manyagoodfellowtoo;butahadt\'lookaftermysel\'，anawereuphighi\'t\'air，aforeIcouldsayJackRobinson，an\'athowtaweresafeforanotherdiveint\'sautwater;but，i\'steadacomesdownplumpont\'backo\'t\'whale。Ay！yo\'maystare，masterbuttheereawere，an\'mainan\'
slipperyitwere，onlyasticksmyharpoonintilheran\'steadiesmysel\'，an\'looksabroado\'ert\'vasto\'waves，andgetssea—sickinamanner，an\'putsupaprayerasshemayn\'tdive，anditwereasgoodaprayerforwishin\'itmightcometrueasivert\'clargymanan\'t\'clerktooputsupi\'Monkshavenchurch。Well，areckonitwereheerd，forallawerei\'themnorthlatitudes，forshekeepssteady，an\'adoesmybestfort\'keepsteady;
an\'\'deedawastoosteady，forawasfastwi\'t\'harpoonline，allknottedandtangledaboutme。T\'captain，hesingsoutformetocutit;butit\'seasysingin\'out，andit\'snoanesoeasyfumblin\'foryourknifei\'t\'
pocketo\'yourdrawers，whenyo\'vet\'holdhardwi\'t\'otherhandont\'
backofawhale，swimmin\'fourteenknotsanhour。Atlastathinkstomysel\'
acan\'tgetfreeo\'t\'line，andt\'lineisfasttot\'harpoon，andt\'
harpoonisfasttot\'whale;andt\'whalemaygodownfathomsdeepwhenivert\'maggotstirsi\'herhead;an\'t\'watter\'scold，annoanegoodfordrownin\'
in;acan\'tgetfreeo\'t\'line，andaconnotgetmyknifeouto\'mybreechespocketthought\'captainshouldca\'itmutinytodisobeyorders，andt\'
line\'sfasttot\'harpoon——let\'sseeift\'harpoon\'sfasttot\'whale。
Soatugged，andalugged，andt\'whaledidn\'tmistakeitforticklin\'，butshecocksuphertail，andthrowsoutshowerso\'wateraswereiceoriverittouchedme;butapullsonatt\'shank，an\'awereonlyafeardasshewouldn\'tkeepatt\'topwi\'itstickinginher;butatlastt\'harpoonbroke，an\'justi\'time，forareckonshewasnearastiredo\'measawereonher，anddownshewent;an\'ahadhardworktomakefort\'boatsaswasnearenoughtocatchme;forwhatwi\'t\'whale\'sbeingbutslipperyan\'t\'watterbeingcold，an\'mehamperedwi\'t\'linean\'t\'pieceo\'harpoon，it\'sachance，missus，asthouhadstoppedanoudmaid。\'\'Ehdeara\'me！\'saidBell，\'howwellImindyo\'rtellingmethattale！
Itweretwenty—fouryearagocomeOctober。IthoughtInevercouldthinkenoughonamanashadrodeonawhale\'sback！\'\'Yo\'maylearnt\'wayofwinnin\'t\'women，\'saidDaniel，winkingatthespecksioneer。AndKinraidimmediatelylookedatSylvia。Itwasnopremeditatedaction;
itcameasnaturallyaswakeninginthemorningwhenhissleepwasended;
butSylviacolouredasredasanyroseathissuddenglance，——colouredsodeeplythathelookedawayuntilhethoughtshehadrecoveredhercomposure，andthenhesatgazingatheragain。Butnotforlong，forBellsuddenlystartingup，didallbutturnhimoutofthehouse。Itwaslate，shesaid，andhermasterwastired，andtheyhadaharddaybeforethemnextday;
anditwaskeepingEllenCorneyup;andtheyhadhadenoughtodrink，——morethanwasgoodforthem，shewassure，fortheyhadbothbeentakingherinwiththeirstorieswhichshehadbeenfoolishenoughtobelieve。Noonesawtherealmotiveofallthisalmostinhospitablehastetodismissherguest，howthesuddenfearhadtakenpossessionofherthatheandSylviawere\'fancyingeachother。\'Kinraidhadsaidearlyintheeveningthathehadcometothankherforherkindnessinsendingthesausages，ashewasofftohisownhomenearNewcastleinadayortwo。Butnowhesaid，inreplytoDanielRobson，thathewouldstepinanothernightbeforelongandhearsomemoreoftheoldman\'syarns。Danielhadjusthadenoughdrinktomakehimverygood—tempered，orelsehiswifewouldnothavedaredtohaveactedasshedid;andthismaudlinamiabilitytooktheshapeofhospitableurgencythatKinraidshouldcomeasoftenashelikedtoHaytersbank;comeandmakeithishomewhenhewasintheseparts;staytherealtogether，andsoon，tillBellfairlyshuttheouterdoorto，andlockeditbeforethespecksioneerhadwellgotoutoftheshadowoftheirroof。AllnightlongSylviadreamedofburningvolcanoesspringingoutoficysouthernseas。