Sylvia's Lovers

'That screech spoiled all,' sighed Philip.

In one instant the door was opened, and each of the hiders was

conscious of the presence of the constables, although at first the

latter stood motionless, surveying the apparently empty room with

disappointment. Then in another moment they had rushed at Philip's

legs, exposed as these were. They drew him out with violence, and

then let him go.

'Measter Hepburn!' said one in amaze. But immediately they put two

and two together; for in so small a place as Monkshaven every one's

relationships and connexions, and even likings, were known; and the

motive of Philip's coming out to Haytersbank was perfectly clear to

these men.

'T' other 'll not be far off,' said the other constable. 'His plate

were down-stairs, full o' victual; a seed Measter Hepburn a-walking

briskly before me as a left Monkshaven' 'Here he be, here he be,' called out the other man, dragging Daniel

out by his legs, 'we've getten him.' Daniel kicked violently, and came out from his hiding-place in a

less ignominious way than by being pulled out by his heels.

He shook himself, and then turned, facing his captors.

'A wish a'd niver hidden mysel'; it were his doing,' jerking his

thumb toward Philip: 'a'm ready to stand by what a've done. Yo've

getten a warrant a'll be bound, for them justices is grand at

writin' when t' fight's over.' He was trying to carry it off with bravado, but Philip saw that he

had received a shock, from his sudden look of withered colour and

shrunken feature.

'Don't handcuff him,' said Philip, putting money into the

constable's hand. 'You'll be able to guard him well enough without

them things.' Daniel turned round sharp at this whisper.

'Let-a-be, let-a-be, my lad,' he said. 'It 'll be summut to think on

i' t' lock-up how two able-bodied fellys were so afeared on t' chap

as reskyed them honest sailors o' Saturday neet, as they mun put him

i' gyves, and he sixty-two come Martinmas, and sore laid up wi' t'

rheumatics.' But it was difficult to keep up this tone of bravado when he was led

a prisoner through his own house-place, and saw his poor wife

quivering and shaking all over with her efforts to keep back all

signs of emotion until he was gone; and Sylvia standing by her

mother, her arm round Bell's waist and stroking the poor shrunken

fingers which worked so perpetually and nervously in futile

unconscious restlessness. Kester was in a corner of the room,

sullenly standing.

Bell quaked from head to foot as her husband came down-stairs a

prisoner. She opened her lips several times with an uneasy motion,

as if she would fain say something, but knew not what. Sylvia's

passionate swollen lips and her beautiful defiant eyes gave her face

quite a new aspect; she looked a helpless fury.