GEORGE ELIOR , Silas Marner. Part- 4, Chapter 4

 

sipping the wine he loved, though with the word hanging over him and terror in his heart, than rush away into the cold darkness where there was no pleasure eft The utmost concession to Dunstan about the horse began to seem easy, compared with the fulfilment of his own threat. But his pride would not let him recommence the conversation otherwise than by continuing the quarrel Dunstan was waiting for this, and took his ale in shorter draughts than usual.

It's just like you, Godfrey burst out, in a bitter tone, to talk about my selling Wildfire in that cool way - the last thing I've got to call my own, and the best bit of horse flesh I ever had in my life. And if you'd got a spark of pinde in you, you'd be ashamed to see the stables emplied, and everybody sneering about it. But it's my belief you'd sell yourself, if it was only for the pleasure of making somebody feel he'd got a bad bargain." 'Ay, ay,' said Dunstan, very placably, you do me justice, I see. You know I'm a jewel for ticing people into bargains. For which reason I advise you to let me well Wildfire. I'd ride him to the hunt to-morrow for you, with pleasure. 

I shouldn't look so handsome as you in the saddle, but it's the horse they'll bid for, and not the 'Yes, I daresay - trust my horse to you? 'As you please,' said Dunstan, rapping the windows seat again with an air of great unconcem. W w Alle got to pay Fowler's money; it's none of my business You received the money from him when you how to Bramcote, and you told the Squire it wash pak. W nothing to do with that; you chose to be so obligings give it me, that was all. If you don't want to money, let it alone; it's all one to me. But I was willing M accommodate you by undertaking to sell the horse  seeing it's not convenient to you to go so far to-morrow,' Godfrey was silent for some moments. He would have liked to spring on Dunstan, wrench the whip from his hand, and flog him to within an inch of his life; and no bodily fear could have deterred him; but he was mastered by another sort of fear, which was fed by feelings stronger even than his resentment. 

When he spoke again it was in a half-conciliatory tone. Well, you mean no nonsense about the horse, eh? You'll sell him all fair, and hand over the money? If you don't, you know, everything 'ull go to smash, for I've got nothing else to trust to. And you'll have less pleasure in pulling the house over my head, when your own skull's to be broken too." 'Ay, ay,' said Dunstan, rising; 'all right. I thought you'd come round. I'm the fellow to bring old Bryce up to the scratch. I'll get you a hundred and twenty for him, if I get you a penny." But it'll perhaps rain cats and dogs to-morrow, as it did yesterday, and then you can't go,' said Godfrey, hardly knowing whether he wished for that obstacle or not. Not it,' said Dunstan. 'I'm always lucky in my weather. It might rain if you wanted to go yourself. 

You never hold trumps, you know I always do. You've got the beauty, you see, and I've got the luck, so you must keep me by you for your crooked sixpence; you'll ne-ver get along without me." Confound you, hold your tongue!' said Godfrey, impetuously. 'And take care to keep sober to-morrow, else you'll get pitched on your head coming home, and Wildfire might be the worse for it.' 'Make your tender heart easy,' said Dunstan, opening the door. 'You never knew me see double when I'd got a bargain to make; it 'ud spoil the fun. Besides,