But，asinthespecksioneer\'staletheflameswerepeopledwithdemons，therewasnohumaninterestforherinthewondroussceneinwhichshewasnoactor，onlyaspectator。Withdaylightcamewakeningandlittlehomelyeverydaywonders。DidKinraidmeanthathewasgoingawayreallyandentirely，ordidhenot？WasheMollyCorney\'ssweetheart，orwashenot？Whenshehadarguedherselfintocertaintyononeside，shesuddenlywheeledabout，andwasjustoftheoppositeopinion。AtlengthshesettledthatitcouldnotbesettleduntilshesawMollyagain;so，byastronggulpingeffort，sheresolutelydeterminedtothinknomoreabouthim，onlyaboutthemarvelshehadtold。Shemightthinkalittleaboutthemwhenshesatatnight，spinninginsilencebythehouseholdfire。orwhenshewentoutinthegloamingtocallthecattlehometobemilked，andsaunteredbackbehindthepatient，slow—gaitedcreatures;andattimesonfuturesummerdays，when，asinthepast，shetookherknittingoutforthesakeofthefreshnessofthefaintsea—breeze，anddroppingdownfromledgetoledgeoftherocksthatfacedtheblueocean，establishedherselfinaperilousnookthathadbeenherhaunteversinceherparentshadcometoHaytersbankFarm。Fromthenceshehadoftenseenthedistantshipspasstoandfro，withacertainsortoflazypleasureinwatchingtheirswifttranquillityofmotion，butnothoughtastowheretheywereboundto，orwhatstrangeplacestheywouldpenetratetobeforetheyturnedagain，homewardbound。
chapter10CHAPTERXAREFRACTORYPUPILSylviawasstillfullofthespecksioneerandhisstories，whenHepburncameuptogiveherthenextlesson。Buttheprospectofalittlesensiblecommendationforwritingawholepagefullofflourishing\'Abednegos，\'
hadlostalltheslightcharmithadeverpossessed。Shewasmuchmoreinclinedtotryandelicitsomesympathyinherinterestintheperilsandadventuresofthenorthernseas，thantobendandcontrolhermindtotherightformationofletters。Unwiselyenough，sheendeavouredtorepeatoneofthenarrativesthatshehadheardfromKinraid;andwhenshefoundthatHepburn（if，indeed，hedidnotlookuponthewholeasasillyinvention）considereditonlyasaninterruptiontotherealbusinessinhand，towhichhewouldtrytolistenaspatientlyashecould，inthehopeofSylvia\'sapplyingherselfdiligentlytohercopy—bookwhenshehadclearedhermind，shecontractedherprettylips，asiftocheckthemfrommakinganyfurtherappealsforsympathy，andsetaboutherwriting—lessoninaveryrebelliousframeofmind，onlyrestrainedbyhermother\'spresencefromspokenmutiny。\'Afterail，\'saidshe，throwingdownherpen，andopeningandshuttingherweary，crampedhand，\'Iseenogoodintiringmyselfwi\'learningfort\'writeletterswhenI\'senevergotoneinamylife。WhatforshouldIwriteanswers，whenthere\'sniveraonewritestome？andifIhadone，Icouldn\'treadit;it\'sbadenoughwi\'abooko\'printasI\'veniverseenafore，forthere\'ssuretobenew—fangledwordsin\'t。I\'msureIwishthemanwerefarredwhoplagueshisbrainswi\'strikingoutnewwords。
Whycan\'tfolksjustha\'aseton\'emforgoodanda\'？\'\'Why！you\'llbeafterusingtwoorthreehundredyoursel\'everydayasyoulive，Sylvie;andyetImustuseagreatmanyasyouneverthinkonaboutt\'shop;andt\'folksint\'fieldswanttheirset，letalonethehighEnglishthatparsonsandlawyersspeak。\'\'Well，it\'swearyworkisreadingandwriting。Cannotyoulearnmesomethingelse，ifwemundolessons？\'\'There\'ssums——andgeography，\'saidHepburn，slowlyandgravely。\'Geography！\'saidSylvia，brightening，andperhapsnotpronouncingthewordquitecorrectly，\'I\'dlikeyo\'tolearnmegeography。There\'sadealo\'placesIwanttohearallabout。\'\'Well，I\'llbringupabookandamapnexttime。ButIcantellyousomethingnow。There\'sfourquartersintheglobe。\'\'What\'sthat？\'askedSylvia。\'Theglobeistheearth;theplaceweliveon。\'\'Goon。WhichquarterisGreenland？\'\'Greenlandisnoquarter。Itisonlyapartofone。\'\'Maybeit\'sahalfquarter。\'\'No，notsomuchasthat。\'\'Halfagain？\'\'No！\'hereplied，smilingalittle。