Arrivingarriveat the town late the previous evening , he had been drivendriveup from the steamboat in a carriage , from which he had been able to distinguishdistinguishonly the shadowy outlines of the houses along the street ; so that this morning walkwalkwas his first opportunity to see the town by daylight .
This view of Marner 's personality was not without another ground than his pale face and unexampled eyes ; for Jem Rodney , the mole-catcher , averredaverthat one evening as he was returningreturnhomeward , he sawseeSilas Marner leaning against a stile with a heavy bag on his back , instead of resting the bag on the stile as a man in his senses would have done ; and that , on comingcomeup to him , he sawseethat Marner 's eyes were set like a dead man 's , and he spokespeakto him , and shookshakehim , and his limbs were stiff , and his hands clutchedclutchthe bag as if they 'd been made of iron ; but just as he had mademakeup his mind that the weaver was dead , he camecomeall right again , like , as you might say , in the winking of an eye , and saidsay" Good-night " , and walkedwalkoff .