'Mother，'saidhe，'Iwaswrong。I'mfrettedbymanythings。Ishouldn'tha'spokenso。Itwasill—doneofme。'
'Oh，mylad！'saidshe，lookingupandputtingherthinarmonhisshoulderashestooped，'Satanisdesiringafteryo'thathemaysiftyo'aswheat。
Bideatwhoam，bideatwhoam，andgonotafterthemascarenoughtforholythings。Whyneedyo'gotoHaytersbankthisnight？'
Philipreddened。Hecouldnotandwouldnotgiveitup，andyetitwasdifficulttoresistthepleadingoftheusuallysternoldwoman。
'Nay，'saidhe，withdrawinghimselfeversolittlefromherhold;'myauntisbutailing，they'remyownfleshandblood，andasgoodfolksasneedsbe，thoughtheymayn'tbeo'our——o'yourwayo'thinkingina'things。'
'Ourways——yourwayso'thinking，sayshe，asiftheywerenolongerhis'n。Andasgoodfolksasneedbe，'repeatedshe，withreturningseverity。
'Them'sSatan'swords，tho'yo'spoke'em，Philip。IcandonoughtagainSatan，butIcanspeaktothemascan;an'we'llseewhichpullshardest，forit'llbebetterfortheetoberivenandrenti'twainthantogobodyandsoultohell。'
'Butdon'tthink，mother，'saidPhilip，hislastwordsofconciliation，fortheclockhadgivenwarningfortwo，'asI'mboun'forhell，justbecauseIgot'seemyownfolks，allIha'lefto'kin。'Andoncemore，afterlayinghishandwithasmuchofacaressaswasinhisnatureonhers，heleftthehouse。
ProbablyAlicewouldhaveconsideredthefirstwordsthatgreetedPhiliponhisentranceintotheshopasananswertoherprayer，fortheyweresuchasputastoptohisplanofgoingtoseeSylviathatevening;andifAlicehadformedherinchoatethoughtsintowords，SylviawouldhaveappearedasthenearestearthlyrepresentativeofthespiritoftemptationwhomshedreadedforPhilip。
Ashetookhisplacebehindthecounter，Coulsonsaidtohiminalowvoice，——
'JeremiahFosterhasbeenroundtobidustosupwi'himto—night。HesaysthatheandJohnhavealittlemattero'businesstotalkoverwithus。'
AglancefromhiseyestoPhiliptoldthelatterthatCoulsonbelievedthebusinessspokenofhadsomethingtodowiththepartnership，respectingwhichtherehadbeenasilentintelligenceforsometimebetweentheshopmen。
'Andwhatdidthousay？'askedPhilip，doggedlyunwilling，evenyet，togiveuphispurposedvisit。
'Say！why，whatcouldasay，butthatwe'dcome？Therewassummatup，forsure;andsummatashethoughtweshouldbegladon。Icouldtellitfra't'lookonhisface。'
'Idon'tthinkasIcango，'saidPhilip，feelingjustthenasifthelong—hoped—forpartnershipwasasnothingcomparedtohisplan。Itwasalwaysdistastefultohimtohavetogiveupaproject，ortodisarrangeanintendedorderofthings，suchwashisnature;butto—dayitwasabsolutepaintoyieldhisownpurpose。
'Why，manalive？'saidCoulson，inamazeathisreluctance。
'Ididn'tsayImightn'tgo，'saidPhilip，weighingconsequences，untilcalledofftoattendtocustomers。
Inthecourseoftheafternoon，however，hefelthimselfmoreeasyindeferringhisvisittoHaytersbanktillthenextevening。CharleyKinraidenteredtheshop，accompaniedbyMollyBruntonandhersisters;andthoughtheyallwenttowardsHester'ssideoftheshop，andPhilipandCoulsonhadmanypeopletoattendto，yetHepburn'ssharpenedearscaughtmuchofwhattheyoungwomenweresaying。FromthathegatheredthatKinraidhadpromisedthemNewYear'sgifts，forthepurchaseofwhichtheywerecome;andafteralittlemorelisteninghelearntthatKinraidwasreturningtoShieldsthenextday，havingonlycomeovertospendaholidaywithhisrelations，andbeingtiedwithship'sworkattheotherend。Theyalltalkedtogetherlightlyandmerrily，asifhisgoingorstayingwasalmostamatterofindifferencetohimselfandhiscousins。Theprincipalthoughtoftheyoungwomenwastosecurethearticlestheymostfancied;CharleyKinraidwas（soPhilipthought）especiallyanxiousthattheyoungestandprettiestshouldbepleased。Hepburnwatchedhimperpetuallywithakindofenvyofhisbright，courteousmanner，thenaturalgallantryofthesailor。
