InamomentSylviahadsprungupfromherseat，andwasrunningintosootheandcomforthermother\'stroubledfancies。Philipsateonbythewell—side，hisfaceburiedinhistwohands。Presentlyheliftedhimselfup，dranksomewatereagerlyoutofhishollowedpalm，sighed，andshookhimself，andfollowedhiscousinintothehouse。Sometimeshecameunexpectedlytothelimitsofhisinfluenceoverher。Ingeneralsheobeyedhisexpressedwisheswithgentleindifference，asifshehadnopreferencesofherown;onceortwicehefoundthatshewasdoingwhathedesiredoutofthespiritofobedience，which，ashermother\'sdaughter，shebelievedtobeherdutytowardsheraffiancedhusband。Andthislastmotiveforactiondepressedherlovermorethananything。HewantedtheoldSylviabackagain;captious，capricious，wilful，haughty，merry，charming。
Alas！thatSylviawasgoneforever。Butonceespeciallyhispower，arisingfromwhatevercause，wasstoppedentirelyshort——wasutterlyofnoavail。ItwasontheoccasionofDickSimpson\'smortalillness。Sylviaandhermotherkeptalooffromeveryone。TheyhadneverbeenintimatewithanyfamilybuttheCorneys，andeventhisfriendshiphadconsiderablycooledsinceMolly\'smarriage，andmostespeciallysinceKinraid\'ssupposeddeath，whenBessyCorneyandSylviahadbeen，asitwere，rivalmourners。Butmanypeople，bothinMonkshavenandthecountryroundabout，heldtheRobsonfamilyingreatrespect，althoughMrsRobsonherselfwasaccounted\'high\'
and\'distant;\'andpoorlittleSylvia，inherheydayofbeautifulyouthandhighspirits，hadbeenspokenofas\'abitflighty，\'and\'aset—uplassie。\'Still，whentheirgreatsorrowfelluponthem，therewereplentyoffriendstosympathizedeeplywiththem;and，asDanielhadsufferedinapopularcause，therewereevenmorewho，scarcelyknowingthempersonally，werereadytogivethemallthemarksofrespectandfriendlyfeelingintheirpower。ButneitherBellnorSylviawereawareofthis。Theformerhadlostallperceptionofwhatwasnotimmediatelybeforeher;thelattershrankfromallencountersofanykindwithasoreheart，andsensitiveavoidanceofeverythingthatcouldmakeherasubjectofremark。SothepoorafflictedpeopleatHaytersbankknewlittleofMonkshavennews。WhatlittledidcometotheirearscamethroughDollyReid，whenshereturnedfromsellingthefarmproduceoftheweek;andoften，indeed，eventhenshefoundSylviatoomuchabsorbedinothercaresorthoughtstolistentohergossip。SonoonehadevernamedthatSimpsonwassupposedtobedyingtillPhilipbeganonthesubjectoneevening。Sylvia\'sfacesuddenlyflashedintoglowandlife。\'He\'sdying，ishe？t\'earthiswellridonsuchafellow！\'\'Eh，Sylvie，that\'sahardspeecho\'thine！\'saidPhilip;\'itgivesmebutpoorhearttoaskafavourofthee！\'\'Ifit\'saughtaboutSimpson，\'repliedshe，andthensheinterruptedherself。
\'Butsayon;itwereill—manneredinmefort\'interruptyo\'。\'\'Thouwouldbesorrytoseehim，Ithink，Sylvie。Hecannotgetovertheway，t\'folkmethim，andpeltedhimwhenhecamebackfra\'York，——andhe\'sweakandfaint，andbesidehimselfattimes;andhe\'lllieadreaming，anda—fancyingthey\'reallathimagain，hooting，andyelling，andpeltinghim。\'\'I\'mgladon\'t，\'saidSylvia;\'it\'st\'bestnewsI\'veheeredformanyaday，——he，toturnagain\'feyther，whogavehimmoneyfot\'getalodgingthatnight，whenhe\'dnoplacetogoto。Itwerehisevidenceashungfeyther;
andhe\'srightlypunishedforitnow。\'\'Fora\'that，——andhe\'sdoneavasto\'wrongbeside，he\'sdyingnow，Sylvie！\'\'Well！lethimdie——it\'st\'bestthinghecoulddo！\'\'Buthe\'slyingi\'suchdreepoverty，——andniverafriendtogonearhim，——niverapersontospeakakindwordt\'him。\'\'Itseemsasyo\'vebeenspeakingwi\'him，atanyrate，\'saidSylvia，turningroundonPhilip。\'Ay。HesentformebyNellManning，th\'oldbeggar—woman，whosometimesgoesinandmakeshisbedforhim，poorwretch，——he\'slyingint\'ruinsofth\'cow—houseofth\'Mariners\'Arms，Sylvie。\'\'Well！\'saidshe，inthesamehard，drytone。\'AndIwentandfetchedth\'parishdoctor，forIthoughthe\'dha\'diedbeforemyface，——hewassowan，andashen—grey，sothin，too，hiseyesseempushedoutofhisbonyface。