Hisfacesupportedbyhishands，helookeddownupontheblueripplingocean，flashinghereandthere，intothesunlightinlong，glitteringlines。
Theboatwasstillinthedistance，makingherswiftsilentwaywithlongregularboundstothetenderthatlayintheoffing。
Hepburnfeltinsecure，asinanightmaredream，solongastheboatdidnotreachherimmediatedestination。Hiscontractedeyescouldseefourminutefiguresrowingwithceaselessmotion，andafifthsateatthehelm。Butheknewtherewasasixth，unseen，lying，boundandhelpless，atthebottomoftheboat;andhisfancykeptexpectingthismantostartupandbreakhisbonds，andovercomealltheothers，andreturntotheshorefreeandtriumphant。
ItwasbynofaultofHepburn\'sthattheboatspedwellaway;thatshewasnowalongsidethetender，dancingonthewaves;nowemptiedofhercrew;nowhoisteduptoherplace。Nofaultofhis！andyetittookhimsometimebeforehecouldreasonhimselfintothebeliefthathismad，feverishwishesnotanhourbefore——hiswildprayertoberidofhisrival，ashehimselfhadscrambledonwardovertherocksalongsideofKinraid\'spathonthesands——hadnotcompelledtheevent。
\'Anyhow，\'thoughthe，asheroseup，myprayerisgranted。Godbethanked！\'
Oncemorehelookedouttowardstheship。Shehadspreadherbeautifulgreatsails，andwasstandingouttoseaintheglitteringpathofthedescendingsun。
Hesawthathehadbeendelayedonhisroad，andhadlingeredlong。
Heshookhisstiffenedlimbs，shoulderedhisknapsack，andpreparedtowalkontoHartlepoolasswiftlyashecould。
chapter19CHAPTERXIXANIMPORTANTMISSIONPhilipwastoolateforthecoachhehadhopedtogoby，buttherewasanotherthatleftatnight，andwhichreachedNewcastleintheforenoon，sothat，bythelossofanight\'ssleep，hemightovertakehislosttime。
But，restlessandmiserable，hecouldnotstopinHartlepoollongerthantogetsomehastyfoodattheinnfromwhichthecoachstarted。Heacquaintedhimselfwiththenamesofthetownsthroughwhichitwouldpass，andtheinnsatwhichitwouldstop，andleftwordthatthecoachmanwastobeonthelook—outforhimandpickhimupatsomeoneoftheseplaces。
Hewasthoroughlywornoutbeforethishappened——toomuchtiredtogainanysleepinthecoach。WhenhereachedNewcastle，hewenttoengagehispassageinthenextLondon—boundsmack，andthendirectedhisstepstoRobinson\'s，intheSide，tomakealltheinquirieshecouldthinkofrespectingtheploughhisunclewantedtoknowabout。
Soitwasprettylateintheafternoon，indeedalmostevening，beforehearrivedatthesmallinnonthequay—side，whereheintendedtosleep。
Itwasbutaroughkindofplace，frequentedprincipallybysailors;hehadbeenrecommendedtoitbyDanielRobson，whohadknownitwellinformerdays。Theaccommodationinitwas，however，cleanandhomely，andthepeoplekeepingitwererespectableenoughintheirway。
StillHepburnwasratherrepelledbytheappearanceofthesailorswhosatedrinkinginthebar，andheasked，inalowvoice，iftherewasnotanotherroom。Thewomanstaredinsurprise，andonlyshookherhead。Hepburnwenttoaseparatetable，awayfromtheroaringfire，whichonthiscoldMarcheveningwasthegreatattraction，andcalledforfoodanddrink。
Thenseeingthattheothermenwereeyeinghimwiththesociableideaofspeakingtohim，heaskedforpenandinkandpaper，withtheintentionofdefeatingtheirpurposebypre—occupationonhispart。Butwhenthepapercame，thenewpen，theunusedthickenedink，hehesitatedlongbeforehebegantowrite;andatlastheslowlyputdownthewords，——
\'DEARANDHONOUREDUNCLE，\'————
Therewasapause;hismealwasbroughtandhastilyswallowed。Evenwhilehewaseatingit，hekeptoccasionallytouchingupthelettersofthesewords。Whenhehaddrunkaglassofalehebeganagaintowritefluentlythistime，forhewasgivinganaccountoftheplough。Thencameanotherlongstop;hewasweighinginhisownmindwhatheshouldsayaboutKinraid。
