‘Eppie was a creature of endless claims and ever-growing desires, seeking and loving sunshine, and living sounds, and living movements:’
She had an influence on everyone, not just on Silas. She ‘stirred human kindness’ at everyone who knew her. She forced his thoughts onwards and not remaining at the same point. The gold was still driving him to work more and more to build up his stock but Eppie called him away and told him to pause and have a break, refreshing his memory and ‘reawakening his senses with her fresh life.’ She was filled with so much joy and passion that she warmed ‘him into joy because she had joy.’ She was caring at the tender age of a child and shared her love for flowers with her father. She brought to his attention the flowers which she picked.
She changed a lot for Silas. As her mind grew in knowledge, his mind grew in memory and as her life unfolded, his soul began to unfold from ‘the long stupefied in a cold narrow prison.’ This influence became stronger by year but by the time Eppie was three, she became slightly mischievous.
She was very witty as a child and once she saw the way something worked she would want to experiment it herself. In one case, she saw Silas cutting some linen and ‘she had a distinct intention as to the use of the scissors.’ She cut herself loose and in one moment she had gone. Her upbringing was good and she had no extra needs. She was very joyful and ‘laughed merrily.’
‘She knew nothing of frowns and denials’
Even though she was not part of the rich, she was very happy with what she had and not being rich did not bother her. She had everything she needed. Before, he used to repel children as they used to be afraid of him but now ‘no child was afraid of approaching Silas when Eppie was near him.’ She gained a lot of respect for Silas as people believe he did a good deed by taking in the child and bringing her up as a single parent. People realise that looking after a child is very difficult with two parents but for Silas it would be even harder.
‘The little child had come to link him once more with the whole world.’
Their love was so strong ‘that blent them into one.’ Eppie was an inspiration to the whole community who had love for everyone. Before Eppie’s arrival, ‘he had stood aloof as from a strange thing, with which he could have no communion.’
However, there was extra interest on the upbringing of Eppie under Silas from Godfrey. He gave gifts which people thought were just good gestures but was trying to be apart of her life. The child was happier than someone who was brought up in luxury.
Silas was fifty five when she was 18. She was ‘the freshest blossom of youth’ when standing beside him. She was also very beautiful.
‘A blonde dimpled girl of eighteen.’
She was very interested in flowers and one day had asked Silas to build her a garden. She likes taking responsibilities for her suffering father and often clears away so he does not have to.
‘She does not like to be blameworthy even in the small things: you see how neatly her prayer-book is folded in her spotted handkerchief.’
She likes to be very neat and does not like things which are out of place. Silas had been assigned to smoking the pipe as this was a short term cure for his cataleptic fits.
‘His soul was utterly desolate till she was sent to him.’
The two are as of one. ‘Eppie’s heart was swelled at the sense that her father was in distress.’ Silas says that if you took away Eppie then you would take out his heart showing once again the strong bond between the two. Eppie’s arrival makes Silas believe there is ‘good i’ this world.’ He can see that now ‘in spite o’ the trouble and the wickedness.’ After he was convicted of stealing the church’s money, the baby was sent to him. He believes there’s ‘dealings’ between them. The two of them live in love and harmony. He did not hold back anything of her past. He told her about her mother’s death and she was very strong about this. The two had an ‘inseparable relationship.’ She is very sentimental and wants the Furze Bush where her mother died in her garden to remind of her.
Eppie has never really known Godfrey and Nancy apart from the fact that they sometimes supported her financially. But after the death of his brother, his conscience is too strong and is forced to tell Nancy about Eppie being his child. She is unable to have children and thinks if you said this when she first arrived I could have been a mother but he was worried she would leave him. Nancy believes he has to fulfil his role by providing for her. They gradually bring it upon Eppie that Godfrey is her father and offer a new life in wealth.
Wouldn’t you want to see her well provided for?’
They say they can turn her into a lady but in her view this would be very difficult as a life from the average to the rich would be terrifying. He is trying to map out Eppie’s life saying that of course she will still visit Silas and love him but now she will be with her real father. But her answer is no. She doesn’t really need help now that she has grown up. She looks after Silas more than he has to look after her. He wants to make amends for his absence during her early life and now says she will have Nancy as a mother.
‘Father by blood must have claim above that of any foster-father.’
She still regards Silas and only Silas as her father and she cannot bear to part with him. He has acted like a real father and has loved her like a real father. That bond is a lot stronger than that of bloody if they don’t know each other. She doesn’t want to leave her present life. He believes it is his duty to take her but he didn’t think of this when she was little.
Eppie is very polite when she shows gratitude to the Cass’ by curtsying even though she barely knows them. She has a love of nature and animals. She is a well contented person. She’s very faithful to him. ‘I’ll cleave to him as long as he lives.’ She is like a prime example of Dolly Winthrop but at a younger age.
She brought happiness into Silas’ life and was a consolation to the disappearance of his gold. When it re appears, she has more value than it does. She was a revelation in Silas’ life. She completely changed his hostile behaviour and he became regarded as an important member of the local community.
‘O father…what a pretty home ours is! I think nobody could be happier than we are.’u
