Somethoughtofanotherribbonwhichhadoncetiedupherhair，andafterwardsbeencutintwain，musthavecrossedSylvia\'smind，forsheanswered，asifsheshrankfromherfather\'swords，——
\'Icannotgo，I\'mnoanewantin\'aribbon;I\'mmuchobliged，father，a\'t\'same。\'
Hermotherreadherheartclearly，andsufferedwithher，butneverspokeawordofsympathy。ButshewentonrathermorequicklythanshewouldotherwisehavedonetoquestionherhusbandastoallheknewaboutthisgreatriseofPhilip\'s。Once6rtwiceSylviajoinedinwithlanguidcuriosity;butpresentlyshebecametiredandwenttobed。Forafewmomentsaftersheleft，herparentssatesilent。ThenDaniel，inatoneasifhewerejustifyinghisdaughter，andcomfortinghimselfaswellashiswife，observedthatitwasalmostonfornine;theeveningswerelightsolongnow。Bellsaidnothinginreply，butgatheredupherwool，andbegantoarrangethethingsfornight。
By—and—byDanielbrokethesilencebysaying，——
\'AthowtatonetimeasPhiliphadafancyforourSylvie。\'
ForaminuteortwoBelldidnotspeak。Then，withdeeperinsightintoherdaughter\'sheartthanherhusband，inspiteofhisgreaterknowledgeoftheeventsthathadhappenedtoaffectit，shesaid，——
\'Ifthou\'sthinkingonamatchbetween\'em，it\'llbealongtimeaforeth\'poorsadwenchisfitt\'thinkonanothermanassweetheart。\'
\'Asaidnoughtaboutsweethearts，\'repliedhe，asifhiswifehadreproachedhiminsomeway。\'Woman\'sallayssofullo\'sweetheartsandmatteremony。
Aonlysaidasa\'dthowtonceasPhiliphadafancyforourlass，andathinksostill;andhe\'llbeworthhistwohunderayearaforelong。Butaniversaidnoughtaboutsweethearts。\'
chapter21CHAPTERXXIAREJECTEDSUITORThereweremanydomesticarrangementstobemadeinconnectionwiththenewcommercialoneswhichaffectedHepburnandCoulson。
TheFosters，withsomethingofthebusybodinesswhichisapttomingleitselfwithkindlypatronage，hadplannedintheirownmindsthattheRosehouseholdshouldberemovedaltogethertothehousebelongingtotheshop;
andthatAlice，withtheassistanceofthecapableservant，who，atpresent，managedallJohn\'sdomesticaffairs，shouldcontinueasmistressofthehouse，withPhilipandCoulsonforherlodgers。
ButarrangementswithoutherconsentdidnotsuitAliceatanytime，andshehadverygoodreasonsfordecliningtoaccedetothis。Shewasnotgoingtobeuprootedathertimeoflife，shesaid，norwouldsheconsenttoenteruponafuturewhichmightbesouncertain。Why，HepburnandCoulsonwerebothyoungmen，shesaid，andtheywereaslikelytomarryasnot;
andthenthebridewouldbesuretowishtoliveinthegoodold—fashionedhouseatthebackoftheshop。
Itwasinvainshewastoldbyeveryoneconcerned，that，incaseofsuchanevent，thefirstmarriedpartnershouldtakeahouseofhisown，leavingherinundisputedpossession。Shereplied，withapparenttruth，thatbothmightwishtomarry，andsurelythewifeofoneoughttotakepossessionofthehousebelongingtothebusiness;thatshewasnotgoingtotrustherselftothefanciesofyoungmen，whowerealways，thebestofthem，goinganddoingtheverythingthatwasmostfoolishinthewayofmarriage;ofwhichstate，infact，shespokewithsomethingofacrimoniouscontemptanddislike，asifyoungpeoplealwaysgotmismatched，yethadnotthesensetoletolderandwiserpeoplechooseforthem。
\'Thou\'llnothavebeenunderstandingwhyAliceRosespokeasshedidthismorning，\'saidJeremiahFostertoPhilip，ontheafternoonsucceedingthefinaldiscussionofthisplan。Shewasa—thinkingofheryouth，Ireckon，whenshewasawell—favouredyoungwoman，andourJohnwasfullofthethoughtofmarryingher。Ashecouldnothaveher，hehaslivedabachelorallhisdays。ButifIamnotavastmistaken，allthathehaswillgotoherandtoHester，forallthatHesteristhechildofanotherman。
