AlthoughDanielhimselfwasunreasoning，hasty，impulsive——inaword，oftenthinkingandactingveryfoolishly——yet，somehow，eitherfromsomequalityinhischaracter，orfromtheloyaltyofnatureinthosewithwhomhehadtodealinhisevery—daylife，hehadmadehisplaceandpositionclearasthearbiterandlaw—giverofhishousehold。Onhisdecision，asthatofhusband，father，master，perhapssuperiornatureswaited。Sonowthathewasgoneandhadlefttheminsuchstrangenewcircumstancessosuddenly，itseemedasthoughneitherBellnorSylviaknewexactlywhattodowhentheirgriefwasspent，somuchhadeveryhouseholdactionandplanbeenregulatedbythethoughtofhim。MeanwhilePhiliphadslowlybeenarrivingattheconclusionthathewasmorewantedatMonkshaventolookafterDaniel\'sinterests，tolearnwhatwerethelegalprobabilitiesinconsequenceoftheoldman\'sarrest，andtoarrangeforhisfamilyaccordingly，thanstandingstillandsilentintheHaytersbankkitchen，toofulloffellow—feelingandheavyforebodingtocomfort，awkwardlyunsympatheticinappearancefromtheveryachingofhisheart。
Sowhenhisaunt，withinstinctivesenseofregularityandpropriety，begantoputawaythescarcelytasteddinner，andSylvia，blindedwithcrying，andconvulsivelysobbing，wasyettryingtohelphermother，Philiptookhishat，andbrushingitroundandroundwiththesleeveofhiscoat，said，——
\'IthinkI\'lljustgoback，andseehowmattersstand。\'Hehadamoredistinctplaninhisheadthanthesewordsimplied，butitdependedonsomanycontingenciesofwhichhewasignorantthathesaidonlythesefewwords;andwithasilentresolutiontoseethemagainthatday，butadreadofbeingcompelledtoexpresshisfears，sofarbeyondtheirs，hewentoffwithoutsayinganythingmore。ThenSylvialifteduphervoicewithagreatcry。Somehowshehadexpectedhimtodosomething——what，shedidnotknow;buthewasgone，andtheywereleftwithoutstayorhelp。
\'Hushthee，hushthee，\'saidhermother，tremblingalloverherself;
\'it\'sforthebest。TheLordknows。\'
\'ButIniverthoughthe\'dleaveus，\'moanedSylvia，halfinhermother\'sarms，andthinkingofPhilip。HermothertookthewordsasappliedtoDaniel。
\'Andhe\'dniverha\'leftus，mywench，ifhecouldha\'stayed。\'
\'Oh，mother，mother，it\'sPhilipashasleftus，andhecouldha\'stayed。\'
\'He\'llcomeback，ormebbesend，I\'llbebound。Leastwayshe\'llbegonetoseefeyther，andhe\'llneedcomfortmostonall，inafremdplace——inBridewell——andniveramorselofvictualorapieceo\'money。\'Andnowshesatedown，andweptthedryhottearsthatcomewithsuchdifficultytotheeyesoftheaged。Andso——firstonegrieving，andthentheother，andeachdrainingherownheartofeverypossiblehopebywayofcomfort，alternatelytryingtocheerandconsole——theFebruaryafternoonpassedaway;thecontinuousrainclosinginthedaylightevenearlierthanusual，andaddingtothedreariness，withthenaturalaccompanimentsofwailingwinds，comingwithlongsweepsoverthemoors，andmakingthesobbingsatthewindowsthatalwayssoundlikethegaspsofsomeoneingreatagony。
MeanwhilePhiliphadhastenedbacktoMonkshaven。Hehadnoumbrella，hehadtofacethedrivingrainforthegreaterpartoftheway;buthewasthankfultotheweather，foritkeptmenindoors，andhewantedtomeetnoone，buttohavetimetothinkandmaturehisplans。Thetownitselfwas，sotospeak，inmourning。Therescueofthesailorswasadistinctlypopularmovement;thesubsequentviolence（whichhad，indeed，gonemuchfurtherthanhasbeendescribed，afterDanielleftit）was，ingeneral，consideredasonlyakindofduepunishmentinflictedinwildjusticeonthepress—gangandtheirabettors。