saidBell，shakingherhead。\'ShallIgotakeitoff，andputonmyshawl？\'askedSylvia，alittledolefully。\'Na，na，comealong！a\'mnoanegoin\'fort\'waito\'women\'schopsandchanges。
Comealong;come，Lassie！\'（thislasttohisdog）。SoSylviasetoffwithadancingheartandadancingstep，thathadtoberestrainedtothesobergaitherfatherchose。Theskyabovewasbrightandclearwiththelightofathousandstars，thegrasswascrispingundertheirfeetwiththecominghoarfrost;andastheymountedtothehighergroundtheycouldseethedarkseastretchingawayfarbelowthem。Thenightwasverystill，thoughnowandthencrispsoundsinthedistantairsoundedverynearinthesilence。Sylviacarriedthebasket，andlookedlikelittleRedRidingHood。Herfatherhadnothingtosay，anddidnotcaretomakehimselfagreeable;butSylviaenjoyedherownthoughts，andanyconversationwouldhavebeenadisturbancetoher。Thelongmonotonousrollofthedistantwaves，asthetideborethemin，themultitudinousrushatlast，andthentheretreatingrattleandtrickle，asthebaffledwatersfellbackovertheshinglethatskirtedthesands，anddividedthemfromthecliffs;herfather\'smeasuredtread，andslow，evenmovement;
Lassie\'spattering——alllulledSylviaintoareverie，ofwhichshecouldnothavegivenherselfanydefiniteaccount。ButatlengththeyarrivedatMossBrow，andwithasuddensighshequittedthesubjectsofherdreamymeditations，andfollowedherfatherintothegreathouse—place。Ithadamorecomfortableaspectbynightthanbyday。Thefirewasalwayskeptuptoawastefulsize，andthedancingblaze。andthepartiallightofcandlesleftmuchinshadowthatwasbestignoredinsuchadisorderlyfamily。Buttherewasalwaysawarmwelcometofriends，howeverroughlygiven;andafterthewordsofthiswerespoken，thenextroseupequallynaturallyinthemindofMrsCorney。\'Andwhatwillyetak\'？Eh！butt\'measter\'llbefineandvexedatyourcomin\'whenhe\'saway。He\'sofftoHorncastlet\'sellsomecolts，andhe\'llnotbebacktillto—morrow\'sneet。Buthere\'sCharleyKinraidaswe\'vegettentonurseupabit，and\'t\'lads\'llbebackfra\'Monkshaveninacracko\'notime。\'AllthiswasaddressedtoDaniel，towhomsheknewthatnonebutmasculinecompanywouldbeacceptable。Amongstuneducatedpeople——whoserangeofsubjectsandinterestdonotextendbeyondtheirdailylife——itisnaturalthatwhenthefirstblushandhurryofyouthisover，thereshouldbenogreatpleasureintheconversationoftheothersex。Menhaveplentytosaytomen，whichintheirestimation（gainedfromtraditionandexperience）
womencannotunderstand;andfarmersofamuchlaterdatethantheoneofwhichIamwriting，wouldhavecontemptuouslyconsidereditasalossoftimetotalktowomen;indeed，theywereoftenmorecommunicativetothesheep—dogthataccompaniedthemthroughalltheday\'swork，andfrequentlybecameasortofdumbconfidant。FarmerRobson\'sLassienowlaydownathermaster\'sfeet，placedhernosebetweenherpaws，andwatchedwithattentiveeyesthepreparationsgoingonforrefreshments——preparationswhich，tothedisappointmentofhercanineheart，consistedentirelyoftumblersandsugar。\'Where\'st\'wench？\'saidRobson，afterhehadshakenhandswithKinraid，andspokenafewwordstohimandtoMrsCorney。\'She\'sgetten\'abasketwi\'sausagesin\'em，asmymissushasmade，andshe\'sararehandatsausages;
there\'snoanelikeherina\'t\'threeRidings，I\'llbebound！\'ForDanielcouldpraisehiswife\'spowersinherabsence，thoughhedidnotoftenexpresshimselfinanappreciativemannerwhenshewasbytohear。ButSylvia\'squicksensecaughtupthemannerinwhichMrsCorneywouldapplythewayinwhichhermother\'shousewiferyhadbeenexalted，andsteppingforwardsoutoftheshadow，shesaid，——\'Motherthought，maybe，youhadn\'tkilledapigyet，andsausagesisalwaysabitsavouryforanyonewhoisna\'well，and————\'ShemighthavegoneonbutthatshecaughtKinraid\'seyeslookingatherwithkindlyadmiration。Shestoppedspeaking，andMrsCorneytookuptheword——\'Asforsausages，Iha\'niverhadachancethisyear，elseIstandagainanyonefort\'makingof\'em。Yorkshirehams\'savastthoughton，andI\'llniverletanothercountywomansayasshecanmakebettersausagesnorme。But，asI\'msaying，I\'dniverachance;forourpig，asIweresofondon，andfedmysel\'，andaswouldha\'beenfourteenstonebynowifhewereanounce，andasknewmeaswellasanyChristian，andapig，asImaysay，thatIjustidolized，wentandtookafitaweekafterMichaelmasDay，anddied，asifithadbeentospiteme;andt\'nextisna\'readyforkilling，norwunnotbethissixweek。SoI\'mmuchbeholdentoyourmissus，andso\'sCharley，I\'msure;thoughhe\'sta\'enaturntobetterin\'
