织工马南-第2部分

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ed　holding　the　shining　coins　in　his　hand　and　looking　at　their　bright　faces．

In　his　childhood，Silas　had　been　taught，by　his　mother，to　make　simple　medicines　from　wild　flowers　and　plants．One　day　he　saw　the　shoemaker's　wife，Sally　Oates，sitting　at　her　cottage　door，and　he　realized　she　had　all　the　signs　of　the　illness　which　had　killed　his　mother．He　felt　sorry　for　Sally，and　although　he　knew　he　could　not　prevent　her　dying，he　prepared　some　medicine　for　her　which　made　her　feel　much　better．The　vil－lagers　considered　this　a　good　example　of　Silas's　strange，fright－ening　power，but　as　it　had　worked　for　Sally，they　started　visit…ing　Silas　to　ask　for　help　with　their　own　illnesses．But　Silas　was　too　honest　to　take　their　money　and　give　them　useless　medicine．He　knew　he　had　no　special　power，and　so　he　sent　them　away．The　villagers　believed　he　was　refusing　to　help　them，and　they　were　angry　with　him．They　blamed　him　for　accidents　that　hap－pened　to　them，and　deaths　in　the　village．So　poor　Silas's　kind－ness　to　Sally　did　not　help　him　make　friends　in　Raveloe．

But　little　by　little，the　piles　of　gold　coins　in　his　cottage　grew　higher．The　harder　he　worked，the　less　he　spent　on　himself．He　counted　the　coins　into　piles　of　ten，and　wanted　to　see　them　grow　into　a　square，and　then　into　a　larger　square．He　was　de－lighted　with　every　new　coin，but　it　made　him　want　another．His　gold　became　a　habit，a　delight，a　reason　for　living，almost　a　reli－gion．He　began　to　think　the　coins　were　his　friends，who　made　the　cottage　less　lonely　for　him．But　it　was　only　at　night，　when　he　had　finished　his　work，that　he　spent　time　with　them．He　kept　them　in　two　bags，under　the　floorboards　near　the　loom．Like　a　thirsty　man　who　needs　a　drink，he　took　them　out　every　evening　to　look　at　them，feel　them，and　count　them．The　coins　shone　in　the　firelight，and　Silas　loved　every　one　of　them．When　he　looked　at　his　loom，he　thought　fondly　of　the　half－earned　gold　in　the　work　he　was　doing，and　he　looked　forward　to　the　years　ahead　of　him，the　countless　days　of　weaving　and　the　growing　piles　of　gold．

　　



　


2　Godfrey　and　Dunstan　Cass

　　

The　most　important　person　in　Raveloe　was　Squire　Cass，　a　gentleman　farmer，who　lived　with　his　three　sons　in　the　handsome　Red　House　opposite　the　church，and　owned　a　num…her　of　farms　outside　the　village．His　wife　had　died　many　years　before．

One　dark　November　evening，fifteen　years　after　Silas　Marner　had　first　arrived　in　Raveloe，some　of　the　villagers　were　drinking　beer　in　the　public　house，the　Rainbow．Old　Mr　Macey，the　church　clerk，was　remembering　the　Squire's　wife．

‘She　was　a　wonderful　lady，’he　said，shaking　his　grey　head　sadly．‘Everything　was　always　so　pretty　and　clean　at　the　Red　House　when　she　was　alive！When　she　died，all　those　years　ago，the　poor　Squire，well，he　didn't　know　what　to　do．And　he's　still　lonely，believe　me！That's　why　we　often　see　him　in　here　in　the　evenings．And　another　thing，if　poor　Mrs　Cass　were　alive　today，I'm　sure　she'd　be　very　disappointed　with　her　sons．The　Squire　should　make　those　boys　do　some　work，but　in－stead　he　lets　them　stay　at　home　and　gives　them　money　to　spend　on　horses，or　gambling，or　women！　’

‘Come，come，Mr　Macey，'said　the　landlord．‘They're　rich　young　gentlemen，after　all．You　can't　expect　them　to　work　on　the　farms　like　us　country　people．But　you're　right　about　Dun－stan　Cass．He's　a　bad　one，he　is．Always　borrowing　money，and　never　paying　it　back．Always　gambling，always　in　trouble！He'll　come　to　a　bad　end，he　will！’

