\'Mother，\'saidhe，\'Iwaswrong。I\'mfrettedbymanythings。Ishouldn\'tha\'spokenso。Itwasill—doneofme。\'
\'Oh，mylad！\'saidshe，lookingupandputtingherthinarmonhisshoulderashestooped，\'Satanisdesiringafteryo\'thathemaysiftyo\'aswheat。
Bideatwhoam，bideatwhoam，andgonotafterthemascarenoughtforholythings。Whyneedyo\'gotoHaytersbankthisnight？\'
Philipreddened。Hecouldnotandwouldnotgiveitup，andyetitwasdifficulttoresistthepleadingoftheusuallysternoldwoman。
\'Nay，\'saidhe，withdrawinghimselfeversolittlefromherhold;\'myauntisbutailing，they\'remyownfleshandblood，andasgoodfolksasneedsbe，thoughtheymayn\'tbeo\'our——o\'yourwayo\'thinkingina\'things。\'
\'Ourways——yourwayso\'thinking，sayshe，asiftheywerenolongerhis\'n。Andasgoodfolksasneedbe，\'repeatedshe，withreturningseverity。
\'Them\'sSatan\'swords，tho\'yo\'spoke\'em，Philip。IcandonoughtagainSatan，butIcanspeaktothemascan;an\'we\'llseewhichpullshardest，forit\'llbebetterfortheetoberivenandrenti\'twainthantogobodyandsoultohell。\'
\'Butdon\'tthink，mother，\'saidPhilip，hislastwordsofconciliation，fortheclockhadgivenwarningfortwo，\'asI\'mboun\'forhell，justbecauseIgot\'seemyownfolks，allIha\'lefto\'kin。\'Andoncemore，afterlayinghishandwithasmuchofacaressaswasinhisnatureonhers，heleftthehouse。
ProbablyAlicewouldhaveconsideredthefirstwordsthatgreetedPhiliponhisentranceintotheshopasananswertoherprayer，fortheyweresuchasputastoptohisplanofgoingtoseeSylviathatevening;andifAlicehadformedherinchoatethoughtsintowords，SylviawouldhaveappearedasthenearestearthlyrepresentativeofthespiritoftemptationwhomshedreadedforPhilip。
Ashetookhisplacebehindthecounter，Coulsonsaidtohiminalowvoice，——
\'JeremiahFosterhasbeenroundtobidustosupwi\'himto—night。HesaysthatheandJohnhavealittlemattero\'businesstotalkoverwithus。\'
AglancefromhiseyestoPhiliptoldthelatterthatCoulsonbelievedthebusinessspokenofhadsomethingtodowiththepartnership，respectingwhichtherehadbeenasilentintelligenceforsometimebetweentheshopmen。
\'Andwhatdidthousay？\'askedPhilip，doggedlyunwilling，evenyet，togiveuphispurposedvisit。
\'Say！why，whatcouldasay，butthatwe\'dcome？Therewassummatup，forsure;andsummatashethoughtweshouldbegladon。Icouldtellitfra\'t\'lookonhisface。\'
\'Idon\'tthinkasIcango，\'saidPhilip，feelingjustthenasifthelong—hoped—forpartnershipwasasnothingcomparedtohisplan。Itwasalwaysdistastefultohimtohavetogiveupaproject，ortodisarrangeanintendedorderofthings，suchwashisnature;butto—dayitwasabsolutepaintoyieldhisownpurpose。
\'Why，manalive？\'saidCoulson，inamazeathisreluctance。
\'Ididn\'tsayImightn\'tgo，\'saidPhilip，weighingconsequences，untilcalledofftoattendtocustomers。
Inthecourseoftheafternoon，however，hefelthimselfmoreeasyindeferringhisvisittoHaytersbanktillthenextevening。CharleyKinraidenteredtheshop，accompaniedbyMollyBruntonandhersisters;andthoughtheyallwenttowardsHester\'ssideoftheshop，andPhilipandCoulsonhadmanypeopletoattendto，yetHepburn\'ssharpenedearscaughtmuchofwhattheyoungwomenweresaying。FromthathegatheredthatKinraidhadpromisedthemNewYear\'sgifts，forthepurchaseofwhichtheywerecome;andafteralittlemorelisteninghelearntthatKinraidwasreturningtoShieldsthenextday，havingonlycomeovertospendaholidaywithhisrelations，andbeingtiedwithship\'sworkattheotherend。Theyalltalkedtogetherlightlyandmerrily，asifhisgoingorstayingwasalmostamatterofindifferencetohimselfandhiscousins。Theprincipalthoughtoftheyoungwomenwastosecurethearticlestheymostfancied;CharleyKinraidwas（soPhilipthought）especiallyanxiousthattheyoungestandprettiestshouldbepleased。Hepburnwatchedhimperpetuallywithakindofenvyofhisbright，courteousmanner，thenaturalgallantryofthesailor。
