\'Ay，ay;butmanyathinghappensinfour—and—twentyhours。Hermotherisdying，maybedeadbythistime;andherhusbandshouldbetherewithher。Can\'tyousendforhim？\'
\'Idon\'tknowwhereheis，\'saidHester。\'Hewentofffromhereallonasudden，whentherewasallthemarket—folksint\'shop;Ithoughthe\'dmaybegonetoJohnFoster\'saboutth\'money，fortheywaspayingadealin。I\'llsendthereandinquire。\'
No！themessengerbroughtbackwordthathehadnotbeenseenattheirbankallmorning。FurtherinquiriesweremadebytheanxiousHester，bythedoctor，byCoulson;alltheycouldlearnwasthatPhoebehadseenhimpassthekitchenwindowabouteleveno\'clock，whenshewaspeelingthepotatoesfordinner;andtwoladsplayingonthequay—sidethoughttheyhadseenhimamongagroupofsailors;buttheselatter，asfarastheycouldbeidentified，hadnoknowledgeofhisappearanceamongthem。
Beforenightthewholetownwasexcitedabouthisdisappearance。BeforenightBellRobsonhadgonetoherlonghome。AndSylviastilllayquietandtearless，apparentlymoreunmovedthananyothercreaturebytheeventsoftheday，andthestrangevanishingofherhusband。
Theonlythingsheseemedtocareforwasherbaby;sheheldittightinherarms，andDrMorganbadethemleaveitthere，itstouchmightdrawthedesiredtearsintoherweary，sleeplesseyes，andcharmtheachingpainoutofthem。
Theywereafraidlestsheshouldinquireforherhusband，whosenon—appearanceatsuchatimeofsorrowtohiswifemust（theythought）seemstrangetoher。Andnightdrewonwhiletheywereallinthisstate。Shehadgonebacktoherownroomwithoutawordwhentheyhaddesiredhertodoso;
caressingherchildinherarms，andsittingdownonthefirstchairshecameto，withaheavysigh，asifeventhisslightbodilyexertionhadbeentoomuchforher。Theysawhereyesturntowardsthedooreverytimeitwasopened，andtheythoughtitwaswithanxiousexpectationofonewhocouldnotbefound，thoughmanywereseekingforhiminallprobableplaces。
Whennightcamesomeonehadtotellherofherhusband\'sdisappearance;
andDrMorganwasthepersonwhoundertookthis。
Hecameintoherroomaboutnineo\'clock;herbabywassleepinginherarms;sheherselfpaleasdeath，stillsilentandtearless，thoughstrangelywatchfulofgesturesandsounds，andprobablycognizantofmorethantheyimagined。
\'Well，MrsHepburn，\'saidhe，ascheerfullyashecould，\'Ishouldadviseyourgoingtobedearly;forIfancyyourhusbandwon\'tcomehometo—night。
Somejourneyorother，thatperhapsCoulsoncanexplainbetterthanIcan，willmostlikelykeephimawaytillto—morrow。It\'sveryunfortunatethatheshouldbeawayatsuchasadtimeasthis，asI\'msurehe\'llfeelwhenhereturns;butwemustmakethebestofit。\'
Hewatchedhertoseetheeffectofhiswords。
Shesighed，thatwasall。Hestillremainedalittlewhile。Sheliftedherheadupalittleandasked，\'Howlongdoyo\'thinkshewasunconscious，doctor？Couldshehearthings，thinkyo\'，aforeshefellintothatstrangekindo\'slumber？\'
\'Icannottell，\'saidhe，shakinghishead。\'Wasshebreathinginthathardsnoringkindofwaywhenyouleftherthismorning？\'
\'Yes，Ithinkso;Icannottell，somuchhashappened。\'
\'Whenyoucamebacktoher，afteryourbreakfast，Ithinkyousaidshewasinmuchthesameposition？\'
\'Yes，andyetImaybetellingyo\'lies;ifIcouldbutthink:butit\'smyheadasisachingso;doctor，Iwishyo\'dgo，forIneedbeingalone，I\'msomazed。\'
