织工马南-第6部分

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e　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　argue　with　him，to　show　him　that　she　cared　about　him．But　just　then　Priscilla　hurried　in，saying，‘Dear　child，let　me　look　at　your　dress！I　saw　the　Squire　step　on　it　during　the　dance．’

‘I　suppose　I'd　better　go　now，’Godfrey　said　disappointedly　to　Priscilla．

‘It　doesn't　matter　at　all　to　me　whether　you　go　or　stay，'said　Priscilla　impatiently，looking　closely　at　the　waist　of　Nancy's　dress．

‘Do　you　want　me　to　go？’Godfrey　asked　Nancy．

‘Do　whatever　you　like，'replied　Nancy，　trying　to　sound　cold　again．

‘Well，I　want　to　stay，’answered　Godfrey，and　sat　down．Tonight　he　wanted　to　enjoy　being　with　Nancy　for　as　long　as　possible，without　thinking　about　what　would　happen　tomorrow．

　　



　


7　Silas　finds　his‘gold’

　　

But　while　Godfrey　Cass　was　managing　to　forget　his　prob…lems　by　the　lovely　Nancy's　side，his　wife　was　walking　with　slow，uncertain　steps　along　the　snow－coverea　road　to　Ray－eloe．She　was　carrying　her　sleeping　child　in　her　arms．

For　some　time　now　she　had　planned　to　come　to　Raveloe　on　New　Year's　Eve．She　knew　that　her　husband　would　be　at　the　centre　of　a　happy，smiling　group　of　friends，and　she　had　chosen　this　moment　to　appear　in　front　of　all　his　family　and　guests　at　the　Red　House　dance．‘I　don't　care　if　Godfrey　is　ashamed　of　mes！'she　thought　bitterly．‘I　want　people　to　know　we're　mar－ried！'sometimes　she　hated　her　husband，　because　he　was　still　handsome，and　had　money，while　she　was　no　longer　pretty，and　very　poor．She　blamed　him　for　her　miserable　life，but　in　her　heart　she　knew　she　should　blame　her　drinking．It　had　become　a　habit　wiht　her　to　spend　most　of　the　money　Godfrey　gave　her　on　gin．She　had　a　bottle　in　her　pocket　now，which　she　had　lifted　to　her　lips　several　times　during　her　journey．

It　was　already　seven　o'clock　in　the　evening，and　there　was　a　freezing　wind．Molly　did　not　know　she　was　very　near　Raveloe．Her　legs　were　tired　and　the　gin　was　beginning　to　make　her　feel　sleepy．She　thought　she　would　rest　for　a　while，and，still　hold－ing　her　child，she　lay　down　on　the　snow．She　did　not　notice　that　the　ground　was　cold．　In　a　few　moments　the　child　woke　up，crying，‘Mummy！’But　the　mother　did　not　seem　to　hear．Suddenly，as　the　child　fell　gently　out　of　its　mother's　arms　on　to　the　soft　snow，it　noticed　a　bright，dancing　light　on　the　white　ground．Interested，the　child　stood　up　to　see　where　the　brightness　came　from，and　followed　the　light　to　an　open　door，the　door　of　Silas　Marner's　cottage．The　little　one　toddled　right　in　through　the　door　and　sat　down　by　the　bright　fire．After　a　few　minutes　the　child　felt　pleasantly　warm，　and　fell　asleep．

But　where　was　Silas　while　this　was　happening？In　the　evenings　he　sometimes　used　to　open　his　door　and　look　out．He　had　some　idea　that　his　money　would　come　back，or　that　some…one　would　come　with　information　about　the　thief　Tonight　was　New　Year's　Eve，and　the　villagers　had　told　him　to　stay　awake　until　midnight，because　it　would　bring　him　good　luck　if　he　saw　the　beginning　of　the　new　year．So　tonight　he　was　more　restless　than　usual．He　opened　his　door　several　times　during　the　evening，and　stared　out，but　he　saw　and　heard　nothing　in　the　silent，freezing　night．The　last　time，as　he　was　standing　at　the　door，he　had　one　of　his　fits，and　stood　there　completely　uncon…scions，holding　the　door　open．　When　he　became　conscious　again，he　closed　the　door　and　turned　back　to　the　fire．But　when　his　shortsighted　eyes　looked　at　the　floor　in　front　of　the　fire，he　seemed　to　see　gold　there！Gold—his　own　gold—taken　and　then　brought　back　to　him　in　the　same　strange　way！His　heart　beat　excitedly，and　for　a　few　moments　he　was　unable　to　move．At　last　he　reached　out　his　hand　to　touch　the　gold，but　instead　of　hard，metal　coins　his　fin－gers　felt　soft，warm　curls．

With　great　surprise　Silas　fell　on　his　knees　to　look　at　this　wonderful　thing．It　was　a　sleeping　child．Was　he　dreaming？Could　it　be　his　little　sister，who　had　died　when　he　was　a　child　himself？If　it　wasn't　a　dream，how　had　the　child　entered　the　cottage？But　thinking　of　his　sister　made　him　remember　the　past，and　his　life　at　the　Light　Street　chapel．He　wondered　if　this　child　was　some　kind　of　message　from　his　past，sent　perhaps　by　the　God　he　had　once　trusted．

Just　then　the　child　woke　up，and　began　to　cry．Silas　held　it　in　his　arms，and　spoke　softly　to　quieten　it．He　remembered　that　he　had　made　some　porridge　earlier，and　gave　a　little　to　the　child　to　eat．She　stopped　crying，and　lifted　her　blue　eyes　with　a　smile　to　Silas's　face　as　she　ate．But　then　she　pulled　at　her　wet　shoes，trying　to　take　them　off，and　Silas　suddenly　realized　she　had　come　to　the　cottage　through　the　snow．So　he　picked　her　up　and　went　to　the　door．As　he　opened　it　and　went　out　into　the　dark，the　child　cried‘Mummy！’and　reached　forward，almost　jump…ing　out　of　his　arms．A　few　steps　away，Silas　found　a　young　woman's　body，half…covered　with　snow．

At　the　Red　House，everybody　was　enjoying　the　party．Some　people　were　still　eating，while　others　were　dancing　or　playing　cards．Godfrey　was　looking　forward　to　his　next　dance　with　Nancy．He　was　watching　her　dreamily　across　the　room，when　suddenly　he　saw　something　that　made　his　lips　go　white　and　his　whole　body　tremble．　It　was　his　own　child，carried　in　Silas　Marner's　arms．The　weaver　had　come　straight　into　the　hall，where　the　dancing　was　going　on．

Several　people　turned　to　look　at　the　strange　figure　in　the　doorway．The　Squire　could　not　understand　why　Sllas　had　come　in　uninvited．　He　stood　up　and　asked　angrily，‘Marner，　what　are　you　doing　here？’

‘I've　come　for　the　doctor，'replied　Silas　hurriedly．‘　There's　a　woman－dead，I　think－near　my　cottage．’

Godfrey　had　one　great　fear　at　that　moment，that　the　woman　was　not　dead．If　she　were　his　wife，and　she　were　dead，he　would　be　free　to　marry　Nancy！

While　the　Squire　was　calling　for　Dr　Kimble，the　ladies　came　closer　to　look　at　the　pretty　child．

‘Whose　child　is　it？’one　of　them　asked．

‘I　don't　know，'replied　Godfrey　wildly．‘Some　poor　woman's－she's　been　found　in　the　snow，I　think．’

‘You'd　better　leave　the　poor　chi