\'Up！\'saidheatlength。\'It\'sjustthis:hecameaftermysisterforbetternortwoyear;andabetterlass——no，noraprettieri\'myeyes——niverbrokebread。Andthenmymastersawanothergirl，thathelikedbetter\'——Williamalmostchokedinhisendeavourtokeepdownallappearanceofviolentanger，andthenwenton，\'andthatheplayedt\'samegamewi\'，asI\'veheerdtell。\'
\'Andhowdidthysistertakeit？\'askedPhilip，eagerly。
\'Shediedinasix—month，\'saidWilliam;\'sheforgivedhim，butit\'sbeyondme。IthoughtitwerehimwhenIheerdoft\'workaboutDarley;
Kinraid——andcomingfra\'Newcassel，whereAnnielived\'prentice——andI
madeinquiry，anditweret\'sameman。ButI\'llsaynomoreabouthim，foritstirst\'oldAdammorenorIlike，orisfitting。\'
Outofrespecttohim，Philipaskednomorequestionsalthoughthereweremanythingsthathefainwouldhaveknown。BothCoulsonandhewentsilentlyandgrimlythroughtheremainderoftheirday\'swork。IndependentofanypersonalinterestwhicheitherorbothofthemhadormighthaveinKinraid\'sbeingalighto\'love，thisfaultofhiswasonewithwhichthetwograve，sedateyoungmenhadnosympathy。Theirheartsweretrueandconstant，whateverelsemightbetheirfailings;anditisnonewthingto\'damnthefaultswehavenomindto。\'Philipwishedthatitwasnotsolate，orthatveryeveninghewouldhavegonetokeepguardoverSylviainhermother\'sabsence——nay，perhapshemighthaveseenreasontogiveherawarningofsomekind。But，ifhehaddoneso，itwouldhavebeenlockingthestable—doorafterthesteedwasstolen。KinraidhadturnedhisstepstowardsHaytersbankFarmassoonaseverhehadcompletedhispurchases。HehadonlycomethatafternoontoMonkshaven，andforthesolepurposeofseeingSylviaoncemorebeforehewenttofulfilhisengagementasspecksioneerintheUrania，awhaling—vesselthatwastosailfromNorthShieldsonThursdaymorning，andthiswasMonday。
Sylviasatinthehouse—place，herbacktothelonglowwindow，inordertohaveallthelighttheafternoonhouraffordedforherwork。Abasketofherfather\'sunmendedstockingswasonthelittleroundtablebesideher，andonewasonherlefthand，whichshesupposedherselftobemending;
butfromtimetotimeshemadelongpauses，andlookedinthefire;andyettherewasbutlittlemotionofflameorlightinitoutofwhichtoconjurevisions。Itwas\'reddup\'fortheafternoon;coveredwithablackmassofcoal，overwhichtheequallyblackkettlehungonthecrook。Intheback—kitchenDollyReid，Sylvia\'sassistantduringhermother\'sabsence，chantedalugubriousditty，befittingherconditionasawidow，whileshecleanedtins，andcans，andmilking—pails。PerhapsthesebustlingsoundspreventedSylviafromhearingapproachingfootstepscomingdownthebrowwithswiftadvance;atanyrate，shestartedandsuddenlystoodupassomeoneenteredtheopendoor。Itwasstrangesheshouldbesomuchstartled，forthepersonwhoenteredhadbeeninherthoughtsallduringthoselongpauses。CharleyKinraidandthestoryofcrazyNancyhadbeenthesubjectsforherdreamsformanyaday，andmanyanight。Nowhestoodthere，brightandhandsomeasever，withjustthatmuchtimidityinhisface，thatanxietyastohiswelcome，whichgavehisaccostanaddedcharm，couldshebuthaveperceivedit。Butshewassoafraidofherself，sounwillingtoshowwhatshefelt，andhowmuchshehadbeenthinkingofhiminhisabsence，thatherreceptionseemedcoldandstill。Shedidnotcomeforwardtomeethim;shewentcrimsontotheveryrootsofherhair;butthat，inthewaninglight，hecouldnotsee;andsheshooksothatshefeltasifshecouldhardlystand;butthetremorwasnotvisibletohim。ShewonderedifherememberedthekissthathadpassedbetweenthemonNewYear\'sEve——thewordsthathadbeenspokeninthedairyonNewYear\'sDay;thetones，thelooks，thathadaccompaniedthosewords。Butallshesaidwas——
