butinthestatebed，overshadowingsolargeaportionofthefloor，thebirthsand，asfarasmaybe，thedeaths，ofthehouseholdtakeplace。
AttheCorneys\'，theunitedeffortsofsomeformergenerationofthefamilyhadproducedpatchworkcurtainsandcoverlet;andpatchworkwaspatchworkinthosedays，beforetheearlyYatesandPeelshadfoundoutthesecretofprintingtheparsley—leaf。ScrapsofcostlyIndianchintzesandpalempourswereintermixedwithcommonerblackandredcalicoinminutehexagons;
andthevarietyofpatternsservedfortheusefulpurposeofpromotingconversationaswellasthemoreobviousoneofdisplayingthework—woman\'staste。Sylvia，forinstance，beganatoncetoheroldfriend，MollyBrunton，whohadaccompaniedherintothischambertotakeoffherhatandcloak，witharemarkononeofthechintzes。Stoopingoverthecounterpane，withafaceintowhichtheflushwouldcomewhetherorno，shesaidtoMolly，——
\'Dear！Ineverseedthisoneafore——this——forallt\'worldliketh\'
eyesinapeacock\'stall。\'
\'Thou\'sseenitmanyatimeandoft，lass。Butweren\'tthousurprisedtofindCharleyhere？WepickedhimupatShields，quitebysurpriselike;
andwhenBruntonandmesaidaswewascomin\'here，noughtwouldservehimbutcomin\'withus，fort\'seet\'NewYearin。It\'sapityasyourmother\'sta\'enthistunefort\'fallillandwantyo\'backsoearly。\'
Sylviahadtakenoffherhatandcloakbythistime，andbegantohelpMollyandayoungerunmarriedsisterinlayingoutthesubstantialsupper。
\'Here，\'continuedMrsBrunton;\'stickabito\'hollyi\'yonpig\'smouth，that\'sthewaywedothingsi\'Newcassel;butfolksissobehindhandinMonkshaven。It\'safinethingtoliveinalargetown，Sylvia;an\'ifyo\'relookingoutforahusband，I\'dadviseyo\'totak\'oneaslivesinatown。
IfeelasifIwereburiedalivecomin\'backhere，suchanout—o\'—t\'—wayplaceaftert\'Side，wheerethere\'smanyahundredcartsandcarriagesgoespastinaday。I\'veagreatmindfort\'takyo\'twolassiesbackWi\'
me，andletyo\'seeabito\'t\'world;maybe，Imayyet。
HersisterBessylookedmuchpleasedwiththisplan，butSylviawasratherinclinedtotakeoffenceatMolly\'spatronizingways，andreplied，——
\'I\'mnonesofondo\'noiseandbustle;why，yo\'llnotbeabletohearyourselsspeakwi\'allthemcartsandcarriages。I\'draytherbideathome;
letalonethatmothercan\'tspareme。\'
Itwas，perhaps，aratherungraciouswayofansweringMollyBrunton\'sspeech，andsoshefeltittobe，althoughherinvitationhadbeennoneofthemostcourteouslyworded。SheirritatedSylviastillfurtherbyrepeatingherlastwords，——
\'\"Mothercan\'tspareme;\"why，mother\'llhavetosparetheesometime，whent\'timeforweddingcomes。\'
\'I\'mnonegoingtobewed，\'saidSylvia;\'andifIwere，I\'dnivergofarfra\'mother。\'
\'Eh！whataspoiltdarlingitis。HowBruntonwilllaughwhenItellhimaboutyo\';Brunton\'sarareoneforlaughin\'。It\'sagreatthingtohavegotsuchamerrymanforahusband。Why！hehashisjokeforeveryoneascomesintot\'shop;andhe\'llha\'somethingfunnytosaytoeverythingthisevenin\'。\'
BessysawthatSylviawasannoyed，and，withmoredelicacythanhersister，shetriedtoturntheconversation。
\'That\'saprettyribboninthyhair，Sylvia;I\'dliketohaveoneo\'
t\'samepattern。Feytherlikespickledwalnutsstuckaboutt\'roundo\'
beef，Molly。\'
\'IknowwhatI\'mabout，\'repliedMrsBrunton，withatossofhermarriedhead。
