Hewasamanwhohadroamedaboutagooddeal——beensailor，smuggler，horse—dealer，andfarmerinturns;asortoffellowpossessedbyaspiritofadventureandloveofchange，whichdidhimandhisownfamilymoreharmthananybodyelse。Hewasjustthekindofmanthatallhisneighboursfoundfaultwith，andallhisneighboursliked。Lateinlife（forsuchanimprudentmanashewas，oneofaclasswhogenerallywed，trustingtochanceandluckfortheprovisionforafamily），farmerRobsonmarriedawomanwhoseonlywantofpracticalwisdomconsistedintakinghimforahusband。ShewasPhilipHepburn\'saunt，andhadhadthechargeofhimuntilshemarriedfromherwidowedbrother\'shouse。HeitwaswhohadletherknowwhenHaytersbankFarmhadbeentolet;esteemingitalikelypieceoflandforhisuncletosettledownupon，afterasomewhatunprosperouscareerofhorse—dealing。
Thefarmhouselayintheshelterofaveryslightgreenhollowscarcelyscoopedoutofthepasturefieldbywhichitwassurrounded;theshortcrispturfcamecreepinguptotheverydoorandwindows，withoutanyattemptatayardorgarden，oranynearerenclosureofthebuildingsthanthestonedykethatformedtheboundaryofthefielditself。Thebuildingswerelongandlow，inordertoavoidtheroughviolenceofthewindsthatsweptoverthatwild，bleakspot，bothinwinterandsummer。Itwaswellfortheinhabitantsofthathousethatcoalwasextremelycheap;otherwiseasouthernermighthaveimaginedthattheycouldneverhavesurvivedthecuttingofthebittergalesthatpipedallroundandseemedtoseekouteverycreviceforadmissionintothehouse。Buttheinteriorwaswarmenoughwhenonceyouhadmountedthelongbleaklane，fullofroundroughstones，enoughtolameanyhorseunaccustomedtosuchroads，andhadcrossedthefieldbythelittledry，hardfootpath，whichtackedaboutsoastokeepfromdirectlyfacingtheprevailingwind。
MrsRobsonwasaCumberlandwoman，andassuch，wasacleanerhousewifethanthefarmers\'wivesofthatnorth—easterncoast，andwasoftenshockedattheirways，showingitmorebyherlooksthanbyherwords，forshewasnotagreattalker。Thisfastidiousnessinsuchmattersmadeherownhouseextremelycomfortable，butdidnottendtorenderherpopularamongherneighbours。Indeed，BellRobsonpiquedherselfonherhousekeepinggenerally，andoncein—doorsinthegray，barestonehouse，therewereplentyofcomfortstobehadbesidescleanlinessandwarmth。Thegreatrackofclap—breadhungoverhead，andBellRobson\'spreferenceofthiskindofoat—cakeovertheleavenedandpartlysourkindusedinYorkshirewasanothersourceofherunpopularity。Flitchesofbaconand\'hands\'（i。e。，shouldersofcuredpork，thelegsorhamsbeingsold，asfetchingabetterprice）abounded;andforanyvisitorwhocouldstay，neithercreamnorfinestwheatenflourwaswantingfor\'turfcakes\'and\'singinghinnies，\'
withwhichitisthedelightofthenorthernhousewivestoregalethehonouredguest，ashesipstheirhigh—pricedtea，sweetenedwithdaintysugar。ThisnightfarmerRobsonwasfidgetinginandoutofhishouse—door，climbingthelittleeminenceinthefield，andcomingdowndisappointedinastateoffretfulimpatience。Hisquiet，taciturnwifewasalittleputoutbySylvia\'snon—appearancetoo;butsheshowedheranxietybybeingshorterthanusualinherrepliestohisperpetualwondersastowherethelasscouldhavebeentarrying，andbyknittingawaywithextradiligence。\'I\'veavasto\'mindtogodowntoMonkshavenmysen，andseeaftert\'child。
It\'swellonforseven。\'\'No，Dannel，\'saidhiswife;\'thou\'dbestnot。Thyleghasbeenpainingtheethisweekpast，andthou\'rtnotuptosuchawalk。I\'llrouseKester，andsendhimoff，ifthouthink\'stthere\'sneedonit。\'\'A\'llnoanha\'Kesterroused。Who\'stogo，afieldbetimesaftert\'sheepint\'morn，ifhe\'sca\'edupto—neet？He\'dmisst\'lass，andfindapublic—house，areckon，\'saidDaniel，querulously。\'I\'mnotafeardo\'Kester，\'repliedBell。\'He\'sagoodoneforknowingfolki\'th\'dark。Butifthou\'drather，I\'llputonmyhoodandcloakandjustgototh\'endo\'th\'lane，ifthou\'lthaveaneyetoth\'milk，andseeasitdoesna\'boilo\'er，forshecannastomachitifit\'sbishoppede\'ersolittle。\'BeforeMrsRobson，however，hadputawayherknitting，voiceswereheardatagooddistancedownthelane，butcomingnearereverymoment，andoncemoreDanielclimbedthelittlebrowtolookandtolisten。\'It\'sa\'reet！\'saidhe，hobblingquicklydown。\'Niverfidgettheesel\'
