按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Marner’s simple words； felt rather angry again。 It seemed to him
that the weaver was very selfish （a judgment readily passed by
those who have never tested their own power of sacrifice） to
oppose what was undoubtedly for Eppie’s welfare； and he felt
himself called upon； for her sake； to assert his authority。
“I should have thought； Marner；” he said severely—”I should
have thought your affection for Eppie would make you rejoice in
what was for her good； even if it did call upon you to give up
something。 You ought to remember your own life’s uncertain； and
she’s at an age now when her lot may soon be fixed in a way very
different from what it would be in her father’s home： she may
marry some low working…man； and then； whatever I might do for
her； I couldn’t make her well…off。 You’re putting yourself in the
way of her welfare； and though I’m sorry to hurt you after what
you’ve done； and what I’ve left undone； I feel now it’s my duty to
insist on taking care of my own daughter。 I want to do my duty。”
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 228…
Silas Marner 228
It would be difficult to say whether it were Silas or Eppie that
was more deeply stirred by this last speech of Godfrey’s。 Thought
had been very busy in Eppie as she listened to the contest between
her old long…loved father and this new unfamiliar father who had
suddenly come to fill the place of that black featureless shadow
which had held the ring and placed it on her mother’s finger。 Her
imagination had darted backward in conjectures； and forward in
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
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 229…
Silas Marner 229
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
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 230…
Silas Marner 230
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
George Eliot ElecBook Classics
… Page 231…
Silas Marner 231
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 degree for the greatest