OncehethoughtforasecondofwritingtoSylviaherself，andtellingher————howmuch？Shemighttreasureupherlover\'swordslikegrainsofgold，whiletheywerelighterthandustintheirmeaningtoPhilip\'smind;
wordswhichsuchasthespecksioneerusedascounterstobeguileandleadastraysillywomen。Itwasforhimtoprovehisconstancybyaction;andthechancesofhisgivingsuchproofwereinfinitesimalinPhilip\'sestimation。
ButshouldthelattermentionthebarefactofKinraid\'simpressmenttoRobson？Thatwouldhavebeenthenaturalcourseofthings，rememberingthatthelasttimePhiliphadseeneither，theywereineachother\'scompany。
TwentytimesheputhispentothepaperwiththeintentionofrelatingbrieflytheeventthathadbefallenKinraid;andasoftenhestopped，asthoughthefirstwordwouldbeirrevocable。Whilehethussatepeninhand，thinkinghimselfwiserthanconscience，andlookingonbeyondthenextstepwhichshebadehimtakeintoanindefinitefuture，hecaughtsomefragmentsofthesailors\'talkattheotherendoftheroom，whichmadehimlistentotheirwords。TheywerespeakingofthatveryKinraid，thethoughtofwhomfilledhisownmindlikeanactualpresence。Inarough，carelesswaytheyspokeofthespecksioneer，withadmirationenoughforhispowersasasailorandharpooner;andfromthattheypassedontojestingmentionofhispoweramongstwomen，andoneortwogirls\'nameswerespokenofinconnectionwithhim。HepburnsilentlyaddedAnnieCoulsonandSylviaRobsontothislist，andhischeeksturnedpalerashedidso。LongaftertheyhaddonespeakingaboutKinraid，aftertheyhadpaidtheirshot，andgoneaway，hesateinthesameattitude，thinkingbitterthoughts。
Thepeopleofthehousepreparedforbed。Theirsilentguesttooknoheedoftheirmutesigns。Atlengththelandlordspoketohim，andhestarted，gatheredhiswitstogetherwithaneffort，andpreparedtoretirewiththerest。Butbeforehedidso，hesignedanddirectedthelettertohisuncle，leavingitstillopen，however，incasesomesuddenfeelingshouldprompthimtoaddapostscript。Thelandlordvolunteeredtheinformationthattheletterhisguesthadbeenwritingmustbepostedearlythenextmorningifitwasgoingsouth;asthemailsinthatdirectiononlyleftNewcastleeveryotherday。
AllnightlongHepburnweariedhimselfwithpassionatetossings，promptedbystingingrecollection。Towardsmorninghefellintoadeadsoundsleep。
Hewasrousedbyahastyknockingatthedoor。Itwasbroadfulldaylight;
hehadoverslepthimself，andthesmackwasleavingbytheearlytide。
Hewasevennowsummonedonboard。Hedressed，waferedhisletter，andrushedwithittotheneighbouringpost—office;and，withoutcaringtotouchthebreakfastforwhichhepaid，heembarked。Onceonboard，heexperiencedthereliefwhichitalwaysistoanundecidedman，andgenerallyisatfirsttoanyonewhohasbeenpalteringwithduty，whencircumstancesdecideforhim。Inthefirstcase，itispleasanttoberelievedfromtheburdenofdecision;inthesecond，theresponsibilityseemstobeshiftedontoimpersonalevents。
AndsoPhilipsailedoutofthemouthoftheTyneontothegreatopensea。ItwouldbeaweekbeforethesmackreachedLondon，evenifshepursuedatolerablystraightcourse，butshehadtokeepasharplook—outafterpossibleimpressmentofhercrew;anditwasnotuntilaftermanydodgesandsomeadventuresthat，attheendofafortnightfromthetimeofhisleavingMonkshaven，PhilipfoundhimselfsafelyhousedinLondon，andreadytobeginthedelicatepieceofworkwhichwasgivenhimtodo。
Hefelthimselffullycapableofunravellingeachcluetoinformation，anddecidingonthevalueoftheknowledgesogained。ButduringtheleisureofthevoyagehehadwiselydeterminedtocommunicateeverythinghelearntaboutDickinson，inshort，everystephetookinthematter，bylettertohisemployers。Andthushismindbothinandoutofhislodgingsmighthaveappearedtohavebeenfullyoccupiedwiththeconcernsofothers。
