I'm speaking like a woman; like a woman as finds out she's been cheated by men as she trusted, and as has no help for it.

I'm noane going to say any more about it.

It's me as has been wronged, and as has to bear it: only I thought I'd tell yo' both this much, that yo' might know somewhat why he went away, and how I said my last word about it.' So indeed it seemed.

To all questions and remonstrances from Alice, Sylvia turned a deaf ear.

She averted her face from Hester's sad, wistful looks; only when they were parting for the night, at the top of the little staircase, she turned, and putting her arms round Hester's neck she laid her head on her neck, and whispered,-- 'Poor Hester--poor, poor Hester! if yo' an' he had but been married together, what a deal o' sorrow would ha' been spared to us all!' Hester pushed her away as she finished these words; looked searchingly into her face, her eyes, and then followed Sylvia into her room, where Bella lay sleeping, shut the door, and almost knelt down at Sylvia's feet, clasping her, and hiding her face in the folds of the other's gown.
'Sylvia, Sylvia,' she murmured, 'some one has told you--I thought no one knew--it's no sin--it's done away with now--indeed it is--it was long ago--before yo' were married; but I cannot forget.