Sylviashiveredalloveratthesuddenthought,suggestedbythisspeechofhermother's,thattheideathathadflashedintoherownmindofgoingtolookforherfathermightbeananswertotheinvocationtothePowerswhichshehadmadenotlongago,thatshemightindeedmeetherdeadloverattheash—fieldstile;butthoughsheshiveredasthissuperstitiousfancycameintoherhead,herheartbeatfirmandregular;notfromdarknessnorfromthespiritsofthedeadwasshegoingtoshrink;hergreatsorrowhadtakenawayallhergirlishnervousfear。
Shewent;andshecameback。Neithermannorspirithadsheseen;thewindwasblowingontheheightenoughtosweepallcreaturesbeforeit;
butnoonewascoming。
Sotheysatedownagaintokeepwatch。Atlengthhisstepwasheardclosetothedoor;anditstartledthemevenintheirstateofexpectation。
'Why,feyther!'criedSylviaasheentered;whilehiswifestooduptrembling,butnotsayingaword。
'A'ma'mostdoneup,'saidhe,sittingheavilydownonthechairnearestthedoor。
'Pooroldfeyther!'saidSylvia,stoopingtotakeoffhisheavycloggedshoes;whileBelltookthepossetoutoftheoven。
'What'sthis?posset?whatcreatureswomenisforslops,'saidhe;buthedrankitallthesame,whileSylviafastenedthedoor,andbroughttheflaringcandlefromthewindow—seat。Thefresharrangementoflightdisplayedhisfaceblackenedwithsmoke,andhisclothesdisarrangedandtorn。
'Who'sbeenmellingwi'thee?'askedBell。
'Noonehasmelledwi'me;buta'vebeenmellin'wi't'gangatlast。'
'Theetheyniverwereforpressingthee!'exclaimedboththewomenatonce。
'No!theyknowedbetter。They'ngettentheirbelly—fullasitis。Nexttimetheytryiton,areckonthey'llaxifDanielRobsoniswi'inhearin'。
A'veledareskythisneet,andsavednineortenhonestchapsaswaspressed,andcarriedofftot'Randyvowse。Meandsomeothersdidit。AndHobbs'
thingsandt'lieutenant'sisa'burnt;andbythistimeareckont'Randyvowseisprettynighfourwalls,readyforaparish—pound。'
'Thou'rtniverforsayingthouburntitdownwi't'ganginit,forsure?'askedBell。
'Na,na,notthistime。T''gangfledupt'hilllikeconeys;andHobbsandhisfolkscarriedoffabago'money;butt'oudtumbledownplaceisjustaheapo'brickandmortar;an't'furnitureissmoulderin'int'ashes;
and,bestofa',t'menisfree,andwillniverbecotchedwi'afire—bellagain。'
Andsohewentontotelloftherusebywhichtheyhadbeenenticedintothemarket—place;interruptedfromtimetotimebytheireagerquestions,andinterruptinghimselfeverynowandthenwithexclamationsofwearinessandpain,whichmadehimatlastsay,——
'Nowa'mwillingtotellyo'a'aboutitto—morrow,forit'snotiverydayamancandosuchgreatthings;butto—neetamungotobed,evenifKingGeorgewerewantin'fortoknowhowamanagedita'。'
Hewentwearilyupstairs,andwifeanddaughter'bothstrovetheirbesttoeasehisachinglimbs,andmakehimcomfortable。Thewarming—pan,onlyusedonstateoccasions,wastakendownandunpaperedforhisservice;
andashegotbetweenthewarmsheets,hethankedSylviaandhermotherinasleepyvoice,adding,——
'It'savasto'comforttothinkonyonpoorladsasissleepin'i'
theirownhomesthisneet,'andthenslumberfelluponhim,andhewashardlyrousedbyBell'ssoftlykissinghisweather—beatencheek,andsayinglow,——
'Godblessthee,myman!Thouwasallaysforthemthatwasdownandputupon。'
Hemurmuredsomemonosyllabicreply,unheardbyhiswife,whostoleawaytoundressherselfnoiselessly,andlaidherselfdownonhersideofthebedasgentlyasherstiffenedlimbswouldpermit。
Theywerelateinrisingthenextmorning。Kesterwaslongsinceupandathisworkamongthecattlebeforehesawthehouse—dooropentoadmitthefreshchillmorningair;andeventhenSylviabrushedsoftly,andwentaboutalmostontip—toe。Whentheporridgewasready,Kesterwascalledintohisbreakfast,whichhetooksittingatthedresserwiththefamily。