\'Good—night，then，foryou\'reawisewoman，Isee，andmeantogotobed，andhaveagoodnightwithbabythere。\'
ButhewentdowntoPhoebe，andtoldhertogoinfromtimetotime，andseehowhermistresswas。
HefoundHesterRoseandtheoldservanttogether;bothhadbeencrying，bothwereevidentlyingreattroubleaboutthedeathandthemysteryoftheday。
HesteraskedifshemightgoupandseeSylvia，andthedoctorgavehisleave，talkingmeanwhilewithPhoebeoverthekitchenfire。HestercamedownagainwithoutseeingSylvia。Thedooroftheroomwasbolted，andeverythingquietinside。
\'Doessheknowwhereherhusbandis，thinkyou？\'askedthedoctoratthisaccountofHester\'s。\'She\'snotanxiousabouthimatanyrate:orelsetheshockofhermother\'sdeathhasbeentoomuchforher。Wemusthopeforsomechangeinthemorning;agoodfitofcrying，orafidgetaboutherhusband，wouldbemorenatural。Good—nighttoyouboth，\'andoffhewent。
PhoebeandHesteravoidedlookingateachotheratthesewords。Bothwereconsciousoftheprobabilityofsomethinghavinggoneseriouslywrongbetweenthehusbandandwife。Hesterhadtherecollectionofthepreviousnight，Phoebetheuntastedbreakfastofto—daytogoupon。
Shespokefirst。
\'Ajustwishhe\'dcomehometostillfolks\'tongues。Itneedniverha\'
beenknownift\'oldladyhadn\'tdiedthisdayofallothers。It\'ssuchathingfort\'shopt\'haveoneo\'t\'partnersmissin\'，an\'noonefort\'knowwhat\'scomedonhim。Itniverhappenedi\'Fosters\'days，that\'sa\'Iknow。\'
\'He\'llmaybecomebackyet，\'saidHester。\'It\'snotsoverylate。\'
\'Itweremarket—day，anda\'，\'continuedPhoebe，\'justasifiverythingmungowrongtogether;an\'a\'t\'countrycustomers\'llgobackwi\'finetalei\'theirmouths，asMeasterHepburnwasstrayedan\'missin\'justlikeabeasto\'somekind。\'
\'Hark！isn\'tthatastep？\'saidHestersuddenly，asafootfallsoundedinthenowquietstreet;butitpassedthedoor，andthehopethathadarisenonitsapproachfellasthesounddiedaway。
\'He\'llnoanecometo—night，\'saidPhoebe，whohadbeenaseageralistenerasHester，however。\'Thou\'dbestgothywayshome;ashallstayup，forit\'snotseemlyforusa\'t\'gotoourbeds，an\'acorpseint\'house;
an\'Nancy，asmightha\'watched，isgonetoherbedthishourpast，likealazybootsassheis。Acanhear，too，ift\'measterdoescomehome;
tho\'a\'llbeboundhewunnot;choosewheereheis，he\'llbei\'bedbynow，forit\'swellontoeleven。I\'lllettheeoutbyt\'shop—door，andstandbyittillthou\'scloseathome，forit\'sillforayoungwomantobei\'
t\'streetsolate。\'
Sosheheldthedooropen，andshadedthecandlefromtheflickeringouterair，whileHesterwenttoherhomewithaheavyheart。
Heavilyandhopelesslydidtheyallmeetinthemorning。NonewsofPhilip，nochangeinSylvia;anunceasingflowofanglingandconjectureandgossipradiatingfromtheshopintothetown。
HestercouldhaveentreatedCoulsononherkneestoceasefromrepeatingthedetailsofastoryofwhicheverywordtouchedonarawplaceinhersensitiveheart;moreover，whentheytalkedtogethersoeagerly，shecouldnothearthecomingfootstepsonthepavementwithout。
Oncesomeonehitverynearthetruthinachanceremark。
\'Itseemsstrange，\'shesaid，\'howasonemanturnsup，anotherjustdisappears。Why，itwerebutupo\'TuesdayasKinraidcomeback，asallhisownfolkhadthoughttobedead;andnextdayhere\'sMeasterHepburnasisgonenooneknowswheere！\'