IfitwerebutclearthatSylviatookaslittlethoughtofhimashedidofher，toallappearance，Philipcouldevenhavegivenhimpraiseformanlygoodlooks，andacertainkindofgenialityofdispositionwhichmadehimreadytosmilepleasantlyatallstrangers，frombabiesupwards。
AsthepartyturnedtoleavetheshoptheysawPhilip，theguestofthenightbefore;andtheycameovertoshakehandswithhimacrossthecounter;Kinraid\'shandwasprofferedamongthenumber。LastnightPhilipcouldnothavebelieveditpossiblethatsuchademonstrationoffellowshipshouldhavepassedbetweenthem;andperhapstherewasaslighthesitationofmanneronhispart，forsomeideaorremembrancecrossedKinraid\'smindwhichbroughtakeensearchingglanceintotheeyeswhichforamomentwerefastenedonPhilip\'sface。Inspiteofhimself，andduringtheveryactionofhand—shaking，Philipfeltacloudcomeoverhisface，notalteringormovinghisfeatures，buttakinglightandpeaceoutofhiscountenance。
MollyBruntonbegantosaysomething，andhegladlyturnedtolookather。Shewasaskinghimwhyhewentawaysoearly，fortheyhadkeptitupforfourhoursafterheleft，andlastofall，sheadded（turningtoKinraid），hercousinCharleyhaddancedahornpipeamongtheplattersontheground。
Philiphardlyknewwhathesaidinreply，thementionofthatpasseulliftedsuchaweightoffhisheart。Hecouldsmilenow，afterhisgravefashion，andwouldhaveshakenhandsagainwithKinraidhaditbeenrequired;
foritseemedtohimthatnoone，caringeversolittleinthewaythathedidforSylvia，couldhavebornefourmortalhoursofacompanywhereshehadbeen，andwasnot;leastofallcouldhavedancedahornpipe，eitherfromgaietyofheart，orevenoutofcomplaisance。Hefeltasiftheyearningaftertheabsentonewouldhavebeenaweighttohislegs，aswellastohisspirit;andheimaginedthatallmenwerelikehimself。
chapter14CHAPTERXIVPARTNERSHIPAsdarknessclosedin，andtheNewYear\'sthrongbecamescarce，Philip\'shesitationaboutaccompanyingCoulsonfadedaway。HewasmorecomfortablerespectingSylvia，andhisgoingtoseehermightbedeferred;and，afterall，hefeltthatthewishesofhismastersoughttobeattendedto，andthehonourofaninvitationtotheprivatehouseofJeremiahnottobeslightedforanythingshortofapositiveengagement。Besides，theambitiousmanofbusinessexistedstronglyinPhilip。Itwouldneverdotoslightadvancestowardsthesecondgreatearthlyobjectinhislife;onealsoonwhichthefirstdepended。
Sowhentheshopwasclosed，thetwosetoutdownBridgeStreettocrosstherivertothehouseofJeremiahFoster。Theystoodamomentonthebridgetobreathethekeenfreshseaairaftertheirbusyday。Thewaterscamedown，swollenfullanddark，withrapidrushingspeedfromthesnow—fedspringshighuponthemoorlandabove。Theclose—packedhousesintheoldtownseemedaclusterofwhiteroofsirregularlypiledagainstthemoreunbrokenwhiteofthehill—side。Lightstwinkledhereandthereinthetown，andwereslungfromsternandbowoftheshipsintheharbour。