saidBell，shakingherhead。'ShallIgotakeitoff，andputonmyshawl？'askedSylvia，alittledolefully。'Na，na，comealong！a'mnoanegoin'fort'waito'women'schopsandchanges。
　　Comealong;come，Lassie！'（thislasttohisdog）。SoSylviasetoffwithadancingheartandadancingstep，thathadtoberestrainedtothesobergaitherfatherchose。Theskyabovewasbrightandclearwiththelightofathousandstars，thegrasswascrispingundertheirfeetwiththecominghoarfrost;andastheymountedtothehighergroundtheycouldseethedarkseastretchingawayfarbelowthem。Thenightwasverystill，thoughnowandthencrispsoundsinthedistantairsoundedverynearinthesilence。Sylviacarriedthebasket，andlookedlikelittleRedRidingHood。Herfatherhadnothingtosay，anddidnotcaretomakehimselfagreeable;butSylviaenjoyedherownthoughts，andanyconversationwouldhavebeenadisturbancetoher。Thelongmonotonousrollofthedistantwaves，asthetideborethemin，themultitudinousrushatlast，andthentheretreatingrattleandtrickle，asthebaffledwatersfellbackovertheshinglethatskirtedthesands，anddividedthemfromthecliffs;herfather'smeasuredtread，andslow，evenmovement;
　　Lassie'spattering——alllulledSylviaintoareverie，ofwhichshecouldnothavegivenherselfanydefiniteaccount。ButatlengththeyarrivedatMossBrow，andwithasuddensighshequittedthesubjectsofherdreamymeditations，andfollowedherfatherintothegreathouse—place。Ithadamorecomfortableaspectbynightthanbyday。Thefirewasalwayskeptuptoawastefulsize，andthedancingblaze。andthepartiallightofcandlesleftmuchinshadowthatwasbestignoredinsuchadisorderlyfamily。Buttherewasalwaysawarmwelcometofriends，howeverroughlygiven;andafterthewordsofthiswerespoken，thenextroseupequallynaturallyinthemindofMrsCorney。'Andwhatwillyetak'？Eh！butt'measter'llbefineandvexedatyourcomin'whenhe'saway。He'sofftoHorncastlet'sellsomecolts，andhe'llnotbebacktillto—morrow'sneet。Buthere'sCharleyKinraidaswe'vegettentonurseupabit，and't'lads'llbebackfra'Monkshaveninacracko'notime。'AllthiswasaddressedtoDaniel，towhomsheknewthatnonebutmasculinecompanywouldbeacceptable。Amongstuneducatedpeople——whoserangeofsubjectsandinterestdonotextendbeyondtheirdailylife——itisnaturalthatwhenthefirstblushandhurryofyouthisover，thereshouldbenogreatpleasureintheconversationoftheothersex。Menhaveplentytosaytomen，whichintheirestimation（gainedfromtraditionandexperience）
　　womencannotunderstand;andfarmersofamuchlaterdatethantheoneofwhichIamwriting，wouldhavecontemptuouslyconsidereditasalossoftimetotalktowomen;indeed，theywereoftenmorecommunicativetothesheep—dogthataccompaniedthemthroughalltheday'swork，andfrequentlybecameasortofdumbconfidant。FarmerRobson'sLassienowlaydownathermaster'sfeet，placedhernosebetweenherpaws，andwatchedwithattentiveeyesthepreparationsgoingonforrefreshments——preparationswhich，tothedisappointmentofhercanineheart，consistedentirelyoftumblersandsugar。'Where'st'wench？'saidRobson，afterhehadshakenhandswithKinraid，andspokenafewwordstohimandtoMrsCorney。'She'sgetten'abasketwi'sausagesin'em，asmymissushasmade，andshe'sararehandatsausages;
　　there'snoanelikeherina't'threeRidings，I'llbebound！'ForDanielcouldpraisehiswife'spowersinherabsence，thoughhedidnotoftenexpresshimselfinanappreciativemannerwhenshewasbytohear。ButSylvia'squicksensecaughtupthemannerinwhichMrsCorneywouldapplythewayinwhichhermother'shousewiferyhadbeenexalted，andsteppingforwardsoutoftheshadow，shesaid，——'Motherthought，maybe，youhadn'tkilledapigyet，andsausagesisalwaysabitsavouryforanyonewhoisna'well，and————'ShemighthavegoneonbutthatshecaughtKinraid'seyeslookingatherwithkindlyadmiration。Shestoppedspeaking，andMrsCorneytookuptheword——'Asforsausages，Iha'niverhadachancethisyear，elseIstandagainanyonefort'makingof'em。Yorkshirehams'savastthoughton，andI'llniverletanothercountywomansayasshecanmakebettersausagesnorme。But，asI'msaying，I'dniverachance;forourpig，asIweresofondon，andfedmysel'，andaswouldha'beenfourteenstonebynowifhewereanounce，andasknewmeaswellasanyChristian，andapig，asImaysay，thatIjustidolized，wentandtookafitaweekafterMichaelmasDay，anddied，asifithadbeentospiteme;andt'nextisna'readyforkilling，norwunnotbethissixweek。SoI'mmuchbeholdentoyourmissus，andso'sCharley，I'msure;thoughhe'sta'enaturntobetterin'
