Hewasamanwhohadroamedaboutagooddeal——beensailor，smuggler，horse—dealer，andfarmerinturns;asortoffellowpossessedbyaspiritofadventureandloveofchange，whichdidhimandhisownfamilymoreharmthananybodyelse。Hewasjustthekindofmanthatallhisneighboursfoundfaultwith，andallhisneighboursliked。Lateinlife（forsuchanimprudentmanashewas，oneofaclasswhogenerallywed，trustingtochanceandluckfortheprovisionforafamily），farmerRobsonmarriedawomanwhoseonlywantofpracticalwisdomconsistedintakinghimforahusband。ShewasPhilipHepburn'saunt，andhadhadthechargeofhimuntilshemarriedfromherwidowedbrother'shouse。HeitwaswhohadletherknowwhenHaytersbankFarmhadbeentolet;esteemingitalikelypieceoflandforhisuncletosettledownupon，afterasomewhatunprosperouscareerofhorse—dealing。
　　Thefarmhouselayintheshelterofaveryslightgreenhollowscarcelyscoopedoutofthepasturefieldbywhichitwassurrounded;theshortcrispturfcamecreepinguptotheverydoorandwindows，withoutanyattemptatayardorgarden，oranynearerenclosureofthebuildingsthanthestonedykethatformedtheboundaryofthefielditself。Thebuildingswerelongandlow，inordertoavoidtheroughviolenceofthewindsthatsweptoverthatwild，bleakspot，bothinwinterandsummer。Itwaswellfortheinhabitantsofthathousethatcoalwasextremelycheap;otherwiseasouthernermighthaveimaginedthattheycouldneverhavesurvivedthecuttingofthebittergalesthatpipedallroundandseemedtoseekouteverycreviceforadmissionintothehouse。Buttheinteriorwaswarmenoughwhenonceyouhadmountedthelongbleaklane，fullofroundroughstones，enoughtolameanyhorseunaccustomedtosuchroads，andhadcrossedthefieldbythelittledry，hardfootpath，whichtackedaboutsoastokeepfromdirectlyfacingtheprevailingwind。
　　MrsRobsonwasaCumberlandwoman，andassuch，wasacleanerhousewifethanthefarmers'wivesofthatnorth—easterncoast，andwasoftenshockedattheirways，showingitmorebyherlooksthanbyherwords，forshewasnotagreattalker。Thisfastidiousnessinsuchmattersmadeherownhouseextremelycomfortable，butdidnottendtorenderherpopularamongherneighbours。Indeed，BellRobsonpiquedherselfonherhousekeepinggenerally，andoncein—doorsinthegray，barestonehouse，therewereplentyofcomfortstobehadbesidescleanlinessandwarmth。Thegreatrackofclap—breadhungoverhead，andBellRobson'spreferenceofthiskindofoat—cakeovertheleavenedandpartlysourkindusedinYorkshirewasanothersourceofherunpopularity。Flitchesofbaconand'hands'（i。e。，shouldersofcuredpork，thelegsorhamsbeingsold，asfetchingabetterprice）abounded;andforanyvisitorwhocouldstay，neithercreamnorfinestwheatenflourwaswantingfor'turfcakes'and'singinghinnies，'
　　withwhichitisthedelightofthenorthernhousewivestoregalethehonouredguest，ashesipstheirhigh—pricedtea，sweetenedwithdaintysugar。ThisnightfarmerRobsonwasfidgetinginandoutofhishouse—door，climbingthelittleeminenceinthefield，andcomingdowndisappointedinastateoffretfulimpatience。Hisquiet，taciturnwifewasalittleputoutbySylvia'snon—appearancetoo;butsheshowedheranxietybybeingshorterthanusualinherrepliestohisperpetualwondersastowherethelasscouldhavebeentarrying，andbyknittingawaywithextradiligence。'I'veavasto'mindtogodowntoMonkshavenmysen，andseeaftert'child。
　　It'swellonforseven。''No，Dannel，'saidhiswife;'thou'dbestnot。Thyleghasbeenpainingtheethisweekpast，andthou'rtnotuptosuchawalk。I'llrouseKester，andsendhimoff，ifthouthink'stthere'sneedonit。''A'llnoanha'Kesterroused。Who'stogo，afieldbetimesaftert'sheepint'morn，ifhe'sca'edupto—neet？He'dmisst'lass，andfindapublic—house，areckon，'saidDaniel，querulously。'I'mnotafeardo'Kester，'repliedBell。'He'sagoodoneforknowingfolki'th'dark。Butifthou'drather，I'llputonmyhoodandcloakandjustgototh'endo'th'lane，ifthou'lthaveaneyetoth'milk，andseeasitdoesna'boilo'er，forshecannastomachitifit'sbishoppede'ersolittle。'BeforeMrsRobson，however，hadputawayherknitting，voiceswereheardatagooddistancedownthelane，butcomingnearereverymoment，andoncemoreDanielclimbedthelittlebrowtolookandtolisten。'It'sa'reet！'saidhe，hobblingquicklydown。'Niverfidgettheesel'