Theairwasverystill，settlinginforafrost;sostillthatalldistantsoundsseemedneartherumbleofareturningcartintheHighStreet，thevoicesonboardship，theclosingofshuttersandbarringofdoorsinthenewtowntowhichtheywerebound。Butthesharpairwasfilled，asitwere，withsalineparticlesinafreezingstate;littlepungentcrystalsofseasaltburninglipsandcheekswiththeircoldkeenness。Itwouldnotdotolingerhereintheverycentreofthevalleyupwhichpassedthecurrentofatmospherecomingstraightwiththerushingtidefromtheicynorthernseas。Besides，therewastheunusualhonourofasupperwithJeremiahFosterawaitingthem。Hehadaskedeachofthemseparatelytoamealbeforenow;buttheyhadnevergonetogether，andtheyfeltthattherewassomethingseriousintheconjuncture。
Theybegantoclimbthesteepheightsleadingtothefreshly—builtrowsofthenewtownofMonkshaven，feelingasiftheywererisingintoaristocraticregionswherenoshopprofanedthestreets。JeremiahFoster\'shousewasoneofsix，undistinguishedinsize，orshape，orcolour;butnoticedinthedaytimebyallpassers—byforitsspotlesscleanlinessoflintelanddoorstep，windowandwindowframe。Theverybricksseemedasthoughtheycameinforthedailyscrubbingwhichbrightenedhandle，knocker，alldowntotheveryscraper。
Thetwoyoungmenfeltasshyoftheinterviewwiththeirmasterundersuchunusualrelationsofguestandhost，asagirldoesofherfirstparty。
Eachratherdrewbackfromthedecidedstepofknockingatthedoor;butwitharebuffingshakeathisownfolly，Philipwastheonetogivealoudsinglerap。Asiftheyhadbeenwaitedfor，thedoorflewopen，andamiddle—agedservantstoodbehind，asspotlessandneatasthehouseitself，andsmiledawelcometothefamiliarfaces。
\'Letmedustyo\'abit，William，\'saidshe，suitingtheactiontotheword。\'You\'vebeenleanin\'againsomewhitewash，a\'llbebound。Ay，Philip，\'
continuedshe，turninghimroundwithmotherlyfreedom，\'yo\'lldoifyo\'llbutgi\'yourshoonapolishin\'wipeonyonothermat。This\'nfortakin\'
t\'roughestmudoff。Measterallayspolishesonthat。\'
Inthesquareparlourthesamepreciseorderwasobserved。Everyarticleoffurniturewasfreefromspeckofdirtorparticleofdust;andeverythingwasplacedeitherinaparallelline，oratexactright—angleswitheveryother。EvenJohnandJeremiahsatinsymmetryonoppositesidesofthefire—place;theverysmilesontheirhonestfacesseemeddrawntoalineofexactitude。
Suchformality，howeveradmirable，wasnotcalculatedtopromoteease:
itwasnotuntilaftersupper——untilagoodquantityofYorkshirepiehadbeenswallowed，andwasheddown，too，withthebestandmostgenerouswineinJeremiah\'scellar——thattherewastheleastgenialityamongthem，inspiteofthefriendlykindnessofthehostandhisbrother。Thelongsilence，duringwhichmutethanksforthemealweregiven，havingcometoanend，Jeremiahcalledforpipes，andthreeofthepartybegantosmoke。
Politicsinthosedayswereticklesubjectstomeddlewith，eveninthemostprivatecompany。ThenationwasinastateofterroragainstFrance，andagainstanyathomewhomightbesupposedtosympathisewiththeenormitiesshehadjustbeencommitting。Theoppressiveactagainstseditiousmeetingshadbeenpassedtheyearbefore;andpeopleweredoubtfultowhatextremityofseverityitmightbeconstrued。Eventhelawauthoritiesforgottobeimpartial，buteithertheiralarmsortheirinterestsmadetoomanyofthemvehementpartisansinsteadofcalmarbiters，andthusdestroyedthepopularconfidenceinwhatshouldhavebeenconsideredthesupremetribunalofjustice。