　　sin'hecameoutheretobenursed。''I'madealbetter，'saidKinraid;'a'mostreadyfort'press—gangtogivechasetoagain。''Butfolksaythey'regoneoffthiscoastforonewhile，'addedDaniel。'They'regonedowntowardsHull，asI'vebeentold，'saidKinraid。'Butthey'readeepset，they'llbeherebeforeweknowwhereweare，someofthesedays。''Seetheehere！'saidDaniel，exhibitinghismaimedhand;'areckonaserved'emouttimeo't'Amerikywar。'AndhebeganthestorySylviaknewsowell;forherfathernevermadeanewacquaintancebutwhathetoldhimofhisself—mutilationtoescapethepress—gang。Ithadbeendone，ashewouldhimselfhaveowned，tospitehimselfaswellasthem;forithadobligedhimtoleaveasea—life，towhich，incomparison，alllifespentonshorewasworsethannothingfordulness。ForRobsonhadneverreachedthatrankaboardshipwhichmadehisbeingunabletorunuptherigging，ortothrowaharpoon，ortofireoffagun，ofnogreatconsequence;sohehadtobethankfulthatanopportunelegacyenabledhimtoturnfarmer，agreatdegradationinhisopinion。Buthisbloodwarmed，ashetoldthespecksioneertowardsasailor，andhepressedKinraidtobeguilethetimewhenhewascompelledtobeashore，bycomingovertoseehimatHaytersbank，wheneverhefeltinclined。Sylvia，appearingtolistentoMolly'sconfidences，washearkeninginrealitytoallthisconversationbetweenherfatherandthespecksioneer;andatthisinvitationshebecameespeciallyattentive。Kinraidreplied，——'I'mmuchobligedtoye，I'msure;maybeIcancomeandspendanev'ningwi'you;butassoonasI'mgotroundabit，ImustgoseemyownpeopleasliveatCullercoatsnearNewcastle—upo'—Tyne。''Well，well！'saidDaniel，risingtotakeleave，withunusualprudenceastotheamountofhisdrink。'Thou'ltsee，thou'ltsee！Ishallbemaingladtoseethee;ifthou'ltcome。ButI'vena'ladstokeeptheecompany，onlyonesprigofawench。Sylvia，comehere，anlet'sshowtheetothisyoungfellow！'Sylviacameforwards，ruddyasanyrose，andinamomentKinraidrecognizedherastheprettylittlegirlhehadseencryingsobitterlyoverDarley'sgrave。Heroseupoutoftruesailor'sgallantry，assheshylyapproachedandstoodbyherfather'sside，scarcelydaringtolifthergreatsofteyes，tohaveonefairgazeathisface。Hehadtosupporthimselfbyonehandrestedonthedresser，butshesawhewaslookingfarbetter——younger，lesshaggard——thanhehadseemedtoherbefore。Hisfacewasshortandexpressive;hiscomplexionhadbeenweatherbeatenandbronzed，thoughnowhelookedsopale;hiseyesandhairweredark，——theformerquick，deep—set，andpenetrating;thelattercurly，andalmostinringlets。Histeethgleamedwhiteashesmiledather，apleasantfriendlysmileofrecognition;butsheonlyblushedthedeeper，andhungherhead。'I'llcome，sir，andbethankful。Idaresayaturn'lldomegood，iftheweatherholdsup，an'th'frostkeepson。''That'sright，mylad，'saidRobson，shakinghimbythehand，andthenKinraid'shandwasheldouttoSylvia，andshecouldnotavoidthesamefriendlyaction。MollyCorneyfollowedhertothedoor，andwhentheywerefairlyoutside，sheheldSylviabackforaninstanttosay，——'Isna'heafinelikelyman？I'msogladasyo'veseenhim，forhe'stobeoffnextweektoNewcastleandthatneighbourhood。''Buthesaidhe'dcometoussomenight？'askedSylvia，halfinafright。'Ay，I'llseeashedoes;neverfear。ForIshouldlikeyo'fortoknowhimabit。He'sararetalker。I'llmindhimo'comingtoyo'。'Somehow，SylviafeltasifthisrepeatedpromiseofremindingKinraidofhispromisetocomeandseeherfathertookawaypartofthepleasureshehadanticipatedfromhisvisit。YetwhatcouldbemorenaturalthanthatMollyCorneyshouldwishherfriendtobeacquaintedwiththemanwhomSylviabelievedtobeallbutMolly'sengagedlover？Ponderingthesethoughts，thewalkhomewasassilentasthatgoingtoMossBrowhadbeen。Theonlychangeseemedtobethatnowtheyfacedthebrilliantnorthernlightsflashingupthesky，andthateitherthisappearanceorsomeofthewhalingnarrationsofKinraidhadstirredupDanielRobson'srecollectionsofaseaditty，whichhekeptsingingtohimselfinalow，unmusicalvoice，theburdenofwhichwas，'forIlovesthetossin'say！'
