Somethoughtofanotherribbonwhichhadoncetiedupherhair，andafterwardsbeencutintwain，musthavecrossedSylvia'smind，forsheanswered，asifsheshrankfromherfather'swords，——
　　'Icannotgo，I'mnoanewantin'aribbon;I'mmuchobliged，father，a't'same。'
　　Hermotherreadherheartclearly，andsufferedwithher，butneverspokeawordofsympathy。ButshewentonrathermorequicklythanshewouldotherwisehavedonetoquestionherhusbandastoallheknewaboutthisgreatriseofPhilip's。Once6rtwiceSylviajoinedinwithlanguidcuriosity;butpresentlyshebecametiredandwenttobed。Forafewmomentsaftersheleft，herparentssatesilent。ThenDaniel，inatoneasifhewerejustifyinghisdaughter，andcomfortinghimselfaswellashiswife，observedthatitwasalmostonfornine;theeveningswerelightsolongnow。Bellsaidnothinginreply，butgatheredupherwool，andbegantoarrangethethingsfornight。
　　By—and—byDanielbrokethesilencebysaying，——
　　'AthowtatonetimeasPhiliphadafancyforourSylvie。'
　　ForaminuteortwoBelldidnotspeak。Then，withdeeperinsightintoherdaughter'sheartthanherhusband，inspiteofhisgreaterknowledgeoftheeventsthathadhappenedtoaffectit，shesaid，——
　　'Ifthou'sthinkingonamatchbetween'em，it'llbealongtimeaforeth'poorsadwenchisfitt'thinkonanothermanassweetheart。'
　　'Asaidnoughtaboutsweethearts，'repliedhe，asifhiswifehadreproachedhiminsomeway。'Woman'sallayssofullo'sweetheartsandmatteremony。
　　Aonlysaidasa'dthowtonceasPhiliphadafancyforourlass，andathinksostill;andhe'llbeworthhistwohunderayearaforelong。Butaniversaidnoughtaboutsweethearts。'
　　chapter21CHAPTERXXIAREJECTEDSUITORThereweremanydomesticarrangementstobemadeinconnectionwiththenewcommercialoneswhichaffectedHepburnandCoulson。
　　TheFosters，withsomethingofthebusybodinesswhichisapttomingleitselfwithkindlypatronage，hadplannedintheirownmindsthattheRosehouseholdshouldberemovedaltogethertothehousebelongingtotheshop;
　　andthatAlice，withtheassistanceofthecapableservant，who，atpresent，managedallJohn'sdomesticaffairs，shouldcontinueasmistressofthehouse，withPhilipandCoulsonforherlodgers。
　　ButarrangementswithoutherconsentdidnotsuitAliceatanytime，andshehadverygoodreasonsfordecliningtoaccedetothis。Shewasnotgoingtobeuprootedathertimeoflife，shesaid，norwouldsheconsenttoenteruponafuturewhichmightbesouncertain。Why，HepburnandCoulsonwerebothyoungmen，shesaid，andtheywereaslikelytomarryasnot;
　　andthenthebridewouldbesuretowishtoliveinthegoodold—fashionedhouseatthebackoftheshop。
　　Itwasinvainshewastoldbyeveryoneconcerned，that，incaseofsuchanevent，thefirstmarriedpartnershouldtakeahouseofhisown，leavingherinundisputedpossession。Shereplied，withapparenttruth，thatbothmightwishtomarry，andsurelythewifeofoneoughttotakepossessionofthehousebelongingtothebusiness;thatshewasnotgoingtotrustherselftothefanciesofyoungmen，whowerealways，thebestofthem，goinganddoingtheverythingthatwasmostfoolishinthewayofmarriage;ofwhichstate，infact，shespokewithsomethingofacrimoniouscontemptanddislike，asifyoungpeoplealwaysgotmismatched，yethadnotthesensetoletolderandwiserpeoplechooseforthem。
　　'Thou'llnothavebeenunderstandingwhyAliceRosespokeasshedidthismorning，'saidJeremiahFostertoPhilip，ontheafternoonsucceedingthefinaldiscussionofthisplan。Shewasa—thinkingofheryouth，Ireckon，whenshewasawell—favouredyoungwoman，andourJohnwasfullofthethoughtofmarryingher。Ashecouldnothaveher，hehaslivedabachelorallhisdays。ButifIamnotavastmistaken，allthathehaswillgotoherandtoHester，forallthatHesteristhechildofanotherman。
