Hisfacesupportedbyhishands，helookeddownupontheblueripplingocean，flashinghereandthere，intothesunlightinlong，glitteringlines。
　　Theboatwasstillinthedistance，makingherswiftsilentwaywithlongregularboundstothetenderthatlayintheoffing。
　　Hepburnfeltinsecure，asinanightmaredream，solongastheboatdidnotreachherimmediatedestination。Hiscontractedeyescouldseefourminutefiguresrowingwithceaselessmotion，andafifthsateatthehelm。Butheknewtherewasasixth，unseen，lying，boundandhelpless，atthebottomoftheboat;andhisfancykeptexpectingthismantostartupandbreakhisbonds，andovercomealltheothers，andreturntotheshorefreeandtriumphant。
　　ItwasbynofaultofHepburn'sthattheboatspedwellaway;thatshewasnowalongsidethetender，dancingonthewaves;nowemptiedofhercrew;nowhoisteduptoherplace。Nofaultofhis！andyetittookhimsometimebeforehecouldreasonhimselfintothebeliefthathismad，feverishwishesnotanhourbefore——hiswildprayertoberidofhisrival，ashehimselfhadscrambledonwardovertherocksalongsideofKinraid'spathonthesands——hadnotcompelledtheevent。
　　'Anyhow，'thoughthe，asheroseup，myprayerisgranted。Godbethanked！'
　　Oncemorehelookedouttowardstheship。Shehadspreadherbeautifulgreatsails，andwasstandingouttoseaintheglitteringpathofthedescendingsun。
　　Hesawthathehadbeendelayedonhisroad，andhadlingeredlong。
　　Heshookhisstiffenedlimbs，shoulderedhisknapsack，andpreparedtowalkontoHartlepoolasswiftlyashecould。
　　chapter19CHAPTERXIXANIMPORTANTMISSIONPhilipwastoolateforthecoachhehadhopedtogoby，buttherewasanotherthatleftatnight，andwhichreachedNewcastleintheforenoon，sothat，bythelossofanight'ssleep，hemightovertakehislosttime。
　　But，restlessandmiserable，hecouldnotstopinHartlepoollongerthantogetsomehastyfoodattheinnfromwhichthecoachstarted。Heacquaintedhimselfwiththenamesofthetownsthroughwhichitwouldpass，andtheinnsatwhichitwouldstop，andleftwordthatthecoachmanwastobeonthelook—outforhimandpickhimupatsomeoneoftheseplaces。
　　Hewasthoroughlywornoutbeforethishappened——toomuchtiredtogainanysleepinthecoach。WhenhereachedNewcastle，hewenttoengagehispassageinthenextLondon—boundsmack，andthendirectedhisstepstoRobinson's，intheSide，tomakealltheinquirieshecouldthinkofrespectingtheploughhisunclewantedtoknowabout。
　　Soitwasprettylateintheafternoon，indeedalmostevening，beforehearrivedatthesmallinnonthequay—side，whereheintendedtosleep。
　　Itwasbutaroughkindofplace，frequentedprincipallybysailors;hehadbeenrecommendedtoitbyDanielRobson，whohadknownitwellinformerdays。Theaccommodationinitwas，however，cleanandhomely，andthepeoplekeepingitwererespectableenoughintheirway。
　　StillHepburnwasratherrepelledbytheappearanceofthesailorswhosatedrinkinginthebar，andheasked，inalowvoice，iftherewasnotanotherroom。Thewomanstaredinsurprise，andonlyshookherhead。Hepburnwenttoaseparatetable，awayfromtheroaringfire，whichonthiscoldMarcheveningwasthegreatattraction，andcalledforfoodanddrink。
　　Thenseeingthattheothermenwereeyeinghimwiththesociableideaofspeakingtohim，heaskedforpenandinkandpaper，withtheintentionofdefeatingtheirpurposebypre—occupationonhispart。Butwhenthepapercame，thenewpen，theunusedthickenedink，hehesitatedlongbeforehebegantowrite;andatlastheslowlyputdownthewords，——
　　'DEARANDHONOUREDUNCLE，'————
　　Therewasapause;hismealwasbroughtandhastilyswallowed。Evenwhilehewaseatingit，hekeptoccasionallytouchingupthelettersofthesewords。Whenhehaddrunkaglassofalehebeganagaintowritefluentlythistime，forhewasgivinganaccountoftheplough。Thencameanotherlongstop;hewasweighinginhisownmindwhatheshouldsayaboutKinraid。
