\'Oh，Charley！\'shecried，springingtohim，\'dunnotcutmetothequick;
havepityonme，thoughhehadnone。Ididsolovethee;itwasmyveryheart—stringsasgavewaywhentheytoldmethouwasdrowned——feyther，andth\'Corneys，andall，iverybody。Thyhatandt\'bito\'ribbonIgavetheewerefounddrenchedanddrippingwi\'sea—water;andIwentmourningfortheeallthedaylong——dunnotturnawayfromme;onlyhearkenthisonce，andthenkillmedead，andI\'llblessyo\'，——andhaveniverbeenmysel\'
since;niverceasedtofeelt\'sungrowdarkandth\'airchillanddrearywhenIthoughtont\'timewhenthouwasalive。Idid，myCharley，myownlove！AndIthoughtthouwasdeadforiver，andIwishedIwerelyingbesidethee。Oh，Charley！Philip，theere，wherehestandscouldtellyo\'thiswastrue。Philip，wasn\'titso？\'
\'WouldGodIweredead！\'moanedforththeunhappy，guiltyman。ButshehadturnedtoKinraid，andwasspeakingagaintohim，andneitherofthemheardorheededhim——theyweredrawingcloserandclosertogether——she，withhercheeksandeyesaflame，talkingeagerly。
\'Andfeytherwastakenup，andallforsettingsomefreeast\'press—ganghadgottenbyafoultrick;andhewereputi\'Yorkprison，andtried，andhung！——hung！Charley！——goodkindfeytherwashungonagallows;andmotherlosthersenseandgrewsillyingrief，andwewereliketobeturnedoutont\'wideworld，andpoormotherdateless——andIthoughtyo\'weredead——oh！Ithoughtyo\'weredead，Idid——oh，Charley，Charley！\'
Bythistimetheywereineachother\'sarms，shewithherheadonhisshoulder，cryingasifherheartwouldbreak。
Philipcameforwardsandtookholdofhertopullheraway;butCharleyheldhertight，mutelydefyingPhilip。UnconsciouslyshewasPhilip\'sprotection，inthathourofdanger，fromablowwhichmighthavebeenhisdeathifstrongwillcouldhaveaidedittokill。
\'Sylvie！\'saidhe，graspinghertight。\'Listentome。Hedidn\'tloveyo\'asIdid。Hehadlovedotherwomen。I，yo\'——yo\'alone。Helovedothergirlsbeforeyo\'，andhadleftoffloving\'em。I——IwishGodwouldfreemyheartfromthepang;butitwillgoontillIdie，whetheryo\'lovemeornot。Andthen——wherewasI？Oh！thatverynightthathewastaken，Iwasa—thinkingonyo\'andonhim;andImightha\'givenyo\'hismessage，butIheardthemspeakingofhimasknewhimwell;talkingofhisfalsefickleways。HowwasItoknowhewouldkeeptruetothee？Itmightbeasininme，Icannotsay;myheartandmysensearegonedeadwithinme。
Iknowthis，I\'velovedyo\'asnomanbutmeeverlovedbefore。Havesomepityandforgivenessonme，ifit\'sonlybecauseI\'vebeensotormentedwithmylove。\'
Helookedatherwithfeverisheagerwistfulness;itfadedawayintodespairasshemadenosignofhavingevenheardhiswords。Heletgohisholdofher，andhisarmfelllooselybyhisside。
\'Imaydie，\'hesaid，\'formylifeisended！\'
\'Sylvia！\'spokeoutKinraid，boldandfervent，\'yourmarriageisnomarriage。Youweretrickedintoit。Youaremywife，nothis。Iamyourhusband;weplightedeachotherourtroth。See！hereismyhalfofthesixpence。\'
Hepulleditoutfromhisbosom，tiedbyablackribbonroundhisneck。
\'Whentheystrippedmeandsearchedmeinth\'Frenchprison，Imanagedtokeepthis。Noliescanbreaktheoathwesworetoeachother。Icangetyourpretenceofamarriagesetaside。I\'minfavourwithmyadmiral，andhe\'lldoadealforme，andbackmeout。Comewithme;yourmarriageshallbesetaside，andwe\'llbemarriedagain，allsquareandabove—board。
Comeaway。Leavethatdamnedfellowtorepentofthetrickheplayedanhonestsailor;we\'llbetrue，whateverhascomeandgone。Come，Sylvia。\'