TheeandCoulsonshouldhaveatryforHester，Philip。IhavetoldCoulsonthisdayofHester\'schances。Itoldhimfirstbecauseheismynephew;
butItelltheenow，Philip。Itwouldbeagoodthingfortheshopifoneofyewasmarried。\'
Philipreddened。Oftenastheideaofmarriagehadcomeintohismind，thiswasthefirsttimeithadbeengravelysuggestedtohimbyanother。
Butherepliedquietlyenough。
\'Idon\'tthinkHesterRosehasanythoughtofmatrimony。\'
\'Tobesurenot;itisforthee，orforWilliamCoulson，tomakeherthink。She，maybe，remembersenoughofhermother\'slifewithherfathertomakeherslowtothinkonsuchthings。Butit\'sinhertothinkonmatrimony;
it\'sinallofus。\'
\'Alice\'shusbandwasdeadbeforeIknewher，\'saidPhilip，ratherevadingthemainsubject。
\'Itwasamercywhenheweretaken。Amercytothemwhowereleft，I
mean。Alicewasabonnyyoungwoman，withasmileforeverybody，whenhewedher——asmileforeveryoneexceptourJohn，whonevercoulddoenoughtotryandwinonefromher。But，no！shewouldhavenoneofhim，butsetherheartonJackRose，asailorinawhale—ship。Andsotheyweremarriedatlast，thoughallherownfolkswereagainstit。Andhewasaprofligatesinnerandwentafterotherwomen，anddrank，andbeather。SheturnedasstiffandasgreyasthouseesthernowwithinayearofHester\'sbirth。
Ibelievethey\'dhaveperishedforwantandcoldmanyatimeifithadnotbeenforJohn。Ifsheeverguessedwherethemoneycamefrom，itmusthavehurtherprideaboveabit，forshewasalwaysaproudwoman。Butmother\'sloveisstrongerthanpride。\'
Philipfelltothinking;agenerationagosomethingofthesamekindhadbeengoingonasthatwhichhewasnowlivingthrough，quickwithhopesandfears。Agirlbelovedbytwo——nay，thosetwosoidenticalinoccupationasheandKinraidwere——Roseidenticalevenincharacterwithwhatheknewofthespecksioneer;agirlchoosingthewronglover，andsufferingandsouredallherlifeinconsequenceofheryouth\'smistake;wasthattobeSylvia\'slot？——or，rather，wasshenotsavedfromitbytheeventoftheimpressment，andbythecourse6fsilencehehimselfhadresolvedupon？Thenhewentontowonderifthelivesofonegenerationwerebutarepetitionofthelivesofthosewhohadgonebefore，withnovariationbutfromtheinternalcausethatsomehadgreatercapacityforsufferingthanothers。Wouldthoseverycircumstanceswhichmadetheinterestofhislifenow，return，induecycle，whenhewasdeadandSylviawasforgotten？
PerplexedthoughtsofthisandasimilarkindkeptreturningintoPhilip\'smindwheneverhehadleisuretogivehimselfuptoconsiderationofanythingbuttheimmediatethrongofbusiness。Andeverytimehedweltonthiscomplicationandsuccessionofsimilarevents，heemergedfromhisreveriemoreandmoresatisfiedwiththecoursehehadtakeninwithholdingfromSylviaallknowledgeofherlover\'sfate。
ItwassettledatlengththatPhilipwastoremovetothehousebelongingtotheshop，CoulsonremainingwithAliceandherdaughter。ButinthecourseofthesummerthelattertoldhispartnerthathehadofferedmarriagetoHesteronthepreviousday，andbeenrefused。Itwasanawkwardaffairaltogether，ashelivedintheirhouse，andwasindailycompanionshipwithHester，who，however，seemedtopreservehergentlecalmness，withonlyatingemoreofreserveinhermannertoCoulson。
\'Iwishyo\'couldfindoutwhatshehasagain\'me，Philip，\'saidCoulson，aboutafortnightafterhehadmadetheproposal。ThepooryoungmanthoughtthatHester\'scomposureofmannertowardshimsincetheeventarguedthathewasnotdistastefultoher;andashewasnowonveryhappytermswithPhilip，hecameconstantlytohim，asifthelattercouldinterpretthemeaningofallthelittleoccurrencesbetweenhimandhisbeloved。\'I\'mo\'rightage，nottwomonthsbetwixtus;andthere\'sfewinMonkshavenaswouldthinkonherwi\'betterprospectsthanme;andsheknowsmyfolks;
