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Silas Marner 117
trusted in an unseen goodness。 Even to himself that past
experience had become dim。
But in Raveloe village the bells rang merrily； and the church
was fuller than all through the rest of the year； with red faces
among the abundant dark…green boughs—faces prepared for a
longer service than usual by an odorous breakfast of toast and ale。
Those green boughs； the hymn and anthem never heard but at
Christmas—even the Athanasian Creed； which was discriminated
from the others only as being longer and of exceptional virtue；
since it was only read on rare occasions—brought a vague；
exulting sense； for which the grown men could as little have found
words as the children； that something great and mysterious had
been done for them in heaven above and in earth below； which
they were appropriating by their presence。 And then the red faces
made their way through the black biting frost to their own homes；
feeling themselves free for the rest of the day to eat； drink； and be
merry； and using that Christian freedom without diffidence。
At Squire Cass’s family party that day nobody mentioned
Dunstan—nobody was sorry for his absence； or feared it would be
too long。 The doctor and his wife； uncle and aunt Kimble； were
there； and the annual Christmas talk was carried through without
any omissions； rising to the climax of Mr。 Kimble’s experience
when he walked the London hospitals thirty years back； together
with striking professional anecdotes then gathered。 Whereupon
cards followed； with aunt Kimble’s annual failure to follow suit；
and uncle Kimble’s irascibility concerning the odd trick which was
rarely explicable to him； when it was not on his side； without a
general visitation of tricks to see that they were formed on sound
principles： the whole being accompanied by a strong steaming
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odour of spirits…and…water。
But the party on Christmas Day； being a strictly family party；
was not the pre…eminently brilliant celebration of the season at the
Red House。 It was the great dance on New Year’s Eve that made
the glory of Squire Cass’s hospitality； as of his forefathers’； time
out of mind。 This was the occasion when all the society of Raveloe
and Tarley； whether old acquaintances separated by long rutty
distances； or cooled acquaintances separated by
misunderstandings concerning runaway calves； or acquaintances
founded on intermittent condescension； counted on meeting and
on comporting themselves with mutual appropriateness。 This was
the occasion on which fair dames who came on pillions sent their
bandboxes before them； supplied with more than their evening
costume； for the feast was not to end with a single evening； like a
paltry town entertainment； where the whole supply of eatables is
put on the table at once； and bedding is scanty。 The Red House
was provisioned as if for a siege； and as for the spare feather…beds
ready to be laid on floors； they were as plentiful as might naturally
be expected in a family that had killed its own geese for many
generations。
Godfrey Cass was looking forward to this New Year’s Eve with
a foolish； reckless longing that made him half deaf to his
importunate companion； Anxiety。
“Dunsey will be coming home soon： there will be a great blow…
up； and how will you bribe his spite to silence？” said Anxiety。
“Oh； he won’t come home before New Year’s Eve； perhaps；”
said Godfrey； “and I shall sit by Nancy then； and dance with her；
and get a kind look from her in spite of herself。”
“But money is wanted in another quarter；” said Anxiety； in a
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louder voice； “and how will you get it without selling your
mother’s diamond pin？ And if you don’t get it—…” “Well； but
something may happen to make things easier。 At any rate； there’s
one pleasure for me close at hand： Nancy is coming。”
“Yes； and suppose your father should bring matters to a pass
that will oblige you to decline marrying her—and to give your
reasons？”
“Hold your tongue； and don’t worry me。 I can see Nancy’s eyes；
just as they will look at me； and feel her hand in mine already。”
But Anxiety went on； though in noisy Christmas company；
refusing to be utterly quieted even by much drinking。
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Chapter 11
ome women； I grant； would not appear to advantage seated
on a pillion； and attired in a drab joseph and a drab beaver
S
bonnet； with a crown resembling a small stew…pan； for a
garment suggesting a coachman’s greatcoat； cut out under an
exiguity of cloth that would only allow of miniature capes； is not
well adapted to conceal deficiencies of contour； nor is drab a
colour that will throw sallow cheeks into lively contrast。 It was all
the greater triumph to Miss Nancy Lammeter’s beauty that she
looked thoroughly bewitching in that costume； as； seated on the
pillion behind her tall； erect father； she held one arm round him；
and looked down； with open…eyed anxiety； at the treacherous
snow…covered pools and puddles； which sent up formidable
splashings of mud under the stamp of Dobbin’s foot。 A painter
would； perhaps； have preferred her in those moments when she
was free from self…consciousness； but certainly the bloom on her
cheeks was at its highest point of contrast with the surrounding
drab when she arrived at the door of the Red House； and saw Mr。
Godfrey Cass ready to lift her from the pillion。 She wished her
sister Priscilla had come up at the same time behind the servant；
for then she would have contrived that Mr。 Godfrey should have
lifted off Priscilla first； and in the meantime she would have
persuaded her father to go round to the horse…block instead of
alighting at the doorsteps。 It was very painful； when you had made
it quite clear to a young man that you were determined not to
marry him； however much he might wish it； that he would still
continue to pay you marked attentions； besides； why didn’t he
always show the same attentions； if he meant them sincerely；
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instead of being so strange as Mr。 Godfrey Cass was； sometimes
behaving as if he didn’t want to speak to her； and taking no notice
of her for weeks and weeks； and then； all on a sudden； almost
making love again？ Moreover； it was quite plain he had no real
love for her； else he would not let people have that to say of him
which they did say。 Did he suppose that Miss Nancy Lammeter
was to be won by any man； squire or no squire； who led a bad life？
That was not what she had been used to see in her own father；
who was the soberest and best man in that countryside； only a
little hot and hasty now and then； if things were not done to the
minute。
All these thoughts rushed through Miss Nancy’s m