Hisarmwasroundherwaist，andhewasdrawinghertowardsthedoor，hisfaceallcrimsonwitheagernessandhope。Justthenthebabycried。
\'Hark！\'saidshe，startingawayfromKinraid，\'baby\'scryingforme。
Hischild——yes，itishischild——I\'dforgottenthat——forgottenall。I\'llmakemyvownow，lestIlosemysel\'again。I\'llneverforgiveyonman，norlivewithhimashiswifeagain。Allthat\'sdoneandended。He\'sspoiltmylife，he\'sspoiltitforaslongasiverIliveonthisearth;but\'neitheryo\'norhimshallspoilmysoul。Itgoeshardwi\'me，Charley，itdoesindeed。I\'lljustgiveyo\'onekiss——onelittlekiss——andthen，sohelpmeGod，I\'llniverseenorheartill——no，notthat，notthatisindeed——I\'llniversee——surethat\'senough——I\'llneverseeyo\'againonthissideheaven，sohelpmeGod！I\'mboundandtied，butI\'veswornmyoathtohimaswellasyo\':there\'sthingsIwilldo，andthere\'sthingsIwon\'t。Kissmeoncemore。Godhelpme，he\'sgone！\'
chapter34CHAPTERXXXIVARECKLESSRECRUITShelayacrossachair，herarmshelplesslystretchedout，herfaceunseen。
Everynowandthenathrill\'ranthroughherbody:shewastalkingtoherselfallthetimewithincessantlowincontinenceofwords。
Philipstoodnearher，motionless:hedidnotknowwhethershewasconsciousofhispresence;infact，heknewnothingbutthatheandsheweresunderedforever;hecouldonlytakeinthatoneidea，anditnumbedallotherthought。
Oncemoreherbabycriedforthecomfortshealonecouldgive。
Sherosetoherfeet，butstaggeredwhenshetriedtowalk;herglazedeyesfelluponPhilipasheinstinctivelymadeasteptoholdhersteady。
Nolightcameintohereyesanymorethanifshehadlookeduponaperfectstranger;notevenwastherethecontractionofdislike。Someotherfigurefilledhermind，andshesawhimnomorethanshesawtheinanimatetable。
Thatwayoflookingathimwitheredhimupmorethananysignofaversionwouldhavedone。
Hewatchedherlaboriouslyclimbthestairs，andvanishoutofsight;
andsatdownwithasuddenfeelingofextremebodilyweakness。
Thedoorofcommunicationbetweentheparlourandtheshopwasopened。
ThatwasthefirsteventofwhichPhiliptooknote;butPhoebehadcomeinunawarestohim，withtheintentionofremovingthebreakfastthingsonherreturnfrommarket，andseeingthemunused，andknowingthatSylviahadsateupallnightwithhermother，shehadgonebacktothekitchen。
Philiphadneitherseennorheardher。
NowCoulsoncamein，amazedatHepburn\'snon—appearanceintheshop。
\'Why！Philip，what\'sado？Howillyo\'look，man！\'exclaimedhe，thoroughlyalarmedbyPhilip\'sghastlyappearance。\'What\'sthematter？\'
\'I！\'saidPhilip，slowlygatheringhisthoughts。\'Whyshouldtherebeanythingthematter？\'
Hisinstinct，quickertoactthanhisreason，madehimshrinkfromhismiserybeingnoticed，muchmoremadeanysubjectforexplanationorsympathy。
\'Theremaybenothingthematterwi\'thee，\'saidCoulson，\'butthou\'sthelookofacorpseonthyface。Iwasafearedsomethingwaswrong，forit\'shalf—pastnine，andtheesopunctual！\'
HealmostguardedPhilipintotheshop，andkeptfurtivelywatching。
him，andperplexinghimselfwithPhilip\'sodd，strangeways。
Hester，too，observedtheheavybroken—downexpressiononPhilip\'sashenface，andherheartachedforhim;butafterthatfirstglance，whichtoldhersomuch，sheavoidedallappearanceofnoticingorwatching。Onlyashadowbroodedoverhersweet，calmface，andonceortwiceshesighedtoherself。
Itwasmarket—day，andpeoplecameinandout，bringingtheirstoreofgossipfromthecountry，orthetown——fromthefarmorthequay—side。