wi\'gettin\'readytogosearchforher。I\'lltak\'theeabetit\'sPhilipHepburn\'svoice，convoyingherhome，justasIsaidhewould，anhoursin\'。\'Belldidnotanswer，asshemighthavedone，thatthisprobabilityofPhilip\'sbringingSylviahomehadbeenherownsuggestion，setasidebyherhusbandasutterly\'unlikely。AnotherminuteandthecountenancesofbothparentsimperceptiblyandunconsciouslyrelaxedintopleasureasSylviacamein。Shelookedveryrosyfromthewalk，andtheOctoberair，whichbegantobefrostyintheevenings;therewasalittlecloudoverherfaceatfirst，butitwasquicklydispersedasshemetthelovingeyesofhome。Philip，whofollowedher，hadanexcited，butnotaltogetherpleasedlookabouthim。HereceivedaheartygreetingfromDaniel，andaquietonefromhisaunt。\'Tak\'offthypano\'milk，missus，andsetont\'kettle。Milkmaydoforwenches，butPhilipandmeisforadropo\'goodHollandsandwatterthiscoldnight。I\'ma\'mostchilledtot\'marrowwi\'lookingoutforthee，lass，fort\'motherwasinapeckoftroublesaboutthynonecoininghomei\'
t\'dayleet，andI\'dtokeephearkeningoutont\'browhead。\'Thiswasentirelyuntrue，andBellknewittobeso;butherhusbanddidnot。Hehadpersuadedhimselfnow，ashehaddoneoftenbefore，thatwhathehadinrealitydoneforhisownpleasureorsatisfaction，hehaddoneinordertogratifysomeoneelse。\'Thetownwasroughwithariotbetweenthepress—gangandthewhalingfolk;andIthoughtI\'dbestseeSylviahome。\'\'Ay，ay，lad;alwayswelcome，ifit\'sonlyasanexcusefort\'liquor。
Butt\'whalers，say\'stta？Why，ist\'whalersin？Therewasnonei\'sightyesterday，whenIweredownont\'shore。It\'searlydaysfor\'emasyet。
Andt\'cursedoldpress—gang\'sagateagain，doingitsdevil\'swork！\'Hisfacechangedasheendedhisspeech，andshowedasteadypassionofoldhatred。\'Ay，missus，yo\'maylook。Iwunnotpickandchoosemywords，noatherforyo\'norfornobody，whenIspeako\'thatdaumedgang。I\'mnoneashamedo\'mywords。They\'retrue，andI\'mreadytoprove\'em。Where\'smyforefinger？
Ay！andasgoodatop—jointofathumbasiveramanhad？IwishI\'dkept\'emi\'sperits，astheydonethingsatt\'\'potticary\'s，justtoshowt\'
lasswhatfleshandboneImadeawaywi\'togetfree。Iupswi\'ahatchetwhenIsawasIwerefasta—boardaman—o\'—warstandingoutforsea——itwereint\'timeo\'thewarwi\'Amerikay，an\'Icouldnastomachthethoughto\'beingmurderedi\'myownlanguage——soIupswi\'ahatchet，andIsaystoBillWatson，saysI，\"Now，mylad，ifthou\'lldomeakindness，I\'llpaytheeback，niverfear，andthey\'llbegladenoughtogetshutonus，andsendustooldEnglandagain。Justcomedownwithawill。\"Now，missus，whycan\'tyesitstillandlistentome，\'steado\'potteringafterpansandwhatnot？\'saidhe，speakingcrosslytohiswife，whohadheardthestoryscoresoftimes，and，itmustbeconfessed，wasmakingsomenoiseinpreparingbreadandmilkforSylvia\'ssupper。Belldidnotsayawordinreply，butSylviatappedhisshoulderwithaprettylittleauthoritativeair。\'It\'sforme，feyther。I\'mjustkeen—setformysupper。Onceletmegetquicklysetdowntoit，andPhiliptheretohisglasso\'grog，andyou\'llneverhavesuchlistenersinyourlife，andmother\'smindwillbeateasetoo。\'\'Eh！thou\'sawilfu\'wench，\'saidtheproudfather，givingheragreatslaponherback。\'Well！settheedowntothyvictual，andbequietwi\'
thee，forIwanttofinishmytaletoPhilip。But，perhaps，I\'vetelledityo\'afore？\'saidhe，turningroundtoquestionHepburn。Hepburncouldnotsaythathehadnotheardit，forhepiquedhimselfonhistruthfulness。Butinsteadoffranklyanddirectlyowningthis，hetriedtoframeaformallittlespeech，whichwouldsootheDaniel\'smortifiedvanity;and，ofcourse，ithadthedirectlyoppositeeffect。Danielresentedbeingtreatedlikeachild，andyetturnedhisbackonPhilipwithallthewilfulnessofone。Sylviadidnotcareforhercousin，buthatedthediscomfortofhavingherfatherdispleased;soshetookuphertaleofadventure，andtoldherfatherandmotherofherafternoon\'sproceedings。
