'Shecouldn'thelphersel';andforallshelookssodemureandprimnow'（andthenbothheadswereturnedinthedirectionofSylvia），'I'massureasI'mbornthatCharleyisnott'chaptolosehisforfeit;andyetyo'seehesaysnoughtmoreaboutit，andshe'sleftoffbeing'fearedofhim。'
　　TherewassomethinginSylvia'slook，ay，andinCharleyKinraid's，too，thatshotconvictionintoPhilip'smind。Hewatchedthemincessantlyduringtheintervalbeforesupper;theywereintimate，andyetshywitheachother，inamannerthatenragedwhileitbewilderedPhilip。WhatwasCharleysayingtoherinthatwhisperedvoice，astheypassedeachother？
　　Whydidtheylingerneareachother？WhydidSylvialooksodreamilyhappy，sostartledateverycallofthegame，asifrecalledfromsomepleasantidea？WhydidKinraid'seyesalwaysseekherwhileherswereaverted，ordowncast，andhercheeksallaflame？Philip'sdarkbrowgrewdarkerashegazed。He，too，startedwhenMrsCorney，closeathiselbow，badehimgointosupperalongwithsomeoftheelderones，whowerenotplaying;
　　fortheparlourwasnotlargeenoughtoholdallatonce，evenwiththesqueezingandcramming，andsittingtogetheronchairs，whichwasnotatalloutofetiquetteatMonkshaven。PhilipwastooreservedtoexpresshisdisappointmentandannoyanceatbeingthusarrestedinhispainfulwatchoverSylvia;buthehadnoappetiteforthegoodthingssetbeforehim，andfoundithardworktosmileasicklysmilewhencalleduponbyJosiahPrattforapplauseatsomecountryjoke。Whensupperwasended，therewassomelittlediscussionbetweenMrsCorneyandherson—in—lawastowhetherthedifferentindividualsofthecompanyshouldbecalleduponforsongsorstories，aswasthewontatsuchconvivialmeetings。
　　Bruntonhadbeenhelpinghismother—in—lawinurgingpeopletoeat，heapingtheirplatesovertheirshoulderswithunexpectedgoodthings，fillingtheglassesattheupperendofthetable，andthemugswhichsuppliedthedeficiencyofglassesatthelower。Andnow，everyonebeingsatisfied，nottosaystuffedtorepletion，thetwowhohadbeenattendingtotheirwantsstoodstill，hotandexhausted。
　　'They'rea'moststawed，'saidMrsCorney，withapleasedsmile。'It'llbemannerst'asksomeoneasknowshowtosing。'
　　'Itmaybemannersforfullmen，butnotforfasting，'repliedBrunton。
　　'Folksint'nextroomwillbewantingtheirvictual，andsingingisallaysouto'tunetoemptybellies。'
　　'Butthere'sthemhereas'lltakeitillifthey'renotasked。IheerdJosiahPratta—clearinghisthroatnotaminuteago，an'hethinksasmuchonhissingin'asacockdoesonhiscrowin'。'
　　'IfonesingsI'mafeardallon'emwillliketoheartheirownpipes。'
　　ButtheirdilemmawassolvedbyBessyCorney，whoopenedthedoortoseeifthehungryonesoutsidemightnotcomeinfortheirshareoftheentertainment;andintheyrushed，brightandriotous，scarcelygivingthefirstpartytimetorisefromtheirseatseretheytooktheirplaces。
　　Oneortwoyoungmen，releasedfromalltheirpreviousshyness，helpedMrsCorneyandherdaughterstocarryoffsuchdishesaswereactuallyempty。Therewasnotimeforchangingorwashingofplates;butthen，asMrsCorneylaughinglyobserved，——
　　'We'rea'onusfriends，andsomeonusmayhapsweet—hearts;sononeedtobeparticularaboutplates。Themasgetscleanonesislucky;andthemasdoesn't，andcannotputupwi'platesthathasbeenused，mungowithout。'
