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good； and the immediate object of toil。 He had seemed to love it
little in the years when every penny had its purpose for him； for he
loved the purpose then。 But now； when all purpose was gone； that
habit of looking towards the money and grasping it with a sense of
fulfilled effort made a loam that was deep enough for the seeds of
desire； and as Silas walked homeward across the fields in the
twilight； he drew out the money and thought it was brighter in the
gathering gloom。
About this time an incident happened which seemed to open a
possibility of some fellowship with his neighbours。 One day； taking
a pair of shoes to be mended； he saw the cobbler’s wife seated by
the fire； suffering from the terrible symptoms of heart…disease and
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Silas Marner 25
dropsy； which he had witnessed as the precursors of his mother’s
death。 He felt a rush of pity at the mingled sight and
remembrance； and； recalling the relief his mother had found from
a simple preparation of foxglove； he promised Sally Oates to bring
her something that would ease her； since the doctor did her no
good。 In this office of charity； Silas felt； for the first time since he
had come to Raveloe； a sense of unity between his past and
present life； which might have been the beginning of his rescue
from the insect…like existence into which his nature had shrunk。
But Sally Oates’s disease had raised her into a personage of much
interest and importance among the neighbours； and the fact of her
having found relief from drinking Silas Marner’s “stuff” became a
matter of general discourse。 When Doctor Kimble gave physic； it
was natural that it should have an effect； but when a weaver； who
came from nobody knew where； worked wonders with a bottle of
brown waters； the occult character of the process was evident。
Such a sort of thing had not been known since the Wise Woman at
Tarley died； and she had charms as well as “stuff”： everybody
went to her when their children had fits。 Silas Marner must be a
person of the same sort； for how did he know what would bring
back Sally Oates’s breath； if he didn’t know a fine sight more than
that？ The Wise Woman had words that she muttered to herself； so
that you couldn’t hear what they were； and if she tied a bit of red
thread round the child’s toe the while； it would keep off the water
in the head。 There were women in Raveloe； at that present time；
who had worn one of the Wise Woman’s little bags round their
necks； and； in consequence； had never had an idiot child； as Ann
Coulter had。 Silas Marner could very likely do as much； and more；
and now it was all clear how he should have come from unknown
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Silas Marner 26
parts； and be so “comical…looking”。 But Sally Oates must mind and
not tell the doctor； for he would be sure to set his face against
Marner： he was always angry about the Wise Woman； and used to
threaten those who went to her that they should have none of his
help any more。
Silas now found himself and his cottage suddenly beset by
mothers who wanted him to charm away the whooping…cough； or
bring back the milk； and by men who wanted stuff against the
rheumatics or the knots in the hands； and； to secure themselves
against a refusal； the applicants brought silver in their palms。 Silas
might have driven a profitable trade in charms as well as in his
small list of drugs； but money on this condition was no temptation
to him。 He had never known an impulse towards falsity； and he
drove one after another away with growing irritation； for the news
of him as a wise man had spread even to Tarley； and it was long
before people ceased to take long walks for the sake of asking his
aid。 But the hope in his wisdom was at length changed into dread；
for no one believed him when he said he knew no charms and
could work no cures； and every man and woman who had an
accident or a new attack after applying to him； set the misfortune
down to Master Marner’s ill…will and irritated glances。 Thus it
came to pass that his movement of pity towards Sally Oates； which
had given him a transient sense of brotherhood； heightened the
repulsion between him and his neighbours； and made his isolation
more complete。
Gradually the guineas； the crowns； and the half…crowns grew to
a heap； and Marner drew less and less for his own wants； trying to
solve the problem of keeping himself strong enough to work
sixteen hours a day on as small an outlay as possible。 Have not
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Silas Marner 27
men； shut up in solitary imprisonment； found an interest in
marking the moments by straight strokes of a certain length on the
wall； until the growth of the sum of straight strokes； arranged in
triangles； has become a mastering purpose？ Do we not while away
moments of inanity or fatigued waiting by repeating some trivial
movement or sound； until the repetition has bred a want； which is
incipient habit？ That will help us to understand how the love of
accumulating money grows an absorbing passion in men whose
imaginations； even in the very beginning of their hoard； showed
them no purpose beyond it。 Marner wanted the heaps of ten to
grow into a square； and then into a larger square； and every added
guinea； while it was itself a satisfaction； bred a new desire。 In this
strange world； made a hopeless riddle to him； he might； if he had
had a less intense nature； have sat weaving； weaving—looking
towards the end of his pattern； or towards the end of his web； till
he forgot the riddle； and everything else but his immediate
sensations； but the money had come to mark off his weaving into
periods； and the money not only grew； but it remained with him。
He began to think it was conscious of him； as his loom was； and he
would on no account have exchanged those coins； which had
become his familiars； for other coins with unknown faces。 He
handled them； he counted them； till their form and colour were
like the satisfaction of a thirst to him； but it was only in the night；
when his work was done； that he drew them out to enjoy their
companionship。 He had taken up some bricks in his floor
underneath his loom； and here he had made a hole in which he set
the iron pot that contained his guineas and silver coins； covering
the bricks with sand whenever he replaced them。 Not that the idea
of being robbed presented itself often or strongly to his mind：
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Silas Marner 28
hoarding was common in country districts in those days； there
were old labourers in the parish of Raveloe who were known to
have their savings by them； probably inside their flock…beds； but
their rustic neighbours； though not all of them as honest as their
ancestors in the days of King Alfred； had not imaginations bold
enough to lay a plan of burglary。 How could they have spent the
money in their own village without betraying themselves？ They
would be obliged to “run away”—a course as dark and dubious as
a balloon journey。
So； year after year； Silas Marner had lived in this solitude； his
guineas rising in the iron pot； and his life narrowing and
hardening itself more and more into a mere pulsation of desire
and satisfaction that had no relation to any other being。 His l