\'Ididn\'tthinktoseeyo\'。Ithoughtyo\'dha\'sailed。\'
\'Itoldyo\'Ishouldcomeback，didn\'tI？\'saidhe，stillstanding，withhishatinhishand，waitingtobeaskedtositdown;andshe，inherbashfulness，forgettingtogivetheinvitation，but，instead，pretendingtobeattentivelymendingthestockingsheheld。Neithercouldkeepquietandsilentlong。Shefelthiseyeswereuponher，watchingeverymotion，andgrewmoreandmoreconfusedinherexpressionandbehaviour。Hewasalittletakenabackbythenatureofhisreception，andwasnotsureatfirstwhethertotakethegreatchangeinhermanner，fromwhatithadbeenwhenlasthesawher，asafavourablesymptomorotherwise。By—and—by，luckilyforhim，insometurnofherarmtoreachthescissorsonthetable，shecaughttheedgeofherwork—basket，anddownitfell。Shestoopedtopickupthescatteredstockingsandballofworsted，andsodidhe;andwhentheyroseup，hehadfastholdofherhand，andherfacewasturnedaway，halfreadytocry。
\'Whatailsyo\'atme？\'saidhe，beseechingly。\'Yo\'mightha\'forgottenme;andyetIthoughtwemadeabargainagainstforgettingeachother。\'
Noanswer。Hewenton:\'Yo\'veneverbeenouto\'mythoughts，SylviaRobson;
andI\'mcomebacktoMonkshavenfornoughtbuttoseeyouonceandagainaforeIgoawaytothenorthernseas。It\'snottwohoursin\'IlandedatMonkshaven，andI\'vebeennearneitherkithnorkinasyet;andnowI\'mhereyouwon\'tspeaktome。\'
\'Idon\'tknowwhattosay，\'saidshe，inalow，almostinaudibletone。
Thenhardeningherself，andresolvingtospeakasifshedidnotunderstandhisonlyhalf—expressedmeaning，sheliftedupherhead，andallbutlookingathim——whileshewrenchedherhandoutofhis——shesaid:\'Mother\'sgonetoMiddlehamforavisit，andfeyther\'souti\'t\'plough—fieldwi\'Kester;
buthe\'llbeinaforelong。\'
Charleydidnotspeakforaminuteorso。Thenhesaid——
\'Yo\'renotsodullastothinkI\'mcomeallthiswayfort\'seeeitheryourfatheroryourmother。I\'veagreatrespectfor\'emboth;butI\'dhardlyha\'comeallthiswayfortosee\'em，andmeboundtobebacki\'
Shields，ifIwalkeverystepoftheway，byWednesdaynight。It\'sthatyo\'won\'tunderstandmymeaning，Sylvia;it\'snotthatyo\'don\'t，orthatyo\'can\'t。\'Hemadenoefforttorepossesshimselfofherhand。Shewasquitesilent，butinspiteofherselfshedrewlonghardbreaths。\'ImaygobacktowhereIcamefrom，\'hewenton。\'Ithoughttogotoseawi\'
ablessedhopetocheermeup，andaknowledgeo\'someoneaslovedmeasI\'dleftbehind;someoneaslovedmehalfasmuchasIdidher;forth\'measureo\'mylovetowardherissogreatandmighty，I\'dbecontentwi\'halfasmuchfromher，tillI\'dtaughthertolovememore。Butifshe\'sacoldheartandcannotcareforahonestsailor，why，then，I\'dbestgobackatonce。\'
Hemadeforthedoor。Hemusthavebeenprettysurefromsomesignorother，orhewouldneverhaveleftittoherwomanlypridetogiveway，andforhertomakethenextadvance。Hehadnottakentwostepswhensheturnedquicklytowardshim，andsaidsomething——theechoofwhich，ratherthanthewordsthemselves，reachedhim。
\'Ididn\'tknowyo\'caredforme;yo\'niversaidso。\'Inaninstanthewasbackatherside，hisarmroundherinspiteofhershortstruggle，andhiseagerpassionatevoicesaying，\'Yo\'neverknowedIlovedyou，Sylvia？
sayitagain，andlooki\'myfacewhileyo\'sayit，ifyo\'can。Why，lastwinterIthoughtyo\'dbesuchawomanwhenyo\'dcometobeoneasmyeenhadneverlookedupon，andthisyear，eversin\'Isawyo\'i\'thekitchencornersittingcrouchingbehindmyuncle，IasgoodassworeI\'dhaveyo\'
