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'He's a queer-lookin' tyke, but a don't think as he's a bad un. 'When did he come? said Sylvia, remembering Kester's account of his sister's character, and feeling as though it behoved her, as Kester's confidante on this head, to give cautious and prudent advice. 'Eh! a matter of a s'ennight ago. A'm noane good at mindin' time; he's paid me his rent twice, but then he were keen to pay aforehand.
With Kester's help she was borne into the back-kitchen, and Kester rushed to the pump for some cold water to throw over her. While Philip, kneeling at her head, was partly supporting her in his arms, and heedless of any sight or sound, the shadow of some one fell upon him.
In her then frame of mind she started a little; but on looking round, she saw Kester's face pressed against the glass, and, reassured, she softly opened the door. There he stood in the dusk outer air, distinct against the gray darkness beyond, and in his hand something which she presently perceived was a pitchfork.
For Daniel was in bed, resting from his weariness, and bemoaning his painful bruises whenever he thought of them. But his mind was still so much occupied with the affair of the previous night, that Bell judged rightly that a new listener would give ease to his body as well as to his mind, and her proposal of Kester's carrying up his breakfast had been received by Daniel with satisfaction.
He heard his own voice saying words he did not seem to have framed in his own mind. 'Kester's a d d fool, he growled. 'He says there's mebbe but one chance i' a hundred, said Sylvia, pleading, as it were, for Kester; 'but oh! Philip, think yo' there's just that one chance? 'Ay, there's a chance, sure enough, said Philip, in a kind of fierce despair that made him reckless what he said or did.
In her then frame of mind she started a little; but on looking round, she saw Kester's face pressed against the glass, and, reassured, she softly opened the door. There he stood in the dusk outer air, distinct against the gray darkness beyond, and in his hand something which she presently perceived was a pitchfork.
As a proof of this, a sigh almost a groan startled the two women at this very moment. 'Poor fellow! said Sylvia, in a soft whisper. 'There's more sore hearts i' t' world than one reckons for! But after a while, she bethought her again of Kester's account of his sister's 'softness'; and she thought that it behoved her to give some good advice.
She had not heard Sylvia's sweeping passage through the kitchen; but half an hour afterwards she was startled up by Kester's abrupt entry. 'Where's Sylvie? asked he. 'I don't know, said Bell, looking scared, and as if she was ready to cry. 'It's no news about him? said she, standing up, and supporting herself on the stick she was now accustomed to use.
So Sylvia had to be content with the knowledge that the money she gladly gave to Kester's sister went partly to feed the lodger who was neither labourer nor neighbour, but only just a tramp, who, she feared, was preying on the good old woman.
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