IfitwerebutclearthatSylviatookaslittlethoughtofhimashedidofher，toallappearance，Philipcouldevenhavegivenhimpraiseformanlygoodlooks，andacertainkindofgenialityofdispositionwhichmadehimreadytosmilepleasantlyatallstrangers，frombabiesupwards。
AsthepartyturnedtoleavetheshoptheysawPhilip，theguestofthenightbefore;andtheycameovertoshakehandswithhimacrossthecounter;Kinraid'shandwasprofferedamongthenumber。LastnightPhilipcouldnothavebelieveditpossiblethatsuchademonstrationoffellowshipshouldhavepassedbetweenthem;andperhapstherewasaslighthesitationofmanneronhispart，forsomeideaorremembrancecrossedKinraid'smindwhichbroughtakeensearchingglanceintotheeyeswhichforamomentwerefastenedonPhilip'sface。Inspiteofhimself，andduringtheveryactionofhand—shaking，Philipfeltacloudcomeoverhisface，notalteringormovinghisfeatures，buttakinglightandpeaceoutofhiscountenance。
MollyBruntonbegantosaysomething，andhegladlyturnedtolookather。Shewasaskinghimwhyhewentawaysoearly，fortheyhadkeptitupforfourhoursafterheleft，andlastofall，sheadded（turningtoKinraid），hercousinCharleyhaddancedahornpipeamongtheplattersontheground。
Philiphardlyknewwhathesaidinreply，thementionofthatpasseulliftedsuchaweightoffhisheart。Hecouldsmilenow，afterhisgravefashion，andwouldhaveshakenhandsagainwithKinraidhaditbeenrequired;
foritseemedtohimthatnoone，caringeversolittleinthewaythathedidforSylvia，couldhavebornefourmortalhoursofacompanywhereshehadbeen，andwasnot;leastofallcouldhavedancedahornpipe，eitherfromgaietyofheart，orevenoutofcomplaisance。Hefeltasiftheyearningaftertheabsentonewouldhavebeenaweighttohislegs，aswellastohisspirit;andheimaginedthatallmenwerelikehimself。
chapter14CHAPTERXIVPARTNERSHIPAsdarknessclosedin，andtheNewYear'sthrongbecamescarce，Philip'shesitationaboutaccompanyingCoulsonfadedaway。HewasmorecomfortablerespectingSylvia，andhisgoingtoseehermightbedeferred;and，afterall，hefeltthatthewishesofhismastersoughttobeattendedto，andthehonourofaninvitationtotheprivatehouseofJeremiahnottobeslightedforanythingshortofapositiveengagement。Besides，theambitiousmanofbusinessexistedstronglyinPhilip。Itwouldneverdotoslightadvancestowardsthesecondgreatearthlyobjectinhislife;onealsoonwhichthefirstdepended。
Sowhentheshopwasclosed，thetwosetoutdownBridgeStreettocrosstherivertothehouseofJeremiahFoster。Theystoodamomentonthebridgetobreathethekeenfreshseaairaftertheirbusyday。Thewaterscamedown，swollenfullanddark，withrapidrushingspeedfromthesnow—fedspringshighuponthemoorlandabove。Theclose—packedhousesintheoldtownseemedaclusterofwhiteroofsirregularlypiledagainstthemoreunbrokenwhiteofthehill—side。Lightstwinkledhereandthereinthetown，andwereslungfromsternandbowoftheshipsintheharbour。