forwife，orneverwedatall。Anditwasnotlongereyo\'knowedit，forallyo\'weresocoy，andnowyo\'havetheface——no，yo\'havenottheface——come，mydarling，whatisit？\'forshewascrying;andonhisturningherwetblushingfacetowardshimthebettertolookatit，shesuddenlyhiditinhisbreast。Helulledandsoothedherinhisarms，asifshehadbeenaweepingchildandhehermother;andthentheysatdownonthesettletogether，andwhenshewasmorecomposedtheybegantotalk。Heaskedherabouthermother;notsorryinhisheartatBellRobson\'sabsence。HehadintendedifnecessarytoacknowledgehiswishesanddesireswithregardtoSylviatoherparents;butforvariousreasonshewasnotsorrythatcircumstanceshadgivenhimthechanceofseeingheralone，andobtainingherpromisetomarryhimwithoutbeingobligedtotelleitherherfatherorhermotheratpresent。\'Iha\'spentmymoneyprettyfree，\'hesaid，\'andI\'vene\'erapennytothefore，andyo\'rparentsmaylookforsomethingbetterforyo\'，mypretty:butwhenIcomebackfro\'thisvoyageIshallstandachanceofhavingasharei\'th\'Urania，andmaybeIshallbemateaswellasspecksioneer;andIcangetamatteroffromseventytoninetypoundavoyage，letaloneth\'half—guineasforeverywhaleI
strike，andsixshillingagallononth\'oil;andifIkeepsteadywi\'
ForbesandCompany，they\'llmakememasteri\'time，forI\'vehadgoodschooling，andcanworkashipaswellasanyman;an\'Ileaveyo\'wi\'yo\'rparents，ortakeacottageforyo\'nighathand;butIwouldliketohavesomethingtothefore，andthatIshallhave，pleaseGod，whenwecomebacki\'th\'
autumn。Ishallgotoseahappy，now，thinkingI\'veyo\'rword。Yo\'renotonetogobackfromit，I\'msure，elseit\'salongtimetoleavesuchaprettygirlasyo\'，andne\'erachanceofaletterreachingyo\'justtotellyo\'onceagainhowIloveyo\'，andtobidyo\'notforgetyo\'rtruelove。\'
\'There\'llbenoneedo\'that，\'murmuredSylvia。
Shewastoodizzywithhappinesstohaveattendedmuchtohisdetailsofhisworldlyprospects，butatthesoundofhistenderwordsoflovehereagerheartwasreadytolisten。
\'Idon\'tknow，\'saidhe，wantingtodrawheroutintomoreconfessionofherfeelings。\'There\'smanyaonereadytocomeafteryo\';andyo\'rmotherisnoto\'ercaptivatedwi\'me;andthere\'syontallfellowofacousinaslooksblackatme，forifI\'mnotmista\'enhe\'sanotionofbeingsweetonyo\'hisself。\'
\'Nothe，\'saidSylvia，withsomecontemptinhertone。\'He\'ssofullo\'businessandt\'shop，ando\'makin\'money，andgettin\'wealth。\'
\'Ay，ay;butperhapswhenhegetsarichmanhe\'llcomeandaskmySylviatobehiswife，andwhatwillshesaythen？\'
\'He\'llnivercomeaskingsuchafoolishquestion，\'saidshe，alittleimpatiently;\'heknowswhatanswerhe\'dgetifhedid。\'
Kinraidsaid，almostasiftohimself，\'Yo\'rmotherfavourshimthough。\'
Butshe，wearyofasubjectshecarednothingabout，andeagertoidentifyherselfwithallhisinterests，askedhimabouthisplansalmostatthesametimethathesaidtheselastwords;andtheywentonasloversdo，intermixingagreatmanytenderexpressionswithaverylittleconversationrelatingtofacts。
DollyReidcamein，andwentoutsoftly，unheededbythem。ButSylvia\'slisteningearscaughtherfather\'svoice，asheandKesterreturnedhomewardsfromtheirday\'sworkintheplough—field;andshestartedaway，andfledupstairsinshyaffright，leavingCharleytoexplainhispresenceinthesolitarykitchentoherfather。
Hecamein，notseeingthatanyonewasthereatfirst;fortheyhadneverthoughtoflightingacandle。Kinraidsteppedforwardintothefirelight;
hispurposeofconcealingwhathehadsaidtoSylviaquitemeltedawaybythecordialwelcomeherfathergavehimtheinstantthatherecognizedhim。
\'Blessthee，lad！who\'dha\'thoughto\'seein\'thee？Why，ifiverathoughtontheeatall，itwerehalfwaytoDavis\'Straits。Tobesure，t\'winter\'sbeenadreeseason，andthou\'rt，maybe，i\'t\'reeton\'ttomak\'alatestart。LateststartasiverImadewasnintho\'March，an\'westruckthirteenwhalesthatyear。\'