Danielpretendednottolistenatfirst，andmadeostentatiousnoiseswithhisspoonandglass;butby—and—byhegotquitewarmandexcitedaboutthedoingsofthepress—gang，andscoldedbothPhilipandSylviafornothavinglearntmoreparticularsastowhatwastheterminationoftheriot。\'I\'vebeenwhalingmysel\'，\'saidhe;\'andI\'veheerdtellaswhalerswearknives，andI\'dha\'gi\'ent\'gangatasteo\'mywhittle，ifI\'dbeencotchedupjustasI\'dsetmyfoota—shore。\'\'Idon\'tknow，\'saidPhilip;\'we\'reatwarwi\'theFrench，andweshouldn\'tliketobebeaten;andyetifournumbersarenotequaltotheirs，westandastrongchanceofit。\'\'Notabiton\'t——sobed——d！\'saidDanielRobson，bringingdownhisfistwithsuchviolenceontherounddealtable，thattheglassesandearthenwareshookagain。\'Yo\'dnotstrikeachildorawoman，forsure！yetit\'udbelikeit，ifwedidna\'givetheFrenchiessome\'vantages——ifwetook\'emwi\'equalnumbers。It\'snotfairplay，andthat\'soneplacewheret\'
shoepinches。It\'snotfairplaytwoways。It\'snotfairplaytocotchupmenashasnocallforfightin\'atanotherman\'sbiddin\'thoughthey\'venoobjectiontofightabitontheirownaccountandwhoarejustlanded，allkeenafterbreadi\'steado\'biscuit，andflesh—meati\'steado\'junk，andbedsi\'steado\'hammocks。（Imakenaughto\'t\'sentimentside，forIwerenivergi\'enuptosuchcarnal—mindednessandpoesies。）It\'snoanefairtocotch\'emupandput\'eminastiflinghole，alllinedwithmetalforfeartheyshouldwhittletheirwayout，andsend\'emofftoseaforyearsan\'yearstocome。Andagainit\'snofairplaytot\'French。Fouro\'themisrightlymatchedwi\'oneo\'us;andifwegoan\'fight\'emfourtofourit\'slikeasifyo\'felltobeatin\'Sylviethere，orlittleBillyCroxton，asisn\'tbreeched。Andthat\'smymind。Missus，where\'st\'pipe？\'Philipdidnotsmoke，sotookhisturnattalking，achanceheseldomhadwithDaniel，unlessthelatterhadhispipebetweenhislips。SoafterDanielhadfilledit，andusedSylvia\'slittlefingerasastoppertoramdownthetobacco——ahabitofhistowhichshewassoaccustomedthatshelaidherhandonthetablebyhim，asnaturallyasshewouldhavefetchedhimhisspittoonwhenhebegantosmoke——Philiparrangedhisarguments，andbegan——\'I\'mforfairplaywi\'theFrench，asmuchasanyman，aslongaswecanbesureo\'beatingthem;but，Isay，makesureo\'that，andthengivethemiveryadvantage。NowIreckonGovernmentisnotsureasyet，fori\'thepapersitsaidashalfth\'shipsi\'th\'Channelhadn\'tgottheirpropercomplemento\'men;andallasIsayis，letGovernmentjudgeabitforus;andiftheysaythey\'rehamperedforwanto\'men，whywemustmakeitupsomehow。JohnandJeremiahFosterpayintaxes，andMilitiamanpaysinperson;andifsailorscannotpayintaxes，andwillnotpayinperson，whytheymustbemadetopay;andthat\'swhatth\'press—gangisfor，I
reckon。Formypart，whenIreado\'thewaythoseFrenchchapsaregoingon，I\'mthankfultobegovernedbyKingGeorgeandaBritishConstitution。\'Danieltookhispipeoutofhismouthatthis。\'AndwhendidIsayawordagainKingGeorgeandtheConstitution？Ionlyax\'emtogovernmeasIjudgebest，andthat\'swhatIcallrepresentation。
WhenIgivedmyvotetoMeasterCholmleytogouptot\'ParliamentHouse，Iasgoodassaid，\'Nowyo\'gouptheer，sir，andtell\'emwhatI，DannelRobson，thinkright，andwhatI，DannelRobson，wishtohavedone。\'ElseI\'dbedarnedifI\'dha\'gi\'enmyvotetohimoranyotherman。Anddivyo\'thinkIwantSethRobson（asismyownbrother\'sson，andmatetoacollier）tobecotchedupbyapress—gang，andtentoonehiswagesallunpaid？Divyo\'thinkI\'dsendupMeasterCholmleytospeakupforthatpieceo\'work？NotI。\'Hetookuphispipeagain，shookouttheashes，puffeditintoaspark，andshuthiseyes，preparatorytolistening。\'But，askingpardon，lawsismadeforthegoodofthenation，notforyourgoodormine。\'Danielcouldnotstandthis。Helaiddownhispipe，openedhiseyes，staredstraightatPhilipbeforespeaking，inordertoenforcehiswords，andthensaidslowly——\'Nationhere！nationtheere！I\'mamanandyo\'reanother，butnation\'snowheere。IfMeasterCholmleytalkedtomeIthatfashion，he\'dlooklongforanothervotefraeme。IcanmakeoutKingGeorge，andMeasterPitt，andyo\'andme，butnation！nation，gohang！\'Philip，whosometimespursuedanargumentlongerthanwaspoliticforhimself，especiallywhenhefeltsureofbeingontheconqueringside，didnotseethatDanielRobsonwaspassingoutoftheindifferenceofconsciouswisdomintothatstateofangerwhichensueswhenaquestionbecomespersonalinsomeunspokenway。Robsonhadcontestedthissubjectonceortwicebefore，andhadtheremembranceofformerdisputestoaddtohispresentvehemence。
