\'Shecouldn\'thelphersel\';andforallshelookssodemureandprimnow\'（andthenbothheadswereturnedinthedirectionofSylvia），\'I\'massureasI\'mbornthatCharleyisnott\'chaptolosehisforfeit;andyetyo\'seehesaysnoughtmoreaboutit，andshe\'sleftoffbeing\'fearedofhim。\'
TherewassomethinginSylvia\'slook，ay，andinCharleyKinraid\'s，too，thatshotconvictionintoPhilip\'smind。Hewatchedthemincessantlyduringtheintervalbeforesupper;theywereintimate，andyetshywitheachother，inamannerthatenragedwhileitbewilderedPhilip。WhatwasCharleysayingtoherinthatwhisperedvoice，astheypassedeachother？
Whydidtheylingerneareachother？WhydidSylvialooksodreamilyhappy，sostartledateverycallofthegame，asifrecalledfromsomepleasantidea？WhydidKinraid\'seyesalwaysseekherwhileherswereaverted，ordowncast，andhercheeksallaflame？Philip\'sdarkbrowgrewdarkerashegazed。He，too，startedwhenMrsCorney，closeathiselbow，badehimgointosupperalongwithsomeoftheelderones，whowerenotplaying;
fortheparlourwasnotlargeenoughtoholdallatonce，evenwiththesqueezingandcramming，andsittingtogetheronchairs，whichwasnotatalloutofetiquetteatMonkshaven。PhilipwastooreservedtoexpresshisdisappointmentandannoyanceatbeingthusarrestedinhispainfulwatchoverSylvia;buthehadnoappetiteforthegoodthingssetbeforehim，andfoundithardworktosmileasicklysmilewhencalleduponbyJosiahPrattforapplauseatsomecountryjoke。Whensupperwasended，therewassomelittlediscussionbetweenMrsCorneyandherson—in—lawastowhetherthedifferentindividualsofthecompanyshouldbecalleduponforsongsorstories，aswasthewontatsuchconvivialmeetings。
Bruntonhadbeenhelpinghismother—in—lawinurgingpeopletoeat，heapingtheirplatesovertheirshoulderswithunexpectedgoodthings，fillingtheglassesattheupperendofthetable，andthemugswhichsuppliedthedeficiencyofglassesatthelower。Andnow，everyonebeingsatisfied，nottosaystuffedtorepletion，thetwowhohadbeenattendingtotheirwantsstoodstill，hotandexhausted。
\'They\'rea\'moststawed，\'saidMrsCorney，withapleasedsmile。\'It\'llbemannerst\'asksomeoneasknowshowtosing。\'
\'Itmaybemannersforfullmen，butnotforfasting，\'repliedBrunton。
\'Folksint\'nextroomwillbewantingtheirvictual，andsingingisallaysouto\'tunetoemptybellies。\'
\'Butthere\'sthemhereas\'lltakeitillifthey\'renotasked。IheerdJosiahPratta—clearinghisthroatnotaminuteago，an\'hethinksasmuchonhissingin\'asacockdoesonhiscrowin\'。\'
\'IfonesingsI\'mafeardallon\'emwillliketoheartheirownpipes。\'
ButtheirdilemmawassolvedbyBessyCorney，whoopenedthedoortoseeifthehungryonesoutsidemightnotcomeinfortheirshareoftheentertainment;andintheyrushed，brightandriotous，scarcelygivingthefirstpartytimetorisefromtheirseatseretheytooktheirplaces。
Oneortwoyoungmen，releasedfromalltheirpreviousshyness，helpedMrsCorneyandherdaughterstocarryoffsuchdishesaswereactuallyempty。Therewasnotimeforchangingorwashingofplates;butthen，asMrsCorneylaughinglyobserved，——
\'We\'rea\'onusfriends，andsomeonusmayhapsweet—hearts;sononeedtobeparticularaboutplates。Themasgetscleanonesislucky;andthemasdoesn\'t，andcannotputupwi\'platesthathasbeenused，mungowithout。\'
