Sylviadidnotunderstandhowatotallydifferentcharacterfromhersmightimmediatelyforgivetheangershecouldnotforget;andbecauseHesterhadbeensomeekatthetime，Sylvia，whoknewhowpassingandtransitorywasherownanger，thoughtthatallwasforgotten;whileHesterbelievedthatthewords，whichsheherselfcouldnothaveutteredexceptunderdeepprovocation，meantmuchmorethantheydid，andadmiredandwonderedatSylviaforhavingsoentirelyconqueredherangeragainsther。Again，thetwodifferentwomenweredivergentlyaffectedbytheextremefondnesswhichBellhadshowntowardsHestereversinceSylvia\'swedding—day。
Sylvia，whohadalwaysreceivedmorelovefromothersthansheknewwhattodowith，hadthemostentirefaithinherownsupremacyinhermother\'sheart，thoughattimesHesterwoulddocertainthingsmoretothepooroldwoman\'ssatisfaction。Hester，whohadcravedfortheaffectionwhichhadbeenwithheldfromher，andhadfromthatonecircumstancebecomedistrustfulofherownpowerofinspiringregard，whilesheexaggeratedthedelightofbeingbeloved，fearedlestSylviashouldbecomejealousofhermother\'sopendisplayofgreatattachmentandoccasionalpreferenceforHester。
ButsuchathoughtneverenteredSylvia\'smind。Shewasmorethankfulthansheknewhowtoexpresstowardsanyonewhomadehermotherhappy;ashasbeenalreadysaid，thecontributingtoBellRobson\'spleasuresearnedPhilipmoreofhiswife\'ssmilesthananythingelse。AndSylviathrewherwholeheartintothewordsandcaressesshelavishedonHesterwheneverpoorMrsRobsonspokeofthegoodnessandkindnessofthelatter。Hesterattributedmorevirtuetothesesweetwordsanddeedsofgratitudethantheydeserved;
theydidnotimplyinSylviaanyvictoryovereviltemptation，astheywouldhavedoneinHester。ItseemedtobeSylvia\'sfatetocaptivatemorepeoplethanshecaredtolikebackagain。SheturnedtheheadsofJohnandJeremiahFoster，whocouldhardlycongratulatePhilipenoughonhischoiceofawife。TheyhadbeenpreparedtobecriticalononewhohadinterferedwiththeirfavouriteprojectofamarriagebetweenPhilipandHester;and，thoughfullofcompassionforthecrueltyofDanielRobson\'sfate，theyweretoocompletelymenofbusinessnottohavesomeapprehensionthattheconnectionofPhilipHepburnwiththedaughterofamanwhowashanged，mightinjuretheshopoverwhichbothhisandtheirnameappeared。Butallthepossibleproprietiesdemandedthattheyshouldpayattentiontothebrideoftheirformershopmanandpresentsuccessor;andtheveryfirstvisitorswhomSylviahadreceivedafterhermarriagehadbeenJohnandJeremiahFoster，intheirSabbath—dayclothes。Theyfoundherintheparlour（sofamiliartobothofthem！）clear—starchinghermother\'scaps，whichhadtobegotupinsomeparticularfashionthatSylviawasafraidofdictatingtoPhoebe。Shewasalittledisturbedathervisitorsdiscoveringheratthisemployment;
butshewasonherownground，andthatgaveherself—possession;andshewelcomedthetwooldmensosweetlyandmodestly，andlookedsoprettyandfeminine，and，besides，sonotableinherhandiwork，thatsheconqueredalltheirprejudicesatoneblow;andtheirfirstthoughtonleavingtheshopwashowtodoherhonour，byinvitinghertoasupperpartyatJeremiahFoster\'shouse。Sylviawasdismayedwhenshewasbiddentothisweddingfeast，andPhiliphadtouseallhisauthority，thoughtenderly，tomakeherconsenttogoatall。ShehadbeentomerrycountrypartiesliketheCorneys\'，andtobrighthay—makingrompsintheopenair;butnevertoasetstatelypartyatafriend\'shouse。Shewouldfainhavemadeattendanceonhermotheranexcuse;butPhilipknewhemustnotlistentoanysuchplea，andappliedtoHesterinthedilemma，askinghertoremainwithMrsRobsonwhileheandSylviawentoutvisiting;andHesterhadwillingly，nay，eagerlyconsented——itwasmuchmoretohertastethangoingout。SoPhilipandSylviasetout，arm—in—arm，downBridgeStreet，acrossthebridge，andthenclamberedupthehill。Onthewayhegaveherthedirectionssheaskedforaboutherbehaviourasbrideandmosthonouredguest;andaltogethersucceeded，againsthisintentionandwill，infrighteninghersocompletelyastothegrandeurandimportanceoftheoccasion，andthenecessityofrememberingcertainsetrules，andmakingcertainsetspeechesandattendingtothemwhentherighttimecame，that，ifanyonesonaturallygracefulcouldhavebeenawkward，Sylviawouldhavebeensothatnight。Asitwas，shesate，paleandweary—looking，ontheveryedgeofherchair;