Amongthepiecesofnews，therescueofthesmackthenightbeforefurnishedalargetopic;andby—and—byPhilipheardanamethatstartledhimintoattention。
Thelandladyofasmallpublic—housemuchfrequentedbysailorswastalkingtoCoulson。
\'TherewasasailoraboardofherasknowedKinraidbysight，inShields，yearsago;andhecalledhimbyhisnameaforetheywerewellouto\'t\'
river。AndKinraidwasnowayssetup，forallhislieutenant\'suniform（andeh！buttheysayhelookshandsomeinit！）;buthetells\'mallaboutit——howhewaspressedaboardaman—o\'—war，an\'forhisgoodconductweremadeawarrantofficer，boatswain，orsomething！\'
Allthepeopleintheshopwerelisteningnow;Philipaloneseemedengrossedinfoldingupapieceofcloth，soastoleavenopossiblechanceofcreasesinit;yethelostnotasyllableofthegoodwoman\'snarration。
She，pleasedwiththeenlargedaudiencehertalehadattracted，wentonwithfreshvigour。
\'An\'there\'sagallantcaptain，oneSirSidneySmith，andhe\'danotiono\'goin\'smackintoaFrenchport，an\'carryin\'offavesselfromrightundertheirverynoses;an\'sayshe，\"Whichofyo\'Britishsailors\'llgoalongwithmetodeathorglory？\"SoKinraidstandsuplikeaman，an\'
\"I\'llgowithyo\'，captain，\"hesays。Sothey，an\'someothersasbrave，wentoff，an\'didtheirwork，an\'choosewhativeritwas，theydiditfamously;
buttheygotcaughtbythemFrench，an\'wereclappedintoprisoni\'Franceforiversolong;butatlastonePhilip——Philipsomethin\'（hewereaFrenchman，Iknow）——helped\'emtoescape，inafishin\'—boat。Buttheywerewelcomedbyth\'wholeBritishsquadronaswasi\'t\'Channelfort\'pieceofdaringthey\'ddonei\'cuttin\'outt\'shipfromaFrenchport;an\'CaptainSirSidneySmithwasmadeanadmiral，an\'himasweusedt\'callCharleyKinraid，thespecksioneer，ismadealieutenant，an\'acommissionedofficeri\'t\'
King\'sservice;andiscometogreatglory，andslepinmyhousethisveryblessednightasisjustpast！\'
AmurmurofapplauseandinterestandrejoicingbuzzedallaroundPhilip。
AllthiswaspubliclyknownaboutKinraid，——andhowmuchmore？AllMonkshavenmightheartomorrow——nay，to—day——ofPhilip\'streacherytotheheroofthehour;howhehadconcealedhisfate，andsupplantedhiminhislove。
Philipshrankfromtheburstofpopularindignationwhichheknewmustfollow。Anywrongdonetoonewhostandsonthepinnacleofthepeople\'sfavourisresentedbyeachindividualasapersonalinjury;andamongaprimitivesetofcountry—folk，whorecognizethewildpassioninlove，asitexistsuntamedbythetrammelsofreasonandself—restraint，anystoryofbaulkedaffections，ortreacheryinsuchmatters，spreadslikewildfire。
Philipknewthisquitewell;hisdoomofdisgracelayplainbeforehim，ifonlyKinraidspoketheword。Hisheadwasbentdownwhilehethuslistenedandreflected。Hehalfresolvedondoingsomething;helifteduphishead，caughtthereflectionofhisfaceinthelittlestripofglassontheoppositeside，inwhichthewomenmightlookatthemselvesintheircontemplatedpurchases，andquiteresolved。
Thesighthesawinthemirrorwashisownlong，sad，paleface，madeplainerandgrayerbytheheavypressureofthemorning\'sevents。Hesawhisstoopingfigure，hisroundedshoulders，withsomethinglikeafeelingofdisgustathispersonalappearanceasherememberedthesquare，uprightbuildofKinraid;hisfineuniform，withepauletteandsword—belt;hishandsomebrownface;hisdarkeyes，splendidwiththefireofpassionandindignation;hiswhiteteeth，gleamingoutwiththeterriblesmileofscorn。