　　OncehethoughtforasecondofwritingtoSylviaherself，andtellingher————howmuch？Shemighttreasureupherlover'swordslikegrainsofgold，whiletheywerelighterthandustintheirmeaningtoPhilip'smind;
　　wordswhichsuchasthespecksioneerusedascounterstobeguileandleadastraysillywomen。Itwasforhimtoprovehisconstancybyaction;andthechancesofhisgivingsuchproofwereinfinitesimalinPhilip'sestimation。
　　ButshouldthelattermentionthebarefactofKinraid'simpressmenttoRobson？Thatwouldhavebeenthenaturalcourseofthings，rememberingthatthelasttimePhiliphadseeneither，theywereineachother'scompany。
　　TwentytimesheputhispentothepaperwiththeintentionofrelatingbrieflytheeventthathadbefallenKinraid;andasoftenhestopped，asthoughthefirstwordwouldbeirrevocable。Whilehethussatepeninhand，thinkinghimselfwiserthanconscience，andlookingonbeyondthenextstepwhichshebadehimtakeintoanindefinitefuture，hecaughtsomefragmentsofthesailors'talkattheotherendoftheroom，whichmadehimlistentotheirwords。TheywerespeakingofthatveryKinraid，thethoughtofwhomfilledhisownmindlikeanactualpresence。Inarough，carelesswaytheyspokeofthespecksioneer，withadmirationenoughforhispowersasasailorandharpooner;andfromthattheypassedontojestingmentionofhispoweramongstwomen，andoneortwogirls'nameswerespokenofinconnectionwithhim。HepburnsilentlyaddedAnnieCoulsonandSylviaRobsontothislist，andhischeeksturnedpalerashedidso。LongaftertheyhaddonespeakingaboutKinraid，aftertheyhadpaidtheirshot，andgoneaway，hesateinthesameattitude，thinkingbitterthoughts。
　　Thepeopleofthehousepreparedforbed。Theirsilentguesttooknoheedoftheirmutesigns。Atlengththelandlordspoketohim，andhestarted，gatheredhiswitstogetherwithaneffort，andpreparedtoretirewiththerest。Butbeforehedidso，hesignedanddirectedthelettertohisuncle，leavingitstillopen，however，incasesomesuddenfeelingshouldprompthimtoaddapostscript。Thelandlordvolunteeredtheinformationthattheletterhisguesthadbeenwritingmustbepostedearlythenextmorningifitwasgoingsouth;asthemailsinthatdirectiononlyleftNewcastleeveryotherday。
　　AllnightlongHepburnweariedhimselfwithpassionatetossings，promptedbystingingrecollection。Towardsmorninghefellintoadeadsoundsleep。
　　Hewasrousedbyahastyknockingatthedoor。Itwasbroadfulldaylight;
　　hehadoverslepthimself，andthesmackwasleavingbytheearlytide。
　　Hewasevennowsummonedonboard。Hedressed，waferedhisletter，andrushedwithittotheneighbouringpost—office;and，withoutcaringtotouchthebreakfastforwhichhepaid，heembarked。Onceonboard，heexperiencedthereliefwhichitalwaysistoanundecidedman，andgenerallyisatfirsttoanyonewhohasbeenpalteringwithduty，whencircumstancesdecideforhim。Inthefirstcase，itispleasanttoberelievedfromtheburdenofdecision;inthesecond，theresponsibilityseemstobeshiftedontoimpersonalevents。
　　AndsoPhilipsailedoutofthemouthoftheTyneontothegreatopensea。ItwouldbeaweekbeforethesmackreachedLondon，evenifshepursuedatolerablystraightcourse，butshehadtokeepasharplook—outafterpossibleimpressmentofhercrew;anditwasnotuntilaftermanydodgesandsomeadventuresthat，attheendofafortnightfromthetimeofhisleavingMonkshaven，PhilipfoundhimselfsafelyhousedinLondon，andreadytobeginthedelicatepieceofworkwhichwasgivenhimtodo。