Butthereweretimeswhenthemiserableluxuryofdwellinguponhisownaffairswashis——whenhelaydowninhisbedtillhefellintorestlesssleep——whenthepointtowhichhisstepstendedinhiswalkswasascertained。
Thenhegavehimselfuptomemory，andregretwhichoftendeepenedintodespair，andbutseldomwascheeredbyhope。
Hegrewsoimpatientoftheignoranceinwhichhewaskept——forinthosedaysofheavypostageanycorrespondencehemighthavehadonmereMonkshavenintelligencewasverylimitedastotheaffairsatHaytersbank，thathecutoutanadvertisementrespectingsomenewkindofplough，fromanewspaperthatlayinthechop—housewhereheusuallydined，andrisingearlythenextmorningheemployedthetimethusgainedingoingroundtotheshopwherethesenewploughsweresold。
ThatnighthewroteanotherlettertoDanielRobson，withalongaccountofthemeritsoftheimplementshehadthatdayseen。Withasickheartandahesitatinghand，hewoundupwithamessageofregardtohisauntandtoSylvia;anexpressionofregardwhichhedarednotmakeaswarmashewished，andwhich，consequently，fellbelowtheusualmarkattainedbysuchmessages，andwouldhaveappearedtoanyonewhoearedtothinkaboutitascoldandformal。
Whenthisletterwasdespatched，Hepburnbegantowonderwhathehadhopedforinwritingit。HeknewthatDanielcouldwrite——orratherthathecouldmakestrangehieroglyphics，themeaningofwhichpuzzledothersandoftenhimself;butthesepen—and—inksignswereseldomemployedbyRobson，andnever，sofarasPhilipknew，forthepurposeofletter—writing。
ButstillhecravedsofornewsofSylvia——evenforasightofpaperwhichshehadseen，andperhapstouched——thathethoughtallhistroubleabouttheplough（tosaynothingoftheone—and—twopencepostagewhichhehadprepaidinordertomakesureofhisletter\'sreceptioninthefrugalhouseholdatHaytersbank）welllostforthemerechanceofhisuncle\'scaringenoughfortheintelligencetowriteinreply，oreventogetsomefriendtowriteananswer;forinsuchcase，perhaps，Philipmightseehernamementionedinsomeway，eventhoughitwasonlythatshesentherdutytohim。
Butthepost—officewasdumb;nolettercamefromDanielRobson。Philipheard，itistrue，fromhisemployersprettyfrequentlyonbusiness;andhefeltsuretheywouldhavenamedit，ifanyillhadbefallenhisuncle\'sfamily，fortheyknewoftherelationshipandofhisintimacythere。TheygenerallyendedtheirformalletterswithasformalasummaryofMonkshavennews;buttherewasneveramentionoftheRobsons，andthatofitselfwaswell，butitdidnotsoothePhilip\'simpatientcuriosity。Hehadneverconfidedhisattachmenttohiscousintoanyone，itwasnothisway;buthesometimesthoughtthatifCoulsonhadnottakenhispresentappointmenttoaconfidentialpieceofemploymentsoill，hewouldhavewrittentohimandaskedhimtogouptoHaytersbankFarm，andlethimknowhowtheyallwere。
Allthistimehewastransactingtheaffaironwhichhehadbeensent，withgreatskill;and，indeed，inseveralways，hewasquietlylayingthefoundationforenlargingthebusinessinMonkshaven。Naturallygraveandquiet，andslowtospeak，heimpressedthosewhosawhimwiththeideaofgreaterageandexperiencethanhereallypossessed。Indeed，thosewhoencounteredhiminLondon，thoughthewasabsorbedinthebusinessofmoney—making。