ThecomparisondrovePhilipfrompassivehopelessnesstoactivedespair。
Hewentabruptlyfromthecrowdedshopintotheemptyparlour，andonintothekitchen，wherehetookupapieceofbread，andheedlessofPhoebe\'slookandwords，begantoeatitbeforeheevenlefttheplace;forheneededthestrengththatfoodwouldgive;heneededittocarryhimoutofthesightandtheknowledgeofallwhomighthearwhathehaddone，andpointtheirfingersathim。
Hepausedamomentintheparlour，andthen，settinghisteethtighttogether，hewentupstairs。
Firstofallhewentintothebitofaroomopeningoutoftheirs，inwhichhisbabyslept。Hedearlylovedthechild，andmanyatimewouldruninandplayawhilewithit;andinsuchgambolsheandSylviahadpassedtheirhappiestmomentsofweddedlife。
ThelittleBellawashavinghermorningslumber;Nancyusedtotelllongafterwardshowhekneltdownbythesideofhercot，andwassostrangeshethoughthemusthaveprayed，forallitwasnighuponeleveno\'clock，andfolkintheirsensesonlysaidtheirprayerswhentheygotup，andwhentheywenttobed。
Thenherose，andstoopedover，andgavethechildalong，lingering，soft，fondkiss。
Andontip—toehepassedawayintotheroomwherehisauntlay;hisauntwhohadbeensotrueafriendtohim！Hewasthankfultoknowthatinherpresentstateshewassafefromtheknowledgeofwhatwaspast，safefromthesoundoftheshametocome。
HehadnotmeanttoseeSylviaagain;hedreadedthelookofherhatred，herscorn，butthere，outsidehermother\'sbed，shelay，apparentlyasleep。
MrsRobson，too，wassleeping，herfacetowardsthewall。Philipcouldnothelpit;hewenttohaveonelastlookathiswife。Shewasturnedtowardshermother，herfaceavertedfromhim;hecouldseethetear—stains，theswolleneyelids，thelipsyetquivering:hestoopeddown，andbenttokissthelittlehandthatlaylistlessbyherside。Ashishotbreathnearedthathanditwastwitchedaway，andashiverranthroughthewholeprostratebody。Andthenheknewthatshewasnotasleep，onlywornoutbyhermisery，——miserythathehadcaused。
Hesighedheavily;buthewentaway，downstairs，andawayforever。
Onlyasheenteredtheparlourhiseyescaughtontwosilhouettes，oneofhimself，oneofSylvia，doneinthefirstmonthoftheirmarriage，bysomewanderingartist，ifsohecouldbecalled。Theywerehangingagainstthewallinlittleovalwoodenframes;blackprofiles，withthelightsdoneingold;aboutaspoorsemblancesofhumanityascouldbeconceived;
butPhilipwentup，andafterlookingforaminuteorsoatSylvia\'s，hetookitdown，andbuttonedhiswaistcoatoverit。
Itwastheonlythinghetookawayfromhishome。
Hewentdowntheentryontothequay。Theriverwasthere，andwaters，theysay，havealuringpower，andaweirdpromiseofrestintheirperpetualmonotonyofsound。Butmanypeoplewerethere，ifsuchatemptationpresenteditselftoPhilip\'smind;thesightofhisfellow—townsmen，perhapsofhisacquaintances，drovehimupanotherentry——thetownisburrowedwithsuch——backintotheHighStreet，whichhestraightwaycrossedintoawell—knowncourt，outofwhichroughstepsledtothesummitofthehill，andontothefellsandmoorsbeyond。
Heplungedandpantedupthisroughascent。Fromthetophecouldlookdownonthewholetownlyingbelow，severedbythebrightshiningriverintotwoparts。Totherightlaythesea，shimmeringandheaving;thereweretheclusterofmastsrisingoutofthelittleport;theirregularroofsofthehouses;whichofthem，thoughthe，ashecarriedhiseyealongthequay—sidetothemarket—place，whichofthemwashis？andhesingleditoutinitsunfamiliaraspect，andsawthethinbluesmokerisingfromthekitchenchimney，whereevennowPhoebewascookingthehouseholdmealthathenevermoremustshare。