Alargewoodenplatterstoodinthemiddle;andeachhadabowlofthesamematerialfilledwithmilk。Thewaywasforeveryonetodiphispewterspoonintothecentraldish,andconveyasmuchoraslittleashelikedatatimeofthehotporridgeintohispurefreshmilk。Butto—dayBelltoldKestertohelphimselfallatonce,andtotakehisbowluptothemaster'sroomandkeephimcompany。ForDanielwasinbed,restingfromhisweariness,andbemoaninghispainfulbruiseswheneverhethoughtofthem。Buthismindwasstillsomuchoccupiedwiththeaffairofthepreviousnight,thatBelljudgedrightlythatanewlistenerwouldgiveeasetohisbodyaswellastohismind,andherproposalofKester'scarryinguphisbreakfasthadbeenreceivedbyDanielwithsatisfaction。
SoKesterwentupslowly,carryinghisover—fullbasintenderly,andseatedhimselfonthestepleadingdownintothebed—room(forlevelshadnotbeencalculatedwhentheoldhousewasbuilt)facinghismaster,who,halfsittingupinthebluecheckbed,notunwillinglybeganhisrelationagain;towhichKesterlisteneds6attentively,thathisspoonwasoftenarrestedinitsprogressfromthebasintohismouth,openreadytoreceiveit,whilehegazedwithunwinkingeyesatDanielnarratinghisexploits。
ButafterDanielhadfoughthisbattleo'eragaintoeveryauditorwithinhisreach,hefoundtheseclusionofhischamberratheroppressive,withouteventheusualweek—days'noisesbelow;soafterdinner,thoughfarfromwell,hecamedownandwanderedaboutthestableandthefieldsnearesttothehouse,consultingwithKesterastocropsandmanureforthemostpart;buteverynowandthenbreakingoutintoanepisodicalchuckleoversomepartoflastnight'sproceedings。Kesterenjoyedthedayevenmorethanhismaster,forhehadnobruisestoremindhimthat,althoughahero,hewasalsofleshandblood。
WhentheyreturnedtothehousetheyfoundPhilipthere,foritwasalreadydusk。ItwasKester'susualSundayplantowithdrawtobedatasearlyanhourashecouldmanagetosleep,ofteninwinterbeforesix;
butnowhewastoofullofinterestinwhatPhilipmighthavetotellofMonkshavennewstoforegohisSabbathprivilegeofspendingtheeveningsittingonthechairattheendofthedresserbehindthedoor。
PhilipwasasclosetoSylviaashecouldpossiblygetwith—outgivingheroffence,whentheycamein。Hermannerwaslistlessandcivil;shehadlostallthatactivefeelingtowardshimwhichmadehimpositivelydistasteful,andhadcalledouthergirlishirritationandimpertinence。
Shenowwasrathergladtoseehimthanotherwise。Hebroughtsomechangeintotheheavymonotonyofherlife——monotonysopeacefuluntilshehadbeenstirredbypassionoutofthatcontentwiththesmalldailyeventswhichhadnowbecomeburdensomerecurrences。Insensiblytoherselfshewasbecomingdependentonhistimiddevotion,hisconstantattention;andhe,lover—like,oncesoattracted,inspiteofhisjudgment,byherlivelinessandpiquancy,nowdotedonherlanguor,andthoughthersilencemoresweetthanwords。
Hehadonlyjustarrivedwhenmasterandmancamein。Hehadbeentoafternoonchapel;noneofthemhadthoughtofgoingtothedistantchurch;
worshipwiththemwasonlyanoccasionalduty,andthisdaytheirmindshadbeentoofulloftheeventsofthenightbefore。Danielsatehimselfheavilydowninhisaccustomedchair,thethree—corneredarm—chairinthefiresidecorner,whichnoonethoughtofanybodyelseeveroccupyingonanyoccasionwhatever。InaminuteortwoheinterruptedPhilip'swordsofgreetingandinquirybybreakingoutintothestoryoftherescueoflastnight。ButtothemutesurpriseofSylvia,theonlyonewhonoticedit,Philip'sface,insteadofexpressingadmirationandpleasantwonder,lengthenedintodismay;onceortwicehebegantointerrupt,butstoppedhimselfasifhewouldconsiderhiswordsagain。Kesterwasnevertiredofhearinghismastertalk;bylonglivingtogethertheyunderstoodeveryfoldofeachother'sminds,andsmallexpressionshadmuchsignificancetothem。Bell,too,satethankfulthatherhusbandshouldhavedonesuchdeeds。OnlySylviawasmadeuneasybyPhilip'sfaceandmanner。WhenDanielhadendedtherewasagreatsilence,insteadofthequestionsandcomplimentshelookedtoreceive。Hebecametesty,andturningtoBell,said,——
