Awerejusta—restin'meataftera'dcomedin，nothalfanhouri't'
　　place。A'vewalkedbetternoradozenmileto—day;an'aranout，an'alooked，an'justont'walk，att'turn，wast'swishofawaverunnin'
　　backasquickast'mischiefint't'sea，an'oudJeremiahstandin'likeonecrazy，lookin'o'erint't'watter;an'likeastrokeo'leeghtnin'
　　comesaman，an'int't'verymidsto't'greatwaveslikeashot;an'
　　thenaknowedsummutwereint'watteraswerenearerdeaththanlife;
　　an'aseemedtomisdoubtmethatitwereourBella;an'ashoutsan'acriesforhelp，an'agoesmysel'tot'veryedgeo't'cliff，an，abidsoudJeremiah，aswaslikeonebesidehissel'，houdtightonme，forheweregoodfornoughtelse;an'abidesmytime，an'whenaseestwoarmshoudin'outalittledrippin'streamin'child，aclutchesherbyherwaist—band，an'haulshertoland。She'snoanet'worseforherbath，a'llbebound。''Imungo——letme，'saidSylvia，strugglingwithhisdetaininghand，whichhehadlaiduponherinthefearthatshewouldslipdowntothegroundinafaint，soashen—greywasherface。'Letme，——Bella，Imungoseeher。'Heletgo，andshestoodstill，suddenlyfeelingherselftooweaktostir。'Now，ifyou'lltryabittobequiet，a'llleadyo'along;butyo'munbeasteadyandbravelass。''I'llbeaughtifyo'onlyletmeseeBella，'saidSylvia，humbly。'An'yo'niveraxatafterhimassavedher。'saidKester，reproachfully。'Iknowit'sPhilip，'shewhispered，'andyo'saidhewantedme;soIknowhe'ssafe;and，Kester，IthinkI'm'fearedonhim，andI'dliketogathercourageaforeseeinghim，andalookatBellawouldgivemecourage。ItwereaterribletimewhenIsawhimlast，andIdidsay————''Niverthinkonwhatthoudidsay;thinkonwhatthouwillsaytohimnow，forheliesa—dyin'！Heweredashedagaint'cliffan'bruisedsoreinhisinnardsaforet'menascomewi'aboatcouldpickhimup。'Shedidnotspeak;shedidnoteventremblenow;shesetherteethtogether，and，holdingtightbyKester，sheurgedhimon;butwhentheycametotheendofthebridge，sheseemeduncertainwhichwaytoturn。'Thisway，'saidKester。'He'sbeenlodgin'wi'Sallythisnineweek，an'
　　niveraoneaboutt'placeasknowedhim;he'sbeeni't'warsan'gettenhisfacebrunt。''Andhewasshorto'food，'moanedSylvia，'andwehadplenty，andItriedtomakeyo'rsisterturnhimout，andsendhimaway。Oh！willGodiverforgiveme？'Mutteringtoherself，breakinghermutteringswithsharpcriesofpain，Sylvia，withKester'shelp，reachedwidowDobson'shouse。Itwasnolongeraquiet，lonelydwelling。Severalsailorsstoodaboutthedoor，awaiting，insilentanxiety，fortheverdictofthedoctor，whowasevennowexaminingPhilip'sinjuries。Twoorthreewomenstoodtalkingeagerly，inlowvoices，inthedoorway。ButwhenSylviadrewnearthemenfellback;andthewomenmovedasideasthoughtoallowhertopass，alllookinguponherwithacertainamountofsympathy，butperhapswithrathermoreofantagonisticwonderastohowshewastakingit——shewhohadbeenlivingineaseandcomfortwhileherhusband'sshelterwaslittlebetterthanahovel，herhusband'sdailylifeastrugglewithstarvation;forsomuchofthelodgeratwidowDobson'swaspopularlyknown;andanydistrustofhimasastrangerandatrampwasquiteforgottennow。Sylviafeltthehardnessoftheirlooks，thehardnessoftheirsilence;
