Sylvia's Lovers

Thus he knew no more about the Robsons when he returned to

Monkshaven, than he had done on the day when he had last seen them;

and, of course, his first task there was to give a long viva voce

account of all his London proceedings to the two brothers Foster,

who, considering that they had heard the result of everything by

letter, seemed to take an insatiable interest in details.

He could hardly tell why, but even when released from the Fosters'

parlour, he was unwilling to go to Haytersbank Farm. It was late, it

is true, but on a May evening even country people keep up till eight

or nine o'clock. Perhaps it was because Hepburn was still in his

travel-stained dress; having gone straight to the shop on his

arrival in Monkshaven. Perhaps it was because, if he went this night

for the short half-hour intervening before bed-time, he would have

no excuse for paying a longer visit on the following evening. At any

rate, he proceeded straight to Alice Rose's, as soon as he had

finished his interview with his employers.

Both Hester and Coulson had given him their welcome home in the

shop, which they had, however, left an hour or two before him.

Yet they gave him a fresh greeting, almost one in which surprise was

blended, when he came to his lodgings. Even Alice seemed gratified

by his spending this first evening with them, as if she had thought

it might have been otherwise. Weary though he was, he exerted

himself to talk and to relate what he had done and seen in London,

as far as he could without breaking confidence with his employers.

It was something to see the pleasure he gave to his auditors,

although there were several mixed feelings in their minds to produce

the expression of it which gratified him. Coulson was sorry for his

former ungenerous reception of the news that Philip was going to

London; Hester and her mother each secretly began to feel as if this

evening was like more happy evenings of old, before the Robsons came

to Haytersbank Farm; and who knows what faint delicious hopes this

resemblance may not have suggested?

While Philip, restless and excited, feeling that he could not sleep,

was glad to pass away the waking hours that must intervene before

to-morrow night, at times, he tried to make them talk of what had

happened in Monkshaven during his absence, but all had gone on in an

eventless manner, as far as he could gather; if they knew of

anything affecting the Robsons, they avoided speaking of it to him;

and, indeed, how little likely were they ever to have heard their

names while he was away?