d their eyes met, dwelling
in that meeting without any movement on either side. That quiet mutual
gaze of a trusting husband and wife is like the first moment of rest or
refuge from a great weariness or a great danger--not to be interfered
with by speech or action which would distract the sensations from the
fresh enjoyment of repose.

But presently he put out his hand, and as Nancy placed hers within it,
he drew her towards him, and said--

"That's ended!"

She bent to kiss him, and then said, as she stood by his side, "Yes,
I'm afraid we must give up the hope of having her for a daughter. It
wouldn't be right to want to force her to come to us against her will.
We can't alter her bringing up and what's come of it."

"No," said Godfrey, with a keen decisiveness of tone, in contrast with
his usually careless and unemphatic speech--"there's debts we can't pay
like money debts, by paying extra for the years that have slipped by.
While I've been putting off and putting off, the trees have been
growing--it's too late now. Marner was in the right in what he said
about a man's turning away a blessing from his door: it falls to
somebody else. I wanted to pass for childless once, Nancy--I shall
pass for childless now against my wish."

Nancy did not speak immediately, but after a little while she
asked--"You won't make it known, then, about Eppie's being your
daughter?"

"No: where would be the good to anybody?--only harm. I must do what I
can for her in the state of life she chooses. I must see who it is
she's thinking of marrying."

"If it won't do any good to make the thing known," said Nancy, who
thought she might now allow herself the relief of entertaining a
feeling which she had tried to silence before, "I should be very
thankful for father and Priscilla never to be troubled with knowing
what was done in the past, more than about Dunsey: it can't be helped,
their knowing that."

"I shall put it in my will--I think I shall put it in my will. I
shouldn't like to leave anything to be found out, like this of Dunsey,"
said Godfrey, meditatively. "But I can't see anything but difficulties
that 'ud come from telling it now. I must do what I can to make her
happy in her own way. I've a notion," he added, after a moment's
pause, "it's Aaron Winthrop she meant she was engaged to. I remember
seeing him with her and Marner going away from church."

"Well, he's very sober and industrious," said Nancy, trying to