SomeknightwhohadfoughtintheFrenchwarsofthattime，andhadsurvivedhisbattlesandcomehometohisoldhalls，hadbeenstirredupbyhisconscience，orbywhatwasequivalentinthosedays，hisconfessor，tobuildandendowahospitalfortwelvedecayedsoldiers，andachapelwhereintheyweretoattendthedailymassesheordainedtobesaidtilltheendofalltime（whicheternitylastedrathermorethanacentury，prettywellforaneternitybespokenbyaman），forhissoulandthesoulsofthosewhomhehadslain。Therewasalargedivisionofthequadrangularbuildingsetapartforthepriestwhowastosaythesemasses;andtowatchoverthewell—beingofthebedesmen。Inprocessofyearstheoriginandprimarypurposeofthehospitalhadbeenforgottenbyallexceptingthelocalantiquaries;
　　andtheplaceitselfcametoberegardedasaverypleasantquaintsetofalmshouses;andthewarden'soffice（hewhoshouldhavesaidorsunghisdailymasseswasnowcalledthewarden，andreaddailyprayersandpreachedasermononSundays）anagreeablesinecure。AnotherlegacyofoldSirSimonBraywasthatofasmallcroftofland，therentorprofitsofwhichweretogotowardsgivingtoallwhoaskedforitamanchetofbreadandacupofgoodbeer。Thisbeerwas，soSirSimonordained，tobemadeafteracertainreceiptwhichheleft，inwhichgroundivytooktheplaceofhops。Butthereceipt，aswellasthemasses，wasmodernizedaccordingtotheprogressoftime。Philipstoodunderagreatbroadstonearchway;theback—doorintothewarden'shousewasontherightside;akindofbuttery—hatchwasplacedbytheporter'sdoorontheoppositeside。Aftersomeconsideration，Philipknockedattheclosedshutter，andthesignalseemedtobewellunderstood。
　　Heheardamovementwithin;thehatchwasdrawnaside，andhisbreadandbeerwerehandedtohimbyapleasant—lookingoldman，whoprovedhimselfnotatalldisinclinedforconversation。'Youmaysitdownonyonderbench，'saidhe。'Nay，man！siti'thesun，forit'sachillyplace，this，andthenyoucanlookthroughthegrateandwatchth'oldfellowstoddlingaboutinth'quad。'PhilipsatdownwherethewarmOctobersunslanteduponhim，andlookedthroughtheironrailingatthepeacefulsight。Agreatsquareofvelvetlawn，intersecteddiagonallywithbroadflag—pavedwalks，thesamekindofwalkgoingallroundthequadrangle;lowtwo—storiedbrickhouses，tintedgrayandyellowbyage，andinmanyplacesalmostcoveredwithvines，Virginiancreepers，andmonthlyroses;beforeeachhousealittleplotofgardenground，brightwithflowers，andevidentlytendedwiththeutmostcare;onthefarthersidethemassivechapel;hereandthereanoldorinfirmmansunninghimself，orleisurelydoingabitofgardening，ortalkingtooneofhiscomrades——theplacelookedasifcareandwant，andevensorrow，werelockedoutandexcludedbytheponderousgatethroughwhichPhilipwasgazing。'It'saniceenoughplace，bean'tit？'saidtheporter，interpretingPhilip'slooksprettyaccurately。'Leastways，forthemaslikesit。I'vegotabitwearyonitmyself;it'ssofarfromth'world，asamanmaysay;notadecentpublicwithinamileandahalf，whereonecanhearabito'newsofanevening。''IthinkIcouldmakemyselfverycontenthere，'repliedPhilip。'That'stosay，ifonewereeasyinone'smind。''Ay，ay，myman。That'siteverywhere。Why，Idon'tthinkthatIcouldenjoymyself——notevenatth'WhiteHart，wheretheygiveyouasgoodaglassofalefortwopenceasanywherei'th'fourkingdoms——Icouldn't，tosay，flavourmyaleeventhere，ifmyoldwomanlaya—dying;whichisasignasit'stheheart，andnottheale，asmakesthedrink。'Justthenthewarden'sback—dooropened，andoutcamethewardenhimself，dressedinfullclericalcostume。Hewasgoingintotheneighbouringcity，buthestoppedtospeaktoPhilip，thewoundedsoldier;andallthemorereadilybecausehisoldfadeduniformtoldthewarden'sexperiencedeyethathehadbelongedtothemarines。'IhopeyouenjoythevictualprovidedforyoubythefounderofSt。Sepulchre，'
