Inthecleareasternair，thedifferentcharactersofthefoliagethatclothedthesidesofthatsea—washedmountainmightbediscernedfromalongdistancebythenakedeye;thesilvergrayoftheolive—treesnearitssummit;theheavygreenandbossyformsofthesycamoreslowerdown;
brokenhereandtherebyasolitaryterebinthorilextree，ofadeepergreenandawiderspread，tilltheeyefellbelowonthemaritimeplain，edgedwiththewhiteseaboardandthesandyhillocks;withhereandtherefeatherypalm—trees，eitherisolatedoringroups——motionlessanddistinctagainstthehotpurpleair。
Lookagain;alittletotheleftonthesea—shoretherearethewhitewallsofafortifiedtown，glitteringinsunlight，orblackinshadow。
Thefortificationsthemselvesrunoutintothesea，formingaportandahavenagainstthewildLevantinestorms;andalighthouserisesoutofthewavestoguidemarinersintosafety。
Beyondthiswalledcity，andfarawaytotheleftstill，thereisthesamewideplainshutinbythedistantrisingground，tilltheuplandcircuitcomesclosingintothenorth，andthegreatwhiterocksmeetthedeeptidelessoceanwithitsintensityofbluecolour。
Above，theskyisliterallypurplewithheat;andthepitilesslightsmitesthegazer\'swearyeyeasitcomesbackfromthewhiteshore。Nordoestheplaincountryinthatlandoffertherefugeandrestofourownsoftgreen。Thelimestonerockunderliesthevegetation，andgivesaglittering，ashenhuetoallthebarepatches，andeventothecultivatedpartswhichareburntupearlyintheyear。Inspring—timealonedoesthecountrylookrichandfruitful;thenthecorn—fieldsoftheplainshowtheircapabilityofbearing，\'somefifty，someanhundredfold;\'downbythebrookKishon，flowingnotfarfromthebaseofthemountainouspromontorytothesouth，theregrowthebroadgreenfig—trees，coolandfreshtolookupon;theorchardsarefullofglossy—leavedcherry—trees;thetallamaryllisputsforthcrimsonandyellowgloriesinthefields，rivallingthepompofKingSolomon;thedaisiesandthehyacinthsspreadtheirmyriadflowers;theanemones，scarletasblood，runhitherandthitheroverthegroundlikedazzlingflamesoffire。
Aspicyodourlingersintheheatedair;itcomesfromthemultitudeofaromaticflowersthatblossomintheearlyspring。Laterontheywillhavewitheredandfaded，andthecornwillhavebeengathered，andthedeepgreenoftheeasternfoliagewillhaveassumedakindofgray—bleachedtint。
EvennowinMay，thehotsparkleoftheeverlastingsea，theterriblyclearoutlineofallobjects，whethernearordistant，thefiercesunrightoverhead，thedazzlingairaround，wereinexpressiblywearyingtotheEnglisheyesthatkepttheirskilledwatch，dayandnight，onthestrongly—fortifiedcoast—townthatlayoutalittletothenorthwardofwheretheBritishshipswereanchored。
TheyhadkeptupaflankingfireformanydaysinaidofthosebesiegedinSt。Jeand\'Acre;andatintervalshadlistened，impatient，tothesoundoftheheavysiegeguns，orthesharperrattleoftheFrenchmusketry。
Inthemorning，onthe7thofMay，amanatthemastheadoftheTigresangoutthathesawshipsintheoffing;andinreplytothesignalthatwashastilyrunup，hesawthedistantvesselshoistfriendlyflags。ThatMaymorningwasabusytime。ThebesiegedTurkstookheartofgrace;theFrenchoutside，underthecommandoftheirgreatgeneral，madehastypreparationsforamorevigorousassaultthanallmany，bothvigorousandbloody，thathadgonebefore（forthesiegewasnowatitsfifty—firstday），inhopesofcarryingthetownbystormbeforethereinforcementcomingbyseacouldarrive;andSirSidneySmith，awareofBuonaparte\'sdesperateintention，orderedallthemen，bothsailorsandmarines，thatcouldbesparedfromthenecessityofkeepingupacontinualflankingfirefromtheshipsupontheFrench，toland，andassisttheTurksandtheBritishforcesalreadythereinthedefenceoftheoldhistoriccity。
