silas marner(织工马南)-第59章
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vague dullness of the gray hours； dissatisfaction seeks a definite
object； and finds it in the privation of an untried good。
Dissatisfaction seated musingly on a childless hearth thinks with
envy of the father whose return is greeted by young voices—
seated at the meal where the little heads rise one above another
like nursery plants； it sees a black care hovering behind every one
of them； and thinks the impulses by which men abandon freedom；
and seek for ties； are surely nothing but a brief madness。 In
Godfrey’s case there were further reasons why his thoughts should
be continually solicited by this one point in his lot： his conscience；
never thoroughly easy about Eppie； now gave his childless home
the aspect of a retribution； and as the time passed on； under
Nancy’s refusal to adopt her； any retrieval of his error became
more and more difficult。
On this Sunday afternoon it was already four years since there
had been any allusion to the subject between them； and Nancy
supposed that it was forever buried。
“I wonder if he’ll mind it less or more as he gets older；” she
thought； “I’m afraid more。 Aged people feel the miss of children：
what would father do without Priscilla？ And if I die； Godfrey will
be very lonely—not holding together with his brothers much。 But I
won’t be over…anxious； and trying to make things out beforehand； I
must do my best for the present。”
With that last thought Nancy roused herself from her revery；
and turned her eyes again towards the forsaken page。 It had been
forsaken longer than she imagined； for she was presently
surprised by the appearance of the servant with the tea…things。 It
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was； in fact； a little before the usual time for tea； but Jane had her
reasons。
“Is your master come into the yard； Jane？”
“No； ’m； he isn’t；” said Jane； with a slight emphasis； of which；
however； her mistress took no notice。
“I don’t know whether you’ve seen ’em； ’m；” continued Jane；
after a pause； “but there’s folks making haste all one way； afore
the front window。 I doubt something’s happened。 There’s niver a
man to be seen i’ the yard； else I’d send and see。 I’ve been up into
the top attic； but there’s no seeing anything for trees。 I hope
nobody’s hurt； that’s all。”
“Oh no； I daresay there’s nothing much the matter；” said
Nancy。 “It’s perhaps Mr。 Snell’s bull got out again； as he did
before。”
“I wish he mayn’t gore anybody； then； that’s all；” said Jane； not
altogether despising a hypothesis which covered a few imaginary
calamities。
“That girl is always terrifying me；” thought Nancy； “I wish
Godfrey would come in。”
She went to the front window and looked as far as she could see
along the road； with an uneasiness which she felt to be childish；
for there were now no such signs of excitement as Jane had
spoken of； and Godfrey would not be likely to return by the village
road； but by the fields。 She continued to stand； however； looking at
the placid churchyard with the long shadows of the gravestones
across the bright green hillocks； and at the glowing autumn
colours of the Rectory trees beyond。 Before such calm external
beauty the presence of a vague fear is more distinctly felt—like a
raven flapping its slow wing across the sunny air。 Nancy wished
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more and more that Godfrey would come in。
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Chapter 18
ome one opened the door at the other end of the room； and
Nancy felt that it was her husband。 She turned from the
S
window with gladness in her eyes； for the wife’s chief dread
was stilled。
“Dear； I’m so thankful you’re come；” she said； going towards
him。 “I began to get—” She paused abruptly； for Godfrey was
laying down his hat with trembling hands； and turned towards her
with a pale face and a strange unanswering glance； as if he saw
her indeed； but saw her as part of a scene invisible to herself。 She
laid her hand on his arm； not daring to speak again； but he left the
touch unnoticed； and threw himself into his chair。
Jane was already at the door with the hissing urn。
“Tell her to keep away； will you？” said Godfrey； and when the
door was closed again he exerted himself to speak more distinctly。
“Sit down； Nancy—there；” he said； pointing to a chair opposite
him。 “I came back as soon as I could； to hinder anybody’s telling
you but me。 I’ve had a great shock—but I care most about the
shock it’ll be to you。”
“It isn’t father and Priscilla？” said Nancy； with quivering lips；
clasping her hands together tightly on her lap。
“No； it’s nobody living；” said Godfrey； unequal to the
considerate skill with which he would have wished to make his
revelation。 “It’s Dunstan—my brother Dunstan； that we lost sight
of sixteen years ago。 We’ve found him—found his body—his
skeleton。”
The deep dread Godfrey’s look had created in Nancy made her
feel these words a relief。 She sat in comparative calmness to hear
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what else he had to tell。 He went on—“The Stone…pit has gone dry
suddenly—from the draining； I suppose； and there he lies—has
lain for sixteen years； wedged between two great stones。 There’s
his watch and seals； and there’s my gold…handled hunting…whip；
with my name on： he took it away； without my knowing； the day he
went hunting on Wildfire； the last time he was seen。”
Godfrey paused： it was not so easy to say what came next。
“Do you think he drowned himself？” said Nancy； almost
wondering that her husband should be so deeply shaken by what
had happened all those years ago to an unloved brother； of whom
worse things had been augured。
“No； he fell in；” said Godfrey； in a low but distinct voice； as if he
felt some deep meaning in the fact。 Presently he added： “Dunstan
was the man that robbed Silas Marner。”
The blood rushed to Nancy’s face and neck at this surprise and
shame； for she had been bred up to regard even a distant kinship
with crime as a dishonour。
“Oh； Godfrey！” she said； with compassion in her tone； for she
had immediately reflected that the dishonour must be felt still
more keenly by her husband。
“There was the money in the pit；” he continued—