　　butitwasasnothingtoher。Ifsuchthingscouldhavetouchedheratthismoment，shewouldnothavestoodstillrightinthemidstoftheiravertedhearts，andmurmuredsomethingtoKester。Hecouldnothearthewordsutteredbythathoarsechokedvoice，untilhehadstoopeddownandbroughthiseartothelevelofhermouth。'We'dbetterwaitfort'doctorstocomeout，'shesaidagain。Shestoodbythedoor，shiveringallover，almostfacingthepeopleintheroad，butwithherfaceturnedalittletotheright，sothattheythoughtshewaslookingatthepathwayonthecliff—side，ahundredyardsorsodistant，belowwhichthehungrywavesstilllashedthemselvesintohighascendingspray;whilenearertothecottage，wheretheirforcewasbrokenbythebarattheentrancetotheriver，theycamesoftlylappinguptheshelvingshore。Sylviasawnothingofallthis，thoughitwasstraightbeforehereyes。
　　Sheonlysawablurredmist;sheheardnosoundofwaters，thoughitfilledtheearsofthosearound。InsteadsheheardlowwhisperspronouncingPhilip'searthlydoom。Forthedoctorswerebothagreed;hisinternalinjurywasofamortalkind，although，asthespinewasseverelyinjuredabovetheseatofthefatalbruise，hehadnopaininthelowerhalfofhisbody。TheyhadspokeninsolowatonethatJohnFoster，standingonlyafootorsoaway，hadnotbeenabletoheartheirwords。ButSylviaheardeachsyllabletherewhereshestoodoutside，shiveringalloverinthesultrysummerevening。SheturnedroundtoKester。'Imungotohim，Kester;thou'llseethatnoanecomeintous，whent'
　　doctorscomeout。'Shespokeinasoft，calmvoice;andhe，notknowingwhatshehadheard，madesomeeasyconditionalpromise。Thenthoseoppositetothecottagedoorfellback，fortheycouldseethegravedoctorscomingout，andJohnFoster，graver，sadderstill，followingthem。Withoutawordtothem——withoutawordevenofinquiry——whichmanyoutsidethoughtandspokeofasstrange——white—faced，dry—eyedSylviaslippedintothehouseoutoftheirsight。Andthewaveskeptlappingontheshelvingshore。Theroominsidewasdark，allexceptthelittlehaloorcircleoflightmadebyadip—candle。WidowDobsonhadherbacktothebed——herbed——ontowhichPhiliphadbeenborneinthehurryofterrorastowhetherhewasaliveorwhetherhewasdead。Shewascrying——cryingquietly，butthetearsdown—fallingfast，as，withherbacktothelowlybed，shewasgatheringupthedrippingclothescutofffromthepoormaimedbodybythedoctors'
　　orders。SheonlyshookherheadasshesawSylvia，spirit—like，stealin——white，noiseless，andupbornefromearth。Butnoiselessasherstepmightbe，heheard，herecognized，andwithasighheturnedhispoordisfiguredfacetothewall，hidingitintheshadow。Heknewthatshewasbyhim;thatshehadkneltdownbyhisbed;thatshewaskissinghishand，overwhichthelanguorofapproachingdeathwasstealing。
　　Butnoonespoke。Atlengthhesaid，hisfacestillaverted，speakingwithaneffort。'Littlelassie，forgivemenow！Icannotlivetoseethemorn！'Therewasnoanswer，onlyalongmiserablesigh，andhefelthersoftcheeklaiduponhishand，andthequiverthatranthroughherwholebody。'Ididtheeacruelwrong，'hesaid，atlength。'Iseeitnow。ButI'madyingman。IthinkthatGodwillforgiveme——andI'vesinnedagainstHim;try，lassie——try，mySylvie——willnotthouforgiveme？'Helistenedintentlyforamoment。Heheardthroughtheopenwindowthewaveslappingontheshelvingshore。Buttherecamenowordfromher;onlythatsamelongshivering，miserablesighbrokefromherlipsatlength。'Child，'saidhe，oncemore。'Iha'madetheemyidol;andifIcouldlivemylifeo'eragainIwouldlovemyGodmore，andtheeless;andthenI