ItseemedtobePhilip\'sluckthisnighttobepentupinplaces;foragainthespacebetweenthebenchesandthewallwasfilledupbythein—rushbeforehehadtimetomakehiswayout;andallhecoulddowastositquietwherehewas。Butbetweenthebusyheadsandover—reachingarmshecouldseeCharleyandSylvia，sittingclosetogether，talkingandlisteningmorethaneating。Shewasinanewstrangestateofhappinessnottobereasonedaboutoraccountedfor，butinastateofmoreexquisitefeelingthanshehadeverexperiencedbefore;when，suddenlyliftinghereyes，shecaughtPhilip\'sfaceofextremedispleasure。
\'Oh，\'saidshe，\'Imustgo。There\'sPhiliplookingatmeso。\'
\'Philip！\'saidKinraid，withasuddenfrownuponhisface。
\'Mycousin，\'shereplied，instinctivelycomprehendingwhathadflashedintohismind，andanxioustodisclaimthesuspicionofhavingalover。
\'Mothertoldhimtoseemehome，andhe\'snoanoneforstayinguplate。\'
\'Butyouneedn\'tgo。I\'llseeyo\'home。\'
\'Mother\'sbutailing，\'saidSylvia，alittleconscience—smittenathavingsoentirelyforgotteneverythinginthedelightofthepresent，\'andI
saidIwouldn\'tbelate。\'
\'Anddoyouallayskeeptoyourword？\'askedhe，withatendermeaninginhistone。
\'Allays;leastwaysIthinkso，\'repliedshe，blushing。
\'ThenifIaskyounottoforgetme，andyougivemeyourword，Imaybesureyou\'llkeepit。\'
\'Itwasn\'tIasforgotyou，\'saidSylvia，sosoftlyasnottobeheardbyhim。
Hetriedtomakeherrepeatwhatshehadsaid，butshewouldnot，andhecouldonlyconjecturethatitwassomethingmoretell—talethanshelikedtosayagain，andthatalonewasverycharmingtohim。
\'Ishallwalkhomewithyou，\'saidhe，asSylviaatlastrosetodepart，warnedbyafurtherglimpseofPhilip\'sangryface。
\'No！\'saidshe，hastily，\'Ican\'tdowithyo\';\'forsomehowshefelttheneedofpacifyingPhilip，andknewinherheartthatathirdpersonjoiningtheirtete—a—tetewalkwouldonlyincreasehisdispleasure。
\'Whynot？\'saidCharley，sharply。
\'Oh！Idon\'tknow，onlypleasedon\'t！\'
Bythistimehercloakandhoodwereon，andshewasslowlymakingherwaydownhersideoftheroomfollowedbyCharley，andofteninterruptedbyindignantremonstrancesagainstherdeparture，andtheearlybreaking—upoftheparty。Philipstood，hatinhand，inthedoorwaybetweenthekitchenandparlour，watchinghersointentlythatheforgottobecivil，anddrewmanyajestandgibeuponhimforhisabsorptioninhisprettycousin。
WhenSylviareachedhim，hesaid，——
\'Yo\'rereadyatlast，areyo\'？\'
\'Yes，\'shereplied，inherlittlebeseechingtone。\'Yo\'venotbeenwantingtogolong，hanyo\'？Iha\'butjusteatenmysupper。\'
\'Yo\'vebeensofulloftalk，that\'sbeenthereasonyoursupperlastedsolong。Thatfellow\'snonegoingwi\'us？\'saidhesharply，ashesawKinraidrummagingforhiscapinaheapofmen\'sclothes，thrownintotheback—kitchen。
\'No，\'saidSylvia，inaffrightatPhilip\'sfiercelookandpassionatetone。\'Itelledhimnot。\'
ButatthatmomenttheheavyouterdoorwasopenedbyDanielRobsonhimself——bright，broad，androsy，ajollyimpersonationofWinter。Hislargedrover\'scoatwascoveredwithsnow—flakes，andthroughtheblackframeofthedoorwaymightbeseenawhitewasteworldofsweepingfellandfield，withthedarkairfilledwiththepuredown—fall。Robsonstampedhissnow—ladenfeetandshookhimselfwell，stillstandingonthemat，andlettingacoldfrostycurrentoffreshairintothegreatwarmkitchen。
Helaughedatthemallbeforehespoke。
\'It\'sacoudNewYearasI\'mlettin\'inthoughit\'snoant\'NewYearyet。Yo\'lla\'besnowedup，assureasmynamesDannel，ifyo\'stopfortwel\'o\'clock。Yo\'dbettermak\'hasteandgowhoam。Why，Charley，mylad！
