WistfullyshelongedforonewordofthanksorrecognitionfromPhilip，inwhoseserviceshehadperformedthishardtask;buthewasotherwiseoccupied，andoncastingafurtherglancebackassheturnedthecornerofthestreet，shesawPhilipliftingSylviacarefullydowninhisarmsfromherfootingonthetopofthewheel，andthentheyallwentintothelightandthewarmth，thedoorwasshut，thelightenedcartdrovebrisklyaway，andHester，inrain，andcold，anddarkness，wenthomewardswithhertiredsadheart。
Philiphaddoneallhecould，sincehisreturnfromlawyerDawson\'s，tomakehishousebrightandwarmforthereceptionofhisbeloved。HehadastrongapprehensionoftheprobablefateofpoorDanielRobson;hehadawarmsympathywiththemiserabledistressofthewifeanddaughter;
butstillatthebackofhismindhisspiritsdancedasifthiswastothemafestaloccasion。HehadeventakenunconsciouspleasureinPhoebe\'ssuspiciouslooksandtones，ashehadhurriedandsuperintendedherinheroperations。Afireblazedcheerilyintheparlour，almostdazzlingtothetravellersbroughtinfromthedarknessandtherain;candlesburned——twocandles，muchtoPhoebe\'sdiscontent。PoorBellRobsonhadtositdownalmostassoonassheenteredtheroom，sowornoutwasshewithfatigueandexcitement;yetshegrudgedeverymomentwhichseparatedher，asshethought，fromherhusband。
\'I\'mreadynow，\'saidshe，standingup，andratherrepulsingSylvia\'scares;\'I\'mreadynow，\'saidshe，lookingeagerlyatPhilip，asifforhimtoleadtheway。
\'It\'snotto—night，\'repliedhe，almostapologetically。\'Youcan\'tseehimto—night;it\'sto—morrowmorningbeforehegoestoYork;itwasbetterforyo\'tobedownhereintownready;andbesideIdidn\'tknowwhenI
sentforyethathewaslockedupforthenight。\'
\'Well—a—day，well—a—day，\'saidBell，rockingherselfbackwardsandforwards，andtryingtosootheherselfwiththesewords。Suddenlyshesaid，——
\'ButI\'vebroughthiscomforterwi\'me——hisredwoollencomforterashe\'sallayssleptinthistwelvemonthpast;he\'llgethisrheumatizagain;
oh，Philip，cannotIgetittohim？\'
\'I\'llsenditbyPhoebe，\'saidPhilip，whowasbusymakingtea，hospitableandawkward。
\'CannotItakeitmysel\'？\'repeatedBell。\'Icouldmakesurernoranybodyelse;they\'dmaybenotmindyonwoman——Phoebed\'yecallher？\'
\'Nay，mother，\'saidSylvia，\'thou\'snotfittogo。\'
\'ShallIgo？\'askedPhilip，hopingshewouldsay\'no，\'andbecontentwithPhoebe，andleavehimwherehewas。
\'Oh，Philip，wouldyo\'？\'saidSylvia，turninground。
\'Ay，\'saidBell，\'ifthouwouldtakeitthey\'dbemindingyo\'。\'
Sotherewasnothingforitbutforhimtogo，inthefirstflushofhisdelightfulritesofhospitality。
\'It\'snotfar，\'saidhe，consolinghimselfratherthanthem。\'I\'llbebackintenminutes，theteaismaskit，andPhoebewilltakeyo\'rwetthingsanddry\'embyt\'kitchenfire;andhere\'sthestairs，\'openingadoorinthecorneroftheroomfromwhichthestairsimmediatelyascended。\'There\'stworoomsatthetop;thattot\'leftisallmadeready，t\'otherismine，\'
saidhe，reddeningalittleashespoke。Bellwasbusyundoingherbundlewithtremblingfingers。
\'Here，\'saidshe;\'andoh，lad，here\'sabito\'peppermintcake;he\'smainandfondonit，andIcatchedsightonitbygoodluckjustt\'lastminute。\'
Philipwasgone，andtheexcitementofBellandSylviaflaggedoncemore，andsankintowonderingdespondency。Sylvia，however，rousedherselfenoughtotakeoffhermother\'swetclothes，andshetookthemtimidlyintothekitchenandarrangedthembeforePhoebe\'sfire。