SoitwaswellfortheharmonyoftheeveningthatBellandSylviareturnedfromthekitchentositinthehouse—place。Theyhadbeentowashupthepansandbasinsusedforsupper;Sylviahadprivatelyshownoffhercloak，andgotoverhermother\'sshakeoftheheadatitscolourwithacoaxingkiss，attheendofwhichhermotherhadadjustedhercapwitha\'There！
there！ha\'donewi\'thee，\'buthadnomorehearttoshowherdisapprobation;
andnowtheycamebacktotheirusualoccupationsuntilitshouldpleasetheirvisitortogo;thentheywouldrakethefireandbeofftobed;forneitherSylvia\'sspinningnorBell\'sknittingwasworthcandle—light，andmorninghoursarepreciousinadairy。Peoplespeakofthewayinwhichharp—playingsetsoffagracefulfigure;
spinningisalmostasbecominganemployment。Awomanstandsatthegreatwool—wheel，onearmextended，theotherholdingthethread，herheadthrownbacktotakeinallthescopeofheroccupation;orifitisthelesserspinning—wheelforflax——anditwasthisthatSylviamovedforwardsto—night——theprettysoundofthebuzzing，whirringmotion，theattitudeofthespinner，footandhandalikeengagedinthebusiness——thebunchofgaycolouredribbonthattiesthebundleofflaxontherock——allmakeitintoapicturesquepieceofdomesticbusinessthatmayrivalharp—playinganydayfortheamountofsoftnessandgracewhichitcallsout。Sylvia\'scheekswereratherflushedbythewarmthoftheroomafterthefrostyair。Theblueribbonwithwhichshehadthoughtitnecessarytotiebackherhairbeforeputtingonherhattogotomarkethadgotratherloose，andallowedherdisarrangedcurlstostrayinamannerwhichwouldhaveannoyedherextremely，ifshehadbeenupstairstolookatherselfintheglass;butalthoughtheywerenotsetintheexactfashionwhichSylviaesteemedascorrect，theylookedveryprettyandluxuriant。Herlittlefoot，placedonthe\'traddle，\'wasstillencasedinitssmartlybuckledshoe——notslightlytoherdiscomfort，asshewasunaccustomedtobeshodinwalkingfar;onlyasPhiliphadaccompaniedthemhome，neithershenorMollyhadlikedtogobarefoot。Herroundmottledarmandruddytaperhanddrewouttheflaxwithnimble，agilemotion，keepingtimetothemovementofthewheel。AllthisPhilipcouldsee;thegreaterpartofherfacewaslosttohimasshehalfavertedit，withashydisliketothewayinwhichsheknewfrompastexperiencethatcousinPhilipalwaysstaredather。AndavertitasshewouldsheheardwithsilentpetulancetheharshscreechofPhilip\'schairasheheavilydraggeditonthestonefloor，sittingonitallthewhile，andfeltthathewasmovingroundsoastolookatherasmuchaswasinhispower，withoutabsolutelyturninghisbackoneitherherfatherormother。Shegotherselfreadyforthefirstopportunityofcontradictionoropposition。\'Well，wench！andhastaboughtthisgrandnewcloak？\'\'Yes，feyther。It\'sascarletone。\'\'Ay，ay！andwhatdoesmothersay？\'\'Oh，mother\'scontent，\'saidSylvia，alittledoubtinginherheart，butdeterminedtodefyPhilipatallhazards。\'Mother\'llputupwithitifitdoesnaspotwouldbenearerfact，I\'mthinking，\'saidBell，quietly。\'IwantedSylviatotakethegray，\'saidPhilip。\'AndIchosethered;it\'ssomuchgayer，andfolkcanseemethefartheroff。Feytherlikestoseemeatfirstturno\'t\'lane，don\'tyo\'，feyther？
