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company that called for beer。
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Chapter 6
he conversation； which was at a high pitch of animation
when Silas approached the door of the Rainbow； had； as
T
usual； been slow and intermittent when the company first
assembled。 The pipes began to be puffed in a silence which had an
air of severity； the more important customers； who drank spirits
and sat nearest the fire； staring at each other as if a bet were
depending on the first man who winked； while the beer…drinkers；
chiefly men in fustian jackets and smock…frocks； kept their eyelids
down and rubbed their hands across their mouths； as if their
draughts of beer were a funereal duty attended with embarrassing
sadness。 At last； Mr。 Snell； the landlord； a man of a neutral
disposition； accustomed to stand aloof from human differences as
those of beings who were all alike in need of liquor； broke silence；
by saying in a doubtful tone to his cousin the butcher—“Some
folks ’ud say that was a fine beast you druv in yesterday； Bob？”
The butcher； a jolly； smiling； red…haired man； was not disposed
to answer rashly。 He gave a few puffs before he spat and replied；
“And they wouldn’t be fur wrong； John。”
After this feeble； delusive thaw； the silence set in as severely as
before。
“Was it a red Durham？” said the farrier； taking up the thread of
discourse after the lapse of a few minutes。
The farrier looked at the landlord； and the landlord looked at
the butcher； as the person who must take the responsibility of
answering。
“Red it was；” said the butcher； in his good…humoured； husky
treble—”and a Durham it was。”
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Silas Marner 62
“Then you needn’t tell me who you bought it of；” said the
farrier； looking round with some triumph； “I know who it is has
got the red Durhams o’ this countryside。 And she’d a white star on
her brow； I’ll bet a penny？” The farrier leaned forward with his
hands on his knees as he put this question； and his eyes twinkled
knowingly。
“Well； yes—she might；” said the butcher； slowly； considering
that he was giving a decided affirmative。 “I don’t say contrairy。”
“I knew that very well；” said the farrier； throwing himself
backward again； and speaking defiantly； “if I don’t know Mr。
Lammeter’s cows； I should like to know who does—that’s all！ And
as for the cow you’ve bought； bargain or no bargain； I’ve been at
the drenching of her—contradick me who will。”
The farrier looked fierce； and the mild butcher’s conversational
spirit was roused a little。
“I’m not for contradicking no man；” he said； “I’m for peace and
quietness。 Some are for cutting long ribs—I’m for cutting ’em
short myself； but I don’t quarrel with ’em。 All I say is； it’s a lovely
carkiss—and anybody as was reasonable； it ’ud bring tears into
their eyes to look at it。”
“Well； it’s the cow as I drenched； whatever it is；” pursued the
farrier； angrily； “and it was Mr。 Lammeter’s cow； else you told a lie
when you said it was a red Durham。”
“I tell no lies；” said the butcher； with the same mild huskiness
as before； “and I contradick none—not if a man was to swear
himself black： he’s no meat o’ mine； nor none o’ my bargains。 All I
say is； it’s a lovely carkiss。 And what I say I’ll stick to； but I’ll
quarrel wi’ no man。”
“No；” said the farrier； with bitter sarcasm； looking at the
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Silas Marner 63
company generally； “and p’rhaps you ar’n’t pig…headed； and
p’rhaps you didn’t say the cow was a red Durham； and p’rhaps you
didn’t say she’d got a star on her brow—stick to that； now you’re at
it。”
“Come； come；” said the landlord； “let the cow alone。 The truth
lies atween you： you’re both right and both wrong； as I allays say。
And as for the cow’s being Mr。 Lammeter’s； I say nothing to that；
but this I say； as the Rainbow’s the Rainbow。 And for the matter o’
that； if the talk is to be o’ the Lammeters； you know the most upo’
that head； eh； Mr。 Macey？ You remember when first Mr。
Lammeter’s father come into these parts； and took the Warrens？”
Mr。 Macey； tailor and parish…clerk； the latter of which functions
rheumatism had of late obliged him to share with a small…featured
young man who sat opposite him； held his white head on one side；
and twirled his thumbs with an air of complacency； slightly
seasoned with criticism。 He smiled pityingly； in answer to the
landlord’s appeal； and said—“Ay； ay； I know； I know； but I let
other folks talk。 I’ve laid by now； and gev up to the young uns。 Ask
them as have been to school at Tarley： they’ve learnt pernouncing；
that’s come up since my day。”
“If you’re pointing at me； Mr。 Macey；” said the deputy…clerk；
with an air of anxious propriety； “I’m nowise a man to speak out of
my place。 As the psalm says—
‘I know what’s right； nor only so； But also practise what I
know。’ “
“Well； then； I wish you’d keep hold o’ the tune； when it’s set for
you； if you’re for practising； I wish you’d practise that；” said a
large； jocose…looking man； an excellent wheelwright in his
weekday capacity； but on Sundays leader of the choir。 He winked；
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as he spoke； at two of the company； who were known officially as
the “bassoon” and the “keybugle；” in the confidence that he was
expressing the sense of the musical profession in Raveloe。
Mr。 Tookey； the deputy…clerk； who shared the unpopularity
common to deputies； turned very red； but replied； with careful
moderation： “Mr。 Winthrop； if you’ll bring me any proof as I’m in
the wrong； I’m not the man to say I won’t alter。 But there’s people
set up their own ears for a standard； and expect the whole choir to
follow ’em。 There may be two opinions； I hope。”
“Ay； ay；” said Mr。 Macey； who felt very well satisfied with this
attack on youthful presumption； “you’re right there； Tookey：
there’s allays two ’pinions； there’s the ’pinion a man has of
himsen； and there’s the ’pinion other folks have on him。 There’d
be two ’pinions about a cracked bell； if the bell could hear itself。”
“Well； Mr。 Macey；” said poor Tookey； serious amidst the
general laughter； “I undertook to partially fill up the office of
parish…clerk by Mr。