　　ItseemedtobePhilip'sluckthisnighttobepentupinplaces;foragainthespacebetweenthebenchesandthewallwasfilledupbythein—rushbeforehehadtimetomakehiswayout;andallhecoulddowastositquietwherehewas。Butbetweenthebusyheadsandover—reachingarmshecouldseeCharleyandSylvia，sittingclosetogether，talkingandlisteningmorethaneating。Shewasinanewstrangestateofhappinessnottobereasonedaboutoraccountedfor，butinastateofmoreexquisitefeelingthanshehadeverexperiencedbefore;when，suddenlyliftinghereyes，shecaughtPhilip'sfaceofextremedispleasure。
　　'Oh，'saidshe，'Imustgo。There'sPhiliplookingatmeso。'
　　'Philip！'saidKinraid，withasuddenfrownuponhisface。
　　'Mycousin，'shereplied，instinctivelycomprehendingwhathadflashedintohismind，andanxioustodisclaimthesuspicionofhavingalover。
　　'Mothertoldhimtoseemehome，andhe'snoanoneforstayinguplate。'
　　'Butyouneedn'tgo。I'llseeyo'home。'
　　'Mother'sbutailing，'saidSylvia，alittleconscience—smittenathavingsoentirelyforgotteneverythinginthedelightofthepresent，'andI
　　saidIwouldn'tbelate。'
　　'Anddoyouallayskeeptoyourword？'askedhe，withatendermeaninginhistone。
　　'Allays;leastwaysIthinkso，'repliedshe，blushing。
　　'ThenifIaskyounottoforgetme，andyougivemeyourword，Imaybesureyou'llkeepit。'
　　'Itwasn'tIasforgotyou，'saidSylvia，sosoftlyasnottobeheardbyhim。
　　Hetriedtomakeherrepeatwhatshehadsaid，butshewouldnot，andhecouldonlyconjecturethatitwassomethingmoretell—talethanshelikedtosayagain，andthatalonewasverycharmingtohim。
　　'Ishallwalkhomewithyou，'saidhe，asSylviaatlastrosetodepart，warnedbyafurtherglimpseofPhilip'sangryface。
　　'No！'saidshe，hastily，'Ican'tdowithyo';'forsomehowshefelttheneedofpacifyingPhilip，andknewinherheartthatathirdpersonjoiningtheirtete—a—tetewalkwouldonlyincreasehisdispleasure。
　　'Whynot？'saidCharley，sharply。
　　'Oh！Idon'tknow，onlypleasedon't！'
　　Bythistimehercloakandhoodwereon，andshewasslowlymakingherwaydownhersideoftheroomfollowedbyCharley，andofteninterruptedbyindignantremonstrancesagainstherdeparture，andtheearlybreaking—upoftheparty。Philipstood，hatinhand，inthedoorwaybetweenthekitchenandparlour，watchinghersointentlythatheforgottobecivil，anddrewmanyajestandgibeuponhimforhisabsorptioninhisprettycousin。
　　WhenSylviareachedhim，hesaid，——
　　'Yo'rereadyatlast，areyo'？'
　　'Yes，'shereplied，inherlittlebeseechingtone。'Yo'venotbeenwantingtogolong，hanyo'？Iha'butjusteatenmysupper。'
　　'Yo'vebeensofulloftalk，that'sbeenthereasonyoursupperlastedsolong。Thatfellow'snonegoingwi'us？'saidhesharply，ashesawKinraidrummagingforhiscapinaheapofmen'sclothes，thrownintotheback—kitchen。
　　'No，'saidSylvia，inaffrightatPhilip'sfiercelookandpassionatetone。'Itelledhimnot。'
　　ButatthatmomenttheheavyouterdoorwasopenedbyDanielRobsonhimself——bright，broad，androsy，ajollyimpersonationofWinter。Hislargedrover'scoatwascoveredwithsnow—flakes，andthroughtheblackframeofthedoorwaymightbeseenawhitewasteworldofsweepingfellandfield，withthedarkairfilledwiththepuredown—fall。Robsonstampedhissnow—ladenfeetandshookhimselfwell，stillstandingonthemat，andlettingacoldfrostycurrentoffreshairintothegreatwarmkitchen。
　　Helaughedatthemallbeforehespoke。
　　'It'sacoudNewYearasI'mlettin'inthoughit'snoant'NewYearyet。Yo'lla'besnowedup，assureasmynamesDannel，ifyo'stopfortwel'o'clock。Yo'dbettermak'hasteandgowhoam。Why，Charley，mylad！