andI\'llniverturnoutwhenit\'sboun\'fortorain，soitshallnivergetaspotnearit，mammy。\'\'Ireckoneditweretoweari\'badweather，\'saidBell。\'Leastwaysthatwerethepretextforcoaxingfeytherouto\'it。\'Shesaiditinakindlytone，thoughthewordsbecameaprudentratherthanafondmother。ButSylviaunderstoodherbetterthanDanieldidasitappeared。\'Hou\'dthytongue，mother。Sheniverspokeapretextatall。\'Hedidnotrightlyknowwhata\'pretext\'was:Bellwasatouchbettereducatedthanherhusband，buthedidnotacknowledgethis，andmadeaparticularpointofdifferingfromherwheneversheusedawordbeyondhiscomprehension。\'She\'sagoodlassattimes;andifshelikedtowearayellow—orangecloaksheshouldhaveit。Here\'sPhiliphere，asstandsupforlawsandpress—gangs，I\'llsethimtofindusalawagainpleasingourlass;andsheouronlyone。Thoudostn\'tthinkonthat，mother！Belldidthinkofthatoften;oftenerthanherhusband，perhaps，forsherememberedeveryday，andmanytimesaday，thelittleonethathadbeenbornandhaddiedwhileitsfatherwasawayonsomelongvoyage。Butitwasnotherwaytomakereplies。Sylvia，whohadmoreinsightintohermother\'sheartthanDaniel，brokeinwithanewsubject。\'Oh！asforPhilip，he\'sbeenpreachinguplawsallt\'wayhome。Isaidnaught，butletMollyholdherown;orelseIcouldha\'toldataleaboutsilksan\'lacean\'things。\'Philip\'sfaceflushed。Notbecauseofthesmuggling;everyonedidthat，onlyitwasconsideredpolitetoignoreit;buthewasannoyedtoperceivehowquicklyhislittlecousinhaddiscoveredthathispracticedidnotagreewithhispreaching，andvexed，too，toseehowdelightedshewastobringoutthefact。Hehadsomelittleidea，too，thathisunclemightmakeuseofhispracticeasanargumentagainstthepreachinghehadlatelybeenindulgingin，inoppositiontoDaniel;butDanielwastoofargoneinhisHollands—and—watertodomorethanenunciatehisownopinions，whichhedidwithhesitatingandlaboureddistinctnessinthefollowingsentence:\'WhatIthinkandsayisthis。Lawsismadefortokeepsomefolksfra\'
harmingothers。Press—gangsandcoast—guardsharmmei\'mybusiness，andkeepmefra\'gettingwhatIwant。Theerefore，whatIthinkandsayisthis:
MeasterCholmleyshouldputdownpress—gangsandcoast—guards。Ifthattheereisn\'treasonIaxyo\'totellmewhatis？an\'ifMeasterCholmleydon\'tdowhatIaxhim，hemaygowhistleformyvote，hemay。\'Atthisperiodinhisconversation，BellRobsoninterfered;notintheleastfromanyfeelingofdisgustorannoyance，ordreadofwhathemightsayordoifhewentondrinking，butsimplyasamatterofhealth。Sylvia，too，wasinnowayannoyed;notonlywithherfather，butwitheverymanwhomsheknew，exceptinghercousinPhilip，wasitamatterofcoursetodrinktilltheirideasbecameconfused。Soshesimplyputherwheelaside，aspreparatorytogoingtobed，whenhermothersaid，inamoredecidedtonethanthatwhichshehadusedonanyotheroccasionbutthis，andsimilarones—\'Come，measter，you\'vehadasmuchasisgoodforyou。\'\'Leta\'be！Leta\'be，\'saidhe，clutchingatthebottleofspirits，butperhapsrathermoregood—humouredwithwhathehaddrunkthanhewasbefore;
hejerkedalittlemoreintohisglassbeforehiswifecarrieditoff，andlockeditupinthecupboard，puttingthekeyinherpocket，andthenhesaid，winkingatPhilip——\'Eh！myman。Nivergieawomant\'whiphando\'eryo\'！Yo\'seenwhatitbringsamanto;butfora\'thatI\'llvoteforCholmley，an\'d————t\'press—gang！\'HehadtoshoutoutthelastafterPhilip，forHepburn，reallyanxioustopleasehisaunt，anddislikingdrinkinghabitshimselfbyconstitution，wasalreadyatthedoor，andsettingoutonhisreturnhome，thinking，itmustbeconfessed，farmoreofthecharacterofSylvia\'sshakeofthehandthanofthepartingwordsofeitherhisuncleoraunt。
chapter05CHAPTERVSTORYOFTHEPRESS—GANGForafewdaysaftertheeveningmentionedinthelastchaptertheweatherwasdull。Notinquick，suddenshowersdidtheraincomedown，butinconstantdrizzle，blottingoutailcolourfromthesurroundinglandscape，andfillingtheairwithfinegraymist，untilpeoplebreathedmorewaterthanair。