we\'rekindo\'cousins，infact;andI\'dbelikeasontohermother;andthere\'snoanei\'Monkshavenascanspeakagain\'mycharacter。There\'snoughtbetweenyo\'andher，isthere，Philip？\'
\'Iha\'telledtheemanyatimethatsheandmeislikebrotherandsister。
She\'snomorethoughtonmenorIhaveforher。Sobecontentwi\'t，forI\'senottelltheeagain。\'
\'Don\'tbevexed，Philip;ifthouknewwhatitwastobeinlove，thou\'dbealwaysfancyingthings，justasIam。\'
\'Imightbe，\'saidPhilip;\'butIdunnutthinkIshouldbealwaystalkingaboutmyfancies。\'
\'Iwunnottalkanymoreafterthisonce，ifthou\'lljustfindoutfra\'
thysel\'，asitwere，whatitisshehasagain\'me。I\'dgotochapelforiverwithher，ifthat\'swhatshewants。Justaskher，Philip。\'
\'It\'sanawkwardthingformetobemellingwi\'，\'saidHepburn，reluctantly。
\'Butthousaidtheeandshewerelikebrotherandsister;andabrotherwouldaskasister，andniverthinktwiceaboutit。\'
\'Well，well，\'repliedPhilip，\'I\'llseewhatIcando;but，lad，Idunnotthinkshe\'llhavethee。Shedoesn\'tfancythee，andfancyisthreepartso\'love，ifreasonist\'otherfourth。\'
ButsomehowPhilipcouldnotbeginonthesubjectwithHester。Hedidnotknowwhy，exceptthat，ashesaid，\'itwassoawkward。\'ButhereallylikedCoulsonsomuchastobeanxioustodowhatthelatterwished，althoughhewasalmostconvincedthatitwouldbeofnouse。Sohewatchedhisopportunity，andfoundAlicealoneandatleisureoneSundayevening。
Shewassittingbythewindow，readingherBible，whenhewentin。Shegavehimacurtwelcome，heartyenoughforher，forshewasalwayscharyinherexpressionsofpleasureorsatisfaction。Butshetookoffherhornspectaclesandplacedtheminthebooktokeepherplace;andthenturningmorefullyroundonherchair，soastofacehim，shesaid，——
\'Well，ladandhowdoesitgoon？Thoughit\'snotadayfort\'askaboutworldlythings。ButIniverseetheenowbutonSabbathday，andrarelythen。Stillwemunnotspeako\'suchthingsont\'Lord\'sday。Sotheemunjustsayhowt\'shopisdoing，andthenwe\'llleavesuchvaintalk。\'
\'T\'shopisdoingmainan\'well，thankye，mother。ButCoulsoncouldtellyo\'o\'thatanyday。\'
\'I\'dadealraytherhearfra\'thee，Philip。Coulsondoesn\'tknowhowt\'managehisownbusiness，letalonehalfthebusinessasittookJohnandJeremiah\'sheads——ay，andtasked\'em，too——tomanage。I\'venopatiencewithCoulson。\'
\'Why？he\'sadecentyoungfellowaseverthereisinMonkshaven。\'
\'Hemaybe。He\'snoanecuthiswisdom—teethyet。But，forthatmatter，there\'sotherfolksasfarfra\'senseasheis。\'
\'Ay，andfarther。Coulsonmayn\'tbesobrightatalltimesashemightbe，buthe\'sasteady—goer，andI\'dbackhimagain\'anychapo\'hisagei\'Monkshaven。\'
\'IknowwhoI\'dsoonerbackinmanyathing，Philip！\'Shesaiditwithsomuchmeaningthathecouldnotfailtounderstandthathehimselfwasmeant，andhereplied，ingenuouslyenough，——
\'Ifyo\'meanme，mother，I\'llnoanedenythatinathingortwoImaybemoreknowledgeablethanCoulson。I\'vehadadealo\'timeonmyhandsi\'myyouth，andI\'dgoodschoolingaslongasfatherlived。\'
\'Lad！it\'snotschooling，norknowledge，norbook—learningascarriesamanthrought\'world。It\'smother—wit。Andit\'snoaneschooling，norknowledge，norbook—learningastakesayoungwoman。It\'ssummatascannotbeputintowords。\'
\'That\'sjustwhatItoldCoulson！\'saidPhilip，quickly。\'HeweresoreputaboutbecauseHesterhadgi\'enhimthebucket，andcametomeaboutit。\'
