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furze bush； led towards it by the little footsteps and the
outstretched arms。 The furze bush was there still； and this
afternoon； when Eppie came out with Silas into the sunshine； it
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was the first object that arrested her eyes and thoughts。
“Father；” she said； in a tone of gentle gravity； which sometimes
came like a sadder； slower cadence across her playfulness； “we
shall take the furze bush into the garden； it’ll come into the corner；
and just against it I’ll put snowdrops and crocuses； ’cause Aaron
says they won’t die out； but’ll always get more and more。”
“Ah； child；” said Silas； always ready to talk when he had his
pipe in his hand； apparently enjoying the pauses more than the
puffs； “it wouldn’t do to leave out the furze bush； and there’s
nothing prettier to my thinking； when it’s yallow with flowers。 But
it’s just come into my head what we’re to do for a fence—mayhap
Aaron can help us to a thought； but a fence we must have； else the
donkeys and things ’ull come and trample everything down。 And
fencing’s hard to be got at； by what I can make out。”
“Oh； I’ll tell you； daddy；” said Eppie； clasping her hands
suddenly； after a minute’s thought。 “There’s lots o’ loose stones
about； some of ’em not big； and we might lay ’em atop of one
another； and make a wall。 You and me could carry the smallest；
and Aaron ’ud carry the rest—I know he would。”
“Eh； my precious un；” said Silas； “there isn’t enough stones to
go all round； and as for you carrying； why； wi’ your little arms you
couldn’t carry a stone no bigger than a turnip。 You’re dillicate
made； my dear；” he added； with a tender intonation—”that’s what
Mrs。 Winthrop says。”
“Oh； I’m stronger than you think； daddy；” said Eppie； “and if
there wasn’t stones enough to go all round； why； they’ll go part o’
the way； and then it’ll be easier to get sticks and things for the rest。
See here； round the big pit； what a many stones！”
She skipped forward to the pit； meaning to lift one of the stones
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and exhibit her strength； but she started back in surprise。
“Oh； father； just come and look here；” she exclaimed—”come
and see how the water’s gone down since yesterday。 Why；
yesterday the pit was ever so full！”
“Well； to be sure；” said Silas； coming to her side。 “Why； that’s
the draining they’ve begun on； since harvest； i’ Mr。 Osgood’s fields；
I reckon。 The foreman said to me the other day； when I passed by
’em； ‘Master Marner；’ he said； ‘I shouldn’t wonder if we lay your
bit o’ waste as dry as a bone。’ It was Mr。 Godfrey Cass； he said； had
gone into the draining： he’d been taking these fields o’ Mr。
Osgood。”
“How odd it’ll seem to have the old pit dried up！” said Eppie；
turning away； and stooping to lift rather a large stone。 “See；
daddy； I can carry this quite well；” she said； going along with
much energy for a few steps； but presently letting it fall。
“Ah； you’re fine and strong； aren’t you？” said Silas； while Eppie
shook her aching arms and laughed。 “Come； come； let us go and
sit down on the bank against the stile there； and have no more
lifting。 You might hurt yourself； child。 You’d need have somebody
to work for you—and my arm isn’t over strong。”
Silas uttered the last sentence slowly； as if it implied more than
met the ear； and Eppie； when they sat down on the bank； nestled
close to his side； and； taking hold caressingly of the arm that was
not over strong； held it on her lap； while Silas puffed again
dutifully at the pipe； which occupied his other arm。 An ash in the
hedgerow behind made a fretted screen from the sun； and threw
happy playful shadows all about them。
“Father；” said Eppie； very gently； after they had been sitting in
silence a little while； “if I was to be married； ought I to be married
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with my mother’s ring？”
Silas gave an almost imperceptible start； though the question
fell in with the undercurrent of thought in his own mind； and then
said； in a subdued tone； “Why； Eppie； have you been a…thinking on
it？”
“Only this last week； father；” said Eppie； ingenuously； “since
Aaron talked to me about it。”
“And what did he say？” said Silas； still in the same subdued
way； as if he were anxious lest he should fall into the slightest tone
that was not for Eppie’s good。
“He said he should like to be married； because he was a…going
in four…and…twenty； and had got a deal of gardening work； now Mr。
Mott’s given up； and he goes twice a week regular to Mr。 Cass’s；
and once to Mr。 Osgood’s； and they’re going to take him on at the
Rectory。”
“And who is it as he’s wanting to marry？” said Silas； with
rather a sad smile。
“Why； me； to be sure； daddy；” said Eppie； with dimpling
laughter； kissing her father’s cheek； “as if he’d want to marry
anybody else！”
“And you mean to have him； do you？” said Silas。
“Yes； some time；” said Eppie； “I don’t know when。 Everybody’s
married some time； Aaron says。 But I told him that wasn’t true；
for； I said； look at father—he’s never been married。”
“No； child；” said Silas； “your father was a lone man till you was
sent to him。”
“But you’ll never be lone again； father；” said Eppie； tenderly。
“That was what Aaron said—’I could never think o’ taking you
away from Master Marner； Eppie。’ And I said； ‘It ’ud be no use if
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