forhefelt，inhissoreperplexedheart，fullofindignationanddumbanger，asifhemustgoandhearsomethingwhichshouldexorcisetheunwontedlongingforrevengethatdisturbedhisgrief，andmadehimconsciousofthatgreatblankofconsolationwhichfaithfulnessproduces。Andforthetimehewasfaithless。HowcameGodtopermitsuchcruelinjusticeofman？
　　Permittingit，Hecouldnotbegood。Thenwhatwaslife，andwhatwasdeath，butwoeanddespair？Thebeautifulsolemnwordsoftheritualhaddonehimgood，andrestoredmuchofhisfaith。Thoughhecouldnotunder—standwhysuchsorrowhadbefallenhimanymorethanbefore，hehadcomebacktosomethingofhischildliketrust;hekeptsayingtohimselfinawhisper，ashemountedthewearysteps，'ItistheLord'sdoing;'andtherepetitionsoothedhimunspeakably。Behindthisoldcouplefollowedtheirchildren，grownmenandwomen，comefromdistantplaceorfarmhouseservice;theservantsatthevicarage，andmanyaneighbour，anxioustoshowtheirsympathy，andmostofthesailorsfromthecrewsofthevesselsinport，joinedinprocession，andfollowedthedeadbodyintothechurch。TherewastoogreatacrowdimmediatelywithinthedoorforSylviaandMollytogoinagain，andtheyaccordinglybetookthemselvestotheplacewherethedeepgravewaswaiting，wideandhungry，toreceiveitsdead。
　　There，leaningagainst，theheadstonesallaround，weremanystanding——lookingoverthebroadandplacidsea，andturnedtothesoftsaltairwhichblewontheirhoteyesandrigidfaces;fornoonespokeofallthatnumber。
　　Theywerethinkingoftheviolentdeathofhimoverwhomthesolemnwordswerenowbeingsaidinthegrayoldchurch，scarcelyoutoftheirhearing，hadnotthesoundbeenbrokenbythemeasuredlappingofthetidefarbeneath。Suddenlyeveryonelookedroundtowardsthepathfromthechurchyardsteps。
　　Twosailorsweresupportingaghastlyfigurethat，withfeeblemotions，wasdrawingneartheopengrave。'It'st'specksioneerastriedtosavehim！It'shimaswasleftfordead！'
　　thepeoplemurmuredround。'It'sCharleyKinraid，asI'masinner！'saidMolly，startingforwardtogreethercousin。Butashecameon，shesawthatallhisstrengthwasneededforthemereactionofwalking。Thesailors，intheirstrongsympathy，hadyieldedtohisearnestentreaty，andcarriedhimupthesteps，inorderthathemightseethelastofhismessmate。Theyplacedhimnearthegrave，restingagainstastone，andhewashardlytherebeforethevicarcameforthandthegreatcrowdpouredoutofthechurch，followingthebodytothegrave。Sylviawassomuchwraptupinthesolemnityoftheoccasion，thatshehadnothoughttospareatthefirstmomentforthepaleandhaggardfigureopposite;muchlesswassheawareofhercousinPhilip，whonowsinglingheroutforthefirsttimefromamongthecrowd，pressedtoherside，withanintentionofcompanionshipandprotection。Astheservicewenton，ill—checkedsobsrosefrombehindthetwogirls，whowereamongtheforemostinthecrowdandby—and—bythecryandthewailbecamegeneral。Sylvia'stearsraineddownherface，andherdistressbecamesoevidentthatitattractedtheattentionofmanyinthatinnercircle。Amongotherswhonoticedit，thespecksioneer'sholloweyeswerecaughtbythesightoftheinnocentbloomingchildlikefaceoppositetohim，andhewonderedifshewerearelation;yet，seeingthatsheborenobadgeofmourning，heratherconcludedthatshemusthavebeenasweetheartofthedeadman。Andnowallwasover:therattleofthegravelonthecoffin;thelastlong，lingeringlookoffriendsandlovers;therosemarysprigshadbeencastdownbyallwhowerefortunateenoughtohavebroughtthem——andoh！
　　howmuchSylviawishedshehadrememberedthislastactofrespect——andslowlytheouterrimofthecrowdbegantoslackenanddisappear。NowPhilipspoketoSylvia。'Ineverdreamtofseeingyouhere。IthoughtmyauntalwayswenttoKirkMoorside。''IcamewithMollyCorney，'saidSylvia。'Motherisstayingathomewithfeyther。''How'shisrheumatics？'askedPhilip。ButatthesamemomentMollytookholdofSylvia'shand，andsaid——'Awantt'getroundandspeaktoCharley。Mother'llbemainandgladtohearashe'sgettenout;though，forsure，helooksasthoughhe'dha'
