Sylvia's Lovers

Such was the substance of what Philip heard, and heard repeatedly,

during his many visits to Mr. Dawson. And now the time of trial drew

near; for the York assizes opened on March the twelfth; not much

above three weeks since the offence was committed which took Daniel

from his home and placed him in peril of death.

Philip was glad that, the extremity of his danger never having been

hinted to Bell, and travelling some forty miles being a most unusual

exertion at that time to persons of her class, the idea of going to

see her husband at York had never suggested itself to Bell's mind.

Her increasing feebleness made this seem a step only to be taken in

case of the fatal extreme necessity; such was the conclusion that

both Sylvia and he had come to; and it was the knowledge of this

that made Sylvia strangle her own daily longing to see her father.

Not but that her hopes were stronger than her fears. Philip never

told her the causes for despondency; she was young, and she, like

her father, could not understand how fearful sometimes is the

necessity for prompt and severe punishment of rebellion against

authority.

Philip was to be in York during the time of the assizes; and it was

understood, almost without words, that if the terrible worst

occurred, the wife and daughter were to come to York as soon as

might be. For this end Philip silently made all the necessary

arrangements before leaving Monkshaven. The sympathy of all men was

with him; it was too large an occasion for Coulson to be anything

but magnanimous. He urged Philip to take all the time requisite; to

leave all business cares to him. And as Philip went about pale and

sad, there was another cheek that grew paler still, another eye that

filled with quiet tears as his heaviness of heart became more and

more apparent. The day for opening the assizes came on. Philip was

in York Minster, watching the solemn antique procession in which the

highest authority in the county accompanies the judges to the House

of the Lord, to be there admonished as to the nature of their

duties. As Philip listened to the sermon with a strained and beating

heart, his hopes rose higher than his fears for the first time, and

that evening he wrote his first letter to Sylvia.

'DEAR SYLVIA, 'It will be longer first than I thought for. Mr. Dawson says Tuesday

in next week. But keep up your heart. I have been hearing the sermon

to-day which is preached to the judges; and the clergyman said so

much in it about mercy and forgiveness, I think they cannot fail to

be lenient this assize. I have seen uncle, who looks but thin, but

is in good heart: only he will keep saying he would do it over again

if he had the chance, which neither Mr. Dawson nor I think is wise in

him, in especial as the gaoler is by and hears every word as is

said. He was very fain of hearing all about home; and wants you to

rear Daisy's calf, as he thinks she will prove a good one. He bade

me give his best love to you and my aunt, and his kind duty to

Kester.