Sylvia's Lovers

'How comes that sailor chap here?' asked Hepburn of his aunt. 'He's

none fit to be where Sylvia is.' 'Nay, I dunnot know,' said she; 'the Corneys made us acquaint first,

and my master is quite fain of his company.' 'And do you like him, too, aunt?' asked Hepburn, almost wistfully;

he had followed Mrs. Robson into the dairy on pretence of helping

her.

'I'm none fond on him; I think he tells us traveller's tales, by way

o' seeing how much we can swallow. But the master and Sylvia think

that there never was such a one.' 'I could show them a score as good as he down on the quayside.' 'Well, laddie, keep a calm sough. Some folk like some folk and

others don't. Wherever I am there'll allays be a welcome for thee.' For the good woman thought that he had been hurt by the evident

absorption of her husband and daughter with their new friend, and

wished to make all easy and straight. But do what she would, he did

not recover his temper all evening: he was uncomfortable, put out,

not enjoying himself, and yet he would not go. He was determined to

assert his greater intimacy in that house by outstaying Kinraid. At

length the latter got up to go; but before he went, he must needs

bend over Sylvia and say something to her in so low a tone that

Philip could not hear it; and she, seized with a sudden fit of

diligence, never looked up from her sewing; only nodded her head by

way of reply. At last he took his departure, after many a little

delay, and many a quick return, which to the suspicious Philip

seemed only pretences for taking stolen glances at Sylvia. As soon

as he was decidedly gone, she folded up her work, and declared that

she was so much tired that she must go to bed there and then. Her

mother, too, had been dozing for the last half-hour, and was only

too glad to see signs that she might betake herself to her natural

place of slumber.

'Take another glass, Philip,' said farmer Robson.

But Hepburn refused the offer rather abruptly. He drew near to

Sylvia instead. He wanted to make her speak to him, and he saw that

she wished to avoid it. He took up the readiest pretext. It was an

unwise one as it proved, for it deprived him of his chances of

occasionally obtaining her undivided attention.

'I don't think you care much for learning geography, Sylvie?' 'Not much to-night,' said she, making a pretence to yawn, yet

looking timidly up at his countenance of displeasure.

'Nor at any time,' said he, with growing anger; 'nor for any kind of

learning. I did bring some books last time I came, meaning to teach

you many a thing--but now I'll just trouble you for my books; I put

them on yon shelf by the Bible.' He had a mind that she should bring them to him; that, at any rate,

he should have the pleasure of receiving them out of her hands.