Atsuchtimestheconsciousnessofthenearnessofthevastunseenseaactedasadrearydepressiontothespirits;butbesidesactingonthenervesoftheexcitable，suchweatheraffectedthesensitiveorailinginmaterialways。DanielRobson\'sfitofrheumatismincapacitatedhimfromstirringabroad;andtoamanofhisactivehabits，andsomewhatinactivemind，thiswasagreathardship。Hewasnotill—temperednaturally，butthisstateofconfinementmadehimmoreill—temperedthanhehadeverbeenbeforeinhislife。Hesatinthechimney—corner，abusingtheweatheranddoubtingthewisdomordesirablenessofallhiswifesawfittodointheusualdailyhouseholdmatters。The\'chimney—corner\'wasreallyacorneratHaytersbank。Thereweretwoprojectingwallsoneachsideofthefire—place，runningaboutsixfeetintotheroom，andastoutwoodensettlewasplacedagainstoneofthese，whileoppositewasthecircular—backed\'master\'schair，\'theseatofwhichwascomposedofasquarepieceofwoodjudiciouslyhollowedout，andplacedwithonecornertothefront。Here，infullviewofalltheoperationsgoingonoverthefire，satDanielRobsonforfourlive—longdays，advisinganddirectinghiswifeinallsuchminormattersastheboilingofpotatoes，themakingofporridge，alltheworkonwhichshespeciallypiquedherself，andonwhichshewouldhavetakenadvice——no！
notfromthemostskilledhousewifeinallthethreeRidings。But，somehow，shemanagedtokeephertonguequietfromtellinghim，asshewouldhavedoneanywoman，andanyotherman，tomindhisownbusiness，orshewouldpinadish—clouttohistail。SheevencheckedSylviawhenthelatterproposed，asmuchforfunasforanythingelse，thathisignorantdirectionsshouldbefollowed，andtheconsequencesbroughtbeforehiseyesandhisnose。\'Na，na！\'saidBell，\'th\'feyther\'sfeyther，andwemunrespecthim。Butit\'sdreeworkhavin\'amani\'th\'house，nursingth\'fire，an\'suchweathertoo，andnotasoulcomingnearus，noteventofalloutwi\'him;fortheeandmemustna\'dothat，forth\'Bible\'ssake，dear;andagoodstand—upwordyquarrelwoulddohimapowerofgood;stirhisbloodlike。IwishPhilipwouldturnup。\'Bellsighed，forinthesefourdaysshehadexperiencedsomewhatofMadamedeMaintenon\'sdifficulty（andwithfewerresourcestomeetit）oftryingtoamuseamanwhowasnotamusable。ForBell，goodandsensibleasshewas，wasnotawomanofresources。Sylvia\'splan，undutifulasitwasinhermother\'seyes，wouldhavedoneDanielmoregood，eventhoughitmighthavemadehimangry，thanhiswife\'squiet，carefulmonotonyofaction，which，howeveritmightconducetoherhusband\'scomfortwhenhewasabsent，didnotamusehimwhenpresent。SylviascoutedthenotionofcousinPhilipcomingintotheirhouseholdinthecharacterofanamusingorentertainingperson，tillshenearlymadehermotherangryatherridiculeofthegoodsteadyyoungfellow，towhomBelllookedupasthepatternofallthatearlymanhoodshouldbe。ButthemomentSylviasawshehadbeengivinghermotherpain，sheleftoffherwilfullittlejokes，andkissedher，andtoldhershewouldmanageallfamously，andranoutoftheback—kitchen，inwhichmotheranddaughterhadbeenscrubbingthechurnandallthewoodenimplementsofbutter—making。Belllookedattheprettyfigureofherlittledaughter，as，runningpastwithherapronthrownoverherhead，shedarkenedthewindowbeneathwhichhermotherwasdoingherwork。Shepausedjustforamoment，andthensaid，almostunawarestoherself，\'Blessthee，lass，\'
beforeresumingherscouringofwhatalreadylookedalmostsnow—white。Sylviascamperedacrosstheroughfarmyardinthewetting，drizzlingraintotheplacewheresheexpectedtofindKester;buthewasnotthere，soshehadtoretraceherstepstothecow—house，and，makingherwayuparoughkindofladder—staircasefixedstraightagainstthewall，shesurprisedKesterashesatinthewool—loft，lookingoverthefleecesreservedforthehome—spinning，bypoppingherbrightface，swathedroundwithherbluewoollenapron，upthroughthetrap—door，andthus，herheadtheonlyvisiblepart，sheaddressedthefarm—servant，whowasalmostlikeoneofthefamily。\'Kester，feyther\'sjusttiringhissel\'wi\'wearinessanvexation，sittingbyt\'firesidewi\'hishandsaforehim，an\'noughttodo。An\'motherandmecan\'tthinkonaughtas\'llrousehimuptoabitofalaugh，oraughtmorecheerfulthanascolding。Now，Kester，thoumunjustbeoff，andfindHarryDonkinth\'tailor，andbringhimhere;it\'sgettin\'onforMartinmas，an\'he\'llbecominghisrounds，andhemayaswellcomeherefirstaslast，andfeyther\'sclotheswantadealo\'mendingup，andHarry\'salwaysfullofhisnews，andanyhowhe\'lldoforfeythertoscold，an\'beanewpersontoo，andthat\'ssomewhatforallonus。Nowgo，likeagoodoldKesterasyo\'are。\'Kesterlookedatherwithloving，faithfuladmiration。Hehadsethimselfhisday\'sworkinhismaster\'sabsence，andwasverydesirousoffinishingit，but，somehow，heneverdreamedofresistingSylvia，soheonlystatedthecase。\'T\'\'ool\'savasto\'muckin\'t，an\'athowtasa\'dfettleitan\'doitup;butareckonamundoyo\'rbiddin\'。\'\'There\'sagoodoldKester，\'saidshe，smiling，andnoddinghermuffledheadathim;thenshedippeddownoutofhissight，thenroseupagain（hehadnevertakenhisslow，mooneyeyesfromthespotwhereshehaddisappeared）