　　wi'gettin'readytogosearchforher。I'lltak'theeabetit'sPhilipHepburn'svoice，convoyingherhome，justasIsaidhewould，anhoursin'。'Belldidnotanswer，asshemighthavedone，thatthisprobabilityofPhilip'sbringingSylviahomehadbeenherownsuggestion，setasidebyherhusbandasutterly'unlikely。AnotherminuteandthecountenancesofbothparentsimperceptiblyandunconsciouslyrelaxedintopleasureasSylviacamein。Shelookedveryrosyfromthewalk，andtheOctoberair，whichbegantobefrostyintheevenings;therewasalittlecloudoverherfaceatfirst，butitwasquicklydispersedasshemetthelovingeyesofhome。Philip，whofollowedher，hadanexcited，butnotaltogetherpleasedlookabouthim。HereceivedaheartygreetingfromDaniel，andaquietonefromhisaunt。'Tak'offthypano'milk，missus，andsetont'kettle。Milkmaydoforwenches，butPhilipandmeisforadropo'goodHollandsandwatterthiscoldnight。I'ma'mostchilledtot'marrowwi'lookingoutforthee，lass，fort'motherwasinapeckoftroublesaboutthynonecoininghomei'
　　t'dayleet，andI'dtokeephearkeningoutont'browhead。'Thiswasentirelyuntrue，andBellknewittobeso;butherhusbanddidnot。Hehadpersuadedhimselfnow，ashehaddoneoftenbefore，thatwhathehadinrealitydoneforhisownpleasureorsatisfaction，hehaddoneinordertogratifysomeoneelse。'Thetownwasroughwithariotbetweenthepress—gangandthewhalingfolk;andIthoughtI'dbestseeSylviahome。''Ay，ay，lad;alwayswelcome，ifit'sonlyasanexcusefort'liquor。
　　Butt'whalers，say'stta？Why，ist'whalersin？Therewasnonei'sightyesterday，whenIweredownont'shore。It'searlydaysfor'emasyet。
　　Andt'cursedoldpress—gang'sagateagain，doingitsdevil'swork！'Hisfacechangedasheendedhisspeech，andshowedasteadypassionofoldhatred。'Ay，missus，yo'maylook。Iwunnotpickandchoosemywords，noatherforyo'norfornobody，whenIspeako'thatdaumedgang。I'mnoneashamedo'mywords。They'retrue，andI'mreadytoprove'em。Where'smyforefinger？
　　Ay！andasgoodatop—jointofathumbasiveramanhad？IwishI'dkept'emi'sperits，astheydonethingsatt''potticary's，justtoshowt'
　　lasswhatfleshandboneImadeawaywi'togetfree。Iupswi'ahatchetwhenIsawasIwerefasta—boardaman—o'—warstandingoutforsea——itwereint'timeo'thewarwi'Amerikay，an'Icouldnastomachthethoughto'beingmurderedi'myownlanguage——soIupswi'ahatchet，andIsaystoBillWatson，saysI，"Now，mylad，ifthou'lldomeakindness，I'llpaytheeback，niverfear，andthey'llbegladenoughtogetshutonus，andsendustooldEnglandagain。Justcomedownwithawill。"Now，missus，whycan'tyesitstillandlistentome，'steado'potteringafterpansandwhatnot？'saidhe，speakingcrosslytohiswife，whohadheardthestoryscoresoftimes，and，itmustbeconfessed，wasmakingsomenoiseinpreparingbreadandmilkforSylvia'ssupper。Belldidnotsayawordinreply，butSylviatappedhisshoulderwithaprettylittleauthoritativeair。'It'sforme，feyther。I'mjustkeen—setformysupper。Onceletmegetquicklysetdowntoit，andPhiliptheretohisglasso'grog，andyou'llneverhavesuchlistenersinyourlife，andmother'smindwillbeateasetoo。''Eh！thou'sawilfu'wench，'saidtheproudfather，givingheragreatslaponherback。'Well！settheedowntothyvictual，andbequietwi'
　　thee，forIwanttofinishmytaletoPhilip。But，perhaps，I'vetelledityo'afore？'saidhe，turningroundtoquestionHepburn。Hepburncouldnotsaythathehadnotheardit，forhepiquedhimselfonhistruthfulness。Butinsteadoffranklyanddirectlyowningthis，hetriedtoframeaformallittlespeech，whichwouldsootheDaniel'smortifiedvanity;and，ofcourse，ithadthedirectlyoppositeeffect。Danielresentedbeingtreatedlikeachild，andyetturnedhisbackonPhilipwithallthewilfulnessofone。Sylviadidnotcareforhercousin，buthatedthediscomfortofhavingherfatherdispleased;soshetookuphertaleofadventure，andtoldherfatherandmotherofherafternoon'sproceedings。
