'Indeed，buthewould，'repliedCharley，ratherannoyed;'whenI'vesaidathing，Idoit。Ipromisedlastnighttogoseehim;besides，I
　　liketheoldman。'
　　'Well！whenshallwetellmotheryo'recomin'whoam？'
　　'Towardeighto'clock——maybesooner。'
　　'Whyit'sbarefivenow！blesst'lad，doeshethinko'stayingtheerea'neet，andtheyupsolatelastnight，andMrsRobsonailingbeside？
　　Mother'llnotthinkitkindonyo'either，willshe，Bess？'
　　'Idunno。Charleymundoashelikes;Idaresaynoone'llmisshimifhedoesbideawaytilleight。'
　　'Well，well！Ican'ttellwhatIshalldo;butyo'dbestnotstoplingeringhere，forit'sgettingon，andthere'llbeakeenfrostbyt'looko'thestars。'
　　Haytersbankwasclosedforthenightasfarasiteverwasclosed;therewerenoshutterstothewindows，nordidtheycaretodrawtheinsidecurtains，sofewwerethepassers—by。Thehousedoorwasfastened;buttheshippendooralittleoninthesamelonglowblockofbuildingstoodopen，andadimlightmadeanoblonguponthesnowygroundoutside。AsKinraiddrewnearheheardtalkingthere，andawomansvoice;hethrewapassingglancethroughthewindowintothefire—lithouse—place，andseeingMrsRobsonasleepbythefiresideinhereasy—chair，hewenton。
　　Therewastheintermittentsoundofthesharpwhistlingofmilkintothepail，andKester，sittingonathree—leggedstool，cajolingacapriciouscowintolettingherfragrantburdenflow。Sylviastoodnearthefartherwindow—ledge，onwhichahornlanternwasplaced，pretendingtoknitatagrayworstedstocking，butinrealitylaughingatKester'sfutileendeavours，andfindingquiteenoughtodowithhereyes，inkeepingherselfuntouchedbythewhiskingtail，ortheoccasionalkick。Thefrostyairwasmellowedbythewarmandodorousbreathofthecattlebreaththathungabouttheplaceinfaintmistyclouds。Therewasonlyadimlight;suchasitwas，itwasnotdearlydefinedagainstthedarkheavyshadowinwhichtheoldblackraftersandmangerandpartitionswereenveloped。
　　AsCharleycametothedoor，Kesterwassaying，'Quietwi'thee，wench！
　　Theerenow，she'sabeauty，ifshe'llstandstill。There'sniversuchacowi't'Riding;ifshe'llonlybehavehersel'。She'sabonnylass，sheis;letdownhermilk，theere'sapretty！'
　　'Why，Kester，'laughedSylvia，'thou'rtaskingherforhermilkwi'
　　asmanyprettyspeechesasifthouwertwooingawife！'
　　'Hey，lass！'saidKester，turningabittowardsher，andshuttingoneeyetococktheotherthebetteruponher;anoperationwhichpuckereduphisalreadywrinkledfaceintoathousandnewlinesandfolds。'An'
　　howdoestheeknowhowamanwoosawife，thattheetalkssoknowin'aboutit？That'stellin'。Someun'sbeentryin'itonthee。'
　　'There'sniveraonebeensoimpudent，'saidSylvia，reddeningandtossingherheadalittle;'I'dliketosee'emtryme！'
　　'Well，well！'saidKester，wilfullymisunderstandinghermeaning，'thoumunbepatient，wench;andifthou'sagoodlass，maybethyturn'llcomeandthey'lltryit。'
　　'Iwishthou'dtalkofwhatthou'ssomeknowledgeon，Kester，i'steadofi'thatsillyway，'repliedSylvia。
　　'Thenamuntalknomore'boutwomenforthey'repastknowin'，an'druve'enKingSolomonsilly。'
　　AtthismomentCharleysteppedin。Sylviagavealittlestartanddroppedherballofworsted。KestermadeasthoughabsorbedinhistaskofcajolingBlackNell;buthiseyesandearswerebothvigilant。
　　'Iwasgoingintothehouse，butIsawyo'rmotherasleep，andIdidn'tliketowakenher，soIjustcameonhere。Isyo'rfathertothefore？'
　　'No，'saidSylvia，hangingdownherheadalittle，wonderingifhecouldhaveheardthewayinwhichsheandKesterhadbeentalking，andthinkingoverherlittlefoolishjokeswithangeragainstherself。'FatherisgonetoWinthropaboutsomepigsashe'sheerdon。He'llnotbebacktillseveno'clockorso。'
