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！
… Page 190…
Silas Marner 190
been developed in him since he had found Eppie on his hearth： it
had been the only clue his bewildered mind could hold by in
cherishing this young life that had been sent to him out of the
darkness into which his gold had departed。 By seeking what was
needful for Eppie； by sharing the effect that everything produced
on her； he had himself come to appropriate the forms of custom
and belief which were the mould of Raveloe life； and as； with
reawakening sensibilities； memory also reawakened； he had begun
to ponder over the elements of his old faith； and blend them with
his new impressions； till he recovered a consciousness of unity
between his past and present。 The sense of presiding goodness
and the human trust which come with all pure peace and joy； had
given him a dim impression that there had been some error； some
mistake； which had thrown that dark shadow over the days of his
best years； and as it grew more and more easy to him to open his
mind to Dolly Winthrop； he gradually communicated to her all he
could describe of his early life。 The communication was
necessarily a slow and difficult process； for Silas’s meagre power
of explanation was not aided by any readiness of interpretation in
Dolly； whose narrow outward experience gave her no key to
strange customs； and made every novelty a source of wonder that
arrested them at every step of the narrative。 It was only by
fragments； and at intervals which left Dolly time to revolve what
she had heard till it acquired some familiarity for her； that Silas at
last arrived at the climax of the sad story—the drawing of lots； and
its false testimony concerning him； and this had to be repeated in
several interviews； under new questions on her part as to the
nature of this plan for detecting the guilty and clearing the
innocent。
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 191…
Silas Marner 191
“And yourn’s the same Bible； you’re sure o’ that； Master
Marner—the Bible as you brought wi’ you from that country—it’s
the same as what they’ve got at church； and what Eppie’s a…
learning to read in？”
“Yes；” said Silas； “every bit the same； and there’s drawing o’
lots in the Bible； mind you；” he added in a lower tone。
“Oh dear； dear；” said Dolly in a grieved voice； as if she were
hearing an unfavourable report of a sick man’s case。 She was
silent for some minutes； at last she said—“There’s wise folks；
happen； as know how it all is； the parson knows； I’ll be bound； but
it takes big words to tell them things； and such as poor folks can’t
make much out on。 I can never rightly know the meaning o’ what I
hear at church； only a bit here and there； but I know it’s good
words—I do。 But what lies upo’ your mind—it’s this； Master
Marner： as； if Them above had done the right thing by you； They’d
never ha’ let you be turned out for a wicked thief when you was
innicent。”
“Ah！” said Silas； who had now come to understand Dolly’s
phraseology； “that was what fell on me like as if it had been red…
hot iron； because； you see； there was nobody as cared for me or
clave to me above nor below。 And him as I’d gone out and in wi’
for ten year and more； since when we was lads and went halves—
mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted； had lifted up his heel
again’ me； and worked to ruin me。”
“Eh； but he was a bad un—I can’t think as there’s another
such；” said Dolly。 “But I’m o’ercome； Master Marner； I’m like as if
I’d waked and didn’t know whether it was night or morning。 I feel
somehow as sure as I do when I’ve laid something up though I
can’t justly put my hand on it； as there was a rights in what
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 192…
Silas Marner 192
happened to you； if one could but make it out； and you’d no call to
lose heart as you did。 But we’ll talk on it again； for sometimes
things come into my head when I’m leeching or poulticing； or
such； as I could never think on when I was sitting still。”
Dolly was too useful a woman not to have many opportunities of
illumination of the kind she alluded to； and she was not long
before she recurred to the subject。
“Master Marner；” she said； one day that she came to bring
home Eppie’s washing； “I’ve been sore puzzled for a good bit wi’
that trouble o’ yourn and the drawing o’ lots； and it got twisted
back’ards and for’ards； as I didn’t know which end to lay hold on。
But it come to me all clear like； that night when I was sitting up wi’
poor Bessy Fawkes； as is dead and left her children behind； God
help ’em—it come to me as clear as daylight； but whether I’ve got
hold on it now； or can anyways bring it to my tongue’s end； that I
don’t know。 For I’ve often a deal inside me as’ll never come out；
and for what you talk o’ your folks in your old country niver saying
prayers by heart nor saying ’em out of a book； they must be
wonderful cliver； for if I didn’t know ‘Our Father’； and little bits o’
good words as I can carry out o’ church wi’ me； I might down o’
my knees every night； but nothing could I say。”
“But you can mostly say something as I can make sense on；
Mrs。 Winthrop；” said Silas。
“Well； then； Master Marner； it come to me summat like this： I
can make nothing o’ the drawing o’ lots and the answer coming
wrong； it ’ud mayhap take the parson to tell that； and he could
only tell us i’ big words。 But what come to me as clear as the
daylight； it was when I was troubling over poor Bessy Fawkes； and
it allays comes into my head when I’m sorry for folks； and feel as I
George Eliot ElecBook Classi