\'That\'st\'wayi\'thisworld，\'repliedCoulson，alittlesententiously。
\'Thislifeisfullo\'changeso\'onekindoranother;themthat\'sdeadisalive;andasforpoorPhilip，thoughhewasalive，helookedfittertobedeadwhenhecameintot\'shopo\'Wednesdaymorning。\'
\'Andhowdoesshetakeit？\'noddingtowhereSylviawassupposedtobe。
\'Oh！she\'snotherself，sotosay。Shewerejuststunnedbyfindinghermotherwasdyinginherveryarmswhenshethoughtasshewereonlysleeping;yetshe\'sneverbeenabletocryadrop;sothatt\'sorrow\'sgoneinwardsonherbrain，andfromallIcanhear，shedoesn\'trightlyunderstandasherhusbandismissing。T\'doctorsaysifshecouldbutcry，she\'dcometoajustercomprehensionofthings。\'
\'AndwhatdoJohnandJeremiahFostersaytoitall？\'
\'They\'redownheremanyatimeint\'daytoaskifhe\'scomeback，orhowsheis;fortheymadeadealon\'emboth。They\'regoingt\'attendt\'
funeralto—morrow，andhavegivenordersast\'shopistobeshutupint\'morning。\'
Tothesurpriseofeveryone，Sylvia，whohadneverleftherroomsincethenightofhermother\'sdeath，andwassupposedtobealmostunconsciousofallthatwasgoingoninthehouse，declaredherintentionoffollowinghermothertothegrave。Noonecoulddomorethanremonstratenoonehadsufficientauthoritytointerferewithher。DrMorganeventhoughtthatshemightpossiblyberousedtotearsbytheoccasion，onlyhebeggedHestertogowithher，thatshemighthavethesolaceofsomewoman\'scompany。
Shewentthroughthegreaterpartoftheceremonyinthesamehard，unmovedmannerinwhichshehadreceivedeverythingfordayspast。
Butonlookinguponce，astheyformedroundtheopengrave，shesawKester，inhisSundayclothes，withabitofnewcraperoundhishat，cryingasifhisheartwouldbreakoverthecoffinofhisgood，kindmistress。
Hisevidentdistress，theunexpectedsight，suddenlyloosedthefountainofSylvia\'stears，andhersobsgrewsoterriblethatHesterfearedshewouldnotbeabletoremainuntiltheendofthefuneral。Butshestruggledhardtostaytillthelast，andthenshemadeanefforttogoroundbytheplacewhereKesterstood。
\'Comeandseeme，\'wasallshecouldsayforcryingandKesteronlynoddedhishead——hecouldnotspeakaword。
chapter36CHAPTERXXXVIMYSTERIOUSTIDINGSThatveryeveningKestercame，humblyknockingatthekitchen—door。Phoebeopenedit。HeaskedtoseeSylvia。
\'Aknownotifshe\'llseethee，\'saidPhoebe。\'There\'snomakin\'herout;sometimesshe\'sforonething，sometimesshe\'sforanother。\'
\'Shebidmecomeandseeher，\'saidKester。\'Onlythismornin\'，atmissus\'
buryin\'，shetelledmetocome。\'
SoPhoebewentofftoinformSylviathatKesterwasthere;andreturnedwiththedesirethathewouldwalkintotheparlour。Aninstantafterhewasgone，Phoebeheardhimreturn，andcarefullyshutthetwodoorsofcommunicationbetweenthekitchenandsitting—room。
SylviawasinthelatterwhenKestercamein，holdingherbabyclosetoher;indeed，sheseldomletitgonow—a—daystoanyoneelse，makingNancy\'splacequiteasinecure，muchtoPhoebe\'sindignation。
Sylvia\'sfacewasshrunk，andwhite，andthin;herlovelyeyesaloneretainedtheyouthful，almostchildlike，expression。ShewentuptoKester，andshookhishornyhand，sheherselftremblingallover。
\'Don\'ttalktomeofher，\'shesaidhastily。\'Icannotstandit。It\'sablessingforhertobegone，but，oh————\'