　　Hefelthimselffullycapableofunravellingeachcluetoinformation，anddecidingonthevalueoftheknowledgesogained。ButduringtheleisureofthevoyagehehadwiselydeterminedtocommunicateeverythinghelearntaboutDickinson，inshort，everystephetookinthematter，bylettertohisemployers。Andthushismindbothinandoutofhislodgingsmighthaveappearedtohavebeenfullyoccupiedwiththeconcernsofothers。
　　Butthereweretimeswhenthemiserableluxuryofdwellinguponhisownaffairswashis——whenhelaydowninhisbedtillhefellintorestlesssleep——whenthepointtowhichhisstepstendedinhiswalkswasascertained。
　　Thenhegavehimselfuptomemory，andregretwhichoftendeepenedintodespair，andbutseldomwascheeredbyhope。
　　Hegrewsoimpatientoftheignoranceinwhichhewaskept——forinthosedaysofheavypostageanycorrespondencehemighthavehadonmereMonkshavenintelligencewasverylimitedastotheaffairsatHaytersbank，thathecutoutanadvertisementrespectingsomenewkindofplough，fromanewspaperthatlayinthechop—housewhereheusuallydined，andrisingearlythenextmorningheemployedthetimethusgainedingoingroundtotheshopwherethesenewploughsweresold。
　　ThatnighthewroteanotherlettertoDanielRobson，withalongaccountofthemeritsoftheimplementshehadthatdayseen。Withasickheartandahesitatinghand，hewoundupwithamessageofregardtohisauntandtoSylvia;anexpressionofregardwhichhedarednotmakeaswarmashewished，andwhich，consequently，fellbelowtheusualmarkattainedbysuchmessages，andwouldhaveappearedtoanyonewhoearedtothinkaboutitascoldandformal。
　　Whenthisletterwasdespatched，Hepburnbegantowonderwhathehadhopedforinwritingit。HeknewthatDanielcouldwrite——orratherthathecouldmakestrangehieroglyphics，themeaningofwhichpuzzledothersandoftenhimself;butthesepen—and—inksignswereseldomemployedbyRobson，andnever，sofarasPhilipknew，forthepurposeofletter—writing。
　　ButstillhecravedsofornewsofSylvia——evenforasightofpaperwhichshehadseen，andperhapstouched——thathethoughtallhistroubleabouttheplough（tosaynothingoftheone—and—twopencepostagewhichhehadprepaidinordertomakesureofhisletter'sreceptioninthefrugalhouseholdatHaytersbank）welllostforthemerechanceofhisuncle'scaringenoughfortheintelligencetowriteinreply，oreventogetsomefriendtowriteananswer;forinsuchcase，perhaps，Philipmightseehernamementionedinsomeway，eventhoughitwasonlythatshesentherdutytohim。
　　Butthepost—officewasdumb;nolettercamefromDanielRobson。Philipheard，itistrue，fromhisemployersprettyfrequentlyonbusiness;andhefeltsuretheywouldhavenamedit，ifanyillhadbefallenhisuncle'sfamily，fortheyknewoftherelationshipandofhisintimacythere。TheygenerallyendedtheirformalletterswithasformalasummaryofMonkshavennews;buttherewasneveramentionoftheRobsons，andthatofitselfwaswell，butitdidnotsoothePhilip'simpatientcuriosity。Hehadneverconfidedhisattachmenttohiscousintoanyone，itwasnothisway;buthesometimesthoughtthatifCoulsonhadnottakenhispresentappointmenttoaconfidentialpieceofemploymentsoill，hewouldhavewrittentohimandaskedhimtogouptoHaytersbankFarm，andlethimknowhowtheyallwere。
　　Allthistimehewastransactingtheaffaironwhichhehadbeensent，withgreatskill;and，indeed，inseveralways，hewasquietlylayingthefoundationforenlargingthebusinessinMonkshaven。Naturallygraveandquiet，andslowtospeak，heimpressedthosewhosawhimwiththeideaofgreaterageandexperiencethanhereallypossessed。Indeed，thosewhoencounteredhiminLondon，thoughthewasabsorbedinthebusinessofmoney—making。