ThefeelingoftheMonkshavenpeoplewas，therefore，indecidedoppositiontothevigorousstepstakenbythecountymagistrates，who，inconsequenceofanappealfromthenavalofficersinchargeoftheimpressmentservice，hadcalledoutthemilitia（fromadistantandinlandcounty）stationedwithinafewmiles，andhadthussummarilyquenchedtheriotsthatwerecontinuingontheSundaymorningafterasomewhatlanguidfashion;thegreaterpartofthedestructionofpropertyhavingbeenaccomplishedduringthepreviousnight。Stilltherewaslittledoubtbutthattheviolencewouldhavebeenrenewedaseveningdrewon，andthemoredesperatepartofthepopulationandtheenragedsailorshadhadtheSabbathleisuretobroodovertheirwrongs，andtoencourageeachotherinapassionateattemptatredress，orrevenge。Sotheauthoritieswerequitejustifiedinthedecidedstepstheyhadtaken，bothintheirownestimationthen，andnow，inours，lookingbackontheaffairincoldblood。Butatthetimefeelingranstronglyagainstthem;
andallmeansofexpressingitselfinactionbeingprevented，menbroodedsullenlyintheirownhouses。Philip，astherepresentativeofthefamily，theheadofwhichwasnowsufferingforhisdeedsinthepopularcause，wouldhavemetwithmoresympathy，ay，andmorerespectthanheimagined，ashewentalongthestreets，glancingfromsidetoside，fearfulofmeetingsomewhowouldshyhimastherelationofonewhohadbeenignominiouslytakentoBridewellafewhoursbefore。ButinspiteofthiswincingofPhilip\'sfromobservationandremark，heneverdreamedofactingotherwisethanasbecameabravetruefriend。Andthishedid，andwouldhavedone，fromanaturalfaithfulnessandconstancyofdisposition，withoutanyspecialregardforSylvia。
Heknewhisserviceswereneededintheshop;businesswhichhehadleftatamoment\'swarningawaitedhim，unfinished;butatthistimehecouldnotbearthetortureofgivingexplanations，andallegingreasonstothelanguidintelligenceandslowsympathiesofCoulson。
HewenttotheofficesofMrDonkin，theoldestestablishedandmostrespectedattorneyinMonkshaven——hewhohadbeenemployedtodrawupthelawpapersanddeedsofpartnershipconsequentonHepburnandCoulsonsucceedingtotheshopofJohnandJeremiahFoster，Brothers。
MrDonkinknewPhilipfromthiscircumstance。But，indeed，nearlyeveryoneinMonkshavenkneweachother;ifnotenoughtospeakto，atleastenoughtobeacquaintedwiththepersonalappearanceandreputationofmostofthosewhomtheymetinthestreets。ItsohappenedthatMrDonkinhadafavourableopinionofPhilip;andperhapsforthisreasonthelatterhadashortertimetowaitbeforeheobtainedaninterviewwiththeheadofthehouse，thanmanyoftheclientswhocameforthatpurposefromtownorcountryformanymilesround。
Philipwasusheredin。MrDonkinsatewithhisspectaclespusheduponhisforehead，readytowatchhiscountenanceandlistentohiswords。
\'Goodafternoon，MrHepburn！\'
\'Goodafternoon，sir。\'Philiphesitatedhowtobegin。MrDonkinbecameimpatient，andtappedwiththefingersofhislefthandonhisdesk。Philip\'ssensitivenervesfeltandrightlyinterpretedtheaction。
\'Please，sir，I\'mcometospeaktoyouaboutDanielRobson，ofHaytersbankFarm。\'
\'DanielRobson？\'saidMrDonkin，afterashortpause，totryandcompelPhilipintospeedinhisstory。
\'Yes，sir。He\'sbeentakenuponaccountofthisaffair，sir，aboutthepress—gangonSaturdaynight。\'
\'Tobesure！IthoughtIknewthename。\'AndMrDonkin\'sfacebecamegrayer，andtheexpressionmoreconcentrated。LookingupsuddenlyatPhilip，hesaid，\'YouareawarethatIamtheclerktothemagistrates？\'
