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trouble as I aren’t there。”
“Bring her with you this afternoon； Aaron；” said Eppie； “I
shouldn’t like to fix about the garden and her not know everything
from the first—should you； father？”
“Ay； bring her if you can； Aaron；” said Silas； “she’s sure to have
a word to say as’ll help us to set things on their right end。”
Aaron turned back up the village； while Silas and Eppie went
on up the lonely sheltered lane。
“Oh； daddy！” she began； when they were in privacy； clasping
and squeezing Silas’s arm； and skipping round to give him an
energetic kiss。 “My little old daddy！ I’m so glad。 I don’t think I
shall want anything else when we’ve got a little garden； and I
knew Aaron would dig it for us；” she went on with roguish
triumph—”I knew that very well。”
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“You’re a deep little puss； you are；” said Silas； with the mild
passive happiness of love…crowned age in his face； “but you’ll
make yourself fine and beholden to Aaron。”
“Oh no； I shan’t；” said Eppie； laughing and frisking； “he likes
it。”
“Come； come； let me carry your prayer…book； else you’ll be
dropping it； jumping i’ that way。”
Eppie was now aware that her behaviour was under
observation； but it was only the observation of a friendly donkey；
browsing with a log fastened to his foot—a meek donkey； not
scornfully critical of human trivialities； but thankful to share in
them； if possible； by getting his nose scratched； and Eppie did not
fail to gratify him with her usual notice； though it was attended
with the inconvenience of his following them； painfully； up to the
very door of their home。
But the sound of a sharp bark inside； as Eppie put the key in
the door； modified the donkey’s views； and he limped away again
without bidding。 The sharp bark was the sign of an excited
welcome that was awaiting them from a knowing brown terrier；
who； after dancing at their legs in a hysterical manner； rushed
with a worrying noise at a tortoise…shell kitten under the loom； and
then rushed back with a sharp bark again； as much as to say； “I
have done my duty by this feeble creature； you perceive”； while
the lady…mother of the kitten sat sunning her white bosom in the
window； and looked round with a sleepy air of expecting caresses；
though she was not going to take any trouble for them。
The presence of this happy animal life was not the only change
which had come over the interior of the stone cottage。 There was
no bed now in the living…room； and the small space was well filled
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with decent furniture； all bright and clean enough to satisfy Dolly
Winthrop’s eye。 The oaken table and three…cornered oaken chair
were hardly what was likely to be seen in so poor a cottage： they
had come； with the beds and other things； from the Red House； for
Mr。 Godfrey Cass； as every one said in the village； did very kindly
by the weaver； and it was nothing but right a man should be
looked on and helped by those who could afford it； when he had
brought up an orphan child； and been father and mother to her—
and had lost his money too； so as he had nothing but what he
worked for week by week； and when the weaving was going down
too—for there was less and less flax spun—and Master Marner
was none so young。 Nobody was jealous of the weaver； for he was
regarded as an exceptional person； whose claims on neighbourly
help were not to be matched in Raveloe。 Any superstition that
remained concerning him had taken an entirely new colour； and
Mr。 Macey； now a very feeble old man of fourscore…and…six； never
seen except in his chimney…corner or sitting in the sunshine at his
door…sill； was of opinion that when a man had done what Silas had
done by an orphan child； it was a sign that his money would come
to light again； or leastwise that the robber would be made to
answer for it—for； as Mr。 Macey observed of himself； his faculties
were as strong as ever。
Silas sat down now and watched Eppie with a satisfied gaze as
she spread the clean cloth； and set on it the potato…pie； warmed up
slowly in a safe Sunday fashion； by being put into a dry pot over a
slowly dying fire； as the best substitute for an oven。 For Silas
would not consent to have a grate and oven added to his
conveniences： he loved the old brick hearth as he had loved his
brown pot—and was it not there when he had found Eppie？ The
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gods of the hearth exist for us still； and let all new faith be tolerant
of that fetichism； lest it bruise its own roots。
Silas ate his dinner more silently than usual； soon laying down
his knife and fork； and watching half abstractedly Eppie’s play
with Snap and the cat； by which her own dining was made rather
a lengthy business。 Yet it was a sight that might well arrest
wandering thoughts： Eppie； with the rippling radiance of her hair
and the whiteness of her rounded chin and throat set off by the
dark…blue cotton gown； laughing merrily as the kitten held on with
her four claws to one shoulder； like a design for a jug…handle；
while Snap on the right hand and Puss on the other put up their
paws towards a morsel which she held out of the reach of both—
Snap occasionally desisting in order to remonstrate with the cat by
a cogent worrying growl on the greediness and futility of her
conduct； till Eppie relented； caressed them both； and divided the
morsel between them。
But at last Eppie； glancing at the clock； checked the play； and
said “Oh； daddy； you’re wanting to go into the sunshine to smoke
your pipe。 But I must clear away first； so as the house may be tidy
when godmother comes。 I’ll make haste—I won’t be long。”
Silas had taken to smoking a pipe daily during the last two
years； having been strongly urged to it by the sages of Raveloe； as
a practice “good for the fits”； and this advice was sanctioned by
Dr。 Kimble； on the ground that it was as well to try what could do
no harm—a principle which was made to answer for a great deal
of work in that gentleman’s medical practice。 Silas did not highly
enjoy smoking； and often wondered how his neighbours could be
so fond of it； but a humble sort of acquiescence in what was held to
be good had become a strong habit of that new self which had
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been developed in him since he had found Eppie on his hearth： it
had been the only clue his bewildered mind could hold by in
cherishing this young life that had been sent to him out of the
darkness into which his gold had departed。 By seeking what was
needful for Eppie； by sharing the effect that everything produced
on her； he had himself come to appropriate the forms of custom
and belief which were the mould of Raveloe life； and as； with
reawakening sensibilities； memory also reawakened； he had begun
to ponder over the elements of his old faith； and blend them with
his new impressions； till he recovered a consciousness of unity
between his past and present。 The sense of presiding goodness
and the human trust which come with all pure peace and joy； had
given him a dim impression that there had been some error； some
mistake； which had thro