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Silas Marner 161
fire； your aunt’s too fat to overtake it： she could only sit and grunt
like an alarmed sow。 But what a fool you are； Godfrey； to come out
in your dancing…shoes and stockings in this way—and you one of
the beaux of the evening； and at your own house！ What do you
mean by such freaks； young fellow？ Has Miss Nancy been cruel；
and do you want to spite her by spoiling your pumps？”
“Oh； everything has been disagreeable tonight。 I was tired to
death of jigging and gallanting； and that bother about the
hornpipes。 And I’d got to dance with the other Miss Gunn；” said
Godfrey； glad of the subterfuge his uncle had suggested to him。
The prevarication and white lies which a mind that keeps itself
ambitiously pure is as uneasy under as a great artist under the
false touches that no eye detects but his own； are worn as lightly
as mere trimmings when once the actions have become a lie。
Godfrey reappeared in the White Parlour with dry feet； and；
since the truth must be told； with a sense of relief and gladness
that was too strong for painful thoughts to struggle with。 For could
he not venture now； whenever opportunity offered； to say the
tenderest things to Nancy Lammeter—to promise her and himself
that he would always be just what she would desire to see him？
There was no danger that his dead wife would be recognised：
those were not days of active inquiry and wide report； and as for
the registry of their marriage； that was a long way off； buried in
unturned pages； away from every one’s interest but his own。
Dunsey might betray him if he came back； but Dunsey might be
won to silence。
And when events turn out so much better for a man than he has
had reason to dread； is it not a proof that his conduct has been less
foolish and blameworthy than it might otherwise have appeared？
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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When we are treated well； we naturally begin to think that we are
not altogether unmeritorious； and that it is only just we should
treat ourselves well； and not mar our own good fortune。 Where；
after all； would be the use of his confessing the past to Nancy
Lammeter； and throwing away his happiness？—nay； hers？ for he
felt some confidence that she loved him。 As for the child； he would
see that it was cared for： he would never forsake it； he would do
everything but own it。 Perhaps it would be just as happy in life
without being owned by its father； seeing that nobody could tell
how things would turn out； and that—is there any other reason
wanted？—well； then； that the father would be much happier
without owning the child。
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Chapter 14
here was a pauper’s burial that week in Raveloe； and up
Kench Yard at Batherley it was known that the dark…
T
haired woman with the fair child； who had lately come to
lodge there； was gone away again。 That was all the express note
taken that Molly had disappeared from the eyes of men。 But the
unwept death which； to the general lot； seemed as trivial as the
summer…shed leaf； was charged with the force of destiny to certain
human lives that we know of； shaping their joys and sorrows even
to the end。
Silas Marner’s determination to keep the “tramp’s child” was
matter of hardly less surprise and iterated talk in the village than
the robbery of his money。 That softening of feeling towards him
which dated from his misfortune； that merging of suspicion and
dislike in a rather contemptuous pity for him as lone and crazy；
was now accompanied with a more active sympathy； especially
amongst the women。 Notable mothers； who knew what it was to
keep children “whole and sweet”； lazy mothers； who knew what it
was to be interrupted in folding their arms and scratching their
elbows by the mischievous propensities of children just firm on
their legs；—were equally interested in conjecturing how a lone
man would manage with a two…year…old child on his hands； and
were equally ready with their suggestions： the notable chiefly
telling him what he had better do； and the lazy ones being
emphatic in telling him what he would never be able to do。
Among the notable mothers； Dolly Winthrop was the one whose
neighbourly offices were the most acceptable to Marner； for they
were rendered without any show of bustling instruction。 Silas had
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Silas Marner 164
shown her the half…guinea given to him by Godfrey； and had asked
her what he should do about getting some clothes for the child。
“Eh； Master Marner；” said Dolly； “there’s no call to buy； no
more nor a pair o’ shoes； for I’ve got the little petticoats as Aaron
wore five years ago； and it’s ill spending the money on them baby…
clothes； for the child ’ull grow like grass i’ May； bless it—that it
will。”
And the same day Dolly brought her bundle； and displayed to
Marner； one by one； the tiny garments in their due order of
succession； most of them patched and darned； but clean and neat
as fresh…sprung herbs。 This was the introduction to a great
ceremony with soap and water； from which Baby came out in new
beauty； and sat on Dolly’s knee； handling her toes and chuckling
and patting her palms together with an air of having made several
discoveries about herself； which she communicated by alternate
sounds of “gug…gug…gug” and “mammy”。 The “mammy” was not a
cry of need or uneasiness： Baby had b