　　saidhe，kindly。'Youlookbutpoorly，mygoodfellow，andasifasliceofgoodcoldmeatwouldhelpyourbreaddown。''Thankyou，sir！'saidPhilip。'I'mnothungry，onlyweary，andgladofadraughtofbeer。''You'vebeenintheMarines，Isee。Wherehaveyoubeenserving？''IwasatthesiegeofAcre，lastMay，sir。''AtAcre！Wereyou，indeed？ThenperhapsyouknowmyboyHarry？Hewasinthe————th。''Itwasmycompany，'saidPhilip，warmingupalittle。Lookingbackuponhissoldier'slife，itseemedtohimtohavemanycharms，becauseitwassofullofsmalldailyinterests。'Then，didyouknowmyson，LieutenantPennington？''Itwashethatgavemethiscloak，sir，whentheyweresendingmebacktoEngland。IhadbeenhisservantforashorttimebeforeIwaswoundedbytheexplosiononboardtheTheseus，andhesaidIshouldfeelthecoldofthevoyage。He'sverykind;andI'veheardsayhepromisestobeafirst—rateofficer。''Youshallhaveasliceofroastbeef，whetheryouwantitornot，'saidthewarden，ringingthebellathisownback—door。'Irecognizethecloaknow——theyoungscamp！Howsoonhehasmadeitshabby，though，'hecontinued，takingupacornerwheretherewasanimmensetearnottoowellbotchedup。'AndsoyouwereonboardtheTheseusatthetimeoftheexplosion？
　　Bringsomecoldmeathereforthegoodman——orstay！Comeinwithme，andthenyoucantellMrsPenningtonandtheyoungladiesallyouknowaboutHarry，——andthesiege，——andtheexplosion。'SoPhilipwasusheredintothewarden'shouseandmadetoeatroastbeefalmostagainsthiswill;andhewasquestionedandcross—questionedbythreeeagerladies，allatthesametime，asitseemedtohim。Hehadgivenallpossibledetailsonthesubjectsaboutwhichtheywerecurious;andwasbeginningtoconsiderhowhecouldbestmakehisretreat，whentheyoungerMissPenningtonwentuptoherfather——whohadallthistimestood，withhishaton，holdinghiscoat—tailsoverhisarms，withhisbacktothefire。Hebenthiseardownaverylittletohearsomewhisperedsuggestionofhisdaughter's，noddedhishead，andthenwentonquestioningPhilip，withkindlyinquisitivenessandpatronage，astherichdoquestionthepoor。'Andwhereareyougoingtonow？'Philipdidnotanswerdirectly。Hewonderedinhisownmindwherehewasgoing。Atlengthhesaid，'Northwards，Ibelieve。ButperhapsIshallneverreachthere。''Haven'tyoufriends？Aren'tyougoingtothem？'Therewasagainapause;acloudcameoverPhilip'scountenance。Hesaid，'No！I'mnotgoingtomyfriends。Idon'tknowthatI'vegotanyleft。'Theyinterpretedhislooksandthisspeechtomeanthathehadeitherlosthisfriendsbydeath，oroffendedthembyenlisting。Thewardenwenton，'Iask，becausewe'vegotacottagevacantinthemead。OldDobson，whowaswithGeneralWolfeatthetakingofQuebec，diedafortnightago。Withsuchinjuriesasyours，Ifearyou'llneverbeabletoworkagain。Butwerequirestricttestimonialsastocharacter，'headded，withaspenetratingalookashecouldsummonupatPhilip。Philiplookedunmoved，eitherbytheofferofthecottage，ortheillusiontothepossibilityofhischaracternotbeingsatisfactory。Hewasgratefulenoughinreality，buttooheavyathearttocareverymuchwhatbecameofhim。Thewardenandhisfamily，whowereaccustomedtoconsiderasettlementatSt。Sepulchre'sasthesumofallgoodtoaworn—outsoldier，werealittleannoyedatPhilip'scoolwayofreceivingtheproposition。Thewardenwentontonamethecontingentadvantages。'Besidesthecottage，youwouldhavealoadofwoodforfiringonAllSaints'，onChristmas，andonCandlemasdays——abluegownandsuitofclothestomatcheveryMichaelmas，andashillingadaytokeepyourselfinallotherthings。Yourdinneryouwouldhavewiththeothermen，inhall。''Thewardenhimselfgoesintohalleveryday，andseesthateverythingiscomfortable，andsaysgrace，'addedthewarden'slady。'IknowIseemstupid，'saidPhilip，almosthumbly，'nottobemoregrateful，forit'sfarbeyondwhatliverexpectedorthoughtforagain，andit'sagreattemptation，forI'mjustwornoutwithfatigue。SeveraltimesI'vethoughtImustliedownunderahedge，andjustdieforveryweariness。
　　ButonceIhadawifeandachildupinthenorth，'hestopped。'Andaretheydead？'askedoneoftheyoungladiesinasoftsympathizingtone。HereyesmetPhilip's，fullofdumbwoe。Hetriedtospeak;hewantedtoexplainmorefully，yetnottorevealthetruth。'Well！'saidthewarden，thinkingheperceivedtherealstateofthings，'whatIproposeisthis。YoushallgointooldDobson'shouseatonce，asakindofprobationarybedesman。I'llwritetoHarry，andgetyourcharacterfromhim。StephenFreemanIthinkyousaidyournamewas？BeforeIcanreceivehisreplyyou'llhavebeenabletotellhowyou'dlikethekindoflife;andatanyrateyou'llhavetherestyouseemtorequireinthemeantime。Yousee，ItakeHarry'shavinggivenyouthatcloakasakindofcharacter，'addedhe，smilingkindly。'Ofcourseyou'llhavetoconformtorulesjustlikealltherest，——chapelateight，dinnerattwelve，lightsoutatnine;butI'lltellyoutheremainderofourregulationsaswewalkacrossquadtoyournewquarters。'AndthusPhilip，almostinspiteofhimself，becameinstalledinabedesman'shouseatSt。Sepulchre。