'Mynephewlooksasthoughhewasa—thinkingmoreont'littleprofithehasmadeonhispinsan'bobs,thanasifhewasheedinghowhonestmenweresavedfrombeinghaledouttoyontender,an'carriedouto'sighto'wivesandlittle'unsforiver。Wivesan'little'unsmaygot'workhouseorclemforaughthecares。
Philipwentveryred,andthenmoresallowthanusual。HehadnotbeenthinkingofCharleyKinraid,butofquiteanotherthing,whileDanielhadtoldhisstory;butthislastspeechoftheoldman'sbroughtuptheremembrancethatwasalwaysquick,dowhathewouldtosmotherorstrangleit。Hedidnotspeakforamomentortwo,thenhesaid,——
'To—dayhasnotbeenlikeSabbathinMonkshaven。T'rioters,asfolkscall'em,havebeenaboutallnight。Theywantedtogivebattletot'men—o'—war'smen;anditweretakenupbyth'betterend,andthey'vesenttomyLordMaltonfort'militia;andthey'recomeintot'town,andthey'rehuntingforajusticefort'readth'act;folkdosaythere'llbeniverashopopenedto—morrow。'
Thiswasratheramoreseriousaccountoftheprogressoftheaffairthananyonehadcalculatedupon。Theylookedgraveuponitawhile,thenDanieltookheartandsaid,——
'Athinkwe'ddonea'mostenoughlastneet;butmen'snottobestoppedwi'astrawwhentheirbloodisup;stillit'shardlinestocalloutt'
sojers,eveniftheybebutmilitia。Sowhatwesevenhatchedinadarkentryhasta'enalordtoputastopto't!'continuedhe,chucklingalittle,butmorefaintlythistime。
Philipwenton,stillgraverthanbefore,boldlycontinuingtosaywhatheknewwouldbediscordanttothefamilyhelovedsowell。
'Ishouldha'telledyo'allaboutit;Ithoughtonitjustasabito'news;I'dniverthoughtonsuchathingasuncletherehavingbeeninitandI'mmainsorrytohearonitIam。'
'Why?'saidSylvia,breathlessly。
'It'sniverathingtobesorryon。I'mproudandglad,'saidBell。
'Let—a—be,let—a—be,'saidDaniel,inmuchdudgeon。'Awereafooltotellhimo'such—likedoings,they'renoanei'hisline;we'lltalkonyardmeasuresnow。
Philiptooknonoticeofthispoorattemptatsarcasmheseemedasiflostinthought,thenhesaid,——
'I'mvexedtoplagueyo',butI'dbestsayallI'vegoti'mymind。
Therewasavasto'folkatourchapelspeakingaboutit——lastnight'sdoingsandthismorning'swork——andhowthemassetitafootwasassuredo'beingclaptint'prisonandtriedforit;andwhenIheeredunclesayashewasone,itlikeranthroughme;fortheysayast'justiceswillbeallont'Governmentside,andmadforvengeance。
Foraninstanttherewasdeadsilence。Thewomenlookedateachotherwithblankeyes,asiftheywereasyetunabletotakeinthenewideathattheconductwhichhadseemedtothemasubjectforsuchjustpridecouldberegardedbyanyoneasdeservingofpunishmentorretribution。
Danielspokebeforetheyhadrecoveredfromtheiramazement。
'A'mnoanesorryforwhatadid,an'a'ddoitagainto—neet,ifneedwere。Sotheere'sforthee。Thoumaytellt'justicesfra'methatareckonadidrighternorthem,aslettenpoorfellysbecarriedoffi't'verymidsto't'townthey'recalledjusticesfor。'
PerhapsPhiliphadbetterhaveheldhistongue;buthebelievedinthedanger,whichhewasanxioustoimpressuponhisuncle,inorderthat,knowingwhatwastobeapprehended,thelattermighttakesomepainstoavertit。
Hewenton。
'Butthey'remakingacoilabouttheRandyvowsebeingalldestroyed!'
