swelling at the sense that her father was in distress； and she was
just going to lean down and speak to him； when one struggling
dread at last gained the mastery over every other in Silas； and he
said faintly—“Eppie； my child； speak。 I won’t stand in your way。
Thank Mr。 and Mrs。 Cass。”
Eppie took her hand from her father’s head； and came forward
a step。 Her cheeks were flushed； but not with shyness this time：
the sense that her father was in doubt and suffering banished that
sort of self…consciousness。 She dropped a low curtsy； first to Mrs。
Cass and then to Mr。 Cass； and said—“Thank you； ma’am—thank
you； sir。 But I can’t leave my father； nor own anybody nearer than
him。 And I don’t want to be a lady—thank you all the same” （here
Eppie dropped another curtsy）。 “I couldn’t give up the folks I’ve
been used to。”
Eppie’s lip began to tremble a little at the last words。 She
retreated to her father’s chair again； and held him round the neck；
while Silas； with a subdued sob； put up his hand to grasp hers。
The tears were in Nancy’s eyes； but her sympathy with Eppie
was； naturally； divided with distress on her husband’s account。
She dared not speak； wondering what was going on in her
husband’s mind。
Godfrey felt an irritation inevitable to almost all of us when we
encounter an unexpected obstacle。 He had been full of his own
penitence and resolution to retrieve his error as far as the time
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was left to him； he was possessed with all…important feelings； that
were to lead to a predetermined course of action which he had
fixed on as the right； and he was not prepared to enter with lively
appreciation into other people’s feelings counteracting his
virtuous resolves。 The agitation with which he spoke again was not
quite unmixed with anger。
“But I’ve a claim on you； Eppie—the strongest of all claims。 It’s
my duty； Marner； to own Eppie as my child； and provide for her。
She’s my own child： her mother was my wife。 I’ve a natural claim
on her that must stand before every other。”
Eppie had given a violent start； and turned quite pale。 Silas； on
the contrary； who had been relieved； by Eppie’s answer； from the
dread lest his mind should be in opposition to hers； felt the spirit
of resistance in him set free； not without a touch of parental
fierceness。 “Then； sir；” he answered； with an accent of bitterness
that had been silent in him since the memorable day when his
youthful hope had perished—”then； sir； why didn’t you say so
sixteen year ago； and claim her before I’d come to love her； i’stead
o’ coming to take her from me now； when you might as well take
the heart out o’ my body？ God gave her to me because you turned
your back upon her； and He looks upon her as mine： you’ve no
right to her！ When a man turns a blessing from his door； it falls to
them as take it in。”
“I know that； Marner。 I was wrong。 I’ve repented of my conduct
in that matter；” said Godfrey； who could not help feeling the edge
of Silas’s words。
“I’m glad to hear it； sir；” said Marner； with gathering
excitement； “but repentance doesn’t alter what’s been going on for
sixteen year。 Your coming now and saying ‘I’m her father’ doesn’t
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alter the feelings inside us。 It’s me she’s been calling her father
ever since she could say the word。”
“But I think you might look at the thing more reasonably；
Marner；” said Godfrey； unexpectedly awed by the weaver’s direct
truth…speaking。 “It isn’t as if she was to be taken quite away from
you； so that you’d never see her again。 She’ll be very near you； and
come to see you very often。 She’ll feel just the same towards you。”
“Just the same？” said Marner； more bitterly than ever。 “How’ll
she feel just the same for me as she does now； when we eat o’ the
same bit； and drink o’ the same cup； and think o’ the same things
from one day’s end to another？ Just the same？ That’s idle talk。
You’d cut us i’ two。”
Godfrey； unqualified by experience to discern the pregnancy of
Marner’s simple words； felt rather angry again。 It seemed to him
that the weaver was very selfish （a judgment readily passed by
those who have never tested their own power of sacrifice） to
oppose what was undoubtedly for Eppie’s welfare； and he felt
himself called upon； for her sake； to assert his authority。
“I should have thought； Marner；” he said severely—”I should
have thought your affection for Eppie would make you rejoice in
what was for her good； even if it did call upon you to give up
something。 You ought to remember your own life’s uncertain； and
she’s at an age now when her lot may soon be fixed in a way very
different from what it would be in her father’s home： she may
marry some low working…man； and then； whatever I might do for
her； I couldn’t make her well…off。 You’re putting yourself in the
way of her welfare； and though I’m sorry to hurt you after what
you’ve done； and what I’ve left undone； I feel now it’s my duty to
insist on taking care of my own daughter。 I want to do my duty。”
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It would be difficult to say whether it were Silas or Eppie that
was more deeply stirred by this last speech of Godfrey’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 mother’s finger。 Her
imagination had darted backward in conjectures； and forward in
previsions； of what this revealed fatherhood implied； and there
were words in Godfrey’s last speech which helped to make the
previsions especially definite。 Not that these thoughts； either of
past or future； determined her resolution—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 Godfrey’s accusation should be true—lest he should
be raising his own will as an obstacle to Eppie’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。
“I’ll say no more。 Let it be as you will。 Speak to the child。 I’ll
hinder nothing。”
Even Nancy； with all the acute sensibility of her own affections；
shared her husband’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 “respectability”；
could not enter into the pleasures which early nurture and habit
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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 Silas’s last words with relief； and thought； as Godfrey
did； that their wish was achieved。
“Eppie； my dear；” said Godfrey； looking at his daughter； not
without some embarrassment； under the sense that she was old
enough to judge him； “it’ll always be our wish that you should
show your love and gratitude to one who’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 you’ll come to love us as
well； and though I haven’t been what a father should ha’ 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 you’ll
have the best of mothers in my wife—that’ll be a blessing you
haven’t known since you were old enough to know it。”
“My dear； you’ll be a treasure to me；” said Nancy； in her gentle
voice。 “We shall want for nothing
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