'Ay，ay;butmanyathinghappensinfour—and—twentyhours。Hermotherisdying，maybedeadbythistime;andherhusbandshouldbetherewithher。Can'tyousendforhim？'
　　'Idon'tknowwhereheis，'saidHester。'Hewentofffromhereallonasudden，whentherewasallthemarket—folksint'shop;Ithoughthe'dmaybegonetoJohnFoster'saboutth'money，fortheywaspayingadealin。I'llsendthereandinquire。'
　　No！themessengerbroughtbackwordthathehadnotbeenseenattheirbankallmorning。FurtherinquiriesweremadebytheanxiousHester，bythedoctor，byCoulson;alltheycouldlearnwasthatPhoebehadseenhimpassthekitchenwindowabouteleveno'clock，whenshewaspeelingthepotatoesfordinner;andtwoladsplayingonthequay—sidethoughttheyhadseenhimamongagroupofsailors;buttheselatter，asfarastheycouldbeidentified，hadnoknowledgeofhisappearanceamongthem。
　　Beforenightthewholetownwasexcitedabouthisdisappearance。BeforenightBellRobsonhadgonetoherlonghome。AndSylviastilllayquietandtearless，apparentlymoreunmovedthananyothercreaturebytheeventsoftheday，andthestrangevanishingofherhusband。
　　Theonlythingsheseemedtocareforwasherbaby;sheheldittightinherarms，andDrMorganbadethemleaveitthere，itstouchmightdrawthedesiredtearsintoherweary，sleeplesseyes，andcharmtheachingpainoutofthem。
　　Theywereafraidlestsheshouldinquireforherhusband，whosenon—appearanceatsuchatimeofsorrowtohiswifemust（theythought）seemstrangetoher。Andnightdrewonwhiletheywereallinthisstate。Shehadgonebacktoherownroomwithoutawordwhentheyhaddesiredhertodoso;
　　caressingherchildinherarms，andsittingdownonthefirstchairshecameto，withaheavysigh，asifeventhisslightbodilyexertionhadbeentoomuchforher。Theysawhereyesturntowardsthedooreverytimeitwasopened，andtheythoughtitwaswithanxiousexpectationofonewhocouldnotbefound，thoughmanywereseekingforhiminallprobableplaces。
　　Whennightcamesomeonehadtotellherofherhusband'sdisappearance;
　　andDrMorganwasthepersonwhoundertookthis。
　　Hecameintoherroomaboutnineo'clock;herbabywassleepinginherarms;sheherselfpaleasdeath，stillsilentandtearless，thoughstrangelywatchfulofgesturesandsounds，andprobablycognizantofmorethantheyimagined。
　　'Well，MrsHepburn，'saidhe，ascheerfullyashecould，'Ishouldadviseyourgoingtobedearly;forIfancyyourhusbandwon'tcomehometo—night。
　　Somejourneyorother，thatperhapsCoulsoncanexplainbetterthanIcan，willmostlikelykeephimawaytillto—morrow。It'sveryunfortunatethatheshouldbeawayatsuchasadtimeasthis，asI'msurehe'llfeelwhenhereturns;butwemustmakethebestofit。'
　　Hewatchedhertoseetheeffectofhiswords。
　　Shesighed，thatwasall。Hestillremainedalittlewhile。Sheliftedherheadupalittleandasked，'Howlongdoyo'thinkshewasunconscious，doctor？Couldshehearthings，thinkyo'，aforeshefellintothatstrangekindo'slumber？'
　　'Icannottell，'saidhe，shakinghishead。'Wasshebreathinginthathardsnoringkindofwaywhenyouleftherthismorning？'
　　'Yes，Ithinkso;Icannottell，somuchhashappened。'
　　'Whenyoucamebacktoher，afteryourbreakfast，Ithinkyousaidshewasinmuchthesameposition？'
　　'Yes，andyetImaybetellingyo'lies;ifIcouldbutthink:butit'smyheadasisachingso;doctor，Iwishyo'dgo，forIneedbeingalone，I'msomazed。'
