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Meanwhile Godfrey worries that when his
brother will return and the secret about his marriage to an alcoholic will
be revealed. However he goes to the Red House to attend the dance because
Nancy Lammater is going to be present. While the dance is going on ,
Godfrey sees Silas enter carrying his child and walking towards his
father, squire Crass. Godfrey also walks up to him to sees what is
happening. The Squire angrily questions Silas, asking why he has come. He says he is
looking for the doctor, since he has found a woman, apparently dead, lying
near his door. They suggest leaving the child at the Red House, but Silas
refuses, claiming it as his own. The doctor and Godfrey head out, picking up Dolly along the way. When they
arrive at the house, the doctor declares that the woman has been dead for
hours. Godfrey sees her and realizes that indeed she is his wife. He
suggests that Silas take the child to the parish who will look after her.
Silas replies that he wants to keep her, since he has nothing else since
his gold is gone. Godfrey gives Silas a coin to buy clothes for the little
girl, and then tells the doctor that he has never seen the woman before.
He heads back to the Red House happy and relieved, thinking of how he can
court Nancy properly now. He decides that Silas will be at least as good a
caretaker to the child as her own real father.
The villagers are surprised by Silas'
desire to keep the child, and once again they become more sympathetic
towards him. Dolly is particularly helpful, offering him old clothing from
her own children and helping to bathe and care for her. Silas wishes to
learn to do everything for himself, so that the little girl will be
attached to him from the start. He is amazed by her arrival and thinks
that his gold must have turned into the child. Dolly persuades Silas to
have the child christened, and tells him to come up with a name for her.
He suggests Hephzibah, the name of his mother and sister, but she tells
him it is awfully long. He tells her that his little sister was called
"Eppie" for short. Eppie and Silas are baptized together, and Silas finds that the child
brings him closer to the other villagers. He still compares her to his
gold, but finds her many times more precious and interesting than the
money. He sees Raveloe as an environment that can provide Eppie with
advantages and opportunities instead of as a dull and unknown village full
of strangers. The local people see how lovingly he takes care of the child
and grow to love him and are no longer afraid of him. He no longer hoards
his money, having lost the sense of pleasure he once felt at counting and
touching his savings. Godfrey does not pay undue attention to Eppie, but he does keep a distant
eye on her. Dunstan has not returned, and he remains full of relief and
enjoyment at the prospect of marrying Nancy. He begins to spend more time
at her home, and people say that he has changed for the better. He decides
that his daughter will always be well-cared for, even though she is in the
hands of the poor weaver.
Sixteen years later, Godfrey has married Nancy, and
the two have not changed much in appearance. Silas Marner, being older has
become more frail. Eppie, now eighteen, walks beside him, with Dolly's son
Aaron following eagerly behind. Eppie says that she wants a garden, and
Aaron offers to dig it for them. They decide that Aaron should come to
their cottage with his mother, Dolly. Eppie has the particular glow of someone loved completely. She looks upon
Silas as her father although she knows he is not related to her
biologically. She has heard the story of how her mother died in the snow,
and received the wedding ring left on her mother's finger, but does not
wonder about her real father's identity.
Silas decides that their new garden needs a wall to keep the animals out,
so Eppie suggests building one out of stones. She goes to the stone-pit to
gather rocks and notices that the water has been drained from it. She
tries to carry a stone but lets it drop, and instead sits down with her
father to talk about marriage, and how Aaron has spoken of marrying her.
Silas tells her that he thinks it is not a bad idea, but that they should
speak to Dolly about it.
Meanwhile, Godfrey leaves a discussion with his wife and her family to
take his customary walk around the fields. Nancy stays home to contemplate
her marriage, as she usually does. She considers her lack of children, and
how it must bother her husband. Their one child died as an infant, leaving
Godfrey without an heir. Nancy thought of adopting but decided that
adopted children always turn out poorly, despite Godfrey's argument that
Eppie has turned out well. Godfrey even suggested adopting Eppie when she
was about twelve, never realizing that Silas would not part with her under
any circumstances. Godfrey returns from his walk, trembling, and tells Nancy to sit down. He
tells her that they found the skeleton of his brother Dunstan in the
stone-pit, now drained, and that it has been there for sixteen years. He
apparently fell in, holding Silas Marner's money, which was laying beside
him. Godfrey shocks his wife with this news, but then adds his own
confession, telling her that Eppie's mother was his wife. She chastises
him for not telling her six years ago, when they could have adopted the
girl. She tells him that if they had taken Eppie when she was a child,
they could have raised her as their own child. They resolve to do their
duty now, and visit Silas Marner's cottage that evening.
Eppie and Silas sit alone in their cottage later that evening. Silas
desired solitude with his daughter after the excitement of the afternoon,
and now sits reconsidering the events that have passed since he lost his
money. He tells her how at first he thought she might be turned back into
the gold, but later grew fearful of that same thought, because he loved
her more than the money. He tells her how much he loves her, and she says
that if not for him she would have been sent to the workhouse.
Someone knocks at the door, and Eppie greets Godfrey and Nancy Cass.
Godfrey tells Silas Marner that he wants to make up for what his brother
did, but also for another debt owed to the weaver. Godfrey tells him that
the money is not enough for him to live on without working, but Silas
argues that it is more than other working people have, though it might
seem like very little to a gentleman. Godfrey adds that Eppie does not
look like she was born for a rustic life, and that she would do better
living in a place like his home. Silas becomes uneasy.
Godfrey explains that since they have no children, they would like Eppie
to come live with them as their daughter. He argues that Silas should like
to see her in such a good position, and that he would be provided for
himself. Eppie sees that her father is distressed, though Silas tells her
to do as she chooses. She tells Godfrey and Nancy that she would not like
to leave him and that she is too used to her life to become a lady.
Godfrey confesses that he is her father, saying that he has a claim on
her.
Silas says that he should have claimed her when she was a baby, instead of
waiting until she was already his adopted daughter. He says that
even a small separation would be too much for them, since they share
everything in their home. Godfrey tells him that he is standing in the way
of her welfare, and Silas says that he will not argue anymore, leaving it
up to Eppie. Eppie says that she would rather stay with Silas. Nancy tells
her that it is her duty to go to her real father's house, but they leave,
saying they will return another day.
Godfrey and Nancy return home, disappointed but
reconciled to the results of their discussion. They surmise that Eppie
will marry Aaron, and decide that she is a very pleasant and attractive
young woman. The next morning Silas tells Eppie that he wants to make a
trip to his old home, Lantern Yard. They walk to the old manufacturing
town where Silas was born, and walk through it looking for the old chapel.
It is nowhere in sight, and the area is so changed that Silas hardly
recognizes it. He decides that Raveloe is his only home now, and tells
Dolly that the truth will never be known about the robbery of which he was
accused. He also says that he does not mind, since he has Eppie now. Eppie
and Aaron are married, and they stay at the stone-pits.
Click here for
part 1 of the summary of Silas Marner
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