silas marner(织工马南)-第22章
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as one of the superlatively sensible men。
“Let us see how the night is； though；” said the landlord； who
also considered himself personally concerned in this proposition。
“Why； it rains heavy still；” he said； returning from the door。
“Well； I’m not the man to be afraid o’ the rain；” said the farrier。
“For it’ll look bad when Justice Malam hears as respectable men
like us had a information laid before ’em and took no steps。”
The landlord agreed with this view； and after taking the sense
of the company； and duly rehearsing a small ceremony known in
high ecclesiastical life as the nolo episcopari； he consented to take
on himself the chill dignity of going to Kench’s。 But to the farrier’s
strong disgust； Mr。 Macey now started an objection to his
proposing himself as a deputy…constable； for that oracular old
gentleman； claiming to know the law； stated； as a fact delivered to
him by his father； that no doctor could be a constable。
“And you’re a doctor； I reckon； though you’re only a cow…
doctor—for a fly’s a fly； though it may be a hoss…fly；” concluded
Mr。 Macey； wondering a little at his own “‘cuteness。”
There was a hot debate upon this； the farrier being of course
indisposed to renounce the quality of doctor； but contending that a
doctor could be a constable if he liked—the law meant； he needn’t
be one if he didn’t like。 Mr。 Macey thought this was nonsense；
since the law was not likely to be fonder of doctors than of other
folks。 Moreover； if it was in the nature of doctors more than of
other men not to like being constables； how came Mr。 Dowlas to be
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so eager to act in that capacity？
“I don’t want to act the constable；” said the farrier； driven into a
corner by this merciless reasoning； “and there’s no man can say it
of me； if he’d tell the truth。 But if there’s to be any jealousy and
envying about going to Kench’s in the rain； let them go as like it—
you won’t get me to go； I can tell you。”
By the landlord’s intervention； however； the dispute was
accommodated。 Mr。 Dowlas consented to go as a second person
disinclined to act officially； and so poor Silas； furnished with some
old coverings； turned out with his two companions into the rain
again； thinking of the long night…hours before him； not as those do
who long to rest； but as those who expect to “watch for the
morning。”
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Chapter 8
hen Godfrey Cass returned from Mrs。 Osgood’s party at
Wmidnight； he was not much surprised to learn that
Dunsey had not come home。 Perhaps he had not sold
Wildfire； and was waiting for another chance—perhaps； on that
foggy afternoon； he had preferred housing himself at the Red Lion
at Batherley for the night； if the run had kept him in that
neighbourhood； for he was not likely to feel much concern about
leaving his brother in suspense。 Godfrey’s mind was too full of
Nancy Lammeter’s looks and behaviour； too full of the
exasperation against himself and his lot； which the sight of her
always produced in him； for him to give much thought to Wildfire；
or to the probabilities of Dunstan’s conduct。
The next morning the whole village was excited by the story of
the robbery； and Godfrey； like every one else； was occupied in
gathering and discussing news about it； and in visiting the Stone…
pits。 The rain had washed away all possibility of distinguishing
footmarks； but a close investigation of the spot had disclosed； in
the direction opposite to the village； a tinder…box； with a flint and
steel； half sunk in the mud。 It was not Silas’s tinder…box； for the
only one he had ever had was still standing on his shelf； and the
inference generally accepted was that the tinder…box in the ditch
was somehow connected with the robbery。 A small minority shook
their heads； and intimated their opinion that it was not a robbery
to have much light thrown on it by tinder…boxes； that Master
Marner’s tale had a queer look with it； and that such things had
been known as a man’s doing himself a mischief； and then setting
the justice to look for the doer。 But when questioned closely as to
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their grounds for this opinion； and what Master Marner had to
gain by such false pretences； they only shook their heads as
before； and observed that there was no knowing what some folks
counted gain； moreover； that everybody had a right to their own
opinions； grounds or no grounds； and that the weaver； as
everybody knew； was partly crazy。 Mr。 Macey； though he joined in
the defence of Marner against all suspicions of deceit； also pooh…
poohed the tinder…box； indeed； repudiated it as a rather impious
suggestion； tending to imply that everything must be done by
human hands； and that there was no power which could make
away with the guineas without moving the bricks。 Nevertheless； he
turned round rather sharply on Mr。 Tookey； when the zealous
deputy； feeling that this was a view of the case peculiarly suited to
a parish…clerk； carried it still further； and doubted whether it was
right to inquire into a robbery at all when the circumstances were
so mysterious。
“As if；” concluded Mr Tookey—”as if there was nothing but
what could be made out by justices and constables。”
“Now； don’t you be for overshooting the mark； Tookey；” said
Mr。 Macey； nodding his head aside admonishingly。 “That’s what
you’re allays at； if I throw a stone and hit； you think there’s
summat better than hitting； and you try to throw a stone beyond。
What I said was against the tinder…box； I said nothing against
justices and constables； for they’re o’ King George’s making； and it
’ud be ill…becoming a man in a parish office to fly out again’ King
George。”
While these discussions were going on amongst the group
outside the Rainbow； a higher consultation was being carried on
within； under the presidency of Mr。 Crackenthorp； the rector；
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assisted by Squire Cass and other substantial parishioners。 It had
just occurred to Mr。 Snell； the landlord—he being； as he observed；
a man accustomed to put two and two together—to connect with
the tinder…box； which； as deputy…
