# ■ 10 Eppie has to decide

That evening Silas was resting in his chair near the fire，after the excitement of the day．Eppie was sitting close to him，holding both his hands，and on the table was Silas's lost gold．He had put the coins in piles，as he used to．

You see，that's all I ever did in the long evenings before you came to me，'he was telling Eppie，'just count my gold．I was only half alive in those days．What a good thing the money was taken away from me！I was killing myself with working all day，and counting money half the night．It wasn't a healthy life．And when you came，with your yellow curls，I thought you were the gold，And then，when I began to love you，I didn't want my gold any more．'He stopped talking for a moment and looked at the money．'The gold doesn't mean anything to me now．But perhaps，if I ever lost you，Eppie，if you ever went away from me，I'd need my gold again．I'd feel lonely then，and I'd think God had forgotten me，and perhaps I'd go back to my bad old habits．'there were tears in Eppie's beautiful eyes，but she did not have time to answer Silas，as just then there was a knock on the door．When she opened it，Mr and Mrs Godfrey Cass came in．

Good evening，my dear，'said Nancy，taking Eppie's hand gently．'We're sorry to come so late． '

Well，Marner，'said Godfrey，as he and Nancy sat down，'I'm glad you've got your money back，and I'm very sorry it was one of my family who stole it from you． Whatever I can do for you，I will，to repay what I owe you—and I owe you a lot， Marner．'silas was always uncomfortable with important people like the young Squire．'You don't owe me anything，sir．You've already been very kind to me. And that money on the table is more than most working people can save in their whole life．Eppie and I don't need very much．'

Godfrey was impatient to explain why they had come．'Yes，you've done well these last sixteen years，Marner，taking care of Eppie here．She looks pretty and healthy，but not very strong. Don't you think she should be a lady，not a working woman？Now Mrs Cass and I，you know；have no children，and we'd like to adopt a daughter to live with us in our beauti-ful home and enjoy all the good things we're used to．In fact，we'd like to have Eppie．I'm sure you'd be glad to see her be－come a lady，and of course we'd make sure you have every thing you need. And Eppie will come to see you very often，I expect．'

Godfrey did not find it easy to say what he felt，and as a re－sult his words were not chosen sensitively．Silas was hurt，and afraid．His whole body trembled as he said quietly to Eppie af－ter a moment，'I won't stand in your way，my child．Thank Mr and Mrs Cass．It's very kind of them．'

Eppie stepped forward She was blushing，but held her head high．'Thank you，sir and madam．But I can't leave my father．And I don't want to be a lady， thank you．'she went back to Silas's chair，and put an arm round his neck，brushing the tears from her eyes．

Godfrey was extremely annoyed He wanted to do what he thought was his duty．And adopting Eppie would make him feel much less guilty about his past But，Eppie，you must agree，'he cried．'You are my daughter！Marner，Eppie's my own child Her mother was my wife.

Eppie's face went white． Silas，who had been relieved by hearing Eppie's answer to Godfrey，now felt angry．'Then，sir，'he answered bitterly，'why didn't you confess this sixteen years ago，before I began to love her？Why do you come to take her away now，when it's like taking the heart out of my body？God gave her to me because you turned your back on her！ And He considers her mine！'

I know I was wrong，and I'm sorry，'said Godfrey．'But be sensible， Marner！She'll be very near you and will often come to see you．She'll feel just the same towards you．

Just the same？'said Silas more bitterly than ever．'How can she feel the same？We're used to spending all our time to-gether！We need each other！

Godfrey thought the weaver was being very selfish．'I think，Marner，'he said firmly，'that you should consider what's best for Eppie．You shouldn't stand in her way，when she could have a better life．I'm sorry，but I think it's my duty to take care of my own daughter．'

Silas was silent for a moment．He was worried that perhaps Godfrey was right，and that it was selfish of him to keep Eppie．At last he made himself bring out the difficult words．'All right．I'll say no more．Speak to the child．I won't pre－vent her from going．'

Godfrey and Nancy were relieved to hear this，and thought that Eppie would now agree．'Eppie，my dear，'said Godfrey，'althought I haven't been a good father to you so far，I want to do my best for you now．And my wife will be the best of mothers to you．'