　　shouldn'tha'sinnedthissinagainstthee。Butspeakonewordoflovetome——onelittleword，thatImayknowIhavethypardon。''Oh，Philip！Philip！'shemoaned，thusadjured。Thensheliftedherhead，andsaid，'Themwerewicked，wickedwords，asIsaid;andawickedvowasIvowed;
　　andLordGodAlmightyhasta'enmeatmyword。I'msorelypunished，Philip，Iamindeed。'Hepressedherhand，hestrokedhercheek。Butheaskedforyetanotherword。'Ididtheeawrong。InmylyingheartIforgottodototheeasIwouldhavehadtheetodotome。AndIjudgedKinraidinmyheart。''Thouthoughtashewasfaithlessandfickle，'sheansweredquickly;'andsohewere。Heweremarriedtoanotherwomannotsomanyweeksatafterthouwentaway。Oh，Philip，Philip！andnowIhavetheeback，and'Dying'wasthewordshewouldhavesaid，butfirstthedreadoftellinghimwhatshebelievedhedidnotknow，andnextherpassionatesobs，chokedher。'Iknow，'saidhe，oncemorestrokinghercheek，andsoothingherwithgentle，caressinghand。'Littlelassie！'hesaid，afterawhilewhenshewasquietfromveryexhaustion，'Iniverthoughttobesohappyagain。
　　Godisverymerciful。'Sheliftedupherhead，andaskedwildly，'WillHeiverforgiveme，thinkyo'？Idroveyo'outfra'yo'rhome，andsentyo'awaytot'wars，wheereyo'mightha'gettenyo'rdeath;andwhenyo'comeback，poorandlone，andweary，Itoldherfort'turnyo'out，fora'Iknewyo'mustbestarvinginthesefaminetimes。IthinkIshallgoaboutamongthemasgnashtheirteethforiver，whileyo'arewheerealltearsarewipedaway。''No！'saidPhilip，turningroundhisface，forgetfulofhimselfinhisdesiretocomforther。'Godpitiesusasafatherpitieshispoorwanderingchildren;thenearerIcometodeaththeclearerIseeHim。Butyouandmehavedonewrongtoeachother;yetwecanseenowhowwewereledtoit;wecanpityandforgiveoneanother。I'mgettinglowandfaint，lassie;
　　butthoumustrememberthisGodknowsmore，andismoreforgivingthaneitheryoutome，ormetoyou。IthinkanddobelieveasweshallmeettogetherbeforeHisface;butthenIshallha'learnttolovetheesecondtoHim;notfirst，asIhavedonehereupontheearth。'Thenhewassilent——verystill。Sylviaknew——widowDobsonhadbroughtitin——thattherewassomekindofmedicine，sentbythehopelessdoctors，lyinguponthetablehardby，andshesoftlyroseandpoureditoutanddroppeditintothehalf—openmouth。Thenshekneltdownagain，holdingthehandfeeblystretchedouttoher，andwatchingthefaintlightinthewistfullovingeyes。Andinthestillnesssheheardtheceaselesswaveslappingagainsttheshelvingshore。Somethinglikeanhourbeforethistime，whichwasthedeepestmidnightofthesummer'snight，HesterRosehadcomehurryinguptheroadtowhereKesterandhissistersateoutsidetheopendoor，keepingtheirwatchunderthestar—litsky，allothershavinggoneaway，onebyone，evenJohnandJeremiahFosterhavingreturnedtotheirownhouse，wherethelittleBellalay，sleepingasoundandhealthyslumberafterherperilousadventure。HesterhadheardbutlittlefromWilliamDarleyastotheownerofthewatchandthehalf—crown;buthewaschagrinedatthefailureofallhisskilfulinterrogationstoelicitthetruth，andpromisedherfurtherinformationinafewdays，withallthemorevehemencebecausehewasunaccustomedtobebaffled。AndHesterhadagainwhisperedtoherself'Patience！Patience！'