　　Itwasbuthalf—pastfive，andSylviaintheirritationofthemomentbelievedthatshewishedKinraidwouldgo。Butshewouldhavebeenextremelydisappointedifhehad。Kinraidhimselfseemedtohavenothoughtofthekind。Hesawwithhisquickeyes，notunaccustomedtowomen，thathiscomingsounexpectedlyhadflutteredSylvia，andanxioustomakeherquiteathereasewithhim，andnotunwillingtoconciliateKester，headdressedhisnextspeechtohim，withthesamekindofairofinterestintheoldman'spursuitthatayoungmanofadifferentclasssometimesputsonwhentalkingtothechaperoneofaprettygirlinaball—room。
　　'That'sahandsomebeastyo'vejustbeenmilking，master。'
　　'Ay;buthandsomeisashandsomedoes。Itwereonlyyesterdayassheaimedherlegrightatt'pailwi't'afteringsin。SheknoweditwereafteringsaswellasanyChristian，andt'moret'mischieft'bettershelikesit;an'ifahadn'tbeentooquickforher，itwouldhavea'goneswashdowni't'litter。This'n'safarbettercowi't'longrun，she'sjustasteadygoer，'asthemilkydown—pourcamemusicalandevenfromthestallnexttoBlackNell's。
　　Sylviawasknittingawayvigorously，thinkingallthewhilethatitwasagreatpityshehadnotputonabettergown，orevenacapwithbrighterribbon，andquiteunconscioushowveryprettyshelookedstandingagainstthefaintlight，herheadalittlebentdown;herhaircatchingbrightgoldentouches，asitfellfromunderherlittlelinencap;herpinkbedgown，confinedbyherapron—string，givingasortofeasygracetoherfigure;
　　herdarkfulllinseypetticoatshortabovehertrimancles，lookingfarmoresuitabletotheplacewhereshewasstandingthanherlonggownofthenightbeforewouldhavedone。Kinraidwaswantingtotalktoher，andtomakehertalk，butwasuncertainhowtobegin。InthemeantimeKesterwentonwiththesubjectlastspokenabout。
　　'BlackNell'satherfourthcalfnow，sosheoughttoha'leftoffhertricksandturnedsober—like。Butblessyo'，there'ssomecowsas'llbeskittishtillthey'refatfort'butcher。Notbutwhatalikemilkingherbetternorasteadygoer;amanhasallayssummattobewatchin'for;anda'mkindo'setupwhena'vemasteredheratlast。T'youngmissustheere，she'smightyfondo'comin't'seeBlackNellathertantrums。She'dnivercomenearmeifa'cowswerelikethis'n。'
　　'Doyouoftencomeandseethecowsmilked？'askedKinraid，'Manyatime，'saidSylvia，smilingalittle。'Why，whenwe'rethrong，IhelpKester;butnowwe'veonlyBlackNellandDaisygivingmilk。KesterknowsasIcanmilkBlackNellquiteeasy，'shecontinued，halfvexedthatKesterhadnotnamedthisaccomplishment。
　　'Ay！whenshe'sinagoodframeo'mind，assheissome—times。Butt'
　　difficultyistomilkheratalltimes。'
　　'IwishI'dcomeabitsooner。Ishouldliket'haveseenyoumilkBlackNell，'addressingSylvia。
　　'Yo'dbettercometo—morrowe'en，andseewhatahandshe'llmak'onher，'saidKester。
　　'To—morrownightIshallbefaronmyroadbacktoShields。'
　　'To—morrow！'saidSylvia，suddenlylookingupathim，andthendroppinghereyes，asshefoundhehadbeenwatchingfortheeffectofhisintelligenceonher。
　　'Imunbebackatt'whaler，whereI'mengaged，'continuedhe。'She'sfittingupafterafreshfashion，andasI'vebeenoneaswantednewways，Imunbeonthespotfort'lookafterher。MaybeIshalltakearundownhereaforesailinginMarch。I'msureIshalltry。'
　　Therewasagooddealmeantandunderstoodbytheselastfewwords。
　　Thetoneinwhichtheywerespokengavethematenderintensitynotlostuponeitherofthehearers。Kestercockedhiseyeoncemore，butwithaslittleobtrusivenessashecould，andponderedthesailor'slooksandways。