　　chapter42CHAPTERXLIIAFABLEATFAULTPhiliptookpossessionofthetworoomswhichhadbelongedtothedeadSergeantDobson。Theywerefurnishedsufficientlyforeverycomfortbythetrusteesofthehospital。Somelittlefragmentsofornament，somesmallarticlespickedupindistantcountries，afewtatteredbooks，remainedintheroomsaslegaciesfromtheirformeroccupant。AtfirstthereposeofthelifeandtheplacewasinexpressiblygratefultoPhilip。Hehadalwaysshrunkfromencounteringstrangers，anddisplayinghisblackenedandscarredcountenancetothem，evenwheresuchdisfigurementwasmostregardedasamarkofhonour。InSt。Sepulchre'shemetnonebutthesamesetdayafterday，andwhenhehadoncetoldthetaleofhowithappenedandsubmittedtotheirgaze，itwasoverforever，ifhesominded。
　　Theslightemploymenthisgardengavehim——therewasakitchen—gardenbehindeachhouse，aswellastheflower—plotinfront——andthedailyarrangementofhisparlourandchamberwere，atthebeginningofhistimeofoccupation，asmuchbodilylabourashecouldmanage。TherewassomethingstatelyandutterlyremovedfromallPhilip'spreviousexistenceintheformsobservedateveryday'sdinner，whenthetwelvebedesmenmetinthelargequainthall，andthewardencameinhiscollege—capandgowntosaythelongLatingracewhichwoundupwithsomethingverylikeaprayerforthesoulofSirSimonBray。Ittooksometimetogetareplytoshiplettersinthosetimeswhennoonecouldexactlysaywherethefleetmightbefound。AndbeforeDrPenningtonhadreceivedtheexcellentcharacterofStephenFreeman，whichhissongladlysentinanswertohisfather'sinquiries，Philiphadbecomerestlessanduneasyinthemidstofallthispeaceandcomfort。Sittingaloneoverhisfireinthelongwinterevenings，thescenesofhispastliferosebeforehim;hischildhood;hisauntRobson'scareofhim;hisfirstgoingtoFoster'sshopinMonkshaven;HaytersbankFarm，andthespellinglessonsinthebrightwarmkitchenthere;Kinraid'sappearance;
　　themiserablenightoftheCorneys'party;thefarewellhehadwitnessedonMonkshavensands;thepress—gang，andallthelongconsequencesofthatactofconcealment;poorDanielRobson'strialandexecution;hisownmarriage;
　　hischild'sbirth;andthenhecametothatlastdayatMonkshaven:andhewentoverandoveragainthetorturingdetails，thelooksofcontemptandanger，thewordsofloathingindignation，tillhealmostbroughthimself，outofhisextremesympathywithSylvia，tobelievethathewasindeedthewretchshehadconsideredhimtobe。Heforgothisownexcusesforhavingactedashehaddone;thoughtheseexcuseshadatonetimeseemedtohimtowearthegarbofreasons。Afterlongthoughtandbittermemorycamesomewonder。WhatwasSylviadoingnow？Wherewasshe？Whatwashischildlike——hischildaswellashers？
　　Andthenherememberedthepoorfootsorewifeandthelittlegirlshecarriedinherarms，thatwasjusttheageofBella;hewishedhehadnoticedthatchildmore，thataclearvisionofitmightriseupwhenhewantedtopictureBella。Onenighthehadgoneroundthismill—wheelcircleofideastillhewaswearytotheverymarrowofhisbones。Toshakeoffthemonotonousimpressionherosetolookforabookamongsttheoldtatteredvolumes，hopingthathemightfindsomethingthatwouldsufficientlylayholdofhimtochangethecurrentofhisthoughts。TherewasanoddvolumeofPeregrinePickle，abookofsermons;halfanarmylistof1774，andtheSevenChampionsofChristendom。Philiptookupthislast，whichhehadneverseenbefore。