　　TheeandCoulsonshouldhaveatryforHester，Philip。IhavetoldCoulsonthisdayofHester'schances。Itoldhimfirstbecauseheismynephew;
　　butItelltheenow，Philip。Itwouldbeagoodthingfortheshopifoneofyewasmarried。'
　　Philipreddened。Oftenastheideaofmarriagehadcomeintohismind，thiswasthefirsttimeithadbeengravelysuggestedtohimbyanother。
　　Butherepliedquietlyenough。
　　'Idon'tthinkHesterRosehasanythoughtofmatrimony。'
　　'Tobesurenot;itisforthee，orforWilliamCoulson，tomakeherthink。She，maybe，remembersenoughofhermother'slifewithherfathertomakeherslowtothinkonsuchthings。Butit'sinhertothinkonmatrimony;
　　it'sinallofus。'
　　'Alice'shusbandwasdeadbeforeIknewher，'saidPhilip，ratherevadingthemainsubject。
　　'Itwasamercywhenheweretaken。Amercytothemwhowereleft，I
　　mean。Alicewasabonnyyoungwoman，withasmileforeverybody，whenhewedher——asmileforeveryoneexceptourJohn，whonevercoulddoenoughtotryandwinonefromher。But，no！shewouldhavenoneofhim，butsetherheartonJackRose，asailorinawhale—ship。Andsotheyweremarriedatlast，thoughallherownfolkswereagainstit。Andhewasaprofligatesinnerandwentafterotherwomen，anddrank，andbeather。SheturnedasstiffandasgreyasthouseesthernowwithinayearofHester'sbirth。
　　Ibelievethey'dhaveperishedforwantandcoldmanyatimeifithadnotbeenforJohn。Ifsheeverguessedwherethemoneycamefrom，itmusthavehurtherprideaboveabit，forshewasalwaysaproudwoman。Butmother'sloveisstrongerthanpride。'
　　Philipfelltothinking;agenerationagosomethingofthesamekindhadbeengoingonasthatwhichhewasnowlivingthrough，quickwithhopesandfears。Agirlbelovedbytwo——nay，thosetwosoidenticalinoccupationasheandKinraidwere——Roseidenticalevenincharacterwithwhatheknewofthespecksioneer;agirlchoosingthewronglover，andsufferingandsouredallherlifeinconsequenceofheryouth'smistake;wasthattobeSylvia'slot？——or，rather，wasshenotsavedfromitbytheeventoftheimpressment，andbythecourse6fsilencehehimselfhadresolvedupon？Thenhewentontowonderifthelivesofonegenerationwerebutarepetitionofthelivesofthosewhohadgonebefore，withnovariationbutfromtheinternalcausethatsomehadgreatercapacityforsufferingthanothers。Wouldthoseverycircumstanceswhichmadetheinterestofhislifenow，return，induecycle，whenhewasdeadandSylviawasforgotten？
　　PerplexedthoughtsofthisandasimilarkindkeptreturningintoPhilip'smindwheneverhehadleisuretogivehimselfuptoconsiderationofanythingbuttheimmediatethrongofbusiness。Andeverytimehedweltonthiscomplicationandsuccessionofsimilarevents，heemergedfromhisreveriemoreandmoresatisfiedwiththecoursehehadtakeninwithholdingfromSylviaallknowledgeofherlover'sfate。
　　ItwassettledatlengththatPhilipwastoremovetothehousebelongingtotheshop，CoulsonremainingwithAliceandherdaughter。ButinthecourseofthesummerthelattertoldhispartnerthathehadofferedmarriagetoHesteronthepreviousday，andbeenrefused。Itwasanawkwardaffairaltogether，ashelivedintheirhouse，andwasindailycompanionshipwithHester，who，however，seemedtopreservehergentlecalmness，withonlyatingemoreofreserveinhermannertoCoulson。