\'\'Thatlasttime——feyther\'seyeswerestarting，wild—like，andasifhecouldn\'tmeetours，orbearthesightonourweeping。\'Itwasabadlook—outforPhilip\'spurpose;butafterapausehewentbravelyon。\'He\'sapoordyingcreature，anyhow。T\'doctorsaidso，andtoldhimhehadn\'tmanyhours，letalonedays，tolive。\'\'Andhe\'dshrinkfra\'dyingwi\'a\'hissinsonhishead？\'saidSylvia，almostexultingly。Philipshookhishead。\'Hesaidthisworldhadbeentoostrongforhim，andmentooharduponhim;hecouldniverdoanygoodhere，andhethoughtheshould，maybe，findfolksi\'t\'nextplacemoremerciful。\'\'He\'llmeetfeythertheere，\'saidSylvia，stillhardandbitter。\'He\'sapoorignorantcreature，anddoesn\'tseemtoknowrightlywhohe\'sliketomeet;onlyheseemsgladtogetawayfra\'Monkshavenfolks;hewerereallyhurt，Iamafeared，thatnight，Sylvie，——andhespeaksasifhe\'dhadhardtimesofiteversincehewereachild，——andhetalksasifhewerereallygrievedfort\'partt\'lawyersmadehimtakeatth\'trial，——theymadehimspeak，againsthiswill，hesays。\'\'Couldn\'theha\'bittenhistongueout？\'askedSylvia。\'It\'sfinetalkingo\'sorrowwhenthethingisdone！\'\'Well，anyhowhe\'ssorrynow;andhe\'snotlongfortolive。And，Sylvie，hebidmeaskthee，if，forthesakeofallthatisdeartotheebothhere，andi\'th\'worldtocome，thou\'dgowi\'me，andjustsaytohimthatthouforgiveshimhispartthatday。\'\'Hesenttheeonthaterrand，didhe？Andthoucouldcomeandaskme？I\'veamindtobreakitoffforiverwi\'thee，Philip。\'Shekeptgasping，asifshecouldnotsayanymore。Philipwatchedandwaitedtillherbreathcame，hisownhalfchoked。\'Theeandmewasnivermeanttogotogether。It\'snotinmetoforgive，——I
sometimesthinkit\'snotinmetoforget。Iwonder，Philip，ifthyfeytherhaddoneakinddeed——andarightdeed——andamercifuldeed——andsomeoneashe\'dbeengoodto，eveni\'t\'midstofhisjustanger，hadgoneandletonabouthimtoth\'judge，aswastryingtohanghim，——andhadgettenhimhanged，——hangeddead，sothathiswifewereawidow，andhischildfatherlessforivermore，——Iwonderifthyveinswouldrunmilkandwater，sothatthoucouldgoandmakefriends，andspeaksoftwi\'himashadcausedthyfeyther\'sdeath？\'\'It\'ssaidint\'Bible，Sylvie，thatwe\'retoforgive。\'\'Ay，there\'ssomethingsasIknowIniverforgive;andthere\'sothersasIcan\'t——andIwon\'t，either。\'\'But，Sylvie，yo\'praytobeforgivenyourtrespasses，asyouforgivethemastrespassagainstyou。\'\'Well，ifI\'mtobetakenatmyword，I\'llnoaneprayatall，that\'sall。
It\'swellenoughforthemashasbutlittletoforgivetousethemwords;
andIdon\'treckonit\'skind，orprettybehavedinyo\'，Philip，tobringupScriptureagain\'me。Thoumaygoaboutthybusiness。\'\'Thou\'rtvexedwithme，Sylvie;andI\'mnotmeaningbutthatitwouldgohardwiththeetoforgivehim;butIthinkitwouldberightandChristian—likei\'thee，andthatthou\'dfindthycomfortinthinkingonitafter。Ifthou\'donlygo，andseehiswistfuleyes——Ithinkthey\'dpleadwi\'theemorethanhiswords，ormineeither。\'\'Itelltheemyfleshandbloodwasn\'tmadeforforgivingandforgetting。
Onceforall，thoumusttakemyword。WhenIloveIlove，andwhenIhateIhate;andhimashasdonehardtome，ortomine，Imaykeepfra\'strikingormurdering，butI\'llniverforgive。Ishouldbejustamonster，fittobeshownatafair，ifIcouldforgivehimasgotfeytherhanged。\'Philipwassilent，thinkingwhatmorehecouldurge。\'Yo\'dbetterbeoff，\'saidSylvia，inaminuteortwo。\'Yo\'andmehasgotwrong，andit\'lltakeanight\'ssleeptosetusright。Yo\'vesaidallyo\'canforhim;andperhapsit\'snotyo\'asistoblame，butyo\'rnature。
ButI\'mputoutwi\'thee，andwanttheeouto\'mysightforawhile。\'Oneortwomorespeechesofthiskindconvincedhimthatitwouldbewiseinhimtotakeheratherword。HewentbacktoSimpson，andfoundhim，thoughstillalive，pasttheunderstandingofanywordsofhumanforgiveness。
