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church； and let her learn her catechise； as my little Aaron can say
off—the ‘I believe’； and everything； and ‘hurt nobody by word or
deed’—as well as if he was the clerk。 That’s what you must do；
Master Marner； if you’d do the right thing by the orphin child。”
Marner’s pale face flushed suddenly under a new anxiety。 His
mind was too busy trying to give some definite bearing to Dolly’s
words for him to think of answering her。
“And it’s my belief；” she went on； “as the poor little creature
has never been christened； and it’s nothing but right as the parson
should be spoke to； and if you was noways unwilling； I’d talk to
Mr。 Macey about it this very day。 For if the child ever went
anyways wrong； and you hadn’t done your part by it； Master
Marner—’noculation； and everything to save it from harm—it ’ud
be a thorn i’ your bed forever o’ this side the grave； and I can’t
think as it ’ud be easy lying down for anybody when they’d got to
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another world if they hadn’t done their part by the helpless
children as come wi’out their own asking。”
Dolly herself was disposed to be silent for some time now； for
she had spoken from the depths of her own simple belief； and was
much concerned to know whether her words would produce the
desired effect on Silas。 He was puzzled and anxious； for Dolly’s
word “christened” conveyed no distinct meaning to him。 He had
only heard of baptism； and had only seen the baptism of grown…up
men and women。
“What is it as you mean by ‘christened’？” he said at last；
timidly。 “Won’t folks be good to her without it？”
“Dear； dear！ Master Marner；” said Dolly； with gentle distress
and compassion。 “Had you never no father nor mother as taught
you to say your prayers； and as there’s good words and good
things to keep us from harm？”
“Yes；” said Silas； in a low voice； “I know a deal about that—
used to； used to。 But your ways are different： my country was a
good way off。” He paused a few moments； and then added； more
decidedly； “But I want to do everything as can be done for the
child； and whatever’s right for it i’ this country； and you think ’ull
do it good； I’ll act according； if you’ll tell me。”
“Well； then； Master Marner；” said Dolly； inwardly rejoiced； “I’ll
ask Mr。 Macey to speak to the parson about it； and you must fix on
a name for it； because it must have a name giv’ it when it’s
christened。”
“My mother’s name was Hephzibah；” said Silas； “and my little
sister was named after her。”
“Eh； that’s a hard name；” said Dolly。 “I partly think it isn’t a
christened name。”
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“It’s a Bible name；” said Silas； old ideas recurring。
“Then I’ve no call to speak again’ it；” said Dolly； rather startled
by Silas’s knowledge on this head； “but you see I’m no scholard；
and I’m slow at catching the words。 My husband says I’m allays
like as if I was putting the haft for the handle—that’s what he
says—for he’s very sharp； God help him。 But it was awk’ard calling
your little sister by such a hard name； when you’d got nothing big
to say； like—wasn’t it； Master Marner？”
“We called her Eppie；” said Silas。
“Well； if it was noways wrong to shorten the name； it ’ud be a
deal handier。 And so I’ll go now； Master Marner； and I’ll speak
about the christening afore dark； and I wish you the best o’ luck；
and it’s my belief as it’ll come to you； if you do what’s right by the
orphin child；—and there’s the ’noculation to be seen to； and as to
washing its bits o’ things； you need look to nobody but me； for I
can do ’em wi’ one hand when I’ve got my suds about。 Eh； the
blessed angil！ You’ll let me bring my Aaron one o’ these days； and
he’ll show her his little cart as his father’s made for him； and the
black…and…white pup as he’s got a…rearing。”
Baby was christened； the Rector deciding that a double baptism
was the lesser risk to incur； and on this occasion Silas； making
himself as clean and tidy as he could； appeared for the first time
within the church； and shared in the observances held sacred by
his neighbours。 He was quite unable； by means of anything he
heard or saw； to identify the Raveloe religion with his old faith； if
he could at any time in his previous life have done so； it must have
been by the aid of a strong feeling ready to vibrate with sympathy；
rather than by a comparison of phrases and ideas； and now for
long years that feeling had been dormant。 He had no distinct idea
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about the baptism and the church…going； except that Dolly had
said it was for the good of the child； and in this way； as the weeks
grew to months； the child created fresh and fresh links between
his life and the lives from which he had hitherto shrunk
continually into narrower isolation。 Unlike the gold which needed
nothing； and must be worshipped in close…locked solitude—which
was hidden away from the daylight； was deaf to the song of birds；
and started to no human tones—Eppie was a creature of endless
claims and ever…growing desires； seeking and loving sunshine and
living sounds and living movements； making trial of everything；
with trust in new joy； and stirring the human kindness in all eyes
that looked on her。 The gold had kept his thoughts in an ever…
repeated circle； leading to nothing beyond itself； but Eppie was an
object compacted of changes and hopes that forced his thoughts
onward； and carried them far away from their old eager pacing
towards the same blank limit—carried