　　beenbetterin'sbed。Come，Sylvia。'AndPhilip，faintokeepwithSylvia，hadtofollowthetwogirlscloseuptothespecksioneer，whowaspreparingforhisslowlaboriouswalkbacktohislodgings。Hestoppedonseeinghiscousin。'Well，Molly，'saidhe，faintly，puttingouthishand，buthiseyepassingherfacetolookatSylviainthebackground，hertear—stainedfacefullofshyadmirationofthenearestapproachtoaheroshehadeverseen。'Well，Charley，aniverwassotakenabackaswhenasawyo'theere，likeaghost，a—standin'aginagravestone。Howwhiteandwanyo'dolook！''Ay！'saidhe，wearily，'wanandweakenough。''ButIhopeyou'regettingbetter，sir，'saidSylvia，inalowvoice，longingtospeaktohim，andyetwonderingatherowntemerity。'Thankyou，mylass。I'mo'erth'worst。'Hesighedheavily。Philipnowspoke。'We'redoinghimnokindnessa—keepinghimstandingherei't'night—fall，andhimsotired。'Andhemadeasthoughhewouldturnaway。Kinraid'stwosailorfriendsbackedupPhilip'swordswithsuchurgency，that，somehow，Sylviathoughttheyhadbeentoblameinspeakingtohim，andblushedexcessivelywiththeidea。'Yo'llcomeandbenursedatMossBrow，Charley，'saidMolly;andSylviadroppedherlittlemaidenlycurtsey，andsaid，'Good—by;'andwentaway，wonderinghowMollycouldtalksofreelytosuchahero;butthen，tobesure，hewasacousin，andprobablyasweetheart，andthatwouldmakeagreatdealofdifference，ofcourse。Meanwhileherowncousinkeptclosebyherside。
　　chapter07CHAPTERVIITETE—A—TETE。——THEWILL'Andnowtellmeallaboutt'folkathome，'saidPhilip，evidentlypreparingtowalkbackwiththegirls。HegenerallycametoHaytersbankeverySundayafternoon，soSylviaknewwhatshehadtoexpectthemomentshebecameawareofhisneighbourhoodinthechurchyard。'Myfeyther'sbeensadlytroubledwithhisrheumaticsthisweekpast;buthe'savastbetternow，thankyoukindly。'Then，addressingherselftoMolly，sheasked，'Hasyourcousinadoctortolookafterhim？''Ay，forsure！'saidMolly，quickly;forthoughsheknewnothingaboutthematter，shewasdeterminedtosupposethathercousinhadeverythingbecominganinvalidaswellasahero。'He'swell—to—do，andcanaffordiverythingasheneeds，'continuedshe。'Hisfeyther'slefthimmoney，andhewereafarmeroutupi'Northumberland，andhe'sreckonedsuchaspecksioneerasniver，niverwas，andgetswhatwageheasksforandashareoneverywhaleheharpoonsbeside。''Ireckonhe'llhavetomakehimselfscarceonthiscoastforawhile，atanyrate，'saidPhilip。'An'whatforshouldhe？'askedMolly，whoneverlikedPhilipatthebestoftimes，andnow，ifhewasgoingtodisparagehercousininanyway，wasreadytotakeuparmsanddobattle。'Why，theydosayashefiredtheshotashaskilledsomeo'themen—o'—war'smen，and，ofcourse，ifhehas，he'llhavetostandhistrialifhe'scaught。''Whatliespeopledosay！'exclaimedMolly。'Heniverkillednoughtbutwhales，a'llbebound;or，ifhedid，itwereallrightandproperasheshould，whentheywereforstealinghiman'allt'others，anddidkillpoorDarleyaswecomefra'seem'buried。Asuppose，nowyo'resuchaQuakerthat，ifsomeonewastobreakthroughfra't'othersideo'thisdyke，andofferfortomurderSylviaandme，yo'dlookonwi'yo'rhandshangingbyyo'rside。''Butt'press—ganghadlawontheirside，andweredoingnoughtbutwhatthey'dwarrantfor。''Th'tender'sgoneaway，asifshewereashamedo'whatshe'ddone，'saidSylvia，'andt'flag'sdownfra'o'ertheRandyvowse。There'llbenomorepress—ganginghereawhile。''No;feythersays，'continuedMolly，'asthey'vemadet'placetoohott'hold'em，comingsostrongaforepeoplehadgettenusedtotheirwayso'catchin'uppoorladsjustcomefra't'Greenlandseas。T'folksha'
　　theirbloodsoupthey'dthinknoharmo'fighting'emi't'streets——ay，ando'killing'em，too，iftheywereforusingfire—arms，ast'Aurora'smendid。''Womenissofondo'bloodshed，'saidPhilip;'fort'hearyoutalk，who'dha'thoughtyou'djustcomefra'cryingowerthegraveofamanwhowaskilledbyviolence？Ishouldha'thoughtyou'dseenenoughofwhatsorrowcomeso'fighting。Why，themladso't'AuroraastheysayKinraidshotdownhadfathersandmothers，maybe，alookingoutforthemtocomehome。''Idon'tthinkhecouldha'killedthem，'saidSylvia;'helookedsogentle。'ButMollydidnotlikethishalf—and—halfviewofthecase。'Adaresayhedidkill'emdead;he'snotonetodothingsbyhalves。
