Awerejusta—restin\'meataftera\'dcomedin，nothalfanhouri\'t\'
place。A\'vewalkedbetternoradozenmileto—day;an\'aranout，an\'alooked，an\'justont\'walk，att\'turn，wast\'swishofawaverunnin\'
backasquickast\'mischiefint\'t\'sea，an\'oudJeremiahstandin\'likeonecrazy，lookin\'o\'erint\'t\'watter;an\'likeastrokeo\'leeghtnin\'
comesaman，an\'int\'t\'verymidsto\'t\'greatwaveslikeashot;an\'
thenaknowedsummutwereint\'watteraswerenearerdeaththanlife;
an\'aseemedtomisdoubtmethatitwereourBella;an\'ashoutsan\'acriesforhelp，an\'agoesmysel\'tot\'veryedgeo\'t\'cliff，an，abidsoudJeremiah，aswaslikeonebesidehissel\'，houdtightonme，forheweregoodfornoughtelse;an\'abidesmytime，an\'whenaseestwoarmshoudin\'outalittledrippin\'streamin\'child，aclutchesherbyherwaist—band，an\'haulshertoland。She\'snoanet\'worseforherbath，a\'llbebound。\'\'Imungo——letme，\'saidSylvia，strugglingwithhisdetaininghand，whichhehadlaiduponherinthefearthatshewouldslipdowntothegroundinafaint，soashen—greywasherface。\'Letme，——Bella，Imungoseeher。\'Heletgo，andshestoodstill，suddenlyfeelingherselftooweaktostir。\'Now，ifyou\'lltryabittobequiet，a\'llleadyo\'along;butyo\'munbeasteadyandbravelass。\'\'I\'llbeaughtifyo\'onlyletmeseeBella，\'saidSylvia，humbly。\'An\'yo\'niveraxatafterhimassavedher。\'saidKester，reproachfully。\'Iknowit\'sPhilip，\'shewhispered，\'andyo\'saidhewantedme;soIknowhe\'ssafe;and，Kester，IthinkI\'m\'fearedonhim，andI\'dliketogathercourageaforeseeinghim，andalookatBellawouldgivemecourage。ItwereaterribletimewhenIsawhimlast，andIdidsay————\'\'Niverthinkonwhatthoudidsay;thinkonwhatthouwillsaytohimnow，forheliesa—dyin\'！Heweredashedagaint\'cliffan\'bruisedsoreinhisinnardsaforet\'menascomewi\'aboatcouldpickhimup。\'Shedidnotspeak;shedidnoteventremblenow;shesetherteethtogether，and，holdingtightbyKester，sheurgedhimon;butwhentheycametotheendofthebridge，sheseemeduncertainwhichwaytoturn。\'Thisway，\'saidKester。\'He\'sbeenlodgin\'wi\'Sallythisnineweek，an\'
niveraoneaboutt\'placeasknowedhim;he\'sbeeni\'t\'warsan\'gettenhisfacebrunt。\'\'Andhewasshorto\'food，\'moanedSylvia，\'andwehadplenty，andItriedtomakeyo\'rsisterturnhimout，andsendhimaway。Oh！willGodiverforgiveme？\'Mutteringtoherself，breakinghermutteringswithsharpcriesofpain，Sylvia，withKester\'shelp，reachedwidowDobson\'shouse。Itwasnolongeraquiet，lonelydwelling。Severalsailorsstoodaboutthedoor，awaiting，insilentanxiety，fortheverdictofthedoctor，whowasevennowexaminingPhilip\'sinjuries。Twoorthreewomenstoodtalkingeagerly，inlowvoices，inthedoorway。ButwhenSylviadrewnearthemenfellback;andthewomenmovedasideasthoughtoallowhertopass，alllookinguponherwithacertainamountofsympathy，butperhapswithrathermoreofantagonisticwonderastohowshewastakingit——shewhohadbeenlivingineaseandcomfortwhileherhusband\'sshelterwaslittlebetterthanahovel，herhusband\'sdailylifeastrugglewithstarvation;forsomuchofthelodgeratwidowDobson\'swaspopularlyknown;andanydistrustofhimasastrangerandatrampwasquiteforgottennow。Sylviafeltthehardnessoftheirlooks，thehardnessoftheirsilence;