\'Andwhatdidthousay？\'askedAlice，herdeepeyesgleamingathimasiftoreadhisfaceaswellashiswords。Philip，thinkinghecouldnowdowhatCoulsonhadbeggedofhimintheneatestmanner，wenton，——
\'ItoldhimI\'dhelphimallasIcould————\'
\'Thoudid，didthou？Well，well，there\'snoughtsaqueerasfolks，thatawillsay，\'mutteredAlice，betweenherteeth。
\'——butthatfancyhadthreepartstodowi\'love，\'continuedPhilip，\'anditwouldbehard，maybe，togetareasonforhernotfancyinghim。
YetIwishshe\'dthinktwiceaboutit;hesosetuponhavingher，Ithinkhe\'lldohimselfamischiefwi\'fretting，ifitgoesonasitis。\'
\'It\'llnoanegoonasitis，\'saidAlice，withgloomyoracularness。
\'Hownot？\'askedPhilip。Then，receivingnoanswer，hewenton，\'Heloveshertrue，andhe\'swithinamonthortwoonherage，andhischaracterwillbearhandlingona\'sides;andhisshareont\'shopwillbeworthhundredsayearaforelong。\'
Anotherpause。Alicewastryingtobringdownherpridetosaysomething，whichshecouldnotwithallherefforts。
\'Maybeyo\'llspeakawordforhim，mother，\'saidPhilip，annoyedathersilence。
\'I\'lldonosuchthing。Marriagesarebestmadewi\'outmelling。HowdoIknowbutwhatshelikessomeonebetter？\'
\'OurHester\'snotth\'lasstothinkonayoungmanunlesshe\'sbeena—wooingonher。Andyo\'know，mother，aswellasIdo——andCoulsondoestoo——she\'snivergivenanyoneachancetowooher;livinghalfhertimehere，andt\'otherhalfint\'shop，andniverspeakingtonoonebyt\'
way。\'
\'Iwishthouwouldn\'tcomeheretroublingmeonaSabbathdaywi\'thyvanityandthyworldlytalk。I\'dlieferbyfarbei\'thatworldwheerethere\'sneithermarryingnorgivinginmarriage，forit\'sallamoitheringmesshere。\'SheturnedtotheclosedBiblelyingonthedresser，andopeneditwithabang。Whileshewasadjustingherspectaclesonhernose，withhandstremblingwithpassion，sheheardPhilipsay，——
\'Iaskyo\'rpardon，I\'msure。Icouldn\'twellcomeanyotherday。\'
\'It\'sa\'t\'same——Icarenot。Butthoumightaswelltelltruth。I\'llbeboundthou\'sbeenatHaytersbankFarmsomedaythisweek？\'
Philipreddened;infact，hehadforgottenhowhehadgottoconsiderhisfrequentvisitstothefarmasaregularpieceofoccupation。Hekeptsilence。
Alicelookedathimwithasharpintelligencethatreadhissilencethrough。
\'Ithoughtso。Nexttimethouthinkstothyself，\'I\'mmoreknowledgeablethanCoulson，\'justrememberAliceRose\'swordsandtheyarethese:——IfCoulson\'stoothick—sightedtoseethroughaboard，thou\'rttooblindtoseethroughawindow。Asforcomin\'andspeakin\'upforCoulson，why，he\'llbemarriedtosomeoneelseaforet\'year\'sout，forallhethinkshe\'ssosetuponHesternow。Gothyways，andleavemetomyScripture，andcomenomoreonSabbathdayswi\'thyvainbabbling。\'
SoPhilipreturnedfromhismissionrathercrestfallen，butquiteasfaraseverfrom\'seeingthroughaglasswindow。\'
Beforetheyearwasout，Alice\'sprophecywasfulfilled。Coulson，whofoundthepositionofarejectedloverinthesamehousewiththegirlwhohadrefusedhim，toouncomfortabletobeendured，assoonashewasconvincedthathisobjectwasdecidedlyoutofhisreach，turnedhisattentiontosomeoneelse。HedidnotlovehisnewsweetheartashehaddoneHester:
therewasmoreofreasonandlessoffancyinhisattachment。Butitendedsuccessfully;andbeforethefirstsnowfell，Philipwasbestmanathispartner\'swedding。
