Sylvia's Lovers

As they all sat at tea in Alice Rose's house-place, Philip announced

his intended journey; a piece of intelligence he had not

communicated earlier to Coulson because he had rather dreaded the

increase of dissatisfaction it was sure to produce, and of which he

knew the expression would be restrained by the presence of Alice

Rose and her daughter.

'To Lunnon!' exclaimed Alice.

Hester said nothing.

'Well! some folks has the luck!' said Coulson.

'Luck!' said Alice, turning sharp round on him. 'Niver let me hear

such a vain word out o' thy mouth, laddie, again. It's the Lord's

doing, and luck's the devil's way o' putting it. Maybe it's to try

Philip he's sent there; happen it may be a fiery furnace to him; for

I've heerd tell it's full o' temptations, and he may fall into

sin--and then where'd be the "luck" on it? But why art ta going? and

the morning, say'st thou? Why, thy best shirt is in t' suds, and no

time for t' starch and iron it. Whatten the great haste as should

take thee to Lunnon wi'out thy ruffled shirt?' 'It's none o' my doing,' said Philip; 'there's business to be done,

and John Foster says I'm to do it; and I'm to start to-morrow.' 'I'll not turn thee out wi'out thy ruffled shirt, if I sit up a'

neet,' said Alice, resolutely.

'Niver fret thyself, mother, about t' shirt,' said Philip. 'If I

need a shirt, London's not what I take it for if I can't buy mysel'

one ready-made.' 'Hearken to him!' said Alice. 'He speaks as if buying o' ready-made

shirts were nought to him, and he wi' a good half-dozen as I made

mysel'. Eh, lad? but if that's the frame o' mind thou'rt in, Lunnon

is like for to be a sore place o' temptation. There's pitfalls for

men, and traps for money at ivery turn, as I've heerd say. It would

ha' been better if John Foster had sent an older man on his

business, whativer it be.' 'They seem to make a deal o' Philip all on a sudden,' said Coulson.

'He's sent for, and talked to i' privacy, while Hester and me is

left i' t' shop for t' bear t' brunt o' t' serving.' 'Philip knows,' said Hester, and then, somehow, her voice failed her

and she stopped.

Philip paid no attention to this half-uttered sentence; he was eager

to tell Coulson, as far as he could do so without betraying his

master's secret, how many drawbacks there were to his proposed

journey, in the responsibility which it involved, and his

unwillingness to leave Monkshaven: he said-'Coulson, I'd give a deal it were thou that were going, and not me.

At least, there is many a time I'd give a deal. I'll not deny but at

other times I'm pleased at the thought on't. But, if I could I'd

change places wi' thee at this moment.' 'It's fine talking,' said Coulson, half mollified, and yet not

caring to show it. 'I make no doubt it were an even chance betwixt

us two at first, which on us was to go; but somehow thou got the

start and thou'st stuck to it till it's too late for aught but to

say thou's sorry.' 'Nay, William,' said Philip, rising, 'it's an ill look-out for the

future, if thee and me is to quarrel, like two silly wenches, o'er

each bit of pleasure, or what thou fancies to be pleasure, as falls

in t' way of either on us. I've said truth to thee, and played thee

fair, and I've got to go to Haytersbank for to wish 'em good-by, so

I'll not stay longer here to be misdoubted by thee.' He took his cap and was gone, not heeding Alice's shrill inquiry as

to his clothes and his ruffled shirt. Coulson sat still, penitent

and ashamed; at length he stole a look at Hester. She was playing

with her teaspoon, but he could see that she was choking down her

tears; he could not choose but force her to speak with an ill-timed

question.