Shethoughthewasmakingitintoaverysmallplaceinordertoteaseher;soshepoutedalittle，andthensaid，——\'Greenlandisallt\'geographyIwanttoknow。Except，perhaps，York。I\'dliketolearnaboutYork，becauseoft\'races，andLondon，becauseKingGeorgelivesthere。\'\'Butifyoulearngeographyatall，youmustlearn\'boutallplaces:whichofthemishot，andwhichiscold，andhowmanyinhabitantsisineach，andwhat\'stherivers，andwhichistheprincipaltowns。\'\'I\'msure，Sylvie，ifPhilipwilllearntheeallthat，thou\'ltbesuchasighto\'knowledgeasne\'eraoneo\'th\'Prestonshasbeensin\'mygreat—grandfatherlosthisproperty。Ishouldbemainproudo\'thee;\'twouldseemasifwewasPrestonso\'Slaideburnoncemore。\'\'I\'ddoadealtopleasureyo\'，mammy;butwearybefa\'richesandland，iffolksthathas\'emistowrite，\"Abednegos\"byt\'score，andtogethardwordsint\'theirbrains，tilltheyworklikebarm，andendwi\'cracking\'em。\'ThisseemedtobeSylvia\'slastprotestagainstlearningforthenight，forafterthissheturneddocile，andreallytookpainstounderstandallthatPhilipcouldteachher，bymeansofthenotunskilful，thoughrude，mapwhichhedrewforherwithapieceofcharredwoodonhisaunt\'sdresser。
Hehadaskedhisaunt\'sleavebeforebeginningwhatSylviacalledhis\'dirtywork;\'butby—and—byevenshebecamealittleinterestedinstartingfromagreatblackspotcalledMonkshaven，andintheshapingoflandandseaaroundthatonecentre。Sylviaheldherroundchininthepalmsofherhands，supportingherelbowsonthedresser;lookingdownattheprogressoftheroughdrawingingeneral，butnowandthenglancingupathimwithsuddeninquiry。Allalonghewasnotsomuchabsorbedinhisteachingastobeunconsciousofhersweetproximity。Shewasinherbestmoodtowardshim;neithermutinousnorsaucy;andhewasstrivingwithallhismighttoretainherinterest，speakingbetterthaneverhehaddonebefore（suchbrightnessdidlovecallforth！）——understandingwhatshewouldcaretohearandtoknow;when，inthemiddleofanattemptatexplainingthecauseofthelongpolardays，ofwhichshehadheardfromherchildhood，hefeltthatherattentionwasnolongerhis;thatadiscordhadcomeinbetweentheirminds;thatshehadpassedoutofhispower。Thiscertaintyofintuitionlastedoutforaninstant;hehadnotimetowonderortospeculateastowhathadaffectedhersoadverselytohiswishesbeforethedooropenedandKinraidcamein。ThenHepburnknewthatshemusthaveheardhiscomingfootsteps，andrecognizedthem。Heangrilystiffenedhimselfupintocoldnessofdemeanour。Almosttohissurprise，Sylvia\'sgreetingtothenewcomerwasascoldashisown。Shestoodratherbehindhim;soperhapsshedidnotseethehandwhichKinraidstretchedouttowardsher，forshedidnotplaceherownlittlepalminit，asshehaddonetoPhilipanhourago。Andshehardlyspoke，butbegantoporeovertheroughblackmap，asifseizedwithstronggeographicalcuriosity，ordeterminedtoimpressPhilip\'slessondeeponhermemory。StillPhilipwasdismayedbyseeingthewarmwelcomewhichKinraidreceivedfromthemasterofthehouse，whocameinfromthebackpremisesalmostatthesametimeasthespecksioneerenteredatthefront。Hepburnwasuneasy，too，atfindingKinraidtakehisseatbythefireside，likeoneaccustomedtothewaysofthehouse。Pipesweresoonproduced。Philipdislikedsmoking。PossiblyKinraiddidsotoo，buthetookapipeatanyrate，andlightedit，thoughhehardlyuseditatall，butkepttalkingtofarmerRobsononseaaffairs。Hehadtheconversationprettymuchtohimself。
Philipsatgloomilyby;Sylviaandhisauntweresilent，andoldRobsonsmokedhislongclaypipe，fromtimetotimetakingitoutofhismouthtospitintothebrightcopperspittoon，andtoshakethewhiteashesoutofthebowl。Beforehereplacedit，hewouldgiveashortlaughofrelishinginterestinKinraid\'sconversation;andnowandthenheputinaremark。\'
