Inthecleareasternair，thedifferentcharactersofthefoliagethatclothedthesidesofthatsea—washedmountainmightbediscernedfromalongdistancebythenakedeye;thesilvergrayoftheolive—treesnearitssummit;theheavygreenandbossyformsofthesycamoreslowerdown;
　　brokenhereandtherebyasolitaryterebinthorilextree，ofadeepergreenandawiderspread，tilltheeyefellbelowonthemaritimeplain，edgedwiththewhiteseaboardandthesandyhillocks;withhereandtherefeatherypalm—trees，eitherisolatedoringroups——motionlessanddistinctagainstthehotpurpleair。
　　Lookagain;alittletotheleftonthesea—shoretherearethewhitewallsofafortifiedtown，glitteringinsunlight，orblackinshadow。
　　Thefortificationsthemselvesrunoutintothesea，formingaportandahavenagainstthewildLevantinestorms;andalighthouserisesoutofthewavestoguidemarinersintosafety。
　　Beyondthiswalledcity，andfarawaytotheleftstill，thereisthesamewideplainshutinbythedistantrisingground，tilltheuplandcircuitcomesclosingintothenorth，andthegreatwhiterocksmeetthedeeptidelessoceanwithitsintensityofbluecolour。
　　Above，theskyisliterallypurplewithheat;andthepitilesslightsmitesthegazer'swearyeyeasitcomesbackfromthewhiteshore。Nordoestheplaincountryinthatlandoffertherefugeandrestofourownsoftgreen。Thelimestonerockunderliesthevegetation，andgivesaglittering，ashenhuetoallthebarepatches，andeventothecultivatedpartswhichareburntupearlyintheyear。Inspring—timealonedoesthecountrylookrichandfruitful;thenthecorn—fieldsoftheplainshowtheircapabilityofbearing，'somefifty，someanhundredfold;'downbythebrookKishon，flowingnotfarfromthebaseofthemountainouspromontorytothesouth，theregrowthebroadgreenfig—trees，coolandfreshtolookupon;theorchardsarefullofglossy—leavedcherry—trees;thetallamaryllisputsforthcrimsonandyellowgloriesinthefields，rivallingthepompofKingSolomon;thedaisiesandthehyacinthsspreadtheirmyriadflowers;theanemones，scarletasblood，runhitherandthitheroverthegroundlikedazzlingflamesoffire。
　　Aspicyodourlingersintheheatedair;itcomesfromthemultitudeofaromaticflowersthatblossomintheearlyspring。Laterontheywillhavewitheredandfaded，andthecornwillhavebeengathered，andthedeepgreenoftheeasternfoliagewillhaveassumedakindofgray—bleachedtint。
　　EvennowinMay，thehotsparkleoftheeverlastingsea，theterriblyclearoutlineofallobjects，whethernearordistant，thefiercesunrightoverhead，thedazzlingairaround，wereinexpressiblywearyingtotheEnglisheyesthatkepttheirskilledwatch，dayandnight，onthestrongly—fortifiedcoast—townthatlayoutalittletothenorthwardofwheretheBritishshipswereanchored。
　　TheyhadkeptupaflankingfireformanydaysinaidofthosebesiegedinSt。Jeand'Acre;andatintervalshadlistened，impatient，tothesoundoftheheavysiegeguns，orthesharperrattleoftheFrenchmusketry。
　　Inthemorning，onthe7thofMay，amanatthemastheadoftheTigresangoutthathesawshipsintheoffing;andinreplytothesignalthatwashastilyrunup，hesawthedistantvesselshoistfriendlyflags。ThatMaymorningwasabusytime。ThebesiegedTurkstookheartofgrace;theFrenchoutside，underthecommandoftheirgreatgeneral，madehastypreparationsforamorevigorousassaultthanallmany，bothvigorousandbloody，thathadgonebefore（forthesiegewasnowatitsfifty—firstday），inhopesofcarryingthetownbystormbeforethereinforcementcomingbyseacouldarrive;andSirSidneySmith，awareofBuonaparte'sdesperateintention，orderedallthemen，bothsailorsandmarines，thatcouldbesparedfromthenecessityofkeepingupacontinualflankingfirefromtheshipsupontheFrench，toland，andassisttheTurksandtheBritishforcesalreadythereinthedefenceoftheoldhistoriccity。
