织工马南-第5部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　be　kind，but　he　was　too　miserable　to　show　any　interest．

‘Come，Master　Marner，　what's　your　answer　to　that？’asked　Mr　Macey，　a　little　impatiently．

‘Oh，'said　Silas，slowly　lifting　his　head，‘thank　you．　Thank　you　for　your　kindness．’

‘That's　all　right，'replied　the　old　man，pleased．　‘Now，　you　shouldn't　sit　here　moaning，you　know．　Here's　my　advice　to　you．Ask　Tookey　in　the　village　to　make　you　a　Sunday　suit—I　don't　expect　you've　got　one—and　then　you　can　come　to　church　with　your　neighbours．It'll　make　you　feel　better．You're　not　an　old　man　yet，although　you　look　like　one．　How　old　were　you　when　you　came　here　first？　Twenty…five？’

‘I　don't　remember，’answered　Silas，shaking　his　head．

That　evening，Mr　Macey　told　a　number　of　villagers　at　the　Rainbow，‘Poor　Master　doesn't　know　how　old　he　is！And　I　don't　suppose　he　knows　what　day　of　the　week　it　is！He　really　is　a　bit　crazy．’

Another　villager，Dolly　Winthrop，was　also　worried　about　Silas's　absence　from　church．She　was　a　large，fresh…faced　wom－an　with　a　sweet，patient　smile，who　was　always　busy　from　early　morning　until　late　at　night，and　who　went　to　church　herself　ev－ery　Sunday．She　believed　in　helping　her　neighbours，and　if　someone　in　Raveloe　was　ill　or　dying，Dolly　was　often　asked　to　take　care　of　the　patient．This　good，sensible　woman　decided　that　Silas　needed　her　help．So　one　Sunday　afternoon　she　took　her　son　Aaron，a　pretty　little　boy　of　seven，　to　visit　the　weaver．As　they　came　closer　to　the　cottage，they　heard　the　sound　of　the　loom．

‘Oh　dear！Working　on　a　Sunday！That's　bad！'said　Mrs　Winthrop　sadly．She　had　to　knock　loudy　on　the　door　before　Silas　heard．He　said　nothing，but　opened　the　door　to　let　them　in，and　Dolly　sat　down　in　an　armchair．

‘I　was　baking　yesterday，Master　Marner，'she　said，　‘and　I've　brought　you　some　of　my　cakes．Here　they　are．’

‘Thank　you，'replied　Silas，taking　the　little　bag　of　cakes　Dolly　was　holding　out　to　him．Aaron　was　hiding　behind　his　mother's　chair，in　childish　fear　of　the　weaver．

‘You　didn't　hear　the　church　bells　this　morning，perhaps，Master　Marner？'dolly　asked　gently．‘This　cottage　is　a　long　way　from　the　village．’

‘Yes，I　heard　them，’answered　Silas．For　him　Sunday　bells　did　not　mean　anything．There　had　been　no　bells　at　the　Light　Street　chapel．

‘Oh！'said　Dolly．‘But—but　do　you　have　to　work　on　a　Sun－day？　You　could　make　Sunday　different　from　the　other　days，you　know，　by　washing　yourself，and　cooking　a　little　piece　of　meat，and　going　to　church．And　Master　Marner，Christmas　Day　will　be　here　soon！If　you　put　on　your　best　clothes　and　go　to　church　and　see　the　flowers　and　hear　the　singing，you'll　feel　much　better！You'll　know　there　is　Someone　you　can　trust！’

Dolly　did　not　usually　talk　so　much，but　the　matter　seemed　extremely　important　to　her．

‘No，no，'silas　replied．‘I　don't　know　anything　about　church．I've　never　been　to　church．’

‘Never　been！'repeated　Dolly．‘Were　there　no　churches　in　the　town　you　were　born　in？’

‘Oh　yes，'said　Silas，‘there　were　a　lot　of　churches．It　was　a　big　town，you　see．But　I　only　ever　went　to　chapel．’

Dolly　did　not　understand　this　word，but　was　afraid　of　asking　any　more　questions，in　case　‘chapel'meant　something　evil．After　considering　carefully　for　a　moment，she　said，‘Well，Master　Marner，it's　never　too　late　to　start　going　to　church．It's　very　pleasant　listening　to　the　singing　and　the　good　words．If　we　go　to　church，rhen　when　trouble　comes，Someone　will　take　care　of　us．And　if　we　do　our　best，then　I　believe　Someone　will　help　us　when　we　need　help．’

