织工马南-第8部分

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reet　chapel．He　realized　how　his　once　lonely　life　had　changed　since　Eppie　had　come　to　him　Now　he　had　friends，and　trusted　people，and　was　happy．　And　he　began　to　see　that　the　God　in　the　Raveloe　church　was　the　same　God　he　had　been　so　angry　with，the　last　time　he　had　been　to　the　chapel．It　seemed　to　him　that　there　had　been　some　mistake　in　his　past，which　had　thrown　a　dark　shadow　over　his　early　life　Perhaps　now　he　would　never　know　whether　Mr　Paston，the　chapel　minister，still　thought　he　was　guilty　of　stealing．And　he　would　never　dis－cover　why　the　drawing　of　the　lots　had　seemed　to　prove　his　guilt．‘But　there　must　be　a　Good　of　goodness　in　this　world，’he　thought，‘because　He　sent　Eppie　to　me．I　must　just　trust，and　believe　that　He　is　right。'

He　had　told　Eppie　how　her　mother　had　died　in　the　snow，and　he　had　given　her　the　dead　woman's　wedding　ring．Eppie　was　not　at　all　interested　in　who　her　real　father　was，as　she　thought　she　had　the　best　father　in　the　world　already．At　the　moment　she　was　sitting　close　to　Silas　outside　their　door　in　the　sunshine．Neither　of　them　had　spoken　for　a　while．

‘Father，'she　said　gently，‘if　I　get　married，do　you　think　I　should　wear　my　mother's　ring？’

‘Oh，Eppie！'said　Silas，surprised．‘Are　you　thinking　of　get－ting　married，then？’

‘Well，Aaron　was　talking　to　me　about　it，'replied　Eppie，blushing．‘You　know　he's　nearly　twenty…four　now，and　is　earning　good　money，　and　he'd　like　to　marry　soon．’

‘And　who　would　he　like　to　marry？’asked　Silas　with　rather　a　sad　smile．

‘Why，me，of　course，daddy！'said　Eppie，laughing　and　kiss－ing　her　father．‘He　won't　want　to　marry　anyone　else！’

‘And　you'd　like　to　marry　him，would　you？’asked　Silas．

‘Yes，one　day．I　don't　know　when．Aaron　says　everyone's　married　some　time．But　I　told　him　that's　not　true，because　you　haven't　ever　been　married，have　you，daddy？’

‘No，child，'said　Silas．‘I　was　a　lonely　man　before　you　were　sent　to　me．’

‘But　you'll　never　be　lonely　again，father，'said　Eppie　loving－ly．‘That's　what　Aaron　said．He　doesn't　want　to　take　me　away　from　you．He　wants　us　all　to　live　together，and　he'll　do　all　the　work，and　you　needn't　work　at　all，father．He'll　be　like　a　son　to　you．’

‘Well，my　child，you're　young　to　be　married，'said　Silas．‘But　he's　a　good　young　man．We'll　ask　his　mother　what　we　should　do．She　always　gives　us　good　advice．You　see，Eppie，I'm　getting　older，and　I'd　like　to　think　of　you　with　a　strong　young　husband　to　take　care　of　you　for　the　rest　of　your　life．Yes，we'll　ask　Dolly　Winthrop　for　her　opinion．’

　　



　


9　Godfrey　confesses　at　last

　　

At　the　Red　House　Nancy　was　waiting　patiently　for　God－frey　to　come　home　to　tea．Suddenly　one　of　the　servants　ran　into　the　sitting…room，crying　excitedly，‘Madam，there　are　lots　of　people　in　the　street！They're　all　running　the　same　way，towards　the　quarry！Perhaps　there's　been　an　accident！’

‘Jane，don't　get　so　excited，'replied　Nancy　calmly．‘I　ex…pect　it's　nothing　serious．Go　and　get　the　tea　ready．Mr　Godfrey　will　be　back　soon．’But　secretly　she　was　saying　to　herself，‘I　hope　nothing's　happened　to　Godfrey！’

So　when　he　came　into　the　room，a　few　minutes　later，she　was　very　relieved．‘My　dear，I'm　so　thankful　you've　come，'she　said，going　towards　him．‘I　was　beginning　to　think—’

She　stopped　suddenly　when　she　saw　Godfrey's　shaking　hands　and　white　face．She　put　her　hand　on　his　arm，but　he　did　not　seem　to　notice，and　threw　himself　into　a　chair．

