Sylvia's Lovers
Page 242'Philip,' said Sylvia, one night, as he sate as still as a mouse in
her room, imagining her to be asleep. He was by her bed-side in a
moment.
'I've been thinking what she's to be called. Isabella, after mother;
and what were yo'r mother's name?' 'Margaret,' said he.
'Margaret Isabella; Isabella Margaret. Mother's called Bell. She
might be called Bella.' 'I could ha' wished her to be called after thee.' She made a little impatient movement.
'Nay; Sylvia's not a lucky name. Best be called after thy mother and
Hester Rose?' 'No, no!' said Sylvia; 'she mun be called after my mother, or thine,
or both. I should like her to be called Bella, after mother, because
she's so fond of baby.' 'Anything to please thee, darling.' 'Don't say that as if it didn't signify; there's a deal in having a
pretty name,' said Sylvia, a little annoyed. 'I ha' allays hated
being called Sylvia. It were after father's mother, Sylvia Steele.' 'I niver thought any name in a' the world so sweet and pretty as
Sylvia,' said Philip, fondly; but she was too much absorbed in her
own thoughts to notice either his manner or his words.
alive to be pleased by its being named after her, and Hester may be
godmother, and I'll ha' t' dove-coloured silk as yo' gave me afore
we were married made up into a cloak for it to go to church in.' 'I got it for thee,' said Philip, a little disappointed. 'It'll be
too good for the baby.' 'Eh! but I'm so careless, I should be spilling something on it? But
if thou got it for me I cannot find i' my heart for t' wear it on
baby, and I'll have it made into a christening gown for mysel'. But
I'll niver feel at my ease in it, for fear of spoiling it.' 'Well! an' if thou does spoil it, love, I'll get thee another. I
whativer thou's a fancy for, for either thysel', or thy mother.' She lifted her pale face from her pillow, and put up her lips to
kiss him for these words.
Perhaps on that day Philip reached the zenith of his life's
happiness.