sin\'hecameoutheretobenursed。\'\'I\'madealbetter，\'saidKinraid;\'a\'mostreadyfort\'press—gangtogivechasetoagain。\'\'Butfolksaythey\'regoneoffthiscoastforonewhile，\'addedDaniel。\'They\'regonedowntowardsHull，asI\'vebeentold，\'saidKinraid。\'Butthey\'readeepset，they\'llbeherebeforeweknowwhereweare，someofthesedays。\'\'Seetheehere！\'saidDaniel，exhibitinghismaimedhand;\'areckonaserved\'emouttimeo\'t\'Amerikywar。\'AndhebeganthestorySylviaknewsowell;forherfathernevermadeanewacquaintancebutwhathetoldhimofhisself—mutilationtoescapethepress—gang。Ithadbeendone，ashewouldhimselfhaveowned，tospitehimselfaswellasthem;forithadobligedhimtoleaveasea—life，towhich，incomparison，alllifespentonshorewasworsethannothingfordulness。ForRobsonhadneverreachedthatrankaboardshipwhichmadehisbeingunabletorunuptherigging，ortothrowaharpoon，ortofireoffagun，ofnogreatconsequence;sohehadtobethankfulthatanopportunelegacyenabledhimtoturnfarmer，agreatdegradationinhisopinion。Buthisbloodwarmed，ashetoldthespecksioneertowardsasailor，andhepressedKinraidtobeguilethetimewhenhewascompelledtobeashore，bycomingovertoseehimatHaytersbank，wheneverhefeltinclined。Sylvia，appearingtolistentoMolly\'sconfidences，washearkeninginrealitytoallthisconversationbetweenherfatherandthespecksioneer;andatthisinvitationshebecameespeciallyattentive。Kinraidreplied，——\'I\'mmuchobligedtoye，I\'msure;maybeIcancomeandspendanev\'ningwi\'you;butassoonasI\'mgotroundabit，ImustgoseemyownpeopleasliveatCullercoatsnearNewcastle—upo\'—Tyne。\'\'Well，well！\'saidDaniel，risingtotakeleave，withunusualprudenceastotheamountofhisdrink。\'Thou\'ltsee，thou\'ltsee！Ishallbemaingladtoseethee;ifthou\'ltcome。ButI\'vena\'ladstokeeptheecompany，onlyonesprigofawench。Sylvia，comehere，anlet\'sshowtheetothisyoungfellow！\'Sylviacameforwards，ruddyasanyrose，andinamomentKinraidrecognizedherastheprettylittlegirlhehadseencryingsobitterlyoverDarley\'sgrave。Heroseupoutoftruesailor\'sgallantry，assheshylyapproachedandstoodbyherfather\'sside，scarcelydaringtolifthergreatsofteyes，tohaveonefairgazeathisface。Hehadtosupporthimselfbyonehandrestedonthedresser，butshesawhewaslookingfarbetter——younger，lesshaggard——thanhehadseemedtoherbefore。Hisfacewasshortandexpressive;hiscomplexionhadbeenweatherbeatenandbronzed，thoughnowhelookedsopale;hiseyesandhairweredark，——theformerquick，deep—set，andpenetrating;thelattercurly，andalmostinringlets。Histeethgleamedwhiteashesmiledather，apleasantfriendlysmileofrecognition;butsheonlyblushedthedeeper，andhungherhead。\'I\'llcome，sir，andbethankful。Idaresayaturn\'lldomegood，iftheweatherholdsup，an\'th\'frostkeepson。\'\'That\'sright，mylad，\'saidRobson，shakinghimbythehand，andthenKinraid\'shandwasheldouttoSylvia，andshecouldnotavoidthesamefriendlyaction。MollyCorneyfollowedhertothedoor，andwhentheywerefairlyoutside，sheheldSylviabackforaninstanttosay，——\'Isna\'heafinelikelyman？I\'msogladasyo\'veseenhim，forhe\'stobeoffnextweektoNewcastleandthatneighbourhood。\'\'Buthesaidhe\'dcometoussomenight？\'askedSylvia，halfinafright。\'Ay，I\'llseeashedoes;neverfear。ForIshouldlikeyo\'fortoknowhimabit。He\'sararetalker。I\'llmindhimo\'comingtoyo\'。\'Somehow，SylviafeltasifthisrepeatedpromiseofremindingKinraidofhispromisetocomeandseeherfathertookawaypartofthepleasureshehadanticipatedfromhisvisit。YetwhatcouldbemorenaturalthanthatMollyCorneyshouldwishherfriendtobeacquaintedwiththemanwhomSylviabelievedtobeallbutMolly\'sengagedlover？Ponderingthesethoughts，thewalkhomewasassilentasthatgoingtoMossBrowhadbeen。Theonlychangeseemedtobethatnowtheyfacedthebrilliantnorthernlightsflashingupthesky，andthateitherthisappearanceorsomeofthewhalingnarrationsofKinraidhadstirredupDanielRobson\'srecollectionsofaseaditty，whichhekeptsingingtohimselfinalow，unmusicalvoice，theburdenofwhichwas，\'forIlovesthetossin\'say！\'