PhiliphadalmostwishedhehadnottroubledorirritatedSylviabyurgingthedyingman\'srequest:theperformanceofthisdutyseemednowtohavebeensuchauselessoffice。Afterall，theperformanceofadutyisneverauselessoffice，thoughwemaynotseetheconsequences，ortheymaybequitedifferenttowhatweexpectedorcalculatedon。Inthepauseofactivework，whendaylightwasdone，andtheeveningshadescameon，Sylviahadtimetothink;andherheartgrewsadandsoft，incomparisontowhatithadbeenwhenPhilip\'surgencyhadcalledoutallherangryopposition。Shethoughtofherfather——hissharppassionshisfrequentforgiveness，orratherhisforgetfulnessthathehadevenbeeninjured。AllSylvia\'spersistentorenduringqualitieswerederivedfromhermother，herimpulsesfromherfather。Itwasherdeadfatherwhoseexamplefilledhermindthiseveninginthesoftandtendertwilight。ShedidnotsaytoherselfthatshewouldgoandtellSimpsonthatsheforgavehim;butshethoughtthatifPhilipaskedheragainthatsheshoulddoso。ButwhenshesawPhilipagainhetoldherthatSimpsonwasdead;andpassedonfromwhathehadreasontothinkwouldbeanunpleasantsubjecttoher。
Thusheneverlearnthowherconductmighthavebeenmoregentleandrelentingthanherwords——wordswhichcameupintohismemoryatafuturetime，withfullmeasureofmiserablesignificance。Ingeneral，Sylviawasgentleandgoodenough;butPhilipwantedhertobeshy。andtenderwithhim，andthisshewasnot。Shespoketohim，herprettyeyeslookingstraightandcomposedlyathim。Sheconsultedhimlikethefamilyfriendthathewasshemethimquietlyinallthearrangementsforthedineoftheirmarriage，whichshelookeduponmoreasachangeofhome，astheleavingofHaytersbank，asitwouldaffecthermother，thaninanymoredirectlypersonalway。Philipwasbeginningtofeel，thoughnotasyettoacknowledge，thatthefruithehadsoinordinatelylongedforwasbutofthenatureofanappleofSodom。Longago，lodginginwidowRose\'sgarret，hehadbeeninthehabitofwatchingsomepigeonsthatwerekeptbyaneighbour;theflockdisportedthemselvesonthesteeptiledroofsjustoppositetotheatticwindow，andinsensiblyPhilipgrewtoknowtheirways，andonepretty，softlittledovewassomehowperpetuallyassociatedinhismindwithhisideaofhiscousinSylvia。
Thepigeonwouldsitinoneparticularplace，sunningherself，andpuffingoutherfeatheredbreast，withalltheblueandrose—colouredlightsgleaminginthemorningrays，cooingsoftlytoherselfasshedressedherplumage。
Philipfanciedthathesawthesamecoloursinacertainpieceofshotsilk——nowintheshop;andnoneotherseemedtohimsosuitableforhisdarling\'swedding—dress。Hecarriedenoughtomakeagown，andgaveittoheroneevening，asshesateonthegrassjustoutsidethehouse，halfattendingtohermother，halfengagedinknittingstockingsforherscantymarriageoutfit。Hewasgladthatthesunwasnotgonedown，thusallowinghimtodisplaythechangingcoloursinfullerlight。Sylviaadmireditduly;evenMrs。Robsonwaspleasedandattractedbythesoftyetbrillianthues。PhilipwhisperedtoSylvia——（hetookdelightinwhispers，——she，onthecontrary，alwaysspoketohiminherusualtoneofvoice）——\'Thou\'ltlooksoprettyinit，sweetheart，——o\'Thursdayfortnight！\'\'Thursdayfortnight。Onthefourthyo\'rethinkingon。ButIcannotwearitthen，——Ishallbei\'black。\'\'Notonthatday，sure！\'saidPhilip。\'Whynot？There\'snoughtt\'happenonthatdayfort\'makemeforgetfeyther。
Icouldn\'tputoffmyblack，Philip，——no，not。tosavemylife！Yonsilkisjustlovely，fartoogoodforthelikesofme，——andI\'msureI\'mmuchbeholdentoyo\';andI\'llhaveitmadeupfirstofanygownafterlastAprilcometwoyears，——but，oh，Philip，Icannotputoffmymourning！\'\'Notforourwedding—day！\'saidPhilip，sadly。\'No，lad，Ireallycannot。I\'mjustsorryaboutit，forIseethou\'rtsetuponit;andthou\'rtsokindandgood，IsometimesthinkIcanniverbethankfulenoughtothee。WhenIthinkonwhatwouldha\'becomeofmotherandmeifwehadn\'thadtheeforafriendi\'need，I\'mnoaneungrateful，Philip;tho\'Isometimesfancythou\'rtthinkingIam。\'\'Idon\'twantyo\'tobegrateful，Sylvie，\'saidpoorPhilip，dissatisfied，yetunabletoexplainwhathedidwant;onlyknowingthattherewassomethinghelacked，yetfainwouldhavehad。Asthemarriage—daydrewnear，allSylvia\'scareseemedtobeforhermother;