Yetforallthis，thereweresomewhodaredtospeakofreformofParliament，asapreliminarysteptofairrepresentationofthepeople，andtoareductionoftheheavywar—taxationthatwasimminent，ifnotalreadyimposed。Butthesepioneersof1830weregenerallyobnoxious。ThegreatbodyofthepeoplegloriedinbeingToriesandhatersoftheFrench，withwhomtheywereontenter—hookstofight，almostunawareoftherisingreputationoftheyoungCorsicanwarrior，whosenamewouldbeusedereadozenyearshadpassedtohushEnglishbabieswithaterrorsuchasthatofMarlboroughoncehadfortheFrench。
AtsuchaplaceasMonkshavenalltheseopinionswereheldinexcess。
Oneortwomight，forthemeresakeofargumentdisputeoncertainpointsofhistoryorgovernment;buttheytookcaretobeverysureoftheirlistenersbeforesuchargumentstouchedonanythingofthepresentday;forithadbeennotunfrequentlyfoundthatthepublicdutyofprosecutingopinionsnotyourownoverrodetheprivatedutyofrespectingconfidence。MostoftheMonkshavenpoliticiansconfinedthemselves，therefore，tosuchgeneralquestionsasthese:\'CouldanEnglishmanlickmorethanfourFrenchmenatatime？\'\'WhatwastheproperpunishmentformembersoftheCorrespondingSociety（correspondencewiththeFrenchdirectory），hangingandquartering，orburning？\'\'WouldtheforthcomingchildofthePrincessofWalesbeaboyoragirl？Ifagirl，woulditbemoreloyaltocallitCharlotteorElizabeth？\'
TheFosterswerequitesecureenoughoftheirgueststhiseveningtohavespokenfreelyonpoliticshadtheybeensoinclined。AndtheydidbeginontheoutrageswhichhadbeenlatelyofferedtothekingincrossingStJames\'sParktogoandopentheHouseofLords;butsoon，soaccustomedweretheirmindstocautionandrestraint，thetalkdroppeddowntothehighpriceofprovisions。Breadat1s。3d。thequarternloaf，accordingtotheLondontest。Wheatat120s。perquarter，asthehome—bakingnorthernersviewedthematter;andthentheconversationdiedawaytoanominoussilence。JohnlookedatJeremiah，asifaskinghimtobegin。Jeremiahwasthehost，andhadbeenamarriedman。Jeremiahreturnedthelookwiththesamemeaninginit。John，thoughabachelor，wastheelderbrother。Thegreatchurchbell，broughtfromtheMonkshavenmonasterycenturiesago，highupontheoppositehill—side，begantoringnineo\'clock;
itwasgettinglate。Jeremiahbegan:
\'Itseemsabadtimeforstartinganyoneonbusiness，wi\'pricesandtaxesandbreadsodear;butJohnandIaregettingintoyears，andwe\'venochildrentofollowus:yetwewouldfaindrawoutofsomeofourworldlyaffairs。Wewouldliketogiveuptheshop，andsticktobanking，towhichthereseemethaplainpath。Butfirstthereisthestockandgoodwilloftheshoptobedisposedon。\'
Adeadpause。Thisopeningwasnotfavourabletothehopesofthetwomoneylessyoungmenwhohadbeenhopingtosucceedtheirmastersbythemoregradualprocessofpartner—ship。ButitwasonlythekindofspeechthathadbeenagreeduponbythetwobrotherswithaviewofimpressingonHepburnandCoulsonthegreatandunusualresponsibilityofthesituationintowhichtheFosterswishedthemtoenter。Insomewaysthetalkofmanywasmuchlesssimpleandstraightforwardinthosedaysthanitisnow。
ThestudyofeffectshownintheLondondiners—outofthelastgeneration，whopreparedtheirconversationbeforehand，wasnotwithoutitsparallelinhumblerspheres，andfordifferentobjectsthanself—display。ThebrothersFosterhadallbutrehearsedthespeechestheywereabouttomakethisevening。Theywereawareoftheyouthofthepartiestowhomtheyweregoingtomakeamostfavourableproposal;andtheydreadedthatifthatproposalwastoolightlymade，itwouldbetoolightlyconsidered，andthedutiesinvolvedinittoocarelesslyenteredupon。Sotheroleofonebrotherwastosuggest，thatoftheothertorepress。Theyoungmen，too，hadtheirreserves。Theyforesaw，andhadlongforeseen，whatwascomingthatevening。Theywereimpatienttohearitindistinctwords;