butitwasasnothingtoher。Ifsuchthingscouldhavetouchedheratthismoment，shewouldnothavestoodstillrightinthemidstoftheiravertedhearts，andmurmuredsomethingtoKester。Hecouldnothearthewordsutteredbythathoarsechokedvoice，untilhehadstoopeddownandbroughthiseartothelevelofhermouth。\'We\'dbetterwaitfort\'doctorstocomeout，\'shesaidagain。Shestoodbythedoor，shiveringallover，almostfacingthepeopleintheroad，butwithherfaceturnedalittletotheright，sothattheythoughtshewaslookingatthepathwayonthecliff—side，ahundredyardsorsodistant，belowwhichthehungrywavesstilllashedthemselvesintohighascendingspray;whilenearertothecottage，wheretheirforcewasbrokenbythebarattheentrancetotheriver，theycamesoftlylappinguptheshelvingshore。Sylviasawnothingofallthis，thoughitwasstraightbeforehereyes。
Sheonlysawablurredmist;sheheardnosoundofwaters，thoughitfilledtheearsofthosearound。InsteadsheheardlowwhisperspronouncingPhilip\'searthlydoom。Forthedoctorswerebothagreed;hisinternalinjurywasofamortalkind，although，asthespinewasseverelyinjuredabovetheseatofthefatalbruise，hehadnopaininthelowerhalfofhisbody。TheyhadspokeninsolowatonethatJohnFoster，standingonlyafootorsoaway，hadnotbeenabletoheartheirwords。ButSylviaheardeachsyllabletherewhereshestoodoutside，shiveringalloverinthesultrysummerevening。SheturnedroundtoKester。\'Imungotohim，Kester;thou\'llseethatnoanecomeintous，whent\'
doctorscomeout。\'Shespokeinasoft，calmvoice;andhe，notknowingwhatshehadheard，madesomeeasyconditionalpromise。Thenthoseoppositetothecottagedoorfellback，fortheycouldseethegravedoctorscomingout，andJohnFoster，graver，sadderstill，followingthem。Withoutawordtothem——withoutawordevenofinquiry——whichmanyoutsidethoughtandspokeofasstrange——white—faced，dry—eyedSylviaslippedintothehouseoutoftheirsight。Andthewaveskeptlappingontheshelvingshore。Theroominsidewasdark，allexceptthelittlehaloorcircleoflightmadebyadip—candle。WidowDobsonhadherbacktothebed——herbed——ontowhichPhiliphadbeenborneinthehurryofterrorastowhetherhewasaliveorwhetherhewasdead。Shewascrying——cryingquietly，butthetearsdown—fallingfast，as，withherbacktothelowlybed，shewasgatheringupthedrippingclothescutofffromthepoormaimedbodybythedoctors\'
orders。SheonlyshookherheadasshesawSylvia，spirit—like，stealin——white，noiseless，andupbornefromearth。Butnoiselessasherstepmightbe，heheard，herecognized，andwithasighheturnedhispoordisfiguredfacetothewall，hidingitintheshadow。Heknewthatshewasbyhim;thatshehadkneltdownbyhisbed;thatshewaskissinghishand，overwhichthelanguorofapproachingdeathwasstealing。
Butnoonespoke。Atlengthhesaid，hisfacestillaverted，speakingwithaneffort。\'Littlelassie，forgivemenow！Icannotlivetoseethemorn！\'Therewasnoanswer，onlyalongmiserablesigh，andhefelthersoftcheeklaiduponhishand，andthequiverthatranthroughherwholebody。\'Ididtheeacruelwrong，\'hesaid，atlength。\'Iseeitnow。ButI\'madyingman。IthinkthatGodwillforgiveme——andI\'vesinnedagainstHim;try，lassie——try，mySylvie——willnotthouforgiveme？\'Helistenedintentlyforamoment。Heheardthroughtheopenwindowthewaveslappingontheshelvingshore。Buttherecamenowordfromher;onlythatsamelongshivering，miserablesighbrokefromherlipsatlength。\'Child，\'saidhe，oncemore。\'Iha\'madetheemyidol;andifIcouldlivemylifeo\'eragainIwouldlovemyGodmore，andtheeless;andthenI