‘But　the　other　two　are　different，'said　the　butcher，a　red…faced，smiling　man．‘Bob　Cass　is　still　only　a　boy．And　Mr　God…frey，the　eldest，well，I　don't　believe　he'll　be　like　his　brother　Dunstan．Just　look　at　him！He's　got　an　open，honest　face．And　he's　going　to　inherit　the　Squire's　money　and　all　the　land．And　what's　more，he's　going　to　marry　Miss　Nancy　Lammeter．When　she　moves　into　the　Red　House　as　Mrs　Godfrey　Cass，she'll　make　life　more　comfortable　for　all　the　Casses．She'll　save　the　Squire　money　too—the　Lammeters　have　the　best　of　every－thing　in　their　house，but　they're　very　careful　with　their　money．’

The　farrier，a　small　man　with　a　sharp　face，always　enjoyed　disagreeing　with　the　butcher．‘Mr　Godfrey　marry　Miss　Nancy！’he　laughed．‘That's　what　you　think！Haven't　you　noticed　how　Miss　Nancy　has　changed　towards　Godfrey　since　last　year？You　remember，he　was　away　from　home，for　days　and　days．Nobody　knows　what　he　was　doing，but　Godfrey　hasn't　been　the　same　since　then．Miss　Nancy　isn't　stupid—she　won't　marry　a　man　she　can't　trust！’

The　landlord　always　tried　to　prevent　his　customers　from　ar…guing．‘What　you　all　say　is　very　true．But　let's　hope　that　Mr　Godfrey　doesn't　lose　his　chance　of　marrying　Miss　Nancy．’

Meanwhile，at　the　Red　House，Godfrey　Cass　was　waiting　for　his　brother　in　the　sitting－room，with　a　very　worried　expression　on　his　handsome　face．Soon　the　door　opened，and　a　heavy…look…ing　young　man　entered．It　was　Dunstan．He　had　clearly　been　drinking．

‘How　I　hate　him！'thought　Godfrey．

‘Well，sir，'said　Dunstan　unpleasantly，‘you　sent　for　me，and　as　you're　the　oldest，and　you'll　be　the　Squire　one　day，I　have　to　obey　you．So　what　do　you　want？’

‘Just　listen，will　you？'replied　Godfrey　angrily，‘if　you　aren't　too　drunk　to　understand！You　must　pay　me　back　the　money　I　lent　you　last　month．You　know　I　got　it　from　Fowler，of　Church　Farm．He　owed　the　money　to　the　Squire，and　asked　me　to　give　it　to　him．Now　the　Squire　is　angry　with　Fowler　for　not　paying，and　I've　got　to　give　the　money　back！’

Dunstan　came　close　to　Godfrey　and　smiled　in　an　evil　way．‘Well，my　dear　kind　brother，why　don't　you　find　the　money　yourself？That　would　be　much　less　trouble　for　me！’

Godfrey　controlled　himself　with　difficulty．‘Don't　smile　at　me　like　that，or　I'll　hit　you！’

‘Oh　no，you　won't，answered　Dunstan．‘Because　if　you　do，I'll　tell　the　Squire　your　secret．I'll　tell　him　that　his　handsome　eldest　son　fell　in　love　with　that　poor　girl　Molly　in　the　town，and　married　her　in　a　hurry．The　Squire'll　be　angry　because　you　married　her　in　secret，and　he'll　disinherit　you．Then　I'll　get　the　house　and　land　when　the　old　man　dies！But　don't　worry，I'm　a　good　brother　to　you．I　won't　tell　him，and　you'll　find　the　money　to　pay　back，I　know　you　will．’

‘Where　can　I　get　the　money　from？’cried　Godfrey．‘I　tell　you，I　haven't　got　any！’

‘You　could　borrow　It，'said　Dunstan　carelessly．‘Or　wait…I've　had　a　better　idea．You　could　sell　your　horse．’

‘Sell　Wildfire！You　know　how　muchl　love　that　horse！’

‘Well，you　could　ride　him　to　the　hunt　tomorrow．I　know　two　or　three　men　who'd　be　interested　in　buying　him，and　they'll　be　at　the　hunt，I'm　sure．It'd　be　easy．’

‘No，I　haven't　got　time　to　go　hunting　tomorrow．I…I'm　going　to　Mrs　Osgood's　birthday　dance．’

