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us—there’s dealings。”
This dialogue took place in Eppie’s earlier years； when Silas
had to part with her for two hours every day； that she might learn
to read at the dame school； after he had vainly tried himself to
guide her in that first step to learning。 Now that she was grown
up； Silas had often been led； in those moments of quiet outpouring
which come to people who live together in perfect love； to talk
with her too of the past； and how and why he had lived a lonely
man until she had been sent to him。 For it would have been
impossible for him to hide from Eppie that she was not his own
child： even if the most delicate reticence on the point could have
been expected from Raveloe gossips in her presence； her own
questions about her mother could not have been parried； as she
grew up； without that complete shrouding of the past which would
have made a painful barrier between their minds。 So Eppie had
long known how her mother had died on the snowy ground； and
how she herself had been found on the hearth by father Silas； who
had taken her golden curls for his lost guineas brought back to
him。 The tender and peculiar love with which Silas had reared her
in almost inseparable companionship with himself； aided by the
seclusion of their dwelling； had preserved her from the lowering
influences of the village talk and habits； and had kept her mind in
that freshness which is sometimes falsely supposed to be an
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invariable attribute of rusticity。 Perfect love has a breath of poetry
which can exalt the relations of the least…instructed human beings；
and this breath of poetry had surrounded Eppie from the time
when she had followed the bright gleam that beckoned her to
Silas’s hearth； so that it is not surprising if； in other things besides
her delicate prettiness； she was not quite a common village
maiden； but had a touch of refinement and fervour which came
from no other teaching than that of tenderly nurtured unvitiated
feeling。 She was too childish and simple for her imagination to
rove into questions about her unknown father； for a long while it
did not even occur to her that she must have had a father； and the
first time that the idea of her mother having had a husband
presented itself to her was when Silas showed her the wedding…
ring which had been taken from the wasted finger； and had been
carefully preserved by him in a little lacquered box shaped like a
shoe。 He delivered this box into Eppie’s charge when she had
grown up； and she often opened it to look at the ring； but still she
thought hardly at all about the father of whom it was the symbol。
Had she not a father very close to her； who loved her better than
any real fathers in the village seemed to love their daughters？ On
the contrary； who her mother was； and how she came to die in that
forlornness； were questions that often pressed on Eppie’s mind。
Her knowledge of Mrs。 Winthrop； who was her nearest friend next
to Silas； made her feel that a mother must be very precious； and
she had again and again asked Silas to tell her how her mother
looked； whom she was like； and how he had found her against the
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 a