Bessyresumedherinquiry。
\'Isthereanymoretobehadwheerethatcomefra\'，Sylvia？\'
\'Idon\'tknow，\'repliedSylvia。\'Itcomefra\'Foster\'s，andyo\'canask。\'
\'Whatmightitcost？\'saidBetsy，fingeringanendofittotestitsquality。
\'Ican\'ttell，\'saidSylvia，\'itwereapresent。\'
\'Nivermak\'adoaboutt\'price，\'saidMolly;\'I\'llgi\'etheeenoughon\'ttotieupthyhair，justlikeSylvia\'s。Onlythouhastn\'tsuchwealtho\'curlsasshehas;it\'llniverlookt\'samei\'thystraightlocks。Andwhomightitbeasgiveitthee，Sylvia？\'askedtheunscrupulous，ifgood—naturedMolly。
\'MycousinPhilip，himasisshopmanatFoster\'s，\'saidSylvia，innocently。
ButitwasfartoogoodanopportunityfortheexerciseofMolly\'skindofwitforhertopassover。
\'Oh，oh！ourcousinPhilip，isit？andhe\'llnotbelivingsofarawayfromyourmother？I\'venoneedbeawitchtoputtwoandtwotogether。
He\'sacominghereto—night，isn\'the，Bessy？\'
\'Iwishyo\'wouldn\'ttalkso，Molly，\'saidSylvia;\'meandPhilipisgoodenoughfriends，butweniverthinkoneachotherinthatway;leastways，Idon\'t\'（Sweetbutter！nowthat\'smymother\'sold—fashionedway;asiffolksmusteatsweetbutternow—a—days，becausehermotherdid！）Thatway，\'continuedMolly，inthemannerthatannoyedSylviasomuch，repeatingherwordsasifforthepurposeoflaughingatthem。\'\"Thatway？\"andpraywhatist\'
wayyo\'respeakingon？Iniversaidnoughtaboutmarrying，didI，thatyo\'needlooksoredandshamefacedaboutyo\'rcousinPhilip？But，asBruntonsays，ift\'capfitsyo\'，putiton。I\'mgladhe\'scomin\'to—nighttho\'，forasI\'mdonemakin\'loveandcourtin\'，it\'snextbestt\'watchotherfolks;an\'yo\'rface，Sylvia，haslettenmeintoasecret，asI\'dsomeglimpsesonaforeIwaswed。\'
SylviasecretlydeterminednottospeakawordmoretoPhilipthanshecouldhelp，andwonderedhowshecouldeverhavelikedMollyatall，muchlesshavemadeacompanionofher。Thetablewasnowlaidout，andnothingremainedbuttocriticisethearrangementalittle。
Bessywasfullofadmiration。
\'Theere，Molly！\'saidshe。\'Yo\'niverseedmorevittlebroughttogetheri\'Newcassel，I\'llbebound;there\'llbeabovehalfahundredweighto\'
butcher\'smeat，besidepiesandcustards。I\'veeatennodinnerthesetwodaysforthinkingon\'t;it\'sbeenawearyburdenonmymind，butit\'soffnowIseehowwellitlooks。Itoldmothernottocomenearittillwe\'dspreaditallout，andnowI\'llgofetchher。\'
Bessyranoffintothehouse—place。
\'It\'swellenoughinacountrykindo\'way，\'saidMolly，withthefaintapprobationofcondescension。\'ButifI\'dthoughton，I\'dha\'brought\'emdownabeastortwodonei\'sponge—cake，wi\'currantsforhiseyestogivet\'tableanair。\'
Thedoorwasopened，andBessycameinsmilingandblushingwithproudpleasure。Hermotherfollowedherontip—toe，smoothingdownherapron，andwithhervoicesubduedtoawhisper:——
\'Ay，mylass，itisfine！Butdunnotmak\'anadoaboutit，let\'emthinkit\'sjustourcommonway。Ifanyonesaysaughtabouthowgoodt\'vittleis，tak\'itcalm，andsaywe\'nbetteri\'t\'house，——it\'llmak\'
\'emeatWi\'abetterappetite，andthinkthemoreonus。Sylvie，I\'mmuchbeholdent\'yeforcomin\'soearly，andhelpin\'t\'lasses，butyo\'muncomeint\'house—placenow，t\'folksisgatherin\'，an\'yo\'rcousin\'sbeenaskingafteryo\'a\'ready。\'