　　Bellmetthematthedoor。'Well，andhereyeareathomeagain！andPhiliphasbeen，Sylvie，togivetheethycipheringlesson;andhestayedawhile，thinkingthou'dbecomingback。''I'mverysorry，'saidSylvia，moreoutofdeferencetohermother'stoneofannoyance，thanbecausesheherselfcaredeitherforherlessonorhercousin'sdisappointment。'He'llcomeagainto—morrownight，hesays。Butthoumusttakecare，andmindthenightshesayshe'llcome，forit'salongwaytocomefornought。'Sylviamighthaverepeatedher'I'mverysorry'atthisannouncementofPhilip'sintentions;butsherestrainedher—self，inwardlyandferventlyhopingthatMollywouldnoturgethefulfilmentofthespecksioneer'spromiseforto—morrownight，forPhilip'sbeingtherewouldspoilall;andbesides，ifshesateatthedresseratherlesson，andKinraidatthetablewithherfather，hemighthearall，andfindoutwhatadunceshewas。Sheneednothavebeenafraid。WiththenextnightHepburncame;andKinraiddidnot。Afterafewwordstohermother，Philipproducedthecandleshehadpromised，andsomebooksandaquillortwo。'Whatforhastthoubroughtcandles？'askedBell，inahalf—affrontedtone。Hepburnsmiled。'Sylviathoughtitwouldtakeadealofcandle—light，andwasformakingitintoareasonnottolearn。Ishouldha'usedt'candlesifI'dstayedathome;soIjustbroughtthemwi'me。''Thenthoumay'stjusttakethembackagain，'saidBell，shortly，blowingoutthatwhichhehadlighted，andplacingoneofherownonthedresserinstead。Sylviacaughthermother'slookofdispleasure，anditmadeherdocilefortheevening，althoughsheowedhercousinagrudgeforherenforcedgoodbehaviour。'Now，Sylvia，here'sacopy—bookwi't'Towero'Londononit，andwe'llfillitwi'asprettywritingasanyint'NorthRiding。'Sylviasatequitestill，unenlivenedbythisprospect。'Here'sapenas'llnearlywriteofitsel'，'continuedPhilip，stilltryingtocoaxherouthersullennessofmanner。Thenhearrangedherintherightposition。'Don'tlayyourheaddownonyourleftarm，you'llne'erseetowritestraight。'Theattitudewaschanged，butnotawordwasspoken。Philipbegantogrowangryatsuchdetermineddumbness。'Areyoutired？'askedhe，withastrangemixtureofcrossnessandtenderness。'Yes，very，'washerreply。'Butthouought'stnottobetired，'saidBell，whohadnotyetgotovertheoffencetoherhospitality;who，moreover，likedhernephew，andhad，toboot，agreatrespectforthelearningshehadneveracquired。'Mother！'saidSylvia，burstingout，'what'stheuseonmywriting"Abednego，"
　　"Abednego，""Abednego，"alldownapage？IfIcouldseet'useon't，I'dha'axedfathertosendmet'school;butI'mnonewantingtohavelearning。''It'safinething，tho'，islearning。Mymotherandmygrandmotherhadit:butth'familycamedowni'theworld，andPhilip'smotherandme，wehadnoneofit;butIha'setmyheartonthyhavingit，child。''Myfingersisstiff，'pleadedSylvia，holdingupherlittlehandandshakingit。'Letustakeaturnatspelling，then，'saidPhilip。'What'st'useon't？'askedcaptiousSylvia。'Why，ithelpsonei'readingan'writing。''Andwhatdoesreadingandwritingdoforone？'Hermothergaveheranotheroftheseverelooksthat，quietwomanasshewas，shecouldoccasionallybestowupontherefractory，andSylviatookherbookandglanceddownthecolumnPhilippointedouttoher;but，asshejustlyconsidered，onemanmightpointoutthetask，buttwentycouldnotmakeherlearnit，ifshedidnotchoose;andshesatherselfdownontheedgeofthedresser，andidlygazedintothefire。