shouldn\'tha\'sinnedthissinagainstthee。Butspeakonewordoflovetome——onelittleword，thatImayknowIhavethypardon。\'\'Oh，Philip！Philip！\'shemoaned，thusadjured。Thensheliftedherhead，andsaid，\'Themwerewicked，wickedwords，asIsaid;andawickedvowasIvowed;
andLordGodAlmightyhasta\'enmeatmyword。I\'msorelypunished，Philip，Iamindeed。\'Hepressedherhand，hestrokedhercheek。Butheaskedforyetanotherword。\'Ididtheeawrong。InmylyingheartIforgottodototheeasIwouldhavehadtheetodotome。AndIjudgedKinraidinmyheart。\'\'Thouthoughtashewasfaithlessandfickle，\'sheansweredquickly;\'andsohewere。Heweremarriedtoanotherwomannotsomanyweeksatafterthouwentaway。Oh，Philip，Philip！andnowIhavetheeback，and\'Dying\'wasthewordshewouldhavesaid，butfirstthedreadoftellinghimwhatshebelievedhedidnotknow，andnextherpassionatesobs，chokedher。\'Iknow，\'saidhe，oncemorestrokinghercheek，andsoothingherwithgentle，caressinghand。\'Littlelassie！\'hesaid，afterawhilewhenshewasquietfromveryexhaustion，\'Iniverthoughttobesohappyagain。
Godisverymerciful。\'Sheliftedupherhead，andaskedwildly，\'WillHeiverforgiveme，thinkyo\'？Idroveyo\'outfra\'yo\'rhome，andsentyo\'awaytot\'wars，wheereyo\'mightha\'gettenyo\'rdeath;andwhenyo\'comeback，poorandlone，andweary，Itoldherfort\'turnyo\'out，fora\'Iknewyo\'mustbestarvinginthesefaminetimes。IthinkIshallgoaboutamongthemasgnashtheirteethforiver，whileyo\'arewheerealltearsarewipedaway。\'\'No！\'saidPhilip，turningroundhisface，forgetfulofhimselfinhisdesiretocomforther。\'Godpitiesusasafatherpitieshispoorwanderingchildren;thenearerIcometodeaththeclearerIseeHim。Butyouandmehavedonewrongtoeachother;yetwecanseenowhowwewereledtoit;wecanpityandforgiveoneanother。I\'mgettinglowandfaint，lassie;
butthoumustrememberthisGodknowsmore，andismoreforgivingthaneitheryoutome，ormetoyou。IthinkanddobelieveasweshallmeettogetherbeforeHisface;butthenIshallha\'learnttolovetheesecondtoHim;notfirst，asIhavedonehereupontheearth。\'Thenhewassilent——verystill。Sylviaknew——widowDobsonhadbroughtitin——thattherewassomekindofmedicine，sentbythehopelessdoctors，lyinguponthetablehardby，andshesoftlyroseandpoureditoutanddroppeditintothehalf—openmouth。Thenshekneltdownagain，holdingthehandfeeblystretchedouttoher，andwatchingthefaintlightinthewistfullovingeyes。Andinthestillnesssheheardtheceaselesswaveslappingagainsttheshelvingshore。Somethinglikeanhourbeforethistime，whichwasthedeepestmidnightofthesummer\'snight，HesterRosehadcomehurryinguptheroadtowhereKesterandhissistersateoutsidetheopendoor，keepingtheirwatchunderthestar—litsky，allothershavinggoneaway，onebyone，evenJohnandJeremiahFosterhavingreturnedtotheirownhouse，wherethelittleBellalay，sleepingasoundandhealthyslumberafterherperilousadventure。HesterhadheardbutlittlefromWilliamDarleyastotheownerofthewatchandthehalf—crown;buthewaschagrinedatthefailureofallhisskilfulinterrogationstoelicitthetruth，andpromisedherfurtherinformationinafewdays，withallthemorevehemencebecausehewasunaccustomedtobebaffled。AndHesterhadagainwhisperedtoherself\'Patience！Patience！\'