\'No，sir，\'inatonethatindicatedtheunexpressed\'Whatthen？\'
\'Well，butIam。Andsoofcourse，ifyouwantmyservicesoradviceinfavourofaprisonerwhomtheyhavecommitted，oraregoingtocommit，youcan\'thavethem，that\'sall。\'
\'Iamverysorry——very！\'saidPhilip;andthenhewasagainsilentforaperiod;longenoughtomakethebusyattorneyimpatient。
\'Well，MrHepburn，haveyouanythingelsetosaytome？\'
\'Yes，sir。I\'veadealtoaskofyou;foryouseeIdon\'trightlyunderstandwhattodo;andyetI\'mallasDaniel\'swifeanddaughterhastolookto;
andI\'vetheirgriefheavyonmyheart。YoucouldnottellmewhatistobedonewithDaniel，couldyou，sir？\'
\'He\'llbebroughtupbeforethemagistratesto—morrowmorningforfinalexamination，alongwiththeothers，youknow，beforehe\'ssenttoYorkCastletotakehistrialatthespringassizes。\'
\'ToYorkCastle，sir？\'
MrDonkinnodded，asifwordsweretooprecioustowaste。
\'Andwhenwillhego？\'askedpoorPhilip，indismay。
\'To—morrow:mostprobablyassoonastheexaminationisover。Theevidenceisclearastohisbeingpresent，aidingandabetting，——indictedonthe4thsectionof1GeorgeI。，statute1，chapter5。I\'mafraidit\'sabadlook—out。Isheafriendofyours，MrHepburn？\'
\'Onlyanuncle，sir，\'saidPhilip，hisheartgettingfull;morefromMrDonkin\'smannerthanfromhiswords。\'Butwhatcantheydotohim，sir？\'
\'Do？\'MrDonkinhalfsmiledattheignorancedisplayed。\'Why，hanghim，tobesure;ifthejudgeisinahangingmood。He\'sbeeneitheraprincipalintheoffence，oraprincipalintheseconddegree，and，assuch，liabletothefullpunishment。Idrewupthewarrantmyselfthismorning，thoughIlefttheexactnametobefilledupbymyclerk。\'
\'Oh，sir！canyoudonothingforme？\'askedPhilip，withsharpbeseechinginhisvoice。Hehadneverimaginedthatitwasacapitaloffence;andthethoughtofhisaunt\'sandSylvia\'signoranceofthepossiblefateawaitinghimwhomtheysomuchloved，waslikeastabtohisheart。
\'No，mygoodfellow。I\'msorry;but，yousee，it\'smydutytodoallIcantobringcriminalstojustice。\'
\'Myunclethoughthewasdoingsuchafinedeed。\'
\'Demolishingandpullingdown，destroyingandburningdwelling—housesandouthouses，\'saidMrDonkin。\'Hemusthavesomepeculiarnotions。\'
\'Thepeopleissomadwiththepress—gang，andDanielhasbeenatseahisself;andtookitsotoheartwhenheheardofmarinersandseafaringfolkbeingcarriedoff，andjustcheatedintodoingwhatwaskindandhelpful——leastways，whatwouldhavebeenkindandhelpful，iftherehadbeenafire。I\'magainstviolenceandriotsmyself，sir，I\'msure;butIcannothelpthinkingasDanielhadadealtojustifyhimonSaturdaynight，sir。\'
\'Well;youmusttryandgetagoodlawyertobringoutallthatsideofthequestion。There\'sagooddealtobesaidonit，butit\'smydutytogetupalltheevidencetoprovethatheandotherswerepresentonthenightinquestion;so，asyou\'llperceive，Icangiveyounohelpindefendinghim。\'
\'Butwhocan，sir？Icametoyouasafriendwho，Ithought，wouldseemethroughit。AndIdon\'tknowanyotherlawyer;leastways，tospeakto。\'
MrDonkinwasreallymoreconcernedforthemisguidedriotersthanhewasaware;andhewasawareofmoreinterestthanhecaredtoexpress。
Sohesoftenedhistonealittle，andtriedtogivethebestadviceinhispower。
\'You\'dbettergotoEdwardDawsonontheothersideoftheriver;hethatwasarticledclerkwithmetwoyearsago，youknow。He\'sacleverfellow，andhasnottoomuchpractice;he\'lldothebesthecanforyou。