LieutenantKinraid，whohadsharedhiscaptain\'sdaringadventureoffthecoastofFrancethreeyearsbefore，whohadbeenaprisonerwithhimandWestleyWright，intheTempleatParis，andhadescapedwiththem，and，throughSirSidney\'searnestrecommendation，beenpromotedfrombeingawarrantofficertotherankoflieutenant，receivedonthisdaythehonourfromhisadmiralofbeingappointedtoanespecialpostofdanger。Hisheartwaslikeawar—horse，andsaid，Ha，ha！astheboatboundedoverthewavesthatweretolandhimundertheancientmachicolatedwallswheretheCrusadersmadetheirlaststandintheHolyLand。NotthatKinraidkneworcaredonejotaboutthosegallantknightsofold;allheknewwas，thattheFrench，underBoney，weretryingtotakethetownfromtheTurks，andthathisadmiralsaidtheymustnot，andsotheyshouldnot。
Heandhismenlandedonthatsandyshore，andenteredthetownbythewater—portgate;hewassingingtohimselfhisowncountrysong——Weelmaythekeelrow，thekeelrow，&C。andhismen，withsailors\'aptitudeformusic，caughtuptheair，andjoinedintheburdenwithinarticulatesounds。So，withmerryhearts，theythreadedthenarrowstreetsofAcre，hemmedinoneithersidebythewhitewallsofTurkishhouses，withsmallgratedopeningshighup，aboveallchanceofpeepingintrusion。Hereandtheretheymetanample—robedandturbanedTurkgoingalongwithasmuchhasteashisstatelyself—possessionwouldallow。Butthemajorityofthemaleinhabitantsweregatheredtogethertodefendthebreach，wheretheFrenchgunsthunderedoutfarabovetheheadsofthesailors。TheywentalongnonethelessmerrilyforthesoundtoDjezzarPacha\'sgarden，wheretheoldTurksateonhiscarpet，beneaththeshadeofagreatterebinthtree，listeningtotheinterpreter，whomadeknowntohimthemeaningoftheeagerspeechesofSirSidneySmithandthecolonelofthemarines。AssoonastheadmiralsawthegallantsailorsofH。M。S。Tigre，heinterruptedthecouncilofwarwithoutmuchceremony，andgoingtoKinraid，hedespatchedthem，asbeforearranged，totheNorthRavelin，showingthemthewaywithrapid，cleardirections。Outofrespecttohim，theyhadkeptsilentwhileinthestrange，desolategarden;butoncemoreinthestreets，theoldNewcastlesongroseupagaintillthemenwere，perforce，silencedbythehastewithwhichtheywenttothepostofdanger。Itwasthreeo\'clockintheafternoon。Formanyadaytheseverymenhadbeenswearingattheterrificheatatthishour——evenwhenatsea，fannedbythesoftbreeze;butnow，inthemidstofhotsmoke，withformercarnagetaintingtheair，andwiththerushandwhizzofdeathperpetuallywhistlingintheirears，theywereuncomplainingandlighthearted。Manyanoldjoke，andsomenewones，camebraveandhearty，ontheircheerfulvoices，eventhoughthespeakerwasveiledfromsightingreatcloudsofsmoke，clovenonlybythebrightflamesofdeath。Asuddenmessagecame;asmanyofthecrewoftheTigreaswereunderLieutenantKinraid\'scommandweretogodowntotheMole，toassistthenewreinforcements（seenbythesailorfromthemastheadatday—dawn），undercommandofHassanBey，tolandattheMole，whereSirSidneythenwas。Offtheywent，almostasbrightandthoughtlessasbefore，thoughtwooftheirnumberlaysilentforeverattheNorthRavelin——silencedinthatonelittlehalf—hour。Andonewentalongwiththerest，swearinglustilyathisill—luckinhavinghisrightarmbroken，butreadytodogoodbusinesswithhisleft。TheyhelpedtheTurkishtroopstolandmorewithgood—willthantenderness;
andthen，ledbySirSidney，theywentundertheshelterofEnglishgunstothefatalbreach，sooftenassailed，sogallantlydefended，butneversofiercelycontestedasonthisburningafternoon。TheruinsofthemassivewallthatherehadbeenbrokendownbytheFrench，wereusedbythemassteppingstonestogetonalevelwiththebesieged，andsotoescapetheheavystoneswhichthelatterhurleddown;nay，eventhedeadbodiesofthemorning\'scomradesweremadeintoghastlystairs。WhenDjezzarPachaheardthattheBritishsailorsweredefendingthebreach，headedbySirSidneySmith，helefthisstationinthepalacegarden，gathereduphisrobesinhaste，andhurriedtothebreach;where，withhisownhands，andwithrightheartygood—will，hepulledthesailorsdownfromthepostofdanger，sayingthatifhelosthisEnglishfriendshelostall！ButlittlereckedthecrewoftheTigreoftheoneoldman——Pachaorotherwise——whotriedtoholdthembackfromthefight;theywereupandattheFrenchassailantsclamberingoverthebreachinaninstant;