Phoebeopenedherlipsonceortwicetospeakinremonstrance，andthen，withaneffort，gulpedherwordsdownforhersympathy，likethatofalltherestoftheMonkshavenworld，wasinfavourofDanielRobson;andhisdaughtermightplaceherdrippingcloakthisnightwherevershewouldforPhoebe。
Sylviafoundhermotherstillsittingonthechairnextthedoor，whereshehadfirstplacedherselfonenteringtheroom。
\'I\'llgi\'eyousometea，mother，\'saidshe，struckwiththeshrunkenlookofBell\'sface。
\'No，no\'saidhermother。\'It\'snotmannersfort\'helpoursel\'s。\'
\'I\'msurePhilipwouldha\'wishedyo\'fortotakeit，\'saidSylvia，pouringoutacup。
Justthenhereturned，andsomethinginhislook，somedumbexpressionofdelightatheroccupation，madeherblushandhesitateforaninstant;
butthenshewenton，andmadeacupofteaready，sayingsomethingalittleincoherentallthetimeabouthermother\'sneedofit。AfterteaBellRobson\'swearinessbecamesoextreme，thatPhilipandSylviaurgedhertogotobed。Sheresistedalittle，partlyoutof\'manners，\'andpartlybecauseshekeptfancying，poorwoman，thatsomehoworotherherhusbandmightsendforher。Butaboutseveno\'clockSylviapersuadedhertocomeupstairs。
Sylvia，too，badePhilipgood—night，andhislookfollowedthelastwaveofherdressasshedisappearedupthestairs;thenleaninghischinonhishand，hegazedatvacancyandthoughtdeeply——forhowlongheknewnot，sointentwashismindonthechancesoffuturity。
HewasarousedbySylvia\'scomingdownstairsintothesitting—roomagain。
Hestartedup。
\'Motherissoshivery，\'saidshe。\'MayIgointhere，\'indicatingthekitchen，\'andmakeheradropofgruel？\'
\'Phoebeshallmakeit，notyou，\'saidPhilip，eagerlypreventingher，bygoingtothekitchendoorandgivinghisorders。Whenheturnedroundagain，Sylviawasstandingoverthefire，leaningherheadagainstthestonemantel—pieceforthecomparativecoolness。Shedidnotspeakatfirst，ortakeanynoticeofhim。Hewatchedherfurtively，andsawthatshewascrying，thetearsrunningdownhercheeks，andshetoomuchabsorbedinherthoughtstowipethemawaywithherapron。
Whilehewasturningoverinhismindwhathecouldbestsaytocomforther（hisheart，likehers，beingalmosttoofullforwords），shesuddenlylookedhimfullintheface，saying，——
\'Philip！won\'ttheysoonlethimgo？whatcantheydotohim？\'Heropenlipstrembledwhileawaitinghisanswer，thetearscameupandfilledhereyes。Itwasjustthequestionhehadmostdreaded;itledtotheterrorthatpossessedhisownmind，butwhichhehadhopedtokeepoutofhers。
Hehesitated。\'Speak，lad！\'saidshe，impatiently，withalittlepassionategesture。\'Icanseethouknows！\'
Hehadonlymadeitworsebyconsideration;herushedblindfoldatareply。
\'He\'sta\'enupforfelony。\'
\'Felony，\'saidshe。\'Therethou\'reout;he\'sinforlettingyonmenout;thoumaycallitriotingifthou\'samindtosetfolksagain\'him，butit\'stoobadtocastsuchhardwordsathimasyon——felony，\'sherepeated，inahalf—offendedtone。
\'It\'swhatthelawyerscallit，\'saidPhilip，sadly;\'it\'snowordo\'
mine。\'
\'Lawyersisallaysformakingtheworsto\'things，\'saidshe，alittlepacified，\'butfolksshouldn\'tallaysbelievethem。\'
\'It\'slawyersashastojudgei\'t\'longrun。\'
\'Cannotthejustices，MrHarterandthemasisnolawyers，givehimasentenceto—morrow，wi\'outsendinghimtoYork？\'
