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frowns and denials。
Notwithstanding the difficulty of carrying her and his yarn or
linen at the same time； Silas took her with him in most of his
journeys to the farmhouses； unwilling to leave her behind at Dolly
Winthrop’s； who was always ready to take care of her； and little
curly…headed Eppie； the weaver’s child； became an object of
interest at several outlying homesteads； as well as in the village。
Hitherto he had been treated very much as if he had been a useful
gnome or brownie—a queer and unaccountable creature； who
must necessarily be looked at with wondering curiosity and
repulsion； and with whom one would be glad to make all greetings
and bargains as brief as possible； but who must be dealt with in a
propitiatory way； and occasionally have a present of pork or
garden…stuff to carry home with him； seeing that without him
there was no getting the yarn woven。 But now Silas met with open
smiling faces and cheerful questioning； as a person whose
satisfactions and difficulties could be understood。 Everywhere he
must sit a little and talk about the child； and words of interest
were always ready for him： “Ah； Master Marner； you’ll be lucky if
she takes the measles soon and easy！”—or； “Why； there isn’t many
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lone men ’ud ha’ been wishing to take up with a little’un like that；
but I reckon the weaving makes you handier than men as do
outdoor work—you’re partly as handy as a woman； for weaving
comes next to spinning。” Elderly masters and mistresses； seated
observantly in large kitchen armchairs； shook their heads over the
difficulties attendant on rearing children； felt Eppie’s round arms
and legs； and pronounced them remarkably firm； and told Silas
that if she turned out well （which； however； there was no telling）；
it would be a fine thing for him to have a steady lass to do for him
when he got helpless。 Servant maidens were fond of carrying her
out to look at the hens and chickens； or to see if any cherries could
be shaken down in the orchard； and the small boys and girls
approached her slowly； with cautious movement and steady gaze；
like little dogs face to face with one of their own kind； till attraction
had reached the point at which the soft lips were put out for a kiss。
No child was afraid of approaching Silas when Eppie was near
him： there was no repulsion around him now； either for young or
old； for the little child had come to link him once more with the
whole world。 There was love between him and the child that blent
them into one； and there was love between the child and the
world—from men and women with parental looks and tones； to
the red ladybirds and the round pebbles。
Silas began now to think of Raveloe life entirely in relation to
Eppie： she must have everything that was a good in Raveloe； and
he listened docilely； that he might come to understand better what
this life was； from which for fifteen years he had stood aloof as
from a strange thing； wherewith he could have no communion： as
some man who has a precious plant to which he would give a
nurturing home in a new soil； thinks of the rain and the sunshine
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Silas Marner 178
and all influences in relation to his nursling； and asks
industriously for all knowledge that will help him to satisfy the
wants of the searching roots； or to guard leaf and bud from
invading harm。 The disposition to hoard had been utterly crushed
at the very first by the loss of his long…stored gold： the coins he
earned afterwards seemed as irrelevant as stones brought to
complete a house suddenly buried by an earthquake； the sense of
bereavement was too heavy upon him for the old thrill of
satisfaction to arise again at the touch of the newly earned coin。
And now something had come to replace his hoard which gave a
growing purpose to the earnings； drawing his hope and joy
continually onward beyond the money。
In old days there were angels who came and took men by the
hand and led them away from the city of destruction。 We see no
white…winged angels now。 But yet men are led away from
threatening destruction： a hand is put into theirs； which leads
them forth gently towards a calm and bright land； so that they look
no more backward； and the hand may be a little child’s。
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Chapter 15
here was one person； as you will believe； who watched
with keener though more hidden interest than any other；
T
the prosperous growth of Eppie under the weaver’s care。
He dared not do anything that would imply a stronger interest in a
poor man’s adopted child than could be expected from the
kindliness of the young Squire； when a chance meeting suggested
a little present to a simple old fellow whom others noticed with
good will； but he told himself that the time would come when he
might do something towards furthering the welfare of his
daughter without incurring suspicion。 Was he very uneasy in the
meantime at his inability to give his daughter her birthright？ I
cannot say that he was。 The child was being taken care of； and
would very likely be happy； as people in humble stations often
were—happier； perhaps； than those who are brought up in luxury。
That famous ring that pricked its owner when he forgot duty
and followed desire—I wonder if it pricked very hard when he set
out on the chase； or whether it pricke