andsotheywenton，asifitweresomegameatplayinsteadofadeadlycombat，untilKinraidandhismenwerecalledoffbySirSidney，asthereinforcementofTurkishtroopsunderHassanBeywerenowsufficientforthedefenceofthatoldbreachinthewalls，whichwasnolongertheprincipalobjectoftheFrenchattack;forthebesiegershadmadeanewandmoreformidablebreachbytheirincessantfire，knockingdownwholestreetsofthecitywalls。\'FightyourbestKinraid！\'saidSirSidney;\'forthere\'sBoneyonyonderhilllookingatyou。\'Andsureenough，onarisingground，calledRichardCoeurdeLion\'sMount，therewasahalf—circleofFrenchgenerals，onhorseback，alldeferentiallyattendingtothemotions，andapparentlytothewords，ofalittlemanintheircentre;atwhosebiddingtheaide—de—campgallopedswiftwithmessagestothemoredistantFrenchcamp。ThetworavelinswhichKinraidandhismenhadtooccupy，forthepurposeofsendingaflankingfireupontheenemy，werenottenyardsfromthatenemy\'svan。ButatlengththerewasasuddenrushoftheFrenchtothatpartofthewallwheretheyimaginedtheycouldenterunopposed。Surprisedatthismovement，Kinraidventuredoutoftheshelteroftheravelintoascertainthecause;he，safeanduntouchedduringthatlongafternoonofcarnage，fellnow，underastraymusket—shot，andlayhelplessandexposeduponthegroundundiscernedbyhismen，whowererecalledtohelpinthehotreceptionwhichhadbeenplannedfortheFrench;who，descendingthecitywallsintothePacha\'sgarden，wereattackedwithsabreanddagger，andlayheadlesscorpsesunderthefloweringrose—bushes，andbythefountainside。Kinraidlaybeyondtheravelins，manyyardsoutsidethecitywalls。Hewasutterlyhelpless，fortheshothadbrokenhisleg。DeadbodiesofFrenchmenlaystrewnaroundhim;noEnglishmanhadventuredoutsofar。AllthewoundedmenthathecouldseewereFrench;andmanyofthese，furiouswithpain，gnashedtheirteethathim，andcursedhimaloud，tillhethoughtthathisbestcoursewastoassumethesemblanceofdeath;forsomeamongthesemenwerestillcapableofdraggingthemselvesuptohim，andbyconcentratingalltheirfailingenergiesintooneblow，puthimtoaspeedyend。TheoutlyingpicketsoftheFrencharmywerewithineasyrifleshot;andhisuniform，althoughlessconspicuousincolourthanthatofthemarines，bywhosesideshehadbeenfighting，wouldmakehimasuremarkifhesomuchasmovedhisarm。Yethowhelongedtoturn，ifeversoslightly，sothatthecruelslantingsunmightnotbeatfullintohisachingeyes。
Fever，too，wascominguponhim;thepaininhislegwaseverymomentgrowingmoresevere;theterriblethirstofthewounded，addedtotheheatandfatigueoftheday，madehislipsandtonguefeelbakedanddry，andhiswholethroatseemedparchedandwooden。Thoughtsofotherdays，ofcoolGreenlandseas，whereiceabounded，ofgrassyEnglishhomes，begantomakethepastmorerealthanthepresent。Withagreatefforthebroughthiswanderingsensesback;heknewwherehewasnow，andcouldweighthechancesofhislife，whichwerebutsmall;
theunwontedtearscametohiseyesashethoughtofthenewly—madewifeinherEnglishhome，whomightneverknowhowhediedthinkingofher。SuddenlyhesawapartyofEnglishmarinesadvance，undershelteroftheravelin，topickupthewounded，andbearthemwithinthewallsforsurgicalhelp。Theyweresonearhecouldseetheirfaces，couldhearthemspeak;
yethedurstnotmakeanysigntothemwhenhelaywithinrangeoftheFrenchpicket\'sfire。Foronemomenthecouldnotresistraisinghishead，togivehimselfachanceforlife;beforetheuncleancreaturesthatinfestacampcameroundinthedarknessofthenighttostripandinsultthedeadbodies，andtoputtodeathsuchashadyetthebreathoflifewithinthem。Butthesettingsuncamefullintohisface，andhesawnothingofwhathelongedtosee。Hefellbackindespair;helaytheretodie。Thatstrongclearsunbeamhadwroughthissalvation。Hehadbeenrecognizedasmenarerecognizedwhentheystandintheredglareofahouseonfire;thesamedespairofhelp，ofhopelessfarewelltolife，stampedontheirfacesinblood—redlight。Onemanlefthisfellows，andcamerunningforwards，forwardsinamongtheenemy\'swounded，withinrangeoftheirguns;hebentdownoverKinraid;