\'Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou，\'saidCharley，inahesitatingvoice，sodifferenttohisusualheartyway，thatDanielgavehimakeenlookofattentionbeforehebegantospeak。And，perhaps，theeldermanwasnotunpreparedforthecommunicationthatfollowed。Atanyrate，itwasnotunwelcome。HelikedKinraid，andhadstrongsympathynotmerelywithwhatheknewoftheyoungsailor\'scharacter，butwiththelifeheled，andthebusinesshefollowed。Robsonlistenedtoallhesaidwithapprovingnodsandwinks，tillCharleyhadtoldhimeverythinghehadtosay;andthenheturnedandstruckhisbroadhornypalmintoKinraid\'sasifconcludingabargain，whileheexpressedinwordshisheartyconsenttotheirengagement。
Hewoundupwithachuckle，asthethoughtstruckhimthatthisgreatpieceofbusiness，ofdisposingoftheironlychild，hadbeenconcludedwhilehiswifewasaway。
\'A\'mnoanesosureast\'missus\'lllikeit，\'saidhe;\'tho\'whativershe\'llha\'tosayagainit，mischiefonlyknows。Butshe\'snoanekeenonmatterimony;thoughahavemadeherasgoodamanasthereisina\'t\'
Ridings。Anyhow，a\'mmaster，andthatsheknows。Butmaybe，fort\'sakeo\'peaceanquietness——tho\'she\'sniverascoldingtongue，thatawillsayforher——we\'nbestkeepthismattertoourselvestillthoucomesint\'
portagain。T\'lassupstairs\'lllikenoughtbetterthant\'curlhersel\'
roundasecret，andpurro\'erit，justast\'oudcatdoeso\'erherblindkitten。Butthou\'llbewantingtoseet\'lass，a\'llbebound。Anoudmanlikemeisn\'tasgoodcompanyasaprettylass。\'Laughingalowrichlaughoverhisownwit，Danielwenttothebottomofthestairs，andcalled，\'Sylvie，Sylvie！comedown，lass！a\'sreet;comedown！\'
Foratimetherewasnoanswer。Thenadoorwasunbolted，andSylviasaid，\'Ican\'tcomedownagain。I\'mnoanecomin\'downagainto—night。\'
Daniellaughedthemoreatthis，especiallywhenhecaughtCharley\'slookofdisappointment。
\'Hearkenhowshe\'sboltedherdoor。She\'llnoanecomenearusthisneet。
Eh！butshe\'sastifflittle\'un;she\'sbeenouronlyone，andwe\'nmostlyletherhaveherownway。Butwe\'llhaveapipeandaglass;andthat，tomythinking，isasgoodcompanyasiverawomani\'Yorkshire。\'
chapter17CHAPTERXVIIREJECTEDWARNINGSThepostarrivedatMonkshaventhreetimesintheweek;sometimes，indeed，therewerenotadozenlettersinthebag，whichwasbroughtthitherbyamaninalightmail—cart，whotookthebetterpartofadaytodrivefromYork;droppingprivatebagshereandthereonthemoors，atsomesquire\'slodgeorroadsideinn。OfthenumberoflettersthatarrivedinMonkshaven，theFosters，shopkeepersandbankers，hadthelargestshare。
ThemorningsucceedingthedayonwhichSylviahadengagedherselftoKinraid，theFostersseemedunusuallyanxioustoobtaintheirletters。
SeveraltimesJeremiahcameoutoftheparlourinwhichhisbrotherJohnwassittinginexpectantsilence，and，passingthroughtheshop，lookedupanddownthemarket—placeinsearchoftheoldlamewoman，whowascharitablyemployedtodeliverletters，andwhomusthavebeenlamerthaneverthismorning，tojudgefromthelatenessofhercoming。AlthoughnonebuttheFostersknewthecauseoftheirimpatiencefortheirletters，yettherewassuchtacitsympathybetweenthemandthosewhomtheyemployed，thatHepburn，Coulson，andHesterwereallmuchrelievedwhentheoldwomanatlengthappearedwithherbasketofletters。
Oneoftheseseemedofespecialconsequencetothegoodbrothers。Theyeachseparatelylookedatthedirection，andthenatoneanother;andwithoutawordtheyreturnedwithitunreadintotheparlour，shuttingthedoor，anddrawingthegreensilkcurtainclose，thebettertoreaditinprivacy。