I've always wanted a daughter，my dear，'added Nancy in her gentle voice．

But Eppie did not come forward this time．She stood by Silas's side，holding his hand in hers，and spoke almost coldly．'Thank you，sir and madam， for your kind offer．But I wouldn't be happy if I left father．He'd have nobody if I weren't here．Nobody shall ever come between him and me！''But you must make sure，Eppie，'said Silas worriedly，' that you won't be sorry，if you decide to stay with poor people．You could have a much better life at the Red House．''I'll never be sorry，father，'said Eppie firmly．'I don't want to be rich，if I can't live with the people I know and love．'

Nancy thought she could help to persuade Eppie．'What you say is natural，my dear child，'she said kindly．'But there's a duty you owe to your lawful father．If he opens his home to you，you shouldn't turn your back on him．'

But I can't think of any home except this one！'cried Eppie，tears running down her face．'l've only ever known one father！And I've promised to marry a working man，who'll live with us，and help me take care of father！

Godfrey looked at Nancy Let's go，'he said to her bitterly，in a low voice．

We won't talk of this any more，'said Nancy，getting up．We just want the best for you，Eppie my dear，and you too，Marner．Good night．'

Nancy and Godfrey left the cottage and walked home in the moonlight．When they reached home，Godfrey dropped into a chair．Nancy stood near him，waiting for him to speak．After a few moments he looked up at her，and took her hand．

That's ended！'he said sadly．

She kissed him and then said，'Yes，I'm afraid we can't hope to adopt her，if she doesn't want to come to us．

No，'said Godfrey，'it's too late now．I made mistakes in the past，and I can't put them right．I wanted to be childless once，Nancy，and now I'll always be childless．'

He thought for a moment，and then spoke in a softer voice．'But I got yon，Nancy，and yet I've been wanting something different all the time Perhaps from now on I'll be able to ac－cept our life better，and we'll be happier．'The following spring，there was a wedding in Raveloe．The sun shone warmly as Eppie walked through the village towards the church，with Silas，Aaron and Dolly．Eppie was wearing the beautiful white wedding dress she had always dreamed of，which Nancy Cass had bought for her．She was walking arm in arm with her father，Silas．

I promise nothing will change when I'm married，father，'she whispered to him as they entered the church．'You know I'll never leave you．

There was quite a crowd of villagers outside the church to see the wedding．Just then Miss Priscilla Lammeter and her fa－ther drove into the village．

Look，father！'cried Priscilla．'How lucky！We're in time to see the weaver's daughter getting married！Doesn't she look lovely？I'm sorry Nancy couldn't find a pretty little or－phan girl like that to take care of．

Yes，my dear，'agreed Mr Lammeter．'Now that we're all getting older，it would be good to have a young one in the fam－ily．Unfortunately，it's too late now．

They went into the Red House，where Nancy was waiting for them．They had come to spend the day with her，because Godfrey was away on business and she would perhaps be lonely without him．The Casses were not going to Eppie's wedding．

When the little wedding group came out of the church，the villagers and Silas's family all went to the Rainbow．There a wonderful wedding lunch was waiting for them，which had been ordered and paid for by Godfrey Cass．

It's very generous of the young Squire to pay for all this，'said the landlord as he refilled the beer glasses． 'Well，what would you expect？'replied old Mr Macey sharply．'Remember，it was his own brother who stole the weaver's gold！And Mr Godfrey has always helped Master Marner，with furniture and clothes and so on，since young Ep-pie came to the cottage．Well，it's only right to help a man like Master Marner．And I'd like you all to remember—I was the first to tell you I thought Master Marner was harmless—and I was right！Now let's drink to the health of the happy young couple！'And the villagers lifted their glasses and cried，' To Eppie and Aaron！'

When the meal was over and the guests had begun to return to their homes，Silas，Eppie and her new husband walked slow-ly back to their cottage by the quarry．It had been enlarged by Godfrey Cass's workmen，and was looking lovely in the late af－ternoon sunshine．

Oh father，'said Eppie．'What a pretty home ours is！I think nobody could be happier than we are！ '

