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under this exasperation had taken the fences more blindly。 He
would soon have been up with the hounds again； when the fatal
accident happened； and hence he was between eager riders in
advance； not troubling themselves about what happened behind
them； and far…off stragglers； who were as likely as not to pass quite
aloof from the line of road in which Wildfire had fallen。 Dunstan；
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whose nature it was to care more for immediate annoyances than
for remote consequences； no sooner recovered his legs； and saw
that it was all over with Wildfire； than he felt a satisfaction at the
absence of witnesses to a position which no swaggering could
make enviable。 Reinforcing himself； after his shake； with a little
brandy and much swearing； he walked as fast as he could to a
coppice on his right hand； through which it occurred to him that
he could make his way to Batherley without danger of
encountering any member of the hunt。 His first intention was to
hire a horse there and ride home forthwith； for to walk many miles
without a gun in his hand and along an ordinary road was as much
out of the question to him as to other spirited young men of his
kind。 He did not much mind about taking the bad news to
Godfrey； for he had to offer him at the same time the resource of
Marner’s money； and if Godfrey kicked； as he always did； at the
notion of making a fresh debt from which he himself got the
smallest share of advantage； why； he wouldn’t kick long： Dunstan
felt sure he could worry Godfrey into anything。 The idea of
Marner’s money kept growing in vividness； now the want of it had
become immediate； the prospect of having to make his appearance
with the muddy boots of a pedestrian at Batherley； and to
encounter the grinning queries of stablemen； stood unpleasantly
in the way of his impatience to be back at Raveloe and carry out
his felicitous plan； and a casual visitation of his waistcoat…pocket；
as he was ruminating； awakened his memory to the fact that the
two or three small coins his forefinger encountered there； were of
too pale a colour to cover that small debt； without payment of
which the stable…keeper had declared he would never do any more
business with Dunsey Cass。 After all； according to the direction in
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Silas Marner 49
which the run had brought him； he was not so very much farther
from home than he was from Batherley； but Dunsey； not being
remarkable for clearness of head； was only led to this conclusion
by the gradual perception that there were other reasons for
choosing the unprecedented course of walking home。 It was now
nearly four o’clock； and a mist was gathering： the sooner he got
into the road the better。 He remembered having crossed the road
and seen the fingerpost only a little while before Wildfire broke
down； so； buttoning his coat； twisting the lash of his hunting…whip
compactly round the handle； and rapping the tops of his boots
with a self…possessed air； as if to assure himself that he was not at
all taken by surprise； he set off with the sense that he was
undertaking a remarkable feat of bodily exertion； which somehow
and at some time he should be able to dress up and magnify to the
admiration of a select circle at the Rainbow。 When a young
gentleman like Dunsey is reduced to so exceptional a mode of
locomotion as walking； a whip in his hand is a desirable corrective
to a too bewildering dreamy sense of unwontedness in his
position； and Dunstan； as he went along through the gathering
mist； was always rapping his whip somewhere。 It was Godfrey’s
whip； which he had chosen to take without leave because it had a
gold handle； of course no one could see； when Dunstan held it；
that the name Godfrey Cass was cut in deep letters on that gold
handle—they could only see that it was a very handsome whip。
Dunsey was not without fear that he might meet some
acquaintance in whose eyes he would cut a pitiable figure； for mist
is no screen when people get close to each other； but when he at
last found himself in the well…known Raveloe lanes without having
met a soul； he silently remarked that that was part of his usual
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Silas Marner 50
good…luck。 But now the mist； helped by the evening darkness； was
more of a screen than he desired； for it hid the ruts into which his
feet were liable to slip—hid everything； so that he had to guide his
steps by dragging his whip along the low bushes in advance of the
hedgerow。 He must soon； he thought； be getting near the opening
at the Stone…pits： he should find it out by the break in the
hedgerow。 He found it out； however； by another circumstance
which he had not expected—namely； by certain gleams of light；
which he presently guessed to proceed from Silas Marner’s
cottage。 That cottage and the money hidden within it had been in
his mind continually during his walk； and he had been imagining
ways of cajoling and tempting the weaver to part with the
immediate possession of his money for the sake of receiving
interest。 Dunstan felt as if there must be a little frightening added
to the cajolery； for his own arithmetical convictions were not clear
enough to afford him any forcible demonstration as to the
advantages of interest； and as for security； he regarded it vaguely
as a means of cheating a man by making him believe that he would
be paid。 Altogether； the operation on the miser’s mind was a task
that Godfrey would be sure to hand over to his more daring and
cunning brother： Dunstan had made up his mind to that； and by
the time he saw the light gleaming through the chinks of Marner’s
shutters； the idea of a dialogue with the weaver had become so
familiar to him that it occurred to him as quite a natural thing to
make the acquaintance forthwith。 There might be several
conveniences attending this course： the weaver had possibly got a
lantern； and Dunstan was tired of feeling his way。 He was still
nearly three…quarters of a mile from home； and the lane was
becoming unpleasantly slippery； for the mist was passing into rain。
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He turned up the bank； not without some fear lest he might miss
the right way； since he was not certain whether the light were in
front or on the side of the cottage。 But he felt the ground before
him cautiously with his whip…handle； and at last arrived safely at
the door。 He knocked loudly； rather enjoying the idea that the old
fellow would be frightened at the sudden noise。 He heard no
movement in reply： all was silence in the cottage。 Was the weaver
gone to bed； then？ If so； why had he left a light？ That was a
strange forgetfulness in a miser。 Dunstan knocked still more
loudly； and； without pausing for a reply； pushed his fingers
through the latch…hole； intending to shake the door and pull the
latch…string up and down； not doubting that the door was fastened。
But； to his surprise； at this double motion the door opened； and he
found himself in front of a bright fire which lit up every corner of
the cottage—the bed； the loom； the