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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
sounds of “gug…gug…gug” and “mammy”。 The “mammy” was not a
cry of need or uneasiness： Baby had been used to utter it without
expecting either tender sound or touch to follow。
“Anybody ’ud think the angils in heaven couldn’t be prettier；”
said Dolly； rubbing the golden curls and kissing them。 “And to
think of its being covered wi’ them dirty rags—and the poor
mother froze to death！ But there’s Them as took care of it； and
brought it to your door； Master Marner。 The door was open； and it
walked in over the snow； like as if it had been a little starved robin。
Didn’t you say the door was open？”
“Yes；” said Silas； meditatively。 “Yes—the door was open。 The
money’s gone I don’t know where； and this is come from I don’t
know where。”
He had not mentioned to any one his unconsciousness of the
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 165…
Silas Marner 165
child’s entrance； shrinking from questions which might lead to the
fact he himself suspected—namely； that he had been in one of his
trances。
“Ah；” said Dolly； with soothing gravity； “it’s like the night and
the morning； and the sleeping and the waking； and the rain and
the harvest—one goes and the other comes； and we know nothing
how nor where。 We may strive and scrat and fend； but it’s little we
can do arter all—the big things come and go wi’ no striving o’
our’n—they do； that they do； and I think you’re in the right on it to
keep the little un； Master Marner； seeing as it’s been sent to you；
though there’s folks as thinks different。 You’ll happen be a bit
moithered with it while it’s so little； but I’ll come； and welcome；
and see to it for you： I’ve a bit o’ time to spare most days； for when
one gets up betimes i’ the morning； the clock seems to stan’ still
tow’rt ten； afore it’s time to go about the victual。 So； as I say； I’ll
come and see to the child for you； and welcome。”
“Thank you—kindly；” said Silas； hesitating a little。 “I’ll be glad
if you’ll tell me things。 But；” he added uneasily； leaning forward to
look at Baby with some jealousy； as she was resting her head
backward against Dolly’s arm； and eying him contentedly from a
distance—”but I want to do things for it myself； else it may get
fond o’ somebody else； and not fond o’ me。 I’ve been used to
fending for myself in the house—I can learn； I can learn。”
“Eh； to be sure；” said Dolly； gently。 “I’ve seen men as are
wonderful handy wi’ children。 The men are awk’ard and contrairy
mostly； God help ’em—but when the drink’s out of ’em； they aren’t
unsensible； though they’re bad for leeching and bandaging—so
fiery and unpatient。 You see this goes first； next the skin；”
proceeded Dolly； taking up the little shirt； and putting it on。
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 166…
Silas Marner 166
“Yes；” said Marner； docilely； bringing his eyes very close； that
they might be initiated in the mysteries； whereupon Baby seized
his head with both her small arms； and put her lips against his
face with purring noises。
“See there；” said Dolly； with a woman’s tender tact； “she’s
fondest o’ you。 She wants to go o’ your lap； I’ll be bound。 Go then：
take her； Master Marner； you can put the things on； and then you
can say as you’ve done for her from the first of her coming to you。”
Marner took her on his lap； trembling with an emotion
mysterious to himself； at something unknown dawning on his life。
Thought and feeling were so confused within him that if he had
tried to give them utterance； he could only have said that the child
was come instead of the gold—that the gold had turned into the
child。 He took the garments from Dolly； and put them on under
her teaching； interrupted； of course； by Baby’s gymnastics。
“There； then！ why； you take to it quite easy； Master Marner；”
said Dolly； “but what shall you do when you’re forced to sit in your
loom？ For she’ll get busier and mischievouser every day—she will；
bless her。 It’s lucky as you’ve got that high hearth i’stead of a
grate； for that keeps the fire more out of her reach； but if you’ve
got anything as can be spilt or broke； or as is fit to cut her fingers
off； she’ll be at it—and it is but right you should know。”
Silas meditated a little while in some perplexity。 “I’ll tie her to
the leg o’ the loom；” he said at last—”tie her with a good long strip
o’ something。”
“Well； mayhap that’ll do； as it’s a little gell； for they’re easier
persuaded to sit i’ one place nor the lads。 I know what the lads are；
for I’ve had four—four I’ve had； God knows—and if you was to
take and tie ’em up they’d make a fighting and a crying as if you
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 167…
Silas Marner 167
was ringing the pigs。 But I’ll bring you my little chair； and some
bits o’ red rag and things for her to play wi’； an’ she’ll sit and
chatter to ’em as if they was alive。 Eh； if it wasn’t a sin to the lads
to wish ’em made different； bless ’em； I should ha’ been glad for
one of ’em to be a little gell； and to think as I could ha’ taught her
to scour； and mend； and the knitting； and everything！ But I can
teach ’em this little un； Master Marner； when she gets old
enough。”
“But she’ll be my little un；” said Marner； rather hastily。 “She’ll
be nobody else’s。”
“No； to be sure； you’ll have a right to her； if you’re a father to
her； and bring her up according。 But；” added Dolly； coming to a
point which she had determined beforehand to touch upon； “you
must bring her up like christened folks’s children； and take her to
church； and let her learn her catechise； as my little Aaron can say
off—the ‘I believe’； and everythi