Sylvia's Lovers

There were many domestic arrangements to be made in connection with

the new commercial ones which affected Hepburn and Coulson.

The Fosters, with something of the busybodiness which is apt to

mingle itself with kindly patronage, had planned in their own minds

that the Rose household should be removed altogether to the house

belonging to the shop; and that Alice, with the assistance of the

capable servant, who, at present, managed all John's domestic

affairs, should continue as mistress of the house, with Philip and

Coulson for her lodgers.

But arrangements without her consent did not suit Alice at any time,

and she had very good reasons for declining to accede to this. She

was not going to be uprooted at her time of life, she said, nor

would she consent to enter upon a future which might be so

uncertain. Why, Hepburn and Coulson were both young men, she said,

and they were as likely to marry as not; and then the bride would be

sure to wish to live in the good old-fashioned house at the back of

the shop.

It was in vain she was told by every one concerned, that, in case of

such an event, the first married partner should take a house of his

own, leaving her in undisputed possession. She replied, with

apparent truth, that both might wish to marry, and surely the wife

of one ought to take possession of the house belonging to the

business; that she was not going to trust herself to the fancies of

young men, who were always, the best of them, going and doing the

very thing that was most foolish in the way of marriage; of which

state, in fact, she spoke with something of acrimonious contempt and

dislike, as if young people always got mismatched, yet had not the

sense to let older and wiser people choose for them.

'Thou'll not have been understanding why Alice Rose spoke as she did

this morning,' said Jeremiah Foster to Philip, on the afternoon

succeeding the final discussion of this plan. 'She was a-thinking of

her youth, I reckon, when she was a well-favoured young woman, and

our John was full of the thought of marrying her. As he could not

have her, he has lived a bachelor all his days. But if I am not a

vast mistaken, all that he has will go to her and to Hester, for all

that Hester is the child of another man. Thee and Coulson should

have a try for Hester, Philip. I have told Coulson this day of

Hester's chances. I told him first because he is my wife's nephew;

but I tell thee now, Philip. It would be a good thing for the shop

if one of ye was married.' Philip reddened. Often as the idea of marriage had come into his

mind, this was the first time it had been gravely suggested to him

by another. But he replied quietly enough.