　　Danielpretendednottolistenatfirst，andmadeostentatiousnoiseswithhisspoonandglass;butby—and—byhegotquitewarmandexcitedaboutthedoingsofthepress—gang，andscoldedbothPhilipandSylviafornothavinglearntmoreparticularsastowhatwastheterminationoftheriot。'I'vebeenwhalingmysel'，'saidhe;'andI'veheerdtellaswhalerswearknives，andI'dha'gi'ent'gangatasteo'mywhittle，ifI'dbeencotchedupjustasI'dsetmyfoota—shore。''Idon'tknow，'saidPhilip;'we'reatwarwi'theFrench，andweshouldn'tliketobebeaten;andyetifournumbersarenotequaltotheirs，westandastrongchanceofit。''Notabiton't——sobed——d！'saidDanielRobson，bringingdownhisfistwithsuchviolenceontherounddealtable，thattheglassesandearthenwareshookagain。'Yo'dnotstrikeachildorawoman，forsure！yetit'udbelikeit，ifwedidna'givetheFrenchiessome'vantages——ifwetook'emwi'equalnumbers。It'snotfairplay，andthat'soneplacewheret'
　　shoepinches。It'snotfairplaytwoways。It'snotfairplaytocotchupmenashasnocallforfightin'atanotherman'sbiddin'thoughthey'venoobjectiontofightabitontheirownaccountandwhoarejustlanded，allkeenafterbreadi'steado'biscuit，andflesh—meati'steado'junk，andbedsi'steado'hammocks。（Imakenaughto't'sentimentside，forIwerenivergi'enuptosuchcarnal—mindednessandpoesies。）It'snoanefairtocotch'emupandput'eminastiflinghole，alllinedwithmetalforfeartheyshouldwhittletheirwayout，andsend'emofftoseaforyearsan'yearstocome。Andagainit'snofairplaytot'French。Fouro'themisrightlymatchedwi'oneo'us;andifwegoan'fight'emfourtofourit'slikeasifyo'felltobeatin'Sylviethere，orlittleBillyCroxton，asisn'tbreeched。Andthat'smymind。Missus，where'st'pipe？'Philipdidnotsmoke，sotookhisturnattalking，achanceheseldomhadwithDaniel，unlessthelatterhadhispipebetweenhislips。SoafterDanielhadfilledit，andusedSylvia'slittlefingerasastoppertoramdownthetobacco——ahabitofhistowhichshewassoaccustomedthatshelaidherhandonthetablebyhim，asnaturallyasshewouldhavefetchedhimhisspittoonwhenhebegantosmoke——Philiparrangedhisarguments，andbegan——'I'mforfairplaywi'theFrench，asmuchasanyman，aslongaswecanbesureo'beatingthem;but，Isay，makesureo'that，andthengivethemiveryadvantage。NowIreckonGovernmentisnotsureasyet，fori'thepapersitsaidashalfth'shipsi'th'Channelhadn'tgottheirpropercomplemento'men;andallasIsayis，letGovernmentjudgeabitforus;andiftheysaythey'rehamperedforwanto'men，whywemustmakeitupsomehow。JohnandJeremiahFosterpayintaxes，andMilitiamanpaysinperson;andifsailorscannotpayintaxes，andwillnotpayinperson，whytheymustbemadetopay;andthat'swhatth'press—gangisfor，I
　　reckon。Formypart，whenIreado'thewaythoseFrenchchapsaregoingon，I'mthankfultobegovernedbyKingGeorgeandaBritishConstitution。'Danieltookhispipeoutofhismouthatthis。'AndwhendidIsayawordagainKingGeorgeandtheConstitution？Ionlyax'emtogovernmeasIjudgebest，andthat'swhatIcallrepresentation。
　　WhenIgivedmyvotetoMeasterCholmleytogouptot'ParliamentHouse，Iasgoodassaid，'Nowyo'gouptheer，sir，andtell'emwhatI，DannelRobson，thinkright，andwhatI，DannelRobson，wishtohavedone。'ElseI'dbedarnedifI'dha'gi'enmyvotetohimoranyotherman。Anddivyo'thinkIwantSethRobson（asismyownbrother'sson，andmatetoacollier）tobecotchedupbyapress—gang，andtentoonehiswagesallunpaid？Divyo'thinkI'dsendupMeasterCholmleytospeakupforthatpieceo'work？NotI。'Hetookuphispipeagain，shookouttheashes，puffeditintoaspark，andshuthiseyes，preparatorytolistening。'But，askingpardon，lawsismadeforthegoodofthenation，notforyourgoodormine。'Danielcouldnotstandthis。Helaiddownhispipe，openedhiseyes，staredstraightatPhilipbeforespeaking，inordertoenforcehiswords，andthensaidslowly——'Nationhere！nationtheere！I'mamanandyo'reanother，butnation'snowheere。IfMeasterCholmleytalkedtomeIthatfashion，he'dlooklongforanothervotefraeme。IcanmakeoutKingGeorge，andMeasterPitt，andyo'andme，butnation！nation，gohang！'Philip，whosometimespursuedanargumentlongerthanwaspoliticforhimself，especiallywhenhefeltsureofbeingontheconqueringside，didnotseethatDanielRobsonwaspassingoutoftheindifferenceofconsciouswisdomintothatstateofangerwhichensueswhenaquestionbecomespersonalinsomeunspokenway。Robsonhadcontestedthissubjectonceortwicebefore，andhadtheremembranceofformerdisputestoaddtohispresentvehemence。