Mollygaveheranudge，whichmadeSylvia\'sfacegoallaflamewithangryembarrassment。ShewasconsciousthatthewatchingwhichMollyhadthreatenedherwithbegandirectly;forMollywentuptoherhusband，andwhisperedsomethingtohimwhichsethimoffinachucklinglaugh，andSylviawasawarethathiseyesfollowedheraboutwithknowinglooksalltheevening。ShewouldhardlyspeaktoPhilip，andpretendednottoseehisoutstretchedhand，butpassedontothechimney—corner，andtriedtoshelterherselfbehindthebroadbackoffarmerCorney，whohadnonotionofrelinquishinghiscustomaryplaceforalltheyoungpeoplewhoevercametothehouse，——orforanyoldpeopleeither，forthatmatter。Itwashishouseholdthrone，andtherehesatwithnomoreideaofabdicatinginfavourofanycomerthanKingGeorgeatStJames\'s。Buthewasgladtoseehisfriends;andhadpaidthemtheunwontedcomplimentofshavingonaweek—day，andputtingonhisSundaycoat。Theunitedeffortsofwifeandchildrenhadfailedtopersuadehimtomakeanyfartherchangeinhisattire;toalltheirargumentsonthisheadhehadreplied，——
\'Themasdoesn\'tliket\'seemei\'mywork—a—daywescutandbreechesmaybideaway。\'
Itwasthelongestsentencehesaidthatday，butherepeateditseveraltimesover。Hewasgladenoughtoseealltheyoungpeople，buttheywerenot\'ofhiskidney，\'asheexpressedittohimself，andhedidnotfeelanycalluponhimselftoentertainthem。Heleftthattohisbustlingwife，allsmartnessandsmiles，andtohisdaughtersandson—in—law。Hiseffortsathospitalityconsistedinsittingstill，smokinghispipe;whenanyonecame，hetookitoutofhismouthforaninstant，andnoddedhisheadinacheerfulfriendlyway，withoutawordofspeech;andthenreturnedtohissmokingwiththegreaterrelishforthemoment\'sintermission。Hethoughttohimself:——
\'They\'reaseto\'youngchapsasthinksmoreont\'lassesthanonbaccy;——they\'llfindouttheirmistakeintime;give\'emtime，give\'emtime。\'
Andbeforeeighto\'clock，hewentasquietlyasamanoftwelvestonecanupstairstobed，havingmadeapreviousarrangementwithhiswifethatsheshouldbringhimupabouttwopoundsofspicedbeef，andahottumblerofstiffgrog。ButatthebeginningoftheeveningheformedagoodscreenforSylvia，whowasratherafavouritewiththeoldman，fortwicehespoketoher。
\'Feythersmokes？\'
\'Yes，\'saidSylvia。
\'Reachmet\'baccy—box，mylass。\'
Andthatwasalltheconversationthatpassedbetweenherandhernearestneighbourforthefirstquarterofanhouraftershecameintocompany。
But，forallherscreen，shefeltapairofeyeswerefixeduponherwithaglowofadmirationdeepeningtheirhonestbrightness。Somehow，lookinwhatdirectionshewould，shecaughttheglanceofthoseeyesbeforeshecouldseeanythingelse。Sosheplayedwithherapron—strings，andtriednottofeelsoconscious。Therewereanotherpairofeyes，——notsuchbeautiful，sparklingeyes，——deep—set，earnest，sad，nay，evengloomy，watchinghereverymovement;butofthisshewasnotaware。Philiphadnotrecoveredfromtherebuffshehadgivenhimbyrefusinghisofferedhand，andwasstandingstill，inangrysilence，whenMrsCorneythrustayoungwomanjustarriveduponhisattention。
\'Come，MeasterHepburn，here\'sNancyPrattwi\'outev\'nasoultospeakt\'her，an\'yo\'mopin\'theere。Shesayssheknowsyo\'bysightfra\'havingdealtatFoster\'sthesesixyear。Seeifyo\'can\'tfindsummutt\'sayt\'