　　Herememberedhiscomingabouttheplacethewinterbefore，andhowtheoldmasterhadthenappearedtohavetakentohim;butatthattimeSylviahadseemedtoKestertoolittleremovedfromachildtohaveeitherartorpartinKinraid'svisits;now，however，thecasewasdifferent。Kesterinhissphere——amonghiscircleofacquaintancenarrowthoughitwas——hadheardwithmuchprideofSylvia'sbearingawaythebellatchurchandatmarket，wherevergirlsofheragewerecongregated。Hewasanorthcountryman，sohegaveoutnofurthersignofhisfeelingsthanhismistressandSylvia'smotherhaddoneonalikeoccasion。
　　'T'lassisweelenough，'saidhe;buthegrinnedtohimself，andlookedabout，andlistenedtothehearsayofeverylad，wonderingwhowashandsome，andbrave，andgoodenoughtobeSylvia'smate。Now，oflate，ithadseemedtothecannyfarm—servantprettyclearthatPhilipHepburnwas'afterher;'
　　andtoPhilip，Kesterhadaninstinctiveobjection，akindofnaturalantipathysuchashasexistedinallagesbetweenthedwellersinatownandthoseinthecountry，betweenagricultureandtrade。So，whileKinraidandSylviakeptuptheirhalf—tender，half—jestingconversation，Kesterwasmakinguphisslowpersistentmindastothedesirabilityoftheyoungmanthenpresentasahusbandforhisdarling，asmuchfromhisbeingotherthanPhilipineveryrespect，asfromtheindividualgoodqualitieshepossessed。
　　Kester'sfirstopportunityoffavouringKinraid'ssuitconsistedinbeingaslongaspossibleoverhismilking;soneverwerecowsthatrequiredsuch'stripping，'orwereexpectedtoyieldsuch'afterings，'asBlackNellandDaisythatnight。Butallthingsmustcometoanend;andatlengthKestergotupfromhisthree—leggedstool，onseeingwhattheothersdidnot——thatthedip—candleinthelanternwascomingtoanend——andthatintwoorthreeminutesmoretheshippenwouldbeindarkness，andsohispailsofmilkbeendangered。InaninstantSylviahadstartedoutofherdeliciousdreamland，herdroopingeyeswereraised，andrecoveredtheirpowerofobservation，herruddyarmswerefreedfromtheaproninwhichshehadenfoldedthem，asaprotectionfromthegatheringcold，andshehadseizedandadjustedthewoodenyokeacrosshershoulders，readytobearthebrimmingmilk—pailstothedairy。
　　'Lookyo'ather！'exclaimedKestertoCharley，asheadjustedthefragrantpailsontheyoke。'Shethinksshe'smissusaready，andshe'sallaysforcarryingint'milksincet'rhumatizcotchedmyshoutheri't'backend;
　　andwhenshesays"Yea，"it'sasmuchasmyheed'sworthtosay"Nay。"'
　　Andalongthewall，roundthecorner，downtheroundslipperystonesoftheramblingfarmyard，behindthebuildings，didSylviatrip，safeandwell—poised，thoughthegroundworeallonecoatingofwhitesnow，andinmanyplaceswassoslipperyastoobligeKinraidtolingernearKester，thelantern—bearer。Kesterdidnotlosehisopportunity，thoughthecoldmistynightairprovokedhisasthmaticcoughwhen—everhebreathed，andofteninterruptedhiswords。
　　'She'sagoodwench——agoodwenchasiverwas——ancomeonagoodstock，an'that'ssummat，whetherinacoworawoman。A'veknownherfromababby;
　　she'sareetdowngoodun。'
　　Bythistimetheyhadreachedthebackkitchendoor，justasSylviahadunladenherself，andwasstrikingalightwithflintandtinder。Thehouseseemedwarmandinvitingafterthepiercingouterair，althoughthekitchenintowhichtheyenteredcontainedonlyarakedandslumberingfireatoneend，overwhich，onacrook，hungtheimmensepanofpotatoescookingfortheeveningmealofthepigs。TothispanKesterimmediatelyaddressedhimself，swingingitroundwithease，owingtotheadmirablesimplicityoftheold—fashionedmachinery。KinraidstoodbetweenKesterandthedoorintothedairy，throughwhichSylviahadvanishedwiththemilk。HehalfwishedtoconciliateKesterbyhelpinghim，butheseemedalsoattracted，byaforcewhichannihilatedhiswill，tofollowherwherevershewent。