\'No！\'saidPhilip，shakinghishead。Hewenttothekitchendoorandaskedifthegruelwasnotready，soanxiouswashetostoptheconversationatthispoint;butPhoebe，whoheldheryoungmasterinbutlittlerespect，scoldedhimforastupidman，whothought，likeallhissex，thatgruelwastobemadeinaminute，whateverthefirewas，andbadehimcomeandmakeitforhimselfifhewasinsuchahurry。
HehadtoreturndiscomfitedtoSylvia，whomeanwhilehadarrangedherthoughtsreadytoreturntothecharge。
\'Andsayhe\'ssenttoYork，andsayhe\'striedtheere，what\'st\'worsttheycandoagain\'him？\'askedshe，keepingdownheragitationtolookatPhilipthemoresharply。Hereyesneverslackenedtheirpenetratinggazeathiscountenance，untilhereplied，withtheutmostunwillingness，andmostapparentconfusion，——
\'TheymaysendhimtoBotanyBay。\'
Heknewthatheheldbackaworsecontingency，andhewasmortallyafraidthatshewouldperceivethisreserve。Butwhathedidsaywassomuchbeyondherutmostapprehension，whichhadonlyreachedtovarioustermsofimprisonment，thatshedidnotimaginethedarkshadowlurkingbehind。Whathehadsaidwastoomuchforher。Hereyesdilated，herlipsblanched，herpalecheeksgrewyetpaler。Afteraminute\'slookintohisface，asiffascinatedbysomehorror，shestumbledbackwardsintothechairinthechimneycomer，andcoveredherfacewithherhands，moaningoutsomeinarticulatewords。
Philipwasonhiskneesbyher，dumbfromexcessofsympathy，kissingherdress，allunfeltbyher;hemurmuredhalf—words，hebeganpassionatesentencesthatdiedawayuponhislips;andshe——shethoughtofnothingbutherfather，andwaspossessedandraptoutofherselfbythedreadoflosinghimtothatfearfulcountrywhichwasalmostlikethegravetoher，soallbutimpassablewasthegulf。ButPhilipknewthatitwaspossiblethattheseparationimpendingmightbethatofthedark，mysteriousgrave——thatthegulfbetweenthefatherandchildmightindeedbethatwhichnoliving，breathing，warmhumancreaturecanevercross。
\'Sylvie，Sylvie！\'saidhe，——andalltheirconversationhadtobecarriedoninlowtonesandwhispers，forfearofthelisteningearsabove，——\'don\'t——don\'t，thou\'rtrendingmyheart。Oh，Sylvie，hearken。There\'snotathingI\'llnotdo;there\'snotapennyI\'vegot，——th\'lastdropofbloodthat\'sinme，——I\'llgiveupmylifeforhis。\'
\'Life，\'saidshe，puttingdownherhands，andlookingathimasifherlookscouldpiercehissoul;\'whotalkso\'touchinghislife？Thou\'regoingcrazy，Philip，Ithink;\'butshedidnotthinkso，althoughshewouldfainhavebelievedit。Inherkeenagonyshereadhisthoughtsasthoughtheywereanopenpage;shesatethere，uprightandstony，theconvictioncreepingoverherfacelikethegreyshadowofdeath。Nomoretears，nomoretrembling，almostnomorebreathing。Hecouldnotbeartoseeher，andyetsheheldhiseyes，andhefearedtomaketheeffortnecessarytomoveortoturnaway，lesttheshunningmotionshouldcarryconvictiontoherheart。Alas！
convictionoftheprobabledangertoherfather\'slifewasalreadythere:
itwasthatthatwascalmingherdown，tighteninghermuscles，bracinghernerves。Inthathourshelostallherearlyyouth。
\'Thenhemaybehung，\'saidshe，lowandsolemnly，afteralongpause。
Philipturnedawayhisface，anddidnotutteraword。Againdeepsilence，brokenonlybysomehomelysoundinthekitchen。\'Mothermustnotknowonit，\'saidSylvia，inthesametoneinwhichshehadspokenbefore。
\'It\'st\'worstascanhappentohim，\'saidPhilip。\'Morelikelyhe\'llbetransported:maybehe\'llbebroughtininnocentafterall。\'