Shebegantocry，andthencheeredherselfup，andswalloweddownhersobs。
\'Kester，\'shewenton，hastily，\'CharleyKinraidisn\'tdead;dosttaknow？He\'salive，andhewerehereo\'Tuesday——no，Monday，wasit？Icannottell——buthewerehere！\'
\'Aknowedasheweren\'tdead。Everyoneisa—speakingonit。Butadidn\'tknowasthee\'dha\'seenhim。Atookcomforti\'thinkin\'asthou\'dha\'beenwi\'thymothera\'t\'timeashewerei\'t\'place。\'
\'Thenhe\'sgone？\'saidSylvia。
\'Gone;ay，dayspast。Asfarasaknow，hebutstoppeda\'neet。Athoughttomysel\'（butyo\'maybesureasaidnoughttonobody），he\'sheerdasourSylviaweremarried，andhasputitinhispipe，andta\'enhissel\'
offtosmokeit。\'
\'Kester！\'saidSylvia，leaningforwards，andwhispering。\'Isawhim。
Hewashere。Philipsawhim。Philiphadknownashewasn\'tdeada\'thistime！\'
Kesterstoodupsuddenly。
\'Bygoom，thatchaphasadealt\'answerfor。\'
AbrightredspotwasoneachofSylvia\'swhitecheeks;andforaminuteorsoneitherofthemspoke。
Thenshewenton，stillwhisperingoutherwords。
\'Kester，I\'mmoreafearedthanIdaretellanyone:cantheyha\'met，thinkyo\'？T\'verythoughtturnsmesick。ItoldPhilipmymind，andtookavowagain\'him——butitwouldbeawfultothinkonharmhappeningtohimthroughKinraid。Yethewentoutthatmorning，andhasniverbeenseenorheardonsin\';andKinraidwerejustfellagain\'him，andasforthatmatter，sowasI;but————\'
Theredspotvanishedasshefacedherownimagination。
Kesterspoke。
\'It\'sathingascanbeeasylookedinto。Whatdayan\'timewereitwhenPhilipleftthishouse？\'
\'Tuesday——thedayshedied。Isawhiminherroomthatmorningbetweenbreakfastanddinner;Icoulda\'mostsweartoit\'sbeingcloseaftereleven。
Imindcountingt\'clock。ItwasthatverymornasKinraidwerehere。\'
\'A\'llgoan\'haveapinto\'beeratt\'King\'sArms，downont\'quay—side;
itweretheereheputupat。An\'a\'mprettysureasheonlystoppedonenight，andlefti\'t\'morningbetimes。Buta\'llgosee。\'
\'Do，\'saidSylvia，\'andgooutthrought\'shop;they\'reallwatchingandwatchingmetoseehowItakethings;anddaren\'tletonaboutt\'fireasisburningupmyheart。Coulsonisi\'t\'shop，buthe\'llnotnoticetheelikePhoebe。\'
By—and—byKestercameback。ItseemedasthoughSylviahadneverstirred;
shelookedeagerlyathim，butdidnotspeak。
\'Hewentawayi\'RobMason\'smail—cart，himastak\'st\'letterstoHartlepool。
T\'lieutenant（astheyca\'himdownatt\'King\'sArms;they\'reasproudonhisuniformasifithadbeenanew—paintedsigntoswingo\'ertheirdoors），t\'lieutenanthadreckonedupo\'stayin\'longerwi\'\'em;buthewentoutbetimeso\'Tuesdaymorn\'，an\'camebacka\'ruffledup，anpaidhisbill——paidforhisbreakfast，thoughhetouchednoaneonit——an\'wentoffi\'Robpostman\'smail—cart，asstartsreg\'laratteno\'clock。Corneyshasbeentheereaskin\'forhim，an\'makin\'apieceo\'work，asheniverwentnearem;andtheybeescousins。Niveraoneamong\'emknowsashewerehereasfarasacouldmak\'out。\'
\'Thankyo\'，Kester，\'saidSylvia，fallingbackinherchair，ifalltheenergythathadkeptherstiffanduprightwasgonenowthatheranxietywasrelieved。
Shewassilentforalongtime;hereyesshut，hercheeklaidonherchild\'shead。Kesterspokenext。
\'Athinkit\'sprettyclearasthey\'nnivermet。Butitsa\'t\'morewonderwherethyhusband\'sgoneto。Theeandhimhadwordsaboutit，andthoutelledhimthymind，thousaid？\'