heseemedtounderstandwithoutaword;heliftedhimup，carryinghimlikeachild;andwiththevehementenergythatismorefromtheforceofwillthanthestrengthofbody，heborehimbacktowithintheshelteroftheravelin——notwithoutmanyshotsbeingaimedatthem，oneofwhichhitKinraidinthefleshypartofhisarm。Kinraidwasrackedwithagonyfromhisdanglingbrokenleg，andhisverylifeseemedleavinghim;yetherememberedafterwardshowthemarinerecalledhisfellows，andhow，inthepausebeforetheyreturned，hisfacebecamelikeoneformerlyknowntothesicksensesofKinraid;yetitwastoolikeadream，tooutterlyimprobabletobereal。Yetthefewwordsthismansaid，ashestoodbreathlessandalonebythefaintingKinraid，fittedinwellwiththebeliefconjuredupbyhispersonalappearance。Hepantedout，——\'Iniverthoughtyou\'dha\'kepttruetoher！\'Andthentheotherscameup;andwhiletheyweremakingaslingoftheirbelts，Kinraidfaintedutterlyaway，andthenexttimethathewasfullyconscious，hewaslyinginhisberthintheTigre，withtheship—surgeonsettinghisleg。Afterthathewastoofeverishforseveraldaystocollecthissenses。Whenhecouldfirstremember，andformajudgmentuponhisrecollections，hecalledthemanespeciallychargedtoattenduponhim，andbadehimgoandmakeinquiryineverypossiblemannerforamarinenamedPhilipHepburn，andwhenhewasfound，toentreathimtocomeandseeKinraid。Thesailorwasawaythegreaterpartoftheday，andreturnedunsuccessfulinhissearch;hehadbeenfromshiptoship，hitherandthither;hehadquestionedallthemarineshehadmetwith，nooneknewanythingofanyPhilipHepburn。Kinraidpassedamiserablyfeverishnight，andwhenthedoctorexclaimedthenextmorningathisretrogression，hetoldhim，withsomeirritation，oftheill—successofhisservant;heaccusedthemanofstupidity，andwishedferventlythathewereabletogohimself。Partlytosoothehim，thedoctorpromisedthathewouldundertakethesearchforHepburn，andheengagedfaithfullytofollowallKinraid\'seagerdirections;
nottobesatisfiedwithmen\'scarelesswords，buttolookovermuster—rollsandships\'books。He，too，broughtthesameanswer，howeverunwillinglygiven。Hehadsetoutuponthesearchsoconfident\'ofsuccess，thathefeltdoublydiscomfitedbyfailure。However，hehadpersuadedhimselfthatthelieutenanthadbeenpartiallydeliriousfromtheeffectsofhiswound，andthepowerofthesunshiningdownjustwherehelay。Therehad，indeed，beenslightsymptomsofKinraid\'shavingreceivedasun—stroke;andthedoctordweltlargelyontheseinhisendeavourtopersuadehispatientthatitwashisimaginationwhichhadenduedastrangerwiththelineamentsofsomeformerfriend。Kinraidthrewhisarmsoutofbedwithimpatienceatallthisplausibletalk，whichwasevenmoreirritatingthanthefactthatHepburnwasstill，undiscovered。\'Themanwasnofriendofmine;IwasliketohavekilledhimwhenlastIsawhim。HewasashopkeeperinacountrytowninEngland。Ihadseenlittleenoughofhim;butenoughtomakemeabletosweartohimanywhere，eveninamarine\'suniform，andinthisswelteringcountry。\'\'Facesonceseen，especiallyinexcitement，areapttoreturnuponthememoryincasesoffever，\'quoththedoctor，sententiously。Theattendantsailor，reinstalledtosomecomplacencybythefailureofanotherinthesearchinwhichhehimselfhadbeenunsuccessful，nowputinhisexplanation。\'Maybeitwasaspirit。It\'snotth\'firsttimeasI\'vehearedofaspiritcominguponearthtosaveaman\'slifei\'timeo\'need。Myfatherhadanuncle，awest—countrygrazier。Hewasa—comingoverDartmoorinDevonshireonemoonlightnightwithapowero\'moneyashe\'dgotforhissheepatt\'fair。Itwerestowedi\'leatherbagsunderth\'seato\'th\'gig。Itwerearoughkindo\'road，bothasaroadincharacter，forthere\'dbeenmanyrobberiesthereoflate，andth\'greatrocksstoodconvenientforhiding—places。