allheranxietywasregardingtheappurtenancesofthehomeshewasleaving。
InvainPhiliptriedtointerestherindetailsofhisimprovementsorcontrivancesinthenewhometowhichhewasgoingtotakeher。Shedidnottellhim;buttheideaofthehousebehindtheshopwasassociatedinhermindwithtwotimesofdiscomfortandmisery。ThefirsttimeshehadgoneintotheparlouraboutwhichPhilipspokesomuchwasatthetimeofthepress—gangriot，whenshehadfaintedfromterrorandexcitement;
thesecondwasonthatnightofmiserywhensheandhermotherhadgoneintoMonkshaven，tobidherfatherfarewellbeforehewastakentoYork;
inthatroom，onthatnight，shehadfirstlearntsomethingofthefatalperilinwhichhestood。Shecouldnotshowthebrightshycuriosityaboutherfuturedwellingthatiscommonenoughwithgirlswhoaregoingtobemarried。Allshecoulddowastorestrainherselffromsighing，andlistenpatiently，whenhetalkedonthesubject。Intimehesawthatsheshrankfromit;soheheldhispeace，andplannedandworkedforherinsilence，——smilingtohim—selfashelookedoneachcompletedarrangementforherpleasureorcomfort;andknowingwellthatherhappinesswasinvolvedinwhatfragmentsofpeace。andmaterialcomfortmightremaintohermother。Thewedding—daydrewnearapace。ItwasPhilip\'splanthataftertheyhadbeenmarriedinKirkMoorsidechurch，heandhisSylvia，hiscousin，hislove，hiswife，shouldgoforthedaytoRobinHood\'sBay，returningintheeveningtothehousebehindtheshopinthemarket—place。TheretheyweretofindBellRobsoninstalledinherfuturehome;forHaytersbankFarmwastobegivenuptothenewtenantontheverydayofthewedding。
Sylviawouldnotbemarriedanysooner;shesaidthatshemuststaytheretilltheverylast;andhadsaiditwithsuchdeterminationthatPhiliphaddesistedfromallurgencyatonce。Hehadtoldherthatallshouldbesettledforhermother\'scomfortduringtheirfewhours\'absence;otherwiseSylviawouldnothavegoneatall。
HetoldherheshouldaskHester，whowasalwayssogoodandkind——whoneveryethadsaidhimnay，togotochurchwiththemasbridesmaid——forSylviawouldgivenothoughtorcaretoanythingbuthermother——andthattheywouldleaveheratHaytersbankastheyreturnedfromchurch;shewouldmanageMrsRobson\'sremoval——shewoulddothis——dothat——doeverything。
SuchfriendlyconfidencehadPhilipinHester\'swillingnessandtenderskill。Sylviaacquiescedatlength，andPhiliptookuponhimselftospeaktoHesteronthesubject。\'Hester，\'saidhe，onedaywhenhewaspreparingtogohomeaftertheshopwasclosed;\'wouldyo\'mindstoppingabit？Ishouldliketoshowyo\'theplacenowit\'sdoneup;andI\'veafavourtoaskonyo\'besides。\'Hewassohappyhedidnotseehershiverallover。Shehesitatedjustamomentbeforesheanswered，——\'I\'llstay，ifthouwishesit，Philip。ButI\'mnojudgeo\'fashionsandsuchlike。\'\'Thou\'rtajudgeo\'comfort，andthat\'swhatI\'vebeenaimingat。Iwereniversocomfortableina\'mylifeaswhenIwerealodgeratthyhouse，\'
saidhe，withbrotherlytendernessinhistone。\'IfmymindhadbeenateaseIcouldha\'saidIniverwerehappierinallmydaysthanunderthyroof;andIknowitwerethydoingforthemostpart。Socomealong，Hester，andtellmeifthere\'saughtmoreIcanputinforSylvie。\'Itmightnothavebeenaveryappropriatetext，butsuchasitwasthewords，\'Fromhimthatwouldaskoftheeturnnotthouaway，\'seemedtheonlysourceofstrengththatcouldhaveenabledhertogopatientlythroughthenexthalf—hour。Asitwas，sheunselfishlybroughtallhermindtobearuponthesubject;admiredthis，thoughtanddecideduponthat，asonebyonePhilipshowedherallhisalterationsandimprovements。Neverwassuchaquietlittlebitofunconsciousandunrecognizedheroism。Shereallyendedbysuchaconquestofselfthatshecouldabsolutelysympathizewiththeproudexpectantlover，andhadquenchedallenvyofthebeloved，insympathywiththedelightsheimaginedSylviamustexperiencewhenshediscoveredalltheseproofsofPhilip\'sfondconsiderationandcare。