He\'llhavetobeatthecourt—house，tellhim，to—morrowmorningatten，whenthejusticesmeet。He\'llwatchthecaseforyou;andthenhe\'llgiveyouhisopinion，andtellyouwhattodo。Youcan\'tdobetterthanfollowhisadvice。ImustdoallIcantocollectevidenceforaconviction，youknow。\'
Philipstoodup，lookedathishat，andthencameforwardandlaiddownsixandeightpenceonthedeskinablushing，awkwardway。
\'Pooh！pooh！\'saidMrDonkin，pushingthemoneyaway。\'Don\'tbeafool;
you\'llneeditallbeforethetrial\'sover。I\'vedonenothing，man。Itwouldbeaprettythingformetobefeedbybothparties。\'
Philiptookupthemoney，andlefttheroom。Inaninstanthecamebackagain，glancedfurtivelyatMrDonkin\'sface，andthen，oncemorehavingrecoursetobrushinghishat，hesaid，inalowvoice——
\'You\'llnotbeharduponhim，sir，Ihope？\'
\'Imustdomyduty，\'repliedMrDonkin，alittlesternly，\'withoutanyquestionofhardness。\'
Philip，discomfited，lefttheroom;aninstantofthoughtandMrDonkinhadjumpedup，andhasteningtothedoorheopeneditandcalledafterPhilip。
\'Hepburn——Hepburn——Isay，he\'llbetakentoYorkassoonasmaybeto—morrowmorning;ifanyonewantstoseehimbeforethen，they\'dbetterlooksharpaboutit。\'
PhilipwentquicklyalongthestreetstowardsMrDawson\'s，ponderinguponthemeaningofallthathehadheard，andwhathehadbetterdo。HehadmadehisplansprettyclearlyoutbythetimehearrivedatMrDawson\'ssmartdoorinoneofthenewstreetsontheothersideoftheriver。A
clerkassmartasthedooransweredPhilip\'shesitatingknock，andrepliedtohisinquiryastowhetherMrDawsonwasathome，inthenegative，adding，afteramoment\'spause——
\'He\'llbeathomeinlessthananhour;he\'sonlygonetomakeMrsDawson\'swill——MrsDawson，ofCollyton——she\'snotexpectedtogetbetter。\'
Probablytheclerkofanolder—establishedattorneywouldnothavegivensomanyparticularsastothenatureofhismaster\'semployment;but，asithappeneditwasofnoconsequence，theunnecessaryinformationmadenoimpressiononPhilip\'smind;hethoughtthematteroverandthensaid——
\'I\'llbebackinanhour，then。It\'sgoneaquartertofour;I\'llbebackbeforefive，tellMrDawson。\'
HeturnedonhisheelandwentbacktotheHighStreetasfastashecould，withafarmorepromptanddecidedstepthanbefore。Hehastenedthroughthestreets，emptiedbythebadweather，totheprincipalinnofthetown，theGeorge——thesignofwhichwasfastenedtoapieceofwoodstretchedacrossthenarrowstreet;andgoinguptothebarwithsometimidity（fortheinnwasfrequentedbythegentryofMonkshavenandtheneighbourhood，andwasconsideredasatouchabovesuchcustomersasPhilip），heaskedifhecouldhaveatax—cartmadereadyinaquarterofanhour，andsentuptothedoorofhisshop。
\'Tobesurehecould;howfarwasittogo？\'
Philiphesitatedbeforehereplied——
\'UptheKnottingLane，tothestileleadingdowntoHaytersbankFarm;
they\'llhavetowaitthereforsomeasarecoming。\'
\'Theymustnotwaitlongsuchaneveningasthis;standinginsuchrainandwindasthere\'llbeupthere，isenoughtokillahorse。\'
\'Theyshan\'twaitlong，\'saidPhilip，decisively:\'inaquarterofanhour，mind。\'
Henowwentbacktotheshop，beatingagainstthestorm，whichwasincreasingasthetidecameinandthenighthoursapproached。
Coulsonhadnowordforhim，buthelookedreproachfullyathispartnerforhislong，unexplainedabsence。Hesterwasputtingawaytheribbonsandhandkerchiefs，andbright—colouredthingswhichhadbeenusedtodeckthewindow;fornomorecustomerswerelikelytocomethisnightthroughtheblusteringweathertoashopdimlylightedbytwotallowcandlesandaninefficientoil—lamp。Philipcameuptoher，andstoodlookingatherwithunseeingeyes;butthestrangeconsciousnessofhisfixedstaremadeheruncomfortable，andcalledthefaintflushtoherpalecheeks，andatlengthcompelledher，asitwere，tospeak，andbreakthespellofthesilence。So，curiouslyenough，allthreespokeatonce。Hesterasked（withoutlookingatPhilip）——
