Silas Marner George Eliot (christmas read aloud .TXT) đ
- Author: George Eliot
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The door opened, and a thickset, heavy-looking young man entered, with the flushed face and the gratuitously elated bearing which mark the first stage of intoxication. It was Dunsey, and at the sight of him Godfreyâs face parted with some of its gloom to take on the more active expression of hatred. The handsome brown spaniel that lay on the hearth retreated under the chair in the chimney-corner.
âWell, Master Godfrey, what do you want with me?â said Dunsey, in a mocking tone. âYouâre my elders and betters, you know; I was obliged to come when you sent for me.â
âWhy, this is what I wantâ âand just shake yourself sober and listen, will you?â said Godfrey, savagely. He had himself been drinking more than was good for him, trying to turn his gloom into uncalculating anger. âI want to tell you, I must hand over that rent of Fowlerâs to the Squire, or else tell him I gave it you; for heâs threatening to distrain for it, and itâll 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 didnât come and pay up his arrears this week. The Squireâs short oâ 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?â
âOh!â said Dunsey, sneeringly, coming nearer to his brother and looking in his face. âSuppose, now, you get the money yourself, and save me the trouble, eh? Since you was so kind as to hand it over to me, youâll not refuse me the kindness to pay it back for me: it was your brotherly love made you do it, you know.â
Godfrey bit his lips and clenched his fist. âDonât come near me with that look, else Iâll knock you down.â
âOh no, you wonât,â said Dunsey, turning away on his heel, however. âBecause Iâm 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 couldnât live with his drunken wife, and I should slip into your place as comfortable as could be. But you see, I donât do itâ âIâm so easy and good-natured. Youâll take any trouble for me. Youâll get the hundred pounds for meâ âI know you will.â
âHow can I get the money?â said Godfrey, quivering. âI havenât a shilling to bless myself with. And itâs a lie that youâd slip into my place: youâd get yourself turned out too, thatâs all. For if you begin telling tales, Iâll follow. Bobâs my fatherâs favouriteâ âyou know that very well. Heâd only think himself well rid of you.â
âNever mind,â said Dunsey, nodding his head sideways as he looked out of the window. âIt âud be very pleasant to me to go in your companyâ âyouâre such a handsome brother, and weâve always been so fond of quarrelling with one another, I shouldnât know what to do without you. But youâd like better for us both to stay at home together; I know you would. So youâll manage to get that little sum oâ money, and Iâll bid you goodbye, though Iâm sorry to part.â
Dunstan was moving off, but Godfrey rushed after him and seized him by the arm, saying, with an oathâ â
âI tell you, I have no money: I can get no money.â
âBorrow of old Kimble.â
âI tell you, he wonât lend me any more, and I shanât ask him.â
âWell, then, sell Wildfire.â
âYes, thatâs easy talking. I must have the money directly.â
âWell, youâve only got to ride him to the hunt tomorrow. Thereâll be Bryce and Keating there, for sure. Youâll get more bids than one.â
âI daresay, and get back home at eight oâclock, splashed up to the chin. Iâm going to Mrs. Osgoodâs birthday dance.â
âOho!â said Dunsey, turning his head on one side, and trying to speak in a small mincing treble. âAnd thereâs sweet Miss Nancy coming; and we shall dance with her, and promise never to be naughty again, and be taken into favour, andâ ââ
âHold your tongue about Miss Nancy, you fool,â said Godfrey, turning red, âelse Iâll throttle you.â
âWhat for?â said Dunsey, still in an artificial tone, but taking a whip from the table and beating the butt-end of it on his palm. âYouâve a very good chance. Iâd advise you to creep up her sleeve again: it âud be saving time, if Molly should happen to take a drop too much laudanum some day, and make a widower of you. Miss Nancy wouldnât mind being a second, if she didnât know it. And youâve got a good-natured brother, whoâll keep your secret well, because youâll be so very obliging to him.â
âIâll tell you what it is,â said Godfrey, quivering, and pale again, âmy patience is pretty near at an end. If youâd a little more sharpness in you, you might know that you may urge a man a bit too far, and make one leap as easy as another. I donât know but what it is so now: I may as well tell the Squire everything myselfâ âI should get you off my back, if I got nothing else. And, after all, heâll know some time. Sheâs been threatening to come herself and tell him. So, donât flatter yourself that your secrecyâs worth any price you choose to ask. You drain me of money till I have got nothing
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