　　'Good—night，then，foryou'reawisewoman，Isee，andmeantogotobed，andhaveagoodnightwithbabythere。'
　　ButhewentdowntoPhoebe，andtoldhertogoinfromtimetotime，andseehowhermistresswas。
　　HefoundHesterRoseandtheoldservanttogether;bothhadbeencrying，bothwereevidentlyingreattroubleaboutthedeathandthemysteryoftheday。
　　HesteraskedifshemightgoupandseeSylvia，andthedoctorgavehisleave，talkingmeanwhilewithPhoebeoverthekitchenfire。HestercamedownagainwithoutseeingSylvia。Thedooroftheroomwasbolted，andeverythingquietinside。
　　'Doessheknowwhereherhusbandis，thinkyou？'askedthedoctoratthisaccountofHester's。'She'snotanxiousabouthimatanyrate:orelsetheshockofhermother'sdeathhasbeentoomuchforher。Wemusthopeforsomechangeinthemorning;agoodfitofcrying，orafidgetaboutherhusband，wouldbemorenatural。Good—nighttoyouboth，'andoffhewent。
　　PhoebeandHesteravoidedlookingateachotheratthesewords。Bothwereconsciousoftheprobabilityofsomethinghavinggoneseriouslywrongbetweenthehusbandandwife。Hesterhadtherecollectionofthepreviousnight，Phoebetheuntastedbreakfastofto—daytogoupon。
　　Shespokefirst。
　　'Ajustwishhe'dcomehometostillfolks'tongues。Itneedniverha'
　　beenknownift'oldladyhadn'tdiedthisdayofallothers。It'ssuchathingfort'shopt'haveoneo't'partnersmissin'，an'noonefort'knowwhat'scomedonhim。Itniverhappenedi'Fosters'days，that'sa'Iknow。'
　　'He'llmaybecomebackyet，'saidHester。'It'snotsoverylate。'
　　'Itweremarket—day，anda'，'continuedPhoebe，'justasifiverythingmungowrongtogether;an'a't'countrycustomers'llgobackwi'finetalei'theirmouths，asMeasterHepburnwasstrayedan'missin'justlikeabeasto'somekind。'
　　'Hark！isn'tthatastep？'saidHestersuddenly，asafootfallsoundedinthenowquietstreet;butitpassedthedoor，andthehopethathadarisenonitsapproachfellasthesounddiedaway。
　　'He'llnoanecometo—night，'saidPhoebe，whohadbeenaseageralistenerasHester，however。'Thou'dbestgothywayshome;ashallstayup，forit'snotseemlyforusa't'gotoourbeds，an'acorpseint'house;
　　an'Nancy，asmightha'watched，isgonetoherbedthishourpast，likealazybootsassheis。Acanhear，too，ift'measterdoescomehome;
　　tho'a'llbeboundhewunnot;choosewheereheis，he'llbei'bedbynow，forit'swellontoeleven。I'lllettheeoutbyt'shop—door，andstandbyittillthou'scloseathome，forit'sillforayoungwomantobei'
　　t'streetsolate。'
　　Sosheheldthedooropen，andshadedthecandlefromtheflickeringouterair，whileHesterwenttoherhomewithaheavyheart。
　　Heavilyandhopelesslydidtheyallmeetinthemorning。NonewsofPhilip，nochangeinSylvia;anunceasingflowofanglingandconjectureandgossipradiatingfromtheshopintothetown。
　　HestercouldhaveentreatedCoulsononherkneestoceasefromrepeatingthedetailsofastoryofwhicheverywordtouchedonarawplaceinhersensitiveheart;moreover，whentheytalkedtogethersoeagerly，shecouldnothearthecomingfootstepsonthepavementwithout。
　　Oncesomeonehitverynearthetruthinachanceremark。
　　'Itseemsstrange，'shesaid，'howasonemanturnsup，anotherjustdisappears。Why，itwerebutupo'TuesdayasKinraidcomeback，asallhisownfolkhadthoughttobedead;andnextdayhere'sMeasterHepburnasisgonenooneknowswheere！'