Buthermothercameroundtolookforsomethinginthedrawersofthedresser，andasshepassedherdaughtershesaidinalowvoice——'Sylvie，beagoodlass。Isetadealo'storebylearning，andfather'udneversendtheetoschool，ashasstuckbymesore。'IfPhilip，sittingwithhisbacktothem，heardthesewordshewasdiscreetenoughnottoshowthatheheard。Andhehadhisreward;forinaveryshorttime，Sylviastoodbeforehimwithherbookinherhand，preparedtosayherspelling。Atwhichhealsostoodupbyinstinct，andlistenedtoherslowsucceedingletters;helpingherout，whenshelookedupathimwithasweetchildlikeperplexityinherface:foradunceastobook—learningpoorSylviawasandwaslikelytoremain;and，inspiteofhisassumedofficeofschoolmaster，PhilipHepburncouldalmosthaveechoedthewordsoftheloverofJessMacFarlane——Isentmylovealetter，But，alas！shecannaread，AndIlo'ehera'thebetter。Stillheknewhisaunt'sstrongwishonthesubject，anditwasverydelightfultostandintherelationofteachertosodearandpretty，ifsowilful，apupil。PerhapsitwasnotveryflatteringtonoticeSylvia'sgreatjoywhenherlessonswereover，sadlyshortenedastheywerebyPhilip'sdesirenottobetooharduponher。Sylviadancedroundtohermother，bentherheadback，andkissedherface，andthensaiddefyinglytoPhilip，——'IfiverIwritetheealetteritshalljustbefullofnothingbut"Abednego！
　　Abednego！Abednego！"'ButatthismomentherfathercameinfromadistantexpeditiononthemoorswithKestertolookafterthesheephehadpasturingtherebeforethewintersetfairlyin。Hewastired，andsowasLassie，andso，too，wasKester，who，liftinghisheavylegsoneaftertheother，andsmoothingdownhishair，followedhismasterintothehouse—place，andseatinghimselfonabenchatthefartherendofthedresser，patientlyawaitedthesupperofporridgeandmilkwhichhesharedwithhismaster。Sylvia，meanwhile，coaxedLassiepoorfoot—soredog——toherside，andgavehersomefood，whichthecreaturewasalmosttootiredtoeat。Philipmadeasthoughhewouldbegoing，butDanielmotionedtohimtobequiet。'Sittheedown，lad。AssoonasI'vehadmyvictual，Iwantt'hearabito'news。'Sylviatookhersewingandsatatthelittleroundtablebyhermother，sharingthelightofthescantydip—candle。Noonespoke。Everyonewasabsorbedinwhattheyweredoing。WhatPhilipwasdoingwas，gazingatSylvia——learningherfaceoffbyheart。Wheneveryscrapofporridgewasclearedoutofthemightybowl，Kesteryawned，andwishinggood—night，withdrewtohisloftoverthecow—house。
　　ThenPhilippulledouttheweeklyYorkpaper，andbegantoreadthelatestaccountsofthewarthenraging。ThiswasgivingDanieloneofhisgreatestpleasures;forthoughhecouldreadprettywell，yetthedoubleeffortofreadingandunderstandingwhathereadwasalmosttoomuchforhim。
　　Hecouldread，orhecouldunderstandwhatwasreadaloudtohim;readingwasnopleasure，butlisteningwas。Besides，hehadatrueJohnBullishinterestinthewar，withoutverywellknowingwhattheEnglishwerefightingfor。Butinthosedays，solongastheyfoughttheFrenchforanycause，orfornocauseatall，everytruepatriotwassatisfied。Sylviaandhermotherdidnotcareforanysuchfar—extendedinterest;alittlebitofYorknews，thestealingofafewapplesoutofaScarboroughgardenthattheyknew，wasoffarmoreinteresttothemthanallthebattlesofNelsonandtheNorth。Philipreadinahigh—pitchedandunnaturaltoneofvoice，whichdeprivedthewordsoftheirreality;forevenfamiliarexpressionscanbecomeunfamiliarandconveynoideas，iftheutteranceisforcedoraffected。Philipwassomewhatofapedant;yettherewasasimplicityinhispedantrynotalwaystobemetwithinthosewhoareself—taught，andwhichmighthaveinterestedanyonewhocaredtoknowwithwhatlabouranddifficultyhehadacquiredtheknowledgewhichnowheprizedsohighly;readingoutLatinquotationsaseasilyasiftheywereEnglish，andtakingapleasureinrollingpolysyllables，untilallatoncelookingaskanceatSylvia，hesawthatherheadhadfallenback，herprettyrosylipsopen，hereyesfastshut;inshort，shewasasleep。'Ay，'saidFarmerRobson，'andt'readinghasa'mostsentmeoff。Mother'dlookangrynowifIwastotellyo'yo'hadarighttoakiss;butwhenIwasayoungmanI'dha'kissedaprettygirlasIsawasleep，aforeyo'dsaidJackRobson。'Philiptrembledatthesewords，andlookedathisaunt。Shegavehimnoencouragement，standingup，andmakingasthoughshehadneverheardherhusband'sspeech，byextendingherhand，andwishinghim'good—night。'