　　Kesterreadhismind。
　　'Letalone，letalone，'saidhe;'pigs'vittletakesnoansuchdaintycarryin'asmilk。Amaysetitdownan'niverspilladrop;she'snoanfitfort'serveswine，noryo'other，mester;betterhelphert'teemt'milk。'
　　SoKinraidfollowedthelight——hislight——intotheicychillofthedairy，wherethebrightpolishedtincanswerequicklydimmedwiththewarm，sweet—smellingmilk，thatSylviawasemptyingoutintothebrownpans。Inhishastetohelpher，Charleytookuponeofthepails。
　　'Eh？that'n'stobestrained。Yo'havea'thecow'shairin。Mother'sveryparticular，andcannotabideahair。'
　　Soshewentovertoherawkwarddairymaid，andbeforeshe——butnotbeforehe——wasawareofthesweetproximity，shewasadjustinghishappyawkwardarmstothenewofficeofholdingamilk—straineroverthebowl，andpouringthewhiteliquidthroughit。
　　'There！'saidshe，lookingupforamoment，andhalfblushing;'nowyo'llknowhowtodoitnexttime。'
　　'Iwishnexttimewastocomenow，'saidKinraid;butshehadreturnedtoherownpail，andseemednottohearhim。Hefollowedhertohersideofthedairy。'I'vebutashortmemory，canyo'notshowmeagainhowt'
　　holdt'strainer？'
　　'No，'saidshe，halflaughing，butholdingherstrainerfastinspiteofhisinsinuatingeffortstounlockherfingers。'Butthere'snoneedtotellmeyo'vegettenashortmemory。'
　　'Why？whathaveIdone？howdunyouknowit？'
　　'Lastnight，'shebegan，andthenshestopped，andturnedawayherhead，pretendingtobebusyinherdairydutiesofrinsingandsuchlike。
　　'Well！'saidhe，halfconjecturinghermeaning，andflatteredbyit，ifhisconjecturewereright。'Lastnight——what？'
　　'Oh，yo'know！'saidshe，asifimpatientatbeingbothliterallyandmetaphoricallyfollowedabout，anddrivenintoacorner。
　　'No;tellme，'persistedhe。
　　'Well，'saidshe，'ifyo'willhaveit，Ithinkyo'showedyo'dbutashortmemorywhenyo'didn'tknowmeagain，andyo'werefivetimesatthishouselastwinter，andthat'snotsolongsin'。ButIsupposeyo'
　　seeavasto'thingsonyo'rvoyagesbylandorbysea，andthenit'sbutnaturalyo'shouldforget。'Shewishedshecouldgoontalking，butcouldnotthinkofanythingmoretosayjustthen;for，inthemiddleofhersentence，theflatteringinterpretationhemightputuponherwords，onherknowingsoexactlythenumberoftimeshehadbeentoHaytersbank，flasheduponher，andshewantedtoleadtheconversationalittlefartherafield——tomakeitalittlelesspersonal。Thiswasnothiswish，however。
　　Inatonewhichthrilledthroughher，eveninherowndespite，hesaid，——
　　'Doyo'thinkthatcaneverhappenagain，Sylvia？'
　　Shewasquitesilent;almosttrembling。Herepeatedthequestionasiftoforcehertoanswer。Driventobay，sheequivocated。
　　'Whathappenagain？Letmego，Idunnowhatyo'retalkingabout，andI'ma'mostnumbedwi'cold。'
　　Forthefrostyaircamesharpinthroughtheopenlatticewindow，andtheicewasalreadyformingonthemilk。Kinraidwouldhavefoundareadywayofkeepinghiscousins，orindeedmostyoungwomen，warm;buthepausedbeforehedaredputhisarmroundSylvia;shehadsomethingsoshyandwildinherlookandmanner;andherveryinnocenceofwhatherwords，spokenbyanothergirl，mightleadto，inspiredhimwithrespect，andkepthimincheck。Sohecontentedhimselfwithsaying，——
　　'I'llletyo'gointot'warmkitchenifyo'lltellmeifyo'thinkIcaneverforgetyo'again。'