andhadslowlyreturnedbacktoherhometofindthatSylviahadleftit，whyshedidnotatoncediscover。But，growinguneasyastheadvancinghoursneitherbroughtSylvianorlittleBellatotheirhome，shehadsetoutforJeremiahFoster\'sassoonasshehadseenhermothercomfortablyasleepinherbed;andthenshehadlearntthewholestory，bitbybit，aseachpersonwhospokebrokeinuponthepreviousnarrationwithsomenewparticular。ButfromnoonedidsheclearlylearnwhetherSylviawaswithherhusband，ornot;andsoshecamespeedingalongtheroad，breathless，towhereKestersateinwakeful，mournfulsilence，hissister\'ssleepingheadlyingonhisshoulder，thecottagedooropen，bothforairandthattheremightbehelpwithincallifneeded;andthedimslantingoblongoftheinteriorlightlyingacrosstheroad。Hestercamepantingup，tooagitatedandbreathlesstoaskhowmuchwastruthofthefatal，hopelesstalewhichshehadheard。Kesterlookedatherwithoutaword。Throughthissolemnmomentarysilencethelappingoftheceaselesswaveswasheard，astheycameupcloseontheshelvingshore。\'He？Philip？\'saidshe。Kestershookhisheadsadly。\'Andhiswife——Sylvia？\'saidHester。\'Intherewithhim，alone，\'whisperedKester。Hesterturnedaway，andwrungherhandstogether。\'Oh，LordGodAlmighty！\'saidshe，\'wasInotevenworthytobringthemtogetheratlast？Andshewentawayslowlyandheavilybacktothesideofhersleepingmother。But\'Thywillbedone\'wasonherquiveringlipsbeforeshelaydowntoherrest。Thesoftgreydawnlightensthedarknessofamidsummernightsoonaftertwoo\'clock。Philipwatcheditcome，knowingthatitwashislastsightofday，——aswereckondaysonearth。Hehadbeenoftenneardeathasasoldieronceortwice，aswhenherushedintofiretosaveKinraid，hischancesoflifehadbeenasonetoahundred;
butyethehadhadachance。Butnowtherewasthenewfeeling——thelastnewfeelingwhichweshallanyofusexperienceinthisworld——thatdeathwasnotonlycloseathand，butinevitable。Hefeltitsnumbnessstealinguphim——stealinguphim。Buttheheadwasclear，thebrainmorethancommonlyactiveinproducingvividimpressions。Itseemedbutyesterdaysincehewasalittleboyathismother\'sknee，wishingwithalltheearnestnessofhischildishhearttobelikeAbraham，whowascalledthefriendofGod，orDavid，whowassaidtobethemanafterGod\'sownheart，orSt。John，whowascalled\'theBeloved。\'Asverypresentseemedthedayonwhichhemaderesolutionsoftryingtobelikethem;itwasinthespring，andsomeonehadbroughtincowslips;andthescentofthoseflowerswasinhisnostrilsnowashelaya—dying——hislifeended，hisbattlesfought，histimefor\'beinggood\'overandgone——theopportunity，oncegiveninalleternity，past。Allthetemptationsthathadbesethimroseclearlybeforehim;thescenesthemselvesstoodupintheirsolidmaterialism——hecouldhavetouchedtheplaces;thepeople，thethoughts，theargumentsthatSatanhadurgedinbehalfofsin，werereproducedwiththevividnessofapresenttime。Andheknewthatthethoughtswereillusions，theargumentsfalseandhollow;
