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！
shuttlecock？”
“Hush； lad； hush； that’s the way the ladies dress theirselves；
that is；” said the father； adding； however； in an undertone to Mr。
Macey： “It does make her look funny； though—partly like a short…
necked bottle wi’ a long quill in it。 Hey； by jingo； there’s the young
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 140…
Silas Marner 140
Squire leading off now； wi’ Miss Nancy for partners！ There’s a lass
for you！—like a pink…and…white posy—there’s nobody ’ud think as
anybody could be so pretty。 I shouldn’t wonder if she’s Madam
Cass some day； arter all—and nobody more rightfuller； for they’d
make a fine match。 You can find nothing against Master Godfrey’s
shapes； Macey； I’ll bet a penny。”
Mr。 Macey screwed up his mouth； leaned his head further on
one side； and twirled his thumbs with a presto movement as his
eyes followed Godfrey up the dance。 At last he summed up his
opinion。
“Pretty well down’ard； but a bit too round i’ the shoulder…
blades。 And as for them coats as he gets from the Flitton tailor；
they’re a poor cut to pay double money for。”
“Ah； Mr。 Macey； you and me are two folks；” said Ben； slightly
indignant at this carping。 “When I’ve got a pot o’ good ale； I like to
swaller it； and do my inside good； i’stead o’ smelling and staring at
it to see if I can’t find faut wi’ the brewing。 I should like you to pick
me out a finer…limbed young fellow nor Master Godfrey—one as
’ud knock you down easier； or’s more pleasanter looksed when
he’s piert and merry。”
“Tchuh！” said Mr。 Macey； provoked to increased severity； “he
isn’t come to his right colour yet： he’s partly like a slack…baked pie。
And I doubt he’s got a soft place in his head； else why should he be
turned round the finger by that offal Dunsey as nobody’s seen o’
late； and let him kill that fine hunting hoss as was the talk o’ the
country？ And one while he was allays after Miss Nancy； and then
it all went off again； like a smell o’ hot porridge； as I may say。 That
wasn’t my way when I went a…coorting。”
“Ah； but mayhap Miss Nancy hung off like； and your lass
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 141…
Silas Marner 141
didn’t；” said Ben。
“I should say she didn’t；” said Mr。 Macey； significantly。 “Before
I said ‘sniff’； I took care to know as she’d say ‘snaff’； and pretty
quick too。 I wasn’t a…going to open my mouth； like a dog at a fly；
and snap it to again； wi’ nothing to swaller。”
“Well； I think Miss Nancy’s a…coming round again；” said Ben；
“for Master Godfrey doesn’t look so down…hearted tonight。 And I
see he’s for taking her away to sit down； now they’re at the end o’
the dance： that looks like sweethearting； that does。”
The reason why Godfrey and Nancy had left the dance was not
so tender as Ben imagined。 In the close press of couples a slight
accident had happened to Nancy’s dress； which； while it was short
enough to show her neat ankle in front； was long enough behind to
be caught under the stately stamp of the Squire’s foot； so as to
rend certain stitches at the waist； and cause much sisterly
agitation in Priscilla’s mind； as well as serious concern in Nancy’s。
One’s thoughts may be much occupied with love…struggles； but
hardly so as to be insensible to a disorder in the general
framework of things。 Nancy had no sooner completed her duty in
the figure they were dancing than she said to Godfrey； with a deep
blush； that she must go and sit down till Priscilla could come to
her； for the sisters had already exchanged a short whisper and an
open…eyed glance full of meaning。 No reason less urgent than this
could have prevailed on Nancy to give Godfrey this opportunity of
sitting apart with her。 As for Godfrey； he was feeling so happy and
oblivious under the long charm of the country…dance with Nancy；
that he got rather bold on the strength of her confusion； and was
capable of leading her straight away； without leave asked； into the
adjoining small parlour； where the card…tables were set。
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 142…
Silas Marner 142
“Oh no； thank you；” said Nancy； coldly； as soon as she
perceived where he was going； “not in there。 I’ll wait here till
Priscilla’s ready to come to me。 I’m sorry to bring you out of the
dance and make myself troublesome。”
“Why； you’ll be more comfortable here by yourself；” said the
artful Godfrey。 “I’ll leave you here till your sister can come。” He
spoke in an indifferent tone。
That was an agreeable proposition； and just what Nancy
desired； why； then； was she a little hurt that Mr。 Godfrey should
make it？ They entered； and she seated herself on a chair against
one of the card…tables； as the stiffest and most unapproachable
position she could choose。
“Thank you； sir；” she said immediately。 “I needn’t give you any
more trouble。 I’m sorry you’ve had such an unlucky partner。”
“That’s very ill…natured of you；” said Godfrey； standing by her
without any sign of intended departure； “to be sorry you’ve
danced with me。”
“Oh no； sir； I don’t mean to say what’s ill…natured at all；” said
Nancy； looking distractingly prim and pretty。 “When gentlemen
have so many pleasures； one dance can matter but very little。”
“You know that isn’t true。 You know one dance with you
matters more to me than all the other pleasures in the world。”
It was a long； long while since Godfrey had said anything so
direct as that； and Nancy was startled。 But her instinctive dignity
and repugnance to any show of emotion made her sit perfectly
still； and only throw a little more decision into her voice； as she
said—“No； indeed； Mr。 Godfrey； that’s not known to me； and I
have very good reasons for thinking different。 But if it’s true； I
don’t wish to hear it。”
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 143…
Silas Marner 143
“Would you never forgive me； then； Nancy—never think well of
me； let what would happen—would you never think the present
made amends for the past？ Not if I turned a good fellow； and gave
up everything you didn’t like？”
Godfrey was half conscious that this sudden opportunity of
speaking to Nancy alone had driven him beside himself； but blind
feeling had got the mastery of his tongue。 Nancy really felt much
agitated by the possibility Godfrey’s words suggested； but this very
pressure of emotion that she was in danger of finding too strong
for her roused all her power of self…command。
“I should be