　　'That'st'wayi'thisworld，'repliedCoulson，alittlesententiously。
　　'Thislifeisfullo'changeso'onekindoranother;themthat'sdeadisalive;andasforpoorPhilip，thoughhewasalive，helookedfittertobedeadwhenhecameintot'shopo'Wednesdaymorning。'
　　'Andhowdoesshetakeit？'noddingtowhereSylviawassupposedtobe。
　　'Oh！she'snotherself，sotosay。Shewerejuststunnedbyfindinghermotherwasdyinginherveryarmswhenshethoughtasshewereonlysleeping;yetshe'sneverbeenabletocryadrop;sothatt'sorrow'sgoneinwardsonherbrain，andfromallIcanhear，shedoesn'trightlyunderstandasherhusbandismissing。T'doctorsaysifshecouldbutcry，she'dcometoajustercomprehensionofthings。'
　　'AndwhatdoJohnandJeremiahFostersaytoitall？'
　　'They'redownheremanyatimeint'daytoaskifhe'scomeback，orhowsheis;fortheymadeadealon'emboth。They'regoingt'attendt'
　　funeralto—morrow，andhavegivenordersast'shopistobeshutupint'morning。'
　　Tothesurpriseofeveryone，Sylvia，whohadneverleftherroomsincethenightofhermother'sdeath，andwassupposedtobealmostunconsciousofallthatwasgoingoninthehouse，declaredherintentionoffollowinghermothertothegrave。Noonecoulddomorethanremonstratenoonehadsufficientauthoritytointerferewithher。DrMorganeventhoughtthatshemightpossiblyberousedtotearsbytheoccasion，onlyhebeggedHestertogowithher，thatshemighthavethesolaceofsomewoman'scompany。
　　Shewentthroughthegreaterpartoftheceremonyinthesamehard，unmovedmannerinwhichshehadreceivedeverythingfordayspast。
　　Butonlookinguponce，astheyformedroundtheopengrave，shesawKester，inhisSundayclothes，withabitofnewcraperoundhishat，cryingasifhisheartwouldbreakoverthecoffinofhisgood，kindmistress。
　　Hisevidentdistress，theunexpectedsight，suddenlyloosedthefountainofSylvia'stears，andhersobsgrewsoterriblethatHesterfearedshewouldnotbeabletoremainuntiltheendofthefuneral。Butshestruggledhardtostaytillthelast，andthenshemadeanefforttogoroundbytheplacewhereKesterstood。
　　'Comeandseeme，'wasallshecouldsayforcryingandKesteronlynoddedhishead——hecouldnotspeakaword。
　　chapter36CHAPTERXXXVIMYSTERIOUSTIDINGSThatveryeveningKestercame，humblyknockingatthekitchen—door。Phoebeopenedit。HeaskedtoseeSylvia。
　　'Aknownotifshe'llseethee，'saidPhoebe。'There'snomakin'herout;sometimesshe'sforonething，sometimesshe'sforanother。'
　　'Shebidmecomeandseeher，'saidKester。'Onlythismornin'，atmissus'
　　buryin'，shetelledmetocome。'
　　SoPhoebewentofftoinformSylviathatKesterwasthere;andreturnedwiththedesirethathewouldwalkintotheparlour。Aninstantafterhewasgone，Phoebeheardhimreturn，andcarefullyshutthetwodoorsofcommunicationbetweenthekitchenandsitting—room。
　　SylviawasinthelatterwhenKestercamein，holdingherbabyclosetoher;indeed，sheseldomletitgonow—a—daystoanyoneelse，makingNancy'splacequiteasinecure，muchtoPhoebe'sindignation。
　　Sylvia'sfacewasshrunk，andwhite，andthin;herlovelyeyesaloneretainedtheyouthful，almostchildlike，expression。ShewentuptoKester，andshookhishornyhand，sheherselftremblingallover。
　　'Don'ttalktomeofher，'shesaidhastily。'Icannotstandit。It'sablessingforhertobegone，but，oh————'
