silas marner(织工马南)-第44节
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comes next to spinning。” Elderly masters and mistresses； seated
observantly in large kitchen armchairs； shook their heads over the
difficulties attendant on rearing children； felt Eppie’s round arms
and legs； and pronounced them remarkably firm； and told Silas
that if she turned out well （which； however； there was no telling）；
it would be a fine thing for him to have a steady lass to do for him
when he got helpless。 Servant maidens were fond of carrying her
out to look at the hens and chickens； or to see if any cherries could
be shaken down in the orchard； and the small boys and girls
approached her slowly； with cautious movement and steady gaze；
like little dogs face to face with one of their own kind； till attraction
had reached the point at which the soft lips were put out for a kiss。
No child was afraid of approaching Silas when Eppie was near
him： there was no repulsion around him now； either for young or
old； for the little child had come to link him once more with the
whole world。 There was love between him and the child that blent
them into one； and there was love between the child and the
world—from men and women with parental looks and tones； to
the red ladybirds and the round pebbles。
Silas began now to think of Raveloe life entirely in relation to
Eppie： she must have everything that was a good in Raveloe； and
he listened docilely； that he might come to understand better what
this life was； from which for fifteen years he had stood aloof as
from a strange thing； wherewith he could have no communion： as
some man who has a precious plant to which he would give a
nurturing home in a new soil； thinks of the rain and the sunshine
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and all influences in relation to his nursling； and asks
industriously for all knowledge that will help him to satisfy the
wants of the searching roots； or to guard leaf and bud from
invading harm。 The disposition to hoard had been utterly crushed
at the very first by the loss of his long…stored gold： the coins he
earned afterwards seemed as irrelevant as stones brought to
complete a house suddenly buried by an earthquake； the sense of
bereavement was too heavy upon him for the old thrill of
satisfaction to arise again at the touch of the newly earned coin。
And now something had come to replace his hoard which gave a
growing purpose to the earnings； drawing his hope and joy
continually onward beyond the money。
In old days there were angels who came and took men by the
hand and led them away from the city of destruction。 We see no
white…winged angels now。 But yet men are led away from
threatening destruction： a hand is put into theirs； which leads
them forth gently towards a calm and bright land； so that they look
no more backward； and the hand may be a little child’s。
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Chapter 15
here was one person； as you will believe； who watched
with keener though more hidden interest than any other；
T
the prosperous growth of Eppie under the weaver’s care。
He dared not do anything that would imply a stronger interest in a
poor man’s adopted child than could be expected from the
kindliness of the young Squire； when a chance meeting suggested
a little present to a simple old fellow whom others noticed with
good will； but he told himself that the time would come when he
might do something towards furthering the welfare of his
daughter without incurring suspicion。 Was he very uneasy in the
meantime at his inability to give his daughter her birthright？ I
cannot say that he was。 The child was being taken care of； and
would very likely be happy； as people in humble stations often
were—happier； perhaps； than those who are brought up in luxury。
That famous ring that pricked its owner when he forgot duty
and followed desire—I wonder if it pricked very hard when he set
out on the chase； or whether it pricked but lightly then； and only
pierced to the quick when the chase had long been ended； and
hope； folding her wings； looked backward and became regret？
Godfrey Cass’s cheek and eye were brighter than ever now。 He
was so undivided in his aims that he seemed like a man of
firmness。 No Dunsey had come back： people had made up their
minds that he was gone for a soldier； or gone “out of the country”；
and no one cared to be specific in their inquiries on a subject
delicate to a respectable family。 Godfrey had ceased to see the
shadow of Dunsey across his path； and the path now lay straight
forward to the accomplishment of his best； longest…cherished
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wishes。 Everybody said Mr。 Godfrey had taken the right turn； and
it was pretty clear what would be the end of things； for there were
not many days in the week that he was not seen riding to the
Warrens。 Godfrey himself； when he was asked jocosely if the day
had been fixed； smiled with the pleasant consciousness of a lover
who could say “yes”； if he liked。 He felt a reformed man； delivered
from temptation； and the vision of his future life seemed to him as
a promised land for which he had no cause to fight。 He saw
himself with all his happiness centred on his own hearth； while
Nancy would smile on him as he played with the children。
And that other child； not on the hearth—he would not forget it；
he would see that it was well provided for。 That was a father’s
duty。
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PART 2
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Chapter 16
t was a bright autumn Sunday； sixteen years after Silas
Marner had found his new treasure on the hearth。 The bells of
I
the old Raveloe church were ringing the cheerful peal which
told that the morning service was ended； and out of the arched
doorway in the tower came slowly； retarded by friendly greetings
and questions； the richer parishioners who had chosen this bright
Sunday morning as eligible for church…going。 It was the rural
fashion of that time for the more important members of the
congregation to depart first； while their humbler neighbours
waited and looked on； stroking their bent heads or dropping their
curtsies to any large ratepayer who turned to notice them。
Foremost among these advancing groups of well…clad people
there are some whom we shall recognise； in spite of Time； who has
laid his hand on them all。 The tall blond man of forty is not much
changed in feature from the Godfrey Cass of six…and…twenty： he is
only fuller in flesh； and has only lost the indefinable look of
youth—a loss which is marked even when the eye is undulled and
the wrinkles are not yet come。 Perhaps the pretty woman； not
much younger than he； who is leaning on his arm； is more
changed than her husband： the lovely bloom that used to be
always on her cheek now comes but fitfully； with the fr