　　'Iwishyo'couldfindoutwhatshehasagain'me，Philip，'saidCoulson，aboutafortnightafterhehadmadetheproposal。ThepooryoungmanthoughtthatHester'scomposureofmannertowardshimsincetheeventarguedthathewasnotdistastefultoher;andashewasnowonveryhappytermswithPhilip，hecameconstantlytohim，asifthelattercouldinterpretthemeaningofallthelittleoccurrencesbetweenhimandhisbeloved。'I'mo'rightage，nottwomonthsbetwixtus;andthere'sfewinMonkshavenaswouldthinkonherwi'betterprospectsthanme;andsheknowsmyfolks;
　　we'rekindo'cousins，infact;andI'dbelikeasontohermother;andthere'snoanei'Monkshavenascanspeakagain'mycharacter。There'snoughtbetweenyo'andher，isthere，Philip？'
　　'Iha'telledtheemanyatimethatsheandmeislikebrotherandsister。
　　She'snomorethoughtonmenorIhaveforher。Sobecontentwi't，forI'senottelltheeagain。'
　　'Don'tbevexed，Philip;ifthouknewwhatitwastobeinlove，thou'dbealwaysfancyingthings，justasIam。'
　　'Imightbe，'saidPhilip;'butIdunnutthinkIshouldbealwaystalkingaboutmyfancies。'
　　'Iwunnottalkanymoreafterthisonce，ifthou'lljustfindoutfra'
　　thysel'，asitwere，whatitisshehasagain'me。I'dgotochapelforiverwithher，ifthat'swhatshewants。Justaskher，Philip。'
　　'It'sanawkwardthingformetobemellingwi'，'saidHepburn，reluctantly。
　　'Butthousaidtheeandshewerelikebrotherandsister;andabrotherwouldaskasister，andniverthinktwiceaboutit。'
　　'Well，well，'repliedPhilip，'I'llseewhatIcando;but，lad，Idunnotthinkshe'llhavethee。Shedoesn'tfancythee，andfancyisthreepartso'love，ifreasonist'otherfourth。'
　　ButsomehowPhilipcouldnotbeginonthesubjectwithHester。Hedidnotknowwhy，exceptthat，ashesaid，'itwassoawkward。'ButhereallylikedCoulsonsomuchastobeanxioustodowhatthelatterwished，althoughhewasalmostconvincedthatitwouldbeofnouse。Sohewatchedhisopportunity，andfoundAlicealoneandatleisureoneSundayevening。
　　Shewassittingbythewindow，readingherBible，whenhewentin。Shegavehimacurtwelcome，heartyenoughforher，forshewasalwayscharyinherexpressionsofpleasureorsatisfaction。Butshetookoffherhornspectaclesandplacedtheminthebooktokeepherplace;andthenturningmorefullyroundonherchair，soastofacehim，shesaid，——
　　'Well，ladandhowdoesitgoon？Thoughit'snotadayfort'askaboutworldlythings。ButIniverseetheenowbutonSabbathday，andrarelythen。Stillwemunnotspeako'suchthingsont'Lord'sday。Sotheemunjustsayhowt'shopisdoing，andthenwe'llleavesuchvaintalk。'
　　'T'shopisdoingmainan'well，thankye，mother。ButCoulsoncouldtellyo'o'thatanyday。'
　　'I'dadealraytherhearfra'thee，Philip。Coulsondoesn'tknowhowt'managehisownbusiness，letalonehalfthebusinessasittookJohnandJeremiah'sheads——ay，andtasked'em，too——tomanage。I'venopatiencewithCoulson。'
　　'Why？he'sadecentyoungfellowaseverthereisinMonkshaven。'
　　'Hemaybe。He'snoanecuthiswisdom—teethyet。But，forthatmatter，there'sotherfolksasfarfra'senseasheis。'
　　'Ay，andfarther。Coulsonmayn'tbesobrightatalltimesashemightbe，buthe'sasteady—goer，andI'dbackhimagain'anychapo'hisagei'Monkshaven。'
　　'IknowwhoI'dsoonerbackinmanyathing，Philip！'Shesaiditwithsomuchmeaningthathecouldnotfailtounderstandthathehimselfwasmeant，andhereplied，ingenuouslyenough，——
　　'Ifyo'meanme，mother，I'llnoanedenythatinathingortwoImaybemoreknowledgeablethanCoulson。I'vehadadealo'timeonmyhandsi'myyouth，andI'dgoodschoolingaslongasfatherlived。'
　　'Lad！it'snotschooling，norknowledge，norbook—learningascarriesamanthrought'world。It'smother—wit。Andit'snoaneschooling，norknowledge，norbook—learningastakesayoungwoman。It'ssummatascannotbeputintowords。'
　　'That'sjustwhatItoldCoulson！'saidPhilip，quickly。'HeweresoreputaboutbecauseHesterhadgi'enhimthebucket，andcametomeaboutit。'