Sylviaperchedherselfsidewaysontheendofthedresser，andmadepretencetosew;butPhilipcouldseehowoftenshepausedinherworktolisten。By—and—by，hisauntspoketohim，andtheykeptupalittlesideconversation，morebecauseBellRobsonfeltthathernephew，herownfleshandblood，wasputout，thanforanyspecialinteresttheyeitherofthemfeltinwhattheyweresaying。Perhaps，also，theyneitherofthemdislikedshowingthattheyhadnogreatfaithinthestoriesKinraidwastelling。MrsRobson，atanyrate，knewsolittleastobeafraidofbelievingtoomuch。PhilipwassittingonthatsideofthefirewhichwasnearesttothewindowandtoSylvia，andoppositetothespecksioneer。Atlengthheturnedtohiscousinandsaidinalowvoice——\'Isupposewecant\'goonwithourspellatgeographytillthatfellow\'sgone？\'ThecolourcameintoSylvia\'scheekatthewords\'thatfellow;\'butsheonlyrepliedwithacarelessair——\'Well，I\'moneasthinksenoughisasgoodasafeast;andI\'vehadenoughofgeographythisonenight，thankyoukindlyallthesame。\'Philiptookrefugeinoffendedsilence。Hewasmaliciouslypleasedwhenhisauntmadesomuchnoisewithherpreparationforsupperasquitetopreventthesoundofthesailor\'swordsfromreachingSylvia\'sears。Shesawthathewasgladtoperceivethathereffortstoreachtheremainderofthestorywerebaulked！thisnettledher，and，determinednottolethimhavehismalicioustriumph，andstillmoretoputastoptoanyattemptatprivateconversation，shebegantosingtoherselfasshesatatherwork;till，suddenlyseizedwithadesiretohelphermother，shedexterouslyslippeddownfromherseat，passedHepburn，andwasonherkneestoastingcakesrightinfrontofthefire，andjustclosetoherfatherandKinraid。
AndnowthenoisethatHepburnhadsorejoicedinprovedhisfoe。Hecouldnothearthelittlemerryspeechesthatdartedbackwardsandforwardsasthespecksioneertriedtotakethetoasting—forkoutofSylvia\'shand。\'Howcomesthatsailorchaphere？\'askedHepburnofhisaunt。\'He\'snonefittobewhereSylviais。\'\'Nay，Idunnotknow，\'saidshe;\'theCorneysmadeusacquaintfirst，andmymasterisquitefainofhiscompany。\'\'Anddoyoulikehim，too，aunt？\'askedHepburn，almostwistfully;hehadfollowedMrsRobsonintothedairyonpretenceofhelpingher。\'I\'mnonefondonhim;Ithinkhetellsustraveller\'stales，bywayo\'
seeinghowmuchwecanswallow。ButthemasterandSylviathinkthatthereneverwassuchaone。\'\'Icouldshowthemascoreasgoodashedownonthequayside。\'\'Well，laddie，keepacalmsough。Somefolklikesomefolkandothersdon\'t。
WhereverIamthere\'llallaysbeawelcomeforthee。\'Forthegoodwomanthoughtthathehadbeenhurtbytheevidentabsorptionofherhusbandanddaughterwiththeirnewfriend，andwishedtomakealleasyandstraight。Butdowhatshewould，hedidnotrecoverhistemperallevening:hewasuncomfortable，putout，notenjoyinghimself，andyethewouldnotgo。HewasdeterminedtoasserthisgreaterintimacyinthathousebyoutstayingKinraid。Atlengththelattergotuptogo;butbeforehewent，hemustneedsbendoverSylviaandsaysomethingtoherinsolowatonethatPhilipcouldnothearit;andshe，seizedwithasuddenfitofdiligence，neverlookedupfromhersewing;onlynoddedherheadbywayofreply。Atlasthetookhisdeparture，aftermanyalittledelay，andmanyaquickreturn，whichtothesuspiciousPhilipseemedonlypretencesfortakingstolenglancesatSylvia。Assoonashewasdecidedlygone，shefoldedupherwork，anddeclaredthatshewassomuchtiredthatshemustgotobedthereandthen。Hermother，too，hadbeendozingforthelasthalf—hour，andwasonlytoogladtoseesignsthatshemightbetakeherselftohernaturalplaceofslumber。\'Takeanotherglass，Philip，\'saidfarmerRobson。ButHepburnrefusedtheofferratherabruptly。HedrewneartoSylviainstead。
Hewantedtomakeherspeaktohim，andhesawthatshewishedtoavoidit。Hetookupthereadiestpretext。Itwasanunwiseoneasitproved，foritdeprivedhimofhischancesofoccasionallyobtainingherundividedattention。\'Idon\'tthinkyoucaremuchforlearninggeography，Sylvie？\'\'Notmuchto—night，\'saidshe，makingapretencetoyawn，yetlookingtimidlyupathiscountenanceofdispleasure。\'Noratanytime，\'saidhe，withgrowinganger;\'norforanykindoflearning。
