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peeped around the chair again。
“Well； to be sure； you can read ’em off；” said Dolly。 “Ben’s read
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’em to me many and many a time； but they slip out o’ my mind
again； the more’s the pity； for they’re good letters； else they
wouldn’t be in the church； and so I prick ’em on all the loaves and
all the cakes； though sometimes they won’t hold； because o’ the
rising—for； as I said； if there’s any good to be got； we’ve need of it
i’ this world—that we have； and I hope they’ll bring good to you；
Master Marner； for it’s wi’ that will I brought you the cakes； and
you see the letters have held better nor common。”
Silas was as unable to interpret the letters as Dolly； but there
was no possibility of misunderstanding the desire to give comfort
that made itself heard in her quiet tones。 He said； with more
feeling than before； “Thank you—thank you kindly。” But he laid
down the cakes and seated himself absently—drearily unconscious
of any distinct benefit towards which the cakes and the letters； or
even Dolly’s kindness； could tend for him。
“Ah； if there’s good anywhere； we’ve need of it；” repeated Dolly；
who did not lightly forsake a serviceable phrase。 She looked at
Silas pityingly as she went on。 “But you didn’t hear the church…
bells this morning； Master Marner？ I doubt you didn’t know it was
Sunday。 Living so lone here； you lose your count； I daresay； and
then； when your loom makes a noise； you can’t hear the bells；
more partic’lar now the frost kills the sound。”
“Yes； I did； I heard ’em；” said Silas； to whom Sunday bells were
a mere accident of the day； and not part of its sacredness。 There
had been no bells in Lantern Yard。
“Dear heart！” said Dolly； pausing before she spoke again。 “But
what a pity it is you should work of a Sunday； and not clean
yourself—if you didn’t go to church； for if you’d a roasting bit； it
might be as you couldn’t leave it； being a lone man。 But there’s the
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bakehus； if you could make up your mind to spend a twopence on
the oven now and then—not every week； in course—I shouldn’t
like to do that myself—you might carry your bit o’ dinner there； for
it’s nothing but right to have a bit o’ summat hot of a Sunday； and
not to make it as you can’t know your dinner from Saturday。 But
now； upo’ Christmas Day； this blessed Christmas as is ever
coming； if you was to take your dinner to the bakehus； and go to
church； and see the holly and the yew； and hear the anthim； and
then take the sacramem’； you’d be a deal the better； and you’d
know which end you stood on； and you could put your trust i’
Them as knows better nor we do； seein’ you’d ha’ done what it lies
on us all to do。”
Dolly’s exhortation； which was an unusually long effort of
speech for her； was uttered in the soothing； persuasive tone with
which she would have tried to prevail on a sick man to take his
medicine； or a basin of gruel for which he had no appetite。 Silas
had never before been closely urged on the point of his absence
from church； which had only been thought of as a part of his
general queerness； and he was too direct and simple to evade
Dolly’s appeal。
“Nay； nay；” he said； “I know nothing o’ church。 I’ve never been
to church。”
“No！” said Dolly； in a low tone of wonderment。 Then bethinking
herself of Silas’s advent from an unknown country； she said；
“Could it ha’ been as they’d no church where you was born？”
“Oh yes；” said Silas meditatively； sitting in his usual posture of
leaning on his knees； and supporting his head。 “There was
churches—a many—it was a big town。 But I knew nothing of
’em—I went to chapel。”
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Dolly was much puzzled at this new word； but she was rather
afraid of inquiring further； lest “chapel” might mean some haunt
of wickedness。 After a little thought she said—“Well； Master
Marner； it’s niver too late to turn over a new leaf； and if you’ve
niver had no church； there’s no telling the good it’ll do you。 For I
feel so set up and comfortable as niver was； when I’ve been and
heard the prayers； and the singing to the praise and glory o’ God；
as Mr。 Macey gives out—and Mr。 Crackenthorp saying good
words； and more partic’lar on Sacramen’ Day； and if a bit o’
trouble comes； I feel as I can put up wi’ it； for I’ve looked for help i’
the right quarter； and gev myself up to Them as we must all give
ourselves up to at the last； and if we’n done our part； it isn’t to be
believed as Them as are above us ’ull be worse nor we are； and
come short o’ Their’n。”
Poor Dolly’s exposition of her simple Raveloe theology fell
rather unmeaningly on Silas’s ears； for there was no word in it
that could rouse a memory of what he had known as religion； and
his comprehension was quite baffled by the plural pronoun； which
was no heresy of Dolly’s； but only her way of avoiding a
presumptuous familiarity。 He remained silent； not feeling inclined
to assent to the part of Dolly’s speech which he fully understood—
her recommendation that he should go to church。 Indeed； Silas
was so unaccustomed to talk beyond the brief questions and
answers necessary for the transaction of his simple business； that
words did not easily come to him without the urgency of a distinct
purpose。
But now little Aaron； having become used to the weaver’s awful
presence； had advanced to his mother’s side； and Silas； seeming to
notice him for the first time； tried to return Dolly’s