ButIcouldnothelponestupidsob，thoughmadwithmyselfforallowingit，butitcametoosharpforpridetostayit，andittoldaworldofthings。Lornaheardit，andrantome，withherbrighteyesfullofwonder，pity，andgreatkindness，asifamazedthatIhadmorethanasimplelikingforher。Thensheheldoutbothhandstome；andItookandlookedatthem。
　　’MasterRidd，Ididnotmean，’shewhispered，verysoftly，’Ididnotmeantovexyou。’
　　’Ifyouwouldbeloathtovexme，noneelseinthisworldcandoit，’Iansweredoutofmygreatlove，butfearingyettolookather，mineeyesnotbeingstrongenough。
　　’Comeawayfromthisbrightplace，’sheanswered，tremblinginherturn；’Iamwatchedandspiedoflate。
　　Comebeneaththeshadows，John。’
　　IwouldhaveleapedintothevalleyoftheshadowofdeathasdescribedbythelateJohnBunyan，onlytohearhercallme’John’；thoughApollyonwerelurkingthere，andDespairshouldlockmein。
　　Shestoleacrossthesilentgrass；butIstrodehotlyafterher；fearwasallbeyondmenow，exceptthefearoflosingher。Icouldnotbutbeholdhermanner，asshewentbeforeme，allhergrace，andlovelysweetness，andhersenseofwhatshewas。
　　Sheledmetoherownrichbower，whichItoldofoncebefore；andifinspringitwereasight，whatwasitinsummerglory？Butalthoughmymindhadnoticeofitsfairnessanditswonder，notaheedmyhearttookofit，neitherdweltitinmypresencemorethanflowingwater。Allthatinmypresencedwelt，allthatinmyheartwasfelt，wasthemaidenmovinggently，andafraidtolookatme。
　　Fornowthepowerofmylovewasabidingonher，newtoher，unknowntoher；notathingtospeakabout，noreventothinkclearly；onlyjusttofeelandwonder，withapainofsweetness。Shecouldlookatmenomore，neithercouldshelookaway，withastudiedmanner——onlytoletfallhereyes，andblush，andbeputoutwithme，andstillmorewithherself。
　　Ileftherquitealone；thoughclose，thoughtinglingtohaveholdofher。Evenherrighthandwasdroppedandlayamongthemosses。NeitherdidItrytostealoneglimpsebelowhereyelids。LifeanddeathtomewerehangingonthefirstglanceIshouldwin；yetI
　　letitbeso。
　　Afterlongorshort——Iknownot，yetereIwasweary，ereIyetbegantothinkorwishforanyanswer——Lornaslowlyraisedhereyelids，withagleamofdewbelowthem，andlookedatmedoubtfully。Anylookwithsomuchinitnevermetmygazebefore。
　　’Darling，doyouloveme？’wasallthatIcouldsaytoher。
　　’Yes，Ilikeyouverymuch，’sheanswered，withhereyesgonefromme，andherdarkhairfallingover，soasnottoshowmethings。
　　’Butdoyouloveme，Lorna，Lorna；doyoulovememorethanalltheworld？’
　　’No，tobesurenot。NowwhyshouldI？’
　　’Intruth，Iknownotwhyyoushould。OnlyIhopedthatyoudid，Lorna。Eitherlovemenotatall，orasIloveyouforever。’
　　’JohnIloveyouverymuch；andIwouldnotgrieveyou。
　　Youarethebravest，andthekindest，andthesimplestofallmen——Imeanofallpeople——Ilikeyouverymuch，MasterRidd，andIthinkofyoualmosteveryday。’
　　’Thatwillnotdoforme，Lorna。NotalmosteverydayIthink，buteveryinstantofmylife，ofyou。ForyouIwouldgiveupmyhome，myloveofalltheworldbeside，mydutytomydearestones，foryouIwouldgiveupmylife，andhopeoflifebeyondit。Doyoulovemeso？’
　　’Notbyanymeans，’saidLorna；’no，Ilikeyouverymuch，whenyoudonottalksowildly；andIliketoseeyoucomeasifyouwouldfillourvalleyup，andIliketothinkthatevenCarverwouldbenothinginyourhands——butastolikingyoulikethat，whatshouldmakeitlikely？especiallywhenIhavemadethesignal，andforsometwomonthsormoreyouhaveneverevenansweredit!Ifyoulikemesoferociously，whydoyouleavemeforotherpeopletodojustastheylikewithme？’
