’AndoftenwhenIwakeatnight，andlistentothesilence，orwanderfarfrompeopleinthegraynessoftheevening，orstandandlookatquietwaterhavingshadowsoverit，somevagueimageseemstohoverontheskirtofvision，everchangingplaceandoutline，everflittingasIfollow。Thissomovesandhurriesme，intheeagernessandlonging，thatstraightwayallmychanceislost；andmemory，scaredlikeawildbird，flies。OramIasachildperhaps，chasingaflowncageling，whoamongthebranchesfreeplaysandpeepsattheofferedcageasahomenottobeurgedonhim，andmeanstotakehistimeofcoming，ifhecomesatall？
　　’OftentooIwonderattheoddsoffortune，whichmademehelplessasIam，andfondofpeaceandreading
　　theheiressofthismaddomain，thesanctuaryofunholiness。ItisnotlikelythatIshallhavemuchpowerofauthority；andyettheCounsellorcreepsuptobemyLordoftheTreasury；andhissonaspirestomyhand，asofaRoyalalliance。Well，“honouramongthieves，“theysay；andmineisthefirsthonour：
　　althoughamongdecentfolkperhaps，honestyisbetter。
　　’Weshouldnotbesoquiethere，andsafefrominterruptionbutthatIhavebeggedoneprivilegeratherthancommandedit。Thiswasthatthelowerend，justthisnarrowingofthevalley，whereitismosthardtocomeat，mightbelookeduponasmine，exceptforpurposesofguard。Thereforenonebesidethesentriesevertrespassonmehere，unlessitbemygrandfather，ortheCounsellororCarver。
　　’Byyourface，MasterRidd，IseethatyouhaveheardofCarverDoone。Forstrengthandcourageandresourcehebearsthefirstreputeamongus，asmightwellbeexpectedfromthesonoftheCounsellor。Buthediffersfromhisfather，inbeingveryhotandsavage，andquitefreefromargument。TheCounsellor，whoismyuncle，giveshissonthebestadvice；commendingallthevirtues，witheloquenceandwisdom；yethimselfabstainingfromthemaccuratelyandimpartially。
　　’Youmustbetiredofthisstory，andthetimeItaketothink，andtheweaknessofmytelling；butmylifefromdaytodayshowssolittlevariance。AmongtheridersthereisnonewhosesafereturnIwatchfor——I
　　meannonemorethanother——andindeedthereseemsnorisk，allarenowsofearedofus。NeitheroftheoldmenistherewhomIcanrevereorloveexceptalonemygrandfather，whomIlovewithtrembling：neitherofthewomenanywhomIliketodealwith，unlessitbealittlemaidenwhomIsavedfromstarving。
　　’AlittleCornishgirlsheis，andshapedinwesternmanner，notsoverymuchlessinwidththanifyoutakeherlengthwise。Herfatherseemstohavebeenaminer，aCornishmanasshedeclaresofmorethanaverageexcellence，andbetterthananytwomentobefoundinDevonshire，oranyfourinSomerset。Veryfewthingscanhavebeenbeyondhispowerofperformance，andyethelefthisdaughtertostarveuponapeat-rick。Shedoesnotknowhowthiswasdone，andlooksuponitasamystery，themeaningofwhichwillsomedaybeclear，andredoundtoherfather’shonour。HisnamewasSimonCarfax，andhecameasthecaptainofagangfromoneoftheCornishstannaries。GwennyCarfax，myyoungmaid，wellremembershowherfatherwasbroughtupfromCornwall。Hermotherhadbeenburied，justaweekorsobefore；andhewassadaboutit，andhadbeenoffhiswork，andwasreadyforanotherjob。Thenpeoplecametohimbynight，andsaidthathemustwantachange，andeverybodylosttheirwives，andworkwasthewaytomendit。Sowhatwithgrief，andover-thought，andtheinsideofasquarebottle，Gwennysaystheybroughthimoff，tobecomeamightycaptain，andchoosethecountryround。Thelastshesawofhimwasthis，thathewentdownaladdersomewhereonthewildsofExmoor，leavingherwithbreadandcheese，andhistravelling-hattoseeto。Andfromthatdaytothishenevercameabovethegroundagain；sofaraswecanhearof。
　　’ButGwenny，holdingtohishat，andhavingeatenthebreadandcheesewhenhecamenomoretohelpher，dweltthreedaysnearthemouthofthehole；andthenitwasclosedover，thewhilethatshewassleeping。
　　Withweaknessandwithwantoffood，shelostherselfdistressfully，andwentawayformilesormore，andlayuponapeat-rick，todiebeforetheravens。
