'
'Oh, I'm stronger than you think, daddy,' said Eppie; 'and if there
wasn't stones enough to go all round, why they'll go part o' the
way, and then it'll be easier to get sticks and things for the rest.
See here, round the big pit, what a many stones!'
She skipped forward to the pit, meaning to lift one of the stones
and exhibit her strength, but she started back in surprise.
'Oh, father, just come and look here,' she exclaimed- 'come and see
how the water's gone down since yesterday. Why, yesterday the pit
was ever so full!'
'Well, to be sure,' said Silas, coming to her side. 'Why, that's
the draining they've begun on, since harvest, i' Mr Osgood's fields, I
reckon. The foreman said to me the other day, when I passed by 'em,
"Master Marner," he said, "I shouldn't wonder if we lay your bit o'
waste as dry as a bone." It was Mr Godfrey Cass, he said, had gone
into the draining: he'd been taking these fields o' Mr Osgood.'
'How odd it'll seem to have the old pit dried up,' said Eppie,
turning away, and stooping to lift rather a large stone. 'See,
daddy, I can carry this quite well,' she said, going along with much
energy for a few steps, but presently letting it fall.
'Ah, you're fine and strong, arn't you?' said Silas, while Eppie
shook her aching arms and laughed. 'Come, come, let us go and sit down
on the bank against the stile there, and have no more lifting.
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