　　LieutenantKinraid，whohadsharedhiscaptain'sdaringadventureoffthecoastofFrancethreeyearsbefore，whohadbeenaprisonerwithhimandWestleyWright，intheTempleatParis，andhadescapedwiththem，and，throughSirSidney'searnestrecommendation，beenpromotedfrombeingawarrantofficertotherankoflieutenant，receivedonthisdaythehonourfromhisadmiralofbeingappointedtoanespecialpostofdanger。Hisheartwaslikeawar—horse，andsaid，Ha，ha！astheboatboundedoverthewavesthatweretolandhimundertheancientmachicolatedwallswheretheCrusadersmadetheirlaststandintheHolyLand。NotthatKinraidkneworcaredonejotaboutthosegallantknightsofold;allheknewwas，thattheFrench，underBoney，weretryingtotakethetownfromtheTurks，andthathisadmiralsaidtheymustnot，andsotheyshouldnot。
　　Heandhismenlandedonthatsandyshore，andenteredthetownbythewater—portgate;hewassingingtohimselfhisowncountrysong——Weelmaythekeelrow，thekeelrow，&C。andhismen，withsailors'aptitudeformusic，caughtuptheair，andjoinedintheburdenwithinarticulatesounds。So，withmerryhearts，theythreadedthenarrowstreetsofAcre，hemmedinoneithersidebythewhitewallsofTurkishhouses，withsmallgratedopeningshighup，aboveallchanceofpeepingintrusion。Hereandtheretheymetanample—robedandturbanedTurkgoingalongwithasmuchhasteashisstatelyself—possessionwouldallow。Butthemajorityofthemaleinhabitantsweregatheredtogethertodefendthebreach，wheretheFrenchgunsthunderedoutfarabovetheheadsofthesailors。TheywentalongnonethelessmerrilyforthesoundtoDjezzarPacha'sgarden，wheretheoldTurksateonhiscarpet，beneaththeshadeofagreatterebinthtree，listeningtotheinterpreter，whomadeknowntohimthemeaningoftheeagerspeechesofSirSidneySmithandthecolonelofthemarines。AssoonastheadmiralsawthegallantsailorsofH。M。S。Tigre，heinterruptedthecouncilofwarwithoutmuchceremony，andgoingtoKinraid，hedespatchedthem，asbeforearranged，totheNorthRavelin，showingthemthewaywithrapid，cleardirections。Outofrespecttohim，theyhadkeptsilentwhileinthestrange，desolategarden;butoncemoreinthestreets，theoldNewcastlesongroseupagaintillthemenwere，perforce，silencedbythehastewithwhichtheywenttothepostofdanger。Itwasthreeo'clockintheafternoon。Formanyadaytheseverymenhadbeenswearingattheterrificheatatthishour——evenwhenatsea，fannedbythesoftbreeze;butnow，inthemidstofhotsmoke，withformercarnagetaintingtheair，andwiththerushandwhizzofdeathperpetuallywhistlingintheirears，theywereuncomplainingandlighthearted。Manyanoldjoke，andsomenewones，camebraveandhearty，ontheircheerfulvoices，eventhoughthespeakerwasveiledfromsightingreatcloudsofsmoke，clovenonlybythebrightflamesofdeath。Asuddenmessagecame;asmanyofthecrewoftheTigreaswereunderLieutenantKinraid'scommandweretogodowntotheMole，toassistthenewreinforcements（seenbythesailorfromthemastheadatday—dawn），undercommandofHassanBey，tolandattheMole，whereSirSidneythenwas。Offtheywent，almostasbrightandthoughtlessasbefore，thoughtwooftheirnumberlaysilentforeverattheNorthRavelin——silencedinthatonelittlehalf—hour。Andonewentalongwiththerest，swearinglustilyathisill—luckinhavinghisrightarmbroken，butreadytodogoodbusinesswithhisleft。TheyhelpedtheTurkishtroopstolandmorewithgood—willthantenderness;
　　andthen，ledbySirSidney，theywentundertheshelterofEnglishgunstothefatalbreach，sooftenassailed，sogallantlydefended，butneversofiercelycontestedasonthisburningafternoon。TheruinsofthemassivewallthatherehadbeenbrokendownbytheFrench，wereusedbythemassteppingstonestogetonalevelwiththebesieged，andsotoescapetheheavystoneswhichthelatterhurleddown;nay，eventhedeadbodiesofthemorning'scomradesweremadeintoghastlystairs。WhenDjezzarPachaheardthattheBritishsailorsweredefendingthebreach，headedbySirSidneySmith，helefthisstationinthepalacegarden，gathereduphisrobesinhaste，andhurriedtothebreach;where，withhisownhands，andwithrightheartygood—will，hepulledthesailorsdownfromthepostofdanger，sayingthatifhelosthisEnglishfriendshelostall！ButlittlereckedthecrewoftheTigreoftheoneoldman——Pachaorotherwise——whotriedtoholdthembackfromthefight;theywereupandattheFrenchassailantsclamberingoverthebreachinaninstant;