forinthathourcametheperfectvisionoftheperfecttruth:hesawthe\'waytoescape\'whichhadcomealongwiththetemptation;now，thestrongresolveofanardentboyhood，withallalifebeforeittoshowtheworld\'whataChristianmightbe;\'andthentheswift，terriblenow，whenhisnaked，guiltysoulshrankintotheshadowofGod\'smercy—seat，outoftheblazeofHisangeragainstallthosewhoactalie。Hismindwaswandering，andhepluckeditback。Wasthisdeathinverydeed？Hetriedtograspatthepresent，theearthlypresent，fadingquickaway。Helaythereonthebed——onSallyDobson\'sbedinthehouse—place，notonhisaccustomedpalletinthelean—to。Heknewthatmuch。Andthedoorwasopenintothestill，dusknight;andthroughtheopencasementhecouldhearthelappingofthewavesontheshelvingshore，couldseethesoftgreydawnoverthesea——heknewitwasoverthesea——hesawwhatlayunseenbehindthepoorwallsofthecottage。AnditwasSylviawhoheldhishandtightinherwarm，livinggrasp;itwashiswifewhosearmwasthrownaroundhim，whosesobbingsighsshookhisnumbedframefromtimetotime。\'Godblessandcomfortmydarling，\'hesaidtohimself。\'Sheknowsmenow。
Allwillberightinheaven——inthelightofGod\'smercy。\'Andthenhetriedtorememberallthathehadeverreadabout，God，andallthattheblessedChrist——thatbringethgladtidingsofgreatjoyuntoallpeoplehadsaidoftheFather，fromwhomHecame。Thosesayingsdroppedlikebalmdownuponhistroubledheartandbrain。Herememberedhismother，andhowshehadlovedhim;andhewasgoingtoalovewiser，tenderer，deeperthanhers。Ashethoughtthis，hemovedhishandsasiftopray;butSylviaclenchedherhold，andhelaystill，prayingallthesameforher，forhischild，andforhimself。Thenhesawtheskyreddenwiththefirstflushofdawn;
heheardKester\'slong—drawnsighofwearinessoutsidetheopendoor。HehadseenwidowDobsonpassthroughlongbeforetokeeptheremainderofherwatchonthebedinthelean—to，whichhadbeenhisformanyandmanyasleeplessandtearfulnight。Thosenightswereover——heshouldneverseethatpoorchamberagain，thoughitwasscarcetwofeetdistant。Hebegantoloseallsenseofthecomparativedurationoftime:itseemedaslongsincekindSallyDobsonhadbentoverhimwithsoft，lingeringlook，beforegoingintothehumblesleeping—room——aslongasitwassincehisboyhood，whenhestoodbyhismotherdreamingofthelifethatshouldbehis，withthescentofthecowslipstemptinghimtobeofftothewoodlandswheretheygrew。Thentherecamearushandaneddyingthroughhisbrain——hissoultryingherwingsforthelongflight。Againhewasinthepresent:
heheardthewaveslappingagainsttheshelvingshoreonceagain。AndnowhisthoughtscamebacktoSylvia。Oncemorehespokealoud，inastrangeandterriblevoice，whichwasnothis。Everysoundcamewitheffortsthatwerenewtohim。\'Mywife！Sylvie！Oncemore——forgivemeall。\'Shesprangup，shekissedhispoorburntlips;sheheldhiminherarms，shemoaned，andsaid，\'Oh，wickedme！forgiveme——me——Philip！\'Thenhespoke，andsaid，\'Lord，forgiveusourtrespassesasweforgiveeachother！\'Andafterthatthepowerofspeechwasconqueredbythecomingdeath。Helayverystill，hisconsciousnessfastfadingaway，yetcomingbackinthrobs，sothatheknewitwasSylviawhotouchedhislipswithcordial，andthatitwasSylviawhomurmuredwordsofloveinhisear。
Heseemedtosleepatlast，andsohedid——akindofsleep，butthelightoftheredmorningsunfellonhiseyes，andwithonestrongeffortheroseup，andturnedsoasoncemoretoseehiswife\'spalefaceofmisery。\'Inheaven，\'hecried，andabrightsmilecameonhisface，ashefellbackonhispillow。NotlongafterHestercame，thelittleBellascarceawakeinherarms，withthepurposeofbringinghischildtoseehimereyethepassedaway。
