butyo\'rbutaladaftera\'。\'Thiswasnotconciliatoryspeech，andjustputthelaststroketoPhilip\'sfitofill—temper。\'I\'mnotformyteato—night，\'saidhe，toHester，whenallwasready。
\'Sylvie\'snothere，andnothingisnice，orasitshouldbe。I\'llgoandsettoont\'stock—taking。Don\'tyo\'hurry，Hester;stopandchatabitwithth\'oldlady。\'\'Nay，Philip，\'saidHester，\'thou\'ssadlytired;justtakethiscupo\'
tea;Sylvia\'llbegrievedifyo\'haven\'tsomething。\'\'Sylviadoesn\'tcarewhetherI\'mfullorfasting，\'repliedhe，impatientlyputtingasidethecup。\'Ifshedidshe\'dha\'takencaretobein，andha\'
seentothingsbeingasIlikethem。\'NowingeneralPhilipwastheleastparticularofmenaboutmeals;andtodoSylviajustice，shewasscrupulouslyattentivetoeveryhouseholddutyinwhicholdPhoebewouldallowhertomeddle，andalwayscarefultoseeafterherhusband\'scomforts。ButPhilipwastoovexedatherabsencetoperceivetheinjusticeofwhathewassaying，norwasheawarehowBellRobsonhadbeenattendingtowhathesaid。Butshewassadlydiscomfitedbyit，understandingjustenoughofthegrievanceinhandtothinkthatherdaughterwasneglectfulofthosedutieswhichsheherselfhadalwaysregardedasparamounttoallothers;norcouldHesterconvinceherthatPhiliphadnotmeantwhathesaid;neithercouldsheturnthepooroldwoman\'sthoughtsfromthewordswhichhadcausedherdistress。PresentlySylviacamein，brightandcheerful，althoughbreathlesswithhurry。\'Oh，\'saidshe，takingoffherwetshawl，\'we\'vehadtoshelterfromsuchastormofrain，babyandme——butsee！she\'snonetheworseforit，asbonnyasiver，blessher。\'HesterbegansomespeechofadmirationforthechildinordertopreventBellfromdeliveringthelectureshefeltsurewascomingdownontheunsuspectingSylvia;butallinvain。\'Philip\'sbeencomplainingonthee，Sylvie，\'saidBell，inthewayinwhichshehadspokentoherdaughterwhenshewasalittlechild;graveandsevereintoneandlook，morethaninwords。\'Iforgetjustlywhatabout，buthespokeonthyneglectinghimcontinual。It\'snotright，mylass，it\'snotright;awomanshould——butmyhead\'sverytired，andallIcanthinkontosayis，it\'snotright。\'\'Philipbeencomplainingofme，andtomother！\'saidSylvia，readytoburstintotears，sogrievedandangrywasshe。\'No！\'saidHester，\'thymotherhastakenitalittletoostrong;hewerevexedlikeathisteanotbeingready。\'Sylviasaidnomore，butthebrightcolourfadedfromhercheek，andthecontractionofcarereturnedtoherbrow。Sheoccupiedherselfwithtakingoffherbaby\'swalkingthings。Hesterlingered，anxioustosootheandmakepeace;shewaslookingsorrowfullyatSylvia，whenshesawtearsdroppingonthebaby\'scloak，andthenitseemedasifshemustspeakawordofcomfortbeforegoingtotheshop—work，wheresheknewshewasexpectedbybothPhilipandCoulson。Shepouredoutacupoftea，andcomingcloseuptoSylvia，andkneelingdownbyher，shewhispered，——\'Justtakehimthisintot\'ware—room;it\'llputalltorightsifthou\'lltakeittohimwi\'thyownhands。\'Sylvialookedup，andHesterthenmorefullysawhowshehadbeencrying。
Shewhisperedinreply，forfearofdisturbinghermother，——\'Idon\'tmindanythingbuthisspeakingillonmetomother。IknowI\'mforivertryingandtryingtobeagoodwifetohim，an\'it\'sverydullwork;harderthanyo\'thinkon，Hester，——an\'Iwouldha\'beenhomeforteato—nightonlyIwasafearedofbabygettingwetwi\'t\'stormo\'hailaswehaddownont\'shore;andweshelteredunderarock。It\'sawearycominghometothisdarkplace，andtofindmyownmothersetagainstme。\'Takehimhistea，likeagoodlassie。I\'llanswerforithe\'llbeallright。Amantakesithardlywhenhecomesintired，a—thinkinghiswife\'11betheretocheerhimupabit，tofindheroff，andniverknownoughtoft\'reasonwhy。\'\'I\'mgladenoughI\'vegettenababy，\'saidSylvia，\'butforaughtelseIwishI\'dniverbeenmarried，Ido！\'\'Hushthee，lass！\'saidHester，risingupindignant;\'nowthatisasin。
