Sylvia's Lovers - Page 63/290

'I'll come, sir, and be thankful. I daresay a turn'll do me good, if

the weather holds up, an' th' frost keeps on.' 'That's right, my lad,' said Robson, shaking him by the hand, and

then Kinraid's hand was held out to Sylvia, and she could not avoid

the same friendly action.

Molly Corney followed her to the door, and when they were fairly

outside, she held Sylvia back for an instant to say,-'Is na' he a fine likely man? I'm so glad as yo've seen him, for

he's to be off next week to Newcastle and that neighbourhood.' 'But he said he'd come to us some night?' asked Sylvia, half in a

fright.

'Ay, I'll see as he does; never fear. For I should like yo' for to

know him a bit. He's a rare talker. I'll mind him o' coming to yo'.' Somehow, Sylvia felt as if this repeated promise of reminding

Kinraid of his promise to come and see her father took away part of

the pleasure she had anticipated from his visit. Yet what could be

more natural than that Molly Corney should wish her friend to be

acquainted with the man whom Sylvia believed to be all but Molly's

engaged lover?

Pondering these thoughts, the walk home was as silent as that going

to Moss Brow had been. The only change seemed to be that now they

faced the brilliant northern lights flashing up the sky, and that

either this appearance or some of the whaling narrations of Kinraid

had stirred up Daniel Robson's recollections of a sea ditty, which

he kept singing to himself in a low, unmusical voice, the burden of

which was, 'for I loves the tossin' say!' Bell met them at the door.

'Well, and here ye are at home again! and Philip has been, Sylvie,

to give thee thy ciphering lesson; and he stayed awhile, thinking

thou'd be coming back.' 'I'm very sorry,' said Sylvia, more out of deference to her mother's

tone of annoyance, than because she herself cared either for her

lesson or her cousin's disappointment.

'He'll come again to-morrow night, he says. But thou must take care,

and mind the nights he says he'll come, for it's a long way to come

for nought.' Sylvia might have repeated her 'I'm very sorry' at this announcement

of Philip's intentions; but she restrained herself, inwardly and

fervently hoping that Molly would not urge the fulfilment of the

specksioneer's promise for to-morrow night, for Philip's being there

would spoil all; and besides, if she sate at the dresser at her

lesson, and Kinraid at the table with her father, he might hear all,

and find out what a dunce she was.

She need not have been afraid. With the next night Hepburn came; and

Kinraid did not. After a few words to her mother, Philip produced

the candles he had promised, and some books and a quill or two.