Sylvia's Lovers

'Say! why, what could a say, but that we'd come? There was summat

up, for sure; and summat as he thought we should be glad on. I could

tell it fra' t' look on his face.' 'I don't think as I can go,' said Philip, feeling just then as if

the long-hoped-for partnership was as nothing compared to his plan.

It was always distasteful to him to have to give up a project, or to

disarrange an intended order of things, such was his nature; but

to-day it was absolute pain to yield his own purpose.

'Why, man alive?' said Coulson, in amaze at his reluctance.

'I didn't say I mightn't go,' said Philip, weighing consequences,

until called off to attend to customers.

In the course of the afternoon, however, he felt himself more easy

in deferring his visit to Haytersbank till the next evening. Charley

Kinraid entered the shop, accompanied by Molly Brunton and her

sisters; and though they all went towards Hester's side of the shop,

and Philip and Coulson had many people to attend to, yet Hepburn's

sharpened ears caught much of what the young women were saying. From

that he gathered that Kinraid had promised them new year's gifts,

for the purchase of which they were come; and after a little more

listening he learnt that Kinraid was returning to Shields the next

day, having only come over to spend a holiday with his relations,

and being tied with ship's work at the other end. They all talked

together lightly and merrily, as if his going or staying was almost

a matter of indifference to himself and his cousins. The principal

thought of the young women was to secure the articles they most

fancied; Charley Kinraid was (so Philip thought) especially anxious

that the youngest and prettiest should be pleased. Hepburn watched

him perpetually with a kind of envy of his bright, courteous manner,

the natural gallantry of the sailor. If it were but clear that

Sylvia took as little thought of him as he did of her, to all

appearance, Philip could even have given him praise for manly good

looks, and a certain kind of geniality of disposition which made him

ready to smile pleasantly at all strangers, from babies upwards.

As the party turned to leave the shop they saw Philip, the guest of

the night before; and they came over to shake hands with him across

the counter; Kinraid's hand was proffered among the number. Last

night Philip could not have believed it possible that such a

demonstration of fellowship should have passed between them; and

perhaps there was a slight hesitation of manner on his part, for

some idea or remembrance crossed Kinraid's mind which brought a keen

searching glance into the eyes which for a moment were fastened on

Philip's face. In spite of himself, and during the very action of

hand-shaking, Philip felt a cloud come over his face, not altering

or moving his features, but taking light and peace out of his

countenance.