　　’Todoastheyliked!Oh，Lorna，nottomakeyoumarryCarver？’
　　’No，MasterRidd，benotfrightenedso；itmakesmefeartolookatyou。’
　　’ButyouhavenotmarriedCarveryet？Sayquick!Whykeepmewaitingso？’
　　’OfcourseIhavenot，MasterRidd。ShouldIbehereifIhad，thinkyou，andallowingyoutolikemeso，andtoholdmyhand，andmakemelaugh，asIdeclareyoualmostdosometimes？Andatothertimesyoufrightenme。’
　　’DidtheywantyoutomarryCarver？Tellmeallthetruthofit。’
　　’Notyet，notyet。Theyarenothalfsoimpetuousasyouare，John。Iamonlyjustseventeen，youknow，andwhoistothinkofmarrying？Buttheywantedmetogivemyword，andbeformallybetrothedtohiminthepresenceofmygrandfather。Itseemsthatsomethingfrightenedthem。ThereisayouthnamedCharleworthDoone，everyonecallshim“Charlie“；aheadstrongandagayyoungman，verygallantinhislooksandmanner；
　　andmyuncle，theCounsellor，chosetofancythatCharlielookedatmetoomuch，comingbymygrandfather’scottage。’
　　HereLornablushedsothatIwasfrightened，andbegantohatethisCharliemore，agreatdealmore，thanevenCarverDoone。
　　’Hehadbetternot，’saidI；’Iwillflinghimoverit，ifhedare。Heshallseetheethroughtheroof，Lorna，ifatallheseethee。’
　　’MasterRidd，youareworsethanCarver!Ithoughtyouweresokind-hearted。Well，theywantedmetopromise，andeventoswearasolemnoathathingIhaveneverdoneinmylifethatIwouldwedmyeldestcousin，thissameCarverDoone，whoistwiceasoldasIam，beingthirty-fiveandupwards。ThatwaswhyIgavethetokenthatIwishedtoseeyou，MasterRidd。Theypointedouthowmuchitwasforthepeaceofallthefamily，andformineownbenefit；butIwouldnotlistenforamoment，thoughtheCounsellorwasmosteloquent，andmygrandfatherbeggedmetoconsider，andCarversmiledhispleasantest，whichisatrulyfrightfulthing。Thenbothheandhiscraftyfatherwereforusingforcewithme；butSirEnsorwouldnothearofit；andtheyhaveputoffthatextremeuntilheshallbepastitsknowledge，or，atleast，beyondpreventingit。AndnowIamwatched，andspied，andfollowed，andhalfmylittlelibertyseemstobetakenfromme。Icouldnotbeherespeakingwithyou，eveninmyownnookandrefuge，butfortheaid，andskill，andcourageofdearlittleGwennyCarfax。Sheisnowmychiefreliance，andthroughheraloneIhopetobaffleallmyenemies，sinceothershaveforsakenme。’
　　Tearsofsorrowandreproachwerelurkinginhersoftdarkeyes，untilinfewestwordsItoldherthatmyseemingnegligencewasnothingbutmybitterlossandwretchedabsencefaraway；ofwhichIhadsovainlystriventogiveanytidingswithoutdangertoher。
　　Whensheheardallthis，andsawwhatIhadbroughtfromLondonwhichwasnothinglessthanaringofpearlswithasapphireinthemidstofthem，asprettyascouldwellbefound，sheletthegentletearsflowfast，andcameandsatsoclosebesideme，thatI
　　trembledlikeafoldedsheepatthebleatingofherlamb。Butrecoveringcomfortquickly，withoutmoreado，Iraisedherlefthandandobserveditwithaniceregard，wonderingatthesmallblueveins，andcurves，andtaperingwhiteness，andthepointsitfinishedwith。Mywonderseemedtopleasehermuch，herselfsowellaccustomedtoit，andnotfondofwatchingit。
　　Andthen，beforeshecouldsayaword，orguesswhatI