　　Atthenoiseofthechairsmovingovertheflagfloor，Sylviastartedup，confusedandannoyedatherfather'slaughter。'Ay，lass;it'siveragoodtimet'fallasleepwhenayoungfellowisby。Here'sPhiliphereasthou'rtboundt'giveapairo'glovesto。'Sylviawentlikefire;sheturnedtohermothertoreadherface。'It'sonlyfather'sjoke，lass，'saidshe。'Philipknowsmannerstoowell。''He'dbetter，'saidSylvia，flamingroundathim。'Ifhe'datouchedme，I'dniverha'spokentohimnomore。'Andshelookedevenasitwasasifshewasfarfromforgivinghim。'Hoots，lass！wenchesarebroughtupsamim，now—a—days;i'mytimethey'dha'thoughtna'suchgreatharmofakiss。''Good—night，Philip，'saidBellRobson，thinkingtheconversationunseemly。'Good—night，aunt，good—night，Sylvie！'ButSylviaturnedherbackonhim，andhecouldhardlysay'good—night'toDaniel，whohadcausedsuchanunpleasantendtoaneveningthathadatonetimebeengoingonsowell。
　　chapter09CHAPTERIXTHESPECKSIONEERAfewdaysafter，farmerRobsonleftHaytersbankbetimesonalongishday'sjourney，topurchaseahorse。Sylviaandhermotherwerebusiedwithahundredhouseholdthings，andtheearlywinter'seveningclosedinuponthemalmostbeforetheywereaware。Theconsequencesofdarknessinthecountryevennowaretogatherthemembersofafamilytogetherintooneroom，andtomakethemsettletosomesedentaryemployment;anditwasmuchmorethecaseattheperiodofmystory，whencandleswerefardearerthantheyareatpresent，andwhenonewasoftenmadetosufficeforalargefamily。Themotheranddaughterhardlyspokeatallwhentheysatdownatlast。
　　Thecheerfulclickoftheknitting—needlesmadeapleasanthome—sound;
　　andintheoccasionalsnatchesofslumberthatovercamehermother，Sylviacouldhearthelong—rushingboomofthewaves，downbelowtherocks，fortheHaytersbankgulleyallowedthesullenroartocomeupsofarinland。
　　Itmighthavebeenabouteighto'clock——thoughfromthemonotonouscourseoftheeveningitseemedmuchlater——whenSylviaheardherfather'sheavystepcranchingdownthepebblypath。Moreunusual，sheheardhisvoicetalkingtosomecompanion。Curioustoseewhoitcouldbe，withalivelyinstinctiveadvancetowardsanyeventwhichmightbreakthemonotonyshehadbeguntofindsomewhatdull，shespranguptoopenthedoor。Halfaglanceintothegraydarknessoutsidemadehersuddenlytimid，andshedrewbackbehindthedoorassheopeneditwidetoadmitherfatherandKinraid。DanielRobsoncameinbrightandboisterous。Hewaspleasedwithhispurchase，andhadhadsomedrinktocelebratehisbargain。HehadriddenthenewmareintoMonkshaven，andleftheratthesmithythereuntilmorning，tohaveherfeetlookedat，andtobenewshod。OnhiswayfromthetownhehadmetKinraidwanderingaboutinsearchofHaytersbankFarmitself，sohehadjustbroughthimalongwithhim;andheretheywere，readyforbreadandcheese，andaughtelsethemistresswouldsetbeforethem。ToSylviathesuddenchangeintobrightnessandbustleoccasionedbytheentranceofherfatherandthespecksioneerwaslikethatwhichyoumayeffectanywinter'snight，whenyoucomeintoaroomwhereagreatlumpofcoallieshotandslumberingonthefire;justbreakitupwithajudiciousblowfromthepoker，andtheroom，latesodark，anddusk，andlone，isfulloflife，andlight，andwarmth。Shemovedaboutwithprettyhouseholdbriskness，attendingtoallherfather'swants。Kinraid'seyewatchedherasshewentbackwardsandforwards，toandfro，intothepantry，theback—kitchen，outoflightintoshade，outoftheshadowintothebroadfirelightwherehecouldseeandnoteherappearance。Sheworethehigh—crownedlinencapofthatday，surmountingherlovelymassesofgoldenbrownhair，ratherthanconcealingthem，andtiedfirmtoherheadbyabroadblueribbon。