　　andhadslowlyreturnedbacktoherhometofindthatSylviahadleftit，whyshedidnotatoncediscover。But，growinguneasyastheadvancinghoursneitherbroughtSylvianorlittleBellatotheirhome，shehadsetoutforJeremiahFoster'sassoonasshehadseenhermothercomfortablyasleepinherbed;andthenshehadlearntthewholestory，bitbybit，aseachpersonwhospokebrokeinuponthepreviousnarrationwithsomenewparticular。ButfromnoonedidsheclearlylearnwhetherSylviawaswithherhusband，ornot;andsoshecamespeedingalongtheroad，breathless，towhereKestersateinwakeful，mournfulsilence，hissister'ssleepingheadlyingonhisshoulder，thecottagedooropen，bothforairandthattheremightbehelpwithincallifneeded;andthedimslantingoblongoftheinteriorlightlyingacrosstheroad。Hestercamepantingup，tooagitatedandbreathlesstoaskhowmuchwastruthofthefatal，hopelesstalewhichshehadheard。Kesterlookedatherwithoutaword。Throughthissolemnmomentarysilencethelappingoftheceaselesswaveswasheard，astheycameupcloseontheshelvingshore。'He？Philip？'saidshe。Kestershookhisheadsadly。'Andhiswife——Sylvia？'saidHester。'Intherewithhim，alone，'whisperedKester。Hesterturnedaway，andwrungherhandstogether。'Oh，LordGodAlmighty！'saidshe，'wasInotevenworthytobringthemtogetheratlast？Andshewentawayslowlyandheavilybacktothesideofhersleepingmother。But'Thywillbedone'wasonherquiveringlipsbeforeshelaydowntoherrest。Thesoftgreydawnlightensthedarknessofamidsummernightsoonaftertwoo'clock。Philipwatcheditcome，knowingthatitwashislastsightofday，——aswereckondaysonearth。Hehadbeenoftenneardeathasasoldieronceortwice，aswhenherushedintofiretosaveKinraid，hischancesoflifehadbeenasonetoahundred;
　　butyethehadhadachance。Butnowtherewasthenewfeeling——thelastnewfeelingwhichweshallanyofusexperienceinthisworld——thatdeathwasnotonlycloseathand，butinevitable。Hefeltitsnumbnessstealinguphim——stealinguphim。Buttheheadwasclear，thebrainmorethancommonlyactiveinproducingvividimpressions。Itseemedbutyesterdaysincehewasalittleboyathismother'sknee，wishingwithalltheearnestnessofhischildishhearttobelikeAbraham，whowascalledthefriendofGod，orDavid，whowassaidtobethemanafterGod'sownheart，orSt。John，whowascalled'theBeloved。'Asverypresentseemedthedayonwhichhemaderesolutionsoftryingtobelikethem;itwasinthespring，andsomeonehadbroughtincowslips;andthescentofthoseflowerswasinhisnostrilsnowashelaya—dying——hislifeended，hisbattlesfought，histimefor'beinggood'overandgone——theopportunity，oncegiveninalleternity，past。Allthetemptationsthathadbesethimroseclearlybeforehim;thescenesthemselvesstoodupintheirsolidmaterialism——hecouldhavetouchedtheplaces;thepeople，thethoughts，theargumentsthatSatanhadurgedinbehalfofsin，werereproducedwiththevividnessofapresenttime。Andheknewthatthethoughtswereillusions，theargumentsfalseandhollow;
