Sylvia's Lovers

'And when did I say a word again King George and the Constitution? I

only ax 'em to govern me as I judge best, and that's what I call

representation. When I gived my vote to Measter Cholmley to go up to

t' Parliament House, I as good as said, 'Now yo' go up theer, sir,

and tell 'em what I, Dannel Robson, think right, and what I, Dannel

Robson, wish to have done.' Else I'd be darned if I'd ha' gi'en my

vote to him or any other man. And div yo' think I want Seth Robson (

as is my own brother's son, and mate to a collier) to be cotched up

by a press-gang, and ten to one his wages all unpaid? Div yo' think

I'd send up Measter Cholmley to speak up for that piece o' work? Not

I.' He took up his pipe again, shook out the ashes, puffed it into a

spark, and shut his eyes, preparatory to listening.

'But, asking pardon, laws is made for the good of the nation, not

for your good or mine.' Daniel could not stand this. He laid down his pipe, opened his eyes,

stared straight at Philip before speaking, in order to enforce his

words, and then said slowly-'Nation here! nation theere! I'm a man and yo're another, but

nation's nowheere. If Measter Cholmley talked to me i' that fashion,

he'd look long for another vote frae me. I can make out King George,

and Measter Pitt, and yo' and me, but nation! nation, go hang!' Philip, who sometimes pursued an argument longer than was politic

for himself, especially when he felt sure of being on the conquering

side, did not see that Daniel Robson was passing out of the

indifference of conscious wisdom into that state of anger which

ensues when a question becomes personal in some unspoken way. Robson

had contested this subject once or twice before, and had the

remembrance of former disputes to add to his present vehemence. So

it was well for the harmony of the evening that Bell and Sylvia

returned from the kitchen to sit in the house-place. They had been

to wash up the pans and basins used for supper; Sylvia had privately

shown off her cloak, and got over her mother's shake of the head at

its colour with a coaxing kiss, at the end of which her mother had

adjusted her cap with a 'There! there! ha' done wi' thee,' but had

no more heart to show her disapprobation; and now they came back to

their usual occupations until it should please their visitor to go;

then they would rake the fire and be off to bed; for neither

Sylvia's spinning nor Bell's knitting was worth candle-light, and

morning hours are precious in a dairy.