　　InithereadhowSirGuy，EarlofWarwick，wenttofightthePayniminhisowncountry，andwasawayforsevenlongyears;andwhenhecamebackhisownwifePhillis，thecountessinhercastle，didnotknowthepoortravel—wornhermit，whocamedailytoseekhisdoleofbreadatherhandsalongwithmanybeggarsandmuchpoor。Butatlast，whenhelaya—dyinginhiscaveintherock，hesentforherbyasecretsignknownbuttothemtwain。Andshecamewithgreatspeed，forsheknewitwasherlordwhohadsentforher;andtheyhadmanysweetandholywordstogetherbeforehegaveuptheghost，hisheadlyingonherbosom。TheoldstoryknowntomostpeoplefromtheirchildhoodwasallnewandfreshtoPhilip。Hedidnotquitebelieveinthetruthofit，becausethefictitiousnatureofthehistoriesofsomeoftheotherChampionsofChristendomwastoopatent。Buthecouldnothelpthinkingthatthisonemightbetrue;
　　andthatGuyandPhillismighthavebeenasrealfleshandblood，long，longago，asheandSylviahadevenbeen。Theoldroom，thequietmoonlitquadrangleintowhichthecross—barredcasementlooked，thequaintaspectofeverythingthathehadseenforweeksandweeks;allthispredisposedPhiliptodwelluponthestoryhehadjustbeenreadingasafaithfullegendoftwoloverswhoseboneswerelongsincedust。HethoughtthatifhecouldthusseeSylvia，himselfunknown，unseen——couldliveathergates，sotospeak，andgazeuponherandhischild——somedaytoo，whenhelaya—dying，hemightsendforher，andinsoftwordsofmutualforgivenessbreathehislifeawayinherarms。Orperhaps————andsohelosthimself，andfromthinking，passedontodreaming。AllnightlongGuyandPhillis，Sylviaandhischild，passedinandoutofhisvisions;itwasimpossibletomakethefragmentsofhisdreamscohere;buttheimpressionmadeuponhimbythemwasnotthelessstrongforthis。HefeltasifhewerecalledtoMonkshaven，wantedatMonkshaven，andtoMonkshavenheresolvedtogo;
　　althoughwhenhisreasonovertookhisfeeling，heknewperfectlyhowunwiseitwastoleaveahomeofpeaceandtranquillityandsurroundingfriendliness，togotoaplacewherenothingbutwantandwretchednessawaitedhimunlesshemadehimselfknown，andifhedid，adeeperwant，amorewoefulwretchedness，wouldinallprobabilitybehisportion。Inthesmalloblongoflooking—glasshungagainstthewall，Philipcaughtthereflectionofhisownface，andlaughedscornfullyatthesight。Thethinhairlayuponhistemplesintheflakesthatbetokenlongill—health;
　　hiseyeswerethesameasever，andtheyhadalwaysbeenconsideredthebestfeatureinhisface;buttheyweresunkintheirorbits，andlookedhollowandgloomy。Asforthelowerpartofhisface，blackened，contracted，drawnawayfromhisteeth，theoutlineentirelychangedbythebreakageofhisjaw—bone，hewasindeedafoolifhethoughthimselffittogoforthtowinbackthatlovewhichSylviahadforsworn。Asahermitandabeggar，hemustreturntoMonkshaven，andfallperforceintothesamepositionwhichGuyofWarwickhadonlyassumed。ButstillheshouldseehisPhillis，andmightfeasthissadhopelesseyesfromtimetotimewiththesightofhischild。Hissmallpensionofsixpenceadaywouldkeephimfromabsolutewantofnecessaries。SothatverydayhewenttothewardenandtoldhimhethoughtofgivinguphisshareinthebequestofSirSimonBray。Sucharelinquishmenthadneveroccurredbeforeinallthewarden'sexperience;andhewasverymuchinclinedtobeoffended。'ImustsaythatforamannottobesatisfiedasabedesmanofSt。Sepulchre'sarguesaverywrongstateofmind，andaveryungratefulheart。''I'msure，sir，it'snotfromanyingratitude，forIcanhardlyfeelthankfultoyouandtoSirSimon，andtomadam，andtheyoungladies，andallmycomradesinthehospital，andIniverexpecttobeeithersocomfortableorsopeacefulagain，but————''But？Whatcanyouhavetosayagainsttheplace，then？Notbutwhattherearealwaysplentyofapplicantsforeveryvacancy;onlyIthoughtIwasdoingakindnesstoamanoutofHarry'scompany。Andyou'llnotseeHarryeither;he'sgothisleaveinMarch！''I'mverysorry。Ishouldliketohaveseenthelieutenantagain。ButI
　　cannotrestanylongersofarawayfrom——peopleIonceknew。''Tentoonethey'redead，orremoved，orsomethingorotherbythistime;