　　Shelookedupathimdefiantly，andsetherredlipsfirm。Heenjoyedherdeterminationnottoreplytothisquestion;itshowedshefeltitssignificance。Herpureeyeslookedsteadilyintohis;norwastheexpressioninhissuchastodauntherormakeherafraid。Theywereliketwochildrendefyingeachother;eachdeterminedtoconquer。Atlastsheunclosedherlips，andnoddingherheadasifintriumph，said，asshefoldedherarmsoncemoreinhercheckapron，——
　　'Yo'llhavetogohomesometime。'
　　'Notforacoupleofhoursyet，'saidhe;'andyo'llbefrozenfirst;
　　soyo'dbettersayifIcaneverforgetyo'again，withoutmoreado。'
　　Perhapsthefreshvoicesbreakingonthesilence，——perhapsthetoneswerelessmodulatedthantheyhadbeenbefore，butanyhowBellRobson'svoicewasheardcallingSylviathroughtheseconddoor，whichopenedfromthedairytothehouse—place，inwhichhermotherhadbeentillthismomentasleep。Sylviadartedoffinobediencetothecall;gladtoleavehim，asatthemomentKinraidresentfullyimagined。Throughtheopendoorheheardtheconversationbetweenmotheranddaughter，almostunconsciousofitsmeaning，sodifficultdidhefindittowrenchhisthoughtsfromtheideashehadjustbeenformingwithSylvia'sbrightlovelyfacerightunderhiseyes。
　　'Sylvia！'saidhermother，'who'syonder？'Bellwassittingupintheattitudeofonestartledoutofslumberintointensityoflistening;herhandsoneachofthechair—arms，asifjustgoingtorise。'There'safremdmani't'house。Iheerdhisvoice！'
　　'It'sonly——it'sjustCharleyKinraid;hewasa—talkingtomei't'
　　dairy。'
　　'I't'dairy，lass！andhowcom'dhei't'dairy？'
　　'Hecom'dtoseefeyther。Feytheraskedhimlastnight，'saidSylvia，consciousthathecouldoverheareverywordthatwassaid，andalittlesuspectingthathewasnogreatfavouritewithhermother。
　　'Thyfeyther'sout;howcom'dhei't'dairy？'perseveredBell。
　　'Hecom'dpastthiswindow，andsawyo'asleep，anddidn'tlikefort'wakenyo';sohecom'dontot'shippen，andwhenIcarriedt'milkin————'
　　ButnowKinraidcamein，feelingtheawkwardnessofhissituationalittle，yetwithanexpressionsopleasantandmanlyinhisopenface，andinhisexculpatorymanner，thatSylvialosthisfirstwordsinastrangekindofprideofpossessioninhim，aboutwhichshedidnotreasonnorcaretodefinethegrounds。Buthermotherrosefromherchairsomewhatformally，asifshedidnotintendtositdownagainwhilehestayed，yetwastooweaktobekeptinthatstandingattitudelong。
　　'I'mafeared，sir，Sylviehasn'ttoldyo'thatmymaster'sout，andnotliketobeintilllate。He'llbemainandsorrytohavemissedyo'。'
　　Therewasnothingforitafterthisbuttogo。HisonlycomfortwasthatonSylvia'srosyfacehecouldreadunmistakablesignsofregretanddismay。Hissailor'slife，inbringinghimsuddenlyfacetofacewithunexpectedevents，hadgivenhimsomethingofthatself—possessionwhichweconsidertheattributeofagentleman;andwithanapparentcalmnesswhichalmostdisappointedSylvia，whoconstrueditintoasymptomofindifferenceastowhetherhewentorstayed，hebadehermothergood—night，andonlysaid，inholdingherhandaminutelongerthanwasabsolutelynecessary，——
　　'I'mcomingbackereIsail，andthen，maybe，you'llansweryonquestion。'
　　Hespokelow，andhermotherwasrearrangingherselfinherchair，elseSylviawouldhavehadtorepeatthepreviouswords。Asitwas，withsoftthrillingideasringingthroughher，shecouldgetherwheel，andsitdowntoherspinningbythefire;waitingforhermothertospeakfirst，Sylviadreamtherdreams。
　　BellRobsonwaspartlyawareofthestateofthings，asfarasitlayonthesurface。Shewasnotawarehowdeepdowncertainfeelingshadpenetratedintothegirl'sheartwhosatontheothersideofthefire，withalittlesadairdiffusedoverherfaceandfigure。BelllookeduponSylviaasstillachild，tobewarnedoffforbiddenthingsbythreatsofdanger。Buttheforbiddenthingwasalreadytasted，andpossibledangerinitsfullacquisitiononlyservedtomakeitmoreprecious—sweet。
