‘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.

Sylvia declined everything, with less courtesy than she ought to have shown to the offers of the hospitable old man.  Molly took wine and cake, leaving a good half of both, according to the code of manners in that part of the country; and also because Sylvia was continually urging her to make haste.  For the latter disliked the idea of her cousin’s esteeming it necessary to accompany them home, and wanted to escape from him by setting off before he returned.  But any such plans were frustrated by Philip’s coming back into the parlour, full of grave content, which brimmed over from his eyes, with the parcel of Sylvia’s obnoxious red duffle under his arm; anticipating so keenly the pleasure awaiting him in the walk, that he was almost surprised by the gravity of his companions as they prepared for it.  Sylvia was a little penitent for her rejection of Mr. John’s hospitality, now she found out how unavailing for its purpose such rejection had been, and tried to make up by a modest sweetness of farewell, which quite won his heart, and made him praise her up to Hester in a way to which she, observant of all, could not bring herself fully to respond.  What business had the pretty little creature to reject kindly-meant hospitality in the pettish way she did, thought Hester.  And, oh! what business had she to be so ungrateful and to try and thwart Philip in his thoughtful wish of escorting them through the streets of the rough, riotous town?  What did it all mean?

CHAPTER IV

PHILIP HEPBURN