andyettheyhadtowait，asifunconscious，duringallthelongpreamble。
Doageandyouthneverplaythesamepartsnow？Toreturn。JohnFosterrepliedtohisbrother:
\'Thestockandgoodwill！Thatwouldtakemuchwealth。Andtherewillbefixturestobeconsidered。Philip，cansttheetellmetheexactamountofstockintheshopatpresent？\'
Ithadonlyjustbeentaken;Philiphaditathisfingers\'ends。\'Onethousandninehundredandforty—onepounds，thirteenshillingsandtwopence。\'
Coulsonlookedathiminalittledismay，andcouldnotrepressasigh。
Thefiguresputintowordsandspokenaloudseemedtoindicatesomuchlargeranamountofmoneythanwhenquicklywrittendowninnumerals。ButPhilipreadthecountenances，nay，bysomeprocessofwhichhewasnothimselfaware，hereadthemindsofthebrothers，andfeltnodismayatwhathesawthere。
\'Andthefixtures？\'askedJohnFoster。
\'Theappraiservaluedthematfourhundredandthirty—fivepoundsthreeandsixpencewhenfatherdied。Wehaveaddedtothemsince;butwewillreckonthematthat。Howmuchdoesthatmakewiththevalueofthestock？\'
\'Twothousandonehundredandseventy—sixpounds，six—teenshillingsandeightpence，\'saidPhilip。
Coulsonhaddonethesumquicker，butwastoomuchdisheartenedbytheamounttospeak。
\'Andthegoodwill？\'askedthepitilessJohn。\'Whatdosttheesetthatat？\'
\'Ithink，brother，thatthatwoulddependonwhocameforwardwiththepurchase—moneyofthestockandfixtures。Tosomefolkswemightmakeitsiteasy，iftheywereknowntous，andthoseaswewishedwellto。IfPhilipandWilliamhere，forinstance，saidthey\'dliketopurchasethebusiness，Ireckontheeandmewouldnotask\'emsomuchasweshouldaskMillers\'（MillerswasanupstartpettyrivalshopattheendofthebridgeintheNewTown）。
\'IwishPhilipandWilliamwastocomeafterus，\'saidJohn。\'Butthat\'soutofthequestion，\'hecontinued，knowingallthewhilethat，farfrombeingoutofthequestion，itwastheveryquestion，andthatitwasasgoodassettledatthisverytime。
Noonespoke。ThenJeremiahwenton:
\'It\'soutofthequestion，Ireckon？\'
Helookedatthetwoyoungmen。Coulsonshookhishead。Philipmorebravelysaid，——
\'Ihavefifty—threepoundssevenandfourpenceinyo\'rhands，MasterJohn，andit\'sallIhavei\'theworld。\'
\'It\'sapity，\'saidJohn，andagaintheyweresilent。Half—pastninestruck。Itwastimetobebeginningtomakeanend。\'Perhaps，brother，theyhavefriendswhocouldadvance\'emthemoney。Wemightmakeitsitlighttothem，forthesakeoftheirgoodservice？\'
Philipreplied，——
\'There\'snoonewhocanputforwardsapennyforme:Ihavebutfewkin，andtheyhavelittletosparebeyondwhattheyneed。\'
Coulsonsaid——
\'Myfatherandmotherhavenineonus。\'
\'Letalone，letalone！\'saidJohn，relentingfast;forhewaswearyofhispartofcold，sternprudence。\'Brother，Ithinkwehaveenoughofthisworld\'sgoodstodowhatwelikewi\'ourown。\'
Jeremiahwasalittlescandalizedattherapidmeltingawayofassumedcharacter，andtookagoodpullathispipebeforehereplied——
\'Upwardsoftwothousandpoundsisalargesumtosetonthewell—beingandwell—doingoftwolads，theelderofwhomisnotthree—and—twenty。
Ifearwemustlookfarthera—field。\'