YetbeforethetimecamewhenhecouldwindupaffairsandreturntoMonkshaven，hewouldhavegivenallhepossessedforaletterfromhisuncle，tellinghimsomethingaboutSylvia。ForhestillhopedtohearfromRobson，althoughheknewthathehopedagainstreason。Butweoftenconvinceourselvesbygoodargumentthatwhatwewishforneedneverhavebeenexpected;andthen，attheendofourreasoning，findthatwemighthavesavedourselvesthetrouble，forthatourwishesareuntouched，andareasstrongenemiestoourpeaceofmindasever。Hepburn\'sbaulkedhopewastheMordecaisittinginHaman\'sgate;allhissuccessinhiserrandtoLondon，hiswell—doinginworldlyaffairs，wastasteless，andgavehimnopleasure，becauseofthisblankandvoidofallintelligenceconcerningSylvia。
AndyethecamebackwithaletterfromtheFostersinhispocket，curt，yetexpressiveofdeepgratitudeforhisdiscreetservicesinLondon;andatanothertime——infact，ifPhilip\'slifehadbeenordereddifferentlytowhatitwas——itmighthavegiventhismananotunworthypleasuretorememberthat，withoutapennyofhisown，simplybydiligence，honesty，andfaithfulquick—sightednessastotheinterestsofhismasters，hehadrisentoholdthepromiseofbeingtheirsuccessor，andtoberankedbythemasatrustedfriend。
AstheNewcastlesmacknearedtheshoreonhervoyagehome，HepburnlookedwistfullyoutforthefaintgrayoutlineofMonkshavenPrioryagainstthesky，andthewell—knowncliffs;asifthemassesofinanimatestonecouldtellhimanynewsofSylvia。
InthestreetsofShields，justafterlanding，heencounteredaneighbouroftheRobsons，andanacquaintanceofhisown。Bythishonestman，hewaswelcomedasagreattravelleriswelcomedonhisreturnfromalongvoyage，withmanyheartygoodshakesofthehand，muchrepetitionofkindwishes，andofferstotreathimtodrink。Yet，fromsomeinsurmountablefeeling，Philipavoidedallmentionofthefamilywhoweretheprincipalbondbetweenthehonestfarmerandhimself。Hedidnotknowwhy，buthecouldnotbeartheshockoffirsthearinghernameintheopenstreet，orintheroughpublic—house。Andthusheshrankfromtheintelligencehecravedtohear。
ThusheknewnomoreabouttheRobsonswhenhereturnedtoMonkshaven，thanhehaddoneonthedaywhenhehadlastseenthem;and，ofcourse，hisfirsttasktherewastogivealongvivavoceaccountofallhisLondonproceedingstothetwobrothersFoster，who，consideringthattheyhadheardtheresultofeverythingbyletter，seemedtotakeaninsatiableinterestindetails。
Hecouldhardlytellwhy，butevenwhenreleasedfromtheFosters\'parlour，hewasunwillingtogotoHaytersbankFarm。Itwaslate，itistrue，butonaMayeveningevencountrypeoplekeepuptilleightornineo\'clock。
PerhapsitwasbecauseHepburnwasstillinhistravel—staineddress;havinggonestraighttotheshoponhisarrivalinMonkshaven。Perhapsitwasbecause，ifhewentthisnightfortheshorthalf—hourinterveningbeforebed—time，hewouldhavenoexcuseforpayingalongervisitonthefollowingevening。Atanyrate，heproceededstraighttoAliceRose\'s，assoonashehadfinishedhisinterviewwithhisemployers。
BothHesterandCoulsonhadgivenhimtheirwelcomehomeintheshop，whichtheyhad，however，leftanhourortwobeforehim。
Yettheygavehimafreshgreeting，almostoneinwhichsurprisewasblended，whenhecametohislodgings。EvenAliceseemedgratifiedbyhisspendingthisfirsteveningwiththem，asifshehadthoughtitmighthavebeenotherwise。Wearythoughhewas，heexertedhimselftotalkandtorelatewhathehaddoneandseeninLondon，asfarashecouldwithoutbreakingconfidencewithhisemployers。Itwassomethingtoseethepleasurehegavetohisauditors，althoughtherewereseveralmixedfeelingsintheirmindstoproducetheexpressionofitwhichgratifiedhim。CoulsonwassorryforhisformerungenerousreceptionofthenewsthatPhilipwasgoingtoLondon;Hesterandhermothereachsecretlybegantofeelasifthiseveningwaslikemorehappyeveningsofold，beforetheRobsonscametoHaytersbankFarm;andwhoknowswhatfaintdelicioushopesthisresemblancemaynothavesuggested？