Danielhadtakendownhispipefromtheshelfinthechimneycorner,andwasstuffingtobaccointothebowl。Hewentonpretendingtodothisalittlewhileafteritwasfilled;for,totellthetruth,hewasbeginningtofeeluncomfortableatthenewviewofhisconductpresentedtohim。
Stillhewasnotgoingtoletthisappear,soliftinguphisheadwithanindifferentairhelightedthepipe,blewintoit,tookitoutandexamineditassomethingwerewrongaboutit,anduntilthatwasputtorightshewasunabletoattendtoany—thingelse;allthewhilethefaithfulthreewhohunguponhiswell—being,gazing,breathless,athisproceedings,andanxiousforhisreply。
'Randyvowse!'saidheatlength,'itwereagoodjobitwerebrenneddown,forsuchaharbourforverminaneverseed:t'ratsranacrosst'
yardbyhundersan'thousands;an'itwerenoman'spropertyasa'veheerdtell,butbelongedtoChancery,upi'Lunnon;sowheere'st'harmdone,myfinefelly?'
Philipwassilent。Hedidnotcaretobraveanyfurtherhisuncle'sangryfrownandcontractedeye。IfhehadonlyknownofDanielRobson'spartintheriotbeforehehadleftthetown,hewouldhavetakencaretohavehadbetterauthorityfortherealityofthedangerwhichhehadheardspokenabout,andinwhichhecouldnothelpbelieving。Asitwas,hecouldonlykeepquietuntilhehadascertainedwhatwasthelegalperiloverhangingtherioters,andhowfarhisunclehadbeenrecognized。
Danielwentonpuffingangrily。Kestersighedaudibly,andthenwassorryhehaddoneso,andbegantowhistle。Bell,fullofhernewfear,yetdesiroustobringallpresentintosomekindofharmony,said,——
'It'llha'beenalosstoJohnHobbs——allhisthingsburnt,ortrampledon。Mebbehedesarveditall,butone'sakindo'tenderfeelingtoone'stablesandchairs,specialifone'shadt'bees—waxingon'em。'
'Awishhe'dbeenburntont'topon'em,ado,'growledoutDaniel,shakingtheashoutofhispipe。
'Don'tspeaksoillo'thysel','saidhiswife。'Thou'dha'beent'
firstt'pluckhimdownifhe'dscreechedout。'
'An'a'llwarrantiftheycomeaboutwi'apaperaskingforfeyther'snametomakeupforwhatHobbshaslostbyt'fire,feyther'llbeforgivinghimsummut,'saidSylvia。
'Thouknowsnoughtaboutit,'saidDaniel。'Holdthytonguenexttimetillthou'saxedtospeak,mywench。'
HissharpirritatedwayofspeakingwassonewtoSylvia,thatthetearssprangtohereyes,andherlipquivered。Philipsawitall,andyearnedoverher。Heplungedheadlongintosomeothersubjecttotryanddivertattentionfromher;butDanielwastooillateasetotalkmuch,andBellwasobligedtotryandkeepupthesemblanceofconversation,withanoccasionalwordortwofromKester,whoseemedinstinctivelytofallintoherwayofthinking,andtoendeavourtokeepthedarkthoughtinthebackground。