　　andsotheywenton，asifitweresomegameatplayinsteadofadeadlycombat，untilKinraidandhismenwerecalledoffbySirSidney，asthereinforcementofTurkishtroopsunderHassanBeywerenowsufficientforthedefenceofthatoldbreachinthewalls，whichwasnolongertheprincipalobjectoftheFrenchattack;forthebesiegershadmadeanewandmoreformidablebreachbytheirincessantfire，knockingdownwholestreetsofthecitywalls。'FightyourbestKinraid！'saidSirSidney;'forthere'sBoneyonyonderhilllookingatyou。'Andsureenough，onarisingground，calledRichardCoeurdeLion'sMount，therewasahalf—circleofFrenchgenerals，onhorseback，alldeferentiallyattendingtothemotions，andapparentlytothewords，ofalittlemanintheircentre;atwhosebiddingtheaide—de—campgallopedswiftwithmessagestothemoredistantFrenchcamp。ThetworavelinswhichKinraidandhismenhadtooccupy，forthepurposeofsendingaflankingfireupontheenemy，werenottenyardsfromthatenemy'svan。ButatlengththerewasasuddenrushoftheFrenchtothatpartofthewallwheretheyimaginedtheycouldenterunopposed。Surprisedatthismovement，Kinraidventuredoutoftheshelteroftheravelintoascertainthecause;he，safeanduntouchedduringthatlongafternoonofcarnage，fellnow，underastraymusket—shot，andlayhelplessandexposeduponthegroundundiscernedbyhismen，whowererecalledtohelpinthehotreceptionwhichhadbeenplannedfortheFrench;who，descendingthecitywallsintothePacha'sgarden，wereattackedwithsabreanddagger，andlayheadlesscorpsesunderthefloweringrose—bushes，andbythefountainside。Kinraidlaybeyondtheravelins，manyyardsoutsidethecitywalls。Hewasutterlyhelpless，fortheshothadbrokenhisleg。DeadbodiesofFrenchmenlaystrewnaroundhim;noEnglishmanhadventuredoutsofar。AllthewoundedmenthathecouldseewereFrench;andmanyofthese，furiouswithpain，gnashedtheirteethathim，andcursedhimaloud，tillhethoughtthathisbestcoursewastoassumethesemblanceofdeath;forsomeamongthesemenwerestillcapableofdraggingthemselvesuptohim，andbyconcentratingalltheirfailingenergiesintooneblow，puthimtoaspeedyend。TheoutlyingpicketsoftheFrencharmywerewithineasyrifleshot;andhisuniform，althoughlessconspicuousincolourthanthatofthemarines，bywhosesideshehadbeenfighting，wouldmakehimasuremarkifhesomuchasmovedhisarm。Yethowhelongedtoturn，ifeversoslightly，sothatthecruelslantingsunmightnotbeatfullintohisachingeyes。
　　Fever，too，wascominguponhim;thepaininhislegwaseverymomentgrowingmoresevere;theterriblethirstofthewounded，addedtotheheatandfatigueoftheday，madehislipsandtonguefeelbakedanddry，andhiswholethroatseemedparchedandwooden。Thoughtsofotherdays，ofcoolGreenlandseas，whereiceabounded，ofgrassyEnglishhomes，begantomakethepastmorerealthanthepresent。Withagreatefforthebroughthiswanderingsensesback;heknewwherehewasnow，andcouldweighthechancesofhislife，whichwerebutsmall;
　　theunwontedtearscametohiseyesashethoughtofthenewly—madewifeinherEnglishhome，whomightneverknowhowhediedthinkingofher。SuddenlyhesawapartyofEnglishmarinesadvance，undershelteroftheravelin，topickupthewounded，andbearthemwithinthewallsforsurgicalhelp。Theyweresonearhecouldseetheirfaces，couldhearthemspeak;
　　yethedurstnotmakeanysigntothemwhenhelaywithinrangeoftheFrenchpicket'sfire。Foronemomenthecouldnotresistraisinghishead，togivehimselfachanceforlife;beforetheuncleancreaturesthatinfestacampcameroundinthedarknessofthenighttostripandinsultthedeadbodies，andtoputtodeathsuchashadyetthebreathoflifewithinthem。Butthesettingsuncamefullintohisface，andhesawnothingofwhathelongedtosee。Hefellbackindespair;helaytheretodie。Thatstrongclearsunbeamhadwroughthissalvation。Hehadbeenrecognizedasmenarerecognizedwhentheystandintheredglareofahouseonfire;thesamedespairofhelp，ofhopelessfarewelltolife，stampedontheirfacesinblood—redlight。Onemanlefthisfellows，andcamerunningforwards，forwardsinamongtheenemy'swounded，withinrangeoftheirguns;hebentdownoverKinraid;
