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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！ ’
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