‘Sit　down—Nancy，’he　said　with　difficulty．‘I　came　back　as　soon　as　I　could，to　prevent　anyone　telling　you　except　me．　It's　terrible　news　for　me，　but　I'm　more　worried　about　how　you　will　feel　about　it．’

‘It　isn't　father　or　Priscilla？'said　Nancy，trying　to　control　her　trembling　lips．

‘No，it's　nobody　living，'said　Godfrey．‘It's　Dunstan，my　brother，who　left　home　sixteen　years　ago　and　never　came　back．We've　found　him…found　his　body—all　that's　left　of　it—in　the　old　quarry．

Nancy　felt　calmer　now．That　was　not　terrible　news．

‘You　know　the　men　have　been　draining　our　fields　near　the　quarry．Well，as　a　result，　the　quarry　has　suddenly　gone　dry，and　we've　found　him　lying　at　the　bottom．　We　know　it's　him　be－cause　he's　wearing　his　watch　and　his　rings．’

Godfrey　paused．It　was　not　easy　to　say　what　came　next．

‘Do　you　think　he　drowned　himself？’asked　Nancy，wonder－ing　why　her　husband　was　so　shaken　by　the　death　of　a　brother　he　had　never　loved．

‘No，he　fell　in，'replied　Godfrey　in　a　low　voice．‘Dunstan　was　the　man　who　robbed　Silas　Marner．The　bags　of　gold　were　found　with　his　body．’

‘Oh　Godfrey！I　am　sorry！'said　Nancy．She　understood　how　ashamed　her　husband　must　be．The　Casses　were　so　proud　of　their　family　name．

‘I　had　to　tell　you．I　couldn't　keep　it　from　you，’Godfrey　continued，and　then　stopped，looking　at　the　ground　for　two　long　minutes．Nancy　knew　that　he　had　something　more　to　say．Finally　Godfrey　lifted　his　eyes　to　her　face，and　said，‘Every－body's　secrets　are　discovered　sooner　or　later，Nancy．I've　lived　with　a　secret　ever　since　I　married　you，but　I'm　going　to　confess　it　now．I　don't　want　you　to　discover　it　from　someone　else，or　hear　about　it　when　I'm　dead，I　was　weak　and　hesitating　when　I　was　younger—I'm　going　to　be　firm　with　myself　now．’

Nancy　could　not　speak．She　stared　at　her　husband　in　horror．What　secret　could　he　possibly　have　from　her？

‘Nancy，'said　Godfrey　slowly，‘when　I　married　you，I　hid　something　from　you—I　was　wrong　not　to　tell　you．That　woman　Silas　Marner　found　dead　in　the　snow—Eppie's　moth　er—that　poor　woman—was　my　wife．Eppie　is　my　child．’

He　paused，looking　worriedly　at　Nancy．But　she　sat　quite　still，although　her　face　looked　rather　white．

Perhaps　you　won't　be　able　to　love　me　any　more，’he　said，his　voice　trembling　a　little．

She　was　silent．

I　was　wrong，I　know　I　was　wrong　to　marry　Molly　and　then　to　keep　it　a　secret．But　I　loved　you，Nancy，I　only　ever　wanted　to　marry　you．

Still　Nancy　was　silent，looking　down　at　her　hands．And　God　frey　almost　expected　her　to　get　up　and　say　she　would　leave　him　and　go　to　live　with　her　father　and　sister．She　was　so　religious，and　so　firm　in　her　ideas　of　right　and　wrong！

But　at　last　she　lifted　her　eyes　to　his　and　spoke．She　did　not　sound　angry，but　only　sad．‘Oh　Godfrey，why　didn't　you　tell　me　this　long　ago？　I　didn't　know　Eppie　was　yours　and　so　I　re　fused　to　adopt　her．Of　course　I'd　accept　your　child　into　our　home！But—oh，Godfrey—how　sad　to　think　we've　spent　all　these　years　with　no　children！Why　didn't　you　confess　the　truth　before　we　married？We　could　be　so　happy　now，with　a　beautiful　daughter，who　would　love　me　as　her　mother！'tears　were　running　down　Nancy's　face　But　Nancy，’cried　Godfrey，bitterly　angry　with　himself，‘　I　couldn't　tell　you　everything！I　was　in　danger　of　losing　you　if　I　told　you　the　truth！’

