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cheeks was at its highest point of contrast with the surrounding
drab when she arrived at the door of the Red House； and saw Mr。
Godfrey Cass ready to lift her from the pillion。 She wished her
sister Priscilla had come up at the same time behind the servant；
for then she would have contrived that Mr。 Godfrey should have
lifted off Priscilla first； and in the meantime she would have
persuaded her father to go round to the horse…block instead of
alighting at the doorsteps。 It was very painful； when you had made
it quite clear to a young man that you were determined not to
marry him； however much he might wish it； that he would still
continue to pay you marked attentions； besides； why didn’t he
always show the same attentions； if he meant them sincerely；
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instead of being so strange as Mr。 Godfrey Cass was； sometimes
behaving as if he didn’t want to speak to her； and taking no notice
of her for weeks and weeks； and then； all on a sudden； almost
making love again？ Moreover； it was quite plain he had no real
love for her； else he would not let people have that to say of him
which they did say。 Did he suppose that Miss Nancy Lammeter
was to be won by any man； squire or no squire； who led a bad life？
That was not what she had been used to see in her own father；
who was the soberest and best man in that countryside； only a
little hot and hasty now and then； if things were not done to the
minute。
All these thoughts rushed through Miss Nancy’s mind； in their
habitual succession； in the moments between her first sight of Mr。
Godfrey Cass standing at the door and her own arrival there。
Happily； the Squire came out too； and gave a loud greeting to her
father； so that somehow under cover of this noise she seemed to
find concealment for her confusion and neglect of any suitably
formal behaviour； while she was being lifted from the pillion by
strong arms which seemed to find her ridiculously small and light。
And there was the best reason for hastening into the house at
once； since the snow was beginning to fall again； threatening an
unpleasant journey for such guests as were still on the road。 These
were a small minority； for already the afternoon was beginning to
decline； and there would not be too much time for the ladies who
came from a distance to attire themselves in readiness for the
early tea which was to inspirit them for the dance。
There was a buzz of voices through the house； as Miss Nancy
entered； mingled with the scrape of a fiddle preluding in the
kitchen； but the Lammeters were guests whose arrival had
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Silas Marner 122
evidently been thought of so much that it had been watched for
from the windows； for Mrs。 Kimble； who did the honours at the
Red House on these great occasions； came forward to meet Miss
Nancy in the hall； and conduct her upstairs。 Mrs。 Kimble was the
Squire’s sister； as well as the doctor’s wife—a double dignity； with
which her diameter was in direct proportion； so that； a journey
upstairs being rather fatiguing to her； she did not oppose Miss
Nancy’s request to be allowed to find her way alone to the Blue
Room； where the Miss Lammeters’ bandboxes had been deposited
on their arrival in the morning。
There was hardly a bedroom in the house where feminine
compliments were not passing and feminine toilettes going
forward； in various stages； in space made scanty by extra beds
spread upon the floor； and Miss Nancy； as she entered the Blue
Room； had to make her little formal curtsy to a group of six。 On
the one hand； there were ladies no less important than the two
Miss Gunns； the wine…merchant’s daughters from Lytherly；
dressed in the height of fashion； with the tightest skirts and the
shortest waists； and gazed at by Miss Ladbrook （of the Old
Pastures） with a shyness not unsustained by inward criticism。
Partly； Miss Ladbrook felt that her own skirt must be regarded as
unduly lax by the Miss Gunns； and partly that it was a pity the
Miss Gunns did not show that judgment which she herself would
show if she were in their place； by stopping a little on this side of
the fashion。 On the other hand； Mrs。 Ladbrook was standing in
skullcap and front； with her turban in her hand； curtsying and
smiling blandly； and saying； “After you； ma’am；” to another lady in
similar circumstances； who had politely offered the precedence at
the looking…glass。
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But Miss Nancy had no sooner made her curtsy than an elderly
lady came forward； whose full white muslin kerchief and mob…cap
round her curls of smooth gray hair were in daring contrast with
the puffed yellow satins and topknotted caps of her neighbours。
She approached Miss Nancy with much primness； and said； with a
slow； treble suavity—“Niece； I hope I see you well in health。” Miss
Nancy kissed her aunt’s cheek dutifully； and answered； with the
same sort of amiable primness； “Quite well； I thank you； aunt； and
I hope I see you the same。”
“Thank you； niece； I keep my health for the present。 And how is
my brother…in…law？”
These dutiful questions and answers were continued until it
was ascertained in detail that the Lammeters were all as well as
usual； and the Osgoods likewise； also that niece Priscilla must
certainly arrive shortly； and that travelling o