　　heseemedtounderstandwithoutaword;heliftedhimup，carryinghimlikeachild;andwiththevehementenergythatismorefromtheforceofwillthanthestrengthofbody，heborehimbacktowithintheshelteroftheravelin——notwithoutmanyshotsbeingaimedatthem，oneofwhichhitKinraidinthefleshypartofhisarm。Kinraidwasrackedwithagonyfromhisdanglingbrokenleg，andhisverylifeseemedleavinghim;yetherememberedafterwardshowthemarinerecalledhisfellows，andhow，inthepausebeforetheyreturned，hisfacebecamelikeoneformerlyknowntothesicksensesofKinraid;yetitwastoolikeadream，tooutterlyimprobabletobereal。Yetthefewwordsthismansaid，ashestoodbreathlessandalonebythefaintingKinraid，fittedinwellwiththebeliefconjuredupbyhispersonalappearance。Hepantedout，——'Iniverthoughtyou'dha'kepttruetoher！'Andthentheotherscameup;andwhiletheyweremakingaslingoftheirbelts，Kinraidfaintedutterlyaway，andthenexttimethathewasfullyconscious，hewaslyinginhisberthintheTigre，withtheship—surgeonsettinghisleg。Afterthathewastoofeverishforseveraldaystocollecthissenses。Whenhecouldfirstremember，andformajudgmentuponhisrecollections，hecalledthemanespeciallychargedtoattenduponhim，andbadehimgoandmakeinquiryineverypossiblemannerforamarinenamedPhilipHepburn，andwhenhewasfound，toentreathimtocomeandseeKinraid。Thesailorwasawaythegreaterpartoftheday，andreturnedunsuccessfulinhissearch;hehadbeenfromshiptoship，hitherandthither;hehadquestionedallthemarineshehadmetwith，nooneknewanythingofanyPhilipHepburn。Kinraidpassedamiserablyfeverishnight，andwhenthedoctorexclaimedthenextmorningathisretrogression，hetoldhim，withsomeirritation，oftheill—successofhisservant;heaccusedthemanofstupidity，andwishedferventlythathewereabletogohimself。Partlytosoothehim，thedoctorpromisedthathewouldundertakethesearchforHepburn，andheengagedfaithfullytofollowallKinraid'seagerdirections;
　　nottobesatisfiedwithmen'scarelesswords，buttolookovermuster—rollsandships'books。He，too，broughtthesameanswer，howeverunwillinglygiven。Hehadsetoutuponthesearchsoconfident'ofsuccess，thathefeltdoublydiscomfitedbyfailure。However，hehadpersuadedhimselfthatthelieutenanthadbeenpartiallydeliriousfromtheeffectsofhiswound，andthepowerofthesunshiningdownjustwherehelay。Therehad，indeed，beenslightsymptomsofKinraid'shavingreceivedasun—stroke;andthedoctordweltlargelyontheseinhisendeavourtopersuadehispatientthatitwashisimaginationwhichhadenduedastrangerwiththelineamentsofsomeformerfriend。Kinraidthrewhisarmsoutofbedwithimpatienceatallthisplausibletalk，whichwasevenmoreirritatingthanthefactthatHepburnwasstill，undiscovered。'Themanwasnofriendofmine;IwasliketohavekilledhimwhenlastIsawhim。HewasashopkeeperinacountrytowninEngland。Ihadseenlittleenoughofhim;butenoughtomakemeabletosweartohimanywhere，eveninamarine'suniform，andinthisswelteringcountry。''Facesonceseen，especiallyinexcitement，areapttoreturnuponthememoryincasesoffever，'quoththedoctor，sententiously。Theattendantsailor，reinstalledtosomecomplacencybythefailureofanotherinthesearchinwhichhehimselfhadbeenunsuccessful，nowputinhisexplanation。'Maybeitwasaspirit。It'snotth'firsttimeasI'vehearedofaspiritcominguponearthtosaveaman'slifei'timeo'need。Myfatherhadanuncle，awest—countrygrazier。Hewasa—comingoverDartmoorinDevonshireonemoonlightnightwithapowero'moneyashe'dgotforhissheepatt'fair。Itwerestowedi'leatherbagsunderth'seato'th'gig。Itwerearoughkindo'road，bothasaroadincharacter，forthere'dbeenmanyrobberiesthereoflate，andth'greatrocksstoodconvenientforhiding—places。
