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George Eliot ElecBook Classics
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Chapter 8
hen Godfrey Cass returned from Mrs。 Osgood’s party at
Wmidnight； he was not much surprised to learn that
Dunsey had not come home。 Perhaps he had not sold
Wildfire； and was waiting for another chance—perhaps； on that
foggy afternoon； he had preferred housing himself at the Red Lion
at Batherley for the night； if the run had kept him in that
neighbourhood； for he was not likely to feel much concern about
leaving his brother in suspense。 Godfrey’s mind was too full of
Nancy Lammeter’s looks and behaviour； too full of the
exasperation against himself and his lot； which the sight of her
always produced in him； for him to give much thought to Wildfire；
or to the probabilities of Dunstan’s conduct。
The next morning the whole village was excited by the story of
the robbery； and Godfrey； like every one else； was occupied in
gathering and discussing news about it； and in visiting the Stone…
pits。 The rain had washed away all possibility of distinguishing
footmarks； but a close investigation of the spot had disclosed； in
the direction opposite to the village； a tinder…box； with a flint and
steel； half sunk in the mud。 It was not Silas’s tinder…box； for the
only one he had ever had was still standing on his shelf； and the
inference generally accepted was that the tinder…box in the ditch
was somehow connected with the robbery。 A small minority shook
their heads； and intimated their opinion that it was not a robbery
to have much light thrown on it by tinder…boxes； that Master
Marner’s tale had a queer look with it； and that such things had
been known as a man’s doing himself a mischief； and then setting
the justice to look for the doer。 But when questioned closely as to
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their grounds for this opinion； and what Master Marner had to
gain by such false pretences； they only shook their heads as
before； and observed that there was no knowing what some folks
counted gain； moreover； that everybody had a right to their own
opinions； grounds or no grounds； and that the weaver； as
everybody knew； was partly crazy。 Mr。 Macey； though he joined in
the defence of Marner against all suspicions of deceit； also pooh…
poohed the tinder…box； indeed； repudiated it as a rather impious
suggestion； tending to imply that everything must be done by
human hands； and that there was no power which could make
away with the guineas without moving the bricks。 Nevertheless； he
turned round rather sharply on Mr。 Tookey； when the zealous
deputy； feeling that this was a view of the case peculiarly suited to
a parish…clerk； carried it still further； and doubted whether it was
right to inquire into a robbery at all when the circumstances were
so mysterious。
“As if；” concluded Mr Tookey—”as if there was nothing but
what could be made out by justices and constables。”
“Now； don’t you be for overshooting the mark； Tookey；” said
Mr。 Macey； nodding his head aside admonishingly。 “That’s what
you’re allays at； if I throw a stone and hit； you think there’s
summat better than hitting； and you try to throw a stone beyond。
What I said was against the tinder…box； I said nothing against
justices and constables； for they’re o’ King George’s making； and it
’ud be ill…becoming a man in a parish office to fly out again’ King
George。”
While these discussions were going on amongst the group
outside the Rainbow； a higher consultation was being carried on
within； under the presidency of Mr。 Crackenthorp； the rector；
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assisted by Squire Cass and other substantial parishioners。 It had
just occurred to Mr。 Snell； the landlord—he being； as he observed；
a man accustomed to put two and two together—to connect with
the tinder…box； which； as deputy…constable； he himself had had the
honourable distinction of finding； certain recollections of a pedlar
who had called to drink at the house about a month before； and
had actually stated that he carried a tinder…box about with him to
light his pipe。 Here； surely； was a clue to be followed out。 And as
memory； when duly impregnated with ascertained facts； is
sometimes surprisingly fertile； Mr。 Snell gradually recovered a
vivid impression of the effect produced on him by the pedlar’s
countenance and conversation。 He had a “look with his eye” which
fell unpleasantly on Mr。 Snell’s sensitive organism。 To be sure； he
didn’t say anything particular—no； except that about the tinder…
box—but it isn’t what a man says； it’s the way he says it。 Moreover；
he had a swarthy foreignness of complexion which boded little
honesty。
“Did he wear earrings？” Mr。 Crackenthorp wished to know；
having some acquaintance with foreign customs。
“Well—stay—let me see；” said Mr。 Snell； like a docile
clairvoyant； who would really not make a mistake if she could help
it。 After stretching the corners of his mouth and contracting his
eyes； as if he were trying to see the earrings； he appeared to give
up the effort； and said； “Well； he’d got earrings in his box to sell； so
it’s nat’ral to suppose he might wear ’em。 But he called at every
house； a’most； in the village； there’s somebody else； mayhap； saw
’em in his ears； though I can’t take upon me rightly to say。”
Mr。 Snell was correct in his surmise that somebody else would
remember the pedlar’s earrings。 For on the spread of inquiry
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among the villagers it was stated with gathering emphasis that the
parson had wanted to know whether the pedlar wore earrings in
his ears； and an impression was created that a great deal
depended on the eliciting of this fact。 Of course； every one who
heard the question； not having any distinct image of the pedlar as
without earrings； immediately had an image of him with earrings；
larger or smaller； as the case might be； and the image was
presently taken for a vivid recollection； so that the glazier’s wife； a
well…intentioned woman； not given to lying； and whose house was
among the cleanest in the village； was ready to declare； as sure as
ever she meant to take the sacrament the very next Christmas that
was ever coming； that she had seen big earrings； in the shape of
the young moon； in the pedlar’s two ears； while Jinny Oates； the
cobbler’s daughter； being a more imaginative person； stated not
only that she had seen them too； but that they had made her blood
creep； as it did at that very moment while there she stood。
Also； by way of throwing further light on this clue of the tinder…
box； a collection was made of all the articles purchased from the
pedlar at various houses； and carried to the Rainbow to be
exhibited there。 In fact； there was a general feeling in the village
that for the clearing…up of this robbery there must be a great deal
done at the Rainbow； and that no man need offer his wife an
excuse for going there while it was the scene of severe public
duties。
Some disappointment was felt； and perhaps a little indignation
also； when it became known