eachother，forImungopourouttea。Dixons，an\'Walkers，an\'Elliotts，an\'Smithsiscome，saidshe，markingoffthefamiliesonherfingers，asshelookedroundandcalledovertheirnames;\'an\'there\'sonlyWillLathaman\'histwosisters，andRogerHarbottle，an\'Taylort\'comean\'
they\'llturnupaforetea\'sended。\'
Soshewentofftoherdutyattheonetable，which，placedalongsideofthedresser，wastheonlyarticleoffurnitureleftinthemiddleoftheroom:alltheseatsbeingarrangedasclosetothefourwallsascouldbemanaged。Thecandlesofthosedaysgavebutafaintlightcomparedtothelightoftheimmensefire，whichitwasapointofhospitalitytokeepatthehighestroaring，blazingpitch;theyoungwomenoccupiedtheseats，withtheexceptionoftwoorthreeoftheelderones，who，inaneagerdesiretoshowtheircapability，insistedonhelpingMrsCorneyinherduties，verymuchtoherannoyance，astherewerecertainlittlecontrivancesforekingoutcream，andadjustingthestrengthofthecupsofteatotheworldlypositionoftheintendeddrinkers，whichshedidnotlikeeveryonetosee。Theyoungmen，——whomteadidnotembolden，andwhohadasyethadnochanceofstrongerliquor，——clusteredinrusticshynessroundthedoor，notspeakingeventothemselves，exceptnowandthen，whenone，apparentlythewagoftheparty，madesomewhisperedremark，whichsetthemallofflaughing;butinaminutetheycheckedthemselves，andpassedthebackoftheirhandsacrosstheirmouthstocomposethatunluckyfeature，andthensomewouldtrytofixtheireyesontheraftersoftheceiling，inamannerwhichwasdecorousifratherabstractedfromthebusinessinhand。
Mostofthesewereyoungfarmers，withwhomPhiliphadnothingincommon，andfromwhom，inshyreserve，hehadwithdrawnhimselfwhenhefirstcamein。ButnowhewishedhimselfamongthemsoonerthansettotalktoNancyPratt，whenhehadnothingtosay。Andyethemighthavehadacompanionlesstohismind，forshewasadecentyoungwomanofasoberage，lessinclinedtogigglethanmanyoftheyoungerones。ButallthetimethathewasmakingcommonplaceremarkstoherhewaswonderingifhehadoffendedSylvia，andwhyshewouldnotshakehandswithhim，andthispre—occupationofhisthoughtsdidnotmakehimanagreeablecompanion。NancyPratt，whohadbeenengagedforsomeyearstoamateofawhaling—ship，perceivedsomethingofhisstateofmind，andtooknooffenceatit;onthecontrary，shetriedtogivehimpleasurebyadmiringSylvia。
\'I\'veoftenheerdtellonher，\'saidshe，\'butIniverthoughtshe\'sbesopretty，andsostaidandquiet—liketoo。T\'mostparto\'girlsashaslookslikehersarealwaysgape—gazingtocatchotherfolks\'seyes，andseewhatisthoughton\'em;butshelooksjustlikeachild，abitflusteredwi\'comingintocompany，andgettin\'intoasdarkacornerandbidin\'asstillasshecan。
JustthenSylvialiftedupherlong，darklashes，andcatchingthesameglancewhichshehadsooftenmetbefore——CharleyKinraidwasstandingtalkingtoBruntonontheoppositesideofthefire—place——shestartedbackintotheshadowasifshehadnotexpectedit，andinsodoingspiltherteaalloverhergown。Shecouldalmosthavecried，shefeltherselfsoawkward，andasifeverythingwasgoingwrongwithher;shethoughtthateveryonewouldthinkshehadneverbeenincompanybefore，anddidnotknowhowtobehave;andwhileshewasthusflutteredandcrimson，shesawthroughhertearfuleyesKinraidonhiskneesbeforeher，wipinghergownwithhissilkpockethandkerchief，andheardhimspeakingthroughallthebuzzofcommiseratingvoices。
