GEORGE ELIOR , Silas Marner. Part- 6, Chapter 6 the story

 

GEORGE ELIOR , Silas Marner. Part- 6, Chapter 6 the story

heirlooms of the poor. Betty Jay scented the boiling of Squire Cass's hams, but her longing was arrested by the unctuous liquor in which they were boiled; and when the seasons brought round the great merry-makings they were regarded on all hands as a fine thing for the poor. For the Raveloe feasts were like the rounds of beef and the barrels of ale they were on a large scale, and lasted a good while, especially in the winter-time. 

After ladies had packed up their best gowns and top-knots in bandboxes, and had incurred the risk of fording streams on pillions with the precious burden in rainy or snowy weather, when there was no knowing how high the water would rise, it was not to be supposed that they looked forward to a brief pleasure. On this ground it was always contrived in the dark seasons, when there was little work to be done, and the hours were long, that several neighbours should keep open house in succe- ssion. 

So soon as Squire Cass's standing dishes dimini- shed in plenty and freshness, his guests had nothing to do but to walk a little higher up the village to Mr Osgood's, at the Orchards, and they found hams and chines uncut, pork-pies with the scent of the fire in them, spun butter in all its freshness - appetites at leisure could desire, in perhaps greater everything, in fact, that perfection, though not in greater abundance, than at Squire Cass's. atiguo For the Squire's wife had died long ago, and the Red House was without that presence of the wife and mother which is the fountain of wholesome love and fear in parlour and kitchen; and this helped to account not only for there being more profusion than finished excellence in the holiday provisions, but also for the frequency with which the proud Squire condescended to preside in the parlour of the Rainbow rather than under the shadow of  his own dark wainscot, perhaps, also, for the fact that his sons had turned out rather ill. Raveloe was not a place where moral censure was severe, but it was thought a weakness in the Squire that he had kept all his sons at home in idleness; and though some licence was to be allowed to young men. whose fathers could afford it.

people shook their heads at the courses of the second son. Dunstan, commonly called Dunsey Cass, whose taste for swopping and betting might turn out to be a sowing of something worse than wild oats. To be sure, the neighbours said, it was no matter what became of Dunsey-a spiteful jeering fellow, who seemed to enjoy his drink the more when other people went dry always provided that his doings did not bring trouble on a family like Squire Cass's, with a monument in the church, and tankards older than King George. But it would be a thousand pities if Mr Godfrey, the eldest, a fine open-faced good-natured young man who was to come into the land some day, should take to going along the same road with his brother, as he had seemed to do of late.

 If he went on in that way, he would lose Miss Nancy Lammeter; for it was well known that she had looked very shyly on him ever since last Whitsuntide twelvemonth, when there was so much talk about his being away from home days and days together. There was something wrong, more than common that was quite clear, for Mr Godfrey didn't look half so fresh- coloured and open as he used to do. At one time everybody was saying what a handsome couple he and Miss Nancy Lammeter would make! and if she could come to be mistress at the Red House, there would be a fine change, for the Lammeters had been brought up in that way, that they never suffered a pinch of salt to be wasted, and yet everybody in their household had of the  bes, according to his place Such a daughter-in-day would be a saving to the old Squire, if she never brought penny to her fortune, for it was to be feared ther notwithstanding his incomings, there were more holes pocket than the one where he put his own hand in W Godly didn't tur over a new leaf, he mighty Goodbye to Miss Nancy Lammeter the one hopel Codiney who was standing with his hands in his side-pockets and his back to the fe in the dark wainscoted parlour, one late November on in the fifteenth year of Silas Marner's life at

Ravelge The lyding grey light fell dimly on the walls decorated with guns, whips, and foxes brushes, on and half on the chairs, on tankards sending for seat of fatale, and on a half-choked fire, wit pippropped up in the chumney-soners: signs ofa Fost de destitute of any hallowing charm, with wach for look of gloomy vexation on Godfrey's blond fase was to sab accordance. The seemed to be waiting and listening for someone's approach, and presently the und dabeavy step, with an accompanying whistle, was word as the large empty entrance hall, the door opened, and a thick-set, heavy-looking young man entered, with the flushed face and the gratuitously alates beating which mark the first stage of location was Dunsey, and at the sight of him Cobby lace parted with some of its gloom to take on for expression of hatred. The handsome brown spare that by on the hearth seireated under the far ay

Master Codicey, what do you want with me nothing tone koow 1 was obliged You're my elders and to come when you sent 'Why, this is what I want - and just shake yourself sober and listen, will you?' said Godfrey, savagely He had himself been drinking more than was good for him, want to tell you, I must hand over that rent of Fowler's trying to turn his gloom into uncalculating anger. 'I to the Squire, or else tell him I gave it you; for he's threatening to distrain for it, and it'll all be out soon, whether I tell him or not. He said, just now, before he went out, he should send word to Cox to distrain, if Fowler didn't come and pay up his arrears this week.

The Squire's short o' cash, and in no humour to stand any nonsense; and you know what he threatened, if ever he found you making away with his money again. So, see and get the money, and pretty quickly, will you?' 'Oh!' said Dunsey, sneeringly, coming nearer to his brother and looking in his face. 'Suppose, now, you get the money yourself, and save me the trouble, eh? Since you was so kind as to hand it over to me, you'll not refuse me the kindness to pay it back for me: it was your brotherly love made you do it, you know.' Godfrey bit his lips and clenched his fist. 'Don't you down.' come near me with that look, else I'll knock 'Oh no, you won't,' said Dunsey, turning away on his heel, however. Because I'm such a good-natured brother, you know. I might get you turned out of house and home, and cut off with a shilling any day. I might tell the Squire how his handsome son was married to that nice young woman, Molly Farren, and was very unhappy because he couldn't live with his drunken wife, and I should slip into your place as comfortable as could be. But you see, I don't do it - I'm so easy and good-natured. You'll take any trouble for me. You'll get the hundred pounds for me I know you will.'