　　'Andwhatdidthousay？'askedAlice，herdeepeyesgleamingathimasiftoreadhisfaceaswellashiswords。Philip，thinkinghecouldnowdowhatCoulsonhadbeggedofhimintheneatestmanner，wenton，——
　　'ItoldhimI'dhelphimallasIcould————'
　　'Thoudid，didthou？Well，well，there'snoughtsaqueerasfolks，thatawillsay，'mutteredAlice，betweenherteeth。
　　'——butthatfancyhadthreepartstodowi'love，'continuedPhilip，'anditwouldbehard，maybe，togetareasonforhernotfancyinghim。
　　YetIwishshe'dthinktwiceaboutit;hesosetuponhavingher，Ithinkhe'lldohimselfamischiefwi'fretting，ifitgoesonasitis。'
　　'It'llnoanegoonasitis，'saidAlice，withgloomyoracularness。
　　'Hownot？'askedPhilip。Then，receivingnoanswer，hewenton，'Heloveshertrue，andhe'swithinamonthortwoonherage，andhischaracterwillbearhandlingona'sides;andhisshareont'shopwillbeworthhundredsayearaforelong。'
　　Anotherpause。Alicewastryingtobringdownherpridetosaysomething，whichshecouldnotwithallherefforts。
　　'Maybeyo'llspeakawordforhim，mother，'saidPhilip，annoyedathersilence。
　　'I'lldonosuchthing。Marriagesarebestmadewi'outmelling。HowdoIknowbutwhatshelikessomeonebetter？'
　　'OurHester'snotth'lasstothinkonayoungmanunlesshe'sbeena—wooingonher。Andyo'know，mother，aswellasIdo——andCoulsondoestoo——she'snivergivenanyoneachancetowooher;livinghalfhertimehere，andt'otherhalfint'shop，andniverspeakingtonoonebyt'
　　way。'
　　'Iwishthouwouldn'tcomeheretroublingmeonaSabbathdaywi'thyvanityandthyworldlytalk。I'dlieferbyfarbei'thatworldwheerethere'sneithermarryingnorgivinginmarriage，forit'sallamoitheringmesshere。'SheturnedtotheclosedBiblelyingonthedresser，andopeneditwithabang。Whileshewasadjustingherspectaclesonhernose，withhandstremblingwithpassion，sheheardPhilipsay，——
　　'Iaskyo'rpardon，I'msure。Icouldn'twellcomeanyotherday。'
　　'It'sa't'same——Icarenot。Butthoumightaswelltelltruth。I'llbeboundthou'sbeenatHaytersbankFarmsomedaythisweek？'
　　Philipreddened;infact，hehadforgottenhowhehadgottoconsiderhisfrequentvisitstothefarmasaregularpieceofoccupation。Hekeptsilence。
　　Alicelookedathimwithasharpintelligencethatreadhissilencethrough。
　　'Ithoughtso。Nexttimethouthinkstothyself，'I'mmoreknowledgeablethanCoulson，'justrememberAliceRose'swordsandtheyarethese:——IfCoulson'stoothick—sightedtoseethroughaboard，thou'rttooblindtoseethroughawindow。Asforcomin'andspeakin'upforCoulson，why，he'llbemarriedtosomeoneelseaforet'year'sout，forallhethinkshe'ssosetuponHesternow。Gothyways，andleavemetomyScripture，andcomenomoreonSabbathdayswi'thyvainbabbling。'
　　SoPhilipreturnedfromhismissionrathercrestfallen，butquiteasfaraseverfrom'seeingthroughaglasswindow。'
　　Beforetheyearwasout，Alice'sprophecywasfulfilled。Coulson，whofoundthepositionofarejectedloverinthesamehousewiththegirlwhohadrefusedhim，toouncomfortabletobeendured，assoonashewasconvincedthathisobjectwasdecidedlyoutofhisreach，turnedhisattentiontosomeoneelse。HedidnotlovehisnewsweetheartashehaddoneHester:
　　therewasmoreofreasonandlessoffancyinhisattachment。Butitendedsuccessfully;andbeforethefirstsnowfell，Philipwasbestmanathispartner'swedding。
　　EndofPartTwochapter22CHAPTERXXIIDEEPENINGSHADOWSButbeforeCoulsonwasmarried，manysmalleventshappened——smalleventstoallbutPhilip。Tohimtheywereasthesunandmoon。ThedayswhenhewentuptoHaytersbankandSylviaspoketohim，thedayswhenhewentupandshehadapparentlynohearttospeaktoanyone，butlefttheroomassoonashecame，orneverentereditatall，althoughshemusthaveknownthathewasthere——thesewerehisalternationsfromhappinesstosorrow。