WhilePhilip，restlessandexcited，feelingthathecouldnotsleep，wasgladtopassawaythewakinghoursthatmustintervenebeforeto—morrownight，attimes，hetriedtomakethemtalkofwhathadhappenedinMonkshavenduringhisabsence，butallhadgoneoninaneventlessmanner，asfarashecouldgather;iftheyknewofanythingaffectingtheRobsons，theyavoidedspeakingofittohim;and，indeed，howlittlelikelyweretheyevertohaveheardtheirnameswhilehewasaway？
chapter20CHAPTERXXLOVEDANDLOSTPhilipwalkedtowardstheRobsons\'farmlikeamaninadream，whohaseverythingaroundhimaccordingtohiswish，andyetisconsciousofasecretmysteriousinevitabledrawbacktohisenjoyment。Hepburndidnotcaretothinkwouldnotrealizewhatthisdrawback，whichneednothavebeenmysteriousinhiscase，was。
TheMayeveningwasgloriousinlightandshadow。Thecrimsonsunwarmedupthechillynorthernairtoasemblanceofpleasantheat。Thespringsightsandsoundswereallabout;thelambswerebleatingouttheirgentlewearinessbeforetheysanktorestbythesideoftheirmothers;thelinnetswerechirpingineverybushofgoldengorsethatgrewoutofthestonewalls;thelarkwassinginghergood—nightinthecloudlesssky，beforeshedroppeddowntohernestinthetendergreenwheat;allspokeofbroodingpeacebutPhilip\'sheartwasnotatpeace。
Yethewasgoingtoproclaimhisgoodfortune。HismastershadthatdaypubliclyannouncedthatCoulsonandheweretobetheirsuccessors，andhehadnowarrivedatthatlonged—forpointinhisbusiness，whenhehadresolvedtoopenlyspeakofhislovetoSylvia，andmightopenlystrivetogainherlove。But，alasthefulfilmentofthatwishofhishadlaggedsadlybehind。Hewasplacedasfarashecould，eveninhismostsanguinemoments，havehopedtobeasregardedbusiness，butSylviawasasfarfromhisattainmentasever——nay，farther。StillthegreatobstaclewasremovedinKinraid\'simpressment。Philiptookuponhimselftodecidethat，withsuchamanasthespecksioneer，absencewasequivalenttofaithlessforgetfulness。
HethoughtthathehadjustgroundsforthisdecisionintheaccounthehadheardofKinraid\'sbehaviourtoAnnieCoulson;totheothernamelessyounggirl，hersuccessorinhisfickleheart;intheribaldtalkofthesailorsintheNewcastlepublic—house。ItwouldbewellforSylviaifshecouldforgetasquickly;and，topromotethisoblivion，thenameofherlovershouldneverbebroughtup，eitherinpraiseorblame。AndPhilipwouldbepatientandenduring;allthetimewatchingoverher，andlabouringtowinherreluctantlove。
Thereshewas！Hesawherashestoodatthetopofthelittlehill—pathleadingdowntotheRobsons\'door。Shewasoutofdoors，inthegarden，which，atsomedistancefromthehouse，slopedupthebankontheoppositesideofthegully;muchtoofarofftobespokento——nottoofarofftobegazedatbyeyesthatcaressedhereverymovement。HowwellPhilipknewthatgarden;placedlongagobysometenantofthefarmonasouthernslope;
wailedinwithroughmoorlandstones;plantedwithberry—bushesforuse，andsouthernwoodandsweet—briarforsweetnessofsmell。WhentheRobsonshadfirstcometoHaytersbank，andSylviawasscarcelymorethanaprettychild，howwellherememberedhelpingherwiththearrangementofthisgarden;layingouthisfewsparepenceinhen—and—chickendaisiesatonetime，inflower—seedsatanother;againinarose—treeinapot。Heknewhowhisunaccustomedhandshadlabouredwiththespadeatformingalittleprimitivebridgeoverthebeckinthehollowbeforewinterstreamsshouldmakeittoodeepforfording;howhehadcutdownbranchesofthemountain—ashandcoveredthemover，yetdeckedwiththeirscarletberries，withsodsofgreenturf，beyondwhichthebrilliancycreptout;butnowitwasmonthsandyearssincehehadbeeninthatgarden，whichhadlostitscharmforSylvia，asshefoundthebleaksea—windscameupandblightedallendeavoursatcultivatingmorethanthemostusefulthings——pot—herbs，marigolds，potatoes，onions，andsuch—like。Whydidshetarrytherenow，standingquitemotionlessupbythehighestbitofwall，lookingoverthesea，withherhandshadinghereyes？Quitemotionless;asifshewereastonestatue。
