WhatmotherthoughtIcannottell；andindeedIdoubtifshethoughtatallformorethanhalfanhour，butonlymanagedtoholdmetight，andcry，andthankGodnowandthen，butwithsomefearofHistakingme，ifsheshouldbetoograteful。Moreovershethoughtitwasmyowndoing，andIoughttohavethecreditofit，andsheevencamedownverysharplyuponJohn’swife，Mrs。Fry，forsayingthatwemustnotbetooproud，forallofitwastheLord’sdoing。However，dearmotherwasashamedofthatafterwards，andaskedMrs。Fry’shumblepardon；andperhapsIoughtnottohavementionedit。
　　OldSmilerhadtoldthemthatIwascoming——alltherest，Imean，exceptAnnie——forhavingescapedfromhishalter-ring，hewascomeouttograzeinthelaneabit；whenwhatshouldheseebutastrangehorsecomingwithyoungmasterandmistressuponhim，forAnniemustneedsgetupbehindme，therebeingonlysheeptolookather。ThenSmilergaveusastareandaneigh，withhistailquitestiffwithamazement，andthenwhetherinjoyorthroughindignationheflunguphishindfeetandgallopedstraighthome，andseteverydogwildwithbarking。
　　Now，methinks，quiteenoughhasbeensaidconcerningthismightyreturnoftheyoungJohnRiddwhichwasknownupatCosgatethatevening，andfeelingthatI
　　cannotdescribeit，howcanIhopethatanyoneelsewilllabourtoimagineit，evenofthefewwhoareable？Forveryfewcanhavetravelledsofar，unlessindeedtheywhosetradeitis，orveryunsettledpeople。Andevenofthosewhohavedoneso，notoneinahundredcanhavesuchahomeasIhadtocomehometo。
　　Motherweptagain，withgriefandsomewrath，andsodidAnniealso，andevenlittleEliza，andallwereunsettledinloyalty，andtalkedaboutarepublic，whenItoldthemhowIhadbeenleftwithoutmoneyfortravellinghomeward，andexpectedtohavetobegmyway，whichFarmerSnowewouldhaveheardof。AndthoughIcouldseetheyweredisappointedatmyfailureofanypromotion，theyalldeclaredhowgladtheywere，andhowmuchbettertheylikedmetobenomorethanwhattheywereaccustomedto。Atleast，mymotherandAnniesaidso，withoutwaitingtohearanymore；butLizziedidnotanswertoit，untilIhadopenedmybagandshownthebeautifulpresentIhadforher。Andthenshekissedme，almostlikeAnnie，andvowedthatshethoughtverylittleofcaptains。
　　ForLizzie’spresentwasthebestofall，Imean，ofcourse，exceptLorna’swhichIcarriedinmybreastalltheway，hopingthatitmightmakeherloveme，fromhavinglainsolong，closetomyheart。ForI
　　hadbroughtLizziesomethingdear，andapreciousheavybookitwas，andmuchbeyondmyunderstanding；whereasIknewwellthattoboththeothersmygiftswouldbedear，formineownsake。Andhappierpeoplecouldnotbefoundthanthewholeofuswerethatevening。
　　MuchasIlongedtoknowmoreaboutLorna，andthoughallmyheartwasyearning，IcouldnotreconcileityetwithmydutytomotherandAnnie，toleavethemonthefollowingday，whichhappenedtobeaSunday。Forlo，beforebreakfastwasoutofourmouths，therecameallthemenofthefarm，andtheirwives，andeventhetwocrow-boys，dressedasifgoingtoBarnstaplefair，toinquirehowMasterJohnwas，andwhetheritwastruethattheKinghadmadehimoneofhisbody-guard；andifso，whatwastobedonewiththebeltforthechampionshipoftheWest-Countieswrestling，whichI
　　hadheldnowforayearormore，andnonewerereadytochallengeit。Strangetosay，thislastpointseemedthemostimportantofalltothem；andnoneaskedwhowastomanagethefarm，oranswerfortheirwages；butallaskedwhowastowearthebelt。
　　TothisIreplied，aftershakinghandstwiceoverallroundwithallofthem，thatImeanttowearthebeltmyself，forthehonourofOareparish，solongaseverGodgavemestrengthandhealthtomeetall-comers；forIhadneverbeenaskedtobebody-guard，andifaskedI
　　wouldneverhavedoneit。SomeofthemcriedthattheKingmustbemazed，nottokeepmeforhisprotection，intheseviolenttimesofPopery。IcouldhavetoldthemthattheKingwasnotintheleastafraidofPapists，butonthecontrary，veryfondofthem；
　　however，Iheldmytongue，rememberingwhatJudgeJeffreysbademe。
　　Inchurch，thewholecongregation，man，woman，andchildexcept，indeed，theSnowegirls，whoonlylookedwhenIwasnotwatching，turnedonmewithoneaccord，andstaredsosteadfastly，togetsomereflectionoftheKingfromme，thattheyforgotthetimetokneeldownandtheparsonwasforcedtospeaktothem。IfI