　　howbeestta？who'dha'thoughto'seeingtheei'thesepartsagain！Nay，missus，nay，t'NewYearmunfinditswayint't'housebyitsel'forme;
　　foraha'promisedmyoudwomantobringSylviewhoamasquickasmaybe;
　　she'slyin'awakeandfrettin'aboutt'snowandwhatnot。Thankyo'kindly，missus，buta'lltak'noughttoeat;justadropo'somethin'hottokeepoutcoud，andwishyo'a'thecomplimentso'theseason。Philip，myman，yo'llnotbesorrytobesparedt'walkroundbyHaytersbanksuchaneet。
　　Mymissuswerei'suchawayaboutSylviethatathoughta'djuststepoffmysel'，andhaveapeepatyo'a'，andbringhersomewraps。Yo'rsheepwillbea'folded，areckon，MeasterPratt，forthere'llniverbeanibbleo'grasstobeseenthistwomonth，accordin'tomyreadin';anda'vebeenatsealongenough，andonlandlongenought'knowsignsandwonders。
　　It'sgoodstuffthat，anyway，andworthcomin'for，'afterhehadgulpeddownatumblerfulofhalf—and—halfgrog。'Kinraid，iftadoesn'tcomeandseemeaforethou'rtmanydaysouder，theeandme'llhavewords。Come，Sylvie，whatarttaabout，keepin'mehere？Here'sMistressCorneymixin'
　　meanotherjorum。Well，thistimea'llgive"T'marriedhappy，andt'singlewed！"'
　　Sylviawasallthiswhilestandingbyherfatherquitereadyfordeparture，andnotalittlerelievedbyhisappearanceasherconvoyhome。
　　'I'mreadytoseeHaytersbankto—night，master！'saidKinraid，witheasyfreedom——afreedomwhichPhilipenvied，butcouldnothaveimitated，althoughhewasdeeplydisappointedatthelossofhiswalkwithSylvia，whenhehadintendedtoexercisethepowerhisaunthaddelegatedtohimofremonstranceifherbehaviourhadbeenlightorthoughtless，andofwarningifhesawcausetodisapproveofanyofherassociates。
　　AftertheRobsonshadleft，ablankfelluponbothCharleyandPhilip。
　　Inafewminutes，however，theformer，accustomedtopromptdecision，resolvedthatsheandnoothershouldbehiswife。Accustomedtopopularityamongwomen，andwellversedintheincipientsignsoftheirlikingforhim，heanticipatednodifficultyinwinningher。Satisfiedwiththepast，andpleasantlyhopefulaboutthefuture，hefounditeasytoturnhisattentiontothenextprettiestgirlintheroom，andtomakethewholegatheringbrightwithhisreadygoodtemperandbuoyantspirit。
　　MrsCorneyhadfeltitherdutytopressPhiliptostay，nowthat，asshesaid，hehadnoonebuthimselftoseehome，andtheNewYearsonearcomingin。Toanyoneelseintheroomshewouldhaveaddedtheclinchingargument，'Ashalltakeitveryunkindifyo'gonow;'butsomehowshecouldnotsaythis，forintruthPhilip'slookshowedthathewouldbebutawetblanketonthemerrimentoftheparty。So，withasmuchcivilityascouldbemusteredupbetweenthem，hetookleave。Shuttingthedoorbehindhim，hewentoutintothedrearynight，andbeganhislonesomewalkbacktoMonkshaven。Thecoldsleetalmostblindedhimasthesea—winddroveitstraightinhisface;itcutagainsthimasitwasblownwithdriftingforce。Theroarofthewintryseacameborneonthebreeze;therewasmorelightfromthewhitenedgroundthanfromthedarkladenskyabove。Thefield—pathswouldhavebeenamatterofperplexity，haditnotbeenforthewell—knowngapsinthedyke—side，whichshowedthewhitenedlandbeyond，betweenthetwodarkstonewalls。Yethewentclearandstraightalonghisway，havingunconsciouslyleftallguidancetotheanimalinstinctwhichco—existswiththehumansoul，andsometimestakesstrangechargeofthehumanbody，whenallthenoblerpowersoftheindividualareabsorbedinacutesuffering。