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himself why； now he was come to Raveloe； he worked far on into
the night to finish the tale of Mrs。 Osgood’s table…linen sooner than
she expected—without contemplating beforehand the money she
would put into his hand for the work。 He seemed to weave； like the
spider； from pure impulse； without reflection。 Every man’s work；
pursued steadily； tends in this way to become an end in itself； and
so to bridge over the loveless chasms of his life。 Silas’s hand
satisfied itself with throwing the shuttle； and his eye with seeing
the little squares in the cloth complete themselves under his effort。
Then there were the calls of hunger； and Silas； in his solitude； had
to provide his own breakfast； dinner； and supper； to fetch his own
water from the well； and to put his own kettle on the fire； and all
these immediate promptings helped； along with the weaving； to
reduce his life to the unquestioning activity of a spinning insect。
He hated the thought of the past； there was nothing that called out
his love and fellowship toward the strangers he had come
amongst； and the future was all dark； for there was no Unseen
Love that cared for him。 Thought was arrested by utter
bewilderment； now its old narrow pathway was closed； and
affection seemed to have died under the bruise that had fallen on
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Silas Marner 24
its keenest nerves。
But at last Mrs。 Osgood’s table…linen was finished； and Silas was
paid in gold。 His earnings in his native town； where he worked for
a wholesale dealer； had been after a lower rate； he had been paid
weekly； and of his weekly earnings a large proportion had gone to
objects of piety and charity。 Now； for the first time in his life； he
had five bright guineas put into his hand； no man expected a share
of them； and he loved no man that he should offer him a share。
But what were the guineas to him who saw no vista beyond
countless days of weaving？ It was needless for him to ask that； for
it was pleasant to him to feel them in his palm； and look at their
bright faces； which were all his own： it was another element of life；
like the weaving and the satisfaction of hunger； subsisting quite
aloof from the life of belief and love from which he had been cut
off。 The weaver’s hand had known the touch of hard…won money
even before the palm had grown to its full breadth； for twenty
years； mysterious money had stood to him as the symbol of earthly
good； and the immediate object of toil。 He had seemed to love it
little in the years when every penny had its purpose for him； for he
loved the purpose then。 But now； when all purpose was gone； that
habit of looking towards the money and grasping it with a sense of
fulfilled effort made a loam that was deep enough for the seeds of
desire； and as Silas walked homeward across the fields in the
twilight； he drew out the money and thought it was brighter in the
gathering gloom。
About this time an incident happened which seemed to open a
possibility of some fellowship with his neighbours。 One day； taking
a pair of shoes to be mended； he saw the cobbler’s wife seated by
the fire； suffering from the terrible symptoms of heart…disease and
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Silas Marner 25
dropsy； which he had witnessed as the precursors of his mother’s
death。 He felt a rush of pity at the mingled sight and
remembrance； and； recalling the relief his mother had found from
a simple preparation of foxglove； he promised Sally Oates to bring
her something that would ease her； since the doctor did her no
good。 In this office of charity； Silas felt； for the first time since he
had come to Raveloe； a sense of unity between his past and
present life； which might have been the beginning of his rescue
from the insect…like existence into which his nature had shrunk。
But Sally Oates’s disease had raised her into a personage of much
interest and importance among the neighbours； and the fact of her
having found relief from drinking Silas Marner’s “stuff” became a
matter of general discourse。 When Doctor Kimble gave physic； it
was natural that it should have an effect； but when a weaver； who
came from nobody knew where； worked wonders with a bottle of
brown waters； the occult character of the process was evident。
Such a sort of thing had not been known since the Wise Woman at
Tarley died； and she had charms as well as “stuff”： everybody
went to her when their children had fits。 Silas Marner must be a
person of the same sort； for how did he know what would bring
back Sally Oates’s breath； if he didn’t know a fine sight more than
that？ The Wise Woman had words that she muttered to herself； so
that you couldn’t hear what they were； and if she tied a bit of red
thread round the child’s toe the while； it would keep off the water
in the head。 There were women in Raveloe； at that present time；
who had worn one of the Wise Woman’s little bags round their
necks； and； in consequence； had never had an idiot child； as Ann
Coulter had。 Silas Marner could very likely do as much； and more；
and now it was all clear how he should have come from unknown
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Silas Marner 26
parts； and be so “comical…looking”。 But Sally Oates must mind and
not tell the doctor； for he would be sure to set his face against
Marner： he was always angry about the Wise Woman； and used to
threaten those who went to her that they should have none of his
help any more。
Silas now found himself and his cottage suddenly beset by
mothers who wanted him to charm away the whooping…cough； or
bring back the milk； and by men who wanted stuff against the
rheumatics or the knots in the hands； and； to secure themselves
against a refusal； the applicants brought silver in their palms。 Silas
might have driven a profitable trade in charms as well