　　Andathinkheserved'emreet，that'swhatado。''Isna'thisHester，asservesinFoster'sshop？'askedSylvia，inalowvoice，asayoungwomancamethroughastileinthestonewallbytheroadside，andsuddenlyappearedbeforethem。'Yes，'saidPhilip。'Why，Hester，wherehaveyoubeen？'heasked，astheydrewnear。Hesterreddenedalittle，andthenreplied，inherslow，quietway——'I'vebeensittingwithBetsyDarley——herthatisbed—ridden。Itwerelonesomeforherwhentheotherswereawayattheburying。'Andshemadeasthoughshewouldhavepassed;butSylvia，allhersympathiesalivefortherelationsofthemurderedman，wantedtoaskmorequestions，andputherhandonHester'sarmtodetainheramoment。Hestersuddenlydrewbackalittle，reddenedstillmore，andthenrepliedfullyandquietlytoallSylviaasked。Intheagriculturalcounties，andamongtheclasstowhichthesefourpersonsbelonged，thereislittleanalysisofmotiveorcomparisonofcharactersandactions，evenatthispresentdayofenlightenment。Sixtyorseventyyearsagotherewasstillless。IdonotmeanthatamongstthoughtfulandseriouspeopletherewasnotmuchreadingofsuchbooksasMasononSelf—Knowledge，andLaw'sSeriousCall，orthattherewerenottheexperiencesoftheWesleyans，thatwererelatedatclass—meetingfortheedificationofthehearers。But，takenasageneralride，itmaybesaidthatfewknewwhatmannerofmentheywere，comparedtothenumbersnowwhoarefullyconsciousoftheirvirtues，qualities，failings，andweaknesses，andwhogoaboutcomparingotherswiththemselvesnotinaspiritofPharisaismandarrogance，butwithavividself—consciousnessthatmorethananythingelsedeprivescharactersoffreshnessandoriginality。Toreturntothepartyweleftstandingonthehigh—raisedfootwaythatranalongsideofthebridle—roadtoHaytersbank。Sylviahadleisureinherhearttothink'howgoodHesterisforsittingwiththepoorbed—riddensisterofDarley！'withouthavingapangofself—depreciationinthecomparisonofherownconductwiththatshewascapableofsofullyappreciating。
　　Shehadgonetochurchfortheendsofvanity，andremainedtothefuneralforcuriosityandthepleasureoftheexcitement。Inthiswayamodernyoungladywouldhavecondemnedherself，andthereforelostthesimple，purifyingpleasureofadmirationofanother。Hesterpassedonwards，goingdownthehilltowardsthetown。Theotherthreewalkedslowlyon。Allweresilentforafewmoments，thenSylviasaid——'Howgoodsheis！'AndPhiliprepliedwithreadywarmth，——'Yes，sheis;nooneknowshowgoodbutus，wholiveinthesamehousewi'her。''HermotherisanoldQuakeress，bean'tshe？'Mollyinquired。'AliceRoseisaFriend，ifthatiswhatyoumean，'saidPhilip。'Well，well！somefolk'ssoparticular。IsWilliamCoulsonaQuaker，bywhichameanaFriend？''Yes;they'reallon'emright—downgoodfolk。''Dearyme！Whatawonderyo'canspeaktosuchsinnersasSylviaandme，afterkeepin'companywithsomuchgoodness，'saidMolly，whohadnotyetforgivenPhilipfordoubtingKinraid'spowerofkillingmen。'Isna'it，Sylvia？'ButSylviawastoohighlystrungforbanter。Ifshehadnotbeenoneofthosewhowenttomock，butremainedtopray，shehadgonetochurchwiththethoughtofthecloak—that—was—to—beuppermostinhermind，andshehadcomedownthelongchurchstairwithlifeanddeathsuddenlybecomerealtohermind，theenduringseaandhillsformingacontrastingbackgroundtothevanishingawayofman。Shewasfullofasolemnwonderastotheabiding—placeofthesoulsofthedead，andachildlikedreadlestthenumberoftheelectshouldbeaccomplishedbeforeshewasincludedtherein。
　　Howpeoplecouldeverbemerryagainaftertheyhadbeenatafuneral，shecouldnotimagine;sosheansweredgravely，andslightlybesidethequestion:'IwonderifIwasaFriendifIshouldbegood？''Gi'meyourredcloak，that'sall，whenyo'turnQuaker;they'llnonelettheewearscarlet，soit'llbeofnouset'thee。''Ithinkthou'rtgoodenoughasthouart，'saidPhilip，tenderly——atleastastenderlyashedurst，forheknewbyexperiencethatitdidnotdotoalarmhergirlishcoyness。EitheronespeechortheothermadeSylviasilent;
