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！
blushingly。 （If Mr。 Godfrey founded any hopes on her consenting
to dance with him； he would soon be undeceived； but there was no
need for her to be uncivil。） “Then I hope you’ve no objections to
dancing with me；” said Godfrey； beginning to lose the sense that
there was anything uncomfortable in this arrangement。
“No； no objections；” said Nancy； in a cold tone。
“Ah； well； you’re a lucky fellow； Godfrey；” said uncle Kimble；
“but you’re my godson； so I won’t stand in your way。 Else I’m not
so very old； eh； my dear？” he went on； skipping to his wife’s side
again。 “You wouldn’t mind my having a second after you were
gone—not if I cried a good deal first？”
“Come； come； take a cup o’ tea and stop your tongue； do；” said
good…humoured Mrs。 Kimble； feeling some pride in a husband
who must be regarded as so clever and amusing by the company
generally。 If he had only not been irritable at cards！
While safe； well…tested personalities were enlivening the tea in
this way； the sound of the fiddle approaching within a distance at
which it could be heard distinctly； made the young people look at
each other with sympathetic impatience for the end of the meal。
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 136…
Silas Marner 136
“Why； there’s Solomon in the hall；” said the Squire； “and
playing my fav’rite tune； I believe—’The flaxen…headed
ploughboy’—he’s for giving us a hint as we aren’t enough in a
hurry to hear him play。 Bob；” he called out to his third long…legged
son； who was at the other end of the room； “open the door； and tell
Solomon to come in。 He shall give us a tune here。”
Bob obeyed； and Solomon walked in； fiddling as he walked； for
he would on no account break off in the middle of a tune。
“Here； Solomon；” said the Squire； with loud patronage。 “Round
here； my man。 Ah； I knew it was ‘The flaxen…headed ploughboy’：
there’s no finer tune。”
Solomon Macey； a small hale old man； with an abundant crop of
long white hair reaching nearly to his shoulders； advanced to the
indicated spot； bowing reverently while he fiddled； as much as to
say that he respected the company though he respected the
keynote more。 As soon as he had repeated the tune and lowered
his fiddle； he bowed again to the Squire and the Rector； and said；
“I hope I see your honour and your reverence well； and wishing
you health and long life and a happy New Year。 And wishing the
same to you； Mr。 Lammeter； sir； and to the other gentlemen； and
the madams； and the young lasses。”
As Solomon uttered the last words； he bowed in all directions
solicitously； lest he should be wanting in due respect。 But
thereupon he immediately began to prelude； and fell into the tune
which he knew would be taken as a special compliment by Mr。
Lammeter。
“Thank ye； Solomon； thank ye；” said Mr。 Lammeter when the
fiddle paused again。 “That’s ‘Over the hills and far away’； that is。
My father used to say to me； whenever we heard that tune； ‘Ah；
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 137…
Silas Marner 137
lad； I come from over the hills and far away’。 There’s a many tunes
I don’t make head or tail of； but that speaks to me like the
blackbird’s whistle。 I suppose it’s the name： there’s a deal in the
name of a tune。”
But Solomon was already impatient to prelude again； and
presently broke with much spirit into ‘Sir Roger de Coverley’； at
which there was a sound of chairs pushed back； and laughing
voices。
“Ay； ay； Solomon； we know what that means；” said the Squire；
rising。 “It’s time to begin the dance； eh？ Lead the way； then； and
we’ll all follow you。”
So Solomon； holding his white head on one side； and playing
vigorously； marched forward at the head of the gay procession into
the White Parlour； where the mistletoe…bough was hung； and
multitudinous tallow candles made rather a brilliant effect；
gleaming from among the berried holly…boughs； and reflected in
the old…fashioned oval mirrors fastened in the panels of the white
wainscot。 A quaint procession！ Old Solomon； in his seedy clothes
and long white locks； seemed to be luring that decent company by
the magic scream of his fiddle—luring discreet matrons in turban…
shaped caps； nay； Mrs。 Crackenthorp herself； the summit of whose
perpendicular feather was on a level with the Squire’s shoulder—
luring fair lasses complacently conscious of very short waists and
skirts blameless of front…folds—luring burly fathers in large
variegated waistcoats； and ruddy sons； for the most part shy and
sheepish； in short nether garments and very long coat…tails。
Already Mr。 Macey and a few other privileged villagers； who
were allowed to be spectators on these great occasions； were
seated on benches placed for them near the door； and great was
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 138…
Silas Marner 138
the admiration and satisfaction in that quarter when the couples
had formed themselves for the dance； and the Squire led off with
Mrs。 Crackenthorp； joining hands with the Rector and Mrs。
Osgood。 That was as it should be—that was what everybody had
been used to—and the charter of Raveloe seemed to be renewed
by the ceremony。 It was not thought of as an unbecoming levity for
the old and middle…aged people to dance a little before sitting
down to cards； but rather as part of their social duties。 For what
were these if not to be merry at appropriate times； interchanging
visits and poultry with due frequency； paying each other old…
established compliments in sound traditional phrases； passing
well…tried personal jokes； urging your guests to eat and drink too
much out of hospitality； and eating and drinking too much in your
neighbour’s house to show that you liked your cheer？ And the
parson naturally set a