Dolly's　explanation　of　her　simple　religion　did　not　seem　at　all　clear　to　Silas，but　he　did　understand　that　she　was　asking　him　to　go　to　church．He　did　not　want　to　agree　to　that．Just　then　young　Aaron　came　out　from　behind　his　mother's　chair，and　Silas　of…fered　him　one　of　Dolly's　cakes．

‘Oh　Aaron！'said　his　mother．‘You're　always　eating！No，don't　give　him　any　more，Master　Marner．But　he　can　sing　a　song　for　you．I'm　sure　you'll　like　it．It's　a　beautiful　Christmas　carol．Come，Aaron，let's　hear　it．’

Little　Aaron　stood　up　straight　and　sang　his　carol　in　a　clear，sweet　voice．Dolly　listened　with　delight，hoping　that　the　carol　would　help　to　persuade　Silas　to　come　to　church．

‘You　see，Master　Marner，'she　said　when　Aaron　had　fin－ished，‘that's　Christmas　music．The　Christmas　Day　service　is　wonderful，with　all　the　voices　and　the　music．I　hope　you'll　be　there　with　us．And　remember，if　you　feel　ill，I'll　be　happy　to　come　and　cook　or　clean　for　you．But　I　beg　you，please　stop　weaving　on　Sundays．It's　bad　for　soul　and　body，I'm　sure．We　must　go　now．Goodbye，Master　Marner．’

‘Thank　you，and　goodbye，'said　Silas，as　he　opened　the　door　for　them．He　could　not　help　feeling　relieved　when　she　had　gone．Now　he　could　weave　and　moan　as　much　as　he　liked．

Mr　Macey　and　Dolly　had　tried　hard　to　persuade　Silas　to　go　to　church．But　in　the　end　he　spent　Christmas　Day　alone　in　his　cot－tage，looking　out　at　the　cold　grey　sky．In　the　evening，snow　be－gan　to　fall，and　he　felt　more　distant　and　separate　from　his　neighbours　than　ever．He　sat　in　his　robbed　home，moaning　mis－erably　to　himself，not　noticing　that　his　fire　was　no　longer　burn－ing　and　that　he　was　getting　cold．

But　in　Raveloe　the　church　bells　were　ringing　and　the　church　was　fuller　than　all　through　the　rest　of　the　year．It　was　a　special　day　for　everybody，and　after　the　service　they　all　hurried　home　in　the　biting　cold　to　eat　and　drink　with　their　families．

At　the　Red　House　nobody　spoke　of　Dunstan's　absence．The　village　doctor，Dr　Kimble，and　his　wife　were　guests　there　for　Christmas　lunch，and　the　day　passed　happily．

The　servants，however，were　already　preparing　for　the　New　Year's　Eve　dance　which　Squire　Cass　gave　every　year．It　was　the　best　party　of　the　year，and　guests　used　to　come　from　miles　around．Godfrey　was　looking　forward　to　this　year's　party　more　than　usual．But　he　was　still　worried．

‘What　if　Dunstan　returns？’he　thought．‘He'll　tell　the　Squire　about　my　secret　marriage！And　Molly's　asking　for　more　money！I'll　have　to　sell　something　for　cash．But　on　New　Year's　Eve，I　can　forget　everything　for　an　evening，and　sit　with　Nancy，and　look　into　her　eyes，and　dance　with　her…’

　　



　



6　The　New　Year's　Eve　dance

　　

On　December　3lst　it　was　snowing　and　very　cold．All　day　there　were　ladies　and　gentlemen　arriving　at　the　Red　House．

Godfrey　Cass　was　waiting　at　the　door　for　the　only　guest　he　cared　about，Nancy　Lammeter．Finally　she　arrived，sitting　be　hind　her　father　on　his　horse，looking　more　beautiful　than　ever．Her　lovely　face　blushed　as　she　saw　Godfrey　come　forward　to　lift　her　down　from　the　horse．‘Why　is　he　waiting　for　me？'she　thought．‘I　thought　I　made　it　clear　to　him　that　I'll　never　mar－ry　him．People　say　he　leads　a　bad　life，and　I　can't　marry　a　man　like　that．’

