them into the great chamber in which she had helped to lay out the supper, with the intention of bathing her eyes, and taking a drink of water.  One instant Charley Kinraid was missing from the circle of which he was the life and soul; and then back he came with an air of satisfaction on his face, intelligible enough to those who had seen his game; but unnoticed by Philip, who, amidst the perpetual noise and movements around him, had not perceived Sylvia’s leaving the room, until she came back at the end of about a quarter of an hour, looking lovelier than ever, her complexion brilliant, her eyes drooping, her hair neatly and freshly arranged, tied with a brown ribbon instead of that she was supposed to have forfeited.  She looked as if she did not wish her return to be noticed, stealing softly behind the romping lads and lasses with noiseless motions, and altogether such a contrast to them in her cool freshness and modest neatness, that both Kinraid and Philip found it difficult to keep their eyes off her.  But the former had a secret triumph in his heart which enabled him to go on with his merry-making as if it absorbed him; while Philip dropped out of the crowd and came up to where she was standing silently by Mrs. Corney, who, arms akimbo, was laughing at the frolic and fun around her.  Sylvia started a little when Philip spoke, and kept her soft eyes averted from him after the first glance; she answered him shortly, but with unaccustomed gentleness.  He had only asked her when she would like him to take her home; and she, a little surprised at the idea of going home when to her the evening seemed only beginning, had answered—­

‘Go home?  I don’t know!  It’s New Year’s eve!’

’Ay! but yo’r mother ‘ll lie awake till yo’ come home, Sylvie!’

But Mrs. Corney, having heard his question, broke in with all sorts of upbraidings.  ‘Go home!  Not see t’ New Year in!  Why, what should take ’em home these six hours?  Wasn’t there a moon as clear as day? and did such a time as this come often?  And were they to break up the party before the New Year came in?  And was there not supper, with a spiced round of beef that had been in pickle pretty nigh sin’ Martinmas, and hams, and mince-pies, and what not?  And if they thought any evil of her master’s going to bed, or that by that early retirement he meant to imply that he did not bid his friends welcome, why he would not stay up beyond eight o’clock for King George upon his throne, as he’d tell them soon enough, if they’d only step upstairs and ask him.  Well; she knowed what it was to want a daughter when she was ailing, so she’d say nought more, but hasten supper.

And this idea now took possession of Mrs. Corney’s mind, for she would not willingly allow one of her guests to leave before they had done justice to her preparations; and, cutting her speech short, she hastily left Sylvia and Philip together.