tosay——\'Now，Kester，bewaryanddeep——thoumuntellHarryDonkinnottoletonaswe\'vesentforhim，butjusttocomeinasifhewereonhisround，andtookusfirst;andhemunaskfeytherifthereisanyworkforhimtodo;andI\'llanswerfor\'t，he\'llhaveawelcomeandahalf。Now，bedeepandfause，mindthee！\'\'A\'sedeepan\'fauseenowwi\'simplefolk;butwhatcanadoi\'Donkinbeasfauseasme——ashappenhemaybe？\'\'Gawaywi\'thee！I\'DonkinbeSolomon，thoumunbet\'Queeno\'Sheba;
andI\'seboundfortosaysheoutwittedhimatlast！\'KesterlaughedsolongattheideaofhisbeingtheQueenofSheba，thatSylviawasbackbyhermother\'ssidebeforethecachinnationended。Thatnight，justasSylviawaspreparingtogotobedinherlittleclosetofaroom，sheheardsomeshotrattlingatherwindow。Sheopenedthelittlecasement，andsawKesterstandingbelow。Herecommencedwhereheleftoff，withalaugh——\'He，he，he！A\'sbeent\'queen！A\'seta\'enDonkinont\'reetside，an\'
he\'llcoominto—morrow，justpermiskus，an\'axforwork，likeasif\'twereafavour;t\'oudfelleywereabitcross—grainedatstartin\'，forhewereworkin\'atfarmerCrosskey\'supatt\'othersideo\'t\'town，wheertheyputsastrikean\'ahalfofmautintilt\'beer，whenmostfolkputnobbutastrike，ant\'madehimilltoconvince:buthe\'llcoom，niverfear！\'ThehonestfellowneversaidawordoftheshillinghehadpaidoutofhisownpockettoforwardSylvia\'swishes，andtopersuadethetailortoleavethegoodbeer。Allhisanxietynowwastoknowifhehadbeenmissed，andifitwaslikelythatascoldingawaitedhiminthemorning。\'T\'oudmeasterdidn\'tsetuphisback，\'causeadidn\'tcoomint\'supper？\'\'Hequestionedabitastowhatthouwereabout，butmotherdidn\'tknow，an\'Iheldmypeace。Mothercarriedthysupperint\'loftforthee。\'\'A\'llgangafter\'t，then，fora\'mlikeapairo\'bellowseswi\'t\'windout;justtwoflatsideswi\'nowtbetwixt。\'Thenextmorning，Sylvia\'sfacewasalittleredderthanusualwhenHarryDonkin\'sbow—legswereseencirclingdownthepathtothehousedoor。\'Here\'sDonkin，forsure！\'exclaimedBell，whenshecaughtsightofhimaminuteafterherdaughter。\'Well，Ijustcallthatlucky！forhe\'llbecompanyfortheewhileSylviaandmehastoturnth\'cheeses。\'ThiswastoooriginalaremarkforawifetomakeinDaniel\'sopinion，onthisespecialmorning，whenhisrheumatismwastwinginghimmorethanusual，soherepliedwithseverity——\'That\'sallt\'womenknowaboutit。Wi\'themit\'s\"coompany，coompany，coompany，\"an\'theythinkaman\'snobetterthantheirsels。A\'dhaveyo\'
toknowa\'veavasto\'thoughtsinmyself\'，asI\'mnoanewillingtolayoutfort\'benefito\'everyman。A\'venivergottentimeformeditationsin\'aweremarried;leastways，sin\'aleftt\'sea。Aboardship，wi\'niverawomanwi\'nleagueso\'hail，andupo\'t\'masthead，inspecial，acould。\'\'ThenI\'dbettertellDonkinaswe\'venoworkforhim\'saidSylvia，instinctivelymanagingherfatherbyagreeingwithhim，insteadofreasoningwithorcontradictinghim。\'Now，theereyougo！\'wrenchinghimselfround，forfearSylviashouldcarryhermeeklymadethreatintoexecution。\'Ugh！ugh！\'ashislimbhurthim。
\'Comein，Harry，comein，andtalkabito\'sensetome，fora\'vebeenshutupwi\'womenthesefourdays，anda\'ma\'mostanateralbythistime。