Eh！ifthouonlyknewtheloto\'somefolk。Butlet\'stalknomoreonthat，thatcannotbehelped;go，takehimhistea，forit\'sasadthingtothinkonhimfastingallthistime。\'Hester\'svoicewasraisedbythesimplefactofherchangeofposition;
andthewordfastingcaughtMrsRobson\'sear，asshesateatherknittingbythechimney—corner。\'Fasting？hesaidthoudidn\'tcareifhewerefullorfasting。Lassie！
it\'snotrightinthee，Isay;go，takehimhisteaatonce。\'Sylviarose，andgaveupthebaby，whichshehadbeensuckling，toNancy，whohavingdoneherwashing，hadcomeforhercharge，toputittobed。
Sylviakisseditfondly，makingalittlemoanofsad，passionatetendernessasshedidso。Thenshetookthecupoftea;butshesaid，ratherdefiantly，toHester，——\'I\'llgotohimwithit，becausemotherbidsme，andit\'lleasehermind。\'Thenloudertohermother，sheadded，——\'Mother，I\'lltakehimhistea，thoughIcouldn\'thelpthebeingout。\'Iftheactitselfwasconciliatory，thespiritinwhichshewasgoingtodoitwasthereverse。Hesterfollowedherslowlyintotheware—room，withintentionaldelay，thinkingthatherpresencemightbeanobstacletotheirmutuallyunderstandingoneanother。SylviaheldthecupandplateofbreadandbutterouttoPhilip，butavoidedmeetinghiseye，andsaidnotawordofexplanation，orregret，orself—justification。Ifshehadspoken，thougheversocrossly，Philipwouldhavebeenrelieved，andwouldhavepreferredittohersilence。Hewantedtoprovokehertospeech，butdidnotknowhowtobegin。\'Thou\'sbeenoutagainwanderingonthatsea—shore！\'saidhe。Shedidnotanswerhim。\'Icannotthinkwhat\'salwaystakingtheethere，whenonewouldha\'thoughtawalkuptoEsdalewouldbefarmoresheltered，bothfortheeandbabyinsuchweatherasthis。Thou\'llbehavingthatbabyillsomeofthesedays。\'Atthis，shelookedupathim，andherlipsmovedasthoughsheweregoingtosaysomething。Oh，howhewishedshewould，thattheymightcometoawholesomequarrel，andamakingfriendsagain，andatenderkissing，inwhichhemightwhisperpenitenceforallhishastywords，orunreasonablevexation。Butshehadcomeresolvednottospeak，forfearofshowingtoomuchpassion，toomuchemotion。Onlyasshewasgoingawaysheturnedandsaid，——\'Philip，motherhasn\'tmanymoreyearstolive;dunnotgrieveher，andsetheragain\'mebyfindingfaultwi\'meaforeher。Ourbeingwedwereagreatmistake;butbeforet\'pooroldwidow—womanletusmakeasifwewerehappy。\'\'Sylvie！Sylvie！\'hecalledafterher。Shemusthaveheard，butshedidnotturn。Hewentafterher，andseizedherbythearmratherroughly;
shehadstunghimtotheheartwithhercalmwords，whichseemedtorevealalong—formedconviction。\'Sylvie！\'saidhe，almostfiercely，\'whatdoyo\'meanbywhatyou\'vesaid？
Speak！Iwillhaveananswer。\'Healmostshookher:shewashalffrightenedbyhisvehemenceofbehaviour，whichshetookforpureanger，whileitwastheoutburstofagonizedandunrequitedlove。\'Letmego！Oh，Philip，yo\'hurtme！\'JustatthismomentHestercameup;Philipwasashamedofhispassionatewaysinherserenepresence，andloosenedhisgraspofhiswife，andsheranaway;ranintohermother\'semptyroom，astoasolitaryplace，andthereburstintothatsobbing，miserablecryingwhichweinstinctivelyknowistoosurelylesseningthelengthofourdaysonearthtobeindulgedinoften。Whenshehadexhaustedthatfirstburstandlayweakandquietforatime，shelistenedindreadingexpectationofthesoundofhisfootstepcominginsearchofhertomakefriends。Buthewasdetainedbelowonbusiness，andnevercame。Instead，hermothercameclamberingupthestairs;shewasnowinthehabitofgoingtobedbetweensevenandeight，andto—nightshewasretiringatevenanearlierhour。Sylviasprangupanddrewdownthewindow—blind，andmadeherfaceandmannerascomposedaspossible，inordertosootheandcomforthermother\'slastwakinghours。Shehelpedhertobedwithgentlepatience;therestraintimposeduponherbyhertenderfiliallovewasgoodforher，thoughallthetimeshewaslongingtobealonetohaveanotherwildoutburst。Whenhermotherwasgoingofftosleep，Sylviawenttolookatherbaby，alsoinasoftsleep。Thenshegazedoutattheeveningsky，highabovethetiledroofsoftheoppositehouses，andthelongingtobeoutunderthepeacefulheavenstookpossessionofheroncemore。\'It\'smyonlycomfort，\'saidshetoherself;\'andthere\'snoearthlyharminit。Iwouldha\'beenathometohistea，ifIcould;butwhenhedoesn\'twantme，andmotherdoesn\'twantme，andbabyiseitherinmyarmsorasleep;