Upatthatthoughtandaway，heknewnotnorcarednotwhither。Hewentthroughtheploughedfieldswherethecornwasnewlyspringing;hecamedownuponthevastsunnysea，andturnedhisbackuponitwithloathing;
hemadehiswayinlandtothehighgreenpastures;theshortuplandturfabovewhichthelarkshungpoised\'atheaven\'sgate。\'Hestrodealong，sostraightandheedlessofbriarandbush，thatthewildblackcattleceasedfromgrazing，andlookedafterhimwiththeirgreatblankpuzzledeyes。
Hehadpassedallenclosuresandstonefencesnow，andwasfairlyonthedesolatebrownmoors;throughthewitheredlastyear\'slingandfern，throughthepricklygorse，hetramped，crushingdownthetendershootsofthisyear\'sgrowth，andheedlessofthestartledplover\'scry，goadedbythefuries。Hisonlyrelieffromthought，fromtheremembranceofSylvia\'slooksandwords，wasinviolentbodilyaction。
Sohewentontilleveningshadowsandruddyeveninglightscameoutuponthewildfells。
Hehadcrossedroadsandlanes，withabitteravoidanceofmen\'stracks;
butnowthestronginstinctofself—preservationcameout，andhisachinglimbs，hiswearyheart，givinggreatpantsandbeatsforatime，andthenceasingaltogethertillamistswamandquiveredbeforehisachingeyes，warnedhimthathemustfindsomeshelterandfood，orliedowntodie。
Hefelldownnow，often;stumblingovertheslightestobstacle。Hehadpassedthecattlepastures;hewasamongtheblack—facedsheep;andthey，too，ceasednibbling，andlookedafterhim，andsomehow，inhispoorwanderingimagination，theirsillyfacesturnedtolikenessesofMonks—havenpeople——peoplewhooughttobefar，faraway。
\'Thou\'llbebelatedonthesefells，ifthoudoesn\'ttak\'heed，\'shoutedsomeone。
Philiplookedabroadtoseewhencethevoiceproceeded。
Anoldstiff—leggedshepherd，inasmock—frock，waswithinacoupleofhundredyards。Philipdidnotanswer，butstaggeredandstumbledtowardshim。
\'Goodlork！\'saidtheman，\'wheerehasttabeen？Thou\'sseenOudHarry，Ithink，thoulookssoscared。\'
Philipralliedhimself，andtriedtospeakuptotheoldstandardofrespectability;buttheeffortwaspitifultosee，hadanyonebeenby，whocouldhaveunderstoodthepainitcausedtorestraincriesofbodilyandmentalagony。
\'I\'velostmyway，that\'sall。\'
\'\'Twouldha\'beenenough，too，I\'mthinkin\'，ifIhadn\'tcomeoutaftert\'ewes。There\'st\'ThreeGriffinsnearathand:asupo\'Hollands\'llsettheetoreeghts。\'
Philipfollowedfaintly。Hecouldnotseebeforehim，andwasguidedbythesoundoffootstepsratherthanbythesightofthefiguremovingonwards。Hekeptstumbling;andheknewthattheoldshepherdsworeathim;buthealsoknewsuchcursesproceededfromnoill—will，onlyfromannoyanceatthedelayingoingand\'seem\'aftert\'ewes。\'Buthadtheman\'swordsconveyedtheutmostexpressionofhatred，Philipwouldneitherhavewonderedatthem，norresentedthem。
Theycameintoawildmountainroad，unfencedfromthefells。Ahundredyardsoff，andtherewasasmallpublic—house，withabroadruddyoblongoffirelightshiningacrossthetract。
\'Theere！\'saidtheoldman。\'Theecannotwellmissthat。Adunnotho\'，theebeessichagawby。\'
Sohewenton，anddeliveredPhilipsafelyuptothelandlord。
\'Here\'safellyasafundont\'fellside，justasoneasifheweredrunk;buthe\'ssoberenough，areckon，onlysummat\'swrongi\'hishead，a\'mthinkin\'。\'
