Baby_was_christened，therectordecidingthatadoublebaptismwasthelesserrisktoincur；andonthisoccasionSilas，makinghimselfascleanandtidyashecould，appearedforthefirsttimewithinthechurch，andsharedintheobservancesheldsacredbyhisneighbours。Hewasquiteunable，bymeansofanythingheheardorsaw，toidentifytheRaveloereligionwithhisoldfaith；ifhecouldatanytimeinhispreviouslifehavedoneso，itmusthavebeenbytheaidofastrongfeelingreadytovibratewithsympathy，ratherthanbyacomparisonofphrasesandideas：andnowforlongyearsthatfeelinghadbeendormant。Hehadnodistinctideaaboutthebaptismandthechurch—going，exceptthatDollyhadsaiditwasforthegoodofthechild；andinthisway，astheweeksgrewtomonths，thechildcreatedfreshandfreshlinksbetweenhislifeandthelivesfromwhichhehadhithertoshrunkcontinuallyintonarrowerisolation。Unlikethegoldwhichneedednothing，andmustbeworshippedinclose—lockedsolitude——whichwashiddenawayfromthedaylight，wasdeaftothesongofbirds，andstartedtonohumantones——Eppiewasacreatureofendlessclaimsandever—growingdesires，seekingandlovingsunshine，andlivingsounds，andlivingmovements；makingtrialofeverything，withtrustinnewjoy，andstirringthehumankindnessinalleyesthatlookedonher。Thegoldhadkepthisthoughtsinanever—repeatedcircle，leadingtonothingbeyonditself；butEppiewasanobjectcompactedofchangesandhopesthatforcedhisthoughtsonward，andcarriedthemfarawayfromtheiroldeagerpacingtowardsthesameblanklimit——carriedthemawaytothenewthingsthatwouldcomewiththecomingyears，whenEppiewouldhavelearnedtounderstandhowherfatherSilascaredforher；andmadehimlookforimagesofthattimeinthetiesandcharitiesthatboundtogetherthefamiliesofhisneighbours。
Thegoldhadaskedthatheshouldsitweavinglongerandlonger，deafenedandblindedmoreandmoretoallthingsexceptthemonotonyofhisloomandtherepetitionofhisweb；butEppiecalledhimawayfromhisweaving，andmadehimthinkallitspausesaholiday，reawakeninghissenseswithherfreshlife，eventotheoldwinter—fliesthatcamecrawlingforthintheearlyspringsunshine，andwarminghimintojoybecause_she_hadjoy。
Andwhenthesunshinegrewstrongandlasting，sothatthebuttercupswerethickinthemeadows，Silasmightbeseeninthesunnymidday，orinthelateafternoonwhentheshadowswerelengtheningunderthehedgerows，strollingoutwithuncoveredheadtocarryEppiebeyondtheStone—pitstowheretheflowersgrew，tilltheyreachedsomefavouritebankwherehecouldsitdown，whileEppietoddledtoplucktheflowers，andmakeremarkstothewingedthingsthatmurmuredhappilyabovethebrightpetals，calling\"Dad—dad’s\"attentioncontinuallybybringinghimtheflowers。
Thenshewouldturnhereartosomesuddenbird—note，andSilaslearnedtopleaseherbymakingsignsofhushedstillness，thattheymightlistenforthenotetocomeagain：sothatwhenitcame，shesetuphersmallbackandlaughedwithgurglingtriumph。Sittingonthebanksinthisway，Silasbegantolookfortheoncefamiliarherbsagain；andastheleaves，withtheirunchangedoutlineandmarkings，layonhispalm，therewasasenseofcrowdingremembrancesfromwhichheturnedawaytimidly，takingrefugeinEppie’slittleworld，thatlaylightlyonhisenfeebledspirit。
Asthechild’smindwasgrowingintoknowledge，hismindwasgrowingintomemory：asherlifeunfolded，hissoul，longstupefiedinacoldnarrowprison，wasunfoldingtoo，andtremblinggraduallyintofullconsciousness。