Atlengthhewasinthelane，toilingupthehill，fromwhich，byday，Monkshavenmightbeseen。Nowallfeaturesofthelandscapebeforehimwerelostinthedarknessofnight，againstwhichthewhiteflakescamecloserandnearer，thickerandfaster。Onasudden，thebellsofMonkshavenchurchrangoutawelcometotheNewYear，1796。Fromthedirectionofthewind，itseemedasifthesoundwasflungwithstrengthandpowerrightintoPhilip'sface。Hewalkeddownthehilltoitsmerrysound——itsmerrysound，hisheavyheart。AsheenteredthelongHighStreetofMonkshavenhecouldseethewatchinglightsputoutinparlour，chamber，orkitchen。TheNewYearhadcome，andexpectationwasended。Realityhadbegun。
　　Heturnedtotheright，intothecourtwherehelodgedwithAliceRose。
　　Therewasalightstillburningthere，andcheerfulvoiceswereheard。
　　Heopenedthedoor;Alice，herdaughter，andCoulsonstoodasifawaitinghim。Hester'swetcloakhungonachairbeforethefire;shehadherhoodon，forsheandCoulsonhadbeentothewatch—night。
　　Thesolemnexcitementoftheserviceshadleftitstracesuponhercountenanceandinhermind。Therewasaspirituallightinherusuallyshadowedeyes，andaslightflushonherpalecheek。Merelypersonalandself—consciousfeelingsweremergedinalovinggood—willtoallherfellow—creatures。
　　Undertheinfluenceofthislargecharity，sheforgotherhabitualreserve，andcameforwardasPhilipenteredtomeethimwithherNewYear'swishes——wishesthatshehadpreviouslyinterchangedwiththeothertwo。
　　'AhappyNewYeartoyou，Philip，andmayGodhaveyouinhiskeepingallthedaysthereof！'
　　Hetookherhand，andshookitwarmlyinreply。Theflushonhercheekdeepenedasshewithdrewit。AliceRosesaidsomethingcurtlyaboutthelatenessofthehourandherbeingmuchtired;andthensheandherdaughterwentupstairstothefrontchamber，andPhilipandCoulsontothatwhichtheysharedatthebackofthehouse。
　　chapter13CHAPTERXIIIPERPLEXITIESCoulsonandPhilipwerefriendly，butnotintimate。Theyneverhadhadadispute，theyneverwereconfidentialwitheachother;intruth，theywerebothreservedandsilentmen，and，probably，respectedeachotherthemoreforbeingsoself—contained。TherewasaprivatefeelinginCoulson'sheartwhichwouldhavemadealessamiablefellowdislikePhilip。Butofthisthelatterwasunconscious:theywerenotapttoexchangemanywordsintheroomwhichtheyoccupiedjointly。
　　CoulsonaskedPhilipifhehadenjoyedhimselfattheCorneys'，andPhilipreplied，——
　　'Notmuch;suchpartiesarenoanetomyliking。'
　　'Andyetthoubrokeofffromt'watch—nighttogothere。'
　　Noanswer;soCoulsonwenton，withasenseofthedutylaiduponhim，toimprovetheoccasion——thefirstthathadpresenteditselfsincethegoodoldMethodistministerhadgivenhiscongregationthesolemnwarningtowatchovertheopportunitiesofvariouskindswhichthecomingyearwouldpresent。
　　'JonasBarclaytoldusasthepleasureso'thisworldwerelikeappleso'Sodom，pleasanttolookat，butashestotaste。'
　　CoulsonwiselyleftPhiliptomaketheapplicationforhimself。Ifhedidhemadenosign，butthrewhimselfonhisbedwithaheavysigh。
　　'Areyo'notgoingtoundress？'saidCoulson，ashecoveredhimupinbed。
　　Therehadbeenalongpauseofsilence。Philipdidnotanswerhim，andhethoughthehadfallenasleep。ButhewasrousedfromhisfirstslumberbyHepburn'ssoftmovementsabouttheroom。Philiphadthoughtbetterofit，and，withsomepenitenceinhisheartforhisgruffnesstotheunoffendingCoulson，wastryingnottomakeanynoisewhileheundressed。
