"But in Raveloe village the bells rang merrily, and the church was fuller than all through the rest of the year, with red faces among the abundant dark-green boughs – faces prepared for a longer service than usual by an odorous breakfast of toast and ale." 🍺 I thought they were just eating toast and drinking ale for breakfast, which is strange enough, but the footnote says "Toast, sometimes spiced was often added to ale and other drinks". I also found this at etiquettescholar.com: "In the ale houses of Elizabethan England, a bit of spiced toast was usually put in the bottom of a cup of ale or wine to flavor it, and possibly to soak up the dregs. In time, any male or female whose qualities or accomplishments were frequently honored with a group drink came to be called 'toasts'." Did you know this was a thing?! I'm certain I'm doing something wrong cause this was gross. 🍺 #silasmarner #georgeeliot #maryannevans #foodinbooks #toastandale #signetclassics #signetsaturday https://www.instagram.com/p/CFCxOz1KIIw/?igshid=39hu680loy6n