　　YetbeforethetimecamewhenhecouldwindupaffairsandreturntoMonkshaven，hewouldhavegivenallhepossessedforaletterfromhisuncle，tellinghimsomethingaboutSylvia。ForhestillhopedtohearfromRobson，althoughheknewthathehopedagainstreason。Butweoftenconvinceourselvesbygoodargumentthatwhatwewishforneedneverhavebeenexpected;andthen，attheendofourreasoning，findthatwemighthavesavedourselvesthetrouble，forthatourwishesareuntouched，andareasstrongenemiestoourpeaceofmindasever。Hepburn'sbaulkedhopewastheMordecaisittinginHaman'sgate;allhissuccessinhiserrandtoLondon，hiswell—doinginworldlyaffairs，wastasteless，andgavehimnopleasure，becauseofthisblankandvoidofallintelligenceconcerningSylvia。
　　AndyethecamebackwithaletterfromtheFostersinhispocket，curt，yetexpressiveofdeepgratitudeforhisdiscreetservicesinLondon;andatanothertime——infact，ifPhilip'slifehadbeenordereddifferentlytowhatitwas——itmighthavegiventhismananotunworthypleasuretorememberthat，withoutapennyofhisown，simplybydiligence，honesty，andfaithfulquick—sightednessastotheinterestsofhismasters，hehadrisentoholdthepromiseofbeingtheirsuccessor，andtoberankedbythemasatrustedfriend。
　　AstheNewcastlesmacknearedtheshoreonhervoyagehome，HepburnlookedwistfullyoutforthefaintgrayoutlineofMonkshavenPrioryagainstthesky，andthewell—knowncliffs;asifthemassesofinanimatestonecouldtellhimanynewsofSylvia。
　　InthestreetsofShields，justafterlanding，heencounteredaneighbouroftheRobsons，andanacquaintanceofhisown。Bythishonestman，hewaswelcomedasagreattravelleriswelcomedonhisreturnfromalongvoyage，withmanyheartygoodshakesofthehand，muchrepetitionofkindwishes，andofferstotreathimtodrink。Yet，fromsomeinsurmountablefeeling，Philipavoidedallmentionofthefamilywhoweretheprincipalbondbetweenthehonestfarmerandhimself。Hedidnotknowwhy，buthecouldnotbeartheshockoffirsthearinghernameintheopenstreet，orintheroughpublic—house。Andthusheshrankfromtheintelligencehecravedtohear。
　　ThusheknewnomoreabouttheRobsonswhenhereturnedtoMonkshaven，thanhehaddoneonthedaywhenhehadlastseenthem;and，ofcourse，hisfirsttasktherewastogivealongvivavoceaccountofallhisLondonproceedingstothetwobrothersFoster，who，consideringthattheyhadheardtheresultofeverythingbyletter，seemedtotakeaninsatiableinterestindetails。
　　Hecouldhardlytellwhy，butevenwhenreleasedfromtheFosters'parlour，hewasunwillingtogotoHaytersbankFarm。Itwaslate，itistrue，butonaMayeveningevencountrypeoplekeepuptilleightornineo'clock。
　　PerhapsitwasbecauseHepburnwasstillinhistravel—staineddress;havinggonestraighttotheshoponhisarrivalinMonkshaven。Perhapsitwasbecause，ifhewentthisnightfortheshorthalf—hourinterveningbeforebed—time，hewouldhavenoexcuseforpayingalongervisitonthefollowingevening。Atanyrate，heproceededstraighttoAliceRose's，assoonashehadfinishedhisinterviewwithhisemployers。
　　BothHesterandCoulsonhadgivenhimtheirwelcomehomeintheshop，whichtheyhad，however，leftanhourortwobeforehim。
　　Yettheygavehimafreshgreeting，almostoneinwhichsurprisewasblended，whenhecametohislodgings。EvenAliceseemedgratifiedbyhisspendingthisfirsteveningwiththem，asifshehadthoughtitmighthavebeenotherwise。Wearythoughhewas，heexertedhimselftotalkandtorelatewhathehaddoneandseeninLondon，asfarashecouldwithoutbreakingconfidencewithhisemployers。Itwassomethingtoseethepleasurehegavetohisauditors，althoughtherewereseveralmixedfeelingsintheirmindstoproducetheexpressionofitwhichgratifiedhim。CoulsonwassorryforhisformerungenerousreceptionofthenewsthatPhilipwasgoingtoLondon;Hesterandhermothereachsecretlybegantofeelasifthiseveningwaslikemorehappyeveningsofold，beforetheRobsonscametoHaytersbankFarm;andwhoknowswhatfaintdelicioushopesthisresemblancemaynothavesuggested？