howbeestta？who\'dha\'thoughto\'seeingtheei\'thesepartsagain！Nay，missus，nay，t\'NewYearmunfinditswayint\'t\'housebyitsel\'forme;
foraha\'promisedmyoudwomantobringSylviewhoamasquickasmaybe;
she\'slyin\'awakeandfrettin\'aboutt\'snowandwhatnot。Thankyo\'kindly，missus，buta\'lltak\'noughttoeat;justadropo\'somethin\'hottokeepoutcoud，andwishyo\'a\'thecomplimentso\'theseason。Philip，myman，yo\'llnotbesorrytobesparedt\'walkroundbyHaytersbanksuchaneet。
Mymissuswerei\'suchawayaboutSylviethatathoughta\'djuststepoffmysel\'，andhaveapeepatyo\'a\'，andbringhersomewraps。Yo\'rsheepwillbea\'folded，areckon，MeasterPratt，forthere\'llniverbeanibbleo\'grasstobeseenthistwomonth，accordin\'tomyreadin\';anda\'vebeenatsealongenough，andonlandlongenought\'knowsignsandwonders。
It\'sgoodstuffthat，anyway，andworthcomin\'for，\'afterhehadgulpeddownatumblerfulofhalf—and—halfgrog。\'Kinraid，iftadoesn\'tcomeandseemeaforethou\'rtmanydaysouder，theeandme\'llhavewords。Come，Sylvie，whatarttaabout，keepin\'mehere？Here\'sMistressCorneymixin\'
meanotherjorum。Well，thistimea\'llgive\"T\'marriedhappy，andt\'singlewed！\"\'
Sylviawasallthiswhilestandingbyherfatherquitereadyfordeparture，andnotalittlerelievedbyhisappearanceasherconvoyhome。
\'I\'mreadytoseeHaytersbankto—night，master！\'saidKinraid，witheasyfreedom——afreedomwhichPhilipenvied，butcouldnothaveimitated，althoughhewasdeeplydisappointedatthelossofhiswalkwithSylvia，whenhehadintendedtoexercisethepowerhisaunthaddelegatedtohimofremonstranceifherbehaviourhadbeenlightorthoughtless，andofwarningifhesawcausetodisapproveofanyofherassociates。
AftertheRobsonshadleft，ablankfelluponbothCharleyandPhilip。
Inafewminutes，however，theformer，accustomedtopromptdecision，resolvedthatsheandnoothershouldbehiswife。Accustomedtopopularityamongwomen，andwellversedintheincipientsignsoftheirlikingforhim，heanticipatednodifficultyinwinningher。Satisfiedwiththepast，andpleasantlyhopefulaboutthefuture，hefounditeasytoturnhisattentiontothenextprettiestgirlintheroom，andtomakethewholegatheringbrightwithhisreadygoodtemperandbuoyantspirit。
MrsCorneyhadfeltitherdutytopressPhiliptostay，nowthat，asshesaid，hehadnoonebuthimselftoseehome，andtheNewYearsonearcomingin。Toanyoneelseintheroomshewouldhaveaddedtheclinchingargument，\'Ashalltakeitveryunkindifyo\'gonow;\'butsomehowshecouldnotsaythis，forintruthPhilip\'slookshowedthathewouldbebutawetblanketonthemerrimentoftheparty。So，withasmuchcivilityascouldbemusteredupbetweenthem，hetookleave。Shuttingthedoorbehindhim，hewentoutintothedrearynight，andbeganhislonesomewalkbacktoMonkshaven。Thecoldsleetalmostblindedhimasthesea—winddroveitstraightinhisface;itcutagainsthimasitwasblownwithdriftingforce。Theroarofthewintryseacameborneonthebreeze;therewasmorelightfromthewhitenedgroundthanfromthedarkladenskyabove。Thefield—pathswouldhavebeenamatterofperplexity，haditnotbeenforthewell—knowngapsinthedyke—side，whichshowedthewhitenedlandbeyond，betweenthetwodarkstonewalls。Yethewentclearandstraightalonghisway，havingunconsciouslyleftallguidancetotheanimalinstinctwhichco—existswiththehumansoul，andsometimestakesstrangechargeofthehumanbody，whenallthenoblerpowersoftheindividualareabsorbedinacutesuffering。