Butitwasagreatstrainontheheart，thatsourceoflife;andwhenHesterreturnedintotheparlour，afterherdeliberatesurveyofthehouse，shefeltaswearyanddepressedinbodilystrengthasifshehadgonethroughanillnessofmanydays。Shesatedownonthenearestchair，andfeltasthoughshenevercouldriseagain。Philip，joyousandcontent，stoodnearhertalking。\'And，Hester，\'saidhe，\'Sylviehasgivenmeamessageforthee——shesaysthoumustbeherbridesmaid——she\'llhavenoneother。\'\'Icannot，\'saidHester，withsuddensharpness。\'Oh，yes，butyo\'must。Itwouldn\'tbelikemyweddingifthouwasn\'ttherewhyI\'velookedupontheeasasisteriversinceIcametolodgewiththymother。\'Hestershookherhead。Didherdutyrequirehernottoturnawayfromthisasking，too？Philipsawherreluctance，and，byintuitionratherthanreason，heknewthatwhatshewouldnotdoforgaietyorpleasureshewouldconsenttoifbysodoingshecouldrenderanyservicetoanother。Sohewenton。\'Besides，Sylvieandmehasplannedtogoforourweddingjauntt9RobinHood\'sBay。Iha\'beentoengageashandrythisverymorn，beforet\'shopwasopened;andthere\'snoonetoleavewi\'myaunt。Th\'pooroldbodyissorecrushedwithsorrow;andis，asonemaysay，childishattimes;
she\'stocomedownhere，thatwemayfindherwhenwecomebackatnight;
andthere\'sniveraoneshe\'llcomewithsowillingandsohappyaswiththee，Hester。Sylvieandmehasbothsaidso。\'Hesterlookedupinhisfacewithhergravehonesteyes。\'Icannotgotochurchwi\'thee，Philip;andthoumustnotaskmeanyfurther。
ButI\'llgobetimestoHaytersbankFarm，andI\'lldomybesttomaketheoldladyhappy，andtofollowoutthydirectionsinbringingherherebeforenightfall。\'Philipwasonthepointofurgingherafreshtogowiththemtochurch;
butsomethinginhereyesbroughtathoughtacrosshismind，astransitoryasabreathpassesoveralooking—glass，andhedesistedfromhisentreaty，andputawayhisthoughtasapieceofvaincoxcombry，insultingtoHester。
Hepassedrapidlyontoallthecarefuldirectionsrenderednecessarybyhercompliancewiththelatterpartofhisrequest，couplingSylvia\'snamewithhisperpetually;sothatHesterlookeduponherasahappygirl，aseagerinplanningallthedetailsofhermarriageasthoughnoheavyshamefulsorrowhadpassedoverherheadnotmanymonthsago。HesterdidnotseeSylvia\'swhite，dreamy，resoluteface，thatansweredthesolemnquestionsofthemarriageserviceinavoicethatdidnotseemherown。Hesterwasnotwiththemtonoticetheheavyabstractionthatmadethebrideasifunconsciousofherhusband\'slovingwords，andthenstartandsmile，andreplywithasadgentlenessoftone。No！Hester\'sdutylayinconveyingthepoorwidowandmotherdownfromHaytersbanktothenewhomeinMonkshaven;andforallHester\'sassistanceandthoughtfulness，itwasadreary，painfulpieceofwork——thepooroldwomancryinglikeachild，withbewildermentattheconfusedbustlewhich，inspiteofallSylvia\'scarefulforethought，couldnotbeavoidedonthisfinalday，whenhermotherhadtobecarriedawayfromthehomesteadoverwhichshehadsolongpresided。ButallthiswasasnothingtothedistresswhichoverwhelmedpoorBellRobsonwhensheenteredPhilip\'shouse;theparlour——thewholeplacesoassociatedwiththekeenagonyshehadundergonethere，thatthestabofmemorypenetratedthroughherdeadenedsenses，andbroughtherbacktomisery。InvainHestertriedtoconsoleherbytellingherthefactofSylvia\'smarriagewithPhilipineveryformofwordsthatoccurredtoher。Bellonlyrememberedherhusband\'sfate，whichfilledupherpoorwanderingmind，andcolouredeverything;insomuchthatSylvianotbeingathandtoreplytohermother\'scryforher，thelatterimaginedthatherchild，aswellasherhusband，wasindangeroftrialanddeath，andrefusedtobecomfortedbyanyendeavourofthepatientsympathizingHester。
InapauseofMrsRobson\'ssobs，Hesterheardthewelcomesoundofthewheelsofthereturningshandry，bearingthebrideandbridegroomhome。
