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that was more deeply stirred by this last speech of Godfreyā€™s. Thought had been very busy in Eppie as she listened to the contest between her old long-loved father and this new unfamiliar father who had suddenly come to fill the place of that black featureless shadow which had held the ring and placed it on her motherā€™s finger. Her imagination had darted backward in conjectures, and forward in previsions, of what this revealed fatherhood implied; and there were words in Godfreyā€™s last speech which helped to make the previsions especially definite. Not that these thoughts, either of past or future, determined her resolutionā ā€”that was determined by the feelings which vibrated to every word Silas had uttered; but they raised, even apart from these feelings, a repulsion towards the offered lot and the newly-revealed father.

Silas, on the other hand, was again stricken in conscience, and alarmed lest Godfreyā€™s accusation should be trueā ā€”lest he should be raising his own will as an obstacle to Eppieā€™s good. For many moments he was mute, struggling for the self-conquest necessary to the uttering of the difficult words. They came out tremulously.

ā€œIā€™ll say no more. Let it be as you will. Speak to the child. Iā€™ll hinder nothing.ā€

Even Nancy, with all the acute sensibility of her own affections, shared her husbandā€™s view, that Marner was not justifiable in his wish to retain Eppie, after her real father had avowed himself. She felt that it was a very hard trial for the poor weaver, but her code allowed no question that a father by blood must have a claim above that of any foster-father. Besides, Nancy, used all her life to plenteous circumstances and the privileges of ā€œrespectability,ā€ could not enter into the pleasures which early nurture and habit connect with all the little aims and efforts of the poor who are born poor: to her mind, Eppie, in being restored to her birthright, was entering on a too long withheld but unquestionable good. Hence she heard Silasā€™s last words with relief, and thought, as Godfrey did, that their wish was achieved.

ā€œEppie, my dear,ā€ said Godfrey, looking at his daughter, not without some embarrassment, under the sense that she was old enough to judge him, ā€œitā€™ll always be our wish that you should show your love and gratitude to one whoā€™s been a father to you so many years, and we shall want to help you to make him comfortable in every way. But we hope youā€™ll come to love us as well; and though I havenā€™t been what a father should haā€™ been to you all these years, I wish to do the utmost in my power for you for the rest of my life, and provide for you as my only child. And youā€™ll have the best of mothers in my wifeā ā€”thatā€™ll be a blessing you havenā€™t known since you were old enough to know it.ā€

ā€œMy dear, youā€™ll be a treasure to me,ā€ said Nancy, in her gentle voice. ā€œWe shall want for nothing when we have our daughter.ā€

Eppie did not come forward and curtsy, as she had done before. She held Silasā€™s hand in hers, and grasped it firmlyā ā€”it was a weaverā€™s hand, with a palm and fingertips that were sensitive to such pressureā ā€”while she spoke with colder decision than before.

ā€œThank you, maā€™amā ā€”thank you, sir, for your offersā ā€”theyā€™re very great, and far above my wish. For I should have no delight iā€™ life any more if I was forced to go away from my father, and knew he was sitting at home, a-thinking of me and feeling lone. Weā€™ve been used to be happy together every day, and I canā€™t think oā€™ no happiness without him. And he says heā€™d nobody iā€™ the world till I was sent to him, and heā€™d have nothing when I was gone. And heā€™s took care of me and loved me from the first, and Iā€™ll cleave to him as long as he lives, and nobody shall ever come between him and me.ā€

ā€œBut you must make sure, Eppie,ā€ said Silas, in a low voiceā ā€”ā€œyou must make sure as you wonā€™t ever be sorry, because youā€™ve made your choice to stay among poor folks, and with poor clothes and things, when you might haā€™ had everything oā€™ the best.ā€

His sensitiveness on this point had increased as he listened to Eppieā€™s words of faithful affection.

ā€œI can never be sorry, father,ā€ said Eppie. ā€œI shouldnā€™t know what to think on or to wish for with fine things about me, as I havenā€™t been used to. And it ā€™ud be poor work for me to put on things, and ride in a gig, and sit in a place at church, as ā€™ud make them as Iā€™m fond of think me unfitting company for ā€™em. What could I care for then?ā€

Nancy looked at Godfrey with a pained questioning glance. But his eyes were fixed on the floor, where he was moving the end of his stick, as if he were pondering on something absently. She thought there was a word which might perhaps come better from her lips than from his.

ā€œWhat you say is natural, my dear childā ā€”itā€™s natural you should cling to those whoā€™ve brought you up,ā€ she said, mildly; ā€œbut thereā€™s a duty you owe to your lawful father. Thereā€™s perhaps something to be given up on more sides than one. When your father opens his home to you, I think itā€™s right you shouldnā€™t turn your back on it.ā€

ā€œI canā€™t feel as Iā€™ve got any father but one,ā€ said Eppie, impetuously, while the tears gathered. ā€œIā€™ve always thought of a little home where heā€™d sit iā€™ the corner, and I should fend and do everything for him: I canā€™t think oā€™ no other home. I wasnā€™t brought up to be a lady, and I canā€™t turn my mind to it. I like the working-folks, and their victuals, and their ways. And,ā€ she ended passionately, while the tears fell, ā€œIā€™m promised to marry a workingman, asā€™ll live with father, and

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