\'Yes，\'saidSylvia，notmoving。\'I\'mafearedlestmotherknowswhatIsaidtohim，there，whereshe\'sgoneto——Iam—\'thetearsfilledhershuteyes，andcamesoftlyoverflowingdownhercheeks;\'andyetitweretrue，whatIsaid，Icannotforgivehim;he\'sjustspoiltmylife，andI\'mnotone—and—twentyyet，andheknowedhowwretched，howverywretched，Iwere。Awordfra\'himwouldha\'mendedita\';andCharleyhadbidhimspeaktheword，andgivemehisfaithfullove，andPhilipsawmyheartachedayafterday，andniverletonashimIwasmourningforwasalive，andhadsentmewordashe\'dkeeptruetome，asIweretodotohim。\'
\'Awisha\'dbeentheere;a\'dha\'felledhimtot\'ground，\'saidKester，clenchinghisstiff，hardhandwithindignation。
Sylviawassilentagain:paleandwearyshesate，hereyesstillshut。
Thenshesaid，\'Yetheweresogoodtomother;andmotherlovedhimso。Oh，Kester！\'
liftingherselfup，openinghergreatwistfuleyes，\'it\'swellforfolksascandie;they\'resparedadealo\'misery。\'
\'Ay！\'saidhe。\'Butthere\'sfolkasone\'udliketokeepfra\'shirkin\'
theirmisery。Thinkyo\'nowasPhilipislivin\'？\'
Sylviashiveredallover，andhesitatedbeforeshereplied。
\'Idunnotknow。Isaidsuchthings;hedeserved\'emall————\'
\'Well，well，lass！\'saidKester，sorrythathehadaskedthequestionwhichwasproducingsomuchemotionofonekindoranother。\'Neithertheenormecantell;wecanneitherhelpnorhinder，seem\'ashe\'sta\'enhissel\'
offoutonoursight，we\'dbestnotthinkonhim。A\'lltryan\'telltheesomenews，ifacanthinkonitwi\'mymindsofull。ThouknowsHaytersbankfolkha\'flitted，andt\'oudplaceisempty？\'
\'Yes！\'saidSylvia，withtheindifferenceofoneweariedoutwithfeeling。
\'Aonlytelledyo\'t\'accountlikeformebein\'atalooseendi\'Monkshaven。
Mysister，heraslivedatDaleEndan\'isawidow，hascomedint\'towntolive;an\'a\'mlodgingwi\'her，an\'jobbin\'about。A\'mgettin\'prettywelltodo，an\'a\'mnoanefart\'seek，an\'a\'mgoingnow:onlyfirstajustwantedfort\'sayasa\'mthyoldestfriend，areckon，andifacandoaturnforthee，orgoanerrand，likeasa\'vedoneto—day，orifit\'sanycomforttotalkabittoonewho\'sknownthylifefromababby，whyyo\'veonlyt\'sendforme，an\'a\'dcomeifitweretwentymile。A\'mlodgin\'
atPeggyDawson\'s，t\'lathandplastercottageatt\'righthando\'t\'bridge，a\'amongt\'newhouses，asthey\'rethinkin\'o\'buildin\'neart\'sea:noonecanmissit。\'
Hestoodupandshookhandswithher。Ashedidso，helookedathersleepingbaby。
\'She\'slikeryo\'thanhim。Athinka\'llsay，Godblessher。\'
Withtheheavysoundofhisout—goingfootsteps，babyawoke。Sheoughtbeforethistimetohavebeenasleepinherbed，andthedisturbancemadehercryfretfully。
\'Hushthee，darling，hushthee！\'murmuredhermother;\'there\'snoonelefttolovemebutthee，andIcannotstandthyweeping，myprettyone。
Hushthee，mybabe，hushthee！\'
Shewhisperedsoftinthelittleone\'searasshetookherupstairstobed。
AboutthreeweeksafterthemiserabledateofBellRobson\'sdeathandPhilip\'sdisappearance，HesterRosereceivedaletterfromhim。Sheknewthewritingontheaddresswell;anditmadehertremblesomuchthatitwasmanyminutesbeforeshedaredtoopenit，andmakeherselfacquaintedwiththefactsitmightdisclose。