But　the　Squire　appeared　just　then，　to　welcome　his　guests，and　in　the　excitement　nobody　noticed　Nancy's　pink　face　as　Godfrey's　strong　arms　lifted　her　down．She　hurried　into　the　house　with　the　other　ladies　to　change　her　clothes．

The　house　was　full　of　servants　running　here　and　there．Mrs　Kimble，who　always　helped　the　Squire　arrange　these　parties，was　giving　orders　in　a　loud　voice．Cooks　were　preparing　food　in　the　kitchens，and　there　was　already　a　wonderful　smell　of　baking　in　the　air．

Upstairs，the　ladies　were　excitedly　putting　on　their　best　dresses，while　talking　to　each　other　all　the　time．Nancy　met　her　aunt，Mrs　Osgood，who　introduced　her　to　some　visitors　of　hers．The　Misses　Gunn　were　two　young　ladies　who　were　not　beauti－ful，but　dressed　very　fashionably．

Just　then　Nancy's　older　sister　Priscilla　arrived．She　was　a　large，cheerful　girl，with　a　round　face　and　a　nose　pink　with　cold．As　they　were　changing　their　clothes，Priscilla　said　to　Mrs　Osgood，‘Look　at　our　dresses，aunt！Of　course　Nancy　looks　beautiful　in　hers，but　this　colour　makes　me　look　yellow！　Nan－cy　says　we　must　wear　the　same　dresses，because　we're　sisters，although　I'm　five　years　older！I'm　ugly，I　know　I　am．But　I　don't　mind！'she　turned　to　Mrs　Osgood's　two　visitors．‘In　my　opinion　the　pretty　girls　are　useful－I'm　sure　you　agree－to　catch　the　men．I　don't　think　men　are　worth　worrying　about．Any　woman　with　a　good　father　and　a　good　home　had　better　stay　single．That's　what　I'm　going　to　do，anyway．We　ugly　girls　don't　need　husbands！’

Mrs　Osgood　stood　up　and　said　quickly，‘My　visitors　and　I　should　go　downstairs　now．Priscilla　and　Nancy，we'll　see　you　later．’And　the　three　ladies　hurried　out．

‘Oh　really，Priscilla！’cried　Nancy，when　they　were　alone．‘You　never　think　before　you　speak！　I'm　sure　the　Misses　Gunn　thought　you　were　very　impolite！You　almost　told　them　they　were　ugly！’

‘Did　I？’asked　Priscilla　in　surprise．‘Well，that's　the　way　I　am．I　always　tell　the　truth．But　I'm　the　ugly　one—just　look　at　me！’

‘Priscilla，you　know　I　asked　you　to　choose　the　dresses，’replied　Nancy　worriedly．‘I　don't　mind　what　colour　I　wear．’

‘You　look　lovely　in　this　colour，dear　child！You　know　you　always　have　whatever　you　want　in　the　end，although　you　never　give　orders　or　shout　about　it．I'm　looking　forward　to　seeing　you　married．It'll　be　fun　watching　you　make　your　husband　do　exactly　what　you　want．’

‘Don't　say　that，’answered　Nancy，　blushing．　‘You　know　I'm　never　going　to　get　married．’

Priscilla　laughed．‘I'm　the　one　who'll　stay　single．And　if　you　don't　like　Godfrey　Cass，well，there　are　plenty　of　other　young　men．Come，let's　go　downstairs　now．’

Although　Priscilla　was　right　in　saying　she　was　not　good…looking，she　was　very　popular　among　her　neighbours　because　she　was　so　cheerful　and　sensible．And　Nancy　was　not　only　con－sidered　to　be　the　most　beautiful　girl　in　and　around　Raveloe，but　also　one　of　the　most　intelligent．

Seats　at　the　dining－table　had　been　kept　for　the　Lammeter　sisters．Priscilla　was　taken　to　sit　between　her　father　and　the　Squire．Nancy　felt　herself　blushing　again　as　Godfrey　Cass　came　to　lead　her　to　a　seat　between　himself　and　the　vicar，Mr　Crack－enthorp　She　knew　that　if　she　married　Godfrey，she　would　one　day　be　the　most　important　woman　in　Raveloe，the　Squire's　wife　But　she　repeated　firmly　to　herself　that　she　cou