Sylviastoleofftobed;moreconcernedatherfather'sangrywayofspeakingthanattheideaofhisbeingamenabletolawforwhathehaddone;theonewasasharppresentevil,theothersomethingdistantandunlikely。Yetadimterrorofthislatterevilhungoverher,andonceupstairsshethrewherselfonherbedandsobbed。Philipheardherwherehesatenearthebottomoftheshortsteepstaircase,andateverysobthecordsofloveroundhisheartseemedtightened,andhefeltasifhemustthereandthendosomethingtoconsoleher。
But,instead,hesatontalkingofnothings,aconversationinwhichDanieljoinedwithsomewhatofsurliness,whileBell,graveandanxious,keptwistfullylookingfromonetotheother,desirousofgleaningsomefurtherinformationonthesubject,whichhadbeguntotroublehermind。
ShehopedsomechancewouldgivehertheopportunityofprivatelyquestioningPhilip,butitseemedtobeequallyherhusband'swishtothwartanysuchintentionofhers。Heremainedinthehouse—place,tillafterPhiliphadleft,althoughhewasevidentlysomuchfatiguedastogivesomeverydistinct,thoughunintentional,hintstohisvisitortobegone。
Atlengththehouse—doorwaslockedonPhilip,andthenDanielpreparedtogotobed。Kesterhadleftforhisloftabovetheshippenmorethananhourbefore。Bellhadstilltorakethefire,andthenshewouldfollowherhusbandupstairs。
Asshewasscrapinguptheashes,sheheard,intermixedwiththenoiseshewasmaking,thesoundofsomeonerappinggentlyatthewindow。Inherthenframeofmindshestartedalittle;butonlookinground,shesawKester'sfacepressedagainsttheglass,and,reassured,shesoftlyopenedthedoor。Therehestoodintheduskouterair,distinctagainstthegreydarknessbeyond,andinhishandsomethingwhichshepresentlyperceivedwasapitchfork。
'Missus!'whisperedhe,'a'vewatchedt'maistert'bed;an'nowa'dbegreatlybeholdentoyo'ifyo'dletmejustlaymedowni't'house—place。
A'dwarrantniveraconstablei'a'Monkshavenshouldgetsighto't'maister,an'mebelowt'keepward。'
Bellshiveredalittle。
'Nay,Kester,'shesaid,pattingherhandkindlyonhisshoulder;'there'snoughtfort'fear。Thymasterisnotonefort'hurtnobody;andIdunnotthinktheycanharmhimforsettingyonpoorchapsfree,ast'gangcatchedi'theirwickedtrap。'
Kesterstoodstill;thenheshookhisheadslowly。
'It'st'workatt'Randyvowseasa'mafearedon。Somefolksthinkssuchadealo'abonfire。Thenamaylaymedownaforet'fire,missus?'