　　WhilePhilip，restlessandexcited，feelingthathecouldnotsleep，wasgladtopassawaythewakinghoursthatmustintervenebeforeto—morrownight，attimes，hetriedtomakethemtalkofwhathadhappenedinMonkshavenduringhisabsence，butallhadgoneoninaneventlessmanner，asfarashecouldgather;iftheyknewofanythingaffectingtheRobsons，theyavoidedspeakingofittohim;and，indeed，howlittlelikelyweretheyevertohaveheardtheirnameswhilehewasaway？
　　chapter20CHAPTERXXLOVEDANDLOSTPhilipwalkedtowardstheRobsons'farmlikeamaninadream，whohaseverythingaroundhimaccordingtohiswish，andyetisconsciousofasecretmysteriousinevitabledrawbacktohisenjoyment。Hepburndidnotcaretothinkwouldnotrealizewhatthisdrawback，whichneednothavebeenmysteriousinhiscase，was。
　　TheMayeveningwasgloriousinlightandshadow。Thecrimsonsunwarmedupthechillynorthernairtoasemblanceofpleasantheat。Thespringsightsandsoundswereallabout;thelambswerebleatingouttheirgentlewearinessbeforetheysanktorestbythesideoftheirmothers;thelinnetswerechirpingineverybushofgoldengorsethatgrewoutofthestonewalls;thelarkwassinginghergood—nightinthecloudlesssky，beforeshedroppeddowntohernestinthetendergreenwheat;allspokeofbroodingpeacebutPhilip'sheartwasnotatpeace。
　　Yethewasgoingtoproclaimhisgoodfortune。HismastershadthatdaypubliclyannouncedthatCoulsonandheweretobetheirsuccessors，andhehadnowarrivedatthatlonged—forpointinhisbusiness，whenhehadresolvedtoopenlyspeakofhislovetoSylvia，andmightopenlystrivetogainherlove。But，alasthefulfilmentofthatwishofhishadlaggedsadlybehind。Hewasplacedasfarashecould，eveninhismostsanguinemoments，havehopedtobeasregardedbusiness，butSylviawasasfarfromhisattainmentasever——nay，farther。StillthegreatobstaclewasremovedinKinraid'simpressment。Philiptookuponhimselftodecidethat，withsuchamanasthespecksioneer，absencewasequivalenttofaithlessforgetfulness。
　　HethoughtthathehadjustgroundsforthisdecisionintheaccounthehadheardofKinraid'sbehaviourtoAnnieCoulson;totheothernamelessyounggirl，hersuccessorinhisfickleheart;intheribaldtalkofthesailorsintheNewcastlepublic—house。ItwouldbewellforSylviaifshecouldforgetasquickly;and，topromotethisoblivion，thenameofherlovershouldneverbebroughtup，eitherinpraiseorblame。AndPhilipwouldbepatientandenduring;allthetimewatchingoverher，andlabouringtowinherreluctantlove。
　　Thereshewas！Hesawherashestoodatthetopofthelittlehill—pathleadingdowntotheRobsons'door。Shewasoutofdoors，inthegarden，which，atsomedistancefromthehouse，slopedupthebankontheoppositesideofthegully;muchtoofarofftobespokento——nottoofarofftobegazedatbyeyesthatcaressedhereverymovement。HowwellPhilipknewthatgarden;placedlongagobysometenantofthefarmonasouthernslope;
　　wailedinwithroughmoorlandstones;plantedwithberry—bushesforuse，andsouthernwoodandsweet—briarforsweetnessofsmell。WhentheRobsonshadfirstcometoHaytersbank，andSylviawasscarcelymorethanaprettychild，howwellherememberedhelpingherwiththearrangementofthisgarden;layingouthisfewsparepenceinhen—and—chickendaisiesatonetime，inflower—seedsatanother;againinarose—treeinapot。Heknewhowhisunaccustomedhandshadlabouredwiththespadeatformingalittleprimitivebridgeoverthebeckinthehollowbeforewinterstreamsshouldmakeittoodeepforfording;howhehadcutdownbranchesofthemountain—ashandcoveredthemover，yetdeckedwiththeirscarletberries，withsodsofgreenturf，beyondwhichthebrilliancycreptout;butnowitwasmonthsandyearssincehehadbeeninthatgarden，whichhadlostitscharmforSylvia，asshefoundthebleaksea—windscameupandblightedallendeavoursatcultivatingmorethanthemostusefulthings——pot—herbs，marigolds，potatoes，onions，andsuch—like。Whydidshetarrytherenow，standingquitemotionlessupbythehighestbitofwall，lookingoverthesea，withherhandshadinghereyes？Quitemotionless;asifshewereastonestatue。