why，I\'llgoanycrymyfilloutunderyongreatquietsky。Icannotstayint\'housetobechokedupwi\'mytears，noryettohavehimcomingaboutmeeitherforscoldingorpeace—making。\'Sosheputonherthingsandwentoutagain;thistimealongtheHighStreet，andupthelongflightsofstepstowardstheparishchurch，andthereshestoodandthoughtthathereshehadfirstmetKinraid，atDarley\'sburying，andshetriedtorecalltheverylookofallthesad，earnestfacesroundtheopengrave——thewholescene，infact;andletherselfgivewaytothemiserableregretsshehadsooftentriedtocontrol。Thenshewalkedon，cryingbitterly，almostunawarestoherself;onthroughthehigh，bleakfieldsatthesummitofthecliffs;fieldsboundedbyloosestonefences，andfarfromallsightofthehabitationofman。But，below，thesearoseandraged;itwashighwateratthehighesttide，andthewindblewgustilyfromtheland，vainlycombatingthegreatwavesthatcameinvinciblyupwitharoarandanimpotentfuriousdashagainstthebaseofthecliffsbelow。Sylviaheardthesoundofthepassionaterushandreboundofmanywaters，liketheshockofmightyguns，whenevertheothersoundoftheblusteringgustywindwaslulledforaninstant。Shewasmorequietedbythistempestoftheelementsthanshewouldhavebeenhadallnatureseemedasstillasshehadimaginedittobewhileshewasyetin—doorsandonlysawapartoftheserenesky。Shefixedonacertainpoint，inherownmind，whichshewouldreach，andthenturnbackagain。Itwaswheretheoutlineofthelandcurvedinwards，dippingintoalittlebay。Herethefield—pathshehadhithertofolloweddescendedsomewhatabruptlytoaclusteroffishermen\'scottages，hardlylargeenoughtobecalledavillage;andthenthenarrowroadwaywounduptherisinggroundtillitagainreachedthesummitofthecliffsthatstretchedalongthecoastformanyandmanyamile。Sylviasaidtoherselfthatshewouldturnhomewardswhenshecamewithinsightofthiscove，——HeadlingtonCove，theycalledit。Allthewayalongshehadmetnoonesinceshehadleftthetown，butjustasshehadgotoverthelaststile，orladderofstepping—stones，intothefieldfromwhichthepathdescended，shecameuponanumberofpeople——quiteacrowd，infact;menmovingforwardinasteadyline，haulingatarope，achain，orsomethingofthatkind;boyschildren，andwomenholdingbabiesintheirarms，asifallwerefaintocomeoutandpartakeinsomegeneralinterest。Theykeptwithinacertaindistancefromtheedgeofthecliff，andSylvia，advancingalittle，nowsawthereasonwhy。Thegreatcablethemenheldwasattachedtosomepartofasmack，whichcouldnowbeseenbyherinthewatersbelow，halfdismantled，andallbutawreck，yetwithherdeckcoveredwithlivingmen，asfarasthewaninglightwouldallowhertosee。Thevesselstrainedtogetfreeofthestrongguidingcable;thetidewasturning，thewindwasblowingoffshore，andSylviaknewwithoutbeingtold，thatalmostparalleltothiswasalineofsunkenrocksthathadbeenfataltomanyashipbeforenow，ifshehadtriedtotaketheinnerchannelinsteadofkeepingouttoseaformiles，andthensteeringinstraightforMonkshavenport。Andtheshipsthathadbeenthuslosthadbeeningoodplightandordercomparedtothisvessel，whichseemednothingbutahullwithoutmastorsail。Bythistime，thecrowd——thefishermenfromthehamletdownbelow，withtheirwivesandchildren——allhadcomebutthebedridden——hadreachedtheplacewhereSylviastood。Thewomen，inastateofwildexcitement，rushedon，encouragingtheirhusbandsandsonsbywords，evenwhiletheyhinderedthembyactions;and，fromtimetotime，oneofthemwouldruntotheedgeofthecliffandshoutoutsomebravewordsofhopeinhershrillvoicetothecrewonthedeckbelow。