\'Yo\'resadlywet，I\'mfeared？\'
Coulsonsaid——
\'Thoumighthaveabito\'newstotelloneafterbeingonthegadallafternoon。\'
PhilipwhisperedtoHester——
\'Wiltcomeintot\'parlour？Iwantawordwi\'theebyoursel\'s。\'
Hesterquietlyfinishedrollinguptheribbonshehadinherhandswhenhespoke，andthenfollowedhimintotheroombehindtheshopbeforespokenof。
Philipsetdownonthetablethecandlewhichhehadbroughtoutoftheshop，andturningroundtoHester，tookhertremblinghandintobothofhis，andgrippingitnervously，said——
\'Oh！Hester，thoumusthelpme——thouwill，willnotthou？\'
Hestergulpeddownsomethingthatseemedtoriseinherthroatandchokeher，beforesheanswered。
\'Anything，thouknows，Philip。\'
\'Yes，yes，Iknow。Thouseesthematteristhis:DanielRobson——hewhomarriedmyaunt——istakenupforyonriotonSaturdaynightatt\'Mariners\'
Arms————\'
\'Theyspokeonitthisafternoon;theysaidthewarrantwasout，\'saidHester，fillingupthesentenceasPhiliphesitated，lostforaninstantinhisownthoughts。
\'Ay！thewarrantisout，andhe\'sint\'lock—up，andwillbecarriedtoYorkCastleto—morrowmorn;andI\'mafeareditwillgobadwithhim;
andtheyatHaytersbankisnotprepared，andtheymustseehimagainbeforehegoes。Now，Hester，willthougoinatax—cartaswillbehereinlessthantenminutesfromt\'George，andbringthembackhere，andtheymuststayallnightfortobereadytoseehimto—morrowbeforehegoes？It\'sdreeweatherforthem，butthey\'llnotmindthat。\'
HehadusedwordsasifhewasmakingarequesttoHester;buthedidnotseemtoawaitheranswer，sosurewashethatshewouldgo。Shenoticedthis，andnoticedalsothattherainwasspokenofinreferencetothem，nottoher。Acoldshadowpassedoverherheart，thoughitwasnothingmorethanshealreadyknew——thatSylviawastheonecentreofhisthoughtsandhislove。
\'I\'llgoputonmythingsatonce，\'saidshe，gently。
Philippressedherhandtenderly，aglowofgratitudeoverspreadhim。
\'Thou\'sarealgoodone，Godblessthee！\'saidhe。\'Thoumusttakecareofthyself，too，\'continuedhe;\'there\'swrapsandplentyi\'th\'house，andiftherearenot，there\'sthosei\'theshopas\'llbenonetheworseforoncewearingatsuchatimeasthis;andwraptheewellup，andtakeshawlsandcloaksforthem，andmindastheyput\'emon。Thou\'llhavetogetoutatastile，I\'lltellt\'driverwhere;andthoumustgetovert\'
stileandfollowt\'pathdowntwofields，andth\'houseisrightbeforeye，andbid\'emmakehasteandlockupth\'house，fortheymunstayallnighthere。Kester\'lllookafterthings。\'
AllthistimeHesterwashastilyputtingonherhatandcloak，whichshehadfetchedfromtheclosetwheretheyusuallyhungthroughtheday;
nowshestoodlistening，asitwere，forfinaldirections。
\'Butsupposetheywillnotcome，\'saidshe;\'theydunnotknowme，andmayn\'tbelievemywords。\'
\'Theymust，\'saidhe，impatiently。\'Theydon\'tknowwhatawaits\'em，\'
hecontinued。\'I\'lltellthee，becausethou\'llnotletout，anditseemsasifImuntellsomeone——itweresuchashock——he\'stobetriedfor\'slife。Theyknownotit\'ssoserious;and，Hester，\'saidhe，goingoninhissearchaftersympathy，\'she\'slikeasifshewasboundupinherfather。\'
HislipsquiveredashelookedwistfullyintoHester\'sfaceatthesewords。Noneedtotellherwhowasshe。Noneedtoputintowordsthefact，toldplainerthanwordscouldhavespokenit，thathisheartwasboundupinSylvia。