‘I　don't　know　about　that，Godfrey．I　certainly　never　want－ed　to　marry　anyone　else　But　it　wasn't　worth　doing　wrong　just　so　that　you　could　marry　me．And　our　marriage　hasn't　been　as　happy　for　you　as　you　thought　it　would　be　There　was　a　sad　smile　on　Nancy's　face　as　she　said　the　last　words．

‘Can　you　ever　forgive　me　for　what　I've　done，Nancy？

You　have　only　hurt　me　a　little，Godfrey，and　you've　been　a　good　husband　to　me　for　fifteen　years　But　it's　the　other　wom－an　who　you've　hurt　the　most，and　I　don't　see　how　you　can　put　that　right．’

But　we　can　take　Eppie　into　our　home　now，'said　Godfrey．

‘It'll　be　different　now　that　she's　grown　up，'said　Nancy，shaking　her　head　sadly．‘It'll　be　more　difficult　for　her　to　get　used　to　us．But　it's　our　duty　to　take　care　of　your　child，and　I'll　ask　God　to　make　her　love　me．

Then　we'll　go　to　the　weaver's　cottage　tonight，'said　God－frey，‘and　talk　to　Marner　and　Eppie　about　it．’

　　



　


10　Eppie　has　to　decide

　　

That　evening　Silas　was　resting　in　his　chair　near　the　fire，after　the　excitement　of　the　day．Eppie　was　sitting　close　to　him，holding　both　his　hands，and　on　the　table　was　Silas's　lost　gold．He　had　put　the　coins　in　piles，as　he　used　to．

‘You　see，that's　all　I　ever　did　in　the　long　evenings　before　you　came　to　me，’he　was　telling　Eppie，‘just　count　my　gold．I　was　only　half　alive　in　those　days．What　a　good　thing　the　money　was　taken　away　from　me！I　was　killing　myself　with　working　all　day，and　counting　money　half　the　night．It　wasn't　a　healthy　life．And　when　you　came，with　your　yellow　curls，I　thought　you　were　the　gold，And　then，when　I　began　to　love　you，I　didn't　want　my　gold　any　more．’He　stopped　talking　for　a　moment　and　looked　at　the　money．‘The　gold　doesn't　mean　anything　to　me　now．But　perhaps，if　I　ever　lost　you，Eppie，if　you　ever　went　away　from　me，I'd　need　my　gold　again．I'd　feel　lonely　then，and　I'd　think　God　had　forgotten　me，and　perhaps　I'd　go　back　to　my　bad　old　habits．'there　were　tears　in　Eppie's　beautiful　eyes，but　she　did　not　have　time　to　answer　Silas，as　just　then　there　was　a　knock　on　the　door．When　she　opened　it，Mr　and　Mrs　Godfrey　Cass　came　in．

Good　evening，my　dear，'said　Nancy，taking　Eppie's　hand　gently．‘We're　sorry　to　come　so　late．　’

‘Well，Marner，'said　Godfrey，as　he　and　Nancy　sat　down，‘I'm　glad　you've　got　your　money　back，and　I'm　very　sorry　it　was　one　of　my　family　who　stole　it　from　you．　Whatever　I　can　do　for　you，I　will，to　repay　what　I　owe　you—and　I　owe　you　a　lot，　Marner．'silas　was　always　uncomfortable　with　important　people　like　the　young　Squire．‘You　don't　owe　me　anything，sir．You've　already　been　very　kind　to　me。　And　that　money　on　the　table　is　more　than　most　working　people　can　save　in　their　whole　life．Eppie　and　I　don't　need　very　much．’

Godfrey　was　impatient　to　explain　why　they　had　come．‘Yes，you've　done　well　these　last　sixteen　years，Marner，taking　care　of　Eppie　here．She　looks　pretty　and　healthy，but　not　very　strong。　Don't　you　think　she　should　be　a　lady，not　a　working　woman？Now　Mrs　Cass　and　I，you　know；have　no　children，and　we'd　like　to　adopt　a　daughter　to　live　with　us　in　our　beauti…ful　home　and　enjoy　all　the　good　things　we're　used　to．In　fact，we'd　like　to　have　Eppie．I'm　sure　you'd　be　glad　to　see　her　be－come　a　lady，and　of　course　we'd　make　sure　you　have　every　thing　you　need。　And　Eppie　will　come　to　s