Itstoppedatthedoor——aninstant，andSylvia，whiteasasheetatthesoundofhermother\'swailings，whichshehadcaughtwhileyetatadistance，withthequickearsoflove，camerunningin;hermotherfeeblyroseandtotteredtowardsher，andfellintoherarms，saying，\'Oh！Sylvie，Sylvie，takemehome，andawayfromthiscruelplace！\'Hestercouldnotbutbetouchedwiththeyounggirl\'smannertohermother——astender，asprotectingasiftheirrelationtoeachotherhadbeenreversed，andshewaslullingandtenderlysoothingawayward，frightenedchild。
Shehadneithereyesnorearsforanyonetillhermotherwassittingintremblingpeace，holdingherdaughter\'shandtightinbothofhers，asifafraidoflosingsightofherthenSylviaturnedtoHester，and，withthesweetgracewhichisanaturalgifttosomehappypeople，thankedher;
incommonwordsenoughshethankedher，butinthatnamelessmanner，andwiththatstrange，rarecharmwhichmadeHesterfeelasifshehadneverbeenthankedinallherlifebefore;andfromthattimeforthsheunderstood，ifshedidnotalwaysyieldto，theunconsciousfascinationwhichSylviacouldexerciseoverothersattimes。DiditenterintoPhilip\'shearttoperceivethathehadweddedhislong—soughtbrideinmourningraiment，andthatthefirstsoundswhichgreetedthemastheyapproachedtheirhomewerethoseofweepingandwailing？
chapter30CHAPTERXXXHAPPYDAYSAndnowPhilipseemedasprosperousashisheartcoulddesire。Thebusinessflourished，andmoneybeyondhismoderatewantscamein。Asforhimselfherequiredverylittle;buthehadalwayslookedforwardtoplacinghisidolinabefittingshrine;andmeansforthiswerenowfurnishedtohim。
Thedress，thecomforts，thepositionhehaddesiredforSylviawereallhers。Shedidnotneedtodoastrokeofhouseholdworkifshepreferredto\'sitinherparlourandsewupaseam。\'IndeedPhoeberesentedanyinterferenceinthedomesticlabour，whichshehadperformedsolong，thatshelookeduponthekitchenasaprivateempireofherown。\'MrsHepburn\'（asSylviawasnowtermed）hadagooddarksilkgown—pieceinherdrawers，aswellasthepoordove—coloured，againstthedaywhenshechosetoleaveoffmourning;andstuffforeithergrayorscarletcloakswashersatherbidding。Whatshecaredforfarmorewerethecomfortswithwhichitwasinherpowertosurroundhermother。InthisPhilipviedwithher;forbesideshisoldlove，andnewpityforhisauntBell，heneverforgothowshehadwelcomedhimtoHaytersbank，andfavouredhislovetoSylvia，intheyearningdayswhenhelittlehopedheshouldeverwinhiscousintobehiswife。
Butevenifhehadnothadthesegratefulandaffectionatefeelingstowardsthepoorwoman，hewouldhavedonemuchforherifonlytogainthesweet，raresmileswhichhiswifeneverbestoweduponhimsofreelyaswhenshesawhimattendingto\'mother，\'forsobothofthemnowcalledBell。Forhercreaturecomforts，hersilkgowns，andherhumbleluxury，Sylviadidnotcare;Philipwasalmostannoyedattheindifferencesheoftenmanifestedtoallhiseffortstosurroundherwithsuchthings。Itwasevenahard—shiptohertoleaveoffhercountrydress，heruncoveredhair，herlinseypetticoat，andloosebed—gown，andtodonastiffandstatelygownforhermorningdress。Sittinginthedarkparlouratthebackoftheshop，anddoing\'whitework，\'wasmuchmorewearyingtoherthanrunningoutintothefieldstobringupthecows，orspinningwool，ormakingupbutter。Shesometimesthoughttoherselfthatitwasastrangekindoflifewheretherewerenoout—dooranimalstolookafter;the\'oxandtheass\'hadhithertocomeintoallherideasofhumanity;andhercareandgentlenesshadmadethedumbcreaturesroundherfather\'shomeintomutefriendswithlovingeyes，lookingatherasifwistfultospeakinwordsthegratefulregardthatshecouldreadwithoutthepoorexpressionoflanguage。Shemissedthefreeopenair，thegreatdomeofskyabovethefields;sherebelledagainstthenecessityof\'dressing\'（asshecalledit）togoout，althoughsheacknowledgedthatitwasanecessitywherethefirststepbeyondthethresholdmustbeintoapopulousstreet。ItispossiblethatPhilipwasrightatonetimewhenhehadthoughttowinherbymaterialadvantages;buttheoldvanitieshadbeenburntoutofherbythehotironofacutesuffering。Agreatdealofpassionatefeelingstillexisted，concealedandlatent;butatthisperioditappearedasthoughshewereindifferenttomostthings，andhadlostthepowerofeitherhopingorfearingmuch。Shewasstunnedintoasortoftemporarynumbnessonmostpoints;thoseonwhichshewassensitivebeingsuchasreferredtotheinjusticeandoppressionofherfather\'sdeath，oranythingthatconcernedhermother。ShewasquieteventopassivenessinallherdealingswithPhilip;hewouldhavegivennotalittleforsomeoftheoldburstsofimpatience，theoldpettishness，which，naughtyastheywere，hadgonetoformhisideaoftheformerSylvia。Onceortwicehewasalmostvexedwithherforherdocility;