　　andit'llserveyourightiftheyare。Mind！noonecanbechosentwicetobeabedesmanofSt。Sepulchre's。'Thewardenturnedaway;andPhilip，uneasyatstaying，disheartenedatleaving，wenttomakehisfewpreparationsforsettingoutoncemoreonhisjourneynorthwards。Hehadtogivenoticeofhischangeofresidencetothelocaldistributorofpensions;andoneortwofarewellshadtobetaken，withmorethanusualsadnessatthenecessity;forPhilip，underhisnameofStephenFreeman，hadattachedsomeoftheolderbedesmenagooddealtohim，fromhisunselfishness，hiswillingnesstoreadtothem，andtorenderthemmanylittleservices，and，perhaps，asmuchasanything，byhishabitualsilence，whichmadehimaconvenientrecipientofalltheirgarrulousness。Sobeforethetimeforhisdeparturecame，hehadtheopportunityofonemoreinterviewwiththewarden，ofamorefriendlycharacterthanthatinwhichhegaveuphisbedesmanship。Andsofaritwaswell;andPhilipturnedhisbackuponSt。Sepulchre'swithhissoreheartpartlyhealedbyhisfourmonths'residencethere。Hewasstronger，too，inbody，morecapableoftheday—after—daywalksthatwererequiredofhim。Hehadsavedsomemoneyfromhisallowanceasbedesmanandfromhispension，andmightoccasionallyhavetakenanoutsideplaceonacoach，haditnotbeenthatheshrankfromthefirstlookofeverystrangeruponhisdisfiguredface。Yetthegentle，wistfuleyes，andthewhiteandfaultlessteethalwaysdidawaywiththefirstimpressionassoonaspeoplebecamealittleacquaintedwithhisappearance。ItwasFebruarywhenPhilipleftSt。Sepulchre's。ItwasthefirstweekinAprilwhenhebegantorecognizethefamiliarobjectsbetweenYorkandMonkshaven。Andnowhebegantohangback，andtoquestionthewisdomofwhathehaddone——justasthewardenhadprophesiedthathewould。Thelastnightofhistwohundredmilewalkhesleptatthelittleinnatwhichhehadbeenenlistednearlytwoyearsbefore。Itwasbynointentionofhisthatherestedatthatidenticalplace。Nightwasdrawingon;and，inmaking，ashethought，ashortcut，hehadmissedhisway，andwasfaintoseekshelterwherehemightfindit。Butitbroughthimverystraightfacetofacewithhislifeatthattime，andeversince。Hismad，wildhopes——halftheresultofintoxication，ashenowknew——alldeadandgone;
　　thecareerthenfreshlyopeningshutupagainsthimnow;hisyouthfulstrengthandhealthchangedintoprematureinfirmity，andthehomeandthelovethatshouldhaveopenedwideitsdoorstoconsolehimforall，whyintwoyearsDeathmighthavebeenbusy，andtakenawayfromhimhislastfeeblechanceofthefainthappinessofseeinghisbelovedwithoutbeingseenorknownofher。Allthatnightandallthenextday，thefearofSylvia'spossibledeathovercloudedhisheart。Itwasstrangethathehadhardlyeverthoughtofthisbefore;sostrange，thatnow，whentheterrorcame，ittookpossessionofhim，andhecouldalmosthaveswornthatshemustbelyingdeadinMonkshavenchurchyard。OrwasitlittleBella，thatblooming，lovelybabe，whomhewasnevertoseeagain？Therewasthetollingofmournfulbellsinthedistantairtohisdisturbedfancy，andthecryofthehappybirds，theplaintivebleatingofthenew—droppedlambs，wereallomensofevilimporttohim。Aswellashecould，hefoundhiswaybacktoMonkshaven，overthewildheightsandmoorshehadcrossedonthatblackdayofmisery;whyheshouldhavechosenthatpathhecouldnottell——itwasasifhewereled，andhadnofreewillofhisown。Thesoftcleareveningwasdrawingon，andhisheartbeatthick，andthenstopped，onlytostartagainwithfreshviolence。Therehewas，atthetopofthelong，steeplanethatwasinsomepartsaliteralstaircaseleadingdownfromthehill—topintotheHighStreet，throughtheveryentryupwhichhehadpassedwhenheshrankawayfromhisformerandhisthenpresentlife。Therehestood，lookingdownoncemoreatthenumerousirregularroofs，themanystacksofchimneysbelowhim，seekingoutthatwhichhadoncebeenhisowndwelling——whodwelttherenow？Theyellowergleamsgrewnarrower;theeveningshadowsbroader，andPhilipcreptdownthelaneaweary，woefulman。Ateverygapintheclose—packedbuildingsheheardthemerrymusicofaband，thecheerfulsoundofexcitedvoices。Stillhedescendedslowly，scarcelywonderingwhatitcouldbe，foritwasnotassociatedinhismindwiththeonepervadingthoughtofSylvia。WhenhecametotheangleofjunctionbetweenthelaneandtheHighStreet，heseemedplungedallatonceintotheverycentreofthebustle，andhedrewhimselfupintoacornerofdeepshadow，fromwhencehecouldlookoutuponthestreet。AcircuswasmakingitsgrandentryintoMonkshaven，withallthepompofcolourandofnoisethatitcouldmuster。Trumpetersinparti—colouredclothesrodefirst，blaringouttriumphantdiscord。Nextcameagold—and—scarletchariotdrawnbysixpiebaldhorses，andthewindingsofthisteamthroughthetortuousnarrowstreetwereprettyenoughtolookupon。Inthechariotsatekingsandqueens，heroesandheroines，orwhatweremeantforsuch;