　　SoitwaswellfortheharmonyoftheeveningthatBellandSylviareturnedfromthekitchentositinthehouse—place。Theyhadbeentowashupthepansandbasinsusedforsupper;Sylviahadprivatelyshownoffhercloak，andgotoverhermother'sshakeoftheheadatitscolourwithacoaxingkiss，attheendofwhichhermotherhadadjustedhercapwitha'There！
　　there！ha'donewi'thee，'buthadnomorehearttoshowherdisapprobation;
　　andnowtheycamebacktotheirusualoccupationsuntilitshouldpleasetheirvisitortogo;thentheywouldrakethefireandbeofftobed;forneitherSylvia'sspinningnorBell'sknittingwasworthcandle—light，andmorninghoursarepreciousinadairy。Peoplespeakofthewayinwhichharp—playingsetsoffagracefulfigure;
　　spinningisalmostasbecominganemployment。Awomanstandsatthegreatwool—wheel，onearmextended，theotherholdingthethread，herheadthrownbacktotakeinallthescopeofheroccupation;orifitisthelesserspinning—wheelforflax——anditwasthisthatSylviamovedforwardsto—night——theprettysoundofthebuzzing，whirringmotion，theattitudeofthespinner，footandhandalikeengagedinthebusiness——thebunchofgaycolouredribbonthattiesthebundleofflaxontherock——allmakeitintoapicturesquepieceofdomesticbusinessthatmayrivalharp—playinganydayfortheamountofsoftnessandgracewhichitcallsout。Sylvia'scheekswereratherflushedbythewarmthoftheroomafterthefrostyair。Theblueribbonwithwhichshehadthoughtitnecessarytotiebackherhairbeforeputtingonherhattogotomarkethadgotratherloose，andallowedherdisarrangedcurlstostrayinamannerwhichwouldhaveannoyedherextremely，ifshehadbeenupstairstolookatherselfintheglass;butalthoughtheywerenotsetintheexactfashionwhichSylviaesteemedascorrect，theylookedveryprettyandluxuriant。Herlittlefoot，placedonthe'traddle，'wasstillencasedinitssmartlybuckledshoe——notslightlytoherdiscomfort，asshewasunaccustomedtobeshodinwalkingfar;onlyasPhiliphadaccompaniedthemhome，neithershenorMollyhadlikedtogobarefoot。Herroundmottledarmandruddytaperhanddrewouttheflaxwithnimble，agilemotion，keepingtimetothemovementofthewheel。AllthisPhilipcouldsee;thegreaterpartofherfacewaslosttohimasshehalfavertedit，withashydisliketothewayinwhichsheknewfrompastexperiencethatcousinPhilipalwaysstaredather。AndavertitasshewouldsheheardwithsilentpetulancetheharshscreechofPhilip'schairasheheavilydraggeditonthestonefloor，sittingonitallthewhile，andfeltthathewasmovingroundsoastolookatherasmuchaswasinhispower，withoutabsolutelyturninghisbackoneitherherfatherormother。Shegotherselfreadyforthefirstopportunityofcontradictionoropposition。'Well，wench！andhastaboughtthisgrandnewcloak？''Yes，feyther。It'sascarletone。''Ay，ay！andwhatdoesmothersay？''Oh，mother'scontent，'saidSylvia，alittledoubtinginherheart，butdeterminedtodefyPhilipatallhazards。'Mother'llputupwithitifitdoesnaspotwouldbenearerfact，I'mthinking，'saidBell，quietly。'IwantedSylviatotakethegray，'saidPhilip。'AndIchosethered;it'ssomuchgayer，andfolkcanseemethefartheroff。Feytherlikestoseemeatfirstturno't'lane，don'tyo'，feyther？