Atlengthhewasinthelane，toilingupthehill，fromwhich，byday，Monkshavenmightbeseen。Nowallfeaturesofthelandscapebeforehimwerelostinthedarknessofnight，againstwhichthewhiteflakescamecloserandnearer，thickerandfaster。Onasudden，thebellsofMonkshavenchurchrangoutawelcometotheNewYear，1796。Fromthedirectionofthewind，itseemedasifthesoundwasflungwithstrengthandpowerrightintoPhilip\'sface。Hewalkeddownthehilltoitsmerrysound——itsmerrysound，hisheavyheart。AsheenteredthelongHighStreetofMonkshavenhecouldseethewatchinglightsputoutinparlour，chamber，orkitchen。TheNewYearhadcome，andexpectationwasended。Realityhadbegun。
Heturnedtotheright，intothecourtwherehelodgedwithAliceRose。
Therewasalightstillburningthere，andcheerfulvoiceswereheard。
Heopenedthedoor;Alice，herdaughter，andCoulsonstoodasifawaitinghim。Hester\'swetcloakhungonachairbeforethefire;shehadherhoodon，forsheandCoulsonhadbeentothewatch—night。
Thesolemnexcitementoftheserviceshadleftitstracesuponhercountenanceandinhermind。Therewasaspirituallightinherusuallyshadowedeyes，andaslightflushonherpalecheek。Merelypersonalandself—consciousfeelingsweremergedinalovinggood—willtoallherfellow—creatures。
Undertheinfluenceofthislargecharity，sheforgotherhabitualreserve，andcameforwardasPhilipenteredtomeethimwithherNewYear\'swishes——wishesthatshehadpreviouslyinterchangedwiththeothertwo。
\'AhappyNewYeartoyou，Philip，andmayGodhaveyouinhiskeepingallthedaysthereof！\'
Hetookherhand，andshookitwarmlyinreply。Theflushonhercheekdeepenedasshewithdrewit。AliceRosesaidsomethingcurtlyaboutthelatenessofthehourandherbeingmuchtired;andthensheandherdaughterwentupstairstothefrontchamber，andPhilipandCoulsontothatwhichtheysharedatthebackofthehouse。
chapter13CHAPTERXIIIPERPLEXITIESCoulsonandPhilipwerefriendly，butnotintimate。Theyneverhadhadadispute，theyneverwereconfidentialwitheachother;intruth，theywerebothreservedandsilentmen，and，probably，respectedeachotherthemoreforbeingsoself—contained。TherewasaprivatefeelinginCoulson\'sheartwhichwouldhavemadealessamiablefellowdislikePhilip。Butofthisthelatterwasunconscious:theywerenotapttoexchangemanywordsintheroomwhichtheyoccupiedjointly。
CoulsonaskedPhilipifhehadenjoyedhimselfattheCorneys\'，andPhilipreplied，——
\'Notmuch;suchpartiesarenoanetomyliking。\'
\'Andyetthoubrokeofffromt\'watch—nighttogothere。\'
Noanswer;soCoulsonwenton，withasenseofthedutylaiduponhim，toimprovetheoccasion——thefirstthathadpresenteditselfsincethegoodoldMethodistministerhadgivenhiscongregationthesolemnwarningtowatchovertheopportunitiesofvariouskindswhichthecomingyearwouldpresent。
\'JonasBarclaytoldusasthepleasureso\'thisworldwerelikeappleso\'Sodom，pleasanttolookat，butashestotaste。\'
CoulsonwiselyleftPhiliptomaketheapplicationforhimself。Ifhedidhemadenosign，butthrewhimselfonhisbedwithaheavysigh。
\'Areyo\'notgoingtoundress？\'saidCoulson，ashecoveredhimupinbed。
Therehadbeenalongpauseofsilence。Philipdidnotanswerhim，andhethoughthehadfallenasleep。ButhewasrousedfromhisfirstslumberbyHepburn\'ssoftmovementsabouttheroom。Philiphadthoughtbetterofit，and，withsomepenitenceinhisheartforhisgruffnesstotheunoffendingCoulson，wastryingnottomakeanynoisewhileheundressed。
