AlthoughwellnightheendofMarch，thewindblewwildandpiercing，asIwentonfootthatafternoontoMotherMelldrum’sdwelling。Itwassafernottotakeahorse，lestifanythingvexedhersheshouldputaspelluponhim；ashadbeendonetoFarmerSnowe’sstablebythewisewomanofSimonsbath。
　　ThesunwaslowontheedgeofthehillsbythetimeI
　　enteredthevalley，forIcouldnotleavehometillthecattleweretended，andthedistancewassevenmilesormore。Theshadowsofrocksfellfaranddeep，andthebrowndeadfernwasfluttering，andbrambleswiththeirsereleaveshanging，swayedtheirtatterstoandfro，witharedlookonthem。Inpatchesunderneaththecrags，afewwildgoatswerebrowsing；thentheytossedtheirhorns，andfled，andleapedonledges，andstaredatme。Moreover，thesoundoftheseacameup，andwentthelengthofthevalley，andthereitlappedonabuttofrocks，andmurmuredlikeashell。
　　Takingthingsonewithanother，andfeelingallthelonesomeness，andhavingnostickwithme，Iwasmuchinclinedtogobrisklyback，andcomeatabetterseason。AndwhenIbeheldatallgreyshape，ofsomethingoranother，movingatthelowerendofthevalley，wheretheshadewas，itgavemesuchastrokeoffear，aftermanyothers，thatmythumbwhichlayinmother’sBiblebroughtinmybigpocketforthesakeofsafetyshooksomuchthatitcameout，andIcouldnotgetitinagain。’Thisservesmeright，’Isaidtomyself，’fortamperingwithBeelzebub。OhthatIhadlistenedtoparson!’
　　AndthereuponIstruckaside；notlikingtorunawayquite，assomepeoplemightcallit；butseekingtolooklikeawandererwhowascometoseethevalley，andhadseenalmostenoughofit。HereinIshouldhavesucceeded，andgonehome，andthenbeenangryatmywantofcourage，butthatontheveryturnandbendingofmyfootsteps，thewomaninthedistanceliftedupherstafftome，sothatIwasboundtostop。
　　Andnow，beingbroughtfacetoface，bythewillofGodasonemightsaywithanythingthatmightcomeofit，Ikeptmyselfquitestraightandstiff，andthrustawayallwhitefeather，trustinginmyBiblestill，hopingthatitwouldprotectme，thoughIhaddisobeyedit。
　　Butuponthatremembrance，myconsciencetookmebytheleg，sothatIcouldnotgoforward。
　　Allthiswhile，thefearfulwomanwascomingnearandmoreneartome；andIwasgladtositdownonarockbecausemykneeswereshakingso。Itriedtothinkofmanythings，butnoneofthemwouldcometome；andI
　　couldnottakemyeyesaway，thoughIprayedGodtobenearme。
　　ButwhenshewascomesonightomethatIcoulddescryherfeatures，therewassomethinginhercountenancethatmademenotdislikeher。Shelookedasifshehadbeenvisitedbymanytroubles，andhadfeltthemonebyone，yetheldenoughofkindlynaturestilltogrieveforothers。Longwhitehair，oneitherside，wasfallingdownbelowherchin；andthroughherwrinklesclearbrighteyesseemedtospreadthemselvesuponme。
　　ThoughIhadplentyoftimetothink，Iwastakenbysurprisenoless，andunabletosayanything；yeteagertohearthesilencebroken，andlongingforanoiseortwo。
　　’Thouartnotcometome，’shesaid，lookingthroughmysimpleface，asifitwerebutglass，’tobestruckforbone-shave，nortobeblessedforbarn-gun。Givemeforththyhand，JohnRidd；andtellwhythouartcometome。’
　　ButIwassomuchamazedatherknowingmynameandallaboutme，thatIfearedtoplacemyhandinherpower，orevenmytonguebyspeaking。
　　’Havenofearofme，myson；Ihavenogifttoharmthee；andifIhad，itshouldbeidle。Now，ifthouhastanywit，tellmewhyIlovethee。’
　　’Ineverhadanywit，mother，’IansweredinourDevonshireway；’andneverseteyesontheebefore，tothefurthestofmyknowledge。’
　　’AndyetIknowtheeaswell，John，asifthouwertmygrandson。RememberyoutheoldOareoak，andthebogattheheadofExe，andthechildwhowouldhavediedthere，butforthystrengthandcourage，andmostofallthykindness？Thatwasmygranddaughter，John；andallIhaveonearthtolove。’
　　Nowthatshecametospeakofit，withtheplaceandthat，soclearly，IrememberedallaboutitathingthathappenedlastAugust，andthoughthowstupidI
　　musthavebeennottolearnmoreofthelittlegirlwhohadfallenintotheblackpit，withabasketfulofwhortleberries，andwhomighthavebeengulfedifherlittledoghadnotspiedmeinthedistance。Icarriedheronmybacktomother；andthenwedressedherallanew，andtookherwheresheorderedus；butshedidnottelluswhoshewas，noranythingmorethanherChristianname，andthatshewaseightyearsold，andfondoffriedbatatas。Andwedidnotseektoaskhermore；asourmanneriswithvisitors。
