NovelGuide: Silas Marner: Novel Summary: Chapter 9

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Chapter 9

Chapter nine begins with a description of the Squire. Obviously the man is very proud of his family heritage and concerned about keeping it intact. Eliot continues, "The Squire had been used to parish homage all his life, used to the pre-supposition that his family, his tankards, and everything that was his, were the oldest and best; and as he never associated with any gentry higher than himself, his opinion was not disturbed by comparison."
After the others had eaten, Godfrey finds his father starting his own breakfast, and quickly confronts him about what has happened with Dunstan and the horse. Although the Squire is angry with Godfrey about the debts he owes, the old man saves most of his criticism for Dunstan, saying, "Let him turn ostler, and keep himself. He shan’t hang on me any more." Thus, Godfrey has maintained (though barely) his place in the family while Dunstan is forever exiled.