’If he were after her he were a big black scoundrel, that’s what he were; and a wish he were alive again to be hung.  But a dunnot believe it; them Corney lasses were allays a-talkin’ an’ a-thinking on sweethearts, and niver a man crossed t’ threshold but they tried him on as a husband.  An’ their mother were no better:  Kinraid has spoken civil to Bessy as became a lad to a lass, and she makes an ado over him as if they’d been to church together not a week sin’.’

‘I dunnot uphold t’ Corneys; but Molly Corney—­as is Molly Brunton now—­used to speak on this dead man to our Sylvie as if he were her sweetheart in old days.  Now there’s no smoke without fire, and I’m thinking it’s likely enough he were one of them fellows as is always after some lass or another, and, as often as not, two or three at a time.  Now look at Philip, what a different one he is!  He’s niver thought on a woman but our Sylvie, I’ll be bound.  I wish he wern’t so old-fashioned and faint-hearted.’

‘Ay! and t’ shop’s doin’ a vast o’ business, I’ve heard say.  He’s a deal better company, too, ‘n or he used to be.  He’d a way o’ preaching wi’ him as a couldn’t abide; but now he tak’s his glass, an’ holds his tongue, leavin’ room for wiser men to say their say.’

Such was a conjugal colloquy about this time.  Philip was gaining ground with Daniel, and that was something towards winning Sylvia’s heart; for she was unaware of her father’s change of feeling towards Kinraid, and took all his tenderness towards herself as if they were marks of his regard for her lost lover and his sympathy in her loss, instead of which he was rather feeling as if it might be a good thing after all that the fickle-hearted sailor was dead and drowned.  In fact, Daniel was very like a child in all the parts of his character.  He was strongly affected by whatever was present, and apt to forget the absent.  He acted on impulse, and too often had reason to be sorry for it; but he hated his sorrow too much to let it teach him wisdom for the future.  With all his many faults, however, he had something in him which made him be dearly loved, both by the daughter whom he indulged, and the wife who was in fact superior to him, but whom he imagined that he ruled with a wise and absolute sway.

Love to Sylvia gave Philip tact.  He seemed to find out that to please the women of the household he must pay all possible attention to the man; and though he cared little in comparison for Daniel, yet this autumn he was continually thinking of how he could please him.  When he had said or done anything to gratify or amuse her father, Sylvia smiled and was kind.  Whatever he did was right with his aunt; but even she was unusually glad when her husband was pleased.  Still his progress was slow towards his object; and often he sighed himself to sleep with the words, ’seven years, and maybe seven years more’.  Then in his dreams he saw Kinraid again, sometimes struggling, sometimes sailing towards land, the only one on board a swift advancing ship, alone on deck, stern and avenging; till Philip awoke in remorseful terror.