Silas gave an almost imperceptible start, though the question fell in with the under-current of thought in his own mind, and then said, in a subdued tone, 'Why, Eppie, have you been a-thinking on it?'
'Only this last week, father,' said Eppie, ingenuously, 'since Aaron talked to me about it.'
'And what did he say?' said Silas, still in the same subdued way, as if he were anxious lest he should fall into the slightest tone that was not for Eppie's good.
'He said he should like to be married, because he was a-going in four-and-twenty, and had got a deal of gardening work, now Mr. Mott's given up; and he goes twice a-week regular to Mr. Cass's, and once to Mr. Osgood's, and they're going to take him on at the Rectory.'
'And who is it as he's wanting to marry?' said Silas, with rather a sad smile.
'Why, me, to be sure, daddy,' said Eppie, with dimpling laughter, kissing her father's cheek; 'as if he'd want to marry anybody else!'
'And you mean to have him, do you?' said Silas.
'Yes, some time,' said Eppie, 'I don't know when. Everybody's married some time, Aaron says. But I told him that wasn't true: for, I said, look at father—he's never been married.'
'No, child,' said Silas, 'your father was a lone man till you was sent to him.'
'But you'll never be lone again, father,' said Eppie, tenderly. 'That was what Aaron said—"I could never think o' taking you away from