IdidbringsomebookslasttimeIcame，meaningtoteachyoumanyathingbutnowI\'lljusttroubleyouformybooks;IputthemonyonshelfbytheBible。\'Hehadamindthatsheshouldbringthemtohim;that，atanyrate，heshouldhavethepleasureofreceivingthemoutofherhands。Sylviadidnotreply，butwentandtookdownthebookswithalanguid，indifferentair。\'Andsoyouwon\'tlearnanymoregeography，\'saidHepburn。Somethinginhistonestruckher，andshelookedupinhis。face。Thereweremarksofsternoffenceuponhiscountenance，andyetinittherewasalsoanairofwistfulregretandsadnessthattouchedher。\'Yo\'reniverangrywithme，Philip？Soonerthanvexyo\'，I\'lltryandlearn。
Only，I\'mjuststupid;anditmunbesuchatroubletoyou。\'Hepburnwouldfainhavesnatchedatthishalfproposalthatthelessonsshouldbecontinued，buthewastoostubbornandproudtosayanything。
Heturnedawayfromthesweet，pleadingfacewithoutaword，towrapuphisbooksinapieceofpaper。Heknewthatshewasstandingquitestillbyhisside，thoughhemadeasifhedidnotperceiveher。Whenhehaddoneheabruptlywishedthemall\'good—night，\'andtookhisleave。ThereweretearsinSylvia\'seyes，althoughthefeelinginherheartwasratheroneofrelief。Shehadmadeafairoffer，andithadbeentreatedwithsilentcontempt。Afewdaysafterwards，herfathercameinfromMonkshavenmarket，anddroppedout，amongotherpiecesofnews，thathehadmetKinraid，whowasboundforhisownhomeatCullercoats。HehaddesiredhisrespectstoMrsRobsonandherdaughter;andhadbidRobsonsaythathewouldhavecomeuptoHaytersbanktowishthemgood—by，butthatashewaspressedfortime，hehopedtheywouldexcusehim。ButRobsondidnotthinkitworthwhiletogivethislongmessageofmerepoliteness。Indeed，asitdidnotrelatetobusiness，andwasonlysenttowomen，Robsonforgotallaboutit，prettynearlyassoonasitwasuttered。SoSylviawentaboutfrettingherselfforoneortwodays，atherhero\'sapparentcarelessnessofthosewhohadatanyratetreatedhimmorelikeafriendthananacquaintanceofonlyafewweeks\'standing;andthen，herangerquenchingherincipientregard，shewentaboutherdailybusinessprettymuchasthoughhehadneverbeen。Hehadgoneawayoutofhersightintothethickmistofunseenlifefromwhichhehademerged——goneawaywithoutaword，andshemightneverseehimagain。ButstilltherewasachanceofherseeinghimwhenhecametomarryMollyCorney。Perhapssheshouldbebridesmaid，andthenwhatapleasantmerrytimethewedding—daywouldbe！TheCorneyswereallsuchkindpeople，andintheirfamilythereneverseemedtobethechecksandrestraintsbywhichherownmotherhedgedherround。Thentherecameanoverwhelmingself—reproachingburstofloveforthat\'ownmother;\'ahumiliationbeforeherslightestwish，aspenanceforthemoment\'sunspokentreason;andthusSylviawasledtorequesthercousinPhiliptoresumehislessonsinsomeekamanner，thatheslowlyandgraciouslyaccededtoarequestwhichhewasyearningtofulfilallthetime。Duringtheensuingwinter，allwentoninmonotonousregularityatHaytersbankFarmformanyweeks。Hepburncameandwent，andthoughtSylviawonderfullyimprovedindocilityandsobriety;andperhapsalsohenoticedtheimprovementinherappearance。Forshewasatthatagewhenagirlchangesrapidly，andgenerallyforthebetter。Sylviashotupintoatallyoungwoman;hereyesdeepenedincolour，herfaceincreasedinexpression，andasortofconsciousnessofunusualgoodlooksgaveheraslighttingeofcoquettishshynesswiththefewstrangerswhomsheeversaw。Philiphailedherinterestingeographyasanothersignofimprovement。Hehadbroughtbackhisbookofmapstothefarm;andtherehesatonmanyaneveningteachinghiscousin，whohadstrangefanciesrespectingtheplacesaboutwhichshewishedtolearn，andwascoollyindifferenttotheveryexistenceofothertowns，andcountries，andseasfarmorefamousinstory。