Whethertheselatterhearditornot，noonecouldtell;butitseemedasifallhumanvoicemustbelostinthetempestuousstunandtumultofwindandwave。Itwasgenerallyawomanwithachildinherarmswhosoemployedherself。Asthestrainuponthecablebecamegreater，andthegroundonwhichtheystrovemoreuneven，everyhandwasneededtoholdandpush，andallthosewomenwhowereunencumberedheldbythe。dearropeonwhichsomanylivesweredepending。Ontheycame，alonglineofhumanbeings，blackagainsttheruddysunsetsky。AstheycamenearSylvia，awomancriedout，——\'Dunnotstandidle，lass，buthoudonwi\'us;there\'smanyabonnylifeatstake，andmanyamother\'shearta—hangin\'onthisbito\'hemp。Tak\'
houd，lass，andgiveafirmgrip，andGodremembertheei\'thyneed。\'Sylvianeedednosecondword;aplacewasmadeforher，andinaninstantmoretheropewaspullingagainstherhandstillitseemedasthoughshewasholdingfireinherbarepalms。Neveraoneofthemthoughtoflettinggoforaninstant，thoughwhenallwasovermanyoftheirhandswererawandbleeding。Somestrong，experiencedfishermenpassedawordalongthelinefromtimetotime，givingdirectionsastohowitshouldbeheldaccordingtovaryingoccasions;butfewamongtheresthadbreathorstrengthenoughtospeak。Thewomenandchildrenthataccompaniedthemranonbefore，breakingdowntheloosestonefences，soastoobviatedelayorhindrance;theytalkedcontinually，exhorting，encouraging，explaining。Fromtheirmanywordsandfragmentarysentences，SylvialearntthatthevesselwassupposedtobeaNewcastlesmacksailingfromLondon，thathadtakenthedangerousinnerchanneltosavetime，andhadbeencaughtinthestorm，whichshewastoocrazytowithstand;andthatifbysomedaringcontrivanceofthefisher—menwhohadfirstseenherthecablehadnotbeengotashore，shewouldhavebeencastupontherocksbeforethis，and\'allonboardperished。\'\'Itweredayleetthen，\'quothonewoman;\'acouldseetheirfaces，theyweresonear。Theywereaspaleasdeadmen，an\'onewasprayin\'downonhisknees。TherewasaKing\'sofficeraboard，forIsawt\'gowdabouthim。\'\'He\'dmaybecomefromthesehom\'ardparts，andbecomin\'toseehisownfolk;elseit\'snocommonforking\'sofficerstosailinaughtbutKing\'sships。\'\'Eh！butit\'sgettin\'dark！Seethere\'st\'leeghtsint\'housesint\'NewTown！T\'grassiscrispin\'wi\'t\'whitefrostunderoutfeet。It\'llbeahardtugroundt\'point，andthenshe\'llbegettin\'intostillwaters。\'Onemoregreatpushandmightystrain，andthedangerwaspast;thevessel——orwhatremainedofher——wasintheharbour，amongthelightsandcheerfulsoundsofsafety。Thefishermensprangdowntheclifftothequay—side，anxioustoseethemenwhoselivestheyhadsaved;thewomen，wearyandover—excited，begantocry。NotSylvia，however;herfountoftearshadbeenexhaustedearlierintheday:herprincipalfeelingwasofgladnessandhighrejoicingthattheyweresavedwhohadbeensoneartodeathnothalfanhourbefore。Shewouldhavelikedtohaveseenthemen，andshakenhandswiththemallround。Butinsteadshemustgohome，andwellwoulditbewithherifshewasintimeforherhusband\'ssupper，andescapedanynoticeofherabsence。
Sosheseparatedherselffromthegroupsofwomenwhosateonthegrassinthechurchyard，awaitingthereturnofsuchoftheirhusbandsascouldresistthefascinationsoftheMonkshavenpublichouses。AsSylviawentdownthechurchsteps，shecameupononeofthefishermenwhohadhelpedtotowthevesselintoport。\'Therewasseventeenmenandboysaboardher，andanavy—lieutenantashadcomedaspassenger。Itwereagoodjobaswecouldmanageher。Good—neettothee，thou\'llsleepallt\'sounderforhavin\'lentahand。\'Thestreetairfelthotandcloseafterthesharpkeenatmosphereoftheheightsabove;thedecentshopsandhouseshadalltheirshuttersputup，andwerepreparingfortheirearlybed—time。Alreadylightsshonehereandthereintheupperchambers，andSylviascarcelymetanyone。