Bellmetthematthedoor。\'Well，andhereyeareathomeagain！andPhiliphasbeen，Sylvie，togivetheethycipheringlesson;andhestayedawhile，thinkingthou\'dbecomingback。\'\'I\'mverysorry，\'saidSylvia，moreoutofdeferencetohermother\'stoneofannoyance，thanbecausesheherselfcaredeitherforherlessonorhercousin\'sdisappointment。\'He\'llcomeagainto—morrownight，hesays。Butthoumusttakecare，andmindthenightshesayshe\'llcome，forit\'salongwaytocomefornought。\'Sylviamighthaverepeatedher\'I\'mverysorry\'atthisannouncementofPhilip\'sintentions;butsherestrainedher—self，inwardlyandferventlyhopingthatMollywouldnoturgethefulfilmentofthespecksioneer\'spromiseforto—morrownight，forPhilip\'sbeingtherewouldspoilall;andbesides，ifshesateatthedresseratherlesson，andKinraidatthetablewithherfather，hemighthearall，andfindoutwhatadunceshewas。Sheneednothavebeenafraid。WiththenextnightHepburncame;andKinraiddidnot。Afterafewwordstohermother，Philipproducedthecandleshehadpromised，andsomebooksandaquillortwo。\'Whatforhastthoubroughtcandles？\'askedBell，inahalf—affrontedtone。Hepburnsmiled。\'Sylviathoughtitwouldtakeadealofcandle—light，andwasformakingitintoareasonnottolearn。Ishouldha\'usedt\'candlesifI\'dstayedathome;soIjustbroughtthemwi\'me。\'\'Thenthoumay\'stjusttakethembackagain，\'saidBell，shortly，blowingoutthatwhichhehadlighted，andplacingoneofherownonthedresserinstead。Sylviacaughthermother\'slookofdispleasure，anditmadeherdocilefortheevening，althoughsheowedhercousinagrudgeforherenforcedgoodbehaviour。\'Now，Sylvia，here\'sacopy—bookwi\'t\'Towero\'Londononit，andwe\'llfillitwi\'asprettywritingasanyint\'NorthRiding。\'Sylviasatequitestill，unenlivenedbythisprospect。\'Here\'sapenas\'llnearlywriteofitsel\'，\'continuedPhilip，stilltryingtocoaxherouthersullennessofmanner。Thenhearrangedherintherightposition。\'Don\'tlayyourheaddownonyourleftarm，you\'llne\'erseetowritestraight。\'Theattitudewaschanged，butnotawordwasspoken。Philipbegantogrowangryatsuchdetermineddumbness。\'Areyoutired？\'askedhe，withastrangemixtureofcrossnessandtenderness。\'Yes，very，\'washerreply。\'Butthouought\'stnottobetired，\'saidBell，whohadnotyetgotovertheoffencetoherhospitality;who，moreover，likedhernephew，andhad，toboot，agreatrespectforthelearningshehadneveracquired。\'Mother！\'saidSylvia，burstingout，\'what\'stheuseonmywriting\"Abednego，\"
\"Abednego，\"\"Abednego，\"alldownapage？IfIcouldseet\'useon\'t，I\'dha\'axedfathertosendmet\'school;butI\'mnonewantingtohavelearning。\'\'It\'safinething，tho\'，islearning。Mymotherandmygrandmotherhadit:butth\'familycamedowni\'theworld，andPhilip\'smotherandme，wehadnoneofit;butIha\'setmyheartonthyhavingit，child。\'\'Myfingersisstiff，\'pleadedSylvia，holdingupherlittlehandandshakingit。\'Letustakeaturnatspelling，then，\'saidPhilip。\'What\'st\'useon\'t？\'askedcaptiousSylvia。\'Why，ithelpsonei\'readingan\'writing。\'\'Andwhatdoesreadingandwritingdoforone？\'Hermothergaveheranotheroftheseverelooksthat，quietwomanasshewas，shecouldoccasionallybestowupontherefractory，andSylviatookherbookandglanceddownthecolumnPhilippointedouttoher;but，asshejustlyconsidered，onemanmightpointoutthetask，buttwentycouldnotmakeherlearnit，ifshedidnotchoose;andshesatherselfdownontheedgeofthedresser，andidlygazedintothefire。