　　andI'llniverturnoutwhenit'sboun'fortorain，soitshallnivergetaspotnearit，mammy。''Ireckoneditweretoweari'badweather，'saidBell。'Leastwaysthatwerethepretextforcoaxingfeytherouto'it。'Shesaiditinakindlytone，thoughthewordsbecameaprudentratherthanafondmother。ButSylviaunderstoodherbetterthanDanieldidasitappeared。'Hou'dthytongue，mother。Sheniverspokeapretextatall。'Hedidnotrightlyknowwhata'pretext'was:Bellwasatouchbettereducatedthanherhusband，buthedidnotacknowledgethis，andmadeaparticularpointofdifferingfromherwheneversheusedawordbeyondhiscomprehension。'She'sagoodlassattimes;andifshelikedtowearayellow—orangecloaksheshouldhaveit。Here'sPhiliphere，asstandsupforlawsandpress—gangs，I'llsethimtofindusalawagainpleasingourlass;andsheouronlyone。Thoudostn'tthinkonthat，mother！Belldidthinkofthatoften;oftenerthanherhusband，perhaps，forsherememberedeveryday，andmanytimesaday，thelittleonethathadbeenbornandhaddiedwhileitsfatherwasawayonsomelongvoyage。Butitwasnotherwaytomakereplies。Sylvia，whohadmoreinsightintohermother'sheartthanDaniel，brokeinwithanewsubject。'Oh！asforPhilip，he'sbeenpreachinguplawsallt'wayhome。Isaidnaught，butletMollyholdherown;orelseIcouldha'toldataleaboutsilksan'lacean'things。'Philip'sfaceflushed。Notbecauseofthesmuggling;everyonedidthat，onlyitwasconsideredpolitetoignoreit;buthewasannoyedtoperceivehowquicklyhislittlecousinhaddiscoveredthathispracticedidnotagreewithhispreaching，andvexed，too，toseehowdelightedshewastobringoutthefact。Hehadsomelittleidea，too，thathisunclemightmakeuseofhispracticeasanargumentagainstthepreachinghehadlatelybeenindulgingin，inoppositiontoDaniel;butDanielwastoofargoneinhisHollands—and—watertodomorethanenunciatehisownopinions，whichhedidwithhesitatingandlaboureddistinctnessinthefollowingsentence:'WhatIthinkandsayisthis。Lawsismadefortokeepsomefolksfra'
　　harmingothers。Press—gangsandcoast—guardsharmmei'mybusiness，andkeepmefra'gettingwhatIwant。Theerefore，whatIthinkandsayisthis:
　　MeasterCholmleyshouldputdownpress—gangsandcoast—guards。Ifthattheereisn'treasonIaxyo'totellmewhatis？an'ifMeasterCholmleydon'tdowhatIaxhim，hemaygowhistleformyvote，hemay。'Atthisperiodinhisconversation，BellRobsoninterfered;notintheleastfromanyfeelingofdisgustorannoyance，ordreadofwhathemightsayordoifhewentondrinking，butsimplyasamatterofhealth。Sylvia，too，wasinnowayannoyed;notonlywithherfather，butwitheverymanwhomsheknew，exceptinghercousinPhilip，wasitamatterofcoursetodrinktilltheirideasbecameconfused。Soshesimplyputherwheelaside，aspreparatorytogoingtobed，whenhermothersaid，inamoredecidedtonethanthatwhichshehadusedonanyotheroccasionbutthis，andsimilarones—'Come，measter，you'vehadasmuchasisgoodforyou。''Leta'be！Leta'be，'saidhe，clutchingatthebottleofspirits，butperhapsrathermoregood—humouredwithwhathehaddrunkthanhewasbefore;
　　hejerkedalittlemoreintohisglassbeforehiswifecarrieditoff，andlockeditupinthecupboard，puttingthekeyinherpocket，andthenhesaid，winkingatPhilip——'Eh！myman。Nivergieawomant'whiphando'eryo'！Yo'seenwhatitbringsamanto;butfora'thatI'llvoteforCholmley，an'd————t'press—gang！'HehadtoshoutoutthelastafterPhilip，forHepburn，reallyanxioustopleasehisaunt，anddislikingdrinkinghabitshimselfbyconstitution，wasalreadyatthedoor，andsettingoutonhisreturnhome，thinking，itmustbeconfessed，farmoreofthecharacterofSylvia'sshakeofthehandthanofthepartingwordsofeitherhisuncleoraunt。
　　chapter05CHAPTERVSTORYOFTHEPRESS—GANGForafewdaysaftertheeveningmentionedinthelastchaptertheweatherwasdull。Notinquick，suddenshowersdidtheraincomedown，butinconstantdrizzle，blottingoutailcolourfromthesurroundinglandscape，andfillingtheairwithfinegraymist，untilpeoplebreathedmorewaterthanair。
