CHAPTER I.

arriveatanythinghigherthanhopemingledwithfear,andlistenedwithlongingwonderwhenWilliamdeclaredthathehadpossessedunshakenassuranceeversince,intheperiodofhisconversion,hehaddreamedthathesawthewords“callingandelectionsure”standingbythemselvesonawhitepageintheopenBible.Suchcolloquieshaveoccupiedmanyapairofpale-facedweavers,whoseunnurturedsoulshavebeenlikeyoungwingedthings,flutteringforsakeninthetwilight. IthadseemedtotheunsuspectingSilasthatthefriendshiphadsufferednochillevenfromhisformationofanotherattachmentofacloserkind.Forsomemonthshehadbeenengagedtoayoungservant-woman,waitingonlyforalittleincreasetotheirmutualsavingsinordertotheirmarriageanditwasagreatdelighttohimthatSarahdidnotobjecttoWilliam’soccasionalpresenceintheirSundayinterviews.ItwasatthispointintheirhistorythatSilas’scatalepticfitoccurredduringtheprayer-meetingandamidstthevariousqueriesandexpressionsofinterestaddressedtohimbyhisfellow-members,William’ssuggestionalonejarredwiththegeneralsympathytowardsabrotherthussingledoutforspecialdealings.Heobservedthat,tohim,thistrancelookedmorelikeavisitationofSatanthanaproofofdivinefavour,andexhortedhisfriendtoseethathehidnoaccursedthingwithinhissoul.Silas,feelingboundtoacceptrebukeandadmonitionasabrotherlyoffice,feltnoresentment,butonlypain,athisfriend’sdoubtsconcerninghimandtothiswassoonaddedsomeanxietyattheperceptionthatSarah’smannertowardshimbegantoexhibitastrangefluctuationbetweenaneffortatanincreasedmanifestationofregardandinvoluntarysignsofshrinkinganddislike.Heaskedherifshewishedtobreakofftheirengagementbutshedeniedthis:theirengagementwasknowntothechurch,andhadbeenrecognizedintheprayer-meetingsitcouldnotbebrokenoffwithoutstrictinvestigation,andSarahcouldrendernoreasonthatwouldbesanctionedbythefeelingofthecommunity.Atthistimetheseniordeaconwastakendangerouslyill,and,beingachildlesswidower,hewastendednightanddaybysomeoftheyoungerbrethrenorsisters.Silasfrequentlytookhisturninthenight-watchingwithWilliam,theonerelievingtheotherattwointhemorning.Theoldman,contrarytoexpectation,seemedtobeonthewaytorecovery,whenonenightSilas,sittingupbyhisbedside,observedthathisusualaudiblebreathinghadceased.Thecandlewasburninglow,andhehadtoliftittoseethepatient’sfacedistinctly.Examinationconvincedhimthatthedeaconwasdead—hadbeendeadsometime,forthelimbswererigid.Silasaskedhimselfifhehadbeenasleep,andlookedattheclock:itwasalreadyfourinthemorning.HowwasitthatWilliamhadnotcome?Inmuchanxietyhewenttoseekforhelp,andsoontherewereseveralfriendsassembledinthehouse,theministeramongthem,whileSilaswentawaytohiswork,wishinghecouldhavemetWilliamtoknowthereasonofhisnon-appearance.Butatsixo’clock,ashewasthinkingofgoingtoseekhisfriend,Williamcame,andwithhimtheminister.TheycametosummonhimtoLanternYard,tomeetthechurchmembersthereandtohisinquiryconcerningthecauseofthesummonstheonlyreplywas,“Youwillhear.”NothingfurtherwassaiduntilSilaswasseatedinthevestry,infrontoftheminister,withtheeyesofthosewhotohimrepresentedGod’speoplefixedsolemnlyuponhim.Thentheminister,takingoutapocket-knife,showedittoSilas,andaskedhimifheknewwherehehadleftthatknife?Silassaid,hedidnotknowthathehadleftitanywhereoutofhisownpocket—buthewastremblingatthisstrangeinterrogation.Hewasthenexhortednottohidehissin,buttoconfessandrepent.Theknifehadbeenfoundinthebureaubythedeparteddeacon’sbedside—foundintheplacewherethelittlebagofchurchmoneyhadlain,whichtheministerhimselfhadseenthedaybefore.Somehandhadremovedthatbagandwhosehandcoulditbe,ifnotthatofthemantowhomtheknifebelonged?ForsometimeSilaswasmutewithastonishment:thenhesaid,“Godwillclearme:Iknownothingabouttheknifebeingthere,orthemoneybeinggone.Searchmeandmydwellingyouwillfindnothingbutthreepoundfiveofmyownsavings,whichWilliamDaneknowsIhavehadthesesixmonths.”AtthisWilliamgroaned,buttheministersaid,“Theproofisheavyagainstyou,brotherMarner.Themoneywastakeninthenightlastpast,andnomanwaswithourdepartedbrotherbutyou,forWilliamDanedeclarestousthathewashinderedbysuddensicknessfromgoingtotakehisplaceasusual,andyouyourselfsaidthathehadnotcomeand,moreover,youneglectedthedeadbody.” “Imusthaveslept,”saidSilas.Then,afterapause,headded,“OrImusthavehadanothervisit