Hester\'sface，insteadofrespondingtohislook，contractedalittle，and，forthelifeofher，shecouldnothavehelpedsaying，——
\'Whydon\'tyo\'goyourself，Philip？\'
\'Ican\'t，Ican\'t，\'saidhe，impatiently。I\'dgivetheworldtogo，forImightbeabletocomforther;butthere\'slawyerstosee，andiversomuchtodo，andthey\'veniveramanfriendbutmetodoitall。You\'lltellher，\'saidPhilip，insinuatingly，asifafreshthoughthadstruckhim，\'ashowIwouldha\'come。Iwouldfainha\'comefor\'em，myself，butIcouldn\'t，becauseofth\'lawyer——mindyo\'saybecauseofth\'lawyer。
I\'dbeloathforhertothinkIwasmindinganybusinessofmyownatthistime;and，whateveryo\'do，speakhopeful，and，fort\'lifeofyo\'，don\'tspeakofth\'hanging，it\'slikelyit\'samistakeo\'Donkin\'s;andanyhow——there\'st\'cart——anyhowIshouldperhapsnotha\'telledthee，butit\'sacomforttomakeacleanbreasttoafriendattimes。Godblessthee，Hester。I
don\'tknowwhatIshouldha\'donewithoutthee，\'saidhe，ashewrappedherwellupinthecart，andplacedthebundlesofcloaksandthingsbyherside。
Alongthestreet，inthejoltingcart，aslongasHestercouldseethemistylightstreamingoutoftheshopdoor，solongwasPhilipstandingbareheadedintherainlookingafterher。Butsheknewthatitwasnotherownpoorselfthatattractedhislingeringgaze。Itwasthethoughtofthepersonshewasboundto。
chapter26CHAPTERXXVIADREARYVIGILThroughthedarkrain，againstthecoldwind，shakenovertheroughstones，wentHesterinthelittletax—cart。Herheartkeptrisingagainstherfate;
thehottearscameunbiddentohereyes。Butrebelliousheartwassoothed，andhottearsweresentbacktotheirsourcebeforethetimecameforheralighting。
Thedriverturnedhishorseinthenarrowlane，andshoutedafterheraninjunctiontomakehasteas，withherheadbentlow，shestruggleddowntothepathtoHaytersbankFarm。Shesawthelightinthewindowfromthetopofthebrow，andinvoluntarilysheslackenedherpace。ShehadneverseenBellRobson，andwouldSylviarecollecther？Ifshedidnot，howawkwarditwouldbetogivetheexplanationofwhoshewas，andwhathererrandwas，andwhyshewassent。Nevertheless，itmustbedone;soonshewent，andstandingwithinthelittleporch，sheknockedfaintlyatthedoor;
butintheblusteroftheelementsthesoundwaslost。Againsheknocked，andnowthemurmurofwomen\'svoicesinsidewashushed，andsomeonecamequicklytothedoor，andopeneditsharply。
ItwasSylvia。Althoughherfacewascompletelyinshadow，ofcourseHesterknewherwell;butshe，ifindeedshewouldhaverecognizedHesterlessdisguised，didnotknowintheleastwhothewoman，muffledupinagreatcloak，withherhattieddownwithasilkhandkerchief，standingintheporchatthistimeofnight，couldbe。Nor，indeed，wassheinamoodtocareortoinquire。Shesaidhastily，inavoicerenderedhoarseandaridwithgrief:
\'Goaway。Thisisnohouseforstrangerstocometo。We\'veenoughonourowntothinkon;\'andshehastilyshutthedoorinHester\'sface，beforethelattercouldputtogethertherightwordsinwhichtoexplainhererrand。
Hesterstoodoutsideinthedark，wetporchdiscomfited，andwonderinghownexttoobtainahearingthroughtheshutandbolteddoor。Notlongdidshestand，however;someonewasagainatthedoor，talkinginavoiceofdistressandremonstranceandslowlyunbarringthebolts。Atall，thinfigureofanelderlywomanwasseenagainstthewarmfire—lightinsideassoonasthedoorwasopened;ahandwasputout，likethatwhichtookthedoveintotheark，andHesterwasdrawnintothewarmthandthelight，whileBell\'svoicewentonspeakingtoSylviabeforeaddressingthedrippingstranger——