Alongcurlhungdownoneachsideofherneckherthroatrather，forherneckwasconcealedbyalittlespottedhandkerchiefcarefullypinnedacrossatthewaistofherbrownstuffgown。Howwellitwas，thoughttheyounggirl，thatshehaddoffedherbed—gownandlinsey—woolseypetticoat，herworking—dress，andmadeherselfsmartinherstuffgown，whenshesatedowntoworkwithhermother。Bythetimeshecouldsitdownagain，herfatherandKinraidhadtheirglassesfilled，andweretalkingoftherelativemeritsofvariouskindsofspirits;thatledontotalesofsmuggling，andthedifferentcontrivancesbywhichtheyortheirfriendshadeludedthepreventiveservice;thenightlyrelaysofmentocarrythegoodsinland;thekegsofbrandyfoundbycertainfarmerswhosehorseshadgonesofarinthenight，thattheycoulddonoworkthenextday;thecleverwayinwhichcertainwomenmanagedtobringinprohibitedgoods;infact，thatwhenawomandidgivehermindtosmuggling，shewasmorefullofresources，andtricks，andimpudence，andenergythananyman。Therewasnoquestionofthemoralityoftheaffair;oneofthegreatestsignsoftherealprogresswehavemadesincethosetimesseemstobethatourdailyconcernsofbuyingandselling，eatinganddrinking，whatsoeverwedo，aremoretestedbytherealpracticalstandardofourreligionthantheywereinthedaysofourgrandfathers。NeitherSylvianorhermotherwasinadvanceoftheirage。Bothlistenedwithadmirationtotheingeniousdevices，andactedaswellasspokenlies，thatweretalkedaboutasfineandspiritedthings。YetifSylviahadattemptedonetitheofthisdeceitinherevery—daylife，itwouldhavehalfbrokenhermother'sheart。Butwhenthedutyon。saltwasstrictlyandcruellyenforced，makingitpenaltopickuproughdirtylumpscontainingsmallquantitiesthatmightbethrownoutwiththeashesofthebrine—housesonthehigh—roads;
　　whenthepriceofthisnecessarywassoincreasedbythetaxuponitastomakeitanexpensive，sometimesanunattainable，luxurytotheworkingman，Governmentdidmoretodemoralisethepopularsenseofrectitudeanduprightnessthanheapsofsermonscouldundo。Andthesame，thoughinsmallermeasure，wastheconsequenceofmanyothertaxes。Itmayseemcurioustotraceupthepopularstandardoftruthtotaxation;butIdonotthinktheideawouldbesoveryfarfetched。FromsmugglingadventuresitwaseasytopassontostoriesofwhathadhappenedtoRobson，inhisyouthasailorintheGreenlandseas，andtoKinraid，nowoneofthebestharpoonersinanywhalerthatsailedoffthecoast。'There'sthreethingstobeafearedon，'saidRobson，authoritatively:
　　'there'st'ice，that'sbad;there'sdirtyweather，that'sworse;andthere'swhalestheirselves，asist'worstofall;leastways，theywasi'mydays;
　　t'darnedbrutesmayha'larntbettermannerssin'。WhenIwereyoung，theycouldniverbegottolettheirselsbeharpoonedwi'outflounderin'
　　andmakin'playwi'theirtalesandtheirfins，tillt'saywereallinafoam，andt'boats'crewswasallo'erwi'spray，whichi'themlatitudesisakindo'shower—bathnotneeded。''Th'whaleshasn'tmendedtheirmanners，asyoucallit，'saidKinraid;
　　'butth'iceisnottobespokenlightlyon。Iwereonceinth'shipJohn，ofHull，andwewereingoodgreenwater，andwerekeenafterwhales;andne'erthoughtharmofagreatgrayicebergaswereonourlee—bow，amileorsooff;itlookedasifithadbeentherefromthedaysofAdam，andwerelikelytoseeth'lastmanout，anditne'erabitbiggernorsmallerinallthemthousandsandthousandso'years。Well，thefast—boatswereoutafterafish，andIwerespecksioneerinone;andweweresokeenaftercapturingourwhale，thatnoneonuseversawthatweweredriftingawayfromthemrightintodeepshadowo'th'iceberg。Butweweresetuponourwhale，andIharpoonedit;andassoonasitweredeadwelasheditsfinstogether，andfasteneditstailtoourboat;andthenwetookbreathandlookedaboutus，andawayfromusalittlespacewereth'otherboats，wi'twootherfishmakingplay，andaslikelyasnottobreakloose，forImaysayasIwereth'bestharpooneronboardtheJohn，wi'outsayinggreatthingso'mysel'。SoIsays，"Mylads，oneo'youstayi'