■ 10 埃比需要做出選擇

晚上，一天的忙碌過後，西拉斯坐在爐火旁的椅子上休息，埃比拉著他的手坐在他旁邊，西拉斯丟的金子放在桌子上。他像從前一樣把金幣碼成一摞一摞的。

“你看，你來之前，我每天晚上就是這樣做的，”他給埃比講，“只是數我的金子。那時我只有半條生命。金子被偷走對我來說真是件好事！那時我在用整天工作，整晚上數錢的方法自殺。那是不健康的生活。你來的時候，因為你的金黃的頭髮，我把你當成了金子。後來，當我開始愛你，我就不再想什麼金子了。”他停了一會兒，看著金子，“現在金子對我毫無意義了，可是一旦失去你，埃比，或是你離我而去，我會重新需要金子。那時我會感到孤獨，我會覺得自己被上帝拋棄了，可能我會回到以前的樣子。”

埃比美麗的眼睛裡充滿了淚水，可她還沒來得及回答西拉斯就響起了敲門聲。她打開門，戈弗雷·凱斯先生和太太進到屋裡來。

“晚上好，親愛的，”南茜輕輕拉著埃比的手，“抱歉我們這麼晚來。”

“你好，馬南，”戈弗雷一邊說，一邊和南茜坐下來，“恭喜你找回你的錢。我很慚愧是我們家裡的人偷了你的錢。我會盡一切力量去補償你，馬南，我欠你太多了。”

西拉斯一向不擅於和像年輕的鄉紳這樣重要的人物相處。“你不欠我什麼，先生，你一直對我很好，桌上的錢已經比好多人一輩子攢的錢都多了，我和埃比並不需要很多東西。”

戈弗雷急著向西拉斯解釋今天的來意。“是的，馬南，你這16年來對埃比照顧得非常好，她又漂亮又健康，只是不太強壯。你難道不覺得她應該成為一個淑女而不是個整天干活的人嗎？你知道凱斯太太和我沒有孩子，我們想收養個女兒，讓她和我們生活在一起，住漂亮的房子，享受所有的好東西。實際上我們想收養埃比，我想你會樂意看到埃比成為一位淑女，而且我保證給你你想要的一切，而且我想埃比也會經常回來看你的。”

戈弗雷一時不知用什麼詞語才能表達自己的感受，結果他用詞很不慎重。西拉斯既氣憤又害怕，過了一會兒，他全身顫抖著對埃比輕聲說：“我不會擋你的路，我的孩子。謝謝凱斯先生和太太，他們的心地很好。”

埃比走上前。她的臉很紅，可還是努力高昂著頭。“謝謝你們，先生、太太，可我不能離開我的爸爸，而且我也不想做什麼淑女。謝謝你們。”她說完走回到西拉斯的椅子旁，一隻胳膊摟著西拉斯的脖子，拂去眼裡的淚水。

戈弗雷被徹底搞煩了，他想履行他心目中自己的責任，而且收養埃比會減輕一些他對過去的負罪感。“可你必須同意，埃比，”他嚷了起來，“你是我的女兒！馬南，她是我的孩子，她媽媽是我的妻子。”

埃比的臉變得慘白，剛剛為埃比的回答感到欣慰的西拉斯此時憤怒了。“那麼先生，”他痛苦地說，“那你為什麼不在16年前，我還沒有開始愛她的時候承認？為什麼你現在來把她帶走，像挖走我的心一樣？上帝把她給了我，因為你不要她！上帝認為她是我的！”

“我知道我錯了，我很抱歉，”戈弗雷說，“可你理智點兒，馬南，她會離你很近而且會常來看你，她對你的感情也會和以前一樣。”

“一樣？”西拉斯更痛苦了，“怎麼會和以前一樣？我們所有的時間都在一起，習慣了！我們不能分開！”

戈弗雷認為織布匠太自私了。“我認為，馬南，”他堅決地說，“你得想想怎麼樣對埃比最好。你不應該妨礙她去過更好的生活。我很抱歉，可我想照顧我自己的女兒是我的責任。”

西拉斯沉默了一會兒，他也擔心或許戈弗雷是對的，自己留下埃比是不是太自私了。終於他艱難地說：“好吧，我不再說了，你對孩子說吧。她要走，我不會攔著。”

聽到這些，戈弗雷和南茜舒了一口氣，他們想這回埃比該同意了。“親愛的埃比，”戈弗雷說，“我雖然以前沒有做個好父親，可我今後會盡所有努力對你好，我的妻子也會成為你最好的母親。”