\'Why，John，\'repliedJeremiah，\'itwasbutyesterdaytheesaidsttheewouldratherhavePhilipandWilliamthananymeno\'fiftythattheeknowed。
Andnowtobringuptheiryouthagainthem。\'
\'Well，well！t\'halfonitisthine，andthoushalldoevenasthouwilt。ButIthinkasImusthavesecurityformymoiety，forit\'sariskagreatrisk。Haveyeanysecuritytooffer？anyexpectations？anylegaciesasotherfolkhavealife—interestinatpresent？\'
No;neitherofthemhad。SoJeremiahrejoined——
\'Then，Isuppose，Imundoastheedost，John，andtakethesecurityofcharacter。Andit\'sagreatsecuritytoo，lads，andt\'besto\'all，andonethatIcouldn\'tha\'donewithout;no，notifyo\'dpaymedownfivethousandforgoodwill，andstock，andfixtures。ForJohnFosterandSonhasbeenashopi\'Monkshaventhiseightyyearsandmore;andIdunnotthinkthere\'samanliving——ordead，forthatmatter——ascansayFosterswrongedhimofapenny，orgaveshortmeasuretoachildoraCousinBetty。\'
Theyallfourshookhandsroundwiththesameheartinessasifithadbeenalegalceremonynecessarytothecompletionofthepartnership。Theoldmen\'sfaceswerebrightwithsmiles;theeyesoftheyoungonessparkledwithhope。
\'But，afterall，\'saidJeremiah，\'we\'venottoldyouparticulars。Yo\'rethankingusforapiginapoke;butwehadmoreforethought，andweputalldownonapieceo\'paper。\'
Hetookdownafoldedpieceofpaperfromthemantel—shelf，putonhishornspectacles，andbegantoreadaloud，occasionallypeeringoverhisglassestonotetheeffectonthecountenancesoftheyoungmen。TheonlythinghewasinthehabitofreadingaloudwasachapterintheBibledailytohishousekeeperservant，and，likemany，hereservedapeculiartoneforthatsolemnoccupation——atonewhichheunconsciouslyemployedforthepresentenumerationofpounds，shillings，andpence。
\'Averagereturnsofthelastthreeyears，onehundredandtwenty—sevenpounds，threeshillings，andsevenpennyandone—sixthaweek。Profitsthereuponthirty—fourpercent。——asnearasmaybe。Clearprofitsoftheconcern，afterdeductingallexpensesexceptrent——fort\'houseisourown——onethousandtwohundredandtwopoundayear。\'
ThiswasfarmorethaneitherHepburnorCoulsonhadimaginedittobe;andalookofsurprise，almostamountingtodismay，creptovertheirfaces，inspiteoftheirendeavourtokeepsimplymotionlessandattentive。
\'It\'sadealofmoney，lads，andtheLordgiveyougracetoguideit，\'
saidJeremiah，puttingdownhispaperforaminute。
\'Amen，\'saidJohn，shakinghisheadtogiveeffecttohisword。
\'Nowwhatweproposeisthis，\'continuedJeremiah，beginningafreshtorefertohispaper:\'Wewillcallt\'valueofstockandfixturestwothousandonehundredandfifty。YoumayhaveJohnHolden，appraiserandauctioneer，intosetapriceonthemifyo\'will;oryo\'maylookoverbooksandbills;or，betterstill，doboth，andsocheckoneagaint\'other;
butfort\'sakeo\'makingthegroundo\'thebargain，Istatethesumasabove;andIreckonitsomuchcapitalleftinyo\'rhandsfortheuseo\'
whichyo\'reboundtopayusfivepercent。quarterly——that\'sonehundredandsevenpoundtenperannumatleastfort\'firstyear;andafteritwillbereducedbythegradualpaymentonourmoney，whichmustbeattherateoftwentypercent。，thuspayingusourprincipalbackinfiveyears。
Andtherent，includingallbackyards，rightofwharfage，warehouse，andpremises，isreckonedbyustobesixty—fivepoundperannum。Soyo\'willhavetopayus，JohnandJeremiahFoster，brothers，sixhundredandtwelvepoundtenoutoftheprofitsofthefirstyear，leaving，atthepresentrateofprofits，aboutfivehundredandeighty—ninepoundten，forthesharetobedividedbetweenyo\'。\'
