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behind her who is thinking about her very particularly； and
mustering courage to come to her side as soon as they are out in
the lane； else why should she look rather shy； and take care not to
turn away her head from her father Silas； to whom she keeps
murmuring little sentences as to who was at church and who was
not at church； and how pretty the red…mountain…ash is over the
Rectory wall。
“I wish we had a little garden； father； with double daisies in；
like Mrs。 Winthrop’s；” said Eppie； when they were out in the lane；
“only they say it ’ud take a deal of digging and bringing fresh
soil—and you couldn’t do that； could you； father？ Anyhow； I
shouldn’t like you to do it； for it ’ud be too hard work for you。”
“Yes； I could do it； child； if you want a bit o’ garden： these long
evenings； I could work at taking in a little bit o’ the waste； just
enough for a root or two o’ flowers for you； and again； i’ the
morning； I could have a turn wi’ the spade before I sat down to the
loom。 Why didn’t you tell me before as you wanted a bit o’
garden？”
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“I can dig it for you； Master Marner；” said the young man in
fustian； who was now by Eppie’s side； entering into the
conversation without the trouble of formalities。 “It’ll be play to me
after I’ve done my day’s work； or any odd bits o’ time when the
work’s slack。 And I’ll bring you some soil from Mr。 Cass’s garden—
he’ll let me； and willing。”
“Eh； Aaron； my lad； are you there？” said Silas； “I wasn’t aware
of you； for when Eppie’s talking o’ things I see nothing but what
she’s a…saying。 Well； if you could help me with the digging； we
might get her a bit o’ garden all the sooner。”
“Then； if you think well and good；” said Aaron； “I’ll come to the
Stone…pits this afternoon； and we’ll settle what land’s to be taken
in； and I’ll get up an hour earlier i’ the morning； and begin on it。”
“But not if you don’t promise me not to work at the hard
digging； father；” said Eppie。 “For I shouldn’t ha’ said anything
about it；” she added； half…bashfully； half…roguishly； “only Mrs。
Winthrop said as Aaron ’ud be so good； and—” “And you might ha’
known it without mother telling you；” said Aaron。 “And Master
Marner knows too； I hope； as I’m able and willing to do a turn o’
work for him； and he won’t do me the unkindness to anyways take
it out o’ my hands。”
“There； now； father； you won’t work in it till it’s all easy；” said
Eppie； “and you and me can mark out the beds； and make holes
and plant the roots。 It’ll be a deal livelier at the Stone…pits when
we’ve got some flowers； for I always think the flowers can see us
and know what we’re talking about。 And I’ll have a bit o’ rosemary
and bergamot and thyme； because they’re so sweet…smelling； but
there’s no lavender only in the gentlefolks’ gardens； I think。”
“That’s no reason why you shouldn’t have some；” said Aaron；
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Silas Marner 186
“for I can bring you slips of anything； I’m forced to cut no end of
’em when I’m gardening； and throw ’em away mostly。 There’s a
big bed o’ lavender at the Red House： the missis is very fond of it。”
“Well；” said Silas； gravely； “so as you don’t make free for us； or
ask for anything as is worth much at the Red House： for Mr。 Cass’s
been so good to us； and built us up the new end o’ the cottage； and
given us beds and things； as I couldn’t abide to be imposin’ for
garden…stuff or anything else。”
“No； no； there’s no imposin’；” said Aaron； “there’s never a
garden in all the parish but what there’s endless waste in it for
want o’ somebody as could use everything up。 It’s what I think to
myself sometimes； as there need nobody run short o’ victuals if the
land was made the most on； and there was never a morsel but
what could find its way to a mouth。 It sets one thinking o’ that—
gardening does。 But I must go back now； else mother ’ull be in
trouble as I aren’t there。”
“Bring her with you this afternoon； Aaron；” said Eppie； “I
shouldn’t like to fix about the garden and her not know everything
from the first—should you； father？”
“Ay； bring her if you can； Aaron；” said Silas； “she’s sure to have
a word to say as’ll help us to set things on their right end。”
Aaron turned back up the village； while Silas and Eppie went
on up the lonely sheltered lane。
“Oh； daddy！” she began； when they were in privacy； clasping
and squeezing Silas’s arm； and skipping round to give him an
energetic kiss。 “My little old daddy！ I’m so glad。 I don’t think I
shall want anything else when we’ve got a little garden； and I
knew Aaron would dig it for us；” she went on with roguish
triumph—”I knew that very well。”
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“You’re a deep little puss； you are；” said Silas； with the mild
passive happiness of love…crowned age in his face； “but you’ll
make yourself fine and beholden to Aaron。”
“Oh no； I shan’t；” said Eppie； laughing and frisking； “he likes
it。”
“Come； come； let me carry your prayer…book； else you’ll be
dropping it； jumping i’ that way。”
Eppie was now aware that her behaviour was under
observation； but it was only the observation of a friendly donkey；
browsing with a log fastened to his foot—a meek donkey； not
scornfully critical of human trivialities； but thankful to share in
them； if possible； by getting his nose scratched； and Eppie did not
fail to gratify him with her usual notice； though it was attended
with the inconvenience of his following them； painfully； up to the
very door of their home。
But the sound of a sharp bark inside； as Eppie put the key in
the door； modified the donkey’s views； and he limped away again
without bidding。 The sharp bark was the sign of an excited
welcome that was awaiting them from a knowing brown terrier；
who； after dancing at their legs in a hysterical manner； rushed
with a worrying noise at a tortoise…shell kitten under the loom； and
then rushed back with a sharp bark again； as much as to say； “I
have done my duty by this feeble creature； you perceive”； while
the lady…mother of the kitten sat sunning her white bosom in the
window； and looked round with a sleepy air of expecting caress