　　Shebegantocry，andthencheeredherselfup，andswalloweddownhersobs。
　　'Kester，'shewenton，hastily，'CharleyKinraidisn'tdead;dosttaknow？He'salive，andhewerehereo'Tuesday——no，Monday，wasit？Icannottell——buthewerehere！'
　　'Aknowedasheweren'tdead。Everyoneisa—speakingonit。Butadidn'tknowasthee'dha'seenhim。Atookcomforti'thinkin'asthou'dha'beenwi'thymothera't'timeashewerei't'place。'
　　'Thenhe'sgone？'saidSylvia。
　　'Gone;ay，dayspast。Asfarasaknow，hebutstoppeda'neet。Athoughttomysel'（butyo'maybesureasaidnoughttonobody），he'sheerdasourSylviaweremarried，andhasputitinhispipe，andta'enhissel'
　　offtosmokeit。'
　　'Kester！'saidSylvia，leaningforwards，andwhispering。'Isawhim。
　　Hewashere。Philipsawhim。Philiphadknownashewasn'tdeada'thistime！'
　　Kesterstoodupsuddenly。
　　'Bygoom，thatchaphasadealt'answerfor。'
　　AbrightredspotwasoneachofSylvia'swhitecheeks;andforaminuteorsoneitherofthemspoke。
　　Thenshewenton，stillwhisperingoutherwords。
　　'Kester，I'mmoreafearedthanIdaretellanyone:cantheyha'met，thinkyo'？T'verythoughtturnsmesick。ItoldPhilipmymind，andtookavowagain'him——butitwouldbeawfultothinkonharmhappeningtohimthroughKinraid。Yethewentoutthatmorning，andhasniverbeenseenorheardonsin';andKinraidwerejustfellagain'him，andasforthatmatter，sowasI;but————'
　　Theredspotvanishedasshefacedherownimagination。
　　Kesterspoke。
　　'It'sathingascanbeeasylookedinto。Whatdayan'timewereitwhenPhilipleftthishouse？'
　　'Tuesday——thedayshedied。Isawhiminherroomthatmorningbetweenbreakfastanddinner;Icoulda'mostsweartoit'sbeingcloseaftereleven。
　　Imindcountingt'clock。ItwasthatverymornasKinraidwerehere。'
　　'A'llgoan'haveapinto'beeratt'King'sArms，downont'quay—side;
　　itweretheereheputupat。An'a'mprettysureasheonlystoppedonenight，andlefti't'morningbetimes。Buta'llgosee。'
　　'Do，'saidSylvia，'andgooutthrought'shop;they'reallwatchingandwatchingmetoseehowItakethings;anddaren'tletonaboutt'fireasisburningupmyheart。Coulsonisi't'shop，buthe'llnotnoticetheelikePhoebe。'
　　By—and—byKestercameback。ItseemedasthoughSylviahadneverstirred;
　　shelookedeagerlyathim，butdidnotspeak。
　　'Hewentawayi'RobMason'smail—cart，himastak'st'letterstoHartlepool。
　　T'lieutenant（astheyca'himdownatt'King'sArms;they'reasproudonhisuniformasifithadbeenanew—paintedsigntoswingo'ertheirdoors），t'lieutenanthadreckonedupo'stayin'longerwi''em;buthewentoutbetimeso'Tuesdaymorn'，an'camebacka'ruffledup，anpaidhisbill——paidforhisbreakfast，thoughhetouchednoaneonit——an'wentoffi'Robpostman'smail—cart，asstartsreg'laratteno'clock。Corneyshasbeentheereaskin'forhim，an'makin'apieceo'work，asheniverwentnearem;andtheybeescousins。Niveraoneamong'emknowsashewerehereasfarasacouldmak'out。'
　　'Thankyo'，Kester，'saidSylvia，fallingbackinherchair，ifalltheenergythathadkeptherstiffanduprightwasgonenowthatheranxietywasrelieved。
　　Shewassilentforalongtime;hereyesshut，hercheeklaidonherchild'shead。Kesterspokenext。
　　'Athinkit'sprettyclearasthey'nnivermet。Butitsa't'morewonderwherethyhusband'sgoneto。Theeandhimhadwordsaboutit，andthoutelledhimthymind，thousaid？'
