But your ways are different: my country was a good
way off.' He paused a few moments, and then added, more decidedly,
'But I want to do everything as can be done for the child. And
whatever's right for it i' this country, and you think 'ull do it
good, I'll act according, if you'll tell me.'
'Well, then, Master Marner,' said Dolly, inwardly rejoiced, 'I'll
ask Mr Macey to speak to the parson about it; and you must fix on a
name for it, because it must have a name giv' it when it's
christened.'
'My mother's name was Hephzibah,' said Silas, 'and my little sister
was named after her.'
'Eh, that's a hard name,' said Dolly. 'I partly think it isn't a
christened name.'
'It's a Bible name,' said Silas, old ideas recurring.
'Then I've no call to speak again' it,' said Dolly, rather startled
by Silas's knowledge on this head; 'but you see I'm no scholard, and
I'm slow at catching the words. My husband says I'm allays like as
if I was putting the haft for the handle- that's what he says- for
he's very sharp, God help him. But it was awk'ard calling your
little sister by such a hard name, when you'd got nothing big to
say, like- wasn't it, Master Marner?'
'We called her Eppie,' said Silas.
'Well, if it was noways wrong to shorten the name, it 'ud be a deal
handier. And so I'll go now, Master Marner, and I'll speak about the
christening afore dark; and I wish you the best o' luck, and it's my
belief as it'll come to you, if you do what's right by the orphin
child;- and there's the 'noculation to be seen to; and as to washing
its bits o' things, you need look to nobody but me, for I can do 'em
wi' one hand when I've got my suds about.
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