BothCoulsonandPhilipfeltthatsomethingunusualwasgoingon，andwere，perhaps，asfullofconsiderationastothepossiblecontentsofthisLondonletter，asofattentiontotheirmoreimmediatebusiness。Butfortunatelytherewaslittledoingintheshop。Philip，indeed，wasquiteidlewhenJohnFosteropenedtheparlour—door，and，halfdoubtfully，calledhimintotheroom。Asthedoorofcommunicationshutthethreein，Coulsonfelthimselfalittleaggrieved。AminuteagoPhilipandhewereonalevelofignorance，fromwhichtheformerwasevidentlygoingtoberaised。Buthesoonreturnedtohisusualstateofacquiescenceinthingsastheywere，whichwaspartlyconstitutional，andpartlytheresultofhisQuakertraining。
ItwasapparentlybyJohnFoster\'swishthatPhiliphadbeensummoned。
Jeremiah，thelessenergeticanddecidedbrother，wasstilldiscussingtheproprietyofthestepwhenPhilipentered。
\'Noneedforhaste，John;betternotcalltheyoungmantillwehavefurtherconsideredthematter。\'
Buttheyoungmanwasthereinpresence;andJohn\'swillcarriedtheday。
ItseemedfromhisaccounttoPhilip（explanatoryofwhathe，inadvanceofhisbrother\'sslowerjudgment，thoughttobeanecessarystep），thattheFostershadforsometimereceivedanonymousletters，warningthem，withdistinctmeaning，thoughinambiguousterms，againstacertainsilk—manufacturerinSpitalfields，withwhomtheyhadhadstraight—forwardbusinessdealingsformanyyears;buttowhomtheyhadlatterlyadvancedmoney。Thelettershintedattheutterinsolvencyofthismanufacturer。Theyhadurgedtheircorrespondenttogivethemhisnameinconfidence，andthismorning\'sletterhadbroughtit;butthenamewastotallyunknowntothem，thoughthereseemednoreasontodoubttherealityofeitheritortheaddress，thelatterofwhichwasgiveninfull。CertaincircumstanceswerementionedregardingthetransactionsbetweentheFostersandthismanufacturer，whichcouldbeknownonlytothosewhowereintheconfidenceofoneortheother;
andtotheFostersthemanwas，ashasbeensaid，aperfectstranger。Probably，theywouldhavebeenunwillingtoincurtherisktheyhaddoneonthismanufacturerDickinson\'saccount，ifithadnotbeenthathebelongedtothesamedenominationasthemselves，andwaspubliclydistinguishedforhisexcellentandphilanthropiccharacter;buttheseletterswereprovocativeofanxiety，especiallysincethismorning\'sposthadbroughtoutthewriter\'sfullname，andvariousparticularsshowinghisintimateknowledgeofDickinson\'saffairs。
Aftermuchperplexedconsultation，JohnhadhitupontheplanofsendingHepburntoLondontomakesecretinquiriesrespectingthetruecharacterandcommercialpositionofthemanwhosecreditors，notamonthago，theyhadesteemeditanhonourtobe。
EvennowJeremiahwasashamedoftheirwantofconfidenceinonesogood;hebelievedthattheinformationtheyhadreceivedwouldallproveamistake，foundedonerroneousgrounds，ifnotapureinventionofanenemy;andhehadonlybeenbroughtpartiallytoconsenttothesendingofHepburn，byhisbrother\'spledginghimselfthattherealnatureofPhilip\'serrandshouldbeunknowntoanyhumancreature，savethemthree。
AsallthiswasbeingrevealedtoPhilip，hesatapparentlyunmovedandsimplyattentive。Infact，hewasgivingallhismindtounderstandingtheprobabilitiesofthecase，leavinghisownfeelingsinthebackgroundtillhisintellectshouldhavedoneitswork。Hesaidlittle;butwhathedidsaywastothepoint，andsatisfiedbothbrothers。Johnperceivedthathismessengerwouldexercisepenetrationandactwithenergy;whileJeremiahwassoothedbyPhilip\'scautioninnothastilyadmittingtheprobabilityofanychargeagainstDickinson，andingivingfullweighttohispreviousgoodconductandgoodcharacter。