　　Buthecouldnotsleep。HekeptseeingtheCorneys'kitchenandthescenesthathadtakenplaceinit，passinglikeapageantbeforehisclosedeyes。Thenheopenedtheminangrywearinessattherecurringvision，andtriedtomakeouttheoutlinesoftheroomandthefurnitureinthedarkness。
　　Thewhiteceilingslopedintothewhitewashedwalls，andagainstthemhecouldseethefourrush—bottomedchairs，thelooking—glasshungononeside，theoldcarvedoak—chest（hisownproperty，withtheinitialsofforgottenancestorscutuponit），whichheldhisclothes;theboxesthatbelongedtoCoulson，sleepingsoundlyinthebedintheoppositecorneroftheroom;thecasementwindowintheroof，throughwhichthesnowygroundonthesteephill—sidecouldbeplainlyseen;andwhenhegotsofarasthisinthecatalogueoftheroom，hefellintoatroubledfeverishsleep，whichlastedtwoorthreehours;andthenheawokewithastart，andaconsciousnessofuneasiness，thoughwhatabouthecouldnotrememberatfirst。
　　Whenherecollectedallthathadhappenedthenightbefore，itimpressedhimmuchmorefavourablythanithaddoneatthetime。Ifnotjoy，hopehadcomeinthemorning;and，atanyrate，hecouldbeupandbedoing，forthelatewintrylightwasstealingdownthehill—side，andheknewthat，althoughCoulsonlaymotionlessinhissleep，itwaspasttheirusualtimeofrising。Still，asitwasNewYear'sDay，atimeofsomelicence，Philiphadmercyonhisfellow—shopman，anddidnotwakenhimtilljustashewasleavingtheroom。
　　Carryinghisshoesinhishand，hewentsoftlydownstairsforhecouldseefromthetopoftheflightthatneitherAlicenorherdaughterwasdownyet，asthekitchenshutterswerenotunclosed。ItwasMrsRose'shabittoriseearly，andhaveallbrightandcleanagainstherlodgerscamedown;butthen，ingeneral，shewenttorestbeforenineo'clock，whereasthelastnightshehadnotgonetillpasttwelve。Philipwentaboutundoingtheshutters，andtryingtobreakuptherakingcoal，withaslittlenoiseasmightbe，forhehadcompassiononthetiredsleepers。Thekettlehadnotbeenfilled，probablybecauseMrsRosehadbeenunabletofacethestormofthenightbefore，intakingittothepumpjustattheentranceofthecourt。WhenPhilipcamebackfromfillingit，hefoundAliceandHesterbothinthekitchen，andtryingtomakeupforlosttimebyhasteningovertheirwork。Hesterlookedbusyandnotablewithhergownpinnedupbehindher，andherhairalltuckedawayunderacleanlinencap;butAlicewasangrywithherselfforherlatesleeping，andthatandothercausesmadeherspeakcrosslytoPhilip，ashecameinwithhissnowyfeetandwell—filledkettle。
　　'Lookthe'there！droppin'anddrippin'alongt'flagsaswascleanedlastnight，andmeddlin'wi'woman'sworkasamanhasnobusinesswi'。'
　　Philipwassurprisedandannoyed。Hehadfoundrelieffromhisownthoughtsindoingwhathebelievedwouldhelpothers。Hegaveupthekettletohersnatchinghands，andsatedownbehindthedoorinmomentaryill—temper。
　　Butthekettlewasbetterfilled，andconsequentlyheavierthantheoldwomanexpected，andshecouldnotmanagetoliftittothecrookfromwhichitgenerallyhungsuspended。ShelookedroundforHester，butshewasgoneintotheback—kitchen。InaminutePhilipwasatherside，andhadheavedittoitsplaceforher。Shelookedinhisfaceforamomentwistfully，buthardlycondescendedtothankhim;atleastthesoundofthewordsdidnotpassthelipsthatformedthem。Rebuffedbyhermanner，hewentbacktohisoldseat，andmechanicallywatchedthepreparationsforbreakfast;
