how does dolly winthrop influence eppie and make raising the child easier for silas marner.

Dolly is a very warm, generous, spiritual soul, given to visiting folks during serious or sad times in order to cheer them up. She tries to be a comfort to Marner during his hard times and eventually becomes an irreplacable help to him in the raising of Eppie. She takes on a mother-figure that Eppie needs. She also becomes Marner's conversation partner in his search into his own past.