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against Silas； opposite to them。
“Well； Marner；” said Godfrey； trying to speak with perfect
firmness； “it’s a great comfort to me to see you with your money
again； that you’ve been deprived of so many years。 It was one of
my family did you the wrong—the more grief to me—and I feel
bound to make up to you for it in every way。 Whatever I can do for
you will be nothing but paying a debt； even if I looked no further
than the robbery。 But there are other things I’m beholden—shall
be beholden to you for； Marner。”
Godfrey checked himself。 It had been agreed between him and
his wife that the subject of his fatherhood should be approached
very carefully； and that； if possible； the disclosure should be
reserved for the future； so that it might be made to Eppie
gradually。 Nancy had urged this； because she felt strongly the
painful light in which Eppie must inevitably see the relation
between her father and mother。
Silas； always ill at ease when he was being spoken to by
“betters”； such as Mr。 Cass—tall； powerful； florid men； seen chiefly
on horseback—answered with some constraint—“Sir； I’ve a deal
to thank you for a’ready。 As for the robbery； I count it no loss to
me。 And if I did； you couldn’t help it； you aren’t answerable for it。”
“You may look at it in that way； Marner； but I never can； and I
hope you’ll let me act according to my own feeling of what’s just。 I
know you’re easily contented： you’ve been a hard…working man all
your life。”
“Yes； sir； yes；” said Marner； meditatively。 “I should ha’ been
bad off without my work： it was what I held by when everything
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else was gone from me。”
“Ah；” said Godfrey； applying Marner’s words simply to his
bodily wants； “it was a good trade for you in this country； because
there’s been a great deal of linen…weaving to be done。 But you’re
getting rather past such close work； Marner： it’s time you laid by
and had some rest。 You look a good deal pulled down； though
you’re not an old man； are you？”
“Fifty…five； as near as I can say； sir；” said Silas。
“Oh； why； you may live thirty years longer—look at old Macey！
And that money on the table； after all； is but little。 It won’t go far
either way—whether it’s put out to interest； or you were to live on
it as long as it would last： it wouldn’t go far if you’d nobody to keep
but yourself； and you’ve had two to keep for a good many years
now。”
“Eh； sir；” said Silas； unaffected by anything Godfrey was
saying； “I’m in no fear o’ want。 We shall do very well—Eppie and
me ’ull do well enough。 There’s few working…folks have got so
much laid by as that。 I don’t know what it is to gentlefolks； but I
look upon it as a deal—almost too much。 And as for us； it’s little we
want。”
“Only the garden； father；” said Eppie； blushing up to the ears
the moment after。
“You love a garden； do you； my dear？” said Nancy； thinking
that this turn in the point of view might help her husband。 “We
should agree in that： I give a deal of time to the garden。”
“Ah； there’s plenty of gardening at the Red House；” said
Godfrey； surprised at the difficulty he found in approaching a
proposition which had seemed so easy to him in the distance。
“You’ve done a good part by Eppie； Marner； for sixteen years。 It
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Silas Marner 224
’ud be a great comfort to you to see her well provided for； wouldn’t
it？ She looks blooming and healthy； but not fit for any hardships：
she doesn’t look like a strapping girl come of working parents。
You’d like to see her taken care of by those who can leave her well
off； and make a lady of her； she’s more fit for it than for a rough
life； such as she might come to have in a few years’ time。”
A slight flush came over Marner’s face； and disappeared； like a
passing gleam。 Eppie was simply wondering Mr。 Cass should talk
so about things that seemed to have nothing to do with reality； but
Silas was hurt and uneasy。
“I don’t take your meaning； sir；” he answered； not having words
at command to express the mingled feelings with which he had
heard Mr。 Cass’s words。
“Well； my meaning is this； Marner；” said Godfrey； determined
to come to the point。 “Mrs。 Cass and I； you know； have no
children—nobody to be the better for our good home and
everything else we have—more than enough for ourselves。 And we
should like to have somebody in the place of a daughter to us—we
should like to have Eppie； and treat her in every way as our own
child。 It ’ud be a great comfort to you in your old age； I hope； to see
her fortune made in that way； after you’ve been at the trouble of
bringing her up so well。 And it’s right you should have every
reward for that。 And Eppie； I’m sure； will always love you and be
grateful to you： she’d come and see you very often； and we should
all be on the lookout to do everything we could towards making
you comfortable。”
A plain man like Godfrey Cass； speaking under some
embarrassment； necessarily blunders on words that are coarser
than his intentions； and that are likely to fall gratingly on
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Silas Marner 225
susceptible feelings。 While he had been speaking； Eppie had
quietly passed her arm behind Silas’s head； and let her hand rest
against it caressingly： she felt him trembling violently。 He was
silent for some moments when Mr。 Cass had ended—powerless
under the conflict of emotions； all alike painful。 Eppie’s heart was
swelling at the sense that her father was in distress； and she was
just going to lean down and speak to