Buthecouldnotsleep。HekeptseeingtheCorneys\'kitchenandthescenesthathadtakenplaceinit，passinglikeapageantbeforehisclosedeyes。Thenheopenedtheminangrywearinessattherecurringvision，andtriedtomakeouttheoutlinesoftheroomandthefurnitureinthedarkness。
Thewhiteceilingslopedintothewhitewashedwalls，andagainstthemhecouldseethefourrush—bottomedchairs，thelooking—glasshungononeside，theoldcarvedoak—chest（hisownproperty，withtheinitialsofforgottenancestorscutuponit），whichheldhisclothes;theboxesthatbelongedtoCoulson，sleepingsoundlyinthebedintheoppositecorneroftheroom;thecasementwindowintheroof，throughwhichthesnowygroundonthesteephill—sidecouldbeplainlyseen;andwhenhegotsofarasthisinthecatalogueoftheroom，hefellintoatroubledfeverishsleep，whichlastedtwoorthreehours;andthenheawokewithastart，andaconsciousnessofuneasiness，thoughwhatabouthecouldnotrememberatfirst。
Whenherecollectedallthathadhappenedthenightbefore，itimpressedhimmuchmorefavourablythanithaddoneatthetime。Ifnotjoy，hopehadcomeinthemorning;and，atanyrate，hecouldbeupandbedoing，forthelatewintrylightwasstealingdownthehill—side，andheknewthat，althoughCoulsonlaymotionlessinhissleep，itwaspasttheirusualtimeofrising。Still，asitwasNewYear\'sDay，atimeofsomelicence，Philiphadmercyonhisfellow—shopman，anddidnotwakenhimtilljustashewasleavingtheroom。
Carryinghisshoesinhishand，hewentsoftlydownstairsforhecouldseefromthetopoftheflightthatneitherAlicenorherdaughterwasdownyet，asthekitchenshutterswerenotunclosed。ItwasMrsRose\'shabittoriseearly，andhaveallbrightandcleanagainstherlodgerscamedown;butthen，ingeneral，shewenttorestbeforenineo\'clock，whereasthelastnightshehadnotgonetillpasttwelve。Philipwentaboutundoingtheshutters，andtryingtobreakuptherakingcoal，withaslittlenoiseasmightbe，forhehadcompassiononthetiredsleepers。Thekettlehadnotbeenfilled，probablybecauseMrsRosehadbeenunabletofacethestormofthenightbefore，intakingittothepumpjustattheentranceofthecourt。WhenPhilipcamebackfromfillingit，hefoundAliceandHesterbothinthekitchen，andtryingtomakeupforlosttimebyhasteningovertheirwork。Hesterlookedbusyandnotablewithhergownpinnedupbehindher，andherhairalltuckedawayunderacleanlinencap;butAlicewasangrywithherselfforherlatesleeping，andthatandothercausesmadeherspeakcrosslytoPhilip，ashecameinwithhissnowyfeetandwell—filledkettle。
\'Lookthe\'there！droppin\'anddrippin\'alongt\'flagsaswascleanedlastnight，andmeddlin\'wi\'woman\'sworkasamanhasnobusinesswi\'。\'
Philipwassurprisedandannoyed。Hehadfoundrelieffromhisownthoughtsindoingwhathebelievedwouldhelpothers。Hegaveupthekettletohersnatchinghands，andsatedownbehindthedoorinmomentaryill—temper。
Butthekettlewasbetterfilled，andconsequentlyheavierthantheoldwomanexpected，andshecouldnotmanagetoliftittothecrookfromwhichitgenerallyhungsuspended。ShelookedroundforHester，butshewasgoneintotheback—kitchen。InaminutePhilipwasatherside，andhadheavedittoitsplaceforher。Shelookedinhisfaceforamomentwistfully，buthardlycondescendedtothankhim;atleastthesoundofthewordsdidnotpassthelipsthatformedthem。Rebuffedbyhermanner，hewentbacktohisoldseat，andmechanicallywatchedthepreparationsforbreakfast;