　　Atsuchtimestheconsciousnessofthenearnessofthevastunseenseaactedasadrearydepressiontothespirits;butbesidesactingonthenervesoftheexcitable，suchweatheraffectedthesensitiveorailinginmaterialways。DanielRobson'sfitofrheumatismincapacitatedhimfromstirringabroad;andtoamanofhisactivehabits，andsomewhatinactivemind，thiswasagreathardship。Hewasnotill—temperednaturally，butthisstateofconfinementmadehimmoreill—temperedthanhehadeverbeenbeforeinhislife。Hesatinthechimney—corner，abusingtheweatheranddoubtingthewisdomordesirablenessofallhiswifesawfittodointheusualdailyhouseholdmatters。The'chimney—corner'wasreallyacorneratHaytersbank。Thereweretwoprojectingwallsoneachsideofthefire—place，runningaboutsixfeetintotheroom，andastoutwoodensettlewasplacedagainstoneofthese，whileoppositewasthecircular—backed'master'schair，'theseatofwhichwascomposedofasquarepieceofwoodjudiciouslyhollowedout，andplacedwithonecornertothefront。Here，infullviewofalltheoperationsgoingonoverthefire，satDanielRobsonforfourlive—longdays，advisinganddirectinghiswifeinallsuchminormattersastheboilingofpotatoes，themakingofporridge，alltheworkonwhichshespeciallypiquedherself，andonwhichshewouldhavetakenadvice——no！
　　notfromthemostskilledhousewifeinallthethreeRidings。But，somehow，shemanagedtokeephertonguequietfromtellinghim，asshewouldhavedoneanywoman，andanyotherman，tomindhisownbusiness，orshewouldpinadish—clouttohistail。SheevencheckedSylviawhenthelatterproposed，asmuchforfunasforanythingelse，thathisignorantdirectionsshouldbefollowed，andtheconsequencesbroughtbeforehiseyesandhisnose。'Na，na！'saidBell，'th'feyther'sfeyther，andwemunrespecthim。Butit'sdreeworkhavin'amani'th'house，nursingth'fire，an'suchweathertoo，andnotasoulcomingnearus，noteventofalloutwi'him;fortheeandmemustna'dothat，forth'Bible'ssake，dear;andagoodstand—upwordyquarrelwoulddohimapowerofgood;stirhisbloodlike。IwishPhilipwouldturnup。'Bellsighed，forinthesefourdaysshehadexperiencedsomewhatofMadamedeMaintenon'sdifficulty（andwithfewerresourcestomeetit）oftryingtoamuseamanwhowasnotamusable。ForBell，goodandsensibleasshewas，wasnotawomanofresources。Sylvia'splan，undutifulasitwasinhermother'seyes，wouldhavedoneDanielmoregood，eventhoughitmighthavemadehimangry，thanhiswife'squiet，carefulmonotonyofaction，which，howeveritmightconducetoherhusband'scomfortwhenhewasabsent，didnotamusehimwhenpresent。SylviascoutedthenotionofcousinPhilipcomingintotheirhouseholdinthecharacterofanamusingorentertainingperson，tillshenearlymadehermotherangryatherridiculeofthegoodsteadyyoungfellow，towhomBelllookedupasthepatternofallthatearlymanhoodshouldbe。ButthemomentSylviasawshehadbeengivinghermotherpain，sheleftoffherwilfullittlejokes，andkissedher，andtoldhershewouldmanageallfamously，andranoutoftheback—kitchen，inwhichmotheranddaughterhadbeenscrubbingthechurnandallthewoodenimplementsofbutter—making。Belllookedattheprettyfigureofherlittledaughter，as，runningpastwithherapronthrownoverherhead，shedarkenedthewindowbeneathwhichhermotherwasdoingherwork。Shepausedjustforamoment，andthensaid，almostunawarestoherself，'Blessthee，lass，'
　　beforeresumingherscouringofwhatalreadylookedalmostsnow—white。Sylviascamperedacrosstheroughfarmyardinthewetting，drizzlingraintotheplacewheresheexpectedtofindKester;buthewasnotthere，soshehadtoretraceherstepstothecow—house，and，makingherwayuparoughkindofladder—staircasefixedstraightagainstthewall，shesurprisedKesterashesatinthewool—loft，lookingoverthefleecesreservedforthehome—spinning，bypoppingherbrightface，swathedroundwithherbluewoollenapron，upthroughthetrap—door，andthus，herheadtheonlyvisiblepart，sheaddressedthefarm—servant，whowasalmostlikeoneofthefamily。'Kester，feyther'sjusttiringhissel'wi'wearinessanvexation，sittingbyt'firesidewi'hishandsaforehim，an'noughttodo。An'motherandmecan'tthinkonaughtas'llrousehimuptoabitofalaugh，oraughtmorecheerfulthanascolding。Now，Kester，thoumunjustbeoff，andfindHarryDonkinth'tailor，andbringhimhere;it'sgettin'onforMartinmas，an'he'llbecominghisrounds，andhemayaswellcomeherefirstaslast，andfeyther'sclotheswantadealo'mendingup，andHarry'salwaysfullofhisnews，andanyhowhe'lldoforfeythertoscold，an'beanewpersontoo，andthat'ssomewhatforallonus。