　　buthisthoughtswentbacktothenightbefore，andthecomparativeeaseofhisheartwasgone。Thefirststirofanewdayhadmadehimfeelasifhehadhadnosufficientcauseforhisannoyanceanddespondencythepreviousevening;butnow，condemnedtositquiet，hereviewedlooksandwords，andsawjustreasonforhisanxiety。AftersomeconsiderationheresolvedtogothatverynighttoHaytersbank，andhavesometalkwitheitherSylviaorhermother;whattheexactnatureofthispurposedconversationshouldbe，hedidnotdetermine;muchwoulddependonSylvia'smannerandmood，andonhermother'sstateofhealth;butatanyratesomethingwouldbelearnt。
　　Duringbreakfastsomethingwaslearntnearerhome;thoughnotallthatamanlessunconsciousandmorevainthanPhilipmighthavediscovered。
　　HeonlyfoundoutthatMrsRosewasdispleasedwithhimfornothavinggonetothewatch—nightwithHester，accordingtotheplanmadesomeweeksbefore。Buthesoothedhisconsciencebyrememberingthathehadmadenopromise;hehadmerelyspokenofhiswishtobepresentattheservice，aboutwhichHesterwasspeaking;andalthoughatthetimeandforagoodwhileafterwards，hehadfullyintendedgoing，yetastherehadbeenWilliamCoulsontoaccompanyher，hisabsencecouldnothavebeenseriouslynoticed。
　　StillhewasmadeuncomfortablebyMrsRose'schangeofmanner;onceortwicehesaidtohimselfthatshelittleknewhowmiserablehehadbeenduringhis'gayevening，'asshewouldpersistincallingit，orshewouldnottalkathimwithsuchperseveringbitternessthismorning。Beforeheleftfortheshop，hespokeofhisintentionofgoingtoseehowhisauntwas，andofpayingheraNewYear'sDayvisit。
　　HepburnandCoulsontookitinturnsweekandweekabouttogofirsthometodinner;theonewhowentfirstsatedownwithMrsRoseandherdaughterinsteadofhavinghisportionputintheoventokeepwarmforhim。To—dayitwasHepburn'sturntobelast。Allmorningtheshopwasfullwithcustomers，comerathertooffergoodwishesthantobuy，andwithanunspokenremembranceofthecakeandwinewhichthetwohospitablebrothersFostermadeapointofofferingtoallcomersonNewYear'sDay。
　　Itwasbusyworkforall——forHesteronherside，wherecaps，ribbons，andwomen'sgearwereexclusivelysold——fortheshopmenandboysinthegroceryanddraperydepartment。Philipwastryingtodohisbusinesswithhismindfaraway;andtheconsequencewasthathismannerwasnotsuchastorecommendhimtothecustomers，someofwhomrecollecteditasverydifferent，courteousandattentive，ifgraveandsedate。Onebuxomfarmer'swifenoticedthechangetohim。Shehadalittlegirlwithher，ofaboutfiveyearsold，thatshehadlifteduponthecounter;andwhowaswatchingPhilipwithanxiouseyes，occasionallywhisperinginhermother'sear，andthenhidingherfaceagainsthercloak。
　　'She'sthoughtadealo'comingtoseeyo'，andadunnotthinkasyo'
　　mindheratall。Mypretty，he'scleanforgottenashowhesaidlastNewYear'sDay，he'dgi'theeabarley—sugarstick，ifthou'dhemhimahandkercherbythis。'
　　Thechild'sfacewasburiedinthecomfortablebreadthofduffleatthesewords，whilethelittleoutstretchedhandheldasmallsquareofcoarselinen。
　　'Ay，she'snoaneforgottenit，andhasdoneherfivestitchesaday，blessher;andadunnotbelieveasyo'knowheragain。She'sPhoebeMoorsom，anda'mHannah，anda'vedealtatt'shopreg'larthisfifteenyear。'