saidhe,beseechingly。
'Nay,Kester——'shebegan;butsuddenlychanging,shesaid,'Godblessthee,myman;comeinandlaytheedownont'settle,andI'llcovertheeupwi'mycloakashangsbehindt'door。We'renotmanyonusthatlovehim,an'we'llbeallonusunderoneroof,an'niverastonewalloralockbetwixtus。'
SoKestertookuphisrestinthehouse—placethatnight,andnoneknewofitbesidesBell。
chapter25CHAPTERXXVCOMINGTROUBLESThemorningbroughtmorepeaceifitdidnotentirelydissipatefear。Danielseemedtohavegotoverhisirritability,andwasunusuallykindandtendertowifeanddaughter,especiallystrivingbysilentlittledeedstomakeupforthesharpwordshehadsaidthenightbeforetothelatter。
Asifbycommonconsent,allallusiontotheSaturdaynight'sproceedingswasavoided。Theyspokeoftheday'sworkbeforethem;ofthecropstobesown;ofthecattle;ofthemarkets;buteachonewasconsciousofawishtoknowmoredistinctlywhatwerethechancesofthedangerthat,tojudgefromPhilip'swords,hungoverthem,fallinguponthemandcuttingthemofffromalltheseplacesforthecomingdays。
BelllongedtosendKesterdownintoMonkshavenasasortofspytoseehowthelandlay;butshedarednotmanifestheranxietytoherhusband,andcouldnotseeKesteralone。Shewishedthatshehadtoldhimtogotothetown,whenshehadhadhimtoherselfinthehouse—placethenightbefore;nowitseemedasthoughDanielwereresolvednottopartfromhim,andasthoughbothhadforgottenthatanyperilhadbeenanticipated。Sylviaandhermother,inlikemanner,clungtogether,notspeakingoftheirfears,yeteachknowingthatitwaseverpresentintheother'smind。
Sothingswentontilltwelveo'clock——dinner—time。Ifatanytimethatmorningtheyhadhadthecouragetospeaktogetheronthethoughtwhichwasengrossingalltheirminds,itispossiblethatsomemeansmighthavebeenfoundtoavertthecalamitythatwascomingtowardsthemwithswiftfeet。Butamongtheuneducated——thepartiallyeducated——nay,eventheweaklyeducated——thefeelingexistswhichpromptedthefutileexperimentofthewell—knownostrich。Theyimaginethat,byclosingtheirowneyestoapprehendedevil,theyavertit。Theexpressionoffearissupposedtoacceleratethecomingofitscause。Yet,ontheotherhand,theyshrinkfromacknowledgingthelongcontinuanceofanyblessing,intheideathatwhenunusualhappinessisspokenabout,itdisappears。So,althoughperpetualcomplaintsofpastorpresentgrievancesandsorrowsaremostcommonamongthisclass,theyshrinkfromembodyingapprehensionsforthefutureinwords,asifitthentookshapeanddrewnear。
Theyallfoursatedowntodinner,butnotoneofthemwasinclinedtoeat。Thefoodwasscarcelytouchedontheirplates,yettheyweretryingtomaketalkamongthemselvesasusual;theyseemedasthoughtheydarednotletthemselvesbesilent,whenSylvia,sittingoppositetothewindow,sawPhilipatthetopofthebrow,runningrapidlytowardsthefarm。Shehadbeensofulloftheanticipationofsomekindofmisfortuneallthemorningthatshefeltnowasifthiswastheveryprecursivecircumstanceshehadbeenexpecting;shestoodup,turningquitewhite,and,pointingwithherfinger,said,——
'Thereheis!'
Everyoneattablestooduptoo。Aninstantafterwards,Philip,breathless,wasintheroom。
Hegaspedout,'They'recoming!thewarrantisout。Youmustgo。Ihopedyouweregone。'
'Godhelpus!'saidBell,andsatesuddenlydown,asifshehadreceivedablowthatmadehercollapseintohelplessness;butshegotupagaindirectly。
Sylviaflewforherfather'shat。Hereallyseemedthemostunmovedoftheparty。