Nowgo，likeagoodoldKesterasyo'are。'Kesterlookedatherwithloving，faithfuladmiration。Hehadsethimselfhisday'sworkinhismaster'sabsence，andwasverydesirousoffinishingit，but，somehow，heneverdreamedofresistingSylvia，soheonlystatedthecase。'T''ool'savasto'muckin't，an'athowtasa'dfettleitan'doitup;butareckonamundoyo'rbiddin'。''There'sagoodoldKester，'saidshe，smiling，andnoddinghermuffledheadathim;thenshedippeddownoutofhissight，thenroseupagain（hehadnevertakenhisslow，mooneyeyesfromthespotwhereshehaddisappeared）
　　tosay——'Now，Kester，bewaryanddeep——thoumuntellHarryDonkinnottoletonaswe'vesentforhim，butjusttocomeinasifhewereonhisround，andtookusfirst;andhemunaskfeytherifthereisanyworkforhimtodo;andI'llanswerfor't，he'llhaveawelcomeandahalf。Now，bedeepandfause，mindthee！''A'sedeepan'fauseenowwi'simplefolk;butwhatcanadoi'Donkinbeasfauseasme——ashappenhemaybe？''Gawaywi'thee！I'DonkinbeSolomon，thoumunbet'Queeno'Sheba;
　　andI'seboundfortosaysheoutwittedhimatlast！'KesterlaughedsolongattheideaofhisbeingtheQueenofSheba，thatSylviawasbackbyhermother'ssidebeforethecachinnationended。Thatnight，justasSylviawaspreparingtogotobedinherlittleclosetofaroom，sheheardsomeshotrattlingatherwindow。Sheopenedthelittlecasement，andsawKesterstandingbelow。Herecommencedwhereheleftoff，withalaugh——'He，he，he！A'sbeent'queen！A'seta'enDonkinont'reetside，an'
　　he'llcoominto—morrow，justpermiskus，an'axforwork，likeasif'twereafavour;t'oudfelleywereabitcross—grainedatstartin'，forhewereworkin'atfarmerCrosskey'supatt'othersideo't'town，wheertheyputsastrikean'ahalfofmautintilt'beer，whenmostfolkputnobbutastrike，ant'madehimilltoconvince:buthe'llcoom，niverfear！'ThehonestfellowneversaidawordoftheshillinghehadpaidoutofhisownpockettoforwardSylvia'swishes，andtopersuadethetailortoleavethegoodbeer。Allhisanxietynowwastoknowifhehadbeenmissed，andifitwaslikelythatascoldingawaitedhiminthemorning。'T'oudmeasterdidn'tsetuphisback，'causeadidn'tcoomint'supper？''Hequestionedabitastowhatthouwereabout，butmotherdidn'tknow，an'Iheldmypeace。Mothercarriedthysupperint'loftforthee。''A'llgangafter't，then，fora'mlikeapairo'bellowseswi't'windout;justtwoflatsideswi'nowtbetwixt。'Thenextmorning，Sylvia'sfacewasalittleredderthanusualwhenHarryDonkin'sbow—legswereseencirclingdownthepathtothehousedoor。'Here'sDonkin，forsure！'exclaimedBell，whenshecaughtsightofhimaminuteafterherdaughter。'Well，Ijustcallthatlucky！forhe'llbecompanyfortheewhileSylviaandmehastoturnth'cheeses。'ThiswastoooriginalaremarkforawifetomakeinDaniel'sopinion，onthisespecialmorning，whenhisrheumatismwastwinginghimmorethanusual，soherepliedwithseverity——'That'sallt'womenknowaboutit。Wi'themit's"coompany，coompany，coompany，"an'theythinkaman'snobetterthantheirsels。A'dhaveyo'
　　toknowa'veavasto'thoughtsinmyself'，asI'mnoanewillingtolayoutfort'benefito'everyman。A'venivergottentimeformeditationsin'aweremarried;leastways，sin'aleftt'sea。Aboardship，wi'niverawomanwi'nleagueso'hail，andupo't'masthead，inspecial，acould。''ThenI'dbettertellDonkinaswe'venoworkforhim'saidSylvia，instinctivelymanagingherfatherbyagreeingwithhim，insteadofreasoningwithorcontradictinghim。'Now，theereyougo！'wrenchinghimselfround，forfearSylviashouldcarryhermeeklymadethreatintoexecution。'Ugh！ugh！'ashislimbhurthim。
　　'Comein，Harry，comein，andtalkabito'sensetome，fora'vebeenshutupwi'womenthesefourdays，anda'ma'mostanateralbythistime。