　　Bellsatuprightinherchair，gazingintothefire。Hermilk—whitelinenmob—capfringedroundandsoftenedherface，fromwhichtheusualapple—redwasbanishedbyillness，andthefeatures，fromthesamecause，renderedmoreprominentandstern。Shehadacleanbuffkerchiefroundherneck，andstuffedintothebosomofherSundaywoollengownofdarkblue，——ifshehadbeeninworking—trimshewouldhavewornabedgownlikeSylvia's。Hersleeveswerepinnedbackattheelbows，andherbrownarmsandhard—workinghandslaycrossedinunwontedidlenessonhercheckapron。
　　Herknittingwasbyherside;andifshehadbeengoingthroughanyaccustomedcalculationorconsiderationshewouldhavehaditbusilyclinkinginherfingers。Butshehadsomethingquitebeyondcommontothinkabout，and，perhaps，tospeakabout;andfortheminuteshewasnotequaltoknitting。
　　'Sylvie，'shebeganatlength，'didIe'ertelltheeonNancyHartleyasIknewwhenIwereachild？I'mthinkingadealonherto—night;maybeit'sbecauseI'vebeendreamingonyonoldtimes。Shewasabonnylassaseverwereseen，I'veheerdfolksay;butthatwereaforeIknewher。
　　WhenIknewhershewerecrazy，poorwench;wi'herblackhaira—streamingdownherback，andhereyes，aswerea'mostasblack，allayscryingoutforpity，thoughneverawordshespokebut"Heoncewashere。"Justthato'erando'eragain，whethershewerecoldorhot，fullorhungry，"Heoncewashere，"wereallherspeech。Shehadbeenfarm—servanttomymother'sbrother——JamesHepburn，thygreat—uncleaswas;shewereapoor，friendlesswench，aparish'prentice，buthonestandgaum—like，tillalad，asnobodyknowed，comeo'erthehillsonesheep—shearingfra'Whitehaven;hehadsummattodowi'th'sea，thoughnotrightlytobecalledasailor:andhemadeadealonNancyHartley，justtobeguilethetimelike;andhewentawayandne'ersentathoughtafterhermore。It'sthewayasladshave;andthere'snoholding'emwhenthey'refellowsasnobodyknows——neitherwheretheycomefro'，norwhatthey'vebeendoinga'theirlives，tilltheycomeathwartsomepoorwenchlikeNancyHartley。Shewerebutasoftyafterall:forsheleftoffdoingherworkinapropermanner。I'veheerdmyauntsayasshefoundoutassummatwaswrongwi'Nancyassoonasth'
　　milkturnedbingy，fortherene'erhadbeensuchacleanlassabouthermilk—cansaforethat;andfrombaditgrewtoworse，andshewouldsitanddonothingbutplaywi'herfingersfro'morntillnight，andiftheyaskedherwhatailedher，shejustsaid，"Heoncewashere;"andiftheybidhergoaboutherwork，itwerea'thesame。Andwhentheyscoldedher，andprettysharptoo，shewouldstandupandputherhairfromhereyes，andlookaboutherlikeacrazythingsearchingforherwits，andne'erfindingthem，forallshecouldthinkonwasjust，"Heoncewashere。"
　　Itwereacautiontomeagainthinkingamant'meanwhathesayswhenhe'sa—talkingtoayoungwoman。'
　　'ButwhatbecameonpoorNancy？'askedSylvia。
　　'Whatshouldbecomeonheroronanylassasgiveshersel'uptothinkingonamanwhocaresnoughtforher？'repliedhermother，alittleseverely。
　　'Shewerecrazed，andmyauntcouldn'tkeepheron，couldshe？Shedidkeepheralongwearytime，thinkingasshewould，maybe，cometohersel'，and，anyhow，shewereamotherlesswench。Butatlengthshehadfort'
　　gowhereshecamefro'——backtoKeswickwork—house:andwhenlastIheerdonhershewerechainedtoth'greatkitchendresseri't'workhouse;they'dbeatenhertillsheweretaughttobesilentandquieti'th'daytime，butatnight，whenshewereleftalone，shewouldtakeupth'oudcry，tillitwrungtheirheart，sothey'dmanyatimetocomedownandbeatheragaintogetanypeace。Itwereacautiontome，asIsaidafore，tokeepfro'thinkingonmenasthoughtnoughtonme。'