　　'I'mverysorry，'saidPhilip。'Iwasuplatelastnight，andI'mabitdazedto—day。Well！thisisnicework，Phoebe，andI'msureI'mverymuchbeholdentoyo'。Andhere'sfivestickso'barley—sugar，oneforeverystitch，andthankyoukindly，MrsMoorsom，too。'
　　Philiptookthehandkerchiefandhopedhehadmadehonourableamendsforhiswantofrecognition。Buttheweelassierefusedtobelifteddown，andwhisperedsomethingafreshintohermother'sear，whosmiledandbadeherbequiet。Philipsaw，however，thattherewassomewishungratifiedonthepartofthelittlemaidenwhichhewasexpectedtoinquireinto，and，accordingly，hedidhisduty。
　　'She'salittlefool;shesaysyo'promisedtogi'eherakiss，andt'makeheryo'rwife。'
　　Thechildburrowedherfacecloserintohermother'sneck，andrefusedtoallowthekisswhichPhilipwillinglyoffered。Allhecoulddowastotouchthebackofthelittlewhitefatneckwithhislips。Themothercarriedheroffonlyhalfsatisfied，andPhilipfeltthathemusttryandcollecthisscatteredwits，andbemorealivetotheoccasion。
　　Towardsthedinner—hourthecrowdslackened;Hesterbegantoreplenishdecantersandbottles，andtobringoutafreshcakebeforeshewenthometodinner;andCoulsonandPhiliplookedoverthejointpresenttheyalwaysmadetoheronthisday。Itwasasilkhandkerchiefoftheprettiestcolourstheycouldpickoutoftheshop，intendedforhertowearroundherneck。
　　Eachtriedtopersuadetheothertogiveittoher，foreachwasshyoftheactofpresentation。Coulsonwas，however，themostresolute;andwhenshereturnedfromtheparlourthelittleparcelwasinPhilip'shands。
　　'Here，Hester，'saidhe，goingroundthecountertoher，justasshewasleavingtheshop。'It'sfromCoulsonandme;ahandkerchiefforyo'
　　towear;andwewishyo'ahappyNewYear，andplentyon'em;andthere'smanyaonewishesthesame。'
　　Hetookherhandashesaidthis。Shewentalittlepaler，andhereyesbrightenedasthoughtheywouldfillwithtearsastheymethis;shecouldnothavehelpedit，dowhatshewould。Butsheonlysaid，'Thankyo'kindly，'
　　andgoinguptoCoulsonsherepeatedthewordsandactiontohim;andthentheywentofftogethertodinner。
　　Therewasalullofbusinessforthenexthour。JohnandJeremiahwerediningliketherestoftheworld。Eventheeldererrand—boyhadvanished。
　　Philiprearrangeddisorderlygoods;andthensatedownonthecounterbythewindow;itwasthehabitualplacefortheonewhostayedbehind;forexceptingonmarket—daytherewaslittleornocustomduringthenoon—hour。
　　Formerlyheusedtomovethedraperywithwhichthewindowwasornamented，andwatchthepassers—bywithcarelesseye。Butnow，thoughheseemedtogazeabroad，hesawnothingbutvacancy。Allthemorningsincehegotuphehadbeentryingtofightthroughhisduties——leaningagainstahope——ahopethatfirsthadbowed，andthenhadbrokeassoonashereallytrieditsweight。TherewasnotasignofSylvia'slikingforhimtobegatheredfromthemostcarefulrecollectionofthepastevening。Itwasofnousethinkingthattherewas。Itwasbettertogiveitupaltogetherandatonce。Butwhatifhecouldnot？Whatifthethoughtofherwasboundupwithhislife;andthatoncetornoutbyhisownfreewill，theveryrootsofhisheartmustcomealso？