　　wasupto，asquickaseverIturnedhandinaboutofwrestling，onherfingerwasmyring——sapphirefortheveinsofblue，andpearlstomatchwhitefingers。
　　’Oh，youcraftyMasterRidd!’saidLorna，lookingupatme，andblushingnowafarbrighterblushthanwhenshespokeofCharlie；’Ithoughtthatyouweremuchtoosimpleevertodothissortofthing。Nowonderyoucancatchthefish，aswhenfirstIsawyou。’
　　’HaveIcaughtyou，littlefish？Ormustallmylifebespentinhopelessanglingforyou？’
　　’Neitheronenortheother，John!Youhavenotcaughtmeyetaltogether，thoughIlikeyoudearlyJohn；andifyouwillonlykeepaway，Ishalllikeyoumoreandmore。Asforhopelessangling，John——thatallothersshallhaveuntilItellyouotherwise。’
　　Withthelargetearsinhereyes——tearswhichseemedtometorisepartlyfromherwanttolovemewiththepowerofmylove——sheputherpurebrightlips，halfsmiling，halfpronetoreplytotears，againstmyforeheadlinedwithtrouble，doubt，andeagerlonging。
　　Andthenshedrewmyringfromoffthatsnowytwigherfinger，andhelditouttome；andthen，seeinghowmyfacewasfalling，thriceshetoucheditwithherlips，andsweetlygaveitbacktome。’John，Idarenottakeitnow；elseIshouldbecheatingyou。Iwilltrytoloveyoudearly，evenasyoudeserveandwish。Keepitformejusttillthen。SomethingtellsmeIshallearnitinaverylittletime。Perhapsyouwillbesorrythen，sorrywhenitisalltoolate，tobelovedbysuchasIam。’
　　WhatcouldIdoathermournfultone，butkissathousandtimesthehandwhichsheputuptowarnme，andvowthatIwouldratherdiewithoneassuranceofherlove，thanwithoutitliveforeverwithallbesidethattheworldcouldgive？Uponthisshelookedsolovely，withherdarkeyelashestrembling，andhersofteyesfulloflight，andthecolourofclearsunrisemountingonhercheeksandbrow，thatIwasforcedtoturnaway，beingovercomewithbeauty。
　　’Dearestdarling，loveofmylife，’Iwhisperedthroughhercloudsofhair；’howlongmustIwaittoknow，howlongmustIlingerdoubtingwhetheryoucaneverstoopfromyourbirthandwondrousbeautytoapoor，coarsehindlikeme，anignorantunletteredyeoman——’
　　’Iwillnothaveyourevileyourself，’saidLorna，verytenderly——justasIhadmeanttomakeher。’Youarenotrudeandunlettered，John。YouknowagreatdealmorethanIdo；youhavelearnedbothGreekandLatin，asyoutoldmelongago，andyouhavebeenattheverybestschoolintheWestofEngland。Noneofusbutmygrandfather，andtheCounsellorwhoisagreatscholar，cancomparewithyouinthis。AndthoughI
　　havelaughedatyourmannerofspeech，Ionlylaughedinfun，John；Inevermeanttovexyoubyit，norknewthatithaddoneso。’
　　’Naughtyousaycanvexme，dear，’Ianswered，assheleanedtowardsmeinhergeneroussorrow；’unlessyousay“Begone，JohnRidd；Iloveanothermorethanyou。“’
　　’ThenIshallnevervexyou，John。Never，Imean，bysayingthat。Now，John，ifyouplease，bequiet——’
　　ForIwascarriedawaysomuchbyhearinghercallingme’John’sooften，andthemusicofhervoice，andthewayshebenttowardme，andtheshadowofsoftweepinginthesunlightofhereyes，thatsomeofmygreathandwascreepinginamannernottobeimagined，andfarlessexplained，towardthelithesome，wholesomecurvingunderneathhermantle-fold，andoutofsightandharm，asIthought；notbeingherfrontwaist。However，I
　　wasdashedwiththat，andpretendednottomeanit；
　　onlytoplucksomelady-fern，whoseelegancedidmenogood。
　　’Now，John，’saidLorna，beingsoquickthatnotevenalovercouldcheather，andobservingmyconfusionmoreintentlythansheneedhavedone。’MasterJohnRidd，itishightimeforyoutogohometoyourmother。I