EndofPartTwochapter22CHAPTERXXIIDEEPENINGSHADOWSButbeforeCoulsonwasmarried，manysmalleventshappened——smalleventstoallbutPhilip。Tohimtheywereasthesunandmoon。ThedayswhenhewentuptoHaytersbankandSylviaspoketohim，thedayswhenhewentupandshehadapparentlynohearttospeaktoanyone，butlefttheroomassoonashecame，orneverentereditatall，althoughshemusthaveknownthathewasthere——thesewerehisalternationsfromhappinesstosorrow。
Fromherparentshealwayshadawelcome。Oppressedbytheirdaughter\'sdepressionofspirits，theyhailedthecomingofanyvisitorasachangeforheraswellasforthemselves。TheformerintimacywiththeCorneyswasinabeyanceforallparties，owingtoBessyCorney\'sout—spokengriefforthelossofhercousin，asifshehadhadreasontolookuponhimasherlover，whereasSylvia\'sparentsfeltthisasaslurupontheirdaughter\'scauseofgrief。Butalthoughatthistimethemembersofthetwofamiliesceasedtoseekaftereachother\'ssociety，nothingwassaid。Thethreadoffriendshipmightbejoinedafreshatanytime，onlyjustnowitwasbroken;andPhilipwasgladofit。BeforegoingtoHaytersbankhesoughteachtimeforsomelittlepresentwithwhichtomakehiscomingwelcome。
AndnowhewishedevenmorethaneverthatSylviahadcaredforlearning;
ifshehadhecouldhavetakenhermanyaprettyballad，orstory—book，suchasweretheninvogue。HedidtryherwiththetranslationoftheSorrowsofWerther，sopopularatthetimethatithadaplaceinallpedlars\'baskets，withLaw\'sSeriousCall，thePilgrim\'sProgress，Klopstock\'sMessiahandParadiseLost。Butshecouldnotreaditforherself;andafterturningtheleaveslanguidlyover，andsmilingalittleatthepictureofCharlottecuttingbreadandbutterinaleft—handedmanner，sheputitasideontheshelfbytheCompleteFarrier;andtherePhilipsawit，upsidedownanduntouched，thenexttimehecametothefarm。
ManyatimeduringthatsummerdidheturntothefewversesinGenesisinwhichJacob\'stwicesevenyearsserviceforRachelisrelated，andtryandtakefreshheartfromtherewardwhichcametothepatriarch\'sconstancyatlast。Aftertryingbooks，nosegays，smallpresentsofprettyarticlesofdress，suchassuitedthenotionsofthosedays，andfindingthemallreceivedwiththesamelanguidgratitude，hesethimselftoendeavourtopleaseherinsomeotherway。Itwastimethatheshouldchangehistactics;
forthegirlwasbecomingwearyofthenecessityforthankinghim，everytimehecame，forsomelittlefavourorother。Shewishedhewouldletheraloneandnotwatchhercontinuallywithsuchsadeyes。HerfatherandmotherhailedherfirstsignsofimpatientpetulancetowardshimasareturntotheoldstateofthingsbeforeKinraidhadcometodisturbthetenouroftheirlives;forevenDanielhadturnedagainstthespecksioneer，irritatedbytheCorneys\'loudmoansoverthelossofthemantowhomtheirdaughtersaidthatshewasattached。IfDanielwishedforhimtobealiveagain，itwasmainlythattheCorneysmightbeconvincedthathislastvisittotheneighbourhoodofMonkshavenwasforthesakeofthepaleandsilentSylvia，andnotforthatofBessy，whocomplainedofKinraid\'suntimelydeathratherasifbyitshehadbeencheatedofahusbandthanforanyoverwhelmingpersonallovetowardsthedeceased。
\'Ifhewereafterherhewereabigblackscoundrel，that\'swhathewere;andawishhewerealiveagaintobehung。Butadunnotbelieveit;
themCorneylasseswereallaysa—talkin\'an\'a—thinkingonsweethearts，andniveramancrossedt\'thresholdbuttheytriedhimonasahusband。
An\'theirmotherwerenobetterKinraidhasspokenciviltoBessyasbecamealadtoalass，andshemakesanadooverhimasifthey\'dbeentochurchtogethernotaweeksin\'。\'