Theairwasverystill，settlinginforafrost;sostillthatalldistantsoundsseemedneartherumbleofareturningcartintheHighStreet，thevoicesonboardship，theclosingofshuttersandbarringofdoorsinthenewtowntowhichtheywerebound。Butthesharpairwasfilled，asitwere，withsalineparticlesinafreezingstate;littlepungentcrystalsofseasaltburninglipsandcheekswiththeircoldkeenness。Itwouldnotdotolingerhereintheverycentreofthevalleyupwhichpassedthecurrentofatmospherecomingstraightwiththerushingtidefromtheicynorthernseas。Besides，therewastheunusualhonourofasupperwithJeremiahFosterawaitingthem。Hehadaskedeachofthemseparatelytoamealbeforenow;buttheyhadnevergonetogether，andtheyfeltthattherewassomethingseriousintheconjuncture。
Theybegantoclimbthesteepheightsleadingtothefreshly—builtrowsofthenewtownofMonkshaven，feelingasiftheywererisingintoaristocraticregionswherenoshopprofanedthestreets。JeremiahFoster'shousewasoneofsix，undistinguishedinsize，orshape，orcolour;butnoticedinthedaytimebyallpassers—byforitsspotlesscleanlinessoflintelanddoorstep，windowandwindowframe。Theverybricksseemedasthoughtheycameinforthedailyscrubbingwhichbrightenedhandle，knocker，alldowntotheveryscraper。
Thetwoyoungmenfeltasshyoftheinterviewwiththeirmasterundersuchunusualrelationsofguestandhost，asagirldoesofherfirstparty。
Eachratherdrewbackfromthedecidedstepofknockingatthedoor;butwitharebuffingshakeathisownfolly，Philipwastheonetogivealoudsinglerap。Asiftheyhadbeenwaitedfor，thedoorflewopen，andamiddle—agedservantstoodbehind，asspotlessandneatasthehouseitself，andsmiledawelcometothefamiliarfaces。
'Letmedustyo'abit，William，'saidshe，suitingtheactiontotheword。'You'vebeenleanin'againsomewhitewash，a'llbebound。Ay，Philip，'
continuedshe，turninghimroundwithmotherlyfreedom，'yo'lldoifyo'llbutgi'yourshoonapolishin'wipeonyonothermat。This'nfortakin'
t'roughestmudoff。Measterallayspolishesonthat。'
Inthesquareparlourthesamepreciseorderwasobserved。Everyarticleoffurniturewasfreefromspeckofdirtorparticleofdust;andeverythingwasplacedeitherinaparallelline，oratexactright—angleswitheveryother。EvenJohnandJeremiahsatinsymmetryonoppositesidesofthefire—place;theverysmilesontheirhonestfacesseemeddrawntoalineofexactitude。
Suchformality，howeveradmirable，wasnotcalculatedtopromoteease:
itwasnotuntilaftersupper——untilagoodquantityofYorkshirepiehadbeenswallowed，andwasheddown，too，withthebestandmostgenerouswineinJeremiah'scellar——thattherewastheleastgenialityamongthem，inspiteofthefriendlykindnessofthehostandhisbrother。Thelongsilence，duringwhichmutethanksforthemealweregiven，havingcometoanend，Jeremiahcalledforpipes，andthreeofthepartybegantosmoke。
Politicsinthosedayswereticklesubjectstomeddlewith，eveninthemostprivatecompany。ThenationwasinastateofterroragainstFrance，andagainstanyathomewhomightbesupposedtosympathisewiththeenormitiesshehadjustbeencommitting。Theoppressiveactagainstseditiousmeetingshadbeenpassedtheyearbefore;andpeopleweredoubtfultowhatextremityofseverityitmightbeconstrued。Eventhelawauthoritiesforgottobeimpartial，buteithertheiralarmsortheirinterestsmadetoomanyofthemvehementpartisansinsteadofcalmarbiters，andthusdestroyedthepopularconfidenceinwhatshouldhavebeenconsideredthesupremetribunalofjustice。