hewantedhersomuchtohaveawillofherown，ifonlythathemightknowhowtorousehertopleasurebygratifyingit。Indeedheseldomfellasleepatnightswithouthislastthoughtsbeingdevotedtosomelittleplanforthemorrow，thathefanciedshewouldlike;andwhenhewakenedintheearlydawnhelookedtoseeifshewereindeedsleepingbyhisside，orwhetheritwasnotalladreamthathecalledSylvia\'wife。\'Hewasawarethatheraffectionforhimwasnottobespokenofinthesamewayashisforher，buthefoundmuchhappinessinonlybeingallowedtoloveandcherishher;andwiththepatientperseverancethatwasoneremarkablefeatureinhischaracter，hewentonstrivingtodeepenandincreaseherlovewhenmostothermenwouldhavegivenuptheendeavour，madethemselvescontentwithhalfaheart，andturnedtosomeotherobjectofattainment。AllthistimePhilipwastroubledbyadreamthatrecurredwheneverhewasover—fatigued，orotherwisenotinperfecthealth。Overandoveragaininthisfirstyearofmarriedlifehedreamtthisdream;
perhapsasmanyaseightorninetimes，anditnevervaried。ItwasalwaysofKinraid\'sreturn;KinraidwasfulloflifeinPhilip\'sdream，thoughinhiswakinghourshecouldanddidconvincehimselfbyallthelawsofprobabilitythathisrivalwasdead。Heneverrememberedtheexactsequenceofeventsinthatterribledreamafterhehadrousedhimself，withafightandastruggle，fromhisfeverishslumbers。Hewasgenerallysittingupinbedwhenhefoundhimselfconscious，hisheartbeatingwildly，withaconvictionofKinraid\'slivingpresencesomewherenearhiminthedarkness。
OccasionallySylviawasdisturbedbyhisagitation，andwouldquestionhimabouthisdreams，having，likemostofherclassatthattime，greatfaithintheirpropheticinterpretation;butPhilipnevergaveheranytruthinhisreply。Afterall，andthoughhedidnotacknowledgeiteventohimself，thelong—desiredhappinesswasnotsodeliciousandperfectashehadanticipated。Manyhavefeltthesameintheirfirstyearofmarriedlife;butthefaithful，patientnaturethatstillworkson，strivingtogainlove，andcapableitselfofsteadyloveallthewhile，isagiftnotgiventoall。Formanyweeksaftertheirwedding，Kesternevercamenearthem:achancewordortwofromSylviashowedPhilipthatshehadnoticedthisandregrettedit;and，accordingly，hemadeithisbusinessatthenextleisureopportunitytogotoHaytersbank（neversayingawordtohiswifeofhispurpose），andseekoutKester。Allthewholeplacewasaltered！Itwasnewwhite—washed，newthatched:
thepatchesofcolourinthesurroundinggroundwerechangedwithalteredtillage;thegreatgeraniumsweregonefromthewindow，andinstead，wasasmartknittedblind。Childrenplayedbeforethehousedoor;adoglyingonthestepflewatPhilip;allwassostrange，thatitwaseventhestrangestthingofallforKestertoappearwhereeverythingelsewassoaltered！PhiliphadtoputupwithagooddealofcrabbedbehaviouronthepartofthelatterbeforehecouldinduceKestertopromisetocomedownintothetownandseeSylviainhernewhome。Somehow，thevisitwhenpaidwasbutafailure;atleast，itseemedsoatthetime，thoughprobablyitbroketheiceofrestraintwhichwasformingoverthefamiliarintercoursebetweenKesterandSylvia。TheoldservantwasdauntedbyseeingSylviainastrangeplace，andstood，sleekinghishairdown，andfurtivelylookingabouthim，insteadofseatinghimselfonthechairSylviahadsoeagerlybroughtforwardforhim。Thenhissenseoftheestrangementcausedbytheirnewpositionsinfectedher，andshebegantocrypitifully，saying，——\'Oh，Kester！Kester！tellmeaboutHaytersbank！Isitjustasitusedtobeinfeyther\'sdays？\'\'Well，acannotsayasitis，\'saidKester，thankfultohaveasubjectstarted。\'They\'npleughedupt\'oudpasture—field，andaresettin\'itfor\'taters。They\'renotformuchcattle，isn\'tHigginses。They\'llbeforcornint\'nextyear，areckon，andthey\'lljustha\'theirpainsfortheirpayment。
