‘Where’s Sylvie?’ asked he.

‘I don’t know,’ said Bell, looking scared, and as if she was ready to cry.  ‘It’s no news about him?’ said she, standing up, and supporting herself on the stick she was now accustomed to use.

‘Bless yo’, no, dunnot be afeared, missus; it’s only as a spoke hasty to t’ wench, an’ a want t’ tell her as a’m sorry,’ said Kester, advancing into the kitchen, and looking round for Sylvia.

‘Sylvie, Sylvie!’ shouted he; ‘she mun be i’ t’ house.’

Sylvia came slowly down the stairs, and stood before him.  Her face was pale, her mouth set and determined; the light of her eyes veiled in gloom.  Kester shrank from her look, and even more from her silence.

‘A’m come to ax pardon,’ said he, after a little pause.

She was still silent.

’A’m noane above axing pardon, though a’m fifty and more, and thee’s but a silly wench, as a’ve nursed i’ my arms.  A’ll say before thy mother as a ought niver to ha’ used them words, and as how a’m sorry for ‘t.’

‘I don’t understand it all,’ said Bell, in a hurried and perplexed tone.  ‘What has Kester been saying, my lass?’ she added, turning to Sylvia.

Sylvia went a step or two nearer to her mother, and took hold of her hand as if to quieten her; then facing once more round, she said deliberately to Kester,—­

‘If thou wasn’t Kester, I’d niver forgive thee.  Niver,’ she added, with bitterness, as the words he had used recurred to her mind.  ’It’s in me to hate thee now, for saying what thou did; but thou’re dear old Kester after all, and I can’t help mysel’, I mun needs forgive thee,’ and she went towards him.  He took her little head between his horny hands and kissed it.  She looked up with tears in her eyes, saying softly,—­

‘Niver say things like them again.  Niver speak on——­’

‘A’ll bite my tongue off first,’ he interrupted.

He kept his word.

In all Philip’s comings and goings to and from Haytersbank Farm at this time, he never spoke again of his love.  In look, words, manner, he was like a thoughtful, tender brother; nothing more.  He could be nothing more in the presence of the great dread which loomed larger upon him after every conversation with the lawyer.

For Mr. Donkin had been right in his prognostication.  Government took up the attack on the Rendezvous with a high and heavy hand.  It was necessary to assert authority which had been of late too often braved.  An example must be made, to strike dismay into those who opposed and defied the press-gang; and all the minor authorities who held their powers from Government were in a similar manner severe and relentless in the execution of their duty.  So the attorney, who went over to see the prisoner in York Castle, told Philip.  He added that Daniel still retained his pride in his achievement, and could not be brought to understand the dangerous position in which he was