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neighbour’s house to show that you liked your cheer？ And the
parson naturally set an example in these social duties。 For it would
not have been possible for the Raveloe mind； without a peculiar
revelation； to know that a clergyman should be a pale…faced
memento of solemnities； instead of a reasonably faulty man whose
exclusive authority to read prayers and preach； to christen； marry；
and bury you； necessarily co…existed with the right to sell you the
ground to be buried in and to take tithe in kind； on which last
point； of course； there was a little grumbling； but not to the extent
of irreligion—not of deeper significance than the grumbling at the
rain； which was by no means accompanied with a spirit of impious
defiance； but with a desire that the prayer for fine weather might
be read forthwith。
There was no reason； then； why the Rector’s dancing should
not be received as part of the fitness of things quite as much as the
Squire’s； or why； on the other hand； Mr。 Macey’s official respect
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Silas Marner 139
should restrain him from subjecting the parson’s performance to
that criticism with which minds of extraordinary acuteness must
necessarily contemplate the doings of their fallible fellow…men。
“The Squire’s pretty springe； considering his weight；” said Mr。
Macey； “and he stamps uncommon well。 But Mr。 Lammeter beats
’em all for shapes： you see he holds his head like a sodger； and he
isn’t so cushiony as most o’ the oldish gentlefolks—they run fat in
general； and he’s got a fine leg。 The parson’s nimble enough； but
he hasn’t got much of a leg： it’s a bit too thick down’ard； and his
knees might be a bit nearer wi’out damage； but he might do worse；
he might do worse。 Though he hasn’t that grand way o’ waving his
hand as the Squire has。”
“Talk o’ nimbleness； look at Mrs。 Osgood；” said Ben Winthrop；
who was holding his son Aaron between his knees。 “She trips
along with her little steps； so as nobody can see how she goes—it’s
like as if she had little wheels to her feet。 She doesn’t look a day
older nor last year： she’s the finest…made woman as is； let the next
be where she will。”
“I don’t heed how the women are made；” said Mr。 Macey； with
some contempt。 “They wear nayther coat nor breeches： you can’t
make much out o’ their shapes。”
“Fayder；” said Aaron； whose feet were busy beating out the
tune； “how does that big cock’s…feather stick in Mrs。
Crackenthorp’s yead？ Is there a little hole for it； like in my
shuttlecock？”
“Hush； lad； hush； that’s the way the ladies dress theirselves；
that is；” said the father； adding； however； in an undertone to Mr。
Macey： “It does make her look funny； though—partly like a short…
necked bottle wi’ a long quill in it。 Hey； by jingo； there’s the young
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Silas Marner 140
Squire leading off now； wi’ Miss Nancy for partners！ There’s a lass
for you！—like a pink…and…white posy—there’s nobody ’ud think as
anybody could be so pretty。 I shouldn’t wonder if she’s Madam
Cass some day； arter all—and nobody more rightfuller； for they’d
make a fine match。 You can find nothing against Master Godfrey’s
shapes； Macey； I’ll bet a penny。”
Mr。 Macey screwed up his mouth； leaned his head further on
one side； and twirled his thumbs with a presto movement as his
eyes followed Godfrey up the dance。 At last he summed up his
opinion。
“Pretty well down’ard； but a bit too round i’ the shoulder…
blades。 And as for them coats as he gets from the Flitton tailor；
they’re a poor cut to pay double money for。”
“Ah； Mr。 Macey； you and me are two folks；” said Ben； slightly
indignant at this carping。 “When I’ve got a pot o’ good ale； I like to
swaller it； and do my inside good； i’stead o’ smelling and staring at
it to see if I can’t find faut wi’ the brewing。 I should like you to pick
me out a finer…limbed young fellow nor Master Godfrey—one as
’ud knock you down easier； or’s more pleasanter looksed when
he’s piert and merry。”
“Tchuh！” said Mr。 Macey； provoked to increased severity； “he
isn’t come to his right colour yet： he’s partly like a slack…baked pie。
And I doubt he’s got a soft place in his head； else why should he be
turned round the finger by that offal Dunsey as nobody’s seen o’
late； and let him kill that fine hunting hoss as was the talk o’ the
country？ And one while he was allays after Miss Nancy； and then
it all went off again； like a smell o’ hot porridge； as I may say。 That
wasn’t my way when I went a…coorting。”
“Ah； but mayhap Miss Nancy hung off like； and your lass
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Silas Marner 141
didn’t；” said Ben。
“I should say she didn’t；” said Mr。 Macey； significantly。 “Before
I said ‘sniff’； I took care to know as she’d say ‘snaff’； and pretty
quick too。 I wasn’t a…going to open my mouth； like a dog at a fly；
and snap it to again； wi’ nothing to swaller。”
“Well； I think Miss Nancy’s a…coming round again；” said Ben；
“for Master Godfrey doesn’t look so down…hearted tonight。 And I
see he’s for taking her away to sit down； now they’re at the end o’
the dance： that looks like sweethearting； that does。”
The reason why Godfrey and Nancy had left the dance was not
so tender as Ben imagined。 In the close press of couples a slight
accident had happened to Nancy’s dress； which； while it was short
enough to show her neat ankle in front； was long enough behind to
be caught under the stately stamp of the Squire’s foot； so as to
rend certain stitches at the waist； and cause much sisterly
agitation in Priscilla’s mind； as well as serious concern in Nancy’s。
One’s thoughts may be much occupied with love…struggles； but
hardly so as to be insensible to a disorder