\'It\'snotanighttoturnadogfra\'t\'door;it\'silllettingourgriefhardenourhearts。Butoh！missus\'（toHester），\'yo\'munforgiveus，foragreatsorrowhasfallenuponusthisday，an\'we\'relikebesideourselveswi\'cryingan\'plaining。\'
Bellsatedown，andthrewherapronoverherpoorwornface，asifdecentlytoshieldthesignsofhermiseryfromastranger\'sgaze。Sylvia，alltear—swollen，andlookingaskanceandalmostfiercelyatthestrangerwhohadmadegoodherintrusion，wasdrawn，asitwere，tohermother\'sside，and，kneelingdownbyher，putherarmsroundherwaist，andalmostlayacrossherlap，stillgazingatHesterwithcold，distrustfuleyes，theexpressionofwhichrepelledanddauntedthatpoor，unwillingmessenger，andmadehersilentforaminuteorsoafterherentrance。Bellsuddenlyputdownherapron。
\'Yo\'recoldanddrenched，\'saidshe。\'Comeneartot\'fireandwarmyo\'rsel\';yo\'munpardonusifwedunnotthinkoneverythingatonest。\'
\'Yo\'reverykind，verykindindeed，\'saidHester，touchedbythepoorwoman\'sevidentefforttoforgetherowngriefinthedutiesofhospitality，andlovingBellfromthatmoment。
\'I\'mHesterRose，\'shecontinued，halfaddressingSylvia，whoshethoughtmightrememberthename，\'andPhilipHepburnhassentmeinatax—carttot\'stileyonder，tofetchbothonyo\'backtoMonkshaven。\'SylviaraisedherheadandlookedintentlyatHester。Bellclaspedherhandstighttogetherandleantforwards。
\'It\'smymasteraswantsus？\'saidshe，inaneager，questioningtone。
\'It\'sfortoseeyo\'rmaster，\'saidHester。\'Philipsayshe\'llbesenttoYorkto—morrow，andyo\'llbefaintoseehimbeforehegoes;andifyou\'llcomedowntoMonkshaventonight，yo\'llbeont\'spotagain\'thetimecomeswhent\'justiceswillletye。\'
Bellwasupandabout，makingfortheplacewhereshekeptherout—goingthings，almostbeforeHesterhadbeguntospeak。Shehardlyunderstoodaboutherhusband\'sbeingsenttoYork，inthepossessionoftheideathatshemightgoandseehim。Shedidnotunderstandorcarehow，inthiswildnight，shewastogettoMonkshaven;allshethoughtofwas，thatshemightgoandseeherhusband。ButSylviatookinmorepointsthanhermother，and，almostsuspiciously，begantoquestionHester。
\'WhyaretheysendinghimtoYork？WhatmadePhilipleaveus？Whydidn\'thecomehissel\'？\'
\'Hecouldn\'tcomehissel\'，hebademesay;becausehewasboundtobeatthelawyer\'satfive，aboutyo\'rfather\'sbusiness。Ithinkyo\'mightha\'knownhewouldha\'comeforanybusinessofhisown;and，aboutYork，it\'sPhilipastelledme，andIneveraskedwhy。Ineverthoughtonyo\'raskingmesomanyquestions。Ithoughtyo\'dbereadytoflyonanychanceo\'seeingyourfather。\'Hesterspokeoutthesadreproachthatranfromherhearttoherlips。TodistrustPhilip！tolingerwhenshemighthasten！
\'Oh！\'saidSylvia，breakingoutintoawildcry，thatcarriedwithitmoreconvictionofagonythanmuchweepingcouldhavedone。\'Imayberudeandhard，andImayaskstrangequestions，asifIcaredfort\'answersyo\'maygi\'me;an\'，inmyhearto\'hearts，Icarefornoughtbuttohavefatherbackwi\'us，aslovehimsodear。IcanhardlytellwhatIsay，muchlesswhyIsayit。Motherissopatient，itputsmepastmysel\'，forIcouldfightwi\'t\'verywalls，I\'msomadwi\'grieving。Sure，they\'lllethimcomebackwi\'usto—morrow，whentheyhearfromhisownsel\'whyhedidit？\'
ShelookedeagerlyatHesterforananswertothislastquestion，whichshehadputinasoft，entreatingtone，asifwithHesterherselfthedecisionrested。Hestershookherhead。Sylviacameuptoherandtookherhands，almostfondlingthem。