Hebegantowishshewouldmove——wouldlookathim——butanywaythatshewouldmove，andnotstandgazingthusoverthatgreatdrearysea。
Hewentdownthepathwithanimpatientstep，andenteredthehouse—place。
Theresathisauntspinning，andapparentlyaswellasever。HecouldhearhisuncletalkingtoKesterintheneighbouringshippen;allwaswellinthehouse—hold。WhywasSylviastandinginthegardeninthatstrangequietway？
\'Why，lad！thou\'rtasightforsaireen！\'saidhisaunt，asshestooduptowelcomehimback。\'An\'whendidsttacome，eh？——butthyunclewillbegladtoseethee，andtoheartheetalkaboutyonpleughs;he\'sthoughtadealo\'thyletters。I\'llgocallhimin。\'
\'Notyet，\'saidPhilip，stoppingherinherprogresstowardsthedoor。
\'He\'sbusytalkingtoKester。I\'minnohastetobegone。Icanstayacoupleofhours。Sitdown，andtellmehowyouareyoursel\'——andhowiverythingis。AndI\'veadealtotellyou。\'
\'Tobesure——tobesure。Tothinkthou\'sbeeninLunnonsin\'Isawthee！——welltobesure！There\'savasto\'comingandgoingi\'thisworld。Thou\'llmindyonspecksioneerlad，himaswascousintot\'Corneys——CharleyKinraid？\'
Mindhim！Asifhecouldforgethim。
\'Well！he\'sdeadandgone。\'
\'Dead！Whotoldyou？Idon\'tunderstand，\'saidPhilip，instrangebewilderment。
CouldKinraidhavetriedtoescapeafterall，andbeenwounded，killedintheattempt？Ifnot，howshouldtheyknowhewasdead？Missinghemightbe，thoughhowthisshouldbeknownwasstrange，ashewassupposedtobesailingtotheGreenlandseas。Butdead！Whatdidtheymean？AtPhilip\'sworstmomentofhatredhehadhardlydaredtowishhimdead。
\'Dunnotyo\'mentionitaforeourSylvie;weniverspeakonhimtoher，forshetakesitadealtoheart，thoughI\'mthinkin\'itwereagoodthingforher;forhe\'dgotaholdofher——hehadonBessyCorney，too，ashermothertelledme;——notthatIiverletontothemasSylviafretsafterhim，sokeepacalmsough，mylad。It\'sagirl\'sfancy——justakindo\'
calf—love;letitgoby;andit\'swellforherhe\'sdead，thoughit\'shardtosaysoonadrownedman。\'
\'Drowned！\'saidPhilip。\'Howdoyo\'know？\'halfhopingthatthepoordrenchedswollenbodymighthavebeenfound，andthusallquestionsanddilemmassolved。Kinraidmighthavestruggledoverboardwithropesorhandcuffson，andsohavebeendrowned。
\'Eh，lad！there\'snomisdoubtin\'it。Hewerethoughtadealonbyt\'
captaino\'t\'Urania;andwhenhenivercomebackont\'daywhensheoughtfortohavesailed，hesenttoKinraid\'speopleatCullercoats，andtheysenttoBrunton\'si\'Newcassel，andtheyknewhe\'dbeenhere。
T\'captainputoffsailingfortwoorthreedays，thathemightha\'thatmuchlaw;butwhenheheardasKinraidwerenotatCorneys\'，buthadleft\'ema\'mostontoaweek，hewentofftothemnorthernseaswi\'t\'nextbestspecksioneerhecouldfind。Forthere\'snousespeakingillont\'
dead;an\'thoughIcouldn\'tabearhiscomingforiveraboutt\'house，hewereararegoodspecksioneer，asI\'vebeentold。\'
\'Buthowdoyouknowhewasdrowned？\'saidPhilip，feelingguiltilydisappointedathisaunt\'sstory。
\'Why，lad！I\'ma\'mostashamedtotellthee，Iweresoreputoutmysel\';
butSylviaweresobroken—heartedlikeIcouldn\'tcastituptoherasIshouldha\'liked:th\'sillylasshadgoneandgi\'enhimabito\'ribbon，asmanyaoneknowed，forithadbeenavastnoticedandadmiredthatevenin\'
atth\'Corneys\'——NewYear\'sEveIthinkitwere——andt\'poorvainpeacockhadtieditonhishat，sothatwhent\'tide————hist！there\'sSylviecominginatt\'back—door;neverleton，\'andinaforcedmade—upvoicesheinquiredaloud，forhithertoshehadbeenspeakingalmostinawhisper，——
