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neighbours concerning Marner； except the change from novelty to
habit。 At the end of fifteen years the Raveloe men said just the
same things about Silas Marner as at the beginning： they did not
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Silas Marner 13
say them quite so often； but they believed them much more
strongly when they did say them。 There was only one important
addition which the years had brought： it was that Master Marner
had laid by a fine sight of money somewhere； and that he could
buy up “bigger men” than himself。
But while opinion concerning him had remained nearly
stationary； and his daily habits had presented scarcely any visible
change； Marner’s inward life had been a history and a
metamorphosis； as that of every fervid nature must be when it has
fled； or been condemned to solitude。 His life； before he came to
Raveloe； had been filled with the movement； the mental activity；
and the close fellowship which； in that day as in this； marked the
life of an artisan early incorporated in a narrow religious sect；
where the poorest layman has the chance of distinguishing himself
by gifts of speech； and has； at the very least； the weight of a silent
voter in the government of his community。 Marner was highly
thought of in that little hidden world； known to itself as the church
assembling in Lantern Yard； he was believed to be a young man of
exemplary life and ardent faith； and a peculiar interest had been
centred in him ever since he had fallen； at a prayer…meeting； into a
mysterious rigidity and suspension of consciousness which； lasting
for an hour or more； had been mistaken for death。 To have sought
a medical explanation for this phenomenon would have been held
by Silas himself； as well as by his minister and fellow…members； a
wilful self…exclusion from the spiritual significance that might lie
therein。 Silas was evidently a brother selected for a peculiar
discipline； and though the effort to interpret this discipline was
discouraged by the absence； on his part； of any spiritual vision
during his outward trance； yet it was believed by himself and
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Silas Marner 14
others that its effect was seen in an accession of light and fervour。
A less truthful man than he might have been tempted into the
subsequent creation of a vision in the form of resurgent memory； a
less sane man might have believed in such a creation； but Silas
was both sane and honest； though； as with many honest and
fervent men； culture had not defined any channels for his sense of
mystery； and so it spread itself over the proper pathway of inquiry
and knowledge。 He had inherited from his mother some
acquaintance with medicinal herbs and their preparation—a little
store of wisdom which she had imparted to him as a solemn
bequest—but of late years he had had doubts about the lawfulness
of applying this knowledge； believing that herbs could have no
efficacy without prayer； and that prayer might suffice without
herbs； so that his inherited delight to wander through the fields in
search of foxglove and dandelion and coltsfoot began to wear to
him the character of a temptation。
Among the members of his church there was one young man； a
little older than himself； with whom he had long lived in such close
friendship that it was the custom of their Lantern Yard brethren
to call them David and Jonathan。 The real name of the friend was
William Dane； and he； too； was regarded as a shining instance of
youthful piety； though somewhat given to over…severity towards
weaker brethren； and to be so dazzled by his own light as to hold
himself wiser than his teachers。 But whatever blemishes others
might discern in William； to his friend’s mind he was faultless； for
Marner had one of those impressible； self…doubting natures which；
at an inexperienced age； admire imperativeness and lean on
contradiction。 The expression of trusting simplicity in Marner’s
face； heightened by that absence of special observation； that
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Silas Marner 15
defenceless； deer…like gaze which belongs to large； prominent
eyes； was strongly contrasted by the self…complacent suppression
of inward triumph that lurked in the narrow； slanting eyes and
compressed lips of William Dane。 One of the most frequent topics
of conversation between the two friends was Assurance of
salvation： Silas confessed that he could never arrive at anything
higher than hope mingled with fear； and listened with longing
wonder when William declared that he had possessed unshaken
assurance ever since； in the period of his conversion； he had
dreamed that he saw the words “calling and election sure”
standing by themselves on a white page in the open Bible。 Such
colloquies have occupied many a pair of pale…faced weavers；
whose unnurtured souls have been like young winged things；
fluttering forsaken in the twilight。
It had seemed to the unsuspecting Silas that the friendship had
suffered no chill even from his formation of another attachment of
a closer kind。 For some months he had been engaged to a young
servant…woman； waiting only for a little increase to their mutual
savings in order to their marriage； and it was a great delight to
him that Sarah did not object to William’s occasional presence in
their Sunday interviews。 It was at this point in their history that
Silas’s cataleptic fit occurred during the prayer…meeting； and
amidst the various queries and expressions of interest addressed
to him by his fellow…members； William’s suggestion alone jarred
with the general sympathy towards a brother thus singled out for
special dealings。 He observed that； to him； this trance looked more
like a visitation of Satan than a proof of divine favour； and
exhorted his friend to see that he hid no accursed thing within his
soul。 Silas； feeling bound to accept rebuke and admonition as a
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brotherly office； felt no resentment； but only pain； at his friend’s
doubts concerning him； and to this was soon added some anxiety
at the perception that Sarah’s manner towards him began to
exhibit a strange fluctuation between an effort at an increased
manifestation of regard and involuntary signs of shrinking and
dislike。 He asked her if she wished to break off their engagement；
but she denied this： their engagement was known to the church；
and had been recognised in the prayer…meetings； it could not be
broken off without strict investigation； and Sarah could render no
reason that would be sanctioned by the feeling of the community。
At this time the senior deacon was taken dangerously ill； and；
being a childless widower； he was tended night and day by some of
the younger brethren or sisters。 Silas frequently took his turn in
the night…watching with William； the one relieving the other at two
in the morning。 The old man； contrary to expectation； seemed to
be on the way to recovery； when one night Silas； sitting up by his
bedside； observed that his usual audible breathing had ceased。
The candle was burning low； and he had to