Butsheneednothavefeared;therewerenofactstold，unlessthevaguedateof\'London\'mightbesomethingtolearn。Eventhatmuchmighthavebeenfoundoutbythepost—mark，onlyshehadbeentoomuchtakenbysurprisetoexamineit。
Itranasfollows:——
\'DEARHESTER，——
\'Tellthosewhomitmayconcern，thatIhaveleftMonkshavenforever。
Nooneneedtroublethemselvesaboutme;Iamprovidedfor。Pleasetomakemyhumbleapologiestomykindfriends，theMessrsFoster，andtomypartner，WilliamCoulson。Pleasetoacceptofmylove，andtojointhesametoyourmother。PleasetogivemyparticularandrespectfuldutyandkindlovetomyauntIsabellaRobson。HerdaughterSylviaknowswhatIhavealwaysfelt，andshallalwaysfeel，forherbetterthanIcaneverputintolanguage，soIsendhernomessage;Godblessandkeepmychild。Youmustalllookonmeasonedead;asIamtoyou，andmaybeshallsoonbeinreality。
\'Youraffectionateandobedientfriendtocommand，\'PHILIPHEPBURN。
\'P。S。——Oh，Hester！forGod\'ssakeandmine，lookafter\'（\'mywife，\'
scratchedout）\'Sylviaandmychild。IthinkJeremiahFosterwillhelpyoutobeafriendtothem。ThisisthelastsolemnrequestofP。H。Sheisbutveryyoung。
Hesterreadthisletteragainandagain，tillherheartcaughttheechoofitshopelessness，andsankwithinher。Sheputitinherpocket，andreflecteduponitallthedaylongassheservedintheshop。
Thecustomersfoundherasgentle，butfarmoreinattentivethanusual。
Shethoughtthatintheeveningshewouldgoacrossthebridge，andconsultwiththetwogoodoldbrothersFoster。Butsomethingoccurredtoputoffthefulfilmentofthisplan。
ThatsamemorningSylviahadprecededher，withnoonetoconsult，becauseconsultationwouldhaverequiredpreviousconfidence，andconfidencewouldhavenecessitatedsuchaconfessionaboutKinraidasitwasmostdifficultforSylviatomake。Thepooryoungwifeyetfeltthatsomestepmustbetakenbyher;andwhatitwastobeshecouldnotimagine。
Shehadnohometogoto;forasPhilipwasgoneaway，sheremainedwhereshewasonlyonsufferance;shedidnotknowwhatmeansoflivelihoodshehad;shewaswillingtowork，nay，wouldbethankfultotakeupheroldlifeofcountrylabour;butwithherbaby，whatcouldshedo？
Inthisdilemma，therecollectionoftheoldman\'skindlyspeechandofferofassistance，made，itistrue，halfinjoke，attheendofherweddingvisit，cameintohermind;andsheresolvedtogoandaskforsomeofthefriendlycounselandassistancethenoffered。
Itwouldbethefirsttimeofhergoingoutsincehermother\'sfuneral，andshedreadedtheeffortonthataccount。Moreeventhanonthataccountdidsheshrinkfromgoingintothestreetsagain。ShecouldnotgetovertheimpressionthatKinraidmustbelingeringnear;andshedistrustedherselfsomuchthatitwasapositiveterrortothinkofmeetinghimagain。
Shefeltasthough，ifshebutcaughtasightofhim，theglitterofhisuniform，orheardhiswell—knownvoiceinonlyadistantsyllableoftalk，herheartwouldstop，andsheshoulddiefromveryfrightofwhatwouldcomenext。Orrathersoshefelt，andsoshethoughtbeforeshetookherbabyinherarms，asNancygaveittoherafterputtingonitsout—of—doorattire。