　　neitherwasaccordanttohermoodofmind，soperhapsbothcontributedtoherquietness。'FolksayWilliamCoulsonlookssweetonHesterRose，'saidMolly，alwaysupinMonkshavengossip。Itwasintheformofanassertion，butwassaidinthetoneofaquestion，andassuchPhiliprepliedtoit。'Yes，Ithinkhelikesheragooddeal;buthe'ssoquiet，Ineverfeelsure。JohnandJeremiahwouldlikethematch，I'veanotion。'AndnowtheycametothestilewhichhadfilledPhilip'seyeforsomeminutespast，thoughneitheroftheothershadperceivedtheyweresonearit;
　　thestilewhichledtoMossBrowfromtheroadintothefieldsthatslopeddowntoHaystersbank。HeretheywouldleaveMolly，andnowwouldbeginthedelicioustete—a—tetewalk，whichPhilipalwaystriedtomakeaslingeringaspossible。To—dayhewasanxioustoshowhissympathywithSylvia，asfarashecouldreadwhatwaspassinginhermind;buthowwashetoguessthemultitudeoftangledthoughtsinthatunseenreceptacle？
　　Aresolutiontobegood，ifshecould，andalwaystobethinkingondeath，sothatwhatseemedtohernowassimplyimpossible，mightcometrue——thatshemight'dreadthegraveaslittleasherbed;'awishthatPhilipwerenotcominghomewithher;awonderifthespecksioneerreallyhadkilledaman，anideawhichmadehershudder;yetfromtheawfulfascinationaboutit，herimaginationwascompelledtodwellonthetall，gauntfigure，andtrytorecallthewancountenance;ahatredanddesireofrevengeonthepress—gang，sovehementthatitsadlymilitatedagainstherintentionoftryingtobegood;allthesenotions，andwonders，andfancies，werewhirlingaboutinSylvia'sbrain，andatoneoftheirpromptingsshespoke，——'Howmanymilesawayist'Greenlandseas？——Imean，howlongdotheytaketoreach？''Idon'tknow;tendaysorafortnight，ormore，maybe。I'llask。''Oh！feyther'lltellmeallaboutit。He'sbeentheremanyatune。''Isay，Sylvie！MyauntsaidIweretogiveyoulessonsthiswinteri'
　　writingandciphering。Icanbegintocomeupnow，twoevenings，maybe，aweek。T'shopclosesearlyafterNovembercomesin。'Sylviadidnotlikelearning，anddidnotwanthimforherteacher;sosheansweredinadrylittletone，——'It'lluseadealo'candle—light;mother'llnotlikethat。Ican'tseetospellwi'outacandlecloseatmyelbow。''Nivermindaboutcandles。Icanbringupacandlewi'me，forIshouldbeburningoneatAliceRose's。'Sothatexcusewouldnotdo。Sylviabeatherbrainsforanother。'Writingcrampsmyhandso，Ican'tdoanysewingforadayafter;andfeytherwantshisshirtsverybad。''But，Sylvia，I'llteachyougeography，andeversuchavasto'finethingsaboutt'countries，ont'map。''Ist'Arcticseasdownont'map？'sheasked，inatoneofgreaterinterest。'Yes！Arctics，andtropics，andequator，andequinoctialline;we'lltake'emturnandturnabout;we'lldowritingandcipheringonenight，andgeographyt'other。'Philipspokewithpleasureattheprospect，butSylviarelaxedintoindifference。'I'mnoscholard;it'slikethrowingawaylabourtoteachme，I'msuchadunceatmybook。Nowthere'sBetsyCorney，thirdgirl，herasisyoungerthanMolly，she'dbeacredittoyou。Thereniverwassuchalassforpotteringowerbooks。'IfPhiliphadhadhiswitsabouthim，hewouldhavepre—tendedtolistentothispropositionofachangeofpupils，andthenpossiblySylviamighthaverepentedmakingit。Buthewastoomuchmortifiedtobediplomatic。'Myauntaskedmetoteachyouabit，notanyneighbour'slass。''Well！ifImunbetaught，Imun;butI'draytherbewhippedandha'donewithit，'wasSylvia'sungraciousreply。Amomentafterwards，sherepentedofherlittlespiritofunkindness，andthoughtthatsheshouldnotliketodiethatnightwithoutmakingfriends。