Yetforallthis，thereweresomewhodaredtospeakofreformofParliament，asapreliminarysteptofairrepresentationofthepeople，andtoareductionoftheheavywar—taxationthatwasimminent，ifnotalreadyimposed。Butthesepioneersof1830weregenerallyobnoxious。ThegreatbodyofthepeoplegloriedinbeingToriesandhatersoftheFrench，withwhomtheywereontenter—hookstofight，almostunawareoftherisingreputationoftheyoungCorsicanwarrior，whosenamewouldbeusedereadozenyearshadpassedtohushEnglishbabieswithaterrorsuchasthatofMarlboroughoncehadfortheFrench。
AtsuchaplaceasMonkshavenalltheseopinionswereheldinexcess。
Oneortwomight，forthemeresakeofargumentdisputeoncertainpointsofhistoryorgovernment;buttheytookcaretobeverysureoftheirlistenersbeforesuchargumentstouchedonanythingofthepresentday;forithadbeennotunfrequentlyfoundthatthepublicdutyofprosecutingopinionsnotyourownoverrodetheprivatedutyofrespectingconfidence。MostoftheMonkshavenpoliticiansconfinedthemselves，therefore，tosuchgeneralquestionsasthese:'CouldanEnglishmanlickmorethanfourFrenchmenatatime？''WhatwastheproperpunishmentformembersoftheCorrespondingSociety（correspondencewiththeFrenchdirectory），hangingandquartering，orburning？''WouldtheforthcomingchildofthePrincessofWalesbeaboyoragirl？Ifagirl，woulditbemoreloyaltocallitCharlotteorElizabeth？'
TheFosterswerequitesecureenoughoftheirgueststhiseveningtohavespokenfreelyonpoliticshadtheybeensoinclined。AndtheydidbeginontheoutrageswhichhadbeenlatelyofferedtothekingincrossingStJames'sParktogoandopentheHouseofLords;butsoon，soaccustomedweretheirmindstocautionandrestraint，thetalkdroppeddowntothehighpriceofprovisions。Breadat1s。3d。thequarternloaf，accordingtotheLondontest。Wheatat120s。perquarter，asthehome—bakingnorthernersviewedthematter;andthentheconversationdiedawaytoanominoussilence。JohnlookedatJeremiah，asifaskinghimtobegin。Jeremiahwasthehost，andhadbeenamarriedman。Jeremiahreturnedthelookwiththesamemeaninginit。John，thoughabachelor，wastheelderbrother。Thegreatchurchbell，broughtfromtheMonkshavenmonasterycenturiesago，highupontheoppositehill—side，begantoringnineo'clock;
itwasgettinglate。Jeremiahbegan:
'Itseemsabadtimeforstartinganyoneonbusiness，wi'pricesandtaxesandbreadsodear;butJohnandIaregettingintoyears，andwe'venochildrentofollowus:yetwewouldfaindrawoutofsomeofourworldlyaffairs。Wewouldliketogiveuptheshop，andsticktobanking，towhichthereseemethaplainpath。Butfirstthereisthestockandgoodwilloftheshoptobedisposedon。'
Adeadpause。Thisopeningwasnotfavourabletothehopesofthetwomoneylessyoungmenwhohadbeenhopingtosucceedtheirmastersbythemoregradualprocessofpartner—ship。ButitwasonlythekindofspeechthathadbeenagreeduponbythetwobrotherswithaviewofimpressingonHepburnandCoulsonthegreatandunusualresponsibilityofthesituationintowhichtheFosterswishedthemtoenter。Insomewaysthetalkofmanywasmuchlesssimpleandstraightforwardinthosedaysthanitisnow。
