Her
imagination had darted backward in conjectures, and forward in
previsions, of what this revealed fatherhood implied; and there were
words in Godfrey's last speech which helped to make the previsions
especially definite. Not that these thoughts, either of past or
future, determined her resolution- that was determined by the feelings
which vibrated to every word Silas had uttered; but they raised,
even apart from these feelings, a repulsion towards the offered lot
and the newly-revealed father.
Silas, on the other hand, was again stricken in conscience, and
alarmed lest Godfrey's accusation should be true- lest he should be
raising his own will as an obstacle to Eppie's good. For many
moments he was mute, struggling for the self-conquest necessary to the
uttering of the difficult words. They came out tremulously.
'I'll say no more. Let it be as you will. Speak to the child.
I'll hinder nothing.'
Even Nancy, with all the acute sensibility of her own affections,
shared her husband's view, that Marner was not justifiable in his wish
to retain Eppie, after her real father had avowed himself. She felt
that it was a very hard trial for the poor weaver, but her code
allowed no question that a father by blood must have a claim above
that of any foster-father. Besides, Nancy, used all her life to
plenteous circumstances and the privileges of 'respectability',
could not enter into the pleasures which early nurture and habit
connect with all the little aims and efforts of the poor who are
born poor: to her mind, Eppie, in being restored to her birthright,
was entering on a too long withheld but unquestionable good.
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