\'No，\'saidSylvia，heavily，asonewithouthope——asifshewerereadingsomedreadfuldoominthetabletsoftheawfulfuture。\'They\'llhanghim。
Oh，feyther！feyther！\'shechokedout，almoststuffingherapronintohermouthtodeadenthesound，andcatchingatPhilip\'shand，andwringingitwithconvulsiveforce，tillthepainthathelovedwasnearlymorethanhecouldbear。Nowordsofhiscouldtouchsuchagony;butirrepressibly，andashewouldhavedoneittoawoundedchild，hebentoverher，andkissedherwithatender，tremblingkiss。Shedidnotrepulseit，probablyshedidnotevenperceiveit。
AtthatmomentPhoebecameinwiththegruel。Philipsawher，andknew，inaninstant，whattheoldwoman\'sconclusionmustneedsbe;butSylviahadtobeshakenbythenowstandingPhilip，beforeshecouldbebroughtbacktotheleastconsciousnessofthepresenttime。Sheliftedupherwhitefacetounderstandhiswords，thensheroseuplikeonewhoslowlycomestotheuseofherlimbs。
\'IsupposeImungo，\'shesaid:\'butI\'dsoonerfacethedead。Ifsheasksme，Philip，whatmunIsay？\'
\'She\'llnotaskyo\'，\'saidhe，\'ifyo\'goaboutascommon。She\'sneveraskedyo\'allthistime，an\'ifshedoes，putherontome。I\'llkeepitfromheraslongasIcan;I\'llmanagebetternorI\'vedonewi\'thee，Sylvie，\'
saidhe，withasad，faintsmile，lookingwithfondpenitenceatheralteredcountenance。
\'Thoumustn\'tblamethysel\'，\'saidSylvia，seeinghisregret。\'Ibroughtitonmemysel\';IthoughtIwouldha\'t\'truth，whativercameonit，andnowI\'mnotstrongenoughtostandit，Godhelpme！\'shecontinued，piteously。
\'Oh，Sylvie，letmehelpyo\'！IcannotdowhatGodcan，——I\'mnotmeaningthat，butIcandonexttoHimofanyman。Ihavelovedyo\'foryearsan\'
years，inawayit\'sterribletothinkon，ifmylovecandonoughtnowtocomfortyo\'inyoursoredistress。\'
\'CousinPhilip，\'shereplied，inthesamemeasuredtoneinwhichshehadalwaysspokensinceshehadlearnttheextentofherfather\'sdanger，andtheslowstillnessofherwordswasinharmonywiththestonylookofherface，\'thou\'sacomforttome，Icouldn\'tbidemylifewithoutthee;
butIcannottakeinthethoughto\'love，itseemsbesidemequite;Icanthinkonnoughtbutthemthatisquickandthemthatisdead。\'
chapter27CHAPTERXXVIIGLOOMYDAYSPhiliphadmoneyintheFosters\'bank，notsomuchasitmighthavebeenifhehadnothadtopayforthefurnitureinhishouse。Muchofthisfurniturewasold，andhadbelongedtothebrothersFoster，andtheyhadletPhiliphaveitataveryreasonablerate;butstillthepurchaseofithaddiminishedtheamountofhissavings。Butonthesumwhichhepossessedhedrewlargely——hedrewall——nay，heoverdrewhisaccountsomewhat，tohisformermaster\'sdismay，althoughthekindnessoftheirheartsoverruledtheharderargumentsoftheirheads。
AllwaswantedtodefendDanielRobsonattheapproachingYorkassizes。
HiswifehadhandedovertoPhilipallthemoneyormoney\'sworthshecouldlayherhandsupon。Danielhimselfwasnotonetobemuchbeforehandwiththeworld;buttoBell\'sthriftyimaginationtheroundgoldenguineas，tiedupintheoldstocking—footagainstrent—day，seemedamintofmoneyonwhichPhilipmightdrawinfinitely。Asyetshedidnotcomprehendtheextentofherhusband\'sdanger。Sylviawentaboutlikeoneinadream，keepingbackthehottearsthatmightinterferewiththecourseoflifeshehadprescribedforherselfinthatterriblehourwhenshefirstlearntall。EverypennyofmoneyeithersheorhermothercouldsavewenttoPhilip。
