CHAPTER XIII.

ngoutwithMarner,andfollowedbyMr.CrackenthorpandGodfrey.“Getmeapairofthickboots,Godfrey,willyou?Andstay,letsomebodyruntoWinthrop’sandfetchDolly—she’sthebestwomantoget.Benwasherehimselfbeforesupperishegone?” “Yes,sir,Imethim,”saidMarner“butIcouldn’tstoptotellhimanything,onlyIsaidIwasgoingforthedoctor,andhesaidthedoctorwasattheSquire’s.AndImadehasteandran,andtherewasnobodytobeseenatthebacko’thehouse,andsoIwentintowherethecompanywas.” Thechild,nolongerdistractedbythebrightlightandthesmilingwomen’sfaces,begantocryandcallfor“mammy”,thoughalwaysclingingtoMarner,whohadapparentlywonherthoroughconfidence.Godfreyhadcomebackwiththeboots,andfeltthecryasifsomefibreweredrawntightwithinhim. “I’llgo,”hesaid,hastily,eagerforsomemovement“I’llgoandfetchthewoman—Mrs.Winthrop.” “Oh,pooh—sendsomebodyelse,”saiduncleKimble,hurryingawaywithMarner. “You’llletmeknowifIcanbeofanyuse,Kimble,”saidMr.Crackenthorp.Butthedoctorwasoutofhearing. Godfrey,too,haddisappeared:hewasgonetosnatchhishatandcoat,havingjustreflectionenoughtorememberthathemustnotlooklikeamadmanbutherushedoutofthehouseintothesnowwithoutheedinghisthinshoes. InafewminuteshewasonhisrapidwaytotheStone-pitsbythesideofDolly,who,thoughfeelingthatshewasentirelyinherplaceinencounteringcoldandsnowonanerrandofmercy,wasmuchconcernedatayounggentleman’sgettinghisfeetwetunderalikeimpulse. “You’dadealbettergoback,sir,”saidDolly,withrespectfulcompassion.“You’venocalltocatchcoldandI’daskyouifyou’dbesogoodastellmyhusbandtocome,onyourwayback—he’sattheRainbow,Idoubt—ifyoufoundhimanywaysoberenoughtobeo’use.Orelse,there’sMrs.Snell’udhappensendtheboyuptofetchandcarry,fortheremaybethingswantedfromthedoctor’s.” “No,I’llstay,nowI’monceout—I’llstayoutsidehere,”saidGodfrey,whentheycameoppositeMarner’scottage.“YoucancomeandtellmeifIcandoanything.” “Well,sir,you’reverygood:you’veatenderheart,”saidDolly,goingtothedoor. Godfreywastoopainfullypreoccupiedtofeelatwingeofself-reproachatthisundeservedpraise.Hewalkedupanddown,unconsciousthathewasplungingankle-deepinsnow,unconsciousofeverythingbuttremblingsuspenseaboutwhatwasgoingoninthecottage,andtheeffectofeachalternativeonhisfuturelot.No,notquiteunconsciousofeverythingelse.Deeperdown,andhalf-smotheredbypassionatedesireanddread,therewasthesensethatheoughtnottobewaitingonthesealternativesthatheoughttoaccepttheconsequencesofhisdeeds,ownthemiserablewife,andfulfiltheclaimsofthehelplesschild.ButhehadnotmoralcourageenoughtocontemplatethatactiverenunciationofNancyaspossibleforhim:hehadonlyconscienceandheartenoughtomakehimforeveruneasyundertheweaknessthatforbadetherenunciation.Andatthismomenthismindleapeda