Allatoncefather\'sunclefeelsasifsomeoneweresittingbesidehimonth\'emptyseat;andheturnshisheadandlooks，andthereheseeshisbrothersitting——hisbrotherashadbeendeadtwelveyearandmore。Soheturnshisheadbackagain，eyesright，andneversayaword，butwonderswhatitallmeans。Allofasuddentwofellowscomeoutupo\'th\'whiteroadfromsomeblackshadow，andtheylooked，andtheyletth\'giggopast，father\'suncledrivinghard，I\'llwarranthim。Butforallthatheheardonesaytot\'other，\"By————，there\'stwoon\'em！\"Straightonhedrovefasterthanever，tillhesawth\'farlightsofsometownorother。
Iforgetitsname，thoughI\'veheareditmanyatime;andthenhedrewalongbreath，andturnedhisheadtolookathisbrother，andaskhimhowhe\'dmanagedtocomeoutofhisgravei\'Barumchurchyard，andth\'
seatwasasemptyasithadbeenwhenhesetout;andthenheknewthatitwereaspiritcometohelphimagainstth\'menwhothoughttorobhim，andwouldlikelyenoughha\'murderedhim。\'Kinraidhadkeptquietthroughthisstory。Butwhenthesailorbegantodrawthemoral，andtosay，\'AndIthinkImaymakeboldtosay，sir，asth\'marinewhocarriedyououto\'th\'Frenchy\'sgun—shotwasjustaspiritcometohelpyou，\'heexclaimedimpatiently，swearingagreatoathashedidso，\'Itwasnospirit，Itellyou;andIwasinmyfullsenses。ItwasamannamedPhilipHepburn。Hesaidwordstome，oroverme，asnonebuthimselfwouldhavesaid。Yetwehatedeachotherlikepoison;andI
can\'tmakeoutwhyheshouldbethereandputtinghimselfindangertosaveme。Butsoitwas;andasyoucan\'tfindhim，letmehearnomoreofyournonsense。Itwashim，andnotmyfancy，doctor。Itwasfleshandblood，andnotaspirit，Jack。Sogetalongwithyou，andleavemequiet。\'AllthistimeStephenFreemanlayfriendless，sick，andshattered，onboardtheThesus。Hehadbeenabouthisdutyclosetosomeshellsthatwereplacedonherdeck;agayyoungmidshipmanwasthoughtlesslystrivingtogetthefuseeoutofoneofthesebyamalletandspike—nailthatlaycloseathand;
andafearfulexplosionensued，inwhichthepoormarine，cleaninghisbayonetnear，wasshockinglyburntanddisfigured，theveryskinofallthelowerpartofhisfacebeingutterlydestroyedbygunpowder。Theysaiditwasamercythathiseyeswerespared;buthecouldhardlyfeelanythingtobeamercy，ashelaytossinginagony，burntbytheexplosion，woundedbysplinters，andfeelingthathewasdisabledforlife，iflifeitselfwerepreserved。Ofallthatsufferedbythatfearfulaccident（andtheyweremany）nonewassoforsaken，sohopeless，sodesolate，asthePhilipHepburnaboutwhomsuchanxiousinquirieswerebeingmadeatthatverytime。
chapter39CHAPTERXXXIXCONFIDENCESItwasalittlelateroninthatsamesummerthatMrsBruntoncametovisithersisterBessy。Bessywasmarriedtoatolerablywell—to—dofarmerwholivedatanalmostequaldistancebetweenMonkshavenandHartswell;butfromoldhabitandconveniencethelatterwasregardedastheDawsons\'market—town;soBessyseldomorneversawheroldfriendsinMonkshaven。ButMrsBruntonwasfartooflourishingapersonnottospeakoutherwishes，andhaveherownway。Shehadnonotion，shesaid，ofcomingsuchalongjourneyonlytoseeBessyandherhusband，andnottohaveasightofherformeracquaintancesatMonkshaven。Shemighthaveadded，thathernewbonnetandcloakwouldbeasgoodaslostifitwasnotdisplayedamongthosewho，knowingherasMollyCorney，andbeinglessfortunateinmatrimonythanshewas，wouldlookuponitwithwonderingadmiration，ifnotwithenvy。SoonedayfarmerDawson\'smarket—cartdepositedMrsBruntoninallherbraveryattheshopinthemarket—place，overwhichHepburnandCoulson\'snamesstillflourishedinjointpartnership。AfterafewwordsofbriskrecognitiontoCoulsonandHester，MrsBruntonpassedonintotheparlourandgreetedSylviawithboisterousheartiness。Itwasnowfouryearsandmoresincethefriendshadmet;andeachsecretlywonderedhowtheyhadevercometobefriends。Sylviahadacountry，raw，spiritlesslooktoMrsBrunton\'seye;Mollywasloudandtalkative，andaltogetherdistastefultoSylvia，trainedindailycompanionshipwithHestertoappreciatesoftslowspeech，andgravethoughtfulways。However，theykeptuptheformsoftheiroldfriendship，thoughtheirheartshaddriftedfarapart。Theysathandinhandwhileeachlookedattheotherwitheyesinquisitiveastothechangeswhichtimehadmade。Mollywasthefirsttospeak。\'Well，tobesure！howthinandpaleyo\'vegrown，Sylvia！Matrimonyhasn\'tagreedwi\'yo\'aswellasit\'sdonewime。Bruntonisallayssaying（yo\'