Kester\'shoard，too，wasplacedinHepburn\'shandsatSylvia\'searnestentreaty;forKesterhadnogreatopinionofPhilip\'sjudgment，andwouldratherhavetakenhismoneystraighthimselftoMrDawson，andbeggedhimtouseitforhismaster\'sbehoof。
Indeed，ifanything，thenoiselessbreachbetweenKesterandPhiliphadwidenedoflate。Itwasseed—time，andPhilip，inhisgreatanxietyforeverypossibleinterestthatmightaffectSylvia，andalsoassomedistractionfromhisextremeanxietyaboutherfather，hadtakentostudyagricultureofaneveninginsomeoldbookswhichhehadborrowed——TheFarmer\'sCompleteGuide，andsuchlike;andfromtimetotimehecamedownuponthepracticaldoggedKesterwithdirectionsgatheredfromthetheoriesinhisbooks。Ofcoursethetwofellout，butwithoutmanywords。
Kesterperseveredinhisoldways，makinglightofPhilipandhisbooksinmannerandaction，tillatlengthPhilipwithdrewfromthecontest。
\'Manyamanmayleadahorsetowater，butthere\'sfewcanmakehimdrink，\'
andPhilipcertainlywasnotoneofthosefew。Kester，indeed，lookeduponhimwithjealouseyesonmanyaccounts。HehadfavouredCharleyKinraidasaloverofSylvia\'s;andthoughhehadnoideaofthetruth——thoughhebelievedinthedrowningofthespecksioneerasmuchasanyone——yettheyearwhichhadelapsedsinceKinraid\'ssupposeddeathwasbutaveryshortwhiletothemiddle—agedman，whoforgothowslowlytimepasseswiththeyoung;andhecouldoftenhavescoldedSylvia，ifthepoorgirlhadbeenawhitlessheavyatheartthanshewas，forlettingPhilipcomesomuchabouther——come，thoughitwasonherfather\'sbusiness。Forthedarknessoftheircommondreaddrewthemtogether，occasionallytothecomparativeexclusionofBellandKester，whichthelatterperceivedandresented。
KesterevenallowedhimselftogosofarastowonderwhatPhilipcouldwantwithallthemoney，whichtohimseemedunaccountable;andonceortwicetheuglythoughtcrossedhismind，thatshopsconductedbyyoungmenwereoftennotsoprofitableaswhenguidedbyolderheads，andthatsomeofthecoinpouredintoPhilip\'skeepingmighthaveanotherdestinationthanthedefenceofhismaster。PoorPhilip！andhewasspendingallhisown，andmorethanallhisownmoney，andnooneeverknewit，ashehadbounddownhisfriendlybankerstosecrecy。
OnceonlyKesterventuredtospeaktoSylviaonthesubjectofPhilip。
Shehadfollowedhercousintothefieldjustinfrontoftheirhouse，justoutsidetheporch，toaskhimsomequestionshedarednotputinhermother\'spresence——（Bell，indeed，inheranxiety，usuallyabsorbedallthequestionswhenPhilipcame）——andstood，afterPhiliphadbidhergood—by，hardlythinkingabouthimatall，butlookingunconsciouslyafterhimasheascendedthebrow;andatthetophehadturnedtotakealastglanceattheplacehisloveinhabited，and，seeingher，hehadwavedhishatingratifiedfarewell。She，meanwhile，wasrousedfromfarotherthoughtsthanofhim，andofhisnowacknowledgedlove，bythemotionagainstthesky，andwasturningbackintothehousewhensheheardKester\'slowhoarsecall，andsawhimstandingattheshippendoor。
\'Comehither，wench，\'saidhe，indignantly;\'isthisatimeforcourtin\'？\'
\'Courting？\'saidshe，drawingupherhead，andlookingbackathimwithprouddefiance。
\'Ay，courtin\'！whatothermak\'o\'thingis\'twhenthou\'sgazin\'afteryonmeddlesomechap，asifthou\'dsendthyeyesafterhim，andhemakingmarlocksbackatthee？It\'swhatweca\'edcourtin\'i\'myyoungdaysanyhow。
Andit\'snoaneatimeforawenchtogocourtin\'whenherfeyther\'si\'