buthisthoughtswentbacktothenightbefore，andthecomparativeeaseofhisheartwasgone。Thefirststirofanewdayhadmadehimfeelasifhehadhadnosufficientcauseforhisannoyanceanddespondencythepreviousevening;butnow，condemnedtositquiet，hereviewedlooksandwords，andsawjustreasonforhisanxiety。AftersomeconsiderationheresolvedtogothatverynighttoHaytersbank，andhavesometalkwitheitherSylviaorhermother;whattheexactnatureofthispurposedconversationshouldbe，hedidnotdetermine;muchwoulddependonSylvia\'smannerandmood，andonhermother\'sstateofhealth;butatanyratesomethingwouldbelearnt。
Duringbreakfastsomethingwaslearntnearerhome;thoughnotallthatamanlessunconsciousandmorevainthanPhilipmighthavediscovered。
HeonlyfoundoutthatMrsRosewasdispleasedwithhimfornothavinggonetothewatch—nightwithHester，accordingtotheplanmadesomeweeksbefore。Buthesoothedhisconsciencebyrememberingthathehadmadenopromise;hehadmerelyspokenofhiswishtobepresentattheservice，aboutwhichHesterwasspeaking;andalthoughatthetimeandforagoodwhileafterwards，hehadfullyintendedgoing，yetastherehadbeenWilliamCoulsontoaccompanyher，hisabsencecouldnothavebeenseriouslynoticed。
StillhewasmadeuncomfortablebyMrsRose\'schangeofmanner;onceortwicehesaidtohimselfthatshelittleknewhowmiserablehehadbeenduringhis\'gayevening，\'asshewouldpersistincallingit，orshewouldnottalkathimwithsuchperseveringbitternessthismorning。Beforeheleftfortheshop，hespokeofhisintentionofgoingtoseehowhisauntwas，andofpayingheraNewYear\'sDayvisit。
HepburnandCoulsontookitinturnsweekandweekabouttogofirsthometodinner;theonewhowentfirstsatedownwithMrsRoseandherdaughterinsteadofhavinghisportionputintheoventokeepwarmforhim。To—dayitwasHepburn\'sturntobelast。Allmorningtheshopwasfullwithcustomers，comerathertooffergoodwishesthantobuy，andwithanunspokenremembranceofthecakeandwinewhichthetwohospitablebrothersFostermadeapointofofferingtoallcomersonNewYear\'sDay。
Itwasbusyworkforall——forHesteronherside，wherecaps，ribbons，andwomen\'sgearwereexclusivelysold——fortheshopmenandboysinthegroceryanddraperydepartment。Philipwastryingtodohisbusinesswithhismindfaraway;andtheconsequencewasthathismannerwasnotsuchastorecommendhimtothecustomers，someofwhomrecollecteditasverydifferent，courteousandattentive，ifgraveandsedate。Onebuxomfarmer\'swifenoticedthechangetohim。Shehadalittlegirlwithher，ofaboutfiveyearsold，thatshehadlifteduponthecounter;andwhowaswatchingPhilipwithanxiouseyes，occasionallywhisperinginhermother\'sear，andthenhidingherfaceagainsthercloak。
\'She\'sthoughtadealo\'comingtoseeyo\'，andadunnotthinkasyo\'
mindheratall。Mypretty，he\'scleanforgottenashowhesaidlastNewYear\'sDay，he\'dgi\'theeabarley—sugarstick，ifthou\'dhemhimahandkercherbythis。\'
Thechild\'sfacewasburiedinthecomfortablebreadthofduffleatthesewords，whilethelittleoutstretchedhandheldasmallsquareofcoarselinen。
\'Ay，she\'snoaneforgottenit，andhasdoneherfivestitchesaday，blessher;andadunnotbelieveasyo\'knowheragain。She\'sPhoebeMoorsom，anda\'mHannah，anda\'vedealtatt\'shopreg\'larthisfifteenyear。\'