　　A'seboundfor't，they'llfindyo'somewark，if't'snoughtbutfortosavetheirownfingers。'SoHarrytookoffhiscoat，andseatedhimselfprofessional—wiseonthehastily—cleareddresser，sothathemighthaveallthelightaffordedbythelong，lowcasementwindow。Thenheblewinhisthimble，suckedhisfinger，sothattheymightadheretightlytogether，andlookedaboutforasubjectforopeningconversation，whileSylviaandhermothermightbeheardopeningandshuttingdrawersandbox—lidsbeforetheycouldfindthearticlesthatneededrepair，orthatwererequiredtomendeachother。'Women'swellenoughi'theirway，'saidDaniel，inaphilosophizingtone，'butamanmayhavetoomuchon'em。Nowthere'sme，leg—fastthesefourdays，anda'llmakefreetosaytoyo'，a'dratheradealha'beenloadingdungi't'wettestweather;an'areckonit'sth'beingwi'noughtbutwomenastiresmeso:theytalksofoolishitgetsint't'boneslike。
　　Nowthouknow'stthou'rtnotcalledmuchofamanoather，butblessyo'，t'ninthpart'ssummuttobethankfulfor，alternoughtbutwomen。An'
　　yet，yo'seen，theywereforsendingyo'awayi'theirfoolishness！Well！
　　missus，andwho'stopayfort'fettlingofallthemclothes？'asBellcamedownwithherarmsfull。Shewasgoingtoanswerherhusbandmeeklyandliterallyaccordingtoherwont，butSylvia，alreadydetectingtheincreasedcheerfulnessofhistone，calledoutfrombehindhermother——'Iam，feyther。I'mgoingfortosellmynewcloakasIboughtThursday，forthemendingonyouroldcoatsandwaistcoats。''Hearkentillher，'saidDaniel，chuckling。'She'satruewench。Threedayssin'noanesofullassheo't'newcloakthatnowshe'sfaint'sell。''Ay，Harry。Iffeytherwon'tpayyo'formakingalltheseoldclothesasgoodasnew，I'llsellmynewredcloaksoonerthanyo'shallgounpaid。''Areckonit'sabargain，'saidHarry，castingsharp，professionaleyesontheheapbeforehim，andsinglingoutthebestarticleastotextureforexaminationandcomment。'They'reallagainthesemetalbuttons，'saidhe。'SilkweavershasbeenpetitioningMinisterst'makealawtofavoursilkbuttons;andIdidheartellastherewereinformersgoin'aboutspyin'aftermetalbuttons，andashowtheycouldhaulyo'beforeajusticeforwearingon'em。'Awerewedin'em，anda'llwear'emtomydyin'day，ora'llwearnoaneata'。They'reformakkingsuchapacko'laws，they'llbeformeddlingwi'myfashiono'sleepingnext，andtaxingmeforiverysnoreagive。
　　They'vebeenaftert'winders，andaftert'vittle，andaftert'verysautto't;it'sdearerbyhaufan'morenoritwerewhenawereaboy:they'reameddlesomeseto'folks，law—makersis，an'a'llniverbelieveKingGeorgehasoughtt'dowi''t。Butmarkmywords;Iwerewedwi'brassbuttons，andbrassbuttonsa'llweartomydeath，an'iftheymoithermeaboutit，a'llwearbrassbuttonsi'mycoffin！'BythistimeHarryhadarrangedacertaincourseofactionwithMrsRobson，conductingtheconsultationandagreementbysigns。Histhreadwasflyingfastalready，andthemotheranddaughterfeltmorefreetopursuetheirownbusinessthantheyhaddoneforseveraldays;foritwasagoodsignthatDanielhadtakenhispipeoutofthesquarehollowinthefiresidewall，whereheusuallykeptit，andwaspreparingtodiversifyhisremarkswithsatisfyinginterludesofpuffing。'Why，lookye;thisverybaccyhadarunfor't。Itcameashoresewedupneatlyenoughi'awoman'sstays，aswaswifetoafishing—smackdownatt'bayyonder。Shewerealeanthingasiveryousaw，whenshewentfort'seeherhusbandaboardt'vessel;butshecoombacklustierbyadeal，an'wi'manyathingonher，hereandtheere，besidebaccy。An'thatwerei't'faceo'coast—guardandyontender，an'a'。Butshemadeasthoughsheweretipsy，an'sotheydidnoughtbutcurseher，an'getoutonherway。''Speakingoft'tender，there'sbeenapieceo'worki'Monkshaventhisweekwi't'press—gang，'saidHarry。'Ay！ay！ourlasswastellingabout't;but，Lordblessye！there'snogettin't'rightsonastoryoutonawomanthoughawillsaythisforourSylvie，she'sasbrightalassasiveramanlookedat。'Nowthetruthwas，thatDanielhadnotlikedtodemeanhimself，atthetimewhenSylviacamebacksofullofwhatshehadseenatMonkshaven，byevincinganycuriosityonthesubject。Hehadthenthoughtthatthenextdayhewouldfindsomebusinessthatshouldtakehimdowntothetown，whenhecouldlearnallthatwastobelearnt，withoutflatteringhiswomankindbyaskingquestions，asifanythingtheymightsaycouldinteresthim。