silas marner(织工马南)-第35章
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！
year： the tones that stirred Silas’s heart grew articulate； and called
for more distinct answers； shapes and sounds grew clearer for
Eppie’s eyes and ears； and there was more that “Dad…dad” was
imperatively required to notice and account for。 Also； by the time
Eppie was three years old； she developed a fine capacity for
mischief； and for devising ingenious ways of being troublesome；
which found much exercise； not only for Silas’s patience； but for
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 172…
Silas Marner 172
his watchfulness and penetration。 Sorely was poor Silas puzzled
on such occasions by the incompatible demands of love。 Dolly
Winthrop told him that punishment was good for Eppie； and that；
as for rearing a child without making it tingle a little in soft and
safe places now and then； it was not to be done。
“To be sure； there’s another thing you might do； Master
Marner；” added Dolly； meditatively： “you might shut her up once i’
the coal…hole。 That was what I did wi’ Aaron； for I was that silly wi’
the youngest lad as I could never bear to smack him。 Not as I
could find i’ my heart to let him stay i’ the coal…hole more nor a
minute； but it was enough to colly him all over； so as he must be
new washed and dressed； and it was as good as a rod to him—that
was。 But I put it upo’ your conscience； Master Marner； as there’s
one of ’em you must choose—ayther smacking or the coal…hole—
else she’ll get so masterful there’ll be no holding her。”
Silas was impressed with the melancholy truth of this last
remark； but his force of mind failed before the only two penal
methods open to him； not only because it was painful to him to
hurt Eppie； but because he trembled at a moment’s contention
with her； lest she should love him the less for it。 Let even an
affectionate Goliath get himself tied to a small tender thing；
dreading to hurt it by pulling； and dreading still more to snap the
cord； and which of the two； pray； will be master？ It was clear that
Eppie； with her short toddling steps； must lead father Silas a
pretty dance on any fine morning when circumstances favoured
mischief。
For example。 He had wisely chosen a broad strip of linen as a
means of fastening her to his loom when he was busy： it made a
broad belt round her waist； and was long enough to allow of her
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 173…
Silas Marner 173
reaching the truckle…bed and sitting down on it； but not long
enough for her to attempt any dangerous climbing。 One bright
summer’s morning Silas had been more engrossed than usual in
“setting up” a new piece of work； an occasion on which his scissors
were in requisition。 These scissors； owing to an especial warning
of Dolly’s； had been kept carefully out of Eppie’s reach； but the
click of them had had a peculiar attraction for her ear； and
watching the results of that click； she had derived the philosophic
lesson that the same cause would produce the same effect。 Silas
had seated himself in his loom； and the noise of weaving had
begun； but he had left his scissors on a ledge which Eppie’s arm
was long enough to reach； and now； like a small mouse； watching
her opportunity； she stole quietly from her corner； secured the
scissors； and toddled to the bed again； setting up her back as a
mode of concealing the fact。 She had a distinct intention as to the
use of the scissors； and having cut the linen strip in a jagged but
effectual manner； in two moments she had run out at the open
door where the sunshine was inviting her； while poor Silas
believed her to be a better child than usual。 It was not until he
happened to need his scissors that the terrible fact burst upon
him： Eppie had run out by herself—had perhaps fallen into the
Stone…pit。 Silas； shaken by the worst fear that could have befallen
him； rushed out； calling “Eppie！” and ran eagerly about the
unenclosed space； exploring the dry cavities into which she might
have fallen； and then gazing with questioning dread at the smooth
red surface of the water。 The cold drops stood on his brow。 How
long had she been out？ There was one hope—that she had crept
through the stile and got into the fields； where he habitually took
her to stroll。 But the grass was high in the meadow； and there was
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 174…
Silas Marner 174
no descrying her； if she were there； except by a close search that
would be a trespass on Mr。 Osgood’s crop。 Still； that
misdemeanour must be committed； and poor Silas； after peering
all round the hedgerows； traversed the grass； beginning with
perturbed vision to see Eppie behind every group of red sorrel；
and to see her moving always farther off as he approached。 The
meadow was searched in vain； and he got over the stile into the
next field； looking with dying hope towards a small pond which
was now reduced to its summer shallowness； so as to leave a wide
margin of good adhesive mud。 Here； however； sat Eppie；
discoursing cheerfully to her own small boot； which she was using
as a bucket to convey the water into a deep hoof…mark； while her
little naked foot was planted comfortably on a cushion of olive…
green mud。 A red…headed calf was observing her with alarmed
doubt through the opposite hedge。
Here was clearly a case of aberration in a christened child
which demanded severe treatment； but Silas； overcome with
convulsive joy at finding his treasure again； could do nothing but
snatch her up； and cover her with half…sobbing kisses。 It was not
until he had carried her home； and had begun to think of the
necessary washing； that he recollected the need that he should
punish Eppie； and “make her remember”。 The idea that she might
run away again and come to harm gave him unusual resolution；
and for the first time he determined to try the coal…hole—a small
closet near the hearth。
“Naughty； naughty Eppie；” he suddenly began； holding her on
his knee； and pointing to her muddy feet and clothes—”naughty to
cut with the scissors and run away。 Eppie must go into the coal…
hole for being naughty。 Daddy must put her in the coal…hole。”
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 175…
Silas Marner 175
He half expected that this would be shock enough； and that
Eppie would begin to cry。 But instead of that； she began to shake
herself on his knee； as if the proposition opened a pleasing
novelty。 Seeing that he must proceed to extremities； he put her
into the coal…hole； and held the door closed； with a trembling sense
that he was using a strong measure。 For a moment there was
silence； but then came a little cry； “Opy； Opy！” and Silas let her
out again； saying “Now Eppie ’ull never be naughty again； else she
must go in the coal…hole—a black naughty place。”
The weaving must stand still a long while this morning； for now
Eppie must be washed； and have clean clothes on； but it was to be
hoped that this punishment would have a lasting effect； and save
time in future—though； perhaps； it would have been better if
Eppie had cried more。
In half an hour she was clean again； and Silas having turned his
back to see what he could do with the linen band； threw it down
again； with the reflection that Eppie would be good without
fastening for the rest of the morning。 He turned round again； and
was going to place her in her little chair near the loom； when she
peeped out at him with black face and hands again； and said；
“Eppie in de toal…hole！”
This total failure of the coal…hole discipline shook Silas’s belief
in the efficacy of punishment。 “She’d take it all for fun；” he
observed to Dolly； “if I didn’t hurt her； and that I can’t do； Mrs。
Winthrop。 If she makes me a bit o’ trouble； I can bear it。 And she’s
got no tricks but what she’ll grow out of。”
“Well； that’s partly true； Master Marner；” said Dolly；
sympathetically； “and if you can’t bring your mind to frighten her
off touching things； you must do what you can to keep ’em out of
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 176…
Silas Marner 176
her way。 That’s what I do wi’ the pups as the lads are allays a…
rearing。 They will worry and gnaw—worry and gnaw they will； if it
was one’s Sunday cap as hung anywhere so as they could drag it。
They know no difference； God help ’em： it’s the pushing o’ the
teeth as sets ’em on； that’s what it is。”
So Eppie was reared without punishment； the burden of her
misdeeds being borne vicariously by father Silas。 The stone hut
was made a soft nest for her； lined with downy patience； and also
in the world that lay beyond the stone hut she knew nothing of
frowns and denials。
Notwithstanding