　　allthelittleboysandgirlsrunningalongsideofthechariotenviedthem;
　　buttheythemselveswereverymuchtired，andshiveringwithcoldintheirheroicpompofclassicclothing。AllthisPhilipmighthaveseen;didsee，infact;butheedednotonejot。Almostoppositetohim，nottenyardsapart，standingontheraisedstepatthewell—knownshopdoor，wasSylvia，holdingachild，amerrydancingchild，upinherarmstoseetheshow。
　　Shetoo，Sylvia，waslaughingforpleasure，andforsympathywithpleasure。
　　SheheldthelittleBellaaloftthatthechildmightseethegaudyprocessionthebetterandthelonger，lookingatitherselfwithredlipsapartandwhiteteethglancingthrough;thensheturnedtospeaktosomeonebehindher——Coulson，asPhilipsawthemomentafterwards;hisanswermadeherlaughonceagain。Philipsawitall;herbonnycarelesslooks，herprettymatronlyform，herevidenteaseofmindandprosperousoutwardcircumstances。
　　Theyearsthathehadspentingloomysorrow，amongstwildscenes，onlandorbysea，hislifeinfrequentperilofabloodyend，hadgonebywithherlikesunnydays;allthemoresunnybecausehewasnotthere。Sobitterlythoughtthepoordisabledmarine，as，wearyanddespairing，hestoodinthecoldshadowandlookeduponthehomethatshouldhavebeenhishaven，thewifethatshouldhavewelcomedhim，thechildthatshouldhavebeenhiscomfort。Hehadbanishedhimselffromhishome;hiswifehadforswornhim;hischildwasblossomingintointelligenceunwittingofanyfather。
　　Wife，andchild，andhome，werealldoingwellwithouthim;whatmadnesshadtemptedhimthither？anhourago，likeafancifulfool，hehadthoughtshemightbedead——deadwithsadpenitenceforhercruelwordsatherheart——withmournfulwonderattheunaccounted—forabsenceofherchild'sfatherpreyingonherspirits，andinsomemeasurecausingthedeathhehadapprehended。
　　Buttolookathertherewhereshestood，itdidnotseemasifshehadhadanhour'spainfulthoughtinallherbloominglife。Ay！gointothewarmhearth，motherandchild，nowthegaycavalcadehasgoneoutofsight，andthechillofnighthassucceededtothesun'ssetting。
　　Husbandandfather，stealoutintothecolddarkstreet，andseeksomepoorcheaplodgingwhereyoumayrestyourwearybones，andcheatyourmorewearyheartintoforgetfulnessinsleep。TheprettystoryoftheCountessPhillis，whomournedforherhusband'sabsencesolong，isafableofoldtimes;orrathersayEarlGuyneverweddedhiswife，knowingthatoneshelovedbetterthanhimwasaliveallthetimeshehadbelievedhimtobedead。
　　chapter43CHAPTERXLIIITHEUNKNOWNAfewdaysbeforethatonwhichPhiliparrivedatMonkshaven，KesterhadcometopaySylviaavisit。Astheearliestfriendshehad，andalsoasonewhoknewtherealsecretsofherlife，Sylviaalwaysgavehimthewarmwelcome，thecordialwords，andthesweetlooksinwhichtheoldmandelighted。
　　Hehadasortofdelicacyofhisownwhichkepthimfromgoingtoseehertoooften，evenwhenhewasstationaryatMonkshaven;buthelookedforwardtothetimeswhenheallowedhimselfthispleasureasachildatschoollooksforwardtoitsholidays。ThetimeofhisserviceatHaytersbankhad，onthewhole，beenthehappiestinailhislongmonotonousyearsofdailylabour。Sylvia'sfatherhadalwaystreatedhimwiththeroughkindnessoffellowship;Sylvia'smotherhadneverstintedhiminhismeatorgrudgedhimhisshareofthebestthatwasgoing;andonce，whenhewasillforafewdaysintheloftabovethecow—house，shehadmadehimpossets，andnursedhimwiththesametendernesswhichherememberedhismothershowingtohimwhenhewasalittlechild，butwhichhehadneverexperiencedsincethen。HehadknownSylviaherself，asbud，andsweetpromiseofblossom;
