'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。