　　'PoorcrazyNancy！'sighedSylvia。Themotherwonderedifshehadtakenthe'caution'toherself，orwasonlyfullofpityforthemadgirl，deadlongbefore。
　　chapter16CHAPTERXVITHEENGAGEMENT'Asthedaylengthenssothecoldstrengthens。'Itwassothatyear;thehardfrostwhichbeganonNewYear'sEvelastedonandonintolateFebruary，blackandbitter，butwelcomeenoughtothefarmers，asitkeptbackthetooearlygrowthofautumn—sownwheat，andgavethemtheopportunityofleadingmanure。Butitdidnotsuitinvalidsaswell，andBellRobson，thoughnotgettingworse，didnotmakeanyprogresstowardsamendment。
　　Sylviawaskeptverybusy，notwithstandingthatshehadtheassistanceofapoorwidow—womanintheneighbourhoodoncleaning，orwashing，orchurningdays。Herlifewasquietandmonotonous，althoughhardworking;
　　andwhileherhandsmechanicallyfoundanddidtheiraccustomedlabour，thethoughtsthatroseinherheadalwayscentredonCharleyKinraid，hisways，hiswords，hislooks，whethertheyallmeantwhatshewouldfainbelievetheydid，andwhether，meaningloveatthetime，suchafeelingwaslikelytoendure。Hermother'sstoryofcrazyNancyhadtakenholdofher;butnotasa'caution，'ratherasaparallelcasetoherown。LikeNancy，andborrowingthepoorgirl'sownwords，shewouldsaysoftlytoherself，'Heoncewashere;'butallalongshebelievedinherhearthewouldcomebackagaintoher，thoughittouchedherstrangelytoimaginetheagoniesofforsakenlove。
　　Philipknewlittleofallthis。Hewasverybusywithfactsandfigures，doggedlyfightingthroughthenecessarybusiness，andonlynowandthenallowinghimselfthedeliciousrelaxationofgoingtoHaytersbankinanevening，toinquireafterhisaunt'shealth，andtoseeSylvia;forthetwoFosterswerepunctiliouslyanxioustomaketheirshopmentestalltheirstatements;insistingonanexaminationofthestock，asifHepburnandCoulsonwerestrangerstotheshop;havingtheMonkshavenauctioneerintoappraisethefixturesandnecessaryfurniture;goingovertheshopbooksforthelasttwentyyearswiththeirsuccessors，anemploymentwhichtookupeveningafterevening;andnotunfrequentlytakingoneoftheyoungmenonthelongcommercialjourneyswhichweretediouslymadeinagig。
　　BydegreesbothHepburnandCoulsonwereintroducedtodistantmanufacturersandwhole—saledealers。TheywouldhavebeenwillingtotaketheFosters'
　　wordforeverystatementthebrothershadmadeonNewYear'sDay;butthis，itwasevident，wouldnothavesatisfiedtheirmasters，whowerescrupulousininsistingthatwhateveradvantagetherewereshouldalwaysfallonthesideoftheyoungermen。
　　WhenPhilipsawSylviashewasalwaysquietandgentle;perhapsmoresilentthanshehadbeenayearago，andshedidnotattendsobrisklytowhatwaspassingaroundher。Shewasratherthinnerandpaler;butwhateverchangetherewasinherwasalwaysanimprovementinPhilip'seyes，solongasshespokegraciouslytohim。Hethoughtshewassufferingfromlong—continuedanxietyabouthermother，orthatshehadtoomuchtodo;
　　andeithercausewasenoughtomakehimtreatherwithagraveregardanddeferencewhichhadarepressedtendernessinit，ofwhichshe，otherwiseoccupied，wasquiteunaware。Shelikedhimbetter，too，thanshehaddoneayearortwobefore，becausehedidnotshowheranyoftheeagerattentionwhichteasedherthen，althoughitsmeaningwasnotfullyunderstood。
　　Thingsweremuchinthisstatewhenthefrostbroke，andmilderweathersucceeded。Thiswasthetimesolonglookedforwardtobytheinvalidandherfriends，asfavouringthedoctor'srecommendationofchangeofair。