prison，\'saidhe，withaconsciousnessasheutteredtheselastwordsthathewascruelandunjustandgoingtoofar，yetcarriedontosaythembyhishotjealousyagainstPhilip。
Sylviacontinuedlookingathimwithoutspeaking:shewastoomuchoffendedforexpression。
\'Thoumaygloweran\'thoumaylook，lass，\'saidhe，\'buta\'dthoughtbetteronthee。It\'slikelastweekthylastsweetheartweredrowned;butthou\'snotonetowastetimei\'rememberin\'themasisgone——if，indeed，thouivercaredabuttonforyonKinraid——ifitwasn\'tamake—believe。\'
Herlipswerecontractedanddrawnup，showinghersmallglitteringteeth，whichwerescarcelyapartasshebreathedout——
\'Thouthinksso，doesthou，thatI\'veforgettenhim？Thou\'dbetterhaveacareo\'thytongue。\'
Then，asiffearfulthatherself—commandmightgiveway，sheturnedintothehouse;andgoingthroughthekitchenlikeablindperson，shewentuptohernowunusedchamber，andthrewherself，facedownwards，flatonherbed，almostsmotheringherself。
EversinceDaniel\'scommittal，thedecaythathadimperceptiblybeguninhiswife\'sbodilyandmentalstrengthduringherillnessofthepreviouswinter，hadbeenmakingquickerprogress。Shelostherreticenceofspeech，andoftentalkedtoherself。Shehadnotsomuchforethoughtasofold;
slightdifferences，itistrue，butwhich，withsomeothersofthesamedescription，gavefoundationforthehomelyexpressionwhichsomenowappliedtoBell，\'She\'llneverbet\'samewomanagain。
ThisafternoonshehadcriedherselftosleepinherchairafterPhilip\'sdeparture。ShehadnotheardSylvia\'ssweepingpassagethroughthekitchen;
buthalfanhourafterwardsshewasstartledupbyKester\'sabruptentry。
\'Where\'sSylvie？\'askedhe。
\'Idon\'tknow，\'saidBell，lookingscared，andasifshewasreadytocry。\'It\'snonewsabouthim？\'saidshe，standingup，andsupportingherselfonthestickshewasnowaccustomedtouse。
\'Blessyo\'，no，dunnotbeafeared，missus;it\'sonlyasaspokehastytot\'wench，an\'awantt\'tellherasa\'msorry，saidKester，advancingintothekitchen，andlookingroundforSylvia。
\'Sylvie，Sylvie！\'shoutedhe;\'shemunbei\'t\'house。
Sylviacameslowlydownthestairs，andstoodbeforehim。Herfacewaspale，hermouthsetanddetermined;thelightofhereyesveiledingloom。
Kestershrankfromherlook，andevenmorefromhersilence。
\'A\'mcometoaxpardon，\'saidhe，afteralittlepause。
Shewasstillsilent。
\'A\'mnoaneaboveaxingpardon，thougha\'mfiftyandmore，andthee\'sbutasillywench，asa\'venursedi\'myarms。A\'llsaybeforethymotherasaoughtnivertoha\'usedthemwords，andashowa\'msorryfor\'t。\'
\'Idon\'tunderstanditall，\'saidBell，inahurriedandperplexedtone。
\'WhathasKesterbeensaying，mylass？\'sheadded，turningtoSylvia。
Sylviawentasteportwonearertohermother，andtookholdofherhandasiftoquietenher;thenfacingoncemoreround，shesaiddeliberatelytoKester，——
\'Ifthouwasn\'tKester，I\'dniverforgivethee。Niver，\'sheadded，withbitterness，asthewordshehadusedrecurredtohermind。\'It\'sinmetohatetheenow，forsayingwhatthoudid;butthou\'redearoldKesterafterall，andIcan\'thelpmysel\'，Imunneedsforgivethee，\'andshewenttowardshim。Hetookherlittleheadbetweenhishornyhandsandkissedit。Shelookedupwithtearsinhereyes，sayingsoftly，——
\'Niversaythingslikethemagain。Niverspeakon————\'
\'A\'llbitemytongueofffirst，\'heinterrupted。
Hekepthisword。
InallPhilip\'scomingsandgoingstoandfromHaytersbankFarmatthistime，heneverspokeagainofhislove。Inlook，words，manner，hewaslikeathoughtful，tenderbrother;nothingmore。Hecouldbenothingmoreinthepresenceofthegreatdreadwhichloomedlargeruponhimaftereveryconversationwiththelawyer。
