It wouldn't be like my wedding if thou wasn't there: why I've looked upon thee as a sister iver since I came to lodge with thy mother.' Hester shook her head.

Did her duty require her not to turn away from this asking, too?
Philip saw her reluctance, and, by intuition rather than reason, he knew that what she would not do for gaiety or pleasure she would consent to, if by so doing she could render any service to another.

So he went on.
'Besides, Sylvie and me has planned to go for our wedding jaunt to Robin Hood's Bay.

I ha' been to engage a shandry this very morn, before t' shop was opened; and there's no one to leave wi' my aunt.
Th' poor old body is sore crushed with sorrow; and is, as one may say, childish at times; she's to come down here, that we may find her when we come back at night; and there's niver a one she'll come with so willing and so happy as with thee, Hester.

Sylvie and me has both said so.' Hester looked up in his face with her grave honest eyes.
'I cannot go to church wi' thee, Philip; and thou must not ask me any further.