Shewentroundupthepassagefromthequay—side，andinbytheprivatedoor。Allwasstill;thebasinsofbreadandmilkthatsheandherhusbandwereinthehabitofhavingforsupperstoodinthefenderbeforethefire，eachwithaplateuponthem。Nancyhadgonetobed，Phoebedozedinthekitchen;Philipwasstillintheware—room，arranginggoodsandtakingstockalongwithCoulson，forHesterhadgonehometohermother。SylviawasnotwillingtogoandseekoutPhilip，afterthemannerinwhichtheyhadparted。Allthedespondencyofherlifebecamepresenttoheragainasshesatedownwithinherhome。Shehadforgottenitinherinterestandexcitement，butnowitcamebackagain。Stillshewashungry，andyouthful，andtired。Shetookherbasinup，andwaseatinghersupperwhensheheardacryofherbabyupstairs，andranawaytoattendtoit。Whenithadbeenfedandhushedawaytosleep，shewentintoseehermother，attractedbysomeunusualnoiseinherroom。ShefoundMrsRobsonawake，andrestless，andailing;dwellingmuchonwhatPhiliphadsaidinhisangeragainstSylvia。Itwasreallynecessaryforherdaughtertoremainwithher;soSylviastoleout，andwentquicklydownstairstoPhilip——nowsittingtiredandwornout，andeatinghissupperwithlittleornoappetite——andtoldhimshemeanttopassthenightwithhermother。Hisanswerofacquiescencewassoshortandcareless，orsoitseemedtoher，thatshedidnottellhimanymoreofwhatshehaddoneorseenthatevening，orevendwelluponanydetailsofhermother\'sindisposition。Assoonasshehadlefttheroom，Philipsetdownhishalf—finishedbasinofbreadandmilk，andsatelong，hisfacehiddeninhisfoldedarms。Thewickofthecandlegrewlongandblack，andfell，andsputtered，andputtered;
hesateon，unheedingeitheritorthepalegrayfirethatwasdyingout——deadatlast。EndofPartThreechapter33CHAPTERXXXIIIANAPPARITIONMrsRobsonwasverypoorlyallnightlong。Uneasythoughtsseemedtohauntandperplexherbrain，andsheneithersleptnorwoke，butwasrestlessanduneasyinhertalkandmovements。
Sylvialaydownbyher，butgotsolittlesleep，thatatlengthshepreferredsittingintheeasy—chairbythebedside。Hereshedroppedofftoslumberinspiteofherself;thesceneoftheeveningbeforeseemedtoberepeated;thecriesofthemanypeople，theheavyroaranddashofthethreateningwaves，wererepeatedinherears;andsomethingwassaidtoherthroughalltheconflictingnoises，——whatitwasshecouldnotcatch，thoughshestrainedtohearthehoarsemurmurthat，inherdream，shebelievedtoconveyameaningoftheutmostimportancetoher。
Thisdream，thatmysterious，onlyhalf—intelligiblesound，recurredwhenevershedozed，andherinabilitytohearthewordsuttereddistressedhersomuch，thatatlengthshesateboltupright，resolvedtosleepnomore。Hermotherwastalkinginahalf—consciousway;Philip\'sspeechoftheeveningbeforewasevidentlyrunninginhermind。
\'Sylvie，ifthou\'renotagoodwifetohim，it\'lljustbreakmyheartoutright。Awomanshouldobeyherhusband，andnotgoherowngait。Ineverleavethehousewi\'outtellingfather，andgettinghisleave。\'
Andthenshebegantocrypitifully，andtosayunconnectedthings，tillSylvia，tosootheher，tookherhand，andpromisednevertoleavethehousewithoutaskingherhusband\'spermission，thoughinmakingthispromise，shefeltasifsheweresacrificingherlastpleasuretohermother\'swish;forsheknewwellenoughthatPhilipwouldalwaysraiseobjectionstotherambleswhichremindedherofheroldfreeopen—airlife。
Buttocomfortandcherishhermothershewouldhavedoneanything;
yetthisverymorningthatwasdawning，shemustgoandaskhispermissionforasimpleerrand，orbreakherword。
Sheknewfromexperiencethatnothingquietedhermothersowellasbalm—tea;itmightbethattheherbreallypossessedsomesedativepower;
itmightbeonlyearlyfaith，andoftenrepeatedexperience，butithadalwayshadatranquillizingeffect;andmorethanonce，duringtherestlesshoursofthenight，MrsRobsonhadaskedforit;butSylvia\'sstockoflastyear\'sdeadleaveswasexhausted。StillsheknewwhereaplantofbalmgrewintheshelteredcornerofHaytersbankFarmgarden;sheknewthatthetenantswhohadsucceededthemintheoccupationofthefarmhadhadtoleaveitinconsequenceofadeath，andthattheplacewasunoccupied;