Butthey\'reallayssopig—headed，isfolkfra\'adistance。\'SotheywentondiscoursingonHaytersbankandtheolddays，tillBellRobson，havingfinishedherafternoonnap，cameslowlydownstairstojointhem;andafterthattheconversationbecamesobrokenup，fromthedesireoftheothertwotoattendandreplyasbesttheycouldtoherfragmentaryanddisjointedtalk，thatKestertookhisleavebeforelong;falling，ashedidso，intotheformalandunnaturallyrespectfulmannerwhichhehadadoptedonfirstcomingin。ButSylviaranafterhim，andbroughthimbackfromthedoor。\'Tothinkofthygoingaway，Kester，withouteitherbitordrink;nay，comebackwi\'thee，andtastewineandcake。\'Kesterstoodatthedoor，halfshy，halfpleased，whileSylvia，inalltheglowandhurryofayounghousekeeper\'shospitality，soughtforthedecanterofwine，andawineglassinthecornercupboard，andhastilycutanimmensewedgeofcake，whichshecrammedintohishandinspiteofhisremonstrances;andthenshepouredhimoutanoverflowingglassofwine，whichKesterwouldfarratherhavegonewithout，asheknewmannerstoowelltosupposethathemighttasteitwithouthavinggonethroughthepreliminaryceremonyofwishingthedonorhealthandhappiness。Hestoodredandhalfsmiling，withhiscakeinonehand，hiswineintheother，andthenbegan，——\'Longmayyelive，Happymayyehe，Andblestwithanum\'rousPro—ge—ny。\'\'Theere，that\'spo\'tryforyo\'asIlarnti\'myyouth。Butthere\'sadealtobesaidascannotbeputint\'po\'try，an\'yetacannotsayit，somehow。
It\'dtaxaparsont\'saya\'asa\'vegetteni\'mymind。It\'slikeaheapo\'woo\'justaftershearin\'time;it\'sworthadeal，butittak\'savasto\'combin\'，an\'cardin\'，an\'spinnin\'aforeitcanbemadeuseon。Ifawereuptot\'useo\'words，acouldsayamightydeal;butsomehowa\'mtongue—teedwhenacometowantmywordsmost，soa\'llonlyjustmak\'boldt\'sayasathinkyo\'vedoneprettywellforyo\'rsel\'，gettenahouse—fullo\'furniture\'（lookingaroundhimashesaidthis），\'an\'vittlean\'clothin\'
fort\'axing，belike，an\'ahomefort\'missusinhertimeo\'need;an\'
mebbenotsuchabadhusbandasaoncethoughtyonman\'udmak\';a\'mnotabovesayin\'ashe\'s，mebbe，betternoratookhimfor;——sohere\'stoyeboth，andwishin\'yehealthandhappiness，ay，andmoneytobuyyo\'another，ascountryfolksay。\'Havingendedhisoration，muchtohisownsatisfaction，Kestertossedoffhisglassofwine，smackedhislips，wipedhismouthwiththebackofhishand，pocketedhiscake，andmadeoff。ThatnightSylviaspokeofhisvisittoherhusband。Philipneversaidhowhehimselfhadbroughtittopass，nordidhenamethefactthathehadheardtheoldmancomeinjustashehimselfhadintendedgoingintotheparlourfortea，buthadkeptaway，ashethoughtSylviaandKesterwouldmostenjoytheirinterviewundisturbed。AndSylviafeltasifherhusband\'ssilencewasunsympathizing，andshutupthefeelingsthatwerejustbeginningtoexpandtowardshim。Shesankagainintothelistlessstateofindifferencefromwhichnothingbutsomereferencetoformerdays，orpresentconsiderationforhermother，couldrouseher。HesterwasalmostsurprisedatSylvia\'sevidentlikingforher。ByslowdegreesHesterwaslearningtolovethewoman，whosepositionasPhilip\'swifeshewouldhaveenviedsokeenlyhadshenotbeensotrulygoodandpious。ButSylviaseemedasthoughshehadgivenHesterherwholeaffectionallatonce。Hestercouldnotunderstandthis，whileshewastouchedandmeltedbythetrustitimplied。ForonethingSylviarememberedandregretted——herharshtreatmentofHestertherainy，stormynightonwhichthelatterhadcometoHaytersbanktoseekherandhermother，andbringthemintoMonkshaventoseetheimprisonedfatherandhusband。SylviahadbeenstruckwithHester\'spatientenduranceofherrudeness，arudenesswhichshewasconsciousthatsheherselfshouldhaveimmediatelyandvehementlyresented。