　　Fromherparentshealwayshadawelcome。Oppressedbytheirdaughter'sdepressionofspirits，theyhailedthecomingofanyvisitorasachangeforheraswellasforthemselves。TheformerintimacywiththeCorneyswasinabeyanceforallparties，owingtoBessyCorney'sout—spokengriefforthelossofhercousin，asifshehadhadreasontolookuponhimasherlover，whereasSylvia'sparentsfeltthisasaslurupontheirdaughter'scauseofgrief。Butalthoughatthistimethemembersofthetwofamiliesceasedtoseekaftereachother'ssociety，nothingwassaid。Thethreadoffriendshipmightbejoinedafreshatanytime，onlyjustnowitwasbroken;andPhilipwasgladofit。BeforegoingtoHaytersbankhesoughteachtimeforsomelittlepresentwithwhichtomakehiscomingwelcome。
　　AndnowhewishedevenmorethaneverthatSylviahadcaredforlearning;
　　ifshehadhecouldhavetakenhermanyaprettyballad，orstory—book，suchasweretheninvogue。HedidtryherwiththetranslationoftheSorrowsofWerther，sopopularatthetimethatithadaplaceinallpedlars'baskets，withLaw'sSeriousCall，thePilgrim'sProgress，Klopstock'sMessiahandParadiseLost。Butshecouldnotreaditforherself;andafterturningtheleaveslanguidlyover，andsmilingalittleatthepictureofCharlottecuttingbreadandbutterinaleft—handedmanner，sheputitasideontheshelfbytheCompleteFarrier;andtherePhilipsawit，upsidedownanduntouched，thenexttimehecametothefarm。
　　ManyatimeduringthatsummerdidheturntothefewversesinGenesisinwhichJacob'stwicesevenyearsserviceforRachelisrelated，andtryandtakefreshheartfromtherewardwhichcametothepatriarch'sconstancyatlast。Aftertryingbooks，nosegays，smallpresentsofprettyarticlesofdress，suchassuitedthenotionsofthosedays，andfindingthemallreceivedwiththesamelanguidgratitude，hesethimselftoendeavourtopleaseherinsomeotherway。Itwastimethatheshouldchangehistactics;
　　forthegirlwasbecomingwearyofthenecessityforthankinghim，everytimehecame，forsomelittlefavourorother。Shewishedhewouldletheraloneandnotwatchhercontinuallywithsuchsadeyes。HerfatherandmotherhailedherfirstsignsofimpatientpetulancetowardshimasareturntotheoldstateofthingsbeforeKinraidhadcometodisturbthetenouroftheirlives;forevenDanielhadturnedagainstthespecksioneer，irritatedbytheCorneys'loudmoansoverthelossofthemantowhomtheirdaughtersaidthatshewasattached。IfDanielwishedforhimtobealiveagain，itwasmainlythattheCorneysmightbeconvincedthathislastvisittotheneighbourhoodofMonkshavenwasforthesakeofthepaleandsilentSylvia，andnotforthatofBessy，whocomplainedofKinraid'suntimelydeathratherasifbyitshehadbeencheatedofahusbandthanforanyoverwhelmingpersonallovetowardsthedeceased。
　　'Ifhewereafterherhewereabigblackscoundrel，that'swhathewere;andawishhewerealiveagaintobehung。Butadunnotbelieveit;
　　themCorneylasseswereallaysa—talkin'an'a—thinkingonsweethearts，andniveramancrossedt'thresholdbuttheytriedhimonasahusband。
　　An'theirmotherwerenobetterKinraidhasspokenciviltoBessyasbecamealadtoalass，andshemakesanadooverhimasifthey'dbeentochurchtogethernotaweeksin'。'
　　'Idunnotupholdt'Corneys;butMollyCorney——asisMollyBruntonnow——usedtospeakonthisdeadmantoourSylvieasifhewerehersweetheartinolddays。Nowthere'snosmokewithoutfire，andI'mthinkingit'slikelyenoughhewereoneofthemfellowsasisalwaysaftersomelassoranother，and，asoftenasnot，twoorthreeatatime。NowlookatPhilip，whatadifferentoneheis！He'sniverthoughtonawomanbutourSylvie，I'llbebound。Iwishhewern'tsoold—fashionedandfaint—hearted。'
