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Silas Marner 236
Marner；” said Dolly “—that you would。 And if there’s any light to
be got up the Yard as you talk on； we’ve need of it i’ this world；
and I’d be glad on it myself； if you could bring it back。”
So on the fourth day from that time； Silas and Eppie； in their
Sunday clothes； with a small bundle tied in a blue linen
handkerchief； were making their way through the streets of a
great manufacturing town。 Silas； bewildered by the changes thirty
years had brought over his native place； had stopped several
persons in succession to ask them the name of this town； that he
might be sure he was not under a mistake about it。
“Ask for Lantern Yard； father—ask this gentleman with the
tassels on his shoulders a…standing at the shop door； he isn’t in a
hurry like the rest；” said Eppie； in some distress at her father’s
bewilderment； and ill at ease； besides； amidst the noise； the
movement； and the multitude of strange； indifferent faces。
“Eh； my child； he won’t know anything about it；” said Silas：
“gentlefolks didn’t ever go up the Yard。 But happen somebody can
tell me which is the way to Prison Street； where the jail is。 I know
the way out o’ that as if I’d seen it yesterday。”
With some difficulty； after many turnings and new inquiries；
they reached Prison Street； and the grim walls of the jail； the first
object that answered to any image in Silas’s memory； cheered him
with the certitude； which no assurance of the town’s name had
hitherto given him； that he was in his native place。
“Ah；” he said； drawing a long breath； “there’s the jail； Eppie；
that’s just the same： I aren’t afraid now。 It’s the third turning on
the left hand from the jail doors—that’s the way we must go。”
“Oh； what a dark； ugly place！” said Eppie。 “How it hides the
sky！ It’s worse than the Workhouse。 I’m glad you don’t live in this
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town now； father。 Is Lantern Yard like this street？”
“My precious child；” said Silas； smiling； “it isn’t a big street like
this。 I never was easy i’ this street myself； but I was fond o’
Lantern Yard。 The shops here are all altered； I think—I can’t
make ’em out； but I shall know the turning； because it’s the third。”
“Here it is；” he said； in a tone of satisfaction； as they came to a
narrow alley。 “And then we must go to the left again； and then
straight for’ard for a bit； up Shoe Lane； and then we shall be at the
entry next to the o’erhanging window； where there’s the nick in
the road for the water to run。 Eh； I can see it all。”
“Oh； father； I’m like as if I was stifled；” said Eppie。 “I couldn’t
ha’ thought as any folks lived i’ this way； so close together。 How
pretty the Stone…pits ’ull look when we get back！”
“It looks comical to me； child； now—and smells bad。 I can’t
think as it usened to smell so。”
Here and there a sallow； begrimed face looked out from a
gloomy doorway at the strangers； and increased Eppie’s
uneasiness； so that it was a longed…for relief when they issued from
the alleys into Shoe Lane； where there was a broader strip of sky。
“Dear heart！” said Silas； “why； there’s people coming out o’ the
Yard as if they’d been to chapel at this time o’ day—a weekday
noon！”
Suddenly he started and stood still with a look of distressed
amazement that alarmed Eppie。 They were before an opening in
front of a large factory； from which men and women were
streaming for their midday meal。
“Father；” said Eppie； clasping his arm； “what’s the matter？”
But she had to speak again and again before Silas could answer
her。
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“It’s gone； child；” he said at last； in strong agitation—”Lantern
Yard’s gone。 It must ha’ been here； because here’s the house with
the o’erhanging window—I know that—it’s just the same； but
they’ve made this new opening； and see that big factory！ It’s all
gone—chapel and all。”
“Come into that little brush…shop and sit down； father—they’ll
let you sit down；” said Eppie； always on the watch lest one of her
father’s strange attacks should come on。 “Perhaps the people can
tell you all about it。”
But neither from the brushmaker； who had come to Shoe Lane
only ten years ago； when the factory was already built； nor from
any other source within his reach； could Silas learn anything of
the old Lantern Yard friends； or of Mr。 Paston the minister。
“The old place is all swep’ away；” Silas said to Dolly Winthrop
on the night of his return—”the little graveyard and everything。
The old home’s gone； I’ve no home but this now。 I shall never
know whether they got at the truth o’ the robbery； nor whether
Mr。 Paston could ha’ given me any light about the drawing o’ the
lots。 It’s dark to me； Mrs。 Winthrop； that is； I doubt it’ll be dark to
the last。”
“Well； yes； Master Marner；” said Dolly； who sat with a placid；
listening face； now bordered by gray hairs； “I doubt it may。 It’s the
will o’ Them above as a many things should be dark to us； but
there’s some things as I’ve never felt i’ the dark about； and they’re
mostly what comes i’ the day’s work。 You were hard done by that
once； Master Marner； and it seems as you’ll never know the rights
of it； but that doesn’t hinder there being a rights； Master Marner；
for all it’s dark to you and me。”
“No；” said Silas； “no； that doesn’t hinder。 Since the time the
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child was sent to me and I’ve come to love her as myself； I’ve had
light enough to trusten by； and now she says she’ll never leave me；
I think I shall trusten till I die。”
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Conclusion
here was one time of the year which was held in Raveloe
to be especially suitable for a wedding。 It was when the
T
great lilacs and laburnums in the old…fashioned gardens
showed their golden and purple wealth above the lichen…tinted
walls； and when there were calves still young enough to want
bucketfuls of fragrant milk。 People were not so busy then as they
must become when the full cheese…making and the mowing had
set in； and besides； it was a time when a light bridal dress could be
worn with comfort and seen to advantage。
Happily the sunshine fell more warmly than usual on the lilac
tufts the morning that Eppie was married； for her dress was a very
light one。 She had often thought； though with a feeling of
renunciation； that the perfection of a wedding…dress would be a
white cotton； with the tiniest pink sprig at wide intervals； so that
when Mrs。 Godfrey Cass begged to provide one； and asked Eppie
to choose what it should be； previous meditation had enabled her
to give a decided answer at once。
Seen at a little distance as she walked across the churchyard
and down the village； she seemed to be attired in pure white；