　　Hebegantowishshewouldmove——wouldlookathim——butanywaythatshewouldmove，andnotstandgazingthusoverthatgreatdrearysea。
　　Hewentdownthepathwithanimpatientstep，andenteredthehouse—place。
　　Theresathisauntspinning，andapparentlyaswellasever。HecouldhearhisuncletalkingtoKesterintheneighbouringshippen;allwaswellinthehouse—hold。WhywasSylviastandinginthegardeninthatstrangequietway？
　　'Why，lad！thou'rtasightforsaireen！'saidhisaunt，asshestooduptowelcomehimback。'An'whendidsttacome，eh？——butthyunclewillbegladtoseethee，andtoheartheetalkaboutyonpleughs;he'sthoughtadealo'thyletters。I'llgocallhimin。'
　　'Notyet，'saidPhilip，stoppingherinherprogresstowardsthedoor。
　　'He'sbusytalkingtoKester。I'minnohastetobegone。Icanstayacoupleofhours。Sitdown，andtellmehowyouareyoursel'——andhowiverythingis。AndI'veadealtotellyou。'
　　'Tobesure——tobesure。Tothinkthou'sbeeninLunnonsin'Isawthee！——welltobesure！There'savasto'comingandgoingi'thisworld。Thou'llmindyonspecksioneerlad，himaswascousintot'Corneys——CharleyKinraid？'
　　Mindhim！Asifhecouldforgethim。
　　'Well！he'sdeadandgone。'
　　'Dead！Whotoldyou？Idon'tunderstand，'saidPhilip，instrangebewilderment。
　　CouldKinraidhavetriedtoescapeafterall，andbeenwounded，killedintheattempt？Ifnot，howshouldtheyknowhewasdead？Missinghemightbe，thoughhowthisshouldbeknownwasstrange，ashewassupposedtobesailingtotheGreenlandseas。Butdead！Whatdidtheymean？AtPhilip'sworstmomentofhatredhehadhardlydaredtowishhimdead。
　　'Dunnotyo'mentionitaforeourSylvie;weniverspeakonhimtoher，forshetakesitadealtoheart，thoughI'mthinkin'itwereagoodthingforher;forhe'dgotaholdofher——hehadonBessyCorney，too，ashermothertelledme;——notthatIiverletontothemasSylviafretsafterhim，sokeepacalmsough，mylad。It'sagirl'sfancy——justakindo'
　　calf—love;letitgoby;andit'swellforherhe'sdead，thoughit'shardtosaysoonadrownedman。'
　　'Drowned！'saidPhilip。'Howdoyo'know？'halfhopingthatthepoordrenchedswollenbodymighthavebeenfound，andthusallquestionsanddilemmassolved。Kinraidmighthavestruggledoverboardwithropesorhandcuffson，andsohavebeendrowned。
　　'Eh，lad！there'snomisdoubtin'it。Hewerethoughtadealonbyt'
　　captaino't'Urania;andwhenhenivercomebackont'daywhensheoughtfortohavesailed，hesenttoKinraid'speopleatCullercoats，andtheysenttoBrunton'si'Newcassel，andtheyknewhe'dbeenhere。
　　T'captainputoffsailingfortwoorthreedays，thathemightha'thatmuchlaw;butwhenheheardasKinraidwerenotatCorneys'，buthadleft'ema'mostontoaweek，hewentofftothemnorthernseaswi't'nextbestspecksioneerhecouldfind。Forthere'snousespeakingillont'
　　dead;an'thoughIcouldn'tabearhiscomingforiveraboutt'house，hewereararegoodspecksioneer，asI'vebeentold。'
　　'Buthowdoyouknowhewasdrowned？'saidPhilip，feelingguiltilydisappointedathisaunt'sstory。
　　'Why，lad！I'ma'mostashamedtotellthee，Iweresoreputoutmysel';
　　butSylviaweresobroken—heartedlikeIcouldn'tcastituptoherasIshouldha'liked:th'sillylasshadgoneandgi'enhimabito'ribbon，asmanyaoneknowed，forithadbeenavastnoticedandadmiredthatevenin'