　　coughed，ormovedmybook，orbowed，orevensaid’Amen，’glanceswereexchangedwhichmeant——’ThathehathlearnedinLondontown，andmostlikelyfromHisMajesty。’
　　However，allthiswentoffintime，andpeoplebecameevenangrywithmefornotbeingsharperastheysaid，orsmarter，orawhitmorefashionable，forallthegreatcompanyIhadseen，andallthewondrousthingswasteduponme。
　　ButthoughImayhavebeennonethewiserbyreasonofmystayinLondon，atanyrateIwasmuchthebetterinvirtueofcominghomeagain。FornowIhadlearnedthejoyofquiet，andthegratitudeforgoodthingsroundus，andtheloveweowetootherseventhosewhomustbekind，fortheirindulgencetous。Allthis，beforemyjourney，hadbeentoomuchasamatterofcoursetome；buthavingmisseditnowIknewthatitwasagift，andmightbelost。Moreover，Ihadpinedsomuch，inthedustandheatofthatgreattown，fortrees，andfields，andrunningwaters，andthesoundsofcountrylife，andtheairofcountrywinds，thatnevermorecouldIgrowwearyofthosesoftenjoyments；oratleastIthoughtsothen。
　　Toawakeasthesummersuncameslantingoverthehill-tops，withhopeoneverybeamadancetothelaughterofthemorning；toseetheleavesacrossthewindowrufflingonthefreshnewair，andthetendrilsofthepowderyvineturningfromtheirbeadedsleep。
　　Thenthelustrousmeadowsfarbeyondthethatchofthegarden-wall，yetseenbeneaththehangingscollopsofthewalnut-tree，allawaking，dressedinpearl，allamazedattheirownglistening，likeamaidatherownideas。Downthemtroopthelowingkine，walkingeachwithastepofcharacterevenasmenandwomendo，yetallalikewithtossofhorns，andspreadofuddersready。Fromthemwithoutaword，weturntothefarm-yardproper，seenontheright，anddrylystrawedfromthepettyrushofthepitch-pavedrunnel。Rounditstandthesnugout-buildings，barn，corn-chamber，cider-press，stables，withablinker’dhorseineverydoorwaymunching，whilehisdrivertightensbuckles，whistlesandlooksdownthelane，dallyingtobeginhislabourtillthemilkmaidsbegoneby。Herethecockcomesforthatlast；——wherehashebeenlingering？——eggsmaytellto-morrow——heclapshiswingsandshouts’cock-a-doodle’；andnoothercockdarelookathim。Twoorthreegosidlingoff，waitingtilltheirspursbegrown；andthenthecrowdofpartletscomes，chatteringhowtheirlordhasdreamed，andcrowedattwointhemorning，andprayingthattheoldbrownratwouldonlydaretofacehim。Butwhilethecockiscrowingstill，andthepulletworldadmiringhim，whocomesupbuttheoldturkey-cock，withallhisfamilyroundhim。Thenthegeeseatthelowerendbegintothrusttheirbreastsout，andmumtheirdown-bits，andlookattheganderandscreamshrilljoyfortheconflict；whiletheducksinpondshownothingbuttail，inproofoftheirstrictneutrality。
　　Whileyetwedreadforthecomingevent，andthefightwhichwouldjaronthemorning，beholdthegrandmotherofsows，grufflygruntingrightandleftwithmuzzlewhichnoringmaytamenotbeingmatrimonial，hulksacrossbetweenthetwo，movingalleachsideatonce，andthenalloftheothersideasifshewerechineddownthemiddle，andafraidofspillingthesaltfromher。Asthismightyviewoflardhideseachcombatantfromtheother，gladlyeachretiresandboastshowhewouldhaveslainhisneighbour，butthatoldsowdrovetheotheraway，andnowonderhewasafraidofher，afterallthechicksshehadeaten。
　　Andsoitgoeson；andsothesuncomes，strongerfromhisdrinkofdew；andthecattleinthebyres，andthehorsesfromthestable，andthemenfromcottage-door，eachhashadhisrestandfood，allsmellalikeofhayandstraw，andeveryonemusthietowork，beitdrag，ordraw，ordelve。
　　SothoughtIontheMondaymorning；whilemyownworklaybeforeme，andIwasplottinghowtoquitit，voidofharmtoeveryone，andletmylovehaveworkalittle——hardestperhapsofallwork，andyetassureassunrise。Iknewthatmyfirstday’staskonthefarmwouldbestrictlywatchedbyeveryone，evenbymygentlemother，toseewhatIhadlearnedinLondon。
　　ButcouldIletstillanotherdaypass，forLornatothinkmefaithless？
　　IfeltmuchinclinedtotelldearmotherallaboutLorna，andhowIlovedher，yethadnohopeofwinningher。Oftenandoften，Ihadlongedtodothis，andhavedonewithit。Butthethoughtofmyfather’sterribledeath，atthehandsoftheDoones，preventedme。Anditseemedtomefoolishandmeantogrievemother，withoutanychanceofmysuiteverspeeding。
