silas marner(织工马南)-第19章
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Silas Marner 68
the impotence of his hearer’s imagination—”why； I was all of a
tremble： it was as if I’d been a coat pulled by the two tails； like； for
I couldn’t stop the parson； I couldn’t take upon me to do that； and
yet I said to myself； I says； ‘Suppose they shouldn’t be fast
married； ’cause the words are contrairy？’ and my head went
working like a mill； for I was allays uncommon for turning things
over and seeing all round ’em； and I says to myself； ‘Is’t the
meanin’ or the words as makes folks fast i’ wedlock？’ For the
parson meant right； and the bride and bridegroom meant right。
But then； when I come to think on it； meanin’ goes but a little way
i’ most things； for you may mean to stick things together and your
glue may be bad； and then where are you？ And so I says to mysen；
‘It isn’t the meanin’； it’s the glue。’ And I was worreted as if I’d got
three bells to pull at once； when we went into the vestry； and they
begun to sign their names。 But where’s the use o’ talking？—you
can’t think what goes on in a ’cute man’s inside。”
“But you held in for all that； didn’t you； Mr。 Macey？” said the
landlord。
“Ay； I held in tight till I was by mysen wi’ Mr。 Drumlow； and
then I out wi’ everything； but respectful； as I allays did。 And he
made light on it； and he says； ‘Pooh； pooh； Macey； make yourself
easy；’ he says； ‘it’s neither the meaning nor the words—it’s the
regester does it—that’s the glue。’ So you see he settled it easy； for
parsons and doctors know everything by heart； like； so as they
aren’t worreted wi’ thinking what’s the rights and wrongs o’
things； as I’n been many and many’s the time。 And sure enough
the wedding turned out all right； on’y poor Mrs。 Lammeter—that’s
Miss Osgood as was—died afore the lasses was growed up； but for
prosperity and everything respectable； there’s no family more
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Silas Marner 69
looked on。”
Every one of Mr。 Macey’s audience had heard this story many
times； but it was listened to as if it had been a favourite tune； and
at certain points the puffing of the pipes was momentarily
suspended； that the listeners might give their whole minds to the
expected words。 But there was more to come； and Mr。 Snell； the
landlord； duly put the leading question。
“Why； old Mr。 Lammeter had a pretty fortin； didn’t they say；
when he come into these parts？”
“Well； yes；” said Mr。 Macey； “but I daresay it’s as much as this
Mr。 Lammeter’s done to keep it whole。 For there was allays a talk
as nobody could get rich on the Warrens： though he holds it cheap；
for it’s what they call Charity Land。”
“Ay； and there’s few folks know so well as you how it come to be
Charity Land； eh； Mr。 Macey？” said the butcher。
“How should they？” said the old clerk； with some contempt。
“Why； my grandfather made the grooms’ livery for that Mr。 Cliff as
came and built the big stables at the Warrens。 Why； they’re stables
four times as big as Squire Cass’s； for he thought o’ nothing but
hosses and hunting； Cliff didn’t—a Lunnon tailor； some folks said；
as had gone mad wi’ cheating。 For he couldn’t ride； lor bless you！
they said he’d got no more grip o’ the hoss than if his legs had
been cross…sticks； my grandfather heared old Squire Cass say so
many and many a time。 But ride he would； as if Old Harry had
been a…driving him； and he’d a son； a lad o’ sixteen； and nothing
would his father have him do； but he must ride and ride—though
the lad was frighted； they said。 And it was a common saying as the
father wanted to ride the tailor out o’ the lad； and make a
gentleman on him—not but what I’m a tailor myself； but in respect
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as God made me such； I’m proud on it； for ‘Macey； tailor’； ’s been
wrote up over our door since afore the Queen’s heads went out on
the shillings。 But Cliff； he was ashamed o’ being called a tailor； and
he was sore vexed as his riding was laughed at； and nobody o’ the
gentlefolks hereabout could abide him。 Howsomever； the poor lad
got sickly and died； and the father didn’t live long after him； for he
got queerer nor ever； and they said he used to go out i’ the dead o’
the night； wi’ a lantern in his hand； to the stables； and set a lot o’
lights burning； for he got as he couldn’t sleep； and there he’d
stand； cracking his whip and looking at his hosses； and they said it
was a mercy as the stables didn’t get burned down wi’ the poor
dumb creaturs in ’em。 But at last he died raving； and they found as
he’d left all his property； Warrens and all； to a Lunnon Charity；
and that’s how the Warrens come to be Charity Land； though； as
for the stables； Mr。 Lammeter never uses ’em—they’re out o’ all
charicter—lor bless you！ if you was to set the doors a…banging in
’em； it ’ud sound like thunder half o’er the parish。”
“Ay； but there’s more going on in the stables than what folks
see by daylight； eh； Mr。 Macey？” said the landlord。
“Ay； ay； go that way of a dark night； that’s all；” said Mr。 Macey；
winking mysteriously； “and then make believe； if you like； as you
didn’t see lights i’ the stables； nor hear the stamping o’ the hosses；
nor the cracking o’ the whips； and howling； too； if it’s tow’rt
daybreak。 ‘Cliff’s Holiday’ has been the name of it ever sin’ I were
a boy； that’s to say； some said as it was the holiday Old Harry gev
him from roasting； like。 That’s what my father told me； and he was
a reasonable man； though there’s folks nowadays know what
happened afore they were born better nor they know their own
business。”
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“What do you say to that； eh； Dowlas？” said the landlord；
turning to the farrier； who was swelling with impatience for his
cue。 “There’s a nut for you to crack。”
Mr。 Dowlas was the negative spirit in the company； and was
proud of his position。
“Say？ I say what a man should say as doesn’t shut his eyes to
look at a fingerpost。 I say； as I’m ready to wager any man ten
pound； if he’ll stand out wi’ me any dry night in the pasture before
the Warren stables； as we shall neither see lights nor hear noises；
if it isn’t the blowing of our own noses。 That’s what I say； and I’ve
said it many a time； but there’s nobody ’ull ventur a ten…pun’ note
on their ghos’es as they make so sure of。”
“Why； Dowlas； that’s easy betting； that is；” said Ben Winthrop。
“You might as well bet a man as he wouldn’t catch the