knowwhatamanheisforhisjoke）thatifhe\'dha\'knownhowmanyyardso\'silkIshouldha\'ta\'enforagown，he\'dha\'thoughttwiceaforehe\'dha\'marriedme。Why，I\'vegainedamattero\'thirtypoundo\'fleshsin\'
Iweremarried！\'\'Yo\'dolookbraveandhearty！\'saidSylvia，puttinghersenseofhercompanion\'scapacioussizeandhighcolourintotheprettiestwordsshecould。\'Eh！Sylvia！butIknowwhatitis，\'saidMolly，shakingherhead。\'It\'sjustbecauseo\'thathusbando\'thineashasgoneandleftthee;thou\'spiningafterhim，andhe\'snotworthit。Bruntonsaid，whenhehearedonit——Imindhewassmokingatt\'time，andhetookhispipeoutofhismouth，andshookoutt\'ashesasgraveasanyjudge——\"Theman，\"sayshe，\"ascandesertawifelikeSylviaRobsonaswas，deserveshanging！\"That\'swhathesays！Eh！Sylvia，butspeakin\'o\'hangingIwassogrievedforyo\'whenIhearedofyo\'rpoorfeyther！Suchanendforadecentmantocometo！
Manyaonecomean\'calledonmeo\'purposetohearallIcouldtell\'emabouthim！\'\'Pleasedon\'tspeakonit！\'saidSylvia，tremblingallover。\'Well，poorcreature，Iwunnot。Itishardonthee，Igrant。Buttogivet\'devilhisdue，itweregoodi\'Hepburntomarrythee，andsosoonaftertherewasa\'thattalkaboutthyfeyther。Manyamanwouldha\'drawnback，choosehowiverfarthey\'dgone。I\'mnoanesosureaboutCharleyKinraid。
Eh，Sylvia！onlythinkonhisbeingaliveafterall。IdoubtifourBessywouldha\'wedFrankDawsonifshe\'dknownashewasn\'tdrowned。Butit\'saswellshedid，forDawson\'samano\'property，andhasgettentwelvecowsinhiscow—house，besidethreerightdowngoodhorses;andKinraidwereallaysafellowwi\'twostringstohisbow。I\'veallayssaidanddomaintain，thathewentonprettystrongwi\'yo\'，Sylvie;andIwillsayIthinkhecaredmoreforyo\'thanforourBessy，thoughitwereonlyyesterdayate\'enshewerestandingoutthathelikedherbetterthanyo\'。Yo\'llha\'hearedonhisgrandmarriage？\'\'No！\'saidSylvia，witheagerpainfulcuriosity。\'No！Itwasinallt\'papers！Iwonderasyo\'didn\'tseeit。Waitaminute！
Icutitouto\'t\'Gentleman\'sMagazine，asBruntonboughto\'purpose，andputiti\'mypocket—bookwhenIwerea—cominghere:IknowI\'vegotitsomewheere。\'Shetookouthersmartcrimsonpocket—book，andrummagedinthepocketuntilsheproducedalittlecrumpledbitofprintedpaper，fromwhichshereadaloud，\'OnJanuarythethird，atSt。MaryRedcliffe，Bristol，CharlesKinraidEsq。，lieutenantRoyalNavy，toMissClarindaJackson，withafortuneof10，000l。\'\'Theere！\'saidshe，triumphantly，\'it\'ssomethingasBruntonsays，tobecousintothat。\'\'Wouldyo\'letmeseeit？\'saidSylvia，timidly。MrsBruntongraciouslyconsented;andSylviabroughthernewlyacquiredreading—knowledge，hithertoprincipallyexercisedontheOldTestament，tobearonthesewords。Therewasnothingwonderfulinthem，nothingthatshemightnothaveexpected;
andyetthesurpriseturnedhergiddyforamomentortwo。Sheneverthoughtofseeinghimagain，never。Buttothinkofhiscaringforanotherwomanasmuchashehaddoneforher，nay，perhapsmore！TheideawasirresistiblyforceduponherthatPhilipwouldnothaveactedso;itwouldhavetakenlongyearsbeforehecouldhavebeeninducedtoputanotheronthethroneshehadonceoccupied。ForthefirsttimeinherlifesheseemedtorecognizetherealnatureofPhilip\'slove。Butshesaidnothingbut\'Thankyo\'，\'whenshegavethescrapofpaperbacktoMollyBrunton。AndthelattercontinuedgivingherinformationaboutKinraid\'smarriage。\'Heweredownint\'west，Plymouthorsomewhere，whenhemetwi\'her。