　　IfonceLornalovedme，mymothershouldknowit；anditwouldbethegreatesthappinesstometohavenoconcealmentfromher，thoughatfirstshewassuretogrieveterribly。ButIsawnomorechanceofLornalovingme，thanofthemaninthemooncomingdown；orratherofthemooncomingdowntotheman，asrelatedinoldmythology。
　　Nowthemerrimentofthesmallbirds，andtheclearvoiceofthewaters，andthelowingofcattleinmeadows，andtheviewofnohousesexceptjustourownandaneighbour’s，andtheknowledgeofeverybodyaround，theirkindnessofheartandsimplicity，andloveoftheirneighbour’sdoings，——allthesecouldnothelporpleasemeatall，andmanyofthemweremuchagainstme，inmysecretdepthoflonginganddarktumultofthemind。Manypeoplemaythinkmefoolish，especiallyaftercomingfromLondon，wheremanynicemaidslookedatmeonaccountofmybulkandstature，andImighthavebeenfittedupwithasweetheart，inspiteofmywest-countrytwang，andthesmallnessofmypurse；ifonlyIhadsaidtheword。Butnay；Ihavecontemptforamanwhoseheartislikeashirt-studsuchasIsawinLondoncards，fittedintooneto-day，sittingbravelyonthebreast；pluckedoutonthemorrowmorn，andtheplacethatknewit，gone。
　　Now，whatdidIdobuttakemychance；recklesswhetheranyoneheededmeornot，onlycravingLorna’sheed，andtimefortenwordstoher。ThereforeIleftthemenofthefarmasfarawayasmightbe，aftermakingthemworkwithmewhichnomanroundourpartscoulddo，tohisownsatisfaction，andthenknowingthemtobewellweary，veryunliketofollowme——andstillmoreunliketotellofme，foreachhadhisLondonpresent——Istroderightaway，ingoodtrustofmyspeed，withoutanymoremisgivings；butresolvedtofacetheworstofit，andtotrytobehomeforsupper。
　　AndfirstIwent，Iknownotwhy，tothecrestofthebrokenhighland，whenceIhadagreedtowatchforanymarkorsignal。AndsureenoughatlastIsawwhenitwastoolatetoseethatthewhitestonehadbeencoveredoverwithaclothormantle，——thesignthatsomethinghadarisentomakeLornawantme。ForamomentIstoodamazedatmyevilfortune；thatIshouldbetoolate，intheverythingofallthingsonwhichmyheartwasset!Thenaftereyeingsorrowfullyeverycrickandcrannytobesurethatnotasingleflutterofmylovewasvisible，offIset，withsmallrespecteitherformykneesorneck，tomaketheroundoftheoutercliffs，andcomeupmyoldaccess。
　　Nothingcouldstopme；itwasnotlong，althoughtomeitseemedanage，beforeIstoodinthenicheofrockattheheadoftheslipperywatercourse，andgazedintothequietglen，wheremyfoolishheartwasdwelling。
　　Notwithstandingdoubtsofright，notwithstandingsenseofduty，anddespiteallmanlystriving，andthegreatloveofmyhome，theremyheartwaseverdwelling，knowingwhatafoolitwas，andcontenttoknowit。
　　ManybirdscametwitteringroundmeinthegoldofAugust；manytreesshowedtwinklingbeauty，asthesunwentlower；andthelinesofwaterfell，fromwrinklesintodimples。Littleheeding，thereIcrouched；thoughwithsenseofeverythingthatafterwardsshouldmoveme，likeapictureoradream；andeverythingwentbymesoftly，whilemyheartwasgazing。
　　Atlast，alittlefigurecame，notinsignificantI
　　mean，butlookingverylightandslenderinthemovingshadows，gentlyhereandsoftlythere，asifvagueofpurpose，withaglossoftendermovement，inandoutthewealthoftrees，andlibertyofthemeadow。WhowasItocrouch，ordoubt，orlookatherfromadistance；whatmatteriftheykilledmenow，andonetearcametoburyme？ThereforeIrushedoutatonce，asifshot-gunswereunknownyet；notfromanyrealcourage，butfromprisonedloveburstforth。
　　IknownotwhethermyownLornawasafraidofwhatI
　　looked，orwhatImightsaytoher，orofherownthoughtsofme；allIknowisthatshelookedfrightened，whenIhopedforgladness。Perhapsthepowerofmyjoywasmorethanmaidenlikedtoown，orinanywaytoanswerto；andtotellthetruth，itseemedasifImightnowforgetmyself；whileshewouldtakegoodcareofit。Thismakesamangrowthoughtful；unless，assomelowfellowsdo，hebelieveallwomenhypocrites。
　　ThereforeIwentslowlytowardsher，takenbackinmyimpulse；andsaidallIcouldcometosay，withsomedistressindoingit。
　　’MistressLorna，Ihadhopethatyouwereinneedofme。’
　　’Oh，yes；butthatwaslongago；twomonthsago，ormore，sir。’Andsayingthisshelookedaway，asifitallwereover。ButIwasnowsodazedandfrightened，thatittookmybreathaway，andIcouldnotanswer，feelingsurethatIwasrobbedandsomeoneelsehadwonher。AndItriedtoturnaway，withoutanotherword，andgo。