　　Suddendeathwasverypresentinherthoughtssincethefuneral。Sosheinstinctivelychosethebestmethodofmakingfriendsagain，andslippedherhandintohis，ashewalkedalittlesullenlyatherside。Shewashalfafraid，however，whenshefounditfirmlyheld，andthatshecouldnotdrawitawayagainwithoutmakingwhatshecalledinherownminda'fuss。'So，handinhand，theyslowlyandsilentlycameuptothedoorofHaytersbankFarm;notunseenbyBellRobson，whosateinthewindow—seat，withherBibleopenuponherknee。Shehadreadherchapteraloudtoherself，andnowshecouldseenolonger，evenifshehadwishedtoreadmore;butshegazedoutintothedarkeningair，andadimlookofcontentmentcamelikemoonshineoverherfacewhenshesawthecousinsapproach。'That'smyprayerdayandnight，'saidshetoherself。Buttherewasnounusualaspectofgladnessonherface，asshelightedthecandletogivethemamorecheerfulwelcome。'Wheere'sfeyther？'saidSylvia，lookingroundtheroomforDaniel。'He'sbeentoKirkMoorsideChurch，fort'seeabito'th'world，asheca'sit。Andsin'thenhe'sgoneouttoth'cattle;forKester'sta'enhisturnofplayinghissel'，nowthatfather'sbetter。''I'vebeentalkingtoSylvia，'saidPhilip，hisheadstillfullofhispleasantplan，hishandstilltinglingfromthetouchofhers，'aboutturningschoolmaster，andcomingupheretwonightsaweekfort'teachherabito'writingandciphering。''Andgeography，'putinSylvia;'for，'thoughtshe，'ifI'mtolearnthemthingsIdon'tcareapinabout，anyhowI'lllearnwhatIdocaretoknow，ifit'lltellmeaboutt'Greenlandseas，andhowfarthey'reoff。'Thatsameevening，atrioalikeinmanyoutwardcircumstancessateinasmallneatroominahouseopeningoutofaconfinedcourtonthehillysideoftheHighStreetofMonkshaven——amother，heronlychild，andtheyoungmanwhosilentlylovedthatdaughter，andwasfavouredbyAliceRose，thoughnotbyHester。Whenthelatterreturnedfromherafternoon'sabsence，shestoodforaminuteortwoonthelittleflightofsteepsteps，whitenedtoasnowywhiteness;theaspectofthewholehousepartookofthesamecharacterofirreproachablecleanliness。Itwaswedgedupintoaspacewhichnecessitatedallsortsofoddprojectionsandirregularitiesinordertoobtainsufficientlightfortheinterior;andifeverthebeingsituatedinadusky，confinedcornermighthavebeenmadeanexcusefordirt，AliceRose'shousehadthatapology。Yetthesmalldiamondpanesofglassinthecasementwindowwerekeptsobrightandclearthatagreatsweet—scented—leavedgeraniumgrewandflourished，thoughitdidnotflowerprofusely。TheleavesseemedtofilltheairwithfragranceassoonasHestersummonedupenergyenoughtoopenthedoor。PerhapsthatwasbecausetheyoungQuaker，WilliamCoulson，wascrushingonebetweenhisfingerandthumb，whilewaitingtosetdownAlice'snextwords。Fortheoldwoman，wholookedasifmanyyearsofliferemainedinheryet，wassolemnlydictatingherlastwillandtestament。Ithadbeenonhermindformanymonths;forshehadsomethingtoleavebeyondthemerefurnitureofthehouse。Something——afewpounds——inthehandsofJohnandJeremiahFoster，hercousins:anditwastheywhohadsuggestedthedutyonwhichshewasengaged。ShehadaskedWilliamCoulsontowritedownherwishes，andhehadconsented，thoughwithsomefearandtrepidation;forhehadanideathathewasinfringingonalawyer'sprerogative，andthat，foraughtheknew，hemightbeprosecutedformakingawillwithoutalicence，justasamanmightbepunishedforsellingwineandspiritswithoutgoingthroughthepreliminarylegalformsthatgivepermissionforsuchasale。ButtohissuggestionthatAliceshouldemployalawyer，shehadreplied——'Thatwouldcostmefivepoundssterling;andtheecanstdoitaswell，ifthee'llbutattendtomywords。'Sohehadbought，atherdesire，ablack—edgedsheetoffine—wovepaper，andacoupleofgoodpens，onthepreviousSaturday;andwhilewaitingforhertobeginherdictation，andfullseriousthoughthimself，hehadalmostunconsciouslymadethegrandflourishatthetopofthepaperwhichhehadlearntatschool，andwhichwastherecalledaspread—eagle。'Whatarttheedoingthere？'askedAlice，suddenlyalivetohisproceedings。Withoutawordheshowedherhishandiwork。'It'savanity，'saidshe，'and'tmaymaket'willnotstand。FolkmaythinkIwerenainmyrightmind，iftheyseesuchfly—legsandcob—websa—top。Write，"Thisismydoing，WilliamCoulson，andnoneofAliceRose's，shebeinginhersoundmind。"''Idon'tthinkit'sneeded，'saidWilliam。Neverthelesshewrotedownthewords。'HasttheeputthatI'minmysoundmindandsevensenses？