Everywhere he must sit a little and talk about the child, and words of
interest were always ready for him: 'Ah, Master Marner, you'll be
lucky if she takes the measles soon and easy!'- or, 'Why, there
isn't many lone men 'ud ha' been wishing to take up with a little un
like that: but I reckon the weaving makes you handier than men as do
out-door work- you're partly as handy as a woman, for weaving comes
next to spinning.' Elderly masters and mistresses, seated
observantly in large kitchen arm-chairs, shook their heads over the
difficulties attendant on rearing children, felt Eppie's round arms
and legs, and pronounced them remarkably firm, and told Silas that, if
she turned out well (which, however, there was no telling), it would
be a fine thing for him to have a steady lass to do for him when he
got helpless. Servant maidens were fond of carrying her out to look at
the hens and chickens, or to see if any cherries could be shaken
down in the orchard; and the small boys and girls approached her
slowly, with cautious movement and steady gaze, like little dogs
face to face with one of their own kind, till attraction had reached
the point at which the soft lips were put out for a kiss. No child was
afraid of approaching Silas when Eppie was near him: there was no
repulsion around him now, either for young or old; for the little
child had come to link him once more with the whole world.
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