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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 when we have our daughter。”
Eppie did not come forward and curtsy； as she had done before。
She held Silas’s hand in hers； and grasped it firmly—it was a
weaver’s hand； with a palm and fingertips that were sensitive to
such pressure—while she spoke with colder decision than before。
“Thank you； ma’am—thank you； sir； for your offers—they’re
very great； and far above my wish。 For I should have no delight i’
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。 We’ve
been used to be happy together every day； and I can’t think o’ no
happiness without him。 And he says he’d nobody i’ the world till I
was sent to him； and he’d have nothing when I was gone。 And he’s
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took care of me and loved me from the first； and I’ll cleave to him
as long as he lives； and nobody shall ever come between him and
me。”
“But you must make sure； Eppie；” said Silas； in a low voice—
”you must make sure as you won’t ever be sorry； because you’ve
made your choice to stay among poor folks； and with poor clothes
and things； when you might ha’ had everything o’ the best。”
His sensitiveness on this point had increased as he listened to
Eppie’s words of faithful affection。
“I can never be sorry； father；” said Eppie。 “I shouldn’t know
what to think on or to wish for with fine things about me； as I
haven’t been used to。 And it ’ud be poor work for me to put on
things； and ride in a gig； and sit in a place at church； as ’ud make
them as I’m fond of think me unfitting company for ’em。 What
could I care for then？”
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。
“What you say is natural； my dear child—it’s natural you should
cling to those who’ve brought you up；” she said mildly； “but
there’s a duty you owe to your lawful father。 There’s perhaps
something to be given up on more sides than one。 When your
father opens his home to you； I think it’s right you shouldn’t turn
your back on it。”
“I can’t feel as I’ve got any father but one；” said Eppie；
impetuously； while the tears gathered。 “I’ve always thought of a
little home where he’d sit i’ the corner； and I should fend and do
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everything for him： I can’t think o’ no other home。 I wasn’t
brought up to be a lady； and I can’t turn my mind to it。 I like the
working…folks； and their victuals； and their ways。 And；” she ended
passionately； while the tears fell； “I’m promised to marry a
working…man； as’ll live with father； and help me to take care of
him。”
Godfrey looked up at Nancy with a flushed face and smarting
dilated eyes。 This frustration of a purpose towards which he had
set out under the exalted consciousness that he was about to
compensate in some