ThestudyofeffectshownintheLondondiners—outofthelastgeneration，whopreparedtheirconversationbeforehand，wasnotwithoutitsparallelinhumblerspheres，andfordifferentobjectsthanself—display。ThebrothersFosterhadallbutrehearsedthespeechestheywereabouttomakethisevening。Theywereawareoftheyouthofthepartiestowhomtheyweregoingtomakeamostfavourableproposal;andtheydreadedthatifthatproposalwastoolightlymade，itwouldbetoolightlyconsidered，andthedutiesinvolvedinittoocarelesslyenteredupon。Sotheroleofonebrotherwastosuggest，thatoftheothertorepress。Theyoungmen，too，hadtheirreserves。Theyforesaw，andhadlongforeseen，whatwascomingthatevening。Theywereimpatienttohearitindistinctwords;
andyettheyhadtowait，asifunconscious，duringallthelongpreamble。
Doageandyouthneverplaythesamepartsnow？Toreturn。JohnFosterrepliedtohisbrother:
'Thestockandgoodwill！Thatwouldtakemuchwealth。Andtherewillbefixturestobeconsidered。Philip，cansttheetellmetheexactamountofstockintheshopatpresent？'
Ithadonlyjustbeentaken;Philiphaditathisfingers'ends。'Onethousandninehundredandforty—onepounds，thirteenshillingsandtwopence。'
Coulsonlookedathiminalittledismay，andcouldnotrepressasigh。
Thefiguresputintowordsandspokenaloudseemedtoindicatesomuchlargeranamountofmoneythanwhenquicklywrittendowninnumerals。ButPhilipreadthecountenances，nay，bysomeprocessofwhichhewasnothimselfaware，hereadthemindsofthebrothers，andfeltnodismayatwhathesawthere。
'Andthefixtures？'askedJohnFoster。
'Theappraiservaluedthematfourhundredandthirty—fivepoundsthreeandsixpencewhenfatherdied。Wehaveaddedtothemsince;butwewillreckonthematthat。Howmuchdoesthatmakewiththevalueofthestock？'
'Twothousandonehundredandseventy—sixpounds，six—teenshillingsandeightpence，'saidPhilip。
Coulsonhaddonethesumquicker，butwastoomuchdisheartenedbytheamounttospeak。
'Andthegoodwill？'askedthepitilessJohn。'Whatdosttheesetthatat？'
'Ithink，brother，thatthatwoulddependonwhocameforwardwiththepurchase—moneyofthestockandfixtures。Tosomefolkswemightmakeitsiteasy，iftheywereknowntous，andthoseaswewishedwellto。IfPhilipandWilliamhere，forinstance，saidthey'dliketopurchasethebusiness，Ireckontheeandmewouldnotask'emsomuchasweshouldaskMillers'（MillerswasanupstartpettyrivalshopattheendofthebridgeintheNewTown）。
'IwishPhilipandWilliamwastocomeafterus，'saidJohn。'Butthat'soutofthequestion，'hecontinued，knowingallthewhilethat，farfrombeingoutofthequestion，itwastheveryquestion，andthatitwasasgoodassettledatthisverytime。
Noonespoke。ThenJeremiahwenton:
'It'soutofthequestion，Ireckon？'
Helookedatthetwoyoungmen。Coulsonshookhishead。Philipmorebravelysaid，——
'Ihavefifty—threepoundssevenandfourpenceinyo'rhands，MasterJohn，andit'sallIhavei'theworld。'
'It'sapity，'saidJohn，andagaintheyweresilent。Half—pastninestruck。Itwastimetobebeginningtomakeanend。'Perhaps，brother，theyhavefriendswhocouldadvance'emthemoney。Wemightmakeitsitlighttothem，forthesakeoftheirgoodservice？'
Philipreplied，——
'There'snoonewhocanputforwardsapennyforme:Ihavebutfewkin，andtheyhavelittletosparebeyondwhattheyneed。'
Coulsonsaid——
'Myfatherandmotherhavenineonus。'
'Letalone，letalone！'saidJohn，relentingfast;forhewaswearyofhispartofcold，sternprudence。'Brother，Ithinkwehaveenoughofthisworld'sgoodstodowhatwelikewi'ourown。'
Jeremiahwasalittlescandalizedattherapidmeltingawayofassumedcharacter，andtookagoodpullathispipebeforehereplied——
'Upwardsoftwothousandpoundsisalargesumtosetonthewell—beingandwell—doingoftwolads，theelderofwhomisnotthree—and—twenty。