　　No;hewasresolvedhewouldgoon;aslongastherewaslifetherewashope;aslongasSylviaremainedunpledgedtoanyoneelse，therewasachanceforhim。Hewouldremodelhisbehaviourtoher。Hecouldnotbemerryandlight—heartedlikeotheryoungmen;hisnaturewasnotcastinthatmould:andtheearlysorrowsthathadlefthimalonelyorphanmighthavematured，buthadnotenlivened，hischaracter。HethoughtwithsomebitternessonthepowerofeasytalkingabouttrifleswhichsomeofthosehehadmetwithattheCorneys'hadexhibited。Butthenhefeltstirringwithinhimaforceofenduringlovewhichhebelievedtobeunusual，andwhichseemedasifitmustcompelallthingstohiswishintheend。A
　　yearorsoagohehadthoughtmuchofhisownclevernessandhispainfullyacquiredlearning，andhehadimaginedthatthesewerethequalitieswhichweretogainSylvia。Butnow，whetherhehadtriedthemandhadfailedtowinevenheradmiration，orwhethersometrueinstincthadtoldhimthatawoman'slovemaybegainedinmanywayssoonerthanbymerelearning，hewasonlyangrywithhimselfforhispastfollyinmakinghimselfherschool——nay，hertaskmaster。To—night，though，hewouldstartoffonanewtack。Hewouldnotevenupbraidherforherconductthenightbefore;
　　hehadshownherhisdispleasureatthetime;butsheshouldseehowtenderandforgivinghecouldbe。Hewouldlurehertohimratherthanfindfaultwithher。Therehadperhapsbeentoomuchofthatalready。
　　WhenCoulsoncamebackPhilipwenttohissolitarydinner。Ingeneralhewasquitealonewhileeatingit;butto—dayAliceRosechosetobearhimcompany。Shewatchedhimwithcoldsevereeyeforsometime，untilhehadappeasedhislanguidappetite。Thenshebeganwiththerebukeshehadinstoreforhim;arebukethemotivestowhichwerenotentirelyrevealedeventoherself。
　　'Thou'renonesokeenafterthyfoodascommon，'shebegan。'Plainvictualsgoesilldownafterfeastin'。'
　　Philipfeltthecolourmounttohisface;hewasnotinthemoodforpatientlystandingthebruntoftheattackwhichhesawwascoming，andyethehadareverentfeelingforwomanandforage。Hewishedshewouldleavehimalone;butheonlysaid——'Ihadnoughtbutasliceo'coldbeefforsupper，ifyou'llcallthatfeasting。'
　　'Neitherdogodlywayssavourdelicatelyafterthepleasuresoftheworld，'continuedshe，unheedinghisspeech。'ThouwertwonttoseekthehouseoftheLord，andIthoughtwellonthee;butoflatethou'stchanged，andfallenaway，andImunspeakwhatisinmyhearttowardsthee。'
　　'Mother，'saidPhilip，impatiently（bothheandCoulsoncalledAlice'mother'attimes），'Idon'tthinkJamfallenaway，andanywayIcannotstaynowtobe——it'sNewYear'sDay，andt'shopisthrong。'
　　ButAliceheldupherhand。Herspeechwasready，andshemustdeliverit。
　　'Shophere，shopthere。Thefleshandthedevilaregettin'holdonyo'，andyo'needmorenorivertoseekt'wayso'grace。NewYear'sDaycomesandsays，"Watchandpray，"andyo'say，"Nay，I'llseekfeastsandmarket—places，andlettimesandseasonscomeandgowithoutheedin'intowhosepresencethey'rehasteningme。"Timewas，Philip，whenthou'dniverha'lettenamerry—makingkeeptheefra't'watch—night，andt'companyo'thegodly。'
　　'Itellyo'itwasnomerry—makingtome，'saidPhilip，withsharpness，asheleftthehouse。
　　Alicesatdownonthenearestseat，andleantherheadonherwrinkledhand。
　　'He'stangledandsnared，'saidshe;'myhearthasyearnedafterhim，andIesteemedhimasoneo'theelect。Andmorenormeyearnsafterhim。
　　OLord，Ihavebutonechild！OLord，spareher！Buto'erandabovea'
　　Iwouldliketoprayforhissoul，thatSatanmightnothaveit，forhecametomebutalittlelad。'
　　AtthatmomentPhilip，smittenbyhisconscienceforhishardmannerofspeech，cameback;butAlicedidnothearorseehimtillhewasclosebyher，andthenhehadtotouchhertorecallherattention。