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04-02-02-织工马南 [4]

By Root 1542 0
,who lived with his three sons in the handsome Red House opposite the church,and owned a num-her of farms outside the village.His wife had died many years before.
  One dark November evening,fifteen years after Silas Marner had first arrived in Raveloe,some of the villagers were drinking beer in the public house,the Rainbow.Old Mr Macey,the church clerk,was remembering the Squire's wife.
  'She was a wonderful lady,'he said,shaking his grey head sadly.'Everything was always so pretty and clean at the Red House when she was alive!When she died,all those years ago,the poor Squire,well,he didn't know what to do.And he's still lonely,believe me!That's why we often see him in here in the evenings.And another thing,if poor Mrs Cass were alive today,I'm sure she'd be very disappointed with her sons.The Squire should make those boys do some work,but in-stead he lets them stay at home and gives them money to spend on horses,or gambling,or women! '
  'Come,come,Mr Macey,'said the landlord.'They're rich young gentlemen,after all.You can't expect them to work on the farms like us country people.But you're right about Dun-stan Cass.He's a bad one,he is.Always borrowing money,and never paying it back.Always gambling,always in trouble!He'll come to a bad end,he will!'
  'But the other two are different,'said the butcher,a red-faced,smiling man.'Bob Cass is still only a boy.And Mr God-frey,the eldest,well,I don't believe he'll be like his brother Dunstan.Just look at him!He's got an open,honest face.And he's going to inherit the Squire's money and all the land.And what's more,he's going to marry Miss Nancy Lammeter.When she moves into the Red House as Mrs Godfrey Cass,she'll make life more comfortable for all the Casses.She'll save the Squire money too—the Lammeters have the best of every-thing in their house,but they're very careful with their money.'
  The farrier,a small man with a sharp face,always enjoyed disagreeing with the butcher.'Mr Godfrey marry Miss Nancy!'he laughed.'That's what you think!Haven't you noticed how Miss Nancy has changed towards Godfrey since last year?You remember,he was away from home,for days and days.Nobody knows what he was doing,but Godfrey hasn't been the same since then.Miss Nancy isn't stupid—she won't marry a man she can't trust!'
  The landlord always tried to prevent his customers from ar-guing.'What you all say is very true.But let's hope that Mr Godfrey doesn't lose his chance of marrying Miss Nancy.'
  Meanwhile,at the Red House,Godfrey Cass was waiting for his brother in the sitting-room,with a very worried expression on his handsome face.Soon the door opened,and a heavy-look-ing young man entered.It was Dunstan.He had clearly been drinking.
  'How I hate him!'thought Godfrey.
  'Well,sir,'said Dunstan unpleasantly,'you sent for me,and as you're the oldest,and you'll be the Squire one day,I have to obey you.So what do you want?'
  'Just listen,will you?'replied Godfrey angrily,'if you aren't too drunk to understand!You must pay me back the money I lent you last month.You know I got it from Fowler,of Church Farm.He owed the money to the Squire,and asked me to give it to him.Now the Squire is angry with Fowler for not paying,and I've got to give the money back!'
  Dunstan came close to Godfrey and smiled in an evil way.'Well,my dear kind brother,why don't you find the money yourself?That would be much less trouble for me!'
  Godfrey controlled himself with difficulty.'Don't smile at me like that,or I'll hit you!'
  'Oh no,you won't,answered Dunstan.'Because if you do,I'll tell the Squire your secret.I'll tell him that his handsome eldest son fell in love with that poor girl Molly in the town,and married her in a hurry.The Squire'll be angry because you married her in secret,and he'll disinherit you.Then I'll get the house and land when the old man dies!But don't worry,I'm a good brother to you.I won't tell him,and you'll find the money to pay back,I know you will.'
  'Where can I get the money from?'cried Godfrey.'I tell you,I haven't got any!'
  'You could borrow It,'said Dunstan carelessly
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