　　'Yes，'saidSylvia，notmoving。'I'mafearedlestmotherknowswhatIsaidtohim，there，whereshe'sgoneto——Iam—'thetearsfilledhershuteyes，andcamesoftlyoverflowingdownhercheeks;'andyetitweretrue，whatIsaid，Icannotforgivehim;he'sjustspoiltmylife，andI'mnotone—and—twentyyet，andheknowedhowwretched，howverywretched，Iwere。Awordfra'himwouldha'mendedita';andCharleyhadbidhimspeaktheword，andgivemehisfaithfullove，andPhilipsawmyheartachedayafterday，andniverletonashimIwasmourningforwasalive，andhadsentmewordashe'dkeeptruetome，asIweretodotohim。'
　　'Awisha'dbeentheere;a'dha'felledhimtot'ground，'saidKester，clenchinghisstiff，hardhandwithindignation。
　　Sylviawassilentagain:paleandwearyshesate，hereyesstillshut。
　　Thenshesaid，'Yetheweresogoodtomother;andmotherlovedhimso。Oh，Kester！'
　　liftingherselfup，openinghergreatwistfuleyes，'it'swellforfolksascandie;they'resparedadealo'misery。'
　　'Ay！'saidhe。'Butthere'sfolkasone'udliketokeepfra'shirkin'
　　theirmisery。Thinkyo'nowasPhilipislivin'？'
　　Sylviashiveredallover，andhesitatedbeforeshereplied。
　　'Idunnotknow。Isaidsuchthings;hedeserved'emall————'
　　'Well，well，lass！'saidKester，sorrythathehadaskedthequestionwhichwasproducingsomuchemotionofonekindoranother。'Neithertheenormecantell;wecanneitherhelpnorhinder，seem'ashe'sta'enhissel'
　　offoutonoursight，we'dbestnotthinkonhim。A'lltryan'telltheesomenews，ifacanthinkonitwi'mymindsofull。ThouknowsHaytersbankfolkha'flitted，andt'oudplaceisempty？'
　　'Yes！'saidSylvia，withtheindifferenceofoneweariedoutwithfeeling。
　　'Aonlytelledyo't'accountlikeformebein'atalooseendi'Monkshaven。
　　Mysister，heraslivedatDaleEndan'isawidow，hascomedint'towntolive;an'a'mlodgingwi'her，an'jobbin'about。A'mgettin'prettywelltodo，an'a'mnoanefart'seek，an'a'mgoingnow:onlyfirstajustwantedfort'sayasa'mthyoldestfriend，areckon，andifacandoaturnforthee，orgoanerrand，likeasa'vedoneto—day，orifit'sanycomforttotalkabittoonewho'sknownthylifefromababby，whyyo'veonlyt'sendforme，an'a'dcomeifitweretwentymile。A'mlodgin'
　　atPeggyDawson's，t'lathandplastercottageatt'righthando't'bridge，a'amongt'newhouses，asthey'rethinkin'o'buildin'neart'sea:noonecanmissit。'
　　Hestoodupandshookhandswithher。Ashedidso，helookedathersleepingbaby。
　　'She'slikeryo'thanhim。Athinka'llsay，Godblessher。'
　　Withtheheavysoundofhisout—goingfootsteps，babyawoke。Sheoughtbeforethistimetohavebeenasleepinherbed，andthedisturbancemadehercryfretfully。
　　'Hushthee，darling，hushthee！'murmuredhermother;'there'snoonelefttolovemebutthee，andIcannotstandthyweeping，myprettyone。
　　Hushthee，mybabe，hushthee！'
　　Shewhisperedsoftinthelittleone'searasshetookherupstairstobed。
　　AboutthreeweeksafterthemiserabledateofBellRobson'sdeathandPhilip'sdisappearance，HesterRosereceivedaletterfromhim。Sheknewthewritingontheaddresswell;anditmadehertremblesomuchthatitwasmanyminutesbeforeshedaredtoopenit，andmakeherselfacquaintedwiththefactsitmightdisclose。