Hesterhadwatchedandprayedthroughthelivelongnight。Andnowshefoundhimdead，andSylvia，tearlessandalmostunconscious，lyingbyhim，herhandholdinghis，herotherthrownaroundhim。Kester，pooroldman，wassobbingbitterly;butshenotatall。ThenHesterboreherchildtoher，andSylviaopenedwidehermiserableeyes，andonlystared，asifallsensewasgonefromher。ButBellasuddenlyrousingupatthesightofthepoor，scarred，peacefulface，criedout，——\'Poormanwhowassohungry。Ishenothungrynow？\'\'No，\'saidHester，softly。\'Theformerthingsarepassedaway——andheisgonewherethereisnomoresorrow，andnomorepain。\'Butthenshebrokedownintoweepingandcrying。Sylviasatupandlookedather。\'Whydoyo\'cry，Hester？\'shesaid。\'Yo\'niversaidthatyo\'wouldn\'tforgivehimaslongasyo\'lived。Yo\'niverbroketheheartofhimthatlovedyo\'，andlethimalmoststarveatyo\'rverydoor。Oh，Philip！myPhilip，tenderandtrue。\'ThenHestercameroundandclosedthesadhalf—openeyes;kissingthecalmbrowwithalongfarewellkiss。Asshedidso，hereyefellonablackribbonroundhisneck。Shepartlylifteditout;toitwashungahalf—crownpiece。\'ThisisthepieceheleftatWilliamDarley\'stobebored，\'saidshe，\'notmanydaysago。\'Bellahadcrepttohermother\'sarmsasaknownhaveninthisstrangeplace;
andthetouchofhischildloosenedthefountainsofhertears。Shestretchedoutherhandfortheblackribbon，putitroundherownneck;afterawhileshesaid，\'IfIliveverylong，andtryhardtobeverygoodallthattime，doyo\'
think，Hester，asGodwillletmetohimwhereheis？\'*******Monkshavenisalterednowintoarisingbathingplace。Yet，standingnearthesiteofwidowDobson\'shouseonasummer\'snight，attheebbofaspring—tide，youmayhearthewavescomelappinguptheshelvingshorewiththesameceaseless，ever—recurrentsoundasthatwhichPhiliplistenedtointhepausesbetweenlifeanddeath。Andsoitwillbeuntil\'thereshallbenomoresea。\'Butthememoryofmanfadesaway。Afewoldpeoplecanstilltellyouthetraditionofthemanwhodiedinacottagesomewhereaboutthisspot，——diedofstarvationwhilehiswifelivedinhard—heartedplentynottwogoodstone—throwsaway。Thisistheformintowhichpopularfeeling，andignoranceoftherealfacts，havemouldedthestory。Notlongsincealadywenttothe\'PublicBaths\'ahandsomestonebuildingerectedontheverysiteofwidowDobson\'scottage，andfindingalltheroomsengagedshesatdownandhadsometalkwiththebathingwoman;and，asitchanced，theconversationfellonPhilipHepburnandthelegendofhisfate。\'IknewanoldmanwhenIwasagirl，\'saidthebathingwoman，\'ascouldniverabidetoheart\'wifeblamed。Hewouldsaynothingagain\'th\'husband;
heusedtosayasitwerenotfitformentobejudging;thatshehadhadhersoretrial，aswellasHepburnhisself。\'Theladyasked，\'Whatbecameofthewife？\'\'Shewasapale，sadwoman，allaysdressedinblack。IcanjustrememberherwhenIwasalittlechild，butshediedbeforeherdaughterwaswellgrownup;andMissRosetookt\'lassie，ashadalwaysbeenlikeherown。\'\'MissRose？\'\'HesterRose！haveyo\'niverhearedofHesterRose，sheasfoundedt\'alms—housesforpoordisabledsailorsandsoldiersont\'Horncastleroad？There\'sapieceo\'stoneinfronttosaythat\"ThisbuildingiserectedinmemoryofP。H。\"——andsomefolkwillhaveitP。H。standsfort\'nameo\'th\'manaswasstarvedtodeath。\'\'Andthedaughter？\'\'Oneo\'th\'Fosters，themasfoundedt\'OldBank，leftheravasto\'
money;andsheweremarriedtodistantcousinoftheirs，andwentofftosettleinAmericamanyandmanyayearago。\'