Ifearwemustlookfarthera—field。'
'Why，John，'repliedJeremiah，'itwasbutyesterdaytheesaidsttheewouldratherhavePhilipandWilliamthananymeno'fiftythattheeknowed。
Andnowtobringuptheiryouthagainthem。'
'Well，well！t'halfonitisthine，andthoushalldoevenasthouwilt。ButIthinkasImusthavesecurityformymoiety，forit'sariskagreatrisk。Haveyeanysecuritytooffer？anyexpectations？anylegaciesasotherfolkhavealife—interestinatpresent？'
No;neitherofthemhad。SoJeremiahrejoined——
'Then，Isuppose，Imundoastheedost，John，andtakethesecurityofcharacter。Andit'sagreatsecuritytoo，lads，andt'besto'all，andonethatIcouldn'tha'donewithout;no，notifyo'dpaymedownfivethousandforgoodwill，andstock，andfixtures。ForJohnFosterandSonhasbeenashopi'Monkshaventhiseightyyearsandmore;andIdunnotthinkthere'samanliving——ordead，forthatmatter——ascansayFosterswrongedhimofapenny，orgaveshortmeasuretoachildoraCousinBetty。'
Theyallfourshookhandsroundwiththesameheartinessasifithadbeenalegalceremonynecessarytothecompletionofthepartnership。Theoldmen'sfaceswerebrightwithsmiles;theeyesoftheyoungonessparkledwithhope。
'But，afterall，'saidJeremiah，'we'venottoldyouparticulars。Yo'rethankingusforapiginapoke;butwehadmoreforethought，andweputalldownonapieceo'paper。'
Hetookdownafoldedpieceofpaperfromthemantel—shelf，putonhishornspectacles，andbegantoreadaloud，occasionallypeeringoverhisglassestonotetheeffectonthecountenancesoftheyoungmen。TheonlythinghewasinthehabitofreadingaloudwasachapterintheBibledailytohishousekeeperservant，and，likemany，hereservedapeculiartoneforthatsolemnoccupation——atonewhichheunconsciouslyemployedforthepresentenumerationofpounds，shillings，andpence。
'Averagereturnsofthelastthreeyears，onehundredandtwenty—sevenpounds，threeshillings，andsevenpennyandone—sixthaweek。Profitsthereuponthirty—fourpercent。——asnearasmaybe。Clearprofitsoftheconcern，afterdeductingallexpensesexceptrent——fort'houseisourown——onethousandtwohundredandtwopoundayear。'
ThiswasfarmorethaneitherHepburnorCoulsonhadimaginedittobe;andalookofsurprise，almostamountingtodismay，creptovertheirfaces，inspiteoftheirendeavourtokeepsimplymotionlessandattentive。
'It'sadealofmoney，lads，andtheLordgiveyougracetoguideit，'
saidJeremiah，puttingdownhispaperforaminute。
'Amen，'saidJohn，shakinghisheadtogiveeffecttohisword。
'Nowwhatweproposeisthis，'continuedJeremiah，beginningafreshtorefertohispaper:'Wewillcallt'valueofstockandfixturestwothousandonehundredandfifty。YoumayhaveJohnHolden，appraiserandauctioneer，intosetapriceonthemifyo'will;oryo'maylookoverbooksandbills;or，betterstill，doboth，andsocheckoneagaint'other;
butfort'sakeo'makingthegroundo'thebargain，Istatethesumasabove;andIreckonitsomuchcapitalleftinyo'rhandsfortheuseo'
whichyo'reboundtopayusfivepercent。quarterly——that'sonehundredandsevenpoundtenperannumatleastfort'firstyear;andafteritwillbereducedbythegradualpaymentonourmoney，whichmustbeattherateoftwentypercent。，thuspayingusourprincipalbackinfiveyears。
Andtherent，includingallbackyards，rightofwharfage，warehouse，andpremises，isreckonedbyustobesixty—fivepoundperannum。Soyo'willhavetopayus，JohnandJeremiahFoster，brothers，sixhundredandtwelvepoundtenoutoftheprofitsofthefirstyear，leaving，atthepresentrateofprofits，aboutfivehundredandeighty—ninepoundten，forthesharetobedividedbetweenyo'。'