Theplanhad，inallitsdetails，beencarefullyarrangedbythetwobrothers。TheywereafraidlestHepburnandCoulsonshouldbedazzledbytheamountofprofits，andhadsoarrangedthesliding—scaleofpaymentastoreducethefirstyear\'sincometowhattheeldermenthoughtaverymoderatesum，butwhattotheyoungeronesappearedanamountofwealthsuchasthey，whohadneitherofthemeverownedmuchmorethanfiftypounds，consideredalmostinexhaustible。Itwascertainlyaremarkableinstanceofprosperityanddesertmeetingtogethersoearlyinlife。
Foramomentortwothebrothersweredisappointedatnothearinganyreplyfromeitherofthem。ThenPhilipstoodup，forhefeltasifanythinghecouldsaysittingdownwouldnotbesufficientlyexpressiveofgratitude，andWilliaminstantlyfollowedhisexample。Hepburnbeganinaformalmanner，somethingthewayinwhichhehadreadintheYorknewspapersthathonourablemembersreturnedthankswhentheirhealthwasgiven。
\'Icanhardlyexpressmyfeelings\'（Coulsonnudgedhim）\'hisfeelings，too——ofgratitude。Oh，MasterJohn！MasterJeremiah，Ithoughtitmightcomei\'time，nay，I\'vethoughtitmightcomeaforelong;butIniverthoughtasitwouldbesomuch，ormadesoeasy。We\'vegotgoodkindfriends——wehave，havewenot，William？——andwe\'lldoourbest，andIhopeasweshallcomeuptotheirwishes。\'
Philip\'svoicequiveredalittle，assomeremembrancepassedacrosshismind;atthisunusualmomentofexpansionoutitcame。\'Iwishmothercouldha\'seenthisday。\'
\'Sheshallseeabetterday，mylad，whenthynameandWilliam\'sispaintedovert\'shop—door，andJ。andJ。Fosterblackedout。\'
\'Nay，master，\'saidWilliam，\'thatmunneverbe。I\'da\'mostsoonernotcomeinforthebusiness。Anyhow，itmustbe\'lateJ。andJ。Foster，\'andI\'mnotsureasIcanstomachthat。\'
\'Well，well，William，\'saidJohnFoster，highlygratified，\'therebetimeenoughtotalkoverthat。Therewasonethingmoretobesaid，wastherenot，brotherJeremiah？WedonotwishtohavethistalkedoverinMonkshavenuntilshortlybeforethetimewhenyo\'mustenteronthebusiness。
Wehaveourownarrangementstomakewi\'regardtothebankingconcern，andthere\'llbelawyer\'sworktodo，afteryo\'veexaminedbooksandlookedoverstockagaintogether;maybewe\'veoverstatedit，ort\'fixturesaren\'tworthsomuchaswesaid。Anyhowyo\'musteachonyo\'giveusyo\'rwordfortokeepfra\'namingthisnight\'sconversationtoanyone。Meantime，JeremiahandIwillhavetopayaccounts，andtakeakindoffarewellofthemerchantsandmanufacturerswithwhomFostershavehaddealingsthisseventyoreightyyear;andwhenandwhereitseemsfittingtouswewilltakeoneofyo\'tointroduceasoursuccessorsandfriends。Butallthat\'stocome。Butyo\'musteachgiveusyo\'rwordnottonamewhathaspassedheretoanyonetillfurtherspeechonthesubjecthaspassedbetweenus。\'
Coulsonimmediatelygavethepromise。Philip\'sassentcamelagging。
HehadthoughtofSylvialiving，almostasmuchasofthedeadmother，whoselastwordshadbeenacommittalofherchildtotheFatherofthefriendless;andnowthatashortdelaywasplacedbetweenthesightofthecupandhisenjoymentofit，therewasanimpatientchafinginthemindofthecomposedandself—restrainedPhilip;andthenrepentancequickaslightningeffacedthefeeling，andhepledgedhimselftothesecrecywhichwasenjoined。Somefewmoredetailsastotheirmodeofprocedure——ofverifyingtheFosters\'statements，whichtotheyoungermenseemedaperfectlyunnecessarypieceofbusiness——ofprobablejourneysandintroductions，andthenfarewellwasbidden，andHepburnandCoulsonwereinthepassagedonningtheirwraps，andrathertotheirindignationbeingassistedthereinbyMartha，whowasaccustomedtotheofficewithherownmasterSuddenlytheywererecalledintotheparlour。