andinthedarknessshehadplannedthatifshecouldleavehermotherafterthedawncame，andshehadattendedtoherbaby，shewouldwalkquicklytotheoldgarden，andgatherthetendersprigswhichshewassuretofindthere。
NowshemustgoandaskPhilip;andtillsheheldherbabytoherbreast，shebitterlywishedthatshewerefreefromthedutiesandchainsofmatrimony。
Butthetouchofitswaxenfingers，theholdofitslittlemouth，madeherrelaxintodocilityandgentleness。ShegaveitbacktoNancytobedressed，andsoftlyopenedthedoorofPhilip\'sbed—room。
\'Philip！\'saidshe，gently。\'Philip！\'
Hestartedupfromdreamsofher;ofher，angry。Hesawherthere，ratherpalewithhernight\'swatchandanxiety，butlookingmeek，andalittlebeseeching。
\'Motherhashadsuchabadnight！shefanciedonceassomebalm—teawoulddohergood——itallaysusedto:butmydriedbalmisallgone，andIthoughtthere\'dbesuretobesomeint\'oldgardenatHaytersbank。Feytherplantedabushjustformother，wheereitallayscameupearly，night\'
oldelder—tree;andifyo\'dnotmind，Icouldruntheerewhileshesleeps，andbebackagaininanhour，andit\'snotsevennow。\'
\'Thou\'snotwearthyselfoutwithrunning，Sylvie，\'saidPhilip，eagerly;
\'I\'llgetupandgomyself，or，perhaps，\'continuedhe，catchingtheshadowthatwascomingoverherface，\'thou\'drathergothyself:it\'sonlythatI\'msoafraidofthytiringthyself。\'
\'It\'llnottireme，\'saidSylvia。\'MoreIwasmarried，Iwasoutoftenfarfartherthanthat，afieldtofetchupt\'kine，beforemybreakfast。\'
\'Well，goifthouwill，\'saidPhilip。\'Butgetsomewhattoeatfirst，anddon\'thurry;there\'snoneedforthat。\'
Shehadgotherhatandshawl，andwasoffbeforehehadfinishedhislastwords。
ThelongHighStreetwasalmostemptyofpeopleatthatearlyhour;
onesidewasentirelycoveredbythecoolmorningshadowwhichlayonthepavement，andcreptuptheoppositehousestillonlythetopmoststorycaughttherosysunlight。Upthehill—road，throughthegapinthestonewall，acrossthedewyfields，Sylviawentbytheveryshortestpathsheknew。
ShehadonlyoncebeenatHaytersbanksinceherwedding—day。Onthatoccasiontheplacehadseemedstrangelyanddissonantlychangedbythenumerouschildrenwhoweredivertingthemselvesbeforetheopendoor，andwhoseplay—thingsandclothesstrewedthehouse—place，andmadeitonebusysceneofconfusionanduntidiness，moreliketheCorneys\'kitcheninformertimes，thanhermother\'sorderlyandquietabode。Thoselittlechildrenwerefatherlessnow;andthehousewasshutup，awaitingtheentryofsomenewtenant。Therewerenoshutterstoshut;thelonglowwindowwasblinkingintheraysofthemorningsun;thehouseandcow—housedoorswereclosed，andnopoultrywanderedaboutthefieldinsearchofstraygrainsofcorn，orearlyworms。Itwasastrangeandunfamiliarsilence，andstrucksolemnlyonSylvia\'smind。Onlyathrushintheoldorcharddowninthehollow，outofsight，whistledandgurgledwithcontinualshrillmelody。
Sylviawentslowlypastthehouseanddownthepathleadingtothewild，desertedbitofgarden。Shesawthatthelasttenantshadhadapumpsunkforthem，andresentedtheinnovation，asthoughthewellshewaspassingcouldfeeltheinsult。Overitgrewtwohawthorntrees;onthebenttrunkofoneofthemsheusedtosit，longago:thecharmofthepositionbeingenhancedbythepossibledangeroffallingintothewellandbeingdrowned。
Therustyunusedchainwaswoundroundthewindlass;thebucketwasfallingtopiecesfromdryness。Aleancatcamefromsomeouthouse，andmewedpitifullywithhunger;accompanyingSylviatothegarden，asifgladofsomehumancompanionship，yetrefusingtoallowitselftobetouched。Primrosesgrewintheshelteredplaces，justastheyformerlydid;andmadetheuncultivatedgroundseemlessdesertedthanthegarden，wherethelastyear\'sweedswererottingaway，andcumberingtheground。