A\'seboundfor\'t，they\'llfindyo\'somewark，if\'t\'snoughtbutfortosavetheirownfingers。\'SoHarrytookoffhiscoat，andseatedhimselfprofessional—wiseonthehastily—cleareddresser，sothathemighthaveallthelightaffordedbythelong，lowcasementwindow。Thenheblewinhisthimble，suckedhisfinger，sothattheymightadheretightlytogether，andlookedaboutforasubjectforopeningconversation，whileSylviaandhermothermightbeheardopeningandshuttingdrawersandbox—lidsbeforetheycouldfindthearticlesthatneededrepair，orthatwererequiredtomendeachother。\'Women\'swellenoughi\'theirway，\'saidDaniel，inaphilosophizingtone，\'butamanmayhavetoomuchon\'em。Nowthere\'sme，leg—fastthesefourdays，anda\'llmakefreetosaytoyo\'，a\'dratheradealha\'beenloadingdungi\'t\'wettestweather;an\'areckonit\'sth\'beingwi\'noughtbutwomenastiresmeso:theytalksofoolishitgetsint\'t\'boneslike。
Nowthouknow\'stthou\'rtnotcalledmuchofamanoather，butblessyo\'，t\'ninthpart\'ssummuttobethankfulfor，alternoughtbutwomen。An\'
yet，yo\'seen，theywereforsendingyo\'awayi\'theirfoolishness！Well！
missus，andwho\'stopayfort\'fettlingofallthemclothes？\'asBellcamedownwithherarmsfull。Shewasgoingtoanswerherhusbandmeeklyandliterallyaccordingtoherwont，butSylvia，alreadydetectingtheincreasedcheerfulnessofhistone，calledoutfrombehindhermother——\'Iam，feyther。I\'mgoingfortosellmynewcloakasIboughtThursday，forthemendingonyouroldcoatsandwaistcoats。\'\'Hearkentillher，\'saidDaniel，chuckling。\'She\'satruewench。Threedayssin\'noanesofullassheo\'t\'newcloakthatnowshe\'sfaint\'sell。\'\'Ay，Harry。Iffeytherwon\'tpayyo\'formakingalltheseoldclothesasgoodasnew，I\'llsellmynewredcloaksoonerthanyo\'shallgounpaid。\'\'Areckonit\'sabargain，\'saidHarry，castingsharp，professionaleyesontheheapbeforehim，andsinglingoutthebestarticleastotextureforexaminationandcomment。\'They\'reallagainthesemetalbuttons，\'saidhe。\'SilkweavershasbeenpetitioningMinisterst\'makealawtofavoursilkbuttons;andIdidheartellastherewereinformersgoin\'aboutspyin\'aftermetalbuttons，andashowtheycouldhaulyo\'beforeajusticeforwearingon\'em。\'Awerewedin\'em，anda\'llwear\'emtomydyin\'day，ora\'llwearnoaneata\'。They\'reformakkingsuchapacko\'laws，they\'llbeformeddlingwi\'myfashiono\'sleepingnext，andtaxingmeforiverysnoreagive。
They\'vebeenaftert\'winders，andaftert\'vittle，andaftert\'verysautto\'t;it\'sdearerbyhaufan\'morenoritwerewhenawereaboy:they\'reameddlesomeseto\'folks，law—makersis，an\'a\'llniverbelieveKingGeorgehasoughtt\'dowi\'\'t。Butmarkmywords;Iwerewedwi\'brassbuttons，andbrassbuttonsa\'llweartomydeath，an\'iftheymoithermeaboutit，a\'llwearbrassbuttonsi\'mycoffin！\'BythistimeHarryhadarrangedacertaincourseofactionwithMrsRobson，conductingtheconsultationandagreementbysigns。Histhreadwasflyingfastalready，andthemotheranddaughterfeltmorefreetopursuetheirownbusinessthantheyhaddoneforseveraldays;foritwasagoodsignthatDanielhadtakenhispipeoutofthesquarehollowinthefiresidewall，whereheusuallykeptit，andwaspreparingtodiversifyhisremarkswithsatisfyinginterludesofpuffing。\'Why，lookye;thisverybaccyhadarunfor\'t。Itcameashoresewedupneatlyenoughi\'awoman\'sstays，aswaswifetoafishing—smackdownatt\'bayyonder。Shewerealeanthingasiveryousaw，whenshewentfort\'seeherhusbandaboardt\'vessel;butshecoombacklustierbyadeal，an\'wi\'manyathingonher，hereandtheere，besidebaccy。An\'thatwerei\'t\'faceo\'coast—guardandyontender，an\'a\'。Butshemadeasthoughsheweretipsy，an\'sotheydidnoughtbutcurseher，an\'getoutonherway。\'\'Speakingoft\'tender，there\'sbeenapieceo\'worki\'Monkshaventhisweekwi\'t\'press—gang，\'saidHarry。\'Ay！ay！ourlasswastellingabout\'t;but，Lordblessye！there\'snogettin\'t\'rightsonastoryoutonawomanthoughawillsaythisforourSylvie，she\'sasbrightalassasiveramanlookedat。\'Nowthetruthwas，thatDanielhadnotlikedtodemeanhimself，atthetimewhenSylviacamebacksofullofwhatshehadseenatMonkshaven，byevincinganycuriosityonthesubject。Hehadthenthoughtthatthenextdayhewouldfindsomebusinessthatshouldtakehimdowntothetown，whenhecouldlearnallthatwastobelearnt，withoutflatteringhiswomankindbyaskingquestions，asifanythingtheymightsaycouldinteresthim。