What are they, Aaron, my dear?'
Aaron retreated completely behind his outwork.
'Oh, go, that's naughty,' said his mother, mildly. 'Well,
whativer the letters are, they've a good meaning; and it's a stamp
as has been in our house, Ben says, ever since he was a little un, and
his mother used to put it on the cakes, and I've allays put it on too;
for if there's any good, we've need of it i' this world.'
'It's I.H.S.' said Silas, at which proof of learning Aaron peeped
round the chair again.
'Well, to be sure, you can read 'em off,' said Dolly. 'Ben's read
'em to me many and many a time, but they slip out o' my mind again;
the more's the pity, for they're good letters, else they wouldn't be
in the church; and so I prick 'em on all the loaves and all the cakes,
though sometimes they won't hold, because o' the rising- for, as I
said, if there's any good to be got, we've need on it i' this world-
that we have; and I hope they'll bring good to you, Master Marner, for
it's wi' that will I brought you the cakes; and you see the letters
have held better nor common.'
Silas was as unable to interpret the letters as Dolly, but there
was no possibility of misunderstanding the desire to give comfort that
made itself heard in her quiet tones. He said, with more feeling
than before- 'Thank you- thank you kindly.' But he laid down the
cake and seated himself absently- drearily unconscious of any distinct
benefit towards which the cake and the letters, or even Dolly's
kindness, could tend for him.
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