silas marner(织工马南)-第31章
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“Yes； I did； I heard ’em；” said Silas； to whom Sunday bells were
a mere accident of the day； and not part of its sacredness。 There
had been no bells in Lantern Yard。
“Dear heart！” said Dolly； pausing before she spoke again。 “But
what a pity it is you should work of a Sunday； and not clean
yourself—if you didn’t go to church； for if you’d a roasting bit； it
might be as you couldn’t leave it； being a lone man。 But there’s the
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bakehus； if you could make up your mind to spend a twopence on
the oven now and then—not every week； in course—I shouldn’t
like to do that myself—you might carry your bit o’ dinner there； for
it’s nothing but right to have a bit o’ summat hot of a Sunday； and
not to make it as you can’t know your dinner from Saturday。 But
now； upo’ Christmas Day； this blessed Christmas as is ever
coming； if you was to take your dinner to the bakehus； and go to
church； and see the holly and the yew； and hear the anthim； and
then take the sacramem’； you’d be a deal the better； and you’d
know which end you stood on； and you could put your trust i’
Them as knows better nor we do； seein’ you’d ha’ done what it lies
on us all to do。”
Dolly’s exhortation； which was an unusually long effort of
speech for her； was uttered in the soothing； persuasive tone with
which she would have tried to prevail on a sick man to take his
medicine； or a basin of gruel for which he had no appetite。 Silas
had never before been closely urged on the point of his absence
from church； which had only been thought of as a part of his
general queerness； and he was too direct and simple to evade
Dolly’s appeal。
“Nay； nay；” he said； “I know nothing o’ church。 I’ve never been
to church。”
“No！” said Dolly； in a low tone of wonderment。 Then bethinking
herself of Silas’s advent from an unknown country； she said；
“Could it ha’ been as they’d no church where you was born？”
“Oh yes；” said Silas meditatively； sitting in his usual posture of
leaning on his knees； and supporting his head。 “There was
churches—a many—it was a big town。 But I knew nothing of
’em—I went to chapel。”
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Dolly was much puzzled at this new word； but she was rather
afraid of inquiring further； lest “chapel” might mean some haunt
of wickedness。 After a little thought she said—“Well； Master
Marner； it’s niver too late to turn over a new leaf； and if you’ve
niver had no church； there’s no telling the good it’ll do you。 For I
feel so set up and comfortable as niver was； when I’ve been and
heard the prayers； and the singing to the praise and glory o’ God；
as Mr。 Macey gives out—and Mr。 Crackenthorp saying good
words； and more partic’lar on Sacramen’ Day； and if a bit o’
trouble comes； I feel as I can put up wi’ it； for I’ve looked for help i’
the right quarter； and gev myself up to Them as we must all give
ourselves up to at the last； and if we’n done our part； it isn’t to be
believed as Them as are above us ’ull be worse nor we are； and
come short o’ Their’n。”
Poor Dolly’s exposition of her simple Raveloe theology fell
rather unmeaningly on Silas’s ears； for there was no word in it
that could rouse a memory of what he had known as religion； and
his comprehension was quite baffled by the plural pronoun； which
was no heresy of Dolly’s； but only her way of avoiding a
presumptuous familiarity。 He remained silent； not feeling inclined
to assent to the part of Dolly’s speech which he fully understood—
her recommendation that he should go to church。 Indeed； Silas
was so unaccustomed to talk beyond the brief questions and
answers necessary for the transaction of his simple business； that
words did not easily come to him without the urgency of a distinct
purpose。
But now little Aaron； having become used to the weaver’s awful
presence； had advanced to his mother’s side； and Silas； seeming to
notice him for the first time； tried to return Dolly’s signs of good
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will by offering the lad a bit of lard…cake。 Aaron shrank back a
little； and rubbed his head against his mother’s shoulder； but still
thought the piece of cake worth the risk of putting his hand out for
it。
“Oh； for shame； Aaron！” said his mother； taking him on her lap；
however； “why； you don’t want cake again yet awhile。—He’s
wonderful hearty；” she went on； with a little sigh—”that he is； God
knows。 He’s my youngest； and we spoil him sadly； for either me or
the father must allays hev him in our sight—that we must。”
She stroked Aaron’s brown head； and thought it must do
Master Marner good to see such a “picture of a child”。 But
Marner； on the other side of the hearth； saw the neat…featured；
rosy face as a mere dim round； with two dark spots in it。
“And he’s got a voice like a bird—you wouldn’t think；” Dolly
went on； “he can sing a Christmas carril as his father’s taught him；
and I take it for a token as he’ll come to good； as he can learn the
good tunes so quick。 Come； Aaron； stan’ up and sing the carril to
Master Marner； come。”
Aaron replied by rubbing his forehead against his mother’s
shoulder。
“Oh； that’s naughty；” said Dolly gently。 “Stan’ up； when mother
tells you； and let me hold the cake till you’ve done。”
Aaron was not indisposed to display his talents； even to an ogre；
under protecting circumstances； and after a few more signs of
coyness； consisting chiefly in rubbing the backs of his hands over
his eyes； and then peeping between them at Master Marner； to see
if he looked anxious for the “carril”； he at length allowed his head
to be duly adjusted； and standing behind the table； which let him
appear above it only as far as his broad frill； so that he looked like
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a cherubic head untroubled with a body； he began with a clear
chirp； and in a melody that had the rhythm of an industrious
hammer—
“God rest you； merry gentlemen； Let nothing you dismay； For
Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born on Christmas Day。”
Dolly listened with a devout look； glancing at Marner in some
confidence that this strain would help to allure him to church。
“That’s Christmas music；” she said； when Aaron had ended；
an
