SAVED AND LOST Hester went out on the evening of the day after that on which the unknown owner of the half-crown had appointed to call for it again at William Darley's.

She had schooled herself to believe that time and patience would serve her best.

Her plan was to obtain all the knowledge about Philip that she could in the first instance; and then, if circumstances allowed it, as in all probability they would, to let drop by drop of healing, peacemaking words and thoughts fall on Sylvia's obdurate, unforgiving heart.

So Hester put on her things, and went out down towards the old quay-side on that evening after the shop was closed.
Poor little Sylvia! She was unforgiving, but not obdurate to the full extent of what Hester believed.

Many a time since Philip went away had she unconsciously missed his protecting love; when folks spoke shortly to her, when Alice scolded her as one of the non-elect, when Hester's gentle gravity had something of severity in it; when her own heart failed her as to whether her mother would have judged that she had done well, could that mother have known all, as possibly she did by this time.