　　forinthathourcametheperfectvisionoftheperfecttruth:hesawthe'waytoescape'whichhadcomealongwiththetemptation;now，thestrongresolveofanardentboyhood，withallalifebeforeittoshowtheworld'whataChristianmightbe;'andthentheswift，terriblenow，whenhisnaked，guiltysoulshrankintotheshadowofGod'smercy—seat，outoftheblazeofHisangeragainstallthosewhoactalie。Hismindwaswandering，andhepluckeditback。Wasthisdeathinverydeed？Hetriedtograspatthepresent，theearthlypresent，fadingquickaway。Helaythereonthebed——onSallyDobson'sbedinthehouse—place，notonhisaccustomedpalletinthelean—to。Heknewthatmuch。Andthedoorwasopenintothestill，dusknight;andthroughtheopencasementhecouldhearthelappingofthewavesontheshelvingshore，couldseethesoftgreydawnoverthesea——heknewitwasoverthesea——hesawwhatlayunseenbehindthepoorwallsofthecottage。AnditwasSylviawhoheldhishandtightinherwarm，livinggrasp;itwashiswifewhosearmwasthrownaroundhim，whosesobbingsighsshookhisnumbedframefromtimetotime。'Godblessandcomfortmydarling，'hesaidtohimself。'Sheknowsmenow。
　　Allwillberightinheaven——inthelightofGod'smercy。'Andthenhetriedtorememberallthathehadeverreadabout，God，andallthattheblessedChrist——thatbringethgladtidingsofgreatjoyuntoallpeoplehadsaidoftheFather，fromwhomHecame。Thosesayingsdroppedlikebalmdownuponhistroubledheartandbrain。Herememberedhismother，andhowshehadlovedhim;andhewasgoingtoalovewiser，tenderer，deeperthanhers。Ashethoughtthis，hemovedhishandsasiftopray;butSylviaclenchedherhold，andhelaystill，prayingallthesameforher，forhischild，andforhimself。Thenhesawtheskyreddenwiththefirstflushofdawn;
　　heheardKester'slong—drawnsighofwearinessoutsidetheopendoor。HehadseenwidowDobsonpassthroughlongbeforetokeeptheremainderofherwatchonthebedinthelean—to，whichhadbeenhisformanyandmanyasleeplessandtearfulnight。Thosenightswereover——heshouldneverseethatpoorchamberagain，thoughitwasscarcetwofeetdistant。Hebegantoloseallsenseofthecomparativedurationoftime:itseemedaslongsincekindSallyDobsonhadbentoverhimwithsoft，lingeringlook，beforegoingintothehumblesleeping—room——aslongasitwassincehisboyhood，whenhestoodbyhismotherdreamingofthelifethatshouldbehis，withthescentofthecowslipstemptinghimtobeofftothewoodlandswheretheygrew。Thentherecamearushandaneddyingthroughhisbrain——hissoultryingherwingsforthelongflight。Againhewasinthepresent:
　　heheardthewaveslappingagainsttheshelvingshoreonceagain。AndnowhisthoughtscamebacktoSylvia。Oncemorehespokealoud，inastrangeandterriblevoice，whichwasnothis。Everysoundcamewitheffortsthatwerenewtohim。'Mywife！Sylvie！Oncemore——forgivemeall。'Shesprangup，shekissedhispoorburntlips;sheheldhiminherarms，shemoaned，andsaid，'Oh，wickedme！forgiveme——me——Philip！'Thenhespoke，andsaid，'Lord，forgiveusourtrespassesasweforgiveeachother！'Andafterthatthepowerofspeechwasconqueredbythecomingdeath。Helayverystill，hisconsciousnessfastfadingaway，yetcomingbackinthrobs，sothatheknewitwasSylviawhotouchedhislipswithcordial，andthatitwasSylviawhomurmuredwordsofloveinhisear。
　　Heseemedtosleepatlast，andsohedid——akindofsleep，butthelightoftheredmorningsunfellonhiseyes，andwithonestrongeffortheroseup，andturnedsoasoncemoretoseehiswife'spalefaceofmisery。'Inheaven，'hecried，andabrightsmilecameonhisface，ashefellbackonhispillow。NotlongafterHestercame，thelittleBellascarceawakeinherarms，withthepurposeofbringinghischildtoseehimereyethepassedaway。