\'Yourcupboardhandleissomuchi\'th\'way——Ihurtmyelbowagainstitonlythisveryafternoon。\'
Soperhapsitwasnoclumsinessofhers，——astheywouldallknow，now，sincehehadsoskilfullylaidtheblamesomewhereelse;andafterallitturnedoutthatheraccidenthadbeenthemeansofbringinghimacrosstoherside，whichwasmuchmorepleasantthanhavinghimopposite，staringather;fornowhebegantotalktoher，andthiswasverypleasant，althoughshewasratherembarrassedattheirtete—a—teteatfirst。
\'IdidnotknowyouagainwhenIfirstsawyou，\'saidhe，inatonewhichimpliedagooddealmorethanwasutteredinwords。
\'Iknowedyo\'atonce，\'shereplied，softly，andthensheblushedandplayedwithherapron—string，andwonderedifsheoughttohaveconfessedtotheclearnessofherrecollection。
\'You\'regrownupinto——well，perhapsit\'snotmannerstosaywhatyou\'regrowninto——anyhow，Ishan\'tforgetyo\'again。\'
Moreplayingwithherapron—string，andheadhungstilllowerdown，thoughthecornersofhermouthwouldgoupinashysmileofpleasure。
Philipwatcheditallasgreedilyasifitgavehimdelight。
\'Yo\'rfather，he\'llbewellandhearty，Ihope？\'askedCharley。
\'Yes，\'repliedSylvia，andthenshewishedshecouldoriginatesomeremark;hewouldthinkhersostupidifshejustkeptonsayingsuchlittleshortbitsofspeeches，andifhethoughtherstupidhemightperhapsgoawayagaintohisformerplace。
Buthewasquitefarenoughgoneinloveofherbeauty，andprettymodestways，nottocaremuchwhethershetalkedorno，solongassheshowedherselfsopleasinglyconsciousofhiscloseneighbourhood。
\'Imustcomeandseetheoldgentleman;andyourmother，too，\'headdedmoreslowly，forherememberedthathisvisitslastyearhadnotbeenquitesomuchwelcomedbyBellRobsonasbyherhusband;perhapsitwasbecauseoftheamountofdrinkwhichheandDanielmanagedtogetthroughofanevening。HeresolvedthisyeartobemorecarefultopleasethemotherofSylvia。
Whenteawasendedtherewasagreatbustleandshiftingofplaces，whileMrsCorneyandherdaughterscarriedouttraysfullofusedcups，andgreatplattersofuneatenbreadandbutterintotheback—kitchen，tobewashedupaftertheguestsweregone。Justbecauseshewassoconsciousthatshedidnotwanttomove，andbreakupthelittleconversationbetweenherselfandKinraid，Sylviaforcedherselftobeasactiveintheservicegoingonasbecameafriendofthehouse;andshewastoomuchhermother\'sowndaughtertofeelcomfortableatleavingallthethingsinthedisorderwhichtotheCorneygirlswassecondnature。
\'Thismilkmungobacktot\'dairy，Ireckon，\'saidshe，loadingherselfwithmilkandcream。
\'Niverfashthysel\'aboutit，\'saidNellyCorney，\'Christmascomesbutonestayear，ifitdoesgosour;andmothersaidshe\'dhaveagameatforfeitsfirstthingafterteatoloosenfolks\'stongues，andmixupt\'
ladsandlasses，socomealong。\'
ButSylviasteeredhercarefulwaytothecoldchillofthedairy，andwouldnotbesatisfiedtillshehadcarriedawayalltheunusedprovisionintosomefresherairthanthatheatedbythefiresandovensusedforthelongday\'scookingofpiesandcakesandmuchroastmeat。