ThenmakethesignoftheTrinity，andwrite，"InthenameoftheFather，theSon，andtheHolyGhost。"''Isthattherightwayo'beginningawill？'saidCoulson，alittlestartled。'Myfather，andmyfather'sfather，andmyhusbandhadita—topoftheirs，andI'mnoanegoingfortoceasefra'followingafterthem，fortheyweregodlymen，thoughmyhusbandwereo't'episcopalpersuasion。''It'sdone，'saidWilliam。'Hasttheedatedit？'askedAlice。'Nay。''Thendateitthirdday，ninthmonth。Now，artready？'Coulsonnodded。'I，AliceRose，doleavemyfurniture（thatis，mybedandchesto'drawers，forthybedandthingsisthine，andnotmine），andsettle，andsaucepans，anddresser，andtable，andkettle，andalltherestofmyfurniture，tomylawfulandonlydaughter，HesterRose。Ithinkthat'ssafeforhertohaveall，is'tnot，William？''Ithinkso，too，'saidhe，writingonallthetime。'Andtheeshalthavet'rollerandpaste—board，becausethee'ssofondo'puddingsandcakes。It'llservethywifeafterI'mgone，andItrustshe'llboilherpastelongenough，forthat'sbeent'secreto'mine，andthee'llnoanebesoeasyt'please。''Idin'treckononmarriage，'saidWilliam。'Thee'llmarry，'saidAlice。'Theelikestohavethyvictualshotandcomfortable;
　　andthere'snoanemanybutawifeas'lllookafterthatfort'pleasethee。''Iknowwhocouldpleaseme，'sighedforthWilliam，'butIcan'tpleaseher。'Alicelookedsharplyathimfromoverherspectacles，whichshehadputonthebettertothinkaboutthedisposalofherproperty。'TheeartthinkingonourHester，'saidshe，plainlyout。Hestartedalittle，butlookedupatherandmethereyes。'Hestercaresnoaneforme，'saidhe，dejectedly。'Bideawhile，mylad，'saidAlice，kindly。'Youngwomendon'talwaysknowtheirownminds。Theeandherwouldmakeamarriageaftermyownheart;
　　andtheLordhasbeenverygoodtomehitherto，andIthinkHe'llbringitt'pass。Butdon'ttheeletonastheecaresforhersomuch。Isometimesthinkshewearieso'thylooksandthyways。Showupthymanlyheart，andmakeasthoughtheehadmuchelsetothinkon，andnoleisurefortodawdleafterher，andshe'llthinkadealmoreonthee。Andnowmendthypenforafreshstart。Igiveandbequeath——didtheeput"giveandbequeath，"atth'beginning？''Nay，'saidWilliam，lookingback。'Theedidstnottellme"giveandbequeath！"''Thenitwon'tbelegal，andmybito'furniture'llbetakentoLondon，andputintochancery，andHesterwillhavenoaneonit。''Icanwriteitover，'saidWilliam。'Well，writeitclearthen，andputalineunderittoshowthosearemyspecialwords。Hasttheedoneit？Thennowstartafresh。Igiveandbequeathmybooko'sermons，asisboundingoodcalfskin，andliesonthethirdshelfo'cornercupboardattherighthando't'fire—place，toPhilipHepburn;forIreckonhe'sasfondo'readingsermonsastheearto'light，well—boiledpaste，andI'dbegladforeachonyetohavesomewhatyelikefortoremembermeby。Isthatdown？There;nowformycousinsJohnandJeremiah。Theyarerichi'world'sgear，butthey'llprizewhatIleave'emifIcouldonlyonbethinkmewhattheywouldlike。Hearken！Isna'
　　thatourHester'sstep？Putitaway，quick！I'mnoaneforgrievingherwi'tellingherwhatI'vebeenabout。We'lltakeaturnatt'willnextFirstDay;itwillserveusforseveralSabbathstocome，andmaybeIcanthinkonsomethingaswillsuitcousinJohnandcousinJeremiahaforethen。'Hester，aswasmentioned，pausedaminuteortwobeforeliftingthelatchofthedoor。Whensheenteredtherewasnounusualsignofwritingabout;
　　onlyWillCoulsonlookingveryred，andcrushingandsmellingatthegeraniumleaf。Hestercameinbriskly，withthelittlestockofenforcedcheerfulnessshehadstoppedatthedoortoacquire。Butitfadedawayalongwiththefaintflushofcolourinhercheeks;andthemother'squickeyeimmediatelynotedthewanheavylookofcare。'Ihavekeptt'potint'oven;it'llhavea'mostgota't'goodnessoutoft'teabynow，forit'llbeanhoursinceImadeit。Poorlass，thoulook'stasifthouneededagoodcupo'tea。Itweredreeworksittingwi'BetsyDarley，wereit？Andhowdoesshelookonheraffliction？''Shetakesitsoretoheart，'saidHester，takingoffherhat，andfoldingandsmoothingawayhercloak，beforeputtingtheminthegreatoakchest（or'ark，'asitwascalled），inwhichtheywerelaidfromSundaytoSunday。Assheopenedthelidasweetscentofdriedlavenderandrose—leavescameout。Williamsteppedhastilyforwardstoholduptheheavylidforher。