“我一直想要一個女兒，親愛的。”南茜輕聲說。

這回埃比沒有走上前。她站在西拉斯的旁邊，拉著他的手，冷冷地說：“謝謝你們的好意，先生太太，可我離開爸爸就不會再感到幸福。我不在這兒，他就誰也沒有了。沒有人能把我們分開。”

“但你必須肯定，埃比，”西拉斯擔心地說，“你留下和窮人在一起不會後悔。到紅屋你會過得好得多。”

“我永遠也不後悔，爸爸，”埃比堅決地說，“如果不能和我瞭解的、我愛的人在一起，我不會渴望富有。”

南茜想自己應當幫著勸勸埃比。“你說的很自然，我的孩子。”她慈愛地說，“可你對你的生父也有義務。他把家門為你打開，你不該不理睬他。”

“可我除這兒之外沒有別的家。”埃比淚流滿面，“我只知道一個爸爸，而且我已經決定要嫁給一個普通人，他會和我們生活在一起，和我一起照料爸爸。”

戈弗雷看著南茜。“我們走吧！”他低聲說，聲音很苦澀。

“我們不會再提這件事，”南茜站起身，“我們只希望你們好，親愛的埃比，還有你，馬南。晚安！”

南茜和戈弗雷離開小屋，踏著月色回到家。一進家門，戈弗雷就跌坐在椅子裡，南茜站在他旁邊，等著他開口，過了一會兒，他抬起頭，拉著她的手。

“全完了！”他傷心地說。

她吻了吻他，然後說：“是的，我想她不想和我們走，我們就不可能收養她了。”

“現在太晚了，”戈弗雷說，“我過去做了錯事，現在已經不可能彌補了，我曾希望沒有孩子，南茜，但現在，我將永遠沒有孩子了。”

想了一會兒，戈弗雷用更輕柔的聲音說：“可我得到了你，南茜，但我總想要更新鮮的東西。也許從現在起，我更能夠接受我們的生活，我們會更快活。”

第二年春天，一個婚禮在瑞福洛舉行。與西拉斯、阿榮和多莉一起，埃比在暖融融的陽光裡穿過村子走向教堂。埃比穿著南茜·凱斯為她買來的、她一直夢想能穿的美麗潔白的婚紗，她的爸爸西拉斯挽著她的胳膊。

“我保證結婚後什麼都不會變，爸爸，”進教堂時她對西拉斯耳語，“我永遠不會離開你。”

教堂外面很多人來參加婚禮，這時拉默特先生和普麗西拉正乘車走進村子。

“看，父親！”普麗西拉叫著，“多幸運！我們正趕上織布匠女兒的婚禮！她真可愛！可惜南茜沒有收養到一個這樣可愛的小孤女。”

“是的，親愛的。”拉默特應和道，“我們都老了，家裡是應該有個小傢伙。可惜現在太晚了。”

到紅屋時，南茜正在等他們。他們來就是為了陪她。因為戈弗雷外出辦事了，南茜也許會很寂寞。凱斯家的人沒有參加埃比的婚禮。

儀式進行完，西拉斯一家人和村民們都從教堂出來走進了小酒館。戈弗雷·凱斯在這裡為他們訂下了一桌豐盛的酒席。

“鄉紳真大方，花錢辦這酒席。”酒館主人邊添啤酒邊說。

“你以為呢？”麥西先生尖刻地說，“記住，是他弟弟偷了人家織布匠的金子！而且自從埃比到了小屋，戈弗雷先生經常幫助馬南師傅，給他衣服、傢俱什麼的。幫助一個像馬南師傅這樣的人是對的。我想你們都應當記得是我最先說馬南師傅不是壞人的——我是對的！現在讓我們為新人的健康乾杯！”村民們都舉起杯喊：“為埃比和阿榮乾杯！”

當酒席結束，客人們已開始回家的時候，西拉斯與埃比和她的新婚丈夫一起慢慢走回他們在採石場邊上的小屋，小屋已經被戈弗雷·凱斯的工人們擴大了，在下午的陽光下顯得格外可愛。

“哦，爸爸，”埃比說，“我們的家多麼可愛呀！我想我們是世界上最幸福的人！”