　　Allatoncefather'sunclefeelsasifsomeoneweresittingbesidehimonth'emptyseat;andheturnshisheadandlooks，andthereheseeshisbrothersitting——hisbrotherashadbeendeadtwelveyearandmore。Soheturnshisheadbackagain，eyesright，andneversayaword，butwonderswhatitallmeans。Allofasuddentwofellowscomeoutupo'th'whiteroadfromsomeblackshadow，andtheylooked，andtheyletth'giggopast，father'suncledrivinghard，I'llwarranthim。Butforallthatheheardonesaytot'other，"By————，there'stwoon'em！"Straightonhedrovefasterthanever，tillhesawth'farlightsofsometownorother。
　　Iforgetitsname，thoughI'veheareditmanyatime;andthenhedrewalongbreath，andturnedhisheadtolookathisbrother，andaskhimhowhe'dmanagedtocomeoutofhisgravei'Barumchurchyard，andth'
　　seatwasasemptyasithadbeenwhenhesetout;andthenheknewthatitwereaspiritcometohelphimagainstth'menwhothoughttorobhim，andwouldlikelyenoughha'murderedhim。'Kinraidhadkeptquietthroughthisstory。Butwhenthesailorbegantodrawthemoral，andtosay，'AndIthinkImaymakeboldtosay，sir，asth'marinewhocarriedyououto'th'Frenchy'sgun—shotwasjustaspiritcometohelpyou，'heexclaimedimpatiently，swearingagreatoathashedidso，'Itwasnospirit，Itellyou;andIwasinmyfullsenses。ItwasamannamedPhilipHepburn。Hesaidwordstome，oroverme，asnonebuthimselfwouldhavesaid。Yetwehatedeachotherlikepoison;andI
　　can'tmakeoutwhyheshouldbethereandputtinghimselfindangertosaveme。Butsoitwas;andasyoucan'tfindhim，letmehearnomoreofyournonsense。Itwashim，andnotmyfancy，doctor。Itwasfleshandblood，andnotaspirit，Jack。Sogetalongwithyou，andleavemequiet。'AllthistimeStephenFreemanlayfriendless，sick，andshattered，onboardtheThesus。Hehadbeenabouthisdutyclosetosomeshellsthatwereplacedonherdeck;agayyoungmidshipmanwasthoughtlesslystrivingtogetthefuseeoutofoneofthesebyamalletandspike—nailthatlaycloseathand;
　　andafearfulexplosionensued，inwhichthepoormarine，cleaninghisbayonetnear，wasshockinglyburntanddisfigured，theveryskinofallthelowerpartofhisfacebeingutterlydestroyedbygunpowder。Theysaiditwasamercythathiseyeswerespared;buthecouldhardlyfeelanythingtobeamercy，ashelaytossinginagony，burntbytheexplosion，woundedbysplinters，andfeelingthathewasdisabledforlife，iflifeitselfwerepreserved。Ofallthatsufferedbythatfearfulaccident（andtheyweremany）nonewassoforsaken，sohopeless，sodesolate，asthePhilipHepburnaboutwhomsuchanxiousinquirieswerebeingmadeatthatverytime。
　　chapter39CHAPTERXXXIXCONFIDENCESItwasalittlelateroninthatsamesummerthatMrsBruntoncametovisithersisterBessy。Bessywasmarriedtoatolerablywell—to—dofarmerwholivedatanalmostequaldistancebetweenMonkshavenandHartswell;butfromoldhabitandconveniencethelatterwasregardedastheDawsons'market—town;soBessyseldomorneversawheroldfriendsinMonkshaven。ButMrsBruntonwasfartooflourishingapersonnottospeakoutherwishes，andhaveherownway。Shehadnonotion，shesaid，ofcomingsuchalongjourneyonlytoseeBessyandherhusband，andnottohaveasightofherformeracquaintancesatMonkshaven。Shemighthaveadded，thathernewbonnetandcloakwouldbeasgoodaslostifitwasnotdisplayedamongthosewho，knowingherasMollyCorney，andbeinglessfortunateinmatrimonythanshewas，wouldlookuponitwithwonderingadmiration，ifnotwithenvy。SoonedayfarmerDawson'smarket—cartdepositedMrsBruntoninallherbraveryattheshopinthemarket—place，overwhichHepburnandCoulson'snamesstillflourishedinjointpartnership。AfterafewwordsofbriskrecognitiontoCoulsonandHester，MrsBruntonpassedonintotheparlourandgreetedSylviawithboisterousheartiness。Itwasnowfouryearsandmoresincethefriendshadmet;andeachsecretlywonderedhowtheyhadevercometobefriends。