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always love you and be grateful to you; shed 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 susceptible feelings. While he had been speaking, Eppie had quietly passed her arm behind Silass head, and let her hand rest against it caressingly; she felt him trembling violently. He was silent for some moments when Mr. Cass had endedpowerless under the conflict of emotions, all alike painful. Eppies heart was swelling at the sense that her father was in distress; and she was just going to lean down and speak to him, when one struggling dread at last gained the mastery over every other in Silas, and he said faintly, Eppie, my child, speak. I wont stand in your way, Thank Mr. and Mrs. Cass. Eppie took her hand from her fathers head, and came forward a step. Her cheeks were flushed, but not with shyness this time; the sense that her father was in doubt and suffering banished that sort of self- consciousness. She dropped a low curtsy, first to Mrs. Cass and then to Mr. Cass, and said, Thank you, maamthank you, sir. But I cant leave my father, nor own anybody nearer than him. And I dont want to be a ladythank you all the same (here Eppie dropped another curtsy). I couldnt give up the folks Ive been used to. Eppies lip began to tremble a little at the last words. She retreated to her fathers chair again, and held him round the neck; while Silas, with a subdued sob, put up his hand to grasp hers. The tears were in Nancys eyes, but her sympathy with Eppie was naturally divided with distress on her husbands account. She dared not speak, wondering what was going on in her husbands mind. Godfrey felt an irritation inevitable to almost all of us when we encounter an unexpected obstacle. He had been full of his own penitence and resolution to retrieve his error as far as the time was left to him. He was possessed with all-important feelings, that were to lead to a predetermined course of action which he had fixed on as the right, and he was not prepared to enter with lively appreciation into other peoples feelings counteracting his virtuous resolves. The agitation with which he spoke again was not quite unmixed with anger. But Ive a claim on you, Eppiethe strongest of all claims. Its my duty, Marner, to own Eppie as my child, and provide for her. Shes my own child; her mother was my wife. Ive a natural claim on her that must stand before every other. Eppie had given a violent start, and turned quite pale. Silas, on the contrary, who had been relieved by Eppies answer from the dread lest his mind should be in opposition to hers, felt the spirit of resistance in him set free, not without a touch of parental fierceness. Then, sir, he answered with an accent of bitterness that had been silent in him since the memorable day when his youthful hope had perishedthen, sir, why didnt you say so sixteen year ago, and claim her before Id come to love her, istead o coming to take her from me now, when you might as well take the heart out o my body? God gave her to me because you turned your back upon her, and He looks upon her as mine. Youve no right to her! When a man turns a blessing from his door, it falls to them as take it in. I know that, Marner. I was wrong. Ive repented of my conduct in that matter, said Godfrey, who could not help feeling the edge of Silass words. Im glad to hear it, sir, said Marner with gathering excitement; but repentance doesnt alter whats been going on for sixteen year. Your coming now and saying Im her father doesnt alter the feelings inside us. Its me shes been calling her father ever since she could say the word. |
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