　　Sheliftedupherhead，lookedathimfullwithhersereneeyes，andthankedhimforhislittleservice。Thenshetookacreepie—stoolandsatedownonthesideofthefireplace，havingherbacktothewindow。Thehearthwasofthesamespotlesswhitenessasthesteps;allthatwasblackaboutthegratewaspolishedtotheutmostextent;allthatwasofbrass，likethehandleoftheoven，wasburnishedbright。Hermotherplacedthelittleblackearthenwareteapot，inwhichtheteahadbeenstewing，onthetable，wherecupsandsaucerswerealreadysetforfour，andalargeplateofbreadandbuttercut。Thentheysateroundthetable，bowedtheirheads，andkeptsilenceforaminuteortwo。Whenthisgracewasended，andtheywereabouttobegin，Alicesaid，asifwithoutpremeditation，butinrealitywithakeenshrinkingofheartoutofsympathywithherchild——'Philipwouldhavebeenintohisteabynow，Ireckon，ifhe'dbeencoming。'WilliamlookedupsuddenlyatHester;hermothercarefullyturnedherheadanotherway。Butsheansweredquitequietly——'He'llbegonetohisaunt'satHaytersbank。Imethimatt'topo't'
　　Brow，withhiscousinandMollyCorney。''He'sadealthere，'saidWilliam。'Yes，'saidHester。'It'slikely;himandhisauntcomefromCarlisle—way，andmustneedsclingtogetherinthesestrangeparts。''IsawhimattheburyingofyonDarley，'saidWilliam。'Itwereavasto'peoplewentpastth'entryend，'saidAlice。'Itwerea'mostlikeelectiontime，Iwerejustcomebackfra'meetingwhentheywereallgoingupth'churchsteps。Imetyonsailoras，theysay，usedviolenceanddidmurder;helookedlikeaghost，thoughwhetheritwerehisbodilywounds，orthesenseofhissinsstirringwithinhim，it'snotformetosay。Andbyt'timeIwasbackhereandsettledtomyBible，t'folkwerereturning，anditweretramp，tramp，pastth'entryendforbetternoraquarterofanhour。''TheysayKinraidhasgettenslugsandgun—shotinhisside，'saidHester。'He'sniveroneCharleyKinraid，forsure，asIknowedatNewcastle，'saidWilliamCoulson，rousedtosuddenandenergeticcuriosity。'Idon'tknow，'repliedHester;'theycallhimjustKinraid;andBetsyDarleysayshe'st'mostdaringspecksioneerofallthatgooffthiscoasttot'Greenlandseas。Buthe'sbeeninNewcastle，forImindmeshesaidherpoorbrothermetwithhimthere。''Howdidsttheecometoknowhim？'inquiredAlice。'IcannotabidehimifitisCharley，'saidWilliam。'Hekeptcompanywithmypoorsisterasisdeadforbetternortwoyear，andthenheleftoffcomingtoseeherandwentwi'anothergirl，anditjustbrokeherheart。''Hedon'tlooknowasifheivercouldplayatthatgameagain，'saidAlice;
　　'hehashadawarningfra'theLord。Whetheritbeacallnoonecantell。
　　Buttomyeynehelooksasifhehadbeencalled，andwasgoing。''Thenhe'llmeetmysister，'saidWilliam，solemnly;'andIhopetheLordwillmakeitcleartohim，then，howhekilledher，assureasheshotdownyonsailors;an'ifthere'sagnashingo'teethformurderi'thatotherplace，Ireckonhe'llhavehisshareon't。He'sabadmanyon。''Betsysaidheweresuchafriendtoherbrotherasniverwas;andhe'ssentherwordandpromisedtogoandseeher，firstplacehegoesoutto。ButWilliamonlyshookhishead，andrepeatedhislastwords，——'He'sabadman，heis。'WhenPhilipcamehomethatSundaynight，hefoundonlyAliceuptoreceivehim。Theusualbedtimeinthehouseholdwasnineo'clock，anditwasbuttenminutespastthehour;butAlicelookeddispleasedandstern。'Theeartlate，lad，'saidshe，shortly。'I'msorry;it'salongwayfrommyuncle's，andIthinkclocksaredifferent，'
　　saidhe，takingouthiswatchtocompareitwiththeroundmoon'sfacethattoldthetimetoAlice。'Iknownoughtaboutthyuncle's，buttheeartlate。Takethycandle，andbegone。'IfAlicemadeanyreplytoPhilip's'good—night，'hedidnothearit。
　　chapter08CHAPTERVIIIATTRACTIONANDREPULSIONAfortnighthadpassedoverandwinterwasadvancingwithrapidstrides。