Sylviahadacountry，raw，spiritlesslooktoMrsBrunton'seye;Mollywasloudandtalkative，andaltogetherdistastefultoSylvia，trainedindailycompanionshipwithHestertoappreciatesoftslowspeech，andgravethoughtfulways。However，theykeptuptheformsoftheiroldfriendship，thoughtheirheartshaddriftedfarapart。Theysathandinhandwhileeachlookedattheotherwitheyesinquisitiveastothechangeswhichtimehadmade。Mollywasthefirsttospeak。'Well，tobesure！howthinandpaleyo'vegrown，Sylvia！Matrimonyhasn'tagreedwi'yo'aswellasit'sdonewime。Bruntonisallayssaying（yo'
　　knowwhatamanheisforhisjoke）thatifhe'dha'knownhowmanyyardso'silkIshouldha'ta'enforagown，he'dha'thoughttwiceaforehe'dha'marriedme。Why，I'vegainedamattero'thirtypoundo'fleshsin'
　　Iweremarried！''Yo'dolookbraveandhearty！'saidSylvia，puttinghersenseofhercompanion'scapacioussizeandhighcolourintotheprettiestwordsshecould。'Eh！Sylvia！butIknowwhatitis，'saidMolly，shakingherhead。'It'sjustbecauseo'thathusbando'thineashasgoneandleftthee;thou'spiningafterhim，andhe'snotworthit。Bruntonsaid，whenhehearedonit——Imindhewassmokingatt'time，andhetookhispipeoutofhismouth，andshookoutt'ashesasgraveasanyjudge——"Theman，"sayshe，"ascandesertawifelikeSylviaRobsonaswas，deserveshanging！"That'swhathesays！Eh！Sylvia，butspeakin'o'hangingIwassogrievedforyo'whenIhearedofyo'rpoorfeyther！Suchanendforadecentmantocometo！
　　Manyaonecomean'calledonmeo'purposetohearallIcouldtell'emabouthim！''Pleasedon'tspeakonit！'saidSylvia，tremblingallover。'Well，poorcreature，Iwunnot。Itishardonthee，Igrant。Buttogivet'devilhisdue，itweregoodi'Hepburntomarrythee，andsosoonaftertherewasa'thattalkaboutthyfeyther。Manyamanwouldha'drawnback，choosehowiverfarthey'dgone。I'mnoanesosureaboutCharleyKinraid。
　　Eh，Sylvia！onlythinkonhisbeingaliveafterall。IdoubtifourBessywouldha'wedFrankDawsonifshe'dknownashewasn'tdrowned。Butit'saswellshedid，forDawson'samano'property，andhasgettentwelvecowsinhiscow—house，besidethreerightdowngoodhorses;andKinraidwereallaysafellowwi'twostringstohisbow。I'veallayssaidanddomaintain，thathewentonprettystrongwi'yo'，Sylvie;andIwillsayIthinkhecaredmoreforyo'thanforourBessy，thoughitwereonlyyesterdayate'enshewerestandingoutthathelikedherbetterthanyo'。Yo'llha'hearedonhisgrandmarriage？''No！'saidSylvia，witheagerpainfulcuriosity。'No！Itwasinallt'papers！Iwonderasyo'didn'tseeit。Waitaminute！
　　Icutitouto't'Gentleman'sMagazine，asBruntonboughto'purpose，andputiti'mypocket—bookwhenIwerea—cominghere:IknowI'vegotitsomewheere。'Shetookouthersmartcrimsonpocket—book，andrummagedinthepocketuntilsheproducedalittlecrumpledbitofprintedpaper，fromwhichshereadaloud，'OnJanuarythethird，atSt。MaryRedcliffe，Bristol，CharlesKinraidEsq。，lieutenantRoyalNavy，toMissClarindaJackson，withafortuneof10，000l。''Theere！'saidshe，triumphantly，'it'ssomethingasBruntonsays，tobecousintothat。''Wouldyo'letmeseeit？'saidSylvia，timidly。MrsBruntongraciouslyconsented;andSylviabroughthernewlyacquiredreading—knowledge，hithertoprincipallyexercisedontheOldTestament，tobearonthesewords。Therewasnothingwonderfulinthem，nothingthatshemightnothaveexpected;
