CHAPTER VII.

YetthenextmomentthereseemedtobesomeevidencethatghostshadamorecondescendingdispositionthanMr.MaceyattributedtothemforthepalethinfigureofSilasMarnerwassuddenlyseenstandinginthewarmlight,utteringnoword,butlookingroundatthecompanywithhisstrangeunearthlyeyes.Thelongpipesgaveasimultaneousmovement,liketheantennaeofstartledinsects,andeverymanpresent,notexceptingeventhescepticalfarrier,hadanimpressionthathesaw,notSilasMarnerintheflesh,butanapparitionforthedoorbywhichSilashadenteredwashiddenbythehigh-screenedseats,andnoonehadnoticedhisapproach.Mr.Macey,sittingalongwayofftheghost,mightbesupposedtohavefeltanargumentativetriumph,whichwouldtendtoneutralizehisshareofthegeneralalarm.HadhenotalwayssaidthatwhenSilasMarnerwasinthatstrangetranceofhis,hissoulwentloosefromhisbody?Herewasthedemonstration:nevertheless,onthewhole,hewouldhavebeenaswellcontentedwithoutit.Forafewmomentstherewasadeadsilence,Marner’swantofbreathandagitationnotallowinghimtospeak.Thelandlord,underthehabitualsensethathewasboundtokeephishouseopentoallcompany,andconfidentintheprotectionofhisunbrokenneutrality,atlasttookonhimselfthetaskofadjuringtheghost. “MasterMarner,”hesaid,inaconciliatorytone,“what’slackingtoyou?What’syourbusinesshere?” “Robbed!”saidSilas,gaspingly.“I’vebeenrobbed!Iwanttheconstable—andtheJustice—andSquireCass—andMr.Crackenthorp.” “Layholdonhim,JemRodney,”saidthelandlord,theideaofaghostsubsiding“he’soffhishead,Idoubt.He’swetthrough.” JemRodneywastheoutermostman,andsatconvenientlynearMarner’sstanding-placebuthedeclinedtogivehisservices. “Comeandlayholdonhimyourself,Mr.Snell,ifyou’veamind,”saidJem,rathersullenly.“He’sbeenrobbed,andmurderedtoo,forwhatIknow,”headded,inamutteringtone. “JemRodney!”saidSilas,turningandfixinghisstrangeeyesonthesuspectedman. “Aye,MasterMarner,whatdoyouwantwi’me?”saidJem,tremblingalittle,ands