Theplanhad，inallitsdetails，beencarefullyarrangedbythetwobrothers。TheywereafraidlestHepburnandCoulsonshouldbedazzledbytheamountofprofits，andhadsoarrangedthesliding—scaleofpaymentastoreducethefirstyear'sincometowhattheeldermenthoughtaverymoderatesum，butwhattotheyoungeronesappearedanamountofwealthsuchasthey，whohadneitherofthemeverownedmuchmorethanfiftypounds，consideredalmostinexhaustible。Itwascertainlyaremarkableinstanceofprosperityanddesertmeetingtogethersoearlyinlife。
Foramomentortwothebrothersweredisappointedatnothearinganyreplyfromeitherofthem。ThenPhilipstoodup，forhefeltasifanythinghecouldsaysittingdownwouldnotbesufficientlyexpressiveofgratitude，andWilliaminstantlyfollowedhisexample。Hepburnbeganinaformalmanner，somethingthewayinwhichhehadreadintheYorknewspapersthathonourablemembersreturnedthankswhentheirhealthwasgiven。
'Icanhardlyexpressmyfeelings'（Coulsonnudgedhim）'hisfeelings，too——ofgratitude。Oh，MasterJohn！MasterJeremiah，Ithoughtitmightcomei'time，nay，I'vethoughtitmightcomeaforelong;butIniverthoughtasitwouldbesomuch，ormadesoeasy。We'vegotgoodkindfriends——wehave，havewenot，William？——andwe'lldoourbest，andIhopeasweshallcomeuptotheirwishes。'
Philip'svoicequiveredalittle，assomeremembrancepassedacrosshismind;atthisunusualmomentofexpansionoutitcame。'Iwishmothercouldha'seenthisday。'
'Sheshallseeabetterday，mylad，whenthynameandWilliam'sispaintedovert'shop—door，andJ。andJ。Fosterblackedout。'
'Nay，master，'saidWilliam，'thatmunneverbe。I'da'mostsoonernotcomeinforthebusiness。Anyhow，itmustbe'lateJ。andJ。Foster，'andI'mnotsureasIcanstomachthat。'
'Well，well，William，'saidJohnFoster，highlygratified，'therebetimeenoughtotalkoverthat。Therewasonethingmoretobesaid，wastherenot，brotherJeremiah？WedonotwishtohavethistalkedoverinMonkshavenuntilshortlybeforethetimewhenyo'mustenteronthebusiness。
Wehaveourownarrangementstomakewi'regardtothebankingconcern，andthere'llbelawyer'sworktodo，afteryo'veexaminedbooksandlookedoverstockagaintogether;maybewe'veoverstatedit，ort'fixturesaren'tworthsomuchaswesaid。Anyhowyo'musteachonyo'giveusyo'rwordfortokeepfra'namingthisnight'sconversationtoanyone。Meantime，JeremiahandIwillhavetopayaccounts，andtakeakindoffarewellofthemerchantsandmanufacturerswithwhomFostershavehaddealingsthisseventyoreightyyear;andwhenandwhereitseemsfittingtouswewilltakeoneofyo'tointroduceasoursuccessorsandfriends。Butallthat'stocome。Butyo'musteachgiveusyo'rwordnottonamewhathaspassedheretoanyonetillfurtherspeechonthesubjecthaspassedbetweenus。'
Coulsonimmediatelygavethepromise。Philip'sassentcamelagging。
HehadthoughtofSylvialiving，almostasmuchasofthedeadmother，whoselastwordshadbeenacommittalofherchildtotheFatherofthefriendless;andnowthatashortdelaywasplacedbetweenthesightofthecupandhisenjoymentofit，therewasanimpatientchafinginthemindofthecomposedandself—restrainedPhilip;andthenrepentancequickaslightningeffacedthefeeling，andhepledgedhimselftothesecrecywhichwasenjoined。Somefewmoredetailsastotheirmodeofprocedure——ofverifyingtheFosters'statements，whichtotheyoungermenseemedaperfectlyunnecessarypieceofbusiness——ofprobablejourneysandintroductions，andthenfarewellwasbidden，andHepburnandCoulsonwereinthepassagedonningtheirwraps，andrathertotheirindignationbeingassistedthereinbyMartha，whowasaccustomedtotheofficewithherownmasterSuddenlytheywererecalledintotheparlour。