　　andyetthesurpriseturnedhergiddyforamomentortwo。Sheneverthoughtofseeinghimagain，never。Buttothinkofhiscaringforanotherwomanasmuchashehaddoneforher，nay，perhapsmore！TheideawasirresistiblyforceduponherthatPhilipwouldnothaveactedso;itwouldhavetakenlongyearsbeforehecouldhavebeeninducedtoputanotheronthethroneshehadonceoccupied。ForthefirsttimeinherlifesheseemedtorecognizetherealnatureofPhilip'slove。Butshesaidnothingbut'Thankyo'，'whenshegavethescrapofpaperbacktoMollyBrunton。AndthelattercontinuedgivingherinformationaboutKinraid'smarriage。'Heweredownint'west，Plymouthorsomewhere，whenhemetwi'her。She'snofeyther;he'dbeenint'sugar—bakingbusiness;butfromwhatKinraidwrotetooldTurner，th'uncleasbroughthimupatCullercoats，she'shadt'bestofedications:canplayont'instrumentanddancet'shawldance;andKinraidhadallhermoneysettledonher，thoughshesaidshe'draythergiveitalltohim，whichImustsay，beinghiscousin，wasveryprettyonher。He'slefthernow，havingtogooffint'Tigre，asishisship，tot'Mediterraneanseas;andshe'swrittentooffertocomeandseeoldTurner，andmakefriendswithhisrelations，andBruntonisgoingtogi'emeacrimsonsatinassoonasweknowforcertainwhenshe'scoming，forwe'resuretobeaskedouttoCullercoats。''Iwonderifshe'sverypretty？'askedSylvia，faintly，inthefirstpauseinthistorrentoftalk。'Oh！she'saperfectbeauty，asIunderstand。TherewasatravellerascometoourshopashadbeenatYork，andknewsomeofhercousinstheere，thatwereint'groceryline——hermotherwasaYorklady——andtheysaidshewasjustapictureofawoman，andiversomanygentlemenhadbeenwantin'tomarryher，butshejustwaitedforCharleyKinraid，yo'see！''Well，Ihopethey'llbehappy;I'msureIdo！'saidSylvia。'That'sjustluck。Somefolksishappyi'marriage，andsomeisn't。It'sjustluck，andthere'snoforecastingit。Menissuchunaccountableanimals，there'snoprophesyin'upon'em。Who'dha'thoughtofyo'rhusband，himaswassoslowandsure——steadyPhilip，aswelassesusedtoca'him——makin'
　　amoonlightflittin'，andleavin'yo'tobeawidowbewitched？''Hedidn'tgoatnight，'saidSylvia，takingthewords'moonlightflitting'
　　intheirliteralsense。'No！Well，Ionlysaid"moonlightflittin"'justbecauseitcomeuppermostandIknowednobetter。Tellmeallaboutit，Sylvie，forIcan'tmak'
　　itoutfromwhatBessysays。Hadheandyo'hadwords？——butincourseyo'
　　had。'AtthismomentHestercameintotheroom;andSylviajoyfullyavailedherselfofthepretextforbreakingofftheconversationthathadreachedthispainfulandawkwardpoint。ShedetainedHesterintheroomforfearlestMrsBruntonshouldrepeatherinquiryastohowitallhappenedthatPhiliphadgoneaway;butthepresenceofathirdpersonseemedasthoughitwouldbebutlittlerestraintupontheinquisitiveMolly，whorepeatedlyboredownuponthesamequestionstillshenearlydroveSylviadistracted，betweenherastonishmentatthenewsofKinraid'smarriage;herwishtobealoneandquiet，soastorealizethefullmeaningofthatpieceofintelligence;
　　herdesiretoretainHesterintheconversation;hereffortstopreventMolly'srecurrencetothecircumstancesofPhilip'sdisappearance，andthelonging——morevehementeveryminute——forhervisitortogoawayandleaveherinpeace。Shebecamesodisturbedwithallthesethoughtsandfeelingsthatshehardlyknewwhatshewassaying，andassentedordissentedtospeecheswithouttherebeingeitheranyreasonortruthinherwords。MrsBruntonhadarrangedtoremainwithSylviawhilethehorserested，andhadnocompunctionaboutthelengthofhervisit。Sheexpectedtobeaskedtotea，asSylviafoundoutatlast，andthisshefeltwouldbetheworstofall，asAliceRosewasnotonetotoleratethecoarse，carelesstalkofsuchawomanasMrsBruntonwithoutupliftinghervoiceinmanyatestimonyagainstit。SylviasateholdingHester'sgowntightinordertopreventherleavingtheroom，andtryingtoarrangeherlittleplanssothattoomuchdiscordanceshouldnotarisetothesurface。Justthenthedooropened，andlittleBellacameinfromthekitcheninallthepretty，sturdydignityoftwoyearsold，Alicefollowingherwithcarefulsteps，andprotecting，outstretchedarms，aslowsmilesofteningthesternnessofhergraveface;forthechildwastheunconsciousdarlingofthehousehold，andalleyessoftenedintoloveastheylookedonher。Shemadestraightforhermotherwithsomethinggraspedinherlittledimpledfist;buthalf—wayacrosstheroomsheseemedtohavebecomesuddenlyawareofthepresenceofastranger，andshestoppedshort，fixingherseriouseyesfullonMrsBrunton，asiftotakeinherappearance，nay，asiftopenetratedownintoherveryrealself，andthen，stretchingoutherdisengagedhand，thebabyspokeoutthewordsthathadbeenhoveringabouthermother'slipsforanhourpast。'