 Sitting on
the banks in this way, Silas began to look for the once familiar herbs again;
and as the leaves, with their unchanged outline and markings, lay on his palm,
there was a sense of crowding remembrances from which he turned away timidly,
taking refuge in Eppie's little world, that lay lightly on his enfeebled spirit.
    As the child's mind was growing into knowledge, his mind was growing into
memory: as her life unfolded, his soul, long stupified in a cold narrow prison,
was unfolding too, and trembling gradually into full consciousness.
    It was an influence which must gather force with every new year: the tones
that stirred Silas's heart grew articulate, and called for more distinct
answers; shapes and sounds grew clearer for Eppie's eyes and ears, and there was
more that »Dad-dad« was imperatively required to notice and account for. Also,
by the time Eppie was three years old, she developed a fine capacity for
mischief, and for devising ingenious ways of being troublesome, which found much
exercise, not only for Silas's patience, but for his watchfulness and
penetration. Sorely was poor Silas puzzled on such occasions by the incompatible
demands of love. Dolly Winthrop told him that punishment was good for Eppie, and
that, as for rearing a child without making it tingle a little in soft and safe
places now and then, it was not to be done.
    »To be sure, there's another thing you might do, Master Marner,« added
Dolly, meditatively: »you might shut her up once i' the coal-hole. That was what
I did wi' Aaron; for I was that silly wi' the youngest lad, as I could never
bear to smack him. Not as I could find i' my heart to let him stay i' the
coal-hole more nor a minute, but it was enough to colly him all over, so as he
must be new washed and dressed, and it was as good as a rod to him - that was.
But I put it upo' your conscience, Master Marner, as there's one of 'em you must
choose - ayther smacking or the coal-hole - else she'll get so masterful, there
'll be no holding her.«
    Silas was impressed with the melancholy truth of this last remark; but his
force of mind failed before the only two penal methods open to him, not only
because it was painful to him to hurt Eppie, but because he trembled at a
moment'