　　Butsheneednothavefeared;therewerenofactstold，unlessthevaguedateof'London'mightbesomethingtolearn。Eventhatmuchmighthavebeenfoundoutbythepost—mark，onlyshehadbeentoomuchtakenbysurprisetoexamineit。
　　Itranasfollows:——
　　'DEARHESTER，——
　　'Tellthosewhomitmayconcern，thatIhaveleftMonkshavenforever。
　　Nooneneedtroublethemselvesaboutme;Iamprovidedfor。Pleasetomakemyhumbleapologiestomykindfriends，theMessrsFoster，andtomypartner，WilliamCoulson。Pleasetoacceptofmylove，andtojointhesametoyourmother。PleasetogivemyparticularandrespectfuldutyandkindlovetomyauntIsabellaRobson。HerdaughterSylviaknowswhatIhavealwaysfelt，andshallalwaysfeel，forherbetterthanIcaneverputintolanguage，soIsendhernomessage;Godblessandkeepmychild。Youmustalllookonmeasonedead;asIamtoyou，andmaybeshallsoonbeinreality。
　　'Youraffectionateandobedientfriendtocommand，'PHILIPHEPBURN。
　　'P。S。——Oh，Hester！forGod'ssakeandmine，lookafter'（'mywife，'
　　scratchedout）'Sylviaandmychild。IthinkJeremiahFosterwillhelpyoutobeafriendtothem。ThisisthelastsolemnrequestofP。H。Sheisbutveryyoung。
　　Hesterreadthisletteragainandagain，tillherheartcaughttheechoofitshopelessness，andsankwithinher。Sheputitinherpocket，andreflecteduponitallthedaylongassheservedintheshop。
　　Thecustomersfoundherasgentle，butfarmoreinattentivethanusual。
　　Shethoughtthatintheeveningshewouldgoacrossthebridge，andconsultwiththetwogoodoldbrothersFoster。Butsomethingoccurredtoputoffthefulfilmentofthisplan。
　　ThatsamemorningSylviahadprecededher，withnoonetoconsult，becauseconsultationwouldhaverequiredpreviousconfidence，andconfidencewouldhavenecessitatedsuchaconfessionaboutKinraidasitwasmostdifficultforSylviatomake。Thepooryoungwifeyetfeltthatsomestepmustbetakenbyher;andwhatitwastobeshecouldnotimagine。
　　Shehadnohometogoto;forasPhilipwasgoneaway，sheremainedwhereshewasonlyonsufferance;shedidnotknowwhatmeansoflivelihoodshehad;shewaswillingtowork，nay，wouldbethankfultotakeupheroldlifeofcountrylabour;butwithherbaby，whatcouldshedo？
　　Inthisdilemma，therecollectionoftheoldman'skindlyspeechandofferofassistance，made，itistrue，halfinjoke，attheendofherweddingvisit，cameintohermind;andsheresolvedtogoandaskforsomeofthefriendlycounselandassistancethenoffered。
　　Itwouldbethefirsttimeofhergoingoutsincehermother'sfuneral，andshedreadedtheeffortonthataccount。Moreeventhanonthataccountdidsheshrinkfromgoingintothestreetsagain。ShecouldnotgetovertheimpressionthatKinraidmustbelingeringnear;andshedistrustedherselfsomuchthatitwasapositiveterrortothinkofmeetinghimagain。
　　Shefeltasthough，ifshebutcaughtasightofhim，theglitterofhisuniform，orheardhiswell—knownvoiceinonlyadistantsyllableoftalk，herheartwouldstop，andsheshoulddiefromveryfrightofwhatwouldcomenext。Orrathersoshefelt，andsoshethoughtbeforeshetookherbabyinherarms，asNancygaveittoherafterputtingonitsout—of—doorattire。
　　Withitinherarmsshewasprotected，andthewholecurrentofherthoughtswaschanged。Theinfantwaswailingandsufferingwithitsteething，andthemother'sheartwassooccupiedinsoothingandconsolinghermoaningchild，thatthedangerousquay—sideandthebridgewerepassedalmostbeforeshewasaware;nordidshenoticetheeagercuriosityandrespectfulattentionofthoseshemetwhorecognizedhereventhroughtheheavyveilwhichformedpartofthedrapingmourningprovidedforherbyHesterandCoulson，inthefirstunconsciousdaysafterhermother'sdeath。