　　Butthinkingofthislittlestory，andseeinghowshelookedatme，IlostmyfearofMotherMelldrum，andbegantolikeher；partlybecauseIhadhelpedhergrandchild，andpartlythatifsheweresowise，noneedwouldhavebeenformetosavethelittlethingfromdrowning。ThereforeIstoodupandsaid，thoughscarcelyyetestablishedinmypoweragainsthers，——
　　’Goodmother，theshoeshelostwasinthemire，andnotwithus。Andwecouldnotmatchit，althoughwegaveherapairofsisterLizzie’s。’
　　’Myson，whatcareIforhershoe？Howsimplethouart，andfoolish!accordingtothethoughtsofsome。
　　Nowtellme，forthoucanstnotlie，whathasbroughttheetome。’
　　Beingsoashamedandbashful，Iwashalf-inclinedtotellheralie，untilshesaidthatIcouldnotdoit；
　　andthenIknewthatIcouldnot。
　　’Iamcometoknow，’Isaid，lookingatarockthewhile，tokeepmyvoicefromshaking，’whenImaygotoseeLornaDoone。’
　　NomorecouldIsay，thoughmymindwaschargedtoaskfiftyotherquestions。ButalthoughIlookedaway，itwasplainthatIhadaskedenough。Ifeltthatthewisewomangazedatmeinwrathaswellassorrow；andthenIgrewangrythatanyoneshouldseemtomakelightofLorna。
　　’JohnRidd，’saidthewoman，observingthisfornowI
　　facedherbravely，’ofwhomartthouspeaking？Isitachildofthemenwhoslewyourfather？’
　　’Icannottell，mother。HowshouldIknow？Andwhatisthattothee？’
　　’Itissomethingtothymother，John，andsomethingtothyself，Itrow；andnothingworsecouldbefallthee。’
　　Iwaitedforhertospeakagain，becauseshehadspokensosadlythatittookmybreathaway。
　　’JohnRidd，ifthouhastanyvalueforthybodyorthysoul，thymother，orthyfather’sname，havenoughttodowithanyDoone。’
　　Shegazedatmeinearnestso，andraisedhervoiceinsayingit，untilthewholevalley，curvinglikeagreatbellechoed’Doone，’thatitseemedtomemyheartwasgoneforeveryoneandeverything。IfitwereGod’swillformetohavenomoreofLorna，letasigncomeoutoftherocks，andIwouldtrytobelieveit。Butnosigncame，andIturnedtothewoman，andlongedthatshehadbeenaman。
　　’Youpoorthing，withbonesandblades，pailsofwater，anddoor-keys，whatknowyouaboutthedestinyofamaidensuchasLorna？Chilblainsyoumaytreat，andbone-shave，ringworm，andthescaldings；evenscabbysheepmaylimpthebetterforyourstrikings。JohntheBaptistandhiscousins，withthewoolandhyssop，areformares，andailingdogs，andfowlsthathavethejaundice。Lookatmenow，MotherMelldrum，amIlikeafool？’
　　’Thatthouart，myson。Alasthatitwereanyother!
　　Nowbeholdtheendofthat；JohnRidd，marktheendofit。’
　　Shepointedtothecastle-rock，whereuponanarrowshelf，betwixtusandthecomingstars，abitterfightwasraging。Afinefatsheep，withanhonestface，hadclombupverycarefullytobrowseonabitofjuicygrass，nowthedewofthelandwasuponit。Tohim，fromanuppercrag，aleanblackgoatcamehurrying，withleaps，andskirmishofthehorns，andanangrynoiseinhisnostrils。Thegoathadgrazedtheplacebefore，totheutmostofhisliking，croppinginandoutwithjerks，astheirmannerisoffeeding。
　　Neverthelesshefellonthesheepwithfuryandgreatmalice。
　　Thesimplewetherwasmuchinclinedtoretirefromthecontest，butlookedaroundinvainforanywaytopeaceandcomfort。Hisenemystoodbetweenhimandthelastleaphehadtaken；therewasnothinglefthimbuttofight，orbehurledintothesea，fivehundredfeetbelow。
　　’Liedown，liedown!’Ishoutedtohim，asifhewereadog，forIhadseenabattlelikethisbefore，andknewthatthesheephadnochanceoflifeexceptfromhisgreaterweight，andthedifficultyofmovinghim。
　　’Liedown，liedown，JohnRidd!’criedMotherMelldrum，mockingme，butwithoutasignofsmiling。
　　Thepoorsheepturned，uponmyvoice，andlookedatmesopiteouslythatIcouldlooknolonger；butranwithallmyspeedtotryandsavehimfromthecombat。HesawthatIcouldnotbeintime，forthegoatwasbuckingtoleapathim，andsothegoodwetherstoopedhisforehead，withtheharmlesshornscurlingasideofit；andthegoatflunghisheelsup，andrushedathim，withquicksharpjumpsandtricksofmovement，andthepointsofhislonghornsalwaysforemost，andhislittlescutcockedlikeagun-hammer。