Doaway！'saidBella，decisively。'Whataperfectlove！'saidMrsBrunton，halfinrealadmiration，halfinpatronage。Asshespoke，shegotupandwenttowardsthechild，asiftotakeherup。'Doaway！doaway！'criedBella，inshrillaffrightatthismovement。'Dunnot，'saidSylvia;'she'sshy;shedoesn'tknowstrangers。'ButMrsBruntonhadgraspedthestruggling，kickingchildbythistime，andherrewardforthiswasavehementlittleslapintheface。'Yo'naughtylittlespoiltthing！'saidshe，settingBelladowninahurry。
　　'Yo'deserveagoodwhipping，yo'do，andifyo'weremineyo'shouldhaveit。'Sylviahadnoneedtostandupforthebabywhohadruntoherarms，andwassoothingherselfwithsobbingonhermother'sbreast;forAlicetookupthedefence。'Thechildsaid，asplainaswordscouldsay，"goaway，"andifthouwouldstfollowthineownwillinsteadofheedingherwish，thoumunputupwiththewilfulnessoftheoldAdam，ofwhichitseemstometheehastgettenthyshareatthirtyaswellaslittleBellaattwo。''Thirty！'saidMrsBrunton，nowfairlyaffronted。'Thirty！why，Sylvia，yo'knowI'mbuttwoyearsolderthanyo';speaktothatwomanan'tellherasI'monlyfour—and—twenty。Thirty，indeed！''Molly'sbutfour—and—twenty，'saidSylvia，inapacificatorytone。'Whethershebetwenty，orthirty，orforty，isaliketome，'saidAlice。
　　'Imeantnoharm。Imeantbutfort'sayasherangrywordstothechildbespokehertobeoneofthefoolish。Iknownotwhosheis，norwhatheragemaybe。''She'sanoldfriendofmine，'saidSylvia。'She'sMrsBruntonnow，butwhenIknowedhershewasMollyCorney。''Ay！andyo'wereSylviaRobson，andasbonnyandlight—heartedalassasanyina't'Riding，thoughnowyo'reapoorwidowbewitched，leftwi'
　　achildasImustn'tspeakawordabout，an'livingwi'folkastalkaboutt'oldAdamasifhewasn'tdeadanddonewi'longago！It'sachange，Sylvia，asmakesmyheartacheforyo'，tothinkonthemolddayswhenyo'weresothoughtonyo'mighthavehadanyman，asBruntonoftensays;
　　itwereagreatmistakeasyo'ivertookupwi'yonmanashasrunaway。
　　Butsevenyear'11soonbepastfro't'timehewentoff，andyo'llonlybesix—and—twentythen;andthere'llbeachanceofabetterhusbandforyo'afterall，sokeepupyo'rheart，Sylvia。'MollyBruntonhadputasmuchvenomassheknewhowintothisspeech，meaningitasavengefulpaymentforthesuppositionofherbeingthirty，evenmorethanforthereproofforherangrywordsaboutthechild。ShethoughtthatAliceRosemustbeeithermotheroraunttoPhilip，fromtheseriouscastofcountenancethatwasremarkableinboth;andsheratherexultedintheallusiontoahappiersecondmarriageforSylvia，withwhichshehadconcludedherspeech。ItrousedAlice，however，aseffectuallyasifshehadbeenreallyabloodrelationtoPhilip;butforadifferentreason。
　　Shewasnotslowtodetecttheintentionaloffensivenesstoherselfinwhathadbeensaid;shewasindignantatSylviaforsufferingthewordsspokentopassunanswered;butintruththeyweretoomuchinkeepingwithMollyBrunton'scharactertomakeasmuchimpressiononSylviaastheydidonastranger;andbesides，shefeltasifthelessreplyMollyreceived，thelesslikelywoulditbethatshewouldgooninthesamestrain。Soshecoaxedandchatteredtoherchildandbehavedlikealittlecowardintryingtodrawoutoftheconversation，whileatthesametimelisteningattentively。'AsforSylviaHepburnaswasSylviaRobson，sheknowsmymind，'saidAlice，ingrimindignation。'She'shumblingherselfnow，Itrustandpray，butshewaslight—mindedandfullofvanitywhenPhilipmarriedher，anditmightha'beenalifttowardshersalvationinoneway;butitpleasedtheLordtoworkinadifferentway，andshemunwearhersackclothandashesinpatience。SoI'llsaynaughtmoreabouther。Butforhimasisabsent，astheehastspokenonsolightlyandreproachfully，I'dhavetheetoknowhewereoneofadifferentkindtoanytheeeverknew，Ireckon。