Shewasoccasionallywilful，andattimesverycontemptuousastothesuperiorknowledgeofherinstructor;but，inspiteofitall，PhilipwentregularlyontheappointedeveningstoHaytersbank——throughkeenblackeastwind，ordrivingsnow，orslushingthaw;forhelikeddearlytositalittlebehindher，withhisarmonthebackofherchair，shestoopingovertheoutspreadmap，withhereyes，couldhehaveseenthem，agooddealfixedononespotinthemap，notNorthumberland，whereKinraidwasspendingthewinter，butthosewildnorthernseasaboutwhichhehadtoldthemsuchwonders。Onedaytowardsspring，shesawMollyCorneycomingtowardsthefarm。Thecompanionshadnotmetformanyweeks，forMollyhadbeenfromhomevisitingherrelationsinthenorth。Sylviaopenedthedoor，andstoodsmilingandshiveringonthethreshold，gladtoseeherfriendagain。Mollycalledout，whenafewpacesoff，——\'Why，Sylvia，isthatthee！Why，howthou\'rtgrowed，tobesure！Whatabonnylassthouis！\'\'Dunnottalknonsensetomylass，\'saidBellRobson，hospitablyleavingherironingandcomingtothedoor;butthoughthemothertriedtolookasifshethoughtitnonsense，shecouldhardlykeepdownthesmilethatshoneoutofhereyes，assheputherhandonSylvia\'sshoulder，withafondsenseofproprietorshipinwhatwasbeingpraised。\'Oh！butsheis，\'persistedMolly。\'She\'sgrownquiteabeautysin\'Isawher。AndifIdon\'ttellherso，themenwill。\'\'Bequietwi\'thee，\'saidSylvia，morethanhalfoffended，andturningawayinahuffattheopenbarefacedadmiration。\'Ay;buttheywill，\'perseveredMolly。\'Yo\'llnotkeepherlong，MistressRobson。Andasmothersays，yo\'dfeelitadealmoretohaveyerdaughtersleftonhand。\'\'Thymotherhasmany，Ihavebutthisone，\'saidMrsRobson，withseveresadness;fornowMollywasgettingtotalkasshedisliked。ButMolly\'spurposewastobringtheconversationroundtoherownaffairs，ofwhichshewasveryfull。\'Yes！Itellmotherthatwi\'somanyasshehas，sheoughttobethankfultot\'oneasgetsoffquickest。\'\'Who？whichisit？\'askedSylvia，alittleeagerly，seeingthattherewasnewsofaweddingbehindthetalk。\'Why！whoshoulditbebutme？\'saidMolly，laughingagooddeal，andreddeningalittle。\'I\'venotgonefra\'homefornought;I\'sepickedupameasteronmytravels，leastwaysoneasistobe。\'\'CharleyKinraid，\'saidSylviasmiling，asshefoundthatnowshemightrevealMolly\'ssecret，whichhithertoshehadkeptsacred。\'CharleyKinraidbehung！\'saidMolly，withatossofherhead。\'Whattengood\'sahusbandwho\'satseahalft\'year？Haha，mymeasterisacannyNewcasselshopkeeper，ont\'Side。Areckona\'vedoneprettywellformysel\'，anda\'llwishyo\'asgoodluck，Sylvia。Foryo\'see，\'（turningtoBellRobson，who，perhaps，shethoughtwouldmoreappreciatethesubstantialadvantagesofherengagementthanSylvia，）\'thoughMeasterBruntonisnearuponfortyifhe\'saday，yetheturnsoveramatteroftwohundredpoundeveryyear;anhe\'sagood—lookingmanofhisyearstoo，an\'akind，good—temperedfellerint\'t\'bargain。He\'sbeenmarriedonce，tobesure;buthischilderaredeada\'\'ceptone;an\'Idon\'tmislikechildereither;an\'a\'llfeed\'emwell，an\'get\'emtobedearly，outo\'t\'road。\'MrsRobsongaveherhergravegoodwishes;butSylviawassilent。Shewasdisappointed;itwasacomingdownfromtheromancewiththespecksioneerforitshero。Mollylaughedawkwardly，understandingSylvia\'sthoughtsbetterthanthelatterimagined。\'Sylvia\'snoanesowellpleased。Why，lass！it\'sa\'t\'betterforthee。
There\'sCharleytot\'forenow，whichifa\'dmarriedhim，he\'dnotha\'
been;andhe\'ssaidmorenoroncewhataprettylassyo\'dgrowintoby—and—by。\'Molly\'sprosperitywasgivingheranindependenceandfearlessnessoftalksuchashadseldomappearedhitherto;andcertainlyneverbeforeMrsRobson。