\'AnddidsttaseeKingGeorgeanQueenCharlotte？\'
Philipcouldnotanswer——didnothear。HissoulhadgoneouttomeetSylvia，whoenteredwithquietslownessquiteunlikeherformerself。Herfacewaswanandwhite;hergrayeyesseemedlarger，andfullofdumbtearlesssorrow;shecameuptoPhilip，asifhisbeingtheretouchedherwithnosurprise，andgavehimagentlegreetingasifhewereafamiliarindifferentpersonwhomshehadseenbutyesterday。Philip，whohadrecollectedthequarreltheyhadhad，andaboutKinraidtoo，theverylasttimetheyhadmet，hadexpectedsometraceofthisremembrancetolingerinherlooksandspeechtohim。Buttherewasnosuchsign;hergreatsorrowhadwipedawayallanger，almostallmemory。Hermotherlookedatheranxiously，andthensaidinthesamemannerofforcedcheerfulnesswhichshehadusedbefore，——
\'Here\'sPhilip，lass，a\'fullo\'Lunnon;callthyfatherin，anwe\'llheara\'aboutt\'new—fangledpleughs。It\'llberarean\'niceasittingtogetheragain。\'
Sylvia，silentanddocile，wentouttotheshippentoobeyhermother\'swish。BellRobsonleantforwardtowardsPhilip，misinterpretingtheexpressiononhisface，whichwasguiltasmuchassympathy，andcheckedthepossiblerepentancewhichmighthaveurgedhimonatthatmomenttotellallheknew，bysaying，\'Lad！it\'sa\'fort\'best。Hewerenoanegoodenoughforher;andImisdoubtmehewereonlyplayin\'wi\'herashe\'ddonebyothers。
Lethera—be，lethera—be;she\'llcomeroundtobethankful。\'
Robsonbustledinwithloudwelcome;allthelouderandmoretalkativebecausehe，likehiswife，assumedacheerfulmannerbeforeSylvia。Yethe，unlikehiswife，hadmanyasecretregretoverKinraid\'sfate。Atfirst，whilemerelythefactofhisdisappearancewasknown，DanielRobsonhadhitonthetruth，andhadstucktohisopinionthatthecursedpress—gangwereatthebottomofit。Hehadbackedhiswordsbymanyanoath，andallthemorebecausehehadnotasinglereasontogivethatappliedtothepresentoccasion。Nooneonthelonelycoasthadremarkedanysignofthepresenceofthemen—of—war，orthetendersthataccompaniedthem，forthepurposeofimpressmentontheKing\'sships。AtShields，andatthemouthoftheTyne，wheretheylayingreedywait，theownersoftheUraniahadcausedstrictsearchtobemadefortheirskilledandprotectedspecksioneer，butwithnosuccess。AllthispositiveevidenceincontradictiontoDanielRobson\'sopiniononlymadehimclingtoitthemore;untilthedaywhenthehatwasfoundontheshorewithKinraid\'snamewrittenoutlargeandfairintheinside，andthetell—talebitofribbonknottedintheband。ThenDaniel，byasuddenrevulsion，gaveupeveryhope;itneverenteredhismindthatitcouldhavefallenoffbyanyaccident。No！nowKinraidwasdeadanddrowned，anditwasabadjob，andthesooneritcouldbeforgottenthebetterforallparties;anditwaswellnooneknewhowfarithadgonewithSylvia，especiallynowsinceBessyCorneywascryinghereyesoutasifhehadbeenengagedtoher。
SoDanielsaidnothingtohiswifeaboutthemischiefthathadgoneoninherabsence，andneverspoketoSylviaabouttheaffair;onlyhewasmorethanusuallytendertoherinhisroughway，andthought，morning，noon，andnight，onwhathecoulddotogiveherpleasure，anddriveawayallrecollectionofherill—starredlove。
To—nighthewouldhavehersitbyhimwhilePhiliptoldhisstories，orheavilyansweredquestionsputtohim。Sylviasatonastoolbyherfather\'sknee，holdingoneofhishandsinbothofhers;andpresentlyshelaiddownherheaduponthem，andPhilipsawhersadeyeslookingintotheflickeringfire—lightwithlongunwinkingstare，showingthatherthoughtswerefardistant。Hecouldhardlygoonwithhistalesofwhathehadseen，andwhatdone，hewassofullofpityforher。Yet，forallhispity，hehadnowresolvednevertosootheherwiththeknowledgeofwhatheknew，nortodeliverthemessage。sentbyherfalselover。Hefeltlikeamotherwithholdingsomethinginjuriousfromthefoolishwishofherplainingchild。
