Sylvia's Lovers - Page 49/290

'Thank you, my lass. I'm o'er th' worst.' He sighed heavily.

Philip now spoke.

'We're doing him no kindness a-keeping him standing here i' t'

night-fall, and him so tired.' And he made as though he would turn

away. Kinraid's two sailor friends backed up Philip's words with

such urgency, that, somehow, Sylvia thought they had been to blame

in speaking to him, and blushed excessively with the idea.

'Yo'll come and be nursed at Moss Brow, Charley,' said Molly; and

Sylvia dropped her little maidenly curtsey, and said, 'Good-by;'

and went away, wondering how Molly could talk so freely to such a

hero; but then, to be sure, he was a cousin, and probably a

sweetheart, and that would make a great deal of difference, of

course.

Meanwhile her own cousin kept close by her side.