Summary: Chapter 16
The action resumes sixteen years later, as the Raveloe
congregation files out of church after a Sunday service. Godfrey
has married Nancy, and though they have aged well, they no longer
look young. Squire Cass has died, but his inheritance was divided
after his death, and Godfrey did not inherit the title of Squire.
Silas Marner is also in the departing congregation. His eyes have
a more focused look than they did before, but otherwise he looks
quite old for a man of fifty-five. Eppie, eighteen and quite pretty,
walks beside Silas, while Aaron Winthrop follows them eagerly. Eppie
tells Silas that she wants a garden, and Aaron offers to dig it
for them. They decide that Aaron should come to their cottage to
mark it out that afternoon, and that he should bring his mother,
Dolly.
Silas and Eppie return to the cottage, which has changed
greatly since we last saw it. There are now pets: a dog, a cat,
and a kitten. The cottage now has another room and is decorated
with oak furniture, courtesy of Godfrey. We learn that the townspeople
always note Godfrey’s kindness toward Silas and Eppie with approval
and that they now regard Silas as an “exceptional person.” Mr. Macey even
claims that Silas’s good deed of adopting Eppie will bring back the
stolen gold someday. Having returned home, Silas and Eppie eat dinner.
Silas watches Eppie play with the pets as she eats.
After dinner, Silas and Eppie go outside so that Silas
can smoke his pipe. The pipe is a habit that Silas’s neighbors have
suggested as a possible remedy for his cataleptic fits. Though Silas
finds tobacco disagreeable, he continues with the practice, going
along with his neighbors’ advice. Silas’s adoption of Raveloe customs
such as smoking, the narrator tells us, is matched by a growing
acknowledgement of his own past. Silas has gradually been telling
Dolly Winthrop the story of his previous life in Lantern Yard. Dolly
is intrigued and puzzled by the customs he describes. They both
try to make sense of the practice of drawing lots to mete out justice,
and attempt to understand how Silas could have been falsely convicted by
this method.
We learn that Silas has also discussed his past with
Eppie. He has informed her that he is not her father and has told
her how she came to him at her mother’s death. She is not unduly
troubled by the story and does not wonder about her father, as she
considers Silas a better father than any other in Raveloe. She is,
however, eager to know things about her mother, and repeatedly asks
Silas to describe what little he knows of her. Silas has given Eppie
her mother’s wedding ring, which she often gets out to look at.
As the two come out of the cottage for Silas’s smoke,
Silas mentions that the garden will need a wall to keep the animals
out. Eppie suggests building a wall out of stones, so she goes to
the stone-pit, where she notices that the water level has dropped.
Silas tells her that the pit is being drained in order to water
neighboring fields. Eppie tries to carry a stone, but it is heavy
and she lets it drop. Sitting down with Silas, Eppie tells him that
Aaron Winthrop has spoken of marrying her. Silas conceals his sadness
at this news. Eppie adds that Aaron has offered Silas a place to
live in their household if they are married. Eppie says she is reluctant,
as she does not want her life to change at all, but Silas tells
her that she will eventually need someone younger than he to take
care of her. Silas suggests that they speak to Dolly, who is Eppie’s
godmother, about the matter.
Summary: Chapter 17
Meanwhile, the Red House has likewise gained a much more domestic
feel than it had during the Squire’s “wifeless reign.” Nancy invites
Priscilla and their father to stay at the Red House for tea, but Priscilla
declines, saying she has work to do at home. Priscilla has taken
over management of the Lammeter farm from her aging father. Before
Priscilla leaves, she and Nancy take a walk around the garden. Nancy
mentions that Godfrey is not contented with their domestic life.
This angers Priscilla, but Nancy rushes to defend Godfrey, saying
it is only natural that he should be disappointed at not having
any children.