Whentheycamebackaroundofred—faced\'lads，\'asyoungmenuptofive—and—thirtyarecalledinLancashireandYork—shireiftheyarenotmarriedbefore，andlasses，whoseagewasnottobedefined，wereplayingatsomecountrygame，inwhichthewomenwereapparentlymoreinterestedthanthemen，wholookedshamefaced，andafraidofeachother\'sridicule。
MrsCorney，however，knewhowtoremedythis，andatasignfromheragreatjugofbeerwasbroughtin。Thisjugwastheprideofherheart，andwasintheshapeofafatmaninwhiteknee—breeches，andathree—corneredhat;withonearmhesupportedthepipeinhisbroad，smilingmouth，andtheotherwasplacedakimboandformedthehandle。Therewasalsoagreatchinapunch—bowlfilledwithgrogmadeafteranoldship—receiptcurrentintheseparts，butnottoostrong，becauseiftheirvisitorshadtoomuchtodrinkatthatearlypartoftheevening\'itwouldspoilt\'fun，\'asNellyCorneyhadobserved。Herfather，however，afterthenotionsofhospitalityprevalentatthattimeinhighercircles，hadstipulatedthateachmanshouldhave\'enough\'beforeheleftthehouse;enoughmeaninginMonkshavenparlancethelibertyofgettingdrunk，iftheythoughtfittodoit。
BeforelongoneoftheladswasseizedwithafitofadmirationforToby——thenameoftheoldgentlemanwhocontainedliquor——andwentuptothetrayforacloserinspection。Hewasspeedilyfollowedbyotheramateursofcuriousearthenware;andby—and—byMrBrunton（whohadbeenchargedbyhismother—in—lawwiththeduesupplyingofliquor——byhisfather—in—lawthateverymanshouldhavehisfill，andbyhiswifeandhersistersthatnooneshouldhavetoomuch，atanyrateatthebeginningoftheevening，）
thoughtfittocarryoutTobytobereplenished;andafasterspiritofenjoymentandmirthbegantoreignintheroom。
Kinraidwastoowellseasonedtocarewhatamountofliquorhedrank;
Philiphadwhatwascalledaweakhead，anddislikedmuddlinghimselfwithdrinkbecauseoftheimmediateconsequenceofintensefeelingsofirritability，andthemoredistantoneofarackingheadachenextday;soboththesetwopreservedverymuchthesamedemeanourtheyhadheldatthebeginningoftheevening。
Sylviawasbyallacknowledgedandtreatedasthebelle。Whentheyplayedatblind—man\'s—buffgowhereshewould，shewasalwayscaught;shewascalledoutrepeatedlytodowhatwasrequiredinanygame，asifallhadapleasureinseeingherlightfigureanddeftways。ShewassufficientlypleasedwiththistohavegotoverhershynesswithallexceptCharley。
Whenotherspaidhertheirrusticcomplimentsshetossedherhead，andmadeherlittlesaucyrepartees;butwhenhesaidsomethinglowandflattering，itwastoohoney—sweettoherhearttobethrownoffthus。And，somehow，themoresheyieldedtothisfascinationthemoresheavoidedPhilip。Hedidnotspeakflatteringly——hedidnotpaycompliments——hewatchedherwithdiscontented，longingeyes，andgrewmoreinclinedeverymoment，asherememberedhisanticipationofahappyevening，tocryoutinhisheartvanitasvanitatum。
Andnowcamecryingtheforfeits。MollyBruntonkneltdown，herfaceburiedinhermother\'slap;thelattertookouttheforfeitsonebyone，andassheheldthemup，saidtheaccustomedformula，——
\'Afinethingandaveryfinething，whatmusthe（orshe）dowhoownsthisthing。\'
Oneortwohadbeentoldtokneeltotheprettiest，bowtothewittiest，andkissthosetheylovedbest;othershadhadtobiteaninchoffthepoker，orsuchplaysuponwords。AndnowcameSylvia\'sprettynewribbonthatPhiliphadgivenher（healmostlongedtosnatchitoutofMrsCorney\'shandsandburnitbeforealltheirfaces，soannoyedwashewiththewholeaffair。）