\'I\'mverysorry，\'saidPhilip。\'Iwasuplatelastnight，andI\'mabitdazedto—day。Well！thisisnicework，Phoebe，andI\'msureI\'mverymuchbeholdentoyo\'。Andhere\'sfivestickso\'barley—sugar，oneforeverystitch，andthankyoukindly，MrsMoorsom，too。\'
Philiptookthehandkerchiefandhopedhehadmadehonourableamendsforhiswantofrecognition。Buttheweelassierefusedtobelifteddown，andwhisperedsomethingafreshintohermother\'sear，whosmiledandbadeherbequiet。Philipsaw，however，thattherewassomewishungratifiedonthepartofthelittlemaidenwhichhewasexpectedtoinquireinto，and，accordingly，hedidhisduty。
\'She\'salittlefool;shesaysyo\'promisedtogi\'eherakiss，andt\'makeheryo\'rwife。\'
Thechildburrowedherfacecloserintohermother\'sneck，andrefusedtoallowthekisswhichPhilipwillinglyoffered。Allhecoulddowastotouchthebackofthelittlewhitefatneckwithhislips。Themothercarriedheroffonlyhalfsatisfied，andPhilipfeltthathemusttryandcollecthisscatteredwits，andbemorealivetotheoccasion。
Towardsthedinner—hourthecrowdslackened;Hesterbegantoreplenishdecantersandbottles，andtobringoutafreshcakebeforeshewenthometodinner;andCoulsonandPhiliplookedoverthejointpresenttheyalwaysmadetoheronthisday。Itwasasilkhandkerchiefoftheprettiestcolourstheycouldpickoutoftheshop，intendedforhertowearroundherneck。
Eachtriedtopersuadetheothertogiveittoher，foreachwasshyoftheactofpresentation。Coulsonwas，however，themostresolute;andwhenshereturnedfromtheparlourthelittleparcelwasinPhilip\'shands。
\'Here，Hester，\'saidhe，goingroundthecountertoher，justasshewasleavingtheshop。\'It\'sfromCoulsonandme;ahandkerchiefforyo\'
towear;andwewishyo\'ahappyNewYear，andplentyon\'em;andthere\'smanyaonewishesthesame。\'
Hetookherhandashesaidthis。Shewentalittlepaler，andhereyesbrightenedasthoughtheywouldfillwithtearsastheymethis;shecouldnothavehelpedit，dowhatshewould。Butsheonlysaid，\'Thankyo\'kindly，\'
andgoinguptoCoulsonsherepeatedthewordsandactiontohim;andthentheywentofftogethertodinner。
Therewasalullofbusinessforthenexthour。JohnandJeremiahwerediningliketherestoftheworld。Eventheeldererrand—boyhadvanished。
Philiprearrangeddisorderlygoods;andthensatedownonthecounterbythewindow;itwasthehabitualplacefortheonewhostayedbehind;forexceptingonmarket—daytherewaslittleornocustomduringthenoon—hour。
Formerlyheusedtomovethedraperywithwhichthewindowwasornamented，andwatchthepassers—bywithcarelesseye。Butnow，thoughheseemedtogazeabroad，hesawnothingbutvacancy。Allthemorningsincehegotuphehadbeentryingtofightthroughhisduties——leaningagainstahope——ahopethatfirsthadbowed，andthenhadbrokeassoonashereallytrieditsweight。TherewasnotasignofSylvia\'slikingforhimtobegatheredfromthemostcarefulrecollectionofthepastevening。Itwasofnousethinkingthattherewas。Itwasbettertogiveitupaltogetherandatonce。Butwhatifhecouldnot？Whatifthethoughtofherwasboundupwithhislife;andthatoncetornoutbyhisownfreewill，theveryrootsofhisheartmustcomealso？
