There's perhaps
something to be given up on more sides than one. When your father
opens his home to you, I think it's right you shouldn't turn your back
on it.'
'I can't feel as I've got any father but one,' said Eppie,
impetuously, while the tears gathered. 'I've always thought of a
little home where he'd sit i' the corner, and I should fend and do
everything for him: I can't think o' no other home. I wasn't brought
up to be a lady, and I can't turn my mind to it. I like the working
folks, and their houses, and their ways. And,' she ended passionately,
while the tears fell, 'I'm promised to marry a working man, as'll live
with father, and help me to take care of him.'
Godfrey looked up at Nancy with a flushed face and a smarting
dilation of the eyes. This frustration of a purpose towards which he
had set out under the exalted consciousness that he was about to
compensate in some degree for the greatest demerit of his life, made
him feel the air of the room stifling.
'Let us go,' he said, in an undertone.
'We won't talk of this any longer now,' said Nancy, rising.
'We're your well-wishers, my dear- and yours too, Marner. We shall
come and see you again. It's getting late now.'
In this way she covered her husband's abrupt departure, for Godfrey
had gone straight to the door, unable to say more.
CHAPTER TWENTY
NANCY and Godfrey walked home under the starlight in silence.
Pages:
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261