　　atth'Corneys'——NewYear'sEveIthinkitwere——andt'poorvainpeacockhadtieditonhishat，sothatwhent'tide————hist！there'sSylviecominginatt'back—door;neverleton，'andinaforcedmade—upvoicesheinquiredaloud，forhithertoshehadbeenspeakingalmostinawhisper，——
　　'AnddidsttaseeKingGeorgeanQueenCharlotte？'
　　Philipcouldnotanswer——didnothear。HissoulhadgoneouttomeetSylvia，whoenteredwithquietslownessquiteunlikeherformerself。Herfacewaswanandwhite;hergrayeyesseemedlarger，andfullofdumbtearlesssorrow;shecameuptoPhilip，asifhisbeingtheretouchedherwithnosurprise，andgavehimagentlegreetingasifhewereafamiliarindifferentpersonwhomshehadseenbutyesterday。Philip，whohadrecollectedthequarreltheyhadhad，andaboutKinraidtoo，theverylasttimetheyhadmet，hadexpectedsometraceofthisremembrancetolingerinherlooksandspeechtohim。Buttherewasnosuchsign;hergreatsorrowhadwipedawayallanger，almostallmemory。Hermotherlookedatheranxiously，andthensaidinthesamemannerofforcedcheerfulnesswhichshehadusedbefore，——
　　'Here'sPhilip，lass，a'fullo'Lunnon;callthyfatherin，anwe'llheara'aboutt'new—fangledpleughs。It'llberarean'niceasittingtogetheragain。'
　　Sylvia，silentanddocile，wentouttotheshippentoobeyhermother'swish。BellRobsonleantforwardtowardsPhilip，misinterpretingtheexpressiononhisface，whichwasguiltasmuchassympathy，andcheckedthepossiblerepentancewhichmighthaveurgedhimonatthatmomenttotellallheknew，bysaying，'Lad！it'sa'fort'best。Hewerenoanegoodenoughforher;andImisdoubtmehewereonlyplayin'wi'herashe'ddonebyothers。
　　Lethera—be，lethera—be;she'llcomeroundtobethankful。'
　　Robsonbustledinwithloudwelcome;allthelouderandmoretalkativebecausehe，likehiswife，assumedacheerfulmannerbeforeSylvia。Yethe，unlikehiswife，hadmanyasecretregretoverKinraid'sfate。Atfirst，whilemerelythefactofhisdisappearancewasknown，DanielRobsonhadhitonthetruth，andhadstucktohisopinionthatthecursedpress—gangwereatthebottomofit。Hehadbackedhiswordsbymanyanoath，andallthemorebecausehehadnotasinglereasontogivethatappliedtothepresentoccasion。Nooneonthelonelycoasthadremarkedanysignofthepresenceofthemen—of—war，orthetendersthataccompaniedthem，forthepurposeofimpressmentontheKing'sships。AtShields，andatthemouthoftheTyne，wheretheylayingreedywait，theownersoftheUraniahadcausedstrictsearchtobemadefortheirskilledandprotectedspecksioneer，butwithnosuccess。AllthispositiveevidenceincontradictiontoDanielRobson'sopiniononlymadehimclingtoitthemore;untilthedaywhenthehatwasfoundontheshorewithKinraid'snamewrittenoutlargeandfairintheinside，andthetell—talebitofribbonknottedintheband。ThenDaniel，byasuddenrevulsion，gaveupeveryhope;itneverenteredhismindthatitcouldhavefallenoffbyanyaccident。No！nowKinraidwasdeadanddrowned，anditwasabadjob，andthesooneritcouldbeforgottenthebetterforallparties;anditwaswellnooneknewhowfarithadgonewithSylvia，especiallynowsinceBessyCorneywascryinghereyesoutasifhehadbeenengagedtoher。
　　SoDanielsaidnothingtohiswifeaboutthemischiefthathadgoneoninherabsence，andneverspoketoSylviaabouttheaffair;onlyhewasmorethanusuallytendertoherinhisroughway，andthought，morning，noon，andnight，onwhathecoulddotogiveherpleasure，anddriveawayallrecollectionofherill—starredlove。
　　To—nighthewouldhavehersitbyhimwhilePhiliptoldhisstories，orheavilyansweredquestionsputtohim。Sylviasatonastoolbyherfather'sknee，holdingoneofhishandsinbothofhers;andpresentlyshelaiddownherheaduponthem，andPhilipsawhersadeyeslookingintotheflickeringfire—lightwithlongunwinkingstare，showingthatherthoughtswerefardistant。Hecouldhardlygoonwithhistalesofwhathehadseen，andwhatdone，hewassofullofpityforher。Yet，forallhispity，hehadnowresolvednevertosootheherwiththeknowledgeofwhatheknew，nortodeliverthemessage。sentbyherfalselover。Hefeltlikeamotherwithholdingsomethinginjuriousfromthefoolishwishofherplainingchild。