\'Afinethingandaveryfinething——amostparticularfinething——choosehowshecamebyit。Whatmustshedoasownsthisthing？\'
\'Shemustblowoutt\'candleandkisst\'candlestick。\'
InoneinstantKinraidhadholdoftheonlycandlewithinreach，alltheothershadbeenputuphighoninaccessibleshelvesandotherplaces。
Sylviawentupandblewoutthecandle，andbeforethesuddenpartialdarknesswasoverhehadtakenthecandleintohisfingers，and，accordingtothetraditionalmeaningofthewords，wasintheplaceofthecandlestick，andassuchwastobekissed。EveryonelaughedatinnocentSylvia\'sfaceasthemeaningofherpenancecameintoit，everyonebutPhilip，whoalmostchoked。
\'I\'mcandlestick，\'saidKinraid，withlessoftriumphinhisvoicethanhewouldhavehadwithanyothergirlintheroom。
\'Yo\'munkisst\'candlestick，\'criedtheCorneys，\'oryo\'llnivergetyo\'rribbonback。\'
\'Andshesetsadealo\'storebythatribbon，\'saidMollyBrunton，maliciously。
\'I\'llnonekisst\'candlestick，norhimeither，\'saidSylvia，inalowvoiceofdetermination，turningaway，fullofconfusion。
\'Yo\'llnotgetyo\'rribbonifyo\'dunnot，\'criedoneandall。
\'Idon\'tcarefort\'ribbon，\'saidshe，flashingupwithalookathertormentors，nowherbackwasturnedtoKinraid。\'An\'Iwannotplayanymoreatsuchlikegames，\'sheadded，withfreshindignationrisinginherheartasshetookheroldplaceinthecorneroftheroomalittleawayfromtherest。
Philip\'sspiritsrose，andheyearnedtogotoherandtellherhowheapprovedofherconduct。Alas，Philip！Sylvia，thoughasmodestagirlaseverlived，wasnoprude，andhadbeenbroughtupinsimple，straightforwardcountryways;andwithanyotheryoungman，excepting，perhaps，Philip\'sself，shewouldhavethoughtnomoreofmakingarapidpretenceofkissingthehandorcheekofthetemporary\'candlestick，\'thanourancestressesdidinamuchhigherrankonsimilaroccasions。Kinraid，thoughmortifiedbyhispublicrejection，wasmoreconsciousofthisthantheinexperiencedPhilip;heresolvednottobebaulked，andwatchedhisopportunity。ForthetimehewentonplayingasifSylvia\'sconducthadnotaffectedhimintheleast，andasifhewashardlyawareofherdefectionfromthegame。
Asshesawotherssubmitting，quiteasamatterofcourse，tosimilarpenances，shebegantobeangrywithherselfforhavingthoughttwiceaboutit，andalmosttodislikeherselfforthestrangeconsciousnesswhichhadmadeitatthetimeseemimpossibletodowhatshewastold。Hereyeskeptfillingwithtearsasherisolatedpositioninthegayparty，thethoughtofwhatafoolshehadmadeofherself，keptrecurringtohermind;butnoonesawher，shethought，thuscrying;and，ashamedtobediscoveredwhenthepartyshouldpauseintheirgame，shestoleroundbehindthemintothegreatchamberinwhichshehadhelpedtolayoutthesupper，withtheintentionofbathinghereyes，andtakingadrinkofwater。OneinstantCharleyKinraidwasmissingfromthecircleofwhichhewasthelifeandsoul;andthenbackhecamewithanairofsatisfactiononhisface，intelligibleenoughtothosewhohadseenhisgame;butunnoticedbyPhilip，who，amidsttheperpetualnoiseandmovementsaroundhim，hadnotperceivedSylvia\'sleavingtheroom，untilshecamebackattheendofaboutaquarterofanhour，lookinglovelierthanever，hercomplexionbrilliant，hereyesdrooping，herhairneatlyandfreshlyarranged，tiedwithabrownribboninsteadofthatshewassupposedtohaveforfeited。