'A'mnoaneafeared,'saidhe。'A'ddoito'eragain,awould;an'a'lltell'emso。It'safinetimeo'daywhenmen'stobetrappedandcarriedoff,an'themaslaystrapstoset'emfreeistobeputi't'lock—upsforit。'
'Buttherewasrioting,besidetherescue;t'housewasburnt,'continuedeager,breathlessPhilip。
'An'a'mnoanegoin't'saya'msorryforthat,neyther;tho',mebbe,awouldn'tdoitagain。'
Sylviahadhishatonhisheadbythistime;andBell,wanandstiff,tremblingallover,hadhisover—coat,andhisleatherpursewiththefewcoinsshecouldmuster,readyforhimtoputon。
Helookedatthesepreparations,athiswifeanddaughter,andhiscolourchangedfromitsruddybrown。
'A'dfacelock—ups,an'afairspello'jail,butforthese,'saidhe,hesitating。
'Oh!'saidPhilip,'forGod'ssake,losenotime,butbeoff。'
'Wheremunhego?'askedBell,asifPhilipmustdecideall。
'Anywhere,anywhere,outofthishouse——sayHaverstone。Thisevening,I'llgoandmeethimthereandplanfurther;onlybeoffnow。'Philipwassokeenlyeager,hehardlytooknoteatthetimeofSylvia'sonevividlookofunspokenthanks,yetheremembereditafterwards。
'A'lldang'emdead,'saidKester,rushingtothedoor,forhesawwhattheothersdidnot——thatallchanceofescapewasover;theconstableswerealreadyatthetopofthelittlefield—pathnottwentyyardsoff。
'Hidehim,hidehim,'criedBell,wringingherhandsinterror;forshe,indeedtheyall,knewthatflightwouldnowbeimpossible。Danielwasheavy,rheumatic,and,moreover,hadbeenprettyseverelybruisedonthatunluckynight。
Philip,withoutanotherword,pushedDanielbeforehimupstairs,feelingthathisownpresenceatHaytersbankFarmatthathourofthedaywouldbeabetrayal。Theyhadjusttimetoshutthemselvesupinthelargerbed—room,beforetheyheardascuffleandtheconstables'entrydownstairs。
'They'rein,'saidPhilip,asDanielsqueezedhimselfunderthebed;
andthentheyheldquitestill,Philipasmuchconcealedbythescanty,blue—checkcurtainashecouldmanagetobe。Theyheardaconfusionofvoicesbelow,ahastymovingofchairs,abangingofdoors,afurtherparley,andthenawoman'sscream,shrillandpitiful;thenstepsonthestairs。
'Thatscreechspoiledall,'sighedPhilip。
Inoneinstantthedoorwasopened,andeachofthehiderswasconsciousofthepresenceoftheconstables,althoughatfirstthelatterstoodmotionless,surveyingtheapparentlyemptyroomwithdisappointment。TheninanothermomenttheyhadrushedatPhilip'slegs,exposedasthesewere。Theydrewhimoutwithviolence,andthenlethimgo。
'MeasterHepburn!'saidoneinamaze。Butimmediatelytheyputtwoandtwotogether;forinsosmallaplaceasMonkshaveneveryone'srelationshipsandconnections,andevenlikings,wereknown;andthemotiveofPhilip'scomingouttoHaytersbankwasperfectlycleartothesemen。
'T'other'llnotbefaroff,'saidtheotherconstable。'Hisplateweredownstairs,fullo'victual;aseedMeasterHepburna—walkingbrisklybeforemeasaleftMonkshaven'
'Herehebe,herehebe,'calledouttheotherman,draggingDanieloutbyhislegs,'we'vegettenhim。'
Danielkickedviolently,andcameoutfromhishiding—placeinalessignominiouswaythanbybeingpulledoutbyhisheels。
Heshookhimself,andthenturned,facinghiscaptors。
'Awisha'dniverhiddenmysel';itwerehisdoing,'jerkinghisthumbtowardPhilip:'a'mreadytostandbywhata'vedone。Yo'vegettenawarranta'llbebound,forthemjusticesisgrandatwritin'whent'fight'sover。'
Hewastryingtocarryitoffwithbravado,butPhilipsawthathehadreceivedashock,fromhissuddenlookofwitheredcolourandshrunkenfeature。
'Don'thandcuffhim,'saidPhilip,puttingmoneyintotheconstable'shand。'You'llbeabletoguardhimwellenoughwithoutthemthings。'
