silas marner(织工马南)-第27节
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considering that “men would be so；” and viewing the stronger sex
in the light of animals whom it had pleased Heaven to make
naturally troublesome； like bulls and turkey…cocks。
This good wholesome woman could hardly fail to have her mind
drawn strongly towards Silas Marner； now that he appeared in the
light of a sufferer； and one Sunday afternoon she took her little
boy Aaron with her； and went to call on Silas； carrying in her hand
some small lard…cakes； flat paste…like articles much esteemed in
Raveloe。 Aaron； an apple…cheeked youngster of seven； with a clean
starched frill which looked like a plate for the apples； needed all
his adventurous curiosity to embolden him against the possibility
that the big…eyed weaver might do him some bodily injury； and his
dubiety was much increased when； on arriving at the Stone…pits；
they heard the mysterious sound of the loom。
“Ah； it is as I thought；” said Mrs。 Winthrop sadly。
They had to knock loudly before Silas heard them； but when he
did come to the door he showed no impatience； as he would once
have done； at a visit that had been unasked for and unexpected。
Formerly； his heart had been as a locked casket with its treasure
inside； but now the casket was empty； and the lock was broken。
Left groping in darkness； with his prop utterly gone； Silas had
inevitably a sense； though a dull and half…despairing one； that if
any help came to him it must come from without； and there was a
slight stirring of expectation at the sight of his fellow…men； a faint
consciousness of dependence on their good will。 He opened the
door wide to admit Dolly； but without otherwise returning her
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greeting than by moving the armchair a few inches as a sign that
she was to sit down in it。 Dolly； as soon as she was seated； removed
the white cloth that covered her lard…cakes； and said in her gravest
way—“I’d a baking yisterday； Master Marner； and the lard…cakes
turned out better nor common； and I’d ha’ asked you to accept
some； if you’d thought well。 I don’t eat such things myself； for a bit
o’ bread’s what I like from one year’s end to the other； but men’s
stomichs are made so comical； they want a change—they do； I
know； God help ’em。”
Dolly sighed gently as she held out the cakes to Silas； who
thanked her kindly and looked very close at them； absently； being
accustomed to look so at everything he took into his hand—eyed
all the while by the wondering bright orbs of the small Aaron； who
had made an outwork of his mother’s chair； and was peeping
round from behind it。
“There’s letters pricked on ’em；” said Dolly。 “I can’t read ’em
myself； and there’s nobody； not Mr。 Macey himself； rightly knows
what they mean； but they’ve a good meaning； for they’re the same
as is on the pulpit…cloth at church。 What are they； Aaron； my
dear？”
Aaron retreated completely behind his outwork。
“Oh； go； that’s naughty；” said his mother； mildly。 “Well；
whativer the letters are； they’ve a good meaning； and it’s a stamp
as has been in our house； Ben says； ever since he was a little un；
and his mother used to put it on the cakes； and I’ve allays put it on
too； for if there’s any good； we’ve need of it i’ this world。”
“It’s I。 H。 S。；” said Silas； at which proof of learning Aaron
peeped around the chair again。
“Well； to be sure； you can read ’em off；” said Dolly。 “Ben’s read
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’em to me many and many a time； but they slip out o’ my mind
again； the more’s the pity； for they’re good letters； else they
wouldn’t be in the church； and so I prick ’em on all the loaves and
all the cakes； though sometimes they won’t hold； because o’ the
rising—for； as I said； if there’s any good to be got； we’ve need of it
i’ this world—that we have； and I hope they’ll bring good to you；
Master Marner； for it’s wi’ that will I brought you the cakes； and
you see the letters have held better nor common。”
Silas was as unable to interpret the letters as Dolly； but there
was no possibility of misunderstanding the desire to give comfort
that made itself heard in her quiet tones。 He said； with more
feeling than before； “Thank you—thank you kindly。” But he laid
down the cakes and seated himself absently—drearily unconscious
of any distinct benefit towards which the cakes and the letters； or
even Dolly’s kindness； could tend for him。
“Ah； if there’s good anywhere； we’ve need of it；” repeated Dolly；
who did not lightly forsake a serviceable phrase。 She looked at
Silas pityingly as she went on。 “But you didn’t hear the church…
bells this morning； Master Marner？ I doubt you didn’t know it was
Sunday。 Living so lone here； you lose your count； I daresay； and
then； when your loom makes a noise； you can’t hear the bells；
more partic’lar now the frost kills the sound。”
“Yes； I did； I heard ’em；” said Silas； to whom Sunday bells were
a mere accident of the day； and not part of its sacredness。 There
had been no bells in Lantern Yard。
“Dear heart！” said Dolly； pausing before she spoke again。 “But
what a pity it is you should work of a Sunday； and not clean
yourself—if you didn’t go to church； for if you’d a roasting bit； it
might be as you couldn’t leave it； being a lone man。 But there’s the
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bakehus； if you could make up your mind to spend a twopence on
the oven now and then—not every week； in course—I shouldn’t
like to do that myself—you might carry your bit o’ dinner there； for
it’s nothing but right to have a bit o’ summat hot of a Sunday； and
not to make it as you can’t know your dinner from Saturday。 But
now； upo’ Christmas Day； this blessed Christmas as is ever
coming； if you was to take your dinner to the bakehus； and go to
church； and see the holly and the yew； and hear the anthim； and
then take the sacramem’； you’d be a deal the better； and you’d
know which end you stood on； and you could put your trust i’
Them as knows better nor we do； seein’ you’d ha’ done what it lies
on us all to do。”
Dolly’s exhortation； which was an unusually long effort of
speech for her； was uttered in the soothing； persuasive tone with
which she would have tried to prevail on a sick man to take his
medicine； or a basin of gruel for which he had no appetite。 Silas
had never before been closely urged on the point of his absence
from church； which had only been thought of as a part of his
general queerness； and he was too direct and simple to evade
Dolly’s appeal。
“Nay； nay；” he said； “I know nothing o’ church。 I’ve never been
to church。”
“No！” said Dolly； in a low tone of wonderment。 Then bethinking
herself of Silas’s advent from an unknown country； she said；
“Could it ha’ been as they’d no church where you was born？”
“Oh yes；” said Silas meditatively； sitting in his usual posture of
leaning on his knees； and supporting his head。 “There was
churches—a many—it was a big town。 But I knew nothing of
’em—I went to chapel。”
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Dolly was much puzzled at this new word； but she was rather
afraid of inquiring further； lest “chapel” might mean some haunt
of