Buthewentawaywithoutbreathingawordofhisgoodfortuneinbusiness。
Thetellingofsuchkindofgoodfortuneseemedoutofplacethisnight，whenthethoughtofdeathandthelossoffriendsseemedtobroodoverthehousehold，andcastitsshadowthere，obscuringforthetimeallworldlythings。
Andsothegreatpieceofnewscameoutintheordinarycourseofgossip，toldbysomeMonkshavenfriendtoRobsonthenextmarket—day。FormonthsPhiliphadbeenlookingforwardtothesensationwhichtheintelligencewouldproduceinthefarmhousehold，asapreliminarytolayinghisgoodfortuneatSylvia\'sfeet。Andtheyheardofit，andheaway，andallchanceofhismakinguseofitinthemannerhehadintendedvanishedforthepresent。
Danielwasalwayscuriousafterotherpeople\'saffairs，andnowwasmorethaneverbentoncollectingscrapsofnewswhichmightpossiblyinterestSylvia，androuseheroutofthestateofindifferenceastoeverythingintowhichshehadfallen。PerhapshethoughtthathehadnotactedaltogetherwiselyinallowinghertoengageherselftoKinraid，forhewasamanapttojudgebyresults;andmoreoverhehadhadsomuchreasontorepentoftheencouragementwhichhehadgiventotheloverwhoseuntimelyendhadsodeeplyaffectedhisonlychild，thathewasmoreunwillingthaneverthathiswifeshouldknowofthelengthtowhichtheaffairhadgoneduringherabsence。HeevenurgedsecrecyuponSylviaasapersonalfavour;unwillingtoencounterthesilentblamewhichheopenlyaffectedtodespise。
\'We\'llnoanefretthymotherbylettin\'onhowofthecameandwent。
She\'ll，maybe，bethinkin\'hewereforspeakin\'tothee，mypoorlass;
an\'itwouldputheroutadeal，forshe\'sawomanofasternmindtowardsmatteremony。Andshe\'llbenoanesostrongtillsummer—weathercomes，andI\'dbeloathtogiveheraughttoworrithersel\'about。Sotheeandme\'llkeepourowncounsel。\'
\'Iwishmotherhadbeenhere，thenshe\'dha\'knownall，withoutmytellingher。\'
\'Cheerup，lass;it\'sbetterasitis。Thou\'llgeto\'eritsoonerforhavin\'noonetoletonto。Amyselfamnoanegoingtospeakon\'tagain。\'
Nomorehedid;buttherewasastrangetendernessinhistoneswhenhespoketoher;ahalf—patheticwayofseekingafterher，ifbyanychanceshewasabsentforaminutefromtheplaceswhereheexpectedtofindher;
aconsiderationforher，aboutthistime，inhiswayofbringingbacktriflingpresents，orsmallpiecesofnewsthathethoughtmightinteresther，whichsankdeepintoherheart。
\'Andwhatdunyo\'thinka\'t\'folksistalkin\'oni\'Monkshaven？\'askedhe，almostbeforehehadtakenoffhiscoat，onthedaywhenhehadheardofPhilip\'spromotionintheworld。\'Why，missus，thynephew，PhilipHepburn，hasgothisnameupi\'goldlettersfourinchlongo\'erFosters\'door！
HimandCoulsonhassetupshoptogether，andFostersisgoneout！\'
\'That\'st\'secretofhisjourneyt\'Lunnon，\'saidBell，moregratifiedthanshechosetoshow。
\'Fourinchlongifthey\'retheereatall！Iheerdonitatt\'BayHorsefirst;butIthoughtyo\'dniverbesatisfied\'boutIseeditwi\'myowneyes。TheydosayasGregoryJones，t\'plumber，gotitdonei\'York，forthatnoughtelsewouldsatisfyoldJeremiah。It\'llbeamattero\'somehundredsayeari\'Philip\'spocket。\'
\'There\'llbeFostersi\'th\'background，asonemaysay，totaket\'biggestshareont\'profits，\'saidBell。
\'Ay，ay，that\'sbutasitshouldbe，forIreckonthey\'llha\'tofindt\'brassthefirst，mylass！\'saidhe，turningtoSylvia。\'A\'mfaintotak\'theeintot\'townnextmarket—day，justfortheet\'see\'t。A\'llbuytheeabonnyribbonforthyhairouto\'t\'cousin\'sownshop。\'