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cards and brandy； shuffled before his adversary’s deal with a glare
of suspicion； and turned up a mean trump…card with an air of
inexpressible disgust； as if in a world where such things could
happen one might as well enter on a course of reckless profligacy。
When the evening had advanced to this pitch of freedom and
enjoyment； it was usual for the servants； the heavy duties of
supper being well over； to get their share of amusement by coming
to look on at the dancing； so that the back regions of the house
were left in solitude。
There were two doors by which the White Parlour was entered
from the hall； and they were both standing open for the sake of air；
but the lower one was crowded with the servants and villagers；
and only the upper doorway was left free。 Bob Cass was figuring in
a hornpipe； and his father； very proud of this lithe son； whom he
repeatedly declared to be just like himself in his young days in a
tone that implied this to be the very highest stamp of juvenile
merit； was the centre of a group who had placed themselves
opposite the performer； not far from the upper door。 Godfrey was
standing a little way off； not to admire his brother’s dancing； but to
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keep sight of Nancy； who was seated in the group near her father。
He stood aloof； because he wished to avoid suggesting himself as a
subject for the Squire’s fatherly jokes in connection with
matrimony and Miss Nancy Lammeter’s beauty； which were likely
to become more and more explicit。 But he had the prospect of
dancing with her again when the hornpipe was concluded； and in
the meanwhile it was very pleasant to get long glances at her quite
unobserved。
But when Godfrey was lifting his eyes from one of those long
glances； they encountered an object as startling to him at that
moment as if it had been an apparition from the dead。 It was an
apparition from that hidden life which lies； like a dark by…street；
behind the goodly ornamented facade that meets the sunlight and
the gaze of respectable admirers。 It was his own child carried in
Silas Marner’s arms。 That was his instantaneous impression；
unaccompanied by doubt； though he had not seen the child for
months past； and when the hope was rising that he might possibly
be mistaken； Mr。 Crackenthorp and Mr。 Lammeter had already
advanced to Silas； in astonishment at this strange advent。 Godfrey
joined them immediately； unable to rest without hearing every
word—trying to control himself； but conscious that if any one
noticed him； they must see that he was white…lipped and
trembling。
But now all eyes at that end of the room were bent on Silas
Marner； the Squire himself had risen； and asked angrily； “How’s
this？—what’s this？—what do you do coming in here in this way？”
“I’m come for the doctor—I want the doctor；” Silas had said； in
the first moment； to Mr。 Crackenthorp。
“Why； what’s the matter； Marner？” said the Rector。 “The
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doctor’s here； but say quietly what you want him for。”
“It’s a woman；” said Silas； speaking low； and half breathlessly；
just as Godfrey came up。 “She’s dead； I think—dead in the snow at
the Stone…pits—not far from my door。”
Godfrey felt a great throb： there was one terror in his mind at
that moment； it was that the woman might not be dead。 That was
an evil terror—an ugly inmate to have found a nestling…place in
Godfrey’s kindly disposition； but no disposition is a security from
evil wishes to a man whose happiness hangs on duplicity。
“Hush； hush！” said Mr。 Crackenthorp。 “Go out into the hall
there。 I’ll fetch the doctor to you。 Found a woman in the snow—
and thinks she’s dead；” he added； speaking low to the Squire。
“Better say as little about it as possible： it will shock the ladies。
Just tell them a poor woman is ill from cold and hunger。 I’ll go and
fetch Kimble。”
By this time； however； the ladies had pressed forward； curious
to know what could have brought the solitary linen…weaver there
under such strange circumstances； and interested in the pretty
child； who； half alarmed and half attracted by the brightness and
the numerous company； now frowned and hid her face； now lifted
up her head again and looked round placably； until a touch or a
coaxing word brought back the frown； and made her bury her face
with new determination。
“What child is it？” said several ladies at once； and； among the
rest； Nancy Lammeter； addressing Godfrey。
“I don’t know—some poor woman’s who has been found in the
snow； I believe；” was the answer Godfrey wrung from himself with
a terrible effort。 （“After all； am I certain？” he hastened to add； in
anticipation of his own conscience。） “Why； you’d better leave the
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child here； then； Master Marner；” said good…natured Mrs。 Kimble；
hesitating； however； to take those dingy clothes into contact with
her own ornamented satin bodice。 “I’ll tell one o’ the girls to fetch
it。”
“No—no—I can’t part with it； I can’t let it go；” said Silas；
abruptly。 “It’s come to me—I’ve a right to keep it。”
The proposition to take the child from him had come to Silas
quite unexpectedly； and his speech； uttered under a strong sudden
impulse； was almost like a revelation to himself： a minute before；
he had no distinct intention about the child。
“Did you ever hear the like？” said Mrs。 Kimble； in mild
surprise； to her neighbour。
“Now； ladies； I must trouble you to stand aside；” said Mr。
Kimble； coming from the card…room； in some bitterness at the
interruption； but drilled by the long habit of his profession into
obedience to unpleasant calls； even when he was hardly sober。
“It’s a nasty business turning out now； eh； Kimble？” said the
Squire。 “He might ha’ gone for your young fellow—the ’prentice；
there—what’s his name？”
“Might？ ay—what’s the use of talking about might？” growled
uncle Kimble； hastening out with Marner； and followed by Mr。
Crackenthorp and Godfrey。 “Get me a pair of thick boots； Godfrey；
will you？ And stay； let somebody run to Winthrop’s and fetch
Dolly—she’s the best woman to get。 Ben was here himself before
supper； is he gone？”
“Yes； sir； I met him；” said Marner； “but I couldn’t stop to tell
him anything； only I said I was going for the doctor； and he said
the doctor was at the Squire’s。 And I made haste and ran； and
there was nobody to be seen at the back o’ the house； and so I
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went in to where the company was。”
The child； no longer distracted by the bright light and the
smiling women’s faces； began to cry and call for “mammy”； though
always clinging to Marner； who had apparently won her thorough
confidence。 Godfrey had come back with the boots； and felt the cry
as if some fibre were drawn tight within him。
“I’ll go；” he said hastily； eager for some movement； “I’ll go and
fetch the woman—Mrs。 Winthrop。”
“Oh； pooh—send somebody else；” said uncle Kimble； hurrying
away with Marner。
“You’ll let me know if I can be of any use； Kimble；” said Mr。
Crackenthorp。 But the doctor wa