\'Idunnotupholdt\'Corneys;butMollyCorney——asisMollyBruntonnow——usedtospeakonthisdeadmantoourSylvieasifhewerehersweetheartinolddays。Nowthere\'snosmokewithoutfire，andI\'mthinkingit\'slikelyenoughhewereoneofthemfellowsasisalwaysaftersomelassoranother，and，asoftenasnot，twoorthreeatatime。NowlookatPhilip，whatadifferentoneheis！He\'sniverthoughtonawomanbutourSylvie，I\'llbebound。Iwishhewern\'tsoold—fashionedandfaint—hearted。\'
\'Ay！andt\'shop\'sdoin\'avasto\'business，I\'veheardsay。He\'sadealbettercompany，too，norheusedtobe。He\'dawayo\'preachingwi\'
himasacouldn\'tabide;butnowhetak\'shisglass，an\'holdshistongue，leavin\'roomforwisermentosaytheirsay。\'
Suchwasaconjugalcolloquyaboutthistime。PhilipwasgaininggroundwithDaniel，andthatwassomethingtowardswinningSylvia\'sheart;forshewasunawareofherfather\'schangeoffeelingtowardsKinraid，andtookallhistendernesstowardsherselfasiftheyweremarksofhisregardforherlostloverandhissympathyinherloss，insteadofwhichhewasratherfeelingasifitmightbeagoodthingafterallthatthefickle—heartedsailorwasdeadanddrowned。Infact，Danielwasverylikeachildinallthepartsofhischaracter。Hewasstronglyaffectedbywhateverwaspresent，andapttoforgettheabsent。Heactedonimpulse，andtoooftenhadreasontobesorryforit;buthehatedhissorrowtoomuchtoletitteachhimwisdomforthefuture。Withallhismanyfaults，however，hehadsomethinginhimwhichmadehimbedearlyloved，bothbythedaughterwhomheindulged，andthewifewhowasinfactsuperiortohim，butwhomheimaginedthatheruledwithawiseandabsolutesway。
LovetoSylviagavePhiliptact。Heseemedtofindoutthattopleasethewomenofthehouseholdhemustpayallpossibleattentiontotheman;
andthoughhecaredlittleincomparisonforDaniel，yetthisautumnhewascontinuallythinkingofhowhecouldpleasehim。Whenhehadsaidordoneanythingtogratifyoramuseherfather，Sylviasmiledandwaskind。
Whateverhedidwasrightwithhisaunt;butevenshewasunusuallygladwhenherhusbandwaspleased。Stillhisprogresswasslowtowardshisobject;
andoftenhesighedhimselftosleepwiththewords，\'sevenyears，andmaybesevenyearsmore。\'TheninhisdreamshesawKinraidagain，sometimesstruggling，sometimessailingtowardsland，theonlyoneonboardaswiftadvancingship，aloneondeck，sternandavenging;tillPhilipawokeinremorsefulterror。
Suchandsimilardreamsreturnedwiththegreaterfrequencywhen，intheNovemberofthatyear，thecoastbetweenHartlepoolandMonkshavenwasovershadowedbythepresenceofguard—ships，drivensouthfromtheirstationatNorthShieldsbytheresolutionwhichthesailorsofthatporthadenteredintotoresistthepress—gang，andtheenergywithwhichtheyhadbeguntocarryouttheirdetermination。ForonacertainTuesdayeveningyetrememberedbyoldinhabitantsofNorthShields，thesailorsinthemerchantservicemettogetherandoverpoweredthepress—gang，dismissingthemfromthetownwiththehighestcontempt，andwiththeirjacketsreversed。
AnumerousmobwentwiththemtoChirtonBar;gavethemthreecheersatparting，butvowedtotearthemlimbfromlimbshouldtheyseektore—enterNorthShields。Butafewdaysafterwardssomefreshcauseofirritationarose，andfivehundredsailors，armedwithsuchswordsandpistolsastheycouldcollect，paradedthroughthetowninthemostriotousmanner，andatlastattemptedtoseizethetenderEleanor，onsomepretextoftheill—treatmentoftheimpressedmenaboard。Thisendeavourfailed，however，owingtotheenergeticconductoftheofficersincommand。NextdaythisbodyofsailorssetoffforNewcastle;butlearning，beforetheyreachedthetown，thattherewasastrongmilitaryandcivilforcepreparedtoreceivethemthere，theydispersedforthetime;butnotbeforethegoodcitizenshadreceivedagreatfright，thedrumsoftheNorthYork—shiremilitiabeatingtoarms，andtheterrifiedpeoplerushingoutintothestreetstolearnthereasonofthealarm，andsomeofthemseeingthemilitia，underthecommandoftheEarlofFauconberg，marchingfromtheguard—houseadjoiningNewGatetothehouseofrendezvousforimpressedseamenintheBroadChase。
