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inclination for a run； encouraged by confidence in his luck； and by
a draught of brandy from his pocket…pistol at the conclusion of the
bargain； was not easy to overcome； especially with a horse under
him that would take the fences to the admiration of the field。
Dunstan； however； took one fence too many； and got his horse
pierced with a hedge…stake。 His own ill…favoured person； which
was quite unmarketable； escaped without injury； but poor
Wildfire； unconscious of his price； turned on his flank； and
painfully panted his last。 It happened that Dunstan； a short time
before； having had to get down to arrange his stirrup； had
muttered a good many curses at this interruption； which had
thrown him in the rear of the hunt near the moment of glory； and
under this exasperation had taken the fences more blindly。 He
would soon have been up with the hounds again； when the fatal
accident happened； and hence he was between eager riders in
advance； not troubling themselves about what happened behind
them； and far…off stragglers； who were as likely as not to pass quite
aloof from the line of road in which Wildfire had fallen。 Dunstan；
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Silas Marner 48
whose nature it was to care more for immediate annoyances than
for remote consequences； no sooner recovered his legs； and saw
that it was all over with Wildfire； than he felt a satisfaction at the
absence of witnesses to a position which no swaggering could
make enviable。 Reinforcing himself； after his shake； with a little
brandy and much swearing； he walked as fast as he could to a
coppice on his right hand； through which it occurred to him that
he could make his way to Batherley without danger of
encountering any member of the hunt。 His first intention was to
hire a horse there and ride home forthwith； for to walk many miles
without a gun in his hand and along an ordinary road was as much
out of the question to him as to other spirited young men of his
kind。 He did not much mind about taking the bad news to
Godfrey； for he had to offer him at the same time the resource of
Marner’s money； and if Godfrey kicked； as he always did； at the
notion of making a fresh debt from which he himself got the
smallest share of advantage； why； he wouldn’t kick long： Dunstan
felt sure he could worry Godfrey into anything。 The idea of
Marner’s money kept growing in vividness； now the want of it had
become immediate； the prospect of having to make his appearance
with the muddy boots of a pedestrian at Batherley； and to
encounter the grinning queries of stablemen； stood unpleasantly
in the way of his impatience to be back at Raveloe and carry out
his felicitous plan； and a casual visitation of his waistcoat…pocket；
as he was ruminating； awakened his memory to the fact that the
two or three small coins his forefinger encountered there； were of
too pale a colour to cover that small debt； without payment of
which the stable…keeper had declared he would never do any more
business with Dunsey Cass。 After all； according to the direction in
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Silas Marner 49
which the run had brought him； he was not so very much farther
from home than he was from Batherley； but Dunsey； not being
remarkable for clearness of head； was only led to this conclusion
by the gradual perception that there were other reasons for
choosing the unprecedented course of walking home。 It was now
nearly four o’clock； and a mist was gathering： the sooner he got
into the road the better。 He remembered having crossed the road
and seen the fingerpost only a little while before Wildfire broke
down； so； buttoning his coat； twisting the lash of his hunting…whip
compactly round the handle； and rapping the tops of his boots
with a self…possessed air； as if to assure himself that he was not at
all taken by surprise； he set off with the sense that he was
undertaking a remarkable feat of bodily exertion； which somehow
and at some time he should be able to dress up and magnify to the
admiration of a select circle at the Rainbow。 When a young
gentleman like Dunsey is reduced to so exceptional a mode of
locomotion as walking； a whip in his hand is a desirable corrective
to a too bewildering dreamy sense of unwontedness in his
position； and Dunstan； as he went along through the gathering
mist； was always rapping his whip somewhere。 It was Godfrey’s
whip； which he had chosen to take without leave because it had a
gold handle； of course no one could see； when Dunstan held it；
that the name Godfrey Cass was cut in deep letters on that gold
handle—they could only see that it was a very handsome whip。
Dunsey was not without fear that he might meet some
acquaintance in whose eyes he would cut a pitiable figure； for mist
is no screen when people get close to each other； but when he at
last found himself in the well…known Raveloe lanes without having
met a soul； he silently remarked that that was part of his usual
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Silas Marner 50
good…luck。 But now the mist； helped by the evening darkness； was
more of a screen than he desired； for it hid the ruts into which his
feet were liable to slip—hid everything； so that he had to guide his
steps by dragging his whip along the low bushes in advance of the
hedgerow。 He must soon； he thought； be getting near the opening
at the Stone…pits： he should find it out by the break in the
hedgerow。 He found it out； however； by another circumstance
which he had not e