Philiphadthesatisfactionoffeelinghimselfemployedonamissionwhichwouldcallouthispowers，andyetnotexceedthem。Inhisownmindheforestalledtheinstructionsofhismasters，andwassilentlyinadvanceofJohnFoster\'splansandarrangements，whileheappearedtolistentoallthatwassaidwithquietbusiness—likeattention。
ItwassettledthatthenextmorninghewastomakehiswaynorthwardstoHartlepool，whencehecouldeasilyproceedeitherbylandorseatoNewcastle，fromwhichplacesmackswereconstantlysailingtoLondon。Astohispersonalconductandbehaviourthere，thebrothersoverwhelmedhimwithdirectionsandadvice;nordidtheyfailtodrawoutofthestrongboxinthethickwalloftheircounting—houseamorethansufficientsumofmoneyforallpossibleexpenses。Philiphadneverhadsomuchinhishandsbefore，andhesitatedtotakeit，sayingitwasmorethanheshouldrequire;buttheyrepeated，withfreshurgency，theirwarningsabouttheterriblehighpricesofLondon，tillhecouldonlyresolvetokeepastrictaccount，andbringbackallthathedidnotexpend，sincenothingbuthistakingthewholesumwouldsatisfyhisemployers。
Whenhewasoncemorebehindthecounter，hehadleisureenoughforconsiderationasfarasCoulsoncouldgiveithim。Thelatterwassilent，broodingovertheconfidencewhichPhiliphadapparentlyreceived，butwhichwaswithheldfromhim。Hedidnotyetknowoftheculminatingpoint——ofPhilip\'sproposedjourneytoLondon;thatgreatcityofLondon，which，fromitsveryinaccessibilityfiftyyearsago，loomedsomagnificentthroughthemistofmen\'simaginations。ItisnottobedeniedthatPhilipfeltexultantatthemerefactof\'goingtoLondon。\'Butthenagain，thethoughtofleavingSylvia;ofgoingoutofpossibledailyreachofher;ofnotseeingherforaweek——afortnight;nay，hemightbeawayforamonth，——fornorashhurrywastomarhisdelicatenegotiation，——gnawedathisheart，andspoiltanyenjoymenthemighthaveanticipatedfromgratifiedcuriosity，orevenfromtheconsciousnessofbeingtrustedbythosewhosetrustandregardhevalued。Thesenseofwhathewasleavinggrewuponhimthelongerhethoughtonthesubject;healmostwishedthathehadtoldhismastersearlierintheconversationofhisunwillingnesstoleaveMonkshavenforsolongatime;andthenagainhefeltthatthegratitudeheowedthemquiteprohibitedhisdeclininganytasktheymightimpose，especiallyastheyhadmorethanoncesaidthatitwouldnotdoforthemtoappearintheaffair，andyetthattonooneelsecouldtheyentrustsodifficultanddelicateamatter。Severaltimesthatday，asheperceivedCoulson\'sjealoussullenness，hethoughtinhisheartthattheconsequenceoftheexcessiveconfidenceforwhichCoulsonenviedhimwasaburdenfromwhichhewouldbethankfultoberelieved。
AstheyallsatatteainAliceRose\'shouse—place，Philipannouncedhisintendedjourney;apieceofintelligencehehadnotcommunicatedearliertoCoulsonbecausehehadratherdreadedtheincreaseofdissatisfactionitwassuretoproduce，andofwhichheknewtheexpressionwouldberestrainedbythepresenceofAliceRoseandherdaughter。
\'ToLunnon！\'exclaimedAlice。
Hestersaidnothing。
\'Well！somefolkshastheluck！\'saidCoulson。
\'Luck！\'saidAlice，turningsharproundonhim。\'Niverletmehearsuchavainwordouto\'thymouth，laddie，again。It\'stheLord\'sdoing，andluck\'sthedevil\'swayo\'puttingit。Maybeit\'stotryPhiliphe\'ssentthere;happenitmaybeafieryfurnacetohim;forI\'veheerdtellit\'sfullo\'temptations，andhemayfallintosin——andthenwhere\'dbethe\"luck\"onit？Butwhyarttagoing？andthemorning，say\'sthou？Why，thybestshirtisint\'suds，andnotimefort\'starchandironit。WhattenthegreathasteasshouldtaketheetoLunnonwi\'outthyruffledshirt？\'
\'It\'snoneo\'mydoing，\'saidPhilip;\'there\'sbusinesstobedone，andJohnFostersaysI\'mtodoit;andI\'mtostartto—morrow。\'