\'Yo\'dunnotthinkthey\'llbehardwi\'himwhentheyhearallaboutit，doneyo\'？Why，YorkCastle\'st\'placetheysenda\'t\'thievesandrobbersto，nothonestmenlikefeyther。\'
HesterputherhandonSylvia\'sshoulderwithasoft，caressinggesture。
\'Philipwillknow，\'shesaid，usingPhilip\'snameasakindofspell——itwouldhavebeensotoher。\'ComeawaytoPhilip，\'saidsheagain，urgingSylvia，byherlooksandmanner，toprepareforthelittlejourney。Sylviamovedawayforthispurpose，sayingtoherself，——
\'It\'sgoingtoseefeyther:hewilltellmeail。\'
PoorMrs。Robsonwascollectingafewclothesforherhusbandwithaneager，tremblinghand，sotremblingthatarticleafterarticlefelltothefloor，anditwasHesterwhopickedthemup;andatlast，aftermanyvainattemptsbythegrief—shakenwoman，itwasHesterwhotiedthebundle，andarrangedthecloak，andfasteneddownthehood;Sylviastandingby，notunobservant，thoughapparentlyabsorbedinherownthoughts。
Atlength，allwasarranged，andthekeygivenovertoKester。Astheypassedoutintothestorm，SylviasaidtoHester，——
\'Thou\'sarealgoodwench。Thou\'sfittertobeaboutmotherthanme。
I\'mbutacross—patchatbest，an\'nowit\'slikeasifIwasnogoodtonobody。\'
Sylviabegantocry，butHesterhadnotimetoattendtoher，evenhadshetheinclination:allhercarewasneededtohelpthehasty，totteringstepsofthewifewhowasfeeblyspeedingupthewetandslipperybrowtoherhusband。AllBellthoughtofwasthat\'he\'wasattheendofhertoil。Shehardlyunderstoodwhenshewastoseehim;herwearyheartandbrainhadonlyreceivedoneidea——thateachstepshewasnowtakingwasleadinghertohim。Tiredandexhaustedwithherquickwalkuphill，battlingailthewaywithwindandrain，shecouldhardlyhaveheldupanotherminutewhentheyreachedthetax—cartinthelane，andHesterhadalmosttoliftherontothefrontseatbythedriver。Shecoveredandwrappedupthepooroldwoman，andafterwardsplacedherselfinthestrawatthebackofthecart，packedupclosebytheshivering，weepingSylvia。Neitherofthemspokeawordatfirst;butHester\'stenderconsciencesmoteherforhersilencebeforetheyhadreachedMonkshaven。ShewantedtosaysomekindwordtoSylvia，andyetknewnothowtobegin。Somehow，withoutknowingwhy，orreasoninguponit，shehituponPhilip\'smessageasthebestcomfortinherpowertogive。Shehaddelivereditbefore，butithadbeenapparentlylittleheeded。
\'Philipbademesayitwasbusinessaskepthimfromfetchin\'yo\'hissel\'——businesswi\'thelawyer，about——aboutyo\'rfather。\'
\'Whatdotheysay？\'saidSylvia，suddenly，liftingherbowedhead，asthoughshewouldreadhercompanion\'sfaceinthedimlight。
\'Idunnotknow，\'saidHester，sadly。Theywerenowjoltingoverthepavedstreets，andnotawordcouldbespoken。TheywerenowatPhilip\'sdoor，whichwasopenedtoreceivethemevenbeforetheyarrived，asifsomeonehadbeenwatchingandlistening。Theoldservant，Phoebe，thefixtureinthehouse，whohadbelongedtoitandtotheshopforthelasttwentyyears，cameout，holdingacandleandshelteringitinherhandfromtheweather，whilePhiliphelpedthetotteringstepsofMrsRobsonasshedescendedbehind。AsHesterhadgotinlast，soshehadnowtobethefirsttomove。Justasshewasmoving，Sylvia\'scoldlittlehandwaslaidonherarm。
\'Iammainandthankfultoyo\'。Iaskyo\'rpardonforspeakingcross，but，indeed，myheart\'sa\'mostbrokenwi\'fearaboutfeyther。\'
Thevoicewassoplaintive，sofulloftears，thatHestercouldnotbutyearntowardsthespeaker。Shebentoverandkissedhercheek，andthenclamberedunaideddownbythewheelonthedarksideofthecart。