Shelookedasifshedidnotwishherreturntobenoticed，stealingsoftlybehindtherompingladsandlasseswithnoiselessmotions，andaltogethersuchacontrasttotheminhercoolfreshnessandmodestneatness，thatbothKinraidandPhilipfounditdifficulttokeeptheireyesoffher。Buttheformerhadasecrettriumphinhisheartwhichenabledhimtogoonwithhismerry—makingasifitabsorbedhim;whilePhilipdroppedoutofthecrowdandcameuptowhereshewasstandingsilentlybyMrsCorney，who，armsakimbo，waslaughingatthefrolicandfunaroundher。SylviastartedalittlewhenPhilipspoke，andkepthersofteyesavertedfromhimafterthefirstglance;sheansweredhimshortly，butwithunaccustomedgentleness。Hehadonlyaskedherwhenshewouldlikehimtotakeherhome;andshe，alittlesurprisedattheideaofgoinghomewhentohertheeveningseemedonlybeginning，hadanswered——
\'Gohome？Idon\'tknow！It\'sNewYear\'sEve！\'
\'Ay！butyo\'rmother\'lllieawaketillyo\'comehome，Sylvie！\'
ButMrsCorney，havingheardhisquestion，brokeinwithallsortsofupbraidings。\'Gohome！Notseet\'NewYearin！Why，whatshouldtake\'emhomethesesixhours？Wasn\'tthereamoonasclearasday？anddidsuchatimeasthiscomeoften？AndweretheytobreakupthepartybeforetheNewYearcamein？Andwastherenotsupper，withaspicedroundofbeefthathadbeeninpickleprettynighsin\'Martinmas，andhams，andmince—pies，andwhatnot？Andiftheythoughtanyevilofhermaster\'sgoingtobed，orthatbythatearlyretirementhemeanttoimplythathedidnotbidhisfriendswelcome，whyhewouldnotstayupbeyondeighto\'clockforKingGeorgeuponhisthrone，ashe\'dtellthemsoonenough，ifthey\'donlystepupstairsandaskhim。Well;sheknowedwhatitwastowantadaughterwhenshewasailing，soshe\'dsaynoughtmore，buthastensupper。
AndthisideanowtookpossessionofMrsCorney\'smind，forshewouldnotwillinglyallowoneofhergueststoleavebeforetheyhaddonejusticetoherpreparations;and，cuttingherspeechshort，shehastilyleftSylviaandPhiliptogether。
Hisheartbeatfast;hisfeelingtowardsherhadneverbeensostrongorsodistinctassinceherrefusaltokissthe\'candlestick。\'Hewasonthepointofspeaking，ofsayingsomethingexplicitlytender，whenthewoodentrencherwhichthepartywereusingattheirplay，camebowlingbetweenhimandSylvia，andspunoutitslittleperiodrightbetwixtthem。
Everyonewasmovingfromchairtochair，andwhenthebustlewasoverSylviawasseatedatsomedistancefromhim，andheleftstandingoutsidethecircle，asifhewerenotplaying。Infact，Sylviahadunconsciouslytakenhisplaceasactorinthegamewhileheremainedspectator，and，asitturnedout，anauditorofaconversationnotintendedforhisears。
Hewaswedgedagainstthewall，closetothegreateight—dayclock，withitsroundmoon—likesmilingfaceformingaludicrouscontrasttohislong，sallow，gravecountenance，whichwasprettymuchatthesamelevelabovethesandedfloor。BeforehimsatMollyBruntonandoneofhersisters，theirheadsclosetogetherintoodeeptalktoattendtotheprogressofthegame。Philip\'sattentionwascaughtbythewords——
\'I\'lllayanywagerhekissedherwhenheranoffintot\'parlour。\'
\'She\'ssocoyshe\'dniverlethim，\'repliedBessyCorney。