Buthermothercameroundtolookforsomethinginthedrawersofthedresser，andasshepassedherdaughtershesaidinalowvoice——\'Sylvie，beagoodlass。Isetadealo\'storebylearning，andfather\'udneversendtheetoschool，ashasstuckbymesore。\'IfPhilip，sittingwithhisbacktothem，heardthesewordshewasdiscreetenoughnottoshowthatheheard。Andhehadhisreward;forinaveryshorttime，Sylviastoodbeforehimwithherbookinherhand，preparedtosayherspelling。Atwhichhealsostoodupbyinstinct，andlistenedtoherslowsucceedingletters;helpingherout，whenshelookedupathimwithasweetchildlikeperplexityinherface:foradunceastobook—learningpoorSylviawasandwaslikelytoremain;and，inspiteofhisassumedofficeofschoolmaster，PhilipHepburncouldalmosthaveechoedthewordsoftheloverofJessMacFarlane——Isentmylovealetter，But，alas！shecannaread，AndIlo\'ehera\'thebetter。Stillheknewhisaunt\'sstrongwishonthesubject，anditwasverydelightfultostandintherelationofteachertosodearandpretty，ifsowilful，apupil。PerhapsitwasnotveryflatteringtonoticeSylvia\'sgreatjoywhenherlessonswereover，sadlyshortenedastheywerebyPhilip\'sdesirenottobetooharduponher。Sylviadancedroundtohermother，bentherheadback，andkissedherface，andthensaiddefyinglytoPhilip，——\'IfiverIwritetheealetteritshalljustbefullofnothingbut\"Abednego！
Abednego！Abednego！\"\'ButatthismomentherfathercameinfromadistantexpeditiononthemoorswithKestertolookafterthesheephehadpasturingtherebeforethewintersetfairlyin。Hewastired，andsowasLassie，andso，too，wasKester，who，liftinghisheavylegsoneaftertheother，andsmoothingdownhishair，followedhismasterintothehouse—place，andseatinghimselfonabenchatthefartherendofthedresser，patientlyawaitedthesupperofporridgeandmilkwhichhesharedwithhismaster。Sylvia，meanwhile，coaxedLassiepoorfoot—soredog——toherside，andgavehersomefood，whichthecreaturewasalmosttootiredtoeat。Philipmadeasthoughhewouldbegoing，butDanielmotionedtohimtobequiet。\'Sittheedown，lad。AssoonasI\'vehadmyvictual，Iwantt\'hearabito\'news。\'Sylviatookhersewingandsatatthelittleroundtablebyhermother，sharingthelightofthescantydip—candle。Noonespoke。Everyonewasabsorbedinwhattheyweredoing。WhatPhilipwasdoingwas，gazingatSylvia——learningherfaceoffbyheart。Wheneveryscrapofporridgewasclearedoutofthemightybowl，Kesteryawned，andwishinggood—night，withdrewtohisloftoverthecow—house。
ThenPhilippulledouttheweeklyYorkpaper，andbegantoreadthelatestaccountsofthewarthenraging。ThiswasgivingDanieloneofhisgreatestpleasures;forthoughhecouldreadprettywell，yetthedoubleeffortofreadingandunderstandingwhathereadwasalmosttoomuchforhim。
Hecouldread，orhecouldunderstandwhatwasreadaloudtohim;readingwasnopleasure，butlisteningwas。Besides，hehadatrueJohnBullishinterestinthewar，withoutverywellknowingwhattheEnglishwerefightingfor。Butinthosedays，solongastheyfoughttheFrenchforanycause，orfornocauseatall，everytruepatriotwassatisfied。Sylviaandhermotherdidnotcareforanysuchfar—extendedinterest;alittlebitofYorknews，thestealingofafewapplesoutofaScarboroughgardenthattheyknew，wasoffarmoreinteresttothemthanallthebattlesofNelsonandtheNorth。Philipreadinahigh—pitchedandunnaturaltoneofvoice，whichdeprivedthewordsoftheirreality;forevenfamiliarexpressionscanbecomeunfamiliarandconveynoideas，iftheutteranceisforcedoraffected。Philipwassomewhatofapedant;yettherewasasimplicityinhispedantrynotalwaystobemetwithinthosewhoareself—taught，andwhichmighthaveinterestedanyonewhocaredtoknowwithwhatlabouranddifficultyhehadacquiredtheknowledgewhichnowheprizedsohighly;readingoutLatinquotationsaseasilyasiftheywereEnglish，andtakingapleasureinrollingpolysyllables，untilallatoncelookingaskanceatSylvia，hesawthatherheadhadfallenback，herprettyrosylipsopen，hereyesfastshut;inshort，shewasasleep。\'Ay，\'saidFarmerRobson，\'andt\'readinghasa\'mostsentmeoff。Mother\'dlookangrynowifIwastotellyo\'yo\'hadarighttoakiss;butwhenIwasayoungmanI\'dha\'kissedaprettygirlasIsawasleep，aforeyo\'dsaidJackRobson。\'Philiptrembledatthesewords，andlookedathisaunt。Shegavehimnoencouragement，standingup，andmakingasthoughshehadneverheardherhusband\'sspeech，byextendingherhand，andwishinghim\'good—night。\'
