But the former had a secret triumph in his heart which enabled him to go on with his merry-making as if it absorbed him; while Philip dropped out of the crowd and came up to where she was standing silently by Mrs.Corney, who, arms akimbo, was laughing at the frolic and fun around her.

Sylvia started a little when Philip spoke, and kept her soft eyes averted from him after the first glance; she answered him shortly, but with unaccustomed gentleness.

He had only asked her when she would like him to take her home; and she, a little surprised at the idea of going home when to her the evening seemed only beginning, had answered-- 'Go home?
I don't know! It's New Year's eve!' 'Ay! but yo'r mother 'll lie awake till yo' come home, Sylvie!' But Mrs.Corney, having heard his question, broke in with all sorts of upbraidings.

'Go home! Not see t' New Year in! Why, what should take 'em home these six hours?
Wasn't there a moon as clear as day?
and did such a time as this come often?
And were they to break up the party before the New Year came in?
And was there not supper, with a spiced round of beef that had been in pickle pretty nigh sin' Martinmas, and hams, and mince-pies, and what not?
And if they thought any evil of her master's going to bed, or that by that early retirement he meant to imply that he did not bid his friends welcome, why he would not stay up beyond eight o'clock for King George upon his throne, as he'd tell them soon enough, if they'd only step upstairs and ask him.

Well; she knowed what it was to want a daughter when she was ailing, so she'd say nought more, but hasten supper.
And this idea now took possession of Mrs.Corney's mind, for she would not willingly allow one of her guests to leave before they had done justice to her preparations; and, cutting her speech short, she hastily left Sylvia and Philip together.
His heart beat fast; his feeling towards her had never been so strong or so distinct as since her refusal to kiss the 'candlestick.' He was on the point of speaking, of saying something explicitly tender, when the wooden trencher which the party were using at their play, came bowling between him and Sylvia, and spun out its little period right betwixt them.