ForMrDonkinhadbeenrightinhisprognostication。GovernmenttookuptheattackontheRendezvouswithahighandheavyhand。Itwasnecessarytoassertauthoritywhichhadbeenoflatetoooftenbraved。Anexamplemustbemade，tostrikedismayintothosewhoopposedanddefiedthepress—gang;
andalltheminorauthoritieswhoheldtheirpowersfromGovernmentwereinasimilarmannersevereandrelentlessintheexecutionoftheirduty。
Sotheattorney，whowentovertoseetheprisonerinYorkCastle，toldPhilip。HeaddedthatDanielstillretainedhisprideinhisachievement，andcouldnotbebroughttounderstandthedangerouspositioninwhichhewasplaced;thatwhenpressedandquestionedastocircumstancesthatmightpossiblybeusedinhisdefence，healwayswanderedofftoaccountsofpreviousoutragescommittedbythepress—gang，ortopassionateabuseofthetrickbywhichmenhadbeenluredfromtheirhomesonthenightinquestiontoassistinputtingoutanimaginaryfire，andthenseizedandcarriedoff。Someofthisverynaturalindignationmightpossiblyhavesomeeffectonthejury;andthisseemedtheonlygroundofhope，andwasindeedaslightone，asthejudgewaslikelytowarnthejuryagainstallowingtheirnaturalsympathyinsuchacasetodiverttheirmindsfromtherealquestion。
SuchwasthesubstanceofwhatPhilipheard，andheardrepeatedly，duringhismanyvisitstoMrDawson。Andnowthetimeoftrialdrewnear;fortheYorkassizesopenedonMarchthetwelfth;notmuchabovethreeweekssincetheoffencewascommittedwhichtookDanielfromhishomeandplacedhiminperilofdeath。
Philipwasgladthat，theextremityofhisdangerneverhavingbeenhintedtoBell，andtravellingsomefortymilesbeingamostunusualexertionatthattimetopersonsofherclass，theideaofgoingtoseeherhusbandatYorkhadneversuggesteditselftoBell\'smind。Herincreasingfeeblenessmadethisseemasteponlytobetakenincaseofthefatalextremenecessity;
suchwastheconclusionthatbothSylviaandhehadcometo;anditwastheknowledgeofthisthatmadeSylviastrangleherowndailylongingtoseeherfather。Notbutthatherhopeswerestrongerthanherfears。Philipnevertoldherthecausesfordespondency;shewasyoung，andshe，likeherfather，couldnotunderstandhowfearfulsometimesisthenecessityforpromptandseverepunishmentofrebellionagainstauthority。
PhilipwastobeinYorkduringthetimeoftheassizes;anditwasunderstood，almostwithoutwords，thatiftheterribleworstoccurred，thewifeanddaughterweretocometoYorkassoonasmightbe。ForthisendPhilipsilentlymadeallthenecessaryarrangementsbeforeleavingMonkshaven。Thesympathyofallmenwaswithhim;itwastoolargeanoccasionforCoulsontobeanythingbutmagnanimous。HeurgedPhiliptotakeallthetimerequisite;toleaveallbusinesscarestohim。AndasPhilipwentaboutpaleandsad，therewasanothercheekthatgrewpalerstill，anothereyethatfilledwithquiettearsashisheavinessofheartbecamemoreandmoreapparent。Thedayforopeningtheassizescameon。PhilipwasinYorkMinster，watchingthesolemnantiqueprocessioninwhichthehighestauthorityinthecountyaccompaniesthejudgestotheHouseoftheLord，tobethereadmonishedastothenatureoftheirduties。AsPhiliplistenedtothesermonwithastrainedandbeatingheart，hishopesrosehigherthanhisfearsforthefirsttime，andthateveninghewrotehisfirstlettertoSylvia。