\'No！\'saidPhilip，sittingdownonthefirstchairhecameto。\'I\'mrightenough;justfairlyweariedout:lostmyway，\'andhefainted。
Therewasarecruitingsergeantofmarinessittinginthehouse—place，drinking。He，too，likePhilip，hadlosthisway;butwasturninghisblundertoaccountbytellingallmannerofwonderfulstoriestotwoorthreerusticswhohadcomeinreadytodrinkonanypretence;especiallyiftheycouldgetgoodliquorwithoutpayingforit。
ThesergeantroseasPhilipfellback，andbroughtuphisownmugofbeer，intowhichanogginofginhadbeenput（calledinYorkshire\'dog\'s—nose\'）。
HepartlypouredandpartlyspiltsomeofthisbeverageonPhilip\'sface;
somedropswentthroughthepaleandpartedlips，andwithastarttheworn—outmanrevived。
\'Bringhimsomevictual，landlord，\'calledouttherecruitingsergeant。
\'I\'llstandshot。\'
Theybroughtsomecoldbaconandcoarseoat—cake。Thesergeantaskedforpepperandsalt;mincedthefoodfineandmadeitsavoury，andkeptadministeringitbyteaspoonfuls;urgingPhiliptodrinkfromtimetotimefromhisowncupofdog\'s—nose。
Aburningthirst，whichneedednostimulantfromeitherpepperorsalt，tookpossessionofPhilip，andhedrankfreely，scarcelyrecognizingwhathedrank。Ittookeffectononesohabituallysober;andhewassooninthatstatewhentheImaginationworkswildlyandfreely。
Hesawthesergeantbeforehim，handsome，andbright，andactive，inhisgayreduniform，withoutacare，asitseemedtoPhilip，takinglifelightly;admiredandrespectedeverywherebecauseofhiscloth。
IfPhilipweregay，andbrisk，well—dressedlikehim，returningwithmartialglorytoMonkshaven，wouldnotSylvialovehimoncemore？Couldnothewinherheart？Hewasbravebynature，andtheprospectofdangerdidnotdaunthim，ifeveritpresenteditselftohisimagination。
Hethoughthewascautiousinenteringonthesubjectofenlistmentwithhisnewfriend，thesergeant;butthelatterwastwentytimesascunningashe，andknewbyexperiencehowtobaithishook。
Philipwasolderbysomeyearsthantheregulationage;but，atthattimeofgreatdemandformen，thequestionofagewaslightlyentertained。
Thesergeantwasprofuseinstatementsoftheadvantagespresentedtoamanofeducationinhisbranchoftheservice;howsuchaonewassuretorise;infact，itwouldhaveseemedfromthesergeant\'saccount，asthoughthedifficultyconsistedinremainingintheranks。
Philip\'sdizzyheadthoughtthesubjectoverandoveragain，eachtimewithfailingpowerofreason。
Atlength，almost，asitwouldseem，bysomesleightofhand，hefoundthefatalshillinginhispalm，andhadpromisedtogobeforethenearestmagistratetobesworninasoneofhisMajesty\'smarinesthenextmorning。
Andafterthatherememberednothingmore。
Hewakenedupinalittletruckle—bedinthesameroomasthesergeant，wholaysleepingthesleepoffullcontentment;whilegradually，dropbydrop，thebitterrecollectionsofthedaybeforecame，fillingupPhilip\'scupofagony。
Heknewthathehadreceivedthebounty—money;andthoughhewasawarethathehadbeenpartlytrickedintoit，andhadnohope，nocare，indeed，foranyoftheadvantagessoliberallypromisedhimthenightbefore，yethewasresigned，withutterlydespondentpassiveness，tothefatetowhichhehadpledgedhimself。Anythingwaswelcomethatseveredhimfromhisformerlife，thatcouldmakehimforgetit，ifthatwerepossible;andalsowelcomeanythingwhichincreasedthechancesofdeathwithoutthesinfulnessofhisownparticipationintheact。Hefoundinthedarkrecessofhismindthedeadbodyofhisfancyofthepreviousnight;thathemightcomehome，handsomeandglorious，towinthelovethathadneverbeenhis。
