Sylvia's Lovers

'Speak out, man! Always ease an uneasy heart, and never let it get

hidebound.' 'I had thought to convoy my cousin and the other young woman home,

for the town is like to be rough, and it's getting dark.'

'And thou shalt, my lad,' said the good old man; 'and I myself will

try and restrain the natural inclinations of Nicholas and Henry.'

But when he went to find the shop-boys with a gentle homily on his

lips, those to whom it should have been addressed were absent. In

consequence of the riotous state of things, all the other shops in

the market-place had put their shutters up; and Nicholas and Henry,

in the absence of their superiors, had followed the example of their

neighbours, and, as business was over, they had hardly waited to put

the goods away, but had hurried off to help their townsmen in any

struggle that might ensue.

There was no remedy for it, but Mr. John looked rather discomfited.

The state of the counters, and of the disarranged goods, was such

also as would have irritated any man as orderly but less

sweet-tempered. All he said on the subject was: 'The old Adam! the

old Adam!' but he shook his head long after he had finished

speaking.

'Where is William Coulson?' he next asked. 'Oh! I remember. He was

not to come back from York till the night closed in.'

Philip and his master arranged the shop in the exact order the old

man loved. Then he recollected the wish of his subordinate, and

turned round and said-

'Now go with thy cousin and her friend. Hester is here, and old

Hannah. I myself will take Hester home, if need be. But for the

present I think she had best tarry here, as it isn't many steps to

her mother's house, and we may need her help if any of those poor

creatures fall into suffering wi' their violence.'

With this, Mr. John knocked at the door of the parlour, and waited

for permission to enter. With old-fashioned courtesy he told the two

strangers how glad he was that his room had been of service to them;

that he would never have made so bold as to pass through it, if he

had been aware how it was occupied. And then going to a corner

cupboard, high up in the wall, he pulled a key out of his pocket and

unlocked his little store of wine, and cake, and spirits; and

insisted that they should eat and drink while waiting for Philip,

who was taking some last measures for the security of the shop

during the night.