JohnFosterwasfumblingwiththepapersalittlenervously:Jeremiahspoke——
\'WehavenotthoughtitnecessarytocommendHesterRosetoyou;ifshehadbeenaladshewouldhavehadathirdo\'thebusinessalongwi\'
yo\'。Beingawoman，it\'silltroublingherwithapartnership;bettergiveherafixedsalarytillsuchtuneasshemarries。\'
Helookedalittleknowinglyandcuriouslyatthefacesoftheyoungmenheaddressed。WilliamCoulsonseemedsheepishanduncomfortable，butsaidnothing，leavingitasusualtoPhiliptobespokesman。
\'Ifwehadn\'tcaredforHesterforhersel\'，master，weshouldha\'caredforherasbeingforespokenbyyo\'。Yo\'andMasterJohnshallfixwhatweoughtt\'payher;andIthinkImaymakeboldtosaythat，asourincomerises，hersshalltoo——eh，Coulson？\'（asoundofassentquitedistinctenough）;\'forwebothlookonherasasisterandonAlicelikeamother，asItoldheronlythisveryday。\'
chapter15CHAPTERXVADIFFICULTQUESTIONPhilipwenttobedwiththatkindofhumblepenitentgratitudeinhisheart，whichwesometimesfeelafterasuddenrevulsionoffeelingfromdespondencytohope。Thenightbeforeitseemedasifalleventsweresoarrangedastothwarthiminhisdearestwishes;hefeltnowasifhisdiscontentandrepining，nottwenty—fourhoursbefore，hadbeenalmostimpious，sogreatwasthechangeinhiscircumstancesforthebetter。Nowallseemedpromisingforthefulfilmentofwhathemostdesired。HewasalmostconvincedthathewasmistakeninthinkingthatKinraidhadhadanythingmorethanasailor\'sadmirationforaprettygirlwithregardtoSylvia;atanyrate，hewasgoingawayto—morrow，inallprobabilitynottoreturnforanotheryear（forGreenlandshipsleftforthenorthernseasassoonastherewasachanceoftheicebeingbrokenup），anderethenhehimselfmightspeakoutopenly，layingbeforeherparentsallhisfortunateprospects，andbeforeherallhisdeeppassionatelove。
Sothisnighthisprayersweremorethanthemereformthattheyhadbeenthenightbefore;theywereavehementexpressionofgratitudetoGodforhaving，asitwere，interferedonhisbehalf，togranthimthedesireofhiseyesandthelustofhisheart。Hewasliketoomanyofus，hedidnotplacehisfuturelifeinthehandsofGod，andonlyaskforgracetodoHiswillinwhatevercircumstancesmightarise;butheyearnedinthatterriblewayafterablessingwhich，whengrantedundersuchcircumstances，toooftenturnsouttobeequivalenttoacurse。Andthatspiritbringswithitthematerialandearthlyideathatalleventsthatfavourourwishesareanswerstoourprayer;andsotheyareinonesense，buttheyneedprayerinadeeperandhigherspirittokeepusfromthetemptationtoevilwhichsucheventsinvariablybringwiththem。
PhiliplittleknewhowSylvia\'stimehadbeenpassedthatday。Ifhehad，hewouldhavelaiddownthisnightwithevenaheavierheartthanhehaddoneonthelast。
CharleyKinraidaccompaniedhiscousinsasfarasthespotwherethepathtoHaytersbankFarmdiverged。Thenhestoppedhismerrytalk，andannouncedhisintentionofgoingtoseefarmerRobson。BessyCorneylookeddisappointedandalittlesulky;buthersisterMollyBruntonlaughed，andsaid，——
\'Telltruth，lad！DannelRobson\'dniverhaveacallfra\'theeifhehadn\'taprettydaughter。\'