　　InbleaknorthernfarmsteadstherewasmuchtobedonebeforeNovemberweathershouldmaketheroadstooheavyforhalf—fedhorsestopullcartsthrough。Therewastheturf，pareduponthedistantmoors，andleftouttodry，tobecarriedhomeandstacked;thebrownfernwastobestoredupforwinterbeddingforthecattle;forstrawwasscarceanddearinthoseparts;evenforthatching，heather（orratherling）wasused。Thentherewasmeattosaltwhileitcouldbehad;for，indefaultofturnipsandmangoldwurzel，therewasagreatslaughteringofbarrencowsassoonasthesummerherbagefailed;andgoodhousewivesstoreduptheirChristmaspieceofbeefinpicklebeforeMartinmaswasover。Cornwastobegroundwhileyetitcouldbecarriedtothedistantmill;thegreatracksforoat—cake，thatswungatthetopofthekitchen，hadtobefilled。Andlastofallcamethepig—killing，whenthesecondfrostsetin。Forupinthenorththereisanideathattheicestoredinthefirstfrostwillmelt，andthemeatcuredthentaint;thefirstfrostisgoodfornothingbuttobethrownaway，astheyexpressit。Therecameabreathing—timeafterthislastevent。Thehousehadhaditslastautumncleaning，andwasneatandbrightfromtoptobottom，fromoneendtoanother。Theturfwasled;thecoalcartedupfromMonkshaven;
　　thewoodstored;thecornground;thepigkilled，andthehamsandheadandhandslyinginsalt。ThebutcherhadbeengladtotakethebestpartsofapigofDameRobson'scarefulfeeding;buttherewasunusualplentyintheHaytersbankpantry;andasBellsurveyeditonemorning，shesaidtoherhusband——'IwonderifyonpoorsickchapatMossBrowwouldfancysomeo'mysausages。
　　They'resomethingtocrackon，fortheyaremadefra'anoldCumberlandreceipt，asisnotknowni'Yorkshireyet。''Thou'sallayssosetupo'Cumberlandways！'saidherhusband，notdispleasedwiththesuggestion，however。'Still，whenfolk'ssicktheyhantheirfancies，andmaybeKinraid'llbeglado'thysausages。Iha'knownsickfolktak'
　　t'eatingsnails。'Thiswasnotcomplimentary，perhaps。ButDanielwentontosaythathedidnotmindifhesteppedoverwiththesausageshimself，whenitwastoolatetodoanythingelse。Sylvialongedtooffertoaccompanyherfather;
　　but，somehow，shedidnotliketoproposeit。Towardsduskshecametohermothertoaskforthekeyofthegreatbureauthatstoodinthehouse—placeasastatepieceoffurniture，althoughitsusewastocontainthefamily'sbestwearingapparel，andstoresoflinen，suchasmightbesupposedtobemoreneededupstairs。'Whatfordoyo'wantmykeys？'askedBell。'Onlyjusttogetoutoneoft'damasknapkins。''Thebestnapkins，asmymotherspan？''Yes！'saidSylvia，hercolourheightening。'Ithoughtashowitwouldsetofft'sausages。''Agoodcleanhomespunclothwillservethembetter，'saidBell，wonderinginherownmindwhatwascomeoverthegirl，tobethinkingofsettingoffsausagesthatweretobeeaten，nottobelookedatlikeapicture—book。
　　Shemighthavewonderedstillmore，ifshehadseenSylviastealroundtothelittleflowerbordershehadpersuadedKestertomakeunderthewallatthesunnysideofthehouse，andgatherthetwoorthreeMichaelmasdaisies，andtheonebudoftheChinarose，that，growingagainstthekitchenchimney，hadescapedthefrost;andthen，whenhermotherwasnotlooking，softlyopentheclothinsideofthe。littlebasketthatcontainedthesausagesandafresheggortwo，andlayherautumnblossomsinoneofthefoldsofthetowel。AfterDaniel，nowprettyclearofhisrheumatism，hadhadhisafternoonmeal（teawasaSundaytreat），hepreparedtosetoutonhiswalktoMossBrow;butashewastakinghisstickhecaughtthelookonSylvia'sface;
　　andunconsciouslyinterpreteditsdumbwistfulness。'Missus，'saidhe，'t'wenchhasnoughtmoret'do，hasshe？Shemayaswellputonhercloakandstepdownwi'me，andseeMollyabit;she'llbecompanylike。'Bellconsidered。'There'st'yarnforthystockingsasisyettospin;butshecango，forI'lldoabitat'tmysel'，andthere'snoughtelseagate。''Putonthythingsinajiffy，then，andlet'sbeoff，'saidDaniel。AndSylviadidnotneedanotherword。Downshecameinatwinkling，dressedinhernewredcloakandhood，herfacepeepingoutofthefoldsofthelatter，brightandblushing。'Thoushould'stna'ha'putonthynewcloakforanightwalktoMossBrow，'