\'I\'llnotturntheeoutwi\'outthyruffledshirt，ifIsitupa\'neet，\'
saidAlice，resolutely。
\'Niverfretthyself，mother，aboutt\'shirt，\'saidPhilip。\'IfIneedashirt，London\'snotwhatItakeitforifIcan\'tbuymysel\'oneready—made。\'
\'Hearkentohim！\'saidAlice。\'Hespeaksasifbuyingo\'ready—madeshirtswerenoughttohim，andhewi\'agoodhalf—dozenasImademysel\'。
Eh，lad？butifthat\'stheframeo\'mindthou\'rtin，Lunnonislikefortobeasoreplaceo\'temptation。There\'spitfallsformen，andtrapsformoneyativeryturn，asI\'veheerdsay。Itwouldha\'beenbetterifJohnFosterhadsentanoldermanonhisbusiness，whativeritbe。\'
\'Theyseemtomakeadealo\'Philipallonasudden，\'saidCoulson。
\'He\'ssentfor，andtalkedtoi\'privacy，whileHesterandmeislefti\'
t\'shopfort\'beart\'brunto\'t\'serving。\'
\'Philipknows，\'saidHester，andthen，somehow，hervoicefailedherandshestopped。
Philippaidnoattentiontothishalf—utteredsentence;hewaseagertotellCoulson，asfarashecoulddosowithoutbetrayinghismaster\'ssecret，howmanydrawbacksthereweretohisproposedjourney，intheresponsibilitywhichitinvolved，andhisunwillingnesstoleaveMonkshavenhesaid——
\'Coulson，I\'dgiveadealitwerethouthatweregoing，andnotme。
Atleast，thereismanyatimeI\'dgiveadeal。I\'llnotdenybutatothertimesI\'mpleasedatthethoughton\'t。But，ifIcouldI\'dchangeplaceswi\'theeatthismoment。\'
\'It\'sfinetalking，\'saidCoulson，halfmollified，andyetnotcaringtoshowit。\'Imakenodoubtitwereanevenchancebetwixtustwoatfirst，whichonuswastogo;butsomehowthougotthestartandthou\'ststucktoittillit\'stoolateforaughtbuttosaythou\'ssorry。\'
\'Nay，William，\'saidPhilip，rising，\'it\'sanilllook—outforthefuture，iftheeandmeistoquarrel，liketwosillywenches，o\'ereachbitofpleasure，orwhatthoufanciestobepleasure，asfallsint\'wayofeitheronus。I\'vesaidtruthtothee，andplayedtheefair，andI\'vegottogotoHaytersbankfortowish\'emgood—by，soI\'llnotStaylongerheretobemisdoubtedbythee。\'
Hetookhiscapandwasgone，notheedingAlice\'sshrillinquiryastohisclothesandhisruffledshirt。Coulsonsatstill，penitentandashamed;
atlengthhestolealookatHester。Shewasplayingwithherteaspoon，buthecouldseethatshewaschokingdownhertears;hecouldnotchoosebutforcehertospeakwithanill—timedquestion。
\'What\'stodo，Hester？\'saidhe。
Sheliftedupthoseeyes，usuallysosoftandserene;nowtheywerefullofthelightofindignationshiningthroughtears。
\'Todo！\'shesaid;\'Coulson，I\'dthoughtbetterofthee，goinganddoubtingandenvyingPhilip，asniverdidtheeanillturn，orsaidanillword，orthoughtanillthoughtbythee;andsendinghimawayouto\'t\'housethislastnightofall，maybe，wi\'thyenvyingsandjealousy。\'
Shehastilygotupandlefttheroom。Alicewasaway，lookingupPhilip\'sthingsforhisjourney。Coulsonremainedalone，feelinglikeaguiltychild，butdismayedbyHester\'swords，evenmorethanbyhisownregretatwhathehadsaid。
Philipwalkedrapidlyupthehill—roadtowardsHaytersbank。HewaschafedandexcitedbyCoulson\'swords，andtheeventsoftheday。Hehadmeanttoshapehislife，andnowitwas，asitwere，beingshapedforhim，andyethewasreproachedforthecourseitwastaking，asmuchasthoughhewereanactiveagent;accusedoftakingadvantageoverCoulson，hisintimatecompanionforyears;hewhoesteemedhimselfabovetakinganunfairadvantageoveranyman！HisfeelingonthesubjectwasakintothatofHazael，\'Isthyservantadogthatheshoulddothisthing？\'