SylviawasannoyedatMolly\'swholetoneandmanner，whichwereloud，laughing，andboisterous;buttohermothertheywerepositivelyrepugnant。Shesaidshortlyandgravely，——\'Sylvia\'snonesosetupo\'matrimony;she\'scontenttobidewi\'meandherfather。Letabesuchtalking，it\'snoti\'myway。\'Mollywasalittlesubdued;butstillherelationattheprospectofbeingsowellmarriedkeptcroppingoutofalltheothersubjectswhichwereintroduced;andwhenshewentaway，MrsRobsonbrokeoutinanunwontedstrainofdepreciation。\'That\'sthewaywi\'somelasses。They\'relikeacockonadunghill，whenthey\'veteasedasillychapintowedding\'em。It\'scock—a—doodle—do，I\'vecotchedahusband，cock—a—doodle—doowi\'\'em。I\'venopatiencewi\'suchlike;Ibeg，Sylvie，thou\'ltnotgettoothickwi\'Molly。She\'snotprettybehaved，makingsuchanadoaboutmen—kind，asiftheyweretwo—headedcalvestoberunafter。\'\'ButMolly\'sagood—heartedlass，mother。OnlyIneverdreamtbutwhatshewastroth—plightedwi\'CharleyKinraid，\'saidSylvia，meditatively。\'Thatwench\'llbetroth—plighttoth\'firstmanas\'llwedherandkeepheri\'plenty;that\'sa\'shethinksabout，\'repliedBell，scornfully。EndofPartOnechapter11CHAPTERXIVISIONSOFTHEFUTUREBeforeMaywasout，MollyCorneywasmarriedandhadlefttheneighbourhoodforNewcastle。AlthoughCharleyKinraidwasnotthebridegroom，Sylvia\'spromisetobebridesmaidwasclaimed。ButthefriendshipbroughtonbythecircumstancesofneighbourhoodandparityofagehadbecomeverymuchweakenedinthetimethatelapsedbetweenMolly\'sengagementandwedding。
Inthefirstplace，sheherselfwassoabsorbedinherpreparations，soelatedbyhergoodfortuneingettingmarried，andmarried，too，beforehereldersister，thatallherfaultsblossomedoutfullandstrong。Sylviafelthertobeselfish;MrsRobsonthoughthernotmaidenly。AyearbeforeshewouldhavebeenfarmoremissedandregrettedbySylvia;nowitwasalmostarelieftothelattertobefreedfromtheperpetualcallsuponhersympathy，fromtheconstantdemandsuponhercongratulations，madebyonewhohadnothoughtorfeelingtobestowonothers;atleast，notintheseweeksof\'cock—a—doodle—dooing，\'asMrsRobsonpersistedincallingit。ItwasseldomthatBellwastakenwithahumorousidea;butthisoncehavinghatchedasolitaryjoke，shewasalwayscluckingitintonotice——togoonwithherownpoultrysimile。
EverytimeduringthatsummerthatPhilipsawhiscousin，hethoughtherprettierthanshehadeverbeenbefore;somenewtouchofcolour，somefreshsweetcharm，seemedtohavebeenadded，justaseverysummerdaycallsoutnewbeautyintheflowers。AndthiswasnottheadditionofPhilip\'sfancy。HesterRose，whometSylviaonrareoccasions，camebackeachtimewithacandid，sadacknowledgementinherheartthatitwasnowonderthatSylviawassomuchadmiredandloved。
OnedayHesterhadseenhersittingnearhermotherinthemarket—place;
therewasabasketbyher，andoverthecleancloththatcoveredtheyellowpoundsofbutter，shehadlaidthehedge—rosesandhoneysucklesshehadgatheredonthewayintoMonkshaven;herstrawhatwasonherknee，andshewasbusyplacingsomeoftheflowersintheribbonthatwentroundit。Thenshehelditonherhand，andturneditroundabout，puttingherheadononeside，thebettertoviewtheeffect;andallthistime，Hester，peepingatherthroughthefoldsofthestuffsdisplayedinFoster\'swindows，sawherwithadmiring，wistfuleyes;wondering，too，ifPhilip，attheothercounter，wereawareofhiscousin\'sbeingthere，soneartohim。
ThenSylviaputonherhat，and，lookingupatFoster\'swindows，caughtHester\'sfaceofinterest，andsmiledandblushedattheconsciousnessofhavingbeenwatchedoverherlittlevanities，andHestersmiledback，butrathersadly。Thenacustomercamein，andshehadtoattendtoherbusiness，which，onthisasonallmarketdays，wasgreat。InthemidstshewasawareofPhiliprushingbare—headedoutoftheshop，eageranddelightedatsomethinghesawoutside。Therewasalittlelooking—glasshungagainstthewallonHester\'sside，placedinthatretiredcorner，inorderthatthegoodwomenwhocametopurchasehead—gearofanykindmightseetheeffectthereofbeforetheyconcludedtheirbargain。Inapauseofcustom，Hester，half—ashamed，stoleintothiscorner，andlookedatherselfintheglass。Whatdidshesee？acolourlessface，darksofthairwithnolightgleamsinit，eyesthatweremelancholyinsteadofsmiling，amouthcompressedwithasenseofdissatisfaction。Thiswaswhatshehadtocomparewiththebrightbonnyfaceinthesunlightoutside。Shegaveagulptocheckthesighthatwasrising，andcameback，evenmorepatientthanshehadbeenbeforethisdishearteningpeep，toserveallthewhimsandfanciesofpurchasers。