Butafewweeksafter，theimpressmentservicetooktheirrevengefortheinsultstheyhadbeensubjectedtoinNorthShields。InthedeadofnightacordonwasformedroundthattownbyaregimentstationedatTynemouthbarracks;thepress—gangsbelongingtoarmedvesselslyingoffShieldsharbourwereletloose;noonewithinthecirclecouldescape，andupwardsoftwohundredandfiftymen，sailors，mechanics，labourersofeverydescription，wereforcedonboardthearmedships。Withthatprizetheysetsail，andwiselylefttheplace，wheredeeppassionatevengeancewasswornagainstthem。NotallthedreadofaninvasionbytheFrenchcouldreconcilethepeopleofthesecoaststothenecessityofimpressment。Fearandconfusionprevailedafterthistowithinmanymilesofthesea—shore。AYorkshiregentlemanofranksaidthathislabourersdispersedlikeacoveyofbirds，becauseapress—gangwasreportedtohaveestablisheditselfsofarinlandasTadcaster;andtheyonlyreturnedtoworkontheassurancefromthestewardofhismaster\'sprotection，buteventhenbeggedleavetosleeponstrawinthestablesorouthousesbelongingtotheirlandlord，notdaringtosleepattheirownhomes。Nofishwascaught，forthefishermendarednotventureouttosea;themarketsweredeserted，asthepress—gangsmightcomedownonanygatheringofmen;priceswereraised，andmanywereimpoverished;
manyothersruined。ForinthegreatstruggleinwhichEnglandwastheninvolved，thenavywasesteemedhersafeguard;andmenmustbehadatanypriceofmoney，orsuffering，orofinjustice。LandsmenwerekidnappedandtakentoLondon;there，intoomanyinstances，tobedischargedwithoutredressandpenniless，becausetheywerediscoveredtobeuselessforthepurposeforwhichtheyhadbeentaken。
Autumnbroughtbackthewhaling—ships。Buttheperiodoftheirreturnwasfullofgloomyanxiety，insteadofitsbeingtheannualtimeofrejoicingandfeasting;ofgladdenedhouseholds，wherebravesteadyhusbandsorsonsreturned;ofunlimitedandrecklessexpenditure，andboisterousjovialityamongthosewhothoughtthattheyhadearnedunboundedlicenceonshorebytheirsixmonthsofcompelledabstinence。Inotheryearsthishadbeenthetimefornewandhandsomewinterclothing;forcheerfulifhumblehospitality;
fortheshopkeeperstodisplaytheirgayestandbest;forthepublic—housestobecrowded;forthestreetstobefullofbluejackets，rollingalongwithmerrywordsandopenhearts。Inotheryearstheboiling—houseshadbeenfullofactiveworkers，thestaithescrowdedwithbarrels，theship—carpenters\'
yardsthrongedwithseamenandcaptains;nowafewmen，temptedbyhighwages，wentstealthilybybacklanestotheirwork，clusteringtogether，withsinisterlooks，glancingroundcorners，andfearfulofeveryapproachingfootstep，asiftheyweregoingonsomeunlawfulbusiness，insteadoftruehonestwork。Mostofthemkepttheirwhaling—knivesaboutthemreadyforbloodydefenceiftheywereattacked。Theshopswerealmostdeserted;therewasnounnecessaryexpenditurebythemen;theydarednotventureouttobuylavishpresentsforthewifeorsweetheartorlittlechildren。Thepublic—houseskeptscoutsonthelook—out;whilefiercemendrankandsworedeepoathsofvengeanceinthebar—menwhodidnotmaunderintheircups，norgrowfoolishlymerry，butinwhomliquorcalledforthallthedesperate，badpassionsofhumannature。