　　loveyourmotherverymuchfromwhatyouhavetoldmeabouther，andIwillnothavehercheated。’
　　’Ifyoutrulylovemymother，’saidI，verycraftily’theonlywaytoshowitisbytrulylovingme。’
　　Uponthatshelaughedatmeinthesweetestmanner，andwithsuchprovokingways，andsuchcome-and-goofglances，andbeginningofquickblushes，whichshetriedtolaughaway，thatIknew，aswellasifsheherselfhadtoldme，bysomeknowledgevoidofreasoning，andthesurerforit，Iknewquitewell，whileallmyheartwasburninghotwithinme，andmineeyeswereshyofhers，andhereyeswereshyofmine；
　　forcertainandforeverthisIknew——asinaglory——thatLornaDoonehadnowbegunandwouldgoontoloveme。
　　AlthoughIwasunderinterdictfortwomonthsfrommydarling——’oneforyoursake，oneformine，’shehadwhispered，withherheadwithdrawn，yetnotsoveryfarfromme——lighterheartwasnotonExmoorthanIboreforhalfthetime，andevenforthreequarters。Forshewassafe；Iknewthatdailybyamodeofsignalswell-contrivedbetweenusnow，onthestrengthofourexperience。’Ihavenothingnowtofear，John，’shehadsaidtome，asweparted；’itistruethatIamspiedandwatched，butGwennyistookeenforthem。
　　WhileIhavemygrandfathertopreventallviolence；
　　andlittleGwennytokeepwatchonthosewhotrytowatchme；andyou，aboveallothers，John，readyatamoment，iftheworstcomestotheworst——thisneglectedLornaDoonewasneverinsuchcasebefore。Thereforedonotsqueezemyhand，John；Iamsafewithoutit，andyoudonotknowyourstrength。’
　　Ah，Iknewmystrengthrightwell。Hillandvalleyscarcelyseemedtobestepandlandingforme；fiercestcattleIwouldplaywith，makingthemgobackward，andafraidofhurtingthem，likeJohnFrywithhisterrier；
　　evenrootedtreesseemedtomebutassticksIcouldsmitedown，exceptformyloveofeverything。Theloveofallthingswasuponme，andasoftnesstothemall，andasenseofhavingsomethingevensuchastheyhad。
　　Thenthegoldenharvestcame，wavingonthebroadhill-side，andnestlinginthequietnooksscoopedfromoutthefringeofwood。Awealthofharvestsuchasnevergladdenedallourcountry-sidesincemyfatherceasedtoreap，andhissicklehungtorust。TherehadnotbeenamanonExmoorfittoworkthatreaping-hooksincethetimeitsownerfell，intheprimeoflifeandstrength，beforeasternerreaper。
　　ButnowItookitfromthewall，wheremotherproudlystoredit，whileshewatchedme，hardlyknowingwhethersheshouldsmileorcry。
　　Alltheparishwasassembledinouruppercourtyard；
　　forweweretoopentheharvestthatyear，ashadbeensettledwithFarmerNicholas，andwithJasperKebby，whoheldthethirdorlittlefarm。Westartedinproperorder，therefore，asourpracticeis：first，theparsonJosiahBowden，wearinghisgownandcassock，withtheparishBibleinhishand，andasicklestrappedbehindhim。Ashestrodealongwellandstoutly，beingamanofsubstance，allourfamilycamenext，Ileadingmotherwithonehand，intheotherbearingmyfather’shook，andwithaloafofourownbreadandakegofcideruponmyback。BehindusAnnieandLizziewalked，wearingwreathsofcorn-flowers，setoutveryprettily，suchasmotherwouldhavewornifshehadbeenafarmer’swife，insteadofafarmer’swidow。Beingasshewas，shehadnoadornment，exceptthatherwidow’shoodwasoff，andherhairallowedtoflow，asifshehadbeenamaiden；andveryrichbrighthairitwas，inspiteofallhertroubles。