Silas Marner

That evening, Silas and Eppie sit in their home. Since the discovery of the skeleton, Silas has asked Dolly and Aaron to give him some time alone with his daughter to reflect. He thinks about the return of his “old long-loved gold,” which makes him think about how much his life has changed since then (184). He has worried that Eppie might turn into his missing gold; he values her far more now than he ever valued his gold. Eppie thanks Silas for taking her in. If he did not, then she would have been forced into a workhouse. Godfrey and Nancy arrive at the house. Godfrey speaks in a clandestine manner about the debts he owes to Silas. Though the recovered gold is not enough to allow Silas to retire, Silas is content that he has more than most people. Godfrey points to Eppie, suggesting that she was not born to work and that Silas’s money will not be enough to support her. Silas is uneasy when Godfrey suggests that Eppie might be better served by living in a home like his own. Godfrey makes his offer to adopt Eppie as his daughter.