Atthenoiseofthechairsmovingovertheflagfloor，Sylviastartedup，confusedandannoyedatherfather\'slaughter。\'Ay，lass;it\'siveragoodtimet\'fallasleepwhenayoungfellowisby。Here\'sPhiliphereasthou\'rtboundt\'giveapairo\'glovesto。\'Sylviawentlikefire;sheturnedtohermothertoreadherface。\'It\'sonlyfather\'sjoke，lass，\'saidshe。\'Philipknowsmannerstoowell。\'\'He\'dbetter，\'saidSylvia，flamingroundathim。\'Ifhe\'datouchedme，I\'dniverha\'spokentohimnomore。\'Andshelookedevenasitwasasifshewasfarfromforgivinghim。\'Hoots，lass！wenchesarebroughtupsamim，now—a—days;i\'mytimethey\'dha\'thoughtna\'suchgreatharmofakiss。\'\'Good—night，Philip，\'saidBellRobson，thinkingtheconversationunseemly。\'Good—night，aunt，good—night，Sylvie！\'ButSylviaturnedherbackonhim，andhecouldhardlysay\'good—night\'toDaniel，whohadcausedsuchanunpleasantendtoaneveningthathadatonetimebeengoingonsowell。
chapter09CHAPTERIXTHESPECKSIONEERAfewdaysafter，farmerRobsonleftHaytersbankbetimesonalongishday\'sjourney，topurchaseahorse。Sylviaandhermotherwerebusiedwithahundredhouseholdthings，andtheearlywinter\'seveningclosedinuponthemalmostbeforetheywereaware。Theconsequencesofdarknessinthecountryevennowaretogatherthemembersofafamilytogetherintooneroom，andtomakethemsettletosomesedentaryemployment;anditwasmuchmorethecaseattheperiodofmystory，whencandleswerefardearerthantheyareatpresent，andwhenonewasoftenmadetosufficeforalargefamily。Themotheranddaughterhardlyspokeatallwhentheysatdownatlast。
Thecheerfulclickoftheknitting—needlesmadeapleasanthome—sound;
andintheoccasionalsnatchesofslumberthatovercamehermother，Sylviacouldhearthelong—rushingboomofthewaves，downbelowtherocks，fortheHaytersbankgulleyallowedthesullenroartocomeupsofarinland。
Itmighthavebeenabouteighto\'clock——thoughfromthemonotonouscourseoftheeveningitseemedmuchlater——whenSylviaheardherfather\'sheavystepcranchingdownthepebblypath。Moreunusual，sheheardhisvoicetalkingtosomecompanion。Curioustoseewhoitcouldbe，withalivelyinstinctiveadvancetowardsanyeventwhichmightbreakthemonotonyshehadbeguntofindsomewhatdull，shespranguptoopenthedoor。Halfaglanceintothegraydarknessoutsidemadehersuddenlytimid，andshedrewbackbehindthedoorassheopeneditwidetoadmitherfatherandKinraid。DanielRobsoncameinbrightandboisterous。Hewaspleasedwithhispurchase，andhadhadsomedrinktocelebratehisbargain。HehadriddenthenewmareintoMonkshaven，andleftheratthesmithythereuntilmorning，tohaveherfeetlookedat，andtobenewshod。OnhiswayfromthetownhehadmetKinraidwanderingaboutinsearchofHaytersbankFarmitself，sohehadjustbroughthimalongwithhim;andheretheywere，readyforbreadandcheese，andaughtelsethemistresswouldsetbeforethem。ToSylviathesuddenchangeintobrightnessandbustleoccasionedbytheentranceofherfatherandthespecksioneerwaslikethatwhichyoumayeffectanywinter\'snight，whenyoucomeintoaroomwhereagreatlumpofcoallieshotandslumberingonthefire;justbreakitupwithajudiciousblowfromthepoker，andtheroom，latesodark，anddusk，andlone，isfulloflife，andlight，andwarmth。Shemovedaboutwithprettyhouseholdbriskness，attendingtoallherfather\'swants。Kinraid\'seyewatchedherasshewentbackwardsandforwards，toandfro，intothepantry，theback—kitchen，outoflightintoshade，outoftheshadowintothebroadfirelightwherehecouldseeandnoteherappearance。Sheworethehigh—crownedlinencapofthatday，surmountingherlovelymassesofgoldenbrownhair，ratherthanconcealingthem，andtiedfirmtoherheadbyabroadblueribbon。Alongcurlhungdownoneachsideofherneckherthroatrather，forherneckwasconcealedbyalittlespottedhandkerchiefcarefullypinnedacrossatthewaistofherbrownstuffgown。