　　andjustasshewasopeningintothefull—blownrose，and，ifshehadbeenhappyandprosperous，mighthavepassedoutofthenarrowcircleofKester'sinterests，onesorrowafteranothercamedownuponherprettyinnocenthead，andKester'speriodofservicetoDanielRobson，herfather，wastragicallycutshort。AllthismadeSylviathegreatcentreofthefaithfulherdsman'saffection;andBella，whoremindedhimofwhatSylviawaswhenfirstKesterknewher，onlyoccupiedthesecondplaceinhisheart，althoughtothechildhewasmuchmoredemonstrativeofhisregardthantothemother。HehaddressedhimselfinhisSundaybest，andalthoughitwasonlyThursday，hadforestalledhisSaturday'sshaving;hehadprovidedhimselfwithapaperofhumbugsforthechild——'humbugs'beingthenorth—countrytermforcertainlumpsoftoffy，well—flavouredwithpeppermint——andnowhesatintheaccustomedchair，asneartothedoorasmightbe，inSylvia'spresence，coaxingthelittleone，whowasnotquitesureofhisidentity，t9cometohim，byopeningthepaperparcel，andlettingitssweetcontentsbeseen。'She'slikethee——andyetshefavoursherfeyther，'saidhe;andthemomenthehadutteredtheincautiouswordshelookeduptoseehowSylviahadtakentheunpremeditated，unusualreferencetoherhusband。Hisstealthyglancedidnotmeethereye;butthoughhethoughtshehadcolouredalittle，shedidnotseemoffendedashehadfeared。ItwastruethatBellahadherfather'sgrave，thoughtful，darkeyes，insteadofhermother'sgreyones，outofwhichthechildlikeexpressionofwonderwouldneverentirelypassaway。AndasBellaslowlyandhalfdistrustfullymadeherwaytowardsthetemptationofferedher，shelookedatKesterwithjustherfather'slook。Sylviasaidnothingindirectreply;Kesteralmostthoughtshecouldnothaveheardhim。But，by—and—by，shesaid，——'Yo'llhavehearedhowKinraid——who'sacaptainnow，andagrandofficer——hasgoneandgotmarried。''Nay！'saidKester，ingenuinesurprise。'Heniverhas，forsure！''Ay，buthehas，'saidSylvia。'AndI'msureIdunnotseewhyheshouldn't。''Well，well！'saidKester，notlookingupather，forhecaughttheinflectionsinthetonesofhervoice。'Hewereafinestirrin'chap，yon;an'hewereallaysfordoin'summut;an'whenhefundashecouldn'tha'onethingashe'dsethismindon，areckonhethoughthemunputupwi'another。''It'udbeno"puttingup，"'saidSylvia。'ShewerestayingatBessyDawson's，andshecomeheretoseeme——she'sasprettyayoungladyasyo'dseeonasummer'sday;andareallady，too，wi'afortune。Shedidn'tspeaktwowordswi'outbringinginherhusband'sname——"thecaptain，"asshecalledhim。''An'shecometoseethee？'saidKester，cockinghiseyeatSylviawiththeoldshrewdlook。'Thatweresummutqueer，weren'tit？'Sylviareddenedagooddeal。'He'stoofausetohavespokentoheronme，int'oldway，——asheusedfort'speaktome。IwerenoughttoherbutPhilip'swife。''An'whatt'dickinshadshetodowi'Philip？'askedKester，inintensesurprise;andsoabsorbedincuriositythatheletthehumbugsallfalloutofthepaperuponthefloor，andthelittleBellasatdown，plump，inthemidstoftreasuresasgreatasthosefabledtoexistonTomTiddler'sground。Sylviawasagainsilent;butKester，knowingherwell，wassurethatshewasstrugglingtospeak，andbidedhistimewithoutrepeatinghisquestion。'Shesaid——andIthinkhertaleweretrue，thoughIcannotgettot'rightsonit，thinkonitasIwill——asPhilipsavedherhusband'slifesomewheerenearaboutstoJerusalem。Shewouldhaveitthatt'captain——forIthinkI'llniverca'himKinraidagain——wasinagreatbattle，andwerenearuponbeingshotbyt'French，whenPhilip——ourPhilip——comeupandwentrightintot'fireo't'guns，andsavedherhusband'slife。Andshespokeasifbothsheandt'captainweremorebeholdentoPhilipthanwordscouldtell。Andshecometoseeme，totryandgetnewsonhim。'It'saqueerkindo'story，'saidKester，meditatively。'Ashouldha'
　　thoughtasPhilipweremorelikelytoha'gi'enhimashoveintot'thickonit，thant'helphimouto't'scrape。''Nay！'saidSylvia，suddenlylookingstraightatKester;'yo'reouttheere。