　　’ThatverydayIchancedtoreturnfromAuntSabina’sdying-place；forshewouldnotdieinGlenDoone，shesaid，lesttheangelsfearedtocomeforher；andsoshewastakentoacottageinalonelyvalley。Iwasallowedtovisither，forevenwedurstnotrefusethewishesofthedying；andifapriesthadbeendesired，weshouldhavemadeboldwithhim。Returningverysorrowful，andcaringnowfornothing，Ifoundthislittlestraythinglying，herarmsuponher，andnotasignoflife，exceptthewaythatshewasbiting。
　　Blackroot-stuffwasinhermouth，andapieceofdirtysheep’swool，andatherfeetanoldegg-shellofsomebirdofthemoorland。
　　’Itriedtoraiseher，butshewastoosquareandheavyforme；andsoIputfoodinhermouth，andlefthertodorightwithit。Andthisshedidinalittletime；
　　forthevictualswereverychoiceandrare，beingwhatIhadtakenovertotemptpoorAuntSabina。Gwennyatethemwithoutdelay，andthenwasreadytoeatthebasketandthewarethatcontainedthem。
　　’Gwennytookmeforanangel——thoughIamlittlelikeone，asyousee，MasterRidd；andshefollowedme，expectingthatIwouldopenwingsandflywhenwecametoanydifficulty。Ibroughtherhomewithme，sofarasthiscanbeahome，andshemadeherselfmysoleattendant，withoutsomuchasaskingme。Shehasbeatentwoorthreeothergirls，whousedtowaituponme，untiltheyareafraidtocomenearthehouseofmygrandfather。Sheseemstohavenokindoffearevenofourroughestmen；andyetshelookswithreverenceandaweupontheCounsellor。Asforthewickedness，andtheft，andrevelryaroundher，shesaysitisnoconcernofhers，andtheyknowtheirownbusinessbest。
　　Bythiswayofregardingmenshehaswonuponourriders，sothatsheisalmostfreefromallcontrolofplaceandseason，andisallowedtopasswherenoneevenoftheyouthsmaygo。Beingsowide，andshort，andflat，shehasnonetopayhercompliments；and，werethereany，shewouldscornthem，asnotbeingCornishmen。Sometimesshewandersfar，bymoonlight，onthemoorsanduptherivers，togiveherfatherasshesaysanotherchanceoffindingher，andshecomesbacknotawitdefeated，ordiscouraged，ordepressed，butconfidentthatheisonlywaitingforthepropertime。
　　’Hereinshesetsmegoodexampleofapatienceandcontentmenthardformetoimitate。OftentimesIamvexedbythingsIcannotmeddlewith，yetwhichcannotbekeptfromme，thatIamatthepointofflyingfromthisdreadfulvalley，andriskingallthatcanbetidemeintheunknownouterworld。Ifitwerenotformygrandfather，Iwouldhavedonesolongago；butI
　　cannotbearthatheshoulddiewithnogentlehandtocomforthim；andIfeartothinkoftheconflictthatmustensueforthegovernment，iftherebeadisputedsuccession。
　　’Ahme!Wearetobepitiedgreatly，ratherthancondemned，bypeoplewhosethingswehavetakenfromthem；forIhaveread，andseemalmosttounderstandaboutit，thatthereareplacesontheearthwheregentlepeace，andloveofhome，andknowledgeofone’sneighboursprevail，andare，withreason，lookedforastheusualstateofthings。Therehonestfolkmaygotoworkinthegloryofthesunrise，withhopeofcominghomeagainquitesafeinthequietevening，andfindingalltheirchildren；andeveninthedarknesstheyhavenofearoflyingdown，anddroppingofftoslumber，andhearkentothewindofnight，notastoanenemytryingtofindentrance，butafriendwhocomestotellthevalueoftheircomfort。
　　’OfallthisgoldeneaseIhear，butneversawthelikeofit；and，haply，Ishallneverdoso，beingborntoturbulence。Once，indeed，Ihadtheofferofescape，andkinsman’said，andhighplaceinthegay，brightworld；andyetIwasnottemptedmuch，or，atleast，darednottotrustit。Anditendedverysadly，sodreadfullythatIevenshrinkfromtellingyouaboutit；forthatoneterrorchangedmylife，inamoment，atablow，fromchildhoodandfromthoughtsofplayandcommunewiththeflowersandtrees，toasenseofdeathanddarkness，andaheavyweightofearth。Becontentnow，MasterRiddaskmenothingmoreaboutit，soyoursleepbesounder。’
　　ButI，JohnRidd，beingyoungandnew，andveryfondofhearingthingstomakemybloodtotingle，hadnomoreofmannersthantourgepoorLornaonwards，hoping，perhaps，indepthofheart，thatshemighthavetoholdbyme，whentheworstcametotheworstofit。
　　Thereforeshewentonagain。