　　AsIranupthesteepoftherock，Icouldnotseewhattheyweredoing，butthesheepmusthavefoughtverybravelyatlast，andyieldedhisgroundquiteslowly，andIhopedalmosttosavehim。Butjustasmyheadtoppedtheplatformofrock，Isawhimflungfromitbackward，withasadlowmoanandagurgle。Hisbodymadequiteashortnoiseintheair，likeabucketthrowndownawellshaft，andIcouldnottellwhenitstruckthewater，exceptbytheechoamongtherocks。
　　SowrothwasIwiththegoatatthemomentbeingsomewhatscantofbreathandunabletoconsider，thatIcaughthimbytherighthind-leg，beforehecouldturnfromhisvictory，andhurledhimafterthesheep，tolearnhowhelikedhisowncompulsion。
　　AlthoughIlefttheDenesatonce，havinglittleheartforfurtherquestionsofthewisewoman，andbeingafraidtovisitherhouseundertheDevil’sCheese-ringtowhichshekindlyinvitedme，andalthoughIranmostpartoftheway，itwasverylateforfarm-housetimeuponaSundayeveningbeforeIwasbackatPlover’sBarrows。Mymotherhadgreatdesiretoknowallaboutthematter；butIcouldnotreconcileitwithmyrespectsotofrightenher。ThereforeItriedtosleepitoff，keepingmyowncounsel；andwhenthatprovedofnoavail，Istrovetoworkitaway，itmightbe，byheavyoutdoorlabour，andweariness，andgoodfeeding。Theseindeedhadsomeeffect，andhelpedtopassaweekortwo，withmorepainofhandthanhearttome。
　　Butwhentheweatherchangedinearnest，andthefrostwasgone，andthesouth-westwindblewsoftly，andthelambswereatplaywiththedaisies，itwasmorethanI
　　coulddotokeepfromthoughtofLorna。Fornowthefieldswerespreadwithgrowth，andthewaterscladwithsunshine，andlightandshadow，stepbystep，wanderedoverthefurzycleves。Allthesidesofthehillywoodweregatheredinandoutwithgreen，silver-grey，orrussetpoints，accordingtotheseveralmannerofthetreesbeginning。Andifonestoodbeneathanelm，withanyhearttolookatit，lo!allthegroundwasstrewnwithflakestoosmalltoknowtheirmeaning，andallthespraysabovewereraspedandtremblingwitharedness。AndsoIstoppedbeneaththetree，andcarvedL。D。uponit，andwonderedatthebudsofthoughtthatseemedtoswellinsideme。
　　Theupshotofitallwasthis，thatasnoLornacametome，exceptindreamsorfancy，andasmylifewasnotworthlivingwithoutconstantsignofher，forthImustagaintofindher，andsaymorethanamancantell。
　　Therefore，withoutwaitinglongerforthemovingofthespring，dressedIwasingrandattiresofarasIhadgottenit，andthinkingmyappearancegood，althoughwithdoubtsaboutitbeingforcedtodressinthehay-tallat，roundthecornerofthewood-stackwentI
　　veryknowingly——forLizzie’seyeswerewondroussharp——andthenIwassureofmeetingnonewhowouldcareordaretospeakofme。
　　ItlayuponmyconscienceoftenthatIhadnotmadedearAnniesecrettothishistory；althoughinallthingsIcouldtrusther，andshelovedmelikealamb。
　　ManyandmanyatimeItried，andmorethanoncebeganthething；buttherecameadrynessinmythroat，andaknockingundertheroofofmymouth，andalongingtoputitoffagain，asperhapsmightbethewisest。AndthenIwouldremembertoothatIhadnorighttospeakofLornaasifshewerecommonproperty。
　　ThistimeIlongedtotakemygun，andwashalfresolvedtodoso；becauseitseemedsohardathingtobeshotatandhavenochanceofshooting；butwhenI
　　cametorememberthesteepnessandtheslipperynatureofthewaterslide，thereseemedbutlittlelikelihoodofkeepingdrythepowder。ThereforeIwasarmedwithnothingbutagoodstouthollystaff，seasonedwellformanyawinterinourback-kitchenchimney。
　　Althoughmyheartwasleapinghighwiththeprospectofsomeadventure，andthefearofmeetingLorna，Icouldnotbutbegladdenedbythesoftnessoftheweather，andthewelcomewayofeverything。Therewasthatpowerallround，thatpowerandthatgoodness，whichmakeuscome，asitwere，outsideourbodilyselves，tosharethem。Overandbesideusbreathesthejoyofhopeandpromise；underfootaretroublespast；inthedistanceboweringnewnesstemptsuseverforward。Wequickenwithlargesseoflife，andspringwithvividmystery。
　　And，ingoodsooth，Ihadtospring，andnomysteryaboutit，ereeverIgottothetopoftheriftleadingintoDoone-glade。Forthestreamwasrushingdowninstrength，andravingateverycorner；amortofrainhavingfallenlastnightandnowindcometowipeit。
　　However，Ireachedtheheaderedarkwithmoredifficultythandanger，andsatinaplacewhichcomfortedmybackandlegsdesirably。