　　Philiphadadealo'goodinhim。AndIdunnotthinkashe'dha'goneandmarriedanotherwomansosoon，ifhe'dbeeni'Kinraid'splace。''An'yo'veniverhearedonPhilipsin'heleft？'askedKester，afterawhile。'Niver;noughtbutwhatshetoldme。Andshesaidthatt'captainmadeinquiryforhimrightandleft，assoonafterthathappenedasmightbe，andcouldhearniverawordabouthim。Noonehadseenhim，orknowedhisname。''Yo'niverhearedofhisgoin'fort'beasoldier？'perseveredKester。'Niver。I'vetoldyo'once。ItwereunlikePhiliptothinko'suchathing。''Butthoumunha'beenthinkin'onhimattimesi'a'theseyears。Badashe'dbehavedhissel'，heweret'feythero'thylittleun。Whatdidtathinkhehadbeenagaitonwhenhelefthere？''Ididn'tknow。Iwerenoanesokeena—thinkingonhimatfirst。Itriedtoputhimouto'mythoughts。a'together，foritmademelikemadtothinkhowhe'dstoodbetweenmeand——thatother。ButI'dbeguntowonderandtowonderabouthim，andtothinkIshouldliketohearasheweredoingwell。IreckonIthoughthewerei'London，wheerehe'dbeenthattimeafore，yo'know，andhadallaysspokeasifhe'denjoyedhissel'tolerable;
　　andthenMollyBruntontoldmeont'otherone'smarriage;and，somehow，itgavemeashakeinmyheart，andIbeganfortowishIhadn'tsaidallthemwordsi'mypassion;andthenthatfineyoungladycomewi'herstory——andI'vethoughtadealonitsince，——andmymindhascomeoutclear。Philip'sdead，anditwerehisspiritascometot'other'shelpinhistimeo'
　　need。I'veheardfeythersayasspiritscannotresti'theirgravesfortryingtoundot'wrongsthey'vedonei'theirbodies。''Them'smyconclusions，'saidKester，solemnly。'Awasfainfortohearwhatwereyo'rjudgmentsfirst;butthem'stheconclusionsIcomedtoassoonasIheardt'tale。''Letalonethatonething，'saidSylvia，'hewereakind，goodman。''Itwereabigdealona"onething，"though，'saidKester。'Itjustspoiltyo'rlife，mypoorlass;an'mightha'goneneartospoilin'CharleyKinraid'stoo。''Mentakesadealmorenorwomentospoiltheirlives，'saidSylvia，bitterly。'Nota'mak'o'men。Ireckon，lass，Philip'slifewereprettywellonforbein'spoiltatafterhelefthere;anditweremebbe，agoodthinghegotridonitsosoon。''IwishI'djusthadafewkindwordswi'him，Ido，'saidSylvia，almostonthepointofcrying。'Come，lass，it'sasillmoanin'afterwhat'spastasit'udbeformet'fillmyeyeswi'weepin'aftert'humbugsasthislittlewencho'thinehasgrubbedupwhilstwe'nbeentalkin'。Why，there'snotoneon'emleft！''She'sasadspoiltlittlepuss！'saidSylvia，holdingoutherarmstothechild，whoranintothem，andbeganpattinghermother'scheeks，andpullingatthesoftbrowncurlstuckedawaybeneaththematronlycap。'Mammyspoilsher，andHesterspoilsher————''GrannyRosedoesn'tspoilme，'saidthechild，withquick，intelligentdiscrimination，interruptinghermother'slist。'No;butJeremiahFosterdoesaboveabit。He'llcomeinfro't'Bank，Kester，andaskforher，a'mostiveryday。Andhe'llbringherthingsinhispocket;andshe'ssofause，sheallaysgoesstraighttopeepin，andthenheshiftst'appleort'toyintoanother。Eh！butshe'salittlefauseone，'——halfdevouringthechildwithherkisses。'Andhecomesandtakesherawalkoftentimes，andhegoesasslowasifhewerequiteanoldman，tokeeppacewi'Bella'ssteps。Ioftenrunupstairsandwatch'emouto't'window;hedoesn'tcaretohavemewith'em，he'ssofaint'havet'childalltohisself。''She'sabonnyun，forsure，'saidKester;'butnotsoprettyasthouwas，Sylvie。A'venivertell'dtheewhatacomefortho'，andit'sabouttimeformet'begoin'。A'mofftot'Cheviotsto—morrowmornt'fetchhomesomesheepasJonasBlundellhaspurchased。It'llbeajobo'betternortwomonthsareckon。''It'llbeanicetimeo'year，'saidSylvia，alittlesurprisedatKester'sevidentdiscouragementattheprospectofthejourneyorabsence;hehadoftenbeenawayfromMonks—havenforalongertimewithoutseemingtocaresomuchaboutit。'Well，yo'seeit'sabitharduponmefort'leavemysistersheasist'widow—woman，wheereaputupwhena'mathome。Thingsismainan'dear;
　　four—poundloavesisatsixteenpence;an'there'sadealo'talkonafaminei't'land;an'whatenapaidformyvictualan't'bedi't'lean—tohelpedt'oudwomanabit，——an'she'ssadlydowni't'mouth，forshecannothearonalodgerfort'tak'myplace，fora'she'smovedo'ertot'othersideo't'bridgefort'benearert'newbuildings，an't'grandnewwalkthey'remakin'roundt'cliffsthinkin'she'dbelikeliert'pickupalaboureraswouldbegladonabednearhiswork。A'dha'likedtoha'setheragaitwi'a'sponsiblelodgeraforea'dha'left，forshe'sjustsosoft—hearted，anyscampmayputuponherifhenobbutgetshoudonherblindside。''CanIhelpher？'saidSylvia，inhereagerway。'Ishouldbesoglad;