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George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Silas Marner 44
him to snatch the strange gratification of seeing Nancy； and
gathering some faint indications of her lingering regard。 Towards
this gratification he was impelled； fitfully； every now and then；
after having passed weeks in which he had avoided her as the far…
off； bright…winged prize that only made him spring forward and
find his chain all the more galling。 One of those fits of yearning
was on him now； and it would have been strong enough to have
persuaded him to trust Wildfire to Dunstan rather than disappoint
the yearning； even if he had not had another reason for his
disinclination towards the morrow’s hunt。 That other reason was
the fact that the morning’s meet was near Batherley； the market…
town where the unhappy woman lived whose image became more
odious to him every day； and to his thought the whole vicinage was
haunted by her。 The yoke a man creates for himself by wrong…
doing will breed hate in the kindliest nature； and the good…
humoured； affectionate…hearted Godfrey Cass was fast becoming a
bitter man； visited by cruel wishes； that seemed to enter； and
depart； and enter again； like demons who had found in him a
ready…garnished home。
What was he to do this evening to pass the time？ He might as
well go to the Rainbow； and hear the talk about the cock…fighting：
everybody was there； and what else was there to be done？
Though； for his own part； he did not care a button for cock…
fighting。 Snuff； the brown spaniel； who had placed herself in front
of him； and had been watching him for some time； now jumped up
in impatience for the expected caress。 But Godfrey thrust her
away without looking at her； and left the room； followed humbly
by the unresenting Snuff—perhaps because she saw no other
career open to her。
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Silas Marner 45
Chapter 4
unstan Cass； setting off in the raw morning； at the
judiciously quiet pace of a man who is obliged to ride to
D
cover on his hunter； had to take his way along the lane
which； at its farther extremity； passed by the piece of unenclosed
ground called the Stone…pit； where stood the cottage； once a stone…
cutter’s shed； now for fifteen years inhabited by Silas Marner。 The
spot looked very dreary at this season； with the moist； trodden clay
about it； and the red； muddy water high up in the deserted quarry。
That was Dunstan’s first thought as he approached it； the second
was； that the old fool of a weaver； whose loom he heard rattling
already； had a great deal of money hidden somewhere。 How was it
that he； Dunstan Cass； who had often heard talk of Marner’s
miserliness； had never thought of suggesting to Godfrey that he
should frighten or persuade the old fellow into lending the money
on the excellent security of the young squire’s prospects？ The
resource occurred to him now as so easy and agreeable； especially
as Marner’s hoard was likely to be large enough to leave Godfrey a
handsome surplus beyond his immediate needs； and enable him to
accommodate his faithful brother； that he had almost turned the
horse’s head towards home again。 Godfrey would be ready enough
to accept the suggestion： he would snatch eagerly at a plan that
might save him from parting with Wildfire。 But when Dunstan’s
meditation reached this point； the inclination to go on grew strong
and prevailed。 He didn’t want to give Godfrey that pleasure： he
preferred that Master Godfrey should be vexed。 Moreover；
Dunstan enjoyed the self…important consciousness of having a
horse to sell； and the opportunity of driving a bargain； swaggering；
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Silas Marner 46
and possibly taking somebody in。 He might have all the
satisfaction attendant on selling his brother’s horse； and not the
less have the further satisfaction of setting Godfrey to borrow
Marner’s money。 So he rode on to cover。
Bryce and Keating were there； as Dunstan was quite sure they
would be—he was such a lucky fellow。
“Heyday！” said Bryce； who had long had his eye on Wildfire；
“you’re on your brother’s horse today： how’s that？”
“Oh； I’ve swopped with him；” said Dunstan； whose delight in
lying； grandly independent of utility； was not to be diminished by
the likelihood that his hearer would not believe him—”Wildfire’s
mine now。”
“What！ has he swopped with you for that big…boned hack of
yours？” said Bryce； quite aware that he should get another lie in
answer。
“Oh； there was a little account between us；” said Dunsey；
carelessly； “and Wildfire made it even。 I accommodated him by
taking the horse； though it was against my will； for I’d got an itch
for a mare o’ Jortin’s—as rare a bit o’ blood as ever you threw your
leg across。 But I shall keep Wildfire； now I’ve got him； though I’d a
bid of a hundred and fifty for him the other day； from a man over
at Flitton—he’s buying for Lord Cromleck—a fellow with a cast in
his eye； and a green waistcoat。 But I mean to stick to Wildfire： I
shan’t get a better at a fence in a hurry。 The mare’s got more
blood； but she’s a bit too weak in the hind…quarters。”
Bryce； of course； divined that Dunstan wanted to sell the horse；
and Dunstan knew that he divined it （horse…dealing is only one of
many human transactions carried on in this ingenious manner）；
and they both considered that the bargain was in its first stage；
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Silas Marner 47
when Bryce replied ironically—“I wonder at that now； I wonder
you mean to keep him； for I never heard of a man who didn’t want
to sell his horse getting a bid of half as much again as the horse
was worth。 You’ll be lucky if you get a hundred。”
Keating rode up now； and the transaction became more
complicated。 It ended in the purchase of the horse by Bryce for a
hundred and twenty； to be paid on the delivery of Wildfire； safe
and sound； at the Batherley stables。 It did occur to Dunsey that it
might be wise for him to give up the day’s hunting； proceed at
once to Batherley； and； having waited for Bryce’s return； hire a
horse to carry him home with the money in his pocket。 But the
inclination for a run； encouraged by confidence in his luck； and by
a draught of brandy from his pocket…pistol at the conclusion of the
bargain； was not easy to overcome； especially with a horse under
him that would take the fences to the admiration of the field。
Dunstan； however； took one fence too many； and got his horse
pierced with a hedge…stake。 His own ill…favoured person； which
was quite unmarketable； escaped without injury； but poor
Wildfire； unconscious of his price； turned on his flank； and
painfully panted his last。 It happened that Dunstan； a short time
before； having had to get down to arrange his stirrup； had
muttered a good many curses at this interruption； which had
thrown him in the rear of the hunt near the moment of glory； and
under this exasperation had taken the fences more blindly。 He
would soon have been up with the hound