Hisfeelings，disturbedonthisonepoint，shookhisjudgmentoffitsbalanceonanother。TheresolutionhehaddeliberatelyformedofnotspeakingtoSylviaonthesubjectofhislovetillhecouldannouncetoherparentsthefactofhissuccessiontoFosters\'business，andtillhehadpatiently，withlong—continuinganddeepaffection，workedhiswayintoherregard，wassetasideduringthepresentwalk。Hewouldspeaktoherofhispassionateattachment，beforeheleft，foranuncertainlengthoftime，andthecertaindistanceofLondon。Andallthemodificationonthispointwhichhisjudgmentcouldobtainfromhisimpetuousandexcitedheartwas，thathewouldwatchherwordsandmannerwellwhenheannouncedhisapproachingabsence，andifinthemhereadtheslightesttokenoftenderregretfulfeeling，hewouldpourouthisloveatherfeet，notevenurgingtheyounggirltomakeanyreturn，ortoexpressthefeelingsofwhichhehopedthegermwasalreadybuddinginher。Hewouldbepatientwithher;hecouldnotbepatienthimself。Hisheartbeating，hisbusymindrehearsingtheprobablecomingscene，heturnedintothefield—paththatledtoHaytersbank。Comingalongit，andsomeetinghim，advancedDanielRobson，inearnesttalkwithCharleyKinraid。Kinraid，then，hadbeenatthefarm:KinraidhadbeenseeingSylvia，hermotheraway。ThethoughtofpoordeadAnnieCoulsonflashedintoPhilip\'smind。CouldhebeplayingthesamegamewithSylvia？
Philipsethisteethandtightenedhislipsatthethoughtofit。Theyhadstoppedtalking;theyhadseenhimalready，orhisimpulsewouldhavebeentododgebehindthewallandavoidthem;eventhoughoneofhispurposesingoingtoHaytersbankhadbeentobidhisunclefarewell。
Kinraidtookhimbysurprisefromtheheartygreetinghegavehim，andwhichPhilipwouldfainhaveavoided。Butthespecksioneerwasfullofkindlinesstowardsalltheworld，especiallytowardsallSylvia\'sfriends，and，convincedofhergreatlovetowardshimself，hadforgottenanypreviousjealousyofPhilip。Secureandexultant，hisbroad，handsome，weather—bronzedfacewasasgreatacontrasttoPhilip\'slong，thoughtful，sallowcountenance，ashisfrankmannerwastotheother\'scoldreserve。ItwassomeminutesbeforeHepburncouldbringhimselftotellthegreateventthatwasabouttobefallhimbeforethisthirdpersonwhomheconsideredasanintrusivestranger。ButasKinraidseemedtohavenoideaofgoingon，andastherereallywasnoreasonwhyheandalltheworldshouldnotknowofPhilip\'sintentions，hetoldhisunclethathewasboundforLondonthenextdayonbusinessconnectedwiththeFosters。
DanielwasdeeplystruckwiththefactthathewastalkingtoamansettingoffforLondonataday\'snotice。
\'Thou\'llnivertellmethishasn\'tbeenbrewin\'longernortwelvehours;
thou\'saslyclosechap，andwehannotseentheethisse\'nnight;thou\'llha\'beenthinkin\'onthis，andcogitatingit，maybe，a\'thattime。\'
\'Nay，\'saidPhilip，\'Iknewnoughtaboutitlastnight;it\'snoneo\'
mydoing，going，forI\'dlieferha\'stayedwhereIam。\'
\'Yo\'lllikeitwhenonceyo\'rethere，\'saidKinraid，withatravelledairofsuperiority，asPhilipfancied。
\'No，Ishan\'t，\'hereplied，shortly。\'Likinghasnoughttodowithit。\'
\'Ah\'yo\'knewnoughtaboutitlastneet，\'continuedDaniel，musingly。
\'Well，life\'ssoono\'er;elsewhenIwereayoungfellow，folksmadetheirwillsaforegoin\'toLunnon。\'
\'YetI\'llbeboundtosayyo\'nivermadeawillbeforegoingtosea，\'
saidPhilip，halfsmiling。
\'Na，na;butthat\'squiteanothermak\'o\'thing;going\'toseacomesnatteraltoaman，butgoin\'toLunnon，——Iwereoncethere，andwereneardeafenedwi\'t\'throngandt\'sound。Iwerebuttwohoursi\'t\'place，thoughourshiplayafortneetoffGravesend。\'
Kinraidnowseemedinahurry;butPhilipwasstungwithcuriositytoascertainhismovements，andsuddenlyaddressedhim:
\'Iheardyo\'werei\'theseparts。Areyouforstayingherelong？\'
TherewasacertainabruptnessinPhilip\'stone，ifnotinhiswords，whichmadeKinraidlookinhisfacewithsurprise，andanswerwithequalcurtness。