Butheonlysighedoverit，andputitasideoutofhissight——sofullofdespairwashe。Hecouldeatnobreakfast，thoughthesergeantorderedofthebest。Thelatterkeptwatchinghisnewrecruitoutofthecornerofhiseye，expectingaremonstrance，ordreadingasuddenbolt。
ButPhilipwalkedwithhimthetwoorthreemilesinthemostsubmissivesilence，neverutteringasyllableofregretorrepentance;andbeforeJusticeCholmley，ofHolm—FellHall，hewasswornintohisMajesty\'sservice，underthenameofStephenFreeman。Withanewname，hebegananewlife。
Alas！theoldlifelivesforever！
chapter35CHAPTERXXXVTHINGSUNUTTERABLEAfterPhiliphadpassedoutoftheroom，Sylvialayperfectlystill，fromveryexhaustion。Hermotherslepton，happilyunconsciousofalltheturmoilthathadtakenplace;yes，happily，thoughtheheavysleepwastoendindeath。Butofthisherdaughterknewnothing，imaginingthatitwasrefreshingslumber，insteadofanebbingoflife。BothmotheranddaughterlaymotionlesstillPhoebeenteredtheroomtotellSylviathatdinnerwasonthetable。
ThenSylviasateup，andputbackherhair，bewilderedanduncertainastowhatwastobedonenext;howsheshouldmeetthehusbandtowhomshehaddiscardedallallegiance，repudiatedthesolemnpromiseofloveandobediencewhichshehadvowed。
Phoebecameintotheroom，withnaturalinterestintheinvalid，scarcelyolderthanherself。
\'Howist\'oldlady？\'askedshe，inalowvoice。
Sylviaturnedherheadroundtolook;hermotherhadnevermoved，butwasbreathinginalouduncomfortablemanner，thatmadeherstoopoverhertoseetheavertedfacemorenearly。
\'Phoebe！\'shecried，\'comehere！Shelooksstrangeandodd;hereyesareopen，butdon\'tseeme。Phoebe！Phoebe！\'
\'Sureenough，she\'sinabadway！\'saidPhoebe，climbingstifflyontothebedtohaveanearerview。Holdherheadalittleupt\'easeherbreathin\'whileIgoformaster;he\'llbeforsendin\'fort\'doctor，I\'llbebound。\'
Sylviatookhermother\'sheadandlaiditfondlyonherbreast，speakingtoherandtryingtorouseher;butitwasofnoavail:thehard，stertorousbreathinggrewworseandworse。
Sylviacriedoutforhelp;Nancycame，thebabyinherarms。Theyhadbeeninseveraltimesbeforethatmorning;andthechildcamesmilingandcrowingatitsmother，whowassupportingherowndyingparent。
\'Oh，Nancy;\'saidSylvia;\'whatisthematterwithmother？yo\'canseeherface;tellmequick！\'
Nancysetthebabyonthebedforallreply，andranoutoftheroom，cryingout，\'Master！master！Comequick！T\'oldmissusisa—dying！\'
ThisappearedtobenonewstoSylvia，andyetthewordscameonherwithagreatshock，butforallthatshecouldnotcry;shewassurprisedherselfatherowndeadnessoffeeling。
Herbabycrawledtoher，andshehadtoholdandguardbothhermotherandherchild。Itseemedalong，longtimebeforeanyonecame，andthensheheardmuffledvoices，andaheavytramp:itwasPhoebeleadingthedoctorupstairs，andNancycreepinginbehindtohearhisopinion。
Hedidnotaskmanyquestions，andPhoeberepliedmorefrequentlytohisinquiriesthandidSylvia，wholookedintohisfacewithablank，tearless，speechlessdespair，thatgavehimmorepainthanthesightofherdyingmother。
ThelongdecayofMrsRobson\'sfacultiesandhealth，ofwhichhewaswellaware，hadinacertainmannerpreparedhimforsomesuchsuddenterminationofthelifewhosedurationwashardlydesirable，althoughhegaveseveraldirectionsastohertreatment;butthewhite，pinchedface，thegreatdilatedeye，theslowcomprehensionoftheyoungerwoman，struckhimwithalarm;andhewentonaskingforvariousparticulars，morewithaviewofrousingSylvia，ifevenitweretotears，thanforanyotherpurposethattheinformationthusobtainedcouldanswer。