Indeed，allalongthecoastofYorkshire，itseemedasifablighthungoverthelandandthepeople。Mendodgedabouttheirdailybusinesswithhatredandsuspicionintheireyes，andmanyacursewentovertheseatothethreefatalshipslyingmotionlessatanchorthreemilesoffMonkshaven。
WhenfirstPhiliphadheardinhisshopthatthesethree—men—of—warmightbeseenlyingfellandstillonthegrayhorizon，hisheartsank，andhescarcelydaredtoasktheirnames。ForifoneshouldbetheAlcestis;
ifKinraidshouldsendwordtoSylvia;ifheshouldsayhewasliving，andloving，andfaithful;ifitshouldcometopassthatthefactoftheundeliveredmessagesentbyherloverthroughPhilipshouldreachSylvia\'searswhatwouldbethepositionofthelatter，notmerelyinherlove——that，ofcourse，wouldbehopeless——butinheresteem？Allsophistryvanished;
thefearofdetectionawakenedPhiliptoasenseofguilt;and，besides，hefoundout，that，inspiteofallidletalkandcarelessslander，hecouldnothelpbelievingthatKinraidwasinterribleearnestwhenheutteredthosepassionatewords，andentreatedthattheymightbebornetoSylvia。
SomeinstincttoldPhilipthatifthespecksioneerhadonlyflirtedwithtoomany，yetthatforSylviaRobsonhislovewastrueandvehement。ThenPhiliptriedtoconvincehimselfthat，fromallthatwassaidofhispreviouscharacter，Kinraidwasnotcapableofanenduringconstantattachment;
andwithsuchpooropiatetohisconscienceashecouldobtainfromthisnotionPhilipwasobligedtoremaincontent，until，adayortwoafterthefirstintelligenceofthepresenceofthosethreeships，helearned，withsometroubleandpains，thattheirnamesweretheMegoera，theBellerophon，andtheHanover。
ThenhebegantoperceivehowunlikelyitwasthattheAlcestisshouldhavebeenlingeringonthisshoreallthesemanymonths。Shewas，doubtless，gonefarawaybythistime;shehad，probably，joinedthefleetonthewarstation。Whocouldtellwhathadbecomeofherandhercrew？
shemighthavebeeninbattlebeforenow，andifso————
Sohispreviousfanciesshranktonothing，rebukedfortheirimprobability，andwiththemvanishedhisself—reproach。Yetthereweretimeswhenthepopularattentionseemedtotallyabsorbedbythedreadofthepress—gang;
whennoothersubjectwastalkedabout——hardly，infact，thoughtabout。
Atsuchflowsofpanic，PhiliphadhisownprivatefearslestaflashoflightshouldcomeuponSylvia，andsheshouldsuddenlyseethatKinraid\'sabsencemightbeaccountedforinanotherwaybesidesdeath。Butwhenhereasoned，thisseemedunlikely。Noman—of—warhadbeenseenoffthecoast，or，ifseen，hadneverbeenspokenabout，atthetimeofKinraid\'sdisappearance。
Ifhehadvanishedthiswintertime，everyonewouldhavebeenconvincedthatthepress—ganghadseizeduponhim。PhiliphadneverheardanyonebreathethedreadednameoftheAlcestis。Besides，hewentontothink，atthefarmtheyareoutofhearingofthisonegreatwearysubjectoftalk。Butitwasnotso，ashebecameconvincedoneevening。HisauntcaughthimalittleasidewhileSylviawasinthediary，andherhusbandtalkingintheshippenwithKester。
\'Forgood\'ssake，Philip，dunnottheebringustalkaboutt\'press—gang。
It\'sathingashasgotholdonmymeaster，tillthou\'dthinkhimpossessed。
He\'sspeakingperpetualoniti\'suchaway，thatthou\'dthinkhewereitchingtokill\'ema\'aforehetastedbreadagain。Hereallytrembleswi\'rageandpassion;an\'a\'nightit\'sjustasbad。Hestartsupi\'hissleep，swearingandcursingat\'em，tillI\'msometimesafearedhe\'llmak\'
anendo\'mebymistake。AndwhatmunhedolastnightbutopenoutonCharleyKinraid，andtellSylviehethoughtm\'appent\'ganghadgotholdonhim。Itmightmakehercrya\'hersauttearso\'eragain。\'
Philipspoke，bynowishofhisown，butasifcompelledtospeak。