按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
overwise or clever—at least； not beyond such a matter as knowing
the signs of the weather； and the process by which rapidity and
dexterity of any kind were acquired was so wholly hidden that
they partook of the nature of conjuring。 In this way it came to pass
that those scattered linen…weavers—emigrants from the town into
the country—were to the last regarded as aliens by their rustic
neighbours； and usually contracted the eccentric habits which
belong to a state of loneliness。
In the early years of this century； such a linen…weaver； named
Silas Marner； worked at his vocation in a stone cottage that stood
among the nutty hedgerows near the village of Raveloe； and not
far from the edge of a deserted stone…pit。 The questionable sound
of Silas’s loom； so unlike the natural cheerful trotting of the
winnowing…machine； or the simpler rhythm of the flail； had a half…
fearful fascination for the Raveloe boys； who would often leave off
their nutting or birds’…nesting to peep in at the window of the
stone cottage； counterbalancing a certain awe at the mysterious
action of the loom； by a pleasant sense of scornful superiority；
drawn from the mockery of its alternating noises； along with the
bent； treadmill attitude of the weaver。 But sometimes it happened
that Marner； pausing to adjust an irregularity in his thread；
became aware of the small scoundrels； and； though chary of his
time； he liked their intrusion so ill that he would descend from his
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 9…
Silas Marner 9
loom； and； opening the door； would fix on them a gaze that was
always enough to make them take to their legs in terror。 For how
was it possible to believe that those large brown protuberant eyes
in Silas Marner’s pale face really saw nothing very distinctly that
was not close to them； and not rather that their dreadful stare
could dart cramp； or rickets； or a wry mouth at any boy who
happened to be in the rear？ They had； perhaps； heard their
fathers and mothers hint that Silas Marner could cure folk’s
rheumatism if he had a mind； and add； still more darkly； that if
you could only speak the devil fair enough； he might save you the
cost of the doctor。 Such strange； lingering echoes of the old
demon…worship might perhaps even now be caught by the diligent
listener among the gray…haired peasantry； for the rude mind with
difficulty associates the ideas of power and benignity。 A shadowy
conception of power that by much persuasion can be induced to
refrain from inflicting harm； is the shape most easily taken by the
sense of the Invisible in the minds of men who have always been
pressed close by primitive wants； and to whom a life of hard toil
has never been illuminated by any enthusiastic religious faith。 To
them pain and mishap present a far wider range of possibilities
than gladness and enjoyment： their imagination is almost barren
of the images that feed desire and hope； but is all overgrown by
recollections that are a perpetual pasture to fear。 “Is there
anything you can fancy that you would like to eat？” I once said to
an old labouring…man； who was in his last illness； and who had
refused all the food his wife had offered him。 “No；” he answered；
“I’ve never been used to nothing but common victual； and I can’t
eat that。” Experience had bred no fancies in him that could raise
the phantasm of appetite。
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 10…
Silas Marner 10
And Raveloe was a village where many of the old echoes
lingered； undrowned by new voices。 Not that it was one of those
barren parishes lying on the outskirts of civilization—inhabited by
meagre sheep and thinly scattered shepherds： on the contrary； it
lay in the rich； central plain of what we are pleased to call Merry
England； and held farms which； speaking from a spiritual point of
view； paid highly desirable tithes。 But it was nestled in a snug；
well…wooded hollow； quite an hour’s journey on horseback from
any turnpike； where it was never reached by the vibrations of the
coach…horn； or of public opinion。 It was an important…looking
village； with a fine old church； and large churchyard in the heart
of it； and two or three large brick…and…stone homesteads； with
well…walled orchards and ornamental weathercocks； standing
close upon the road； and lifting more imposing fronts than the
rectory； which peeped from among the trees on the other side of
the churchyard—a village which showed at once the summits of its
social life； and told the practised eye that there was no great park
and manor…house in the vicinity； but that there were several chiefs
in Raveloe who could farm badly quite at their ease； drawing
enough money from their bad farming； in those wartimes； to live
in a rollicking fashion； and keep a jolly Christmas； Whitsun； and
Eastertide。
It was fifteen years since Silas Marner had first come to
Raveloe： he was then simply a pallid young man； with prominent；
short…sighted brown eyes； whose appearance would have had
nothing strange for people of average culture and experience； but
for the villagers near whom he had come to settle it had
mysterious peculiarities which corresponded with the exceptional
nature of his occupation； and his advent from an unknown region
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 11…
Silas Marner 11
called “North’ard”。 So had his way of life： he invited no comer to
step across his door…sill； and he never strolled into the village to
drink a pint at the Rainbow； or to gossip at the wheelwright’s； he
sought no man or woman； save for the purposes of his calling； or in
order to supply himself with necessaries； and it was soon clear to
the Ravel