　　ThoughpublicopinionasyetreserveditsverdictuponPhilip'sdisappearance——warnedpossiblybyKinraid'sstoryagainsthastydecisionsandjudgmentsinsuchtimesasthoseofwarandgeneraldisturbance——yeteveryoneagreedthatnomorepitifulfatecouldhavebefallenPhilip'swife。
　　Markedoutbyherstrikingbeautyasanobjectofadmiringinteresteveninthosedayswhenshesateingirlhood'ssmilingpeacebyhermotherattheMarketCross——herfatherhadlosthislifeinapopularcause，andignominiousasthemannerofhisdeathmightbe，hewaslookeduponasamartyrtohiszealinavengingthewrongsofhistownsmen;Sylviahadmarriedamongstthemtoo，andherquietdailylifewaswellknowntothem;
　　andnowherhusbandhadbeencarriedofffromhersidejustontheverydaywhensheneededhiscomfortmost。
　　ForthegeneralopinionwasthatPhiliphadbeen'carriedoff'——inseaporttownssuchoccurrenceswerenotuncommoninthosedays——eitherbyland—crimpsorwater—crimps。
　　SoSylviawastreatedwithsilentreverence，asonesorelyafflicted，byalltheunheededpeopleshemetinherfalteringwalktoJeremiahFoster's。
　　Shehadcalculatedhertimesoastofallinwithhimathisdinnerhour，eventhoughitobligedhertogotohisownhouseratherthantothebankwhereheandhisbrotherspentallthebusinesshoursoftheday。
　　Sylviawassonearlyexhaustedbythelengthofherwalkandtheweightofherbaby，thatallshecoulddowhenthedoorwasopenedwastototterintothenearestseat，sitdown，andbegintocry。
　　Inaninstantkindhandswereabouther，looseningherheavycloak，offeringtorelieveherofherchild，whoclungtoherallthemorefirmly，andsomeonewaspressingaglassofwineagainstherlips。
　　'No，sir，Icannottakeit！wineallaysgivesmeth'headache;ifI
　　mighthavejustadrinko'water。Thankyou，ma—am'（totherespectable—lookingoldservant），'I'mwellenoughnow;andperhaps，sir，Imightspeakawordwithyo'，forit'sthatI'vecomefor。'
　　'It'sapity，SylviaHepburn，astheedidstnotcometomeatthebank，forit'sbeenalongtoilfortheeallthiswayintheheat，withthychild。
　　Butifthere'saughtIcandoorsayforthee，thouhastbuttonameit，Iamsure。Martha！wiltthourelieveherofherchildwhileshecomeswithmeintotheparlour？'
　　ButthewilfullittleBellastoutlyrefusedtogotoanyone，andSylviawasnotwillingtopartwithher，tiredthoughshewas。
　　Sothebabywascarriedintotheparlour，andmuchofherafter—lifedependedonthistrivialfact。
　　Onceinstalledintheeasy—chair，andfacetofacewithJeremiah，Sylviadidnotknowhowtobegin。
　　Jeremiahsawthis，andkindlygavehertimetorecoverherself，bypullingouthisgreatgoldwatch，andlettingthesealdanglebeforethechild'seyes，almostwithinreachofthechild'seagerlittlefingers。
　　'Shefavoursyouadeal，'saidhe，atlast。'Morethanherfather，'
　　hewenton，purposelyintroducingPhilip'sname，soastobreaktheice;
　　for'herightlyconjecturedshehadcometospeaktohimaboutsomethingconnectedwithherhusband。
