In the first place, the decorous, kind-hearted, simple,

old-fashioned gentleman, had unconsciously called out, by his own

refinement and courteousness of manner, all the latent courtesy

in the other.

Mr. Hale treated all his fellow-creatures alike: it never entered

into his head to make any difference because of their rank. He

placed a chair for Nicholas stood up till he, at Mr. Hale's

request, took a seat; and called him, invariably, 'Mr. Higgins,'

instead of the curt 'Nicholas' or 'Higgins,' to which the

'drunken infidel weaver' had been accustomed. But Nicholas was

neither an habitual drunkard nor a thorough infidel. He drank to

drown care, as he would have himself expressed it: and he was

infidel so far as he had never yet found any form of faith to

which he could attach himself, heart and soul.

Margaret was a little surprised, and very much pleased, when she

found her father and Higgins in earnest conversation--each

speaking with gentle politeness to the other, however their

opinions might clash. Nicholas--clean, tidied (if only at the

pump-trough), and quiet spoken--was a new creature to her, who

had only seen him in the rough independence of his own

hearthstone. He had 'slicked' his hair down with the fresh water;

he had adjusted his neck-handkerchief, and borrowed an odd

candle-end to polish his clogs with and there he sat, enforcing

some opinion on her father, with a strong Darkshire accent, it is

true, but with a lowered voice, and a good, earnest composure on

his face. Her father, too, was interested in what his companion

was saying. He looked round as she came in, smiled, and quietly

gave her his chair, and then sat down afresh as quickly as

possible, and with a little bow of apology to his guest for the

interruption. Higgins nodded to her as a sign of greeting; and

she softly adjusted her working materials on the table, and

prepared to listen.

'As I was a-sayin, sir, I reckon yo'd not ha' much belief in yo'

if yo' lived here,--if yo'd been bred here. I ax your pardon if I

use wrong words; but what I mean by belief just now, is

a-thinking on sayings and maxims and promises made by folk yo'

never saw, about the things and the life, yo' never saw, nor no

one else. Now, yo' say these are true things, and true sayings,

and a true life. I just say, where's the proof? There's many and

many a one wiser, and scores better learned than I am around

me,--folk who've had time to think on these things,--while my

time has had to be gi'en up to getting my bread. Well, I sees

these people. Their lives is pretty much open to me. They're real

folk. They don't believe i' the Bible,--not they. They may say

they do, for form's sake; but Lord, sir, d'ye think their first

cry i' th' morning is, "What shall I do to get hold on eternal

life?" or "What shall I do to fill my purse this blessed day?

Where shall I go? What bargains shall I strike?" The purse and

the gold and the notes is real things; things as can be felt and

touched; them's realities; and eternal life is all a talk, very

fit for--I ax your pardon, sir; yo'r a parson out o' work, I

believe. Well! I'll never speak disrespectful of a man in the

same fix as I'm in mysel'. But I'll just ax yo another question,

sir, and I dunnot want yo to answer it, only to put in yo'r pipe,

and smoke it, afore yo' go for to set down us, who only believe

in what we see, as fools and noddies. If salvation, and life to

come, and what not, was true--not in men's words, but in men's

hearts' core--dun yo' not think they'd din us wi' it as they do

wi' political 'conomy? They're mighty anxious to come round us

wi' that piece o' wisdom; but t'other would be a greater

convarsion, if it were true.' 'But the masters have nothing to do with your religion. All that

they are connected with you in is trade,--so they think,--and all

that it concerns them, therefore, to rectify your opinions in is

the science of trade.' 'I'm glad, sir,' said Higgins, with a curious wink of his eye,

'that yo' put in, "so they think." I'd ha' thought yo' a

hypocrite, I'm afeard, if yo' hadn't, for all yo'r a parson, or

rayther because yo'r a parson. Yo' see, if yo'd spoken o'

religion as a thing that, if it was true, it didn't concern all

men to press on all men's attention, above everything else in

this 'varsal earth, I should ha' thought yo' a knave for to be a

parson; and I'd rather think yo' a fool than a knave. No offence,

I hope, sir.' 'None at all. You consider me mistaken, and I consider you far

more fatally mistaken. I don't expect to convince you in a

day,--not in one conversation; but let us know each other, and

speak freely to each other about these things, and the truth will

prevail. I should not believe in God if I did not believe that.

Mr. Higgins, I trust, whatever else you have given up, you

believe'--(Mr. Hale's voice dropped low in reverence)--'you

believe in Him.' Nicholas Higgins suddenly stood straight, stiff up. Margaret

started to her feet,--for she thought, by the working of his

face, he was going into convulsions. Mr. Hale looked at her

dismayed. At last Higgins found words: 'Man! I could fell yo' to the ground for tempting me. Whatten

business have yo' to try me wi' your doubts? Think o' her lying

theere, after the life hoo's led and think then how yo'd deny me

the one sole comfort left--that there is a God, and that He set

her her life. I dunnot believe she'll ever live again,' said he,

sitting down, and drearily going on, as if to the unsympathising

fire. 'I dunnot believe in any other life than this, in which she

dreed such trouble, and had such never-ending care; and I cannot

bear to think it were all a set o' chances, that might ha' been

altered wi' a breath o' wind. There's many a time when I've

thought I didna believe in God, but I've never put it fair out

before me in words, as many men do. I may ha' laughed at those

who did, to brave it out like--but I have looked round at after,

to see if He heard me, if so be there was a He; but to-day, when

I'm left desolate, I wunnot listen to yo' wi' yo'r questions, and

yo'r doubts. There's but one thing steady and quiet i' all this

reeling world, and, reason or no reason, I'll cling to that. It's

a' very well for happy folk'---Margaret touched his arm very softly. She had not spoken before,

nor had he heard her rise.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024