　　'Ay！andt'shop'sdoin'avasto'business，I'veheardsay。He'sadealbettercompany，too，norheusedtobe。He'dawayo'preachingwi'
　　himasacouldn'tabide;butnowhetak'shisglass，an'holdshistongue，leavin'roomforwisermentosaytheirsay。'
　　Suchwasaconjugalcolloquyaboutthistime。PhilipwasgaininggroundwithDaniel，andthatwassomethingtowardswinningSylvia'sheart;forshewasunawareofherfather'schangeoffeelingtowardsKinraid，andtookallhistendernesstowardsherselfasiftheyweremarksofhisregardforherlostloverandhissympathyinherloss，insteadofwhichhewasratherfeelingasifitmightbeagoodthingafterallthatthefickle—heartedsailorwasdeadanddrowned。Infact，Danielwasverylikeachildinallthepartsofhischaracter。Hewasstronglyaffectedbywhateverwaspresent，andapttoforgettheabsent。Heactedonimpulse，andtoooftenhadreasontobesorryforit;buthehatedhissorrowtoomuchtoletitteachhimwisdomforthefuture。Withallhismanyfaults，however，hehadsomethinginhimwhichmadehimbedearlyloved，bothbythedaughterwhomheindulged，andthewifewhowasinfactsuperiortohim，butwhomheimaginedthatheruledwithawiseandabsolutesway。
　　LovetoSylviagavePhiliptact。Heseemedtofindoutthattopleasethewomenofthehouseholdhemustpayallpossibleattentiontotheman;
　　andthoughhecaredlittleincomparisonforDaniel，yetthisautumnhewascontinuallythinkingofhowhecouldpleasehim。Whenhehadsaidordoneanythingtogratifyoramuseherfather，Sylviasmiledandwaskind。
　　Whateverhedidwasrightwithhisaunt;butevenshewasunusuallygladwhenherhusbandwaspleased。Stillhisprogresswasslowtowardshisobject;
　　andoftenhesighedhimselftosleepwiththewords，'sevenyears，andmaybesevenyearsmore。'TheninhisdreamshesawKinraidagain，sometimesstruggling，sometimessailingtowardsland，theonlyoneonboardaswiftadvancingship，aloneondeck，sternandavenging;tillPhilipawokeinremorsefulterror。
　　Suchandsimilardreamsreturnedwiththegreaterfrequencywhen，intheNovemberofthatyear，thecoastbetweenHartlepoolandMonkshavenwasovershadowedbythepresenceofguard—ships，drivensouthfromtheirstationatNorthShieldsbytheresolutionwhichthesailorsofthatporthadenteredintotoresistthepress—gang，andtheenergywithwhichtheyhadbeguntocarryouttheirdetermination。ForonacertainTuesdayeveningyetrememberedbyoldinhabitantsofNorthShields，thesailorsinthemerchantservicemettogetherandoverpoweredthepress—gang，dismissingthemfromthetownwiththehighestcontempt，andwiththeirjacketsreversed。
　　AnumerousmobwentwiththemtoChirtonBar;gavethemthreecheersatparting，butvowedtotearthemlimbfromlimbshouldtheyseektore—enterNorthShields。Butafewdaysafterwardssomefreshcauseofirritationarose，andfivehundredsailors，armedwithsuchswordsandpistolsastheycouldcollect，paradedthroughthetowninthemostriotousmanner，andatlastattemptedtoseizethetenderEleanor，onsomepretextoftheill—treatmentoftheimpressedmenaboard。Thisendeavourfailed，however，owingtotheenergeticconductoftheofficersincommand。NextdaythisbodyofsailorssetoffforNewcastle;butlearning，beforetheyreachedthetown，thattherewasastrongmilitaryandcivilforcepreparedtoreceivethemthere，theydispersedforthetime;butnotbeforethegoodcitizenshadreceivedagreatfright，thedrumsoftheNorthYork—shiremilitiabeatingtoarms，andtheterrifiedpeoplerushingoutintothestreetstolearnthereasonofthealarm，andsomeofthemseeingthemilitia，underthecommandoftheEarlofFauconberg，marchingfromtheguard—houseadjoiningNewGatetothehouseofrendezvousforimpressedseamenintheBroadChase。