She\'snofeyther;he\'dbeenint\'sugar—bakingbusiness;butfromwhatKinraidwrotetooldTurner，th\'uncleasbroughthimupatCullercoats，she\'shadt\'bestofedications:canplayont\'instrumentanddancet\'shawldance;andKinraidhadallhermoneysettledonher，thoughshesaidshe\'draythergiveitalltohim，whichImustsay，beinghiscousin，wasveryprettyonher。He\'slefthernow，havingtogooffint\'Tigre，asishisship，tot\'Mediterraneanseas;andshe\'swrittentooffertocomeandseeoldTurner，andmakefriendswithhisrelations，andBruntonisgoingtogi\'emeacrimsonsatinassoonasweknowforcertainwhenshe\'scoming，forwe\'resuretobeaskedouttoCullercoats。\'\'Iwonderifshe\'sverypretty？\'askedSylvia，faintly，inthefirstpauseinthistorrentoftalk。\'Oh！she\'saperfectbeauty，asIunderstand。TherewasatravellerascometoourshopashadbeenatYork，andknewsomeofhercousinstheere，thatwereint\'groceryline——hermotherwasaYorklady——andtheysaidshewasjustapictureofawoman，andiversomanygentlemenhadbeenwantin\'tomarryher，butshejustwaitedforCharleyKinraid，yo\'see！\'\'Well，Ihopethey\'llbehappy;I\'msureIdo！\'saidSylvia。\'That\'sjustluck。Somefolksishappyi\'marriage，andsomeisn\'t。It\'sjustluck，andthere\'snoforecastingit。Menissuchunaccountableanimals，there\'snoprophesyin\'upon\'em。Who\'dha\'thoughtofyo\'rhusband，himaswassoslowandsure——steadyPhilip，aswelassesusedtoca\'him——makin\'
amoonlightflittin\'，andleavin\'yo\'tobeawidowbewitched？\'\'Hedidn\'tgoatnight，\'saidSylvia，takingthewords\'moonlightflitting\'
intheirliteralsense。\'No！Well，Ionlysaid\"moonlightflittin\"\'justbecauseitcomeuppermostandIknowednobetter。Tellmeallaboutit，Sylvie，forIcan\'tmak\'
itoutfromwhatBessysays。Hadheandyo\'hadwords？——butincourseyo\'
had。\'AtthismomentHestercameintotheroom;andSylviajoyfullyavailedherselfofthepretextforbreakingofftheconversationthathadreachedthispainfulandawkwardpoint。ShedetainedHesterintheroomforfearlestMrsBruntonshouldrepeatherinquiryastohowitallhappenedthatPhiliphadgoneaway;butthepresenceofathirdpersonseemedasthoughitwouldbebutlittlerestraintupontheinquisitiveMolly，whorepeatedlyboredownuponthesamequestionstillshenearlydroveSylviadistracted，betweenherastonishmentatthenewsofKinraid\'smarriage;herwishtobealoneandquiet，soastorealizethefullmeaningofthatpieceofintelligence;
herdesiretoretainHesterintheconversation;hereffortstopreventMolly\'srecurrencetothecircumstancesofPhilip\'sdisappearance，andthelonging——morevehementeveryminute——forhervisitortogoawayandleaveherinpeace。Shebecamesodisturbedwithallthesethoughtsandfeelingsthatshehardlyknewwhatshewassaying，andassentedordissentedtospeecheswithouttherebeingeitheranyreasonortruthinherwords。MrsBruntonhadarrangedtoremainwithSylviawhilethehorserested，andhadnocompunctionaboutthelengthofhervisit。Sheexpectedtobeaskedtotea，asSylviafoundoutatlast，andthisshefeltwouldbetheworstofall，asAliceRosewasnotonetotoleratethecoarse，carelesstalkofsuchawomanasMrsBruntonwithoutupliftinghervoiceinmanyatestimonyagainstit。SylviasateholdingHester\'sgowntightinordertopreventherleavingtheroom，andtryingtoarrangeherlittleplanssothattoomuchdiscordanceshouldnotarisetothesurface。Justthenthedooropened，andlittleBellacameinfromthekitcheninallthepretty，sturdydignityoftwoyearsold，Alicefollowingherwithcarefulsteps，andprotecting，outstretchedarms，aslowsmilesofteningthesternnessofhergraveface;forthechildwastheunconsciousdarlingofthehousehold，andalleyessoftenedintoloveastheylookedonher。Shemadestraightforhermotherwithsomethinggraspedinherlittledimpledfist;buthalf—wayacrosstheroomsheseemedtohavebecomesuddenlyawareofthepresenceofastranger，andshestoppedshort，fixingherseriouseyesfullonMrsBrunton，asiftotakeinherappearance，nay，asiftopenetratedownintoherveryrealself，andthen，stretchingoutherdisengagedhand，thebabyspokeoutthewordsthathadbeenhoveringabouthermother\'slipsforanhourpast。