Howwellitwas，thoughttheyounggirl，thatshehaddoffedherbed—gownandlinsey—woolseypetticoat，herworking—dress，andmadeherselfsmartinherstuffgown，whenshesatedowntoworkwithhermother。Bythetimeshecouldsitdownagain，herfatherandKinraidhadtheirglassesfilled，andweretalkingoftherelativemeritsofvariouskindsofspirits;thatledontotalesofsmuggling，andthedifferentcontrivancesbywhichtheyortheirfriendshadeludedthepreventiveservice;thenightlyrelaysofmentocarrythegoodsinland;thekegsofbrandyfoundbycertainfarmerswhosehorseshadgonesofarinthenight，thattheycoulddonoworkthenextday;thecleverwayinwhichcertainwomenmanagedtobringinprohibitedgoods;infact，thatwhenawomandidgivehermindtosmuggling，shewasmorefullofresources，andtricks，andimpudence，andenergythananyman。Therewasnoquestionofthemoralityoftheaffair;oneofthegreatestsignsoftherealprogresswehavemadesincethosetimesseemstobethatourdailyconcernsofbuyingandselling，eatinganddrinking，whatsoeverwedo，aremoretestedbytherealpracticalstandardofourreligionthantheywereinthedaysofourgrandfathers。NeitherSylvianorhermotherwasinadvanceoftheirage。Bothlistenedwithadmirationtotheingeniousdevices，andactedaswellasspokenlies，thatweretalkedaboutasfineandspiritedthings。YetifSylviahadattemptedonetitheofthisdeceitinherevery—daylife，itwouldhavehalfbrokenhermother\'sheart。Butwhenthedutyon。saltwasstrictlyandcruellyenforced，makingitpenaltopickuproughdirtylumpscontainingsmallquantitiesthatmightbethrownoutwiththeashesofthebrine—housesonthehigh—roads;
whenthepriceofthisnecessarywassoincreasedbythetaxuponitastomakeitanexpensive，sometimesanunattainable，luxurytotheworkingman，Governmentdidmoretodemoralisethepopularsenseofrectitudeanduprightnessthanheapsofsermonscouldundo。Andthesame，thoughinsmallermeasure，wastheconsequenceofmanyothertaxes。Itmayseemcurioustotraceupthepopularstandardoftruthtotaxation;butIdonotthinktheideawouldbesoveryfarfetched。FromsmugglingadventuresitwaseasytopassontostoriesofwhathadhappenedtoRobson，inhisyouthasailorintheGreenlandseas，andtoKinraid，nowoneofthebestharpoonersinanywhalerthatsailedoffthecoast。\'There\'sthreethingstobeafearedon，\'saidRobson，authoritatively:
\'there\'st\'ice，that\'sbad;there\'sdirtyweather，that\'sworse;andthere\'swhalestheirselves，asist\'worstofall;leastways，theywasi\'mydays;
t\'darnedbrutesmayha\'larntbettermannerssin\'。WhenIwereyoung，theycouldniverbegottolettheirselsbeharpoonedwi\'outflounderin\'
andmakin\'playwi\'theirtalesandtheirfins，tillt\'saywereallinafoam，andt\'boats\'crewswasallo\'erwi\'spray，whichi\'themlatitudesisakindo\'shower—bathnotneeded。\'\'Th\'whaleshasn\'tmendedtheirmanners，asyoucallit，\'saidKinraid;
\'butth\'iceisnottobespokenlightlyon。Iwereonceinth\'shipJohn，ofHull，andwewereingoodgreenwater，andwerekeenafterwhales;andne\'erthoughtharmofagreatgrayicebergaswereonourlee—bow，amileorsooff;itlookedasifithadbeentherefromthedaysofAdam，andwerelikelytoseeth\'lastmanout，anditne\'erabitbiggernorsmallerinallthemthousandsandthousandso\'years。Well，thefast—boatswereoutafterafish，andIwerespecksioneerinone;andweweresokeenaftercapturingourwhale，thatnoneonuseversawthatweweredriftingawayfromthemrightintodeepshadowo\'th\'iceberg。Butweweresetuponourwhale，andIharpoonedit;andassoonasitweredeadwelasheditsfinstogether，andfasteneditstailtoourboat;andthenwetookbreathandlookedaboutus，andawayfromusalittlespacewereth\'otherboats，wi\'twootherfishmakingplay，andaslikelyasnottobreakloose，forImaysayasIwereth\'bestharpooneronboardtheJohn，wi\'outsayinggreatthingso\'mysel\'。SoIsays，\"Mylads，oneo\'youstayi\'