SylviaherselfhadbeenratherputoutbyPhilip\'swayofcomingtoher。\'Itmadeherlooksosilly，\'shethought;and\'whatformusthemakeasightofhimself，comingamongthemarketfolkinthat—a—way;\'andwhenhetooktoadmiringherhat，shepulledouttheflowersinapet，andthrewthemdown，andtrampledthemunderfoot。
\'Whatforartthoudoingthat，Sylvie？\'saidhermother。\'Theflowersiswellenough，thoughmaybethyhatmightha\'beenstained。\'
\'Idon\'tlikePhiliptospeaktomeso，\'saidSylvia，pouting。
\'How？\'askedhermother。
ButSylviacouldnotrepeathiswords。Shehungherhead，andlookedredandpre—occupied，anythingbutpleased。Philiphadaddressedhisfirstexpressionofpersonaladmirationatanunfortunatetune。
Itjustshowswhatdifferentviewsdifferentmenandwomentakeoftheirfellow—creatures，whenIsaythatHesterlookeduponPhilipasthebestandmostagreeablemanshehadeverknown。Hewasnotonetospeakofhimselfwithoutbeingquestionedonthesubject，sohisHaytersbankrelations，onlycomeintotheneighborhoodinthelastyearortwo，knewnothingofthetrialshehadsurmounted，orthedifficultdutieshehadperformed。
Hisaunt，indeed，hadstrongfaithinhim，bothfrompartialknowledgeofhischaracter，andbecausehewasofherowntribeandkin;butshehadneverlearntthesmalldetailsofhispastlife。Sylviarespectedhimashermother\'sfriend，andtreatedhimtolerablywellaslongashepreservedhisusualself—restraintofdemeanour，buthardlyeverthoughtofhimwhenhewasabsent。
NowHester，whohadwatchedhimdailyforalltheyearssincehehadfirstcomeasanerrand—boyintoFoster\'sshop——watchingwithquiet，modest，yetobservanteyes——hadseenhowdevotedhewastohismaster\'sinterests，hadknownofhiscarefulandpunctualministrationtohisabsentmother\'scomforts，aslongasshewaslivingtobenefitbyhissilent，frugalself—denial。
HismethodicalappropriationofthefewhourshecouldcallhisownwasnotwithoutitscharmstotheequallymethodicalHester;thewayinwhichhereproducedanylatelyacquiredpieceofknowledge——knowledgesowearisometoSylvia——wasdelightfullyinstructivetoHester——although，asshewashabituallysilent，itwouldhaverequiredanobservermoreinterestedindiscoveringherfeelingsthanPhilipwastohaveperceivedthelittleflushonthepalecheek，andthebrightnessinthehalf—veiledeyeswheneverhewastalking。Shehadnotthoughtofloveoneitherside。Lovewasavanity，aworldlinessnottobespokenabout，oreventhoughtabout。OnceortwicebeforetheRobsonscameintotheneighbourhood，anideahadcrossedhermindthatpossiblythequiet，habitualwayinwhichsheandPhiliplivedtogether，mightdriftthemintomatrimonyatsomedistantperiod;
andshecouldnotbearthehumbleadvanceswhichCoulson，Philip\'sfellow—lodger，sometimesmade。Theyseemedtodisgustherwithhim。
ButaftertheRobsonssettledatHaytersbank，Philip\'seveningsweresooftenspenttherethatanyunconscioushopesHestermight，unawares，haveentertained，diedaway。AtfirstshehadfeltapangakintojealousywhensheheardofSylvia，thelittlecousin，whowaspassingoutofchildhoodintowomanhood。Once——earlyinthosedays——shehadventuredtoaskPhilipwhatSylviawaslike。Philiphadnotwarmedupatthequestion，andhadgivenratheradrycatalogueofherfeatures，hair，andheight，butHester，almosttoherownsurprise，persevered，andjerkedoutthefinalquestion。
\'Isshepretty？\'
Philip\'ssallowcheekgrewdeeperbytwoorthreeshades;butheansweredwithatoneofindifference，——
\'Ibelievesomefolksthinkherso。\'
\'Butdoyou？\'perseveredHester，inspiteofherbeingawarethathesomehowdislikedthequestion。
\'There\'snoneedfortalkingo\'suchthings，\'heanswered，withabruptdispleasure。