak again。
“It’ll be all the worse for you； you know—you’d need try and
help me keep things together。”
“Well； sir； I’ve often offered to take the management of things；
but you know you’ve taken it ill always； and seemed to think I
wanted to push you out of your place。”
“I know nothing o’ your offering or o’ my taking it ill；” said the
Squire； whose memory consisted in certain strong impressions
unmodified by detail； “but I know one while you seemed to be
thinking o’ marrying； and I didn’t offer to put any obstacles in your
way； as some fathers would。 I’d as lieve you married Lammeter’s
daughter as anybody。 I suppose； if I’d said you nay； you’d ha’ kept
on with it； but； for want o’ contradiction； you’ve changed your
mind。 You’re a shilly…shally fellow： you take after your poor
mother。 She never had a will of her own； a woman has no call for
one； if she’s got a proper man for her husband。 But your wife had
need have one； for you hardly know your own mind enough to
make both your legs walk one way。 The lass hasn’t said downright
she won’t have you； has she？”
“No；” said Godfrey； feeling very hot and uncomfortable； “but I
don’t think she will。”
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“Think！ Why haven’t you the courage to ask her？ Do you stick
to it； you want to have her—that’s the thing？”
“There’s no other woman I want to marry；” said Godfrey
evasively。
“Well； then； let me make the offer for you； that’s all； if you
haven’t the pluck to do it yourself。 Lammeter isn’t likely to be
loath for his daughter to marry into my family； I should think。 And
as for the pretty lass； she wouldn’t have her cousin—and there’s
nobody else； as I see； could ha’ stood in your way。”
“I’d rather let it be； please； sir； at present；” said Godfrey； in
alarm。 “I think she’s a little offended with me just now； and I
should like to speak for myself。 A man must manage these things
for himself。”
“Well； speak； then； and manage it； and see if you can’t turn over
a new leaf。 That’s what a man must do when he thinks o’
marrying。”
“I don’t see how I can think of it at present； sir。 You wouldn’t
like to settle me on one of the farms； I suppose； and I don’t think
she’d come to live in this house with all my brothers。 It’s a
different sort of life to what she’s been used to。”
“Not come to live in this house？ Don’t tell me。 You ask her；
that’s all；” said the Squire； with a short； scornful laugh。
“I’d rather let the thing be； at present； sir；” said Godfrey。 “I
hope you won’t try to hurry it on by saying anything。”
“I shall do what I choose；” said the Squire； “and I shall let you
know I’m master； else you may turn out； and find an estate to drop
into somewhere else。 Go out and tell Winthrop not to go to Cox’s；
but wait for me。 And tell ’em to get my horse saddled。 And stop：
look out and get that hack o’ Dunsey’s sold； and hand me the
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money； will you？ He’ll keep no more hacks at my expense。 And if
you know where he’s sneaking—I daresay you do—you may tell
him to spare himself the journey o’ coming back home。 Let him
turn ostler； and keep himself。 He shan’t hang on me any more。”
“I don’t know where he is； and if I did； it isn’t my place to tell
him to keep away；” said Godfrey； moving towards the door。
“Confound it； sir； don’t stay arguing； but go and order my
horse；” said the Squire； taking up a pipe。
Godfrey left the room； hardly knowing whether he were more
relieved by the sense that the interview was ended without having
made any change in his position； or more uneasy that he had
entangled himself still further in prevarication and deceit。 What
had passed about his proposing to Nancy had raised a new alarm；
lest by some after…dinner words of his father’s to Mr。 Lammeter he
should be thrown into the embarrassment of being obliged
absolutely to decline her when she seemed to be within his reach。
He fled to his usual refuge； that of hoping for some unforeseen
turn of fortune； some favourable chance which would save him
from unpleasant consequences—perhaps even justify his
insincerity by manifesting its prudence。
In this point of trusting to some throw of fortune’s dice； Godfrey
can hardly be called old…fashioned。 Favourable Chance is the god
of all men who follow their own devices instead of obeying a law
they believe in。 Let even a polished man of these days get into a
position he is ashamed to avow； and his mind will be bent on all
the possible issues that may deliver him from the calculable
results of that position。 Let him live outside his income； or shirk
the resolute honest work that brings wages； and he will presently
find himself dreaming of a possible benefactor； a possible
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simpleton who may be cajoled into using his interest； a possible
state of mind in some possible person not yet forthcoming。 Let
him neglect the responsibilities of his office； and he will inevitably
anchor himself on the chance that the thing left undone may turn
out not to be of the supposed importance。 Let him betray his
friend’s confidence； and he will adore that same cunning
complexity called Chance； which gives him the hope that his
friend will never know。 Let him forsake a decent craft that he may
pursue the gentilities of a profession to which nature never called
him； and his religion will infallibly be the worship of blessed
Chance； which he will believe in as the mighty creator of success。
The evil principle deprecated in that religion is the orderly
sequence by which the seed brings forth a crop after its kind。
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Chapter 10
ustice Malam was naturally regarded in Tarley and Raveloe
Jas a man of capacious mind； seeing that he could draw much
wider conclusions without evidence than could be expected
of his neighbours who were not on the Commission of the Peace。
Such a man was not likely to neglect the clue of the tinder…box；
and an inquiry was set on foot concerning a pedlar； name
unknown； with curly black hair and a foreign complexion； carrying
a box of cutlery and jewelry； and wearing large rings in his ears。
But either because inquiry was too slow…footed to overtake him； or
because the description applied to so many pedlars that inquiry
did not know how to choose among them； weeks passed away； and
there was no other result concerning the robbery than a gradual
cessation of the excitement it had caused in Raveloe。 Dunstan
Cass’s absence was hardly a subject of remark： he had once before
had a quarrel with his father； and had gone off； nobody knew
whither； to return at the end of six weeks； take up his old quarters
unforbidden； and s