　　th'boatbythisfish，"——thefinso'which，asIsaid，I'dreevedaropethroughmysel'，andwhichwasasdeadasNoah'sgrandfather——"andth'restonusshallgooffandhelpth'otherboatswi'theirfish。"For，yousee，wehadanotherboatclosebyinordertosweepth'fish。（Isupposetheysweptfishi'yourtime，master？）''Ay，ay！'saidRobson;'oneboatliesstillholdingt'endo't'line;
　　t'othermakesacircuitroundt'fish。''Well！luckilyforuswehadoursecondboat，forweallgotintoit，ne'eramanonuswaslefti'th'fast—boat。AndsaysI，"Butwho'stostaybyt'deadfish？"Andnomananswered，fortheywereallaskeenasmefortogoandhelpourmates;andwethoughtaswecouldcomebacktoourdeadfish，ashadaboatforabuoy，oncewehadhelpedourmates。Sooffwerowed，everymanJackonus，outo'theblackshadowo'th'iceberg，aslookedassteadyasth'pole—star。Wellwehadna'beenadozenfathomsawayfra'th'boataswehadleft，whencrashdownwi'aroaringnoise，andthenagulpofthedeepwaters，andthenashowero'blindingspray;
　　andwhenwehadwipedoureyesclear，andgettenourheartsdownagenfra'
　　ourmouths，therewereneveraboatnoraglitteringbellyo'e'eragreatwhaletobeseen;butth'icebergwerethere，stillandgrim，asifahundredtonormorehadfallenoffallinamass，andcrusheddownboat，andfish，andall，intoth'deepwater，asgoeshalfthroughtheearthinthemlatitudes。
　　Th'coal—minersroundaboutNewcastlewaymaycomeuponourgoodboatiftheyminedeepenough，elsene'eranothermanwillseeher。AndIleftasgoodaclasp—knifeinheraseverIclapteyeson。''Butwhatamercynomanstayedinher，'saidBell。'Why，mistress，Ireckonwea'mustdiesomeway;andI'dassoongodownintothedeepwatersasbechokedupwi'moulds。''Butitmustbesocold，'saidSylvia，shudderingandgivingalittlepoketothefiretowarmherfancy。'Cold！'saidherfather，'whatdoyestay—at—homesknowaboutcold，ashouldliketoknow？Ifyo'dbeenwhereawereonce，northlatitude81，insuchafrostasyeha'niverknown，no，noti'deepwinter，anditwereJunei'themseas，andawhalei'sight，andawereoffinaboatafterher:
　　an't'ill—manneredbrute，assoonasshewereharpooned，upswi'herbigawkwardtail，andstruckt'boati'herstern，andchucksmeoutintot'
　　watter。Thatwerecold，acantellthe'！First，Ismartedallowerme，asifmyskinweresuddenlystriptoffme:andnext，iverybonei'mybodyhadgettent'toothache，andtherewereagreatroari'myears，an'agreatdizzinessi'myeyes;an't'boat'screwkeptthrowin'outtheiroars，an'akeptclutchin'at'em，butacouldna'makeoutwheretheywas，myeyesdazzledsowi't'cold，an'IthoughtIwereboundfor"kingdomcome，"an'atriedtoremembert'Creed，asamightdieaChristian。Butallacouldthinkonwas，"Whatisyourname，MorN？"an'justasaweregivingupbothwordsandlife，theyheavedmeaboard。But，blessye，theyhadbutoneoar;forthey'dthrowna't'othersafterme;soyo'mayreckon，itweresometimeaforewecouldreacht'ship;an'，a'veheerdtell，awereaprecioussighttolookon，formyclotheswasjusthardfrozentome，an'myhaira'mostasbigalumpo'iceasyoniceberghewasa—tellinguson;theyrubbedmeasmissustheerewererubbingt'hamsyesterday，andgav'mebrandy;an'a'venivergettent'frostouto'mybonesfora'theirrubbin'，andadealo'brandyasI'aveta'onsin'。Talko'cold！
　　it'slittleyo'womenknowno'cold！''Butthere'sheat，too，i'someplaces，'saidKinraid。Iwasonceavoyagei'anAmerican。Theygoesforth'mostpartsouth，towhereyoucomeroundtot'coldagain;andthey'llstaythereforthreeyearatatime，ifneedbe，goingintowinterharbouri'someo'th'PacificIslands。Well，wewerei'th'southernseas，a—seekingforgoodwhaling—ground;and，closeonourlarboardbeam，therewereagreatwallo'ice，asmuchassixtyfeethigh。Andsaysourcaptain——aswereadare—devil，ifeveramanwere——"There'llbeanopeninginyondarkgraywall，andintothatopeningI'llsail，ifIcoastalongittillth'dayo'judgment。"But，foralloursailing，weneverseemedtocomenearertoth'opening。Thewaterswererockingbeneathus，andtheskyweresteadyaboveus;andth'iceroseouto'thewaters，andseemedtoreachupintothesky。Wesailedon，andwesailedon，formoredaysnorIcouldcount。Ourcaptainwereastrange，wildman，butoncehelookedalittlepalewhenhecameupo'deckafterhisturn—inandsawthegreen—grayicegoingstraightuponourbeam。Manyonusthoughtastheshipwerebewitchedforth'captain'swords;andwegottospeaklow，andtosayourprayerso'nights，andakindo'dullsilencecameintoth'veryair;ourvoicesdidna'rightlyseemourown。Andwesailedon，andwesailedon。Allatonce，th'manaswereonwatchgaveacry:
　　hesawabreakintheice，aswe'dbeguntothinkwereeverlasting;andweallgatheredtowardsthebows，andthecaptaincalledtoth'manatthehelmtokeephercourse，andcockedhishead，andbegantowalkthequarter—deckjauntyagain。Andwecametoagreatcleftinth'longwearyrockofice;andthesideso'th'cleftwerenotjagged，butwentstraightsharpdownintoth'foamingwaters。Butwetookbutonelookatwhatlayinside，forourcaptain，withaloudcrytoGod，badethehelmsmansteernor'ardsawayfra'th'moutho'Hell。Weallsawwi'ourowneyes，insidethatfearsomewallo'ice——seventymileslong，aswecouldswearto——insidethatgray，coldice，cameleapingflames，allredandyellowwi'heato'
　　someunearthlykindouto'th'verywaterso'thesea;makingoureyesdazzlewi'theirscarletblaze，thatshotupashigh，nay，higherthanth'icearound，yetneversomuchasashredon'twasmelted。Theydidsaythatsomebesideourcaptainsawtheblackdevilsdarthitherandthither，quickerthantheveryflamesthemselves;anyhow，hesawthem。Andasheknewitwerehisowndaringashadledhimtohavethatpeepatterrorsforbiddentoanyonusaforeourtime，hejustdwinedaway，andwehadn'ttakenbutonewhaleaforeourcaptaindied，andfirstmatetookth'command。
　　Itwereaprosperousvoyage;but，forallthat，I'llneversailthoseseasagain，norevertakewageaboardanAmericanagain。''Eh，dear！butit'sawfult'thinko'sittingwi'amanthathasseenth'
　　doorwayintohell，'saidBell，aghast。Sylviahaddroppedherwork，andsatgazingatKinraidwithfascinatedwonder。Danielwasjustalittleannoyedattheadmirationwhichhisownwifeanddaughterwerebestowingonthespecksioneer'swonderfulstories，andhesaid——'Ay，ay。Ifa'dbeenatalker，ye'dha'thoughtadealmoreonmenorye'veiverdoneyet。A'veseensuchthings，anddonesuchthings。''Tellus，father！'saidSylvia，greedyandbreathless。'Someon'emispasttelling，'hereplied，'ansomeisnottobehadfort'asking，seeingashowtheymightbringamanintotrouble。But，asasaid，ifahadafancytorevealallasisonmymindacouldmaket'haironyourheadsliftupyourcaps——well，we'llsayaninch，atleast。Thymother，lass，hasheerdoneortwoon'em。Thoumindsthestoryo'myrideonawhale'sback，Bell？That'llmaybebewithinthisyoungfellow'scomprehensiono't'danger;thou'sheerdmetellit，hastn'tta？''Yes，'saidBell;'butit'salongtimeago;whenwewascourting。''An'that'saforethisyounglasswereborn，asisa'mostuptowoman'sestate。Butsin'thosedaysaha'beeno'erbusytotellstoriestomywife，an'asa'llwarrantshe'sforgottenit;an'asSylviahereniverheerdit，ifyo'llfillyourglass，Kinraid，yo'shallha't'benefito't。'Awereaspecksioneermysel，though，afterthat，araytherdirectedmytalentsint't'smugglingbrancho'myprofession;butawereonceawhalingaboordt'AimwellofWhitby。An'wewasanchoredofft'coasto'
　　Greenlandoneseason;anwe'dgettenacargoo'sevenwhale;butourcaptainhewereakeen—eyedchap，an'niverabovedoin'anyman'swork;an'onceseem'awhalehethrowshimselfint'aboatan'goesofftoit，makin'
　　signalstome，an'anotherspecksioneeraswereofffordiversioni'anotherboat，fortocomeafterhimsharp。Well，aforewecomesalongside，captainhadharpoonedt'fish;an'sayshe，"Now，Robson，allready！giveintoheragainwhenshecomestot'top;"an'Istandsup，rightlegforemost，harpoonallready，assoonasiverIcotchedasighto't'whale，butniverafincouldasee。'Twerenowonder，forshewererightbelowt'boatinwhichawere;andwhenshewantedtorise，whatdoest'greatuglybrutedobutcomewi'herhead，asislikecastiron，upbangagaint'bottomo't'boat。Iwerethrownupint'airlikeashuttlecock，mean'mylinean'myharpoon——upwegoes，an'manyagoodpieceo'timberwi'us，an'