\'Youhadbesthavepillowsproppedupbehindher——itwillnotbeforlong;shedoesnotknowthatyouareholdingher，anditisonlytiringyoutonopurpose！\'
Sylvia\'sterriblestarecontinued;heputhisadviceintoaction，andgentlytriedtoloosenherclasp，andtenderhold。Thissheresisted;layinghercheekagainstherpoormother\'sunconsciousface。
\'WhereisHepburn？\'saidhe。\'Heoughttobehere！\'
PhoebelookedatNancy，NancyatPhoebe。Itwasthelatterwhoreplied，\'He\'sneitheri\'t\'housenori\'t\'shop。Aseedhimgopastt\'kitchenwindowbetternoranhourago;butneitherWilliamCoulsonorHesterRoseknowswherehe\'sgoneto。
DrMorgan\'slipswerepuckeredupintoawhistle，buthemadenosound。
\'Givemebaby！\'hesaid，suddenly。Nancyhadtakenherupoffthebedwhereshehadbeensitting，encircledbyhermother\'sarm。Thenursemaidgavehertothedoctor。Hewatchedthemother\'seye，itfollowedherchild，andhewasrejoiced。Hegavealittlepinchtothebaby\'ssoftflesh，andshecriedoutpiteously;againthesameaction，thesameresult。Sylvialaidhermotherdown，andstretchedoutherarmsforherchild，hushingit，andmoaningoverit。
\'Sofarsogood！\'saidDrMorgantohimself。\'Butwhereisthehusband？
Heoughttobehere。\'HewentdownstairstomakeinquiryforPhilip;thatpooryoungcreature，aboutwhosehealthhehadneverfeltthoroughlysatisfiedsincethefeverafterherconfinement，wasinananxiouscondition，andwithaninevitableshockawaitingher。Herhusbandoughttobewithher，andsupportinghertobearit。
DrMorganwentintotheshop。Hesteralonewasthere。Coulsonhadgonetohiscomfortabledinnerathiswell—orderedhouse，withhiscommon—placewife。IfhehadfeltanxiousaboutPhilip\'slooksandstrangedisappearance，hehadalsomanagedtoaccountfortheminsomeindifferentway。
Hesterwasalonewiththeshop—boy;fewpeoplecameinduringtheuniversalMonkshavendinner—hour。Shewasrestingherheadonherhand，andpuzzledanddistressedaboutmanythings——allthatwasimpliedbytheproceedingsoftheeveningbeforebetweenPhilipandSylvia;andthatwasconfirmedbyPhilip\'smiserablelooksandstrangeabstractedwaysto—day。Oh！howeasyHesterwouldhavefoundittomakehimhappy！notmerelyhoweasy，butwhathappinessitwouldhavebeentohertomergehereverywishintotheonegreatobjectoffulfilinghiswill。Toher，anon—looker，thecourseofmarriedlife，whichshouldleadtoperfecthappiness，seemedtoplain！
Alas！itisoftenso！andtheresistingforceswhichmakeallsuchharmonyanddelightimpossiblearenotrecognizedbythebystanders，hardlybytheactors。Butiftheseresistingforcesareonlysuperficial，orconstitutional，theyarebutthenecessarydisciplinehere，anddonotradicallyaffectthelovewhichwillmakeallthingsrightinheaven。
SomeglimmeringofthislattercomfortingtruthsheditslightonHester\'stroubledthoughtsfromtimetotime。Butagain，howeasywouldithavebeentohertotreadthemazethatledtoPhilip\'shappiness;andhowdifficultitseemedtothewifehehadchosen！
ShewasarousedbyDrMorgan\'svoice。
\'SobothCoulsonandHepburnhavelefttheshoptoyourcare，Hester。
IwantHepburn，though;hiswifeisinaveryanxiousstate。Whereishe？
canyoutellme？\'
\'Sylviainananxiousstate！I\'venotseenherto—day，butlastnightshelookedaswellascouldbe。\'