　　StillSylviasaidnothing;shewaschokingdowntearsandshyness，andunwillingnesstotakeasconfidantamanofwhomsheknewsolittle，onsuchslightground（asshenowfeltittobe）asthelittlekindlyspeechwithwhichshehadbeendismissedfromthathousethelasttimethatsheenteredit。
　　'It'snousekeepingyo'，sir，'shebrokeoutatlast。'It'saboutPhilipasIcomedtospeak。Doyo'knowanythingwhatsoeverabouthim？Heniverhadachanceo'sayinganything，Iknow;butmaybehe'swritten？'
　　'Notaline，mypooryoungwoman！'saidJeremiah，hastilyputtinganendtothatvainidea。
　　'Thenhe'seitherdeadorgone。awayforiver，'shewhispered。'Imunbebothfeytherandmothertomychild。'
　　'Oh！theemustnotgiveitup，'repliedhe。'Manyaoneiscarriedofftothewars，ortothetenderso'men—o'—war;andthentheyturnouttobeunfitforservice，andaresenthome。Philip'llcomebackbeforetheyear'sout;thee'llseethat。'
　　'No;he'llnivercomeback。AndI'mnotsureasIshouldiverwishhimt'comeback，ifIcouldbutknowwhatwasgonewi'him。Yo'see，sir，thoughIweresoresetagain'him，Ishouldn'tlikeharmtohappenhim。'
　　'ThereissomethingbehindallthisthatIdonotunderstand。Cantheetellmewhatitis？'
　　'Imust，sir，ifyo'retohelpmewi'yourcounsel;andIcameupheretoaskforit。'
　　Anotherlongpause，duringwhichJeremiahmadeafeintofplayingwiththechild，whodancedandshoutedwithtantalizedimpatienceatnotbeingabletoobtainpossessionoftheseal，andatlengthstretchedouthersoftroundlittlearmstogototheownerofthecovetedpossession。SurpriseatthisactionrousedSylvia，andshemadesomecommentuponit。
　　'Iniverknewhert'gotoanyoneafore。Ihopeshe'llnotbetroublesometoyo'，sir？'
　　Theoldman，whohadoftenlongedforachildofhisownindaysgoneby，washighlypleasedbythismarkofbaby'sconfidence，andalmostforgot，intryingtostrengthenherregardbyallthewinningwilesinhispower，howherpoormotherwasstilllingeringoversomepainfulstorywhichshecouldnotbringherselftotell。
　　'I'mafearedofspeakingwrongagain'anyone，sir。Andmotherweresofondo'Philip;buthekeptsomethingfrommeaswouldha'mademeadifferentwoman，andsomeoneelse，happen，adifferentman。Iweretroth—plightedwi'Kinraidthespecksioneer，himaswascousintoth'Corneyso'MossBrow，andcomedbacklieutenanti't'navylastTuesdaythreeweeks，afteriveryonehadthoughthimdeadandgonethesethreeyears。'
　　Shepaused。
　　'Well？'saidJeremiah，withinterest;althoughhisattentionappearedtobedividedbetweenthemother'sstoryandtheeagerplayfulnessofthebabyonhisknee。
　　'Philipknewhewerealive;he'dseenhimtakenbyt'press—gang，andCharleyhadsentamessagetomebyPhilip。'
　　Herwhitefacewasreddening，hereyesflashingatthispointofherstory。
　　'Andhenivertoldmeawordonit，notwhenhesawmeliketobreakmyheartinthinkingasKinraidweredead;hekeptita'tohissel';andwatchedmecry，andniversaidawordtocomfortmewi't'truth。Itwouldha'beenagreatcomfort，sir，onlyt'havehadhismessageifI'dniverha'beentoseehimagain。ButPhilipniverletontoanyone，asIiverhearedon，thathe'dseenCharleythatmorningast'press—gangtookhim。
　　Yo'knowaboutfeyther'sdeath，andhowfriendlessmotherandmewasleft？
　　andsoImarriedhim;forhewereagoodfriendtousthen，andIweredazedlikewi'sorrow，andcouldseenaughtelsetodoformother。Hewereallaysverytenderandgoodtoher，forsure。'
　　Againalongpauseofsilentrecollection，brokenbyone，ortwodeepsighs。