\'Doaway！\'saidBella，decisively。\'Whataperfectlove！\'saidMrsBrunton，halfinrealadmiration，halfinpatronage。Asshespoke，shegotupandwenttowardsthechild，asiftotakeherup。\'Doaway！doaway！\'criedBella，inshrillaffrightatthismovement。\'Dunnot，\'saidSylvia;\'she\'sshy;shedoesn\'tknowstrangers。\'ButMrsBruntonhadgraspedthestruggling，kickingchildbythistime，andherrewardforthiswasavehementlittleslapintheface。\'Yo\'naughtylittlespoiltthing！\'saidshe，settingBelladowninahurry。
\'Yo\'deserveagoodwhipping，yo\'do，andifyo\'weremineyo\'shouldhaveit。\'Sylviahadnoneedtostandupforthebabywhohadruntoherarms，andwassoothingherselfwithsobbingonhermother\'sbreast;forAlicetookupthedefence。\'Thechildsaid，asplainaswordscouldsay，\"goaway，\"andifthouwouldstfollowthineownwillinsteadofheedingherwish，thoumunputupwiththewilfulnessoftheoldAdam，ofwhichitseemstometheehastgettenthyshareatthirtyaswellaslittleBellaattwo。\'\'Thirty！\'saidMrsBrunton，nowfairlyaffronted。\'Thirty！why，Sylvia，yo\'knowI\'mbuttwoyearsolderthanyo\';speaktothatwomanan\'tellherasI\'monlyfour—and—twenty。Thirty，indeed！\'\'Molly\'sbutfour—and—twenty，\'saidSylvia，inapacificatorytone。\'Whethershebetwenty，orthirty，orforty，isaliketome，\'saidAlice。
\'Imeantnoharm。Imeantbutfort\'sayasherangrywordstothechildbespokehertobeoneofthefoolish。Iknownotwhosheis，norwhatheragemaybe。\'\'She\'sanoldfriendofmine，\'saidSylvia。\'She\'sMrsBruntonnow，butwhenIknowedhershewasMollyCorney。\'\'Ay！andyo\'wereSylviaRobson，andasbonnyandlight—heartedalassasanyina\'t\'Riding，thoughnowyo\'reapoorwidowbewitched，leftwi\'
achildasImustn\'tspeakawordabout，an\'livingwi\'folkastalkaboutt\'oldAdamasifhewasn\'tdeadanddonewi\'longago！It\'sachange，Sylvia，asmakesmyheartacheforyo\'，tothinkonthemolddayswhenyo\'weresothoughtonyo\'mighthavehadanyman，asBruntonoftensays;
itwereagreatmistakeasyo\'ivertookupwi\'yonmanashasrunaway。
Butsevenyear\'11soonbepastfro\'t\'timehewentoff，andyo\'llonlybesix—and—twentythen;andthere\'llbeachanceofabetterhusbandforyo\'afterall，sokeepupyo\'rheart，Sylvia。\'MollyBruntonhadputasmuchvenomassheknewhowintothisspeech，meaningitasavengefulpaymentforthesuppositionofherbeingthirty，evenmorethanforthereproofforherangrywordsaboutthechild。ShethoughtthatAliceRosemustbeeithermotheroraunttoPhilip，fromtheseriouscastofcountenancethatwasremarkableinboth;andsheratherexultedintheallusiontoahappiersecondmarriageforSylvia，withwhichshehadconcludedherspeech。ItrousedAlice，however，aseffectuallyasifshehadbeenreallyabloodrelationtoPhilip;butforadifferentreason。
Shewasnotslowtodetecttheintentionaloffensivenesstoherselfinwhathadbeensaid;shewasindignantatSylviaforsufferingthewordsspokentopassunanswered;butintruththeyweretoomuchinkeepingwithMollyBrunton\'scharactertomakeasmuchimpressiononSylviaastheydidonastranger;andbesides，shefeltasifthelessreplyMollyreceived，thelesslikelywoulditbethatshewouldgooninthesamestrain。Soshecoaxedandchatteredtoherchildandbehavedlikealittlecowardintryingtodrawoutoftheconversation，whileatthesametimelisteningattentively。\'AsforSylviaHepburnaswasSylviaRobson，sheknowsmymind，\'saidAlice，ingrimindignation。\'She\'shumblingherselfnow，Itrustandpray，butshewaslight—mindedandfullofvanitywhenPhilipmarriedher，anditmightha\'beenalifttowardshersalvationinoneway;butitpleasedtheLordtoworkinadifferentway，andshemunwearhersackclothandashesinpatience。SoI\'llsaynaughtmoreabouther。Butforhimasisabsent，astheehastspokenonsolightlyandreproachfully，I\'dhavetheetoknowhewereoneofadifferentkindtoanytheeeverknew，Ireckon。