Sylviaforcedherwaythroughtheberrybushestotheherb—plot，andpluckedthetenderleavesshehadcometoseek;sighingalittleallthetime。Thensheretracedhersteps;pausedsoftlybeforethehouse—door，andenteredtheporchandkissedthesenselesswood。
Shetriedtotemptthepoorgauntcatintoherarms，meaningtocarryithomeandbefriendit;butitwasscaredbyherendeavourandranbacktoitshomeintheouthouse，makingagreenpathacrossthewhitedewofthemeadow。ThenSylviabegantohastenhome，thinking，andremembering——atthestilethatledintotheroadshewasbroughtshortup。
Someonestoodinthelanejustontheothersideofthegap;hisbackwastothemorningsun;allshesawatfirstwastheuniformofanavalofficer，sowellknowninMonkshaveninthosedays。
Sylviawenthurryingpasthim，notlookingagain，althoughherclothesalmostbrushedhis，ashestoodtherestill。Shehadnotgoneayard——no，nothalfayard——whenherheartleapedupandfellagaindeadwithinher，asifshehadbeenshot。
\'Sylvia！\'hesaid，inavoicetremulouswithjoyandpassionatelove。
\'Sylvia！\'
Shelookedround;hehadturnedalittle，sothatthelightfellstraightonhisface。Itwasbronzed，andthelineswerestrengthened;butitwasthesamefaceshehadlastseeninHaytersbankgullythreelongyearsago，andhadneverthoughttoseeinlifeagain。
Hewasclosetoherandheldouthisfondarms;shewentflutteringtowardstheirembrace，asifdrawnbytheoldfascination;butwhenshefeltthemcloseroundher，shestartedaway，andcriedoutwithagreatpitifulshriek，andputherhandsuptoherforeheadasiftryingtoclearawaysomebewilderingmist。
Thenshelookedathimoncemore，aterriblestoryinhereyes，ifhecouldbuthavereadit。
Twicesheopenedherstifflipstospeak，andtwicethewordswereoverwhelmedbythesurgesofhermisery，whichborethembackintothedepthsofherheart。
Hethoughtthathehadcomeuponhertoosuddenly，andheattemptedtosootheherwithsoftmurmursoflove，andtowoohertohisoutstretchedhungryarmsoncemore。Butwhenshesawthismotionofhis，shemadeagestureasthoughpushinghimaway;andwithaninarticulatemoanofagonysheputherhandstoherheadoncemore，andturningawaybegantorunblindlytowardsthetownforprotection。
Foraminuteorsohewasstunnedwithsurpriseatherbehaviour;andthenhethoughtitaccountedforbytheshockofhisaccost，andthatsheneededtimetounderstandtheunexpectedjoy。Sohefollowedherswiftly，everkeepingherinview，butnottryingtoovertakehertoospeedily。
\'Ihavefrightenedmypoorlove，\'hekeptthinking。Andbythisthoughthetriedtorepresshisimpatienceandcheckthespeedhelongedtouse;
yethewasalwayssonearbehindthatherquickenedsenseheardhiswell—knownfootstepsfollowing，andamadnotionflashedacrossherbrainthatshewouldgotothewidefullriver，andendthehopelessmiseryshefeltenshroudingher。Therewasasurehiding—placefromallhumanreproachandheavymortalwoebeneaththerushingwatersbornelandwardsbythemorningtide。
Noonecantellwhatchangedhercourse;perhapsthethoughtofhersuckingchild;perhapshermother;perhapsanangelofGod;nooneonearthknows，butassheranalongthequay—sidesheallatonceturnedupanentry，andthroughanopendoor。
He，followingallthetime，cameintoaquietdarkparlour，withaclothandtea—thingsonthetablereadyforbreakfast;thechangefromthebrightsunnyairoutofdoorstothedeepshadowofthisroommadehimthinkforthefirstmomentthatshehadpassedon，andthatnoonewasthere，andhestoodforaninstantbaffled，andhearingnosoundbutthebeatingofhisownheart;butanirrepressiblesobbinggaspmadehimlookround，andtherehesawhercoweredbehindthedoor，herfacecoveredtightup，andsharpshuddersgoingthroughherwholeframe。
\'Mylove，mydarling！\'saidhe，goinguptoher，andtryingtoraiseher，andtoloosenherhandsawayfromherface。\'I\'vebeentoosuddenfortheeitwasthoughtlessinme;butIhavesolookedforwardtothistime，andseeingtheecomealongthefield，andgopastme，butIshouldha\'beenmoretenderandcarefulofthee。Nay！letmehaveanotherlookofthysweetface。\'