Withitinherarmsshewasprotected，andthewholecurrentofherthoughtswaschanged。Theinfantwaswailingandsufferingwithitsteething，andthemother\'sheartwassooccupiedinsoothingandconsolinghermoaningchild，thatthedangerousquay—sideandthebridgewerepassedalmostbeforeshewasaware;nordidshenoticetheeagercuriosityandrespectfulattentionofthoseshemetwhorecognizedhereventhroughtheheavyveilwhichformedpartofthedrapingmourningprovidedforherbyHesterandCoulson，inthefirstunconsciousdaysafterhermother\'sdeath。
ThoughpublicopinionasyetreserveditsverdictuponPhilip\'sdisappearance——warnedpossiblybyKinraid\'sstoryagainsthastydecisionsandjudgmentsinsuchtimesasthoseofwarandgeneraldisturbance——yeteveryoneagreedthatnomorepitifulfatecouldhavebefallenPhilip\'swife。
Markedoutbyherstrikingbeautyasanobjectofadmiringinteresteveninthosedayswhenshesateingirlhood\'ssmilingpeacebyhermotherattheMarketCross——herfatherhadlosthislifeinapopularcause，andignominiousasthemannerofhisdeathmightbe，hewaslookeduponasamartyrtohiszealinavengingthewrongsofhistownsmen;Sylviahadmarriedamongstthemtoo，andherquietdailylifewaswellknowntothem;
andnowherhusbandhadbeencarriedofffromhersidejustontheverydaywhensheneededhiscomfortmost。
ForthegeneralopinionwasthatPhiliphadbeen\'carriedoff\'——inseaporttownssuchoccurrenceswerenotuncommoninthosedays——eitherbyland—crimpsorwater—crimps。
SoSylviawastreatedwithsilentreverence，asonesorelyafflicted，byalltheunheededpeopleshemetinherfalteringwalktoJeremiahFoster\'s。
Shehadcalculatedhertimesoastofallinwithhimathisdinnerhour，eventhoughitobligedhertogotohisownhouseratherthantothebankwhereheandhisbrotherspentallthebusinesshoursoftheday。
Sylviawassonearlyexhaustedbythelengthofherwalkandtheweightofherbaby，thatallshecoulddowhenthedoorwasopenedwastototterintothenearestseat，sitdown，andbegintocry。
Inaninstantkindhandswereabouther，looseningherheavycloak，offeringtorelieveherofherchild，whoclungtoherallthemorefirmly，andsomeonewaspressingaglassofwineagainstherlips。
\'No，sir，Icannottakeit！wineallaysgivesmeth\'headache;ifI
mighthavejustadrinko\'water。Thankyou，ma—am\'（totherespectable—lookingoldservant），\'I\'mwellenoughnow;andperhaps，sir，Imightspeakawordwithyo\'，forit\'sthatI\'vecomefor。\'
\'It\'sapity，SylviaHepburn，astheedidstnotcometomeatthebank，forit\'sbeenalongtoilfortheeallthiswayintheheat，withthychild。
Butifthere\'saughtIcandoorsayforthee，thouhastbuttonameit，Iamsure。Martha！wiltthourelieveherofherchildwhileshecomeswithmeintotheparlour？\'
ButthewilfullittleBellastoutlyrefusedtogotoanyone，andSylviawasnotwillingtopartwithher，tiredthoughshewas。
Sothebabywascarriedintotheparlour，andmuchofherafter—lifedependedonthistrivialfact。
Onceinstalledintheeasy—chair，andfacetofacewithJeremiah，Sylviadidnotknowhowtobegin。
Jeremiahsawthis，andkindlygavehertimetorecoverherself，bypullingouthisgreatgoldwatch，andlettingthesealdanglebeforethechild\'seyes，almostwithinreachofthechild\'seagerlittlefingers。
\'Shefavoursyouadeal，\'saidhe，atlast。\'Morethanherfather，\'
hewenton，purposelyintroducingPhilip\'sname，soastobreaktheice;
for\'herightlyconjecturedshehadcometospeaktohimaboutsomethingconnectedwithherhusband。