　　’Itisnotatwelvemonthyet，althoughitseemstenyearsagone，sinceIblewthedownyglobetolearnthetimeofday，orsetbeneathmychintheveiningsofthevarnishedbuttercup，orfiredthefox-glovecannonade，ormadeacaptiveofmyselfwithdandelionfetters；forthenIhadnotverymuchtotroublemeinearnest，butwentabout，romancinggravely，playingatbo-peepwithfear，makingformyselfstrongheroesofgrayrockorfir-tree，addingtomyownimportance，asthechildrenlovetodo。
　　’AsyetIhadnottrulylearnedtheevilofourliving，thescornoflaw，theoutrage，andthesorrowcausedtoothers。Itevenwasapointwithalltohidetheroughnessfromme，toshowmebutthegallantside，andkeepinshadetheother。Mygrandfather，SirEnsorDoone，hadgivenstrictestorder，asIdiscoveredafterwards，thatinmypresenceallshouldbeseemly，kind，andvigilant。Norwasitverydifficulttokeepmostpartofthemischieffromme，fornoDooneeverrobsathome，neitherdotheyquarrelmuch，exceptattimesofgambling。AndthoughSirEnsorDooneisnowsooldandgrowingfeeble，hisownwayhewillhavestill，andnoonedaredenyhim。Evenourfiercestandmostmightyswordsmen，searedfromallsenseofrightorwrong，yethaveplentifulsenseoffear，whenbroughtbeforethatwhite-hairedman。Notthatheisroughwiththem，orquerulous，orrebukeful；butthathehasastrangesoftsmile，andagazetheycannotanswer，andaknowledgedeeperfarthantheyhaveofthemselves。Underhisprotection，Iamassafefromallthosemensomeofwhomarebutlittleakintome
　　asifIsleptbeneaththeroofoftheKing’sLordJusticiary。
　　’Butnow，atthetimeIspeakof，oneeveningoflastsummer，ahorriblethingbefell，whichtookallplayofchildhoodfromme。ThefifteenthdayoflastJulywasveryhotandsultry，longafterthetimeofsundown；
　　andIwaspayingheedofit，becauseoftheoldsayingthatifitrainthen，rainwillfallonfortydaysthereafter。Ihadbeenlongbythewatersideatthislowerendofthevalley，plaitingalittlecrownofwoodbinecrocketedwithsprigsofheath——topleasemygrandfather，wholikestoseemegayatsupper-time。
　　Beingproudofmytiara，whichhadcostsometrouble，I
　　setitonmyheadatonce，tosavethechanceofcrushing，andcarryingmygrayhat，venturedbyapathnotoftentrod。ForImustbehomeatthesupper-time，orgrandfatherwouldbeexceedingwrath；andtheworstofhisangeristhathenevercondescendstoshowit。
　　’Therefore，insteadoftheopenmead，orthewindingsoftheriver，Imadeshortcutthroughtheash-treescovertwhichliesinthemiddleofourvale，withthewaterskirtingorcleavingit。Youhaveneverbeenupsofarasthat——atleasttothebestofmyknowledge——butyouseeitlikealonggrayspot，fromthetopofthecliffsaboveus。HereIwasnotlikelytomeetanyofourpeoplebecausetheyoungonesareafraidofsomeancienttaleaboutit，andtheoldoneshavenoloveoftreeswheregunshotsareuncertain。
　　’Itwasmorealmostthandusk，downbelowthetree-leaves，andIwaseagertogothrough，andbeagainbeyondit。Forthegraydarkhungaroundme，scarcelyshowingshadow；andthelittlelightthatglimmeredseemedtocomeupfromtheground。Fortheearthwasstrownwiththewinter-spreadandcoiloflastyear’sfoliage，thelichenedclawsofchalkytwigs，andthenumberlessdecaywhichgivesalightinitsdecaying。I，formypart，hastenedshyly，readytodrawbackandrunfromhare，orrabbit，orsmallfield-
　　mouse。
　　’Atasuddenturnofthenarrowpath，whereitstoppedagaintotheriver，amanleapedoutfrombehindatree，andstoppedme，andseizedholdofme。Itriedtoshriek，butmyvoicewasstill；Icouldonlyhearmyheart。
　　’“Now，CousinLorna，mygoodcousin，“hesaid，witheaseandcalmness；“yourvoiceisverysweet，nodoubt，fromallthatIcanseeofyou。ButIprayyoukeepitstill，unlessyouwouldgivetodustydeathyourverybestcousinandtrustyguardian，AlanBrandirofLochAwe。’
　　’“Youmyguardian!“Isaid，fortheideawastooludicrous；andludicrousthingsalwaysstrikemefirst，throughsomefaultofnature。
　　’“Ihaveintruththathonour，madam，“heanswered，withasweepingbow；“unlessIerrintakingyouforMistressLornaDoone。“
　　’“Youhavenotmistakenme。MynameisLornaDoone。“
　　’Helookedatme，withgravity，andwasinclinedtomakesomeclaimtocloserconsiderationuponthescoreofkinship；butIshrunkback，andonlysaid，“Yes，mynameisLornaDoone。“