　　Herhusbandwastotakehertospendafortnightwithakindlyneighbour，wholivednearthefarmtheyhadoccupied，fortymilesorsoinland，beforetheycametoHaytersbank。Thewidow—womanwastocomeandstayinthehouse，tokeepSylviacompany，duringhermother'sabsence。Daniel，indeed，wastoreturnhomeafterconveyinghiswifetoherdestination;buttherewassomuchtobedoneonthelandatthistimeoftheyear，thatSylviawouldhavebeenalonealldayhaditnotbeenforthearrangementjustmentioned。
　　TherewasactivestirringinMonkshavenharbouraswellasonshore。
　　Thewhalerswerefinishingtheirfittings—outfortheGreenlandseas。Itwasa'close'season，thatistosay，therewouldbedifficultyinpassingthebarrieroficewhichlaybetweentheshipsandthewhaling—grounds;
　　andyetthesemustbereachedbeforeJune，ortheyear'sexpeditionwouldbeoflittleavail。Everyblacksmith'sshoprungwiththerhythmicalclangofbusyhammers，beatingoutoldiron，suchashorseshoes，nailsorstubs，intothegreatharpoons;thequayswerethrongedwithbusyandimportantsailors，rushinghitherandthither，consciousofthedemandinwhichtheywereheldatthisseasonoftheyear。Itwaswartime，too。ManycaptainsunabletoprocuremeninMonkshavenwouldhavetocompletetheircrewsintheShetlands。Theshopsinthetownwereequallybusy;storeshadtobepurchasedbythewhaling—masters，warmclothingofallsortstobeprovided。
　　Thesewerethelargerwholesaleorders;butmanyaman，andwoman，too，broughtouttheirsmallhoardstopurchaseextracomforts，orpreciouskeepsakesforsomebelovedone。Itwasthetimeofthegreathalf—yearlytrafficoftheplace;anotherimpetuswasgiventobusinesswhenthewhalersreturnedintheautumn，andthemenwereflushofmoney，andfullofdelightatoncemoreseeingtheirhomesandtheirfriends。
　　TherewasmuchtobedoneinFosters'shop，andlaterhourswerekeptthanusual。SomeperplexityorotherwasoccupyingJohnandJeremiahFoster;
　　theirmindswerenotsomuchonthealertasusual，beingengagedonsomeweightymatterofwhichtheyhadasyetspokentonoone。Butitthushappenedthattheydidnotgivethepromptassistancetheywereaccustomedtorenderatsuchtimes;andCoulsonhadbeenawayonsomeofthenewexpeditionsdevolvingonhimandPhilipasfuturepartners。Oneeveningaftertheshopwasclosed，whiletheywereexaminingthegoods，andcomparingthesaleswiththeentriesintheday—book，Coulsonsuddenlyinquired——
　　'Bytheway，Hester，doestheeknowwheretheparcelofbestbandanasisgone？Therewasfourleft，asI'mprettysure，whenIsetofftoSandsend;
　　andto—dayMarkAldersoncamein，andwouldfainhavehadone，andIcouldfindnonenowhere。'
　　'Isoldt'lastto—day，toyonsailor，thespecksioneer，whofoughtthepress—gangsametimeaspoorDarleywerekilled。Hetookit，andthreeyardsofyonpinkribbonwi't'blackandyellowcrossesonit，asPhilipcouldneverabide。Philiphasgot'emi't'book，ifhe'llonlylook。'
　　'Ishehereagain？'saidPhilip;'Ididn'tseehim。Whatbringshimhere，wherehe'snoanwanted？'
　　'T'shopwerethrongwi'folk，'saidHester，'andheknewhisownmindaboutthehandkercher，anddidn'ttarrylong。Justashewasleaving，hiseyecaughtont'ribbon，andhecamebackforit。Itwerewhenyo'wereservingMaryDarbyandtherewasavasto'folkaboutyo'。'
　　'IwishI'dseenhim，'saidCoulson。'I'dha'gi'enhimawordandalookhe'dnotha'forgotteninahurry。'
　　'Why，what'sup？'saidPhilip，surprisedatWilliam'sunusualmanner，and，atthesametime，rathergratifiedtofindareflectionofhisownfeelingsaboutKinraid。Coulson'sfacewaspalewithanger，butforamomentortwoheseemeduncertainwhetherhewouldreplyornot。