‘Aha！'said　Dunstan，laughing．‘And　perhaps　you'll　see　sweet　Miss　Nancy　there—and　you'll　dance　with　her－and　you'll　talk　of　love…’

‘Be　quiet！'shouted　Godfrey，his　face　turning　red．‘Don't　speak　of　Miss　Nancy　like　that，or　I'll　kill　you！’

‘Don't　get　so　angry，brother，’answered　Dunstan　calmly．‘You've　got　a　very　good　chance　with　her．In　fact，I　advise　you　to　be　nice　to　her．You　and　I　know　that　Molly's　started　drink　ing．Well，if　she　drinks　too　much　one　day　and　dies，then　you　could　marry　Nancy．She　wouldn't　mind　being　a　second　wife，if　she　didn't　know　there　was　a　first．And　luckily　you've　got　a　kind　brother　who'll　keep　your　secret　well．’

Godfrey's　face　was　white　now，and　he　was　trembling．‘Look，Dunstan，I've　nearly　had　enough　of　this．You　can　push　a　man　too　far，you　know．Perhaps　I'll　go　to　the　Squire　now　and　confess　everything　to　him．He'll　discover　the　truth　one　day，because　Molly　says　she'll　come　and　tell　him．She　wants　every－one　to　know　we　re　married．When　the　Squire　knows　the　truth，you　won't　get　any　more　money　from　me！’

Dunstan　replied　lightly，‘Do　what　you　like，brother．’

Godfrey　hesitated．He　knew　he　had　fallen　into　Dunstan's　trap，when　he　made　the　mistake　of　marrying　Molly．It　was　Dunstan　who　had　Introduced　his　brother　to　Molly，hoping　that　Godfrey　would　fall　in　love　and　marry　her．Dunstan　was　clearly　delighted　that　his　evil　plan　had　succeeded．Godfrey　was　now　in　a　difficult　situation．He　no　longer　loved　his　young　wife，and　could　not　stop　thinking　of　Nancy　Lammeter．He　felt　sure　that　with　Nancy　as　his　wife　he　would　not　need　to　have　secrets，and　could　be　open　and　honest　with　everybody．But　for　the　moment　he　had　to　give　Dunstan　whatever　he　wanted，keep　Molly　happy，and　lie　to　his　father　and　his　friends．If　he　told　his　father　the　truth，the　situation　would　become　impossible．The　Squire　would　disinherit　him　and　he　would　be　just　a　poor　working　man　for　the　rest　of　his　life．And　far　worse　than　that，he　would　lose　any　hope　of　marrying　Nancy．No！He　could　not　accept　that．He　would　find　the　money　for　Dunstan，and　wait　for　the　situa－tion　to　get　better．Living　with　fear　in　his　heart，the　fear　of　be－ing　discovered，was　better　than　living　without　Nancy's　love．

He　turned　to　Dunstan．‘It's　just　like　you　to　talk　of　selling　Wildfire—the　best　horse　I've　ever　had！’

‘Let　me　sell　him　for　you…you　know　I'm　good　at　buying　and　selling．I　can　ride　him　to　the　hunt　for　you　tomorrow，and　bring　you　back　the　money．But　you　must　decide．You　lent　me　that　money，and　you'll　have　to　pay　it　back　to　the　Squire．So　it's　your　problem，not　mine！’

Godfrey　thought　for　a　moment．‘All　right，’he　said．‘But　make　sure　you　bring　me　back　all　the　money，Dunstan！’

The　next　morning，as　Dunstan　was　riding　Wildfire　out　of　Rav－eloe，he　passed　the　old　quarry．All　the　stone　had　been　taken　out　of　it　and　it　was　no　longer　used；now　all　that　was　left　was　a　deep　hole　full　of　reddish　water．Opposite　the　quarry　was　Silas　Marn－er's　cottage．Dunstan　suddenly　had　an　idea．‘Everybody　in　Raveloe　talks　of　the　weaver's　money—he　must　have　a　lot　hid－den　away　in　that　cottage！Why　doesn't　Godfrey　borrow　some　money　from　him，and　pay　him　back　when　he　becomes　the　Squire？’He　wondered　whether　to　go　back　to　the　Red　House　at　once，to　tell　Godfrey　about　this　wonderful　idea　of　his，but　he　did　not　want　to　miss　the　hunt，so　he　decided　to　continue　on　his　way．

At　the　hunt　he　met　several　f