StillSylviasaidnothing;shewaschokingdowntearsandshyness，andunwillingnesstotakeasconfidantamanofwhomsheknewsolittle，onsuchslightground（asshenowfeltittobe）asthelittlekindlyspeechwithwhichshehadbeendismissedfromthathousethelasttimethatsheenteredit。
\'It\'snousekeepingyo\'，sir，\'shebrokeoutatlast。\'It\'saboutPhilipasIcomedtospeak。Doyo\'knowanythingwhatsoeverabouthim？Heniverhadachanceo\'sayinganything，Iknow;butmaybehe\'swritten？\'
\'Notaline，mypooryoungwoman！\'saidJeremiah，hastilyputtinganendtothatvainidea。
\'Thenhe\'seitherdeadorgone。awayforiver，\'shewhispered。\'Imunbebothfeytherandmothertomychild。\'
\'Oh！theemustnotgiveitup，\'repliedhe。\'Manyaoneiscarriedofftothewars，ortothetenderso\'men—o\'—war;andthentheyturnouttobeunfitforservice，andaresenthome。Philip\'llcomebackbeforetheyear\'sout;thee\'llseethat。\'
\'No;he\'llnivercomeback。AndI\'mnotsureasIshouldiverwishhimt\'comeback，ifIcouldbutknowwhatwasgonewi\'him。Yo\'see，sir，thoughIweresoresetagain\'him，Ishouldn\'tlikeharmtohappenhim。\'
\'ThereissomethingbehindallthisthatIdonotunderstand。Cantheetellmewhatitis？\'
\'Imust，sir，ifyo\'retohelpmewi\'yourcounsel;andIcameupheretoaskforit。\'
Anotherlongpause，duringwhichJeremiahmadeafeintofplayingwiththechild，whodancedandshoutedwithtantalizedimpatienceatnotbeingabletoobtainpossessionoftheseal，andatlengthstretchedouthersoftroundlittlearmstogototheownerofthecovetedpossession。SurpriseatthisactionrousedSylvia，andshemadesomecommentuponit。
\'Iniverknewhert\'gotoanyoneafore。Ihopeshe\'llnotbetroublesometoyo\'，sir？\'
Theoldman，whohadoftenlongedforachildofhisownindaysgoneby，washighlypleasedbythismarkofbaby\'sconfidence，andalmostforgot，intryingtostrengthenherregardbyallthewinningwilesinhispower，howherpoormotherwasstilllingeringoversomepainfulstorywhichshecouldnotbringherselftotell。
\'I\'mafearedofspeakingwrongagain\'anyone，sir。Andmotherweresofondo\'Philip;buthekeptsomethingfrommeaswouldha\'mademeadifferentwoman，andsomeoneelse，happen，adifferentman。Iweretroth—plightedwi\'Kinraidthespecksioneer，himaswascousintoth\'Corneyso\'MossBrow，andcomedbacklieutenanti\'t\'navylastTuesdaythreeweeks，afteriveryonehadthoughthimdeadandgonethesethreeyears。\'
Shepaused。
\'Well？\'saidJeremiah，withinterest;althoughhisattentionappearedtobedividedbetweenthemother\'sstoryandtheeagerplayfulnessofthebabyonhisknee。
\'Philipknewhewerealive;he\'dseenhimtakenbyt\'press—gang，andCharleyhadsentamessagetomebyPhilip。\'
Herwhitefacewasreddening，hereyesflashingatthispointofherstory。
\'Andhenivertoldmeawordonit，notwhenhesawmeliketobreakmyheartinthinkingasKinraidweredead;hekeptita\'tohissel\';andwatchedmecry，andniversaidawordtocomfortmewi\'t\'truth。Itwouldha\'beenagreatcomfort，sir，onlyt\'havehadhismessageifI\'dniverha\'beentoseehimagain。ButPhilipniverletontoanyone，asIiverhearedon，thathe\'dseenCharleythatmorningast\'press—gangtookhim。
Yo\'knowaboutfeyther\'sdeath，andhowfriendlessmotherandmewasleft？
andsoImarriedhim;forhewereagoodfriendtousthen，andIweredazedlikewi\'sorrow，andcouldseenaughtelsetodoformother。Hewereallaysverytenderandgoodtoher，forsure。\'
Againalongpauseofsilentrecollection，brokenbyone，ortwodeepsighs。