　　Butafewweeksafter，theimpressmentservicetooktheirrevengefortheinsultstheyhadbeensubjectedtoinNorthShields。InthedeadofnightacordonwasformedroundthattownbyaregimentstationedatTynemouthbarracks;thepress—gangsbelongingtoarmedvesselslyingoffShieldsharbourwereletloose;noonewithinthecirclecouldescape，andupwardsoftwohundredandfiftymen，sailors，mechanics，labourersofeverydescription，wereforcedonboardthearmedships。Withthatprizetheysetsail，andwiselylefttheplace，wheredeeppassionatevengeancewasswornagainstthem。NotallthedreadofaninvasionbytheFrenchcouldreconcilethepeopleofthesecoaststothenecessityofimpressment。Fearandconfusionprevailedafterthistowithinmanymilesofthesea—shore。AYorkshiregentlemanofranksaidthathislabourersdispersedlikeacoveyofbirds，becauseapress—gangwasreportedtohaveestablisheditselfsofarinlandasTadcaster;andtheyonlyreturnedtoworkontheassurancefromthestewardofhismaster'sprotection，buteventhenbeggedleavetosleeponstrawinthestablesorouthousesbelongingtotheirlandlord，notdaringtosleepattheirownhomes。Nofishwascaught，forthefishermendarednotventureouttosea;themarketsweredeserted，asthepress—gangsmightcomedownonanygatheringofmen;priceswereraised，andmanywereimpoverished;
　　manyothersruined。ForinthegreatstruggleinwhichEnglandwastheninvolved，thenavywasesteemedhersafeguard;andmenmustbehadatanypriceofmoney，orsuffering，orofinjustice。LandsmenwerekidnappedandtakentoLondon;there，intoomanyinstances，tobedischargedwithoutredressandpenniless，becausetheywerediscoveredtobeuselessforthepurposeforwhichtheyhadbeentaken。
　　Autumnbroughtbackthewhaling—ships。Buttheperiodoftheirreturnwasfullofgloomyanxiety，insteadofitsbeingtheannualtimeofrejoicingandfeasting;ofgladdenedhouseholds，wherebravesteadyhusbandsorsonsreturned;ofunlimitedandrecklessexpenditure，andboisterousjovialityamongthosewhothoughtthattheyhadearnedunboundedlicenceonshorebytheirsixmonthsofcompelledabstinence。Inotheryearsthishadbeenthetimefornewandhandsomewinterclothing;forcheerfulifhumblehospitality;
　　fortheshopkeeperstodisplaytheirgayestandbest;forthepublic—housestobecrowded;forthestreetstobefullofbluejackets，rollingalongwithmerrywordsandopenhearts。Inotheryearstheboiling—houseshadbeenfullofactiveworkers，thestaithescrowdedwithbarrels，theship—carpenters'
　　yardsthrongedwithseamenandcaptains;nowafewmen，temptedbyhighwages，wentstealthilybybacklanestotheirwork，clusteringtogether，withsinisterlooks，glancingroundcorners，andfearfulofeveryapproachingfootstep，asiftheyweregoingonsomeunlawfulbusiness，insteadoftruehonestwork。Mostofthemkepttheirwhaling—knivesaboutthemreadyforbloodydefenceiftheywereattacked。Theshopswerealmostdeserted;therewasnounnecessaryexpenditurebythemen;theydarednotventureouttobuylavishpresentsforthewifeorsweetheartorlittlechildren。Thepublic—houseskeptscoutsonthelook—out;whilefiercemendrankandsworedeepoathsofvengeanceinthebar—menwhodidnotmaunderintheircups，norgrowfoolishlymerry，butinwhomliquorcalledforthallthedesperate，badpassionsofhumannature。