Danielturnedroundsharpatthiswhisper。
'Let—a—be,let—a—be,mylad,'hesaid。'It'llbesummuttothinkoni't'lock—uphowtwoable—bodiedfellysweresoafearedont'chapasreskyedthemhonestsailorso'Saturdayneet,astheymunputhimi'gyves,andhesixty—twocomeMartinmas,andsorelaidupwi't'rheumatics。'
Butitwasdifficulttokeepupthistoneofbravadowhenhewasledaprisonerthroughhisownhouse—place,andsawhispoorwifequiveringandshakingalloverwithhereffortstokeepbackallsignsofemotionuntilhewasgone;andSylviastandingbyhermother,herarmroundBell'swaistandstrokingthepoorshrunkenfingerswhichworkedsoperpetuallyandnervouslyinfutileunconsciousrestlessness。Kesterwasinacorneroftheroom,sullenlystanding。
Bellquakedfromheadtofootasherhusbandcamedownstairsaprisoner。
Sheopenedherlipsseveraltimeswithanuneasymotion,asifshewouldfainsaysomething,butknewnotwhat。Sylvia'spassionateswollenlipsandherbeautifuldefianteyesgaveherfacequiteanewaspect;shelookedahelplessfury。
'Amaykissmymissus,areckon,'saidDaniel,comingtoastandstillashepassednearher。
'Oh,Dannel,Dannel!'criedshe,openingherarmswidetoreceivehim。
'Dannel,Dannel,myman!'andsheshookwithhercrying,layingherheadonhisshoulder,asifhewasallherstayandcomfort。
'Come,missus!come,missus!'saidhe,'therecouldn'tbemoreadoifa'dbeenguiltyofmurder,an'yetasayagain,asasaidafore,a'mnoaneashamedo'mydoings。Here,Sylvie,lass,tak'thymotheroffme,foracannotdoitmysel',itlikesetsmeoff。'Hisvoicewasquaveringashesaidthis。Buthecheeredupalittleandsaid,'Now,good—by,oudwench'(kissingher),'andkeepagoodheart,andletmeseetheelookin'lustyandstrongwhenacomeback。Good—by,mylass;lookwellaftermother,andaskPhilipforguidanceifit'sneeded。'
Hewastakenoutofhishome,andthenarosetheshrillcriesofthewomen;butinaminuteortwotheywerecheckedbythereturnofoneoftheconstables,who,capinhandatthesightofsomuchgrief,said,——
'Hewantsawordwi'hisdaughter。'
Thepartyhadcometoahaltabouttenyardsfromthehouse。Sylvia,hastilywipinghertearsonherapron,ranoutandthrewherarmsroundherfather,asiftoburstoutafreshonhisneck。
'Nay,nay,mywench,it'stheeasmunbeacomforttomother:nay,nay,orthou'llniverhearwhata'vegottosay。Sylvie,mylass,a'mmainandsorryaweresoshortwi'theelastneet;aaxthypardon,lass,awerecrosstothee,andsenttheetothybedwi'asoreheart。Thoumunnotthinkonitagain,butforg'eme,nowa'mleavin'thee。'
'Oh,feyther!feyther!'wasallSylviacouldsay;andatlasttheyhadtomakeasthoughtheywouldhaveusedforcetoseparateherfromtheirprisoner。Philiptookherhand,andsoftlyledherbacktoherweepingmother。
Forsometimenothingwastobeheardinthelittlefarmhousekitchenbutthesobbingandwailingofthewomen。Philipstoodbysilent,thinking,aswellashecould,forhiskeepsympathywiththeirgrief,whathadbestbedonenext。Kester,aftersomegrowlsatSylviaforhavingheldbacktheupliftedarmwhichhethoughtmighthavesavedDanielbyawell—consideredblowonhiscaptorsastheyenteredthehouse,wentbackintohisshippen——hiscellformeditationandconsolation,wherehemighthopetosoothehimselfbeforegoingouttohisafternoon'swork;labourwhichhismasterhadplannedforhimthatverymorning,withastrangeforesight,asKesterthought,forthejobwasonewhichwouldtakehimtwoorthreedayswithoutneedinganyfurtherdirectionsthanthosehehadreceived,andbytheendofthattimehethoughtthathismasterwouldbeatlibertyagain。Sohe——sotheyallthoughtintheirignoranceandinexperience。
第18章