JohnFosterwasfumblingwiththepapersalittlenervously:Jeremiahspoke——
'WehavenotthoughtitnecessarytocommendHesterRosetoyou;ifshehadbeenaladshewouldhavehadathirdo'thebusinessalongwi'
yo'。Beingawoman，it'silltroublingherwithapartnership;bettergiveherafixedsalarytillsuchtuneasshemarries。'
Helookedalittleknowinglyandcuriouslyatthefacesoftheyoungmenheaddressed。WilliamCoulsonseemedsheepishanduncomfortable，butsaidnothing，leavingitasusualtoPhiliptobespokesman。
'Ifwehadn'tcaredforHesterforhersel'，master，weshouldha'caredforherasbeingforespokenbyyo'。Yo'andMasterJohnshallfixwhatweoughtt'payher;andIthinkImaymakeboldtosaythat，asourincomerises，hersshalltoo——eh，Coulson？'（asoundofassentquitedistinctenough）;'forwebothlookonherasasisterandonAlicelikeamother，asItoldheronlythisveryday。'
chapter15CHAPTERXVADIFFICULTQUESTIONPhilipwenttobedwiththatkindofhumblepenitentgratitudeinhisheart，whichwesometimesfeelafterasuddenrevulsionoffeelingfromdespondencytohope。Thenightbeforeitseemedasifalleventsweresoarrangedastothwarthiminhisdearestwishes;hefeltnowasifhisdiscontentandrepining，nottwenty—fourhoursbefore，hadbeenalmostimpious，sogreatwasthechangeinhiscircumstancesforthebetter。Nowallseemedpromisingforthefulfilmentofwhathemostdesired。HewasalmostconvincedthathewasmistakeninthinkingthatKinraidhadhadanythingmorethanasailor'sadmirationforaprettygirlwithregardtoSylvia;atanyrate，hewasgoingawayto—morrow，inallprobabilitynottoreturnforanotheryear（forGreenlandshipsleftforthenorthernseasassoonastherewasachanceoftheicebeingbrokenup），anderethenhehimselfmightspeakoutopenly，layingbeforeherparentsallhisfortunateprospects，andbeforeherallhisdeeppassionatelove。
Sothisnighthisprayersweremorethanthemereformthattheyhadbeenthenightbefore;theywereavehementexpressionofgratitudetoGodforhaving，asitwere，interferedonhisbehalf，togranthimthedesireofhiseyesandthelustofhisheart。Hewasliketoomanyofus，hedidnotplacehisfuturelifeinthehandsofGod，andonlyaskforgracetodoHiswillinwhatevercircumstancesmightarise;butheyearnedinthatterriblewayafterablessingwhich，whengrantedundersuchcircumstances，toooftenturnsouttobeequivalenttoacurse。Andthatspiritbringswithitthematerialandearthlyideathatalleventsthatfavourourwishesareanswerstoourprayer;andsotheyareinonesense，buttheyneedprayerinadeeperandhigherspirittokeepusfromthetemptationtoevilwhichsucheventsinvariablybringwiththem。
PhiliplittleknewhowSylvia'stimehadbeenpassedthatday。Ifhehad，hewouldhavelaiddownthisnightwithevenaheavierheartthanhehaddoneonthelast。
CharleyKinraidaccompaniedhiscousinsasfarasthespotwherethepathtoHaytersbankFarmdiverged。Thenhestoppedhismerrytalk，andannouncedhisintentionofgoingtoseefarmerRobson。BessyCorneylookeddisappointedandalittlesulky;buthersisterMollyBruntonlaughed，andsaid，——
'Telltruth，lad！DannelRobson'dniverhaveacallfra'theeifhehadn'taprettydaughter。'