th\'boatbythisfish，\"——thefinso\'which，asIsaid，I\'dreevedaropethroughmysel\'，andwhichwasasdeadasNoah\'sgrandfather——\"andth\'restonusshallgooffandhelpth\'otherboatswi\'theirfish。\"For，yousee，wehadanotherboatclosebyinordertosweepth\'fish。（Isupposetheysweptfishi\'yourtime，master？）\'\'Ay，ay！\'saidRobson;\'oneboatliesstillholdingt\'endo\'t\'line;
t\'othermakesacircuitroundt\'fish。\'\'Well！luckilyforuswehadoursecondboat，forweallgotintoit，ne\'eramanonuswaslefti\'th\'fast—boat。AndsaysI，\"Butwho\'stostaybyt\'deadfish？\"Andnomananswered，fortheywereallaskeenasmefortogoandhelpourmates;andwethoughtaswecouldcomebacktoourdeadfish，ashadaboatforabuoy，oncewehadhelpedourmates。Sooffwerowed，everymanJackonus，outo\'theblackshadowo\'th\'iceberg，aslookedassteadyasth\'pole—star。Wellwehadna\'beenadozenfathomsawayfra\'th\'boataswehadleft，whencrashdownwi\'aroaringnoise，andthenagulpofthedeepwaters，andthenashowero\'blindingspray;
andwhenwehadwipedoureyesclear，andgettenourheartsdownagenfra\'
ourmouths，therewereneveraboatnoraglitteringbellyo\'e\'eragreatwhaletobeseen;butth\'icebergwerethere，stillandgrim，asifahundredtonormorehadfallenoffallinamass，andcrusheddownboat，andfish，andall，intoth\'deepwater，asgoeshalfthroughtheearthinthemlatitudes。
Th\'coal—minersroundaboutNewcastlewaymaycomeuponourgoodboatiftheyminedeepenough，elsene\'eranothermanwillseeher。AndIleftasgoodaclasp—knifeinheraseverIclapteyeson。\'\'Butwhatamercynomanstayedinher，\'saidBell。\'Why，mistress，Ireckonwea\'mustdiesomeway;andI\'dassoongodownintothedeepwatersasbechokedupwi\'moulds。\'\'Butitmustbesocold，\'saidSylvia，shudderingandgivingalittlepoketothefiretowarmherfancy。\'Cold！\'saidherfather，\'whatdoyestay—at—homesknowaboutcold，ashouldliketoknow？Ifyo\'dbeenwhereawereonce，northlatitude81，insuchafrostasyeha\'niverknown，no，noti\'deepwinter，anditwereJunei\'themseas，andawhalei\'sight，andawereoffinaboatafterher:
an\'t\'ill—manneredbrute，assoonasshewereharpooned，upswi\'herbigawkwardtail，andstruckt\'boati\'herstern，andchucksmeoutintot\'
watter。Thatwerecold，acantellthe\'！First，Ismartedallowerme，asifmyskinweresuddenlystriptoffme:andnext，iverybonei\'mybodyhadgettent\'toothache，andtherewereagreatroari\'myears，an\'agreatdizzinessi\'myeyes;an\'t\'boat\'screwkeptthrowin\'outtheiroars，an\'akeptclutchin\'at\'em，butacouldna\'makeoutwheretheywas，myeyesdazzledsowi\'t\'cold，an\'IthoughtIwereboundfor\"kingdomcome，\"an\'atriedtoremembert\'Creed，asamightdieaChristian。Butallacouldthinkonwas，\"Whatisyourname，MorN？\"an\'justasaweregivingupbothwordsandlife，theyheavedmeaboard。But，blessye，theyhadbutoneoar;forthey\'dthrowna\'t\'othersafterme;soyo\'mayreckon，itweresometimeaforewecouldreacht\'ship;an\'，a\'veheerdtell，awereaprecioussighttolookon，formyclotheswasjusthardfrozentome，an\'myhaira\'mostasbigalumpo\'iceasyoniceberghewasa—tellinguson;theyrubbedmeasmissustheerewererubbingt\'hamsyesterday，andgav\'mebrandy;an\'a\'venivergettent\'frostouto\'mybonesfora\'theirrubbin\'，andadealo\'brandyasI\'aveta\'onsin\'。Talko\'cold！
it\'slittleyo\'womenknowno\'cold！\'\'Butthere\'sheat，too，i\'someplaces，\'saidKinraid。Iwasonceavoyagei\'anAmerican。Theygoesforth\'mostpartsouth，towhereyoucomeroundtot\'coldagain;andthey\'llstaythereforthreeyearatatime，ifneedbe，goingintowinterharbouri\'someo\'th\'PacificIslands。Well，wewerei\'th\'southernseas，a—seekingforgoodwhaling—ground;and，closeonourlarboardbeam，therewereagreatwallo\'ice，asmuchassixtyfeethigh。Andsaysourcaptain——aswereadare—devil，ifeveramanwere——\"There\'llbeanopeninginyondarkgraywall，andintothatopeningI\'llsail，ifIcoastalongittillth\'dayo\'judgment。\"But，foralloursailing，weneverseemedtocomenearertoth\'opening。Thewaterswererockingbeneathus，andtheskyweresteadyaboveus;andth\'iceroseouto\'thewaters，andseemedtoreachupintothesky。Wesailedon，andwesailedon，formoredaysnorIcouldcount。Ourcaptainwereastrange，wildman，butoncehelookedalittlepalewhenhecameupo\'deckafterhisturn—inandsawthegreen—grayicegoingstraightuponourbeam。Manyonusthoughtastheshipwerebewitchedforth\'captain\'swords;andwegottospeaklow，andtosayourprayerso\'nights，andakindo\'dullsilencecameintoth\'veryair;ourvoicesdidna\'rightlyseemourown。Andwesailedon，andwesailedon。Allatonce，th\'manaswereonwatchgaveacry:
hesawabreakintheice，aswe\'dbeguntothinkwereeverlasting;andweallgatheredtowardsthebows，andthecaptaincalledtoth\'manatthehelmtokeephercourse，andcockedhishead，andbegantowalkthequarter—deckjauntyagain。Andwecametoagreatcleftinth\'longwearyrockofice;andthesideso\'th\'cleftwerenotjagged，butwentstraightsharpdownintoth\'foamingwaters。Butwetookbutonelookatwhatlayinside，forourcaptain，withaloudcrytoGod，badethehelmsmansteernor\'ardsawayfra\'th\'moutho\'Hell。Weallsawwi\'ourowneyes，insidethatfearsomewallo\'ice——seventymileslong，aswecouldswearto——insidethatgray，coldice，cameleapingflames，allredandyellowwi\'heato\'
someunearthlykindouto\'th\'verywaterso\'thesea;makingoureyesdazzlewi\'theirscarletblaze，thatshotupashigh，nay，higherthanth\'icearound，yetneversomuchasashredon\'twasmelted。Theydidsaythatsomebesideourcaptainsawtheblackdevilsdarthitherandthither，quickerthantheveryflamesthemselves;anyhow，hesawthem。Andasheknewitwerehisowndaringashadledhimtohavethatpeepatterrorsforbiddentoanyonusaforeourtime，hejustdwinedaway，andwehadn\'ttakenbutonewhaleaforeourcaptaindied，andfirstmatetookth\'command。
Itwereaprosperousvoyage;but，forallthat，I\'llneversailthoseseasagain，norevertakewageaboardanAmericanagain。\'\'Eh，dear！butit\'sawfult\'thinko\'sittingwi\'amanthathasseenth\'
doorwayintohell，\'saidBell，aghast。Sylviahaddroppedherwork，andsatgazingatKinraidwithfascinatedwonder。Danielwasjustalittleannoyedattheadmirationwhichhisownwifeanddaughterwerebestowingonthespecksioneer\'swonderfulstories，andhesaid——\'Ay，ay。Ifa\'dbeenatalker，ye\'dha\'thoughtadealmoreonmenorye\'veiverdoneyet。A\'veseensuchthings，anddonesuchthings。\'\'Tellus，father！\'saidSylvia，greedyandbreathless。\'Someon\'emispasttelling，\'hereplied，\'ansomeisnottobehadfort\'asking，seeingashowtheymightbringamanintotrouble。But，asasaid，ifahadafancytorevealallasisonmymindacouldmaket\'haironyourheadsliftupyourcaps——well，we\'llsayaninch，atleast。Thymother，lass，hasheerdoneortwoon\'em。Thoumindsthestoryo\'myrideonawhale\'sback，Bell？That\'llmaybebewithinthisyoungfellow\'scomprehensiono\'t\'danger;thou\'sheerdmetellit，hastn\'tta？\'\'Yes，\'saidBell;\'butit\'salongtimeago;whenwewascourting。\'\'An\'that\'saforethisyounglasswereborn，asisa\'mostuptowoman\'sestate。Butsin\'thosedaysaha\'beeno\'erbusytotellstoriestomywife，an\'asa\'llwarrantshe\'sforgottenit;an\'asSylviahereniverheerdit，ifyo\'llfillyourglass，Kinraid，yo\'shallha\'t\'benefito\'t。\'Awereaspecksioneermysel，though，afterthat，araytherdirectedmytalentsint\'t\'smugglingbrancho\'myprofession;butawereonceawhalingaboordt\'AimwellofWhitby。An\'wewasanchoredofft\'coasto\'
Greenlandoneseason;anwe\'dgettenacargoo\'sevenwhale;butourcaptainhewereakeen—eyedchap，an\'niverabovedoin\'anyman\'swork;an\'onceseem\'awhalehethrowshimselfint\'aboatan\'goesofftoit，makin\'
signalstome，an\'anotherspecksioneeraswereofffordiversioni\'anotherboat，fortocomeafterhimsharp。Well，aforewecomesalongside，captainhadharpoonedt\'fish;an\'sayshe，\"Now，Robson，allready！giveintoheragainwhenshecomestot\'top;\"an\'Istandsup，rightlegforemost，harpoonallready，assoonasiverIcotchedasighto\'t\'whale，butniverafincouldasee。\'Twerenowonder，forshewererightbelowt\'boatinwhichawere;andwhenshewantedtorise，whatdoest\'greatuglybrutedobutcomewi\'herhead，asislikecastiron，upbangagaint\'bottomo\'t\'boat。Iwerethrownupint\'airlikeashuttlecock，mean\'mylinean\'myharpoon——upwegoes，an\'manyagoodpieceo\'timberwi\'us，an\'