　　Indeed，allalongthecoastofYorkshire，itseemedasifablighthungoverthelandandthepeople。Mendodgedabouttheirdailybusinesswithhatredandsuspicionintheireyes，andmanyacursewentovertheseatothethreefatalshipslyingmotionlessatanchorthreemilesoffMonkshaven。
　　WhenfirstPhiliphadheardinhisshopthatthesethree—men—of—warmightbeseenlyingfellandstillonthegrayhorizon，hisheartsank，andhescarcelydaredtoasktheirnames。ForifoneshouldbetheAlcestis;
　　ifKinraidshouldsendwordtoSylvia;ifheshouldsayhewasliving，andloving，andfaithful;ifitshouldcometopassthatthefactoftheundeliveredmessagesentbyherloverthroughPhilipshouldreachSylvia'searswhatwouldbethepositionofthelatter，notmerelyinherlove——that，ofcourse，wouldbehopeless——butinheresteem？Allsophistryvanished;
　　thefearofdetectionawakenedPhiliptoasenseofguilt;and，besides，hefoundout，that，inspiteofallidletalkandcarelessslander，hecouldnothelpbelievingthatKinraidwasinterribleearnestwhenheutteredthosepassionatewords，andentreatedthattheymightbebornetoSylvia。
　　SomeinstincttoldPhilipthatifthespecksioneerhadonlyflirtedwithtoomany，yetthatforSylviaRobsonhislovewastrueandvehement。ThenPhiliptriedtoconvincehimselfthat，fromallthatwassaidofhispreviouscharacter，Kinraidwasnotcapableofanenduringconstantattachment;
　　andwithsuchpooropiatetohisconscienceashecouldobtainfromthisnotionPhilipwasobligedtoremaincontent，until，adayortwoafterthefirstintelligenceofthepresenceofthosethreeships，helearned，withsometroubleandpains，thattheirnamesweretheMegoera，theBellerophon，andtheHanover。
　　ThenhebegantoperceivehowunlikelyitwasthattheAlcestisshouldhavebeenlingeringonthisshoreallthesemanymonths。Shewas，doubtless，gonefarawaybythistime;shehad，probably，joinedthefleetonthewarstation。Whocouldtellwhathadbecomeofherandhercrew？
　　shemighthavebeeninbattlebeforenow，andifso————
　　Sohispreviousfanciesshranktonothing，rebukedfortheirimprobability，andwiththemvanishedhisself—reproach。Yetthereweretimeswhenthepopularattentionseemedtotallyabsorbedbythedreadofthepress—gang;
　　whennoothersubjectwastalkedabout——hardly，infact，thoughtabout。
　　Atsuchflowsofpanic，PhiliphadhisownprivatefearslestaflashoflightshouldcomeuponSylvia，andsheshouldsuddenlyseethatKinraid'sabsencemightbeaccountedforinanotherwaybesidesdeath。Butwhenhereasoned，thisseemedunlikely。Noman—of—warhadbeenseenoffthecoast，or，ifseen，hadneverbeenspokenabout，atthetimeofKinraid'sdisappearance。
　　Ifhehadvanishedthiswintertime，everyonewouldhavebeenconvincedthatthepress—ganghadseizeduponhim。PhiliphadneverheardanyonebreathethedreadednameoftheAlcestis。Besides，hewentontothink，atthefarmtheyareoutofhearingofthisonegreatwearysubjectoftalk。Butitwasnotso，ashebecameconvincedoneevening。HisauntcaughthimalittleasidewhileSylviawasinthediary，andherhusbandtalkingintheshippenwithKester。
　　'Forgood'ssake，Philip，dunnottheebringustalkaboutt'press—gang。
　　It'sathingashasgotholdonmymeaster，tillthou'dthinkhimpossessed。
　　He'sspeakingperpetualoniti'suchaway，thatthou'dthinkhewereitchingtokill'ema'aforehetastedbreadagain。Hereallytrembleswi'rageandpassion;an'a'nightit'sjustasbad。Hestartsupi'hissleep，swearingandcursingat'em，tillI'msometimesafearedhe'llmak'
　　anendo'mebymistake。AndwhatmunhedolastnightbutopenoutonCharleyKinraid，andtellSylviehethoughtm'appent'ganghadgotholdonhim。Itmightmakehercrya'hersauttearso'eragain。'
　　Philipspoke，bynowishofhisown，butasifcompelledtospeak。