\'DEARSYLVIA，\'ItwillbelongerfirstthanIthoughtfor。MrDawsonsaysTuesdayinnextweek。Butkeepupyourheart。Ihavebeenhearingthesermonto—daywhichispreachedtothejudges;andtheclergymansaidsomuchinitaboutmercyandforgiveness，Ithinktheycannotfailtobelenientthisassize。
Ihaveseenuncle，wholooksbutthin，butisingoodheart:onlyhewillkeepsayinghewoulddoitoveragainifhehadthechance，whichneitherMrDawsonnorIthinkiswiseinhim，inespecialasthegaolerisbyandhearseverywordasissaid。Hewasveryfainofhearingallabouthome;
andwantsyoutorearDaisy\'scalf，ashethinksshewillproveagoodone。Hebademegivehisbestlovetoyouandmyaunt，andhiskinddutytoKester。
\'Sylvia，willyoutryandforgethowIusedtoscoldyouaboutyourwritingandspelling，andjustwritemetwoorthreelines。IthinkIwouldratherhavethembadlyspeltthannot，becausethenIshallbesuretheyareyours。Andnevermindaboutcapitals;Iwasafooltosaysuchadealaboutthem，foramandoesjustaswellwithoutthem。AletterfromyouwoulddoavasttokeepmepatientallthesedaystillTuesday。Direct——
\'MrPhilipHepburn，\'CareofMrFraser，Draper，\'Micklegate，York。\'Myaffectionatedutytomyaunt。\'Yourrespectfulcousinandservant，\'PHILIPHEPBURN。\'P。S。Thesermonwasgrand。ThetextwasZechariabvii。9，\"Executetruejudgmentandshowmercy。\"Godgrantitmayhaveputmercyintothejudge\'sheartasistotrymyuncle。\'Heavilythedayspassedover。OnSundayBellandSylviawenttochurch，withastrange，half—superstitiousfeeling，asiftheycouldpropitiatetheMostHightoordertheeventsintheirfavourbypayingHimthecomplimentofattendingtodutiesintheirtimeofsorrowwhichtheyhadtoooftenneglectedintheirprosperousdays。ButHe\'whoknowethourframe，andremembereththatwearedust，\'tookpityuponHischildren，andsentsomeofHisblessedpeaceintotheirhearts，elsetheycouldscarcehaveenduredtheagonyofsuspenseofthosenexthours。Forastheycameslowlyandwearilyhomefromchurch，Sylviacouldnolongerbearhersecret，buttoldhermotheroftheperilinwhichDanielstood。ColdastheMarchwindblew，theyhadnotfeltit，andhadsatedownonahedgebankforBelltorest。AndthenSylviaspoke，tremblingandsickforfear，yetutterlyunabletokeepsilenceanylonger。Bellheavedupherhands，andletthemfalldownonherkneesbeforeshereplied。\'TheLordisaboveus，\'saidshe，solemnly。\'Hehassentafearo\'thisintomyheartaforenow。Iniverbreathedittothee，mylass————\'\'AndIniverspokeonittothee，mother，because————\'Sylviachokedwithcrying，andlaidherheadonhermother\'slap，feelingthatshewasnolongerthestrongone，andtheprotector，buttheprotected。
Bellwenton，strokingherhead，\'TheLordislikeatendernurseasweansachildtolookonandtolikewhatitlothedonce。Hehassentmedreamsashaspreparedmeforthis，ifsobeitcomestopass。\'Philipishopeful，\'saidSylvia，raisingherheadandlookingthroughhertearsathermother。\'Ay，heis。AndIcannottell，butIthinkit\'snotfornoughtastheLordhasta\'enawayallfearo\'deathouto\'myheart。IthinkHemeansasDanielandmeistogohand—in—handthroughthevalley——likeaswewalkeduptoourweddinginCrosthwaiteChurch。Icouldneverguideth\'housewithoutDaniel，andIshouldbefearedhe\'dtakeadealmorenorisgoodforhimwithoutme。\'\'Butme，mother，thou\'sforgettingme，\'moanedoutSylvia。\'Oh，mother，mother，thinkonme！\'\'Nay，mylass，I\'mnoaneforgettingyo\'。I\'dasorehearta\'lastwintera—thinkingonthee，whenthatchapKinraidwerehangingaboutthee。