　　Hesterhadwatchedandprayedthroughthelivelongnight。Andnowshefoundhimdead，andSylvia，tearlessandalmostunconscious，lyingbyhim，herhandholdinghis，herotherthrownaroundhim。Kester，pooroldman，wassobbingbitterly;butshenotatall。ThenHesterboreherchildtoher，andSylviaopenedwidehermiserableeyes，andonlystared，asifallsensewasgonefromher。ButBellasuddenlyrousingupatthesightofthepoor，scarred，peacefulface，criedout，——'Poormanwhowassohungry。Ishenothungrynow？''No，'saidHester，softly。'Theformerthingsarepassedaway——andheisgonewherethereisnomoresorrow，andnomorepain。'Butthenshebrokedownintoweepingandcrying。Sylviasatupandlookedather。'Whydoyo'cry，Hester？'shesaid。'Yo'niversaidthatyo'wouldn'tforgivehimaslongasyo'lived。Yo'niverbroketheheartofhimthatlovedyo'，andlethimalmoststarveatyo'rverydoor。Oh，Philip！myPhilip，tenderandtrue。'ThenHestercameroundandclosedthesadhalf—openeyes;kissingthecalmbrowwithalongfarewellkiss。Asshedidso，hereyefellonablackribbonroundhisneck。Shepartlylifteditout;toitwashungahalf—crownpiece。'ThisisthepieceheleftatWilliamDarley'stobebored，'saidshe，'notmanydaysago。'Bellahadcrepttohermother'sarmsasaknownhaveninthisstrangeplace;
　　andthetouchofhischildloosenedthefountainsofhertears。Shestretchedoutherhandfortheblackribbon，putitroundherownneck;afterawhileshesaid，'IfIliveverylong，andtryhardtobeverygoodallthattime，doyo'
　　think，Hester，asGodwillletmetohimwhereheis？'*******Monkshavenisalterednowintoarisingbathingplace。Yet，standingnearthesiteofwidowDobson'shouseonasummer'snight，attheebbofaspring—tide，youmayhearthewavescomelappinguptheshelvingshorewiththesameceaseless，ever—recurrentsoundasthatwhichPhiliplistenedtointhepausesbetweenlifeanddeath。Andsoitwillbeuntil'thereshallbenomoresea。'Butthememoryofmanfadesaway。Afewoldpeoplecanstilltellyouthetraditionofthemanwhodiedinacottagesomewhereaboutthisspot，——diedofstarvationwhilehiswifelivedinhard—heartedplentynottwogoodstone—throwsaway。Thisistheformintowhichpopularfeeling，andignoranceoftherealfacts，havemouldedthestory。Notlongsincealadywenttothe'PublicBaths'ahandsomestonebuildingerectedontheverysiteofwidowDobson'scottage，andfindingalltheroomsengagedshesatdownandhadsometalkwiththebathingwoman;and，asitchanced，theconversationfellonPhilipHepburnandthelegendofhisfate。'IknewanoldmanwhenIwasagirl，'saidthebathingwoman，'ascouldniverabidetoheart'wifeblamed。Hewouldsaynothingagain'th'husband;
　　heusedtosayasitwerenotfitformentobejudging;thatshehadhadhersoretrial，aswellasHepburnhisself。'Theladyasked，'Whatbecameofthewife？''Shewasapale，sadwoman，allaysdressedinblack。IcanjustrememberherwhenIwasalittlechild，butshediedbeforeherdaughterwaswellgrownup;andMissRosetookt'lassie，ashadalwaysbeenlikeherown。''MissRose？''HesterRose！haveyo'niverhearedofHesterRose，sheasfoundedt'alms—housesforpoordisabledsailorsandsoldiersont'Horncastleroad？There'sapieceo'stoneinfronttosaythat"ThisbuildingiserectedinmemoryofP。H。"——andsomefolkwillhaveitP。H。standsfort'nameo'th'manaswasstarvedtodeath。''Andthedaughter？''Oneo'th'Fosters，themasfoundedt'OldBank，leftheravasto'
　　money;andsheweremarriedtodistantcousinoftheirs，andwentofftosettleinAmericamanyandmanyayearago。'