　　Buthewentawaywithoutbreathingawordofhisgoodfortuneinbusiness。
　　Thetellingofsuchkindofgoodfortuneseemedoutofplacethisnight，whenthethoughtofdeathandthelossoffriendsseemedtobroodoverthehousehold，andcastitsshadowthere，obscuringforthetimeallworldlythings。
　　Andsothegreatpieceofnewscameoutintheordinarycourseofgossip，toldbysomeMonkshavenfriendtoRobsonthenextmarket—day。FormonthsPhiliphadbeenlookingforwardtothesensationwhichtheintelligencewouldproduceinthefarmhousehold，asapreliminarytolayinghisgoodfortuneatSylvia'sfeet。Andtheyheardofit，andheaway，andallchanceofhismakinguseofitinthemannerhehadintendedvanishedforthepresent。
　　Danielwasalwayscuriousafterotherpeople'saffairs，andnowwasmorethaneverbentoncollectingscrapsofnewswhichmightpossiblyinterestSylvia，androuseheroutofthestateofindifferenceastoeverythingintowhichshehadfallen。PerhapshethoughtthathehadnotactedaltogetherwiselyinallowinghertoengageherselftoKinraid，forhewasamanapttojudgebyresults;andmoreoverhehadhadsomuchreasontorepentoftheencouragementwhichhehadgiventotheloverwhoseuntimelyendhadsodeeplyaffectedhisonlychild，thathewasmoreunwillingthaneverthathiswifeshouldknowofthelengthtowhichtheaffairhadgoneduringherabsence。HeevenurgedsecrecyuponSylviaasapersonalfavour;unwillingtoencounterthesilentblamewhichheopenlyaffectedtodespise。
　　'We'llnoanefretthymotherbylettin'onhowofthecameandwent。
　　She'll，maybe，bethinkin'hewereforspeakin'tothee，mypoorlass;
　　an'itwouldputheroutadeal，forshe'sawomanofasternmindtowardsmatteremony。Andshe'llbenoanesostrongtillsummer—weathercomes，andI'dbeloathtogiveheraughttoworrithersel'about。Sotheeandme'llkeepourowncounsel。'
　　'Iwishmotherhadbeenhere，thenshe'dha'knownall，withoutmytellingher。'
　　'Cheerup，lass;it'sbetterasitis。Thou'llgeto'eritsoonerforhavin'noonetoletonto。Amyselfamnoanegoingtospeakon'tagain。'
　　Nomorehedid;buttherewasastrangetendernessinhistoneswhenhespoketoher;ahalf—patheticwayofseekingafterher，ifbyanychanceshewasabsentforaminutefromtheplaceswhereheexpectedtofindher;
　　aconsiderationforher，aboutthistime，inhiswayofbringingbacktriflingpresents，orsmallpiecesofnewsthathethoughtmightinteresther，whichsankdeepintoherheart。
　　'Andwhatdunyo'thinka't'folksistalkin'oni'Monkshaven？'askedhe，almostbeforehehadtakenoffhiscoat，onthedaywhenhehadheardofPhilip'spromotionintheworld。'Why，missus，thynephew，PhilipHepburn，hasgothisnameupi'goldlettersfourinchlongo'erFosters'door！
　　HimandCoulsonhassetupshoptogether，andFostersisgoneout！'
　　'That'st'secretofhisjourneyt'Lunnon，'saidBell，moregratifiedthanshechosetoshow。
　　'Fourinchlongifthey'retheereatall！Iheerdonitatt'BayHorsefirst;butIthoughtyo'dniverbesatisfied'boutIseeditwi'myowneyes。TheydosayasGregoryJones，t'plumber，gotitdonei'York，forthatnoughtelsewouldsatisfyoldJeremiah。It'llbeamattero'somehundredsayeari'Philip'spocket。'
　　'There'llbeFostersi'th'background，asonemaysay，totaket'biggestshareont'profits，'saidBell。
　　'Ay，ay，that'sbutasitshouldbe，forIreckonthey'llha'tofindt'brassthefirst，mylass！'saidhe，turningtoSylvia。'A'mfaintotak'theeintot'townnextmarket—day，justfortheet'see't。A'llbuytheeabonnyribbonforthyhairouto't'cousin'sownshop。'