It is sixteen years since Silas found his new treasure. The church bells are ringing as the villagers come from church. Among the crowd are Godfrey Cass, looking much the same as the young man of twenty-six, and his wife, Nancy, who is still lovely but "ripened into fuller goodness." Also seen are Silas and his daughter, a blonde girl of eighteen. With them is Aaron Winthrop. Eppie is suggesting to her father, Silas, that they might have a garden, and Aaron eagerly offers to help plant it. Silas is willing, and he asks that Aaron's mother be consulted, as she is always ready with good advice.
At their home, Silas and Eppie are greeted by various animals—donkey, dog, and tortoise-shell kitten. The animals are not the only additions to the cottage since Eppie arrived. Furniture has been provided by Mr. Cass, and the home is quite comfortable. On the advice of the local sages, Silas has taken up smoking a pipe for his health. This detail is only part of the new self that has developed since Eppie came. He has discussed with Dolly the old robbery at Lantern Yard, and they have puzzled over the differing customs of the two places. Dolly cannot believe there is another person so bad as William Dane, and after much rumination of the tale, she concludes that Silas should have trusted that a higher being would have made things right, for if he had gone on trusting his old friends, he would never have run away and been so alone. Silas, now that Eppie has been sent to him, agrees in part; but to him the drawing of the lots is still dark.
This conversation took place in Eppie's early years. Since then, she and Silas have lived in perfect love and mutual happiness. Eppie has been told of her mother, as much as is known. Of her real father she knows nothing. Now that the garden is planned, however, Eppie decides that she would like the furze bush where her mother's body was found moved into the garden. Silas agrees to this, but he is worried about carrying stones for a wall. Eppie is sure there will be plenty of stones, for the Stone Pits are being drained by Mr. Godfrey Cass, who has taken over that land. As for carrying them, Aaron will do that. Eppie is sure of that, for Aaron has asked her to marry him. Eppie has told him, however, that Silas must live with them, for she will never leave him alone. Silas feels that she is young for marriage, but if she wishes it he will not object. He asks that they consult Dolly on the matter.