No;hewasresolvedhewouldgoon;aslongastherewaslifetherewashope;aslongasSylviaremainedunpledgedtoanyoneelse，therewasachanceforhim。Hewouldremodelhisbehaviourtoher。Hecouldnotbemerryandlight—heartedlikeotheryoungmen;hisnaturewasnotcastinthatmould:andtheearlysorrowsthathadlefthimalonelyorphanmighthavematured，buthadnotenlivened，hischaracter。HethoughtwithsomebitternessonthepowerofeasytalkingabouttrifleswhichsomeofthosehehadmetwithattheCorneys\'hadexhibited。Butthenhefeltstirringwithinhimaforceofenduringlovewhichhebelievedtobeunusual，andwhichseemedasifitmustcompelallthingstohiswishintheend。A
yearorsoagohehadthoughtmuchofhisownclevernessandhispainfullyacquiredlearning，andhehadimaginedthatthesewerethequalitieswhichweretogainSylvia。Butnow，whetherhehadtriedthemandhadfailedtowinevenheradmiration，orwhethersometrueinstincthadtoldhimthatawoman\'slovemaybegainedinmanywayssoonerthanbymerelearning，hewasonlyangrywithhimselfforhispastfollyinmakinghimselfherschool——nay，hertaskmaster。To—night，though，hewouldstartoffonanewtack。Hewouldnotevenupbraidherforherconductthenightbefore;
hehadshownherhisdispleasureatthetime;butsheshouldseehowtenderandforgivinghecouldbe。Hewouldlurehertohimratherthanfindfaultwithher。Therehadperhapsbeentoomuchofthatalready。
WhenCoulsoncamebackPhilipwenttohissolitarydinner。Ingeneralhewasquitealonewhileeatingit;butto—dayAliceRosechosetobearhimcompany。Shewatchedhimwithcoldsevereeyeforsometime，untilhehadappeasedhislanguidappetite。Thenshebeganwiththerebukeshehadinstoreforhim;arebukethemotivestowhichwerenotentirelyrevealedeventoherself。
\'Thou\'renonesokeenafterthyfoodascommon，\'shebegan。\'Plainvictualsgoesilldownafterfeastin\'。\'
Philipfeltthecolourmounttohisface;hewasnotinthemoodforpatientlystandingthebruntoftheattackwhichhesawwascoming，andyethehadareverentfeelingforwomanandforage。Hewishedshewouldleavehimalone;butheonlysaid——\'Ihadnoughtbutasliceo\'coldbeefforsupper，ifyou\'llcallthatfeasting。\'
\'Neitherdogodlywayssavourdelicatelyafterthepleasuresoftheworld，\'continuedshe，unheedinghisspeech。\'ThouwertwonttoseekthehouseoftheLord，andIthoughtwellonthee;butoflatethou\'stchanged，andfallenaway，andImunspeakwhatisinmyhearttowardsthee。\'
\'Mother，\'saidPhilip，impatiently（bothheandCoulsoncalledAlice\'mother\'attimes），\'Idon\'tthinkJamfallenaway，andanywayIcannotstaynowtobe——it\'sNewYear\'sDay，andt\'shopisthrong。\'
ButAliceheldupherhand。Herspeechwasready，andshemustdeliverit。
\'Shophere，shopthere。Thefleshandthedevilaregettin\'holdonyo\'，andyo\'needmorenorivertoseekt\'wayso\'grace。NewYear\'sDaycomesandsays，\"Watchandpray，\"andyo\'say，\"Nay，I\'llseekfeastsandmarket—places，andlettimesandseasonscomeandgowithoutheedin\'intowhosepresencethey\'rehasteningme。\"Timewas，Philip，whenthou\'dniverha\'lettenamerry—makingkeeptheefra\'t\'watch—night，andt\'companyo\'thegodly。\'
\'Itellyo\'itwasnomerry—makingtome，\'saidPhilip，withsharpness，asheleftthehouse。
Alicesatdownonthenearestseat，andleantherheadonherwrinkledhand。
\'He\'stangledandsnared，\'saidshe;\'myhearthasyearnedafterhim，andIesteemedhimasoneo\'theelect。Andmorenormeyearnsafterhim。
OLord，Ihavebutonechild！OLord，spareher！Buto\'erandabovea\'
Iwouldliketoprayforhissoul，thatSatanmightnothaveit，forhecametomebutalittlelad。\'
AtthatmomentPhilip，smittenbyhisconscienceforhishardmannerofspeech，cameback;butAlicedidnothearorseehimtillhewasclosebyher，andthenhehadtotouchhertorecallherattention。