Allthishewhisperedintheoldtonesofmanoeuvringlove，inthatvoiceshehadyearnedandhungeredtohearinlife，andhadnotheard，forallherlonging，saveinherdreams。
Shetriedtocrouchmoreandmoreintothecorner，intothehiddenshadow——tosinkintothegroundoutofsight。
Oncemorehespoke，beseechinghertoliftupherface，tolethimhearherspeak。
Butsheonlymoaned。
\'Sylvia！\'saidhe，thinkinghecouldchangehistactics，andpiqueherintospeaking，thathewouldmakeapretenceofsuspicionandoffence。
\'Sylvia！onewouldthinkyouweren\'tgladtoseemebackagainatlength。
Ionlycameinlatelastnight，andmyfirstthoughtonwakeningwasofyou;ithasbeeneversinceIleftyou。\'
Sylviatookherhandsawayfromherface;itwasgrayasthefaceofdeath;herawfuleyeswerepassionlessinherdespair。
\'Wherehaveyo\'been？\'sheasked，inslow，hoarsetones，asifhervoicewerehalfstrangledwithinher。
\'Been！\'saidhe，aredlightcomingintohiseyes，ashebenthislooksuponher;now，indeed，atrueandnotanassumedsuspicionenteringhismind。
\'Been！\'herepeated;then，comingastepnearertoher，andtakingherhand，nottenderlythistime，butwitharesolutiontobesatisfied。
\'Didnotyourcousin——Hepburn，Imean——didnothetellyou？——hesawthepress—gangseizeme，——Igavehimamessagetoyou——IbadeyoukeeptruetomeasIwouldbetoyou。\'
Betweeneveryclauseofthisspeechhepausedandgaspedforheranswer;
butnonecame。Hereyesdilatedandheldhissteadygazeprisoneraswithamagicalcharm——neithercouldlookawayfromtheother\'swild，searchinggaze。Whenhehadended，shewassilentforamoment，thenshecriedout，shrillandfierce，——
\'Philip！\'Noanswer。
Wilderandshrillerstill，\'Philip！\'shecried。
Hewasinthedistantware—roomcompletingthelastnight\'sworkbeforetheregularshophoursbegan;beforebreakfast，also，thathiswifemightnotfindhimwaitingandimpatient。
Heheardhercry;itcutthroughdoors，andstillair，andgreatbalesofwoollenstuff;hethoughtthatshehadhurtherself，thathermotherwasworse，thatherbabywasill，andhehastenedtothespotwhencethecryproceeded。
Onopeningthedoorthatseparatedtheshopfromthesitting—room，hesawthebackofanavalofficer，andhiswifeontheground，huddledupinaheap;whensheperceivedhimcomein，shedraggedherselfupbymeansofachair，gropinglikeablindperson，andcameandstoodfacinghim。
Theofficerturnedfiercelyround，andwouldhavecometowardsPhilip，whowassobewilderedbythescenethatevenyethedidnotunderstandwhothestrangerwas，didnotperceiveforaninstantthathesawtherealizationofhisgreatestdread。
ButSylvialaidherhandonKinraid\'sarm，andassumedtoherselftherightofspeech。Philipdidnotknowhervoice，itwassochanged。
\'Philip，\'shesaid，\'thisisKinraidcomebackagaintowedme。Heisalive;hehasniverbeendead，onlytakenbyt\'press—gang。Andhesaysyo\'sawit，andknewitallt\'time。Speak，wasitso？\'
Philipknewnotwhattosay，whithertoturn，underwhatrefugeofwordsoractstoshelter。
Sylvia\'sinfluencewaskeepingKinraidsilent，buthewasrapidlypassingbeyondit。
\'Speak！\'hecried，looseninghimselffromSylvia\'slightgrasp，andcomingtowardsPhilip;withathreateninggesture。\'DidInotbidyoutellherhowitwas？DidInotbidyousayhowIwouldbefaithfultoher，andshewastobefaithfultome？Oh！youdamnedscoundrel！haveyoukeptitfromherallthattime，andletherthinkmedead，orfalse？Takethat！\'
Hisclosedfistwasuptostriketheman，whohunghisheadwithbitterestshameandmiserableself—reproach;butSylviacameswiftbetweentheblowanditsvictim。
\'Charley，thoushan\'tstrikehim，\'shesaid。\'Heisadamnedscoundrel\'
（thiswassaidinthehardest，quietesttone）\'butheismyhusband。\'
\'Oh！thoufalseheart！\'exclaimedKinraid，turningsharponher。\'IfeverItrustedwoman，Itrustedyou，SylviaRobson。\'
Hemadeasthoughthrowingherfromhim，withagestureofcontemptthatstunghertolife。